Issue 6, Spring 2017 - The Quadrangle

THE Volume 95, Issue 6

Q

UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924

February 21, 2017

www.mcquad.org

Spring Commencement De La Salle Dinner Moved to Weekdays Shatters Record

$2 MILLION RAISED Daniel Molina Editor

The Waldorf Astoria, closing doors for renovation on March first, hosted one of the most important fundraisers for Manhattan College, the De La Salle Medal Dinner.

This year, an outstanding amount of money was collected by the school, breaking an all-time record of $2 million.

The De La Salle Medal is an honor conferred annually to honor executives who exemplify the principles of excellence and corporate leadership. This year the award was given to Stephen J. Squeri, class of ’81, vice chairman of American Express Company.

Squeri works very closely with the CEO and he is a member of the Officers’ Group, who oversees the company’s strategic direction as they make key policy decisions affecting the company overall.

Last year’s spring undergraduate commencement, held on Sunday, May 22. This year, undergraduate commencement will be on a Thursday. Manhattan College/Courtesy The two seven-week long sessions now sizeable graduating class.

Sean Sonnemann “We’re exploring all kinds of different sandwiched around the Fourth of July holiSenior Writer options, but we are aware that if we do it day streamline all of the college’s growing business as usual, it’s going to be two ticksummer offerings and may even be better Breaking from recent tradition of for students’ education beyond just ease of ets and that’s not great,” Clyde said. commencement exercises being held on a scheduling.

“That’s not what we want, that’s not weekend, Manhattan College’s graduation what they [the students] want. We were “The seven weeks comes from a lot of ceremonies for the class of 2017 will be research on what is an optimal shortened aware that moving off a weekend would held on Thursday, May 18 and Friday, May semester that actually works for learning,” give us more flexibility there.”

19 for the graduate and undergraduate pro- Clyde said.

Moving to a weekday ceremony would grams respectively. make it easier for the college to pursue alUnder the previous academic calendar “There were lots of parts to the overall with a delayed start to the spring semester ternative off-site locations to hold graduchange to the calendar, and this was just a and a weekend graduation ceremony later ation. part of it,” Provost William Clyde said.

Off-site graduation ceremony location in May, the two-seven week-long summer The most immediate reason behind the sessions proved difficult to fit in before options were already explored for the prechange to the graduation schedule was the classes begin again for the fall semester. vious two graduating classes of Manhattan fact that the Spring 2017 semester began As an added bonus, the new academic College but proved especially challenging one week earlier than usual, following a calendar now provides students with more to book on a weekend. truncated winter intersession.

“A lot of the venues are either not opportunity to utilize the last few weeks of The early start (and therefore finish) to May before the first summer session or po- available or some of them [are] cost prothe spring semester was done primarily to tential internships begin. hibitive or already have something gofacilitate the college’s summer program“We are seeing more interest in May ing on during the weekends,” Clyde said. ming—a growing component of the col- travel now that the semester is ending “The weekends, for other events, not just lege’s offerings, according to Clyde. earlier,” Clyde said. “We are prioritizing commencements, are popular times.”

“So there are timings that are standard the summer over the intersession, is what Several area schools utilize off-campus and competitive and attractive for people we’re doing.” venues for weekday graduation ceremotaking summer courses—to our own stuWhen trying to schedule commence- nies. Pace University will be holding their dents as well as anybody else’s students,” ment exercises under the new schedule, 2017 commencement exercises at The Clyde said. “So that kind of prompted us to college administration also kept in mind Theater at Madison Square Garden on a see if we could push the semester to start a the potential length of senior week after fi- Tuesday for their New York City campus, week earlier, because then we could start nals and avoiding conflicts with the Moth- while NYU will use Yankee Stadium on a the summer at a beneficial time.”

Wednesday, according to their respective er’s Day holiday on May 14.

By ending the spring semester earlier The second factor contributing to the websites. than previously, the college will now be switch from weekend to weekday was forOne nearby “off-site” graduation opable to offer two separate seven-week long ward thinking to the future graduations of tion the college is exploring is Gaelic summer sessions for courses. larger class sizes, such as the Class of 2019 Park.

In years past, there were multiple sum- that enrolled at 900 students and retained at However, even Gaelic Park would be mer sessions that varied by school (Gradu- 89%, according to Clyde. difficult to book for a weekend ceremoate Education, School of Continuing ProSpace constraints within Draddy Gym- ny, according to Clyde, as it is used by a fessional Studies, Undergraduate) and nasium, the current location of commence- variety of external organizations such as made registration and scheduling confus- ment ceremonies, would likely limit guest Continued on Page 4 ing to students. tickets to only two per student from such a

2017 De La Salle Medal Honoree Stephen J. Squeri ’81 Manhattan College/ Courtesy

“I am truly grateful for the support from Stephen J. Squeri and American Express Company during this year’s record-breaking De La Salle Medal Dinner raising over $2 million. Steve is a wonderful example of the success and values that come from a Manhattan education,” said Thomas Mauriello, Vice President for College Advancement.

Mauriello was also the person in charge of organizing the dinner.

The goal was to obtain a little bit more than the $1 million dollars that was raised two years ago, but when the donations started coming in, the office for College Advancement realized they could beat last year’s mark of 1.75 million.

The medal has been given to people like Rudolph W. Giuliani ’65, former mayor of New York City, and Thomas D. O’Malley ’63, chairman and CEO of Tosco Corporation.

The conference featured speeches by Squeri, President Brennan O’Donnell, and Maxwell Pietrzrak, current student of the Continued on Page 3

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The

opinions & editorials

Quadrangle www.mcquad.org

Vol. 95 Issue 6 February 21, 2017

Stephen Zubrycky Editor-in-Chief Jack Melanson News Editor Haley Burnside Joseph Liggio Asst. News Editors Ally Hutzler Features Editor Managing Editor Megan Dreher Asst. Features Editor Taylor Brethauer Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor Rose Brennan Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor RikkiLynn Shields Sports Editor Charles Lippolis Asst. Sports Editor Tara Marin Social Media Editor Catherine Goodyear Asst. Social Media Editor Victoria Hernández Multimedia Editor Aaron Mayorga Photography Editor Anja Pollozi Asst. Photography Editor Alyssa Velazquez Production Editor Abbi Kirollos Asst. Production Editor Daniel Molina August Kissel 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.

February 21, 2017

Letter to

The Editor

NATALIE SULLIVAN, Class of 2014 writes: My name is Natalie Sullivan, and I am an alumnus of Manhattan College as well as the former editor-in-chief of the Quadrangle.

