the Quadrangle
ManhattanUniversityClubFair
Manhattan University welcome sstudents back for the first week of classes.
PERSAUD/THE QUADRANGLE
ManhattanUniversityRentsOut RLCToLocalCharterSchool
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Manhattan University’s Research and Learning Center (RLC) will look a little emptier this semester, as it will be rented out to local charter school Atmosphere Academy for the fall, and potentially spring semesters.
This will be the second time the charter school has used the university’s amenities. In the spring of 2024, the school utilized the second floor of Hayden Hall due to renovations in their usual building.
According to Atmosphere’s mission statement on their website, “Through the creation of a highly engaging school setting, Atmosphere Academy not only prepares students to be ready for college, career,
and life, but to succeed once they get there. By actively contributing to the school’s shared learning community, Atmosphere students will acquire the character, skills, and knowledge they need to think, collaborate, and lead.”
On its website, MU states its mission as providing an education, “that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings.”
From these statements, the goals of the two organizations seem to align well for a collaboration.
While students were not officially notified of the rental of RLC, they quickly recognized the adjustment when offices inhabiting the building were relocated to other spots on campus.
Analia Santana, a senior
student worker in the Department of Communication, is one of the many who will be doing her job in a different location this school year due to the rental.
“I feel like we all know that the school is in really bad debt, so if renting out RLC will give us more money to pay off the bills, I say, go for it,” Santana said. “It’s a little upsetting, now that the professors have moved all the way to Miguel and the student workers are in Leo, because I did like that you get to interact with your professors, and help them out with whatever they need, but also ask questions about things going on in the comm world. So now we’re all kind of in the equipment room, and we’re just by ourselves.”
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Goodbye Manhattan College,Hello Manhattan University!
Isaiah Rosario Staff Writer
In a shocking turn of events and after years of deliberation, Manhattan College is no more. On Aug. 21, it was announced that the college’s name would be changed to Manhattan University, effective immediately.
To become a university in the past, the college would need to satisfy a Ph.D. requirement. However, due to new requirements put forth by the New York State Board of Regents, colleges without Ph.D. programs are now able to apply to become a university, which made MU eligible.
According to President Milo Riverso, he believed that some of the major items that went into the name change were the prominence of the faculty at the university and the programs that the university offers, which deserve a significant status to draw from the international sector more.
“High school enrollment is declining and the value of a higher education is being questioned,” Riverso said.
While the school made a lot of changes academically in the past year with the removal of programs and majors, the name change to “university” brings hopes to push the school forward academically, including a move to the doctoral level in the future. Although there is no timeframe for the new program, administration at the school feels this is a step in the right direction.
“I think that [becoming a university] gives us the ability to move to the doctoral level, for sure,” interim provost Rani Roy said. “I think that’s maybe a farther down-theroad conversation. I do think university is more reflective of the current depth and breadth of the programming that we offer at Manhattan [University] … so I believe that that university designation is very reflective of who we are. While New York State had these rules and changed them, we were kind of considered a master’s level institution that offered a wide variety of programs.”
The Quadrangle spoke to Manhattan University seniors
“The affordability of higher education is a concern to a lot of families who have multiple children, or even one child. We need to survive as an educational institution and draw from the international sector. We also want to draw the best of the best students and we have great proficiency in business and in engineering and a lot of the stem sciences. That’s something that I think the international student is looking for.”
Volume CX, Issue 1
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
The Editorial Board
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Angelina Persaud Managing Editor Angelina Persaud News Editor
Leyla Mercado Asst. News Editor
Mack Olmsted Features Editor
Mary Haley Asst. Features Editor Angelina Perez Arts & Entertainment Editor
Jill Tuthill Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Emmanouel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editor
Mary Haley Marketing Chair
Elizabeth Kalaj Web Editor
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Ivy Jaep Production Editor
Barbara Vasquez Asst. Production 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 4.12. 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,
Welcome back! As sad as we are that summer has come to a close, our staff is thrilled to be back and writing for you once again.
