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Volume XCVIX, Issue 3

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NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Halal and Kosher Options on Campus August Kissel Web Editor

Polar Vortex Hits Riverdale Students forced to brave wind chill temperatures of below 0 heading to classes throughout the week.

BRIAN ASARE/ THE QUADRANGLE

Lack of Heat, No Gas at Popular Off-Campus Housing Location Living in the Bronx can come with challenges, and for residents of 3804 Greystone Avenue, the challenges are especially daunting. The building is home to not just Manhattan College students, but also families with young children and elderly residents, who collectively have been living without cooking gas or stable heat. According to residents, these issues have persisted since September. “It has been four months, since September, I remember it was a Friday that it started,” said Linda Waldstein, a 40-year resident of 3804 Greystone. “We know the building is about 100 years old so we know the building hasn’t been attended to, that just makes sense.” As a response to this issue, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz paired with Council Member Andrew Cohen on Thursday, Jan. 31. to “bring attention to the fact that residents have been without cooking gas since September of 2018,” according

to the press conference’s official notice. “It’s really cold out, and actually it’s cold inside as well,” said Dinowitz in his opening statement. “We’re really angry that this building has not had cooking gas since September [and] it’s not likely that they’re going to have it in the immediate future. We think some work has finally been done but in the meanwhile, the people that live here have had to live in substandard conditions. Not only the gas by the way, they’ve had inadequate heat.” Reaching the landlord has brought uncertainty for some. “[When we complain] the landlord says, ‘I know,’ ‘we’re taking care of it,’ but that’s it. You never get anything that definitive,” said Waldstein. And for others, it’s simply been unpleasant. “I have reached out to the landlord once and he was not very nice. I told him about all of our issues and he did not seem like he cared. I told him that if nothing got fixed then we would refuse to pay rent. He then told me that he would take us to court. I have not reached out to him since that phone

IN NEWS:

IN FEATURES:

Jack Melanson Senior Writer

Outtakes CStore: Convenience or Location on p.4

HerCampus Relaunches at MC on p.7

call,” said Sydney Mattera, a resident and Manhattan College student. “I saw a letter posted in the lobby how an Assemblyman from NYC was trying to come in contact with [the landlord], but he was ignoring his phone calls and emails.” Cohen confirmed Mattera’s statement. “The landlord doesn’t respond, the managing people, they do not respond and it’s outrageous,” said Cohen. This is increasingly troublesome for Waldstein. “I don’t think this landlord is very responsive. [Especially] if he’s not even calling the assembly people and congressional people back,” she said. The families of 3804 Greystone may have it the hardest. “I’m one individual, I can get by, but I see my neighbors look at the children, the infants - they have to cook, they have to make a meal,” said Waldstein. “You can’t make a meal on a small little hot plate or you’re __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Manhattan College is a private Lasallian Catholic Institution and as follows, a majority of its students identify as Christian. To accomodate all of its students the college provides worship options for as many of its students as possible, one by offering to bring the community of Jewish students to a local synagogue, as well as having a Muslim Chaplain on campus with office hours and weekly Jummah Prayer offered in the Horan Hall Meditation room. In the past few years the student body has been calling for more dining options on campus to accommodate the dietary law that may accompany practicing a religion. The two dietary laws that the students called for were Halal and Kosher options. According to BBC News, to follow the Halal dietary law means the process of preparing the meat includes the care of the animal before it is killed and that it must be a healthy animal. The animal is then killed in a particular way and with the proper sharpened tools to alleviate animal suffering. Lastly, the meat is killed in name of Allah so that the killing of the animal has a purpose. Sophomore Fatoumata Saho has been one of the key advocates for Halal and Kosher options for commuter and resident students. “As a Muslim student and a person who lives on campus, it is so hard to find Halal options on campus and around campus, and if the school had the ability to provide the right foods for the students then the students would not have to go all the way out of their way to find Halal food, where it is more likely to be expensive, it would be more beneficial for those students to have the food here on campus,” said Saho Saho is one of the student representatives for the Food

IN A&E: Coffee House Kicks Off for the Semester on p.5

Service Committee, which is a group that works with head of Gourmet Dining, Nick Valinotti, and the team to provide dining options for the variety of students on campus. “When the students talk we listen. We really concentrated on reinventing the center circle of Locke’s to make it more friendly for all when it comes to dietary restrictions,” said Valinotti. Saho and Valinotti met and worked together to create accessible options to the resident and the commuter population. For Saho, this meant meeting with both Valinotti and Brittany Trainor, the registered dietician on campus to discuss the breakdowns of what she felt was best for the MC community. “Just this past semester, we have added gluten free, vegan and Halal options in retail because commuters voiced their preferences when it came to this during our Food Service Committee meetings led by Fatoumata Saho,” added Valinotti. These options are located in Locke’s Loft, Cafe 1853, and Kelly Commons to residents and commuters. As a former commuter herself, Saho was aware of student demographics and wanted to be sure that the options were available to resident and commuter students equally. “I used to be a commuter, as a commuter there are days where you don’t have time to pack up your food for the day, and a lot of commuters are Muslim students, so having the food available for the students to be able to grab and eat it is so much easier to be on campus and so I just thought ‘hey, let’s get some Halal options,” said Saho. In Cafe 1853 the Halal options are located with the prepackaged meals that are for sale in the refrigerator. In Kelly Commons, there is also a re__________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

IN SPORTS:

Aaron Boone Visits Campus to Talk Leadership p.11

Opinions & Editorials

the Quadrangle Volume XCVIX, Issue 3 FEBRUARY 5 , 2018

The Editorial Board

Megan Dreher Editor-in-Chief Gabriella DePinho News Editor

Joseph Liggio Maria Thomas Asst. News Editors

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

Alyssa Velazquez Production Manager Sophia Sakellariou Samantha Walla Production Editors

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. Connect with The Quadrangle

mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

THE QUADRANGLE

#BellLetsTalk: An Op-Ed on Mental Illnesses

Katherine Heneghan Asst. Features Editor

One in five U.S. adults struggle with some sort of mental illness (National Alliance of Mental Illness). The average class size at Manhattan College is 23 students. Therefore, in any given classroom, you can look around the room and 20% of the class, about 4 or more students, could be struggling with a mental illness according to these statistics. Serious mental illnesses that impact major life activities affect one in 25 Americans (National Alliance of Mental Illness). Though 4% seems like a small percentage, it’s not; that’s about 9.8 million Americans which is more than the entire population of all of the boroughs of New York City. Jan. 30, 2019 was #BellLetsTalk Day, an online campaign that raises awareness and encourages conversations about mental illness. The purpose is to raise money for a Canadian telecommunications company, Bell Canada. For every retweet on Twitter or mention of the hashtag, the company donated $.05 to Canadian mental health programs. This extended into a variety of different social media platforms and involved celebrities, sports teams, and millions of social media users. The retweets, hashtags, and posts are continuing to grow. The purpose of this initiative is to start a conversation on social media about mental health with the goal of normalizing it and trying to eliminate the stigma surrounding it. For me personally, this day lifted a lot of the isolation that I had felt surrounding mental health. I struggle with a mental illness, and I know you cannot see that from the outside. For me, seeing an overwhelming amount of support, understanding, as well as people coming forward as having a mental illness too, created a strong feeling of normalcy and acceptance. I’ve always known I wasn’t alone in

