Tuesday March 6, 2018 Vol. LXXIII Issue II

TUESDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2018

TOUCHSTONE

VOL. LXXIII

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE

INSIDE

Welcome New CCO and Title IX Coordinator

NEWS | 2

Prof. Morris

SPORTS | 4

3V3 Intramurals

FEATURE | 9 Carnival Festivities

OPINION | 13

A Wake-Up Call

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 13 The Vagina Monologues

MICHAEL BRABAZON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Seann Kalagher is the new Chief Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator for Manhattanville College. The position has been vacant since the departure of Judith Spain in 2017. Spain served as Chief Compliance Officer and as general counsel. The position that Kalagher took is no longer the general counsel.

Kalagher discovered the job opening at Manhattanville when one of his colleagues found the job posting and felt that the description matched well with his skill set. The job description stuck out to Kalagher for a couple of reason.

“The job description was really unique. It hit a lot of areas that I felt that I could do and that I know and some areas that I can learn about and grow into,” said Kalagher.

He is excited to take on some of the new challenges that come with this position. Residing in southern Connecticut, Manhattanville became more appealing to Kalagher since he would not have move his family. He was

also intrigued to work with Vice President of Student Affairs, Cindy Porter again. They worked in the same division at Quinnipiac University.

Kalagher, originally from eastern Connecticut, attended George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. for his undergraduate degree in government and politics. During his four years there, he was exposed to adjunct professors who worked on Capitol Hill. Through one of these professors he was able intern with a sub-committee with the House of Representatives.

Immediately following his graduation from George Mason, he enrolled in Cornell Law School.

Entering law school Kalagher did not have an idea of what he wanted to focus on. Law school was the path that he felt was the next step after his political studies.

“While I was there I decided I wanted to do something different, I wasn’t keen on taking the corporate attorney route,” said Kalagher.

In the latter half of his enrollment at Cornell Law, after consulting some of his mentors from his undergraduate days and looking at his options he decided he wanted to take the

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higher education route. He came to this decision when returning to his alma mater George Mason for homecoming. He arrived on campus early to speak with the Director of Student Activities, who Kalagher had worked with as a student leader. He suggested the path of education to Kalagher.

“I honestly up to that point had never really thought about it… I looked at programs and see what I could do with those programs,” said Kalagher.

Kalagher continued his studies after law school, getting his master’s in education from Old Dominion University (ODU).

During his time at ODU Kalagher worked at Christopher Newport University in their student conduct office, where he worked on hearing student conduct cases.

After graduating from ODU he went to work at Roger Williams University for three years in their student conduct and community standards office. There he spent a lot of time working with students directly through student conduct. He also worked on policy; advising his supervisor on how to improve things such as the handbook.

Kalagher moved onto to work

PHOTO CREDIT: TARA MURPHY

at Quinnipiac University, where worked for eight and a half years. He began his employment at Quinnipiac as Assistant Dean. His position changed during his stint there, he became the Associate Dean and the Deputy Title IX coordinator. Kalagher started handling student conduct, but as he progressed he took on policy revisions. In 2012 he helped write the Title IX policy for the University. For five and a half years he was the on-call person for incidents that happened with students. He oversaw a lot of investigations, the ajudication process and training processes.

Continued on page 2

Manhattanville Cuts Ties with Wells Fargo Bank, Introduces Westchester Bank EXECUTIVE EDITOR On Feb. 21, 2018, Cindy Porter, Vice President for Student Affairs sent an email to the student body announcing that Manhattanville will be cutting ties with Wells Fargo Bank and will introduce Westchester Bank to campus.

“Westchester Bank will provide the community with ATMs in two convenient locations, Benziger Hall, lower level, and a new location - the Spellman Hall Lobby, near Public Safety beginning February 23, 2018,” stated Porter in her email.

Manhattanville will be providing on-campus bank representatives for the convenience of the student body to help students set up accounts and ease the transition to the

new bank. Westchester Bank has made it clear that they are interested in coming to campus on a regular basis to help students to open accounts, particularly international students opening accounts with domestic banks. Westchester Bank is very dedicated to the convenience for that live far away.

Wachovia Bank was originally partnered with the school, but was sold to Wells Fargo in 2004. Since then, Wells Fargo provided the school with accounts payable, paystubs, handled checks and direct deposits with student workers.

Erik Paulson, Vice President of Finance, explained that in September, Wells Fargo “said that they were distancing themselves from the smaller higher education market, so they would be cutting ties with all schools and wanted us to find a new bank immediately.”

Once Wells Fargo asked the school

to transition, the Director of Purchasing and Staff Accounting met with various banks in the area and discussed which bank would be the best for Manhattanville.

“We went through a bidding process, inviting local and national banks and put together bids on the services. Three banks responded; Westchester had the best package,” explained Paulson.

The transition from Wells Fargo to Westchester Bank is still in the process of completion. As of right now, there are two bank accounts open so that checks written to students during the pay periods can still be drawn from Wells Fargo.

The school is also still in the process of transferring money from the Wells Fargo account to Westchester Bank.

Continued on page 2

PHOTO CREDIT: JESS COWLE

JESS COWLE

NEWS

VOL. LXXIII

Continued from Page 1

ville is liberal arts based.

He concurrently worked on other compliance areas such as The Cleary Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“Some of the communications I have had with students so far, the issues that they care about and the community they want is different in a good way … I am excited to become a bigger part of the community,” said Kalagher.

“A lot of it [his job] is being someone who can answer difficult questions. I think it is something I’m still doing in my new role here [Manhattanville],” said Kalagher.

Manhattanville is a different type of school than Kalagher has attended or worked for in the past. All three of his alma maters have a higher enrollment than Manhattanville.

Quinnipiac, his last employer, is a house science focused school, where as Manhattan-

Since his arrival, Kalagher has spent his time reading the schools policies and discovering the reasons for the policies, while asking questions.

He is a person that values context and believes that the policies of a school are an abstract history of the school; there is a reason those policies and systems were developed.

“This helps inform what next steps and improvements to

[policy] could be,” said Kalagher.

In terms of Title IX Kalagher believes there is a solid base at Manhattanville. His job is to make sure the necessary programs and training procedures are being followed.

Also, to make sure that the processes that are in place are equitable and fair. He wants to make sure the school does a good job of explaining these processes to faculty and students.

“My job is to protect the rights of everybody who goes through the investigation process. It is not just the complainant or the respondent, it’s both; to make sure that everyone is being heard and has equal access to what is

Amazon Go GIOVANNI MENACHO COPY EDITOR On Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 the first ‘Just Walk Out Shopping’ store opened to the public. After nearly a yearlong delay this new kind of store was created by online retailer, Amazon. The revolutionary way of shopping is like no other, as it has no checkout. In short, Amazon made the most modern shopping technology, so you never have to wait in line.

This unprecedented kind of store is said to be a game changer for the grocery and retail industry.

The first and only store at the moment is in Seattle, Wash., but Amazon plans to expand its store to different locations around the country in the near future according Amazon. The store is open Mon-

Letter from the

Editors

TWO

day to Friday from 7:00a.m. to 9:00p.m.. The single 1,800 square-foot store, located in the middle of Amazon’s Seattle campus, was first presented to the public in late 2016.

The way the store works is that one simply walks into the Amazon Go store, opens their app that they previously download on their phone, the customer takes the products they want off the shelves, and then walk straight out of the store. This means no lines and no checkout per The Chicago Tribune.

This new way of shopping requires the implementation of technology that other companies, in other industries, are using for self-driving cars.

This technology includes computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning. This system is applied in the store by detecting when products are taken from or returned to the shelves and keeps track of

them in a virtual cart. When one is done shopping and walks out the door, the app simply charges the amount and value of items you left with to your Amazon account and sends a receipt.

This one-of-a-kind store offers ready to eat meals that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snack options made by Amazon’s chefs and favorite local kitchens and bakeries. The store’s selection of grocery essentials ranges from normal goods like bread and milk to artisan cheeses and locally made chocolate. Another product is a quick homecooked dinner kit, made by Amazon’s chefs with all the ingredients to make a meal for two that takes little as 30 minutes to prepare.

To add on what was mentioned before, the steps to be able to shop at Amazon Go are quick and easy. All you

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going on,” said Kalagher.

This semester Kalagher will continue to gather information about the functions of the school and the policy. He is focusing on the student experience and how to explain the process in the most efficient way possible to the students when an investigation happens.

Kalagher looks forward to becoming a larger part of the small community at Manhattanville.

Paulson explained that he is very confident that Westchester Bank was the right choice.

