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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume CII, Issue 10
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NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 3, 2020
Studying Abroad in The Time of COVID-19 Carlos Pinto-Corredor Contributor
Campus Gets Spooky! The Resident Student Association decorated the quadrangle for Halloween this year. BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE
Student Government Remains Active, Despite COVID-19 Colleen McNamara Staff Writer
Despite challenges amid a global pandemic, the Student Government Assembly has been working to ensure a fun and exciting year for students. SGA, which consists of the executive committee, the assembly, and the student court, has made it their mission this semester to bring virtual events to Manhattan students as well as keep them informed of global and campus news, especially during this unprecedented semester. Shannon Gleba, Anthony Bradley, and DeVaughn Harris, officers for the Student Government Executive Board, shared what they have been working on this semester. As Student Body President, Shannon Gleba oversees a number of committees on campus through her work with John
IN NEWS:
COVID-19 Campus Update on p. 6
Bennett, executive director of Student Engagement, Richard Satterlee, vice president of student life, and Tim Ward, dean of engineering and professor of civil engineering at Manhattan College. Student Government started their meetings and event planning earlier than any other year by managing several important tasks. The downtime many experienced due to COVID-19 afforded the members of the executive board the extra time needed to build a rapport with one another. “Typically when a board is elected they do not start until September, when we can have in-person meetings all together,” Gleba said. “This year was unique, we started looking at disease related and inequality and unrest issues going on in America right away. From the start, we were involved in conversations about returning back to campus since April.”
IN FEATURES: Remote students weigh in on their plans on p. 7
This fall semester has challenged SGA to respond to changes quickly and effectively. Aside from ensuring students, staff, and visitors are safe, Student Government has partnered with Black Student Union on how to further implement diversity and acceptance on campus. Anthony Bradley, executive vice president, plays a large role overseeing the budget allocations committee, the club oversight committee, and the social life committee. Additionally, Bradley aids Gleba when she facilitates discussions with the entire administration. “Recently, I personally have been brought up to the Board of Trustees to work on the strategic planning committee to see the future vision of our school, which is something that affects our school in the long run,” Bradley said. “So basically, we __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Due to the pandemic, study abroad programs have been greatly affected for the foreseeable future. The spread of COVID-19 around the world has affected Manhattan College students since March, and the Study Abroad office now faces several challenges in developing future international programs. How It Was The Spring 2020 semester started with a study abroad delegation in Peru with stops in cities like Cusco, Arequipa, and Lima. The delegation was there for 15 days as part of the Organizational Leadership program in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. “At that moment COVID was a topic on the news, but just about the situation in China. It was not a big concern,” Ricardo Dello Buono, director of Study Abroad at Manhattan College, said. In February, another SCPS-delegation visited Havana, Cuba. They were there the last week of February and the first week of March. This group was in an eight-day program, studying some of the transitions among private businesses and startups taking place in Cuba. “When we arrived in Havana all of the airport employees without exception had a mask on. We were like wow! What’s going on here?” Dello Buono said. At that time, Cuba had no reported cases of COVID-19, but the virus had already begun to move into Italy, Spain, Europe, and other countries, including the United States. Upon returning on March 7th, the Havana delegation was the last Manhattan College group to study abroad. There were 23 students overseas when Manhattan College decided to transition all courses to remote learning — 17 students were in Madrid, one in Budapest, one in Granada, two in Barcelona, and two in
IN A&E:
Virtual Cody Ko event garners major turnout on p. 10
Paris. “We decided that they needed to come home,” Dello Buono said. “It was also against time because it was in the same week President Trump announced that the U.S. was closing borders.” Organizing for the return of study abroad students was not an easy process for the Study Abroad team, in part because some of the international programs were run by partner institutions. Additionally, it was determined by the CDC that airports were a dangerous place for travelers where the transmission of COVID-19 was higher. The students studying in Madrid that came home quarantined for two weeks and arrived back in the United States just before international flights were cancelled. Some MC students, however, had to remain abroad. One student in Barcelona had to remain within the campus while taking virtual classes; another stayed with family members in Paris before returning to the U.S.; and a third student had to remain on a cruise ship in the Caribbean in what later was called a “sea-mester.” The Study Abroad office tracked all students and brought them home in an attempt to avoid all kinds of risks related to COVID-19. “None of our students got sick in any of our programs,” Dello Buono said. “Manhattan College made the right decision at the right time. The courses continued for everybody. All of the students continued their studies.” The Study Abroad office cancelled six programs for this past summer. The very first program cancelled was one in Sichuan, China. Then, one program in Italian language and another in communications were both coordinated in Rome, but ultimately had to be cancelled. The cancellations did not end there — two religion courses, one in Florence and another in Lisbon, and a new course in __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
IN SPORTS:
Manhattan soccer continues to train on p. 11
Opinions & Editorials
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the Quadrangle Volume CII, Issue 10
THE QUADRANGLE
LET T ER from The Editor Dear Readers,
November 3, 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.
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While this issue hits stands late afternoon on election day, we send it to print on Sunday evening, so at the time of writing this, I have no clue what the projections in our presidential election are, if there’s a declared winner or contested results. I hope, if you were eligible to vote, that you went out and cast your ballot. The only way for the American people to have elected representatives that truly represent them is to participate in the electoral process, so I hope you did just that. I voted. I have an opinion on this election. But the way I voted and what I feel isn’t what I want to talk about either. What I want to say is this: no matter the outcome, whether your candidate wins or loses, you cannot and should not stop advocating for what you believe in. Participating in the electoral process is a very important step, but it is not the only action you can take to see the change you want to see in the world. Each and every day we all have the opportunity to volunteer, to engage with our communities — the ones we were raised in and the one we occupy for college — and to make a positive contribution, to give back to the communities that have given us so much. Pushing for what you believe in does not start and end with a ballot once every two or four years. From what I’ve seen in my almost four years here is that the Jasper community is very communityoriented, and very engaged with the issues (big and small) that they care about. That passion that I see day-to-day in student-led events, in lectures, in vigils, in volunteer outings is what makes change. Don’t ever lose that MC. The coming days and weeks are sure to be complicated. The news can and may become overwhelming. All I ask is that you take care of yourselves, engage in activities that make you feel good and calm, and then keep doing what you were already doing. The president is just one person doing one job, and whoever he will be for the next four years is who it will be. But when we, in our towns, boroughs and neighborhoods, work together, what we are capable of is awe-inspiring, is what defines community, is what matters most.
Sincerely,
Gabriella DePinho
Editor-in-Chief
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.
