Issue 6, Spring 2018 - The Quadrangle

the Quadrangle THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924

Volume XCVII, Issue 6

www.mcquad.org

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Developing the Jasper Mascot:

Manhattan College Community to Decide Through Survey Daniel Molina Senior Writer

This week in Kelly Commons 5A, an exhibit titled “Bethlehem Beyond the Wall,” was displayed, which showcased the everyday lives of people in Bethlehem.

See the full story on page 6 ANJA POLLOZI / THE QUADRANGLE

NRC Holds Third Annual Luncheon Jack Melanson Editor

The Neighborhood Relations Committee hosted their third annual community luncheon last Monday, Feb. 19, as a gathering was held in Kelly Commons. The conversation taking place was to continue the mending of relationships between Manhattan College students and the Riverdale community at large.

Student Body President Micaela Bishop opened the event with a brief speech.

“I hope that Manhattan College has welcomed you into our community today and continues to do so in the future,” said Bishop to the community.

Ryan Quattromani, founder and current chairman of the NRC, was then introduced by Bishop.

While Quattromani was front and center, he discussed unity.

“The goal of our committee, which has been a major part of Student Government as a whole, is to better our relationship with the community,” said Quattromani. “I think we are, slowly but surely.”

After the two spoke, the luncheon was predominately conversational, as students, staff and the community ate over the topic of healing relations.

One community member in attendance was Jean Rincon, an

IN NEWS:

Lee Hall power outages causing dorm issues on p. 4

active Riverdale resident who has led charges for relational improvement in the past.

“The feeling that [Riverdale residents and Manhattan College] can coexist is great,” said Rincon. “I would have liked to see more neighbors participate in this event, but we did have a pretty good showing.”

While noting that the closing of certain bars located near campus is part of the reason for relational improvement, Rincon added that increased police presence and events like the luncheon are steps in the right direction.

“The bottom line is that if students are drunk and screaming outside of your window, you’re not just going to say ‘it’s okay because they have fabulous events’,” said Rincon.

“That’s the big issue, and the better that gets, the happier everyone would be.

She continued.

“It would also be nice if the community could reciprocate it in some way in thanks,” said Rincon. “I suggested before that we could have some kind of reward given at graduation, certainly Ryan and Micaela would be deserving of this kind of award for all they’ve done for the community.”

Michael Carey, Dean of Students, also credited Quattromani and the NRC. “Ryan and the Student Government deserve the credit,

but this is the biggest turnout for a community luncheon that we’ve had. People are starting the feel like this isn’t a foreign territory, they’re welcome here,” said Carey. “Now hopefully our students will do a little bit of a better job in the community and participate in more cleanups, and follow our policies and procedures to be decent neighbors.”

Another neighbor of the College, Bertram Trebach, appreciated the added communication ushered in by the luncheon. “[The luncheon] keeps everyone involved,” he said.

“Communication is important, and [these events} keep everyone on their toes.”

Communication between the 50th precinct and Public Safety has also increased.

“We work with Manhattan College security for their events. Anytime there’s a big event, we work with them and try to make sure that their is additional security,” said Deputy Inspector Terence O’Toole.

“We respond on an as needed basis and If there are complaints about anything we handle it right then and there.”

Juan Cerezo, Director of Public safety at the College,

IN FEATURES: Alumni serving as Lasallian volunteers on p. 9

IN A&E:

__________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

“My Silence Speaks” annual VDay performance on p. 7

This past week, a Jaspers’ mascot survey was sent to students and faculty.

The email contained a link with five simple questions that will aid in the development of a new physical representation of a Jasper.

This effort was not an overnight decision, but something that different entities on campus had wanted and discussed for years. This semester, efforts were canalized into concrete actions to have the mascot ready by next semester’s basketball season.

The process has been conducted by student government, in an effort to increase school spirit on campus.

“We feel so left out that we don’t have some type of character or symbol that can represent what we think Manhattan Jaspers can represent,” Phillip Mourikes, executive vice president of student government, said. “We wanted to get it last semester, in time for the basketball season, but unfortunately [it] is a long process.”

The design and creation of the character will be executed by an external consulting firm that has had experience designing the most recent logos of Manhattan College and developming mascots for other universities.

The survey is the first major step of this long process, and after the firm collects the information provided by the community, they will start developing the first concepts and logos representing the new school spirit. After this, a couple of meetings with faculty and students will select the final design, which would then have to be approved by campus administration.

These first steps are scheduled to be finished by the end of this semester, so the consult-

ing firm can develop the physical mascot during the summer and have it ready by next fall.

“This is the first official mascot in the history of Manhattan College,” Mourikes said. “We have a great burden to not screw this up.”

This mascot would not only be useful to the athletic depar tment, but Stud e n t Engagem e n t believes that it would play an John Bennett imporMANHATTAN COLLEGE/ tant role COURTESY in increasing the contact with alumni and the community.

“The mascot would be used at so many events. Besides athletic events which seems obvious, there are great alumni events and mission based events it would be at, including all our major events throughout the year,” John Bennett, director of student engagement, said. “Think about how many times you see community service being done on TV in the news, if a team or school visits a hospital for instance. You always see the mascot present.

It’ll be great that we’ll be able to have that in the future as well and bring a smile to someone’s face.”

Nearly 500 students and counting have completed the survey. Bennett encourages as many students as possible to share their thoughts and be part of the historic process to select Manhattan College’s first mascot.

IN SPORTS:

Senior begins MMA career on p. 11

Opinion & Editorials

2

the Quadrangle Volume XCVII, Issue 6 FEBRUARY 27, 2018

The Editorial Board

Taylor Brethauer Editor-in-Chief Stephen Zubrycky Managing Editor Jack Melanson News Editor

Haley Burnside Joseph Liggio Asst. News Editors

Megan Dreher Features Editor

Lauren Schuster Asst. Features Editor

Rose Brennan Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor

Alexa Schmidt Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

John Jackson Sports Editor

C. Garrett Keidel Asst. Sports Editor

RikkiLynn Shields Catherine Goodyear Social Media Editors

Anja Pollozi Photography Editor

Alyssa Velazquez Production Editor

Samantha Walla Asst. Production Editor

Gabriella DePinho Michevi Dufflart Web Editors

Mohsin Ahmed Shannon Gleba Copy Editors

Abby Crowell Distribution Manager Thomas Callahan 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

LET T ER TO

The Editor

SCOTT WEIKEL, ‘94, WRITES: I was one of the first students to move in to a brand new co-ed dorm named East Hill in 1990 (now known as Lee Hall). I was fortunate to receive a track scholarship and it was a requirement that I arrive a couple weeks early before school officially started for the year. As I was moving in to my 7th floor quad room, a large man peaked through my doorway and asked how I liked the room. I told him that it was great... however, the bathroom was missing a shower head. I assumed he was a maintenance guy and within minutes another guy was screwing in a brand new shower head.

Wow, that was quick! This place is amazing! It wasn’t until Freshman orientation when I realized that I told the President of the college to go fetch me a new shower head.

Brother Thomas [Scanlan] told that story during the freshman orientation and mentioned that this was a sign that this freshman class was going to be trouble. Brother wanted to experience the 90’s student dorm life and actually lived on the 7th floor as well. At first many of the students were not happy that the president of the college was living on their floor (especially if their dorm room was right next to him).

Nevertheless, quickly into the first semester, everyone seemed to enjoy Brother’s company and he shared many nights with the students in the 7th Floor Lounge watching sports and television shows on the big screened boxed TVs. Throughout my years at Manhattan College, my relationship with Brother grew stronger as we shared many ideas back and forth. Many thought it was a bit strange that I went to dinner with Brother or caught a movie with him every so often. What they did not understand was the fact that I enjoyed his interesting perspective on life and our great conversations. We discussed everything from Sports, to politics, to campus life. He even had an idea to start an on campus bar/pub for the “of age” seniors to hang out and always have a place to come back to for years to come.

One thing I did notice years later after graduating is that when you are a prominent figure like the president of a college, combined with a vow of celibacy, it can be very lonely at the top. You also become a political target or a leverage to better things. I only saw Brother as a friend.

And even though I felt like I greatly benefited more from our relationship, I now understand that my company was just as important to him as it was to me.

Brother Thomas was a huge Giants fan and I am a lifelong Eagles fan.

We went to many games together over the years at Giants Stadium. He couldn’t stand the Eagles. And I have no love for the Giants. During one of our spirited conversations at a game, we talked about the reasons why I stopped going to church. I rattled on about how I disliked the local politics around the Roman Catholic church and decided to stop attending as I “lost my faith” in the church. After hearing my side of the story, he explained the importance of church and faith. He talked about how your time in church is a time to reflect, a time to think of others, and a time to plan how you were going to be better than you were yesterday at not just improving yourself, but with helping others.

He then decided to make a wager with me... one that I will never forget.