“They are certainly dedicated and interested in growing their business. I expect them to be a visible presence on campus,” said Paulson Overall, Westchester Bank is expected to be a good fit to our campus, “we liked the idea of working with a local bank,” stated Paulson.

The local bank will provide students with two ATMs, and the opportunity to speak with representatives on campus about having their first bank accounts.

need is an Amazon account, the free Amazon Go app, and one of the latest generations of iPhone or Android phones. The Amazon Go app is accessible from the Apple App store, Google Play, and Amazon Appstore. When you get to the store, open the app and scan your code to get into the store, then put your phone away and enjoy the shopping experience. When you are done simply walk out without the hassle of waiting in line or checking out at a cashier.

According to Amazon, this new kind of store was made to answer the following questions: “What if we could create a shopping experience with no lines and no checkout? Could we push the boundaries of computer vision and machine learning to create a store where customers could simply take what they want and go? Our answer to those questions is Amazon Go and Just Walk out Shopping.” Amazon said in a public statement on their website.

To answer a question that many people have asked: Amazon Go does actually have employees working at the store. It is quick to assume that a store with no cashiers is trying to save money by cutting down on staff needed to operate the store. Amazon Go has a team of associates that work both in the kitchen and the store to prep ingredients, make the ready to eat foods and meals; stock shelves, and help customers with anything they need.

With this breakthrough and the acquirement of Whole Foods, Amazon is furthermore cementing its place in the food industry. Only the future holds the potential Amazon and other big corporations have to improve and innovate the way we live our daily lives through the advancement of breakthrough technology.

This publication would not be possible without the support of our readers, and the work of our Touchstone staff. We look forward to producing exclusive student-created content for you in the months to follow..

If you are interested in joining The Touchstone, please come to our meetings held on Mondays in Library Conference room 117 at 9:30 p.m.

Sincerely, Michael Brabazon & Jessica Cowle

VOL. LXXIII

SPORTS

ISSUE II

Ali Johnson, ECAC DIII THOMAS HOPKINS STAFF WRITER

Ali Johnson is a 5’0” senior sprinter for the Manhattanville College Track and Field team from Fairfield, CT. It was there, back in 2010, where her step-dad told her to give track and field a shot after failing to make her high school’s soccer team. The decision she made was one of the most important decisions she could have made because it has set her life up over the past eight years of competing. From that point on she had the best support group between her parents, sister and step-dad.

Coming into Manhattanville, Johnson was hidden behind the spotlight of star sprinter, Shannon Roberts.

Roberts made it to ECAC as well and made it to the NCAA Division III National Championship meet when Johnson was just a sophomore. With that being said, Johnson defined herself as one of the greatest runners in Valiant history. Stepping in as a freshman, Johnson ran the 200-meter dash in a time of 28.03 seconds. That was good enough to help her and her teammates at the 2015 MAC Indoor Championship, after that she would sit out the outdoor season of her freshman year due to injury.

From 28.03 as a freshman, she only got better over the years, running a 200-meter dash of 26.78 seconds.

Her 26.78 run was at East Stroudsburg University, which punched her ticket to the 2018 Division III ECAC Championship meet held at the New Balance Armory in Washington Heights, NY on Saturday, Mar. 3. She will go up against the best sprinters in the Northeast region.

After recently catching up with Johnson, as well as her fellow teammates Blake Hagerman, her co-captain,

PHOTO CREDIT: GOVALIANTS

and fellow freshman sprinter Charlie Doherty, who has been taking notes and learning from her hands-on throughout practicing and watching her race and execute at meets, Johnson was asked what type of mindset she has going into ECAC and she continuously said how happy and excited she was. This is, perhaps, one of her biggest accomplishments ever. She has her eyes set forward and looks to take advantage of these past eight years of training and looks to go out and give her best in her last ever indoor track meet.

Being one of the best runners comes with a lot of responsibility, such as being a leader. Johnson has been Manhattanville’s captain for the past two years and has led by example on and off the track. But with all that, she still has remained one of the humblest runners out there, taking every opportunity with a grain of salt and not taking anything for granted. Johnson has constantly been a supporter and role model for her teammates whether it be at prac-

tice, a meet, or even a meal she has made her impact and presence be known by the team. When asking Doherty about Johnson and his experience with her and being a teammate of hers for a short time period, he emphasized on the fact that she is a leader and big role model.

es the fact that Johnson will do whatever it takes to get the best out of herself. He recalls one time at practice during a high intensity workout that she was talking about her shin splints, but that didn’t stop her from finishing the workout and persevering.

“Ali sets such a good example on how to get the best out of yourself, she’s taught me no matter what, never give up and always push through.” said Doherty.

“Her heart and desire to always come up in big situations,” said Hagerman.

Doherty also stated that watching her run and seeing her fight through her injuries this season that “it is the type of heart I want to have over the upcoming years I have here,” It is obvious that Johnson has an impact on and off the track, and that’s where her other teammate, classmate and fellow co-captain Blake Hagerman comes in. Hagerman and Johnson met back in 2014 on their recruiting visits where they would both commit and spend the next four years together as teammates. Speaking with Hagerman, he too emphasiz-

When at a track meet, usually athletes are tall, lengthy, strong individuals running certain events. When you see Johnson on the line before a race, she’s usually the shortest one out there standing at five feet tall. When Johsnon, runs her powerful explosive quick strides make up for the length that she lacks. She also is one of the quickest out of the blocks having one of the best reactions to hearing the gun go off and powering out of the start blocks. Qualifying for ECAC isn’t just about the heart and drive there is when competing, but it has to do with more than that, like the off the track work ethic and passion everyone shows. If

you went to anyone on the track and field team here, you can see it in the way they talk about Johnson, she is willing to do whatever it takes to be the best one out there.

It isn’t about the size of the athlete, it’s about the heart that the athlete has and Johnson has a bigger heart than anyone else. And that is on of the reason she qualified for ECAC and hopes to continue to turn heads heading into the outdoor season. Although everything might not have been so easy as it is for others, Johnson has fought through the injuries, fought through the hardships, but most of all, she has defined her own legacy as one of the greatest track athletes this school has ever seen.

THREE

Sunday

12

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

7 BB vs John Jay 3:00 p.m.

WLAX vs SUNY 4:00 p.m.

1

14 15 SB at Salisbury 1:30p.m. & 3:30p.m.

BB at Purchase 4:00p.m.

WLAX at Drew 4:00p.m.

MLAX at Merchant Marine 8:00p.m.

Thursday

8 3v3 GA Squad vs Run It Back 9:30p.m.

Joe vs Dream Team 9:30p.m.

JETS vs Plug Way 10:20p.m.

13 BB at Alvernia 3:30 p.m.

3v3 DA 3-1/2 vs Volleyball Gals 9:30p.m.

Barsz Central vs CMC 9:30p.m.

Dream Team vs Minchia 10:20p.m.

Run It Back vs Team Eric 10:20p.m.

Joe vs GA Squad 11:10p.m.

Plug Way vs JETS 11:10p.m

21 MLAX vs Mount St. Mary 7:00 p.m.

5 6 3v3 Run It Back vs CMC MLAX vs Western Connecticut State DA 3-1/2 vs Joe 4:00 p.m.

Barsz Central vs GA 3v3 CMC vs The NARPS 9:30p.m.

Squad Plug Way vs Joe 9:30p.m.

Team Eric vs Dream Team 10:20p.m.

Volleyball Gals vs GA Squad 10:20p.m.

VALIANTS MARCH 2018 SPORTS SCHEDULE

WGOLF at George Phinney Golf Classic 9:00 a.m.

MGOLF at Farmingdale Fall Invitational TBA 4 SB vs Pacific Lutheran 11:00 a.m. (EST) BB at Wesley 12:00 p.m.

3:30p.m.

SB vs #24 Berry (Ga.) 1:30 p.m.

11 BB vs Castleton 11:00 a.m.

18 BB vs King’s (Pa.) 1:00 p.m.

19 3v3 Barsz Central vs Run It Back 9:30p.m.

CMC vs Dream Team 9:30p.m.

Team Eric vs Joe 10:20p.m.

22 3v3 The NARPS vs DA 3-1/2 9:30p.m.

Barsz Central vs Plug Way 9:30p.m.

GA Squad vs Minchia 10:20p.m.

20 BB vs William Paterson 3:30 p.m.

WLAX at St. Joseph’s (L.I.) 5:30 p.m.

3v3 DA 3-1/2 vs Volleyball Gals 9:30p.m.

Barsz Central vs CMC 9:30p.m. Dream Team vs Minchia 10:20p.m.

Run It Back vs Team Eric 10:20p.m. Joe vs GA Squad 11:10p.m.