Opinions & Editorials
NOVEMBER 3, 2020
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Texas Has Long Been Red, But How Long Before That Changes? Cort Koss Staff Writer
Being born in 1990 gave me one distinct advantage in life, because I was old enough to vote in the 2008 election. I felt such pride in my newfound responsibility, and I refused to take it lightly. That November, I stepped into a voting booth and cast my vote for then Senator Barack Obama. My only issue was I knew my choice for president was destined to lose my home state, the deeply conservative Texas, to the late Senator John McCain by a sound 12 percent. And this scenario played out again in 2012, when President Obama lost Texas to Mitt Romney by 16 percent. But being the sadistic person I am, every two or four years, I drove to a polling station and performed this civic duty, even if it was an effort in futility. Though I have moved on from Texas, the lone-star state still holds a place in my heart. That is why, this year, there is one question that I am asking this year more than any before: could Texas finally be a battleground state? According to the
Texas Tribune’s voter monitoring system, “as of Oct. 22, 6.4 million people, or 37.6% of the registered voters, had cast their ballots.” This number is shocking when compared to the state’s turnout for the past three presidential elections, none of which surpassed nine million. This year has seen record-breaking early voting numbers across the country. While these numbers are very encouraging for Democrats, Marc Caputo and Zach Montellaro with POLITICO believe, “the turnout data does not mean the president will lose to Joe Biden. Both sides are bracing for a close race and a giant wave of Republicans to vote in person on Nov. 3. Yet the turnout disparity with new and less-reliable voters have forced Republican political operatives to take notice.” Furthermore, this risky strategy of waiting on an election day turnout may prove to be the Republicans downfall for a few reasons. First, the president’s favorability ratings have remained around 43 percent. Which is not good news for an incumbent running against an
opponent with favorability at 52 percent (according to News Gallup Poll). Second, despite an increase in the number of registered Republican voters in three states — Florida, North Carolina & Pennsylvania — it is looking increasingly difficult for the president to build on the 63 million votes he received in 2016. Lastly, all models that support a Republican victory on Nov. 3 are contingent upon the certainty that Texas will stay red. And if there is one lesson to take away from 2020 it is — nothing is certain. The past 50 years have seen Texas develop into a deep red state, which holds 38 of the 538 votes in the Electoral College. Of which a candidate only needs a simple majority of 270 to be elected President of the United States. That is 15 percent of the necessary votes are handed out by one state that a Democratic candidate has not won since Jimmy Carter in 1976. But this year, that voting record could be in doubt since population shifts and increased political activity have lifted the number of registered voters in Texas to 16.9 million, a 10 per-
cent increase from 2016. With this level of increased registered voters and early voting, Michael Li, senior counsel at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice, predicts over 11.4 million Texans will cast a ballot this year, 3.5 million more than 2016. Derek Ryan, a Republican voter data expert, feels there is strong support among both parties in Texas, but it is impossible to tell which party is leading in early voting. Not only do Texans not have the option to align with a particular when they register to vote, but 39 percent of all early voters have no primary voting history. This unprecedented wave of new voters makes the direction Texas could go on Nov. 3 extremely uncertain, and with the election approaching, the Republicans seem to have an even bigger issue on their hands, timing. “The concerning thing for Republicans is that one a Democrat vote is cast, or once a vote is cast in general, it can’t be taken back,” said Chris Wilson, a Republican data analyst. Which means the window of opportunity is closing for the
Republicans to make their case to voters. In Texas there is a saying, “if you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes.” Growing up in a state that is known for lightning storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes this saying made a lot of sense to me. Though now I think it is the political climate in Texas that may be shifting just as fast as the weather. There are certain moments in life that are so monumental that when it happens, you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing at the time. I imagine the day Texas goes blue will be one of these moments. Even if the “impossible” does not happen this year, and Texas’s 38 electoral votes go to the Republican candidate, things in Texas are not as they once were. Of course, I now have a new question, “if not now, then when?”
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writers and do not not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body. Cort Koss is a senior communication major concentrating in sports media production. Originally hailing from Texas, Koss is now a New York resident. Koss joined The Quadrangle’s staff at the start of the fall 2020 semester and is now a staff writer for the publication. He is also a member of WRCM where he talks all things sports. CORT KOSS / THE QUADRANGLE
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Studying Abroad in The Time of COVID-19: Looking Back and Ahead __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 physics education in Northern Ireland were also eliminated. Likewise, Manhattan College students and faculty could no longer participate in the summer academy program at La Salle University of Bogota, Colombia, and the Study Abroad office had to cancel the semester-long programs in Madrid, Barcelona and Lyon, France. How It Will Be COVID-19 has impacted a number of study abroad programs moving forward, although they have not been cancelled entirely. Normally, the college offers 10 programs for the winter intersession, but this year, there will only be five available. Since Sept. 23, the Study Abroad office, in collaboration with faculty members, has held in-person and virtual sessions to present each option to Manhattan College students. The five programs include two courses in Venice, one religious studies course and a digital arts research course; two more religious studies courses in Rome and Paris respectively; and the course “Food and Literature” in Barcelona, Spain, led by English professor Emmett Ryan. “This class allows you to learn about people that are different from you through their food and through their culture,” Ryan said. “We hope we can travel; but in reality, if it seems like it is not safe to do so, we will wait until next year or maybe until next summer.” Part of the curriculum for this English course includes
visiting rural areas of Barcelonawhere there is less risk of infection or where no cases of COVID-19 have been reported. It will have excursions to the city. All of the courses will follow CDC guidelines such as social distancing, wearing masks, and having outdoor meals. They will follow local regulations while visiting museums and cultural places. “It will be something like our campus life now,” Dello Buono said. “We will follow all these measures.” Manhattan College is watching for the evolution of the second wave taking place now in Europe. The hope is that this wave will be shorter in duration and less severe in impact. If there are signs of improvement in early November, the MC administration will decide whether the groups are traveling or not. These courses generally accept a maximum of 14 students. “We have to be very respectful of the students’ intention to travel, but I have no intention in traveling if I think is dangerous,” Dello Buono said. Part of the Study Abroad office’s efforts are to track and analyze data on COVID’s impact on each of the study abroad destinations. The office also monitors COVID-related updates by the State Department, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Erin Kehoe, the assistant director of Study Abroad, is one of the individuals tasked with closely following all of this data. “Our role is to gather the information, analyze it, synthesize it into a recommendation
and leave that information to the upper administration ultimately to decide on approving a program or deciding that it’s not going to go,” Kehoe said. Some of the data being tracked at each of the destinations is the incidence of COVID-19 and the existing restrictions. According to the State Department, people who have U.S. passports are not able to travel to the Schengen zone now. The Study Abroad office also analyzes visa restrictions, entry and reentry regulations, flight prices and availability, travel restrictions, testing requirements, airport statuses, local norms, and general and specific safety factors “We are purchasing an extra international insurance that provides more coverage for COVID related care,” Kehoe said. “We are trying to have all the possible precautions to keep our groups safe.” According to CDC data, Europe is at the moment in level 3, which means that COVID-19 risk is high and travelers should avoid all nonessential travel there. For this reason, if there is no substantial improvement, three of the five courses offered (ENG 292, RELS 200, and RELS 300) will transition remotely during the winter intersession because some students need them to continue with their academic plans. Travelling abroad isn’t a cheap decision. The cost for most of the programs is $4,115. Due to COVID-19, students can cancel their plans without problems, liability, or additional charges. If those three courses go remote, they will be synchronous with the same mate-
rial and the same requirements but no travel. “The good news is that we will have some scholarships available,” Dello Buono said. “We will have some private donations to offer the scholarships, not to everyone but it will be competitive. So, we are going to try to offer them as best as we can.” Cautiously optimistic, the Study Abroad office is already working for spring 2021. They want to offer more of the exchange programs available by being a member of the International Association of La Salle Universities, which includes 67 universities around the world. Barcelona is one of the spring destinations for business, communications, and English courses. Madrid will have a program in physical education for teachers connected with kinesiology and Manhattan College has a consortium agreement with some institutions in Paris so students can study French and engineering programs there. Receiving more international students on the MC campus is part of the challenge that COVID-19 brings for the Spring semester. “We do actually have some students who are planning to come and study with us in the spring semester,” Kehoe said. “So, we are closely working with those students and their home universities to go through the application process. They are very eager to come and study with us, but they also need assistance with these new administrative issues that have popped up because of the pandemic.” Latest Updates
On October 7, Steven Schreiner, provost, and vice president for academic affairs at Manhattan College, sent an email to the campus community announcing important changes in the academic calendar. Classes for intercession will start on Jan. 4, 2021, and will end on Jan. 25. The spring semester will start on Jan. 27, 2021 with no spring break. “This was not an easy decision but is a necessary one to help keep our community safe,” Schreiner said. “Students planning to study abroad during the Intersession or Spring semester should check with the office of Study Abroad regarding any adjustments to travel date.” Similarly, on October 14, Michael Grabowski, Ph.D., chairperson of the communications department, sent an email to the communication majors about study abroad opportunities for the next semester. “Communication majors may study abroad in Barcelona, Spain at Universitat Abat Oliba. Courses are offered in advertising, journalism, public relations, media, and international business, in addition to Spanish language courses,” Grabowski wrote. The deadline to apply for a study abroad program for the 2021 intersession was Friday, October 23. Students sent in their applications as uncertainty continues to grow as new reports emerge about the rise of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in Europe. While optimistic but prepared for anything, the Manhattan College community is awaiting a decision on study abroad travel that will come in November.
