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Volume CII, Issue 9
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NEW YORK, OCTOBER 27, 2020
Manhattan Caucus: What to Know in the Final Stretch of the Countdown to Election Day Sophia Sakellariou Senior Writer
Kelly Fitness Center Reopens The fitness center at Kelly Commons opens up with social distancing guidelines in place. BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE
Fitness Center Open For First Time Since March Alexa Schmidt, Victor Franco, & Cort Koss
Arts & Entertainment Editor, Staff Writers The fitness center, located in the Kelly Student Commons, officially opened for the first time since returning to campus on Monday, Oct. 5. Students received this notification on Oct. 1 in an email sent out from the Jaspers Return leadership. Operating at a limited capacity, all students must wear masks and wipe down the machines after each use. The center has limited hours, where deep cleaning will be done during afternoon breaks and each night after closing. Joseph DiOrio, a student worker at the gym explained that due to COVID-19, there have been several new conditions that the gym has upon entering.
IN NEWS:
“Originally, you would just walk up to the counter and swipe your card and walk in, but now you’re supposed to get your temperature taken, show your green pass, and then finally swipe your card,” DiOrio said. Another student worker, Katelyn Huggard, a senior elementary education student who has worked at the fitness center since Fall 2019, says the new regulations are being adhered to by the student body. “It’s nice to see at least the students are doing what they should be doing.” Huggard said. DiOrio believes that although the center can get extremely busy at times, students follow the social distancing rules. “I think, for the most part, we’re trying, in a generally smaller space,” DiOrio said.
IN FEATURES:
MC Fitness Center Community collaborates on Reopens Dogwood Junction on p. 3 on p. 8
“So when it gets packed sometimes in the mid-afternoon, it’s tricky, but I think everyone has their masks pretty much on and I’ve been watching people keep as close as a safe distance as they can. Generally, I think it’s gonna be a tough little problem but I think we’re doing all right so far.” The center closes every day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in order to sanitize equipment. At night, the same procedures are done to ensure that everything is set to go for the next morning. The center also placed a limit on the number of students that can be in the space at the same time. The maximum capacity is 30 students, but because of staff, that number is rounded to a total of 35 people. “Sometimes we have to tell people to come back in like 15 __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
One week, seven days, and less than 168 hours left until Election Day. Here’s what you should know before the big day. In-Person Voting If you intend to cast your ballot in person it is important to have a game plan. Find the nearest polling place in the district in which you are registered by inputting your information into the polling place locator at vote.org. Budget a good amount of time in your day in case you have work or school since long lines can make the process a bit time consuming. Make sure you bring the necessary materials to be able to cast your ballot. Two-thirds of states require voters to present identification at the polls. Check your state’s laws in regards to whether you need identification and if so, what qualifies before heading to your polling place. If you’ve voted in New York before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote. If you’re a firsttime voter who registered by mail, and didn’t provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show ID to vote. Acceptable forms include: a current and valid photo ID such as a driver’s license; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. You can call your polling place on Election Day to see what they require to make sure you have everything you need. If you are unable to provide ID or forget it, you will be able to vote with an affidavit ballot as a New York voter. Most importantly, don’t forget a mask and to stand six
IN A&E:
Jia Tolentino welcomed as MARS speaker on p. 8
feet apart from others in line. Results: What We Know So Far Many states have begun early voting. Early voting in New York will be available until Sunday, Nov. 1, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live. According to the U.S. Elections Project website, run by Michael McDonald, an expert on early voting, around 30 percent of the total number of votes cast in the 2016 election have already been cast 13 days before Election Day. Texas is currently leading the early vote count with more votes already cast than Donald Trump won there in 2016. These numbers show that the 2020 election is shaping up to be a record-breaking turnout, an incredible feat considering the circumstances of a life-threatening pandemic, economic struggles and a President who has continually tried to undercut the legitimacy of the American electoral system. Democrats currently hold an advantage, but that doesn’t mean they’ll maintain it. So far, pollsters only see the data of registered early voters and not every registered Democrat is guaranteed to vote for Biden or vice versa. The results likely will not come until late on Election Day or days after, but this impressive turnout marks a beacon of hope for democracy in these challenging times. States to Watch On Election Day, the states to closely monitor will be the battleground states the candidates need to win in order to secure a clear path to victory with 270 electoral votes. Trump will need to win some of the states that polls show are __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN SPORTS:
BLM Vigil brings campus together on p. 10
Opinions & Editorials
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the Quadrangle Volume CII, Issue 9
THE QUADRANGLE
LET T ER from The Editor
Dear readers,
October 27, 2020
The Editorial Board Gabriella DePinho Editor-in-Chief
Maria Thomas News Editor
Nicole Fitzsimmons Anna Woods Asst. News Editors
Alexa Schmidt Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor
Jilleen Barrett Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Christine Nappi Features Editor Pete Janny Sports Editor Managing Editor C. Garrett Keidel Social Media Editor Brian Asare Photography Editor
Whit Anderson Asst. Sports Editor Samantha Walla Production Manager Emily Hollar Asst. Photography Editor Asst. Production Editor
Kelly Kennedy Nicole Rodriguez Asst. Production Editor Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Web Editors Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism. The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.
Join The Quadrangle The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. via Google Meet. All are welcome to come and join the club.
Connect with The Quadrangle
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I hope you are beginning to enjoy the descent into true fall weather. I know I am, but I have to say, I miss having more consistently sunny days. This week, I want to highlight the work of Brian Asare, our photography editor. Each week, he does a great job of organizing all the photos our staff members submit to him, selecting which photos in a set of many move forward to the production team and editing the photos in aesthetically pleasing ways. However, this week, Brian did all of that and more. He has two photo spreads this week: one from the cleanup at Dogwood Junction, the other from the Black Lives Matter vigil. His work is truly fantastic and I hope you spend time really looking at the photos. To read something is one thing, but to see it happen and unfold is another thing, and I am so glad Brian was able to capture these moments for you. As always, though, I’m incredibly impressed with the work of this entire staff. They work so hard week in and week out and the work pays off. Every member of the team brings a unique perspective and skill set to the table and we would not be able to get this paper into your hands if we didn’t have a team of people so willing to collaborate and help each other be the most successful reporters they can be. This work is not easy but the team makes it look easy. Manhattan College is lucky to have such a dedicated team and I hope you, dear readers, realize that. And I, I am so lucky to work with all of them. They make me a better editor, a better reporter, a better friend and a better human. What an incredible joy in such anxiety-ridden times!
