Students,familiesandalumniwereencouragedtoattendalongsidetheuniversity. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
ManhattanUniversity’sKinesiology DepartmentAnnouncesNew HealthScienceandHealthcare AdministrationMajors
Leyla Mercado Arts and Entertainment Editor
Manhattan University’s Department of Kinesiology has announced new majors including health science alongside the revised major of healthcare administration. These majors have been created in the pursuit of providing students with a wide range of educational choices regarding their future health profession.
Since 1935, the department has had a physical
education major, and in the 1970s, a drop of interest in the major ignited the creation of an exercise science major.
Over the past few years, the department has decided to introduce the major of public health and now is adding health science and revising health administration, making it an undergraduate major beginning in fall 2025.
Shawn Ladda, professor and department chairperson of kinesiology, spoke to The Quadrangle about the public health major and the gateway it’s provided into the department’s new majors.
“Medical schools, as well
as other health professions, are looking for a variety of majors,” Ladda said. “A few years ago we started the public health major, so we’ve had that in the department for a number of years. That allows a student to pursue health professions … With the recent pandemic, I think people understand more the importance of public health and having infrastructures that support all people with a variety of health issues with the environment [and] different disparities with
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Production & Web Editor
Hany Guirguis, Ph.D., has accepted the role as full-time dean of the O’Malley School of Business after serving as interim dean for the past year. The decision was announced by Provost Kenneth Sumner, Ph.D., in an email sent out on March 11.
Since his appointment as interim dean last March, Guirguis has been hard at work improving the school of business and the overall college experience for students.
“I never perceived it as an interim dean position, and the first time I met with faculty I was very clear that I was going to take the position as a permanent position,” Guirguis said. “We don’t have one year to waste waiting for someone else to come along, or for myself to start thinking about what needs to be done. So from day one, we’ve been focusing on our long-term plans.”
These long-term plans largely involve increasing enrollment, which has been on the decline at Manhattan University for the past few years. However, increasing enrollment is just the end product in a long process that Guirguis has begun.
“You can’t just start by saying ‘all my policies focus on enrollment’-- enrollment is the side effect of other things,” Guirguis said. “So you have to focus on quality. You have to focus on expanding your service. You have to focus on morale amongst the students
and the faculty. You have to have your own long-term plans, and then enrollment will come and accreditation will come, but it’s just a side effect of what you are trying to achieve.”
Guirguis has been associated with the university since joining the school as a professor in 2000. He’s deeply involved in the business school, currently teaching as well as acting as advisor to the MU Fed Challenge team, all alongside his current role as dean. According to Clay Pinkham, a junior finance and economics double major who has worked closely with Guirguis, he has a reputation amongst students for being extremely hardworking and caring.
“To the students who are close to him, he cares very much and will drop anything he’s doing to aid whatever it is you may need from him,” Pinkham wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “He works hard, he is intense, his classes are challenging, but it comes from a place of love for the students and their ability to succeed.”
Sean Li, another junior finance and economics double major, shared similar sentiments about Guirguis.
“I have a lot of respect for him and I look up to him very greatly, simply because I know what his work ethic is like,” Li said. “I see him working and I see what he does. He constantly tells us and other [Fed Challenge team] members about the many sacrifices that he’s had to make
Barbara Vasquez
Volume CXI, Issue 9
MARCH 25, 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.
LETTER from the EDITOR
Dear Readers,
Hello, and welcome back!
While we missed you last week, members of our campus enjoyed a well-deserved week off filled with rest and relaxation. The Quadrangle had staff traveling all over, from Ireland and London to California and Tennessee. I myself spent the week off back home in Rochester, NY, appreciating the little things I miss when I’m gone for 10 months of the year. My favorite coffee shops, walks along the Erie Canal and visiting friends filled my week, and I could not have wished for a better way to spend it.
Since it’s been two weeks since we last checked in, we’re bringing you everything that’s been going on around campus. For this issue, I had the honor of covering Scatterbomb, MU’s comedy/improv group, as they took on their first-ever competition alongside other prestigious NYC groups at the legendary Upright Citizen’s Brigade theatre. Be sure to check it out - these students truly put their all into representing MU in the best way possible.
It would not be a spring lettidor without a gentle reminder that we are still fundraising to support our spring print issues and other spring Quadrangle traditions! We have yet to receive any donations and appreciate absolutely anything you have to contribute. As I mentioned in our previous issue, we will be keeping the fundraiser open throughout the end of the spring semester. Even if you’re not able to help support financially, we ask that you share our donation link with friends, family and across social media. Our donation link can be found here.
Next week, I am also happy to announce that we will be bringing you a very special double issue, half in print and half online. This issue is a tradition at MU and has been since the 1980s, and it brings our staff and me immense joy to put it together for you once again. If you know, you know… if you don’t, be sure to keep your eyes peeled!
