The Quadrangle- Issue 9, Spring 2023

MC Celebrates Second Annual Jasper Day of Wellness

THIS WEEK IN FEATURES:

MC’sHealthServices

NowOffersSame-Day Medicationand InstantRelief

Adrianne Hutto Production Editor

Manhattan College Health Services is tucked in the corner of Draddy due to construction of Horan forcing a location switch. Despite this setback, the services they provide make healthcare extremely accessible for students.

With a nurse, a nurse practitioner and doctor on staff, this facility can provide students with same-day medication for ailments, STI and COVID-19 testing, health check-ups, as well as information on the illnesses, with appointments available Monday through Friday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm. While some students may not understand the extent of the services available, the employees at Health Services are hoping to change that.

In addition to collecting immunizations required by New York State and providing students with health screening, nurse practitioner Carolyn McKay explains that Health Services allows students access to Riverdale Family Practice, a local clinic.

“It’s a great liaison for the school to have that practice,” McKay said. “The communication is nice that if we have somebody we’re concerned about, we can let Dr. Franzetti know and he can provide access for our students to the

extended services from that medical practice and all of their specialists.”

For students who may need to be provided medication relating to an illness, Health Service can offer them same day access to certain medicine. As assistant director, Michele Reyes explains there is a dispensary on site.

McKay further explains that there is an affordable system in place for students who may need medication provided to them.

“We have our nurse practitioners and obviously the physician, they can write prescriptions,” McKay said. “So we have here, and it’s either a tier one or tier two. There’s an online link so it’s either five or ten dollars.” However, if students prefer they can pick up medication at an outside pharmacy nearby campus or closer to home.

While the recording for COVID-19 has changed, with positive cases being closely monitored and symptoms less so, McKay explains that cases are down. However, due to the loss of the Daily Symptom Tracker, there is no way of knowing for certain whether the decrease in numbers is due to lack of reporting or generally lower cases.

THIS STORY AND OTHER FEATURES ON PAGE 5

Various activities were offered across campus. Participating vendors gave away samples of sunscreen for skin protection and tissues for allergy seaso at Wellness Day ANNE MAYOR/COURTESY

The School of Education & Health Renamed to the School of Health Professions

Karen Flores Arts and Entertainment Editor

The School of Education and Health will officially be renamed the School of Health Professions (SoHP). SoHP will house undergraduate and graduate programs centered around a variety of health professions.

The renaming of the

school was announced as one of the steps towards Manhattan College’s plan to expand its program options within the healthcare field. The education department will formally join the School of Liberal Arts as the Division of Education.

According to an email sent out by President Br. Daniel Gardner, FSC, there was an evaluation of the admissions patterns within the college to

determine the job growth figures within different health professions. It was decided to rename the school and pool together all existing programs connected with the growing healthcare workforce.

“The School of Health Professions (SoHP) will…make it a new home to Manhattan College students and faculty

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

March 28, 2023

The Editorial Board

Jocelyn Visnov Editor-in-Chief

Kyla Guilfoil Managing Editor

Angelina Persaud News Editor

Angelica Niedermeyer Features Editor

Karen Flores Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kyla Guilfoil Sports Editor

Adrianne Hutto Production Editor

Rebecca Kranich Social Media Editor

Zoe DeFazio

Angelina Perez Web Editors

LETTER from the EDITOR

Hello and welcome to Issue 9!

I hope you enjoyed your Jasper Wellness Day!

Lauren Raziano Multimedia Editor

Grace Cardinal Asst. News Editor

Brianna Coppola Asst. Features Editor

Mack Olmsted Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

Andrew Mannion

Isaiah Rosario Asst. Sports Editors

Mack Olmsted

Maizy Swift Asst. Production Editors

Mary Haley Asst. Social Media Editor

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

mcquad.org

@mcquad

@mcquad mcquad

This week The Quad is telling the future! Well, not exactly. However, a few very wonderful writers spoke to students and staff about upcoming changes to the college as well as the impact of AI technology and how that may play a role in shaping the future. In News, Angelina Persaud discusses the recent updates to the Academic integrity Policy to include ChatGBT, while Mary Haley talks about a recent discussion on the dangers and benefits of how AI technology may impact careers.

While AI may already have an impact on education, I would like to assure you that it will not impact The Quad in any manner at anytime soon. As journalists and as public servants, we hold ourselves to certain honest and ethical standards. The Quad will continue our print and digital traditions fueled by the talent and creativity of real students, not AI technology.

Finally, Student Goverment elections are just around the corner. I hope students will voice their opinions by voting for who they wish to represent the student body.

At The Quad, we do our best to provide fair and balanced election coverage. We are an unbiased medium meant to inform the public which we serve, just like any other major publication.

Make sure to tune in next week for a very special Quad tradition which takes place each Spring semester. Be sure to pick up a copy.

Thank you for reading this weeks issue! We’ll see you next week.

Sincerely,

Jocelyn Visnov

Editor-in-Chief

Manhattan College Leads Discussion on the Development of AI in Careers

Students, faculty and alumni were welcomed to a panel to discuss the dangers and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and universities.

Michael Grabowski, Ph.D., chairperson of the communications department, led the event and hosted three panelists who came to talk about how AI has affected their fields and how it will impact the future workforce.

Grabowski began by entering a prompt into the ChatGPT chatbot, asking it to define what AI is. ChatGPT is an AI site developed by Open AI that mimics natural language processing in the form of a “chatbot”. ChatGPT answered by explaining that AI is “a branch of computer science that aims to create machines or software capable of mimicking or stimulating human intelligence.”

Grabowski explained that AI is rapidly affecting various fields of work and education through its many developments. ChatGPT as a chatbot has had a strong impact on education as it is extremely accessible for students to use to generate responses to homework and other assignments. Other AI technologies, such

as image generation and facial recognition, have affected the film industry and the media by creating films and photographs that can be easily mistaken for being real. AI can also now be used for hire by employers at large companies.

Two Manhattan College alums and another panelist were invited to talk about their experiences with AI in their careers and their perspectives on the implementation of AI in the workplace.

Eileen Murray ‘80, Hon. D.Sc. ‘15, former co-CEO of Bridgewater Associates and Chair of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, spoke on how AI has recently affected her field.

Murray explained that in areas of finance where people would expect AI to be beneficial, such as collecting data and some accounting work, AI has not been used. In her experience, AI has been used in higher up work in finance, such as credit decisions, managing financial risk and even in quantitative trading. Murray says the technology is not new to the industry.