Sincerely,
Gabriella DePinho
Editor-in-Chief
Sign up for our monthly newsletter by scanning the QR code. SUBMIT YOUR OWN LET T ER OR OP-ED Letters to the Editor or an op-ed may be submitted to thequad@manhattan.edu by Saturday at noon to be considered for publication. Profanity, vulgarity and hate will not be published. The Quadrangle reserves the right not to publish a letter.
News
OCTOBER 27, 2020
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Fitness Center Reopens __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 minutes,” Huggard said. But that is the only stressful time when there are about 15 people waiting around lunchtime.” However, the problem always seems to sort itself out. “It’s pretty fair, there isn’t a whole lot of inflow and outflow in the Manhattan college fitness center,” DiOrio said. “There are always people coming in and out.” Students and younger staff come in the most frequently. “Predominantly when a professor comes by there is more anxiety, and those over 30 seem to be more cautious, so mostly there are students in there,” Huggard said. Lisette Colon, a sophomore at Manhattan College who has been working out in the fitness center since last year, has returned to the gym since it’s reopening and believes that the college is doing the best it can. “I do believe the conditions are effective, I just wish the workers had more hours to clean because I know the gym can be very busy specifically during the afternoon since usually everybody would be done with classes,” Colon said. A primary concern that Colon had with the fitness center is the limitation of fitness equipment due to social distancing. Not all of the machines operate due to social distancing. “Let’s say I want to use the StairMaster, there will only be like one of them open, and there will be like 20 people trying to use it,” Colon said. “So it makes it going to the gym
longer because you have to be waiting after the person. You also have to wait for them to clean down the stairs and then you have to also clean down it yourself, just for some sanitation reasons.” Colon also recognized that while masks are mandatory, they limit her ability to work out. “I had to keep the mask on above my nose but if I’m running or jogging it’s been difficult to breathe,” Colon said. “It just gets uncomfortable, especially since I get sweaty around my face. This problem doesn’t motivate me as much to go to the gym because it’s a problem that I don’t want to handle every single morning.” She also noted that due to restrictions, there has been a great number of changes in the center. Nonetheless, she understands the limitations that come with it. “Currently, we don’t have a drinking fountain, nor a refill for bottles, I had to step outside the fitness center to refill the water bottle.” Colon said. “Last year they used to hand out towels for when we got sweaty and we needed to clean up our face, they don’t do that anymore. It’s small things like that really make a difference. They also had the shower and seats in the bathroom, and they don’t have that anymore. Along with this, the capacity of the bathroom is also smaller, so we have to wait for people to come out of the bathroom to change.” The fitness center will only be open until Thanksgiving break when it will shut its doors again.
The fitness center in Kelly Commons opens with Covid-friendly regulations to keep students safe and six feet apart. BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan Caucus: What to Know in the Final Stretch of the Countdown to Election Day __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 currently leaning toward Biden in order to reach that number. For an overview of the electoral college and how it works, a previous edition of Manhattan Caucus, Understanding the Electoral College, can be found at mcquad.org. According to an interactive article on the battleground states in The New York Times, there are various potential outcomes of the presidential race. So far, Texas, with 38 electoral votes, is leaning Republican. The states and their electoral votes leaning Democrat are Michigan (16), Minnesota (10), Nebraska’s 2nd District (1),
New Hampshire (4), Pennsylvania (20), Nevada (6), Arizona (11), and Wisconsin (10). The battleground states that are still a tossup are Florida (29), Iowa (6), Ohio (18), Georgia (16), North Carolina (15) and Maine’s 2nd District. The 2016 margin for all of these states was Republican leaning. Georgia is traditionally Republican-leaning, but it has grown more diverse and politically competitive in recent years with the growth of Atlanta and its suburbs. North Carolina is split between large communities of Black voters, college students and moderate professionals, and large areas that consist of more rural, white conservative voters.
Florida is almost always close in presidential elections as it is diverse, but often conservative-leaning. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. As was seen in 2016, the popular vote numbers are not representative of who will win. The results may not be final until days after election. Final Reminders Remember your vote matters. 2020 has been a tumultuous year with hardship after hardship that aren’t necessarily going away anytime soon. It is hard to have hope in an age where death tolls are rising in a global health crisis, unemployment is increasing and our nation is increasingly polarized as
social media platforms serve as a battleground for any and all topics of debate. But if the high early voting numbers are any indication, all is not lost. There is hope for democracy and the American people to come together to push for change. We, the people of America, are strong and we will recover from this, but you must make your voice heard. Whether through early voting or in-person, you can make a difference and be a part of history. It has been my pleasure covering American politics with this column for the Jasper community, especially in my final semester as a student and senior writer for The Quadran-
gle. I hope that my efforts have left you a little more informed on the American political system as well as provided some clarity in a time where the political news cycle is a bit chaotic and overwhelming. I know it is scary, especially when the pandemic means putting your health at risk to fill out a sheet of paper, but it matters. You and your beliefs matter. As the youth of America we have tremendous power in our hands and I hope you use that power to vote next week. I look forward with both optimism and trepidation to writing the final installment of this column for you when the results are in.
Features
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THE QUADRANGLE
How Do Students Feel About COVID Restrictions? VOICES ON THE QUAD Interviews compiled by Anna Woods and Victor Franco.
