CampusMinistryandSocialActionhostedapre-Thanksgivingpiedayto celebrategratitudebeforestudentsleftforbreak.
SenateMeetingReveals NeedforStudent Representation,Reforms andDevelopmenton Campus
Erioluwa Akin-Salami Contributor
On Nov. 18, Manhattan University’s Senate held its second meeting of the semester, in which the primary topic discussed was students both on and off campus, including study abroad and foreign exchange students. Discussions were raised about past events, voting and future reforms within the senate.
The meeting encouraged discussion amongst the members on the need for
more student representation in the organization, emphasizing that one of their main goals on campus is to be a voice for the students of MU.
Recently, senate members voiced concerns when more than five of the seats set aside for students went unoccupied, with students not showing signs of interest to join.
“There are more than five vacant seats for students,”
Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management Amir Masoumi said. “Students do not seem to be interested in joining the senate, but if you can tell students you see to join, it will help and is good
for their resumes.”
Beginning next semester, the senate and student government will merge together in “The Senate x Student Government Association,” an initiative created by senior and Student Vice President of the O’Malley School of Business Andrew Berg, to amplify the voices of students on campus. The association will be used to prevent further miscommunication between the two vital organizations.
“The Senate x Student
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
MollyBrett Appointed New Director ofAlumni Relations
Leyla J. Mercado & Barbara Vasquez
Arts & Entertainment Editor & Production / Web Editor
Molly Brett ‘23 has been appointed as the new director of Alumni Relations at Manhattan University. Brett attained the role after working as assistant director of the department and will follow in the footsteps of previous director Louis Calvelli.
Calvelli, who defined his biggest struggle in the position as fostering engagement with alumni while in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, spoke to what accomplishments he is most proud of from his tenure.
“What really stands out is how we strengthened connections across generations of alumni,” Calvelli said. “We expanded regional events, reached out to more young alumni, created new ways for people to get involved and built affinity groups in Law and Public Policy, Business and Engineering. Coordinating closely with the deans of our three schools was a highlight and we also built strong collaborations across campus with Career Services, Student Engagement, Admissions and many more.”
Through these efforts,
Calvelli encouraged alumni to feel connected to both one another and the life of Manhattan University in the present day. With Brett taking on his position, Calvelli spoke to his confidence in her being the perfect person to succeed him.
“Molly has such great energy and creativity, and she really understands our alumni community,” Calvelli said. “She connects with people across generations, cares deeply about her fellow Jaspers and about Manhattan University and she lives out our Lasallian Catholic values. She’s collaborative, thoughtful, and has a clear vision for where alumni engagement can go. I couldn’t imagine a better person to take on this role.”
With their transition of roles being smooth and collegial, Brett and Calvelli have worked closely with one another to share insights and strategies.
Brett, who started working in the alumni relations office a few months after graduating from MU, has grown from alumni relations coordinator to her current director role.
“In just two years, I’ve learned so much about our alumni community, the importance of relationship-
Volume CXII, Issue 13 DECEMBER 2, 2025
The Editorial Board
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Emmanouel Sofillas Managing Editor
Laili Shahrestani Features Editor
Leyla Mercado Arts & Entertainment Editor
Barbara Vasquez
Maizy Swift Production Editors
Amy Forster Asst. Production Editor
Mary Haley Marketing Chair
Brooke Della Rocco News Editor
Mary Haley Asst. Features Editor
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Owen McWalters Asst. Sports Editor
Barbara Vasquez Web Editor
Maizy Swift
Elaina Batista Asst. Social Media Editors
Thom Gencarelli Faculty Advisor
LETTER from the EDITOR
Dear Readers,
53 issues published, 42 stories of my own written, and my time as Editor-inChief has officially come to a close.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to eloquently put into words what these past two years as Editor-in-Chief have meant to me. I carry an immense sense of pride and privilege in the work and mission of The Quadrangle – one that will stay with me long past my last day on this paper. I’ve been reminded week after week and issue after issue why journalism, especially student journalism, matters. This newsroom of ours has given students a voice, demanded accountability and continued to preserve campus history in its 100th and 101st years. Being a part of that work has made me fall in love with this profession, and has been the greatest honor of my college career. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to express just how grateful I am to those who entrusted me with this job. It is because of you that I found my future path and passion.
A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan University. 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 opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the University or the student body.
Join The Quadrangle
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There are so many people who have been a part of this journey, supporting me over the past two years who deserve their flowers. Angelina Persaud – the first news editor who taught me so much of what I know, and my amazing managing editor for 2024 – thank you for always being there for every text, even after you graduated. Your voice was one of the loudest from the sidelines in both the best and hardest weeks, and I couldn’t have asked for someone better to have as my true right hand. To my predecessors Kyla Guilfoil and Jocelyn Visnov, thank you for both acting as mentors and support systems for me since the first day I stepped foot into this newsroom, and for continuing that even long after you had taken your final steps on this campus. I truly mean it when I say I could not have done it without you. I promise that the time you always made for meaningful conversations and guidance was not wasted, and I cannot wait to do the same for this next generation.
To the 2024 and 2025 Quadrangle staffs, thank you for not only putting your trust in me, but for being a group that I could wholeheartedly trust in return. You were the reason I showed up the way I did every week, no matter what else had to be pushed aside. You have made me an incredibly proud journalist and EIC, and every win I’ve received praise for over these past two years is as much yours as it is mine.
