Issue 14, Fall 2014 - The Quadrangle

THE Vol.90 Issue 14

Q

UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924

Dec. 2, 2014

www.mcquad.org

s l a n i F e h T e u s s I k e We

During Finals, Students Feel Effects of Lack of Sleep Cara Ledwidge Senior Writer

Christian Roodal/The Quadrangle

Students rely on caffeine, and sometimes energy drinks, to get through final exams.

Putting it Off: Procrastination by Students at Manhattan College Kieran Rock

Asst. Features Editor Finals week can be the most stressful time of the semester. Not only because of the exams we are taking, but all of the work students have put off.

That’s right, with only two weeks left in the semester it’s the time of the year when MC students scramble to finish their papers and hand in their homework, no matter how late they have to stay in the library.

Procrastination is undoubtedly the biggest hindrance to a college student’s grades and time management skills. According to an article published in The Guardian, “Procrastination is the disease eating away at student productivity – and with exam season upon us, we’re facing an epidemic.

An American study estimates that over 70 percent of students “exhibit [this] behaviour”.”

The problem can be seen on the Manhattan College campus. Sophomore Alexandra Frederick says that the internet is her biggest hindrance when facing a difficult work load.

“I procrastinate the most by going online and looking at all of my social networks multiple times, regardless of their changes, or lack of,” she said. “I had to get the ‘self control’ app to concentrate.”

Frederick is not the only one who is being distracted by her computer. Senior Alexandra Brunetti finds herself online shopping when it comes time to work. “I do pretty much everything [to procrastinate]” Brunetti said.

“I’m a huge candle addict, so I am always looking for a new candle,” she said. “Or plane tickets, or clothes,” she said. “Sometimes I’ll just complain about the work, or clean my room, or go to my friend’s room.”

Sophomore Jill Magenta finds her phone more distracting than the internet. “I

call people a lot when I’m trying to procrastinate.” In order to stop the distraction, Magenta puts he phone on the other side of the room.

“Sometimes my friends and I will take each other’s phones when we are doing work,” Magenta said.

Regardless of the distractor, procrastination is a huge reason that stress goes up during finals week. While the easy solution is to make sure that each semester students follow the syllabus closely and stay caught up with the work, that is almost never the reality.

Most of the time it simply comes down to running out of time that forces students to do their work.

“For example I have a 30 page paper due Thursday,” Brunetti said. “When I get down to the wire and I really need to get the work done, the time crunch really makes me do it.”

treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder.

It states that “the combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine is in a class of medications called central nervous system stimulants. It works by changing the amounts of certain natural substances in the brain.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s publication Drugs of Abuse states that “amphetamines can look like pills or powder. Common prescription amphetamines include methylphenidate (Ritalin or Ritalin SR), amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall) and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine).”

illicit Adderall usage regarding Manhattan College students. But, national studies find that abuse is rampant on college campuses across the country. A study titled Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants During College: Four-Year Trends in Exposure Opportunity, Use, Motives, and Sources was published in the Journal of American College Health in 2012. The study states that “almost two-thirds (61.8%) were offered prescription stimulants for nonmedical use by Year 4, and (31.0%) used.”

Finals week is around the corner and Manhattan College students’ sleeping habits are about to change.

Some students have never taken finals before. Others are taking their last round of finals this semester. No matter which end of the experience spectrum a student falls under, their sleep schedule will suffer according to statistics gathered from students across the country.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Deprivation, “students may perform better if they close their books early and get more sleep before and during exam week. Most adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well rested. Teens need even more sleep, usually about nine hours or more,” which suggests that freshmen need even more sleep than their upperclassmen counterparts.

Students on campus have access to resources like the Counseling Center or Health Services, but according to students, those services are not on their minds in regards to their sleeping habits during finals week.

“I think I think I’ve been too busy studying to actually seek out these resources,” student Alyssa O’Braskin said. “They would probably be very useful, but I just honestly don’t have the time.”

Some colleges use their campus resources similarly to warn students about the dangers of avoiding sleep in favor of studying during finals week, but student Kelly Cousins said that these efforts won’t change how students sleep during finals.

“I definitely do not feel I have, over the past three years, developed habits that I’ll allow me a restful finals week. This is likely because I have always done the same thing during finals week, namely inadequate sleep and nutrition. This school is definitely not doing much to change this,” Cousins said. “What might help would be if freshman classes did more studying incorporated into the class. Realistically though, Continued on page 3

Demystifying Adderall: The ‘Study Drug’ College Students Take For a Better Grade Maya Astabie

Asst. Op/Ed Editor When multiple deadlines are approaching and stress levels are rising, many college students turn to Adderall, the prescription drug that is often referred to as the ‘study drug.’ The common belief is that the drug helps students focus with relatively few side effects which has led to high levels of Adderall abuse across the country and abuse on campus.

What is Adderall?

Medline, a website operated by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Heath states that Adderall is a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine and it is used to

How Widely is Adderall Abused?

There are not any specific statistics for

Why Do College Students Use Adderall?

Many students use Adderall because they believe it will allow them to study longer, focus more and improve their overall performance in their classes.

Manhattan College associate professor of psychology Arno Kolz, Ph.D., requires students in one of his classes to write a paper on and debate about a controversial topic in psychology. Many students have written about Adderall and other stimulant drugs. He said that he has learned a lot about the matter over the years.

“The motivation is that these are drugs designed to help people focus more and pay attention to help people with ADD and ADHD and so the belief is that it’ll help even quote-unquote normal people who don’t have those things focus, stay up, study more,” Kolz said. “The drugs are stimulants so the idea is that it helps you pull the all-nighter.”

Junior biology major Giancarlo SchilContinued on page 3

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news

Sleep Deprivation at Manhattan College Continued from page 1

I don’t think they can do much.”

Cousins’ thinking on the way that classes treat freshmen and studying during finals week begs the question of what professors should think about in regards to scheduling finals week and the workload leading up to it.

Finals week begins on Monday, Dec. 8 and continues until Saturday, Dec. 13. Finals that are listed on the website start at 11 a.m., but many students who take common finals have exams that can start as early as 8:30 a.m. The earlier nature of these exams gives students less time to sleep than those whose exams occur later in the day. Common exams are held so that professors only have to use one exam as well as to make sure that all students of all sections are being taught the same material.

“I do not agree with common finals because I think it is unfair to students to make them have to take finals earlier than their class exam is scheduled,” O’Braskin

said. “I know this does not always happen, but when it does, I feel that I have had time taken away from me to prepare. This loss of time causes me to be more stressed and sleep even less than I think I would if they were scheduled later in the day or week.”

Not all students agree on whether the common final schedule takes away from adequate sleep during finals.

“I usually study during the day, and I definitely don't pull all-nighters so my sleep schedule stays intact during finals week,” Jaclyn Scheel. “I don't think there's too much else the school can do. I think they're pretty good about spacing out our tests with the common exam schedule.”

The reaction of a variety of students who were surveyed suggested that there was more they thought the school could do.

“I would restructure finals week and make it so that there were more reading days in between finals so that I don’t have days where I have multiple finals all in a row,” student Eddy Mumbles said. “I have had that happen to me before, and I know I

did not sleep the night before.”

What some students might not realize is that sleep deprivation can lead to worse grades on final exams.

“There's tons of people who pull allnighters during finals week which leads to more tiredness and then could lead to worse grades,” O’Braskin said. “Teachers put so much stress on finals that kids would rather be sleep-deprived and cram all night than to have a good night’s sleep.”

The American Academy of Sleep Education (AASE) which suggests that, “with so much on the line, some students will load up on caffeine to study during a series of ‘all-nighters.’ This can have a negative effect on (their) performance, even after only one night of sleep loss. Even worse, people who are sleep-deprived tend to be unaware of how impaired they really are.”

