Issue 1, Spring 2016 - The Quadrangle

THE Volume 93, Issue 1

Q

UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924

Jan. 26, 2016

www.mcquad.org

Blizzard Jonas Hits MC

New Interim Athletic Director Hired Anthony Capote & Daniel Ynfante Editors

Tom O’Connor has over 40 years of experience in collegiate athletics, including 20 years as the athletic director of George Mason University before retiring in 2014.

It isn’t hard to understand why Manhattan College sought him out as the interim athletic director after Noah LeFevre’s departure. However, what is more interesting is O’Connor’s own decision to come out of retirement.

“I had a great conversation with the people here at Manhattan and it was something that intrigued me,” O’Connor said.

“I knew about the history and tradition of the school. … With that in mind, and I had some time to help somebody out, it just seemed like a very good fit. It has been a very good fit … All my expectations of what I thought this school is all about have exceeded my expectations.”

O’Connor said that when he was approached by the college, he felt good about the decision to help run the athletics program until a new candidate could be found.

According to Richard Satterlee, the vice president for student life, O’Connor will not only be assisting in the day-today operations of the athletic department, but his private consulting firm will also be helping in the search for a new, full-time athletic director.

“He’ll be assisting us to find the right leader so that was attractive,” Satterlee said about O’Connor. “It’s really something that we haven’t defined yet, a timetable for the Kevin Fuhrmann/The Quadrangle

Continued on page 10

Fatal Stabbing Earlier This Month Occurred Just Blocks Away From Campus Kyleigh Panetta Assist. Editor

Earlier this month a McDonald’s employee, located on Broadway between 237th and 236th Streets, was stabbed to death. The murder happened one block away from the 50th Precinct Police Station and two blocks away from Manhattan College’s Leo Engineering Building.

On Jan, 4, around 4:30 a.m., a homeless man was said to be lingering at the restaurant when a McDonald’s worker approached him and their interaction escalated.

The worker, 28-year-old Adam Garcia, told the man to leave the restaurant and followed him out into the parking lot. The confrontation turned violent and Garcia was stabbed repeatedly in the torso.

Garcia was pronounced dead at the New York Presbyterian Hospital/ Allen Pavilion around 5 a.m.

“I first learned of this incident from local news reports and then communicated

with the 50th Precinct,” Juan Cerezo, director of public safety, said in an emailed statement.

On Jan. 8, Public Safety sent an email to the MC community about this event, stating that the suspect had been arrested and charged.

Public Safety described the email as, “a follow up to the alert sent earlier this week”. This email however was the first and only notice sent out to students, faculty and staff.

This homicide came two months after MC announced that the restaurant chain agreed to accept off campus dining dollars at its location of 5675 Broadway.

With two murders last year, the 50th Precinct reports that murder rates have decreased by 75% between the years 1990 and 2015.

“Even though this incident happened off campus, we still want to remind our students to be aware of their surroundings when off campus and travel in groups whenever possible,” Cerezo said.

The McDonald’s frequently used by students located on 5675 Broadway.

Vanessa Sanchez/The Quadrangle

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The

Letter to

opinions & editorials

Quadrangle www.mcquad.org

The Editor

Vol. 93 Issue 1 Jan. 26, 2016

Ally Hutzler Editor-in-Chief Sean Sonnemann Managing Editor Anthony Capote News Editor Kyleigh Panetta Jack Melanson Asst. News Editors Kieran Rock Features Editor/Managing Editor Tara Marin Asst. Features Editor Lindsey Burns Arts & Entertainment Editor Victoria Hernández Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Daniel Ynfante Sports Editor RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Sports Editor Kristie Killen Social Media Editor Taylor Brethauer Asst. Social Media Editor Vanessa Sanchez Photography Editor Leony Anne McKeown Asst. Photography Editor Kelly Burns Melissa Gallardo Abbi Kirollos Production Editors Daniel Molina Stephen Zubrycky Web Editors Tom Callahan Faculty Adviser

A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism.

The staff of The Quadrangle meets every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in room 412 of the Student Commons.

Contact The Quadrangle at thequad@manhattan.edu The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.

Jan. 26, 2016

Dear Editor, I am writing to address some important points in the recent Quad article, New Student Performance Software Raises Faculty Concerns over Student Privacy, regarding both the benefits Mapworks brings and the safeguards that are in place to ensure student privacy.

Let me begin with the benefits. Banner (Self Service) contains a great deal of information about students, our academic programs and requirements, and many other things. Unfortunately, while Banner is great for holding data, it is not always great at allowing students, faculty, and staff to interact with that data. As a result, we purchase other products (like Degreeworks) that draw data from Banner and allow users to do things (understand and manage their degree requirements in the case of Degreeworks) in ways they could not in Banner.

Mapworks is one such product. It allows faculty, advisors, deans and others to see information they could already see in Banner, but it is presented and managed in a way that is much more usable. That means those who have access to information in Mapworks are better able to use it to advise and support students. In addition to containing data out of Banner, Mapworks has developed a series of surveys, which years of research has shown are very good at identifying specific challenges facing individual students. In total, years of good research attest that Mapworks helps schools better identify student needs and better support students in succeeding. That is why we bought it. And that is why over 100 other colleges and universities, including many strong Catholic schools and other members of New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) use it.