struggling with mental health, but it doesn’t make it any easier to come forward and acknowledge personal struggles. In high school, I would have categorized myself as normal. In my mind, I was “too normal” to have mental health issues. I played sports, had plenty of friends, got good grades and I was involved in school. I believed that mental illness had a demographic, and I wasn’t sure what that was or what it entailed but I was nearly 100% sure I wasn’t a part of it. I struggled for years with anxiety and refused to acknowledge that’s what it was. Each time I felt out of the norm I assured myself it was just a bad day, and that I was stressed from school or sports, and that what I was feeling on a regular basis was nothing else to worry about. Then, my anxiety started feeling like depression and I was so anxious it made me want to isolate myself. I wasn’t sure where to turn because I was so sure all along that I was so normal. I hated clichés such as “it’s okay to not be okay,” and I refused to acknowledge that well - it was true. Coming to terms with it was the hardest part of it all. I finally decided that ignoring how I felt was never going to make me feel any better and this would always be how I had to feel if I decided to continue to live that way. Seeking help is one of the hardest parts because I truly believed I was “too normal” to need help, I thought I was too strong for it, and I wasn’t. I felt like I had accepted defeat by seeking help but it really wasn’t defeat at all, it was the way my brain worked and it took so many of my friends, family, and doctors to get it through my head that it wasn’t a weakness. The analogy that finally stuck with me was, imagine anxiety or depression or any other mental health issue, as a common physical health issue. So, for example, Asthma affects millions of people every day, as does depression or anxiety. Would you think you’re

too good to treat your asthma or that you’re too mentally or physically strong to need an inhaler? These are not issues of weakness or strength, and neither is a mental illness. #BellLetsTalk was highly criticized on the internet for “not doing enough” and to limit the conversation about mental health to one day. For me, it didn’t feel like that. Seeing others share their story made me more comfortable with sharing mine. Seeing people I didn’t know care about the topic, share words of support on social media made me feel like I didn’t need to hide something. Sometimes all it takes is a single day of support and a few words of wisdom to lift some of the stigma associated with mental illness. So, let’s talk. Let’s reach out to a friend when we need someone to talk to. Reach out to Manhattan’s counseling center when you need more than a friend to confide in by making an appointment to speak with a trained professional. Use mental health hotlines, educate yourself on mental illness and be aware that it’s nothing to hide, to joke about, or to judge. There are a variety of resources available for those who are struggling. Here are some resources, specifically for Manhattan College students. Confidential Resources Campus Counseling Center: 718-862-7394; appointments can be made by phone or in the office in Miguel 501 Call 1-888-NYC-WELL or Text “WELL” to 65173 for NYC Well: a confidential 24/7 hotline. Call 1-800-273-8255 Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call (800) 931-2237 National Eating Disorder Awareness Helpline Call 1-888-633-3239 National Drug Helpline (For substance abuse)

SUBMIT YOUR OWN LET T ER OR OP-ED 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.

News

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Halal and Kosher Options on Campus

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frigerator with prepackaged foods, as well as the ability to order any meal with Halal meat as a substitute and it will be prepared and served hot for the students. The last option is that in Locke’s Loft, the resident can go online and request their meal so that is is prepared

when they arrive to Lockes and ready to eat. “Gourmet Dining was really accommodating, to be honest when I started this I didn’t know how long it was going to take, because I would thought it was going to take a lot longer, but Nick and Gourmet Dining in general were really into making sure that this was available for students and that all of our requests were answered,” said

Saho. If a student was interested in gaining more options they can contact Trainor at her email BTrainor@gourmetdiningllc.com. They will have a one on one meeting with her to discuss their requests so that Gourmet Dining will be able to accommodate their needs to the best of their ability. Students are also welcome to join the Food Service Com-

mittee to partake in the regular discussions taking place regarding creating more options in the different dining locations. “We try our best to accommodate all dietary restrictions and preferences. We are always looking to evolve the program and find it helpful when students voice their requests to show that there is a building interest to show the College

that there needs to be an adjustment or addition in the food service program. All we would ask is that any student that has any type of need when it comes to food service is to give us the opportunity by meeting with us to better understand the needs,” said Valinotti.

No Gas at Popular Off-Campus Housing Location __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 going out, you’re buying food, your bills are going up and then we’re still paying the rent.” Receiving a hot plate was no easy task either. “We received a hot plate from the super[intendent] when we heard that others had them. However, it was not known to us that they were giving them out until about two weeks after the gas was stopped, which was September 14,” said Mattera, “The people that we know in the building do have hot plates. I am unsure about people who do not have one.” Local democratic leader Eric Dinowitz questioned whether these residents should continue to pay their rent. “People are eating out two or three meals a day, who can afford that? Particularly when they’re still paying their full rent,” said Eric Dinowitz. “People should not be paying the rent when they’re not getting heat, gas, and ways to keep their children safe.” At Thursday’s press conference, Cohen and Dinowitz assured the crowd that actions have been taken on their behalf.

“It really is outrageous. The only thing that probably happens in this building is the rent bill goes out… Our office has arranged for legal services,” said Cohen. “People need to be able to feed their children and cook in their own home. It’s unacceptable and we want the landlord to hear us loud and clear.” Assemblyman Dinowitz continued. “We’ve advised tenants that they can come to the councilman’s office or to my office. We can file rent decrease complaints with the state housing agency,” he said. “The [residents are] entitled to that.” Manhattan College students are likely paying the most to live in these poor conditions. “There are 39 apartments in the building [and] maybe a few [are] old rent-controlled apartments,” said Waldstein. “The students here are probably paying market value.” This is due to a greater turnover amongst the student population in the building, according to Dinowitz. “The students from Manhattan College, I would guess, would be paying more [than the non-student residents],” said Dinowitz. “Their apartments are market rate.”

Mattera and her four roommates are getting their first taste of living of living off-campus this school year and it’s been costly. “Our rent is $2,740, which is only because we knew the girls that lived here before us and we got the realtor to bargain with

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“People should not be paying the rent when they’re not getting heat, gas, and ways to keep their children safe.” -----------------------us,” said Mattera. “There are five people living in the apartment, with four bedrooms, so two girls share one room, both paying $512, and the three in their own room pay $572 each.” Without cooking gas or adequate heat, off-campus living has been much harder than ex-

