Issue 1, Fall 2023- The Quadrangle

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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924

Volume CVIII, Issue 1

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

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Milo Riverso Settles in as Manhattan College’s Next President Kyla Guilfoil

Managing Editor

MC Students Are Back!

Manhattan College students started their first day of Fall semester on August 28th. @MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY

Manhattan College Creates Game Design and Production as a New Major and Minor Manhattan College is now offering game design and production as both a major and a minor.

The college offers three concentrations with the major: coding, design and narrative.

The design and narrative concentrations will fall under the School of Liberal Arts and the coding concentration will fall under the Kakos School of Science.

The dean of the School of Liberal Arts, Cory Blad, Ph.D., gave insight on how this new program came to be.

“Game design came about as we were basically just sitting around thinking about ways to better communicate some of the things that we do, connecting the work that we do here with the real world,” Blad said.

Blad continued to speak about how rare this program is as it is a program that will collaborate with more than one school on campus.

“One of the most interest-

IN NEWS:

IN FEATURES:

IN A&E:

IN SPORTS:

What Did Seniors Do This Summer on pg. 6

Jasper Jams: Back to School Edition on pg. 10

Reilley Steps Down, Garcia on Up pg. 12

Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor

MC Appoints New President on pg. 1

ing things about this was just asking the question, ‘could we have a multi-department and multi-school major?’,” Blad said. “The closer we looked, and the more we realized, [there’s] nothing blocking us from doing this. We can share resources and we can provide a more specific direction.”

With cross-school integration, it is crucial that students build strong networks so their collaborative work will prove

Manhattan College students returned to campus with a new face welcoming them from the president’s office: Milo Riverso, ’81, Ph.D., P.E. Riverso was announced as the college’s next president in a statement released in late June, just days before officially starting his role on July 1. He came into office right as Daniel Gardner, FSC, fulfilled his position as interim president after serving throughout the previous school year.

According to a statement from the college, the presidential search took place over the course of four months and was led by a 10-person search committee composed of trustees, faculty and administrators.

Stephen Squeri, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said in the college’s statement that he is confident in the committee’s decision.

“Dr. Riverso is a visionary leader with a passion for education,” Squeri said in the statement. “He is the ideal person to lead Manhattan College into the future. I am confident that he will build on the College’s strong foundation and continue to advance its mission of providing a high-quality education to students from all backgrounds.”

Riverso, a MC graduate from the class of 1981, accepted the role of president after a long, successful career in construction engineering.

Riverso told The Quadrangle that after graduating with his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Manhattan in 1981, he went on to complete

his master’s degree and doctorate degree in civil engineering in 1982 and 1984 respectively. Riverso said he was just 23 years old when he completed his graduate degrees at Purdue University.

Riverso moved back to New York City to begin working in construction. He told The Quadrangle that his first job was working as a project manager on the Rockefeller University building on FDR Drive.

Riverso went on to work as president and CEO of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), where he oversaw capital improvements and new construction of New York City public schools. Riverso spoke about the growth he saw under his leadership.

“I grew [the organization] in five years from 200 million a year to 3 billion a year instituting all sorts of reforms in the organization,” Riverso told The Quadrangle.

Following his work at SCA, Riverso eventually ended up at STV Group Inc., where he served as president and CEO for nine years. At STV, Riverso worked on notable projects such as the Freedom Tower, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum complex and the redevelopment of LaGuardia Airport.

He retired from construction in 2020.

Beyond his extensive work in the field of construction and development, Riverso has remained passionate about education. He told The Quadrangle that he served as an adjunct professor in the School of Engineering for several years in the

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News

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Volume CVIII, Issue 1 SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

The Editorial Board

Jocelyn Visnov Editor-in-Chief Kyla Guilfoil Managing Editor

Lauren Raziano Multimedia Editor

Angelina Persaud News Editor

Grace Cardinal Asst. News Editor

Angelica Niedermeyer Features Editor

Angelina Perez Asst. Features Editor

Karen Flores Arts & Entertainment Editor

Mack Olmsted Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor

Andrew Mannion Asst. Sports Editors

Adrianne Hutto Production Editor Rebecca Kranich Social Media Editor Zoe DeFazio Angelina Perez Web Editors

Ivy Jaep Maisey Swift Asst. Production Editors Mary Haley Asst. Social Media Editor 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.

Connect with The Quadrangle mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

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LETTER from the EDITOR Dear Readers, Hello and welcome back to campus! I hope you’ve had a restful and relaxing summer break and made it to campus okay. For those of you that are new here, my name is Jocelyn Visnov and I’m the Editor-in-Chief of The Quadrangle. Each week, a team of very talented writers and editors and I will be bringing you your campus and community news.

As with any new beginning, we’re faced with new challenges.

Due to budget constraints and rising printing costs, The Quadrangle will be operating a little differently this semester. The Quadrangle will be printing a limited run of newspapers on a monthly basis for the duration of the fall semester. However, we are still publishing new articles across all sections almost every week!

Weekly articles will be posted online on mcquad.org and issuu. com/mcquad. I highly recommend you follow us on social media (@ mcquad) on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, to keep up with the latest updates from The Quadrangle. If you would like to contribute to our printing efforts and preserve The Quadrangles print traditions, please consider donating to our gofundme page.

I would like to introduce you to the revived version of The Quadrangles newsletter, The JasperJist. While there is no real substitute for print journalism, The JasperJist is part of how The Quad is adapting to rising printing prices in an increasingly digital world of news.

Each time The Quadrangle publishes a new issue, The JasperJist gives you the rundown of our most recent news stories and interesting campus updates with links to articles on The Quadrangles website to keep you up-to-date and informed. This newsletter is intended for all members of the Manhattan College community, including faculty, friends, family and Jaspers of the past and present. Subscribe to The JasperJist by using the QR code below, or clicking the link on our instagram story highlights.

As a reminder, The Quadrangle is always looking for new writers, editors and designers to join our team! We hold open meetings each Tuesday in Kelly 4.12 at 4pm. All majors are welcome, no prior writing experience necessary. Please feel free to drop by and say hello!

If you have a pitch for The Quadrangle or something you feel may be of interest for our publication, please email tips to thequad@ manhattan.edu, or message me personally at jvisnov01@manhattan. edu.

Thank you for supporting The Quadrangle and staying up-todate on your campus news! See you next week!

Jocelyn Visnov

Sincerely,

Editor-in-Chief

News

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THE QUADRANGLE

Milo Riverso Settles in as Manhattan College’s Next President

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1990s.

Further, Riverso remained active at MC by serving in the Engineering Curriculum Review Committee for 25 years and by serving on the Board of Trustees’ Facilities and Development Committees since 1999.

Riverso himself has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2015 and was awarded the De La Salle Medal in 2014 in recognition of his dedication and leadership at the college.

He emphasized the importance of student support at the college and explained that he helped establish the mentor program, which came to fruition due to a low retention rate in the engineering program.

Riverso said that it seemed many incoming students were discouraged by the pure STEM-based classes such as calculus, chemistry and physics, which were necessary for freshman engineers.

