the Quadrangle
ManhattanUniversityClubFair
TheManhattanUniversityquadwasfilledonTuesdaywithstudentsexploringvarious clubsandpre-professionalorganizationsoncampus. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
ManhattanUniversity AwardedGoldStatusby MilitaryFriendly®Schools
Brooke Della Rocco News Editor
Manhattan University was recognized by Military Friendly® Schools with gold status for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is the 11th consecutive year the university has been awarded with the highly-regarded status.
Higher education institutions are scored through a survey that is offered free of charge at about 8,800 schools nationwide. The ranking is divided into a top 10 list, with gold, silver and bronze statuses being awarded to schools in each category. Institutions are judged upon
a number of criteria including military student support and retention, financial aid and loan repayment, culture and commitment, admissions and orientation, academic policies and compliance and graduation and career outcomes.
Student-veteran success at MU is led by David Bollert, Ph.D., director of the Veterans Success Center, and Helene Quezada, assistant director of military and veteran recruiting. Together, they focus on how to consistently provide support and promote success for veterans, in an all-around effort to make the university more militaryfriendly.
“A lot of them [studentveterans] are transitioning from being active-duty to
veteran status,” Quezada said. “They need the support and that starts with the initial contact, reaching out to the school, me supporting them through that application and admissions process. It can be something as simple as obtaining a high school transcript.”
While this is not the first year MU has participated in the survey, Military Friendly® Schools assures that as years go by, it is more difficult to maintain top status as schools are scored, “via improved methodology, criteria and weightings developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and our Advisory Council.”
Many prospective
TheSchoolof Engineering WelcomesIts FirstFemale Dean,KathrynW. JablokowPh.D.
Castano Contributor
Kathryn W. Jablokow, Ph.D., was appointed as dean of the School of Engineering on Aug. 1, making her the first woman to ever hold the position at Manhattan University.
According to an article published on manhattan.edu in late July, Jablokow took over the position after five years at the National Science Foundation (NSF) where she served as the deputy division director of the Research, Innovation, Synergies and Education (RISE) Division in the Geosciences Directorade (GEO).
Jablokow stepped into this position after it was vacant for two years, becoming the successor of Tim Ward, Ph.D., who had previously been dean for fifteen years. In the interim, civil and environmental engineering professor Anirban De, Ph.D., rose to fill the spot.
“I see in Manhattan [University] this openness to asking challenging questions and listening to all these different perspectives from all these different types of thinking – scientific thinking, religious thinking, behavioural thinking, and that’s fascinating to me,” Jablokow said. “I also think that it makes for better engineers if we are listening to other disciplines and understanding, because here we are as engineers, we make stuff, we design stuff, right? But we are designing it for other people who are not engineers, and if we are not listening and we don’t understand, then we are not going to design things
that people need, or it’s not going to be a good fit.”
Jablokow seeks to further integrate the Lasallian message of the importance of multidisciplinary studies in the School of Engineering. In addition to this, Jablokow intends on further developing the engineering school by adding more faculty members and upgrading the research facilities at students’ disposal on campus.
“One of the things that we’re doing within the School of Engineering is having all the departments look at some of the main themes in research and things like laboratories and facilities that will help move all of the departments ahead,” Jablokow said. “They’re working on what their strategic priorities would be … [and I’m] asking the faculty to help me understand what are some areas that they believe would both move their current faculty ahead and that might also help us grow in adding more faculty. … I want to grow the school; so I need more faculty that will support even more students and more research. We’re in the stage right now of identifying so that we’ll have a strategic road map of where we’re going to go.”
One of the things Jablokow has implemented in Manhattan University was a new regional, multi-campus four-year College of Engineering degree focused on multidisciplinary engineering design, showing her dedication towards developing the School of Engineering’s adaptability and wide-range knowledge.
“We are really excited about finding new things,” Jablokow
Maria
Volume CXI, Issue 12
SEPTEMBER 9, 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
About The Quadrangle
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
The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. All are welcome to come and join the club.
Connect with The Quadrangle
LETTER from the EDITOR
Dear Readers,
Hello, and welcome to Issue 2!
Students are finally starting to settle into a routine on campus, but the excitement of the new school year has yet to wear off. Last week, the university’s annual club fair took place on the quad, and it was so wonderful to see the campus packed shoulder-toshoulder with students excited to get involved. A special shoutout to everyone who has joined The Quadrangle family this week; hopefully you’ll be seeing some new names in our bylines soon! You can read more about this year’s annual club fair in features.
You may have noticed last week that we have once again resurrected Manhattan Caucus for the fall semester. This column will be a comprehensive breakdown of some of the biggest stories in politics week to week. The Quadrangle is always happy to accept feedback from our readers, and if there’s anything you’d like to see in this column, our writers and editorial staff would be happy to hear your suggestions. You can always feel free to reach out to us at thequad@manhattan.edu, or via our website.
This issue certainly has no shortage of stories for you to check out. This week in news, we bring you an interview with the new dean of the School of Engineering, the first female to ever hold the position. Also in news is the university being awarded gold status by Military Friendly Schools and Dr. Parisa Saboori’s appointment to the American Society of Mechanical Engineer’s highest governing body. In features, we bring you a book swap held on campus last week, the Asian Student Association’s first meeting of the year, and of course, an overview of the club fair. In A&E this week, we feature Manhattan Media Network’s Sidequest Summer series, as well as a Jasper Jams and Book Nook from two of our newest writers! Lastly, in sports, we cover Dee Dee Davis’ triumphant return to campus as assistant coach for the team she set records for, as well as women’s golf as they head into their first-ever season.