And now let me address the question of data security and student privacy. There are two parts to this—access that people within Manhattan have to the data, and the access Skyfactor (the company that offers Mapworks) has. Regarding access by people at Manhattan, Mapworks allows us to set permission levels for different users to restrict their access to data they need and should have. In this first year, we have set those permissions to mimic the permissions people have in Banner. But the whole issue of permissions is being discussed in various committees across campus and will be vetted by department chairs, deans, and the EAC, which is composed of faculty, students, and administrators. Regarding Skyfactor’s access to the data, the Quad article cited language from the company’s website, but that is not what defines their access—our contract with them does that. Our contract requires that Skyfactor protect the security of any “personally identifiable information” (PII), including and especially each student’s educational records which, in any case, are subject to the protections provided by the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The only thing Skyfactor uses our data for is to better understand how it can predict which factors are important to student success. And it does that data analysis only after “deidentifying” data, i.e. removing any personally identifiable information so that no individual’s data or survey responses may be identified as associated with any particular student. In short, student data is secure and student privacy is protected.

In conclusion, Mapworks is a valuable resource in helping faculty, advisors, deans, and others committed to supporting students in being successful. And, as we do with all of our vendor relationships, we read the fine print very carefully and only sign agreements that protect student data and privacy. Thank you for contributing to informing the campus about Mapworks and for allowing me to share this additional information.

Best regards, Bill Clyde Provost, Manhattan College

Letter from

opinions & editorials

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The Editor

Welcome back! I hope all of our readers enjoyed a relaxing and restorative winter break. As we gear up for a new semester, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as The Quadrangle’s new Editor-in-Chief.

As a communication and English major, I am so proud to be serving as a voice of our campus community. I joined The Quadrangle at the start of my freshman year, and have since served as a staff writer and the assistant features editor. Serving as your Editor-in-Chief will allow me to use my past experience to create the best possible product, both online and in print.

This year, our staff looks to continue the consistency and professionalism that we have provided members of the college community over the past few years. A true hallmark of any newspaper is its commitment to covering the news in a timely and ethical fashion, and The Quadrangle will be no exception.

As we continue to deliver our readers a quality weekly print edition, we will also be putting a greater emphasis on our live website: mcquad.org. With today’s ever-changing media climate it is more important than ever to deliver realtime coverage, and our website and social media platforms will allow us to do just that.

The Quadrangle has an incredible staff this year, and I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to lead them in providing accurate, relevant news coverage to the Manhattan College community.

Sincerely, Ally Hutzler

John Abbatangelo/The Quadrangle

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News

Jan. 26, 2016

Local Cops Save MC Security Guard at Dunkin’ Donuts Anthony Capote Editor

While responding to a radio call to an incident on Johnson Avenue, Officers Roland Benson and his partner Kevin Preiss instead were called into a Dunkin’ Donuts where a man was having a heart attack.

The N.Y.P.D. officers said they were waived down by cab drivers on the corner of 242nd Street and Broadway when they pulled over to see a man having a heart attack in the middle of Dunkin Donuts. Officers Benson and Preiss, who have been partners for 12 years and specialize in those types situations, proceeded to give the victim chest compressions until an ambulance arrived.

“He was laying across the doorway, you couldn’t even get in,” Officer Benson said. “My partner jumped over him and we both got down on our knees and I felt for a pulse, there was no pulse, and his eyes looked like we was dead already.”

The officers began administering CPR until the victim started breathing and waited for an ambulance to arrive.

“It was probably shorter than it seemed, but maybe half a minute or so and he started breathing,” Officer Benson said. “He was gasping out of his mouth and some spit started coming out of his mouth so I was like ’s— this is good.’”

The victim was later identified as Sase N. Singh, a security guard at Manhattan College. Manhattan College’s public safety office declined to comment on Mr. Singh’s condition or the incident, but an unnamed source did confirm that Mr. Singh would

not be returning to his post for some time.

Officer Benson said that he recognized Mr. Singh right away and was still concerned with his condition. He and Officer Preiss work nights and often answer service calls for the 59th Precinct.

“We got him to the hospital OK and we later found out he was a Manhattan College security guard so the next night we went to the security booth and asked how he was doing,” Officer Preiss said. “I’ve always enjoyed the part [of the job] where you actually help someone in need. We do a lot of what you call lift jobs where we help old people that fall out of bed—that’s the kind of thing that I enjoy.”

Officers Benson and Preiss have been on the force for 12 and 20 years respectively and haven been together since Officer Benson graduated form the police academy. The two were even the first on scene for the Metro-North derailment in 2013.

“We were there on Dec. 1, we were about to get off and I was going to get a Christmas tree for my girlfriend,” Officer Benson said. “There’s been a lot of jobs that we laugh about, but that one we don’t laugh about.”

The two officers said they have deep roots in Riverdale and Officer Benson even has a sandwich named after him at Best Deli on 242nd Street and Broadway, down the street from the Dunkin Donuts where they helped save Mr. Singh.

“There’s been a lot of occurrences over the last 12 years that I’d say we remember,” Officer Benson said. “We drive places and I’s say ‘you remember that jacka— there,’ or ‘remember that job over there?’”

From left officers Roland Benson and Kevin Preiss NYPD/Courtesy

Securing Jasper Hall

Jack Melanson Assist. News Editor

Two of Manhattan’s four dormitory buildings on the North Campus are constantly monitored by Public Safety Proctors (Lee and Horan), while the other half, Jasper and Chrysostom fail to share the same safety features and amenities.

“Jasper and Chrysostom Halls are very secure” said Andrew Weingarten, director of residence life in an email statement, “They are monitored and patrolled by Public Safety and Residence Life staff 24 hours/day.”

Lee and Horan Hall both have permanent security at their front doors, as each student that enters must swipe in with their student ID card while being supervised by a Public Safety Official.

AJ Goodman, the assistant director of residence life, also chimed in on the issue. “ There is an enhanced presence of Public Safety Officers in the area [Chrysostom and Jasper] as well as their office is in Jasper.” shared Goodman, “The main booth is also at the head of the driveway leading to Jasper and Chrysostom, which provides a 24/7 presence monitoring foot and car traffic from off-campus to the area of the two buildings.”

