THE Volume 92, Issue 6
Q
UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924
Oct. 6, 2015
www.mcquad.org
Family Weekend 2015
See Page 3 One of the weekend’s popular activities was a visiting hypnotist who performed in the Great Room of the Kelly Commons. Kaiyun Chen/The Quadrangle
Faculty and Students Aid Syrian Refugees Kyleigh Panetta Staff Writer
The 5,700 mile distance between New York City and Syria is not stopping members of the Manhattan College community from trying to help Syrian refugees. “Just ask anybody, ‘What if you had to pack up tomorrow and move to Mexico with just $100 in your wallet and not knowing anyone there?’” William Merriman, Ph.D. and the dean of the School of Education and Health, said. Syrian students, families and children fearing for their lives have been fleeing a homeland torn apart by violence and civil
war with the hopes of finding a better place to live. “A lot of people were living in places that were bombed. Their houses, streets, neighborhoods are gone. Even places where people feel relatively safe, they aren’t safe,” Merriman said. As massive numbers of Syrians enter other countries, Merriman said that the governments have to find a way to, “support 200,000 more people and they are afraid that their social service systems might collapse.” This crisis is impacting not only Europe but the United States, as world leaders decide how responsible each country should be for accepting Syrian refugees.
Mehnaz Afridi, Ph.D. and assistant professor of religious studies, said that she feels this international affair is controversial because of the perception of Muslims and the number of refugees that would be taking over jobs in other countries. Afridi said she was one of the people to begin the movement at MC to aid the refugees of Syria. “I was frustrated by watching the thousands of families dying and suffering. I sent out a mass email to my colleagues and they were responsive. It’s hard to just sit and watch people suffer and not do anything,” Afridi said. Lisa Rizopoulos, Ph.D. and professor of education, credits her natural instinct to
help those in need as one of the reasons she and her students felt compelled to respond to Afridi. “I think teachers innately want to help others and it doesn’t matter where anyone comes from. We just want to address students’ needs so that they can be happier,” Rizopoulos said. Rizopoulos and students of the School of Education coordinated a clothing supply drive, which will run until the end of October, that is focusing on collecting mittens, hats and coats that will be sent over to Syrian refugees. After the clothing drive, Rizopoulos plans on holding a school supply drive
Continued on page 3
Student Activities Moves Ticket Sales Online Daniel Molina
Distribution Manager No more lines, no more missed classes and no more cash is what Student Activities is trying to achieve through its new online ticket purchasing system. What they called the biggest announcement of the year on their social media accounts has been a longtime effort that, after years of work with the IT department, Student Life and the Controllers Office, has finally become a reality. “We’ve been looking for this since the Internet first came,” John Bennett, director of Student Activities, said. “There [have] been different issues along the way, but we are so happy to finally provide this.” The first event sold through this platform will be the trip to Six Flags, and it will be held right after Columbus Day
weekend. For ticket sales of popular events, it is not uncommon to see a line of dozens of students forming outside of the Office of Student Activities with the hopes of snatching a ticket to a Yankee game or a hit Broadway show. With this system, these lines can be avoided altogether. Tickets will go on sale at night, outside of class hours, giving students an equal chance to get the tickets online. “This makes it better, because you can get tickets even when you’re in class,” said Gabriella Girgis, sophomore student. “It promotes laziness, but in a convenient way.” With a Manhattan College email address, a student can access the ticket website. After being admitted to the site, the student can purchase the ticket with a credit or debit card. A confirmation email will be sent to the purchaser, and this will
guarantee their ticket to the event. Although Bennett has not finalized all the minor details, he is expecting to offer students an opportunity to get tickets for seats near their friends. Instead of selling tickets only from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., now purchases can be made at any time after the tickets are made available online. “It sounds like it would be better to do this sort of things online,” junior Mark Angioli said. “It’s just easier to not have to leave your room, and get into a big line; you jut have to log in and buy it over the Internet.” Student Activities is expecting a rise in the number of tickets sold from their office due to this new convenience. “It’s so much easier. Everybody is at home, on their phones, on their laptops, where it used to be out of the way to come to the office,” Bennett said. “Now we may be flooded with people that want to pur-
chase tickets.” This would not only help students, but also the department, where sometimes a surplus of tickets is bought. Although the transition from a physical to electronic platform promises benefits, Bennett is aware that some logistical obstacles may arise. “I don’t know when the school started doing class registration online, but I’m sure the first time there were countless issues, and I’m sure we are going to have the same,” he said. A number of contingency plans have been thought to prevent and solve the different complications that the process might present. “We will be learning together. We are just believing in the process and knowing that we are doing this to help the students because they asked us to,” Bennett said.
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The
opinions & editorials
Quadrangle www.mcquad.org
Notes from
The Editor
Vol. 92 Issue 6 Oct. 6, 2015
Sean Sonnemann Editor-in-Chief Michelle DePinho Managing Editor/News Editor Anthony Capote Asst. News Editor Kieran Rock Managing Editor/Features Editor Ally Hutzler Asst. Features Editor Lauren Carr Arts & Entertainment Editor Lindsey Burns Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Jon Reyes Sports Editor Jaclyn Marr Asst. Sports Editor Daniel Ynfante Asst. Sports Editor Victoria Hernández Kristie Killen Social Media Editors Kevin Fuhrmann Photography Editor Vanessa Sanchez Asst. Photography Editor
Oct. 6, 2015
It is hard to believe that midterms are already here. But as the snap of cold weather reminded us already last week, the fall semester is quickly flying by and leaving summer in the distance (even though it feels like the school year just started). Here at The Quadrangle we can’t believe we are already on our sixth issue of the semester. Next week, however, we will not be releasing an issue on Tuesday as per our normal schedule. This hiatus from our normal publication schedule is for a few reasons. For those who were on campus last semester, we released a special extended “Diversity Issue” around the middle of the spring. This edition of the paper took a look the important topic of diversity on our campus in all its various forms: racial, gender, geographic and many others. As some may remember, the goal of the issue was to promote dialogue and discussion on campus. The words “Read. Reflect. Discuss.” were printed on the very front page of the issue. We strove not to just toss around a buzzword that is used all too frequently, but instead to dig deeper into what diversity really means and what its impact is on the college and broader community. Following the success of The Diversity Issue, The Quadrangle staff is busy working on putting together another special edition of the paper for this semester to be released on Oct. 20. To have a little fun, we are keeping the topic of this semester’s special edition under wraps until the paper is put on stands that Tuesday afternoon. This upcoming special edition (and all the work that goes into it) is the main reason for our break from normal publication next week. Putting together an extended issue of the paper is not easy and requires extra work from our already busy staff of writers, editors, photographers and production team. Additionally, with the Columbus Day holiday and the arrival of midterms, it gives us a chance to catch our breath before starting up the second half of the semester. While there will be no physical paper next week, be sure to check online at mcquad.org and our follow our social media accounts in the meantime for the latest updates of what is going on around campus. Happy Reading!
Sean Sonnemann Editor-in-Chief
Kelly Burns Luke Hartman Natalie Heinitz Production Editors Daniel Molina Distribution Manager 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.
Sam Martin/The Quadrangle
news
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Despite Weather, Family Weekend Held on Campus Catherine Goodyear Staff Writer
Rain (not even an impending hurricane) was not going to stop families from coming from all over to visit their children at Manhattan College--whether they had to travel 20 minutes or six hours. Family weekend gives students a chance to see their relatives, especially important for those who only make it home during longer breaks from school. Some people simply live too far away to travel home for just a weekend, like Erin Murphy, whose family drove down to campus from Holbrook, Mass. “I started my travelling Friday night. I drove through the rain, the fog and the dark. I just had to deal with horrible driving conditions the whole way here. I ended up stopping in Connecticut and stayed with my brother after three hours of driving and then the next morning I continued my journey for another hour or more to here,” Murphy’s mother said. Still, it was worth the trip. “This was a very memorable family weekend for me especially because of the murder mystery dinner and show. The events gave me the chance to come down because I probably wouldn’t have taken the long drive if it wasn’t for them.” Those events also included a speed painter, hypnotist, mentalist, fork artist and a performance by Billy Joel band member Mike DelGuidice. Aside from the on-campus entertainment, Family Weekend is also an opportunity for many parents to learn more about
With parents and relatives coming to campus, dining hall Locke’s Loft saw an increase from its usual weekend activity. Kaiyun Chen/The Quadrangle where their sons and daughters are study- come by after most students move away touching,” Quartulli’s mother said. ing and living. from home and head off to college. The “My impression of the weekend and Tim Adrat was a member of the class coordination of events such as the Player’s going around the college was fantastic.” of 1982 and is the father of current student Murder Mystery show also gave some Still, she had one area of improvement Alison Adrat. parents a chance to see how their students for next year’s Family Weekend. “Family weekend shows me where all keep busy with extracurricular activities “I want to know how the school acof my money is going and it’s worth it. when not in class. commodates people who are physically Having the opportunity to come back to Kelsey Quartulli’s mother visited for disabled or relatives who are elderly. It is the campus gives me the chance to see how the weekend and watched her daughter a lot of walking and a lot of stairs. I would much has changed and it is all for the best. perform in the show. have hoped they could offer at least a golf I really loved having the chance to spend “Having the play on the same week- cart.” quality time with my daughter.” end as family weekend gave me to chance That quality time can often be hard to to see my daughter perform and that was
Meet MC’s New Nutritionist, Rayna Herskowitz Taylor Brethauer Staff Writer
Aside from going to class and on-campus activities, arguably the most important thing in the life of a college student is eating. With the help of Gourmet Dining’s newest team member, Rayna Herskowitz, students can focus on the healthier aspects of all things food related. Herskowitz was hired in August as the Registered Dietitian (RD) to help students and faculty in nutrition counseling. As an RD, she’s able to help with any dietary need or topic such as eating disorders, weight loss and management, sports nutrition, diabetes, food allergies and/or intolerances. But she doesn’t just help those in need, she also can be found in Locke’s Loft or Kelly Commons putting on nutrition events with healthy eating alternatives and tips. Herskowitz works hand in hand with Gourmet Dining and enjoys collaborating with them in order to introduce the students and faculty to new options. Her first change she wants to kickstart is a “revamped vegan/vegetarian menu.” Most of her ideas coincide directly with suggestions made by students. “There will be more changes to come that I’m excited to share. I’m also creating new ways to provide food items for those with specific food restrictions. Of course,
I’m always open to suggestions so feel free to contact me with feedback,” Herskowitz said. In addition, to all of this, she also conducts presentation and workshop events. Students and faculty are encouraged to attend these events not only to meet Herskowitz but also to find new things that they might want brought to Locke’s Loft. The events range from fruit tastings (earlier this month, she had different types of apples available), breakfast smoothies, healthy dessert recipes and more. These alternatives could start making appearances in the Gourmet Dining menus if students respond well to them. She likes that the students teach her what is valuable to them and she can incorporate it into the programming. “The staff at Gourmet Dining has always worked hard to provide the best options for students. I’m looking forward to continue building on what they have already accomplished,” Herskowitz said. But why college students? Herskowitz wants to reach out to as many people as she possibly can and help meet their needs. Her colleagues feel the same way, always willing to help her out so in return she can help the students. Many students on campus need special meals for allergies or restrictive diets and as the RD, she’s able to work with the cooks to make sure everyone is accommodated.
Rayna Herskowitz/Courtesy “This may be the first time some students are choosing meals without influence of families. It can be very intimidating. In addition, some students and faculty have important dietary restrictions for medical conditions. I am able to work with them to
meet their needs,” Herskowitz said. As for her favorite meal, she states that she is a fan of the vegan/vegetarian section. “I haven’t found one dish that I haven’t enjoyed.”
gees,” Afridi said. “As a college, I think we’re trying to support the students of Syria in a positive way,” Rizopoulos said. Merriman, Afridi and Rizopoulos all related the college’s Lasallian roots and values to its involvement in aiding the refugees. “It’s serving the poor. We serve the
poor, not just locally or in the school but internationally,” Rizopoulos said. “We should be aware of people and their plight. We are also a Lasallian school that is tied into helping the poor and disadvantaged regardless of faith,” Afridi said.
Faculty and Students Aid Syrian Refugees Continued from page 1
once she is aware of where students will be located to after they leave Syria. “They left their clothes, homes, furniture, everything. They are going to a camp in another country where they probably just have a tent. So they need help with everything, really,” Merriman said.
Afridi said she hopes to bring a Syrian student and his or her family to the United States. “My dream is to have them here amidst us. We can learn from all of this,” Afridi said. In addition to monetary donations, another way to aid in this crisis is to make, “an effort to dismantle stereotypes of refu-
FEATURES
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Taekwondo, a hidden gem Editor
Assistant Editor
Dedicated, committed and hard-working: those are the characteristics that define the taekwondo attendants perfectly. It was a Monday night when six Manhattan College students gathered at Draddy Gymnasium, eager to start their taekwondo class, led by associate professor and acting chair of mechanical engineering, John C. Leylegian, Ph.D. There are all sorts of benefits that taekwondo can provide, including concentration, balance and strength. Just like any physical activity, the benefits of improved health and reduced stress are also present. “[With taekwondo,] they stop thinking in terms of limitations,” Leylegian said. Martial arts teach participants to channel their physical and mental strength, as well as to focus. This is a major asset to a college student’s life because in the middle of midterms, we all want that time to relax and take our minds off of the duties we have to deal with. Taekwondo can be difficult at the beginning, but it can also be very easy to pick up. Thanks to this, taekwondo teaches you discipline and how to hear and follow instructions. Most of the students that have worked out in this class had no previous experience but they now attend regularly after discovering the hidden gem that taekwondo is. As the workout progresses, it gets more intense. “Its definitely difficult but it helps you with your balance, your core muscles and self confidence,” Phoebe Costello, freshman mechanical engineering major, said. In only one practice you can see it is a very inclusive group of students, everyone helps each other out and seems like a nojudgment zone. “It’s a great environment…everyone goes at their own pace we are all here to have a great time,” Greg Zajac, senior mathematics major, said. Victoria Hernández/The Quadrangle
Center for Academic Success Provides Tutoring and Homework Help to Students On Campus Staff Writer
The Center for Academic Success located in De La Salle 206, aims to help students raise both their GPAs and confidence levels. Students seek guidance from the peer tutors, the writing center and supplemental instructors in order to excel in classes that they are not doing well in or need clarification with. All the assistance the program provides is student based and helps to meet the needs of all individuals coming to the center. Tutors are provided in a wide variety of subjects depending on the needs of the student. Priya Chilana is a tutor in biology for the center. “If any student is struggling in their classes, whether that be because they don’t like the subject, professor, or they just
A True Jasper
Daniel Ynfante
don’t understand the material, we at the tutoring center help them figure out methods of memorizing information, solving formulas and giving them different techniques that work best based on the student individually.” The tutoring center helps students with test preparation, homework help, time management and writing. Students requesting tutoring range from all grades and all need special techniques to help them improve. “Sometimes the students need to be taught by someone other than their professor, just to hear the information from another source,” Chilana said. The types of techniques that tutors teach students vary from memorizing tactics to the basics of understanding concepts of specific topics and subjects. The Center also has a Supplemental Instructor (SI) program designed to help students. Ben Fisher, an SI for History 150 explains, “The SI program is really fo-
cused on helping kids get adjusted to college, learning how to study and different techniques of learning for every type of student.” “A wide variety of students ask for help, it’s not always just students who are not as academically inclined, it’s used as a universal resource from the campus that all students take advantage of,” Fisher said. The Center has become so popular that it is being moved to the second floor of Thomas where Dante’s Den used to be situated. This move from De La Salle 206 to Dante’s can provide more space for private sessions and interactions amongst students and faculty, creating a much more intimate setting. The move is scheduled for Spring Semester of 2016, but could be pushed back to the Fall Semester of next year. “I think the move will give the center a lot more space there. It’s in a small space in De La Salle and the space is very limited. It’s pretty hard to find a quiet, close area
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From MC Student to MC Professor
Victoria Hernández
Jess Quinn
features
Oct. 6, 2015
to speak to students and instructors. Moving to Dante’s will provide the center a lot more room,” Fisher said. The space that the center is located now, makes it difficult to make these tutoring and writing sessions intimate for students. Sammy Moe, a member of the Writing Center, is thrilled about the center’s move, “It’s so exciting, we’re so tiny and you can hear everyone’s conversations and it gets distracting when you’re focusing on a student who really needs help and all you can hear is somebody gossiping or talking too loudly.” The will allow the center to continue to help even more students boost their grades and become better students.
In 2011, Aileen Farrelly came back to Manhattan College to visit one of her favorite professors, Ahmed Goma, Ph.D. Farrelly was aware of a job opening in the accounting department at Manhattan, which required a doctoral degree. She did not have one and figured she would ask Goma to allow her to be his assistant in whatever research he was doing. She saw it as an opportunity to learn how to conduct research and decide whether it was something that she would be interested in doing. But, Farrelly received some unexpected news, when Goma suggested that she apply for the position instead. The department needed someone immediately and Farrelly was qualified. It was a job she landed—becoming a visiting professor, internship coordinator for the School of Business and assistant dean of the School of Business—in a place that Farrelly—a Manhattan College graduate of the class of 1995—has considered home for more than 20 years. “She’s a real Jasper,” Goma said about Farrelly. The Jasper green rubbed off on Farrelly from her father, who graduated from Manhattan and convinced her she too had to attend. A native of Queens, Farrelly wanted to stay in New York City for college, and had Columbia, New York University and Manhattan as her top choices. After hearing for so long about the work of the Christian Brothers, which she was a big supporter of, and of Manhattan’s quality accounting program, she decided Manhattan was the place for her. At Manhattan, she became involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including cheerleading—where she had the chance to go to two NCAA Tournaments with the men’s basketball team—and the Mini Baja club—where she kept the books for the engineers who built a car from scratch. “I think the most important thing from
when I was here was that I felt very comfortable,” Farrelly said about her time as a student at Manhattan. “I had no trouble going in and asking teachers questions. I was guided in a way that was perfect for me and I saw it happen with my friends too. What’s perfect for me was not always perfect for other people. But, the faculty, the Brothers, the dean were all looking out to see how you can be the best student and get out of here the most successful that you can be.” The support Farrelly got from the faculty at Manhattan was something she cherished. For Farrelly, Goma and Brother Robert Berger were two of the most influential professors and mentors she has ever had. It was Goma who told her to apply for the job in 2011 and it was Berger who set up a lunch with the dean of the School of Business. But before Goma served as a job recruiter, he was Farrelly’s accounting professor. Goma remembers Farrelly as a mature, straight-A student, who always participated in class and sometimes participated so much, that he would tease her and pretend to ignore her. Ignoring Goma was something Farrelly did very little of. As part of the Alumni Board at Manhattan, Farrelly came back to campus several times per year, and made sure to visit Goma whenever she was at Manhattan. “He was extremely influential in everything that I did as far as my career,” Farrelly said about Goma. “He hooked you up with the people that you needed to know not only educational wise, but career wise he helped you, and he is still like that. He hasn’t changed really. So, it’s great to be back with him.” Goma was able to recommend Farrelly to internships at KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked at for eight years after graduating. “I can say, and I always tease her with it, ‘God didn’t give me girls, only three boys, but you are exactly like my daughter,’” Goma said about his relationship with Farrelly. “We are very close. The relationship between me and her you can say is
Manhattan College/Courtesy like father-daughter.” Now Farrelly is back, alongside Goma, and teaching students what she learned from Goma. “I hope to make students feel the way I felt when I was here,” Farrelly said. “I hope that what they’re saying about me is what I said about Dr. Goma or Brother Rob.” One of those students Farrelly has grown a kinship with is Matthew Sullivan, who is in the last year of a five-year business program. Sullivan first encountered Farrelly in an accounting 201 class and since then, has considered Farrelly a mentor. Sullivan goes to Farrelly with any questions he has about his resume, internship advice, or schoolwork, and appreciates more than anything her straight-up approach.
“She’s going to tell you it like it is,” Sullivan said about Farrelly. “She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. She’s going to tell you what you need to do and how to get there.” Farrelly will soon be joined at Manhattan by her daughter, who next year, will continue what has become a family tradition of going to school there. In the meantime, Farrelly will continue to take on all the responsibilities she gets. She can’t complain. She’s at home. At Manhattan College. “Since I’ve been here, I really hardly have said no to anything,” Farrelly said. “I’m learning so much every time I do something that I find it hard not to do it. I just want to figure out what it’s all about.”
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Arts & Entertainment
6
Oct. 6, 2015
Matt Coyne, Student Designer Nicole Moore
Contributing Writer On set for the promotional video of his most recent collection, student designer, Matthew Coyne, has a clear vision. Coyne, a senior, directs the models with conviction, demonstrating the pose he wants or explaining to the photographer the type of shots he wants. His energy is palpable and his excitement even more so. “I don’t want the brand to be built up around me,” Coyne said, “but I do want the brand to be built around my world.” Coyne has been crafting collections for three years now, but he did not always want to be a designer. He discovered his passion through one of the most recognized fashion figures of our time: Lady Gaga. At first he tried to mimic her non-traditional style sensibilities by making dresses out of vinyl shower curtains and gluing wooden blocks to shoes. As he became more serious about his craft, he decided to take the time to study it more in depth. “Some of the first things I made on the machine were really bad,” Coyne said. “I finally sat down and read all these books on pattern making and I would watch the videos on YouTube of Chanel workshops.” Andrew Coyne has been supportive of his brother every step of the way. I was kind of clueless to the process or what it even meant,” the elder Coyne said, “but I said to Matthew, ‘If you are going to try it, try it now. You have nothing to lose.’” His few collections were known by the name Dardanian, but he decided to change the name to Coyne NYC last year. The revamp really began during his study abroad
experience in Argentina last spring. “A lot of it was inspired by the group of kids around me there and the street culture,” Coyne said. “I was trying to examine the hopes and anxieties of our generation and tried to create a brand around that.” The clothes were mostly a mix of black and navy with bright pops of color. Pictures of cars as well as a color block of a girl looking over her shoulder cover the t-shirts and sweats. Coyne recently solidified his retail plan and sent it out to buyers with his look-book with the help of his friends. “I feel like I finally have a team of people around me who believe in this as much as I do,” Coyne said. He has created a team of people that help with social media, public relations and photography. “It’s not common to come across a person with his sense of fashion; especially on the Manhattan College campus, and I wanted to provide the vehicle for him to express that vision with others,” Mahina Choy-Ellis said, a photographer and Manhattan College junior. Coyne’s brother praises his hard work as the catalyst to his success. “Each line does better,” he said. “Each show is more produced. His work ethic has resulted in raw experience. You can’t cut corners to get that.” “I still don’t know all the answers. I’m still learning,” Coyne said, “but it feels more personal this time.”
Student and fashion designer Matt Coyne, right, with one of his models. Matt Coyne/Courtesy
Murder Mystery Show A Hit For Family Weekend Jess Quinn Staff Writer
The lights dim, the chatter fades, and the mystery begins as Gene Culpepper, director of the play “Murders in the Heir,” initiates the play. Mr. Culpepper, a character with upbeat passion and a voice for correction, sets the scene for the murder mystery by detailing the important key factors to keep in mind as the cast characters walk on. The play takes place during the present time in the Starkweather Mansion on a stormy November night. There are fifteen members of the cast and only nine prospective murderers. Mr. Starkweather, the grandfather and tyrannical billionaire, writes a will promising his relatives a surplus of money and his servants an abundance of cash. The greedy relatives are satisfied with this news, until they discover they are getting less than a tenth of the billions their grandfather possesses. In addition to this, the billionaire decides to clone himself and create a new will leading to the distribution of an even more inadequate supply of money. This causes a lot of bewilderment, incredulity and anger amongst the family and staff. Jordan Starkweather, the billionaire’s great-nephew, expresses his discontent for this idiocy proposing multiple plans to kill Mr. Stockweather and wishing death on the old man. An unfortunate blackout befalls the mansion and when the lights are rejuvenated a dead tyrannical billionaire is revealed. Someone had wrapped the blood pressure cord around Mr. Stockweather’s neck and strangled him to death. Who
could it be? Who would want to kill the old man? Just about everyone, the old man was wasting his billions on something as bizarre as being cloned. The lights are turned on and that’s when the cast engages with the audience, patrolling the room for opinions on who the murderer could be. The prospective murderers included Bensonhurst, the butler who constantly reprimands one of the staff members Rufus; Minerva Walker, the temperamental cook; Mrs. Trent, the dour housekeeper who was furious with Mr. Stockweather for cloning himself, as it does go against nature; Nancy Pollard, the shy maid who fumbles to be as obedient as possible; Rufus Jones, the surly handyman who’s a bit daft and defiant of authority; Fiona Starkweather, the befuddled niece of Mr. Stockweather; Jordan Stockweather, Fiona’s materialistic and flirtatious son; Paula Thompson, Mr. Stockweather’s great-niece; and Miss Withers, a stern nurse. In the next scene different members of the family and staff start acting extra suspicious. Each of them possess a weapon or some pernicious poison that could potentially hurt Mr. Stockweather. Minerva had a large knife she held on to causally; Rufus clung on to a large ax unceremoniously; Fiona possessed a bottle of pills that could kill someone; Bensonhurst held a wrench. Paula grasped a rifle irregularly; and Withers carried around a hypodermic needle. That’s when different conversations transpire concerning the death of Mr. Stockweather and the approach to gaining more inheritance. Next, the investigation begins and the family and staff are interviewed about what happened on the day of the murder. The
members start to blame each other eluding blame from themselves and fabricating alibis to protect themselves. That’s when the lights are turned on once again and the votes are gathered from the audience on who could be the murderer. Additionally there is a questionnaire time, to ask the cast questions like: Jordan, what’s your endgame, Starkweather has passed what do you get from that? Minerva, what’s the purpose of the knife? How do we know that the blood machine killed Mr. Stockweather? Nancy, why are you so nervous? Butler, is there any possibility that you could have intercepted the pills? Wither, didn’t you get hit on the head when the lights went out? Lois, what’s your relationship with Kathy? Finally, Trent, what specifically do you have against cloning? All of these questions and more led to the official tallies collected. The murderer was revealed as Miss Withers. When asked what were the hints dropped that could reveal the murderer Carlos Perez, the co-director and a senior said, “Throughout the whole entire show there were lots of different points where people were showing different weapons on who could be the murderer and everything. Especially with the different weapons like the gun, wrench, ax, and the pill bottle, so there was lots of different instruct. But what’s great about this show is that anyone could be the murderer it all depends on the audience, so whatever the audience picks is honestly whoever the murderer is. So the person just found out they were going to be the murderer and they played out that scene entirely by themselves.” Seeing as the audience were the ones
to reveal the murder, the cast rehearsed different endings so the cast could be prepared. “We rehearsed the scene multiple times with different murderers. Every night we had about two to three different murder scenes and they had to rehearse multiple times so that they could all learn the lines immediately. So everyone does know the lines, but no one knows until the night of the show.” “The way the plays set up we have multiple endings, so I had to rehearse that scene regardless if I had to be the murderer, and it’s like you kind of have to get into the crazy mindset. I was a little nervous,” Collen Kelly, who played Miss Withers said. While it was unknown who the murder was going to be Kelly had an inclination that it would be her. “If I played my character the right way I figured it was going to be me.” The audience had positive reactions to the play with the play and Shaquille ColeCephus, a junior, was one of them. “The play was pretty well done, very chaotically captivating. It was a toss up on who the murderer might be, I was stuck with Trent and Miss Withers, but I slightly thought it was probably Withers because of her lacerations in the head.” The play was a surprise result for everyone and an intriguing performance to watch filled with deceit, greed, mischief, and humor.
