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Volume CI, Issue 7
Fatal Stabbing Occured Near Corner of Leo and RLC NEWS BRIEF
Caroline McCarthy Asst. Sports Editor
Report of Fatal Stabbing Near Campus Fatal stabbing near RLC and Leo Engineering did not involve any MC community members. JENN GUILBEAULT / COURTESY
New Dean Named to School of Continuing and Professional Studies Shannon Gleba Staff Writer
The Manhattan College School of Continuing and Professional Studies named Steven Goss, Ed.D., as the new dean at the start of January. Goss comes to MC after many years working in education; first as a high school teacher interested in art. “A lot of my focus was photography and video,” Goss said. “And when I was teaching in the classrooms, I was usually doing a mixture of wet lab and dry lab, like setting up a dark room but also using Photoshop. And so in 1998 or 1999 I was asking to go back to school
IN NEWS:
Get a glimpse of the Chem-E Research Lab on p. 3
to do art education. And I was looking at Teachers College at Columbia University. And they recommended a program to me that was more on the technology side. And since I was focusing a lot on that, I decided to try a program in instructional technology and design.” After teaching high school, he worked in many positions at schools like the Teachers College at Columbia University, the Bank Street College of Education, and New York University. At these institutions, Goss worked to develop many graduate degree programs. Once the position at MC opened up, Goss was very interested in taking on the new role. “It just seemed like a ripe
IN FEATURES: Meet Jasper PetOwner’s Furry Friends on p. 7
opportunity,” Goss said. “I mean, the idea of being a dean and being able to focus on the academic side a little bit more close to them, you know, doing that as a vice provost, but that opportunity was just exciting. And I’d like to wear a couple different hats.” He continued, “Also, I’ve been an adjunct for a long time. So the idea of working with adjunct faculty is always something that excites me, because I know you know, there’s a lot of work to do there, you sort of bringing that extra energy.”
__________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
One person was pronounced dead as a result of the assault near Leo Engineering building on Monday, Feb. 24. The incident reported that a 22-year-old male was stabbed in the neck at 4:30 p.m. at the address of 5869 Broadway. Brandon Almonte, the victim, was attacked by his coworker at the Riverdale Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram dealership. Manhattan College Students received a Jasper 911 alert reading, “A person has been assaulted near RLC and Leo. Stay away from the area. Stay indoors. More information to follow,” minutes after the attack at 4:50 p.m. Most students with classes in RLC and Leo were instructed by professors to stay home from class and avoid the scene while the New York Police Department responded. A second alert reading, “NYPD is on the scene. 1 person is in police custody,” was sent to students 20 minutes after the initial message to students, at 5:10 p.m. 53-year-old Jose Almodovar was taken into custody for repeatedly stabbing Almonte, after allegedly mistaking him for a customer in the restricted section of the dealership’s lot. According to an interview by the New York Daily News, Almonte was photographing vehicles to display on the company’s website. Minutes before the attack, he was returning a vehicle to the lot after bringing it to an off-site location for the shoot. According to the same re-
IN A&E:
Students perform at Coffee House on p. 8
port, Almodovar became angry when he saw Almonte park his vehicle in the restricted area, prompting an argument between the two. According to the police at the scene, the perpetrator identified himself as an employee of the dealership who usually worked at another outlet. In an interview with CBS New York, co-worker Alfred Millington described Almodovar as having a history of being confrontational. “I don’t know why they didn’t get rid of him a long time ago,” said Millington. Students received a third Jasper 911 email reading, “MC Alert. This incident is over and being handled by the NYPD,” at 5:44 p.m. The victim was transported to New York Presbyterian Allen Hospital and pronounced dead later that evening. Manhattan College students and faculty received a fourth email the day following the incident, providing more details than the original emergency alert. The email confirmed that both the alleged perpetrator and the victim were not members of the Manhattan College community. The email stated that Manhattan College students were witnesses to the event and cooperated with the NYPD. A memorial of roses now sits at the scene of the crime to remember Brandon Almonte. According to family members he was working at the dealership to save money for pilot school next summer. Almonte’s sister told CBS New York that the grieving family “wants justice for our family and for Brandon.”
IN SPORTS:
Men’s basketball pulls off a win on p. 10
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Opinons & Editorials THE QUADRANGLE LET T ER from The Editor the Quadrangle Volume CI, Issue 7 MARCH 3, 2020
The Editorial Board Gabriella DePinho Editor-in-Chief
Maria Thomas News Editor
Nicole Fitzsimmons Anna Woods Asst. News Editors
Alexa Schmidt Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor
Jilleen Barrett Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Christine Nappi Features Editor
Jessica McKenzie Asst. Features Editor
Pete Janny Sports Editor Managing Editor
Caroline McCarthy Asst. Sports Editor
C. Garrett Keidel Social Media Editor
Samantha Walla Production Manager
Brian Asare Photography Editor
Sophia Sakellariou Production Editor
Emily Hollar Asst. Photography Editor Asst. Production Editor
Kelly Kennedy Nicole Rodriguez Asst. Production Editors
Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Web Editors Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news 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
Hi readers! I hope you’re all doing well in the midst of the chaos of midterms. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of exams, work and a social life, but I hope you are able to find time for yourselves. Last week was a heavy letter to write, so I want to keep this one a bit lighter. However, with the incident outside of Leo and RLC, it’s hard not to have my mind on safety. While that incident was not related to Manhattan College, it still has left a number of people unsettled, especially considering the fairly recent shooting near Fenwicks and the OV incidents. Being responsible is important, managing your own risk is important, but we can’t always stop outside factors. Despite all of these incidents, I still feel safe on campus and in the surrounding area. In regards to what I think and how I feel about safety on campus, I want to keep this brief: it is important for both students and college administrators to engage in genuine and open dialogue about how to stay safe and how to make campus even safer if we want anything to improve.
In other news, I’m really excited for next week’s issue of The Quadrangle and I hope you are too. Next week is our special issue for the semester! We have a theme that we’re all excited for and we’ve already started working on our stories and our front page design. I think our theme will really connect with our readers and maybe even draw in some new readers. Special issues require a lot of work to pull together but we love doing them and we’re excited to make it happen. I hope you’re just as excited for special issue as we are!
Sincerely,
Gabriella DePinho
Editor-in-Chief
Sign up for our monthly newsletter by scanning the QR code. SUBMIT YOUR OWN LET T ER OR OP-ED Letters to the Editor or an op-ed may be submitted to thequad@manhattan.edu by Saturday at noon to be considered for publication. Profanity, vulgarity and hate will not be published. The Quadrangle reserves the right not to publish a letter.
