the Quadrangle
3OH!3ToHeadlineSpringfest
Thehip-hopduowillheadlinetheon-campusfestivalonApril5. 30H!3 / COURTESY
ManhattanChangesComingtoUniversity’s ResidenceLife
Mack Olmsted Senior Writer
Manhattan University’s Department of Residence Life will be undergoing some changes including an increase within the senior staff size of the department, new Resident Assistant (RA) requirements and an updated compensation structure. Ronnie Genee spoke to The Quadrangle about the future of Residence Life.
“I think we’re about to be on the cusp of getting some really good staff members on board that I think will have the same mindset I have in terms of what we’re trying to accomplish here, and be able
to implement those in the residence halls,” Genee said. “So there’s a lot of good stuff on the horizon.”
Beginning in the fall 2025 semester, RA compensation will be tiered based on years of service in the role. All RAs will have housing costs covered but the VIP meal plan will vary based on years of service. First year RAs will receive 50% of their meal plan covered, second year RAs will receive 75% coverage and third year RAs will have the full 100% of their meal plan covered.
Other RA requirements will exclude certain commuters from the RA application process. RAs must have had a living experience on campus before applying. In addition, RAs must have a
cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0, a rise from the previous 2.5 requirement. Sophomore Richard Bagayoko is currently an RA in Lee Hall and shared his thoughts with The Quadrangle about the new requirements.
“I mean it’s definitely an interesting change, but I think part of it is fair,” Bagayoko said. “Overall, it’s for the best, and I’m sure that it will help Manhattan University in the long run. And changes were made for a reason. I’m just grateful to be an RA.”
Recently, the Lee Hall area coordinator Sam Boham departed from MU, leaving the RAs with only the Genee to turn to. Genee couldn’t comment on why Boham
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Springfest is returning to Manhattan University once again on April 5 featuring hiphop duo 3OH!3. The event will be the first time since 2023 that MU has hosted a headlining artist for the day.
3OH!3 is an American hip hop duo from Boulder, Colorado. They are best known for their single “Don’t Trust Me”, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release in 2008, according to the band’s official Google overview.
“They are a hip hop duo, and nobody knows [them] when you hear their name, but when you hear their songs, you’re like, ‘Oh, I do know who this is,’” Audrey Daniels, vice president of Academic Affairs told The Quadrangle.
Springfest is planned and hosted each year by MU’s Student Government Association (SGA). Due to budget constraints last year, Springfest was reduced to only the carnival on the quad.
“Last year, Springfest was not Springfest,” Student Body President Jazi Riley said. “It was a carnival, and that’s okay. We can call it what it is. This year, we wanted nothing more but to have an artist at bare minimum, even if that meant we forfeit everything else, and that is because we want to put experience first.”
Riley is excited for the opportunity for underclassmen to experience what has previously been recognized as one of MU’s most notable spring semester traditions.
“There’s now freshmen
and sophomores, there’s two classes on campus who are lacking on a tradition, and [who] don’t understand the scope of the tradition,” Riley said. “It [Springfest] brings the community together. It’s one of those big social events that just brings us all together.”
Nicole Brosnan, the associate director of orientation and Student Engagement, agreed with Riley’s sentiment and is passionate about returning Springfest to the student experience it once was.
“We want to bring Springfest back to what it was,” Brosnan told The Quadrangle. “We’re really excited about the concert, but we have other exciting things throughout the day. We want to bring the carnival back to the quad, just the campus full of life.”
Martina Eichhorn, the vice president of Social Life, made sure to put time into researching what students have enjoyed in the past in order to make this year’s Springfest one for the books.
“For me, I was reading through other things that happened in previous Springfests and what a lot of people loved to see and wanted to see again, and also hearing from our students,” Eichhorn said. “I read previous articles, and I just tried to see what grabbed the most attention. My planning obviously comes in with the extra stuff that we’re going to do, the carnival theme part of it, having the different areas with the different activities that we’re going to do.”
While budget was a factor in the decision to hire 3OH!3 as this year’s artist, SGA’s main concern was who would bring
Volume CXI, Issue 7
MARCH 4, 2025
The Editorial Board
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
Emmanouel Sofillas Managing Editor
Laili Shahrestani Features Editor
Leyla Mercado Arts & Entertainment Editor
Owen McWalters Asst. Sports Editor
Amy Forster Asst. Production Editor
Mary Haley Marketing Chair
Brooke Della Rocco News Editor
Mary Haley Asst. Features Editor
Andrew Mannion Sports Editor
Barbara Vasquez Production Editor
Barbara 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.
Connect with The Quadrangle mcquad.org @mu_quad @mu_quad
LETTER from the EDITOR
Dear Readers,
Hello, and welcome to issue 7!
It’s hard to believe that we are just about halfway through the semester already. Time is flying by as it always mysteriously does, and I’m so grateful you’ve taken some out of your day to spend with us.
This letter is one I have been excited about writing for a few weeks now, because it contains the announcement of our Springfest artist! Depending on whether you’re joining us from our website or on Issuu, you may have already seen our announcement on the front cover. I am very pleased to (once again) announce that this year’s artist will be 3OH!3 ! The band is a hip-hop duo from the early 2000’s, and I could not be more excited that we are once again able to welcome an artist to campus after last year’s brief hiatus. I am so grateful to have the honor of making the official announcement, as the sitting Editorin-Chief of The Quadrangle has done for many years. Check out our story in news for more info on what students can expect from this year’s fest!
Since we last checked in, MU hosted its annual Wellness Day. The event was held last Wednesday, with all classes cancelled and events including pilates, a hot cocoa truck, painting and so much more. Wellness Day is an important day for physical and mental health advocacy and education on our campus, and I want to give a big shoutout to those who put countless hours into organizing this incredibly special event. Check out our photo spread of the event and article in features!