Even though AI is used in larger financial decisions, Murray clarified that all work that is done by AI is checked by professionals before any final decisions or proposals are made.

“All of the AI applications

I’ve seen are coupled with people who are checking, ‘Is this information erroneous? Does it make sense?’,” Murray said. “So things like judgment, expertise and basically experience are really important when it comes to checking what [AI] is producing.”

Robert Otani, senior principal and chief technology officer of Thornton Tomasetti, a structural engineering firm, spoke on what happens with AI in his profession and how human expertise collaborates with the ideas generated by AI in engineering.

Thornton Tomasetti released an AI generator for engineering and planning for building structures known as Asterisk. Otani explained that this generator could design the plan for a building in under a minute versus the week it would take for a team of engineers to devise the same plan. The building plan from Asterisk was “about 85 to 90 percent correct”, Otani said.

“We’ve been improving those models over the years, and we’re kind of at a point now where we’re confident that [AI] will be an everyday use,” Otani said.

With the rapid development of AI in the workplace, Otani explained the responsi-

Mary Haley

Asst. Social Media Manager

The School of Education & Health Renamed to the School of Health Professions

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

interested in the health professions,” Gardener wrote. “In addition to these already established programs, the SoHP will provide greater access to postgraduate pathways in a wide range of disciplines.”

The SoHP will also provide more access to postgraduate pathways in various disciplines through articulation agreements the college has with a wide range of institutions. These agreements give MC graduates preferential admission to graduate programs upon completing their degrees.

According to manhattan. edu, “The school plans to launch additional programs including, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy/audiology, surgical technology, pharmacology, and physician assistant.” The college also plans to launch a nursing program in the fall of 2024.

William Clyde, Ph.D., interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, explained to The Quadrangle that classes for the new programs would be accommodated in vacant spaces within the campus.

“There are a variety of unused spaces around campus,” Clyde said. “We’re going to consolidate in a way that makes the vacant space within the top three floors of Hayden Hall and Leo Hall. We’ll be consolidating some of our lab spaces.”

With the addition of new programs, Clyde believes that there could be more collaboration within the schools on campus.

“There are a host of things that seem like they could be good for us to offer,” Clyde said. “They fit well with our engineering school where we have chemical engineering that does work with the production of pharmaceuticals, and our chemistry area where we’ve got very strong biochemistry going on. There are lots of good synergies.”

When asked about the search for professors for the new programs, Clyde explained that there are current professors on campus that have the expertise to create and teach the new curriculums that will be offered; hiring will take place on an as-needed basis.

“Sometimes we have professors with expertise in a specific area that can start the program and create the curriculum to get it approved by the state,”

Clyde said. “Sometimes one needs to hire somebody new to be able to create the program. It will all vary depending on the program offerings.”

Shawn Ladda, Ph.D., department chair of kinesiology, wrote in an email to The Quadrangle that the creation of the SoHP is exciting as it would provide more opportunities for future students.

“I was excited as many of our students who major in exercise science go on to graduate school in PT [Physical Therapy], OT [Occupational Therapy], PA [Physician Assistant], medical school, and nursing so eventually offering these programs will be great for future Jaspers,” Ladda wrote. “The top jobs in demand in the next 10 years include many in the health professions, so Manhattan College is planning to help society meet these demands.”

Angela Oliveira, Ph.D., program director of radiation therapy, wrote in an email to The Quadrangle that the creation of SoHP will aid in teaching students how to give the best patient care in the future. She also wrote that she looks forward to collaboration within the school.

“Overall, I believe that the creation of the school of health professions is an exciting op-

portunity for our school and a positive step towards improving healthcare education and patient care outcomes,” Oliveira wrote. “As Radiation Therapy School Program Director, I look forward to collaborating

with other healthcare professionals within the new school and providing our students with the best possible education and training.”

Manhattan College Leads Discussion on the Development of AI in Careers

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

bility of people to revise plans made by AI as the “stakes are so much higher” in engineering and making sure a building is safe.

He also recognized what information needs to be checked over when using AI and that not all AI sites can be used for the same input.

“If you’re asking ChatGPT about a recipe for blueberry pie, it’s not a big deal,” Otani said. “But if you’re [asking about] people’s lives, the stakes are much higher. We had to create a road map such that people use it in the right way.”

Along with Murray’s field in finance, AI has been established for years in the law field.

Noreen Krall ‘87, J.D., retired chief litigation counsel and vice president of Apple Inc., explained that AI has been used within the past 10 to 15 years primarily in litigation in reviewing documents involved in lawsuits.

“[AI] is really a way of reworking the profession in a positive way where the efficiency went up and the quality of work went up,” Krall said.

In her own experience, Krall has recently experimented with ChatGPT to test out its potential to generate lawsuits and what the future holds for chatbots and other versions of AI in law.

Krall explained that just like the other panelists, the work that is generated by AI lacks a personal check and it is imperative that a professional should look over what is generated if a lawsuit made by AI was to be progressed in court.

“I think [AI] is going to be very efficient in the legal profession, but I don’t think it is going to take away work,” Krall said. “I think it’s going to change the way work is done. I think it’s going to be more about the [quality control] that goes around it…the personal component of what you’re doing. But I can certainly see the efficiencies being incredibly powerful.”

Radiation Therapy Technology will join the SoHP as one of the programs MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY

Michael Grabowski, Ph.D., led the discussion on AI and hosted three other panelists.

Senate Meeting Highlights: ChatGPT Appended into Academic Integrity Policy

Angelina Persaud News Editor

Updates on remote learning, student diversity and definitive language on the use of artificial intelligence for academic purposes were some of the highlights from the Manhattan College Senate meeting on March 21.

The meeting began with a highlight of discussions from the Educational Affairs Committee (EAC), which was delivered by Interim Provost William Clyde, Ph.D.

Most recently added to the agenda was the updated language in the academic integrity policy to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence chatbots, such as ChatGPT. The language is found under the Academic Misconduct section of the policy. According to manhattan.edu, “Examples of academic misconduct are not limited to, but include…Violating any part of the College’s Responsible Use of Computing and Information Services Policy.”

Clyde explained the language clarification as a way to keep consistent with technological changes.

“We felt it reflected and

accounted for recent changes in technologies, specifically ChatGPT and AI,” Clyde said. “And so we’ve made some changes in the existing language to make it very clear that we’re including those kinds of things in this conversation.”

Clyde also highlighted the creation of a posthumous degree policy, which will allow a matriculated student to earn their intended degree in the circumstance that they pass away during their time at MC. The policy is currently being formatted.