I was running cross country for our school and Brother wagered that if I placed in the top five within my team in five races at Van Cortlandt Park, along with running faster than a set time that we agreed on, I would be able to use his private dining room with 8 guests for one night.

If I failed to place in that top five and not finish faster than the time we established...

I would have to go back to Church on Sundays.

For the rest of Scott Weikel’s letter about his memories of Brother Thomas Scanlan, please visit mcquad.org

News

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

3

Student Government Meets for Third Time Taylor Brethauer Editor-in-Chief

Student government held an assembly meeting in the first floor lounge of Jasper Hall this past Wednesday, Feb. 21, at noon. Assembly meetings are open to all members of the Manhattan College student body.

After the meeting was called to order by Student Body President Micaela Bishop, a list of club representatives was compiled. Each Manhattan College club is expected to attend at least one student government assembly meeting per semester. The executive board put this ruling in place at the start of the fall semester this school year.

Addressing the club representatives present, Bishop said, “If you have any events planned for the month of April, please try to add them to the Mission Month event calendar, especially if you feel like it follows the Lasallian heritage or can be related in some way. The calendar is being built right now and if you do have events planned, you can forward them to Brother Jack [Curran, F.S.C.] or Event Services and they’ll be able to advertise your event as part of the month.”

The meeting continued on.

Gourmet Dining Updates Brian Weinstein, resident district manager of Gourmet Dining at the college, was in attendance at the meeting. He highlighted some upcoming events at Locke’s Loft.

“In March, the events we have planned before spring break include sushi in Locke’s [and] an early St. [Patrick’s] Day meal. Then, when we come back from spring break, we have National Pie Day and I believe another ravioli day,” said Weinstein.

He also brought up some information from the previous food service committee (FSC) meeting.

“One request we had was a lot more vegetables. We’re still working on some stuff but for right now, we had a quick fix.

We’ve put a cold veggie station next to the grill. So what you’ll see there is roasted vegetables or some marinated in a balsamic dressing, olive oil or garlic,” said Weinstein.

Later on in the meeting, sophomores Isabel Quinones and Anna Rosario spoke about more topics of discussion from the previous meeting.

The FSC agenda included the idea of a guest meal swipe, which would be redeemable once per month. There was also the suggestion of breakfast being out later into the day, where it was pointed out that bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches are still available at the exposition station where the omelettes are served. There is also an iced

coffee station in the works for the home kitchen area of the dining hall.

Finally, Quinones spoke about the connection between Locke’s and the ‘My Fitness Pal’ app.

“On ‘My Fitness Pal’, an app that can give you calorie counts, it’s linked up with Locke’s and you can find out about the hot entrees menu without having to walk to Locke’s and you can track your calorie intake and it gives nutritional information,” said Quinones.

Then Rosario spoke on behalf of a new fair trade rewards system.

“Brian [Weinstein], Gourmet Dining and fair trade are working together for a rewards card. You know at a milkshake place where you buy a certain amount of milkshakes and when you finish the card you get a coupon? It’ll be like that.

Those will be handed out soon to everyone on campus. For every time you buy a fair trade item on campus you’ll get the card punched with a specific kind of punch or something,” said Rosario.

Fair trade items are available in Cafe 1853, the De La Salle store, the Kelly Commons Marketplace and the bookstore.

“We are trying to promote that we are a fair trade campus and it’s important that people know this,” said Rosario.

Social Life Committee Moving onto the social life committee (SLC), Bishop spoke on behalf of the vice president of social life, Adam Genners. She brought up the new event Clash of the Classes, which was introduced at the last assembly meeting.

“We’ll be having a live sign up so that students can form teams. The biggest way for that to succeed is for students to actually sign up and we’re planning on sending that out on March 1 [...] Attendance is the biggest factor for that event,” said Bishop.

There was also the suggestion of the name “Jasper Olympics.” The two names were put to a vote at the assembly and the voting body of the assembly decided on the name Jasper Olympics by a vote of 14-8.

Then the discussion moved to Springfest. John Bennett, director of student development, was in attendance at the meeting and spoke about volunteers for the event.

“I wouldn’t say we have a maximum, but I would say that if students do volunteer then they actually need to be prepared to be up early that day,” said Bennett.

If any students are interested, they should email Genners at agenners01@manhattan.edu or the SLC at slc@manhattan. edu.

Finals Week Stress-Relief Planning

Vice president of residential affairs, Patrick Estanbouli, spoke about student government’s plans for finals week events.

“We’re starting to plan finals week stress-relief now.

The idea we’re going for is a coupon book. It’s something interactive and changes things up a bit. [We need] good ideas of any places around campus that could be added to the coupon book,” said Estanbouli.

These coupons would be redeemable at both on and off campus locations, preferably at locations that accept Jasper Dollars. The coupon book is still in the early stages of planning.

Bishop also chimed in about the finals week events.

“Any clubs that want to partner up and do an event during finals week, please let [Student Government] know. We’d love to help out and put it on our calendar and advertise it for you,” said Bishop.

She mentioned a possible partnership event involving drones with the student club IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers).

She encouraged other clubs to feel free to think of fun stressrelieving activities that all students could enjoy.

EAC and Senate Meeting Review Vice president of academic affairs, Kaitlyn von Runnen, spoke about two meetings held on campus recently.

“The EAC [Education Affairs Committee] meeting was about two weeks ago. Some of the things that were covered were the midterm grade policy, academic early warnings-- there’s more of a push for students to be notified earlier when they’re in danger of failing a class. There was also the transfer credit policy. That’s currently being drafted by the assistant deans and that addresses the amount of credits you can transfer in and what they’ll count for and so on,” said von Runnen.

Bishop commented that students should be able to give input and requested to see the transfer credit policy before it was put in place, which von Runnen made a note of to pass

along to the assistant deans.

Then, von Runnen spoke about the Columbus Day debate, as reported in The Quadrangle last semester.

“The campus life committee was able to meet and they decided the best terminology will be ‘fall break’ instead of ‘Columbus Day’ on the academic calendar. The second Monday of October is going to be recognized as fall break for students, faculty and administration. That has now been passed along to [College President Brennan O’Donnell] and he will be presenting it to the Board of Trustees,” said von Runnen.

Matthew Billings Presentation Listed under miscellaneous topics on the assembly agenda was graduate assistant for residence life, Matthew Billings.

“This summer I’m doing a run from California to New York,” said Billings. The run is for cancer research.

He continued.

“I served as a Lasallian volunteer before arriving at Manhattan College and one of the students I taught had to drop out high school [due to a cancer diagnosis] and won’t be able to attend college because of his treatments and money issues. So I’ll be sponsoring him for this run. I’ll be starting in California in June and then in August I’ll be back in Prospect Park. The whole idea is to fundraise enough money to provide scholarships for the person that we’re sponsoring. But since I’m a graduate student and not in a club or anything, it’s harder for me to fundraise and so I’m asking if any club or organization would partner with me,” said Billings.

Bishop suggested doing a raffle for students to meet Springfest arrist Jesse McCartney. Other students suggested a Go Fund Me page. Billings is also selling t-shirts on the website Bonfire, under the name “Coast to Coast” for the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

Public Safety Concerns The last topic discussed was concerns with Public Safety standards. Bishop explained an incident that had occured

where a Manhattan College landline phone was used to call 911 and it was dispatched to Public Safety instead. This process is legal but was not publically known by the student population.

Students also added that after the recent shooting in Parkland, Fla., that they do not know what MC has in place for an active shooter. Other students suggested having an officer come to the next assembly meeting to speak to the students and answer questions.

The day after the assembly meeting, an email was sent out to the student body announcing an NYPD active shooter presentation, similar to the one held last semester, taking place on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 12 p.m. in Kelly 5B. “Everything is obviously circumstantial so just because one thing happened in one case and another thing happened in another case, it’s all circumstantial. If we plan on having a Public Safety representative present at an assembly meeting, we should definitely have broader, general questions in order to get the answers we need as students,” said Bishop, addressing the assembly.

When Bishop asked for any new business, sophomore Brittany O’Malley, spoke up about the blue light system. O’Malley was there representing her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau. “There’s been a lot of concern with our sisters regarding safety [around the Overlook Manor stairs]. They’ll be looking for blue lights and they aren’t accessible in that area,” said O’Malley.

Bishop, in total agreement, said she would follow up with that information, especially with the growing south campus near that area. Many assembly members gave their two cents on the blue light system and what could be done to allow all people on campus to feel safe at any hour of the day.

As the discussion drew to a close, the minutes were accepted and the group dispersed, back out to the quad to enjoy the nice weather.

The next student government assembly meeting is planned for March 7 at noon. in Kelly Commons room 4B.

Third Annual Community Luncheon __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 expanded upon O’Toole’s thoughts.

“For the last four years we’ve been working closely with [the 50th precinct] and the community. We hire a lot of extra security for large events, we’ve had low crime and low incidents,” said Cerezo.

