THE Volume 94, Issue 3
Q
UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924
September 13, 2016
15 Years Later MC Never Forgets
www.mcquad.org
Lasallian Volunteers Keep Tradition Alive Anthony DePinho Staff Writer
Remembering 9/11
Ally Hutzler/The Quadrangle
Student Government Holds First Assembly Meeting of the Year Jack Melanson Asst. Editor
Revamping Locke’s Loft, creating more fun activities on campus, making life for commuting students easier and more enjoyable and even potentially placing an Au Bon Pain on campus. These were just a few of the key discussion points at the first Student Government Assembly meeting which took place in the Raymond W. Kelly Student Commons this past Tuesday, Sep. 7. “The first meeting went great and I’m looking forward to a great year.” said Student Body President Dorian Persaud. The first item on the meeting’s agenda was Gourmet Dining. “We have a lot of really exciting things going on,” said Assistant General Manager of the Food Service Management Team, Brian Conway. “We are really pushing for an Au Bon Pain around January.” Conway added that Au Bon Pain, if placed on campus, would be located by Cafe 1853. Other tasks that Gourmet Dining and Student Government have been working on include reforming the new commuter meal plan and making food more appealing to all students. Commuter meal plans “Will mirror dining dollars that we already have here,” said Conway. “Incorporated in these meal plans is swipes to Locke’s Loft which includes discounted costs.” Specifically, the commuter meal plans include two options. The first allows three meal swipes at Locke’s Loft and $330 Dining Dollars per semester, while option two allows five meal swipes and $550 Dining Dollars.
Micheala Bishop, who leads the Commuter Student Association, placed an extra emphasis on commuter students to take advantage of these new opportunities. “Get as many students involved as possible so that we can expand it.” Bishop said. Persaud mentioned that students are signing up, but like Bishop, he hopes that these programs continue to grow and become more successful. “We’ve had students signing up,” said Persaud. “We plan on strengthening the commuter meal plan, but it’s a great start.” Conway also shared that new chefs were hired at Locke’s loft, Cafe 1853’s menu was improved and options for vegans have been updated. The meeting rolled on and shifted its focus from Gourmet Dining to discussing Student Government’s current committees and associations. The committees and associations included; Social Life Committee and the Lasallian Action Committee lead by Allison Ready. Budgets Allocation Committee lead lead by Matt Mattera. Club Oversight Committee lead by Kaitlyn Griman. Resident Student Association lead by Olivia Siller. Neighborhood Relations Committee lead by Ryan Quattromani. And lastly, as stated before, the Commuter Student Association lead by Micheala Bishop. Each committee or association discussed their plans for the semester, which included bringing some new activities and ideas to campus, as well as continuing with some traditions.
Ryan Quattromani, a veteran of the group, mentioned some of the work that Student Government did last year to bridge the gap between the surrounding community and Manhattan College. The biggest of these activities was a community luncheon that created a space for students, staff and the community to come together and discuss how to mend Manhattan College’s relationship with residents of Riverdale. “I’m hoping to do that again this year.” Quattromani said. Bishop also discussed more legislative plans to change the culture for commuter students. “I want commuter students to safely take metro trips to school together,” said Bishop. “ I also want more than just one commuter appreciation day, I’d like to have more, small little commuter appreciation days.” Persaud, like Bishop, seems to be highly invested with adjusting the life for commuters here at Manhattan College. “I also have been in contact with the lead developer of the MC Glance application, Micheal Fulton, as they try to implement new features,” said Persaud. “ It would be awesome to see if the application could allow you [commuter students] access into residence halls.” Allison Ready, in charge of social life on campus such as Spring Fest and Manhattan Madness, emphasized she wanted students to be active and come to more Student Government meetings. “Bring your guys’ opinions, and the student bodies’ opinions,” said Ready. “ We could do so much more.” The next Student Government meeting will be held Sep. 21.
For Lindsey Pamlayne, walking through the Manhattan College campus is more than just a visit to her alma mater. It’s a return to the place that started a deep personal love for the Lasallian mission, that continued after graduation through the Lasallian Volunteers Program. “I had planned to be a Lasallian Volunteer from my freshman year on,” Pamlayne said. “Right off the bat I kind of knew that this Lasallian charism, I was sold.” The Lasallian Volunteers (LV) Program is a post-graduate volunteer program for adults who want to continue to serve in the Lasallian tradition. Volunteers live together in communities and serve in a wide range of capacities, with a focus on education and social work. According to their website, LV’s currently serve in 13 states across the country. Pamlayne, an MC class of 2015 graduate, spent her first year in the program at St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, teaching in the school and also getting involved in after-school programming. This year, her volunteer assignment is at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn as a teacher and a campus minister. “I spend a lot of time with high school students, affirming what I would consider my vocation, which is something I definitely discovered at Manhattan. It’s who I am, it’s what I like, it’s what I do,” Pamlayne said. Pamlayne suggested that the being assigned in different states and across several disciplines as a volunteer is meant to pose a personal challenge to each LV in the program. “The idea is to challenge you to grow, and a big part of that is to get you out of your comfort zone… You come to the program with who you are, and then in a very Lasallian way, the program meets you where you are” Pamlanye said. “You come in with your specific gifts, talents, and abilities – whatever it is God gave you – and then the program says ‘Ok, this is what you do best, and this is where you can be challenged to be even better.’” Mr. Andrew Weingarten, Director of Residence Life, served as an LV in Wisconsin for two years in a Lasallian school and an after-school educational center. A graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he mirrored Pamlayne’s sentiments in regard to this challenge when reflecting on his time as an LV. “The schools and ministries served by LVs genuinely need the LVs and rely on them to complete high-level, professional work as teachers and administrators. They are often schools that don’t have many resources so the LVs have to wear many hats and serve in many roles,” Mr. Weingarten said via email. Continued on page 5