Manhattan College has implemented new COVID-19 restrictions this semester that students have to follow on campus in order to stop the spread of the virus. These new restrictions have changed student life on campus causing students to form their own opinions. The Quadrangle spoke with some students who have been faced with the adjusting to the new COVID-19 restrictions on campus.
Mallori Herishko, Junior Chemical Engineering Major
Lisette Colon, Sophomore Computer Engineering Major
Joanna Canigiani, Sophomore Political Science Major
How do you feel about COVID-19 restrictions on campus? I feel as though everyone is doing the best that they can. This was such an unprecedented time that no one saw coming or could prepare for. The restrictions definitely create a disconnect with students on campus where we feel less inclined to interact with others. While we can feel isolated, we know that any restrictions on campus are there to keep us safe and better than the alternative of staying home.
How do you feel about COVID-19 restrictions on campus? I believe covid restrictions are where they should be, I don’t feel as if the restrictions are too strict. I feel safe and protected from COVID-19 on campus [and] the school has done a great job to make students feel normal. Although there are restrictions the school environment is still friendly and sociable.
How do you feel about COVID-19 restrictions on campus? They’re a little bit frustrating sometimes but I generally really appreciate all of the restrictions because they prevent there from being any outbreaks on campus and I know there‘s only been a few cases of the virus on campus. I’d rather have more restrictions now than not being able to come back next semester because of more outbreaks on campus.
How fair do you think the restrictions are? I believe the restrictions are fair. As with most things, the best way to enact change is to self-motivate. I feel that the college has done a good enough job of emphasizing the seriousness of the pandemic and most students feel a personal responsibility to stay safe. When considering the restrictions, how do you feel about the risk of getting COVID-19? At this point, I feel secure with the school’s restrictions. The positive test rate has been low compared to the rest of the city or my hometown. In some ways, I feel safer on campus where everyone is contained within the school compared to at home where I’m around people who aren’t tested.
How fair do you think the restrictions are? As of now the restrictions are definitely understandable. I believe COVID-19 restrictions are where they should be in terms of students keeping six feet distance and two per elevator, but I do feel that these restrictions are not being enforced by the college as much as they should be. When considering the restrictions, how do you feel about the risk of getting COVID-19? Even with the restrictions not being as enforced as they should be, I feel that I am secure in not getting COVID-19 because of the limited amount of students in the school.
At any point, have you felt that MC’s COVID-19 restrictions have not been effective? No. As seen with the weekly results, MC’s restrictions seem to be working. Whether that is due to the restrictions or low rate in the area, I feel as though the policies are effective. If positive cases rise, I might have a different answer.
At any point, have you felt that MC’s COVID-19 restrictions have not been effective? To a certain extent I do believe that the restrictions are not effective, but this also runs in favor of students because restricting students so much can cause students to feel very limited to what they can do. Enforcing restrictions so much can cause students to just feel uncomfortable in the school.
If there’s anything you can change or recommend to try and improve restrictions what would it be? I would definitely ask professors to be more lenient with allowing on-campus students to go remote. A few professors expressed that on-campus students must come into class every day. I feel that it is important for students to feel comfortable going remote for a day or two if they feel sick. Also, I don’t feel that the symptom tracker is effective at all. It was a good idea, but the inability to get back inside of the dorms if you get a red pass deters students from answering truthfully.
If there’s anything you can change or recommend to try and improve restrictions what would it be? My recommendation would be to somehow set up a student work study job where instead of faculty worrying about whether students are following restrictions, student workers are told to walk around campus and make sure that everyone is following the restrictions. I believe it is very different being approached by a student to remind about covid restrictions rather than a faculty [member] to remind you.
How fair do you think the restrictions are? I think that the restrictions are fair, i.e. you can only have four people in your room and can’t go into like Horan or other dorms that you don’t live in. When considering the restrictions, how do you feel about the risk of getting COVID-19? I think that Manhattan’s restrictions do make me feel a lot safer, although a lot needs to be done with house parties that are occurring in nearby apartments off campus. That makes me feel unsafe. I think my personal choices are the best I can do for myself, but a lot depends on how other people’s choices and that’s why I only see people that I trust and wouldn’t put me in harms way. At any point, have you felt that MC’s COVID-19 restrictions have not been effective? I do feel like they’re not effective sometimes because I feel like everyone should be getting tested routinely every few weeks, not just random testing. Also I think they should do more to address what is happening off campus like parties and stuff even though its really hard to. If there’s anything you can change or recommend to try and improve restrictions what would it be? Honestly, I think our campus is pretty strict. But I think they should do more to be more responsive when there are reports about people on campus. I also wish that mask restrictions were enforced more equitably across campus, including enforcement among athletes.
