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Volume CII, Issue 6

Grand Opening of Sip & Chill Welcomes Fair Trade, Community Business Alexa Schmidt & Colleen MacNamara

Arts & Entertainment Editor & Staff Writer

Friendly Fridge Is In the Bronx The Last Stop set up a Friendly Fridge, where anyone can take and leave food whenever they like. @THEFRIENDLYFRIDGEBX / COURTESY

The Last Stop Welcomes Friendly Fridge to Fight Food Insecurity Caroline McCarthy Staff Writer

Through participation with a nationwide mutual aid project, a community fridge has been established by two women from the Bronx community to help battle food insecurity.

This fridge —with brightly colored promises of “Free Food” or “Comida Gratis” painted on its side— is located outside of The Last Stop at 242nd Street and Broadway.

The fridge is one of many “Friendly Fridges” across the country, and was organized by Selma Raven, a Manhattan College alumna, and Sara Allen.

The two women saw the need

IN NEWS:

Manhattan Caucus: Electoral College on p. 4

FREE

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 6, 2020

for a mutual aid project that would bring a community closer together, as opposed to traditional charity. Mutual aid refers to the exchange of goods for a mutual benefit, which is what the fridge’s organizers hope to achieve through a “take what you need, leave what you can” initiative.

“There is a misconception that this is the rich helping the poor,” Raven said. “It really isn’t. It’s everyone helping one another.”

Last Stop employees have noticed that all walks of life benefit from the fridge—anyone from senior citizens to young, underemployed men and women. Those who visit the fridge sometimes give and sometimes take.

IN FEATURES: Jaspers Vote on p. 8

Raven and Allen were inspired to take on the project in memory of the former’s son, Michael, an advocate for food security who passed away at the age of 21. “[He] was really passionate about food insecurity,” Raven said. “Especially here, and he was just committed to finding food for people.”

The two first developed the idea for the community fridge on May 18, 2020, the seven year anniversary of Michael’s passing. This nationwide mutual aid project originated in Harlem with the original Friendly Fridge, established under the advisory of Allen’s old acquaintance. __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

The opening of Sip & Chill, a new cafe on campus, offered free food samples, raffles and the opportunity to meet the new staff on Thursday, Oct. 1.

The cafe is located in what was previously known as the Red Mango space in Thomas Hall.

Randall Tomblin, the retail food services manager of the food services on the second floor of Thomas and in Kelly Commons, was excited to share the new concept.

“The goal of the grand opening was just to introduce Manhattan Sip & Chill as a brand to Manhattan College,” Tomblin said.

“The whole inspiration behind it was to break the ice between ourselves and the community and to introduce the fair trade efforts that were put forth and the city style coffee shop,” Tomblin said.

Manhattan Sip & Chill is its own location located right next to Cafe 1853, which will still be in operation. As of now, it will still be a grab-and-go concept.

Jerez Giles, the marketing coordinator for the dining services team, welcomed students as they walked into the new space.

“We try to provide products all students will like, we wanted to keep the old Red Mango skeleton but introduce a new coffee at the same time” Giles said.

In addition to keeping the same food students have previously expressed interest in, two new products were introduced, including Fair Trade coffee and items from a local business.

“We wanted to provide students with popular acaí bowl and smoothie options, and

IN A&E:

Coffee House Returns on p. 10

brought in a bakery from the community, Dutch Baby Bakery,” Tomblin said.

Manhattan College is recognized as an official Fair Trade College, one of the first in New York City and fifth in the nation.

“We also wanted to partner with Counter Culture Coffee, in which they are above the line of fair trade paying over $3 per pound for their coffee,” Tomblin said. “They also have a transparency policy amongst consumers and workers, which allows the growers to see what their coffee is being charged for, and allows consumers to see what they’re paying the growers. We chose to partner with Duthch Baby Bakery and Counter Culture Coffee because we felt that both those companies embodied good principles and took on initiatives we wanted to take on as a company as well.”

“This is a very proud moment for us introducing a new type of coffee that has a heavy fair trade and transparency footprint,” Giles added.

Karah Rempe, owner of Dutch Baby Bakery, and her husband and business partner, Hugo Pinto, appreciate their chance to share their creations with the Manhattan campus. As a small business, Rempe started making cakes in her apartment on the weekends back in 2013.

“I had two small little kids and it was my way to get started and we gradually grew until we became part of an incubator program for small businesses,” Rempe said. “And then a few years ago, we opened into our own space and have continued to grow exponentially.”

Dutch Baby Bakery now supplies about eight to ten __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

IN SPORTS:

LaPointe Accepts Position on New NCAA Group on p. 12

Opinions & Editorials

2

the Quadrangle Volume CII, Issue 6

THE QUADRANGLE

LET T ER from The Editor

Dear readers,

October 6, 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. via Google Meet.

All are welcome to come and join the club.

Connect with The Quadrangle

mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

I don’t know how many of you are like me, but each week I sit on the edge of my seat until we get the weekly update from the One Manhattan office. Last week, as I walked around campus to get food, go to work or go to the library, the previous week’s exciting news of zero new positives kept me feeling secure and confident. Thursday’s email announcing there were five positive test results felt like a punch in the gut. Of course, I know the pandemic is far from over, but five cases is enough to start a cluster, which could lead to an outbreak.

I appreciate being informed, but I, personally, can’t stand the wait for the weekly email. I want to know the number of cases as they pop up; we could theoretically go from five cases to 30 in a day and I would want to know that. Though we have the new virtual COVID-19 dashboard, the dashboard is also only updated once a week. I understand it would be a big undertaking for the school to update us more frequently, but in the face of growing cases, I want to be as informed as possible.

I also understand being over-informed presents another type of anxiety and challenge in technology and communication. There’s no right way for us to be kept informed, but we are allowed to ask questions about it and talk about it. In my mind, I would prefer knowing too much. If you feel strongly either way, please write back to us, let us know how you feel!

I take my precautions — wear my mask, sanitize my hands excessively, avoid touching my face, etc. — and I’m confident that so many of you are doing the same. You can’t stop yourself from getting this virus if you get exposed, but you can control your exposure, so as always I urge you to please be careful.

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.

OCTOBER 6, 2020

Opinions & Editorials

3

Two Sides of the Same Quarantine Lauren Raziano & Adrianne Hutto Contributors

Spending two weeks of your first year in college in an eight by eight isolation room is not what we would call ideal…

On my first day I arrived at 3:30 p.m. and learned that dinner would be served at 5 p.m.

I was told to order through the google sheet for food and also email dining services so I would be able to receive dinner for the night.

When dinner came for the rest of the hall, I did not receive a bag and instead had to reach my roommate in Lee to deliver food to Horan and email a Residence Life director so that they could bring the pizza to my door.

I then scanned the paper and put in my breakfast order for the next day. When filling out the form you must put your name, Manhattan ID number, room number, and any food allergies. Fortunately, I have food allergies of bananas, melon, pineapple and honeydew.