Sports
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Swimming And Diving To Return, Good Starts To Conference Play Swimming and Diving
The coaches’ preseason polls were announced by the MAAC for the 2015-2016 swimming and diving season. Manhattan’s men’s team was picked to finish eighth, a one spot improvement from last season’s poll. Women’s was selected to finish ninth in the conference. Both teams will travel to Pennsylvania for a matchup against Marywood to start their seasons on Oct. 10. Women’s Soccer Manhattan now stands at 6-3-1 this season and 2-0-1 in conference play after a tie with Fairfield last Wednesday. Erica Modena notched the first goal of the game, her team-leading eighth of the season, off of a pass from Nicole Copping in the 30th minute. It kept its lead into the second half until Fairfield’s Jenny Jacobs scored in the 58th minute of the game. Manhattan led with five corner kicks in the game and gave up four to Fairfield, who led in shots 13-4 but was unable to convert on any more chances. After two overtime periods, the final score was a 1-1 tie. Kristen Skonieczny had five saves in the game and is 5-2-1 on the season. She earned her third career MAAC Defensive Player of the Week nod after Manhattan notched a 1-0 victory over Siena on Sept. 26. It was also Skonieczny’s fourth shutout with a season-high seven saves. She lowered her GAA to 0.46 and improved her save percentage to .909. The team was honored with a 2014-2015 College Team Academic Award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). It was one of 560 teams to be recognized with their average team GPA of 3.49.
Manhattan will continue conference play when they host Saint Peter’s on Oct. 7. Men’s Soccer Manhattan earned its first victory of the season against Fairfield last Wednesday night at Gaelic Park. The win comes after a 2-0 loss to Siena on Sept. 26. Siena’s two goals in the first half proved to be enough for the victory, despite Manhattan’s 14-10 lead in shots, seven of them on goal. Alex Shackley led with two shots on goal. Against Fairfield, Troy Carrington broke the scoreless tie in the 86th minute of the game to give Manhattan the 1-0 lead. Fairfield was close to respond but the last-second shot went wide. The first half of the game was quiet for Manhattan, with their first shot not coming until the 65th minute. Fairfield led 14-6 in shots but Manhattan had the advantage in corner kicks, 4-3.
Manhattan’s freshman goalkeeper R.J. Noll earned his first collegiate win with four saves in the game. Manhattan improves to 1-5-1 and 1-1 in conference play and it continues MAAC play against Saint Peter’s on Wednesday Oct. 7. Volleyball Manhattan had two back-to-back victories last weekend against Canisius and Niagara. After a 3-0 victory over Canisius, Manhattan notched a 3-1 win with a 19-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-17 victory after Niagara won the first set. Niagara had an early lead in the second set but a kill by Milena Janjusevic was the push Manhattan needed to take over and it started on a 16-5 run. A block by Ivana Kostic and Jade Gray ended Manhattan’s 25-13 win and evened the match. Marissa Behrens and Janjusevic followed with kills to give Manhattan a 2-1 lead in the match. To follow up, Claire Van Dyk had a kill to finish the last set 25-17 and get the 3-1 victory for Manhattan. Allie Yamashiro had 16 digs for Manhattan, who led in digs 63-58. Yamashiro also earned MAAC Libero of the Week award for the second time this season. She notched 5.71 digs and 0.43 assists last week in Manhattan’s two victories. She has been recognized in her career 10 times. This is Manhattan’s third MAAC weekly award this season with Alyssa Rehrer earning MAAC Rookie of the Week on Sept. 22. Compiled by Jaclyn Marr, Assistant Sports Editor
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Sports
From Serbia to Riverdale
Milena Janjusevic smiling during recent play.
Daniel Ynfante Assistant Editor
Milena Janjusevic and Ivana Kostic have known each other for nearly a decade. They often competed against each other in Belgrade, Serbia, and were even part of the same volleyball youth national teams. But that was as far as their relationship went. They were mere acquaintances, who happened to be from the same city. Now, thousands of miles away from home, Janjusevic and Kostic have formed an inseparable bond that has led them to the same school. They went their separate ways when they came to the United States just two years ago, but contacted one another during the 2014 season and decided they were going to team-up at Manhattan College. “I knew she was graduating from junior college and I was looking to transfer,” Kostic said about how Janjusevic’s decision influenced hers. “I heard she wanted to go with someone who was also Serbian, so I was kind of looking for the same thing. I contacted her. We started speaking and then we were just looking to see if we can go somewhere together.” Janjusevic was the first to receive interest from Manhattan’s head coach, Mark Jones. She was graduating from junior college in Odessa, Tex., after a season that culminated in her being named the Most Valuable Player of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference West division. During the recruiting process, she heard that Jones was looking for a middle blocker, a position she knew Kostic played. She always wanted to go to school with a fellow Serbian, therefore decided to reach out to Kostic and convince her to send Jones a video of her highlights, in the hopes that it would catch Jones’ attention. That, it did.