Riverso said the mentor

program brought in professionals to inspire and connect with these students and show them what was beyond the difficult courses.

“We came up with the idea that we could bring the students into our office in their freshman year and show them the pot at the end of the rainbow,” Riverso said. “That they won’t be doing calculus, chemistry and physics when they come into engineering. They’ll be designing buildings and airports and bridges and tunnels and mechanical systems and things like that.”

Currently, Riverso is looking to develop MC in new ways.

In particular, his construction expertise has led to his passion for renovating MC’s facilities.

Riverso addressed Overlook Manor, the upperclassmen dorm on 238 Street that was sold earlier in spring.

He told The Quadrangle that the college took the money from selling Overlook and has reinvested in rebuilding Chrysostom Hall and Horan Hall on the main campus.

Chrysostom was shut down

due to a steam leak that caused extensive damage, Riverso said, but reopened with full renovations last spring semester, in order to shut down Horan for its renovations.

Riverso told The Quadrangle that the college hopes these renovations will draw more students to living back on campus rather than in nearby apartments off campus.

Beyond housing, Riverso is also focused on updating the college’s academic facilities.

“I’ve been walking different buildings each day and we have a lot of deferred maintenance,” Riverso said. “I walked through classrooms that haven’t changed since I was here in ‘77 and I’m scared they haven’t changed since my father was here in 1947.”

Riverso said that he is working to solidify funds to update classrooms and upgrade academic rooms across campus.

With hefty facility demands across campus, Riverso also faces questions about enrollment trailing and faculty shifting but said he plans to uplift both.

Gardner told The Quadrangle he wishes Riverso well in taking over the presidential role, and acknowledged the many needs the college is now facing.

“The next president will face many challenges but I’m confident that he will provide the leadership necessary to ensure the College’s continued success in the years to come,”

Gardner wrote in a statement to The Quadrangle. “I wish Dr. Riverso well in his new role.”

Despite the challenges ahead, Riverso maintained that he is hopeful and positive about the future of Manhattan College. He told The Quadrangle he is excited to be in the role.

“I’m very happy to be here and I love to meet [everyone],” Riverso said. “I thrive off of

Milo Riverso serves as Manhattan College’s next president.

MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY

Manhattan College Creates Game Design and Production as a New Major and Minor __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 successful in the new program.

Dean of Kakos School of Science, Marcy Peteroy-Kelly, Ph.D., spoke about the benefits of the cross-school integration, which will help students become more well-rounded for the field they pursue.

“There are so many different directions one could take,” Peteroy-Kelly said. “I think that for the students who are in the coding track…I think having that greater foundation in the liberal arts fosters greater collaboration, across all of those disciplines.”

Director of game design and production, Michael Grabowski, spoke on how students in this program will be able to collaborate with industry professionals and or gaming companies.

“I’m planning on taking students out for an onsite visit to a gaming company so that once they learn in the classroom, how gaming classes are structured and understand the different departments we can actually see that in practice,” Grabowski said.

Once the students progress and learn more about the creation of video games,

Grabowski plans to integrate the students into the real world with internships with gaming companies.

“We’re also planning on sending them out on internships to gaming companies,” Grabowski said. “A lot of this work now is remote as well. Encouraging students to interact with those gaming forums and all the closed groups where people are finding new techniques or sharing code…teaches them to rely on this global network to help solve each of the issues then build them back up to the original game.”

With artificial intelligence becoming revolutionary across the world, the gaming industry will continue to evolve.

Grabowski said that this program will certainly equip students with the knowledge to be prepared for anything.

“There are the tools that exist now and the tools that are coming out and we’re introducing those tools into the curriculum,” Grabowski said. “For instance, with the Unreal gaming engine, there are API routines that you can apply to what are called pawns, those are basically the movable nonplayer characters and other elements that you can interact with.”

With resources such as ChatGPT continuing to play a

vital role in the job industry, AI will help make the creation of games a lot easier for students “ChatGPT is a form of a language model where you can pose a prompt or a question and you can get a response based on that, you’re able to do that now in games,” Grabowski said. “The other side of it is that there are more and more AI-based plugins that help you actually design the game, so building a game is going to become less tedious, easier and faster, because you’ll be able to describe more in language terms what you want to produce.”

Peteroy-Kelly said she expects a lot of great things to come out of the program.

“I think any program that is fresh and new and highlights things that are actually going on outside of the institution [that] can help bring us longevity, and it can enhance the experience for students,” Peteroy-Kelly said. “[The program] really demonstrates that Manhattan College is responsive to what’s going on around us you know, whether that be popular culture, politics, or whatever this.”

If Grabowski would leave his students with one final thing when they graduate it would be to make sure these

students have a portfolio that they are ready to show the real world.

“It’s my goal that by the time students have a degree, they already know several people in the gaming community,” Grabowski said. “They’ve already demonstrated their skill

sets, and they already have a portfolio in that game that they produced in the senior game seminar…but you’ll also have met through these gaming communities, different players in the field so that you can use that network to go to the next step after graduation.”

Manhattan College Introduces Game Design and Production as a New Major and Minor for the Fall 2023 Semester.

MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY

News

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Catarina Vala Wins World History Association Student Paper Award

Adrianne Hutto Production Editor

Catarina Vala, a junior at Manhattan College double majoring in adolescent education and history, stood out among the applicants for the World History Association Student Paper Prizes, ultimately securing the title of “Best Student Paper” for her article.

In the realm of historical enigmas, some stories shine brighter than others, captivating generations with their intrigue. Vala’s paper, titled “Miracle of the Sun, Divided by Class: Why the Rural Response to the Miracle of the Sun Confused Portuguese Elite during World War I” stands as a celestial enigma that has baffled and fascinated in equal measure, and yet little is known about this phenomenon.

Her paper gives readers a strong understanding of the little known event. Adam Arenson, history department chair and professor of Vala’s historical methods class, which the paper was written for, was unfamiliar with the topic when introduced to it.

As for the award, it was Dr. Arenson who recommended Katerina to apply for it after

reading her paper. “This is the World History Association, which is focused on the teaching of world history and thinking about global issues,” Dr. Arenson said. “Catarina was one of the best undergraduate papers submitted by anybody around the world in the last year, which is an amazing honor.”

Arenson noted that Vala was the first MC student to win this specific award.

Her paper describes the event known as the “miracle of the sun” where in 1917 a crowd of thousands of people gathered in Fátima, claiming to have witnessed the sun dance in the sky, an event that has been since regarded as a historical anomaly.

“Mary’s miracle at Fátima consisted of the sun moving sporadically throughout the sky, with witnesses claiming that the sun ‘turn[ed] rapidly like a firewheel’ and ‘seemed to be separated from the sky’,” Vala wrote in her paper.

“My argument was that poor Portuguese people were more passionate about the miracle of the sun, and that they experienced it in a way that wealthier people couldn’t because of the circumstances of World War One and the an-

ti-clerical government,” Vala said.

