Issue 10, Fall 2019 - The Quadrangle

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Volume C, Issue 10

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NEW YORK, OCTOBER 29, 2019

The Taboo Issue

A Quadrangle Special Issue p. 1-18 IN NEWS:

Pressure for an updated LGBTQ+ Housing Policy on p. 9

IN FEATURES: Quad Throwback: When MC Banned Sex on p. 11

IN A&E:

Double Entendre Sparks Controversy on p. 14

IN SPORTS:

Tracing the Beginnings of the Lady Jaspers on p. 16

Opinions & Editorials

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the Quadrangle Volume C, Issue 10 OCTOBER 29, 2019

The Editorial Board Megan Dreher Editor-in-Chief

Gabriella DePinho News Editor

Maria Thomas Asst. News Editor

Alexa Schmidt Features Editor Managing Editor

Katherine Heneghan Asst. Features Editor

Rose Brennan Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor

Madalyn Johnson Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

C. Garrett Keidel Sports Editor

Pete Janny Asst. Sports Editor

Lauren Schuster Social Media Editor

Brian Asare Photography Editor

Samantha Walla Production Manager Sophia Sakellariou Production Editor

Nicole Rodriguez Asst. Production Editor

Michevi Dufflart August Kissel Web Editors

Abby Crowell Distribution Manager

Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle 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 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.

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.

THE QUADRANGLE

LET T ER from the Editor Happy Special Issue, readers!

Welcome to my favorite issue of the semester! This fall, we decided to leap into unchartered territory. This is the Taboo Issue.

I know... Talking about these kinds of subjects are, well, taboo. It’s uncomfortable, it’s messy, it’s complicated. But, the most growth comes from discomfort. Our writers were so excited to shed light on topics often left in the dark, and this is the perfect outlet to do so.

I want to make something very clear: by bringing attention to the things we find taboo, we want to generate meaningful and effective conversation. Manhattan College has such a rich and unique history, much of which gets forgotten or lost in translation. This is simply meant to start talking about the history in its entirety. We must not forget the past, but instead use it to grow, to cultivate change, and to make the future that much better.

This is what journalism is all about: a free, uncensored, unbiased outlet for expressing the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am so proud of what our staff has brought to the table.

Sincerely,

Megan Dreher

Editor-in-Chief

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Letters to the Editor or an op-ed may be submitted to thequad@manhattan.edu by Saturday at noon to be considered for publication. Profanity, vulgarity and hate will not be published. The Quadrangle reserves the right not to publish a letter.

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In last week’s article “Mold Returns to Campus: Horan and Alumni Hall Affected,” Marianne Reilly’s name was misspelled.

Opinions & Editorials

OCTOBER 29, 2019

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Period Poverty: Up Next for MC’s Mission?

Rose Brennan A&E Editor

In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 39.7 million Americans lived at or below the poverty line. And sometimes, this poverty can translate into ways that are unseen by most people.

As a populace, we are becoming more and more aware of the pervasive effects poverty can have both on individuals and on communities. But nevertheless, some of these issues remain not-talked about and therefore unaddressed. And one of these issues is period poverty.

Global Citizen defines period poverty as “the lack of access to sanitary products, menstrual hygiene education, toilets, hand-washing facilities and/or waste management.”

Continued period poverty can pose health risks such as reproductive infections and urinary tract infections, which would result in more money being spent by the person in poverty.

So, how can we address period poverty on this small Lasallian campus, caught smack dab in the middle of a city with an 18.4 percent poverty rate?

Thankfully, there could be a solution to this.

First, I would be amiss if I did not credit Carly Brownell and the rest of JustPeace for their continued involvement in the Period Project, in which the club collects menstrual products on campus and then donates them to homeless shelters in the Bronx. They truly are already on the front lines of fighting period poverty in our community.

But, more extensively, I have been working closely with

Kaylyn Atkins, student body president, in expanding the initiative to supply free or reduced price menstrual products across campus. A proposal authored by both of us has been introduced into the Manhattan College Senate and will be undergoing review throughout the academic year.

Our hope is that the products will be available during the 2020-2021 academic year. We also plan to implement more immediate solutions. For the time being until the bill is hopefully passed, we plan to provide free menstrual products in select locations on campus, including the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center in Kelly Commons, Cornerstone in Miguel Hall and the SWE Room in Leo Hall.

Going forward, we will be engaging in a combined effort to combat the stigma surrounding period poverty and menstruation as a whole on campus. Menstruation is not a secret, but it is treated like one. Our students should not be ashamed of a biological process, nor should they need to empty their pockets to maintain something that is outside of their control.

As a student who menstruates, I can tell you it is an uncomfortable process at its very best. And not only is menstruating an uncomfortable process, it is an expensive one as well. I would not classify myself as someone experiencing period poverty, but I can recognize that pads and tampons can take a toll on someone’s wallet.

Specifically, the price of menstrual products in the Thomas Hall convenience store are simply exorbitant, bordering on unreasonable. This is an issue that has been talked about among my peers, but never

It’s time we talk about menstrual equity on campus. Period.

LAUREN SCHUSTER / THE QUADRANGLE with upper-level administration. Hopefully, the audience of this conversation is changing thanks to this proposal.

Some might think that an initiative such as this one might be a luxury and not a necessity on the campus. After all, if one can afford college tuition, one must be able to afford menstrual products, right? That is not necessarily true, nor are we in a place where we can assume a student’s socioeconomic status.

Furthermore, menstruating might more of an adverse effect on education than we might think. It is estimated

that one in five Americans have missed school once or more due to a lack of period protection. Are we truly naive enough to think this issue does not impact the Manhattan College in any way?

Similarly to how the Jasper Food Share initiative helps combat food insecurity on campus, Kaylyn’s and my goals for this initiative are similar. We hope that through it, we can provide a safe, sanitary and affordable environment for our students who menstruate.

Before I conclude, I would like to take an opportunity to thank some allies on campus

who have invested great interest into this proposal and are helping Kaylyn and I see it to fruition. My deepest gratitude goes out to Anne Mavor of the Office of Health Services and to Dr. Roksana Badruddoja, Dr. Jordan Pascoe, Jo-Ann Mullooly and Samantha Walla, all from the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center.

The way both Kaylyn and I see it, college is already difficult and expensive enough.

Our students should be primarily concerned with obtaining their education, not if a biological process outside of their control will hinder that.

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THE QUADRANGLE

I’m Tired—and I’ve Realized That It’s Not Okay The Effects of Spreading Yourself Too Thin on A College Campus Megan Dreher Editor-in-Chief

Most days, I’m tired.

I’ve been told that the exhaustion is something I did it to myself. I’ve been told that my exhaustion isn’t valid because of that. But the reality of the situation is that one of my proudest accomplishments during my four years at Manhattan College is the fact that I’ve been able to do it all, and truly can say that I love doing it.

Editor-in-Chief, Vice President of Communication for student government, captain of the national championship dance team, co-director of the Center for Ethics, Writing Consultant, double major, grad school applicant...I think that’s it (for now). I won’t lie, it’s extremely vulnerable to list everything I’ve involved myself in over the past four years. It’s taxing, trying to extend myself in every area and do all of it well.

As someone who craves perfection, and truly wants to do my

best in each activity I commit myself to, I exhaust myself.

I’ve resorted to means of self-care—face masks, pedicures, naps. Unfortunately, even those relaxing activities are consumed with thoughts about answering emails, writing personal statements, and thinking of what comes next on my Google calendar. I have become obsessed with scheduling, organizing, and living on a time table.

I often wonder if this will continue into my post-collegiate life. No, I won’t be in charge of or participating in these clubs anymore. But, my fear is that this obsession with involvement will find new outlets to manifest in. I am extremely passionate about everything I do, but it doesn’t negate the fact that it drains me. I can only imagine the ways in which future commitments will drain me if I don’t take the time now to establish how I will take care of myself.

Self-care, and more importantly self-validation, are not just buzzwords. We’re busy.

We’re tired. And that’s not okay.

We need to find ways in which we can release stress, frustration, and emotional angst. It’s okay that we can’t do it all. It’s taken four years and a super long email signature to realize that. I still have a lot of learning to do.

The best advice I can give, even if it’s completely unsolicited, is to recognize that it’s okay to ask for help. We can’t do it all alone, and ultimately there will be a time that we will fail. Failure is something that we often consider to be taboo, especially as students. But it provides an experience to learn, to grow, and to show a super exposed side of the self to others who deeply care. Lean on those who are willing to support you.

This is for you—the person that is overwhelmed with the pressure of perfection and the need to prove yourself. You are doing the best you can, and you’re appreciated for what you give. You shouldn’t be ashamed to admit that it’s too much, and that at the end of it all...you’re tired.

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Above: Dreher with her Japsers Dancers co-captain and posing with the Quadrangle’s Spring 2019 special issue.

Left: Dreher poses with her fellow student gover nment members.

MEGAN DREHER/ THE QUADRANGLE

News

OCTOBER 22, 2019

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Can Sex Education Be Found On Manhattan College’s Campus?

Shannon Gleba & Gillian Puma Staff Writers

The most important part of college is graduating with a degree, but college includes more than just that, such as extra curricular clubs, parties, dating and so much more. For many, college includes a world of sexual activity, but unfortunately, many students are never given a proper sexual education before attending Manhattan College.

Yet getting that proper education at Manhattan College is not an option either.

The college focuses on education against sexual harassment and assault but the education ends there.

According to the Manhattan College website, “Manhattan College is committed to providing an environment not impaired by sex and genderbased misconduct, including sex discrimination and sexual harassment.” There is no information about the dangers of unprotected sex or sexually transmitted diseases and students do not have access to condoms on campus because of the college’s Catholic policies.

Jordan Pascoe, Ph.D, a philosophy professor has taught the course “Love, Sex and Friendship” and Co-Director of the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center. Pascoe has concerns about the discussions about and around sex on campus.

“I’m worried that what we have in place of sex education is a lot of discourse on sexual assault and harssment,” said Pascoe.

She feels this is dangerous

because students are more likely to get STIs when they do not have proper health education.

Additionally, she expressed her fear that students are only being taught how not to be raped.

“Given that we can reasonably expect that very few students have had any type of constructive sex education, that seems like a deeply dehumanizing message to send to students,” said Pascoe.

Seniors Alyssa Zduniak and Gabrielle Kasper took the opportunity to turn a group project from Pascoe’s class into a summer research project.

They were intrigued on how little they had heard the College discuss safe sex. With the guidance of Natalia ImperatoriLee, Ph.D, Zduniak and Kasper were able to form this project in accordance to their own ideas and arguments.

“We were required as a part of the class to create an understanding of sexual interactions that thinks beyond consent and the simple ‘yes’ requirement,” Zduniak said.

The project titled “Consent Through the Lasallian Lens” combined modern feminsit theory and Lasallian tradition in order to evaluate Manhattan College’s consent policy.

Zduniak and Kasper both shared that lack of sexual education in high school.

Citing stories of her public school health teacher shoving her arm in a condom and poking guys to say that was how sex feels for women losing their virginity, Zduniak said, “I’m just an adult, on a college campus with no solid sexual education background.”

Kasper went to a private school where there were 50 students in the entire school

Kasper and Zduniak expanded upon their Love, Sex and Friendship course for their summer research.

GABBY KASPER / COURTESY

Kasper and Zduniak presenting their findings on consent and the Lasallian tradition at Sain Mary’s University of Minnesota.

GABBY KASPER / COURTESY and 8 people in her class. She had an “embryology class” that was more of a biology class rather than an actual sex education, but was still informative.

“My class and I fought for STD education so that was something that they brought a nurse in to teach our whole school about,” Kasper said.

Kasper said she went out of her own way to learn about sex and sexual health that was provided on the Planned Parenthood website.

The Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center has made tremendous strides in regards to feminine health. The center is only allowed to provide menstrual products and female lubricant. They host “Love in the Dark” which allows students to attend and ask questions about sexual health and relationships. The only opportunity where condoms can be obtained on campus is during the Take Back The Night event that is hosted by the center, which is only allowed because the event is protected under Title IX. “We should have condoms in dorms, accessible at health services, they should be the easiest thing to come across in the world,’’ Pascoe said.

With such a lack of access to health products, conversation and education about sexual health and safe sex, it can be hard to figure out how to address the issue. Zduniak and Kasper believe the issue can be addressed in the context of the Lasallian tradition of educating the vulnerable.

“MC can teach sex ed better by first acknowledging that there is a need for this education,” said Zduniak.

“Of course in De la Salle’s

time, this vulnerable population was young lower-class boys.

Now in the 21st century we can see a different vulnerable population, specifically women and queer people, but ultimately this vulnerable population any student who is not receiving the sexual education necessary to be a safe and sexually active adult,” said Kasper.

Beyond students wanting to be responsible, educated adults in their own sexual health, the lack of sex education at Manhattan College impacts students who plan to be physical education and health teachers someday. The college does not offer a health major on campus, so students who plan to teach both physical education and health will need to find health certification elsewhere.

After graduation, senior physical education major Michael Kiely intends on teaching Physical Education at a public school, which would also include him teaching health to his students.

“Almost every Physical Ed job on the market right now requires a dual cert in P.E and health as the P.E teachers are the teachers for both of these courses. This means I have to go find this certification at another institution,” said Kiely.

After completing much of his major requirements, and entering his last semester at MC, Kiely does not feel he has learned enough about sex education to effectively teach his future students.

