Art by Christian Branch/Book Cover Design by Suzanne Dean By Quinn Kinsella Ocean Vuong is the poet laureate of our time. His deeply empathetic nature and honest writing have won him the trust of readers worldwide and the best-selling status he boasts at 37 years old. His latest novel, The Emperor of Gladness, is a quiet epic, tackling themes of identity, addiction, and family, both found and born into. Vuong’s prose soars and dips through the peaks and valleys of the human e

By Alyssa Beaumont Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica on October 28, 2025, as a devastating Category 5 storm; the strongest to ever make landfall on the island, with winds reaching 185 mph. These extreme winds, coupled with torrential rainfall and life-threatening storm surges (up to 13 feet in some coastal areas), flooded and demolished many homes and businesses. Areas along the eastern coast of the island — such as the town Black River and the city of Montego Bay — have seen som

"Ms. Martini"/Art by Aing. Sheikh By Max Pearson Aing. Sheikh is a City College junior majoring in Art/Digital Design. With an eye for detail and humor, Aing. shares his thoughts on generative AI, resilience, and the power that art can hold.  This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. How did you get your start with drawing? How has your artistic process changed over the years? I got my start with drawing in my sophomore year of high school. My situation at home