Issue 8, Spring 2021- The Quadrangle

“We Do Journalism”

the Quadrangle

Visit Our Website mcquad.org

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924

Volume CIII, Issue 8

FREE

NEW YORK, MARCH 23, 2021

MC Sees Slight Decrease in COVID-19 Cases as Easter Break Approaches Kyla Guilfoil & Nicole Fitzsimmons Asst. News Editor & News Editor

Run for Fun Manhattan College students join a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in a 5K fun run.

BRIAN ASARE/ THE QUADRANGLE

WRCM Closes for the Rest of the Spring Semester Madalyn Johnson Web Editor

In response to rising COVID-19 cases at Manhattan College, the school’s on-campus radio station, WRCM, has closed for the rest of the spring semester. The radio station relaunched in spring 2019 after being shut down for a decade.

The closure of WRCM exemplifies one of the many times the pandemic has disrupted the various extracurricular activities available to Manhattan College students. The staff expressed disappointment about the challenges COVID-19 has created to what were once daily after-school rituals to students.

Michael Grabowski, Ph.D., chairman of the communication department, shared in an email stating how he’s saddened about WRCM’s shutdown. He is hopeful that with

IN NEWS:

MC Plans to Return Fully On-Campus on p. 3

vaccinations and students doing their part to stay safe, campus life can soon resume how it was before the pandemic.

“It almost has become cliché to note how COVID-19 has upended many of the things we do,” he wrote. “Not being able to use the small DJ broadcast room for WRCM is one of those sacrifices. I hope that, with vaccines, mask-wearing, and social distancing, we can stop the spread of this virus and resume activities that we sincerely miss, like students broadcasting again from the WRCM booth.”

Thom Gencarelli, Ph.D.,a communication professor and currently on sabbatical, also sympathized with WRCM members and explained how saddened he was that the radio station had to close after recently re-opening on campus.

He shared in an email statement, “WRCM was resurrected

IN FEATURES: Koru Mindfulness to Ease Stress on p. 5

as a student club during the 2018-2019 academic year after it had come to a rather unfortunate and inglorious end a decade earlier. It was resurrected by a group of students who had learned about its important history on campus and who, in a time of music streaming services, still thought it important for the College to have and operate a radio station.”

Although upset, Gencarelli shared that he’s confident WRCM will come back based on the determination students in the past have shown to make sure a radio station exists for the MC community.

“It’s unfortunate once again that, as with so many other things, the pandemic disrupted the momentum of these students and the growing attention and listenership the station __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

As Easter break approaches, Manhattan has seen a slight decrease in positive COVID-19 cases with a positive test average of 3.4% in the past 14 days compared to 4.2% from the update on March 11th. This is compared to the seven-day positive test average of 4.2% in New York City on Wednesday, March 17th.

During the last 14 days, Health Services has processed 1,842 tests on campus with 31 positive results and 652 off-campus tests with 49 positive test results from on-campus individuals. This data can be found updated periodically on the public dashboard attached in the Jaspers Return email.

With Easter break being just around the corner, the College is preparing for on-campus individuals to return home for a week from Thursday, April 1 to Tuesday, April 6. The last day for students to get tested on campus will be Tuesday, March 30 until Monday, April 5.

The Jaspers Return email reminds students to take precautions when returning home and follow up with their surveillance testing requirements, which is every 14 days for students and every 28 days for employees.

“Please make arrangements to be tested before Tuesday, March 30 if your next surveillance testing due date is between March 31 and April 5. If you are traveling home, you should also be aware that turnaround time for test results may be 3-5 days with Enzo Labs. Broad Institute provides testing results within 48 hours,” the email stated.

However, due to domestic travel restrictions being lifted in New York State starting April 1, students will not be required quarantine upon returning to campus after traveling within the United States. All international travelers will be

IN A&E:

New Bookstore in Riverdale on p. 8

required to quarantine.

In addition to reminding students of their surveillance testing requirements, the email also added details regarding where students should get tested during their quarantine.

Other than those who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days, all students are expected to fulfill their surveillance testing requirements. Yet, only students with green passes will be able to get tested in Smith Auditorium. Those with a red pass are to follow other instructions for testing on campus.

Individuals who are quarantining off-campus are also not permitted to get tested in Smith Auditorium, and must get tested at an off-campus testing site. The email includes links to testing sites in New York State.

In response to the rising cases in recent weeks, the college has also implemented a new concierge team for those in on campus quarantine which will be in place soon. This team includes three staff members who act as concierge assistants, to address students’ non-medical needs in quarantine, such as meal delivery and package delivery.

“There are now three staff members in place acting as concierge assistants to aid those students who are required to quarantine,” the email said.

“This team will assist with students’ non-medical needs in quarantine, including meal delivery, package delivery and other reasonable requests that may occur.”

According to the email, students will be able to contact the concierge team at concierge@manhattan.edu, starting March 21. The team will be active from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. following their opening. For easier contact, students can also call or text 718-862-6530 to reach the team.

As always, the update email requests that any further questions be directed to the One Manhattan team at 718862-6398 or onemanhattan@ manhattan.edu.

IN SPORTS:

Return of Manhattan Soccer on p. 12

News

2

the Quadrangle

THE QUADRANGLE

LETTER from The Editor

Dear Readers, Happy spring! I want to take a moment to thank you all for The Editorial Board the support that we’ve received over the past several weeks.

Anna Woods Our staff has worked tirelessly this semester to ensure that Editor-in-Chief stories that are affecting our students and community are Jilleen Barrett Maria Thomas Managing Editor Managing Editor being told. With that, we have seen the power of the press and the power of student voices make change on campus.

Kyla Guilfoil Nicole Fitzsimmons Asst.

News Editor News Editor As those changes are being made, The Quad is following Kelly Cwik Jilleen Barrett those stories closely and we will continue to do so for future Asst. Arts & Arts & Entertainment Editor Entertainment Editor events.

On a more serious note, as continue to witness the horrific Caroline McCarthy Christine Nappi Asst. Features Editor Features Editor violence of white supremacy and the patriarchy please know Colleen McNamara Pete Janny that you are not alone.

Asst. Sports Editor Sports Editor We mourn the lives of Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Kelly Kennedy Lauren Raziano Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiaojie Tan, Asst. Social Media Editor Social Media Editor Daoyou Feng, and Paul Andre Michels. We also mourn the Brian Asare Emily Hollar life of Sarah Everard.

Photography Editor Production Editor Asst. Photography Editor To make an appointment with the Counseling Center call Adrianne Hutto 718-862-7394.

