Issue 1, Spring 2021 - The Quadrangle

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Volume CIII, Issue 1

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NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 2, 2021

President O’Donnell Addresses the Capitol Storming, Students Call for Action Kyla Guilfoil

Asst. News Editor

Welcome Back Jaspers!

A snow covered campus welcomes students back for the Spring 2021 semester.

BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE

“Jaspers Return” to More Rules and Regulations Caroline McCarthy Asst. Features Editor

The Manhattan College community is facing a Spring semester riddled with COVID-19 case spikes in the NYC area, strict social distancing regulations and the continuation of hybrid learning.

According to an interview with The Quadrangle at the end of the Fall semester, director of Resident Life Charles Clency estimated 150 to 200 remote students would return to campus for the Spring semester.

With this rise in on-campus living and spike in COVID-19 cases throughout New York City, the school implemented additional rules and regulations to ensure safety for students and faculty.

The official statement released by Jaspers Return an-

IN NEWS:

College Responds to and Denounces the Insurrection on p. 1

nounced a “phased reopening” consistent with the New York City COVID guidelines.

The email wrote, “Our phased reentry to campus plan will be one that is underscored by a commitment to the health and safety of our campus community while continuing to pursue our core mission to provide a contemporary, person-centered educational experience.”

Some regulations mirrored the Fall semester, such as to be admitted into any school building students and professors must fill out the Daily Symptom Tracker on the Glance app and wear appropriate personal protective equipment. A student may only attend class if they can show a green pass and wear a mask.

In addition, students underwent mandatory rapid testing after arrival on campus.

Contrary to the Fall, returning

IN FEATURES: Alum Works to Develop Pfizer Vaccine on p. 7

Spring semester students were mandated to provide a negative PCR prior to their return with an additional rapid test after arrival.

Students who reside in states bordering the NY area only were required to submit the two tests, one 7 days prior to move-in and one conducted

by Manhattan College, while students traveling from farther states were expected to produce a PCR test 3 days before traveling and then placed in a three-day quarantine by hotels provided by the school.

One student coming from Virginia, Catherine FeeleyLeetz, had an extended stay in hotel-quarantine due to her misunderstanding the rules of the PCR test.

“I thought that [the email] read you have to get tested and __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

The country watched in horror on Jan. 6 as rioters broke into the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Since then, reactions have flooded social media and news outlets as Americans acknowledge the domestic terroism incited by our former president, Donald Trump.

Brennan O’Donnell, Ph.D., president of Manhattan College, addressed the community via email following the attacks, expressing great disappointment.

“The spectacle of our fellow citizens perpetrating violence intended to strike fear into the hearts of members of Congress conducting a process central to our democracy was as ugly and shameful as it was illegal,” wrote President O’Donnell.

“These actions deserve the condemnation of everyone who cherishes human dignity, equal rights, social justice, the rule of law, and the democratic values that hold this great and wonderfully diverse country together. Equally shameful are those who incited these actions through their words.”

President O’Donnell mentions Manhattan College alumni Rudolph Guiliani in this email. “Sadly, one of the loudest voices fueling the anger, hatred, and violence that spilled out yesterday is a graduate of our College, Rudolph Giuliani.

His conduct as a leader of the campaign to delegitimize the election and disenfranchise millions of voters— has been and continues to be a repudiation of the deepest values of his alma mater.”

It came as a surprise to many community members that President O’Donnell called out Rudy Guiliani in his email.

President O’Donnell shared that he felt this step was essential considering Guiliani’s prominent role in events leading up to the insurrection.

IN A&E:

Student Designs Custom Sneakers for Broadway Star on p. 8

However, he does not wish to condemn Guiliani so much as Guiliani’s behaviors.

“This was not a personal or political attack on Mr. Guiliani, it was not an attack,” O’Donnell said. “If you look at the statement, the main core of the statement is ‘upholding our values.’ In this instance, it’s a critique of behavior, not of a person. Which is one of the things that we need to recognize in our civil discourse more, is that you can disagree with the actions of a person without coming to the conclusion that that person is thoroughly outside the pale of any goodness.”

“It’s not an attack on the person,” O’Donnell continues.

“It’s a reaffirmation of our values, and a recognition, made with no joy, that someone, educated in our tradition, was doing something that those of us who value the things in our tradition, I think would legitimately stand up and say, that’s not us.”

Despite the president’s uneasiness in condemning Guilani publicly, Sydney Waitt, a junior at Manhattan College, agreed that it was essential for the President to make the distinction that what Guiliani did does not represent Manhattan College’s values, no matter how influential of an alumni he is.