My first morning I was so happy when I received two bags of food for breakfast and I believed it was an apology from the dining staff from the night

before, but when I opened the bag I was shocked. Banana and strawberry yogurt and a carton of sliced pineapple and melon were given to me in the bag.

The two worst things that could have been given to me were now sitting on my desk. I called my mom and complained, how did no one catch this mistake?

Do they not care about my health or safety? What would’ve happened if I had an allergy attack and no one or helped me and I died in this room?

I sent an email immediately to William Atkinson, Area director of Residence Life, and the Dining staff. I received a response from William at 1 p.m. and the dining staff responded at 6 p.m. Frankly, I was astonished that they took so long to respond to my health concern.

After I was told in the dining services email that, “our team will make note of the details below moving forward” I thought I would be safe. I was wrong. I continued to receive fresh bananas in my brown paper bags.

Although the college promised that they were following all COVID restrictions, they were not. The quarantine requirements according to the New York Department of Health states that, “the individual must be situated in separate quarters with a separate bathroom facil-

ity for each individual or family group. Access to a sink with soap, water and paper towels is necessary. Cleaning supplies (e.g. household cleaning wipes, bleach) must be provided in any shared bathroom” They did not give us any cleaning supplies, such as wipes or towels, and only gave three rolls of toilet paper for two weeks. And when emailed about toilet paper they would only give a single roll at a time.

I felt continuously trapped and deprived of any contact with other people. There were no options for me to get any fresh air into my room or to connect with other people during my first two weeks at college, which is a pivotal time for a new freshman.

If my state is on the list two weeks before coming back to Manhattan for the second semester, it would be worth it for me to pay for the Airbnb as I would choose to never go back into Horan Hall ever again.

-Lauren Raziano My mother and Resident Assistance dropped me off in my room for isolation in Horan Hall after moving everything into my dorm in Lee Hall. I was handed a bag with hand sanitizer and a thermometer and a slip of paper with a QR code that

was used for ordering food for the next day. I was exhausted and dehydrated after spending an hour in the car driving to the Bronx and two hours moving everything up to my room. It had not occurred to me that I would have to make sure to provide my own food and water for the first night I was there. I had intended to drink the sink water, however, I learned that the water was off-white and smelled unsanitary. I was lucky that the student in the other room of the suite had an extra water bottle. My mother and I panicked trying to figure out if she was able to drop some off. After discussions with the RA we were informed that she was allowed to provide me with some extra items that I had no idea I would need for quarantine, including toilet paper.

My first night in isolation I scanned the QR code to order my meals for the next morning.

I got bagel and cream cheese for breakfast, a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch, and mac and cheese for dinner. In the morning I received three bags, all of them with a bagel, cream cheese, a fruit cup, an orange and a silverware set. I stopped ordering breakfast and lunch after that.

At lunch, I had the same issue, so when I ordered my meal

for the next day I left a note in the comments section informing them that I had received three orders of everything.

The next morning I heard the food being delivered so I ran out hoping to tell someone that I was receiving too much food. When I did, the man told me that multiple people had had this problem and asked if I wanted to keep the extra food for today. Since it would have just been thrown out, I decided to keep them.

As a result of the excess food and the lack of a working trash shoot, the trash room began to pile up with brown paper bags. Because I would still get extra meals on occasion and would not finish the ones I was given, most of my food got thrown out.

By the last three days of quarantine I was tired of eating the same three or four meals, so I decided to use Uber Eats until I was able to leave the isolation and go back to my dorm.

While the variety of the food was there, for anyone who has to spend two weeks in quarantine at Horan Hall, the meals become repetitive and undesirable.

- Adrianne Hutto

[LEFT & ABOVE] Examples of meals served to students quarantining in Horan Hall.

LAUREN RAZIANO & ADRIANNE HUTTO / COURTESY

News

4

THE QUADRANGLE

Manhattan Caucus: Understanding the Electoral College Sophia Sakellariou and Kyla Guilfoil Senior Writer & Staff Writer

On election night of 2016, ballots were counted and Hillary Clinton was leading the popular vote by nearly 3 million votes. When the Electoral College votes came in and she lost, people wondered: “what happened?”

“The idea of a national vote is an illusion, we don’t have a national election, we have 50 individual state elections,” Jonathan Keller, an assistant professor of political science at Manhattan College, said.

“Trump won enough of those 50 individual state elections to get over 270 [electoral votes].”

The Electoral College dates back to Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution and ensures that every state has a meaningful voice in the electoral process. It is a group of people appointed by each state who formally elect the president and vice president of the United States.

The Founding Fathers created this body because they didn’t trust the people to make electoral decisions on their own. They wanted the president chosen by what they thought of as “enlightened

statesmen” that would elect the best candidate for the nation.

“The electoral college premised on the same kind of states rights ideas as the Senate, and those were really important parts of the Federalist Compromise that makes the formation of the United States work,” Jordan Pascoe, a professor of philosophy, women and gender studies, and critical race and ethnicity studies, said.

The Constitution specifies how many electors each state is entitled to have. Since 1964 there have been 538 electors, meaning that a candidate must receive 270 electoral votes to win a majority and in turn, the presidency.

The number of electors is equal to the total voting membership of the United States Congress — 435 representatives plus 100 senators and 3 electoral votes from the District of Columbia. Each state receives a particular number of electors based on population size. New York has 29 electoral votes and Montana only has 3, even though it is larger on a map, it’s much smaller population accounts for the discrepancy. When the census is conducted every 10 years, some states will gain and others will lose electoral votes based on population shifts. The 2020 census will not have a bearing on the upcoming election, but will

in 2024.

On rare occasions — only 5 out of 58 presidential elections in the history of the U.S .— a candidate can win the popular vote and still lose the presidency, as was the case in 2016.

This means that the winner may have won and collected their electoral votes by small margins, winning just enough states with just enough electoral votes. The losing candidate may have gained more than 50% of the ballots cast by voters, but failed to gain 270 of the electoral votes.

This creates an unfair advantage for certain states because the winning candidate could have not received a single vote in 39 states and still win the election because they won the popular vote in the 11 states with the most number of electoral votes. Presidents don’t campaign in all states, rather only “swing states” whose electoral votes can go either way as they are not clear red or blue states. In this election cycle, the swing states include Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin and Iowa.

This is significant because if say the Republican party wins the popular vote in Florida, which has 29 electoral votes, all of the electoral votes will go to the Republican candidate.

This is why many candi-

dates want to win large states such as Texas, Florida and New York because these states have a large amount of electoral votes, totaling 96. If you totaled the 8 states with the smallest number of electoral votes, they would only gain 31 electoral votes.

“It’s unfair to any state that is not close because there’s no reason to campaign there.

What it does is distorts our election,” Keller said. However, he explained that this does present one advantage to the electoral college.