With Vala’s family living just outside the town, her grandmother being a witness to this event and the benefit of her Portuguese language skills, she was the ideal writer for this topic.

“We live about 40 minutes away from the town,” Vala said.

“And so we actually visit every year. I’ve always heard about the story since I was little. It’s still very religious. It’s kind of like a monument basically.”

Despite a familial connection to the miracle, Vala takes an analytical approach to writing the paper focusing specifically on the people witnessing the event rather than the event itself.

“I do not seek to answer whether or not a miracle happened on that day,” Vala wrote in her paper. “Rather, I will examine why thousands of people—specifically poor, rural people—believed they witnessed a miracle.”

Vala’s Portuguese background also came in handy when it came to finding sources for her paper.

“I translated some other newspaper articles about the miracle. There was also a whole article about a journalist

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Catarina Vala stood out among the applicants for the World History Association Student Paper Prizes, ultimately securing her article the title of best student paper.

VALA/COURTESY who was there at the site of the miracle,” Vala said. “With the help of my mom, I translated it. So once I found that newspaper, everything just kind of fell into place.”

Vala’s work reveals that rural and economically challenged individuals reacted more fervently to the miracle than their wealthier counterparts. Drawing connections to

the tumultuous landscape of the time marked by the first Portuguese republic and the turbulence of World War I, Vala emphasizes that the event served as a beacon of hope for those grappling with economic hardships and uncertainties.

Her analysis sheds light on the intersection of faith, class and human response to a moment frozen in time.

Shelley Johnson is Named as New Dean of School of Health Professions Zoe DeFazio Web Editor

Shelley Johnson, Ed.D, is the newly appointed dean of Manhattan College’s school of Health Professions.

Johnson earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix.

She also holds a Master of Science degree in community health nursing from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

After living in Florida for several years, Johnson decided to search for job opportunities in the Northeast, where she considers home.

“I saw that they [Manhattan College] were looking for someone to be the first dean and truly build out their healthcare programs,” Johnson said.

“So I did apply. And I do feel very fortunate and humbled to have been selected to be the dean.”

Johnson was surrounded by health care workers for the majority of her upbringing, as most of her family worked in the field.

Johnson’s experience working in higher education spans nearly two decades. Throughout her career, she has worked on building and revitalizing health care programs to meet the ever-evolving demands of the workforce.

Johnson recently worked for Florida A&M University, starting during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when the university’s passing rate fell to 60 percent.

In light of this, Johnson designed programs for students with complex lives as working adults.

“You need about 80 percent [passing rate] to keep the doors open,” Johnson said. “So I enjoy working with institutions like that that have a need…I’m willing to go to help.”

As the new dean of the School of Health Professions, Johnson envisions promoting interdisciplinary programs that emphasize diversity not only in terms of race but also in backgrounds, abilities and perspec-

tives.

She encourages students to explore the multitude of career paths within the healthcare industry, emphasizing the importance of early exposure to the various options in the industry so students can make informed choices in their career path.

Christie González-Toro, professor of kinesiology, shared in an email to The Quadrangle her enthusiasm towards this new chapter for the School of Health Professions.

“I am excited for Dr. Shelley Johnson’s leadership, energy, and knowledge to lead the new School of Health Professions,” González-Toro wrote. “The department of kinesiology looks forward to working with Dr. Johnson to continue to thrive.”

Jeff Cherubini, professor of kinesiology at Manhattan College, has welcomed Johnson with open arms and is looking forward to seeing her create change within the college.

“I am happy to have Dean Johnson join our Lasallian team and am very much looking forward to supporting her and the growth and success of the School of Health Professions,” Cherubini wrote in an email to

Shelley Johnson, Ed.D, is the newly appointed dean of Manhattan College’s school of Health Professions.

MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY The Quadrangle. “Her experience, leadership, organization and administration skills all fit well with the goals and objectives of kinesiology. A win-win for all involved - now and in the future!”

As Johnson transitions into the MC community, she advises students to stay motivated and not lose sight of what they can achieve. Johnson stresses the importance of not having

any regrets.

“Time goes by and everything is hard until you learn how to do it,” Johnson said. “If you really want something, you have to be willing to put in the hard work to get it done. I hope that people see me and think ‘she’s doing it, she has had to work through all of these things, and she’s still getting it done’,” Johnson said.

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Features

THE QUADRANGLE

9 Civil Engineering Students Receive ACEC Scholarships Lauren Raziano Multimedia Editor

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of New York awarded nine Manhattan College civil engineering students with scholarships totaling $34,500.

The students received scholarships in amounts ranging from $1,500 to $10,000.

Scholarships were awarded to students based on a number of factors, such as student’s cumulative grade point averages, leadership positions, work activities and written responses.

These criteria were included to showcase the diverse backgrounds and skills of the selected students.

Anirban De, Ph.D., the current interim dean of engineering, recognizes how the scholarships exemplify MC students and the engineering academic programs.

“The ACEC scholarships recognize talented engineering students for their academic excellence and involvement in the engineering discipline,” De wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “Our engineering students feature prominently among the scholarship recipients every year and I believe that is a testament to the high quality of our students and the industry’s trust in the educational and professional preparation our students receive when they attend the School of Engineering at Manhattan College.”

Recent graduate, John Ng ’23, was awarded a $10,000 ACEC New York Merit Scholarship-NYC Department of En-

vironmental Protection. In an article from manhattan.edu, Ng shared why he chose to pursue a career in engineering.

“Very few engineers are still alive today who have witnessed the construction of our subways, sewers, and roads,” Ng said in the article. “I chose a career in civil engineering to carry on the legacy of building infrastructure that keeps the city running. To me, the scholarship is an affirmation that I can make a real impact on improving the infrastructure of our cities to meet 21st century demands.”

The ACEC scholarship program was launched in 2002 to support up-and-coming engineers. Prior to interim dean, De was the chairperson of the civil and environmental engineering department. In their email, they shared their information about the history of the ACEC scholarship program.

“A community of engineering companies have come together to fund the ACEC scholarships,” De wrote. “ACEC is a national organization and we are served by the ACEC of NY. The purpose of the scholarships is to support qualified engineering students by providing them financial rewards, which will help with covering their educational expenses and encourage them to join the engineering workforce (as interns and full-time employees).”

Emily Specht ’24, was named the recipient of the $5,000 Hazen and Sawyer Scholarship. According to the Hazen and Sawyer press release, the ACEC New York scholarship program was implemented to

support up-and-coming engineers, thereby guaranteeing a strong future for the profession in New York State.

Orlando Blanco ’23 received a $3,500 scholarship from Langan Engineering, Environmental, Surveying and Landscape Architecture, DPC Scholarship.

Nicholas Badillo ’24, received a $3,500 scholarship titled WSP USA Inc. Scholarship.

In addition to Badillo, Samantha Perricelli, Edgar Moreno, John Henry Genualdo and Maryam Asgari were awarded $2,500 scholarships from Schwartz Engineering Scholarship, Infrastructure Engineering Inc., P.C. Scholarship, Arup Scholarship and Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers respectively.

