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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume CII, Issue 3
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NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
One Manhattan Office: OnCampus Infection Rate Remains below 1% Anna Woods
Asst. News and Features Editor
Remembering 9/11 On the 19th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center, MC community members placed flags on the quadrangle in rememberance. DEIDRE HEAVY / THE QUADRANGLE
Sigma Delta Tau Elects VP of Diversity and Inclusion Maria Thomas News Editor
In response to the growing momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement and national reckoning with systemic racism in America, Manhattan College’s chapter of Sigma Delta Tau has instituted a new diversity and inclusion committee. The committee is headed by Senior Nicole Nunez, vice president of diversity and inclusion. Junior Gabi Panassol is the assistant to Nunez. Two other sisters -- Jilleen Barret and Molly Prior -- are also on the committee, consisting of four sisters total. With the creation of a new position comes a trial period in which responsibilities are still being established. Nunez has been figuring out the logistics
of her position with each passing day. “My position is a new one to our chapter so I am in an interesting position where I get to write my own job description,” Nunez said. “But, in its most basic description, my job is to foster a diverse and inclusive chapter for women of all backgrounds to feel comfortable and included.” Panassol has been a member of the sorority for a year, after rushing last August. She recounted how the sorority sent out an email at the start of the national BLM protests making their support for the movement clear. Panassol felt the email was not enough, and did not want the sorority to engage in performative activism. “I spoke out in our group chat being like, I don’t think this is enough because I feel like it’s a lot of saying and not
IN FEATURES: How Students feel Voices on the about the return to Quad are back on p. 7 school on p. 5
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a lot of doing,” Panassol said. “And then Ireland [Twiggs] came to talk to me. We had a great conversation, she listened to my ideas, and I could definitely see that she wanted to be more than what we are now.” As for now, Panassol simply assists Nunez in any way possible. “If she asks me to do something, I’ll do it for her. It’s still very new, so we’re both kind of like, we don’t know exactly what to do,” she said. “But I just help her out when she needs it and I kind of shadow her.” The first thing the diversity committee has pioneered since their creation is a “Diversity Inclusion Media Club” within the sorority. “Nicole or me or any other __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
On Sept. 12 the One Manhattan office sent an email to the Manhattan College community with updates regarding news that there were “no recorded positive test results on campus during the week of September 3-9.” The email also included more information regarding the rate of infection, as well as adding a new guideline to testing policies. Since Aug. 13, there have only been three positive cases out of the 1,628 tests done on campus. The email goes on to add that “one additional individual who was on campus also submitted a positive test result from an off-campus test site” and every individual has been following proper isolation protocol according to the CDC and Department of Health guidelines. As of Thursday, Sept. 10, the current positive test rate on campus is 0.18% while the positive test rate for New York City as a whole was 0.7%. Additionally, the college ended its second week of random testing. The steering committee also used the email to introduce the “Manhattan College COVID-19 Dashboard,” a new way to access weekly updates of testing and those in quarantine. The Manhattan College COVID-19 Dashboard includes information regarding the number of students in quarantine, the number of tests done on campus, and the number of positive individuals. However,
IN A&E:
Players are back on p. 8
there is an asterisk that states “*total number of positives is only reported here for individuals that are on-campus or have accessed on-campus resources. These individuals may or may not have used onsite testing.” The email also included information on hygiene stations around campus. Due to “the unfortunate rampant theft of disposable face masks,” they will no longer be replenished in those stations. However, hand sanitizer buckets will continue to be replenished. Additionally, “the One Manhattan office will be conducting a survey of other areas on campus where we can make disposable face masks available to the Manhattan College community.” Students and faculty members are still required to complete the COVID-19 Daily Symptom Tracker. However, the college has implemented new “orange passes” to the tracker. These passes “indicate that an individual is not in compliance with the College’s testing policies for campus access, or has chosen to work or attend classes remotely.” Orange passes bar students and employees from visiting campus until their COVID-19 test results have been submitted. The committee included links to two virtual training sessions next. The email said that “these sessions will include information about how to guide employees and students during the semester.” The sessions will be held on Tuesday. Sept. 15 at 1 p.m. and Friday, Sept, 18. at 10 a.m.
IN SPORTS:
MAAC 40th Anniversary: Rowing on p. 12
Opinions & Editorials
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the Quadrangle Volume CII, Issue 3 September 15, 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 Pete Janny Sports Editor Managing Editor C. Garrett Keidel Social Media Editor Brian Asare Photography Editor
Whit Anderson Asst. Sports Editor Samantha Walla Production Manager Emily Hollar Asst. Photography Editor Asst. Production Editor
Kelly Kennedy Nicole Rodriguez Asst. Production Editor 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
THE QUADRANGLE
LET T ER from The Editor Hi readers, Last week was national suicide prevention week. Did you have any clue? To me, issues of mental health (including but not limited to suicide awareness) are incredibly important and dear to me. And I say this year in and year out: as a college, we do not talk about it enough. This year in particular, the silence about mental health and suicide awareness has felt incredibly loud. The coronavirus pandemic has not been easy for anyone, especially not for people with histories of mental health issues. However, the pandemic has hit everyone hard, and it’s hit everyone - with or without mental health issues - in unique ways. No matter who you are, you are not immune to feeling overwhelmed to experiencing grief, to finding yourself struggling. We’re all weathering the same storm right now. Be compassionate with one another. Reach out to your friends and actually ask them how they’re doing. Check in with yourself. Do more for your own mental health than you ever have before and do more for others. These times are difficult and a little love can go a long way, no matter what people are facing. It is a privilege to have a platform, to have readers who pick up the paper or check out or website and look at what I have to say in these letters. Our staff is aware of the privilege in these pages, which you will find evident in the next three headlines. These opinion-editorial pieces cover a wide range of topics and all say important things. I highly recommend you read them. I also encourage you to send us your thoughts, to write me a letter, to write a reported opinion piece. These pages are for the entire Manhattan College community, so let us hear your voice.
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.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
Opinions & Editorials
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This Campus Needs a Nutritionist Katie Heneghan Web Editor
When I entered my sophomore year at Manhattan, I had the worst flare-up of my plethora of health issues I had in years. I could go on and on about my diagnosis, but what’s important is that I am a chronically ill college student in need of nutritional support, given that food is a trigger of mine for pain. I am not alone. I know dozens of people who require special nutritional accommodations that go far beyond allergies. At the beginning of last year, the campus dietician helped me navigate the dining hall with my various restrictions. My diagnosis means that it’s not so simple to say I have a direct allergy. I needed help navigating the nitty-gritty ingredients of what I was putting into my body. This was virtually impossible to do alone, and if I sought out outside help from a doctor or dietician, they wouldn’t have direct access to where I was eating three meals a day: the dining hall. The dietician helped me through one of the worst pain flare-ups I have ever had -- not only nutritionally, but emotion-
ally, through the difficulties of being ill in college. The dietician was also the only person on campus to ever address the difficulties of having an eating disorder on a college campus. If I did not have that nutritional and health support, I do not know if I would’ve been able to complete my first-semester last year. Having someone I could talk to about my health issues, as well as providing nutritional support, was priceless for me. Having a nutritionist on campus not only validated my struggles but also provided me with the tools to heal and find ways to control my pain. Not only does a campus dietitian provide nutritional support, but they are also specially trained to help those struggling with eating disorders. So what’s the point? Why bring this up now? In a response to a question The Quadrangle sent to dining services for another story, The Quadrangle has learned that Manhattan College will not have a campus nutritionist this year, a change that comes as a result of Aramark’s service. Dining Services informed The Quadrangle that instead of a campus nutritionist, “guests can ask a nutrition question from our network of dietitians at askthe-
dietitian@aramark.com.” Dining services also told The Quadrangle, “Once it’s safe to do so, we will leverage our network of talented dietitians to hold in-person tabling events designed to provide additional information about how Aramark can support the dietary needs of the Manhattan College community.” So why should the college care? Why is the lack of a campus nutritionist an issue? Because eating disorders have the highest rate of mortality of any mental illness. College years are when people are most at risk to develop an eating disorder. Some may argue that the Counseling Center is intended to treat eating disorders on campus, but someone with true knowledge and experience in this realm knows that it goes well beyond counseling. Navigating the intimidating world of food with an eating disorder requires much more than standard counseling. Nutritional support to make sure that students are nourished and safe, while in recovery, is something that a counselor cannot provide. Especially during a pandemic, students suffering from an eating disorder, or even those without previous disor-
dered habits, may feel especially vulnerable, and feel the need to control. This is what fuels eating disorders. Now more than ever, we need trained staff in our dining halls to help students navigate food in college and the stressors they may feel around it. Additionally, athletes on campus are adjusting to their new revised training regiments, meaning different nutritional needs. In a study conducted by the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), over 1/3 of female Division 1 athletes reported symptoms and behaviors of Anorexia nervosa. A campus nutritionist plays a pinnacle role in identifying and addressing these possible stressors, warning signs, and behaviors for student-athletes. Nutritionists, specifically a campus nutritionist, are trained and educated on how to address someone with an eating disorder and how to navigate the intimidating world of a dining hall with an eating disorder. Speaking to someone with an eating disorder about food and their diet is a trained skill. The campus nutritionist knew how to both address my illness as well as my disordered eating habits in a way to make me feel safe and healthy. I know I am not alone in my need for
that kind of support. Having someone on campus to validate my pain and walk me through a healing process was priceless. Additionally, nutritional counseling comes at a hefty cost. Not every student can afford to seek outside counseling for nutrition, especially given the financial impact of COVID-19 on many families. This gives students yet another reason to not seek out help. If I hadn’t sought help on-campus last year, I would be in a very different situation health-wise then I am now. The benefits of having a strong nutritional support system on campus are priceless. Nutritional counseling goes so far beyond what you put on your plate in Lockes. The health and wellbeing of all students An allergy-friendly station isn’t inclusive of all health issues and food restrictions. An allergy-friendly station cannot replace the nutritional support needed to treat an eating disorder. An allergy-friendly station cannot replace an ally on campus.