The AASE website read that students who are sleep deprived may be easily distracted, making it hard for them to concentrate and focus, may have difficulty recalling information and may be more likely to make errors in their work.

Dec. 2, 2014

The AASE also calls for a good night of sleep to help “feel more energetic, alert, focused and upbeat.” Getting a full night of sleep after studying may can help the brain “consolidate” new information, which can help with preparing for an exam.

Student Ciara McGinley said that the quiet hours of dormitories changes during finals week so that students can have as much quiet as they possibly can.

“The buildings start a 24 hour quiet period during finals week so that students can study as best they can in the dorms," McGinley said.

Students also have the option of going to the library instead of their rooms or common rooms.

“These changes that are made during finals week and the advice given to students are great,” O’Braskin said. “But I still believe that the college can do more for students so that they do not suffer from sleep deprivation. I hope things are better next semester.”

John Abbatangelo/The Quadrangle

News

An Unhealthy Relationship?

Caffeine and Manhattan College Students

Daniel Molina & Tara Marin Staff Writers

Whether they were up all night studying, partying or having a Netflix marathon, it is not uncommon to see a lot of students on their way to class every day with a coffee in hand.

At Manhattan College, there are two Starbucks locations, a Dunkin Donuts just off campus and coffee and tea available all day at Locke’s, the campus dining hall.

Caffeine has never been hard to access.

With finals week approaching, there is generally an increase in the campus-wide consumption of caffeine as students prepare for their exams. But one of the main things that that students can forget about caffeine is that it is in fact a drug.

College campuses everywhere have an overabundance of caffeine and students who drink a little too much of it.

John Martelotti, a current freshman and Starbucks employee, admits that he thinks students here do drink too much coffee, but he tries to limit himself.

“I drink a medium cup of coffee everyday. I love anything hot from Starbucks, but Dunkin Donuts has Dunkaccinos and better iced coffee. Too much coffee makes me tired though, so I drink caffeinated soda as an alternative,” Martelotti said.

Many students may not be aware that consuming large amounts of caffeine at once can be hurting their bodies and actually making them more tired. Drinking coffee anytime in the afternoon or evening

Where Do College Students Get Adderall?

The results from research conducted by the University of Kentucky prove that it can be easy for students to receive a prescription for Adderall.

“With ADHD information readily accessible on the Internet, today’s students are likely to be symptom educated prior to evaluation. This may result in false-positive diagnoses, particularly when students are motivated to convey symptoms,” its abstract reads.

Kolz said he thinks there is a problem as well.

“The problem, of course, is when there are too many doctors out there who the second somebody shows up and says ‘I’m having a little trouble studying and concentrating’, they just write the prescription right away,” Kolz said. “They don’t properly go through all the diagnostic tests and criteria. Some of these kids really don’t have it or are just using it to sell the drug.”

Manhattan College associate professor of psychology, Nuwan Jayawickreme, Ph.D., offered another perspective.

“One of the dangers of pretty much a number of these psychological disorders is that you can see it if you want to see

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Natalie E. Sullivan Editor-in-Chief Michelle DePinho Managing Editor/News Editor Michael Peyko Asst. News Editor James O’Connor/The Quadrangle

Caffeine can have both benefits and negative side effects for drinkers. can severely affect their quality of sleep that night. This leaves students with heavy eyelids the next day, so they go for another cup of coffee, and the cycle continues.

“People who drink a lot of coffee everyday may need to drink more of it to get the same effects. They may also become dependent on it to the point that they develop withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly stop drinking it,” WebMD reads.

So while coffee can be delicious and help students get through studying, too much caffeine can cause symptoms like headaches and sluggishness.

However, not all students are addicted to coffee and prefer to just enjoy it when they want to.

One of these students is Griselle Sanchez, an MC student standing in the Starbucks line one morning.

“I’m buying a coffee because I’m kinda cold and it’s pretty early. I don’t really

drink too much coffee, but today I was in the mood,” Sanchez said.

When students are not drinking an unhealthy amount of coffee, it can actually have some benefits. Coffee makes can make drinkers more alert, energized and less stressed. It is loaded with antioxidants that are good for the immune system and it has even been linked to reducing the risk of diabetes. Another upside is that it can boost the drinker’s mood because it stimulates the release of dopamine in the drinker’s brain.

However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. The Mayo Clinic recommends that adults consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine a day, or 4 cups of coffee. The truth is that it just has to be consumed in moderation, which students should keep in mind especially when studying for finals.

The ‘Study Drug’ Continued from page 1 laci said he has noticed an increase in student demand for the drug during finals.

“There is definitely a spike in demand and usage during finals,” Schillaci said.

“Junior year is time when students are working towards not just Manhattan College tests but also graduate school tests like LSATS and MCATS,” he said. “Students worry about their grades and some will do some shady things to help them with what they want to do in their future.”

The

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it,” Jayawickreme said. “I think when we talk about these prescription rates, if one possibility is that some doctors are trigger happy, right? Even at the smallest mention, they’ll say OK take the drug. But, for other doctors, they may legitimately think ‘I’m seeing these symptoms’,” Jayawickreme said.

Another report titled Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants prepared by The University of Maryland School of Public Health states that “one study found that 5.3% of college students were currently prescribed ADHD medications,” and that “diversion includes the illicit sharing, selling, and trading of prescription medications. In one study, 61.7% of college students diagnosed with ADHD reported diverting their prescription stimulants.”

Schillaci does not believe that this illegal use of the drug is fair to other students.

“I know people that use Adderall not just at MC, but also other colleges and that there are students that have a prescription for them and people that don’t. […]

Students that aren’t prescribed it and use it anyway are cheating the system. In my opinion, using Adderall without a prescription is equivalent to an athlete using steroids,” Schillaci said.

What Are the Health Effects of Using Adderall?

The Food and Drug Administration website has a Medication Guide for Adderall. It states that there are health-related problems, mental problems and circulation problems associated with the stimulant medicine.

Furthermore, a recent New York Times article stated that the “abuse of prescription stimulants can lead to depression and mood swings (from sleep deprivation), heart irregularities and acute exhaustion or

psychosis during withdrawal, doctors say.”

What Are the Legal Ramifications of Illicit Adderall Use? Schillaci said that he has noticed that many students are not scared of the legal consequences associated with taking the drug.

“I feel that most students are not afraid to get caught having Adderall without a script,” Schillaci said. “Like most illicit drugs and alcohol, for minors it is relatively easy to get away with. It’s a false sense of immunity and there’s a certain amount of confidence that they won’t get in trouble for it.”

But, the legal ramifications for taking Adderall without a prescription or distribution of Adderall are severe. The Manhattan College Community Standards and Student Code of Conduct states that “the use of prescription drugs without a prescription or inconsistent with the prescribed dosage is prohibited. The College will cooperate with law enforcement agencies in apprehending specific individuals whose activities the authorities have good reason to suspect.”

The minimum sanction can include expulsion from the college.

The Drug Enforcement Agency lists Amphetamine as a Schedule II drug. The agency’s website states that drugs are placed in the Schedule II category because “substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.”

Other Schedule II stimulants are methamphetamine, Desoxyn, and methylphenidate, Ritalin. Other commonly known drugs ranked as Schedule II are cocaine, methamphetamine and oxycodone.

“These are prescription medications.

They [students] should not take them unless they have a prescription,” Kolz said.

Claire Leaden Managing Editor/Features Editor Kieran Rock Asst. Features Editor Natalie Heinitz Op/Ed Editor/Production Editor Maya Astabie Asst. Op/Ed Editor Lauren Carr Arts & Entertainment Editor Kelly Burns Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor/ Production Editor Chris Cirillo Sports Editor Jonathan Reyes Asst. Sports Editor Jaclyn Marr Asst. Sports Editor Sean McIntyre Social Media Editor James O’Connor Photography Editor Sean Sonnemann Web Editor John Abbatangelo Sam Martin Editorial Cartoonists Daniel Molina Distribution Manager Joe Cutbirth, Ph.D. Faculty Adviser The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College.

