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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume C, Issue 2
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NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
MC Community Rallies Against New Access Control Policy Gabriella DePinho & Joe Liggio
News Editor & Senior Writer
Kris Allen Rocks MC Quad Students sat on the quad to watch American Idol winner Kris Allen’s performance. BRIAN ASARE/ THE QUADRANGLE
Walsh’s Kingsbridge BID Expansion Plan Met With Slow Action Maria Thomas Asst. News Editor
For a year, Rob Walsh, Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships at Manhattan College, has been trying to get the Kingsbridge Business Improvement District to expand its borders. Business Improvement Districts, or BIDs, are created by city legislators, and are meant to improve neighborhoods. Businesses within a BID receive services such as sanitation, beautification, public safety and marketing, which often lead to an increase in customers and further business development. Walsh has been pushing members of the board of directors to expand the BID to include West 238th Street and Broadway Avenue as far north as 242nd Street It seems like a no-brainer: BIDs create safer, cleaner neighborhoods which then gain more attraction. Here’s the catch: Businesses within a BID are required to pay fees to city legislators for the services they receive. This might be part of the
IN NEWS:
Staying Safe: MC Talks Gun Safety on p. 5
reason why the process of expanding the Kingsbridge BID is taking so long. “The Board of Directors of the BID must take their time assessing the impact of an expanded BID. They are determining if the increased cost of serving an expanded coverage area is worth the benefits that they will receive, both in increased fees and in an enhanced reputation,” said Richard Ross, a visiting professor in the O’Malley School of Business. “It’s just not easy, because you’re telling [business owners] it’s going to cost them money. And not that it’s huge, but some people will pay a large amount while others will pay very little because they’re so tiny,” said Katherine Broheir, the Kingsbridge BID’s executive director, in an interview with The Riverdale Press. Yet Walsh, who served as the commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services for twelve years under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, says expanding a BID does not need to take this long. “I entered into this conversation a year ago and nothing has been done. This adminis-
IN FEATURES: Meet the new chair of the communication department on p. 9
tration has taken a backseat on it, which is unfortunate. I look at us as an anchor institution, a powerhouse, 4,000 students strong. We spend a lot of money in the neighborhood, that’s called spending power,” said Walsh. This spending power could improve the success of small ‘mom-and-pop shops’, thus improving the area surrounding the college, and has been proven possible by other schools in New York City. “The New School University turned around Union Square. Pratt Institute turned around Myrtle Avenue. We could play that role. That is what I engaged the organization with, and what they decided to do was put their head in the sand,” said Walsh. Even more reason to expand the BID, according to Walsh, is Manhattan College’s current plans for expansion. “We’re making a big investment in the south campus with the extension of our engineering school, the Higgins center, and the __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Throughout syllabus week, one topic of conversation had campus buzzing above all the rest: Access Control. The new residence hall policy revamp that took many by surprise at the start of the semester has been met with a resoundingly negative reaction by students and staff at Manhattan, many of whom are speaking out against what they see as an unfair, restrictive new system that has severely impacted campus morale. Concerns and complaints vary, from worries over the ability to study or work on projects in groups to students feeling like they have had a curfew imposed upon them, and a limit on when and how they can spend time with others who attend the college. According to Director of Residence Life Charles Clency, this policy has been introduced solely as a preventative measure. “It’s not a matter of a situation that occurred, it’s a matter of what’s going on in our society and being a little more safe and conscious about how to provide a better quality of living and a safer environment where our students reside,” said Clency. In addition to being a proactive policy, Clency sees this change as necessary to keep up with other colleges and universities. “Students here may not realize it but the practice of having open residence halls is an outdated system … This is an outdated system from a grander scale. It’s safe to say you’ll rarely find a system that allows students, all the student body, to come and go in the residence halls without having any check-in process or knowledge of who is accessing the building,” said Clency. While Residence Life and Public Safety saw this change as imminent and a priority for the academic year, many at the school was not clued into the
IN A&E:
A recap of Kris Allen’s Quadchella performance on p. 8
policy adjustment. Resident Assistants learned about the policy change a day before the email went out to the student body. “RAs and staff, I actually gave them an opportunity to voice their concerns. They made it clear to me that all of them weren’t entirely on board with it either. It’s a change,” said Clency. Commuter students were never formally contacted regarding the policy update from any member of the Office of Student Life. Director of Commuter Affairs Marilyn Carter could not provide information on Access Control to non-resident students prior to its introduction, as she herself was not fully aware of the policy’s extent or what would actually be going into effect upon the start of the semester “We heard back in late spring that there would be some changes in accessing the dorms. However, at that time I was not privy to all of the changes that we see made today. My office was not involved in any discussions concerning this matter,” said Carter in an e-mail statement to The Quadrangle. According to Clency, he himself does not have the capacity to email the entire student body. “I only have the obligation and responsibility to communicate with the students who live on campus and signed the contract with us. When it goes beyond that, it becomes a student life thing,” said Clency. Beyond the commuting population, Clency acknowledged that student involvement in preliminary discussions and the actual dissemination of the policy ahead of time to all of the MC community could have been better. “I’ll be honest. Could we have gotten more student input and voice prior to sending it out? Probably could have. We could have had a more gallant effort but that’s something we __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
IN SPORTS:
Women’s Soccer takes a loss in battle of the Bronx on p. 12
Opinions & Editorials
2
the Quadrangle Volume C, Issue 2
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
The Editorial Board Megan Dreher Editor-in-Chief
Gabriella DePinho News Editor
Maria Thomas Asst. News Editors
Alexa Schmidt Features Editor Managing Editor
Katherine Heneghan Asst. Features Editor
Rose Brennan Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor
Madalyn Johnson Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
C. Garrett Keidel Sports Editor
Pete Janny Asst. Sports Editor
Lauren Schuster Social Media Editor
Brian Asare Photography Editor
Samantha Walla Production Manager Sophia Sakellariou Production Editor
Nicole Rodriguez Asst. Production Editor
Michevi Dufflart August Kissel Web Editors
Abby Crowell Distribution Manager
Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism. The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.
Join The Quadrangle The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Kelly Commons Room 412. All are welcome to come and join the club. Connect with The Quadrangle
mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad
THE QUADRANGLE
LETTER from The Editor
Hi readers! I wanted to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who read and gave such wonderful feedback on our first issue of the semester! It is so lovely to hear what various members of the college community have had to say, and it is so humbling to know that our work does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your loyal readership. We approach each week of publishing with a “for the people, by the people” mentality, ensuring that the voices of our community are heard. With that being said, I want to address a major concern of the student body since our return to campus last week. Access Control is a new residence hall policy that went into effect last week, and to sum it up briefly, limits student access of buildings in which they do not have residence in. As Editor-in-Chief, and as a member of the student government executive board, I want you to know that you are heard. I encourage you all to educate yourselves on this policy and offer suggestions on how it can be improved. Get involved in the process of creating change. You can read more about the ins and outs of this policy in this issue of the Quad, as well as last week’s issue. If you are passionate about this topic, I encourage you to come to the Student Government Assembly Meeting on Wednesday, September 4th at 12pm in Kelly 4B to offer your solutions. You can also write a Letter to the Editor with your concerns, ideas, and suggestions. Words are an incredibly powerful tool, and we are here to print what the people have to say.
