Quadrangle
StudentAthleteBlessing
Theannualblessingofstudentathletestookplaceon WednesdayintheChapelofDeLaSalleandHisBrothers.
ManhattanUniversityFaculty RecognizedbyKakosExcellence Awards
Leyla J. Mercado A&E Editor
The Kakos School of Arts and Sciences held their annual award ceremony on Jan. 15, where select faculty were recognized for their contributions to Manhattan University. Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., was announced as the recipient of the Excellence in Service Award, Jennifer Edwards, Ph.D., was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award and Pamela Chasek, Ph.D., was awarded the Excellence in Scholarship Award.
The awards are fostered to reflect the work of Manhattan University’s faculty during the 2023-2024 academic year, with a stronger focus on the scholarly contributions within one’s discipline.
Dean of the Kakos
School of Arts and Sciences
Marcy Peteroy-Kelly, Ph.D., elaborated on what exactly the election process for these awards looks like, after establishing them three years ago.
“I solicit nominations from the department chairs, and they send them to me and my associate dean, Michele Saracino,” Kelly said. “We go through the nominations, read up on the different faculty members and select the one that had the most esteemed level of scholarly production during the year.”
Kelly went on to discuss the importance of the award to the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences.
“I think it’s important to acknowledge faculty excellence. In the end, any level of excellence from a faculty member trickles down and impacts the students,” Kelly said. “They can bring
that information, or those experiences back to the classroom.”
Edwards, who was recognized for her creativity when it comes to teaching, has been known to foster a sense of engagement and community when it comes to students’ learning.
Edwards told The Quadrangle what stood out to her after receiving this award.
“It’s the acknowledgement of peers from the dean’s office,” Edwards said. “It’s really exciting that people are recognizing the work from the classroom, although they’re not in it everyday with me. [They] are seeing the thought, dedication and daily work. There are so many great teachers and there are so many inspiring people. For my colleagues to look at what I do and say that it’s worthy
JohnBennett, AssociateVP forStudentLife, DepartsManhattan University
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
John Bennett, the associate vice president of student life at Manhattan University, left his position after 15 years on Jan. 8. Bennett announced his departure to the MU community via the Student Engagement Instagram page.
In the Instagram post, Bennett wrote, “Thank you for some amazing years and memories back at Manhattan. It’s been an honor to work with all our students, from alumni to current Jaspers. Good luck this spring semester you’ll do great.”
Bennett assisted in the planning of many campus events, including Open House, Spring Fest, Manhattan Madness and many more. Through planning these events, Bennett worked closely with student organizations, particularly student government.
Student body president and senior Jazi Riley was one of the many individuals who worked closely with Bennett during his time at MU.
“John’s number one quality that was recognizable from miles away is how he centered students,” Riley said. “He had a way of explaining stuff and not underscoring an issue at all, not saying ‘this isn’t a problem’, but transforming a problem into ‘there’s no worry about it.’
All the decisions he’s making, and the ones he’s supporting are always student centered.”
The announcement of Bennett’s departure came as a surprise even to those who had close working relationships with him.
“It was a surprise to me, especially because we weren’t back at school,” Riley said. “I found out a day before his last day, so it was very shocking.”
While there is currently no information on when a search party may commence for a replacement, students who have previously worked with Bennett hope that some specific qualities are sought out in a new candidate.
Audrey Daniels, vice president of academic affairs on student government, hopes to find a candidate with as much care for the campus community as Bennett had.
“Definitely someone who cares as much as John did,” Daniels said. “He cared so much about this campus and the experience that students were having. So definitely someone who is dedicated to that, but is also okay with realizing that there are a lot of things that are the way that they are and have been for a long time. And change is good, and change is fine, but coming in with lots of great ideas is awesome when it’s done in a way that is collaborative with the student body and with his or her new coworkers.”