Plug Way vs JETS 11:10p.m

Friday

2 SB vs Fontbonne W 6-4 SB vs Thomas More W 11-5 9 SB vs Penn College 12:00 p.m.

SB vs Roanoke 4:00 p.m.

16

23 BB at Delaware Valley 3:30 p.m.

Saturday

3 WTRACK at ECAC Indoor Championships 1:35 p.m.

SB vs Pacific 2:30 p.m. (EST) 10 SB vs Randolph-Macon 10:00 a.m.

WLAX vs Bard 12:00 p.m.

SB vs Gettysburg 2:00 p.m.

BB at Johns Hopkins 2:00 p.m.

MLAX vs Bard 3:00 p.m.

17 BB at King’s (Pa.) 12:00 p.m.

3:30p.m.

MLAX at Rosemont 1:00 p.m.

WLAX vs Elms 1:00 p.m.

SB vs King’s (Pa.) 1:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

24 MTRACK at St. Joseph’s (L.I.) 10:00 a.m.

WTRACK at St. Joseph’s(L.I.) 10:00 a.m.

WLAX at Stockton 1:00 p.m.

BB vs Delaware Valley 1:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

SB at Delaware Valley 1:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

SIX

SPORTS Americans in the Olympics VOL. LXXIII

CHRISTOPHER COLOSI SPORTS EDITOR The 2018 Winter Olympics were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where athletes from the United States were ready to take on the world once more. There were not nearly as many viewers as the previous Winter Olympics had. The United States came in fourth in the final medal count with 23.

The Olympics broadcasts on NBC averaged almost 18 million viewers a night over the two-week span, a 17% decrease from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and a 27% drop from the 2010 Vancouver games. The 2018 games are now officially the least-viewed

Olympic games in television history, but they still captured some amazing triumphs by athletes from all around the globe.

Americans brought home nine total gold medals, headlined by snowboarders Shaun White and 17-year-old Chloe Kim, alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin and both the women’s hockey and men’s curling teams. The only three countries who had more total medals than the United States were Norway with 39, Germany with 31, and Canada with 29.

Perhaps the most fascinating story involving Americans at the Olympics was that of the Nigerian bobsled team. Composed of three Nigerian-American women, who hold dual citizenship in the US and in Nigeria, they raced for their home

country of Nigeria, the team did not win, but their determination and drive to prosper was far more valuable than a gold medal.

The captain of the team, Seun Adigun, picked up bobsledding just 15 months prior to the Olympics in Pyeongchang, doing the unimaginable. After competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics for the United States representing the track and field team, Adigun was determined to take on a new challenge.

Along with Akuoma Omeoga and Ngozi Onwumere, the three women became the first bobsled team in Olympic history to represent an African nation. The groundbreaking trio grew up in the United States and met while training for track and field events in

3V3 Intramurals

MICHAEL BRABAZON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Manhattanville’s 3v3 Intramural basketball league has taken the campus by storm. Since Feb. 20 games have been taking place every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30p.m. to 11:10p.m. in Kennedy Gymnasium.

The league now has 13 teams participating, with CMC sitting in first place with a record of 5-1. Team Eric and Joe are just behind them both at 4-1.

JAMES MCTIGHE TAKES 3 POINTER IN SECOND HALF OF 3V3 GAME PHOTO CREDIT: MATTEO DANIELE

The event has sparked interest from most of the campus. Teams consist of athletes of sports who are not in season, and non-athletes from many various parts of the community.

“I feel that is a great way to engage students of all different areas on campus it is not just about the student athletes. I think everyone has been having a lot of fun,” said Christie Freer a graduate student at Manhattanville, and a member of the team Trashley and the GA Squad.

“It pretty fun. It draws in a pretty decent crowd, more than I thought,” said senior Brian Haggerty.

The league will continue until March 30, the winner of the league will receive an intramural t-shirt.

See the sports schedule on page 7 for complete schedule.

THE NARPS TAKE ON CHRISTIRE FREER AND THE GA SQUAD PHOTO CREDIT: MATTEO DANIELE

Houston, Texas. After building their own bobsled for practice and naming it the ‘Mayflower’, the women raised enough money to be able to get sponsored and compete in the Olympics.

Though they came in last place out of 20 teams, the fact that they even qualified is simply amazing and their story will be a show of strength and hope for many years to come.

At 33 years old, American alpine skier Lindsey Vonn prepared for what was most likely her last Olympics. Despite missing the 2014 Winter Games due to a knee surgery, Vonn still had three medals of each kind, gold, silver and bronze, in international alpine ski competitions going into her event. Even though she was one of the oldest competitors,

ISSUE II

her excellence on the slopes was enough for her to snag a forth career bronze medal, giving her a total of 10 for her career. The most talked about athlete on Facebook during the 2014 Olympics in Russia, Shaun White, continued his success grabbing his third career gold medal. White, who has 13 gold medals in the X-Games, was also severely injured prior to the recent Olympics. While training in New Zealand, he crashed into the edge of a superpipe, leaving him with 62 stitches on his face. These athletes represent the resiliency and determination Americans take pride in, and they did a great job of portraying the true meaning of the Olympic Games.

VOL. LXXIII

HUMANS OF MANHATTANVILLE

ISSUE II

Isabella Brascetta Guerra Interview by Maricruz Herrera Where are you from?

“I was born in Caracas, Venezuela.”

What is your favorite quote you live by? “‘Everything happen for a reason.’ I strongly believe in that.”

What were your reasons for becoming a Valiant?

“I came here for the English program that Manhattanville used to have, the English Institute. I spent a year learning English as my second language and my professors encouraged me to stay and study at Manhattanville College. I applied, and during my journey learning English, I made great friends and that is why I ended up staying in America.”

How does it benefit you in terms of your major?

“I heard that the Communication Studies program was great, and I decided that I wanted to do that. But I believe that the best experience came from my student involvement. That made me realize I wanted to be an event planner because I was doing events for every single event going on, on campus.”

PHOTO CREDIT: MARICRUZ HERRERA

What are some clubs you are involved in on campus?

“I am part of the Latin Fusion dance team and Latin American Student Organization, both as a their Marketing member. I take care of the flyers and advertising events that these clubs hold on campus. I am also part of the International Bazaar committee, which the goal is to create a big educational party.”

Once you graduate, where do you see yourself in regard to your career path as an event planner?

“I want to be an assistant coordinator or something helping a wedding planner in New York City, with a company that will be able to sponsor me. I would just really like to be an event planner around New York, possibly Long Island by the Hamptons.”

What is the best memory you have at Manhattanville?

“I believe that the best memory I have here at Manhattanville is my boyfriend Matt, but also my friends. I met them as soon as I got to Manhattanville. Within a couple of months of knowing each other, we planned our spring break to Puerto Rico and we had such a beautiful time there. Now, I can say these are lifelong friends.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

“I see myself living in Long Island, married and being an awesome event planner in Long Island. Traveling around the world, visiting my family and building a beautiful future. Starting a family to surround myself with love as I grow old and create a life in America.”

SIX

VOL. LXXIII

HUMANS OF MANHATTANVILLE

ISSUE II

Brandon William Romain Interview by Andrew Dzwonczyk

You work two jobs, meanwhile you are partaking in an internship and going to school full time. What are those jobs and internship?

“I do a fully remote internship with SeatGIANT.com. They sell tickets for concerts, plays and sporting events. I basically just run all their social media accounts from Instagram to Facebook to Twitter. I have a 9a.m.-5p.m. job in Yonkers working for Sound Associates. I do everything from loading trucks to maintaining and processing consoles, speaker cables and speaker units themselves. It’s manual labor. My second job is mostly freelance. It’s a position as a photographer and cinematographer with a film company called Meca Talent Agency in Co-Op City.

I didn’t want to do all this at the same time. It kind of just happened that way. Though, I did want a second job because I was making $11.00 an hour at Sound Associates, that’s parttime wages. I was only working there three days not coming out of with a lot so that’s why I decided to get a second job and I just needed an internship in order to graduate. It was out of necessity more than being an overachiever. ”

How do you handle all this responsibility? Are you stressed?

“Hell yeah I get stressed. In terms of handling the stress or responsibility, I make a to-do list of things that need to get done. For two-thirds of my schedule I get paid for it. If I let it fall through the cracks I don’t get to eat and I don’t like asking people for money. It’s mostly about staying on top of it. It’s about sticking to the study skills that I’ve ignored in the past 12 years of schooling.”

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREW DZWONCZYK

Do you manage to still have a social life?

“I do, but usually my social life doesn’t begin until the evening. Though, with how unpredictable my work schedule is, having a social life is just another thing I have to do. In this position, if it’s between hanging out or going to sleep, I choose to go to sleep. If your friends are really your friends they’ll understand how tired you are.”