As for everything else this week, we have a lot to share with you all. In news, we overview the upcoming changes in Residence Life along with highlighting MU students’ accomplishments at the NYWEA 2025 Annual Meeting. In features, we cover a lecture hosted by the HGI on campus and WGRC’s first-ever gender affirming clothing drive. In A&E this week, we cover the MU Players’ student slot production and Pipes and Drums as they head into parade season. Lastly, in sports, we discuss track and field’s many wins at the MAAC Championship and the Lady Jaspers clinching their own championship spot. We hope you’ll take some time to check it all out!
Until next time,
Grace Cardinal
Editor-in-Chief
SpringfestMakesTriumphantReturn toMUCampusWithHeadliningArtist3OH!3
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the best vibes and experience for the students.
“When it came to planning Springfest, the artists we chose was one, [because of] budget,” Riley said. “Who notable can we get on campus with that? And so we were like, okay, who can we bring on that is fun, that’ll bring a nostalgic vibe, and this is what we settled on from the list we were given of artists within our budget. So I think we’re taking that nostalgia and running with it, and that’s gone into our carnival planning, like, how would you feel as a little kid, playing and having fun and then going and listening to this music that we probably listened to throughout middle school and high school.”
Daniels believes that this year’s Springfest will not only
be a great way to celebrate the end of the academic year, but the resilience of MU and its students after a year of turmoil.
“I think that students are going to be pleasantly surprised by what we have planned,” Daniels said. “I think it’ll be fun…I think in contrast to last year, obviously it was kind of a bust unfortunately. I think it’s going to speak a lot to the fact that we’ve had a rough few years, but we’re still here. We know how to have fun and care about our students and what they want to see.”
As for what students can expect to experience, Riley promises a return to normalcy.
“You’re going to get the normal Manhattan University feel,” Riley said. “When big events don’t happen how they’ve traditionally happened, we feel it… it’s one of those things that you do because
you’re a student on this campus…you do it because it’s so much fun, it’s mindless fun, it’s escapism at its peak, and it’s what makes our college feel so normal.”
ChangesComingtoManhattanUniversity’s ResidenceLife
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
stopped working for the university, but he assured that anyone with resident-related issues could turn to him with any questions or concerns.
“If anybody has any issues that are unresolved, always feel free to stop by, make an appointment, email me, whatever it is, and we will work on it,” Genee said.
The university has plans to expand their senior staff members for Residence Life, according to senior Lee Hall RA, Elisa Ortiz.
“The Res Life office seems to want change in the upper senior staff,” Ortiz said. “I guess, just because it’s a very
small staff in terms of it being a one man band compared to last year, even though last year was short staffed. But there’s no LCAs that lived on campus this year, which kind of helped us. So I think maybe for some people, this has been more of a learning curve, but we’re in the process of RA interviews, so hopefully we’ll get some new people on staff next year that could help out Ronnie and everyone.”
Ortiz also told The Quadrangle that next year MU will implement graduate RAs, meaning current seniors planning to continue their education could also continue being RAs in the future. Genee shared his overall thoughts and goals for
Residence Life and how he wants to prioritize students and their well-being.
“My goal is that if someone would want to live on campus, that we are so engaged with the student population that they understand the experience that they can get by living in a residence hall,” Genee said. “We think we’re moving in the right direction…I’m going to be creating an atmosphere here, an environment and an engaging present experience.”
*Editor’s Note: Angelina Perez contributed to reporting.
3OH!3 found fame in the early 2000’s with their Billboard
MUStudentsAwardedat NYWEA2025AnnualMeeting
Barbara Vasquez Production / Web Editor
A number of students from the Manhattan University New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) chapter were recognized for their achievements at the NYWEA 2025 Annual Meeting.
This meeting, held from Feb. 3-5, was a multi-day conference that dove into the world of water. More than 1,600 people attended the event, including a number of professionals in the water industry. One of the conference highlights was Navigating the Tides: Inspiring Future Leaders in Water panel discussion. Six panelists impactful in the industry were selected to speak, including MU student Daniel Galarza Lojano.
Lojano, a senior civil and environmental engineering major, currently serves as president of the university’s NYWEA chapter. Since joining the organization, Lojano has received repeated accolades, research opportunities relating to his work in water and numerous scholarships, including a 2024 NYWEA Student Chapter Scholarship. Still, his inclusion as a panelist at the conference came as a surprise.
“Honestly, it was an honor to get to be one of the panelists, especially when I called and asked ‘hey, are any other students going to be on it?’ and they were like ‘hey, no’,” Lojano said. “Then, I’m next
to people who run wastewater in New York City, new and old presidents of NYWEA, just people who do a lot in their waters. Me, I’m just a student at the end of the day who got to share my story with everybody.”
Alongside Lojano, Dominique Whyte was also awarded a 2024 NYWEA Student Chapter Scholarship. Whyte, a senior chemical engineering major and the former president of MU NYWEA, first joined NYWEA after it was recommended to her by a professor she conducted research with. After attending her fair share of
conferences since first joining, Whyte found other students to be the highlight of this one.
“With the most recent conference, it was more speaking with other student chapters that I gained the most insight,” Whyte said. “I got to hear about what they were doing on campus, and also raising the concern that they’re having the same issue of turnout [at NYWEA events] at their school.”
When asked if her and her fellow members’ accomplishments could serve as a source of motivation for other students to get more involved, Whyte agreed.
“It can show them that, hey, it’s not just to turn up,” Whyte said. “There are things that you could compete in and there things that you could strive for. It gives you a purpose. Like, I’m not just going to turn up, I have a goal that I’m working towards. There’s something to get out of this.”
Grace Hesselbacher, a graduate environmental engineering student, also participated in the NYWEA conference with a presentation detailing her research on the removal of certain herbicides in water using UV disinfection and chlorination. After winning second place in the University Forum Student Presentation
Competition, she was grateful for the recognition. Being a former chapter president of SWE (Society of Women Engineers), Hesselbacher was asked by The Quadrangle how important she thinks it is for her and other female students at the NYWEA to be recognized for their achievements.