While generally not commenting on personnel matters, the Office of the President sent an email to The Quadrangle stating, “We were
Volume CXI, Issue 1
JANUARY 21, 2025
The Editorial Board
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Emmanouel Sofillas Managing Editor
Brooke Della Rocco News Editor
Laili Shahrestani Features Editor Mary Haley Asst. Features Editor
Leyla Mercado Arts & Entertainment Editor
Owen McWalters Asst. Sports Editor
Barbara Vasquez Production Editor
Mary Haley Marketing Chair
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Ivy Jaep Production Editor
Vasquez Web Editor
Thom Gencarelli Faculty Advisor
About The Quadrangle
A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan University. 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 University 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 4.12. All are welcome to come and join the club.
Quadrangle
LETTER from the EDITOR
Dear Readers,
Hello, and welcome back from what I hope was a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday! While I may not be new around here, the new year is the perfect time for a reintroduction. My name is Grace Cardinal, and this will be my second year serving as Editor-in-Chief for this outstanding publication. I’m a senior communication major who will be graduating in December, and I cannot wait to bring you all things MU news in 2025.
Campus is already back to the hustle and bustle of everyday classes, athletics games and dorm-room hang outs. Personally, I’d like to see the numbers for how many drinks the Kelly Commons Starbucks made our first week back. But, with the hustle and bustle comes campus news, and our staff certainly has you covered this week.
Before we get into the highlights, I’d like to give a warm welcome back to our extremely talented News Editor Brooke Della Rocco. Brooke was abroad in Rome this past fall, and I could not be happier welcoming her back to masthead. Alongside her, you will notice many new names on our masthead, a result of our large senior staff graduating onto their spring Senior Writer positions. Included in our newcomers is Emmanouel Sofillas, who took the leap from Assistant Sports Editor into our Managing Editor role for this year. I could not ask for a better right-hand man to keep things running smoothly.
This week, we’re catching you up on all things you need to know from over break and our first week back. In news, we discuss the departure of the associate VP for student life, John Bennett, the Excellence Awards given to Kakos School of Arts and Sciences faculty and MU being nationally recognized for voter engagement. In features, we cover the winter break CMSA L.O.V.E. trip and talk to students who studied abroad over the intercession. In A&E, we cover auditions for the annual spring Players musical as well as WRCM’s hunt for new show hosts. Lastly, in sports, we talk to women’s basketball about their winning streak and track and field’s victories at the West Point Open. Be sure to check it all out!
We’re ready to make this year another great one. The Quadrangle and its staff are always looking to improve as a publication, and I can assure you of the work being done tirelessly behind the scenes to make that happen. And as always, we promise to do the very best journalism we can for you all.
Until next week,
Grace Cardinal
Editor-in-Chief
Barbara
JohnBennett,AssociateVPforStudent Life,DepartsManhattanUniversity
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The message John Bennett posted on the MU Student Engagement Instagram account announcing his departure. @MUSTUDENTENGAGE / INSTAGRAM
saddened at John’s decision to leave Manhattan University. We wish him only the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his journey.”
Both Riley and Daniels, in addition to the president’s office, wished Bennett all the best with his future endeavors, and hope that despite an abrupt departure, he is doing well.
“I hope the circumstances of whatever led to such an abrupt departure, I hope he finds peace about it, and it doesn’t disrupt him or stay with him, because this place has been with him for a decade or more,” Riley said. “To not have in your everyday something you’ve had for so long has to hurt your heart. Even if you’re the strongest person ever, [it] has to hurt your heart, and that is someone who does not deserve a broken heart at all, not whatsoever. I hope that he’s spending these
days happy… and I hope that he finds peace about it, and he gets back tenfold after this. He deserves all the good karma in the world.”
As for what students can expect following Bennett’s departure, Daniels had a reassuring message.
“As E-board for student government, we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that, especially
for seniors, this last semester still goes somewhat according to plan, and that the student body can look forward to things as normal,” Daniels said. “Continuation of events and planning is still very much happening. So we’ve got your back, even without John.”
*Bennett did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
ManhattanUniversityFacultyRecognizedby KakosExcellenceAwards
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
of acknowledgement is really touching … I feel seen.”
Edwards prioritizes the inclusion of real-world experiences that are showcased through in class games based on skill and learning. She leads her classes with the intent of allowing students to socialize and connect with one another at a greater level.
