Issue 3, Fall 2017 - The Quadrangle by Manhattan College Quadrangle

the Quadrangle THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924

Volume XCVI, Issue 3

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

manhattan student TESTED FOR MENINGITIS

www.mcquad.org

Trump to Rescind Protections for “DREAM-ers” COLLEGE VOWS SUPPORT FOR UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS Rose Brennan Asst. Editor

Manhattan College is taking safety measures in Chrysostom Hall, where a student was tested for meningitis. STEPHEN ZUBRYCKY / THE QUADRANGLE

Haley Burnside & Joseph Liggio Asst. Editors

Midway through Labor Day weekend, the phones of Manhattan College students lit up with a safety advisory email that made many feel far from safe. “One of our students is currently undergoing tests for meningitis,” read the email. “The College is awaiting confirmation from the NYC Department of Health.” The message advised students to “continue with common sense precautions including hand washing, avoid sharing drinks, and intimate contact.” The following day, another safety advisory email was sent out, this time coming from Director of Residence Life Andrew Weingarten. This message stated that, while there was still no confirmation of

meningitis, common sense safety was still suggested as a preventative measure. Weingarten’s message assured students that “there is no reason to worry.” “The Department of Health is confident that this is well contained and no further concern to the community is anticipated,” read the email. Despite the message, some students were left more confused than reassured. “Initially I panicked a bit and I made sure that I asked my parents to double check that I had my shots, which I know a few other people did as well,” said sophomore Silvana Acierno. “I think the school sent out the email with the medical information a while after the first one was sent out which I wish had been sent out sooner.”

IN NEWS:

IN FEATURES: Students organize vigil for Br. Ray on p. 9

Memorial Hall

construction continues on p. 3

Similarly, those who lived in close proximity to the afflicted student voiced concern over the possibility of transmission. Alex Licari, a freshman living in Chrysostom Hall, had the distinction of dorming on the same floor as the student, which resulted in a much different experience than for most living on campus. “He’s right across the [hall] from me so I was like, ‘that’s not good.’ Yeah I was definitely not happy about that,” said Licari. “But everyone else on the floor was pretty calm about it, they actually all knew he had it before, like when we got the email we already knew he had it because one of the kids took him to the hospital.” Licari said that the student in question told him he was experiencing extreme headaches,

In an address to the nation on Tuesday, Sept. 5., U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the rescission of the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. DACA was implemented in 2012 and allowed the possibility for deferred action for undocumented youth, provided they met certain criteria. In the year 2015, the U.S Department of Homeland Security estimated that over 680,000 undocumented youth were protected by the policy. Deferred action is the decision by the U.S Department of Homeland Security not to remove an undocumented youth from the country for an initial period of two years, which can then be renewed on an ad hoc basis. During this period, a DACA recipient can live, attend school and on occasion work in the United States. In order to be eligible, the undocumented youth must have arrived in the United States before the age of 16, must have lived in the country since June 15, 2007 and must not have been of lawful status on June 15, 2012. In addition, he or she must be currently enrolled in school, have obtained their high school diploma or equivalency or have been honorably discharged from either the U.S Armed Forces or U.S. Coast Guard. Sessions stated that the decision was made in order to properly enforce the country’s immigration laws, and will take effect in March of 2018. “We are a people of compassion and we are a people of law. But there is nothing com-

passionate about the failure to enforce immigration laws,” he said. “Failure to enforce the laws in the past has put our nation at risk of crime, violence and even terrorism.” To Maria Nieto, an international student at Manhattan College, the rescission of DACA could communicate a message of unwelcomeness to the world outside of America. “I perceived, in Spain, an idea of the United States being the best country in the world where opportunities happened and where people achieved their dream jobs,” she said. “And in these two years now, I see that friends of mine have changed that idea, saying ‘I’d rather stay in [Spain]; I don’t feel welcome.’” Though Sessions’ address to the nation was harsh toward undocumented citizens, Associate Professor of Government Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., believes that most of America views DACA recipients as different from other undocumented citizens. This majority could even include President Trump himself. “The rhetoric of [Trump’s] campaign was very anti-immigration but he seemed to see this group of people as different,” Groarke said. “This is the most sympathetic group of undocumented Americans. Many people who otherwise are pretty tough on illegal immigration think that we have to carve out some status for these people.” Hayden Greene, the director of multicultural affairs at MC, believes that Sessions’ statement has some truth to it, but wrongfully targets undocumented youth who are pursuing a better life in America. “I think that there are issues with our immigration policy, and there are issues with every

__________________________

Continued on Page 4

IN A&E:

Blossom’s mural restoration updates on p. 6

IN SPORTS:

Mike Cole tapped for baseball head coach p. 11

Opinion & Editorials

the Quadrangle Volume XCVI, Issue 3 SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

The Editorial Board

Stephen Zubrycky Editor in Chief Jack Melanson News Editor

Haley Burnside Joseph Liggio Asst. News Editors

Ally Hutzler Features Editor Managing Editor

Megan Dreher Asst. Features Editor

Taylor Brethauer Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor

Rose Brennan Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

RikkiLynn Shields Sports Editor

Charles Lippolis Asst. Sports Editor

Tara Marin Social Media Editor

Catherine Goodyear Asst. Social Media Editor

Aaron Mayorga Photography Editor

Anja Pollozi Asst. Photography Editor

Alyssa Velazquez Production Editor

Abbi Kirollos Asst. Production Editor

Victoria Hernandez Morales Multimedia Editor August Kissel Daniel Molina Web Editor Thomas Callahan Faculty Advisor 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 @the_quadrangle mcquad

THE QUADRANGLE

LET T ER TO The Editor T imot hy Hamling writes: From daily announcements to occasional promotions and spam, my inbox is constantly being filled with new emails. I don’t like keeping my school email cluttered, so I try to delete old unimportant emails as often as I can, or at the very least filter important messages into folders. However, one email I received last year from the Office of the President, dating back to September 15th of 2016, has remained unmoved in my inbox. This email was sent to all students and faculty, and brought with it the unfortunate news that our former campus chaplain, Father George Hill, had passed away. Father Hill served the Manhattan College community for eight years. Aside from being an on-campus chaplain, he was also a licensed mental health counselor which helped him connect to students and give them advice about pretty much anything. Our campus was not just his workplace. Manhattan College was Father Hill’s home. Like many other seniors and juniors, I am truly blessed to have had the chance to meet Father Hill and learn from him. Thursdays will not be the same without nightly meditation sessions, meals in Lockes are a bit lacking without priestly company, and we will miss seeing Father Hill sitting behind Masiello, donning his signature black fleece. This upcoming Friday marks one year since Father Hill’s passing. Remembering his legacy and sharing stories of his time at Manhattan College are some of the best ways to honor his life. For those that were fortunate enough to meet him, Father Hill’s memory will never be forgotten. -Tim Hamling

T imot hy Hamling is a senior computer science major from North Haven, Conn. He is also a staff writer for The Quadrangle.

SUBMIT YOUR OWN LET T ER Letters to the Editor 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.

CORRECT IONS

RikkiLynn Shields was miscredited as the author of “Volleyball Team’s Kenza Hall Interns with the Oakland Athletics” The article was by John Jackson.