Clarification was also given on the concept of remote learning days and their applicability. Currently, it is mainly up to the discretion of the faculty teaching the class how they will accommodate students being remote.

“We know because of COVID most faculty are capable [of remote classes] and we are able to teach that way,” Clyde said. “This isn’t a requirement of going remote. They’re just going to have to manage that and do the best they can.”

However, the main focus was that the class, or an asynchronous assignment, must be instructed during the allotted time in order to fulfill credit hours approved by NYS. On

a similar note, Clyde also instructed that a project, exam or presentation must be given during final exam week in order to fulfill credit hours.

“We need to spend all our time giving effort, including doing something during finals week,” Clyde said. “It could be anything but you need to make use of that time because all that time is the same as our time for the class for three credit classes.”

There was also an explanation given for students involved in Title IX learning services and how they can navigate a remote setting when needed.

Cory Blad, Ph.D., dean of the School of Liberal Arts, indicated that once the investigation begins for a student to begin Title IX learning, they enter a contract with the faculty teaching the course for that time.

“Title IX is a very specific case, or other very specific cases,” Blad said. “But when it comes with a statement of requirements… both parties have a lot of commitments. The faculty need to work as they can to accommodate situations that come up.”

The Student Life Committee introduced discussions relating to Jasper Day of Well-

ness, including the notion of adding it to the academic calendar in the coming years. Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel, dean of student life, expanded on the importance of wellbeing days in the future.

“ One of the things that is also a conversation is how much of this is for students and how much of this will impact faculty as well,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “The concept originally brought forward was that we all need wellbeing, flourishing, thriving and stress management. So the conversation was, can it be broader and how should we approach it?”

Abreu-Hornbostel also noted that Resident Advisors will be trained within the Counseling Center to cater for the wellbeing of students and be proactive towards mental health needs.

She also highlighted that Dining Services has been invited to tour dining facilities to gain a better sense of food preparation to bring to the college.

“In particular, they’re looking to have a better sense of safety, holiday meals and overall food presentation,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “The style at Locke’s and the style at Kelly Common are very dif-

ferent approaches…students feeling like one has healthier options than the other.”

Abreu-Hornbostel also highlighted the college’s low eligibility for the Pell Grant yet steady population numbers for a Hispanic serving institution (HSI). This falls under the council’s efforts to increase diversity in the community.

“We’re hoping that there might be a way to approach the situation, and so a motion was filed to see if we can move forward with our status,” Abreu-Hornbostel said.

The Future of MC’s Board of Trustees

Manhattan College Board of Trustees since 2013.

institution.

Manhattan College has recently appointed Steven J. Squeri ‘81, ‘86 (MBA) as Chair of the Board of Trustees and Jose Minaya ‘94 as the board’s newest member. These appointments come in tandem with the college’s efforts to expand its academic programs and ensure quality leadership.

The Board of Trustees at Manhattan College is a group of individuals who have been held responsible for the mission of the institution. They direct policy, ensure that the mission of the school is kept intact and they’re legally responsible for all of the obligations of Manhattan College.

The most significant change coming to the Board of Trustees is the new chair, Stephen J. Squeri. This change will officially take effect May 1, 2023. Squeri will succeed Thomas O’Malley ’63, who assumed the role of Chair in August 2022.

Squeri is currently the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express. He has been a member of the

President of the college, Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC, spoke highly of Squeri entering his new role and is looking forward to the work the Board of Trustees will be putting in under Squeri.

“Mr. Squeri is a most impressive alumni,” Gardner said. “He’s very dedicated to Manhattan College. He’s a second generation Jasper… he’s been intimately involved with the running of the institution… he has his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Manhattan College, so he’s a Jasper through and through.”

On the professional side of life, his role as CEO of American Express Company distinguishes him as one of the leaders in the finance world, particularly here in New York City.

Gardner also noted that Squeri has a strong commitment to the values and the mission of MC as a Lasallian Catholic College.

Gardner explained that Squeri has “walked along” Manhattan College’s path since he was a student and he understands how to build, promote and improve the mission of the

“There’s always a question in the back of [Squeri’s] mind when we’re doing things here in Manhattan, “ Gardner said. “‘How is this building the mission? How is this promoting the mission?’ and I think that’s really refreshing. Because that’s really why we do what we do here at Manhattan, is because of the mission and Mr. Squeri gets it.”

Director of capital campaign, Kevin Courtney, also highlighted all the work Squeri has put in the school. He explained his gratitude for Squeri in helping the school from a financial perspective.

“His involvement has been very substantial for many years,” Courtney said. “He’s involved in his high school, he’s involved with a lot of other charities. He is a really dedicated, focused and generous individual. A lot of the work he does here comes really from his personal experience.”

Courtney explained why he is looking forward to Squeri taking a leadership role in the campus community.

“I’m excited because he is a great leader,” Courtney said. “I think that he has been a great leader in the industry. I know that his chairmanship

will be highly successful. Overall we’re incredibly fortunate to have him as the chair.”

The newest member of the board of trustees, Jose Minaya ‘94, is the Chief Executive Officer of Nuveen, a leading global asset management organization.

According to manhattan. edu, Minaya is a very experienced individual and brings a new perspective to the board of trustees.

“He has nearly 30 years of investment experience, having

joined TIAA in 2004 as a fixed income portfolio manager,” according to the website. “He has held a number of leadership positions including President of Nuveen Global Real Assets, head of Private Markets Asset Management and head of Natural Resources and Infrastructure Investments.”

These new appointments will be recognized as part of the college’s efforts to continue providing quality education to students by fortifying the leadership from administration.

Manhattan College’s new Chair for the Board of Trustees, Stephen Squeri. MANHATTAN.EDU/COURTESY

William Clyde, interim provost, clarified multiple policies about academic affairs. MANHATTAN.EDU/ COURTESY

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Students just returned from Spring Break, which typically means more people coming in for physicals and STI testing and with illnesses. As a preventative measure, Health Services offered walk-in STD testing prior to break. But obviously students can make an appointment any other time during our hours,” Reyes said. “We are happy to offer services to the students.”

For students who may feel uncomfortable, Health Services does provide them with the option of choosing either a male or female provider, depending on their preferences.

Recently, the location of Health Service has changed and while some students may find the new location challenging, Reyes explains that, having worked with Health Services

since 2008, Draddy was the office’s original location. “This is supposed to be a temporary space,” Reyes said. “So you know, hopefully we’ll be back in earnest in Horan for the fall.”