“It’s important because it highlights the contributions women are making in engineering and encourages more diversity in the field,” Hesselbecher wrote to The Quadrangle. “Recognition like this helps inspire future students and reinforces the value of our work.”
Whyte shared similar sentiments.
“I think us getting those awards show that we’re here, and we contribute something–we’re not just here to make a quota,” Whyte said. “We actually put the work in and we do deserve this. And it also inspires others to show them that it’s possible for them to do the same.”
Following their most recent accolades from NYWEA, the MU students involved think highly of the organization and the opportunities it has given them.
“It’s a great opportunity because it connects students with industry professionals,
provides hands-on experience, and helps us apply what we learn in class to real-world challenges,” Hesselbecher wrote. “NYWEA has given me networking opportunities, exposure to industry trends, and experience presenting research. It’s helped me build connections and gain insights that will be valuable in my career.”
Lojano, who has won multiple scholarships through NYWEA, agreed.
“For me, I always just stay connected, talking to people, researching, attending these conferences,” Lojano said. “It [NYWEA] benefits the students with all the networking, learning more about the water industry and you grow as a student overall. And there’s always a lot of opportunities like scholarships given out.”
“I think as students we want to know what’s next for us,” Whyte said. “We want to know where we’re going after we graduate, whether that be what company or even what industry in general. And I think participating in different events in NYWEA in school gives you a taste of what you would be able to look forward to and see if you like it or if you don’t… It’s worth it to at least help you in figuring out what’s next.”
The MU NYWEA chapter attended the 2025 NYWEA Annual Meeting from Feb. 3-5. @MU_NYWEA / INSTAGRAM
Senior Dominique Whyte was awarded with the 2024 NYWEA Student Chapter Scholarship.
HGI Welcomes Alexander Hinton, Ph.D. to Give Lecture on Extremism Within America
Flynn Myers Staff Writer
Alexander Hinton, Ph.D., professor of anthropology and director of the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University held a presentation on Feb. 27 in Kelly Commons to discuss the current political state of America, and highlighted important steps that citizens should follow on both ends of the political spectrum. Hinton was invited to speak by the MU Holocaust, Genocide and Interfaith Education Center (HGI). The presentation mainly focused on empathy and communication within current politics occuring in America.
Hinton discussed the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and
spoke about what he witnessed as an observer walking through. This allowed him to understand where everyone’s head was at during the event, what people thought of it and where Americans stand overall on the opposite sides of the political spectrum.
“We’re all in a bubble, and I think everyone knows what that means,” Hinton said. “It’s only when you go outside of your social media acology that you can be exposed to different sorts of ideas.”
The main focus of Hinton’s presentation was teaching attendees to get in touch with their senses in order to fully observe and understand others. He emphasized going outside of oneself to understand another person’s point of view, and that this will pose a greater connection in seeing people and their thoughts.
“This presentation is going to be organized around five senses,” Hinton said. “I’ve
Alexander Hinton is a professor of anthropology at Rutgers University. FLYNN MYERS / THE QUADRANGLE
begun to tell you about the first one which is touch, I’m going to go quickly through taste, hearing, sound and then dive more deeply into sight and smell and end up with balance and movement.”
Hinton discussed his journey through the CPAC event and what he was able to digest through each of the senses. He was able to form a better understanding of the people around him and also get a grasp on what their motives were.
“Those senses that I’ve been using as a metaphor provide the groundwork for a moral compass, and a moral compass provides a way to navigate difficult situations,” Hinton said. “To burst out of our bubbles and enter into other spaces where people think differently. So, we have the title of inclusive communities. How do we navigate troubling times? All of these moves are necessary parts of a moral life to extend the metaphor, they give us balance and they enable movement.”
As the presentation came to an end, Hinton spoke about how to understand other people
on a deeper level. He touched on expressing empathy, and having it present when trying to understand others’ political differences.
“In one sense, you try to get in the mind of what’s going on with people,” Hinton said. “And then, you also try to connect with how they might feel.”
Mehnaz Afridi, Ph.D., professor of religion and the director of the HGI center at Manhattan University discussed her thoughts on the dangers of extremism in America. She emphasized the issues of this concept found on both sides of the political spectrum.
“Yes, definitely there are issues with extremism,” Afridi said. “That’s why I had the lecture here tonight, because I know that Alexander Hinton does empathy work, but he was also at CPAC. Alexander Hinton is really pushing us to see that it can happen on both sides and that we need to have this dialogue and conversation, even if we don’t agree. If someone votes Republican or Democrat, they should be able to have dialogue, because this is getting more and more polarized.”
Many students attended this event and had thoughts on the material being presented. Besty Hoff, a freshman and psychology major discussed her thoughts on the importance of the presentation and how she absorbed the information.
“[It was] definitely good to hear,” Hoff said. “I know I’m certainly educated about what’s happening and I know some people are not. So, I think it is good to have these conversations, even if they start small.”
Besty Hoff, a freshman and psychology major discussed her thoughts on the importance of the presentation and how she absorbed the information.
“[It was] definitely good to hear,” Hoff said. “I know I’m certainly educated about what’s happening and I know some people are not. So, I think it is good to have these conversations, even if they start small.” any programming, we still encourage you to come,” Noble said. “This is not an exclusive thing by any means. It’s a chance to learn. That’s kind of what we’re here for.”
Pictured: Professor Alexander Hinton. FLYNN MYERS / THE QUADRANGLE
Wellness Day Makes Its Return to Campus
Angelina Perez and Victoria Schiller Senior Writers
Last Wednesday, Feb. 26, was Manhattan University’s annual Jasper Day of Wellness. Undergraduate classes were canceled as MU planned events dedicated to a day filled with rest and relaxation for the entirety of the student body. From an early morning pilates class, to a smash the plate station and a “Wicked” viewing to wind the night down, Jaspers participated in various mental and physical health activities.