Sincerely,
Megan Dreher
Editor-in-Chief
Sign up for our monthly newsletter by scanning the QR code. SUBMIT YOUR OWN LETTER OR OP-ED Letters to the Editor or an op-ed may be submitted to thequad@manhattan.edu by Saturday at noon to be considered for publication. Profanity, vulgarity and hate will not be published. The Quadrangle reserves the right not to publish a letter.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
Opinions & Editorials
3
Access Control:
Causing Isolation Amongst Jaspers Lauren Schuster Social Media Editor
When I came to Manhattan College a little over 3 years ago, I was extremely excited to find my new home and make many new friends. I found Manhattan to be an open and welcoming place with a real sense of community, a fact that has remained one of my favorite parts of being here to this day. As Jaspers, operating as one big family is an important part of what we do. We open doors for each other, both literally and figuratively. However, there is a new policy beginning to take place that directly threatens this sense of community. The new access control policy being introduced by residence life and public safety this semester essentially does the exact opposite of treating us as
one big family. This new policy only allows residents access to the building that they live in, unless they are signed in as a “visitor” by a friend who lives in the building they wish to enter. Additionally, a resident may only sign two visitors into their residence hall at a time. The previous policy of no visitors of the opposite sex being allowed after midnight is still in effect. Additionally, any visitor of the same sex who is present after midnight is now considered an “overnight guest,” which are only allowed twice a month. Anytime a visitor overstays their welcome, increasing fines will be issued. I strongly believe that whether you live in a particular residence hall or not, Manhattan College should still be able to feel like home. With this new policy, our fellow MC students are quite literally being made to feel like guests
in their own home. Some might say that this is all in the name of safety, and any inconvenience is worth it if we can all sleep more soundly. However, this updated policy only puts new limits on the access of other Jaspers to our residence halls. If we truly need to be kept safe from our fellow Jaspers, then we’re not the family I thought we were, in which case there’s a much bigger problem at hand that access control alone simply cannot fix. If it’s not safe for my classmate to freely walk the halls of my dorm building, then it is also not safe for me to sit near them anywhere else on this campus, in which case they should not be allowed to attend this school at all. Another statement in defense of the policy is that all of this is common practice at other colleges across the country. However, that only brings me back to our constant
claims of what makes Manhattan so special. Aren’t we supposed to know each other better and care about each other more than students at other schools? Aren’t we supposed to be more of a community, and an inclusive one at that? If we aren’t those things, then we have clearly strayed from our core identity, and don’t deserve the name Jaspers any longer. I firmly believe we have not done anything of the sort, and are in no way major security threats to one another, despite what this new policy makes us out to be. It is clear that this new policy in no way increases safety, and instead forces a great deal of isolation amongst students. A well-rounded social life is an extremely important part of being a healthy college student. Being barred from entering the living spaces of your best friends or significant others
because it is either too late at night or because they already have 2 other friends visiting is a stressful situation that none of us deserve to go through. Commitments like classes and jobs are already large sources of stress in our lives, and the last thing that we need is social segregation and isolation added into the mix. Social interactions across dorm buildings should be encouraged, not limited. Any involved student on this campus will tell you that their circle of friends transcends major, year, or residence hall. If you really want your students to be safe and healthy, you should give them the opportunity to do what Jaspers do best: welcome each other.
Goat Yoga As a Form of Therapy August Kissel Web Editor
The original Goat Yoga studio opened in Corvallis Oregon and was created by a woman named Lainey Morse, who had a love for goats and a friend who happened to be a yoga instructor. Morse used her goats as a form of therapy, she called it Goat Happy Hour. Morse’s friend told her that Morse should have yoga classes in her barn. Morse’s immediate reaction was the goats were going to climb all over everyone doing yoga, and all of her friends said that would be the best part. Thus goat yoga was born.
As a yoga super fan myself, I have always wanted to take a Goat Yoga class and nearly shot through the roof when I found out Manhattan College would be hosting a Goat Yoga class. Downward Dog with a goat on my back, yes please! Before arriving to the studio I thought this was going to be a fun day of time with goats and doing yoga with my friends. Upon arriving to Hover Farms in Germantown NY and we were greeted by an army of turkeys I started to grasp what I got myself into. I was suddenly aware of just how animal goats are. We were taken to the barn, given blankets and started to run through the rules of goat
Cate Weiden, one of the five students who attended goat yoga, is pictured here surrounded by three goats. AUGUST KISSEL / THE QUADRANGLE
yoga. One, honor that we are in the goat’s space and that they make the rules. Two, no pushing the goats away from you. Three, if the goats poop, shake off your blanket and keep going with the class. Our instructor also explained that Goat Yoga is meant to be used as a form of therapy as it has the ability to regulate hormone levels and is encouraged as a form of exercise for those with depression and anxiety who are comfortable with the idea of being with goats. Once the rules were established, an army of 20 goats came barreling into the barn and the class began. Our instructor asked us to close our eyes, which was almost impossible, as I had goats nibbling on my knees and trying to pull my blanket out from under me. Then the class went on and I felt more comfortable with the goats. All of us smiled and giggled the whole time. The goats would run into us and push us over, or lay next to us and decide they wanted our attention and block our poses to be pet instead. This made the physical part of my yoga practice difficult, I wasn’t reaching super far into the poses or as centered on my breathing as I usually strive to be, and yet I would argue that this class was just as important to my yoga practice as a vinyasa or a bikram class. I smiled consistently for 90 minutes of yoga, connected with a goat named Merle, and I was happy.
August Kissel practices the cat/cow pose with a goat. AUGUST KISSEL / THE QUADRANGLE Yoga is all about accepting where you are and flowing from there. On Friday I was flowing with a whole bunch of playful creatures, and so we played and flowed along. As a college student and an adult, I feel as though we don’t get a lot of play time. Time where we are encouraged to be, to laugh, to be nervous, and to be messy.
At Hover Farms we did nothing but that, Goat Yoga gave us all an excuse to play and I would recommend this experience to anyone who’s curious about goats or yoga.
