Issue 3, Spring 2015 - The Quadrangle

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THE Volume 91, Issue 3

Q

UADRANGLE A Student Publication of Manhattan College Since 1924

Feb. 3, 2015

www.mcquad.org

Jasper Journeys Check out pages 6 and 7 for the full stories

As Cuban-American Relations Begin to Shift, Study Abroad Trip Anticipates a Changing Cuba Michelle DePinho Editor

Manhattan College is offering its thirdever study abroad trip to Havana, Cuba this spring break just as the U.S. and Cuba attempt to move toward normal diplomatic relations for the first time in over 50 years. Organizers of the trip say that this trip will be an opportunity to witness Cuba before it is slowly changed by new U.S. economic and political relations. “I think that small changes are going to happen,” Laura Redruello, Ph.D. and associate professor of Spanish, said. She is one of two faculty members leading the week-long trip to Havana that will provide Spanish, sociology and independent study opportunities to a mix of students and faculty. “Every year is a different Havana. For

me, it’s a country that’s always changing.” For students studying on this trip, this means they have the opportunity to experience Cuba in a moment when the world is watching Cuba very closely. The organizers said they had to apply for a license to take an academic group to Cuba for educational purposes. The U.S. Department of State website outlines various travel licenses that different groups can apply for and spending limitations, and states that tourist travel to Cuba is currently strictly prohibited for U.S. citizens. Lawmakers are now looking to end these strict limitations on economic interaction and travel between the U.S. and Cuba. New diplomatic relations between the two countries could mean fewer travel restrictions, U.S. companies popping up in Continued on page 3

A Manhattan College student on a previous Cuba study abroad trip meets a student from Havana. Laura Redruello/Courtesy

Kelly Commons Achieves LEED Gold Certification Sean Sonnemann Editor-in-Chief

LEED Gold Certification is the second highest level of recognition given to environmentally conscious buildings by the U.S. Green Building Council. Vanessa Sanchez/The Quadrangle

The newest building on campus, the Kelly Commons, has now formally become the “greenest” as well. While the connecting hub between north and south campus has been officially open for use since October, it was recently granted the LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. “LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes bestin-class building strategies and practices,” according to the council’s website. Gold is the second highest certification that a building project can receive. The four possible levels (Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum) are based on a rating system that utilizes points in separate categories such as water efficiency, indoor environmental quality and innovation in design. The commons is the first building on Manhattan College’s campus to achieve any level of LEED certification, an accomplishment that was a goal since the early

days of the project and formation of the initial plans. “Since the beginning, the college always had a goal of obtaining LEED certification for the building,” Andrew Ryan, vice president for facilities, said. LEED certification is granted to buildings based on a point system, where a 60-point minimum is required to achieve the LEED Gold standard. Upon completion of the certification and commissioning process, the building received a score of 62 points. Points are earned for various environmental considerations within the design of the building. During the course of the project, a rough target of 64 to 65 points was set based on the proposed design of the building and materials to be used. Some notable green features of the building that helped to achieve the necessary points for a Gold certification include a partial green roof. The roof utilizes 4,000 square feet of partial vegetation and light colored reflective materials that help reduce the heat isContinued on page 4


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