He continued.

“If we get any complaints from the community, we investigate those claims to see if students were in violation of the code of conduct. Whether they live on or off campus, you have to behave accordingly and be civil,” said Cerezo. “We do investigate those matters, and once we get all of the facts, we refer it to the Dean of Students and he determines the sanctions.”

Sanctions aside, Dean Michael Carey notices improvement. “[The luncheon] is working,” he said. “It’s moving things in the right direction in terms of improving relations with the neighbors.”

Please visit mcquad.org for continued coverage on the NRC.

News

4

THE QUADRANGLE

CMSA Event Petitions Against Solitary Confinement Practices in New York Rose Brennan Editor

There was not a cloud in the sky as the JustPeace and Campus Ministry and Social Action organizations took to the quadrangle on Feb. 21 to shed light on a very serious topic: solitary confinement practices in the United States.

In a collaboration with the Urban Justice Center, the hosts of the event were hoping to raise awareness of malpractices within America’s criminal justice system, specifically concerning those within solitary confinement, colloquially known by names such as “the box” and “the hole.”

“We want to wake the young people up as to what’s going on [with the] conditions in solitary confinement in the criminal justice system,” said Jack Davis, one of the hosts of the tabling event.

He continued.

“Not only that, we’re trying to change the mindset of people that think of criminal justice as it should happen. We should worry about that. You have to worry about people because they’re human,” Davis

said. “We’re all human, some people make more tragic mistakes than others.”

Manhattan College students were also present at the event. Carly Brownell, secretary of JustPeace, felt she was ignorant of solitary confinement practices before she met people from the Urban Justice Center who had experienced it.

“Solitary confinement is worse than you think it is.

There’s a lot more to it than you think there is. Even just today, talking to the two people here, I didn’t know that sometimes people don’t even choose to take their rec hours because of circumstances like whether or not you like the guard that’s on duty, or whether or not you think that the guard is going to assault you while you’re out there,” Brownell said.

According to information from the Prison Policy Initiative and information distributed by the event, out of 2.3 million incarcerated Americans, more than 80,000 people, including children, are currently in solitary confinement. Out of these 80,000 individuals, there are 4,000 people in solitary confinement in New York State alone.

“This practice is ineffec-

tive, unsafe, and inhumane,” a pamphlet distributed at the event said. “It causes people detained in terrible conditions to deteriorate psychologically, physically, and also harms their families and communities.”

Davis himself was incarcerated for 30 years, and expressed his personal disdain with solitary confinement practices.

“You got pregnant women that [are] placed in the box, you got men [that are] over 50 and 60 years old, you got kids that [are] mentally incompetent going to the box, and you got kids that [are] 16 and 17 years old going to the box. So what we’re trying to do is change the conditions of the box, not take it away, but change it,” Davis said.

Davis, along with the Urban Justice Center, are trying to make reforms for the practice of solitary confinement.

The State of New York has altered the practice so it is not instituted on inmates under the age of 18. The center is hoping to extend this prohibition to inmates who are pregnant, elderly or mentally ill.

These reforms are currently enumerated in a bill known

as the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act, which the Urban Justice Center are hoping will be signed into law soon.

The event also advertised a rally known as Advocacy Day, which will take place on Mar. 13. The event will be hosted by the Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement, where participants will “meet with legislators, learn [and] rally to get the [HALT] Solitary Confinement Act (A. 3080/S. 4784) passed.”

Though legislative practices tend to be slow, MC students can still educate themselves on the criminal justice system and its moral and theological implications. The college offers a 300-level religious studies course titled “Criminal Justice Ethics,” which is taught by religious studies professor Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D.

According to Skotnicki, the course came to fruition about seven years ago, but his research on criminal justice ethics began long before the course was designed. He began working in the criminal justice system while he was in college, and has not stopped since.

“The idea of doing [the

Criminal Justice Ethics class] at the jail actually brings together three of the most important foci of my life: to serve the incarcerated, to do scholarly work on the nature of criminal justice and its relations to our theological systems and to be a professor,” Skotnicki said.

While Davis believes certain aspects of the practice of solitary confinement should be reformed, Skotnicki believes it should be outlawed altogether.

“We’re social beings. We need to communicate with others. It takes an enormous toll.

It’s really an act of violence against people,” he said.

Senior philosophy and English major Lucas DeBono is one of the students in Skotnicki’s Criminal Justice Ethics class this semester.

DeBono hopes to educate himself about the complexities of the criminal justice system during the remainder of his time in the class.

“I really want to know the criminal justice system inside and out, and not just theorywise,” he said.” I want to know the experience of the guys at Rikers, I think the theory is kind of vapid unless I really understand their experience.”

Lee Hall Experiences Power Outages Megan Dreher Editor

Lee Hall, the colleges’ newest residence hall, has experienced several brief power outages since students returned for the spring semester. These outages, while very brief in nature, have left many students within the building confused as to why they continue to happen.

The reason as to why this building in particular is losing power is unknown.

The college has no control over the distribution of power to each of its buildings, and therefore has no control over any problems that may arise on the distribution end. Consolidated Edison is the power distributor for the campus.

Richard McKeown, director of physical plant at Manhattan College, states that there have been no reports of any recent long term power outages within Lee Hall. The causation of any brief outages may be linked to overloading circuits.

“We do get calls from students who have lost power, due mostly to overloading a circuit. Having too many devices plugged into a power strip is usually the reason,” stated McKeown.

Many students within the building have complained that these outages have affected their electronics while plugged in.

“The power outages have been super inconvenient because each time they happen they cause certain devices that are plugged in in my room to surge, like my XBox. I have to reset them everytime. It also causes trouble with my TV, not turning on properly.” stated James Sloate, a freshman living on the 5th floor of the building.

Sloate recalls the most recent time he recalls the power going out.

“The most recent time I can remember the power going out was Feb. 11. I was hanging out with some friends and then we lost power for about 30 seconds.

It came back on, and luckily that time, nothing surged and all I had to reset was the clock on the microwave.”

In rooms 618 and 619 of Lee Hall, four suitemates experienced an unusual power outage. Dan Derocher, Matthew Stahl, Michael Nyman, and Daniel Sultana, four sophomores in the building reported that power was only lost in one of the two bedrooms of their suite.

“In room 618 the power was out for about 10 minutes,

Lee Hall Residents Michael Nyman (left) and Daniel Sultana (right) experienced an unusual power outage on Feb. 21.

MATTHEW STAHL / COURTESY whereas in 619, the lights flickered but the power stayed on,” said Derocher.

This is the third outage the suite has experienced this semester. In addition to the power going out, it was also reported that the Internet was down for an additional 5-10 minutes after the power returned. All four of these students have surge protectors, so no electronics were damaged. But, all four also have desktop computers, and lose their schoolwork if a power outage occurs before their work can be saved.

While most outages that students have reported have occurred during the day, other students are aware of outages

that occur while sleeping at night due to the sound of the building’s generator kicking in.

“I like to sleep with my window open, and when the power goes out in Lee, I’ll wake up to a loud noise coming from outside. I recently learned that it was the generator that kicks in, and it just gets annoying when we lose power,” stated freshman Allison Powers, who resides on the 5th floor.

The generator that kicks in supports supports the functioning of a few necessities within the building, as it is intended to function only until power is restored.

“Lee Hall has a backup generator which will run if the

building loses power, however service is limited to life safety equipment such as fire alarm systems, fire pumps, stair and hallway lighting. The generator also carries the load to operate one elevator,” stated McKeown.

McKeown added that the building relied on this backup generator for eleven days until Consolidated Edison was able to restore power when Superstorm Sandy hit New York City.

It is recommended that students limit the amount of plugs used per power strip, as it could contribute to future outages.

Students should also contact physical plant if an outage occurs for an extended period of time.

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Arts & Entertainment

5

Let Me Ask My Mother ROCK THE QUAD Gabriella DePinho Editor

Editor’s Note: ‘Rock the Quad’ is a new A&E column featuring MC’s student performers.

Find a video of the performances on our YouTube channel, mcquad.

On Friday, Feb. 23, Let Me Ask My Mother, the music project of Kevin Donald and Aedan Roney, put on a 45 minute show for a crowd of 19 people on MC’s campus. I walked into the chapel, towards the little corner where music ministry sets up to find the members of the band setting up for a mini show.

The lights in the chapel were dimmed. Donald hung colorful christmas lights around the microphone stand.

A small crowd of friends and strangers alike gathered. After a few tests of the amps and the sound levels, the band was ready to go.

Donald and Roney are both members of the campus’ improv group, Scatterbomb, and the casual, on-the-spot back and forth between the two of them works well not only in comedy, but in music too. They decided the set as they went and asked their audience their opinion on which song they should try out next.

