LIFESTYLE
September 2021
Are Lehamanites Paying The Right Price For Textbooks?
By Veronica Longo
With job loss and unemployment at an all-time high for many students midway through the year of 2020, many can no longer afford the cost of textbooks. While there are alternatives to purchasing textbooks now, Lehman students still deal with income loss and struggle to make ends meet. Publishing companies, such as the Association of American Publishers, are trying to assist… [Read More]
How Living Through Segregation Shaped Cynthia Reel
By Rebekah Gamble
With almost 14,000 students, Lehman College has a student body that is mostly made of minority students. With 53% of the population being Hispanic and 30.3% being of Black ethnicity, every degree awarded is a win for urban communities. Today, we celebrate education in a way that was illegal in 1896 when the court case Plessy v. Ferguson, ruled that segregation based on skin tone was legal.
From the 1st to 6th grade, Cynthia Reel, a sophomore Africana Studies major, learned in a segregated classroom where every face in the room looked like her own… [Read More]
Lehmanites React To New Fall 2021 Restrictions
By Rebekah Gamble
Excited energy could be felt throughout the comments on social media as students embraced the idea that the campus would open. Hope that we could resume a sense of normalcy despite fighting a pandemic, was palpable and made choosing an in-person course or planning to visit the campus something to look forward to.
On August 12th, President Fernando Delgado sent out an email that described how our beautiful 37-acre campus would be reopening but not reopened. In the lengthy email he states… [Read More]
April 2021
Lehmanities And Their Furry Friends Adapt To New Normal
By Nicole Flores
Maria Molero, a recent transfer student to Lehman had this to say about the positive effect her Golden Retriever, Leo, has had on her life: “In all honesty, Leo’s presence has always helped me cope with my mental health. I was diagnosed with chronic depression and anxiety when I was in middle school, and have had various episodes in my life since then. Cuddling with my dog is a surefire way that I’ve been able to cope when I get really down.” According to the CDC, … [Read More]
March 2021
Students And Staff Anticipate An Open Campus This Fall
By Rebekah Gamble
As registration for the Fall 2021 semester approaches, Lehman College students are forming opinions about the upcoming semester. When the 37-acre campus closed in March 2020, it was the last time that thousands of students laid foot in the college.
The Spring 2021 semester included 90% of all classes being taught online but the approaching Fall 2021 semester will allow for more… [Read More]
Lehman’s Own DishwithDina Raises Over $1k During Virtual Wellness Retreat
By Michael Omoruan
As confirmed cases of Covid continue to rise and movie theaters have been shut down, it can feel pretty draining trying to keep spirits up and energy high. Lehman College nutrition professor Dina D'RAlessandro has taken it upon herself to make… [Read More]
September 2020
How Lehman Students Remade Lost Summer Plans
By David Kolade
The outbreak of COVID-19 that began in March crept into summer and affected many students’ plans by halting vacations, internships, and jobs. As a result, students struggled to find other ways to occupy their time and adapt to the new normal… [Read More]
Online Opportunities Ensure Students’ Success
By Michael Omoruan
“Since the pandemic closed Lehman’s campus on March 12, many students have had to either work remotely or lose out on potential internship opportunities altogether. Despite the shock of COVID-19 closures, virtual… [Read More]
Sex Workers Hurt By Pandemic Shut-Downs
By Ogochukwu Ononiwu
Sex workers are one of the many invisible demographics in our neighborhood whose work came to a standstill due to the pandemic. As a result, many of those affected have had to rethink what sex work looks like for the “new normal”… [Read More]
May/June 2020
Premed In The Time Of COVID-19
By Natalie Nunez
With the recent coronavirus pandemic crisis, the preparation and application process for pre-medical students who hope to enroll in medical school has changed. Applicants have had to adjust to constrained circumstances, from taking online lectures and lab courses to preparing for a shortened admission exam… [Read More]
Online Club Events Provide Socializing While Social Distancing
By Kadija Doumbia
“We try to have Zoom calls every week with my members on a group basis,” said Lehman club president of the African & Caribbean Association Anna-Maria Jack, senior anthropology and Earth Science major. “I think these events help students with de-stressing and being connected with one another. Even though it is not an ideal situation, the events at least allow us to stay connected… [Read More]
