THE Volume 94, Issue 4
Q
UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924
September 20, 2016
www.mcquad.org
Remembering Father George Hill
1943 - 2016
See pages 6 & 7
Manhattan College mourns the loss of Father Hill, who passed away Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the age of 73. Manhattan College/Courtesy
Bug Found in Locke’s Loft Salad Kyleigh Panetta Asst. Editor
A student found a worm-like bug in his salad at Locke’s Loft on Sept. 12, both the student and Gourmet Dining Services confirmed this week. Joseph Liggio, a freshman at Manhattan College, who found the bug and said that this situation might change the way he looks at his meals on campus. “I just got here and so far the food has been tasting pretty good but now I need to kind of scrutinize it every time,” Liggio said. Liggio said that he was eating dinner at Locke’s Loft with a friend and wanted to end his meal on a healthier note. “So I got a salad. It seemed and tasted fine. I was probably two-thirds of the way done and then I put my fork into the next piece of lettuce,” Liggio said.
“I was about to take a bite and I saw something wiggling on it. I took the piece of lettuce off and put it down on a napkin and looked at it,” he said. Liggio said that’s when he realized there was a worm-like bug in his spinach. He said that he went up to a cook, told him what he found and was directed to a nearby manager. Liggio said that he brought the manager over to his table where he put the bug and lettuce on a napkin. “The manager was examining it and he pulled out his iPhone and took two quick pictures. Then he grabbed the napkin, crumpled it up and put it in his pocket,” Liggio said. “And he said to me, ‘I’m really sorry about this. This is how our produce comes. We get it fresh in bags,” Liggio said. Conway said that Liggio handled the situation correctly and the Gourmet Dining staff followed a predetermined “Action Plan”. “After the manager apologized to the
student, he removed the plate and the remaining spinach from the salad bar for further inspection. New product was then brought out to fill in the open space on the salad bar,” Conway said. He said that the salad is washed twice at the produce plant, vacuum sealed and then washed again before it is put out. Conway said that even with the food preparation steps, it is important to remember that the produce grows in an outdoor environment and is “easily accessible to small bugs”. He also said that MC students eat a little less than 200 pounds of various lettuce every day. “With that amount of volume there is an opportunity, albeit small, for situations like this to occur. Not to minimize what happened, but I am happy to say that this is the first such incident of this type that has been brought to our attention in the last two years,” Conway said. Liggio said that he will continue to eat at Locke’s because he has “no other
option” but that he will be more careful of what he is eating because this is the second time he has found something displeasing in his meal. “I had a hair in my food the first week and that I kind of set aside and didn’t think much of it because I can understand that maybe. But when there’s a living object in your food… I like Locke’s food 75-percent of the time but that just freaked me out,” Liggio said. Liggio said that he was contacted by Conway a few days after the incident and was given vouchers for free drinks at the Starbucks on campus. “This is not a situation that we take lightly by any means and we have made our displeasure known to our vendor,” Conway said. “Gourmet Dining has maintained an ‘A’ standing with the health department in all locations, for the duration of my tenure here. I invite anyone who would like to tour our facilities to reach out to me.”
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The
opinions & editorials
Quadrangle www.mcquad.org
Vol. 94 Issue 4 Sept. 20, 2016
Ally Hutzler Editor-in-Chief Sean Sonnemann Managing Editor Anthony Capote News Editor Kyleigh Panetta Jack Melanson Asst. News Editors Kieran Rock Features Editor/Managing Editor Tara Marin Asst. Features Editor Lindsey Burns Arts & Entertainment Editor Victoria Hernรกndez Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Daniel Ynfante Sports Editor RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Sports Editor Kristie Killen Social Media Editor Taylor Brethauer Asst. Social Media Editor Vanessa Sanchez Photography Editor Leony Anne McKeown Asst. Photography Editor Kelly Burns Abbi Kirollos Production Editors Daniel Molina Stephen Zubrycky Web Editors Tom Callahan Faculty Adviser
A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism. The staff of The Quadrangle meets every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in room 412 of the Student Commons. Contact The Quadrangle at thequad@manhattan.edu The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.
Notes from
Sept. 20, 2016
The Editor
With the semester now in full swing, I write this week to encourage and invite any student who is looking to get involved in an activity on campus to join The Quadrangle! We are a club that is open to all students on campus, regardless of major and class years. Our diverse staff ranges from engineering students to education majors and includes everyone in between. There is also no prior experience necessary to begin working for The Quadrangle. We have a strong group of editors who are eager to teach anyone who is interested in reporting and writing. You do not need to be a writer or reporter to become involved with our newspaper. If you are interested in web design, we maintain a live website (mcquad.org) or if you are interested in social media you can become a part of our social media presence on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Each week we also publish high quality photographs, and we always welcome students who are interested in photography to take some shots for our newspaper or our website. Again, even if you are not experienced in these areas we are more than happy to show you the ropes. To join The Quadrangle you can attend one of our weekly meetings, which are held in the Kelly Commons room 412 on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. If you are not able to attend the meetings, you can also email us at thequad.manhattan.edu to see how you can get involved. Being a part of The Quadrangle will provide you with an endless amount of opportunities. Whether it is being behind the scenes at an event on campus or interviewing various professors and students, there is never a dull moment.