News

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Hurricanes Irma and Harvey: Manhattan College Responds Victoria Hernandez Editor

The National Hurricane Center warned of Hurricane Irma to be a “life-threatening surge and wind,” according to The New York Times. The storm’s outer bands hit the Florida Keys on Saturday morning and the Caribbean, where more than 20 people were killed. Residents in Barbuda and St. Martin suffered excessive damage from Irma. A storm-surge warning was in effect across much of South Florida, including the Keys. Voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders were in place in Miami-Dade County, the Keys and portions of numerous other counties. “Today is the day to do the right thing for your family and get inland to safety,” Governor Scott said in an interview with

The New York Times. Three people were killed in Puerto Rico, and around two-thirds of the population lost electricity, which was far less than what was originally predicted. Irma left a trail of destruction in the Caribbean, prompting officials to direct millions to leave their homes in one of the largest emergency evacuations in American history. Claudia Ramirez, a junior from Puerto Rico felt anxious before its arrival to the island. “I felt like I wanted to cry because I couldn't contribute anything. I wanted an update every ten minutes but my parents calmed me down through the phone,” Ramirez said. Aside from communicating with her family, Ramirez kept in contact with her family through social media. “My professors have been truly interested in knowing how I've been and how my

family has managed so I've felt a lot of support from the Manhattan College community,” Ramirez said. For Valeria Rodriguez, another junior from Puerto Rico, the hurricane distracted her from all responsibilities. “When the news started reporting the magnitude of Hurricane Irma, I got very nervous, scared and completely distracted from everything,” said Rodriguez. “[After the hurricane had passed] I was super relieved, now I’m afraid for my family in Florida,” said Rodriguez. For this generation of college students, social media has played a huge role in staying communicated in the midst of a crisis. “I mostly check Twitter and Facebook to see what friends back home are saying and doing. News headlines are so dramatic and scary most of the time, it's hard to look away,”

__________________________

Valeria Rodriguez, a junior from Puerto Rico, found it hard to focus while her home island was feelin the brunt of Hurricane Irma. said Katherine Rojas, a senior from Florida. For Rojas, the feelings have been quite different. “I generally feel a sense of guilt that I'm safe over here in great weather while they have to be fearful,” Rojas said. “It sucks.” Fabian Pena, another senior from Florida, commented on the situation. “I just try to stay in contact and help anyway I can even though I'm not physically

there,” said Pena. “This hurricane has me concerned about the well being of my whole family.” Rojas went a step beyond and reiterated that Puerto Rico and Florida are not the only ones affected by the magnitude of this event. “I’m worried about people in low-income areas who maybe can't afford steel shutters or just didn't have enough time to prepare in general,” said Rojas. “My mom is a nurse and is being sent to volunteer for a special needs shelter in Miami, so I'm really glad that at least some measures are being taken to protect people.” Relief agencies are still scrambling in the wake of Hurricane Harvey were bracing for the additional strain of yet another disaster, according to the New York Post.

De La Salle Hall Renovation Updates Daniel Molina Editor

Clouds of dust, blue canvas hanging from the ceiling and a dark and muddy ambiance combined to create De La Salle Hall renovations. The work lasted around three months and was ready right before the semester started, welcoming the class of 2021 and the returning students with a fresh look. “I really like it. I think it looks very fresh with the wood and the new lights,” said Cristina Franz, senior student. “It looks like we are finally in the twenty-first century, very

professional.” This effort wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a key person: Peter Musumeci Jr. Musumeci, a Manhattan College alumni and part of the Board of Trustees of the college. “He’s been very supportive of the school in lots of different ways,” said Dr. Janet Rovenpor, dean of the School of Business. “Not only has he made possible the renovation of the floor but he supports experiential learning through other projects.” These experiential learning opportunities are mainly study abroad trips like the one made to Peru this past summer or the upcoming one to India during

the winter intersession. Not only the hallway got a facelift. Two classrooms were renovated, the finance lab was expanded and a new lounge was built from scratch with input from large companies. “Salwa [Ammar], the provost [William Clyde] and Amira [Annabi] were very involved in coming up with the design,” said Dr. Rovenpor. “They did go to Google, to JP Morgan Chase to get inspiration about what the ground floor would look like.” With these new changes, Dr. Rovenpor hopes that not only the School of Business will be able to accommodate more students, but that it will open up

to other schools. With the expansion of the finance lab, students from other schools will be able to learn how to work with Bloomberg, the financial software used in Wall Street. Another upcoming project for the School of Business is the improvement of the Strategy, Innovation and Leadership Center (SILC), previously the tutoring center. Here, all students from MC can go in case they have ideas for new business and discuss it with peers and experts that might help them to pass their ideas from paper to real life. The new space at the east side of the hallway is an interactive room filled with TVs, floor-

to-ceiling whiteboards and cameras to have video conferences. This room can be used for multiple purposes: from a class to a team meeting or a discussion. These renovations are only the tip of the iceberg for the Manhattan College future. From minor details to the construction of the South Campus, everything has as a final goal to improve the experience of the current students and to serve as an attraction for upcoming classes. “What’s exciting about this is that it sets a standard and this one in particular serves as a model that we can build upon,” said Dr. Rovenpor. “Now we can take it floor by floor.”

De La Salle Hall underwent numerous renovations this summer, some of which, including the two side doors, are still in progress. ALYSSA VELAZQUEZ / THE QUADRANGLE

News

THE QUADRANGLE

Trump to Rescind Protections for “DREAM-ers” __________________________ Continued FROM PAGE 1 immigration policy, but I think that there are better solutions than kicking the children of the people who immigrated into this country out of the country when they’re moving towards being viable citizens,” Greene said. For many DACA recipients, one of the moves toward becoming a viable citizen is going to college. Debbi Damico, director of international students at MC, believes that DACA recipients should have as much access to higher education as resident applicants. “I’ve been here for 34 years, and in all the time I’ve been here, before DACA even came into existence, there have been students who have attended this school and were undocumented. There’s no law that says you can’t attend college, whether you have documents or not,” Damico said. Federal law does not explicitly bar undocumented youth from attending college, nor can it inquire about an applicant’s citizenship status. But there are other factors which can deter undocumented applicants, such as legal paperwork and lack of access to other resources which are readily available to applicants who are citizens. Furthermore, the cost of higher education is a significant factor. Undocumented youth are not eligible for Title IV federal financial aid, which includes work-study programs, student loans and grants. There are other options such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), state and college aid and private

scholarships, but eligibility requirements vary by state and institution. But for the institution of MC in particular, there was unwavering support for undocumented students. Following Sessions’ Tuesday statement, Vice President for Student Life Richard Satterlee, Ph.D., addressed the concerns of the community through a mass email sent later that day. “Manhattan College remains steadfastly committed to the core values of our Lasallian Catholic tradition, which calls us to support all of our students, regardless of their immigration status, citizenship or nationality,” Satterlee’s email said. Damico believes that the statement released by Satterlee was crucial in reaffirming the Lasallian commitment to social justice and education. “When de La Salle started, he educated the poor children who didn’t have access to education,” Damico said. “People who didn’t have access to education were the people he looked to educate. So I think it’s perfectly keeping with the Lasallian tradition.” Furthermore, other Lasallian-affiliated clubs and organizations on campus have extended their support for undocumented immigrants, particularly those who might be attending MC. One of these organizations was the JustPeace club. “We firmly stand with the belief that DACA is just and that ending the program will lead to harmful and unnecessary consequences,” the club

said in an email statement. “We will do our part to protect any Manhattan College Dreamers by opposing President Trump’s action and by helping anyone affected to get the resources and support they need.” For Greene, the long path to legal residency is a personal issue near and dear to his heart, as he is a legal permanent resident of the United States, and has been one since 1988. He applied for his green card upon graduating high school in Trinidad, and estimated that his application for permanent residency took a period of two to three years to complete. “It’s not as easy as simply saying, ‘Okay well I’ll go down to the local embassy, apply to be a citizen, or apply [for a] visitor visa or apply for a permanent residency visa, and in two months or three months, I’ll have it and I’ll be out of here,’” he said. “There are a lot of hurdles and obstacles that are, depending who you talk to, intentionally put in the way to prevent certain people from gaining citizenship.” Nieto, who is from Spain, had relatively few obstacles from the U.S. Embassy when applying for her student visa. However, this is not always the case, especially for international students from countries with rockier relationships with America. “I have a few friends from Mexico, and the questions that they’re asked and the way those questions are asked, from what they’ve told me, they want more detail, much more in depth,” Nieto said. “For me,

it was no problem. They asked me three questions.” According to Groarke, the rescission may not be here to stay. However, she believes change must come through the words and actions of the Ameri__________________________