“I’m narrowing what’s out there to what’s relevant to our class, but I’m also looking at games that have a group of skills attached to them that help our students become more persuasive speakers [and] help them negotiate with people and work in teams,” Edwards said. “What I hope is that students in my classes come away with knowledge about the areas I teach … I hope that they remember the skills they have.”
Edwards also told The Quadrangle where the implementation of in-class games comes from.
“I just love any kind of game … It’s a way to connect with people where you go beyond small talk and you have a topic that you’re looking at, but you
also learn about the people around you,” Edwards said.
Groarke, who was acknowledged for her service, spoke about what this award means to her.
“I was really surprised and appreciative of being acknowledged,” Groarke said.
“I do take my service work very seriously and I try to do a lot of things to make the college a better place and to stand up for my colleagues.”
Groarke’s efforts were recognized through her passion for MU and her commitment to its student body and faculty.
She helped overcome the obstacles MU faced in the last year by representing the voices of the faculty to administration in any way possible.
She further explained what motivates her actions of advocacy in relation to these matters.
“I’ve always believed that you need to stand up for yourself and you need to stand up for others, particularly people who are being treated unjustly, and there were a lot of unjust things that happened this last year,” Groarke said. “[There were] a
lot of ways in which I thought bad decisions were being made for the college and I felt I had to speak up about that.”
Groarke also spoke on how she hopes to continue serving MU in the future.
“To model for my students, standing up for myself and other people, especially people who are being unfairly treated or having difficulty standing up for themselves, I want everyone to graduate here learning that’s the way to live your life,” Groarke said. “I hope a lot of students see that and do that in their own lives … I want to re-energize our efforts to do community engaged learning … I feel like this is a good moment to rebuild those efforts here on campus.”
Groarke went on to share some last words with The Quadrangle.
“I want to congratulate the other award winners, Pam Chasek, who got the award for scholarship and Jennifer Edwards, who got the award for teaching,” Groarke said. “Thank you Dean Kelly for creating a way to recognize what faculty do here.”
Margaret Groarke received the Kakos Excellence in Service Award and Jennifer Edwards received the Kakos Excellence in Teaching Award. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
ManhattanUniversity Recognizedas2024ALLIN MostEngagedCampusfor StudentVoting
Emmanouel Sofillas Managing Editor
Manhattan University has been recognized as one of the most engaged campuses for student voting in 2024, by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
MU was acknowledged alongside 471 institutions, by completing four main actions recorded throughout the year including, “Participating in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge; Sharing 2022 NSLVE reports with campus voting data with ALL IN; Developing and submitting a 2024 democratic engagement action plan; and Having a current signatory to ALL IN’s Higher Education President’s Commitment to full student voter participation,” according to an article posted on manhattan.edu.
For students like Gabrielle Blair, a philosophy major and member of Jaspers Vote, the recognition signifies more than a badge of honor.
“It means that we are definitely a campus that’s
active in both student and social life and very concerned with the issues going on in our community,” Blair said.
The university earned this award through intentional efforts, according to Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., a political science professor and leader of Jaspers Vote, MU’s nonpartisan campaign to get Jaspers to register and vote.
“We made a good plan of what things are effective and what gets people involved, and we tried to focus on those things,” Groarke said.
Among the standout initiatives Jaspers Vote worked on this past year were pamphlets called “The More You Know,” election watch parties and classroom presentations led by student members.
“It makes me feel proud to see that there are actually students and people my age who care enough to go out and vote,” Samantha Pavlik, a political science major, said.
“Seeing the turnout of events and how people came and cared about what we were doing was really rewarding.”
One of the initiatives that contributed to MU’s recognition was the active involvement of student leaders in delivering
classroom presentations.
“There are seven students on the team who made a presentation to bring into classes,” Groarke said. “Everybody also went and did some classes, and I got a lot of positive feedback from professors about that.”
The impact of these initiatives is likely to extend into the spring semester, as New York City and the campus community prepare for a mayoral election. Students involved in Jaspers Vote plan to build on their success by spreading information about candidates and voter rights.