Why You Should Support BlackOwned Businesses Jilleen Barrett
Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that the largest civil rights movement of the century is happening right now. Names such as Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery were trending online as people learned their stories. In May, people from around the world saw footage of the brutal killing of George Floyd. These events sparked massive Black Lives Matter protests as many have become more aware of the injustices many Black Americans face in the US. Many have wondered what they can do to fight for and support the Black community. Many have attended protests, signed petitions, and used social media to show their solidarity. Others have read books on racism or made a point to watch
films directed by Black people. One small trend that I’ve noticed in particular is shopping from Black-owned businesses. In fact, a friend of mine recently gifted me with a face mask from a small Black-owned business that she follows on Instagram. You wouldn’t think that buying from a Black-owned business would have an effect on anything. That is likely because many of us have grown accustomed to shopping from bigger corporations, which usually consider customers as statistics rather than people. But shopping from a Blackowned business can do so much more for you and its owner than it seems. Many Black-owned businesses are small businesses, too. It’s generally smart to shop small – it supports the economy on a more local level and it helps individual people instead of large corporations. Products from small businesses also
tend to have more personal flair to them. When I received my mask, I looked at how different it was from all the other masks I already had. This mask was made by someone who has devoted their time and effort to making something that would protect the person who wore it and others. It wasn’t just a manufactured piece of material that came from some corporate factory. The fact that it was made by a person of color, however, is important because of the racial wealth gap. The racial wealth gap is the difference between how much money white people make versus how much people of color make per year. It might seem unbelievable that we would have such a problem in 2020, but it’s an issue that has slowly developed for decades. To give some perspective on just how large the gap is, the net worth for the average white
family in 2016 was almost ten times that of an average Black family. With such a huge gap in mind, there should be no question that buying from Blackowned businesses when possible is simply the right thing to do. Additionally, it forces larger companies to become more inclusive. Brands like Gucci, which was under fire in 2019 for their black wool balaclava jumper, which many saw as resembling blackface, or Starbucks, which put more emphasis on racial training after issues arised, change the way they operate when they are forced to recognize that they are guilty of racial bias. By taking your patronage away from luxury brands in favor of small Black businesses, you are giving them a reason to become a better brand for everyone to shop from. Plus, knowing that you supported a more humane organization will give you a
sense of pride. Making a point to buy from a Black-owned business in any form– a restaurant, bookstore, clothing brand– when you can will help the Black community significantly. Google has even started labeling Black-owned businesses with purple hearts so it is now easier to find them. It is probably one of the easiest ways to be an ally right now. It may seem like these events are no longer relevant. The hashtags and news articles that were once circulating our social media feeds have stopped trending. But that is exactly why it is important to continue these conversations and consider how our daily actions affect people of color. By shopping from a Black-owned business, you’ll be continuing to support the movement, even if people have stopped talking about it.
Opinions & Editorials
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THE QUADRANGLE
Soccer Champion Abby Wambach’s VirtualVisit Leaves Lasting Reminder Alexa Schmidt
Arts & Entertainment Editor On June 20, 2013, I attended a soccer match at the Red Bull Arena to watch the US Women’s team play South Korea in a friendly game. I had just turned 14 years old, and was bouncing out of my seat. I was so excited to watch professional women’s soccer in person, and at that point, I had already been playing the sport for about ten years. That night, Abby Wambach surpassed Mia Hamm’s previous record of 158 international goals, and became undoubtedly one of the best soccer players of all time. I left the arena that night having witnessed history. But more importantly, I left with Abby’s words in my head. After the game, she made a statement to thank her teammates and coaches because she could not have reached that milestone without them. From that night on, I followed the triumphs, the disappointments and the eventual rise of popularity for women’s soccer.
To me and so many others, Abby Wambach is more than just an athlete. She is a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend and a fierce advocate for women’s equality. She is someone who is passionate and is not afraid to point out the blatant disparities between men and women, not only on the field but in the workplace and all industries. Last Tuesday, September 8, I had the privilege and opportunity to moderate a conversation for the Student Engagement lecture series. Myself and two other students were able to ask Abby Wambach questions that were more than just surface-level material. Instead, we were able to get to the nitty-gritty aspects of her retirement, and got honest answers in return. I wanted to write this as an opinion-editorial, as opposed to a regular article that would have landed itself in the Arts & Entertainment section of the newspaper. You can look up any interview with Abby Wambach, where she goes into extensive detail and talks about her experiences. And I completely
encourage you to watch the commencement address Abby delivered at Barnard College in 2018 that went viral, and became the basis of her New York Times bestselling book, “WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game”. I encourage you to read “WOLFPACK,” and recommend it to friends and family. I encourage you to learn more about women’s sports, and learn about the adversities women must overcome. But I wanted to press the importance of speaking up after attending an event like this, and bringing Abby’s words back to the community. Abby reflected on her career and wished she had made her voice heard sooner. But she didn’t for fear of getting paid even less than she already did, or receiving less playtime than she deserved. Upon further reflection, she said that she felt grateful, but wished she had demanded more. As women, we are taught to be thankful, to be so impressed with the fact that we were even offered an opportunity in the first place,
that we accept the reality of not receiving equal pay. Now, more than ever, it is time to create a seat at the table for women. One where there is mutual respect, where our colleagues value our opinions and don’t try to immediately convince us we don’t know what we’re talking about, and one where we hold each other accountable. That starts right here at Manhattan College. Women writers, engineers, mathematicians, historians, artists, lawyers, philosophers should all have a place in our curriculum. We learn that history is built on a foundation of men, but we forget the women who laid the concrete before the bricks were added. I hope professors, not just in the School of Liberal Arts, but professors in all of the academic schools make room for women. Work them into the conversation, place emphasis on the context that surrounded their accomplishments and failures, and impress passion in students to learn more outside the classroom. Making a seat at the table also means attending women’s
athletic games with the same amount of enthusiasm and numbers as the men’s games. It means addressing a misogynist comment, holding your friends to a certain standard and taking a look at your own long-held beliefs. It also means more than a post on social media, or an opinion-editorial in the newspaper. The conversation with Abby Wambach came at a perfect time in my life. Besides being over the moon that I got to interview a woman I’ve looked up to for a majority of my life (besides my mom), it also helped me to address some of my own challenges. Sometimes I feel disappointed in myself for allowing myself to get talked over, and for not calling something out that made me feel upset before the moment passed. Other times, I feel self-conscious that I am being too aggressive, too competitive, too bossy and too outspoken. Abby reminded me to find my truth, to own it and to empower others to find theirs. I hope you can do the same.
