Issue 4, Spring 2021 - The Quadrangle

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O’Malley School of Business Adds Real Estate Minor Manhattan College students have the opportunity to pursue a minor in real estate through the O’Malley School of Business beginning this semester. The announcement comes after the formation of the Real Estate Club during the previous academic year.

Richard Ross, who acts as the real estate program director that oversees the formation of the curriculum, believes it is important for students to consider a career in real estate in the booming market of New York City.

“New York City is a worldclass global city that has excellent market-rate rents in every real estate product type (Retail, Residential, Commercial and Warehouse),” Ross said. “In addition, NYC is recognized as having the best affordable housing agency in the world (HPD), which provides tax abatements, tax credits, low-interest loans and grants to subsidize affordable housing development. Finally, because NYC is so large, there is always a corner of the city that is ripe for development.”

Senior economics major, Aidan Gormley, chose to help launch the Real Estate Club for similar reasons and now is the president of the club. Gormley touted the networking opportunities within the real estate industry as being a valuable asset for undergraduate students at the college.

“There is such an importance to educating students about real estate because of the college’s location in NYC,” said Gormley. “There is a huge market for real estate in New York City and there are plenty of alumni hiring, which makes it equally important and beneficial.”

Since the introduction of the minor, Ross has seen an influx of students interested in the curriculum’s courses. Having taught classes since spring 2020, Ross is excited about keeping the momentum going in future semesters and sees the real estate minor as a practical compliment to almost any

concentration offered in the O’Malley School of Business.

“Right now, students with majors in every business-discipline as majors also want to minor in real estate,” Ross said.

“This includes finance, marketing, management and accounting. Also, students in urban studies want to minor in real estate. These majors are all natural partners with real estate.”

Gormley, who has participated in internships with real estate firms, wishes the minor was available earlier in his college career. Now as a senior, Gormley has taken to being an advocate for why students should consider the minor.

“Overall, I think it’s a great program and the information learned in classes is exactly what you will need for the real world,” Gormley said. “If the minor had been around before my senior year, I know I would have taken advantage of the opportunity.”

As of now, only students enrolled in the O’Malley School of Business are eligible to add the real estate minor to their course of study. However, as the curriculum continues to develop, Ross hopes that real estate will be an option for every student at the college regardless of academic major.

“We also want non-business undergraduates, such as Liberal Arts and Engineering majors, to be able to minor in real estate. We are working on a curriculum to make that possible in the near future.”

If all goes well with the pilot program, Ross expects there to be serious discussions on adding a Master of Science in real estate in the future.

In the meantime, the ongoing complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have created abnormalities in the real estate market. In January, house prices in New York City represented the steepest year-to-year drop ever, with Manhattan and Brooklyn experiencing 6.2 and 5.4 percent drops respectively, according to Bloomberg News.

Students are encouraged to engage with faculty members and understand what the real estate program has to offer at Manhattan College as times consistently are changing.

IN A&E:

IN SPORTS:

Shannon Gleba & Pete Janny

Senior Writer & Sports Editor

Snowy Skies Mother Nature brought more snow and campus closures to Manhattan College this week.

BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE

Study Abroad Set to Resume Summer 2021 Christine Nappi & Nicole Fitzsimmons

Features Editor & News Editor Get your passports ready– the office of Study Abroad is planning to resume programs this summer with accordance to the conditions of the pandemic, which will permit it’s continuation.

After stopping the program midway through Spring 2020 and canceling plans for a Fall 2020 and winter intersession program due to worsening conditions, study abroad is set to commence with opportunities in Mexico, France, the Bahamas, Spain, Italy and Portugal.

The Director of Study Abroad, Ricardo A. Dello Buono, Ph.D, is hopeful that these programs will happen and ensures that the office of study abroad is following proper safety precautions.

IN NEWS:

COVID Support Group on p. 5

“We’re carefully monitoring a whole panorama of conditions: travel restrictions, visa issuance, conditions on the ground, availability of museums, restaurants, etc,” Dello Buono said. “We think that [the programs] will run, with improving conditions, but of course we won’t hesitate to cancel them if we feel it’s unsafe to run.”

Study abroad programs typically consist of long-term and short-term options, where students can stay in various countries for a whole semester or as little as two to five weeks during the winter and summer.

Dello Buono finds studying abroad to be a critical learning opportunity and a way for students to build their resume and stand out from others. However, students haven’t been able to take advantage of these opportunities recently–something the office of study abroad is determined to change.

IN FEATURES: Changes to Sunday Mass on p. 7

“We’re doing everything possible to make study abroad available,” Dello Buono said.

“We are operating on a, we’renot-going-to-take-risks scenario so, we’re carefully monitoring the situation [and] we’re getting positioned to take advantage of that opening, as the situation improves, [because] it will be the ideal time to travel.”

In order to give students the opportunity to study abroad, the office has implemented a number of precautions. However, as Dello Buono describes, if it’s not safe to travel the program will be cancelled. These safety precautions include researching the restrictions of the destination countries, looking at the testing requirements of other countries, mandating the wearing of masks even if the country itself does not require it, encouraging students __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

MC Players’ V-Day Production is Back on p. 9

SWEAT: A Space for Female StudentAthletes on p. 11

Opinions & Editorials

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the Quadrangle

THE QUADRANGLE

LETTER from The Editor

Volume CIII, Issue 4 February 23, 2021

The Editorial Board Anna Woods Editor-in-Chief

Dear Readers, This week the world watched Texas freeze over, something I never expected to see. We are reminded that political issues are more than

Maria Thomas Managing Editor

Jilleen Barrett Managing Editor

just topics of heated arguments but matters of life and death.

Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor

Kyla Guilfoil Asst. News Editor

Its importance is often dismissed and overlooked. However, what we

Jilleen Barrett Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kelly Cwik Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

Christine Nappi Features Editor

Caroline McCarthy Asst. Features Editor

of dollars in an already struggling economy.

Pete Janny Sports Editor

Colleen McNamara Asst. Sports Editor

constituents. It is our job as responsible citizens and engaged voters to

Lauren Raziano Social Media Editor

Kelly Kennedy Asst. Social Media Editor

Brian Asare Photography Editor

Emily Hollar Production Editor Asst. Photography Editor

Nicole Rodriguez Production Editor

Adrianne Hutto Jocelyn Visnov Asst. Production Editors

Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Web Editors Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism.

The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.

Join The Quadrangle The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Kelly Commons Room 412. All are welcome to come and join the club.

Connect with The Quadrangle

mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

Many of us do not give local politics the attention that it deserves. are seeing in Texas is the result of decisions made at the local and state level that have failed. These failures have killed almost 60 people as of Sunday night. Additionally, the damages caused will cost billions In addition to that, we are witnessing elected officials neglect their hold them accountable. Pay attention, get involved, organize and vote locally.

Nevertheless, that is still not enough to help those in crisis. At this time we are seeing the power of mutual aid. Here are some mutual aid funds that are collecting donations for Texans in need via Venmo: @ mutualaidhou @austinmutualaid @feedthepeopledallas While our elected leaders fell into political apathy and inaction, history should reflect that it was “we the people” who faced the crisis to help our fellow citizens.

This week I hope that reading this issue gives some hope for the future as we highlight some of the great work that our Jaspers are doing. Until next time.

Sincerely,

Anna Woods

Editor-in-Chief

Join our weekly meetings via Google Meet by scanning the QR Code.

CORRECTIONS In our last issue, the article entitled “Claudy’s Kitchen: The Neighborhood Friend Committed to Serving the Community Amid COVID-19”

by Christine Nappi incorrectly stated that The Quadrangle spoke to Claudia Perroa. The correct statement is The Quadrangle spoke with both Claudia and Richard Berroa.

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Opinions and Editorials

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NEDA Week 2021: A Reflection on Diet Culture Katie Heneghan Web Editor

This year’s theme of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week is “Everybody has a seat at the table.” 29 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating Disorders do not discriminate, they come in all shapes and sizes, and affect both males and females. Eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness, and come with dangerous and lifelong side effects and health issues.

Eating disorders come with stigma. Stigma that you must be stick thin to have an Eating Disorder. Stigma that only women suffer from eating disorders. Stigma that if you are in a larger body and lose weight you are a success story rather than someone struggling. These are some of many stigmas and preconceived ideas of what eating disorders look like.

I have struggled with an-

orexia and orthorexia for much of my young adult life, and can proudly say I am in recovery. In no way is it an easy road to recovery, but I am here today to tell you it is possible. I am living proof it gets better and it gets easier.

NEDA week allows for us to reflect on the journey, spread awareness, and spark conversations and provide support for those struggling. This year, I want to talk specifically about toxic diet culture, and how we are “marketed thin”.