Have any of your professor’s given you advice about your routine?

“Just that if it’s between work and school, you pay to be here and with work you get paid, they would say come here. That’s the only advice, while it is correct, at the same time, the owners of the company where I work have said that I don’t need an education to do what they do. So, in my case, I look at school where I am doing this for a sheet of paper that will tell employers they can hire me for $80,000 a year and up.”

Could you give any advice to people who go to school and work a job on how they can handle stress?

“Don’t forget the simple things. When I say simple things, I mean the things you find personal enjoyment in, even if it’s not with somebody.

The way I look at it, everything is scheduled. You have your work, class, internship, and social life. Your social life, whether you like to say it or not, is a part of your work life. If hanging out with your friends is what you want to do, do it. Or if reading a book and falling asleep is how you need to spend your time so that you feel good waking up the next morning, do it. You never know when your next break is going to be. I’m lucky if I have four hours to myself one day. As long as you’re a little selfish with your time, whoever needs to hang out with you, they’ll hang out with you when you have time. They’ll wait.”

SEVEN

VOL. LXXIII

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

ISSUE II

President of Manhattanville College As part of our thorough review of all of our security measures in the wake of the Florida shootings, we are also taking a good look at our ability to secure residence halls and classroom buildings on campus. I have instructed our Facilities crew to review and, if necessary fix, any broken locks on outside doors they may find. However, once these locks have been fixed, I rely on the cooperation of our students to not break them or to prop open a door by inserting a heavy object in the door frame, as happens too often for the sake of convenience. That is not only a fire hazard, it also renders moot our attempts to keep students safe. I would therefore ask all of our students to understand that breaking locks or propping open doors puts an individual student’s personal momentary convenience above the safety of the entire college community. I urge all students who observe such behavior by other students to bring it to the attention of campus authorities. Anybody who does not report such irresponsible acts of vandalism contributes to the original perpetrator’s reckless and irresponsible behavior which puts everybody at risk. This is not a question of convenience, it is a question of safety, and in an active emergency it can become a question of survival for dozens or perhaps even hundreds of students.

- Michael E. Geisler, Ph.D.

Student Body President As you all know, the United States witnessed its eighth school shooting of 2018 in Parkland, Florida on February 14th. Just this past Friday, March 2nd, another shooting occurred, this time on a college campus in Michigan.

In response, the Manhattanville Student Government Association detailed our intent to support the Parkland students in their endeavors while also addressing the concerns of our own students regarding the issues at hand and our own safety on campus. Along with the administration, faculty, and staff, we will be conducting a series of events addressing gun laws, gun violence, activism, and safety on campus. More details will come out via email as the events are finalized.

We are also inviting the Manhattanville community to march with us in Washington D.C. in the March For Our Lives, coordinated by Parkland students, on March 24th. You can reserve your seat on the bus down to D.C. on the Mville Tickets website.

We strongly encourage students to join us in these multiple events, but we also urge our peers to take safety seriously; residence hall doors possess locks that can prevent dangerous intruders, and propping these doors open leaves the entire residence hall at risk. As we as a community address safety on campus, please be vocal about your concerns and mindful of our actions as a student body.

As always, if you have any questions, concerns, ideas, or would like further information, please feel free to email Student.Government@mville.edu, and check your email regularly for updates.

- Heather Krannich Senior Class President The past few weeks have been extremely busy for the senior class. On Saturday, February 17, 2018, the Class of 2018 held their “100 Nights: Senior Formal” in the West Room of Reid Castle. The formal was a huge success, bringing in close to 180 people, including seniors and guests. Many seniors who attended donated $20.18 towards their senior class gift. So far, the Class of 2018 has raised $927.21, which is more than the seniors last year raised. This event was a success all around, and seniors should be proud of their donations and commitment to the class.

The senior class gift will be an opportunity for the senior class to leave their mark on campus, as well as create a community space for all past, current, and future Manhattanville students. The Class of 2018 Square will be an area of bricks in front of a bench located on the Quad. At the center of this will be a “Class of 2018” brick, as well as one inscribed with the quote “Never leave your smile at home,” from our late classmate, Robby Shartner. Seniors will also have the opportunity to be included in this planned space. With a gift of $100 or more, you can buy a brick and have it inscribed with your name, a quote, or a tribute to favorite Manhattanville memory, professor, etc. This inscription is your choice, but it is limited to 54 characters, which consists of 3 lines of 18 characters each.

We want all members of the Class of 2018 to be represented, but your class representatives cannot do it without your help. Our goal is for 25% of the class to participate, a goal we cannot reach without your help. If you are not able to make the $100 payment all at once, then you can make a pledge and set-up four payments of $25 over a four-month period. Your credit or debit card will be charged on March 30, April 30, May 30, and June 30. Cash will also be accepted.

Seniors should be on the lookout for upcoming events, at which there will be multiple opportunities to donate.

One upcoming opportunity for seniors to donate will be at the Graduation Fair, which will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. in the West Room of Reid Castle. On March 23, 2018 will be “50 Nights,” an opportunity for seniors to mingle and network with Manhattanville alumni. This event will be from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. in the West Room of Reid Castle as well. Seniors can also donate at “50 Nights” as well. Or, if you so choose, you can give by cash, check, or card via the “Senior Class Gift Giving Forms,” located in CSIL (Founder’s Hall, room G-33), online at www.mville.edu/seniorclassgift, or by asking one of your class representatives.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the class gift, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself, other senior class representatives, or Meghan Casey, Annual Giving Officer at Meghan.Casey@mville.edu, or (914) 323-5112.

Also, as a side note, senior week events will now be on sale on Mville Tickets, so make sure you reserve your spot and pay for the events you wish to attend.

- Dylan Hayes EIGHT

VOL. LXXIII

FEATURES

ISSUE II

Carnival Festivities Around the World GIOVANNI MENACHO COPY EDITOR Many cultures around the world have different perspectives on certain celebrations.

One of the most well-known celebrations that takes place every year at different times all over the world is Carnival.

Carnival is a festival that is celebrated all over the world in different ways while being interpreted by many cultures or a mix of cultures as most take place in the first three months of the year.

Mardi Gras- New Orleans, La., United States of America: Mardi Gras or ‘Fat Tuesday’ has origins in European traditions of the 17th and 18th centuries within the House of Bourbon. Mardi Gras used to be an exclusive celebration only celebrated by an elite few whereas nowadays it is celebrated by young and old alike in large amounts. This year, 2018, marks the 300 year anniversary of the celebrations of Mardi Gras. This celebration usually takes place around Jan. 5 to Feb. 13.

At this celebration anything and everything goes. Mardi Gras is known for the colorful beads and cups that will be tossed your way by the passing floats.

The Carnival of Venice- Venice, Italy: The carnival of Venice is said to have started as a celebration by the Ven-

ice Republic celebrating its victory over the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162. The main staple are the masks with many decorations or with the long noses. The normal masks have become a symbol of all the carnival festivities around the world.

The porcelain masks are said to be first worn as protest against class hierarchy around the 13 century.

One has the choice of many mask variants to wear to the streets and canals for a unique Venetian experience. This festivity usually takes place around Jan. 27 to Feb. 13.

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife- Tenerife, Canary Islands: Said to be the second most popular carnival after the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has been livening the capital of the Canary Islands in many colors for centuries.

This 15-day festival includes a vivid representation of the city into one big colorful party, as a gala to elect the carnival queen; satirical hymns and unparalleled bonhomie dominates the proceedings. This festival usually takes place around Feb. 4 to Feb.18.

Cologne Carnival- Cologne, Germany: The cologne carnival starts with Women’s Carnival Day, a time that women of Cologne wear fancy dresses on their way to work, followed by masked balls and parties by

night.

The Carnival shows more of a party aspect to it on the weekend. Its peak is when Rose Monday starts. Then there is a march through Südstadt that features a variety of decorated floats in which chocolate boxes, sweets and other trinkets are thrown into the crowd. This festival usually takes place around Feb. 8 to Feb. 13.

Rio Carnival- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: The most popular carnival by a landslide is Rio’s interpretation of the global festivities. This festival goes back to the year 1723 and attracts over two million people per year. Samba music is at the center of the festival, with over 200 samba schools showing off their samba skills to the public.

The well-known Sambodromo is known for a ringside view of the action or one can dress up and go to one of many street parties in different parts of the enormous city. This festival usually takes place around Feb. 9 to Feb. 14.

The Carnival of Oruro- Oruro, Bolivia: Once an exclusively indigenous celebration, this festival is now a celebration with a strong connection to religious symbolism in the form of Pachamama (mother Earth) and Tio Supay (God of the underworld). This festival revolves around these figures, but the festivities include ‘dance of the devils’ ritual, La Diablada, which represents the triumph of good over evil.