“The knowledge I received in sex ed was limited at best although it was all true and useful information. It scrapes the surface of sex ed and does not really go much beyond common birds and the bees con-

doms and STI’s,” he said. “I do not feel I have learned a sufficient amount, due to the limit time that was allotted for teaching sex ed it was all briefly gone over and many details are left out. In high school, the sex-ed unit lasted three weeks. Here at MC, it was about two days if that.”

While the college does not have a health major or certification, kinesiology professor Shawn Ladda, Ph.D., does her best to educate her students about sex education as much as she can in the course Personal Wellness.

“My approach to teaching the sexuality unit is from a health educator perspective.

I provide the students in my classes much content knowledge as well as opportunities to discuss a variety of topics and to ask questions. I say to students at the beginning of the unit that I will provide much content and you must decide how/when to use this information according to your values and beliefs,” said Ladda.

Within the sexuality unit of Personal Wellness, Ladda endeavors to cover a number of topics.

“The topics range from gender roles/expectations, healthy relationships, by-stander training (Green Dot) to preventing STDs. Embedded in this unit are also two workshops required for teacher certification in New York State including the child abuse training and violence prevention,” she said.

“Human sexuality is an important part of life and we should all be informed and knowledgeable to make positive decisions for oneself that align with one’s values and beliefs,” said Ladda.

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THE QUADRANGLE

How Manhattan Talks Gabriella DePinho News Editor

College students talk about their stress levels reaching new heights regularly, often sharing stories of pulling all-nighters, crying, drinking an unhealthy amount of coffee and looking forward to future weekend plans to forget the challenging week. This lifestyle is not unique to Manhattan College but it is certainly prevalent on the small campus. Students across America are getting more stressed out each passing year but a growing concern is whether or not conversations around mental health are changing. While Manhattan College has resources available to students with mental health needs, many feel conversations about mental health on campus need to change.

The most useful resource to students struggling with academic stress, social stress, a breakup, interpersonal problems or mental illnesses is tucked away in the top corner of Miguel Hall. The counseling center, with several full-time and part-time staff members available to students, can be found on the academic building’s fifth floor.

The irony of the center’s location in tandem with the often “hush-hush” attitude around mental health struggles is not lost on the center’s director, Jennifer McArdle.

“We’re here. Believe it or not, we have some seniors that are coming that say they didn’t even know we were here,” said McArdle.

Despite people often discovering the center for the first time, the center is constantly busy.

“We are [swamped with students]. We don’t have a very long waiting list right now,” said McArdle, who noted that the center sees a surge in student interest during midterms and finals weeks.

Students get connected to the center in a variety of ways, often from recommendations from friends or faculty, references made in JasperConnect or by the CARE Team, or by seeking out the services on their own. When students go to the center looking for services, they fill out intake paperwork and the center sets up an appointment for them as quickly as possible, doing their best to get the student seen within a week; some students need to be seen immediately.

“Once somebody indicates that they’re having a crisis, whether it be feeling suicidal, hearing things, being sexually assaulted, we see them right away. That means we may

even have to reschedule one of our students, so we’re like an emergency room but we’re also a therapy office. We pretty much drop everything,” said McArdle.

For students who are victims of sexual assault, the counseling center is a confidential option where they can learn about reporting options.

The only time counselors have a right to break confidentiality is if they believe a student is a harmful risk to themselves or others or if the student shares information about child or elderly physical or sexual abuse.

Manhattan College’s counseling center is one of 27 colleges in New York state that is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services. In order to stay accredited, the center has to follow IACS recommendations regarding how it operates.

“Their recommendation is that a full-time clinician should not go over five students a day, for everyone’s sake. You don’t want to be the 12th person to have brain surgery that day.

People get tired. It’s challenging work. It’s wonderful work, but to make sure that we don’t have staff burnout, that would negatively impact our clients, we keep it to four to five students a day,” said McArdle.

The counseling center does not only see students individually. The center offers group sessions, such as a college adjustment support group and KORU, a mindfulness and meditation group.

Nicol Zambrano, the center’s assistant director, leads the mindfulness group. KORU is a four week program that was developed at Duke University and that adapted mindfulness programs for adults to be for emerging adults.

“Mindfulness is something that can help with stress reduction, improving sleep, better decision making. There’s so much research on what it does and how it benefits people, but especially emerging adults, the needs are different. There’s a lot of stress, a lot of anticipation of what’s to come,” said Zambrano.

Running group programs also benefits the center.

“So we see four, five [students] a day, but if we can get 14 stressed out, anxious students to come for this mindfulness program and improve from it, that’s tremendous,” said McArdle.

Though there are limitations on just how much they can do, the counselors in the center do their best to accommodate students’ needs.

“As long as we don’t have a waiting list, which we don’t right now, we can continue to work with somebody if we see

The Manhattan College Counseling center can be found in room 501 of Miguel Hall and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m. to provide students with any help they may need.

MARIA THOMAS /THE QUADRANGLE that they’re benefitting and improving with working with the counseling center. But we advertise it, when you come in you have to fill out the paperwork at the desk, it says we simply offer short-term counseling, so they know that we can’t do the beginning of the semester to the end of the semester every single semester,” said McArdle.

While this resource is available to students to seek out on their own, the counseling center is not isolated from the rest of the school. Faculty members can make referrals for students

“Generally, what we’re trying to train our RAs is designed about being first response.

None of them are trained professionals in the arena of being a counselor. They’re more in the concept of identifying and doing their best duty to try to de-escalate a situation within their control. We do have a counselor on call, 24/7, that we have access to,” said Charles Clency, Director of Residence Life.

According to Baisden, training does not necessarily look the same from year to year.

“We do assessment of the

gives needs to be more expansive.

“We had a brief overview training during RA training of what to do during incidents, not necessarily specific mental health cases, just a list of procedures of this is what you should do if you come across it,” she said.

“I felt that what we were told to do did equip us, but I don’t know, because of my relationship with that resident, how I had known him, I did not necessarily know what was best to do with it being a mental health situation. I think not knowing

-----------------------““Mindfulness is something that can help with stress reduction, improving sleep, better decision making. There’s so much research on what it does and how it benefits people, but especially emerging adults, the needs are different.”

-----------------------to see them. Residence Life staff is also prepared to help in the process of identifying students in need.

Full-time, part-time and student staff members of Residence Life go through training about mental health and what to do in different situations.

“Basically it is a series of best practices. We look at other institutions and what they’re doing and we combine that with what we need here,” said Toni Baisden who is the Area Coordinator for Lee Hall, as well as the residence life staff member who coordinates the training.

RAs are considerably on the front lines of identifying and addressing student needs.

training, both from the RAs and the full-time staff. We ask them about what things were helpful, what parts of training do they feel like they could use more time on,” said Baisden.

Alumna Kaitlyn Von Runnen’19, ran into at least one serious mental health situation during her time as an RA and often spoke with other RAs about their experiences. The incident she ran into was not a suicidal incident, but she knew other RAs who ran into those incidents. She spoke based on her personal experiences and based on what she had heard when speaking to other RAs on the job last year.

Von Runnen believes that the training Residence Life

specifically certain steps to take, aside from contacting senior staff and those protocols, I could have maybe ended up doing more harm than good to myself or someone else,” said Von Runnen. “We did have training, but mental health is just such a broad range that if [training] addresses just depression or just suicide, that’s not the end all there. There is so much more to deal with.”

According to Clency, past RAs have shared with him that the way situations were handled often left them feeling responsible and affected.

“Some of our students face things they’ve never seen before. Even though we talk through it during training

News

OCTOBER 29, 2019

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About Mental Health and go through scenarios and coach them on what the next steps are in place in order to respond to it, to actually go through it and see it, it can be quite impactful,” he said.

Von Runnen, who was an RA both her junior and senior years and learned the ropes of the job well, still echoed that sentiment.

“I did feel it did take a toll in making me more anxious or more overwhelmed because there was a lot more responsibility. It’s hard when you’re listening to other people’s problems and you’re trying to help them but you’re a college student yourself and you’re trying to do all these things yourself,” she said.

Anytime a student shared with Von Runnen that they were struggling with a variety of issues, she would refer them to the counseling center, as well as a few other resources.

“I also found it helpful to recommend, I knew from my experience, professors that I thought were very in touch with the students or other people on campus who were in administrative roles, professor roles, like Father Tom, who was really good with students and would sit down and have a private conversation and keep it confidential, unless he needed to break confidentiality, so I recommended those people I knew through my experience I trust them,” said Von Runnen.

Despite finding the training a little non-comprehensive and conversations a bit mum on campus, Von Runnen feels the conversation around mental health opened up during her time at MC. “As college went on, it became more of a thing that people would talk about and I think that’s great because there is a realization [that it’s important], the world realized that and I think Manhattan is starting to realize that, which is great. I would say that I feel there is always more you can do, there’s always more to talk about, more resources that can be given,” she said.

Von Runnen is not the only member of the Manhattan College community who feels that way. Student body president Kaylyn Atkins noted the same things Von Runnen did.

“Two topics, anxiety and depression, are things that we don’t talk about but I think so many of us have. I feel like if more of us talked about it and had conversations about it, we would know how to deal with it because it would also help people get past the whole generic way of dealing with self-love, doing face masks and stuff like that,” said Atkins.

“Like yes, I’m the face of the school, but I’m an ordinary per-

son too. I think that a lot of people put me in a superhero role and I’m just like no, I have so many issues to deal with too,” she said.

Atkins’ administration, the Jasper State of Mind executive board, is working to promote self-love as a general theme throughout the year. VP of Residential Affairs, Luke Malpica, is working to coordinate stress relief and VP of Academic Affairs, Nadia Itani, is working to use her kNOw more events to promote self-love. Atkins hopes that the board can host more mental health focused events next semester.

One club that works yearround to talk and promote conversations about mental health is the Psychology club, which has many psychology majors as members, but is open to all students to join.

“Mental health is very real, it’s very important, there are stigmas attached to it and that’s why we’re here,” said Evaniz Orellana, vice president of the club.

The club, much like student government, also hosts a mental health awareness week before finals.

“Stress is one thing that contributes to mental illness.

We try to get people to be aware and ask the people around them how they’re doing,” said club president Eva Bartsch.

The club advocates for students to know the resources available to them, hosts programs to talk about mental health and has worked with the counseling center to host programming.

“People really need to learn how to talk about it in terms of themselves rather than in just a general sense and talk about getting the help you need instead of just talking about it in a bigger picture,” said Bartsch.

“It’s important to make people aware of the resources they have here and to utilize them when they need to.”

Despite all the work they do, the members of the Psych Club are aware of stigmas that exist around it, such as a fear that others might judge a person with mental illness or that a person with mental illness cannot be successful.

“It needs to be talked about.

You can actually improve a lot on an academic level if you deal with your mental health and make sure that you’re healthy,” said Bartsch.

“On many college campuses, those stigmas come into the school. People will make jokes about it but this is not something to be joked about or laughed at. This is very serious. It impacts so many people on a traumatic level, a serious level,” said Orellana.

Despite the work that has

been done so far, there is still work to be done to break down the stigmas around mental health.

“I really hope to see more conversations on this, from the president of the school himself, even. There needs to be more conversations on a bigger level.

The psychology club has been trying to facilitate this work for years, but if people aren’t willing to facilitate these conversations on a bigger level, we’re not going to go anywhere or make change,” said Orellana.

Even the campus professionals have noticed the shift, though it is small.

“I think the stigma has reduced significantly, and that’s a good thing, a really good thing.

I still think there’s some people that suffer with asking for help but I think more and more the stigma has been reduced. Students, they’re coming here, they’re looking for services,” said McArdle.

“We’ve come a long ways as far as stigma, but there’s still a long ways to go,” said Zambrano. “I think one of the biggest barriers is that it’s scary to come to therapy for the first time, to walk in and talk to a stranger about really tough stuff. It takes a lot of courage to walk up here, to walk in the door.”

As the Manhattan community plunges further into the semester with stressors piling up, students may find themselves stuck in the routine of late nights, too much coffee and too much work. While the silence of mental health conversations may be deafening on MC’s campus, students do not have to continue to repeat a cycle of stress and mental health burn-

out alone. There are resources available, even if no one is talking about it.

If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-2738255. If you or another member of the MC community is struggling with mental health issues, the counseling center is

open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday, with evening appointments available if scheduled in advance.

Megan Dreher contributed reporting.

The Counseling Center offers a variety of resources for improving mental health.

MARIA THOMAS /THE QUADRANGLE

Members of the Psychology Club at a recent Out of Darkness Walk.

PSYCHOLOGY CLUB /THE QUADRANGLE

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Greek Life Gets Catholic Twist at MC Jilleen Barrett & Christine Nappi Staff Writers

In recent years, Manhattan College has been increasing their affiliation with various Greek Life organizations on the national level, sparking a growing number of interest amongst students. However, because of the college’s Catholic heritage, Manhattan College is an unexpected campus to find greek life flourishing.

Manhattan is now home to chapters of Alpha Phi Delta (APD) and Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) national fraternities, as well as Sigma Delta Tau (SDT), a national sorority.

Greek life at Manhattan dates back to 1929 when APD was first established. Although it’s been present for 90 years, the chapter has only been consecutively active since 2007. In 2012, DKE was established, followed by SDT in 2013. Despite being fairly new to campus, students and administration now recognize the organizations as part of the college community.

