“We Do Journalism”
the Quadrangle
Visit Our Website mcquad.org
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume CIX, Issue 1
Students Study Abroad in France with MC Study Abroad Program
MC Students and Professor Andrew Skotnicki in Versailles, Paris France for a winter study abroad session. DEIA COLLIS/ COURTESY
Manhattan College Federal Reserve Challenge Team Named Regional Finalists Karen Flores
FREE
NEW YORK, JANUARY 23, 2024
Jocelyn Visnov Senior Writer
Bridget Chalk, Ph.D., has recently been appointed associate dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences to assist faculty and students in adapting to the merger of the former School of Liberal Arts with the Kakos School of Science. As a long-term faculty member of the former School of Liberal Arts (SoLA), Chalk is very familiar with the inner workings of various liberal arts programs as well as the core curriculum. “There was no associate dean position before, and so I was brought on,” Chalk said. “I think I was primarily there to support Dean Kelly [because she] became the dean of a very big school, and she was used to it [the School of Science].” Chalk has been a faculty member at the college since 2009. She’s a member of the English department and specializes in 20th and 21st-century British literature. Throughout her career as an English professor at the college, Chalk has taught a plethora of classes including Written Communication, the Contemporary Global Novel, Introduction to 20th-century Irish Literature, the Modern English
Novel and Literature and War. Chalk has also previously served as a director of the Advanced Placement Summer Institute and created a curriculum for an English minor specifically designed for students in the O’Malley School of Business. Chalk also noted that she was offered the associate dean position to support programs and opportunities that have previously operated under SoLA. “Specifically when we discussed the position, I was brought on to work on things like Branigan grants and the Costello award, as well as articulation agreements with graduate schools and community colleges,” Chalk said. “But we agreed that as time goes on, we’re going to see what is needed.” According to manhattan. edu, “As associate dean, Chalk will play a pivotal role in shaping the academic identity of the Kakos School,” the article stated. “Her responsibilities will include spearheading curricular development and program revisions and ensuring academic rigor and relevance.” In an interview for the manhattan.edu article, Dean Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., noted her optimism for Chalk’s new position. __________________________
The Manhattan College Federal Reserve team was named a regional finalist in the Fed Challenge, marking a milestone for the team since its creation at the college. The Fed Challenge is a national competition in which students create a monetary policy recommendation and present it to a panel of judges within the Federal Reserve. The team submitted a 15-minute presentation to the Federal Reserve in early October and received a spot among the top 18 teams out of more than 100 competing colleges nationwide. The 2023 team was com-
posed of five students, one of whom is Rehan Mehta, a senior economics and mathematics double major and the president of the Fed Challenge team. Mehta explained that his role as president involved the use of both quantitative and qualitative skills, with the need for research skills as well as data analysis. “My biggest task is previewing and looking over all that the analysts on the team did, which was conducting the literature review, reading all the academic papers that were assigned,” Mehta said. “[Tasks that I conducted] which includes data analysis such as making regressions as well as logistic regression, hypothesis testing and statistical infer-
IN NEWS:
IN FEATURES:
IN A&E:
IN SPORTS:
MC Study Abroad on pg. 6
Players Spring Musical: Dogfight on pg. 8
Winter Break Wrap: Womens Basketball on pg. 10
Staff Writer
New Dean of Kakos School of Arts and Sciences on pg. 4
ence.” Cara Loganadhan, a sophomore finance and global business double major, is also a member of the team. She told The Quadrangle that the preparation for the competition involves research that connects various sectors of the economy and team meetings that happen throughout the year. “We read many different articles, listen to the Federal Reserve meetings and try to figure out what the current state of the economy is,” Loganadhan said. “We then look at factors like GDP, the labor market and financial markets
Bridget Chalk is Newly Appointed Associate Dean of Kakos School of Arts and Sciences
__________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
News
JANUARY 23, 2024
Volume CIX, Issue 1 JANUARY 23, 2024
The Editorial Board
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief Angelina Persaud Managing Editor
Angelina Perez Engagment Editor
Brooke DellaRocco News Editor
Angelina Persaud Asst. News Editor
Mack Olmstead Features Editor
Mary Haley Asst. Features Editor
Angelina Perez Arts & Entertainment Editor Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor Ivy Jaep Maizy Swift Production Editors Mary Haley Social Media Editor
Maizy Swift Jill Tuthill Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editors Andrew Mannion Emmanouel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editors Barbara Vasquez Asst. Production Editor Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor
Elizabeth Kalaj Web Editor
About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization 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.