[LEFT] Alexa Schmidt (left) and a friend at the USWNT soccer match at Red Bull Arena on June 20, 2013. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE
[RIGHT] Alexa Schmidt posing with a virtual Abby Wambach. ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE
News
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
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Sigma Delta Tau Elects VP of Diversity and Inclusion __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 sister can recommend a movie, a documentary, anything that interests them, and we watch it,” Panassol said. “It’s like a book club, but not only with books, and then we have a whole discussion about it.” On Thursday, Sept. 10 the Diversity Inclusion Media Club had their first meeting. Prior to the meeting, sisters in attendance were asked to watch a Dave Chappelle special entitled “8:46” about the murder of George Floyd. “I started our media club to help sisters consume media created by BIPOC authors, directors, podcasters etc.,” Nunez said. “I hope that sisters can make connections to the media that we choose and use it as they go out into our community at Manhattan College.” While the meetings are not required for sisters, there is a large incentive for members to attend, given that they are ranked highly on the sorority’s
point scale. In addition to the Diversity Inclusion Media Club, Nunez hopes to implement several other initiatives which will promote diversity and inclusion within the sorority. “We have strengthened our no-tolerance policy for discriminatory behavior in our chapter,” she said. “We are going to have mandatory workshops that work on getting to know our sisterhood and our community so our chapter can explore diversity and see how we can apply the things we learn to our chapter and our recruitment process.” While the initiatives from the sorority are positive and exciting changes given the history of greek life organizations being exclusive or discriminatory in America, some students may feel the council was long overdue. Nunez speculated that the sorority chapter’s age could have something to do with why it has taken this long to implement a committee devoted to diversity and inclusion.
“Our chapter is really young in comparison to the other greek organizations on campus -- 7 years this fall,” she said. “When we were founded, we only had the Executive Board positions that nationals required us to have. This position is unique to our chapter, the current executive board made the decision to add this position and I hope that other chapters do something similar.” Ireland Twiggs, Sigma Delta Tau’s president, noted how the death of George Floyd by police brutality acted as a catalyst for the creation of this committee. “I feel like what occurred back when George Floyd was murdered is it kind of woke us all up and shook us to our core,” Twiggs said. “It makes me sad that it has taken this long to wake up and look at the kind of wrongdoings of the organizations we’re a part of, but I’m happy that we started and Nicole has done such a fantastic job.” As for now, the two frater-
nities on Manhattan College’s campus, Delta Kappa Epsilon and Alpha Phi Delta, have yet to follow suit in addressing racism or creating a VP of Diversity and Inclusion role. “I felt like these conversations were always mentioned at meetings, but no one ever took the steps that were necessary,” Twiggs said. “I think it comes from a comfort thing, which is inexcusable but kind of like the rest of the world in that we had fallen into this level of comfort with the standards that we had set.” The establishment of a VP of Diversity and Inclusion is one of several steps being taken by the sorority in an overarching anti-racism action plan headed by Sigma Delta Tau’s national organization. The plan involves each executive board position shaping their role to become more inclusive and welcoming of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ women. In the example of recruitment, Twiggs mentioned how Vice President Stephanie Zan-
dell revamped the majority of her materials. “We tried to be more inclusive in our language in terms of talking about hair and beauty standards,” Twiggs said. “We tried not to focus super heavily on the Eurocentric beauty ideals that we’ve seen in a lot of sororities.” With the creation of Nunez’s position, other executive board members can now consult the diversity and inclusion committee when they have questions or ideas. “I think that having a VP of Diversity and Inclusion is essential to our organization,” Nunez said. “Greek life as a whole across our country has a terrible reputation for being an exclusive organization that excludes women like me, and that has not been my experience in our chapter. However, I know that we can improve our diversity and having my position is meant to help.”
Students Weigh in About the Return to School Madalyn Johnson & Victor Franco Web Editor & Staff Writer
As students enter the third week of the semester, many are beginning to adjust to learning in a variety of ways. In upping health and safety measures and abiding to necessary social distancing rules due to COVID-19, Manhattan College made the decision to go hybrid, offering both remote and in-person classes. Students have had mixed feelings on learning through a hybrid model. Due to the integration of remote learning this semester, plans for learning on-campus this fall have abruptly changed for all of Manhattan College services. Jose Guzman, a freshman studying chemical engineering, decided to do classes remotely this semester. Not living close enough to campus to commute, Guzman came down to the decision that going online would be the best decision even though problems like losing internet connection and not being able to make a personal connection with professors were expected. “For the first week for some reason, I was having internet problems,” Guzman said. “All the professors, they all sounded like robots. It was very bad. Like even now I still have a little more distraction, sometimes I lose focus on my phone.” Guzman also shared that in classes where professors are teaching students both remotely and in-person, it appears they have difficulty focusing on the two sides of the classroom: the students in-person and working remotely.
“I think teachers are doing the best they can, trying to teach two classes at the same time, in-person and remote, but keeping the engagement with remote and on-campus students is very difficult and different,” Guzman said. Sophomore Genesis Lora, a resident student studying civil engineering, is not worried about completing her schoolwork partially online considering it’s her second year at Manhattan College. In comparison to upperclassmen, Lora feels incoming freshmen may have a more difficult time adapting to classes since they’re trying to adjust to college all while learning how to manage classes taught online and in-person. “Since I’m a sophomore I am already used to the workload, so I know what to expect. So it’s an easier transition than a freshman [coming from] high school,” Lora said. Lora also spoke about her concerns regarding the procedures Manhattan College is taking to preserve a healthy environment for their students. Although face masks on campus are mandatory, she is concerned about what happens when commuters are not on campus. To fully protect the health of students and faculty working on campus, Lora suggests COVID tests should be taken more often during the semester. “I do think we should at least get tested before school starts, in the middle and then towards the end of the semester so when the next semester arrives, we know what people previously did not have COVID,” she said.
With schoolwork being taught this semester online and in-person, services at Manhattan College, like the Center for Academic Success, are working hard to provide students with essential learning resources, as they would in any academic year. When planning how the center can help students this semester, Sujey Ramos, the center’s director, kept in mind that many students may be feeling overwhelmed about doing schoolwork online despite expecting it this semester. “I think students are feeling anxious,” Ramos said. “I think that while they did have some time, being in the remote online environment last semester, it’s still a big transition. I think there’s a lot to remember, it’s a lot to keep track of, a lot of professors are doing different things, departments and organizations are doing a lot of different things and so a new semester is exciting but I know there’s a lot on everyone’s plate.” To accommodate all students who are learning differently, the Center for Academic Success has decided to operate both in-person and remotely. Students who are studying subject matters that focus more on calculating and problem-solving such as business, engineering and math have in-person tutoring available. Services, like the Writing Center, have employees working at the center, but tutoring sessions are online only. Students can make appointments for online sessions through Jasper Connect. Taking note of the technical issues that can happen when trying to educate through vid-
eo chat, the Center for Academic Success has planned to use a software that provides many useful features suitable for teaching. “We use a web-based software called GoBoard. What we like about GoBoard is that there’s a virtual whiteboard and Google Meet doesn’t really have any features similar to a whiteboard and it’s not very reasonable for us to expect all of our tutors to conduct a session with a document camera. ” The center’s goals of having in-person and remote tutoring available were to support the college’s decision to follow a hybrid model and to ensure that all students, regardless of where they are learning from this semester, feel connected. Ramos points out that the remote resources may even be an advantage for the number of students commuting this semester. “Now that everyone can be done online, there’s a lot more access and availability for commuters to meet with a tutor,” she said. “You don’t have to stay on campus in order to meet with someone, or vice versa.” Junior Nadine Salameh is a first-time commuter student majoring in radiation therapy, who is pleased to see how the college has made hybrid learning manageable for students. Salameh explained how the preparedness that went into this semester will make a dramatic difference in how students are able to handle their work, as compared to this past year’s spring semester. “I think spring semester, last spring, was the hardest
because literally it came without warning,” she said. “But, I feel after we had this summer to prepare, I think the faculty has done a great job of laying it all out and I think they’ve been there for us more than ever with everything being virtual now.” Transitioning from fully being on campus to partially being there, Salameh assumed she would feel disengaged with the Jasper community but shared that the resources and assistance Manhattan has provided hasn’t made her feel so disconnected. Like Ramos, Salameh agrees that the number of learning resources available now online this semester has helped more students be aware that they can easily access extra help for school if needed “So a majority of the people in my program, from day one, were always commuters and I think as a resident I utilized the Center for Academic Success more than they did, I don’t even think they knew it was a thing,” Salameh said. Moving forward, Salameh and many other students are hopeful the fall 2020 semester will continue to run accordingly. “Last semester I struggled,” Salameh said. “I mean nobody really knew what was going on but I feel like this semester I definitely have a better hold on it and I feel like the teachers do as well. So, I think we’re all doing better collectively, learning online. Teachers kind of know what to expect and they’ve had time to prepare the whole summer.”