Nicolette Caneda, a graduate student in the counseling program and a member of the Wellness Day planning committee, has been running the smash the plate event for the past two years. While this event is intended to bring attention to eating disorder awareness, Caneda also sees it as a healthy and tame way to get out what you are feeling.
“Wellness Day did fall in Eating Disorder Awareness Week so it was very fitting,” Caneda said. “I thought it was perfect having the plates to write what you want to get rid of whether that’s eating related
or not,” Caneda said. “It gives everyone a chance to put all their thoughts into one spot and it’s cool to be visual and then getting to actually smash it is just pretty awesome.”
Students were able to do various activities around campus from Kelly Commons to Draddy Gymnasium. What had not been done before this year was the opportunity for students to sit on the quad in heated igloos and order food from Café 1853. Senior marketing major Christina Curtin discussed with The Quadrangle her opinion on the changes.
“We’ve been able to order pretty much anything, charcuterie, dessert, fruits and the hot chocolate which was really good and came out super quick,” Curtin said. “We didn’t even have to move, we just handed our card.”
Sophomore and commuter student Karen Lima was able to attend the last half of Wellness Day on campus, but was grateful she was with her friends for a calm morning. Lima recommended that the university post more of the events that will be featured around campus to insite more commuters to come.
“Maybe the events could be posted on the university’s Instagram, or somewhere where people can actually see
the events without looking for them,” Lima said. “Because I didn’t know until my friends told me about puppies and I love events like that. So I would be down to go anywhere.”
Gerarda Shields, dean of students and senior associate president of Student Life at MU shared how important it was for her to be involved in planning this event.
“When I was a student at Manhattan, it was incredibly important for me to be involved,” Shields said. “I was involved in Student Government, I was involved in athletics and I was involved in professional activities and engineering. So for me, it’s all part of the campus culture that you get involved, you promote service. As an administrator, it’s a no brainer wanting to be a part of Wellness Day. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with Nicole Brosnan in Student Engagement, and truthfully, between Jazi Riley and Nicolette Caneda, there were so many activities we were able to bring back and add which was amazing.”
The Quadrangle asked Shields what she hoped students would gain from the activities and events.
“If you like something, continue to stay involved,” Shields said. “If you like something and you want to
Students were able to participate in the smash the plate event on Jasper Wellness Day. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
lead it, champion it, help us do that because we’re creating programming and events that are meaningful to you and the
students. So, let us know, we’re for you, just tell us how we can support you.”
Through The Jasper Lens: Jasper Day of Wellness
WGRC Hosts First-Ever GenderClothingAffirming Drive
Mary Haley
Marketing Chair & Asst.
Features Editor
In the pursuit to support gender diversity, Manhattan University’s Women and Gender Resource Center (WGRC) hosted their very first transgender clothing drive on MU’s annual Wellness Day.
This particular clothing drive went further than just providing students with clothing. Andy Ortiz and Elliot Babilonia, two interns at the WGRC, explained that the clothing drive aimed to provide free, accessible genderaffirming clothing to trans and non-binary students.
After planning for this clothing drive over the last year, the WGRC decided to hold it on Wellness Day to emphasize the connection between genderaffirming clothing and mental and emotional wellbeing. Ortiz
explained to The Quadrangle that wearing gender-affirming clothing is a crucial part of self-care and can significantly impact a person’s overall wellbeing.
“Having gender-affirming clothes helps you feel comfortable in your body,” Ortiz said. “It’s about mental and emotional health, not just physical appearance.”
The drive offers clothing in various sizes and styles, with no requirements for exchange. Students can access items directly from the WGRC, providing a discreet and supportive environment for those exploring their gender identity.
While the clothing drive was featured on Wellness Day, Babilonia also emphasized that it’s an ongoing resource. Students can access genderaffirming clothing at the WGRC at any time, not just during the Wellness Day event.
“You could literally just walk
into the WGRC right now and take some clothes that would be gender affirming to you,” Babilonia said. “But another reason why we have it open all the time is just in case you don’t want to be outed. If you don’t want your friends knowing that you’re coming and taking some gender affirming clothing.”
Both interns resonated with the purpose of this drive. Babilonia, who came out at ten years old, understands the financial barriers many trans youth face.
“When I was younger, I couldn’t afford genderaffirming clothing,” Babilonia said. “This drive eliminates that obstacle.”
Ortiz shared a similar experience.
“I wasn’t really accepted when I first came out,” Ortiz said. “It took my mom, like, three years to really wrap her head around the fact that I was gender fluid. I’m on
testosterone, and getting that was expensive, and something I had to do on my own. Getting my own clothes is something I have to do on my own, and it was a very isolating experience, because I had friends that accepted me, but at the end of the day, sometimes you want your family to also be there for you when you go through these major changes and you’re exploring yourself. It was hard enough for me to go through my own experiences, and I wouldn’t want that for another trans person that’s going through that, or worse.”
The initiative is part of a broader commitment to inclusivity. The WGRC emphasizes that their space welcomes all students, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
According to the WGRC’s instagram, @mu_wgrc, it is “An inclusive space at Manhattan University for student
experiences related to gender, sexuality and justice.”
When the WGRC dropped the “L” for “Lasallian” in their name in the spring of 2023, the staff worried that it would give the impression that this resource on campus is more exclusive. The staff now emphasizes that the center is inclusive of all identities.
“Every single student at the university is affected by the things that we talk about,” Babilonia said.
The conversation does not end here for the WGRC. They have many upcoming events, including their International Transgender Day of Visibility event on March 31, held by Babilonia, and Ortiz’s Discuss Success conversations being held in March and April. Both, along with the broader WGRC, look forward to continuing their mission of creating supportive campus spaces.