News
MARCH 3, 2020
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MC Chem-E’s Conduct Research in Professional Cutting Edge Lab Samantha Walla Production Manager
Manhattan College chemical engineering students are being given the upperhand in the cosmetic field after the development of a new lab for graduate students. Samiul Amin, Ph.D, associate professor of chemical engineering, oversees the cosmetic lab. In 2018, after working over 20 years in Research and Development, or R&D, in the cosmetic industry, Amin joined Manhattan College as a professor. Formerly an Assistant Vice President at L’Oreal, Amin knew R&D not only for current products, but for the trajectory of the industry within sustainable and green technology. Because of his connections in the industry, Manhattan College has acquired equipment not found in any other university labs, including an automotive formulation platform. “Some of our equipment exceeds the capabilities of professional cosmetic companies,” Amin said, describing the advantage that Manhattan College students have when looking for jobs. The department has even linked a summer program in which professionals come to the college and par-
artist. I already went to makeup school twice before that. And I was like, ‘Okay, I need to kind of like combine what I know, in chemical engineering and in cosmetics, where can I get that?’” After a Google search, Manhattan College popped up and Davies decided to attend. It is Amin’s hope that Manhattan College will continue to draw international students as well as students from MIT, Cornell and Princeton, which are top producers of cosmetic engineers hired by larger companies. “You have literally anyone who’s anyone in the cosmetic industry in America, and that’s great,” Davies said. “So it’s possible to have a focus in cosmetics as a technical field.” Coming from a researchheavy undergraduate education, Davies is able to develop hands-on experience in her current project. “I experienced all the research that goes on on a daily basis, but I also felt like all we did there didn’t necessarily translate into real life,” Davies said. “It’s kind of like, okay, you’re saying all these things, but you’re not necessarily doing it. So what’s the point?” Here, we literally start from scratch. We test everything… It’s one thing for me to say, I
_________________________ “Here, we literally start from scratch,” said Aina Davies. “We’re literally making the formulations, we’re testing the performances, the factors, the properties of everything... It’s full circle, everything is happening in here.” _________________________ ticipate in a three day training course, part of which includes lab instruction led by students. Aina Davies began her master’s in chemical engineering in the spring of 2019 after earning her bachelor’s degree in Nigeria. “I got an internship in this oil and gas company, The Department for Petroleum Resources, which is the ministry for every oil company [in Nigeria],” Davies said. “And I think like two weeks in, I was frustrated. I knew I didn’t want to do it. I’ve always been into cosmetics because I’m a makeup
made a hair conditioner and it’s thick or it’s not so thick, and I think based on literature it’s going to do XYZ. We’re literally making the formulations, we’re testing the performances, the factors, the properties of everything. We’re having technical data that we can back from literature and from observation and from like the numbers that we’re seeing. So it’s full circle, everything is happening in here.” Davies has recently published a paper in the International Journal of Preventative Science and is working on a
The automative formulation platform is the centerpiece of the lab, outfitted with nearly a million dollars of equipment that many professional companies do not possess. JAMES FIORE / THE QUADRANGLE
Students focusing on cosmetic engineering within the chemical engineering program at Manhattan College learn to operate equipment that most engineers are exposed to on the job as the only university lab with such advanced machinery. JAMES FIORE / THE QUADRANGLE
second. The research that Davies is conducting is connecting the consistency of hair conditioner and its performance. In the R&D stage of product development, it is essential to relay consumer expectations to technical terms. “When you use shampoo on your hair, you say things like, ‘oh, why do I like the shampoo?’ It might be that it foams a lot, it makes my hair bouncy, it makes my hair feel silky... We have to be able to come up with ways to quantify like these terms. What is shine? Literally, shine is light bouncing off your
hair. So we have to give the formulation optical properties,” Davies said. In addition to sustainability, which is becoming a higher priority for companies when hiring recent graduates. Christina Raguso, a senior undergraduate chemical engineering student, is currently utilizing the lab to formulate sustainable hair conditioners. “In class, there is only so much to learn until you actually do it yourself,” Raguso said. “The cosmetic and biopharma lab is a place where students are able to take what we have
learned from the classroom and apply it. It is impossible to truly understand formulations until you have hand-on experience.” Raguso, like Davies, chose to focus on cosmetic engineering due to her love for makeup and skills in math and science, in addition to a recommendation from her grandfather, a Manhattan College alumnus. “Everything about the industry and what makeup has done for me and my confidence was what drove me to pursue __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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News
THE QUADRANGLE
Biden Wins Big in South Carolina, Steyer Ends Bid Before Super Tuesday Rose Brennan & Megan Dreher Senior Writers
This week was certainly one to remember for the eight remaining Democratic candidates. Complete with a debate, a primary and a campaign suspension from businessman Tom Steyer, South Carolina offered up quite a bit of a change before the upcoming Super Tuesday events. The week kicked off with a debate in Charleston, S.C., ahead of the state’s primary later that week. Seven candidates took the stage, while the eighth, Tulsi Gabbard, was once again not present. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is still polling first place nationally, received quite a bit of criticism from his fellow candidates, not unlike how the candidates treated previous frontrunner and former vice president Joe Biden in the first debates. He particularly received criticism for his recent comments about Fidel Castro, where he praised certain aspects of Castro’s regime in Cuba, such as his institution of a literacy program. This was former mayor Mi-
chael Bloomberg’s second debate. After his disastrous performance last week, he needed a miracle to bring up his ratings. And, unfortunately, one never came. But he did spend some time discussing Russian interference in Sanders’ campaign. “Vladimir Putin thinks that Donald Trump should be president of the United States. And that’s why Russia is helping you get elected, so you will lose to him,” Bloomberg said. Sen. Elizabeth Warren once again went after Bloomberg, calling attention to his alleged discrimination against pregnant women at his company. She said he allegedly told one of his pregnant employees to “kill it,” “it” being the fetus she was carrying. Bloomberg will not begin collecting delegates for the nomination until Super Tuesday on March 3. The debate served as a prelude to South Carolina’s primary, which took place on Feb. 29. Candidates were looking forward to the primary because it was the first state in which black voters made up a significant portion of voters. This was good news for
Biden, who won the primary in a landslide. Out of the 54 possible pledged delegates, Biden accrued 35 of them. The only other candidate to receive any delegates was Sanders, who placed second and received 13 delegates. Surprisingly, Steyer placed third in South Carolina, but still did not receive enough votes to garner a single delegate. He ended his presidential campaign later that night. Many attributed Steyer’s appeal to black voters to some of his policy positions. He is the only candidate that supports instituting reparations for slavery. Among the other candidates, former mayor Pete Buttigieg placed fourth, Warren placed fifth, Klobuchar placed sixth, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard placed seventh. Steyer’s recent withdrawal means only seven candidates remain for Super Tuesday. This will mark the first primary contest for Michael Bloomberg as a candidate, and includes large-population states such as California and Texas. There are 1,338 delegates at stake on Super Tuesday. Despite Biden’s sizable vic-
Out of the 54 possible pledged delegates, Biden accrued 35 of them in South Carolina.
SAMANTHA WALLA / THE QUADRANGLE tory in South Carolina, Sanders remains in first place for number of delegates heading into Super Tuesday. He is expected
to win 12 of the 14 Super Tuesday states. Editor’s Note: As of Sunday, March 1, the day of printing, it was reported that Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg is set to announce the suspension of his presidential campaign. Manhattan Caucus will cover this in its next edition which will be printed on March 10.
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[LEFT] Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders continues to surge ahead of other candidates in the polling numbers as of March 1. The next polling numbers will be reported after Super Tuesday on March 3. SAMANTHA WALLA / THE QUADRANGLE -----------------------------------------------------
News
MARCH 3, 2020
5
Students New Dean Named to School of Continuing and Prepare for Professional Studies Housing Lottery at Roommate Mixer __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Kelly Kennedy & Katherine Henehan Asst. Production Editor & Web Editor
As the housing lottery quickly approaches, Residence Life recently hosted a roommate mixer to allow current students to find compatible roommates and suitemates on Wed. Feb. 25. The recent roommate mixer took place in Kelly Commons from 8-9 p.m. and approximately 30 students were in attendance. The mixer was sectioned off by the students’ choice of dorm, making it easier for students to find others who will be interested in living in similar conditions. Residence Life was also available at this time to help students navigate the process. “The roommate mixer’s purpose is to give continuing residents and future residents the opportunity to mix and mingle and to match up in the roommate portal before the housing lottery,” Pierre Campell, assistant director of Residence Life said. Campbell continued. “This also gives students a chance to think about where they want to live considering that there are so many different floor plans. We just want to give the opportunity for students to ask questions so that we can be available as Residence Life.” Fiona Ruettimann, a junior, attended the mixer looking for a fourth suitemate. With already three people in a room, Ruettimann is hoping to find someone in order to get a fourperson suite in one of the two suite-style buildings, Lee or Horan Hall. “We’re looking for a fourth person who would be living with us in either Lee or Horan,” Ruttiemann said. “Just somebody quiet more or less who goes to bed around the same time as us.” Another student, freshman Kana Brajkovic, is also searching for potential roommates.