Features
OCTOBER 27, 2020
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Club Profile: Last Stop Club Nicole Fitzsimmons Assistant News & Features Editor
The last stop is more than just the end of the one train: it’s now a community for students to call home. The Last Stop is a new club on campus where students across all majors can share what they’re passionate about and meet other like-minded individuals. The club will serve as an outlet for students to ask questions about their area of study and will be a place to get to know students from varying majors. The Last Stop aims to create a supportive, fun environment for people to learn about themselves as well as others. Sophomore marketing majors Giavanna Walsh and Cait Ficarra came up with the idea of creating an easygoing place for students to engage in their own passions, as well as learn about the passions of other students during quarantine at the onset of COVID-19. In a time that is so unpredictable and chaotic, the Last Stop Club offers a place for students to begin to understand themselves, while also being able to learn and experience things that they might have not done otherwise. “Our inspiration for the club happened during quarantine, when we both realized that there’s a lot in our lives that is missing, and we knew that it was going to continue once we are in the semester,” Walsh said. “So, we want to provide an outlet for students to help them find their passion and really express themselves because we are a small campus, but there’s such a big city that’s right at the tip of our nose. So we kind of wanted to, you know, expand their knowledge about the city, expand their knowledge about campus, and also most importantly, themselves.” Being a part of other clubs on campus, like the Public Relations Student Society of America, inspired Walsh and Ficarra to establish a club that would encourage and help students in more than one facet. This distinction showcases the uniqueness and personalized experience the Last Stop Club has to offer. The commitment and admiration they have for other different clubs on campus also plays an important part in the way they plan to establish their club in terms of creating a friendly and welcoming environment. “There are plenty of clubs on our campus, and that’s something that I think everybody can be really thankful for,” Ficarra said. “But, it’s almost as if each club kind of focuses on one particular thing, but we want our club to be an op-
portunity for endless, endless things. So, people can do, literally whatever they want, if they have an idea, they can bring it to the table. And, we just want it to be like a stress free, fun environment for every student.” Whether it be through planning trips to the city or meeting new people, the Last Stop Club hopes to incorporate the interests of members into the experiences planned. Being a student, having a social life, preparing for classes and understanding the processes of college life is difficult. What makes this even more difficult is dealing with this while being remote. Walsh and Ficarra plan for this to be a place for students to express themselves, and also have a place to go to when they need help with the demands of college life. For members of the club, this could be through help from other members, or fun activities that surround travelling to the city. “We just want it to be like a really stress relieving club,” Ficarra said. “It’s okay, you don’t have to come to every single meeting. But, we’re just a club that’s offering every student a space where they’ll have friends. And, they’ll be able to share something that they found interesting or something that they’re passionate about, and then we’re going to do fun activities depending on like, any holidays or the season. It’s just like a club where we can have fun.” Another major aspect of the Last Stop Club is the fact that it can introduce students from all areas of Manhattan. From science to business, students can come together and learn from each other in a less demanding environment than normal college life, both academically and socially. “I think it’s so important that our campus has so many individual clubs, which I absolutely love, and, I think it would be nice to have our club which is kind of open hands and open mind to each one and kind of create a whole new mindset,” Walsh said. “Because, I’m a business major, I don’t know much about science. But, if I found out from someone something about that, or engineering, or education, then I feel like that would kind of bring a whole new mindset. And, especially, you know, the city being so huge, and there’s so many things around us, I feel like you can do a lot with that. I think it’s very important to have different backgrounds.” On top of finding students within the same program, meeting people from all areas of the campus can be a beneficial aspect of the club, because it allows students to further find themselves in an academic and social sense.
Giavanna Walsh and Cait Ficarra have started a new club on campus where students can join together in a fun and stress-free enviornment. GIAVANNA WALSH & CAIT FICARRA / COURTESY “You’d meet students that you wouldn’t think you’d meet otherwise,” Ficarra said. “If you’re a freshman, and you don’t really know any juniors that study a major completely opposite of yours, maybe you’ll get the chance to branch out and meet them through the club.” Sophomore marketing major Kristina Zagreda is one of the first members of the Last Stop Club—as it begins to become an established group on campus—and is excited to meet other new members and experience what the club is all about. “I am extremely looking forward to meeting new people and finding out about their own interests and opinions to expand my knowledge,” Zagreda said. “I’m excited for all the possible city trips in the future and for being a part of the first group of Last Stop MC. This club will definitely be exciting and enjoyable.” The process of setting up a
club remotely is already a difficult task. Walsh and Ficarra have been working to find virtual opportunities for members to express themselves and experience new things even if things do not go as planned next semester. One example are virtual Rockette performances that are currently taking place. “For right now, our biggest goal is just finding everyone’s passion, and then kind of figuring out things to do with that in the city,” Walsh said. Ficarra also hopes this club can be a place for students to bring their ideas and collaborate with each other. “We want to like, make sure that whatever our members are interested in, we can incorporate in activities,” Ficarra said. “They can share something that they found cool, or an activity that they want to try. And, we definitely want to incorporate their own ideas.” The last stop on the one train is our campus at Manhattan College. The Last Stop Club
stays true to making this campus a place where all students can express themselves and potentially thrive. To join the club, QR codes can be found on their flyers to fill out a Google form. Whether it be virtual or in-person, the club is planning to unite students in many different ways. “I think the easiest thing to say is that during this time, we know that our lives are kind of on pause right now,” Walsh said. “But, we want students to know that it doesn’t end here. Like, there’s so, so much potential to find yourself. Whether you’re in your house, or you’re in your dorm, there is potential, and we want to be there for you and kind of help you break through that. And, obviously, in a safe fashion. But we just want to make sure that Manhattan College knows that it’s not just remote class and going to bed. There’s so much that you can do and we want to keep that pace as much as we can.”
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Features
THE QUADRANGLE
Dogwood Junction Cleanup Photos taken by Brian Asare.
A student park clean up event was held by student engagement at Dogwood Junction between Horan Hall and the one train subway station this past Saturday, Oct. 25. This event consisted of student and staff volunteers that aided park workers in weeding, mulching and cleaning up debris that were within a garden area in Dogwood Junction. Overall this event served as a way for Manhattan College students to give back to the Riverdale Community and was a great success.