“We’re planning on making sure students feel confident in their knowledge and who to vote for,” Blair said.
Groarke highlighted the use of a new online portal that allows students to register to vote via QR codes around campus.
“If you click on it, you can register to vote right there,” Groarke said. “We can track the count in real time.”
This data has already helped the team identify which strategies are most effective, such as prioritizing classroom outreach over tabling in common areas.
The recognition also aligns with a broader cultural shift on campus, where students are exploring ways to become more involved in their communities. Blair cited resource fairs and discussions on starting cultural groups as examples of this shift.
Pavlik also reflected on the potential for deeper civic engagement.
“I hope that lots of students with different views and interests will organize politically around the things they care about—not just vote, but use their voices all the time,” Pavlik said.
Margaret Groarke, Ph.D. MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
Jaspers Give Back with Florida L.O.V.E. Trip
Barbara Vasquez Production Editor / Web Editor
Five Jaspers went on a week-long volunteer trip to Homestead, Florida over Jan. 5-11 as participants of Manhattan University’s Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience Program (L.O.V.E.).
While the LOVE program is nothing new for MU, the trip marked the first organized by newly appointed campus chaplains Edward Beck, C.P. and Robert Joerger, C.P.. The trip served as a way to help students get more involved with the university’s Lasallian mission while giving back to a community in need.
“I think Lasallian values mean faith being put into action,” Beck said. “And I think it’s important for us as a university to make sure that we also have that connection and commitment to service, and continually be reminded that one of our missions as an institution is to continue to reach out to those who are disenfranchised and somehow disadvantaged.”
The program took place at the Little School at LaSalle Educational Center, an institution which provides low-income families with a nurturing environment for their children to learn, all while upholding Lasallian values.
“We picked that particular school because it is a Lasallian education center that tutors disadvantaged youth who are either behind or come from disadvantaged communities
that need extra help,” Beck said. “[The Jasper volunteers] individually tutored these students who were struggling or needed extra help, and that was the basic mission of the trip.”
The Little School is located in a gated Section 8 housing community. Volunteers visit these areas frequently to assist in whatever ways they can, lending a helping hand or giving out food to families.
“On Monday and Thursday evening we supported food pantries,” Edgar Zavala, director of non-credit programming at MU and a chaperone for the LOVE caravan, said. “Part of the work we do is pick up leftover food from different places. Then we prepare these packages of food and when families come, we’ll deliver it.”
Zavala has had many years of experience with social justice work, having been involved with the Lasallian mission since he was in high school. When asked about his takeaways from the trip, Zavala discussed the transformation he saw in the student volunteers.
“You have to interview the Jaspers to know exactly what they experienced, but I saw their transformation,” Zavala said. “I saw how some of the Jaspers that were very shy at the beginning became energized while talking to their child [that they tutored], and how happy the children became as well.”
The Quadrangle asked some of the Jasper volunteers about their personal takeaways, to which they responded with only positive feedback.
“I learned from this trip that people are cool,” Michael
The Jaspers and Edgar Zavala, chaperone, stand behind the classroom of children they’ve been assisting. EDGAR ZAVALA / COURTESY
Castro, a junior psychology major who attended the trip said. “It reinforced what I always knew, that there are always good people out there.”
The nature of the trip allowed for participants to truly connect with the community they were helping.
“During this trip, people really saw the good side of me, and I saw the good side of them,” Castro said. “ I would tutor one of the kids, and they would be on their best behavior. We were just all helping each other out. ”
Melvin Puello, a sophomore civil engineering student who volunteered for the week, spoke highly about the experience.
“This trip was inspirational in the sense that it really opened my eyes to a community that
maybe we don’t pay attention to on a daily basis,” Puello wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “Seeing how they live and how they help each other, it makes you want to be a better person and continue to learn about the world, by visiting different communities and doing the best you can to help anyone.”
For Puello, the trip was especially transformative.
“This was my first time with such an experience, and prior to this I wasn’t familiar at all with the Lasallian mission, but now I place a lot of value and respect in it,” Puello wrote.
