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Volume CV, Issue 8
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NEW YORK, MARCH 22, 2022
Brother Daniel Gardner Announced as Interim President Katie Heneghan & Maddie Johnson Senior Writers
Spring Fest Artist Announced
The event planned for April 9th, is set to feature Two Friends as we return to in person Spring Fest. EDM WIKI/ COURTESY
Jaspers Return from Spring Break with Precautions: A COVID-19 Update Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor
As students return to campus from spring break, OneManhattan is preparing to stay cautious while re-evaluating certain protocols on campus as city and state restrictions decrease. In an email titled “A Note Before Spring Break” from OneManhattan sent on March 10, the school encouraged students to get tested before returning home for break or after their arrival back on campus. “We will be continuing on-campus COVID-19 testing after spring break, at least through Thursday, March 31. The rationale for testing is to
IN NEWS:
see if there is an increase in positive cases after a significant portion of our population will have traveled during the break,” the email stated. However, on Thursday, March 31, the college’s revaluation of COVID-19 protocols will take place. “We will be re-evaluating our protocols on March 31, 2022 after everyone comes back and is integrated back into our campus community,” Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel, Ph.D., interim vice president of student life and OneManhattan, wrote to the Quadrangle. “We will be evaluating CDC, New York State and New York City guidelines as well our own campus data to determine what changes can or should be
IN FEATURES:
Spring Fest Artist International WomAnnounced on pg. 1 en’s Day Takes Over the quad on pg. 6
implemented after March 31, 2022.” The email sent on March 10 included other factors which will impact the evaluation process. “After spring break, we will evaluate our current on-campus case numbers and any related severe illnesses,” the email stated. “We will also evaluate the number of cases and hospitalizations in our area. With that information in hand, and before the end of the month, we will determine whether on-campus testing and the indoor mask mandate will continue. While these protocols are __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Upon his announcement that he would be stepping down as president of Manhattan College, Brennan O’Donnell announced that Brother Daniel Gardner would step in as interim president starting in July. Brother Daniel Gardner has worn many hats in his time at Manhattan College. Since 2016, Gardner has worked as both an adjunct professor and a member of the Department of Academic Affairs working closely with students as they develop throughout their time at the college. “My role was a balance really was a position in academic affairs and then an adjunct instructor role,” Gardner said. “In academic affairs, I worked in the Center for Graduate School and Fellowship advisement. I helped students navigate pathways in pre-health professions, pre-law, graduate schools, fellowships and I worked with a lot of students as they conducted independent research. For my other role as an adjunct, I taught sometimes simultaneously in the department of religious studies, the school of science, and the Camino program.” “The future is bright for Manhattan College, and I am confident that we will be in good hands with Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC at the helm while the search for a new president moves forward,” O’Donnell wrote in the email announcing that he would be stepping down. When notified of O’Donnell’s departure and his appointment to interim president, Gardner felt both honored and proud to be called upon to carry on the Lasallian mission. “I was quite honored that I
IN A&E:
MC Players Production Sells Out on pg. 9
was going to be able to continue his legacy and vision and the vision of the Brothers who have staffed the school since the beginning,” Gardner said. While Gardner looks forward to his role as interim President, he sees the value and impact of his work with students at the college throughout the years. “Leaving the direct contact kinds of roles as either an academic advisor or an adjunct to a more administrative and strategic role — that’s probably going to take a little bit of adjustment for me, because I really do enjoy what I do an awful lot,” said Gardner. Moving forward, the college will engage in a search for the next President by calling upon community members to provide feedback in order to select the most appropriate candidate. “Next year we will engage in the traditional search for a college president, it’s pretty standard. It can be adapted a bit based on institution, but it’s really a collaborative process where different elements of the community will weigh in on what they’re looking for in senior leadership,” said Gardner. He continued. “Then after that, being able to interview candidates and be a part of the process that brings these candidates to campus,” he said. “It demonstrates how proud we are to be Jaspers to the candidates and then at the end of the day the final decision for the CEO position, the president’s position will be made by the board of trustees. My job in this position of transition is really to be shepherding that process through so that all those different constituents coming through campus are able to take a meaningful part of it.” Gardner detailed that the __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN SPORTS:
Women’s Basketball Face Loss in MAAC Tournament on pg. 12
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Opinions & Editorials
2 Volume CV, Issue 4 February 15, 2022
The Editorial Board
Kyla Guilfoil Editor-in-Chief Anna Woods Managing Editor Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor Megan LaCreta Arts & Entertainment Editor Jilleen Barrett Features Editor Caroline McCarthy Sports Editor Kelly Kennedy Social Media Editor Mars Ross Photography Editor Jocelyn Visnov Mack Olmsted Asst. Production Editors
THE QUADRANGLE
LETTER from The Editor
Dear Readers,
Welcome back to campus, Jaspers! I hope you all were able to find some rest, relaxation and fun during the spring break. We Jilleen Barrett Managing Editor are very happy to be back with the latest news for you all as we settle back into the final weeks of the semester. Angelina Persaud As we have leaped into spring, we felt that it was the perfect Asst. News Editor week to officially announce the 2022 Spring Fest musical guest. This year, Spring Fest will be headlined by....wait for it....Two Zoe DeFazio Friends! Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Two Friends is a Los Angeles based DJ/Producer duo consisiting of Eli Sones and Matthew Halper. Their top singles inKaren Flores clude “Life’s Too Short” and “Looking At You”. Asst. Features Editor There will be more information to come, but for now make sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, April 9 when we will Lauren Raziano celebrate returning to in-person Spring Fest! Isaiah Rosario Asst. Sports Editor In the meantime, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter @mcquad, and check out our website, mcquad.org, to Josh Grewal Asst. Social Media Editor stay updated on all of our new content! Also, keep an eye out for our issue next week, as we will be reviving our Triangle edititon Adrianne Hutto just in time for April Fools Day. Production Editor As always, I encourage all MC community members to submit their own letters to the editor, or any opinion-editorial pieces. Jocelyn Visnov We love to hear from you! Lauren Raziano Welcome back Jaspers, and good luck as you head back to Web Editors classes this week!
Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization 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
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Kyla Guilfoil
Editor-in-Chief
News
MARCH 22, 2022
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Brother Daniel Gardner Announced as Interim President
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 first task in the process of transition will be finding a search firm to lead the process. “Once we have a search firm we’ll have a more concrete time frame which we’ll be sharing with the community relatively soon,” said Gardner. As for his goals in his time as Interim President, Brother Gardner puts a heavy focus on upholding the Catholic and Lasallian Values of Manhattan College and its community by encouraging accountability and open and honest communication. “I think part of the Lasallian Catholic charism calls us all to be accountable to one another,
and so I’m going to encourage people to hold one another accountable for who we are and what we believe as Jaspers and how we express that, and how we achieve, and what we achieve in the programs that we operate,” said Gardner. Claire Vredenburg ‘23 expressed her good wishes for the future of Manhattan College’s administration. “I am excited to see O’Donnell step into the classroom as a professor of English … I send my best wishes to Brother Garner as he steps into the role of Interim President,” Vredenberg wrote in an email to The Quadrangle. Senior and student body president Kevin Rojas wrote
in an email to The Quadrangle that he was surprised to hear about O’Donnell’s exit. He expressed his gratitude for the president he’s cherished all his time at Manhattan College. “As President O’Donnell continues with the next stage of his career, the student body and I wish him nothing but success and happiness as he ventures onto new endeavors. On behalf of all Jaspers, we thank him greatly for his many years of devout service to our beloved community,” Rojas wrote. Similarly, Rojas expressed his hope for the future as Gardner steps into his new role on campus. “I look forward to seeing Brother Dan transition into this
new leadership role. I strongly believe that he will continue to uphold our Lasallian values and champion our Jasper pride. Manhattan College has a bright future ahead!” Rojas wrote. As Gardner looks to the future, he turns to the foundational values of the college to best uphold his role as interim president. “I’m very much looking forward to working with the students, the faculty, the administration, and staff next year. I’m very interested in spending a year listening — finding out what people’s needs are and how we can move forward the Jasper mission.”
Brother Gardner was announced as Interim President after O’Donnel stepped down. MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY
Jaspers Return from Spring Break with Precautions: A COVID-19 Update CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
being evaluated, Abreu-Hornbostel wrote to the Quadrangle that COVID-19 is not completely over. Therefore, certain measures must remain in place to ensure the community is safe from the potential of the spread of the virus. Abreu-Hornbostel included a few examples of these measures and, for example, wrote how, “Boosters continue to be encouraged,” “Symptom trackers should be filled in every day throughout the semester,”
and that “Good communication with Contact Tracing and Health Services is a must.” Other measures include good hygiene (hand washing and keeping your personal space clean), COVID-19 social etiquette (sneezing into your elbow, minding our space, wearing a mask if you have symptoms), staying up to date with college announcements and staying informed on city-wide statistics and measures. She further states despite decisions being made, the college will remain a place where masks are accepted. “We will continue to be a
mask-friendly campus, so you should not hesitate to wear your mask when you feel you should, such as in public crowded spaces,” Abreu-Hornbostel wrote. The college is encouraging healthy conversation amongst students, staff and administrators regarding the changes. Pete McHugh, director of media relations and strategic communications, further explained the mask-friendly message the college is encouraging on campus in a meeting with OneManhattan on March 2, where student government, professors, and administrators met to dis-
cuss protocols the day specific mandates were lifted in New York. “I think as communicators, I think that part’s particularly important. You know, if we were to move to masks optional, we’re saying it’s your option. You have the option to either remove it or you have the option to keep it on for as long as you’d like. And, also doing education around the fact that you’re protected if you’re wearing a high grade mask, regardless of what anybody else is doing around you,” McHugh said. Amongst further questions and changes, the college is
ready to see the community together and healthy following their time off. “We are aiming for a sustainable, healthy, vibrant campus where we support and care for one another,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “We are committed to well-being and flourishing in the face of a very difficult time. We are excited to welcome everyone back and hear all your stories of travel and family. We have missed seeing all your lovely faces on campus during this break!”
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Features
THE QUADRANGLE
Through the Jasper Lens : Manhatty’s Day
Before heading off on spring break, Jaspers participated in the unofficial, annual tradition known as Manhatty’s Day. In preparation for St. Patrick’s Day, students gathered in Manhattan College’s nearby Riverdale neighborhood during the first Saturday of March for an afternoon of fun. Students came together in full green gear, representing both the Irish holiday as well as the beloved Jasper green. The crowd migrated through off-campus apartments, enjoying one of the first warm, sunny days of spring. Maria Swiatkowski, a sophomore at MC, managed to capture the crowd in a collection of photos from that afternoon.