Ally Hutzler
news
Short Stop Diner Seeks Full Liquor License Anthony Capote & Rose Brennan Editor & Staff Writer
Revenue has been steadily declining for Short Stop Diner, located on the corner of W. 242nd Street and Broadway and the diner seeks to become prominent again by obtaining a full liquor license. “The community has changed,” said Anthony Branchi, the restaurant’s attorney. “Other restaurants have opened up and revenue has fallen, so they’re looking to boost that a bit.” Many other diners in the Bronx have gained full liquor licenses, but in the case of Short Stop, there is some hesitation due to it’s proximity to a college campus which could potentially enable underage drinkers. “All of the service help have been instructed and they’ll be monitored to check,” Branchi said at an august meeting of Bronx Community Board’s public safety commit-
tee meeting. “Basically it is a family restaurant, so we’re not looking for someone to come in there, per se, and just drink.” From the perspective of the students at Manhattan College, it could be more difficult to monitor underage drinkers than owner Peter Singh anticipated. Vincent DeMauro, a sophomore at MC, said, “Realistically, in a college area it is very hard to properly maintain fake IDs.” Sophomore Diego Miguens agreed, and suggested that the frequent presence of college students would potentially make money for the diner. “College kids is where the money’s at.” The diner could potentially become a hub for students of drinking age. It could also appeal to underage friends of these students, like DeMauro, who might accompany the legal drinkers. “If a cheeseburger and fries is $8, and a beer is decently priced, who is going to turn down a beer and a cheeseburger?” DeMauro said. For thirty years, Short Stop has been a community landmark, particularly for students at the college. Frequent fliers
Miguens and DeMauro estimated they ate at Short Stop every other weekend since arriving at MC last fall. Miguens cited the diner as one of the first off-campus dining venues he visited, along with Best Deli of West 242nd Street. “The convenience, as far as where it is, how much it costs, and the fact that it’s open 24 hours,” Branchi said. “If I’m doing work and it’s 4:30 in the morning and I’m hungry, I don’t want to eat pretzels all the time. I can go get a cheeseburger instead.” In order to gain said license, Short Stop will have to close at 2 A.M. for the probationary period of one year, as opposed to remaining open 24 hours a day. The potential new limit on Short Stop’s operation could counteract the diner’s attempts to attract more customers, especially if those customers are college students. “I usually don’t go there until 3:30 or 4 in the morning,” said Miguens. “If they close early, I’m probably going to be too busy to go.”
Arsonist Sets Fire to Unopened Deli Anthony Capote Editor
An arsonist allegedly tried to set fire to a deli that has yet to even open, police said. They said someone intentionally set fire to 5993 Broadway, where a new store, Gourmet Deli and Bagels, is currently un-
der construction. Cops say the storefront, which used to house Sandwich King 2, and Stiff Weasel the year prior, caught fire at about 8:45 p.m. on Sept. 11. They said whoever started the fire did while people were inside but that no one was injured. The owner of the neighboring bodega,
who did not give his name, said he felt a small explosion. “Everything feel of the wall here and now we have no water or electricity on this side,” he said on Sept. 12. Officers from the 50th Precinct said they are treating the incident as a case of arson, but have turfed the investigation over to the FDNY.
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Also On Campus Ally Hutzler Editor-in-Chief
Research Scholars Presentation Friday, Sept. 23, summer research scholars will be presenting their research in the Kelly Commons room 4A from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
First Official Meeting of the Commuter Student Association This Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Commuter Student Association (CSA) will hold its first official meeting of the 20162017 academic year. The meeting is open to all commuter students and also for those on campus interested in aiding commuter life. The meeting will be held in the Kelly Commons at 11 a.m.
Lecture by Zelda Kahan Newman Wednesday, Sept. 21, Zelda Kahan Newman will have a lecture in the Kelly Commons from 5C at 7 p.m. Newman will translate Yiddish poems by holocaust survivor Rivka Basman Ben-Haim.
Jason Collins Next to Speak at Annual Student Engagement Lecture Series This Thursday, Sept. 22, former professional basketball player Jason Collins will speak to Manhattan College from 1-2 p.m. in Smith Auditorium. Collins publicly came out as gay in 2013. He was the first male active player in any of the four major American professional sports to be openly gay.
Puppies on the Mini Quad This Friday, Sept. 23, there will be puppies on the mini quad. The event will raise money for the American Cancer Society. Students can pay $5 to play with the puppies for seven or eight minutes. Old Croton Aqueduct Hike and Site Visit Saturday, Sept. 24, students can get exposure to the historic site of he Old Croton Aqueduct, which is one of the oldest aqueducts in the metropolitan area. For the cost of $11 students will get transportation using the Metro North train. Students should pack their own lunch and wear proper hiking attire.