“It exceeded my expectations 100%. It was extremely valuable to me, and it’s something I look forward to learning more about and doing again. I hope that I helped as many people as I possibly could. I hope they
can remember that it was help that came from pure kindness and care for them and their community.”
MU prides itself on maintaining Lasallian values, especially emphasizing the ideals of education and giving back when possible. This most recent LOVE trip proved to be an embodiment of these values to all involved.
“I’ve done these [trips] many times, but I think for the Jaspers that came with me, it helped them realize that we’re not alone in this world,” Zavala said. “Realize that sometimes we’re privileged, and that many other people don’t have the same resources that we do. Realize that you don’t need to have a lot to help.”
Voices on the Quad: Winter Study Abroad Edition
Elizabeth Kalaj Senior Writer
Over the winter intersession, students from all majors utilized Manhattan University’s study abroad opportunities. Study abroad trips during the winter intersession last two weeks and are offered in various locations, including Barcelona, Paris, Rome and Ireland. Each program allowed students to earn credits for required courses outside of New York City. Students also had the opportunity to celebrate the new year while immersing themselves in foreign cultures.
The Quadrangle spoke to students from various programs about their experiences while studying abroad.
Julian Reyes ‘25, communication major with a concentration in sports media production
The Quadrangle: What was the trip to Barcelona about? Was there a general topic that surrounded the class?
Julian Reyes: The course was used to get us exposed to the food in Barcelona, but mainly how the food is incorporated into the culture and how those two things intertwine. At the end of the course, we would write about our experiences with food and culture, along with the part we played in it.
TQ: What was your favorite excursion that you took part in during the trip?
JR: One of my favorite
activities was the bike ride we completed, stopping at three different winery destinations. That whole day was really cool, because at each stop we would learn about the process of making wine and fielding the grapes. Riding the bike and trying pure wine with food was fun. My other favorite memory was staying at a Catalonian farmhouse that was built before Christopher Columbus discovered America. There, we got to cook in an oven that was over seven hundred years old, which was very cool. Overall, the farmhouse was so peaceful and beautiful.
Ava Mcguigan ‘25, childhood education major with a concentration in psychology
The Quadrangle: Now that you have taken this trip, what do you think the benefits are of studying abroad versus planning your own individual trip?
Ava Mcguigan: Focusing on Paris, which was where I visited, I feel like if I had visited on my own, I would have focused on general tourist spots that everyone visits. While we did see those areas, I got to visit so many religious monuments, including the Notre Dame [cathedral] that has been rebuilt. By studying abroad, I also got to learn about ancient Paris and what that city once looked like, including underground monasteries and large churches with various statues and stained glass windows.
TQ: What was the driving factor that made you go on a study abroad trip?
AM: I just think that it is an
incredible opportunity that you only get when you are in school. Since I knew I was approaching my last year of college, I really wanted the opportunity to do something nice like this trip.
Sean Mannion ‘25, exercise science major
The Quadrangle: What was your favorite place to visit while studying abroad in Italy?
Sean Mannion: My
favorite activity was on a free day during the trip, when my group decided to buy passes to Florence. We had all previously known each other through Greek life and friendships on campus, so we just decided to spend a day walking around and seeing another city. It was absolutely beautiful.
TQ: Do you have any advice for students thinking about studying abroad?
SM: If you are thinking about studying abroad, do it. I think going on a trip with at least one person you know allows you to really enjoy everything as a unit. I would say to really take advantage of the opportunity, put your phone down and take in all the sights, especially while you have the chance to.
Students on an excursion during the Rome study abroad trip. ANDREW MANNION/THE QUADRANGLE
Mystery Meets Musical: Players Host Auditions for The Addams Family
Angelina Persaud Senior Writer
Kooky and spooky, Manhattan University Players are set to host auditions for their spring musical comedy, The Addams Family, on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
This isn’t the first time Players has taken on a musical production, with past performances of 9 to 5 and Dogfight in recent years.