Linda Waldstein, a 40 year resident of the building, spoke at the press conference about the declining conditions of the building in recent years. GABRIELLA DEPINHO/ THE QUADRANGLE

pected. “This inconvenienced me personally, along with my roommates, since we moved off-campus with the intentions of saving money for housing. The rent seemed reasonable and we did very well on groceries,” said Mattera. Once the gas went out, we were unable to cook anything. This turned into ordering out from delis and restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It turned more into a huge expense rather than a saving. The amount of money spent on ordering out became burdensome and unhealthy.” Needless to say, it’s been a bad taste. “Our apartment is freezing, we have to be under blankets constantly,” said Abby Crowell, another 3804 resident and Manhattan College student. “It’s been really tough, we can’t cook so we’ve been spending [money on] meals at the deli. It’s really sad. This is my first time living in an apartment and this is making me not want to do it again because this is what I’m going to expect for the rest of my life.” Mattera and Crowell’s apartment was 13 degrees below regulation on January 31. Mattera’s bedroom, on the west facing side of building,

was 55 degrees. “As far as the heat in the apartment, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., they have to have the temperature at 68 degrees. After 10 p.m. they need to keep the temperature at 62 degrees,” said Dinowitz. “That is no way to live. The [residents] want the services that they’re entitled to under the lease and under the law.” Because of this, health issues are now a constant concern for the families affected. “Our parents are concerned for our health, since they know that our diets only consist of deli sandwiches and microwavable macaroni and cheese,” said Mattera. “They want their children to be comfortable and safe, not freezing and starving, with no meal plan on campus anymore.” Although no clear solution has been brought to the table, Dinowitz reassured the 3804 residents that he will not stand for these conditions. “People in this building, and people in New York City shouldn’t have to live this way,” said Dinowitz. “We are sick and tired of it.” Editor’s note: Abby Crowell is a member of the Quadrangle Masthead.

Camera crews from ABC and Fox showed up to the press conference hosted by Assemblyman Dinowitz and Councilman Cohen. GABRIELLA DEPINHO / THE QUADRANGLE

News

THE QUADRANGLE

Outtakes C-Store: Convenience in Price or Location? Richard Gerling & Samantha Walla

Staff Writer & Production Editor One thing students love about Manhattan College is how conveniently close the campus is to delis and other stores, like Rite Aid, but Manhattan College offers an even more convenient option to students than walking the few blocks to the students’ stores of choice. The Outtakes C-Store at Manhattan College is designed to offer grab-and-go options for students. Located on the second floor of Thomas Hall, outside of Cafe 1853, the C-Store provides students a convenient place to get snacks and drinks throughout the day, open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Students are able to use both Jasper Dollars and Dining Dollars for purchases at the C-Store. While the store is very conveniently located right on campus, the prices at the C-Store may not be convenient for ev-

ery students’ wallet. Prices set at the C-Store are determined between Gourmet Dining and Manhattan College. As the store does not have the capability to buy in bulk like other stores near campus do, the prices are not able to be set as low as these other stores. Nick Valinotti, head of Gourmet Dining at Manhattan College, said, “While the grocery store is purchasing for an entire portion of a city or town, we are simply purchasing for our campus community. If you check the prices, we are competitive and beat most prices.” Items available at the CStore are reflective of what you could find in other convenience stores. Valinotti says, “When we stocked the C-Store we came up with an list of items that one would find in a typical convenience store. Item’s don’t vary on a weekly basis but we are continuously adding to our selection available to the community. The C-Store is restocked daily.” The selection at the CStore is continuously growing, and should provide students

with a wide variety of options to choose from for grab-and-go snacks, premade meals, over the counter medicines, among other items. Jen Del Bene, a senior marketing major, said, “Personally I love the C-Store. I just want them open on Saturday and Sunday as well, and open before 11 a.m.” Clinton Greene, a freshman history major, goes to the CStore every few weeks to get snacks. “Usually when I go, I’m getting snacks for that day,” said Greene. As Greene lives on campus, the location of the C-Store outweighs the higher prices than other alternatives. “Sometimes I’ll go there because I don’t want to leave the campus. If I’m going to buy snacks that will last a long time I’ll usually go to Target, but I’ll go to the C-Store if I’m going to eat it that day,” said Greene. Greene does wish that prices were lowered some to be in line with the other stores that he does go to but he will still pay the C-Store prices now and then.

The prices of Outtakes C -Store as compared to the local Rite-Aid and Best Deli of the Riverdale community. SAMANTHA WALLA / THE QUADRANGLE

Greene said, ““I asked what the price was for something, and they, said ‘Oh, it’s $3’ and I don’t want to be rude and put it back. That’s kind of steep for what I’m getting.” As the C-Store is located within the campus, many students shop there instead of other locations due to the convenience of being able to shop with money that you already have on your meal plan. Laura Bombace, a senior communications major, shops at the C-Store frequently due to the convenience her meal plan offers her as a resident in Overlook Manor. “Because I have a lot of Dining Dollars, I have over $600 a semester, so I use that fake money,” said Bombace. “I was just at the C-Store today. It’s overpriced, but it’s fake money to me. If I didn’t have dining dollars, I’d probably go somewhere closer.” Olivia Vlad, a sophomore special education major, only goes to the C-Store because of the availability of the already paid for Dining Dollars. “As someone who doesn’t have a lot of Dining Dollars, the

C-Store is very overpriced. I only have $50 in Dining Dollars so I do value the deli over the CStore, so I wish it was all Jasper Dollars,” said Vlad. A majority of students go to the C-Store despite its high prices due to the convenience of its location. Like many other students, Elizabeth Woolfley, a senior economics and business analytics major, goes to get easy, already made options. Woolfley said, “I usually just go between classes for graband-go and bring it to class to eat. Sometimes I grab a microwavable meal for dinner.” Though students recognize that the C-Store has higher prices than what is available to them at surrounding stores, students ultimately still shop at the C-Store. The prices are higher but students are still willing to pay for the convenience.

The C-Store is open Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 1:00am. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE

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FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Arts & Entertainment

Dining for Women Presents “Half the Sky” Lauren Schuster Social Media Editor

Snacks, friends and the opportunity to learn more about the struggles of women in foreign countries brought together a group of students for a Dining for Women movie night this past Thursday, Jan. 31. The film shown, titled “Half the Sky,” allowed students to hear and see first hand accounts of women’s lives around the world. Junior Shannon Forty and sophomore Ireland Twiggs, who head the Manhattan College chapter of Dining for Women, presented the film in hopes that their fellow students could get a more global view of the issues harming women today. “This film was recommended to us by Kathleen [Von Euw] from [Campus Ministry and] Social Action so then we watched it and we thought it was awesome, just because it really ties in well with Dining for Women’s whole mission, and it’s just about exposing people in the U.S. to issues that women and girls in the developing world face and they just did a really good job,” Forty said. The first portion of the film that was shown focused on the

struggles that young girls face when trying to get an education in Vietnam. In Vietnam, it is common for girls to end their education at some point in their middle school years. Going on to high school, let alone college, often requires a great deal of dedication. This can include biking for miles to get to school, balancing work and school to keep their families from going hungry, coping with a lack of support from family members and more. “I think the education in Vietnam [portion] was really powerful, just hearing their stories of the amount of pressure and just the stress and the importance that education can really, totally change your life,” Forty said. “That was just really awesome to see. We hear about it a lot, but it’s just so true.” The second portion of the film that was shown took place in Somaliland and dealt with the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) there. Usually at some point between the ages of seven and nine, young girls will be rounded up in a group by an older woman in the community, taken into a separate hut, bound by their legs and then painfully mutilated. “I’m a peace studies major, so I have a lot of classes that involve human rights infractions and I’ve heard of FGM