News
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THE QUADRANGLE
MC Community Rallies Against Access Control __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 didn’t do. There’s also the piece that students don’t set policy in terms of safety measures on the campus.” said Clency. It didn’t take long for the MC community to start speaking out against the policy. Executive Student Body Vice President Ryan Kwiecinski and former Vice President of Residential Affairs Isabel Quiñones penned a resolution to be presented to the Student Government Assembly at their Sept. 4 meeting, proposing a complete repeal of the policy as a resolution to several grievances regarding the implementation process, communication issues and enforcement issues. The resolution has, to date of writing, received 669 signatures from current Manhattan students, close to 18 percent of the total undergraduate student body. “We realized this policy was never proposed to the Senate. After realizing how upset and frustrated students were, we realized this was an opportunity to uphold our positions and act as a voice for students,” said Kwiecinski in a written statement to The Quadrangle. While the resolution has been met with wide support, it hasn’t been the only manifestation of opposition to Access Control. Last Monday, shortly before the resolution was sent around to the student body, an anonymous Instagram page, @mc.access.exclusion, was created by a resident student whose identity The Quadrangle has agreed to protect. “This policy is so [detrimental] towards the community, whether you’re a resident or a commuter,” said the student. “You can’t visit a friend past 12 [a.m.], and if you do you get fined. It’s breaking up that community that the college has fostered for so long and propagated for so long.” The student created the account in the hopes of channelling students’ chattering into something productive. As the page blew up, gaining close to 400 followers in just a few days time, the resolution was passed around for signatures and disseminated through the page. A template email for students to send to MC administrators to express their problems with the policy has also been featured on the page. “People eat social media up and things spread best on the internet. Word of mouth is great but at the end of the day, social media is what drives stuff like this nowadays,” said the student. “Never once in the history of anything has change started with silence. Right now, the goal is to let people know that this is an issue and to let people know what they can
do, let people know what they can say, who they can talk to, how they can make their voice heard.” The student emphasized that his template e-mail and support of the resolution are aimed at promoting civil yet influential discourse. Later posts have appeared on the account’s page encouraging students to attend the upcoming Student Government Assembly meeting. “Even if absolutely nothing gets done, [my page] does two things. It tells the college that we have a student body that cares about issues and that isn’t afraid to speak up. On top of that, it’s giving people a voice. It’s encouraging people to play an active part in the community they’re living in and they’re taking and being a part of every single day. That’s super important,” the student said. An additional petition was started on Change.org and slips of paper titled “Reclaim our Campus” with a link to the website were distributed around Locke’s Loft last week. While this effort hasn’t gained as much traction as the reso-
New signs posted in the entrance to Overlook Manor after the introduction of Access Control. JOE LIGGIO / THE QUADRANGLE dential Affairs, Luke Malpica, who also serves as a Resident Assistant in Jasper Hall. He confirmed that he was in a meeting with Quiñones and Clency regarding the potential addition of this policy to the code of conduct during the 2019 spring semester.
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“Could we have gotten more student input and voice prior to sending it out? Probably could have. We could have had a more gallant effort but that’s something we didn’t do.” -----------------------lution, it currently has over 50 signatures and has also been spreading around social media. One major apprehension towards the policy, as noted in the resolution drawn up by Quiñones and Kwiecinski, is that it will further widen the gap between resident and commuter students. Carter hopes to address these concerns. “I will continue to work with Residence Life on bridging the gap. My only request that when instituting new policies that will affect commuters that my office is used as a sounding board before they green light any changes,” said Carter. “My knowledge on commuters could have been used as a window of opportunity to be inclusive for a student body that continues to grow.” The Student Government executive board has been proactive regarding the policy during the first week of classes. Some members had the chance to meet with Clency themselves in order to voice student concerns. One such member is the current Vice President of Resi-
“He mentioned that it was going to be put into place in the future, so that was a bit of a surprise to have this put into effect [this semester],” Malpica said. Malpica was not involved in the process of penning the resolution but he mostly supports the clauses of the resolution. Malpica advocates for amendments to the policy, rather than a complete repeal. “The people we’ve been talking to have been mainly [wanting] to revoke it. That’s mainly what we’ve been dealing with but I do believe there’s a percentage of the student body that would be okay with it but would like some adjustments that would be a little more user friendly,” said Malpica. Though the resolution has called for a complete repeal of the policy, Kwiecinski, who has not yet met with Clency himself, is also open to some simple modifications to the regulations. “We want to create an open conversation. Ideally, we would like to see a revised policy that goes through the proper means
of approval. We hope that administration that were a part of the policy change realize that we are upset and that we want change,” said Kwiecinski. Proposed changes to the policy that have been brought up by student leaders included extending the midnight cutoff for guests to 2 a.m. on weekends, finding a way to make the sign-in process more streamlined and a way to more effectively enforce the policy in Jasper and Chrysostom. “I’m at a bit of a crossroads because I’m an RA in Jasper, and Jasper and Chrysostom are the two buildings on campus that don’t have public safety guards there so I see where Charles is going with this. I understand it completely. It’s a safety issue,” said Malpica. Clency stated that he is open to discussing and looking into proposed changes by SGA and RSA leadership. Despite the “honor system” in place in Jasper and Chrysostom, Clency sees controlled access as something that will lighten the Resident Assistants’ workload. “The bulk of the enforcement of this policy doesn’t fall on the RAs. It actually falls on Public Safety which is why the director of Public Safety was involved in mapping out the roles and responsibilities,” said
Clency. Clency believes that the policy change has already had a tangible effect on student behavior during the first week of school. “Right now that we’re in the process of doing assessment in changes, looking at conduct in this first week of school, it’s way down compared to previous years. In fact, I can tell you I’m close to counting on one hand how many incidents have happened in the past seven or eight days,” said Clency. Looking ahead, it’s clear that discussion of the future of access control is just getting started. “I respect the students. To this point, their pushback has been through emails, through setting up meetings, through working through SGA, making sure administration - the President’s office, the Vice President’s office - is aware in an articulate way, representing their intellect, as opposed to retaliatory, disruptive behavior. Because it’s coming this way, to be perfectly honest, the administration has been receiving it, enough for us to even have conversations about it because we’ve got constructive dialogue from students about their disdain for the policy,” said Clency.
