Quadrangle
ManhattanUniversityKicksOffFamily WeekendwithAnnualYankeesGame
ManhattanUniversityalumni,studentsandfamiliesenjoyedtheYankeesgameon Fridaynight.
@MANHATTANUADMISSIONS/
ThomasandMaryAlice O’MalleyAffiliated intotheBrothersofthe ChristianSchools
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Thomas and Mary Alice O’Malley were named affiliated members of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools earlier this month. O’Malley, a former chairman at Manhattan University and long-time donor for the university, received what is viewed as the highest honor bestowed by the Christian brothers.
The ceremony was held on Sept. 3, where the O’Malleys were honored within the brothers’
residence. Brother Daniel Gardner, a Christian brother and former interim president at MU, spoke on the special event and how the family was celebrated.
“(The O’Malleys’) family and friends joined the brothers’ community for a Mass to celebrate the fact that they were spiritually joining the brothers,” Gardner said.
“They were presented with the same articles that new brothers receive; a New Testament, a six-decade rosary bead, and a Crucifix.
Their family witnessed their spiritual accomplishments recognized in a public forum, and it was a special event.”
The O’Malleys’ lives have shown great passion towards helping others in all situations. They have donated and served on boards of hospitals, schools and universities. These traits of the O’Malleys are what ultimately led to the honor. Gardner spoke more about the O’Malleys and how they have contributed to the local community.
“The O’Malleys were chosen because of their great leadership and commitment to the five points of the [Lasallian] star when Mr. O’Malley chaired the Board
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Manhattan AppointsUniversityBruce asLibyPh.D. Associate Provostof FacultyAffairs
Brooke Della Rocco and Jonathan Stewart News Editor & Contributor
Manhattan University has announced the appointment of Bruce Liby, Ph.D., as the interim associate provost of faculty affairs.
As associate provost, Liby oversees and primarily focuses on academic affairs such as coordinating curriculums, supporting new academic programs, improving teaching and learning and improving study abroad programs, while also working hand-in-hand with the interim provost when it comes to supporting faculty with their concerns and needs.
Before stepping into this role, Liby was a professor at MU for over 25 years, spending nine years as the chair of the Department of Physics (now the Department of Mathematics and Physics) and three years as chair of the Council for Faculty Affairs (CFA). Liby has crafted a diverse and involved career at MU, frequently delving into faculty matters as a member himself.
A restructuring of the provost’s office was recently put into effect, with Bridget Chalk Ph.D., the previous associate provost, moving to the interim provost position. As of August, there is also an assistant provost position, now filled by Andy Burns.
Liby spoke to The Quadrangle about his goals in this position, including addressing faculty concerns while revising the current class schedule to better accommodate the MU community. Liby emphasized how a more collaborative format may be beneficial.
“I’d like to see a lot more communication everywhere on campus,” Liby said. “We get sort of siloed, because we live in our own world every day and [do] not need to get too involved outside of that…There’s a lot of places where we need to collaborate and make better use of our resources between the schools and I’d like to help facilitate that process.”
Interim Provost Bridget Chalk, Ph.D., spoke about what she hopes to achieve with Liby and the similarities between their style of work.
“One thing we really want to do is to bridge any sort of perceived divide
According to manhattan. edu, “As a recognized expert in nonlinear optics, interferometry, perceptual physics, and physics education, Dr. Liby has worked alongside a diverse group of students and colleagues across multiple disciplines throughout his tenure.”
Volume CXI, Issue 5
SEPTEMBER 30, 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 5!
It feels crazy to say that we’re already over a month into the semester. By the time this issue comes out, campus will have had two visits from James Patterson, experienced another successful Family Weekend and seen countless club fundraisers and events. Needless to say, it’s been a busy five weeks, but it’s made them fly by.
On the note of club fundraisers, The Quadrangle’s GoFundMe for the academic year is now live. Funds raised on this page will go towards helping us print our special issues for both the fall and spring, and anything we raise over our goal will go towards paying for additional issues to be printed. To those of you who have already donated and reached out, thank you so much. It means the world to us to see your support of student journalism and the work we do each week! If you have any questions regarding the GoFundMe, our fundraising, or anything else, always feel free to reach out to us at thequad@ manhattan.edu.