“I think it’s [still] really important that [the administration] take responsibility for the fact that part of this came from an education system that is embedded in us,” Waitt said.

“Especially as a Lasallian college, where we really build our pillars on being a community and being accepting, I think it’s really important to address that and actually say we’re accepting and that although Rudy Guiliani is probably one of our most important alumni, that doesn’t mean that his behavior is in any way reputable of Manhattan College.” __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

IN SPORTS:

Manhattan’s Winning Streak Ends on p. 12

Opinions & Editorials

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the Quadrangle Volume CIII, Issue 1 February 2, 2021

The Editorial Board Anna Woods Editor-in-Chief

Maria Thomas Managing Editor

Jilleen Barrett Managing Editor

Nicole Fitzsimmons News Editor

Kyla Guilfoil Asst. News Editor

Jilleen Barrett Arts & Entertainment Editor

Kelly Cwik Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

Christine Nappi Features Editor

Caroline McCarthy Asst. Features Editor

Pete Janny Sports Editor

Colleen McNamara Asst. Sports Editor

Lauren Raziano Social Media Editor

Kelly Kennedy Asst. Social Media Editor

Brian Asare Photography Editor

Emily Hollar Production Editor Asst. Photography Editor

Nicole Rodriguez Production Editor

Adrianne Hutto Jocelyn Visnov Asst. Production Editors

Madalyn Johnson Katherine Heneghan Web Editors Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism.

The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.

Join The Quadrangle The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. in Kelly Commons Room 412. All are welcome to come and join the club.

Connect with The Quadrangle

mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

THE QUADRANGLE

LETTER from The Editor

Welcome back! My name is Anna Woods and I am your new Editor-in-Chief. I am a sophomore Political Science major minoring in Spanish and DAsH. I’m from a little town called Hartsdale, New York, home of the first ever Carvel.

When I first joined the Quad I was nervous and excited about writing for a college paper. I never thought that along the journey I would find a family within this great group of writers. They pushed me to become a better version of myself and gave me the confidence to succeed as Assistant News & Features Editor and now as Editor-in-Chief.

I have enormous shoes to fill as I follow in the footsteps of the incredibly talented Gabs DePinho. Facing unprecedented challenges last year in the midst of the pandemic, she managed to put out an issue every week demonstrating great leadership and grace. She is an incredible role model and mentor to me and so many others. It will be hard to live up to the excellence that Gabs achieved.

When 2020 started no one anticipated how the year would unfold. If we have learned anything at all it is to expect the unexpected. As we approach a year of being in the pandemic and see a future full of unknowns, truth is more important than ever.

While we live in a world where the truth is seen as threatening, it is vital that we as citizens stay informed. Our job is to help our readers discern fact from fiction as we deliver the truth and uncover hard-hitting stories. We will also share stories of Jaspers who are making real change in our community and highlight the good on campus. I know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and we will be reporting every step of the way.

Our staff is eager to continue putting out a great issue week after week. We are always looking for new writers and photographers and our meetings are open to everyone. Feel free to reach out to us at thequad@manhattan.edu with any questions or concerns.

Happy first issue! Here’s to a great semester!

Sincerely,

Anna Woods

Editor-in-Chief SUBMIT YOUR OWN LETTER OR OP-ED Letters to the Editor or an op-ed may be submitted to thequad@manhattan.edu by Saturday at noon to be considered for publication. Profanity, vulgarity and hate will not be published. The Quadrangle reserves the right not to publish a letter.

News

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

“Jaspers Return” to More Rules and Regulations

__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 then submit the test three days before leaving,” Feeley-Leetz said. “But it’s actually get tested three days before.”

This misunderstanding turned a three-day quarantine into full ten-day isolation for Feeley-Leetz, who is set to return to campus sometime this week.

Feeley-Leetz recounts that returning to campus for the Fall semester was a more vigorous process since the PCR test was not an option. Students from red states were required to quarantine in New York for 14 days before moving in, regardless of PCR results.

“Virginia got put on the New York state list 10 days before I was leaving,” FeeleyLeetz said. “So I had to leave really fast so I could stay in quarantine because I didn’t want to be quarantined in the dorms.”

Feeley-Leetz stayed with a family member for her New York quarantine in the Fall, but

students without this option were required to stay in isolation housing on campus for the entirety of their quarantine.

The Spring offered the alternative of submitting PCR tests three days prior to traveling to provide a more convenient approach to limiting interstate contact between students.

Students residing on campus from states bordering New York faced their own difficulties with the move-in process.

While waiting for results from the school-administered test, students were mandated to quarantine in their dorms with the exception of going out to pick up food.