A recent incident regarding the security in theses buildings is what sparks this concern, when a male intruder was caught

entering a female bathroom in Jasper Hall.

“The College is finalizing the installation of ID card access control systems on the doors to the female restrooms in both halls.” said Weingarten, “When students return in January these spaces will only be accessible to our female resident students with their ID cards.”

Anne King, who is enjoying her first year as a Jasper Hall resident commented on Manhattan College’s new bathroom security plans. “ I think it’s aggressive and unnecessary.” said King, “ I understand the safety precaution but I don’t think it’s necessary.

Mainly because I don’t wanna bring my ID to shower.”

King shares this believe with many other Jasper Hall residents, who agree that the dormitory building is for the most part a very safe place to live, despite past instances that have occurred. “ Safety wise, I feel is in the students hands. Personally I wouldn’t let a clearly older person or someone that looked shady into the building.” added another Jasper resident, Anthony Richie. “ I think the current system that we have works extremely well.”

Goodman and Weingarten both agree that the most effective way to ensure security in these halls is by students practicing vigilance.

“Students should feel empowered and responsible for notifying someone when they see unfamiliar folks being let in,” said

Goodman.

Weingarten added that familiarity with the community can reduce the risk of missing an intruder on campus.

“Become familiar with the people on your floor and in your community, and don’t let people in who you know don’t

live there,” he said. “Most importantly, let us know if you are ever concerned.”

Students can reach both Public Safety and Residence Life staff 24 hours/day by calling 718-862-7500 or getting the attention of any RA.

One of Manhattan’s four dormitorys, Jasper Hall.

Brett Zingaro/Courtesy

features

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Quick Q&A with the Quad Staff Name: Ally Hutzler Year: Sophomore

Position: Editor-In-Chief

Q. When did you start with the quad?

A. I started with The Quadrangle as soon as I came to Manhattan College. I had an article in the very first issue of that fall semester, it was about the difficult, yet totally awesome, experience of being a freshman. It ended up becoming a weekly column and was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had writing for the paper.

Q. Whats your favorite thing about the quad?

A. Is it corny if I say I love it all? Yeah, I think it is. My favorite things about The Quadrangle are the people I work with and the opportunity to know what is happening around campus at all times.

Q. Favorite Book, TV Show or Movie?

A. As of right now, my favorite book is “I’ll Give You The Sun” by Jandy Nelson. The novel is so alive and beautifully written that the pages practically glow in the dark. My favorite TV show is and always will be “Friends.” It is absolutely timeless.

Q.Most Played Song on Spotify?

A. Anything by Mumford and Sons. Although, I’m kind of going through a Biggie Smalls phase right now. I know I’m a little late to the party but I just saw a documentary on him, and now I’m totally fascinated.

Jonas Strikes Riverdale

Kevin Fuhrmann/The Quadrangle

features

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features

Jan. 26, 2016

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To Jamaica, Haiti, Louisiana and Back: Students Reflect on Their L.O.V.E. Trip

L.O.V.E/Courtesy

Tara Marin Assist. Editor

Manhattan College students are no strangers to humanitarianism. For years, the Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (L.O.V.E.) Program has allowed students to travel to various cities and countries all over the world to build homes, provide disaster clean up, and work with impoverished families.

This month, a handful of students gave up a week of their breaks to lend a hand to those in need. Emily Garren, a sophomore communications major, was one of the students on a trip to Kingston, Jamaica.

Having never gone on a service trip before, she was anxious, but found that it didn’t take long to acclimate once the group had arrived.

“At first it didn’t feel real. We were running on little sleep, yet most days I didn’t feel that tired at all. After just a few days, oddly enough, it felt like my new home. I felt like I had been there for such a long time, and when the week was up, I didn’t want to leave,” Garren said.

What seems to be the most powerful aspect of L.O.V.E. trips is that students get to connect with other people and come back with stories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Garren recalls two people in particular who left a mark on her heart.

“Tiara was a resident of the children’s home and the place we lived for the week, Sophie’s Place. Her big eyes and infectious smile lit up every room she was in.

She used this, and her sassy nature to win over everyone. Jerome was a resident who lived in the Jerusalem property. He had such a kind heart and pure soul, and I feel extremely lucky to have been able to spend time with him. He has this desire and drive to live and love in the best way he can. Jerome can’t walk and had his own special cart to wheel around the property, with only the use of his hands,” Garren said.

“I think what really affected me most about him was when he got out of the cart, walked on his knees, and helped me paint one of the houses. That is something I will never forget,” Garren said.

Trips like these where students are exposed to unfamiliar realities and lifestyles

tend to evoke strong emotions. Having a group of similar people around makes it easier for each person to carry the weight of what they are witnessing and experiencing.

Garren admits she couldn’t have made it through without her group, and attributes the success of it all to Caroline O’Connell and Kate Reuter, who were the students who led the trip, as well as the chaperone, Conor Reidy.

“The amount of work and passion they put into it showed throughout the entire week, and they made every day special.

Every person on my team served a different purpose, and I couldn’t imagine any one of them not being with me there. Our team was definitely an eclectic bunch, but I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Garren said.

Throughout the week, Garren found herself realizing a lot of truths about her own life and understanding life in a way she hadn’t before.

“I find myself, like many others, always rushing from one thing to the next and not appreciating the present moment.