We hope you’ll check it all out and stay tuned for next week, with a front page exclusive interview coming your way.
Until next time,
Grace Cardinal
Editor-in-Chief
TheSchoolofEngineeringWelcomesItsFirst FemaleDean,KathrynW.Jablokow,Ph.D.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
said. “It might be degree programs, but it might also be micro-credentials, it could be summer workshops, it could be different kinds of internships, competitions, it could be all types of things.”
J. Patrick Abulencia, Ph. D., associate professor of chemical engineering, spoke about the improvements he wishes to see on campus regarding research facilities as well as funding for the school.
“To me, there are two components that are important when engaging with research: infrastructure and funding,” Abulencia said. “Regarding infrastructure, the chemical engineering department is fortunate to be able to have dedicated space for each of the faculty. Of course, we could always use more, particularly for student instruction in materials, fluids, and our cosmetics concentration. Regarding funding, budgets are generally limited so monies earmarked for research, particularly for faculty on the tenure track, could be better.”
Arancha Antunes, a junior electrical and mechanical
engineering major, elaborated on Jablokow’s positive impact.
“One thing that I really like that she’s done so far…is that she’s been reaching out to a lot of the clubs in the engineering department,” Antunes said.
“I’m a part of IEEE [the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers], and she’s already reached out to us to try and schedule a meeting. I like the outreach that she’s doing that I don’t think we’ve had from previous deans... I just like that she’s trying to get involved and meet us all.”
As the new dean, Jablokow hopes to interact with as many people as possible, and encourages them to do the same.
“If I could give young people any advice at all, it is to connect with as many people as you can and learn and listen and figure out what people are thinking because that’s where new ideas come from,” Jablokow said.
A subject often discussed when talking about the appointment of Jablokow is how her presence as a woman in power in the department can encourage more female students to join.
“There were not many
women faculty in the School of Engineering when I was a student here,” Abulencia said. “It is certainly refreshing to see that number rise significantly since then. What is particularly noteworthy is the increase of women engineers in leadership roles. Two of our departments are led by women and of course the school as a whole by Dean Jablokow. This really sends a positive message to girls in high school that are contemplating engineering, but hesitant because they are afraid of being in the minority.
I am optimistic that the number of women entering the School of Engineering will rise under Dean Jablokow’s leadership.”
Gianna Rutigliano, a junior civil engineering major, shared some thoughts on how women in STEM are treated on campus.
“I think our school does a good job with the girls and … the females in STEM, with SWE [Society of Women Engineers] there’s always support there,” Rutigliano said. “I think it just keeps growing.”
Jablokow shared some advice about being a minority in a male-dominated field.
“Go into new situations assuming positive intent,
assume that the men around you accept you until proven otherwise,” Jablokow said. “Don’t walk into a room where nobody’s said anything to you and say, ‘I’m preparing for the worst.’ Yes, you have to be prepared, but all those people might be allies, they might be thrilled that you’re there. So assume positive intent.”
Jablokow finds the Lasallian tradition of multidisciplinary studies to be essential in the formation of engineers in the future.
“You need to learn how you think and you need to learn how to think,” Jablokow said. “It doesn’t matter what discipline you are in, you are paid to think, so as engineers, if all I think about is in the form of mathematical equations, I am missing out on these other kinds of thinking that help me understand humanity. And humanity, those are the people I’m serving.”
*Editor’s Note: Grace Cardinal contributed to reporting.
ManhattanUniversityAwardedGoldStatusbyMilitaryFriendly®Schools
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
student-veterans look to Military Friendly® Schools’ website in order to determine the best plan of action for them to have a seamless transition out of duty. By achieving this status, MU becomes more appealing to incoming student-veterans, as it is weighed objectively against its competitors.
Bollert went on to describe what sets Manhattan University apart from those other competitor institutions.
“I think our ace is community,” Bollert said. “It’s the formation of and hopefully the improvement of the community. We try to do a number of things to bring this about and maintain it…Community needs to be maintained. It needs to be worked on. The Veterans Success Center is a key component of that. It’s a home within a home for our student-veterans and our military dependents to have access to.”
Tyler Thomason, Air Force vet and a current student pursuing radiation therapy, spoke about his
experience with the transition and community.
“The Veterans Success Center is great because there’s other veterans there,” Thomason said. “So when you come in and you’re new, you don’t really know anybody. It helps that you at least will run into people who were also in the military, probably a little bit older…It’s a little different than the average student, so it’s nice to be able to connect with other veterans who are also on the same page of life that you’re on.”
The center focuses on community in a multitude of ways, encouraging events among the student-veteran community, including but not limited to Open Table at An Beal Bocht, Veterans on Broadway, where students attend a Broadway show together, retreats and group counseling sessions. Veterans At Ease is another program put in place, where studentveterans are grouped into a special section of a core religion class to ensure their success among one another.
Juan Ortiz Soler, United States Marine Corps veteran and student pursuing a degree in International Studies,
emphasized the impact that the Veterans Success Center has had on his experience.
“Dr. David Bollert and the Veterans Success Center team have been outstanding, consistent, and responsive,” Soler wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “They’ve opened doors for campus involvement and career planning. They’re a one-stop shop, benefits guidance, priority registration help, referrals for academic support, a quiet study space, community events and people who actually check in.”
Quezada spoke about how the students reinforce the culture throughout the programs.
“I think our current student-vets are the biggest selling point because when they meet them [incoming students], they feel like they’re coming home,” Quezada said. “They’re well received and they’re open.”
Apart from the strong sense of community embedded throughout the process, Manhattan University also offers unlimited Yellow Ribbon tuition benefits for eligible veterans. This program provides tuition assistance
and financial support for Post-9/11 veterans attending private or out-of-state institutions.