As I mentioned, this issue is full of everything you may have missed the last two weeks. In news, we discuss Hany Guirguis’ transition into a permanent dean role along with new majors in the kinesiology department. In features, we review Justin Torres’ visit to campus and the rebirth of the JustPeace club on campus. In A&E, in addition to Scatterbomb’s competition, we cover a fantastic student mural in progress and bring you a spring-edition Jasper Jams. Lastly, in sports, we cover the Games of the Week. We hope you’ll check it all out!
Until next time,
to reach certain points in life and be as productive as he is, so I have very high reverence for the dean.”
For some students, the decision to appoint Guirguis as permanent dean is one that can only be beneficial.
“Continuity is the most important thing for the school right now,” Pinkham wrote. “He [Guirguis] has been here longer than most. He knows this school better than most. And he will probably be here for the remainder of his career. He cares about this school and the students like it’s one of his children. I have full confidence, not a doubt in my heart that this permanent decision will drastically benefit the school. Simply put he knows what needs to be done.”
Li agreed and mentioned some strengths of Guirguis’ that will be a benefit to the position.
“I think what he’s already proposed as interim dean has
been great, and I think that success will continue as the official dean, because he’s very goal oriented,” Li said. “He’s very driven in seeing actual results, and I don’t see how that type of mentality would lead to any downfalls or shortcomings.”
Guirguis plans on treating this new position as simply a succession of his time as interim dean, with no real changes made apart from office location. However, serving as interim dean has given him some enlightenment that he previously didn’t have.
“Your role as dean is different from your role as a faculty member, so if you come in with a faculty mindset and try to do your job as dean, it can create some issues,” Guirguis said. “I think you need to still have the faculty mentality, but you have to keep in mind that there is an administrative part of your job that might influence how your decisions would be perceived–this would be one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned
from the priceless experience [of serving as interim dean]. Maybe the long term goals haven’t changed, but how you achieve them and how you have approached them has become more sophisticated and more effective as we go through the process of learning from it and adjusting to it.”
Guirguis is dedicated to creating a great learning environment for students and ensuring faculty productivity and efficiency. With this in mind, he hopes to hear from students and make sure he’s on the right track to reach these goals.
“I am so eager to hear the students’ voices, what they recommend, their feedback, their suggestions,” Guirguis said. “We are here for you guys, we’re not teaching for the sake of teaching and listening to ourselves for hours and hours. You are the final product of what we are trying to achieve–and I’m saying this as an educator, as an academician, as an administrator, as everyone who’s working at this
institution.”
Amongst students, there already seems to be high hopes for what Guirguis can achieve with this role as full-time dean.
“Dr. G is definitely somebody who’s always giving
his 110 percent,” Li said. “That type of person who’s so involved and so committed is perfectly fit for the dean role, and I think he’ll be a great permanent addition to the business school.”
ManhattanUniversity’sKinesiologyDepartmentAnnounces NewHealthScienceandHealthcareAdministrationMajors
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health care, as there’s a lot of different health issues.”
Ladda further discussed what ignited the decision in implementing the new majors of health science and health administration, and how she intends to guide students through deciding on their major of choice.
“We added a major called health science, a new major in our department
that gives students another choice in terms of a major they could go into the health professions,” Ladda said. “We also just approved another undergraduate major within the department, that’s healthcare administration. So one could major in exercise science, public health, health science [and] healthcare administration. One might ask, why would you want one major over the other? How I advise prospective students is really to look at each major
and look at the classes required for each, to then decide, what classes sound more interesting to me.”
Marcy Kelly, Ph.D, dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences, elaborated on how she sees these additional majors complementing the department’s existing programs.
“I think it perfectly aligns with the programs that they [the kinesiology department] currently offer,” Kelly said. “We’ve restructured the curriculum or the courses into this new curriculum to highlight all of the sources that would be required to prepare a student for postgraduate work in nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant, or any health related program. What’s really cool about health science and healthcare administration is that we purposely embedded in both of them the public health minor, so students would not only receive their BS (Bachelors of Science) in either one of them, but also the minor in public health.” Kelly further discussed what she hopes students take away from this program by
the time they graduate.
“I just hope that they’re well informed, scientifically literate,” Kelly said. “This semester has been really interesting because of the political landscape that we’re experiencing and the, I’ll say, attack on science. As somebody who works with infectious disease, with all of this stuff going on with vaccines, I think it’s really, really, really important that we educate our future healthcare professionals to be able to communicate to the public some important information that seems to have been politicized that shouldn’t be, and really be able to share accurate correct information to keep everybody healthy.”
These new changes to MU’s kinesiology department are designed to benefit the student body as they continue to explore their academic and professional interests. These new opportunities and career paths are meant to introduce more engaged and handson learning within their prospective fields of science.
Sean Mannion, senior exercise science major on a pre physical therapy track, elaborated on how impactful
this change to the department would be for students.