I hope this summer has been packed full of sun, relaxation, and surrounding yourself with all of the things and people you love. After completing my summer internship in the city, I was able to travel back upstate for two weeks before classes started, and it was definitely needed. Nothing heals you like a day on the lake, a trip to Wegmans, and a nice warm garbage plate (if you don’t know where I’m from, that last one gave it away). It served as a wonderful reminder that sometimes it’s okay to close that laptop and take some days off for yourself to do exactly what you want to do.
We’ve had a lot of breaking news this summer, from across the world to right here on campus. From Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race to our school getting a new name and rebrand, there has not been a dull moment. So, hold on tight, we’re going to get you caught up on all the things you need to know over these next few weeks.
This issue 1, we have plenty in store for you. In news, we spoke to the president about Manhattan University’s name change, the rental of the RLC, and some of the impressive accomplishments of our professors this summer. In features, we talked to some members of the class of 2028 about their first week and caught up with students who studied abroad over the summer. In A&E, we have first-week fashion finds on campus as well as the relocation of our beloved radio station, and lastly, in sports, we talk about an exciting player of the week achievement and an overview of our D1 teams as they stand right now.
I’m so happy to be back doing what I love the most, and I’m even happier that you tuned in to see us kick off the fall semester. Our readers are our backbone, and we will forever and always appreciate every single one of you.
Until next week,
Editor-in-Chief
GoodbyeManhattanCollege,Hello ManhattanUniversity!
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
who are excited about the new transition and feel like it is a massive step in the right direction for the school, but feel that it came as a shock, due to a lack of information shared beforehand.
“The name change from college to university is a progressive step for Manhattan,” senior Adam Ruiz said. “Considering the changes over the past year under the new administration, I believe that Manhattan University will have a better ability to expand its prestige from the tri-state area to a national level. The University branding should attract more students and bring light to some of our renowned graduate programs, as well as opportunities for research and hands-on learning. The community and alumni network that Manhattan College has fostered for many years should only grow across the student body and expand in the industry as Manhattan University.”
Other students wondered if the financial struggles of the college would improve with the
name change.
“I think the transition to a university is a shock after the last few months, especially considering all the budget cuts that have been made,” senior Ava Gaspari said. “I don’t know what exactly changed to make us qualify as a university. It’s exciting, but it seems random right now and especially as a senior, it’s weird to graduate from a different school than I enrolled in.”
Despite the excitement with the transition, there are still some updates to be made to campus signs and merchandise that bear the previous name.
Some students feel the transition should have been rolled out slowly as a result.
“I think the name change is fitting for having multiple schools within Manhattan, and will make the name sound more prestigious,” senior Dennis Peitler said. “That being said, I think the transition should have been thought out a lot more by the school, even if it meant being pushed back to next year, as almost all the signs on campus still say ‘college’ making it feel like we’re in the middle of an awkward, unplanned transition.”
ManhattanUniversityRentsOutRLCTo LocalCharterSchool
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The campus did not send out a formal notification to student workers about the office relocation. As for the professors inhabiting the offices, many were given mere weeks’ notice to vacate.
“I think campus administration should have sent an email saying, RLC is now closed, due to renting,” Santana said. “I wish I found out not just through my work email, but through campus.”
Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Physics Helene Tyler, Ph.D., talked to The Quadrangle about what the move meant for her newly combined department.
She explained that she was sent an email from the dean of Kakos School of Arts and Sciences Marcy Kelly in midJune, and was then tasked with disseminating the information
to her department and organizing the relocation of both offices and labs.
“Our offices were moved here,” Tyler said. “There was a meeting space where students would often get together on their own to work on math problems. We no longer have that. In addition, the computer labs were moved…those rooms are now split between Hayden and Leo. The freshman physics courses had been taking place in the new labs in Higgins. We were told we needed to vacate those spaces so that electrical engineering labs could be placed in there, and the freshman physics labs are now taking place in Hayden as well.”
The rental to Atmosphere Academy was likely a result of the university’s recent financial struggles. Departments including mechanical engineering, communication, IT and more had to pack up and move to other locations on campus.