Those who experiment with dieting are five times more likely to develop an Eating Disorder. Those who practice restrictive eating are 18 times more likely to develop an Eating Disorder. But, did you also know that 95% of people who diet gain the weight back?

So, why are we still marketing thin?

The diet industry in America takes in about 60 billion dollars a year. Despite these facts that dieting is, well, a scam, 1/3

of all teenage girls, regardless of their weight claim to be on a diet or actively trying to lose weight.

I am here today to tell you that as humans we are so smart, but we fall victim to the mundane practice of dieting and restriction despite it’s false claims. Unconsciously, our words and actions perpetuate the cycle of diet culture. All too often, our compliments are based on bodily appearances.

This year I want to challenge our readers to counter diet culture. Instead of telling a friend they look skinny, tell them they are kind, funny or beautiful. Instead of discussing the calories in meals at a dinner with friends, talk about how the food tastes, and how happy you are to be with friends.

Workout because you enjoy the way it makes you feel, not because you want to look a certain way. Eat food that nourishes your body and makes you feel your best. Wear an outfit because you like it, not because it

makes you look thin. Unfollow those on social media that promote a thin stigma, and choose to follow those that promote body positivity and uplift others instead. Make conscious decisions to challenge the stigma of “thinness”.

Challenge conversations surrounding toxic diet culture with knowledge and facts that promote intuitive eating and body positivity. Health comes in all shapes and sizes. Thinness does not equate to happiness or health. The scale is not an accurate depiction of health.

In terms of health, in my eating disorder my body was smaller, but significantly less healthy. My “before” and “after” shows a weight gain that came with significant health benefits.

Diet culture promotes this notion of the “before” and “after” with a thinner appearance after dieting which somehow equals health and happiness, right?

Wrong. When you break down what a diet really is, it is a form of restriction. Whether a diet

claims to be low carb, low fat, high protein, at the end of the day, it is all a form of restriction. Our bodies and minds need the essential food groups of carbs, fats and proteins to function. Restriction is a form of self harm, intuitive eating and nourishing your body is a way to practice self love.

The National Eating Disorder Association or NEDA, has many resources on their website to help those who are struggling. There are helplines, online support groups and free resources that are there to help those struggling with eating disorders.

The Manhattan College Counseling Center can also provide resources and help for any students struggling as well.

To make an appointment with the Counseling Center you can visit them in person in Miguel 501, or call 718-862-7394. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/help-support/contact-helpline

I Wasn’t Raised Religious. Here’s How I Feel About Attending a Lasallian Catholic College.

Jocelyn Visnov

Asst. Production Editor Before coming to Manhattan, the thought of attending a religious affiliated college was absolutely terrifying.

Growing up, I was never put on a path to subscribe to one specific religious label. Unlike many of my peers here on campus, I did not attend bible study or weekly church services growing up, nor did I attend a Catholic-affiliated high school or holiday masses.

The most religious instruction I was given before my first day of the required Arches RELS 110 course (a nod to Dr. McGrath for making my first formal religious education mostly painless) was when I attended a Unitarian Sunday

school a few years back in elementary school. As children we were taught the basic principle that “We are Universalists.

We have open minds, helping hands, and loving hearts.”

With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that I had some hesitations about attending a Lasallian Catholic college.

Luckily, just like my only previous experience with a religious institution, MC welcomed me to the campus community with both an open mind, and helping hands. Now, the religious aspect of campus is something I have come to appreciate as another form of reassurance that I am in the right place.

One part of the religious presence on campus that I quickly learned there was no reason to fear was the required religious studies courses. Not

once on campus has anyone tried to convert or shame me for my beliefs or lack of previous knowledge. Rather than being drilled on the facts and figures, I have enjoyed the way in which courses focus on the analytics and reasoning behind scriptures and religious practices.

In addition, I appreciate the variety of topics offered and covered as part of religious studies courses. When searching for possible religious studies courses for this semester, rather than feeling lost and forced into a class I had no interest in, I was able to find one that would challenge and excite me. Instead of sticking to a strict curriculum aligning with the beliefs and values of the school like some other institutions, I have come to enjoy the

variety of religious education opportunities offered here.

On top of the variety of classes, organizations such as Campus Ministry and Social Action and the Multicultural Center are just a few additional ways to learn and understand spirituality outside of the classroom. Whether you want to attend a formal service in the chapel or discuss patterns of different religious cultures, campus has a safe space for students to learn, practice, and express themselves through religion.

Finally, the aspect of religion I love most about Manhattan College is the philosophy of expressing faith through service. Even beyond the religious studies department, I have found expressions of faith and spirituality all around cam-

pus. Whether it is music, art, science, literature, or a plethora of other disciplines, MC encourages finding purpose and helping one another through all mediums. Selflessness is a universal language. Regardless of your personal beliefs, participating in community service and helping your fellow man is something we can all agree on.

I have never identified with a specific label or religious practice. In coming to a Lasallian Catholic college after not having much of a religious background growing up, this was a big concern of mine.

However, continuing to explore faith and spirituality is now something I look forward to participating in, because I know that on campus, I can do so in a way that I feel both comfortable, and welcomed.

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Study Abroad Set to Resume Summer 2021

__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to get vaccinated and following the CDC and World Health Organization guidelines.

Erinn Kehoe, the assistant director of study abroad, finds that some of the restrictions and safety precautions could alter or potentially impact the study abroad experience, which is something the office is taking into consideration when planning these programs. As she notes, small restrictions such as limits on indoor dining, classroom size or subway travel can impact the program’s plans. Kehoe also ensures that the office is researching what international partners would be able to assist Manhattan College if the pandemic took a turn for the worse while students and faculty were abroad.

“Small things like that really do impact our ability to operate a program abroad, because we rely on our students being able to eat in restaurants, we rely on our groups being able to travel by subway,” Kehoe said. “Do we have the support of a partner abroad who can help us implement, should there be an emergency situation, help our group safely shelter in place or safely evacuate back to the United States as the case may be.”

Although the study abroad program has its doubts and is unsure what will happen next with the pandemic, they are optimistic that conditions will improve and they are actively recruiting students to sign up for the program. Dello Buono finds that as more people get vaccinated, the positivity rates will decrease making this opportunity safer.

In addition to this optimism, the office also finds there to be a high demand to study abroad.

Whether it be students who are eager to get out of quarantine and explore, or upperclassmen who have minimal opportunities left to go abroad, the program has many interested students in going abroad.

“All signs seem to indicate, on the one hand, that demand is very high, because we had demand for students wanting to study abroad the last cycle, where we had to cancel,” Dello Buono said. “I think that it’s fair to say that there’s a lot of desire to study abroad [and] we’re doing everything possible to make that happen.”

One student looking to go abroad is junior communication major Jana Clark. Clark, originally from Europe, has dreamt of studying abroad for years and is planning to go to

Rome this summer with the college. Although unsure of what the pandemic will bring, she is hopeful that the program will commence and that the college will keep her safe.

“When I saw the summer trips being advertised, I wanted to jump at the opportunity of attending the trip in hopes that it would not get cancelled again,” Clark said. “Like anyone would be, of course I am concerned about the real and dangerous threat of the pandemic in Italy.

Flying on a plane and traveling around does not sound like the best idea, but I feel confident that as more people are getting vaccinated and the school is keeping eye on the situation abroad, this trip will hopefully take place. The Office of Study Abroad has done a great job of keeping applicants in the loop about the state of the pandemic in our destination country as well as social distancing measures and other regulations that will be upheld in order to ensure our safety.”

Another student looking to go abroad is senior philosophy major Aubrey Lefkowitz. Lefkowitz was planning to study abroad in Athens last fall through The American Institute of Foreign Study, a program that Manhattan College referred her to. Pandemic permitting, Lefkowitz will be going to Athens this fall. She is eager to study abroad, even amid the pandemic, because as a senior, she finds that she is running out of opportunities.

“If I’m being completely honest it’s really only because I’m graduating, like this is kind of my last chance,” Lefkowtiz said. “But I think this goes without saying like if I had to choose, would I have rather done it earlier– Yeah. I think it would have been way better without the threat of the pandemic kind of looming over it.”

Despite the pandemic, Lefkowitz encourages students to sign up for study abroad this summer and fall, because they may regret it if they don’t.

“If I let something like [the pandemic] stop me from [going abroad], I would definitely regret it,” Lefkowitz said. “You know you’re only really upperclassmen in college once. So, I’m just all about seizing those opportunities now [and] not letting things slip away from you.”

The office of study abroad is employing the same mentality that Lefkowitz is, and encourages students to get their passport ready and prepare to go abroad. However, they also encourage students to make plans to stay at MC if the trips are to get cancelled. As Dello Buono and Kehoe describe, students

The study abroad program is set to resume this summer, with opportunities in Mexico, France, the Bahamas, Spain, Italy and Portugal, pandemic conditions permitting. The office of study abroad is ensuring that students and faculty will be safe traveling to these destinations, by implementing a number of safety precautions.