Thomason spoke about his initial search for schools and how the Yellow Ribbon Program led him to choose MU.
“I knew I had the GI bill so I was trying to find schools that were Yellow Ribbon schools,” Thomason said. “Those are schools that will let me come here tuition free, pretty much. So the school [MU] was actually one that was Yellow Ribbon but also had the program I was interested in.”
In the future, there are plans to continue adapting and expanding the events the center provides, potentially introducing a game night for the community and more opportunities in social programming.
Thomason left the conversation with a suggestion for the administration.
“If I could make one suggestion, it would be that the school would give off the day on Veterans Day,” Thomason said. “I think the school is great, but there’s always room to improve. I think that would be a nice improvement.”
School of Engineering’s first female Dean Kathryn W. Jablokow, Ph.D. IEEE SPECTRUM/COURTESY
MU Veterans Center. BROOKE DELLA ROCCO /THE QUADRANGLE
MUProfessorParisaSaboori, PH.D.,ElectedtoASMEs HighestGoverningBody
Maizy Swift
Production Editor/Asst. Social Media Editor
Parisa Saboori, Ph.D., a mechanical engineering professor at Manhattan University, was elected to the highest governing body of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers [ASME] last month.
ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that, “enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society,” according to their website.
After being chosen from general membership and going through multiple interviews, Saboori will take on a threeyear term with the board of governors. Saboori discussed with The Quadrangle what her role within ASME involves, specifically as a female engineer, as well as the organization’s long-term goals.
“When you become a governor, you oversee the entire community; the strategic planning, the future of the mechanical engineers, and the
plans and programs that are needed,” Saboori said. “As a woman in this field, one of my goals is definitely to smooth the path for the next generation of the engineers, but more specifically, for the women, and that’s one of the reasons that I joined the Women’s Leadership Collective.”
Last year marked the first time there was an equal number of men and women on the board.
“Starting last year, it was the first time that we had six men and six women, which is huge for mechanical engineering, because worldwide, even when you’re looking at the class of mechanical engineers, women are about 10 to 12 percent at the best case scenario,” Saboori said. “So this was a huge milestone.”
Saboori continued on to speak about how taking on this new role will impact how she aids her students.
“As a professor, you’re advising your students to see what the future is in mechanical engineering, in addition to the techniques that you have to take to be part of this society moving forward,” Saboori said. “You also let them know about all the resources that this
community will offer them.”
Ashley Zegler, a junior mechanical engineering major and president of the MU student chapter of ASME, explained the importance of the club for mechanical engineering students.
“There are student chapters all over the world,” Zegler said. “We’re part of the New York metropolitan region and we host a lot of networking events, whether it’s after the career fair or career fair prep workshops to help students. As a student section member, you can get a student section membership to the national organization, where you can get access to scholarships or other membership-specific benefits, such as industry updates on what’s innovative tech, or even research that other ASME fellows are conducting. You also get access to some academic resources as well.”
For mechanical engineering students at MU, Saboori has not only been a role model, but a professor that students can rely on to help them grow within their education.
“I think me and a lot of other mechanical engineers at Manhattan all feel inspired by Dr. Saboori,” Zegler said.
“She’s very attentive to her students and challenges us, but also helps with guiding us and figuring out what we want. Seeing her in a very high leadership role within the ASME body, it’s pretty cool.”
Zegler said that Saboori’s recent election will also aid the student chapter of the ASME greatly.
“We’ve been recognized two or three years in a row now as a student section awardee by the national global organization for ASME, so it’s something that we are definitely trying to keep going with,” Zegler said. “I think her and her continuous strive for excellence will also help us as we try to complete everything that we set out to accomplish.”
Kelly Roff, a junior mechanical engineer and social media manager of the MU student chapter of ASME, also felt that Saboori’s election was helpful as someone hoping to grow within the industry.
“I had Dr. Saboori as my
professor for one of my classes, so I know that she’s a really great person, and she’s a very good teacher,” Roff said. “I think it’s really cool to see somebody that you see every day walking in the hallways, or you send an email to, now being in charge of the larger body of ASME.”
Like Saboori and Zegler, Roff felt that ASME is a helpful resource for student mechanical engineers.
“I think it’s also very helpful, because we also are now the first people to know about any new events, whether it’s the scholarships or events that they always put on [or] job postings,” Roff said.
Saboori has received three awards during her time with ASME, including the Fellowship Award, the Faculty Advisor Award and the Dedicated Award. While she takes her next steps with ASME, she is excited to continue to help MU students succeed.
MUs’ ASME student chapter at the Club Fair, including president Ashley Zegler.
Parisa Saboori, Ph.D. MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
Manhattan Caucus: The U.S. Takes a 10 Percent Stake in Intel
Elaina Batista
Asst. Social Media Editor
In late August, the Trump administration announced that they had taken a 10 percent stake, equivalent to an $8.9 billion investment, in Intel, an American multinational technology company.
According to White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett, the government’s stake in the company is part of a broader strategy to create a sovereign wealth fund that could involve more companies. Many conservatives and economic policy experts are worried that this could potentially undermine free enterprise.
This 10 percent stake will be largely financed from grant funding associated with the CHIPS and Science Act, while the rest will be under separate government allocations. Intel’s chief financial officer announced that the company has already received $5.7 billion as part of the deal that President Trump and his administration negotiated.
Trump took to Truth
Social the day the deal was announced, posting, “It is my Great Honor to report that the United States of America now fully owns and controls 10 percent of INTEL, a Great American Company that has an even more incredible future.”
