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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN COLLEGE | SINCE 1924
Volume CII, Issue 9
FREE
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 27, 2020
Manhattan Caucus: What to Know in the Final Stretch of the Countdown to Election Day Sophia Sakellariou Senior Writer
Kelly Fitness Center Reopens The fitness center at Kelly Commons opens up with social distancing guidelines in place. BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE
Fitness Center Open For First Time Since March Alexa Schmidt, Victor Franco, & Cort Koss
Arts & Entertainment Editor, Staff Writers The fitness center, located in the Kelly Student Commons, officially opened for the first time since returning to campus on Monday, Oct. 5. Students received this notification on Oct. 1 in an email sent out from the Jaspers Return leadership. Operating at a limited capacity, all students must wear masks and wipe down the machines after each use. The center has limited hours, where deep cleaning will be done during afternoon breaks and each night after closing. Joseph DiOrio, a student worker at the gym explained that due to COVID-19, there have been several new conditions that the gym has upon entering.
IN NEWS:
“Originally, you would just walk up to the counter and swipe your card and walk in, but now you’re supposed to get your temperature taken, show your green pass, and then finally swipe your card,” DiOrio said. Another student worker, Katelyn Huggard, a senior elementary education student who has worked at the fitness center since Fall 2019, says the new regulations are being adhered to by the student body. “It’s nice to see at least the students are doing what they should be doing.” Huggard said. DiOrio believes that although the center can get extremely busy at times, students follow the social distancing rules. “I think, for the most part, we’re trying, in a generally smaller space,” DiOrio said.
IN FEATURES:
MC Fitness Center Community collaborates on Reopens Dogwood Junction on p. 3 on p. 8
“So when it gets packed sometimes in the mid-afternoon, it’s tricky, but I think everyone has their masks pretty much on and I’ve been watching people keep as close as a safe distance as they can. Generally, I think it’s gonna be a tough little problem but I think we’re doing all right so far.” The center closes every day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in order to sanitize equipment. At night, the same procedures are done to ensure that everything is set to go for the next morning. The center also placed a limit on the number of students that can be in the space at the same time. The maximum capacity is 30 students, but because of staff, that number is rounded to a total of 35 people. “Sometimes we have to tell people to come back in like 15 __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
One week, seven days, and less than 168 hours left until Election Day. Here’s what you should know before the big day. In-Person Voting If you intend to cast your ballot in person it is important to have a game plan. Find the nearest polling place in the district in which you are registered by inputting your information into the polling place locator at vote.org. Budget a good amount of time in your day in case you have work or school since long lines can make the process a bit time consuming. Make sure you bring the necessary materials to be able to cast your ballot. Two-thirds of states require voters to present identification at the polls. Check your state’s laws in regards to whether you need identification and if so, what qualifies before heading to your polling place. If you’ve voted in New York before, you don’t need to provide ID to vote. If you’re a firsttime voter who registered by mail, and didn’t provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show ID to vote. Acceptable forms include: a current and valid photo ID such as a driver’s license; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. You can call your polling place on Election Day to see what they require to make sure you have everything you need. If you are unable to provide ID or forget it, you will be able to vote with an affidavit ballot as a New York voter. Most importantly, don’t forget a mask and to stand six
IN A&E:
Jia Tolentino welcomed as MARS speaker on p. 8
feet apart from others in line. Results: What We Know So Far Many states have begun early voting. Early voting in New York will be available until Sunday, Nov. 1, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live. According to the U.S. Elections Project website, run by Michael McDonald, an expert on early voting, around 30 percent of the total number of votes cast in the 2016 election have already been cast 13 days before Election Day. Texas is currently leading the early vote count with more votes already cast than Donald Trump won there in 2016. These numbers show that the 2020 election is shaping up to be a record-breaking turnout, an incredible feat considering the circumstances of a life-threatening pandemic, economic struggles and a President who has continually tried to undercut the legitimacy of the American electoral system. Democrats currently hold an advantage, but that doesn’t mean they’ll maintain it. So far, pollsters only see the data of registered early voters and not every registered Democrat is guaranteed to vote for Biden or vice versa. The results likely will not come until late on Election Day or days after, but this impressive turnout marks a beacon of hope for democracy in these challenging times. States to Watch On Election Day, the states to closely monitor will be the battleground states the candidates need to win in order to secure a clear path to victory with 270 electoral votes. Trump will need to win some of the states that polls show are __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN SPORTS:
BLM Vigil brings campus together on p. 10