Nicole Rodriguez Jocelyn Visnov Production Editor The Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Center will be Asst. Production Editors holding a vigil to honor the victims of the hate crimes in Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Atlanta on Tuesday March 23 at 3 p.m. The event will be on Web Editors the Quad and on Google meet. For more information follow Nicholas Gilewicz @mc_cmsa on Instagram.

Faculty Advisor As we live in an era of information overload please take About The Quadrangle care of yourselves. Go for a walk. Take a nap. Do whatever A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization run by the students of you need to do to make sure that you’re okay. Until next time.

Volume CIII, Issue 8 March 23, 2021

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.

Sincerely,

Anna Woods

Editor-in-Chief

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

Connect with The Quadrangle

mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

SUBMIT YOUR OWN LETTER OR OP-ED Letters to the Editor or an op-ed may be submitted to thequad@manhattan.edu by Saturday at noon to be considered for publication. Profanity, vulgarity and hate will not be published. The Quadrangle reserves the right not to publish a letter.

News

MARCH 23, 2021

3

WRCM Closes for the Rest of the Spring Semester __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 was beginning to attract, just one year into things,” he wrote.

“But I think that as long as students want it, as long as there continues to be a committed group who makes it happen, WRCM will survive - that it will thrive. And I for, one, certainly hope it will continue to become as important to our campus community as it once was.”

Patrick Skwiot is a senior electrical engineering major at Manhattan College who is the program director for WRCM. As an electrical engineering major, Skwiot found the radio station to be a great outlet to unwind from stress and the work required from a major that contrasts the creativity behind being a DJ. He explained that the conditions students had to work in during the fall while hosting WRCM didn’t drastically change the overall experience.

“It wasn’t all that different based from a real, micro per-

spective, like as a DJ, because you’re still in the booth, and for the most part most shows are either one or two people,” he said. “We had the microphones there six feet apart, at least, so that we were able to have a show of two people still in there. The only real difference is that you’re wearing a mask while you’re talking into the microphone so sometimes it can sound a little muffled, but it’s not very noticeable.”

Despite the fact students compromised having access to WRCM by taking safety precautions, COVID cases progressively rose this spring and left WRCM members with no other choice but to close.

“There was the outbreak as a whole that took place throughout the entire campus, that was definitely part of it,” Skwiot said. “A lot of DJs were in quarantine or tested positive, so back a few weeks ago we closed down for a week, then we reopened, and then cases throughout the school were still on the rise. So, we thought

the best thing was just to close it because even if we didn’t necessarily have evidence that WRCM was the cause for any of this, it was just a precautionary reason.” Regardless of Skwiot being disappointed about his last semester with WRCM ending abruptly, he still stands with the radio station’s decision.

“It’s definitely a bit of a bummer. It’s definitely disappointing that we’re not able to do this, but I think, in the long run, it’s the right decision.

Hopefully, we can reopen later in the semester if the numbers go down, but everything is very tentative right now you know.”

Alex Nieves is another senior business analytics and computer information systems major who has a show on WRCM. As the technical director of the radio station he saw signs that this spring semester wouldn’t continue with WRCM, based on the problems that started in the fall.

“The issues we saw in the fall were just magnified for the spring,” Nieves said. “The DJ

booth can only be unlocked by members of the board and once cases go up and more DJs go into quarantine, we see more gaps in the schedule which makes it almost impossible to coordinate who can open the booth and when. At a certain point, it just became impossible to have someone on call at all times to unlock the booth without pulling people out of class, which we cannot do.”

Like Gencarelli, Nieves views the radio station as an integral part of campus life and believes that the energy and entertainment students bring to WRCM will soon return.

“Our DJs are passionate about live radio, and I also believe that WRCM was on the cusp of becoming a major part of campus life at MC. This in no way means that WRCM is gone for good. I truly believe that this is one of those ‘subject to change’ things, so once we have fewer cases and more vaccines, WRCM will roar back to life,” he said.

Even though times are dif-

ficult for WRCM now, Nieves wants to stress to the MC community to keep showing interest in WRCM and to listen when the show returns.

The station is eager to make a comeback and demonstrate that even a pandemic can’t tune out college students.

“Keep WRCM in your thoughts. If you find the idea of college radio exciting, consider (when we go back online) to tune in whenever you get the chance. The great thing about radio is that you have almost endless hours of free music/ content curated by passionate music lovers. Consider how that might improve your daily walk to Starbucks, or how it would improve your commute back home or even a fun way to tune out the silence when you’re doing some light busywork.”

To learn more about WRCM, visit their website, www.wrcm.rocks.

MC Plans for a Return to Fully On-Campus Instruction for Fall 2021 Megan LaCreta & Kelly Kennedy Staff Writer & Asst. Social Media Editor

With registration beginning on April 6, students noticed something interesting while preparing their schedules for the 2021 fall semester: an abundance of in-person classes.

After a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by online and hybrid classes, this move by the college seems to signal a return to normalcy.

In an email sent out to the Manhattan College community, President Brennan O’Donnell confirmed the school’s plans for a full return to campus-based learning.

“As the semester begins on Monday, August 30, 2021, courses will return to their regular mode of operation, and we aim to offer the full complement of campus activities that are so important to our Lasallian Catholic mission and our beloved traditions,” O’Donnell wrote. “We expect all students, faculty, and staff to be on campus, in-person. It is vital that we return to campus to provide students with the robust living and learning experiences that are a hallmark of the Manhattan College experience.”

Undergraduate courses are

set to return to the in-person instruction model, while graduate courses, many of which were in an online or hybrid format before the pandemic, will revert to their normal mode of instruction.

The school will continue to follow CDC, New York State and New York City guidelines regarding protective measures and social distancing in classrooms, according to Provost Steven Schreiner. In the wake of the CDC’s announcement relaxing social distancing guidelines in schools from six to three feet, Schreiner also said he would expect classroom capacities to increase.

Both Schreiner and O’Donnell’s email cited the increasing availability of COVID-19 vaccines as a reason for the college’s plan to return to normalcy. O’Donnell encouraged those in the Manhattan community to get vaccinated when they are eligible, though he emphasized that the school would not require vaccinations, unless recommended by city, state or federal guidelines.

The school currently does not have plans to accommodate individuals who do not wish to return to in-person classes by the fall semester. Shreiner cited vaccine availability and reaching herd immunity as the reasons behind this decision.

“We are not, we’re not making plans at this moment for accommodations because if the vaccine is available to everybody… we expect everyone to really have the ability to get immunity, if they want to,” Schreiner said. “And that alone is protective, even if I choose not to get the vaccine, that protects me.”