At its core, the agreement is designed to bolster U.S. semiconductor production and secure the country’s place at the forefront of the global chipmaking market. Some analysts have suggested it may also serve as leverage in upcoming trade negotiations. Trump stated in early August that he plans to impose a 100 percent tariff on semiconductors coming into the country, except for companies that have committed to building products in the United States.
World Bank analysis found that companies with at least 10% government stake had on average 32% lower labor productivity than private firms, and were around 6% less profitable.
This deal has not been met with open arms from the Republican party. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky criticized the Trump administration’s
Intel’s logo. INTEL / COURTESY
decision on CNBC last week, calling the investment “a step towards socialism.” A big step into the private sector, the decision has raised concerns among other lawmakers who have opposed big government.
Additionally, in August, the Trump administration said that the government would take 15% of certain Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices chip sales to China, as reported by CNBC. These two companies are seen as critical players in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence industry. On the other side of
the aisle, one of the most vocal supporters of Trump’s Intel deal has been Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
According to CNBC, Sanders told news outlets last month, “Taxpayers should not be providing billions of dollars in corporate welfare to large, profitable corporations like Intel without getting anything in return.”
Many supporters of this deal argued that this move is completely necessary to control industries that are vital to national security – a pillar of
policy that Trump ran on for his presidency and that he has been vocal about since taking over office.
Trump’s share in Intel highlights the growing role of semiconductors in both economic and national security policy. As the U.S. makes steps to safeguard the nation’s technological leadership in an increasingly competitive global market, the balance between public and private interest has yet to be seen.
SwapEventtoKickOfftheAcademicYear
Laili Shahrestani Features Editor
On Sept. 3, the Student Government Association (SGA) held a textbook swap tabling event on the quad, with a goal to bring the campus community together and make knowledge more accessible. Students were encouraged to donate any new or used books they may have lying around, and exchange them for another that they could use for a class or even personal reading.
Delaney Briggs, a senior and vice president of academic affairs, was the organizer of the swap event. She spoke with The Quadrangle regarding her motive behind hosting the event, and why she thinks it’s beneficial for Jaspers to participate in it.
“The goal here is definitely to help students with the cost of textbooks, because they’re getting so expensive,” Briggs said. “And we have so many old textbooks, so we thought it would be a great idea to do a swap. Just bring an old textbook and get a new one for whatever your class might be,
instead of spending, you know, $100 to $200 on a textbook that you’re going to use for a few months and then get rid of.”
The textbook swap went on for almost two hours, with a variety of books to choose from. Many students stopped by the table to take a look at what options were being offered. With the abundance of books on the table, Briggs went on to speak about how instead of letting old books collect dust, she wanted to create this event to put them to good use. She also spoke about how she is planning to hold this same event next semester, and hopes it will continue on after she graduates.
“I came up with this idea because there’s always so many books just lying around,” Briggs said. “It’s a way to academically help the student body as best we can. I’m hoping to make this an annual thing, and do this again next spring when people get their new classes. I’m hoping it’ll live on after I graduate.”
Amanda Sanchez, a sophomore English major, was one of the many Jaspers who stopped by the swap to exchange an item. Not only was
she able to get rid of old books that she was no longer using, but she also picked up a new novel that she’s excited to read.
“I picked up ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’,” Sanchez said. “Honestly, it stood out to me because it just looked really interesting, and as an English major, I really like older literature.”
Sanchez went on to speak about how the event was beneficial to not only herself, but the entire student body. She spoke to The Quadrangle in regards to what motivated her to attend the event.
“I came here today, honestly, because I had books that I had to get rid of that I couldn’t sell anywhere else because they were very specific or old editions,” Sanchez said. “And I think that this event benefits students in many ways. Especially financially, because textbooks cost a lot of money, and so this event is helpful for getting the books you need for your classes.”
Lucas Haas, senior class vice president, joined Briggs in working at the event, encouraging students to stop by and participate. Haas spoke to The Quadrangle about
student feedback he received, as well as the turnout of the event and its fate for the future.
“Students saw our table and some mentioned that next semester or next year they’ll come back, and drop books off, or see what else we have next time,” Haas said. “So, there definitely is a lot of interest in what we’re doing, and people are kind of curious why it’s never been done before. We’re
glad to be doing it.”
Briggs shared how the event had the overall intention to do something good for other people, and showcase what it means to be a Lasallian university.
“This event definitely represents our Lasallian values,” Briggs said. “It’s the act of giving and just trying to do good for the student body.”
Delaney
the textbook and book swap event she organized. LAILI SHAHRESTANI / THE QUADRANGLE
AsianStudentAssociationLooksForwardtoaPackedSchoolYear
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
The Asian Student Association (ASA) held their first meeting of the semester on Aug. 28, recapping their successful first year as a club and discussing what’s to come for this academic year.
The ASA has a variety of different events they throw throughout the year. One is the Lunar New Year potluck, a favorite amongst the members. Landing on a date in February around the Lunar New Year, members bring meals that are centered around different Asian cultures. One member of the ASA, Matteo Santonocito, explained how the potluck has become one of his favorite events in the club.
“We weren’t sure how many people were actually going to bring food [to the potluck], but the turnout was incredible,” Santonocito said.
“We had students bringing so much food that we had an immense amount of food left over. It’s a great time to get to know a lot of people that I didn’t
know around campus, while also trying out different foods I haven’t tried before.”
The current president and founder of the club, Shu Amanuma, has noted the immense growth that the club has undergone as time has passed. The club was originally created with the intention to be a pre-professional and career-oriented club, however, as more members joined, the association quickly grew into a community that celebrated and embraced the different Asian cultures represented around campus.