I’ll be doing one task with ten other things

I eventually have to do already preoccupying my mind. During my week spent in Jamaica, I learned the importance of patience and that I must do everything I can to the fullest because I have not only the ability but the opportunity to do so. This trip was so much more than I could have ever expected, and I am very thankful I was afforded this opportunity,” Garren said.

As the week drew to a close, Garren explained that it was difficult for everyone to let go of Jamaica and the Mustard Seed Communities where they had been volunteering, especially because the experience had been so transformational for all of them.

“I know, in my heart, that I will return to Jamaica one day. When that is, I’m not sure, but that was my first time and it certainly won’t be my last. I would one hundred percent recommend this to other students. The beautiful country of Jamaica and it’s wonderful people have a piece of my heart, and I can’t wait to return to my other home,” Garren said.

Mahamoud Diop, an international student from Mali, Africa, was one of the students on the Haiti trip. When his group

arrived in Port-au-Prince, Diop didn’t find it troublesome to adjust, because Haiti felt somewhat like home.

“When I first got to Haiti I was shocked by just how similar it was to African countries in terms of the culture, the people, and the ambiance. So for me, it was easy to quickly adapt to the country and the lifestyle. I felt like I was back in Mali,” Diop said.

Prior to the trip, all Diop knew about Haiti was what he heard on television about the devastating earthquake that hit in 2010.

Throughout his days there, he was able to see how people are still struggling in with its devastation six years later.

“We met a lady who was affected by the earthquake and as not living in the neighborhood called Kanaan 1, which was where many of the people affected by the earthquake relocated to. When they first got there, they were all living in tents, but as time went on they started building their own houses with bricks. It was almost as if the government had abandoned these people and all of the money that was supposed to go towards helping the Haitian people never got to them. The lady lived in a room

twice as small as mine with her find children and two grandchildren. The children slept on the floor, clustered up in this tiny room…

In that moment I felt grateful, but I also felt powerless, because I wished there was more I could do,” Diop said.

In the wake of these feelings, Diop made it his focus to connect with the people there and to do as much as he could with his time and his resources. Witnessing the people’s remarkable ability to find meaning and happiness in spite of having very little left a lasting impression on him.

“I focused on interacting with the people of Haiti and to see what their needs were, and how we could work together to improve their situation. The trip, for me at least, was extremely rejuvenating. It was nice to see how the people of Haiti live. Although the country is marred by a high level of economic poverty, the Haitian people are some of the most talented, courageous, and joyous people I’ve ever met. In Haiti, people prioritize family, education, and community. Leaving the country I felt grateful and motivated to do more in my community,” Diop said.

Many students who embark on L.O.V.E. trips often mention how much they want to

return because of how much they grew, and Diop is another example of this. If he was able to go back again, he says, “I wouldn’t think twice about it.”

Olivia Smith, the leader of the New Orleans trip, was actually still there during her interview, since her group doesn’t arrive home until the day before classes start. Smith said that they have bonded quickly as a team, which is an important way to start the trip.

“We realized after we landed that we had been together for twelve hours straight, which is about how long we had been together during the semester. We’ve all definitely bonded and it’s amazing to watch relative strangers become close friends so quickly,” Smith said.

Smith and her group are working with Project Homecoming in New Orleans, which is an organization dedicated to rebuilding homes which were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.

“The house I’m working on is basically in shambles. The front three rooms are off-limits because the floor might fall through, but the back of the house is in pretty good condition. We’ve been tak-

ing the sheetrock off the walls and ceilings and removing windows, because we’re on the demolition side rather than the building side. It’s fun to get your frustration out hitting walls, though!” Smith said.

Since Smith has been on the New Orleans trip before, she went into this for a second time as a leader, hoping that it can be as impactful for the other students as it was for her. She explains that she has been observing how everyone is reacting to things, because she remembers being in their shoes a year prior.

“I hope that they take away the importance of service, even when it seems like you’re ‘not making a difference.’ I spent seven hours knocking out a wall, which can seem insignificant, but someday somebody will live in that house, and that is amazing. I hope they remember that everything makes a difference, it doesn’t matter how small or insignificant it may feel,” said Smith.

This speaks to a very important element of service work - it’s the small things all together that make up a greater change and a better world, and that’s exactly what the L.O.V.E. program is about.

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arts & entertainment

Jan. 26, 2016

The Internship Series: Applying and Landing the Internship Abi Kloosterman Staff Writer

Congratulations! You’ve landed your dream internship. You went through the interview process and killed it, now all that is left is, well, starting your new job.

In college, especially in New York City, internships are extremely important for your resume, so here’s how to shine bright during that first week.

Erin Cassidy, a senior at Manhattan, landed a spring internship at a huge conglomerate, Viacom. With a major in Communication, minor in English and a concentration in broadcasting, Cassidy utilized every part of her Manhattan College education to break through in the Viacom world. “The core curriculum within the school of arts has been extremely beneficial as well as the electives I have taken,” Cassidy said. “The classes Manhattan offers for the broadcasting concentration is extremely hands-on, so I didn’t feel completely lost when I began my internships.”

When applying, Cassidy did not cut any corners and just went for it. “I’ve always wanted to work at such an amazing conglomerate like Viacom,” she said.

“When applying, I applied on the main Viacom website, and noted that I was interested in Casting and Production,” She then received a call a month later asking for an interview and then was offered the intern position a week later. “I was ecstatic knowing that my dream internship noticed my resume,” Cassidy said.

Throughout her time at Manhattan, Cassidy heard about internships through the Communication Department and when they spoke highly of Viacom, she decided to apply. Because of her professors and the college’s broadcasting concentration, she found several avenues to take when looking for internships.