Shannon Forty and Ireland Twiggs introduce the film “Half the Sky” at the Dining for Women movie night. LAUREN SCHUSTER / THE QUADRANGLE but I never realized the consequences it had specifically on menstruation, on giving birth,” Twiggs said. “So, I never realized how directly connected it was and I think seeing women die trying to give birth and who don’t have access to the knowledge involving reproductive rights really hit me, so that moment for me was really eye opening.” Senior Adaeze Obinelo, one of the students who attended the screening, also found the footage to be very eye opening. “Definitely the piece on FGM stood out a lot,” Obinelo said. “I’m kind of aware of the

subject, but it’s just different actually seeing in real time how it affects childbirth and stuff like that.” For Obinelo, learning about social issues that don’t personally affect you is an important way to expand your knowledge of the world around you. “I think people should be aware of opportunities to gain perspective from other places and become aware of things that maybe aren’t affecting them, but other people could benefit from their involvement,” Obinelo said. Going forward, Twiggs and Forty hope that even more

members of the MC community will come to their events to learn about the experiences of and offer support to women and girls in developing nations. “We just want to say that even though it says ‘Dining for Women’ as the title of the organization, the ‘for’ is emphasizing who we’re doing it for, it doesn’t mean that women are the only ones who are allowed to dine,” Forty said. “So we would love to invite all the gentlemen to come and also it’s open to faculty and not just students, so everyone is welcome.”

Coffee House Kicks Off for the Semester Alexa Schmidt Features Editor

The first Coffee House of the semester took place on Tuesday, Jan. 29 in Jasper Hall lounge. It lasted about two hours, with multiple performances by a variety of singers who shared their talent with the Manhattan College community. The program is run by senior Alex Constantine, who, with fellow senior Erin Plitt, took over the event during their freshman year of college. “Ever since we got it the end of our freshman year, Erin Plitt and I really wanted it to be a thing because MC is more like an art background; it doesn’t really have an art scene,” Constantine said. “We were like, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if people could come to a coffee house?’ When the two alumni did it, a lot of people came, there was good chemistry, there were some regulars, there were friends that would go to it, and we wanted something like that too when we took over,” he said. However, there were challenges for Constantine and Plitt to get the Coffee House started. “We were so young, so we were like, ‘How do we start this?’ So we did it as often as

possible to make it a thing. We would always stall, perform, and literally since the beginning, Kevin [Donald]’s been going, and I became close with him,” Constantine said. Eventually people’s friends started going, and friends of friends attended, so much so that regulars would show up to perform, or just listen to others. “We had really good friends that would just keep going, and musically involved friends, so we would just sit up there and begin a jam session, and we always planned to set up early,” Constantine said. “Set up early, jam around, get people to want to come, and have a strong crowd. As we kept having it, as we kept forming and getting better music, we started to draw more of a crowd, and since then, there’s been a huge increase in attendance in coffee house,” he said. The venue of the Coffee Houses also have a direct impact on the attendance and student exposure. Previous Coffee Houses have taken place in Hayden 100, which offers a more theater-type feel. “We had one in Smith Auditorium, last year we had one on the quad for hurricane donations for Puerto Rico, and we just had a bunch of people sitting on the quad, playing. I don’t think we’ve had an empty setlist for coffee house,” Con-

stantine said. He continued. “When we have Smith Auditorium we get the whole stage, so we have a drum set, mics, guitar, bass and it’s like a bandfeel. There was a ton of people in Smith, and we had a ton of people performing,” he said. Senior Kevin Donald, has attended most Coffee Houses, and supports its popularity among students. “There’s really not a lot here at MC for people that might not be in the jazz band, or Singers or something more formal,” Donald said. “There’s not a lot of places to perform if you’re not one of those more classical or traditional groups, and so it’s really great as someone plays music outside of these groups to have an opportunity to workshop songs, to meet other people doing that kind of stuff, and I’ve met people that have ended up playing on my gigs from playing at coffee house. Alex and Erin are fostering a sense of community that really, there’s a vacuum for at MC,” he said. “We like to be a very inclusive art scene at MC. That’s the whole point of coffee house. So everyone feels like they have a place to go, to play. There’s not a lot of places on campus where you can just play guitar and sing, or play piano and sing,” Constantine added.

Juniors Chantal Flores and Erin McWilliams performing at Coffee House on Jan. 29. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE However, due to an internship, Plitt could not continue her Coffee House endeavors this semester. Instead, junior Erin McWilliams has filled her place, and is enjoying the ride. “It’s been a lot of set-up, and it’s been kind of intimidating especially since Alex is so used to filling in the gaps when people don’t want to perform right away so, it’s an adjustment. But we’re rolling with it,” McWilliams said. “I like how it’s very casual and people who don’t typically get the platform to perform have the ability to showcase their talents and to feel included in the music community when they’re not neces-

sarily part of a club or organization,” she said. Although the Coffee House on Tuesday started off a little rocky, the event picked up momentum as people felt more confident enough to put their name on the list and perform. “The thing is, people always come here and they’re always nervous because they think you have to have something great. But since it’s we’re trying to start a scene at MC, we just want people to have fun. We just want people to come, sing if they want, do whatever they want. There’s no stress,” Constantine said.

Arts & Entertainment

THE QUADRANGLE

Muslim Student Association Brings World Hijab Day to Campus Haley Burnside Senior Writer

World Hijab Day is an international event in which nonMuslim women wear the hijab for a day and use the experience to educate themselves on daily life for Muslim women around the world. The Muslim Student Association, or MSA, held an informational table on Friday, Feb. 1 in order to share their stories with each other and their non-Muslim allies. The tabling session, which lasted for two hours, was a joint effort between the MSA and the Just Peace club. While the groups offered snacks and warm refreshments to students, they took time to share information and educational material on the Muslim faith. Senior Donya Quhshi, vice president of the MSA, spearheaded the event on campus. As someone who has worn the hijab by choice since she was 11 years old, this was an important day for her to share her story. “We wanted to do World Hijab Day mainly to raise awareness of the issues with people’s perception of the hijab. Many people believe we are oppressed. That’s the biggest misconception, that Muslim women are oppressed by their religion. They see the hijab as a symbol of that oppression,” said Quhshi. Quhshi and her fellow MSA members hope that events like the World Hijab Day help clarify some of the confusion surrounding the identities of Muslim women.

Members of the MSA and Just Peace club tabled in Kelly Commons for two hours. HALEY BURNSIDE/THE QUADRANGLE “Essentially, we just want to put out accurate information,” said Quhshi. The day is about more than just the Muslim aspect of Quhshi’s identity. It also heavily deals with her role as a woman in the Muslim community. “I think with modern feminism, many women feel liberated by wearing less clothing. That’s totally fine. I think that women should be empowered by whatever they want to do, but sometimes those differences make it so that feminism isn’t very inclusive of Muslim women,” said Quhshi She went on to explain how this should be fixed through proper education. “Many Muslim women feel that empowerment by wearing the hijab and pleasing their God. They draw those feelings

of empowerment from their faith, which should also be celebrated and acknowledged. We deserve to have a space in the

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“Many people

believe we are oppressed. That’s the biggest misconception, that Muslim women are oppressed by their religion.”