Firefighters at the scene on Sept. 11 where an unopened deli caught fire. Stephen Zubrycky/The Quadrangle
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Features
Sept. 20, 2016
It’s a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood: West Village Stephen Zubrycky Editor
Puffy bursts of green bounce off the red brick of the rowhouses that line the narrow cobblestone streets. These cobbled paths bend and curve serenely but wildly through the brick and wrought iron jungle, catering to the every whim of the cramped shuttered construction of the turn of the century. There’s nary a sound to be heard – save for a cyclist bouncing past on the cobbles or the clink of the finest China in an open-air café on one of these quiet corners. It’s not New York – it can’t be. But it is – it’s the West Village – silent, thoughtful, defiant, and so utterly sure of itself that it may be the most quintessentially Manhattan crevice on New York’s central island. The West Village is bordered roughly by W. 14 St. on the north, 6 Ave. on the east, Houston St. on the south, and the Hudson River on the west. The area is most accessible by the No. 1 train at Christopher St., or by the W 4 St. station, which is served by the A, C, E, B, D, F, and M lines. A great portion of this neighborhood has been declared a historic district. These areas are mostly centered near Sheridan Square and Abdingdon Square. Since receiving landmark status in 1969, numerous additions have been made to the protected area, leaving nary a change to be made to the built environment here, preserving the distinct character of the area first forged in the late 1800s. The West Village came to prominence in the 1960’s as the bubbling cauldron that boiled over into the modern gay rights movement. The movement was born on June 28, 1969, when gay people fought back against police at the Stonewall Inn near Sheridan Square on Christopher St. Police were forced to barricade themselves in the bar in order to escape the violence outside. Protests continued outside of the Stonewall nightly for several days, according the Stonewall’s website. The Stonewall Riots, as they came to be known, are a defining chapter in the history of the gay rights movement. To this day, New York City’s Pride Parade closes with a march down Christopher St., right past the Stonewall, as a sign of reverence for the site that has been remembered as the Boston Tea Party of the gay rights movement.
The West Village is home to the “Friends” apartment building and other historic sites. Stephen Zubrycky/The Quadrangle The inclusive culture of the West Village is palpable, and not just around Sheridan Square; pride flags are abundant throughout the area, and the area also boasts diverse culinary offerings. A lot of the action in the West Village can be found between 6 and 7 Aves. from Houston St. all the way up to 14 St. The narrow side streets in this part of the neighborhood are lined with cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, ranging from the upscale to the bohemian to the classic hole-in-the-wall Manhattan pizza joint. New York University’s nearby campus adds a collegiate charm to the area, and brings with it an intellectu-
al prowess manifested in the West Village’s thriving art, music, and food scenes. At the corner of Grove St. and Bedford St. is the apartment building where the N.B.C. sitcom “Friends” was set, and fans can routinely be seen on the sidewalk there taking pictures. The “Friends” apartment is in the heart of the oldest area of the West Village, and the most beautiful. The streets that run through heart of the West Village are hardly streets at all, but rather are alleyways – canyons of red brick and finely landscaped green gardens that form a maze between 6 Ave. and Hudson St. The architecture is lush and borders on
quaint. The street is silent. And everything moves more slowly, as if with reverence for aged stone pavement or the ancient brick lining the cavern walls. But then the block ends, and it’s 7 Ave. And, once again, it’s concrete and asphalt and steel and horns – it’s Manhattan. But that is the West Village – standing as its own and bucking the trend. Whether it is steel or social intolerance, the West Village has always defied, and its defiance has been immortalized in brick and mortar, and in rainbow stripes. The West Village is the West Village – and there’s nothing that anybody can do about it.
Features
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Behind Manhattan College’s #SocialMedia Sean Sonnemann Editor
“Alright, let’s stop here for today. See you all next class.” In one fluid motion students snap their books shut and whip out their cell phones as they walk into the hallway. In today’s social media-obsessed world, this scene plays out hourly at universities across the country as college students seemingly can’t put their phones down for long. After all, with over 5,000 tweets and nearly 1,000 new Instagram photos being posted worldwide every second, there is a lot to catch up on after sitting in class for a mere 50 minutes. Over the past few years Manhattan College has worked to keep up with the seemingly ever-increasing role social media plays in our society and grown its own online presence—much of it due to the efforts of Julie Achilles, assistant director of web communications. “My job has been to really build those [social media] channels out and get with the times,” Achilles said. When she started working in the college’s Marketing and Communication office five years ago, the college’s social media presence was limited to only a YouTube channel with just a few videos posted online. Now she works to keep the college’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr and YouTube accounts updated on a regular basis—creating content and making sure to engage with users across the various platforms. “It’s mostly Julie. It’s like 95 percent Julie,” Annie Chambliss, director of web communications, said when giving credit to Achilles for managing the college’s social media accounts in addition on top of producing all of the in-house videography. While the department does occasionally have other staff members and student workers take assignments and cover events, the majority of the posting falls to Achilles. “It is a 24 hour a day job,” she said. “I am at home on my phone sometimes answering people about say the broken elevator in Jasper Hall.” Limiting that responsibility to Achilles and just a few others helps ensure the college’s accounts are consistent day-afterday in both content and quality. “It’s easier to keep it amongst a tightknit group,” Achilles said, “because then we have the same voice and tone whatever messaging goes out, rather than farm it out to students or other people.” Weekly editorial meetings within the department help plan out what exactly will be covered in the college’s official Facebook posts, Twitter messages and other social media work. While it is easy to plan on posting about annual events such as commencement and the recent activities fair, other inspirations for content pop up on a daily basis as life takes place on campus and news develops. Achilles also spends time not just creating original content but also making sure to respond to users who tweet at or comment on the college’s posts online—at times in the form of complaints or negative feedback. “Julie does a particularly good job of doing that and being responsive to things,” Chambliss said. “I think some institutions, colleges or companies even, don’t necessarily respond as actively as we do to things like that—the not-as-pleasant tweets that happen.”