Within the extremely competitive world of communications and broadcasting, the myth of having to “know someone” in the industry has been completely washed away. “Don’t assume that everyone that landed an internship got it through a connection or ‘knowing someone.’ Go in prepared for your interview, ask questions

and be confident,” she said.

In the next few months Cassidy will be working as an intern with Nickelodeon in the Talent and Casting Department. “During this internship I’ll be coordinating and assisting various Casting Sessions and research new talent of all ages for future projects either for Nick Jr., Nick and Teen Nick,” Cassidy said.

Going into an internship with excitement and eagerness is never a bad idea and learning as much as possible will make that internship experience really last. “What makes me most excited about this internship is the work environment I’ll be around,” Cassidy said. “Having these hands on experiences in

the casting and production world will help me be prepared for the real world.”

No matter what you decide to do within the world of internships, applying for anything and everything is a great way to get interviews and application experience with big companies, which can make future opportunities a little less intimidating. “Apply for as many internships as you can and go for every single interview, even if you don’t want it. All interviewing experience helps,” Cassidy said.

After her first week Cassidy is excited.

“It’s been great so far and I can’t wait to see what the semester has in store for me,” she said.

Erin Cassidy is interning at Nickelodeon this semester.

Erin Cassidy/Courtesy

Growing Art History Major Gives Students Edge in Creative Careers Michelle DePinho Senior Writer

Want a major that will take you on tours of elite artist studios, get you involved with book publishing in your freshman year or maybe set you up to be a dermatologist? Look no further than the art history major at Manhattan College, a small but dedicated (and growing) group of students who say they chose the major for its opportunities, variety and depth.

“Although the major began in 2010, it has grown tremendously due to the profound interest in visual culture by the student body as well as the wonderful resources of New York City and here on campus,” said Mark Pottinger, Ph.D., founder and department chair of visual and performing arts.

The major now has 16 students, some of which say they came to MC with a different path in mind but declared an art history major after taking an introductory course.

Recent art history graduate Kylie Knee thought she wanted to go to law school until she took her first art history course with

Daniel Savoy, Ph.D. and assistant professor of art history.

“It just clicked with me,” Knee said. “I just understood how to draw conclusions out of certain paintings. Taking that class just made me realize that I wanted to take more.”

Now Knee is applying to Ph.D. programs in art history while interning under a curator at the Art Students League in Manhattan.

Freshman Kelsey Quartulli has a similar story. She came to Manhattan College with the intention of earning a communication degree, but just made the switch to art history in her first semester.

“I was in a first year art history class. I fell in love with the professor and the subject matter,” she said. “Art is already something that I’m very passionate about.”

Even as a freshman, she is getting involved in academic work by helping Savoy publish his new book.

Assistant professor of art history, Marisa Lerer, Ph.D. said that this kind of access students have with professors is due to the small size of the major.

“All the professors make ourselves very available,” Lerer said. She also said there

is an emphasis on helping guide students through potential career paths by meeting with them or advising their research projects.

Lerer said she believes the diversity of career choices available to students is another reason students are drawn to studying art history. She said both MC students and students at her previous institution have pursued opportunities with curators, galleries, museums, auction houses, teaching and even medical school.

But drawing students to the major is one thing. Keeping them engaged is another challenge, one that faculty have overcome by being “very progressive in how we teach art history,” Lerer said.

“I like to think that the art history major has been growing because of the new approach to the discipline offered by myself and my colleague, Dr. Marisa Lerer, which focuses on the experiential study of works of art and architecture - through various technological platforms, regular museum and gallery visits, student presentations and debates and study abroad - rather than the memorization of a “Canon” of art-historical masterpieces,” Savoy said.

This student involvement in various non-traditional art experiences have

bridged what they are learning in the classroom to real life, both in NYC and across the globe.

“I had learned about all these works of art and I got to go see it in person,” Knee said of her study abroad trip to Florence, where she took in the local architecture and various museums and galleries.

Adding to the curriculum, professors bring their outside work to the classroom so students can learn more of what’s being done in the art world.

“I am involved with numerous digital art history projects, many of which I integrate into the classroom. One example is the Venice Canal Project, which is a webbased platform that makes available immersive videos of the waterways of Venice and its lagoon,” Savoy said.

Lerer works with curators on exhibits, and said the practical skills she’s acquired there is important to relay back to students.

“When it’s a contemporary exhibition, I explain how curators work with artists,” she said.

The dynamic education and progressive curriculum in art history has majors and students with a casual interest coming back for more and filling up classes quickly.

arts & entertainment

TheTitle: Book Nook “Longbourn”

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Author: Jo Baker Genre: Fiction

Madeleine Schwartz Staff Writer

“Pride and Prejudice” fans, this next one’s for you. “Longbourn” combines Austen’s classic novel with the downstairs servant drama found in “Downton Abbey.”

Baker starts the novel by assuming that the reader has already fallen in literary love with “Pride and Prejudice” and understands the ins and outs of the Bennet household.

It goes without saying that the five Bennet girls, two loving but sometimes quirky parents and all of the social hierarchies that existed in the early 1800’s set the scene in Longbourn.

Instead of reintroducing the familiar characters, Baker writes about the servants who live alongside the Bennet’s and are at their every beck and call. While Austen focuses on the upstairs life filled with parties and matchmaking, Longbourn brings the downstairs to the forefront of the story.

Mr. and Mrs. Hill are the head servants at the Bennet household with Mrs. Hill at the helm. Although she runs a tight ship in the kitchen, Mrs. Hill cares deeply for her two servants Sarah and Polly. She also is a forward thinker, which is mentioned time and time again as social hierarchies and wealth disparities begin to affect not only the upstairs but those below as well.