As usual, we’re covering everything from engineering to art in this issue. In news, we bring you the new associate provost of faculty affairs, one of MU’s most prominent alumni being affiliated into the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and a Manhattan Caucus covering the first week of the UN’s General Assembly in NYC. In features, we cover a seminar hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Physics as well as MU’s chapter of SWE as they gear up for an academic year full of new events. In A&E, we cover a new icon of St. John Baptiste de La Salle hung in Campus Ministry and WRCM’s first bash of the academic year. Lastly, in sports, we bring you coverage on MU’s recently announced club basketball team and a Games of the Week to wrap it all up. We hope you’ll give it all a read!
Until next time,
Grace Cardinal
Editor-in-Chief
ManhattanUniversityAppoints BruceLibyPh.D.asAssociate ProvostofFacultyAffairs
between administration and faculty,” Chalk said. “Both of us come from faculty roles, understand the particular pressures on faculty, but also worked on different sorts of projects beyond just research and teaching and have an understanding of institutional priorities and how to move those forward.”
Liby spoke more about how he views the concerns within the faculty and hopes to remedy them.
“Faculty in particular are overloaded,” Liby said. “In addition to being good instructors, they’re also expected to be doing scholarship and research and doing service for the college. Of course, there are a lot fewer faculty than there were
just a couple of years ago, by a significant number…And yet, all of that service work, everything that still needs to be done even though there are fewer students, it all still needs to be done and there’s fewer people to do it. That’s a big problem.”
Liby takes on this position with a positive outlook, hoping to enforce change and communication throughout the institution.
“I’m pretty jazzed about having a new and different responsibility,” Liby said. “I’m pretty excited about that… We’ll see what happens.”
ThomasandMaryAliceO’Malley AffiliatedintotheBrothersofthe ChristianSchools
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
of Trustees,” Gardner said. “The O’Malleys are deeply committed to accessibility for MU for the underserved and financially excluded. He was influenced by the brothers and their mission since high school and took that philosophy into the world with him.”
Thomas O’Malley has always shown strong efforts toward improving MU. With over 50 years in business, O’Malley has seen the ever-changing job market and the role colleges play in helping students reach successful careers. Back in 2022, O’Malley spoke to The Quadrangle on the role a thriving college plays for students.
“Your education has to be able to give you a job when you get out of school,” O’Malley said in the article. “I think when [you] get out of college, you better be sure that you’ve taken enough
courses [to] get yourself a good job that provides you with a good living. So an education that is very much career-oriented has become more important. But I still believe that a liberal arts background is helpful. I don’t think you can go forward and appreciate the world without having a fairly broad education.”
The O’Malleys’ efforts have without a doubt touched the everyday lives of students at MU. With contributions funding the Kelly Student Commons and O’Malley Library, as well the O’Malley School of Business, students have been given access to state-of-art facilities to complete their studies and enhance social life on campus. Student Body President Patrick Kantor spoke on the effects that O’Malley has had on students at the university.
“Us students are incredibly grateful for the contributions made by Thomas and Mary O’Malley towards Manhattan University,” Kantor wrote in
an email to The Quadrangle. “Being able to have incredible buildings like Kelly Commons and O’Malley Library help students every day they are
around campus maximize their education. Having such great alumni is a noticeable trait of Manhattan, and the O’Malleys are a great part of that.”
*Editor’s Note: Grace Cardinal contributed to reporting.
New Interim Associate Provost of Faculty Affairs, Bruce Liby Ph.D. MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY
Thomas and Mary Alice O’Malley as they were being affiliated. MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
ManhattanCaucus: 80thUNGeneral AssemblyNears ConclusionAmid ContentiousSpeeches
This past week, the United Nations hosted their 80th session of the UN General Assembly that started on Sept. 9 and will conclude on Sept. 29. During the general assembly, the United Nations appoints the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council, elects the non-permanent members of the Security Council and approves the UN budget.
On Sept. 23, President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations and made several remarks in opposition to the mission of the United Nations. Trump addressed everything from the war in Gaza to how he is campaigning for the Nobel Peace Prize. His speech clocked in at about one hour long, which was significantly longer than the standard time that is allocated to speakers.