Anjali John is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering who has worked for Health Services since her freshman year. John explains that the biggest change has been the switch from paper to digital.

“Now we’re trying to move to electronic so we’re scanning all the papers, so we can access everything online,” John said. “So that’s a huge change.”

McKay explained that the main thing Health Services is hoping to change is the information students provide in regards to their health histories or what their symptoms are.

“We have created a patient portal that people are sent at the time they make an appointment,” McKay said. “We actively want people to take a look at

it and fill that out, and we have a patient satisfaction survey, that’s new. Because we want feedback. We want to hear what people want and what students want.”

Health Services director, Anne Mayor explains that the office’s employees see their role as educators equally as important as their role as health professionals. “The employees at Health Services view ourselves as educators at the college. We educate students on how to access healthcare. We provide education on their illness and treatment,” Mayor said in an email.

While Health Services is available for health screening and check-ups, it is important to remember to call 911 or Public Safety (718-862-7333) if you have an emergency.

MCCelebratesSecondAnnual JasperDayofWellness

Lauren Raziano Multimedia Editor

Coordinated with the Wellbeing & Flourishing Council, Student Government held their second annual Jasper Day of Wellness (JDOW) on March 22.

Students Emilia O’Neill and Alixandria James worked with Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel, Associate Vice President for Student Life & Dean of Students, and other administrators to create events for this day.

“The council consists of staff, faculty, administrators and students, all contributing to the collaborative effort of establishing and maintaining

a holistically well campus,” Abreu-Hornbostel wrote in an email to the MC community on March 14th. “The Wellbeing and Flourishing Council are committed to acknowledging the needs of our campus community, proactively implementing supportive measures, and promoting personal and communal well-being.”

In his email to the MC community in Dec. William Clyde, Executive Vice President and Interim Provost, announced the wellness initiative.

“In an effort to prioritize the various avenues of wellness in our lives, the Jasper Day of Wellness aims to connect our campus community through the utilization of education and resources,” Clyde wrote.

“This day will be a collaborative effort, bringing together different aspects of the entire Manhattan College community, allowing us to unite as a holistically well campus.”

Dining Services and Nutrition Services offered two different tropical smoothies and a hydration station on the quad. Inside Locks Loft they offered health snack alternatives like trail mix and yogurt parfaits.

Jahangir Ahmed, the director of the fitness center, hosted three events on campus for JDOW. There was also pickleball, wellness walks, and personal wellness talks.

“For today’s wellness day events, the fitness center is hosting an obstacle course race in the Jasper Lawn and the second event is fitness on the quad with a variety of fitness challenges where you can

win t-shirts and other prizes,” Ahmed said. “We are going to cap it off with sunset yoga at 6:30pm.”

Tri-Beta, the Biology honors society hosted puppies on the quadrangle with dogs from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

The Spirit Squad each had a short presentation on the quad with the band performing Mr. Brightside and the dance team showing off a routine.

Jennifer Covello from 511 Rideshare also had a table on the quadrangle to share how MC students can get involved with green commuting.

“Students can sign up for free transit information, peer ride matching, bike routes and all things green commuting, free through the New York State Department of Transportation,” Covello said. “Also there is a Manhattan College

student commuter portal where you can log on and match with other students to share rides, and take transit together.”

Isabel Cameron, senior psychology major, enjoyed the wellness day activities.

“To promote my wellness I am taking time to go outside, spend time with my friends, and give myself some good solid rest since it is such a hectic time of the semester,” Cameron said. “I think the school has historically not done a very good job at prioritizing the students mental health but I think this Jasper Day of Wellness is a step in the right direction. I think if they allocate more resources to the counseling center that would be an even better thing and I think the school is on the right track to supporting the students and their mental health.”

511 Rideshare had a table to promote green commuting.

LAUREN RAZIANO/ THE QUADRANGLE

Health Services is located in Draddy Gymnasium. Students should turn left immediately upon entry of the building and follow the signs. ADRIANNE HUTTO/THE QUADRANGLE

Isabel Cameron and Kelly Cwick enjoy smoothies from Dining Services. LAUREN RAZIANO/ THE QUADRANGLE

Students React to Academic Updates within Education and Health Programs

VOICES ON THE QUAD

Anna Woods Senior Writer

With the recent announcement regarding updates to the School of Education and the establishment of the new School of Health Professionals with the possibility of new courses of study, students are sharing their opinions about the changes. The School of Education will now become the Division of Education under the umbrella of the School of Liberal Arts. While graduation requirements will not change for current students, these changes will have an impact.

Jocelyne A English Literature and Secondary Education, Sophomore

The Quadrangle: What are your general thoughts about the change to the School of Education?

Jocelyne A: I honestly prefer it. English literature concentrations should have been in the liberal arts school or at least able to have a say in this change since we’re the ones who need to graduate.

TQ: Do you think this will help or hurt you as an education major?

JA: I think it will help me as an English Literature education major, especially since I want to focus on English literature but I hope it doesn’t hurt me credit wise or graduation requirement wise. I also worry that it’ll hurt other students in my field as well.

TQ: Are you excited about the change?

JA: I wouldn’t say excited is the word, but I’m definitely interested to see how this will play out, especially with registering for courses next semester.

Christopher Osorio

Adolescent Education with a concentration in Spanish, Junior

The Quadrangle: What are your general thoughts about the change to the School of Education?

CO: It came as a surprise to me because it was so sudden. I personally didn’t know what to think about the move because it was said in the email that the education department will now be a “semi-autonomous” department under the [School of Liberal Arts], therefore very vague.

TQ: Do you think this will help or hurt you as an education major?

CO: I think it will hopefully help our department as most of the students including myself also take core/concentration classes that are a part of the [School of Liberal Arts] and the move should reinforce those connections.

TQ: Are you excited about the change?

CO: I am optimistic in that the school decided what’s best for our department and has a clear vision as to what direction they want the program to head towards. I think it will as I said before, the education program promotes a well-rounded learning experience and being a part of [School of Liberal Arts] will hopefully enhance our program for us as future teachers.

Teddy Segmuller Exercise Science Pre-PT, Senior

The Quadrangle: As a senior what is your perspective about the establishment of the School of Health professionals?

Teddy Segmuller: Any time we can add more educational opportunities at Manhattan College, especially in the area of health professions, is great! As soon to be Alumni in the Health and Education School, any additional courses that this department offers is a huge benefit to the college. Majoring in Kinesiology provided an excellent academic experience for me. The professors within this department are beyond knowledgeable and I wish I would have been lucky enough to have had a graduate school opportunity under them.