Schreiner also made it clear that the school is prepared to respond accordingly if in-person instruction once again becomes unsafe.

While a number of MC students are still remote, many students feel as if a return to fully in-person classes is a step in the right direction back to a normal college experience.

Arjun Jaswal is a sophomore civil engineering major who opted to stay remote for the spring 2021 semester.

“I picked to be remote because I felt like the virus was going to keep spreading and that students would be sent home,” Jaswal said. “I didn’t want to move to school just to be sent back home if the virus spread.”

Although he opted to stay home this semester, Jaswal states that he would have returned to campus during the fall 2021 semester even if remote learning was still an option.

Jaswal says, “I will be in class next semester even if remote learning was offered. I feel like I have missed out on a lot and want to get my college experience. I am less worried than I was a year ago because of the vaccine and now know I can go back.”

The idea of missing out on the “real college experience” is something that many students would agree on with the influx of online classes. Sophomore sociology major Grace Kalfatovic felt the same, and came back to campus in the spring 2021 semester for that reason.

“I was not on campus in the fall but I returned to campus for the spring because I missed my friends and hated online classes. I’m excited classes will be fully in person but I’m really worried about case numbers rising and us being sent home, like we came close to this semester,” Kalfatovic said.

With the accessibility to the COVID-19 vaccine and return to fully in-person classes, it seems that a return to normalcy is underway. Although, there is still the looming threat of the continuous COVID-19 pandemic over the plans for all students to be on campus.

“Behind the scenes, unbeknownst to the students during the registration, we have set up some things that would make

it possible, if something really bad happened, we could go back to some sort of a HyFlex mode,” Schreiner said. “It’s not in our forward outward planning, but we will take everything we’ve learned over the last year, and make it part of our decision making and planning, if we need to go back.”

Because of this, all students and faculty are encouraged to get vaccinated in order to allow a return to campus. To help with the transition, there will be a portal to upload vaccination status in addition to the current testing portal.

“We will be creating a portal. So that when one gets a vaccination status of fully vaccinated, they can upload it just like you were uploading tests before returning this spring.

You can upload your vaccination status, and that will help in the transition,” Schreiner said.

Above all else, Manhattan College is confident that the campus can return to some sort of normalcy with everyone back on campus for in-person instruction in the fall.

“Bottom line is to be fully in person next fall. With students, faculty, staff, everybody on campus, as we were in the past,” Schreiner said.

Features

4

THE QUADRANGLE

Jasper Community Voice their Opinion on the Cancellation of Spring Break VOICES ON THE QUAD Victor Franco Staff Writer

As a result of precautionary pandemic restrictions, Manhattan College decided to cancel its spring break. Typically, students and faculty get a week off of classes in mid-March where they are free to unwind and relax. However, due to the cancellation, students and faculty have pushed through the month of March with no time off. Members of the Jasper community shared their thoughts on this situation.

Shaib Sherhan Freshman | Physics Major What is your opinion on the school canceling spring break?

I believe it is unfair to students and professors because although most of us are remote we still have a lot of work coming from both sides.

Spring break has been a tradition that many colleges are still respecting even during a pandemic. I believe that many students looked forward to this break because of the nice weather and fun activities that can be planned while following COVID-19 guidelines.

What different alternatives could the school have taken?

The only other alternative I could think of right now is that the school could’ve done what they did in the fall semester and go remotely after spring break. Although this is an alternative that can affect all resident students I don’t see why not do it if they already did it last semester.

How will this affect the mental health of students?

Molly McLoughlin

Sarah Wacker, Ph.D

Sophomore | Civil Engineering

Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

What is your opinion on the school canceling spring break?

What is your opinion on the school canceling spring break?

I understand why the college did it because students will still go on vacation or go to places and there’s still a chance of getting COVID and bringing it back to the school. The school doesn’t want another outbreak, and so I understand why they did it, it was kind of annoying because I like the break after midterms. But I understand why they did it and I think it was probably better overall that they did that.

I understand that canceling Spring break was one of several hard decisions that the college had to make this year. While I miss having a break from classes and the time in the middle of the semester to focus on research (which is what I normally do over spring break) I also understand that a traditional Spring break where students would likely travel and then return to campus and need to quarantine wasn’t a safe option.

What different alternatives could the school have taken?

I think it would have been nice if they did it closer to the end of the semester, and then have finals online like last semester. I think we are getting a longer Easter break which is nice.

How has the cancellation of spring break affected your teaching schedule?

How will this affect the mental health of students?

Do you think students will show high interest in class during this week?

To a certain extent, I believe this will definitely have an effect on the mental health of many students because what normally would be a week of relaxation and destress would just be another week of school that can possibly have tests and assignments from professors.

It’s nice to be able to decompress after midterms.

Spring break is to just relax and not really have to do work for a week. In that sense, yes [it will affect mental health] because I know it’s just constant stress for the whole semester now instead of having a week-long break.

Do you think students will show high interest in class during this week?

Do you think students will show high interest in class during this week?

I don’t believe students will show any less interest, but they will be a little demotivated because of this situation. Many students enjoy this break because it allows them to recenter themselves emotionally.

Honestly, some students might be like “Oh I could have been on a beach somewhere relaxing instead of being in a classroom talking about something I don’t want to talk about.” I think it really will probably affect a lot of people’s mental health.

Since we were given a lot of time to plan around this calendar change, it hasn’t affected my teaching schedule.

I am not sure whether students’ interest in class will change this week, but I do realize the entire semester and the past year have been challenging for many students. Thus I will continue to be flexible about student assignments and try to alleviate student stress whenever possible while still helping students meet their learning outcomes. Fortunately, we will have an Easter break soon!

Features

MARCH 23, 2021

5

Koru Mindfulness Offers Manhattan College Students An Alternative Way to Cope with Stress During the Pandemic Kiersten Thompson Contributor

Koru Mindfulness, a program designed to equip college students with the skills to manage stress, is helping Manhattan College students during the pandemic.

Koru Mindfulness stems from mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and is an eight-week program that aims to teach mindfulness skills and tools along with meditation practices. Koru Mindfulness splits this eight-week program into two four-week sections to make it more accessible to college students. The first half incorporates techniques like belly and dynamic breathing, body scan and walking meditation.

The second half involves chair yoga and silent meditation.

Nicol Zambrano, a licensed mental health counselor and assistant director at the counseling center, took an eightweek MBSR course and later decided to pursue certification as an instructor in Koru Mindfulness, bringing it to MC. As she described, she takes her “therapy hat” off when leading the Koru Mindfulness classes.