I am writing to express my disappointment in Manhattan College’s lack of response to the recent video of MC’s basketball coach, Steve Masiello, calling millennials a “fraudulent generation” who gets frustrated when things don’t go their way – much like Masiello did in this tantrum after losing to Siena.

When I saw this video posted to friends’ and fellow alumni’s Facebook walls, I was humiliated. As a student who was a senior when the Jaspers made it to the NCAA championship, when Masiello was found to have lied on his resume about his college education, I am truly astonished by Manhattan College’s lack of a suitable response to both, and as to why this PR nightmare is permitted to continue publicly embarrassing our school.

Masiello’s comments in this video are especially disturbing, having known and attended classes with some of the individuals that he coached who certainly were not given everything on a silver platter, and did not give up as soon as things did not go their way, as Masiello implied in his statement.

When I tell people that I got my degree from Manhattan College, I would like to hear about our world-class engineering program, or growing and thriving communications program, or our extensive community outreach. Instead, the first thing to come to many people’s mind are the incidents with our basketball coach.

I would like to remind Mr. Masiello that when he speaks in a public forum, he is the face of Manhattan College – both current students and alumni – whether he likes it or not. His opinions in this video do not reflect my own, and do not reflect the opinions of my beloved professors and fellow alumni of the school, and yet this is the reputation that has been forced upon us and has now been written about and broadcast on national and global news networks.

As one of the highest paid staff on Manhattan College’s payroll, Mr. Masiello should feel obligated to represent the quality education offered by our school, and vouch for the great character that I know to be true of the students and staff at Manhattan College, instead of publicly bashing us and accusing us of being fraudulent.

SUBMIT YOUR OWN LET T ER Letters emailed to thequad@manhattan.edu will be considered for publication. No letters with profanity, hatespeech or vulgarity will be published. Please see mcquad.org/contact for additional policies, procedures and information.

News

De La Salle Dinner Shatters Fundraising Record School of Business.

According to the office of College Advancement, Squeri made this goal-breaking possible due to his outreach and motivation, and when the alumni committee saw this commitment, they rose to the occasion and realized they could go higher than ever before.

Jim Ryan ’60, former Jasper and former anchor of “Good Day New York,” hosted the event as he has done in the previous years, showing a familiar face to the crowd.

“This was an opportunity to showcase the college,” said President Brennan O’Donnell. “The most important part is that they [alumni] get to meet who our students are.”

Although the collected funds are unrestricted dollars, which means that they can be applied to a diverse variety of needs, they are mainly destined to fund student scholarships and financial aid.

The next fundraising event is the Jasper Open in May. The committee is now deciding who the next dinner honoree will be, as they are always trying to overcome records to provide better opportunities for the upcoming Jaspers.

Special thanks to Tiana Sloan, Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, for the details about this event.

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Continued from Page 1

Senior Maxwell Pietzrak addresses guests (top). Attendees filled a ballroom at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Midtown (left).

Manhattan College/Courtesy

College Reaches Out to Muslims Victoria Hernandez Editor

On Jan. 27. President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order banning travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and Africa for 90 days. President Trump also banned Syrian refugees indefinitely and has suspended the entire US refugee program for 120 days.

Although some saw this as a way of prevention and a proactive way to secure the United States from different threats, some saw it as a racist decision based on religious beliefs.

Shimul Miah, a junior International Studies major who identifies as a Muslim, felt shocked and devastated when hearing the news.

“While I agree with safety and security measures, I also felt that it was dehumanizing and immoral to victimize a group of people from seven different countries who practice the same religion. However, I continued to educate myself by reading different media sources and observing different viewpoints to comprehend the reasons behind the ban,” Miah said.

Acknowledging that these are difficult and turbulent times in our city, state and nation, Richard Satterlee, Vice President for Student Life at Manhattan College, shared his stance with the student community via email.

“We need to remind ourselves that our [Lasallian] heritage calls us to treat one another with respect, dignity and civility at all times,” Satterle said.

The email resulted in fear for some because it turned out to be seen as a warning to stay vigilant towards any disruptive behavior on campus, causing some to be preoccupied.

Students gathered in Kelly Commons on Feb.8 for a town hall about President Donald J. Trump’s executive order. Rose Brennan/The Quadrangle “We have received several reports of alleged incidents of intolerance that in some cases have singled out groups or individuals on our campus based on religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, etc.,” Satterlee said.

Miah shared that he hasn’t felt attacked on campus himself.

“I have personally never faced any issues regarding expressing my faith on campus. [The] majority of the Manhattan College community has shown tremendous support and unity towards the Muslim population on campus, which I think is very important for us to feel more comfortable practicing our faith,” Miah said.

In the same unifying sense, Brother Jack Curran invited members of the Lasallian community to join forces with the Muslims on campus in order to extend the message that there’s room for everyone in the Lasallian community, regardless of their race, religious belief or ethnicity.

According to Curran, a certain number of Manhattan College community members have expressed serious pain and concern for their safety and well being, some have even had a hard time focusing and concentrating on work and studies.

“We have some fellow Jasper students who are hurting, fearful, and wondering if they belong and are welcome here!

Likewise, we have faculty and staff who are suffering in their concern not only for themselves but also for their children and families,” Curran said.

His concern resulted in a well-attended event on Feb. 8. named “Town Hall: Is the Muslim Ban Important?” and hosted by the Muslim Student Association (MSA) on campus.

Miah, also the MSA secretary of Public Affairs, was not affected by the ban but remained mindful that it will have a continuous impact on Muslims around the world.

“I am worried that this ban proposal

will enhance the already drastically rising Islamophobia in the United States,” Miah said.

On the other hand, the “Town Hall” event was described as an open forum and educational session regarding the current state of affairs and how it relates to the MC community.

“A question and answer session about Islam and what it is, Muslims and who they are and how we can all be more understanding and empathetic towards each other no matter the beliefs we hold,” as read in the Manhattan College activities calendar.

Apart from the MSA holding this event, Residence Life also reacted fairly quickly and started mobilizing Resident Assistants (RA) on campus by calling an all-staff urgent meeting in order to be on the lookout for disturbing behavior.

In the meeting, Dean of Students, Michael Carey, and Director of Residence Life, Andrew Weingarten, shared with the RA staff what steps MC is taking to support everybody in the community in order for them to be informed enough to be able to help assist their respective residents.

Miah believes Manhattan College handled the aftermath of the so-called “Muslim Ban” in the correct manner.

“The efforts of many faculty, staff, administration members and the student body has contributed to the sense of community and understanding we have on campus now” Miah said.

With that said, he still feels there’s a long way to go.

“I do think that our campus somewhat remains divided due to our different political views,” said Miah. “We must continue to create respectful discussions and conversations among our peers in order to create conversation and familiarize ourselves with ongoing issues and how we can cope with the challenges we are faced with.”

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Spring Commencement Moved to Weekdays Continued from Page 1

the Gaelic Athletic Association.

Gaelic Park would be particularly attractive, not only for its proximity to campus but also a much expanded capacity for guest tickets.

For environmental engineering senior Alex Sciacchitano from Virginia, more than the currently available three guest tickets per student would be especially welcome.

“I have some family up here in New York and everyone from home wanted to come up and be in New York and celebrate,” he said. “But due to the limited number of tickets, we will just have to celebrate when I get back. Some family mem-

bers were disappointed.”

The transition from weekend to weekday ceremonies did not affect his attending family members greatly as they had already planned on spending a larger portion of the week beyond the formal graduation ceremonies to assist in moving out of his off-campus apartment.

Sciacchitano learned about the graduation schedule change from a civil and environmental engineering department-wide email notification.

The shift from weekend to weekday was formally discussed by the Educational Affairs Committee through the Manhattan

College Senate last spring and officially announced over the summer on the college website.

Clyde acknowledges, however, that more could have been done to explain the change to the college community and graduating seniors in particular who may have been unaware.

“This was communicated through the normal channels, but I think that we discovered that it wasn’t understood by all people,” Clyde said. “In retrospect I think we could have been more aggressive in communicating that.”

Horan Hall Elevator Problems Continue

Key Trump Advisor Resigns; Stocks Up on Wall St. WORLD WEEKLY Daniel Molina Editor

Wall Street Companies Close at All Time High Apple, Inc. stock climbed to $133.29 at the close on Monday, increasing Apple’s value to about $699 billion, some $120 billion ahead of No. 2, Google parent Alphabet.

Source: Bloomberg Technology Goldman Sachs shares broke a precrisis level on Tuesday, closing at $249.46.

This happened after increased hopes that the new administration will boost profits with higher interest rates, lower taxes and lighter regulation.

Source: Financial Times National Security Advisor Mike Flynn Resigns Michael T. Flynn, National Security Adviser, resigned last Monday night after it was revealed that he had not been truthful with Vice President Mike Pence regarding a telephone call he had with the Russian ambassador to the United States. He will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Joseph K. Kellogg Jr. of the Army, a Vietnam War veteran.

Source: The New York Times

Bennett Hall Contributor

Horan Hall, a residence building standing eleven-stories-high, continues to have the problem of unruly elevators, an issue that has persisted for a majority of the 2016-2017 academic year.

The elevators have had multiple issues, including recent problems with the doors.

As one waits in the elevator, the doors refuse to close, sometimes half-closing three or four times before finally shutting and bringing students to their destination.

The first floor seems to be the worst for this problem, sometimes causing people to take a less convenient way to reach their rooms.

“I’ve had to wait in the elevator for so long sometimes that it’s quicker to just take the stairs,” said Julia Danielowski, a freshman living on the fourth floor.

The stairs are an option for most, but fail to accommodate students on higher floors and also students who are injured or have physical disabilities. These students are forced to sit and wait for the elevators to work properly, which can sometimes take several minutes.

Many students have tried to find ways to get the doors to close sooner.

“One time as the doors were struggling to close I banged on the wall, and finally the doors fully shut,” said sophomore, Antonio Paone. “I’m not sure if my banging actually helped or if it was just a coincidence.”

Although the door issue is an annoyance, it does not pose any danger.

“There is no risk involved with the elevators,” said Richard McKeown, director of physical plant. “The elevators have a service contract, so we just call the contractor and they deal with the issue. The elevators are computerized, and sometimes they get a glitch in the system.”

McKeown shared that the elevators are no longer a problem.

“To my knowledge they are functional everyday,” said McKeown. “We may have to call the contractor, but the issue gets fixed once they come.”

Some students disagree and say that the problem is persistent.

February 21, 2017

Mnuchin, Pruitt and Shulkin Confirmed to Cabinet Posts The Senate voted last Monday to confirm former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin as the next secretary of treasury. The vote was 53-47, after a lengthy and at times contentious confirmation process.

Source: CNN Politics Scott Pruitt was confirmed to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

As Oklahoma attorney general, he sued the agency many times after being charged of dangerous activism under the Obama administration that hurt businesses, jobs and the economy.

Source: CNN Politics David J. Shulkin was unanimously confirmed last Monday to lead the Veterans Affairs Department. He is the sole holdover from the Obama administration, and the first non-veteran to lead the department.

Source: The Washington Post

Horan Hall elevators have been plagued by issues this year.

Aaron Mayorga/The Quadrangle “More often than not, the elevator doors refuse to close,” Danielowski said.

Manhattan College encourages students to address their concerns to Residence Life. If a student has something to say they can go directly to their building’s Resident Director.

In Horan hall, the Resident Director is Ryan Bunts.

“I am always accepting feedback and definitely encourage students to address

their concerns with me,” Bunts said. “I understand it being uncomfortable since most students do not interact with me every day, but I am always open for them to send me an email or stop by my office.”

Bunts’ office is located on the second floor of Horan Hall.

Students always have the option of contacting their Residence Director or submitting a Repair Request on the college’s website.

Trump Proposes New Travel Ban A current draft of the replacement of the executive order on immigration and refugees shows that the administration would try to keep temporary travel restrictions on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, reversing the previous exclusion of green-card holders.

Source: The Wall Street Journal House Votes to Deny Certain Funds to Planned Parenthood The House on Thursday approved a resolution that would permit states to withhold federal family-planning funds from affiliates of Planned Parenthood and other healthcare providers that offer abortions.

Source: The Guardian

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Student Government Links Up With Student Athlete Advisory Committee Jessica Quinn Contributor

Student Allie Yamashiro has recently taken on the role as vice president of communications in the Student Government.

Aside from this position, Yamashiro is also a senior volleyball player and vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Yamashiro’s connections within the student government and the athletic department have helped her to communicate with various representatives of the Manhattan College community.

Yamashiro was recruited to join Student Government by another athlete—Tiffanie McIntosh. From her experience prior to her role as vice president, Yamashiro attempts to get more students involved in the assembly meetings.

“Going to my first assembly meeting was a little intimidating because you’re not really sure how it works. I think for myself-- I’d like it to be a more approachable situation where students feel more comfortable to be there,” she said.

Yamashiro, along with Student Body President, Dorian Persaud, hope to include more training for new members. This would make it easier for students to adjust to their roles.

“Throughout the course of the training, those who have been elected will understand the inner workings of Student Government through one on one mentoring by current executive board members and will have the opportunity to meet a variety of

staff across campus that Student Government works closely with,” said Yamashiro Director of Student Engagement, John Bennett, is confident about Yamashiro’s new position.

“Allie’s done a great job this year. Being a student-athlete, it’s especially hard to have a role on the Executive Board of Student Government because of the extra meetings and time involved, but she’s been able to handle it without a hiccup,” he said.

A current athletic issue that Yamashiro is bringing attention to through her position as vice president is the lack of attendance at sporting events. With that said, she’s making strides towards and working to allow a bus to transport students to Manhattan College’s home baseball games—which are nearly an hour away.

Student Government is also in talks of including fan buses for the MAAC tournament in Albany.

The pep band is another asset that the Student Government wishes to help in increasing school spirit.

“Next month our pep band will be playing at some lacrosse games. We’re always looking for ways to get more student, and fan, involvement,” Bennett said.

Yamashiro hopes to bring hotdog stands into the basketball games.

“Basically, we’d just buy out some of the food from Gourmet Dining because they’re the ones that provide the concessions,” said Yamashiro. “On behalf of student government, we’d give that for free to students.”

Various flyers can be seen around cam-

Allie Yamashiro before a serve. Aaron Mayorga/The Quadrangle pus which feature the dates of Manhattan College sporting events in the earlier half of February. This was an effort by Yamashiro in an attempt to spread “Jasper Pride”.

Aside from her contributions to athletics, Yamashiro has also been valuable in

promoting events and activities for Student Government through her skills on social media. She has taken control on Twitter and Instagram to let students and followers know when the latest events and activities are taking place.

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Arts & Entertainment

February 21, 2017

O’Malley Library’s Nascent DVD Collection Begins to Expand Leah Cordova Editor

The DVDs are in. On the fourth floor of the O’Malley Library, past the couches and tables, right next to the busiest study rooms, now sit over 500 films available for checkout. They are neatly organized on their shelves, finally for everyone to see.

“We had space and we felt that not many people knew we even had a film collection. When we started the project over Winter Break, we also started acquiring new DVDs to enhance it” said Amy Handfield, Assistant Director for Access Services, about how the library’s DVD project came about.

Just last semester, while many of the films were stored on the first floor, this space that Handfield refers to held periodicals – the latest National Geographic, New Yorker and WIRED, among others.

“But most of that is available online now,” said Sarah E. Sheehan, Assistant Director of the Library for Reference and Instruction. Thus, the open space has made way for critically acclaimed cult classics, musicals, documentaries, the best of film noir, and possibly every adaptation of Shakespeare’s plays.

“We started the project for a few reasons. It’s a combination of us having the space, but it’s also for the faculty and

what they teach, and it’s for the students.

We kept entertainment in mind, too, we looked at the AFI lists and Rolling Stone’s top films” said Sheehan, who emphasized the “fun” aspect of movies as well as their importance in regards to academics.

English and Film Studies professor, Dr. Margaret Toth, for instance, teaches dozens of films that students can now checkout.

Other professors were also contacted during the process of ordering films.

“This is an ongoing project, we want to continue to add films because they are such an important tool that supports the curriculum and student research. We have so many books about film, and about specific titles and directors, yet had a gap in our collection by not having the corresponding titles available to students,” said Sheehan.

John C. Gormley, assistant librarian, said he looked up the works’ prominent authors, searching for adaptations one might study in class. He also surveyed critically acclaimed directors such as Martin Scorsese, the Coen Brothers, Alfred Hitchcock, and Frank Capra.

“I also wanted to make something fun more available,” said Gormley, who mentioned his affinity for films of the 80s and 90s as well as lesser known titles that he wishes to share with the community.

The checkout process is simple: empty cases are to be taken to the fifth floor cir-

arts & entertainment

2017 Fall-Winter Week Hits Manhattan Runways

Victoria Hernandez Editor

New York Fashion Week is a world-renowned event where international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press and the general public. Hundreds of fashion connoisseurs wait for this week to arrive in order to set trends with their street style outfits. But, admission is only reserved for a few as attendance to the shows is by invitation only. This season, I had the chance to see the collections of two designer brands:

S a k u and Mac Duggal.

S a k u is an emerging women’s contemporary brand, based in NYC with a showroom located in the East Village. Lissa Koo, the designer behind the brand, graduated one of the most popular fashion schools, PARSONS, the New School for Design. After 5 years of running her own concept store named York Avenue, she finally launched her own named brand “s a k u” in Sept. 2015.

Entering the venue for this show, located in Chelsea, was an experience on itself. As the line almost covered half of the

street, dozens of fashion bloggers arrived in their taxis and stood in line. Rain or shine (or snow) attendees couldn’t miss this show. S a k u’s known for its after parties in art galleries around the neighborhood filled with champagne, cameras and media gurus.

On the other hand, Mac Duggal is coveted by A-list celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Khloe Kardashian, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige and Carrie Ann Inaba. It is also the most represented designer on the world pag-

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eant stage and the prom industry.

His enthusiasm for women’s fashion began with the merging of the rich designs of the Indian culture. He mixes a classic silhouette with a contemporary sophistication.

Mac Duggal was most recently inducted into the Smithsonian’s Family of Voices exhibit, which focuses on successful entrepreneurs in the United States.

His exceptional designs were worn by a very diverse range of models this year, including short and plus-sized models.

The new collection is on the 4th floor. Anja Pollozi/The Quadrangle culation desk and films are to be returned within a week. They can also be viewed in the library in any of the three computer labs or at the two viewing stations of the first floor. Students can browse titles in Jaspercat.

Although the collection has only been available for a few weeks, several students

are excited about the addition, and several are still discovering it. According to Handfield, the library has seen an increase in checkouts. At the circulation desk, movies have been playing nonstop throughout the day, catching the eyes of students who might now consider checking out a film from MC’s own library.

For V-Day, Players Perform in Solidarity with Women Haley Burnside Assistant Editor

On Saturday night, the Manhattan College Players presented an emotional show displaying solidarity with women and girls. The show, titled “These Are My Pieces,” featured monologues, works of poetry and speeches written by women and for women.

The show was directed by senior Ange Lopilato and freshman Gabby Kasper.

Both male and female students stood in front of the audience gathered to present works written on a range of topics related to women. Many of the poems and speeches discussed rape, abuse, heartbreak and female empowerment.

The stark presentation of stone-faced students shuffling around the stage to read their pieces had a poetic result.

The recurring piece during the evening was Samantha Roth’s reading of the “Stanford Letter,” an emotional personal story that drew attention in the media following a rape on a college campus.

The most lengthy piece from the evening, titled “Fur is Back,” was presented

by Isabel Quinones. The monolog covered topics such as female genital mutilation, the hijab, kidnappings of girls, and a young woman’s quest to fit in with the popular crowd.

Another performance, by freshman Christopher Nuzzo, addressed issues related to the LGBT community.

The wide range of topics within the field of women’s issues helped the narrative of the show to be inclusive and em-

phasize intersectionality.

Sophomore Erin Murphy participated as a cast member for the second time in the annual V-Day show.

“I think that the most important part is that it is bringing awareness to violence against women and girls, especially in our own community,” said Murphy. “Some of the pieces this year were actually written by students themselves.”

The Players aimed to entertain while informing, according to the cast.

“I hope that the audience realizes that these problems are not only around the world but also to affecting our friends and family,” said Murphy.

Carra Toner was one of the students in attendance. She explained how the show reached her on a deep level.

“It was honestly a heartfelt experience,” said Toner. “You could just tell everyone involved was really connected to what they were saying and reading. I got emotional during some of the last performances.”

Toner was not alone in her experience.

Many of the audience members were moved to tears by the performances.

Though most of the cast members were women, there were six male performers.

Freshman Ryan Askin was one of these men.

“I think it is important for guys to get involved in these types of events,” said Askin. “We need to support everyone in life. We need to focus on these crimes and injustices so we can raise awareness and help people who need it. The arts are the best medium to do that.”

Another male expressed his motivation to participate in the performance. Hamilton

The poster for the V-Day show. MC Players/Courtesy Wyatt-Luth, a Manhattan College freshman, read “Interstate 78,” a monologue that he wrote himself.

“I wanted to read that because you just

have to find a way to get involved. This is my way of contributing to this movement,” said Wyatt-Luth.

Desginers S a k u and Mac Duggal present their Fall/Winter 2017 collection in NYC..

Victoria Hernadez/The Quadrangle

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Arts & Entertainment

February 21, 2017

Not Your Typical Workout: Dance Classes in Alumni Hall Nicole Connell Contributor

As the year heads into the spring and Manhattan College students are striving to stay in shape, many have turned to the Fitness Center, which offers a hefty schedule of exercise classes including yoga, Salsa dancing and Zumba.

These group exercise classes are offered on a daily basis, mornings, afternoons and nights, in Alumni Hall. The classes give students an opportunity to work out, have fun and spend time with friends and peers.

David Cartolano, a junior, teaches the center’s Zumba classes, which are offered every Tuesday and Thursday night at 9:30 p.m.

Zumba is an aerobic dance workout that uses Latin and other international rhythms.

Cartolano is an exercise science major and music minor, and is originally from Westchester. He took his first Zumba class here at Manhattan College approximately

three years ago, and began teaching the class one year ago.

“It actually happened by chance.

Some of my friends were talking about a Zumba class in Locke’s during my freshmen year. I basically asked myself ‘Why not?’ I’m not scared of what other people think of me. I was previously a dancer for eight years, so I’m used to people raising eyebrows,” said Cartolano.

Shortly after taking his first class, Cartolano realized he had a knack for the dance workout.

“I went to my first class, and the steps were all just alternating left/right and in relative 4/4 time. I got pulled to the front.

Wherever I went to do a bit of Zumba, I kept consistently getting pulled to the front by the instructor. So one thing led to another, I took a training course, I got my certification, and here I am,” he said.

Cartolano is not the only one who enjoys the unique exercise program; the class has been a hit among MC students.

“It’s definitely not your typical work-

out, so I could see why people would be apprehensive to try it, but everyone is there for the same reason: to just have fun! It’s also such a great workout if you want to break a sweat,” said freshman Lauren Taccetta.

Sophomore Laura Bombace also enjoys including Zumba in her weekly exercise routine.

“I love Zumba because it’s an awesome workout and so much fun with friends! The music and high-energy [atmosphere] is really motivating. I would definitely recommend trying it at least once,” said Bombace.

Zumba is an aerobic form of exercise, so it uses a lot of oxygen and benefits the cardiopulmonary system. If you’re looking to shed some pounds, Cartolano suggests an aerobic workout like Zumba or using the treadmill because it burns calories and keeps you breathing heavily.

“The difference between Zumba and the fitness center is, unless you get a trainer, you have nobody directing you on what to do and very few people giving you proper

exercises. Zumba takes care of that. Also, it blends music and dance into burning calories, so if you consider yourself a musical person, it’s definitely something to try. Just do whatever will keep you coming back for more,” Cartolano said about when it comes to choosing between a class like Zumba or an independent workout in the gym.

In addition to being a fun activity and fantastic workout, taking a Zumba class is also a great way to expand your skill set.

Cartolano explained how his Zumba experience became a point of interest during a recent interview for a postgraduate program.

“I like it because it makes me even more multifaceted. You never know where one activity/hobby can lead,” Cartolano said, “Being multifaceted increases different types of intelligence, and that’s what admissions people and employers are looking for. If you are only “intelligent” in your major, what does that make you in everything else?”

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Broadway’s Longest Running Musical Anja Pollozi Assistant Editor

If anyone wishes to have time travelling experience, “The Phantom of the Opera” will transport you to the glamorous 1900s.

With its glittering gowns, surrealistic masquerade ball and the impossible love of a deformed composer, this musical is Broadway’s longest-running hit ever.

The Majestic theatre, located on 44th Street and Broadway, brought more than 1,500 spectators together to enjoy the twoand-half hour operatic show. MC Student Engagement made it possible for students to purchase the tickets for as low as $20 dollars and enjoy the performance from the balcony.

“The Phantom of the Opera” started to show on Broadway in 1988 and it is based on the horror novel by Gaston Leroux which tells the story of a deformed composer who haunts the grand Paris Opera House. The main character, known as “The Phantom,” composes operas for Christine, a beautiful young soprano star-to-be. However, his intensive love turns into a dangerous jealousy which leads to terrorizing the opera house with his murderous ways of expressing his

pain.

This breathtaking performance played

by James Barbour attracts the audience into a world of mystery and glamour. His lustrous voice booms down from the heavens and causes a feeling of eternal living.

What makes his execution special is his displacement offstage, unexpectedly darting around the rafter and causing trouble.

Christine Daaé, played by Ali Ewoldt, is mesmerized by the mysterious character of the Phantom, and is left breathless by the emotional impact of his voice. The entire theatre echoes as you hear every word clearly and beautifully sung. Accordingly, this musical is an example of Gothic theatricality that drives the audience into a lavishing, spooky and dark world.

The orchestra and the entire cast effortlessly transport you to the Paris Opera House where you sit and experience the majesty of the musical. The scenery fills the stage and delights your eyes as the music fills the house and delights your ears.

The reek of gunpowder and the impact of a chandelier crashing from the roof above the stalls to the stage, produce a dramatic panorama that will make this experience unique and unforgettable.

The Phantom of the Opea sign at the Majestic. Anja Pollozi/ The Quadrangle The beauty of “The Phantom of the Opera”, is that it attracts tourists as well as people who are not regular theatre goers.

It is a mélange of an opera and a musical that gives the desire to come back for more Broadway shows.

In the end, the actors and the orchestra

were saluted with thunderous rounds of applause. Since 1988, this bittersweet beautiful love story maintains a timeless classic that brings divergent audiences together.

“The Phantom of the Opera” was a show that filled MC students’ Saturday afternoon with musical magic.

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9 Features Alexander Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, The Musical” Hits Campus as part of Lecture Series Jack Melanson Editor

Alexander Hamilton has become more of a household name as of late due to LinManuel Miranda’s hit Broadway Musical of last year, “Hamilton.”

As a founding father and the nation’s first ever secretary of treasury, Hamilton was a fiery political spirit and he now resides on the ten dollar bill.

With all of this said, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, a Robert J. Christen Lecture occurred in Kelly Commons. The man of conversation was, of course, Alexander Hamilton.

The lecture was titled, “Alexander Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, The Musical,” as Joanne Freeman, a professor of history at Yale University, spoke for the Manhattan College Community that comprised of students, faculty and alumni.

“Freeman has done extensive work in the realm of public history,” the Manhattan College website, says. “She has worked as a historical consultant for the National Park Service in the reconstruction of the Alexander Hamilton Grange National Memorial, and she is thanked by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his annotated libretto for the musical Hamilton.”

Freeman greeted the Manhattan College community and began her lecture.

“The hunger for Hamilton has seemed unstoppable,” said Freeman. “I am going to offer a deeper understanding of Hamilton, even deeper than the play. I would like to leave you with a bread crumb trail of Hamilton.”

Freeman relayed a high praise for the Broadway show, but her focus was to go much deeper than the play needed to, in terms of describing who Alexander Hamilton actually was and why he acted the way that he did.

First on Freeman’s agenda was policy and personality.

Freeman shared that Hamilton believed in “dramatic and extreme politics,” while his personality was both “impulsive and aggressive.”

She continued to outline Hamilton’s aggression by sharing his actions during the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion.

“13,000 men marched to find 5 guys and flag,” said Freeman.

This type of extremism calls for those who study Hamilton, such as Freeman, to try and figure out why he acted as he did.

“You have to try and figure out his view, and that’s tough to do,” said Freeman. “He didn’t use many of his many words to describe himself. You have to hunt for Hamilton, he’s notoriously hard to figure out.”

Due to this reality that inspires Freeman, one of her books in the making will indeed be titled “Hunting for Hamilton.”

Freeman went on to offer a “quick and dirty” explanation as to why Hamilton acted as he did, sharing that he was born poor and illegitimate and also that he was brought to North America by means of charity so that he could attend school.

Upon arriving to America, Hamilton was desperate to make something of himself. He advanced to New York City to attend Columbia University, where he studied biology, but he also had a particular interest in religion.

While at Columbia, Hamilton also joined the debate club and military training clubs, shared Freeman.

“He was basically trying to cover all of the bases. These were all of the gentlemanly professions,” she said.

Freeman also mentioned the severity of his economic conditions, which played a large part in Hamilton’s studying. She mentioned his lack of family and money, which caused him to be very self driven.

“He was very systematic, he was operating without a safety net,” said Freeman.

“This gives us a ground level reality that shaped Hamilton’s decisions.”

When the United States Constitution was formed, George Washington became the nation’s first president, and he chose Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to his cabinet, among others, to help create policy. This action was made due to the difference in views held by Hamilton to those of Jefferson and Madison, who were his political rivals.

Through private and personal memos, Hamilton’s lack of faith in the stability of the nation’s future shined, as he foresaw a collapse in the newly formed republic. “[Hamilton Memo’s] show us sincere fear on his part,” said Freeman. “This reveals his reasoning behind his politics. He shows fear and distrust.”

Freeman suggested that these fears

Freeman delivers her lecture in Kelly Commons. Aaron Mayorga/ The Quadrangle created his “power happy political mind,” as he focused on political power and boosting the power of the president and national government.

But Hamilton’s contributions weren’t accepted by all, or even most.

As Washington retired from presidency, the downfall of Hamilton’s political career began. “[Hamilton was] secretly advising [John] Adams’ Cabinet, until he got caught,” said Freeman, adding that he also wrote attacking letters to Adams and Aaron Burr, the man who later took his life in dual.

“Hamilton became involved in 10 near duels, probably a record for founding fathers,” said Freeman.

As a duel was approaching with Burr, Hamilton authored a private statement to be made public, in case he died in battle.

Freeman then explained why he wanted to battle in this duel, and also why he didn’t.

“I [Hamilton] said a lot of bad things about Burr, so now I really can’t get out this duel,” said Freeman. “He was predicting a major crisis to the republic, so he fought for what he believed in.”

Hamilton also relayed in his message that religion, his debts, and his family made

him second guess the dual, but not to the degree that he wouldn’t fight.

“I’m not excusing him, but you can understand him better when you understand that America’s new Constitution was an experiment in government, his beliefs were of fear.”

Overall, the lecture aimed to teach people of Hamilton’s background, compare it to his actions as a political leader and finally discuss how this all lead to his death.

As her speech concluded, a question and answer session took place, which included questions involving Hamilton’s power expectations, his desire to create a national bank, and many more. Freeman seemed highly impressed at the level of intellect that the questions embodied.

Senior Matt Mattera attended and enjoyed the lecture.

“As a senior at MC, I have taken advantage of many of the opportunities to attend lecture series given on campus and today was no different,” Mattera said in an email statement. “I enjoyed listening to Dr. Freeman speak about Alexander Hamilton’s life and legacy and, as always, found it very insightful. I hope to see Hamilton live on Broadway one day. We had an awesome turnout,” he said.

PEOPLE OF MANHATTAN

Rocco Marinaccio “Most broadly, my scholarly interests are 20th and 21st century American literature and culture. Within that, I am interested particularly in cities and urban experience, in food studies, and also in Italian American studies. That is really diverse and sometimes it makes for a chaotic research agenda, but what I often find is that two or three of those interests connect.

“I’ve written about Italian Americans and food, I’ve written about Italian American food in New York City, and I’ve written about foodways and modernity in New York City. What I’m working on right now is an essay about how immigrant foodways in early 20th century New York were often seen as problematic by the powers that be.

“I’m grateful that I am able to bring my

personal passions--my ethnic heritage, the history of my hometown, and my love of food--into my professional life. I think it’s a particular benefit of being a scholar in the humanities or social sciences as opposed to, say, being a chemical engineer. I certainly think chemical engineers feel passionate about what they’re doing, but there’s likely to be more of an overlap between what we might call your personal life and your professional life if you’re a humanist or a social scientist. I think it’s how a lot of us in the School of Liberal Arts operate: it’s what keeps us passionate in the classroom and in our writing. We look to minimize boundaries between our personal passions and what we do professionally.” interview conducted by Megan Dreher

Features

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February 21, 2017

A Mitchell Scholar Amongst the Manhattan College Family Victoria Hernandez Editor

“[She] never lets fear dictate any of her decisions.”

That’s how Kelly Douglas, alumni relations manager at Manhattan College and Kathleen White’s best friend, described her.

Kathleen White, a Manhattan College graduate holding a degree in history and peace studies, was one of the 12 scholars selected by the George J. Mitchell Scholarship committee.

A member of the class of 2014, White received the Gunn Medal, the college’s highest undergraduate honor, for her work on a variety of human rights issues during her four years at Manhattan, which she has continued after graduation.

The scholarship program was created

by Trina Vargo, the founder of the US-Ireland Alliance. It’s a highly competitive and sought-after grant for graduate students in the U.S. This year, the nationwide competition attracted 323 applicants for the 12 scholarships.

According to the US-Ireland Alliance website, members of the 2018 class include a military veteran; a young man working for the city of Flint, Mich.; a young woman working to combat food insecurity in Kansas; a quarterback for an NCAA Division 1 football team; a future doctor who seeks to provide quality healthcare services to transgender people; and a future economist who serves as a research assistant in the White House Office the National Drug Control Policy.

Amongst them, one of our Jaspers shined. A social justice advocate, White joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after college and worked for the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth where she worked on abolishing juvenile life without parole.

She will now be spending a year of postgraduate studies in the sociology program at the University College Cork in Ireland, starting this upcoming September.

“This experience will allow me to gain the research methods and international perspectives on criminal justice reform necessary to return to the United States with an expanded international network and advance my career as a better-informed and prepared advocate for juvenile justice is-

Kathleen White, middle, was the Gunn Medal recipient and is one of twelve Mitchell Scholars.

Manhattan College/Courtesy sues,” White said. and an interview with a 12-person selecWhite first learned about the Mitchell tion committee,” White said.

“I’ve yet to see a process hinder KathScholarship from the Manhattan College Douglas is convinced that in-person in- leen’s social relations. She made completCenter for Graduate School and Fellow- terviews sealed the deal for White. ing 2 senior seminars for her double maship Advisement.

“There is no way that you can’t feel the jors, curating a library exhibit, working two “In August 2016, I left my full time passion and energy she possesses,” Doug- jobs, honoring her extracurricular commitposition as a case manager at prisoner re- las said. ments, and applying and interviewing for entry program in order to focus on explorFor White, the entire process was pretty post graduate volunteer programs during ing postgraduate fellowships and applying intense but also very rewarding. her senior year look almost effortless.” for the Mitchell Scholarship and Fulbright For White, every time she got a call “I worked very closely with Elly Mons grant,” White said. was guided and supported by the Manhat- that she had moved forward was a celebraAfter the complete scholarship appli- tan College History department” White tion itself. cation is submitted, the next round was a said.

“When I found out I was selected I was video application that consisted of recordWhite’s best friend, Douglas, watched literally speechless- it was such a crazy ing herself answering random questions to in awe. feeling. It still feels surreal!” White said. make sure that her personality and answers White has a distinct passion for learn“From the outside looking in, the apreflected her written application. plication process was completely over- ing, an eye for detail, and a commitment to After that, White went on a Skype inter- whelming. I mean, the sheer numbers bettering herself and those in any commuview and was asked questions very specific alone intimidated me but she is an incred- nity she is a part of. to criminal justice reform, prisoner reentry ibly passionate and smart “student of life”, “Professors and classmates alike still work, and how that related to her proposal she was able to channel her nervous energy marvel at the sensation that is Kathleen to study sociology in Ireland. into bettering her application every step of White - taking on some of the hardest “Within a day of the skype interview I the way,” Douglas said. classes offered to undergraduate students received a call that I was selected as one of When asked about how the application in the school of arts, and still keeping 20 finalists to go to Washington DC for a process affected White’s social life, Doug- spirits light with jokes and witty banter,” reception at the Irish Ambassador’s home las added: Douglas said.

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sports

Commuter Athletes Balance Athletics, Academics and Life Charles Lippolis Assistant Editor

Being a Division I student-athlete requires more than just a physical gift honed over years of practice and execution.

At the collegiate level, there is a call to the young men and women of the athletic department to achieve on the field of play, and in the classroom; an objective many students can readily achieve with all of their facilities in walking distance of their residence hall.

However, not every student athlete at a school like Manhattan College is that lucky. Due to its nature as a mid-major Division I school, there are many studentathletes who participate as non-scholarship “walk-ons”, and since the school is located in New York City, some of these students choose to commute from home for practical reasons.

Sophomore catcher Anthony Fanelli is one of the few commuter athletes at Manhattan College. Hailing from Astoria, Queens, Fanelli’s 25 minute commute is a commute he has been perfecting since his days at Monsignor McClancy High School.

“That when I had to start taking own responsibility on my own”, Fanelli said, “It definitely helped me grow up” Manhattan’s baseball team either practices at 6:30 am or 3:00 pm due to availability, making what is already a treacherous schedule even more volatile. For

Fanelli, a civil engineer, an exceptional level of preparation is required to be prepared for class and a changing practice schedule. Planning ahead on a regular basis with everything from catching bullpens to using computer software in Leo Hall is how Fanelli maintains with a 25 minute commute.

“It’s a great honor to play Division I athletics”, Fanelli said, “It can be overbearing to do both, but I find a way to manage.”

For many student-athletes, the pressure of participating in both academics and athletics becomes too overbearing. Anthony Yanni, a junior Javelin thrower on the Men’s Track and Field team, once lived a life similar to Fanelli’s.

“My day was jammed packed,” Yanni said, “between class, lifts, and practice I was running from Leo to Draddy and back without a chance to go home.”