MCPlayersBringJoy ThroughMusicat AnBealOpenMicNight

Adrianne Hutto Production Editor

Manhattan College Players

hosted Open Mic Night at An Beal on Thursday, March 23, giving performers the opportunity to showcase their talent. The event had MC students of all ages and majors tucked into the backroom of Beal laughing and cheering for hours. The event was mostly musical, creating a vibrant social atmosphere for the night.

Luis Chavez, a senior sound studies major at MC and the producer of Players, explains that he was able to form the connection with An Beal last semester allowing them to host on certain Thursdays. “It’s like a variety show,” Chavez said. “We go into the back room and there’s already a piano there. Sometimes people bring a guitar and usually people just sing and play.”

The production director of Players, TJ Perez explains how the event is a great opportunity to bring people together for a “fun” night.

“It’s just to kind of get everybody from players and anybody else who wants to attend together in a casual setting to hang out, have food, have drinks and just listen to music and have fun,” Perez said.

The idea behind Open Mic Night was to create a stage where everyone could feel comfortable performing, explained Synne Iversen Kverndal, the developmental director of players.

“This allows those who audition and don’t get cast to do something creative,” Kverndal said. “We also began with Open mic to have events for everyone, regardless of who they are around campus, not only on campus, creating a good relationship with a nearby business.”

Sami Rini is a special education student in the MC graduate

program and the former producer of Players. Rini showed a love for the atmosphere of the event and appreciates open mic events.

“I was able to attend my first open mic night almost 2 years ago last spring, and I was immediately reminded why I had loved them so much. An Beal was packed and it was just so celebratory,” Rini said in an email. “Everyone that got on that stage received overwhelming love and applause. It was a day where music and love just flowed so freely and it was really special.”

Chavez shared the same sentiment. “In situations where people get excited to perform and when, personally, they are trying something new on stage in front of a bunch of friends. It’s really energetic,” Chavez said.

Everyone is encouraged to participate in the event, and while members of players often perform, it is usually decided on a whim. Chavez explains that he is happy to hop in wherever he is needed. This was further explained by Perez, who explained it was Chavez who contributed to one of her most memorable Open Mic Nights.

“The last one that I went to Luis Chavez was hosting. And he was playing the piano the entire night like he never sat down,” Perez said. “And we all kept telling him to come down and have something to eat or something. He was like, ‘no, I just want to keep playing.’ It was hilarious.”

Like Chavez, Rini typically decides the day-of if she’ll perform. “I have a tendency to make that decision on a whim, but I almost always decide to get up there and sing something so I certainly won’t be surprised if I do end up performing,” Rini said. “Again, I don’t know how many opportunities I am going to have in the future, so I’ll probably want to soak in the time I have now.”

The next Open Mic Night will take place at An Beal on April 27th and is open to all MC students.

Players Open Mic Night is a great opportunity for students looking to showcase

skills, enjoy live performances or just have a good time. For those who may have missed

this month’s Open Mic Night, another one will take place on April 27.

ADRIANNE HUTTO/THE QUADRANGLE

arts & entertainment

MeettheDirectors BehindMC’sUpcoming OneActPlays

Angelina Perez Web Editor

Every spring semester, Manhattan College’s Players oversee multiple short productions that vary from comedic to musical entertainment. This year’s One Acts Directors were able to shine a spotlight on where inspiration struck for the pieces they chose.

Luis Chavez, a senior sound studies major with both a minor in music and theater, explains the benefits One Acts carries for students in ways beyond performance.

“One Acts is an opportunity for students to showcase their directing skills without the pressure of a high-stakes production on a main stage,” Chavez said. “It allows flexibility for creativity while also allowing players the opportunity to earn director’s credit which allows them to qualify for directing bigger shows if that is something they would want to do in the future.”

By embracing his passions beyond just being on stage, sophomore Billy Walker, a communication major with a concentration in media production and a minor in theater, can take on multiple roles and gain experience in the different areas of players.

“I am usually in the ensemble of our student-led cabarets

that take place in the fall. But, for this semester I’ve been more on the production end.” Walker explained. “For “Almost Maine” I did sound, and for our upcoming Spring musical, “Nine to Five”, I’m taking care of its marketing while also directing a One Act. I’m actually kind of really enjoying being on different sides and not just on stage.”

Walker can bring aspects of entertainment by performing in the cabaret to his play, “Pain Scale”.

“‘Pain Scale’ is a short comedic play taken from ‘The Three Stooges’ that involves much physical acting,” Walker tells. “It has helped me learn how to block fights and make sure both my actors are safe, which is not something I would have the opportunity to learn if I was not directing.”

While Walker’s action comedy is one to look forward to, Olivia Bailey, a freshman sound studies and communication major, decided to take the comedic approach but with a sit-down play that can resonate with young adults all around campus.

“‘The Audience’ is a 10 to 15-minute play of this group of people who go to see a Broadway show,” Bailey explains, “It consists of three couples and one eavesdropping woman named Helen. While they get settled into their seats, the men say, “ Oh, I don’t want to be at the show sucks. And the

women are bonding over that. And then they all explore each other’s worlds in the minutes before the show starts and a couple of minutes during it.”

By reflecting on her high school theater days, Bailey made a connection between her past and presented to decide on her play.

“My play is by a man named Bruce Kanem, and in high school, I was very fortunate to have a director who was very passionate about what he did, and we focused on a few pieces of his. When deciding what play I wanted to direct, I thought back to things I had done in high school and was like, ‘Oh my God, I know where to find my One Act.’”

Chavez had a similar revelation by going beyond his teenage years to his ethnic roots.

“I started singing for the first time in my junior year of high school and got into musical theater my senior year. When I entered that world,

one of the biggest things I clicked with was Lin Manuel Miranda’s work, I think it’s because I went to a predominantly white school, and being Latino, I used to find solace when I would find entertainment that reflected people that looked like me. Being aware of his work coming to college, I found out that someone had done ‘21 Jump Street’ a few years before me and I was like, damn, I really wanted to act in it. Years later, I can direct it and hopefully bring that joy to someone else.”

These players can find multiple benefits of involvement beyond stage presence, with education being one of them.

“I would say as a freshman it’s definitely a lot to get used to,” Bailey explains. “For someone who struggles with organization, players have kind of forced me into becoming that person and also bringing it into my school life as well. Which is just one of the things players

have taught me in terms of life skills.”

This year’s directors strained the importance of students trying out for future productions, regardless of the fear they might fear. There is always talent to be discovered in the black box.