RICARDO A. DELLO BUONO / COURTESY may as well plan to go abroad because if the trip is on they will have a guaranteed spot, and if it gets cancelled they will be fully refunded. Regardless of the circumstances, they encourage students to come talk to them for more information.

Despite the concerns about the precautions being put in

place that could potentially limit the study abroad experience, Kehoe finds that the nature of the program won’t change– pandemic or not.

“The way that we’re implementing these policies for our study abroad programs is very similar in that there will be an impact, but that the kind

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of heart of the experience, the why do we study abroad– it’s to go and experience these different cultures, different places different histories different languages for ourselves,” Kehoe said. “That will still very much be available to the participants.”

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FEBRUARY 23, 2021

5

Manhattan College Counseling Center Establishes a COVID Support Group Kyla Guilfoil & Zoe DeFazio

Asst. News Editor & Staff Writer To respond to the mental health needs of students, the Manhattan College counseling center has initiated a COVID support group. This weekly group meeting is intended to give students both a voice and support while they navigate this “new normal.”

Anthony Nazaire, LMHC-LP, is a staff clinician at the college’s counseling center and the head organizer of the new COVID support group.

“The counseling center provides individual therapy and several support groups,” Nazaire said. “When the counseling center identifies an issue that many students are experiencing, we put together a group to address the needs of the students.”

The group began on Feb. 10, and meets every Wednesday at 3 p.m. Nazaire shared

that there was shock following the abrupt end of the in-person spring 2020 semester, indicating a need for support as the pandemic radically affected college campuses across the country. He noted that there has been an increase of students seeking counseling since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Florentina Onolfo, a junior at MC and president of the psychology club, agrees that there is a greater need for emotional support since the pandemic has begun.

“On top of the normal anxiety regarding grades, classes, homework, and exams, there is the additional stress of not wanting to catch COVID and taking precautions as a result,” Onolfo said. “This means many students did not return to campus which can be seriously hard to adjust to in terms of mental health and a sense of feeling ‘normal.’ I hope that the COVID support group is helping both in-person and virtual students who are having a hard time with isolation, social dis-

tancing, time management, and expressing any emotions they may be feeling.”

Onolfo adds that it is increasingly difficult for students to maintain a high level of work while isolated in their bedrooms for most of their days.

“The stress of the pandemic has been challenging in many ways, but support groups give space for students to share their experiences,” Nazaire said. “Students are able bring their personal experience and receive support and validation from each other.”

Onolfo believes that these conversations are both necessary and beneficial for students.

“I have found that bottling up anxiety, stress, sadness, or anything else one might be feeling is damaging to mental health and productivity,” Onolfo said. “ It is definitely smart to provide a place where everyone can feel heard and acknowledged. It is also a great way to maintain social relationships when we are all so isolated in

comparison to how life was before COVID.” Onolfo maintains that it is important for the college to use its resources to assist students, as so much of a student’s success relies on mental health.

Peter McHugh, director of media relations and strategic communications at MC, expressed that the counseling center and the One Manhattan team have a duty to assist students throughout this time.

“The Counseling Center plays a vital role in prioritizing students’ emotional well-being right now,” McHugh said. “The administration, specifically the Student Life division, is doing all that it can to promote those services to students.”

McHugh shared that the OneManhattan team has expanded the resources available to students. This includes having a staff member dedicated to attending to students in quarantine, on top of the staff from Residence Life and Dining Services who assist those in quarantine, specifically with meals.

Additionally, McHugh emphasized that the One Manhattan team regularly offers communication to quarantine students, and has worked in collaboration with the Office of Student Engagement to increase the amount of virtual activities and events that are available to students both in quarantine and out.

“Students need to know that everyone working on the One Manhattan Team has their best interests in mind,” McHugh said. “Not only is the One Manhattan team prioritizing the physical health of all students, they’re working on making sure our students are mentally healthy too. This is not an easy time, but we can all get through it together.”

McHugh adds that the One Manhattan COVID-19 response plan has been designed following guidance and recommendations from federal, state and city health departments. These priorities remain the health and safety of the students, faculty and staff at MC.

Jaspers Return Update: New Testing Policy Established Kyla Guilfoil

Asst. News Editor Jaspers Return addressed the Manhattan College community via email on Feb. 18, reporting a total of 1820 completed COVID-19 tests on campus in the last 14 days, with 19 positive tests and 371 pending test results. As for off-campus testing, MC Health Services received 402 tests, with 12 positive test results regarding on-campus personnel.

The email reads, “Positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to decline nationwide and in New York City. But they are declining from a very high ceiling. There are also new variants spreading within the country that are found to be more transmissible.”

Jaspers Return writes in the email that there is hope through the increasing number of vaccinated individuals, but

that daily precautions such as mask-wearing and hand-washing are essential for keeping the community safe and healthy.

In New York City, the seven-day positive test rate was reported as 4.4% on Wednesday, Feb. 17, according to the email. In contrast, the positive test rate for Manhattan College over the last two weeks is cited as 1.7%.

In addition to updates on COVID-19 cases, Jaspers Return shares a new testing policy for the college. Initially, the college required all students, faculty and staff that were on-campus to abide by random surveillance testing throughout the semester. In this new email, Jaspers Return establishes a new policy that requires students to be tested every 14 days, and all employees to be tested every 21 days.

The only exception to this new policy for on-campus personnel is if in the previous 90 days you have tested positive

for COVID-19. The college will be communicating testing timelines with the community via email.

“Each individual will receive an email with advanced notice when it is your turn to be tested,” the email said. “You might receive a notification a day or two after submitting a test. Please follow the instructions in the email notification and submit a test before your next due date.”

The email also sheds light onto orange passes that may be granted through the MC glance app. According to the email, if you receive an orange pass, you must be tested for COVID-19 and receive negative results to clear it and receive a green pass.

If you have an orange pass and are awaiting results from a COVID test, you are only able to leave your room in order to pick up to-go meals from Locke’s Loft. Until you have a green pass, it is not permitted

for students to attend class in person, use the library or the fitness center.

Off-campus students with an orange pass must receive a COVID test from an off-campus location and submit the negative test result to the results portal for Health Services to receive a green pass. The off campus test must also be within seven days of the orange pass assignment date.

Via the same email, Jaspers Return also addressed the reopening of indoor dining at Locke’s Loft beginning on Monday, Feb. 22. Indoor dining will accommodate 25% capacity, and to-go options will still be available.

The email also announced a Student Town Hall meeting for Tuesday, Feb 23 at 2pm.

There will be a Google Meet Invitation sent to all students via email in the coming days.

Jaspers Return added that the MC ITS team is in the process of creating a portal for

students, faculty and staff who have received the COVID vaccine.

“This will be used to assist with new CDC quarantine guidance,” the email stated. “Please hold onto your vaccination card until this portal is ready. At this time, vaccination does not exempt anyone from any of the College’s current safety protocols.”

Manhattan College continues to call for students to become a Campus Ambassador to assist in keeping the MC community safe throughout the pandemic. Ambassadors are expected to encourage students to wear a mask around campus and follow COVID-19 guidelines.

For any further information on COVID-19 updates and information at Manhattan College, visit manhattan.edu or email jaspersreturn@manhattan.edu.

Features

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“What Happened in Georgia” Event Was Just Peachy Megan LaCreta Contributor

The Political Science Department and the Government and Politics Club co-hosted “What Happened in Georgia: The Elections That Flipped the Senate” on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

The event consisted of a conversation with Elena Wilson, a Manhattan College alumna who graduated in December 2020, and Lily Kamp, a graduate of Skidmore College class of 2018. The two discussed their time working on the Georgia special elections that flipped the Senate blue with the victories of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

Sophomore political science and international studies major Joanna Canigiani, president of the Government and Politics Club, and Pamela Chasek, Ph.D., chair of the political science department, moderated the event. They hoped this event would inspire students to get involved in political volun-

teering and campaigning.

Wilson and Kamp began the event by explaining what led them to Georgia. Wilson had been working on the Georgia special election since Fall 2019, through an internship with Berger Hirschberg strategies, which she connected with through Manhattan College’s Handshake program. Kamp had been working in Pennsylvania leading up to the November elections, and was introduced to a canvassing organization called Changing the Conversation by her grandmother, who was in attendance at the event.

“We knew that hard work had paid off in the past and there was still so much work to be done, especially with the incredibly important outstanding Senate runoff races,” Wilson said.

Wilson then shared a presentation explaining the reason for the Georgia elections, which were runoffs as a result of no candidate originally receiving over 50 percent of the

vote. She also described the historic nature of the races.

“Now this was one of the most expensive Senate races in U.S. history because there was so much on the line, and control of the Senate was still up in the air,” Wilson said. “It was incredibly important for Lily and I to be down there doing our political duty, especially when we didn’t necessarily have the funds to give to these campaigns that raised over $450 million.”

Wilson and Kamp also discussed their experience in Georgia. They worked with a wide range of organizations, including Georgia Democrats, the New Georgia Project and Georgia Deep Canvas. Their work included everything from setting up rides for voters on election day, to ballot cure canvassing, which involves reaching out to voters in order to remedy rejected absentee ballots.

Wilson and Kamp also discussed some of the challenges Lily Kamp canvassing for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

ELENA WILSON / COURTESY

Elena Wilson ‘20, campaigning for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in Georgia.

ELENA WILSON / COURTESY

they faced. Kamp explained that she found that voter ID laws and felons’ rights were two major culprits in disenfranchising Georgia voters.

“It’s just another way to socioeconomically oppress people,” Kamp said.

Campaigning for Democratic candidates Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossof also brought unique struggles. Both candidates were targeted by a slew of attack ads, and Ossof’s campaign faced distinct challenges in garnering support.

“There was a giant disinformation campaign going around Georgia, that you only have to vote in one of the two races,” Kamp said. “This was so prevalent, and there were quite a few people that we canvassed who’d already sent in their ballots, and you couldn’t fix it.

They said they just voted for Warnock because they were more excited about him.”

Despite the challenges, Wilson and Kamp were both grateful for their time spent in Georgia.

“The most rewarding aspect was when you could see someone realize the importance of voting,” Kamp said. “I had so many people who were my age or were in their twenties and have never voted before.”

Wilson also expressed how her time at Manhattan College prepared her for political work.

“The professors at Manhattan College give you the gateway to the information to do what you please,” Wilson said.

“It’s not like they’re hammering political opinions down your throat. They’re giving you the intellectual resources you need to go out and get involved.”

Chasek later echoed that sentiment and described how the curriculum at Manhattan College prepares students to conquer any opportunity that comes their way.

“We try to expose our majors to as much as possible,” Chasek said. “Our job is to give you guys the base, give you all the basics. Get you interested, and then provide with the opportunities, or you find your own opportunities and run with it.”

Chasek, the Political Science Department and the Government and Politics Club hope the event inspired students with an interest in politics to reach out and get involved in whatever way they can. Chasek hopes Wilson and Kemp’s passion was contagious.

“I hope [the audience] took away some of their enthusiasm and how much fun they have,” Chasek said. “Despite the challenges, they felt they were really contributing to something.

And you know, it always helps when your candidate wins. But, you feel like you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself and I was hoping their enthusiasm would be contagious, and we’d get some of the people who attended interested in maybe trying that for themselves.”

Features

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

7

Pandemic Forces Changes to Sunday Mass and Beyond Katherine Heneghan & Madalyn Johnson

Web Editors Wednesday, Feb. 17 marked the start of the Lenten season in the Catholic Church and here at Manhattan College. Lent begins with the Ash Wednesday service, where churchgoers are typically marked with ashes in the sign of the cross on their foreheads. However, the pandemic has changed how Campus Ministry and the Archdiocese of New York practice during this Holy season.

When the pandemic began last March, churches globally were forced to shut down.

Amid the shutdown, Father Thomas Franks, Campus Chaplain, tried to keep students connected to their faith.

“With Campus in full remote status for the remainder of the Spring ‘20 Semester, we offered some online liturgies and reflections from home,” Franks told The Quadrangle via e-mail.

When the campus reopened, Franks and Campus Ministry worked with the One Manhattan team and the Archdiocese of New York, as well as New York State guidelines to reopen worship services to students.

“When Manhattan returned for this academic year, I presented the Archdiocesan

guidelines to our One Manhattan office,” Franks said. “We have put in place both social distancing markers and sacramental worship practices to ensure that everyone is safe. We are also assisting with contact tracing by asking that everyone participating in liturgies have a Campus Green Pass for the day and sign-in at the entrance.”

Social distancing guidelines have significantly cut down the number of congregants that can gather in the chapel. As Franks notes, the chapel can seat 716 people, yet with the campus protocols it can safely seat 130 people. Campus ministry has made up for how many attendees are permitted in-person by live-streaming the service.

“Live streaming has presented challenges, as the Chapel is not equipped with the technology for streaming,” Franks said. “We have been investigating the possibility of installing permanent equipment but the cost is such that we need to limit large expenses for the time being in light of the current budget. We are especially grateful to Kieran Clifford, who has helped us in these past months to create a streaming option for the community liturgies, and to Andrew Bauer, the music ministers and Performing Arts for their assistance.”

The Lenten season is the

holiest in the Catholic Church although COVID has limited the way Catholics can gather and celebrate in person. Father Tom and the rest of Campus Ministry have worked diligently to ensure COVID safety alongside their usual services, with remote options for those who cannot attend in person.

Franks added additional worship services during Ash Wednesday, providing ample opportunity for students to gather safely. As for the rest of the Lenten season, Father Tom plans to hold Adoration and Reconciliation as usual, with added precautions.

“We will absolutely be having time for Adoration and Reconciliation during the Lenten Season,” Franks said. “These are times and spaces that I especially look forward to providing for the community. There will be a Reconciliation Service at the beginning of Holy Week on Monday, March 29. That day will also be set aside for Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout the day in the Chapel. As always, students and members of the community are also invited to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation either before the Sunday evening Mass or by making an appointment for a time that works best for them.”

The efforts of Father Thomas and the Campus Ministry to ensure students safely can attend mass haven’t gone unnoticed. Lauren Spagnuolo, a senior at Manhattan College who has served as a sacristan at the masses, said she feels appropriate precautions are followed during mass.

“I have gone to in-person masses since the semester started,” Spagnuolo said.”I’ve basically been working as a sacristan and attending as many masses as I can. I definitely think that the school has taken precautions during mass with the omission of distributing the wine along with the limitations of how many people can give out the hosts.”

Despite the number of positive cases rising in February, Spagnuolo explained she still felt comfortable going to mass in-person during Ash Wednesday. She was pleased to see the ashes this year sprinkled on top of churchgoers’ heads instead of them being distributed the traditional way.

“I did feel comfortable receiving ashes this year. It definitely was different than years in the past, but I think that it was appropriate that ashes were distributed the way they were due to safety guidelines.”

Junior Nicholas Balzano was another student who attended mass this Ash Wednes-

day and shared how this ceremony was the first in-person mass he’s attended in a long time.

“The first mass I went to in-person in 11 months was actually one of the services on Ash Wednesday. I didn’t previously go due to a concern about how well things were being handled with COVID and everything.”

Balzano, before Ash Wednesday decided to attend masses online but admits attending mass virtually doesn’t compare to the experience of being in an in-person ceremony.

“I miss being in the chapel itself, it really isn’t the same watching it on the computer,” Balzano said.

In the future, Balzano plans to continue going to mass in the Chapel if the COVID positivity rate on-campus stays small. He, like many of the student body, is trying to remain hopeful that cases can be maintained so Manhattan College can gradually get back to hosting weekly events without safety being a major concern.

“I absolutely plan to attend mass in-person going forwards, as long as the case count on campus remains low.

I just hope we keep a handle on everything going on and can make it through the semester without any issues.”

Mamady Ballo ‘22 Helps People of Ivory Coast by Starting Non-Profit Pete Janny & Samantha Walla

Sports Editor & Senior Writer It’s never the wrong time to start doing philanthropy.

Just ask junior Mamady Ballo, the CEO and founder of the non-profit Help Kids in Côte d’Ivoire! whose service work has transcended international borders.

Ballo’s first visit to Ivory Coast came when she was a freshman in high school. At that point, she had never met two of her siblings that continued living there after Ballo’s parents were born and raised in Ivory Coast. But what started as a family reunion morphed into something diplomatic and deeply personal. The preconceived notions that almost every American has about developing nations became real life for Ballo in an earth-shattering way while she was away in Ivory Coast. Stepping away from the familiar and almost bubble-like rhythms of daily life in the United States put everything into perspective for Ballo; she felt called to help those in Ivory Coast who were being left behind.

“They always had to adapt to different things so that made me want to do more and I will always have an attachment to Côte d’Ivoire because my parents were born there,” Ballo

said.

After returning to the United States, Ballo wasted no time getting to work.

Initially, she worked with her high school to organize a mission trip to Ivory Coast, but that partnership never came to fruition after a terrorist attack in 2016. Faced with few other alternatives, Ballo turned to a plan B that required some creative thinking. This led to the establishment of Help Kids in Cote d’ivoire!, which has been serving children and their families in Ivory Coast since 2016.

Ballo has come a long way in getting the non-profit to the level it’s at today. The biggest challenge has been finding consistent channels for fundraising because of its grassroots origins. At times, it required a fair share of exhaustion on Ballo’s own bank account to the point of redirecting some of her own work earnings for the sake of the non-profit. The finances are the biggest difference between her work and the efforts of established charities.