“There’s no law that says you can’t attend college, whether you have documents or not,” said Debbi Damico, director of international student and scholar services.

can people. “If people in Congress and people in the Trump administration feel pressured to do something, we could see an extension of DACA or even something bigger than that, like a DREAM act that would give DACA recipients the option to apply for citizenship at some point,” she said. Whether a DREAM act or the DACA rescission is the next step, undocumented students should be taking steps to protect themselves and their rights. Tamara Britt, MC’s newly appointed general counsel, gave some insight to these precautionary measures. “They should definitely be working with one of a variety

of resources, either a non-profit and/or an immigration attorney,” she said. She also warned against possible immigration scams, which could potentially take advantage of undocumented students in a particularly contentious or emotional time such as this one. While Britt herself cannot be utilized as a resource by undocumented students, she listed a variety of nonprofits which may assist them, such as the National Hispanic Bar Association and the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “This is a vital time where those resources are more useful now than ever, especially in New York,” Britt said. “If you’re in New York right now, you’re sort of at the epicenter of assistance, of help. You’re where you need to be.” Furthermore, Greene offered the Multicultural Center, located in the Kelly Student Commons in Room 3.03, as a safe space for undocumented students. “We don’t treat anybody who walks through our doors any differently. Everybody has a place here, everybody has a right to be here,” Greene said. “We don’t ask people what their status is when they walk through here.” DACA may have been rescinded for the time being, but one thing is certain: MC will continue to stand by all of its students regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. Alexa Schmidt contributed on reporting.

College Administration Takes Measures After Freshman is Tested for Meningitis __________________________ Continued FROM PAGE 1 difficulty walking in a straight line, and “exaggerated flu-like symptoms.” “I was thinking, like, he touches a doorknob, right? Now I touch a doorknob... what if, you know?” Licari and the others living on his floor were instructed by their resident assistant to report to the Health Services in Alumni Hall to take an antibiotic pill on Sept. 5. This pill

was also offered to other RA’s in Chrysostom. “With help from the New York City Department of Health, we identified the individuals, including students and staff, who may have been exposed and contacted them directly to offer them the option to receive prophylactic antibiotics, free of charge,” said Weingarten. Nurse Amy Dall, the original sender of the first safety

advisory message, was unable to provide further comment on information concerning the emails or the antibiotics. Peter McHugh, director of communications at MC, referenced information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding meningococcal meningitis. “Infectious diseases tend to spread where large groups of people gather together. Col-

lege campuses have reported outbreaks of meningococcal disease, caused by N. meningitidis,” reads the same website. The CDC also notes that “vaccines that help protect meningococcal disease work well, but cannot prevent all cases.” Late symptoms of meningitis can be serious, and even fatal. Nausea, sudden onset of fever or confusion can give way

to seizures or coma in some cases. Anyone who thinks they might have meningitis is advised to see a doctor as soon as possible.

News

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Summer Quad Construction Continues into School Year Alyssa Velazquez & Stephen Zubrycky Editor & Editor-in-Chief

Manhattan College is reconstructing the facade of Memorial Hall. The ongoing work on Memorial Hall is the final phase of a massive construction project undertaken by the college this summer. De La Salle Hall’s facade had been redone earlier in the summer. The work began on May 20, the day after the 2017 Spring Undergraduate Commencement. The college contracted Pavarini Northeast Construction, Co., which was also the general contractor for jobs including the construction of the Broadway Garage, Lee Hall and Kelly Commons. “Any places on those buildings where there was facade damaged issues over time, they’re repairing those,” Andrew Ryan, vice president of facilities for the college, said. The main staircase leading from the McNeil Quad - commonly known as the “miniQuad” - to the front of Memorial Hall has been completely replaced, and remains shut to traffic. The ongoing phase of the work has resulted in traffic diversions in and around Memorial Hall. Currently, the Miguel Hall arch and the south half of the De La Salle arch remain closed. The southern walkway along the Quad by Memorial Hall is also closed. The work was initially expected to be complete before the start of the fall semester. But as work began, the contractor began to encounter problems, especially in the two arches that flank Memorial Hall. “Whenever you’re doing facade work there are always unforeseen conditions and we did run into those, significant ones, on the two arches,” Ryan said. Renovations like the ones being carried out right now come with the territory, Ryan argued. “[The buildings are] from the 1920s, vintage, all of those buildings so… over time you end up with some facade issues on the buildings and they have

Memorial Hall masonry repairs. been addressed in part by the college,” Ryan said. Faculty and staff near the area where the work is still ongoing do not seem to mind the disruption all that much, including Brother Patrick J. Horner, Ph.D., professor of English, whose Miguel Hall 402 office overlooks the Quad. “The only thing here is you can’t get up the stairway under this arch, okay, but I usually take the elevator in Memorial anyway,” Horner said. “It hasn’t had much impact on me.” Antonio Cordoba, Ph.D., assistant professor of modern languages and literatures, whose Memorial Hall office overlooks the scaffolding on the Quad, agreed. “The noise hasn’t been bothering me. I just try to kind of dust the place,” Cordoba said, adding that his office has been more dusty than usual during the work. Karen Nicholson, Ph.D., dean of education, emphasizes the fact that though the scaffolding is not the most aesthetically pleasing it shows the type of position the college is financially. Nicholson refers back to the summer when she would overhear guests who were attending one of the summer conferences that were held at the college. “But on the other hand you kept hearing people say ‘oh it’s really nice you’re able to do that and you’re putting resources in,” Nicholson said. According to Ryan, the work is scheduled to be completed by the end of September. But once this job is done, Ryan foresees a busy academic year for his department. By the end of the school year, the college plans to have started work on the new “south campus” venture, which includes a new residence hall and an extension to Leo Engineering Building.

Construction on the Quad has left a segment of walkway by Memorial Hall closed to traffic.

Workers in a cherrypicker do masonry work on Memorial Hall. all photos by STEPHEN ZUBRYCKY / THE QUADRANGLE

Join The Quadrangle

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

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

Arts & Entertainment

THE QUADRANGLE

“Blossom” Maintains Mural Gabriella DePinho & August Kissel Staff Writer & Editor Ever since May 2015, “Blossom”, the student painted and designed mural under Founder’s Bridge has resided and became a staple of the Manhattan College community. Blossom had a long creation starting back when it was idea made up by Jean Manning, a Manhattan College alumni, was just a freshman. “I went to Dr. Savoy with the idea of starting my own club, maybe we could even paint murals. I was thinking specifically under the bridge, it used to be really dark and dreary down here,” said Manning. The project fell to the wayside for three years until Mark Pottinger, Ph.D., of the Visual and Performing Arts department picked up the idea and contacted Manning. The two spent the next few months acquiring their team. “We started off by going to Kelly Commons and setting up a table and giving away Starbucks lattes. Then students were like ‘What free coffee?’ and signed up. Sometimes students need a little motivation to

get involved and sign up,” said Pottinger Other students found out about the project through word of mouth. Junior international studies major Leah Reiner was recruited by Pottinger to get involved. “[Dr. Pottinger] told me of an opportunity to work on an art piece on campus and I just took it,” said Reiner. The group was made up of students from four schools on campus. The original team included one international studies major, two communication majors, one computer science major, one philosophy major, one English major, one in mechanical and one in electrical engineering, one physics major, one psychology major, one secondary education, and one biology major. “It was just one of those times when good ideas attract good people. It is not defined by one group, we were not made up of one people, the group that we had reflects that,” said Pottinger Each of the members of the