In order for the organizations to officially be recognized by the school, Student Engagement Coordinator Sharon Ortega said that there needed to be a sufficient amount of interest in them. Due to the fact that each Greek club belongs to a larger national body, additional steps were taken that many clubs don’t have to go through. “[It’s] something that requires national recognition and affiliation and making sure that it’s a good fit for both of us,” Ortega said. “The Greek life organizations like to come out to the campus and just make sure that it’s something they also want to be affiliated with.”

Due to its recent beginnings, Manhattan isn’t as known for their Greek life compared to other colleges. The college’s student interest isn’t as large as it is at other state universities, yet Ryan Kwiecinski, President of APD, notes that Greek life is becoming more prominent on campus.

“I think it’s starting to become more apparent, back when I toured four years ago it wasn’t something that was on my radar,” Kwiecinski said.

“Now all the Greek organizations, they’re doing stuff on campus and it’s more impactful.”

A main aspect of all three Greek life organizations is their philanthropic work in the local and global communities. The fraternities and sororities work together to give back, both to the community and to Manhattan College. In doing so, the college community is recognizing the organizations more and more.

“All three of these organizations have a very strong philanthropy driven mindset and so because of that, I certainly notice their presence a lot,” Ortega said.

With philanthropy being a central component of national Greek life organizations, Kwiecinski finds the college’s Catholic background provides a strong “moral footing” for the Greek life organizations and their actions, which sets them apart from other chapters.

“I think it puts us in a unique position because we’ll all get involved,” Kwiecinski said. “It kind of proves a more purposeful role, like we’re able to take advice that we learned from the La Sallian mission and bring it into our chapters.”

Due to their increasingly

Hanna Nesheiwait, Ashley Pajer, and Meaghan Higgins table at the fall club fair.

CIARA COYLE / COURTESY strong presence on campus, the organizations’ philanthropy efforts, as well as their overall actions, impact the entire student body and community.

When it comes to volunteering, the fraternities and sororities are more similar than different, with the organizations often all working together.

Meaghan Higgins, a second semester junior, said that being a part of SDT has enhanced her experience at Manhattan and made it more memorable, such that she has found her home in the organization.

“The more I am myself, the more I fit in,” she said. “It’s not like the typical depiction of a sorority, it’s really a nice network of empowered girls.”

When she transferred to Manhattan College, Higgins

was a self-described introvert and wanted to improve herself.

She had doubts about rushing, because she thought she might have to act like someone that she isn’t. Ultimately, she found that she didn’t have to act differently because being a part of the Sigma Delta Tau community made her grow in ways she didn’t expect.

“I really expected it to be one of two extremes, but when I got into [Sigma Delta Tau], I realized all the girls were really excited for me to learn,” Higgins said.

An additional aspect that sets Greek life at Manhattan apart from other schools is that students don’t feel an obligation to join, whereas they may at larger schools.

“Here it’s laid back to an ex-

The Mu class is the newest group of Sigma Delta Tau sorority members who will be inducted later this fall.

CIARA COYLE / COURTESY

tent where you don’t feel forced to join, but joining is still a great decision,” Kwiecinski said. “If you’re not in Greek life here it’s not really a bad thing, but if you’re not in Greek life at a big southern school it’s kind of like they look down at it a little more.

Horror stories of hazing and intense initiations, in addition to the way that sororities and fraternities are depicted in movies and entertainment, have influenced many students’ overall views of Greek life.

Many Catholic schools, such as Fordham University, Georgetown University and the University of Notre Dame, don’t recognize Greek life chapters as affiliated with the school.

Manhattan College has chosen to officially recognize the chapters of APD, DKE and SDT but did shut down affiliations with a regional sorority at the start of the 2017-18 academic year after incidents of hazing came to light.

Despite the perception of Greek life being uncommon at Catholic schools, members of the three organizations find that the school’s Catholic roots offer unique aspects to their chapters. Belonging to a Catholic campus enhances their experience in the organization.

Although the popularity of Greek life is just beginning to increase, students claim their decisions in joining proved to benefit them.

“Joining DKE has made my experience at Manhattan College far better than it would have been,” said Frank Vigna, president of DKE. “I have established a great network of people, improved my leadership skills, and have gotten more involved on campus that I would have without the fraternity.”

News

OCTOBER 29, 2019

9

LGBTQ+ Students Challenge Lack of Protection Under ResLife Madalyn Johnson & Katie Heneghan Asst. A&E Editor & Asst. Features Editor

There are many terms and ways for an individual to define their gender identity. Yet, when registering as a student at Manhattan College you have two options, male or female. When signing up for housing, there are two options, male or female.

There is currently no written policy in place for LGBTQ+ students, particularly transgender, non-binary and the many varying definitions of gender identity to seek out housing options.

Even with the absence of written policy or procedure, Director of Residence Life Charles Clency and Interim Assistant Dean of Students A.J. Goodman work with students of varying gender identities in order to place them in suitable housing options at their own comfort level.

“Students who identify themselves as transgender to us, we work with them in terms of really just telling them to find a roommate that’s going to work for you and once you identify who that person is to us we’ll work with you on getting placed in an appropriate spot,” said Goodman.

The LGBTQ+ Student Group on campus holds a roommate mixer every year to help students identify who would be a suitable ally and roommate.

This is conducted both during the school year when the housing selection process is approaching as well as during new student orientations in the summer.

“Typically we actually ask students to self disclose. We try to set up these mixers and these meetings to put them in a comfortable setting. In terms of communicating this is something that they would typically e-mail Residence Life,” said Clency.

The outcome of this is typically helping students identify an ally or a student who identifies similarly to them in order to ensure that they are most

comfortable.

However, this process limits students who want to live in Jasper Hall or Chrystosym Hall for those dormitories provide communal bathrooms that are divided by sex.

“Typically when we’ve housed our transgender students we’ve typically targeted our suites because there is less people using those bathrooms and the relationships between the roommates and everything is kind of open. In terms of our traditional style housing, our communal bathroom is really bound to the gender,” said Clency.

Additionally, gender is integral in the language of the overnight guest policy in dorms. As of right now, overnight guests must match the gender of the student they are visiting in the Ellucian Banner student information system.

“The day guest policy doesn’t have a gender base to it so you can have a day guest no matter what the affiliation.

Overnight guest is bound to what’s identified in our Banner system,” said Clency.

Jordan Pascoe Ph.D, a philosophy professor, and Co-Director of the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center, believes that in the absence of written policy, there are more accommodations that could be made to make the process more suitable for students in a vulnerable position.

“My understanding is that the way Residence Life policy shifts is really in response to student asks. This is tricky because it puts our most vulnerable students in the position of having to ask for difficult things, which we are seeing right now with our trans students” said Pascoe.

Pascoe has advocated for more resources for LGBTQ+ students who are searching for appropriate rooming accommodations and believes that Residence Life should work with students and faculty to discuss and clarify certain policies.

“One of the projects I would really like to see take off, and I’ve been arguing about this for

a long time, is I think the most effective way we could provide those resources is if we built a campus wide governing body for Residence Life that treated Residence Life policies as part of our broader pedagogy,” said Pascoe.

The Women and Gender Resource Center, Pascoe emphasizes, has largely contributed to helping LGBTQ+ students figure out what housing policy they would like to see be established by the school to ensure students don’t have to approach Residence Life and talk about a personal and private matter, like sexuality and gender identity. The concerns and questions that were raised while RAs went through training led to the installment of the Women and Gender Resource Center.

“We have worked very closely with RAs in talking to RAs about what their concerns are, helping to provide programming to their students and generally we try to be a support arm for RAs. The Women and Gender Resource Center exists because RAs are on the frontline with all these issues, they are the ones dealing with it on a day to day basis and it was RAs that came together to form this center,” said Pascoe.

Pascoe finds that the process is more comfortable for cisgender students and that having students in an already vulnerable position come out to officals is not the best policy.

“Comfort is a matter of entitlement. So speaking the way we address this problem, is that the people who feel entitled and comfort, like as cisgender people we feel entitled to be comfortable. Part of transitioning is not ever feeling entitled to that comfort, you’re expecting the conversation to be uncomfortable,” she said.

Ashley Cross, Ph.D., is a professor in the English Department that has lots of expertise on the study of gender.

In her time at Manhattan, she helped develop a gender studies minor in the curriculm to stress the importance of being educated on someone’s sex.

Cross believes that the housing

policy for LGBTQ+ students should not have to put them in positions where they feel vulnerable.

“I think there has to be a way to do it that isn’t coming out. ‘I have to come and advocate for myself and say I’m lesbian, I’m gay, and I need this’.

That’s really hard for a student to do, especially for someone that might not be completely out. There has to be spaces created by Res. Life on campus, again gender inclusive spaces, that allow our LGBTQ+ people to have the same comfort level everyone does,” said Cross.

Cross wants campus services to think about students with different types of sexual orientations, not just heterosexuality.

“I hope that they are open, that they consider different housing needs, that they don’t make rules that are based on only heteronormative values. I would really like to see some gender neutral bathrooms, on campus, in the dorms, and I think that’s something to work toward. Ideally down the line, to have some kind of gender inclusive living space. A lot of campuses across the country are trying that,” said Cross.

What is coming down the pipeline for Residence Life in regards to LGBTQ+ housing policies is a bit different than what Cross is hoping for. Residence Life administrators as well as AJ Goodman, are working with students to develop a sort of written policy.

“Yes do I think it’s going to be somewhere written in our policy in the future, I would even say the near future? Absolutely. We just want to make sure we do it right and of course we want to include the students,” said Clency.

Despite the development of policy, Residence Life does not foresee a future of gender neutral or unisex housing spaces on campus.

“I can speak on a futuristic basis, like a unisex housing model, that’s not really something were talking about because we are a Catholic institution and I can’t say that’s on the horizon anytime soon. We are

aware that there are institutions around the country who offer that and New York City would certainly be an ideal place because it’s such a diversity rich environment in the type of students that are attracted here,” says Clency.

The announcement recently made at a senate meeting on Oct.15 to change the single stall bathrooms on the third floor of Kelly Commons is one step towards creating non-gendered spaces on campus.

Cross hopes that this is a step towards increased acceptance in the housing policy.

“I think there has to be places in the dorms where there are gender neutral bathrooms,” said Cross. “Maybe they don’t all have to be gender neutral, but there needs to be gender neutral options.”

As for student opinion, senior Megan Lawlor experienced first hand how the housing process would work with differing gender identities.

“Manhattan College has not yet caught up to the rest of the world. The policies we have in place make life extremely hard for trans students as they don’t take them into consideration.

I almost lived with a trans student last semester and the amount of hoops they made her and my roommates jump through was deeply concerning. I hope they improve in the future but they have a long way to go,” says Lawlor.

Gradually Manhattan College is making its way to being a Catholic institution that is completely inclusive to various gender identities and prioritizes making students part of the LGBTQ+ community feel cared for and comfortable. While the near future may not include as expansive changes as some campus advocates would like to see, creating a written LGBTQ+ housing policy is just one step towards change and towards opening up campuswide dialogue.

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Dating Gone Digital: The Truth About Dating Apps at MC Rose Brennan & Lauren Schuster A&E Editor & Social Media Editor

Dating is an activity which seems central to college life.

Whether with fellow students, students at other schools or anyone in the surrounding area, Manhattan College students are active in the dating scene.

But the current generation has a new way to date. Thanks to the proliferation of the Internet and smartphones, dating apps are now an integral part of dating life, even at MC. The beginning of online dating can be traced to about the year 2000, when Neil Clark Warren founded eharmony. com. Dating apps specifically, however, became increasingly popular in the year 2012. Since then, dating apps have become commonplace, especially on college campuses.

According to Bustle, the most popular dating app is Tinder, which has over 7 million monthly users. Other popular dating apps among college students are Grindr (6 million monthly users), Bumble (1 million monthly users), Coffee Meets Bagel (700,000 monthly

users) and Hinge (500,000 monthly users).

Senior Gillian Fleshman is an active user of Tinder, Bumble and Hinge. For Fleshman, the apps are often a way to simply kill some free time, although they can sometimes evolve into something more with the right person.

“I use them when I get bored, mostly, maybe like once a week, twice a week or something like that,” Fleshman said.

“It’s not like a habitual kind of thing. I use Tinder more just because it’s easier to swipe. I feel like Bumble and Hinge are more things you read, and you gotta read about the person, which I also like too.”

Fleshman also generally finds that people come to different apps with different intentions.

“I kind of feel like there’s certain connotations with certain dating apps. On Hinge, I’m looking for a relationship, and I … don’t know if I’m looking for that yet.” Fleshman said. “I’m not really sure what I want.

Tinder is just strictly hookups, and it’s very forward. And sometimes, it’s ‘Add me on Snap,’ and it tends to go off of the actual Tinder messaging system. And it’s just immediate bombardment of unsolicited

dick pics.”

While there are certainly negative experiences that come along with using dating apps, Fleshman has also recently experienced a substantial romantic relationship because of them.

“This January, I went over to a guy’s place, and I just didn’t leave for three days,” Fleshman said. “We just hung out the entire weekend, and we started dating. We just broke up earlier this semester, just due to school.”

Senior Olivia Haveron has used both Tinder and Bumble during her time at college, and echoed Fleshman’s sentiments of them usually just serving as a pastime.

“I don’t actually take [dating apps] very seriously,” Haveron said. “They have a stigma around them that they’re all for hookups, but honestly I just kind of go on there just for fun and just swipe.”