The audition process for The Addams Family will include students being able to sing a song of their choice during the initial auditions. However, students will also be required to perform a dance component with their first round auditions, which will be taught to them the day of by the Players’ co-choreographers, John O’Connor and Brylee Watkins.
Olivia Bailey, producer for Players, spoke about how the production will be slightly different than previous years, as they’re hoping to have the audience engage with the actors on stage at various points throughout the show.
“The production is going to be probably a little more interactive than what Manhattan audiences are used to,” Bailey said. “We might have people in and out of the audience, and they might be interacting with the members [of Players].”
Aaron Schoepf, production manager for Players, spoke to The Quadrangle about the process of choosing this particular production for the spring and the certain guidelines to follow to obtain rights to perform the production.
“We went back to the pitches we had from the previous year, and Guys and Dolls was a big fan favorite,”
Schoepf said. “We put in the rights, we announce it, everything’s great, and then all of a sudden we’re told that it’s going on tour. With theater, because we’re so close to the city, we cannot do a show that they’re doing on Broadway, off Broadway, or on tour. That’s usually true for anywhere. We put in the rights for Addams Family and it finally got approved.”
Schoepf emphasized that auditioning for a musical can seem daunting at first since there’s more effort required for song and dance choices, but students should look at it as a chance to showcase their talents.
“I think people are a little nervous because they hear dance calls and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, I have to do all of this stuff’,” Schoepf said. “But it’s really just to see where you are at with dancing. It’s a little nerve wracking when you audition for a musical, but it’s really not that bad.”
O’Connor, former member of the Jasper Dancers and cochoreographer for Players, shared the ideas he’s hoping to bring forth into the audition process with Watkins, current assistant coach of the Jasper Dancers. He noted that he’s leaning on his experience from the dance team to enhance the entertainment and audition experience.
“I think the Jasper Dancers definitely changed the way I look at dance,” O’Connor said. “I danced my whole life for the most part, but then being a Jasper dancer, I learned a lot more about uniformity and different styles and technique. Addams Family is cool because a lot of the music within the show has different styles of dance. So there is going to be a tap number, but then there’s also a really fun jazz number with all the girls.”
O’Connor also spoke about the challenges that come with teaching people a new dance
Players is hosting auditions for The Addams Family in the Black Box. @PLAYERSMU / INSTAGRAM
routine on the spot for the first time, especially when everyone has a different skill level and experience with dancing.
“I think probably the biggest thing is taking myself out of it and realizing that everyone’s at different levels,” O’Connor said. “Say you have a freshman coming in who’s just now working with Players… it’s the first musical they’ve ever done, realizing that they may be at a different level than a senior who’s been in every musical since they’ve gotten here. [It’s] realizing there’s different learning styles and really finding a way to cater to everyone and making sure everyone is comfortable,
having fun and still learning.”
Players also emphasized that putting together a production takes a lot of effort from everyone involved, but that each production gives a chance for growth and unity amongst the cast.
Annie Brennan, house manager for Players, voiced her excitement to see the wellknown story of The Addams Family brought to life and the creativity Players brings to its performances.
“I just love the Addams Family in general,” Brennan said. “It’s one of my favorite shows, so getting to see people I know in it is so much fun. People on the board are all
so talented, and the people in Players in general are really talented.”
Bailey, who has been with Players since her freshman year and is currently a junior, says that she’s seen much growth in both herself and Players with each performance.
“You can present yourself better when you’re performing,” Bailey said. “Everyone has grown. Everyone’s learning new things, I think especially with dancing. It’s nice to see what people learn through that. We have some people who want to perform professionally, or who are already performing professionally, so it’s exciting to see what they do here.”
arts & entertainment
WRCM Is on the Lookout for New Hosts
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Manhattan University’s radio network, WRCM, is back on the hunt for new show hosts after taking a brief hiatus for winter break. The network hosts MU student radio shows that vary from exploring music genres to personal podcasts.
WRCM starts their search for new show hosts each semester who can bring unique ideas to the station while living up to the public speaking standards required.
Sam Wofford, the secretary for WRCM, spoke to The Quadrangle about what he’s looking for in new candidates for the position.