Whether it is a student complaining about a skunk walking around the quad or Wi-Fi being down in one of the dorms, Achilles tries to do her best to respond and point to someone who can help the situation. “I am happy to feed along information to the proper people with power to solve those problems,” she said. “But it can be a little frustrating when I am taking the brunt of someone’s argument or a ‘why don’t we have a snow day today’ kind of thing.” Over the years she has learned not to take the complaints and angry responses personally. “A lot of times people don’t understand that it’s just me behind a computer.” Despite the occasional vitriol from frustrated users, Achilles appreciates being behind a significant portion of the college’s online presence. “I find it an enjoyable part of my job. I’ve always enjoyed using social media, so having it be a real tool for the college is fun.” To accomplish their work online, the office relies on social media management programs that include TweetDeck and Sprout Social. In addition to making it easier to create content, they often receive feedback and data that helps better target and improve their posts. Recently they have seen the shift of older users to Facebook and often use that platform to reach parents and alumni with more long-form content. Conversely, current and prospective students are more active on Twitter and Instagram where visual, photo-heavy shortform content is more prevalent. While it can be challenging to balance providing information to such different audiences, the growth of department specific social media accounts around the college has been a large help. For example, Residence Life can inform students about floor programming taking place in a certain residence hall and similar niche announcements too narrow in scope for the college’s general social media accounts. The new college website also works to incorporate these department and office specific social media feeds directly onto their respective webpages. “It keeps the new website a lot more live with the social feeds with no additional work for everyone—which is great,” Chambliss said. Chambliss and Achilles work with other staff members around the college who are interested in creating their own social media pages, providing best practices tips and branded profile photos complete with the college logo. They are also constantly working to expand their existing platforms and keep up with the latest trends online. With the increased hardware capacity of smartphones, photos and videos are becoming a greater portion of their work. “Social has become much more visual, and that’s something that we can capitalize on our campus because we have such a beautiful campus and a lot of really good things to photograph,” Chambliss said. That includes working on a Manhattan College Snapchat account that they hope to launch next semester, as well as exploring emerging tools such as virtual reality and 360-degree photos. “It [social media] is such a dynamic thing that’s always changing and evolving,” Chambliss said. “There are new channels but even within existing channels there are new features and new ways to approach content. That will just always be the case.”
Achilles is responsible for maintaining the college’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Youtube accounts. Julie Achilles/Courtesy
Screenshots of the Manhattan College twitter account. Sean Sonnemann/The Quadrangle While working extensively in the field of social media was not something Achilles envisioned when she graduated from Temple University in 2011 with a degree in broadcast journalism, she is confident it is here to stay.
“It naturally became a part of my job and I’m really happy to see that it stayed, it’s not just been a fad but a trend in communicating with people.”
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News
News
Sept. 20, 2016
Remembering the Life of Father George Hill
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Reverend George Hill, Manhattan College’s chaplain for almost decade, passed away last week, after a long battle with cancer. Hill died in hospice care of kidney failure due to his treatment, he was 73. Before coming to MC, Hill had a long and fruitful service as a priest. He worked at St. Bernard’s parish in Greenwich Village and the Bailey House in Harlem, offering counseling to those suffering from HIV and AIDS. He also lived and served from some time in Piffard, New York, at the Abbey of the Genesee where, for almost 10 years, he observed a strict vow of silence. In his experiences there, Hill learned the value of meditation, a facet of Christian faith he tried to pass on to students the College during his weekly meditations in Horan Hall. Hill was widely loved at Manhattan College and, in keeping with his own policy of living with and among those he served, The Quadrangle has published a series of comments and quotes students had to say about him and his passing. Compiled by Anthony Capote, Kyleigh Panetta & Melissa Gallardo
“Father Hill was a terrific man who loved everyone at Manhattan, not just the student athlete’s. He was the spiritual leader of the Golf team and the players loved him. It’s difficult to find a person who truly loved what he did, dealing with the Manhattan College community and helping everyone that he could. I have only known Father Hill for the year that I have been at Manhattan, but I feel like I knew him my whole life. We’ll miss him.” – Frank Darby, Golf Team Head Coach
“George reminded me everyday the importance of approaching every person and interaction with a full heart of kindness. Through a long illness, George never stopped meeting every student, colleague, and alum with a heart of love and kindness.” – Conor Reidy, Campus Minister
“Father Hill was one of the first people I met on this campus and he’s really had a huge impact on my life and the guidance he gave to people was also my motivation of helping others as well. He was a big role-model for me.” – Dorian Persuad, Student Body President
“Father Hill was an amazing man who always made me feel like I matter, which is so uplifting. It creates a domino effect. When you feel like you matter, you want to make others feel like they matter, and Father Hill really created that kind of environment on campus.” – Katie Smolko, MC ‘16
“Father George taught me so very much about compassion, pursuing your dreams, and being a beacon of light for those in darkness. He cared very deeply about the needs of our students and advocated for them tirelessly. There are so many students, some of which I never knew about until this week, that he connected with on a deeply genuine level. For some he changed their lives, for others he was simply a warm smile as they passed by. I will miss his quick wit and humor and our long lunch chats about life. He was a treasure that this campus community was so lucky to have found 9 years ago.” – Jenn Edwards Robinson, Assistant Director for Campus Ministry and Social Action
“I will never forget the night that Father Hill told me he was ill. About a year ago, after he sweetly dedicated the first mass to my father, we were standing on the altar together and he said to me, “I have cancer too, you know.” I was heartbroken to find this out and as my sadness came across my face he simply chuckled at me. He was so calm about it. He told me that everything was going to be OK, instead of me telling him. He was a man who accepted every single thing that came his way, and with such grace. In the two years of working with him and having the gift of knowing him, I don’t think I ever saw him frown. Father Hill always announced his phone number at the first mass of each year. He made us take out our phones or write it down, in case we ever needed anything or just wanted to talk. I never took advantage of that. He did, however, convince me to become a Sacristan. The first time we spoke outside of work, he was the one to text me. He went out of his way to find my phone number and make sure that I was OK after a difficult period in my life. It takes a special kind of person to do that. He was gentle and compassionate, but so much more than that. He looked after me as if I was a dear friend or a family member. I just hope he knew of the impact he had on every single life he touched, including mine.” – Melanie O’Connor, Sacristan
“From the moment he stepped foot on campus he just fit in perfectly. He was always very open to every student and was a member of the community. His spirit is going to continue to guide us.” – Brother Robert “A few years back, before he got sick, Fr. George and I would regularly have coffee in the morning in the old Dante’s Den and we’d talk about everything - work, faith, life - and we’d talk to people on their way to and from breakfast. A couple of years ago, we continued those great talks on the car rides to and from doctor visits and chemotherapy sessions. I loved to discuss scripture with him. He always had a way of genuinely, faithfully unfolding deeper and deeper meaning. We could talk about things that really matter, about meaning and purpose. George was my friend and I’ll miss him.” – Lois Harr, Assistant Vice President for Student Life, Director for Campus Ministry & Social Action
Manhattan College/Courtesy
“Last night after we heard the news, we sat on the subway and talked about Father Hill. We talked about everything that he has done to make us cry, laugh, think, feel and believe. We talked about his stories, his jokes, and his meditations. We talked about him, standing outside the church doors, smiling, his arms outstretched for a hug shouting “My friends! You’re here!” – Annie Doerr, James Daly and Rory Murtagh, Sacristans
“I asked him why he didn’t retire when things were getting worse and he basically told me it was because he loved what he was doing and he didn’t want to stop. That kind of speaks to who he was anyhow he cared about this campus more than his own self.” - Pat Hill, nephew and student at MC “During my first mass at Manhattan College as a freshman, I instantly noticed Father Hill’s connection to the student body when he told everyone to take out their cell phones to put in his phone number during the homily. It is now two years later, and I have been a sacristan in Campus Ministry, which has been the most meaningful experience during my time at Manhattan College. All thanks to you, Father Hill. This compassionate man has not only helped me put my faith back on track, but has impacted my own mindset about life in such strong way. Father Hill’s ability to keep a smile on his face no matter what the struggle or challenge he was facing still amazes me to this day. During the worst of times, there he was, going about his routine, in full belief that God had it all under control. In May, I helped organize Relay for Life, a cancer awareness fundraiser, and I chose Father Hill to be an honorary member. He was more than happy to share his story and his battle with cancer. At that moment, I realized Father Hill was one of the strongest people I knew. Although we may not see Father saying homilies at mass or greeting the students in Lockes, we need to keep his positive mindset and sense of peace alive at Manhattan College. Every Sunday spent with him was an absolute blessing. I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for Manhattan College. Every time I set foot into the chapel, I will always think of Father Hill and hope he is smiling down on us in heaven.” – Jaclyn Marchetta, Sacristan
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Arts & Entertainment
Sept. 20, 2016
The Book Nook Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Author: John Tiffany and Jack Thorne Genre: Fantasy
Taylor Brethauer Asst. Editor
A brand new installment to the Harry Potter Universe, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” introduces older fans and new fans to the younger generation of the Wizarding World. Told in the format of a script, the play the book is based on is currently being played as a two-part production in London’s West End, at the Palace Theatre. Creator of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling teams up with playwrights Jack Thorne and John Tiffany to revisit the beloved world she made. The younger generation, namely the children of the Potters, Granger-Weasleys and Malfoys, is heading to Hogwarts. Our main characters, Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, meet on the Hogwarts Express and begin a journey similar to the ones their fathers had when they were students at the school for witchcraft and wizardry. They also meet the mysterious Delphi Diggory who joins in on their adventures. We are introduced to many characters, both old and new. We get a glimpse into the adult lives of the Golden Trio- Harry and Hermione work in the Ministry of Magic and Ron works at his brother’s joke shop on Diagon Alley. They are the same characters we grew up with, but now they have grown up, much like younger fans have. The plot deals mostly with the question of time: what would have happened if Cedric Diggory had never died in “Goblet of Fire”? What if Voldemort died the night
Taylor Brethauer/The Quadrangle he gave Harry his lightning scar? What if Umbridge remained Headmaster of Hogwarts? There is a lot of revisiting previous plot points in the original seven books. The story flows nicely, with a concept of
two parts, both with two acts each. The two parts are two separate shows that you can get tickets for. Every act/part ends with a riveting cliffhanger that makes you wonder how Albus and Scorpius will get out of the
rough patches. With the story being told in the form of a script, there are many scenes left up to the imagination. Stage directions speak of wand duels and flying figures and scary trolley-cart ladies (sounds ridiculous, but is actually quite terrifying). Part of the reason why the play has already been so successful is because the staging techniques and effects are unlike any other show. This is what happens when you bring literal magic and wizarding to the theater. Many fans gave mixed reviews of this book/play. It was the first Harry Potter literature published since “Deathly Hallows” came out back in 2007. Some people said it was like a form of “fan fiction” in the sense that it felt like it didn’t fit in the Harry Potter timeline. Others were excited to learn more about the original character’s children and see their characterization. Although Rowling said it will be the last Harry Potter book in a while, it was still something to get excited about. I enjoyed this play very much. It was interesting to see how the younger children were, after reading so much about Harry, Hermione and Ron. I would love to be able to see the play if I ever get over to London. I chose to read this because I had never attended a midnight release of a Harry Potter book and along with my sibling, I got to do just that. I’m not ashamed to say I finished this within the day I got it. “The Cursed Child” adds onto stories that many of us grew up with, which are always fun to revisit. I would highly recommend it to any and all Harry Potter fans. Unless you haven’t read the Harry Potter books, in which case you should definitely read those first.
Arts & Entertainment
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Manhattan College Professor Wins The Berlin Prize to Study in Germany RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Editor
Asking Dr. Mark Pottinger, the founder of the Visual and Preforming Arts Department here at Manhattan College, where he’s from is a challenging question. Although his family is Jamaican, he has lived in many different places in the United States, and even England. Pottinger grew up in upstate New York with his mother, father and two older brothers. Living across from a quarry with a farm right in his backyard, his childhood was full of tree house excursions and many other outdoor actives. However, during his childhood, Pottinger and his family moved around to many different suburbs, giving him the opportunity to call a variety of places home. From New York to North Dakota, to Minnesota and even Missouri, he ended up at Washington University in St. Louis where he received is bachelor’s degree. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Pottinger moved to England to study at the University of Leeds, where he eventually earned his graduate degree. In 1999, Pottinger began teaching part time at Manhattan College, while completing his dissertation for his PhD, which he then received in musicology. Afterwards, he became an assistant professor, and quickly moved up to an associate professor. After years of traveling, schooling and teaching, Pottinger has had the honor of reviving the Berlin Prize. The Berlin Prize is a part of the American Academy in Berlin, Germany. The academy was started by Richard Holbrooke, the ambassador to Germany under Bill Clinton’s presidency. Modeled after the American Academy in Rome, the American Academy in Berlin is an intellectual and research center, bringing American scholars to Germany. The award is a fellowship given to 23 scholars, providing them with residency in Berlin for an entire semester. “They take care of all of your responsibilities for research. They introduce you to the head of the libraries that you need to go to for archives, they provide you with all of the ID’s you need to access the research libraries, they create introductions for you to meet scholars nearby and have conversation and/or collaboration. Not only do they translate for you, they also give you many opportunities to meet the German people,” Pottinger said. “You take part in interviews on the radio, and also give a lecture at the academy, where they invite the press and also many German intellectuals.” Pottinger found out he was one of the 23 scholars awarded with the fellowship when he got a call from Germany one morning, 20 minutes before teaching a class. “I was blown away,” Pottinger said. “Yes, it’s internationally recognized, but beyond that it’s about the recognition of your work. I’m the only musicologist here on campus, so it’s hard for me to do my research here with the students. Of course, I engage music with the students as much as possible, however I really can’t go too far. So after finding other ways to engage my work, including study abroad and conferences, it’s a great feeling that people are seeing what I’m doing.” Pottinger also discussed dinners that he will be attending at the American Academy during his fellowship in Berlin. “They are
Mark Pottinger recieved the Berlin Prize, allowing him to conduct research at the American Academy in Berlin, Germany. Manhattan College/Courtesy famous for their dinners, where they have highly catered meals with folks from the academy, and also intellectuals from the United States and elsewhere in Europe. At these meals, you gather and simply have conversation. It may seem intimidating meeting many people from other places in different fields, but that’s the point: to bring calibration between a scientist and a musician, between an artist and a psychologist, between an engineer and a social scientists, or politician,” he said. “Through this exchange, perhaps we can find new ways of living together, new ways of engaging together. It is a place to create possibilities for sustainability of community, ideas, life, and democracy. From my understanding, that’s the heart of the American Academy.” While in Berlin, Pottinger will be looking at the phenomenon of sound, and how it relates to the human experience. “I started off my career in physics, before I got involved in music. For me, I’ve always been fascinated by how sound defines an environment, but also how an environment helps to establish a place for sound. A yin and yang, if you will, between the realities of the receiver of the sound and the producer of the sound,” Pottinger said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how I experience this new environment.”
For Pottinger, this isn’t the first time he will be traveling to Germany. “When I was about 19, I studied in Germany for eight weeks during my sophomore-junior year of college, and another eight weeks between my junior-senior years, doing research on a 19th century French composer as an Andrew W. Mellon fellow,” he said. “This allowed me to be introduced to the German culture at an early age, and helped me while studying German in college as well. I’m looking forward to engaging and enjoying a culture through language.” “The neat thing for me, is that I didn’t have a clear sense of who I was or who I wanted to be in undergrad. I was frustrated by so many issues in my life, and I was unsure what I was going to do and who I was going to be, and I wasn’t doing well at that particular time in my physics classes,” Pottinger said. “Then, this Mellon Foundation award came about and I was able to travel to Germany doing this music research. I sort of found myself in Germany. I always looked to other people to get a sense of who I was, but while I was in Germany I found who I was an intellectual. I found who I was as a person. Being alone studying and traveling in Germany was a challenge, but I found myself in that frustration.” Along with the research he will be conducting in Germany, Pottinger is also
looking forward to exploring, traveling and attending many concerts, including four Opera’s that he has already purchased his tickets too. The semester long fellowship will be a great time for Pottinger to focus on the studies he is most passionate about, while also living in a new environment. “When you’re living your life looking at others to define who you are, you go to a place where you basically do not exist, or be. So you’re forced to look at yourself and embrace who you are, because you’re the only one who can. No one else will. So as a point of survival, I was able to embrace who I was. That created a sense of passion to explore the world and ideas. I found myself in research. I found myself in music. I found myself in traveling,” Pottinger said. “Through that, I was able to find a sense of self image that has sustained me to this point, to get me the Berlin Prize. For me, returning back to Berlin is connecting with my sense of self. Traveling isn’t just an opportunity to see a foreign place, it is also a mirror of the things that you have, things that hold you back, because you are viewing things from what you know. When you see something new, it doesn’t say much about that, it says more about yourself. So in a lot of ways, traveling is a process of discovery of the things that define you, and how you see the word.”
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sports
Sept. 20, 2016
This Week in Sports
The Jaspers went 4-0 on the week, including a home victory over Iona. Anja Pollozi/The Quadrangle
Volleyball The Manhattan volleyball team (4-10) concluded its best week of the season, going a perfect 4-0. The Jaspers went into the week winless, but seem to have turned their season around with a four-game winning streak The Jaspers first defeated Iona, 3-1 in the home opener, then defeated St. Francis Brooklyn, Lafayette and NJIT in the Lafayette Invitational.
Women’s Soccer The women’s soccer team (3-5) defeated Niagara 3-1 in the MAAC opener. Nicole Copping, Arianna Montefusco and Erica Modena scored for the Jaspers in their highest scoring output in the season. The win marks the second consecutive victory for the Jaspers, who are in their first winning streak this season.
Men’s Soccer Manhattan’s men’s soccer team (0-5-1) dropped a contest and tied another on the week. The Jaspers tied 0-0 with Fordham on Sept. 14, snapping a 10-match losing streak to their Bronx rivals. On Sept. 18, the Jaspers lost 4-1 to LIU Brooklyn.
Cross Country Manhattan’s men’s and women’s cross country teams placed fourth and sixth respectively in the Iona Meet of Champions.
Men’s Basketball It was announced that the men’s basketball team will participate in ESPN’s ninth annual College Hoops Tipoff Tournament, hosting Winthrop on Nov. 15 at 8:45 a.m. The Jaspers will also participate in the first NYC College Basketball Media Day on Oct. 12, at Hofstra University. Compiled By Daniel Ynfante, Sports Editor
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Smoragiewicz Named Assistant Coach for Swimming and Diving Teams John Jackson Staff Writer
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving program has experienced some big changes over the last few months. After longtime coach Walter Olsewski retired, assistant coach Joe Murtha became the head coach. To fill Murtha’s vacant assistant coaching position, Kayla Smoragiewicz was hired. “It’s an honor,” said Smoragiewicz. “This is my first time really going out for a coaching position and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be hired. It’s amazing for me to be here and I’m so happy.” Smoragiewicz graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2015. During her four years there, she swam for a competitive Division III swimming program. “That school taught me so much,” said Smoragiewicz. “It was a D3 school, but my coach took it very seriously and we were one of the top D3 schools in our Championship meets. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without it.” Throughout her four years, Smoragiewicz was atop the school leaderboard for times in various races. In her freshman and sophomore year, Smoragiewicz finished in the top five and top ten of several races like the 50, 100 and 200 backstroke, and the 100 and 200 freestyle. Smoragiewicz made a huge leap in her
junior and senior year, finishing atop the leaderboards. She was first in the 50 and 100 backstroke junior year, and won the 50 backstroke and 100 freestyle senior year. Smoragiewicz’s other accomplishments include being named captain in her senior year and being a part of two program record-breaking relay teams. The first record was a 200-medley relay set at the Little East Conference (LEC) Championship in 2013. The relay team combined for a time of 1:51.08. The second record was a 400-medley relay set at the New England (NE) Championship in 2014. The relay team finished that race in 4:02.33. When Murtha was interviewing Smoragiewicz, he found some valuable qualities in her including passion and drive. “You can sense the passion she had for the sport,” said Murtha regarding his decision in the hiring process. “She kind of reminded me of myself as far as the drive to improve the program.” Murtha also felt that Smoragiewicz’s age was important since she can relate to the students well, considering she was recently in their place. He also found her fundraising experience to be helpful. “She is mixing in with the kids very well,” said Murtha. “They’re responding well to her on deck. In addition to that, I think she’s going to be really big in fundraising stuff. She comes from a program where they’ve done a lot of fundraising and I’m looking for her to try to help me with some of that.” Smoragiewicz knew what it feels like
Smoragiewicz swam for Eastern Conneticut State University, competing in the sprint freestyle and backstroke events. Kayla Smoragiewicz/Courtesy to be a student-athlete when she was in “I’m really excited we finally have a college. It involved a lot of time manage- girl coach,” said Blood. “Somebody who ment and that is something she still deals can connect with us and will understand us. with today as she is currently attending And she’s young. She just graduated. She Fordham University to get her Masters. can help us out with living in the real world “I’m balancing a lot right now,” said [and] give us advice.” Smoragiewicz. “I’m also working another Both Murtha and Smoragiewicz will job, but I have always been very busy. I continue working on improving a swimalso think being a student-athlete makes ming program that has experienced recent you very organized and makes you very success. Murtha is glad to have the help set for the future.” of Smoragiewicz in his first year as head Eileen Blood, a junior on the women’s coach. swimming team, echoes the positive senti“I’m really excited to have her on ments about Smoragiewicz, as well prais- board,” said Murtha. “I think we’re going ing the hire from a diversity standpoint. to make a good team.”