Arts & Entertainment
OCTOBER 27, 2020
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Performer Profile: Samantha Santiago PERFORMER PROFILE Lauren Raziano Staff Writer
Samantha Santiago, a freshman from Yonkers, New York, is studying biology with a side passion for music. She loves to sing and has been doing it since she was young. “I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” Santiago said. “It has always been a way to express myself in a way that was fun. I’ve always loved it.” Santiago chose to come to Manhattan because of the community. “I came to Manhattan because I felt that the atmosphere was really nice and matched what I wanted,” Santiago said. “I always wanted a small school because I value that tight knit community feeling so Manhattan just fit perfectly.” Compared to singing solo, Santiago favors group settings. “I prefer to sing in a group because I love hearing how different voices can come together and make beautiful music,” Santiago said. Although performances are limited during this COVID-19 era, she is still able to practice singing being that she is a member of two musical groups on campus, Music Ministry and Manhattan Singers. Her favorite part about being able to sing at Manhattan is the group of performers she has been able to meet. “I really love performing and like singing at Manhattan,” Santiago said. “My favorite thing would be the people. They are really awesome, everybody is really nice and we all work together to make awesome music together.” Before coming to Manhattan her last performance was at graduation. “Before coming to Manhattan my favorite performance was my graduation,” Santiago said. “I did the interlude and
I sang “Everything I Know”, which is from my favorite musical, which is, “In the Heights.” Santiago believes that New York is such a great place to be able to sing, as it has so many styles like Broadway, rap, jazz and so many others. “There are so many different styles of music, definitely, like because New York is so diverse, there is a very wide range of things you can sing and a lot of different languages you can sing them in,” Santiago said. While she is beginning to settle in at Manhattan College, she is not sure what she wants to do in the future and whether or not her future will include music. “I’m not sure, right now it is just a hobby, but if it goes further I don’t know,” Santiago said. “Maybe professionally like in churches or something.” The internet has been an inspiration for Santiago to maybe start writing her own songs. “I’ve tried on a few occasions to write my own music but I only get a few verses in before I get writer’s block,” Santiago said. “It’s something that I’m considering more now though because I’ve seen so many new songs on the rise on the internet.” When asked to give advice to new singers, Santiago said that the best way to start singing and be comfortable is to be okay with making mistakes and learning. “I would say to new singers that it’s ok to make mistakes because that is the only way that you’ll learn,” Santiago said. She knows better than most that is not always easy to start singing. “When I first started singing I always wanted to get the notes right on the first try,” Santiago said. “But I realized that it’s only by trial and error that you can truly end up with a beautiful outcome.”
Santiago smiling before a performance. SAMANTHA SANTIAGO / COURTESY
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Arts & Entertainment
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THE QUADRANGLE
MARS Welcomes Jia Tolentino: Discussions on the Internet and Journalism Kyla Guilfoil Staff Writer
Manhattan College’s Major Author Reading Series (MARS) returned last Thursday with guest speaker Jia Tolentino, a staff writer for “The New Yorker.” MARS is an event held once a semester that hosts an author for a reading and Q&A session. Adam Koehler, a professor of English at MC, has been hosting the MARS program since 2011. Koehler had originally invited Tolentino to speak last April, but the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, Tolentino was able to reschedule for a virtual event this semester. “Her research and her work has been really important recently and it made sense given the course I was teaching, and the interest of the students, to invite her to campus, and she was more than willing and generous to do it,” Koehler said. “Tolentino’s work always reminds us of where the personal meets the public, in a way that we find immediately personally and intellectually.” After an introduction by Koehler, Tolentino read an excerpt from her book, Trick Mirror, and answered questions from MC students, alumni and faculty. The book is a collection of essays centered around the concept of self-delusion, with Tolentino examining society, especially in regards to its interaction with the internet. A quote she shared from the book referenced five problems she believes have developed from our internet engagement. “First, how the internet is built to distend our sense of identity; second, how it encourages us to overvalue our opinions; third, how it maximizes our sense of opposition; fourth, how it cheapens our understanding of solidarity; and finally, how it destroys our sense of scale,’” read Tolentino. Closing on this quote, Tolentino began taking questions. She addressed the effects of the internet, her writing process, and journalism within today’s political climate. Tolentino shared that she had only ever written for the internet before this book, as she began writing after the mainstream media had felt a collapse due to the 2008 recession. She enjoys online writing, and the fast pace expected from it. However, Tolentino wanted to be able to publish something more indulgent: an in-depth discussion that would not be restricted to the limitations of an online piece. To Tolentino, it is impossible to become truly absorbed in writing that is presented
through a cell phone screen. A physical book presented the opportunity for readers to become completely immersed in her words and ideas, which is something that Tolentino tries to practice regularly. “[Reading] feels like it’s piecing my brain back together after the internet destroys it everyday, like it’s knitting my attention span back together,” Tolentino said. While she acknowledged that the Internet is a remarkable tool that has greatly increased creativity and also allowed open, democratized conversation on a multitude of important social topics, she feels the current online world is very harmful to Americans. Especially because so much of the internet is controlled by a few powerful companies, Tolentino demonstrated fear of the misinformation and manipulation that is presented through online sources. “The thing that makes the companies the most money is for us to use it in unhealthy ways, and misinformation gets more views than facts,” Tolentino said. “As long as that’s true, as long as anger and virality are the most profitable things for them, I think on the whole [the internet] will be more to our general detriment than to the good.” As a journalist herself, Tolentino has had to face the question of bias and misinformation in published writing. “What I prefer personally, given that we all have some sort of bias, is to show my cards, and then report the facts, but make it clear [what] I believe in,” Tolentino said. “To me, the most honest way of [reporting] is to be clear about your point of view, which is essentially the same thing as bias, and then go into interviews with an open mind, to really listen to people harder when they disagree with you.” Tolentino argues that the idea of objective journalism is an old fashioned one, and that it is morally negligible to be truly neutral in today’s American society and politics. She admits that most news organizations, such as “The New Yorker,” have a general slant towards a certain political ideology. However, Tolentino asserts that this slant does not prohibit professional journalists from providing informative, factual reports. “Ideological leanings have nothing to do with facts,” she said. “That is the biggest destructive civic development of the Internet age, where you have huge movements that no longer believe in objective fact.” Journalists at these organizations go through diligent fact-checking processes, according to Tolentino. Everything in the article, including