The two guys improved lyrics, guitar solos and drum beats as they went and all but one of the songs they played was original music. Their music, performance style and personalities are laid back and so was the attitude of the crowd.

I sat down with them after their show for a quick interview about the band, their music, future plans and goals.

The Quadrangle: So how did this band come together?

Kevin Donald: These are all songs that I wrote my junior year of high school. I used to play in another band with my friend Greg, who plays in another band called Flycatcher.

We had this working set of 12 songs and we each contributed 6 of them and then we stopped playing together so I just had these 6 songs with nothing to do. It was driving me crazy that I wasn’t playing in a band. I met Aedan [Roney] in September and we just started playing and then I just booked a show because I was going crazy not playing these songs I had in the chamber for about five years.

Aedan Roney: Yeah, I came on campus, I auditioned for the improv group [Scatterbomb] which Kevin is a part of and through that we met each other and from there, he found out I played drums, I found out he played a plethora of instruments and he asked me to join him. We jammed a few times and then we just started playing together.

KD: We also opened for Jojo [at Quadchella] - that was preAedan. I played with my old bassist Paul Nero who graduated last semester; we played as Dipsy though, not as Let Me Ask My Mother. Almost immediately after that us 3 started playing shows as Let Me Ask My Mother, and by that I mean 2 shows.

TQ: So is the band you two or you two and Paul?

KD: It’s kinda a changing lineup consistently. Now we’ve been playing with Emmanuel Luzincourt, whose also a freshman and is in pep band. He and Aedan switch on accompanying me on drums, bass and keys.

TQ: How did you guys come up with the name ‘Let Me Ask My Mother’ or is that a securely guarded secretly?

KD: It’s not a guarded secret

Let Me Ask My Mother played a small show in the chapel of Manhattan College on Friday, Feb. 23.

GABRIELLA DEPHINO/ THE QUADRANGLE

Kevin Donald and Aeden Roney work together to create the their own music project titled Let Me Ask My Mother.

GABRIELLA DEPHINO/ THE QUADRANGLE but I don’t really have a great answer. My friends always like coming up with band names, just someone says something and then it’s like ‘Oh this would be a good band name.’ Then I came up with a different name which was ‘Congrats, Grad,’ and they all liked it and I said, “Okay, well let me ask my mom what she thinks.” I asked my mom what she thought of that one and she said she didn’t like it, but I really liked the phrase “let me ask my mother” so I changed it to that. I mean Dipsy was too Teletubbies.

AR: Too what?

KD: Teletubbies. I mean that is a Teletubby.

AR: It’s better than Twinkywinky.

KD: [Dipsy] is the coolest Teletubby name but it’s still not that good.

TQ: What would you consider your genre of music?

AR: I guess the easiest way to dichotomize would be alternative.

KD: Alternative is my goto when I don’t want to give a real answer. Some of it’s indie. I used to play a lot of punk when I was in high school but now I’m getting into the shoegazy, pedal stuff, the Mac Demarco-y surf-rock stuff. It’s some blend of that, I don’t really know.

TQ: How do you feel about music life on campus?

KD: I’m a big member of the performing arts here. I’m the president of the jazz band, I’m in the Sergeant Pepper’s class. I do a lot of stuff with the performing arts community proper, with Andy Bauer. As far as DIY things, kids putting on shows or things like that, I feel like there’s not so much going on, especially when I compare the school to something like New Paltz or Rutgers where there’s 6 or 7 basement shows a weekend, like in a night, and

you can choose from about 20 different bands to go see.

There’s not really a lot of kids, as far as I know, unless I’m just not privy to it, playing music around campus really, as in like night shows.

AR: But on the other hand, as somebody who’s not part of any school affiliated music groups, there are things that students can get into on campus that are music-based, music-related, things like coffee house, which we played earlier this week.

KD: Yeah we played at coffee house.

AR: Coffee house was great because, like Kevin says, if there’s nowhere you feel you can go to play your music and let yourself be heard, coffee house is a great place to see people come together and play music, which we just took advantage of.

KD: Ideally, I feel like just in general in the Bronx there’s not a lot of venues outside of sometimes people put on shows in An Beal [Bocht Cafe] and [Mr.] McGoo’s on Broadway but they’re bars so there’s not a lot of all ages stuff, and I’d like to see more of that. This kinda thing [small campus performances] is a start of that.

TQ: What are your goals?

AR: Five minute mile.

KD: Five minute mile, for both of us.

AR: We want to be the fastest band in the Bronx.

KD: Honestly, I’d really like to just be able to play shows and to maybe record an album.

AR: Yeah, record an album.

We really want to play more shows.

KD: I mean some of these songs, some of them I literally wrote when I was a junior in highschool and I’ve just been sitting on them and I really just want people to hear them be-

cause my close friends and my family have heard them a thousand times. I just feel like that would be cool. I’m not looking to play MSG or anything.

AR: Performing makes us happy and we think or we hope that it makes the audience happy so if we could just keep doing that, that’s all we can do.

KD: I think an alternative goal would be to get more people doing DIY shows and not even just DIY music but like starting a zine or a music column, things like that to get kind of an art scene around here because I think there’s kinda a vacuum in that area and there’s a lot of people that could fill that.

TQ: Do you have your music available online for people to listen to?

KD: No but we will. I think in the next month or so, we’ll be doing some decent demos and that will probably turn into an EP. We have an instagram which is @letmeaskmymother which is probably the best to go if you were looking to find that kinda thing. Yeah, definitely in the next two months we’ll have things available, is the hope.

I’m putting that down on the record so now we have some accountability for that.

Scan this QR code to see the live performance from Friday, Feb, 23 on our YouTube channel, mcquad.

Arts & Entertainment

6

THE QUADRANGLE

“Beyond the Wall” Exhibition Comes to MC: Demystifying Bethlehem Lauren Schuster Asst. Editor

This week in Kelly Commons 5A, an exhibit titled “Bethlehem Beyond the Wall,” was displayed, which showcased the everyday lives of people in Bethlehem.

The exhibit consisted of art, photography, video, maps, and artifacts. This exhibit was curated by Bshara Nassar, who is a graduate of Bethlehem University, a sister university of Manhattan College.

“I’m really hoping to show students that Bethlehem is not a place that’s mythical. [...] It’s not only a place that exists in the Bible or in stories, but it is actually a real place where real

people live, where there are people with culture. They are going about their everyday life, they are surviving the checkpoints, [and] they’re surviving the walls,” Nassar said.

A large part of Nassar’s motivation for curating the exhibit was his desire to challenge the often narrow lense through which media outlets show the city of Bethlehem and its people.

“We want to show a different image from what people see in the news. They always see the conflict, but we want to show the people. We want to show the people who live there and their resilience, basically,” Nassar said.

Marisa Lerer, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the visual

The “Beyond the Wall” exhibit consisted of art, photography, video, maps, and artifacts.

ANJA POLLOZI / THE QUADRANGLE

Marisa Lerer, Ph.D., was one of many faculty members at Manhattan College who helped to bring the exhibit to campus.

ANJA POLLOZI / THE QUADRANGLE

and performing arts department, was one of many faculty members at Manhattan College who helped to bring the exhibit to campus.

For Lerer, this exhibit also has a personal tie.

“I had actually had the opportunity to travel to Bethlehem with other faculty members last year, so I got to experience the city and I got to experience the culture, and that experience is really important to me because I feel like so much of what we hear about Bethlehem is basically either, kind of, sensationalized media, or the media is very focused on one story,” Lerer said.

As both an art historian and a professor, Lerer felt that this exhibit would provide an important opportunity for people to see Bethlehem from a different point of view.

“I felt like this exhibition essentially would help students, our campus community and our wider community to actually experience the more cultural aspects of what it’s like to live in Bethlehem,” Lerer said.

Brother Jack Curran was another driving force behind bringing the exhibit to campus. Curran and Nassar first met at Bethlehem University several years ago, where Nassar was enrolled as a student and Curran was teaching. The two stayed in touch and eventually decided to team up and work on bringing “Bethlehem Beyond the Wall” to Manhattan College.

“When I went to Bethlehem, I learned a lot by being there, and I thought I was pretty informed [beforehand], and I imagine some of our students

The exhibit was curated by Bshara Nassar, who is a graduate of Bethlehem University.

ANJA POLLOZI / THE QUADRANGLE think they’re pretty informed, but maybe this exhibit will help them to become more informed from the perspective of people who live in Bethlehem,” Curran said.

After Curran talked with Nassar and got Lerer involved in the process, several months of coordination between various departments and faculty members took place in order to make the event a reality.

“It’s a lot of work, [...] there’s a lot of behind the scenes work, [...] and it takes a lot of people to make it happen,” Curran said.

After the “Bethlehem Beyond the Wall” exhibit leaves Manhattan College, the physical location of the Museum of the Palestinian People, also founded by Nassar, is set to open in downtown Washington, D.C., which will showcase the lives and history of the Palestinian people.