Rookie of the Week Award a Confidence Booster for Printy Haley Burnside Staff Writer
Following a superb performance in a win against the NJIT Highlanders, Olivia Printy was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week on Sept. 12. The freshman goalkeeper on the women’s soccer team was responsible for a six-save shutout, the first shutout for the Jaspers this season and the first in Printy’s career. “It was her first shutout, so we were definitely hopeful for her,” said head coach Brendan Lawler. “We were pulling for her. Olivia’s been playing great this season. Obviously, coming in as a freshman and getting her spot shows talent.” Lawler hopes that this award will help Printy to develop more confidence on the field. “You know, we really haven’t been giving up a lot of goals. Even though our record isn’t where we would like it to be right now, we’ve had a lot of one goal losses, one goal games, and she’s played great in those,” Lawler said. “Hopefully this can just build up confidence going into the conference play.” Of the 26 members on the women’s soccer team, Printy is one of seven freshman and one of three goalkeepers. But despite her inexperience, Printy’s hard work and dedication made the Rookie of the Week announcement no surprise to her teammate Lauren Barton. “She’s been doing very well, especially as a freshman stepping in to be a goalkeeper,” said Barton, a senior midfielder. “It’s a very stressful position and she’s been doing awesome. She definitely deserves this recognition for how she’s been playing.”
Olivia Printy was named MAAC Rookie of the Week after posting a six-save shoutout over NJIT. Go Jaspers/Courtesy For Barton, her and her teammates’ feelings towards Printy are the same. “We are really proud of her,” Barton said. “We just hope she keeps progressing as a player and getting better.” Despite the achievement being foreseen by her teammates, Printy herself did not expect to receive this honor from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. When she opened a text message from sophomore teammate Caroline Taylor saying the words “rookie of the week,” it surprised her.
“It just made my day ten times better,” Printy said about the text from Taylor. When asked what the title meant to her, Printy beamed. “Well, it means a lot,” Printy said. “I definitely was not expecting it. It was a total surprise. Printy expects the award to boost her play. “It’s a confidence booster,” Printy said. “It makes me feel pretty good about how I’m playing.” In the spirit of true sportsmanship,
Printy switched the conversation to her comrades on the field. “It makes me feel good about how the team is playing too,” Printy was quick to add. “We’re going to keep working hard. I hope we keep on winning,” she said with a gesture to her teammates across the field. “I want us to make it to the MAAC finals. Maybe even beyond that. That would be fantastic,” she said before running back to the field to continue practice drills.
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Sept. 20, 2016
Jaspers Talk: Marianne Reilly Daniel Ynfante Editor
Marianne Reilly has started off her tenure as Manhattan College’s athletic director by making significant moves. Reilly remained busy during the summer, hiring coaches and meeting with student-athletes and staff in preparation for the start of the academic year. The Quadrangle sat down with Reilly for an interview. Below are some of the highlights. The Quadrangle: It was a busy summer. Did you go into the summer expecting it to be that busy, and do you think you were prepared to handle everything? Marianne Reilly: I definitely knew it was going to be a busy summer. You just never know until you’re in it. … It used to be, years ago, that athletics took a breather in the summer … you kind of look back and say, ‘What went well? What didn’t go well?’ You do that while you’re still in motion now, because you have summer school. You still have reports to do, you have yearend reviews to do, and while you’re doing that, you’re also trying to evaluate what went well, what didn’t and what you want to do forward. For me, I wasn’t really looking back too much, I was trying to look forward. TQ: In some of the moves you made, before the summer, in hiring Heather Vulin for the women’s basketball team, then hiring Kerri Gallagher and Katie McConnell, it seems like hiring women has kind of been a trend. Would you say that’s the case? MR: Actually no, not consciously. It’s
a wonderful result of our hirers that they happen to be females, but it was never the intent to go out and get a female. We had some really good applicants for all three positions, and when you evaluate who you are and what you want to be as a program and as a department, you pick the best person for the position that has the qualities that’s going to represent what we stand for. TQ: Do you think there was a highlight of the summer? Or maybe something that you struggled with and you were satisfied with that you got done? Something that stood out this summer. MR: Definitely all my hires that we’ve had. To get that done so that we could launch the fall with our new employees, new staff members. To open up the doors and know that we didn’t have any of those vacancies lingering over us, that was tremendous. And the fact that we filled them with good people that I think are going to be assets to the department. That was one. Two: meeting with every single coach and administrator in the department. Do you know how long that took me? I thought it was going to take a month or so, but I couldn’t just donate a month to just that. TQ: In terms of facilities and infrastructure in the school, do you think that it’s in the right place, or is that an area that you think you might want to look at? MR: I think facilities at almost every mid major has challenges, and we’re no different. We make the best of what we have, but there’s always room for improvement. … We have pretty good facilities considering we still have challenges. So will I look at it? Of course that’s on my list.
Reilly graduated from Manhattan in 1982 and was a member of the women’s basketball team. Manhattan College/Courtesy
Reilly was officially introduced as the new director of athletics last March in Draddy Gymnasium. Go Jaspers/Courtesy