Junior Isabella Campbell moved into Lee Hall on January 22 after giving her testing sample at Smith Auditorium, but was notified of an invalid test after an employee mishandled her sample.

“I received an email saying that my sample was dropped [in the lab],” Campbell said. “That was the day I was supposed to

receive my test results.”

Until a new test was administered and a negative result was found, Campbell stayed in her own extended quarantine.

“I feel the regulations have gotten a lot stricter because cases are not getting any better,” Campbell said. “A lot of people didn’t really follow the rules last semester so I think that’s why they got stricter.”

Despite the change in restrictions, there are more opportunities for in-person learning this semester. Professors teaching in-person courses submitted a negative COVID-19 result prior to their return and are eligible for random testing.

Most professors are apt to teach their courses in a hybridstyle learning environment, with some students attending online and some physically in the classroom.

Bridget Chalk, Ph.D., is a professor of English at the college who has seen an array of students opting to choose inperson classes over the remote

ones.

“It’s kind of a mixed bag for me,” Chalk said. “One of my classes is mostly in person and the other two are evenly divided but maybe a little bit more in person.”

Chalk recounts that these variations are very similar to how her classes were attended in the Fall. Though Chalk prefers in-person teaching and feels it is more engaging for students, she feels hybrid classes are essential for student’s schedules and health.

“There is something good about being together in a space to me,” Chalk said. “I like to be making gestures and standing up so I was very happy to be in the classroom. But the experience was compromised by the conditions of hybrid teaching.”

Chalk feels it may be better to have all remote or all inperson sections in order to optimize the experience.

“It would be nice to have all remote sections or all inperson sections,” said Chalk.

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“The hybrid is important for people’s schedules and to fulfill requirements and everything but I don’t think you can optimize teaching in hybrid where you could optimize the remote experience or optimize the inperson experience.”

Despite these obstacles, the Manhattan College Spring semester is off to a promising start with a reported 1585 tests administered. Of these tests, four positive results were recorded with 481 results pending. These results show Manhattan College is well below the positive COVID results of New York City as a whole, with the college averaging at 0.07% positive cases and New York City averaging at 5.4%.

“We were quite successful in keeping outbreaks suppressed [in the Fall] and the community transmission was lower,” Chalk said. “I hope that everything is going to work again. I’m not sure what else they could do. It seems perfectly safe to me.”

Manhattan Receives Grant for Radiation Therapy Technology Program Nicole Fitzsimmons & Colleen E. McNamara News Editor & Asst. Sports Editor

A $145,438 grant from the Gladys Brooks Foundation has been awarded to Manhattan College’s Radiation Therapy Technology program. The generous grant allows MC to upgrade its Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Treatment room system and purchase the advancement of a proton therapy extension for students to utilize during their learning.

At Manhattan, students study radiation detection and protection, radiation physics, radiation planning, and finally, patient care and nursing. The curriculum also familiarizes students with health care ethics and systems. Manhattan College’s future oncologists then move to clinical experience at any one of the eleven nearby hospitals or medical centers.

The first floor of the O’Malley Library has been home to the radiation therapy lab for a number of years. The grant will allow the system to be completely upgraded and overhauled with new software, new hardware, and a new proton therapy extension. This extension is a specialized type of radiation that can only be found in a few sites throughout the whole country.

Kayla Valentino, program director of the Radiation Therapy Technology program, and

Sara Silverstein, clinical coordinator for Radiation Therapy, reached out to Kristin Pharrell, director of institutional giving and special programs, to request this grant. Together, they helped create a proposal for the ability to advance the program, which turned out to be successful.

This new software gives students a look inside the body of a patient that usually could not be seen as vividly. This view can locate tumors, along with surrounding healthy tissue.

Students will now be able to practice different techniques, procedures, and set-ups while working with a variety of machines and treatment types.

“It’s going to expand their knowledge of just basic radiation therapy treatment procedures and then, students are also going to now have access to proton therapy treatments,” said Valentino. “That’s something that we’re one of only a few in the country to have that extension and the ability to teach that in the classroom. So, we’re really excited about that.”

All students that major in radiation therapy technology will have access to the new system during their courses and each course will actively showcase and utilize these advancements in some way. This implements a real-life form of practice for students throughout the program.

Karen Nicholson, Ph.D., dean of the School of Education and Health, believes that this new technology will advance the quality of education for students in the program. Students

will have rare opportunities for high-tech innovations that can enhance their abilities.

“It is an opportunity to demonstrate the academic content of their coursework on campus. It also allows them to be better prepared for learning experiences in their clinical settings” Nicholson said. “For example, in the virtual classroom students can learn to position the patient in order to perform the procedure. In a hospital setting a real patient would be laying there waiting on their procedure while the student is positioning them.”