Students refine the mural beneath Founders’ Bridge. MARK POTTINGER / COURTESY

Members of “Blossom” work on the large mural located beneath Founders’ Bridge. MARK POTTINGER / COURTESY group had a different idea as to how they wanted the mural to look. The group ran surveys and talked to a wide variety of MC community members to see what they wanted represented in the mural. If you look at Blossom from left to right, it serves as a compass. On the left is the one train, painted closest to the stairwell that leads from the street into the campus. In the center, there is the five pointed star which represents the Lasallian values embedded into the school. By the staircase into the quad is a representation of Smith Chapel, which identifies where those who walk by are going in the present and in the future, where they will be walking away from when the students finish their time as a Jasper. “I believe that this is what really sold people was that this was student defined and, we were not going to pay profes-

sional muralists to come and create a mural and leave, this was done by students who were going through the process of being a Jasper and what that means to them. The mural sort of reflects that,” said Pottinger. Manning has a special relationship with Blossom. “Now that I graduated, I am not even doing physics at all. I stayed in New York to pursue art (...) This project changed my life in that way,” said Manning. “I am really glad that we were able to change campus because we needed the change.” While many members of the original team have graduated, Pottinger called the remaining team together to clean and maintain the mural. When Dr. Pottinger first arrived back to campus this past July, he noticed rust stains and graffiti. The team assembled on Friday, Sept. 8, and cleaned the mural with soap, water, and

chemicals that would take off the rust while leaving the paint intact. After they would take paint and do little touch-ups to markings that do not wash off. From the original 12 members, six showed up for the retouching (two of them being alumni). As students walked past seeing the efforts being made, brand new sets of eyes were able to glance at the mural, possibly for the first time. Pottinger is planning on assembling the team again in the spring semester after the winter weather hits the mural. He also has plans of reaching out to the new art club, Sanctus Artem, and other fine arts majors for help so they too can add their legacy onto the mural keep-up. “It’s nice to have something that is kind of in the background of the campus, and that will be here beyond our stay,” said Reiner.

COMING NEXT WEEK

Theater & the City Theater & the City is a new weekly Arts & Entertainment column that will feature a review of a Broadway or an off-Broadway show each week. The students who will be contributing to this column are currently taking ENGL 400: Theater & the City, which is a course that invites students to experience theater as a multidimensional and collaborative art. The course is taught by Deirdre O’Leary Cunningham, a professor in the English department and experienced theater critic. By Tara Marin, Social Media Editor Photo by Taylor Brethauer / The Quadrangle

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Arts & Entertainment

“Rumors” Has It: Inside the Players’ First Meeting Lauren Schuster Staff Writer Late Tuesday evening, a crowd of faces both new and familiar were packed into the Black Box theater in Thomas Hall, patiently awaiting the official announcement of this year’s productions to be put on by the Manhattan College Players. One big announcement of the evening was that the fall mainstage production is set to be “Rumors”. The show “Rumors” is a farce, meaning that it will be very comical, and as mainstage director Marty Marchitto briefly explained, it is a show that focuses a great deal on the relationships between the various characters in the cast. The show was decided upon through a process that combines suggestions from the members of the club and an evaluation of the club’s resources by both the club’s board and the mainstage director. Marketing and publicity manager, Gabi Herrera, explained the process, saying, “We allow all of our members to pitch one musical and one play. If you’re on the board, you’re able to pitch two musicals and two plays, because you’re more involved and you can better predict what we would be able to do.” The members of the board then go through all of the pitches and spend two to three weeks researching and evaluating them. “Then after those two or three weeks, we meet together and we have a voting system. We come up with the top three list of both plays and musi-

A packed house came to learn about what’s in store for this year’s Players. Paul Fucao / Courtesy cals, we give it to Marty and he picks. So, we try to create a fair system, and we try to create something that students can be really involved in, because it’s our club and our shows,” Herrera explained. Producer Gabby Kasper added, “Also, with Marty making the decisions, it’s really a collaboration as well. He wants to pick the shows that we want to do. He doesn’t want to just put on a show that we would all end up hating.” While the board members expressed excitement for all aspects of the upcoming year, they expressed particular excitement towards working with the new freshmen that attended the meeting. Production manager Alex Kelly explained, “I’m very excited after tonight, seeing all the freshmen that have joined. That was a lot of people and it was so awesome, so that’s definitely something I’m excited about.” Treasurer Erin Murphy added, “Yeah, I’m definitely excited about all the new people

we got. Because we are such a student-run club, everybody brings something different to the table, and we’ll probably get so many new ideas and so many new talents to feature and it will be great for the club.” Kasper agreed, saying, “I just think it was so exciting to see. I just remember being in that position [as a freshman], and it was just so nice to be able to invite people like I felt I was invited.” The excitement seemed to be mutual as many new freshmen eagerly signed up to be involved in all aspects of the productions. Freshman Camryn Holly said, “I want to join the tech crew. I really enjoy watching talent on stage since I don’t have it. I like being a part of creating something, it’s just really cool to see it grow from beginning to end.” Holly added that she enjoyed being involved in behind-thescenes work in several of her high school’s productions, and looks forward to spending time with her friends in the club.

The casts for both the fall mainstage production and the murder mystery are considered to be fairly large. “Rumors” has five female and five male roles, while the murder mystery has a cast of eighteen. Social chair Matt Peters, who helps to direct the murder mystery, explained, “[The casts are pretty large,] which I think is good, because in the murder mystery you get a lot of people who don’t necessarily want to do the mainstage play, and so it works out well when you have about the same amount of people doing each show, because this way you’re not excluding anybody, which we try not to do in this club.” In addition to the fall mainstage production and the murder mystery, the MC Players will also put on a cabaret, a Valentine’s Day production, a play reading and a spring musical this year. While they are first focusing on the fall productions, the board is also looking forward to the spring musical, which will be official-

ly announced at a later date. After doing the very modern musical “Legally Blonde” last spring, the board intends to do a slightly more traditional musical this year. Secretary Megan Lawlor said, “I think it’s really exciting because [the spring musical] is really different from our show last year, but it is still going to be just as spectacular.” Herrera added, “We just did a very modern musical last year and now we’re going to be able to explore something that could be considered to be from more of a classical genre. I mean, it’s not too classical, but it’s considered a classic show within theater and Broadway, so it’s going to be exciting. We just did a modern show and now we get to do something that’s a little more contrasted in musical style.” The murder mystery show is set to take place in October, while “Rumors” is set for November. The other shows’ dates are yet to be announced.

Manhattan College Adopts a Furry-Tailed Icon Michevi Dufflart Staff Writer

Manhattan College is home to a number of students from many locations, but it is also home to a number of small furry creatures. Well known for their ubiquitous presence on campus, squirrels have attracted the attention of students and faculty members alike. Last semester, campus squirrels inspired the creation of mc_squirrels, a student run Instagram account with nearly 1,500 followers. However now, with the current semester in full swing, a different account has been featuring a new squirrel on campus. The new squirrel, a plush gray one with a Manhattan College bandana, has been featured in several of manhattanedu’s most recent posts on Instagram, which had many students questioning if mc_squirrels and manhattanedu were collaborating to create these

posts. The Quadrangle turned to the owner of mc_squirrels and the creator of the new squirrel posts on manhattanedu, Kristen Cuppek, the director of publications and editorial services in the Marketing & Communication Office for answers. Cuppek, who is credited with the idea of including the plush squirrel in the posts, said she thought the squirrel would be, “a fun way to highlight the first week of class through the eyes of a campus squirrel.” The posts, which began promptly on the first day of classes, feature the squirrel in multiple locations across MC such as a classroom, Locke’s Loft, the Quad, O’Malley Library, the Mural under Founder’s Bridge, the I.D. Office and the bookstore, where plush squirrels like the one featured in these posts, are now being sold. When asked what kind of feedback the posts were receiving, Cuppek responded saying the feedback has been good, “The first post even re-

ceived more than 600 likes. We’ve been getting nice comments, such as “Love Manhattan and the Bronx squirrels” and “This series is my favorite thing.” And, of course, we’ve received some funny comments, like one asking how to transfer to MC because the squirrel looks so happy.” However, although manhattanedu has received mostly positive feedback, some students still enjoy the content of mc_squirrels more. One such student is sophomore Adam Granger who says that he prefers mc_squirrels posts because he likes seeing the real squirrels found on campus. Additionally, like most of us, he’s interested in the knowing the relationship between the two accounts. In response to whether manhattanedu has collaborated with mc_squirrels, Cuppek said, “No, we didn’t collaborate with the mc squirrels Instagram account.” However, she noted that manhattanedu has tagged mc_ squirrels in most of the posts.