A large amount of money is spent on politics already and candidates only campaign in a handful of states—those swing states that can be the deciding factor in the election.

If the electoral college was not in the picture and candidates had to campaign across the nation — think massive campaign organizations in large states such as California where candidates don’t campaign currently — campaign spending would likely increase by billions of dollars.

It can also be argued that the electoral college protects small states such as Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island and even geographically large states with a small population such as Wyoming, Alaska and North and South Dakota.

A candidate can’t completely

ignore small states because in a close election, every electoral vote counts.

After the results of 2016, many people wonder if they should bother voting. Dr. Keller said that this is a hard question to answer.

“Even though the popular vote, according to the rules, doesn’t produce the winner, I think it has a kind of moral legitimacy,” Keller said. “It’s a very bad look for the loser of the presidential election to win. No other country in the world has a system that way, it’s not good when that happens. Whatever party you support you should never think that’s a good thing because it makes clear that you have minority and majority presidents.”

He suggests looking to elections at a local level. Congressional races, city-wide races or state races in your area provide opportunities to shift power over time because every vote carries equal weight.

“Go out and vote. In terms of the electoral college and this election the most you can do is vote.” Joanna Canigiani, a sophomore and president of the Manhattan College Government and Politics club, said.

Pascoe thinks the electoral college will impact the upcoming election.

“People in New York, people in California need to vote because it is so critical,” Pascoe said “If we end up with another division between the popular vote and the electoral vote, that gap is as big as it can possibly be. We have to start illustrating the failures of the electoral college.”

To follow predictions on the electoral votes for the upcoming presidential election, check out the interactive map at this link: https://www.cnn. com/election/2020/electoral-college-interactive-maps.

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[LEFT] CNN predicts the way each state will sway in the electoral college.

EMILY HOLLAR / THE QUADRANGLE -----------------------------------------------------

News

OCTOBER 6, 2020

The Last Stop Welcomes Friendly Fridge to Fight Food Insecurity

__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We started talking about it,” Allen said. “[Selma] said, you know, Michael would have really loved that. So it was auspicious timing.”

The fridge was purchased on a whim—only two hours after seeing the original post on Instagram—without concerns for how or even where it would operate. Raven and Allen went door to door on Broadway asking shop owners to use their storefront as a home for their fridge.

“The first place we went to said ‘absolutely not. We don’t want that kind of people around,’” Allen said.

The two faced three more rejections but eventually found a location for their project, ironically at their “Last Stop.”

Owner PD Singh welcomed the Friendly Fridge as a way to give back to the community after seeing first hand the effect COVID-19 had on its residents.

In an interview with Bloomberg QuickTake posted on The Last Stop’s instagram page, Singh said, “We were closed due to COVID for two months. And then coming back, we knew we wanted to do something for the community but we didn’t know how to go about it.”

After being approached by Raven and Allen, Singh provided the space and the electricity for the fridge, and currently contributes leftover food from the restaurant each night.

“Every night when I leave, the fridge is full,” said Singh, “And every morning when I come back, it’s empty. It keeps itself running.”

The food inside the fridge comes from local residents, businesses, and whoever else has food to spare. This cause helps eliminate some of the food America wastes every year.

“We’re looking to rescue food that is not going to be used,” Raven said. “Perfectly good food is redirected to the

fridge. We’ve seen in the four months there is a huge need.”

This fridge, now complete with organized shifts and over 300 volunteers, started with nothing. And nowadays, community involvement prompts fundraisers to donate to the upkeep and maintenance required to keep it running smoothly.

The fridge’s true cost is the labor that goes into stocking and sanitizing the fridge. On average, the fridge is emptied two the three times per day, while sanitized twice every 24 hours.

However, the owners are seeking additional help to keep the fridge going.

“We are hoping Manhattan College will come and collaborate with us in terms of helping us come up with ideas to expand this or just maintain it,” said Raven.

Raven and Allen are also urging Manhattan College dining services to donate their leftover food despite rumors of liability.

“There is a popular myth that they can be held liable for

food poisoning,” said Allen. “If you’re not selling food, you’re not held liable.”

Raven and Allen believe donating leftover Locke’s Loft food would be as simple as placing it in an unmarked container, writing that day’s date on it, and delivering it to the fridge.

This would eliminate the food wasted by the college and feed struggling members of the Riverdale community.

Manhattan College students interested in working with The Last Stop on this project may inquire about it at the restaurant or reach out to contact Sara Allen to be added to a WhatsApp group. Contact information can be found on the side of the refrigerator.

“I think we need help cleaning and compositing if that’s possible,” Allen said. “Our biggest goal, outside of feeding people, is to make sure that anything that’s going to be wasted is put in the fridge.”

Food waste and insecurity affects a staggering amount of college students each year. By

5

aiding in the Friendly Fridge’s process, you are potentially feeding a classmate, peer or even friend. According to Allen, 45 percent of college students experience a degree of food insecurity at some point in their education.

There is no way of knowing when someone who gives may someday need to take. This is what separates the Friendly Fridge from charity and instead makes it a mutual aid. Anyone struggling with food insecurity, regardless of their status, is welcome to find a meal at this fridge.

“I don’t want people being ashamed because if you need it, this is for you,” Singh said.

“This is for everybody. We’re a part of something super amazing right now.”

Follow @TheFriendlyFridgeBx on instagram for more updates on the fridge and to donate to their GoFundMe.

Grand Opening of Sip & Chill Welcomes Fair Trade and Community Business

__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

restaurants and cafe shops daily — mostly from Harlem northward — with Manhattan College now included.

“We feel really happy and proud to be a partner and be here on campus,” Rempe said.

“It’s a really great opportunity for us as a small family owned business.”

Tomblin wanted to create something unique on campus that wasn’t necessarily a namebrand coffee company and that’s why Rempe bakery was a perfect fit.

“Everything from Dutch Baby Bakery is phenomenal, she really puts her heart into what she does and has a great product,” he said.

Karah Rempe grew up around baking; her grandmother worked at a Dutch bakery where Rempe used to visit and learn the trade.

“Baking is all about family,” Rempe said. “We’re called Dutch Baby Bakery because I’m Dutch. I learned baking from my Dutch grandmother who worked at a Dutch bakery and all of her friends used

to speak Dutch in the bakery.

As a kid, it just seemed like a magical place to me where you could get a cream puff and just sit and listen and let people be really nice to you.

“To me, baking has always been a way to take care of people and express that kind of love and gratitude,” Rempe said. “So our sort of mantra at the bakery is that everything we make is something we’d be proud to serve for our family. Everything we make is just incredibly fresh and best the day of, we don’t use preservatives so it’s meant to be enjoyed right at that moment. I love making seasonal products with really fresh ingredients and that’s part of why our menu does change.”

The space of Sip&Chill is intended to encourage students to hangout, study and enjoy their favorite treats on campus.