Features
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THE QUADRANGLE
Brother Jasper Brings School Pride to Campus Jilleen Barrett Asst. A & E Editor
Brother Jasper is returning to campus for the 2020-21 academic year as Manhattan College’s official mascot. Debuted on Aug. 31, Brother Jasper is going to be cheering on athletic games, making appearances at events such as the annual open house, and even acting as the leader of the OneManhattan ambassadors. According to Lydia Gray, the executive director for the marketing and communication department, the development of the mascot began in fall 2017. Many people from the community were on the committee to create a spirit character, however, the original idea came from the student body, according to Gray. “We actively began meeting in early 2018 at which time we held discovery sessions and formulated and emailed a questionnaire to the college community, including alumni,” Gray said. “We then followed
up with numerous focus groups composed of students, staff, faculty and alumni. After that we moved through the identity phase of the spirit character, to design and then to final concept.” This plan was designed by SME, a design company that has worked with Manhattan in the past. It was the company Street Characters that created the costume. “The team there interpreted the finished artwork and worked with us on overall dimensions, fabric design, colors, and finishes,” Gray said. “We did reference actual photos of Brother Jasper throughout the process and borrowed some features including the design of the robe. The green branded sneakers were an added fun feature as was the banner.” Vice President of Student Life, Richard Satterlee believes Brother Jasper will be a strong representation of the school’s Lasallian pride. “We are nearing the 100year mark of being at our current campus here in the Bronx,” he said. “Our spirit
character helps tell our story, and reminds us of an important figure in our institution story.” According to Satterlee, it has not been decided who will be inside the costume for future events, but auditions and training will be held in order to ensure that this person is capable of bringing as much spirit to the job as possible. He also hopes that this project will remind the community of who Brother Jasper is and he wants to see a better answer to the commonly asked question, “What’s a Jasper?” “I would say that one of the trends we saw was the tendency to have these spirit characters be more youthful and fun because one of the draws is to have the mascot be approachable to young fans at games, open houses and campus events,” Satterlee said. “This helps us attract future Jaspers.” Gray agrees and notes the important combination of excitement and honor that Brother Jasper will bring to campus. “The character embodies the meaning of what it means to be a Jaser and promulgates the
Brother Jasper encourages students to stay safe and wear a mask! LAUREN MEOLI FERRIGON / COURTESY perhaps an ingredient that adds to the discussion.” Paluszek explains that an emphasis was placed on creating an entertaining yet dignified character out of Brother Jasper, who is famous for creating the seventh-inning stretch. He also believes that Brother Jasper will bring a sense of pride to campus that will welcome remote students back in the future. “The development of that character is and was the result of everybody on that committee wanting to do something very constructive and creative for the college,” Paluszek said.
Brother Jasper will serve as the leading OneManhattan ambassador. LAUREN MEOLI FERRIGON / COURTESY
college’s values across athletic and non-athletic events,” she said. “Brother Jaspers is the best representation of strength, pride and spirit while being approachable and relatable to all stakeholders.” Alumni are excited about the mascot as well. John Paluszek, who graduated in 1955, was a former editor-in-chief of The Quadrangle and has been a long time supporter of the basketball team. He was also incredibly involved in the process of developing the mascot. “My role primarily was to bring a point of view of the [alumni] into the discussion,” he said. “A voice from somebody with my background was
they have a lot of data that they don’t know what to do with and they just need a little bit of guidance in unlocking the power of all of those rich insights they are sitting on.” Despite the global pandemic, Final Approach Consulting has still been able to land some meetings with important companies looking for data analysis. Many of these meetings come from the hard work and outreach Logerfo does in his daily work, and through the connections he made in past jobs. “Since we have been an entity, we have had four or five meetings with fortune 100 and fortune 500 companies,” Logerfo said. When Logerfo entered the workforce after graduation, it was during the tail end of the financial crisis and recession. He was able to land a job in marketing research at an advertising firm through a Manhattan College alumni. Right now Logerfo’s own company is made up of two full-time employees, including himself. But, Final Approach turned to the College’s Center for Career Services to find their inaugural class of interns for
side an MC alum. “It was a pleasure to work with an MC alum,” wrote Cwik. “Justin Logerfo applied his education to start his very own business which I found very inspiring. He is very knowledgeable and willing to share his knowledge. After working with an MC alum I now have a professional reference and someone who I can rely on to help with my future career.” O’Brien describes that one of the many benefits of working with an MC alum is how sympathetic Logerfo was because he too was once in their shoes. “The benefit of working alongside an MC alum was the understanding he had towards his interns and he was very flexible to help me.” This internship program was not the first time Logerfo had been involved with MC since his graduation, as he has returned to campus a number of times each year. When attending the Fall Business Dinner, he was introduced to Min Jung Kim, Ph.D, who is an assistant professor of management and marketing at the College. After connecting, Kim has invited him back to speak at her classes about his experi-
ence in entrepreneurship. All in all, much of the success Logerfo has had in his career is a result of the skills he learned during his undergraduate years. Logerfo also recognizes that the small class sizes at Manhattan College allowed him to adapt and grow in the business world. “The Lasallian education taught me how to think critically, and how to problem-solve, and really how to think outside the box,” Logerfo said.
Alum Launches Startup, Current Students Intern Shannon Gleba Copy Editor
While the landscape of the business world has changed drastically over the past few months due to the threat of COVID-19, Manhattan College alum Justin Logerfo ‘11 used his time in quarantine to make his business plan a reality. During May of 2020, Logerfo founded his data analytics consulting firm, Final Approach Consulting, with the knowledge he gained as a student in the O’Malley School of Business. Final Approach Consulting has been a goal of Logerfo for over 12 months and has been the result of almost ten years of experience in the field of marketing. Their mission is to work with existing businesses to drive better return on investment and business outcomes through the use and understanding of their own data. “I think there are a ton of opportunities in terms of data and insight and analytics,” Logerfo said. “There are a ton of companies that say they are data-driven, but they are not or
the summer of 2020. Two of the interns for this summer included Kelly Cwik and Timothy O’Brien who are both students in the O’Malley School of Business. Cwik is a sophomore at MC and is currently undecided on a major, but worked as a social media intern for Logerfo. “I would research information and news articles that were relevant to the company (data analytics, artificial intelligence, etc.)” Cwik wrote over email when describing her role. “Then, with that information, I would make social media posts on Canva. After that, I would put them in their content calendar to use for their social media accounts” O’Brien, junior analytics major, was as a Business Analyst Intern this past summer and worked on a number of different projects during his time at Final Approach. “I wrote a White paper on consumer privacy v. public safety in the age of COVID-19 and created an infographic on food delivery during COVID-19,” O’Brien said. Both interns enjoyed their time working for Logerfo and the benefits of working along-
Justin Logerfo, ‘11, launched a startup data analytics consulting firm, Final Approach Consulting, during the pandemic. JUSTIN LOGERFO / COURTESY
Features
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
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Student Consensus on Returning to Campus Amid Pandemic VOICES ON THE QUAD Despite numerous world-changing events in the past few months, Manhattan College students are entering college during the most tumultuous time of the modern century. Equipped with masks and hand sanitizer, students are looking to start the next chapter of their life, all at six feet apart. The Quadrangle spoke with several students about their true feelings on coming back to college during a pandemic. Interviews compiled by Julia Melchiorre.
Amanda Scalisi, Class of 2022 Childhood Education Major What was your first week of classes like? The first week was stressful because in some classes the technology was not working how they wanted it to. It was a little annoying and not a great fit for me. How do you feel about being on campus with the pandemic and restrictions? I feel excited, obviously it’s a little different from past years but it’s not too bad. As long as everyone stays safe by social distancing and wearing masks, I’m fine with it. How do you feel about your online classes in comparison to your in-person classes? For my online classes, I feel like it is a little of a struggle for me. I like being physically in the classroom and I feel like it’s beneficial for me, so online learning is a little difficult for me. Does this semester still live up to expectations of college? As long as I’m with my friends and able to hang out with them, that’s all that matters. So yes, it does live up to my expectations.