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Photos captured by Carlos Pinto-Corredor depict a distant reminder of pre-pandemic study abroad trips once run by Manhattan College. Although the community remains optomistc, the official ruling on planned study abroad trips will be released in November. CARLOS PINTO-CORREDOR / THE QUADRANGLE
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Student Government Updates __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 are constantly and persistently making sure this semester has been running smoothly with everything going on while still working on the social life and events for the students to ensure that we still have a sense of community, which is very important to us.” Unique to this semester, Student Government has focused on entertaining students through virtual socially distanced activities. Their current focus is continuing to bring these events to Manhattan College students, while prioritizing the happiness and healthiness of the campus community. Recently, SGA has partnered with the Lasallian Women and Gender Center, and started a plan with the Friendly Fridge Initiative to do their part in providing food and safety to the Bronx. “The hardest part of being a college student in a pandemic, is the fact that you can’t really connect with other students,” Gleba said. “One of the biggest parts of college is building those relationships.” In his position as Vice President for Residential Affairs, DeVaughn Harris strives to
field concerns from residents on campus to the director of residence life. Due to safety concerns, such as overcrowding in the residence halls, the typical residence hall programs have been minimized. Though this is unfortunate for freshman and transfer students looking to meet new people, residential affairs have created alternative activities online to keep the community engaged. Cody Ko Lecture and Movie Nights On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Student Government and Student Engagement hosted a speaker event with famous YouTuber Cody Ko which drew 300 participants — perhaps more than even the in-person version would have room for under normal circumstances. “John Bennett is very adamant about holding events that [SGA] and our students are interested in,” Gleba said. “We felt that Cody Ko was someone who was very popular and interesting, so student engagement reached out to his manager and we set it up.” The movie nights in the quad courtesy of Student Government were successful, allowing students to enjoy films while remaining socially distant
on blankets spaced apart. This series of showings culminated on Friday, October 30 when SGA organized a Halloween movie night with food trucks stationed in the Jasper Hall parking lot. Additionally, Clinton Green, vice president of Residents Students Association, decorated the quad with halloween decorations, giving students the opportunity to get creative pictures with them. COVID-19 Notes Gleba, Bradley, and Harris, as well as the rest of the Student Government team, are pleased to still be on campus and optimistic about the future. “We would like MC to know that this semester has not been easy, however, it has definitely been successful,” Bradley said. “We are thrilled to see the student body acting resilient in these times, and our social events have been quite successful due to our student population. We love to see clubs remaining growth, as well as proud to see that our coronavirus testing has been largely successful which proves our student body has been following protocol.” Much to the delight of many students, the collective discipline and diligence of students
and faculty at the college have allowed some in-person classes and events to take place. “I’m excited that we’ve been able to last this long on campus,” Gleba said. “I’m impressed with the social distancing and mask wearing of our students here, especially when schools around us are getting sent home. This is a testament to how special our campus is since we are responsible in making the right decisions for the betterment of our community.” Due to the success of the Fall semester, SGA plans to expand on the platform set in place, moving towards an even more successful spring semester. “A big thank you to the entire Manhattan college community for doing their part during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Harris said. “For staying safe, wearing masks, maintaining socially distant. Few people were optimistic about this semester given the size of our students, and we made it through. Whatever happens next semester we are going to operate the same way, if not more efficiently. It’s an odd, challenging and taxing semester mentally, physically, and emotionally, but I’m proud of us for making it through so
far.” General Assembly Meetings The Student Government holds an assembly meeting every other Wednesday, open to any students to attend so they could voice their opinions on any important campus-related topics. The whole purpose of the assembly meetings is to discuss strategies toward working with other organizations on campus, and to learn what Student Government may be doing right or wrong at a certain point in time. “We’re here to help, to be your representatives, if you reach out were always willing to have a discussion and do what’s best for you,” Gleba said. With only three weeks left until the campus vacates for the rest of the semester at Thanksgiving Break, the student government executive board is actively working to make sure both remote and on-campus students have the full information they need to efficiently make decisions about the spring semester. Editor’s Note: Shannon Gleba is a member of The Quadrangle’s staff.
Manhattan Announces Low COVID-19 Positivity Rate, Updates to Indoor Dining Kyla Guilfoil & Anna Woods
Staff Writer & Asst. News & Features Editor Manhattan College continues to maintain a low positive test rate, with only one positive test result recorded in the last 14 days, according to the weekly email sent from the OneManhattan team of administrators on Oct. 29. The email reported that there were 688 tests completed at campus testing sites during the last 14 days, resulting in no new positive test results and 172 test results still pending. Additionally, Health Services received 115 results from off-campus testing sites, resulting in one positive case. “While the College testing results are encouraging, due to the rising number of cases city-
wide and nationwide, caution is still advised on campus and off-campus,” the email stated. Despite rising cases citywide, OneManhattan asserts that the positive test average in the last 14 days for the college is 0.12 percent. This pales in comparison to the positive test average in the last seven days for New York City, which was 1.3 percent as of Wednesday, Oct. 28. OneManhattan is continuing to link a dashboard in their weekly update emails that communicates statistics on COVID-19 cases across the MC community. The dashboard shows graphs and tables including the number of cases, number of quarantining or isolating students, and the number of tests performed since Aug. 1. The dashboard also provides data separated into categories of on-campus students, on-campus employees,
and results from on-campus or off-campus testing sites. The thorough supervision of cases and low positive test average on campus has encouraged MC to reopen its few indoor dining facilities. Additionally, the email notified the community that the indoor dining times at Locke’s Loft will be expanded beginning on Nov. 2 to accommodate its patrons for lunch. From Monday to Friday, the college community can dine indoors from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, and on Saturday and Sunday, the hours expand to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The college is continuing to follow COVID-19 social distancing protocols during this staggered reopening process. “Capacity for indoor dining will remain at 25 percent on campus until further notice,” the email stated. “The tents will remain in place until Thanksgiving break.”