“What sets them apart is they have money and I don’t,” Ballo said about the financial pull of larger non-profits.

Without discrediting the good deeds being done by other non-profits, Ballo still feels there’s something to be said about experiencing the end result firsthand.

“They might travel to see

the donations to see where it goes but I make sure I travel every year,” Ballo said.

More than four years later, Ballo is still going strong with her efforts. Her latest project was done in anticipation of Ramadan, the Muslim holiday celebrated every year in April, with the sum of the donations capping at over two thousand dollars in just 72 hours. The funds will be put toward helping 50 families in Ivory Coast.

The nonprofit is centered around three different grants, with each addressing a specific need so that Ballo can maximize the outreach of her work.

“I was raising money for a food grant so that people in middle school and high school can have breakfast for free everyday,” Ballo said. “Second was the education grant paying for students’ schooling for the academic year because if you’re doing great in school you get more grants and money. The last one was a safety net so if anything happens with a net profit.”

Ballo cites her greatest achievement as getting certified as a Limited Liability Corporation, which gave the nonprofit greater legitimacy and permanence by not making her personally responsible for any debts or liabilities incurred. As a full-time student with aspirations of becoming a diplomat for Ivory Coast, Ballo is faced

with balancing her academic workload with the fundraising and organization of Helping Kids in Côte d’Ivoire!, which feels like a full-time job in its own right.

“No matter how hard it gets and how much I get caught in school, I try to figure out how I can go back to help the non profit,” Ballo said.

To aid her in running the nonprofit, especially when she is not able to travel to Ivory Coast, Ballo has assembled a team of five to keep operations running smoothly. Ballo’s next plan for expansion is to secure an office space in Ivory Coast to further establish its presence.

When reflecting on the past five years as founder and CEO of Helping Kids in Côte d’Ivoire!, Ballo recognizes her own personal growth, something those who know her best would probably acknowledge too. Ballo can recall the invigorating spirit she felt after her first trip to Ivory Coast, which has only intensified the more times she goes back.

“I had the image from that kids like, ‘She’s gonna come back,’ and that stuck with me forever,” said Ballo. “The mission I stand by all the time is helping to build the future back and the children that I invest in are the future.”

There is much more to look forward to, especially when preparing for life after the

COVID-19 pandemic. For now, though, Ballo can appreciate the journey she’s been on and the boundless self-discovery it has allowed.

“Every year that I go, I’m scared but happy to go to make change,” Ballo said. “I still have the eagerness to keep the non profit going. It has matured me a lot and has given me so many opportunities to meet with others so a lot of people think that I have changed.”

Junior Mamady Deen Ballo began her own nonprofit, Help Kids in Côte d’Ivoire, when she was fifteen. She travels at least once a year to Côte d’Ivoire, where she supports children in pursuing their educations. @HELPKIDSIN_COTEDIVOIRE_ / COURTESY

Features

8

THE QUADRANGLE

The Diversity Council Remains Hard at Work: An Inside Look at the Grassroots Efforts Kyla Guilfoil

Asst. News Editor Since its establishment in June 2020, Manhattan College’s Diversity Council has worked to address issues of social and racial injustice in our community. Addressing these issues requires an acknowledgment of systemic inequity and creating centralized changes, making the Council’s work no small feat.

According to manhattan.edu, “The mission of the Manhattan College Diversity Council is to acknowledge and dismantle the barriers of systemic inequity, racial injustice, and feelings of exclusion faced by the College’s communities of color. Through the use of concrete goals, collaborative engagement, and amplification of marginalized voices, we seek to reach a place in which each person feels as though they truly belong.”

Sheetal Kale, the director of Diversity, Equity and Chief Title IX Coordinator for the college, shared the Diversity Council’s upcoming plans. Kale told The Quadrangle that she plans to create a strategic plan that will be based on the grassroots working groups in the council.

These grassroots working groups are essentially task forces to identify the issues in the institution and community and devise possible solutions to dismantle systemic inequities.

Of course, this requires much research and discussion. The working groups include representatives from the student body, faculty, administration and staff.

Tamara Britt, General

Counsel to the office of the President, is the co-chair of the community engagement working group. Britt shared that her group is working specifically to increase the college’s visibility and social justice efforts in the Bronx area and beyond.

“We endeavor to do so by adding to existing partnerships with local organizations and initiatives, and expanding the number of opportunities our students have to volunteer, intern, and otherwise engage with the Bronx community,” Britt said. “We also are looking at ways to bring local artists to campus to showcase their work. The Bronx is our home and we are proud of it.”

Along with the community engagement working group, the Diversity Council also has a campus climate working group, a curriculum working group, employee working groups and student working groups.

Following the grassroots work of these groups, Kale hopes her plan will allow smaller groups to operationalize the solutions and suggestions devised this year into real programs and change in the next academic year.

The discussions and research being conducted this year align with the six goals outlined by the Diversity Council on manhattan.edu. The goals are as follows: “Goal 1: Recruitment and Retention of Students of Color, Goal 2: Recruitment and Retention of Employees of Color, Goal 3: Meaningful Change to Campus Climate, Goal 4: Inclusion of Race and Ethnicity as a College Wide Core Competency, Goal 5: Fostering of Community Engagement and Partnerships,

Goal 6: Creation of Institutional Framework to Support and Sustain Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts.”

The full detail behind each of these goals can be found on the Diversity Council webpage at manhattan.edu.

Cory Blad, Ph.D, has worked as a member of the Council’s steering committee.

Blad shared with The Quadrangle that the Diversity Council was created around the same time that the college released phase three of its Strategic Plan. Phase three of this plan is focused on addressing issues of equity and representation on Manhattan’s campus.

“The opportunity to connect the work of the Diversity Council with college-wide strategic planning will be an important part of working toward building a campus environment where everyone feels comfortable, represented, and meaningfully welcomed,” Blad said.

Britt emphasized that there is much work being done by the Council behind-the-scenes.

“The Diversity Council has been holding workshops and forums over the last year or so,” Britt said. “Later this year, the plan is to present the results of the working groups, with an outline of next steps in alignment with the strategic plan, mission, and vision for the College.”

The work by the Diversity Council has not been limited to the issues of students. Kale discussed the employee-focused events that have occurred thus far. Last fall, there was a mandatory meeting for senior administrators. This was intended to create a dialogue regarding how to be a better ally to col-

the Quadrangle Looking for writers, photographers and graphic designers.

Open Meetings Tuesdays 4 p.m. via Google Meet

leagues of color, and how to support them.

Kale adds that the college is lacking in representing people of color as members of senior leadership, but that the issue has improved and is continuing to be addressed.

On Feb. 12, there was another discussion hosted for employees, led by Blad and Gregory Cowart, Project Manager for the Physical Plant Administration at MC. This talk was titled, “A Conversation on Race and Class”.

Kale told The Quadrangle that this conversation was especially beneficial for MC employees since there are many intersections between race and class, which affect all of those working for an academic institution. Kale believes the talk facilitated helpful dialogue that allowed people from different positions racially, class-wise and career-wise to discuss their thoughts and feelings on the subject.

“The Diversity Council is one of the few campus committees to draw members from all parts of our community, including students and staff,” Blad.

“This model allows for voices and concerns from our entire community to be addressed and for the Council, itself, to be aware of the similar, but often unique, challenges concerning equity at Manhattan.”

For students and the MC community in general, Kale shared that the Council is planning an event titled, “So You Want To Talk About Race?”.

Kale said that this talk will feature members of the Council’s campus climate working group, to answer questions that frequently arise from white people

Q

in regards to discussing race.

According to Kale, the Diversity Council’s mission this year was addressing race. However, Kale hopes to incorporate working groups and events around issues of gender, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities, including those regarding mental health.

“The Diversity Council is intended to address inclusivity, inequity, with respect to all marginalized communities,” Kale said.

However, because the issues that the Diversity Council addresses are so complex and systemic, Kale has struggled to actively communicate the group’s work with the MC community. Kale plans to work with students this summer to better develop social media strategies for the Council. She anticipates the group will need to be creative to achieve effective communication.

In addition to a social media presence, Kale is planning to publish a Diversity Council newsletter to keep the community informed of what is happening within the group.

“The real work is taking place in the working groups, the conversations are both feeding into the work, as well as a result of the work,” Kale said. “The real operationalization of the work right now is a collection of people working on providing recommendations on systemic change. And the real doing of it will be in this next academic year.”

For further information, go to manhattan.edu or email diversitycouncil@manhattan. edu.

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Arts & Entertainment

9

Why Are We Still Talking About Golden Globe Snubs?

Samantha Walla Senior Writer

After a year of criticism and defense of fluff pieces, Netflix original “Emily in Paris’’ garnered not one, but two Golden Globe nominations.