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Jenn Guilbeault, Class of 2023 Communications Major with a Concentration in Public Relations
Alexander Ellison, Class of 2024 Adolescent Education Major with a Concentration in History
What are your feelings about remote learning? What are the challenges and advantages? In terms of advantages, I feel like I definitely have less distractions as opposed to being with my friends on campus. I feel like I can do things on my own and get my work done when I want to without being with my friends, it definitely helps but is sad at the same time. The most difficult part is that some of the professors don’t really know how to use technology and at the same time the professors expect more work from us even though we are showing our faces and being present. That is definitely one of the consequences of being remote.
How do you feel about your remote classes? What are the challenges and advantages?
In what ways have you had to adjust due to the pandemic? How did you do it? For me, I had to adjust because last semester when we became remote I would wake up five minutes before my class and do it in my bed, but I knew that was not going to work this year. Now I set my alarms 30 minutes prior, make some coffee, and get myself ready so I feel like I’m in class rather than remote. I also had to adjust to the workload and balance the schoolwork with my free time at home. How are you planning on making the most out of this year and staying positive? I am staying positive by still Facetiming my friends that are on campus and I tell myself I will be there in the spring. I don’t want to have the negative thoughts that I will be home for a year, so I tell myself spring will come fast and everyone will come home at Thanksgiving so I won’t be missing too much. How does this semester compare to your last semester? Though I’m remote I still get to participate in the clubs. The campus is doing a good job setting up virtual activities, which is definitely a plus side. Do you have any advice for freshmen this semester? My advice for freshmen would be to try to meet everyone you can, even if it’s just chatting. Get to know everyone and try to say hi to a friendly face.
It is easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of work that comes in remotely and learning to deal with things on Moodle. I feel like the professors are still adjusting as well, so that makes it a little tougher to receive assignments. It also has its advantages because I just get to wake up in my pajamas and plug in. In a way it’s kind of like a blessing and a curse, but I feel as we slowly adapt to it, it will become more efficient. How do your online classes compare to your in-person classes? I prefer the in-person classes because it has the human connection that just can’t be beat. But I do also enjoy the remote classes because I can relax and not be pressured by an outside environment, but at the same time, the in-person classes just feel more authentic. How are you planning on making the most out of this year and staying positive? The way I make the most out of a time like this is that I concentrate most on what makes me happy. I feel like everyone should stick to a hobby or something and do things they wouldn’t otherwise be able to do in a busy time. Does this semester still live up to the expectations you had of college? Freshman year is a great introduction into college life. I’m not disappointed, I’m just accepting the fact that it is slightly frayed due to the pandemic but it’s nothing that we can’t accomplish. In what ways have you adjusted to college? I feel like less of a stranger now that school has started. In terms of adjusting, it feels more natural, just walking around and feeling like part of the community.
Arts & Entertainment
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THE QUADRANGLE
Performer Profile: Meriam Duncan Jocelyn Visnov Staff Writer
When was the last time you saw a live performance? If you’re a musician, when was the last time you rehearsed in-person? With the safety precautions put in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it’s likely that the last time you were in a crowded room at all was in February or the months prior. Unfortunately, concerts and other live events involving large crowds won’t be returning anytime soon. However, just because we cannot enjoy live music together, does not mean there’s not music to be made. Just ask Meriam Duncan. Meriam Duncan is a freshman at Manhattan College. A Spanish major, Duncan came a long way from home to study here at MC. Originally from North Dakota, Duncan lives with her parents and three brothers. Though her parents are not very interested in music, all of her brothers also enjoy playing instruments. Duncan wanted to go somewhere new and exciting for college.
“I chose Manhattan College because when I toured the campus, everyone seemed so friendly and helpful,” Duncan said. “I wanted to leave North Dakota so that I could have new and different experiences, especially with the diversity found in the city.” Duncan first picked up a violin in her home in North Dakota. “I remember it in elementary school,” Duncan said. “They brought in all these instruments [to show us] and I just thought the violin was really cool.” Duncan started learning violin in fifth grade, and has not stopped playing since. Throughout high school, Meriam played in her school orchestra. She also played in the pit band for her school musical productions. And while she spends a lot of time practicing her craft alone, she would not have been able to do it without a little help from her teachers. Merriam’s biggest musical influence was her high school band director. “My orchestra teacher Mr. Nelson kept pushing me to practice more, and [told me
that] I could get better,” Duncan said. Throughout her seven plus years playing violin, Meriam has learned a variety of musical pieces. Her preferred style is called Baroque, “It’s like the style of Bach,” Duncan said. While Meriam loves what she does, music can be very challenging. It has taken Meriam years of hard practice to become the talented musician she is today. “My biggest challenge has been my confidence, and being loud enough for everyone to hear me,” Duncan said. “It’s also challenging to audition.” In the past, Duncan has auditioned for competitive regional band competitions. She had hoped to gain a seat playing violin at the state level this year, but unfortunately due to the pandemic, the music festival was cancelled. When Duncan is not playing her violin, she enjoys reading, writing, and doing puzzles. Though Duncan has not been at Manhattan for very long, she hopes to eventually join a performing arts club on campus to continue playing her violin throughout college.
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[TOP] Meriam Duncan and her violin.
[LEFT] Meriam’s music stand set up so she can play. MERIAM DUNCAN / COURTESY -----------------------------------------------
Danny Devito Debuts on Campus Mariana Duque Contributor
#It’s Always Sunny In MC! That is the tagline of the latest sensation taking Manhattan College by storm, a reference to the sitcom “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.” Four creative MC students have been taking pictures of a Danny Devito poster around campus and posting it on Instagram on @dannytakesmc. Occassionally posing with fellow students, Devito has been spotted in dorm room windows, and on the quadrangle. The initiative started when one of the account members, Louis Giacomo, a junior, searched for dorm decoration on Amazon and stumbled across a Danny Devito poster. “The whole birth of this idea started when I got a poster of Danny in February,” Giacomo said. Giacomo is familiar with Devito’s work, as he watched It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia with some of his friends and he liked Devito’s character. He found the character “very funny” and instantly became a fan. He spread the word to his
two friends and roommates, who are also co-creators of the Instagram account, Patrick Lanigan and Michael Ficaro. The three friends wanted to “have fun on campus this year” and they soon joined with a freshman, Livia Murry, who was also on board with the initiative. “I met them beforehand, so they indoctrinated me into the group,” said Murry about joining the three students. After getting together, they decided to create the account. “I took four pieces of paper and went crazy and wrote @dannytakesmc and then propped it up the window,” Lanigan said regarding the promotion of the account on campus. After posting Devito in a window in Lee Hall, the creators have only had one minor run in with Residence Life. “They asked us to take down the tagline,” Ficaro said. “It has only been that.” Lanigan added, “We’ve had no problem with security besides the tagline.”. With the poster already up in their room on Lee’s 10th floor and a plan ahead, they made their first social media post. The account itself is man-
aged by the foursome but mostly controlled by Ficaro. Lanigan is the artist of the group, Giacomo is the overall director or “CEO” of the group, and Murray is a general consultant. After posting their first picture of the Danny Devito poster against the MC banner that read “opening weekend”, they started gaining some followers. They took several pictures of the poster around campus and after two weeks, @dannytakesmc had 148 followers on Instagram. Currently, the account holds 153 followers. The group keeps posting photos on the platform and encourages MC students to have fun with the poster. “If people wanna take pictures with Danny they are encouraged to do so” Ficaro said. “We will certainly have Danny with us.” The foursome also revealed they have big upcoming plans for the account. “We’ll have a birthday party for him on November 17th,” Giacomo said. “Stay tuned,” Ficaro teased. “There are bigger plans for this semester.”