“We’re not just a random company coming in with a different situation, we are a part of the community. It is very important to us that the students know we are here for them, to serve them and make this experience as comfortable as possible,” Giles said.

The Grand Opening of Sip & Chill on Oct. 1, which is located next to Cafe 1853 on the second floor of Thomas Hall.

ALEXA SCHMIDT / THE QUADRANGLE

Features

6

THE QUADRANGLE

The Pandemic, Protests, and Polls: CMSA’s “A Slice of Social Justice” Explains It All Jilleen Barrett & Jocelyn Visnov

Asst. A&E Editor & Staff Writer The Campus Ministry and Social Action suite hosted “A Slice of Social Justice” on Wednesday, Sept 30. The purpose of this virtually-held event, that is part of a series of events, was to draw attention to disaster-related protests and the role they play in social justice.

Jordan Pascoe and Mitch Stripling hosted the event with help from CMSA Graduate Assistant Naouras Mousa Almatar.

In addition to being the Co-Director of the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center, Pascoe is a philosopher with a focus on theorizing oppression and agency, and Stripling is an emergency manager and disaster planner currently working to fight the virus.

This is not the pair’s first time holding a Slice of Social Justice event together, as they have held them after several

hurricanes and during the ebola outbreak in 2014. However, this one was different, as the topic of disaster hits close to home for the United States. Not only was the event held online due to the continuing pandemic — taking away the tradition of serving pizza to attendees — but it was also during an election year and in the midst of many protests across the nation.

While all involved may have preferred to hold the Slice of Social Justice in-person, the virtual version was a success. Almatar gave his initial thoughts following the event in an email.

“The event was truly incredible,” Almatar wrote. “The things that I’ve learned about disasters change how we function as a society, and how we work around that were very teaching. I think it was one of the best talks I’ve heard because of how clearly explained everything was despite its complexity.”

During the event, Pascoe

Jordan Pascoe and Mitch Stripling hosted the event with help from CMSA graduate assistant Naouras Mousa Almatar.

JOCELYN VISNOV / THE QUADRANGLE

spoke about the ways in which varying world events can have an impact on one another.

“I think it’s important to think about current events in an interrelated way,” Pascoe

The purpose of this event was to draw attention to disaster-related protests and the role they play in social justice.

JOCELYN VISNOV / THE QUADRANGLE

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wrote in an email. “The protests this summer have been deeply shaped by the pandemic; the election is being shaped by both the pandemic and the protests. Understanding how disasters shape social change is crucial to understanding what disasters are.”

Almatar continued, writing that he found Pascoe’s remarks about U.S disaster relief particularly interesting.

“Learning more about how the U.S. does disaster relief was a very interesting thing to learn, especially knowing that it doesn’t function to better people’s situation after the disaster had passed, but rather to bring them back to where they were before the disaster,” he wrote.

“So if you’re poor, you’re going back to being poor. If you were rich and the disaster made you poor, the government’s disaster response will help you get back to being rich.”

This event was very well received, not only those who

Q

hosted it but by students in attendance. Junior Jana Clark was one of the event’s attendees.

“The pandemic turned into a racially charged narrative,” Clark said. “It really surprised me to learn that the logic behind the Black Lives Matter protests were inline with the logic of the public health response to the pandemic. This was the first time I had attended Slice of Social Justice and my only regret is that I didn’t start sooner. I have always been very passionate about social justice and fighting for minority rights, therefore, I try to take advantage of any learning opportunities to expand my knowledge on the topic.”

Features

OCTOBER 6, 2020

7

All of Us Retreat: A Day of Learning Alexa Schmidt A&E Editor

On Saturday, Sept. 26, the Multicultural Center sponsored the socially distanced in-person, “All of Us” retreat in Kelly Commons. In past years, this retreat allowed participants to stay overnight for the weekend, but due to health and safety guidelines, the retreat was turned into one day filled with discussions and fun activities.

Small groups, deep discussions and self-reflection was possible due to the smaller number of participants. Jana Clark, a junior communication major, was one of the attendees.

“The purpose of the retreat was to participate in small

group discussions and activities in which we talked about social justice, diversity and exploring our personal and individual identities which was really cool,” Clark said.

The retreat was open to all students, including those that have previously participated.

Sophomore Cal Lepkowski attended last year, and made the decision to attend this year’s as well.

“Last year I just wanted to get to know and meet people,” Lepkowski said. “Also I know how diverse the Multicultural Center is and fortunately I was able to grow up in a diverse town so it was kind of nice to get that refresher basically.”

In addition to group activities, the retreat opened up people’s perspectives through

guided topics and free-flowing conversations.

“It’s important to learn about this kind of stuff because even if you just say things as a joke, who knows what certain way a person can take it, so that’s the lesson I took from it,” Lepkowski said.

Clark is no stranger to self-reflection and getting involved. A previous Lasallian Outreach Volunteer Experience leader, Kairos participant and volunteer work with the CMSA, Clark embraced the retreat with open arms.

“I think doing a lot of self-reflection, like learning about what your values are and how you can be more effective as a leader, and being aware of people’s different backgrounds and that everyone may not be-

lieve the same things that you do,” Clark said. “Everyone just comes from so many different walks of life that always remembering that and keeping that in mind I think is really important, just in life in general.”

Clark loves constantly learning about social justice issues, and continuing the conversation with others.

“I guess for a while I’ve always just been very interested in the nonprofit sector but it wasn’t until I got to college that I was actually able to dive really deeply into environmentalism and women’s rights and really learn about those things,” Clark said. “From then on I’ve wanted to keep doing it, keep exploring it, and so I guess my passion really just started then and I’ve just been riding that

since.”

While it is important to be in the present at retreats like this, there are takeaways that participants can practice in their daily lives. Junior attendee Ben Bagbek learned a lot about the connection between leadership and perspective.

“One thing I’m definitely going to take away is that not everybody understands the same stuff as you do and I learned how to be a better leader in all of the involvements I have, like being more clear with instructions, just being more patient, because not everyone has the same access to information,” Bagbek said.

Brothers Give Back Amid Pandemic Crisis Katie Heneghan Web Editor

COVID-19 has taken its financial toll on so many families, businesses and especially colleges, however, the Lasallian Brothers at Manhattan College took it upon themselves to try and ease the burden that the pandemic has put on the college and its students.

As Lasallians, the Brothers take a vow of poverty, meaning that when they received their $12000 government stimulus checks this year from the Federal Government, the Brothers decided the money could be put to better use.

Brother Jack Curran is one

of the Brothers that opted to donate the money.

“We all sent these checks to our DENA office, and then our DENA office sent some of these funds to the College through their committee to assist students in need,” he wrote via email.

DENA, standing for “District of Eastern North America”, is the governing body of the Lasallian Mission. It includes Lasallian schools from Toronto all the way down to Florida. The Brothers also received a special COVID grant from DENA, which they again chose to donate.