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The
opinions & editorials
Quadrangle www.mcquad.org
Vol. 94 Issue 3 Sept. 13, 2016
Ally Hutzler Editor-in-Chief Sean Sonnemann Managing Editor Anthony Capote News Editor Kyleigh Panetta Jack Melanson Asst. News Editors Kieran Rock Features Editor/Managing Editor Tara Marin Asst. Features Editor Lindsey Burns Arts & Entertainment Editor Victoria Hernández Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Daniel Ynfante Sports Editor RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Sports Editor Kristie Killen Social Media Editor Taylor Brethauer Asst. Social Media Editor Vanessa Sanchez Photography Editor Leony Anne McKeown Asst. Photography Editor
The Editor
Letters to
Sept. 13, 2016
Re: “Smaller Freshman Class Arrives on Campus” (Sep. 6) I was disappointed to read the negative tone of this article in presenting enrollment numbers for the incoming freshman class. The article failed both to provide any analysis of the figures and to put them into proper context and as a result offered a misleading picture of the class of 2020. The writers pointed out correctly that this year’s freshman class is smaller, however, they neglected to mention that the class was smaller by design, instead referring to a “slump in enrollment.” In fact, the current enrollment has enabled the College to meet its budgetary goals and decrease the tuition discount rate. If the intent was to provide the community with a better understanding of the demographics of the class it would have also been worthwhile to mention that this year’s class has a more competitive academic profile, with the highest average SAT and ACT scores for enrolled students in our database (going back to 2007). In addition, the demographics of the freshman class is consistent with our Lasallian mission to serve minority and first generation students. To that end, the number of first-generation college students was increased and the percentage of Hispanic students enrolling was virtually unchanged. As the article stated, the enrollment figures will not be finalized until October 1, 2016, at which time a thorough analysis of demographics of the class will be conducted. I had asked that the writers wait until that time before presenting information about the class so that the community could be provided with more accurate figures as well as a better understanding of our enrollment within the context of our institutional goals and priorities as well as national and regional enrollment trends. Caitlin Read Executive Director of Admissions & Enrollment Operations
Kelly Burns Abbi Kirollos Production Editors Daniel Molina Stephen Zubrycky Web Editors Tom Callahan Faculty Adviser
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 staff of The Quadrangle meets every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in room 412 of the Student Commons. Contact The Quadrangle at thequad@manhattan.edu 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.
Patrick Estanbouli/The Quadrangle
Letters to The
Editor
Opinions & Editorials
Dear Ms. Hutzler:
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I am writing in response to Tori James’ editorial titled “Make MC Safe (Again?)” concerning Dean Michael Carey’s address to the class of 2020 on sexual assault. Dean Carey’s presentation is an important starting point for a conversation with new students on a very difficult topic, and for that reason I have attended the presentation during Opening Weekend each of the last 3 years. Since I was present again this year, I would point out that contrary to Ms. James’ sentiment that the talk neglects our Catholic and Lasallian heritage, Dean Carey’s presentation grounds the conversation in this important context. In fact, he connects the responsibility of caring for one another by linking these values to the Perpetual Vow of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian School, which originated in 1694, to live “together and by association.” While it is true that we have external mandates to educate about sexual assault, Dean Carey emphasizes first and foremost that we have a moral imperative to respect the dignity of all human persons. I also want to applaud the fact that a number of RAs contributed to the article and voiced their opinion about both the content of the presentation and our shared values as a community. I can assure you that Residence Life and the Dean of Students welcome this kind of honest response, especially as we engage in addressing difficult issues like sexual assault on campus. Throughout RA training we emphasized that the position is not merely campus employment but also an important leadership opportunity. Dean Carey’s presentation has evolved over the past 3 years and we welcome constructive criticism in order to improve upon the message. Dean Carey and the office of Residence Life will reaching out to RAs to begin a dialogue about incorporating their ideas for next year’s presentation at Opening Weekend, and throughout the year for other educational initiatives surrounding our work as a community on this important topic. Sincerely,
Richard T. Satterlee, Ph.D Vice President for Student Life
CORRECTION In the article published last week titled “Maintenance and Repairs on Campus,” The Quadrangle stated that Nancy White was the director of physical plant, which is not the case. White is the office manager while Richard McKeown is the department’s director. The article also had photos of air conditioning units placed outside of Horan Hall near the dumpster, which were not being put in the trash but were removed to be cleaned and serviced. The Quadrangle regrets the errors.