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feminist movement,” said Quh-

shi. She believes that World Hijab Day provides Muslim women a platform to speak while providing non-Muslims the experience to be open about their confusions and misconceptions. “We encourage people who have questions about the hijab or people who just want to be educated more to come to speak to us and allow our voices to be heard,” said Quhshi. Rachel Roca, a member of Just Peace, was one of these people. She attended the event to learn about Islam from her Muslim peers. With the help of Fatoumata Saho, the secretary of MSA, Roca put on a hijab for the first time. “I think this is a really cool event and it’s a nice interactive way to spread awareness. It’s a

Members of MSA offering baked goods and information for those curious about what wearing a hijab means. (RIGHT).Quhshi putting a hijab on Samantha Monfils. (LEFT) HALEY BURNSIDE/ THE QUADRANGLE

positive way to spread information when you hear so many negative things in the media about hijabs,” said Roca. Roca, who is not Muslim, found that World Hijab Day was a good way for her to learn about the experiences of Muslim women by wearing the hijab herself. “I just want to understand better and educate myself so I can be a good ally,” said Roca. A number of women asked Quhshi and Saho to help them put on hijab. The MSA members were ready and willing to assist, offering education and information as they did so. Rabea Ali, the president of MSA, hopes that by holding events like World Hijab Day, the Muslim students of Manhattan College have the opportunity to connect with the other students who want to understand Islam better. “This is a chance to educate about Islam and about the hijab, which is one of the points of the biggest misconceptions worldwide but also on our campus,” said Ali. “I hope people take general knowledge from this, but also this is one of those opportunities for people to ask all the questions that they think are dumb but really aren’t.” Overall, Quhshi was excited to see students embracing the opportunity to learn more about Islam. “The people who came to our table to hear our voices, listen to our stories and even try on the hijab are doing so because they want to be allies. They want to be educated. This day is about sharing that moment so that non-muslim women can learn from our experiences, both through our stories and from wearing the hijab themselves,” said Quhshi.

Features

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Her Campus Relaunches at MC Christine Nappi & Shannon Gleba

Contributor & Staff Writer After about two years of inactivity, Her Campus, an online magazine for students, relaunched at Manhattan College on Jan. 29. Her Campus is a blog that’s targeted for college students. Articles are published about topics ranging from student life, beauty, health, pop culture, politics and more. The website has its headquarters in Boston, with chapters located at over hundreds of national and international universities. Each branch is student-run and is not affiliated with the college it represents. Ally Mejia, freshman social media editor for Her Campus, said in an e-mail statement, “The relaunch entails the online magazine to be deemed ‘active’ again, if you will. Because our previous Her Campus chapter at Manhattan College was discontinued, we wanted to bring it back and make it better than ever!” Sophomore Michaela Carnesi spearheaded the relaunch of Her Campus after transferring to MC last fall semester. “Her Campus is basically an online magazine,” sophomore Michaela Carnesi said. “It gives students a way to speak their minds.” For Carnesi, Her Campus was an artistic outlet that allowed her to be able to write about and persevere through the struggles of her freshman year at her previous college. Her Campus became a huge part of Carnesi’s life, so when she decided to transfer to Manhattan College, she sought

to find the creative website she had grown to love. Unbeknownst to her, Her Campus at Manhattan had been inactive since April 2017, until now. “The goal is to give students a place where they can write about whatever they want,” Carnesi said. “It’s basically like a diary that you write but everyone can read which is really cool.” Carnesi began to re-establish the MC chapter this past October as the Campus Correspondent and Senior Editor. After talking to the college, applying to re-establish the chapter, and forming an executive team, after months of hard work, Her Campus MC is up and running. Sophomore Micaela Beatty is part of the executive team as the Events Director and really likes the freedom writers are given. “You literally can write whatever you want, we don’t like to restrict anyone, but obviously it has to be appropriate, so Michaela [Carnesi] approves the topics.” She continued. “I think it’ll be a good destressor, and not something that you need to attend, you can do it from the comfort of your own dorm room.” The Her Campus team consists of multiple staff positions other than writers. In addition to writing, students can take photos, market and publicize the site, work with social media and more. Mejia was able to hone her passion for social media within the Her Campus chapter. “I’ve always had a passion for social media, as crazy as that may sound. I enjoy creating posts that people will like and share and I wanted to put these skills towards something

Manhattan College’s Her Campus has officially relaunched this semester. HERCAMPUS_MC / INSTAGRAM COURTESY that could benefit many people, especially a cause that i’m interested in,” Mejia said. Despite the name, students of any gender are welcome to join the staff. Although Carnesi states the articles are more “female-orientated,” the content can appeal to everyone, and is an inclusive community. “I hope anyone that is interested in the topics we have to offer finds interest in reading our articles. Even though our brand is more directed towards girls, we hope that our articles can help or be read by any individual that has an interest,” Mejia said. Carnesi describes Her Campus MC as being more unique than chapters at other colleges. The location of the school enables writers to expand their horizon and venture off-campus into the city write stories, an opportunity that not every Her Campus has. In addition to writing, Carnesi states

that the location of MC will give the Her Campus team the opportunity to volunteer with local community service programs. “Since we’re in a city setting, I feel like there’s more that you can do with her campus,” Carnesi said. “I’m really hoping for Manhattan that we do more, of course on campus, but also off campus as well because we have the means to.” Carnesi hopes that in the future Her Campus MC will achieve the “pink chapter” status, meaning readership levels of the site are consistently high. Due to the fact it restarted last week, the status is currently at the bottom. In order to work their way to the top, the Her Campus team plans to promote the site on social media. “Pink is the highest, so I’m hoping in the next year, year and a half we can reach that,” Carnesi said. “It’s definitely going to be a lot of work.”

As of now, the chapter is pretty small, but the executive board hopes that will change in the future. Right now, Beatty is looking into planning a re-launch event once a budget is set for the club to encourage more writers to get involved. In the long term, after Carnesi’s years are MC are over, she hopes that the Her Campus tradition is carried on and does not become inactive again. “I want to make sure when I’m finished, when I graduate, Campus Correspondent and Editor-in-Chief goes to someone who has experience and that they’re genuinely committed to keeping Her Campus going,” Carnesi said. For those who hope to get involved in writing for Her Campus, reach out to their social media outlets, including Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram. Or email at manhattan@hercampus.com.