After its release in October, the comedy-drama created by Darren Star has received an overwhelming amount of criticism while becoming one of the most-watched shows on Netflix.

The series stars Lily Collins as Emily, a young marketing professional who is suddenly transferred from Chicago to Paris. As one can imagine, the show features French stereotypes and language and culture mishaps against a whitewashed and glamorized Paris backdrop. Documenting her escapades through Instagram, the show’s namesake quickly rises in popularity as an influencer, assumingly a comment on the modern social media landscape and its users.

I’m not here to bash a bingeable, feel-good fluff show.

I’m all for lighthearted enter-

tainment, especially one that was released during a time of greatly needed, strings-free enjoyment (although comedy and “real” life are not mutually exclusive.)

Criticisms of “Emily in Paris” include its unrealistic portrayal of social media, its whitewashing of one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and its reliance on stereotypes for most of the identities represented. When watching the show for the first time, I was struck by how dated it seemed. The premise of the show is fun, sure, but what modern audience is truly interested in an attractive young woman who still hashtags her Instagram posts and has only 20 followers to navigate problems that feel as close to real life as fairy tales?

The show’s silliness has earned itself a reputation as a good show for “hate watching,” a term meant to explain a show’s disproportionate popularity and negative reviews.

While some enjoyed “Emily in Paris” for being “so bad it’s good” or “loving to hate it,” others feel that the show is a step back for popular media.

I am a part of this camp. In a year of social movements and health crises, political turmoil and the overarching fear for our environment, what does “Emily in Paris” say to its viewers? It gleams at an alternate universe that bears similarity to ours, but that has been stripped of the characters, identities and issues that inform our lives everyday. Television has done this historically, however, television has outgrown it’s rot-your-brain roots and began producing art that comments on society and experiences in real time.

As many are arguing on Twitter, the shows that accomplish this are not among the nominees of the Golden Globes. One of those snubbed in 2021 is HBO Max’s “I May Destroy You,” created, written and co-directed by Michaela Coel. The series is centered around a young London woman repairing her life after an experience of sexual assault. The show, which features a predominantly Black British cast, has been praised by both critics and the public on it’s marriage of comedy and drama, and it’s portrayal of an authentic sexual assault survivor.

Among the stream of outraged tweets and reviews is a public apology by “Emily in Paris” writer, Deborah Copaken. In her article published in The Guardian, Copaken defends some of the plot points of the show with her own experiences as an expatriate, but admits that she “could definitely see how a show about a white American selling luxury whiteness, in a pre-pandemic Paris scrubbed free of its vibrant African and Muslim communities, might rankle.”

Copaken praises “I May Destroy You” as her favorite work of television, claiming to have watched it twice to bask in its brilliance. The article is titled, “I’m a Writer on Emily in Paris.

I May Destroy You deserved a Golden Globe nomination.”

This discussion has been going on for years. Why do people get so upset? Why aren’t more creators of color recognized for their work? Why are we still talking about this?

The short answer is that we’re still talking about it because nothing has changed.

Works developed by those who do not fit Hollywood’s mold are consistently ignored when it

comes time for recognition, regardless of public outrage. This is an uninteresting response to the question. There’s more to this than just a blatant disregard for artists of color.

The Golden Globes is an organization that prides itself on recognizing the best of entertainment. When posed against a show like “I May Destroy You,” the value of “Emily in Paris” is clear. Modern audiences want shows that reflect their lives, that hold humor where their own experiences do not, that continue to speak to them after they have finished watching. More than representation, audiences want television that says something. Not that Paris is beautiful, or that choosing between a hot American and a hot French man is difficult, but that rape does not strip someone of their reliience, their humor or their heart. One of these shows is fun, the other is oscillating: between pain and love, laughter and tears, lighthearted jokes and darkness.

Which one of them deserves a Golden Globe?

MC Players Presents Valentine’s Day Production “Who are my people? Where is my rage?”

Jilleen Barrett & Zoe Defazio

A&E Editor & Staff Writer Manhattan College Players performed their annual V-Day production titled “Who are my people? Where is my rage?” directed by seniors Camryn Kidney and Maren Kain in honor of victims of sexual assault and other gender-based crimes.

Viewers were able to stream the show via Twitch on Feb. 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. Camryn Kidney, one of the directors of the production, opened the show by reminding viewers what the point of their performance was.

“V-Day is a movement started by Eve Ensler to end violence against women and girls.

This year in our production of V-Day, we chose to focus on the intersections of misogyny and sexual violence with racism misogyny, homophobia and capitalism,” she said.

One of the performers was Jennifer Bueti, a senior, who read the first poem of the night titled “A Letter to White Queers, A Letter to Myself”

by Andrea Gibson. This poem referenced the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student from Wyoming who was the subject of “The Laramie Project,” which the Players performed last semester.

“I’m writing to tell you that I do not remember where I was or how I felt when I heard this. For a lot of our commu-

nity, 1998 was the year only Matthew Shepard died,” she said. “I’m writing to tell you, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking, who are my people?”

Kidney’s co-director Maren Kain explained the process of assigning poems to the performers.

“We sent all of those monologues and everything to everybody who auditioned for the show and they sent us back pieces that spoke to them, spoke to their own experience, so that we made sure people were speaking about something that was important to them so they would be excited about the project but also to respect the integrity of the monologues and pieces that we chose,” she said. “We didn’t want people speaking to an experience that they couldn’t relate to. That was something that was really important to us, but also making sure that people were feeling empowered in this space and speaking to things that were important to them that they felt excited to perform.”

Kidney spoke about how delicate the subject matter is and how she and Kain tried to ensure that all of the actors reciting the poems were comfortable.

“We wanted this to be a safe space for everybody involved because we were talking about issues that are very personal towards others and it could be difficult to approach due to

people having experienced violence and oppression,” Kidney said.

When discussing the reasoning behind the desire to put on a performance with such extreme topics, Kidney expressed her feeling that more people should be made aware of the issues surrounding the violence that is driven by discrimination.

“There’s this disbelief that situations like this don’t occur and having a cast that went through these scenarios and have them read these pieces themselves revealed how personal these issues are and that they do in fact happen,” she said.

It was important to Kidney that the performance was done tastefully and respected both the original authors of the poems as well as the students interpreting them.

“We wanted people to know that we were never going to make them talk about a subject that they said that they felt uncomfortable with,” she said.

“We made sure that people were reading pieces that they felt comfortable with. We made sure everyone’s voices were heard. I also wanted to make sure that the audience was aware of what was going to be discussed in the show.”

One of the more memorable poems was “I Think She Was a She” by Leyla Josephine and recited by Deirdre O’Leary, an adjunct professor in the department of music and theater, who

made a powerful statement against those who attempt to judge female bodies.

“This is my body,” she said.

“I don’t care about your ignorant views.”

The Players Instagram account proudly featured this image promoting the performance, which was streamed on Twitch the day after Valentine’s Day. @PLAYERSMC/ COURTESY

Arts & Entertainment

10

THE QUADRANGLE

MC Operation Smile Makes Bracelets for a Cause Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor

MC Operation Smile is holding the Beloved Bracelets fundraiser throughout the month of February to raise money for children who are born with cleft lip or cleft palate worldwide by selling bracelets to students in Kelly Commons.

The mission of MC Operation Smile is to raise as much money possible every semester to contribute to the smile fund, where all proceeds go to organizations for surgeries or research purposes. Each reparative surgery is around 240 dollars, so fundraising makes a huge impact on the ability for these surgeries to be performed.

“The mission follows the nonprofit organization Operation Smile,” Shayla Gramajo, junior biology major and president of MC Operation Smile, said. “They’re an international organization that benefits many children all around the world, from places like underserved countries, places where safe surgeries aren’t usually accessible. So that really strikes home to me.”

Each bracelet that is being

sold for this cause is handmade by junior biology major and club historian, Stephanie Fandino Leison. Bracelets can be customized, especially with Valentine’s Day being the overall theme of the month.

This is just one of many fundraisers MC Operation Smile has organized, which includes 5K walks, previous bracelet sales, and apple cider donut sales. All of the proceeds from these events go directly to their smile fund. For the bracelets, they thought it would be a good idea to have a tangible item for those donating to keep during these virtual times.

“We were trying to think of a way in which we can really increase the amount of participants in the fundraiser.

And it’s kind of hard now with everything being remote, and you know, some people are on campus and some people are not,” Stephanie Zandel, junior allied health major and fundraising coordinator of MC Operation Smile, said. “So then we thought, while our past fundraisers were remote or with very minimal contact, we thought this time, maybe we should do a table set-up on campus.”

Holding fundraisers in a manner that allows students and faculty to purchase the items online or in person helps to increase the interactivity with their club to the campus community.