The festival also includes folkloric myths, legends and curious traditions, this carnival is known for changing the norms of everyday life, as one knows.

This festival takes place from Feb. 10 to Feb. 13.

Trinidad and Tobago CarnivalPort of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: The Caribbean spirit takes center stage at Trinidad and Tobago’s annual carnival.

This carnival starts as early as 4:00a.m. on the first day to gather and remember what once was a rebellion against slavery.

At this festival one can get a carnival costume, get some grub sold from roadside vendors, and listen to the rhythms of the many steel pan bands on the streets. This festival takes place from Feb. 12 to Feb. 13.

Nice Carnival- Nice, France: This festival consists of six carnival parades, 17 floats and thousands of dancers and musicians from all over the world.

A popular event is the flower battles (Bataille de Fleurs).

This event displays many caravans of flower-covered floats to the streets; they even throw bouquets from the floats.

This year’s carnival is said to have a futuristic space theme.

This carnival takes place from Feb. 17 to Mar. 3.

Notting Hill Carnival- London, United Kingdom: This is London’s biggest street party sprung to life in the late 1960’s as an offshoot of the Trinidad Carnival. The music displayed

at this carnival includes calypso, soca, reggae, and dub rhythms from various roadside sound systems as well a food from the Caribbean in the city streets.

This carnival is full of events that will keep you busy all day.

This carnival takes place later in the year from Aug. 25 to Aug. 27.

Carnival Dominicano- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: Here, they use masks to symbolize spiritual, supernatural and unknown spirit world entities. This carnival started from African slaves bringing celebrations from their countries. It has been celebrated since the mid 1500s. Locations to go include Ruinas de la Vega Vieja and events to go to include an event in which people dress up as Christians and Moors for a celebration.

The Dominican Republic is the first place in the Americas to observe the pre-Lenten carnival custom. This festival usually takes place the entire month of February.

Some other European carnivals that are somewhat well known include the Carnival of Binche of Binche, Belgium (Feb. 1114), Fasnacht in Basel of Basel, Switzerland (Feb. 19-22), and Copenhagen Carnival of Copenhagen, Denmark (May 18-20).

Health Center and S.H.A.C Join to Tackle Students’ Overall Health JAMES MCTIGHE STAFF WRITER As we start to exit yet another cold and flu season we look back with horror on how this had affected not only the individuals across the country but the students at Manhattanville.

The new Nurse practitioners Michelle Mulligan, who has had over twenty years of experience in her field, and Deidre Mullen, who has also had her fair share of experience, totaling 17 years in her field as well.. Having such experience has given this staff the edge they need to treat students in the proper manner while being efficient and thorough in their

work. They continue to be the backbone through one of the worst flu seasons we have experienced in decades.

“I really enjoy working with the Health Center because I like the availability of having just about everything in any urgent care center or any doctors office. I find that the support staff provides a great deal of experience that has definitely helped this staff as a whole,” explained Mullen.

As we continue to make strides recovering, physically, the Health Center and the Wellness Center have done the same in order to accommodate students to their full needs. This semester, the Wellness Center and

the Health Center have joined services known as S.H.A.C. (Student Health and Counseling). This new change in the heath department on campus includes the integration of websites, better facilitation of students, and nutrition counseling run by Laura Wolf.

“This will definitely make it more comprehensive for students by working together. It’s nice to be able to work together to better take care of the student,” explained Mulligan.

On various nights throughout the week both the Wellness Center and Health Center provide seminars that promote health and overall wellness for students on campus. In the

upcoming weeks, Mulligan will be hosting an event on Mar. 21 at 1:00p.m. with Westchester County Mothers Against Drunk Drivers. At this event, Westchester probation officers will come in to do a presentation on the impacts of DWI, DUI, and drugging and driving. Hosting seminars weekly will give students the chance to improve their wellness and health through different approaches that may just ignite students even further to exploring their own ways of reaching their full potential.

Learn healthy habits. Learn mindfulness. And hopefully when students graduate from here they’ll be able to take that with you,” explained Mulligan.

As the Health Center and Wellness Center continues to assist students during the tail end of this flu season, they will also begin to build these two programs even more that will benefit students far beyond graduation.

“I think learning about health at any age is very important, but our goal is to ensure that we instill healthy habits for students through out the year.

NINE

VOL. LXXIII

OPINION

ISSUE II

The Importance of One’s Mental Health REBECCA BONNEY STAFF WRITER Anxiety and stress have been a main issue among students lately. The pressure to do well in school has been immense.

There are different ways that one can take to help lower their anxiety or stress. Often, a school provides counseling and other events or programs on campus to help reduce one’s stress.

Here at Manhattanville, we have a bunch of different ways to help students resolve their issues. Manhattanville provides its students with a counseling center, located in Founder’s Hall, Ground Floor. Each student gets 12 free sessions per year. After that, the psychiatrists on campus will provide students with further information to reach out to a psychiatrist outside of Manhattanville so one can continue with their sessions on a more personal level. Joanne Hwang, a staff psychologist at Manhattanville,

talks about the importance of making sure ones need to relieve stress are properly met as best as they can be.

“When you’re working with people, you really have to treat the individual. So, when any of us in the center are working with people, we really want to get to know the individual person who’s with me in the room. That being said, it’s going to be really important information that I’m going to gather by learning about that specific individual, but in terms of you talking about stress and anxiety, specifically, there certainly are basic coping skills that I think anybody who is struggling with stress or anxiety can benefit from learning. So, really teaching people a number of different ways to learn what the signs are of stress and anxiety at earlier stages so they can start implementing different coping strategies; which could include, learning how to breathe, counted breath, learning mindfulness strategies. Learning how to use other tools like aromatherapy

or mindfulness activities like coloring or using their own sort of strengths in art or writing and really kind of drawing upon one person’s strengths and encouraging and reusing them, knowing when to use them,” said Hwang.

The school also has a wellness room that any student can use. There is a massage chair that they can check out for 20 minutes at a time, and they’re free to lock the door to have the room to themselves. It also includes a lot of different activities that can help you cope with anxiety or stress. Inside one can find coloring books, silly putty, and a light device to help those who are dealing with seasonal depression. It’s located across the hall from the Health and Counseling Center.

Hwang also discusses her best opinion as to why college students get anxiety or stress: “It could be for so many different reasons. Again, it’s going to go down to the individual. There could be a lot of different reasons. Often, mental health con-

cerns may really first appear for people at this age, so that’s part of it. Additionally, just the high stakes nature of being in college, it is a high-pressure environment. There’s a lot at stake for students. People work so hard to get here, they have to work hard to maintain their place here with the idea of carving out their career. One of the stressors that everyone really doesn’t know or feel quite so confident in what they want to do in their lives. People in college are young still, there’s still a lot to learn and a lot changing in terms of one’s sort of direction they want to take. And so, it can be a stressful time just not fully knowing or feeling confident in knowing the direction one is headed in. In addition, with what’s happening world-wide, just in terms of the constant exposure of what’s happening through the media – the news media.

It’s just evidence that there is a lot of distress going on around the world and the economy is not that great and the job market’s not great, so there’s

a lot of different things that I think people are exposed to and contribute making people feel really stressed out. That along with college being, for those students who choose to live on campus in resident halls, it’s a big change. To leave home and to live separate from family.”

Anxiety affects people differently and there are different levels of anxiety, but nonetheless, those who have anxiety or high level of stress should know that they’re not alone.

It’s completely okay to seek help. We live in a society where it makes people uncomfortable or feel not normal to get help for their condition.

Push through your ego to look acceptable in society and make your health your priority.

Chances are, that those around you are dealing with the same anxiety and stress that you might be going through Don’t sit there and do nothing, set a good example and show that it’s perfectly normal to get help.

A Hopeful Wake-Up Call CHRISTIAN BOURGEOIS STAFF WRITER When we see families lose children, and teachers shielding seven-year olds from hail storms of bullets, (in the Sandy Hook Massacre 156 shots were fired in the span of five minutes), we feel the collective need to act. Or we should. Yet we have politicians respond with words like “We have to harden our schools not soften them up. A gun-free zone to a killer or somebody who wants to be a killer is like going in for ice cream. It’s like here I am take me,” said President Donald J. Trump in a listening session about gun-violence and school shootings.

This writing will not focus on defending a party, slandering a party, or pushing an anti- or pro- agenda at all. It serves only as a hopeful wake-up call.

President Trump has pushed some interesting agendas in the wake of the Parkland shooting.