WGRC interns Elliot Babilonia (left) and Andy Ortiz (right).
How to Pull an AllNighter and Live to Tell the Tale: MU Student Brings College Life to the Stage arts & entertainment
Karen Flores Senior Writer
Laughter rang through Thomas Hall on Friday as audience members watched Manhattan University’s Players most recent production: How to Pull an All-Nighter and Live to Tell the Tale.
The production was written by one of MU’s own students, Robert Nolan. Nolan is a senior computer engineering major and has been part of MU Players for a large part of his college career.
Nolan shared with The Quadrangle that the idea for this production was to summarize some of his own experiences while in college.
“During my junior year, I’m pretty sure I counted that during one semester I pulled about 53 all-nighters, and that really takes its toll on you,” Nolan said. “I always really wanted to get something finished in full, and I started doing that. I wrote a few things
all the way through … and I realized that I like theater a lot. There’s this opportunity, the student slot, where you can possibly write your own script and direct it.”
Prior to directing his first production, Nolan decided to try to gain as much experience directing shows for the MU Players as possible, in order to learn the ins and outs of how a production works both on and off stage.
“I spent a lot of last year working on Players to get myself prepared to possibly direct the student slot and the fall cabaret,” Nolan said. “I spent a lot of time writing it, too, and eventually it was ready. By the time we had to pitch our plays, I’d gone through a bunch of drafts and I submitted it, and it got chosen this year, and I’m extremely grateful. It’s a little surreal seeing something you made be put in front of you for the first time. It’s really incredible to see.”
Matthew Regalado, a senior biochemistry major, played the role of Chris, the protagonist,
who’s a college student trying to manage his academic and social life after pulling an allnighter to study for an exam.
Regalado said that this production marks his first time acting on stage. He shared his thoughts on reading the script for the first time and reflected on the process of preparing for the role.
“It’s my first time acting and it was a really rewarding experience. Not because of the audience, but it was just something new that I really wanted to do before I lost my chance to in college,” Regalado said. “I read the script the day the cast list came out. I read it in one sitting and I thought ‘this thing is so funny, I can’t wait to start.’ I had to wait until after winter break, but I was ready to hit the ground running.”
James Cullen, a junior marketing major, played the role of Gary, the protagonist’s best friend. Throughout the show, Gary worries about his friend’s wellbeing but is also not afraid to have fun.
Cullen shared that he and
Nolan have been friends since childhood and expressed feeling grateful for being able to play a part in bringing his creation to life.
“Rob and I, we both write, so he sent me the script to see what I thought about it before he turned it in,” Cullen said. “I don’t think my word carried that much weight, because he wrote it for three years. But watching my friend direct his own show, who I’ve known forever, and seeing how he’s going about it, what his thought process is, and to act alongside it, I think it’s a really good way to understand how you want to portray your creation. He put so much into this. I wanted to help him put on a show that he could be satisfied with, and to learn from him as he does it. It was a great experience.”
Regalado expressed similar sentiments and said that Nolan was a great director to work with as he fosters a space for creativity.
“Rob is the type of director that fosters and encourages a lot of ideas during rehearsal,” Regalado said. “During rehearsal we would all try new things or we would say ‘Oh, what if I do this? What if I try it in a new way? Or what if I say it with a prop in my hand?’ So having him encourage this and hear our ideas out made it so fun to just be at rehearsal with a lot of my friends and put the show together in a way that was fun for everybody.”
Ian Pruiksma, a junior nuclear medicine major, shared that this was her first time acting and said she enjoyed being part of the group.
“I liked watching the show and my role develop, especially when I threw the gum packets at Chris because it wasn’t added until a week before opening date and that was fun,” Pruiksma said. “That’s my favorite part as well as seeing
Matthew Regalado playing Chris in this years MU Players production.
KAREN FLORES / THE QUADRANGLE
everyone’s reaction. When I read the script I thought it was so funny so I was excited to be in it.”
Nolan hopes that students not only enjoy the show but also leave with something to think about. He shares some advice as a senior to all those who are struggling with college at the moment.
“You’re gonna hear a lot of people saying a lot of different things to you and one day, you’re just gonna have to sit down and ask yourself what you want and be really serious about it,” Nolan said. “Really, the main thing is, don’t let it hurt you long term. Even in the play, I say all-nighters are going to happen no matter what when you have a big workload. But don’t let the bitterness the allnighters and workload bring steep into your life.”
Pipes and MarchesDrums into March arts & entertainment
Brooke Della Rocco News Editor
Manhattan University’s Pipes and Drums announced their parade schedule for the month of March, in honor of Irish Heritage Month.
Every year, Pipes and Drums members look forward to March due to their busy schedule, which consists of nine parades this year. Dan Maher, 2009 Manhattan University alumnus and piper in the band, discussed the importance of Pipes and Drums representation at these events.
“We play so many parades during the month of March,” Maher said. “It’s pretty much every Saturday and Sunday from the beginning of March all the way to the end. So when you’re a part of the band,
especially if you’re someone like me who’s got a really strong family connection and Irish heritage, it’s the greatest thing…You’re going to all these different celebrations and seeing how Irish heritage is celebrated in different parts of the Tri-state area.”
According to the band members, there tends to be more contribution to Irish heritage in New England than other locations around the country. This ultimately makes the experience a more enriching one.
“It’s really something we benefit from in this particular area, because I’ve lived in other parts of the country too,”
Maher said. “You know, you don’t realize how spoiled you are when you’re here because when you go elsewhere, that strong Irish heritage doesn’t exist. It’s kind of mesmerizing and awe-inspiring for people
because they just don’t have that same connection to it that we do here.”
Pipes and Drums is a unique group on campus due to its major alumni involvement. Not only are members encouraged to stay in the group after graduation, but most do.
John Howard, an MBA student on the accounting track, shared the benefits of being a part of Pipes and Drums.