These fundraisers are also incredibly important to promote safe surgeries for children around the globe with cleft lip or cleft palate. The surgeries performed minimize health risks and offer a more healthy lifestyle for these children.

“I think that this is more of a universal health care right. We talk a lot about Human Rights Day and this is just a basic human need because the surgeries are helping children drink anything or eat their food, and that is so essential,” Fandino Leison said.

Along with the important fundraising mission of the club, MC Operation Smile emphasizes the importance of volunteering on campus.

“The club is really important because it gives people a way to volunteer actively with a club, especially a club that is, you know, is actively trying to give back to their community and give back to these children

who oftentimes don’t have the privileges that we do,” Gramajo said.

MC Operation Smile is able to look at the mission’s forum and see stories of families they and other colleges have helped through fundraising.

“They email all of the colleges, and they kind of feature our fundraiser events, they feature everybody as well. But, they do share some stories about children who are receiving these surgeries, and we do see pictures of their families, and the before and after pictures. But of course, you know, it has been delayed because of the pandemic,” Gramajo said.

“But they’re still working to focus on these surgeries.”

The work of clubs on campus like MC Operation Smile helps contribute to society in a valuable way. Students are able to use their abilities to make a change and pave the way for the next generation of students to continue this legacy.

“I think it’s very rewarding to give back and think that I directly, positively impacted the lives of disadvantaged children or children who otherwise wouldn’t get these surgeries without the fundraising we’re

doing,” Zandel said. “You’re really reducing their health risks, which I think is very important and it kind of holds true to the type of impact I want to have in the future because I want to do pediatric nursing.”

The Beloved Bracelets sale can be found in Kelly Commons during the week of February 22nd to the 25th, or can be accessed online for orders through their venmo @ MCOpSmile.

MC Operation Smile is holding the Beloved Bracelets fundraiser throughout the month of February. @MC.OPERATIONSMILE / COURTESY

Meet Sam Szabo: Whose Passion for Music Perseveres Through All PERFORMER PROFILE Madalyn Johnson Web Editor

Sam Szabo is a senior at Manhattan College majoring in kinesiology. Over the years, Szabo has been heavily involved with the school’s jazz band. After joining in hopes of improving his skills with the drums, an instrument he’s played since he was 10 years old, Szabo ended up committing to playing jazz with a group of students who share the same passion and determination as he does for the arts.

As a freshman, Szabo was intrigued by the idea of playing jazz for college, considering his past experiences playing music in other grades limited what instruments he could learn and experiment with.

“So I joined jazz band approximately my freshman year because I really wanted to join and develop my skills playing drums,” Szabo said.

“I have played drums since I was 10 years old, and I never really played drums in jazz, I tried in middle school but my teacher at the time wanted me to play the trumpet. So I didn’t have an outlet to play jazz at all. And I thought it’d be really cool to join a jazz band, and you know, try to play harder pieces.”

Before the pandemic, Szabo would practice with the jazz band three to four hours a week, allowing him to not only

manage time for his school work but also to fit in more music lessons.

“My experience was much enhanced because for three semesters I took the lessons on top of jazz band. So that made things even better because I had to kind of manage my time so that I can practice for the lessons and revert to jazz band rehearsal.”

Unlike the restrictions and rules students had to abide by to resume certain club activities, the jazz band particularly had to find an innovative and safe way to keep rehearsing in-person without jeopardizing the safety of others.

Szabo mentioned how the planning that went into making rehearsals happen for the jazz band was fun to be a part of regardless of how hard it was adapting to the location change.

“So the pandemic kind of changed things in the way we practiced. So from the smaller room in Thomas Hall, we transitioned into Smith auditorium and over there we played a lot, very spread out,” Szabo said “So, the rhythm section was on the stage and then everyone else was down. So it was just, it was a totally different, different kind of rehearsal because you know, we have to work with the echo and all that so it was a little tougher, but in the end, it was really interesting because we were able to record a couple of really cool pieces and put

them together.”

Along with changing where students normally rehearsed, Szabo noticed a lot more dedication when making sure concerts were performed to perfection last semester, since students would be playing for a virtual performance, set in stone on the internet, as opposed to once for a live audience.

Szabo explained during the fall semester the jazz band decided to perform perpetual concerts, virtual concerts for live-streamed audiences, to keep musicians and viewers safe.

“We recorded that section by section and so it was really interesting because we really had to know our parts because we were all mic’d up,” Szabo said “So I think we prepared even more for the virtual concert recordings than the actual concert because everything has to be flawless for the recording. The best part of it is that you know it’s the best quality you can get because it’s a studio sound and you also have it on YouTube forever.”

Besides jazz band, Szabo has joined other organizations on campus that prioritize teamwork and team bonding, like Campus Crusade for Christ, a community that focuses on spiritually connecting people to Jesus Christ. His positive experiences with organizations that help students relate to one another make him treasure the

moments he’s had in jazz band.

“So my time with cru [Campus Crusade for Christ] was really interesting in that way, that I was able to meet people with my same background. And so, same with jazz band, you kind of build off of each other, and you kind of push each other, like if you make a mistake, people will call you out and let you know,” Szabo said. “In the end, it’s just really cool to have that bond through music and to know there is a group that you can have that outlet of music with.”

As far as being a senior during one of the oddest semesters Manhattan College most likely will have to date for their graduating class, Szabo says his goal is to focus on pursuing the things he loves.

Taking a shift in career paths by switching his major from chemical engineering to kinesiology, Szabo is eager to get the credentials he needs to get one step closer to starting his dream career.

“This is kind of like my fifth year, I switched majors in the middle of my sophomore year and so right now I’m finally doing what I love. Knowing that I’m going to grad school after all this is kind of my motivation,” Szabo said. “I really am taking very minimal classes right now since I’m a senior and it’s just been a long ride but I’m just really looking forward to my next chapter on life and my career in chiropractic.”

During a time where many students can feel dissuaded to join clubs because of the pandemic, Szabo, a senior who has learned so much from a club that encourages teamwork, says students should still push themselves to be involved to find a group of friends to bond with outside the classroom.

“I just really think that taking advantage of clubs is going to benefit you in the end because you’re able to connect with others in that group outside of the class setting,” Szabo said. “It’s really cool to be able to do that, even through a pandemic, especially a pandemic since it can make a lot of people feel lonely. It developed my college experience and I urge people to join whatever interests them.”

Senior Sam Szabo has played the drums since he was 10 years old and has been able to improve his skills since joining Manhattan College’s jazz band.

SAM SZABO / COURTESY

Sports

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

11

There’s No Place Like SWEAT For Female Student-Athlete Engineers Matt Sweeney & Pete Janny

Staff Writer & Sports Editor Depending on which way one approaches the Manhattan College campus, the athletic endeavors housed in Gaelic Park, Draddy Gymnasium, and Van Cortlandt Park might catch the attention of passersby. These athletic venues are graced by student-athletes with miscellaneous interests and experiences that are sometimes overshadowed by their own athletic prowess. But the dedication required by student-athletes is just as rigorous off the field as it is on it. Within the Jasper Athletics community exists a subculture of women that have chosen to pursue a challenging balance between engineering and athletics rarely seen in Division One athletics.

As the statistics show, not everyone is cut out to study engineering. According to a study done by MIT, approximately 50 percent of students that enter engineering programs drop the major for another degree or leave higher education altogether. To boot, over 32 percent of women leave STEM degree programs during their college careers, according to the Society of Women Engineers in a 2019 study. But of those who have lasted in STEM, the most impressive cohort would probably be student-athletes, especially female student-athletes, who have managed to breakthrough in a field they are historically underrepresented in.

Manhattan College student-athletes Camryn Nici and Sydney Harwood are spearheading the efforts to improve female representation in the engineering industry. Since January 2020, Nici and Harwood have served their fellow female student-athlete engineers as

Camryn Nici is pursuing a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Manhattan after playing fours on the women’s soccer team.

GOJASPERS / COURTESY

student leaders of SWEAT. With Dr. Christina Cercone of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department acting as their advisor and mentor, SWEAT, which stands for Student Women Engineers on Athletic Teams, has provided a space where the trials and tribulations inherent in pursuing an engineering degree and athletics can be taken on as a unit.

Camryn Nici, former Women’s Soccer Team Captain and President of SWEAT, is currently working toward completing her Master’s degree in Civil Engineering at the college, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2020. She co-founded the club with Sydney Harwood, current Women’s Soccer Team Captain and President of SWEAT, who is set to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering this May. “There wasn’t a space for women engineers on athletic teams to get together and support each other,” Nici said.

“Most of the time, it’s very hard to join clubs because athletes have less time in their day, so we wanted to create a club specifically for us.”