“I think it’s good,” Mannion said. “It’s always better to have more than less, and it gives students more opportunities. I know that as someone like me, who switched from civil engineering to pre physical therapy and exercise science, I thought it was exactly what I needed and exactly what I wanted…I feel like with less, you restrict people to certain things but with more, you allow them to open up and go down new avenues.”
Mannion also explained the importance of these new majors when it comes to current and future kinesiology students at MU.
“I think it would be a good foundation because college is hard,” Mannion said. “You don’t really know what you want to do, so if you’re able to find these new avenues that allow you to build yourself up to be the best person you can and a job that you’ll enjoy, I feel like it would be beneficial … Whenever you allow people to express themselves, it’s always going to be for the better.”
Hany Guirguis, Ph.D. with previous Fed Challenge team members. MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY / LINKEDIN.COM
Features
NovelistJustinTorres VisitsMUforReading, SigningandQ&ASession
Victoria Schiller Senior Writer
On March 10, the English department at Manhattan University welcomed critically acclaimed author Justin Torres to campus. The department is known for hosting their Major Author Reading Series, where faculty have invited several acclaimed authors and writers to visit campus to share their work, host Q&A sessions and meet students.
Torres’ first novel, “We the Animals” was a national bestseller and was later adapted into a feature film in 2018. His second novel, “Blackouts” won the National Book Award for fiction. The Quadrangle had the opportunity to speak to faculty and several students who attended the event.
Rocco Marinaccio, department chairperson of liberal learning and a professor of English at MU, has taught Torres’ books in several of his classes. Marinaccio spoke about the success of the night, along with why the Major Author Readings Series events are so important on campus.
“I love teaching his [Torres] work,” Marinaccio said. “I was an undergraduate here and we have a long history of bringing writers on campus.
It’s something we do really well because we’re in New York and we have a very thriving department of literature and languages, and liberal arts school in general. Like many things, it sort of declined a bit because of COVID and because we have less money to pay writers these days. It was really great to see this kind of energy. Some of the best events that I remember, I knew that people were there because they loved the work and that the work spoke to them. I don’t think we’ve ever had a crowd like that. You’re looking at around 150 people. I counted heads. There were a lot of people in that room.”
Marinaccio also shared how this event came about and what goes into the planning process of major events like these on campus.
“We ideally want to get someone where they’ve [students] read the work,” Marinaccio said. “I think that was part of what made the Torres reading so special. Many of us in many different courses teach his work. There were a lot of students. I could look out in the audience and see dozens upon dozens of students that I had taught, who I knew had read and liked the work. You want to bring someone whose work you think is just really good and interesting and worth listening to. Torres was a person who spoke to a wide audience. He has a really meaningful, authentic presence. As a queer novelist, Latinx novelist and as a first generation college student, we knew that he would reach a wide constituency of our students. And also, he’s a National Book Award winner. He is a major, major writer. He ticks all the boxes.”
Ashton Erb, a sophomore and sociology major, read “We the Animals” in Marinaccio’s English 150 course. Erb attended the event and shared her favorite part of the night.
“If I had to choose one, it would be when he [Torres] was reading out the chapters of the book and explaining some of it,” Erb said. “It was cool to hear the way that he says the sentences. The way that I read it is a different interpretation. Reading and art are subjective things, so it was really cool to hear it from his mind the way he wanted it to be heard. It was like reliving the book all over again in a different light. That was really cool. Just the way he talked to us, even when he was in front of the whole crowd, he was still personable in that there was a rhythm to the way
he talked. It was alive.”
Aaron Schoepf is a junior and an English major who attended the event. He had the opportunity to meet and speak with Torres throughout the night. It was also Schoepf’s first time attending an event from the Major Author Reading Series.
“I want to be a writer after I graduate, so Major Author Reading events are an extremely valuable resource to me,” Schoepf wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “‘We the Animals’ is such a raw, vulnerable piece about familial relationships, sexual identity
and mental health, something we can all relate to in some form or another. My favorite part of the event was Justin signing copies of his books. He took the time to talk to every single person who got their copies signed, even putting personalized messages in as well. Seeing this be received so well made me excited for the future of the English department, and hopefully they can do more events within the Major Author Reading Series next semester!”
*Editor’s Note: Elizabeth Kalaj contributed to reporting.
The Rebirth of JustPeace Club at Manhattan University
Flynn Myers Staff Writer
The Manhattan University JustPeace club has revived itself to help the campus community. The club prides itself on having resources to help provide answers and solutions for the hard questions people may have about topics within the current political, economic and social realm that pose the question, “What should we do?”
The president of JustPeace, Elle Feneide, is a junior who is double majoring in political science and English. Feneide has paved the way toward the rebirth of the club.