Manhattan College’s Major Author Reading Series (MARS) returned last Thursday with guest speaker Jia Tolentino, a staff writer for the “New Yorker.” JIA TOLENTINO / COURTESY a mention of the weather for a day, is fact-checked. She also believes social media has accelerated the development of conspiracy-obsessed Americans. “[Social media] is built to show you a version of the world that you want to see, and it’s also built to show you a version of the world that makes you feel superior to other people, and mad,” Tolentino said. “So what that often translates to is misinformation that says that everyone else has gotten it wrong. The world is whatever you choose to see. I think that ontologically, there is a deep seated kind of human narcissistic tendency that gets really encoded with social media.” Tolentino shared her concern for the lasting effects of misinformation from the internet. “In terms of the things that last, in terms of the record that lasts, being confusing and incorrect, [I am worried],” Tolentino said. “I think that because the news is being replaced digitally, because everything can always be photoshopped, because we don’t teach civic literacy in school the way we ought to, I am incredibly worried that, for example, anyone trying to do a history of this decade, or the next decade, will have to wade through not being able to trust sources, like archived sources, and not knowing what has been interfered with.” According to Tolentino, it seems Americans should worry less about bias in journalists, and more about the misinformation and manipulation possible through social media. Shifting to the specific impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on her, Tolentino shared that she found it very difficult to write last spring — the element of surprise, discussions with strangers, and experiential learning are some of her
best sources of inspiration. “Physical, in person experience is the thing that gets my brain going, which is one of the reasons I felt so crazy during the pandemic because I’m only experiencing one room,” Tolentino said. “I want to feel your body language when we’re in the room with each other.” Students and faculty asked questions and thanked Tolentino for speaking with them. Koehler was especially pleased with the event. “I think my favorite MARS events are the ones where the students drive the Q&A, and that was very clear last night,” Koehler said. “That’s what I love about a MARS reading, that you really get to see the students engage in a meaningful way with ideas that they care about, and writing that they care about. She’s such a great example of what it means to be a journalist right now, so to see the communications majors show up, and ask these powerful questions, that to me is the best way to spend a Thursday night. The students make it a successful night.” Koehler believes that her essays — published before the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States — is incredibly important right now, as the relationship with technology has grown more intense through periods of social isolation. Dominika Wrozynski, an associate professor of English at MC, has been co-hosting the MARS events with Koehler since 2013. She also felt that it was impactful for students and faculty to hear from Tolentino. “She had great advice for students — especially on how to incorporate research into their writing, as well as how to balance the personal and informational angles in their work,” Wrozynski said. “It’s exciting when students can meet a writer who is only about ten
years older than they are and who has achieved such a level of success — students at the event were clearly inspired by Tolentino’s career and her approachability in answering their questions.” Tolentino’s appearance at this MARS event gave students exposure to a well-spoken writer and engaged the MC community in important conversation. “It’s rough out there for a person who just wants to understand something, and doesn’t want to be sold an agenda,” Koehler said. “So talking to a journalist about what that process is like for her, how [she] generates information for people, is a very important conversation for young people who are just trying to figure out how to think about their culture and what role their media plays in that.”
The book is a collection of essays centered around the concept of self-delusion, with Tolentino examining society, especially in regards to its interaction with the internet. JIA TOLENTINO/ COURTESY
OCTOBER 27, 2020
Arts & Entertainment
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Christine Shields Corrigan’88 Highlights Debut Memoir for Alumni Author Series Nicole Rodriguez
Asst. Production Editor On Thursday Oct. 22, the Office of Alumni Relations hosted a virtual book talk with alumna Christine Shields Corrigan ‘88 discussing her debut memoir “Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists” as part of their Alumni Author Series. The Alumni Author Series recognizes and highlights the significant contributions Manhattan College alumni have made throughout all literary genres. Authors in the Jasper family are given a platform to share and discuss their work in detail to faculty, students and fellow alumni. Corrigan is a two-time cancer survivor whose work focusing on family, illness, writing and survivorship has appeared in a number of publications. Aside from writing, Corrigan devotes her free time to teaching creative nonfiction writing for an adult education program, providing writing workshops for cancer support groups, and serving on the programming
committee of the Morristown Festival of Books. For Corrigan, it was a thrill and honor to be sharing with her alma mater a preview of her debut memoir that is scheduled to release Oct. 24. The memoir recounts her resilient journey following two cancer diagnoses — as a teen with Hodgkin’s disease in 1981 and an adult with breast cancer in 2016. Corrigan’s diagnosis as a teen stemmed from an initial finding her younger sister made while poking her neck and noticing it was swollen. Growing up in Staten Island, she sought treatment at Memorial Hospital, now known as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She narrated the confusion and fear she experienced in regards to her diagnosis while walking down the hospital hallways alongside her family. “I have a real clear memory, and I talk about this a little bit in the book, but walking through Memorial Hospital with my mother, my dad, and looking at all of these sick people, like people in wheelchairs and people on stretchers with IVs and
The memoir recounts her resilient journey following two cancer diagnoses: as a teen with Hodgkin’s disease in 1981 and an adult with breast cancer in 2016. CHRISTINESHIELDSCORRIGAN.COM / COURTESY
