Issue 1, Fall 2015 - The Quadrangle

THE Volume 92, Issue 1

Q

UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924

Sept. 1, 2015

www.mcquad.org

Trading Spaces: The MC Master Plan Student Services Move, New STEM Building a Future Possibility

Michelle DePinho Editor

Over the next few months the first phase of Manhattan College’s master plan will be implemented when several student services offices move into the now-vacant Dante’s Den, a former cafeteria located in Thomas Hall. The master plan, completed in June, also includes ambitious plans to revamp STEM facilities on south campus.

Dante’s Den, which used to be buzzing with students grabbing a snack or studying, fell quiet last fall when it was closed to accommodate the new dining options in the Kelly Commons. But the vacant space will see new life over the course of this year as several student services offices move in.

These offices include the Office of Academic Support, Graduate Admissions, Student Financial Aid, and the Centers for Career Development and Graduate School and Fellowship Advisement.

The vision for the space is a more visible hub of student services.

“The space that was available there [in Dante’s] was very large space and centrally located,” Andrew Ryan, vice president of facilities, said. “There are probably times when people did not utilize those services because of their locations.”

Currently, these student services offices are scattered amongst academic and administrative buildings across campus. In Miguel Hall alone, several student services offices are split between the basement and the fifth floor of the same building.

“It’s going to help what we do,” Rachel Cirelli, director of the Center for Career Development, said of the move to the new space. “I think our office is an underutilized resource.”

Cirelli also said the additional, renovated space her office will gain in the move will present a more professional image to potential employers who often pay visits to the Center of Career Development.

The master plan also kicked off a STEM study, a campus-wide analysis of what facilities upgrades are necessary for the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs offered at the college. Ryan said the study will look at which areas need to be upgraded, how personnel and departments will be reshuffled and where these STEM programs are headed in the future.

The results of the study will determine what new facilities are needed and how current facilities will best be repurposed or enhanced for the college’s STEM programs.

Tim Ward, dean of the School of Engineering, sat on the advisory committee for the campus master plan and calls the possible upgrades a “major project.”

Feasibility studies are also being conducted to determine what some of these upgrades will cost and what is financially possible. Right now, Ward said that possibilities include building a new 30,000

square foot STEM building to replace the current Leo Building parking lot, constructing student dormitories where the Physical Plant building is currently located and remodeling both Leo and RLC. “The college recognizes that improving the facilities down here will not only aid in engineering but aid in trying to build our science area and the rest of the STEM,” Ward said of the master plan. “[It would] also add more for the entire campus, for having a more connected campus and more uniform campus all the way across. It’s not just for engineering students, but it’s for all the students on campus.”

Ryan said that pending the approval and feasibility of the plan, the goal is to have a new STEM building built and operational on south campus by 2020.

“We do not have a campaign yet. We are trying to build some excitement over it,” Ward said. “I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Unveiling the Common Interest Communities Luke Hartman Editor

Starting this fall, the Arches program will no longer monopolize the residence community scene at Manhattan College.

New common interest communities centered on shared themes will allow students to share extracurricular and academic experiences while living together on the same floor.

“This will be a pilot year so it is a very exciting year to be a part of a common interest community,” Andrew Weingarten, director of Residence Life, said.

“Students in them now will be able to help develop and shape the communities and have the opportunity to really leave their own mark.”

During the housing selection process last spring, the Office of Residence Life unveiled its common interest community

plans. Over the summer, Residence Life staff along with resident assistants continued to organize, plan and finalize what these communities would look like for the fall.

“Our primary focus over the summer was recruitment,” Weingarten said. “Our intent all along was to have students do a lot of the planning and development for the common interest communities, and sure enough they got a lot of this done throughout the spring 2015 semester, especially for Nuestra Casa, Performing Arts, and Entrepreneurship.”

The locations of these communities in the various residence halls have also been finalized.

Weingarten said that the Performing Arts & Visual Culture community is located on the 10th floor of Lee Hall. The Entrepreneurship, Nuestra Casa and Envi-

Continued on page 3

Kevin Fuhrmann/The Quadrangle

Quadstock Cancelled Due to Construction Kyleigh Panetta Staff Writer

The Saturday of Labor Day Weekend has been known as Quadstock, a day packed with live musical performances on the campus quadrangle.

This annual musical event is cancelled for this year but will be replaced with another event later this semester or this year.

“No, students didn’t do anything wrong. It’s actually more of the fact that the entire quad is a construction site and has been all summer,” John Bennett, director of Student Activities, said.

Previous artists for Quadstock include Boys Like Girls, Teddy Geiger and Taking Back Sunday.

Bennett, however, said that contracts could not be signed with artists or bands because it was not guaranteed that the construction would be completed.

The quad and Walsh Plaza restoration project began May 18 and was planned in

three phases.

An email from Public Safety on May 15 stated, “It is anticipated that construction in all areas will be substantially complete in August in advance of the start of the fall semester.”

Bennett also said that he has looked into other venues like Gaelic Park and the lawn in the back of Jasper Hall but said they would not work out.

“We could have had it indoors, but that kind of defeats the purpose of an event that has the word ‘quad’ in its name itself and it’s supposed to be an outdoor day of music,” Bennett said.

The budget for Quadstock is $60,000 and is partially made up of the Student Activities fee that every student pays for with tuition.

In place of Quadstock this weekend, Student Activities is offering students discounted tickets for two off-campus events.

Students can purchase $10 tickets for Madame Tussauds Wax Museum for the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. U.S.

Open tickets are also being offered to students for $20 on that Sunday.

Ryan Flynn, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, said he remembers going to discounted events last year such as a Yankee game and a ski trip.

“If they used the money and offered more discounted events to the students, that would be cool,” Flynn said.

To solicit ideas from students on how to spend the Quadstock budget, Bennett said that the Social Life Commission will be asked to plan a new event with that money.

Nicholas Weyland, student body president, said there are no plans right now for the Quadstock budget.

“I will be working hard with Social Life and the rest of student government to plan and bring an event that will be just as fun and successful as Quadstock,” Weyland said.

An unofficial survey on MC’s social media accounts may also be conducted in order to gauge the opinions of students.

“A welcome back weekend for everyone, not just the freshman, would be cool but it’s kind of too late now,” Jaclyn Marchetta, a sophomore chemical engineering major, said.

“We have nothing in the fall like Spring Fling so something like a big Halloween dance would be fun,” Lisamarie Nilaj, a sophomore civil engineering major, said.

Other students like Jared Boyles, a senior double majoring in economics and management, said he was not impressed with last year’s SpringFest and would like the money to be spent there.

“They should use all the Quadstock money for a SpringFest artist with someone more high profile than The All-American Rejects,” Boyles said.

Bennett wants students to know that the $60,000 is not being lost and that it will be added to a “Springfest-type weekend” later in the year or next semester.

“I wouldn’t make any decision without consulting students first, but that’s where we kind of stand now,” Bennett said.