Photography by Maria Swiatkowski Written and Compiled by Kyla Guilfoil
Features
MARCH 22, 2022
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CMSA’s Midnight Run Brings Relief to Local Homeless Community Angelina Persaud Asst. News Editor
Campus Ministry and Social Action (CMSA) is preparing to bring food and aid to the local homeless community through an initiative called the Midnight Run. Although the Midnight Run is a nationwide initiative that many colleges participate in, the program at Manhattan College began as an idea from students involved in campus ministry who wanted a way to give back to the local Bronx community. The program aims to provide services to the homeless community by preparing and delivering food and other necessities. Connor Reidy, campus minister and organizer of the event, elaborated on the purpose of conducting the event during the Lenten and Advent seasons. “It is a time for reflection and service. They’re kind of these preparatory seasons in the calendar of the Catholic world in which we are called to do for others” Reidy said. The program isn’t limited to Catholic students but rather serves a double purpose to connect students across campus in their goal to serve others. “All students of any walks of life of any faith journey of any background can of course, be involved and come get to know one another,” Reidy said. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the program also felt the influence in terms of having a fragmented set of volunteers and difficulty engaging incoming students. Reidy emphasized that the in-person nature of the initiative this year was symbolic of returning to normalcy and furthering the connection amongst the community. “We want to find a way to get them in the door to learn their names to have them get comfortable in our spaces and have them join us and then we hope this can be the building blocks so that they can come join us for more programs,” Reidy said. Father Thomas Franks explained the main outcomes of the initiative and how it’s helped to foster a closer connection between the students
and the community. “It’s bringing students together in terms of the preparation of goods and what they’re giving out, and then going out together afterwards. Then there’s also the element of service to the community,” Franks said. He also emphasized the necessity of having service programs such as this available to college students. Specifically, he highlighted the effect one can have on global issues through small acts in the community. “Often with college we get caught up with our coursework and activities on campus in terms of programs and clubs and sports and all of that,” Franks said. “A program like the midnight run reminds us to extend out beyond ourselves and beyond the confines of the college community to recognize what’s going on in people’s lives and the world and to connect to that.” Melannie Estrella, a sophomore peace and justice and philosophy double major, participated in the program as a peer minister. Her role included promoting the Midnight Run, preparing the food and distributing it to the local community. Estrella explained the importance of service programs and how it brings about more awareness on the disparities in the Bronx. “People are recognizing more and more the impact any one individual can have on the lives of others. The Midnight Run is an opportunity for that, to begin or continue serving others and bringing the change we often learn about in classrooms or online,” Estrella said. She specifically emphasized the importance the initia-
Stay up to date on CMSA’s upcoming events by following them on Instagram.
@MC_CMSA / COURTESY tive has had on the community and how it has enhanced her outlook on community service. “Campus Ministry has provided me the support and opportunity to get educated on the needs of others and the world around me in a deeper manner,” Estrella said. “And through events like the midnight run to serve the community in ways I never would have known were needed or perhaps had the chance to before.” Reidy also highlighted the impact he’s seen on the students who’ve participated and how it’s enriched their personal experience at Manhattan.
“I think that it’s important to recognize that all of these different programs, we kind of see them as small steps on a journey to great change. All of these things, hopefully build the momentum to create you into the person that you are going to be,” Reidy said. There is also hope that the program will continue to expand and serve the Bronx community through other service programs on campus. “[We] have a lot of programming, like the local community service on Saturdays, where we address specific immediate needs through service
to others. So I’m hoping that that can continue for a while,” Reidy said. The Midnight Run has had a lasting impact on volunteers involved with CMSA and is open to all students to further their connection with each other and the broader community. “We designed this as a group, it’s not tied to any specific religious tradition or affiliation,” Franks said. “It’s just a chance to bring students together to interact with and support one another and it’s an open invite to anyone and everyone that’s curious.”
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Features
THE QUADRANGLE
MC Joins In An International Women’s Day Celebration Karen Flores
Asst. Features Editor Alpha Pi Phi, Manhattan College’s newest sorority, hosted an International Women’s Day event on the quadrangle with several other organizations and clubs across campus on March 8. The celebration was overseen by Alpha Pi Phi and they collaborated with Sigma Delta Tau, Delta Kappa Epsilon, HerCampus, the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center, Sanctus Artem, the student government and the multicultural center. Pamela Moleri, the external programming officer for Alpha Pi Phi, spoke about the event and what their ultimate goal was by hosting it. “We wanted this event to be a celebration for women and to be able to fundraise money for the Domestic Violence Project,” Moleri said.”And we talked to different clubs that wanted to participate and fundraise for the same cause.” Gabriela Sandoval, the secretary of Alpha Pi Phi, represented their chapter during the
event. She hopes that students were able to come together to not only celebrate the women who made a difference in history but also the women who made an impact on them. “We really just wanted to raise awareness for all self-identifying women and non-binary people on campus,” Sandoval said. “And just kind of spread a lot of love and honor all of our women on campus. So we thought that by doing so we could kind of collaborate with other clubs and Greek life organizations that kind of brought that same collaboration and unity within their mission statements. And it turned out to be a really great event and I was really happy.” The organizations all came up with different activities to bring in money for the Domestic Violence Project, which was created by the Urban Justice Center of New York. Alpha Pi Phi decided to bring an Italian tradition to the fundraiser by selling yellow flowers. The idea came about because of an Italian international student who is involved in their chapter. Sigma Delta Tau sold purple ribbons for
people to wear to raise awareness about domestic violence. Delta Kappa Epsilon did a “pie in the face” fundraiser where students could purchase a pie and throw it in the face of the fraternity brother of their choosing. The LWGRC was giving tarot readings as well as selling goodie bags and cookies. Student Engagement sold doughnuts, Sanctum Artem gave out the materials for students to make friendship bracelets and HerCampus gave out coloring pages of influential women in history. Eric Quinde Tamay and Pearl Marinas both attended the event and spent some time making friendship bracelets. Quinde Tamay believed that this kind of event was one that was able to bring awareness to an important issue while adding elements of fun. “I mean, even though it’s fun, it has a serious message and it brings people together. I get to spend time with my friend and make bracelets while raising awareness,” Quinde Tamay said. Marinas added that “the overall message is very em-
Sarah Lavin participating in Delta Kappa Epsilon’s pie a guy. KAREN FLORES / THE QUADRANGLE powering for women, especially at MC,” and that she looks forward to other on campus events. Sarah Lavin, a sophomore marketing major, got in the spirit of International Women’s day and pied a fraternity brother in the face. “Just a day to celebrate women, come together and really create a community of women that support each other was a great highlight,” Lavin said. Payton Hayes, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, saw the event as a chance to celebrate what it means to be a woman and support each other. “I hope we are just able to kind of support each other more like [Lavin] said. Just
Students doing coloring pages and making friendship bracelets with Her Campus and Alpha Pi Phi. KAREN FLORES / THE QUADRANGLE
coming together more and not having that negativity against each other as much especially today cause you know, in life in general, we all just need more support,” Hayes said. Moleri hopes that the students on campus were able to learn more about each other and about the impact women have had in the past as well as in current times. “I think it’s important to celebrate, because there’s a lot of inequality between men and women,” Moleri said. “So I think it’s important to acknowledge that there shouldn’t be inequality. There should be days and months like this, to celebrate women and to acknowledge the fact that women had a big impact both in history and in the world.”
Arts & Entertainment
MARCH 22, 2022
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“Is Hip Hop Dead?”: A Tiny Talk with DJ Chuck Chill Out Karen Flores
Asst. Features Editor Is hip hop dead? That’s the question the Multicultural Center set out to answer, in hosting this annual event with guest speaker DJ Chuck Chill Out on March 9, in memoriam of the death of hip hop artist Biggie Smalls. The “Is Hip Hop Dead?” event began with a short history of hip hop given by Hayden Greene, director of the multicultural center, followed by a Q&A with DJ Chuck Chill Out. Hip hop was first created in 1973 by DJ Kool Herc at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue here in the Bronx. Since its creation, hip hop has taken multiple routes with famous artists such as Smalls, Nas and Tupac being pioneers for black and brown communities trying to share their culture, struggles and ideas with the world through music. Greene shared that he decided to hold this event annually to give two different generations a chance to reflect on the growth of hip hop, and have a chance to talk about why it is that they believe the hip hop they have grown up with is different than that of a different generation.
“Every culture has a soundtrack to it. Every culture has a way that their people express themselves and tell their story. And for black and brown people in New York City in particular, hip hop has always been that, and over the years and over the decades, hip hop has changed drastically,” said Greene. “Every year on the anniversary of the Biggie’s death, I like to have a conversation about where where the culture is, where we’re going, is it important to talk about old hip hop, or should that be just in another realm or do the [the two different generations] need to talk to each other.” Greene believes that music is a language, a way in which people of different ages and cultures can communicate and connect past a superficial boundary. However, he pointed out that the current generation knows very little about where their music comes from, and how it was born and created which in turn makes communication with the past generation a bit harder. “What I have found is that this generation tends to have a vacuum of knowledge for only a certain period of time,” said Greene. “So they’re like, we listen to our stuff, but we don’t listen to any stuff before us. And
DJ Chuck Chills Out with Hayden Greene. KAREN FLORES / THE QUADRANGLE
we don’t know any of that stuff. There’s the old saying, if you don’t know your past, you’re doomed to repeat it right. So if you don’t know what came before you, if you don’t know some of the things that went into the music that you are listening to right now, then you’re just spinning your wheels and you’re not really understanding the heritage of the music that you’re singing to.” DJ Chuck Chill Out hopes that students were able to understand and learn from his perspective on what hip hop means and what he believes true hip hop is. “Well, you know, I hope they got a little knowledge of hip hop, which started during my time,” said DJ Chuck Chill Out. “I’m like a dinosaur. But you know, I hope they picked up some of the stuff I said to them when they learned some of the real essence in the foundation of hip hop. That these guys [students] don’t know much about the foundation [of hip hop], it kind of hurts. But that’s why I do things like this. To try to let them know where the music they love came from.” Stephanie Seubert, a senior psychology and sociology double major who attended the event, felt that the topic of the event as well as the structure of it made it more interactive and
Hayden Greene giving a hip hop presentation to students. KAREN FLORES / THE QUADRANGLE made it easier to talk to other peers about hip hop. “My favorite part of the event was the discussion that was able to happen because sometimes I feel that the structure of these kinds of events the guests speak first then it is followed by a Q&A, but it seems that being able to jump in and converse throughout the event made it way more interactive,” Seubert said. Seubert believes that talking about different cultural aspects like hip hop and its creation allows for there to be a sense of connection and understanding between cultures and the music they all enjoy despite being different. “I normally don’t really go to too many events on campus. I was a little shy about going beforehand, but I ended up go-
ing and I had really enjoyed it,” Seubert said. “It’s just cool that Manhattan College is kind of recognizing the importance of hip hop academia. I’ve written like 30-page research papers about hip hop and I feel like it’s such an important topic.” Greene hopes that students realize the importance of knowing about the history of the music they listen to, as well as the history of many of the things they enjoy doing. “I think that the more we share music, the more we can share our stories. I think that music is really the way that different cultures express themselves and really communicate. And I think that if we keep on looking at the way that different people utilize the vehicle of music, that it’ll broaden the way we appreciate the world.”