During his speech, Trump claimed to be, “deeply engaged in seeking a ceasefire in Gaza” but then claimed that recognizing Palestine as a state would be a “reward” for Hamas. Britain, Canada, Australia, Portugal and France have all formally recognized a Palestinian State.
Trump also remarked that he believed ending the war in Ukraine would be easier for him and his administration because of his relationship with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.
“I thought that was going to be the easiest one,” Trump said. “But in war, you never know what’s going to happen.
There are always lots of surprises, both good and bad.”
He further commented that Ukraine is now in a position to “fight and win” back its original borders and argued that NATO member countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter allied airspace.
Trump has also made significant commitments on immigration. Trump chastised representatives from other countries on their immigration policies and stood strong on his agenda of mass deportation, stating how it was the best way to address the, “crisis of uncontrolled migration.”
“I’m really good at this stuff,” Trump said in his speech, adding, “Your countries are going to hell.”
On Sept. 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
delivered his speech at the UN, prompting several delegates from various countries to walk out as a form of protest. During Netanyahu’s address, he vowed to “finish the job” of eliminating Hamas in Gaza. He also attacked the recognition of a Palestinian state by multiple western countries.
In addition to thanking Trump for the United States’ role in the June bombing of Iran’s Fordo nuclear plant, Netanyahu compared the 9/11 attack in the United States to the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Pointing to chants of “death to America” by organizations associated with Iran, he claimed that the two nations were battling the same foes. Netanyahu went on to refute the claims of the UN commissions that Israel had
committed genocide in Gaza, stating that they were baseless.
Before his speech, the prime minister’s office ordered the Israeli military to mount loudspeakers on trucks near the Gaza perimeter fence in order to broadcast his words live across the territory.
The UN General Assembly’s 80th session will end on Sept. 29. Thus far, the conference has discussed issues such as international recognition of a Palestinian state, current conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, global migration and Iran’s nuclear security. Additional member state addresses, resolution adoption and votes on issues including the UN budget and the election of non-permanent Security Council members will all take place throughout the UNGA’s
ongoing session until the end of the month.
Elaina Batista
Asst. Social Media Editor
The UN General Assembly Hall. UN.ORG / COURTESY
PhysicsandMathematics DepartmentatMUHosts SeminaronLargeHadron ColliderandHiggsBoson Research
Maddie Rosado
Contributer
On Sept. 24, the physics and mathematics department sponsored a seminar led by Rostislav Konoplich, Ph.D., where he spoke to students and several faculty members about the important discoveries he had made while working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland.
Konoplich’s research interests lie in highenergy particle physics and astrophysics, with a current focus on exploring new physics beyond the Standard Model of elementary particles and measuring quantum entanglement in Higgs boson processes at the LHC. Additionally, each summer, he collaborates with undergraduate students on research projects at the LHC.
Urvashi Arora, Ph.D., assistant professor in mathematics, served as the introducer for the event. Arora
spoke with The Quadrangle about how mathematics and physics intertwine to make discoveries such as the one presented at the event.
“Physics often pushes math in new directions, while math gives physics fresh tools,” Arora said. “It turns the massive raw data from collisions into patterns we can understand. It lets us test predictions and reveal discoveries.”
Arora went on to voice that it is okay to feel overwhelmed by these new and complex discoveries. She encouraged students to embrace curiosity and persistence in the face of uncertainty.
“These talks are about curiosity and the big questions - what the universe is made of, and how we explore it,” Arora said. “You don’t need to follow every detail, just being open to the ideas can be inspiring.”
Following Arora’s introduction, Konoplich began his presentation by outlining the scope of his research and the significance of his recent discoveries at the LHC.
“Here, you can see a small
ring, which is the LHC,” Konoplich said. “And this would be the new ring - about 100 kilometers around. It would run beneath Lake Geneva and extend close to the mountains.”
Konoplich also spoke about the unique opportunities available to undergraduate students at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), emphasizing how rare such experiences are in the field of particle physics. He explained that students have the chance to engage in a variety of work, whether experimental, simulation-based or theoretical.
“I ask students what they would like to do at CERN, because some prefer experimental work, while some prefer simulation or theoretical work,” Konoplich said. “But either way, I’d like to highlight undergraduate work at CERNit’s very rare. Usually, at CERN, we deal with graduate students, but all our students here are undergraduates and I’ve never
heard any complaints.”
Jack Simoni, a senior physics major, was one of the undergraduate researchers at CERN. He shared his perspective on the experience, reflecting on how working alongside leading scientists including Koonoplich has shaped his academic and professional goals.
“It is incredibly humbling and exciting,” Simoni said. “I feel very lucky to be able to contribute to such a large collaboration like CERN, filled with so many talented and intelligent people. It made me learn that science is as much about the big discoveries made by individuals as it is about the small discoveries that all build towards something larger, like my research at CERN.”
Simoni reflected on the profound impacts of his time at CERN and Konoplich’s mentorship. This experience has inspired him to pursue higher goals within his education.
“Thanks to Dr. Konoplich’s
mentorship and support as well as my research experience at CERN these past few years, I plan on pursuing a Ph.D. in particle physics,” Simoni said. “I was initially hesitant going into higher education prior to my research experience, but the freedom it allows has significantly grown on me.”
Sharing a similar sense of inspiration, Lucie Swartvagher, a freshman physics major, attended the event to explore new ideas and discoveries in the field. Her curiosity and enthusiasm reflect the lasting impact Konoplich’s research can have on students as they begin shaping their academic and career paths.
“I think it would be incredible to get the opportunity to work on a project like the ones we saw today,” Swartvagher said. “I haven’t fully decided what path within physics I want to follow yet. I am really interested in astrophysics, but particle physics and quantum physics also excite me a lot.”
Rostislav Konoplich presenting the foundations of his groundbreaking insights within particle physics.
LAILI SHAHRESTANI / THE QUADRANGLE
Rostislav Konoplich pictured discussing the profound impact of particle physics on science.
LAILI SHAHRESTANI/ THE QUADRANGLE
SWEPreparesaYearof EventsandOpportunities forFemaleEngineers
Leyla J. Mercado A&E Editor
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has a variety of events and activities planned for the upcoming academic year, aiming to highlight the contributions of Manhattan University’s female engineers.
According to manhattan. edu, SWE, founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization that is intended to empower women to further advance and reach success within the field of engineering, while also receiving recognition for their life-altering contributions as both engineers and leaders.
SWE’s mission of empowerment has remained since then. The chapter’s current treasurer, Julia Tsesmetzis, is a senior chemical engineering major and spoke to SWE’s true commitment to the women on campus who are the engineers of the future.
“SWE’s most important mission is to inspire young women engineers that they’re not alone in this journey since this field is such a male dominated field,” Tsesmetzis said. “Sometimes, it can be hard for young women to make friends. With SWE, every woman is welcome and is encouraged to partake in the club.”
SWE has helped women not only to grow their skills, but expand their networks through the mentoring of others. Natalia Cieslak, a senior chemical engineering major who has been a member of SWE throughout her entire collegiate career, further spoke about how SWE’s efforts have supported her.
“As a woman in engineering, I deeply appreciate SWE’s mission of empowering women to achieve their full potential in engineering and leadership roles,” Cieslak wrote to The Quadrangle. “In a field where women are still underrepresented, SWE creates a community of support, mentorship, and professional development that makes a real difference. For me personally, their mission resonates because I have had many SWE members help me get to where I am now through their support.”
As for SWE’s plans for the academic year, a variety of activities are in the works.
The goal is for the women of engineering to enjoy themselves in an educational yet fun way.
President of SWE, Gabriella Morelli, a senior chemical engineering major, spoke to The Quadrangle about these events.
“We’ve started to play the annual alumni social, so that’s a really great event, not just for networking, but to make connections as well with our alumni,” Morelli said. “We’re also trying to plan an alumni fireside chat, so that would be a panel where we can ask the alumni questions. Another annual event we have is SWE for Scouts, where girl scouts come and learn about the different types of engineering, and we do experiments for all of the different types of engineering. Also, we’re going to try and do things like pumpkin painting, as a de-stresser and we’re going to participate in Safe Halloween.”
Tsesmetzis additionally spoke to what she is mostly
The women of SWE at their annual SWE For Scouts event @MANHATTANUNIVERSITYSWE / LINKEDIN.COM
looking forward to in regards to planning the upcoming year for SWE.