Therefore, explained Tyler, it would have been beneficial to notify professors of the change when the decision to rent was first assessed.
“The faculty and department chairs are well aware of the financial challenges that the University has been facing, and we are all committed to cooperating as best we can with the administration to move us to a better place,” Tyler said. “I wish we had been told that the administration was aggressively pursuing someone to lease the space, beginning in fall, 2024, allowing us the time to carefully prepare to move on short notice.”
The unexpected move caused some new concerns to pop up in terms of further proximity between offices that are accustomed to collaborating.
“A big concern now is how we can preserve the strong relationship that we
have always enjoyed with the students and faculty from engineering,” Tyler said. “The close physical proximity between RLC and Leo made that easy. Engineering students would come by and visit us and say hello and ask for our advice after they had finished their required math courses. Now, that won’t happen. We also used to see the engineering faculty all the time in the hallways and we’d have ideas or something exciting or concerning to share about a student we had in common. I haven’t figured out how we’re going to preserve that sort of stuff, which has been one of the ways we’ve served that student population so well for so long.”
While the move may have taken campus by surprise, Tyler says it ultimately has resulted in strengthened relationships.
“I’m right down the hall from Dean Kelly, and that can’t hurt,” Tyler said. “Now that
we are a merged Department of Mathematics and Physics, being all together under one roof is great. Prior to this, I had been concerned about how to bring the two halves of our department together into a cohesive whole if we weren’t going to be able to see each other on a regular basis. I can already see it helping our department…now that we’re in the new space, we’re finding things to love about it.”
The Office of the President, along with senior staff at the university, declined to provide a comment.
Manhattan College Students and Brother at the Unveiling Ceremony of Manhattan University. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY
Dr.WalterSaukinHonored withACEC-NYChairAward forSTEMOutreach
Angelina Persaud Managing Editor/News Editor
Walter Saukin, Ph.D., has been honored for his dedicated service to the teaching and encouragement of youth to join STEM professions after receiving the Chair’s Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC-NY).
Saukin has been a professor in the civil engineering department at Manhattan University for over 40 years and has served on the board of various engineering councils and organizations. Namely, he was the executive secretary of the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA), where he was also elected into the NYWEA Hall of Fame. He served on the Academic Advisory Board of the Bronx Engineering and Technical Academy (BETA) as well as the Advisory Board of the Yonkers School System.
However, Saukin’s journey to becoming a professor at MU was deeply rooted in his childhood upbringing in the South Bronx. His sixth-grade teacher taught him how to read for the first time and his father was a significant influence in his choice of civil engineering.
“I was always under the impression growing up in the South Bronx that education was the answer,” Saukin said. “Once I learned how to read, I felt empowered. I studied hard, I kept the focus, but at the same time, I maintained my activities.”
Saukin attended City College and graduated with his bachelor’s in 1966 with his master’s degree following shortly. He then went on to pursue his doctorate in engineering.
“I felt that college professors and an academic environment as compared to an industrial environment was more consistent with my disposition,” Saukin said.
“You only have to teach so many courses, you have to do research, and that’s kind of cool because it’s like exercising your mind to keep in shape.”
After taking on a consulting job at Princeton University and teaching in the civil engineering department at Lafayette College, Saukin finally found his entrance to MU when he met a Jasper. He quickly became involved with the campus community as a way to make a professional name for himself while also spreading awareness about the institution.
“One of my first projects here is I helped to renovate a couple of the civil engineering labs,” Saukin said. “Through the department, I had the opportunity to run the National [American Society of Civil Engineers] ASCE Environmental Conference. And then, roughly in the 1980s, I had the opportunity to become the Executive Secretary of the New York Water Environment Association [NYWEA].”
Before resigning from his executive role, he created student chapters for NYWEA, which continues to be active today.
At the core of Saukin’s career is his ability to foster a connection between youth and STEM careers as well as creating outreach opportunities for them to seek greater career possibilities.