MARCH 22, 2022
Arts & Entertainment
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The Ballerina Mindset by Megan Fairchild BOOK NOOK
Jilleen Barrett
Managing Editor/Features Editor My childhood was consumed by ballet classes, rehearsals and pointe shoe appointments. Though dance does not serve as a form of exercise in my life anymore, I’m still interested in ballet, and I go to Lincoln Center to see the New York City Ballet perform as much as I can. Naturally, when principal
dancer Megan Fairchild released her book on sustaining mental health when working toward career goals, I was intrigued. I read it during the winter break, and I have to say, Fairchild’s advice has already helped me improve my mindset when it comes to my own ambitions. In the ten chapters of the book, Fairchild discusses anxiety, body image, perfectionism and more. She moved up in the ranks of the famous company incredibly quickly, which led to a lot of stress for her. She
discusses one of her first significant roles, in which she had a male dance partner and they had a lot of difficulty getting used to each other. “We must have rehearsed certain steps for the pas de deux a hundred times that November,” Fairchild writes. “I felt horrible for the pianist, who kept having to repeat the same four bars of music for us. It was demoralizing to have to keep trying over and over.” The feeling of embarrassment when something just feels impossible to achieve is
The Ballerina Mindset was released in 2021, and serves as a good read for anyone interested in ballet and working to achieve any sort of goal. PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE / COURTESY
natural, and Fairchild discusses in the book that this feeling was largely linked to her anxiety. Despite her talent, she felt she had no idea what she was doing and worried constantly about messing everything up. However, her worry is what really held her back from doing everything better. “By worrying, we think we are more actively controlling a situation, but it’s a false sense of security,” Fairchild writes. “It gives our anxious minds something to do — something that feels productive but in reality is hindering us from being able to create a successful outcome.” In addition to anxiety over doing things incorrectly, Fairchild points out how differences are often perceived as flaws. While many dancers are tall with long legs, Fairchild is five foot three and was self conscious about this. She found that by maintaining her confidence, she was able to attract people with her differences and turn them into strengths. The Ballerina Mindset is written for people who are ambitious, so naturally it touches on stress and stress management. Fairchild writes about her experience with transcendental meditation (TM), which she experimented with after a series of fainting spells and panic attacks that landed her in the hospital. “TM is a method of meditation that is taught in a methodological way to help you learn how to let go of thoughts effortlessly,” Fairchild writes. “The idea is that by slowing down the mind we release stress and heal the body and mind, so that after meditating we are able to resume our activities with clarity, intention and energy.” After practicing TM, Fair-
child says her approach to life was “slower and calmer,” which helped her with both of her burdens. One burden we all face as a product of stress is a fear of feedback, which she also focuses on. After seeing her name pop up in both good and bad reviews in the media, Fairchild believes that ignoring any sort of comments from people who are not trusted mentors or close friends is fruitless and does not help you improve your personal strength. It can also make the struggle for self-satisfaction harder, especially for perfectionists. “Achieving perfection isn’t possible 100 percent of the time, and we have to pick and choose when to put that effort into play,” Fairchild writes. “It’s not always a positive thing to push ourselves past what we are capable of handling.” When you release the pressure of perfectionism, you are more likely to be able to handle failure, she says. But failure in work, life, relationships and more is natural and necessary if one wants to grow. Fairchild goes on to write about several other topics that goal-seeking people need to learn more about, including taking time off and learning new things. She says taking the time to diversify a resume and taking time to breathe are both necessary for a well-rounded life. As someone who is looking for a lot of things out of life, I enjoyed this book a lot. I recommend it to anyone who needs a reminder that their worries will not help them, and everything will work out exactly as it should.
MARCH 22, 2022
Arts & Entertainment
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MC Players’ Production of “Play On!” Sells Out and Leads to Award Nominations for Cast Members Jilleen Barrett
Managing Editor/Features Editor They came, they saw, they sold out. The Manhattan College Players performed in “Play On!”, a disastrous play within a hilarious play, which proved to be a success after all three shows sold out. The Quadrangle got the chance to see the performance during the show’s open dress rehearsal and talk to some of the players afterward. The show was directed by Maddie Byrne and RJ Giannicchi, who were described by cast member Lauren Duggan as giving “free rein” to their actors to “make our characters our own.” One of the most notable aspects of the play was the stark attention to detail, from the costumes to the props to the emphasis on dramaturgy, which Byrne described to The Quadrangle. “Dramaturgy is mostly character work and mostly there to help people better understand and better embody their characters,” Byrne said. Byrne credits dramaturgy work to Synne Iversen Kverndal, who had the idea to create a second playbill for the play within the play, which was called “A Murder Most Foul.” “It really helps the people — especially all the actors — really get into their characters to write out these bios,” they said.
The actors in the play enjoyed working with dramaturgy, especially when it came to developing their characters’ relationships. Duggan and Tess Nunan played Gerry and Phyllis, the director and playwright of “A Murder Most Foul,” who did not get along very well. “[Playing Gerry is] very similar to what I did as stage manager,” Duggan, who previously served as a stage manager for Players, said. “It’s a lot of yelling.” Duggan explained how messing around with dramaturgy and giving their characters a pre-existing relationship helped her and Nunan become more comfortable with their characters. “We both did a lot of character work and kind of gave our characters background,” Duggan said. “We did that through working with the dramaturgy work we did with the show, like we made bios and directors notes and author notes and stuff like that. So that was definitely a huge part of it.” According to Nunan, her main director’s note was to do more with the character. Phyllis is a somewhat dramatic character who demands a lot from the actors bringing her scenes to life, which Nunan says she doesn’t identify with in real life. “I would be struggling with it because I’m a very shy person in real life, and I’m not one to just yell … so it was hard to go big and hard to be that person,” Nunan said. “But once I remember our director [By-
rne] pulled me aside and was like, ‘It’s just kind of click one day, and then you’re going to be good.’” Nunan’s cast members felt she pulled off the role so much that they struggled to stay in character themselves. “[Nunan] is so talented, she’s so much fun and just such a great person,” Duggan said. “The way she played the character was so funny … Every scene I would have to act like I was so mad at her, but she was so funny. There’s definitely a few times during rehearsals where I could not keep a straight face.” Both actresses spoke about how their makeup and costumes helped them figure out who Phyllis and Gerry were, too. “Sydney Collins was the costume designer for this show,” Duggan said. “She came in and she had kind of like a little bit of ideas for each character. The show was written in the 1980s by Jack Sharkey under the pen name Rick Abbott … I think [Collins] had the idea to put us all in 80s costumes for the parts where we’re not like in an actual costume, and I love that idea. I thought it was so fun.” Nunan had to wear heavy blue eyeshadow, lightning bolt shaped earrings and brightly colored berets, which she says all came from her own closet, but it is not how she would typically dress. “It was totally crazy having to wear that much makeup and we kind of went with the 80s theme,” Nunan said. “And it was cool drawing those pieces
The Manhattan College Players performed in “Play On!”, a disastrous play within a hilarious play, which proved to be a success after all three shows sold out.
@PLAYERSMC / COURTESY
One of the most notable aspects of the play was the stark attention to detail, from the costumes to the props to the emphasis on dramaturgy.