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news
New Program to Teach Students Lasallian Leadership Values Daniel Molina Editor
Rooted in the values that Saint John Baptist de LaSalle preached, leadership practices are one of the most encouraged ones on Lasallian institutions around the world. Manhattan College is not the exception and, although is a common word spread around the student body, faculty and administration, many of them have no idea about what this concept means. This is why this year a group of leader administrators around the campus from offices including (but not limiting to) Residence Life, Multicultural Affairs and Fitness, Wellness, and Recreation formed a series of conferences that explain, from different points of view, the idea of being a leader. AJ Goodman sat in his office in the 5th floor of Thomas Hall as he explained what is his conference based on and what he wants to achieve through this program. “I want to explain to [students] what being a good Lasallian leader is through the 12 values preached by our founder,” Goodman said. “A lot of it is just what good, successful leaders on campus but maybe they don’t have the language to say it like ‘yes, this thing that I’m doing is actually Lasallian.’” La Salle was once a normal man who
had enough leadership to find an opportunity area and do what he could to fill a gap in his society: quality, inexpensive, private education, Goodman said. “Some of the things that we’ve seen are that students go out and apply for the RA position or they try to be club presidents and they get into it because they know they want to be in a leadership position but they haven’t really thought about what that means,” he said. From the perspective of the Office for Career Pathways, leadership is more based on discovering who a person really is and what qualities, may be hidden within oneself, are valuable to the community he or she lives in. “Having students know that they have a voice and showing them different options to say ‘Wow! I could really be an RA [Resident Assistant]’ or ‘Wow! I could run for Student Body president’ and I didn’t knew that until I started listening to these workshops I think it’s great,” said Meghan Makarczuk, assistant director of the Center for Career Development and one of the speakers featured in the program schedule. Although the program is mainly designed to help underclassmen get involved in different clubs and programs MC offers in future leadership positions, everyone can take advantage of the conferences that will be offered in the Kelly Commons starting next week.
“A student might think ‘well, I am already a leader so I don’t have to do it’ or they might think only in one type of leader,” Makarczuk said. “But this program is designed to tear down those barriers and invite students to be successful with themselves and really see what this school can offer. Sometimes what you learn outside the classroom: extracurricular classes, clubs, sports… are the things that will surprise you with how far they can take you.” But for John Bennett, director of Student Engagement, this program has a different goal compared to the one of the office for Career Development. “This is a pilot program born out of the leadership weekend that happens at the beginning of every spring semester,” said Bennett. “Although it’s open to the whole community I would imagine that it has more benefit to the type of student who hasn’t made their niche here yet, those who still looking to made Manhattan College their home.” The series will start on September 13 with Michael Steele as the presenter for his conference “Five Exemplary Practices of Leadership” in Kelly Commons 4A, and following ones will repeat until November 30. Students can receive an introduction leadership certificate by attending one of the seven topics offered according to their website
iPic Entertainment Visits Campus Seeking Part-Time Workers Kelly Burns Editor
Starting last Thursday, and ending tomorrow, students may have noticed a table on the first floor of the Kelly Commons with adults offering free movie passes. This was iPic Entertainment. iPic Entertainment is a forthcoming theater that has a vision of creating the ultimate movie experience. The plush theater offers extra-cushioned leather seats as well as reclining seats that come complete with a personal blanket and pillow. Food and drinks designed by the chef are offered as well. The company is on campus looking to hire Manhattan College students for various roles within the new venue. “We are here at Manhattan College because we want to reach out to as much community as possible,” Daxon Patterson, unit manager for Fulton Market, said. The iPic Theater will have its grand opening at the revived Fulton Market in South Street Seaport on Friday, October 7th. Human Resources at iPic Entertainment reached out to Manhattan College’s Center for Career Development as an effort to get students involved and offer part-time jobs. Typically, the department of Career Development organizes events such as the career fair as well as visits from accounting firms and engineering companies that are looking for full-time hire. “We do want to serve as a hub for part
Sept. 13, 2016
Also On Campus Jack Melanson Asst. Editor
Student Court Appointments Student Court members are appointed by the Student Government at Manhattan College as five new members were appointed on Sep. 7. at the Student Government Assembly meeting. John Tanner, Rachel Kurtz, Mary Kate Himmelberg, Pedro Vasquez and Micheal Vinci will now join the five incumbent members of the court. Emily Garren, Matthew Clark, Sean Sonnemann, Anthony DePinho and Victoria Cruz maintain their positions on the court. Meet, Greet and Eat The School of Education and Health is hosting, “Meet, Greet, and Eat” on Thursday, Sep. 15. at 6 P.M. “Meet, Greet, and Eat” will be located in room 4B of Raymond W. Kelly Student Commons. Student Kaitlyn Vonrunnen said this event will allow students of the School of Education and Health to meet fellow students and professors, discuss ideas, talk about upcoming events and concerns, to ask questions, and to also make connections within the school. Motivational Outreach Motivational Outreach at Manhattan College is actively seeking new members. Specifically, Motivational Outreach is a club on campus that seeks to motivate “students to achieve higher, one at a time.” The club meets once a week, every Tuesday at 4:30 P.M. in Miguel Hall 311. All Library Floors Open 24/7 Last week the library announced that the 2nd-5th floors will be open 24 hours a day. Previously, after midnight students were consolidated to the 4th and 5th floors while the rest of the building shut down. Introducing Jasper Pay
Manhattan College/Courtesy time jobs that will be beneficial for students as well,” Rachel Cirelli, Director of Career Development, said. With the grand opening approaching, the company wants to make sure they have a full house and plenty of hands on deck. “We are hiring at least 200 employees for front of the house, back of the house, we want hosts, guest services, reception, bar back, bartenders, servers, dishwashers, and concessions. We are looking to hire everyone possible that way we can have a good turnout,” Patterson said. Cirelli believes many companies gravitate towards Manhattan College because of its good reputation and accessibility to New York City. “These opportunities are important and employers like to see you have work ethic and that you supported yourself.”
Students who showed interest in the company received a card that said, “Work for iPic.” Once the student has submitted their applications, they will then be contacted by iPic Entertainment to set up and interview as soon as possible. So what is iPic Entertainment looking for in a part-time student worker? Character. “We hire character, we hire talent, and we just train skills,” Patterson said. “We do obviously believe that having these kind of jobs are extremely important for their own professional development. We want students to put these kinds of opportunities on their resumes,” Cirelli said. iPic Entertainment will continue to be on the first floor of Kelly Commons through Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Students who install the new Manhattan College application, Glance MC, from the App Store can have access to their digital jasper card to make transactions. Starting Sept. 12, students who use their digital jasper card to make purchases will be entered for a chance to win one of four $25 dining dollar credits. Major Author Reading Series (MARS) Begins Thursday Megan Sexton will do a reading and discussion in Hayden Hall room 100 this Thursday, Sept. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sexton is a poet and editor.