A large part of Nassar’s motivation for curating the exhibit was his desire to challenge the often narrow lense through which media outlets show the city of Bethlehem and its people.

ANJA POLLOZI / THE QUADRANGLE

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Arts & Entertainment

7

Speaking Out Over Silence: V-Day Addresses Violence Against Women Emily Center Contributor

“My silence speaks.”

The end of the night’s last poem hung in the air as applause slowly began to take over Hayden 100. Actors in this year’s V-Day production, My Silence Speaks, left the production in a single file line of black clothing and without any closing remarks.

The absence of finality left an uneasy audience deliberating and celebrating the powerful words of the night. Even with actors dressed in black, love and hope filled the room while the Manhattan College Players stated that they would not be silent in the face of violence against women.

Valentine’s Day “is about spreading love,” said performer Katie Doyle. “It is about spreading love to women, spreading love to survivors, spreading love to people in the LGBTQ community, and more.”

Manhattan College students spread this love on Friday, Feb. 23, as they performed pieces written by members of the Manhattan College community, as well as a selection of monologues, poems, and speeches from outside sources.

“You kind of have this moment where it is bigger than just the cast. You have the split second when you think, ‘I need to do this piece justice’,” said Doyle of the moments before her performance. “It hits you that people are really listening and then you just do it.”

Doyle performed “In Memory of Immette”, a dark poem about one woman’s reaction to the rape and murder of an NYU student. While not everyone stops showering in fear of being attacked at any moment, as author Periel Aschenbrand did, the topic was still something that hits close to home for many Manhattan College students.

Doyle and other women at Manhattan College understand

Carolyn Flannery performed in this year’s V-Day production, which took place on Friday, Feb. 23, in Hayden 100.

ROSE BRENNAN / THE QUADRANGLE the terrors described at the end of the poem all too well; the terrors of walking home alone at night and seeing a man on the other side of the street only to be scared for their lives.

“This year we want people to think about how we define violence, and we would like to speak to every facet of violence that we can” said co-director Siobhán Noonan. She stood

__________________________

The production went on to address issues of rape, sexuality, domestic abuse, self-image, self-defense, stereotypes, emotional abuse, abortion and more. __________________________

Groups around the world put on productions of different feminist works every February that raise money and awareness to support the fight against violence toward women and girls. Manhattan College has long participated in the global movement, with this year’s V-Day donations going to the Concourse House home for women and children.

up before the event to stress that while everyone attending knows rape is not okay, many types of violence against women exist beyond it. These include emotional abuse, gaslighting, political violence, and war.

The production went on to address issues of rape, sexuality, domestic abuse, self-image, self-defense, stereotypes,

emotional abuse, abortion and more. Bridget McEvoy’s reading of “I Think She Was A She” directly addressed abortion, an issue never discussed in the show previously, according to Noonan.

Students on a Catholic campus reap many benefits of religious influence, such as Manhattan College’s supportive Lasallian community, and the many resources such as the Office of Student Life, Title IX, Health Services, and Women and Gender Studies program.

In terms of sex education, however, Noonan feels that “sometimes that open dialogue can be stifled.”

Students recently came to Professor Jordan Pascoe, concerned that “a specifically Lasallian institution ought to be thinking about gender-based violence.” This inspired her to become involved in women’s issues on campus, and is one reason she was excited about a VDay event she believes “creates

Olivia Haveron (left) and Erin Murphy (right) performed in Friday’s show, for which the proceeds went to the Concourse House home for women and children.

ROSE BRENNAN / THE QUADRANGLE

awareness around the cultures of silence that allow gender and sexual violence to remain normalized parts of our culture.”

“It’s important to talk about uncomfortable things because that’s how change is brought about,” insisted Noonan’s fellow co-director, Isabel Quiñones. People do not often look into other’s stories, and therefore never know what other people are going through. Quiñones suggested that “V-Day is a great space to talk about things we normally don’t.”

“Well, my friend raped her, what will I do now?” read Joel Sanson, from an anonymous Manhattan College submission, “Interstate 78.” Sanson acted out an uncomfortable discussion between friends about a personal experience with violence, continuing on to read the friend’s response of, “I will protect others.”

Pieces such as “Interstate 78” were especially powerful because they were written by Manhattan College students and performed by the author’s peers, or even sometimes the author themselves. After auditioning and being assigned a piece, actors practiced every night in the week leading up to the event to ensure they did the powerful poems justice.

“Theatre is a powerful tool that can transform lives. V-Day is the perfect example of that,” said Martin Marchitto, professor of the Visual and Performing Arts and supporter of the event. On the night of Manhattan College’s own studentdirected V-Day, theatre was a powerful tool for solidarity, and a tool to speak out on a topic that is so often surrounded by silence.

Features

8

THE QUADRANGLE

Students React to the Mascot Search VOICES ON THE QUAD Interviews conducted by Gabriella DePinho.

Alex Constantine Junior

What do you think about Manhattan College’s search for a mascot?

I think it’s pretty cool but I just hope they pick the right mascot for the school.

What do you think the right mascot for the school would be?

I think the right mascot for this school would be a student, dressed up like a brother and he has a cross which he could hold up to the student section and everyone just shuts up and he yells “J-A-S-P-E-R-S” and everyone yells “JASPERS” and just goes back to cheering.

So you think that would pump everyone up at a game?

Oh yeah! That’s also what a Jasper is; he was a Brother, so it only makes sense.

What do you not want to see as a mascot?

I don’t want to see a squirrel as a mascot at all. I might transfer my senior year if I see a squirrel as a mascot.

Anna Curran Sophomore How do you feel about the fact that Manhattan College is looking for a mascot?

I feel like it’s kinda out of the blue - a little strange, but cute.

Do you think having a mascot that isn’t Brother Jasper will take away from what it means to be a Jasper?

Maybe yes, maybe no. It’s one of those things that we’ll have to see how it goes.

Doug Huntington Senior What do you think about Manhattan College’s search for a mascot?

I like it. I know we had Brother Jasper before but I think it might be time to move on.

I really like the squirrel idea; squirrels are all around MC and I think it’d be a great mascot.

How do you think the atmosphere of games would change if we have a mascot?

I go to a lot of games, I think it’s a great idea.

If it were a squirrel mascot, we could have a sign that says “Go Nuts” and I think everyone would actually go nuts.

Social Justice Being Served at Manhattan College Abby Crowell

Distribution Manager Slice of Social Justice at Manhattan College is a program of Campus Ministry and Social Action that holds discussions about relevant social issues while providing a slice of pizza for any interested MC students and faculty.

This program began around 2009 and was recently rebranded as Slice of Social Justice (SoSJ).

Lois Harr plays an important role within the Campus Ministry and Social Action programs, she is passionate about what SoSJ has transformed into.

“I was working with JustPeace and Peace Studies and we wanted to observe the international day of peace (Sept.

21) so we showed a film about the creation of the day so we had ‘A Piece of Pizza for Peace’ free pizza and a movie in Cornerstone... My role was to help students think about and discuss social justice issues in an atmosphere less formal and shorter than a class or a lecture,” Harr explained.

In the early stages of the program, its leaders attempted to host events every week with an alternation between CRS ambassadors and Just Peace.

This proved to be challenging, now SoSJ has adopted a more sporadic schedule.

Although the name had been changed, the goal has remained the same. Harr demonstrated that the goal is to, “raise awareness, have an informed discussion and consider possible advocacy steps.”

Jeffrey Lucia, a first year

graduate assistant for Campus Ministry and Social Action, promotes the activities of SoSJ. Lucia described the events of SoSJ as open discussions that include guest speakers on various topics. Guest speakers can range from professors to community partners that usually present for about 25 minutes.

“The goal is to present on topics that are prevalent to the times.We like to keep our ears to the ground in order to present on timely information. For example, when the hurricanes hit Texas and Florida, SoSJ presented on disaster relief,” Lucia stated.

SoSJ holds many events, Harr and Lucia encourage students to check MC announcements in order to not miss out on any of these opportunities.

On Feb. 23, the program hosted a discussion by Dr. Jeff

Cherubini, an assistant professor of the kinesiology department who focused on social justice and healthy equity.

There are also two events coming up on March 20 and April 13.

March 20 will be hosted by two MC students who are involved in the Muslim Student Association and they will be discussing women in Islam. On April 13, students will experience professor Andrew Skotnicki, Ph.D., who will examine the criminal justice reform.

Most events take place in Cornerstone (Miguel 209).

SoSJ offers a refreshing experience that involves an educational experience as well as socially discussing the matters at hand.

Harr reassures that students can participate at any level, “contribute ideas for a

topic, make a flier, prepare a presentation, help the discussion along - and of course have some pizza”.