In the classes participants practice mindfulness and meditation techniques, some of which are unconventional like eating meditation, which involves allowing food to sit in one’s mouth while focusing on the texture and taste of the food and chewing several times.

The techniques learned in the mindfulness classes are aimed to help one focus on the present and can help with sleep, stress and focus. These skills can be especially helpful for those facing increased stress due to the pandemic.

“Mindfulness itself helps with stress reduction, improved sleep, better ability to focus, just more awareness of yourself and your reactions and how stress affects you,” Zambrano said. “In a time where like, we don’t feel like we have a lot of control over a lot of things and that a lot of our freedom has been taken away and we’re sort of forced to do certain things, recognizing that you can control how you feel in the moment, by breathing, by being present, by having gratitude, those are the kinds of things that we incorporate.”

Cal Lepkowski, a sophomore communications major,

Koru Mindfulness is an eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program that is helping students and faculty amid the pandemic. Through meditation techniques, one can reduce stress, improve sleep and focus, and ultimately quell pandemic-induced anxiety.

NICOL ZAMBRANO / COURTESY first learned of the Koru Mindfulness classes through the daily MC announcements and joined in fall 2019, when classes were still in-person. The skills he learned in the mindfulness classes help him deal with stress as a resident assistant during the pandemic.

“I’m also a resident assistant, so it’s been a little bit stressful to kind of relay information that we hear from, from our staff and relay onto our residents,” Lepkowski said. “Obviously they can find that frustrating or even unfair to an extent but even in this type of environment with [the] quorum, just remaining calm is some of the most powerful things you can do.”

Zachary Olivan, a junior exercise science major, also started doing Koru Mindfulness in fall 2019. The mindfulness techniques helped Olivan change his perspective to focusing on the positive in life. Shifting his perspective using mindfulness techniques helped equip Olivan with the mindset to deal with stress during the pandemic and grow as a person.

“I wasn’t as stressed because I was able to look at situations and things in my environment, objectively and subjectively, I was able to just kind of go with the flow easier

and adapt to change more,” Olivan said. “Koru Mindfulness trained me to some extent, to accept the pandemic for what it was and to not complain, and to be patient with it, that sort of thing. I feel like I’m more grounded in my approach to life. I feel like I have a more positive outlook, and I see each day differently than when I used to… I was always, I always had a good head on my shoulders but I think now after taking Koru I have a more aware, more of an awareness of who I am as a person.”

The mindfulness classes switched from in-person to online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Zambrano, the class structure has not been negatively affected due to the new virtual format and the online format makes it easier to attend the classes. However, she acknowledged that there might be potential downsides to the online classes.

“The one thing I think that has been negatively impacted is just the face to face and also the fact that like, I know that students are on a computer all day, you know, they’re in front of a screen, and it’s tiring,” Zambrano said.

Lepkowski, while acknowledging the lack of in-person in-

teraction, thinks that the online classes have their own benefit.

“There’s obviously a little less interaction in virtual classes, but Nicol does a great job in explaining the types of meditations that you do and it allows you to practice in an environment that you’re comfortable with, so there are offsets to both locations of the classes,” Lepkowski said.

For Olivan, the virtual classes are much different from the in-person classes and some aspects of the class are better experienced in an in-person environment.

“Virtually was so different,” Olivan said. “When we are in person like there’s different kinds of techniques like walking meditation, and eating meditation, for example, where, you know, those kinds of things in person made the experience better because you’re able to connect with people like more tangibly, they’re right next to you as you’re doing it … virtually I kind of felt like I was on my own. Even though we do have discussions, virtually, like we will share our thoughts and our feelings on how the meditation session went and things like that, I’m just an in-person kind of guy, but it’s not better or worse, it’s just, it’s just different.”

Anyone can be certified in Koru Mindfulness and it can be applied to various areas. Olivan, who is the manager of the baseball team, thinks every student, and in particular, athletes, would benefit from participating in the mindfulness classes.

He even wants to introduce mindfulness to the baseball players at MC. The Koru Mindfulness classes for the Spring semester take place every Monday from March 22 to April 12 for students. There are also classes available for MC faculty, staff and administrators every Wednesday from March 24 to April 14.

The counseling center at MC has many resources and programs to help students with their issues and concerns as well as programs particularly equipped to deal with issues related to the pandemic.

“People are hesitant about going to the counseling center,” Lepkowski said. “They should just go for it because I won’t lie, I was hesitant about asking, and the benefits… that they’ve done for me and the stuff they’ve helped me with is endless, so I’m very grateful for them, and just recommend students if they’re feeling down, there’s going to be tough times to, to reach out to them.”

6

Features

THE QUADRANGLE

Global Craic St. Patri

Manhattan College students and faculty participated in the annual Global Craic 5k St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run in Van Cortlandt Park in order to show their school and holiday spirit. Students were given metals at the completion of the run, which was carried out in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines. BRIAN ASARE/THE QUADRANGLE

MARCH 23, 2021

Features

ck’s Day 5K Fun Run

7

Arts & Entertainment

8

THE QUADRANGLE

New Bookstore Coming to Riverdale Colleen E. McNamara Asst. Sports Editor

After 13 years without one, Riverdale is finally getting a bookstore. Kirstie Reynoso-Miranda, a Bronx native, plans to open Miranda Writes Books and Bar by the end of this year.

Growing up in the area, Reynoso-Miranda believes it is the perfect location for her store since the Bronx is home to one and a half million people currently sharing one bookstore.

“I felt like my purpose was here, and I needed to figure that out in my own neighborhood,” she said. “...I hope [Miranda Writes Bookstore] will be a place for community, not just books. I hope it is a place for people to find friends with the same hobbies, a good book, and some sweet coffee or wine.

A place to learn and meet new people.”

Reynoso-Miranda has been working in human resources and project management for the past decade, but has always dreamed of opening her own bookstore. She always figured she would get around to starting a project like this later in her life, but after seeing other people her age pursue similar asspirations, she moved up her timeline.

“My first job was in a library and I always loved being surrounded by books,” she said. “...One day I just decided to go for it. And [the global pandemic] gave me a push in the sense

that you never know what is going to happen, so you’re always planning for later but might regret not doing something sooner.”

Miranda Writes Books and Bar will offer much more than reading material– Reynoso-Miranda plans to engage the community in a number of ways.

“That’s the most exciting part, is a number of different events, such as wine tastings, resume buildings, toasts, storytimes for kids, just to build a place that caters to everyone while maintaining some type of synergy.” Reynoso-Miranda said.

