EACDiscussesNewPolicies OnBlockSchedules,Academic IntegrityAndMore
Mary Haley
Marketing Chair / Asst. Features Editor
The second Educational Affairs Committee (EAC) meeting of the semester was held on Nov. 5 to discuss updates to the university’s academic policies, including transfer credits, a new block schedule proposal, summer session start dates, academic integrity warnings and more.
According to manhattan. edu, the EAC, “Shall make recommendations on the following matters, subject to the approval of the Provost, and shall inform the Senate of its recommendations which are then forwarded to the President.”
These recommendations include, but are not limited to, standards for academics,
the status of schools and departments and grading systems.
Chairs, deans and representatives from different schools, departments and committees were present at the meeting to present updates on certain policies and the state of their departments.
The first order of old business approved by the EAC was the transfer credit policy.
Historically, the university has limited transfer admissions by accepting only about 50 credits, considerably fewer than peer institutions. This year, however, in response to both competitive pressure from the decline of higher education and smaller class sizes, the university has revised its transfer credit policy.
The updated guidelines, which are reflected in both catalog and marketing materials, aim to increase the number of transfer students.
Rani Roy, Ph.D., interim provost and executive vice president of Manhattan University, led the conversation on how this will benefit the number of transfer students and how the change would align the school better with regional institutions, like Fordham University and Fairfield, to improve competitiveness in recruiting transfer students.
“There has been significant pressure to up the transfer numbers based on our smaller incoming classes, especially last year and this year,” Roy said. “The transfers really are helping to make up some of that budget.”
With a majority vote from the EAC, the policy will be passed onto the interim president, Frederick Bonato, Ph.D., and if approved by him,
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Bridget Chalk,Ph.D., Releases SecondBook
Leyla J Mercado
Asst. News Editor
Bridget Chalk, Ph.D., associate provost and professor of English at Manhattan University, recently published her second book “Novel Schooling: Education, Formation, and Reading in Fiction”.
The book examines the central theme of the, “consistent link between negative depictions of education in novels and claims for the educative effects of reading them,” as stated in an article published on manhattan. edu.
Through reflection of interest and criticism of the novels typically presented through formal education, Chalk discussed what led her to writing about this topic.
“I noticed that many novels of education, or coming-of-age narratives, depicted schooling in a negative way,” Chalk wrote in an email to The Quadrangle.
“Characters almost always had some core traumatic experience at school-- from David Copperfield and Jane Eyre to more recent main characters in novels by Zadie Smith and Elena Ferrante. So I set out to see what other patterns I could find in these novels, and discovered that a majority of them posited reading (often reading fiction) as an alternative and positive form of individual education.”
With the intent to ignite versatility within works of
literature, Chalk wanted to expand her goals about the core messages within this book.
“The humanities have a bad reputation in our culture, and especially fiction is considered fake, useless and trivial,” Chalk wrote. “I wanted to make a powerful case about what the novel has to teach us…in our digitized world. Reading, I suggest, is a form of individual development, an exercise in intellectual optimization. It generates valuable lessons in perspective-taking, empathy, and the art of synthesizing chaos into meaningful form … I hope this project can contribute in some small way to fresh conversation about the value of the arts and humanities. Especially in higher education, students should be encouraged, as these writers urge, to pursue meaning and pleasure as vital to a fulfilling life.”
Education, reading and writing have always been of significant importance to Chalk’s work and life, leaving the student body at MU feeling impacted by her work as well.
Mary-Abigail Caglione, junior and adolescent education major with a concentration in English, spoke on what Chalk’s most recent book release means to her.
“It’s exciting to see her create a piece of work because I always see her in action,” Caglione said. “It’s nice to get an insider look of how she thinks and how she writes. I’ve always been so impressed by
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Volume CX, Issue 11
NOVEMBER 12, 2024
The Editorial Board
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Angelina Persaud Managing Editor
Leyla Mercado Asst. News Editor
Mary Haley Asst. Features Editor
Jill Tuthill Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Emmanouel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editor
Barbara Vasquez Asst. Production Editor
Elizabeth Kalaj Web Editor
Angelina Persaud News Editor
Mack Olmsted Features Editor
Angelina Perez Arts & Entertainment Editor
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Ivy Jaep Production Editor
Mary Haley Marketing Chair
Molly Callahan Video Editor
Thom Gencarelli Faculty Advisor
About The Quadrangle
A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan University. 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 opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the University or the student body.