The doors of SoSJ are always open, students and faculty can stop by for a fresh perspective. This is made clear in their mission statement: “The goal of Slice of Social Justice is to foster a sense of awareness, inspire social responsibility, and to engage students in an exploration of social justice by inviting presenters to motivate the understanding of those issues. We hope students will receive a presentation that will prompt them to think critically and continue the conversation beyond the presentation.”

Features

FEBRUARY 27 2018

9

Students Use Lasallian Values Learned and Volunteer for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps Catherine Goodyear Editor

Post-graduation, college students are left to decide what they plan on doing with their lives. Some students start working right away while others may take a year off or attend graduate school. A few recent alumni decided to dedicate a year of volunteer service to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

The Jesuit Volunteer Corps is an international full-time volunteer program where over 10,000 men and women has served communities worldwide. Chris Hoey, an electrical engineering graduate from the class of 2017, joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps as an immigrant community organizer for Global Cleveland.

“I got involved in Jesuit Volunteers after an extremely long discernment process of wondering what I was going to do after graduation. I dedicated so much of my time in undergrad to campus ministry and social action that a year of post-grad service seemed like a natural fit. JVC was particularly interesting because it allowed service opportunities in departments other than educational/school settings.

My service work is much more institutional than the work I did at Manhattan College. It’s less learning about the issues and more advocating and creating tangible efforts to mitigate the issues,” said Hoey.

Hoey’s job entails taking an administrative and programmatic lead to the organization’s naturalization efforts including attending every naturalization ceremony in Northeast Ohio to welcome new citizens, running training sessions for community navigators to teach others about the naturalization process and the barriers in place

that limit immigrants from obtaining citizenship.

Another alum, Caroline O’Connell, class of 2017 environmental engineering graduate, is currently living in New Orleans and volunteering at Cafe Reconcile as a program assistant.

“Café Reconcile is a nonprofit workforce training program in the restaurant and hospitality industry for youth ages 16-24 who have been disconnected from education and employment. My job is support our young people in any way specifically in regard to gaining employment and providing wrap around services that include housing, banking, child care, clinical referrals, education, involvement in the judicial system, and connections to outside resources. Additionally, I live in a community with 6 other Jesuit volunteers who all work at different non-profits around the city. We have commitments to each other that include spirituality and community nights once a week as well as community dinners and a shared budget,” said O’Connell.

While at Manhattan College, O’Connell was involved in the L.O.V.E. program. She participated on L.O.V.E. Jamaica 2015 and L.O.V.E. New Orleans 2017, was a leader for L.O.V.E. Jamaica 2016 and was a member of the L.O.V.E. board.

“I think all my of my experiences through the L.O.V.E. program and campus ministry opened new paths for me that I never even considered before college. The L.O.V.E. program has taught me the importance of educating ourselves on why nations like Jamaica are so stricken with poverty, why intolerance exist, why the voices of so many are purposely silenced. After returning from Jamaica, for the first time in my life, I felt like I was on the right

Three recent Manhattan College graduates joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in various locations throughout the U.S. JESUIT VOLUNTEERS / COURTESY path toward my purpose. I discovered my passion and realized that I am finally asking the right questions. Over the past few months, as I was reflecting on my experiences, I realized that I had to follow that passion and drive that I found here and that’s what led me to do JVC. It’s hard to speak on my experiences with JVC as I’m currently still in the middle of it, but I do know that this has been one of the most challenging, rewarding, and eye-opening experiences I have ever done,” said O’Connell.

The L.O.V.E. program at Manhattan College is based on the five pillars of Lasallian Values, respect for all people, quality education, inclusive community, concern for the poor and social justice, and faith in the presence of God. JVC’s mission of spirituality, community,

social justice, and simple living encompasses Lasallian values. Kevin Moran, psychology graduate from class of 2016, is a volunteer at the nonprofit organization Journey to New Life, where he has woven these values into every aspect of his life.

“Journey to New Life, is a program that helps people transition from prison back into society. We provide case management as well as housing assistance. JVC has different placements all throughout the country, but I picked this one because the prison system is something that has always interested me. This volunteer work is way different from any other that I have participated in. When you think of volunteering you think of going somewhere for a few hours or days and then you go home. Every day I wake and I’m volun-

teering. My business card says, ‘Jesuit Volunteer,’ I’m known around town as a volunteer, it basically becomes a part of your identity,” said Moran.

All Jesuit volunteers are dedicating a year of service to their organizations before moving on to full time careers.

“As of now, I am not sure what the next few years will look like, but I do know that I will continue to explore the possibilities that new questions will bring and always continue to reflect on my experiences with both JVC and Manhattan College,” said O’Connell.

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Sports

10

THE QUADRANGLE

MAAC Record Falls, Individual Awards Abound at 2018 MET Championships John Jackson Editor

The Manhattan College men’s and women’s track and field teams took a trip down to 216 Fort Washington Avenue on Feb. 17-Feb. 18 to participate in the 2018 MAAC Indoor Championships held in the New Balance Armory Track and Field Center.

The men finished in third place and the women finished in fourth place. While neither team took home a MAAC title, the runners combined for one broken record, three individual performance awards and 13 medals.

The broken record was courtesy of senior Paige Chapman. She ran the 60-meter dash in 7.48 seconds during the preliminaries on day one. That time was good enough for not only a new school record, but also for a new MAAC record.

“It’s something I think that all of us strive to do,” said Chapman regarding the record. “It’s good to walk away with something like that that I know it’s the result of all the hard work.

This is what we build up to do.

We want to set records and then break those records and then break them again.”

Before the race, Chapman wanted to get her muscles warm, work up a sweat and get in enough practice starts to feel smooth. Before the race, she was a little nervous knowing it was her last indoor MAAC Championships.

“The preparation for that

race is always something that a lot of sprinters take very seriously,” said Chapman. “I take my time when I’m getting ready to run a [60-meter dash]. I usually start maybe an hour or so before the race itself.”

All the practice and preparation paid off for Chapman. For Joe Ryan, associate head coach of sprints and hurdles, the performance did not come as a huge surprise due to all that Chapman does to succeed.

“It was great to see her top it off as well,” said Ryan. “I wasn’t surprised quite frankly.”

He predicted what she would run last year and she ended up running close to that.

Likewise this time around he told her she’d smash through a certain barrier and perhaps even break the school record, which she ended up doing.

However, the record-breaking performance came as a surprise to Chapman herself.

“No I was very shocked to be honest,” said Chapman. “I couldn’t see what the time was from as far away I was from the screen. Then finally I hear coach Ryan yelling from across the track. He was overjoyed. I just knew off of his face that it must’ve been something good.”

Chapman’s record is the fifth record set during the indoor season since December.

Lisa Fajardo has been a part of three of those performances.

While she did not set a record this time around, she did take home gold in the 3,000-meter race with a time of 9:47.82.

Brenton Foster likewise has broken a record this season,

and similarly to Fajardo, while he did not do so this time, he took home gold in the high jump.

“It’s the best he’s looked in a high jump since he’s hit the school record in December,” said head track and field coach Dan Mecca. “We went back to the same approach he had done in December to really work on being explosive and getting off the ground. He looked great.

He looked fantastic.”

Foster recorded a 2.18-meter high jump which was 0.11 meters better than the next jumper and only 0.03 meters away from matching the MAAC record.

The second-place finisher was Foster’s teammate Fredrik Lofgren. Coach Mecca felt Lofgren’s presence helped Foster’s performance.

“I think it really helps him having Fredrik jumping right there with him,” said Mecca.

“And Frederick also getting second place in the high jump helped push Brenton to do a little bit better.”

Foster put his jump into the context of the season so far and also felt Lofgren’s participation in the event was a plus.

“It’s the second-best competition I’ve had this year,” said Foster. “It felt really good. I had my teammate Fredrik along with me. It was his best competition of the year so we really pushed each other which was good.”

Foster also participated in the triple jump and long jump.

For all his successes, he was awarded Most Outstanding

Field Performer of the meet.

The honor was meaningful to Foster, but the fact that he was able to help his team made it even more special.

“It definitely means a lot,” said Foster. “For championships it’s a big team effort. For best field performer it means I’ve scored the most points or done something outstanding which is great for the team.”

The other two who took home individual awards were rookies Lasma Padedze and Eduard Winner, who won Field Rookie of the Meet honors.

Foster won the same award for the 2017 Outdoor MAAC Championships held on May 6, 2017. He gave both rookies kudos knowing how challenging it is to perform well as a freshman.

“It’s always hard for a freshman (especially looking at my freshman year) to come out and to perform so well, especially at a championship meet.

It was really good,” said Foster.

Lasma, who specializes in the shot put, topped her personal best in the event by a distance of around three feet. She won bronze with a throw of 13.5 feet.

Winner, who specializes in the pole vault, won the event with a final of 4.65 meters. The results he has had so far in his Manhattan career has already impressed coach Ryan.

