Issue 13, Spring 2016 - The Quadrangle

THE Volume 93, Issue 13

Q

UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924

May 3, 2016

www.mcquad.org

Civil Engineers Win Battle of the Brains See Page 6

Daniel Ynfante/The Quadrangle

Common Interest Communities Block Student Access To Some Residence Halls Kyleigh Panetta Asst. Editor

With the college’s residence halls at virtual capacity and new common interest communities being formed, some students faced challenges reserving the room they wanted for the coming academic year.

“The reason we have to have rules and structure, that some students perceive as getting in their way, is because we are totally full. Every room around here is full,” Andrew Weingarten, director of residence life, said.

The structure that Weingarten is referring to is the housing deposit, application and full-time status that every student has to fulfill before selecting a place to live on campus.

This year was the first time that Manhattan College offered “common interest communities,” or CIC other than the Arches Program, which the school’s website describes as “a series of themed residences where students can enhance their experiences at the College by living with other students who share their interests.”

This year the school had four of these communities and is adding two new ones for the coming academic year.

Weingarten said that these communi-

ties involve reserving entire floors or sections of floors in the residence halls.

“We do reserve space for them because we want to have them established.

The whole thing is ruined if you can talk all about how these things are going to be added but you don’t save space for them, where are they,” Weingarten said. “We try our best not to let it be a hindrance.”

Since Jasper Hall is the only residence hall on campus that offers two person rooms, some students who wanted to live there faced a challenge reserving a spot because a new CIC will be in that dorm.

Erin Garcia, a freshman resident in Jasper, was initially unable to reserve a spot in the traditional style dorm.

Garcia said that she and her roommate had planned to live in Jasper Hall but by the time her lottery number for housing came up, all double occupancy rooms were taken.

“Since her and I were the only ones who matched together as roommates, we were only able to see double rooms on the room selection page which meant that we didn’t see anything,” Garcia said in an email.

Garcia attempted to find two other girls to room with so that she could live in a four person suite-style room but did not have any luck.

“So then we panicked and started looking for whoever we could find but I mean

it was pointless really. No one needed two more roommates because they already had their set plan so we were stuck with the thought of being roomed with two random people, which wasn’t so appealing to us,” Garcia said.

She said that she sent emails to Residence Life and called the office but no one helped her until her parents got involved.

“It actually wasn’t until our parents called and asked about the situation that we finally got some answers, which in my opinion, sucks,” Garcia said.

“My mom shouldn’t have to call my college to get answers but that is really the only person Res Life would give straight answers to.”

Samantha Prete, sophomore, was also only helped by Residence Life when her mom became involved.

Prete wanted to live in Overlook Manor, the apartment style dorms, but all the four-person rooms were taken when her lottery time came around.

She and her three other roommates were told they could live in a three-person apartment if they all agreed.

“We all emailed them within minutes and then suddenly there were no more three person rooms available again,” Prete said.

“They then told us we were first on the waiting list for four person rooms. Then

my other friend got into a three person room about a half hour later. So they clearly lied to us,” she said.

Prete said that her and her roommate’s parents had to get involved for them to get answers from residence life.

“After our moms called, they gave us the option of living in a six person if we found two more roommates. Thankfully we did,” Prete said. “But they lied to us again because another girl I know got a four person room before we did, when they told us were first in line to receive one.”

Both Prete and Garcia said they do not think Residence Life communicates well with MC students.

“I feel like if Res Life just communicated with us more about how the housing selection process worked, a lot more people would understand the steps they need to take in order to ensure they get the room that is most ideal for them,” Garcia said.

“I don’t understand how they choose the order. Each grade should choose on a certain day on a first come first serve basis,” said Prete.

Weingarten acknowledges that students may not think it’s fair to change floors of residence halls, forcing students to find a new room. But he assures students that the common interest communities are a trend in

Continued on page 3

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The

Notes from

opinions & editorials

Quadrangle www.mcquad.org

Vol. 93 Issue 13 May 3, 2016

Ally Hutzler Editor-in-Chief Sean Sonnemann Managing Editor Anthony Capote News Editor Kyleigh Panetta Jack Melanson Asst. News Editors Kieran Rock Features Editor/Managing Editor Tara Marin Asst. Features Editor Lindsey Burns Arts & Entertainment Editor Victoria Hernández Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Daniel Ynfante Sports Editor RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Sports Editor Kristie Killen Social Media Editor

May 3, 2016

The Editor

As the school year is coming to a close, for many students it was time to think about housing for the 2016-2017 academic year. For students to be eligible for housing they must complete an application, pay a deposit, and be enrolled in enough credits to be considered “full-time” status.

This week, our front page story is about the “common interest communities” Residence Life implemented this past year. These communities are entire residence hall floors centered around a theme - such as “performing arts & visual culture,” “nuestra casa,” and “entrepreneurship.” These themed residence options are to help enhance “like-minded resident living,” the school’s website states.

One of Manhattan College’s greatest advantages over other urban colleges and universities is its on-campus housing facilities, which are made available and guaranteed for each undergraduate student during their four years at the school.

However, as Residence Life continues to add these communities, already dwindling dorm space is becoming even more limited. Last semester The Quadrangle reported that the residence halls on campus were at 99.7 percent capacity as of September 1, 2015.

During this last round of housing selection, many students were unable to live in their preferred building because of the addition of these exclusive, narrowly focused communities. While the college’s master plan does include plans for a new residence building on south campus, students will not see those changes for years.

Taylor Brethauer Asst. Social Media Editor

Sincerely,

Vanessa Sanchez Photography Editor

Ally Hutzler

Leony Anne McKeown Asst. Photography Editor Kelly Burns Melissa Gallardo Abbi Kirollos Production Editors Daniel Molina Stephen Zubrycky Web Editors Tom Callahan Faculty Adviser

A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism.

The staff of The Quadrangle meets every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in room 412 of the Student Commons.

Contact The Quadrangle at thequad@manhattan.edu The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.

John Abbatangelo/The Quadrangle

3 News Common Interest Communities Block Student Access To Some Residence Halls Continued from page 1 higher education and he sees a demand for them from incoming students.

“Some students might perceive it a little as a bait and switch because we are changing something. Have you ever been in a situation where something new and exciting is coming along but it’s got to fit somewhere? Somebody is always affected,” Weingarten said.

The way Weingarten was able to fix Garcia’s situation is because the residence life office sets aside a few rooms for special cases.

“We have a small handful of rooms and apartments to put out fires, to help students with situations,” Weingarten said. “So yes, if someone is really unhappy do we save a couple and set ourselves up to make the situation better? Of course.”

Garcia said she was finally able to get a room in Jasper, that was not initially listed as an option because she did not like any

other options.

“I do love that [residence life staff] were able to help my roommate and I figure out our situation. Had we not pushed so hard to get answers though, we might still be stuck with getting two random roommates and not knowing who they were until move in day,” Garcia said.

Weingarten said that his top priority is to make sure all students are happy with their living situation, whether that be in a common interest community or not.

“Come talk to us if you think there’s

some way we can help you.You pay a lot of money for it and we are very much focused on increasing student satisfaction with everything we do from repalcing the laundry machines to common interest communities,” Weingarten said. “You pay $15,000 a year for it and I want you to be happy and comfortable. I understand where it might put a little speed bump in your path.”