Connect with The Quadrangle mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad
2
LETTER from the EDITOR Dear Readers,
Hello, and welcome back from break! I hope everyone was able to rest, regenerate, and spend time doing the things they love. I know I’m new around here, so let me introduce myself. My name is Grace Cardinal, and I’m so excited to be serving as your Editor-in-Chief for 2024. This position has been a long-time goal of mine, and I’m ready to put everything I have into making this publication the best it can be. This issue in particular holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it my first as Editor-in-Chief, it’s coming out on my 20th birthday! As I reflect on these new chapters in my life, I recognize the many people who have supported me in getting this far. Recognizing your support system is such an important thing to do, and has given me a sense of strength coming into this new time. I encourage you all to thank the people in your life who have helped you get to where you are today. We have a wonderful team here, and we’re so excited to once again update you all on what’s going on around campus. I want to give a shout-out to my wonderful mentors, past Editor-in-Chiefs Kyla Guilfoil and Jocelyn Visnov, who have set the bar unbelievably high for me and who have been there every step of the way through this transition. I also want to thank our new Managing Editor, Angelina Persaud, who is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever met and who taught me so much in my previous role under her as assistant news editor. We’re going to have a great year with you. Hopefully, you’ll recognize our presence on campus more this semester, even if we aren’t able to print each week. Remember to follow us on social media to stay up to date, @mcquad on Instagram and X. We love connecting with all of you and hearing your feedback - after all, student journalism is nothing without the students. If you ever want to contact us, our email is thequad@manhattan.edu, we check it regularly. And as always, we promise to do the very best journalism we can for you all. That’s all from me for now - until next week! Sincerely,
Grace Cardinal
Editor-in-Chief
News
3
THE QUADRANGLE
Letter from the President December 18, 2023 Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians, I hope this finds each of you well and enjoying this holiday season. As we close out the year, I wanted to reach out to address the structural changes we recently announced at the College, and provide more context around how they fit into our long-term outlook and commitment to protecting and enhancing the high-quality, high-touch educational experience of which we are deeply proud. I hope that this will help clarify some of the misconceptions that you may have heard as well. Everything begins with our mission: “to provide a contemporary, person-centered educational experience that prepares graduates for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings.” It is a mission that has empowered us to educate leaders for over 170 years and one that we look forward to imparting on generations of students to come. Heading into 2024, the post-pandemic landscape for higher education institutions such as ours has significantly shifted. This has created a number of exciting opportunities to update our approach, but we also have to contend with the fact that fewer students are following the traditional college path. To ensure that we are responsive to these shifts and positioned for long-term success, we – like many of our peers – are making changes to adapt to the post-pandemic needs of our school and students and updating certain practices that may no longer be fiscally sound or the right investments to make in this “new normal” we operate in. While our approach has been highly data-driven, we will not lose sight of the traditions and qualities that make Manhattan College so special. We have carefully evaluated a range of areas – including course offerings, facilities, and staffing – and uncovered certain structural imbalances where we are focusing resources and the value they are creating for the College community. For example, we continue to offer classes and major programs that may only enroll a handful of students each year. We were also trailing comparable benchmarks in terms of efficiency of our faculty and classes offered. We also recently announced the restructuring of our six schools into three – the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the O’Malley School of Business – to more efficiently manage our offerings and focus our resources in areas where our students see the highest value. Unfortunately, this reorganization may lead to the elimination of some programs with low enrollment and the merging of some departments, but we want to assure all of you that we are committed to supporting all students that are enrolled in these programs so that they will be able to complete their studies and graduate on time. In addition, we have taken steps to bring the number of our faculty members more in line with our current student body. A great deal of thought and consideration is being put into these difficult decisions, but I am confident that they will help make Manhattan College a more nimble and resilient institution. These hard decisions we are making today help us fix what is no longer working, and position us to invest in areas that will enhance the student experience in the future. I acknowledge and respect the concerns that some have raised in the wake of these changes. In the new year, we will provide more opportunities to have an open and ongoing dialogue around these changes. That being said, I am heartened by the many positive reactions from members of our community who understand our strategic aims and have volunteered their support. Higher education is always evolving, and it is our responsibility to evolve in kind so that we remain as relevant and impactful as possible to our students, while staying true to our core mission. What makes me even more confident about our prospects is the fantastic team we have managing these issues. This summer, we welcomed James J. Perrino as our new Vice President for Finance / Chief Financial Officer, who has been working in finance, accounting, and higher education for more than 40 years with a fantastic track record overseeing finance at Adelphi University. We recently brought in Dr. Karen Vahey as our new Vice President for Enrollment Management, and we are already seeing the impact of her deep experience as we develop new approaches to expand the student body. And of course, we are guided by a thoughtful and passionate Board of Trustees, led by Chair Stephen Squeri. It is hard for me not to overstate the role that Manhattan College has played in my life. I’ve spent more than 40 years engaging with the College through changing lenses – as a student, an alumni, as an adjunct professor, an employer of graduates, a fundraiser, a member of the Board of Trustees, and currently, as President and a parent of two students. What has never wavered is my belief in our ability to provide an affordable, high-quality education that sets students up for success and fulfillment in their future careers, and I’m passionate about building on this even further as President. Manhattan College has a bright future ahead because this passion is shared across our administration, faculty, staff and alumni. We will overcome the challenges we face, and we will be a better, stronger institution as a result. I ask that you join us in our enthusiasm for all the good that Manhattan College offers, and that together we support the growth and success that our students deserve. On behalf of all the faculty and staff of Manhattan College, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, and may God continue to bless you and your family in the New Year. Warm Regards, Milo Riverso President
News
JANUARY 23, 2024
4
Bridget Chalk is Newly Appointed Associate Dean of Kakos School of Arts and Sciences __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “Dr. Chalk’s passion for academic excellence, her commitment to interdisciplinary learning, and her proven leadership skills make her the ideal candidate to guide the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences in its formative stages,” Kelly said. “We are confident that under her leadership, the school will thrive as a vibrant hub for intellectual exploration and student success.” Chalk mentioned her interest in making the most out of this opportunity and developing new possibilities for students. “I think we’re very lucky to have the Kakos family as they are the major donors behind the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences,” Chalk said. “I’m really hoping that we can just
launch new possibilities for our students through this merger through centralizing a lot of processes and removing some of the problems that came out of the siloing of different schools. We can get through this time of transition and make this home for a lot of exciting, creative new directions for our students.” Siena DeMarco, a junior English major, weighed in with positive hopes for the newly appointed associate dean. “I am extremely excited to welcome Dr Chalk as the associate dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences,” DeMarco said. “As a female English major, I think it’s extremely important to have people in positions of power who understand this perspective.”