Features
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Lasallian Volunteers Keep Tradition Alive Past Graduation Continued from page 1 But perhaps one of the biggest adjustments any LV has to make is to “living in community.” The volunteers do not live on their own, but instead together in a community with the Christian Brothers also assigned to those Lasallian locations. Many LV’s find this a unique and invaluable experience. “Living in community was the most important part of the program for me, not just living with the volunteers, but also with the brothers,” Pamlayne said. Weingarten lived with two fellow LV’s and two Christian Brothers, and found a great deal of support in this community. “It was one of the best experiences of my life. The LVs and Christian Brothers who I lived with are like my family. We always talk and go to each other for advice even though our time together ended over six years ago…” Weingarten said. “The three pillars of the LV program are faith, service, and community and the program provides each volunteer with all the support they need in each of those areas.” Megan McShane served as an LV for two years after graduating from Manhattan in 2013. The Long Island native served in St. Louis, Missouri, as a teacher in De La Salle Middle School. Although the community McShane lived in did not have any Christian Brothers, she too found the envi-
ronment around her incredibly supportive. “I found that Lasallian Volunteers was a good fit for me, where I could be in a different area, and experience new things, I could test out teaching, and have that support,” McShane said. McShane said that the lack of Lasallian Brothers in her community did not diminish the experience in any way; she suggests that actually made it more unique. “I’ve found that in my community experience, I’ve made some of my best friends,” McShane said. “It was nice having people to talk to who knew exactly what I was going through.” One way McShane’s experience was unique was in terms of communal prayer time. The Christian Brothers follow a certain weekly prayer structure, but without any brothers there, McShane and her fellow LV’s had to adjust and find a new system that fit them best. It required some creativity. “We were able to be a lot more creative, which I really liked… everyone had their own style of prayer, and what prayer meant to them, which is something I really liked,” McShane said, citing their use of music, poetry, and other forms of media to create a new prayer environment in their community. “That was not what I expected going into the program, but that’s something
that they encourage you to do, to be creative with your prayer,” McShane said. “It doesn’t have to be reading out of a book.” But regardless the specifics of each community, all the LV’s acknowledge that their communities were supportive units that form long-lasting bonds beyond the time spent volunteering together. Once an LV has completed his or her one- or two-year commitment as a volunteer, several options are available to them once their time is up. One option is to pursue a graduate degree through the Lasallian Scholars Program, which McShane is currently enrolled in. She is working towards her Master’s degree here at MC, living on campus and working for Campus Ministry and Social Action (CMSA). Amanda Weingarten is an Academic Progress Specialist for the Office of the Registrar. A graduate of a Lasallian high school in Portland, Oregon, she spent two years as an LV in New York City, and after her years of being an LV were over, she came here to Manhattan College for graduate school. “Joining the Lasallian Volunteer program opens many doors, professionally and personally. One of the many doors is the ability to apply for a scholarship to pay for your graduate school at one of the Lasallian colleges in the country,” Mrs. We-
ingarten said via email. Graduate school is not the only available next step. “Becoming an LV leads to a number of networking opportunities. Another door that has opened for some LVs has been the ability of their volunteer year(s) to lead to employment at their ministry or another ministry,” Mrs. Weingarten said. But regardless where each volunteer ends up after their time has ended, they all seem to agree their experience as an LV was one they will remember for a long time, and one that fully ingrains in them what it means to be Lasallian. McShane said, “Doing Lasallian Volunteers was probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life... I knew I always wanted to be in education, but doing Lasallian Volunteers gave me the reason why. I liked understanding an area of the world, and understanding the social injustice there, and figuring out what you can do about it and reflecting on it.” For Pamlayne, being an LV provided “opportunities to be my best self, but always in service of another person, and that’s what it meant to be Lasallian to me.” In her teacher’s bag she carries with her a book titled The Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher, based in Lasallian tradition, and a small key chain of Saint John Baptiste De La Salle.
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Features
Sept. 13, 2016
The Faces of the Summer Literacy Institute
Features
It’s a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood:
Washington Heights
Stephen Zubrycky Editor
Many local Bronx students confirmed their desire to attend college during Manhattan’s Summer Literacy Institute. Krystal Diaz/Courtesy
Kyleigh Panetta Asst. Editor
Every summer, a group of 30 New York City high schoolers become acquainted with Manhattan College and know it as the place that confirmed their desires to attend college. David Hawkins, known as Trae to his friends, said that Manhattan College’s Summer Literacy Institute (SLI) played a key role in his college acceptance. SLI’s goal is to help NYC teens prepare for the college application and decision process. Hawkins attended The Metropolitan High School in the Bronx which, according to Insideschools’ guide to NYC public schools, has a 66-percent graduation rate. Hawkins is now enrolled as a freshman at Penn State with a full ride scholarship. “Now that I am attending college, I believe SLI adequately gave me an edge on how to navigate through secondary education,” Hawkins said. Hawkins said that taking classes through SLI and living on campus made
him feel like he was already a college student. “For five days, I lived exactly as a college student was and that made me even more excited to actually start college.” Marisa Passafiume, MC’s assistant vice president for academic success, volunteers to coordinate SLI’s week long college level courses as well as workshops to help each student complete their college essays. Passafiume said that SLI is is designed to answer the questions students have about college so they can decide if it is the right fit. “We really try to just give them an idea of what college is like and show them that they can do it. And just little skills to help them out,” Passafiume said. Dean Trusty participated in SLI this summer and said that he is more confident in himself and his future because of the program. “SLI made me a changed young man. It made me look at colleges differently, in addition to making my college choice accurate,” Trusty said. Trusty said that he enjoyed sharing his college essay with all the other SLI students
and their families at the end of the week. “It was like we were family having Thanksgiving dinner on July. We were really grateful for having each other and having something in common,” Trusty said. He said SLI opened his eyes because it offered something that he had never heard of. “Living on campus and taking college classes was a rare opportunity, a very rare opportunity for a teen growing up in the Bronx,” Trusty said. For a Queens native, SLI was 15 miles away and presented a different kind of rare opportunity. Abbie Gonzalez is a senior at Aviation Career & Technical Education High School in Queens. She said that she did not even know where MC was before she applied to SLI. “I was craving for a change. I had to figure things out on my own and just give it a try... I just wanted to gain a new feeling. Get out of the common and try something new,” Gonzalez said. She was worried that she was not going to get accepted because she missed the deadline.