The staff of The Quadrangle meets every Tuesday at 4:30 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.

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opinions & editorials

Assault on the Assault Ads

Dec. 2, 2014

Luke Hartman Staff Writer

We have seen them posted all over campus. They scream their messages at us complete with ridiculous and over dramatic images. Going along with this semester’s theme of sexual assault awareness, Manhattan College administration has posted a series of “positive reinforcement” posters around campus.

Great…administration is acknowledging there is a problem and that something needs to be done. Great…they actually took action and didn’t just talk about the problem.

However, while it seems that this is a great step for our school, what messages are these posters screaming at us. Are they an attempt to solve the problem at hand, or just merely reinforcing a larger one? Let’s take a look at some examples.

Protect Yourself Against Sexual Assault So close and yet so far. The premise seems great in the fact that it reinforces the idea and message that no is always an acceptable answer, regardless of the circumstance. The problem however is in the circumstances described. The poster displayed near the 5th floor entrance to Lockes Loft depicts six scenarios in which it is still acceptable to say no. Some of these include drinking, wearing sexy clothes, making out, saying yes before, flirting, or changing your mind.

While it should seem like common sense that no means no in all instances apparently it isn’t and that is sad. While all of these are perfectly fine scenarios in words, the imagery is completely neutral in terms of sex. It is evident that through the language used and the imagery that this poster is geared towards girls and is basically victim blaming light.

In every picture there is some girl either displayed partying with guys just staring at her, or despondent on a bed or couch.

“Girls, yes you can say no, but just know it may not work and then all bets are off” “Girls, you always have the right to say no, but you are still putting yourself in danger and objectifying yourself, but have fun!”

No. This is just so wrong it makes me nauseous. Let’s just ask some questions like, what are guy’s sexy clothes? Are the men portrayed as flirtatious (NO)? Why is it assumed that the ones changing their minds or have said yes before are portrayed

Luke Hartman/The Quadrangle

as women?

The answer to all these questions is basically because we don’t know how to speak about assault in an equalized manner. It is not something we are used to seeing and not something we are used to doing. It is also not okay. This poster would have been fine if the language and imagery had been tweaked in a sense that it wasn’t so evidently targeted towards women.

Without Consent...It’s Sexual Assault This one is just plain bad. Let’s just start with the obvious. Here we have a nice girl literally pushing away a guy who looks like he just got hit in the head with a box of rocks. The words blared across “Without consent…it’s sexual assault” all but scream that this nice woman has not given consent and the little man in the background doesn’t get it. This poster firstly just plays on the stereotype and reinforces so many bad ideas in our minds. The first is that because the woman is yet again portrayed as the victim, and the man as a dopey aggressor, the gender binary and hierarchy is enforced. Women are continually trying to squeeze their way out

Two examples of the sexual assault posters that have been hung throughout the campus. of the aggressive sexual hold of men, and thinking more broadly about rape, rape culreally just cant quite make it. Great… ture, and all the avenues where sexual aswhat a great message to be sending. sault can occur.

I don’t think this was the intended message of this poster because actually, We need to stop thinking about men as the words underneath this horrid image dominant uncontrollable aggressors, and are really good. This poster goes into de- we need to stop portraying women as contail about the different situations when tinual victims, who are passive, weak and consent is still needed such as in mar- unable to help themselves. Maybe if we riage, long term relationships, that silence stop portraying this and encouraging this is not consent, sex is not an expectation, behavior, it will stop in real life as well. and the right to say no.

We need to stop focusing on how not The language used here is more or to get raped, but telling people that rape is less equalized in terms of gender, but one not okay, and that in every situation it will would never think that now after seeing continue to be not okay. Asserting power this image. Actually this image probably over another human for sexual pleasure is distracts the passerby altogether and they not okay, because it distorts the beautiful forget or ignore the messages underneath and positive purpose of sex itself. and just glean the harmful surface level These are the messages that need to be messages that this poster oozes. conveyed on a poster. Have any thoughts I think that both of these posters show on the matter, or have any ideas about what something extremely evident. We cannot a gender neutral and positive sexual awarebreak out of what is familiar and we can- ness advertisement should look like? Connot move away from this idea of sepa- tact us online or through email and we can rating roles. If we want to move forward get the discussion started in next semester’s on this issue, and actually do something issues. about it without highlighting or creating even bigger issues then we need to start

Debate Over Removal of “Lady” from Women’s Sports Teams Jaclyn Marr

Asst. Sports Editor Two universities have been in the news for recent decisions about their women’s sports teams. The University of Delaware has announced that they are removing the term “Lady” when discussing their women’s athletics. However, the University of Tennessee is fighting to keep the term.

While Manhattan College does not call their women athletes the Lady Jaspers, it is still a questionable topic. Is it really discriminatory? What about honoring team history?

Delaware’s change comes after an alumnus wrote a letter to the editor of their student newspaper. James Wiles, a class of 2012 graduate, called the use of the term Lady Hens “inherently sexist.” He states in the letter that men teams are simply named Hens and not something like Mister Hens.

He continued by saying, “The men’s teams are somehow solely entitled to the general term, without a gender specific qualifier.”

The student newspaper agreed and quickly responded. “Though this change is long overdue, we are proud to announce we are disposing of a discriminatory term,” the editors wrote.

On the other hand, the University of Tennessee had some opposing arguments.

While the school made the change, it is not viewed well among the students and fans.

It was seen as ruining the tradition of their women’s sports. A former female athlete was very upset by the school’s removal and started a petition, asking for the “Lady” to be reinstated.

More than 3,000 people signed the petition in the first two days. It reached about 5,000 so far. “Being a Lady Vol is something that I will cherish forever,” she said in a statement. “The Lady Vol T is more than a symbol. The T served as a fountain of inspiration during my tenure as a student-athlete.

It is heartbreaking to realize that no future athlete will have the opportunity to be apart of the Lady Vol tradition.”

Tennessee fans argue that the “Lady” is a major part of their history and they don’t

see it as discriminatory. Sally Jenkins, a sportswriter from the Washington Post, said that it was a term of civility and respect, a natural counterpart to gentleman.

A lady is someone who commands courtesy and gives it in return. People have also gone as far as comparing it to the description of the First Lady.

“It is a self-selected term that represents a history of hard-won greatness, the seizure of athletic power and identity for women via Title IX,” Jenkins wrote, describing the all-female athletic department added to Tennessee in the 1970’s.

At Tennessee, the one team to keep the “Lady” is women’s basketball. It is a nod to retired head coach Pat Summitt.

She had opposed this change in her time with the team. Summitt was one of the women in 1976 to push for a women’s athletic department. They named themselves as the “Lady Vols.”

The argument about the school’s history is understandable. However, isn’t there always room for change? Especially when it is something that can be

viewed as discriminatory. Why is the extra term needed when naming women’s sports?

Men’s teams are referred to simply as the school mascot, nothing more. If people are worried about branding or inferiority for the women’s teams, they could even go as far as changing to independent team names, such as the New York Knicks and Liberty.

Another statement from the University of Delaware newspaper after announcing the change said, “Referring to our women’s sports teams as the Lady Hens while we refer to our men’s teams as the Hens suggests that men’s teams claim to true Hen-ship and to the true embodiment of athleticism.”

This is an important statement because it shows that women represent the “true embodiment of athleticism” as well.