Join The Quadrangle
The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Kelly Commons Room 412. All are welcome to come and join the club.
Connect with The Quadrangle mcquad.org @mu_quad @mu_quad mcquad
LETTER from the EDITOR
Dear Readers,
Hello, and welcome to issue 11!
Last time we checked in, it was Election Night in the U.S. I hope you all used your voice and power to vote, because it is truly a privilege to get to do so. No matter your feelings on the election results, it is more important than ever to stay informed. Whether you check in with us for a weekly dose of campus news, a local newspaper for your town or city, or a national publication, understanding what’s going on in our world is vital to having informed and educated conversations with one another. With a highly-anticipated election inevitably comes feelings of uncertainty, so be sure to decompress and take care of yourself in whatever way you find works for you.
Here at MU, it’s been a busy week. The Quadrangle successfully celebrated 100 years of news last Thursday, and with the help of all of you, campus was able to see our stories in print! Our staff and I could not be more thankful for the support you all have given us to make this possible. If you have yet to check it out, all stories are available on our website! I hope you have as much of a blast reading them as we had writing them.
As for issue 11, we have plenty new for you to read. In news, we discuss professor Bridget Chalk’s second-ever book release, notable items from the recent EAC meeting and an engineering challenge on campus. In features, we introduce the beloved An Beal Bocht’s sister pubs across the city and a talk held with business alumnus Joseph Begley ‘91. In A&E, we cover MU Players’ recently announced Student Slot production and a faculty recital. Lastly, in sports, we reflect on the season of MU cross country and profile the games of the last week. We hope you’ll take some time to check it all out!
Until next time,
BridgetChalk,Ph.D.,Releases SecondBook
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
her in class about the things she says and her lectures, so having it in one place I think is really nice … I would say I’m very proud that she did write her own book because she’s such an intelligent woman.”
Caglione went on to expand on the connection Chalk has been capable of fostering with
her students.
“She wants people to be educated and I think she wants people to understand,”
Caglione said. “She’s so open to questions and I think her passion is essentially learning but she also values the sake of learning. She doesn’t value it for a test or value it for students
to just be smarter. This woman dedicates so much of her time to making sure people learn and take what you learn in the class to real life.”
Kaitlyn McNiff, senior and childhood education major with a concentration in English, further discussed Chalk’s leadership and dedication to her literary works, her students and the MU community.
“You could tell her heart is in Manhattan University and she just wants the best for all her students on an individual level but she’s also working towards the betterment of the school as a whole, which is really clear through all the leadership she’s taken on in the past year,” McNiff said. “I think that’s a really awesome example to set for us as students and especially for me as a future educator. It’s important to know that even when you take on a lot of responsibility, your heart is always with the students because the students are what matter the most.”
EACDiscussesNewPoliciesOnBlockSchedules, AcademicIntegrityAndMore
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
will be put into place.
The next order of business was the proposal of a new block schedule. The university currently runs on a block schedule of various class times scheduled for five days of the week. The proposed new block schedule would include two new 75 minute class meeting times, which would be from 4:30 pm to 5:45 pm and 9:00 am to 10:15 am two or three days a week.
This schedule would open up student’s flexibility, especially commuters, who sometimes have to wait hours between their classes in a day. Additionally, there’s a common period planned for each day, likely between 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm, though the exact timing may vary once finalized.
Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, spoke at the meeting about how the EAC has revised this proposed schedule to mimic Drexel University’s block schedule, which balances both student and professor
needs and benefits classroom scheduling and utilization. This proposal was also drafted based on a survey sent to all Manhattan University students about their preferences in classes.
“Students’ lowest ranking area to prioritize is classes before 8 am,” Kelly said. “Commuter students overwhelmingly want the block schedule we consider, and part of that is because they experienced large gaps during the day. Of the students who voted no to revise the block schedule, the majority are residents or live within walking distance of the campus, and full-time and part-time faculty both prioritized more two day course schedule options for three-credit courses…I created and shared with the committee a proposed block schedule… it basically has five days a week, a common period [between] 12:30pm and 1:30pm every single day.”
Another major proposal on the academic integrity issue of
the meeting were the revisions of the record-keeping system for offenses of plagiarism.
According to the recordkeeping area of the Community Standards and Code of Conduct page on Inside Manhattan, “This information will not be shared except when the student applies to postgraduate institutions and those institutions require disclosure of the information.”