Chalk has been teaching English at the college since 2009. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY
Manhattan College Federal Reserve Challenge Team Named Regional Finalists __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 so we may compile information to craft our proposal for how the Federal Reserve should approach the current economic situation.” Mehta explained that the team decided to make changes to their approach regarding their presentation and how much time they spent creating their proposal. “We changed the pathway of how we were going to present, who would present a specific topic, and what we’re going to present,” Mehta said. “We started our journey about six months before we would usually do as well and we also allocated more time together as a team, especially during the last few months when we were meeting for several hours on end every week, it was a learning experience.” Loganadhan recalled that the presentation aspect involved each team member having a one-on-one discussion with one of the judges and said that despite being a bit intimidated, she felt the team chemistry gave her confidence when
presenting. “We thought we would be allowed in the same room while we had our discussions but we were not, so at the very last minute we all split up into different rooms and were not allowed to use headphones as a precaution,” Loganadhan said. “I was nervous since we did not know each other’s responses but the team has great chemistry so that helped when we had to explain our ideas alone since we had a good understanding of each other’s way of thinking.” Hany Guirguis, Ph.D., professor of economics and finance, is the faculty advisor for the team and believes this competition is a great opportunity for students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world situations. “It’s a unique and wonderful experience and the students have the wonderful opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom,” Guirguis said. “It’s a life experience, especially for those who stayed in the competition for three or four years. It tends to have some significant impact on their career and their understanding of
The 2023 team won Regional Finalists in the Fed Challenge. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY economics and finance.” Mehta encourages students to take part in the competition and the many opportunities it may offer. “In this competition, you are giving recommendations for monetary policy, you learn and gain an amazing perspec-
tive of economics and finance, you’re networking with some of the most prolific people in the industry and have a great talking point when doing interviews,” Mehta said. “I would recommend new students to be part of this team because it’s not just the challenge itself. It’s
everything that comes with the experience.” For those interested in joining the team, email Hany Guirguis at hany.guirguis@manhattan.edu.
Features
5
THE QUADRANGLE
MC Flies to Disney for the Upcoming Spring Break Isaiah Rosario Sports Editor
Need help figuring out what to do for spring break? Travel to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” with student engagement’s all-inclusive package for students to travel to Disney World Orlando. The offer extends from March 9 to the 14. Student engagement recently reduced the price of the trip by $1000, making the official listed price to go to Disney World $1,900. The pricing includes airfare, hotel, ticketed excursions, meals and more. The assistant director of student engagement, Sharon Ortega, gave The Quadrangle insight into the creation of the package. It was primarily based on the idea of getting students engaged without affiliation with other organizations, while also not focusing an academic component on the trip. “We wanted to provide an experience that didn’t have an academic component because most institutions provide either an academic travel experience or a service-based travel experience,” Ortega said. “We realistically wanted it to be something that is for students to have downtime, have fun, get to know each other and hopefully bond with students.” Student engagement examined the success of Leadership Weekend and noticed how students respond to a different environment. The choice of Disney World primarily had to do with the ease of getting around the park and the complimentary shuttles for guests. Students on campus have mixed thoughts about the trip. One student who spoke to The Quadrangle believes that the
spring break packages are a good idea to let the student body travel. “Although I can’t go, it’s a great idea to let the student body out there at Disney to ride good old Splash Mountain and travel the world at Epcot,” sophomore Andrew Cranston said. Harrison Bookner, a sophomore at the college, differs in opinion, believing the trip doesn’t lend itself to creative freedom for individuals. “I have no desire to go, to be honest,” Bookner said. “If I were to go on a trip, it’s gonna be where I want to go, when I want to go, based on my budget.” The trips will also be chaperoned by college administrators to ensure a fun and safe college experience. The chaperoning on this trip was designed to be at the forefront of the promotion of this package to assure parents that students will be safe while traveling. The Disney trip is seen as a beginner’s version of spring break for students who have not done a college spring break before. Although chaperones will be present, there will be some downtime for students to explore and have fun without supervision. However, some students still do not see the use of chaperoning on spring break. “I don’t understand going on a chaperoned trip with the school, but I guess if you want to meet people it could be cool,” Bookner said. Despite Disney World being the only location offered this year, the trip is seen as a test run for student engagement to determine new possible locations for next year. “I consider this a pilot program,” Ortega said. “We are definitely open to locations in