Beatrice Fieramosca, who graduated Manhattan College last spring in radiation therapy technology, is a per diem at Monmouth Medical Center, and just finished her locum contract in California. Fieramosca’s Mother was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer when Fieramosca was 16 years old, which introduced Fieramosca to the field in hopes of becoming a patient advocate.

Fieramosca interned for Columbia and Montefiore as a student at Manhattan College. In addition to internships, during Fieramosca’s senior year at Manhattan College, she worked alongside Khayla Valentino and Sara Silverstein.

Upon getting their research published, they announced the grant to Fieramosca.

“The fact that students have access to a computer, simulating the radiation experience with a programmed patient gives us an edge over other programs that lack that tech-

nology, we get to see real cancers, real tumor volumes, and real treatment fields, which are all important,” Fieramosca said. “Now, rather than emphasizing internships, students are able to pull up a patient on the screen and simulate the treatment all included in class rather than off-campus in a hospital” With the addition of the proton extension, there is a major advancement from photons, accelerated electrons. To accelerate an electron requires so much space, time, and room.

“I think protons are the future of radiation therapy, it’s just a matter of finding the space. Breathing techniques are also important, we’ve been focusing on breathing so that when a patient inhales, the damaged tissue is separated enough from the healthy tissue to remove it” Fieramosca said.

The ability to advance such an important program allows Manhattan College to stand out amongst other institutions in providing quality education.

Students are getting first-hand experience in the field which makes them all that more prepared to cure patients Fieramosca hopes.

This advancement also allows Manhattan to provide continuing education services to currently registered therapists who must complete their lifelong learning.

“Our students, as a result of the new technology, are ready to be a functioning team member when they enter their clinical experiences. As you can see, this technology improves their knowledge of content and their ability to benefit fully from their clinical experiences” Nicholson said.

Image of Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Treatment (VERT) which students will now have access during their courses.

MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY

News

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THE QUADRANGLE

President O’Donnell Addresses the Capitol Storming, Students Call for Action

__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

O’Donnell writes of an everimportant need for education and commitment to our Lasallian values and to our mission statement, which in part calls “‘for lives of personal development, professional success, civic engagement, and service to their fellow human beings.’”

President O’Donnell shared with The Quadrangle that he felt the email was necessary to both uphold our Lasallian values and to promote the next generation of civic leaders.

“What we witnessed on January 6 was a breakdown of some of our most cherished values as a democracy, including the peaceful transfer of power,” said O’Donnell.

“I thought that we had an obligation, as an educational community, to decry that breakdown and clearly state our commitment to do our part to repair the damage. All educators should be asking themselves, what can we do to address the causes of this breakdown and how can we promote peaceful, respectful, constructive dialogue in pursuit of the common good of our society? As a Lasallian institution, we need to take the opportunity to stand up for the responsible pursuit of truth and knowledge as the foundation of our political discourse and argument.”

Jordan Greene, a senior communications major at MC, shares some disappointment with the college’s response to the capitol storming.

“I call it a politician’s answer, you know, you fluff it up a little bit to make it sound good, it’s always like that, when an incident like this happens with the school or anywhere where you go where they’re not really pro-Black, in the sense that they’re not really showing a helping hand until now that you see these events,” Greene said.

“I can see that they’re trying to help, and I appreciate that very much, but I feel as though there is more that can be done. When they say teaching the students and trying to learn, how are we going to do that? You can say a lot, but how are we actually going to do it?”

Waitt, a junior peace and justice studies and political science major, also shared weariness of the college’s seeming lack of action.

“I am someone that thinks that actions speak louder than words, so sending an email was a really good step for Manhattan College, but they haven’t made any steps to change, for example, the name of Kelly [Student Commons]. Raymond Kelly was a big participant in the ‘Stop and Frisk’ movement in New York and that obviously ties into all the issues that we saw in the Trump presidency about race, and racial profiling.

I think that the email was more of a front, or an obligation than an actual ‘This really upsets us for reasons A, B and C.’” Waitt believes that the last four years have been an eyeopening experience for many people recognizing important issues of social justice. She

hopes that Manhattan College leaders not only act following the events of the insurrection, but that they also act upon the issues MC students have had with certain faculty regarding race, sexuality and gender.

In terms of bringing change to Manhattan College, Waitt and Greene both encouraged the implementation of schoolwide social justice and diversity courses.

“If [administration] really wants to address it, then maybe they will focus more on a core curriculum that focuses on [social and political literacy],” Waitt said. “I am a peace and justice major and political science major, so I take a lot of classes that focus a lot on issues that we’ve seen in the last four years. Not everyone has the capability or the access to take classes about that stuff.”

While Waitt has learned so much about understanding these issues and how to approach them, she recognizes that she is of a minority of students who go through these courses and gain that knowledge.

“An engineering curriculum does not address society’s social issues or current events” Waitt added. “I think that if Manhattan College really wanted to shift their education in a way that really makes it applicable to today, then they would start with core curriculum classes that allow for us to do that.”

Greene referenced the college’s religious studies requirements that expose all majors

at MC to learn about religion in some capacity while getting their degree.

“If Manhattan College is able to incorporate religion all the time into our classes, into our courses, I think that it’s possible to all take classes around the history of people of color or diversity,” Greene said.

“Like, I would not have personally taken a religious studies class on my own, but the fact that Manhattan College made me do it, it opened my eyes and opened my mind.”

Through these diversity classes, Greene hopes that students can ask questions and engage with other students to better understand different experiences and environments.

Through doing this, students can challenge and break stereotypes that we have been raised to accept.

“You can’t be afraid to meet someone that’s not like you,” Greene said.

President O’Donnell believes that the core liberal arts curriculum at Manhattan College allows students to develop skills like critical thinking that equips them to face these issues in our society. However, O’Donnell acknowledges that to stay valuable, the curriculum needs ro be adjusted to accommodate the times.

“I think that these issues need to be in the curriculum, that’s the heart and soul of the institution. I do know that there a number of faculty members who are working in conjunction with their deans and with the provost, in order to raise

questions about what we need to potentially reass at this current moment in terms of the obviously deep divides and tensions in our society, what might we be doing in the core,” O’Donnell said.

The President elaborates that the form in which issues of social justice and diversity are approached is decided by the faculty, not the administration.

In terms of addressing concerns such as with the possible re-naming of Kelly Commons, President O’Donnell points to the Diversity Council.

“The Diversity Council has the full support of the administration in raising a whole host of questions about how we’re doing,” O’Donnell said. “What I would say is, any specific critique, question, particular point of concern, needs to be talked about in context of that full, inclusive discussion, that the Diversity Council is charged with.”

Dr. O’Donnell defines the Diversity Council as being “a varied and diverse cross section of the campus [formed] in order to ask the question of ‘how can we be better as an inclusive community?’. And particularly, ‘how can we be better in raising our awareness of the damage that systemic racism does in the world, and in our institution?”

O’Donnell hopes that students will take their ideas and concerns to the Diversity, especially amid our current political and social climate.

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News

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

5

Jaspers Return Announces Spring Semester Update on COVID-19 Procedures Anna Woods & Jilleen Barrett Editor-in-Chief & A&E Editor

While COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, Manhattan College’s positivity rate for the first week of school is 0.07%. The positivity rate for New York City was 5.4% as of Jan. 27.

The college required all returning students to complete COVID-19 tests seven days before their arrival as well as on their move-in day prior to entering the dorms. The latest email from Jaspers Return detailed that 1585 tests were done with 4 positive results and 481 results pending. Health Services received 1622 results from off-campus testing sites with 1 positive result for students living on-campus.

As for submitting results to the school from off-campus sites, the email included instructions on how to do this properly and check to see if and when it has been approved.

“The test results portal does not automatically accept or reject your test results. It may take 24-48 hours for your submission to be accepted or rejected. Please check the My Covid Status portal for accepted or rejected status in real

time.”

In order to encourage the safety of the MC community, the COVID compliance passes will continue to be used and anyone who wishes to enter campus will be required to fill out the Daily Symptom Tracker. In order to do so, these directions must be followed.

“On the main screen, select the second link: COVID Compliance Status; Log in with your JasperNet credentials; My COVID Checklist will appear, outlining important information.”

Only those with a green pass, indicating negative test results and/or a lack of COVID symptoms, will be permitted to enter most buildings. The status can also be accessed via the Glance MC app.

“The pass system provides the most updated information about a student’s status, and whether they are permitted to be on campus. If a student has an orange pass or a red pass on your COVID roster, the student should leave, return to their place of residence and email health.ser vices@manhattan. edu for more details.”

If there is suspicion of someone in the community not following COVID guidelines, it is encouraged that it be reported to the office of the Dean of Students.

“If there is a pattern or any

other concern over compliance, please report it to the Dean of Students Office here: manhattan.edu/covidrepor t.

As always, if there is a conflict in class or a disruptive student, please contact Public Safety at 718-862-7500.”

Additionally, the email also included information regarding updated dining hall hours.

“From Monday to Friday, breakfast will be served beginning at 7:15 a.m. to better accommodate those students who have 7:45 a.m. classes during the week. For more information, including hours of all Manhattan College Dining Services locations, please visit the CampusDish site,” stated the email.