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Campus Ministry and Social Action Work Together Alexa Schmidt Features Editor

The Campus Ministry and Social Action Suite has worked year-round to offer service and reflection opportunities at Manhattan College. Through the work of Conor Reidy, Kathleen von Euw and Jacquie Martin, the Lasallian values are implemented through different programming workshops. Conor Reidy is heavily involved in Campus Ministry as the leader of the Lasallians in Faith Together, or L.I.F.T. retreats, the Peer Ministry program and Agape Latte. Currently, the senior retreat is approaching on the weekend of Feb. 9 and 10. “That’s a retreat where we really come together as a class, reflect on our four years here, and what kind of lessons they learned that they want to bring forward and how they can bring forces of good in the world afterwards,” Reidy said. In addition to the senior retreat, Reidy will lead the Lenten Retreat, which is partnered with Serviam Gardens, a home for senior citizens who live in the Bronx. The first weekend of March is the Urban Plunge Retreat, which is service and faith-based. “We analyze how we can reflect while also being of service. We will take students to Camden, N.J., which is the poorest city in the U.S. where we spend a weekend visiting homeless shelters, doing street clean-ups, going to after-school programs, and kind of learning about the situation in Camden and how we can see it and reflect on it through a Catholic and social justice lens,” Reidy said. Reidy will also lead the Hiking Trip, which was postponed last semester due to weather conditions. In this retreat, students will learn how spiritual

wellness and physical wellness are connected. The most popular retreat is the Kairos retreat, which will occur in April, and brings students together for conversation and reflection. Reidy also runs Agape Latte, and hopes to get the Peer Ministry program off the ground. “The idea is that we want to create small communities on campus where just students can have informal but intimate conversations about the intersection of faith and their life, and how faith and religion and spirituality can influence their decisions and their thoughts and how they see themselves,” Reidy said. Sophomore Meggie Osorio got involved last semester. “We’re trying to plan a program where we’ll have a group of peer ministers and then participants who will come every two weeks we’ll have discussions about spirituality and faith, and have a fun time,” she said. In the Social Action Suite, Martin and von Euw are leading the way for social justice awareness and activism. They run the Lasallian Outreach Collaborative Program, or L.O.Co., is a weekly community service program within the Bronx. The office also runs the Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience, or L.O.V.E. program, which links a travel experience with social justice and immersion. In addition to those opportunities, the office does Service on Saturdays, Activism Excursions in New York City and the Mission Month Day of Service. Civic participation is one of their key ideas, so voter registration forms can be found in the suite. “We’re here to help you make it happen. We want you to vote. If people aren’t sure, it’s good to check voter registration statues. Sometimes if you haven’t voted in a couple

Participants reconstruct homes destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. CMSA/ COURTESY of cycles, they might take you off the roles, so sometimes it’s good to check to make sure you’re on there, or if you need to vote by mail,” Martin said. She continued. “Especially in terms of voting and activism, it’s really important to make your voice heard, and continue to try and create change, especially in our world today because there’s so many issues and problems going on,” she said. The CMSA program is offered for everyone. “While not everyone identifies as being Catholic, I think the Lasallian values can really be seen. It’s really more of a philosophy and way of being and living your life, and I think that’s why we have this office and why we do this work. It’s part of being a good citizen in the world,” Martin said. “We love to see students get more involved in this work, so they can be more aware of what’s going on. And continue to challenge themselves. We try to meet students where

they’re at. Some students who walk in our doors, it might be the first time they’re ever thinking about their own identities, and power and privilege. We try to help them along their journey,” Martin said. Osorio is not religious, but she values spiritual connection. “When I first came to Manhattan, I was like ‘I’m not getting involved with CMSA, I’m done with Catholicism,’” Osorio said. “But everyone was really nice in that group, and it’s more so about connecting with people, and I can listen to their Catholic teaching and listen to the specifics. They’re also very inclusive, and focus on interfaith and applying your own beliefs, so that’s what I do. I’m more focused on the Lasallian values that I share with that mission. The values are very relatable. I don’t think you have to be religious at all to feel a connection with the Lasallian values at all. It’s all important,” she said. “Of course we always part-

ner with our friends in the social action suite and everything that we do is a combination,” Reidy said. “We’re always supporting each other and really I believe personally that to do social action you have to reflect, and you have to be looking at things through a lens of reflection and oftentimes for people that’s through a lens of spirituality, religion and faith,” Reidy said. “But if you’re really reflecting, you should be doing it in the right way. You should be moved to action, and you should be the two feet of social justice. Walking and praying with your feet together, so that’s why I think it’s one department,” Reidy said.

L.O.V.E. Ecuador student participants from one of the most recent L.O.V.E. trips within the past semester. (LEFT) Students volunteer with City Harvest through campus ministry throughout the semester.(RIGHT) CMSA /COURTESY

Features

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Students Weigh in on Supreme Court Ban on Transgender Service in the Military VOICES ON THE QUAD Sophia Sakellariou & Samantha Walla Production Editors

The Supreme Court upheld the Trump administration’s request to ban transgen-

der personnel from serving in the military on Tuesday, Jan. 22. In a 5-4 decision, two policies blocking the directive were lifted. Transgender troops have been able to serve since the Obama administration lifted previous bans on the policy in

Christopher Nuzzo Junior | Communication

2016. However, this new decision by the Court inhibits transgender people with a condition known as gender dysphoria from serving, allowing only those who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth to be able to. The policy was initially pro-

posed by Trump in a series of tweets in July of 2017. One such tweet stated, “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

This decision by the Court was a win for the Trump administration and the public has a lot to say about it. The Quad spoke to a few people on campus to hear their thoughts.

Giuliana Miller Junior | Communication

Leif Erickson Sophomore | Chemistry

Thoughts on the Transgender Military Ban:

I am very disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision to go through with the transgender military ban. It is a slap in the face to the thousands that are already bravely serving our country, and the ban is unconstitutional. I suggest anyone unfamiliar with transgender people and their struggles to take some time to do some research on websites such as GLAAD and The New York Times. Earlier last year I remember there was a lot of talk about the cost of the military paying for transgender modification treatments. What people don’t realize is that the biggest military expense is Viagra for men which I find quite comical. I think it’s an unfair situation and people should do their research.

I’m a registered Republican, so I’m pretty involved! I enjoy politics because I like to hear different perspectives. I also like it because I’m able to keep up with current events. I’m not so knowledgeable about the issue and I know it’s a multilayered issue... Personally, I’m fine with transgender people in the military, so I don’t think there should be a ban. Anyone who is willing to risk their life to serve and protect us, I applaud them. However, for those who argue about cost of healthcare maybe should come to compromise and say those who are about to join should transition before the military and then they can join. Americans should hear from military personnel (i.e generals and sergeants) and people serving in the military in regards to the situation rather than politicians regardless of party.

I joined ROTC because I thought it’d shape me into a better person. My family has served in the military before, and so I thought on keeping the family tradition going. I think the ban is totally unnecessary and unjust. We have broken gender and racial barriers before and I don’t see why this should be another one. For us to work as a team, we need every possible set of hands that can help us achieve the ultimate goal: serve this country and protect the Constitution, as well as the people it protects.

Roi Mase Senior | Political Science and International Studies Thoughts on the Transgender Military Ban: There is absolutely no reason for the Trans ban that the President has implemented. The military wasn’t asking for it, the American people overwhelmingly don’t support it, and it’s a direct insult to the thousands of trans men and women already serving our country. Although the President promised to protect LGBTQ rights while he was on the campaign trail his actions since then have said otherwise, and I hope those not only within the community realize this but also those in larger society. Marriage equality might have passed in 2015, but there is still so much more work to be done. Progress doesn’t come automatically, and we can’t sit around waiting for others to do it for us, we must take action ourselves.