Evan Rivera, a senior civil engineering major, was awarded the Stantec Scholarship, valued at $2,500.

“I think this scholarship is a perfect example of what Manhattan College does for students, specifically in engineering,” Rivera said to The Quadrangle. “The connections that you make at the school, both in terms of your classmates and faculty, is top tier.

I’ve landed internships for two summers, I got a full time job offer already and I’m just starting my senior year.”

Rivera spoke about his plans after graduation, continuing with a company that has previously hired MC alumni.

“The company I’m working at is filled with Manhattan College graduates all the way from the bottom to the top top position in the company, so I would say the college is very helpful

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of New York awarded nine Manhattan College civil engineering students with scholarships totaling $34,500. The students received scholarships in amounts ranging from $1,500 to $10,000.

ACEC/COURTESY

Recent graduate, John Ng ’23, was awarded a $10,000 ACEC New York Merit Scholarship-NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY with making connections outside of the industry.” Rivera said.

De wrote about what advice they would give to students that want to apply to an ACEC scholarship.

“Students should find out as much as possible about the organization and their motivation for awarding the scholarships,” De wrote. “ACEC always hosts an informational meeting in late fall in which some of their top leaders visit the College to tell our students about their mission and types of projects the member companies are working on.”

Students must also be prepared to write essays and have faculty recommendation letters.

“Students should attend the

informational meetings and ask questions,” De said. “That way, they are well prepared when they have to write their personal statements and request recommendations from their professors.”

As a first generation college student, Rivera recognizes the impact that scholarships like ACEC have, especially for minority students.

“Just to re-emphasize, students, especially minority students, should take advantage of these opportunities,” Rivera said. “College is expensive. So in order to help ourselves out, definitely apply for this scholarship if you can.”

De is grateful for ACEC New York for their support for the MC engineering community.

Features

What Did Seniors Do This Summer?

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

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Angelica Niedermeyer Features Editor Manhattan College prides itself on being “uncommon” in a location beneficial for commuting to jobs and internships.

How does this benefit students seeking professional opportunities before graduation?

According to the Career Development website, “In today’s competitive job market, a degree alone is not enough to secure desired employment.

Having hands on applicable experience is invaluable.”

This summer, MC students of all ages went far and near to research, learn and work in their fields of interest. The Quadrangle spoke to six students in various departments about what they did this summer vacation.

Seniors Skye Lehr and Julianne Santospirito traveled along with others from the biology department to conduct research in Bolivia. The two spent two and a half weeks traveling through the Andes mountains to dig sites where they discovered specimens.

“We traveled to a lot of really remote parts of the country like towns that are completely self-sustaining to see if we can find any fossils or any plants that the other team was looking at that grow at exceptionally high altitudes for our project,” said Lehr. “It was really cool.”

Lehr, working on a separate project under Professor Bruce Shockey, Ph. D., named a new

Julianne Santopirito and Skye Lehr at a dig site in Bolivia.

SKYE LEHR/COURTESY species and is currently publishing a paper on the topic.

“We were looking for more fossils and specimens to work with to gain more insight on just how big the creature was, if there was anything we didn’t expect about its teeth, about its diet that we hadn’t already determined.”

Santospirito focused on furthering the biodiversity of the different ecosystems of Bolivia.

“My favorite part was when we were hiking in the mountains and we found some really great spots with views like no other,” said Santospirito. “We even got caught in a snowstorm. Overall, I’d say the trip was a great experience that besides going with the school,

Juan Posada presenting his final presentation on The Urban Heath Plan development.

JUAN POSADA/COURTESY

I probably would have never visited.”

Senior Emilia McCarthy, a political science major hoping to go into corporate law, spent the summer interning at iCapital Network as a Legal & Compliance Intern. There McCarthy, one of 26 other interns, conducted internal forensic checks, managed training modules and initiated a contract aggregation process.

“My biggest takeaway from this experience was the knowledge in private capital including private equity and hedge funds,” said McCarthy. “Aside from the educational and experiential aspects, I would also say the organization had a great program all around providing fun activities. They took us to a Mets game, a cruise and a charity event. It allowed us all to connect better and also relieved the stress.”

Senior Christian St. Vil, a finance major, was a corporate retirement solutions intern in the product and business development department at TIAA. He was excited to understand the industry and the value of networking.

“My time at TIAA was incredibly insightful,” said St. Vil. “I collaborated on real projects, learned about retirement planning, and sharpened my skills in a dynamic environment. It solidified my passion for a career in this field.”

Senior Juan Posada, civil engineering major, spent two and a half months as a construction intern at Gilbane New YorkNew Jersey. Shadowing the superintendent, he was assigned to The Urban Health Plan development in the Bronx, UHP 1095 Southern Blvd.

Emillia McCarthy interned at iCapital Network.

EMILIA MCCARTHY/COURTESY

“I worked alongside a project executive, project manager, project engineer, and a superintendent,” said Posada. “I came in at 6:30 a.m. every morning and gave safety orientations to new workers on the job that day. It was a lot of hard work, but also an incredible learning experience. I learned at least one new thing every single day.”

Senior Ryan Segali spent the summer with The United Parcel Service (UPS) as an Information Technology Intern.

His main project there was helping manage the upgrade of all phones and fax machines to reduce costs.

“The hands-on experience made me feel like all my hard work really means something,” said Segali. “My favorite part of my internship was the UPS hackathon. We spent 24 hours straight programming a user portal for a healthcare company that tightly works with UPS. We coded the project in python using FLASK and MYSQL.”

Features

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THE QUADRANGLE

Welcoming the New Pride Center to Campus Angelina Perez

Web Editor & Asst. Features Editor

Manhattan College faculty members announced the opening of the college’s first Pride Center on campus this summer.

Rocco Marinaccio, Ph.D., and Tiffany French, co-directors of the new center, made the announcement in an email which specified that the center will be on the third floor of Kelly Commons.

French has impacted multiple departments since she arrived at Manhattan College in 2014. From working on the Residence Life staff, to serving as the Assistant Dean of Engineering, to now working as an institutional researcher, French has maintained her sense of advocacy for the students in any way possible and has continued to advocate for a diverse community throughout her positions.

“Along the way, with all those positions, I always tried to advocate for all students who needed help,” French said. “I, as a lesbian woman, always had a focus on making sure LGBTQ students felt included, safe and seen which led to a diversity Climate Survey in 2020, which tackles a lot of issues around racial justice and social justice, especially after the murder of George Floyd.”

French said that one thing she learned from that survey was that in addition to the college’s black students and colleagues on campus feeling discrimination and harassment on campus, there were also high rates of those struggles among MC’s LGBTQ population.

With the research conducted by French and Marinaccio, the pair knew it was time to put together a center for the LGBTQIA+ members of the Jasper community. The LGBTQ Task Force also created the chosen name and chosen gender policy and LGBTQ employee resource group.