He realized that local families, particularly immigrant parents and minority groups, weren’t always given the same resources to help their children find answers about their career paths. Thus, he created the high school summer outreach program to help youth in the Bronx find encouragement to pursue higher education.
“In 1982 is when the program opened up, and I began with a primary concentration on women and minorities…I’m trying to help everybody,” Saukin said. “I was working with the development office and alumni to raise the funds to help sustain the summer
program. I had applications for close to 200 students and it was continuously growing until now where it’s closer to 650 students.”
He also noted that the majority of the summer high school students who participated in the camp also went on to become members of ACE, including some as current MU students.
According to an article published on manhattan.edu, Saukin’s high school outreach programs, “Draw 120 students from an application pool of approximately 600 – with a particular focus on young women and minority students. Historically, 84% of those students who participate in the program enter the engineering industry and 97% study one of the STEM subjects in college.”
Other members of the School of Engineering praised Saukin’s efforts in the department as well as his work ethic as a professor.
Anirban De, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Engineering, has known
Saukin for over 20 years, since De was hired by him in 2002 to be a civil engineering professor at MU.
De spoke highly of Saukin, adding emphasis on the enthusiasm and energetic spirit he brings to the department.
“He is very hands-on,” De said. “He greets everybody. He makes them feel welcome at the institution, makes them feel good about what they’re doing, and cheers everybody up. He has a very positive spirit, which is always good for his colleagues, for his students.”
De went on to highlight that several civil and environmental engineering faculty have been honored for various awards in the past. Each one, including Saukin’s, brings positive attention to the department and MU as a whole.
“This kind of attention helps us promote our achievements…brings positive light,” De said. “In the longer run, or more immediately, our students realize that
there are faculty here who get recognized for what they’re doing here every day.”
Saukin emphasized the feeling he had when he first sat on the main quad on campus. He noted that during a time of unrest in the college, he hopes that students can find solace in the essence of the Jasper community.
“I had seen a lot of academic environments, but I remember when I first came to Manhattan University, and I sat up in that quad and I looked at the chapel, you can actually feel mind, body and spirit come together holistically,” Saukin said. “I think that at Manhattan University, we’re so structured that there’s a real possibility for personal and institutional success on almost any level.”
The award plaque for Dr. Saukin’s commitment to STEM outreach. WALTER SAUKIN / COURTESY
Study Abroad with Manhattan University Gives Students an Unforgettable Summer Experiences
Elizabeth Kalaj Web Editor
This past summer, Manhattan University (MU) students traveled all around the world, using study abroad programs offered by the institution to immerse themselves into various cultures.
The programs scheduled included traveling to Japan, France, Italy, Mexico, Portugal and Spain. Each program allowed students to earn credits for required courses outside of New York City.
Students who were enrolled in the Japan study abroad program were accompanied by Paul Droubie, Ph.D., a professor in the history department.
The Quadrangle spoke to Sam Wofford, a junior communications major, about his time in Japan with Droubie and fellow students.
“Dr. Droubie lived in Japan for six years so he did an absolutely fantastic job in preparing us for the trip and the culture we were going to witness,” Wofford said.
Wofford expressed that one of his most memorable experiences was when the group attempted to paint using wax in Kyoto, while talking to the family that owned the business.
“Wax painting is a very cultural thing to do in Kyoto and even though it was our first time doing it, they [the owners] took to us so easily and really helped us learn without making fun [of us] in any way,” Wofford said. “The owners were three generations of the family: a son, his father and his father’s mother and it was really just amazing to witness and to be able to talk to them.”
Wofford had some final words for students who may study abroad in the future.
“No matter where you visit, use the free time and just wander and explore,” Wofford said. “Wandering around was some of the best parts of my trip. So I think exploration by yourself or with a couple of friends is one of the best things that you can do. Don’t be afraid to explore the place you are at.”
Mohammed Matabbar, a senior political science major, went on a two-week study abroad trip to Lisbon, Portugal. The course was taught by
Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D., professor of religious studies.