“I think what’s really nice about the band as a whole, is the fact that we do have alumni coming, and we meet tons of alumni,” Howard said. “It’s great to have a stepping stone for meeting older Jaspers who have careers. I believe there are some people that have gotten internship positions or career positions through knowing someone from the band.”
While some students initially get involved with Pipes and Drums their freshman
year of college, Howard was introduced to playing Irish music at a young age. Originally playing the accordion, he had a strong interest in attending a college or university that had a pipe band. After completing his freshman year in the band, he stuck with it, now looking forward to the month of March every year.
Senior civil engineering major Brendan Keane, is drum sergeant for this academic year. Leading the communication of the songs being played during the parades, Keane discussed his love for the group.
“I would say it’s great to keep the tradition going of music,” Keane said. “I loved going to these parades before [and] just listening to it. You can hear it a mile away. I always love going, and I’m happy to continue the tradition.”
Pipes and Drums members encourage different students
among the campus community to join the band and take part in representing Irish heritage and culture. The band is able to instruct students on how to play the bagpipe or drums and tries to provide all equipment for free, including the uniform and instruments.
Maher went on to express the importance of the group and the aid it provided in keeping him connected to Manhattan University.
“I think for me, being a part of the Pipes and Drums really kept a connection to Manhattan that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” Maher said. “[I’m] still going back to the school for practices, still going to the events with the band and still talking to the other students.”
Pipes and Drums looks forward to the month of March, and hopes to serve and represent the school’s Irish heritage well.
Manhattan University’s Pipes and Drums marches in the NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on 5th Ave.
JOHN HOWARD / COURTESY
Jasper Jams: ‘Automatic’ Edition
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
I am honestly ashamed to say I’ve been a member of this publication for three years now, and this is my first time ever writing a Jasper Jams. However, it is quite fitting that my first go-around for this column would be for The Lumineers’ first album release since I began college. For those who may not know, my blood, and Spotify, run for The Lumineers. I attended both tours for their albums III and Brightside (and yes, also have my name down for presale for this time around). The band’s newest album, Automatic, released on Valentine’s Day, and I could not have thought of a better way to celebrate.
According to the band’s Instagram announcement of the album, Automatic, “explores some of the absurdities of the modern world, like the increasingly blurry line between what’s real and what’s not, and the variety of ways we numb ourselves while trying to combat both boredom and overstimulation.”
Every song on this album has such a deep meaning behind it no matter how the listener interprets it. So, without any further adieu, here’s my ranking of the songs on the album, from the ones I’ve had on repeat since release to the ones that didn’t quite make the cut for my personal playlist.
Same Old Song (SOS)
This song was the one that the band used to tease the album, and for good reason, I’d rank this one second overall. It has a very traditional Lumineers feel, with the energy that they’re known for coming
through unapologetically. I found that this song lays the framework for the rest of the album and its messaging in a very calculated and intentional way.
Favorite Lyrics: The party has been done for hours/I’m laying on the bathroom tile/ Spilling all my guts below the throne
Asshole
This one probably ranks around fifth on the album for me. I really love the piano introduction, but found that the build up doesn’t match what feels like a low-energy chorus. The intro line is reminiscent of some of the songs off of Cleopatra, which is probably why I like it so much. This all being said, the lyricism in this song is one of my favorites on the album.
Favorite Lyrics: And all the twenty-something mannequins/Their hearts are barely broken in/But maybe I’m just a coward envyin’ the brave.
Strings
This short 32-second piece is one of two instrumental-only pieces on the album. While it’s gotten mixed reviews, I found this to be a nice break in the album. I also think that The Lumineers have some amazing instrumentalists in their band, so I’m all for any chance to showcase them.
Automatic
While SOS served as the tease for the album, this song is its namesake. For the theme of the album, Automatic is much more somber than I would’ve expected. I think this is one of the songs on the album that plays into the “combatting overstimulation” part of its
description. This one rates around sixth overall for me. It isn’t bad, it just wasn’t one that stuck with me.
Favorite Lyrics: And the nursery rhymes/You learned when you were only five/ They’re darker than the dead of night/We sang ‘em just the same
You’re All I Got
This is absolutely hands down my number one favorite for this album. I played it so many times in the first days of its release that I already know the lyrics by heart. Everything about this piece - the lyrics, the instrumentals, the rhythm, I fell in love with instantly. There’s something so soft about it, yet you want to scream the lyrics. I can only hope that this one will become a staple at their concerts going forward (it certainly has become one on my playlist), and if I had to recommend one song off the album for everyone to listen to, I would send them here.
Favorite Lyrics: And I can’t give it up/like Sisyphus below the rock
Plasticine
This one ranks closer to the bottom of the album for me. Something about the introductory chords turns me off and I feel like it takes away from what is actually a very powerful message in the song. This was another one that hasn’t stuck with me and that I’ve been skipping more than playing.
Favorite Lyrics: Plasticine, I can bend me into anything you need/Self-assured with the teleprompters feedin’ you the words
Ativan
This one is once again up there as one of my favorites on the album, ranking around third. It’s one of those songs that you can immediately pick up the beat of and want to sing along to, even if you don’t know the lyrics. Listening to this song immediately transports my mind to dancing with someone in the streets on a warm summer night. As the title suggests, the song reminds you of that one person who’s even better than your anxiety medicine. The lyrics for this song are just so cohesive and ingenious its impossible not to immediately fall in love with them.
Favorite Lyrics: I’ll be on the bullet train to Neverland/ Your enemy with benefits, we’rе free/I’ll provide the poison and the mеdicine/The only thing you’re ever gonna need
Keys on the Table
While an emerging fan favorite, this one ranks around seventh for me on the album. While I like it, I’m always a bigger fan of the more energetic Lumineers songs and this one is certainly more low-key. What I will say: the reference back to “You’re All I Got” gave this one an added meaning and made it one of the necessary connectors for listening to the album from top to bottom. If you’re looking for an addition to your chill playlist, this one is definitely the one for you.