Dean Trusty in the middle with the 2016 SLI student mentors. Dean Trusty/Courtesy
Gonzalez found out that she was accepted with a less than one week before the program started. “That’s where I officially started to wonder what would it be like to be on campus and not knowing anyone there and what it was going to be like,” she said. Gonzalez said that not knowing anyone else was her favorite part of the experience because she had to rely on herself. “I never thought about attending college until this summer. I used to think college was not for me and joining the military was probably the best way to go since I’m [part of Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps],” Gonzalez said. “[SLI] enlightens in a way where it built curiosity in me and made me question if maybe college is for me,” she said. Although Gonzalez is uncertain about her plans after high school, she said that SLI showed her how to be comfortable with the not knowing what the future holds. “This summer I felt like I expanded my mind. It’s okay to wonder and to not know everything,” Gonzalez said.
Trae Hawkins on the right with his parents at his high school graduation. Trae Hawkins/Courtesy
The far-northern reaches of the isle of Manhattan may best be described as rock – a jagged pile of rock interrupted only by minor tufts of green. It’s a narrow strip squeezed in between the mighty Hudson to the west and the narrower Harlem to the east. Atop this pile is more stone still – and brick too. But this stone is shaped, and stacked not in jagged lines but in straight columns, piercing the sky above crisply. This layer is cut once more, scored along the land by hot lines of gray asphalt, brutally straight save for a few curves as they descend down the pile. The pile is sliced further still by an even more brutal stripe of concrete dashing across its center, entering mightily on the Hudson side as a great white behemoth of steel and exiting the other coolly atop a more modest arch. The stripe is the Trans Manhattan Expressway between 178 and 179 Sts.; the behemoth is the great George Washington; the cool arch is the Alexander Hamilton; the stone columns and the jagged pile on which they rest is Washington Heights. Washington Heights, or, more simply, the Heights, is named for Fort Washington, the site of a bloody rebel defeat in the Revolutionary War. In November of 1776, a group of German mercenaries and British soldiers overpowered American troops at Fort Washington, leaving 53 American soldiers dead, according to an article by the History Channel. The fort no longer stands, and the site has been replaced by Bennett Park, located at Fort Washington Ave. and W. 185 St. Bennett Park is the highest point on Manhattan Island, and is more than 260 feet above sea level. Other parks in the neighborhood include Highbridge Park (home to The High Bridge, which is open to pedestrian traffic to the Bronx) and Harlem River Park along the Harlem River. On the other side of the Heights, is Fort Washington Park, which spreads itself out along the cliffs of the Hudson, and is home to spectacular views of the George Wash-
Sylvan Terrace is lined with wooden rowhouses from the late nineteenth century. Stephen Zubrycky/The Quadrangle ington Bridge and Jeffrey’s Hook Light, the lighthouse under the G.W. Bridge popularized in the children’s book “The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.” Farther south in the neighborhood, at 162 St., east of St. Nicholas Ave., sits the Morris-Jumel mansion and the Jumel Terrace historic district. The mansion is the only remaining house in New York City built before the Revolutionary War, and it served as a strategic headquarters for then-General George Washington and for British General Sir Henry Clinton. Years later, Vice President Aaron Burr would occupy the mansion with his wife, Eliza Jumel, according to the mansion’s New York City landmark designation report, which was filed in 1967. The mansion is part of the Jumel Terrace Historic District. Across Jumel Terrace from the mansion is Sylvan Terrace. Sylvan is lined with wood-
The George Washington Bridge can be viewed from Fort Washington Park. Stephen Zubrycky/The Quadrangle
en rowhouses c. 1880, when urbanization first came to the Heights. The rowhouses look like something out of a children’s book and are crammed together along the narrow street, having gone virtually untouched since their creation, according to the City’s report on the historic district, which was filed in 1970. According to the New York Public Library, The Heights remained relatively undeveloped until the late 1800s, which is when the Uptown streetcar arrived, bringing with it droves of immigrants. The first wave of immigration to Washington Heights was primarily Northern Europeans, such as Germans, Finns, and Irish. The arrival of the I.R.T. line (known today as the No. 1 train) along Broadway and St. Nicholas Ave. only hastened the tide of population growth in the area, and
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unleashed a building boom. By the 1950s, Puerto Ricans would begin to arrive in the neighborhood, followed ultimately by Dominicans, according to the Library. The two groups give the neighborhood its Latin-island flair memorialized in LinManuel Miranda’s (a Heights native) hit musical “In the Heights.” The Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage is especially palpable along 181 St. near Broadway and St. Nicholas Ave., which, lined with shops, bars, and restaurants, has become the center of gravity for the Uptown neighborhood. The sights are rich, and the smells richer. And the mofongo, a signature Puerto Rican dish made of fried plantains, is plentiful. This busy corridor is located just two blocks north of the unembellished steel trusses of the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal, which sits precariously over the Trans Manhattan Expressway. The expressway tore across the island at the command of master builder Robert Moses in the late 1950s, displacing more than 1,800 families, according to reporting from the New York Times in 1959. Also sitting above the expressway are the Bridge Apartments, four gigantic high rise rectangles completed in the 1960s by developer Marvin Kratter, according Kratter’s New York Times obituary from 1999. The buildings pop out from the stone-brick landscape characteristic of the rest of the area, and like the steel towers of the neighboring G.W. Bridge, they are visible from miles around (even from Manhattan College). Washington Heights is served by the No. 1 train (157, 168, and 181 Sts.), the C train (155, 163, 168 Sts.), as well as the A train (168, 175, 181 Sts.). The No. 1 platforms at 168 and 181 Sts. are among the deepest in the system, and are accessible by elevator only. First as a battlefield in the fight for independence, and then as an entrance ramp for new Americans, The Heights is a monument of two historical and cultural focal points of the American experiment, cast first in stone and then in steel.