Matabbar spoke to The Quadrangle about his favorite excursion while in Lisbon.
“We visited this castle called Alfama which was historically held by the Moors until it was taken back by Christians,” Matabbar said. “It [the castle] was just huge and we had this amazing tour guide that explained the history so well. Also, since the castle was built on a high location, you can see so much of the city and the water from there. It was just beautiful.”
Emmett Ryan, Ph.D., the head of the Department of Study Abroad and an English professor at MU, led a twoweek trip to Mexico. Ryan based the program on foodwriting throughout literature.
“We examine food, culture, identity, the relationship between our experiences eating and telling stories about ourselves and the food,” Ryan said. “We read a lot of different texts and then we immerse ourselves in different gastronomic activities in a food culture that is really different from our own, here in the United States.”
Ryan planned many unique experiences for his students, including building a woodburning oven into the ground in Pachuca.
“I think the most unique experience was having LaSalle Pachuca University allow us to be taught to dig this hole in the ground and to smoke a lot of meat in it and to have students partake in this really traditional way of cooking,” Ryan said.
When talking about future study abroad programs MU will hold, Ryan had some advice for students considering enrolling.
“You won’t regret it,” Ryan said. “You would regret it more if you don’t push yourself out of your comfort zone and do something like going to a place you never imagined you would go. These programs allow you to travel with a group of students and experience something new while connecting with locals and delving into a place like you wouldn’t on your own.”
For students interested in studying abroad, there will be a general information session held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 3:30 pm in Hayden Hall, room 100. Students can also contact the study abroad office with any questions.
Landscape view from a neighborhood in Lisbon, Portugal. VICTORIA SCHILLER / COURTESY
Students from Japan Study abroad while on various excursions.
SAM WOFFORD / COURTESY
Students
Voices on The Quad: Who Are the Class of 2028?
TQ: How did you enjoy your first week of college?
Mary Haley
Asst. Features Editor/ Marketing Chair
As the new freshman class settled into campus for the first week of the semester, The Quadrangle spoke with some students in the class of 2028 about their emotions after their first week of college.
Gabriella Plasencia, mechanical engineering major
The Quadrangle: Why did you decide to study mechanical engineering?
Gabriella Plasencia: I want to concentrate in aerospace engineering, so I want to be an aerospace engineer.
TQ: How did you enjoy your first week of college?
GP: My week was great. I am enjoying most of my classes. I did not like breakfast for dinner [at Lockes] though.
Briana Loughlin, undecided in the school of engineering
The Quadrangle: Why did you decide to study engineering?
Briana Loughlin: My dad is a field service engineer, and my brother works at Boston Dynamics, so I felt like I should go into engineering.
BL: I like my classes, except for my physics lab. But the high from this past week was definitely meeting my friends.
Thomas McGovern, history major
The Quadrangle: Why did you decide to study history?
Thomas McGovern: So I am actually not planning on using my major. I am doing Air Force ROTC because I want to be a pilot, and I am just doing history because it is my favorite subject.
TQ: How did you enjoy your first week of college?
TM: My classes are all pretty good, and I met a lot of friends and they’re all really cool. [Manhattan University] is a really good place.
Colby Hicks, undecided in the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
The Quadrangle: Do you have any idea of what you want to study?
Colby Hicks: Political Science, probably.
TQ: How did you enjoy your first week of college?
CH: It’s been good. I am taking a political science class, history, English and French. My high of this past week was [meeting] Thomas
reflected on their
[McGovern].
Kristina Bopp, mechanical engineering major
The Quadrangle: Why did you decide to study mechanical engineering?
Kristina Bopp: I am planning on concentrating in biomechanics, which is understanding how the body works in connection to mechanics. We have machines like levers and pulleys in our
body, and we have to remake those as artificial limbs, and that kind of stuff. I am either going into the automotive industry or forensic engineering. I figured with the concentration with the human body, it would help a lot, because both those fields involve the need to know anatomy to some degree. I have worked on race cars for about three and a half to four years now, and I have always wanted to go into [that industry], but I just recently found out about forensic engineering, and my
on
first dream job was being a forensic psychologist. So, knowing that I can put two and two together is kind of cool.