To the campus community: those who answered my calls, took meetings, and supported The Quadrangle through both funding and readership – thank you. Though this letter would be miles long if I listed every name, please know that you have not, and will not, be forgotten as I move forward from this position and this publication.
Now, I find myself with the profound honor of formally introducing to the campus community my successors for 2026, Laili Shahrestani and Barbara Vasquez. These two women and journalists are truly powerhouses in their own respects, and I could not be more confident leaving this paper in their capable hands. The final honor I’ll have in this position is knowing that I’ll get to watch what they do with it.
To you two, my message is simple: Let’s do journalism.
For one last time,
Grace Cardinal
Editor-in-Chief
building and the impact this office can have across
campus,” Brett said. “I always credit my ability to do this work to the education I received at Manhattan. Even as a business school student, the liberal arts foundation ensured I graduated as a
well-rounded individual. I took classes in everything from personal wellness and religion to sociology, speech, psychology and English. I like to think every Manhattan graduate leaves here knowing a little about everything, while being an expert in their chosen field. That blended educational experience shaped me both personally and professionally, and it’s a big part of why I am so happy to serve the community that helped form me.”
Georgia Flynn ‘25, the assistant director of alumni relations, has worked closely with Brett throughout her time in the role. Just like Brett, she joined the team as a recent graduate of MU. As young alumni, they hope they can offer relevant and valuable insight in their roles.
“The alumni relations team is now two recent Manhattan grads, both young women!” Flynn wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “I’m excited for us to bring our personal
experiences and ideas while honoring and building on the department’s traditions.”
Honing in on the younger alumni demographic is something that Brett hopes to continue working on in her role as director. Flynn shares a similar vision for the future of the department.
“I see an opportunity to grow engagement, particularly among young alumni,” Flynn wrote. “By continuing to build upon our events, making them better each year, we can create experiences that alumni look forward to as a chance to reconnect with their college friends. Over time, we can boost attendance and long term involvement.”
Brett wants all alumni, both present and future, to know that they still have a home to return to at MU. With the events offered through the alumni relations office, there are a number of ways to stay involved with the university.
“I want our alumni to feel
encouraged to come back and mentor, volunteer and share their expertise with current students,” Brett said. “Most importantly, I want every graduate to know that they have a whole support system here, one that doesn’t end at Commencement. Life at Manhattan doesn’t stop after you graduate; you just enter a new chapter of it.”
StudentSenateMeetingRevealsNeedfor DevelopmentRepresentation,Reformsand onCampus
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Government Association Act has successfully passed the vote,” Berg said. “It will be a voice to the students and my hope is that after I graduate, this is something that can evolve and go further.”
Senator Mehnaz Afridi, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, expressed her concerns with student representation.
“You know that I have supported this idea since you [Berg] brought it up,” Afridi said. “We’re already having trouble getting students to represent in the senate and we will all ideally like to see this happen, but where are we getting the representatives?”
On the topic of student’s engagement on campus, Kristell Lowe, vice president of Student Life, was excited to share the success of the events her department has hosted this semester.
“101 programs were held between August and October, and Student Engagement has
hosted 315 events since the beginning of the semester up until Oct. 24,” Lowe said. “47 students went to the Jets game, 25 students went to see the Giants and students have told me that Manhattan Madness was a big success.”
Lowe went on to discuss students’ decreased use of the facilities and dining options in Kelly Commons and her desire to replace the recently closed down Starbucks with a healthy meal option to contrast the current options available there.
“This semester there has been reduced traffic in Kelly Commons, in fact, 80% of students’ meal swipes are used in Lockes,” Lowe said. “We are looking to add something new and it is most likely going to be a healthier option; probably an acai and smoothie bowls place.”
Masoumi continued the conversation to speak about the recent Open House that happened on Saturday, Nov. 15, saying that there was an exponential increase in satisfaction from both the students and staff by the
outcome of the event.
“I believe that this Open House was the most successful yet,” Masoumi said. “I commend everyone who worked together to ensure the success of the event.”
Senator Ricardo Dello Buono, Executive Director of the Office of Global Engagement and Study Abroad, and professor of sociology at Manhattan University, explained that due to a lack of study abroad opportunities for engineering students, he’s left many with unanswered questions.
“These are the kinds of questions we get asked and while we invite them to take elective classes there is nothing for engineering students,” Dello Buono said. “We are trying to resolve the issue but many times we have [abroad] schools offering the same course, with the same textbook, but the credits do not transfer due to us…which can be frustrating.”
Buono shared with the senate a possible solution to this issue as MU looks
MU’s recent Open House event for proespective students. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY
into collaborating with two universities abroad.
“We make no promises but we are looking to solve this issue,” Dello Buono said. “We have plans to work with the University [Universidad]
De La Salle in Columbia and University De La Salle Barcelona, credited for electrical engineering.”
The senate hopes to have more solutions by the next meeting.
Lou Calvelli, pictured, is leaving his role as the director of alumni relations. MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
PaulHarrisonNamed 2025IEEEPES ScholarshipPlusInitiative Recipient
Emmanouel Sofillas Managing Editor
Paul Harrison, a junior Manhattan University student in the School of Engineering, has been selected as a 2025 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power & Energy Society (PES) Scholarship Plus Initiative Recipient, a prestigious honor accompanied by a $10,000 stipend.
The IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization, supports more than 486,000 engineering and STEM professionals globally with a mission of advancing technological innovation for the benefit of humanity. The PES Scholarship is awarded to high-achieving undergraduate students in electrical engineering programs who demonstrate strong potential to contribute to the future of the power and energy industry. Recipients must be U.S. or Canadian citizens, a requirement tied to addressing the aging workforce across the sector.
Harrison, a native of Carmel, New York, originally envisioned a future in law. Instead, his involvement in high school stage crew— working with electrical and sound systems—set him on an unexpected engineering path.
“Originally, I was actually in computer engineering,” Harrison said in an interview with The Quadrangle. “I started programming and realized it wasn’t really what I liked. A mentor introduced me to the energy industry and the challenges with the grid, and that’s when I realized I really wanted to be an electrical engineer.”
Harrison is pursuing a B.S. in electrical engineering with concentrations in power grids, green energy and applied artificial intelligence.
Harrison is also a MU Trustee Scholar, an honor awarded to students in the top 5% of the applicant pool, and a member of the Gamma Alpha chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, placing him among the top quarter of electrical engineering students at the university. He also serves as vice president of the IEEE Manhattan University Student Branch and president of the 7x24 Exchange Student Chapter, promoting awareness of the mission-critical/data center industry with a focus on energy efficiency and cooling.
Harrison credits MU’s alumni network and supportive faculty for helping him reach this milestone, as news of this scholarship excited him.
The scholarship’s structure—$3,000 awarded in each of the first two years and $4,000 in the third—has also strengthened his motivation to
continue his education.
“It’s a huge motivation,” Harrison said. “It will help me financially pursue my master’s and do what I ultimately want to do: work on electrical infrastructure, anything gridrelated, anything power-energy related.”
Faculty and student leaders in the IEEE chapter emphasized the scholarship’s significance.
Rwan Farag, senior electrical engineering major and chair of the IEEE chapter at MU, noted the pride felt within the chapter.
“I’m proud of him,” Farag said. “It’s a big achievement, and it represents the school in a better way.”
Kyle Burdick, an electrical engineering GTA involved with the student chapter, explained that faculty and chapter leadership work to ensure students hear about opportunities like this one.
“We do our best whenever we hear about scholarship opportunities,” Burdick said. “Professors send them out, and we advertise them as much as possible… It’s about confidence and community.”
Kathryn Jablokow, Ph.D., dean of the School of Engineering, praised Harrison’s academic performance, leadership and research contributions.
“Paul’s achievements thus far are a testament to his
academic abilities, his leadership skills and his research activities with our electrical engineering faculty,” Jablokow said. “The Jasper network continues to support our current students, positioning them to become leaders in their chosen fields.”
For the IEEE chapter and the university, Harrison’s recognition highlights the commitment of students and faculty to excellence in engineering education and professional development. Harrison plans to
pursue a master’s degree after graduation. His longterm career goals center on improving the nation’s electrical grid and advancing micro-grid technologies for data centers.
“A dream job would be working on grid infrastructure or doing micro-grid work for data centers to lessen their strain on the grid,” Harrison said. “I want to make a positive, lasting impact in my field and hope to give back by becoming an adjunct professor.”
Photo of Paul Harrison. MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
Manhattan Caucus: The Epstein Files Transparency Act Passed by Congress
On Nov. 18, the U.S. Congress passed a bill ordering the U.S. Department of Justice to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein. The bill requires the DOJ to publish the files in a searchable and downloadable format, as Congress approved the release of the files by a final vote of 427–1.
The Epstein files generally refers to the collection of government documents and physical evidence related to the investigation of the late American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The materials include information about his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including flight logs, travel records, individuals and entities connected to Epstein. Epstein was awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges when he took his own life in his jail cell in August of 2019.
In the vote brought to the chambers, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La. was the only lawmaker to vote against it. The bill suggests that the DOJ must
publish the material within 30 days, but the documents related to live investigation will remain confidential.
“If enacted in its current form, this type of broad reveal of criminal investigative files, released to a rabid media, will absolutely result in innocent people being hurt,” Higgins wrote on X.
When U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, was asked about the Epstein files during an unrelated press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, she stated, “We’ll continue to follow the law with maximum transparency, while protecting the victims.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson declared the effort to reveal the Epstein files a, “Democrat hoax” on multiple occasions. Yet, on the Nov. 18 vote, he voted in favor of release.
The day before the House and Senate passed the bill to release the files, Epstein’s brother, Mark Epstein, claimed in an interview that FBI Director Kash Patel was involved in a cover-up. He also said that a reliable source told him the files were being
scrubbed of any “Republican names.” However, there is no evidence backing these claims made by Mark Epstein.
Reps. Thomas Massie (RKY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA) in July of 2025. This bipartisan duo co-authored the legislation and the votes from both chambers exceeded their expectations.
“EFTA’s passage brings Epstein’s victims one step closer to receiving justice and Americans one step closer to receiving transparency,” Massie said following its
passing.
Still, the release of the files may not be fully comprehensive, as the legislation allows the Justice Department to withhold sensitive victim information and any material that could compromise an ongoing investigation.