Sports

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Women’s Basketball Downs Fairfield WBB: MAN 47, FAIR 41 Pete Janny

Asst. Sports Editor Coming off a dominant win on January 27th at Marist, the Manhattan College women’s basketball team (5-14, 3-5 MAAC) looked to pick up right where they left off when they returned to Draddy this past Friday night for a match-up with the Fairfield Stags (5-15, 2-7 MAAC). In a battle between two defensively sound units, Manhattan was able to stave off a late comeback attempt to sink the Stags 47-41. After a sluggish beginning for both teams, Manhattan held a 14-6 lead at the eight minute mark in the second quarter. Fairfield quickly responded with a 7-0 run to get to within one at 14-13 before Manhattan freshman D’yona Davis drilled a three pointer at the 4:50 mark to thwart the Stags momentum. After proceeding to relinquish the lead to Fairfield for the first time since the 9:14 mark of the first quarter, freshman Sydney Watkins connected on a three point attempt with four seconds left in the first half to lift Manhattan to a 21-20 lead at the break. Manhattan’s first half was characterized by nifty guard play that saw Davis and Watkins drop nine and five points, respectively. Head coach Heather Vulin knows just how good her team can be when her guards are active in all facets of the game. “They love to press and run up the floor and get some great shots in transition,” said Vulin of her team’s guard play. After a quick basket from Fairfield’s Lou Lopez-Senechal gave the Stags a 22-21 lead right out of the break, the Jaspers woke up in a big way. A

Women surpassed Fairfield in a 47 to 41 win during their annual Play for Kay game. @MANHATTAN_WBB / TWITTER COURTESY Watkins three pointer and two baskets from sophomore Lynette Taitt gave Manhattan a 7-0 run to grab a 28-22 cushion at the 5:35 mark of the third quarter. Taitt was lethal all night, registering six assists to compliment her 10 points. “I was really impressed with Taitt,” said Vulin. “She had a career game against Marist and followed it up with 10 points and six assists tonight.” After exchanging buckets for a good portion of the third quarter, Davis’s acrobatic finish in the paint gave the Jaspers a 35-30 lead. Manhattan entered the fourth quarter with a 35-32 lead after a defensive letdown led to an easy lay up by Fairfield’s Khadidiatou Diouf as time expired. Maintaining a slim advantage, Manhattan knew they needed a solid quarter of basketball to take care of business. Davis opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with a pull-

up jumper to extend her team’s lead to five at 37-32. Manhattan followed up Davis’s basket with a three point dagger courtesy of sophomore Sini Makella and a Taitt jumper to push their lead to 42-34. With a Manhattan victory looking probable, Fairfield had no intentions of going away quietly. The Stags spearheaded a 7-0 run of their own to cut Manhattan’s lead to one point at 42-41. With the Stags threatening, Manhattan was now in dire need of a big play. That big play came in the form of an empathic block administered by Davis on a driving Casey Foley at the one minute mark. Manhattan sealed the win by going five for six from the charity stripe in the final minute. “It was an outstanding effort,” said Vulin of her team’s performance. “Fairfield mounted a comeback in the fourth but we found a way to add to

our lead and we hit big free throws at the end to take care of business.” Not often do you see a game where either team is held to under 50 points. However, this meeting did not have the look of a high-scoring affair on paper. Both teams are reputed for their defensive tenacity with Manhattan yielding 59.1 opponents points per game while Fairfield is only slightly inferior in this category allowing 59.9. These two marks are good for both second and third in the MAAC, respectively. “This game was the definition of a grind,” said Vulin. “Any time the score is below 50 both teams are really locked in on defense.” Manhattan’s gritty play translated to a 35-32 edge in the rebounding department. Sophomore Courtney Warley collected 13 of Manhattan’s 35 rebounds to yet again help set the tone for her team on the

boards. Warley’s consistency on the boards has resulted in her pacing the MAAC with 8.7 rebounds per game. Friday night’s double-digit output represented her ninth such game this season. Vulin believes Warley’s value extends far past what the stat sheet indicates. “The stat sheet doesn’t do her justice in terms of how active she is on defense,” said Vulin of Warley’s impact. “She hides the mistakes for us.” Davis paced Manhattan in scoring with 13 points while Warley added nine points to compliment her 13 rebounds. Fairfield was led by junior Katie Armstrong who finished with 12 points. Vulin couldn’t be more pleased with the progress her team is showing. “This young team is getting better and it’s exciting to see that show up in the win column.”

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Sports

FEBRUARY 5, 2019

Aaron Boone Visits Campus to Talk Leadership Pete Janny

Asst. Sports Editor Current New York Yankees Manager and former MLB player Aaron Boone visited campus last Friday to give a talk centered on the importance of leadership and how his career experiences have helped shape his leadership abilities. The event was coordinated by Student Engagement as part of the organization’s Lecture Series which has previously featured other celebrities such as current Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez. Students, Alumni, and administration packed the Great Room of Kelly Commons to experience this unique opportunity to meet a man well-known and highly respected in baseball circles. Prior to Boone’s arrival, all attendees enjoyed a buffet-style lunch in anticipation for the main event. After Boone delivered remarks in a sit-down Q&A format, the floor opened up to all attendees who wanted to pick the brain of the Yankees boss. Immediately following the discussion phase of the event, Boone posed for photos with each attendee. The event wrapped up after an hour of enthralling discussion and fellowship. Although time flew by, there was a lot to learn from Boone’s breadth of experience. Among those in attendance were members of Manhattan’s baseball and softball teams who looked to absorb all the advice they could get from a man whose upbringing mirrors their own experiences.

With their seasons quickly approaching, both teams derived profound inspiration from the special experience. Manhattan baseball head coach Mike Cole was appreciative of this rare opportunity for his team to converse with a man of Boone’s ilk. “I thought it was a great experience for our guys to meet someone in professional baseball,” said Cole. “Being manager of the Yankees is probably one of the top five jobs in professional coaching.” The discussion oscillated between a number of different topics that Boone is well-versed in. With a good percentage of the attendees being avid supporters of the “Bronx Bombers,” the chatter often shifted to the current state of the Yankees and the team’s plans for this upcoming season. In an offseason that has seen the Yankees add James Paxton, Troy Tulowitzki, DJ Lemahieu, and Adam Ottavino, there was plenty to talk about regarding the team’s offseason strategy. Despite the team dishing out substantial money on the market, the elephant in the room was the stagnant market for bona fide superstars Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Although not completely ruling out New York’s chances of landing one of the two stars, Boone remained lukewarm on the subject and divulged that he expects the team to ride with their current roster composition heading into the 2019 season. Many Yankees fans know very well this isn’t Boone’s first rodeo in the Bronx. Smack dab in the middle of his 12 year

Aaron Boone spent the afternoon with students talking about the experiences he’s had that has helped shape him as a leader. GOJASPERS / COURTESY Major League playing career, Boone arrived in the Bronx via a midseason trade with the Cincinnati Reds in 2003 to help fortify the team’s championship pursuit. Boone’s first Yankees stint may have been short lived, but he cemented his Yankees legacy with one swing of the bat on a chilly October night at Yankee Stadium in 2003. Tied at 5-5 in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series vs. the Boston Red Sox, Boone stepped up to the plate and drilled a ball into the left field seats off of knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to catapult the