“The second special COVID-related gift came from DENA funds (not federal gov-

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ernment stimulus funds),” Curran wrote. “This second gift just recently went to the college to assist with COVID related expenses, including technology upgrades and student financial aid– all related to COVID.”

Typically, the Brothers give one special financial gift to the college each year. Given the extenuating circumstances surrounding the pandemic, the Brothers made additional donations, upholding many of the Lasallian values the college prides itself on, such as concern for the poor and social justice, as well as investing in quality education.

Lois Harr, vice president of Campus Ministry and Social Action, admires the Brother’s

commitment to Lasallian values amid the pandemic.

“I think it’s about showing in a very concrete way how we are a community, and the Brothers, because of the way that they live in simplicity, and they have everything they need,” Harr said. “They ended up with something extra and they felt like they should share that where there was another need. If you think about another Lasallian value, excellence in education, they can help a school that’s operating as a Lasallian institution stay afloat and provide what it does for other people.”

With the heavy focus on education within the Lasallian values, the Brothers take it

upon themselves to provide whatever they can for the college and its mission, with assistance from the outside world.

Given the financial impact of the pandemic on the college, the Brothers decided to make their own impact in a different way: by giving back.

“If you look at what De La Salle talks a lot about in his writings, he always talked about how students were entrusted to our care,” Harr said. “If someone is entrusted to your care, it means that you should be taking good care of them. So sharing, and helping an institution stay a little more viable — I think the Brothers felt that this was a very concrete way to help out a school in need.”

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Features

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THE QUADRANGLE

Jaspers Vote Encourages Voter Engagement on Campus Christine Nappi & Jilleen Barrett

Features Editor & Asst. A&E Editor Exercising the right to vote is one of the main actions Jaspers Vote is hoping the college community will take in the upcoming election. Despite apprehension or confusion felt during the voting process, Esmilda Abreu-Hornbostel, the dean of students and activist for Jaspers Vote, puts the act of voting as this: “nobody has the right to sit down and feel hopeless, there’s too much work to do.” She finds that this quote, spoken by the political and social activist Dorothy Day, sums up what Jaspers Vote is all about: inspiring others to vote and make a difference in their country.

Jaspers Vote is the college’s voter engagement committee that formed this past year in an effort to create conversation and awareness about the voting process. The purpose of the committee is to educate Jaspers about voting and encourage them to take part in elections.

“It’s a concerted effort by the college to try to bring as many people together towards voter engagement,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “The idea is to try to get as many students empowered to understand the voting process ... it’s not just increased registration but it’s also this place or space where people can ask their particular questions.”

Abreu-Hornbostel, along with the rest of the committee, encourages students to ask questions, whether it be about registering to vote or seeking resources to determine who to vote for. One of the main goals is to simply spark conversation on the topic.

“This is what we’re trying to do is trying to encourage people to at least have a place to go to ask for information,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “Maybe talk about anything particular to their case or their scenario, that might need attention and try to connect people up with resources.”

Chris Machol, a sophomore finance and economics major, is actively involved in Jaspers Vote. Machol works with the rest of the committee to spread the word about voting, man registration tables, host debate watch parties and brainstorm ideas to encourage voting. He described the main purpose of Jaspers Vote as providing resources to students and raising awareness about voting, while aiming to diminish any confusion among

students about the registration and voting process.

“We provide resources to people so that they’re able to vote,” Machol said. “It’s good to just have this committee, this organization that is dedicated to helping students find out all that information.”

Some of the resources include information on how to register to vote in each state and how to obtain an absentee ballot. The committee also serves as an outlet for students to raise their questions and concerns. Jaspers Vote additionally has an Instagram page, @ mc_jaspersvote that provides further information.

Margaret Groarke, a professor of political science and moderator of the government and politics club, explained in an email that they hope to increase the percentage of people at the college who vote in the upcoming election.

“The purpose [of Jaspers Vote] is to increase the civic participation of our student body,” Groarke wrote. “In the 2016 election, 50.4 percent of Manhattan College students voted. Our goal this year is to make that number at least 57 percent.”

Another purpose of Jaspers Vote is to show students that their voice matters, according to Machol. He finds voting to be important because of how many people fought for voting rights, and because it helps maintain a healthy democracy.

“The purpose of Jaspers Vote is to raise political awareness and make people realize that their political voice matters, and to help understand that we live in a democracy and so that means you have the right to vote so you might as well utilize that,” Machol said.

“And if you complain about politics and you don’t vote, then you don’t have anything to complain about.”

The committee believes the general act of voting is important, however Abreu-Hornbostel described that voting in this election in particular is extremely important.

One issue Abreu-Hornbostel raises is the complications brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

“This year because of COVID, [Jaspers Vote] is actually taking on a different flavor, it’s more about what are the things to think about that can make your vote invalid, and how do I become aware of that so that I don’t make those mistakes and so that my vote counts,” Abreu-Hornbostel said.

She described how voting will be different this year with the pandemic preventing some

people from being able to go to the polls and opting for mail-in ballots instead. She noted how paying attention to the details of mail-in ballots, such ensuring it’s filled out correctly and placed in a privacy envelope, is critical.

“We’re really trying to get as many of us registered to vote [and] aware of the difficulties during COVID, because now mailing has become much more complicated,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “All those little details that normally are not an issue when you’re coming in person, are going to become an issue.”

Another issue she raised with this election in particular is the divergence between the two parties on issues of great importance that the country is currently facing.

“We’re not a multi-party system, we claim to be, but really a two party system and it’s unfortunate because what it does is it kind of puts one against the other, as to opposed to if we were really able to look at the multiparty system that we could really look at all these issues a lot more comprehensively,” Abreu-Hornbostel said.

As a solution to this, Abreu-Hornbostel suggests that students reach out to Jaspers Vote to learn more about how they can become more educated on the topics at hand.

She also encourages students to look at Voter411.org and PewResearch.org.

“In our case, we’ve got to know the issues of the month

Students interested in getting involved in Jaspers Vote can contact jaspersvote@manhattan.edu. @MC_JASPERSVOTE/ COURTESY or the issues of the year to really know which party is going to represent that issue best,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “And because we tend to be a two party system, we tend to go all in one way or the other and not necessarily understand the issues at play.”

From now until the election on Nov. 3, Jaspers Vote will continue to serve as a resource for students. They plan to work with the Student Government Association and the Campus Ministry and Social Action to create a difficult dialogue series centered around voting, as a way for students to share what issues they are concerned with and to ask questions.

Students interested in getting involved in Jaspers Vote can contact jaspersvote@ manhattan.edu. Students are encouraged to voice their questions and concerns to the committee, so that Jaspers Vote can achieve the goal of inspiring the community to vote and make a difference.