Washington Heights is named after the site of a rebel defeat in the Revolutionary War. Stephen Zubrycky/The Quadrangle
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Arts & Entertainment
Sept. 13, 2016
SoNYC Makes Exploring New York City Easy Taylor Brethauer & August Kissel Asst. Editor & Staff Writer
Dessert crawls, bike tours and the never-ending hunt for the best rainbow bagels are just some of what Slice of New York City, or as the members like to refer to it as SoNYC, has to offer Manhattan College. The club began back in 2013 and was inspired by the idea of showing the not-so local students the secrets of the big city. This fall semester brings an entirely new executive board than the year before, including sophomores Monika Simikic and Areba Thomas, the club’s President and Vice President respectively. The girls now running the club stress that they want anyone and everyone to come join their events. It’s a chance to experience New York City things as locals, not necessarily tourists. “I’m from California and I had never been to New York before… when I joined SoNYC it made me so much more comfortable with the city,” Monika Simikic, a sophomore, said. “To be able to be a part of the executive board for this club is very exciting for me, I’m excited for our events and for everyone to participate with us.” In the past, the club has gone on many dessert crawls, which is their most popular activity. Some of their other activities have included scavenger hunts in Central Park and a trip to Smorgasburg food festival in Brooklyn. The club invites anyone to sign up for
Kieran Rock
the events via email on a first come, first serve basis, due to the fact that the club will try to pay for the event and make the day as cost efficient for the attendee as possible. However, anyone is more than welcome to attend any of the activities. “I wanted to make friends and I wanted to explore the city because I’m all the way from North Carolina,” freshman club member Mikenna Breen said. The members are welcome to pitch any of their own ideas for events as well. One of the most popular this year being the Roosevelt Island Tram, as suggested by Breen and many other students. The tram is a gondola that takes the passenger from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan over the East River. “We really try to diversify the events that we are doing,” Thomas, a sophomore, said. This year the executive board tried to push other events such as bike tours in Central Park, a kayak tour along the Hudson River and the San Gennaro Feast in Little Italy. If students are still interested in getting involved with SoNYC, the club has more than enough space. SoNYC is advertised as open for any student, as long as you have an interest or love of all things New York City. To reach to the club, email sonyc@manhattan.edu. “Being able to take people [into the city] and seeing their reactions as they experience things they wouldn’t be able to experience in other parts of the country or even the world will be the best part of this club,” Simikic said.
SoNYC provides MC students with the ultimate guide to explore New York City. Taylor Brethauer/The Quadrangle
The Book Nook
Editor
Before Saoirse Ronan’s Oscar nomination for Best Actress, “Brooklyn” came to life as a novel by Irish writer Colm Tóibín. Much like the film, which found critical acclaim in its 2015 release, “Brooklyn” tells the story of Eilis Lacey and her emigration from Ireland in the 1950s. As the title might suggest Eilis arrives in Brooklyn, New York and begins a new life. Eilis lives in Enniscorthy, Ireland, Tóibín’s own real life home town. When she struggles to find work in the small town, her older sister, wanting a better life for her, arranges for her to travel to America and find work in New York. Eilis finds more than just a job in America, as one night at an Irish community center dance she begins a relationship with Italian American plumber, Tony. Eilis navigates falling in love and learning to assimilate into American culture, all while trying to build a career for herself by taking night classes and working in retail. Her life in America and her relationship with Tony are thrown into limbo when a sudden tragedy strikes the Lacey family and Eilis must return to Ireland. “Brooklyn” is a historical novel, telling the story of immigration and assimilation, as much as it is telling Eilis’s story. We are given the descriptive experience of traveling to America by boat from Ireland, a dirty experience of sea sickness and cramped rooms on an ocean liner. In moments like the scene of Eilis passing through customs
Title: Brooklyn Author: Colm Tóibín Genre: Fiction (Historical) or her first night in the boarding house with six other girls, we see that Tóibín’s novel grasps at the general immigrant experience through a very intimate and personal narrative. Tóibín emphasizes the lonely life of the immigrant in the middle of the twentieth century and focuses on the silence and isolation that dominate every aspect of Eilis’s life. He crafts a novel that tells the story by making us listen and cling to each word the narration gives us. We are asked to do some of the work in reading Brooklyn as the withholding of narrative points and moments of ellipses dominate the narrative and encapsulate the very fractured immigrant experience Eilis has. “Brooklyn” is a coming of age novel, but one that challenges every characteristic of the genre by placing its central character into a new world where her maturation process is inextricably tied to her assimilation in America. While John Crowley’s 2015 film adaptation makes a heartwarming love story that certainly interrogates the immigrant experience, Tóibín’s novel is very different in its approach to Eilis’s story. Certain characters and moments missing from the film—even the endings of the two works are different—and so having seen the movie is certainly no excuse to skip this novel.