Brajkovic does not have many requirements, but like Ruettimann, she is also looking to stay in a suite-style in either Lee or Horan. “Honestly, I want someone who will be themself. I’m just looking for regular living characteristics like respect and trust,” Brajkovic said. Students were given a worksheet where they were able to fill out their own rooming preferences as well as take notes on different people they met throughout the night. There will be a second roommate mixer on Tuesday, March 3, for those who may not have been able to attend and are still searching for potential roommates and suitemates. It will be held in the same place as the previous mixer, in Kelly 4C. The housing portal will open with the priority lottery on March 10, and the second lottery will be posted after spring break. Without much time left to find roommates, Residence Life encourages those without roomates to act fast and attend the mixer while they still have a chance. Finding people to live with can be difficult, but Residence Life is always there to help and answer questions. The office of Residence Life is located in Thomas Hall 514, and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Those with additional questions or in need of help navigating the roommate selection process can always stop by in order to get the help they need. “We just want students to be able to have the opportunity for students to engage and interact with one another,” Campbell said. “Choosing a roommate can be a very difficult decision we want to try to make the process as easy as possible.” March 10th is the deadline to match with roommates for priority choice housing. You can match with roommates through the MyHousing portal. The priority housing lottery will begin March 11th.
The School of Continuing and Professional Studies caters mostly to older students on campus who are not on the regular course of undergraduate study, but also has some programming for younger students. One of the largest programs in the School is the Camino Program, which helps students whose first language isn’t English to earn an Associate’s Degree. “We have the Camino program, which is our associates program,” Goss said. “That’s what’s traditionally known as a bridge program. So it’s working with students, English second language, who you know, are looking to so they get 60 credits and then if they want, they can take those into Manhattan College or they can take them somewhere else.” There are also opportunities for students to earn a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree on two different tracks. “Then we have the Bachelor’s of organizational leadership,” Goss said. “And we have a master’s in organizational
leadership. And our master’s has two tracks. So we have a track, that’s just the organizational leadership side, which is much more of that. You know, this increasing leadership skills in this sort of whatever organization are and then we also have an allied health track.” Due to the number of adults in the workforce who are studying for a degree at the same time as working, the programs are often streamlined into 7 week courses, half the length of a typical course at MC. “So our programs we run our own schedule [...], we do a seven-week model,” Goss said. “So instead, students can take eight to 12 credits, first part of the semester, then the same second semester.” The courses are run in this way so non-traditional students can complete their degree in a more timely manner. “Professionals are oftentimes looking to skill up, you know, not doing a traditional pathway,” Goss said. “They know where they want to get back in this might mean a salary increase. This might mean you know, a promotion. And so being able to complete the program in a year or a year and a
half is much more beneficial.” Looking towards the future, Goss hopes to continue the success the programs the school has already established, but also work towards new goals, like expanding their portfolio of programs offered. In addition to offering a greater number of areas of study, Goss would also like to expand the online programming offered “I think a lot of colleges are thinking about this and are trying to better understand how to do it and an appropriate way is bringing more of that digital access to the college,” Goss said. “And, you know, we’re doing that right now with our programming.” He continued, “I think that the challenge will be is to think about, you know, how can we continue to do it in a way that supports our learners who are sometimes at a distance and do it in a way that where they still feel engaged to an institution, particularly one that has such a strong mission and thinking about inclusivity and respect and how those things look like in digital environment.”
New Equipment in Cosmetic Engineering Mimics Professional Lab __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 “Along with being able to understand what is being taught in class, the opportunities that come with this lab experience goes outside the walls of Leo and into the hands of huge cosmetic companies,” Raguso said. “Without handson lab and formulation experience, it becomes difficult to land a job in any type of research and development or innovation positions. Having the opportunity to work within the cosmetic lab under Dr. Amin enables students interested in the cosmetic industry to have that much better of a chance to be able to work alongside big companies including L’Oreal and Estee Lauder.” The centerpiece of the lab, an automated formulation deck, has six reactors that run simultaneously and independently of each other. The machine priori-
tizes mass customization and sustainability, which speak to the rapid developments in cosmetic development that continue to change the industry. “The frequency of people looking to use new products is literally increasing. So you need to be able to make products as quickly as the consumers hunger for it is increasing,” Davies said. “By hand is no longer the answer, like it’s no longer going to be enough because you want something that can literally overnight, formulate 6000 batches for you and they’re out to market the next day.” She continued. “The robot is literally the future. I don’t think it’s a trend. My first paper is very heavy on like, automated formulation and how a lot of companies should invest in it. And a lot of companies are really investing because the cosmetic industry, funny enough, prepares for trends really quietly. So it’s
kind of like, everybody’s crazy about sustainability right now, but it’s not exactly making all the big bucks. Companies will acquire this technology and expertise and then when the trend blows up, they are right on track.” The opportunity for Manhattan College students to not only experience working with this technology, but to become leaders within these advancements, puts them at a level that no other university graduates achieve. “My vision when it comes to cosmetic engineering is for Manhattan College to be internationally recognized,” Amin said. “Manhattan College students are hardworking, resilient and have a lot of grit. It’s all down to the students who are helping me build this program.”
Features
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THE QUADRANGLE
Voices from The Quad: Meet Madalyn Johnson Jessica McKenzie Asst. Features Editor
Madalyn Johnson, one of the two web editors of The Quadrangle, is a dedicated member of The Quad. As a current sophomore, Johnson often writes two to three articles a week. She is a communication major with a concentration in integrated marketing communications. She is also working toward a minor in digital arts and humanities. The Quadrangle: Where are you from? Madalyn Johnson: I’m from Marlboro, N.J. It’s a town in Monmouth County, which I very much love because we have close access to the beaches and it’s a small town and overall everyone is very nice. TQ: Why did you choose your major? MJ: Prior, I was set up to do public relations, which I thought I wouldn’t like at first because I wanted media production but I found what public relations is: it’s a certain type of storytelling. I like how [professors] teach us how to write and persuade an audience to buy products and get into whatever message they want to try to send that is positive, so I like that. When I [switched to] integrated marketing communications I thought it could help me get a look into the field of public relations knowing how to conduct surveys and focus groups and learn more about people and why they buy certain things and like certain products. I find that very inter-
esting. TQ: How did you become a member of The Quad? MJ: I started my freshman year fall semester, I was a quad scholar. I started as a staff writer and then Assistant Entertainment Editor and now currently Web Editor. TQ: What has been your favorite thing about being on The Quad? MJ: There’s so many things I’ve learned from The Quad. To be honest, I didn’t expect to get much learning experience out of it. I didn’t expect it to be much of a commitment. I’m actually very thankful it’s a big commitment, because it’s teaching me how to have time management skills between school work and working for The Quad. The Quad is something I truly like to do and I felt like that passion for writing has grown stronger since I joined. I like being able to talk to different types of people that have different backgrounds. I’ve written different stories like [last week I did a story on] Sister Norma. It was really interesting to hear what she had to say and being able to talk to the President of the school. I’ve talked to authors, I’ve gone to news events. I think [The Quad] teaches you how to write really fast in order for the people to have the news they deserve. [I’ve also learned] how to talk to other people that have shared experiences that are very different from mine. TQ: Describe your involvement around campus other than the quad. MJ: To be honest, The Quad
is the main part of my involvement here. It does take up a lot of time and I also want to ensure the work I’m putting into The Quad is good quality. I’ve lately tried to get into PRSSA, which is the student association for public relations practitioners. I did get involved in TV club my freshman year, which is back when I thought media production would be something I enjoyed but I found I much preferred writing and PR activities like PRSSA and The Quad. TQ: What is one thing you love about Manhattan College? MJ: When choosing Manhattan College, my other choices were schools that were very different, big state schools like Syracuse and Penn State. What made me choose Manhattan College was one of its biggest perks—being close to New York City. I’ve always had a dream of working in New York City and being someone that lives in Jersey, I would go but not as many times as I wished. Now I never get tired of going every single weekend, I love it and I love the atmosphere. I love how busy it is. I also like Riverdale itself. I like the Bronx neighborhood because it gives the essence of the city but suburbia as well and it’s a beautiful town in general to the houses and the community, the cafes that are nearby I love. And also I love the fact it’s a Catholic school because it’s very similar to the environment I was adjusted to back in high school. I love that we get to have mass here and we have the [chapel] which is really pretty.