________________ These stuffed squirrels (right), sold in the bookstore, are one way M.C. is embracing squirrel-mania. MICHEVI DUFFLART / THE QUADRANGLE

Similarly, the owner of mc_squirrels responded saying, “Contrary to popular belief, mc_squirrels has not participated in any collaboration with members of the school’s marketing team,” adding that the plush squirrel posts on manhattanedu came as a surprise to them as well. Mc_squirrels owner also shares that while originally they accepted manhattanedu’s posts of the plush squirrel, after learning about their intent to sell the squirrels in the campus bookstore they said, “We feel [like] the school is capitalizing on our idea and confusing our audience.” The owner of mc_ squirrels said they proposed

the option of having the plush squirrel’s profits go to a local charitable organization, but MC’s confirmation to this has yet to be received in writing. As a final note, the owner of mc_squirrels encourages all MC students to continue submitting squirrel pictures so they can continue to be “a nutty force on campus.” They also wish to inform students that any important updates will be posted on the mc_squirrels account. As for manhattanedu and their plush squirrel, Cuppek says they have plans for the squirrel, but that students will just have to wait and see what the future holds.

ad.

Features

THE QUADRANGLE

Alumni Share Experiences from Hurricane Harvey, MC Continues Relief Tara Marin Editor

It’s been almost three weeks since Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas. Student groups on campus, as well as alumni off campus, have been working collaboratively on relief efforts. Marissa Piazza, a 2016 graduate of Manhattan College who is currently living in Texas, spoke with The Quadrangle about her experience with Hurricane Harvey, and the money she has been raising for victims. “I live on the first floor of my apartment building, so I was anxious, but the weather in the week leading up to the hurricane was beautiful - such bright and sunny days, it was hard to believe a storm was approaching,” Piazza said. In the aftermath of the storm, gas prices skyrocketed. Piazza filled up her car with gas prior to this. “I didn’t realize how important that would be since a lot of the refineries were shut down after the storm and a lot of stations around town still don’t have gas,” she said. “On Thursday night before the storm, I was starting to get

here, I’ve experienced a fair share of flash floods. My phone will make the annoying beeping sound in the middle of the night, and I’ll wake up to learn that the exits and onramps to the highway are completely flooded and impassable. The crazy thing is sometimes the water drains by lunchtime and I can then travel to the office,” she said. Though she said this was not the case with Hurricane Harvey, a category three storm that resulted in some areas receiving over 40 inches of rainfall. “On Friday I decided to leave my apartment and stay with my cousin at her boyfriend’s family’s house in the Heights - another neighborhood in Houston. Their home was at a slightly higher elevation, so I thought it would be a safer bet. Even then, I packed as if I would be gone for maybe a couple days. Turns out I couldn’t even return to my apartment building until almost a week later due to the high water level,” Piazza said. After the storm, Piazza and her cousin were discussing ways to raise money to purchase supplies for those most affected by the hurricane. They utilized their social media to call for donations.

Marissa Piazza ‘16 filled her whole car with supplies for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. MARISSA PIAZZA / COURTESY concerned that I would be stuck in my apartment all weekend if the weather and flooding were really as bad as predicted, so I stocked up on bottled water, gatorade, granola bars, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, bread and other canned goods. Even then, it felt like more of a precaution rather than reality.” Piazza decided to work from home the Friday before the storm, as she was concerned about flooding, which is not uncommon in Houston. “In the year that I’ve been

In a Facebook post, Piazza wrote: “As Houston rebuilds and recovers from this flood, I am raising money to buy supplies to bring to the shelters around town. There has been an abundance of volunteers but many people have been displaced and are lacking basic necessities and toiletries. As soon as I can travel there safely, I plan to drop off supplies. I’ll post a picture of all the supplies I purchase and am looking into where volunteers are still needed.”

That same night, Piazza and a friend tried to volunteer at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston where victims were finding refuge, but were turned away due to an overwhelming number of volunteers. Not even a full day later, Piazza had already raised over $1,000. Colleen Kavanagh, also an alumni of MC, joined Piazza on a trip to Costco where they purchased supplies in bulk. When Piazza posted about this on social media, even more donations came in. “Our plan was to raise money so that we could shop locally and give supplies and food directly to those in need. From a simple Instagram and Facebook post, I could not have anticipated the outpouring of both love and donations. To date, we have raised over

____________________________

Piazza used social media to call for donations.

$6000 and have purchased and delivered supplies to a variety of sources,” Piazza said. Once donations had reached $4,000, Piazza opened a checking account called “Harvey Relief” and continues to receive donations for supplies that she is delivering to shelters. Prior to Hurricane Harvey, there was an issue regarding the amount of people who were evacuating the state. Many people could not escape the storm, for reasons such as not having access to a car, being unable to afford transportation, or fear of leaving behind family members or pets. Piazza also shed light on another dilemma: traffic. “Houston is a huge city with huge highways, but even on a regular day you experience gridlock. Talking to friends who grew up in the area, everyone remembers the horror of Hurricane Rita in 2005. I read online that more than three million people tried to evacuate, and dozens of people died from heat stroke, car accidents, and heart related issues. It was only a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina,” she said. Piazza was heartened by civilians coming to each other’s rescue in the aftermath of the storm. “I think what has struck me the most about the rescue operations is how alongside emergency officials, regular people all over the city stepped up to make rescues. Louisiana’s Cajun Navy came to Houston - a volunteer rescue group of civilians that helped emergency responders during Katrina - with

Marissa Piazza ‘16 gathers supplies for Hurricane Harvey victims. MARISSA PIAZZA / COURTESY their bass boats, rowboats, and other fishing boats in tow. I even read a story about someone who had purchased a military vehicle for fun, but ended up driving it through flooded water and saving hundreds of people, his name is Nick Sissa,” she said. Piazza continued. “I think the magnitude of rain that Harvey brought, one estimate was half our annual rainfall over the course of two days, is what has made this hurricane particularly devastating. Houston is no stranger to flooding, but flooding like this was unprecedented,” she said. Back at MC, students and faculty are also organizing. Kathleen Von Euw, coordinator of community partnerships and service for Campus Ministry and Social Action, stresses the importance of receiving monetary donations at times like this. “In the immediate time following a disaster like this, it’s not [crucial] to collect items, it’s to collect funds,” Von Euw said. An account here at MC has been set up specifically for collecting donations. Brother Jack Curran, FSC, Ph.D., who serves as the vice president for mission, also highlights the importance of emotional support. Curran recently reached out to Sister Thoa at the De La Salle Vietnamese School, located in Cypress, Texas, which serves the greater Houston area with educating children while emphasizing the values of Vietnam, which include hard work, studiousness, and respect for one’s elders. At the school, the De La Salle Chapel, De La Salle Educational Center, and the sisters’ house, are all gone. Curran is hopeful that MC

will be able to provide them with financial support, as well as a possible L.O.V.E. trip in the near future. Timothy Hamling, a junior at the college, held a floor event in Horan Hall last Wednesday for students to learn about Harvey’s consequences, come up with ways to help families, and to donate. Hamling raised $53.25 for the Red Cross Relief Fund, and handed out a pamphlet with information about the storm. Below are some statistics that Hamling gathered: 39.72 - The amount of rain in inches that fell on Houston during the peak of the storm. 13,000 - The number of rescues made within the state of Texas since the storm. 190 Billion - The approximate economic damage that Harvey caused. Hamling also encouraged students to make donations to organizations like Global Giving, or to donate blood at American Red Cross blood drives. Just this weekend, Hurricane Irma struck Florida and multiple Caribbean islands with even more force than Harvey. Not far behind Irma is Hurricane Jose, deemed a category four storm whose path is still undetermined, but nonetheless remains a threat to these already fractured areas. And last week, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck the coast of Mexico and killed 90 people, a number that is expected to rise as the rubble is cleared. An impending tsunami is possible as a result of this eruption. One comforting aspect of these disasters is the humanity that emerges from them. In the coming days, Harvey relief efforts on campus will expand to include these more recently distressed areas as well.