Income Gap In Healthcare Exposes Gender Inequities
By Melissa Tejada
The healthcare field denies women proper compensation, according to multiple studies. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), and the Harvard Business Review (HRB) have all published data confirming this disparity. A 2018 study done by Medscape found that… [Read More]
April 2020
Transition To Online Learning Is Harder For Some Classes
By Allen Mena
Since the Lehman campus closed on March 12, all faculty and staff have had to switch to online technology to provide distance learning and other services. As Lehmanites work to adapt to the new systems, some are facing greater challenges… [Read More]
Pandemic Fallout Leaves More Students Hungry
By Kadija Doumbia
Economic hardship from COVID-19 policies puts more students at risk of going hungry, making an already present problem worse. About 48 percent of CUNY and 55 percent of Lehman students had experienced food insecurity within the past 30 days, according to the Bronx Free Press… [Read More]
NY Hispanic Cosmetology & Beauty Chamber Of Commerce Empowers Aspiring Business Owners
By Natalie Nuñez
The New York Hispanic Cosmetology and Beauty Chamber of Commerce helps immigrants start businesses in the beauty industry from Lehman’s off-site campus CUNY on the Concourse. Founded by Charito Cisneros, the non-profit center provides workshops, training, certifications, networking opportunities and job placement services, as well as yearly symposiums throughout… [Read More]
February 2020
What Black History Month Means To Lehmanites
By Denise Phillip
Black History Month is observed annually to commemorate the sacrifice of Black Americans during the African Diaspora, honoring unsung heroes who contributed to the past, present and future of African-American culture. The holiday-month originated in 1936, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February as “Negro History Week.” The Meridian asked Lehman students what… [Read More]
Students Welcome Half Fare Metro Plan
By Zarin Siddiqua
New York City residents who live under federal income standards now qualify for Fair Fares, a new law to reduce MetroCard prices by half. Introduced by Mayor Bill De Blasio and Council Speaker Corey Johnson on Jan. 27, 2020, the program has earned praise from Lehmanites.
“$127 is a lot to spend when you aren’t working as much [and] also you are a full-time student,” said Joel Nunez, a chemistry junior, referring to the price of a monthly subway pass… [Read More]
Lehman Scholars Program Is ‘The College Within The College’
By Allen Mena
“‘Real college’ gets lost in the chasing of grades and credits that often occurs in big name universities,” says Anna Purves, an English professor who teaches in the Lehman Scholars Program (LSP). Its purpose, she explains, “is to create the college within the college,” and provide a challenging experience for those students who are able to handle higher-level thinking and analysis… [Read More]
December 2019
Lehmanities' Jaded in Aftermath of College Bribery Scandal
By Sally Barrilla
Nine months after the college admissions scandal broke, 50 parents have been charged with bribery. This includes notorious actresses, Lori Loughlin, known as the iconic Aunt Becky of “Full House” and “Fuller House,” and Felicity Huffman from “Christmas with the Kranks” and “Cake.”… [Read More]
“Netflix Killer” Has Lehmanites Excited
By Nelson Fernandez
A new streaming service that’s being called the “Netflix killer” has been eagerly anticipated by a huge number of fans. A survey found that 70 percent of people were “likely” or “very likely” to drop their current streaming service in favor of Disney Plus, released nationwide on Nov. 12, 2019… [Read More]
Lehman Students Call for Eco-Friendlier Campus
By Yadira Gomez
About two million plastic bags are used per minute worldwide, according to “29 Plastic Pollution Facts You Must Know.” New York State, where single-use plastic bags will be banned as of March 1, 2020, currently uses 23 billion of them per year; New York City alone uses 10 billion annually… [Read More]
November 2019
Kingsbridge Nail Salon Offer Spa Experience Never Seen In The Neighborhood
By Allen Mena & Perla Tolentino
“Their design called my attention as I was passing by. It looks different than anything I've seen in this neighborhood,” said Johana Brea, a Bronx resident who works in Carman Hall, of Nail Drip, a Dominican family-owned nail salon that opened about three months ago… [Read More]
Lehman’s Small Association Helps the Bronx Grow
By Esgardo Castelan