Reynoso-Miranda hopes her bookstore will have authors of genres that cover a bit of everything including one of her current reads– Professional Trouble Maker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones– as well as a children’s section.

Sara Rodriguez, a current sophomore international studies major at Manhattan College is thrilled with a new location to continue her favorite hobby and hopes Miranda Writes Books and Bar is just the place for that.

“I love reading because especially in a quarantine COVID world, reading allows me to escape to distant lands that are either not real or are real that I just can’t get to at the moment,” Rodriguez wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. “... having a new bookstore in the area means I won’t have to go to large distances for new releases or if I need a break from school work, I can take a walk

over to clear my head and just browse through titles!”

Adam Koehler, Ph.D is a professor of English at Manhattan College and author of Composition Creative Writing Studies, and the Digital Humanities, which covers what writing looks like in the internet age loves that books have a way of slowing down our fastpaced world.

“I like that books have a process that is slow, that they have to pass through a lot of hands before they’re published, that matters increasingly in a culture that is sped up,” Koehler said. “...the people who work at a bookstore have great knowledge about what they are selling, who you can talk to and the store reflects what is going on in the neighborhood; there are events, readings, it is a place to hangout.”

As a teenager, Koehler spent a lot of time in bookstores and was able to find a greater community; he met neighborhood writers and built a connection with them. He hopes Manhattan College students can find this home within Miranda Writes Bookstore.

Koehler hopes that the Riverdale, Bronx, and Manhattan College community visit Miranda Writes Books and Bar often.

“We should cherish the bookstore when it opens, and strive to keep it afloat,” he said.

“Students better [take advantage of it], it should be fun, it should be a place that is an authentic part of students lives, and the bookstore looks like it will be that.”

Pop-up of Miranda Writes Books and Bar held October 18, 2020.

KIRSTIE REYNOSO-MIRANDA / COURTESY Rodriguez will be sure to cherish the bookstore and incorporate it into her daily routine.

“It’s going to be a great, new safe space where I can go to relax when things at school start to get stressful,” she wrote.

“Also if there’s seating it makes for a great new study space, when my dorm room and the library just are not cutting it!”

Reynoso-Miranda hopes to attract students like Rodriguez and other booklovers from our Manhattan College community.

“I hope my bookstore is full of Manhattan College students, for midterms and finals, if students need to take a break so that they can come and study at the bookstore,” Reynoso-Miranda said.

She is looking for a set lo-

cation currently with plans to open by the end of the 2021 year and hire local community members to work for her.

“I think you have to go 100 percent to get 100 percent so I plan to put all my focus into this,” Reynoso-Miranda said.

The opening can not come soon enough for eager members of the community, and Koehler summed up how many community members are likely feeling about the store’s opening.

“If the Miranda Writes Books and Bar’s opening corresponds with the time that we are opening up as a city, we will all be hungry for the setting together in a bookstore talking about ideas and things that are important to us.” Koehler said.

Kirstie Reynoso-Miranda, a Bronx native, plans to open Miranda Writes Books and Bar by the end of this year.

MIRANDA WRITES BOOKS AND BAR WEBSITE / COURTESY

MARCH 23, 2021

Arts & Entertainment

9

On-Campus Fashion Finds: Spring 2021 Lauren Raziano Social Media Editor

With warmer weather and the world coming back together, students are ready to show off their special styles on and off campus. Alana Quintero is a sophomore from Puerto Rico studying Childhood Education.

Alana expresses her Puerto Rican style but has adapted it to the New York lifestyle by wearing her favorite Jordans with her hoops.

The Quadrangle: How would you describe your fashion sense?

Alana Quintero: I think it’s kind of based on my mood and kind of where I’m going, since I’m from an island, I kind of tend to dress low key, kind of more chill, like maybe shorts or loose pants, a skirt. But then here, I think I switched my outfits pretty drastically. More street style, maybe more chic, depending if I’m going to Soho, I’ll probably put on like my Jordans. It’s kind of based on where I’m going.

TQ: Who recently have you been looking to for fashion inspiration?

AQ: I have to say from influencers like Kendall Jenner, Madison Beer, maybe Haley Baldwin, kind of those icons.

TQ: What is a staple clothing item in your wardrobe?

AQ: Probably my Jordans and my jeans, my jeans are a very necessary thing in my closet.

TQ: What is your go-to accessory?

AQ: My golden hoops, I always need to have my hoops on. I don’t know why I feel

stressed without them, I feel naked.

TQ: What are your favorite places to get items? Where do you like to shop?

AQ: I would have to say, Zara, Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom is a pretty cool store like to get sneakers and stuff. I think those would be my main spots.

TQ: What do you predict will be the new Spring 2021 styles?

AQ: I think definitely we will keep going like for throwbacks.

Recently I just bought some flair jeans and I think those are going to be very in style. I’ve seen that people don’t use as much skinny jeans anymore, people use more loose mom kind of fit. I personally own, like, two skinny jeans, and like 100 pairs of mom jeans I don’t know why, I just think they look really good based on the trends that are going right now.

I think, like, yeah, all of those things are gonna start trending again and also a lot of pop of colors.

TQ: Are there any styles you are sad to leave in the winter season?

AQ: I’m gonna miss wearing my boots, and like my puffer jackets and bomber jackets like my coats, I think I’m going to start to miss them pretty soon.

TQ: Anything you would like to add?

AQ: I think I would say for everyone to feel free to wear whatever they want, like, forget all restrictions like I mean if you like it and if you think it’s your style just rocket and make it your own. I think no one should have those boundaries.

Alanna Cordero is a fresh-

Alana Quintero mixes her Puerto Rican style with the New York chic.

ALANA QUINTERO / COURTESY

man majoring in Peace and Justice studies, originally from New Jersey. Her inspiration comes from being Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian and popular musicians like Kalhi Uchis, SZA, and Solange. Cordero wrote in a direct message to the Quadrangle that creativity with her outfits comes from “ Frida Khalo the artist with her bright colors and long skirts and my friends who are in some shape or form an artist, whether it’s the music, fashion, or photography.”

The Quadrangle: How would you describe your fashion sense?

Alanna Cordero: I really like the kind of early 2000 styles, like the track suits, but then also like the boyish type where like the famous Overbeck jeans the very small tops.

I also just really like bohemian style, like very much different patterns, layering, long skirts.

And then just a lot of vintage pieces, sustainable fashion, like thrift stores, things like that, very much a collective of everything I see in a day in New York, basically.