Hours in the dining hall have been restricted due to COVID-19 policies and procedures.

The college is also asking that students volunteer for the OneManhattan ambassadors program, in which they are asked to “be stationed around campus educating and encouraging Jaspers to wear a mask and maintain healthy practices.” A link to sign up was included in the email.

Finally, the email noted that anyone with questions or concerns should visit the campus return website, call 718-8626398 or email Jaspers Return.

While COVID-19 cases continue to rise across the country, Manhattan College’s positivity rate for the first week of school is 0.07%.

BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE

The college is asking that students volunteer for the OneManhattan ambassadors program.

BRIAN ASARE / THE QUADRANGLE

Features

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THE QUADRANGLE

Art Department Adds a Splash of Color With New Digital Media Art Major Jocelyn Visnov

Asst. Production Editor Whether it’s through classes or clubs, it’s easy to explore arts and culture here at Manhattan College. This semester, students have yet another opportunity to explore their creative sides with Digital Media Art being offered as a major for the first time. This allows students to combine various facets of art, design and technology in a diverse curriculum adaptable to our technologically focused world.

The college has been offering the DMA minor for many years now. Due to popular demand from students, the program has now been expanded into a major. Art history and Digital Media Art department chair, Daniel Savoy, Ph.D., explained in an email what concepts are taught in the expansive program.

“The Digital Media Art major teaches the history, theory and practice of a variety of indemand digital art fields, including graphic design, digital photography and video, animation, web and game design and

immersive media (AR/VR),” Savoy wrote in an email. “Students will learn advanced technical skills in multiple forms of digital media art using a range of industry-standard tools, primarily the Adobe Creative Suite, Unity, Unreal and Maya, leading to the production of a senior portfolio. Compositional approaches, the creative development of ideas through visual form and the role of visual expression in contemporary culture are some of the main concepts.”

A unique part of this program is the emphasis on art and media as a form of faith and service. Dr. Savoy explained the concept of creative expression in a community sense.

“In addition, one of the main program learning goals of the DMA major is for students to develop a critical awareness of digital media art as an agent of social change, which aligns with the College’s Mission of person-centered learning and civic engagement,” he wrote.

Sophomore Kate Uffer is among the first to declare a major in DMA. While she had previously planned to minor in

it, Kate was excited to hear that it would soon become available as a major.

“I was planning on taking the required courses for the Digital Media Art minor, but while in Dr. Savoy’s roots art class, he made the announcement that Digital Media Art was becoming a major as well,” Uffer wrote in an email. “I have always had an interest in digital art, and have been making art since middle school. In high school, I did a lot of video editing projects, as well as made a game in my introductory computer science class with its own art and music. I always hoped to be able to explore these interests in an academic environment, and the new major allows me to do that.”

Uffer hit the ground running and continues to enjoy her time working within the department.

“The Digital Media Art major and minor are both great ways to foster your creative skills and get academic recognition for the work that you do,” she wrote. “It is a lot easier for employers to understand that you can edit videos or create an

Students working hard in a digital media art course.

DANIEL SAVOR, Ph.D / COURTESY

the Quadrangle Looking for writers, photographers and graphic designers.

Open Meetings Tuesdays 4 p.m. via Google Meet

Kate Uffer working on a digital media piece.

KATE UFFER / COURTESY advertisement for them when you have a specific degree for it. It also diversifies the types of jobs you can apply for and be qualified for. A creative degree can help you get a more creative job in whatever field you were originally interested in.”

As with any major at MC, DMA allows for the opportunity to explore the world of art and technology on and off-campus.

With easy access to museums and other institutions in NYC, DMA majors have a wide range of internship opportunities just a short distance away.

“Digital Media Art majors will have the opportunity to take more advanced courses in these fields, as well as courses in game design, web design, animation and VR/AR,” he wrote.

“Digital Media Art majors will also have access to internships for dredit at some of the main DMA institutions and companies in NYC.” DMA is different from your traditional design programs because of the integration of various concepts involving art and design in a virtual environment. Rather than covering just one topic like graphic design, this major encompasses a larger variety of design disciplines to make for a diverse multidisciplinary curriculum.

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“With a DMA major, students can pursue rewarding careers in a number of creative fields, including: Graphic Design; Illustration; Animation; Game Design; Web Design; Advertising; Studio Photography; Film; Book, Magazine and Newspaper Design; Corporate Logo Design and Branding; Storyboarding; and University or College teaching,” Savoy wrote.

AshLeigh Addarich, a DMA minor, spoke a little bit about her experience with the program so far.