“It’s really important not to let your life pass by without engaging in the things that we care about,” Abreu-Hornbostel said. “We need opportunities for engagement in this conversation, and we need students’ voices in this.”

The college’s voter engagement committee, known as Jaspers Vote, creates conversation and awareness about the voting process and encourages students to vote.

CHRISTINE NAPPI / THE QUADRANGLE

Arts & Entertainment

OCTOBER 6, 2020

9

Performer Profile: Olivia Herrera Brian Asare Photography Editor Olivia Herrera, a freshman from Long Island on the pre-law track with hopes of minoring in musical theater, has loved singing ever since she was young.

She’d sing to anyone and everyone that would listen.

“A particular time in my life where my interests developed was with my first grade teacher,” Hererra said. “She would

have the class learn music and sing to make the class more interesting. From then on I would always sign up for every extracurricular class that was music-related. There would be many opportunities to sing and perform in my schools, such as chorus and music since 3rd grade, orchestra, band, and musical theater club. I have continued performing ever since.”

“I’ve had a love to perform since I was very young. Ever

Portrait of Olivia Herrera.

OLIVIA HERRERA / COURTESY

since I could remember I would sing in front of anyone I could,” Hererra said.

Before coming to Manhattan College, Hererra participated in many different events where she worked on improving her voice and performance ability.

“For years I’ve been in many musical theater productions such as Legally Blonde, High school musical, Shrek plus many more,” Hererra said.

“As well as musical theater, I’ve been in groups like show choir and chorus. After becoming represented by agents it has allowed me to attend many auditions and performances vocally.”

Her journey did not end when she came to MC. She is involved with several groups on campus where she uses her vocal talents and performance ability to the fullest.

“On campus, I am involved in the Singers, which is a chorus group, as well as the music ministry which is a group of singers who sing at each mass,” she said. “I am also in the players club which is a theater group that is currently performing a cabaret.”

Out of the many different genres of music, Hererra loves to focus more on singing and performing various songs from musical theaters and Broadway shows. She also loves to perform many songs for sopranos operas, such as Ave Maria.

When it comes to being on stage to perform these songs, many people tend to deal with the problems of stage fright or anxiety in many different ways.

Herrera on stage performing.

OLIVIA HERRERA / COURTESY Hererra deals with it by knowing her songs inside and out.

“It is very normal to feel shyness before you go on stage,” Hererra said. “A helpful tip is before you get on stage, the more you know your song the more comfortable you will be. Be confident in yourself.

That is the best way to get over the fear.”

Just like many performing arts students on campus

and around the world, Olivia dreams of being in big musicals on the stage to use talents of performing and singing to explore various career opportunities in music and the art of performing.

“One day, I hope to be on the Broadway stage, although auditions for television and commercials are great,” Herrera said. “I hope to use my singing talent to pursue a career.”

Film Society Brings Students Together in Time of COVID Shannon Gleba and Jasmine Allen

Copy Editor and Contributor This semester has been nothing short of untraditional.

Everyone has had to adapt to a new way of doing things in light of current safety measures, including Manhattan College’s Film Society.

In the past, the Film Society would organize viewing parties of numerous films throughout the year and hold intellectual discussions after each one.

Additionally, the organization would often take trips that had relevance to film, and they would have guests from the film industry come speak on campus. The club has held onto the tradition of choosing a theme for the year’s films. This year’s theme is social justice.

President of the Film Society, junior Regan Alejo, reminisced on what the members would typically do together in the past.

“For the most part we watch and discuss movies,” Alejo said.

“Sometimes we have special events like game nights or Oscar parties. Before quarantine we had a few outings like going to the theater together and such. We’ve been planning a trip to the Museum of the Moving Image for a while now too but COVID put a damper in those plans. Overall, we just do anything related to film that we think would be enjoyable for our members.”

Despite the fact that these events will have to be different this year, the Film Society is ready to get started. Margaret Toth, a professor of English at MC and the advisor for the Film Society, has overseen the

planning of some events to keep members active.

“We have various virtual events planned, including watch parties, film discussions [along the lines of a book club model], script readings, trivia events, and possible virtual tours and museums,” Toth said. “We are also considering a short screenplay competition.”

Alejo also shared some of the club’s planned events.

“Since we can’t meet in person anymore we unfortunately had to change a lot about the way we ran things,” she said.

“For one, we’ve adapted our screenings and discussions to be online and over Google meet. Our themed viewings are going to run more like how book clubs do where we watch the selected movie beforehand and have the presenter lead a discussion online instead.

Game nights and script read-

ings will be run online too.

On top of that, our alternative to our outings will be virtual museum tours and Netflix parties.”.

Alfonse Calato, a senior and the Film Society’s director of special events, wants all students to know they are welcome to join the Film Society in whatever capacity they would like.

“If you like movies, even if it’s just casually, the Film Society is an excellent club that can be the club you go to for deep film discussions or the club you go to just to watch a movie,” Calato said.

Marissa Washington ‘19, a previous president for the film society, raved that it seems as though the Film Society has been a success for years, and this one will be no different.

“It was doing well before I started running it, too,” Wash-

ington said.

Toth also encourages students to get involved, especially during such uncertain times.

“I believe film is essential right now,” said Toth. “Since its inception, film as an art form has brought people together.

While we now often watch films alone — sometimes on small screens like computers or even our phones — it’s important to remember that it is, at heart, a communal art, meant to be consumed among others. This year we will find creative ways to maintain that sense of community. I also believe that literature, film, and other modes of art take on more power in moments of cultural crisis. They not only allow us to see our world in new ways but also help us work through our fears and identify pockets of hope.”

Arts & Entertainment

10

THE QUADRANGLE

Coffee House Returns (Without the Coffee) Gabriella DePinho Editor-In-Cheif

Sanctus Artem’s popular monthly event, “Coffee House”, returned in-person for an evening of music and camaraderie on the quadrangle, without any coffee in sight.

On Monday, Sept. 28, following proper COVID-19 protocols, all performers and attendees wore masks, sat at least six feet apart and did not share food or drink, as is customary for the event. At the peak of the event, the crowd was 45-large, one of the largest audiences the event has seen, according to one of the hosts.

“We were a little scared,” Chantal Flores, a fifth-year civil engineering student and cohost of Coffee House said. “We did a quad Coffee House once in the past and it was great but the difference this time was wearing masks, being socially distanced.”

However, the safely distanced crowd also pleased the hosts.

“We got a bigger crowd than we were expecting and a lot of people signed up,” Joseph Corrao, a junior civil engineering student and Coffee House co-host said.

Flores added, “It being a really nice night tonight really did something for us.”

Corrao and Flores were joined by a new event co-host, Luis Chavez, a sophomore sound studies major, who was excited to be part of the pro-

cess.

“It was really fun,” Chavez said. “I found out over the summer and I got to meet Joe and Chantal a little more. I’m very familiar with the music department because of my major and my involvement in the performing arts but it was really fun.