@PLAYERSMC / COURTESY and being like ‘Phyllis would wear this’ and putting it on like, ‘Okay, this is the person I’ve been playing and now there she is in the mirror,’ and it’s crazy.” Luis Chavez and Jillian Tuthill, who played Violet and Billy, had a similar relationship to develop for the show. Violet and Billy had a secret relationship, which drew audience member’s attention away from the original plot of the play. Chavez and Tuthill spoke to The Quadrangle about developing this relationship and how their bios helped them get to know each other as they got to know their characters. “We didn’t really know each other until we started working on the show,” Chavez said. “And I feel like [Tuthill] and I naturally got along. And then we started hanging out and doing stuff together for the show … that developed into a friendship. We [worked] on the bios together … I feel like it’s about developing real friendships and real connections with the people before you can have that kind of connection on stage.” Tuthill felt the same way, specifically mentioning that figuring out the relationship between the pair that existed before the show was important, like Duggan and Nunan said. “So that whole time it was you know, in your bios you’re supposed to write about what you do outside of rehearsals,” Tuthill said. “You know, everything that makes you who you are outside of a show. One of the first things that [Chavez] and I did together was to kind of establish our character and thinking about ‘Okay, what are the things that Violet and Billy
would be doing outside of rehearsal?’” Tuthill says she enjoyed playing her character for many reasons outside of the romantic aspects of the role as well. “My character is supposed to be kind of an airhead,” Tuthill said. “So I had so much fun just totally zoning out and doing random things for people on stage and with the props and everything and just totally going off on what was happening.” After the play wrapped up, the players received some news: Chavez and Nunan had been nominated for Irene Ryan awards, with Tuthill and Matt Herlihy — who played Henry — nominated as their backups if they don’t choose to compete for the award. Chavez explained that the Irene Ryan award is an award for actors through the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Nominees and their backups get the chance to travel to a regional competition where they perform monologues. Winners receive a scholarship. Byrne expressed how proud they were of everyone involved in the play, whether they were nominated or not. “I am blown away by everybody’s talent consistently and always,” they said. “I think I will forever be really in awe of the fact that we took this show in a month and made an amazing product — and I can’t be like, ‘Oh, it’s all my work.’ It’s the work of everybody else, and especially [Giannicchi] really keeping me grounded during this process … I’m just really proud of everybody.”
Sports
MARCH 22, 2022
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Jasper Basketball Alum Offers Unique Perspective on Ukraine-Russia Conflict JASPER TALKS Jocelyn Visnov
Web Editor/Asst. Production Editor After graduating from Manhattan College in 2014, Jasper basketball alum Rhamel Brown has dribbled his way through Israel, Switzerland, Canada and Ukraine. After playing basketball in Odessa, Ukraine for three years, Brown feels a unique connection to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the land where he once hit the court. The Quadrangle was able to sit down with Brown via Google Meet to discuss the ongoing crisis. The Quadrangle: How did you transition from playing college basketball to playing professionally? Rhamel Brown: Well, it wasn’t really easy. You know, in this profession there’s no real guideline into how you take this next step. It’s a process that I had to learn and go in terms of finding an agent to represent me to kind of get my name out there from different
teams in different countries and know how to travel. Knowing you know the area I’m going to, what to expect and it’s like, every place is a new experience, something special to offer. So it’s really a learn-as-you go type of thing. TQ: Where have you played during your professional basketball career? RB: I’ve played in Israel, Switzerland, and Canada for two years. I played in Ukraine, I played in the Dominican Republic and now I’m in Finland. TQ: How recently did you play basketball in Ukraine? RB: I was there last year actually … I started in 2019 and left there in May 2021. TQ: Where were you specifically? Did you move around during your time there? RB: I spent most of my time in Odessa. Beautiful city, very nice people. The only place that I could think of was Kiev, the capital city. Kiev was just like being back in America. A lot of people spoke English and the
Brown in his Ukrainian uniform during his time in Odessa. PROBALLERS/ COURTESY city is very, very diverse out there. TQ: What are your thoughts on the Ukraine-Russia conflict? How do you feel having just played there? RB: Terrible. It is absolutely terrible. You know, people don’t deserve to go through a time like this for something that they literally have no control over. Like this is just one man who, for whatever reason, once they invade this country, has ownership over their land. This is our teammates, their families, families in Odessa where we played, families in other parts of the city, even people we played against. You know, a lot of times people forget like, these are real people. Like just because you don’t see them, or you never met them, they’re real people just like us. So it’s absolutely devastating to see that this was happening.
Brown played number the number 5 during his time at Manhattan College. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY
TQ: How do you limit the stress of seeing these events unfold where you once played
basketball? RB: Honestly, I try to stay informed on what’s going on but I try not to look too much into detail in terms of, you know, graphic images and videos. You know every day I kind of worry somebody I know might be gone because these are young men around my age and they’re being put in a position where they pretty much have to fight. It’s not an option for them to just sit back and wait it out. I’ve seen that they attack all areas where people live and that I’ve lived in. TQ: Are you still in touch with any of your teammates from Odessa? RB: Yeah, my teammates in Odessa are still there, and they had to stop the season because of the war. This is their life, this is their home. This is something they have to deal with. And I know there have been attacks on Odessa. So it’s just terrible to see that they had to go through this … they just have been, you know, taking it
day by day. So far thankfully everybody seems to be okay. TQ: Do you feel a certain connection to the current conflict having played there? Is there anything you would like to add about your time playing basketball in Ukraine? RB: I spent two seasons which is about three years of getting to know these people, not only on a professional but on a personal level. And it’s like, I wish people in this world would consider how their actions affect others. Thank God it is not happening at our home. It doesn’t make them any less than what they are, you know, they’re people. We’re all equal. Everybody should be treated with the same love and dignity. But right now, they’re not, they’re not being treated like actual living people. They’re being attacked like they’re animals, and that’s something they don’t deserve.