In this era, it is time for everyone to move past gender inequality and make some needed changes. It can be seen clearly when it is a women’s team or a men’s and the women do not need a further explanation. There is no reason for the term “lady” when referring to women’s athletics.

opinions & editorials

Keep Calm and Graduate Amber Calabro Senior Writer

“What are your plans after graduation?” said everyone ever to any given senior in college. The mere thought of my college years being almost over is more than enough to make me feel like I’m going to throw up. But seriously, the agita is real.

The Class of 2015 has been around the (c)block, we’ve drank far too much at Cannons, Fenwicks and River City. We’ve recently discovered that we really have no need for the senior walk at this point.

The trips to VCP, Sal’s and McFaddens no longer faze us. We’ve had enough of “Are you going out tonight?” texts on Thursday nights—okay maybe that one doesn’t get old. You know you miss Bottomline and the real Dante’s Den. While we all begin to find our niche outside of Manhattan College and in society, it’s hard to not completely relish in the final days of college and become victim to senioritis. It is surely the beginning of the

end. However, this is the moment where we finally see what we can do out in “the real world.”

“I plan on going to law school, but I’m taking a year or two off before I go so I have to fix my resume and apply for jobs.

I'm trying not to think about how fast the year is going. I'm just trying to enjoy it as much as I can,” senior accounting major Julia Mabey said.

It has been said that students who take gap years between undergraduate and graduate studies fare better. In an article entitled, “Especially for undergraduates: Reasons to Wait,” Idealist.org claims that clarifying your chosen field and getting experience strengthens your graduate school application and improves your financial situation, which are all important things to consider before making the final decision.

“The fact that I will have to handle my personal finances and pay off bills and loans every month is slowly becoming a reality. However, I personally believe these realities we will face in the post-grad life aren't anything to be too stressed out about. Yes, it's going to suck and we will

be nostalgic for our college days but there's always going to be something to look forward to,” said senior Brianna Wisniewski, a psychology major. She is currently preparing to go to graduate school for occupational therapy.

Paying all the bills is definitely one of the most serious post-grad occurrences out there, nothing screams adult more than being financially stable or at least attempting to be. How can we all prepare for this shift from college kid to fully functioning adult? For some it’s meant internships, for others part-time jobs, for most a mix of the two plus clubs, honor societies, Greek life, volunteering experience and what ever else has a chance at looking nice on resume.

“I am currently interning at Deussen Global Communications where I am doing alcohol and spirits public relations work and I would like to go into the public relations field after graduation,” said senior finance and marketing major, Kevin Sweeney.

“I’m realizing that I’m going to have to go to work everyday for the rest of my life.

I’m not getting a summer break anymore,

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or a spring break, or any breaks. It’s making me a little nervous, but I’m excited.”

As for me, well, I’m not too sure.

When I was eight years old I was pretty set on becoming an attorney, but now that I’m older I’ve realized that I have no clue what I want to do with my life. I’m going to apply for any and all jobs that spark my interest, but I’m hoping it’ll all come together somehow and I’ll figure out what it is that I’m meant to do. As long as I have enough money to support myself and don’t want to rip my hair out everyday, I think I’ll be just fine. No matter how many jobs and internships I’ve had it’s still so hard to feel like I’m not jumping out of a plane with a parachute I packed for myself. I guess I’m just hoping I don’t hit the ground too hard.

To the few and the proud who have dared to graduate early, I am excited to see what you will do with a five month head start and thoroughly impressed. You rock (at getting credits), don’t ever change (your major).

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arts & entertainment

Winter in Bryant Park

Dec. 2, 2014

Lindsey Burns & Kristie Killen Staff Writers Like decorating a Christmas tree or icing snowman shaped cookies, exploring Bryant Park during the holiday season is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit.

Offering a plethora of options, Bryant Park provides endless entertainment for tourists and New Yorkers alike, and ice skating in the center of the Bank of America Winter Village is a must during the winter season.

Access to the rink is free (always a plus for broke college students!), and skate rentals cost $15. There are also free lockers to put your shoes and small personal belongings in, just make sure to bring your own lock in order to save yourself from dishing over the $9 it costs for a rental lock. If you need more space to keep your stuff, there is a bag check that costs $8.

In order to beat the crowds and long, winding lines, it is better to arrive earlier rather than later. This way, the lines are relatively short and there is not too much of a crowd. Less crowds means more skating freedom!

One major perk of the Bryant Park ice skating rink, as opposed to the one in Rockefeller Center, is that general admission at Rockefeller Center is only good for 30 minutes, even though there is an admission fee of $27-$30, whereas at Bryant Park, you can stay on the rink for as long as you would like for free.

There is nothing quite like ice skating to a variety of classic New York tunes, with some traditional Christmas carols mixed in, and looking up and seeing the Empire State Building towering above you. Talk about embracing the city we live in!

The Bank of America Winter Village also consists of over one hundred tiny pop up shops surrounding the ice skating rink, filled with delicious goodies perfect for warming you up after a few hours on the

rink and with fun trinkets perfect for gift giving.

There are a wide variety of gourmet food shops, with food options ranging from sushi (Sushi Republic), to soups and paninis (Witchcraft), to French crêpes (Crepe Café). The hot chocolate options spread throughout the winter market are enough to make any chocolate lover’s mouth water, and sipping one of these delectable drinks is the perfect way to warm up in the winter cold.

Browsing through the Christmas themed shops, filled to the brim with Christmas ornaments and decorations, one cannot help but get in the Christmas spirit.

There are also several jewelry shops, New York City themed shops and art shops. The Bryant Park Bank of America Winter Village is an ideal destination for Christmas shopping, even for the hardest people to shop for, as there is an immense variety of shops in the market.

So take the 1 train downtown and stop

by Bryant Park between 40th and 42nd Streets and fifth and sixth avenues sometime this winter, especially before finals, to experience some holiday cheer. Embrace the cold weather by going ice skating and drinking some hot chocolate. Get some Christmas shopping done. Get out of your dorm and embrace the snow-covered city by visiting this iconic park.

College kids can take advantage of the free ice rink at Bryant Park

Lindsey Burns/The Quadrangle

arts & entertainment

“Orange Is the New Black”

7

Star Barbara Rosenblat Gives Lecture On Campus Lauren Carr A&E Editor

It is not every day students get to sit in on a lecture with someone who is currently starring on a hit show and ask them any question they desire. On Nov. 19, students filled the 5th floor of the commons to hear the woman who plays Ms. Rosa on “Orange Is The New Black” talk about her life, career and projects that are near and dear to her heart.

Barbara Rosenblat has quite the resume-she has voiced over 500 audio books, starred on Broadway and has appeared in many television shows. With every project that is handed to her, Rosenblat brings her A-game and puts everything she has into that. That mind set is not only used when it comes to jobs, but to certain organizations as well.

While Rosenblat was prepared to answer any questions about that thing she refers to as, “That Orange show,” her first duty was to bring attention to the students at Manhattan College about a certain organization that she is involved with called the Ali Forney Center. This non-profit focuses to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other questioning LGBTQ youth from homelessness and to help them transition from adolescence to adulthood. She asked the students to open their wallets and donate whatever they had to help the kids.

Rosenblat knew how to get people to open their wallets a little extra because she auctioned off some Orange Is The New Black memorabilia such as a flip flop and a hand fan from the Pride Parade in NYC. Each piece went for $40.

“I loved that students came out and donated,” Rosenblat said.

Rosenblat talked about the world of audiobooks and even pulled a few of her favorite readings to share with the audience. Her calm, smooth and comical voice

Sean Sonnemann Web Editor

Andy Williams was probably not referring to finals week when he sang about December being the most wonderful time of the year. The last few days of the college semester can be a stressful time when just a handful of tests can make or break your grades.

Many people insist that listening to music helps them to focus and prepare for these important exams. Yet, instead of sticking to the standard classical symphonies and smooth jazz “study” playlists, Jasper Jams has put together a slightly more realistic soundtrack for your finals week.