(From left to right) Michael Ficaro, Louis Giacomo, Lyvia Murry and Patrick Lanigan, creators of the Danny Devito Instagram account taking Manhattan College by storm MARIANA DUQUE / COURTESY
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
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Dynamic Style Looks Around Campus ON-CAMPUS FASHION FINDS Adrianne Hutto Contributor
Jules Kelly- Freshman
Tyla Boone- Freshman Wearing a white and black grid top from Garage, white slip-on Vans, black cuffed mom jeans from American Eagle, and a chain heart necklace from Tiffany & Co. You mentioned your top was from Garage, is that a brand? It’s like Pacsun, except it’s all one main store. So, the Pacsun basic section is all of Garage. Where do you get most of your clothes from? I get a lot of my clothes from Nike. A lot of my clothes are from American Eagle. I get a lot of my tops from Garage or Pacsun. Is there one aesthetic or style you like to follow? No. I see a shirt that I like and I buy it. Do you have any style inspirations? I’m on Depop. I showed a couple of items there. My mom is a big inspiration. She picks a lot of my outfits when I’m confused about what top to wear. Maybe Zendaya, she’s a good one. I look at her clothes a lot to see what sneakers I want to buy. What’s your mom’s style like? 90’s but make it mom appropriate. She wears a lot of sneakers, lots of jeans, lots of oversized sweatshirts, and she spices it up with a cute heel. What is your staple piece? The white crop top. Any variation of a white crop top. Whether it is ripped, scoop cut, straight neck, or bandeau. Would you be interested in doing anything in the fashion industr y? It’s more like a fun hobby. I tune into New York Fashion Week all the time, but it’s just something on the side.
Katelyn Lamb- Freshman Wearing a thrifted olive shirt, stud earrings from Claire’s and golden hoops from Amazon, light-colored flare jeans with a Brandy Melville chain belt, low-cut white Air Force 1’s, black cat eye sunglasses from Shein, and a mask made by her mom, printed with avocado toast cloth from Joann Fabrics. What aesthetic do you tr y to follow? A mixture of Pinterest plus individual pieces that I arrange together. Somehow, it works out. What is your biggest influence for fashion? A more subtle Emma Chamberlain. When do you like to get dressed up? It kind of varies. Sometimes I’ll go to school in a nice outfit just for kicks and giggles. Sometimes I go to school, and I wear sweatpants and a shirt that I went to sleep in. But usually it’s when I go out with friends or family. Would you be interested in doing anything in the field of fashion? If I could, maybe, but in reality, I don’t think so. What is your staple piece/go to? Probably hoops or a fun belt.
Wearing a plaid scrunchie in a top knot, black octagonal sunglasses, a white t-shirt- all thrifteddark-washed denim jeans from American Eagle, a black and white striped underneath from Old Navy, a black belt from Torrid, pendulous orange butterfly from an Instagram shop, and platform Doc Martens. Where do you do most of your shopping? I usually do online, and if it’s not online, I do thrift most of my clothes. For online stores, I usually do American Eagle or I try to stick to smaller brands. Is there a style aesthetic that you like to follow? I like streetwear and e-girl, as well as punk and club kid of the 80’s. I’ve noticed that you like to stamp a star below your eye as a part of your make-up look, is that something you came up with or did you see it somewhere? I’ve had the stamp for years now and it’s becoming more popular now, I’m seeing more people do it, but I like to stamp my cheek, or my eyebrows. I think it just adds style. What made you get interested in fashion? It’s mostly just self expression. Would you ever be interested in a career in fashion? It’s just a hobby for me.
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Arts & Entertainment
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Players to Perform Virtually Amid the Pandemic Kyla Guilfoil Staff Writer
Following a hectic and abrupt ending to their spring 2020 season, the Manhattan College Players are gearing up for a strong start this fall. The Players have made the decision to go completely virtual this semester, and will reunite on Sept. 14 for their first meeting. The goal of the virtual plan is to ensure the most safety and inclusivity possible for all members of the Players, faculty, students and any hopeful viewers. Producer/President of the Players, Sami Rini, does not think that the virtual set-up will hold students back and will actually help boost participation by both Players and viewers. “Just the fact that I’m remote right now, and I can be a part of Players to my fullest capacity, I’m not being held back in any way by that, and that remains true for all students,” Rini said. “Even for viewers, whether you’re remote or on campus or in quarantine, you can still just click a link and tune on.” Production Manager/Vice President Joe Bonaventura agrees with the all-online plan. While Bonaventura is on campus this semester and theoretically could participate in in-person meetings, he feels the virtual approach is the safest plan for the group. Bonaventura and Rini are both confident that this change will not diminish the Players contribution this semester. The group plans a full schedule for the coming weeks, with auditions for their main stage production happening shortly after the Sept. 14 meeting. Following auditions and casting, the Players will schedule rehearsals three to four times per week. However, they are not stopping there. Besides the main stage production,
which is scheduled for mid or late November, the Player’s plan on a virtual Cabaret performance in October and multiple play-readings throughout the semester. Bonaventura says the number of performances has not been officially limited, and they may have even more performances than previous seasons. The hope is to keep the performing arts open and moving as much as they can throughout this time. Adviser to the Players, J.R. Caldwell, thinks this semester offers extensive opportunities this fall as well. “I’m going to always choose the best play that’s given to me,” Caldwell said. It’s also really important for me to be doing challenging work for the students, so [cast size] varies from semester to semester. That said, this semester we’ve found a play that accommodates a lot of people and I’m very excited about that. What’s important to me is that plays are chosen that give many students opportunities to perform.” The group overall is excited and hopeful for this season. While it is overwhelming and opens new questions to what will change and what could go wrong, both the President and Vice President feel the energy of the group is optimistic. “[They are] incredibly supportive. Ever since I’ve been a part of Players it’s been like that, it’s super awesome,” said Rini. “Now more than ever people are ready for that reachout; we missed out on a lot of our season last semester, which was difficult for all of us, so I think we’re all eager to be back.” It is important the group holds onto live performance, so there will be no pre-recorded performances included in this virtual plan. Bonaventura spoke about the impact of a live performance. While he
said there definitely will be a different feel to a virtual performance, keeping everything live will help maintain the magic. Caldwell echoed an appreciation of the in-person chemistry and a hope for sufficient adjustment. “There are certain things I am going to miss, of course,” Caldwell said. “We were able to build a community in a room when we’re not rehearsing, and how to recreate that kind of atmosphere is a concern. Because, while we’re there to get work done, and to put on a show, this is also about fraternity, about building relationships, so it’ll be interesting to see how we do that. I’ve got some ideas, [I’m] excited to try them out.” Of course, this plan introduces the question of technology. Bonaventura is a major contributor to the tech-related work of the shows. Usually Bonaventura builds sets, but he will have to take much more time working with virtual technology this season. Along with sets, technical production is going to be a huge responsibility for members; the show will be foundationally very different. “If one thing goes down the whole show can go down,” Bonaventura said. “There’s no guarantee on it, [a lot] depends on the software.” However, there is a lot that technology can offer. The group is currently continuing research on which online services will best provide their performances to viewers. Rini shared that they are hoping to work with technology to create virtual scenery that individual Players can use in their backgrounds to create a more complete viewing experience. Caldwell believes that Zoom will be the best format to rehearse on and use to connect Players during performances. Because of Zoom’s features, including an option to specifically arrange the boxes which show-
case each performer, he feels the platform is best for performances. Along with Zoom, the Players will use a streaming service to reach viewers. Caldwell’s top choice is currently Twitch, a streaming service used primarily by gamers. From his research and connections, Caldwell believes this is the group’s best streaming option, and offers the most robust features. Essentially, the Players will live stream themselves through Zoom, those visuals will be arranged according to the performance, and viewers will access the Zoom images through a streaming service, likely Twitch. Some performances will not be possible via virtual production. These plays are generally described as in-depth plays and require more physical interaction. For example, the Players usually perform a murder mystery show every October, but this particular performance will not be possible through a virtual platform. As a replacement for these shows, there will be virtual play readings. The readings will be very stripped down, with no script required, as a very raw version of the play that does not include physical sets or interaction. These readings will offer viewers a unique opportunity to see the performing arts in a way they may have not before. Rini hopes that these readings will help give the Players as many opportunities as possible this fall. While the Players were not able to disclose the name of this semester’s main stage production, they did offer some insight into what to expect. According to Rini, this show will be unlike any show they’ve done yet, not just because of the virtual aspect, but because they’ve chosen a unique production not yet taken on by the
Manhattan Players. “Students will be providing their costumes for the most part for the show, but I would be having them do that anyways, because this is a type of show that is very much actor run and actor based, so it’s not dependent upon fancy costumes,” Caldwell said. “Or sets for that matter, it’s a pretty bare-bones piece.” While the Players are hopeful to keep the spirit of performing arts alive, there will be some undeniable changes to the art form this semester. Bonaventura expressed that this may be the new future, specifically how virtual shows are likely to replace in-person performances for longer than this fall term. In his opinion, this is going to be a preview into the future of performing arts and virtual adjustments will be a key aspect to everything going on in the future. Nonetheless, he, Rini, Caldwell and the rest of the Players have high hopes for this semester. “I am approaching this fall as I did last fall, with the same amount of enthusiasm,” Caldwell said. “If anything, maybe more, because as a theater maker--and I feel like you can say this about all theater makers--is that, we thrive on challenge. In fact, the act of doing theater is always a challenge. In counterintelligence, solving problems and making things happen. So, yeah, we’re facing some substantial challenges this semester, but, like I said, I find that to be exciting.” The Players are eager for new members to join in acting, production, video editing, recording, and more. If any student on campus/remote is interested to take part in this exciting season unlike any other, contact the Players at players@manhattan.edu.