Favorite Lyrics: And, honestly I feel ashamed to breathe/I can’t believe we lost to the machine
Better Day
In terms of the more relaxed songs on the album, this is probably my favorite. I’d put this one at fourth overall. The piano chords on this one are
reminiscent of The Lumineers’ very first album, which are always feel-good throwback staples on my playlists. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I think this will become one of my new go-tos. This is another one that it’s worth giving the lyrics a closer look to really understand the messaging.
Favorite Lyrics: Teenagers lead the crusades/Senators, insider trades/Blue lights keep red eyes awake/Teenagers lead the parade
Sunflowers
Sunflowers is the second purely instrumental song on this album, this one clocking it at just over a minute long. I love the placement of these instrumental pieces in the album - I feel like they add so much tone and emotion to the album as a whole, and allow listeners to sit and appreciate the lyricism of the songs they do sing in even more. The lead in from the end of ‘Sunflowers’ into ‘So Long’ is also flawlessly executed.
So Long
While an appropriate finale to the album, this one also ranks pretty low on my overall scale. I would’ve loved to see one final burst of energy to finish out Automatic, and I found this one to be fairly lowkey. This being said, the lyrics in this song wove together the others from throughout the album which I appreciated. You can tell that this song was wellthought out and intentional as the final puzzle piece, leaving its interpretation up to each listener.
Favorite Lyrics: Sit in isolation all the time/I’ll be on the ocean in your eyes/Tell it on the mountain, “He’s arrived”/ Maybe we’ll be famous when we die
sports
MU Track and Field Sets New School Records and Secures Multiple First-Place Titles at the MAAC Championship
This past weekend, the Manhattan University track and field teams participated in the MAAC Championship, where athletes not only brought home multiple first-place titles, but even broke school records. The championship began on Feb. 22, and took place at The Armory, an indoor track and field facility located in Washington Heights.
The men’s team ended up placing fourth overall at the end of the championship, while the women’s team placed ninth. Throughout both teams, a number of athletes individually scored gold within their divisions and were also able to achieve new personal records.
Darion Lopez, a senior at MU and a sprinter on the men’s track and field team broke the school record during the 200-meter race not once, but twice during the championship. On day one of the event, Lopez finished at 21.61 seconds. Moving on to day two, he broke his own record again, finishing at 21.60 seconds, which now stands as the new school record. In addition, Lopez also set another school record during the 60-meter race at the Giegengack Invitational on Feb. 15, finishing at 6.84 seconds.
Lopez spoke about how he went into the MAAC Championship with a positive attitude and performed to the best of his ability. He mentioned how he knew he wanted to run fast this tournament and just give it his all.
“I didn’t really expect this to happen, but it was awesome. It just felt electric,” Lopez said. “I knew I wanted to run fast going into the MAAC Championship, so I just kind of went out there and ran as hard as I could in the first round. I looked up at the clock and saw the time and that was something that I got really excited about.”
Lopez explained that a part of why he was able to perform so successfully was due to new training methods he has incorporated into his routine.
He mentioned how he has been speeding time practicing in the pool, which he says has helped him be able to reach new limits during his races. This new training technique was introduced to Lopez after he spent a lot of last season injured. This new method serves as a modified approach to training in an efficient and safe manner.
“Last year, I was getting injured a lot,” Lopez said. “So this year, we kind of took a different approach and started utilizing pool workouts. I’ve been doing a lot of pool training for speed work, so that I don’t really injure myself as much. I’ve been doing modified workouts, rather than what the majority of the team has been doing. I think it really has been helping.”
In addition to Lopez’s record-breaking performances, other athletes have also had standout achievements where they accomplished beating their personal goals and won several other awards at the MAAC Championship.
Theodore Lodge, a freshman and a jumper on the men’s track and field team at MU was labeled Field Rookie of the Meet, which is an award handed out to the top performing first-year athletes within a field event.
Not only did Lodge get to bring home a new title, but he also landed himself a silver medal and was runner-up in the men’s triple jump. Lodge spoke about how this was a monumental moment for him because the jump that allowed him to place second also served as a personal record for him.
“The jump that gave me silver was a PR, so I guess that was a personal achievement for me,” Lodge said. “Honestly, it was just a great experience to have, especially as a freshman. That was my first MAAC Championship. I didn’t know what it was like, so it was a great experience to have.”
Although this was Lodge’s first time competing at the MAAC Championship alongside other MU track and field athletes, he mentioned how the team never fails to uplift and motivate one another
Darion Lopez pictured at the MAAC Championship after beating the school record in the 200 meter race, only to break it again the following day.
on and off the field. Lodge spoke about how although track and field can come off as an individualistic sport, there is actually a great team aspect to it as well.
“Sometimes track and field can be seen only as an individual sport, because at the end it’s just you. But, you are always around people who are exactly like you,” Lodge said. “Sure, there is friendly banter, you want to beat them, they want to beat you, but at the end of the day, you want to do good for the whole team. There is a big team aspect to track and field. And I think that’s what really pushes us to be better.”
While there were many accomplishments carried out during this past weekend’s MAAC Championship, Kerri Inman, the director and coach of the MU track and field team expressed how the athletes are better than a fourth and ninth
@JASPERSXCTF / INSTAGRAM
place title. Inman spoke about how the track and field team has been faced with several injuries and illnesses leading up to the championship, hence why the overall placements may not have been as high as expected.
With that said though, Inman also explained that although the final placements were not ideal, there was still an abundance of individual accomplishments and firstplace wins by several athletes, which is what she is really honing in on.
“The men’s team was picked for fourth, and I expressed to the team that we should be offended by that because we’re better than that,” Inman said. “We had a rough stretch of some injuries and illnesses. So, that team finish was really tough. I already knew that we would be a little bit short staffed, so I let the other coaches know that
we’re going to celebrate every small win, and the men’s team was able to compensate and fill in some of those gaps from the final placements.”