“The most exciting plan that we have for SWE this year is the SWE conference that is hosted in New Orleans,” Tsesmetzis said. “This conference is where all of the SWE clubs from all across the world and other engineering companies gather and network. It’s a great opportunity to spread the word about our club. There’s lots of amazing speakers and short classes to give each and every participant to gain experience.”
Morelli further elaborated about the importance that
these events hold for the greater student body.
“I feel like when I was a freshman, I would attend all these events and the main part of it is to feel connected and to want to continue coming,” Morelli said. “So I feel like that would be the main goal, to get people to keep being involved and connected with SWE.”
The club’s events have been impactful for its members and their futures post graduation. Cieslak elaborated on how SWE is a community beyond just engineering.
“SWE creates spaces where we can give back locally and
also grow professionally on a national scale, which is what excites me; it shows the impact SWE has at every stage of the engineering journey,” Cieslak wrote The Quadrangle. “SWE has had a huge impact on my college career as an engineering student. Through the national SWE conference, I was able to find my dream internship … Beyond that, SWE has shaped me to be more prepared for an industry setting by building my confidence, exposing me to professional development opportunities and connecting me with mentors and peers who push me to grow.”
& entertainment
Campus Ministry Welcomes New Icon of St. John Baptist De La Salle arts
Joshua Reichard and Mary Haley
Contributor and Marketing
Chair/Asst. Features Editor
There’s a new addition to Campus Ministry and Social Action this fall. An icon of Saint John Baptiste de La Salle now hangs in the entryway of the Cornerstone, the campus ministry center in Miguel Hall.
The icon was revealed to the community and blessed at mass earlier this month. The work was painted by Br. Michael Moran C.P., a passionist brother in Connecticut. Rev. Edward Beck, C.P. spoke to The Quadrangle to give insight into the process of creating the icon, and what it means to the Manhattan University community.
“There are many images around campus of Saint John Baptiste de La Salle,” Beck said. “We thought that it would be good to have something different. We’ve never really seen an icon of him anywhere.”
Br. Moran, who worked every morning for a month to paint the icon, chose to have it portray Saint John Baptiste de La Salle holding a book with Manhattan University’s logo to add significance, all while demonstrating the connection between de La Salle and the university.
“I have him standing there, holding the book, pointing to the book” Moran said. “I have [the logo] painted on it, and Saint John Baptiste pointing to it like ‘this is mine.’”
Rev. Beck gave further insight into the creation process, as he has lived in community with Br. Moran and observed his work.
“There’s a belief that the image is holy because of who or what it represents.” Beck said. “An important part of the painting of an icon is that the painter is aligned spiritually
with the work being done. Often there’ll be a spiritual discipline of prayer before they begin painting. Some of them fast as a discipline.”
Br. Moran touched on what it meant to him to paint the icon.
“This being the patron saint of a significant university in New York, and also of a community of religious brothers…it meant something to me,” Moran said.
Campus Ministry and Social Action wants this icon to be something that welcomes students and members of the community into Cornerstone.
“I’m amazed at the amount of students that don’t even know this space exists for them to study and hang out,” Beck said.
Beck encourages students to come see the icon for themselves, and explore the Cornerstone and what it has to offer.
“This space is available to them, and we’re here to answer any questions about [the icon],” Beck said. “We want it to be something that can be accessible to them.”
Rev. Andie Raynor, a United Methodist pastor and campus minister at MU, spoke to The Quadrangle about her perspective on the new icon. Coming from a Protestant tradition that doesn’t typically venerate saints or use icons, Raynor found the icon blessing ceremony fascinating. She appreciated the opportunity to participate in the mass with Rev. Beck and Rev. Bob Joerger, learning about the Catholic tradition of icons.
“I think we always have a really wonderful dialog about the difference, say, between the Catholic tradition and the Protestant tradition, and, of course, sensitivity to our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters,” Raynor said. “For me to come here and to be in daily dialog with people of a
in Campus Ministry, a space open for all students.
REV. EDWARD BECK/ COURTESY
Catholic tradition has been so interesting and spiritually deepening for me.”
Raynor was a hospice chaplain for 20 years, working with people of diverse faiths. She reflected on being moved by the reverence and care
shown during the icon’s blessing, and hoped the icon would represent inclusivity, something she finds important in her interfaith work and understanding.