TQ: How did you enjoy your first week of college?
KB: Honestly, I have had a lot of highs this past week. I have made a lot of new friends, and we have Love Island nights in my dorm, which is pretty fun. I am just happy to be here. Manhattan [University] is a good school.
The class of 2028
first week
campus. MARY HALEY / THE QUADRANGLE
Fashion Finds: Back to School Edition
Elizabeth Kalaj Web Editor
Classes at Manhattan University are officially in session for the Fall 2024 semester. Students are back on campus, showing off their style and excited to see what is in store for the rest of the semester. The Quadrangle talked to students around campus about their back-toschool styles.
Ava McGuigan ‘25, education major with a concentration in psychology and English
The Quadrangle: What are you currently wearing?
Ava McGuigan: These jeans are from PrettyLittleThing, this top is Cotton On, jewelry that I always wear and Reebok sneakers.
TQ: What is a staple item in your wardrobe?
AM: I think black is my favorite color to wear, so a nice pair of low-rise jeans and a plain tank top is always a staple for me.
TQ: When you dress up for class, do you go more for comfort or style?
AM: I think a little bit of both because this would be what I consider my style, but I’m also super comfortable because my jeans are super stretchy, and I feel the most confident in all black.
Conall Murray ‘26, marketing and global business major
The Quadrangle: What are you currently wearing?
Conall Murray: Currently, I’m wearing a thrifted Haynes t-shirt, some thrifted denim shorts, my New Balances,
which I got for Easter and my Longchamp.
TQ: As college students, we see many trends come and go. What styles or item pieces do you hope to see on campus this semester?
CM: Towards the winter and fall, I hope to see men wearing Ugg boots. I think they’re really stylish and cute. I own the mini ones, not the ultra minis, because I do not like the ultra mini ones personally. The mini Ugg boots are the perfect size and are so cute. When it’s fall, I will be wearing shorts with them all around campus.
TQ: What is a staple item in your wardrobe?
CM: I have two. I have a necklace that I got off Etsy and my Frye boots I got for $45 before they became a trend. They’re $400 now and everyone is trying to get them. I wear them a lot, and they are my favorite pair of shoes I own.
Julia Santos Meyer ‘27, communication and psychology major
TQ: What are you currently wearing?
JSM: I am wearing some Brandy Melville sweatpants and a Jasper Dancer shirt from my coach, Brylee.
TQ: As college students, we see many trends come and go. What styles or item pieces do you hope to see on campus this semester?
JSM: Lately, I’ve been really liking the Timberland boots. I think the orange ones are really cute.
TQ: When you dress up for class, do you go more for comfort or style?
JSM: It depends on the day. Today, I was a little late, so I just put on sweatpants, but I would say I mostly dress comfortably.
TQ: What is a staple item in your wardrobe?
JSM: My go-to items in my closet are my Nike blazers, for sure.
To see these fashionable fits for yourself, visit The Quadrangle’s official Instagram
Julia Santos Meyer being interviewed by The Quadrangle about fashion and trends for the Fall semester.
LIZ KALAJ / THE QUADRANGLE
Ava McGuigan in her “back to school” outfit while being interviewed by The Quadrangle. LIZ KALAJ / THE QUADRANGLE
Conall Murray in one of his“back to school” outfits while being interviewed by The Quadrangle. LIZ KALAJ / THE QUADRANGLE
WRCM Gets Ready to Rock the Block on Main Campus
Mary Haley
Asst. Features Editor / Marketing Chair
Along with many changes at Manhattan University over the summer, the university’s radio club, We Are College Music (WRCM), was moved to Thomas Hall 509, which was previously occupied by the residence life offices. After the university officially started renting the Research and Learning Center (RLC) building out to Atmosphere Academy, a Bronx public charter school, WRCM had to move urgently over the summer from their studio next
to the RLC entrance on Corlear Avenue to their new location on the main campus.