Similar to commuter students at Manhattan College, student-athletes have schedules that oftentimes don’t accommodate extracurricular activities on campus. While the commuters formed a Commuter Student Association to serve their needs, the students that SWEAT serves had yet to find a home, which was a void that Harwood and Nici wanted to fill.

“SWEAT was created to provide support for the unique group of female student athletes majoring in engineering,” Harwood said. “It is difficult to find guidance when you are an athlete and an engineer major, the athletic department doesn’t have a good grasp on what engineering is and the engineering departments don’t fully understand the commitment being an athlete is. There are also not many schools that allow their Division One athletes to major in engineering.”

In the case of female engineers, the lack of a strong support system for them historically has had clear implications on their ability to succeed in the industry. Only 30 percent of women remain in the industry 20 years after earning their Bachelor’s degree in engineering, with the same percentage of women citing “the organizational climate” as the reason for leaving, according to SWE. Despite a 40 percent increase in people earning Bachelor’s degrees in engineering and computer science from 2012 to 2017, including a 58 percent increase for women alone, only 20 percent of those degrees

were awarded to women and six percent to women of color.

Today, the engineering and computer science industries are 13 percent women, who on average are earning 10 percent less than men in both professions.

Manhattan College has led the way in promoting women to pursue their education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The long-running Summer Engineering Awareness Program dates as far back as 1982 when it was started by Dr. Walter Saukin of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. It has introduced the world of STEM to several successive generations of women that have gone on to transform the industry by leading engineering departments at various levels and institutions, as well as top-performing companies and government agencies.

According to SWE, as of 2019 the percentage of engineering professors that are female is 17 percent nationally, a far less proportion than the almost 30 percent of full-time engineering faculty at Manhattan College who are female.

In Spring 2019, the Manhattan College Chapter of SWE hosted the SWE for Scouts event that invited girl scouts to campus for interactive activities relating to engineering principles. The goal of the event was to encourage girls to pursue a career in the industry, and that especially rings true in light of International Day of Women and Girls in Science which was celebrated on Feb. 11.

“I hope that’s what Sydney and I are doing, even if it’s just inspiring one person to choose a STEM route for their career,” Nici said in regards to inspiring the next generation of women in STEM. “As I got older on the soccer team, I realized that reassuring the younger women on the team that they can pursue a STEM career as well meant a lot to them. Older woman on the team did that for me and I wanted to be that person for others as well. My message to all the girls considering STEM would be to go for it and keep pushing the boundaries of what women can do.”

SWEAT has plenty of event ideas on their agenda and are hoping to make up for the time lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which essentially wiped out its entire first year of existence.

“We have a lot of plans for the future of SWEAT,” Harwood said. “We are currently trying to organize an alumni Q&A where we are asking former athletes who are now in the workforce to come back and speak about their experiences working with the group.

We also like to have meetings

Senior Sydney Harwood captains the Manhattan women’s soccer team while majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

GOJASPERS / COURTESY around registration so that the upperclassmen can provide insight for the underclassmen in what classes are best to take.”

Nici said. “After COVID, we hope to make a schedule with all the games of the women engineers so we all can support each other not only in the classroom but on the field, court, track, etc. We also hope to schedule trips to professional women sports games one day that we all could go to together.”

If all goes well with SWEAT, the blueprint may be found for other colleges and universities who are serious about enhancing the experiences of female student-athlete engineers. Nici hopes the infrastructure of the club will keep growing and perhaps even inspire other schools to start their own chapters of SWEAT. “After my time at Manhattan College, I hope that SWEAT continues and positively impacts the women athletes here,” Nici said. “Maybe we can open it up to all STEM majors and make it an even bigger club and maybe this can inspire other schools to create a club similar to this one.”

Even though Nici and Harwood have led the club from its conception, SWEAT would not exist if Cercone had not pitched the idea to them.

“She’s the one who came up with this idea,” Nici said of Cer-

cone. “She really keeps us on track with the work we should be doing to keep this club afloat and comes up with some of the ideas for the events. She’s a big sports fan and she’s a great engineering professor who knows how hard it is to do both in college. This club wouldn’t be here without her.”

Nici and Harwood would not trade the experience of being an engineer and a Division One student-athlete for anything. The memories will last a lifetime and evoke the roller coaster of emotions felt, like the lows of staying up late to do work or the highs of winning a big game at Gaelic Park.

“My teammates are some of my best friends and I don’t know where I’d be without their support,” Nici said. “The fact that I was able to major in civil engineering while also being an athlete is something I will cherish forever. You can’t really do that at every college at the Division I level. Playing on Gaelic Park right under the subway is something I’ll never forget.”

With engineers like Camryn Nici and Sydney Harwood going out to design our world and professors like Cercone to mentor them, Manhattan College will continue to be “the college that built New York City” and that should be augmented now with “the college that built the women that did it.”

Sports

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THE QUADRANGLE

Time Out for Black Lives Initiative Inspires and Encourages Alexa Schmidt Senior Writer

The Time Out for Black Lives initiative was spearheaded by the MAAC Conference last summer to call for inclusion of all players and coaches.

It’s purpose serves to support black culture and representation in a fun way as children’s books are read aloud in a fun and engaging way.

In addition to sharing diverse literature, the Time Out for Black Live website is an interactive website for kids.

According to the GoJaspers website, “Posted videos will feature short biographies on each coach or student-athlete, with kid-friendly information such as the reader’s hometown, favorite book and favorite basketball player. There is also a “Let’s Talk About It” resource that guides to help parents and teachers start thought-provoking discussions with the children viewing the videos.”

At Manhattan College, head women’s basketball coach, Heather Vulin, and junior point guard Samir Stewart of the men’s basketball team both had the opportunity to participate in this program.

Coach Vulin narrated “Vote for Our Future,” written by author Margaret McNamara in 2020 right before the presidential election. Coach Vulin was given the option to choose from two books, but thought “Vote for Our Future” would be a great way to draw attention to the importance of voting.

“I like the fact that it points out that not everybody had the right to vote and that especially for women and people of color, like it just literally happened within the last hundred years,” Vulin said. “So I really like the fact that it talked about that because I feel, especially now with everything going on in our country, it’s so important for people to take an active part of what happens in our country.

And the quickest thing to make change is to vote, put people in power that are going to represent you.”

This past fall, the MAAC and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee dedicated themselves to ensuring that all teams and staff within the athletic department registered to vote, and they succeeded with 100 percent registration. The NCAA also made it mandatory that teams had the day off on Election Day to give student

athletes and coaches an opportunity to go vote.

Samir Stewart read “Overground Railroad” by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Although initially nervous to read out loud, his love of kids and the cause allowed him to feel comfortable and enjoy the activity.

“It was my first time actually, you know, reading out loud and being comfortable with it, being on camera and the fact that it was, you know, it’s going to be heard by kids and maybe they could be inspired by my voice,” Stewart said. “I actually enjoyed the whole process.”

To Stewart, being a Black athlete is extremely important, and he is proud that he gets the chance to play for a Division I school and represent the college. However, with that opportunity comes responsibility.

“You never know who’s watching,” Stewart said. “You never know who’s looking out, who’s attending the games or you know, who is watching on TV or watching the program.

So always conduct yourself as a professional, always go out there, put a smile on your face.

It’s about respect at the end of the day.”

In Stewart’s view, the MAAC has done a great job

in bringing issues to light and making sure the cause is still being recognized.

“In playing at different arenas at different games, you still see maybe it’s a banner, or something on the court or just the patch, like anything like Black Lives Matter,” Stewart said. “It’s being shown around not only the MAAC but in different conferences.”

Coach Vulin can echo Stewart’s statements. She acknowledges that it’s hard not to talk about what’s going on in the world when she coaches her players. It amounts to more than just basketball. In addition to hosting the Black Lives Matter Vigil in the beginning of the fall semester, the women’s basketball team has shooting shirts that were actually designed by Manhattan students.

“They’re beautiful,” Coach Vulin said. “We have Black Lives Matter on the court. We have the MAAC initiatives United for Justice. So I feel like, you know, we’re trying to make sure that when people watch us play, they also are being reminded that the fight is not over yet.”

The women’s basketball program believes in empowering women. Vulin has an

all-female staff and tries to do mentoring programs with her players at least once a month.

“Because of COVID, we do Zoom calls to help give [players] mentors that they can maybe use down the road in terms of trying to find an internship, but also just to hear their stories and find out what did they do to overcome the obstacles that they’re going to face as women in the business world or whatever profession that they’ve chosen.”

“Empowering has been part of what we’re about since I started the program,” Vulin said. “We need to do more in terms of empowering black women, because I feel they definitely have it harder than most everybody in terms of representation. We’ve got just a really talented group on the court off the court. I feel like every one of my players is in the top honor society of their major. They take active roles in terms of volunteer work and being on different committees on campus. So the future’s looking bright and they definitely have embraced the empowerment and are trying to use their voice and their platform.”

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