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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume CVIII, Issue 2
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NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Manhattan College Receives Largest NSF Grant in College History for Cyber Infrastructure Updates Angelina Persaud News Editor
Greek Life Attends Central Park Buddy Walk
Manhattan College Greek organizations, Sigma Delta Tau, Delta Kappa Epsilon and Alpha Pi Phi, participated in the Buddy Walk on Saturday in Central Park. JOSEPH KENNEDY/COURTESY
Raymond W. Kelly Commons Building Obtains Another LEED Gold Certification Manhattan College’s very own Raymond W. Kelly ‘63 Student Commons has been awarded the Leaders in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for the second time since 2015. However, this isn’t the only building on campus that has been awarded for its excellence in sustainability. Higgins Engineering and Science center also holds a LEED Gold
title since the building opened in 2021. LEED provides certifications originating from the U.S. Green Building Council, which grades certain buildings on how sustainable they are using a series of categories outlining the important factors. Some categories they deliberate on include water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation. At least 60 points are to be accumulated on the scorecard to reach LEED Gold status.
IN NEWS:
IN FEATURES:
Brooke DellaRocco Staff Writer
MC Receives Largest Freshman Reflect NSF Grant for Cyber on their First Week Infrastructure on pg. 7 on pg. 1
In 2015, MC’s highest scoring category for sustainability was in water efficiency, where Kelly commons had 10 out of 10 points. One of the main ways this was achieved was by putting in faucets for all water services that use less water. Another high scoring category was indoor environmental quality, where Kelly Commons scored 12 out of 15 points.They kept the indoors environmentally friendly by installing a __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has granted Manhattan College $639,778 to enhance cyber infrastructure and computing resources on campus. This is the largest NSF grant the college has received in its history. The grant was created through a collective effort between the IT department and various faculty and staff members and will provide funding for a two year term beginning in August. According to manhattan. edu, “The new network will be designed to improve the flow of scientific data, which will facilitate research in a variety of disciplines, including engineering, mathematics, chemistry and sociology.” Namely, the electronic resources on campus will be broadened for both student and faculty use, which includes strengthening the already existing cybersecurity systems utilized by the community on a daily basis. Robert Moran, interim chief information officer, was the principal investigator (PI) for the grant and oversaw the team to ensure they had the proper resources to draft the proposal. Moran explained some of the reasoning behind applying for the grant, which included the requests of faculty and staff to receive updated equipment and computers in their student labs. “We did shift funds around to upgrade computers for
electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering,” Moran said. “We had some labs with computers that were quite old, and Dr. Ward and Dr. De had come to me with these requests.” Wyatt Madej, system administrator in the IT department, drafted and submitted the proposal to the NSF, which also was the first proposal he applied for in his professional career. He spoke about the key collaboration between MC and the American Museum of Natural History, a partnership which provided a useful means of coming up with ideas to expand the college’s technology. “We started talking about research, computing, and Research Data Services,” Madej said. “And they told me about the National Science Foundation’s Cyber Infrastructure Program. They told me all about the program, and it immediately intrigued me and I said ‘this is something Manhattan College needs’.” A key feature of the grant includes funding to build the “Science DMZ” at MC, which will facilitate broader, faster research opportunities for students and faculty. Essentially, this DMZ will be built specifically for easier access to research materials while also providing MC with connections to key research institutions and resources. “Science DMZ, which is a special part of our network that will be separated from the rest of our network, is dedicated and built and tuned specifically __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN A&E:
IN SPORTS:
MC-TV Back for Another Year on pg. 9
Jasper Games of the Week on pg. 13
News
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Volume CVIII, Issue 2
SEPTEMBER 12, 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 Maizy 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 TheQuadrangle
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LETTER from the EDITOR Hello and welcome to Issue 2! This week The Quadrangle dives into the fall semester by celebrating positive updates and occurrences around campus. These include MC receiving the largest NSF grant in history for cyber security, the student commons receiving another LEED certification for sustainability and an all-new housing program for graduate students. Get to know a few of our newest Jaspers in this week’s Voices on the Quad which features first-year students as they discuss their first few weeks on campus. This week, The Quad is also welcoming a handful of new members to our staff! We are always accepting new members and we’re so excited for those who have recently decided to join our team. You can expect to see a few new names in bylines over the next few weeks! As we continue into the fall semester, remember that there are a handful of resources here on campus that are ready to help students achieve their goals. The Center for Academic Success provides tutoring across various subjects and has writing consultants to help with your next paper. In addition, the counseling center is here to provide students with emotional support and other services. RA’s are also available as a resource to students living in dorms. I hope you enjoyed last week’s first issue of The JasperJist! Our next issue of this newsletter will come out later this week. If you haven’t subscribed just yet, you can do so with the links on our social media (@mcquad) or on our website (mcquad.org). I hope you enjoy this week’s Issue 2 articles and JasperJist! Have a great week!