with no hair, and being terrified of that,” Corrigan said. “I couldn’t understand why I had to go to this place for treatment when I didn’t feel sick at all and I only had Hodgkin’s disease.” The writing of her memoir forced Corrigan to unpack all of these memories during that time of her life which she had envisioned enclosed in a box labeled ‘Hodgkins, 1981’ in Sharpie marker and neatly tucked away in the back corner of her brain. “My story began in 1981, but the more immediate story, the breast cancer, began in 2016,” Corrigan said. “When I went for my annual mammogram and ultrasound, I waited to get my results, and prayed as I had every year, for the prior 16 years, like please, not this year. And I’ve been running from cancer for 35 years. So you’re sitting in the exam room. You’re waiting, hopefully, for the tech to come in with a reminder postcard for the next year for you to fill out and then you can get on out of there. Instead, the door opened and the white coat walked in and I’ll let you choose the word that might have run through my mind. The doctor introduced herself to me and she said, ‘You have a junky cyst.’” Although Corrigan invites readers to follow her parallel cancer journeys as a teen and an adult in her memoir, she did not set out to write a book. In the midst of her treatment, she was met with a request from her surgical nurse navigator at a cancer support group that she simply could not refuse. “After one of the meetings, she stopped me as I was leaving and said, ‘Hey, Chris, would you mind writing a list of tips or ideas or things that might help another patient? You know, because patients always ask me and they like to hear things from other patients’ perspectives,’” Corrigan said. “And I thought, ‘Oh, sure, Karen, I’d be happy to do that for you. No problem.’ And I walked out of that meeting, and I got in my car. And I was like, ‘What are you thinking? What were you possibly thinking that you could say yes, to write this list?’ So in a very uncharacteristic way, I totally blew off her request for like months.” She continued recounting the difficulty she faced setting out to write that list. “I was like, ‘I can’t write the book. I just, I can’t,’” Corrigan said. “And some months later, after I finished chemo, and I recovered from surgery, my
Corrigan is a two-time cancer survivor whose work focusing on family, illness, writing and survivorship has appeared in a number of publications. CHRISTINESHIELDSCORRIGAN.COM / COURTESY sense of obligation got the best of me. I sat down at my computer and I started writing and I had this vision in my head, ‘Okay, I’m gonna write a top 10 list, like David Letterman used to have on The Late Show, but the top 10 things I know about cancer.’ And instead of a list, three months later, I had 10 short essays about things that I had learned along the way.” Corrigan hopes that her memoir will resonate and help those going through similar situations serve as the guide she wishes she had. “I, being a book person, wanted to go find a book that was going to help me understand how I would get through this, as a wife, as a mom, as a professional, as a person who had a life to lead,” she said. “I went to bookstores, I went to libraries, I went on Amazon and trust me there are hundreds of thousands of books written about cancer. But there aren’t a lot of books, or actually at the time I can say I couldn’t find a book I wanted, like a trail map, or a guidebook, to kind of map it out for me. I found plenty of books written by doctors and other medical professionals about cancer and its treatment. I found plenty of celebrity can-
cer memoirs and that’s great if that’s your thing, but I’m not a celebrity and those types of stories don’t resonate with me.” In the end, Corrigan’s favorite reads that she did find helped inspire her own work. “I found beautiful, beautiful memoirs, written about the meaning of life by people who have died from cancer and well, I read most of them,” said Corrigan. “I decided to write my own book, so that in the event, or in the hope that if anyone ever hears those words, they’ll have something to let them know, they can get through.”
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Sports
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THE QUADRANGLE
Black Lives Matter V Together For E Pete Janny, Zoe DeFazio, & Brian Asare Sports Editor, Staff Writer, & Photography Editor
Fifty-seven years have passed since Martin Luther King Jr.’s world-renowned “I have a dream” speech. In that span, there have been steps forward and steps back in the fight for equality for Black Americans. In 2020, Black Lives Matter exists as an unwritten continuation of the civil rights movement. The Manhattan College women’s basketball team, in consultation with six other campus groups, held a BLM vigil on the quadrangle on the evening of Monday, Oct. 19. At the start of the event, the students and administrators in attendance stood quietly in solidarity over the flickering lights of the electronic candles that were passed out by the team. From there, team members and other volunteers stood in front of a microphone choking back tears as they recited poems, talked about their own experiences of racism or being racially profiled, and announced the names of Black men and women whose lives were taken at the hands of police officers. By choosing to organize the gathering, the women’s basketball team in effect took the conversation about racial justice to the next level to spread awareness for the cause on campus. The actions of the team could serve as a blueprint to other sports teams on campus looking to take a stand against racism and other prominent injustices. “I think it’s important to know that we all have a power to do something about the things we think are wrong and we can all, as shown tonight, use our voices and speak out,” Kelly Carroll, assistant director of sports communication, said. “I think what’s so great about the Manhattan community is that so many people showed up tonight with different experiences, different backgrounds, different genders, and different races, and they all said we stand with you and we want to make this world a better place with you.” The silence that settled over the crowd was noteworthy.
[ABOVE & RIGHT] Team members and other volunteers stood in front of a microphone choking back tears as they recited poems, talked about sensitive racial topics, and announced the names of black men and women whose lives were taken at the hands of police officers. BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE Students and administration standing on the grass listened intently to the anecdotes and pleas for change that emanated from the steps of Smith Auditorium — many were overcome with emotion themselves for those who have been targets of racism. When reflecting on the horrors of police brutality and racial profiling, senior communications major Cedric St. Louis reminisced on the effects his skin color had on his upbringing. “From a very young age, I was told I’m Black and I have to be careful because I don’t know who’s on my side and I don’t know who’s against me,” St. Louis said. “So I’ve been cau-
tious, you know? I think Black people have to deal with being cautious all the time and that affects our relationship with other people. But from a very young age, I was taught that I was Black and how I should navigate the world.” The concerns about one’s racial identity extend into adulthood for some as well — as shown by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Jacob Blake. Kiambra Griffin, director of women’s basketball operations, is well aware of the rigid stereotypes reserved for Black people. It’s hard for her to fathom the universal assumptions made for people of color, prompting her to consider the
worst-case scenarios for her own life. Fortunately, places like campus foster a sense of inclusivity and support for Griffin as a Black woman. It is moments like last Monday that reaffirm Griffin’s worldview that there is still more good than bad in the world. “There’s always a question, an overarching question over your head ‘Am I next?’ There’s never a day where I don’t think ‘am I next?’ but I also know there’s just a community of support around and I think that’s what’s going to keep us pressing, keep us moving forward,” Griffin said. “The ‘am I next?’ is always there but we have to think beyond that. There are more good people in this world
than there are bad and that’s what’s gonna keep us pressing forward. I always have a sense of pride as a Black woman, it’s no more, and it’s no less. Black lives do matter and you should shout it from the rooftops if you can.” In unprecedented fashion, the women’s basketball team went above and beyond to help raise the voices of those marginalized. In just 10 months of 2020, America and the world has faced a great number of challenges, but while the virus will one day be a memory of the past, the sight at last Monday’s vigil will not fade from Manhattan College’s memory.