“A lot of people were asking about LGBTQ+ stuff on campus.” French said. “We were getting interest from outside organizations that wanted to partner with us. We worked with Dr. Ronald Gray, who’s the VP for student life, and we put a proposal together essen-

tially explaining there’s a lot of research to support that when people are out at work and at school, that their physical cortisol levels drop so they’re able to be more comfortable, which helps people learn better and do better work. It really supports a better campus environment for everybody when they can just be themselves.”

French hopes this center will also open opportunities for faculty to engage with safe zone training and help make their offices or campus spaces more inclusive while opening a broader connection between faith and the LGBTQIA+ community.

“I think this space also gives people an opportunity to dialogue and think about how LGBTQ folks fit into the Catholic space because it can be a little tough for them to navigate their faith and their LGBTQ identity,” said French. “I think that the center is a really good opportunity for us to be able to talk about those sorts of things with one another more comfortably and remember the mission words of respect and dignity for all people.”

Analia Santana, a junior communication major with a concentration in media production and a digital media art minor, is the current president of The Rainbow Jaspers here on campus. She told The Quadrangle how excited she was after hearing the rumors about a pride center opening on campus.

“I know once I became president in the spring semester of last year, I had already heard talks of a pride center,” Santana said. “It was an idea that I was extremely excited about and that our CO advisors, Dr. Rocco Marinaccio and Tiffany French had in the works.”

That was not the only good news Santana received this past summer, as she received the youth award from the Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson during the annual pride month flag-raising ceremony on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

Santana had members of the Rainbow Jaspers present at the ceremony, cheering her on, including advisor French.

“I was honestly in shock.”

Santana explained. “At first I was surprised. It was really like a surprise party where you don’t know what’s happening next. I walked in thinking it was

Analia Santana receives the youth award from Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson during the annual Pride Month flag-raising ceremony on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Bronx Borough Hall.

NORWOODNEWS/COURTESY going to be a little thing and then I walked in and there was house music playing and a DJ. I’m like, wait a minute, what?”

Eric Quinde Tamay is a junior double major in adolescent education and history, who he hopes the new pride center will make sure to incorporate the opportunity for students to educate themselves on the community’s triumph in history.

“This center will definitely be a great place to let students learn more about the community,” Tamay said. “As a history major this is something that is important to me because LGBTQIA+ history is often overlooked and misunderstood. So, this center is a great place to post some interesting facts or moments in history about the community and how the community has grown in the past years, but also how we can continue to grow in the future.”

Melanie Estrella, a double major in peace studies and philosophy, is a local New Yorker who prides her city on the diversity it had to offer her growing up. However, it was a struggle she faced when she started

college at MC. “Personally, as a BIPOC [Black, Indigenous, Person of Color] student I really struggled that first year because it felt like I didn’t have that community,” said Estrella. “And that was something I wasn’t used to because I grew up in New York and I was always around people that were diverse. And so I can’t imagine for the LGBTQIA+ community where it isn’t always as obvious as a person’s reputation, how much harder it would be for them to find family.”

Estrella shared with The Quadrangle her experience regarding the treatment of those part of the LGBTQIA+ community at the college.

“I was an RA last year,” Estrella said, “And I had students that would talk to me about some of the microaggressions they would experience or how they felt like their roommates might treat them a little bit differently based on just the way that they express themselves or identify. So, I hope the center will really be that place of home for those that need it.”

French believes the new

pride center will open opportunities for those part of the community to engage in an environment meant to let them bring the best version of themselves without that fear attached to it.

“I think when you get to be who you are, you do your best work, and you go out and do great things from there,” French said. “What I want is for students and employees who identify as LGBTQ to feel that they can bring their best selves to campus and have that little bit more breathing room to be themselves.”

French encourages students and faculty to watch for future events, including a fall grand opening.

“We expect a grand opening in early October because October is LGBTQ history month and campus pride month because we are off campus in June,” said French. “We are looking forward to that, so definitely keep an eye out.”

Anybody who’s interested in getting on the pride center mailing list, volunteering or both can email pridecenter@ manhattan.edu.

Features

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

8

WGRC Announces Rebecca Kern-Stone as New Faculty Director Jocelyn Visnov Editor-in-Chief

Rebecca Kern-Stone, Ph.D., has recently stepped into the role of faculty director at the Women and Gender Center (WGRC), taking her talents up the hill from Leo Hall to the Kelly Commons.

Kern, a 15-year-member of the communication department, will continue to teach communication courses while serving in this new role.

Kern holds a Ph.D in Mass Media and Communication from Temple University and has completed research in Women’s Studies, making them an ideal member of the community for this position.

“I have a graduate certificate in women, gender and queer studies, and my research (and teaching) focuses on cultural identities creation, representation and communication,” Kern wrote. “So, this is a natural fit.”

In addition to teaching a number of courses in communication, Kern has also previously taught classes involving topics in gender studies such as Queer Media, Culture and History, Introduction to Women and Gender Studies and Gender in America Mass Media.

Kern was asked to be the next faculty director after being nominated by the WGRC’s board. The position was previously held by Evelyn Scaramella, Ph.D., who served as faculty director for the last two years.

Kern noted that she hopes to continue the WGRC’s work in promoting inclusivity across the Jasper community.

“The center has done so much good work, and I want to continue its mission,” she wrote. “In addition, I want to develop more inclusiveness for students from a racial, ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, and geographic backgrounds.”

The WGRC has also welcomed Emmett Ortiz, who will work alongside Kern as a Graduate Assistant at the Center. Ortiz is a graduate student pursuing a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling in the hopes of working with members of the neurodivergent community.

Ortiz first became involved with the WGRC as an undergraduate psychology student.

“I was first majorly involved with the center through a summer research program I did,” Ortiz said. “I focused on doing research about how low socioeconomic status and gender roles impact Latino students and their choice of college major, their experiences in college and why they really go into college.”

Ortiz explained his role as a GA working at the WGRC. “I help with scheduling events, helping with different projects that the interns and GA’s do here at the center, which vary between lots of different topics,” Ortiz said.

“I help with making sure that things get run smoothly and help with organizing and promoting events. I myself actually have a different event that I’ve been doing called Discussing Success, which is supposed to be a safe space for Latino students to come and talk about their experiences as academic students on campus and kind

Rebecca Kern-Stone, Ph.D., has taught courses across the communication and women and gender studies majors throughout the past fifteen years.

MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY of figuring out what the college can do to support them as students.”

Various initiatives and events at the WGRC are driven by undergraduate students who serve as Gender Justice Advocates. Among these students includes senior digital media arts major Elena Willoughby, who is returning to the WGRC again this semester.

“What made me want to get involved with the WGRC are

the concepts of intersectionality and diversity that the organization stands for,” they wrote.

As a Gender Justice Advocate at the WGRC, Willoughby is currently organizing a panel that facilitates a discussion on reproductive rights and sexual abuse on college campuses.

Kern explained what she looks forward to most about working with the WGRC. “I look forward to working with the students, both the in-

terns and Gender Resource Advocates, as well as students across campus,” they wrote.

“I also am looking forward to working with the new Pride Center and the Multicultural Center.”

Editor’s note: Angelica Niedermeyer, The Quadrangle’s Features Editor, contributed to reporting for this article.

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Features

THE QUADRANGLE

The Commuter Student Association Has Got You Covered Mary Haley Asst. Social Media Editor

The cycling studio turned vintage shop, turned microgreens garden, turned dispensary has big plans to be Riverdale’s one-stop shop for all things health and wellness. It has become a staple in the Riverdale community, so much so that it has now filed to declare itself a faith-based organization (FBO).

The shop has held many names over the years – including Vegan Botanika, Vegan Bodeguita (or Bodega) and Vintage Boutique – and has now added a new title to its awning. It now reads “Khensv Bvildr 508c1a Inc.” with “Private Membership” written underneath.

According to its website, Khensv Bvildr is a non-profit church that is “serving the Bronx community with freshly grown produce (microgreens), clothing, natural healing modalities and continuing education programs meant to help empower its members with the confidence to live in service to there high selves.”

Owners Khensu and Ra McCray intended for the space to be an “iLiv” cycling studio in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic

halted those plans and the couple saw firsthand the need for something that encapsulated health and community in the Bronx.

“We turned into, almost like a wellness center,” Ra told the Quadrangle in an interview last year. “People were coming here to have cacao ceremonies, they were coming here to meditate during the pandemic, they were using alternative medicines to Western approach that would allow them to edit their immune systems and be able to cope with the climate that we were in at the time.”

Its original concept, the Vegan Botanika, was a play on traditional botanikas found in Latinx communities, which sell religious goods and apothecaries. The McCrays sold medical herbs, lotions and homemade wellness juices and elixirs created by the owners.

John Fata, a junior at Manhattan College, remembered going into the shop for the first time last year.

“I went in by accident,” Fata recalls. The windows of the shop were completely blacked out, so John and some friends went to explore. “We walked in there, and like, we figured out what was going on because there’s that whiteboard in there and it has all the strains listed.”

Fata explained that the first time he bought marijuana from the shop, he needed to pay an

Commuter Student Association Holds Diversity Fair.

COURTESY/MC.CSA INSTAGRAM

The CSA welcomed many friendly faces, new and old, to pick up some essential items to prepare for a new school year. @MC.CSA/COURTESY inexpensive membership fee.

Though this was before its FBO status, buyers were required to be a part of the organization.

The membership fee is no longer enforced to purchase cannabis products.

The success of the McCrays’ homemade juice and elixir brand birthed VB’s second life, the Vegan Bodeguita.

“The concept was to create a deli with vegan treats and vegan food around the concept of a belly,” said Ra. As this grew, the couple transformed the space again to a Vintage Boutique. As the space transforms, it keeps bits of its past life. The Vintage Boutique still had specialty chefs on the weekend, as the Vegan Bodega did and still sold the religious goods of the original apothecary.

Its new 508c1a status registers the space as a nonprofit religious center and allows it to be tax-free. The US federal tax code 26 U.S.C. Section 508(c)

(1)(A) states that “churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches” are under a “mandatory exception” to the filing requirements and are to remain tax-free.

Additionally, FBO under 508(c)(1)(A) is not required to submit a 990 federal tax return or “keep such records, render under oath such statements, make such other returns or comply with such rules and regulations” that the Secretary may prescribe. However, because Khensv Bvildr is conducting a business, they still need to report their earnings to the government.

Whether a customer is religious or not, the space has a strong spirit when walking through its doors. The space in use is small – a microgreen farm, or possibly a cafè will soon be opened in the building next door – but is instantly lighter and calmer than the busy Riverdale street it sits on.

While there is no recognized definition of a “church” by the IRS, the government has established a list of attributes an organization must have to qualify for this status. They include but are not limited to recognized creed and form of worship, definite and distinct ecclesiastical government [in this case, Ra and Khensu], membership not associated with any other church or denomination, literature of its own, organization of ordained ministers and regular religious services.

Khensc Bvildr has both formal and informal services for its members, but it may not be the Sunday school you remember as a child. While some meetings are 420-free, others include enlightenment through herbs, which prompt conversations on spirit work and inner healing led by Ra and Khensu.

Their website lists five formal events happening in July from the 10 to the 15.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Arts & Entertainment

10

Book Nook: The Joy Luck Club Lauren Raziano Multimedia Editor

‘The Joy Luck Club’ by Amy Tan explores themes of cultural conflict of a group of women in San Francisco.

The four women who are a part of the Joy Luck Club are Kieu Chinh, Tsai Chin, France Nuyen, Lisa Lu who get together to play Mahjong, a Chinese game played with rectangular pieces with the goal of collecting the most sets of tiles. Their daughters, Ming-Na Wen, Tamlyn Tomita, Lauren Tom, and Rosalind Chao, are the main characters who are followed in the novel as they face personal struggles.

I enjoy reading novels that have “interlocking stories.”

The novel is broken into multiple stories with multiple perspectives, set in locations such as San Francisco and Chinese cities.

I think the novel is relatable because throughout Tan’s storytelling, she writes about the conflicts mothers and daughters face in their personal struggles. The conflicts required the women to sacrifice a part of their identity through relationships and life.

In the story Two Kinds, Jing-Mei tells of her mother’s immigration story. Suyan Woo persevered through her immigration struggle to America with the hope of the American Dream.

Suyan sacrificed her life in China for the hope of her American future, “America was where all my mother’s hope lay. She had come here in 1949 after losing everything in China: Her mother and father, her family home, her first husband, and two daughters, twin baby girls. But she never looked back with regret. There were so many ways for things to get better”.

In America, she was challenged with a new language, culture, and status but she persevered by establishing the Joy Luck Club as a way of continuing an aspect of her sacrificed past. Suyan knew, with no regret, that in America she could provide for her family and give her daughter new opportunities.

Lindo Jong’s story, The Red Candle, describes her experience in an arranged marriage and her escape to

new freedom. After her family’s house was destroyed by a flood, Lindo Jong was given to the Huang family as a servant.

Lindo became a cook servant and obedient to her soon-to-be mother-in-law, Huant Taitai.

On her wedding day after her 16th birthday, she cries, “I wondered why my destiny had been decided, why I should have an unhappy life so someone else could have a happy one”. She acknowledges that she would respect her parents’ wishes but not forget herself, “I was strong. I was pure. I had genuine thoughts inside that no one could see, that no one could ever take away from me”.

From observing the family members and the servants she learns the dynamics of the household and crafts a way to leave her arranged marriage without disgracing her family.

She pretended to have a vision from her husband’s grandfather, describing that the candle went out on the day of their marriage, meaning the marriage was doomed and that Tyan-yu would die if he stayed in the marriage.

Convinced that the vision was real, the Huang family released Lindo from her marriage, so she bought a train ticket to the main village of Pecking and left for her new life in America. Through lying and sacrificing the honor of her family and the truth from her husband, she found her happiness and fled to America so that she could start her own family.