1) “You Can Make It If You Try” by Sly and the Family Stone The threat of up to five finals can reduce even the strongest student to tears.

Don’t give up hope.

2) “0 to 100/The Catch Up” by Drake Zero to 100? See this is why Drizzy

brought readings to life and evoked laughter throughout the audience. While she has a plethora of books that she has voiced over the years, the role people know her the most for is a role that was actually created for her.

When Rosenblat first heard of “Orange” she knew that it was a show that she wanted to be apart of. She actually auditioned for the role of Red but after her audition the show saw her differently. She left the audition and was told that she would be put in the prison one way or another. Soon enough the role of Ms. Rosa was offered to her, the only problem was there was no story for the character.

Throughout the next two seasons, Ms. Rosa went from just another face in the prison to a woman with a dark and twisted backstory. Ms. Rosa is a cancer patient who is spending the last months of her life in an all women’s prison. It is a story line that has developed tremendously and Rosenblat could not be happier.

“With this show a bunch of people are looking at you in awe because you changed them. Its overwhelming to see this show effecting other people,” Rosenblat said.

The success of the show is something that Rosenblat or the rest of the cast and crew of the show could have never predicted.

“Its a phenomena,” Rosenblat said.

“People are salivating at the mouth over this show. My role expanded in one of the most breakout shows in TV history and that is crazy.”

A phenomena is the perfect word to describe the hit series that took over Netflix. Students who are fans of the hit show were, like Rosenblat said, salivating at the mouth to find out any facts they could about the beloved show.

For Rosenblat to get into the character of Ms. Rosa it takes her three hours of makeup. She also discussed how people, like Jodie Foster, had no idea it was her

Lauren Carr/The Quadrangle

Barbara Rosenblat read some of her favorite literature works during her lecture. underneath all the makeup that includes a school is awesome. She was so interesting bald cap and fake eyebrows. and brought so much to the lecture,” junior Even people who have never heard of Elizabeth Pinto said.

Rosenblat are inspired after seeing her in As many fans of the show know, person and the strong presence she brings. Rosenblat’s character plays a big part in the “She was spectacular,” junior Dashawn final scene of season 2. As for any spoilers Morgan said. “She brought with her this for the upcoming season and Ms. Rosa’s soulful energy that comes around once in story-line, no one knows what is going to a generation. I admit that I have never seen happen. Season 3 will arrive to Netflix in an episode of “Orange Is The New Black” June 2015 and that is when all will be reor listened to one of her audio books, but vealed. that will definitely change after seeing her “Orange Is The New Black” is curin person.” rently streaming on Netflix and for more “I am a huge fan of the show so to information about the Ali Forney Center have a cast member come and speak at please visit aliforneycenter.org

Finals Week just gets you. He knows that’s what needs to happen to your average after you take your final!

3) “Throw Away Your Television” by Red Hot Chili Peppers Time to get down to business. You have shut off Netflix, set your phone to Do Not Disturb mode and got all of your notes together. Give that pencil another sharpen and hit the books.

4) “In the Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett But of course now is the perfect occasion to organize all of your paperclips.

Plus, you did always want to solve that Rubik’s cube you have sitting on your desk to make you seem intelligent. Maybe you should even set up your planner for next semester. After all, there will be time to study later tonight.

5) “Asleep” by The Smiths Amidst your important work, you glance at the clock. 11 p.m.? Guess you should head over to the library. Four hours,

27 Snapchats and two cups of coffee later, you call it a night. All in all, about a solid 35 minutes of actual studying. Your eyes can barely see straight as you shuffle from the library to your dorm.

6) “Down With the Sickness” by Disturbed The alarm clock starts buzzing way too early. Slightly nauseous and severely anxious you get dressed to meet your doom.

7) “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift You’ve got a blank space, baby—30 multiple-choice ones to be exact. Hopefully choosing answer B for the first question won’t also be your “next mistake.”

8) “Lucky Ones” by Lana Del Rey Time’s up, pens down! You rush to scribble that last sentence of your essay’s barely legible conclusion or decide whether beam AB is in tension or compression.

Muttering one last prayer and crossing your fingers, you hand in the exam and head out the door.

9) “Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space” by Spiritualized “What did you get for number 12?”

“Was that last one iambic pentameter or nah?” “Oh God, I hope she curves that.”

You tune out the chatter of the rest of the students spilling out onto the quad. What’s done is done. You just don’t want to think anymore and wish you had something “to take the pain away.”

10) “Free” by Zac Brown Band Then it dawns on you: this final was your last one of the semester. Not only are you done with that class, you are finished with school (at least for a few weeks). Winter break stands before you with the promise of free time to do what you want—or better yet, time to do nothing at all.

Note: Fittingly, this finals week soundtrack is the final and last edition of Jasper Jams. I hope you have enjoyed reading and listening along with me for the last year and a half.

8

The Freshman Files The Final Straw Ally Hutzler Staff Writer

New York City is decorated like a postcard, Starbucks has introduced their red holiday cups and Christmas music has seeped its way onto every station on the radio.

But one obstacle stands between Christmas break and us: finals week. The bliss of Thanksgiving break is starting to fade away with the incoming pile of papers and tests to start preparing for.

An increase in stress levels, a steep rise in coffee-intake and a decrease in sleep are only a few of the side effects of the most hectic part of the semester.

“It is so stressful that I have gotten a pimple on my forehead, and I rarely get pimples,” freshman Shirley Carpio said.

The busy end of the semester often has students reminiscing of a simpler time.

“The beginning of the semester was a lot easier, it seems like most professors start the year off easy and then overload us with work at the end,” fellow freshman Kennedy Arizaga said.

O’Malley library, often renamed “Club O’Malley” during finals week because of all the students pulling all-nighters, seems to be “the place to be” in the last days of the semester.

“You can find me studying in the library, on the level that is parallel to Hayden Hall,” freshman Amanda Critelli said.

We’ve all heard the study tips before: eat breakfast, exercise, get a good amount of sleep and never forget to enjoy some “you” time. But what are other frustrated, frantic freshmen doing to get ready for the week that keeps on giving?

Megan Dall, who has five finals to get through before going home for the holidays, suggests that the best ways to study are to re-read texts and quiz yourself.

“Also, make flashcards, lots of them,” she added.

While most people study into late hours of the night, even early hours of the morning, Rodrigo Martinez does the exact opposite. “Get a good night of sleep and wake up early in the morning and study because then you are fresh to learn,” he advised.

Wherever or whenever you choose to study, make sure you grab a cup of coffee, spread out your books and have the best playlist possible on hand. Spotify, a popular music-streaming website, specializes in highly personalized playlists and has created a number of perfect study jams. Try out “Deep Focus, “Superior Study Playlist,” or “Brain Food” during your next study session.

Along with exams, the end of the semester gives us a time to reflect on our first four months of college so far. “It was tough playing a sport and managing schoolwork, but I liked most of my teachers and had a lot of fun this semester,” said Critelli, who was a member of the volleyball team this fall.

College is undoubtedly a life-altering and mind-blowing time of our lives – especially during the first semester. Even with the complaints and stress that come with the last week of school, we can’t forget the great times we’ve had so far and all the memories to come.

features

Dec. 2, 2014

Foreign Fa La La’s Luke Hartman & Carolina Boutureira Staff Writers

For the typical Manhattan College student, Thanksgiving and winter break signify a special time when we can escape the craziness of the semester, retreat to our homes and celebrate the holidays with our family and friends. For us, this practice is familiar because we are so used to the traditions and common themes for each holiday time. However, looking at these American practices from an international perspective, one can gain new insight into what American holidays truly are like. For Manhattan’s international community, the holidays are a time for students to learn about American culture and also share the way their cultural background celebrates Christmas, New Year’s Eve or other traditional holidays.