“Participating in theater can be a lot of work and that kind of environment can be scary for someone who wants to get involved, but we here help each other out,” Chavez reassures. “When I struggle and fall I know that there are people here that are willing to be like, hey, I’m here with you. It shows that a lot of people are there. It’s like a little community. It’s like a family.”

This year’s One Acts will occur on April first and second in the Black Box Theater. Follow the mc players on Instagram @playersmc for more information on upcoming events and productions, such as their Spring Musical, 9 to 5.

This years poster for the One Acts that highlights both directors and their chosen pieces. @PLAYERSMCONINSTAGRAM/COURTESY

MCDigital MediaArtSeniorsShowcaseTheirWork

Brianna Coppola

Asst. Features Editor

Four Manhattan College seniors displayed several pieces of their artwork at the front entrance of the O’Malley library. The showcase consisted of drawn digital art as well as professional pictures by Kate Uffer, Sofia Creanza, Lauren Driscoll and Rachelle Nazzuro.

Senior Lauren Driscoll shared that she was proud to have her photographs on display for students and staff.

“When I go out shooting photos, I just want to look for new angles, different perspec-

tives that you might not normally think of,” Driscoll said. “In class, there’s usually a shot list, like shot by shot that you want to take per day. I don’t really work like that. I just kind of walk around and I kind of see what looks interesting.”

Driscoll shared she had been passionate about photography since she started at age twelve.

“It’s when I feel most comfortable,” Driscoll said. “I would say I started taking photos when I was 12 years old. So I’ve been doing it for a while now and it’s something that’s given me a lot of confidence

went about creating it. She discussed the cat series and the line drawing of the two people on the bed.

“So the series of the two cats is for my love of cats but also my friends’ love of cats,” Uffer said. “Cats are goofy, silly creatures and we either put them in silly situations like the cat wearing the glasses, or find them doing silly things.”

Uffer likes to typically draw what’s happening around her and a lot of the time, her drawings connect to her friendships as well.

“The one of the two people sitting on the bed was actually a digital drawing class assignment where we do a drawing just with a line and it’s of my two friends,” Uffer said. “Sitting on the bed was one of my roommates friends and it was before they started dating, you know, doing cute dating things. And also my friend loves to decorate their side of the room. There’s all those decorations out there. I wanted to include that too, because it’s like a good encapsulation of them as well.”

Uffer described art as a good way to express herself and said that it’s really helped her get through college.

my pieces up to the viewers,” Creanza said.

Creanza finds art as a great way to express herself but she mentioned how a lot of the time it depends on the message you are trying to portray. Art can mean whatever you’d like it to mean.

some of them felt a little uncomfortable about it, but it worked out in the end. So it was great to do it.”

and a way for me to express myself and to just enjoy myself and capture moments.”

Driscoll also likes to take a lot of photos of nature.

“There is also one with a blurred background, that one was in the Holland Tunnel.” Driscoll said. “It was like a beige-ish, kind of background and so I kind of stuck my camera out of the sunroof. My camera was up there and I kind of felt that the picture was taken by accident. I wasn’t sure what

to expect. I brought my camera back down and with whatever setting I had I just really loved the way it turned out with all the lights blurring.”

Driscoll has said that all of her photos are different from one another and a lot of them tend to be candid and in the moment and that’s one of her favorite ways to capture pictures.

Senior Kate Uffer shared a little bit about her work and what it means and how she

“As I’ve gone through college, you know, it’s hard to find the time, especially in a technical degree, to be able to sit down and draw something and figure something out,” Uffer said. “But this past spring break, you know, I disconnected from everything which is the first time I’ve done that in quite a while. And I brought my iPad with me and I just decided or made that effort to dedicate time to sit down and draw whatever environment I was in and I was able to put down a couple of good sketches and it was really fulfilling for me to do that.”

Uffer mentioned it meant a lot to her to have her work showcased on campus. She talked highly of her fellow seniors and felt that it was a great opportunity for all of them.

Senior Sofia Creanza shared a little bit about what her work means to her and how she went about creating her work.

“The act of creation is important in my life,” Creanza said in an email to The Quadrangle. “Participating in writing, art, music, etc, is what gives my life much affirmation. In contrast, I honestly don’t think much of the results of said creative processes. In order to improve as an artist I can’t love my work, or fall into a “one trick pony” pattern. So, regarding my actual art, I keep a business professional relationship with it.”

Creanza felt it was a nice gesture to have work by she and her classmates displayed for viewers on campus.

“Regarding messages subliminal or obvious; I’m choosing to keep the meanings of

Jacob Roesch, the professor for the senior seminar course, described how he went about picking the students and their work to be showcased. It was his second year teaching this seminar and he acknowledged the amazing work his students produced and he looks forward to continuing the class.

“I think it kind of put their feet to the fire a little bit,” Roesch said. “I mean, it’s a fairly new class. But it was just a way to make them show their work. I mean, it’s a digital media kind of major that we have in our department. And so a lot of that work has always been kind of stuck inside the box. So, printing it out, and making it go public, was just a way to have them show their work to a broader audience. So I think

Roesch hopes that when other students view the work, he hopes they understand what the students do and they work. There’s a wide range of work being displayed and it’s interesting for students to view all different types of art.

“So it’s just kind of a cool cross-section of what those students do in our classes and it’s neat to see them all come together,” Roesch said. “Those are four really exceptional artists too. It’s neat to see them all work out.”

Roesch spoke highly of his students and hopes more students will get more involved in the digital media field and take some classes. He loves the talent that he is surrounded by and said it was gratifying to see all the work. Roesch is excited about the future of the class. Make sure to check out the display near the entrance of the O’Malley library within the next few weeks.

An original piece by Senior Sofia Creanza. BRIANNA COPPOLA/THE QUADRANGLE

Senior Rachelle Nazzuro experiments with color. BRIANNA COPPOLA/THE QUADRANGLE

Senior Lauren Driscoll’s photography display BRIANNA COPPOLA/THE QUADRANGLE

Digital art by senior Kate Uffer. BRIANNA COPPOLA/THE QUADRANGLE

Manhattan Baseball’s Competitive Schedule Gives the Jaspers Confidence Heading into MAAC Play

Maddie Mulkigian Senior Writer

At first glance at Manhattan College’s baseball 6-13 record, one can question whether or not the Jaspers will make an impact in the MAAC in 2023. However, upon closer inspection, the Jaspers competed against some of the top baseball talents in the country against Cal Bakersfield, Lehigh, and Texas. Therefore, the 6-13 record does not reflect the deep-rooted talent that fills Manhattan’s team.