“I think it’s very exciting to have him in the program right now,” said Ryan. “He’s got enormous potential. I think ultimately I can see him possibly taking down the Manhattan

College pole vault record.”

Not only did Winner do the pole vault, but he also participated in the 60-meter hurdles with very little experience in the event.

“It was very nice to see him do well in the hurdles as well,” said Ryan. “Because he went into that race pretty much unranked and ended up finishing in third place. Although I wasn’t surprised by that either because I felt there is a lot of potential there.”

While Manhattan definitely left their mark on the 2018 Indoor MAAC Championships, another year has passed with Monmouth at the top instead of them. With the men’s team winning 18 of the past 25 MAAC Indoor Championships and the women winning 14 of the last 25, coach Mecca and coach Ryan have kept their eyes on the prize.

“I think in the future we’re just gonna have to get after them, put our heads down and keep at it,” said Ryan. “But we’ve been doing that here for a very very long time and we do regard ourselves as a team that basically likes to chase championships.”

Swimming and Diving Teams Break Records Galore at MAAC Championships C. Garrett Keidel Asst. Editor

Over the long weekend of Feb. 14 through Feb. 17, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed at the MAAC championships.

During this competition, 22 school records were broken in 13 events between the men’s and women’s teams, which is the most they have ever done at a single meet in school history.

At the end of the four days of competition, the men’s team finished in tenth place with 150 points and the women finished in ninth with 151 points.

Highlights of the competition included senior Ally Hutzler’s record performance.

Between individual events and team events, she was involved in the breaking of all seven

records on the women’s side.

In her final season competing in the pool, she leaves as one of Manhattan College’s most successful swimmers with 12 school records to her name.

She set the new school records in the 100 breaststroke, 100 Fly and the 200 IM. Hutzler was also involved in the records for the 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay and 400 Medley Relay along with teammates Audrey Corcoran, Carolyn Crocker, Kali Nembach, Megan Pagano, Klaudia Nagrabska and Morgan Fountain.

When asked about her reaction to breaking multiple records during competition, Nemback had this to say.

“I was excited,” said Nembach. “My main focus at the meet though wasn’t to break the records, it was to make it

back to swim at night to score points for the team. So breaking the records in the process was exciting, but it wasn’t the main goal of MAACs.” For Crocker, even the opportunity to try and break the record was special.

“It was really exciting,” said Crocker. “It was an honor to be considered to be in the relay that breaks the record. Just to see everyone’s faces afterwards, they already know that you did it, but then you figure it out as well. It is just a great feeling.”

Switching over to the men’s swimming and diving team, they were able to break six records as well. The most coming from freshman Andre van Huyssteen and junior Evan Battisti who both set two individual records along with racing in the 800 Free Relay. Huyssteen’s in-

dividual records came in the 200 Free and the 200 IM. Battisti’s individual records came in the 500 Free and the 1650 Free. The other athletes that raced with van Huyssteen and Battisti in the 800 Free relay were sophomore Tyler Dalton and senior Brandon Shields.

Dalton also set an individual record in the 400 IM. For van Huyssteen, the mindset of the entire season has helped to push him to get him where he is today.

“I try to swim every race to the best of my ability and learn from every race,” said van Huyssteen. “Afterwards I like to watch my races and see what I did wrong because every single thing you do wrong is putting on time. So even after my races at MAACs I could say ‘oh that turn, that start,’ that is all time that could come off.

My main focus for the entire season was to swim the best that I can and to learn from the mistakes I made.”

For Dalton, the energy involved in the moments of breaking records was memorable.

“It was definitely exciting,” said Dalton. “You get to see all of the year’s hard work go towards something...One of the records was the relay and that is always high spirit because you’re with a team and everyone is behind the blocks amping each other up. And you just know to go fast for everyone else.”

The Jaspers will now be out of the pool for a quick two week break before training begins for the next season.

Editor’s Note: Alexandra Hutzler is a senior writer for The Quadrangle.

Sports

FEBRUARY 27 , 2018

11

Senior Maddie Arndt’s Student-Athlete Experience Shapes Career RikkiLynn Shields Editor

Senior Maddie Arndt, a marketing major and digital media minor from Merrimac, Mass., chose Manhattan College almost four years ago for the change in scenery from the suburban town she calls home.

Arndt was recruited to come to Manhattan as a pole vaulter, and before her first visit to Manhattan, Arndt hadn’t visited New York City.

“Once I got off at Grand Central and saw Madison Avenue I was like, alright I have to come here,” said Arndt. “And also because at the time I wanted to be a fashion marketing major. Little did I know things would change.”

Along with making friends through being a member of the track and field team, Arndt also began joining a variety of marketing and management clubs both her freshman and sophomore years as a way to get more involved in the school and explore her interests.

“I think freshman year I wanted to get involved more because in high school I was really involved,” said Arndt. “I went to a lot of great speakers my freshman and sophomore year. Then I found a leadership role within being a student-athlete in the student-athlete advisory committee so that’s kind

of what my interest was in, and from there it just kind of took off the sophomore year.”

During Arndt’s sophomore year, she joined Institutionalist Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). After she became a member, the current SAAC president was looking for sophomores to serve as the new MAAC SAAC chair. While in the beginning, she had no idea what holding the position meant, Arndt took the chance and applied for the position regardless.

Spring of Arndt’s sophomore year at Manhattan, she received a call informing her that she was chosen for the position.

“I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it was probably a blessing in disguise,” said Arndt. “What I do is I represented the six thousand-plus athletes in the MAAC. I speak upon their voice and make sure it’s heard on a national level at the NCAA. I get to meet with the other 32 Division I studentathlete representatives for their conference three times a year.

We talk about a lot of different issues that are going on currently with student athletes and how we can help fix those problems.”

Arndt has worked for the past two years with the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory committee and believes that this ex-

perience not only changed her mind on which career path to take, but also changed her as a person, and her life overall for the better.

“I would consider this experience, if not career-changing, life-changing because I’ve gotten to see things that athletes have never been able to see before,” said Arndt. “I’ve been introduced to people that are lifetime connections now, and I’ve been able to make a difference in my little way. It’s been a journey, and I went from wanting to be a fashion marketing major, whatever that is, and now I’m going into sports administration. So this experience definitely changed my career.”

Arndt’s fellow teammate and friend, senior Paige Chapman met Arndt the summer before they both began their freshman year here at Manhattan.

“I met Maddie the summer before our freshman year via Twitter (of all places) when she had found me on our track and field roster and asked me to be her roommate,” said Chapman.

“We were roommates for two years after that, and have been close friends ever since. I’m so thankful for her being so assertive. She took the first step in developing our friendship and continues to take the first steps with her role in SAAC and be-

yond.”

Not only does Chapman value Arndt as a friend, but she always values Arndt’s go-getter mentality and kind-hearted nature which is exactly what has allowed Arndt to succeed on and off the track thus far.

“I’ve had the pleasure of watching Maddie grow after joining SAAC,” said Chapman.

“I could see that there was something about the group that she loved and I think that her attention to detail and genuine care for others sparked something in her to go further. Whether it be the classroom, the pole vault runway, or an NCAA meeting, Maddie is never afraid to take the first step. She gets things done. And that’s something I’ve always admired about her.”

After graduating this spring, Arndt has plans to move to Indianapolis in June, to accept a one year post-graduate internship with the NCAA as the new Division II governance intern.

“I will be working not only with their everyday governing body but also with their student-athletes on a national level,” said Arndt. “So it’s really cool to be a Division I studentathlete, and now I’m going to be working as a full-time employee with the Division II. I’m really excited.”

As a student-athlete at

Maddie Arndt plans to move to Indianapolis in June to accept a one year post-graduate internship with the NCAA. GOJASPERS / COURTESY Manhattan College, Arndt considers her journey a great roller coaster ride. As for something she will be carrying with her for the rest of her life, Arndt believes it is encouraging people to say yes, just like she did.

“Say yes to things that you never thought you would be able to do more or accomplish or have any confidence in,” said Arndt. “You find out a lot about yourself when you’re uncomfortable and not in your comfort zone. I think that’s where I grew the most these past couple of years here, saying yes to things that I would’ve never said yes to.”

Senior Ross Richardson Makes MMA Debut Gabriel Gamarra Staff Writer

“Out of the red corner, at 5’9”. Weighing in at 155 and one half pounds. He too tonight makes his professional debut.

Fighting out of the Bronx, New York; Introducing Ross ‘The Boss’ Richardson!” These words from ring announcer Michael C. Williams solidifies four years of hard-work and training for one Manhattan College student.

Bellator 194 was one of the biggest MMA cards held at the Mohegan Sun located in Uncasville, Ct., this year. While most people were focused on the main card which boasted MMA legends Roy Nelson and Matt Mitrione, Jasper Nation was focused on one man who made a decision freshman year to write a new chapter in his life. As the bell echoed through the dark arena, all the lights shined on the cage. Ross’ training at East Coast United BJJ was about to the test on one of the biggest stages in professional MMA. As a senior who set his focus on pursuing a career with a Chemical Engineering degree,

Richardson made a promise to himself early on that he has kept to this day. That promise was to finish his time here regardless of any outside factors.

