Iyanna Rynn Jackson gets ready to perform hip-hop dance at the NYU African Union student gala. Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. April 29,2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson practices a different dance routine for an upcoming show in the hallway. NYU Silver Center for Arts and Science, NYU. April 29, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

​​Iyanna Rynn Jackson stretches in a lecture hall before performing her hip-hop dance at the NYU African Union student gala. Silver Center for Arts and Science, NYU. April 29,2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson(left),Sage Evans Raney(middle), and Nhyira Asante(right) huddle to discuss choreography before performing hip-hop dance at the NYU African Union student gala. Silver Center for Arts and Science, NYU. April 29,2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Nhyira Asante(left) and Sage Evans Raney(right) holding Iyanna Rynn Jackson as they perform hip-hop dance at the NYU African Union student gala. Silver Center for Arts and Science, NYU. April 29,2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson dances in front of a large mirror inside of a studio at Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. March 29, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson warms up with different ballet positions after finishing up her morning Technique class. Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. May 2, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson practicing different positions after finishing morning Technique class. Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. May 2, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson pulls out her ballet pointe shoes every couple of months for projects or to increase her foot strength for class. NYU Residence Hall, NYC. May 2, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Jackson practices in her ballet pointe shoes in the living room after finishing morning technique class in the studio. NYU Residence Hall, NYC. May 2, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson gets a foot massage at Vitality Spa in Chinatown after a long day of dance classes. Chinatown, NYC. May 2, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

Iyanna Rynn Jackson rehearses a modern dance routine for an upcoming show in Charlotte, NC. NYU Residence Hall, NYC. May 2, 2022. Photo by Melissa Wright

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“Brenda needed our support, so we thought why not make a trip out of it and come support her and enjoy the city,” said Gonzalez

Gonzalez and her family traveled all the way from Los Angeles, to make sure they cheered onBrenda, as she had dedicated an entire year to training for the marathon. One sign they held up said, “Salvi Queen” as she proudly represented El Salvador in the marathon. 

 Brenda Gonzalez, a director of YMCA, has always wanted to run a marathon but never fully followed through with training. During the pandemic is when she decided, she would fully embrace life and give it a try, Gonzalez said.

 “This is our first time here, so we have not been able to help Brenda train for the marathon,” she said. “But we are happy she decided to actually do it, we’re proud of her.”

Brenda Gonzalez, trained hard suffering from bruised feet and broken toenails.

“Even though we weren’t with her while she trained every day, we are close like very close so she would always complain about how badly her feet hurt,” she said.  

 The hardest part about the day was trying to beat her to the next mile of the marathon by taking the subway.  They were unsuccessful so the family decided to just wait for her at the finish line.

 “We saw her at mile 8 in Brooklyn and we were supposed to catch up at mile 17, but she(Brenda) has been passing us,” she said. “It honestly reminded me of the tv show “The Amazing Race” because we have been on a mission trying to get to the next mile point.”

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“It is the most absurd thing ever to wear masks during games and practices or any other athletic event,” said  Cinque Stephens, an NYU basketball point guard. “As athletes we’re required to be vaccinated yet we have to show a “Vax Pass” to get into facilities.”

The CDC, highly recommends for vaccinated people to continue to wear a mask in public indoor settings. They also suggest that universal indoor mask wearing in a school setting, including visitors, is highly effective. 

NYU’s basketball season was canceled last year and this year they are required to wear masks at all times while participating in any activity in the Palladium, their campus training facility.

“From the second you walk in until you leave your mask is forbidden to drop below your nose,” said Stephens.  

Stephens said his concerns stem from watching  his teammate almost pass out while working out because they can’t breath with masks on. The school is essentially forcing you to get vaccinated which he believes  is a violation of freedom of choice.

While the NYU tennis team is not required to wear a mask while practicing on the court indoors, they must immediately put a mask on upon exiting the court. Teammates must wear  a mask in the van when heading to practice at their Randall Island facility.

“It is too hard to wear a mask while you play, too hard to get oxygen and way easier to overheat,”said Lucy Avant,  an NYU tennis player.

According to the Mayo Clinic, it is completely safe to wear a mask while exercising and their research showed that your heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and time of exhaustion are not outstandingly affected during physical activity. 

Guard/ forward from Wagner College, Kate Tokuhara is ready for her first season back since with fans and spectators. Photo by Melissa Wright

At Wagner University in Staten Island, vaccines are required, masks are required in the weight and training room,  but not during practice on the court. 

“We should not have to wear a mask during games and practices because we are already a contact sport so I feel like a mask won’t make much of a difference,” said Kate Tokuhara, a guard on their basketball team. ”Also, it is very difficult to run with a mask on.”

Jasmine Matthews, a forward on the NYU women’s basketball team said that wearing a mask is tough, but bearable. 

“Of course they are hard to breathe out of especially when your heart rate starts going and you’re doing a lot of activity,” she said.  “But I think a lot of us have gotten used to them.” 

 Matthews said she is excited about returning to the court for the first time since the pandemic struck in March 2020 and she will wear her mask with pride.

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