the future and can’t wait to see how it happens this year and how it rolls out. Based on what we see this year, we will look to add locations in the future.” Another concern raised by students is the trip’s pricing. Some students feel that they could take the same trip for cheaper, as the spring break offered by the school is only four days long. Bookner stated that he agreed with other students that the price is a bit high for only four days unless “the students were staying in a five-star hotel”. Ortega gave her perspective regarding the high pricing of the trip. “We ran the numbers and Disney is expensive,” Ortega said. “I feel the same way and I wish we could find a way to bring down the cost for the students but these are expensive destinations and they’re [expensive] I think because of the convenience that they provide to you.” On the flyer, it states that the last date to sign up for the trip was Jan. 17, but student engagement has extended the purchase date to Jan. 31 in order to give students more time to decide if they want to travel with the college.
Manhattan College student engagement is offering students an all-inclusive spring break package to Disney World. @MCSTUDENTENGAGE/ COURTESY
Features
JANUARY 23, 2024
MC Takes On The World With Winter Study Abroad Programs
Karen Flores Staff Writer
This past winter, Manhattan College students had the opportunity to spend some time around the world in Europe and Asia through various study abroad programs offered by the college. The programs scheduled included traveling to France, Ireland and Singapore. Students who went to Ireland were enrolled in The Catholic Mass & its Music course, taught by William Mulligan, an adjunct professor within the Department of Music and Theater. The trip could be taken for a religion 200/300 and music 260 credit. Brian Dunn, a junior mechanical engineering major, decided to study abroad in Ireland to learn more about his culture and roots. “I was originally planning on going to Rome, but I saw Ireland was a choice and I have family from Ireland which influenced my decision,” Dunn said. “I took a Religion 300 [course] centered around persecution in Ireland. My family came from Ireland, post [potato] famine, but a decent amount of people that went on the trip were Irish and had family who suffered through the famine, so it was interesting learning about the various cultural changes and religions that have played a role in Ireland’s history.” Dunn expressed that one of his most memorable experiences was when he went to an abbey with monks where he was able to talk and interact with people who wanted to share their personal experiences and perspectives. “I was talking to one of
the monks and explained that I think about science a lot and sometimes I found that science and religion could conflict,” Dunn said. “He said to me that science and religion don’t necessarily need to conflict, they can also complement one another. Having the chance to talk to someone who can positively shift your perspective is amazing. I think it would help every student, especially those studying abroad, to talk to locals and gain insight through their perspectives.” Anastasia O’Neil, a junior nuclear medicine technology major, also went on the trip to Ireland and said that one of the assignments was to create a presentation centered around a song and the period in which it was created. “I did Brian Boru’s March as my chosen song and connected it with the Book of Kells, which has the four Gospels of the New Testament and is housed in Trinity College Dublin,” O’Neil said. “I enjoyed the presentations that incorporated all different kinds of music and periods and were interactive in a way that isn’t the same in a classroom setting.” Another study abroad program offered was based in France with Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D., professor of religious studies, who taught Paris, Religion and the Intellectual Life as a credit for religion 200/300. Delia Collis, a junior communication and philosophy double major, went to France with her friends in the hopes of learning more about the Catholic faith in a different way. “I liked this class, specifically because we went a lot into philosophical aspects that
MC Students and Professor William Mulligan in Ireland. BRIAN DUNN/COURTESY
6
MC Students and Professor Grishma Shah at the Malaysia Petronas Towers. @LAELANY GUERRERO/COURTESY
connected to the Catholic faith in some way,” Collis said. “I thought it was cool to hear that there were a lot of philosophers I learned about previously like Jean-Paul Sartre, a famous French philosopher. We went to the cafe where he wrote some of his books and dissertations, so seeing the connection between my philosophy classes and this class was very interesting.” Students who went to Singapore and Malaysia were enrolled in the international field study seminar, taught by Grishma Shah, a professor in the Department of Marketing and Management. The class can be taken by any student but is part of the curriculum for the global
business co-major offered by the O’Malley School of Business. Laenaly Guerrero, a senior finance and global business major, wrote in an email to The Quadrangle about some of the activities that the group participated in while in Singapore and Malaysia. “For academic activities, we participated in a few business visits and factory tours,” Guerrero wrote. “We visited the Pewter Factory and the Yakult Factory and for business visits, we spoke with Echevaria.co, BYND Artisan, Let’s Go Tour and Secret Lab. For recreational activities, we visited the Petronas Twin Towers and went up to the 86th floor. We also visited the Petrosains Discovery Centre and I enjoyed the Dinosaur Exhibition where we had the chance to walk across a shaking rope bridge. In Malaysia, we also went to Chinatown and haggled with street vendors. The day after arriving in Singapore, we took a cruise around Clarke Quay.” Cara Loganadhan, a sophomore finance and global business double major, said that students get hands-on experience working with a company based in the country of travel. “We visited different companies and got to meet with the founders which was very cool because we got to see how businesses operate in a different part of the world,” Loganadhan said. “At the end of it, we do a consulting project with one of the businesses. We are currently working on that, it is a good learning experience.” Guerrero wrote that she is grateful for the experience she gained through this study