Haveron has never decided to take any of her online dating interactions into the real world.

“I talked to one person on and off for about a year but we never actually met in person, we would just text and FaceTime, but that’s the extent of it,” Haveron said.

While many interactions on

these apps remain casual, they can sometimes turn into aggressive harassment.

“The worst is one guy I didn’t respond to and he kept messaging me, and I never responded to him [from the beginning], and he was like ‘Listen, I just want to talk to you for a little bit, give you some good dick and leave your life forever,’” Haveron said.

When you run the risk of interactions like these, some might wonder why students continue using dating apps as often as they do. In Haveron’s experience, however, she has seen plenty of good things come out of the apps as well.

“A lot pf people I know have met their partner on dating apps whether it be Tinder, Bumble, or even Hinge which is more directed to dating rather than hook-ups,” Haveron said. “So I feel like especially in such a digital age, it is a lot easier to meet someone over a dating app. But I think the issue with them is a lot of people are only on there to hook up, so a lot of times you don’t know if somebody actually wants to be serious.”

Freshman student Ali James exclusively uses Tinder and expressed having a very casual approach, similar

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to Haveron’s. Like Haveron, James has also never gone on any real life dates with people she has matched with on the app, however, she still feels that they have both positives and negatives.

“I think the benefit of using a dating app is that it puts you in contact with many different types of people that you may not have thought to talk to on your own,” James said.

“But the downsides are that many people could pretend to be someone they are not, and what certain people say over the internet may not be true in real life.”

At the end of the day, using dating apps in a beneficial way is all about being clear about your intentions and respecting the intentions of others as well.

“I think dating apps have definitely connected more people, especially college students,” James said. “But at the same time, it’s important to think about if kids are specifically using the app to date, or just to hook up. Ultimately, I don’t think it is a good or bad thing, as long as both parties are honest and transparent about what they want.”

Features

OCTOBER 29, 2019

11

“Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby:” Oh Wait, We Can’t… It’s Banned Kelly Kennedy & Anna Woods Staff Writers

In the fall of 1996, Manhattan College students were no longer fooling around when they returned to campus to discover that sexual intercourse had been effectively banned.

The ban was in place for 20 years, only recently being repealed in 2016.

The ban, aptly known as Article or Item 15, was put in place after an incident occurred in the dorms in 1995. The incident involved several student-athletes partaking in what the College deemed as consensual sexual contact with a female student.

However, two members of the male basketball team were found to have violated dormitory rules and were promptly suspended from the team. The suspension of the two players made it into The New York Times. The story went to print because they were two valuable players to the team. The New York Times reported that according to school officials they were suspended “for unacceptable behavior in residence halls.”

Additionally, one of the male players and the female student involved, were charged with “behavior that is contrary to the order requisite for the educational, including conduct which threatens or endangers the life, health, safety or well being of others” and “creating or contributing to a situation that could be harmful to self or others.”

Thus, they were both put on disciplinary probation for that academic year and were mandated to attend three counseling sessions.

In 1996, the administration added Item 15 to the College Code of Conduct. Item 15 stated that “Any sexual intercourse while on campus, and outside the bounds of marriage is behavior that is unacceptable in the university community. Students involved in activity of this nature will be subject to disciplinary action/counseling.”

Jordan Pascoe, Ph.D., philosophy professor and co-director of the college’s Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center, first learned about the ban when a group of students approached her and asked about the policy.

“I knew that it had existed because part of how the [Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center] got going was four years ago a group of students came to me and they were becoming RA’s and they were like ‘Is sex banned or not?’ and I was like great question how could we not know this?’ and it turned out that 2016 the college repealed the sex ban but did not put any new policy in place,” Pascoe said She went on to explain the context in which the sex ban was established and its impact.

“Between 1992 and 1996 there were whole bunch of different moves being made on campuses around the country just reimagining what [consent policies] might look like… so there was a lot of activism around this in the mid 90s

The first article about Item 15 that was published in The Quad on September 16th, 1996.

MC ARCHIVES / COURTESY

and clearly Manhattan College took in all of this activism and then was like ‘we have it, let’s just ban sex’ … and we made big big national news for that.

It was one of those things that was covered on the nightly news across the country,” said Pascoe Gabby Kasper, a senior English and philosophy major, said, “It made national news, and people all across the country were talking about the sex ban on this campus. It was the ‘90s, we were past the sexual revolution and so there was no reason why a campus should be banning sex. It seemed almost archaic.”

Seniors Gabby Kasper and Alyssa Zduniak completed research on consent in accordance with Lasallian values and learned about the sex ban and its effects over the summer.

The ban received heavy backlash from students and professors on campus. The Quad published a series of articles covering it. “No Sex Rule Added to Student Handbook”

by CJ Morris, a student at the time, was the first of many articles published on the matter.

The article covered the reactions of students and faculty members. Morris reported that the resident director at the time Joseph Pirriello said “it was an unspoken expectation.” That idea was the biggest defense of administrators. That although there was never an explicit rule antagonizing sex, celibacy was expected of the students.

The American Association of University Professors Manhattan College chapter also opposed the Item 15 and disputed the soundness of it. They argued that it violated the freedoms and rights of students.

In an open letter to College community, they claimed that “as champions of academic freedom and as advocates for faculty and student rights … we wish to assure the Manhattan College community that sexual intercourse is not ‘unacceptable’ in the university community. Sexual relations between students has ‘no direct relevance’ to a university student’s education and should neithe be promoted nor prescribed in the university community. Students at Manhattan College are legally adults and are responsible for their own sexual views, orientation and activities. Students at Manhattan College deserve the trust and respect of the entire college community and the presumption that they will act responsibly in sexual matters.”

Alyssa Zduniak, a senior English, political science and philosophy major, said, “Students and faculty were responding very negatively to

this. It was something no one really wanted to enforce, it was something that was put on the books so the school could cover itself.”

Essentially, it was put in place as an alternative to a consent policy. This act banned sex in all it’s forms, including consensual sex. And so the question to be asked is: where did that leave students when it came to reporting sexual assault on campus?

“This sex ban was kind of the school’s way of avoiding having to deal with these things. Because if you’re reporting sexual assault, you shouldn’t have even been having sex in the first place,” said Kasper, “And that’s all speculation of course, but that’s kind of what happened when these incidents were reported.”

With a policy of all sex banned, students had no way to report sexual assault without incriminating themselves.

They also had no way to learn and grow in the way a typical college student would.

“By banning sex on campus, what you’re really doing is limiting a student’s ability to create permissible sexual actions. Because even if a student isn’t having sexual interactions here on campus, they still need to use this time to understand what it means and what’s required and how to create a better experience. And so the school was really failing the students in that way,” said Zduniak.

Jordan Pascoe also discussed the problems that went along with the ban and how it negatively affected students..

“It produced a whole host of problems that we’re still seeing reverberated. The sex ban produced, for example, a ban on being pregnant in the dorms.

You get kicked out of the dorms if you’re pregnant. There was a Catch-22 problem that if you reported a sexual assault and they decided that it wasn’t assault, could they then kick you out of the dorms for having had sex?” said Pascoe.

Several other college campuses have had similar bans but many repealed them in the early 2000s having realized that the ban prevented many people from reporting sexual assault. Amongst this nationwide change Manhattan College still kept the ban in place.

Another layer of issues that arose with the ban was the fact that many faculty members had no idea that the ban existed.

Many only found out about the ban when Kasper and Zduniak presented their research several weeks ago.

Pascoe continued by pondering the legacy of the ban.

She brought up the notion that although the ban has been re-

pealed the College has just established less explicit policy that tried to achieve the same goal: limiting the chances of having sex and stigmatizing the conversation surrounding sex. She argued that the ban is not only a question of moralizing sex but also pathologizing it as well.

“It’s also worth thinking about how the sex ban and the limits, for example, on students of different sexes signing each other into the dorms is still reproducing the superstructure of access [control]. Part of what access [control] is doing is it’s echoing and exasperating the sex ban. So that even though the sex ban has been repealed it’s still operating,” Pascoe said She argued that the ban is not only a question of moralizing sex but also pathologizing it as well. Pascoe aslo went on to connect the implacations the ban has in regards to gender and how it plays into rape culture.

“The ban on sex is a gendered ban. It’s justified explicitly in terms of assuming this is the only way to protect women and that the way we protect women is we can’t possibly expect men to have sexual urges that they don’t act on inappropriately,” said Pascoe” She continued.

“When we first brought this question to the administration four years ago, which was partly about confusion about what the College’s consent policy and what the sex policy was because none of us had idea any idea. We literally have no policy now. what were we told in response was that we did not need a sex policy and we did not need consent policy because the colleges position on all of this was the importance of civility and decorum,” Pascoe said.

She continued.

“When you tell women in rape culture civility and decorum that’s coded as silence.

That’s coded as not speaking up and not resisting. That’s coded as being the nice girl who lets things happen to her and then does say anything afterwards,” she said.

While Manhattan College does explain Title IX proceedings in the handbook, there is no mention of the sex policy.

Pascoe explained that while Title IX is an incredibly important, we still frame sex as a crisis and as trauma. She continued by saying that typically sex is dealt with in a responsive way rather than a proactive way. It labels girls as “pre-victims” and boys as “pre-perpetrators.” It leaves people thinking.

“It was very extreme for a campus in New York City,” said Kasper.

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12

THE QUADRANGLE

Having it All, Hold the Burnout Megan Dreher & Shannon Gleba

Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer It’s 2019, and working women are tired.

Unions fought with vigor for the 9 to 5 work day, with attention to at least one day of leisure and rest. Time has passed, technology has evolved and we are still working. But, we seem to be giving more into our work, and it’s showing in ways that are not rewarding.

Merriam-Webster defines burnout as “exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration.” This depleting feeling is all too common amongst working individuals, but is also deeply gendered in that women are taking on tasks both in their personal and professional lives with little time to care for the self. It leaves women with an important, looming question to answer: is it possible to have it all— the social life, the family and the well-established career?

On Wednesday, October 23, the Women in Business and the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center (LWGRC) partnered to sponsor a discussion with Jordan Pascoe, Ph.D., professor of philosophy and co-director of the LWGRC. Conversation centered on the topic of burnout and balance for women. During the event, titled “Slow Burn: Women, Work, and Relationships” Pascoe discussed her personal journey of burnout— being the only female in her graduate school program, meeting her husband, getting married, having children, all while establishing herself within her career.

“What it taught me was that I had to keep up all of my defenses all of the time. I had to perform perfect competence in every single part of my life for everyone. Perfect parenting for everyone who thought I wasn’t a real parent because I was a step parent. I had to perform being excellent as a teacher and as a philosopher for everyone I knew in graduate school and the teaching world. And I also had to perform for all of the female mentors in my life who were regularly telling me that there was no way I could possibly do it all, and I had to make different choices. So I got really, really good at taking on more than any one person should,” said Pascoe.

Unfortunately, life does not stop while trying to perfect the constants in ones life. Pascoe’s home flooded three times over the course of a year, causing added stress and instability.

She continued to teach, parent, and just “hold on” in an effort to do everything perfectly. That

is, until she realized with the help of a colleague that failure is inevitable, so she had to pick what things she could fail at.

“I could not fail as a parent.

I could not fail in my marriage.

But I could fail at other stuff. I could fail at cooking. I could fail at cleaning. I could fail at being well dressed. All of this reminded me that resilience is a practice, it’s not something that you could store up and bank and then draw from in tough times.

It’s something you do through your relationship with yourself and other people,” said Pascoe.

It was when Pascoe felt most broken and burnt out that she realized the need to say yes to accepting help from others.

“This semester, I’m trying not to be so very competent at everything. I’m trying not to expect exhaustion from myself, and I’m asking for help. I’m trying to remember that what needs to guide me through these sorts of decisions is not a constant need to prove myself to everybody, but rather a genuine sense of commitment and joy,” said Pascoe.

Similar to the sentiments of Pascoe, professor of religious studies Natalia Imperatori-Lee, Ph.D., also finds herself trying to avoid burnout, something she has seen her colleagues and students experience all too often.

“I have colleagues that have left tenure track jobs behind due to the overwhelming pres-

sures to produce and be productive at all times. I think this particularly affects students who have been pressured to accumulate extracurricular activities and accomplishments in order to “stand out” on college and other applications. If you compound these habits with the performative culture of social media, where we do things for “likes” and “follows,” it can lead to a feeling of always being under pressure to perform or produce good, happy, interesting content. But the price of that is often balance, and what suffers is our mental health,” said Imperatori-Lee. The balance of building a family is exceptionally hard for women in any professional career. The unpredictable process can be taxing for women, especially when they are expected to maintain proficiency in their work. Imperatori-Lee echoed this sentiment.

“I think if a woman is hoping to start a family, being aware that 1. it’s not easy to get and stay pregnant for everyone and 2. pregnancy can have major, major health complications can help in terms of expectations management. When I was an undergrad I thought people decided to “have a baby” and then in a year or so they had a baby. But my experience, as well as that of an overwhelming majority of my friends, is that it is WAY more complicated than that. Having a good support

system, including a partner with similar goals and values, who is willing to share the significant workload of the family/ career matrix, is vital. Having a family and a career is very much like running a small business in addition to whatever your job is, and the more hands you can have on deck for that the better it is,” said ImperatoriLee. While burnout most definitely impacts many women in all fields, Imperatori-Lee has found some ways to find a balance between both her career in academia, and her personal life.

When asked what advice she would give college-aged women entering the workforce, Imperatori-Lee said, “Make peace with not doing everything as well as you had thought you could. I’m a big fan of choosing what to fail at.

Women especially are pressured to look and act effortlessly perfect, and that is just not physically possible. So being kind to yourself, and reminding yourself that you would not judge a friend for a messy house or a wrinkled shirt, is an important skill to develop early on.”

Senior Chemical Engineering major, Kerry Cavanaugh, is preparing herself for the workforce. As someone who was heavily involved on campus over her four years at Manhattan, she is hopeful that the

burnout she has experienced as an undergraduate will not translate to the same degree in the professional world.

“Burnout is always in the back of my head. Having experienced it in my undergraduate career, I am very aware of what it feels like, and aim to prevent it from happening more often.

Coming into the workforce, I feel like it’ll be a little bit easier because I’ll have less things to balance, and can focus on just one area,” said Cavanaugh.

Like Pascoe and ImperatoriLee, Cavanaugh agrees that it is important to schedule time for yourself to find joy. Even the smallest breaks can be restorative, and prevent burnout for women who are showing how strong, independent, and powerful they can be.

“As ridiculous as it sounds, sometimes it takes blocking out time in my Google Calendar as ‘Free’ to remind myself to take a breath. Even if it’s 15-20 minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, it’s so important to step aside from what’s stressing you out. Because I don’t always have time for an hour long break, I try to make the most of those shorter blocks of time. It’s all about finding joy and happiness in the smallest of things,” said Cavanaugh.

Dr. Jordan Pascoe spoke to students in the Lasallain Women and Gender Resource Center about the harmful effects of overloading one’s self without taking the time to recharge.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS / COURTESY

OCTOBER 29, 2019

Arts & Entertainment

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LGBTQ+ Community Finds Inclusivity in Theatre

Madalyn Johnson Asst. A&E Editor

LGBTQ+ advocacy is a big part of what makes New York City one of the most diverse and celebrated cities in the United States. Manhattan College being found on that city, students and faculty stress the value of acceptance and making everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, feel part of the Jasper community.

The Music and Theater Department of the college has emphasized this idea of acceptance and allowing students to freely express who they are through the craft of performing arts. Clubs and organizations part of this department like Scatterbomb and MC Players associate their job as performers, to diversify their shows and express all types of characters, with coming to terms about sexuality.

Jenn Bueti is a junior and is double majoring in adolescent education and English, she is also a theater minor. A long participant and member of Scatterbomb, Bueti feels broadening the theater community to represent and welcome all types of people is crucial.

“I think any theater company or production is very inclusive because the whole point of acting is you need diversity and you need other people’s opinions and perspectives on things and so that’s the same with sexual orientation too,” said Bueti.

Through acting, Bueti explained the theater clubs at Manhattan College are determined to reach out to all types of students and just like a student joining a new club and connecting with an entirely different group of people, the thought of coming out to others can as well be uncomforting and intimidating.

“Players try to just reach different people who feel they normally wouldn’t do this kind of thing and know that like theater and improv is scary sometimes and coming to terms to being in the community can be scary and we’re all just going through it together. It’s like a saying, ‘theater is experimental’. In every sense of the term, people should feel free to come and try to express themselves and find out how with that platform.”

Regarding the resources available for LGBTQ+ students on campus that represent a Lasallian value the school constantly prides themselves on, acceptance, Bueti is pleased to see new centers become installed but wants to see Manhattan College open their ho-

rizons and progressively have greater LGBTQ+ representation in terms of organizations provided on campus.

“I think lately we have been trying to do that like with the women and gender center, the multicultural center but those are so pushed off into Kelly like we don’t have a space here on main campus. That’s saying get more representation on campus but the question is how? I think what we’ve been doing so far is people that are trying to make a space at the table for those people from that community is on the rise lately.”

Bueti’s dedication to the performing arts and being a part of the theater company and improvisational group at Manhattan College has allowed her to learn not only how to better perform as an actor, but why trying new things can help someone determine who they are sexually and overall as a person.

“For me, I’m involved in a lot of different programs besides players and scatterbomb, and those have helped me shaped other parts of my identity too rather than just sexual orientation. So if they’re not even comfortable doing those two things, try something, put yourself out there, meet somebody, and you’ll have a connection and knowing you aren’t alone in what you’re thinking is very important.”

James Caldwell (JRC), director of Manhattan College Players, can also relate to various gender definitions and sexualities being diversified and demonstrated in theater, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

“As a gay person, I never once had a fear of expressing who I am. That’s never been once an issue in my professional, theatrical life and I know in other roams it would be,” said JRC. JRC believes theater can be a safe environment for actors to simply be themselves despite their being a history of gender based discrimination in the theater community.

“Theater has always been most accepting place for everyone but we know that historically that’s not true. We know that women were not allowed to perform for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years. I think in modern times, in our times, it’s always been a place for anyone who thinks they’re on the outside of the mainstream.”

Growing up in the midwest, JRC went to Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois to major in musical theater performance.

He then finished his under-

graduate degree at C.W. Post of Long Island University where he received a BFA in acting training and after earned an MFA in playwriting at Columbia University. Through engaging in theater, JRC explained he’s always felt comfortable being himself and expressing his sexuality even after being raised in an Amish community in a small town of North Indiana.

“I grew up in the midwest in the 90s and I started going to college around late 90s, early 2000s. Even there, in the midwest, which is traditionally thought as more of a conservative area, in the theater department at the big school I went to I finally felt safe,” JRC shared.

“I finally felt like ‘oh my gosh, know who I am and I can express that freely’. Whether it’s the little school I went to in Illinois or the undergrad I went to out on Long Island or Columbia, I always felt free to be myself.”

As for sexuality being implemented in the performing arts, JRC argues that sexual identity plays a critical role in discovering what a student can showcase through their acting but doesn’t generally sum up what the purpose of theater is and why it is performed.

“A person’s identity when participating in theater is obviously important because it determines in many ways what they are able to express through acting, through writing, through design. However as people gather to make theater, the particulars of someone’s identity don’t really matter, it’s not something we really talk about. Not because we’re afraid to but our goal here is to put on a good play.”

Gabby Kasper is a senior who is double majoring in English and philosophy who also greatly agrees with the fact that theater was a major component in helping her feel confident about her sexuality.

“I was out before I came to college but I do think that my experiences in theater groups in high school were a big reason why I was able to feel comfortable with my sexuality,” Kasper shared.

Kasper’s view on theater being a platform where people of different sexualities can express themselves and feel happy with who they are is that even though the craft can help students, more acceptance and understanding needs to come from Manhattan College as a whole.

“I think it is super imporant that we don’t see the acceptance of queer people as something siloed to the theater or to

Gabby Kasper in Shakespeare Abridged, last year’s Players production.

GABBY KASPER / COURTESY the LGBTQ+ club. This is work that we all need to be doing on campus, we all need to be willing to have these conversations,” Kasper said. “I also really think that it’s wrong to think that theater is a completely safe space for all queer people, there is still a lot of work to be done inside all theatrical communities as well as in the world at large.”

The idea of theater changing people’s perceptions about people in the LGBTQ+ community Kasper feels negatively about for the performing arts and artistic expression should not contribute to the change that allows people who classify themselves with different gender identities to be truly accepted.

“If anything they are just going to see queer people as like a novelty and a source of entertainment, ignoring the actual human behind the performance. I don’t mean to sound pessimistic because I do believe that there is a lot that the theater can do in terms of the fight for acceptance, but I think that this is work that must be done primarily outside of the theater so that when people enter the theater they are doing so with a truly accepting mind.”

Megan Lawlor is a Secondary/Special Education major also minoring in theater and feels more optimistic about the idea of LGBTQ+ representation in theater.

“By engaging with stories about people different than ourselves, we get to see the world from another perspective and gain a deeper understanding of each other. For people who identify as LGBTQ+, we get to see the representation of ourselves onstage which can deeply impact how we view ourselves. And cisgender heterosexuals get the chance to see a different portrayal of the LG-

BTQ+ community that might not fit into their idea of what it is, making them reexamine their beliefs,” said Lawlor.

Lawlor is another member of MC Players who found theater to be a gateway to being open about her sexual orientation to other students on campus notwithstanding having trouble being open about it at home. Through Players, Lawlor describes that she embraced who she was in an atmosphere where some members were queer themselves and openly accepting of anyone who identified themselves as so.

“I hadn’t come out as bisexual to many people back home but I felt like I was ready to come into my own as a bisexual woman,” Lawlor said. “It was actually my friends I met through Players that I came out to first. I knew that they were all open-minded and would accept me just the same as if I were straight. I have met many of my queer friends on campus by doing productions with Players.”

In addition to Manhattan College’s theater program warmly welcoming its members for who they are sexualy, Lawlor, among other MC students of the LGBTQ+ community, believes there is still room for achievement.

“I think that one of the biggest things that Manhattan College needs to work on to show more support for the LGBTQ+ community is to take an active effort in promoting LGBTQ+ acceptance on campus. While the atmosphere is fairly open towards LGBTQ+ individuals, many people do not feel welcomed here. I think the efforts of the LGBT+ club on campus have been very well received this year with their talk about LGBTQ+ individuals and the church. I’d like to see more things like that in the future.”

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THE QUADRANGLE

Catholicism, The Quadrangle and a Feud Over a “69” Sophia Sakellariou Production Editor

Representing one’s graduating year is a symbol of the pride and sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a college degree. The numbers emblazoned on a shirt or sweatshirt mark the time when all of the hard work students put in day in and day out will finally pay off. However, this was not the case for the freshman class of 1969, when sweatshirts with the phrase “Manhattan 69” were banned by Brothers of the college and mayhem ensued.

Members of the freshman class made the sweatshirts for their graduating year, but faced great backlash when Brother Barnabas Edward discovered that “69” is a slang expression for a common sexual practice.

This would just not stand at a prestigious Catholic institution such as Manhattan so Brother Edward asked Brother Calixtus Eugene, the freshman class moderator at the time, to put an end to the sweatshirt sales.

A meeting was organized in Smith Auditorium to carry out the task.

The meeting quickly went South when Brother Eugene

ordered Quadrangle staffers, the Editor-in-Chief and two reporters, to leave. The freshman Quadrangle staffers were able to stay. During the course of the meeting, a Quadrangle photographer entered the auditorium and tried to take a photo of Brother Eugene.

“I wouldn’t take that picture, sonny. Your buddies were in here before. If you were here on time, you would have been thrown out with the others.

Beat it, buster,” said Brother Eugene to the photographer.

The adamant dismissal of Quadrangle staff enraged those who were barred from the meeting and prompted op-eds of outrage from the dismissed staffers. John McFarland, a Quadrangle reporter wrote a piece entitled “The Time Has Come,” that outlined five missteps of the administration surrounding the sweatshirt ban. “[The regulation] was the most minor of the mistakes of the administration. It merely showed arrant stupidity. Just what is so horrid about a little double entendre, and isn’t the resulting notoriety a lot more embarrassing than the existence of the sweatshirts?” wrote McFarland.

He then ridiculed Brother Eugene’s “psych job” of a meet-

ing that was a “tour de force of intimidation,” leaving freshman officers in a state of terror. In regards to the dismissal of the Quad staff, McFarland argued that Brother Eugene was merely interested in “keeping the Quadrangle from airing the college’s dirty laundry,” and was more interested in avoiding embarrassing publicity than correcting moral wrongs.

Brother Eugene made references throughout the meeting that his position as freshman moderator was akin to that of a father of a family. As such, he did not think “there [was] any father who would see his son wearing one of these sweatshirts and not slap him down.”

The meeting resulted in a detailed policy on how to address the problem. Brother Barnabas Edward came to the conclusion that students must abide by the following alternatives: “Manhattan College” may only appear on sweatshirts marked “1969” Shirts may have “69” with an apostrophe before the “6,” but “Manhattan College” may not appear on them Shirts with only “69” on them may not be worn on campus Brother Eugene concluded

The sweatshirt that caused much controversy for it sexual connotation.

MC ARCHIVES/ COURTESY the meeting with the statement, “You won’t be a complete man until you feel the grinding foot of discipline.”

Joe Liggio contributed reporting.

A Look into Films Originally Banned by the Vatican Rose Brennan A&E Editor

Within the American Catholic Church is an organization called the National Legion of Decency, also known as the Catholic Legion of Decency.

This legion serves as a middle man between the American film industry and Catholics.

The National Legion of Decency has a rating system not unlike popular websites such as Rotten Tomatoes or the scale used by the Motion Picture Association of America. The original rating system used an A-BC system. Films that received an “A” rating were considered suitable for a general movie audience, and films with a “B” rating were considered somewhat morally objectionable.

Films with a “C” rating, however, were condemned by the Church, and were blacklisted from the viewership of Catholics.

Since 1978, however, the

rating system has become a binary: “A” for acceptable films and “O” for morally offensive films.

Whether banning explicit content actually prevents people from seeking said content is effective or not remains questionable at best. However, it is nevertheless interesting to look at some of the films that received C ratings from the National Legion of Decency.

From Russia With Love “Espionage thriller marred by some scenes of sadistic violence, casual sexual encounter and suggestive dialogue.”

Next to being in a Harry Potter film, one of the greatest honors a British actor or actress can receive is appearing in a movie. Why would the Church ban a film from one of the most iconic film series of all time? Whether it is the gun violence in the film or the casual sex James Bond has with beautiful women, this clearly did not pass the Church’s lit-

mus test, given its C rating.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly “Directed with some class

by Sergio Leone, the movie’s good is overwhelmed by the bad and the ugly.”

Not even one of the most iconic Western films of all time could garner a stamp of approval from the Church. What is particularly interesting about the criticism received by the film is the lack of specificity to the Legion’s condemnation of the film. It notes that parts of the movie are good, but that the “bad” parts outweigh it. In addition, they fail to elaborate on what those “bad” and “ugly” things are.

A Clockwork Orange “The Kubrick-Burgess message about the human right to a free will is not very new or startling … excessive violence and nudity in a sexual context.”

While we might think the idea of banning a film as silly, if

there was a film that deserved to be on the list, it’s “A Clockwork Orange.” The main character of the film delights in excessive physical and sexual violence, and much of the film focuses on that. The funny thing is, the book from which “A Clockwork Orange” was adapted is actually much more explicit and graphic than the film itself. Nevertheless, even the somewhat censored version of “A Clockwork Orange” was considered morally objectionable.

Fight Club “A punch-drunk fantasy of macho brutality and mindless terrorism against that society before the plot self-destructs in a meaningless ending. Excessive violence, sexual encounters, nudity, rough language and profanity.”

Unlike the Legion’s vague description of why it objected to “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly,” there are no holds barred with this condemnation

of “Fight Club.” “Fight Club” was definitely a controversial film when it first came out, and it remains so today. Its controversy nevertheless cemented it as an iconic American film, albeit with a stamp of disapproval from the Legion.

Scarface “Brian De Palma’s ugly, turgid, foul-mouthed and violent movie owes little to the original and is classic only in the sense of its crude self-indulgence.

Perversely excessive violence.”

Whether it was the woman shooting at Tony Montana with one of her breasts exposed or it was the 10-minute long violent shootout Tony does while he is high on cocaine, somehow, this film was condemned by the Church. Like “A Clockwork Orange” and “Fight Club,” there’s really no mystery as to how this film became condemned by the legion. However, it still remains one of, if not the, most iconic gangster film in American history.

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Taboo Book Nook: My Top Three Coming-of-Age Banned Books BOOK NOOK Maria Thomas Asst. News Editor

It is nearly impossible for me to narrow down my top three favorite banned books, because it seems like all of my favorite books were banned somewhere at some point for some reason.

To make the task a little easier, I chose to focus on the coming-of-age story, or bildungsroman.

Traditionally, the bildungsroman is a type of novel that focuses on the development of a main character.

Typically, readers witness a character’s emotional or psychological growth from childhood to adulthood.

Additionally, I tried to pick three novels that were banned for diverse reasons. Some of my banned book honorable mentions include but are not limited to: “Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, “To Kill a Mockingbird”

by Harper Lee, “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Sallinger and “Slaughterhouse Five” by Kurt Vonnegut.

“Forever” by Judy Blume Censored on the basis of sexual content “Forever,” published in 1975, focuses on a topic that is still just as applicable today as it was when released: teenage sexuality and love.

The novel follows the life of 17 year old Katherine, a senior in high school, and her exploration of relationships, sexuality and love. Katherine is extremely cautious about her decision to become sexually active. She discusses it with her mother and grandmother, reads literature on the subject and goes

to planned parenthood to discuss birth control options; she is even warned about venereal diseases.

The book follows Katherine’s relationship with her boyfriend Michael. Although the two teens plan on being together forever, they both grow and meet new people. Although the main character may not grow much in age throughout the course of this story, she grows vastly in her outlook on love, sex and relationships.

Despite Blume’s honest depiction of a teenager considering the gravity of becoming sexually active, the novel was deemed inappropriate by many parents, schools and libraries nationwide, because it did not promote sexual abstinence and monogamous relationships.

“Forever” placed number seven on the American Library Association’s list, “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999.”

This book is so important, because it offers teenagers an outlet to learn about the serious aspects of having sex.

Blume warns about the potential threat of unwanted pregnancy or STDs without coming off as preachy.

In an interview with The Guardian, Blume said that sometimes, her books spark questions in young adults, which should be considered a good thing. “[They] will actually go to mom or dad and say ‘What does this mean?’ Which is the perfect time to talk to them about it. But that’s when sometimes parents get hysterical. Really. It’s like, ‘Argh, I don’t want to talk to you about this, let’s get rid of this book, I don’t ever want to talk to you about this, I don’t ever want

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you to go through puberty.’”

“Candide” by Voltaire - Censored on the basis of religious blasphemy “Candide,” published in 1759, is a philosophical novel that tells the story of a man named Candide and his journey after being banished from his home in Westphalia for loving Cunégonde, the daughter of a baron.

After leaving Westphalia, Candide encounters various horrors of the world, such as war, rape, theft, shipwrecks, earthquakes, cannibalism and slavery. Prior to leaving home, Candide was taught by a professor named Pangloss, who instilled in him a philosophy of optimism and the belief that “all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds,” or that everything happens for a reason.

After witnessing and surviving various traumas, however, Candide’s philosophy in life shifts drastically. In the end, Candide and his companions settle down on a farm, and they all agree that the secret to happiness is “to cultivate one’s garden,” or to simply stop thinking so hard.

“Candide” reminds me of a children’s storybook (besides its at times graphic subject matter), because it has such a fast-paced, far-fetched plot line.

This novel exemplifies the principles of a bildungsroman, as Candide grows in his thought process and no longer relies on Pangloss’s philosophy of optimism. It is considered to be a picaresque novel, which is a type of bildungsroman that has a more satirical tone.

In this novel, Voltaire attacked some of the most widely respected institutions of his

time: religion, the military and philosophers, and built the story around historical events that were happening at the time of its release. After being published, the book was banned by the Parisian government and the Great Council of Geneva. In 1762 “Candide” was included on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, the Roman Catholic Church’s list of prohibited books.

“Rubyfruit Jungle” by Rita Mae Brown - Censored on the basis of homosexual content Rubyfruit Jungle, published in 1973, is a coming-of-age story told through the eyes of Molly Bolt. This bildungsroman begins when Molly is seven and details her journey through life until she is in her early 20s. We discover early on in the novel that Molly is attracted to women. She is tough, funny and often times crude or offensive.

At one point, Brown includes a reversal of the “male gaze” concept, when Molly charges people to look at her friend Broccoli Detwiler’s penis. Most importantly, Molly refuses to be defined. She is a true illustration of individuality, as she successfully resists conforming to the labels society wants to give her.

When the story was published, it was unacceptable for someone to be something other than cisgender or straight.

This was a coming-of-age coming-out story that so many members of the LGBTQ+ community identified with.

That being said, what I find most enticing about this book is that it is not meant to be a revolutionary novel or an inspiration for members of the LG-

BTQ+ community. It is simply meant to be a story about a girl navigating sex, relationships and encroaching adulthood.

Sounds a lot like Judy Blume’s “Forever,” doesn’t it?

The only big difference is that the female protagonist in “Rubyfruit Jungle” doesn’t come in a nice neat package.

Not only is Molly Bolt not heterosexual, she resists being labeled as a lesbian, and consideres herself queer (when forced to label her sexuality).

Molly says, “Why does everyone have to put you in a box and nail the lid on it? I don’t know what I am — polymorphous and perverse. Shit. I don’t even know if I’m white.

I’m me. That’s all I am and all I want to be. Do I have to be something?”

“Rubyfruit Jungle” is another picaresque novel, and the title is actually a phrase used by Molly Bolt in the novel to describe female genitals. All of the major publishing companies in the United States refused to publish this book when Brown brought it to them. Eventually, a very small feminist print company agreed to publish it.

It became a huge success, and was then purchased by a larger publishing company. It has been banned in many schools and libraries, considered to be sexually explicit.

This book will challenge everything you think you know about being an LGBTQ+ ally or advocate, and will make you laugh in the process. Thank you to Ashley Cross, Ph.D., for including this book on your Gender and Literature syllabus last semester. I wouldn’t be writing about it now if it weren’t for you.

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THE QUADRANGLE

The Powerful History of the First Lady Jaspers

After the Marist game, Manhattan junior Berti Fourrier now has three goals and three assists on the season.

MC ARCHIVES / COURTESY

Nicole Fitzsimmons & Caroline McCarthy Staff Writers

One hundred and twenty years after the establishment of Manhattan College in 1853, the first women were accepted as undergraduate students.

This first step in equality was followed by an ambitious leap to close the gap between male and female students on campus. Only two years later, a few individuals amongst these women took it into their own hands to expand the athletic realm of the college to both genders— starting with basketball.

According to Amy Surak, the Director of Archives and Special Collections at Manhattan College, the acceptance of women to the school came quite abruptly. The male to female ratio at the college in its earliest years was eight to one.

They began admitting women into a few programs, which

trickled down into accepting them into more as time passed.

There was little preparation; the college still subjected women to limited bathroom options. So, the idea of an athletic program for women was not exactly in the cards just yet.

There was little talk of funding a women’s program prior to the arrival of freshman Kathy McCarrick in 1975. McCarrick, alongside twelve other eager women hoping to continue their basketball careers, had profound effects on creating the first Manhattan College Women’s Basketball Team.

In 1972, the Title IX law that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded program or activity was passed into the Education Amendments. With the introduction of equality, MC was faced with many administrative changes and economic pressures. Due to the help of a few faculty members, a few girls on the team took on the duty of creating an MC basketball team through a grassroots at-

tempt.

Current Professor of Kinesiology at MC and former member of the first MC basketball team in 1975, Lisa Tuscano Ph.D., said “I think Title IX was really significant. When we first started, it was kinda like, they had to do it. So, they just let us do it.”

When asked on the opinions on faculty members at the time, Tuscano said they were very supportive. “They were like ‘Oh, women are here, you wanna do this, that’s great, we’ll support you,” said Tuscano.

Tuscano and McCarrick worked to recruit other female basketball players for their team. With advice from Fred Marro, Student Government head of intramural sports, they worked to organize the team which the college deemed a “club.” She then got a club moderator, Prof. John Sich, and a student coach, Jerry Fahey, from the The Physical Education Department.

Upon the creation of the club, the Athletic Department

scheduled time for the newly established basketball club to practice and Student Government supplied some funding.

“It was two nineteen year olds trying to do this…At that time, we didn’t really have administrative help,” said Tuscano.

The first year, the team played surrounding High Schools, and out of a five game season, only won two games.

However as the program developed, other students started expressing interest in the sport. By the following year, more than 30 women tried out for the team.

The early years for the girl’s basketball team depicted subtle inequality due to issues in scheduling, inexperience in skill level, and lack of funding.

The team started out with very few wins and little coverage in Student run organizations, such as The Quadrangle.

“It was like we didn’t know any better for the first three years when we were a club team, we did everything

through Student Government, we got a budget of, I don’t know, 200 dollars. We bought t-shirts, we drove our own cars to game, we made our own schedule, we got the referees,” said Tuscano.

The one important factor that the woman never lacked was passion and student support. Tuscano said, “We had a lot of people for such a little gym before we became varsity.

Our friends and even the guys we went to school with came up, said ‘Oh, they’re gonna play’ and watched half of our games, and then played intramurals.”

As time passed, the girls really began to quickly grow and become a respectable team. In the last game of the first year, the team beat Mount Saint Vincent College in the old gym of Alumni Hall.

Tuscano describes the game by saying, “you would have thought we won the Olympics because it was the first game we ever won. Then the next year more women

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A Lady Jasper taking a free throw at a Jasper Women’s Basketball game during the 1976-1977 season.

MC ARCHIVES/ COURTESY came in, and we got better.”

In the 1975 edition of the Quadrangle, former player Pam Perrone told reporters, “This is only our first year but within two years we’ll be the best in the city and who knows, maybe someday we’ll play in the Garden like the boy’s team.”

Perrone’s excitement ultimately did predict the team’s success. The team continued to prove itself in the following years and started to win big.

According to GoJaspers, “Within three years, the Manhattan women’s basketball team won the Hudson Valley League Women’s Championship as the only non-scholarship team in the league competing against varsity squads.”

The next year, the women shed their ‘club’ title and were awarded with Varsity Status.

Just a few years later they played Rutgers University, one of the top five teams in the country at the time, and only lost by a point.

The enthusiasm displayed by the girls never diminished, even as they faced hardships caused by the lack of accessibility for them at the college.

“Our locker room was in an equipment room. Two people had to hold up towels to block it and people would change and switch positions,” said Tuscano. During games, girls would have to run down to Miguel Hall to use the bathroom.

The struggle for equality in athletics upon women entering the college did not fade away following the 70’s. In 1992, former Manhattan coach, Kathy Solano, told the Gannett Suburban Newspaper, it’s a “female

head coach going against a good-old-boy network.”

Even today, basic social gender discrepancies are evident throughout the school.

“I’ve never seen women’s sports advertising on campus,” said Lilli Bifferato, a freshman at Manhattan College.

Though signs are put up the day of games, men’s sports tend to be the social norm for students and faculty members to verbally advertise.

Another Manhattan College freshman, Liam Sawyer, told the Quadrangle, “the only time

I hear about women’s sports is if they are in a major game like a final or a playoff. The other week there was a women’s soccer game against Iona and I didn’t see or hear any advertising for it until the game was almost over.”

Manhattan College has come a long way in terms of women’s sports by way of the Title IX movement, and key influencers such as McCarrick and Tuscano. The Manhattan College community claims to support women in sports, and should reinforce their opinions

by being active and present fans at the games.

The legacy of those who grew the athletic program in Manhattan for women from the ground up will always be admired. What seems so attainable for current students was not for these women; they worked for years to prove that they deserved to have the same accessibility to varsity sports as men.

“We were a bunch of kids who wanted to play ball. That’s what we were, we were a bunch of women who wanted to play

basketball and continue from highschool. It wasn’t here so we did what we have to do, we didn’t know any better. When you think about it now, you say ‘oh, was it hard?’ Yeah, but we didn’t know… And actually, it was really a lot of fun. The biggest thing is that I’m still really good friends with the people I started with. You go through something like that, this was 40 years ago, and they are still friends of mine, some of my best friends… That’s the beauty of it,” said Tuscano.

Tip-off during an early MC Women’s Basketball game in 1976-1977.

MC ARCHIVES/ COURTESY

Sports

18

THE QUADRANGLE

Jasper Dancers: Fighting For More Than a National Title

The Jasper dancers were awarded their banner and trophy at the 2019 NBA National Competition. This is the first team National title for the college since 1973.

MARINA MULE / COURTESY

August Kissel Web Editor

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) does not recognize dance or cheer teams in their division as a sport. The NCAA defines a sport as “an institutional activity, sponsored at the varsity or club level, involving physical exertion for the purpose of competition against teams or individuals within an intercollegiate competition structure and operate under standardized rules with rating/scoring systems ratified by at least one official regulatory agency and/or governing body.”

Under this rule the sports teams must compete in at five events or games that constitute as a competition, the Manhattan College Jaspers Dancers only compete in the National Dance Alliance (NDA) along with performing, but not competing, at the Men’s Basketball Games and Tournaments during their season.

The NCAA also calls for a regulatory body to check the academic eligibility of the student athletes. This is done at Manhattan College through our athletics and Title IX Office.

As a result of the lack of recognition by the NCAA,

dance teams all over the country like the Jasper Dancers are not screened under this process, and not regulated or supported financially under their college’s Athletic Department.

This status holds the Jaspers Dancers to their own standards and that of Student Engagement as a club on campus.

“The dance team, and all 3 of our spirit teams really, cheer, dance, and the pep band, are unique. While they are technically clubs, they are more than that. There are tryouts, they are very competitive, and they have many time requirements with game schedules and ancillary events that make them all operate more like an athletic team than not,” said Director of Student Engagement, John Bennett.

The Jasper Dancers have tryouts each fall where all students are encouraged to tryout despite previous dance experience. Upon the end of tryouts the new team begins practice for their Manhattan Madness routine, which is their debut to the college for the year. Following Madness, the team begins rehearsing their choreography for the NDA. “During basketball season we’ll typically practice 3-4 times a week for 3-4 hours depending on the day, with a few 8 hour practices to learn our Nationals

choreography. Then we have separate workouts on days we don’t have practice. During practice we spend about 15 mins warming up, another 1520 mins working on technique, and the rest of the time we work on choreography,” said four-year dance team member Draya Fletcher.

Due to club status these practices are not added to the athletics schedule. This leaves the Dancers to have to rehearse around the schedules of the other athletic teams on campus. Often times late in the evening after classes and after the other teams are finished with their practices and workouts.

“That does not take away from any of the hard work that we put in,” added Fletcher This past April, the Jasper Dancers took home the National Championship title from the NDA competition. This year they hope to beat themselves and take home a back-to-back championship title.

“As far as expectations for my team (and myself) that’s a different story. My expectations are sky high. I want nothing but their absolute best at every practice to ensure we hold on to our championship status, and they know that. Not only do they know that, they want that. They have a fire in

them and are determined to be back to back champions.

We will stop at nothing to ensure that happens,” said Jasper Dancers Head Coach Kaitlyn Marquette.

Student Engagement has been supportive of the Dancers and their efforts thus far and going forward, doing their best to make sure the team succeeds. Beyond this support, the Dancers do hold their own fundraisers to support their travels and other expenses they need to succeed going forward into their season and Nationals.

The Nationals trophy and banner were just moved from the Student Engagement Office in Kelly Commons to Draddy Gymnasium. The status of the trophy and banner display is still unconfirmed by the Athletics Department.

“At the end of the day we recognize that we are our biggest fans. No ones going to cheer us on like we will. No ones going to fight for our success like we will. And no one knows the work that goes into becoming a champion team like we do. As a team, we don’t ask or look for much from others because being a Jasper Dancer is a very special thing. It’s a very personal experience for those who get the chance to be part of it.

The love and passion we have for this team isn’t measured in

the credibility or acknowledgment we receive from others.

Not having a banner hung or a trophy displayed doesn’t make us any less of a National Champion team. We still have rings.

Granted, would it be nice to be able to walk through Draddy and see our accomplishments proudly showcased beside the other teams who are positively representing, and have positively represented, Manhattan College as well? Yes. But at the end of the day we’re still proud of ourselves, we still keep our heads high, and we still do what we have to do to hopefully win another title next year,” said Fletcher.

The Championship Rings will be distributed to the Dancers and displayed at Manhattan Madness, where the Dancers will perform a Hip Hop routine for the student body.

“As we will see by their performance at Madness, I think this year’s team looks great, and knowing their returning student leadership on the team, I know they’re expecting the same results. What am I looking forward to? The discussion on what their back-to-back national championship rings should look like,” said Bennett.

News

OCTOBER 29, 2019

19

2020 Commencement Set to Take Place in Draddy

Manhattan College will host the graduating class of 2020 in Draddy Gymnasium for their commencement ceremony in May. MANHATTAN COLLEGE / COURTESY

Pete Janny & Anna Woods

Asst. Sports Editor & Staff Writer Just recently, the school announced plans to hold the 178th Undergraduate Commencement for the Class of 2019 at Draddy Gymnasium. In years past, this news would not come as a surprise considering the school’s extensive history of holding commencement on campus. However, after last year’s commencement drama made for one of the more contentious debates on campus all year, the announcement of the location for this year’s commencement was highly anticipated.

Commencement has always been on campus because of its convenience and general suitability for such an important event. Last year, preparations for the 2019 commencement were met with pushback when students voiced concerned with the school’s ability to accommodate the largest graduating class in the college’s history.

After word spread last fall about the school’s decision to keep commencement on campus, students decided to make their disappointment known by bombarding the commencement committee with emails, hand-written messages and a petition asking for

change. This opposition largely stemmed from a purported lack of communication between the school and students prior to the announcement along with the accompanying bombshell that only two tickets would be granted per student.

Students secured an important concession when the commencement committee decided to raise the ticket allowance to four from the original amount of two, despite the event still being held in Draddy.

Other concerns over the suitability of Draddy to host commencement led to the implementation of extra seating and a temporary air conditioning unit in time for the event.

Junior Nadia Itani, current Vice President of Academic Affairs, was in attendance at commencement last May and despite all the criticism during the months leading up to the big day, Itani thought the event was a success.

However, one thing that did catch Itani off guard was the number of open seats..

“There were still empty seats in Draddy and there was no one in the viewing area,” Itani said regarding the moderate turnout at commencement.

“That kind of threw everything because if Draddy was packed, then there would be a better chance of moving commencement off campus.”

Looking forward to this coming commencement, Itani

expects the school to go above and beyond to make sure Draddy will meet the needs of all attendees.

“The overall aesthetics of commencement are going to be streamlined because the school still knows there are a lot of people who don’t want to be graduating in Draddy,” Itani said regarding the expectations for commencement.

Gaelic Park and Van Cortlandt Park were considered as options, however, the stringent security measures that such scenarios would’ve warranted ultimately rendered those two settings non-viable. More realistic alternatives to Draddy included Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall; two of the more prominent and luxurious venues in New York City. The school never seriously entertained these suggested scenarios mainly because of the lofty costs such a commitment would’ve required.

Provost William Clyde and President Brennan O’Donnell hold the most influence for a decision of this magnitude and although they couldn’t find a feasible alternative, Clyde believes the commencement committee is heading in the right direction in terms of familiarizing themselves with the challenges of a process like this.

“Ultimately it’s the president and the cabinet but there’s also a lot of input from a variety

of folks and certainly a lot of interaction with student government and student leaders,” Clyde said. “We agreed to do a lot of research to explore other possibilities and options, which we’ve always done, but this time we did it in more detail and more rigorously and went back to things we’ve done before and did them again.”

With there being more harmony this year between students and the commencement committee compared to last, Itani feels the class of 2020 may possibly be okay with the decision to keep it on campus as this graduating class is markedly smaller than the class of 2019.

“There was no real expectation of getting it off campus especially last year so I haven’t heard any real student complaints,” Itani said.

The 178th Undergraduate Commencement will take place on Friday, May 15th at Draddy Gymnasium. Based on responses from a survey given last spring to members of the Class of 2020, the primary concern students have with respect to commencement is the ticket allowance. Keeping with last year’s parameters, each graduating student will be given four tickets for the occasion to ensure that every student is well-represented.

“We did a survey last spring of the graduates of the Class of 2020 about their preferences

regarding what was most important to them and by far the most important thing was the number of tickets,” Clyde said.

With the class sizes all under control right now, there doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency in regards to taking commencement off-campus.

Even so, that reality hasn’t deterred Itani from brainstorming with Provost Clyde and President O’Donnell about long-term plans for commencement, especially in the event of a future surge in enrollment.

“Realistically it probably will be on campus for the next few years. However I have been speaking with [Provost Clyde and President O’Donnell] and making it clear that I have no real hopes for this year and next year but really just for setting something up down the road especially if our classes do get bigger,” Itani said.

“Our goal is to make this a great final occasion for students. We work really hard to do that and we want to do that.

Obviously different people have different things that would be valuable to them to make that true. You can’t necessarily get everybody’s wishlist but we try to make it a great experience because this is for many people the last thing they’re doing here…and you want it to be a joyful experience,” Clyde added.

News

20

THE QUADRANGLE

MC Alum Speak to Students about Fair Trade Coffee Company, Hudson Roasters

Fair Trade MC hosts Bernadette Gerrity and Sal Santuccio of Hudson Roasters.

KELLY KENNEDY / THE QUADRANGLE

Katie Heneghan & Kelly Kennedy Asst. Features Editor & Staff Writer

Manhattan College’s Women in Business and Students for Fair Trade on campus hosted two MC alums, Bernadette Gerrity and Sal Santuccio, both co-founders of their fair trade coffee company, Hudson Roasters. On Wednesday Oct. 23rd, students gathered in De La Salle to hear about the ethi-

cal sourcing of their products, as well as their experience as young entrepreneurs.

Gerrity and Santuccio followed in the footsteps of their parents, Cuban immigrants who started their own coffee roasting business in 1961. Hudson Roasters are developing a fair trade and ethical way of delivering coffee from bean to cup.

Santuccio and Gerrity have developed a relationship within the Fair Trade community to source beans from farms across the world to find

the perfect cup of coffee. As for tasting, Santuccio feels as if you develop a sense for the perfect cup.

“The cup is king. When you have a good cup of coffee you know what it is,” says Santuccio.

A key aspect of Fair Trade products, beyond the actual coffee, is the treatment of farmers, and ensuring that they are treated and paid justly.

“Fair trade goes to farms and makes sure you know that the farms are up to standard.

They have people that are do-

ing audits and checking in to make sure that the standards are met,” says Gerrity.

However, cultural differences make it difficult to ensure that these practices are always being followed. In different countries, where education systems are not as well developed, it is not uncommon for children to work on their parents farms at a young age, making it difficult to distinguish between child labour, and cultural family practices.

“No one can be policed everyday, but we hope that

their standards and practices are strict enough that people are following them. Also their beneficial enough that Fair Trade is also helping people adequately enough that farmers want to participate in this,” says Gerrity.

Additionally, Fair trade regulates that the farmers are being paid a living wage, and are being paid for their work. This is enforced through premiums.

“Fair Trades premiums that they put on prices are very important because they help people sustain themselves financially within their farms,” says Gerrity.

As for the future, Gerrity and Santuccio plan to stick primarily to coffee. However, they are in the process of utilizing their excess resources for charitable donations.

“Right now were looking at how to make tote bags out of our burlap sacks so that we can donate money from that,” says Gerrity.

Senior Rabea Ali is the President of Women in Business, and supporter of Fair Trade products.

“It’s one of the path’s that I see towards a sustainable future…. It’s not the million dollar answer but it’s one of the closest things,” says Ali. Sophomore Alana Pons finds that Fair Trade is the perfect way to ensure your maintaining your moral standards in the products you use.

“Fair Trade is important because it connects your morals and ethics to your everyday routine,” says Pons.

Join the Quadrangle WE’RE LOOKING FOR WRIT ERS / GRAPHIC DESIGNERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS / VIDEOGRAPHERS

Weekly Open Meetings TUESDAYS @ 4 P.M. IN Kelly 412

OCTOBER 29, 2019

Features

21

Faces of Fridays for the Future: Strike While the Planet’s Hot The Mother Nature Club on campus has started a petition to get one faculty member and one student on the board to search for a new Vice President of Facilities. Their aim is to elect someone interested in the sustainability of our campus today, and in the future. Seniors Alisse Fullterton and Sierra Arral open up about this petition and the Mother Nature Club’s purpose on campus.