“Somebody with a lot of charisma,” Wofford said. “Somebody who is really conversational, can speak really well. Somebody who’s not really afraid to speak publicly. I know it’s over the radio, but it’s still a form of public speaking. So somebody with a lot of confidence, because there’s a big speaking part involved in it.”
WRCM is unique from other clubs on campus in the way that their scheduling is organized. Every host who has a show approved is able to choose what time their show runs from, morning, noon or
night, and what they would like to talk about. Ronan York, a previous WRCM show host, explained how WRCM allowed him to branch out in his college experience.
“WRCM is very individualistic while also honing that sense of community as well,” York said. “We do all talk to each other on the sidelines and especially regarding other things, music and stuff like that. Everybody has their own personal way of going about how they want to do it. Some people prefer doing podcasts, some people just like playing music. So it’s very personal for everybody.”
WRCM views the search for new hosts as an opportunity to have the station improve. With new hosts comes more live coverage from the station, which means more time with individual talent on the microphone. The club’s webmaster, Sadie Fox, spoke on what it would mean for the club to gain more hosts than ever before this semester.
“(Having more hosts) would let a lot more people listen, because a lot of times we just have an “after hours” playlist,” Fox said. “So having a curated list, and a post that’s always there, would make it a little bit more of a variety, and a little bit more interesting for people that listen to after hours. It would make it more
A flyer posted to the WRCM instagram advertising new host positions. @WRCM.ROCKS / INSTAGRAM
constant.”
WRCM also looks to expand beyond the 24/7 radio show. Last semester, the club hosted the WRCM Bash, which drew a large crowd. They also helped DJ many events around campus. Wofford spoke on how the club intends to plan and assist with more events in the future.
“Working with other clubs and programs within the School of Liberal Arts,” Wofford said.
“Last year, we actually did a really good job of that. We worked a tailgate before the Fordham game. Overall, I think it was really good that we got some recognition there. We
also worked with The Quad. There was an issue release, and we had a table there. It never hurts to have some music on in the background. So if people will have us, we’ll show up.”
sports
Basketball Over Break: Women’s Basketball Starts Spring Semester on a Hot Streak
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
While many students had to support the Lady Jaspers from afar over winter break, they’ve continued to add on to an impressive record. At the halfway mark of the season, the women’s basketball program finds themselves with a 9-6 record, with a 3-3 record against the MAAC.
After finding themselves in a four-game skid to start December, the Lady Jaspers have responded accordingly and put themselves on a three-game win streak in a dominating fashion. The offense has taken a big step forward during those games, from averaging 54 points per game over the losing streak, to now 78 points on their winning streak. Head coach Heather Vulin commented on this improvement over the past few games.
“[The] Emphasis that we had going into the season was pace of play, improving our scoring and then just being more disruptive on defense,” Vulin said. “We had a few injuries that kind of slowed us down there during the Christmas break, but we’re slowly getting back healthier and consistently been scoring in the 70s, which has been one of our key points this year.”
This improvement has been fueled by the improvement of the players.
Inés Giménez Monserrat spoke about how the team has improved in recent games.
“We started a little slow, but we finally got back on track,” Giménez Moneserat said. “We’re just being more
consistent, we need to work on that. I think we’re going on a good track now, and now we’re just looking forward to the next games and keep winning.”
A cornerstone of the Jaspers’ success has been their unselfish style of play. The Lady Jaspers rank among the top teams in the nation in assists per game, an achievement Vulin attributes to their team first mentality.
“If you look, we don’t have anyone dropping 20 [points] every game, but we usually have one person dropping at least 20, and we tend to have a different leading score every game,” Vulin said. “This team doesn’t care who’s the leading scorer. They just want to make sure that we’re putting ourselves in position to win. So the unselfishness has been great.”
The win streak is only the start for what the team wants to accomplish as the season goes on. The team told The Quadrangle they can feel themselves coming together to be the best team possible come mid-March and MAAC tournament play. Nitzan Amar spoke about what she thinks it will take for the team to go far this season.