Kieran Rock/The Quadrangle
Arts & Entertainment
9
Behind the Success of the Visual and Performing Arts Culture Common Interest Community Taylor Brethauer Asst. Editor
When you exit the elevator onto the 10th floor of Lee Hall, you’ll notice it isn’t just your run-of-the-mill dorm floor. The bulletin board transports you to the middle of Times Square and the doors are adorned with Playbills for every single Broadway musical, ranging from “The Producers” to “Hamilton.” In the lounge is a large black booth that students can use to practice their singing and instruments without disturbing other residents. This floor is the Visual and Performing Arts Culture floor, one of Residence Life’s most popular common-interest communities. The common-interest communities came to fruition back in the fall of 2015, after the success of the popular Arches program. Although the Arches program is only available to incoming freshman, the other communities are open to any student. Communities such as Nuestra Casa, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Issues and Sustainability and the two brand new floors, Lasallian Community and Health and Wellness have become popular living choices. Resident assistants are chosen to lead these floors and all of the activities. For the Visual and Performing Arts Culture floors, those RAs are junior Dan Dixon and senior Erica Rebussini. Both of the RAs committed a lot of their time at the end of the previous semester to recruiting residents to live on their floor. By growing awareness for the floor, it has allowed the community to grow in numbers. The RAs want students to make new friends with those who share similar performing arts talents, whether it is painting, singing, dancing or acting. “Common-interest communities… give students an even more personalized, specific niche in which they can develop and indulge their skills/talents/things they love,” Rebussini said. “It ultimately reas-
The Visual and Performing Arts Culture is one of Lee Hall’s most popular commmon intersest communities. Taylor Brethauer/The Quadrangle sures you that other people share the same interests as you, but in really diverse ways. You can only become a more diverse musician, writer, poet, actress, performer, etc. by living on our floor — you have 76 other people to help you get there.” As far as events, the floor is full of activities the RAs are eager to engage their students in. Karaoke nights, a night out at the Cotton Club (a jazz club in Harlem) and other programs that could possibly include Broadway tickets are some that Rebussini is looking forward to. Dixon, on the other hand, was a member of the Founder’s Bridge mural project the previous semester and wants to do something along the lines of decorating the floor. He recently held an event that students could come and paint, with their paintings being hung up in the lounge afterwards to decorate the space. In the future the floor might actually paint a mural
to hang in the lounge on canvas boards. “The whole goal of the community is to have it be student driven. If they have an idea, they can bring it to us and we can help make it happen,” Dixon said. “There is some talk about a mural, which I’m very excited for.” Another feature the two rallied for was a practice space for students to sing or play their music in, without bothering other students or causing a commotion. They got something even better— the Whisper Room. The box is a soundproof booth, complete with lights and allows sound outside to be reduced. “You can find similar rooms on many college campuses. They are great resources for students to use musical instruments, sing, record, and more. We learned about them last year from Dr. Mark Pottinger who is the faculty liaison to the community,” Andrew Weingarten, director of Resi-
dence Life, said. “We always need to consider residence hall safety, so our room only reduces sound by 50%, is positioned so that you can see and hear the fire alarm and is used under the supervision of Residence Life staff who have the key,” Weingarten said. Residents have been enjoying the floor already, with all of the events planned and the communal feeling already starting up. The RAs couldn’t be happier, since it was their goal all along. Both of them have been planning their ideas and floor themes for a while after being chosen to be in charge of the program. Rebussini has been working in the Performing Arts department since her freshman year and after already leading the Arches program last year, was ready to lead another community floor. Dixon was chosen to be in Lee Hall after painting on the mural project and speaking to one of the previous RAs for the community. They want every resident, no matter their artistic background, to come together and have a good time in the dorm building and during the activities. “Painting together has been something fun and relaxing with one another… everyone has been really nice and welcoming and hanging out with each other, more so than non-communal floors,” Marisa Robbins, a sophomore resident, said. Even after the community only being active starting a few years prior, it is obvious that it is one of the biggest and a popular choice among the communities. The students have enjoyed it in the past, and by word of mouth, more students will be able to enjoy it for this school year. “I am very excited about this community. It is currently the largest of our six Common Interest Communities, and much of that is due to the recruitment efforts of RAs Erica and Dan who started planning and recruiting residents last spring. They have a lot of wonderful ideas and programs planned. It is going to be a great year,” Weingarten said.
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sports
Sept. 13, 2016
This Week in Sports
Ajani Phillips handles the ball during Manhattans loss to La Salle. Go Jaspers/Courtesy
Volleyball Manhattan’s volleyball team (0-10) continues to struggle with its non-conference schedule. The Jaspers lost three matches this week, all in straight sets. The team is still winless, and eight of its 10 losses have come in straight sets. The Jaspers have won just three sets through 10 games.
Women’s Soccer The women’s soccer team (2-5) defeated NJIT 1-0 on Sept. 11. Emma Saul gave the Jaspers the victory with a goal in the 71st minute. Saul’s strike is only the second goal for the Jaspers through seven games. The win also marks the first shutout for Manhattan this season.