TQ: Who recently have you been looking to for fashion inspiration?

AC: Honestly my mom lately.

TQ: What is a staple clothing item in your wardrobe?

AC: A staple item in my wardrobe is a pair of blue jeans from a thrift store called Vintage Twin in Soho. I’ve had these for probably three years and I haven’t thrown them out, my low rise jeans. I very much love low rise jeans, it’s a staple which is my go to favorite.

TQ: What is your go-to ac-

cessory?

AC: Go to accessory is definitely rings. I love rings like a bunch of rings, I always wear them all the time. A couple rings my mom gave me from my graduation, and a couple that I just picked up along the way at different thrift stores and ones that my friends had given me.

TQ:What are your favorite places to get items? Where do you like to shop?

AC: I really like the I AM GIA, it’s very much in right now. it’s kind of expensive so pick and choose. But honestly just thrifting, there’s a really good thrift store in my town in New Jersey, it’s called Unique and it has a wide range of options, Or for more Boho style I go to the stores Free People or Anthropology, they have really good pieces.

TQ: What do you predict will be the new Spring 2021 styles?

AC: So new spring style, it’s not really new but definitely long skirts and like maxi skirts are gonna come back but not really tight fitting more flowy and definitely kind of minimalistic, but still layering we definitely tiny cardigans on top of tank tops, not so much your midriff showing, but like the very small part underneath your belly button is going to be like very trendy.

One trend I think is coming back, I actually got one recently, is a tooth gem. I think a lot of people will get tooth gems. Tattoos too, that’s definitely going to be a big trend in the summer, just imprint art on yourself.

TQ: Are there any styles you are sad to leave in the winter season?

AC: Honestly, I love that like the Northeast came back, I had one the one I have from when I was a kid, I just keep wearing it over and over again. And I feel like it was just kind of like the participants are so I’m kind of sad to see that like kind of go, because I feel like essentially like a staple jacket and Von Dutch, I love Von Dutch, and I feel like the time has passed, like it’s been a moment already with the Von Dutch bags. Also ear muffs, I feel like it’s definitely a come and go type thing, so probably in a couple years it will come back but I love earmuffs, I think they’re so cute.

TQ: Anything you would like to add?

AC: So I think right now fast fashion is definitely a very big problem, not even within industry, just a trend in general.

A lot of people feel confined to wear what’s on their Instagram feed or to buy things from like Shein because it’s in right now.

But then they wear it one time and then it’s just sitting in your closet. So think the phrase, fashion fades but style is eternal. Make sure what you’re putting together is something that you’d like; it doesn’t have to be everything that everyone else has on. You can create your own style from deriving from different things. So, to stay true to yourself and what you like to wear because at the end of the day, you’re gonna be the only one wearing it. Everyone’s going to ask you where you got it but it’s your own version of yourself, in your style.

Alanna Cordero encourages others to express their unique style and wear what they want.

ALANNA CORDERO / COURTESY

Arts & Entertainment

10

THE QUADRANGLE

Jasper Jams: Breakdance Through Burnout Christine Nappi & Gabriella DePinho

Features Editor & Senior Writer With the lack of Spring Break, it’s no doubt that many of us are feeling burnt out. Midterms “week” didn’t exist for us this year– the supposed week of stress, lack of sleep and tons of exams and projects, suddenly turned into a month long event.

This might not have been so bad with time off from school, which could have helped us to recuperate and pay more attention to our mental health. But we didn’t have time off– and the work seems to keep piling on, even though midterms are technically over.

While nothing seems to beat the feeling you get when you get off for Spring Break, there is one thing that can help you through this time: music.

Music has the power to completely alter your mood and improve your overall well-being. If you’re stressed, feeling down, or in need of a pick me up to get you through this crazy-busy semester, then listen to these songs and get ready to breakdance through burnout.

Christine’s picks: Brown Eyed Girl– Van Morrison An oldie but goodie and a classic feel-good tune. Maybe it’s just because it reminds me of summer and warmer, carefree days, but this song always put me in the best mood. Whenever I hear it, I imagine that I’m sitting on the beach as the sun is about to set, surrounded by my friends and family with smiles on each of our faces.

This song brings me back to moments when life was perfect and when I couldn’t be happier.

I like to listen to it when I’m feeling down or need a pickme-up from being constantly burnt out. It reminds me that warmer, simpler and happier days lie ahead, which gives me something to look forward to.

Only Wanna Be With You– Hootie & the Blowfish This is one of those songs that you know you know, but never actually think of listening to it until it randomly comes on shuffle or is playing on your local coffee shop’s radio. That’s exactly what happened to me the other day: I was listening to a random playlist, and suddenly it came on. But this song deserves a spot on your feel-good playlist– the acoustic guitar and upbeat rhythm can uplift

your mood instantly, and the lyrics can help you feel better.

The song is about wanting to be with someone despite all odds; the singer’s only desire in life is to be with the girl he loves.

This is a comforting message and reminds us that the most important thing in life is simply being with our loved ones.

Nothing else seems to matter as long as we’re with them. So when you’re feeling stressed out and spread too thin, know that whatever you’re stressed about doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things– being with your loved ones is what matters.

So Close (ft. Georgia Ku) – NOTD, Felix Jaehn When I’m looking to feel even better than just good, I always turn to electronic dance music, or EDM. Listening to any EDM song will leave you feeling hyped up and excited, which trust me, will fix your feelings of burnout. Also known as “club music,” EDM tracks will bring you back to life pre-pandemic, where you were able to pack into a sweaty bar with all your friends and have fun together! However, this song in particular replicates that fun, party-like feeling for me and gets me excited. My friends and I would always play this song when we would hang out on the weekends, and it just reminds me of a more fun time, when it wasn’t considered dangerous to be in a social setting with tons of people. If you need a pick-me up to put you in that party feeling (despite not being able to party) I recommend listening to this song. Just don’t listen too closely– the lyrics aren’t necessarily the happiest, however, the quick chord progression and beat drops distract you from reading into the lyrics.

Joy– Bastille What better way to feel joyful than listening to a song titled “Joy.” I remember when I first heard this song, I was instantly hooked. I’m someone who really enjoys listening to happy, ubeat music that lifts your spirits, as opposed to slower, sadder songs (they don’t call me Happy Nappi for nothing) and this song is exactly what I look for in music. For some background, the lyrics depict someone waking up in not the greatest of moods, however they are instantly filled with joy when that special someone calls them. The song basically recreates the warm, bubbly and excited feeling you get after receiving a notification from your crush, which you can’t

deny, is a happy feeling. So if you’re looking to boost your mood and feel the same “joy” the singer does, then add this to your playlist!