2

The

Opinions & editorials

Notes from

Quadrangle www.mcquad.org

Vol. 92 Issue 1 Sept. 1, 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 Jonathan Reyes Sports Editor Jaclyn Marr Asst. Sports Editor Daniel Ynfante Asst. Sports Editor Victoria Hernández Kristie Killen Social Media Editors Kevin Fuhrmann Photography Editor

Sept. 1, 2015

The Editor

Welcome back! The staff of The Quadrangle is excited to return to print as a new academic year begins. While we enjoyed our summer vacation, we were busy the last couple of weeks putting together this issue so that it would be on stands for the first week of the fall semester.

As you will see from many of the stories inside the following pages, clearly we were not the only ones in the college community keeping busy over the summer months.

Returning students will immediately notice physical changes around campus in renovations done on the quadrangle, inside Draddy Gymaniusm and on Walsh plaza.

In many ways these campus facelifts are representative of the increasing number of changes and upgrades happening throughout the college—both physical and otherwise.

It seems that every few weeks a new program or policy is being instituted at the college; be it common interest communities, community service opportunities, expanded dining options, innovative research programs or noteworthy student events.

The paint has seemingly just finished drying on the new Kelly Commons and the college is already looking to further expand, probing the possibilities of building a new STEM building, residence hall and renovating existing campus spaces.

Simply put, it’s an exciting time to be a part of the Manhattan College community. The college is clearly expanding and with residence halls essentially at capacity and enrollment growing, there is more work to be done.

It also makes our job as the source of news for the college community an equally exciting one. That being said, our role as journalists acting on behalf of the student body is also to question, dig deeper and examine the resulting effects of the college’s decisions and policies.

The Quadrangle will continue to not only itemize changes happening around the college, but by providing accurate, fair and honest reporting help spur further change when necessary.

I hope you enjoy reading this first issue and the rest to come this year. As always, we welcome your feedback, comments and criticisms. Reach us at thequad@manhattan.edu or online at mcquad.org.

Sean Sonnemann Editor-in-Chief

Vanessa Sanchez Asst. Photography Editor 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

Student Government Gears Up for Fall

3

Tori James Staff Writer

With a new school year comes new opportunity for the recently elected student government members. The semester may just be getting started, but plans for campus-wide improvement and activity are in full swing for the newly elected officials.

Although student governments’ plans for the year have not yet been finalized, student body president Nicholas Weyland says that students have a lot to look forward to.

“The student body can expect to see positive change and positive movement forward with our mission,” Weyland said.

“We want to accomplish our goals while maintaining professionalism.”

Weyland said some of the plans he intends to implement are aimed at getting the student body engaged with student government. He aims to create a student government Moodle page to keep the Manhattan College community updated on meetings, events and committees, allowing for and encouraging campus-wide participation.

Paige Hughes, vice president of residential affairs, said she shares a similar goal.

“At the beginning of each semester, a survey will be sent to resident students asking them to address their concerns: What needs improving? What issues have been ignored in previous years? What has or has not worked in the past,” Hughes said. “My agenda will be based on the suggestions, concerns or feedback I receive from the student body throughout the year.”

The recently elected student government members plans for a semester of changes on campus.

Manhattan College/Courtesy Hughes plans to work on residence life improvements such as installing a webbased system that allows students to monitor the status of washers and dryers in any campus laundry room, as well as working with Gourmet Dining to improve dining options in Locke’s Loft.

“The student body should expect to see a more active, accountable and responsive Student Government Association this year,” Hughes said. “As for residential affairs, more than 80 percent of our students reside on campus. Thus, it is essential that I

use my position to do all that I can to make their experience living on campus as enjoyable as possible.”

Student government also plans to collaborate with the sustainability committee to encourage greener options on campus and work with Public Safety to promote the Green Dot campaign, a bystander intervention initiative to eliminate violence.

Nick Scanga, vice president of social life, said that plans for Rangers, Knicks, Giants and Jets games are in the making, along with some Broadway shows.

“The student body can definitely expect to see some different, unique events this year,” he said.

Seniors can also expect a fun-filled senior week.

“I want the class of 2016 to be the year that no one forgets, the year that really makes a mark on Manhattan College,” JoAnn Mullooly, senior class representative, said. “I want to make it as fun and productive as we can. I’m in the process of brainstorming senior class gift ideas and ideas for a fantastic senior week.”

Unveiling the Common Interest Communities Luke Hartman Editor

Continued from page 1 ronmental Issues & Sustainability communities are on the 11th, 10th, and third floors of Horan, respectively.

“Each community has between 10 and 20 students officially signed up so there are certainly other students living on these floors,” Weingarten said. “We had a lot of interest from our incoming freshmen and I am pleased that we were able to include many of them.”

However, students from all four years and from all different backgrounds were included in order to create a well rounded environment, and so that new ideas can be fostered.

While programming is not finalized for any of the communities, Residence Life and resident assistants in charge of the re-

spective communities have outlined some of their goals for the year. Weingarten said that students involved will be offered extra programming, trips, faculty involvement and other extracurricular and co-curricular activities.

“I hope that the students in the communities enjoy themselves and the added opportunities to explore their interests on their residence hall floors,” Weingarten said.

Each community is also led by a faculty advisor in order to help facilitate and guide programming as well as offer administrative support.

Carolyn Predmore, Ph.D. and professor of management and marketing, has taken on the role of leading the Entrepreneurship community.

“When I heard that there could be a CIC for entrepreneurship on campus and there was a need for a faculty advisor, I volunteered,” Predmore said.

“I am excited about the community as it

gives space for some like minded people to be together and talk. Ideas come from talking together in diverse groups,” Predmore said. “We need everyone - all our majors to be in teams to help bring that diversity of experience, skills and knowledge to create the new. This CIC gives us that start.”

Predmore said that the CIC will be having speakers, exercises and opportunities for students to start learning how to be creative, yet mindful of the emotional state of others as to better understand consumer behavior.

Professors and students alike are excited about the potential for these communities in term of building a more cohesive and aware campus, especially in the residence halls.

“The living in community gives time for informal meetings with people of like interests,” Predmore said. “Together we can be more than our individual parts.”

Nuestra Casa, the community which focuses on students interested in Latino

ties and student government,” he said. “I ended up working myself up to CFO about 20 years ago.”

McManness has served as CFO at five colleges or universities, including Dartmouth College and the Maryland Institute of Art. He said he had always admired O’Donnell while at La Salle and was excited to come to Manhattan when he was asked to serve as interim.

“I was at La Salle for just under 12 years,” McManness said. “I was in the process of looking into options around leaving La Salle and when [O’Donnell] called me about the interim position I was flattered and privileged that he would ask me.”

“I’ve known him for six years,” said O’Donnell. “I asked if he would come for the interim position and he liked it, and we

liked him so we were fortunate to extend that into a permanent offer.”

McManness was invited to serve as interim CFO in the second week of April and was later offered the permanent position, effective July 1.

“One of my responsibilities as CFO is to build good relationships with faculty, students and alumni,” he said. “And in building those relationships it allows me with my team to provide best business practice toward students.”

McManness said he admires the way that MC embodies the Lasallian mission.

“The same sense and feeling that I received from Dr. O’Donnell is the same welcome I’ve gotten from everyone else,” he said. “It’s been like going from one home to another, so to speak.”

culture and the Spanish language, is located on the tenth floor of Horan and is led by resident assistants Michelle Beltran and Aleysha Taveras.

Students in the community are encouraged to speak as much as possible in Spanish in order to practice as well as to promote cultural awareness.