“We’re all like little tributaries leading to the same
big ocean,” Raynor said. “So there’s beauty in every tradition and so for me, [the mass] was this really holy moment to see the veneration of the icon so tenderly. It’s beautiful.”
The new Icon of St. John Baptist de La Salle hangs
WRCM Bash Rocks Out on the Quad arts & entertainment
Sarah Rolka Contributor
We Are College Music (WRCM) held their first event of the academic year on the quad on Sept. 19, named the WRCM Bash. The event featured a set list stacked with student performances that had the crowd cheering and excited on Friday night.
The WRCM Bash is a night where students get together and rock out to bands and other performers, and this time was no exception. Dylan Deokarran, sophomore electrical engineering major and sound studies minor, and Matt Napoli, sophomore sound studies major, were a few of the many performers for the night. They spoke to The Quadrangle about their experience at the concert.
“It was definitely one of the most genuine performances we’ve had,” Deokarran said.
“With all the bands that were playing and everyone that set it up, it felt so welcoming… it felt like we were hanging out with the audience.”
Napoli agreed with Deokarran, adding that he particularly enjoyed the community aspect of the event.
“There really is such a great community here but it was my first time performing for a bunch of people I didn’t know; and that was a little daunting at first,” Napoli said.
“But I think this school has a really good community - they were very good at this kind of being ‘engaged’ [with the performances and music].”
When asked if they would come back to perform for the next bash, the pair replied with an enthusiastic ‘yes.’
“Defininitely, it was so
WRCM Bash on the Quad.
fun,” Deokarran said. “Being able to set up everything, being able to be up there, be a part of a whole process [was great].”
The team at WRCM plans and organizes these musical events, making it possible for the student body to have the opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities.
Billy Walker, senior and technical director of WRCM, spoke to The Quadrangle about holding the event and the work behind the scenes.
“It’s surreal to an extent, I don’t think I really took the time before to realize what we were doing together,” Walker said. “As far as picking the bands,
Sam Wofford worked on that one…we knew we had Help Wanted...but I think everybody else besides them was new this year, so that was really exciting to see.”
Walker further commented on his experience setting up the event the day of.
“It did [run smoothly],” Walker said. “Everything when it came to the stage was on the fly - it was like ‘We thought we could do this, but this didn’t work.’ There really was no rehearsal process for the bands, we just told them ‘you have 30 minutes to perform,’ and everybody was really nice,
they all listened - they all were very respectful of their time.” Walker also told The Quadrangle that WRCM is going to be organizing more events throughout the year that students should keep their eyes peeled for.
“We are going to host another Bash around Halloween time…this will be a collaboration with Lotus Magazine,” Walker said. “We might do another open mic too in December. There’s a lot of interest in performances on campus, so I think open mic’s are a great solution to that.”
sports
MU to Introduce Club Basketball Team for the 2025-26 Season
Manhattan University’s Department of Recreation and Wellness has announced that it will be offering a club basketball program for the upcoming winter. With a competitive team that will travel to play other schools, basketball players around the university will have the opportunity to play above an intramural level, but below D1 competition.
The idea was originally presented by the school’s Board of Trustees, who loved the idea of having a club basketball team. They went to Assistant Director of Recreation and Wellness Antoine Orr, who spoke to how the idea was presented to him.
“There were two trustees that came to Kristell [Lowe] and said ‘Look, this is something that we really want to do,” Orr said. “They’re big basketball fans. They love all things sports for the school, but I think basketball hits a certain nerve with them.”
Being a former MAAC basketball player at St. Peters, Orr found this to be something he was very passionate about bringing to life. He explained how he found a league for the school to compete in.
“Knowing that I was a
Manhattan University’s club basketball team practicing. ANDREW MANNION/ THE QUADRANGLE
former college basketball player, and it’s really my world, one of the first things I was tasked with was getting this thing up and running,” Orr said. “I made some calls, had some conversations, found this National Basketball Club Association in which it really expands the map.”
The team would play in the Northeast Atlantic Conference, which would have the club traveling to other schools to compete. With a professional website for schedules and stat keeping, the league will provide a quality experience for the team.
The main point of the new program is to increase the college experience for the students at the university. Vice President of Student Life Kristell Lowe spoke on the importance of providing plenty of opportunities for students to enjoy campus life.