The U.S. government had already released Epstein-related flies in February, dubbed the “first phase”, which included the “Evidence List,” a catalog of material allegedly obtained during searches of Epstein’s properties in New York and the United States Virgin Islands
following his arrest in 2019, as well as a search of his Palm Beach mansion.
According to the evidence list, the remaining goods include 40 computers and electrical gadgets, 26 storage drives, more than 70 CDs, and six recording devices. According to the Justice Department, they all include more than 300 terabytes of material in total.
In what condition the files will be presented is to be determined.
Elaina Batista
Asst. Social Media Editor
The
TheAlbanianStudent AssociationCelebrates 113YearsofAlbanian Independence
Laili Shahrestani
Features Editor
On Nov. 12, the Albanian Student Association at Manhattan University held their annual Independence Day event in Smith Auditorium, celebrating 113 years of Albanian independence. This year marked the fourth time the celebration has been held on campus, gathering over 140 attendees to an evening filled with music, dancing, food, speeches and Albanian culture.
Albania first gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Over a century later, many Albanians today honor the holiday by acknowledging the fight for independence as a lasting symbol of strength, resilience and victory, as well as partaking in celebratory events.
Eleni Mazija ‘25, the founder of the Albanian Student Association, shared a little about what her country’s independence means to her, and what makes the day so special.
“Albanian Independence Day represents the hardships our ancestors endured so that we could have a free country, and it reminds me of the strength and resilience woven into our history,” Mazija wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “As someone who left the small town of Suka Dajçit, Shkodër [Albania] at age six, it connects me deeply to my roots and to the sacrifices my parents made … 16 years later in America, I carry their courage with me, and I feel proud seeing how far Albanians around the world have come.”
Lukas Gojcaj, a junior and the president of the Albanian Student Association, added onto Mazija’s point, emphasizing how Independence Day serves as a day of remembrance for the Albanians who took part in the fight for independence many years ago.
“I always viewed this day as a celebration of all the hard work and perseverance that the Albanian people went through,” Gojcaj said. “They
had to fight very hard for their independence, and even after they won it, they still had to fight really hard to maintain it.”
The Albanian Independence Day celebration served as a charity event, donating 100% of their proceeds to the Open Hand Association. Mazija highlighted how it felt rewarding to know all of the profits earned that evening would go toward a good cause.
“This was a mission-based event, with 100% of our profits being donated to the Open Hand Association in the Bronx – a food pantry that provides food, clothing, wheelchairs and essential supplies to people in need,” Mazija wrote in an email. “Knowing our celebration could also give back to the community made the entire process even more fulfilling.”
Kristina Camaj, a senior and the vice president of the Albanian Student Association spoke more about how the event was mission-based, and had a goal to help people in need.
“We raised around $1,000, which all went toward the charity … they have food pantries, fundraisers and basically just help out people in need,” Camaj said. “The president of the charity also gave a speech, thanking our board members for being kind enough to raise money for the charity … it made all of the effort we put in worth it.”
At the event, both Albanian and non-Albanian students came together to celebrate. The event was open to individuals from all backgrounds to come learn more about Albania’s heritage, and engage in some of their cultural practices.
Mazija spoke to this, explaining how her goal was to foster a welcoming environment for all, encouraging non-Albanian students to experience a bit of Albanian culture.
“The traditional music, dancing and food created an authentic, welcoming environment that allowed everyone, not just Albanians, to experience the beauty of our culture,” Majiza wrote. “Albanians are known for our
hospitality, and we wanted to incorporate that same warmth by welcoming people the way we would in our own homes.”
Mazija highlighted the importance of hospitality in Albanian culture and the value of welcoming in non-Albanians by sharing a traditional Albanian quote.
“I want to highlight a saying that reflects the heart of who we are as Albanians - ‘Shtëpia e shqiptarit është e Zotit dhe e mikut,’” Mazija wrote. “This saying represents one of our most cherished values – that an Albanian’s home is always open to God and to every guest who enters with respect … We want everyone to feel the warmth Albanians are known for.”
Throughout the night, traditional dances were performed, ILSI Ademi [an Albanian music artist] sang, speeches were conducted and cultural food was served. Jorgesti Preldakaj, a sophomore and the secretary of the Albanian Student Association, emphasized how the event emulated the feeling of what it truly means to be Albanian.
“Being born and raised in Albania, this day means a lot to me,” Preldakaj said. “It reminds me of home, our history and the pride that shaped who I am. The music, dancing, food and overall energy of the room really brought our culture to life, and gave everyone a true taste of what being Albanian feels like.”
At one point throughout the night, both Albanian and non-Albanian students joined together to carry out a traditional Albanian dance. Mazija mentioned how this moment felt incredibly meaningful to her, representing unity and a blending of cultures.
“We opened the floor to music, food and traditional Albanian dancing, which filled the room with so much joy and unity,” Mazija wrote. “Watching Albanian and non-Albanian students later join hands in the valle [an Albanian folk dance] felt like a beautiful celebration of culture, community and the growth of everything we’ve built.”
With such a huge turnout, members of the Albanian Student Association explained how several other Albanian Clubs around the Tri-state area made the trip over to the Manhattan University campus to celebrate with the greater community.
Gojcaj spoke to this, emphasizing how Albanians like to always show up for one another.