After the club’s March 11 meeting that approached a variety of topics, including the arrest of Mahmoud Kahlil, a former Columbia University student, Feneide told The Quadrangle how within the
current political climate of the United States, she thinks that many people may feel helpless or even overwhelmed. She emphasized how sources are flooding individual’s feeds with headline after headline, which can be an ineffective tactic in keeping people truly knowledgeable on events occurring in the world. Feneide hopes that JustPeace will serve as an informative space where people have access to the resources and support they may need to tackle any overwhelming feelings toward the current state of the U.S.
“There’s this political tactic called ‘flooding the zone’, where they have a ton of headlines going through, so no one can keep up with what’s truly going on,” Feneide said.
“When you’re constantly being faced with this reaction to news article after news article, you stop having the capacity to respond.”
Feneide went on to discuss the idea of picking specific
issues of concern to focus on, rather than trying to focus on them all at once, because it may cause one to freeze and feel more helpless.
“One of my biggest recommendations is limiting the amount of news you’re reading, which is hard, because most of the time you hear political activists saying to stay informed, but it’s not possible to keep up,” Feneide said. “One of the things that I strongly recommend is choosing one of two topics that matter to you.”
The secretary of JustPeace, Elliot Babilonia, shared his thoughts on people absorbing an abundance of news articles in a day, and what he thinks is the best way to stay grounded day-to-day.
“Consuming not only bad news, but also consuming good news is important,” Babilonia said. “Because, it gives you another reason to actually look forward to being aware about what’s going on in the world and in this country, and it’s important to be aware of what’s going on, but it’s okay if you don’t know everything.”
The MU JustPeace club has been revived to help the campus community.
The rebirth of JustPeace came about this semester after a wish from students to have a place where they can inform themselves on world news, while also learning how to become socially active in topics that are important to them. The advisor of JustPeace, Kevin Ahern, Ph.D., shared his hopes for the club and its future.
“For over a century, students at Manhattan University have put social justice values into action with student clubs,” Ahern said. “I hope that a renewed club will give students a sense of community and help them see ways that they can actually make changes on campus and in the world. In other words, hope.”
JustPeace meets every Tuesday at 5 p.m., and is going to be hosting an op-ed writing workshop on the evening of April 8, open to anyone who wishes to join.
Scatterbomb Makes History Competing For First Time Ever in NYC College Comedy Night
Grace Cardinal Editor-in-Chief
After a first-ever invite for the group, MU’s comedy improv group Scatterbomb competed in New York City College Comedy Night’s (NYCCCN) competition, hosted by the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). The March Mashup saw participants from highlyregarded colleges around the New York City area, including New York University, Columbia University and Marymount Manhattan College.
UCB is historic on the improv and sketch comedy scene, and originally emerged in 1996 with founding members including comedy legends Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, according to the institution’s website. Now, UCB serves as a training center and hub for stand up comedy in both New York City and Los Angeles.
When asked what the invitation for the group meant to them, members were excited and honored to be participating in a competition hosted by the famed comedy brigade.
“It’s really exciting,” freshman member Jasmine Chaitkin said. “My dad told me that he listens to a podcast by Mark Marin, and he interviews a lot of actors and comedians, and a lot of them started off there. So he’s really excited
that we’re going there, that a lot of actors and comedians had their start at UCB…I haven’t been with Scatterbomb for that long, only one semester and a half, but this is my first improv experience, and that we get to do something as cool as this [is] very, very exciting.”
The competition, with both an in-person studio audience and livestream, mixed up participants from the various groups to make four new ones that went head to head in the Wednesday night mashup. While the configuration of the evening was new for the group, it didn’t affect their preparation.
“I wanted lowkey to keep it more chill of a practice beforehand, because this is very nerve wracking,” Chayse Martino, co-president of Scatterbomb said. “That’s the worst part about it, honestly, everyone was so nervous, even I was so nervous about this. But for the prep, I was just trying to stay positive and have more fun games to play at practice. We didn’t really change how we set up or anything.”
If the challenge of improv isn’t hard enough, the participants had to work with a group of people entirely unfamiliar to them. Aside from a few texts, members of the mashed-up groups didn’t meet face-to-face until pre-show warmups the night of. This didn’t shake Scatterbomb’s confidence, however, with many of the members looking at the setup as an opportunity for growth and exposure to
UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE NYC / YOUTUBE
different improv styles and techniques.
“It’s really fun that we’re scrambled with other schools’ teams,” Chaitkin said. “So we get to meet new people and have different improv with different people, because they have different improv experiences than us, and different practices and different types of shows. So just learning from new people, meeting new people that are interested in the same activity as you, [is] very exciting.”
Martino, who was interviewed after the team’s Wednesday night performance, gave her perspective on the mashup after the fact.
“Performing with people that I never met before was really, I wouldn’t say hard, but it was really interesting, because you don’t know which direction they’re gonna take what you say, you know?,” Martino said. “I remember at one point, I started this scene, and if it had been one of my improv members, they would have got what I was trying to do, but it just went in a whole different direction. It honestly kind of reminds you how hard improv is. With the team, you get comfortable and you almost share a little brain cell. But with these people, there’s not that connection.”
Each team was given 12 minutes to perform, with a stand-up comedian doing a mini-performance between the groups. The end of each team’s time was marked by a red buzzer, a common practice in professional comedy theatres.
“There was this big buzzer, which was really fun,” Martino said. “That’s something that the theater does, so I’m glad that we got to experience the buzzer.”
For Scatterbomb member and senior Jared Lautenslager, who joined the group only weeks ago, this was his first time ever taking the stage as part of the group.
“I didn’t really expect my first Scatterbomb performance to be in front of a big group of people, but I’m someone that definitely welcomes all challenges, so I’m excited to put myself out there as a way to grow and do this sort of thing,” Lautenslager said.
Martino explained that
competing in such a historic venue was a bit of a surreal experience.
“It was just a proud moment, and I really could not get that smile off of my face of watching everyone on that stage, and then in the venue, they had a bunch of photos of all the celebrities that have been there,” Martino said. “I’m not gonna lie, I didn’t know too much about this theater besides the actual Upright Citizens Brigade improv group, but seeing all the cool people that were there, like Hopper from Stranger Things was there at one point, and I saw a picture of him, it was really a very proud moment. And I hope that Scatterbomb gets invited to these things in the future as well. I’m just really happy that we’re at the same level as NYU and Columbia.”
The group hopes that the competition will help Scatterbomb continue to be recognized as a high-level club for years to come.
“I want this to be kind of like a Scatterbomb legacy,” Martino said. “Since it’s my last year, I’m just happy that we got it started, because there’s so much potential in this group, with all the freshmen, with the juniors even. I’m really excited to see where Scatterbomb goes.”
As for what the rest of the Scatterbomb season holds, Lautenslager promises fun, laughter and even some “unhinged” behavior.
“People should definitely come to more Scatterbomb shows,” Lautenslager said. “They’re a lot of fun, even if you think, ‘Oh, that’s some stupid thing, I don’t want to go to that,’ It’s definitely a lot of fun. We definitely laugh. [I] hate to sound egotistical, but I’ll be in the next one, so I’m gonna really pop off [and] do some crazy stuff, you know, unhinged work out there. So definitely come through. See me totally embarrass myself.”
The date for Scatterbomb’s next show is still to be determined, and will be announced on their Instagram, @scatterbombmu, when the time comes.
Co-president of Scatterbomb Chayse Martino mid-skit. UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE NYC / YOUTUBE
Group member Jared Lautenslager takes center stage in his first-ever performance, with mashup group “P!nk Cover Band”.
Scatterbomb members (from left to right) Jack Devaney, Angelina Perez and Nick Tomczyk as they perform with the mashup group “Club Classics”. UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE NYC / YOUTUBE
Student Creativity Takes the Form of a Mural in Thomas Hall 5.17
María Castaño Contributor
The Manhattan University performing arts has commissioned a mural from senior student Madison Hackett to be painted in the rehearsal room of Thomas Hall 5.17.
As the department continues to work to enhance the experience of students involved in the performing arts, the mural is intended to make the space feel more inspiring and welcoming, while also paying tribute to the roots of jazz and rock with musicians such as Chuck Berry, Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis featured in the piece.
Andrew Bauer, an adjunct professor in the department and the director of performing arts on campus, was the one who encouraged Hackett to take on the project after she presented her idea to him. Bauer spoke with The Quadrangle about why the department felt the need to add a mural in the rehearsal room.
“Following the completion of the room, it just seemed to me that we needed to personalize it for our performing art performance,” Bauer said. “Also, it’s a beautiful room, but it’s kind of stale, it’s very simple and it didn’t have any personality, and we needed to add personality in the room.”
Hackett, a senior majoring in digital media arts with a double minor in business and music, shared with The Quadrangle her creative process and intentions behind the mural.
“[The inspirations for this mural were] the roots of jazz and rock because I think every modern and contemporary musician looks
back for inspiration to these guys.” Hackett said. “I know the Beatles which are going to be featured were huge fans of Chuck Berry so I think it’s a nod to musicians that are fans of these other great musicians, so it just keeps going back and I think it’s really amazing.”
This mural represents the roots of music, aiming to inspire students and make the rehearsal room more aligned with its purpose through art, while also adding deeper meaning to the space.
Mark Pottinger, Ph.D., department chairperson for communication, sound and media arts, spoke with The Quadrangle about the process of the room renovations and the importance of showcasing art on campus.
“There hasn’t been a renovation there since before my time and my time was 26 years ago, so the fact that there hasn’t been any sort of major update of that space was huge and so to mark that [we commissioned the mural]”
Pottinger said. “[This is] part of the three stages, where we just finished completing stage one. Stages two and three are basically turning the performing arts space, Thomas Hall 5.17 into a recording studio … so the mural is like putting a flag on the moon and saying this belongs to us, but also this is an acknowledgment of the creativity that the performing arts brings.”
One of the goals of the piece is to portray unity, and find a way to visually represent how all of the schools within Manhattan University come together through the performing arts spaces. Pottinger spoke to how he hopes the mural will convey this message.
“Through color and through line,” Pottinger said. “And object and design,
creating something that people can connect to orally because the space … it’s a sounding space, so a way to perceive as one looks out which connects us all.”
The renovations that took place in the rehearsal room were part of an overarching mission to better the resources on campus for performing arts students.
Bauer shared with The Quadrangle how this room began to take shape.
“Two years ago, the room was renovated, and prior to the renovation, the room was really terrible in terms of using it for rehearsal space for either singers or instrumentalist bands and things like that,” Bauer said. “So Brother Dan Gardner, who was the president at the time, secured funding to have the room completely renovated. He had a new floor put in, we had sound paneling on the walls, we had an acoustically appropriate ceiling put in, so the room is just completely redone.”
The performing arts groups on campus are open for anyone to join, allowing for individuals of various majors
to come together to enjoy and participate in the arts.
“I continue to see the place of the arts on campus as fundamental to the liberal arts education,” Pottinger said. “We’re not a technical school, we’re not a purely engineering school or business school, we are a university now that connects all three areas of study. For me, I’d like to see engineering involved more in the arts. I’d like to see the arts more involved in business, I’d like to see more integration… seeing this as one complete school. I think the performing arts is one key place where that takes place… I want to encourage that because this is really the mission of the school…to create this integrated sort of perspective of the student.”
Enhancing the visibility and importance of the arts is not only essential for the students who pursue more creative and artistic careers, but also for all students to create a sense of community on campus. The mural also serves as a way to showcase the historical diversity of music, and the artists throughout time who
have inspired current students most.
“I was also asking people, who do you want to see on the mural?” Hackett said. “I asked students and a lot of people gave me a lot of good ideas. I wanted to include different instruments starting with early jazz because a lot of contemporary musicians get all of their inspiration from early jazz … and I was thinking not only of jazz but of early jazz and who else other than John Berry. So it was a mix of asking students who they wanted to see and also featuring iconic figures that brought the foundation of music today.”
The art serves as a physical representation of student creativity on campus.
“I think the execution of this mural will instill confidence within our students that if they have ideas, they can come to fruition,” Bauer said. “Madison had an idea, and she presented it to us and we supported it. And I think that we want to have an environment where all students can contribute their ideas … [and] have the opportunity to have their ideas heard and executed.”
Jasper Jams: Spring’s Around the Corner
Flynn Myers Staff Writer
For my most recent Jasper Jams I wrote about the harshness of winter, emphasizing its end, that was never in sight. I am now here to tell you, spring is around the corner. I got my inspiration for a new playlist the other day when it hit 50℉ outside, the sun was shining on my face and I felt I had been cured of every sad feeling I got during this winter. I have a great feeling about spring, and want to give you a feel-good playlist to take with you as you make your final stretch to summer.
With tulips, daffodils and cherry blossoms, New York City is not unfamiliar to the new season. So many bright colors, pinks and greens, people starting to go on walks again and the weird smells from the sidewalks that start to make their way back because of the heat. Spring in New York is a beautifully messy season that I can’t wait to dive into.
Champagne Coast by Blood Orange
The consistent beat and satisfying vocals create a very cohesive song, one with an addictive chorus that is repetitive and makes you feel a million emotions. I think this song is great for walking through all those New York City neighborhood gardens, or even sitting in Central Park eating a good sandwich. Since
it’s not an overly complicated song, it does not demand much attention lyrically, making it great background music for whatever hobbies you have or even randomly dancing, because why not.
Favorite Verse: Finishing eight or nine/ Tell me, what’s the perfect time/ I told you I’ll be waiting/ Hiding from the rainfall/ Tell me what’s the joy of giving if you’re never pleased.
I Don’t Want to Talk (I Just Want to Dance) by Glass Animals
Glass Animals is a band that I really love so I had to add one of their songs. I personally listen to their older music, such as their album ZABA that came out in 2014 and their album Dreamland that came out in 2020. This specific song really puts me into an excited mood because of its fast pace and vocals. I think it fits perfectly into the spring season.
Favorite Verse: Don’t want to talk, baby, I just wanna dance/ I don’t want to talk, no more living in the past, baby/ Don’t want to talk, baby, I just wanna dance/ And I’m not gonna stop ‘til I forget what we had.
L’amour De Ma Vie by Billie Eilish
The song itself has such a cool beat it was also one of my favorite songs off of her album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. The song starts off smooth and
fitting with her lower vocals, and then builds up. The song’s differentiating beat completely changed the story and sound. I think it is very energizing and great for a run or even sitting at a cafe to do some homework.
Favorite Verse: Thought I was depressed or losing my mind/ My stomach upset almost all of the time/ But after you left it was obvious why (oh), mm/ Because for you, you/ I was the love of your life, mm/ But you were not mine (but you were not mine).
End of Beginning by Djo
I know, this song was very popular and overdone last year, but I simply have not gotten past it. Djo lyrics are so meaningful and transforming even though there aren’t many in the song, but I think they fit perfectly for such a transformative season, from snowy winter to rainy and sunny spring. The song’s lyrics are probably my favorite part, discussing growing and becoming a different person. It’s a great listen for after trying a new activity, hanging out with friends or even reflecting on something you’re missing.
Favorite Verse: And when I’m back in Chicago, I feel it/ Another version of me, I was in it/ I wave goodbye to the end of beginning.
Anything Could Happen by Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goudling’s brilliant lyrics and background music
creates such an exhilarating song. The song makes you feel optimistic and that you could possibly run 10 miles. I feel spring is also the start of a new era for me and maybe many others, and in comparison this song makes me feel that way as well.
Favorite Verse: I guess we thought that’s just what humans do (Ooh ooh, ooh, ooh)/ Letting darkness grow/ As if we need its palette and we need its color (Ooh ooh, ooh, ooh)/ But now I’ve seen it through/ And now I know the truth/ That anything could happen.
Patience by Tame Impala
If you want a good song to brighten your day, or even make you feel productive, this is your song. Patience has such a vibey beat that is addictive, and in my head I imagine myself driving in a car with the windows down and the sun being out. I can’t emphasize enough that the beat is really the best part of the song and puts an immediate smile on my face.
Favorite Verse: Has it really been that long?/ Did I count the days wrong?/ Did we just go round and round/ All the way to step one?/ Hear it ask me all the time/ Every time it shows up/ “So what you doin’ with your life?”
Good Times by Jungle
With very unique lyrics and
vocals which really make the song enjoyable, this song is best for running errands or even a bike ride. I turn this song on to do homework or even walking class-to-class. Spring and this song go perfectly together with the changing tempos. It feels like the song is telling a million different stories and overall feels very joyful.
Favorite Verse: Morning Dew/ Vaporized/ Rays of sun/ Blinding my eyes/ ‘Cause I feel alive/ Good time (Don’t you leave me now)/ You’ll find (Ooh)/ Good times(Got me crying out).
Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot
Finally, with the changing of weather, you may feel yourself changing. Whatever path you are going down, spring is the best time to figure it out, setting new goals and starting brand new things. Making your own kind of music by Cass Elliot is screaming at you to follow your own path and realize in order to find yourself you may run into others who might not support you or be the same as you, but you will be happier if you carve your own way.
Favorite Verse:You’re gonna be nowhere/ The loneliest kind of lonely/ It may be rough goin’/ Just to do your things the hardest thing to do/ But you’ve gotta/ Make your own kind of music/ Sing your own special song/ Make your own kind of music/ Even if nobody else sings along.
Manhattan University Basketball Takes on The MAACs
Brooke Della Rocco News Editor
Following last year’s upset at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) tournament, all eyes will fall to Manhattan University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams for redemption.
Last season, men’s basketball was seeded tenth and fell 60-57 in the opening round of the MAAC’s to Iona University. This year, they finished the regular season seeded in fifth, finishing 17-12 overall and 12-8 in MAAC play. The team will take on the fourth seeded Iona on Thursday night for the quarterfinals round.
“Iona is going to be a real challenge for us,” Head Coach John Gallagher said. “They press, they’re number four in the country in offensive rebounding, they’re number five in the country in forcing turnovers…We have to make sure that we’re really strong with the ball and our intensity is high.”
With pressure rising for the upcoming match, sophomore Jaden Winston, a
season standout, spoke on how the team is focusing up for this monumental moment.
“I feel like all of us sacrifice personal accolades for this year, personal incentives for the betterment of the team, and now it’s time to put it to solution these next three games, one at a time, getting it done,” Winston said.
The men’s team seems particularly confident heading into the week, crediting a change in their approach to the tournament. Gallagher spoke on how he has grown as a coach, and what the team has implemented to get to this comfortable position.
“My assistant coaches, they deserve a lot of credit,” Gallagher said. “They did a great job recruiting, and we solidified the depth of our roster, which is very impressive. And then, you know, this is my 14th year as a head coach. I never panic. I sort of expect the unexpected. I think a place like Manhattan, you have to expect the unexpected.”
With the implementation of recruiting, repetition in plays and the idea that “less is more,” Gallagher is confident in his players’ ability to bring home a trophy.
The Lady Jaspers have also stepped into this week hungry to take home a title after playing in the MAAC Championship game two times in the last three years. Last season, women’s basketball
lost in the quarterfinals and now approach this week with redemption as the goal. They are currently seeded eighth, finishing 15-14 overall and 9-11 in MAAC play.
Head Coach Heather Vulin is extremely optimistic and confident in her team’s performance despite previous challenges with sickness and injury.
“I think people are going to take us for granted, to be honest with you, just because we didn’t have the best regular season,” Vulin said. “I feel like we got a big chip on our shoulder and have something to prove. So, I think that’s going to be a huge strength for us.”
Senior guard Nitzan Amar has had an extremely impressive finish to the regular season, averaging 11 pointsper-game in the last five games. Amar mentioned what she believes is her team’s biggest strength when they take the court.
“I think our chemistry, we worked on it since day one,” Amar said. “We spend lots of time together on the court and off the court, so I think it would be great to bring into the
tournament.”
Vulin is finishing up her ninth year with the Lady Jaspers, and commented on her excitement for the week.
“Each year I take away something new that I feel makes me stronger and better as a coach, from the MAAC tournament in terms of how to prepare, [and] what is going to be best for our players to help them be successful,” Vulin said. “This was the first year not every team made it, so it’s also something they earned to get there.”
With their team motto of “no excuses,” and a strong aggression to take onto the court, women’s basketball will face Canisius University, seeded ninth, on Tuesday for the first round.
While the pressure heats up, Gallagher wants to leave his players with a simple message.
“Love this time of year,” Gallagher said. “That’s why you do what you do. If you fear this time of year you won’t play well. You get up every morning since you’ve been seven, eight years old, you watch March Madness, and [now] you get a chance to participate in it.”
Games of the Week
Emmanouel Sofillas
Managing Editor
Women’s Lacrosse
The Manhattan Jaspers women’s lacrosse team faced a tough afternoon at Gaelic Park, falling to the Binghamton Bearcats 19-4 on Wednesday. Coming off a close loss to LIU nearly two weeks ago, the Jaspers were eager to get back on track at home, but Binghamton came out strong, scoring four unanswered goals to set the tone early.
Manhattan finally found its rhythm when Olivia Cruthers took a shot that went wide before Moira Marcozzi connected with Emily Derrico for the Jaspers’ first goal of the game. Midway through the second quarter, Derrico struck again, this time off an assist from Catie Edson, burying one in the back of the net. The Jaspers added another in the third when Derrico completed her hat trick on a man-advantage, with Cruthers setting her up for the score. Their final goal of the day came after Ava Drangula forced a Bearcats turnover, leading to Marcozzi finding Ella Hirsch for her first goal of the season.
Derrico led the Jaspers with three goals on five shots, four of which were on target, while also causing a turnover and logging a draw control. Marcozzi recorded two assists, setting up both Derrico and Hirsch. Edson contributed an assist, grabbed two ground balls, and caused two turnovers, while Emily Fiola was active defensively with three ground balls, two forced turnovers, and two draw controls. Cruthers added an assist and six shots, two on target, while also causing a turnover.
It was a challenging matchup for Manhattan, but they showed flashes of strong play and will look to regroup as they continue their season in the MAAC.
Men’s Baseball
Manhattan baseball wrapped up its weekend series against Fairfield on Saturday, dropping both games of a doubleheader to fall to 2-4 in MAAC play. The Jaspers fought back in game one but ultimately fell short in a 6-5 loss before Fairfield took control early in game two and secured a 12-4 victory.
In the first game, Fairfield built a 6-0 lead, capped off by a three-run homer from Luke Nomura in the sixth inning.
Manhattan responded with a big sixth-inning rally, scoring all five of its runs in that frame.
Aidan Taclas sparked the offense with a two-run double, followed by an RBI single from Andreaus Lewis to bring Taclas home. Tyler Galletti then came through with a clutch two-run single to make it a one-run game, but the Jaspers couldn’t push across the tying run.
The second game saw Fairfield jump ahead quickly,
scoring eight runs in the first four innings to take control early. Manhattan got on the board in the fourth when Andreaus Lewis led off the inning with a solo home run.
A walk by Trevor Hansen, a double from Dylan Mayer and a walk by Guriyandel Salva loaded the bases for Hunter Sute, who delivered a two-run single to trim the deficit to 8-3. The Jaspers added one more in the seventh on an RBI double from Lewis, but that was as close as they would get.
Lewis had a strong day at the plate, going 6-for-10 across both games with three RBIs while starting at catcher. Taclas went 3-for-9 and drove in two runs in the first game. On the mound, Joey Craska provided a bright spot in game two, tossing three scoreless innings to close out the day. Despite the losses, Manhattan will look to regroup as they continue their conference schedule.
The Jaspers lost to Fairfield University, bringing them to a score of 2-4 in MAAC play, GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY
Emily Derrico, #16, scored three goals in the Jaspers’ game against Binghamton University. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY