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Volume CIV Issue 13
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 7, 2021
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The
JOY Issue
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Opinions & Editorials
the Quadrangle
THE QUADRANGLE
LETTER from The Editor Dear Readers, Happy Joy Issue! With all of the chaos of the past two years, our staff chose to highlight the joy on campus. We looked for little pockets of good in our community to focus on. While this issue is all about joy, this also happens to be my last issue as Editor-in-Chief. The past year has been the most difficult and rewarding time of my life. When I was elected into this position over year ago, I was
The Editorial Board Anna Woods Editor-in-Chief
Maria Thomas Managing Editor
excited and terrified for what lay ahead. Dealing with transitioning from online meetings to in-person meetings and handling budget cuts was nerve-
Jilleen Barrett Managing Editor Arts & Entertainent Editor
Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor
wracking and something I felt unprepared for. On a personal note, this job gave me purpose during a tough year. It helped me get out of bed and reminded me of my passions. Through it all, my Quad family supported
Kyla Guilfoil Asst. News Editor
Kelly Cwik Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
and lifted me up when I needed it. I will be forever grateful for them. Thank you to the masthead, who have worked tirelessly over the past
Christine Nappi Features Editor
year despite various obstacles. To my managing editors, Maria and Jilleen,
Megan LaCreta Asst. Features Editor
Brian Asare Photography Editor
I would not have been able to fill this role without you. To Nicole and our
Caroline McCarthy Sports Editor
Lauren Raziano Social Media Editor
going to miss our Sundays together. Thank you to Gabs for always assuring
Kelly Kennedy Asst. Social Media Editor
Nicole Rodriguez Production Editor Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Web Editors
Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle
me and answering my frantic phone calls. Thank you to our advisor Nick for providing amazing guidance and support. Kyla Guilfoil will be taking over as Editor-in-Chief. I know she will serve you all well. We are so proud of her and know she will carry The Quadrangle far. While I am sad to be leaving this position, this goodbye is also joyful, because I’m reminded of the memories that have been created along the way.
A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism. The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.
It has been my honor to serve as Editor-in-Chief. Until next time.
Sincerely,
Editor-in-Chief
FE AT UR ES
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Issue 13
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Anna Woods A R T S
Adrianne Hutto Jocelyn Visnov Asst. Production Editors
wonderful production staff, the paper would be nothing without you and I’m
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Good News
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Maria Maust-Mohl Receives the 2021 Costello Award for Excellence in Teaching
DECEMBER 7, 2021
Kyla Guilfoil
Asst. News Editor Psychology professor Maria Maust-Mohl, Ph.D., was honored with the 2021 Costello Award for Excellence in Teaching on Tuesday, Nov. 4th. According to manhattan. edu, the award is given to a faculty member of Manhattan College’s School of Liberal Arts every year, to recognize an individual who demonstrates an excellence in teaching that aligns with the character of MC and its central mission, as well as the mission of the Lasallian Christian Brothers. The award was named after Brother Casimir Gabriel Costello, FSC, (1910-92), who was an MC graduate, chair of the history department for several years and dean of the college during the years 1953-59. Costello published a book entitled “The Arches of the Years” that traced the history of Manhattan College from the year of its founding until 1979. While honoring MaustMohl in Costello’s memory, the college also presented the 2020 Costello Award for Excellence in Teaching on Nov. 4th, which honored Adam Arenson, Ph.D., professor of history and director of the urban studies program. These awards were presented prior to the 19th annual Costello Lecture, which occurred on Nov. 9th. This year’s lecture featured Carol Symes, Ph.D., a medieval historian at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, whose lecture was entitled “The Black Death and Beyond: New Lessons from Plagues Past.” According to manhattan. edu, Maust-Mohl has been a
faculty member since 2011, bringing with her an interdisciplinary background in psychology, conservation biology, ecology and evolutionary biology. Zella Moore, Ph.D., chairperson of the psychology department, spoke to the importance of Maust-Mohl’s role at the college. “One thing about Dr. Maust-Mohl, which makes her really special, is that she has a very unique area of expertise and research focus that is very, very unique to our department,” Moore told The Quadrangle. “So she is more of a biological and cognitive psychologist. And so her work is on a lot of animal behavior and animal cognition and animal language. And that is extremely hard to find at the undergraduate level across this country. And so we’re really lucky to have her in that regard.” Moore added that on top of teaching, Maust-Mohl is a faculty advisor and actively researches in her field. Maust-Mohl told The Quadrangle that her research focuses on animal behavior and communication, and that she has recently been focusing on issues such as the sounds that animals make, the functions that are connected to those sounds and how the environment impacts what those sounds are. Maust-Mohl added that since her first year at MC, she has been able to work with students on her research and perform hands-on study through her role as a professor. “I have organized a study abroad program at Manhattan College, so I’ve been able, for at least five years, to bring students to the Bahamas to study dolphins there, so we are con-
tinuing with research there,” Maust-Mohl said. “They’re studying the bottlenose and Atlantic spotted dolphins that are located in and around the island of Bimini. So we’re studying their communication, looking at different kinds of vocalizations. We’ve discovered not something completely novel, but something that seems to be common for many dolphin populations, that there are these sequences of calls and trying to understand what patterns exist in those and what, what type of elements are included in those sequences. That’s something that we’re actively describing.” Maust-Mohl shared that she views psychology as a very interdisciplinary field, and incorporates her studies with animals into topics that can also discuss human behavior. She explains that animal models have often been used in psychology to understand human mental processes and behavior. “There are a lot of tie-ins to the research I’m doing to help broaden that perspective of what behavior and mental processes really means,” MaustMohl said. “Stemming to this interdisciplinary question, you know, of what the brain is, what the mind is and how it’s all related, but not not just in humans, in many other species as well.” Moore believes that this award will inspire Maust-Mohl to continue on with her dedication towards her teaching and research. “[Maust-Mohl] has done so many great things over time,” Moore told The Quadrangle. “She’s been here nearly 10 years and everything that she’s worked on has really been stellar. We’ve really seen
her begin as a novice professor and researcher, and blossom into somebody that is really a force to be reckoned with. And I’m positive it makes her go back and approach her lectures and her preparation and the research work that she is doing and all of the ways that she’s being a teacher and a scholar and lights a new fire under her.” Moore added that this kind of award is both great for Maust-Mohl as an individual and for the psychology department as a whole. She explained that recognition like this can attract new minors and majors to the department, as well as inspire students to become more interested in the human condition and its processes. Lea Creaven, a senior psychology major, took Cognition and Learning with MaustMohl in the fall 2020 semester. Creaven said that despite taking the course in a remote format, Maust-Mohl was able to make it a lively and intriguing experience. Creaven told The Quadrangle that Maust-Mohl’s passion for her work and her knowledge is clear, which encouraged Creaven to be excited to learn. Creaven is currently working on a research project with Maust-Mohl, entitled, “Acoustic signals of common hippos (Hippopotamus amphibious),” which Creaven describes as being a rewarding and exciting experience. “Dr. Maust-Mohl really tries to take time to connect with her students both in the classroom and when completing research,” Creaven said. “All of my questions and comments feel welcomed, and Dr. Maust-Mohl even encourages meeting with her to learn more
about the topic....It is very refreshing to work with someone who is so passionate about their work and it is a true honor to work with her.” Eleni Glytsea, a senior psychology and sociology double major, shared a similar experience, as she is both a former student of Maust-Mohl and a current research assistant to her. “I would describe her teaching style as informative and influential,” Glytsea told The Quadrangle. “She delivers the information for the course in a manner that keeps students engaged. Additionally, she is always there for her students if they need help. I think Dr. Maust-Mohl most definitely deserved this recognition due to her many influences in the psychological field and her academic achievements.” Maust-Mohl shared that this award is one of the best ways that she feels a professor can be recognized at the college, and encourages her to continue striving for a high standard in her work. “It really means a lot to have that feedback that I am having a positive impact in ways that I hope to, and of course I don’t see that as an endpoint,” Maust-Mohl said. “My teaching will continue to grow and develop and I don’t see it as something that’s going to stop here. I have plans already for next semester, continuing to revise courses to find new ways to reach the students and trying to engage you all better and challenge you more and also inspire, because I know how important mentors were to me in my past experience, and I hope to have that same impact.”
Good News
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COVID-19 Improvements as the Semester Comes to a Close Karen Flores & Mack Olmsted Staff Writers
As the first semester of in person classes at Manhattan comes to a close following the remote and hybrid approach of the pandemic, the college’s continuous promotion of COVID-19 safety measures and precautions has led to a drastic decrease in positive cases within the campus. In an email to the Manhattan College community, One Manhattan reported that within 14 days before Thanksgiving break, Health Services had documented zero active COVID-19 cases on campus. COVID-19 protocols have remained the same throughout the semester with the requirement of vaccination, indoor mark wearing and answering the Daily Symptom Tracker (DTS) enforced for all faculty and students. Individuals with medical and religious exemptions get tested weekly for COVID, and all individuals who answer that have some risk of COVID, whether through travel exposure symptoms or posi-
THE QUADRANGLE
tive testing, are interviewed by Health Services. One Manhattan also provides contact tracing for all positive cases. Anne Mavor, director of Health Services, pointed out that during the spring 2021 semester the campus experienced a significant outbreak of cases as this was before the vaccination was available to most of the campus community. “Vaccination has prevented the need to quarantine when exposed to a positive person. This has been a great improvement in terms of students not missing valuable time on campus and employees not missing work on campus, whether faculty teaching, other employees running programs, or handling business of the College,” Mavor said. Mavor stated that 96 percent of the campus community is vaccinated, and in combination with the mask mandate has allowed for the college to provide more learning and extracurricular activities and kept the number of positive cases relatively low. However, with the first cases of the Omicron variant appearing in the US, the college
encourages students and faculty to get booster shots before the beginning of the spring semester. “As the CDC said, everyone 18 years or older should get a third (or second) shot of the COVID-19 vaccine” the email sent by One Manhattan on December 3rd said. On Thursday December 9th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the college will be hosting a vaccine clinic in partnership with Desai Pharmacy at Smith auditorium. They will be providing booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. They will also be providing second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer shots. Health Services also began offering telehealth last academic year and by January 2021, the facility was upgraded and antigen testing became more available. They began offering this valuable rapid testing that allowed for faster diagnosis if a test was positive. The PCR viral test is the “gold standard” of testing which has been available throughout the pandemic. The test results may take 1-5 days depending on the lab. It has allowed for individuals with positive results to be isolated
sooner in turn lowering the spread of the virus. Paul Droubie, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, spoke about how he thought this semester was going in terms of COVID-19 precautions and requirements. “This year is definitely easier, it’s all in person, and Manhattan College has been very successful with controlling outbreaks and now with vaccines and staying on top of it,” Droubie said. “Overall it feels a lot safer than last year.” He believes that Manhattan College requiring vaccines along with mask requirements will continue to aid in preventing the rapid spread of the virus. “The brightside to all of this is that Manhattan College is continuing to keep us safe,” he said. Droubie explained how the pandemic allowed him to achieve new skill sets and taught him how to work with students both online and in person while gaining a new perspective on teaching under extreme circumstances. Students like Tom Rivera, a sounds studies major, are looking forward to the upcoming
semester. He feels more comfortable with having in person classes and believes that the college’s protocols were relatively effective at keeping students safe as a whole. Ana O’Neil, a nuclear medicine major, shares the same sentiments as Rivera about the successes of the in person semester. “ I think [the protocols] were very effective in terms of keeping students and faculty safe,” O’Neil said. “It has allowed for people to come together. I look forward to the start of the new semester as well as meeting my professors.” The pandemic is not over, but promising statistics, working together and the cautionary measures are helping the community return back to some semblance of normalcy. “I think one thing that the Manhattan College community has taken away over the course of this pandemic is that we are a society who relies on each other. We are important to each other and our relationships to each other matters very much. Manhattan College is so creative and I am very appreciative of that,” Droubie said.
there is an increase in open, entry-level positions within a variety of industries. Rachel Cirelli, director of the Center for Career Development center, is seeing many opportunities arise for students, including new fields opening up that weren’t as popular pre-pandemic. “There’s a lot of openings, and just lots of movement back and forth,” Cirelli said. “We’re rebounding again, and a lot of areas saw a lot of growth, whether it’s tech space, but also this whole idea of health and wellness is popping up everywhere.” Not only are there new fields for graduating students to go into, but there are more options as well. “Students are getting offers earlier and I think part of it is like they’re getting many offers so they feel even more emboldened to negotiate. And I’m getting a lot more students coming in and saying that they have so many jobs to choose from,” she said.
Aileen Farrelly is an assistant dean for the O’Malley school of business. For her students, being back in person has proven to be a massive asset. “Last year, everything was remote, which was kind of I think what hurt the students as far as networking, and networking is what helps get jobs,” Farrelly said. “When I visit the College, and I physically talk to students, it’s not so much the presentation that the alumni give, but it’s what happens after the presentation with students walking up to them introducing them getting their card. You don’t get that when you do a virtual event.” Now with everything back in person, students are able to network and make connections much easier. With the O’Malley School of Business operating almost entirely in-person this semester, students are able to engage with professors and classmates face-to-face to better develop their skills and learning, as well as attend important events that can help jumpstart
opportunities for students. As the initial impacts of the pandemic have been better analyzed and Americans are adjusting to an enduring “new normal”, many workers have left their fields, leaving companies desperate to fill their teams. This, too, has affected the opening of many entry level positions that MC students are more than willing to take. Veronica Vitollo is a senior majoring in business analytics who has recently accepted a position at TD Bank that she will begin after graduation. While grateful for her position, she was surprised at how many options she had after graduation. “I actually got a job offer because last summer I interned at TD Bank, and it went really well. I kind of wish I waited to accept the offer from TD so I could explore a little bit more. But, I’m definitely happy I chose it but I feel like there’s surprisingly a lot more options,” Vitollo said. Siobhan Hynes is an accounting major who also has recently accepted a full time
position for post-graduation. Hynes has struggled in the past to find internships, but with the market opening back up she has found a lot more opportunities that have given her much more experience. “The job market looks promising for the field I want to work in,” Hynes said. “I was offered a full time tax associate position starting in the summer of 2022 with Andersen that I declined a couple months ago. This firm only does tax work, and I am not looking to get into that industry as of right now. I recently accepted a full time audit associate position starting in mid-August, with a company called PKF O’Connor Davies, where I will be working in their Harrison, NY office.” The job market seems to be very promising for students in the upcoming years, giving hope to all who were worried about what a post-pandemic workforce would look like at the college.
New Opportunities in the Job Market Bring Joy to Graduating Seniors Kelly Kennedy
Asst. Social Media Editor Manhattan College students have been reported to find more success in post graduation employment as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions begin to ease. The pandemic brought on a massive recession, and with that an incredibly high unemployment rate, but it appears that the job market is once again offering students ample opportunity to seek employment. Because of the pandemic, most jobs and internships were conducted completely virtually and many companies faced economic hardship. As a result, much fewer companies and organizations were able to prioritize entry-level positions during 2020. However, nearing the end of 2021, opportunities within the job market are on the rise. Even with many positions still being conducted virtually,
Fun Features
DECEMBER 7, 2021
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Comfort Creatures: Pets Spark Joy for Students off Campus Adrianne Hutto & Jocelyn Visnov
Asst. Production Editors With the stress of a new semester and the uncertainty of COVID-19, many students are finding ways to cope. One way they are doing so is adopting pets to live with them and their roommates off campus. This allows students a way to relieve stress through the companionship and comfort of their new furry friends. The Quadrangle spoke with three students off campus who have either adopted or fostered pets this semester. Chris Cranson is a senior finance major at Manhattan College. Recently, he rescued his puppy, Thunder, from a dog breeder on Staten Island. “I always liked the idea of rescuing,” Cranson wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “Because, you know, as they say, he was the one who actually rescued me.” Thunder, who goes by several nicknames including Thundie, Big T, Thunder buddy, and Notorious D.O.G, is an Australian Shepard and is already finding comfort in their Bronx apartment. “You know what they say: dogs are man’s best friend,” Cranson wrote. “After getting home from a hard class or test, nothing brings me more joy than seeing my little buddy meet me at the door when I walk in.” While there are always some difficulties that come with having your first pet, as Thunder is for Cranson, he is
Cranson and his roommates pose for Christmas photos with Thunder in their apartnement. CHRIS CRANSON/COURTESY finding a balance between pet care and his school work. “I think at first it was difficult being a first time dog owner,” Cranson wrote. “But we learned how to take care of each other together and it’s been smooth sailing since.” Overall, the experience has
Panassol’s 7 month old kitten, Olive captured in a picture perfect moment. GABI PANASSOL/COURTESY
been rewarding for both Thunder and his new owner, bringing joy into both their lives. “I think it helps my stress levels a lot because he brings me nothing but happiness,” Cranson wrote. “It definitely affects my self-discipline as I realize that I have a little man relying on me to take care of him … I do miss out on some social things but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Another student, Gabi Panassol, a senior and history major at Manhattan College, has found similar comfort in her 7-month-old kitten, Olive. She and her roommates recognized that they would not have the time to properly care for a dog, so they decided that a cat would be a perfect fit. With the help of one of her former roommates, Panassol was able to adopt Olive. With Olive growing into adulthood, Panassol and her roommates feel like parents and have dealt with some attitudes. “It’s interesting because [Olive is] like a teenager now. So sometimes she throws some fits and we all have to learn how to deal with that,” said Panassol. “But she’s just so cute, she’s such a companion to have and she sleeps with us and gets all cozy in our blankets especially because it’s cold now. So it’s been so, so great. And sometimes when you’re feeling
down and she’s just laying like in your lap and tries to cuddle it’s so good.” It’s the little things about having a kitten that sparks joy for Panassol, as she always has a ball of energy running around the apartment. “Literally anything like she is the cuddliest cat over you can just be sitting in our living room watching TV and she’ll get up next to you and try to be all nice and sleep for like four hours,” Panassol said. “And then at night, it’s cold, so she’ll just come up next to you and she’ll sleep on like my neck or my head … waking up to that is so nice.” Victoria Steinhoff, a senior Business Analytics major, has always been an animal lover. After growing up with dogs, she began fostering them when a family friend connected her with an adoption agency in her home state of Delaware. Steinhoff enjoyed the fostering experience so much that she decided to bring the joy of fostering animals to her off-campus apartment here at MC. Steinhoff has fostered three different pups through an agency called Waldos Rescue Pen. Each pup stays with her for about a month. As a foster parent, Steinhoff has several responsibilities beyond caring for her current fourlegged friend. She’s in constant communication with the adoption agency, and screens applications from potential families looking to adopt, making sure the dogs go to a loving FURever home. So far, she has had nothing but positive experiences fostering dogs through Waldos Rescue.
Currently, she cares for a small black dog named Lola, who she’s had for about three weeks now. “My roommates love animals too, and they were all on board with it,” She said. With four people around, the foster dogs become very well socialized. Steinhoff explained that the schedule of her and her roommates actually aligns very well with having a foster dog. “I feel like students’ schedules align best with dogs that need to be fostered because like you’re not really away from your apartment for more than like, a couple hours a day,” she said. “It keeps you on more of a routine which is like, sometimes a good thing because… you can’t sleep in super early. Because they have to get up and walk.” Steinhoff said. In addition, having a dog around often serves as good stress relief in the lives of busy college students. “[Dogs are] just a great addition to have like in our group,between all the dogs that we foster is just like, so fun to come home and have a dog to look forward to and like it’s kind of like an outlet like if you want to take your dog for a walk or like you want to take them in to play with them in the park or like, play with them in your apartment like it definitely is like a stress reliever and I like it,” Steinhoff said. If your off campus housing accommodates pets, consider becoming a foster PAW-rent or adopting.Visit www.waldorescue.com/getinvolved for more information.
Lola is pictured in a stylish beige sweater. GABI PANASSOL/COURTESY
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Fun Features
THE QUADRANGLE
Bringing Joy and Fulfillment Through Acts of Service Angelina Persaud Staff Writer
Manhattan College’s Campus Ministry and Social Action has instilled a sense of wellbeing in students and fostered a deeper connection with the local community through its diverse selection of service programs. CMSA has been at the forefront of providing students with enriching experiences to engage in their local communities. Some of their widely popular service programs for the fall semester have been cleanups at Brust Park, Part of the Solution (POTS), Service on Saturdays and the Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (LOVE). POTS in particular has had several separate events wherein students collaborated on plans to create emergency services for those experiencing homlessness in the local community. Jacquie Martin, the faculty coordinator of CMSA, explained the outcomes she’s seen as a result of these service opportunities.
“The organization can count [students] to help do that work, and then the student is getting a really enriching internship experience at one of these organizations while getting paid for their time,” Martin said. The spring semester also holds promises of more service opportunities as well as an expansion of current service programs to help students become more connected with the community. Additionally the LOVE program is slated to be back in action, after pandemic restrictions limited activities, and includes smaller excursions combined with a longer summer experience for students. Martin reflected on the success of past LOVE trips and how it’s been influential in the lives of students. “The group will talk about their identity, their culture, their experiences and then also be talking about these issues going on in the world,” Martin said. “It’s also a great way to build community leading up to the trip.” Isabelle Gutierrez, a junior English major, participated in Community Engaged Federal
Work Study (CEFWS) and experienced first-hand the effect service opportunities had on her college experience. “I’m very passionate about social justice,” Gutierrez said. “What’s nice about my job is that I’m able to do storytelling with real people and real narratives.” Particularly, she highlighted the profound impact photography and storytelling had on the women and children in the shelter she worked for. “I learned a lot about people which I think is important,” Gutierrez said. “Doing the service programs and getting involved makes you feel closer to the community.” Alana Pons, a senior economics major, recalled her experience from a past LOVE trip that was centered on the effects of immigration justice and racial inequalities following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. “I really wouldn’t have heard too much about these social justice issues, the historical aspects of them at least, if I had not gone on the LOVE trips, and then it also gave me a new lens to look through for all
of my other business classes,” Pons said. She also highlighted the necessity for current students to get involved with service programs and immerse themselves within the college and larger community around them. “I’d say that if I didn’t do the LOVE trip I wouldn’t have really gotten the full Lasallian experience,” Pons said. “I feel like the program right now needs a lot of younger people to advocate for it.” Linn Zapffe, a junior psychology major, participated in the Lasallian Outreach Collaborative (LOCo) through an after-school program she helped initiate at Concourse House. Her weekly participation in the LOCo program furthered her interest in volunteer work where she has seen the influence service programs can have on youth in the community. “I have gotten a lot of gratitude from the people who work there and also from the moms of the kids,” Zapffe said. “You can also see that the kids appreciate the volunteers because it
gives them more people to play with.” She also articulated how her service work has translated into her academic career at MC and how she hopes to apply her skills in the future. “I have had a lot of fun with the kids in the program and volunteering is a nice break from college life and academics,” Zapffe said. “I am planning to become a child psychologist and volunteering at Concourse House has given me more experience working with kids.” The dedication to service from the MC community is fundamental to establishing relationships with the larger Bronx community as well as uplifting those involved. “What gives me hope is students and people in general supporting each other and helping each other,” Martin said. “And I hope maybe students as they graduate also bring that with them and continue to think about contributing to the local community and being of service to one another.”
Meet Two of the Most Eggcelent Members of Locke’s Staff: Fabio and Russell Rebecca Kranich & Jocelyn Visnov Staff Writer & Asst. Production Editor
Whether it’s for breakfast at 8 a.m., a snack between classes at noon, or a sit-down dinner with friends, the majority of students have dined at Locke’s Loft at some point during their MC careers. A few friendly Lockes staff members have become wellknown icons across campus. The most popular of which include Russell and Fabio. These two show up to work with positive energy, regardless of the time or weather. They have a way of brightening students’ days, even in the most subtle ways. Russell and Fabio are part of the Manhattan College community, nourishing students with every plate. Their love for the students shows through and is even more apparent in their words. “I come here for the students, and to see them every day makes me happy,” said Fabio, who has been a staff member at Lockes for the last
21 years. Fabio is a prominent figure in Locke’s Loft. He is always seen talking to students, giving out fresh-baked cookies, and checking up on people throughout their day. “The students are happy, they always say ‘hi, you’re the best,’ and because it makes me happy, I can be happy.” Fabio said. “I love every student here.” Russell and Fabio heavily impact students’ lives daily. Their smiles and friendly nature lift students up, even in times of stress. “Sometimes there’s a lot going on, and you’re surrounded by negative things,” said Ekaterina Shcherbina, a sophomore originally from Belarus. “It’s nice to have positive people who make others feel positive. It’s great to have support, even if it’s just someone saying hi.” Russell is a morning chef that has worked for Manhattan College for just under ten years. Commonly known as “the bacon, egg, and cheese guy,” Russel has gained a reputation for his jokes, booming voice and ability to memorize students favorite dishes before they even order.
“I love my day,” Russell said. “No complaints. Yeah, I love every day that ends with ‘Y,’ and that every day has a purpose.” Even on hard days, Russell knows he can count on MC students to cheer him up. “I’ve been blessed with no tough days so far. Everyone’s friendly. The kids are energetic in the morning because they know they’re getting a good breakfast.” Russell said. “I like the camaraderie. I like the fact that you know, most of them [students] know my name. They’re like extended family, just younger.” Sophomore Laura McEntire explains how she sees Fabio and Russell as positive additions to the dining experience at MC. “I feel like the students see their happiness, and it’s welcoming; it creates a friendly environment. It’s nice to see people on the regular like that who make you feel good.” McEntire said. “They always have smiles on their faces and are trying to make personal connections.” McEntire expressed their appreciation for the hard work and positive attitude Russell and Fabio bring to the table
each day. “Thank you for keeping Locke’s running and for actually making a difference in students’ lives, and I commend them for being able to get up every day and keep this happy energy around,” McEntire said. “It’s a lot for someone to do every day, but they manage to do so, and it’s commendable.” Shcherbina also expressed
her gratitude to the staff, stating how dining in Lockes makes her feel at home because of the workers. “Thank you for the things you do, for making us feel like home, and thank you for serving here; it takes a lot of energy,” Shcherbina said. “It’s really hard work, and thank you for everything.”
Fun Features
DECEMBER 7, 2021
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Manhattan College Baristas Put the Star in Starbucks Angelica Joy Niedermeyer & Niamh Delargy Contributors
The first floor of Kelly Commons is a popular dining and lounge area for students at Manhattan College. It is home to one coffee shop in particular which brings a large amount of joy to students: Starbucks. The barista-selected music and friendly staff contribute to a relaxed and open atmosphere. This offers a space for studying with a drink and good conversation with your favorite baristas. Starbucks brightens the day of its customers in different ways throughout the year. It provides fun, caffeinated drinks to help students and professors conquer their busy schedules. In addition, its seasonal menu invites people to share in campus-wide holiday cheer. Starbucks would not be the same without its dedicated baristas. To explore how they bring joy to the Manhattan community, The Quadrangle spoke with some employees and customers to gauge their opinions. According to employee Louis “LJ” Bagget-Williams, who has worked at Starbucks for seven years, each day is unique. There is always something new going on, which makes the job enjoyable. Baggett-Williams also emphasizes the importance of enjoying your job instead of focusing on repetitive work for economic gain, which makes coming to work each day worth it.
“It’s different, not everyday is the same [which] makes this type of job easy [and] it helps me a lot,” Baggett-Williams said. “I enjoy my job…the money’s good but you also want to enjoy your job. That’s people’s problem, they follow the money, then they’re miserable.” He particularly enjoys working in the mornings because he sees how much a cup of coffee can impact a person’s day and he’s happy to play a role in that. “I enjoy the mornings,” Baggett-Williams said. “A person will come in, they seem tired and low down. Give them a coffee and it changes their whole mood.” Another employee, Stephan Baggett, who began working at the college 10 months ago, finds joy in working at Starbucks because it allows him to brighten others’ days. As he describes, a simple cup of coffee can help someone get through their day, and Baggett is happy to contribute to that. “Sometimes you make people’s days better,” Baggett said. “To random people it might not seem like a lot, but to us it is a lot. Some people might be going through something, they might need that coffee so I really enjoy it.” Mike Rodriguez is an employee originally from corporate who shares his opinion on the benefits of working in Manhattan College in comparison to working for Starbucks on Wall Street. “It’s all about the people around you,” Rodriguez said. “The coworkers around me make the job easier which makes my day easier. The customers are different, I’ve got
Baggett, Rodriguez, and “LJ” pose for a silly photo, showing off their fun personalities. CHRISTINE NAPPI/THE QUADRANGLE
people around my age.” There is a general consensus among the baristas that music is very important to their work. It gives them power to control the atmosphere and puts a personal twist on a chain coffee shop for all to enjoy. “I come in, I play my music, I’ve got to get my game-plan. I’m dancing, I’m rocking, I’m going to spread my joy,” Baggett said. Each individual barista has the opportunity to select songs for the day which boosts their own mood and that of their customers. This is especially relevant throughout the holiday season. “Me, I bring the music. So, I’m a person that listens to music 80% of the day. I like to hear music. Music makes me happy,” said Baggett-Williams who shared with The Quadrangle that his favorite Christmas song is “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by the Jackson 5. The happy and positive attitude of the workers also helps cheer the body up. According to sophomore Melody Santos, the Starbucks workers make her day. “Sometimes, I come here to study and then the conversations are a little pick me up. They make my day. They really do. I come here in the morning and I am here all day long,” Santo said. “Some of them are close to our age so they understand what we are going through. They give me some advice. I like talking to them.” Junior Roberto Liz also feels the same way as Santos and finds that the Starbucks workers bring an extra sense of Joy to the Manhattan Community.
Pictured are the Kelly Commons Starbucks baristas (from left to right: Stephan Baggett, Mike Rodriguez and Louis “LJ” Baggett-Williams) ANGELICA NIEDERMEYER/QUADRANGLE “It definitely makes my day a whole lot better. Gets me going for afternoon classes. I come here and I know it’s going to brighten my day.” During this joyous holiday season, the Starbucks in Kelly Commons is even more sur-
rounded with community hangouts especially after not being on campus last year. The baristas are now bringing this turbulent year to a close with their iconic seasonal red aprons and cups, their festive drinks and their bright conversation.
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THE QUADRANGLE
Finding Happiness in College Christine Nappi Features Editor
As she sat in class, watching the first snow flurries of the year, Isabel Cameron felt nothing but joy. The Texas-native, who barely gets to experience the wonders of the fluffy, picturesque downfall each winter, couldn’t have been more excited at something that may seem so unimportant to others. But according to her, the little things in life really do matter and can help contribute to our feelings of happiness. “[It’s] just the small things like that I think are so nice and so many people overlook them,” Cameron said. “I think if we paid more attention to [the little things], it could be a really good source of ‘Oh, life’s actually super great.’” Cameron, a junior psychology major and events coordinator of the Psychology Club, describes that oftentimes students get so caught up in grades and homework that they forget to cherish the things that make them feel happy. As she describes, this past year and a half has been no easy feat with the pandemic driving us inside, keeping us online 24/7 and limiting our social interactions, yet being back on campus has allowed Cameron to appreciate the small things. Now, she sees what big of an impact the seemingly small details of college, such as socializing with friends and engaging in in-person lecture, have on one’s college experience and overall feelings of joy. In particular, Cameron specifically notes that students can find happiness and stay positive through surrounding themselves with a solid support system of friends. “When you have those social bonds with people, you kind of have self identifiers that
make you feel more secure, and you have people to talk to about things and you have people that make your day better,” Cameron said. “It’s very hard to be happy when you’re alone… but I think having a strong social system is really important and that’s really easy to do on campus because there’s so many people that are so nice.” Psychology professor Nuwan Jayawickreme, Ph.D., also finds that making an effort to socialize with the people in your life can lead to feelings of happiness. Amid the pandemic, it may be difficult to maintain those connections and hop on yet another video call to talk to them, but doing so can have a tremendous impact. “Make an effort [to] engage with the important people in your life, even when it requires a bit of work,” Jayawickreme said. “Making sure that you’re maintaining those friendships, that the people who care about you know how you’re doing, that you know what’s going on in the [lives of] people you care about, that’s essential.” Jayawickreme’s area of study is particularly focused on the topics of mental health and well-being, and he is dedicated to educating others on these topics. Aside from teaching on the topic, Jayawickreme incorporates mental health initiatives into the classroom by always checking in on students and working with them to achieve academic success. He encourages students to check out the Psychology club for opportunities to engage with others. As events coordinator of the Psychology Club, Cameron helps craft engaging events centered around professional development in the field of psychology, but also creates events centered around topics of stress relief and mental health.
The club is an outlet not only for psychology majors, but for anyone who is looking to make friends and learn more about psychology. “The goal of the psych club is just to kind of create a safe space where people can both, build connections with other psych majors and people within their field, as well as find good ways to understand themselves,” Cameron said. “So we just want to be there for people as much as we can, whether thats like physically talking to someone and making friends, or whether thats like making a whole event for something that people are passionate about.” In addition to the Psychology Club events, Cameron describes that the college hosts a number of different social events on campus, including events that bring awareness to the issue of mental health. She notes that if students were to “open [their] eyes” and make the most of these events, they can help bring a “sense of peace and happiness to people.” One of these mental health initiatives on campus is Emilia O’Neill’s “Passion Project” in the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center. Passion Projects is a program within the center in which each intern creates their own initiatives centered around important topics relating to gender justice, feminism, health, and more. As she describes, these research-backed projects are a way to provide support for students on campus because they’re “driven” with a passion for helping others. O’Neill, a sophomore psychology major and intern in the LWGRC, is crafting a project around mental health on campus in an effort to raise awareness on the topic. O’Neill has been creating an Instagram series where she posts positive messages and
Seeking support from others, practicing self-care and enjoying the little things in life are a few of the many ways students can find happiness on campus. CHRISTINE NAPP I/ THE QUADRANGLE
The Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center fosters a sense of security and support for students to discuss topics centered around feminism, gender justice, mental health, and more. CHRISTINE NAPPI/THE QUADRANGLE mental health resources on the LWGRC’s Instagram each day. Her plan is to have her passion project culminate into a mental health day next semester. “Mental health is one big bubble, but basically [the project] is all just focused towards advocating and spreading awareness and networking with different avenues of support,” O’Niell said. In order for students to find happiness, O’Neill also notes that students should be aware of the many factors that can make them unhappy. She states that amid the pandemic and academic stress it’s difficult for students to stay happy these days, but prioritizing selfcare and communicating your stress to professors, friends, or family can be a way to help. However, O’Neill notes that students should care for themselves in the way that they see best fit, and find things that make them happy. Although students may not be able to control forces that make them unhappy, they can control the ones that do. “People narrow the focus on what self care is, and self care doesn’t mean you have to lay in a dark room with a face mask, it can be a number of things, and so I think its important for people to find what it is that fulfills that,” O’Neill said. “Find the things that you can control that bring you happiness because there’s going to be outside factors that you can’t [control].” Although finding the things that bring happiness is important to mental health, Jayawickreme describes that sometimes we won’t always be positive and happy, as seen with the pandemic, and that’s okay. Instead of expecting to live a constantly positive and happy life, Jayawickreme encourages people to be aware of downs of life too, so that when the bad days come, they know how to handle them. “One thing we can all take away from [the pandemic], and I do hope it ends sooner rather than later, is to sort of be more aware that life has its ups and downs and that when we have
good luck and when we succeed in what we’re doing we should enjoy that more, because life is not always success and good luck” Jayawickreme said. “I think life can be great, life can be wonderful. And we need to kind of think about how we can make sense of life’s curveballs a little bit more.” As he describes, one needs the bad days in order to really experience the joy of the good ones, which is something that can make life more meaningful. “In some ways, when you go through hardship it makes you more able to appreciate the good stuff in your life,” Jayawickreme said. “All these positive emotions are probably insufficient, you need the contrast [of emotions] to make you appreciate joy.” Similar to Jayawickreme, O’Neill also finds that being more aware of negative emotions and one’s mental health is an important topic to examine. As she describes there is a current stigma around mental health, and although more people are talking about it, it’s still a “taboo topic” for people to discuss. O’Neill hopes that her passion project will not only help students garner feelings of happiness and show them what resources are available to them, but she also hopes the project will remove the stigmas surrounding mental health. She hopes that doing so will create a healthier and happier campus community. “[The project] will just foster a healthier conversation surrounding mental health which will hopefully make people more aware of maybe what they’re struggling with [and how] they can cope with those struggles, and where they can reach out for support,” O’Neill said. “And hopefully on the other side, that will come a little more apparent to the college with certain struggles that students are facing, what at the college might be inducing those difficulties, and hopefully we’ll be able to work towards just a healthier environment for all.”
DECEMBER 7, 2021
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MC Singers Spread Joy Through Radio City Jilleen Barrett A&E Editor
The Manhattan College Singers traded their usual spot in the stands of Smith Hall’s chapel for the stage at Radio City Music Hall, where they opened for the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. Andy Bauer, the director of performing arts, arranged for the group to perform acapella on what he called the “iconic
stage,” which holds an audience of over six thousand people. “The Manhattan College Singers performed in a prelude before the Christmas Spectacular began about five minutes before the start time of the show,” Bauer said. “We did two numbers, we did ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ and a song called ‘We Believe’.” Luis Chavez, the vice president of Singers, said the show was “magical.”
“It brought me a lot of joy to be able to perform and sing,” Chavez said. “It just felt like Christmas that day … getting up in the morning, putting our winter jackets on and heading over to Radio City Music Hall.” Bauer detailed the group’s spontaneous performance of a Christmas carol in front of the famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center after the show. “On Saturday morning, I woke up at about 5:30 out of a
The Manhattan College Singers traded their usual spot in the stands of Smith Hall’s chapel for the stage at Radio City Music Hall.
@MCSINGERS1853/ COURTESY
dream and I just had this idea in my head about, after the performance at Radio City, just walking over to the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Plaza and doing this thing … It was sort of a spur of the moment thing, but we did it and it was really fun and people really enjoyed it,” he said. “They gave us a nice applause ... I’d like to do that again sometime.” John McKiernan, the public relations chairperson and librarian for the Singers, described what the performance was like from a singer’s perspective. “I had gone to the [Rockefeller Center] tree a lot of times, and it was interesting to see the crowd sort of slowly gather and gather and we got a good number of people for it,” McKiernan said. “Andy was very excited to do this and also the board was really all for it.” Bauer spoke about how being the director of Singers brings him joy, and how their second performance that day might have been sporadic, but it was inspired by a lot of effort from the group as a whole. “Performance is a culmination of joy, you know, because it’s something that you work on in rehearsal,” Bauer said.
“Great performances don’t happen just spontaneously, they happen because a lot of hard work is put into it. So, I see rehearsal as just building and building and building joy, and finally releasing it in performance in front of an audience, and that’s one of the greatest things a performing artist can do.” Chavez says that no matter what time of year it is, being a part of MC Singers brings him joy. “It’s a community,” Chavez said. “I think it’s really nice that we all focus on what they would come together to work together towards a common goal for all of us.” Bauer encourages the whole Manhattan College community to attend their next event, Lessons and Carols, which is on Sunday, December 5 at 3:30 p.m. “We haven’t had a performance in public for 18 months at Manhattan College, and now we’re so ready to get back to that and that’s why we’re very much looking forward to our ceremony of Lessons and Carols on December 5, and we hope everyone turns out for that because it’s going to be really lovely.”
Scatterbomb Continues to Bring Laughter to Manhattan College Kelly Cwik
Asst. A&E Editor Manhattan College’s own improv group, Scatterbomb, is back performing shows in-person making MC students laugh on Friday nights in Hayden 100. Their last show of the semester was titled “Scatterbomb Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” The witty, comical group continues to bring joy to campus and put smiles on students’ faces. Sydney Waitt, a senior political science and peace and justice studies major, explained the different ways Scatterbomb brings her joy, such as the creative outlet the group provides, the support of those that attend, and those that she has met throughout her time in Scatterbomb. “The people that I’ve met through Scatterbomb are so amazing and creative and talented and I find myself having the hardest time being on stage and not bursting out laughing myself,” Waitt said. “So I think also in that way, Scatterbomb brings me so much joy.” The improv troupe does the same for Maren Kain, a senior communication major, who loves having the ability to make people laugh especially after a week of classes.
“Making other people smile and have a good time and laugh and let go a little bit after like, especially on Friday nights I feel like after such a long week of classes makes me incredibly happy,” Kain said. Scatterbomb had three shows this semester with a packed audience for each of them. The group has welcomed four new members this semester, one of them being Daniel Baer, a freshman marketing major and global business double major. He joined Scatterbomb after seeing the fliers on campus and wanting to try something new. Baer described his favorite part of Scatterbomb which is the uncertainty of what is going to happen during a show. “How unpredictable it can be because again, you don’t really know where the show’s gonna go. You don’t know what jokes are gonna be made,” Baer said. “And so you always have to be kind of quick on your feet and be able to adapt to any sort of change or if you have to come up with something funny on your feet.” The unpredictability of the shows is what Cooper Carleton, a sophomore communication major, enjoys about Scatterbomb. “I just like the whole idea of getting to perform and it’s no
pressure, honestly, because it’s improv,” Carleton said. “It’s all 100 percent made up. There’s nothing you’re really doing beforehand other than going to the practices. There’s no studying involved. It’s just show up and kind of go, so I kind of like that aspect of it.” The group practices one to two times a week, and Waitt enjoys the time they all spend together and getting to see each other grow and improve. “You have all these random comedians in a room, and you know, it’s different when you’re not in front of an audience because I think that it builds a different level of comfort with you and your teammates,” Waitt said. “And I think especially watching Maria Thomas and Marin Kain, who have been on the team with me since sophomore year, like watching everyone grow, and then watching our new members really get acclimated into it is so rewarding, in a way.” Waitt recalled one of her favorite improv moments which occurred her sophomore year. The girls in the group were pretending to have a bachelorette party in Las Vegas when former teammate Aedan Roney tapped them out and brought on a group of the guys and said they were at a bachelor party in colonial Williamsburg.
Scatterbomb after their show on December 3, 2021. In the top row from left to right, Daniel Baer, Aiden Mackenzie, Maren Kain, Erin Clinton, and Cooper Carleton. In the bottom row from left to right Caroline Voigt, Isabel Cameron, Maria Thomas, and Sydney Waitt. KELLY CWIK/ THE QUADRANGLE “It’s stuff like that, where you’re just like, ‘Who even thinks of that, who even comes up with that?’. So I think that was my funniest moment or the funniest moment I can remember.” The group has a few preshow rituals that they do together to prepare for the show. One specifically, is singing. “I think people would be surprised we just sing a lot.
Like we sing a lot,” Kain said. “And I think it’s funny because I’m like a musical theater kid and so, that’s not weird to me, but I love when we bring new people on and they realize that we literally just like sing for 30 minutes before the show.” Scatterbomb is planning on having a show next semester on January 28, 2021 at 8pm in Hayden 100.
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Arts & Entertainment
Discovering the Joy of Fashion on Campus Josh Grewal & Lauren Raziano Staff Writer & Social Media Editor
Fashion seems to be a universal language, particularly at Manhattan College. With a very diverse campus, it is inevitable to see each student’s uniqueness by the way they dress and the reasoning behind their respective clothing attire. Much like personality, fashion is a depiction of the person at hand and what they seem to portray. Liola Moody, a senior political science and international relations major, is the founder of Turnstyle thrift store in Thomas Hall. She sees the store as a link between fashion and happiness at MC. “Turnstyle definitely promotes joy because our whole slogan is ‘My style...your turn’ and I think there’s a lot to be said about the influence of fashion from others, especially in your community,” Moody said. Turnstyle is operated by accepting donations from Manhattan College students and allows students to purchase gently used items that can now be recycled into their personal style. “Turnstyle offers that opportunity by being able to quite literally turn in your style for something new,” Moody said. “I think it’s really cool to be able to see people in clothing that I used to wear, I know my friends have said similar things. I’ve seen people come to the store and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, that’s my jacket that you’re buying,’ and I think that sense of community, sharing fashion, and ideas brings a lot of joy.” Moody also shared her
thoughts about how joyfulness can impact what you wear and how you act. “I think it can have a huge impact, I think that on days that you get up and you put yourself together you tend to feel a lot better, a lot more confident,” Moody said. “I think the same goes for fashion, when you’re wearing something that you feel really good in and that you picked out, that you take a lot of pride in, you tend to have a lot more confidence and just feel better about yourself.” Moody encouraged others to try new styles and be confident in what they wear. “There’s really only so many fashion faux pas you can make and so many mistakes you can make,” Moody said. “I’d say just do it and have fun and just as long as you feel good, you look good.” Rory O’Connor, a freshman psychology major, spoke on how fashion can usually put people’s style into a box and told not to dress a certain way. He vividly spoke about how fashion should be free, as it is a form of self expression. “I would say just don’t let anyone put you in a box because I have like clear memories of being young and trying to figure out my style and making terrible fashion choices and also trying things and being ridiculed by friends or whatever,” O’Connor said. “People told me, ‘Oh, that’s not your style.’ But, nothing determines what you can and can’t wear. It’s a mentality thing.” A part of joyful fashion is wearing what makes someone feel confident and comfortable, and O’Connor has identified his style niche. “I think my style has changed since moving to New York. I’m moving more into
THE QUADRANGLE
Turnstyle is operated by accepting donations from Manhattan College students and allows students to purchase gently used items that can now be recycled into their personal style.
@MC_TURNSTYLE/ INSTAGRAM New York style because it’s similar to what I like. My favorite type of clothes are workwear which is prominent here, and I love the way people dress over here with layers and heavy stuff,” O’Connor said. Xavier Peña, also a freshman psychology major, spoke about fashion and clothes being an extension of oneself. As clothes can depict many things about the people that style them. With New York being a very fashionable city, it is common for people to dress outside the norm. “Fashion is a form of expressing yourself, and it says who you are as a person. I personally take pleasure in trying different styles and putting together different pieces of clothing,” Peña said. “This creates a form of originality, which I think every person should strive for, because the diversity in the world is something that should be celebrated.” It seems many people look to others, such as celebrities and music artists to be inspired. The creativity of other people should be celebrated, as it goes to show just how diverse the world can be. When asked about his inspirations, Peña replied with the following. “I would definitely say growing up. I used to look up to a lot of fashion people like fashion moguls like A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator … I’ll just look up to these rappers and see their styles,” Peña said. Many people find it hard to choose what clothes fit them
or what looks good. Peña had words of advice for people who might be thinking exactly that. As he stated there were many times when he would question his own choice of clothing, because he couldn’t tell if it looked “good” or not. “My advice is you definitely have to try new things and new areas and just do your research on different brands and different styles,” Peña said. “There’s many different websites that can show you outfits. Like I said before, you do what you want and you be yourself. That’s the number one thing you could do because you can never be like [anyone else].” Ashley Cross, Ph.D., professor of women and gender studies, acknowledges that Manhattan College students are able to portray their style just by going to college in New York City. “You can’t be not stylish in New York, right? You’ve got to really think about what you’re wearing, from your earrings to your suit,” Cross said. “You just have to be aware about that. So I certainly pay attention to be you know, to be well dressed and not unkempt.” Cross knows her style fits the New York aesthetic. “I think happiness and joy are in my style because I wear what I want to wear and what I like to wear. I love black, I mostly wear black, that’s very New York, but I also try to wear some colors too,” Cross said. Cross is aware that having a cheerful character can be more important than style when lead-
ing a classroom discussion. “I don’t know that happiness and joy is in my clothing as much as it is in my persona and how I try to come across in the classroom and on campus with energy and openness,” she said. “I try to bring energy and enthusiasm and I try to listen to all my students, no matter what their backgrounds are or how well they’re doing in the class.” Style changes very frequently and Dr. Cross expressed that she is aware students and faculty have elevated their style to match it. “I think there’s a lot of stylish people among the students and among the faculty, and I think you know, people of your generation are much much better, better dressed and more aware than people in my generation were in college,” she said. Dr. Cross also has a positive outlook about her unique and powerful hairstyle, “I think my style is about my silver hair, which has come back even better, after I lost it all because of the chemo!” Cross wrote in a follow-up email to the Quadrangle. Whether it’s her style, her classroom, or sharing joy with others, Dr. Cross always shares a positive outlook. “We need joy in this world.” Dr. Cross said. “It’s a pretty hard world we’re all living in and the pandemic is ongoing, and people are tired and there can’t be enough joy. You know, we’re just living, we’re alive in the world and that’s kind of an amazing thing.”
DECEMBER 7, 2021
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Behind the Mask: Get To Know Your Brother Jaspers Jilleen Barrett & Megan LaCreta A&E Editor & Asst. Features Editor
The crowd inside Draddy Gymnasium is on its feet. The sound of cheers echoes throughout the building. Jasper Nation’s energy is palpable. Who is the star worthy of such celebration? Is it the men’s basketball MVP? The women’s rookie of the year? Or is it a towering, big-headed, Irishjig dancing Catholic brother? That’s right, folks. These cheers are for Manhattan College’s very own mascot, the incomparable Brother Jasper. A group effort is required to bring Brother Jasper to life. The mascot is played by three different students, whose identity is kept under wraps. The Quadrangle spoke with two of the mascots, who will be referred to as Brother Jasper 1 and Brother Jasper 2 in order to maintain their anonymity. These students are supported by the mascot managers, assistant directors of student engagement Sharon Ortega and
Michael Steele. The role of Brother Jasper is a paid work study position through Student Engagement. In an email to the Quadrangle, Brother Jasper 2 explained how they were selected for the role. “[I] saw an ad on the student engagement Instagram looking for students to be the new mascot, so being me, I reached out through email expressing my interest and my height (as requested in the ad),” Brother Jasper 2 wrote. “My grandfather, who is a Manhattan College alumni, always said I would make a great mascot so I felt that I had an obligation to the family name to do what I can to get the part.” Brother Jasper can usually be seen at basketball games, but may pop up at some other student engagement events in the future. Brother Jasper 1 has only appeared at basketball games so far, and shared how they felt about taking on the role during the highly anticipated Battle of the Bronx. “My favorite so far has been the game against Fordham, considering the comeback win and the energy I felt,” Brother Jasper 1 wrote.
Brother Jasper interacts with student section at Battle of the Bronx. ALYSSA FERRARA/ COURTESY Brother Jasper 1 also wrote they see a positive reaction from the crowd when they have appeared at games. When performing, this Brother Jasper is careful to give the audience what they want — a sense of school spirit. “They seem very excited to see me, some even asking to take pictures,” Brother Jasper 1 wrote. “Taking from my past experience in acting, I was focused, prepared to not let any-
thing take me out of character.” Brother Jasper has a crowd-pleasing few stunts, including McGregor’s strut and an “Irish jig.” Ortega says while doing such stunts, it’s important for them to have a spotter, a role she is glad to fill. “The role is very exciting,” Ortega said. “I feel honored to be part of this first year of Brother Jasper doing what he was meant for.” Brother Jasper 2 feels simi-
larly, showing school spirit isn’t just for the fans — it’s for the people who actually get to play Brother Jasper too. “When I’m Brother Jasper I feel like I’m a part of something bigger than me,” they wrote. “While I may feel incredibly hot and sweaty, I feel that I have a duty to my family, my team and my school that I do my best and most importantly pump up that crowd.”