“The club has grown into a larger and more inclusive community,” Amanuma said.
“At the beginning, we started with 20 people on our list, and intended to make the club more of a professional mentoring program, yet we adapted to the needs and opinions of our first members, and turned our activities into a more traditional cultural club.”
The motive behind the ASA is to bring students of Asian descent together and provide a community for minority groups around campus. Sean
Li, the association’s treasurer, spoke about how the club has provided him and others with a unique community on campus.
“Having been introduced to this club and being in a setting where I see so many Asians in the same place all at the same time, it really opened my eyes to the delicate and important community that we have,” Li said. “Now that I’m a board member, I’m trying to cherish that more. I try to be kind of like a big brother to incoming freshmen and sophomores who are looking for that kind of community, and help them find that.”
This sense of community was exactly what Amanuma wanted to accomplish when creating the club. She spoke about how she felt as seeing this goal accomplished.
“I sought a community where I could connect with people I felt familiar with, especially as a freshman trying to survive a brand new environment,” Amanuma said. “I felt that a community of people who share similar experiences and perceptions was very important in making
that experience positive. The circle of ASA has provided me with a safe environment to share my culture, and is also an opportunity for me to change the experiences for others like myself, with background and connections to Asian countries.”
The ASA has quickly become a large and prominent group on campus with plenty of events for its members to look forward to. Going into this upcoming school year, they have shown excitement for what is to come. ASA held a welcome meeting for new members this past week.
Briggs, ‘26, pictured working at
MU’s Quad Comes Alive at Annual Club Fair
Mary Haley Marketing Chair/Asst.
Features Editor
With a new fall semester comes the annual club fair on Manhattan University’s quad. Every year, it is a chance for student clubs on campus to welcome new members in, and for new students to explore organizations and opportunities – from learning how to hook yarn with crochet club to becoming a novice on the crew team.
Director of Student Engagement Nicole Brosnan ‘23 ‘24, has overseen the event for the past two years. She credited students for carrying much of the workload.
“While my name is attached, the students do the hard work,” Brosnan said. “We have to give a big shoutout to our events team who set up all the tables on the quad, but it’s the students and
the club leaders who decorate their tables and really bring everything to life.”
Behind the scenes, the Office of Student Engagement organizes club training sessions, processes registration forms and manages printing for the clubs. This year, staff also focused on tracking firstyear and transfer student attendance.
Brosnan, who was involved in Sigma Delta Tau, Gaelic Society, Women in Business and more, reflected on her experience at the club fair as a student and now as an administrator.
“As a student, especially when you are a club leader, it’s so exciting to be the sales woman and put yourself out there,” Brosnan said. “As an administrator, it’s really exciting to see the quad full of life and the energy that the students have. We’re a small campus, and it’s great getting to see everybody in one place
and so passionate.”
Among the students exploring campus activities were two international students, Michaela Rodriguez from Argentina and Anna Alaniz from Mexico. Both are majoring in communication, while spending a semester abroad in the United States.
Rodriguez and Alaniz joined the arts club and the international club after attending the fair, and both expressed interest in trying out for the cheerleading team.
“I came here to experience the campus and all the activities the university provides,” Rodriguez said.
Among the fair was math club, a campus organization aimed at making math more approachable by incorporating it into activities like board games and movies. They even have field trips in the works. Aidan Kelly, a philosophy and mathematics double-major, is serving his first term on the
board of math club.
“After the leaders last year graduated, we were just trying to get some new membership and get the word out,” Kelly said. “We can have some cool people come in, and meet other cool people.”
Heidi Calderon-Nava, secretary of Fuerza Latina, MU’s Hispanic heritage club, explained to The Quadrangle how they planned their club fair presentation differently this year. A newly designed poster, created by the club’s event coordinator featured a range of Latin flags, while a new table setup drew more attention from students. Both of these features helped the group stand out and spark curiosity from all students, which reflected the club’s philosophy going into the new academic year.
“We wanted a bigger outcome and to try not only to include Hispanic and Latino people, but also promote our cultures to everyone,” Calderon-Nava said. “We want
everyone to see our colorful lives and how welcoming we are.”
Also representing their club on the quad was John Sommers and Brandon Hill from American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The pair came to the fair ready to tell prospective members about their plans for future chem-e-car competitions and other projects, as well as the work that goes into planning for these events.
“The thing with chem-e-car, is we literally started the project up last year, so we’re just trying to get into the competition this year,” Sommers said. “It’s a lot of work to get it started. We need 10 hours of testing. It’s a lot of designing and a lot of paperwork. So thankfully, we already got a lot of the parts designed last year. So this year we’re gonna try and finish everything up, do the paperwork and actually make it to the competition.”
Fuerza Latina’s new and improved club fair board. MARY HALEY / THE QUADRANGLE
Club leaders of PRSSA, Lotus Magazine, Business Analytics and Data Society enjoy the club fair.
MARY HALEY / THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan Media Network Brings MU Along for their Side Quest Summer Series
Barbara Vasquez Production Editor / Web Editor
When the Spring 2025 semester ended last May, many campus organizations paused their activity for the season. However, Manhattan Media Network (MMN) kept their social media alive and active through their Side Quest Summer series.
This series followed club members on their very own ‘side quests’ throughout the summer, whether that meant trying a new restaurant, exploring an unfamiliar area or anything in between. MMN was motivated to keep new content flowing over the long break in order to not lose the momentum the group had built over the previous year.
Sam Wofford, senior communication major and secretary for MMN, spoke to The Quadrangle about where
the idea came from.