Manhattan’s Softball team and athletic director Marianne Reilly took a group picture with Aaron Boone. GOJASPERS / COURTESY

Yankees to the World Series in walk-off fashion. Although the Yankees would go on to lose to the Florida Marlins in the 2003 World Series, the clutch homer against Wakeman is widely regarded as one of the biggest plays in Yankees history. Now 16 years removed from that career-altering homer, Boone reminisced about the experience and the emotions he felt while rounding the bases. In addition to playing in Cincinnati and New York, Boone had short tenures with the Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, and Houston Astros. On February 23rd, 2010, Boone announced his retirement and soon after transitioned into broadcasting for ESPN. Employed by ESPN from 2010 to 2017, Boone worked for the company as a game analyst and color commentator for the Sunday Night Baseball telecast, while also making regular appearances on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. In December 2017, Boone left ESPN to become the 33rd manager in the history of the New York Yankees. Not only was Boone set to become the manager of the most storied franchise in sports in the ultimate pressure cooker that is New York City, but the then 44-year-old Boone had never previously managed a game on any level of professional baseball. Boone talked about the challenges that he encountered since his hiring and how his experience as a broadcaster gave him the confidence to assume the managerial duties for the Yankees. Cole believes the Yan-

kees hiring of Boone has set the precedent for the direction baseball is heading in. “He’s one of the few guys that has gone from the booth to managing,” said Cole. “It kind of shows how the game is changing a bit where you don’t need years of previous experience to be a manager in the big leagues.” Boone talked about the organizational dynamic of the New York Yankees and how he tries to coexist and maintain a positive partnership with the members at the head of the organization, revealing what it’s like working with Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman and principal owner Hal Steinbrenner. Boone expressed gratitude for being in the position he’s in today and has a profound appreciation for every task and responsibility that comes with being manager of the New York Yankees. After compiling an impressive 100-62 record and securing a wild card berth in his first year at the helm, Boone is motivated to do everything he can to help the Yankees ascend to new heights in 2019. “The biggest thing he talked about is culture,” said Cole. “There’s that winning culture and confidence in the clubhouse at Yankee Stadium where they always expect to win.” In his second year at the helm for the Jaspers, Cole is looking to brew a similar culture.“I want to bring back that winning mentality and confidence level to help our guys win.”

Sports

THE QUADRANGLE

Manhattan Opens Up Four-Games Homestand with Victory Over Fairfield MBB: MAN 62, FAIR 49 John Jackson Senior Writer

The Manhattan College Jaspers closed out the month of January by hosting the Fairfield Stags on the night of Jan. 31 to kick off a four-game homestand. The Jaspers came into the night 4-16 overall and last place in the MAAC with a 2-6 conference record. The Stags did not fair that much better as they entered Draddy Gymnasium 6-15 overall and 3-6 in the MAAC, which ranked them ninth in the conference. The Jaspers proved to be more than a match for Fairfield as they improved to 5-16 overall and 3-6 in the MAAC with a 62-49 victory. “We’re in a good state,” Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello said in a postgame interview with Chris Williams of Go Jaspers. “When we’re in a good state and we understand what we could look like and what we could be, we’re a good basketball team, and then you

can overlook some mistakes.” Despite Manhattan’s commanding victory at the end, the Stags stood toe-to-toe with the Jaspers for much of the first half. After junior Tyler Reynolds opened up scoring with a three-pointer to give the Jaspers an early 3-0 lead, freshman Felix Lemetti responded with a three of his own to tie things up. Lemetti followed that up with a jumper 34 seconds later to give Fairfield a 5-3 lead. The Stags were either tied or in the lead from the 18:54 mark to the 11:05 mark. They could have taken a commanding lead early on if it were not for the heroics of Reynolds, whose 10 points up until that time allowed the Jaspers to only be down by 13-12. “I just had a different mindset,” said Reynolds in a postgame interview with Jaden Daly of Daly Dose of Hoops. “I think I came out and just wanted to be more aggressive, get to the basket, and show a little more to my game. I’m not just an outside shooter.” With 11:04 remaining in the

half, freshman Tykei Greene’s three-point shot gave the Jaspers a 15-13 lead. Aside from a couple more ties at the 9:35 and 7:42 marks, the Jaspers held the lead for the rest of the game. Although it was a close game for most of the first half, the Jaspers went on a 15-6 run during the remaining 6:33 to turn a one-point, 21-20 lead, into a 10-point, 36-26 lead heading into halftime. Both Reynolds and sophomore Ebube Ebube lead the effort in the first half for the Jaspers. Reynolds recorded 12 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal. Ebube had 10 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal. While the two 6’7” forwards took care of much of the scoring, the rest of the team was contributing their part as well. Five others had two rebounds and one assist, and three others had at least one steal. They played their usual hard defense overall and Fairfield was limited to 33.3 percent shooting (8for-24), including 25.0 percent

-----------------------“We’re in a good state,” Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello said in a postgame interview with Chris Williams of Go Jaspers. “When we’re in a good state and we understand what we could look like and what we could be, we’re a good basketball team, and then you can overlook some mistakes.” ------------------------

Sophomore Warren Williams goes up for a rebound. GO JASPERS/COURTESY

Junior Tyler Reynolds recorded an NCAA career-high 17 points and six rebounds against Fairfield. GO JASPERS/COURTESY (4-for-16) from the three-point line. The Jaspers did not come out of halftime sluggish. Ebube and freshman Christian Hinckson turned a 10-point halftime lead into a game-high 16-point lead by the 17:38 mark of the second half. The Stags did not surrender completely however, as freshman Neftali Alvarez and senior Jonathan Kasibabu responded by scoring six combined points in less than three minutes to make it a 42-32 deficit with 14:55 remaining. Neither team went on a radical run for the remaining 14:55 as the Jaspers led by as much as 15 points, but no less than 10 points. The Jaspers spread the ball around more in the second which resulted in seven players who had at least one basket, eight who had at least one board and five with at least one assist. They followed up their 48.1 percent shooting (13for-27) and 54.5 percent threepoint shooting (6-for-11) in the first half with a 55.6 percent mark (10-for-18) and 50.0 percent mark (2-for-4) in the second half. “I was excited about us continuing that momentum, but we certainly weren’t sharp

tonight,” Fairfield head coach Sydney Johnson told Daly following the game. “We spent a lot of time preparing for Manhattan, and I don’t think the execution was there. I just don’t think it carried onto the floor.” Reynolds finished the game with NCAA career-highs in points (17) and rebounds (six), and Ebube finished the game with a career-high in points (15) and a game-high in rebounds (eight). Ebube’s game was encouraging to see as he played behind Zane Waterman last year who left a big void after graduating last spring. “It hasn’t been a huge adjustment,” Ebube said to Daly in regards to taking over the role left by Waterman. “Playing behind Zane, I just learned from him, and he’s taught me the right things to do. I’ve just been staying to that all offseason and all season long, and it paid off.” The Jaspers continued their homestand on Saturday, Feb. 2 as they took on the St. Peter’s Peacocks. Their next game will be on Feb. 5 at 7:00 p.m. in Draddy against the first-place Rider Broncs. The game can be viewed on ESPN+.