Jones heard from another coach that Kostic was thinking about transferring. He also knew her coach at UMBC. What he didn’t know was that Kostic and Janjusevic had a long history that went back to Serbia. That was the final factor in convincing him that Kostic was just who he was looking for. “I think the biggest thing for them was, I would say the experience,” Jones said about Janjusevic and Kostic. “The experience at a high level and that’s something that they’re used to back home. They played together, so that was definitely a plus. I saw the consistency and the mentality that they bring every day to practice and also in the games. I think they’re just very stable, and that’s what I really like about them.” But before Janjusevic and Kostic were playing Division One volleyball together in the United States, they were playing club volleyball in Serbia. They both began playing at a young age—Janjusevic in the second grade and Kostic in the fourth. They loved the sport, but in Serbia, school and volleyball did not mesh. It was either one or the other. The club level served as a “minor league” to professional volleyball, and required too many hours of practice that took away time from Janjusevic’s and Kostic’s school work. The two sat down with their parents and decided that it was only in the United States where they could get the best of both worlds. “I decided to come here because in my country, when it comes to college and sports you need to choose between those two and which want you want to continue with,” Janjusevic said. “I found an opportunity here to have both and that was the main reason why I came here.” At first, it was difficult for Janjusevic and Kostic to be acclimated to a new culture, new coaches and an entire change of scenery. The two struggled with the lan-
guage for about a semester, but with some practice, started feeling more comfortable. “I was really sad because I didn’t know what to expect here,” Janjusevic said about coming to the United States. “It was kind of interesting. When I first came here, I had great coaches back there. They helped me a lot in the beginning since they knew that I was coming from a different part of the world. It was hard, but after a while you get used to everything.” Looking to get closer to her cousins, who live in the east coast, Janjusevic decided she wanted to go to school in New York after she graduated from Odessa College. She had several schools in mind, but Manhattan’s recent success and close proximity to the city attracted her. Her decision to go to Manhattan had a domino effect that proved beneficial for Jones and the volleyball team. Kostic, who was frustrated with life at UMBC, was set to transfer. She just didn’t know where. “Volleyball just wasn’t good there and volleyball is a big part of my life, so it was affecting everything else,” Kostic said about how she felt at UMBC. “I wasn’t really in a good mood or anything. I just felt like I should change that for myself. I couldn’t be there for four years.” That’s when she was contacted by Janjusevic, who told her she wanted to go to school with another Serbian. It was a dream scenario for Kostic, who also loved Manhattan’s pitch. “It’s a more positive environment here,” Kostic said about Manhattan. “It’s nicer here to play and I feel more comfortable playing here than over there. It’s not that much pressure and I don’t know, I enjoy more playing here than over there.” Now in a place where she feels at ease, and with a friend in Janjusevic that serves as a constant reminder of home, Kostic’s rise in play has been noticeable. In 2014, Kostic averaged 1.14 kills per set and .71
Oct. 6, 2015
Ivana Kostic about to serve. GoJaspers/Courtesy blocks per set. Halfway through the 2015 season, Kostic has improved those numbers to 1.45 and .94 respectively. But Janjusevic has also seen a leap in her play. Her MVP campaign in 2014 saw her post 2.29 kills per set and 2.08 digs per set. This season, Janjusevic has excelled to figures of 2.70 kills and 2.89 digs per set. To Jones, Janjusevic’s and Kostic’s contributions come to no surprise. He expected them to play a huge role on the team, especially with the departures of Malia McGuinness and Anna Kitlar, who were integral parts of the team for the last three seasons. “That was the important thing for us, is that we knew that we had certain things that we needed for the program, especially after the departure of our three seniors,” Jones said. “We wanted a little more maturity on the court and that was something we were looking for, especially in those two players, because we knew we were bringing in five freshmen. We really felt like with their leadership and their experience, it was going to help us.” The two have helped Manhattan earn a 10-7 record, good for second place in the MAAC Conference. They will be vital members in Manhattan’s push to a MAAC championship, something that would have seemed unfathomable to them last year. They knew one another in Serbia. They were aware of how good the other was. But, they never expected to be together. At Manhattan, that has changed. They’ve become close friends, whose comradery has led them to new levels of play. “They’re getting better and better,” Jones said about Janjusevic and Kostic. “The transition period is never easy, especially with a new school, new environment, new coaches, so I think we’re happy in the sense of really where their progress is, and they keep on getting better and better, and that’s the most important thing.”