He surprised his base by backing more intensive background checks, a higher focus on mental health in those checks, and raising the minimum age to a uniform 21 years of age for all

TEN

gun purchases. As promising as it sounds, to have a Republican President pushing for tighter gun laws in the wake of these awful massacres, there’s a flipside to the coin, as usual.

Former representative of Georgia and current political commentator Jack Kingston lent these words to the American teenage survivors of the Parkland, Florida shooting on Feb. 14.

“Do we really think that 17-year-olds on their own are going to plan a nationwide rally?”

Kingston then continued to suggest that left-wing liberal groups had “hijacked” these teenagers to push an agenda.

CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota rebuked him stating she “talked to these kids before they knew the body count of how many of their friends had been killed.

No one had talked to them yet.

They hadn’t been indoctrinated by some left-wing group. They were motivated by what they saw and what they endured.”

Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter to show his outright disrespect for the tragedy these kids had been through when he liked two separate tweets

pushing conspiracy theories that say this tragedy and its student response were a hoax to propagate leftist gun control activism.

Jaclyn Corin, a public student leader of the “Never Again” movement to end gun violence in schools, organized a rally of more than 100 students in a single day. The students didn’t stop with a display of solidarity. They moved into small groups to speak and reason with Democrat and Republican lawmakers about the issue of gun control.

We can’t allow voices of victims to be stifled. We see that argument in the sexual assault issue we face in America today as well. No victim can be left to be silenced, especially when their sole goal, driven out of loss and pain and grief, is to better the world and prevent a travesty like a school massacre.

All politics aside, if we stifle the voices who call us to better our society, then what will we be left with? Unfortunately, politics never stays aside very long.

The true split of the problem begins here: A large faction of the American people don’t see this issue as a gun control prob-

lem. They see a problem with a lack of armed school officials, or a need for special military training for 20% of a schools’ full-time teachers. This opinion needs to be respected. Our country has a hard time feeling that an opinion is valid even when it is diametrically opposed to their own. We like to think that we respect opinions, but truly we only respect the opinions that we can live with.

What we need to do is accept that these antonymous opinions are still valid, but also fight for our own position with enough respect and intelligence to make a discourteous change.

No person with sound intelligence can dispute that America has a problem with gun violence in our schools. If 21 six and seven-year olds can be shot dead without making one think there may be a problem, then we have a bigger issue in American mentality. However, most do agree on the front that action needs to be taken. The lively debate now centers on what those actions must be.

Too often we get overwhelmed with the raw emotion of what is happening in the world and forget that concrete action needs to be taken to stem the violence

until we can stop it. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has initiated the gun control activism organization Everytown for Gun Safety, funded by $50 million of Bloomberg’s own money. This organization intends to be a counterweight to the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA), and has a specific agenda including stricter background checks, laws that would prohibit domestic abuse perpetrators from possessing firearms, and tougher laws on trafficking guns. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence also became a major contributing organization to the movement when it became an umbrella organization of over 48 religious affiliations, all fighting to pare back concealed-carry laws and prevent gun related suicides.

Both of these organizations have a strong online presence for anyone looking to donate or support them.

Many right-leaning reasoners would argue that these laws that the leftist groups fight for so vehemently are only helpful if they are followed, and so tighter gun laws will not deter Continued on page 11

VOL. LXXIII

OPINION

Poetry Slam: The Passionate Voice Within Us All CHRISTOPHER SANDERS STAFF WRITER Have you ever listened to poetry, I mean really listened to poetry? On Feb. 13, 2018 a spectacular performance took place, Poetry Slam.

Listeners were witnessing the beauty of words, it was intense. Manhattanville is known for its beauty, enriching education, excitement and the birthplace of great artists like Steven Willis.

Willis introduced the strong African-American’s voice in honor of Black History Month. He opened the doors for creativity; great poets walked through that door and gave some of the best poetry I have ever heard.

It was filled with art, style, deep emotions, strong body language, lip-biting passion, and hearts that were beating so fast by such extraordi-

PHOTO CREDIT: CHRISTOPHER SANDERS

nary talent. When Willis spoke for this first time it was eye-opening, he made everyone feel the emotion and strength of his work, and he grasped everyone’s attention by not only being loud but being deep and profound. There was laughter, history, respect, and a strong stand on many issues that really gets a person thinking.

Everyone showed strength, beauty, dedication, and real artistic passion towards their poetry. There was flow, appreciations, truth, amusement, and ‘OMG’ moments.

It was a true definition of strength and the creative art of poetry. I didn’t want the event to end, no one was bored or even checked their phones during this time. Willis and everyone who performed and listened really observed the true quality of poetry and gave an entirely different view of poetry. During this

time poetry became a performance and literary art in which voices were heard, the truth was known, and a great deal of respect, knowledge, and heart was given to the poets and their topics.

As a journalist and a poet, I was just there to observe, I loved everything. No one showed fear, anger, sadness or even messed-up. Everything wasn’t like the movies, it was so much more. What does poetry make you think of? How does poetry make you feel?

When one sat down in a chair and put your phone away then nothing else mattered or even compared to the captivating voices of poetry that were spoken. In that room, you could really see and feel the beauty, love, dedication, and heart. Willis gave light to a new way of poetry. The many years he has been doing poetry slams, since he was 15 years old, is an inspiration to me and other young artists in the world. It doesn’t matter what career or lifestyle one lives, poetry flows within dancing, singing, acting, teaching, and more. Being there in that room made me want to cry, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. When I think of poetry I think of what poetry has to teach me. Poetry is an art and art takes on many forms of life. Poetry is what you make of it and not what others perceive of it. Putting one’s knowledge into poetry isn’t enough because anyone can do that but putting one’s heart into poetry is light.

A light that gives a deeper meaning and appreciation of life. You can listen to poetry, you can say poetry, but can you put heart into poetry?

What comes from the light of poetry is who you are and not what you are saying.

Continued from page 10

those inclined to kill with guns. This sounds like it’s a logical argument on the surface but if you probe, you see it’s close to baseless.

The foundation of this argument says: Why should the legislature write, enforce, or support laws for tighter gun control if many gunmen obtain and possess their firearms illegally? However, that logic can be applied to all laws both criminal and civil. It would be equivalent to ask: Why should the legislature write, enforce or support a law against murder when murderers will undoubtedly break it?

The answer is simple: because nothing short of physical detainment can prevent a human from exercising free will, however laws, morals, ethics, and the social contract we live in allow us to deter these lawbreakers and grants us a course of action to take when these tragedies wrack our nation. An argument stating stricter gun laws would be ineffective, due to killers being un-phased by the illegality of their actions, is almost saying to live in an anarchical society is a direction this nation should head in, if all law-abiders will abide regardless and all lawbreakers will break regardless.

So, once again we plunge into the debate of what to change, how to change it, and what the first step is.

It’s true that college students may not have all of the answers, but clearly neither do our politicians, our military, or our founding fathers (though that is not a sign for any of us to stop trying or to inhibit others from trying). Many cling to the Second Amendment as a reason to loosen, maintain, or protect gun ownership laws. What we must understand is how much we have changed as a nation, both technologically and socially. As a newly liberated country in the late 1700s, an armed society was necessary as we didn’t yet have an established military, and the threat of invasion by England or other empires was a genuine concern.

Now, as the highest spender on national military forces

ISSUE II

in the world, that argument doesn’t hold water. Further, guns in colonial and post-colonial America were dramatically different than they are now. The civilians then owned four-and-a-half foot, seven to ten pound rifles that commonly missed person-sized targets at distances of 10 feet. These rifles had an average loading time of 20 seconds per single shot. Today, gunmen have the capability to fire one hundred bullets per minute, with scopes, dot sights, and accuracies that blow away the guns that the original Second Amendment was written for. We can’t allow our Constitution or Bill of Rights to inhibit the safety of hundreds of our own citizens every year. I am a firm and stable proponent of both those documents as well as the right to bear arms. We simply need to find the line between necessary and insanely dangerous.

The fine line is elusive, and will probably never be agreed on by anything close to a majority however that difficulty and ambiguity doesn’t abscond us or liberate us from the responsibility to find it. For the children since Sandy Hook who are gone now, we fight. For the parents who no longer have a baby to tuck in at night and reread “Goodnight, Moon” to, we fight. For the countless brothers, sisters, cousins, and friends that don’t get to call their person up every day or say, “I love you,” to anymore, we fight.

It’s not easy at all when we become so desensitized to this violence. In fact, we’ve become desensitized to the word “desensitized”. We all see this violence in the news, on social media, or in print. We do next to nothing. We certainly don’t do enough, and the people who are doing enough, we don’t have enough of them. We have to become them. Mr. Rogers put it memorably, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” And if you can’t find one, be one. It needs to stop.

