Did You Know? From the President
Dear Queens Alumni, Whether you were on campus recently or haven’t visited in years, we Royals all share the incredibly good fortune of feeling the ever-present affinity, love and lift of the Queens community. In most years, these feelings were likely taken for granted. But in the maelstrom that was 2020, this energy has at times been our most reliable and welcome resource. I can say unequivocally that our collective goodwill and energy has been a needed wellspring for the senior leadership team and me as we wrestled with many deeply complex challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. At its core, this spirit and energy that we so generously share is rooted in the deep and sincere care and concern that we have for one another and for the Queens community. Tis winter edition of Queens Magazine highlights the full life
cycle of this ethos, starting with students like Allie Dominicali ’20 who defeated COVID-19 and came out stronger, determined to help her peers understand the impact. Kemual Jones (KJ) ’21 who found ways to virtually recreate a sense of community for his would- have-been hallmates. Victoria Ardines ’21 who made it her mission to spread awareness about social justice issues during her time at Queens. And Celina Cadiang ’18 who traveled cross-country to share her nursing skills in places most affected by COVID-19. As our students graduate, we see this ethos live on with alumni
like Malek Jendali ’97, who brilliantly uses his work and leadership in classical music to advance world peace and to now strengthen Queens’ strategic position in the performing arts. And Marjorie Knight Crane ’90 who works diligently with her husband, Alpo, to better Queens and the world through philanthropy. Tis past semester has been like no other. While studying
virtually, our students navigated a pandemic, a heightened awareness of racial injustice and the most contentious presidential election of our time. Strengthened and supported by our community, our students developed critically important qualities like resilience, a sincere desire to listen across differences, a deep commitment to the greater good, and an unyielding appetite to continuously learn and grow. In these difficult times, I also saw a determination to find and
spread joy. And that gives me hope—for them and for all of us. If only the world was more like Queens.
Sincerely,
Daniel G. Lugo President
2 MAGAZINE A MAGICAL SPRING DAY
A typical day on campus during the spring of 1996 turned magical when Shaquille O’Neal stopped by for a visit. O’Neal, the NBA basketball star who played for the Orlando Magic at the time, was in town to play the Charlotte Hornets. Yogi Leo ’96 had heard a rumor that O’Neal might visit from a
security guard whom he had befriended at Queens, but he didn’t put much stock in it. “One day he [security guard] said, ‘Shaq is my
nephew.’ I’m thinking this is a fantastic tale,” recalled Leo, who played basketball for Queens and was later inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame. All doubts went by the wayside when Leo and fellow basketball player T.J. Lewis ’97 received word that O’Neal was on campus. “I think we were playing pick-up ball in the old Ovens
gym,” remembered Lewis, a member of the board of trustees. “Yogi and I ran out of the gym to the old campus police headquarters…. We were the first two to get there.” Te first thing they recall seeing was O’Neal’s size 22
feet propped up on a desk. Te three men joked around for a few minutes before the office became flooded with fans. Eventually O’Neal peeled off and spent a large part of the day in Long Residence Hall (now Hayes Residence Hall) playing cards with students. Arnita Craighead ’99 (pictured above) was also one of the first students to meet O’Neal at Queens. “I’m thinking freshman year has been good so far, but now I’m meeting Shaq,” she said. “What an experience to have during my freshman year at Queens.” Lewis said the campus buzzed for a while after
O’Neal’s visit. “Te best thing about it was a couple of days later we were talking with the security guard, and he said, ‘Man, that was the most fun Shaq has had in years,’ ” he recalled, adding that the intimacy of Queens allowed the basketball icon to relax and be himself. “It’s one of those things that makes Queens special, that a high profile person like Shaq can hang out with students. Tat’s pretty cool.”
—Lori K. Tate
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