Life is a Highway– Rascal Flatts The serotonin this song gives me is indescribable. This song is just a bop. Maybe it’s because of nostalgia, since this version of the song was featured in Disney’s “Cars,” a piece of cinematic gold that we all watched when we were young. With the upbeat instrumentals and catchy lyrics, you can easily sing along to this song. “Life is a Highway” will instantly boost your mood– trust me. Even if the song doesn’t play on the nostalgia factor for you and bring you back to happy times, you can’t help but smile and belt out the lyrics when you hear this.

Something That I Want – Grace Potter Yes, this is the song at the end credits of the movie “Tangled” (I promise I didn’t intend for my picks to have a Disney theme, but they do). This is such a cute and happy song– it’s the type of song that nearly every movie plays at the end, when all the characters have resolved their problems and appear to have nothing left to worry about. If you want to feel like those characters, then put this song on! It won’t be able to solve your problems or fix whatever is stressing you out, but it can certainly help. When listening to this song, you’ll be able to escape to a happier place for a little while.

Best Song Ever– One Direction I’ll admit it… I was a directioner back in the day. I used to listen to them all the time and play this song specifically over,

and over. Is it really the best song ever? No. But, it still puts me in a great mood! It’s one of those songs that reminds me of simpler times, when One Direction was still together, and it’s one of those songs that I know every word to. There’s something that feels so good about singing along to a song where you know all the lyrics.

Not to mention, the song is very upbeat and exciting, and I promise the first seconds of the song will leave you feeling excited. But if you’re not too into One Direction, then try playing “Baba O’Reilly” by The Who. The instrumentals sound the same anyway!

Gabs’ Picks: Spinning (with Charli XCX & The 1975) - No Rome

This collaboration has only been out for a few weeks but I’ve listened to it a bunch.

Charli XCX is a pop diva, The 1975 rock the alternative scene but what brings them together so well is the London-based Filipino musician, No Rome, who blends genres such as synthpop, contemporary R&B and house music so well. This song is great for a work out playlist — to blow off some steam — or a dance party with your roommates while you wash your dishes.

One More Weekend Maude Latour If you love Lorde — who hasn’t released music in years but did write an essay about going to Antarctica recently — then Maude Latour is for you.

She’s giving you “Melodrama” vibes with a specific NYC twist, as she is a 21 year-old student at Columbia University. While it’s not exactly a dance around your room tune, I think if you have the chance to take an aimless walk or drive to clear your

head, this track will keep you great company.

Haven’t Had Enough (Of Being Young) - Mating Ritual Mating Ritual has been a band whose music I’ve awkwardly danced along to since high school. While I loosely follow their new releases, I happened to check their artist page just shortly after this track was released. I would be lying if I said I haven’t already done my fair share of dancing to this song about growing up even when you’re not ready to (which is relatable as graduation looms in the distance).

House Party - Sam Hunt This song gets a disclaimer that it is extremely irresponsible to have a house party right now as the pandemic is still ongoing– vaccination efforts are still underway and herd immunity has not been reached.

However, I highly encourage a fun night with your roommates and this song is great for that soundtrack! While we might prefer to be at a traditional house party to celebrate the end of midterms, you can still have fun, dance and sing in the comfort of your living room.

Heartbreak Girl - 5 Seconds of Summer Sometimes the best way to cope with stress is to go back to the things you loved during your tween years. A lot of the time it’s super cringey, but also incredibly comforting. Lately I’ve been watching the Disney show “Austin & Ally” and exclusively listening to 5SOS’ early eps. Though the band has expressed that they hate this song now, I’ll always love it. If 5SOS isn’t your jam, I highly recommend looking up a band you haven’t listened to in five years anyway.

Scan Here to listen to

The Quadrangle’s playlist!

Sports

MARCH 23, 2021

11

Possibilities Abound as Manhattan Baseball Eyes VCP Return Caroline McCarthy & Pete Janny

Asst. Features Editor & Sports Editor With the spring season quickly approaching, Manhattan baseball’s long-awaited return to Van Cortlandt Park is on the horizon.

A positive COVID test from one of their team members pushed back opening day, which was originally scheduled for March 20, to a later date. This sets back the already long-awaited return to VCP, which the Jaspers have been waiting for since 2014.

It’s been a long time coming to bring Manhattan baseball back to VCP, after moving to Dutchess Stadium in Dutchess County, New York due to field conditions that were insufficient for NCAA standards.

The Dutchess Stadium field has been maintained while serving as the home base for the Hudson Valley Renegades, a minor-league baseball team that was founded in 1994. This made it a sufficient playing field for the Jaspers.

Still, the commute to Dutchess Stadium for six consecutive seasons took a toll on the team. The drive from campus to the stadium was 1 hour and 15 minutes.

For the sake of the longterm future of the program, it

looked like a gamble to be playing home games that far away and at the same time recruit players who would want to sign up for such a commitment.

From 2016 to 2019, Manhattan managed to have a player sign a Major League Baseball contract in each of those years despite not having a legitimate home field. Moving forward, they may be able to produce more professional talent if the transition back to VCP is a successful one.

There was also the history of a home field advantage rooted at VCP, most evident from their 10-year run from 20052014. In that span, the Jaspers had 130 wins to only 34 losses in games at VCP, helping propel them to three MAAC Championships and as many NCAA Tournament appearances. The 2006 team will forever be remembered for advancing to the Regional Final after upset wins over Nebraska and San Francisco, the former of which came in front of a packed stadium in Omaha when the Jaspers beat a Cornhuskers team led by former Yankee Joba Chamberlain.

Shortly after Marianne Reilly was hired as athletic director in March 2016, she voiced her intentions for bringing Manhattan baseball back to VCP, touting the plan as one of her main goals during her tenure.

“We’re thrilled to be able to

bring our baseball team back to our backyard in Van Cortlandt Park,” said Brennan O’Donnell, president of Manhattan College, according to an article on the Go Jaspers website announcing the program’s return.

“We are grateful to be able to work with Iris Rodriguez-Rosa and her team in the Parks Department to make this a reality. I’m also grateful to our team, including Marianne Reilly, Mike Cole and Rob Walsh, for their hard work and determination in giving our team a true home field.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the 2020 season was supposed to be a special one for the Jaspers with the program back in its natural habitat. Yet, even though the weight of the pandemic was not predicted as the 2020 season approached, the school experienced troubles in getting the field ready on time.