One week before conference play begins, the Jaspers are confident that their tough schedule prepared them for the talent they are going to face in the powerhouses of Fairfield, Marist and Rider. After a trail of disappointing seasons, this level of competition could be exactly what the Jaspers need to succeed in the 2023 season.

“I think I think there was some frustration the first two weeks being more of a younger squad when we didn’t have the results that we wanted against pretty deep pitching,” sixthyear Jack Lynch said. “Older guys like me and Pete and a bunch of the other seniors and players that have been here understand that that’s just part of the baseball season. I think going into MAAC play and the pitching that we’re gonna see we’re gonna find a lot of success.”

For a young team with

loads of potential, the pressure is not only on the freshmen stepping up and experiencing their first collegiate games, but it’s also on the upperclassmen and new coaching staff to lead every member of the squad.

“I think the older guys have done a great job of kind of helping younger guys feel comfortable about going out there playing,” Coach Dave Miller said.

“This is a very unusual year. Freshman at third base. Freshmen at second base. They’ve done a great job of allowing them to kind of come into this program so easily and they’re teaching, molding, and mentoring them. We’re trying to set a standard for the culture that we want, which is a process, but I think a lot of the older guys have done a great job of setting the example.”

However, Coach Miller’s focus is not on a player’s experience or grade, but instead on the impact that they will have on the field. As another new member to the Jaspers, Miller provides a fresh perspective when it comes to starting players who are going to give Manhattan the best odds at winning a MAAC championship.

“I can tell you from a coaching standpoint, I always embrace team competition, because if you’re the starting centerfielder on Tuesday doesn’t guarantee you’re going to be that guy on Wednesday or Friday,” Miller said. “You have to go out there every day and work hard and prepare and

if you get in the lineup, it’s an opportunity to showcase what you do. You got to go out there and really work hard every practice. Earn everything that you get.”

One thing that this team has embraced is change. Whether it’s a change in the coaching staff, injuries, or the starting lineup, the Jaspers adapted and overcame adversity. Miller and the rest of the coaching staff have instilled a mindset that has helped the team overcome this year’s challenges.

“I think that a big part of

this game is having a shortterm memory,” senior Pete Durocher said. “Although I have to work on it, myself, I think this team has some pretty thick skin. We’re all here because we love the game, and we want to play and we can’t really let one game dictate the next game. In order to do the best we can the next game, you have to flush what just happened.”

This short-term memory proved effective when the Jaspers were swept by Texas and then came back five days later to sweep Hartford. While the

series against Hartford built up Manhattan’s confidence, it also proved the potential success that the Jaspers could have when competing against teams in the northeast.

If the Jaspers can maintain their championship-driven mentality and build their confidence as their season continues, they will be an unexpected force in the conference. Manhattan College’s baseball team has taken on some of the top teams in the country and is now feeling confident and ready to take on the MAAC.

One thing that this team has embraced is change. Whether it’s a change in the coaching staff, injuries, or the starting lineup, the Jaspers adapted and overcame adversity. @JASPERBASEBALL/COURTESY

Davis and LaPointe Talk Decision to Transfer for Final Year of Play

Kyla Guilfoil Managing Editor/Sports Editor

Star players Dee Dee Davis and Emily Lapointe will be leaving Manhattan College for their final year of eligibility after spending five and four years, respectively, on the Jaspers’ women’s basketball team. The announcement of their decision to enter the transfer portal came just days after the Jaspers lost in the MAAC championship final for the second year in a row.

Davis told The Quadrangle that she was not sure about her decision until the end of the tournament. She wasn’t sure until the last few months that she would even be using her final year of eligibility.

Davis has an additional two years of eligibility beyond the guaranteed four due to a redshirt year and the COVID year granted to NCAA athletes who were on the roster during the 2020-2021 school year.

Davis said that her fiance’s mother was ill, and her main focus was being able to be around her family. Because of the travel and the time commitment that comes with being a D1 player, Davis wasn’t sure that another year of basketball would fit into her commitment to her soon-to-be mother-in-law and family.

However, Davis said that her fiance’s mother passed away in December. As Davis navigated grieving, she began to talk through some options with Jasper’s head coach, Heather Vulin.

Davis said that alongside her fiance’s mother, Vulin has been a mother figure to her over the last few years. Davis told The Quadrangle that Vulin has supported her move to the transfer portal and has helped her in the recruiting process thus far.

LaPointe also said that Vulin has been understanding of her decision to enter the portal. LaPointe will be going on to use her fifth year of eligibility granted due to COVID.

Vulin did not respond to The Quadrangle’s request for comment on Davis or LaPointe’s decisions to transfer.

LaPointe told The Quadrangle that she was set on looking for a new opportunity next year by the time her senior sea-

son kicked off with the Jaspers. However, she emphasized that her focus throughout the season was to focus on the MAAC Championship, so she decided not to make any announcements until after the season concluded.

“My main goal was to win a championship, which we came pretty close to, but unfortunately, fell short again,” LaPointe said. “But that was my goal, so I just kind of knew going into the season that I wanted to just do whatever I could do to be impactful in any way to help get us to a championship game, which we did, we got there.”

Both Davis and LaPointe told The Quadrangle that a major factor in their decision to transfer was their search for further education.

Davis, who received a B.A. in sociology and is currently working towards an M.A. in Organizational Leadership at MC, said that the main push for her transfer was academics.

“I’d love to have two Master’s [degrees] because I think that education is elevation,” Davis said. “I’ve been presented with the opportunity to have my entire coaching staff’s blessing on going somewhere to pursue that dream of getting another degree from another institution, but just from a level above.”

Davis plans to pursue a Master’s degree somewhere in the field of business.

LaPointe will receive a Bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy in May and is planning to pursue a graduate degree in that field wherever she transfers to. She said that MC has one of three radiation therapy programs in New York state, and she is grateful for the education she has received thus far.

“It’s been special to be at a place for four years and to get a degree from Manhattan,” LaPointe said. “I don’t think I would have wanted a degree elsewhere. I had the ability to perform on the court and also in the classroom. I wasn’t in the easiest major, so I’m just really blessed and thankful that I had a coaching staff that supported my academics as well.”

Davis and LaPointe both said that their commitment to the Jaspers over the last five and four years, respectively, shows loyalty and love to Manhattan.

Davis explained that following an ACL injury at the end of

her high school career, she had lost all offers to play D1 basketball. But, after a push from her high school coach, Manhattan decided to give Davis a chance.