“We have been operating since 2000 helping students from the ground up,” said Executive Clarence Stanley, a former veteran and Director of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Bronx’s office at Lehman. Through its work, 18,025 businesses have received assistance; investment records sum $167,513,506, and at least 6,066 jobs have been created… [Read More]
NYC Women Break Barriers In Local Business
By Brittany Aufiero
Co-Op City resident and shareholder, Britney Moss, had dreamed of baking professionally for as long as she could remember. Her dream became a reality on March 2, 2018, when she held a grand opening for Cupcake Me!, a pop-up kiosk stand, to sell her sugary treats… [Read More]
October 2019
Devastation From Climate Change Leads To Protest
By Zarin Saddiqua
“Climate change won’t discriminate against religion, politics, race, or age,” said Danysha Reyes, a junior English and philosophy major at Lehman, who joined the New York global climate strike with other CUNY students and local residents on Sept. 20, 2019… [Read More]
Growing Number of Lehman Students Win Prestigious Awards
By Beauty Kolade
“It felt so great to know I won, and I didn’t have to pay to study abroad,” said Bolanle Olatunji, a 22-year-old health services administration senior at Lehman who won both a Gilman and a Chancellor Global scholar- ship in the spring of 2019. Olatunji is one of more than 50 Lehman students who were granted major awards for the 2018-2019 academic year, including… [Read More]
“La Casa De Papel” Is Netflix’s Most-Watched Spanish TV Series
By Mayte Peña
“It has intrigue, action, love... What else do we need?” said Lehman’s 22-year-old junior psychology major, Jaden Reyes of the Spanish crimedrama “La Casa de Papel” (Money Heist). Reyes hailed it as “one of the best television productions I’ve ever seen.”
Reyes is not alone in her enthusiasm. Two months after its third premiere, it remains one of the most-watched foreign language-streamed Netflix originals… [Read More]
Lehman's Underground Tunnels Intrigue Students
By Lysa Vanible
The tunnels beneath Lehman College have withstood close to nine decades to transform the way people navigate the campus terrain. Built in 1931 during construction of what was then the Hunter College Bronx campus, the tunnels extend for a length of 1230 linear feet, or 0.23 miles. They connect… [Read More]
Students Weigh In On Lehman’s Financial Aid System
By Allen Mena
Despite Lehman’s relatively low-cost tuition of under $10,000, most Lehman students still rely on financial aid and have mixed feelings about their experiences with the office of distribution. A majority of students receive financial aid; around 85 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Education […]
Lehman Has the Only Virtual Reality Academy in CUNY and the Bronx
By Deanna Garcia
Lehman College remains the only CUNY to house the Virtual Reality Academy and has been offering training programs since 2017 at its offsite Bronx location called CUNY on the Concourse (COTC) […]
Lehman Freshmen Take Second Semester In Stride
By Alexandra Cardenas
“College didn’t really end up being what I thought it would be. I guess I expected it to be like the movies,” said freshman Richard Castillo of his first semester at Lehman. As he and other first-year students reflected […]
Lehman Women Are Innovating Tech
By Lysa Vanible
Lehman women are embarking on new technology projects and engaging in courses that challenge the status quo in the computer and data science fields. “There’s not a lot of women in technology right now, but it is gradually […]
‘Surviving R. Kelly’: Lehman Students Call For Justice
By Brittany Aufiero
In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement survivors of sexual abuse are stepping forward now more than ever to shed light on their experiences and to advocate for justice against their assailants. Recently, singer R. Kelly […]
Lehman Students Protest Proposed MTA Fare Hike
By Felicha Stevens
The MTA could potentially increase the current $2.75 bus and subway fare to $3.00 in March 2019. CUNY students, community members, local riders and transit workers spoke out against the hike at numerous town hall […]
‘Blunt Talk’ Sparks Conversation On Marijuana Use Among CUNY Students
By Thairy Pontier Lantigua
“Marijuana doesn’t make me stupid. It makes me more functional and creative. I am passing all my classes with As and it puts me in a good mood,” said Lehman student Jenny Soto, 56, who smokes marijuana and denies […]
Lehman Counseling Center Increases Campus Presence With Group Initiatives
By Kathryn Fornier
This semester, Lehman’s Counseling Center has opened its doors to a wide variety of student groups and workshops in an effort to build a safe, supportive space for students. Currently, there are 11 groups at the Counseling Center targeting […]
Is Dining Dollars A Wise Investment?
By J. Manuel Rivera Cortes
Lehman’s Dining Dollars, a system first implemented in the fall of 2016, offers students tax-free meals and 5 percent back for every $50 they deposit. The program has the potential to help alleviate the financial burden that many Lehman […]
Jesus Hopped The A Train Wows Audience
By J. Manuel Rivera Cortes
“Jesus Hopped the A Train” opened in the Studio Theatre Oct. 17. The production received a standing ovation once the curtain fell. The contemporary play was written by Stephen Adly Guirgis, who has been part of the New York theatre […]
New App Means No More Lines For Lehman Students
By Shaiann Frazier
A new app, LehmanQ, has made it easier for students to access the IT Center and the Financial Aid office this fall. LehmanQ is a mobile scheduling tool that allows students to avoid the hassle of long lines beyond making online […]
Lehman Women Embrace Natural Hair
By Kimberllee Mendez
“A lot of people inspired me to go natural,” explained Bre’Ann Newsome, a junior at Lehman, on her choice to wear her natural hair. “I had this friend who had a much looser curl pattern and she stopped straightening her hair,” Newsome […]
Lehman Student Wins Fight Against Cancer
By Kimberllee Mendez
“You feel like the world is coming to an end,” recalled Lehman psychology major Elvia Reyes, of the day a doctor told her she had breast cancer. On average in the U.S., according to breastcancer.org, 12 percent of women, or 1 in 8, will […]
Lehman’s First Singles Mixer Draws Enthusiastic Crowd
By Shaiann Frazier
The line leading into the Faculty Dining Hall of the Music Building stretched around the hallway as students waited with curious faces, hesitant smiles, and much excitement for the Singles Mixer Event to begin on Wednesday [...]
Spring Break Service Trip Broadens Student’s Horizons
By Shaiann Frazier
“I’m more appreciative of the small things I took for granted. This experience humbled me,” reflected Shanel Spence, 22, a biology major and Lehman senior on her seven-day trip to Nicaragua. Born and raised in the Bronx [...]
Lehman Women See Their Dreams Through
By Kimberllee Mendez
Since she was five, Lehman senior Jennifer Ramirez’s dream has been “to have a career in music. It’s always been something that I hold close to my heart and soul, because I love it so much. It’s when I can put out all my [...]
Nine Apps To Help You Ace Student Life
By Deirra Francis Stevenson on 2/28/18
In just seven years, access to digital devices has risen substantially, with 77 percent of Americans using smart phones in 2017, according to a Pew Research Center report, up from just 35 percent in 2011. Smartphone use is nearly [...]
Lehman Students Find Self-Expression In Bold Hair Colors
By Deirdre Fanzo on 2/28/18
Dyed hair and the positive feedback it draws from others can greatly increase people’s confidence and self-esteem, argues Masey White in USA Today College. While a conservative viewpoint might tie colorful hair to a lack of professionalism [...]
For Lehman Students, Plastic Is The New Christmas Green
By Leah Liceaga on 1/31/18
“To me you’re taking away from nature every time you cut down one of those trees just to have it in your home, or anywhere else,” Christine Auiles, a Lehman English major, explained of her choice to get an artificial tree for Christmas. “They last [...]
Having Her Cake And Eating It Too: A Black Entrepreneur’s Path To Success
By Zayna Palmer on 11/30/17
“My grandma used to always bake, she would make cakes and create different kinds of designs. I thought this was fabulous and it inspired me to bake as well,” recalls 35-year-old Luquana McGriff, now CEO of her own company [...]
A New Conversation About An Old Problem: Lehman Students Push Back Against Sexual Harassment
By Shaiann Frazier on 11/30/17
“Catcalling makes you question your worth,” said Kuiana Prince, 23, a senior and multimedia performing arts major. Catcallers, she said, should “Try a different approach in going about it instead of going after a lady or [...]