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Sports
Jaspers Bounce Back
Isaiah Rosario Asst. Sports Editor After a rough start to the season, the Jaspers baseball team has found themselves only one game under a .500 in out-of-conference play. They started off the season 1-7 and found a way to bounce back, winning six of their last seven games in a series against Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra and St. Johns. Pitcher Jordan Warecke spoke to The Quadrangle about what he believed to be the turning point to the Jaspers’ recent success after early struggles. “The turning point was Jack Lynch’s [8th inning] home run [against FDU], followed by [Alfredo Delgado] walk, and then we had a good bunt and then we got another base hit and then a home run from [David Bermudez],” Warecke said. “It was a 1-0 game and we really needed to put some runs on the
board to show that we weren’t out of the game and we weren’t going to give it up. Ever since then we’ve been really solid offensively.” Infielder David Bermudez has been playing a crucial role in the Jaspers’ recent success. In their hot streak, he has batted .481 and cracked four home runs. As of March 17, Bermudez is leading the team in average (minimum 75 percent of games played), OPS, hits, doubles, HR and tied for the lead in runs, and RBIs. There is not just one single attribute to his recent success. “I would say the leading factor will probably just be, you know, the energy of the team because when we’re playing well it motivates me,” Bermudez said. “Then just have fun and compete and just let everything take care of itself.” After a rough patch, in the first couple weeks of the season, Warecke knew what needed to be done when he stepped on the mound in the middle
match of the three-game set against Fairleigh Dickinson University. “I knew we needed to turn it around and I went out there and I just had a lot of trust that they were going to make the plays behind me and that we were going to score some runs eventually,” Warecke said. “Going out there I just tried to attack the zone and put my trust in my guys, and then it worked out for us and now we’re on a little bit of a streak so hopefully we keep it going.” In the rubber match of the three games set against FDU, it was an offensive battle with both teams combining for a total of 14 runs scored. FDU scored four runs in the first inning but after that, the pitching staff was lockdown allowing only one run in eight innings. FDU’s first four runs foreshadowed that this game was going to be an offensive battle. For the Jaspers, Pete Durocher got the offense going in the second inning with an RBI double.
Jacob Radziewicz rounding the bases on a victorious day at FDU. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY
THE QUADRANGLE
“I had two strikes on me and I just stuck to the idea of a two-strike approach that coach calls, pretty much driven in our heads, says to put the ball in play, don’t strike out, go out with a fight and don’t let them get a free out, just stuck to that plan and stay through the ball and worked out,” Durocher said. After the double by Durocher, Manhattan tallied eight more runs. The game ended in favor of the Jaspers with a score of 9-5, and with that win the Jaspers took the series against FDU. With a day break between games, the Jaspers made a trip to Long Island for a quick matchup against Hofstra. Manhattan scored early with a pair of RBI singles. The runs kept piling on for the Jaspers with three runs in the fourth, two in the sixth, and a pair in the 7th inning. The win went to sophomore RHP Connor O’Neill. The final was 9-4 in favor of Jaspers. The Jaspers look to keep that momentum going by keeping the same positive attitude they have had all season and not letting negative energy in. “As a team, we just have a different energy, different vibe at practice,” Durocher said. “Every day we know what’s at stake with us and we know what we can do. We’re just believing in ourselves and believing in each other and we’re just sticking to the process and not letting anything negative come in between us.” Coming off crucial wins against FDU and Hofstra, the Jaspers traveled to Queens to face city rival St. Johns. In previous games, the Jaspers had issues leaving runners on base and not capitalizing on those runs. A common concern for the Jaspers was not being able to get the clutch hit. Durocher said that sticking to the plan is critical for a successful series against St. Johns.
“For example, as a hitter, I’m not trying to hit a home run every at-bat I’m trying to just hit the gaps, and line drives up the middle,” Durocher said. “Same thing with pitchers, just do what you’re capable of. If you have a good off-speed, stick with your speed. I’m not a pitcher, so I can’t speak for the pitchers, but do what you’re good at and stick to you.” The game plan seemed to work as they pulled off a series win against St. Johns. Game one was another offensive showing as the Jaspers came victorious with a score of 11-6. Game two was a pitching duel as there were only a total of three runs scored in the game. Unfortunately, the Jaspers fell just short in game two as they lost 1-2. In the rubber match, Manhattan closed out the series with a 6-2 win. On Wednesday, March 16, The Jaspers were victorious once again with an 11-9 win against LIU. With out-of-conference coming to an end this week with a matchup against Columbia, there are still some places the Jaspers believe they could grow once MAAC play begins. “I think we can improve in all areas, but we’re gonna continue to get better on all sides of the ball … I’m excited for conference play,” Bermudez said. There had been some obvious top performers from the Jaspers in non-conference play but, it may be time for some new faces to step up. “Obviously we kind of know who some of the top performers have been so far,” Warecke said. “I think it’s going to be important for us for some other guys that are coming through wins. When one of the top performers has a bad game.” The baseball team’s next game is on Wednesday, March 23, away at Columbia University, which will be their final out
Sports
MARCH 22, 2022
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Women’s Lacrosse Teams Success Against Delaware State Angelina Persaud Asst. News Writer Manhattan College’s Women’s lacrosse team held a major success following their match against Delaware State, as the team picked up a total of eight goals across the second and third quarters, beating Delaware 15-8. The preparation that went into the season was unparalleled and the athletes had to adapt their methods in order to gain maximum results. Specifically, they emphasized a unified front when running drills on the field and during practice. The Jaspers managed to hold an impressive and steady record thus far in the season with senior Grace Lipponer being named MAAC offensive player of the week. Grace Lipponer plays in the attacking position on the team and managed to score five of the eight goals during the game. Lipponer has earned seven MAAC weekly awards during her time at Manhattan and had a goals per game average of 2.67 last season. In the 2021 season Lipponer scored 32 goals for the Jaspers, rank-
ing her seventh in the MAAC for scoring. Lipponer explained the overall encouragement and uplifting attitude from the team helped her hone in on her skills and boost her performance this week. “The team attitude was a little different. I would say definitely more positive this year, it’s very encouraging,” Lipponer said. “We say like, a big thing is like lifting each other up.” Meghan Rodino, team captain and senior attack player, also commented on the recent winning streak for the team and how it contributed to their overall performance this season. “I feel like a big change that we all have grown and developed as players. We’ve all been through a losing streak before we know how it feels. So going into this season like we were all ready to just show them what we can do,” Rodino said. Rodino racked up two goals and two assists during the game against Delaware State and provided continuous offensive support. Caroline D’Agostino, a junior midfield player, also emphasized the importance of
leadership to the team and how it made a significant impact on the players and the overall energy of the game. “They really stepped it up this year and really have been great leaders on and off the field. I think that just sets such a good example for all the underclassmen, and I think they’ve really set the bar high for the seasons to come, especially this season,” D’Agostino said. The team also highlighted the amount of preparation that went into this season particularly, and how they formed a goal to perform to their highest potential. “What gave us that confidence was how strong we were in the fall and we were just gaining momentum off of that. We came in even hungrier and we wanted to win this coming into the spring season,” D’Agostino said. The team also acknowledged their success against Wagner as a confidence booster, proving to themselves that the “underdog” had the chance to make a comeback this season. “We haven’t beat Wagner in 11 years,” Rodino said. “So this was our first win in a really long
time. And they’ve always been a huge competitor of ours. So I think the most thrilling part of the season was winning that really big game, because we were kind of the underdog in that sense.” However, this season also came with its challenges, including playing against highly ranked teams like University of Connecticut. During their last match with UConn, the Jaspers lost 16-6. Despite the challenges, the Jaspers managed to push through and continually improve their performance for the remainder of the season. “Going into the [UConn] game, we knew it was gonna be a tough fight. And I think that it
taught us a lot about things that we could obviously improve on, but then also that we can match up and play at that level as well,” Rodino said. The team hopes that this season inspires other lacrosse players to continuously push their limits despite the setbacks and find their own confidence as key players. “I feel like we have been trying to prove ourselves a lot throughout the years and I think that this year is definitely a time where we’re seeing that success really coming together. Hopefully other girls who are playing lacrosse at the high school level will want to emulate us,” Rodino said.