Pep Band Makes Some Noise for the Mop Guys Rosalia Cefalu Contributor
If you’ve attended a basketball game this fall, you know music isn’t the only sound coming from the pep band’s section of the Draddy bleachers. Their friendly competitive banter accompanied by eye-catching signs are an essential part of game night’s live entertainment. One sign in particular has been getting lots of laughs from the stands this season. The mop guy sign, which Pep band member Max Toder calls his favorite, recognizes the student-workers who mop the court after there has been high-intensity action near the hoop that may lead to sweat accumulating on the floor. This must be cleaned up immediately following one of these plays, as it can present a slipping hazard. The sign is meant as a way for pep band members to acknowledge the efforts of these workers in a fun way that engages the crowd. The crowd truly matches the energy they bring to successful foul shots and Jasper-favoring referee
calls when it comes to these students coming onto the court with their mops in-hand. “We don’t think mop guys get enough recognition for their hard work, so we wanted to make a sort of ‘Thank you’ gift card we could give them everytime we see them hard at work,” Toder said. Pep band member Emily Peters also spoke to the Quad about their game-day rituals. When asked about the friendly teasing that goes on during games she mentioned some of their usual chirps. “From the time I was a freshman, members of the band have been yelling out random cringy things during foul shots such as ‘number blank eats cereal with a fork’ and ‘your sock is untied,’” Peters said. The Pep Band has found that simply shouting at opposing players doesn’t have the same effect as their witty one-sided conversations. “After heavy research, we have found that just shouting or screaming doesn’t work as well as one would hope,” Toder said. “A confusing statement seems to work best, something to confound the players for long enough that they miss
“The Pep Band has found that simply shouting at opposing players doesn’t have the same effect as their witty one-sided conversations.”
MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY their shot.” The Pep Band’s banter is typically kept civil, but according to Toder resulted in the suspension of the squad in 2017. Since then, it seems they have been good sports about the competition. “I felt that they were too harsh, but maybe they wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again,” Toder said. “In later
years, they stuck to letting us know if they thought something was too much to be shouting at the games, or even when they thought a shout was good!” Peters also spoke to the band’s continued support for the mop guys. “We are also proud to be the only pep band that acknowledges the mop people, we want them to know that they are ap-
preciated and a vital part of the game,” Peters said. As the season goes on, it will be exciting to see how the pep band continues to toe the line and craft new crowd pleasing banter. And for the mop guys, hopefully they keep up the great work. Jasper Nation really does appreciate all that they do.
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THE QUADRANGLE
Two Wins, 1,000 Points, One Successful Trip Lauren Raziano & Adrianne Hutto Social Media Editor & Asst. Production Editor
The Jasper basketball teams competed in the ASun Tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando, Florida from November 19th to the 21st. The men’s team dominated their end of the tournament. In their first game, the team won against North Alabama with a score of 55 to 51. The game was so close, with emotions so high, Coach Masiello’s passion for the game was visible to the crowd. At the end of the first half, Jaspers were down by two only to come back to win by the skin of their teeth. At their Saturday game, the men’s team secured a much less exciting win against Liberty University, with a final score of 76-60. Coach Masiello expressed his gratitude for the teams to be able to travel after a limited ability to do so last season. “Anytime you get to get on planes with a group of guys for 5 or 6 days at a time it’s a lot of fun, so it was really awesome, especially coming off last year,” Masiello said. Thanks to the trip to Florida, the team was given a lot of opportunities to bond off the court, going out to dinners and to Disney. “It’s what life as a college athlete is about. Building and bonding,” Masiello said. What he describes as “candid” moments with the team, Masiello saw their time as a team as a vital part of the trip. “You bond over two things: great memories or adversity, and this happened to be a great trip because we won and had a lot of fun,” said Masiello. The basketball teams had the support of the band, cheer team, and dance team by their side during the tournament. This helped to keep them in high spirits during their games. “We were the most well-represented college of the four teams. Jasper nation, when we travel it’s awesome,” said Masiello. Matthew Glassman is the captain of the Men’s basketball team, a role he takes very seriously. Ensuring that the members are doing what they are supposed to be doing and properly representing the team. “That’s that’s like my, my main goal is just kind of like, keep everyone on onboard of
The women’s basketball team celebrates their season at the Cinderella castle in Disney. CHRISTINA KATSAMOURI/COURTESY the ship,” Glassman said. The crows went wild when Glassman went in for the last minute of the game. It is moments like these that he finds joy in as a college athlete. “Honestly, I don’t really go into that much. I haven’t gotten that much since I’ve been here. But it’s always fun going in, no matter how much time is left, no matter what the score is,” Glassman said. “After the game I talked to some of the people from the band, and they were saying how much they love cheering for me. It’s always nice knowing that there’s people rooting for you. It was a good moment to have.” Despite his season nearing an end, Glassman is grateful for the time he has had and plans to make the most of the games he has left. “I don’t have that much time left, honestly and every time that I go out, whether it’s practice or a game, you try to cherish having moments,” Glassman said. “Whether it’s on or off the court, being with your teammates is nice because at a certain point we’re not going to have any more moments with your teammates, it all comes to an end sooner rather than later. I just think honestly the best part is just being with my teammates.” The Lady Jaspers did not have as much success in Florida but still had an exciting moment as Courtney Warley scored her 1,000th point at Manhattan College. “If you don’t know Court-
ney, personally, she is one of the most wonderful human beings you will ever meet,” said women’s basketball head coach Heather Vulin. “So it was just a really big moment for our program for her to get that accomplishment.” The team lost their first game against Florida Gulf Coast University 88 to 57. Number 1 on FGCU, Kierstan Bell, dominated three-point shots and was eventually taken out when FGCU took their big lead in the 4th quarter. In their game against Stetson University, they lost 57 to 55. Courtney Warley scored a total of 20 points in the game against Stetson, two of which being her 1,000th point during the 3rd quarter. “It was really awesome. Some of my family also came down for the tournament as well. But it was also nice that they were able to be there for that personal milestone,” Warley said. As Warley scored, an announcement came over the microphone and the stands burst into applause. But she remained focused on the task in front of her. “It’s kind of weird because we’re in the middle of a game so we can’t really celebrate because we have to stay focused. So it’s always like a little bit of an awkward moment. But I’m glad that it’s kind of out of the way and we can just focus on the rest of the season now,” Warley said. Warley was then named MAAC player of the week for
her success. “It’s a nice accomplishment. We’ve been lucky in these first two games to win, although we didn’t have the result we wanted down in Florida,” Warley said. “But I think it was a big personal lesson and for the team as well, just to keep moving forward and figuring out what we have to do to start winning games in the future.” Despite losing five seniors and gaining eight new players, meaning half the team is in their first year, the Lady Jaspers are having a great season. With five wins and three losses, their next games appear promising. Vulin explained how incredible of an opportunity it was for the Lady Jaspers to be able to travel for the Disney tournament especially after the limited travel last season and with almost half the team never having been before. “One of the teams is in the top 25 and was just a really incredible opportunity for us to have non-conference play,” Vulin said. “The experience, the beautiful hotel, and to play in a beautiful venue, and take part in some of the activities that Orlando has to offer was just a lot of fun and I feel that it will definitely accelerate our growth in terms of getting us ready for conference play.” However, they were fortunate enough to be able to attend the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament last year and have post-season play, which school administration al-
lowed them to travel to participate in. “Yeah, it was an incredible experience. A number of the kids made a point to come thank us for the opportunity and basically said it’s going to be one of the best memories they’ve ever had while they got to play here at Manhattan,” Vulin said. The men and women’s team were able to have a great tournament in Disney with the opportunity to play outside of their conferences and have time together off the court as teams. With the cheer team, band, and dance team there to support them as well, it is clear the Jasper pride is immense. The bond these two teams have shows in their strong bond and their love for the sport. “I would definitely say my teammates and just who I’m playing with. We’re together all the time and on the court and off the court,” said Warley. “They’re just such a great group. of girls and they make everything fun, whether that’s going to a 6am practice, whether that’s celebrated by 1000 points. It’s just I love the people that I’m with doing this and that’s definitely my favorite part of all.” The joy that basketball gives for the players and coaches is what helps propel these two teams into victory and earn the achievements that they have. It is clear that the rest of their seasons will have fans on the edge of their seats.
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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume CIV Issue 13
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 7, 2021
Omicron Variant Sparks Concern
Anna Woods & Caroline McCarthy
Editor-in-Chief & Sports Editor
Students Gear Up For Finals Students are preparing for finals week and the end of the Fall semester. MARIA THOMAS / THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan College Recognized for Its Efforts Regarding Voter Turnout and Registration Maria Thomas, Kyla Guilfoil & Nicole Rodriguez
Managing Editor, Asst. News Editor & Production Editor Washington Monthly has recognized Manhattan College in its annual list of colleges that have best encouraged students to become active citizens. Student voter turnout increased from 41.3 percent in the 2016 election to 59.6 percent in the 2020 election, which was significant enough to win the college its first first silver designation from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge, a competition including more than 1400 colleges and
IN NEWS:
MC Finds success at Model UN Conference on p. 3
universities who are aiming to raise voter participation. These efforts are led by the Voter Engagement Committee, a group made up of faculty, students and administrators who set goals and agendas for improving voter turnout and registration at MC. The committee’s work is largely carried out by Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., professor of political science; Jacqueline Martin, coordinator for Campus Ministry and Social Action (CMSA); Kathleen Von Euw, assistant director of Community Engagement and Partnerships, and a team of work study students including Assiatou Diallo, Doriz Yari, Grace Geckeler and Chelsey Leveque. A local Bronx community
IN FEATURES: Students Battle Finals Stress on p. 4
member, Groarke has been part of voter turnout efforts in the area for many years. In collaboration with Martin, Groarke has been able to establish a noteworthy effort for voter engagement at MC. “I’ve long been interested in maximizing voter participation — it’s also a subject of my research — so I signed us up for the All In Campus Democracy Challenge several years ago,” Groarke wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “I’ve co-chaired the Voter Engagement Committee with Jacqueline Martin, and took the lead on writing up our plan, which is on our website — just search __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
FREE
One Manhattan addressed the pressing concern of the Omicron variant in their weekly email Thursday Dec. 2, shortly following a positive case found in a patient who was recently in New York City. In light of the variant, Manhattan College officials are urging students to follow the New York City Department of Health’s indoor mask advisory and will keep its campus-wide indoor mask mandate in place. “We are monitoring the situation closely and will make any relevant decisions based on guidance from local and national health officials,” One Manhattan wrote in the email. There are currently seven active cases found in the Manhattan College community, none of which have been reported to contain the Omicron variant. This is an increase from the two cases reported in last week’s One Manhattan update and is in line with the citywide increase in positive cases. Since the start of the semester there has been 51 recovered cases. One Manhattan requests all students who are unvaccinated due to an exemption to speak with a medical professional regarding options of vaccination, and all students who have been vaccinated to receive their booster shot. While there is a portal to submit proof of a booster, there is no mandate for students to receive it as of yet. Those who have received their last Moderna or Pfizer dose more than six months ago, and those who have received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine more than two months ago, are now eligible for the booster. Jaspers Return announced in the email that the college will be hosting an on-campus vaccine clinic. “On Thursday, December 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., we will be hosting a vaccine clinic, in partnership with Desai Pharmacy, on campus in Smith Auditorium,” wrote the email. “Desai Pharmacy will provide Moderna and Johnson & John-
IN A&E:
Jasper Jams: Finals Week on p. 6
son booster shots on site.” The Jaspers Return email also stated that those who would like to get vaccinated must bring their CDC vaccination card, a form of identification, and insurance card to the clinic. Additionally, it outlined eligibility requirements. “You are eligible if you have received your last Moderna or Pfizer dose more than six months ago. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more than two months ago, you are also eligible to receive a booster dose,” wrote the email. One Manhattan also shared an updated COVID-19 testing schedule leading up to winter break. “COVID-19 testing is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Smith Auditorium … Our last test date before Christmas will be on Monday, December 20. We will resume testing after the new year on Tuesday, January 4,” wrote the email. In addition to this testing schedule, the email included information regarding a COVID-19 survey. The purpose of the survey is to inquire about how the pandemic has affected learning, teaching, and other factors. “The COVID-19 pandemic has upended higher education, and an important question is what lessons can we draw from changes that were implemented (for example, the dependence on remote/virtual learning and teaching) during this time. We are asking for your help in better understanding what these lessons mean for our future, wrote the email” Students and faculty members from at least one of the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and/ or Spring 2021 semesters were eligible to participate. It is completely anonymous and you were not required to complete it when starting. It closed on Sunday, December 5, at 11:59pm. One Manhattan wrote that the those in charge of the survey are Dr. Ira Gerhardt (Department of Mathematics) and Dr. Rani Roy (Associate Provost/Department of Kinesiology) at pandemiclearnteachsurvey-user@manhattan.edu.
IN SPORTS:
Swim Team Wind Big on p. 7
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the Quadrangle Volume CIV, Issue 13 December 7, 2021
The Editorial Board Anna Woods Editor-in-Chief
Maria Thomas Managing Editor
Jilleen Barrett Managing Editor Arts & Entertainent Editor
Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor
Kyla Guilfoil Asst. News Editor
Kelly Cwik Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Christine Nappi Features Editor
Megan LaCreta Asst. Features Editor
Brian Asare Photography Editor
Caroline McCarthy Sports Editor
Lauren Raziano Social Media Editor
Kelly Kennedy Asst. Social Media Editor
Nicole Rodriguez Production Editor
Adrianne Hutto Jocelyn Visnov Asst. Production Editors
Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Web Editors
Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism. The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.
Join The Quadrangle The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Kelly Commons Room 412. All are welcome to come and join the club.