A paper slip distributed in Locke’s Loft, with a link to an online petition supporting a repeal of Access Control. JOE LIGGIO / THE QUADRANGLE
News
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
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Staying Safe and Making Change: MC Talks Gun Safety Gabriella DePinho News Editor
As Manhattan College students’ summers were winding down, three mass shootings occurred in one week, reigniting repeated conversations about gun control and safety laws, the looming threat of violence and what people would do if they ever found themselves in that position. Such conversations and media coverage have started to dwindle as time has passed but the ideas those conversations start are pertinent to the start of the school year. The college’s Public Safety website has a page titled “Active Shooter” with resources from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the City of Houston Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. The nearly six minute video produced by the City of Houston details a “Run, Hide,
Fight” plan that people should follow in an instance of an active shooter. “It was so well done that a lot of cities and schools in the country are using that video,” said Peter DeCaro, the director of Public Safety. “In addition to that, we have the NYPD counterterrorism come in every fall.” In the event of an active shooter, the college’s primary way of communicating with the student body is the e2campus emergency notification system. There is also a public address system of stadium style speakers that, if used, will be heard around campus and on the street surrounding campus. “You guys are used to hearing it for snow closing or a delay but that’s going to be our primary way of letting you guys know that something bad has happened around here. Certain administrators at the college, including administrators in public safety, can launch that
system, God forbid we have a situation like that on campus,” said DeCaro. Students who feel threatened or uncomfortable by any kind of comments, online postings or behaviours by a student or school employee are encouraged to report it to public safety. “When we get cases like that, we start investigating internally and then we also contact the police right away and have them start investigating it on their end. They do so much of that nowadays, they’re so good at. They can go into someone’s background and social media and information very quickly and effectively,” said DeCaro. On Saturday, Aug. 24, NY state’s ‘red flag’ law went into effect. The law will ensure that certain authorities will be able to seek the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose a threat to themselves or the public, even if they have
not been arrested yet. There is no way to guarantee that red flag laws make a difference, but as far as gun control legislation being accepted by the public, these laws are certainly a start. The National Rifle Association is often what gets in the way of the law by lobbying and by giving money to politicians to influence their legislative decisions. The NRA started out as an educational organization that taught gun safety and gave certifications to those who had completed safety courses. Over time, the NRA’s focus shifted to the second amendment. “Power comes from both money and access and the National Rifle Association has both,” said political science professor, Pamela Chasek, Ph.D. For students who want to see more gun controls passed throughout the country, there is plenty of legwork to be done. “What can I do if elected officials share my concerns? Well, you still let them know
that this is an important issue to you. You want them to speak out, you don’t want them to hide. What some people will do, they will actually go and help build up the ranks of someone organizing stuff for gun legislation in somewhere where there are republican members of congress and aren’t likely to vote for the legislation,” said Chasek. Both Chasek and DeCaro encouraged students to keep the simple but effective motto “if you see something, say something” in mind and to always stay alert. “It could happen on the subway, it could be anywhere and no legislation would necessarily stop that. The only thing you can tell people is to be aware of your surroundings,” said Chasek.
Walsh’s Kingsbridge BID Expansion Plan Met With Slow Action __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 new athletic center. Trying to get ahead of the game, I was thinking ‘this organization exists, the Kingsbridge BID, on Broadway, and it’s only two blocks south. What if they expanded their boundaries north?” Walsh said. Walsh is particularly interested in a small, triangular strip of land on 242nd Street and Broadway. The area, nestled between Asian Tokyo and a vacated pharmacy, is uncared for, collecting litter and overgrown with weeds. “Here in Manhattan, Queens or Brooklyn, someone would have put a public plaza up already. They would have outdoor seating. Can you imagine the turn around of what this could and should look like?” Currently, there are four vacant storefronts on Broadway Avenue, adjacent to the dilapidated strip. Walsh believes that cleaning up the small area might improve business on Broadway. Due to his dissatisfaction with the action of BID’s board of directors, Walsh has taken matters into his own hands. He has been in correspondence with Councilman Andrew Co-
hen, proposing the start of an organization dedicated to the sanitation and beautification of 238th Street and Broadway Avenue up to 242nd Street. “The councilman is looking at resources that he could cobble together, to put together clean up crews. Coming out of those clean up crews, maybe we put together a smaller merchants association,” he said. Manhattan College associate professor of political science, Margaret Groarke, PhD., has also gotten involved, letting Walsh take one of her classes down to the strip to brainstorm what could be done with the land. “Mr. Walsh and I hope to involve my students in thinking about what could be done here -- what kind of businesses? What can the blocked off road be used for? We might explore ways to find out what Manhattan College students and other nearby residents and subway/ bus riders think would be useful there,” said Groarke. Walsh has also discussed his hopes for the land with the college’s basketball coach, Steve Masiello, who said he would gladly put his players to work in an effort to clean up the area. Walsh refuses to give up on
his dreams for the Manhattan College neighborhood. “When you have something in place, it’s better to utilize it then start with a new organization, but at some point you have to throw up your hands and figure out another way. It doesn’t look like the city is going to take any action to encourage such a partnership,” Walsh said. While Walsh keeps pushing for action, the Kingsbridge BID directors know this takes time. In order for the expansion to occur, 75 percent of businesses in the proposed area need to agree to join the BID. “This doesn’t happen overnight. It could take two years. We have to get in touch with every property owner from 236th to 238th on both sides and they have to support coming into the BID,” said Andrew Williams, Kingsbridge BID president, in an interview with The Riverdale Press.
Rob Walsh holds the chained up remains of a bicycle on Broadway Avenue. MARIA THOMAS / THE QUADRANGLE
Arts & Entertainment
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THE QUADRANGLE
Senior Chemical Engineer Finds Joy in Music Jilleen Barrett & Jessica McKenzie
Contributor & Staff Writer Chemical engineering major Erin McWilliams had no idea how involved she’d become with the performing arts when she had first arrived at Manhattan College. Originally from Massapequa, N.Y,, McWilliams didn’t have any experience in theater during high school. Now as she starts her senior year, she can say that she has participated in activities across campus such as Coffeehouse Open Mic, Music Ministry and the Scatterbomb improv group. Scatterbomb practices weekly and performs every other week. During their shows, the audience gives a prompt. It is the performers’ job to establish a creative scene based on that prompt. “It’s almost like a play, but we do everything on the spot…. it’s a fun space to interact with people and get the jokes out,”
McWilliams said. McWilliams came across Scatterbomb at the end of her freshman year when she attended a performance in support of a friend. Despite being unacquainted with the arts, she decided to audition. Over the past three years, she has found it to be an outlet for her love of puns, conversation and a great laugh. Scatterbomb’s shows are free of charge and open to all Manhattan College students. The crowd is able to interact with the cast by giving them one word suggestions that ultimately inspire a story. The shows are entertaining and showcase everyone’s creativity and sense of humor. At the most recent show, the audience couldn’t contain their laughter. This was a great opportunity for students to unwind after the first week of classes for the fall semester. During her time at the college, McWilliams has also joined Music Ministry, an open choir on campus. This year,
she holds the title of Vice President. The group has honed her music skills and made the stage feel like home. McWilliams’ stage fright eases as she practices and performs more frequently. “If you sing, you pray twice. I feel connected to music in that way,” McWilliams said. McWilliams loves to showcase her talents in Coffeehouse Open Mic. Anybody at Manhattan College can perform during these shows, whether they’re reading slam poetry, dancing, or playing an instrument. If you need a pick me up, performing or viewing the open mic would be a great excuse to get some caffeine late at night. “It’s such a ‘good vibes only’ atmosphere. Everyone is so supportive,” McWilliams said. At these open mics, McWilliams usually opts to play her ukulele. Playing the ukulele is another one of her favorite pastimes. Despite her scientific ca-
McWilliams performs with the college’s improv group, Scatterbomb, every other week. @scatterbombmc/ COURTESY
reer goals, it has always been on her bucket list to have a side job playing the ukulele on a beach somewhere. “You can’t play ukulele and be sad,” she said. After graduation, McWilliams hopes to find work doing remediation, which is the process of removing hazardous waste from bodies of water.