The newcomer to the story who has a colorful yet secretive past is James. He joins the house and shares little to no information about his prior work experience, which causes a stir with some of the servants. However, once he makes nice with

the others, it turns out that James is the most interesting one of all those downstairs.

Not only does Baker introduce some new and relatable characters to the Austen classic, she does her best to weave them throughout the original wording in “Pride and Prejudice.” Each chapter starts with a quote written by Austen and from there, Baker switches to the servants’ perspective.

The chores that are performed every day in the Bennet household range from serving meals to making soap and starting fires. Every ball with the Bingley’s at Netherfield meant that the ladies’ maids were washing and pressing linens the week before and curling hair the day of.

An even greater state of anxiety and bustle is felt when Mr. Collins came to stay with the Bennets in hopes of securing a wife. Extra rooms have to be made and presentable meals to be served. Furthermore, the future of the entire downstairs rested in the hands of Mr. Collins and his visit as he was the male heir to the Bennet estate. This caused everyone in the house to be on their best behavior no matter where they resided.

Baker’s novel is a wonderful continuation of Jane Austen’s writing. The feelings of patriarchy, family duty, and sense of self are brought to the reader’s mind through the new character lines and plot twists.

Also, to the excitement of the reader, the lives of the upstairs Bennet girls progress and stay true to Austen’s original lines. For a Jane Austen disciple, Longbourn is certainly not one to overlook.

Madeleine Schwartz/Courtesy

Ernest Hemingway Revisits New York Kaiyun Chen Contributor

Ernest Hemingway, a writer during the 20th century, created written pieces well received by many. A new exhibition, Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars, is open for view at the Morgan Library and Museum through Jan. 31, 2016. The showcase displays the life and works of this influential figure in literature.

“This is the first-ever major museum exhibit on Hemingway,” the museum managers of the Communication and Marketing Department said. They clarified that in order to fulfill the Morgan mission to “preserve, build, study, present and interpret a collection of extraordinary quality,” the museum organizes public displays of works right in the city. The Morgan established partnership with the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum for the collection of Hemingway’s works to travel from Boston to New York.

The exhibition starts with a Hemingway quote from one of his interviews, “I always wanted to be a writer.” This statement is supported by the presentation of Hemingway’s first published written piece for his high school newspaper. Walking into the display room, the viewer explores Hemingway’s life through his literary works. From his first published book, “Three Stories and Ten Poems,” to his last book, “The Old Man and the Sea,” one is guided through Hemingway’s life from high school to death.

Fond of Hemingway’s work, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of “The Great Gats-

by,” realized the need to mentor and promote him. The strict criticism through edits on drafts revealed Fitzgerald’s assistance for this new writer and their developing friendship.

According to the exhibit, some of his most significant experiences in life were the wars he lived through. In 1925, Hemingway told Fitzgerald, “War is the best subject of all.” Participating in both World War I and World War II, Hemingway continued to write, often referencing his own wartime experiences.

Throughout the exhibit, one can see the way Hemingway’s thoughts flowed. The viewer observes how his ideas developed from one draft to the next. The works were

written not only on worn out notebooks, but notepaper from the American Red Cross and even telegram sheets. Wherever he traveled, whatever went on, Hemingway had ideas and thoughts, and any paper available became useful for his recording.

The exhibit also points out Ernest Hemingway’s visit to New York In Feb. 1926. Documents reveal the encounter between Dorothy Parker, an American writer, and Hemingway, a rare visitor of the city. Later in her article, “The Artist’s Reward,” written for the New Yorker, she states that Hemingway “avoids New York because he known it’s not good for him.”

It was a place too full of busy people and

filled up schedules, according to Hemingway. In a letter written by Hemingway in 1923, he stated he “wouldn’t live in [New York] for anything.”

This exhibition brings Hemingway’s soul to New York. The showcase allows the viewers to take time off their busy schedules and gather to enjoy his literary works.

With the advantage of free admission on Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the museum is a fantastic place to visit. Located on 225 Madison Ave. at 36th Street less than one hour by train from Manhattan College, the original works of various great artists, photographers, and writers are exposed for both research opportunities and simple pleasure.

The Ernest Hemingway: Between Two Wars exhibit at The Morgan Library Kaiyun Chen/Courtesy

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sports

Jan. 26, 2016

Tom O’Connor Joins Staff As New Interim Athletic Director

Continued from page 1

search, possibly the search committee …

It’s really too soon, but we’ll certainly be working to establish that in the near future and I think he will certainly be able to assist us with his years of experience and his consulting firm.”

O’Connor has an excellent track record for not only improving athletic performance, but in building an academic culture amongst students. He considers himself a mentor to many of the students placed under his care. While serving as athletic director at George Mason, his student-athletes excelled in the classroom, highlighted by four Patriots who received National CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition.

“Just an ideal person to lead our department and to be a mentor to our student athletes,” Satterlee said about O’Connor.

“Both athletically and academically. He had four academic All-Americans at George Mason so that’s a really exciting piece for us because our emphasis is on the total student-athlete experience, and the classroom is so important.”

The New Jersey native is a grandfather of ten, and said that Manhattan’s proximity to his family also played a factor in his decision to come back to work. Since his retirement in 2014, O’Connor has spent much time with his family, but saw the opportunity to help Manhattan by accepting the position.

O’Connor also said he isn’t concerned for how long the search for a new athletic director takes and that he is more concerned with accomplishing a variety of goals in his tenure. Among those issues he will address are matters relating to infrastructure, organizational charts, and continuing to

improve academics.

“There’s no timetable on the search so with that in mind, whatever is needed to be done to keep moving forward with the program is important in my mind,” O’Connor said. “I’m not looking to say ‘I have one foot out the door. Let’s go back to what I was doing. …’ I’m looking more at it as what needs to be done, rather than a timeframe.”