abroad program as it allowed her to learn more about different cultures and customs. “I had always wanted to travel to many different countries, but this trip solidified my desire to do so,” Guerrero wrote. “I was able to try various cuisines, such as Asian, Indian, and even Turkish food. I had the chance to immerse myself and adapt to a different environment and have a better understanding and appreciation for these countries. I am very thankful for having this opportunity and will look back on it as a great and wonderful experience.” Dunn shared similar sentiments saying that having interactive class sessions when studying abroad helped him retain more knowledge due to the hands-on experience. “I’m a mechanical engineering major so I like to be handson,” Dunn said. “Being abroad allows for interactions with your peers, new people and a new way of learning that differs from being in a classroom.” O’Neil encourages students to study abroad if they can as it allows for one to foster new friendships with peers at Manhattan College and gives you a chance to explore a country both academically and recreationally. “It was a good time to continue to meet people and make bonds and connections,” O’Neil said. “Studying abroad is one of the best things you can do in college, even if it is just for two weeks, I definitely recommend it to everyone.” For those interested in studying abroad, email studyabroad@manhattan.edu, and visit their Instagram page @ studyabroadmc.
7
Features
Voices on The Quad: Campus Reacts to New Schools, Faculty Layoffs
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
The Office of the President released an email this past week readdressing the combining of the School of Liberal Arts, the Kakos School of Science, the School of Health Professions and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies into one entity. This email was the first time the office has directly addressed the issue of the recent faculty and staff layoffs. These new changes have been met with mixed reactions with alumni, current students and faculty voicing their opinions and concerns. Teresa Ramoni (TR), Manhattan College alumna, class of 2020. The Quadrangle (TQ): How are you feeling about the combination of the schools and the resulting layoffs? Teresa Ramoni: For me to see this thing (email) saying “well received”, saying “limited faculty”, it’s just outright misinformation. We understand if the college is in a bad financial place, and hard decisions need to be made. And I would expect at the very least, that the leader of the college, who’s supposed to embody these Lasallian values would be able to write a message that conveys his deep sadness about those layoffs, that conveys how dramatic it’s going to be for the people who lost their jobs…To me, this is just trying to save face. TQ: Has this situation changed your opinion of the college?
TR: I used to be proud and eager to recommend this place to other prospective students… Now there’s no doubt in my mind, I’m not going to recommend Manhattan College to anyone anymore. I had such a wonderful experience there, and now that I know who’s being laid off, which programs are being cut, the experience that I had is not possible for other people to have anymore. TQ: What change do you hope to see from the college in the future? TR: I think that there needs to be a town hall about what’s going on. The president had said before the break, that there will be opportunities to talk about this in the new year. I think there needs to be transparency. How much debt is the college in and why is it in that debt? To whom is the money owed? Because if there’s a significant financial problem, then odds are this (layoffs) might not even fix it. Adam Arenson (AA), professor and chair of histor y The Quadrangle: How are you feeling about the combination of the schools and the resulting layoffs? Adam Arenson: What faculty wants to do more than anything is teach students. So when the college is solving its budget crisis by cutting faculty, that’s very painful for all the faculty. TQ: Has this situation changed your opinion of the college? AA: It’s clear that higher education is in a moment of chal-
lenge and only by having more students get college degrees and having more people invest in making colleges a place for knowledge creation will the situation get better. TQ: What change do you hope to see from the college in the future? AA: The college needs to communicate better about its strengths and it needs to do more to attract students. If there are going to be cuts, we need to see that those are being shared by the administrators personally and we need to make sure we’re spending money on the things that matter the most to students and their families. Michael Plugh (MP), associate professor of communication The Quadrangle: How are you feeling about the combination of the schools and the resulting layoffs? Michael Plugh: I think there’s been a combination of shock and anger from what I can tell. There was very little clear communication from the administration about their process despite repeated inquiries. It wasn’t so much a discussion from what I understand and it ended up being a lot more like a mandate. The things that they (administration) communicated to us didn’t end up being the way it played out and so in the immediate aftermath of the layoffs, the first thing I noted was there was a lot of shock. TQ: Has this situation changed your opinion of the college?