“Matthew originally had the idea, and he pitched it to me and Aureliano because we were the three that were in the area the most over the summer,” Wofford said. “We just thought it’d be really great to boost connection over the summer. We didn’t want any of our interest from last semester to be lost over the summer, so this seemed like it was a really fun, but also low-key way to keep it up.”
Matthew Zheng and Aureliano Morales, who Wofford mentioned, created a number of their own Side Quest Summer videos. The first installment of the series shows Morales and Zheng attending the Arthur Avenue Street Fair, where they try food from different stalls and share clips of the event.
“I always wanted to do a video covering the fair because it’s always been a fun time, at least while I was growing up,” Morales said. “So I thought,
Morales introduces an installment of Side Quest Summer, where members try breast milk ice cream and cuy. @MANHATTAN.MEDIA.NETWORK / INSTAGRAM
‘Let me show off what we have over there. It’s only a 45 minute bus ride – let me show off a little bit more of the Bronx.’”
Zheng, who initially pitched the idea, shared that he first came up with it after noticing he was already doing “fun” activities, and simply needed to actually film his day to make content.
“I noticed during that first month after university I was meeting up with different groups of people almost every other day, and I was always on these side quests,” Zheng said. “That inspired me to think ‘why not make a video series out of the side quests I’m already doing?’ So I brought it up with the team and they loved the idea so we went with it.”
As the series continued throughout the summer, the videos remained, for the most part, spontaneous and taken during outings that MMN members were already on.
“When I went out and did mine, I wanted to act however I normally act and just hang out with my friends; except this time, document it,” Wofford said. “I didn’t really have the thought that it would be a club video in my mind, because then it wouldn’t be as fun.”
MMN members posted a wide variety of activities for the Side Quest Summer series, ranging from trying out new foods to attending Anime NYC, NY’s largest anime convention.
These new foods included two more ‘exotic’ dishes that some MMN members tried–breast milk ice cream and cuy, a dish featuring roasted or fried guinea pig. Zheng proposed this idea based on seeing videos of the foods, along with similar dishes, on Instagram.
“I remember when we were in the city he [Zheng] asked ‘bull testicles or cuy?,’” Morales said. “I’d rather eat a whole guinea pig than touch the bull testicle.”
After confirming their decision on the cuy, Zheng and Morales invited Wofford and another MMN member to accompany them in trying it.
“That was definitely my highlight of the series just
Zheng films a Side Quest Summer segnent at Radio City Music Hall covering the All for One concert. @MANHATTAN.MEDIA.NETWORK / INSTAGRAM
because of how creative of an idea it was,” Wofford said. “It was just so spontaneous, and it put me in such a good mood too.”
Most of the locations shared, including La Casa Del Cuy, where members tried the South American dish, are just miles away from campus.
Morales said this was a purposeful detail as an attempt to show that MU students aren’t strictly bound to the nearby area. Wofford corroborated this thought.
“I think Manhattan University is in a very lucky spot in New York, because we have our campus and we have our neighborhood, but we also have our train,” Wofford said.
“There are no bounds when it comes to being a student here at Manhattan University, and I definitely don’t think all schools could say that.”
Now with the fall semester beginning, Side Quest Summer has come to an end. MMN, though, will continue pushing out content as the year progresses. Established series such as ‘Bussin’ or Disgustin’’ or ‘Manhattan on the Move’ will be continued, alongside new series that are soon to be announced. With the semester still new, members of the group encourage interested parties to join.
“[Manhattan] Media Network is one of those clubs that really ties other clubs together,” Wofford said. “It truly ties a lot of people on campus together, and it’s just such a great club to be a part of.”
For more updates on MMN as the school year continues, follow their Instagram @ manhattan.media.network or attend a general meeting, scheduled for Mondays at 5pm.
Jasper Jams: Power And Memory
Misha Jabal-Abadi Contributer
As excited I am to start a new chapter in life, starting college this year is definitely a big change. It’s one that I’m trying to have a positive outlook on, but I can’t help but look back and miss my friends and family. The life I once knew is now changing, and I’m not sure how it will turn out. Between classes and clubs, I’m unsure how I’ll do as much as I’d like to, but I’m sure that one way or another, it’ll turn out great.
I wanted to make an empowering mix worthy of sitting down and reminiscing. The start of the new school year is always a challenge, regardless of what grade you’re in. Making new memories can be great and inspiring, but also may hurt, as the new memories remind you of your old ones.
However, embracing new memories can mean reaching new and greater outcomes. So with that being said, I hope you enjoy this week’s Jasper Jams.
If You Believe - Patch Crowe
This song is really great to play in the morning. The playful beat to the message of the song brings a positive start to the day. It talks about how sometimes you can feel like giving up, but having hope can lead to unexpected outcomes. If you believe that you can do something, then one day you will be able to do it. It reminds me to keep reaching for my goals and not be afraid to ask for help. Personally, I really like the melody; it’s catchy and has a nice message.
Favorite Lyrics: If you believe, you can move the highest mountains/ Cross the greatest oceans/ Took a few wrong turns, took a few breaks
Back To The Start -
Michael Schulte
This is a song focused on remembering the best parts of the past. It talks about how, when we feel like we are struggling, it is always a good idea to look back on the past. Looking back to the start can remind us why we are doing something, whether it be a project or an assignment, and bring back that spark for it. This song always finds a way back into my playlist; it’s one of those songs that you forget, then find again and again.
Favorite Lyrics: If I could go, go into my heart/ And search for all the places I left the spark/ To find a way, way back to the olden days/ Before it started falling apart
Alone, Pt. II - Alan Walker & Ava Max
This song speaks about
how a strong support system is essential in life. Having people by your side to help you in your lows can help you see the light in the dark. This song reminds us that having a support person, whether it be a friend, your family or anyone else, can help us through life’s tough times. I often find myself going back to this song when I’m feeling down, and by the next few days, I find myself feeling better.