In his illustrious career, O’Connor, who also served as the athletic director at Loyola (Md.) University, Santa Clara University and St. Bonaventure University, chair of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship committee, and president of Athletic Solutions Consulting. His latest title will be athletic director at Manhattan College, replacing LeFevre, who had been named to position in 2014, following the retirement of Robert J. Byrnes.

In almost two years at the school, LeFevre actively sought improvements for the athletic department. Among the many changes under his helm were the redesigns of the basketball and volleyball courts, the replacement of the women’s tennis program with women’s rowing, the creation of a new broadcast studio, and the partnership with Learfield Sports.

It is unclear what led to LeFevre’s departure and O’Connor’s subsequent hiring.

However, Satterlee in both a press release and an interview on Jan. 19, expressed his gratitude for LeFevre’s accomplishments at the helm.

“We really appreciate his contribution,” Satterlee said about LeFevre, “and at the same time look forward to Mr. O’Connor providing leadership for the department and moving us forward.”

O’Connor will lead the athletic department in the search for a new athletic director.

Go Jaspers/ Courtesy O’Connor has only been in charge since Jan.11, but in his short amount of time on campus, has been impressed with Manhattan College.

“Everybody I met has been absolutely wonderful,” O’Connor said. “I know that they’re very dedicated to moving forward

with the program. I just have marveled at the fact that people are not afraid to work, they have good ethics, a high sense of integrity, and it’s nice to be around people …

It’s people that make a college and people that make an athletic program.”

Follow @mcquadsports Your New Home for Manhattan College Sports!

sports

Winter Recap RikkiLynn Shields Assist. Editor

Starting up the second semester after a long winter break is never easy.

However, moving in early, training hard every day, and competing over the break is what being an athlete is all about.

While all of the NARP’S (Non-athletic Regular People) were at home spending time with friends and family, some of Manhattan College’s athletes moved in weeks ago, and spent their time working, with no time for play.

The men’s basketball team played a number of games over winter intersession.

Perhaps the highlight of the break for the team was this past Thursday, when the men played aggressive and defeated Monmouth University with a score of 78-71. The game drew a huge crowd, and the Manhattan College students weren’t the only ones that were a part of the audience. The game was shown on ESPN3 as well.

The men’s basketball team’s record stands at 8-10, with six of their eight wins having come during the intersession. The team has won five of its last seven, and five of its last six home games. The team

returns home on Feb. 2 to take on Rider University.

With a loss against American University and another loss against Iona after a 12-day break, the women’s basketball team came back with a win over Fairfield University, with a score of 77-55. The last time Manhattan beat Fairfield before this game was on Feb. 25, 2011. The next three games against Siena, Marist, and Fairfield resulted in losses for the women’s team, however, it came back with two wins against Iona, 6356, and Saint Peter’s, 64-47. Against Saint Peter’s, Amani Tatum recorded 11 steals, one shy of the MAAC record. The women will play their next game at Monmouth on Feb. 2.

Manhattan College’s Winter Track and Field team moved in in early January, with just enough time to prepare for two meets it would be competing in. The hard work showed when the Jaspers competed for the first time in over a month, at the Spartan Regional Invitational meet at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, NY., on Jan. 15.

The highlights of the meet included Blerim Pocesta, who set an Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex facility record in the

men’s weight throw. Bobby Gebhard came in second place in long jump, jumping 7.03m, qualifying him for the IC4A Championships.

For the women, Jasmine Davis ran a 25.44 second 200m. Ellinor Persson took second in the 60m hurdles and first in the long jump, and Marissa Robbins cleared 11’8 in pole vault, securing her spot in first place.

Manhattan’s relay teams also showed no mercy at this meet. The men took first place in the 4x200m, 4x400m, and the distance medley relays. The Jasper women also took first and second place in the distance medley relays, second place in the 4x400m relay, and third in the 4x800m relay. The Jaspers won 11 events at the Spartan Regional Invitational and three of the team members were named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Performers of the Week. John Dove was selected for his performance on the track, Blerim Pocesta for his performance on the field, and Marissa Robbins was named Women’s Field Performer of the Week.

This past weekend at the New York City Gotham Cup, Manhattan’s track and field team had a decent showing.

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Marissa Robbin’s took first place in pole vault. On the track, Kelly Gorman grabbed third place in the 4x800m relay along with Erin Spadaccini, Alexa Roda, and Kaitlyn Smith. For the men’s team, Amir Khagani took second place in the 5000m run, and Tom Dilberto finished fourth in the 3000m run.

Manhattan was supposed to host the Brother Jasper Invitational at Draddy Gymnasium this past Saturday, however, due to the harsh weather conditions, the meet was canceled and with no plans to be rescheduled. The women will compete this weekend in Boston at the John Thomas Terrier Classic.

Off the court and the field, Noah LeFevre moved on from his position as athletic director, and Manhattan College welcomed Tom O’Connor as the new interim athletic director. Manhattan College will search for a new athletic director during O’Connor’s tenure, but do not have a timetable to hire someone.

With some changes and the hard work put in by the athletes over winter break, Manhattan College is ready to start the year off well.

The women’s basketball team went 4-5 during the winter break.

Kevin Fuhrmann/ The Quadrangle

Sports

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Manhattan’s Tenacious Ten

RaShawn Stores is having a career-year for the Jaspers.

Kevin Fuhrmann/ The Quadrangle.

Daniel Ynfante Editor

This article was written before Manhattan’s game against Saint Peter’s on Jan. 25. Stats accurate as of Jan. 24.

The Manhattan Jaspers knew it would be an arduous task to win their third consecutive MAAC Championship.

The loses of Emmy Andujar, Donovan Kates, and Ashton Pankey would be hard to replace. The Iona Gaels would still be a force to be reckoned with. The emergence of the Monmouth Hawks as a legitimate title-contender wouldn’t make things easier either. And of course, a difficult season in the MAAC would be the norm.

But what the Jaspers didn’t expect was a campaign as strange as this one has been; A season that has been riddled with injuries and departures from the team. After starting the season with 14 players on the roster, the Jaspers are down to just 10 healthy bodies.

What to many teams would seem like an insurmountable hurdle, has just become an added chip on the shoulders of the backto-back champs, who are as hungry as ever to win another title. Manhattan’s Tenacious Ten: Samson Akilo, Thomas Capuano, Calvin Crawford, Matt Maloney, Shane Richards, Chris Rivera, RaShawn Stores, Zane Waterman, Rich Williams, and Tyler Wilson have played with a grit and a drive this season that has been appreciated by head coach Steve Masiello.

“I’m happy with what they’re giving us,” Masiello said about his team after a win against Niagara on Jan. 17. “We understand we’re undermanned. We’re only playing seven or eight guys. That’s not what we’ve ever done here. We’ve always played 10 or 11, but we’re doing a good job adjusting and changing as we go.”

The trimmed roster and lack of depth has given several Manhattan players a chance to shine with more playing time.

Perhaps no one on the team has benefited more than Capuano, a freshman who figured to be a contributor to the team at the start of the season, but not a player who would average 26.3 minutes per game.

The guard has made the most of his opportunity, averaging 1.7 steals per game—good enough for second in the MAAC—and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. At times throughout the season, Capuano has closed out games for the Jaspers, and has demonstrated a poise and intelligence that is rare in a 19-year old.

His biggest moment came on Jan. 22 against Monmouth, when he scored 11 points and notched two steals, including the dagger three as the shot clock expired, which gave the Jaspers a five-point lead in the final minute of the game.

“I’m just trying to do anything I can to help the team,” Capuano said after the win against Monmouth. “Whatever it is, on defense or pretty much hit open shots. I’m glad that I got this opportunity.”

Capuano, much like players such as Akilo, Crawford and Waterman, have moved up in the pecking order thanks to injuries and departures.

The departure of Jermaine Lawrence at the start of the season was the first in a chain of unfortunate events for the 20152016 Jaspers. His absence, coupled with numerous injuries, contributed to a slow start to the campaign.

But then, things got even worse. Carlton Allen left the team on Dec. 14, leaving the team thin on big men. One of the potential replacements for Allen, Ak Ojo, was dealing with nagging injuries at the time, making matters even more com-

plicated. On Jan. 15, after a loss against Canisius, Masiello confirmed that Ojo, along with fellow Nigerian Samson Usilo, would miss the rest of the season.

“Those are two of our top probably six guys,” Masiello said about losing Ojo and Usilo. “But no excuses will ever justify failure, so we have to figure it out and keep moving.”

The Jaspers have done just that, getting the most out of their 10-man roster. Players like Williams and Wilson, two of the eight scholarship student-athletes on the team, have made the leap from contributors to key cogs in the lineup.

Williams has made a strong case for the MAAC’s Sixth Man of the Year award, averaging a career high 15.7 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game. Wilson leads the MAAC with 5.8 assists per game, and has paced Manhattan’s defense with 1.4 steals per game.

Alongside Williams and Wilson are the leaders of the team in Richards and Stores, who have been crucial to Manhattan’s success. Richards ranks among the leaders in the MAAC in points per game and 3-pointers made, while Stores continues to do what he does best. The veteran point guard keeps playing intense defense, drawing charges at important times in the game, and hitting big-time shots. So far, Stores is averaging career-high numbers all across the board in field goal percentage, 3-point percentage, rebounds per game, assists per game, points per game, and steals per game.

However, Stores know that he and Manhattan can still improve.

“We could get better,” Stores said on Jan. 17, “a lot better. Right now we’re going through growing pains. We have to get the younger guys ready and we’ll be fine.”

Stores’ career-year has been vital for

Masiello, who has always been able to count on Stores’ defense and big-shot making ability, but has asked him to play a new role this year due to the loss of many players.

“The reality of it is we’re missing three of our top starters, if not three of our top six definitely,” Masiello said after a win against Siena on Jan. 4. “You put any team, I don’t care what level, in that situation, it takes you a while to find out who you are, how to grind. RaShawn’s grind with Emmy [Andujar] and AP Pankey] is a lot different than his grind this year. RaShawn’s grind when we had Jermaine [Lawrence], Sammy Usilo and Ojo was a lot different, so he has to adjust his grind I have to adjust how I approach the team. Shane [Richards] has to adjust how he leads the team, so I think we’re finding out what works.”

But Stores and Manhattan’s Tenacious Ten have acclimated well to their new roles. The group has won five of the last seven and has the Jaspers in fifth place in the MAAC, just two games behind conference-leading Iona.

Manhattan’s 5-4 record is deceiving, as the team has lost three conference games by five or less points. Masiello believes that the Jaspers could easily be 7-2 or 8-1.

But regardless of their record, he knows his team will be dangerous come tournament time.

“I like being where we are,” Masiello said on Jan. 17. “What happens is that you just get better and get better. Human nature is that you get a team that’s 4-4 and you’re going to exhale. Monmouth is not sneaking up on anyone. Iona is not sneaking up on anyone. I’m not saying we’re going to sneak up on anyone. … I’ve been doing this long enough to know that eventually you get those. So let’s just hope we get them at the right time.”