“Us Albanians are very supportive of each other,” Gojcaj said. “A lot of the people that were there were not from Manhattan University, and actually traveled pretty far to get here. It meant a lot to see how much Albanians mean to one another.”
Camaj expanded on this point, mentioning how she met a number of new people from all the different clubs that made an appearance.
“I met some new people because Fordham’s Albanian Club was there, and so was Seton Hall from New Jersey and even some people from Iona,” Camaj said. “So it felt
really uniting, because we also make connections across other schools as well.”
Given the scale of the event, weeks of extensive planning took place. Mazija shared a bit about the heavy preparation that went into the process, and how she feels proud that the club she founded has put in so much effort.
“Putting together an event this large took weeks of coordination, from lining up performers to managing logistics with campus partners, and our team worked with so much passion and pride,” Majiza wrote. “As the club’s founder, it was incredibly meaningful to see something I started in 2022 grow into an event that brings the entire campus together.”
While the celebration took weeks of preparation to carry out, Camaj emphasized how in the end, it was all worth it.
“We all put in a lot of effort and everyone in the club did their part, which made it all feel worth it at the end,” Camaj said.
Kristina Camaj (left), Lukas Gojcaj (center) and Eleni Mazija (right) pictured at the Albanian Student Association Independence Day celebration. ELENI MAZIJA / COURTESY
Vice Presidents of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences Hold PerformativeContestJasper
Sarah Rolka Staff Writer
On Nov. 19, vice presidents of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) Arianna Perez and Grace Nariani hosted Manhattan University’s first-ever Performative Jasper Contest.
These contests became a trend particularly in the New York City area during the summer of 2025, and has led to many college campuses hosting their own.
“Performative” refers to someone who pretends to be cultured and well-versed with topics such as literature and music to impress someone. Contests like the one at MU intend to showcase the stereotype in a comedic and satirical light.
The hosts, Perez, a sophomore biology and political science double major and Nariani, a junior childhood education major, both spoke to The Quadrangle as to why it’s
important to host more “fun” events like this.
“I think something so unique about our school is that the community is very small, so we’re very close … even though I didn’t know a lot of these people by name, I know them by face and we see them all the time,” Nariani said. “A lot of them [participants of the event] are in KSAS, so community building is something I think our school really does need to focus on because everyone had so much fun here.”
Leading up to the event, both Perez and Nariani were afraid the contest may not be well-attended. However, they were still excited to host and were ultimately pleased with the turnout the event ultimately had.
“We’ve been talking about this since October,” Nariani said. “It was so fun putting together the prize basket. The prize basket had a Smiski, a Clairo album, a “Pride and Prejudice” book…We were really happily surprised [with the turnout]. I think that sometimes, when you plan events like this, it’s frustrating
when you put a lot of work into it and no one goes. But even if it’s just a few people that go, everyone has fun.”
Contestants were judged on how “performative” they acted based on the opinion of the audience. Amanda TaubRuno, a senior environmental science major, was an attendee and gave her opinions on what a performative male is to her.
“A performative male is really about the lifestyle,” TaubRuno said. “I think it’s really about needing women in your life, being sensitive and being mindful of the patriarchy.”
Grace Glynn, a junior chemical engineering major, participated in the contest herself and added her thoughts on what a performative male is.
“...Taking broad topics and trying to pretend they [performative people] know more about it,” Glynn said. “Or topics or struggles that they might not actually relate to but pretend they do.”
The hosts also added their own positive spin on the topic as well.
“If you want to explore a new hobby or something, get
a new drink besides a black coffee … If that makes you performative, that just makes you unique,” Nariani said. “Be fun, step out of your comfort zone. I think it’s great that the performative [aspect] is hysterical, but I also think it’s really good that men are not embarrassed to do ‘girly things.’”
Perez commented on how New York City is a center for these stereotypes and images. She emphasized how being “performative” is almost expected in a city like this.
“We’re in the city of performance,” Perez said. “Everybody comes to New York for art school, everybody comes to New York for fashion. This is just the city for it.”
Lineup of the ‘Performative Jaspers’ for the contest. SARAH ROLKA / THE QUADRANGLE
arts & entertainment
MU Players Perform Parfumerie for their Fall Mainstage
coworker, Miss Amalia Balash, who he’s constantly bickering with – which kickstarts the central plot of the story.
with The Quadrangle, and shared more about when he witnessed his vision come to life.
Production/Web Editor and Arts & Enterntainment Editor
Manhattan University Players’ fall mainstage had their opening night on Nov. 14, with shows throughout the weekend. The cast performed “Parfumerie”, written by Miklόs László.
Directed by Martin Marchitto, the production tells the story of workers in a perfumery, set in 1937 Budapest, just a few weeks before Christmas. The owner of the shop, Mr. Hammerschmidt, played by junior Eamon McShane, deals with one of his employees’ affairs with his wife– except, he doesn’t know exactly which employee it is, and ends up blaming the wrong one. Mr. George Horvath, the falsely accused employee, is going through his own trials and tribulations in the story.
For the past two years of his life, he’s been exchanging romantic letters with an unknown pen pal and falling in love with her along the way. The pen pal ends up being revealed as his
The Quadrangle met with members of the cast to further discuss the creation of their mainstage.
