This week, The Kiosk reached its 100th article since rebooting in Spring 2023, a milestone that we celebrated with a look back at our journey and some thoughts from staff members, both past and present.
For article 101, we thought we would highlight our favorite stories from the past two years:
New Dean Takes on Declining Budget, Student Experience
October 16, 2023
By Ivan De Luce
Dean Lisa R. Braverman is just six weeks into her tenure with CUNY SPS, and while she’s been prioritizing budget and enrollment concerns, she thinks of her new appointment as a dream job.
“I’m completely thrilled,” she said. “I’m absolutely overjoyed to be here.”…Read more!
Red Suspenders
December 6, 2023
By Ana Maria Londono Leudo
Editor’s note: Ana Maria Londono Leudo’s ‘Red Suspenders’ won first place in The Kiosk’s Fall 2023 Fiction Story Contest. Congratulations to Ana on this well-deserved win!
That night Eneris stretched her legs to prepare to go to sleep. Her now wrinkled hands lay side by side on the bed covered with thick blankets, preparing for the winter cold that was yet to invade her bedroom. As she closed her eyes, she felt the warmth of the sun, a sun of the country she had left many years ago. … Read more!
NSLS Scholarship Winner Nasreen Quadir Reflects on Diversity Efforts
March 19, 2024
By Ivan De Luce
While working as the manager of a retail store years ago, Nasreen Quadir was in the process of hiring a new team member. Her best candidate almost didn’t land the role because she wore a hijab.
However, Quadir managed to convince her higher-ups to hire the candidate on the basis that a hijab shouldn’t prevent anyone from getting a job. …Read more!
CUNY SPS Mascot Lexington Lynx Unveiled
March 20, 2024
By Michele Schultz
Lexington Lynx, the beloved CUNY SPS mascot, was born back in 2011 from a combination of the School’s physical location and its online presence. Lex’s name combines the School’s former proximity to Lexington Avenue in Manhattan at the CUNY Graduate Center, and the word “hyperlinks,” a reference to online learning. …Read more!
Reviving Connections at the Museum Studies Club Mixer
April 12, 2024
By Tasnia Rashid
When Pamela Lucero joined the CUNY SPS Museum Studies Club in Fall 2023 as the treasurer, little did she expect to step into the role of president and help revive the club after a prolonged hiatus. “What we want is really to offer a space for everyone to connect with each other as people, as students, and as professionals,” she said. “Since we’re in a program that’s online, it’s really nice to be able to have the opportunity to meet each other.”
The recent mixer hosted on March 26th by the club was a reflection of this, as students and alumni gathered in-person and online to engage in discussions, share experiences, and network. …Read more!
Student Volunteers Give Back by Becoming Change Warriors
April 23, 2024
By Ivan De Luce
If you’ve ever wanted to give back to your community but don’t know where to volunteer, consider becoming a CUNY SPS Change Warrior. The students who did found that the experience was nothing short of transformative.
CUNY SPS Change Warriors, the School’s volunteer program, allows students to partner with charities and advocacy groups across New York City to create positive change within a community. …Read more!
Photojournalism Contest Winners Tell Intricate New York Stories
May 1, 2024
By Ivan De Luce
In April, The Kiosk hosted a photojournalism contest to tie in with its Spring Photojournalism Workshop series, aimed at giving students the tools to take eye-catching and compelling news photos. The assignment was to take a single photograph that tells an intricate story while paying close attention to aesthetic details and creative captions and hashtags. …Read more!
Sharing is Caring – and So Much More
May 14, 2024
By Roberta Garbarini-Philippe
Editor’s note: Roberta Garbarini’s story won first place in The Kiosk’s Spring 2024 Community Reporting Contest.
I learned about the BuyNothing Rivertowns Facebook group shortly after moving to Hastings-on-Hudson in Westchester County last August. The group, part of a worldwide network of micro-local gift economies, offers its 6,300 members a way to give and receive, share, lend and express gratitude. Once someone is accepted as a member (the only requirement is residency in the area), they can post anytime they have something to give away or need an item they would rather not buy, for financial or environmental reasons, or simply because they believe in community sharing. Chances are they will find what they are looking for in a matter of hours. …Read more!
‘Stranger at the Gate’ Film Screening Spreads Hopeful Message of Understanding
November 18, 2024
By Ivan De Luce
Former U.S. Marine Richard “Mac” McKinney was making plans to set off a homemade bomb in his hometown’s mosque, the Islamic Center of Muncie, Indiana. He was hoping to kill or injure around 200 innocent people. But upon visiting the mosque unarmed to get a sense of who he was about to attack, he was met with nothing but kindness from the community. Now Mac, who has since converted to the Islamic faith, wants to share his story to prevent hate and spread understanding.…Read more!
Student Spotlight: Naurene Sultana’s Nostalgic Visit to a Mosque
November 22, 2024
By Nasreen Quadir
In October, the CUNY SPS South Asian Student Union (SASU) visited the mosque Islamic Cultural Center of New York for a deeper understanding of Islam. Naurene Sultana, B.S. in Information System and SASU member, was one of the students who made the trip on Saturday, October 26, rekindling her connection with her faith and cultural heritage. In an interview, Naurene shares her thoughts on the experience and what it meant to her as a Bengali-American Muslim. Her experience serves as a reminder of the importance of exploring and understanding diverse cultural and religious practices in our community. …Read more!
Op-Ed: The Untold Costs of Ignoring Workplace Protections and Intersectionality for Autistic Employees
December 6, 2024
By Emani Hanks
Editor’s note: Emani Hanks’s opinion piece won first place in The Kiosk’s Fall 2024 Political Op-Ed Writing Contest.
Imagine being a single mother and diagnosed with autism after 30 years of masking. Your life is falling apart at home, while at work you are facing constant scrutiny, not for the quality of your performance, but simply for how you exist in the world. Struggles equivalent to this are the reality for many autistic individuals, including myself, who battle with invisible disabilities while facing adversity in environments aimed to misunderstand and dismiss us simply because we present differently than the rest of the world. …Read more!
Listen: The Kiosk Podcast Episode 1: Voiceover Actor and CUNY SPS Student Ben Sperling
February 12, 2025
By Michele Schultz
CUNY SPS student Ben Sperling initially found success in the entertainment industry, more specifically in voiceover acting. In a recent interview over Zoom, Sperling discussed his decision to finish his degree while remaining in his industry, how he got his start in voiceover work, and how the industry has changed since the pandemic. Listen to The Kiosk’s inaugural podcast episode (or read the transcript) below. …Read more!
Community & Youth Organizing Event Series Emphasizes Student Activism
February 25, 2025
By Nasreen Quadir
The 2025 Community & Youth Organizing event series highlighted the transformative power of youth-led movements. Curated and hosted by Lumumba Bandele, a professor in the CUNY SPS Youth Studies program, the series featured two compelling films on youth-driven activism and for the final segment, a live panel discussion with young activists advocating for economic justice in New York City. Held virtually over three consecutive Wednesdays in January, each two-hour session provided an opportunity for attendees to connect, reflect, and engage with crucial social issues. …Read more!