This situation applies especially when undergraduate students are applying to graduate school where they are required to take the BAR exam for law school or are interested in applying for the FBI.
The change will involve taking this note away about internal record keeping being shared to BAR examinations and the like.
More proposals on academic affairs and updates on the departments within the university will be discussed again at the EAC’s next meeting on Dec. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
Memorial Hall, where the EAC meeting on Tuesday was held, and where many committee members’ offices are.
MARY HALEY / THE QUADRANGLE
The cover of Chalk’s book: Education, Formation, and Reading in Fiction MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY /COURTESY
Bridget Chalk, Ph.D. MANHATTAN.EDU /COURTESY
BlackboxChallenge: EngineeringCreativity inAction
Emmanouel Sofillas
Asst. Sports Editor
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) at Manhattan University hosted an innovative event called the Blackbox Challenge, a Rube Goldberg machine competition where students put their creativity and engineering skills to the test.
The event, which drew participants from various engineering disciplines, encouraged students to design and build intricate machines that perform simple tasks through a complex chain of events.
The competition was held in Kelly Commons where teams of students were given limited materials and a set of rules to create their unique machines. The goal was to flow a marble
into a cup through a series of complex events using the material students had on hand.
Dev Harrop-Williams, one organizer of Blackbox and a senior mechanical engineering major, explained the basic concept and grading criteria for the competition, emphasizing the challenge participants faced in creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing Rube Goldberg machine.
“We were expecting participants to essentially build a Rube Goldberg machine,” Harrop-Williams said. “A Rube Goldberg machine is essentially where one step or one obstacle leads to another, and it automatically causes a course of actions to achieve a certain goal. The goal was to get a marble into a coffee cup or whatever kind of container, and you were graded based on three criteria: how aesthetically pleasing your obstacle was, how complex your overall obstacle
was, and whether or not your obstacle was successful.”
One participant, Ryan Hayes, a senior mechanical engineering major, reflected on their preparation and expectations for the competition, sharing their thoughts on the complexity of their design and confidence in the final result.
“I was expecting a lot of fierce competition, and we got that honestly, but I felt a lot of complexity in our design,” Hayes said. “I kept enriching that before entering this competition. I feel like the end result of our design was really sufficient, and I felt like we’re gonna win.”
When asked about the materials used to build their Rube Goldberg machine, Hayes listed the common household items they relied on for their design.
“Some of the items included cardboard, string wire, some forks and knives, tape, hotglue, popsicle sticks, and the marbles,” Hayes said.
Hayes also shared some of the obstacles their team faced during the competition, particularly the challenges with stability and the need for quickthinking.
“Some challenges were definitely our structures falling apart,” Hayes said. “For example, the ball fell off a couple of times, and honestly became kind of a challenge. What we did was that we had to go back and just create a more stable structure, and in the end result, that’s how it worked.”
Another Blackbox organizer, Kelly Roth, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, reflected on how the event tied into the values taught at the university, highlighting the connection between education and the collaborative spirit of the competition.
“I think this is the kind of
core of what we’ve been taught, the Jasper community and the Lasallian values, and it brings us all together,” Roth said. “As an engineer, it’s really great. It’s just kind of combining all the principles we’ve been taught.”
Harrop-Williams also highlighted how the Blackbox competition aligns with the core values of ASME, emphasizing the importance of leadership and adaptability.
“I think this reflects the values of ASME because it requires leadership, initiative, outside-the-box thinking, teamwork, and I think the overall element of Blackbox was that the box was metaphorically black in the sense that you didn’t know
what was inside of it before opening it,” Harrop-Williams said. “So you have to learn how to take initiative at the same time as going with the flow.”
Students put their creativity and engineering skills to the test.
MU ASME / COURTESY
Features Meet An Beal Bocht’s Sister Pubs
Tuthill Asst. A&E Editor
Riverdale’s beloved An Beal Bocht has been a staple for Manhattan University students since its establishment in 1991. What many students don’t know, however, is that the cherished Irish pub has several sister restaurants and pubs stretching into the heart of the city.
Caitlin Seward, a long-time employee of An Beal Bocht, told The Quadrangle about some of the establishments that share the same owner as An Beal.
“We have Scratcher’s, which is downtown, and Arlene’s Grocery, and that one’s a music venue,” Seward said. “And then there’s this awesome gay club called 3 Dollar Bill, and that’s in Brooklyn.”