“We need to be tough,” Amar said. “We are tough. We need to show it to everyone. We need to play together, play with energy and execute our coaches’ [plays]. Put a lot of effort in our scout, and when we execute that like you can see the results.”
With another win at Niagara, MU sits at fourth place in the MAAC. The Lady Jaspers look to extend their win streak with an away game against the Fairfield Stags on Thursday, Jan. 23, who remain undefeated against MAAC competition.
The Lady Jaspers scored 79 points in their most recent win against Niagara. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY
The MU women’s basketball team currently sits at fourth place in the MAAC, following their winning streak.
sports
MU Track and Field Chases Victory at the West Point Open
Karen Flores Senior Writer
The Manhattan University track and field team celebrated victories and new personal records across various events at the West Point Open on Saturday, Jan. 11.
The Jaspers competed against student-athletes from across the Northeast. Kerri Inman, director of cross country and track and field, emphasized that preseason base building and foundational conditioning are crucial to the success of the athletes.
“For our track and field athletes, the fall season, that preseason base building and the foundational conditioning is going to be really important for them to be able to sustain their competition readiness all the way through May and hopefully June for those that
qualify to Nationals,” Inman said. “Being really organized, diligent, and the athletes being dedicated in that fall training when we’re not competing yet, is what really leads to a successful year.”
Bailee Christofis, a sophomore criminology major, triumphantly placed first in the women’s 3000m with a time of 10:30.63.
A feat like this doesn’t happen without a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Christofis spoke to The Quadrangle about some of the training she did to prepare for her events.
“The training started during winter break in which we shifted gears from doing longer stuff for cross country to shorter stuff,” Christofis said.
“Since I did not have access to a track during winter break, a lot of my conditioning was done on a grass field, I did a large amount of ladder workouts and a lot of repetition movements.”
Christofis credited her teammates and coaches for being vital factors to her success at the invitational.
“I was not expecting to place first since I had ran a faster race before and placed second, but I went with the game plan that my coaches set up for me and it thankfully ended up panning out,” Christofis said. “A shout out to the throwers and my teammates because every time I’m on the track, I hear them cheering for me louder than anybody else. It definitely helps seeing the different event groups around, because they can see that the work that we’re putting in separately is paying off, which kind of adds to the whole team aspect of the sport.”
Paul Brennan, an MBA student with a concentration in data analytics, successfully placed first in the men’s weight throw with a mark of 18.61 meters during his second attempt.
Brennan explained to The Quadrangle the kind of training he did in order to prepare for his event.
“Weight throw requires a lot
of coordination and balance while also using significant core and leg strength in order to propel the implement out,” Brennan said. “The kind of training we usually do is a lot of technical work, doing explosive movements in and out of the weight room as well as plyometrics.”
Brennan, who completed his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, said he decided to come to Manhattan University to continue his education because of the caliber of the coaches.
“The reason that I came to Manhattan was to work with Paddy McGrath, who is one of the best hammer throw coaches in the country,” Brennan said. “I didn’t really have a coach specializing in the hammer throw at Princeton so I’m really lucky to be able to work with Paddy and work on my event-specific skills and strengths. I hope to reach All-American status this year with a great coach like Paddy behind me.”
Brennan shared similar
sentiments with Christofis, praising the team environment at MU for fostering cohesion and a sense of community.
“The team is awesome and cohesive which can be difficult to do because track is an individual sport but the group dynamic here is one where everyone is cheering for each other no matter what,” Brennan said. “That’s something that is very special at Manhattan University. I haven’t had a better team dynamic or cohesion anywhere else but at Manhattan University.”
Inman expressed satisfaction with the results of the meet but hopes to continue to improve.
“I’m happy to see where we are,” Inman said. “I think we have a lot that we need to continue working on. I think some weaknesses were exposed and I think some strengths were shown. So overall, I’m pretty happy with where we are, but certainly not satisfied.”
Bailee Christofis wins first place in the women’s 3000m.
STOCKTON PHOTO / COURTESY
Paul Brennan wins first place in the men’s weight throw.
STOCKTON PHOTO / COURTESY