Men’s Soccer Manhattan’s men’s soccer team (0-4) dropped both its contests on the week. The Jaspers lost 2-0 to Binghamton on Sept. 5 and 3-0 to La Salle on Sept. 10. The Jaspers have yet to score a goal this season.
Cross Country Manhattan’s men’s and women’s cross country teams successfully opened up their season on Sept. 10. The men’s team placed third, while the women finished in fourth. Compiled By Daniel Ynfante, Sports Editor
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sports
11
Gallagher Linked to Olympic Gold Medalist Centrowitz Jr. RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Editor
Kerri Gallagher, Manhattan College’s new cross country head coach has a long list of achievements and experiences. A professional runner herself, Gallagher came close to qualifying for the 2016 Olympics. Had she qualified, she would have been there with her coach’s, Matthew Centrowitz Sr., son, Matthew Centrowitz Jr., who won the Olympic gold medal in the 1500 meters. Gallagher is coached by Centrowitz Sr., who attended Manhattan College for a year before transferring to the University of Oregon, where he led his team to the 1977 NCAA Cross Country Championship win and eventually ended up breaking Steve Prefontaine’s 1500m school record. Gallagher was an assistant under Centrowitz Sr. at American University, where she also trained under him. “My coach Matt Centrowitz is probably one of the best in the country and is really great at developing athletes, and teaching you not just how to be a better runner, but also what it takes to really learn the sport and understand it,” Gallagher said. “I think I was learning to coach more than I was training to be a better runner but they both happened kind of at the same time. It was a great experience for me and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Centrowitz Sr. recently had the oppor-
tunity to watch his son, Centrowitz Jr., win the same race he lost in 1976. Centrowitz Jr. came in first place for the United States in the 1500m in the Olympics, leading the entire race and coming in at 3:50.24. “I was elated,” Centrowitz Jr. said in an email. “A part of me was in disbelief.” Centrowitz Jr. described training for the Olympics as tough, and said the moment he stepped up to the starting line, he felt a lot of nerves. “It is the moment you train your whole life for,” Centrowitz Jr. said. After winning the gold for the United States, Centrowitz Jr. couldn’t help but smile after seeing his dad’s reaction. “My dad’s reaction was like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning. It was awesome,” he said. “My family has been incredible! It has been with their great support that I have been able to achieve all that I have achieved.” Centrowitz Jr. said that since his dad began working with Gallagher in 2011 when she joined the staff at American University, he has had nothing but good things to say. “My dad always says that Kerri is very enjoyable to work with,” Centrowitz Jr. said. “She is very coachable, tough and dedicated. I think Kerri will do a great job at Manhattan. Using her experience from working with my dad and her own experiences as a world-class runner, I believe she will have a huge impact on the Manhattan program.”
Go Jaspers/Courtesy
Kerri Gallagher brings years of experience as a coach and professional runner to Manhattan. Go Jaspers/Courtesy
sports
12
Sept. 13, 2016
Yamashiro Breaks School Record
Allie Yamashiro broke the school record for digs, 2013, on Sept.2. Go Jaspers/Courtesy
RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Editor
When Allie Yamashiro, a senior libero on the Manhattan College volleyball team traveled thousands of miles from her native Hawaii to New York, she did not know what to expect. “I was nervous a lot of the time,” Yamashiro said. “I definitely had to work on building confidence, but I’m glad that my coach gave me the chance to play from when I was a freshman, and that he’s trusted me since freshman year. I’m really grateful for that.” And Yamashiro has delivered on her coach’s trust, as four years later, the nervous Hawaii native has turned into a confident team leader who has broken the school record for digs.
“Breaking the record is a good feeling,” Yamashiro said, “As a team, we still have a bigger goal, and that’s to win the MAAC Championship. To be honest, it was never my goal personally to break a record. I’ve always been about the team, and we’ve always been about wanting to win the MAAC Championship to be able to go to the NCAA Tournament.” The record for career digs had been held by Ashley Watson ’07, who had amassed 2013 digs. But on Sept. 2, Yamashiro broke the mark. The Hawaii native has played a major part in Manhattan’s success the last three seasons, being at the center of the team’s stellar defensive play. Yamashiro has built a reputation as an active player who is willing to dive and sacrifice her body for digs. Yamashiro’s teammate, Mary Donnelly, said the first three words that pop into
her head when she thinks of Yamashiro is academic, leader, and success. “And dirty, definitely dirty,” Donnelly said. Yamashiro began playing volleyball at the age of nine, when she signed up to play on the police community league. At the age of 11, she began playing club volleyball, and this is when she believes that her volleyball career began to get serious. During high school, Yamashiro led her high school, Kamehameha High School, to three consecutive junior varsity championships, and was named Female Athlete of the Year as a sophomore. Yamashiro found out about Manhattan College through the recruitment process, and once she realized it was located in New York, she knew this was the place for her. “I knew I wanted to leave Hawaii and go see something totally different,” Ya-
mashiro said. At Manhattan, Yamashiro was immediately inserted into the starting lineup her freshman year. She has consistently led the team in digs, and has ranked among the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and NCAA leaders in the category. In 2014, Yamashiro set a program record with 656 digs in a season, a mark that was the 12th highest in the NCAA. Yamashiro has left an indelible mark on her teammates, and in her final season, is looking to win a championship for them. “It’s been a privilege to play with someone who’s so humbling and talented,” Donnelly said. “She’s been such a leader, and someone that I’ve looked up to on and off the court. When I found out she broke the record I was ecstatic. I think that’s such a cool opportunity, and for her to have reached that goal and have that title is really something great.”