ELEVEN

VOL. LXXIII

OPINION

ISSUE II

On the Topic of Security MATT BRACCHITTA STAFF WRITER

In light of recent events in Florida, I think it is time to discuss the issues at Manhattanville regarding security. I do not intend to insult the efforts of the staff here who protect the student body; however, the response to such a serious issue has been lackluster, to say the least.

The email that President Geisler sent explained that security is of the utmost importance. However, when my father drives me back from our home, he usually says “just dropping off.” At no point am I asked to show my ID.

"INCREASE YOUR MEMBERS & INFORM OUR VALIANTS ABOUT YOUR WORK"

Additionally, during my freshmen year, three of the doors of Spellman Hall were broken, and you could just walk in. Now admittedly, this was very convenient. However, they stayed broken for my entire freshmen year, which is unacceptable. The mere idea that someone could easily walk in with a gun and shoot freshmen in their dorms was a frightening thought.

CONTACT TOUCHSTONE AT TOUCHSTONE@MVILLE.EDU FOR DETAILS

Another issue that comes up in President Geisler’s email is having access to a counselor on campus during the time. While offering a counselor is a good step, it does not cure the problem of students not actually being safe. This does not mean having a counselor on call is a bad, but it is not enough. You cannot just say that you have given these issues attention and then do a half measure. I want a clear and specific plan to improve it, and that does not need to be a large adjustment, but it should be more like spending additional money and attention on specific areas to keep the student body safe. Now let me make something clear: I do not want drastic change in Manhattanville’s security. I do not want professors to hold guns, or even guards to hold them. I am just asking greater awareness for security after another school shooting. All I want is the guards to ask for my ID.

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Retraction Statement 03-06-2018 In the previous publication, the article “New Student Activities Director” spelled the new Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Leadership last name incorrectly.

The correct spelling is Alex Barkley.

We apologize for this misinformation and would like to formally retract those incorrect statements.

THIRTEEN

VOL. LXXIII

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ISSUE II

The Vagina Monologues JESSICA COWLE EXECUTIVE EDITOR The Vagina Monologues is an outstanding tradition that runs in the Manhattanville community. Year after year, different women direct the monologues written by Eve Ensler in association with V-Day. This year, senior Dance and Theater major, Lea Romano directed the school classroom themed show.

“The stereotypes that women are constantly conformed to are represented within this year’s show, as well, in order to help show the specific categories that women are constantly put into, day in and day out,” explained Romano.

The Vagina Monologues is a series of monologues that introduces a wildly divergent gathering of female voices, including a six-year-old girl, a septuagenarian New Yorker, a vagina workshop participant, a woman who witnesses the birth of her granddaughter, a Bosnian survivor of rape, and a feminist happy to have found a man who “liked to look at it,” according to Tony Award winning playwright, activist, and performer Eve Ensler’s website. The Vagina Monologues sparked the V-Day movement, which encourages college campuses and communities to produce The Vagina Monologues.

V-Day, which stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina, is “a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of playwright/founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologues and other artistic works,” according to vday.org. The organization allows The Vagina Monologues to be a free show.

In exchange for this, all the proceeds from the show are donated to a local charity of their choice, that supports the end of violence against women. According to Romano, Manhattanville’s benefactor was Hope’s

re:

PHOTO CREDIT: KILIC, BULENT. 2016

PHOTO CREDIT: TARA MURPHY

Door, a local women’s shelter in Pleasantville, New York.

Romano performed The Vagina Monologues every year before she applied to direct.

“I truly love what this show stands for, and the cause that it helps to raise awareness for,” stated Romano.

As her 35th production, she explained her love for the feminist theater and based her thesis off it. Romano explained that feminist theater incorporates women’s social and political struggles through theatrics.

Each year, only women are involved in the production and typically men are not involved. This year, Romano incorporated a video that opened up the show which included a variety of male alumni, faculty, and resident life staff who explained what feminism meant to them. They

were asked deeper questions, as well. Romano asked if they ever witnessed sexual assault in person and what feminism means to them. Each man had a different response, which made it especially interesting for the audience.

Romano just finished her run of Avenue Q and was immediately immersed into The Vagina Monologues. Jumping from cast member to director was an interesting change. Junior Musical Theater major, Paola Morales explained that “Romano has a vision of her own and she works towards that. She is very disciplined, which makes the rehearsals very professional.”

Sophomore Musical Theater Major Tia Inoue, also described what it was like to have a cast mate transform into the director.

“It’s interesting having a cast mate as a director because all

the notes that we were given during rehearsals on how do better. It’s interesting to see how she took performance notes from Avenue Q and incorporated it into The Vagina Monologues,” said Inoue.

Morales explained how exciting and enjoyable Romano was to work with, “One of the things I like the most about her is that she is very straight forward; she’s full of constructive criticism which is very important to get as a performer. She is full of knowledge and we learn a lot from her.”

The Vagina Monologues was very special to Romano, she explained that this production hit very close to the heart. “I am a huge feminist, and a very big fan of feminist theatre, in itself. I think The Vagina Monologues speaks to me on another level, due to my love of feminist theatre, as it is the number one, ideal piece of feminist theatre in the world,

today.”

Romano went on to explain that V-Day means a lot to her as well, because “it is one of the most performed plays in American history, and raises money, nationally, for all kinds of women in need. This piece is beautiful, and shocking, and elegant, and raw, all wrapped into one. It speaks to everyone, and for everyone, while still being true to itself, along the way.”

Overall, the tradition of The Vagina Monologues is a fantastic addition to the community that sends a message of feminism, raises awareness for rape, sexual assault. The Vagina Monologues as a whole, raises money for a fantastic cause and has had productions in over 140 countries.

The Manhattanville College student publication, Touchstone, welcomes letters from students, as well as faculty, administrators, alumni, and those not affiliated with the college. Letters must be submitted before 3:00p.m. on Letters Sunday before publication to touchstone@mville.edu. Letters must include the author’s name, email address, and to the phone number for verification. The name of the author may be withheld upon request. Submissions exceeding 300 words will not be reviewed. Please note that submissions may be edited for grammar and/or length. PubliEditor cation will be left to the discretion of the editors.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

VOL. LXXIII

ISSUE II

Broadway at Manhattanville Produces Student-Run Musical SHANNON GAFFNEY

role is fulfilled by a student.

STAFF WRITER

Last year, B@M’s first student run musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee successfully played to two sold out houses. Like Spelling Bee, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change is funny, smart, and features a small, versatile cast.

Theatre at Manhattanville never stops—immediately after Avenue Q’s wrap, where students signed posters and reflected on their experience, the read-through for Broadway at Manhattanville’s (B@M’s) I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change began. Directed by senior, Mario Pavon, this show chronicles the many stages, tribulations, and hilarities of romance—covering everything from disastrous first dates, to finding time to have sex in a marriage. Each actor plays a variety of characters—and almost every behind-the-scenes

There are some wonderful new additions to the team. Chris Pecci, a Manhattanville musical theatre graduate of 2015, has returned as Music Director, with Music Education major Andrew Murray as Assistant Music Director. “[Chris] is insanely talented, and he acts very professionally throughout rehearsal,” Murray

said. “He knows when it’s time to buckle down and work. I worked with him for a little bit when we were both in Crescendbros, and it’s an honor to work with him again.”

This year, B@M is thrilled to have Danielle Case, a sophomore theatre major, and the secretary of B@M, serving as Assistant Director of the show.

In addition, B@M gives students the opportunity to focus on skills related to, but not entirely encompassed by their major. For example, junior musical theatre major, Jillian Sharpe returns as the production’s choreographer this year. At Manhattanville, she has performed in many dance concerts. She is a member of

Dance Troupe, and recently worked as Assistant Director/ Choreographer for A Doll’s House, directed by Carol Fox Prescott. This is another chance for her to lend her talents beyond just the musical theatre department.

Further, B@M gives students the chance to work outside of their most comfortable element. Musical theatre senior, Sarah Buturla, is known across campus for her amazing voice, and she has been featured in Showtune and Side by Side

by Sondheim, just to name a few. However, you can also find her behind the scenes, returning as the Costume Designer for B@M’s production.

“Performing comes naturally to

me,” she says. “Being offstage with costumes is harder work, but the work I put in makes the show so much better. It makes me smile, watching the full finish and seeing everyone look good.”

Buturla is not the only busy student involved in the production. For example, freshman music education student, Erin Burtchaell, is a member of Manhattanville Sound and Manhattanville Dance Ensemble, in addition to performing in the B@M show this year.