Meghan Rodino assisting in a goal against Delaware StateGOJASPERS/ COURTESY
Women’s Basketball Heartbreaking Loss in MAAC Championships Caroline McCarthy Sports Editor The Jaspers had a lot more than luck on their side in Atlantic City last week. In their first MAAC Championship appearance since 2003, the women’s basketball team did not claim the title, but still made history in a hard-fought 73-68 loss to first seed Fairfield. “That’s what a championship game should look like,” said the Jaspers’ head coach Heather Vulin. “Both teams made a championship effort but at the end of the day, Fairfield made a few more plays than we did, but I really feel my team fought for the entire forty minutes and I’m really proud of them.” The Jaspers, seeded number three at the start of the championships, played two games prior to their championship appearance. In their first MAAC Championships tournament game against Canisius on Thursday, March 10, the Jaspers maintained a steady offensive lead and took the 61-49 victory over the Griffs. With only three minutes left in the game, junior Dee Dee Davis hit a three-point shot that sent the crowd into uproar. Davis looked to her fan section, and appeared to signal for them to settle down, blissfully un-
aware that she had just scored her 1,000th career point. When the announcer shared the news with the crowd, Davis was overcome with emotion and looked up to thank God and her family in the stands. The win sent the Jaspers to the semi finals against rival Quinnipiac. Earlier this season the Jaspers lost to the Bobcats in a close 72-65 game, and later regained victory with an eventful 73-69 overtime win on March 2nd. The Jaspers came out on fire, securing a 10-4 lead early on. Key players Dee Dee Davis and Brazil Harvey-Carr continued the lead to 27-14 by the end of the first quarter with three-point shots and effortless layups. The Jaspers continued to battle with Quinnipiac, who frequently narrowed the gap but could not pull ahead. Manhattan left Quinnipiac discouraged in the fourth quarter. After a long fought battle, the Bobcats seemed to realize their fate in the final minutes and allowed their defense to fumble, leading Manhattan to their 75-59 victory. Manhattan fans stormed the court as the Jaspers realized they were headed to the championships. Though the outcome was not the Cinderella story the Jaspers were hoping for, the game showed grit and perseverance on both sides.
“This was a big deal for us,” said Jasper center Courtney Warley. “Coming into this program we’ve just been on a positive uptrend. This was our first championship with Coach V (Vulin) here as the head coach and with these players on this team - we are proud that we made it this far and I have complete faith in the direction of this team that they’ll be here again next year.” The Jaspers held a lead over Fairfield in the first half, finishing the first quarter 17-8 and 31-26 at the half. Davis carried the offense with a motif of three point shots that began early in the first quarter, and continued until the very last seconds. Fairfield tied the game at 33 in the third quarter. The leading team fluctuated six times throughout the second half, with no team fully out playing the other. The teams were tied at 47 as they entered the final quarter, both eager to be victorious. The Fairfield Stags pulled ahead at the start of the fourth, scoring 8 points to secure their 55-47 lead. The Jaspers shared a look of defeat before Coach Vulin called a time out to reset. After this, the Jaspers came out with the same fire they had started the game with. Davis continued her threepoint motif and scored 17 points in the last 5 minutes of play, but
Jaspers celebrate as they advance to the MAAC Championships after win against Quinnipiac. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY even her extraordinary efforts were not enough for the Jasper win. The score stayed 71-68 with less than ten seconds left, but Fairfield would claim a 7368 victory on free throws. “My teammates were phenomenal at getting the ball and trusting in me,” Davis said. “We didn’t get the outcome we were hoping for, but we’ll be back.” Both Davis and Warley were named to the all-tournament team for their performance in the championships. Davis had a career-high 35 points and two assists while Warely contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds. This game marks the end of Warley’s career at Manhattan College, along with fellow seniors Sini Mäkelä and Sydney Watkins. Warley credited this accomplishment to the players who came before them, specifically
the 2020-2021 team. “I really try to play for all the girls who graduated last year because they really helped grow this program with me and with the coaches to what it is today. But I think the newcomers like the freshmen and the transfers have done a great job and really embraced what we are trying to do here,” Warley said. “I’m just incredibly grateful that Sini and Courtney could come back. They’re our two super seniors, and obviously Syd is a real senior,” Vulin said. “These seniors are the foundation. We get back here next year and we win it? They’re a part of the win. When I say ‘play green’ like everything we do is a championship effort - I cannot think of three kids who embody that better than these three.”