“I have one more semester left then I am done,” said Richardson. “I think I am going to go back and do my MBA. I’m not sure if I want to go into the industry now, I kind of want to test the waters with the fight game and see where I want to go from there. I definitely want to finish school then when I have my degree, I am going to see which direction I want to go.”

The offer to fight came as a blessing and a bit of a surprise.

“I was a replacement for another fighter,” said Richardson.

“I was sitting in RLC doing a project and my coach calls me and asks, ‘How would you like to fight in Bellator on this date?’

I was just like, 100 percent put me in!’ My heart was racing and I couldn’t do more work. I just left and went to my apartment, my heart was just pounding.”

Ross’ opponent Ron Leon was someone that he knew prior to the fight. He fought a few of the other people in his camp

so Richardson knew what he was up against. As they moved towards each other, Ron shot for a double leg takedown in one of the most unique ways ever seen in MMA. Leon got on all fours and galloped towards Ross like a dog but in this showboat way of attempting a takedown, he was quickly parried and was taken down.

“Before my fights I find a way to stay calm,” said Richardson. “Most people try to get hyped up and intense, I take a different approach. The last two-to-three fights, I’ve found a way to stay calm and I definitely get the chills. I get butterflies and get nervous but it’s a good thing because it’s a fight.

When they put my song on and I walked out, I just stayed calm as I walked into the cage.”

Most of the fight stayed on the ground where Ross dominated from the full mount and side control with elbows and strikes. Referee Dan Miragliotta, who is revered in the world of MMA as one of the best, called an end to the fight at two minutes and twenty seconds of the second round marking the first professional win in Ross’ career and the realization

Ross Richardson, Manhattan College senior, plans to finish a Chemical Engineering degree this semester.

ROSS RICHARDSON / COURTESY that all the work he put in was worth it.

“The support from all my teachers and the other people in the school has been such a blessing,” said Richardson.

“Whenever they come to my fights and show support, I appreciate it so much. They make it all so much easier for me.”

The road is still a long and fruitful one for Jasper Nation’s Ross “The Boss” Richardson.

His stamp on Manhattan College and Bellator will be one to keep an eye on as he prepares for his next fight. No set date yet, but he hopes for the Madison Square Garden Bellator Card in October.

Sports

12

THE QUADRANGLE

What’s a Jasper?

Student Athletes Discuss Their Unique Mascot

The Manhattan College Jasper, unlike most college mascots, is based off of a historical figure.

GOJASPERS/COURTESY

Jack Melanson Editor

Stags, Peacocks, Hawks, Saints and Bobcats, to name a few, line the MAAC conference as mascots, while Manhattan College has clung to something much more unique.

This mascot is a Jasper.

What the term Jasper represents is often under question by students who attend Manhattan College, but especially by those who do not.

Junior athletes Emma Saul (soccer) and Richie Barrella (baseball) commented on the topic, as did Morgan Graziano, a former basketball player and current student at MC. “[A Jasper is] definitely more of a minority compared to other schools, not often do schools have mascots based off of historical figures,” said Saul.

A Jasper is empowering and determined, according to Barrella.

“Not many people know what a Jasper is, which makes being a Jasper empowering and unique,” said Barrella. “It’s not like being a Stag, Bobcat or a Fox where you and other teams have similar characteristics and logos.

“With the uniforms also stating ‘Manhattan’, we play with heart and determination to represent not only the greatest city, but the greatest school, for people to remember who the Jaspers are.”

GoJaspers, the official website for athletics at Manhattan College, provides the following information describing exactly what a Jasper stands for.

“The unique nickname of Manhattan College’s athletic teams, the Jaspers, comes from one of the College’s most mem-

orable figures, Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C., who served at the College in the late 19th century,” read GoJaspers.

The website continues to share a few interesting facts about Brother Jasper himself, and what allowed him to earn such high recognition.

“During years at Manhattan, [Brother Jasper] founded the school’s first band, orchestra, glee club, various literary clubs, and became the school’s first athletic director,” read GoJaspers.

Not only was Brother Jasper the first athletic director at the College, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of all baseball fans, according to GoJaspers.

“One of the greatest achievements of Brother Jasper was that he brought the then little-known sport of baseball to Manhattan College and became the team’s first coach…

During one particularly warm and humid day…Brother Jasper noticed the Manhattan students were becoming restless and edgy as Manhattan came to bat in the seventh inning of a close game,” read GoJaspers.

The story continued.

“To relieve the tension, Brother Jasper called time-out and told the students to stand up and stretch for a few minutes until the game resumed… The Manhattan College practice of the seventh inning stretch spread into the major leagues, where it has now become a time-honored custom practiced by millions of fans.”

Barella and Graziano have their own versions of the same story.

“The story of Brother Jasper will forever be imbedded in my head,” said Barrella.

“Brother Jasper was the first

athletic director and baseball coach here at Manhattan College, while also being responsible for keeping the fans excited in each game. He realized that during the seventh inning of each game the fans would become restless.”

Barrella continued, as his genuine interest in baseball and the school’s mascot poured.

“To lighten the mood and regain the interests, Brother Jasper decided to stop the game and go to the student section and let them stand up and stretch for a little bit to get the blood flowing again,” Barrella said. “Ultimately creating the seventh inning stretch, which is now a tradition throughout every Major League Baseball stadium. Because of Brother Jasper’s grit as a coach, and commitment to the students, Manhattan adopted the Jaspers as the school’s mascot.”

Graziano added that when people ask her ‘what’s a Jasper?’, they are usually rather intrigued.

“I’ve been asked [‘what’s a Jasper?’] a ton of times,” Graziano said. “I usually answer by telling them about Brother Jasper and how he was the first athletic director here at Manhattan, but I also tell people that he came up with baseball’s seventh inning stretch and they usually find that pretty interesting.”

When it comes time to explain the meaning being the mascot to outsiders or opposing teams, Jaspers have a field day.

“I’ll even get asked what a Jasper is mid-game, and at that point I just say ‘he was an old Irish Brother who founded Manhattan sports,’” said Barrella. “When I’m not mid-game

I’ll take the time and explain the seventh inning stretch story, but overall, I get plenty of people asking me what a Jasper is.”

Saul chimed in as well.

“A lot of the time it is used to taunt athletes on the field or as a joke, ‘please tell us what a Jasper is?’ or ‘what even is a Jasper?,” said Saul. “To be honest it is a great topic of conversation or small talk with people or a question in job interviews. If people know the school, you’re guaranteed to get the question ‘so tell me, what is a Jasper?’”

The question, ‘what’s a Jasper?’ is now officially answered, but athletes on campus have their own stories and thoughts on what it means to be a Jasper on the field, on the court, in the classroom or wherever else.

“Being a Jasper has great correlation with what our school truly represents,” said Saul. “As student-athletes we are constantly the main representatives of our school, we are responsible for illustrating our school’s mission and values.

As Jaspers we definitely are an inclusive community…We celebrate diversity and welcome all members to our community.”

Barrella’s thoughts on what it means to be Jasper differed, while positivity behind the name remained consistent. “[A Jasper represents] grit,” said Barrella. “The Jaspers are the grittiest athletes in the Northeast. You can expect every Jasper to grind and muscle through any hardship put in their way, while always maintaining a positive and encouraging mentality.”

Graziano may have stepped away from the court, but her opinions of what it means to be a Jasper are still sky high.

“As a former student-athlete here at Manhattan, being a Jasper represents being part of something bigger than yourself,” said Graziano. “We go to a college that’s a close knit community full of hard-working students whether they are athletes or not. There are many kids at this school who are doing some pretty cool things in and out of the classroom or on and off the court or field. It goes to show that being a Jasper stands for being an overall hardworking individual.”

The College’s official mascot, a Jasper, is one of kind, despite having no physical presence. Student athletes see this truth as a non-issue.

“From my own experience, when going to the MAAC tournament, our pep band, cheerleaders and dancers make up for not having a mascot,” said Graziano. “They make signs and bring so much energy. One of my friends from home is a cheerleader at Fairfield and even texted me once after hearing our band…[she told] me how awesome they sound.”

If a Jasper mascot were to physically walk around at games, Barrella has thoughts on what it might look like.

“If I were to choose what the Manhattan Jaspers mascot would look like, I would go with Brother Jasper, but as a superhero,” Barrella said. “He would be all decked out in green and white, a cape, a green mask covering part of his face and a huge cane-like flag that says ‘Go Jaspers’ on it. I think that a superhero Brother Jasper will get the fans excited with his electric personality while bringing the community together by having him at campus wide events.”