In another chapter, Ani-mei witnessed the impact of sacrifice on relationships through her relationship with her mother and her son. Ani-mei’s mother was a third concubine to a wealthy man and the second wife constantly controlled the house and the husband. By eating poisoned food, Ani-mei’s mother sacrificed her life so that Ani-mei could live a better life, “When the poison broke into her body, she whispered to me that she would rather kill her own weak spirit so she could give me a stronger one”.

Because of the Chinese culture surrounding her death, Ani-mei’s mother provided Ani-mei with a new purpose in life and a stronger spirit as the husband revered her as if she had been his first and only wife. Ani-mei continued her life in America and the importance of sacrifice was brought up again when Ani-mei threw her mother’s sapphire ring into the

‘The Joy Luck Club’ by Amy Tan explores themes of cultural conflict of a group of women in San Francisco.

AMAZON/COURTESY ocean as a distraction from the Ocean mythical monster that was holding her son.

Ani-Mei’s sacrifice of the heirloom sapphire ring into the ocean represents how Amy Tan wanted to express the sacrifice mothers will make to protect their children and Ani-Mei mother’s personal sacrifice of suicide shows the lengths that mothers will go to, to provide a better life for their daughters.

Through the characters, Suyan Woo, Lindo Jong, and Ani-mei, Amy Tan displays the theme of perseverance through sacrifice.

All these women sacrificed a part of their identity or relationship to develop into who they hoped they wanted to be.

Their sacrifice for their daughters displays the importance of the strong material bond the characters have for each other.

Despite the difficulties, Suyan Woo and Lindo Jong sacrificed their relationships for a chance at a better life and in Ani-mei’s life, sacrifices were made to preserve relationships.

“The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan explores the universal theme that through sacrifice comes the freedom of a better life.

Arts & Entertainment

11

THE QUADRANGLE

Jasper Jams: Back to School Edition Kyla Guilfoil

Managing Editor Welcome back, Jaspers!

Whether your summer was filled with sun, a summer job, friends and family, or a little bit of it all, we hope you had a fabulous break. While we always wish summer could last forever, there is nothing like coming back to friends and the fall fun of a fresh semester.

As we gear back into a hectic fall of classes, clubs, sports and friends, I hope you can still lean into music that makes you feel the energy of the summer.

We put together a playlist with music that embraces the upbeat, chill vibes that thrive in summer and connects them with the cozy, inviting energy of a crisp fall.

Here are some songs to keep you feeling the relaxing, sun-filled summer energy as we dive into Fall ‘23.

Found!

Portraits of Tracy I discovered this song on

a suggested playlist early in the summer and I haven’t been able to stop listening to it since.

It has great energy, driving a fun beat and smooth vocals.

The song comes from Portraits of Tracy’s third album, ‘Drive Home’. The artist is the project of Tracy Bowman, a 19-year-old self-taught producer from Louisiana.

Blame Brett The Beaches I must admit, I did find this one from my TikTok for you page. But I can’t say I regret it.

This track feels like the very essence of a chaotic hot girl summer, mixing incredible vocals from lead singer Jordan Miller.

The lyrics are fun and punchy, popping out from a stellar guitar rhythm. The Beaches comprises two sisters, Jordan and Kylie Miller, and their dear two friends, Leandra Earl and Eliza Enman-McDaniel. This song has launched their music, so you should definitely give it a listen.

Never Grow Up (Taylor’s

Version) Taylor Swift Was it really this summer if Taylor doesn’t get included?

While I myself didn’t get to go to the Eras tour, I know many Jaspers did. Also, is there any better song for the beginning of senior year? This song is for all my fellow students in the class of 2024, as we kick off the start of senior year. I guess we really are growing up….

start moving to this song, with a perfect summery beat and energy. BENEE’s 2019 EP, FIRE ON MARZZ, features this track among five others. It has a cool, electric rhythm, with BENEE’s raspy, soothing vocals overtop.

This song stays perfect from July to October (or all year round, if you’re like me).

All We Ever Do Is Talk Del Water Gap This song comes from the Del Water Gap as a summer single, as fans anticipate the band’s third album. This track is nostalgic, yet upbeat. It drives with the band’s signature, steady beat tone and brings the story to life in its lyrics. This song is perfect for walking to class and getting ready to go, waking up for that 8 a.m. (or 11 a.m.).

That’s What Makes Me Love You The Regrettes I think this song is perfect for a little summer romance song. Think the opposite of Blame Brett. Lydia Knight is on lead vocals, bringing a perfect amount of attitude and affection. A perfect drum base pushes this song throughout, with fun accents throughout the song. It’s swooning but also moody. Keep your summer romance swirling by pressing play on this one.

Afterlife BENEE I love all BENEE songs, but this one has been on repeat lately. It’s impossible not to

I Remember Ever ything (feat. Kacey Musgraves) Zach Br yan For our country fans (I mean everyone’s a little bit of

a country fan in the summer, right?), we’ve got to add one from Zach Bryan’s brand-new album. This track features Kacey Musgraves, who brings together the perfect duet with Bryan. The song is nostalgic, smooth and screams summer.

Bryan and Musgraves mix perfectly in this collaboration, finding a way to wrap up summer and deliver it in a fall-worthy track.

My Sweet Lord George Harrison To finish off the first of our Jasper Jams for the semester, I’m going to throw it back with this classic from George Harrison. This song is sweet and vibey, with an old-school twang and smooth vocals. The guitar accents tie in the rhythm perfectly and elevate Harrison’s lyrics. This song will make you feel ready for the day, holding onto a grasp of summer as you take on your fall classes.

Scan here to listen to The Quadrangle’s playlist!

Sports

Reilly Steps Down, Garcia Steps Up

SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor After a controversial 202223 school year for Manhattan College Athletics, former Athletic Director Marianne Reilly stepped down from her position, and Irma Garcia was hired as Interim Athletic Director to fulfill the role.

On June 1, it was announced that Reilly had resigned from her position, with the resignation set to take effect on July 1.

Reilly stated that after seven years with the program, it was time for a new face and voice to lead the program.

“It has been an honor to serve my alma mater, our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters,” Reilly said.

“After seven years at the helm, it is time for a new voice to lead the Department into the future and time for me to embark on the next phase of my professional and personal journey. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish together and I will continue to cheer on the Jaspers in the years ahead. I am grateful to my colleagues, our talented staff, and most of all, the young men and women who proudly wear the green and white.”

Reilly’s resignation came just before the announcement from the college that the athletic department had been in violation of several NCAA regulations.

Just a week later, it was announced that the former Assistant Vice President, Director of Athletics at St. Francis College (Brooklyn), and former Women’s Basketball Head Coach would assume the position immediately.

Irma Garcia spoke to The Quadrangle about what intrigued her to come to Manhattan College to fill the vacant position of athletic director.

“I’ve been a Director of Athletics, and one of the things that I noticed about here is that it’s similar to what I’ve been used to, a small school with a lot of potential [and] some great history,” Garcia said. “It intrigued me just to come on campus now. I’ve never been on a campus where everything’s right around me. I noticed [the] great teams and the history here … so that intrigued me and working with good people,

especially administration and coaches.”