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THE QUADRANGLE
In Person National Model UN Conference: Students Bring Back Success from DC Victor Franco Staff Writer
For the first time since the pandemic, Pamela Chasek ,Ph.D., chairperson of the political science department at Manhattan College, was able to physically take students to the National Model UN Conference in Washington D.C., and returned with an honorable mention award and two awards for outstanding position papers. The National Model UN Conference takes place twice a year, in different locations, providing hundreds of students the opportunity to engage in discussions about international-diplomatic affairs. Students who attend the conference take a class with Chasek, so that when the time comes students will be prepared for any conversation concerning the topic of the conference. In the event, students are broken up into groups with other students from across the country to delegate and represent a certain region. This year, the Manhattan College delegation formed the People’s Republic of China. “Each committee has two topics, and the students had to prepare their position papers from the point of view of China through representing China on these 2 topics,” Chasek said. “So what they have to do is research both the topics themselves, and the Chinese position. And, some of the topics are particularly difficult for China.” Ben Bagbek, a double major in political science and economics, attended the event and described that he was able to speak about his interests, and once in his group he talked about “sustainability, specifically, sustainable development goals and its relationship with everything else in the world.” While at the conference many students have to create counter arguments to many points brought up by other students, while also remaining civil and respectful.
“The conference is all about diplomacy,” Bagbek said. “Even if people didn’t agree with my points, I would have to construe my arguments in a way that sounded like it benefited everyone.” Although it was Bagbek’s third time attending the conference, it was his first time attending in person. The conference provided not only him, but all other students, the ability to meet new students and learn from each other. “This is the best networking experience I’ve had. I’ve gotten to meet so many people, and you can possibly meet your best friends for life,” Bagbek said. Maggie Tonns, an international studies and peace and justice studies double major, also attended the Model UN Conference. “Remaining diplomatic with certain member states was a challenge. We had to make sure that everything that was said had to be within what China was already doing regarding the topics,” Tonns said. “It really is a lot of fun, the conference is so engaging, you feel like you’re really in it, you feel like a member of the UN.” Liola Moody is a political Science and international studies major and was in the same group as Tonns during the conference. Moody explains that her experience at the conference was challenging because she was representing a country that she had never actually experienced. “You realize that you are kind of representing a country that you personally don’t align with in their politics but still have to appreciate the argument that you have to make,” she said. With the help of Chasek’s class, Moody was able to learn how to overcome this. “We were representing the Republic of China, which was a pretty controversial country to cover, so you do get contrite responses but we were well prepared for those” Moody said. Chasek was moved by the effort all the students made to prove their points and how the
conference proved to help all students grow professionally. “I’ve had students from all five schools participate in Model UN over the years,” Chasek told The Quadrangle. “And, there’s something for everybody in it, whether you’re a science major, engineer, whatever. But, what it does is it teaches you how to feel comfortable speaking in public, sometimes as much in front of 300 people. It teaches you how to negotiate, which is a skill you’re going to need throughout your life, whether you’re negotiating on buying a car, or negotiating you know, rent or mortgage payment or getting a job or salary benefits are going to be so you learn sort of those skills of how to negotiate how to respond to other people.” Teamwork is also enhanced in the conference and is present in each of the delegations. “Through this you learn to work as part of a team, because the delegation is a team. We’re only as strong as our weakest link. So they all have to support each other and help each other along the way, even if they’re in different rooms,” Chasek said. The successes of the Manhattan College students at the conference were impressive and spoke to the passions of the group, especially because of the fact that it was most of their first time presenting for the Model UN Conference in person. “They were all on their game,” Chasek said. “They were all present. They were all active on working on multiple resolutions. It was super impressive what they were able to do with limited training, because in the fall it’s not a class, it’s a club. I only meet one hour a week, unlike three hours a week for the class, and we only were able to meet, you know, for less than two months before the conference. So given all of that and the lack of experience, they were impressive.” In the spring, the students will be representing New Zealand and will be approaching completely new issues and structures.
For the first time since the pandemic students were able to attend an in person event as a part of Model UN.
MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
News
DECEMBER 7, 2021
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Manhattan College Recognized for Its Efforts Regarding Voter Turnout and Registration __________________________
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 in Philadelphia right before the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. There, the group learned from others about useful strategies and brainstormed their own plans for action at MC. Graorke and her colleagues decided that their focus would be on making sure that students knew how to register to vote, how to get an absentee ballot, how to vote for their respective districts and for students to understand how to evaluate candidates and why their participation matters in elections. “Young people have historically not voted in large numbers -- and that means politicians can ignore their interests,” Groarke wrote via email. “Young people’s voter turnout is on the increase, which will give them a greater voice. Also, people who start voting young tend to keep voting, so getting young people involved matters for our democracy.” Groarke added that she would like to see students receive an automatic opportunity to register for voting when they register for courses at the college. She also advocates for student membership of political clubs, for all and any ideology, in order to promote political engagement among MC students. Martin, who works closely with Groarke within the Voter Engagement Committee, also organizes the community engagement
programs on campus which play an important role in invigorating students to become active citizens. “Part of my role is overseeing voter engagement work study students, and so they work both on campus and the college community, and locally and in the local community to help people get registered and engaged in voting in a different way,” Martin said. Martin also oversees weekly local community service projects, social justice education programs run by the college, and the L.O.V.E. social justice immersion trips that are hosted by the CMSA. “We do a lot of different things under our umbrella trying to get students more engaged with the world around them and learning more about themselves and how they fit into things and hopefully, so that they can become like really active citizens in the community,” Martin told The Quadrangle. In terms of the voter engagement work on campus, work study students work with Martin to do classroom presentations. Students create presentations that explain why it is important to vote, especially as a young person, as well as explain how to register and be qualified to vote in a particular election. Martin said that it is important for young people to be involved in elections because politics are intertwined with students’ daily
lives and the society that they live in. “I think it’s so important to be a part of that conversation,” Martin said. “Because if you’re not someone else will be and you want to make sure that your concerns, and the concerns of people who are different from you, and who are from different communities are being heard, to be able to affect change.” Martin shared that a major focus for the committee during the spring 2022 semester will be addressing the upcoming primary elections in June 2022. She said the committee hopes to hold events that will raise awareness for these upcoming elections, and the candidates that are running. The goal will be to raise awareness as well as encourage more students to register to vote. The voter engagement committee also plans to work with Residence Life to create a program led by Resident Assistants to create more accessibility for students to register to vote. Martin added that they would also plan to include events hosted by Commuter Services in order to reach non-resident students. Junior biology major, Assiatou Diallo, is part of the college’s voter engagement committee. As a member, she engages in community outreach with the purpose of helping people with voter registration. “One way the college has prepared students to become more
active citizens is by making voter registration easily accessible. We offer different ways for students to register, whether that be by completing the application and we mail it on their behalf, or simply scanning a QR code that we provide,” Diallo said. Diallo explained how crucial it is to educate students about the importance of voting and making sure to provide a consistent flow of information regarding elections in a more simplified and bearable form to understand. “It is important for specifically college-aged individuals to vote because we are old enough to be socially, politically, and economically aware of society and recognize what needs to be changed within it, but young enough to be more affected by long term changes made by political leaders compared to older folks,” she said. “Politics is dominated by people who won’t be here in 20 years or so, which is ironic because young people are quite literally the future, so we should be the ones deciding how we want our future to look, but nothing will change in our favor if we continue to be complacent when it comes to voting.” The efforts of the college’s voter engagement committee have enabled 76.4 percent of Manhattan College students to be registered to vote in 2020. Further, 78.1 percent of these registered voters voted in the 2020 election. According to manhattan.
edu, this is an increase of nine percent from the 2018 elections. Diallo hopes the college will take further steps to increase voter turnout in the future such as dedicating a day on campus to voter registration along with a political workshop. “Some things that I hope the college will implement to increase voter turnout is dedicating a day on campus that primarily focuses on voter registration, and all things voting-related,” Diallo said. “This would include educating students on the importance of voting, and addressing any confusion students may have about the process by answering questions they may have but are typically too afraid to ask.” “I also hope that MC will implement a workshop or something along the line that allows people to express their political views in a judgement-free environment because if we can make students feel comfortable enough to speak their minds, I believe that they will be encouraged to go out and vote so that their voice can be heard on a much larger scale.” Martin emphasizes that students should use the voter engagement committee as a resource to better understand voter registration and elections. She hopes that students will stop by the CMSA office in Kelly Commons for any further information or guidance on these issues.
how the new interdisciplinary program can provide MC students with the proper skills to understand the working world. “Professionals in all industries need to understand how energy sources affect the environment and how corporations can develop and use green power on a larger scale. This program provides insights into these areas,” Gibson wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. Gibson then further explains how MC needed a program designed for sustainability. “Understanding sustainability is critical in a time when climate change is having an increasing impact on all of our lives. Understanding sustainability is complex--and having the perspective of business and engineering in understanding delivery systems, regulation and markets is important,” he wrote. This program shows how
Manhattan College is able to encourage a dialogue between faculty across MC’s schools to approach an issue of importance to our society. “In the O’Malley School, we have had several students do research in the area of Environmental Economics, working on ways to nudge students to use their energy resources more wisely. Having a program like this can serve as motivation for the College overall to focus on its environment and processes to assure that they’re sustainable,” he wrote. Manhattan College’s administration also met with leadership from Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses to review the program. The input from Con Edison Clean Energy helped MC to better understand specific green power and sustainable energy needs for professionals working in the energy sector. Dean of the School of En-
gineering, Tim Ward, also discussed how Con Edison Clean Energy Business has been an essential part of the process to create the new program. “Con Edison Clean Energy Business has been a very strong supporter of Manhattan College for many years and continues to be,” Ward said. “This is an idea that came from them and we liked that idea too. So that’s why we formed this or created this program. And this program is now registered with New York State Education Department.” Dean of the School of Continuing and Professional Studies,Steven Goss, weighed in and shared the expectations within the new post-baccalaureate certificate program. “By the end of this program students will be able to differentiate between alternative energy sources in terms of generation and utilization, critique the integration of business
into its natural environment through the utilization of the triple bottom line framework for long-term sustainability and analyze strategies that will maximize the value of the project experience to the organization by capturing best practices and lessons learned.” Goss then went on to talk about how MC can greatly benefit from a program that discusses the new sources of power the world partakes in and how business can coincide with helping the world. “ It is essential that we, as citizens of a global community, take new approaches to energy use. This opportunity is for more than students in our traditional engineering or Master of Business Administration programs, it’s for anyone who wants the skills and knowledge to actively be involved in this important discussion,” Goss said.
New Advanced Certificate Program Helps Create a Sustainable Environment Zoe DeFazio Staff Writer
Manhattan College’s School of Engineering, School of Continuing and Professional Studies and O’Malley School of Business have announced a new post-baccalaureate certificate program for Green Power and Sustainable Energy. The certificate program is open to all college graduates and consists of five courses that total to fifteen credits. Students can complete this program in less than one year. There are two required courses, one in engineering and one in business, with an additional three elective courses in the Schools of Engineering, Business, and Continuing and Professional Studies. Dean of the O’Malley School of Business, Donald Gibson, addressed his views on
Features
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THE QUADRANGLE
Students Feel and Deal with Finals Week Stress Megan LaCreta
Asst. Features Editor As winter intersession draws near, students face one last hurdle: finals week. With deadlines looming and exams approaching, the stress of the final high pressure week of the semester grows greater. This semester’s finals week is particularly challenging, as it falls in the wake of a year and a half of remote and hybrid learning. This change resulted in many professors taking a different approach to finals compared to the classic sit-down exam. Sophomore political science major Tyla Boone noted the change in the format of many of her finals compared to last spring. “A lot of my finals last semester were take-home,” Boone said. “So I was able to sit with the questions and really figure them out, or flesh out a good essay, while [in-person finals] are just like, you have to constantly be writing.” The pandemic has also added another layer of stress onto many students’ lives in
the past year, as Patrice Athanasidy noted. The marketing and communication professor explained the kind of understanding on behalf of instructors that she says is necessary to get students through a finals week filled with unprecedented levels of stress. “I happen to be the mom of a recent college graduate and a college student … I understand this current generation’s stress at a level that some people might not because I get to see it, unfortunately, with my own kids,” Athanasidy said. “I just feel like the pandemic has done more for stress levels than almost anything and we need to say ‘Okay, somewhere we have to take a breath.’ Somewhere we have to say, we’ll get through this as a team. It’s not me against my students, it’s together to get to the finish line.” What can be done to combat stress during this notoriously anxiety-ridden period? Athanadisy encouraged students to take advantage of the counseling center. She also typically brings in a yoga instructor to teach a class to her students, although she wasn’t able to this
semester. She also reminded students to use their resources, and that their professors are there for them during this time. “Communication is important,” Athanasidy said. “If you let me know what’s going on, we can figure out a way to make you get through that challenge and then still get your work done.” Psychology professor Danielle Young, Ph.D., encouraged students facing finals anxiety to make a plan that includes a healthy amount of sleep to help themselves feel more in control. In an email to The Quadrangle, she also mentioned that moderate exercise and meditation can help to calm nerves. Young helps to lower the stress levels of her own students with a unique final option, called an “UnEssay.” The assignment is broad, and allows students to present the information they’ve learned in her class in any way they choose. Young explained why this kind of assignment benefits students, and eases stress. “One of the goals of this project is to motivate students to engage in their own learn-
ing, and to have fun,” Young wrote. “When we are motivated to do tasks, we find them more enjoyable. So even if the activity is stressful, you interpret it differently. Think about anytime you’ve been engaged in a pleasurable activity: a class you love, playing sports, dancing, video games, etc. Even when it is hard or frustrating or stressful, these feelings can serve as motivators to study more, practice more, try that level one more time.” Sophomore political science student Devyn Barram expressed that different formats of finals make the stressful last week of the semester easier to handle. As for advice she would give to fellow students, Barram shared her personal method of dealing with stress. “Take breaks,” Barram said. “But also remember that it’s all going to be over in a week, and then you’re going to be able to relax.” Boone also offered her own advice. “Have a good support system,” Boone said. “Have a good group of people around you who are maybe as stressed as
you are, but not in the sense where it’s weighing on your mental health, and who know when it’s time to walk away [from studying].” Professors Athanasidy and Young both aimed to put the intimidating concept of finals into perspective for students, and emphasized that exams are just one part of a semesters’ worth of grades. “Remember that finals are a chance to demonstrate your mastery of a subject matter at this specific time,” Young wrote. “It is not a reflection of your intelligence, your capability, or your worth as a person.” “This too shall pass,” Athanasidy said. “Every finals week comes and goes… and when finals are over, there’s that true time for breath.” As for what professors can do to help students, Boone offered some advice many students can get behind. “Don’t assign a final, an essay and a presentation all in one week!”