In addition to Scratcher’s, Arlene’s Grocery and 3 Dollar Bill, an additional sister establishment of An Beal’s is an Irish bar in Washington Heights called Le Cheile, which occasionally crosses over into An Beal with a few similarities. Le Cheile hosts similar events to An Beal, including trivia and live performances from featured musicians.
Although Arlene’s Grocery, Scratcher’s, 3 Dollar Bill and Le Cheile are independent establishments, Seward said that in regard to Le Cheile they do sometimes help out with staffing and have a unique relationship with them due to the nature of their location.
“We definitely poach some servers and bartenders from Le Cheile,” Seward said. “But typically, with the farther down south places, they kind of just stick down there.”
According to An Beal Bocht’s website, the establishment echoes the sentiment of wonderful staff and employees that make up the establishments.
“Our warm and friendly staff, sometimes ribald,
Le Cheile hosts similar events to An Beal, including trivia and live performances from featured musicians. LE
will make sure your visit is enjoyable,” the website states.
“Get to know them now because if they’re not up-andcoming, they’ve already gone on to fame!”
The environment cultivated by An Beal is appreciated by students new and old.
Isabella Kola, senior biochemistry major, said that her recent time at An Beal Bocht was spent in celebration welcoming a newly hired professor to Manhattan University. Kola said the environment that An Beal cultivated was exactly what she needed after a hard day’s work.
“I needed to cool down from all the people I was seeing that day, and hyping up our school to everyone,” Kola said. “I needed to get out of my head, my put-on personality and just
calm down and be me.”
Kola also spoke fondly about the ambience created by the pub’s live performers.
“The music was so pretty,” Kola said. “I could hear from inside. There were violins, all very stringy instruments, and the waiter was so nice.”
Kola mentioned that her experience was in part due to the time of day that she went.
“[The] time of day we went was three to six, and that was the golden hour because of daylight savings,” Kola said. “I went with my friends and my professor and I felt comfortable going with them and felt comfortable being there, and so I felt like I could bring my mom, my dad and my brothers.”
When The Quadrangle told Kola about the sister
restaurants associated with An Beal Bocht, she said that she would definitely like to visit them based on her experience.
“Absolutely,” Kola said. “I feel like it’s not only a place you can bring your friends and have fun with them, I think it’s
a family friendly place as well.”
The wide variety of establishments, from restaurants to pubs to bars, provides endless opportunities to get to know the places that stand by An Beal in the industry and the people that create them.
Jill
Alumnus Joseph Begley ‘91, Returns to Share Expertise With Business Students
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Joseph Begley ‘91, visited Manhattan University and spoke to members of the economics and finance society (EFS) in a speech tailored about his experience in the industry.
Begley shared plenty of stories that he has acquired over the years, having had much experience in over 20 years within the industry. He spoke to students about his many different ventures with companies such as Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Chase and Bank of Montreal. Begley spoke on his experience in various positions managing projects and how he views prospective employees as a recruiter.
“One of the most beneficial things in my years of experience in the industry is coming back to talk to students of the school of business here, and hopefully I can help them resonate with my experiences and formulate what they want to do in their careers down the path,” Begley said.
A story within Begley’s years in the industry, which he told at the event, was about meeting a prospective
employee. He suspected some bluff on the candidate’s resume, which included the candidate saying he knew how to do origami.
Begley then ripped a piece of paper from his notebook, and asked the candidate to, “Make a bird out of that paper, and make sure the wings flap.” The candidate wasn’t able to create anything close to a bird, and left the table in embarrassment.
Upon telling this story, the room started to fill with giggles, with students not only finding the story funny, but as a valuable lesson to only tell the truth on their resumes.
Begley shared many stories that some students found to be helpful. A senior about to enter the workforce, Sebastino Paccione, attended the event and spoke on how events like these help students such as himself.
“I’ve found it more difficult to find time to go to school events, but alumni speakers are events that I always find time to go to,” Paccione said. “They provide such unique experiences, show industry perspectives that I would not have been able to see and give mountains of useful information that are extremely practical for the younger generation looking for work.”
Even after all these years, Begley loves to come back to his alma mater and help current students. While the
advice he gives helps current students, Begley still finds that he remains helped by the Jasper alumni network himself.
Begley remarked on how the alumni network is one of the more valuable things that any Jasper will have in their career, and how the people students are walking around with on campus will be the ones who help them the most in the future.
“The most defining thing is the alumni network that we have here at Manhattan University,” Begley said. “Now, 30 something years later, I still have a lot of friends from Manhattan. I still keep in touch with a lot of people from Manhattan and and there’s a lot of alumni that are willing to go above and beyond, present students or students that have recently graduated, that are looking for career advice, or even actually help them get a foot in the door and help them with an interview process.”
As the talk wrapped up, many students saw their careers in a slightly different light. One student, junior Sean Li, spoke on how alumni like Begley and others helped him shape his early career path and what he has learned through talks like these.
“They have that insight to let you know certain things which you could try to implement to differentiate yourself, or beef up your
resume,” Li said. “They give good advice, because they’re actively in that field. It’s also a great opportunity to network as well. In this modern day and age, connections are arguably the most important thing you can have to break into a career to get that foot in the door.” Nagle, Ryan and the rest of their peers not only took first place in the competition,
but also took advantage of the other resources available at the conference. The group attended the graduate and career fair in addition to workshops on varying topics in chemical engineering, helping prepare them for their careers in more ways than one.
Sean Li (left)and Joe Begley (right). ANDREW MANNION / THE QUADRANGLE
MU Players Upcoming Student Slot Production Has Been Announced, And It Will Keep You Up All Night
the production.
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Manhattan University Players announced their spring Student Slot production this past week with an original work, “How to Pull An AllNighter (And Live to Tell the Tale),” written by senior Robert Nolan, who will direct
A tradition within Players, each fall students in the program have the chance to submit their pick for the Student Slot production.
“The Student Slot is a production every year where it is entirely student run and it’s a full play,” Nolan said. “We do have our lovely director, Marty, who’s been great for our main stage, but Players is founded on its students, so it’s very important to have that
Audition posters for senior Robert Nolan’s play, “How to Pull an All-Nighter (And Live to Tell the Tale)”, were hung around campus promoting this year’s Student Slot.
MUPLAYERS / COURTESY
production that’s entirely run by students. I’ve actually never done the Student Slot before, but they’ve always been some great shows.”
This year, Nolan broke the mold by submitting an original work.
“This is the first time in my experience here that a play written by the student has been the Student Slot,” Nolan said. “And I think getting chosen felt really great. I worked hard on this play because I wanted to do this for a while. I directed the fall cabaret last year, and I oversaw the OneActs Festival last year. So I ran both of the other student-run productions specifically to get myself ready for this, because I do like directing a lot and it’s something I really enjoy.”
As for his inspiration behind the play, Nolan pulled from personal experience.
“The inspiration for this comes from last year, my junior year, fall semester, I pulled something around 50 all nighters,” Nolan said. “And that’s not an exaggeration. My classes were to the point where the only way for me to get by was by staying up all night. At the time, they were horrible, but in retrospect, they can be very funny. What I did for auditions was I pulled an allnighter to get myself into the mindset of what it was like, and I entirely remembered why I hated all nighters enough to write a whole play about them.”
Assistant director of the Student Slot Kevin Cullen spoke about how he came to be the second-in-command for the production.
“Rob came up to me and asked me a couple weeks back if I wanted to assistant direct,” Cullen said. “It’s not something that you typically sign up for, it’s not that simple…I was already initially planning to act in it, and when I got offered to assistant
direct, I was ecstatic…I feel greatly honored by Robert Nolan that he wanted me first. I’m excited to work with him to get the ideas across. It’s gonna be a great experience.”
Cullen spoke to The Quadrangle about what it takes to direct a play that’s entirely student-run.
“It’s a big undertaking for the director of it, but it’s very rewarding and a delight to see and watch,” Cullen said. “I love having the opportunity for us students to take a hold of this directing thing that you don’t normally get the chance to do. It’s harder to come by directing spots than acting spots.”
Nolan is excited about the opportunity to build a play from the ground up without preconceived notions about it.
“[What] I’m most excited for is that since this play has never been done before, we really have the opportunity to build this play from the ground up, and we can utilize the talent we have at Manhattan,” Nolan said. “I’m very excited that there is no standard yet. Any choice could possibly be a choice that comes to the play. I’m really excited to see how the people we get is going to shape this play.”
Cullen shared Nolan’s sentiment that the beauty of building a play from the ground up means starting from scratch in every area, including how the actors decide how to play their roles.
“Any actor who comes into the roles beyond them is going to have to deal with some people that are going to naturally [think about] two things, either they’re going to be thinking about other people’s performances when they do theirs, or people in the audience are going to be comparing them naturally,” Cullen said. “I think when you’re performing, you want
to avoid that, and here we have the easiest scenario for that. This has never been done before. But that also means that everyone who’s in the show is going to have to push to make the characters their own. I really cannot wait for us to figure out what our cast is going to look like and then push them forward.”
Kristina Bopp, a freshman and the stage manager for the Student Slot, is excited to see Nolan’s directorial decisions for the production.
“I’m most excited to see directorial-wise, how they want everything blocked and how scene changes are gonna be,” Bopp said. “Especially with student-written productions, it’s hard to get a visual for everything before casting and how all the pieces will fall together. There’s no first impression yet, because it’s the first time the show is gonna be put on.”
Nolan shared with The Quadrangle his pitch to students on why they should reserve a ticket to the show this coming spring.
“You ever pull an all-nighter? You ever have a stressful night? You ever had that moment where you have a test the next day and you’re about to crash out? Well, this play is for you,” Nolan said.
Bopp stressed that students will resonate with the relatable storyline.
“I feel like the title in itself, ‘How To Pull An All-Nighter (And Live To Tell The Tale)’ is very funny and relatable,” Bopp said. “We’ve all pulled an allnighter. I’ve pulled multiple and I’ve only been here for three months.”
As of now, “How to Pull An All-Nighter (And Live to Tell the Tale)” will take place from Feb. 28 to March 2. More details will become available as the show approaches.
James Behr, MU’s Piano Professor, Serenades Campus on Election Day
Karen Flores & Kayla Werth
Staff Writer & Contributor
The keys of a piano rang through the Alumni room in the O’Malley Library as Manhattan University piano professor James Behr presented a section of 19th-century romantic piano pieces and selected original pieces on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The event took place as part of the Sound Studies department’s faculty recital series.
Behr performed three of his original pieces from his album “Suite Memoirs” and patriotic melodies in honor of Election Day, including “The Star Spangled Banner” and “My Country ‘Tis.”
Alongside his original works, Behr also performed pieces by composers such as Schumann, Granados and Chopin. He reflected on how it felt to perform in front of faculty and students.
“I enjoyed playing for them,” Behr said. “I feel very privileged when people come
to hear [my performances]... You always want to do a good job for your audience and I suppose on one hand, because I knew more of the people, it was a bit of a more intimate environment. But you always want to play for your audience, even with strangers and do a good job and help them enjoy themselves.”
Mark Pottinger, Ph.D., chair of the communication, sound and media arts department, spoke about the benefits from an audience perspective of the recital falling on this year’s Election Day.
“We decided that this recital would be able to create an opportunity for people to step outside of the everyday sounds that create chaos and frustration,” Pottinger said.
“With this space they would be able to sort of embrace in a sound bath that allows them to focus on things that allow one to relax and not to be stressed about the reality around them for a moment.”
Behr expressed that while this faculty recital series is relatively new, its main focus is to invite students into
musical professionalism and to expose them to the kind of environment it can create.
“This is about allowing the students to hear the faculty and hear quality music, and that’s the main reason we do it,” Behr said. “The department started doing this only last year, so many of the faculty will be coming, and of course I encourage all the students to come, hear them, get to know us and support the faculty. We are really doing this to contribute to the college atmosphere and create more camaraderieship and try to encourage students to feel more a part of faculty and appreciate their professionalism.”
Pottinger believes that it is crucial for students to get the chance to see their professors and their work outside of the classroom.
“I think people forget often, because you see them in one role often here on campus, how talented the faculty are,”
Pottinger said. “These people have advanced degrees in these areas of study and are not just teaching a class or a course, but are also professionals outside the institution and continuing to produce their work in ways that get them recognition, from around the city, the country or perhaps the world. So it’s exciting to be able to have those faculty on staff, and hence also to showcase what they actually are known for outside of the classroom.”
George Callaghan ‘24, an MU alumnus, attended the faculty recital. Callaghan spoke with The Quadrangle and shared how Behr has helped him in his own music career over the years.
“He’s been very influential with his music as well as teaching me how to practice right,” Callaghan said. “But he’s been equally as helpful on the business side as well with making sure I’m doing things
professionally and that I’m not just a good musician, but I’m a good business man as well.”
Behr touched on how important all the different steps are while working towards one’s goals in life not only for aspiring musicians, but for any profession.
“It’s important to be dedicated and have an outstanding work ethic,” Behr said. “It’s important to do your work and stay focused on your career, whatever it is you do. It doesn’t matter if you’re a doctor, a musician, or a dancer, make sure you’re always on time, don’t miss classes, don’t miss events, because you want to do a good job for people and take pride in your work.”
Those interested in Behr’s “Suite Memoirs”, and other original works, can listen at his website and Amazon music.
James Behr’s album, which he performed at the faculty recital.
JAMES BEHR / COURTESY
Students and faculty went to hear Behr perform on Election Day. MARK POTTINGER / COURTESY
Reflecting on a Season of Success: Manhattan University Cross Country Shares Insights About Their Triumphant Year
Laili Shahrestani Staff Writer
The Manhattan University cross country team concluded its season with a race at the MAAC Championships on Nov. 2, with the men finishing in ninth place and the women placing eleventh.
Prior to this race, MU cross country (XC) achieved multiple accomplishments throughout the season. Earlier in the year, MU XC took home a victory at the Metropolitan Championships (METS).
The men’s team won their twenty-seventh METS title, which is a record-breaking number of wins in contrast to any other school involved in the race. The women’s team placed second, also bringing more success for MU XC.
Brendan Lucey, a senior on the MU men’s XC team, shared his experience with the sport, emphasizing how the team’s collaboration led to their success at the METS and other championships this season.
“Something that our coach emphasized for us to do is try to work as a team,” Lucey said. “I think that’s something we did very well at during the Metropolitan Championships. I feel like it signified a change in the team culture. Also, when we ran at the Fordham Fiasco our team won. That really showed that we’re all in it.”
Kylie Conroy, a senior on the MU women’s XC team, emphasized how she is proud of her team for uplifting one another, and encouraging each other to perform to the best of their ability. Conroy spoke about how the women’s XC team was able to achieve new goals this year at the METS as a result of the positive environment created by the team.
“Our performance at the METS was probably the standout race of our season,” Conroy said. “Last year, we also got second, but we lost to St. John’s. But this year, we beat St. John’s, and that was a team that we weren’t really expecting. We really focus on uplifting the girls around us.
I think that was really helpful for us. It was definitely a tough race. But, one thing that I am proud of is that I know that each of us went out there and gave it our all for each other.”
Conroy went on to speak about how the success that MU XC experienced this season was a result of the chemistry between the team members.
Conroy emphasized how her team prioritizes motivating and supporting one another during practices, ultimately leading to more victories when it comes time to compete.
“Our atmosphere in general is just super positive,” Conroy said. “During workouts, we’re always motivating each other and uplifting one another. And that will translate to our races when it gets tough. We are doing this for each other.”
The MU XC team also experienced triumph earlier in the season after racing at Fordham Fiasco, which took place in Van Cortlandt Park. The women’s team achieved first place with 32 points, while Columbia University placed second and Fordham University placed third. The MU men’s XC team ended up winning the tournament with 29 points, while Fordham came in second place and Columbia followed in third place.
While MU XC achieved great success throughout multiple races this season, Kerri Inman, the director of cross country, expressed how she feels the overall team score was underwhelming at the MAAC Championships, and how she thinks there is room for growth.
However, Inman also mentioned how the individual times of the runners showcased improvement at the championships, and how XC continuously performed better with each race.
“Despite the disappointing team score, many of the individuals ran personal bests and made significant improvements from when we were first at the farm [twin ponds] in September,” Inman said. “Week after week they grew more cohesive and we were happy to celebrate a big team win at METS for the men and a strong second place for the women.”
Lucey added onto the idea that at the MAAC Championships, MU XC may not have carried out their best performance as a team. However, he also felt as if they did seemingly well as individuals. Lucey spoke about how the team should feel proud of themselves after the event, regardless of the overall team score.
“I think individually, we all really did our best,” Lucey said. “We all committed to running as well as we could. Even if it didn’t show overall, with our team performing against other MAAC schools, I think that everyone should still walk away from that day proud of what they accomplished. I’m proud of what
Kylie Conroy races to the finish line at the Metropolitan Championships. @JASPERSXCTF / INSTAGRAM
we were able to do.”
Although Lucey holds senior status, he still remains deeply invested in the future of MU XC, and has aspirations for their success once he is gone.
Lucey spoke about his high hopes for the runners that will continue to be a part of MU XC in future years.
“With some of our younger members, I feel like we will see even more development,” Lucey said. “I think going into the next few years, we will definitely have all the pieces needed to place higher up in the MAAC Championships. I’m very optimistic about what XC can do in the future.”
@JASPERSXCTF / INSTAGRAM
The Manhattan University mens’s cross country team celebrates their first place victory at the Metropolitan Championships.
Jasper Games of the Week
Women’s Soccer
The Manhattan University women’s soccer team faced off against Siena College and Fairfield University this past week.
The week started on a high note, with a win for the Jaspers on Sunday against Siena. This was the first win the women’s team had in a MAAC playoff game since 2017.
“They [the players] gave everything they had and answered every bell,” head coach Brendan Lawler said in an interview with gojaspers. com.
Midfielder Olivia McMaster scored a goal in the last 76 seconds of the game, bringing the score to 1-0 for the Jaspers. This win punched the team’s ticket to continue on in the MAAC championships in a semifinal with Fairfield University.
However, the Jaspers were unable to advance any further due to an unfortunate loss against top-seeded Fairfield. The game ended with a score of 4-1, with a penalty kick goal made by defensive player Julia Nicholas.
Women’s Basketball
The Lady Jaspers opened up their season with a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights this past Monday.
Hana Mühl, a junior guard for the Jaspers, led their efforts with 28 points along with a number of steals and rebounds throughout the night. However, the Jaspers’ efforts proved futile as they were overtaken by the Scarlet Knights, ending the game with a score of 85-79.
This past Thursday, the Lady Jaspers had a successful game, securing a win against Central Connecticut State University. The MU team had four players score in the double digits, with junior guard Brianna Davis leading the game with a sizable 16 points, followed by Nitzan Amar with 14, Petra Juric with 13 and Hana Mühl with 10.
The team will see game action again on Nov. 14 against the Long Island University Sharks in Draddy Gymnasium.
Men’s Basketball
The MU men’s basketball team suffered a tough loss to the University of Maryland Terrapins in their season opener game.
The Terrapins won the game by 30 points, ending with a score of 79-49. The first half of the game showed promise for the Jaspers, closing a large gap between the teams and ending the half with the Jaspers lagging by only three points.
The Terrapins were quick to fight back in the second half, scoring 48 points to the Jaspers’ 21.
Shaquil Bender, senior guard, led the team with
12 points followed by Devin Dinkins, a sophomore transfer from George Mason University with 10 points. Derik Queen was the game leader on the Terrapins’ side, scoring 22 points and 20 rebounds.
The Jaspers’ next game will be against Mercy University on Nov. 12 in Draddy Gymnasium.
Women’s Volleyball
Women’s volleyball experienced a loss against Niagara University on Sunday, Nov. 3. The Jaspers last faced off against the Purple Eagles nearly a month ago on Oct. 19, with the match ending in a score of 0-3. Sunday’s game yielded similar results, with the Jaspers losing with a score of 1-3.
The Jaspers were led by junior Sarah Emmons in assists, managing a whopping 39, compared to Niagara’s leader in assists Kylie Blessing with 29. Sophomore Laila Glover led in kills with 13 and senior Maike Bertens in the digs with 18.
Men and Women’s Swimming and Diving
The men and women’s swimming and diving team went to a meet at Monmouth University this past Wednesday and came out with promising results as they prepare for their championship season.
Senior Joe Brennan placed first in the men’s 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 59.05. Brennan was also part of the team that placed third in the
men’s 200 yard freestyle relay, alongside teammates Gavin Harding, Tristan Ehrhardt and Mark Haynes. On the women’s side, junior Shayna Millard earned third place in the women’s 200 yard backstroke with a time of 2:17.14. Millard also placed third in the 100 yard backstroke. Junior Elle Feneide placed fourth in the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of 11:29.88.
Men’s Soccer
Just ahead of entering the MAAC playoffs, the men’s
soccer team faced off with Sacred Heart University with the game ending in a tie. Though the game concluded with a score of 0-0, head coach Jordan Scott commented on the game pridefully.
“I thought it was a great game,” Scott told gojaspers. com “The boys gave everything and we had a ton of rotations.”
This game secured the Jaspers’ spot in the MAAC tournament, earning them the sixth seed. They will face off next against third-seeded Siena College on Sunday, Nov. 9.
Barbara Vasquez
Asst. Production Editor
Carly Riembauer (#7) on the field. VINCENT DUSOVIC / COURTESY
Point leader Brianna Davis (#0). VINCENT DUSOVIC / COURTESY
Men’s Soccer secures their spot in the MAAC playoffs. VINCENT DUSOVIC / COURTESY