Getting the stuff together was a bit of learning here and there but it’s fun and once you get the stuff together, things just happen.”

The evening kicked off with Flores and Chavez performing a rendition of “Shallow” from the hit 2018 film, “A Star is Born.” Just a few minutes later, Chavez joined first-time performer freshman George Callaghan for a rendition of John Legend’s “All of Me.” Callaghan has been playing the piano for eight and a half years.

“It was my first time having someone sing with me in front of people,” he said. “I’m not comfortable playing in front of people that well but I want to get out of my shell. I wanted to pick the [song] that I knew best so even if I had a little brain lapse or something, I would still remember the whole thing.”

Junior Joseph DiOrio performed a handful of songs on his blue guitar, kicking off with Nirvana and getting the crowd involved with his rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.” The Oscar Tangos, a trio led by senior civil engineering major Cristina Catana, performed a small set that got audience members dancing, singing along and laughing.

Catana is the only current Manhattan College student in the trio, but once the group heard that Coffee House was coming back, they knew they had to attend.

“We love being here, we love being Jaspers so we knew we had to go for another round,” Catana said.

The members of The Oscar Tangos met as members of Manhattan College’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 560 and were inspired by Dos Gringos, a folk rock band that was started by two Air Force F-16 pilots, who they pay homage to with each performance. This time, it was with Dos Gringos’ song “Jeremiah Weed.”

“Normally we do a couple more [Dos Gringos songs] but we’ve kind of expanded our repertoire,” she said.

The event, which began at 8 p.m. saw the last of the crowd disperse around 10 p.m., which meant that for two hours, the quadrangle was full of crooners, guitarists and students just happy to be out of their room with something to do.

“It’s a great way to meet new people or start socializing through music,” Chavez said.

“You’re sitting near people and you start talking and you meet people, I know I did.”

No matter if a student performed one song, multiple songs or were just there to have a good time listening, the hosts want students to know that Coffee House is for everyone.

“The arts, they’re still happening, no matter what,” Flores said. “We’re still here, we’re

TOP: Hosts Joe Corrao and Chantal Flores perform a rendition of a Harry Styles song together.

BOTTOM: After performing together, Chavez and Callaghan took the opportunity to hang out and enjoy the next performers together.

GABRIELLA DEPINHO / THE QUADRANGLE still doing it.”

With the success of the outdoor Coffee House, which Sanctus Artem had only attempted once before, the hosts intend to do it again in October.

Regardless of whether Coffee House can be on the quad-

rangle or will have to be held virtually, Coffee House will be around all semester for students to enjoy.

“We’ll definitely have one next month,” Flores said. “But November we’ll have to figure out.”

Relaxing in 2020: Seems Like A Stretch Cort Dylan Koss Contributor

There are few places better to be than the quadrangle on a September evening, and better yet, a place to find your center and catch your breath. Sunset yoga on the quad has become a staple of the Manhattan College Fitness & Wellness Center’s outdoor programs.

Jay Ahmed, director of fitness & wellness at the college, wanted to make sure his department offered plenty of options for the student body.

“This year we wanted to make a big push on our end as far as student life,” Ahmed said.

Since the only option for fitness classes on campus is outdoors, Ahmed wanted to make sure the student body has access to a variety of options until the fitness center re-opens.

His department is currently holding several other socially distanced outdoor fitness programs such as mixed-martial

arts, taekwondo, and total-body bootcamps.

“Take a deep breath, and focus your energy to that one spot that has really been nagging you this week,” Kerry Donegan, co-owner of Bronx Yoga Lab, and one of the yoga instructors teaching on campus this semester, said during one of the classes.

This local studio has stepped up to offer the student body something desperately needed: a way to slow down and regain focus. Donegan specializes in a discipline of yoga called yin, which, she said “is a very focused thing, something that is very slow and finding out about your own body.”

Donegan, who has lived in the neighborhood for over 20 years, is happy to be on campus sharing her passion for yoga with the student body. Her enthusiasm was clear as she meticulously guided each student into a proper form. She noticed when anyone had trouble with certain movements and would

stop to help straighten them out.

“Moving mindfully is really important, no matter what you are doing, whether you are playing lacrosse, football, or soccer,” Donegan said. “Injury often happens because you are attacking something. And sometimes by slowing down and thinking about how you are moving, and doing something like yoga or Pilates to offset the impact or pressure your body takes from the other sports that you do can be really useful in helping not only to build strength and stamina and flexibility but also to avoid injury.”

With a semester unlike any other well underway, many students require opportunities to be mindful, reduce stress, and heal from injuries.

“For those who may have not suffered an injury, and gone through physical therapy, finding awareness in your body can be challenging,” Donegan said.

Students like Schulyer Al-

paugh, a junior English and philosophy major, really appreciate the options. Like many students, Alpaugh is on a tight budget and loves having a free yoga class right on campus.

She has attended many of the sunset yoga sessions.

“I started doing yoga in high school, as one of my gym electives senior year,” Alpaugh said. “Hopefully, it doesn’t get too cold and they continue to do it.”

Ahmed also believes the need for these classes came from a place of need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ”The thing about our industry is that people are hungry,” Ahmed said. “The whole industry was shut down and unless you were passionate about it and made it happen on your own, there was nothing.”

New restrictions and social distancing protocols have changed nearly everything about fitness & wellness.

Ahmed, in his second year in charge of fitness & wellness,

took this challenge as an opportunity to learn about what outdoor fitness methods appeal to the student body.

“I started total-body bootcamps to gauge the interest of classes,” he said. “Even though there were not many people on campus, those that came out gave ideas on how to organize outdoor group activities in the safest way possible,” Now in its third year, the yoga program has been well-received at Manhattan College. There is an appreciation among students who want to slow down and focus on oneself, which has become increasingly difficult in a place like New York City. Yoga allows the opportunity to do exactly that; it is like housekeeping for the body.

“It is one hour of my day where I don’t have to look at any screens, I don’t have to do anything else except focus on my breathing, and check in with what I am doing.” Alpaugh said.

Sports

OCTOBER 6, 2020

11

SAAC Continues Efforts Despite No Sports Shannon Gleba Staff Writer

Despite the cancellation of fall athletic competition at Manhattan College, the college’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, also known as SAAC, has continued to plan events in order to keep student-athlete leaders involved. Under the leadership of softball player Emma Kindblom, the president of Manhattan SAAC for the 2020-2021 academic school year, this semester is going to be filled with many annual events, along with some new virtual activities.

Kindblom, a senior exercise science major, applied to become president of Manhattan SAAC after being part of the committee since her freshman year.

“I got involved with SAAC my freshman year, and I was just a member, I attended group meetings,” Kindblom

said. “Then sophomore year, I was a rep for the softball team, and junior year I was the social chair on the e-board. So, it was not a huge role but I kept progressing my involvement, and this year I am the president of SAAC.” Erin Prevo, a junior marketing major and member of the volleyball team, had a similar experience when she applied to be vice president of Manhattan SAAC after being involved since 2018.