Kevin Cullen, a senior English major with a minor in theatre, took on the role of Mr. Sipos in the production, a comedic character who acted as a voice of reason throughout the play. He also serves as the Players’ executive producer, and had a role in choosing the production. Cullen discussed what led the Players to decide on bringing Parfumerie to the mainstage.
“I think there’s a lot to like about Parfumerie,” Cullen said. “It’s a comedy, and it’s very light in terms of what it’s got going on. On top of that, it has a very large cast … It’s got a decent sized amount of principle characters while also having a smaller room for those customers, so it allowed more people to be a part of it. I think that was a big reason why we were leaning towards it … For the group, Parfumerie was a much better option.”
Marchitto also spoke to his particular vision for Parfumerie
“From the start, I knew I wanted the acting to be very naturalistic.” Marchitto wrote in an email to The Quadrangle.
“I knew I wanted the audience to feel as if they were peeking into a real place with real people. This led me to design the set in a thrust, allowing the audience on all three sides. I also knew that I wanted to set the play within historical context and to establish the time of year. For this, I asked the sound designer Marley [Saal] to use Christmas songs from the 1930’s to set the time of year, and our dramaturge Kevin Cullen to create the news update, bringing the contrast of what was happening in the world in this pre WWII era.”
For Cullen, keeping the integrity of his character while also adapting to the unique dynamics of each interaction with his castmates was the focus of portraying Mr. Sipos.
“When it comes to that, you want to think about how the character’s relationship is with everybody,” Cullen said. “It helps a lot to establish what you think of each person. The only character that Sipos actively dislikes is Mr. Kadar [the affair partner to Mr.Hammerschmidt’s wife], and I think I did my best to convey that, especially because there’d be huge tonal shifts.”
Cullen’s character showed a more caring side towards the main couple of the story, Mr. George Horvath and Miss Amalia Balash, despite their turbulent relationship with each other. Amalia was played by junior health studies major Amaya Castillo-Mills, who originally auditioned for her role due to the eccentric nature of the character.
“I had only known the musical, which was really cute and romantic, and I wanted to do something like that,” Mills said. “In the musical, she’s very flip-floppy. She’s mad one second, then she’s very happy talking to somebody else, and then she’d have a big moment where she’s like ‘oh my gosh, you hate me, I hate myself’ and things like that. I just really wanted to challenge myself to do something like this, where it’s all of these different emotions at once.”
Mr. George Horvath, played
@PLAYERSMU / INSTAGRAM
by James Cullen, a senior marketing major at MU, was Amalia’s romantic partner in the show and often the subject of her anger and frustrations. However, in the first act, it’s comedically revealed to Horvath that Amalia has been the woman he’s fallen in love with. This revelation was the reason Cullen decided to take on the role of Horvath in the production.
“I originally didn’t want the lead because it seemed like a lot of work,” Cullen said. “Then I read the script and saw all the stuff I liked [in Horvath]. That moment in the play where he realizes he’s been writing letters to Miss Amalia – that was my favorite. I read that, and I knew exactly how I wanted it to look.”
Marchitto shared Cullen’s vision for the character, and once he saw Cullen and Mills together, knew he had made his decision for the leads.
“The relationship between Amalia and George needs to appear to be able to come across disliking each other, and then through the course of the
show, become the “perfect” couple,” Marchitto wrote.
“There were several strong men and women reading for these roles, but one couple, Amaya and James, were able to bring this to life.”
Marchitto spoke further about the play being especially meaningful due to the students behind the production.
“This experience will remain one of my top five shows,” Marchitto wrote.
“The reason for this is because I did not feel as if I was working with a bunch of students, but instead as if we were a team of professionals collaborating to bring this piece to life…Every student involved was committed to a higher standard, and for this I am very blessed!”
The Players recently announced Into the Woods as their spring semester mainstage, and The Lost Sheep, directed by James Cullen, as the spring student slot. For more updates on the MU Players, follow their Instagram page @playersmu.
Miss Amalia Balash, played by Amaya CastilloMills, sits next to Mr. Sipos, played by Kevin Cullen.
Barbara Vasquez & Leyla Mercado
The set of Parfumerie, before the cast took to the stage. BARBARA VASQUEZ/ THE QUADRANGLE
arts & entertainment
MUStudentsStage WhomReadingof“For The Southern Belle Tolls”
Zendrah Bonnick Staff Writer
On Friday night, Nov. 21, in Hayden Hall, 110 members of the campus community were in attendance to experience a staged reading of the play “For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls” [FWTSBT], a parody written by Christopher Durang based on the 1944 play, The Glass Menagerie.
The MU production starred Olivia Bailey as Amanda, Malcolm Naughton as Lawrence, Grace Coutu as Ginny and Sam Wofford as Tom. The show was directed by Billy Walker, a senior communication major, who made his first directorial debut with the play.
During the show, the crowd displayed a variety of emotion, with laughs during comedic moments, and shock and sadness whenever the show would delve further into themes of familial tensions, conservative expectations and what it’s like to exist in a world where you don’t fit in.
The Quadrangle sat down with Walker, Coutu and Wofford
about their performances and preparation for the show. Walker discussed that he had prior knowledge of the source material that the
show parodies, but it was his initial reading of the script of FWTSBT that led to his interest in this particular production.