Water pollution can affect the well being of the entire environment. McWilliams would like to develop a career using chemistry to preserve water channels. “I’m a huge chem dork… I think it’s interesting that we’re just now realizing the repercussions of all of that,” she said.
McWilliams performs with Music Ministry at 7:30 mass every Sunday evening. ERIN MCWILLIAMS/ COURTESY
Join the Quadrangle Weekly Open Meetings TUESDAYS @ 4 P.M. IN Kelly 412
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
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Quadchella Highlight: Quad Writers Take on the Trucks Quadchella marks many annual treats for Manhattan College students; the completion of the first week of classes, the first tradition experienced by the freshman class, but most of all, a music event that is a thinly-veiled food truck festival. While food trucks are a staple at every Quadchella, this year Student Government seemed to take it up a notch.
As Kris Allen wrapped up his set, droves of students lined up to trucks offering Shake Shack, cheesesteaks, halal and “over the top” donut milkshakes. Each truck offered a tasting menu of their most popular items, but did not skimp on portion sizes or quality despite the volume of food produced for the student body.
The name recognition of Shake Shack cinched its position as the clear favorite; the line wrapped around Jasper Hall for two hours without diminishing. Despite their lack of name recognition, Carnivale Donut Bar, Gary’s Steaks and Chef Samir Truck did their best to compete.
Samantha Walla Production Editor We started our odyssey at Shake Shack a good twenty minutes before opening, securing a respectable spot as the line built. Despite the fact that most Manhattan College students are familiar with the taste of a Shake Shack burger and fries, I couldn’t resist. What can I say? I’m a sheep. While not a dissenting opinion, Shake Shack offers an admirable burger/fries/shake combo that does live up to its hype. I am happy to report that the thin but juicy patty was topped with fresh vegetables and appeared to be made to order, despite the mass of waiting students. The piping hot fries were salted to perfection in typical Shake Shack style, and the chocolate milkshake served as a good baseline for later judging Carnivale’s offerings. Although I consider myself to have a good appetite, a full meal from Shake Shack leaves and almost sickening afterglow, as I stood in line for Carnivale Donut Bar feeling stuffed, sweaty and slightly embarrassed that I was about to complete a second milkshake. Because I am a dedicated journalist, I braved the secondlongest line at Quadchella and received a Reese’s shake. Carnivale offered the best presentation of any truck by far, serving milkshakes in glasses fit for a vintage diner, rimmed with chocolate in peanuts and sitting beneath a mountain of whipped cream and Reece’s Piecestopped donut.
The excitement of receiving such a decedent shake was the highlight of the truck’s offerings. The donut was delicious, especially with the addition of candy and whipped cream, but the milkshake paled in comparison to that of Shake Shack. What was advertised as a peanut-butter chocolate milkshake bore more of a resemblance to a vanilla shake, and the consistency was thinner than I typically seek in a milkshake. In my opinion, there are no losers when it comes to milkshakes, but diehard milkshake lovers would find more satisfaction with a thick and creamy Shake Shack milkshake, while those on the hunt for their next Insta photo would enjoy the spectacle at Carnivale Donut Bar. If you are anything like me, you were not afraid to try both and preach to anyone else on line about their strengths and weaknesses. I did visit Chef Samir Truck for takeout, as I was unable to eat anything else after my first two stops. Chef Samir Truck served your typical halal offerings, I opted for the falafel over rice, doused in white sauce. This truck was the top choice for both vegetarians and those who were avoiding a mid-afternoon nap. Chef Samir delivered delicious top of the line halal; while nothing in particular set it apart from other trucks in the city, its addition to the roster gave a complete sampling of the food on wheels that New York City has to offer.
Lizzy Griffiths Contributor It’s not every day you hear that your school is having a donut bar truck cater to the students. The whole experience was so different from a usual day on campus, and was an exceptional way to end syllabus week. I started off at Shake Shack, but my eye was on every donut shake that other students were walking by with. As I made my way to by far the most aesthetically pleasing truck, which was actually more of a van, I realized that the line was already at least thirty people back. The truck, Carnivale, read “Over the Top Shakes,” and I knew I was in the right line. After debating between the options of Reese’s, Oreo, Funfetti, and salted caramel shakes, my stomach spoke: Oreo it was. The line may have been long, but the feeling of watching him hand over the shakes was unmatched. The wait time was due to the fact they were crafting each shake to perfection, all the way down to the Oreo-crumble rim. The donut fit the cup seamlessly, the layers and layers of
BELOW: Cheesesteak and fries from Gary’s Steaks. RIGHT: A complete Shake Shack combo with chocolate shake. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE
An Oreo (left) and Reese’s (right) “over the top” shake from Carnivale Donut Bar. SAMANTHA WALLA / THE QUADRANGLE whipped cream and Oreo beneath the donut melted in my mouth. The shake itself was incomparably creamy. Only a few photos later and a walk across campus, the fashionable shake was devoured, down to the Oreo crumble on the rim. The Carnivale donut truck was remarkably unique and worth every calorie. My food coma was already in full effect, so unfortunately I was not able to squeeze in a cheesesteak, but I wish that someone would look at me the way that my friend was looking at his meal. Gary’s Steaks truck line was just as long as Carnivale’s only minutes after they opened. I knew I had to take a bite and I did not regret it. He got
“the classic cheesesteak,” a large roll with cheese melted on the steak and then drenched in hot sauce (per request). This was actually my first time having cheesesteak ever, and it is definitely going to be one of my new favorite foods. It was like having all my favorite meals in one bite. After my friend scarfed down his cheesesteak in under two minutes, he had joined me in my food coma. The comfort food offered at Quadchella made it feel like home. To me, the food trucks were a well-deserved award for getting out of summer-mode and making it through the first week of classes. Gazing at my friends holding their cheesesteaks and burgers, is a picture I never want to forget.