“As a freshman I went to all of the meetings, I would get all of the information and bring it back to my team,” Prevo said.

“Last year I was the social media chair — I ran the Instagram and Twitter [accounts] — and this year I applied to be VP and I am so happy to be here under Emma.”

Entering these positions during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic changes the way the organization operates, but also opens up a new

set of possibilities for athletes to participate virtually. Athletes will be invited to participate in the annual Tunnel to Towers run, Breast Cancer Awareness walk, and a suicide prevention walk, which is a new addition to the SAAC’s lineup of events.

The executive board believes there will be an even greater number of athletes looking to get involved because fall athletes no longer have to devote all of their time to training or competing, since the fall season was canceled.

However, what Kindblom and Prevo find to be the most important this year is the initiative to get all student athletes registered to vote, especially for the upcoming presidential election.

“Our main mission is the voter initiative this year,” Prevo said. “We have really been pushing that this year, especially with such an important election coming up. It is easy to say that we should all already be

registered, and be active participants in voting, but that just is not the case. As student athletes, this is as big of a time as any to use our voices as student athletes to push our legislation and be active participants.”

The MAAC at large pushed its members to promote voter registration. In a release by the conference, SAAC Chair Jamie Smith from Iona College’s volleyball team was very passionate about getting student athletes registered.

“We have a unique opportunity as student-athletes to use our platforms to promote positive change in this country,” Smith wrote in the release. “The voter registration initiative aims to do just that by encouraging each of us to exercise our right to vote and to use our voices for impactful change.”

In addition to the MAAC encouraging voter registration, the conference has also pushed for the school’s individual com-

mittees to appoint a diversity chair to their executive boards.

“I think it is good to have that position on the e-board because we do not really have a certain person for that,” Kindblom said. “We all have a good head on our shoulders, and we all know what we want to promote and what not, but I think it is even better to have someone in that diversity chair position.”

At this point in time, the application period for this position at Manhattan has closed, and the community is awaiting an announcement of the student-athlete chosen for the role. Once the selected student athlete takes on this position, Manhattan SAAC is sure to fulfill their goals of encouraging athletes to serve and remain active participants in the community.

The MAAC encourages student athletes to register to vote through the Voter Registration Initiative.

MAAC SAAC / COURTESY

Sports

12

THE QUADRANGLE

LaPointe Accepts Appointment to Newly Formed NCAA Group Pete Janny & Colleen Mcnamara

Sports Editor & Staff Writer Sophomore Emily LaPointe of the Manhattan College’s women’s basketball team will serve as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s representative on the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group.

The goal of the group is to “serve as an amplifying voice for women’s basketball on key initiatives, legislation, and various issues.” This commission will work in collaboration with the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Division I Council, and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee.

In only one season with the team, LaPointe has made a tremendous impact on and off the court. She was named MAAC Rookie of the Year last season, and will now be the only women’s basketball player from the MAAC involved with this new committee.

“I was humbled and honored to be asked to be part of this program,” LaPointe said.

“I think she’s really looking for me to step up and to speak on behalf of the team and other girls in the conference.”

Being that she is still only an underclassman, LaPointe has the opportunity to create change for the rest of her career at Manhattan.

“As a sophomore, this student engagement group is valuable for me to see growth,” LaPointe said. “To be part of it from the start until I graduate is really exciting. I get to see all we accomplish as a group and

hopefully pass it to teammates taking on leadership roles.”

Additionally, this new NCAA coalition will discuss current societal issues in response to the nation’s unrest over the treatment of black people. The opportunity to help mobilize her peers for the betterment of society is something LaPointe does not take lightly.

“Social Justice means a lot to me, and for Manhattan women’s basketball it is a priority for each of us,” LaPointe said. “We have an abundance of conversations and meetings because every single one of us is against racism and inequality. We are here to fight for social change and for social justice. Every single black life matters.”

Sherika Montgomery, who played basketball at Gardner Webb University and spent time in athletic administration roles for Winthrop University, the Big South Conference, and the Summit League, is currently employed as a liaison for the NCAA. She will oversee the work of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group alongside fellow liaisons and former Division I basketball players Kelsey Gurganus, Ta’Shia Phillips, and Alyssa Rice.

“With student-athlete activism being at an all-time high, the timing is impeccable for an amplifying voice for the women’s basketball community,” Montgomery said.

As easy as it could be to just focus on basketball, LaPointe wants to be just as influential off the court as well. In reality, her dual roles as an athlete and student are inextricably linked in giving her this important mantle. LaPointe’s versatility on the court and in the classroom makes her uniquely qual-

ified to command credibility in this role.

“As a division one female athlete, it is a challenge,” LaPointe said. “It is a huge adjustment, and is time consuming. You’re not just an athlete, you’re a student athlete.”

In addition to being named MAAC Rookie of the Year, LaPointe was selected for the MAAC All-Rookie Team, All-Met Third Team and was tabbed the Manhattan College Female Rookie of the Year.

Her per game averages of 12.5 points, 1.9 threes, and 30.7 minutes last season were instrumental in securing the fourth seed in the MAAC Tournament for the Jaspers, the program’s best showing since earning the fourth seed for the 2011-2012 season.

“I was so humbled and blessed by all my freshman accomplishments,” LaPointe said.

“I give all credit to my team and coaching staff, it is because of them that I had the confidence to do what I did.”

The Jaspers were gearing up to play the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Thursday, March 12 in Atlantic City before the tournament was terminated due to the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus. The heartbreak of that anticlimactic ending to the season was partially made up for at the tournament’s awards ceremony, where LaPointe was crowned with the most prestigious honor a freshman could receive.

“My favorite memory was the award ceremony at the MAAC tournament,” LaPointe said. “Two of my teammates facetimed my parents so that they could see it live. They announced me winning rookie of the year, to see the genuine support of my team was something I am grateful for since

Sophomore Emily LaPointe will serve as the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s representative on the new NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Student-Engagement Group.

The news of her appointment comes following a memorable freshman season.

GOJASPERS / COURTESY you truly do not get that everywhere.”

The 2020-2021 Manhattan women’s basketball squad has a solid core of players returning from last season. Aside from LaPointe, the team will be led by important contributors like Courtney Warley, Gabby Cajou, D’yona Davis, and Lynette Taitt.

On Sept. 22, the MAAC became the first conference to release a schedule format for the upcoming college basket-

ball season. After an abbreviated stretch of non-conference competition starting in late November, the MAAC women’s basketball regular season will commence on Dec. 9, 2020 and run until Mar. 6, 2021. Each team will play each other twice, totaling 20 conference games.

The Lady Jaspers are set to start their MAAC campaign on the road at Rider on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

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