Features

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Students Organize Nighttime Memorial on the Quad for Late Br. Ray Kaiyun Chen Staff Writer

For Brother Raymond Meagher, F.S.C., building communities was one of his greatest accomplishments. On the evening of Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, a community of Jaspers came together to celebrate this guiding star. Over the summer, the woeful news was announced for Brother Raymond’s passing away on Tuesday, July 18. The Quadrangle reported this news that morning, along with the information for the services being held in the Christian Brothers Residence and in the Chapel of De La Salle and His Brothers back during the weekend of July 21 and 22. Unfortunately, many of his students, who consider him a mentor and a friend, were unable to attend the services held due to the summer break schedule. Senior Brett Ilie recognized such regrets, saying, “I miss Br. Ray tremendously and I felt like he really needed something from the students to say their goodbyes.” Hoping to plan a remembrance event in honor of Brother Raymond, Ilie gathered a few

Students gathered on the Quad Thursday evening to remember Br. Raymond Meagher, who died in July. KAIYUN CHEN / THE QUADRANGLE friends. Working together, Ilie, Erin Keating (junior), Chloe Ludlow (junior), Crista Peyko (junior), and myself organized the details for that night. After Ilie created the memo for the event, the news spread through social media and conversations. That night, more than thirty Jaspers and Christian Brothers (Brother Jack Curran and Brother Charles Barbush) gath-

ered at 8:00 p.m. on the quad. The “Beauty Prayer,” a prayer taught by Brother Raymond in his classes, was chanted by students holding flashlights on their hands. After spreading love through the prayer, the community of Jaspers relocated themselves in Cornerstone. A conversation was then raised with reflections of Brother Raymond. It was a heartfelt experi-

ence, students shared memories of Brother Raymond and moments spent in his classes. “Participating in the event brought me back to the unforgettable moments and experiences shared in Brother Ray’s class,” said junior Katherine Prevo. In this Jasper community, a safe space was provided with love and support for students to talk, to share, and to cry.

“I feel like that was exactly what we all needed after this loss,” said sophomore Shannon Monahan. The event ended with hugs and goodbyes. Many students shared their last thoughts on Brother Ray. “Thank you, Brother Ray. We will keep you in our teacher hearts, forever and always,” said Prevo. “I was so lucky to have the opportunity to be in his class and I know his teachings will live on with me when I become a teacher,” said sophomore Taylor Aloisio. “[It was important we came together] to celebrate his life the way he taught us to celebrate life,” said Monahan. From this writer, I thank Brother Ray for his guidance to help us become better students, better future teachers, better individuals. This guidance is not only for one or two semesters, this guidance lasts for a lifetime. For Brother Raymond, building close communities has always been one of his best works throughout his life. That day, a community that Brother Raymond created with passion and love united to say one more time, “Than you, love you forever and always.”

Sisterhood Stays Strong Despite Loss of Recognition Victoria Hernandez Editor

On the outside looking in, the customs of Greek life seem fun: socials every week, sorority tank tops for days and flashing your sorority’s letter sign whenever possible. But one thing is for sure, sororities unite college women that wouldn’t have necessarily met otherwise. Gillian Fleshman and Rachael Ann Lerner, a big-little relationship in Alpha Upsilon Pi, are just one example at Manhattan College. “We’re easily best friends”

said Lerner, a junior studying radiologic technology. Fleshman is a sophomore studying French and Spanish. Because of their difference in class standing and major, they attribute their union to rushing and joining the sorority on campus. “My whole perception [of sororities] changed when I met them,” Fleshman said. They met at a rush event and bonded over their love for glitter and arts and crafts. Fleshman selected Lerner to become her big immediately. Lerner said there wasn’t a contestant when choosing

Gillian Fleshman and Rachael Ann Lerner, a big-little pair in Alpha Upsilon Pi. COURTESY.

Fleshman to be her little because everyone in the sorority seemed to know that they had a special connection from the beginning. “I don’t have to really meet up with her to see how her studies are doing,” Lerner said of Fleshman. “She’s really studious so I don’t worry on her academia.” Big-little relationships are a lot like a big-little sister relationship, mainly composed by protection and support. “Our relationship was really friendship,” Lerner says as she shares that she wasn’t involved in Fleshman’s pledging process. “That [process] is up to the e-board”. “I’m involved in protecting her and her interest, her safety and well being” said Lerner. “It’s up to the pledge mistress on how she wants to work with the new pledges.” A pledge mistress is the overseer that watches over the pledges and dictates the process, while guiding the pledges through what it means to be a sister, Lerner added. When asked about the pledging tasks each candidate had to partake in, Lerner mentioned that each sorority has a

confidentiality agreement. “We do have a confidentiality statement about the pledging process,” said Lerner. “I was never in danger,” said Fleshman. Lerner added that even though Fleshman has the sorority as a priority, she came to school to study. “The sorority is important for all but her priority is her school work so as a big sister that is what I want to protect,” Lerner said. Alpha Upsilon Pi is no longer recognized as a sorority at Manhattan College due to what the college called a “hazing incident” last year. But altogether, they still act like one and continue to build upon their relationships. “Our friendship remains, even though what brought us together is not here anymore,” said Lerner. “It’s not necessarily seen by people out of the greek life but there’s a lot of effort that goes into it. We care about each other and the philanthropy we do,” said Lerner. Every big-little relationship is going to be different because every family is different, according to Lerner.

RACHEL ANN LERNER & GILLIAN FLESHMAN / COURTESY One of their best memories as the duo was during the pledging process, before they were aware of their official big-little relationship. Fleshman made a paddle decorated with the sorority symbols, and Lerner gave her little presents throughout the process. In the everyday, after Fleshman was officially accepted into the sorority and paired with Lerner, they became equals. “I was lost. I felt alone and having a sorority gave me a sense of belonging at school,” Fleshman said.

Features

THE QUADRANGLE

Returning International Students Share their Stories of Home and Hopes for their Future Shannon Gleba Staff Writer

Manhattan College has truly become a global institution, welcoming students from 40 different countries around the world. Three members of the class of 2020, Lora Yovcheva, Gent Smajlaj and Viola Marcia, have traveled from their home countries to become Jaspers. While these students may come from all different places, they have similar values which have led them to study in New York City. Yovcheva is from the eastern European country of Bulgaria, on the Balkan Peninsula. While she understands that many people may have certain stereotypical thoughts surrounding the Balkan countries, she speaks very highly of her home country. When asked to describe Bulgaria in a few short sentences, the sophomore presented a very positive description. “It has a great history,” said Yovcheva, adding that the country was founded a mere 600 years after the birth Christ. While Bulgaria is an old country, the sophomore says that it seems to have stalled in development, stating that “it does not present as many opportunities as the US or some other countries.” These limited opportunities for occupational success pushed Yovcheva to look elsewhere for pursuing her studies after high

school. After planning to attend a university in Germany, she traveled to the United States on a vacation, where she fell in love with New York. “My parents told me that if I really wanted to come to [New York] I can, because they knew how I was talking about the US all the time,” said Yovcheva, describing how her college decision was made. Yovcheva has been attending MC since last year, and has certainly made her mark on campus. As a double major in economics and finance, the sophomore also finds time to get involved in some organizations in which she is interested. She is a member of the sorority Sigma Delta Tau, which takes up a majority of her time outside the classroom. While the sophomore enjoys her time spent in New York City, she does long for many aspects of her life back in Bulgaria. “Of course, I miss them,” said Yovcheva when asked about her family. However, with the help of technology, like Snapchat and video chat, she is able to speak with her siblings, parents and grandparents every day. In the long run, Yovcheva believes that studying in the United States will better help her reach her goals compared to studying in Bulgaria. “It’s a huge country. If you succeed here, you can practically succeed everywhere. You can see that from all the stars, like film stars and music stars,”