Jocelyn Visnov
Sincerely,
Editor-in-Chief
News
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THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan College Receives Largest NSF Grant in College History for Cyber Infrastructure Updates
__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
for science data flows,” Madej said. “At Manhattan College, we have firewalls and other security measures that tend to slow things down…but when we’re working with science, we can trust that. So we can build a special part of our network that unlocks extra speed and extra data capabilities between researchers here at Manhattan College and their collaborators.” Currently, the new system upgrades will benefit engineering related research opportunities, which includes connections with the University of Illinois Delta supercomputer center. Initiatives such as this are the starting point for allowing the college to have wider access to nationwide resources and further collaborations at the college. “This essentially connects and provides Manhattan College researchers and even students who are doing research to some of the largest
academic supercomputers in the United States,” Madej said. “We’re building pipelines with this grant, to act on resources like that, to help accelerate, advance and unlock research in science.” Madej also noted that a portion of the funding would be allocated to upgrading the servers and data center in the Research and Learning Center (RLC), though it will be distributed campus-wide. “The science DMZ that we’re building is campus wide,” Madej said. “So no matter who you are, and where you are on campus, if you’re doing science that requires pipelines to access big supercomputers, or you require to move data really, really fast using our data transfer nodes that we’ll be building…you will have access to that capability.” Zahra Shahbazi, Ph.D., an associate professor of mechanical engineering, was a board member during the proposal phase of applying for the grant. She was called into the project for her background knowledge
of NSF grants and to gain a professor’s perspective on how to improve research technology at the college. “They [other professors] explained how this infrastructure is going to help them to improve their research and take the research to the next step,” Shahbazi said. “So now, there was more faculty involved in the process…we needed to show cases of how the new equipment and infrastructure is going to help people with their research.” She also noted that the added level of security from the technology updates will further expand research and allow students and faculty to dive deeper into the amount of information they can obtain and share. “A lot of people are transferring their data from one collaborator to another one,” Shahbazi said. “It’s making sure that we transfer that in a secure manner. It was a challenge here at Manhattan College, and with the new infrastructure, we will be able to do that.” As the abstract from the
original grant proposal succinctly states, “This network will support and grow these activities to advance research and STEM education programs that educate students, contribute
Let’s get the word out about what we have going on here at Manhattan College and the O’Malley School of Business.” The O’Malley School of Business has actively worked with the facilities team as well as Richard Ross, graduate director of the Master of Business Administration program, and co-director of the Master of Business Administration Program for Accounting and CIS & Law, to make the required changes in the building to promote sustainability. Students enrolled in a course called Real Estate Capstone, commonly known as LEED Lab, become part of the process of promoting a healthy environment. This class is open to undergraduate students and graduate students, where peers can further their knowledge about why sustainability and energy conservation is important. “The class has two parts,” Ross said. “One part is learning about the LEED philosophy, so to speak, and all those different categories that are referred to. So you spend half the class learning about LEED itself, and why sustainability is important and global warming and climate change and so forth.” During the second half of the class, students discuss different pieces of the building that they are focusing on, and talk about how it would fit into
those LEED categories or how they can improve. Luis Gartner McBain, a graduate student, took the class in the spring semester of 2023, and now currently works in construction as an assistant project manager for Blackstone 360. McBain expressed his love for the class and how he enjoyed the bonus of having hands-on experience. “One of the parts that I enjoyed the most of all the tests was actually knowing how the University is working,” McBain said. “I’ve never been into all those mechanical rooms where they have all that equipment. I have never been into that so when we were able to go and walk through them, that was very cool.” McBain also expressed his pride in being a helping hand in this process and learning such important values that he still uses today at his job. “So actually right now in my job sites where I work, I was thinking maybe we can just go and try to apply for one of those (LEED certifications). Because maybe we can comply with a lot of requirements,” McBain said. Being awarded a second time for Kelly Commons is an honor to the school, as it also shows students the importance of sustainability to the college. “The School of Business and the college emphasizes sustainability; environmental
sustainability is a high priority,” Gibson said. “And this is an example of putting our money where our mouth is, it is building buildings that are sustainable.” In the coming years, the Higgins Science Center and Kelly Commons are hoping to continue upgrading facilities to promote more sustainability. There is also an emphasis on trying to update the older buildings on campus to get them running similarly to LEED’s
to new scientific discoveries, inform public policy, facilitate institutional partnerships, and provide a better STEM education to train the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
Wyatt Madej, system administrator who drafted the main ideas for the grant proposal. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY
Raymond W. Kelly Commons Building Obtains Another LEED Gold Certification
__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 rooftop garden that actually absorbs the sunlight in the summer, which allows for the building to use less air conditioning and preserve that energy to be used somewhere else. LEED praises Kelly Commons’ design on their website writing, “As the college’s first LEED building on campus, it boasts many green features, including: a green roof, regional materials and recycled content, enhanced commissioning, high-efficiency lighting design, occupancy-based lighting and HVAC, demand-based ventilation, variable speed refrigerant system, high-efficiency condensing boilers, installation of hydration stations, and low-flow bathroom fixtures.” Manhattan College is one of the few schools that are consistently working with the U.S. Green Building Council and updating their facilities to go more green. The dean of the O’Malley School of Business, Don Gibson, Ph.D., commented on the honor that it has been to be a part of this community. “Our interest is certainly in having Manhattan College recognized as a leading business school,” Gibson said. “I think doing initiatives like this helped with that recognition.
protocol. Ross recommended students to take the LEED Lab course. “Every student is going to be a property owner or property caretaker,” Ross said. “And in those decisions, you will be given options as to whether to choose the more sustainable route or the more wasteful route. This will not only make you a better real estate executive, this will make you a better homeowner.”
Students while taking the LEED Lab class. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY
News
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Residence Life Welcomes an All-New Grad-Student Housing Program Mack Olmsted
Asst. Arts and Entertainment Editor Starting in the fall of 2023, Manhattan College is offering brand new graduate student housing in Jasper Hall. This initiative was started through president Milo Riverso’s leadership team, who plans to set graduate students up in single rooms. The idea came from the team seeking to find creative ways to utilize empty space on campus. As of now, there are 12 students interested in taking part in the program. Admissions sent out an email with information about the initiative to prospective graduate students who may be interested and to all alumni from the last 10 years who have received a bachelor’s degree at the college. By doing this, admissions hoped for the opportunity for prospective graduate students to not only apply and build up enrollment in the graduate school but also take advantage and build revenue in a housing program. Vice President of enroll-
ment management for admissions Kevin Cavanagh explained to The Quadrangle that admissions hopes the new initiative succeeds so that the program may grow in the future. “It’ll be exciting to see Jasper Hall have more activity and for us to see if this is a strategy that can help the college both in terms of bringing in more revenue into the residence halls and more revenue into graduate enrollment,” Cavanagh said. Graduate students who are taking advantage of the program are not required to have a meal plan, but the two meal plans already available to other residential students are still available for anyone who wishes to use them. Anna Burnett, a graduate student pursuing her master’s in business administration, is one of the 12 students participating in the new housing program. Burnett says she appreciates what the college is offering to her, noting that balancing her life while commuting, working and studying was difficult. “I thought this would be a great opportunity because I
could have more time to study rather than worrying about how I was supposed to get from point A to point B,” Burnett said. “I would say the price is fair. If you live off campus, you have to not only pay for rent, you have to pay for laundry, food, expenses, utilities, WiFi, electricity, which can be really stressful for a student. So I think it’s great that if you live on campus, you have all of these included which is very helpful.” Burnett explained that paying for housing was convenient for her. While she said a lot of people would probably be overwhelmed, she found out about the graduate plus loan through the financial aid office. “I was able to get housing and not worry about payment yet,” Burnett said. “Obviously, I’d have to pay it within a couple of years after I get a good job, but this definitely gave me security. They [the financial aid office] were very helpful and willing to talk me through it on campus.” Matt Lewis, director of residence life, is proud of the program and hopes for success in the future.
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Jasper Hall, the facility housing the graduate students. MACK OLMSTED/THE QUADRANGLE “I hope that this provides a campus, it’s great if you’re tryvaluable resource for graduate ing to establish your self-idenstudents to ensure a smooth tity,” Burnett said. “I love that transition to life at Manhattan this is helping me not have outand that it makes Manhattan a side distractions because obvimore enticing place for other ously living with family is amazprospective graduate students ing, working is amazing, but it in the future,” Lewis said. can really distract you from Burnett was thankful for the being on your own path if you new program and expressed don’t have your own space. So the importance of living on I think this is a great thing for campus. people who are trying to really “I think as a graduate stu- get to know themselves and to dent if you’re looking to live on forge their own path.”
Fitness Center Merged under the Center of Recreation and Wellness Karen Flores
Arts and Entertainment Editor This semester, the Manhattan College Fitness Center was merged under the new title of the Center of Recreation and Wellness. Carmella Liscio, assistant director of recreation and wellness is now in charge of the center with former director, Jay Ahmed, currently holding the position of assistant athletic director. Students have had some questions regarding the different events held by the center and whether they would continue, as there have been budget cuts in many areas of the school. Elijah Crawford, a sophomore computer engineering major, said that he hopes the center continues to offer these events since they create a sense of community and allow students to connect with their peers. “I participated in the pullup challenge and I even went to watch some of my friends compete in the powerlifting competition,” said Crawford. “The environment here in the
gym when those events were happening was amazing to experience, I hope others get the chance to experience it as well.” Liscio wrote to The Quadrangle via email that the programming should continue as long as student leadership wants it to. “As long as the student leadership would like to see these programs on campus then they will definitely continue this year,” wrote Liscio. “Some of the student workers in the fitness center are looking into continuing some of the programming this year, so stay tuned!” Enzo Bruzzone, a sophomore civil engineering major, is a student worker for the center. He believes that with some guidance, allowing students to run programming will be a great way to help them learn about the logistics behind creating an event. “It’s a great way to learn how to be independent and learn about how to manage events,” said Bruzzone. “We would still need guidance as we get acclimated to running these events and for help if we run into some obstacles but it’s a great way to grow our leader-
ship and planning skills.” Liscio also wrote that the center decided to start using the ID card scanner in order to open the doors of the center for safety reasons. “The scanner has actually been outside of the fitness center for a few years now, but it was not being used,” explained Liscio. “Just like other buildings on campus that have been adding scanners, we wanted to ensure the safety of all of our students and staff using the center.” She also wrote that she does not expect there to be any more changes this year other than events being student run. “My specific plans for the year are just to have the student leaders be in control of what they want to see happening on campus and ensuring the safety of our members using the center,” she wrote. Crawford said that he hopes the center continues to provide the same wholesome environment under its new management and adds more activities for students to enjoy. “I enjoyed the environment created by the previous director, I hope that the new director continues to keep the stable and inviting environment with-
Students hope to continue to see the powerlifting competition despite new management KAREN FLORES/ THE QUADRANGLE in this gym alive,” expressed Crawford. Ahmed hopes that new students will take advantage of the resources and activities available at the center. “I have very fond memories of working with the students over at the Fitness Center and seeing them push themselves during challenges and seeing
the gym community grow,” expressed Ahmed. “I wish all the best to all the students coming in and the returning students, and I hope they definitely take advantage of the wonderful facility that we have over there, as well as get involved to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.”
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Features
THE QUADRANGLE
Through the Jasper Lens: Greek Life Gathers in Central Park For Buddy Walk
Every year, Alpha Pi Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Delta Tau come together for the first philanthropy event kicking off the fall season. The NYC Buddy Walk which starts on the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park raises funds and awareness for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). “Since 1995, the Buddy Walk® has been the premier advocacy event for Down syndrome in the United States,” states the NDSS website. “It is also the world’s most widely recognized public awareness program for the Down syndrome community. The flagship New York City Buddy Walk attracts participants from coast to coast each year.” MC’s Greek life shared smiles and steps with the large crowds gathered around the park for the cause. Popcorn, snow cones and hot dogs helped make the humid Saturday walk even more memorable for those who attended.
Photos by Joseph Kennedy, Contributor Written by Angelica Niedermeyer, Features Editor
Features
New CAS Center Coming to Lee Hall
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Maizy Swift Asst. Production Editor Manhattan College’s Center of Academic Success is set to open a new learning center on the sixth floor in Lee Hall. This center will allow for students to receive tutoring in a variety of different classes and subjects, as well as a place for meetings to be held. Sarah Glessner, director of the center of academic success, collaborated with Matt Lewis, director of residence life, to make it happen. The center primarily targets first year students, however is open to any Manhattan College student who wishes to utilize it. “It’s really a collaboration between our department, CAS and Residence Life,” said Glessner. “We’re hoping that this collaboration brings more first year students in. I’m hoping that having a presence in the residence hall will make students that maybe were not so likely to come into the other CAS spaces, walk by and they’ll be like ‘Oh you know, this is in my hall, I could really use help with this paper like maybe I’ll just pop in’.”
Glessner, hoping to make the center more accessible to students, says the center in Lee is also meant to be open in the evening, rather than the other CAS offices in Thomas Hall. “So, right now the hours are going to be Monday through Thursday from five to 10 p.m.. We figured we’re going to be in the residence hall, let’s have evening hours because that’s when students will be back in their dorms and we’ll be more likely to have I think more people come by.” Lewis expressed that he wanted all students to know they are welcome to utilize this space. “This is for all students,” said Lewis. “That’s why we sent the email to everybody because even commuter students can log in here and see what programs are happening” The CAS center in Lee has more use than simply a tutoring space, and Lewis is hoping that Arches and other faculty will also use the space for their needs. “So, we’re really working with CAS to make sure that supplemental instruction and tutoring services can be provided,” said Lewis. “Also, it’s a
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The new learning center on the 6th floor of Lee set to be opened in 2 weeks MAIZY SWIFT/THE QUADRANGLE space where our Arches is also housed in Lee Hall and we’re hoping that the faculty who are
Private office/study room for meetings to be held or for individual study time. MAIZY SWIFT/ THE QUADRANGLE
teaching in that community are also able to make use of that space. There is a private office for office hours. They can meet students after hours, do instruction or individual meetings to help support them.” There is also a new position for student staff offered in this CAS Center for those who want to get more involved. “We have a new student staff position that we created this year called the learning community assistant,” Lewis said. “That position works with all students who live on campus. So, whether they’re continuing, new or they live in Horan or Chrysostom or Jasper, they’ll work with those students to provide different kinds of opportunities.” The CAS Center is not only a great opportunity for students to take advantage of tutoring, but also for students to apply to work in as well. Teresa Nunan, a senior majoring in English and a CAS writing consultant, explained her role in CAS as a student staff member. “I was a writing fellow last year,” Nunan explained. “We focused on English 110, which is the class like the freshmen
have to take. We’d go into their classes, but this year it’s like general writing, so it can be [for] anyone.” Sometimes it’s hard for students to start tutoring, which is why Nunan feels it’s important for students to feel comfortable to reach out. “I mean, I think a lot of people are so nervous to come to tutoring,” said Nunaen. “There’s such a stigma around it, so I think what we wanted to do was have a place that’s like, in like their home, associated with that comfortability.” The most important thing is that students feel safe and supported when receiving tutoring. “I’d say don’t be afraid to use it as a resource because it’s scary asking for help,” Nunan said. “Just know that we are here to help you, we want you to succeed and we don’t come in and make fun of your paper, we want to help you.” Be sure to check out the new CAS center on the sixth floor of Lee Hall when it opens in two weeks, and don’t be afraid to ask for some tutoring help!
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Freshmen Reflect on Their First Week as MC Students Features
Grace Cardinal Asst. News Editor
Returning to campus for the fall semester means a fresh set of faces at the college. Between starting classes, finding activities to be involved in and managing their social lives, our new Jaspers have a lot on their plates. These first year students discussed their transition into college life with The Quadrangle. With some new changes implemented for the freshman class this year, such as all-freshman housing in Lee Hall, students voiced their opinions about what has made an impact so far and what they hope to experience in the future. Emily Babio, special education major The Quad: What has been the best part of your experience on campus so far? Emily Babio: I would say probably the people that I’ve met. I have made friends in all my classes. I feel like everyone kind of understands each other here. Everyone definitely wants the best for themselves and for others, even professors. I can tell they really do care. Also just the atmosphere, I like being in the city and having the 1 train right there. There’s a bunch of opportunities to meet people here and I think that’s probably my favorite thing so far. TQ: Overall, what do you think of your experience as a freshman at MC? Positives? Negatives? How does your experience relate to some of your friends at other schools or your fellow classmates here? EB: I think I’ve had a unique experience [compared] to my friends where I came into school knowing tons of people, knowing my cousin who’s here, having a team I was already working on. I think just having security here was definitely what made it so positive, but also made it so different from my friends. TQ: Is there anything different from what you were expecting?
EB: I definitely was expecting dorming to be worse than it is. I thought it was gonna be loud all the time, everyone screaming all the time, but it does get really quiet and I love that. Even on a Friday and Saturday night, I have been noticing that it does get quiet and that was a shock. TQ: What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming semester? EB: Definitely my fieldwork. I can’t wait to get into a classroom and work with kids and get into the whole teaching portion of my major. I didn’t know it was gonna start this early, I didn’t know we started field work my first semester, but I’m really excited about it. TQ: Do you feel like living in a building of all freshmen has helped you meet more people? EB: Yeah, definitely. People are definitely leaving their rooms knocking on doors. I definitely think an all freshmen building did help people come out of their shells because you’re like, everyone’s new here, everyone wants to meet new people. Carmelina Maniaci, finance major The Quad: What has been the best part of your experience on campus so far? Carmella Maniaci: Honestly, I really love how small it is. I love how when I’m walking down the hall, walking to the dining hall, like anywhere, I see familiar faces. I have that chance to smile, say hi to that person, maybe even stop them one day and have a nice conversation with them. I feel like it feels like a community and not as if I was just walking down the street seeing a random person. I feel like it just makes it more homey. TQ: Overall, what do you think of your experience as a freshman at MC? Positives? Negatives? How does your experience relate to some of your friends at other schools or your
THE QUADRANGLE
fellow classmates here? CM: I have to say my experience has been really really great. I have such great friends. It was very easy to feel welcomed in the MC community. The friends that I’ve made are definitely lifetime friends. One of my close girlfriends goes to SUNY Geneseo. She’s having a hard time because her community is a bit bigger, the people are all different. Here, we’re very welcoming and everybody just is always included. It’s definitely a positive experience for sure. TQ: Is there anything different from what you were expecting? CM: Nightlife is definitely not as big as I thought. I also wasn’t expecting lectures to go the way they are. We’re more involved in lectures than I thought we would be. I thought it would just be like straight note taking. I thought professors would have no emotion, but it’s the opposite. The professors want to know what you think and they want to engage and they want to get to know you. I just feel like it makes going to class so much better, because I’m like, “oh, I get to see Courtney Bryant today!” It’s different. I feel at home here. It’s nice.
neering major
here.
TQ: What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming semester?
The Quad: What has been the best part of your experience on campus so far?
TQ: Is there anything different from what you were expecting?
CM: I’m looking forward to rushing Sigma Delta Tau.
Riley Deane: The people and getting to meet everybody. I love my roommates and the social aspect of everything. I love it.
RD: I thought my STEM classes were gonna be harder than they are; my teachers are all really helpful with everything.
TQ: Overall, what do you think of your experience as a freshman at MC? Positives? Negatives? How does your experience relate to some of your friends at other schools or your fellow classmates here?
TQ: What are you most looking forward to for the upcoming semester?
TQ: Do you feel like living in a building of all freshmen has helped you meet more people? CM: Definitely. I think that when we all walk into the building together, I’m like okay behind me, they’re a freshman, they’re a freshman… I get a jist of who’s where. I feel like if my freshman friend is on the sixth floor, but I’m on the ninth, I don’t have to worry about going to a different building. We’re all together. We all have the same classes. So, it just makes it easier. Riley Deane, civil engi-
Members of the class of 2027 taking on an Arches excursion. CARMELINA MANIACI/COURTESY
RD: I love it. I love everything about being here at school. A lot of my friends went out of state for school, I was the only one who stayed in New York. One of my friends goes to Indiana and she says it’s so far from home, she’s so homesick. So, I guess being close to home is the best thing about coming
RD: I made the cheer team today! So, I think it’ll be getting to experience being on a team at school. I’m really excited to see how that goes. TQ: Do you feel like living in a building of all freshmen has helped you meet more people? RD: Oh, 100%.
Arts & Entertainment
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
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MC Players’ New E-board Shares Their Plans for the Upcoming Year Kaylin Flam Contributor
The Manhattan College Players are back for the 20232024 season with events and performances all year. The new executive board has been announced and they are optimistic about the events to come. Tess Nunan, the Players’ producer, is in charge of overseeing the general meetings, ensuring the board and members are comfortable in their positions and helping the club run smoothly. “I ran last year after being secretary on the board for two years, and being producer was always a goal of mine for my senior year,” Nunan explains. Despite major cuts to the club’s budget, Players’ producer, Tess Nunan, says the up-
coming season is not changing as much. “The only thing that has changed is that we had a show not in the public domain lined up for our fall mainstage, and then we had to switch that to a public domain show to save money,” Nunan says. Ana McCabe, Players’ developmental director, said that this year’s e-board is looking forward to this season, though they admit the recent budget cuts will push them to be even more creative. “You’ll see a lot more creative freedom and we’re gonna have to get creative with sets and with costumes,” said McCabe. “There is kind of a stereotypical saying for actors, it’s ‘the starving artist’, and I feel like it’s diving into that part of theater which I think will be
Stage setup in the black box. TJ PEREZ/ COURTESY
The wing setup in the black box. TJ PEREZ/ COURTESY
fun to experience without actually being in the ‘starving artist’ point of life.” McCabe’s role as developmental director focuses on working with other MC clubs and organizations that could collaborate with Players. The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, a national theater program, will often come to the Players’ productions and review them, and McCabe is in charge of scheduling the show reviews. “I wanted to join this position because I’ve always been in theater my entire life and I really appreciate what Players at Manhattan has done for me with getting to know people and having a space where I’m comfortable and confident to do something,” said McCabe. TJ Perez’s role as production manager focuses on the production of the performances, such as managing and over-
seeing the production teams, meetings and assigning roles and booking rehearsal spaces. “I love management and I love theater a lot, and this is a position I will be pursuing after school, whether it’s in film, TV, or theater. I just love doing behind-the-scenes production,” Perez explains. Players announced via their Instagram account on Aug. 29 that the fall mainstage production will be Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, a show within the public domain that allows performances without having to pay for the rights. The play is one of Shakespeare’s earlier works and one of his first comedies, centering around two sets of identical twins separated with chaos ensuing in the search for each other. The performances for the fall mainstage will take place on Nov 17, 18 and 19. “It is definitely one of his
funnier comedies, and one of the shorter ones, which is also good because I know Shakespeare can be taxing for actors as well as an audience,” says TJ Perez, Players’ production manager. Aside from the fall mainstage production, Players also host an annual cabaret with different themes each year. Performers will pick a song that goes along with the chosen theme to create a lineup of different musical acts. “[The Cabaret] is very very fun. It’s our little musical aspect in the fall, so that we’ve got music and play in both semesters,” says Perez. The performances for the cabaret will be Dec. 7, 8 and 9. The MC Players have many events planned for the semester. For further details follow their Instagram page, @playersmc, to remain updated on the most recent news.
