senior Farewells

Caroline McCarthy Asst. Sports Editor | Asst. Features Editor | Sports Editor | Managing Editor

The Quadrangle has been my only constant throughout my four years at Manhattan College. It has served as my defining characteristic, identity and “fun fact” in almost every classroom introductory ice-breaker. I have been so lucky to experience the mentorship mentality that runs through the Quad, and can’t imagine college without it.

One of the Quad’s former editors-in-chief, Megan Dreher, showed me the Quad scholarship at a Jasper Dancer clinic in 2019. Her encouragement for me to try out for that team and apply for this scholarship shaped my entire college experience. Gabriella DePinho, her successor, gave me my first masthead role and calmed all my fears surrounding it. Pete Janny took me under his wing as his assistant for the sports section, something I never thought I would be any good at and now can’t imagine my life without.

In the fall of 2021, I took a sports reporting and writing class taught by Jared Diamond. Under his guidance, Maddie Mulkigian and I were able to break a story in the Quad about the women’s volleyball coach’s vaccination status that gained national attention and was aggregated by the New York Post.

When Pete stepped down as sports editor, Kyla Guilfoil and Jilleen Barrett, two of the most powerful women I have ever been lucky enough to work with, took a chance on me. Their decision to give me the role and later name me a managing editor literally changed my life.

I found my niche for reporting on the Manhattan College coaching staff sagas, tormented Masiello for a few years and learned the importance of journalism that doesn’t make everybody happy. I faced backlash from the administration, formed relationships with athletes and grew as both a writer and storyteller with every byline.

My goals coming into this position were to encourage more female sportswriters to join the team and distribute coverage equally among Manhattan sports. My assistants, Maddie Mulkigian, Angelica Niedermeyer and Isaiah Rosario, were instrumental in this effort and frequently carried the section themselves.

My work on the Quad earned me an internship at the Yankee Entertainment and Sports [YES] Network and later my current role as a digital intern at the New York Post. I fittingly had my first byline reporting on Manhattan College coaching staff changes on the basketball team in the Post’s sports section earlier this month.

I often think about the very first assignment in Thom Gencarelli’s Comm 101 class, which asked us why we wanted to be a communications major. I wrote about my lifelong dream to be a journalist in New York City and be a part of something special. Thom told me Manhattan College could make that happen for me - and it has. The Quadrangle has taken me outside of my comfort zone so many times that I have had to redefine the concept as a whole, and I am so grateful for every opportunity I have gained from it. Congratulations

Megan Lacreta

Asst.Features Editor | Arts and Entertainment Editor

When I came to Manhattan, I had big dreams of doing the most college-y thing I could think of: joining the student newspaper. However, my 18 year old nerves got the best of me. Sticking my neck out, interviewing people I didn’t know and writing things for others to read just seemed like too big a mountain to climb.

When COVID hit, and the first half of college went by in a flash, I found myself a second semester sophomore with nothing to do other than sit in a dorm room. My roommate, Kelly Cwik, was writing for The Quad, and she offered to co-write an article with me. I conducted my first-ever interview next to Kelly over Google Meet, using the Lee Hall wardrobes as a backdrop. When it was published, we taped it up on our wall, and drew a little heart around the byline. That byline became the first of many, and the catalyst of an amazing two and half years with The Quad.

I have The Quad to thank for a lot of things, but most of all, I am thankful that it has given me the confidence to pursue something I love, and the people who pushed me along that path. I am so grateful for Anna Woods and Christine Nappi, who took a chance on me and let me take over the Assistant Features Editor position mid-semester (I also have to thank Anna for doing a semester in DC and letting me borrow the Quad Scholar spot; I learned so much in one semester). I’m so grateful for Kyla Guilfoil, who trusted me to be her A&E Editor. I am incredibly and eternally grateful for my other section editors, Jilleen Barrett, Nicole Fitzsimmons and Cari McCarthy, for listening to me complain, answering all my AP style questions and for pushing me to be a better journalist, whether they knew they were doing it or not. And I am endlessly thankful for Nick Gilewicz, for all his help and guidance despite my lack of a Comm major.

The Quad has meant so much to me, and has been one of the most important parts of my time in Manhattan. Journalism could’ve stayed an intimidating, unattainable concept forever, but this paper and these people brought it within reach for me. Without The Quad, I wouldn’t have the experience I needed to get a real internship at a real paper and maybe even someday get a real job doing journalism. No matter where I end up down the road, I’m so glad I got to do journalism here first, with all of you.

Mars Ross

Photography Editor

While I may not have been the most consistent writer for The Quad, I found my place as the photography editor. With my previous experience primarily in fashion photography, The Quad allowed me to further develop my passion by exploring new subjects. This role also taught me how to take a more critical view of the composition of photos and how they communicate to audiences. I greatly value these skills and the knowledge I gained during my time at The Quad. Everything I’ve learned here will help guide me in my pursuit of fashion journalism and photography after college!

I truly enjoyed helping writers bring their articles to life through pictures. I’ve seen how hard everyone involved works to make every issue a reality, so I’m grateful to have been a small part of that. I know The Quad is being left in the best hands possible and I cannot wait to see where it goes from here!

Nicole Fitzsimmons

Staff Writer | Asst. News \ Asst. Features | News Editor | Senior Writer

The Quadrangle was my first introduction into Manhattan College and it continued to be a home space for my entire experience here. Through different future plans, direction changes and tragedy, my spot as a writer for the Quad remained constant and important to me. Looking back on my experience entering as a freshman–where I was extremely shy and a bit confused about my new setting as a college student– I always thought the older members of the masthead were cool, smart. Of course, I was intimidated.

Fast forward to working alongside these upperclassmen as assistant news and features editor, I realized they were as awesome as they seemed. When Anna Woods, EIC at the time and graduating senior, offered me a spot to be news editor in my upcoming junior year, I remember shopping with my boyfriend and immediately calling my dad in shock. I took this as motivation to keep growing and succeeding in this experience. My time as news editor carried me into my junior year and into my senior year with EIC Kyla Guilfoil, and became a spot where I felt appreciated, welcomed, open and professional on campus. I don’t know what my Manhattan College experience would have been like without this role. I gained so many skills and important knowledge in organization, leadership, detail, writing, and time management– pretty much a bunch of skills I can use for every role I take on.

Some landmark moments I want to mention as a farewell to the Quad is my first experience seeing my name in print, bringing issues back to my parents and family to read, co-writing and making new friends freshman year and being news editor during a pandemic. Amidst these moments, I realized more about our publication than that it taught me to learn so many skills and created so many memories. Moreso, I truly know and understand that the newspaper on campus is essential to the community.

The writers I have come into contact with have such a passion for truth and community that is so welcoming to see on a small campus, and even more important to see in an uncertain period in time. I always loved the quote “Democracy dies in darkness,” and I think our publication emphasizes some of the key aspects of journalism that are so important. I am going to miss this community in my next experiences, but am going to carry its most important values on.

Thank you to the Quadrangle for a great and unforgettable experience. Thank you to the MC community for trusting our reporting. Thank you to the staff for trusting me these past 4 years.