Mental Health Awareness Week Brings Attentions to Pervasive Issues Taylor Brethauer Asst. Editor

Last week Manhattan College’s Psychology Club hosted Mental Health Awareness Week. There were activities held from Tuesday to Friday that brought attention to different mental illnesses such as depression, eating disorders and personality disorders.

The club says that the purpose of the week-long awareness event is to get rid of the negative stigma that typically surrounds mental health.

Each event was geared towards different mental illnesses and students were encouraged to pick up packets with information about the illness and how to seek help for themselves or a loved one.

“There is a tendency to brush off conversations about mental health, particularly if you do not know anyone that you think is struggling. However, you may know someone who needs support even if it is not ob-

vious,” said Aileen Hickey, member of the Psychology Club.

The events were meant to erase the prejudice against those with the illness and show that it is more common than many people think to have these illnesses, but there is help available for anyone.

In addition to the events and packets, the club hung up flyers around the campus with facts about mental health and how common it is to struggle with a mental illness.

On Wednesday, the club streamed a TED Talk about mental health and students were encouraged to stop by and listen in on the talk to gain more insight. Psychology Club members were available to talk about the different illnesses and how Mental Health Awareness Week came to be. Many members agree that it was time to create an open conversation about the illnesses and change their preconceived notions about people with the illnesses.

Dr. Terence Hannigan, director of the Counseling Center, is especially interested in the awareness week. He said he is glad

students are able to feel more comfortable sharing concerns and discussing these issues. However, he wants this awareness to not just be something the campus talks about once a year.

“I think it sends a message that we can talk about mental health issues as a community. These activities normalize the fact that some of us struggle with anxiety, family issues and/or depression. It takes these personal concerns out of the shadows and opens minds about mental health concerns,” said Hannigan.

With finals week fact approaching, Hannigan also hopes students seek out activities that aren’t stressful during such an intense time of the school year. He most importantly wants students to know they can go to the Counseling Center.

“I hope [the students] feel they can come to the Counseling Center when they have personal concerns, rather than thinking they will be labeled or they should deal with personal concerns without talking to others,” said Hannigan.

The week ended with an open mic night

on the Quad, where students were encouraged to sign a poster saying they will help end the negative stigma against mental illness.

Students were also able to pick up semicolon temporary tattoos as part of the national campaign, “Project Semicolon”, which is a symbolic way of deciding to prevail against mental illnesses.

Students enjoyed pizza and fellowship as classmates read poetry and sang for those who stopped to check out the event and people who were passing by. Many were drawn in by the event, stopping to check what was going on which in turn, allowed the Psychology Club to get the word out to more people.

“The bottom line is that I want people to take it seriously, because it is a serious topic. Each and every one of us have mental health, even if it is in varying conditions. It’s important that we can properly care for our own mental health as well as that of our friends,” said Hickey.

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May 3, 2016

Student Hosts Stand Up Comedy Show Also on to Benefit Hometown of Flint, Michigan campus Ally Hutzler

Jack Melanson

Editor-in-Chief

Student Devin Keast hosted a stand up comedy show on Friday, April 29 to raise money for his hometown Flint, Michigan., a city suffering from contaminated drinking water.

“I know what you’re all thinking,” Keast said to the audience. “If this guy is really from Flint they would’ve had clean water months ago.”

Keast, a stand up comedian, usually avoids getting political during his sets. It wasn’t until a few months ago, when he was performing at a show in the East Village, that Keast addressed the water crisis for the first time.

“The host introduced me as being from Flint, and I thought ‘well now I’m stuck,’” Keast said.

After the show, he and the host shared a cab ride home.

“He said to me, “Politicians generally don’t tell the truth, even journalists these days don’t tell the truth. But comedians are still truth tellers. And comedians can resonate with their audience,’” Keast said.

Since then, Keast has been incorporating more Flint material into his performances. Then, inspired by the response that the Flint relief effort was getting all across the country and the world, he decided to put together an event at Manhattan College.

Teaming up with Scatterbomb, the college’s improvisational comedy group, Keast created the event to benefit The Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Catholic Charities of Genesee and Shiawassee Counties. A total of $147.37 was raised entirely through donations.

Keast was first hesitate about organizing the event, thinking that a comedy show wouldn’t make much of a difference. He decided that even if only ten dollars was raised, it was something.

Asst. Editor

Pen and Sword Induction On Friday, April 29, the Pen and Sword Society induction ceremony was held in The Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers.

“Established in 1929, Pen and Sword is a storied honor society which is exclusive to Manhattan College. The purpose of the society is to promote and reward interest and activity in the extracurricular affairs of the college. Membership is limited to seniors on the basis of high scholastic standing and leadership.”

15 Manhattan College students along with one faculty member were inducted to the prestigious society.

Caiafa ’19 Selected as Newman Civic Fellow

Flint, Michigan native Devin Keast hosts comedy show to raise money for clean water.

Devin Keast/Courtesy “This was the least I could do. I felt that it was really time that I do something,” Keast said.

The evening featured many student performers alongside a handful of professional comedians.

Will Lamparelli, a student who has been doing stand up since he was seventeen years-old, took the stage after he was approached by Keast.

“I was all about the cause,” Lamparelli said. “I couldn’t thank Devin enough, he put this all together.”

Angela Benevenia, a sophomore at Manhattan and a member of Scatterbomb,

was the first comic to perform.

“It was for a great cause,” Benevenia said. “The subject is a stressful thing to talk about, so I think that it is a bit of a stress relief to have comedy in the mix with it.”

Benevenia is from New Jersey and lives just twenty minutes away from Newark, a city that is having a very similar water problem. When she discovered that this tragedy could happen just a few miles from her house, she was shocked.

“People need to pay attention because it can happen anywhere,” she said.

Examining the State of Student Employment Meghan Sackman Contributor

Students have expressed the concern that there are not enough opportunities everyone to participate in campus employment.

Mercy Alonso, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Administration and the Financial Aid Administration, cleared up some of the confusion about campus employment. The Financial Aid department explained that whether or not a student gets a job on campus is not fully in their hands.

The department explained how there are many contributing factors to a student receiving campus employment and how not every student is guaranteed a spot.

“Not every student who is awarded federal work study or campus employment finds a position on campus. The Financial Aid Office awards what a student is eligible to receive, however we have no control in the hiring of positions,” Alonso said.

The administration goes on further to explain that the hiring is done by the spe-

cific departments. Whether or not they have positions available determines if there is campus employment availability.

Alonso said that “everything is based on the F.A.S.F.A.” to determine eligibility. Alonso explained that a lot of the issue has to do with funding for the departments as well as the creation of positions within those departments.

“The government gives us a certain allotment and then we offer it to our students,” she said.

This limited source of funding is the reason why not everyone can hold a position. The Financial Aid administration backs this statement about the issue being a lack of departmental funding.

“Some departments just simply do not have the budget for student workers and are not eligible to hire them. Therefore making positions on campus limited,” Alonso said.

“It wasn’t hard for me to get a job,” said Olivia Smith, a junior that works in the writing center at the Center for Academic Success.

“But I guess that’s because I applied at the right time. We are a small school so it

makes sense that there aren’t a ton of jobs,” Smith said.

There are a few words of advice in order to avoid these limitations and still get a campus job.

“Students need to be proactive in order to get a position on campus. They need to submit the required documents to the Financial Aid Office on the first day of classes, apply to the positions and if necessary, walk into the department to provide the department with their resume and class schedule,” Alonso said.

“Students who are proactive will hear back quicker than students who sit back and wait.”

Students are not required to find jobs related to their majors. Katelyn Conroy, junior at Manhattan College is an English major, and her freshman year she needed a job but the only department available for employment was the IT department. “[It’s] not a job I expected to have, but I learned a lot and met people I am still friends with, so I guess it was a blessing in disguise,” she said.

Freshman David Caiafa was recently named a Newman Civic Fellow. This award is given to student leaders that exude a drive towards finding problems that face their community.

Caiafa has been awarded this honor due to his recent work with the Renaissance Youth Center in the South Bronx where he is an assistant basketball coach as well as a mentor for children.

“I am honored to receive the award,” said Caifa, “ I look forward to making connections with the other fellows. I am excited to see what the next three years brings.”

Caiafa is one of 218 college students across the nation to be a Newman Civic Fellow.

Spring Final Exams The spring final examinations begin on Thursday, May 12 and end on Wednesday May 18.

Exam date and time is based off of the first time that a class meets each week, and tests will be held in the same location as the class normally meets.

Holocaust Remembrance Day The Holocaust will be remembered on the Manhattan College campus this Wednesday, May 4, from 12 a.m. to 2 p.m, Students are invited to the Kelly Student Commons in rooms 4A and 4B for a special lunch.

Spring Concert The annual Jazz Band Spring Concert is today at 8 p.m.

Weather permitting, the concert will take place on the Manhattan College quad.

In the case of rain, the concert will be held in Smith Auditorium.

Refreshments will be served and students are welcome to come and enjoy this free show in support of the Manhattan College Jazz Band.

Features

College Access Day Brings Prospective Students to Campus

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Victoria Hernández Asst. Editor

On April 29, more than thirty high school students were touring campus but the group was unlike any other prospective student group.

The visiting high-school students are involved with after-school college-access programs with two of Manhattan College’s community partners, Fordham-Bedford Community Services, and Sistas & Brothas United which is part of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition.

The event, called “College-Access Day,” was hosted by Campus Ministry and Social Action with the purpose of to strengthening our relationships with our community partners and providing insight to what a day as a Manhattan College student is like.

Their day started at 11am with an information session with admissions and a guided tour with a current student. During the afternoon, the high school students had the chance of attending a student panel where they had the opportunity of asking all sort of questions about college life. The student panel was composed of five very involved students who are leaders on campus. From sophomores to seniors, these students were chosen in order to have a diverse panel. They all had different majors and interests.

Lucemy Perez, broke the silence by asking the student panel: “How effective are your advisors here at Manhattan College?”

“Very supportive, they anticipate your needs, and you can really form a relationship with them if you make the effort to get to know them” Celena Gonzalez said.

Dorian Persaud has had quite a unique experience. “I’ve switched majors 6 or 7 times but my advisor has been with me

College Access Day attracted over thirty high school students , providing them with insight into college life at MC. Victoria Hernandez/The Quadrangle through the whole process” Persaud said.

The conversation went on and dozens of students raised their hands to ask questions, they all seemed interested and involved in the activity but it turned more serious when Brittany Martinez asked, “Are you prepared, what are you going to do after graduation?”

Ivan Bohorquez, answered “[Manhat-

tan College] has academically prepared me for the work force.” He went on to say “I have a few job interviews but nothing is set in stone yet” On the other hand, Krystal Diaz will stay in Manhattan College as a graduate student. “I talk to my advisor all time and I am involved so opportunities come to me...

My boss said: ‘I’ll pay grad school for you

if you work for me as a GA’ (Graduate assistant.)”

The event ended with the Center for Academic Success giving a presentation and Diaz’ reminder: “Don’t get overwhelmed by freedom [in college.] Never skip class and get to know your professors” Diaz said.

ness, poverty, food insecurity, immigration; the most pervasive issues. I want my team to understand that this an opportunity for personal growth and to have this kind of humanizing experience,” Fischer said.

Caitlin Sullivan a junior history and sociology major is leading the trip to Arizona this summer. This is her second time participating in the program that focuses on immigration issues in the U.S and Mexico.

“It’s not just service-based, it’s very education-based as well. With this trip, you come back with a lot of knowledge.” Sullivan said.

The team meets with Border Patrol; goes on a desert walk, and gets the chance to talk to migrants directly. They attend a deportation hearing through a program called Operation Streamline and get to go across the border to Nogales, Arizona’s largest international border community.

Although this is not the first time the program has been in Arizona, it is the groups first time working with BorderLinks. BorderLinks is a non-profit educational organization in Tucson, Arizona. Their goal is to give participants a full understanding of the U.S. Mexico Borderlands and the lives of those living in U.S. immigrant communities. “ I think just hearing people and trying to understand their situation has a really big impact. Last year when we were there, people just wanted their stories to be

heard,” Sullivan said.

Another program this summer that works with migrant families is L.O.V.E. Florida. Students work through the De La Salle Center in Homestead, Florida.

The goal of the program is to improve education and income for those who utilize the program. They use the Christian Brother’s educational style, striving to provide education to those living in poverty and to humankind in general.

Volunteers help provide tutoring services and provide children with a safe environment as after-school caretakers. These services include English as a Second Language and computer classes.

“I didn’t really know too much about migrant families cope with being here. I figured if immersed myself in it I would learn more from it just from being there,” Michelle Arcede, a junior exercise science Major said.

Arcede, like many other volunteers, is going on a L.O.V.E trip for the first time.

The volunteers for the L.O.V.E. are selected through an application process. Then the group meets, prepares, and organizes fundraisers for their trip.

“I hope that I become more open minded for these types of issues and things that are happening in the U.S. Especially in Florida, you don’t realize the problems these people are dealing with. I want to come out of this with new information and

a great experience,” Arcede said.

The Texas L.O.V.E. trip takes the students to work as at a specialized summer camp facility for children with chronic illnesses.

Each week provides a different specialized program for children with chronic illnesses such as muscular dystrophy, blood disorders, and cancer. The week- long program for MC volunteers is called Camp Reynal, which serves campers who have kidney disease. The volunteers from Manhattan College work as camp counselors for the week.

“Last year my suitemate and I both got accepted and went on the trip. It was just the best time ever,” Tim Hamling, a sophomore computer science major said.

This is the second time Hamling has gone to Texas with the program but is his first year as a leader of a trip.

The larger organization that provides the resources for Camp Reynal is called Camp John Marc. It works in partnership with Dallas-Fort Worth area pediatric hospitals, community volunteers, and health organizations. The activities are standard camp activities; nature walks, fishing, archery, and rock climbing. All located on a ranch in Meridian, Texas.

“I definitely want to see if I can find those kids from last year and really see how they’ve grown. That’s just my personal goal,” Hamling said.

Summer L.O.V.E. Program Preview Natalie Craig Staff Writer

This summer, the Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience (L.O.V.E) Program is taking students to destinations all over the U.S. to provide social justice-based service. These weeklong programs encourage the four pillars of community, service and social justice, spirituality, and cultural immersion.

Ben Fischer a junior government and philosophy major is the leader for newest L.O.V.E. destination, Chicago, Illinois.

“They’re involved with the Lasallian idea of solidarity, social justice and I think one of the most important factors is being a part of the community,” Fischer said.

Located on the Southside of Chicago, The Brother David Darst Center specializes in social justice education through their Urban Immersion retreats. The program works with social agencies for field experiences such as The Chicago Food Depository, Su Casa, The Port, San Miguel Schools, Chicago Youth Centers, and St. Martin DePorres.

Fischer volunteered with the El Salvador L.O.V.E trip as a freshman, which was a profound experience of growth for him.

This is what encouraged him to apply for a leadership position.

“A lot of the issues deal with homeless-

Features

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Senior Spotlights

May 3, 2016

Rosa Freitas Catherine Goodyear Staff Writer

After four long years at Manhattan College, it’s time for the senior class of 2016 to graduate and move on to bigger and better parts of their lives. Rosa Freitas, a business management major with a minor in marketing, is going to be using her acquired skills in her everyday life at Think Construction.

Think Construction is a construction company that works on multiple buildings around Manhattan and a great first step for her career. What started out as an internship became her full time job when they asked her to stay with the company as their office assistant.

“I work with the administrative side of the company mostly with payroll, bills, insurance, forms and other paperwork,” Freitas said. “I found the paid internship through Jasper link and the girl who previously had my position was also from here.”

After graduation, Freitas is going to Spain for two weeks to visit family as a graduation gift, then starting to work full time.

“Construction is just one of the many fields I wanted to go into but beyond construction I eventually want to go into project management or human relations. I frequently get the opportunity to work with the owner which is great for experience,” she said.

Think’s office in Manhattan is a small one, with five or six people working at a time. Now that Freitas is a larger part of this team, she will be given more hours and her wage will be switched from hourly to salary.

“The longer I am there, the more my

boss will add on for me to handle. It started with simple billing and processing insurance documents or human relation documents for new employees. Now I will continue running reports for the company but also check information to make sure they match with the subcontractors. It also varies from project to project in the city,” she said.

Along with her internship, Freitas kept busy throughout her four years at MC. She was a member of Alpha Upsilon Pi Sorority and moved her way up through the chain from member to charity head to pledge educator.

Along with being a part of the sorority, Freitas was also a founding member of Management Club, treasurer for a year for the Entrepreneurship Club, and a member of Marketing Club.

Being a part of this many extra circulars helped Freitas develop well-rounded skills that helped not only with herself but with her job.

“All of my clubs taught me how to manage my time and I met a bunch of different incredibly diverse people and groups and I enjoyed getting to know them. Since I held so many different positions while in my sorority, I feel as though I developed different leadership skills and interpersonal skills,” she said.

Getting involved in college can really help build a resume and give students a jump-start into a future career.

“I will miss my friends and the teachers and staff the most when I graduate. I will miss the relationships that I made with people I know I can trust very deeply,” Freitas said. “They are people I can count on and will always be there for me. They were a part of my life in college and will always be a part of my life from now on.”

Editor

Rosa Freitas/Courtesy

Staff Writer

Lynbrook, Long Island native Linda Shehata, is a senior finance major with a minor in marketing here at MC. She will be graduating in just a few weeks and is hopeful for her future after college.

“After college I’ll be moving back home with my parents and I’ll hopefully get a job in a finance firm and save up to live in an apartment in the city one day,” Shehata said.

With finance being in her blood, Shehata came into MC four years ago as a business student.

“My dad and mom are both in business. My mom is in accounting and my dad is in finance. So I figured they like it and I’m their child so might as well do it,” Shehata said.

At the end of her freshman year, she declared a concentration in finance. In addition to her parents influencing her decision to pursue a degree in finance, Professor Annabi here at MC also solidified Shehata’s decision.

“She’s a really good teacher. I have her this semester and I had her a year or two ago. She really cares about people learning the material and if you don’t get it, she is

willing to take the time to help you. So she definitely made an impact on me,” Shehata said.

Last summer, Shehata interned with Pfizer in their Global Health and Value Department. Specially, she spoke about how through this internship she was able to advance her skills.

“I learned so many more things so now I know everything [with Excel] and it is helping me a lot in a bunch of my classes this semester. So definitely Excel and learning to work with a team, so it helped me,” Shehata said.

Moving forward, Shehata had some advice for future finance majors.

“I think it’s one of those majors that you have to love it. You can’t be half way about it. If you really love numbers and you’re interested in investing then definitely go for it because it’s really interesting. There is so much you can do with it. You could go work at a bank or you could just work in a finance department of a makeup company,” Shehata said.

Linda Shehata/Courtesy

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Engineers Battle for Bragging Rights at Second Annual Battle of the Brains Daniel Ynfante

Linda Shehata Meredith Bryant

Features

The music blared through the sound system at Draddy Gymansium, only receiving competition for the title of most resounding noise from the chatter and chants of the more than 300 people that convened in the venue.

But this boisterous group wasn’t in Draddy for a Manhattan College basketball game. Not even for a sporting event either.

On April 26, students from the four disciplines of the School of Engineering vied for bragging rights in the second annual Battle of the Brains competition, which pitted the disciplines against each other in several engineering-related challenges.

“It’s fun because at the heart of engineering is problem-solving,” Andrew Foertsch, a senior civil engineer who competed at the event said, “and then at the heart of every teenager or every young adult is competition too. So it’s a way to mix competition with problem-solving, and competing like that in college, that’s what it’s all about.”

The second edition of the Battle of the Brains was organized by board members from clubs from the four engineering disciplines. Members from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers began to plan for the competition in October, with tasks like advertising and looking for challenges that would fit the competition.

But behind the Battle of the Brains was Vincent Terrone, a senior who came up with the idea to have the event in 2015.

Terrone wanted to be part of an event where all four disciplines got to compete against each other, and after speaking with his roommate, he presented the idea to the engineering clubs, which took care of creating the competition.

“What I want people to take away from this is make friends with the people that are in your major,” Terrone, president of ASCE in 2015 said. “Make friends with the people that you’re working with. Enjoy every second of it and work together, collaborate.

Don’t miss the chance to go through school and not make friends with everyone that’s in your major.”

It was an idea Terrone thought would help engineers socialize, since there weren’t many events that allowed that to happen at Manhattan.

“You don’t get very many opportunities to work with other departments,” Rick Schmidt, a senior and member of the board that organized the event said, “and you

might have friends in other departments and so forth, but there really aren’t events like this where we bring everybody together.”

“It also causes a camaraderie between the departments because you get freshmen meeting the upperclassmen that they may have never met before and now they’re getting to compete with them side by side in this event,” Nora Borsare, also a senior and member of the board in charge the event said.

The competition consisted of teams within each discipline having to complete a task related to their respective field. Among some of the challenges, the mechanical engineers were asked to build a pendulum device out of materials like a pizza box, thumb tacks, popsicle sticks, and string, while the chemical engineers had to fill up a balloon by combining the right amount of vinegar and baking soda, which would create an acid-base reaction producing carbon dioxide.

The challenges were a surprise to the contestants, who had 20 minutes to complete them.

“You don’t,” Foertsch said about preparing for the event. “You show up, you change your t-shirt and get ready to compete.”

The civil engineers took home the bragging rights in the second edition of the Battle of the Brains, but for Dana Coniglio, a sophomore civil engineer competing in her second event, the win was just an added bonus to an eventful day.

“Honestly, I didn’t even know that we won,” Coniglio said. “I was like ‘wait a second, what?’ I thought we were just goofing around with the trophy, but honestly, it didn’t even matter because we didn’t win last year and I had just as great of a time.

Honestly, it would be great to be in the civil office, but it’s just fun to have fun with our friends and be able to get away from work and do something fun. Whether we did win, but if we didn’t it would’ve had just as great of a time.”

The second event was a success for Terrone and the board, who implemented changes such as the addition of a lightning round and the incorporation of students from the school of science as judges.

For Terrone, the groundwork is in place to make the Battle of the Brains an annual event for many years to come.

“I think the seeds for this competition are always there because there’s that interrivalry between the four majors always,” Terrone said. “You’re always going to have people that’ll want to do it. It’s just a matter of the four clubs working together and collaborating and organizing. I can only expect this to continue to grow, because it’s getting bigger and bigger every year.”

Daniel Ynfante/The Quadrangle

8

Arts & Entertainment

May 3, 2016

From Celebrity Gossip to Children’s Books: A Look Back At Internships

Lauren Carr/The Quadrangle

Lauren Carr Senior Writer

When I first entered college, many, many moons ago, I was a young 18-yearold girl with big dreams of working in entertainment. I did not care what form of entertainment it was, whether it was writing about the Oscars or being in the control room of a syndicated ABC talk show.

Whatever it was, I knew I wanted to be there.

However, things change and in college they change quickly. I began to change my mind, maybe I wanted to try something else. I struggled my first two years of college figuring out what to do or where to go.

In July of 2014 I got a call from one of my very good friends back home when she was in Greece. Yes, Greece. She told me she met a woman in a bar who lives in New York and is the fashion director for a website called HollywoodLife.com. My friend talked me up and gave her a quick rundown of the projects I was working on and she liked what she heard. She gave my friend her card and told her to have me give her a call. The connection that was made worlds away was almost too good to be true.

By the fall of my junior year I was officially the fashion intern at HollywoodLife.

com. For those who are not familiar with the website, it is a tabloid that is aimed to the late teenage and early twenties market. I was writing numerous articles a day about the cat ears Ariana Grande was wearing at her latest concert and how our readers could attain Hilary Duff’s laid back look at a bagel shop that morning with the clothes they already have in their closet. I had no business giving fashion advice, I wear a black shirt and jeans almost everyday of my life. Also, I am a firm believer that no one over the age of 5 should be prancing around in cat ears on stage. I was quickly finding that the world of entertainment writing, especially fashion, was not a world I enjoyed and it was extremely disappointing.

While at HollywoodLife.com I was able to have an opportunity to interview Bethanny Frankel at a Nike event in Soho.

She was very nice and I stumbled a few times but it was still a great experience.

Another project while working there was watching “Project Runway” every week and writing a recap of the episode. This brought me so much joy to write about television and people were actually reading it every week. One week my recap was the number one trending article of the day on the website and when the winner of that season was announced I got to cover that story.

After my time at HollywoodLife.com ended I had a very jaded view of the en-

tertainment industry. I took some time to figure out my next move and decided that I wanted to go back to television. I applied for numerous summer internships and sadly received nothing. Not one phone call, not one email.

When I returned to school in the fall I met with my advisor and told her how I have no direction and have no idea what to do. It was my senior year and I was still searching for that ‘ah ha!’ moment. That was when she asked me, “Have you ever thought of children’s books?”

When I told my parents I was thinking about working in children’s books they just laughed. I was never one for reading and I have a very average view of children. However, at this point I knew I needed to take a step back and completely switch gears. A clean slate if you will.

I took the contact that I was given and sold myself over emails. I sent email, after email after email to the same person and was not getting anything back. I was assured that I would get an answer but I never like the feeling of bothering someone. People are busy, they do not need me flooding their inbox. I was beginning to lose hope, but my persistence paid off. By the end of the semester I received an email. I had an interview at Scholastic books.

I started my internship in the publicity department at Scholastic books in January and since then, I have been working alongside the people who created the book tours

and press for books such as “The Hunger Games,” “Goosebumps,” “The Marvels,” and of course a little book series called “Harry Potter.” I was given the opportunity to write press releases for books, sit in on creative meetings, go to author lunches, send out numerous books to reviewers and so much more. I enjoy going to my internship three days a week and look forward to what I will be doing. I have met so many great people and have learned so much from them. While the verdict is still out on what I will be doing once I graduate it is safe to say that the world of children’s books is one that I will be looking to stay in.

My advice to anyone who is struggling with what direction they should go in I will tell you not to stress. Everything always has a funny and weird way of working out.

Always create connections wherever you go, the industry is all about who you know.

It took me a very long time to realize that.

Always feel challenged in your internship and if you don’t then you are in the wrong place. You should never feel like you are standing still, you should always feel like you are growing in your job whatever it may be.

Finally, to the future generation of Jasper interns, you will end up where you are supposed to be. It just takes a little bit of time.

of scholarship,” Connor said of her involvement in Music Ministry.

Erica Rebussini, music coordinator, was introduced to music at a young age by her parents. Now, she follows in their footsteps as she chooses the music that will be played during mass each week.

“I started my love of music when I was really young,” Rebussini said. “My mom plays the piano and my dad plays the saxophone. My mom started me in piano lessons back in Kindergarten.”

Rebussini continued with her love of music as she began singing in church in 8th grade, by far the youngest member of the group. When she went to her first mass after arriving at Manhattan College, she knew immediately she wanted to be a part of the Music Ministry group as well.

While most students pile into the chapel at 7:30 p.m. every Sunday night, the Music Ministry group has already been hard at work for hours planning and practicing how they will keep students enter-

tained during the upcoming mass. Rehearsal begins with vocalists at 6:00 p.m. and instrumentalists at 6:30 p.m., then at 7:00 p.m. the entire group joins together to finalize the night’s music.

“It’s actually really important to line up the music with the readings, and I think the campus ministry appreciates it when we do,” Rebussini said of her work as the music coordinator. While growing up attending Catholic masses has helped her with the task, she also refers to liturgy books to make sure the night’s music supports the theme of the readings.

Andy Bauer, director of the Music Ministry, came into music the same way many of his students did so. He cannot remember a time when music was not part of his life or a time in which he was not singing in church.

“I always did music my whole life,” Bauer said. “In high school I studied music really seriously, it didn’t seem like there was any other choice than to continue.” Seeing

no other way to go but toward his love for music, Bauer studied music and English at Bard College. After his undergraduate degree, Bauer went on to receive a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music.

“I always performed in church, when I was younger I didn’t know what to do during Mass if I wasn’t performing,” Bauer said. Bauer now oversees the two violins, two trumpets, one trombone, one flute, two pianists, one guitarist and several vocalists that make up this semester’s usual Manhattan College Music Ministry lineup.

“Each semester, the instrumental lineup changes. This means that commercial arrangements have to be modified, or the club has to create our own arrangements in order to accommodate the instruments we have,” Bauer said.

He and his students, with their lifelong love of music behind them, enjoy living up to this challenge.

MC’s Music Ministry: An Inside Look Emily Center Contributor

It is nearly impossible to imagine Sunday mass at Manhattan College without the steady sounds and voices of the Music Ministry ringing through the chapel. While students may find it hard to picture church without music, members of the Music Ministry find it even harder, struggling to imagine a time in their lives without it.

Siobhan Connor, treasurer and usual soloist of the Music Ministry, has been performing in church as long as she can remember. Like several other students, she came to Manhattan College on a music scholarship, which requires her to maintain membership in at least two ensembles. A true love of music, however, is really what keeps her and others coming back to the music ministry group each week.

“I have always sang at church my whole life, I was going to do it regardless

Arts & Entertainment

9

Swinging into Spring NYC Style Luke Hartman Senior Writer

So now that Springfest has ended and we are all on the fast track to the end of the year, there are a limited number of weekends left to really take advantage of all the fun NYC has to offer specifically geared to Harold in the start of Summer. Instead of spending your Saturdays and Sundays hangover from Fenwicks, grab a bottle of water and head to one of these five picks for spring things to do in NYC.

1. Smorgåsburg

The food festival in Williamsburg we all know and love. It has somewhat become a staple of spring and summer in NYC, because who doesn’t like basking in the sun and having a foodgasm all at the same time.

The event has grown to take on multiple locations throughout Brooklyn on Saturdays and Sundays, each offering something a little different. Smorgasburg essentially has two arms, the food festival as well as the Brooklyn Flea market. So depending on what you are looking for be careful not to get confused. The food is in Williamsburg or Prospect Park and the flea is in Dumbo or Ft. Green. Focusing more on the food because, I mean really, that is what we are all interested in, there are definitely some vendors not to miss. Grab a hibiscus donut at Dough, or some Hawaiian specialties at

East Coast Poke, or some truly amazing French fries covered in cheese at Home Frite. Maybe after all that grab yourself a run in the park, or a food nap, whatever you prefer.

2. Le Bain Sundays (21+)

Ahhh… Sunday, the day to rest, relax and rejuvenate for the week ahead. What is a better way to do that then with a pitcher of mojitos, looking over the city at a bougie lounge with a DJ. Le Bain at the Standard hotel in the Meatpacking district is known for their Sunday brunch parties. Going on for the better part of the afternoon this hotspot is a guaranteed nonsensical good time. The music is always great and the crowd is always diverse and happy. Who wouldn’t be if you were on a hotel rooftop, watching the sunset over the skyline. Yea, it is arguably the best part. So if you are looking for something non traditional to do next Sunday, or just are in dire need of that flawless pic for Instagram, head to Le Bain and you wont be disappointed.

3. Juice Bar Crawl

If the night before, you crawled around a different kind of bar, then this new trendy crawl may be for you. Starting of your crawl is a light workout to get you in the right mentality to consume a crazy amount of greens, veggies, fruits and spices. The concept is to socialize with new people, while sampling some of the fun and unique

juices NYC has to offer. It is definitely different and definitely more hipster than any of us would like to admit, but honestly who wouldn’t want to walk around just drinking smoothies and juices. Plus afterward, your body feels good, refreshed and ready to take on the day (or night). Attenders have said that not only do they enjoy the experience but it is a good way to meet like minded and fun individuals, since you are all crawling together. Tickets are available on http://www.juicecrawl.com/.

4. Cascabels Summer Tacos and Sangria (21+)

If you have ever been to the 110th stop on the 1 train (why would anyone have ever gotten off there), then you may have passed by a little place with blue walls, oddly coloured chairs, and weird Dia de los Muertos décor. Well if you happen to be walking by on a Monday night, you should walk right through those doors and take a seat because you are in for a real treat. Cascabels is a little tex mex restaurant that specializes in hand made, truly amazing tacos.

With two locatons (110th and Broadway as well as 80th and 2nd ave), they are able to dish out corn wrapped goodness to the majority of upper Manhattan. However, during the warmer months they bring out the real deal Monday night special. For $25, not only do you get unlimited Sangria (or XX Cerveza) but you get unlimited tacos.

The sangria part is great, because serious-

ly….green apples, but the taco part is really what seals the deal. Keep tabs on your waiter so you can usher him back asap because you only have two hours. Make sure to try out the Al Pastor, Baja Fish, Vegetal, or Amish Chicken. You will not regret it.

5. Brooklyn Botanical Garden

After you have eaten all the food, drank all the juice and danced the afternoon away, maybe it is time for something more tranquil. A walk through the gardens perhaps? We have all heard of the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx, but the gardens in Brooklyn are truly majestic. While this is a little bit more of a trek for us Riverdale people (take the 2/3 to Grand Army Plaza), it is definitely worth it. With amazing exhibitions and garden themed events, there are plenty of opportunities to be visually and nasally amazed. One of the most interesting gardens here is the Fragrance Garden. As the first public garden specifically designed for the sight impaired, there are a plethora of plants with unique textures, and more importantly smells. With sweet flowers and savoury herbs, this garden will provide a sensory experience like no other.

Student discounts and special free days and hours are available, so check out the garden’s website for more details. http://www. bbg.org/

Review: The Brooklyn Flea Market and Smorgåsburg Amy Cardoza & Jenna Bloomer Staff Writers

The Brooklyn Flea Market and Smorgasburg open this month, just in time for the nice weather. Both of these events are just a train ride away and contain some of the best sights in Brooklyn.

The two began collaborating in 2008, and have become increasingly popular since then. Although they split to become two separate entities they both provide a truly unique experience for anybody looking to spend the day in some of the most beautiful spots in Brooklyn.

This season, every Saturday the flea market takes root in Fort Greene and each Sunday it settles in Manhattan Bridge’s Archway Plaza. Rain or shine, various vendors from around the city take their place to sell their collections of eclectic and vintage goods from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Vendors sell goods of all kinds including records, crafts, vintage clothing, and antique rugs and furniture. Prices can range depending on what you’re searching for.

If you want a custom leather jacket from The Who’s original tour you’re going to have to shell out a couple hundred dollars.

Still, a couple tents over you can find floral rompers, reimagined vintage jean jackets, and custom mom jeans for a more student friendly budget.

Getting to the Sunday flea in DUMBO was an easy commute from Manhattan College to the Archway Plaza. After riding the one train to 96th street, you cross the platform and hop aboard the faster 2 train. The stop is the first Brooklyn stop on the 2 train, Clark Street, and then a walk to the extremely scenic DUMBO location. The walk is a little tiresome but it includes breathtaking

Amy Cardoza/The Quadrangle views of One World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge. Just around the corner from the market is the famous Jane’s Carousel in Brooklyn Bridge Park and stunning views of the Hudson River.

“The Flea Market itself was very cool to walk through. All the people were so nice too and I bought some cute vintage pieces,” Brianna DelSanto, a sophomore, said. “The only drawbacks I would have is that some of the items are a little pricey and it was far away and a hike to find. But window shopping there was still a ton of fun.”

“As a student at Manhattan College I

think everyone should experience this at least once because it gets us off campus to explore the city more, introduces us to new places and people and is just a fun way to spend a Saturday or Sunday without being too wildly expensive.” DelSanto said. “I got some much needed sun after a stressful couple of weeks in the O’Malley Library too.”

When you finish shopping, head over to Smorgasburg for some of the best food vendors in New York. It is the closest you will ever get to experiencing all of New York’s unique food in a day. Although it can be overwhelming at first, with crowds

of people with barking dogs and crying babies, it is part of New York’s magic. They have everything from lobster rolls, to ramen burgers, to burrito fries (my personal favorite). Basically, it is a foodie’s heaven.

Both locations, Williamsburg and Prospect Park, are open until October, making it a perfect summer adventure. They are both in incredible neighborhoods of Brooklyn and are relatively inexpensive.

On Saturdays it is in Williamsburg, at East River State Park, on the Waterfront. Here, you can find the perfect New York skyline.

From Manhattan College, transfer to the 2 to 14th street, and then transfer to the L to Bedford Ave. On Sundays, Smorgasburg is located in Prospect Park at Breeze Hill.

From Manhattan College, transfer to the 2 and get off at Grand Army Plaza and walk.

“Williamsburg Smorgasburg was absolutely incredible. Our options were endless,” Nicole Fella said. “Whether you were interested in Indian or Mexican, lobster rolls or ramen burgers, you were never without something to eat.”

“Despite the long lines and crowds, the vendors are friendly and the options are endless. My favorite part about Smorgasburg was enjoying my food on the beach with a view of the NYC skyline,” Fella said.

Smorgasburg makes a great Brooklyn adventure, and it is perfect for Manhattan students in the Bronx to explore other boroughs. “I don’t make it out to Brooklyn too often. It’s so much different from Manhattan, and Williamsburg in general seems to have something different every time I go,” Abby Addams said.

If you are tired of the touristy spots of Manhattan, check out Smorgasburg or Brooklyn Flea to experience what New York really has to offer. Make the most of this amazing weather and remember why going to a school in this city is so unique.

Sports

10

May 3, 2016

Jaspers Talk: Molly Fitzpatrick RikkiLynn Shields Asst. Editor

Molly Fitzpatrick, attacker on the lacrosse team has completed her first season at Manhattan College. The freshman played in all but one game this year, and placed fourth on the team in points with 28.

Before Manhattan, she was a four-year varsity starter as an attacker at Lakeland High School in Yorktown Heights, New York. She was named Varsity player of the year, All American, All State, All Section, and Journal News First Team.

The Quadrangle: How did you get into lacrosse?

Molly Fitzpatrick: I was first introduced to the game of lacrosse by my older brother, John. Once my older sister decided to quit softball and play lacrosse, I think that is when I realized this is the sport for me. Lacrosse has always been a big part of our family. Growing up, we would always go into our backyard and play lacrosse with our whole family.

TQ: Have you always known you wanted to play D1?

MF: I watched both my brother and sister get recruited to play lacrosse in college and had no doubt in my mind I wanted to do the same thing. It wasn’t until the summer going into senior year of high school that I committed to play at Manhattan.

TQ: What was the transition from high school sports to Division 1 like?

MF: I knew what I was getting myself into when I chose to play Division I Lacrosse for Manhattan. When it came time for the recruiting process to start, my brother and sister were currently play-

ing lacrosse in college, and I watched them, and knew instantly I wanted to do the same. I think the biggest difference I noticed as I transitioned from high school to college was how fast-paced the game is at the collegiate level. However, the girls on the team made it very easy to have a smooth transition which helped a lot.

TQ: How did you feel days leading up to the first game, and how did you feel stepping on the field for the first time as a collegiate athlete?

MF: It didn’t hit me until I was looking out the window of the bus on game day, realizing what was about to happen. I am usually good at controlling my nerves, but that day was different. For me, stepping onto the field as a Division I athlete for the first time was whirlwind of emotions. You start to think of everything you’ve done to be given the chance to play. I think by the time the first whistle blew, my nerves finally calmed down and I was just excited to start my career as a Jasper.

TQ: Was it disappointing that you and your teammates didn’t qualify for the MAAC? MF: Although we didn’t make MAAC’s this season, we still have a lot to be proud of. I don’t think our team not making MAAC shows all of the strides we made this season. We’ve accomplished things this season that this team hasn’t been able to do in the past. Everything we’ve worked for this season will help us accomplish that much more next season.

TQ: What are some goals you have for next season?

MF: I want to work hard this summer to improve as a player, so when we come back to campus in the fall, I am completely ready to go. Another goal would be to keep

Molly Fitzpatrick finished her freshman campaign with the fourth highest point total on the team.

Go Jaspers/ Courtesy improving as a team, and to work hard and TQ: How was your first season overlike always, work to making MAAC. all?

TQ: What is your favorite memory from this season?

MF: My favorite memory from this season is definitely when we beat the University of New Hampshire, and it was recorded as the number one upset in Division I girls Lacrosse for that week.

MF: As my freshman season comes to a close, I look back to the first day of fall ball practice, and look how much I’ve grown not only as a player but as a teammate. I have to thank my coaches and teammates for making this freshman season one I will always remember.

Sports

11

Dan Mecca: More Than a Coach

Dan Mecca (right) has had an illustrious career as head coach of Manhattan College’s men’s track and field team.

Go Jaspers/ Courtesy

Charles Lippolis Staff Writer

There’s a saying that goes: “Doing what you love means you should never work a day in your life.”

But for Manhattan College’s men’s track and field coach Dan Mecca, the work day never ends.

Any student who has walked through Draddy Gymnasium has likely seen him.

His 5-foot-8 frame, accompanied by track sweats and an iconic mustache are commonly found on the far end of the gym, critiquing the form of the throws team which was ranked eighth in the nation for the weight in the winter.

What a student could never notice in a casual walk through the gym is the fire and passion that Mecca has for what he does.

The age old sport of track and field has yet to lose an ounce of awe and wonder in his eyes.

“This is where I belong,” Mecca said, as he embraced his office space before him in Draddy.

This passion is rooted in a coaching career that has taken Mecca to all ends of the world, working with different athletes in different countries, at events from colloquial high school meets to the Olympics.

As Manhattan track and field alum Paul Quirke 86’ recalls, Mecca has always been a man who has put in outright love for the sport among anything else.

“If it wasn’t for Dan Mecca, I wouldn’t have qualified for the Olympics,” Quirke,

who qualified for the Olympics in 1988, said.

A native of Ireland, Quirke found himself flying from his home in California back to the east coast to train with Mecca for the 1988 Olympics.

These hours were off the clock for Mecca, but holding true to the man he has proven to be, Mecca still made time for Quirke, who obviously shared his passion.

This meant sessions that would bleed late into the night at a public park in a rundown part of New Jersey. Quirke labored, and Mecca was there by his side, improving his form on each throw by the light of his car alone.