OCTOBER 27, 2020
Sports
Vigil Brings Campus Emotional Night The Manhattan College women’s basketball team, in consultation with six other campus groups, held a BLM vigil on the Quad on the evening of Monday, October 19th. BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE
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Sports
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THE QUADRANGLE
Transfer Jenna Jordan is Ready for New Chapter With Lady Jaspers JASPERS TALK Caroline McCarthy & Kelly Kennedy Staff Writer & Asst. Production Editor
Jenna Jordan ‘23 sat down with The Quadrangle to discuss her transition to Manhattan College, training under COVID-19 restrictions, and her upcoming season with the women’s basketball team. Jordan spent her first year of college basketball at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. She is currently pursuing a degree in special education with a concentration in psychology and science. After college, she hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mother as a special education administrator. The Quadrangle: How long have you been playing basketball and what made you fall in love with the sport? Jenna Jordan: I have been playing basketball since like first grade. And honestly, my grandfather had a huge impact on my love of it. I really didn’t want to play after a certain time in my life, I think around seventh grade. And I kind of just had to sit down with him and he basically had to tell me “you’re good at it Jenna.” He would come to all my games, and he passed away. So I think a major part of me, continuing to play is for him because he loved to watch me play. TQ: What drew you to transfer to Manhattan College for basketball? Can you describe the student-athlete experience so far? JJ: Yes, my previous school didn’t have a special education major. And when I realized I wanted to do that, I decided it would be in my best interest to leave. And I chose Manhattan because I already knew some of the girls on the team because I went to high school with them. Some of them I played AAU with. I’ve been to games, I live super close. So I think it was just more of a comfort level. I’ve already felt comfortable without even having to step on campus. And I just honestly trusted Coach Vulin from the day that I first talked to her. And so far, the student-athlete experience is definitely different because of COVID. I think it’s been going well, and we’re just super busy with things like getting tested and making sure we follow protocols and all that kind of stuff. TQ: How has COVID-19 affected your growth as a per-
son and a basketball player, especially since you’re going through this transition? JJ: As a person, I think COVID allowed me to find myself. It gave me the time to reflect on my life, hence why I transferred. It let me really see what I wanted to do with my future, and who I wanted to be as a person with all the time that I had to think. And as a basketball player, I think you just have to have, we always talk about in practice a “championship mentality.” So I think we just have to stick together to get through the tough times. We don’t know what tomorrow will hold. So we just have to put all our effort into whatever we’re doing at the moment because we don’t know when it will be our last day like our season was cut short last year. TQ: How did you continue to work on your game when COVID restrictions prohibited you from practicing with a team? JJ: So I packed up my stuff and went home. And lucky enough, I have a trainer at home who would FaceTime me and allowed me to come in just while he was doing zoom calls. So I was still able to workout — like doing running and lifting. But I wasn’t able to play basketball because the rims were taken down off the hoops and everything like that. So it was just more of me, it was a mental struggle because basketball is kind of like my outlet for stress and everything. But, you know, we have to adjust to what’s in front of us. And I just had to move forward. And just try and just keep in shape and control what I can control. Because you can’t control what you can’t control. TQ: Do you expect your role on the team to differ from what you encountered at St. Francis? JJ: Yes. So at St. Francis, I was a freshman who started and played a lot of minutes; I scored, I rebounded. I think my idea of coming here was to just honestly be the role player that they need and I’m really not looking for any specific role. I just want to help the team as much as I can because obviously at the end of the day our goal is to win a championship. TQ: Can you describe the team dynamic and the camaraderie of the team? JJ: So we’re super close. I could rely on them for anything. And you could tell that on the court. I don’t know, I’ve been on many teams in my life
and this is probably the closest team I’ve ever been on. We’re honestly each other’s best friends. We look to each other for everything. We sit in our rooms and do homework at night. Like it’s more than basketball for us, which is really nice. TQ: How has your time with Coach Vulin been so far? Can you describe her as a coach? JJ: She’s like a coach and a mom all in one. She’s super, super loving, but we want to win a championship and she’s pushed us to do our best. She’ll call us out if we’re not running hard enough. She’ll call us out for doing the wrong thing. On the other hand, you can see she’s a mom and she really does love us and care for us. I honestly love having her as a coach because she really shows up and shows us that women could do so much in life and that you just need to put yourself out there. She’s a great role model for me, especially because I think sometimes I lack confidence personally, but then seeing her it makes me want to just do better. TQ: What are you most looking forward to this season? JJ: Obviously, we want to win. That’s what I’m excited for. But also, I’m just excited to play with this group of girls. TQ: So do you have any personal goals for the season? JJ: I just want to obviously get better and to do anything I can to help my team. I’m one of those people that if you need me to rebound, I’ll rebound. If you need me to score, I’ll score. I am a team first person, so whatever to win I’ll do it. TQ: Last year was the first season the MAAC Basketball Tournament was held in Atlantic City, and it will be back there again. Although the experience was cut short for some of your current teammates, have they shared with you what the atmosphere was like in AC? JJ: They said it’s so much fun down there but it was super sad for them when it got cut short. I, unfortunately, wasn’t on the team so I have no idea how that feels like because St. Francis does it differently. They said there’s a lot of energy and it’s really just a fun time. TQ: Do you have any pre game rituals or superstitions? Are you big into things like music or meditation before a game? JJ: I feel like it changes every season. Last season, I had a really good game, and I would eat that same meal before ev-
Sophomore Jenna Jordan joins the Manhattan Women’s Basketball team after spending a year at St. Francis College. GO JASPERS / COURTESY
She is currently pursuing a degree in special education with a concentration in psychology and science. After college, she hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mother as a special education administrator. @JENNACYNTHIAA / COURTESY ery single game. One thing that’s all I’ve always done is I wear my hair in a bun. TQ: What did you do to keep busy during the quarantine? JJ: Obviously, we were coming right out of the season so I didn’t have a lot of time at home at all. We got a new dog which was really nice. TQ: What does being a
Jasper student-athlete mean to you? JJ: I just feel like we hold ourselves to a different standard here. We want to be the best in everything we do and I just think we respect others. We love each other and we care for each other.