Like Fanelli, Yanni’s experience commuting to Xavier High School in Manhattan helped to groom him for what he endured as a freshman. Similar to the way in which the 1 train operates in Riverdale, the F train is the only subway that ran near Yanni’s home in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. As his only lifeline to the city, and eventually Manhattan college, Yanni was able to learn a lot about himself during his hour-and-a-half long commutes to Riverdale during his freshman year.

“Commuting from Brooklyn is a humbling experience, makes you feel like a part of the city,” Yanni said.

11

.Sophomore Anthony Fanelli is a civil engineering major on the baseball team.

Haley Burnside/The Quadrangle In his second year, Yanni decided to make the move to Horan Hall. While it was pragmatically tough to do with his home so close, Yanni was able to feel comfortable around campus during his daily routine.

“I used to have lift in the morning, class, practice, and then a lab,” said Yanni,

“and man would I walk into the lab smelling like a sin.

The move on campus was able to simplify his life, a move that would have the same effect on the life of any student-athlete struggling to maintain.

what’s up this week

Rikkilynn Shields/The Quadrangle

sports

12

February 21, 2017

Lora Sarich Named New Women’s Volleyball Coach Ariel Pacheco Contributor

Lora Sarich was named the new Jaspers’ head volleyball coach by Manhattan’s Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Marianne Reilly. Sarich brings with her experience as both a head coach and a player.

As the new Jasper head coach, Sarich is tasked with trying to bring her knowledge and experience from her previous stops before coaching here at Manhattan. She has been successful in multiple places and multiple positions up to this point. Sarich hopes to build a competitive culture, and hopes that the team can be one of the best teams in the conference and improve on the team’s past season.

“I think New volleyball head I can help coach Lori Sarich bring energy UNOH Racers/ Courtesy and excitement back to the team,” Sarich said. “Our goal is to definitely be competitive and reach where the program was several years ago.” The Jaspers are said to be coming off their worst season since 2012, when the team had 15

wins and 15 losses.

In a press release from the College, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marianne Reilly says “Lora brings a wide array of volleyball coaching and playing experience to our program,” She continues, “Having been a Division I student-athlete, she understands the challenges of balancing academics and athletics. She will be a fine role model to our student-athletes.”

Sarich has spent the past four seasons as head coach at the University of Northwestern Ohio. She led the team to a total of 79 wins over the course of her time there with only 62 losses total. In 2014 she led her team to the semifinals of the WHAC Tournament.

Sarich also has experience coaching in West Georgia, where as a co-head coach she helped lead the Wolves to a conference championship in 2007 in her first year ever as a coach which speaks to her leadership qualities.

She hopes to use the rest of the spring to get everyone on the same page and implement her new system on both defense and offense. Building chemistry and being able to start working on the teams’ goals for next season is what Sarich hopes to come from spring practices. “We’re going to work really hard to be the best that we can for fall.” Sarich said.

Manhattan is coming off of a 12-20 season in 2016, when the team was 8-10 in conference play. The Jaspers look to bounce back with a roster that has 12 returning players, most of whom will be ju-

Last season, the team finished 15-15. Sarich hopes to improve on that record.

Anja Pollozi/The Quadrangle niors at the start of next season.. “ We have digs per set in a career. a good mix.” Sarich said. “It’s really nice Sarich has also served as Director of to work with a large core group.” She feels Operations at the University of Georgia. the team has room to grow and the outlook Sarich started the program at Point Univerof the team suggests this. sity, where she was able to recruit sixteen Sarich was a four year letter winner at players in a span of just five months. The the University of Toledo as libero. She is Jaspers are looking forward to seeing what Toledo’s all time leader in digs. She is also Sarich has in store for the women’s volleytheir leader in digs per set in a season and ball team this coming fall.

“[Last year] Every time I got in the box, it was my time,” said Peña.

This body of work was good enough to earn Peña some prominent awards. After being named the MAAC Rookie of the Year, the rookie catcher was also named to D1 Baseball’s Freshman All-American Second Team, as well as the MAAC AllTourney team.

Now, after being touted for the highest honor in the conference, Peña understands that the best way to prepare for the future is to look to the past. In just his second year, Peña reflected on some of his older contemporaries, players like Christian Santisteban, who last year was named for the same preseason honor, and won it in the spring.

“I have to the better than last year,” said Peña, “it’s something people are expecting from me.”

Manhattan’s head coach Jim Duffy experienced this last year with Santisteban, and has been pleased with the way Peña has responded receiving the honor.

“I really do think it has motivated him in a positive way,” said Duffy.

What has kept the desire to improve prevalent with the team has been the disregard for the accolades. Yes, Peña, along with other Jaspers who have been given

preseason honors, have had discussed these awards with Duffy, but that has been it. The team has had productive, driven practices in preparation for their season opener by not letting the good news force them into a state of satisfaction.

“It’s been business as usual,” said Duffy, “the confidence level has been very high” Duffy sees the potential in this team to improve on the 2016 season, and has confidence in his core group of players to lead the team. The accolades Duffy’s players earn make him proud, but after two consecutive seasons of coaching some of the best players in the conference he hopes to see this trend turn into a standard.

“It’s a really great thing for the program,” said Duffy, “that should start being the norm around here” Last season was the first time most almost half of the team had tasted postseason baseball. The upperclassmen leaders of this team understand that this year will be the last time many of them play together, and are motivated to make the most of the it. For Peña, all the awards mean nothing if he doesn’t perform well in the spring, but right now the only goal the team has their eye on is winning a MAAC Championship.

Peña Recieves MAAC Preseason Honor Charles Lippolis Assistant Editor

As Manhattan’s baseball team gears up for their season, the aggregate of MAAC baseball coaches came together and tabbed the Jasper’s sophomore catcher Fabian Peña as the preseason player of the year.

The Miami, Fla. native exploded on the season as freshman, earning his spot in the heart of the lineup with superb hitting and a reliable glove behind the plate. For Peña, the prestigious individual awards he has received mean little to him, because he never found them important enough to fully understand.

“I didn’t know what any of it meant,” said Peña, “It started with Rookie of the Week, I had to go ask coach what it meant.”

For Peña, MAAC Rookie of the Week was just that, a start. Throughout the 2016 season, Peña racked up the award, collecting one multi-hit game after another. At the end of the season, Peña was top five in every major offensive category: and lead the Jaspers with nine home-runs, 54 runs-batted-in, and a slugging percentage of .598.

He was also able to throw out 27 of 52 runners from behind the plate (51.9 percent).

Originally from Miami, Pena joined the Jaspers last season.

Go Jaspers/The Quadrangle