Lehman Students Hack Their Way Toward Success
By Zayna Palmer on 11/30/17
“We want to hire CUNY grads and undergrads to become full-time interns or employees in the near future,” said Buzzfeed Tech Recruiter Nicolette Nelson, 29. Buzzfeed is just one of the prospective employers that came to [...]
Lehman Students Challenge Colorism In The Entertainment Industry
By Deirra Francis on 11/30/17
Colorism limits opportunities for women of color in film and TV, and Lehman students won’t stand for it. “Roles for younger women of lighter skin tone typecast [them] as this sex symbol,” Lehman student, filmmaker and [...]
Most Lehman Students Back #TakeaKnee, But Some Call Disrespect
By Jorel Lonesome on 10/30/17
On Sept. 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem before a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers, instead choosing to kneel. Following this, NFL protests gradually [...]
Lehman Students Favor Costumes That Go Against Predicted Trends
By Leah Liceaga on 10/30/17
This Halloween, some Lehman students have different---and grimmer---costumes in mind than those trending nationally. Biology major Francisco Aquino Ramirez, for instance, said that while his favorite costume from past Halloweens is [...]
Starfinder: An Updated Pathfinder For The Stars
By Juan Vasquez on 10/30/17
Published on Aug. 17, Starfinder is the latest, long-awaited role-playing game from Paizo Publishing. It mixes pulp-style fantasy and derring-do sci-fi. Think “Star Wars” with more fantasy influences. Perhaps the game’s greatest [...]
Students Co-Found Intersectional Feminist Club
By Angel Mindanao on 09/22/17
On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Intersectional Feminist Club (IFC) made its first appearance at Lehman’s annual Fall Semester Kick-Off!, hosted by the Office of Community Engagement. Pink pins and stickers from [...]
From Chicago To The Bronx: Campus Socialists Raise Students’ Political Consciousness
By Zoe Fanzo on 09/22/17
Lehman’s International Socialist Organization (ISO) is promoting leftist politics on campus, with plans to hold radical discussions every other week building on a summer trip that deepened students’ political [...]
Money And Location Keep Bronxites Out Of Gyms
By Jorel Lonesome on 09/22/17
The Bronx could be in better shape, and Lehman students know it. According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in 2015, nearly 98 percent of Bronx residents had access to exercise---but the borough’s adult obesity rate [...]
New Tennis Coach Moves From Player To Staff
By Ashley Francis on 04/02/17
Lehman’s new assistant tennis coach, Gene Nakagaki, has come a long way since his senior year at Eastchester High School when he was unsure where tennis would take him. Then his high school coach, Tim Otoshi, encouraged [...]
New Coach Aims To Turn Around Lehman Softball Slump
By Ashley Francis on 04/02/17
This season hasn’t been a walk in the park for the women’s softball team. With new players and a coach in her first year, the Lightning have a lot of potential obstacles to overcome if they’re to make it through. In the [...]
New Muppet Julia Raises Autism Awareness
By Leonel Henriquez on 04/02/17
On April 10, a new red-haired muppet named Julia made her debut on Sesame Street. Although she is just four years old, it took PBS and Sesame Street over five years to create her, in consultation with more than [...]
Lehman Student Wins Prestigious Watson Fellowship
By Mairin Cahill on 04/02/17
Lehman freshman Victoria Smith won a Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship this April. The fellowship gives freshmen and sophomores selected from 12 partner institutions in New York City access to a rigorous program intended [...]
Lehman Alum Addresses Hood Education
By Leonel Henriquez on 04/02/17
At the New York City Writing Project’s (NYCWP) 19th annual Teacher-to- Teacher conference, held at Lehman on March 18, its keynote address was delivered by Dr. Christopher Emdin, a Lehman alumnus and author [...]
How Lehman Students Cope Without Mom On Mother’s Day
By Keidy Gómez on 04/02/17
Mother’s Day presents a special challenge for Lehman students who can’t always celebrate the holiday with their mothers. These students have to struggle to fill the void of her absence and recreate the bond they miss. In doing so, though, they [...]
Lehman Students Want An Updated Canon
By Shivani Boodhoo on 04/02/17
The English canon, or books considered to be classics, consists mainly of books written by dead white European men. To this set of classics a few writers of color have been added. In 2017, in a globalized world full of [...]