“We need to ensure our students feel great inside and outside the classroom,” Lowe said. “They study hard, they work hard, they juggle priorities, internships, as well as personal goals and
ambitions. One can only thrive when they feel at their best. Intramural sports are one way to get there, have fun, be active and make lots of friends. So is fitness, but beyond fitness is wellness. Wellness has many dimensions and can look very different from one person to another. For one student, it might be the thrill of the last second goal scored to secure the victory. For another, wellness might mean spending time with friends who put a smile on your face.”
That sentiment is felt by students around MU. With the school already providing open gym sessions at Draddy Gymnasium and intramural leagues, students have said having a club team would make the experience even better.
Brian Astacio, a senior at MU, spoke on how having a club
team would bring the level of competitive basketball up even higher.
“As a student who’s played intramural basketball for three years, I can honestly say it’s been a lot of fun,” Asacio said. “I feel like having a club team would make it so much better. It’s not just about playing, it’s about representing our school, meeting new people, and making stronger connections on campus. Having more extracurricular activities like this brings energy and excitement to campus life. Plus, it makes basketball feel more intense, which brings out the best and sometimes the worst in people, but that’s what makes the competition real and exciting.”
Andrew Mannion
Sports Editor
sports
Games of the Week
Emmanouel Sofillas Managing Editor
Women’s Soccer
The Manhattan University women’s soccer team (3-3-4, 2-2-0 MAAC) earned its second straight conference victory Saturday afternoon, shutting out Mount St. Mary’s (3-70, 1-4-0 MAAC) 2-0 at Gaelic Park. The Jaspers came out with energy from the opening whistle, earning an early corner kick and firing off five shots in an eight-minute stretch while keeping the Mountaineers pinned in their own half. Mount St. Mary’s had two early chances halted by offside calls, but otherwise struggled to break through against MU’s pressure.
The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when junior forward Lauren Ahearn connected on a cross from Amaya Hill and buried the eventual game-winner. Just minutes later, a video review gave Manhattan a penalty kick opportunity, but junior Arancha Antunes’ shot was
saved, keeping the score at 1-0.
The Jaspers didn’t wait long to respond, as junior midfielder Olivia McMaster capped off a career-best day by slotting home a goal set up by Hill and senior defender Mayah Wheeler, sealing the win with 20 minutes to play.
McMaster led the way with nine shots on the afternoon, while Ahearn made the most of her 39 minutes off the bench with the deciding goal. Hill logged two assists, Wheeler added another and freshman Josslyn Weissman chipped in with a helper in her 28 minutes on the pitch. Junior goalkeeper Molly Brunk made two saves to collect her second straight clean sheet.
After the match, head coach Brendan Lawler called it a “great team win from start to finish,” praising the group’s perseverance and focus, according to GoJaspers.
Ahearn echoed that sentiment, saying the victory felt
Women’s soccer triumphs against Mount St. Mary’s JOEY JARZYNKA / COURTESY
“absolutely amazing” and that back-to-back wins will give the team confidence moving forward.
The Manhattan University women’s volleyball team (29, 0-2 MAAC) came up short on Saturday afternoon, dropping a straight-sets match to Canisius (4-8, 2-0 MAAC) at the Koessler Athletic Center, 25-17, 25-16, 2514.
Women’s Volleyball
The Jaspers were eager to bounce back after Friday’s contest but quickly found themselves trailing early in the opening set.
Freshman Emma Francesconi gave MU a spark at the service line, adding a kill during a short run that cut into the deficit, but Canisius held steady and pulled away late.
In the second set, the Jaspers stayed within striking distance thanks to steady defense and timely swings. Francesconi’s pressure at the net and an ace from Katie Powers narrowed the Griffins’ lead to just two points at 17-15. The rally was short-lived, however, as Canisius closed the frame strong to take a two-set advantage.
The final set followed a similar script. Manhattan grabbed a brief lead early, but Canisius responded with a big run to seize control. The Jaspers clawed back with five of six points midway through, showing some grit, but couldn’t overcome the Griffins’ momentum.
Freshman right side Hanna Kaczynska paced the Jaspers with six kills, while Francesconi chipped in three kills, three service aces and six digs. Sophomore Fiona Van Dyke added two kills, six digs, an ace and a block.