“I’ve started rehearsals for both the Spring Dance Concert Continued on page 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

VOL. LXXIII

will be holding two bake sales in Brownson Hall: Tuesday, March 27, 12:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

They will also be holding a fundraiser at Chipotle in Rye Brook from 5:00p.m.-9:00p.m. on Wednesday, March 28.

Continued from page 14 and the B@M Musical, which has created a very crazy schedule for me,” she says. “However, I am loving every second.”

Performer Deanna Lee Torrisi is also a music education major—but she has been featured in Manhattanville’s mainstage productions of Working and Showtune, in addition to serving as President of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and Music Director of the X&Y Chromotones. Despite these many performance projects, she finds that rehearsing for B@M’s show has been extremely rewarding, and that the cast and crew are held to a high standard.

ISSUE II

Although these events will help to cover the costs of the production, tickets to the show itself are free. The cast and crew are thrilled to perform.

PHOTO CREDIT: BROADWAY AT MANHATTANVILLE

“The only difference is that it’s student-run and the rehearsal schedule is very different,” she said. “Besides that, I feel that the productions are treated with a very similar standard of professionalism as the main

stage productions while still opening up the opportunity to perform for students who might not have the opportunity to perform in the main stage shows. Even though it’s run by your peers for the most part,

there is a great deal of respect and ambition to work hard that goes into the production.”

In order to raise money to fund the production, B@M will be hosting a variety of events. This semester, they

“I can’t wait to see everyone in those seats on opening night!” exclaimed director Mario Pavon.

I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will run Thurs-

day, April 19 and Friday, April 20, at 8:00p.m. in the Berman Theater. Contact B@M at mvillebam@gmail.com for more information.

Black Panther Review KATE IMPERATO STAFF WRITER 5/5 – absolutely stunning.

(Spoilers, of course) When I entered the theatre to see “Black Panther,” I was honestly worried. I had heard so many amazing things about the movie, even though it had only been out for about a week. Before then, I’d avoided any trailers or info; I wanted to see this movie on its own merits.

When I came out I had tears in my eyes.

The movie was incredible.

Any expectations or worries I had about the film were smashed in about a couple of seconds. I was enthralled from the first moment of narration and the visuals and stuck in my seat until the post credit scenes. The movie follows the character T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, as he returns home to the reclusive and incredibly advanced country of Wakanda to take the mantle of king. Once home, he is forced to confront a challenger to his throne in the form of Erik Killmonger (played by Michael B. Jordan) and prevent Wakan-

da from being dragged into a world war. Alongside him are Okoye (played by Danai Gurira) and Nakia (played

by Lupita Nyong’o), both of whom are members of the Wakandan special forces, known as the Dora Milaje, and the princess and genius Shuri (played by Letitia Wright). Other minor characters include M’Baku (Winston Duke), leader of another tribe in Wakanda and challenger to T’Challa’s throne, Agent Ross (Martin Freeman), an ally of T’Challa’s from “Civil War,” and Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), a minor antagonist from “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

Where on earth do I begin?

The movie was stunning in every sense of the word. The scenery and setting were absolutely breathtaking, and the landscape of Wakanda was incredible. It was full of color and light and managed to blend a more natural landscape of cliffs and mountains with a technologically advanced country of the future. I think some of my favorites were the scenes where T’Challa enters an ancestral plane depicting an African savannah, backlit by a sunset-lit sky. It was jaw dropping. Another favorite was Shuri’s lab, a blinding

building of white and deep blue form its location in the Vibranium mines. The music at every moment provides a thunderous beat, a heartbeat for the whole movie.

It also fuses typical movie soundtracks with African music and rap. Kendrick Lamar even participated in creating the soundtrack. I could only describe it as something triumphant and bold, and I was honestly driven to tears by the soundtrack at the end.

The costumes were bright and bold as well—the Dora Milaje’s uniforms were incredible, and the black panther costumes in the movie were simple yet held incredible detail. Even the costumes worn by characters such as W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) and N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), who had an unfortunately short amount of screen time, would draw the eye at every moment.

But what really took the cake were the characters.

The narrative of each character was built with a complexity that had me rooting for nearly everyone. Almost every character was endearing and compelling, and each were played with an expertise that was astounding. I fell in love with Shuri, the young and brilliant

princess who filmed her own way I’ve never seen before. brother getting humiliated Each character had their own “for science” and could hold motivations that wove itself her own in a battle as well. I into the movies overarcing admired Okoye, the stalwart theme. general who kicked ass in a I spend a lot of time watchred dress, using a spear and ing superhero films, but was dedicated to her duty and country. Lupita Nyong’o none of them have blown me stole my heart as Nakia, who away or driven me to tears the way “Black Panther” protected the royal family has. It was brilliant in a way and stayed by T’Challa’s that I haven’t seen before side throughout the whole and likely won’t see for a film. But overall the two long time. It was incredible, winners were T’Challa and and I can’t wait until I can Erik Killmonger. Chadwick see it again. Not only that, Boseman’s performance but the movie has two post as the Black Panther was powerful, commanding, and credits scenes, so remember to stay after and watch. kingly, and I was blown away by his speech in the ancestral plane. I loved how dynamic and three dimensional his character was, moving from a determined warrior to a teasing older brother. And Erik Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, drove me to tears. I have never cried over the villain in a film before, but the character was complex, nuanced, and sympathetic in a PHOTO CREDIT: MARVEL STUDIOS

FIFTEEN

GET OFF CAMPUS

VOL. LXXIII

ISSUE II

BY CINDY VIRELLO

ATTENTION! Tired of sitting in your dorm room or only traveling by foot? Make friends with a student who has a car and take a trip to White Plains next time you have a break! If you prefer to take the ride solo, then the Manhattanville Valiant can help you with that! The Valiant stops at various locations in White Plains including the Metro-North train station.

To find out more information regarding bus stops visit Campus Safety in Spellman Hall.

BLT Steak $$$$ Looking for a special upscale date night? Try out BLT Steak hidden on Main Street in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Their mouthwatering prime cuts, gourmet fillets, and savory sides will have your taste buds ringing for days. Call now for a reservation.

Location: 221 Main St, White Plains, NY 10601

VEGA Mexican Cuisine $$

Location: 874 Scarsdale Ave, Scarsdale, NY 10583

Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Sunday to Monday

Chipotle not hitting the spot?

Check of this gem right up the street from the Hartsdale Metro-North Station. VEGA offers a retro modern vibe with food that gets your senses tingling. Stop by and try their flavorful signature Churassco embellished with chimichurri and spicy jalapeños

Hours:

Tel: (914) 268-0397

Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Saturday & Sunday

Wild Ginger $$

Location: 189 E Hartsdale Ave, Hartsdale, NY 10530

Dinner 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Monday to Thursday

Hours: 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

– Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Monday to Wednesday

11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Monday to Friday

4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Friday & Saturday 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Sunday

12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. – Thursday to Saturday

Tel: (914) 723-5700

Tel: (914) 723-0010

The Bagel Loft $$

Moscato $$$

Every human of Manhattanville knows that Hours: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – there’s nothing like Lenny’s Sunday In love with pasta, but not with Bagels in Rye Brook, but if the place you get it from? Stop you’re ever in Tuckahoe, this off at the Scarsdale Metroplace is a close second. Their 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – North Station to embrace wide variety of made-to-order Monday to Thursday Moscato’s cozy ambience and breakfast sandwiches and imported Italian antipasto and signature home fries will have gourmet pasta dishes. This 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. – you hopelessly addicted. sweet spot offers affordable Saturday and zesty pre-fixed lunch and dinner options for when you Location: 307 Columbus Ave, Tel: (914) 467-5500 just can’t decide!

Tuckahoe, NY 10707

MEET THE TOUCHSTONE STAFF @MVTouchstone TEN

ADIVISOR Bryce Bauer

FEATURES EDITOR Anjali Hopely

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Brabazon OPINION EDITOR Dylan Hayes

Come to this trendy Asian fusion restaurant where the rice is perfectly sticky for all your sushi needs, along with lunch specials that won’t hurt your wallet. Monday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wild Ginger offers half priced lunch specials, so hop on the train to Bronxville and satisfy your craving!

Location: 10 Park Pl #2, Bronxville, NY 10708 Hours: 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. – Friday & Saturday Tel: (914) 337-2198

HEAD PHOTOGRAPHER Tara Murphy EDITORIAL DESIGNER

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jessica Cowle

SPORTS EDITOR Christopher Colosi

COPY EDITOR Katherine Matuszek

NEWS EDITOR Jasmine Hernandez

COPY EDITOR Giovanni Menacho

HEAD OF ADVERTISING Maria Caban Marissa Nardi

Ally Andryshak SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS