THE Volume 92, Issue 9
Q
UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924
Nov. 3, 2015
www.mcquad.org
New Proposal MC Celebrates Halloweekend Aims to Create Designated Smoking Areas on Campus Kyleigh Panetta Staff Writer
More Costumes on Page 3 With Halloween falling on a Saturday, Jaspers spent most of the weekend celebrating with plenty of costumes to be found on campus. The Quadrangle sought out submissions for best costumes through our social media accounts. This group of girls dressed up as “Dads,” joking that they were part of a reunion for the Manhattan College class of 1985. Sarah Caruso/Courtesy
Student Activities Works Out Kinks in Online Ticket System Catherine Goodyear Staff Writer
Student Activities introduced a new online service to make the process of purchasing tickets for events a little easier as part of its incentive to become a cash-free office. While this has introduced a new convenience for some students, Student Activities is actively working to deal with technical difficulties that have cropped up. “I like the new system better because you don’t have to get to the Student Activities office an hour in advance,” student Gus Menocal said. “I remember last year I came to get tickets and the line was almost down the stairs of Kelly and I had to go to class too so that was unfortunate. My friends and I ordered the tickets [online] and it was simple.” The new system gives students the opportunity to purchase a ticket quickly without any lines, waiting in person or cash. “We are going in the right direction,” Director of Student Activities John Bennett said. “The differences between this system and the old one is that it’s less anxiety on the students so they don’t have to say ‘Hey tomorrow I have to miss class because I am going to be waiting on line to get this ticket.’ I’m happy that for the student per-
spective we are providing a much more casual and relaxed atmosphere, you can purchase your ticket and come pick it up at any time. “One of the frustrating parts we have unfortunately are for the Knicks and Rangers games and other Madison Square Garden Events. They do not provide us with tickets until 72 hours before the event,” Bennett said. “It makes it a little harder for the students because they have to wait to pick up their ticket.” Although this system has made purchasing tickets more convenient for some students, there are still issues with the system that Student Activities is working on. “As with any new system there’s the growing pains and we have gotten a few student concerns, complaints and issues,” Bennett said. “Overall we had a lot less issues than expected. As long as you reach out to us, we will accommodate you. If you are having an issue with picking up your ticket, you can email us and have a friend come get it for you. We just need to know. Communication is half the battle but, students needs to be conscious of the time aspect.” Some of the issues students have encountered are being able to buy multiple tickets, price differences and not having the ability to access the tickets. Students are only allowed to purchase
one single ticket per one undergraduate student account but some students have been able to purchase two. Student Activities cannot refund the student if they purposely purchase two tickets from one account. There were also a small handful of students who were charged $40 for a $20 event. Student Activities is actively working with ITS to eliminate these problems. “IT has been very helpful and has been working with us,” Bennett said. “They trouble shoot and work out issues with credits. We are working out all of the bugs. Another issue is when friends pay for other friends on credit cards, the receipt goes to the wrong person.” “We are learning the ins and outs of those issues as we go about. We are compiling every student complaint and issue we receive and will meet about them in a few weeks. We want to see the reoccurring problems and address them.” Student Jill DeGioia said, “Buying the ticket online was really easy but at first it wouldn’t accept my debit card. I had to use a different card. It was a Visa so it should have been accepted because I had money on it. Once I used my Discover instead the actual ticket purchasing process was simple.” There has been more positive feedback compared to negative but any response is highly encouraged by Student Activities.
It is common to walk around Manhattan College’s campus and see some students and faculty smoking cigarettes wherever is most convenient for them. A new smoking policy proposal aims to create new designated smoking areas on campus and educate the community about the health risks of smoking. This proposal will be put to vote by the Manhattan College Senate on Nov. 17. MC’s current smoking policy prohibits smoking inside any building, at any outdoor event with seating and within 25 feet of any building entrance. “One thing I’ve noticed, take the quad buildings, is that you can be 25 feet from an entrance on the quad and where does that put you? Right out into the main circulating path of people,” Andrew Ryan, vice president for facilities, said. “There’s going to be designated smoking areas around the college instead of the blanket 25 feet from an entrance to a building,” Ryan said. Emmanuel Ago, Ph.D. and vice president for student life, said the new proposal was created with the help of survey results after it was noticed that many people were not in compliance with the current system. The survey was conducted in May 2015 and shows that 83 percent of the 764 participants identified themselves as nonsmokers. In addition, the survey showed that 27 percent were in favor of a smoke free campus and 36 percent wanted to keep the current policy. Ago wanted to stay true to the democratic process of surveying the community because the results show that, “people are not ready to go smoke-free,” Ago said. Ago also credits the quadrangle renovations this past summer in helping the discussion about smoking on campus get started. “That conversation prompted us to think about to what extent do we want people visibly smoking on the quad giving that we are investing a lot of money, time and effort into beautifying the campus,” Ago said. The stages of the proposal process will involve first creating the proposal, then voting on it, followed up with an educational aspect on health risks and enforcement. “Public safety officers will go on patrols to make people cognizant that we now have designated smoking areas and to politely redirect people to where they should be smoking on campus,” Ago said. Ryan said that although it will originally cost money to provide signs, benches and receptacles for these new areas, it will save the time of facility workers who currently clean up the stray cigarette butts. The new proposed smoking zones are the Jasper gazebo, the elevated area around Smith auditorium, Walsh Plaza, the service
Continued on page 3
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The
Letter to
opinions & editorials
Quadrangle www.mcquad.org
Vol. 92 Issue 9 Nov. 3, 2015
Sean Sonnemann Editor-in-Chief Michelle DePinho Managing Editor/News Editor Anthony Capote Asst. News Editor Kieran Rock Managing Editor/Features Editor Ally Hutzler Asst. Features Editor Lauren Carr Arts & Entertainment Editor Lindsey Burns Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Jon Reyes Sports Editor Jaclyn Marr Asst. Sports Editor Daniel Ynfante Asst. Sports Editor Victoria Hernández Kristie Killen Social Media Editors Kevin Fuhrmann Photography Editor Vanessa Sanchez Asst. Photography Editor
Nov. 3, 2015
The Editor
Two weekends ago the Manhattan College Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society for Educators, was awarded their SIXTH consecutive ACE award [Achieving Chapter Excellence] at the 50th Biennial Convocation in Orlando, Florida. It is amazing – our chapter is one of the best chapters in the world! These awards are presented only to those chapters that meet stringent criteria and demonstrate excellence and dedication to the ideals of Kappa Delta Pi. We are proud to have such engaged Manhattan College students who have developed such an active, dynamic, and vibrant award-winning chapter. We are deeply appreciative of our former leaders, Caitlin Palumbo and Rachel Tomashosky, for all their efforts, hard work, and tremendous spirit in guiding our members to do such great work in helping others. The chapter also won the top AWARD FOR SERVICE, specifically for our Annual “Safe-Halloween Experience.” Many parents and children of our local community and college community are very grateful for the commitment of the chapter to “reach out” and help young people in so many creative, fun and academic ways. This award recognizes the efforts of all Jaspers in reaching out and serving others. We thank “All the Students” of Manhattan College – they are all deserving of this award. The students of all our schools are involved in our community experiences all these years. We are firm believers that inclusion of all makes us a much more powerful community! With the world the way it is, it is truly an honor to be with young women and men on this campus who know that life isn’t about them. It is about serving others. Good deeds and sincere efforts are graciously given daily on our campus. We are deeply grateful to our President, Provost, and Dean for their active support of all we do to help others. Orlando, Florida is better than ever! One of the reasons it is the No. 1 travel destination is that they are always changing, always growing, and always adding more to their already dynamic destination. They made a commitment to excellence! One of the reasons our Kappa Delta Pi Chapter is one of the BEST in the world is that we are always changing, growing, and adding more to our already dynamic chapter. We have made a commitment to excellence! -Brother Raymond Meagher, FSC
Kelly Burns Luke Hartman Natalie Heinitz Production Editors Daniel Molina Distribution Manager Tom Callahan Faculty Adviser
A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism. The staff of The Quadrangle meets every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in room 412 of the Student Commons. Contact The Quadrangle at thequad@manhattan.edu The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.
John Abbatangelo/The Quadrangle
news
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New Proposal Aims to Create Designated Smoking Areas on Campus Kyleigh Panetta Staff Writer
Continued from page 1 road by Lee Hall and Horan Hall, under Founder’s Bridge, Waldo Avenue by Kelly Commons, the parking lot of RLC and on the corner of 240th Street and Corlear Avenue by Leo. Katherine Muller, a freshman psychology major, said the new proposal might not be followed because it is creates an inconvenience for those who do smoke. “I also feel like it’s [administration] saying that it’s not as acceptable to smoke, that people should cut back, and it’s not good to be smoking all around campus,” Muller said. Both Ryan and Ago said this proposal is not meant to isolate or put smokers’ safety at risk. “A lot of the new designated areas were chosen, we took into consideration the safety of our students,” Ago said. Rachel Stanton, a sophomore com-
munications major, is a smoker herself but doesn’t think the new policy proposal will affect people since MC’s campus is relatively small. “I also don’t understand why they would have to do that in the first place because it’s not like smoking is a huge problem at this school,” Stanton said. Grace Hoffman, a graduate student and member of the Senate, said the new policy attempts to be fair to both smokers and nonsmokers. “As a nonsmoker I do not like walking around campus behind a cloud of smoke, but I also do not believe smokers should have to go to parking lots or other places of isolation to have a cigarette,” Hoffman said. The new proposal will be discussed on Nov. 17 at the Senate meeting, which is open to everyone. “I think this is a great first step. We need to at least make sure people are aware that it’s not a free for all and that there are other people on campus and we need to be respectful of them in terms of health risks,” Ago said.
Abby Knudson/The Quadrangle
MC Celebrates Halloweekend
Sara Buckley/Courtesy
Michael Moon/Courtesy
Registrar’s Office Announces New Online Graduation Application The Office of the Registrar announced a new online application for graduation that all students must complete in order to receive their diploma. During the semester they intend to graduate, students must log on to Self-Service, verify information regarding their program and major and apply to graduate. The deadline for application for those intending to graduate in Fall 2015 is Dec. 23, 2015. Similarly, all those intending to graduate in the Spring of 2016 must apply online by Feb 15, 2016.
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news
Nov. 3, 2015
The Effects of Hurricane Sandy Are Still Felt Three Years After the Storm Catherine Goodyear Staff Writer
Oct. 29, 2012. For most people in our country this was a Monday just like any other, but for residents along the East Coast, specifically New Jersey and New York, it was a day that changed people’s lives. Three years later, Hurricane Sandy still has lasting effects on the lives of MC students who were hit hard by the storm. Hurricane Sandy ripped through the shore as if it were a piece of paper. The wave surges took out homes and sucked them into the Atlantic Ocean. Boats lifted off their cinder blocks were floating down the streets crashing into houses as if they were wrecking balls. The water was so high it covered the roofs of cars and washed them away. The iconic Jet Star rollercoaster at the boardwalk of Seaside Heights was washed away and remained in the Atlantic Ocean as a symbol of destruction until it was removed six months later. People were not allowed to return to their own homes due to damage. Guards with guns were standing at check points because looters were scuba-diving into the remains of houses to take whatever they can find. T-shirts, sweatshirts and magnets came out with sayings like ‘Restore the Shore’ and ‘Stronger than the Storm.’ For some people it was a fashion trend and after a few months they forgot all about it, for others, it was their life. Most schools were shut down for at least two weeks, and the power was not restored for two weeks or longer. Certain towns have a well water system which relies on electricity, so when the power went out, so did the water. One week after Hurricane Sandy, there was an early season snow fall that brought
up to 13.5 inches in certain areas in New Jersey. The lack of heat, electricity and water along with the unsafe road conditions made it difficult for people to obtain basic resources. “I live on Long Island and the areas close by were severely damaged,” Priya Sachdeva said. “I’m lucky that I don’t live as out east as other people. My basement windows shattered and our fences were gone but others weren’t as lucky. A lot of the areas are still getting repaired. Trees are being knocked down, parks are being repaired, and my high school’s newest wing is being completely rebuilt. I have a friend who lives farther east and they still haven’t received compensation.” The months following the storm was heavily covered by the media. They showed the progress of the cleanup and the rebuild, but what they failed to show is the poorer neighborhoods who are still three years later living in the same conditions. Yes the damage, dirt and debris has been cleared away, but the situation has been on a stand-still for months, or even years. Some roads have been temporarily “filled in,” but not completely repaved. Houses are still waiting to be knocked down, people are still not back in their old homes and the boardwalk would never been the same. According to The Weather Channel, more than 8,000 homeowners remain active in New Jersey’s main rebuilding grant program. Sixty-two out of the 355 damaged homes in Breezy Point, NY have yet to be rebuilt. South Ferry’s subway station is intermittenly closed due to construction that is not expected to be completed until 2018. Waiting for the government to bail homeowners out of the mess that Sandy created seemed like a lost cause to many. Outside organizations, fundraisers and donations were what a large amount of families were forced to turn to.
“My family had a nonprofit organization called Tunnel to Towers that helped people rebuild homes, get construction done, found places for them to be relocated, gave them clothes, money, and anything that can get them back on their feet,” Olivia Siller said. “We worked with that for a full year but after that it was continuously going for need based. I’m from Staten Island and the south shore was affected really badly. Some parts still haven’t been rebuilt because it was just too damaged and they had to be knocked down.” “I felt like it was up to outside organizations to take charge because the government couldn’t put too much money into one place but I do think they could have helped more. We were working for 24 hours at a time in shifts and it still took 3 to 4 months to clear out the damage and destruction but, the repairing and rebuilding is still going on.” Three years later, New Jersey’s beach reconstruction and protection project is still far from being complete. According to NJ.com, True Jersey, state Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said, “The state is ready to file eminent domain claims against some 40 or 50 oceanfront property owners in Mantoloking, Brick and Toms River within the next month. The court action may also involve complaints against one or two property owners in Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head at the same time.” Since Sandy, the flood zone lines were reevaluated and people who never had flooding in their homes are now required to either pay monthly flood insurance or raise their house from six to 13 feet. “I had a shore house in Ocean City, New Jersey. It received damage and was required to be knocked down and rebuilt,” Erica Cellucci said. “When we rebuilt it, we had to put it on stilts six feet high. When the construction was finished, we had to sell the house.”
Despite these circumstances, Sandy also brought out the best in people. Neighbors came together to get through the situation and help each other out, either through formal fundraising, organized volunteer effors or just lending a neighborly hand. “My family was pretty afraid. One of my brother’s best friends from middle school died with his father in their basement,” Anthony Fischetti said. “When I volunteered three years ago, it was mostly government run programs but the local community helped. Staten Islanders have, for the most part, a very strong sense of community and solidarity with one another. Different organization held various benefit events for the families most afflicted.” Even many of those not directly impacted by the storm were moved to provide assistance in some fashion. “I’m from Baltimore, Maryland, so I did not get affected but I helped raise money through fundraisers on Facebook,” Amber Williamson said. “My family also worked with the Lavallette and Patterson Rotary Clubs to raise money for people who were displaced. Many people were living in hotels for months.” Communities came together, donated Thanksgiving dinners and gave out supplies. Although it’s three years later and the shores haven’t fully recovered, Americans came together and conquered the hardest part.
Hurricane Sandy brought wreckage around campus, including this damage to the bleachers at Gaelic Park. Michelle DePinho/The Quadrangle
Arts & Entertainment
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“All The Best Things” “All the Best Things” is a book loosely inspired by student John Evans’s experiences as a folk musician in the Manhattan area. It tells of three young people whose entangled love lives and tragedies culminate in musical success and unforgettable pain. The book will be published by installment in The Quadrangle each week. John Irvington, New York John Evans Guest Writer
Jason’s Pub was an aged hut with a low roof and wide windows. Long before I lost my eyesight, I’d go there with my parents and listen to the men at the bar scream at the television. Football always meant bedlam. Sometimes, when I’m sitting alone at the bar, I can remember the blaring radio and the way the manager used to smile at his customers. He was an old man with cracked teeth and bloodshot eyes. I wonder where he is now. He was long gone by the time I began playing guitar at the place, and that was long after darkness stole my vision. On a breezy October night, I found myself standing idly outside the pub wandering on business. I was attending Manhattan College, not far from the river towns, and was wondering if I should grab a quick bite to eat. My roommate, Joe, wanted me to edit his paper for him on the Syrian Crisis, and I was fed
up with writing. I needed to walk and breathe the clean air before breaking out the laptop again. It was almost ten, and there was nobody on the road. You could hear the hum of the parkway in the distance, and the muffled chiming of beer glasses inside the pub. The whispering breeze, teased my weary face. I needed to relax. There was no climbing down the hill, and it would be another hour before I could catch the train. Resigning myself to my fate, I extended my cane and let it lead me through the open door of the pub. A wave of clamorous voices engulfed me as I searched for an empty chair to gather my wits. A counter lay in front of me made of polished wood, and all about me were men much older than myself. I could smell the smoke from their cigarettes, and hear their clumsy footfalls on the weathered floor as they left the tavern. None of them paid me any mind. I heard somebody shut the door, and a woman called my name from across the crowded room.
“Need any help, John?” she cried, ambling to my side with feline grace. Her airy voice betrayed her already tipsy state. I smiled, and tried not to laugh. “Let me guess,” she boasted, pretending as though she’d never pulled this act on me before. “You want the usual—whatever we have on draft, and an order of wings to go.” “Aren’t you a smart waitress!” I snorted, turning to face her with my dead eyes. “But I want my wings here tonight, and mild. I’m not in a hurry, and the last thing I need is indigestion.” “Oh,” she mused, playfully brushing my arm with the hem of her dress. “Change of plans Jonathan.” “Cathy,” I replied. “You know that I’m always looking to spice things up, and that I hate being called Jonathan.” “Good thing I’m here then,” she mumbled, shuffling off to put in my order. “Good thing,” I repeated half to myself. Cathy was a sweet girl, but a bit of an airhead. She dropped out of school to work the family business. Her father hired all the
staff, but was too old to act as manager. Cathy acted as bartender and village sweetheart to bring in customers, while poor bastards like me fell for her cheap parlor tricks. I waited for my drink to come and extracted my phone from my pocket. Joe texted me his usual nonsense, and I couldn’t make up my mind if I should respond to him or not, when I sensed someone standing beside me.
Arts & Entertainment
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Nov. 3, 2015
Fun Fall Activities in the City
Arts & Entertainment
Coffee House
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Rikkilynn Shields Staff Writer
It may be November, however, fall in New York isn’t quite over yet. Before we begin playing Christmas tunes and putting up the tree, we still have some time to enjoy the leaves changing colors and the crisp air. New York is known for holding events of every sort, and here are some for this month that you might enjoy. If you missed out on any Halloween festivities, don’t worry. There is still plenty of events taking place these next few weeks. From Nov. 4 through the 29, Room Escape Adventures, located at 355 Seventh Ave in New York, NY, on the third floor, is holding a “Trapped In A Room With A Zombie” event. You and 11 other people are placed in a room with a zombie chained up, and every five minutes one chain breaks loose. You have one hour to solve clues and puzzles to escape out of the room. Tickets are being sold online at roomescapeadventures.com/new-yorktickets/. On Nov. 6 and 7, Blood Manor, located at 163 Varick Street in New York, NY will be hosting a Haunted House with intense, creepy, actors confronting you as you walk through the labyrinth in the house. Tickets are being sold at www.bloodmanor.com New York City will be hosting the competitive Horror Film Festival on Nov. 12 through the 15. The film festival will be hosted near Times Square showcasing a variety of short and long-length films. More info about the festival could be found on nychorrorfest.com/schedule/. If you’re looking for fall activities, Cider Week in New York is going on from Nov. 6 through the 15. A variety of events will be taking place from traditional cider tastings to classes and shows. More information on event dates and ticket purchasing can be found on http://ciderweeknyc. com/events/. New York City is hosting the Veteran’s Day Parade on Nov. 11. The parade salutes the brave men and women who served and continue to serve for our country. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. with an opening ceremony and wreath-laying, located at the Eternal Light Monument on Fifth Ave at 24th Street. Living in New York you can find plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays. The parade showcases tons of performers, dancers, floats, and so much more. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be held this year on Nov. 26 and is so worth the watch. To find the route of the parade, or any other information, you can visit social.macys.com/parade/. Chappaqua is holding its 5th annual Farmers Market. The Farmers Market has a variety of vendors, events, music, a flea market and other things to enjoy. The Famers Market is occurring every Saturday until November 21st, and will be taking place at the Chappaqua Train Station at 108 Allen Place. The Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is beginning on November 2nd and going on until the 15th. The Restaurant Week sponsors more than 200 restaurants. Restaurant Week provides discounts at participating restaurants, giving customers the opportunity to enjoy premier quality food at a fraction of the normal price. For more details on the event and what restaurants are participating, visit http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/home.php
Taylor Brethauer/The Quadrangle
Taylor Brethauer Staff Writer
Rikkilynn Shields/The Quadrangle
Every month, the student publication Manhattan Magazine encourages students to perform at their “coffeehouse” and every time, the students do not disappoint. This past Sunday, Nov. 1, the club hosted the second coffeehouse of the school year, this time located in Jasper Hall’s first floor lounge. Acts ranged from stand-up comedy, slam poetry and singing from the very talented student body. Many students claimed to have nerves as they stepped in front of the growing crowd but each performance continued to get better. While for some it was their first time performing a certain poem that they wrote or even performing in general, the energy of the crowd let them know they did a fantastic job. “That was the first time I had [per-
formed my poetry]. I love watching spoken word on YouTube. I was beyond nervous and shaking, but I felt really good after. Everyone laughed and clapped and it was a good self-confidence boost,” said junior Katelyn-Rose Conroy, who read her original poetry for everyone. The most common performances were singing acts, either with a friend or as a solo, on piano or guitar or ukulele. With the sound of music playing outside of the doors of the lounge, it drew in more people as they were passing through Jasper Hall. Students stopped in to see what the big crowd was for, as singers entertained the audience with songs they prepared. The crowd’s favorites were when friends performed together, especially the duo “2 Spooky 4 U” singing “Monster Mash” or sister-duo Tara Ann and Siobahn Connor singing a mash-up of songs. “My sister and I practiced earlier today
and [singing together] brings people close, it’s a lot of fun,” said freshman Tara Ann Connor. However, the best part of any show is how the audience affects the performance. The crowd at this coffeehouse was having a lot of fun laughing at jokes and cheering on those who had never performed before. “If you’re doing your best and having fun, the audience will also have fun,” said sophomore David Cartolano. Each coffeehouse continues to outdo the previous one, as more people want to display their talents or just come to have a relaxed Sunday night. Emcee RJ Liberto continues to see the crowds grow and enjoys the environment of the coffeehouse, an event different than other performances on campus. “People will come see their friends and listen to music and will take two hours out of their night. They’ll come relax and have fun and I absolutely love doing this. I see
some new people come each time and I kept seeing people stop in tonight because they were passing by,” Liberto said. Manhattan Magazine encourages students to keep an eye out for the next coffeehouse, happening sometime after Thanksgiving break or early December. Drafts for the Magazine are due Nov. 13, but there is a workshop Nov. 6 as well. Any questions about entries or the coffeehouse, email manhattanmagazine@ manhattan.edu
features
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Nov. 3, 2015
It’s A Beautiful Day In the Ne
Stephen Zubrycky Staff Writer
Huddled masses fill the sidewalks, rushing here and there. Large buildings, casting dark shadows onto the street below, act as echo chambers for horn-happy drivers. The sidewalk is filled with a multitude of different scents – greasy food, sewage, cigarettes and exhaust from a passing bus, to name a few. Beneath, the No. 7 subway rumbles past, shooting a warm, MTAscented breeze directly up the nostrils of chilly passersby. Sounds like 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, right? Wrong. This is actually Roosevelt Avenue in Downtown Flushing – a rapidly growing immigrant community, composed predominantly of Chinese and Korean-Americans – which lies about nine miles east of Midtown in the northeast quadrant of the borough of Queens. Because of its unique identity and urban character, Downtown Flushing, one of Greater Flushing’s many constituent parts, has come to be known by many names – including Flushing Chinatown, Chinese Manhattan, and “Falashing” – a Mandarin word for it. Since the 1970s, the Chinese population in Downtown Flushing has been quickly and steadily increasing. Flushing’s evolution mirrors trends in Queens at large. According to the 2014 United States Census population estimate, 26 percent of Queens County residents are Asian – a marked increase from the Census in 1970, when just one percent of Queens residents were Asian. While Downtown Flushing – especially areas near Main St. between Kissena and Northern Blvds. – is predominantly Chi-
nese, areas to the east are more diverse. A Korean enclave lies to the east of the Chinese one – beginning on Union St. and extending east along Northern Blvd. into Murray Hill and Auburndale. However, the center of Flushing life lies in the squarely heart of Flushing Chinatown– at the loud, congested intersection of Roosevelt Ave. and Main St. Located directly above the last stop on the No. 7 Subway line, and directly below the Main St. LIRR station along the Port Washington Branch, it is not uncommon to hear trains rumbling above and beneath street level. What is particularly noticeable upon arrival is the sheer number of low-flying planes in Flushing’s skies, given its close proximity to LaGuardia Airport. The crowds that pack the sidewalks
here are used to it though, and they carry out their business uncaring of the mass motion of the world surrounding them. Just like any other community, food lies at the center of life in Flushing Chinatown. Markets dot the sidewalk along Flushing’s busiest streets. Most of these markets specialize in bringing their immigrant clientele the ingredients of their homeland. GW Supermarket, on Northern Blvd. at Leavitt St. is one such specialty market, featuring an expansive selection of live seafood – including lobster, shrimp, frogs, eel and others. Specialty produce is also available there, including winter melon, bean sprouts and Chinese eggplant – a tuberous vegetable reminiscent of a zucchini that is purple in color. In addition, Chinese groceries and meats are also offered, including delicacies
such as pork blood, the livers of various creatures and a wide selection of rice. There are several of these markets in Flushing Chinatown. Two in particular are located in small shopping malls. The Hong Kong Plaza, located on Main St. between 37th and 38th Aves., is home to several shops, but dissolves into the busy Hong Kong Supermarket in the rear of the mall. Similarly, the New World Mall on Roosevelt Ave. is dominated by Jmart, a massive Chinese market on the first floor. Interestingly, New World Mall has little to offer in the way of conventional mall attractions. Rather than the usual shopping mall destinations – such as Banana Republic, Gap, Apple, or J. Crew, New World Mall features many more small, local, mostly Chinese businesses.
Features
eighborhood: Flushing
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The Center for Career Development Jess Quinn Staff Writer
Stephen Zubrycky/The Quadrangle
At the bottom of the mall is the food court, which is home to several Chinese fast food vendors. Most of the signage in the food court is in Chinese exclusively, and the tables are packed. On the top floor is the Grand Restaurant, which provides a more formal, sit-down setting. The restaurant is opulently decorated, clad with rich leather and lit warmly by large, imposing crystal chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. The room is loud and echoes with the sounds of silverware clanking and lively discussion – the great majority of which is held in Mandarin or Cantonese. The Grand Restaurant is one of many restaurants that make up Flushing’s dining scene. Along the busiest streets are restaurant after restaurant, many of which lure in passersby with large displays of glazed
duck and pork ribs hanging under heat lamps in clear picture windows facing the sidewalk. Relics from Flushing’s past still remain. On the north side of Northern Blvd. at Linden Pl. is Flushing Town Hall. Now a community center run by Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts, the town hall once served as a functioning government facility from 1862 until 1898. After then, it was briefly functioned as a courthouse, dance hall, bank branch, and even, for a time, a jail, according to its website. Across Northern Blvd. on the south side is the Flushing Meeting House, one of three Quaker houses of worship in the five boroughs. Completed in 1694, the Flushing Meeting House is a humble brownshingled building located directly next to
a three-hundred year old burial ground. Both the meeting house and the burial ground are enclosed with black, wrought iron gates. According to a 2007 article in The New York Times, the house resulted from the issuance of the Flushing Remonstrance, a petition to then New Amsterdam colonial governor Peter Stuyvesant to end persecution against Quakers. At the urging of John Bowne, (whose house still stands a few blocks away on his namesake Bowne St.) and the Dutch East India Company, Stuyvesant ended the persecution. For this, Flushing has come to be known as a particularly diverse area religiously. St. George’s Episcopal Church stands on Main St. at 38th Ave. Much like the Meeting House, this church has its own modest burial ground behind an iron fence, yet the building itself is far more ornate – featuring an imposing stone steeple. Other notable houses of worship in the neighborhood include the Free Synagogue of Flushing on Kissena Blvd., St. Michael’s Catholic Church on Union St., and the Chinese for Christ New York Church on Franklin Ave. Flushing’s deep tradition of religious freedom is just one of the facets that make it a quintessentially American destination. Sure, it may not appear so – much of the signs are in Mandarin, much of the food is not what one would call “American,” and the population itself not very representative of America at large at all. But, at its dawn, it stood as a symbol of freedom from religious oppression, and today, for the almost 90,000 foreign born people who reside there today, Flushing acts as a doorway to a brighter future. And what’s more idealistically American than that?
The Center for Career Development is a resource available for all students. Students can go to the center for advice on internships, job interviews or how to dress professionally. The center provides workshops for students, constructs panels for possible employers, and manages the career fairs. “It’s easy to say, you’re interested in petroleum. Well Exxon-Mobil comes to campus these times every year” Meghan Makarczuk, the Assistant Director of Career Development and the Career Counselor for the School of Engineering and School of Science, said. “Or you want to do manufacturing, we have a recent alum here. So, yes we do have a lot of those connections,” she said. “With engineering and science I have more specializations, with students telling me what they want to focus on,” Makarczuk said. It is up to students to seek out advisors from the center and explain to them what types of internships and opportunities that they are looking for. This way the center can help the students by placing them into fields that entice them. Makarczuk explains, “The more opportunities that become available the easier it is for a student to create a tunnel vision aspect.” When it comes to trying to obtain an internships, many students often find themselves anxious with interviewing for these positions and what to wear when going into these interviews. The Career Development staff is there to help students with preparing for these interviews and provide assistance with calming these pre-interview nerves. “We incorporate how to dress in the job search and we incorporate how to dress in our career fair prep workshop” Associate Director for Center for Career Development and Internship Coordinator, Sharon D’Amelia, said. “When I work individually with students I talk to students about how to dress. We also have a suit up closet where students are actually coming in here to borrow a suit, so we do help students with preparing them for interviews.” The Center for Career Development helps all majors in finding internships. “We encourage liberal arts students to come use all of our resources, come to the workshops. A lot of the employers in the fields of communications, journalism, broadcasting don’t necessarily go to career fairs so often times we hear students in liberal arts saying that there’s no companies at these career fairs for me.” D’Amelia said. “The reason is that they don’t go to career fairs, they recruit differently so an engineering firm may go to a career fair and interview a bunch of students for summer internships. A PR or communications firm may post jobs with the career development office.” “L’Oréal was at our STEM fair this fall and the woman in charge was human resources, not an engineer” Makarczuk said. The STEM career fairs help all kinds of students in networking and job searching, even if the fair may be centered on one specific school. The Center for Career Development is provided by Manhattan College as a resource for students to learn, network, and communicate. The Center helps encourage students to seek out internships that appeal to their specific interests, making it useful to all.