Inman mentioned how regardless of the end placements, the MAAC Championship was a historical moment for MU, with an abundance of wins from both the men’s and women’s track and field teams. On opening day alone, Jasper athletes took home three golds.
“We had two event winners on the men’s side, and we had one on the women’s side,” Inman said. “We had two silvers on the men’s side and a bronze on the men’s side, which was perfect. And then, also on the men’s side, we had the Rookie of the Meet award for Theodore. And then, also Darion beating the school record both days. It’s great.”
Laili Shahrestani
Features Editor
Jaspers Clinch Their Ticket to Atlantic City With a Win Over the Canisius Griffins
Isaiah Rosario Senior Writer
It was International Sports Day in Draddy Gymnasium for Manhattan University Women’s Basketball as the Lady Jaspers (13-13, 7–10 MAAC) took on the Canisius Griffins (7-20, 6–11 MAAC).
In the 2024-25 season, the Lady Jaspers have the thirdmost international players in NCAA DI. They have players from five international countries: Spain, Denmark, Croatia, Israel and Germany. MU only trails the University of South Florida (11) and UTEP (10) for international players.
“I like to play with international [players],” Jaspers guard Nitzan Amar said. “Of course, it’s a different basketball, but I don’t feel the difference between international and American players. We all play together, and I really like the chemistry of this team.”
A month away from the MAAC Tournament in Atlantic City, NJ, ahead of the matchup, the Jaspers sat at ninth place in the conference. After Friday’s contest, they currently remain in ninth place, and with their win against Canisius, will officially clinch their ticket to the MAAC Tournament.
It certainly has not been the season the Jaspers were looking for, as coming into the matchup, they had lost 4 of their 5 previous games. The Lady Jaspers looked to turn it around against the team that is right ahead of them in the MAAC standings.
“I feel like one of the things that we’ve been focusing on the second half the season is gratitude and being grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team and to have the opportunity to come to practice every day, to get better and to get to play basketball with your best friends,” Vulin said about her pregame message to the players. “Even though the record isn’t where the Manhattan Jaspers expect it to be right now, all we can control are these games going forward and getting into playoff mode.
We talked about [seeing] every game going forward now like a playoff game, and to try to prepare our minds and reps in that fashion.”
Early in the first quarter, both teams took advantage of the space in the interior as at the first media timeout, all of the Griffins’ points and 80% of the Jaspers’ points came from inside the paint.
Shots were flying for the Jaspers as they put up 18 shots at the end of the first, which tied their season high of shots in the first quarter. At the end of the first, the Jaspers led by three points.
At the second quarter media timeout, it was all Jaspers as they began the quarter on a 9-3 run backed by 4 unanswered points by Amar to extend the lead to nine. Their main success could be linked to forcing Canisius into nine turnovers and scoring 10 points off of those.
The Griffins committed the second most turnovers in the MAAC with about 24 turnovers per game, which was certainly something the Jaspers kept in mind, wanting to come out with a win.
“We haven’t had a lot of
numbers for practice the last couple months, so we’ve kind of taken the press off a little bit, just because we’re trying to keep people healthy that are healthy, because we had so many people that haven’t been but it was really fun to have the press back,” Vulin said. “I’m a very aggressive coach, I love the press, and I just thought for us not playing it as much these last few weeks. I thought it looked really good, and I thought it really rattled them, and that was definitely part of our game plan.”
At the end of the second quarter, the Jaspers led by 19 points. The first half was some of the best basketball that the fans have seen from the Jaspers all season. They dominated on both the defensive and offensive ends.
The Jaspers forced the Griffins into 13 turnovers, and the Jasper bench almost outscored the entire Griffins offense. The leading scorer for the Jaspers at the half was Amar, who had 13 points. In the second quarter, the Jaspers outscored the Griffins by 16. “We just played our basketball and what we’ve
been practicing,” Amar said. “We put a lot of effort on our scout and our principal, and I think we showed it today.”
The offense picked up right where they left off to open up the second half. The second half began with a layup for the Griffs, until Manhattan’s Tegan Young went on an 8-0 run by herself with two three-pointers and a driving layup.
Young continued to rapidly gain points for the Jaspers as she had two points heading into halftime and had 12 points in the third quarter. Early in the season, Young came off the bench and now she will be critical for the Jaspers’ championship run in March.
“This team moves the ball really well, and we’re good enough that anybody can have an on night, and I was just making my shots tonight, but really, it can be anybody any night,” Young said.
After the first quarter, the Jaspers defense locked in. In the first quarter, the Jaspers allowed the Griffins to shoot 50%, and since that mark, the Griffins shot 33% in the second quarter and 20% in the second quarter. The Jaspers led by 30 at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter was running the motions as the lead remained in the thirties. Vulin kept her main rotation in place for the majority of the fourth quarter. At the under fourminute mark, Vulin took out all her starters as the win was out of reach for the Griffins.
The final score of the game was 71-35, with the Jaspers coming out on top. The leaders for the Jaspers were Young with 17 points, Petra Juric with seven rebounds, and Amar and Brianna Davis each with four assists.
The Jaspers’ defense was the story of the day as they held the Griffins to 33% shooting and shooting 5% from three. The Jaspers also dominated in the paint as they scored 40 inside and additionally were up 17 in points off turnovers.
With the win, the Jaspers officially clinched their ticket to Atlantic City. Their seeding remains unknown with three games left to play.
“I’m stoked,” Young said about the team clinching their ticket to MAACs. “This whole team is super excited. We’ve been preparing for this all year, and we just want to go to that tournament and show everybody what Manhattan is made of.”
The international student-athletes on the Manhattan University women’s basketball team on International Sports Day. ISAIAH ROSARIO/ THE QUADRANGLE