Madalyn Johnson is a sophomore communication major who has been writing for The Quadrangle since her freshman year. MADALYN JOHNSON / THE QUADRANGLE TQ: What is one thing you would change about MC if you could? MJ: I do at times do wish the community was a little bigger. But at the same time, like getting to know the community in general. The communication community as well, such as WRCM, The Quadrangle, Scatterbomb and Players. You know, we all come together and we’re all really creative people, I like that. Another thing I would change is I kind of wish the school had more programs to invite more students. TQ: What would you tell incoming freshmen if you could? MJ: I would tell them that coming to college is very scary at first, it’s very cliche to say that, but it is very scary at first to try to meet new people. But it’s not really necessary to get
involved in many clubs and activities as possible, but just kind of, you know, introduce yourself to other people. I would say to attend the RA events. A lot of people think they’re not necessary to attend but they really introduce you to a lot of great people. When I first opened up in the school everyone was extremely nice. There wasn’t one person that kind of pushed me aside, so don’t be discouraged to join events that the RAs hold. Also, come to The Quadrangle meetings. We’re a club that is very inclusive and will welcome a lot of people despite their writing background.
Black History Month Celebrates Black Women in Greek Life
Jessica McKenzie Assst. Features Editor
The Multicultural Center hosted a question and answer panel featuring black women in Greek life to recognize Intersectionality Week, or the week between Black History Month and Women’s History Month. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, three women from historically black sororities, Janay Phillips-Wilson, Tamara Britt and Donna Joseph, Ph.D., were welcomed onto Manhattan College’s campus. Joseph is a graduate from University of Rochester and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, which was started at Howard University in 1908. She now works as a history teacher in Yonkers and is the president of the Graduate Chapter here in the Bronx. “My family immigrated to this country, so I don’t have a family lineage and Greek life.,” Joseph said. “So when I went to
college, I experienced racism and my parents couldn’t really support me in that.” Once she found Alpha Kappa Alpha, Joseph found the community she was looking for and got involved in outreach programs. She decided to stay at the University of Rochester despite racial prejudice. Britt is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, also started at Howard University in 1913. Originally from Brooklyn, she was exposed to Delta Sigma Theta at a very young age. The sorority hosted empowerment workshops and she was mentored by Deltas as a teenager. Phillips-Wilson is a member of Zeta Phi Beta, which began at Howard University in 1920. She discovered Greek Life at 16 years old. “My aunt worked with the NAACP,” Phillops-Wilson said. “At the time, I didn’t even know what the NAACP meant. However, going to the [NAACP] meetings with her, I happened to see all these other people
wearing certain colors. And I wanted to know about them.” She later went on a college tour provided by Omega Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc. After attending Morgan State University, she transferred to Borough of Manhattan Community College and joined Zeta Phi Beta in 1997. “I was seeing [members of sororities] do the work in the community, and that was when it stood out to me that this is something that I wanted to do,” Phillips-Wilson said. “For me, I was the first person in my family to become part of the organizations of the Panhellenic Council. It was something that I didn’t have someone to kind of guide me through. I had to do it on my own,” Phillips-Wilson said. Britt, on the other hand, discovered Greek Life while growing up in Brooklyn. “I was surrounded by women who seemed to have more than 24 hours in a day,” Britt said. “[They participated in]
service, sisterhood, politics, they did everything. I had no choice but to be great. That’s what they engendered in me. So I always knew I wanted to be a Delta. It was just a matter of when.” The women acknowledge the stereotypes of sorority life in college. A lot of people believe that black sororities and fraternities are elitists, but also that their focus is to party. “There is a social aspect to it,” Joseph said. “But I’m very clear when I’m having conversations with people that when we’re raising money that we do party, but we’re raising money so we can turn can give it back to the community through scholarship and service.” There are also many other ways in which women can get involved within their sorority. There are organizations such as mentoring, community service and fundraisers. “When you find like-minded women, you’re able to get a mentor or be a mentor to some-
one else,” Phillips-Wilson said. “So being able to give back or being able to learn from your sister Greeks is extremely wonderful.” Considering the conditions for African American students throughout the decades, black sororities are involved in organizations that assist them in reaching educational equality. Joseph, being an educator herself, believes that schools are still segregated in the opportunities they provide for students of different races. “We have a program right now, hashtag cat,” Joseph said. “It helps with the college admissions process because unfortunately, if [African American students] go to public school, [they] cannot trust that [faculty] are doing what they’re supposed to do for our students.” For more information about minority student opportunities in and outside of Greek Life, students should visit the Multicultural Center in Kelly Commons 3.03.
Features
MARCH 3, 2020
7
Furry Campus Friends: Jasper Pet-Owners Share their Experiences Lilliana Bifferato & Brian Asare Contributor & Photography Editor
Having a pet in college brings comfort to many students and often relieves their stress. While they need to go for walks, get fed, and be shown affection, these furry friends can help one get through a rough day of classes and work. Four students were willing to talk to The Quadrangle about their experiences and responsibilities that come with having a pet at Manhattan College.
Jeter the Cat Jeter is an 8-year-old orange and white fluffy cat who became an addition to Peter Halliday, Billy Simmon and their other roommates’ lives in November of last year. Before Jeter, they had a little dog named Charlotte, who later returned to her original home. Both Peter and Billy agreed they love having a pet around and feel that it definitely reduces their stress when they get to come home to a warm greeting from Jeter. Jeter was essentially brought home by a roommate one day without a lot of conversation, but was immediately welcomed to the home and has become an appreciated additional roommate. Jeter is a cat that pretty much takes care of himself. They felt that it was easy to balance schoolwork, going to classes and having a social life with having Jeter. His daily care routine only really involves cleaning the litter box every week or so and his food comes out with a timed feeding dispenser. Having Charlotte before required more care because she needed to be walked, but Jeter is an indoor cat, so he roams the house freely for exercise and is known to sleep for at least 16 hours a day. When the roommates have people over, Jeter gets extra attention and cuddles from guests being the social cat that he is. They find Jeter to be a great addition to the home.