Meet Quad Senior Maria Thomas! Isaiah Rosario Staff Writer
Who is Maria Thomas? Maria is a senior from Simi Valley, California, an English major with a film minor and Manhattan College’s very own managing editor for The Quadrangle. Thomas has been an essential part of The Quadrangle since freshman year. In addition to being part of the Quad, since her sophomore year, she has been an active participant in Scatterbomb, MC’s improv group here on campus. Thomas first discovered The Quadrangle scholarship on the school’s website and wanted to apply to it because of her passion for journalism. “I found the scholarship on the school website when I was applying, and I wrote for my high school newspaper,” Thomas said. “I was the editor in chief of that. So, I was like, ‘Oh, I definitely want to apply to this’ and then I got it. So I was like, I’m definitely doing this.” Meanwhile, with Scatterbomb, Thomas stepped out of her comfort zone. “It’s something that I always knew I wanted to try, but I didn’t really do it before coming to Manhattan College,” Thomas said. “But now that I’ve done it, I know that I love improv.” Joining clubs on campus meant so much to Thomas. Whether that be a place of es-
cape from the stress of school, a place to make more friends, or just to do something that you are able to love and enjoy. “Being on Scatterbomb has had a huge impact on my college experience because it’s where I met a lot of my friends and it’s a team of really funny people,” Thomas said. “So it’s natural that we would all become friends with each other and like, get along in that way.” Thomas also notes that The Quad introduces writers to a network of students and professors, which has allowed her to get to know the school more in her time here. “In terms of the Quad, it’s been super helpful in getting to know Manhattan College,” Thomas said. “There have been professors that I’ve interviewed for an article and then thought they were super cool and wanted to take their class as a result of that. The Quad is a great network of students.” As Thomas says, when you join clubs on campus you make a lot of memories that you will be sure to remember for the rest of your life. One of Thomas’ favorite articles she wrote for The Quad was the new vegan boutique and bodega located next to An Beal Bocht Cafe. In addition, she has many fond memories from her time in Scatterbomb. “There was this one show where my friend, Aedan Roney, we were in a scene on stage together, we both just looked at
each other and like, we were talking telepathically, and it ended up being in the scene that I was cradling him like a baby and he is huge,” Thomas said. “I think he’s 6’3 or 6’4, and I’m 5’3, and I was sitting in a chair like literally holding him in my lap and it got such a huge laugh … also just celebrating after all the shows in previous years, like after shows, we always have big parties, and like we’ll celebrate with each other. So that’s been really fun.” As of Nov. 19, Thomas is currently doing an independent study with Professor Dominika Wrozynski in the English department. The independent study is about creative fiction writing and short stories. This independent study has been helping her prepare a portfolio to apply to grad programs. Thomas said that Wrozynski has helped her greatly with the whole process. Thomas’ plans after graduating in the spring are to apply to Master of Fine Arts Programs. She is looking to go into these programs for creative writing. There is frequent growth seen from seniors since the beginning of their freshman year, whether that be educationally, emotionally, or physically. Thomas said that her main growths since freshman year that she has seen were in her maturity level, as well as her skills in writing. To new students at Man-
hattan College, Thomas passes along the following message. “Keep an open mind and just try as many things as possible,” Thomas said. “College is a unique chance where we’re in an environment where ev-
eryone’s here doing it for the first time. Go join new clubs, audition for stuff, do intramural sports and take classes that you might not think that your love because they could really surprise you.”
Maria is a senior from Simi Valley, California, an English major with a film minor and Manhattan College’s very own managing editor for The Quadrangle. . MARIA THOMAS / THE QUADRANGLE
DECEMBER 7, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
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MC Alumni Sophie Demurjian Thrives with Small Business “cutandcropped” Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor
In a common room of Horan Hall, communication major Sophie Demurjian ‘21 began her small business “cutandcropped” selling bleached and cropped t-shirts. Today, the business has expanded its items and reach with vintage sweatshirts, jewelry and sweatpants reaching over fifty thousand Instagram followers and customers in her small boutique in SoHo. The fast-paced experience of college and her busy schedule as an athlete on the D1 women’s soccer team led Demurjian to get creative about different ways to get income. Walking around campus, she saw numerous students with cropped T-shirts and got inspired to sell her own. “I was trying to think of something that I could control how much I make. So, I saw everybody walking around campus wearing cropped t-shirts and people would just cut them with their own scissors so they had, you know, a jagged edge,” Demurjian said. “So, I thought of the idea of selling these t-shirts, with a straight cut with a rotary cutter. So, I bought a rotary cutter, started an Instagram, and I started selling them and I just kept up with the Instagram and it grew to what it is today.” With the help of her teammates and supporters, Demurjian was able to attain models
for her clothing and take photos in her dorm room and later, her apartment. “She’d come knocking on my dorm room, and be like ‘Hey, I have a bunch of shirts. Can you model now? Are you busy?’,” Kimberly Mains, senior mechanical engineering major and teammate of Demurjian, said. Junior exercise science major Emily Scarda was a freshman coming onto the team when she began to help out Demurjian. “So when I came to Manhattan as a freshman, Sophie was on the soccer team, and so was I, so I met her through that,” Scarda said. “And then coming into the school, we all knew that she ran the @ cutandcropped account, and we thought it was really cool because it had a larger following. So, when we met her, we told her that we could help her with anything … she needed people to wear the shirts and have pictures taken for the account and a lot of us were, like, more than happy to do that.” The growth of content and followers on Instagram would seem like a challenge for many student athletes, but it became a passion for Demurjian. “Honestly, my stress didn’t really lie in the business, that was more so my outlet, I enjoyed it that much,” she said. “I feel like if somebody really wants to start a business, it has to be something they’re passionate about. And, I really liked the idea of selling
Sophie Demurjian ‘21 began her small business “cutandcropped” selling bleached and cropped t-shirts. Today, the business has expanded its items.
@CUTANDCROPPED / COURTESY
Pictured above are the Fuzzy Smile Face Sweatshirt and the Fuzzy Smilie Flower Key Chain available for purchase on Demurjian’s site. something I made. I don’t sell cropped t-shirts anymore, but I still sell sweatshirts, and I make the smiley sweatshirts. Now I work in Soho, like I have a pop up there and I love walking around there, seeing everybody wearing the sweatshirt, because it just makes me so happy and it puts a smile on their face, too.” Demurjian reflects on the growth of her business and how it has also helped her grow as a person throughout college and postgraduate life. “The hardest part, I guess, would be time management, because orders and stuff like that, and responding to DMS, and posting content, all that can catch up on you. And, now that I work in the store, there’s even more stuff to do,” she said. “But yeah, just keeping up with like, all these little tasks, there’s so many little things you have to do when you’re running a business. And when it grows, you have to grow with it.” Her teammates, friends and family are amazed at how Demurjian was able to turn this dream of crafting her own clothing and accessories into a reality. “I was super happy for her seeing where she is now and how she has her own little boutique in the city. That’s huge. And, I knew it was something that she wanted to do and worked really hard for. So, it’s nice to see that her hard work is paying off,” Scarda said. Mains shares the same admiration for Demurjian and her successes. “I think it’s amazing how she just started in a dorm building and now she has a little boutique in the city. Like, I think that’s amazing,” she said. Communicating with man-
@CUTANDCROPPED / COURTESY ufacturers, promoting her content and ensuring customer satisfaction are some of Demurjian’s tasks and priorities that have led her to reaching a bigger audience. Her experience at Manhattan College has helped her grow the business and maintain her education. “Manhattan College, you know, I’m glad it gave me that idea and the way the schooling worked, it allowed me to do my business and stuff. And, all the students and people who were so supportive of it definitely helped me to get where I am today,” she said. The ability to manage herself is something that Demur-
jian has dreamed of and is making a reality everyday, and recommends it to anyone who has the opportunity to. “I honestly love it,” she said. “Like, I love working for myself … I get to make my own hours. You can’t beat that … I highly recommend it if you have something you’re passionate about. The biggest thing of all is that you could sell anything. It’s just that people want to hear your story.” The “cutandcropped” store is located on 505 Broome Street, and Demurjian welcomes any MC students to stop by and shop her clothing and jewelry.
Pictured above are the Smilie Face Rings avaialable for purchase on Demurjian’s site.
@CUTANDCROPPED / COURTESY
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THE QUADRANGLE
Jasper Jams: Finals Week JASPER JAMS Brian Asare
Photography Editor As the semester draws to an end and finals week is around the corner, It’s inevitable that we start to look for various stress relievers to counter the anxiety this time period brings along. It was pretty cool getting to see all my friends’ Spotify Wrapped this year which showcased a lot of various artists and music genres, and it got me thinking about how music as an art form connects millions of people together and I wanted to share some songs. Fred again - Dermot (See Yourself In My Eyes) His unique technique in making music using samples from viral songs and adding more sound to create a story has always been fascinating to me and this song in particular I feel is a must listen. He does everything right. Elixir - Tourist I feel Elixir is more of a
storytelling art piece rather than a song. Anytime I listen to Elixir, I hear something new. It is almost as if the instruments are having a conversation with each other backed with heavy synthesizers that just help tell the story better. I have and always will call Tourist the greatest composer of our century. Give this a listen you won’t be disappointed. Otherside (Night Edit) Alex Lustig I have always been a fan of the music Alex makes. Just like some of his other songs, Otherside is in a league of its own when it comes to sounds that are peaceful and pleasant to listen to. It is almost like you get transported to an alternate universe. Rudimental - Remember Their Names (Feat. Josh Barr y) This song is a masterpiece. This is one of those songs you hear and instantly fall in love with. As a social justice song, it does an amazing job of encapsulating the pain and struggle
of being a minority in the pain of Josh Berry’s voice at the same time the joy in the “upbeatness” of the song. Star - Machinedrum, Mono/poly, Tanerélle This is a really cool song to listen to with the hard-hitting drums accompanied by a weird piano synth that meshes seamlessly with the amazing vocals of Tanerélle. Midnight Cruiser - Kiasey Jones Following the theme of hard-hitting drums, Midnight Cruiser is a song that does not disappoint especially for it being just an instrumental. Its loud atmospheric sound gives of this calming feeling which then quickly shifts into an organized mess of hard-hitting bass, claps, and a good time All of This - Jorja Smith It seems like the South African Amapiano genre of music is going mainstream and Jorja does its heritage justice with this song.
Scan here to listen to The Quadrangle’s playlist!
Quad Alum Revisits Manhattan for PRSSA Jilleen Barrett A&E Editor
John Paluszek, a former editor-in-chief of The Quadrangle, revisited Manhattan College to co-host an event with the Public Relations Student Society of America following the release of his new book, “Global Public Relations in the Roiling 2020s.” Members of the PRSSA executive board presented on various topics covered in the book, which was mostly about the spread of disinformation and how the communication field can help bring an end to that. Paluszek told The Quadrangle what it means to him to be part of an event such as this one. “Well, it’s so interesting to see that the students were quite willing to engage and do the background reading and so forth, and have formed opinions on these vital issues of today,” Paluszek said. “So it’s very encouraging for those of us who will begin to fade to know that a new generation is forming, that will be exercised, involved and hopefully, pursuing solutions successfully.” Timmy Kwong, the vice president of diversity and inclusion for the club, presented on global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. “A pandemic is a communi-
cation emergency as much as a medical crisis,” Kwong said. “And I think this is a really solid statement to start the conversation, because when you think about a medical crisis, you think about the virus itself. We think about the vaccine distribution or the safety protocols, but in order for all these things to emerge into certain communities or society at large, it requires communication.” Paluszek offered his opinion on each topic presented, and reemphasized what Kwong drew from the book about the pandemic. “It [the pandemic] is obviously going to extend uncertainty, and we have to be patient with science as it evolves to present to us the newest findings, the newest conclusions — even if there are changes, in terms of the emphases that we have had in the past for earlier threats,” Paluszek said. Kristina Zagreda, the treasurer of PRSSA, chose to speak about the relationship between public diplomacy and public relations. She spoke specifically about one section of the book in which Paluszek wrote about former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and his advice to U.S. President Joe Biden: to have a public diplomacy agency working directly with his administration. “This is actually very important because we need this
for coordinating and sending messages across the government across the world and to all the people,” Zagreda said. “And we also need to improve our social media and inform the public of our foreign policy to be engaging and create a healthier environment with that.” Zagreda also reemphasized Kwong’s points about the pandemic and how two-way communication plays a role in public health. “So it is our job and also [the experts’] job to give us the correct information … People need to listen to the experts, but the experts also need to listen to the people,” she said. Toward the end of the event, Paluszek narrowed in on communication between smaller groups, such as the Manhattan College student body. He encourages students to see communication as another skill to acquire in college before entering the job market. “Public relations students entering global society professionally, should have developed an acute curiosity antenna in order to be receptive and comfortable with the world’s many variations of thought, action, and effect,” he said. “Words are sacred — if you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little. Students, go and nudge the world a little.”