“I just remember reading it the first time, and I thought it was funny on the first pages,” Walker said. “The decision maker was Sam’s character, Tom. He has a monologue…I was reading through and was like, this is funny page after page, then I got to his monologue, and that’s what really sold me on the show.”
When speaking to The Quadrangle, Wofford, a senior communication major, elaborated on Tom’s monologue, which stood out to him as a pivotal moment in understanding his character.
“I don’t think I really understood my character until I got to that monologue there at the end,” Wofford said.
The monologue was delivered in the latter half of the production, during which Wofford’s character expresses a desire to leave his home for a new life in Amsterdam.
“I think my monologue is what defines my character,”
Wofford said. “I am the only one who you [the audience] know what happens to them after the play ends. So I found that really rewarding.”
During the play, Tom brings home the character Ginny, played by Coutu, a junior majoring in childhood education. She commented on her preparation for the role, as a character she views as similar to herself.
“Ginny is pretty much just me,” Coutu said. “She is described in the play as very friendly and very loud…I just upped it a lot. Usually with plays, you just overdramatize.”
Coutu also discussed in her interview her experience working with Walker as a director.
“It was really good,” Coutu said. “He understood that we had other stuff going on, and we understood that he had other stuff, and it was a very collaborative process.”
Walker later briefly discussed his future plans of working as a dramaturg, researcher for theatrical performance, in the university’s
album class next semester, where he looks forward to researching The Stranger, by Billy Joel. After which, Walker made an additional statement on his gratitude for his opportunity to direct and the audience’s turnout.
“That was amazing, I would never have thought that in a million years I would be doing something like this,” Walker said. “I am so grateful for everyone who came and participated.”
Rehearsal of for “Whom The Southern Belle Tolls.” @FOR.THE.SOUTHERN.BELLE/ INSTAGRAM
BaruchCollege’sASEDOM andManhattanUniversity’s FuerzaLatinaBachataNight
Zeke Jazwinski Staff Writer
Baruch College’s Asociacion Estudiantil Dominicana [ASEDOM] and Manhattan University’s Fuerza Latina partnered this month for bachata night to strengthen Latinx presence and culture across both campuses.
President of Fuerza Latina, Daniela Ramirez, a senior psychology major with a minor in general business and criminology, has been working to rebuild the club since taking over. She shared more about the purpose of this event, as well as what she hopes students took away from it.
“I hope they took away a sense of expanded community and cultural appreciation,” Ramirez wrote. “We want them to feel a stronger connection not just to their own campus
organization, but to the wider network of Hispanic and nonHispanic students across the city or Riverdale area.”
Abel Cartagena III, Fuerza Latina’s club senator and a mechanical engineering major, shared that the partnership between the two schools and clubs worked well because both groups approached it with the same spirit.
“The thing that made the partnership really work was the fact that both parties really wanted to learn and have fun,” Cartagena said.
Leaders decided to focus the event on bachata and típico, highlighting Dominican culture while offering something new for students. The night included instruction, partner dancing and socializing.
ASEDOM President Adrian Beckles, a senior majoring in business communications at Baruch, spoke to how events like these help preserve Hispanic culture and heritage.
“Events like these that showcase Hispanic heritage, and collaborations between Latino student organizations play a big role in preserving and celebrating Latino cultural traditions,” Beckles wrote to The Quadrangle. “Events like this tend to also protect cultural heritage, educate others, strengthen community, and celebrate the diversity and beauty of Latino traditions. They ensure that the culture stays vibrant, respected, and alive for future generations.”
Beckles further discussed how featuring bachata helped students better understand its cultural depth.
“Bachata is known as Dominican Republic national music and genre to carry deep emotional, cultural, and historical meaning in Dominican culture, and sharing it beyond the Dominican community is valuable for several important reasons,” Beckles wrote.
“Sharing bachata helps
others learn about Dominican history, values, emotions, and artistic expression. It breaks stereotypes and highlights the richness of Dominican culture.”
The room’s energy built as students became more comfortable, eventually forming a circle where participants took turns dancing and cheering each other on.
Cartagena went on to talk about the atmosphere that made the evening especially memorable.
“The energy was incredibly filled with laughter, excitement, and support,” Cartagena said.
Club members from both organizations hoped that the event strengthened bonds between campuses and encouraged students to step outside their comfort zones. Looking forward to continuing this momentum, the groups confirmed that more collaborations are already in the works.
“The success and the
overwhelmingly positive feedback from this Bachata Night collaboration have shown us that there is a real desire for these joint cultural events,” Ramirez wrote. “We plan to keep the momentum going and are already discussing a potential future collaboration focusing on another aspect of Latino culture, possibly a discussion panel, cultural showcase or another dance style. This is just the beginning of a great partnership!”
Cartagena said the success of the collaboration showed how meaningful cultural programming can be for students.
“Events like this remind us how important it is to share our culture and build community wherever we can,” Cartagena said.
sports
McMasterWheeler,Earn All-MAAC Honors for 2025
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Mayah Wheeler and Olivia McMaster have been recognized as some of the best women’s soccer players in the MAAC, as they earned All-MAAC first and third team honors, respectively.
Wheeler was announced to the third team after proving to be one of the premier defenders in the conference.
Coming off of a 2024 junior season where she received All-MAAC third team honors, she found another level as the two way threat on the Jaspers. She consistently shut down top attackers across the MAAC, and led the way for a Manhattan University defense that would concede only the fifth most goals among MAAC teams.