This isn’t the first time WRCM has dealt with changes. The club has been around since the 1970s, and has experienced disruptions with other radio stations in the city and other situations that held the club back. Being a club with so much history comes with many memories and artifacts from over the years.
Senior and general manager of WRCM Annie Brennan spoke with The Quadrangle about her experience this summer moving the studio to Thomas.
“I got an email in the mid-
dle of July saying that RLC was rented out and we had to move immediately within the week,” Brennan said. “I commute, so it was totally fine… but we moved everything up to Thomas in one day, and now [the studio] is there, but I have been back a few times to make it look nicer.”
According to their website, wrcm.rocks, “WRCM is fully invested in providing a platform and community for Manhattan College students to express their creativity through live music and events as well as the continued curation of semesterly shows to be broadcast live on internet radio.”
Sadie Fox,
webmaster for
WRCM, shared some of her memories from the old booth in RLC and the community aspect it brought to Manhattan University.
“I just loved that booth because I am friends with a lot of the STEM majors, so I would always see them walking by when I would have my show,” Fox said. “It was always fun to see professors stop by, it was just very fun to see everyone. That was actually how me and my roommate started our show, because she always would come in and see [the studio].”
Even though saying goodbye to the old studio is bittersweet, WRCM is excited to have a new location on the main campus to start the year off with. Aaron Schoepf, WRCM’s technical director, is optimistic about the new location, as it is closer to other clubs in performance and the arts.
“It’s nice that it’s on campus, and I like that it’s within the performing arts department,” Shoepf said. “It’s up [in Thomas] by where Singers and Players are, because before we were kind of separated from that aspect of performing arts, so it’s nice that we’re all together and hanging out.”
As the new school year
starts and the club fair approaches, students old and new can expect the same aesthetic and environment of WRCM even in its new location. Since shows have not yet started for the fall semester, the new studio setup has not yet been revealed. However, Brennan explained to The Quadrangle that they were able to reuse the same posters and frames, along with the same equipment.
“It’s going to be a surprise for everyone,” Brennan said. “Right now it’s still a small space, but we have our cassettes, our records, and all of our posters are everywhere. We also still have our yellow stools. So it’s kind of the same, but in a little different box.”
Despite this sudden and intense change, the E-board of the club is still committed to their mission of providing a creative platform for Jaspers.
“Our [new] location makes us more noticeable, and you can’t forget about us because now we’re right there,” Brennan said. “I hope that we do more programs, and I think this board is going to be really fun and have good ideas.”
Sam Wofford, WRCM Secretary, playing his show in the old WRCM studio in the Research and Learning Center. SAM WOFFORD / COURTESY
sports
Molly Brunk Named MAAC Defensive Player of The Week After Three Shutout Game Streak
Andrew Mannion and Mary Haley
Sports Editor and Asst.
Features Editor/Marketing Chair
This past week, the goalkeeper for the Jaspers women’s soccer team, Molly Brunk, won the MAAC Defensive Player of the Week award. She led the Jaspers on their three-game winning streak after shutting out LIU, Wagner and CCSU in the following week.
Brunk is no stranger to MAAC awards, having collected two MAAC Rookie of the Week awards last season. Starting all 15 games in her young career, she has found great success early on. Her teammates have said that this is
no fluke, accrediting her great leadership communication throughout the game as to why she has been playing at such an impressive level.
“I think me and Maddie (Feller) are in the backline, and we’re talking the entire game, but Molly drowns us out,” defender Julia Nicholas said. “She’s an amazing leader. She definitely has (leadership) that can’t be taught or coached, and she has it. So I think the team will be in amazing hands with her for the next couple of years.”
After winning her third weekly award, Brunk commented on her success. She said that as great as it is to be recognized for her achievements, she still needs to look forward and continue her success as the season continues.
“It’s nice to have my efforts recognized for having shutouts,” Brunk said. “But I think also the main key is not having it go above my head. Like I got it and it’s a great thing to be recognized for, but I need to keep grinding. I have to keep putting in the work.”