Irene Entringer

Being an international student gives one the opportunity to really see how Thanksgiving is celebrated in different parts of the country. Students like Irene Entringer have had multiple different experiences with the holiday. Entringer is a senior from Madrid, Spain has been here for four years, making this her fourth thanksgiving. “In the past I have gone to friends’ houses and spent the holiday with them, however this year, I went to Chicago with my boyfriend which gave me great experiences with travel and getting my mind off of school,” Entringer said. “It was so cool to see the way that Thanksgiving was celebrated in a different part of the country.” She does, however, go home to Spain for the Christmas break so she can spend the time with family and friends. “We usually have a big family dinner on Christmas eve and lunch on Christmas Day,” she said.

“On New Year’s Eve at midnight we eat twelve grapes, each one for good luck for each month of the new year. On the sixth of January we receive and give gifts for ‘los reyes magos,’ or the three magi that came to Jesus.”

Mikael Röjerås

Mikael Röjerås is a senior from Sala, Sweden and has been at Manhattan for all four years, so he definitely has some perspective on what it is like to spend holidays away from home. “This was my fourth Thanksgiving in the U.S. and I spent the previous three with a friend and his family on Long Island. I like to travel and see as much as I can of the U.S. while I'm here, so during two of my previous winter breaks I decided to stay in the U.S. instead of going back to Sweden,” Röjerås said. “Two years ago me and a few friends visited another friend of ours, who then attended SDSU. So we spent Christmas at her apartment in San Diego, and then went to Las Vegas for New Year’s.”

In 2010 Röjerås went to a two-month training camp in South Africa during winter break. “So I actually haven’t spent that many Christmases in the traditional way; where you stay at home with family, have a nice dinner and just take it easy,” Röjerås said.

“Instead I have been all over the place, which is sad in a way because you lose that feeling of ‘ohh, finally it’s Christmas.’ I think this happens when Christmas is no longer one specific feeling, or associated with a specific place, family, food, or drink. But instead it is (means) too many different things at once and your brain can’t specify what Christmas exactly means.” This year he spent Thanksgiving with the other international members of the track team at the communal dinner thrown by the coach.

While Thanksgiving may be an easier holiday to forget being away from home because it isn’t celebrated in Sweden, Christmas for Röjerås holds many memories and traditions. Christmas, or ‘Jul’ in Sweden, is an extremely festive time centered around spending time with family and friends. “When I was younger I spent Christmas at my grandparents’ house. We were usually about 15-20 people or so. Everyone got there around 11 a.m. and had a late breakfast,” he said.

“Then when it turns 3 o’clock half (literally 50 percent of the population) of Sweden stops just to watch some old episodes of Donald Duck (exactly the same thing very year, insane I know). Then it’s time for dinner, after dinner either my dad or my grandpa went to buy ‘Snus’ (a not so delicious thing many Swedes unbelievably like to consume) and five minutes later Santa walks in.”

Katharina Klien

Thanksgiving is about as American as it gets, so, for Katharina Klein, who is from Austria, the holiday traditions are completely new. “Our coach Dan Mecca provided us a Thanksgiving dinner,” Klien said. “We had the dinner in OV and all international students from the track and field team ate together. After dinner we sat together, talked and played games – it was so much fun and a perfect ‘friendsgiving.’” Leading up to Christmas, Klien described the tradition of lighting advent candles each week. “Every year for Christmas I fly home to Austria. On Christmas Eve my family goes on a hike and after we have dinner an exchange gifts,” she said. “We go to church together as a family, and then on Christmas day we get together again and exchange fits, eat, drink and share each other’s company. It is so good being home because I miss traditional food and my family so much. However when I am at school, we all feel somewhat the same way so we sort of form our own little family.”

Alex Coates

Alex Coates is a sophomore from York, England and has been here since his freshman year. “The thing I really like about American holidays, especially Thanksgiving, is that it really emphasizes the importance of family and you really just feel connected to the people around the table, even if you aren’t directly related,” Coates said. For the past two years, he has gone to his roommate’s house in Connecticut and has loved it.

For Christmas, Coates goes back across the pond and spends winter break with family. “I’m always really excited to go back home mostly because it’s so good to see our family. Our holiday traditions are very similar to the U.S. except we don’t place such an emphasis on Christmas Eve dinner,” Coates said. “One thing I really look forward to is Yorkshire Pudding, and to have a real English Christmas dinner. We also celebrate Boxing Day and everyone goes out and it’s a huge deal for us.”

features

9

Winter Break at Home (And Away) Kieran Rock

Asst. Features Editor Manhattan students are inevitably looking beyond finals week to the elusive winter break. Breaks from school are often times that we spend at home, relaxing and spending time with family, but over winter break and spring break, many Manhattan College students spend their time helping others.

The Manhattan College Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience offers students “service and social justice travel experiences,” according to the MC website. The trips are offered over winter and spring breaks and provide students with a mix of service and immersion trips.

“I chose to get involved with this LOVE trip because I wanted to participate in a global service learning experience,” sophomore Fiona Dunn said. Dunn will be traveling to Port Au Prince, Haiti along with nine other Manhattan College students and a chaperone in January.

Looking past winter break, LOVE groups will continue to prepare themselves during the second semester. For Bridget McQuade the winter break may be relaxing but spring break will be full of new experiences as she prepares to return with LOVE to Jamaica for her second trip, this time as a leader.

“I first went as a freshman and I decided that Jamaica would be a great fit for me because the focus was children with disabilities. I have always been passionate about children with special needs, so I jumped on this opportunity and I have been wrapped up in it ever since,” she said.

McQuade had reservations about the trip at first, but they were quickly pushed aside by the excitement for the new experience. She also worried what it would be like spending a break somewhere other than at home.

“I thought it would be strange to be away from home for St. Patrick's Day, the most important holiday in my house, but I was so distracted by the nerves and excitement about going somewhere completely different that I had no time to focus on that,” she said.

Dunn thinks that spending time with her LOVE team before the journey will also ease the change from spending the break abroad.

“My LOVE team meets as a group with our chaperone every week. Throughout the semester we have really gotten to know each other very well and have formed strong friendships,” Dunn said.

“This makes it much easier to spend my winter break abroad because I know that I have ten other people to count on.”

Tommy Kanganis will also be heading to Jamaica on a LOVE trip. This trip will be his second with the LOVE program, as he journeyed to Texas his freshman year.

“I know that this trip will be a lot different than my previous trip,” Kanganis said. “It will be challenging but very rewarding.”

McQuade looks forward to the challenge and reward of LOVE Jamaica as well. “The trip is a little different this year.

In the past, we have visited an orphanage for children with disabilities, but this year we will be spending the week at a home for adults with disabilities. This is definitely going to be a different experience, but I am really excited to see what the week has in store for us,” she said.

While McQuade and Kanganis continue to prepare for their trip in the coming months, Dunn is preparing to head off to Port Au Prince within a month. And she has the challenges that her LOVE trip will

Bridget McQuade/Courtesy

Students prepare each semester to take trips abroad during their winter and spring breaks, like this trip to Jamaica last year. bring in mind.

“I hope to experience a different culture and learn about the work of the Lasallian community in a different global context. I think some challenges will be living in a different country away from the many conveniences at home that are usually taken for granted,” she said. “The most rewarding part of this trip will be the relationships that we build within our group and within the community.”

As MC prepares to head home for the winter break, students are preparing to head back off into the world to volunteer and immerse themselves in various cul-

tures. For Dunn this experience will come in the middle of her winter break, and she is excited to head off to Haiti.

Still, it is a very different experience spending your break abroad than at home.

“My family is also very supportive of me and they believe that this is a great opportunity,” Dunn said.

McQuade’s family is also excited for her to return to Jamaica during spring break.

“My family is very supportive of this program and they are thrilled that I will be spending another break in Jamaica doing something that I love,” she said.