Last year’s home opener was slated for March 7 against Albany, but the field was still not ready due to frequent rainfall that left it in even worse condition. As a result, the Jaspers played that first home series against Albany at City Park in New Rochelle.

Before long, though, none of that mattered as COVID-19 wiped out the rest of the season and further delayed the program’s resettlement at VCP. The lead-up to this season

has been full of hard work in getting the field in game condition.

Deputy Athletic Director Tony Vecchione calls the recent renovations to VCP “spring cleaning,” following the major renovations that were done in the lead-up to the short-lived 2020 season.

Prior field renovations included sodding the infield and the spaces in front of the dugouts, grading the outfield and lastly replacing fencing for the dugouts, backstop and outfield.

The Jaspers also welcomed the installation of a new scoreboard, windscreens, fence caps, dugout benches and dugout canopy tops. These renovations were completed to fit NCAA standards.

“Everything was ready to go and then we were shut down [for COVID-19],” Vecchione said. “This year we still have all those renovations in place but we had to go in and get the field Division One baseball ready.”

The most challenging renovation to the park was the removal of trees on the field. The college worked alongside the New York City Parks Department to gain permission for their removal.

“They do it for good reasons,” Vecchione said. “And there’s a phase of approvals you have to go through in order to trim a tree plan with the New York City Parks.”

Field improvements have been made to the baseball field at Van Courtland Park since the beginning of 2020. After six seasons away, the Jaspers return this season to play their homes at the park.

ROB WALSH/COURTESY

Manhattan College went through these approvals and removed the necessary trees without much pushback from the community. Other renovations will require annual maintenance, such as the sodding of the field and dugout areas.

“I think they go more on safety than they do on telling you what type of surface you have to have, but you have to make sure that the surface is safe,” Vecchione said. “The NCAA rules just basically work with dimensions.”

The 2021 season will be played on a traditional grass and sand field, though fundraising efforts are in place to add turf at a later date. This renovation will help solidify VCP as Manhattan baseball’s permanent home.

“The long term project depends on how quick we raise the money,” said Vecchione.

“Then after you raise the money, it could take anywhere from about a year to go through the design permit, the approvals and then the actual build.”

Manhattan College is aggressively working on raising funds to launch the next phases of the project. Due to COVID-19, most of the efforts are being done behind the scenes through alums and the advancement office. In order to get the field playable, the school has had to pull from their own budget in the meantime.

Manhattan College’s permit in VCP holds a limit to the number of people allowed at the field at one time, in accordance with CDC guidelines. Because of this, only the home team, visiting team and staff will be in attendance and there will be no in-person fans for at least the beginning of the season. This permit is subject to change as COVID restrictions ease or become stricter in New York City and NYS. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced fans will be allowed at a limited capacity at Yankees and Mets games this season. And as it stands, come April 1 outdoor venues holding upwards of 2500 people may open at 20 percent capacity, while indoor venues holding above 1500, but below 2500, will start at 10 percent capacity.

Vecchione confirmed that Manhattan College is abiding by the rules of the state regarding in-person fans and sees potential for the 2021 season.

“There is potential [to have in person fans this season] but right now, we do not have that confirmed and really don’t know when,” said Vecchione.

“You never know come April, all of a sudden it could change.”

12

Sports

THE QUADRANGLE

Manhattan Soccer Officially Returns Pete Janny Sports Editor

Before last Tuesday, the last time either of the Manhattan soccer teams took the field was in fall 2019. To put that long wait in perspective, we have seen the start of COVID-19, Kobe Bryant’s death, Joe Biden becoming the 46th President of the United States and Jose Altuve’s walk-off homerun against the Yankees in Game 7 of the 2019 ALCS since Manhattan soccer was last in session before this spring season.

With so many teams playing this spring, soccer likely won’t get the usual spotlight it attracts in the fall. That doesn’t matter to them, though, because they’re back doing what they love.

“Honestly, I think all that stuff is the icing on the cake,” men’s soccer head coach Jorden Scott said back in January on the possibility of not having fans. “I think the fact that we’re just able to throw on a uniform and go out and play is rewarding and not motivating in and of itself.”

Fans are expected to be back by April 1, when New York State eases its restrictions on fan attendance at outdoor venues. As a result, life may be getting close to normal again for the soccer teams earlier than expected.

Last Tuesday, Manhattan women’s soccer made their official comeback when they edged Canisius 1-0 in muggy conditions at Gaelic Park.

It was a hard-fought game that was deadlocked most of the way through before junior Kaitlyn Hogan deposited one in the back of the net from 40 yards out. The play started with a failed clearance from Canisius

and Hogan made them pay for it with a skying shot that sailed over the goalkeeper.

Manhattan featured a younger lineup against Canisius. Seniors Bri DeLeo, Gemma Perez and Sydney Harwood were all out of the lineup as the Jaspers improved to 1-0 on the season.

Playing their characteristically solid defense, Manhattan outshot Canisius 11-8, including 4-3 for shots on goal.

Two days later, the men’s team debuted at Monmouth, featuring a lot of new faces in their lineup as well. Coming off an elongated offseason in which key contributors like Adrien Awana, Berti Fourrier and François D’ulysse all departed, Manhattan was blanked 5-0 by the Hawks.

Despite the lopsided result, Manhattan was only outshot 8-5 for shots on goal. Replacing former Jasper Marcellin Gohier in net was freshman Danny DiMarco, who saw action for one half and recorded the first three saves of his career.

In the offseason, Manhattan added a slew of freshmen and transfers that compliments a lineup led by veterans Brandon Joseph-Baudi, Simon Busch and Thomas Hitchins. After losing to Marist in the quarterfinals of the 2019 MAAC Men’s Soccer Championships, the Jaspers are hoping to build off the growth they have made in recent seasons.

Manhattan women’s soccer will return to action at Quinnipiac on Tuesday, March 23 with kickoff slated for 3 PM. Additionally, the men’s home opener at Gaelic is set for Thursday, March 25 at 3 PM against rival Iona.

Manhattan soccer games will be streamed on either ESPN streaming platforms or on the Go Jaspers website.

Junior goalkeeper Kim Mains had four saves in leading Manhattan to a 1-0 win over Canisius in the season opener on March 16.

GO JASPER/COURTSEY

Due to COVID-19, Manhattan women’s soccer played their first game since Fall of 2019 when they beat Canisius 1-0 on March 16 at Gaelic Park.

GO JASPER/COURTSEY

Connect with

the Quadrangle mcquad.org

@mcquad

The Quadrangle@mcquad

mcquad

mcquad