THE QUADRANGLE
MP: I feel like this process has been a devaluing and a humiliation of teachers at Manhattan College and of the Lasallian mission in general and that’s disappointing and disheartening. I think we see this across higher education to an increasing degree, but it’s especially disheartening when there’s so much talk about that Lasallian mission... I think institutions are only as good as the reflection of the values of the communities that they come from…I know the faculty are committed and invested in making sure that the institution continues. TQ: What change do you hope to see from the college in the future? MP: The first thing that has to happen is that there has to be more shared governance. Without that, there’s no college. I get the sense that the faculty having made sacrifices now in personnel and benefits need to see our commitment respected and honored in how the administration is sharing whatever the future looks like with us, and not simply dictating to us new terms of our employment and new terms of the institutional arrangement. And if the faculty aren’t at least 50/50 partners in making those decisions, then I don’t think that this is going to go well for anyone. Isabella Demelfi (ID), sophomore psychology and criminology major The Quadrangle: How are you feeling about the combination of the schools and the resulting layoffs? Isabella Demelfi: It’s just
frustrating because from what we do know through professors, we know the reality of it. We’re all adults, the youngest person here is 18. We all know how life is. I wish it was just more transparent, being like, “Oh, we’re having some financial issues, so we think combining the schools is the best for our school right now.” TQ: Has this situation changed your opinion of the college? ID: My opinion on the school hasn’t changed. I love the buildings, I like my classes, I like the way the layout is, I like the school. And the professors are great. I cannot imagine getting laid off randomly for no reason other than we (administration) went “eeny meeny miny moe” and because we had to get rid of some people. My view on this staff has changed, but I don’t want to say incredibly changed because yet again, he (President Riverso) was handed this problem he didn’t create. He didn’t help it, but he didn’t create it though. TQ: What change do you hope to see from the college in the future? ID: Transparency. I’m not asking for the world to change. No one likes to be kept in the dark. Being aware is so helpful. Being in the dark makes everyone so frustrated and so mad.
JANUARY 23, 2024
Arts & Entertainment
8
Dogfight Takes the Stage as MC Players’ Spring Musical! Barbara Vasquez Asst. Production Editor
Dogfight is a coming-ofage production full of drama, romance and the tragedy of sending off young men to war. Get ready because it’s the MC Players’ choice for their spring musical! The spring musical decision was confirmed recently via an announcement on the Players’ Instagram. Following the comedic productions they put on in the fall semester, including the Phineas and Ferb Cabaret and Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, the dramatic production of Dogfight brings a bit of change. The options for the spring musical were narrowed down to just a few by the Players, with the ultimate decision being made by director Will Erat. This musical was chosen for its range of content and the meaning behind the musical overall. MC Players marketing chair, Olivia Bailey, shared her thoughts on the matter. “It’s a musical with deep subject matter including love, loss and elements of war, and we as a club want to respectfully bring musicals with meaning to the stage for audiences to see,” Bailey wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. Tess Nunan, the producer for MC Players shared her thoughts as well. “It’s a celebration of youth, because it’s all young soldiers about to go off into the real world,” Nunan said. “It’s cruel and awful, and it’s a bit of a commentary on how we treat soldiers when they come back from war.” While Dogfight is set during the brink of the Vietnam War and certainly focuses on the soldiers and the uncertainties they feel as they head off for deployment, there is also a romantic storyline. It stems from a bet the soldiers have with each other concerning their dates for a party. Whoever shows up with the ugliest
Manhattan College’s Will Erat chooses Dogfight as the MC Players spring musical. @PLAYERSMC INSTAGRAM/COURTESY girl wins, with this bet being called the ‘dogfight.’ Nunan explained how the Players plan on tackling this sensitive subject matter. “There is a lot of misogyny in this play, but we want to reverse it in a way that’s more of a show of what the time was like,” Nunan said. Despite this possibly controversial plot point, the Players vow to make this a production to remember. The play is set to take the stage in the Black Box Theater in April. The Black Box setting provides a more intimate experience for audience members and actors alike, and will allow both parties to connect with one another. Nunan explained to The
Quadrangle that creating these productions comes with a wave of emotions. “Considering that we had a blow with the budget, we all still want to prove that we are capable and I think we can do that,” Nunan said. “There’s just always going to be nerves with proving you’re capable, but I have a lot of faith in everyone, and everyone’s really dedicated.” Bailey shared feelings of excitement at the Players’ upcoming production. “At the end of the day, we join together because our love of theatre is so strong,” Bailey wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “I believe that with everything that people have been
going through this semester and will continue to go through, it’s the least we can do to enjoy ourselves and put on a production we’re proud of.” As the date of the spring musical comes closer there could certainly be a rise in nerves and expectations for the show, but for now the Players are excited to put on a great production and see some support from the Manhattan College community. Madeline Braun, a stage manager for MC Players, has high hopes for the turnout during the musical’s showings. “We do always want everybody to try to come see it if they can, of course, because we’re doing what we love,” Braun
said. “We’re putting in so much time and effort in this and it may not be as well known as a musical as you might think, but I still think it’d be fun to come and see it just to experience something new and maybe get to hear some new music that you really like.” MC Players has developed several ways of fundraising their budget back, such as a GoFundMe page which can be found on their Instagram, @playersmc, which also provides updates about upcoming events.