The LOVE program offers students the opportunity to experience new cultures and ways of life, and it also shakes up their usual break schedule. Weeks spent at home, become weeks spent abroad. While this is a challenging experience, most find it extremely rewarding.

“Even though we only visit for one week, we leave behind a part of ourselves and we take away so much more,” McQuade said, “That is definitely the most rewarding part.”

sports

10

Back of the Net:

Dec. 2, 2014

Season Meanings

Jonathan Reyes Asst. Sports Editor

The Manhattan Jaspers found themselves looking up at every other school in the MAAC after failing to win 12 straight games from early September to late October.

Next thing they knew, they were on the team bus taking a 14-hour round trip to take on the Niagara Purple Eagles in cold, freezing temperatures with a rain and snow mix falling.

To this point in the season, the offense was inconsistent. They went through a 587-minute goal-less streak in a span of six games and followed that up with only three goals in the five games leading up to Niagara.

During these struggles, Jaspers’ head coach Jorden Scott had a conference call with his coaching staff.

“Stay bright. Stay positive around the guys. Keep working with them. Do extra sessions. Do extra work. Do extra video,” he told them over the phone.

After the final whistle blew at Niagara, the Jaspers finally started to put things together. They scored five goals, a season and game-high. Alex Coates-McDowall also recorded his third clean sheet of the season.

The team thought to themselves, “Why couldn’t we have just done that all season?

We would’ve been fine.”

Throughout the entire season, Scott’s message was about how all it took for either team playing on the soccer field was one mistake, one moment of brilliance, one horrific decision.

“We were that one moment short this year, the whole season,” he said. “That’s tough to take because it tells you that you’re there. It tells you that you’re good enough. It tells you that you need someone to really step up in that moment, and we just didn’t get it.”

“You look at the games we’ve lost and

Jonathan Reyes/The Quadrangle Jorden Scott preparing his game plan before the match against Canisius. you go, ‘Oh my God, if we could just deal with set pieces and been more aggressive, more determined, concentrated on who we’re picking up we would’ve probably been in the MAAC championship.’ Makes your stomach turn as a soccer coach.

Makes you want to throw up because you feel like you’ve done everything as a coach to prepare your team to play with the right style and the right philosophy and the right tempo defensively.”

It’s easy to say offense was the one issue the Jaspers struggled with this season.

It was also players’ mentality. The team tended to have too much reliance on McDowall and bigger sized players like Daniel Laguna Kennedy, who had a bad case of sophomore slump with one goal the whole season – a penalty kick – after he scored seven goals his freshman season. Unreached player potential, player development, and structure are just some of things Scott is working on for next year.

“All of our games were so strong,”

graduating senior Jake Scavetta said. “It’s such a weird season that it’s tough to pinpoint one thing.”

Fernando Barboto, Iona Gaels head coach, didn’t know the exact reasons why the Jaspers struggled, but said sometimes it’s part of growing as a program and team.

“They were the best 2-12-2 team in the country,” Barboto said. “They definitely were a lot stronger than their record. They had some nice pieces.”

A few of those pieces he referred to were McDowall, Alex Shackley and Tommy Amos, another graduating senior.

It was a disappointing and unlucky season for the Jaspers but Scott has been the head coach for only two years and a program isn’t built within that time frame. Can a team have a winning season? Yes, not a program, Barboto said, who’s been building the Gaels for 12 seasons.

“It’s going take [Scott] some time. It’s not going to happen overnight,” he said.

“He’s shown promise and that was all seen last year, and this year he kind of got tripped up a little bit. But he’ll get back on, get back up. He’s got some nice pieces coming back next year. He’ll be fine.”

This past season for Scott was a tease.

“It would be like someone dangling a carrot in front of you and chopping your arms off. That’s what it feels like,” he said.

“It feels like someone’s just hanging it right there in front of me and just tied my hands behind my back.”

This Week In Sports On Nov. 25, the women’s basketball team lost on the road to La Salle, 48-61.

On Nov. 29, the men’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker to George Mason on a 75-foot shot at the buzzer that sunk the Jaspers. They lost 63-64.

As of Nov. 30 at noon, the men’s basketball team is 1-4, with conference play beginning this week. The women’s basketball team is 1-3, with conference play also beginning this week.

of the Week Kayla Grimme: Despite the loss to La Salle, Grimme shined as she stuffed the stat sheet. She recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while she also added three blocks and two steals and two assists.

Shane Richards: Despite the loss to George Mason, Richards continued his red-hot start to the season. He finished with 18 points on 60 percent shooting and 56 percent from behind the arc.

sports

Inside the Numbers: Lack of Scoring Hurting Jaspers Daniel Ynfante Staff Writer

There are rules, practices or techniques that make basketball complex.

But no matter how difficult basketball can be to understand for some people, there is one simple concept everyone can comprehend—whichever team scores more points at the end of the game wins.

Through the first five games of the season, the Manhattan Jaspers men’s basketball team owes its 1-4 record to just not scoring more than the other team. It sounds simplistic, but that is what basketball boils down to—scoring more points than the other team.

Sure, there are other factors contributing to Manhattan’s poor start to the season, but its offensive futility stands out above the rest.

Some will point out defense as the Jaspers’ key issue, focusing on the 81 points and 77 points they gave up to Florida State and Massachusetts respectively. But since those contests, Manhattan has held its opponents to an average of 59.3 points per game.

Defense is not Manhattan’s major problem.

When you are ranked 229th out 351 Division 1 schools with 65.2 points per game, that is the problem.

What has plagued Manhattan on offense is the minimal contributions it is getting from its players. Although Shane Richards has been a pleasant surprise for Manhattan this season, leading the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game, there has yet to be someone that has shown up as a consistent number two scorer.

Right behind Richards in scoring is Emmy Andujar with 10.8 points per game.

However, his scoring average was bumped up thanks to a 21-point performance against Massachusetts. In the other four games this season, Andujar has failed to score in double-figures.

Prior to the start of the season, Andujar was voted onto the All-MAAC Second

Team, but he was not voted onto the team with the thought that he would average 10.8 points per game. It is hard to criticize him however, because what he has not done on offense, he is making up for it on defense with 6.6 rebounds per game, which leads Manhattan.

But for Manhattan to be successful this season, Andujar has to pick up his offense and score consistently in double-figures.

Right now, too much of Manhattan’s offense revolves around Richards and Manhattan needs Andujar to take some pressure off Richards.

Whether it is scoring or distributing the ball to others, there is no doubt that Andujar can play better on offense.

If the individual scoring marks look bad for Manhattan, the total team output looks even worse.

To get a sense of how putrid the Manhattan offense has been, consider the fact that it only failed to surpass 70 points seven times all of last season and through the first five games of this season, it has already scored less than 70 points four times.

Last season, Manhattan’s lowest scoring output was 63 points in a loss to Siena on Feb. 21. In its last two games against Northeastern and George Mason, Manhattan has matched last season’s scoring low and has shattered it as well.

With that being said, the brutal nonconference schedule has made it tough for the Jaspers to get comfortable on the offensive end.

Against Northeastern, Manhattan looked as bad as it has in a long time, scoring a measly 51 points. At halftime of that game, Manhattan had just 24 points, and by the end of the game, had just one player score in double-figures—Tyler Wilson with 12 points.

It took a miraculous 75-foot full-court heave from Jalen Jenkins for the Jaspers to lose to George Mason, but the Jaspers could at least take away one positive from that game. Wilson matched his career-high with 15 points and set a new career-high with seven assists.

This marked the second consecutive

11

Kevin Fuhrmann/The Quadrangle

Andujar, a preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection, has averaged just 10.8 points per game through the first five games of the season.