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Sports
SEPTEMBER 15, 2020
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Rick Pitino’s New Chapter at Iona Casts New Light on History With Steve Masiello Pete Janny Sports Editor
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published online on July 25. Over the last three months, the college basketball world has entered uncharted waters thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. The offseason has felt like an eternity for the players and coaches, who have had to find new ways to train and recruit respectively. Sensing default sympathy from the NCAA, players have been transferring at will, with the hope that the governing body will give out waivers liberally, or at the very least allow these transfers immediate eligibility for the 20212022 campaign if the upcoming season does get cancelled. In a year rampant with industry speculation and vagaries, including the infamous cancellation of March Madness, the next biggest development in college basketball this offseason resides in the MAAC: the hiring of Rick Pitino at Iona on March 14. Four months after that shocking announcement, many are still trying to process the reality that one of the best and most controversial coaches in college basketball history will be roaming the sidelines in New Rochelle. Already a powerhouse in the MAAC conference, Iona will undeniably elevate their on-court product by bringing in Pitino and his wealth of success. However, the move also ignited a firestorm of criticism in protest of a man who had fallen from grace and honor in his final years at Louisville due to NCAA allegations. “Rick is a Hall of Fame coach who has won at the highest levels and he is committed to leading our student-athletes and our program to national prominence,” Iona Athletic Director Matt Glovaski said after hiring Pitino. “He brings passion and energy and shares our desire to build a winning program that will make our community proud.” After being fired by Louisville in 2017, Pitino opted for a “sabbatical” to Greece, where he coached Panathinaikos B.C. for two seasons. However, two years in an atmosphere where the fans smoked at games and the offensive sets starkly contrasted from the college game were more than enough for the outspoken Pitino. After surreptitiously campaigning for the St. John’s gig a year earlier, the former Knicks
coach rebounded by getting the Iona job, which seemingly provided him the only pathway back to a remote semblance of his old life. He’s no longer in his preferred position in the Big East or ACC. His willingness to join a mid-major precisely captures the demise of a man who is determined to save his legacy. Pitino has yet to even be formally introduced at Iona because of the coronavirus, adding an almost apocalyptic backdrop to his controversial arrival. “I talked to him when he was in Greece several times and we communicate often enough for me to sense that he’s really excited to be back not only in college, but also in that region,” former coach Marvin Menzies, who previously worked with Pitino and Steve Masiello at Louisville, told the Quadrangle. This marriage between legendary head coach and hungry mid major can be viewed as a volatile compromise that invests in the interests of both parties over the clear risks that come with it from Iona’s perspective. For Pitino, it’s his last chance to rehabilitate his image and to truly validate his coaching wizardry in a type of environment he has not been in since coaching Boston University from 1978-83. For Iona, it’s another checkpoint in their quest for long-term MAAC subjugation and national relevancy, coming off six NCAA tournament appearances over the past decade. From Manhattan’s perspective, there will be no shortage of motivation going up against Pitino and Iona. The rivalry between both schools is intense and hostile under any circumstances, but bringing Pitino into the fold makes it a mustwatch event for both fan bases. When they do meet next, the top storyline will be the extensive history between Pitino and Masiello, who seems at peace, and even somewhat amused, by the extra media attention that awaits them. “Manhattan versus Iona has always been a great rivalry long before me and coach Pitino and long after us,” Masiello told the Quadrangle. “I think this adds a lot of spice to it. I think this adds a lot of storylines to it that make it fun and interesting so I think we will have fun with it.” The relationship between both coaches spans over 30 years. It all started during Pitino’s tenure with the Knicks in the late 80s when Masiello served as a ball boy for the team. For Masiello, that experience provided a grand intro-
duction to the institution of the game and the basketball royalty of the Pitino family. This early connection between coach and ball boy planted the seeds for a more personal and professional relationship between the two by the time Masiello arrived at Kentucky as a player for Pitino. In their one year together in Lexington before Pitino left to coach the Boston Celtics, the Wildcats won the 1996 National Championship, further enhancing the legend of the itinerant coach. The mutual respect they had for one another later led to Masiello joining Pitino’s staff at Louisville in 2005, where the young coach honed his craft for six years. Under the auspices of Pitino, Masiello emerged as a promising head coaching candidate and was hired by Manhattan in 2011 to become the 24th head coach in the history of the men’s basketball program. Masiello was already a familiar face in Riverdale, having previously worked as an assistant under former Manhattan head coach Bobby Gonzalez from 2001-2005 helping lead the Jaspers to two MAAC Tournament Championships. The selection of Masiello to the helm reaped early rewards, with the Jaspers capturing back-to-back MAAC Tournament Championships in 2014 and 2015. Simply put, Masiello became yet another success story in a long list of them from the Pitino coaching tree. It was in 2014 when the Masiello and Pitino connection first became a public talking point. On Selection Sunday, the committee pinned the 13-seeded Jaspers up against the four-seeded, defending champions Louisville Cardinals. Given their allegiance to one another, neither Masiello or Pitino wanted any part of the sentimental, albeit awkward tilt. As most protégés do, Masiello employs strategies and schemes that were invented by his mentor Pitino, in addition to his own unique philosophies. This overlap in philosophy made game planning and predicting the outcome that much harder. It was these elements of unpredictability and — ironically — familiarity that turned off both coaches to the matchup. “All coaches take from their coaching mentors once they get their opportunities,” Menzies said. “But I have noticed that Steve has made tweaks for certain philosophical things that have made them his own.” The Jaspers made things interesting and seemed to have the characteristics of a Cinderella team, but the Cardinals
prevailed in the end with Pitino getting the last laugh against his friend in a 71-64 win. All in all, the result was still an encouraging sign for Masiello, who inherited a six-win program just a few years earlier and was evidently changing the culture in Riverdale. “He [Pitino] is responsible for where I am in my basketball career and I pay him all the homage in the world and without him I don’t know where I would be,” Masiello told reporters before that tournament game in 2014. Menzies can relate to the pendulum of emotions both coaches probably felt throughout that memorable game having faced another of his mentors, Steve Fisher, in the NCAA tournament. “It was always tough for the mentor because every game the mentee of his is coaching he is pulling for that guy,” said Menzies, who is best known for his stints as head coach at New Mexico State and UNLV. “It makes it emotionally a tough deal. I remember playing coach [Steve] Fisher, who brought me into division one college basketball, and we lost to them in the tournament [in 2014] in the first round. Steve obviously had a great battle with Louisville in the first round. Those games are typically going to be wars on the floor. Your players want to get it done for you so there’s always some extra dynamics going on that make it not a typical game.” A lot has changed in the lives of both men since that last meeting in 2014. After facing his own bout of adversity and scrutiny at the height of his career, Masiello became more humble and more appreciative of his job at Manhattan. Pitino’s own redemption tour has been underway since he left Louisville in 2017 and it received a big boost with him being hired by Iona. However, the ultimate test for Pitino will be how he conducts himself when experiencing the inevitable pitfalls that come with elevating a mid-major program above its traditional standards. It will require patience and fortitude from a coach who has a history of NCAA scandals involving strippers and bribes from Adidas. And while they may not have been his ideas, his inability to prevent them made him equally as guilty in the public eye. “Deep down they knew I was innocent with that whole FBI thing,” Pitino told Lesley Visser of CBS Sports in a 2019 interview. “They basically fired
me for other reasons that went on in that dormitory. There’s not a coach in the world that would jeopardize their future because bringing strippers into the dorm is not going to get you a recruit. It’s only going to get you in trouble… Now, am I the leader? Yes. Do I have to take responsibility for anything that goes on? Yes. I can’t sit here and say I should have known because if I could have known I would have stopped it in 10 seconds.” Despite what the critics think, those who know Pitino best are happy to see him get another shot to lead and develop student-athletes just like old times. And if there’s anything to take away from Iona’s lifeline to Pitino, it’s that the jury is still out on the hall of fame coach and his legacy: a man who is a villain to some and a hero to others. “He was by far one of the best mentors in division one basketball when it comes to preparing assistant coaches to be head coaches,” Menzies said. “He was very influential for me getting my first job at New Mexico State.” Masiello has always been very vocal about his respect for Pitino, who he thinks will attract more attention to the MAAC as the head coach at Iona. “I’m just happy for him that he’s back on the sidelines in college where he is one of the best to do it,” Masiello said. “It makes our league and conference more visible.” Something about that thrilling game in 2014 suggested that the Masiello-Pitino saga would eventually resume. Six years later, they are forced adversaries once again in the basketball hub of New York City. Pitino and Masiello each represent a hurdle for the other to get back to the NCAA tournament, where both have given us memories. As much as they respect one another, the next time the Jaspers and the Gaels meet will be purely business between two coaches with massive chips on their shoulders. May the best one win. respect one another, the next time the Jaspers and the Gaels meet will be purely business between two coaches with massive chips on their shoulders. May the best one win.