“We are excited to educate the campus on issues facing Latinos in and outside the US as well as celebrate Hispanic heritage through our programming,” Beltran said.

She said she plans to hold monthly ‘cenas,’ or dinners, on her floor to replicate strong family ties in Hispanic cultures.

“Even though our official community is small, we hope to unite the floor in a way that will increase appreciation for all cultures,” Beltran said.

Matthew McManness Appointed College’s New CFO Anthony Capote Assistant Editor

Manhattan College’s new chief financial officer and vice president for finance, Matthew McManness, said he already feels at home.

He has spent the last six years at La Salle University, where he first met Manhattan College President Brennan O’Donnell.

“I worked on the board of La Salle University where [McManness] was CFO,” O’Donnell said. “I knew him to be a very accomplished, very experienced CFO.” McManness brings with him 37 years of experience working in higher education.

“I started out working in student activi-

Manhattan College/Courtesy

news New App, Better Wi-Fi and Other 0 .

2 Upgrades with Help of ITS Interns MC 4

Sept. 1, 2015

Screenshots of the new Manhattan College app that was developed by ITS interns and MC students Michael Fulton and Joseph Reiss.

Michael Fulton & Joseph Reiss/Courtesy

Sean Sonnemann Editor-in-Chief

Students trying to find a worthwhile internship will work career fairs, research companies online and make the most of the connections of their friends and family in the hopes of landing a resume-boosting position for the few months between semesters.

For the eight participants in Manhattan College’s Information Technology Services Summer Internship program, finding an opportunity to get real-world work experience and valuable career training meant staying on campus over the summer—an opportunity that also benefited the college.

“We are at a college, surrounded by smart people,” Jake Holmquist, director of ITS and MC’s chief information officer said. “One of our greatest resources is our students.”

Partnered with mentors from the college’s ITS department, the interning students worked on technology projects that ranged from expanding campus Wi-Fi capabilities to designing a new app for the school.

Approximately 40 students applied to be a part of the 10 week long program, with eight of them getting a spot after passing a round of interviews. Last year only a few students worked for ITS as summer interns and in a much less formal capacity.

This year Holmquist and his department worked with the Center for Career Development to structure the internship program to parallel the college’s Summer Research Scholars program.

Like their counterparts who performed academic research between the spring and fall semesters, the ITS interns will also formally present the results of their summer work to the college community.

Much like the summer research scholars, the ITS interns chose projects based on their own respective academic and career interests.

“The department proposed areas of interest such as programming or system infrastructure and let the students build off those ideas with their own desires,” Holmquist said.

Interns Michael Fulton and Joseph Reiss took that advice to heart as they spent their summer designing and coding a new smartphone app for Manhattan College students to use on campus.

“They were really shooting for the stars,” Holmquist said.

Fulton, a senior computer science major, had already planned on spending the summer developing an app for his own personal portfolio before he joined the internship program.

The new Manhattan College app that he and Reiss developed allows students to use the mobile devices that rarely leave their hands (much to the chagrin of their parents and professors) to virtually function as college ID cards, in addition to other notable features.

Using the Passbook program (essentially a virtual wallet) that is built into iPhones, the app can be used to pay for dining services and provide meal swipes into Locke’s, as well as obtain entry to the fitness center and other campus buildings.

“You’ll be able to do anything you normally can with your physical card, but with your phone,” Fulton said.

In addition to replicating JasperCard features, the app also includes a general feed that combines college announcements, public safety alerts and upcoming events into one place for students’ convenience.

Other app features include an interactive campus map that both allows students to see what events and classes are happen-

ing in each room on campus and supplies information about the different offices located around the college. Physical beacons placed around campus can trigger alerts to smartphones when students pass by.

Finally, students can even use the app to read online articles from The Quadrangle pulled directly from mcquad.org.

A release of the app is planned for sometime this semester. Before students can begin downloading the app to their phones, however, approvals are still needed from both college administrators and the App Store—making an exact timeline for the release hard to pin down.

Designed to streamline the student experience, the app will be available only at first to iOS users and then later Androidpowered phones.

Full-time ITS employees, student workers, Fulton, Reiss and other future interns will work to continually add new features and expand the app’s capabilities even after it becomes available for download.

After graduation, Fulton hopes to parlay his experience in creating the Manhattan College app to related full-time technology work and even has considered starting his own software company.

“The internship certainly gave me a real-world view of the development process and working in the tech world,” Fulton said.

In addition to the Manhattan College app and Wi-Fi improvements, interns helped with the rollout of 25Live, the program that will now serve college’s room reservation and calendar system—something most members of the community have already noticed with the new look of the college’s online calendar.

“25Live really goes across campus and departments and tries to pull together all these disparate processes and bring them together,” Holmquist said.

The program allows faculty members, administrators and student club leaders to more easily book rooms on campus for events based on their specific needs, such as expected meeting size and room amenities.

In addition, Holmquist hopes one common system will discourage the creation of competing events during the same time periods and will allow more campus spaces to be utilized.

So far, the rollout of 25Live has seen successful. There are plans to also integrate food service and laptop requests with the program in the future.

“Usually there is pushback with any new system, but with this project it has been overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Holmquist said.

Other broader changes to the look and feel of the Manhattan College website are in the works as over the summer the college also initiated a complete redesign process for manhattan.edu and the myMC Portal.

Citing over “1 million visitors from all 50 states and 219 countries” to manhattan. edu in 2014 on the new blog documenting the project (mcredesign.wordpress.com), Director of Web Communications Annie Chambliss notes how important the college’s website is to the institution and its image.

Working with the digital marketing firm BarkleyREI, the college is expected to have the revamped website completed by early 2017.

It is just one of the many ongoing projects designed to keep Manhattan College up to date with the latest technology and resources.

Features

Searching for the “Good Life” in Maine Kyleigh Panetta Staff Writer

Surrounded by the majestic beauty of Georgetown Island, Maine, 12 students were the first group from MC immersed into the very same elements that inspired the writings of Henry David Thoreau.

Philip Francis, Ph.D. and assistant professor of religious studies at Manhattan College, grew up in the coastal woodlands of Maine and could not think of a better place for students to learn.

“One of the ideas of the course was to allow our reflection on the good life to be honed by living close to nature,” Francis said.

“The city can teach us a lot about life, but given that MC students tend to be urbanites, I thought it would be more instructive for students to spend 15 days in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world.”

Withdrawn from the hectic environment of New York City, these students embarked on a two-week journey in Maine to earn credit for a Religion 300 course with the hopes of discovering what it truly means to live the “good life.”

After almost a year of planning with MC’s study abroad office, the program for Maine was set for May 21 to June 5.

The fee was $2600 per student and includes room, board, books and all day-trip fees.

Francis also added that the course can be completed without a laptop, internet access or any screen time whatsoever.

According to Elen Mons, coordinator of the study abroad office at MC, the program was designed around Francis’ academic and research interests as well as his personal connections with Maine.

“A particular strength was the integration of hands-on activities with the course

readings and lectures to make the materials and ideas come to life,” Mons said.

Eleanna Georgiadis, a senior electrical engineering major, was drawn to this program because of the non-traditional classroom setting and its ties to Thoreau.

“The idea of reading a text while going out, often into the woods, and experiencing its content while discovering the meaning was an invaluable experience,” Georgiadis said.

Francis recalls that one of his favorite hands on experiences was when the whole group gathered around a campfire on a small island to discuss Ralph Waldo Emerson’s concept of self-reliance.

“In this sense, we were following in the footsteps of Henry David Thoreau and others back to the landers, who have gone to the woods to live simply, deliberately and

Gaensly Joseph/Courtesy reflectively,” Francis said.

Gaensly Joseph, a senior economics major, has enjoyed discussing philosophy with Francis and decided that he could not afford to miss another opportunity to do so.

“My expectations for this trip were to experience new heights in life and also to grasp a better understanding of myself.

Those expectations were met and surpassed ten times over,” Joseph said.

Joseph described the designated day of solitude as one of his favorite moments from the program.

After the group kayaked to designated areas, they were dispersed about one mile apart from each other for five hours.

During these five hours, Joseph said it rained heavily and the temperatures were low.

5

“Personally, I feel it made the experience all the more better. Being alone in the dark with just one’s thoughts can really force an introspective view and shine light on the darkest corners of the mind,” Joseph said.

“That day was truly an awakening to feeling more alive and self-reliant.”

Seeing the smooth cliffs, sand and ocean of Reid State Park was a moment that Georgiadis identified as most profound.

“This trip to Reid State Park resonated with the concept of simplicity and the ability to see things in their fundamental forms. It was incredible to see how the components of nature combine to form the environment.”

Francis said the students’ enthusiasm and toughness was displayed during moments like canoeing six miles to an island through serious wind and waves, getting up at 5 a.m. to go dig clams with the Shellfish Warden in a state park and jumping into Walden Pond on May 21 which he adds was, “very cold.”

Since the program finished, Mons has received overwhelmingly positive feedback and the Study Away Program to Maine will be offered again next spring, at the end of May, with enrollment limited to 12 students.

“Most students reported feeling they will carry the lessons learned from the readings, discussions and interactions within the beautiful Maine environments with them well into the future,” Mons said.

“They felt more mindful and observant of their surroundings and have a greater sense of self-awareness about their interactions with the environment and their peers.”

“The setting gave the opportunity to see how the infinite and infinitesimal components of nature interact to create the environment we normally perceive,” Georgiadis said.

Outside the Lecture Hall:

MC Courses that Transcend the Conventional Classroom Ally Hutzler Assistant Editor

Colleges and universities across the country are progressively foregoing traditional teaching methods in favor of more offbeat techniques. This out of the box approach will help provide different ways of looking at the established curriculums of higher education.

Where before students took Biology 101 or College Writing, today the most innovative courses range anywhere from Game of Thrones (UVA) to Wasting Time on the Internet (UPenn). These classes and the professors that instruct them are intended to breed a new creativity in usual but timeworn subjects.

Creating a class that students will undoubtedly look forward to attending is always a challenge, but below are a few of the courses at MC that aim to do so this fall.

Current Trends of the NYC Art Scene Being taught by Marisa Lerer, this class will visit 12 art exhibitions and projects throughout the city including Christie’s Auction House, El Museo del Barrio, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the International Print Art Fair. The course meets once a week in a four hour block to allow students to commute to various parts of the city without interfering with their other classes.

Rather than having to excruciatingly memorize the artists and locations of dated works of art, students will analyze “how the art world reflects on our contemporary mo-

ment,” Lerer said. Students will also have the opportunity to talk with a curator, artist and auction house specialist to experience the many different dialogues that occur in the modern art world.

Undergraduates who enroll in this course will have the opportunity to develop their own thoughts on the artwork as they see it and react to it. Lerer has no reservations about relinquishing control to her students minds, “I always encourage students to experience art first-hand and I am thrilled that my students have the opportunity to personally engage with artwork.”

This class is open to all students and fulfills upper-level art history and urban studies credits.

Yoga Everyone needs to get away from the stresses of daily life, and college students are certainly no exception. In today’s nonstop lifestyle it can be difficult to concentrate one thought at a time, but integrating the practice of yoga and meditation can help students to give total focus to one idea.

Professor Fran Clemente teaches this two-hour course, which contains a 45 minute lecture on yoga values, framework and skills that is immediately followed by a 75 minute practice period. Similar to education, yoga is a practice intended to fortify, open and balance the mind. Various studies have concluded that yoga can make you a better student, and according to the Journal of Physical Activity and Health just 20 minutes of yoga can help your brain function better.

Clemente, however, is not only trying to shape good students, but also good people. “I hope that students who take this class develop a set of skills they can access when life becomes overwhelming. I also hope that they are able to see goodness in people,” Clemente said.

This class is open to all undergraduates and for two credits among various departments.

Lasers, Light, and Optical Devices If you ever wondered why the sky is blue or the beauty behind rainbows, then this course is for you. Bruce Liby, an associate professor and chair of the physics department, explores important scientific understandings that explain what people observe in everyday life.

True to its title, this course uses technologies, such as lasers, LEDs and HDTVs, to discuss the human eye and color. The course meets once per week in a lab block and integrates both lecture and laboratory formats. Liby has instructed this course before, but does not instruct the same way every year, “by keeping it new for me, I keep it interesting for the students,” he said.

The biggest challenge for students is getting past their reservations about science. “Once students realize that they can understand some difficult topics and that they are not condemned to fail, they are able to see how interesting and relevant the material is,” Liby said. Students are often encouraged to discuss any topic in science, even outside of optics, which Liby calls “free science.” This period has led to excit-

ing conversations about UFOs, weapons of mass destruction and even ghosts.

This class fulfills the science requirement for students in liberal arts, business and education.

Hiking Unlike most college professors, John Carey does not create a firm schedule until meeting all of his students and discussing their schedules and interests. But the unusualness does not stop there, “this course is a bit unconventional… academic in the sense that there is a certain amount of local history involved; physical for those who might enjoy the exercise aspect and challenging for those who have never biked the length of Manhattan Island,” Carey said.

Many teachers and students do not have the opportunity to teach or learn outside a classroom setting, and Carey and his students make sure to take advantage of the occasion. Hiking in beautiful, outdoor environments with a majority of hands-on experience has proven to be relaxing and pleasurable for students, “they are learning with a smile,” Carey said.

The experience also allows for unique bonds to be formed that would not normally be found in a traditional classroom setting.

Carey recalls one moment where a student suffered an ankle injury during a hike and the class took turns piggy-backing the student the last three miles to the car, “it is something I’m sure they all remember.”

This class is made available to all students who enjoy the outdoors and fulfills a one credit elective requirement.

Features

6

Sept. 1, 2015

Reflectors of Light

features

7

Brother Raymond Meager reflects on A Lasallian Service Learning Trip He Took With Members Of The International Honor Society for Educators, Kappa Delta Pi.

Zoe Kritkos/Courtesy

Brother Raymond Meager Guest Writer

When exiting the metro station in Scampia, one can see a large poster with the welcoming statement “If you believe in Scampia you will find a sea of good here.”

This suburb of Naples, Italy is actually in a state of decay and is regarded as a major ghetto. This message is an attempt to challenge the negative associations about Scampia, but it seems out of place with its bright colors. Many say that another statement, scribbled crudely on a wall in red spray paint, “Abandon Hope all ye who enter here,” is a more appropriate statement because Scampia has become a synonym for degradation, violence, drugs and hopelessness.

We went to Scampia believing that we would find a “SEA OF GOOD.” We came to this experience with “open eyes, open minds and open hearts” no matter what we did, where we lived or who we met.

We found the “sea of good” in the hearts and minds of the young people of Scampia with whom we interacted with every day.

We also found this “sea of good” in the Lasallian Brothers, Sisters of Provi-

dence and their Lasallian Partners as we worked alongside them in the various programs. The hospitality of the entire Lasallian Family of Scampia was extraordinary!

They went out of their way to welcome us and make us feel that we were part of their family.

On May 19, 2015, 12 students and 3 faculty members traveled more than 4,000 miles to Scampia, Italy. This 16-day journey was the Fifth International Lasallian “Service Learning Experience” run by the Manhattan College Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society for Educators.

The purpose of this journey was to help the Lasallian Brothers, Sisters of Providence and their Lasallian Partners in the Rainbow House.

This incredible group is responding to the serious needs of the young people and their families, who are struggling with more and more difficult academic, economic, emotional, social and legal problems than ever before.

These young people are living in the poorest part of Italy, with a 75 percent unemployment rate, and the area is also considered the most dangerous part of the country.

Scampia is essentially under the con-

trol of one of Italy’s oldest crime organizations, the Camorra. The area is notorious for drug trafficking and other criminal activities. The drop-out and illiteracy rates are at very high levels. So many young people have been robbed of their hopes and dreams for the future.

The Rainbow House was founded in 2007 as a response to a former SuperiorGeneral’s request to the Brothers, “I hope that we will have the necessary discernment that will allow us to identify those young people on the margins of society that have more problems and fewer solutions and to discover and invent tailor-made programs for them that will help them live with hope and dignity” (Brother Alvaro).

The Lasallian Brothers, Sisters of Providence and their Lasallian Partners created and developed bold, innovative, and significant programs to meet the critical needs of young people. They are a hopeful and vital presence in Scampia, because there are very few services to help young people and their families.

We were proud to be invited to become part of this extraordinary mission! We joined together into this dynamic community to help them respond to these critical needs.

We met twice daily to pray, meditate,

Melissa Witkowich/Courtesy

Zoe Kritkos/Courtesy

Brother Raymond Meager/Courtesy

“If you believe in Scampia you will find a sea of good here.”

Melissa Witkowich/Courtesy

reflect and communicate with one another, using the scriptures of the day and quotes from John Baptist De La Salle.

Our theme was to be to be Reflectors of Light! We wanted to help shine light into the dark areas of the lives, minds and hearts of the young people we would interact with in the various programs. We defined this light as knowledge, truth, understanding and compassion.

Camp Roma was one of the most moving and memorable parts of our journey.

We learned a great deal about the many severe challenges that the Gypsy community faces.

They are denied the right to a dignified life. They live in caravans and shacks without running water, toilets, garbage disposal or proper heating. The streets leading to Camp Roma were literally lined with garbage. The Gypsy community survives by begging, selling drugs and stealing.

Brother Enrico, president of the Rainbow House, truly “touches hearts, challenges minds, and helps transform lives.”

The Rule of the Brothers states that, “the purpose of our Institute is to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor.”

Brother Enrico has been working di-

rectly with the poor by providing a “second chance” education for the economically deprived, victims of social injustice, street kids and those neglected by the rest of society.

These young people are also socially, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually poor. He certainly awakened our social consciousness to recognize the poor, their problems and to be sensitive to students who are most disadvantaged.

Brother Robert Schieler, recently elected Superior-General of the Lasallian Brothers, took time out of his very busy schedule to meet with us while visiting Rome. He encouraged us to continue to respond to the global challenges of today and tomorrow, in helping the poor, because much work remains to be done.

The Rainbow House is so much more than a house or a school. It is a special place and a sacred place - away from violence and where young people can be nurtured worry-free. It is a place where everybody cares and where they give you their time, attention and expertise.

It is where you learn about being respectful, responsible, being kind to others and honest. It is a Community of Hope where young people are nurtured, sup-

ported and encouraged to believe in their potential.

Pope Francis states that, “Indeed, those who enjoy life most are those who leave security on the shore and become excited by the mission of communicating life to others.”

The Reflectors of Light certainly left security on their shore and were excited to impact the lives of young people they worked with in Scampia. They rose to the challenging mission to do their best to reflect light into the lives, minds and hearts of the young people of Scampia.

The group gained the respect and appreciation of the adults they worked with and the love of the young people they helped.

They brought out the best in each other and each one gave only the best of themselves!

Each made their unique personal contribution to this life-changing journey!

They developed a stronger attitude of gratitude from this experience. They have become more grateful for the good people in their lives, more aware of the goodness “alive” in others, and more sensitive to the goodness and compassion within themselves.

Zoe Kritkos/Courtesy

8

FEATURES

Sept. 1, 2015

Summer Intern Series

Madeleine Schwartz Senior Writer

Every summer Manhattan College students spend their summer gaining real world experience through summer internships. Students interned everywhere from big name corporations to small start-up companies. This series will profile MC students who spent their summer interning at these companies.

Carly Cyr is a senior math major at Manhattan who interned at First Investors Company. Not only was it a great learning experience, but she was able to spend the entire summer living in NYC. Madeleine: What are you studying at MC? Carly: I am a mathematics major with a business minor.

Madeleine: Where are you from?

Carly: I am from the suburbs of Syracuse, N.Y. M: Where did you intern this summer?

C: I interned at First Investors Corporation from June to August.

M: What was your internship like?

C: A typical day at the office included assisting financial professionals, attending curriculum studies and participating in case study trainings. I learned about topics pertinent to the financial services industry and learned about the different products companies offer to clients. Unlike most internships, I was given the opportunity to work directly with the financial representatives and learned about finance through weekly meetings and trainings.

M: How did you find this internship?

C: I actually found the internship at our career fair. After two phone interviews and an in person office interview, I was offered the position in May.

Carly Cyr/Courtesy M: Did you like it?

C: I loved my internship. It helped me to realize that mathematics in the business world is exactly what I would like to pursue in my future. Unlike other financial companies, First Investors was unique because of their willingness to help clients. Every representative that I worked under cared about their clients. This could be seen through their weekly phone calls and birthday cards

that they would send to them. It made it nice to see that a Wall Street company actually cared about people instead of just money. The worst part? Saying goodbye.

I created relationships with people in the office that I will miss. Luckily Manhattan College is not far so I can visit regularly.

M: Suggestions for underclassmen thinking about interning?

C: Underclassmen: apply to internships as soon as possible. Not only do they look

amazing on your resume, but they really help you to find out more about yourself.

They also help you to see what you like and dislike about a field. As a math major, I thought I would never find an internship.

Looking back, I would say to apply to internships even if you are unsure. You never know what companies are looking for and creating connections is crucial for success in today’s world.

Interested in The TheQuadrangle?

Quadrangle?

Interested in Interested in The Quadrangle?

Go to our website: Go to our website: Go to our website:

Can’t Get Enough of The Quadrangle? www.mcquad.org www.mcquad.org www.mcquad.org

Follow Us On Twitter: @mcquad

Follow us us on onTwitter Twitter@mcquad @mcquad Follow Follow us on Twitter @mcquad Like us us on on Facebook: Facebook:The TheQuadrangle Quadrangle Like Like us on Facebook: The Quadrangle Followus uson onTumblr: Tumblr: Follow Follow us on Tumblr: ManhattanQuadrangle.tumblr.com ManhattanQuadrangle.tumblr.com ManhattanQuadrangle.tumblr.com Want to join in on the action? manhattanquadrangle.tumblr.com Want to join in on the action?

Want to join in on the action?

Tuesdays.

4:30 PM. Room 412 in theCommons.

Commons.

Tuesdays. 4:30 PM. Room 412 in the Tuesdays. 4:30 PM. Room 412 in the Commons.

Be there.

Be there.

Be 412 there.

Meetings on Tuesdays. 4 PM. Room In The Commons. Be There.

Like Us On Facebook: The Quadrangle Follow Us On Tumblr:

Want to get in on the action?

All Majors Welcome. NO Experience Necessary.

9 Arts & Entertainment A Senior The Book Nook Standpoint Title: “The Vacationers” Author: Emma Straub Genre: Fiction

Madeleine Schwartz

Lauren Carr Editor

A Senior Standpoint is a new bi-weekly column that will discuss everything that comes along with the college experience written by someone who has gone through it all--the good and the bad.

I don’t remember much about my first week of college. What I do remember was move-in day, crying when I said goodbye to my mom and quickly befriending the girls who lived on my floor in Jasper Hall.

I was so nervous and anxious about starting college, but honestly who isn’t.

It’s all an adjustment. However, somehow I blinked and now I have my own grown -up apartment and when I saw my mom before school started I didn’t cry. Also, I only have a matter of months until this place kicks me out into the real world. How does all of that come to happen?

In the beginning it all seems scary, especially if you are just walking in. You don’t know what your classes are going to be like, the work load, the amount of time you will put into classes, the social circles you will become a part of--the list goes on.

I am here to tell you that the workload is a lot, you will put a ton of time into your classes and as for the social circles they will constantly be changing.

Finding a solid group of people during the first few weeks of college is important, but these are not the people you have to spend all your time with for your next four years. Having a solid group to hang out with during the off-hours and have dinner with is important, but you do not have to stay with these people.

This is something that I didn’t really learn until late in my sophomore year. I wish I had figured that out sooner.

I have been told on numerous occasions that the kids who live in Jasper usually stick with the kids who live in that dorm.

And I am here to tell you that those people were pretty much right. We all stuck together and didn’t really venture out much into other circles. While I had a great time with the people I lived with when I was there, some are still my closest friends, it is so important to find people outside the core group you start with freshman year.

This goes for students living in every dorm or even those who may be commuting.

Actually go to those mixers they have in the dorms. I never went because I believed I was too cool to go. My freshman year they had a finger painting night in my dorm. I thought to myself, “I am basically an adult. I am not going to go and finger paint a stupid piece of paper that they can hang up in the hallways.” Guess what - I wasn’t cool and neither are you. Go finger paint with your roommate.

Also, always go to the food nights.

You will come to find that you live for any opportunity to get free things, especially food.

The first week is always a little rocky, but I promise you that over the next few weeks this place will become your home.

Keep in mind that college is what you make of it. Don’t wait to join a club, go to an on campus event and talk to people in your classes. Start today. It will make everything go a lot smoother. Trust me.

Senior Writer

The Book Nook is a bi-weekly column that reviews many different genres of literature in hopes of inspiring at least one student to read something other than their monotonous Twitter feed or boxed Mac and Cheese cooking instructions.

“The Vacationers” by Emma Straub was published last year and it is hard to get your hands on it even now. It was given glowing reviews in big name publications such as The New York Times and this love was shared all the way down the literary ladder to lowly online bloggers.

At first, I was surprised at how much love this book has received. This is not because it isn’t well written or isn’t relatable.

I say this because if I was to describe “The Vacationers,” I would call it a beach read.

The novel tells a story of a family who goes to Mallorca, Spain for a two week summer vacation. There are seven people on the trip and all of them are either in or have recently gotten out of a relationship.

The commonality between these relationships is that they are all colored with infidelity.

The main plot line centers around a husband and wife. The husband, Jim, has just be forced to retire from a major New York magazine because he had an affair with a 23-year-old. Franny, his wife, is furious and has concluded that the outcome of this trip will be the deciding factor in ending their 35-year-long marriage.

The two children of Jim and Franny are in Spain with similar problems. One is in a six year relationship with a woman who he doesn’t love but can’t seem to leave. This leads to him being unfaithful to her. The second has recently ended her relationship

because he has cheated on her with her best friend.

Now, if reading this short and in no way complete summary makes you think that this book has no substance, then you are wrong. The reason that this book has gotten so much buzz is because of how it looks at the over-arching theme of infidelity in a modern, summer-long timeframe.

Each relationship is faced with a similar stumbling block that causes them to rethink their values and what they want their life to ultimately be like. The dialog is written in a 21st century style filled with wit and short, to the point responses.

There are a few reasons why I’m recommending this book. The first is that I finished reading it in three days. While I consider myself a book-worm, I don’t say

Madeleine Schwartz/The Quadrangle this about everything I read. Some points are laugh-out-loud funny and the characters could have easily been my friends.

The second, and more important reason, why I would recommend this book is because this “beach-read” is a great way to end the summer. There is just enough “fluff” in between the life lessons and hard decisions to make you pay attention to what the pages are really saying.

Sometimes it is hard to let the summer go.

The afternoons by the pool are suddenly replaced by late nights at the library and your to-do lists never seem to have an end. “The Vacationers” made that transition easier for me because it wasn’t just my summer ending when I turned the last page.

Student Activities Fall Preview Lindsey Burns Assistant Editor

As Manhattan College rapidly fills up with Jaspers as the fall semester arrives, Student Activities has begun to announce its lineup of events for the upcoming year.

The popular Lecture Series will return for its fourth year, landing on Sept. 14 and running until Sept. 16. It is expected to attract a significant number of students.

“For the Lecture Series, that Monday night is going to be the biggest night, probably that we’ve ever had during the four years of the series,” says John Bennett, director of Student Activities. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some students saw it bigger than SpringFest.”

Unlike the Lecture Series of the past, there will be wide range of speakers that do not particularly fall under one category.

“There’s not one overriding theme this year though,” Bennett said. “One of the speakers will be about Title IX, as we’re continuing those discussions this year as well.”

The Student Activities events lineup will officially open with the return of Cinema in the Commons on Sept. 4. Students of all years will be able to watch the hit movie “Jurassic World” for the Friday night opener.

The following day, Sept. 5, welcomes a new Student Activities event, which will be a trip to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum on 42nd Street in Manhattan. Also new to the Student Activities roster is the “new hit play ‘Finding Neverland,’” says Bennett. Students will be able to see it on

Sept. 19. The play “Les Miserables” will be returning this year due to its popularity last year.

Another upcoming event that is expected to be a popular one is the U.S. Open of tennis on Sept. 6. The following week, Sept. 13, will be the Jets vs. Browns football game at Metlife Stadium. “We try to see them before they have a losing record,” Bennett said.

Also in the sports category is the Yankees vs. Blue Jays baseball game on Sept.

12, which will most likely be an intense game between two teams competing for first place in their division.

Students can expect Manhattan Madness to return this year with a surprise or two on Oct. 16.

“I’m sure we’ll be having another surprise artist for Manhattan Madness this year,” Bennett said.

Student Activities is also extremely excited about the upcoming intramural sports season.

“Not so much a surprise, because we’ve announced it already, but in case students don’t know, Nov. 16 we’ve rented out Metlife Stadium in New Jersey, home to the Giants and Jets, and are going to be holding our flag football championships there, for both divisions,” Bennett said. “I think that’s going to be a huge highlight of the year, I can’t think of many other schools, if any, that offer or even think of doing something like that.”

One change about this year’s Student Activities lineup is the absence of Quadstock because of the possibility of the quadrangle being under construction.

“From a planning perspective, it just wasn’t realistic to try to reach out to an artist when the venue might be under construction still. Students are not going to miss out on the budget set aside for Quadstock, it’s just a matter of do we do something later in the semester,” Bennett said.

The good news is that the Quadstock budget does not just go away. Student Activities is in the process of planning a replacement event that may be held during the spring.

“It takes months to negotiate and finalize these contracts with artists, get the staging, lights etc., so it’s not something that’s going to happen at the start of the year, but I wouldn’t worry,” Bennett said.

“It’s almost like the old saying you always hear, you can have one cookie now, or two later. Some people choose the one cookie now, while some choose to wait for their reward.”

“It may be even better being able to look forward to it, as opposed to it being sprung on you the first weekend of the school year, over a holiday weekend nonetheless,” Bennett said.

As for the upcoming spring concert in 2016, Student Activities could not disclose too much information, but there is an official date.

“Save the date: April 23,” Bennett said.

Student Activities has definitely worked hard during the summer break and has created a wide-ranging, exciting and enticing lineup of events for the upcoming fall and spring semesters.

sports

10

Sept. 1, 2015

Is 2015 The Year Of The Volleyball?

Daniel Ynfante Assistant Editor

For the Manhattan College volleyball team, the 2013 and 2014 seasons have resulted in consecutive disappointing eliminations in the semifinals of the MAAC tournament.

Heading into the 2015 season, Manhattan loses three seniors, including Malia McGuinness—last year’s MAAC Player of the Year—and two key members of the team in Anna Kitlar and Sarah Haselhorst.

To some, that would be reason enough to temper expectations for this season. But with a squad that features nine returning players and seven newcomers, Manhattan continues to be a team right in the middle of things.

For Jade Gray, a captain on the team, Manhattan has its sights set on being much more than a team that’s just in the middle of things.

“Last year, we just kind of fell short and it was very frustrating,” Gray said, “because I felt like we had the talent but I think this year we have even more. I have this feeling that this is the year, so I’m excited.”

The head coaches in the MAAC seem to believe in Gray’s championship aspirations, as the team finished tied for second in the preseason coaches’ poll.

Among the coaches to vote in the poll was Manhattan’s Mark Jones, who sees 2015 as the breakthrough year for the Jaspers.

“I think the leadership is right where we need it to be,” Jones said about his squad. “I’m very happy with the progress, especially of the new players who’ve come in. I think being such a mature team, in the sense of a lot of seniors, I think this is definitely our year. We have a lot more talent coming in to help us, a lot more depth, so I really think this is our year.”

It will be hard for Manhattan to crown itself a champion, however. The team will be without McGuinness, who aside from being the number one option on offense last season, was a top defender and leader on the team.

But Jones realizes that his squad has a different makeup this season. He has added more height to strengthen the middle blocker position and by adding seven play-

Malia McGuinness sets up her teammates in a win against Quinnipiac University last season.

Kevin Fuhrmann/The Quadrangle ers to the team has increased the depth in versity of Maryland, Baltimore County— was able to hold on to the starting setter the roster. will start, but both will contribute. spot. “I had to keep working hard because “I don’t know if you’re going to reThe libero position remains rock solid that’s what got me there.” place a player of the year really,” Jones for Manhattan with Allie Yamashiro set to Gray had McGuinness to set up on last said about replacing McGuinness, “but I lead the way. Last season, Yamashiro led year’s team, but this season will have more think we have a lot of players that are a the MAAC in digs with 656, a mark that options at her disposal. She believes the year wiser. But we have to get better on the set a school record. Expectations remain new additions will make the team more outside, be a little more consistent if we high for her this season, as she was voted well-rounded and can get Manhattan over want to replace somebody like the player onto the preseason all-MAAC team. the hump. of the year.”

Yamashiro will get some help on deFor Jones, Manhattan goes into the seaAt McGuiness’ position of outside hit- fense from defensive specialist Alyssa son with a clear goal. ter, Manhattan will have several options. Rehrer, who Jones believes might be the “Our goal is always to win the conferBack on the team this season are Claire most ready to contribute out of the five ence, go to the tournament, and go to the Van Dyk and Sydney Volovski, who placed freshmen on the team.

NCAA Tournament, so I don’t think those second and third on the team in kills last Rehrer can also play at setter, but that is have changed,” Jones said on his expectaseason with 2.85 and 2.84 respectively. a position that is locked up by Gray. tions for the season. “I think if you want to Van Dyk’s and Volovski’s spots in the It wasn’t like that this time last year. get there, you need senior leadership and lineup are assured, but Jones said he will Gray entered last season as the backup to that’s a huge key for us with five seniors. be looking for a third option to be a con- Teodora Peric, but an injury to Peric half- I think we’re definitely going to be able to sistent scoring a threat. Mary Donnelly way in the season forced Gray into action. accomplish that.” and Clare Bozzo return, and are candidates Peric healed from her injury a few games Editor’s Note: Interviews were confor the position. Along with Milena Janju- later but never got her job back, as Gray ducted on Aug. 26, before the start of the sevic, who transferred from Odessa Col- made the most of her opportunity and kept season on Aug. 28. The Jaspers opened lege, where she led her team with 2.29 kills the job for good. their season going 3-1 at the Towson Inper set last season.

“I just knew I really wanted it, and had vitational. Van Dyk and Janjusevic led the In the middle, either Marissa Behrens worked really hard for it, so I had to keep way in kills for the team averaging 2.93 or Ivana Kostic—a transfer from the Uni- that mentality,” Gray said about how she and 2.87 kills per set respectively.

Follow @mcquadsports Your New Home for Manhattan College Sports!

sports

11

Summer Vacation Brings Fall Seasons

Sam Washuk was second on the team in goals with three last season.

James O’Connor/The Quadrangle

Jaclyn Marr Assistant Editor

While most Manhattan College students were enjoying time off-campus on vacation, athletes were competing and practicing for the upcoming fall season.

Manhattan was represented in Europe as former members of the track and field teams competed internationally. Practices resumed earlier this month and regular season games are starting shortly thereafter.

Track & Field Men’s and women’s track and field earned all-academic honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Men’s team posted a 3.09 GPA and was one of 123 teams to accomplish this. Women’s averaged a 3.28 GPA and were one of 224 teams to record higher than a 3.0.

This summer has been an impressive one for Manhattan graduates competing in Europe. Among those are 2015 graduates Killian Barry and Lydia Wehrli.

Barry earned second place in the men’s hammer throw (59.32 m, 194’7) at the

Irish National Championships. Meanwhile, in Paris at the French Nationals, Wehrli placed ninth in the women’s hammer throw in July. She later competed at the National Championships and earned second place in the hammer throw with 55.85 m, 183’3.

and Europe. He played for St. John’s University, and was a member of the Big East Tournament champion team in 2009.

This season, the team has nine home games. It begins MAAC play against Siena on September 26.

Men’s Soccer In the MAAC preseason poll, Manhattan ranked ninth in the conference -- 39 points, just behind Marist who finished with 44.

Manhattan added 12 new players to their roster for the fall season -- eight freshmen and four transfers. The team also welcomes two new assistant coaches: Simon Royle and Kyle Hoffer.

Abraham Bartoah was named to the all-MAAC preseason team. He previously was selected to the all-MAAC second team at the of the 2014 season. Last season, he played in 16 games and made 15 starts for the back line. He notched one goal and one assist.

Royle has spent time coaching in France, Holland, Italy and Australia. He earned a degree in coaching and sports development. While Hoffer spent the last five years playing professionally in the U.S.

Women’s Soccer Manhattan opened its season on August 21 with a 1-0 victory over Vermont. Erica Modena’s first-half goal sealed the win for the Jaspers. Colleen Kavanagh assisted Modena on the goal and Kristen Skonieczny notched six saves, five of which were in the second half. She now has 15 career wins and nine shutouts.

This was Manhattan’s third straight season-opening win and are now 13-111 all-time in season-openers and 6-0 in home-openers under head coach Brendan Lawler. The team was polled to finish sixth in the conference.

It welcomed back 13 players from last season -- eight starters -- and added 12 new players to the roster -- 11 freshmen.

Manhattan has seven home games this season and starts MAAC play against Canisius on September 19. This season definitely has a lot of promise.

Volleyball Over the summer, the team was honored with the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award, earning it for the fourth straight year. The team was one of 752 recognized teams. A team needs a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher to be eligible and Manhattan’s team GPA for 2014 was 3.47.

Claire Van Dyk and Allie Yamashiro have been selected to the all-MAAC preseason team. Last season, Van Dyk finished second on the team in kills with 373 and third in digs. She was named to the 2014 MAAC All-Tournament Team.

As for Yamashiro, she set a program record with 656 digs, leading the MAAC, and was 12th in the NCAA. Manhattan ranked third nationally in digs with 2,351.

Yamashiro also earned the MAAC Libero of the Week honor three times.

This season, Manhattan will play in 32 matches with 11 of them at home. It’s coming off their second consecutive appearance in the MAAC Tournament semifinals, as well as their second straight 20-win season. They have nine returning players and welcome seven to the roster.

sports

12

Final Third on the MAAC Pitch: Monmouth Set Up For Repeat?

Manhattan College’s Alex Shackley setting up his teammates at Gaelic Park during a match against Iona last season.

Jon Reyes/The Quadrangle

Jon Reyes Editor

This is a column that takes a look at all of the MAAC men’s soccer teams throughout the course of the season and off-season.

As the ‘14 regular season came to a close, Quinnipiac University had to have felt pretty good about itself heading into the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the MAAC conference. Its goal, as is every other teams’, is to win the MAAC final for the championship title. It lost to Fairfield on penalty kicks, 3-1, before it could even think of a rematch with Monmouth.

Monmouth won its match against Iona College, 2-1, to advance and face-off with Fairfield in the championship. On a Dave Nigro golden goal in the 104th minute, Monmouth won 2-1. As for its stay in the NCAA tournament, that didn’t last long because it lost in double overtime to No. 14 nationally ranked Xavier in the first round 2-1. Talk about irony to win or lose by the same exact score.

“You always need good chemistry to have team success, to win,” Monmouth coach Robert McCourt said. “… The chemistry helped us get through tough times last year. This year, I expect it to be the same.”

Once the book was finally closed on Monmouth’s ‘14 season, the accolades started to pour in. Six of its players earned individual recognition or were named to one of the all-MAAC teams: Matt Jeffery (Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season); Emmanuel Senyah Agyemang, Derek Luke, Eric Klenofsky and Dave Nigro (All-MAAC Second Team); and Dom Sarle (All-MAAC First Team.)

At the start of the ‘15 season, everything seems to be going in the right direction again for Monmouth. In the MAAC preseason poll, Monmouth was selected as the No. 1 seed. It also is being presented in national polls for the 10th consecutive season. TopDrawerSoccer.com ranked it No. 21 in the nation and it received votes from CollegeSoccerNews.com.

“It gives us a little bit of a target on our back,” McCourt said. “We’ve been used to it. It adds a bit of pressure. We don’t get too caught up in that stuff, really. We feel we have a tendency of getting everybody’s best games whether you’re deserving of being picked number one, that’s really based on last year.”

“Since I’ve been here, it’s a way of life,” Klenofsky said. “If we don’t win the MAAC, don’t make the NCAA and somebody doesn’t go pro. It’s a failed season.”

On the player side, Luke, Klenofsky and Nigro were selected to the preseason All-MAAC team. Klenofsky was also named MAAC Preseason Player of the Year.

It’s not surprising either. Klenofsky was Division I statistical champion in goals against average (0.48) for the second consecutive season, finished second nationally and in the MAAC in save percentage (.880).

Besides individual stats, Top Drawer Soccer named him as a top 10 goalkeeper in the nation. The website described him as “quick off his line, the New Jersey native is agile enough with a 6 feet 6 inches frame to really turn heads in the fall.”

“I was privileged to have the center backs that I did last year and my freshman year,” Klenofsky said. “They’re the best center backs I’ve played with. You can read into any accolades, but I highly doubt I’d get them without those two center backs.

This year we have two new guys in center defense, so this year you’ll get a good gage at how good I really am.”

“David Acuna Camacho is our captain.

And I would put my neck out on the line to say he’s the best player in the MAAC right now. He’s been that for the past two years, and he has never gotten any recognition because he plays defensive midfielder and outside back. He’s absolutely the most

technical and one of the best players I’ve ever played with. You can look at it as look at all these accolades I’m getting. I don’t know what they actually mean. It’s great to have all these guys around me because it makes me look better. So that’s great to have but I wouldn’t read too much into any of the preseason or selections at all at the end of the year. It’s just all someone’s opinion.”

For the MAAC last year, more than half of the conference was above .500. Iona coach Fernando Barboto thinks it’s going to be the same or better. While Klenofsky adds, “It’s going to be different.”

“Last year the conference had a really good year,” Barboto said. “There was seven teams with a winning record. The league is going to be even stronger this year.”

“There’s a lot of huge impact players, the franchise faces, if you will, from each of the bigger teams,” Klenofsky said. “Ignacio Maganto from Iona, Borja Angoitia and Jeffery and Agyemang are gone. It’s a new-look MAAC. Not to say it’s any better or worse this year, in terms of competition, but we’ll see. Looks as of right now to be good competition.”

For wrinkles and footnotes visit The Quadrangle’s website: mcquad.org.