Manhattan has struggled on offense this season. Graph by Daniel Ynfante. game in which Wilson scored in doublefigures and if Manhattan can get him to consistently pitch into the offense, that is a contribution that can take some of the offensive workload off Richards and can perhaps let Andujar get away with only 10.8 points per game.

Manhattan no longer has Michael Alvarado, George Beamon and Rhamel Brown to count on offense and will have to quickly get others to step up if it does not want to continue to lose games.

sports

12

Average Height, Big Heart Jonathan Reyes Asst. Sports Editor

It was Alex Shackley’s senior year at Palo Verde High School in Las Vegas when Justin Mayorga, a high school teammate, lost his sister Jessica Mayorga at the age of 22 – no cause of death was ever found.

“I look back at that day and I remember every single second of it,” Shackley said.

Jessica Mayorga’s funeral service was the morning of the Panther’s regular season match against the Cimarron-Memorial High School Spartans. Shackley remembered watching Justin Mayorga walking with the coffin that contained his sister and it being one of the most painful and hardest things to see.

After the funeral was over, the soccer match took place in the afternoon. The sidewalk and grass on the side of the field began filling up with people. As they settled in, in about the 10th minute the Spartans scored the first goal of the match until Shackley responded with the equalizing goal in roughly the 15th minute. He immediately ran over to the sideline and pointed to a black armband everyone wore in remembrance of Jessica Mayorga.

He later scored the third goal of the match enroute to a 4-2 win for the Panthers.

The match ball was given to the Mayorgas in dedication of their daughter. The day and the entire season was dedicated to the family because Justin Mayorga graduated and stayed to help Kevin Hagood, the Panther’s head coach, when he didn’t have to.

His family also always went to the matches when they didn’t have to, and continued to do so after his sister died.

To Shackley, for a family like the Mayorgas, one of the best families he has ever known, to lose someone is heartbreaking.

“It’s not something I felt like I had to do,” Shackley said. “It was just the only thing.”

A Different Kind of Culture Shock On Dec. 13, 1993, Alex Shackley was born in Northampton, England and grew up in Las Vegas in an English run household.

He embraces this cross he has between American and English cultures.

When Alex and Matthew Shackley, his brother, were growing up, Alex Shackley was always smaller in size between the two of them but that didn’t stop his competitive nature and hatred for losing.

When he and his brother played soccer matches in their house’s big backyard. He willed himself to win, later helping him become stronger and more aggressive when opposing other players his age.

“He can’t not be the best,” Matthew Shackley said. “When you see him after a game when the team doesn’t do well or when he feels that he hasn’t played well, you can’t hold a conversation with him.”

From Alex Shackley’s sixth to ninth grade seasons, he was rejected for his size and played off the bench in soccer although he had the skill to start.

There was only one person that believed in him: Frank D’Amelio. D’Amelio was the head coach of Shackley’s club team and taught him how to play even though other teams ignored him.

“Hey, don’t worry about it you’ll always be a player on my team,” D’Amelio told him. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care about how big you are or how small you are. You can play. You have all the tools, and you have the best skill I’ve seen.”

After D’Amelio showed his support, Shackley went on to be captain of every

Jonathan Reyes/The Quadrangle Alex Shackley setting up his fellow Jaspers during their last game of the year against Iona. team he’d eventually play for.

“Seeing what he’s done with soccer is inspiring, but it’s never really been a surprise because we’ve always known he’s so good and so dedicated,” Matthew Shackley said. “So yes, inspiring, but I don’t know how to put it because it’s not a surprise, it’s inspiring: ‘Oh, that’s Alex.’ He’s always going to be a badass. I’m proud more than inspired because that’s just the way he’s going to be.”

As Alex and Matthew Shackley have grown up they’ve followed different paths.

Alex Shackley is still pursuing soccer as Matthew Shackley has moved on to cycling. Alex Shackley likely would have given up or not worked as hard at soccer had it not been for his brother who always pushed him.

“As much as I want do as well as he’s done in all these things, I just really want to have that same passion and drive,” Alex Shackley said. “He’s been there every step of the way. Whenever I’ve had my head down he’s picked me up. He doesn’t stop and it makes me not want to stop. He always going and always just determined to just get what he wants whether with school, sports or just life in general.”

Go to Guy Until Alex Shackley was 11 years old, he was coached by his father Garry Shackley who was becoming acutely aware of being unfair with playing time. One time when he coached a team that was playing well, Alex Shackley was the engine that kept things going. Garry Shackley decided to take his son out and put somebody else in his place.

The team wasn’t able to function and started to fall apart.

“You’re going to have to put him back in,” Glen Anderson, assistant head coach of that team, told Garry Shackley.

“I can’t. I’ve just taken him out,” Garry Shackley responded. “It doesn’t look right.

It looks like I’m favoring my own child all the time.”

“Everybody knows he’s the best player when he’s out there,” Anderson said to him

in reply.

Alex Shackley’s greatest attribute is that he makes everybody else play better no matter what level or team they play.

They play better when he’s there to guide and lead.

He carried this style of play to high school as a member of the Palo Verde Panthers under its head coach Hagood. He meant a lot to the team and Hagood because Hagood had no background in soccer, which caused issues among the players on the team. These players didn’t show him any respect and their parents wanted Hagood gone.

Shackley saw it differently.

“Okay, he may not know as much,” Shackley said, “but he’s still the coach and deserves respect.”

As captain in his senior year, he looked to set a tone and help Hagood garner respect from everyone on the team because he wouldn’t have it any other way. Hagood saw in that moment how much Alex Shackley knew about the game of soccer.

“He goes where he needs to be to be effective and he sees that, it’s just something that’s innate in him. And he tells players but he’s very calm but he works really, really hard,” Hagood said. “He sits there and studies the game day after day after day.

He watches a lot of pro soccer. He studies.

He’s definitely an academic of the game and he just took in everything he possibly could to make sure that his team was going to run the right way.”

During Shackley’s time at Palo Verde, he was recruited by five colleges: Manhattan College, Niagara University, Occidental College, The University of Vermont and University of Evansville.

Prior to deciding where he wanted to go, he went to play for the Tampa Bay United at the Disney Soccer Showcase in Florida.

He then sent an e-mail to Mark Mettrick, then head coach of the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds and current head coach of the Gettysburg College Bullets, and Jorden Scott, then assistant head coach of the Manhattan Jaspers.

“Would you have a look at me?”

While Metrrick and Scott watched him play, Scott turned to Mettrick and told him, “All right. He’s not a bad little player.”

Scott spoke with Shackley after the showcase, watched some video of him with him and then went to Las Vegas to another showcase to watch him play again where he met his parents. Shackley wanted to see Manhattan next so Scott had him flown up to see the college.

On his visit Shackley felt welcome and felt like he fit right in when he met the other players on the team. He came home after and knew right away.

“That’s the place for me,” he told his parents.

He also visited Evansville, which he liked but never felt the same level of acceptance, and Occidental where he knew he didn’t want to go once he checked it out.

He also knew he could play right away at Manhattan.

The irony of choosing Manhattan, a team that plays in the MAAC, is the other school he looked at, Niagara, is in the same conference. It won the MAAC title his freshman year as a Jasper.

“Oh my God. I’m guessing you probably wanted to go there,” Scott told Shackley.

“No, I’m happy to be here,” Shackley replied. “Disappointed I wasn’t able to win a MAAC, but I’d rather win a MAAC here.”

“That’s just Alex for you,” Scott said.

“If I could surround myself with guys like that all my time here, from a coaching perspective, then I’ll always be in a good place. I’ll always be happy to come to work no matter what the result is. I’ll always be happy to help out, work with players and do whatever I can for them because those are the type of kids that you want to work for and want around you all the time.”

“He’s a wonderful kid. I love him. I couldn’t imagine this team without a guy like that in it.”

Log on to mcquad.org/category/sports for more photos and a short audio interview with quotes not included in the article.