Favorite Lyrics: We all need someone who gets you like no one else/ A friend through the highs and the lows
Golden- Mark Sonnenblick (KPop Demon Hunters)
Golden is at the top of my list from the KPop Demon Hunters playlist. The song is empowering, especially the second main chorus. The way her voice changes, you can feel the emotion. This song reminds me of that feeling we get when we finally finish something or
discover a side to ourselves that we may not have even known was there.
Favorite Lyrics: You know together we’re glowing/ Oh, I’m done hidin’ now I’m shinin’ like I’m born to be/ Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
Magic- Kahze x Red Rob
This song has a really nice melody and doesn’t follow a typical song structure. Going through life, we all have sparks, or as some may call it, “magic.” This magic is unique to each one of us, and we may feel the need to hide it. But we shouldn’t – that magic is what allows us to do things in our own special ways. Whether it takes a few days or years, we will be able to reach our goals.
Favorite Lyrics: You don’t know/ If you make it/ But you can/ For you could stand/ On top of the world
Book Nook: Invisible Cities
Marc Veldhuyzen Contributor
It was one of those days where I had little to do and too much to think about, when I decided to do something rash and different to break the suffocating mundanity of my life. So I took a short walk down to the New York Public Library, picked out a random book from the shelf, found myself a secluded section of carpet to sit, and read the entire thing cover to cover.
From it I learned this, out of all of the novels where Marco Polo smokes pot with a Khan, this one is the best.
Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino is not a brilliant work of fiction, nor a classic to be remembered by generations to come. Yet it left a mark on me, maybe a small mark, but still something I feel will stick with me for the rest of my time in this life, which is more than I can say about the great Shakespearean classics we were all forced to read in 4th grade English class.
It’s a story about the little people, you and I, and these larger than life figures, Kublai Khan and Polo. A story about the kick and surges of adventure, the beauties of simplicity, the strands of silk woven into the fragile webs of community. It’s a story about the highest and lowest concepts, of the greatest nature of this short existence and the
basest pleasure of sex.
It’s also not a story, at least not by its most strict definition. It’s more of a recount of various travels. Polo describes to Kublai Khan, a successor warlord to Genghis Khan, thirteen cities with little relation or connection to each other. Places he’s maybe been, but more likely made up, imaginative fancies meant to entertain this distant conqueror who, with a breath could have his head cut off his shoulders. They begin cold at first, but as most people naturally do after long conversation, this warms until they get a sense of comfort in each other’s presence. They smoke with each other, Khan asks questions, gets more invested, curious and suspicious of Polo’s tales.
The cities he speaks of are all different and yet the same. I believe it is one city whose soul is split into thirteen pieces. Each piece is abstracted and described in a way separate from its others so that each element stands on its own. In this way, when they are all returned to the whole picture you get a chance to see it fully.
There are wonderful cities, where art and trade is open, where the people crafted all to showcase liveliness and purpose in all the places you can look. There are terrible cities where every face is unrecognizable, blank and empty. Where you only remember people when you’re looking at them and when you look away they die and are forgotten entirely.
It explores the fantastical
nature of things when you break them down to their basest components. All of the places have a certain whimsy, a horror and an mundaneness to it. Each city is a star which makes up a wonderful galaxy. This book doesn’t have a single plot to it. You will not find a relatable beginning to end
story with concrete characters. Instead, it imbues an energy. An energy of appreciation, noticing things and taking them in. We live trapped in the body and time we were born into and from this limited perspective, appreciating this slice of the world we see is hard. This book helps me do that. It tells
me stories about people, about their communities, about the things we make. It’s about the invisible experiences outside of us and the ones we create together.
It’s all very fantastical. It’s hard to read, but I will always appreciate it.
Invisible Cities, wirtten by Italo Calvino. AMAZON.COM / COURTESY
Women’s Golf Team Begins Season with First-Ever Tournament
Zeke Jazwinski
Contributor
Manhattan University’s women’s golf team officially launched its inaugural season this past weekend, competing in the program’s first-ever tournament at Bucknell University. This season, the Jaspers are working under Head Coach Keith Prokop, who has experience building out programs and improving team records.
Prokop pushed the team during preseason in hopes of seeing results as soon as the first tournament. Standout sophomore Maddison Long spoke to The Quadrangle about taking on the new season.
“I think we are really well prepared, especially with the courses we’ve been playing,” Long wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “Coach has definitely challenged us. When we got to the practice round, we were pleasantly surprised with our games. We all feel like we have an opportunity to
score, even in our first event.”
While the tournament marked a competitive first for the program, it also marked the first time this season the team played together, joining a variety of different backgrounds, both in skill and geographical location.
“It’s just the experience of playing with the team,” Long wrote. “We’re from all over the place, most of us being far from home, playing for this great university. In terms of golf, we’ve all done it before, but this means more because we’ve been putting in so much work to get to this point.”
With all players coming new to the team, the group is lacking a natural mentorship design other D1 programs at the university have built in. To help mitigate this, Ben Latief, the team’s only senior, has taken on a leadership role both on and off the course.
“I just want my teammates to know not to be too hard on themselves,” Ben Latief wrote in an email. “It’s new courses, new teammates, new coaches, new languages even, for some. It’s a lot of new challenges, but we’re going to face them
together.”
In her final collegiate season, Ben Latief is most excited to be a team player.
“To be part of a team. Just that simple,” Ben Latief wrote. “I’m just happy to actually play
for people I enjoy and want to play for.”
With it being the first-ever season for the team, there are no set expectations, leaving the group to decide what’s most important to them to achieve.
“We have no bar to judge ourselves on, so the expectations need to be placed on ourselves,” Ben Latief wrote. “Strict routines, staying in the present, and accepting what we can’t control. Then, in the end, be grateful to be here and play for this university.”
As for Prokop, he’s excited for the opportunity to grow the program from the ground up.
“Just watching the growth of this program…I’m really excited to see these girls compete in their first event,” Prokop said. “But honestly, it’s all about what’s going to happen at the end of the year. That growth is going to be a fun thing for me to watch.”
While it’s hard to know what to expect from the women’s team this season, Prokop believes the talent will speak for itself by the season’s end.
“It’s going to be a little bit of a rollercoaster ride,” Prokop said. “We’re going to have our ups and downs with any season, especially with how much youth we have on this team. But I think
we might surprise a lot of teams by the end of the year.”
The Bucknell Invitational also marks the first time that national eyes will lay their sights on the new program.
“It’s our first tournament,” Prokop said. “We have so many steps, so many swings ahead of us. It’s about shaking off those first-tournament nerves, playing the Jasper brand of golf, and just enjoying the opportunity to start on page one.”
As for what defines the “Jasper brand of golf”?
“It’s really about being reflective and true to yourself,” Prokop said. “Try to be the best version of yourself every single shot…not focusing on the past, not worrying too much about the future. Just do your best at that moment.”
Prokop plans to lean on upperclassmen Long and Ben Latief, as both bring collegelevel experience and previous tournament wins to the program.
“The tone has already kind of been set,” Prokop said. “The girls came in motivated, ready, and hungry to be successful. They’re a great group and they’re getting along really well. When everything clicks like that, it can lead to something really special.”
MU Womens Golf players Peyton Beans Factor (left) and Maddison Long (right).
The MU women’s golf team @MJASPERSGOLF/ INSTAGRAM
sports
Manhattan University WBB Legend Dee Dee Davis Returns as Assistant Coach
Amy Forster Asst. Production Editor
This season, the Manhattan University women’s basketball team experienced the return of star player Dee Dee Davis — this time as an assistant coach. During her five years playing for Manhattan University, Davis shined as the team’s star guard, being named First Team All-MAAC and scoring a career average of 14.3 points per game.
While her accomplishments on the court were recordbreaking, to the athletic program, it is her heart, dedication and compassion that make her a true embodiment of what it means to be a Jasper and a member of the women’s basketball program.
When discussing both Davis’ time as a player and her strengths as a coach, Head Coach Heather Vulin emphasized not only Davis’ incredible basketball skill and knowledge, but her spirit as an individual.
“[Assistant Coach Davis] has just brought me so much joy,” Vulin said. “She brought me so much joy as a player in terms of her competitiveness,
her ability to connect with people, and to be a good teammate. Her will to win, she just had all these amazing tangibles as a player, but now to see her as a coach and really be an incredible mentor to our players; but also come from a place where she played in our system for five years, had an incredible career, but she also dealt with adversity during that time and is able to really just share her experience off the court as well as on the court with them.”
When discussing her choice to return to the women’s basketball program, Davis highlighted her admiration for the program, the university and Head Coach Vulin.
“Coach Vulin is probably one of the greatest individuals I’ve ever met in my lifetime. We have a rule in our family, when you find great people, you honor great people,” Davis said.
She elaborated on the importance of the culture the program has.
“Our culture is very specific, you have to be overall a phenomenal human being, and that’s exactly what we have,” Davis said. “There is not a single soul in this program, in the women’s basketball program
Senior guard Hana Mühl (#1) and junior forward Kristina Juric (#6) practice preseaon in Draddy Gymnasium. @MANHATTANWBB/INSTAGRAM Dee Dee Davis shoots a three-pointer in the 2023 MAAC quarterfinals.
at Manhattan University, that is not an outstanding human being.”
Coach Vulin further detailed this dynamic culture.
“We have a saying: Sometimes in life, you get a chance to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and when you get that chance, give it everything you’ve got,” Vulin said. “I really feel the players that have been here, especially the players that have been here four or five years, depending on the COVID year, really, they become family.”
Current senior guard Alyssa Costigan spoke to Davis’ unique strengths as a coach, detailing how her previous experience as a player factors into her ability.
“As the season goes on, she [Assistant Coach Davis] is going to continue to be a great mentor for us girls because she’s been through it,”
Costigan said. “She was a player at one point, she understands the mental battles, the physical hardships, the challenges we face because she’s been in our shoes. Having someone like that on staff is just amazing.”
Costigan additionally highlighted a story she recalled from her freshman year when Davis, at that time a player, demonstrated her compassion and selflessness.
“One thing we pride ourselves on as Jaspers is our team culture and our team DNA,” Costigan said. “One time my car broke down and she was the one that helped me get it fixed when I didn’t know what to do. As a lost freshman, moving to a new state, not knowing where to go, not knowing how to do things, she’s the one that literally held my hand, guided me through it… She’s a very caring and passionate person, so having
someone like that on your team or as your coach to have your back is one of the most impactful things that I have personally felt on the court.”
In discussions on her new role as a coach, Davis highlighted coaching mentality, especially her dedication to the players as both a coach and a role model.
“I show up at a thousand, and that is what they deserve,” Davis said. “That is what I promised them when they got recruited, and I don’t waver on that… I am here to coach, I am here to mentor, that is all encompassing.”
When asked where the program’s culture stems from, Davis’ answer was immediate.
“The people,” Davis said. “I spent my time there, for five years consecutively, and then said I loved it so much I’m going to come back.”