Sports
10
Nov. 3, 2015
NARP Life, As Told By An Ex-Athlete Catherine Kinney Guest Writer
NARP is the acronym that stands for Non-Athletic Regular Person. Athletes may find themselves calling their nonathlete friends NARPs. In a way, athletes form a type of cult that all NARPs are not privy to. What happens when the athlete becomes the NARP? Katie Lang, an ex-volleyball player at Manhattan College, has gone through the transition of athlete to NARP. She discovered her love for volleyball in the third grade. She was a setter and had a lot of success in high school. “I played in college because I genuinely love playing,” she said, “and I knew I would regret not trying to participate in college.” Lang led her high school team, Fontbonne Hall Academy, to back-to-back
Brooklyn Diocesan Championships and was named All-City by both the New York Daily News and New York Post three times each. She also earned three straight First Team All-Brooklyn selections. Although she had success in high school, she decided to move on from volleyball after a year of playing at Manhattan. “It just was not for me anymore,” she said. “It was not one of my priorities anymore. I am an engineering major so I found it hard to balance both. Some people definitely can, I was just getting too stressed.” In order to be an athlete, one has to invest a lot of time into the sport. Once Lang became a NARP, she was able to devote her time to an array of activities. “I have so much more time to get involved in other activities,” she said. “Being an athlete is extremely time consuming and even exhausting sometimes.” Deciding to leave the team was hard
for Lang, but her biggest challenge was walking away from the camaraderie. “I stayed in contact with my best friends on the team of course,” she said. “Some of them I even consider sisters. I have lived with volleyball girls all four years but spend a lot of time with my engineering friends too.” Sarah Haselhorst, a graduate and former Manhattan volleyball player, knew that their friendship didn’t have to end after Lang left. “We will always be friends,” Haselhorst said. “She is one of the most special and unique people I have ever met. Seriously, you will never meet another Katie Lang.” Although some athletes held a negative stigma towards NARPs, Lang was able to transition easily. “NARP life is fantastic,” she said. “I never had regrets leaving the team, so
sounded interesting to me and this year I saw the opportunity to join and took it. The relationship between everyone on the team was what really appealed to me. The coaches were so welcoming to newcomers, even if they were like me and had no experience. They were excited to see a novice.” Seger, along with the rest of the team, wakes up every morning at 4:30 a.m. to leave by 5:00 a.m. for the drive to its boathouse in New Jersey. Practices consist of working with coaches Jim Fully and Chelsea Ernst to improve rowing, strength training and building the team dynamic for the synchronization needed to win. “It’s definitely a commitment to get up and get there,” Seger said, “but the practices are so refreshing. The coaches are super organized and always supportive. They’re on their game all the time, extremely positive and really just want to see us do better and grow.”
It is recognized throughout the athletic department that pupils are students first and athletes after, but Seger faces the dilemma of also being an RA. Since she is in Chrysostom Hall, she is required to be on duty two to three nights a week every week. “It’s all about balance,” she said. “Once you find that balance and figure out how your week works, it becomes a system.” The women’s crew team will compete in several cities in New England and the Tri State area, including the Metropolitan Championship in New Rochelle and the MAAC tournament in upstate New York. “One of the best parts is the fact that we get to travel and go to meets,” Seger said, “and see new cities where other teams row. It’s always such a cool experience and I can’t wait to experience more of what it’s like.” Seger elaborated on the difficulties of crew and how underestimated of a sport it
for me it was an easy transition. There is also the bonus of making new friends that I would not have made if I never left the team.” Even after Lang’s volleyball teammates graduated, she still manages to keep in touch while making new friends as well. “It’s been hard living so far away from her,” Malia McGuinness, another former Manhattan volleyball player, said, “but it just makes the next time we see each other that much sweeter.” Today, Lang still participates in beach volleyball for fun. Although leaving a team one loves can be bitter, she found that being a NARP could also be pretty sweet. “I am so happy that I started out playing,” she said, “because I made so many great friends and I am so happy I am able to be a NARP too. I feel connected to both worlds.”
More Than Just An Athlete
Tori James Staff Writer
From balancing residents, rowing, and radiology, Morgan Seger, junior allied health major, spends her Sunday nights on duty in Chrysostom Hall preparing for her 5:00 a.m. practice the next day. Not only is she a Division I athlete, Seger also has the commitments of being a new member of the Manhattan College crew team and a resident advisor. As of this year, the Manhattan’s women’s crew team is officially a DI sport -making them eligible to compete in the NCAA tournament. Prior to this semester, it only had four members. Now the men’s and women’s teams have roughly 30 combined athletes, many of which are new and eager to start the season like Seger. “When I joined the team I had no experience with rowing,” she said. “It always
is, especially as a newcomer. Between the technique, the endurance, the energy and the synchronization needed between the team itself, the sport has proven to be extremely intensive. “It’s all about rhythm and uniformity,” she said. “Once you all collectively function as a unit, that’s half the battle.” Despite her busy schedule and RA duties, Seger is excited to see what lies ahead for Manhattan’s crew team. “It’s a culture, being part of a rowing team,” she said. “Just seeing how many people love the sport and the work you put towards it. I loved seeing how many people were like me and what I can aspire to become in the future.”
Pat Drennan/Courtesy
Sports
Shepherds of the Manhattan College Brand
11
Manhattan College Partners with Learfield Sports Multimedia Company
Learfield Sports/Courtesy
Jaclyn Marr Assistant Editor
Serve each other. Recognize it as “we” not “I.” Dream big and chase dreams. Celebrate successes that lead to learning and growth. Celebrate mistakes that lead to learning and growth. These are all values and mission statements on Learfield Sports’ website. It works well with Manhattan College’s mission statement to prepare students for the future and lives of personal development, professional success and civic engagement. After months of discussions, Manhattan has partnered with the Learfield Sports Multimedia Company. It named Nicholas Williams the general manager of the Jasper Sports Properties team. “We are very excited,” Nino Vanin, Learfield regional director, said. “We have a nice presence in the New York/ New Jersey area with our Fordham and Seton Hall
partnerships. Manhattan’s property and opportunity provides a real win-win. There is a lot of value in brands, faculty, students and fans.” Vanin noted the size difference between Fordham and Manhattan’s campuses and student bodies but he stated that Manhattan would be treated just the same. A native of New Jersey, Williams worked with the New York Red Bulls organization for three seasons serving as a sales account executive. He led in most premium seats sold and revenue for three seasons, bringing great corporate and sales experience to Manhattan. “That experience will help me flourish at Manhattan,” Williams said of his time with the Red Bulls. As general manager of Jaspers Sports Properties, Williams will lead all aspects of the rights relationship. He will provide corporate partners with both traditional and new media opportunities for Manhattan. This could be through certain invento-
ries such as event sponsorships and promotions, venue signage, corporate hospitality, television and radio, digital engagement and visibility through the Go Jaspers official athletics website. “Nick has great experience in the New York market,” Vanin said, “so that was attractive to us. He was selling to a corporate community.” On the official Learfield Sports website, Jasper Sports Properties is described as Learfield’s local and dedicated entity representing Manhattan. It states that with complete collaboration with the college, it is “committed to extending the affinity of the Jaspers’ brand to businesses and corporations of all sizes looking to align with the undeniably loyal and passionate collegiate fan base.” The partnership gives Learfield exclusive rights to all multimedia aspects of the college athletics. It’s partnered with almost 120 colleges across the country, ones with huge sports programs such as The Univer-
Follow @mcquadsports Your New Home for Manhattan College Sports!