Sophomore Viola Marcia, from Italy. VIOLA MARCIA / COURTESY

she said. Likewise, Gent Smajlaj, feels like New York City presents many more opportunities for success than his home country of Kosovo, located in southeast Europe. Smajlaj was born in New York, and moved to Kosovo at the age of 8. When it came time for Smajlaj to make a decision about where to continue his education, New York seemed to be the obvious choice. “I wanted to continue from where I left off, I always wanted to live in New York, live in the city and explore new things. I felt like it was necessary since I left when I was 8 years old that I had to come back and continue doing what I do because even back when I was in Kosovo I’d still do things that I would do here in the US. I’d stay up at two in the morning just to watch Giants games and watch the Mets play and I always had that New York in me, so right when I finished high school I knew that I wanted to continue my education in New York,” said Smajlaj. In addition, as a finance major, Smajlaj feels as if he will have more success in the United States because in Kosovo “the political situation is not well […] and it is pretty corrupt.” The sophomore was able to quickly identify a few major differences between the United States and Kosovo when asked. “New York is bigger than

Gent Smjalj, originally from New York, moved to Kosovo as a child. GENT SMAJLAJ / COURTESY Kosovo in population and size, the diversity here you’ve got people from all around the world where in Kosovo it is mostly Albanians,” he said. In addition, Smajlaj added that the food is very different in Kosovo from what is available in New York City. Smajlaj has taken advantage of many opportunities Manhat-

Sophomroe Lora Yocheva, of the Balkan nation of Bulgaria. LORA YOCHEVA / COURTESY

tan College has offered to him. In addition to his studies, the finance student is involved with Foresight Collective, which he states is “a nonprofit organization with the main purpose to empower youth.” Another student, Viola Marcia from Italy, also finds ways to keep following her passions, while also managing her workload as a biology major. “At home I play the violin and here the same, every weekend,” she said. While Marcia still participates in some of her activities from home, the fast pace of New York City has opened many new doors for her. “Italy is more dull than America, less active. We take ages to do or correct something, for example rebuild a street or a building. Here in America the system is much more efficient and fast,” she said. When asked why she chose to attend school in the U.S., Marcia cited a number of reasons. “New York is a very good idea for my major because there are so many opportunities for pre-med students,” she said. “I just love the idea of the United States: freedom and making your dreams come true. This country’s mentality is amazing. If you work hard you will reach if not all, most of your goals, so everything is worth the effort.”

Sports

SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

Introducing The Barbell Club RikkiLynn Shields Editor

After a year of meetings and planning, it’s finally here. Senior Mike Adesso and junior Nicholas Sparks decided to bring their passion for hitting the gym, lifting weights, and promoting a healthy lifestyle here to Manhattan College by introducing Manhattan’s first ever Barbell Club. The club isn’t what it sounds like– experienced, exercise enthusiasts taking over the weight section of the gym– this club is much, much more. Sparks began lifting when he was sixteen, he recalls, right before he got his license, because how could he forget having to find a ride to the gym? “It really took off for me once I started noticing the small day-to-day changes in the mirror– that was a really big thing for me. It kept me excited about working out and made me want to keep going back to the gym, and keep bettering myself to see how far I could push myself.” Sparks said. Adesso became serious about the gym his freshman year. Beginning with a personal

trainer three times a week, he carried the momentum along with him to his first semester here at Manhattan. “After a year at Manhattan, I switched from Chemical Engineering to Exercise Science. It was definitely something relevant in my life early on, and has been since; career choice wise, hobbies, and just something I like to do day-to-day.” Adesso said. Working in the fitness center and having an obvious love and passion for a healthy lifestyle, the creation of the Barbell Club isn’t simply to find others to workout with. “Nick and I share a common enjoyment and love for what we do at the gym, and it’s something we’d like to share with other people. It’s clear that the gym to many people can be intimidating, and many people stray away from it because they’re not comfortable in it, and it’s definitely a big step for a lot of people to come to the gym even thought it shouldn’t be. We’re here to facilitate that enjoyment for other people and break those barriers, get people in, get people feeling comfortable with the people, the equipment, the exercises,

and hopefully put people on the same path so they can also get some enjoyment out of working out.” Adesso said. This club isn’t your ordinary fitness club. Along with organizing workouts, the two plan to hold workshops, create a point-system for members, implement a mentor program, and much much more. “We have a point system established, so people can’t just show up when they feel like it, or come to the events that cost us money and utilize our recourses for one time– they have to reach a certain amount of points to gain membership in the club, and then theres another set of points for each semester after that for them to maintain their membership, which will be less than the initial amount. We want people to consistently be showing up and be an active part of the club.” Sparks said. While meeting times are still unsure, Adesso and Sparks plan to set dates and times after getting input from others at the first meeting. “We plan to meet every other week. However, if we have more things to do, we’d love to have more meetings.

We’ll be having guest speakers, exercise workshops in the gym to have a hands-on learning experience. We’re also planning on setting up a mentorship program, where a younger or less experienced member can team up with someone who has more experience, and more to share. We’ll have some peer learning sessions to share information and experience.” Adesso said. For anyone wondering if this is the club for them, Sparks has the motivational attitude to get you wanting to join! “A lot of people are afraid of what they don’t know, especially people who don’t work out at all or regularly– they’re going to be afraid to go to the gym and be surrounded by people who have been doing it for a long time. And, they may be more concerned about where they want to be, and they don’t realize how long it actually takes to get there. When I walk in gyms, I see guys doing crazy things that I hope to be doing one day, and those are long-term goals. For some people, they come in, see that, and think it happens over night. You have to put the time in– be patient and consistent.” Sparks said.

If you’re interested in attending the first official meeting on September 19th, Adesso and Sparks are ready to welcome anyone and everyone with the slightest interest in fitness with open arms. “Anyone is welcome to our first meeting next week, whether you’ve shown interest at the activities fair, attended meetings last year, or not. At the end of the first meeting, we’ll tell everyone what our plan is for the semester, and we’re gonna come up with some ideas and have everyone vote for what they’d like to see. And if they have any of their own ideas, we’re open to suggestions!” Sparks said. Adesso and Sparks both added that the club would not be possible without the help of Chris Policastro, the director of the Fitness Center, and Braily Bernaber, the graduate assistant at the Fitness center. The first meeting is Tuesday, September 19th at 3:30 pm in Kelly Commons 5C. Adesso and Sparks are ecstatic, and hope to see you there!

Mike Cole Returns to Riverdale as the Baseball Team’s Head Coach John Jackson Staff Writer

“After a year at Manhattan, I switched from Chemical Engineering to Exercise Science. It was definitely something relevant in my life early on, and has been since; career choice wise, hobbies, and just something I like to do day-to-day.” Adesso said. Working in the fitness center and having an obvious love and passion for a healthy lifestyle, the creation of the Barbell Club isn’t simply to find others to workout with. “Nick and I share a common enjoyment and love for what we do at the gym, and it’s something we’d like to share with other people. It’s clear that the gym to many people can be intimidating, and many people stray away from it because they’re not comfortable in it, and it’s definitely a big step for a lot of people to come to the gym even thought it shouldn’t be. We’re here to facilitate that enjoyment for other people and break those barriers, get people in, get people feeling comfortable with the people, the equipment, the exercises, and hopefully put people on the same path so they can also get some enjoyment out of working out.” Adesso said. This club isn’t your ordinary fitness club. Along with organizing workouts, the two plan to hold workshops, create

a point-system for members, implement a mentor program, and much much more. “We have a point system established, so people can’t just show up when they feel like it, or come to the events that cost us money and utilize our recourses for one time– they have to reach a certain amount of points to gain membership in the club, and then theres another set of points for each semester after that for them to maintain their membership, which will be less than the initial amount. We want people to consistently be showing up and be an active part of the club.” Sparks said. While meeting times are still unsure, Adesso and Sparks plan to set dates and times after getting input from others at the first meeting. “We plan to meet every other week. However, if we have more things to do, we’d love to have more meetings. We’ll be having guest speakers, exercise workshops in the gym to have a hands-on learning experience. We’re also planning on setting up a mentorship program, where a younger or less experienced member can team up with someone who has more experience, and more to share. We’ll have some peer learning sessions to share information and experience.” Adesso said.