Just as they do Brunk, the seniors have much faith in the younger players on the team. Freshman defender Lily Bandel has proven this by playing every minute since the team’s first game against Fordham on Aug. 15, and there also, making her first collegiate start.
Maddie Feller, senior center back, explained to The Quadrangle how the goals were set in the preseason, and how this dynamic was crucial in seeing success this early on in the season.
“I think in preseason, our
major thought was getting us organized,” Feller said. “We were all new playing with Lily [Bandel] and I went from an outside position to a center position, so I was learning it alongside her. Lily’s ability to take communication and relay it onto the field made her able to fit right in, and Mayah [Wheeler] is just a ball of energy. Her hard work just ripples down the line. If you see her working hard, you know you have to put your all into it as well.”
Being seniors, Feller and Nicholas are no strangers to these successes, and have much faith for the team going into their last collegiate seasons. This year especially, the Jaspers have a strategic form of communication on the field that they do not want to fall through after their preseason
games.
“Everyone’s doing their job,” Nicholas said. “Molly’s doing her job, she’s having these shutouts. Defense is doing their job. Midfielders are doing their job. Forwards are doing their job, they’re scoring. So I think everything is settling in at the right pace we want. We didn’t want to peak against Fordham, we didn’t want our season to be at its highest against West Point. I think we’re heading in the right trajectory. So [we are] just continuing to work hard everyday and not being satisfied at any point.”
Sophomore Molly Brunk was named MAAC defensive player of the week for her goalkeeping in three shutdown
Jasper Games of the Week
Emmanouel Sofillas
Assistant Sports Editor
Mens Soccer
Manhattan University men’s soccer faced a tough challenge on Friday, falling 2-1 to St. John’s in a close match. The Jaspers found themselves down early after a handball in the box led to a penalty kick, converted by St. John’s Macoumba Ba in the minute 21.
Despite this setback, the Jaspers remained resilient, with Ziv Dahan equalizing 55 minutes in with a header. Just two minutes later, however, St. John’s responded with a goal from Miguel Diaz, putting St. John’s back in the lead.
The return of former MAAC Defender of the Year Nassim Akki and fellow defender Malo Blondeau provided stability in front of goalkeeper Ludvig Malberg, helping the Jaspers stay competitive. However, St. John’s had the edge in shots, recording nine points compared to the Jaspers’ six.
The next game for the Jaspers is against Seton Hall.
Women’s Soccer
The Lady Jaspers’ season started out victorious with a good match against Central Connecticut State University (CCSU).
Manhattan secured a 1-0 victory over CCSU on Wednesday night at CCSU Soccer Field. The Jaspers, having used the first half of the match to gauge their opponents, struck just before halftime with a goal from sophomore midfielder Olivia McMaster. McMaster’s
goal, assisted by Samantha D’Angelo, gave MU the edge.
In the second half, the Jaspers continued to press, with McMaster hitting the right post in minute 49 and Sami Derrico narrowly missing just over an hour into gameplay. Despite their efforts, the Jaspers were unable to add to their lead.
Sophomore goalkeeper Molly Brunk, who was vital in the previous games and earned MAAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, recorded her third consecutive shutout. Brunk, who made four saves
in the first half, was untroubled in the second, as CCSU’s shots went off target.
The next game for the Lady Jaspers is Sept. 6 against Delaware State University at Gaelic Park.
Cross Country
The Jaspers had a meet this past Saturday, as they went up to the Harry Lang Invitational hosted by Colgate University. Senior Jack Flannigan managed to set a new career-best time in the 6k, crossing the finish line
at 21:16 and placing third for the Jaspers and 34th overall. Jackson Newton led the Jaspers with a time of 20:35 and placed 21st overall. The men’s team finished the meet in fifth place.
The women’s team was able to grab fourth place overall. They were led by freshman Mikaella Martin as she starred in her first meet. She crossed the finish line with a time of 19:46 and finished 21st overall.
They will travel up to Marist next weekend for the Marist Opener meet.