sity of Alabama and Penn State. At Manhattan, it has rights to all athletics and an opportunity to sell to all the 19 varsity teams. Vanin said it was set as a long-term partnership but a year amount was not disclosed. “Our goals are to drive revenue for athletics through the program,” Vanin said, “and to be shepherds of the Manhattan College brand. Our mission is always the same, to provide a service to the athletic department and provide opportunities for companies.” Ashley Columbia contributed reporting.
Sports
12
Jekyll And Hyde Season Continues
Allie Yamashiro and Milana Janjusevic await the opposing team's serve. Kevin Fuhrmann/The Quadrangle
Daniel Ynfante Assistant Editor
It was going to be the perfect weekend for Manhattan College. First, it was a comeback win against Siena on Saturday after being down two sets. Then, it would have been an impressive victory over Marist on Sunday after dropping the first set. And to cap it off, the win on Sunday would have not only clinched a spot in the MAAC Tournament, but would also have given Manhattan a firm lead in second place in the standings, with a shot to finish first. With Manhattan up 2-1 and leading 2112 in the fourth set against Marist on Sunday, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the team would accomplish all of that. But then, it happened quickly. Manhattan imploded, blowing a nine-point lead, and allowing Marist to go on a 13-2 run to win the fourth set. In the fifth set, a combination of momentum gained by Marist and utter disbelief at giving away the previous set from Manhattan propelled Marist to win the set 15-8, and the match 3-2. Just like that, what seemed to be a statement-making weekend, turned into a heart-breaking, reality-check one. The loss to Marist, after a thrilling vic-
tory against the Siena the day before, highlighted Manhattan’s biggest problem this season: consistency. “We show up every day like a different team,” Ivana Kostic, middle-blocker for Manhattan, said after the loss to Marist. “We don’t really play consistent. That’s why it happens, that we beat Siena and lose to Marist, who we already beat. … I don’t even know what to expect, so we need to pick up with the consistency and play the same every day.” It’s been difficult for Manhattan to remain steady this season. Injuries to Sydney Volovski, a key member of the team for the last four seasons have forced head coach Mark Jones to play around with the lineup. At different points this season, Volovski’s spot has been occupied by Casey Monroe, Mary Donnelly and for the last three matches, by Olyvia Chaltas. It’s been part of the reason why Manhattan’s season has been riddled with streaks. The team began this season 5-1, only to lose the next four in a row. Since then, it has failed to go on more than a three-game winning streak. It seems as if any time it wins two or three in a row, it loses a match. Whenever the team is on the verge of gaining some momentum that could potentially drive it to the top of the standings, it loses a match it should have won.
On Oct. 7, after Manhattan had won three consecutive matches, it lost on the road to Farleigh Dickinson, a team that was 5-11 at the time of the meeting, and is now just 9-16. On Oct. 25, after winning three in a row again, Manhattan lost a roadmatch against Canisius, who is just 6-7 in the MAAC. Sunday afternoon was another prime example, as Manhattan had the match almost wrapped up, leading 2-1 in the match and 21-12 in the fourth set. But again, the team just could not put Marist away. For Jade Gray, a senior and captain on the team, the loss against Marist was avoidable. “It’s very frustrating to look back on,” she said, “because you don’t realize when you’re in the moment how much of a lead you have. Then, it slowly gets smaller and you’re like, ‘Wow, we really should have finished that game.’ It’s very frustrating.” Perhaps overconfidence was a reason for the lead slipping away. It’s what Kostic believed happened. “I think we just thought we had them,” she said, “so we were like, ‘Okay. We got it. It’s okay.’ But then, it’s really not. I think we just expected to win, and didn’t work to win.” If there was one positive from Sunday’s nightmare, it was the play of Chaltas, who started a third consecutive match in place
of Volovski, and who posted double-digit kills for the second straight day. Chaltas could become the third consistent scoring threat for Manhattan, joining Claire Van Dyk and Milena Janjusevic, who have been its go-to players on offense this season. “I think it’s the mentality,” Chaltas said about why she has been able to step in and play well after not playing much throughout the season. “I want to go in there and I want to play well for myself, for my team, and my coaches. I just want to help us out as much as I can.” If the team is going to find consistency, it starts now, as there are only three matches left in the conference schedule. It’s still in prime position to reach the MAAC Tournament, but the remaining matches will be vital for where it ends up in the standings. The team sits in fourth place, but just a game out of second, which would give it a bye in the first round of the tournament. But before Manhattan thinks about seeding, it’s worried about reaching a level of play it can maintain for the final stretch. “I think it starts in practice,” Gray said about how the team can find consistency. “I think that’s the most important place. It’s coming down to MAACs almost, so these next three games are very crucial for us. So, I think it starts in practice with going 100 percent and pushing to the end.”