“I think the Digital Media Art minor is a great program with a lot of great professors and resources,” she said. “I would recommend the minor for anyone who likes to express themselves or are interested in art in general.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the DMA program as either a major or a minor, you can reach out to Savoy (daniel.savoy@manhattan.edu) for more information.

“The secret to living a rich, fulfilling, and happy life is doing what you love,” he wrote. “If you love art, but also feel that you need to do something practical that will lead to a lucrative job, consider Digital Media Art.”

Features

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

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Getting a Taste of His Own Medicine: Alum Nate Garcia Works to Develop Pfizer Vaccine Christine Nappi & Kiersten Thompson

Features Editor & Contributor Nate Garcia will be getting a taste of his own medicine.

That is because he worked to develop the COVID-19 vaccine for the biopharmaceutical company Pfizer.

Garcia, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology from Manhattan College in 2018, designed experiments with a team of scientists at Pfizer to determine how well the vaccine works. Specifically, Garcia is a member of the clinical diagnostic assay development department, where he measures antibody and immune response levels to determine if the vaccine would be effective. He is reportedly very thankful for this opportunity and finds his work to be making a difference, as he has contributed to solving the pandemic.

“When we’re in the midst of a global pandemic, suddenly your expertise and your resources become very important,” Garcia said. “You start to think about the global implications of the work that I’ve been able to complete this year, and I’m blessed… it’s not every day you can say that you played a part in solving a global pandemic.”

Garcia began working for Pfizer in September of 2018, shortly after he graduated. He initially started his career as a member of the Pfizer support team, where he serviced the vaccine programs in clinical testing. Although Garcia was thankful to have this initial experience, he was eager to get more involved in the experiments being conducted at

Pfizer.

“I wanted to be the one in the lab with my hands on the experiment and be able to decide, or play a part in deciding at least, where this medical technology is headed,” Garcia said.

Garcia’s ambition to play more of a crucial role at the pharmaceutical company eventually led him to the assay development team, where he gained more than just the hands-on experience he was searching for– less than six months later his team was tasked with developing the COVID-19 vaccine.

Although Garcia was nervous to work on developing the vaccine as a new employee, the feelings of intimidation subsided once he saw the trust his teammates and boss had in him to effectively develop the vaccine. He describes not only contributing to the making of the vaccine but also having a great influence on it.

“That trust is what allowed me to be confident, that the trust my teammates had in me to execute what I needed to in order for the team to operate as efficiently and cohesive as possible,” Garcia said. “Now I’m in the thick of not just running experiments but having an influence on them.”

As Garcia describes, the team faced some challenges while trying to develop the vaccine in a short amount of time, but they were still able to accomplish their goal. Although vaccines can take anywhere from five to 15 years to develop, the team was able to develop the first assay within six to eight weeks, something Garcia describes as “insane” because it is not common in the vaccine development practice. Despite the many long nights, he finds

this work to be meaningful and impactful.

“The things that we were able to accomplish this year have never been done and I don’t think will ever be done again,” Garcia said. “You get to the other side and it’s like wow you know, I did that and it was totally worth it.”

However, Garcia finds that this accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for his time at MC. As an undergraduate student, Garcia was challenged to produce his best work, meet deadlines and grow as a scientist. He finds the challenges brought on at MC helped improve his work ethic, something he’s carried with him to Pfizer.

“It’s very hard to just get by at Manhattan College you really have to put the work in, you got to put the time [in] and those kinds of requirements will follow you,” Garcia said.

Biology professor Quentin Machingo, Ph.D., applauds Garcia’s accomplishments at Pfizer and finds that he is a perfect example of what MC students are capable of achieving post-graduation. He notes that the college prepares all students to not only achieve their goals but to also make an impact in the world.

“Nate was a strong student while he was here and I think he’s a perfect example of what a Manhattan College student can achieve,” Machingo said. “I think a lot of graduates and current students have the aptitude and the ability to achieve what Nate has, so I think it’s important to highlight how great of a job he’s doing, but then also to reinforce that from Manhattan [all students] can do the same thing.”

Despite the accomplish-

Less than six months after joining the clinical and diagnostic assay development team, Garcia and other scientists at Pfizer were tasked with developing the COVID-19 vaccine.

NATE GARCIA / COURTESY

Garcia graduated with a bachelor’s in biology from Manhattan College in 2018. His time at MC prepared him to conquer the task of developing the COVID-19 vaccine for the biopharmaceutical company Pfizer.

NATE GARCIA / COURTESY ments of the many scientists, including Garcia, who have developed the vaccine, there is controversy surrounding the act of getting vaccinated.

“I think the controversy is very unfortunate,” Garcia said.