After providing updates on indoor dining services, the OneManhattan team included a reminder to students and staff about the importance of sanitation. “There are wipes and hand sanitizer in each classroom on campus,” the email read. “Feel free to wipe down your desk or work area before and after being in the classroom.” The weekly One Manhattan update concluded with a familiar reminder to students, faculty and employees to wear their masks around campus and in their communities. The #JaspersReturn face covering contest requires participants to send a photo of themselves in their mask for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the Manhattan College Bookstore, or an optional bookstore gift card/Dining Dollars combo prize for those on campus. This round of the contest required a
creative, fall theme Last week’s winners of #JaspersReturns face covering contest were Ally Mejia and James Grell, who participated in the “Best Dressed” theme. As always, the email reminded Manhattan College students, faculty and staff to continue following all safety guidelines in place.
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Will Remote Students Come Back to Campus Next Semester? VOICES ON THE QUAD
Jenn Guilbeault, Sophomore Jenn Guilbeault is a sophomore from Massachusetts who decided to stay remote during the fall 2020 semester. However, she is planning on returning to campus next semester. Originally, the uncertainty regarding life in a pandemic convinced Gilbeault to register as a remote student this fall. “I didn’t really feel like moving all my stuff in just to be sent home,” Guilbeault said. “Since [everything] was so unpredictable, it was smarter for me to stay home and save the money this semester, and then just go back next semester.” Guilbeault’s roommates are on campus this semester, and hearing from them and other friends at Manhattan College makes her feel comfortable coming back in January. Guilbeault shared that a few of her friends had tested positive for coronavirus earlier in the semester, and she feels MC’s guidelines were effective in addressing the cases and minimizing the spread of the virus. She is also grateful for her professors being understanding and supportive to her as a remote student. For Guilbeault, being a remote student has given her an opportunity to refresh and focus on schoolwork. Since she is home, she has less social obligations, which she feels helps her make a solid routine. “As a remote student, I definitely feel like I have more time, [especially because of] the social aspect that I’m not around for, like my friends distracting me or going out and stuff,” Gilbeault said. “I feel like I definitely have more time, that I get my work done faster and sooner. I definitely prioritize my work more, and I’m in a more set routine at home. Like, I’ll do my classes, I’ll go to the gym, and then I’ll do my work at home and have meetings.” However, Guilbeault is very involved on campus and hopes to revive her roles in person next semester. Guilbeault is the secretary for the Slice of New York City club, a member of Sigma Delta Tau, the Psychology Club and Public Relations Student Society of America. While she has been able to participate virtually this semester, Guilbeault hopes to be involved in person, and is excited to meet the new members on campus and in her groups. “Coming back next semester, I’m definitely excited to see all my friends that are there, and definitely just being able to hang out with them and being able to get the in-person experience in classes,” Guilbeault said.
Walter Haiduk, Sophomore Walter Haiduk is a sophomore civil engineering major at MC. Haiduk lives in Westchester, New York, just a 15-minute drive from campus. Initially, Haiduk did not plan on being a remote student this fall. “I actually didn’t per say decide to study remotely,” Haiduk said. “A lot of my professors had made their classes either completely remote or a hybrid course. So my plan to be a returning resident had changed for this fall semester. I decided to stay home and commute for the few classes I had in school per week to save money on dorming.” Haiduk is hoping to take as many in-person classes as possible and return fully to campus next semester. He feels that MC has taken impressive measures to ensure the safety of students, staff and faculty throughout the fall semester. “I feel that the school has done a great job with execution of its plan to keep the school healthy and safe,” Haiduk said. “I think it’s gone above and beyond the CDC guidelines. I think that the random test screenings conducted every week along with the Jasper Return updates are amazing. I know many of the schools my friends attend haven’t done anything like we’re doing.” Haiduk also shared that remote classes have proven more difficult this semester. “Last year, I had done almost all of my work with my friends,” Haiduk said. “We would do all of our problem sets, projects, and studying together. I’ve since learned how much of a help that was as compared to doing it all on my own. I can’t wait to be back on campus and to get back to earning my degree the way I had planned.” Haiduk feels that being sent home during the 2020 spring semester interrupted his routine and hurt his studies. “Since leaving, I have lost that peer support system that I valued so much. My classes have become exponentially harder since last spring, and doing it all on my own hasn’t made things any easier.” Due to his experiences with remote learning in the last two semesters and his appreciation for MC’s safety protocols, Haiduk believes returning to campus next semester will be the most beneficial for his mental health and academic success.
Madison Smith, Senior Madison Smith is a senior learning remotely in Rutherford, New Jersey. Smith chose to study remotely since many of her professors announced they were teaching remotely, and because she felt there was too much uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’d honestly heard horror stories from other schools about huge COVID clusters, and I was really nervous about getting sick,” Smith said. In the last few months, Smith has been reassured by the protocols taken by Manhattan College to ensure safety on campus. “I think MC is honestly doing a really good job handling COVID this semester,” Smith said. “I just got tested on campus and it was really easy, and I think their cleaning protocols are really comprehensive as well. Our case numbers have stayed low, and I think it’s because MC has implemented a lot of initiatives to minimize COVID cases.” Smith feels that returning to campus next semester is the best choice for her. She plans on living in Overlook Manor, and feels comfortable living in the dorm with the initiatives being taken by the college. Smith also addressed the impact COVID-19 has had on her this semester, especially now that she is out of the physical classroom. “I just find that school is stressing me out a lot more,” Smith said. “I think everyone’s feeling burned out and overwhelmed given the current situation, and I find that I have a lot less energy to contribute effectively to my school work. I’ve also found that my teachers are assigning a lot of work, which is troubling because I feel like not everyone is being super mindful of the fact that we’re in a pandemic. I’m definitely dealing with a lot more stress and anxiety caused by school.” Smith’s experience underscores the fact that many remote students feel pressure with online learning. She hopes her return to campus will improve her experience in her last semester at MC and she is excited to return in January 2021.
Interviews compiled by Kyla Guilfoil.
Features
8
Local Businesses Adapt to COVID Setbacks, Still Face Consequences Colleen McNamara Staff Writer
Restaurants and stores surrounding Manhattan College struggled to run their businesses with the safety regulations brought on by COVID-19, and are still facing challenges months later. For restaurants, this meant completely rearranging dining options and altering their food menu. For traditional small storefronts, owners had to re-think their products they were selling all together. One business that adapted to COVID-19 restrictions is John’s Botany Bay Florist located at 3611 Riverdale Ave. John McKeon, the owner of the shop, began selling plants rather than the classic decadent bouquets the store is known for. What McKeon was accustomed to creating and selling had completely changed. “We are selling plants now, we never really did that but since there are no more events, people are stuck in their homes, and prefer buying plants to brighten up and bring more oxygen into their house,” McKeon said. “Right now, I’m doing fall centerpieces for people’s homes, featuring local flowers from Connecticut, New Jersey, and local farms. That’s one of the things we try to do as a small business, take in smaller locations just like us.” McKeon was not the only Riverdale business that faced drastic changes to his business. Cocina Chente Mezcaleria & Botanas, a Mexican cuisine restaurant located on 3535 Riverdale Ave, altered how they conduct business and serve customers. Joseph, who declined to give his last name, is a waiter at the restaurant and describes how the menu is different from normal. “The menu shrank entirely, we were forced to get rid of complex, time-strenuous options, and focus on our traditional Mexican dishes such as enchiladas and fajitas,” Joseph said. Fortunately, Cocina Chente Mezcaleria & Botanas did not have to make major changes to the staff because the majority of the employees came back, and only a few left the state due to fears of the disease. Arial Curanaj, the owner of Yo-Burger on 3726 Riverdale Ave., was impacted less dramatically. He was able to produce the same burgers, fries and shakes– the only major change was adding delivery services. Yo-Burger was always a dinein or to-go restaurant, but by adding a third alternative for guests, they were able to near-
ly balance out the loss and expand their business operations. “Our customers changed to people who were interested in delivery services only,” Curanaj said. “Within the past month, customers came back who could eat outside. We always had outdoor seating which was a big benefit for us, so we did not have to invest in building that especially since the inside is still 25 percent capacity.” Local businesses that are walking distance from Manhattan’s campus were forced to close or restrict business back in the spring, and are still facing the monetary consequences. Cocina Chente was initially closed for one month, re-opened for to-go only, then began outdoor seating on the terrace, and eventually built their outdoor structure when permanent outdoor seating was put in place. They gained a few seats outside but that does not make up for the strict timeline where bars that would typically be open until 3 a.m. have to close hours earlier. “New restrictions mean lights off, chairs, and tables folded, guests off the property by 11 p.m., otherwise we face a fine,” Joseph said. “We’re losing four hours of serving the heavy drinking crowd.” John’s Botany Bay Florist was shut down in March, where 85 percent of business was instantly stopped. This was alarming since he mainly focuses on making flowers for events such as graduations, proms, corporate outings and weddings. Now, without any of those dinners or fundraisers, he is losing majority of his business and is forced to make cuts. McKeon had to lay off one of his employees and is struggling to stay afloat.
“We got hit like everyone else [but] we can’t complain since everyone is in the same boat,” McKeon said. “I take the situation day by day, I can’t plan what’s going to happen next month ... I’m here today, how much am I going to be making tomorrow? If we don’t have events, I’m going to have to close.” Meanwhile, Yo-Burger is assuring customers that they continue to take pride in the food they sell, despite the challenges of the pandemic. Just as small businesses are facing challenges, the individuals employed at the struggling locations are concerned about making ends meet. Joseph hopes customers are willing to be more mindful of the challenges employees are coping with. “As a waiter, most people don’t realize that waiting staff makes below minimum wage, the majority of our pay comes from tips,” Joseph said. “Especially during COVID, we are exposing ourselves just as nurses on the front lines — we’re talking to customers seated without masks, talking with their mouths full. We have to pay our bills, we have to work, customers need to tip appropriately. Something I think younger generations are not aware of is that if you can afford to go out, eat and drink, you should be tipping 20 percent minimum.” Despite the tremendous strain the pandemic put on the livelihoods of the community, it is important to remain positive and look forward to the future. “I want to relay that I’m not going to get down on it, it’s pointless,” McKeon said. “I love what I do [and] I look forward to coming to work every day.”
John McKeon’s homemade centerpieces for homes. COLLEEN MCNAMARA / THE QUADRANGLE
Cocina Chente terrace space added in light of COVID-19 restrictions. COLLEEN MCNAMARA / THE QUADRANGLE
Yo-Burger indoor and outdoor seating space. COLLEEN MCNAMARA / THE QUADRANGLE
John’s Botany Bay Florist’s plants they sell for homes. COLLEEN MCNAMARA / THE QUADRANGLE
NOVEMBER 3, 2020
Arts & Entertainment
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“Closed Vessels, Dolmens, -scapes”: Exhibit to Remain in O’Malley Library Until Thanksgiving Alexa Schmidt A&E Editor
You may have noticed the art installation in O’Malley Library and wondered who made the sculptures, or where they came from. Ralph Bucci, F.S.C., who works in the Center for Career Development, is the face behind “Closed Vessels, Dolmens, -scapes,” which arrived on Oct. 5 and will remain on view until Thanksgiving. Carefully arranged on pedestals or shelves, these sculptures were meaningfully made and displayed as an invitation for others to contemplate what the artworks mean to them. “A good piece of art invites you to go back, and every time you go back, you’ll appreciate it more,” Br. Ralph said. “If you see what you didn’t see before, or it needs something else. It’s never a static interchange.” Alongside the art, there are also informational texts that explain the artist’s intention and process, which provides a contextual background. Br. Ralph has his Master of fine arts from George Washington University, with a specialty in ceramic arts and ceramics. Clay is his medium of choice because he appreciates the physicality of the material, and the ability to shape it and mold it with the motion of his hands and with the help of the occasional tools. “I’ve been working with clay on and off for a very long time and some years I was more active than other years, and there were a few years where I did next to nothing,” Br. Ralph said, “I worked at Manhattan from ‘05 to ‘09, did no clay work. At the end of that term I was able to have a sabbatical and I did a lot of claywork based on theology study.” Br. Ralph’s exhibit is based on themes, the first being the messenger form. Made of stone, a piece titled “Bound” is a much heavier material than clay. This angel form was among others which Br. Ralph worked on in graduate school. The clay pieces, “Alight” and “Seeing Double: Wings” rely on the viewer to interpret the meaning. Br. Ralph likes that they create a basis for discussion. “There’s a tension that I see, the struggle or the uncertainty or the pulls and repulsions that exist within the pieces,” Br. Ralph said. “Now, what is the tension in this? Is it taking off? Or is it landing? We don’t know there’s so there’s that ambiguity, which has you continue to
look. Are there signals there that say it’s one, taking off, or two, that it might be landing. The shape of the hooded face kind of indicates this sense of humility. And these wings, they can’t fly. It’s just too heavy. So he’s kind of Earthbound, but his face is the resignation to be bound.“ Br. Ralph also created what he calls, “dolmens,” which are post and lintel structures, inspired by prehistoric periods. This theme invites viewers to pass through, but they are unable to physically and metaphorically because of the narrow opening. “The dolmens were entry-way structures into caves, hillsides, and I guess we’re not too sure what they used them for,” Br. Ralph said. “I was fascinated by the sense of stone in the structure, the size and so I started playing with that. This is kind of a resulting evolution. So there is the invitation, and the repulsion. It looks kind of stationary and it is more or less two dimensional because you can see it from either side, but the narrow side is also kind of interesting.” Br. Ralph’s next theme is “Closed Vessels” which almost contradicts itself. Based on the silhouette, the vessel looks like it can hold objects, but the opening is closed off. These vessels interestingly enough, sit asymmetrically on a base. “Asymmetry is very important to me, I don’t think anything is perfect,” Br. Ralph said. “This is balanced, but it’s not a symmetrical balance. Symmetrical balance I find is a little less interesting. It’s formal, what is on the right is on the left. If you look at the contour line, it is different from that contour line. It adds some tension to the piece and makes you wonder if it will lean over, or if it’s stationary.” The most recent of Br. Ralph’s creations have been what he titles, “-scapes,” which are based off landscapes, hills, scapes, and mountain scapes. He applied glaze, which produces a shiny finish. Some portions of the “-scapes” were painted with enamel spray, other “-scapes” have variations of spray paint, and one “-scape” was brush-painted with acrylics. All of these methods took place before the sawdust/ smoke firing process. During the technical process of sawdust/smoke firing, enough heat is generated to burn off the paint’s medium, which allows the paints’ coloring oxides to interact with the surface of the clay. The range of colors is predictable, and some-
times dramatic. The color variation is all due to the size of the sawdust, the type of wood, and the air-flow during the “smoldering” fire. The blackened areas are the result of carbon “flashing.” The clay absorbs some of the smoke (carbon) of the “dirty” burn. Br. Ralph is fascinated with two things: the visual texture with the differentiation of color, and the actual texture, which is present throughout the whole show. To add some color, he used acrylic paint, and others he left alone. He likes the range of colors that can appear, especially after the clay pieces are fired in the kiln. “I’m interested in the feeling of things,” Br. Ralph said. “It’s the visual, and the actual texture. So that people get fascinated, they learn to look kind of at the skin of the exterior of the piece. You can spend a lot of time meditating … there can be some pleasure in terms of healing, it’s visually feeling it, in both the color and the actual connection, that happens with the texture.” Br. Ralph uses a variety of methods to construct his sculptures, one of the most crucial being scoring, which essentially consists of scratching the surface of the clay to add texture. “It’s part of the welding process,” Br. Ralph said. “You scratch the surface so one piece is going to stay attached to the coil or the other slab. So then I scratch it some more. Basically, the tool that I use the most is a fork. I use the tines to do the scratching here. I use the flat handle. There are all kinds of fancy tools and sometimes I use those.” Br. Ralph compares sculpting to having a dialogue. He rarely draws anything beforehand because he knows what direction he wants the piece to go. “But when I want to build, I begin the dialogue,” Br. Ralph said. “And I step back and see what it suggests that I do, so that there’s a dialogue. There are times when these signs might be coming out to make a cut, and reattach, or make it narrower.” Many of the artworks were physically created in Rhode Island, where Br. Ralph is from. He also belongs to a Yonkers art studio. However, Br. Ralph hopes to get a studio space at the college, not just for his personal use but for students as well. “I’d like to offer this to students,” Br. Ralph said. “You know, if some students who