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THE QUADRANGLE
MAAC 40th Anniversary Salute to Manhattan Women’s Rowing Pete Janny Sports Editor
The Manhattan College women’s rowing team is one of five teams on campus who have had to find ways to stay active in light of having their fall season cancelled due to the coronavirus. For a team that has improved each year since gaining varsity status in 2015, how they handle the void of not being able to compete this semester could prove critical in determining the future direction of the program. But in a time filled with great challenges, the program was reminded to reflect on all they have achieved in their short history when five rowers -- both present and former -- were honored for their individual contributions to the program. The recognition came as part of a series of tributes that have been announced by the MAAC Conference, in honor of the league’s 40th anniversary this year. Although the program’s history is still underdeveloped, they have been led by a core of standout rowers up to this point. Those who were chosen for this distinction include third-year head coach Alex Canale, Kate Sexton ‘20, Shannon Forty ‘20, Elizabeth McCabe ‘20, Ella O’Brien ‘21, and Emily Hughes ‘22. As the program’s longest tenured coach and the man most responsible for the strides they have taken, Canale was selected as the representative from the coaching category. The hard work of his rowers has paid off, both in and out of the water. His teams have won a number of races since he was appointed head coach, generating hope for more success in future seasons. He has coached three rowers -- McCabe, Forty, O’Brien -- who became the first All-MAAC performers in program history. For the 2019-2020 school year, his team compiled a cumulative 3.63 GPA, good for fourth best out of the 19 varsity athletic programs at the school. At the moment, Canale and his rowers are focused on finding ways to come away from this pandemic a stronger team. “We are going to use this pause to reevaluate some little things that will make a big difference, focusing on tradition and culture that will last for decades,” Canale said. One unique element to coaching rowing on the colle-
giate level is the learning curve some of his rowers have to face coming in without any previous experience with the sport. Canale very much so embraces the opportunity to positively impact the lives of his rowers, regardless of the skill level they arrive with. “In the sport of rowing thirty to fifty percent of teams are made up of walk-ons who have the physical capacity to want to push themselves and they turn out to be great rowers,” Canale said. “To have to teach fifty percent of the team the sport, while motivating the remaining fifty percent who are recruited athletes is really tricky. Would I trade that for anything? No. It’s exciting watching these girls learn about themselves.” In fact, one of the best rowers the program has seen started her career at Manhattan without any foundation with the sport. That individual is Kate Sexton. Her graduation this past May marked the end to an inspiring career. Prior to college, her experiences as an athlete were mostly tied to soccer. However, after learning more about the opportunities that come with being on the rowing team at Manhattan, Sexton chose to step out of her comfort zone to pursue something bigger than herself. The rest is history. “Kate walked on the team and seemed as though she was always trying to prove herself, but before you even realized it the other girls on the team were trying to keep up with her,” Canale said. “She was the definition of hard work in my time at Manhattan, on and off the water.” Sexton departed from the program with three MAAC All-Academic selections, and truly solidified her legacy this past year after being tabbed the 2019-2020 Team MVP as well as the recipient of the “Manhattan female Iron Jasper,” an annual award given to the college’s most determined female student-athlete. “Walking onto the women’s rowing team at Manhattan changed my entire life,” Sexton said. “It was the most challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling privilege I could have ever experienced. The ability to be on a college athletic team and be a part of something bigger than myself was something I do not take for granted. The team at Manhattan is made up of immensely disciplined, strong, talented, and bright young women and the time I was able
Elizabeth McCabe (upper left), Kate Sexton (upper middle), Shannon Forty (upper right), Alex Canale (bottom left), and, from left to right, Ella O’Brien and Emily Hughes (bottom right) have all been recognized by the MAAC Conference in a special tribute inspired by the conference’s 40th anniversary this year. GOJASPERS / COURTESY to spend on the team will be something that I never forget.” Elizabeth McCabe’s readiness for college rowing was apparent from the moment she stepped on campus in 2016. As an experienced rower already, McCabe was looking for the best fit possible for herself, both academically and athletically. Finding a school with growing Division 1 sports was a requisite in McCabe’s search, and her eventual commitment to Manhattan continued a family tradition on her grandfather’s side of attending the school. “Being on the team was more than rewarding,” McCabe said. “I found friends for life on that team, I have become more physically and mentally stronger than I knew I could be, and I left there knowing I made an impact.” Over her four years, McCabe garnered All-MAAC Second Team honors in 2019 and MAAC All-Academic honors three times. She will be remembered for her leadership intangibles just as much as for her performances in the water. “Elizabeth was everywhere you needed her to be as far as helping the program grow,” Canale said. “She was valuable to me in helping to learn the program and school. She’s a great listener which is something that’s hard to find.” Shannon Forty rounds out the trio of seniors who were recognized. Hailing from Westford, Massachusetts, Forty left her positive imprint on the program with her good attitude and special dedication to the team. She embodied the academic and competitive ideals of the program in earning MAAC All-Academic honors three times and a 2018 All-MAAC sec-
ond team nod. “She’s smart, passionate, and very consistent, which is super important,” Canale said of Forty. “Having her around allowed us to keep the hiccups to remain at bay. After being moved down to 2V, as the team got strong and faster, Shannon continued to be consistent and driven all the while getting faster.” Ella O’Brien only needed three seasons to validate her position in this elite class of rowers. Like Sexton, she also joined the team as a walk-on and made the most of the opportunity. O’Brien has built up an impressive resume that includes two MAAC All-Academic honors and an All-MAAC Second Team showing in 2019 -- the latter of which was solidified thanks to an impressive season in the spring of her sophomore year. “Ella is an infectiously positive person,” Canale said. “Even as a walk on, she saw the best in everything, excited no matter where you put her and was pushing hard the entire time and leading by example the entire time. She’s been a leader from the moment she stepped on the team.” The youngest rower from the group of honorees is Emily Hughes. Currently a junior, Hughes has played a big role on the team over her first two years at Manhattan. She has been a dependable member of the 1V8+ boat ever since she arrived, mostly anchoring the seventh seat for a boat that has racked up a good amount of wins since she joined. She was also named a MAAC All-Academic Team honoree for the 2019-2020 school year. “From the start the team
had a really competitive atmosphere where all the girls pushed themselves, which led me to push myself and eventually landed me in the seventh seat,” Hughes said. “I’m really lucky to be in this position and I can’t say enough good things about the boat.” As one of his early commits from back during the fall recruiting period in 2017, Hughes has lived up to Canale’s expectations of her. She is looking to take her skills to the next level as an upperclassman. “Emily came in right on day one, found her seat and worked hard to stay there,” Canale said. “I am really glad that we found Emily, she’s been excellent for us and I’m sure she’ll continue to be.” Now that three of the five rowers honored by the MAAC have graduated, there will be more room for others to make a name for themselves once competition resumes. But just because some of the program’s finest performers are now alums doesn’t mean the program will forget about their legacies. The onset of the pandemic in March may have prevented the seniors from getting a proper send-off for their careers, but this year’s team knows exactly who they will be competing for when the time comes. “I have the support of the past seniors,” Hughes said. “Me and the rest of the team are motivated to push even harder this spring season in honor of them.”