“For me, loyalty is very important in coming into college,” Davis told The Quadrangle. “By the grace of God, [MC] recruited me…and I’ve had an amazing career. But we’ve always thought that that career will be four or five years, you know, it’s very, very rare for a player to get a sixth year and for students to stay at the same place they’ve started at.”

Davis believes she has fulfilled what MC asked her for at her recruitment.

“I feel personally that I fulfilled all that I said I would do,” Davis said. “[The coaching staff and I] made lots of agreements and have had lots of conversations about just being by each other’s side, and I feel that I’ve done that, you know, it’s once again, it’s very, very rare for a player to stay at the same program for four years, better yet five.”

LaPointe also said that it is rare for a player to stay at one school for their entire un-

dergraduate career, and she is grateful to have spent all four years on the Jasper squad.

“I feel really confident in the fact that I gave my all for my time here, that I was 100 percent loyal, and I gave 110 percent every time I stepped on the floor, and made a ton of experiences and a ton of memories,” LaPointe said.

Going forward, both players seem to be considering schools with bigger student bodies than Manhattan.

Davis told The Quadrangle some of her top choices include UC Berkeley, Clemson University, Duquesne University and Stony Brook University, among others. Davis said that she can not give a single top choice just yet as she is still discussing opportunities with several institutions and wants to make sure she knows all of her options.

LaPointe did not disclose any specific schools in which she is interested yet but did share that she is looking for something outside of New York and in a warmer climate.

Despite the excitement and a commitment to spend their final year of play at a different

school, Davis and LaPointe expressed gratitude for their time at MC.

“I know it sounds cliche, but once a Jasper 100 percent always a Jasper,” Davis said. “I get that when people enter the transfer portal, there’s usually some animosity towards the old school or there’s some hatred or negative connotations, and I get that, you know, everybody has their own reasons, but that’s just not my experience. [MC] has been nothing but love to me, and it’s nothing but love for me to Manhattan.”

LaPointe also leaves MC with positive memories.

“I met some of my best friends here that will be my best friends for life,” LaPointe said. “I think that just reflecting on I am really, really appreciative and grateful. I think what’s really special about Manhattan, because it is pretty small, is that you can connect with other sports and other students…I think we have a really special community, so I wouldn’t have wanted to want it to be anywhere else for four years.”

Star players Dee Dee Davis and Emily Lapointe will be leaving Manhattan College for their final year of eligibility after spending five and four years, respectively GOJASPERS / COURTESY

Manhattan College Men’s Golf Team Gets On Course for the 2022-2023 Season

Nicole Fitzsimmons Senior Writer

The Manhattan College men’s golf team is currently reflecting after competing in their most recent event and is preparing to continue growing at their upcoming Battle of Rum Pointe.

At the South Jersey KickOff event, the team started off their season by finishing in 7th place as a team. The team attributes some of these recent results to poor weather and windy conditions at the event.

Head coach Keith Prokop thinks it is important to give every member of the team an opportunity to stop, reflect and improve after every event.

“I kind of built the schedule as we had the first tournament and then we had the reflection

period,” Prokop said. “So we had spring break to be able to kind of take a deep look at each individual’s games to be able to figure out what each person has to work on because golf is very different than every other sport. They [team members] were saying it’s very individual based, so I have to kind of have different attack plans for each individual. Yes, we still practice as a team, but every single person has their own attributes that they have to work on. So, we had that reflection period.”

According to GoJaspers, Junior Colby Norton was the top finisher for MC, finishing in a tie for 14th with a score of 78 (+6). Though he is proud of this start for their season, he anticipates there is room to grow more personally and as a team.

“One [personal goal] was to have a bogey-free round,” Norton said. “I started my goals at

the beginning of the fall season, so I think I need two more under-par rounds to reach that goal. And then, a couple of top tens, hopefully, and then just anything to help the team get up there on a leaderboard.”

Two members of the team were able to move up the leaderboard on the second day of the tournament, including freshman Dimitri Mihelakos and graduate student Jimmy Escoto, finishing in a tie at 31st.

On the second day of the two-day tournament, Mihelakos tied for 31st by advancing eight spots, according to GoJaspers.

“It felt amazing,” Mihelakos said. “After the round, I went to the coach and I was really, really disappointed with how my punting was that day, and it was honestly one of the worst punting days of my life. So, I went to coach after and we got some extra work after the round and the next day, so it didn’t happen again. And just as Colby said, I felt like I left a lot out there. But, it was really nice to kind of just have that little come back the next day and, you know, move forward because I remember at the end of the first day, we were all like we started fresh and we’re like just move forward and it was good to do that.”

Jimmy Escoto similarly advanced a few spots during that second day, moving to tie Mihelakos at 31st.

“I didn’t even know but I played better the second day for sure,” Escoto said. “Also, I think it was more of just going out there trying to get better. Every shot and every hole, trying to just warm up for our season and see what we need to work on and what we could do better and it was obvious to all of us that our short game was what we needed to work on to get ready for the end of the season, which is MACC.”

In preparation for the MACC later in the season, Coach Prokop is planning to grow with every event with attention to every member in order to thrive as a team.

“Yes, we still practice as a team, but every single person has their own attributes that they have to work on,” Prokop said. “So, we had that reflection period. We’re gonna have two events this in the head-to-head versus Wagner, and we’re gonna have another reflection period and then we’re gonna have three straight, so hopefully, we catch some fire those three tournaments, but that’s why we built the schedule that way to be able to have those reflection periods and to be able to attack

the weaknesses and make sure the strength remains strength at the same time to be able to peek at that right time, which is again those last three events leading into that MACC Championship.”

The members of the team similarly are excited to grow individually but are also excited to cheer each other on and continue growing as a team.

“I’m hoping that we can continue with the success that we’ve been having, hopefully just kind of taking everything from the spring break trip to be able to come to this tournament,” Norton said. “I want the guys to kind of fully trust in their games and start to develop that trust starts to be able to reflect properly because reflection is huge in our program here to be able to understand what’s going on not only after the round but internally during the round, not get frustrated and to be able to identify what’s happening and to be able to fix it in round as opposed to letting things escalate.”

On March 25, the men’s golf team is competing in the Battle at Rum Pointe for their second event of the season.

“Don’t count us out yet,” Escoto told The Quadrangle.

According to GoJaspers, Junior Colby Norton was the top finisher for MC, finishing in a tie for 14th with a score of 78 (+6).

GOJASPERS / COURTESY

The team attributes some of these recent results to poor weather and windy conditions at the event.

GOJASPERS/ COURTESY