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Arts & Entertainment
THE QUADRANGLE
MC-TV is Back for Another Successful Year Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor
Manhattan College TV, best known on campus as MC-TV, is back for another year and they have great things planned for the upcoming future. The new executive board consists of president Kerry Sullivan, vice president Nicole Hormann, field and post supervisor TJ Perez, studio supervisor Brylee Watkins and social media manager Billy Walker. Sullivan’s main goal in her term as president is to make sure that MC-TV is well known across campus, not just for people in the communication department. “I really want to make MCTV a much more well-known club on campus because I feel you only really know about it if you’re in the [communication] department or you’ve just happened to run into us at the club fair,” Sullivan said. “There are a lot of people who have interests in television and film who aren’t communication majors, [but it can be hard] because you can’t use the equipment unless you’re either a sports media production concentration or media production con-
centration.” Another one of Sullivan’s goals is to bring MC-TV back to live television on campus like in past years. “I’d really like to be able to get us back onto live streaming,” Sullivan said. “I know we used to do that way back when the club started and that’d be really cool to start that up again or at least get that in the works so that maybe next year that could start up again because I think that we have a TV studio and a TV club but we don’t have a TV station.” Sullivan continues to look forward to working with other clubs on campus like the Women and Gender Research Center and MC Players but is open to having other clubs join suit. “I think that it’d be really cool for students to be able to say like, ‘Oh, I am on live TV with other students run by students for students,’” said Sullivan. While MC-TV is continuing to work with clubs on campus, they also have new projects on the horizon. “We have a lot of projects that are in the works, we’re filming podcasts, we’re doing other field films and projects,” Watkins said. “There are multiple opportunities for students
Manhattan College TV behind the scenes. @MANHATTANCOLLEGETV/INSTAGRAM
Manhattan College TV is back for another year. @MANHATTANCOLLEGETV/INSTAGRAM to get their hands on various and different film opportunities. It also translates outside of just our small studio, we do
work with professional cameras, so giving students the experience on this small scale gives them the opportunity to say ‘Hey, I have this experience for a larger production’.” If new members would like to join the club, all of the e-board members have taken the introduction classes to work in the studio, and are more than willing to help and pass that knowledge along to new students. As students come into a studio that has expensive equipment, it is important that the studio remains regulated and is safety-approved. At this moment, the railing in the studio for the stairs leading to the studio floor needs to be replaced and will be replaced in the coming week. Once the installation of the rail is done, the studio will be open for use. The club is aiming to create a studio that prioritizes the safety of the students in the studio. “Something we’ve talked with [Michael] Grabowski about is we’re still really trying to make the studio ADA compliant,” Watkins said. [We are trying to get] the wheelchair lift put in. Last year we had the ramp built, unfortunately that was taken out. So we are really trying to push for that [ADA] compliance to be in the studio.”
Faculty Advisor Michael Grabowski emailed The Quadrangle to discuss his excitement and love for MC-TV. “What I love about MCTV is that any Manhattan College student, regardless of their major, can gain experience in the studio and working in the field and editing from the moment they step foot on campus,” Grabowski wrote. Despite being the faculty advisor, Grabowski reiterated that this club is a highly-led student organization where students are in control. “As the faculty advisor of this club, I strongly believe shows should be student-led and student-produced, as they are the best people to understand what students want to see and talk about,” Grabowski wrote. “I am happy to serve as a resource for training, arranging for equipment and facilities, and removing any barriers so that students can make what they want. These facilities belong to the students, and I want to make sure they are able to use them as much as they can. I am always amazed at what students can produce, and I look forward to seeing what MCTV makes this year!”
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Arts & Entertainment
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Performing Arts Clubs Shine their Light on Talented Students at MC Karen Flores Arts and Entertainment Editor
The Performing Arts room in Thomas Hall 515 was filled with tables displaying colorful posters representing the various musical groups on campus for their annual performing arts club fair. Songs from the album Abbey Road by the Beatles played in the background as club representatives shared their experiences and memories with students hoping to join their clubs. Landen Scofield, a junior education major, is the president of the MC Manhattones, an acapella group. He expressed that this club fair allows for a closer look into each of the performing arts groups without the commotion that the regular MC club fair may bring. “At the regular club fair, there is a lot going on and we have a small little strip for all performing arts. It’s too overwhelming sometimes for people to get their questions answered with all the stuff going on,” explained Scofield. “Having our own separate place gives us the chance to have more one-on-one conversations with the students and just let them really know what performing arts is all about from our experiences.” Grace Coutu, a freshman childhood education major with a concentration in English expressed interest in joining a variety of the performing arts clubs within the fair and was
glad she got a chance to talk to the members again. “I’m interested in joining the MC singers and players and this club fair let me ask them more specific questions that I didn’t have the chance to ask at the regular club fair,” said Coutu. “I’ve been in chorus since kindergarten and began doing school musicals and plays in high school so I’m excited to continue to do this at MC and connect with people who share the same interests.” Mary Kate Palmisano, a freshman communication major with a concentration in production media, shared that her favorite thing about the performing arts club fair was being able to talk to members. “I’m more excited about joining and playing my flute because I was able to connect with more people one-on-one at this club fair,” said Palmisano. Grace Dillon, a junior digital media arts major, is the vice president of the MC orchestra. She is also a student-athlete and she expressed that her involvement in this performing arts club has allowed her an outlet outside of school and has given her the chance to meet new people. “It’s really just a great part of the day after a stressful week. It’s the decompressing part. You get to hang out and meet so many new friends older than you, younger than you,” shared Dillon. “It has also taught me time management and it’s something that has helped me in college a lot.”
MC Scatterbomb table with treats. KAREN FLORES/THE QUADRANGLE
MC Pep Band showcasing their pictures. KAREN FLORES/THE QUADRANGLE
MC Manhattones with their poster and pictures up. KAREN FLORES/THE QUADRANGLE
Sam Schwan, a freshman engineering major, shared a similar sentiment and shared that being involved in the performing arts is something that gives her a chance to have a creative outlet. “I love math and other academic topics, but you definitely need a creative outlet and little fun things you can do outside of school work,” said Palmisano. “I’m really looking forward to
just playing trumpet in the MC pep band and meeting new people.” Andrew Bauer, P.h.D., director of performing arts and adjunct professor, hopes that the performing arts clubs can offer a space for students to express their creativity and grow their talents. “My goal is for everybody who’s in the performing arts to have this as an enduring memo-
ry of their college experience,” said Bauer. “So 20 years from now, when they look back, they will remember their time and performing and saying, Wow, that was really great. And college provides us with a really great creative experience to grow.”
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Sports
THE QUADRANGLE
Odierna is Out After MAACs Upset Kyla Guilfoil
Managing Editor
John Odierna, the former head coach of the men’s lacrosse team, said goodbye to the Jaspers just weeks after the team saw a major upset in the 2023 MAAC Championships in May. The team had claimed the MAAC title in 2022 and, despite being named regular season champions, the Jaspers fell to Siena at Gaelic Park in the semi-finals of the 2023 championships. Odierna, who helped lead the team to its first MAAC conference championship win since 2002, told the team in July that he would be heading upstate to Syracuse University to serve as assistant coach and defense coordinator. “I am incredibly grateful for the eight years that I spent at Manhattan College,” Odierna said in a statement from the college in July. “I want to thank all the student-athletes, staff members, and administrators who I was able to work with along the way. I will always cherish the relationships that we built.” Odierna first came to MC
seven years ago, serving as defense coordinator and associate head coach before stepping up as official head coach in 2022. “When I arrived to Manhattan in 2015, our goal was to build a championship-caliber program and I believe that we were able to do that,” Odierna said in his statement. Shortly after Odierna announced his exit, the squad’s assistant coach Doug Sage was named interim head coach for the 2023-2024 season. Graduate student and returning captain Kyle Gucwa told The Quadrangle the transition happened quickly. “We all kind of found out within, one or two days, and then all of a sudden he was gone,” Gucwa said. However, Gucwa told The Quadrangle that Odierna did reach out to Gucwa, the sole returning captain, and a couple of other returning upperclassmen before officially accepting his new role. Despite the abrupt change, Gucwa said he is happy for his former coach. “We’re all really happy for him and the opportunity that he has,” Gucwa said. “We all really love Coach Odierna.” Sage told The Quadrangle that Odierna then addressed
Odierna leaves the Jaspers to serve as assistant coach and defense coordinator at Syracuse University. WENDELL CRUZ /COURTESY
The Jaspers claimed the 2022 MAAC Championship with coaches Kelleher, Odierna and Sage. COURTESY/STOCKTON PHOTO the whole team on Friday, July 28 on his departure. By that Sunday, Sage had been announced interim head coach. “I think it was an easy transition because I knew the relationships and have the relationships [with the team], so administration, you know, wanted to keep things mov-
ing,” Sage said. “I think [with] me stepping in right away, it allowed us to, instead of having to pause everything and do an interview and a search and all that stuff, our program didn’t have to pause, we just kept going.” As a returning captain and veteran Jasper, Gucwa said he has worked to keep the team’s culture intact amidst the changes. “I have six great classmates and fifth-year seniors that have been here with me the whole time, and they understand what our culture is and how to keep this thing moving,” Gucwa said. “We want to make sure everyone understands nothing’s changed just because [Coach Odierna] left our culture is not going to change, how we approach practices isn’t going to change, how we carry ourselves off the field isn’t going to change.” Gucwa told The Quadrangle that the team is ready for a comeback this spring. He shared that the majority of the squad is returning, so they haven’t lost many key players. In addition, the returners have a fire under their bellies to find redemption after last year’s loss. “None of us want to feel that feeling again,” Gucwa said. “We have a lot of experience in
that regard, in terms of what we need to do this year to avoid what happened last year.” Gucwa said the loss was especially heavy, as the squad hosted the MAAC Championships at Gaelic Park as defending champions, and had more fans present at their semifinal game against Siena than the players remember ever seeing in past years. “It was the most fans Manhattan Lacrosse teams have ever had,” Gucwa said. “We had a student section for the first time and it was awesome to see that, and we felt we let the school down almost.” Sage said the team is ready to get back to their ambitions, using the last few seasons as motivation. “Last year, our standard had been set and we didn’t meet our standard and it’s a tough, tough pill to swallow because we had 10 wins last year,” Sage said. “It still stings a little bit but, that’s what fuels our fire.” Sage and Gucwa both emphasized that the team is already getting back on track with training this fall, and are looking towards a successful spring season.
Sports
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Andria Scaglione Wins the Women’s 5K at the Marist Invitational
Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor
Manhattan College’s women’s and men’s track and field teams have earned the spotlight for their performance at the MAAC with awards being granted to players and personal records broken. The women’s team had some key performances in the long-distance running & shot put areas. Many of the athletes were able to surpass their previous records while sharpening their skills on the track. Freshman distance runner Isabella Cannizzo qualified for the 3000m alongside Andria Scaglione and crossed the finish line 10 seconds faster than her previous personal record. She credits the supportive mantra from her coaches as the guiding force behind her performance. “A big theme that we’ve been working on all year that my coaches said so many times is ‘attitude, intention, effort’,” Cannizzo said. “Going into the meet with attitude, intention, effort, I knew I could be positive.” Cannizzo also explained the ways she’s adjusted to collegiate athletic life and how she relies on the support from her teammates. “I wasn’t really a serious runner before I came into Manhattan,” Cannizzo said. “It
wasn’t really a priority “Coming off cross country this whole year, I’ve been taking everything more seriously and giving everything I have really to the sport. I had to adjust to college training, so I overcame that and just tried to stay positive and know I was improving because I was putting in the work.” More notable achievements from the women’s team included shot put and weight thrower Kristen Stickdorn, earning a silver medal for most outstanding field performer at the meet. Stickdorn spoke about the feeling of this accomplishment and how it came as a surprise to her. “I didn’t expect that,” Stickdorn said. “I know I performed pretty well. It was an interesting competition. The girl before me threw pretty close to me. She had a personal record. And then I was like, ‘okay, she threw far, I have to throw farther.” Stickdorn has competed in back-to-back competitions over the course of the season and spoke about the impact it has had on her. She highlights her love for competing and how she leans on her teammates for support. “I was competing every weekend, but it’s really fun,” Stickdorn said. “I love competing. It can become a lot sometimes. It’s not only physically but mentally demanding. You really have to not beat yourself
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Women’s 5K winner Andria Scaglione ahead of the pack during the Marist Invitational. COURTESY / GOJASPERS up if you’re having a bad day. You just need to keep it cool.” Stickdorn’s current record for weight throw this season stands at 17.74m. Freshman distance runner Nicole Kelch had some significant progress in the 4x800 relay. She spoke about the collective support she’s experienced from the team and how she admires the leadership within the team. “The girls’ distance team has become a really strong team bonding-wise,” Kelch said. “We definitely have really strong leaders on the team. Everyone’s become really close and kinda developed the same goals.” Kelch’s performance at the MAAC allowed her to set a record for her eighth best time with 10:48.76 minutes. On the men’s side, senior sprinter Kaya Simpson was making waves in the hurdles and 60 meter dash. Simpson took fourth place
in both events earning the team four and five points respectively. He was .08 seconds away from a MC record in the hurdles with a finishing time of 6.85 seconds. Simpson currently holds the title for fifth fastest time for the 60 meter dash at the MAAC. Being in his senior year, he spoke about the impact his running career has had on him and the growth he’s experienced both on and off the field. “Within the first year of running, myself now compared to last year, I’m much more of a runner. I’m more confident,” Simpson said. “I’m more eager to push the boundaries. I’m more eager to step up at the race.” He also spoke about the development of the team as a whole and how they’ve progressed throughout the season. He also highlighted the impact his teammates have had on him and how they continuously uplift each other.
“I always tell my team don’t get sappy, but ‘you guys right here are my favorite team’,” Simpson said. “We might not be the number one spot but we’re always gonna make ourselves known and we’re always going to be that team that strikes and takes advantage of opportunities in front of us. We definitely have some heavy hitters hitting scores on our team and some people are gonna make some really big impacts in our season.” Both the men’s and women’s teams have made significant gains throughout the season with all athletes echoing the sentiment of the hard work they put into their performances.
Sports
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THE QUADRANGLE
Jasper Games of the Week Jasper Talks
Lauren Raziano & Isaiah Rosario Multimedia Editor and Sports Editor
Men’s Soccer Jasper’s men’s soccer team has had a tough first few games. Their first two matchups between Holy Cross went 1-1 and against George Washington, they went 2-2. At their first match at home on Sept. 1st against La Salle, the team went 0-2. This game was Daniel Polakowshi’s first start of the season in the goal. The Jaspers were then defeated 3-0 against Columbia at the Rocco B. Commisso Soccer Stadium on Sept. 5. The Columbia Lions scored one goal in the first half and scored two in the remaining. Jaspers with five shots on goal and four saves, while the Lions had seven shots on goal with five saves. Overall the Jaspers are 0-2-2. The next match-up is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 11. at the University of Connecticut. Upcoming, senior day is Tuesday, Sept. 19. against Fordham.
Women’s Soccer Unfortunately Adds Two to the Loss Column The Jaspers home opener against Long Island University resulted in a 0-0 tie game. The Sept. 3. game against the Sharks was filled with back-and-forth action. After a tough stretch to begin the season, the Lady Jaspers looked to bounce back and add one to the win column in a game against Sacred Heart. In the 34th minute, Grace O’Hara of the Pioneers scored the first goal of the game to give Sacred Heart a 1-0 lead. In the 84th minute, Kelly Medeiros of the Pioneers tallied on another goal for Sacred Heart to put them up one zero. It was another loss to add to the Jaspers’s season as they could not tally a single goal for the game and put their record to 1-3-1. Future games are away at Siena College on Sept 9th and Canisius College on Sept 16.
Women’s Basketball Conference Schedule Announced/Coaching Updates MAAC opener is scheduled for league play on December 16 when the Jaspers welcome Rider to Draddy Gymnasium. Callan Stores was promoted to associate head coach at the end of last season. She has spent seven seasons at MC, the first year as Director of Basketball Operations and the last six as Assistant Coach. Raven James joins the women’s coaching staff as the director of basketball operations after being a graduate assistant at James Madison University last season. Sara Mitchell is a new coaching addition to MC’s women’s basketball team for the 2023-2024 season. Mitchell was previously at Yale University as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Women’s Volleyball Faces Losses At the Wildcat Invitational, they went 0-3 against Saint Mary’s College of California. At Weber State University, the Jaspers went 0-3. Their final invitation game against Utah Tech University went 0-3. The Red Flash Classic also ended poorly for the Jaspers. They went 0-3 against Saint Francis University, 0-3 against Stony Brook University, and 1-3 against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Columbia Tournament is the final tournament of the season. It included a matchup against Columbia University on Friday, Sept. 8th. In the first set in the game against Columbia, Manhattan was able to force the Lions over 25 points, but could not finish the set. The Jaspers were able to win the second set by two points, by a score of 25-22. In the end, the Lions ended up taking the final two sets, which led to a Jaspers loss, and a record of 0-7. The first MAAC play game is Sept 16th against Saint Peter’s University in Draddy gymnasium.
Women’s Volleyball: Jaspers vs Lions on September 8, 2023. COURTESY / GOJASPERS