Former interim president, Brother Daniel Gardner and Vice President of Student Life, Ronald Gray both played vital roles in the hiring of Garcia.

Garcia’s understanding of the college’s Lasallian values and catholic beliefs played a vital role in the hiring.

“When we spoke, probably the very first question she asked me was about mission and the personal development of each athlete, which really goes along with our Catholic Lasallian mission for the college,” Gardner said. “We’re taking a look at our students as individuals seeing what they need in order to grow to full potential, and we’re taking a look at our students as people who are people for others, we have all these gifts and talents, but they’re no good to anyone if we don’t share them. [Garcia] was right on target with that for the direction of our athletes. Student-athletes, and really with some of the personal development programs that she wants to put forth for our coaches in terms of professional development, and our students in terms of both personal and professional development.”

“I think one of the things that I love is the fact that Irma is all about the students and that that was important for us, also the connection between her Catholic values and the Lasallian Catholic values,” Gray said.

“She’s a smart, athletic person.

She played basketball. She was the first woman [athletic director] at St. Francis College. She was just an excellent choice.”

In finding such an excellent choice for the athletic director, there were most certainly some challenges facing the hiring committee, when finding a new athletic director.

“Speed,” Gray said. “Trying to move effectively and efficiently given that we were strapped for time and I would have loved the person or the people to come and talk with students and talk with you, that would have been ideal, but we wanted to move quickly, but make the right decision. I think that was a challenge, but there are a lot of strong people out there and I just think Irma rose to the top.”

The growth of student-athletes in both the classroom and on the court is vital to the success of the college’s athletic programs. Garcia reiterates the

12

Manhattan College Welcomes Irma Garcia as New Athletic Director.

GOJASPERS/ COURTESY importance of putting the ‘student’ before the ‘athlete’.

“The student comes before the athlete, and I really believe in the whole student holistic kind of way of looking at things,” Garcia said. “It’s important that the student always comes first in academics. Then you have the part where it’s the athletes and you can receive accolades from that, but then the community is part of it.”

During Garcia’s time as athletic director, she wants to ensure that the community and students play a vital role in the athletic department. “[Community is a] huge part of who we are and getting outside of the community and bringing the community inside and also internally to make sure

that we’re involved with the faculty about student engagement involved with everything with the college,” Garcia said.

“I always believe student-athletes and athletics are always going to be at the forefront of any institution in the sense that we deal with the outside world.

We deal with the inside world, how we bring it together, how we get everybody collectively buying into the family type of way of looking at things, so that’s the exciting part about what I see as the future of the program going.”

As the college is such a storied program with around 170 years of history, Gardner does not see Garcia building from scratch, but building upon our great history.

“Manhattan College is such a storied and traditional program and everything that probably one of the things that she has to really be cognizant of as she develops her program is that this isn’t starting from scratch,” Gardner said. “She’s building on 170 years of greatness. She’s taking over the tradition and the program that brother Jasper himself with the athletic director … whatever she does, I think that she is such a wise administrator that she’s gonna realize that she’s building on top of this.”

Sports

13

THE QUADRANGLE

Manhattan College Violates NCAA Athlete Eligibility Rules Andrew Mannion Asst. Sports Editor Manhattan College announced it was in violation of multiple NCAA rules, resulting in several of the college’s Division I teams being put on probation, and the college having to pay a $5,000 fine.

The violations concerned inadequate student-athlete eligibility, as well as coaching and recruiting violations.

In the negotiated resolution between Manhattan College and the NCAA, it stated that Manhattan “did not clearly identify or assign an individual who had primary responsibility over athletic academic certification after the departure of the former director of compliance.”

Ultimately, the resolution claimed that the athletics staff believed responsibility for athletic academic certification belonged with athletic academic advising, and athletic academic advising staff believed the athletics compliance officer had

the responsibility.

According to the resolution, the misunderstandings led to Manhattan’s failure to properly ensure student-athletes were academically eligible.

Further violations were discovered throughout the initial investigation. This included an assistant coach recruiting athletes before completing a mandatory coaches exam. There was also a private lesson given by a former softball coach to a high school athlete who had not yet begun their junior year of high school. Both of these instances are violations of NCAA regulations.

The violations ended with penalties from the NCAA, which was noted in the negotiated resolution. These included a $5,000 fine, two years of probation, a 16-day prohibition period for softball recruiting in the June/July contact period, a five-year show-cause order against the former softball assistant coach and a vacation of all records which was earned by a student-athlete that was competing while ineligible.

In response to the viola-

Interim Drirrector of Athletics, Irma Garcia RIVERDALE PRESS/COURTESY

Former president Brother Daniel Gardner MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY tions, then-Interim President, Daniel Gardner, released a statement on the violations.

He apologized for the college’s mistakes in the athlete eligibility department.

“I would like to apologize to our student-athletes, coaches, staff, opposing teams, alumni, athletic fans and the entire Manhattan College community for this unacceptable institutional failure,” Gardner wrote in his statement. “While today is a difficult day for Manhattan College, it bears repeating that, per our NCAA membership responsibility, we self-reported our potential violations to the NCAA enforcement staff, we worked cooperatively with them throughout the process, we acknowledged our responsibility where we fell short and we accepted the consequences for our actions.”

Since the violations were announced in June, Manhattan parted ways with its former athletic director Marianne Reilly, and welcomed Irma Garcia to take over the department.

Garcia made it clear to The Quadrangle that she wanted to handle these allegations moving forward.

After being announced as the interim director of athletics in June, she faced negotiating the violations with the NCAA. “‘I am a real believer of rules and regulations,” Garcia said. “The NCAA gave us a resolution for us to follow. It’s very easy. We slowly are implementing things to make sure that we’re following the rules, and that we’re checking and double-checking [that we are all following the rules].”

Garcia told The Quadrangle that the incident has inspired better communication in the athletic department.

“It was the great thing about it. It forced us all to really communicate with each other to find out who’s doing what and how we can enhance the betterment of the student-athletes because, at the end of the day, it’s about the student-athletes giving them the best experience that they possibly can get,” Garcia said.

Garcia also stated that the college has been taking specific steps to make sure that the college does not get caught in violations again. She mentioned the promotion of Matthew Raidbard, who was recently

elevated to senior associate for compliance, academics, and wellbeing of student-athletes.

Raidbard will oversee much of what was previously in violation.

Garcia believes these violations are in the rear-view mirror for the program, and she is excited for the upcoming year.

“I’m excited about the future year, it’s incredible,” Garcia said. “I think President Milo [Riverso] has it. He knows what he wants. He wants to get us to another level and really get what I want to see in this place, the branding and the message that we’re here. We’re not going to go anywhere and people should know that this place is just a beautiful place.”

The violations will have no effect on any current athlete’s eligibility or any team’s participation in regular and postseason games. Manhattan College has made it clear that they have learned lessons from the violations, and are using them to better the future of the athletics program.