TOP: “-Scape: Variagated” sits on the same pedestal as a closed vessel, offering viewers the opportunity to compare and contrast the two pieces. BOTTOM: Art installation titled “Closed Vessels, Dolmens, -scapes,” by Ralph Bucci, F.S.C. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE like to work in clay, I’m going to be there. So you’re welcome to come, I’ll give you a little instruction. And then you can get started, like a small class.” For Br. Ralph, art allows him to get his hands dirty. When he is not creating art, he finds enjoyment in the garden. “There’s some connection to making forms,” Br, Ralph said. “I enjoy it. I think it is beautiful. I think these lines are very sensuous, the invitation of the form, it helps me meditate. I just enjoy doing it. It gives me pleasure.” For many, art can be a way to escape from the world, a response to events happening in the surrounding environment, or can serve as an outlet for personal expression. With this,
comes the decision to keep art private, or share with others. Br. Ralph decided to share his art with the rest of the college community, and put his creations on the line. “I think artists are some of the bravest people around, because they’re willing to put something very personable, out for everybody else to see,” Br. Ralph said. “There’s going to be a wide variety of responses, but you put something that’s very intimate, out. So you take the spectrum of responses. So there is a delicacy of one’s personality. But yet willingness to put it out there and let somebody else react to it.”
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Arts & Entertainment
THE QUADRANGLE
Cody Ko Webinar Brings in Largest Student Turnout of the Year Caroline McCarthy, Nicole Rodriguez & Kelly Kennedy Staff Writer & Asst. Production Editors
The Offices of Student Engagement and Student Government hosted a live Zoom webinar with famous YouTuber Cody Ko on Tuesday Oct. 27, bringing in the largest amount of student engagement of the 2020-2021 school year to date. Over 300 Manhattan College students tuned in to the webinar, all eager to hear “what the eff” the celebrity would have to say, especially with Lasallian restrictions on his patented curse words and stories. Although Student Government has had two other guest speakers, Ko made for the biggest virtual event of the year in terms of attendance, reception, and interaction among students. The highlights: Justin Beiber has blocked Cody Ko on Instagram; Ko found that our Fraternity and Sorority names have a striking resemblance to genitalia and STDs; a Jasper is a dog or maybe a town in Canada; and Ko is in the process of writing a comedic musical — maybe. The panel, hosted by Shannon Gleba, student body president and Quadrangle staff member, and Isabel Gardner, vice president of student life was orchestrated by Student Engagement as a “virtual meet and greet” for Manhattan College students. “It was our biggest virtual event turnout,” Gardner said. “We had two other guest speakers, and those were around 100 maximum. And this was maxed out at like 300 students. So it was a great turnout. I feel like everybody had a great time. And then obviously, Cody and Cody’s agent said that this was the most interactive virtual event they’ve done and that the questions were really good.” Student Government encouraged students to send in their own questions for Ko to further engage the audience. Many of which asked about Ko’s many different platforms, the creation of his content, and what he has coming next. “It was so nerve wracking [to interview him],” Gardner said. “I was so nervous the whole time. And you could definitely tell but, it was really fun. He was super friendly.” Ko first gained public attention via his short comedy skits on the now defunct video-making platform Vine and has since branched out his audience across multiple platforms. Apart from seven-second situational Vines, the multi-talented
creator is known for his commentating and critiquing YouTube videos, being a part of the comedy rap duo Tiny Meat Gang alongside fellow YouTuber and former Viner Noel Miller, and his role on the satirical scripted series The Real Bros of Simi Valley. Unlike other creators, Ko has a unique background, having graduated from Duke University with a degree in computer science and creating the viral iPhone application “I’d Cap That” prior to his rise to internet fame. Ko attributes his background in programming to how he has managed to stay creative across multiple platforms and recognizes the similarities between writing code, writing jokes, writing videos and writing music. “There’s a lot of similarities,” he said. “It’s just about recognizing patterns and then capitalizing on those patterns or using them in interesting ways.” Ko relates copying and pasting drum loops in his rap songs to coding. He even goes on to claim that coding itself is music because of the similar patterns. “I feel like programming slowly taught me how to be creative for Vine or anything YouTube ever did,” Ko said. To continue his career after Vine, Ko strategically brought his following to other platforms, one of which being Youtube. “I really enjoy the creative part of all this,” Ko said. “That’s what I like. Having an idea and making it come to life. So you know, the transition was pretty natural up until the point that Vine died. And then I had to switch to YouTube and start from scratch. Going from seven seconds to 10 minutes or however long, you know,
there’s infinite possibilities of the content you can choose on YouTube.” Admittedly, Youtube has become Ko’s favorite means of producing content. To create a Youtube video, Ko writes and records up to an hour of content which is then edited down into a 10 minute finished product. He feels the extra work of planning, filming and editing makes posting a YouTube video more rewarding than shorter segments on other apps. “It’s really tough,” he said. “And that’s why so many YouTubers burn out because it’s just like, it’s just highs and lows. And it’s rough. But it’s also super, super rewarding.” Ko expressed his immense appreciation for those who have continuously followed and supported him since his career began on Vine. “That means the world to me, because that means that no matter what I’ve done, because I’ve hopped from one medium to another, and I’ve tried to do so many things and keep challenging myself, it means that people have stuck with me,” Ko said. As for what’s in store for the creator, possibilities are endless. Ko remains inspired in content creating through constant change and experimenting with different formats. “I just constantly push myself. I want to get better at whatever it is. I want to do different things. You know, I think it’d be cool to do a movie next, or a cookbook. I don’t know, we’ll see,” Ko said.
Over 300 Manhattan College students tuned in to the live Zoom webinar, bringing in the largest amount of student engagement of the 2020-2021 school year to date. CODY KO / COURTESY
Cody Ko pictured with Student Body President Shannon Gleba and Vice President of Student Life Isabel Gardner. @MCSTUDENTENGAGE / COURTESY
Cody Ko talks to students about his career, celebrity drama, upcoming plans, and more via Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 27. CAROLINE MCCARTHY / THE QUADRANGLE
Sports
NOVEMBER 3, 2020
11
Manhattan Soccer is Staying Ready For When the Next Shot Comes Pete Janny & Victor Franco
Sports Editor & Staff Writer The bright lights that illuminate the Gaelic Park field on muggy and chilly nights signal the arrival of fall every year on campus. Whether you are a passerby or a spectator in the bleachers, there is an element of intrigue that emanates from the field of play on those nights. The entertainment itself is courtesy of the Manhattan men’s and women’s soccer programs — two teams that headline the sports scene on campus every fall. Sadly, those performances are missing this semester. Head men’s soccer coach Jordan Scott and women’s coach Brendan Lawler have been faced with unprecedented challenges in leading their respective teams since the MAAC conference cancelled fall sports on July 27 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nowadays, both coaches are tasked with helping their players balance both the negative emotions caused by the cancellation and the expectations for them to keep working hard through it all. On top of that, both coaches are responsible for making sure their new players get comfortable in their systems. This challenge of getting the existing players on the same page as the newcomers could be daunting any year, let alone during a global pandemic. “There’s been a lot of sacrifices made and a lot of planning,” Scott told The Quadrangle back in August. “A lot of investment by everybody globally, and even on campus to allow us to be able to stay on Gaelic Park with a uniform and to feel like we are a team again. And I think we have to feel very fortunate.” On the men’s side, it was a necessity for the program to replenish the roster after a chunk of important contributors from last year’s team graduated. Much to their credit, the program was able to shore up some areas of need this offseason by securing the services of 12 new players that combine to form Scott’s biggest recruiting haul since becoming head coach in 2011. “It’s the biggest class I’ve ever brought in,” Scott said. “When we look at it, I’m excited about all the guys in different ways. I think that we have a lot of holes to fill. You know, we had a lot of great guys that were not just great players, but just great leaders. We have to build the team back up again, we have to spend the time working with new guys to make them
understand the concepts, the strategies, the way we want to play for the future and also give them enough space to be able to add in their qualities, which is why we recruited them.” The freshman newcomers include Jose Mendes, Danny DiMarco, Olsen Aluc, Johnny Sauceda, Mason Martelloni, Vladimir Lee, Joe Spires, and Mason Chetti. These players, combined with the arrivals of five new transfers, give Scott a lot of new options to work with. For the immediate future, the top priority will be finding the right roles for these new players to complement the pre-existing core, headlined by players like Brandon Joseph-Baudi and Simon Busch. The loss of players like Marcelin Goehier, Adrian Awana, and Berti Fourrier will be tough to replace. Gohier graduated as one of the best goalkeepers in program history, pacing the all-time list for shutouts with 17. In his two years at Manhattan, Awana was a twotime All-MAAC First Team selection and has left big shoes to fill at center back. Then there’s the void left behind by Fourrier, who was supposed to return for one last season, but ultimately elected to forgo his final year of eligibility only after two seasons at the school. Fourrier, a countryman of France like Awana, was a two-time AllMAAC Second Team selection and led the team in goals last season with five. Scott realizes the value of this time of practice and development for his players before their next foray into a MAAC season — whether that comes in the spring or next fall. He knows firsthand how frustrating the game of soccer could be at times, and so to prepare his team for the moments of adversity, Scott wants them to use the time now to develop trust and camaraderie among each other so that they can build on their 6-10-1 record from a season ago, including a 5-4-1 mark in the MAAC. “Every day we’re going to take it day by day because we just don’t know what’s around the corner,” Scott said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. So I’d rather just focus on today getting better, and then we’ll wake up tomorrow and we’ll deal with tomorrow. That’s how we’re going to approach it. So I’m excited about that, I’m excited to see our guys back on the field and obviously to see the new guys in uniform.” Meanwhile, the women’s team is poised to bounce back following a 2019 campaign which saw them post a record of 4-11-2. In his 11th year in charge of the program, Lawler is in a similar position as
Scott in terms of integrating the newcomers into his system. In doing so, one of his goals is to improve the offensive attack of his team, which only scored three goals or more on three occasions last season. Typical for a MAAC squad, nine of the team’s games last season were decided by one goal or less. Defense has been their calling card in years past, and that should be the case once again with seniors Gemma Perez and Sydney Hardwood anchoring the backline. “From 2015-2017 it was one-goal wins,” Lawler said, in which his 2017 squad advanced to the MAAC Championship game. Lawler has brought in eight new freshmen to restock his roster. The program’s class of 2024 consists of Reina Callahan, Madison Eisele, Kelly Harris, Ianah Mackey, Meli Pekmezian, Ava Kowal, and Chloe
Davis. Davis is the crown jewel of this year’s recruiting class. The services of the rookie defender from Salado, Texas were coveted by power five schools—such as Oklahoma State, Arkansas, and Rutgers—but she ultimately chose to join the Manhattan family because of its smaller size. “I just feel like it would’ve been two competent different experiences,” Davis said in an interview with News 12. “I just felt like I would succeed more in a smaller school both academically and socially.” Lawler’s been around long enough to know that results aren’t everything. As much as he wants to win, he’s just as concerned with building character among his players. The sobering realities caused by the pandemic has reinforced those ideals to him. “As I got older it’s become
more than wins and losses and trying to make people better for when they leave Manhattan College,” Lawler said. “I want to be someone who teaches people to set positive goals and to motivate them to help others achieve their goals.” With the weather slowly starting to feel more like wintertime, both teams will have to wait and see how the country, specifically the northeast, fares with safeguarding against the coronavirus during the colder months ahead. The ideal scenario is to be playing games again at Gaelic Park in the spring — with the bright lights on and the mechanical sounds of the subways echoing in the back. Because for them, there’s nothing more normal.