Sydney the heeler dingo
red
Sydney is a 2-year old red heeler dingo mix that lives offcampus with his owner David
Beaver, a commuter student, who also has two cats that he is able to take care of without it impacting his academic work. Being responsible for anything can be pretty demanding, yet in particular a pet brings on challenges. “I wake up around 5 am every day and feed them, make a cup of coffee, then I change the litter for the cats, then I walk Sydney around the block,” Beaver said. “I usually get home around 3:00 to feed the animals again, clean the litter box and let Sydney out for a walk, and then I’m able to work on assignments until 10. I then clean the litter boxes again and let Sydney out one last time and they then join me on the couch to sleep while I continue doing work.” Beaver occasionally brings Sydney to campus with him, where the joy of having a pet is shared by others. “I usually bring my Sydney on campus when the weather is warm because he loves to come to campus,” Beaver said. “Usually, everyone who passes by falls in love with him and people who would normally pass by all stop to play with him. However, there are some people who are afraid of him, and I make sure that he’s on a leash at all times to make sure he doesn’t wander.” Among the benefits of having a pet companion, helping to deal with stressful circumstances is one of them. “When you have pets they truly get to know you, and they know the second you walk through the door whether you had a rough day or a great day,” Beaver said. “My pets are what makes my home complete, and seeing them when I get home relieves the stress that can come as the semester continues “
Max the English bulldog Max is an English bulldog that also lives off-campus with his commuter owner Jessica Ayala. Ayala’s experience with owning a pet, as well as her daily routine with one, differs from Beaver’s. “Balancing full-time schoolwork and taking care of my pet at the same time depends on my schedule and the amount of work I get, and if I have to stay
study for exams, but most of the time I can only take care of him at night,” Ayala said. “I’m glad I got parents, and little siblings, so they help me take care of him during the day, [but] if I’m not busy it’s all my responsibility. So he is never alone or abandoned.” Ayala finds that Max has a sixth sense of telling when something is wrong. “I don’t even know how dogs know, but they know when you’re stressed or having a bad day,” Ayala said. “Every time I am stressed or just not having a good day, he comes running to me, he wants me to pet him he starts sniffing me, sits between my legs, starts like rubbing his head in my leg or will just lay right next to me and even sleep in my room.” Beaver and Ayala are pleased with their experience of owning a pet, but as college students find they need to sacrifice their time to care for the pet. “Pets become like children, you’ll love them every day, you’ll do anything for them, they’ll always be there for you,” Beaver said. “But, they’re a lot of work and require great time management and scheduling to have them and still maintain school work.” Although there are many perks to owning a pet, Ayala suggests students really consider if they have the proper time commitment for one. “Owning a pet is like having a child and I don’t even know what it is like having a child, but I imagine it might be like this,” Ayala said. She continued. “Having a dog is the best thing ever, once you see how cute and adorable they are, I think you might not care about how expensive it is to own one. Also leaving dogs alone for a really long time feels like an eternity to them and they get sad and it affects them in many ways, so unless you have someone to help you then it’s fine, but I would say to really think about it,” Ayala said.
TOP; Max the English bulldog MIDDLE: Jeter the cat BOTTOM: Sydney the red heeler dingo. PHOTOS COURTESY OF PET OWNERS
Arts&E ntertainment
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THE QUADRANGLE
Coffee House: A Gathering of Friends in a Low Place Michevi Dufflart Senior Writer
Several music lovers kicked back in Hayden 100 this past Friday, Feb. 28 at the second Coffee House of the year. Known for its inviting and relaxed atmosphere, Coffee House is an event where students can enjoy and display musical talents in the company of friends. Coffee House was last seen in action on Feb. 12th when Joe Corrao, Chantal Flores and Erin McWilliams hosted a Beatles themed Jam Session. Tying the Jam Session and Coffee House together, these three hosts decided to kick off the Friday night show with a ukulele and piano rendition of “Let It Be.” The night was followed by covers of songs such as “Animals” by Neon Trees, “Two Headed Boy” by Neutral Milk Hotel and “Stitches” by Shawn Mendes. Some of the perfor-
mances even featured original music, including that of former Coffee House host and Manhattan College alumni, Alex Constantine. The appeal to play music at the event, whether it be a cover or an original stems from the friendly and laid back environment. Madeline LoBono, a somewhat regular Coffee House performer said, “I actually like performing, but I get nervous and this is a low-key environment. It’s nice to get over my nerves by coming here and practicing.” LoBono performed three songs with two other friends that evening, including throwbacks from Hannah Montana and One Direction. Popular instruments of the night included the acoustic guitar, ukulele, piano and electric guitar. Matt Hays, a first time returner to Coffee House was one acoustic guitar performer of the night. Hays first performed at Coffee House over
(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) Joe Corrao, Erin McWilliams, and Chantal Flores, the hosts of Coffee House, performing “Animals” by Neon Trees MICHEVI DUFFLART/ THE QUADRANGLE
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The Oscar Tangos dedicated a song to their very supportive friend, Marc LaRoche. MICHEVI DUFFLART/ THE QUADRANGLE
a year and a half ago and returned again on Friday to share four songs with the night’s crowd. The last of Hays’ songs was a duet with Constantine in which the two treated the crowd to Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” including the rarely performed third verse. Going forward, Hays will likely continue attending Coffee House and he looks forward to meeting more people and playing guitar for them. Other acoustic guitar performers of the night included the Oscar Tangos, a duo of two guitarists and a singer. The trio highly encouraged crowd participation for their three songs and received it in song chants, claps and laughs. One of their songs was even dedicated to their friend in the crowd, Marc LaRoche. LaRoche recorded the performance and appeared to be in good spirits throughout the ex-
perience. “I’m one of their number one supporters … and I try my best to come to all of their gigs … so to have them dedicate that to me was definitely an honor,” said LaRoche. Some songs played on the ukulele and piano included “Ripped Pants” by Spongebob Squarepants and “I hate u, I love u” by Gnash. Electric guitar performers also played a number of songs, some including “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry, “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by the Rolling Stones, and “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. Given the easy-going nature of the crowd, minor technical difficulties and mess ups were not problematic. In fact, hosts and members of the crowd were quick to find or offer solutions for technical difficulties. Mess ups were also met with supportive words and cheers encouraging performers to continue.
Lauren Spagnuol, a regular Coffee Houser who played ukulele while LoBono sang, admitted to messing up during her performance. However, she didn’t feel discouraged. “We were definitely able to get back into the swing of things, because [the crowd] was still supportive even if we messed up,” said Spagnuol. While the event was supposed to run for two hours, the crowd was enjoying themselves so much that the hosts let performances continue for another half an hour. Even after the extra half hour was over, students lingered to converse and joined in on some sing alongs for brief songs on the piano. Coffee House is looking for two new hosts for the coming year, and will return at the end of March to continue to be a welcoming environment for all performers.
Q Katie Hennegen Asst. Features Editor
MARCH 3, 2020
Arts & Entertainment
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Museum Panelists Bring Their Experiences to MC
Panelists are employed at museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the American Folk Art Museum and the Guggenheim Museum pictured above. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE
Alexa Schmidt A&E Editor
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Center for Career Development held an informational panel discussion for those interested in working in the museum field. The panel included three alumni from Manhattan College and an alum from Iona College, all of whom were able to discuss their experiences and how they arrived at their current position. Alexandra Revans was a communication major at MC, with a concentration in public relations. During her time here, she took a study abroad trip to London. “And I think at that point, something kind of turned in my brain, like I had always been super interested in the arts,” Revans said. “And I just wanted to learn more about museums as businesses, I guess, how they worked, what responsibility they had in society. And I came back to New York and applied for an internship in the Museum of Contemporary Art, which was awesome. I was there in the fall of my senior year and it turned into a fellowship. And that’s how I was introduced to like my current manager at the museum, where I got the job, essentially.” Revans describes her job’s function as a “mini marketing firm,” for all the various departments in the museum. She
works closely with the store retail team, the visitor experience department, as well as the curatorial team. Christopher Gorman is the director of communication and marketing at the American Folk Art Museum. He worked at HarperCollins right out of college, and then got hired as a security guard at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “Turned out that I fell in love with the place and applied for a job in the museum’s design department, which I got,” Gorman said. “And I was assistant to the head of the design department. So I worked with the museum’s graphic designers, architects, and curators on building exhibitions and generally presenting the Mets brand to a global audience” Gorman moved to audience development in public affairs, was recruited to become director of marketing and branding at the New York Public Library, and started working at the American Folk Art Museum about four months ago. Juliana Jaeger graduated MC in 2017, and works as the manager for volunteer services at the New York Botanical Gardens, located in the Bronx. Her specific role is to manage the 64 tour guides by coordinating their schedules and training them. She also coordinates with the exhibition department for the new exhibits. “I basically always knew I wanted to work in a museum,”
Jaeger said. “So I came here and I majored in history. And then, while I was here, I interned at a National Historic Site in Mount Vernon. And then so I graduated here in 2017, and then I graduated from NYU with my masters in museum studies in 2019.” Pedro Garcia’s love of history has led him to work in the museum industry for 15 years. He currently serves as the manager for staff development for training and ESOL at the Tenement Museum, and trains educators to make sure that they are able to lead the tours for the public. “We tell so many interesting stories, so we try to provide historical context to the stories,” Garcia said. “So for me it is a very, very rich experience to be able to give a different perspective to a story that we might think differently from movies or novels. So as we continue to develop our programs, and become fascinating every time we do something new. So that’s what really got me into there. And that’s what keeps me going there as well.” All of the panelists emphasized the more experience, the better. During their time in college, they all held internships, studied abroad, volunteered, and one even wrote for The Quadrangle. “I would just say intern as much as you can, and then get those letters of recommendation, because that’s how you
get jobs,” Jaeger said. Gorman attributes his career success to his education in the school of liberal arts. “Working in a museum is all about, especially when you’re working with curators, thinking critically about history about things that we’re wrestling with today,” Gorman said. “So the ability to be curious, but to think critically about what you’re told what you’re reading, what history has to teach us. That was essential, I think, to what I’m able to do now at the museum.” The museum industry is not limited just to those who are interested in art and history. There are jobs for conservation, engineering, graphic design, mathematics, curatorial education, computer science, horticulturalism, and more. The bigger the museum, the more jobs that are available. “What I say to people a lot is that there are jobs that always have openings and museums, but they are not necessarily the jobs that might seem the most obvious set of candidates,” Gorman said. “If you’re holding out for your dream job, you might be waiting a while, but if you’re willing to come in and do things like you know, stand in the galleries, and protect the artwork
or sweep the floors, or do some of the entry level jobs that may not be the job that you want to do the rest of your life but that’s a job in that Museum, then there probably can be something for you.” “The good news is that museums have to be open minded about how they hire and who they hire,” Garcia said. “I’d like to think that there will continue to be a trend where there are people who aim to study and focus their attention when they’re in school on the museum field and end up working in something. And then there are others who come to it another way.” Revans likes to describe museums as “spaces of education,” or places where people are constantly creating something and sharing it with others. “I quite like the idea of thinking about the public as users, because visitors come they visit and they leave,” Gorman said. “But I like to think that museums can be resources, the way that libraries can be.” There is more to a museum than what meets the eye, and those who are behind the scenes get the ultimate experience of sharing their work with others.
The Guggenheim Museum was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is located on 5th Ave. along Central Park on the upper East Side. MICHEVI DUFFLART / THE QUADRANGLE
Sports
10
THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan Ends Losing Streak With Victory Over Marist MB: MANHATTAN 65, MARIST 56 Whit Anderson Staff Writer
The Manhattan Jaspers(12-14, 8-9 MAAC) came into Wednesday night’s game against the Marist Red Foxes(7-19, 6-11 MAAC) needing to break their four-game losing streak that had come at a time when every team wants to be playing their best basketball ahead of the MAAC tournament. Hosting Marist at Draddy Gym, the Jaspers convincingly defeated the Red Foxes 65-56 in what might have been their most important win this year. From the start, it was clear the Jaspers were playing with a sense of urgency. On offense they continuously dumped the ball into Pauly Paulicap, where he used his post game to score the first five points for Manhattan. The lead then ballooned to 11-0 largely due to the Jaspers’ suffocating defense that caused Marist to turnover the ball and give up multiple transition baskets. Marist wasn’t helping themselves either. Their poor defensive rotations allowed the Jaspers to get easy layups inside, and their lackadaisical offensive execution caused them
to turn the ball over four times in the first six minutes. Tykei Greene and Elijah Buchanan capitalized on their giveaways with fastbreak layups to get it to 17-7 with 14:07 to go in the first half. Manhattan’s effort waned at times with Paulicap on the bench. This allowed sophomore Braden Bell to get open from three and from the midrange to bring the game within five. Bell was one of the few bright spots for Marist, giving them 20 points off the bench. He was the main catalyst for a 13-4 run against Manhattan that cut the Jaspers’ lead to 2120 with 6:30 remaining. Both teams reversed roles during this period, as it was now Marist giving their all on defense to force Manhattan turnovers. The Jaspers didn’t let this rattle them though. They quickly settled down and got back to their game plan that had worked so well at the beginning. Led by Paulicap, Manhattan made a concentrated effort to contest all of the Red Foxes’ shots in the final minutes of the half. Marist went from shooting well over 50% to just 44% with 3:21 left. During this 7-0 run for Manhattan, the Jaspers’ increased their rebounding margin to 14-9, which
factored heavily into getting a 28-20 lead. 22 of these Manhattan points came from inside the paint. After a corner three by Greene at the buzzer, the Jaspers went into halftime leading 34-22. Their 11 assists in the first 20 minutes demonstrated how well the ball was moving on offense. But what was even more impressive was their team defense, getting Marist down to 38 percent shooting and holding leading scorer Michael Cubbage to just two points. Paulicap and Greene led the Manhattan scoring attack with 11 and 9, respectively. The start of the second half told the same story for Manhattan. The sophomore trio of Greene, Buchanan, and Samir Stewart played textbook perimeter defense to make life incredibly difficult for the Marist guards. However, the Red Fox players weren’t having a great time either. Paulicap continued to be a menace in the rebounding department, grabbing multiple offensive boards even with as many as three Marist players trying to box him out at one time. His relentless motor extended the Manhattan lead to 41-27 at the 14:19 mark and he ended his night with 16 points and six rebounds.
Despite Marist’s best efforts, the Jaspers didn’t allow them to get the game within striking distance thanks to some big plays that halted the Red Foxes’ momentum. This was encapsulated by one play where Manhattan grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw to set up a Stewart corner three. The crowd went crazy just from the sheer determination of the Jaspers, and the lead expanded to 46-30. Speaking of Stewart, the sophomore guard had one of his best games of the season on both ends of the floor. His defense, like always, was impressive. But even more importantly, he looked as confident as ever shooting the basketball. He finished with 13 points on an efficient 2-of-3 shooting from the field and a 7-of-9 showing from the free throw line. When asked if this was a sign of things to come for Stewart, Manhattan head coach Steve Masiello explained that, “He’s a high level shooter. I think the big thing for him is shot selection. It’s one of the hardest things to teach in basketball and we forget he’s a sophomore because he’s playing so many minutes.” The rest of the game was more of the same story. Marist
did their best to stay in it, but the 30-23 Manhattan rebounding advantage and seven more team fouls of their own was too much to overcome. The Jaspers put in an effort that would give any opponent issues. The only negatives for Manhattan was their 18 turnovers and 25 percent shooting (4-of-16) from three. More experienced MAAC teams would’ve capitalized off these deficiencies. The win upped Manhattan’s total to 12 on the season. Furthermore, Manhattan’s losing streak finally ended with just three games left before the tournament. Masiello, however, wants to just take it one game at a time. “Tonight was all about Marist, and now it’s time to reset and focus on the next team up,” Masiello said. The Jaspers will play Monmouth (16-12, 10-7 MAAC) on Sunday at 2 p.m. at OceanFirst Bank Center in one of their last major road tests of the regular season.
The Jasper Dancers are Feeling the Love August Kissel Senior Writer
The Jasper Dancers recently took home another highranking award. This time, the team and head coach Kaitlyn Marquette received a proclamation from New York City Hall to commemorate the national championship title they received in the 2019 season. This proclamation was presented by councilman Andrew Cohen on Feb. 11. “I feel extremely honored to have been recognized on behalf of New York City,” Marquette said. “This proclamation is one of a kind, will help set us apart from other dance teams in the area, and will make our name and story heard outside of our small community here at Manhattan College. The proclamation recognizes our hard work and achievements that took place in order for us to become national champions. This award is continuing the fight to tell our story, and bring recognition to our program.”
New York City Hall has never given out a proclamation of this sort to any dance team, athletic team, or college in the New York City area. “This was the first time they were ever doing something like not just for a dance team, not just a dance team from Manhattan College, but for any group from college,” added Executive Director of Student Engagement John Bennett. “That was a really neat aspect. It also shows such a good relationship between the team, the school, and the city and the neighborhood too because it was the local councilman in that role. It’s all relationship building.” “There were news stations and media documenting the ceremony which made me so proud knowing that our program is gaining recognition,” Marquette said. “It was a very surreal moment to be standing there and an overwhelming sense of pride filled the room. John Bennett, Dr. Saterlee and Rob Walsh stood beside me as councilman Andrew Cohen presented the proclamation.”
Rob Walsh, senior advisor for Strategic Partnerships, used to work for New York City Hall and was able to make this connection for the College and the dance team. After receiving the proclamation from City Hall, the Jasper Dancers had their national championship banner hung in Draddy Gymnasium. Prior to the men’s basketball game against Canisius on Feb. 23rd, Marquette surprised the team with the banner’s unveiling. “When they revealed the banner, I was so overwhelmed with a feeling of pride for finally seeing our hard work on display,” Madeline Donohue, a junior member of the team said. The banner symbolizes not only the accomplishment in 2019, but also the dance team’s fight for recognition and respect. At halftime of the game, the senior members of the Jasper Dancers were honored alongside the graduating members of the Cheer Team and the Pep Band. Like many others, Walshe was proud to see the
team honored to the extent they were. “Anytime a College has a team of ‘National Champions’, they should be recognized for their accomplishment,” said Walsh. Being honored at City Hall and now having that big, bright, beautiful banner up in the rafters of Draddy is very special. We should all be proud of the Jasper Dancers and root them on in April to bring home another big victory.” said Walsh. These recent tributes highlight the success of the Jasper Dancers and keeps this year’s team enthusiastic about their upcoming competition season. “Because of this (proclamation), this year’s team is working just as hard, if not harder to make sure we live up to expectations, and the reputation we have created for ourselves,” Marquette said. With this in mind, The Jasper Dancers traveled to UDA’s Regional Dance Competition on Feb. 16, where they placed first in Hip Hop and third in Jazz.
The Jasper Dancers not only strive to uphold their previous accomplishment, but are also now competing against themselves in their fight to the top in 2020. The rise of the program has not only captivated the community, but also the members themselves. “This has been an amazing year for the Jasper Dancer program,” said Draya Fletcher, a senior on the team. “Coming into the team freshman year, I never thought this would be the legacy that I would leave behind. A national title, a New York City Hall proclamation, and a banner hanging in Draddy. It all seems so surreal. This title and these recognitions means that our program is growing and will continue to grow with the support of the community and the dedication of the dancers who have a name to live up to. This is just the start for our program and I am beyond excited to see how the program continues to grow long after I have graduated.”
Sports
FEBRUARY 25, 2020
11
Catching up With Emma Bedeker Alexa Schmidt A&E Editor
Originally from Ottawa, Illinois, senior basketball player Emma Bedeker was surprised with a full scholarship for her last semester at Manhattan College. The Women’s Basketball team posted a video of the celebration of the news on their Instagram that soon went viral. While Bedeker has endured many injuries, she has dedicated herself to being a leader on and off the court. As a finance and economics major, she is currently applying for sports management programs at Columbia, Georgetown and Boston College, and hopes to hear back soon. The Quadrangle had the chance to sit down with Bedeker and hear about her experiences at MC. So how long have you been playing basketball? I’ve been playing basketball since I was about 10-years-old; so like, fifth or sixth grade. So obviously I played throughout high school, college, played travel basketball, and then I ended up here at Manhattan college four years ago. So it’s been an amazing experience. What made you start playing the sport? My dad actually played basketball in college at Northern Illinois. My dad and I are super close. And so that was kind of how we started to bond with sports and then I just kind of fell in love with it and the rest is history. What made you decide to come to Manhattan College? Long story short my intention always was to play basketball in college, but I got a bunch of injuries. At the end of my senior year, I had a stress fracture in my back but I was like, you know what, ‘I’m just going to go to college’. When I graduated high school in May [2016], I was already enrolled in Michigan State, had my roommate, we were going to join a sorority, and then it just hit me. I had never gone more than like two weeks without playing basketball and it had been three months. I was like, ‘Oh my god’,I can’t imagine going to college without it [basketball], especially because all my
high school friends are playing in college. So I honestly just started reaching out to coaches all over. I’ve always loved the East Coast and New York. So I reached out to Heather Vulin, our head coach, and actually she just gotten hired at the end of May, so I just kept emailing her and finally she invited me out for a little tryout. I came here and I instantly just fell in love, specifically with the proximity to New York City as well as the campus and the coaches. It was just a real connection. I instantly just knew I could see myself here. She offered me a preferred walk-on spot. She gave me a couple of weeks to think about it. Two weeks prior to that I didn’t even know this place existed. I told my parents and I’ve always been very independent, and my parents have always supported me. And then thankfully, I don’t have one bad thing to say about my four years as it’s been absolutely amazing. Did you walk into this season with any goals for yourself and your teammates? Obviously one of our main goals as a team is to be MAAC Champions. We definitely have all the pieces to the puzzle. For myself, actually, last year, I had my second major concussion in college. So I just had so many issues from that, that my doctors actually advised me not to do contact this year. My goal for myself, knowing that I wasn’t going to be playing, was just focusing on being a leader, primarily on the court, but also off the court as well. So definitely the two major goals were to be MAAC champions and to just really step into a stronger leadership role. And how do you feel about the team’s performance to date? This is probably the best we’ve done in my four years here. We definitely have had our ups and downs. But with that being said, we are slowly coming together. All of our games have been extremely close, so I definitely think we’re moving in the right direction. And we have incredible team chemistry so that’s not an issue whatsoever. I truthfully think we have a very strong chance of winning. And what has been your favorite memory?
Personally, I think my favorite memory was when I got offered my scholarship because I was so shocked. But as a team, I honestly have to say I’ve had so many good ones. But to date my sophomore year we went out to Cal Berkeley for Thanksgiving tournament, and it was probably the most fun. It was totally different and we played at such a nice school and great arena. That probably sticks out in my mind, but we’ve had so many great close wins and comebacks. Yeah, too many to name but those are probably the top two. Do you guys have any pregame rituals that are superstitious? As a team, we always have the same warm up. After our pregame talk, we always pray, being in a Lasallian school. Also we always watch a highlight video from the game before so that kind of gets everyone pumped up. You’ve faced multiple injuries. So how have you faced those disappointing times? Coming into my freshman year, I knew as a freshman I probably was not going to play, but literally right away in October, I broke my nose and I got a concussion. I was out for a few months and that definitely was hard as a freshman to be missing class. Once again, I have great teammates so the transition was so easy. Sophomore year I came back and then junior year I thought that was the year I would finally get a few minutes. I was super excited for junior year so when the concussion happened it definitely was so hard especially because I didn’t think it was going to be that bad. And then I had symptoms until like last Spring. I’m a very outgoing person and I didn’t want to do anything. After going through all that and the struggles in the classroom and talking with doctors, I was like, it’s just not worth it. Through it all, having such incredible teammates and a coaching staff always asking how I was, really made me feel cared about and it was no question in my mind for my senior year that I still wanted to be part of the team in one way or another. A lot of your teammates and coaches have described you as
Emma continues to be a leader here at Manhattan College, both on and off the court. GO JASPERS / COURTESY the heart and soul of the team, so how does that make you feel? What do you attribute that to? That makes me feel great. I love them all. Truthfully, that’s what I try to bring. I am a very, outgoing positive person. I’m realistic, sometimes we are doing bad or things aren’t going well, but I really try and focus on always bringing energy and positivity. Especially for our underclassmen, I know my first two years, even though I had the time of my life, I just remember exhaustion. I feel like I know what they’re going through. I’m just so used to it now that I try and be there for them on and off the court. You were surprised with a full scholarship this semester. Can you describe those emotions? Coming in as a walk on, that was always my goal. But obviously the way things worked out, after my junior year, I was like ‘okay no, that definitely is not going to happen at all’. Obviously, I still wanted to stay on the team. That day we had normal practice. I didn’t think
anything of it. And our coach started describing this one player and we had already gone through the entire scouting report so I was like, ‘this is a little weird’. And then she said my name. Everyone was like, you didn’t even seem fazed. First of all, I didn’t even see my picture pop up. But then, second of all, I was just, I honestly had no emotion at that moment, just because I was so completely blindsided. I literally just kind of had no emotion. But obviously, a couple hours later, I was like, ‘Oh my god’. I’m just so thankful to my coaches because I just feel like it shows that they have seen all the hard work I’ve put in and how I do try and be a good teammate. So while I wasn’t able to play basketball physically on the court, I feel like I’ve brought as much as I can in other areas. To give me that, I mean, I’m so thankful for them, the Athletic Department, Marianne [Reilly], and everyone. It definitely was like the cherry on top.
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Women’s Basketball Beats Fairfield on Senior Day WBB: MANHATTAN 51, FAIRFIELD 38
Julie Hoier made her way past Fairfield players to go for a shot. The Jaspers beat Fairfield, making for an exciting Senior Night for Women’s Basketball GO JASPERS / COURTESY
Pete Janny Sports Editor
The Lady Jaspers are surging ahead at the right time. In a season characterized by volatility, the team has finally found some stability ahead of the postseason. Manhattan made one of their loudest statements of the season with a 51-38 triumph over Fairfield (13-14, 10-8 MAAC) this past Saturday at Draddy Gym for Senior Day. Coming off two important wins against Canisius and Niagara in Western New York, Manhattan was feeling as confident as ever. The catalyst of the team’s resurgence was junior Courtney Warley, the latest MAAC Player of the Week who averaged a stellar 22 points-pergame over the two games in Upstate New York. This inspiring stretch of play from Warley was going to need to continue if Manhattan wanted to avenge their 87-47 loss to the Stags back on Jan. 23rd. If there was ever an opportune time to play the formidable Stags, it was now. The third-place Stags were coming off back-to-back losses to Marist and Rider in which they were outscored by 38 points across the two games. Luck-
ily for Manhattan, Fairfield’s rust was still intact on Saturday, empowering Manhattan to a 51-38 win. The visitors’ struggles were highlighted by a 27 percent shooting clip that translated to a season-low mark in points. And, in case you were wondering, Warley was once again in prime form, registering 20 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. After having success with taller lineups in Western New York, head coach Heather Vulin elected to go with a bigger lineup again in hopes of overwhelming Fairfield down low. Julie Hoier, Tuuli Menna, and Warley were all featured in the starting lineup, which mainly benefitted Manhattan from a defensive standpoint. The Stags misfired on six of their first seven shots, allowing Manhattan to jump out to an 11-4 lead after a three from freshman Emily LaPointe with two minutes left in the first quarter. This slow start from Fairfield presented an opportunity for Manhattan to create some separation, but the Jaspers’ offense wasn’t too much better. Manhattan only shot 25 percent in the first quarter on their way to securing an 11-9 advantage after the opening ten minutes of play.
The second quarter started out with Warley terrorizing the Stags with her imposing style of play. She accounted for Manhattan’s first three baskets of the stanza with her jumper at 6:04 regaining a lead for the Jaspers at 17-15. Warley’s improved off-ball movement has been a big reason why she has been able to dominate as of late. Another contributing factor has been the unselfish play of her teammates, who have prioritized getting her the ball throughout her hot streak. “She’s playing with confidence, but the team is doing an excellent job of getting her the ball,” Vulin said of Warley’s run of dominance. When speaking on her success, Warley deflected the praise to her teammates. “We’ve been emphasizing being really aggressive so I’ve just been trying to take the open shot when I have it,” Warley said. “The guards are finding me really well so without that it wouldn’t be possible.” The second quarter provided a fresh start for Fairfield. Despite presenting minimal threat from three, the Stags were able to get some good looks for top scorers Katie Armstrong and Lou Lopez-Senechal. Both
players made an impact in the mid-range territory, showing off soft shooting touches uncharacteristic of players of their height. A jumper and a layup from Armstrong in the closing minutes of the second quarter captured am 23-19 lead for Fairfield. The Stags would finish the half strong to take a 25-24 lead heading into the break. Predictably, the first half was characterized by fundamental offensive execution from both teams with each side only hitting one three. The struggles from three were hardly surprising given both teams entered the game hovering around 30 percent shooting from the field. The arrival of the third quarter marked the beginning of the end for Fairfield. The Stags shot a miserable 18 percent (2-of-14) from the field in the quarter and were outscored 17-6. After only turning the ball over six times in the first half, the Stags coughed it up five times in the third quarter alone. Manhattan’s success on defense in the quarter began to rub off on the offense. Led by LaPointe, Manhattan started playing at a faster pace that caused problems for the Fairfield defense. A three by
LaPointe with 37 seconds left in the third put Manhattan in the driver’s seat up 41-31 heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the freshman from Staten Island refused to go away. LaPointe opened the quarter with an aggressive offensive rebound before finishing off the second-chance opportunity to stretch Manhattan’s lead to 43-31. LaPointe departed with 18 points and six rebounds. When reflecting on LaPointe’s performance, Vulin was most proud of her tenacity on the boards. “The two offensive rebounds she had got me excited,” Vulin said of LaPointe. The lead would grow to as much as 15 following a free throw by Warley with just under two minutes left. The Jaspers cruised to the finish in what was one of their most complete performances of the season. “This is a great win over a great program,” Vulin said. “I’m incredibly proud of the performance.” Manhattan returns to Draddy for their regular-season finale on Thursday, Mar. 5 to face the Monmouth Hawks. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.