McMaster had an incredible season as the primary goal scorer for the team. After a position change to forward, McMaster had to focus her position into more
offensive production, which paid off for the junior. She led the team with six goals, while rattling off an impressive 53 shots over her season.
With first team honors, Wheeler solidifies herself as one of the just six defenders who received the recognition. Saving her best season for last, she spoke on how she was able to play at the highest level in the MAAC.
“I think this season everything came together in terms of confidence and preparation,” Wheeler said. “I trusted myself more and felt like I was playing with a clear mind. My team played a huge role in that and having teammates who believe in you makes it easier to perform your best. Overall I think I found my role and embraced every moment on the field.”
Head Coach Brendan Lawler was one to notice the dramatic difference Wheeler made for the team. He spoke on how Wheeler has improved the team over her collegiate career, and spoke highly of her character.
“Mayah has been a vital part of the program from the second she arrived on campus,” Lawler said. “Her fitness and work rate has made her one of the best two-way players in the conference and I’m very happy her play has been acknowledged in this way.”
For McMaster, the position change to forward led to plenty of adjustments that had to be made. Always being a skilled two-way player, she was able to focus her game into the offensive end. Becoming an offensive juggernaut for Manhattan, she spoke to the skill needed to be able to switch into this new position.
“I’m most proud of myself
for stepping into a position that I’ve played very little in before and being able to have the impact on the field that I did,” McMaster said. McMaster made it clear that although the honors are important, her priority remains the team’s overall success.
“Although I am very honored, receiving this honor has never been a primary goal for me,” McMaster said. “I have been primarily focused on helping the team in any way I can to win games, whether that be assisting people in the midfield or scoring goals as a forward.”
With Wheeler graduating in May, she hopes her example
of leadership and work ethic will continue to drive the team into the future.
In her interview with The Quadrangle, she made it clear that her efforts were towards setting an example for the younger players and always keeping the future of the team confident.
“As a senior I have always tried to lead by example whether it was through training habits or just being someone my teammates could rely on,” Wheeler said.
“I’ve had a lot of highs and lows so I always want to help the younger players feel more supported and confident on and off the field.”
MU women’s soccer at the ALL- MAAC. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY
Mayah Wheeler at the ALL-MAAC. GOJASPERS/
Games of the Week
Editor /Asst. Social Media Editor
Swimming and Diving
Manhattan University
men’s swimming and diving team won against Felician University at their meet on Saturday, Nov. 15 at Horace Mann.
The men won overall, with a score of 164-87. Senior Tristan Ehrhardt won the men’s 200 yd freestyle in 1:47.54, as well as the 100-yard freestyle in 48.51.
Senior Jonathan Carson won the men’s 50-yard free in 21.8, while Ibrahim Mohammad, a freshman, won the men’s 500 yard free in 5:11.71. Abelardo Cartagena, a senior, won the 100-yard backstroke in 54.51.
Freshman Matthew Rogliano won the 50-yard butterfly in 23.81.
The women’s swimming and diving team lost overall with a score of 81 to the Felicians’ 186. Elle Feneride,
a senior, won the women’s 200 yard freestyle in 1:59.42.
The women’s relay also saw a win with Feneide, Tereza
Horvatova, Shayna Millard and Jaila Williamson. Women’s Basketball
The Manhattan University women’s basketball team played against Air Force inside Clune Arena on Nov. 15, losing 54-67. They held strong with a tie 15-15 in the first period, but fell back 7-20 in the second period. They came back strong 21-15, but ended up falling back 11-17 in the final round.
A pair of buckets scored by freshman Celeste Harper and senior Brianna Davis started the game off strong for MU with 6-3 in the opening minutes. Agar Farres Garcia, a graduate student, scored a total of 11 rebounds, while Davis had five. Davis also scored the most points, ending with 16 in total. Graduate student Colette Mulderig had three free throws in the final two minutes of the half that were the final points for MU.
Men’s Basketball
The Manhattan University men’s basketball team traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to play against Mississippi Valley State University inside Bankoh Arena at Stan Sherriff Center on Nov. 15. Manhattan won with a total of 80 final points to 73. Devin Dinkins, a redshirt junior, led the Jaspers in scoring with 22 points in total.
Sophomore Fraser Roxburgh came close behind with 19 total points scored. Jaden Winston, junior, had six total rebounds during the game. Graduate student Terrance Jones had a triple followed by Dinkins, who had the last triple which brought the team to victory.
The team later faced off against one of the top teams in the country, the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Unfortunately, the Jaspers dropped the game by a score of 68-109. They were led by graduate guard Terrance Jones, who had 13 points, shooting 4-8 from the field. Anthony Issac also proved to be dynamic on the court, totaling 10 points and six rebounds on the night. The Jaspers will come back to Draddy on Wednesday, 11/26, as they take on Wagner.
Women’s
Volleyball
The MU women’s volleyball team went against Sacred Heart University on Nov. 15, losing three sets to one. Freshman outside hitter Emma Francesconi led the team in attacks, with a total of 24. The team’s defense stood strong throughout the match as well, gaining 13.5 total blocks.
Maizy Swift
Production
MU’s women’s basketball at the game against Air Force on Saturday, Nov. 15. GOJASPERS / COURTESY