John Paluszek, a former editor-in-chief of The Quadrangle, revisited Manhattan College to co-host an event with the Public Relations Student Society of America following the release of his new book, “Global Public Relations in the Roiling 2020s.” @MCPRSSA / COURTESY
Sports
DECEMBER 7, 2021
Swim Team Wins Big at Tri-Meet
Caroline McCarthy & Nicole Rodriguez
Sports Editor & Production Editor In their first win since 2019, the Manhattan College women’s swim team dominated against Kean University and St. Peter’s University last Saturday, Nov. 20. The team, led by new coach Erick Rasmussen Jr. and captains Mackenzie Tuttle and Katelyn Hall, earned first place in a Tri-Meet against Kean University and St. Peter’s University. Manhattan, a much smaller program than most schools they compete against, struggles to win meets because of sheer numbers - the more athletes competing in a race, the more points available for the team to score. Freshman Kate Maio credits this win to the team learning how to work together to achieve a common goal. “The tri-meet, in my opinion, was one of the best meets of the season so far,” said Maio. “Not just because of the win but because we really came together as a team.” Maio, who surprised herself by winning the individual 50 fly event, swam in five events last weekend. In addition to their strong team dynamic, the swimmers also credit their tri-meet win to their new coach’s positive influence and presence this season. “Erick has really helped us improve this season, especially
after not being in the pool and competing for a while,” said Maio. “He started the job with a lot to clean up after, and he still has a lot of work to do, but I feel as if he’s doing his best and really motivating us as a team for the MAAC.” Captain Mackenzie Tuttle described how Rasmussen’s personalized approach in coaching has greatly motivated and united the team like never before. “He has had individual meetings with all of us, asked us our majors, what we want to do with our lives and stuff like that, like personal connections and I feel like he is willing to go the distance with us,” said Tuttle. This weekend the team is competing in the Eastern College Athletic Conference mid-season championship. In preparation for the Eastern College Athletic Conference mid-season championship, the team undergoes specific race-based practices to determine which team member is the best fit for each spot. “We figure out who has the absolute fastest time in each spot and then kind of construct those relays and it changes meet to meet, but for a championship meet like this it’s more important to put your best foot forward obviously,” said Tuttle. “So we want to have our best girls in the best spot and then when it comes to the individual events, like you can swim what you want to swim, but of course we want to do who has the fast-
est times and put them in the best possible position yet.” Preparation for a regular meet, a mid-season championship and the MAAC championship greatly differ. Junior Teddy Segmuller explained the difference between training for a mid-season championship as opposed to their training for the MAAC championship in February.
“For the MAAC championship, we get tapered and practices are less intense and just more like, specifically focused. Whereas like right now we’re just kind of doing everything the same and kind of seeing how it goes.” said Segmuller. With their first win in years, the team is building momentum for the upcoming championship season.
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“I look forward to seeing what this team is capable of, including myself. We’ve all been working really hard, especially because we had a late start to the season,” said Maio. “I’m looking forward to the training trip and working hard to improve to get to my best and even better for the MAAC, and honestly seeing everyone else at their best as a team.
Pictured above is the swim team competing at the Eastern College Athletic Conference mid-season championship. KYLA GUILFOIL / THE QUADRANGLE
Keeping the Latin Legacy Alive at Manhattan College Juliocesar VigueraPacheco Contributor
Since its beginning, basketball has dominated the United States and Europe.While, people look to the Caribbean, Central and South America for sports like baseball or soccer. But now, because of migration from countries like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and their exposure to new cultures, sports and lifestyles, ten players from the Dominican Republic have made it to the NBA. Latest in that lineage for Manhattan College and the Dominican Republic comes José Pérez, the senior native from the Bronx. Pérez follows the footsteps of the ex-Jasper and fellow Do-
minican, Luis Flores. Flores is the all-time leading scorer for the Men’s Basketball Program at Manhattan (2,046 points). He was named MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Tournament MVP in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Flores also led the Jaspers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004, when Manhattan upset Florida in round 64. Flores is the most recent Jasper to be drafted into the NBA when the Houston Rockets chose him as the 23rd pick of the second round in 2004. Flores ended up playing for the Golden State Warriors and the Denver Nuggets. “José (Pérez) takes pride in his Dominican background,” said Billy Turnage, coach at Wings Academy in the Bronx. “His junior year when made the Dominican national team
where played junior and senior year, he always would wear the National team shirt or carry the bookbag.” Pérez played at Wings Academy during his ninth and tenth grade. Turnage mentioned how Pérez did not play for the Wings Academy varsity team until his sophomore year. Pérez had to work for his starting spot, which he secured after the winter break. “He was very determined,” added Turnage, “He knew he wanted to play Division 1 basketball.” In his junior year, Pérez transferred to Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut under Head Coach Tom Espinosa. There, he had one of the most solid and remembered seasons for Putnam fanatics. During his time there he also played with many Division 1 players from
all over the nation. One of his teammates at Putnam Science Academy, Nick Brennen, now plays alongside Pérez at Manhattan as well. Brennan is a transfer from Harcum College, an associate degree-granting college located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania that has seen four other alums become Jaspers (Liam McCabe-Moran ‘09, Pauly Paulicap ‘17, Tyler Reynolds ‘18 and Michael Okafor ‘19). “José Pérez is a winner. The year he played, 2017-18, you know, our overall record was 38-4 and we went on to win the regular season, the Great Atlantic Conference championship and the tournament championship. And then we went on to win our first-ever school history national championship.” said Coach Espinosa during an interview, remembering one of
the program’s best years. After graduating from Putnam Science Academy, Pérez attended Gardner-Webb University for two years before transferring to Marquette University for his junior year and eventually made it back home to play for Manhattan College. “It means the world that he is back home.” said Mikey, aka Mayor Dp, a community leader and coach for the team “Dominican Power” in the Dyckman basketball league. “I can take my current Wings players to a game and see somebody who has been in the seat they are sitting in.” said Turnage, hinting at Mayor Dp’s statement. Perez has been demonstrating his talents all season as he has led the Jaspers to a 5-1 record.
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Emotions Run High in The Bronx for a Manhattan Win Noel Spillane Contributor
On a cold November night in the Bronx, things got hot inside Draddy Gymnasium. An emotional and hard-fought battle between Fairleigh Dickinson University and Manhattan College saw the Jaspers leave in victory. FDU came into this game bruised and battered coming off five straight losses to tough opponents. On top of this, they had to play the game without head coach Greg Herenda and leading scorer Brandon Rush due to unspecified reasons. This meant that Pete Lappas, son of former Manhattan head coach and Jasper hall of famer Steve Lappas, would be taking the reins against Manhattan Tuesday night. “As I started to walk out on
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the court I had to stop myself from getting too emotional,” said Lappas. “If the acting head coach starts crying that’s not good, so yeah that’s how much this means to me.” Lappas’ side started the half with more intensity. You could tell they were desperate to get off to a good start. Manhattan did not quite share the same intensity but they made up for it in execution. Manhattan opened the half seeming to have a very calculated approach. They were communicating and they seemed to have a man in isolation every time they came down the court. This started to fall apart when Manhattan started to give up careless fouls. This let FDU not only catch up to their lead but surpass it. The home side was clearly frustrated and the strong communication they began the game with began to
disappear. This frustration came to a head when Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello and Jose Perez got into a heated argument that led to Perez finding a seat on the bench. “You know that’s just a family thing,” said Perez. “Some things went on, I had to regroup and come back on and just get a win.” On the other side FDU started to click. They matched their intensity with a solid game plan and outstanding execution, nailing 45.5% of their attempts from 3. FDU took advantage of Manhattan’s miscommunication and executed their shots when they had the advantage in the paint. The overall play from the FDU side was more consistent, giving them the 41-35 advantage to end the first half. “We were happy with how we played,” said Lappas. “We
knew they would start the second half strong and try to get a lead quickly so we knew we’d have to compensate for that.” The second half mirrored the start of the game. FDU was hitting threes and Manhattan was having communication problems. However, this began to turn around when Samir Stewart gave Manhattan a spark and began to hit threes of his own.
just a nice recognition to have, but we know that there’s a long season ahead of us, so we just have to keep moving forward,” Warley said. Warley shared that she comes from a basketball family and it has always been a central part of her life. “I grew up in a basketball family,” Warley said. “Both of my parents, my mom and my dad, they played basketball, I have three sisters that also play basketball, as well. I started playing before I could even remember ... So it’s been around me and my family for my whole life. I’m just glad that I got this extra year as well.” She continued and reflected on her basketball career and the impact that her teammates and coaches have made on her. “Being at Manhattan has definitely been my favorite experience with the teammates that I have and the coaching staff. They make basketball so much fun to play, whether it’s on the court or off the court. That’s another reason why I wanted to come back here for my extra year because I just love playing with this group of girls and for this coaching staff. So I’m just really thankful that I have an extra year to do that one last time,” Warley said. Being one of the oldest players on the team, Warley has found herself playing a new role. “So this has really been our first year where a majority of us are new. So being on the team, for as long as I have, I’ve kind
of taken responsibility more this year than others just to lead more and just bring the culture that we’ve had these past four years, to these new people teach them what we do here and what it means to play green. So anything a little more than that is trying to get everyone adjusted to this new team that we have and the style of play we’re trying to accomplish.” Warley is looking forward to the rest of the season, especially gearing for the MAAC tournament. “I think every game, whether it’s a win or loss and nonconference, we’re taking all of them as lessons and just trying to implement everything we learned to come conference time. We’re ready for the conference and the MAAC tournament.” As COVID-19 impacted her senior season, Warley is grateful to have been granted another year of playing time. She shared how great it is to have fans, especially her family, back in the stands. “My family has been such a big part of my life, and especially my basketball career for forever. It would’ve really sucked if they weren’t going to be able to be there for my last part, which was last year. So I’m extremely thankful that they are able to attend almost all the games that they can this year, and see me reach those milestones as well. And hopefully, the team reach these milestones as well. So that’s re-
ally also just a nice way to end everything having everyone I love supporting me.”
“I’m a born leader,” said Stewart. “It comes with my position, I try to get in my spots, my teammates find me and if I get the ball in my spots I’ll start knocking shots down.” Stewart got into the thick of the action and his personality was shining all over the court. His teammate Jose Perez joined right along and changed the tone of the game. “When it gets hot that’s how
we communicate,” said Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello. “My guys intentions are to win and sometimes it can get hot but as long as I know their intentions it’s all good” Perez was screaming at his teammates to get organized and all of his teammates seemed to match his energy. Manhattan began to bring the most intensity on the court and began to match it with execution, knocking down important field goals and shooting effectively from the line. Stewart continued to produce and provided a key steal that seemed to change the entire momentum of the game. Shortly after Manhattan took the lead and although FDU was right on their backs and even took a brief lead themselves Manhattan secured the 78-73 win.
Courtney Warley Named MAAC Player of the Week Anna Woods Editor-in-Chief
Recently, Lady Jasper Courtney Warley was named MAAC player of the week and made her 1,000th point. Warley is in her fifth year, currently pursuing an MBA. During the ASun tournament at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Warley scored her 1,000th point in her Manhattan career. She explained that reaching her 1,000th point was not her focus. “Coming here I wasn’t really concerned with getting my 1,000 points at all,” Warley said. “At the start of this season, people have told me that I was close to it. So I knew I was going to get it at some point, but I never really thought about it. Just like each game, I tried to do what I can to win, whether that is scoring points, whether that’s grabbing rebounds. I knew it was going to come at some point, just because I was so close. But it’s never really been my focus.” Warley was also named MAAC Player of the Week, highlighting her impact and leadership on the Lady Jaspers this season. She shared what loves about the MAAC and the other teams in it. “I honestly did not expect to be named player of the week. Honestly, though, the one thing I like about our conference is that it’s so competitive, and we have so many great players in our conference … So that was
While, Warley is unsure of her future, her passion for basketball is not going anywhere.
Recently, Lady Jasper Courtney Warleywas named MAAC player of the week and made her 1,000th point. Warley is in her fifth year.
GOJASPERS / COURTESY