The Manhattan men’s soccer program has spent the fall semester training in preparation for whenever a season will happen. The Jaspers are looking to take the next step in their quest for a MAAC Title after losing to Marist in the MAAC Tournament last fall. GO JASPERS / COURTESY
The class of 2021 for Manhattan women’s soccer has had a longer layoff from competition than any other senior class before them. The hope is to reward them, and other seniors across the country, with one last campaign in the spring if the coronavirus pandemic calms down enough. GO JASPERS / COURTESY
Sports
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THE QUADRANGLE
Start the Countdown: Jasper Basketball Set to Return at End of the Month Pete Janny Sports Editor
The start of the college basketball season is less than a month away, and the clock is ticking. While Manhattan students will be vacating campus for Thanksgiving break, the school’s basketball teams will be getting back in the swing of playing competitive games again. That is, of course, if the novel coronavirus pandemic doesn’t get worse than it is from now until the season commences. Manhattan is gearing up for what should be an interesting season with no fans in the stands until Dec. 23 at the earliest. Consequently, the players who feed off the energy of the crowd will need to find new ways to stay motivated — on top of learning to train and play amid the threat of COVID-19. The tradition of home court advantage will suddenly become a moot point with no fans in the stands. But while the quiet atmosphere will be a factor to some degree, it will not be as consequential as many would assume, because a competitively balanced conference like the MAAC is hard to predict in any conditions — including in the throes of the Sixth Borough student section in Draddy. Manhattan fans will also be absent from all non-conference games this season — which begin on Nov. 25 for Division I College Basketball and last for less than two weeks. Both the Manhattan men’s and women’s teams have yet to publicize their non-conference schedules, but are expected to do so soon. The likelihood is that all non-conference games will be regional this season as a way to avoid unnecessary travel — and thus certain quarantine mandates. Manhattan fans should expect the annual meeting with the Fordham Rams to happen, but beyond that there is little indication of what else will happen. Zach Braziller, a sports reporter at the New York Post, has hinted on Twitter that the Manhattan men’s team will play St. John’s this season for the first time in a long time. However, that is nothing more than a rumor at this point. Just because the fan experience won’t be the same, that does not take away from the ultimate goal of winning. There is no such thing as a constraint on the competitive element, even in light of the collective responsibility of fighting against COVID-19. The opportunity to play the game they love again could be
the ideal dose of normalcy for student-athletes— and perhaps coaches and fans — to stay sane after will be seven months since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Both the men’s and women’s teams will enter the season starting on different wavelengths. Last year, the Lady Jaspers were the most dangerous team in the MAAC by season’s end before COVID-19 hit and ended their season itself — less than an hour before tip-off against Quinnipiac in the MAAC Quarterfinals. The team finished with a 15-14 ledger, including a 12-8 showing in the MAAC, giving a preview of their bright future led by the likes of stars Courtney Warley and Emily LaPointe. But the sting of how last year ended will likely be a motivating factor this season. Their 2020-2021 MAAC season is set to open at Rider on Dec. 9. It will be an interesting first test against a Rider program who shared a piece of the MAAC regular season championship last season with Marist. But while the Jaspers are trending up, the Broncs will have a new look this year after losing a star-studded senior class from last season headlined by Stella Johnson, the reigning nation’s leading scorer in Division I and a current member of the Washington Mystics of the WNBA. After their opening twogame road trip culminates at Siena on Dec. 12, the Lady Jaspers will get their first taste of action at Draddy against a formidable Marist program on Dec.19. The team then hits the road again for a tilt at Fairfield on Dec. 30 to cap off the hardest stretch of their regular season -- at least on paper. Rider, Marist, Siena, and Fairfield all finished in the top six of the MAAC standings at the end of last campaign. Among the core of key pieces from last season who won’t be returning to head coach Heather Vulin’s squad include Julie Hoier and Tuuli Menna, both of whom have graduated. Despite those notable losses, Pamela Miceus has returned for a graduate year to help stabilize the front court, and the program has welcomed three freshmen. The Lady Jaspers haven’t started a season with as much expectations as this year in quite some time, which is a huge testament to the job Vulin has done since taking over in 2016. On the men’s side, there is newfound hope for a program that has finished under .500 in each of the past five seasons. The program’s defeat at the hands of Siena in the MAAC Quarterfinals last March is
now a distant memory, and there looks to be greater upside to this year’s iteration after adding seven new players in total from the high school level, NJCAA, and other Division 1 programs. The marquee additions all came from the Division 1 transfer market: Samba Diallo from UMass; Anthony Nelson from Seton Hall; and Jason Douglas-Stanley from George Mason. These three players, along with some of the other newcomers, figure to play important roles on a reloaded Jaspers now without notable contributors Pauly Paulicap, Christian Hinckson, and Tykei Greene — who all transferred out. “It’s very important to my success and our success,” Masiello said to The Quadrangle, in reference to four of his six new players hailing from New York, with the other two coming from nearby New Jersey. “We want to make Manhattan a top destination for New York talent, whether that be via transfers or high school recruits. You look at the likes of Shane Richards, Ashton Pankey, Jermaine Lawrence, Rich Williams, all those New York guys that came here. We just always want to have a presence in New York and always be a destination for guys to come play.” There may be nobody more excited to get started again than head coach Steve Masiello, who is in his tenth season at the helm of the program. Masiello, now 43 years old, is looking to get the program back to similar heights he had them at when the program won backto-back MAAC Championships in 2014 and 2015. After receiving a contract extension last February, Masiello hopes to do good on the renewal of trust placed in him. To his benefit — and credit — Masiello will be working with the most talented roster he’s had in years — which should go a long way in helping him rejuvenate the program. “The thing I’m happy with is we’re back to being able to play basketball,” Masiello said. “We’re having fun and we’re doing the things that we love to do. We have a lot of work to do. We have a lot of talent, but we have to work to jell and get our chemistry up. We really have five new guys that will play for us. It’s a whole new system. We know we have a lot of work to do, but we put in the time, put in the work. If we’re doing our part, great things can happen.” The most talked about date on the schedule is Jan. 22. Not simply because it’s against hated rival Iona, but because it will feature a memorable reunion between Masiello and new Iona
head coach Rick Pitino. The matchup will mark the start of a new chapter between both coaches as counterparts in the same conference, after Masiello won a national championship as a player for Pitino at Kentucky in 1996 before working on his coaching staff at Louisville. Theoretically, the hardest stretch of the regular season should be late January into February when the Jaspers host Iona, embark on the annual Buffalo roadtrip, and then welcome Siena to town on Feb 2. By that point, the real identity of this Jaspers team could be known, with 10 conference games already in the books by then. But before then, MAAC play for the men’s team opens at Quinnipiac on Dec. 8 against a Bobcats team tabbed by experts to place near the bottom of the MAAC standings. Then, after a trip to Poughkeepsie, New York to play Marist on Dec. 11, the Jaspers will take the floor at Draddy Gym for the first time since last season’s Senior Day match-up with Fairfield on March 6. The long-awaited return to Draddy will be a bittersweet moment after a whirlwind year. The number of coronavirus cases in the United States is surging again in the midst of temperature drops in places like the northeast. On Friday, Oct. 30, the United States recorded a new daily high of 97,088 new cases, according to CNBC. Some schools have decided to take preemptive measures such as Bethune-Cookman University — even if that means at the expense of playing sports. According to ESPN, on Monday, October 26, the small private university in Daytona Beach, Florida declared that their sports teams will be sidelined for the rest of the
school year due to COVID-19 complications — making them the first Division 1 school to do so. The purported catalyst for the decision was a recent outbreak on campus. Whether more schools choose to follow in Bethune-Cookman’s footsteps remains to be seen. Manhattan has so far had success limiting the caseload on campus, despite it coming at the expense of no fall sports this year. But even if the Manhattan campus stays relatively healthy, the outlook for playing sports will be just as dependent on the conditions of other campuses. Ultimately, the NCAA — in consultation with government authorities — will make the final call. With schedules released, the plan for basketball is to play games at almost all costs — especially less than a month out. The threshold for cases that could cause a reversal in course is unknown. Only time will tell if college basketball can actually co-exist with the pernicious effects of COVID-19. The NCAA may have a good enough plan in place to survive the storm, but it won’t be able to outrun the complications that will arise. Assuming a season is played, there will be unavoidable disturbances and setbacks. But in the end, it will all boil down to how well the NCAA and its affiliated conferences respond to these curveballs, such as abrupt cancellations and outbreaks within teams. The fact is that an infrastructure for a basketball season is in place and the waiting game has started. COVID-19 will dictate the rest.
The Manhattan basketball teams will be back playing games at Draddy Gym by the end of the month for the start of an unprecedented season for college basketball due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The only negative is that there will be no fans allowed in the stands until at least Dec. 23, as mandated by the MAAC Conference. GO JASPERS / COURTESY