Interviews compiled by Caroline McCarthy.

Alisse Fullerton International Studies Major

What made you get involved in Fridays for the Future?

Ia actually have classes with Chasik who came up with the idea of starting a school petition trying and get a faculty and a student member on the board to search for a new facilities director who will implement sustainable options for the school. Manhattan College is actually committed to sustainable actions, however they haven’t been implemented. They are replacing the director so we are trying to get someone who cares about sustainability and about climate change to be on the board.

Have you noticed any drastic change in campus lifestyle since you started these protests?

I feel like people are starting to hear about it and get the word out. I know a lot of my classes are actually talking about climate change and they’ve brought up the petition since then. I still think there is a lot of work to be done. We still need to gain a lot of traction.

What do you feel Manhattan College can do more to help your cause?

We already have double sided printing set as a default in the library, however that’s not on all computers. So definitely fixing that. We’ve established recyclable straws, but getting that campus wide has been difficult. It’s really small things like that. Maybe putting signs next to lights reminding everyone to turn them off when they leave.

Do you feel you are supported by the student body?

I feel like most of the students I’ve talked to about this are very excited and interested in making a better, sustainable future of our campus. I just feel right now the trouble is getting traction. All of the professors I’ve talked to have asked me to send them the petition to send around to classes. There is a lot of support it’s just slow right now.

Sierra Arral Economic Studies Major What made you get involved in Fridays for the Future?

Dr. Chasik came to me about starting Fridays for the Future movement on campus because I went to Greta Thernburg’s Fridays for the Future rally about a month ago. I’ve worked with Dr. Chasik on model UN sustainability issues and I’ve also done a research project on campus regarding environmental attitudes on campus. I study environmental economics so I’ve always been involved in the different attitudes on campus. I’m from main so nature is an integral part of our community. Bringing it to campus has been like “how can we share this global movement, locally.”

Have you noticed any drastic change in campus lifestyle since you started these protests?

I would say I’ve seen local change. I would say the most drastic change has been getting a committee together to write this petition. I think we are going to see change continuing to unfold, but right now this petition is the biggest change I’ve seen coming out of these strikes. I hope that out of this petition will get more publicity. I think getting someone in a management position is going to be how we see change on this campus.

What can Manhattan College do more of to help your cause?

I think people should be more vocal about their issues with sustainability on campus. Whether it’s waste issues or other things - I think more people can come to us and voice these opinions. These opinions need to be heard and not just muttered between students. This doesn’t just have to do with how much plastic we’re using. It has to do with water quality and dorm health and wellbeing. I think a lot of students share these issues and I think they need to come together and I think this is where they can do it.

22

Features

THE QUADRANGLE

Neighborhood Children Show Off Costumes at Safe Halloween ON CAMPUS FASHION-FINDS

On Friday, Oct. 26, students in Kappa Delta Pi, Manhattan College’s education honor society, led a Safe Halloween event for all children from the Bronx. More than 40 of the college’s clubs took part in the event turning campus into a maze of trick or treat delights.

Interviews compiled by Lauren Schuster.

Olivia Rexhepi (Batgirl), Age 4

Charlie Mckenna (Mar y Poppins), Age 6

The Quadrangle: What is your favorite type of candy to get on Halloween?

The Quadrangle: How did you pick your costume?

Olivia Rexhepi: Tons of lollipops are my favorite!

TQ: What was your favorite costume that you saw someone else wearing?

OR: Princesses.

Charlie Mckenna: Just off the internet.

TQ: What is your favorite color to wear?

CM: Purple.

TQ: What is your favorite type of candy to get on Halloween?

CM: Swedish Fish.

Jaeger Rebello (Sonic the Hedgehog), Age 6 The Quadrangle: How did you pick your costume?

Jaeger Rebello: I liked it because Sonic is fast.

TQ: If you could be any other costume, what would you be?

JR: Luigi.

TQ: What is your favorite type of candy to get on Halloween?

JR: Sour Patch Kids.

OCTOBER 29, 2019

Arts & Entertainment

23

October’s Coffee House Showcases the Support of Student Talent at MC Jessica McKenzie Staff Writer

On Oct. 24, about thirty or so students gathered in Hayden 100 for a couple of hours to sip Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and share impressive talents. The second Coffee House of the semester featured everything from classic Motown jams on the acoustic guitar to a standup comedy routine inspired by a concussion.

All Manhattan College students are encouraged to participate or watch Coffee House, which takes place once every month. Performances of music, spoken word poetry, or stand up comedy are most commonly presented.

Senior Adam Granger has performed and watched many Coffee House shows over the past two years. He felt compelled to showcase his musical talents after seeing posters around campus in his sophomore year. “I met one of my best friends to this day at my first Coffee House,” he said.

His time performing at Coffee House has taught him a lot about using his passion for music to please a crowd. He enjoys writing original arrangements of popular songs to give the audience a fresh take on old favorites. With his electric guitar, he has made metal arrangements of hits such as “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson and “So What”

by Pink. “[Coffee House] has helped

On Oct. 24, about thirty or so students gathered in Hayden 100 for a couple of hours to sip Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and share impressive talents.

JESSICA MCKENZIE/THE QUADRANGLE me to build my persona as a performer, and try to figure out what kinds of performances are more popular amongst audiences,” Granger said.

For Thursday night’s performance, Granger played “A Day In the Life” by The Beatles on the piano and “We Will Rock

You” by Queen, which was driven by his electric guitar and the audience’s stomps and claps.

“Everyone is there to support you. If you forget the lyrics, we’ll sing along with you, or we’ll clap and cheer for you.

Know that you’ll feel comfortable when you come to a Cof-

All Manhattan College students are encouraged to participate or watch Coffee House, which takes place once every month.

JESSICA MCKENZIE/THE QUADRANGLE

fee House,” said host Chantal Flores.

A junior civil engineering major, Flores has been a part of Coffee House since her freshman year. She discovered Coffee House when supporting a friend and ended up spontaneously singing onstage herself.

Since the hosts at the time were looking for their replacements as they approached graduation, she jumped on the opportunity to get more involved with the event.

“Whenever I come to a Coffee House, I have a weight lifted off my shoulders. I feel like [we’re] just celebrating everybody’s creativity. I’m really happy to be apart of it,” Chantal said.

The hosts of the show, Chantal, along with Erin McWilliams and Joseph Corrao entertained the audience between acts with Halloweenthemed knock-knock jokes and on-the-spot performances such as a ukulele rendition of “Hey Jude” and an RA parody of “Riptide” by Vance Joy. While there are many familiar friendly faces at every Coffee House, new entertainers are always welcomed with enthusiasm.

Freshman Marketing major Zach DiRenzo experienced his first time singing in front of a crowd last Thursday night.

While he has played lead guitar for a band in the past, he

pleased the crowd solo with classics such as “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “Wonderful Tonight.”

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do like all of my favorite artists, John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr., and Eric Clapton,” DiRenzo explained. “[They] play solo acoustic guitar and sing. [They] show how well-rounded they are.”

During his set, DiRenzo had a full row of supportive friends from the second floor of Lee Hall in the audience. “I’m very grateful for everyone who came and for [all who support] live music in general. I think it’s very important that we have things like this at colleges where kids can come and show their talents,” he said.

While the intimate setting of Coffee House is not what he has experienced in the past, DiRenzo appreciated the audience participation and encouragement. He looks forward to playing his guitar and singing for the next Coffee House. He is excited for potential Coffee House performers in the future.

“Go for it. Don’t think twice.

Follow your gut and you won’t regret it,” DiRenzo said.

Future Coffee House performers and audience members can look forward to the next event, scheduled to be Friday, Nov. 15 in Hayden 100.

Sports

24

THE QUADRANGLE

Manhattan Offense Explodes in 3-0 Rout of Fairfield Score MS: MANHATTAN 3, FAIRFIELD 0 Pete Janny

Asst. Sports Editor A season filled with memorable highs and forgettable lows reached a new high last Wednesday night when Manhattan (5-8, 4-3 MAAC) embarrassed a reeling Fairfield squad by a score of 3-0.

All three Manhattan goals on this night came from different players. The game-winner came off the foot of BrandonJoseph Baudi in the 83rd minute that helped facilitate Fairfield’s epic collapse. Under a minute left in regulation, Manhattan put the finishing touchings on their emphatic victory with senior Noah Amissah and junior Berti Fourrier each finding the back of the net to send Gaelic Park into a frenzy.

The first half was closelycontested with both teams fighting hard to create separation. The narrative of this half was no surprise considering the radical parity of the MAAC conference for men’s soccer.

Little to nothing seems to separate every one of Manhattan’s conference tilts as evidenced by the fact that the Jaspers have only played two MAAC games this year with the margin of victory being more than one goal. It’s also true that Manhattan has generally been a better second-half team with this game proving to be no exception.

Although they didn’t overly impress in the first half, there were no real indications that Fairfield was going to experience a humiliating demise in the second-half. After all, the visitors did take a 7-4 advantage in shots with them into the half-time break.

Both teams had a few nice offensive flashes in the early stages of the half, but nothing too serious. As time elapsed, Manhattan grew more dangerous on the offensive end, hinting at something special to come.

In the 56th minute, Manhattan threatened thanks to the creativity and aggressiveness of midfield maestro Felipe Clavijo. After stealing a ball in Fairfield territory, Clavijo initiated the Manhattan attack by dribbling down the right side before playing a ball to the opposite side of the field to junior Desmond Cole. Instead of looking to shoot himself, Cole fed Fourrier at the top of the box whose shot was blocked by a Fairfield defender to safety.

Moments later, Cole got him-

Junior Brandon Joseph-Baudi’s goal in the 83rd minute against Fairfield put the Jaspers ahead for good.

GO JASPERS /COURTESY self involved in the attack again when his cross from the right side led to a shot from Amissah that was blocked and went out of play for a Manhattan corner kick.

At this point, it was clear that Manhattan’s offense was ascending to new heights. Much of the credit for this increase in offensive activity goes to Amissah, Joseph-Baudi, and senior Tristan Doran who refused to let the Fairfield defense catch their breath.

In the 65th minute, Doran showed his ability to impact both sides of the field when he gained possession of the ball on the right side of the field in Fairfield territory before picking out Amissah at the top of the box. His one-time shot strike was caught by the Fairfield goalie to prolong the search for the opening goal.

Despite being unlucky for most of this game, Amissah’s hard work on offense continued up until the final horn sounded.

Ammisah’s involvement was once again on display with 18 minutes left when a cross from Joseph-Baudi led to a header opportunity for the senior striker that didn’t have enough on it to fool the keeper.

With Fairfield’s offense still

in a funk, Manhattan knew they had to make the most out of the stretch run in this important home game. Coming off three straight frustrating losses, Manhattan knew they couldn’t afford to drop another game they deserved to win. JosephBaudi must have been thinking the same thing because from the moment he got into the game in the second half, he looked like a player on a mission.

After fruitless chances from seniors Adrien Awana and Tristan Doran, Joseph-Baudi stepped up for his team to secure a lead that would not be relinquished. After helping his team maintain a presence on the Fairfield half of the field for a solid minute or two, JosephBaudi took possession of the ball near the edge of the upper right corner of the box, executed a nice shot fake, and sealed the deal with a powerful blast that beat the keeper. Considering all the positive things he did prior to that, Joseph-Baudi deserved that moment.

“I’ve wanted one all year,” Joseph-Baudi said about scoring his first goal of the season during a postgame interview with Go Jaspers. “I’ve just kept grinding and working hard and it paid off.”

As a way to kill the time, Manhattan spent the last few minutes of the game trying to play keep away in both corners of Fairfield’s half of the field.

However, these feelings of impatience for the final horn to sound gave way to more offensive desires. With 30 seconds left, Amissah won a loose ball challenge with the goalie at the top of the box to set himself up for an easy finish. The Manhattan scoring clinic reached its conclusion with four seconds when Fourrier followed up his own shot in the box with an acrobatic finish to put the icing on the cake. It was a fitting end to an absolute dominant secondhalf showing for Manhattan.

Manhattan used a 14-5 second-half advantage in shots to outpace Fairfield 18-12 in that category. Amissah paced the Jaspers in shots with five, while Fourrier and Joseph-Baudi recorded four and three shots, respectively. On the other side of the field, senior goalie Marcellin Gohier was rock solid, collecting one save for the Jaspers en route to his 15th career shutout.

Head coach Jorden Scott was extremely proud of the way his team bounced back after a few heartbreaking losses.

While happy with the way they

played altogether, Scott cited Joseph-Baudi’s arrival in the second half as a big reason why the team finished the game so strong.

“From start to finish, I thought we were energetic and we were demanding,” Scott said. “After not starting the second half, Brandon came on with energy and really lifted the group.”

Manhattan returned to action on Saturday, October 26th for an away game at Canisius (2-12, 1-6 MAAC). The team walked away with another big result by beating the Golden Griffins 2-1. After falling behind early, the Jaspers used goals from Brandon JosephBaudi and Adrien Awana to complete the comeback.

Manhattan will now turn their attention to Saint Peter’s University (10-5, 7-1 MAAC) for a tough road test against the Peacocks this Wednesday, October 30th at 2 PM. The team will then finish the week off with a senior day matchup against Niagara (5-10-1, 3-4-1 MAAC) this Saturday, October 30th at 3 PM. All nine of the program’s seniors will be honored prior to kick-off.