Arts & Entertainment
9
THE QUADRANGLE
MC Album Class Prepares For their Great Gig Karen Flores Staff Writer
The Manhattan College album class is taking on The Dark Side of the Moon, an album by rock band Pink Floyd as their chosen repertoire for the spring 2024 semester. The class had its highest enrollment this semester with a total of 18 students, including five students who had taken the class prior and were asked back. Each class period is broken into segments, including an hour-long lecture where students study the portion of the music assigned by analyzing and transcribing it, followed by two hours dedicated to rehearsal. Andrew Bauer, director for performing arts, shared with The Quadrangle that student interest and the ability to execute the music from a technical standpoint plays a large role in the album chosen for the course. Bauer believes that this Pink Floyd album will be a great challenge for the students. “While the technical demands of the album, from a musical perspective, aren’t really intense, getting that sound and achieving the way the album sounds is going to be very challenging,” Bauer said. “Aside from the music, we have to delve into settings of the amplifier, the effects processing, press processing, all of which is going to be really critical to getting that sound. It’s a great challenge for all the members.” Matthew Regalado, a junior biochemistry major, has enrolled in this class every semester during his time at MC. For this coming performance, he will be playing the guitar and singing. “For this album specifically, we bought a lap steel guitar because it’s critical to the type of sound that is characteristic of a couple of the pieces within the album,” Regalado said. “It’s placed on your lap and played with a steel bar named a tone bar. I’m excited to be playing it for this album, it’s a new experience.” Regalado shared that he has seen the course grow in popularity and says it incorporates both teamwork and indi-
The Manhattan College album class takes on The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, scheduled to perform at the end of the spring semester. MC PLAYERS/COURTESY vidual effort which makes it more interesting. “Seeing how the number of people increase, it’s a testament to how much it’s grown in popularity, even since I’ve been here,” Regalado said. “It really is a class of teamwork and knowing how to work with people aside from the musical aspect. Seeing how we have evolved in terms of performance and the music in the past two years, compared to what we’re gonna do this year, it’s a really big step.” Tess Nunan, a senior English major, decided to join the course but is taking on the role of dramaturgy, which is the different research that occurs behind the scenes to ensure
the roles and parts of a show are executed as accurately as possible. “I don’t play an instrument or sing but I’m going to be helping behind the scenes by applying research to the performance using dramaturgy,” Nunan said. “ I am doing this to keep accurate to the time period and apply interesting aspects that people may not directly connect to the album.” Nunan has not taken the course before this semester but is excited to see how her role will play in the course and performance as a whole. “I can help behind the scenes and use my skills in a performing arts setting and I’m really excited about it,” Nunan
said. “I’m someone who’s seen I do other stuff in performing arts and I always come to see album class, it’s great to form part of the group.” Bauer believes that this class sets Manhattan College apart due to the fact that it allows students to immerse and unpack music in ways that conventional music classes don’t. “This album class that we’re doing at Manhattan College is not being done anywhere else that I know of in the United States that actually studies an album this way and then performs it note for note in a public performance,” Bauer said. “That makes us extremely unique here at the college as there is a fostering of creativity
here that doesn’t necessarily happen in other institutions.” He hopes that students come out and experience the work and effort their peers put into their performances. The album class is scheduled to perform at the end of the spring semester. “We hope to see as many MC students at the performance, it is a performance where they can see the talent their peers and friends have. We are excited and looking forward to it,” said Bauer. For more updates about the performance, follow the Instagram @mcalbumclass
Sports
JANUARY 23, 2024
Winter Break Wrap: Women’s Basketball
10
Andrew Mannion Asst. Sports Editor
Following winter break, Manhattan College students can return to school and witness the recent accomplishments of the women’s basketball team. The team went 5-2 over the break, including three wins against conference opponents. On the offensive side of the ball, the Lady Jaspers have shown nothing but improvement over this stretch. They have been shooting 39% from the field and putting up 58.6 points a night. This number is up from the 54 points a game the team was averaging from before the break. Nitzan Amar has been leading the team in scoring and has averaged 10.4 points in the season. The defensive strategy is giving an average of 52 points a night. The team has been dominant near the rim, as they have out-blocked every team over break besides LIU. Their defensive dominance has given them arguably the best unit in the MAAC, as they lead the conference in points allowed per game, opponent rebounding and blocks. As of Jan. 20, Manhattan is currently seventh in the nation in opponent points per game, following behind major schools such as the University of South Carolina, Texas A&M and Kansas State University. One of their more dominant wins over the break came right after students headed home, as they took on Rider at Draddy Gymnasium. This marked the opening game of the MAAC competition for the
Nitzan Amar drives to the rim as Manhattan take down Siena VINCENT DUSOVIC/COURTESY Lady Jaspers, and they did not waste the opportunity to make a statement. The Lady Jaspers took a win over the Broncs by a whopping 34 points, winning the game 73-39. Petra Juric led the way for the Jaspers, as she had herself a career game. She put up 23 points on just 13 shots while grabbing 12 rebounds and two steals. That marked her second straight double-double. Defensively the Jaspers held the Broncs to shooting
24% from the field, which led to them underscoring their season average by 14 points. Heather Vulin, women’s basketball head coach, was quite impressed with her team’s performance after the win. “I’m very excited,” Vulin said. “I thought we played well today. I thought we were locked in as a group and our goal was to make a statement today with our defense and offense. I feel like we were very dominant on
both sides of the ball and excited to start MAAC play. It’s going to be an incredible season.” Vulin was right when she mentioned how the Lady Jaspers would go on to have an incredible season. Manhattan currently sits third in the MAAC, trailing second-place Cansius by just half a game in the standings. The Lady Jaspers play only MAAC competition in their 15 remaining games, so the action is just getting started.