Arts & Entertainment
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THE QUADRANGLE
Kris Allen Performs at Quadchella Celebration Rose Brennan & C. Garrett Kiedel
A&E Editor & Sports Editor Manhattan College’s Labor Day weekend and semester as a whole kicked off with a bang on Friday, Aug. 30 with a performance by Kris Allen, the winner of “American Idol” Season Eight. Allen’s performance was a part of MC’s annual “Quadchella,” a welcome-back celebration held at the beginning of every school year. In addition to a musical guest performing on the campus quadrangle, the school also invited food trucks from around New York City for the students to enjoy following the performance. Quadchella was the first major event hosted by the new Atkins student government association, the members of whom were sworn in at the end of last semester. Kaylyn Atkins, student body president, was a bit nervous but overall excited about the first event of her new administration. “Running for student body president came as a surprise to me, even though it didn’t come as a surprise to most people,” Atkins said. “I try really hard to make other students on campus make their experience worthwhile, because I didn’t have a positive experience my freshman year. So I’m really trying to help freshmen and encourage them to come to this event, so they can see [that] yes, we do have events on campus. This is the first one of many. And we want them to feel included.” According to Atkins, there was a bit of a time crunch for Quadchella this year, owing to the decision to host it earlier in
the semester than years past. “In the past two years, Quadchella [was] usually later on in the year, usually … early September, but we wanted to have it during Opening Weekend so we can encourage students to stick around, at least on Friday, because we know it’s a holiday weekend. And I think it gives freshmen a chance to see we do hold events on campus that are fun and bring us all together,” Atkins said. The date was not the only change made by Atkins and Student Government. The association was also mindful about the food options made available to students by the food trucks. “In the previous years, I thought that they weren’t as inclusive as they could be,” Atkins said. “So this year, we actually have four food trucks instead of three, with ... Shake Shack … we have a halal truck for our Muslim students … we have a cheese steak food truck that also has vegetarian options for people who don’t eat meat and we have a donut and milkshake truck kind of as our dessert truck.” The event kicked off promptly at 4 p.m. when Allen walked onto the Smith steps. The crowd was sparse at first, but as Allen began to sing, students and faculty began to flock to the campus quadrangle. Crowd favorites were played, including “Live Like We’re Dying” and “Heartless,” which were some of Allen’s better-known hits. However, he also played “Venice,” an audience request that was sent to him over Instagram direct message. Throughout his set, Allen tried to interact with the college audience, who was enthusiastic and often quite funny with their
Allen performs at Quadchella in first performance since birth of his third child. BRIAN ASARE/ THE QUADRANGLE responses. When Allen asked if the event was called Quadchella or Quadstock, someone responded, “We don’t know!” Allen also offered a six-pack of root beer to anyone who would come up on stage and sing “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” with him, an offer which one daring student eventually took him up on. It is this informal environment of college shows that makes Allen enjoy performing at colleges. “I like the vibe of [college shows] a lot,” Allen said. “They’re a little less formal, I feel like. I remember going to college … and there were huge artists that would come and play at the school I went to, and I loved it … It’s kind of weird being on the other side, but I kind of love being on the other side of that. It’s very different [from] an actual show that I
Students sit on the quad to listen to Allen perform. BRIAN ASARE/ THE QUADRANGLE
would put on.” Sophomore Eunice Nazar said the concert was the perfect end to the first week of classes. “It was very relaxing laying down and listening to Kris sing! It was such a nice way to end the first week of classes. The sun was out, the breeze felt amazing, his voice was so soothing and I was surrounded by great friends - overall, a great time,” said Nazar. Freshman Leslie Salas felt more of a sense of community with the event. “It was honestly so relaxing and the sense of community and good vibes was really de-stressing, especially since this is the first week and I’m just getting adjusted to college. Amazing experience!” said Salas. While he was engaging at times, Allen did not shy away from more serious contemporary topics. One of the songs he performed, “If We Keep Doing Nothing,” discussed the polarity of the current political climate and how it was costing people their lives. To Allen, “If We Keep Doing Nothing” is a personal favorite of his to perform. “The crowd favorites are always really fun to perform because of that, so ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ and ‘Heartless’ are fun to perform because people know [them] really well [but] I would say my favorite song to perform … it changes a lot, but I think the song that no matter what, whenever it comes in the set, I can rest in it, is ‘If We Keep Doing Nothing,’” Allen said. While most of the audience might know Allen from his “American Idol” days, he has been up to quite a bit since then,
including six studio albums and three young children. His performance at Quadchella marks his return to performing after the birth of his third child. “Really all I’ve been doing is making babies and making music … I’ve been working on music and … trying to get better and trying to learn, and by learning through doing and releasing music,” Allen said. “I came into the music business in a weird way and I didn’t get that development and put out the first record. It was like, ‘Put your first record out and develop in front of everyone’s eyes.’ That’s what I’ve been doing the past ten years. Right now I’m working on new music and hoping to put out a record either early next year or the middle of next year. I’m really excited about the new stuff. 2019 marks ten years since Allen won “American Idol,” and as a result he is embarking on a tour as a “thank you” to everyone who has loved and supported him the past ten years. “This fall, I wanted to celebrate the past ten years in a way, and I didn’t exactly know how to do that,” Allen said. “We thought about doing one show maybe in my hometown [in Arkansas] or one show back in Nashville where I live now. And I was like, not everyone’s gonna be able to come and all of these people that have supported my for the past ten years either through the show … they’re not going to get to be a part of this celebration so … I’m going to do a tour and I’m going to do it by myself and kind of let people in my living room, play those songs, talk to them and tell stories from the past ten years [and] tell stories from songs.”
Features
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
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New Year, New Chair: Meet the New Head of the Communication Department Anna Woods Staff Writer
The communication department underwent massive changes this past summer as Michael Grabowksi, Ph.D., was announced as the new chair of the department. Grabowski is only the second chair in the department’s twelve year history. Thom Gencarelli, Ph.D., has held the position since its inception. “This is my tenth year at the college. So I’ve been teaching since 1998. I started off as the master teacher of post production at New York University’s School of Continuing Professional Education [where] they have a department of film video broadcasting,” Grabowski said. He continued. “So I came from the field of production and post-production and started teaching post-production there. I had worked as an editor, as a videographer, I’ve directed a few short films. And when I started teaching, I fell in love with it so here I am,” Grabowski said. The chairperson of a department is its administrative head, so in addition to teaching fewer classes now, Grabowski has to manage the budget of the department, set goals and priorities for the department and help to create the schedule of courses that the dept will be teaching. “I approve any variances, internships, independent studies and then be the representative for the dept at the school and the college. So I attend the dean’s meetings and so on. I found out that information I bring that back to the department and I represent our faculty back up to that,” Grabowski said.
When asked what the most difficult part of the position is Grabowski said he wants to prioritize his time and what is most relevant to the students. “I really want to take some time focusing on the not urgent but important stuff.” Grabowski said. “What’s the vision of the program, what makes sense in growing in areas that will serve our students the best, [and] how to connect our students to our alumni so it’s a seamless transition from college to career, or graduate school, or professional school if students want that. How do I make that happen for more of our students?” For Gencarelli, the communication department was essentially his passion project. “I got this unique opportunity to come in and build something. I have a sense of ownership and pride in what we came to do and one of the hard things about stepping down was to step away from all of that,” Gencarelli said. While Grabowski is facing a lot of work in the years ahead of him, he is thrilled to take Gencarelli’s place. “Thom Gencarelli was the founding chair of the department. He built this program. It didn’t exist before him, and so we were created as a department 12 years ago and he has grown it from five faculty members to seven [and] from four concentrations to six concentrations,” Grabowski said. He continued. “He has grown the number of students that are in the program, and so I’m really lucky that I’ve been handed off a department that’s in really good shape. So my goal, and what I’m most excited about, is growing it even more finding better quality internships for the stu-
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dents, increasing the profile of the department [and] having more alumni come back who are in great positions now and give back to students and now making those connections forging those connections. That’s what I’ve been working on and I’m really thrilled to be doing that,” Grabowski said. Although it was hard for Gencarelli to give up the position, he has full confidence in Grabowski. “He is definitely, at this point here, absolutely the best person for the job. In the beginning I’m not sure that he was thrilled about the fact that he knew that it was coming. But as the time drew nearer he became more ready and not just more accepting. He’s taken on the mantle and I think he’s going to be great. I’m really happy that he’s here and is now the chair,” he said. Gencarelli’s one piece of advice is for Grabowski is “to be himself and make it his.” Gencarelli is looking forward to a year of new opportunities. “I’m most excited that I’ll have more time to do all of these other things that i never stopped doing but that I never had enough time and energy for,” he said. “I’m [the] editor of a journal. I go to seven conferences a year. I have been working on a book for a bunch of years and then I came up with a new book idea. That I kind of want to get started on. I just applied for sabbatical for not this academic year but for the next academic year. And I’m hoping I’ll get the sabbatical to work on that book. And I’m excited to see what happens now that I’m in the office as opposed to that office.” Aedan Roney, a junior communication major with a con-
Grabowski, the new chair of the Comm. department, is excited to usher in a new era of communication. MANHATTAN COLLEGE / COURTESY centration in media production and a minor in film studies, is a student of Grabowski’s. “I think he’s a great professor,” said Roney. “I think he has a genuine love and interest for what he’s teaching about. And he was always coming in to class more than prepared… and was always very quick to be helpful to anyone who needed it and just a very knowledgeable guy.” When asked about how he felt when he heard that Gencarelli was stepping down, Roney said, “ I was surprised at first because as long as I’ve been here and as long as the department has been around, Thom Gencarelli has been the chair. But when I found out it was Grabowski, I had no doubt that he was gonna be an excellent successor because like I was saying earlier, he was very
prepared when he always came to classes and he seems like he’s just got a drive and passion for what he’s teaching about.” As Grabowski steps into the position, he recognizes that the work he’s doing has an impact on the people he has been able to meet. “It’s really the students who want to learn that succeed and when they do and they come back and tell us about their accomplishments. That makes me incredibly proud. I feel like a proud parent in that respect. I mean I know I’m not their parent but I hope their parents are proud and I’m really proud of them,” he said.
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Features
THE QUADRANGLE
Voices on the Quad: Meet the New RAs
As students begin to file into campus, a new group of Residence Assistants are welcoming their new residents to campus. A new school year means these RA’s are assisting both freshman and returning students acclimate to campus and their new environments. The Quadrangle spoke with some RA’s to hear about their plans for the upcoming semester. Interviews compiled by Katie Henegen, Asst. Features Editor.
Gabby Kasper, Class of 2020 English and Philosophy Major, 6th Floor Lee What are you most looking forward to as your latest group of residents are getting settled into their new housing? I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to bring people together and to get to know my residents.
Michael Hackett, Class of 2020 Communications Major, Horan Hall What is the biggest triumph and/or struggle of being an RA? One of the main challenges of the RA position would be that it is essentially a 24/7 position. Even when you are off duty, you still need to be readily available to your residents as often as possible. At the end of the day, however, this position is one that is extremely rewarding as it will challenge you in ways you might not expect and allows you to step outside of your comfort zone and grow as an individual.
Jenn Bueti, Class of 2021 Special Education Major, Jasper 4th Floor What are you most looking forward to as your latest group of residents are getting settled into their new housing? I’m really excited to help my freshmen residents find their own piece of Manhattan College. Starting a new chapter can be difficult and I want to help guide them to be the best version of themselves.
Nadia Itani, Class of 2021 Civil Engineering, Horan 10th Floor What are you most looking forward to as your latest group of residents are getting settled into their new housing? I’m honestly most excited to meet all of my new residents and build a connection with them, whether that means being a mentor to them or just being a general resource to make their experience in the residence hall safe and comfortable. I’ve got to meet them all so far but the first step to building those connections is to remember all 76 of their names.
Sports
SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
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Intramural Sports Back for Another Year Shannon Gleba Staff Writer
Each year, hundreds of Manhattan College students participate in a number of different intramural sport leagues and tournaments organized by Student Engagement, and this academic year is no different. While a rumor spread across the student body about Quidditch, a sport from the Harry Potter series, making an appearance on campus, that is not the case for this semester. John Bennett, Executive Director of Student Engagement, said the idea for a Quidditch league has not yet come to the attention of Student Engagement for this semester, however he is open to the idea as the office organized a Quidditch tournament a number of years ago. “Quidditch a few years ago students wanted to do it, from Harry Potter. So, we said listen ‘if you have other students that want to do it, show us there is an interest and we have no problem putting something together for you,’” Bennett said. He continued, “So, they came back, essentially, with a petition of names that were interested in doing it, so we worked with athletics to reserve Gaelic Park and we looked up the rules and equipment needed and we had a Quidditch one day tournament on campus.” While Quidditch may not be making an appearance in Gaelic Park this semester, the most popular sports of the intramural program will be returning. “In terms of the sports and
leagues, for the most part they’ll be the same that we had in the past. Starting with flag football, signups are going on as we speak. We plan to have a few electronic gaming tournaments throughout the year like we have had in the past,” said Bennett. Deanna Hewlett, Recreation Coordinator, echoed those same sentiments, saying most of the changes to the intramural sports program came during her first year in the role of organizing the program. “Most of the changes really happened last year, I came in and revamped the program basically, I redid the structure of the program, I redid the structure of the staff by adding supervisors which are mainly upperclassmen staff who are over the officials and kind of added more structure to the program, the sports pretty much stayed the same,” said Hewlett. While the academic has just begun, intramural sports sign-ups are already underway for flag football, and sign-ups for soccer and volleyball will be following later in the semester. The sign-up process takes less than 5 minutes and are to be completed on IMLeagues. com. “In the fall, flag football will be first, volleyball and flag football will overlap each other, and then flag football will be over. Volleyball will be going on, and then soccer will start, and so soccer and volleyball will overlap each other. Volleyball will end, and just as volleyball ends, soccer should be going into playoffs. Then, soccer will end right before Thanksgiving Break,”
said Hewlett. Following a great first year at MC last year, Hewlett is looking to even further expand the intramural sports program. Hewlett said, “My goal for this year honestly is to expand all of our sports. For flag football, we only had 18 teams sign up, so that goal that me and my staff have set up is 25 teams, and out of those 25 teams we’d like to get anywhere from 4-6 of those teams be co-rec teams, we are trying to get more females interested because it is a sport both male and females can play.” Intramural sports are a great way for students to make new friends and have fun, and Student Engagement
encourages students from all years to join. Bennett said, ”It is such a great way to make new friends, and I say that to every student. It is one of, it not the best way on campus to make friends. 99% of the students that are playing do not have experience playing that sport in highschool or what have you, it sounds a lot more intimidating than it actually is when you show up to the field or what have you.” Kieran Schnur, Environmental Engineering master’s program student, said, “I played intramural sports all four years of my undergraduate career here at MC. It’s a great way to meet new people, play organized sports with your
friends, and is completely free.” Bennett also said to those hoping to bring a new sport to the program, “If we don’t have it, we are always happy to, if there is enough interest, to at least do a one day thing or a weekend thing, we’ve done that with ice hockey in the past, we’ve tried with equestrian in the past, so that sort of thing. I don’t think there is enough demand to have a full-blown Quidditch intramural league for an entire semester, but if students want to have it, it’s appropriate and it is something we’d be open to for sure.”
Students can choose from a wide variety of sports so there’s something for everyone. MANHATTAN COLLEGE/ COURTESY
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THE QUADRANGLE
Women’s Soccer Out-Dueled By Fordham In Battle Of The Bronx WS: MANHATTAN 0, FORDHAM 1 Pete Janny
Asst. Sports Editor Three games into the season, the Manhattan College women’s soccer team has yet to taste victory. After consecutive road losses to Hartford and Stony Brook, Manhattan (0-3) found themselves on the losing side of things again when the Fordham Rams (1-2) escaped Gaelic Park with a 1-0 victory over the Jaspers last Thursday night. In a game that featured no shortage of chances for both sides, it was the Rams who secured the decisive gamewinning goal in the 79th minute. Having tested Manhattan goalie Camryn Nici for much of the game, the Fordham goal was a long time coming and seemed like a likely blow to Manhattan’s morale. However, much to Manhattan’s credit, the game was kept interesting up until the final horn thanks to a multitude of chances for the Jaspers in the game’s closing minutes. The first half was characterized by strong defensive play from both teams with neither side able to get on the board in the first 45 minutes. It was a typical performance by Manhattan’s defensive corps as they kept Fordham’s offense scoreless despite the fact that Fordham fired off 14 first-half shots. The Rams first big chance of the night came in the 25th minute when Fordham midfielder Saige Bingman created some space for herself at the top of box before blasting a shot that was punched over the goal by Nici. The save was just one of ten in total on the night for Nici, who has been nothing short of spectacular for Manhattan in the opening three games of the season. The ten saves she recorded in this game represented a new personal best for the senior goalkeeper. Despite being outshot 14-3 in the first half, the Jaspers held their own in the first half thanks in large part to the efforts of junior Arianna Montefusco and sophomore Eve Montgomery. Montefusco, who missed the entire 2018 season due to injury, played a key role for Manhattan’s offense in the first half. The junior midfielder used her lethal foot-skills and passing ability early and often to keep the Fordham defense honest.
Junior Arianna Montefusco heads a ball on net against Fordham in search for the game-tying goal. GOJASPERS/ COURTESY If Montefusco played the role of ‘Batman’ in the first half for Manhattan, Montgomery was ‘Robin’. The sophomore midfielder provided a huge boost off the bench for Manhattan by using her speed and physicality to put pressure on Fordham’s back line. That was never more evident than in the 34th minute when Montgomery used a combination of speed and crisp dribbling to single-handedly start a counterattack for her team in which she dribbled several yards down the middle of the field before being eventually stopped by a sea of red shirts. Although she was ultimately stopped, the play was one of the best highlights of the half. Fordham threatened again with five minutes left in the half when senior Juliana Mascelli dribbled to the top edge of the box on the left side before unleashing a hard shot that was fisted to safety by Nici. All in all, Lawler was content with his team’s first-half showing. That’s not to say he didn’t think his offense could’ve been doing more to compliment his team’s defensive success. “It was a strong defensive effort against a good, hardworking Fordham team,” Lawler said during a half-time interview with Go Jaspers. “If we just keep the ball a little more and create some more chances, we’ll be right there in the end.” The beginning of the second half saw Fordham subject
Nici and the Manhattan defense to even further pressure. A little over a minute into the half, Fordham freshman Kristen Cocozza had a great chance to put her team on top when she was the recipient of a cross into the box from the left side. Her strike would end up nailing the top post before sailing out of bounds for a Manhattan goal kick. Unfortunately for Manhattan, Cocozza would end up changing the complexion of the game with her offensive creativity. In the 55th minute, Cocozza led Fordham’s offensive attack again when she sent a beautiful through ball to striker Amanda Miller, but her ensuing shot was corralled easily by Nici to end the threat. Eight minutes later, Cocozza was on the move again when she blasted a shot from just outside the box that was pushed over the net by Nici.On the offensive front, Manhattan was bolstered by the efforts of wingers Tia Painilainen and Bri Floyd. Both players linked up on two separate occasions in the second half that put their team on the verge of taking the first lead of the night. The first connection came in the 60th minute when Floyd sent in a cross from the right sideline to an open Painilainen at the top of the box. Unfortunately, the Finnish native’s ensuing shot went wide of the target, adding a another layer of
suspense in the search for the game-winning goal. Three minutes later, both players linked up again when Painilaien’s cross from the left side landed in the lower right corner of the box where Floyd was lingering. Due to the adverse angle at which she was standing and the rapid development of the play, Floyd ended up powering her one-time shot over the goal. Fordham would finally end the scoring drought in the 80th minute with Cocozza doing the honors. After a cross by Morgan Busacca from the right sideline and a deflection off of Margaret Roughley, Cocozza gained possession of the ball in the box and buried it to put the Rams on top for good. The goal was the first of the freshman’s collegiate career and the fact that it came in her first ever ‘Battle of the Bronx’ probably made it feel extra sweet. Although they would ultimately fail to score the equalizer, Manhattan played a commendable final ten minutes to make things interesting. The aftermath of Fordham’s go-ahead goal featured some of Manhattan’s best chances of the game. Montefusco was heavily involved with her team’s furious charge to the finish as she had two header attempts, each coming via set-piece kicks, that could’ve easily tied the score. Manhattan’s last chance came in the final minute of play when a Gemma Perez free-kick from
just shy of midfield led to a one-time shot at the top of the box from Bri DeLeo that was blocked by a wall of Fordham defenders before trickling out of bounds. A few Manhattan players pleaded to the referee that DeLeo’s shot had hit off the hand of a Fordham defender, but to no avail. Based on the visiting team’s significant advantages in both shots, 24-12, and corner kicks, 10-3, there’s no doubt they deserved to prevail in the end. To add insult to injury for Manhattan, Thursday’s night loss extended the program’s losing streak against the Rams to five games. Despite the undesirable result, Lawler was appreciative of both the energy of his players and the Manhattan fans. “Fordham’s a great team and it’s always a fun atmosphere when we play them,” Lawler said in a post-game interview with Go Jaspers. “The effort was fantastic and we are much further ahead than were last year at this point so the future is bright.” Next up for Manhattan is a home tilt against St. Francis Brooklyn on Friday, September 6th. Kick-off is set for 7 PM at Gaelic Park.