Mike Cole rejoins the Jaspers as head coach of the baseball team. GOJASPERS / COURTESY For anyone wondering if this is the club for them, Sparks has the motivational attitude to get you wanting to join! “A lot of people are afraid of what they don’t know, especially people who don’t work out at all or regularly– they’re going to be afraid to go to the gym and be surrounded by people who have been doing it for a long time. And, they may be more concerned about where they want to be, and they don’t realize how long it actually takes to get there. When I walk in gyms, I see guys do-

ing crazy things that I hope to be doing one day, and those are long-term goals. For some people, they come in, see that, and think it happens over night. You have to put the time in– be patient and consistent.” Sparks said. If you’re interested in attending the first official meeting on September 19th, Adesso and Sparks are ready to welcome anyone and everyone with the slightest interest in fitness with open arms. “Anyone is welcome to our first meeting next week, whether you’ve shown interest at the activities fair, attended meetings last year, or not. At the end of the first meeting, we’ll tell everyone what our plan is for the semester, and we’re gonna come up with some ideas and have everyone vote for what they’d like to see. And if they have any of their own ideas, we’re open to suggestions!” Sparks said. Adesso and Sparks both added that the club would not be possible without the help of Chris Policastro, the director of the Fitness Center, and Braily Bernaber, the graduate assistant at the Fitness center. The first meeting is Tuesday, September 19th at 3:30 pm in Kelly Commons 5C. Adesso and Sparks are ecstatic, and hope to see you there!

Sports

THE QUADRANGLE

Gaelic Park: Symbol of the Community Alyssa Velazquez & Samantha Walla Editor & Staff Writer

One of the last things you see as you look out the window of the one train arriving at its final stop, is the bright green turf and the symbolic “M” of the college, at the center of Gaelic Park’s field. Home to the Manhattan College Jaspers, Gaelic Park has been apart of the college’s history for decades. Serving as the home field for the Jasper Eleven, Manhattan College’s football team in the mid-1900s, the lacrosse teams for men and women, and the soccer teams for men and women, Gaelic Park has been a place where students can unwind from their weekly academics to cheer on their fellow Jaspers. One of the most notable and recent moments of Manhattan College sports that occurred at the beloved field includes the women’s soccer team winning a home game against rival Iona in the fall of 2015. This win helped earn the women’s soccer team the number two seed and a 104-3 in the MAAC tournament. This was the third time in the program’s 25-year history the team received double digits in the win column of the MAAC tournament. Athletes from every team understand the symbolic and historic meaning that Gaelic Park holds, not just for the college but for the community

Gaelic Park debuted its brand new turf field this past August. STEPHEN ZUBRYCKY / THE QUADRANGLE surrounding the field. Molly Flores, mid-fielder for the women’s lacrosse team, reflects on what the home field means to her. “[Gaelic Park] has a rich history and culture that is unique. Our walk out song is the One and Nine by Shilelagh Law, which really gets our team hyped for games because it is about this area of the Bronx… it fills us with pride and really motivates us to do our best.” Gaelic Park has been apart of the Bronx for decades and has served as an escape for the Irish-American community in the Bronx. Being purchased by the Gaelic Athletic Association, known as the GAA, in 1926, the park became home of Irish sports such as hurling and Gaelic football and events such as concerts and dances that could take place both on field and in the dance hall adjacent to the field. However, roughly ten years later the GAA was forced to give up the lease because of

their declaration of bankruptcy. That is when John “Kerry” O’Donnell and his families and friends took over the lease for about 50 more years. One of the major events that the park experienced was the “Summer of ’69” concert which featured a blend of old and new Irish music, and stretched across the entire summer of 1969. One of the bands that performed at this concert were the infamous Beach Boys. The park allowed for a community of people, who were hundreds of miles away from home, escape the chaos of New York City for the weekend and embrace their culture freely with one another. Publisher of The Irish Voice newspaper in the 90s, Niall O’Dowd, describes the field as “a place where the Irish community meets itself. And it’s almost an emotional thing with people, because it is the repository of Irish games.” The O’Donnell family were the owners of the lease to the

People came from far and wide to Saturday’s Irish Music Festival at Gaelic. ALYSSA VELAZQUEZ / THE QUADRANGLE field up until 1990 when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had to make the decision of which organization was a better fit for the field; the O’Donnell’s or MC. Some of the concerns that the MTA had was the upkeep of the field because the owners of the lease in 1990 were not able to come up with the funds for renovation. In an article written by the New York Times on October 12, 1990, the park was described as a “scraggly pitch” with “tired bleachers and a smattering of seats.” It was clear that the condition of the park was not up to par with the MTA’s standards when they later made the decision to award the lease to Manhattan College in hopes that the field would be brought back to life through renovations. In 1991, Manhattan College was awarded the lease to Gaelic Park by the MTA and ever since then the park has been the official home of outdoor sports for the college. As the college promised, the

park has gone through several renovations, one of the most recent being the renovation of the field which was done over the summer. The new turf and design of the field isn’t the only recent renovation for Gaelic Park. Future projects include the renovation of the locker rooms and bathrooms. Gaelic Park has been an official part of the college for the past 26 years and has been a part of the Bronx community for 91 years. No matter where people are from, the park is considered home to many students and members of the Bronx community. From the athletes who take the field whenever there’s practice or a home game to the people who attend the festivities, Gaelic Park has and always will be a vital part of the Manhattan College and Bronx community.

Volleyball Rookie: Erin Hoener JASPERs TALK C. Garrett Kiedel Staff Writer

Freshman Erin Hoener is in her rookie season at Manhattan College playing on the volleyball team. She’s a middle blocker from O’Fallon, Missouri, looking to make her mark. Wearing number 13 on the court, she looks to continue in being an asset to the team throughout her athletic career here at Manhattan College. The Quadrangle: How did you get into playing volleyball? Erin Hoener: I started playing volleyball competitively in eighth grade because I had a good friend who played club volleyball, so she basically dragged me with her to play, and the rest is history. TQ: So far how has your high school/club volleyball experience compared to college so far?

EH: For high school, I played for a very high level club team, and I think that made the transition into college, and a Division 1 program, pretty easy but is yet still very challenging. TQ: Why did you choose Manhattan College? EH: When I first visited in May 2016, I just really thought it was a good fit academically. We’re located in New York City so there are so many opportunities in business and I really like the area so it was a good fit for me. TQ: What other activities do you enjoy when you’re not playing volleyball? EH: I enjoy going hiking, and just exploring. My roommate and I are planning on exploring the city a lot this year. TQ: Do you have any tips for balancing school work and playing a D1 sport? EH: I think it’s very important to have a checklist and

keep a planner of everything you need to do. Checking things off as you finish them. It’s really good to be on top of your school work because it does get really hectic playing a college sport where you are traveling a lot. TQ: How do you feel like you’ve adjusted to the whole college experience so far? EH: I think I’ve adjusted pretty well, I didn’t really realize that I was in college until our first match a couple weeks ago in western Illinois. It just hit me that I’m in college, and I’m a division one athlete.I would say that’s when I first realized it, but I think it’s been a good transition. TQ: What are hoping to get out of your experience as a D1 athlete? EH: I hope it brings me a lot of skills for after my athletic career. Being a student athlete helps in learning good time

Erin Hoener, a freshman from O’Fallon, Mo., is now No. 13 on the volleyball team. GO JASPERS / Courtesy

management skills, that will help me a lot in my career. TQ: Looking into the future, what do you see for yourself when you’re a senior?

EH: I see myself being a strong asset to my team still, and I hope to be ready to start my career!