“This the kind of guy who didn’t have to, he didn’t get paid to, he just did it because he loves the sport,” Quirke said.

These are the kinds of encounters that have helped to keep Mecca a Jasper for 30 years. It has helped him build connections across the country and across the world, giving him the opportunity to work with and compete against a diverse group of athletes.

Inadvertently, Mecca started to promote Manhattan College across the world.

His professional demeanor, engaging personality, and gripping sense of reassurance in everything he says has attracted the attention of world caliber throwers to the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

One notable foreign athlete currently on campus is junior Love Litzell. Litzell, a native of Sweden has seen nothing but success in his time at Manhattan, being crowned champion at the nationally recognized IC4A Meet Hammer Throw event in

both the 2014 and 2015 spring seasons.

Reflecting on his own success, Litzell could not fill in the blanks of his growth here at Manhattan without mentioning coach Mecca.

“He kept in contact very well,” Litzell said, as he acknowledged the impact Mecca had on his decision to come to Manhattan, “and the steps I’ve taken since I have gotten here have made me more knowledgeable and experienced.”

Mecca’s strong relationships with players have done more than build a reputation overseas for Manhattan, they have also helped Manhattan instill itself as one of the top schools in recruiting athletes from the greater New York City area.

Bobby Gebhard was a senior at Northern Highlands Regional high school in the spring of 2012, and after his career as an all-state jumper, he was ready to hang up the spikes in the fall. Not having been recruited by any other track coaches, Gebhard’s path was destined for Fordham in the fall, until he met Coach Mecca towards the end of the spring season.

“He treated me with respect when no other coach even recruited me,” Gebhard said.

Soon after arriving on campus, Gebhard realized that he and Mecca shared a chemistry while training. With raw, unpolished form, Mecca commanded the respect of Gebhard so he could improve, and Gebhard knew when it was time to work, but the loose environment they were able to communicate in made all the difference for Gebhard.

“I don’t think I would be nearly as good

of a jumper if it wasn’t for him,” Gebhard said.

Perhaps the hardest part about identifying Mecca is specifying what has made him one of the longest tenured coaches at any institution ever.

It could be because of the 33 MAAC Men’s Track and Field Coach of the Year selections he has earned in the past 10 years, or the four NCAA National Champion athletes he has coached over the course of his career.

It could also be attested to the relationship he has developed with the athletes he goes to work with. For example, people like Quirke, who alluded to a phone call he had with Mecca recently, where Mecca had gone out of his way to see how both he and his son Colin (who Mecca also coach at Manhattan) are doing.

Litzell, as well as many other foreign athletes have also experienced this warmth, as Mecca opens his home to any of them who cannot make it home for the holiday season in the winter.

“I like to say I have three kids at home, and 80 here” Mecca said.

Mecca has taken it upon himself to be a part of these athlete’s lives. He takes pride in wearing green every day, and holds the overall development of his athletes as people first and foremost.

“This is the second best thing in my life next to family,” said Mecca, “someone is basically paying me to do what I love.”

Payed or not, Dan Mecca’s life and persona would not be different, simply because he is driven by his own desire to be better every day more than anything else.

Sports

12

May 3, 2016

Women’s Basketball Names Heather Vulin Head Coach

Heather Vulin, the new women’s basketball head coach, addressed the public at a press conference held in Draddy Gymnasium on Friday, April 29.

Kevin Furhmann/ The Quadrangle

Jaclyn Marr Senior Writer

Press, faculty, student athletes and alumni filled the basketball court in Draddy Gymnasium for a press conference on Friday. The Manhattan community welcomed Heather Vulin as the new women’s basketball head coach.

It was the second press conference for the athletic department in a month after introducing Marianne Reilly as the new athletic director on March 31. It took Reilly less than 30 days to get her first hire.

“It feels great to have gone through the process and all the candidates,” Reilly said.

“It’s a sense of relief that it’s behind it us.”

Vulin comes to Manhattan with 16 years of coaching experience, spending 12 of those years as a recruiting coordinator. She has 14 winning seasons and has coached in the NEC, the Big East and the ACC. Her most recent accomplishment was helping Virginia Tech earn a visit to the WNIT. “It’s a dream come true,” Vulin said of coming to Manhattan. “I wanted to be a head coach my whole life but to be at a Catholic institution is something that’s always been very important to me. I’ve spent 15 years of my career at Catholic institu-

tions so I’m really excited for it. It really offers everything that I am looking for and I feel like it is a place where I’ll thrive.”

The announcement that Vulin was named Manhattan’s head coach came just last week, but she has already hit the ground running to prep for the new season.

“She’s already reached out to players that she’s been recruiting at her other institutions,” Reilly said. “She has an official visit set for next week. She’s looking at some transfers. She’ll decide if she wants to keep the staff that is already here or if she wants to hire new assistants.”

Vulin said in the press conference that she is honored to be Reilly’s first hire and that she is excited to work with someone who is so passionate. She turned to Reilly and said, “So far I’m the best hire you’ve had and I plan to keep it that way.”

Several basketball players, both men and women, were in attendance to welcome Vulin to the program. The women players looked on, observing their new coach and eager to start working with her.

“We’re really excited,” Amani Tatum, a guard for the women’s basketball team said. “A lot of people say that change is good and I think that this is what the program needed; someone like her who is excited and committed. We’re looking for-

ward to it. We’re excited for what she is going to do.”

Reilly noted in the press conference that one of the several aspects that set Vulin apart from the other candidates was understanding the balance of academics and athletics at the Division I level. She said that Vulin is invested in Manhattan’s student athletes both now and in the future.

“I think she is going to hold people accountable,” Tatum said. “She’s going to have people working harder than they usually are, just bring a lot of energy and excitement to the program.”

Vulin’s previous experience includes six years at Sacred Heart, helping the team earn their first NCAA Tournament berth and overseeing recruitment that led to another NCAA appearance.

Then, she spent another six years as Villanova’s recruiting coordinator. She played a key part in the program advancing to two NCAA Tournaments and three WNIT appearances.

“I expect to win,” Vulin said. “I feel like I do things the right way. I’m committed to it, I work for it and I’m not afraid to go after it. I feel like my leadership will make an impact. I’m really excited for the opportunity.”

Now, she is vowing to bring that success to Manhattan. She plans to be a re-

source on the court and in the community.

She wants Jasper athletics to be on the map across the country.

‘I’m very fortunate,” Vulin said. “A lot of times when you take over a job it’s because maybe there isn’t much talent there.

But obviously we have our three returning scorers, we have Amani [Tatum] who’s defensive player of the year and Kayla [Grimme] had tremendous blocks this season. I would like to bring in some more players this year to give us some more depth.”

Tatum said that Vulin has already started working with the team. One thing that has stood out to her so far is that Vulin encouraged her new players to not dwell on the past and that they are all starting a new chapter together.

“I’m really big about once you know what you want, you can go after it,” Vulin said. “But if you are just focused on things in the past and you use that as a crutch then you can’t go forward, and the team can’t go forward.”

Vulin stressed the fact that this is a new chapter for the team and she plans to spend as much time with her players as she can in the last two weeks before summer break.

“I really feel that we have a great group and I can’t wait to get on the court with them,” she said.