The Lady Jaspers’ next game will come against the Marist Red Foxes on Jan. 25 at 7pm. (5-11, 3-3 in the MAAC as of Jan. 20). The Red Foxes will be coming off a game against the Fairfield Stags. The game will be held in Draddy Gymnasium, and the team hopes everyone will come out and show their support.
Sports
11
THE QUADRANGLE
Winter Break Wrap: Men’s Basketball Emmanouel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editor If you were not around for Jasper’s men’s basketball during winter break, you may have missed the Jaspers battling the Monmouth Hawks and the Rider Broncs. Shaquil Bender led the Jaspers with 17 points, but Monmouth took control in the second half, securing a 45-43 lead and maintaining it to the end. However, Monmouth’s 9-0 run sealed the victory. Xander Rice led Monmouth with 24 points and their dominance on the boards (47 - 34) proved decisive. In the following game, the Jaspers had a tough matchup against the Wagner Seahawks. Despite a close first half, a 12-0 Wagner run in the second half sealed a 68-54 victory. Wagner’s impressive shooting percentages, 64% from the floor and 83.3% from three-point range, made the difference. Tahron Allen led the Seahawks with 17 points. Manhattan shot 37.9% from the floor. On Jan. 5, the Jaspers fell to the Niagara Purple Eagles with a score of 81-67. Shaquil Bender led the Jaspers with a season-high 30 points and five three-pointers, but Niagara’s early 21-8 lead set the tone. Seydou Traore added 11 points and six rebounds. Niagara’s Harlan Obioha (21 points, 13 rebounds) and Braxton Bayless (20 points, 7 assists) played crucial roles. Jasper head coach, John Gallagher, acknowledged defensive improvements needed and praised Bender’s performance. Manhattan shot 44.6% from the field, while Niagara shot 55.8%. After a tough stretch of games, the Jaspers once again fell short to the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Seydou Traore led with 11 points and eight rebounds, supported by Logan Padgett’s 10 points and eight rebounds. Despite the Jaspers’ defensive efforts forcing 25 turnovers, Quinnipiac controlled the first half with a 70.3% lead. Manhattan faced challenges, shooting 39.3% and committing 16 turnovers. In the second half, a spirited effort brought the Jaspers close, trailing by two points (34-32), but Quinnipiac’s consistency secured the win with 48 points in the
Photo of Jocy against Rider. GOJASPERS / COURTESY paint. Daniel Rouzan led the scoring for the Jaspers with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, closely followed by Shaquil Bender with 15 points and seven rebounds, and Jaden Winston contributing 12 points, six assists, and three steals in another unfortunate loss to the Rider Broncs. Despite the strong performances, Rider’s Mervin James led the scoring with 27 points and six rebounds, securing a lead for the Broncs. The first half saw both teams tied at 33 points, with the Jaspers shooting 50% from the field. However, Rider’s three-point shooting gave them an advantage. Despite a struggle for Manhattan in the second half, shooting 28.6% from the floor, Rider secured a 13-point victory with 41.9% shooting. For the final game of the win-
ter break, the Jaspers faced the Saint Peter’s Peacocks. Daniel Rouzan delivered a career-high 22 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Shaquil Bender added 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. In a close first half, Manhattan closed the gap to six points at the break. However, Saint Peter’s extended their lead in the second half, ultimately securing an 81-68 victory. Manhattan shot 42.9% from the field with 28% from three-point range, while Saint Peter’s shot 46.6% and had 38 points in the paint. The Manhattan College men’s basketball team is currently on an eight-game losing streak, but there’s optimism that they can turn things around in the upcoming games against Fairfield and Canisius.