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The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

The independent student newspaper of Northeastern University

The Huntington News

Rachel Umansky-Castro

Rachel Umansky-Castro, Opinion Editor

Rachel Umansky-Castro is a third-year criminal justice and journalism combined major with a minor in international affairs. She is the opinion editor of The News and previously served as the projects editor. Rachel is currently on co-op in New York as an investigator for Brooklyn Defender Services. She is excited to stay connected to campus by helping students write powerful arguments!

All content by Rachel Umansky-Castro
Piper Keagle, a first-year music therapy major at Berklee College of Music.

[Photo] Perspectives from the protest: Why Northeastern, other university, outside demonstrators are participating

Alexa Coultoff and Annika Sunkara
April 25, 2024

Piper Keagle, a first-year music therapy major at Berklee College of Music.

The statue of St. Anthony is marched through the feast. On Sunday, Aug. 27, the statue was marched along the Endicott, Thacher and North Margin Streets for 10 hours.

The leadership that makes St. Anthony’s Feast possible

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
August 29, 2023

In the heart of Boston’s North End, where the steady beat of cobblestone streets meets the powerful scent of Italian delicacies, an annual celebration like no other comes to life. Welcome to St. Anthony's...

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The reality of the non-Spanish-speaking Hispanic experience

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
May 22, 2023

Dynasty Perez, a second-year business administration and communication studies combined major at Northeastern from San Antonio, Texas, taps on her phone with her long acrylic nails while smoothing her...

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A mural greets visitors at one of the offices of Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción. The non-profit has provided resources such as affordable housing, financial coaching, youth development courses and arts education for low-income families since 1968.

Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción aims to provide affordable housing, financial literacy and education programs in South End

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
February 25, 2023

One South End non-profit is tackling affordable housing and education equality in Boston.  Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, or IBA, is a non-profit organization in Boston’s South End neighborhood...

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Gender-affirming care is a need for transgender individuals at Northeastern

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
February 2, 2023

Finn Seifert, a second-year human services major at Northeastern, started hormone replacement therapy at 16, a treatment some hope to render illegal as part of a national campaign to restrict minors’...

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Donte Lewis, Clara Barsoum and Cynthia Barrera (pictured left to right) pose for a portrait. They spoke with The News about the challenges they face as first-generation low-income students attending Northeastern, such as balancing their part-time jobs with classes.

First-gen low-income Northeastern students experience unseen struggles

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
February 2, 2023

Cynthia Barrera, a second-year criminal justice and political science combined major, has a packed schedule for a Northeastern University student: she’s balancing four classes while working 10-15 hours...

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DEVELOPING STORY: Northeastern grad student struck and killed by police cruiser in Seattle

Rachel Erwin and Rachel Umansky-Castro
January 30, 2023

Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Northeastern University graduate student, was killed when a city police cruiser struck her as she crossed the street in Seattle, just a few blocks from the university’s...

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Op-ed: Northeastern should consider the pitfalls of an opt-in Wellness Day system

Op-ed: Northeastern should consider the pitfalls of an opt-in Wellness Day system

Rachel Umansky-Castro, opinion editor 
November 14, 2022

Growing up in my Latina household, I was always reminded by my immigrant mother that education is the highest achievement to strive for. My mother herself was never able to complete her education, which...

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Northeastern's International Village turned a single into a double by inserting a bunk bed, which creates a tight living space.

Column: Northeastern needs to fix the current housing crisis

Rachel Umansky-Castro, opinion editor 
September 10, 2022

It took six months, until mid-August, for my roommate and me to receive our housing information. This summer was filled with stressful planning and setbacks, as we vied for a dwindling number of dorms....

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Northeastern's global campuses are not receiving the same resources as the main campus in Boston. Study abroad students within the N.U.in and NU Bound programs stress the need for the same available support.

Op-ed: Northeastern needs to provide resources for study abroad students

Rachel Umansky-Castro, opinion editor
May 6, 2022

With a school like Northeastern that promotes campus resources, why is it that not all students feel supported? Due to Northeastern's increasing study body, the university is sending more students abroad...

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Fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment in the musical artist Doja Cat. But the singer later revealed her own struggles with public pressure. This work features "Doja Cat 2020 Vogue Taiwan 02.png" by Condé Nast through Vogue Taiwan and is licensed under CC BY 3.0 .

Column: Doja Cat’s fight with fans reveals underlying tension in the music industry

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
April 15, 2022

After musical artist Doja Cat failed to perform her concert in Paraguay as scheduled due to flooding in the area, several fans took to Twitter to express their concerns, sparking a fight between the artist...

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This year's Academy Awards is featuring a new category: Fan Favorite. The award brings into question the prestige of the Academy and the award ceremony itself if the general public's opinion is now considered.

#OscarsFanFavorite points to new direction for Academy Awards

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news staff
March 27, 2022

The Academy Awards, or the Oscars, has honored and celebrated brilliant films for the past 93 years. The award shows are now taking a new focus, differentiating them from other traditional award ceremonies....

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Students crowded near Curry Student Center learning about campus clubs and organizations. There were more than 350 organizations represented at Fall Fest.

Op-ed: Northeastern must address the overcrowding problem

Rachel Umansky-Castro, contributor
March 19, 2022

Northeastern students have noticed the overwhelming number of students on campus this past year. Classes are getting more crowded, dining halls are busier, residence mail takes longer and housing is more...

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2022 New York Fashion Week attempted to include diverse body types despite reductions in designers and capacity due to COVID-19.

Column: Spring 2022 New York Fashion Week attempts to maintain diverse standards

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news correspondent
February 23, 2022

Models sparkled on the runway sporting various trend-setting designers including Tanner Fletcher, Eckhaus Latta and Peter Do from Feb. 11 to Feb. 16 at New York Fashion Week, or NYFW. New names like Bach...

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Neither Northeastern, nor the city of Boston, is equipped to handle the volume of individuals seeking help with mental illness.

Op-ed: How hard is it to find a therapist in Boston?

Rachel Umansky-Castro, contributor
February 10, 2022

COVID-19 has a devastating effect on this already large quantity of individuals needing therapy. The issue arose as there was an addition of people who wanted to seek therapy for the first time due to...

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“Encanto” highlights the importance of family through the Latinx perspective and accurately portrays Latinx values.

‘Encanto’ provides Latinx representation through culture, music

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news correspondent
February 3, 2022

“Encanto,” a Disney animated movie that explores the story of the Madrigals, a Colombian family gifted with magical powers, premiered Nov. 24. The film and its soundtrack took the holiday season by...

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Northeastern's most recent testing data reveals 80 positive cases of COVID-19, with 35 recent cases identified as Omicron.

What does the rise of the Omicron variant mean for Northeastern, Boston as a whole? 

Rachel Umansky-Castro, news correspondent
December 19, 2021

Just as a sense of normalcy was approaching, the Omicron variant is raising concerns across the world. It appears that post-COVID days will have to wait. Omicron has many mutations that may make vaccines...

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