“I think we live in a society that is willfully ignorant and conversations surrounding this vaccine kind of highlight that in my opinion… the information is out there, all of this stuff has been documented and published.”

Garcia encourages those who are debating on getting the vaccine to obtain more information and educate themselves on the topic.

“It’s frustrating to me, I put a lot of time and effort into this stuff [and] it’s personal almost,” Garcia said. “But the information is out there, if you literally have questions, it’s available. So that’s what I’ll say about people that are hesitant, or maybe like tentatively ‘I don’t know I’m on the fence about it,’ read the literature.”

Kaylin Flam, a sophomore communication major, expressed some potential concerns about the vaccine but personally finds that getting vaccinated will contribute to solving the pandemic. She trusts the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and scientists such as Garcia, but she understands why people might be skeptical and knows others who wouldn’t want to take a COVID vaccine. Although she understands their concerns, she thinks those who don’t get vaccinated should still adhere to social distancing guidelines and mask-wearing mandates.

“I’m afraid of an allergic reaction or anything like that but I think if presented with the

opportunity, I do think I would take [the vaccine],” Flam said.

“The more people we get vaccinated, the better this is going to be, and if you’re not going to get vaccinated then at least be safe.”

Garcia describes that despite the distribution of the vaccine, wearing masks and social distancing isn’t something that is going away anytime soon. He finds that the vaccine is safe to take, and urges people to get vaccinated in an effort to end the global pandemic.

“Being careful with social distancing, those things are always going to be important [and] I think we’ve had a heightened sense of what it takes, in order to combat, something like this,” Garcia said. “I would say it’s safe to take the vaccine, that number one it’s safe... it’s not worth it for me to risk the lives of the people that I care about that are a little bit older and or immunocompromised or the lives of people around me... at a certain point, it’s got to be bigger than you.”

Garcia’s time at Pfizer has been an eye-opening experience, for he is starting to realize the impact his work in science can have on the world. He feels blessed to have the opportunity to not only learn and grow more as a scientist but to make a difference in the lives of others and the world at large.

“Taking this job as a scientist, sort of opened the door for me to begin realizing that this is very important work,” Garcia said. “That’s where I saw the impact, that’s where I saw my ability to fit in and kind of like, just be a piece of this puzzle [and] trying to make the world a little bit better.”

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THE QUADRANGLE

MC Artist Designs Shoes for Fall Lauren Raziano & Jilleen Barrett

Social Media Editor & A&E Editor After meeting Leslie Odom Jr. over Google meet during the fall semester lecture series hosted by Student Engagement, junior Julianna Finnerty had an opportunity she’d always dreamed of: to share her art with someone she and so many others admired.

Finnerty has been creating custom shoes since 2019 and began sharing them on her Instagram account @finnscustoms as the artistic endeavor quickly became a business.

Finnerty was first inspired to create her unique shoes after watching Spiderman and once she posted her custom shoes, people asked for her to make custom shoes for themselves.

“I’m a huge Marvel fan and after I watched Spiderman: Far From Home I wanted to make myself a pair of painted vans with Spiderman and Mysterio on them. After I made those and posted them on social media I had a lot of people reaching out to me asking if I could make them a pair of custom shoes and it basically just grew from there, said Finnerty.”

When the Broadway sensation Hamilton became popular in 2016, Finnerty instantly became a fan of Leslie Odom’s talents.

“Aaron Burr was always my favorite character/person in the musical and I just LOVED how Leslie portrayed him,” Finnerty said. “Besides ‘Hamilton’, I listen to Leslie’s album ‘Mr.’ all the time and listened to both of his Christmas albums around the holidays.”

While watching the lecture series, she told Odom Jr. about the business and the two made plans to discuss the possibility of her making him a custom pair. After communicating with Odom Jr. via Twitter and sending his assistant, Andrew, a sketch with a plan for the shoes, Finnerty got to work.

With the help of research, Finnerty was able to create one design that captured all the elements of Odom Jr.’s album “Mr.” “I actually only made one design for the shoes but it took me a bit to get to a design I really loved. I did some research about his album and his influences when he was creating it and wanted to incorporate those into the design,” she said.

The design incorporated lyrics that connected to Odom Jr.’s personal life, “He has one song on the album called ‘Eva’s Song (A Psalm of Life)’ that is a recording of his grandma reciting a poem she always used

to recite for him when he was younger and I knew I needed to include that on the shoes.”

Finnerty said.

Furthermore, Finnerty was able to include Odom Jr.’s family members, “The main design on the side of the shoe is a tribute to a big influence of Leslie’s, Nat “King” Cole and the design on the cover of his “Unforgettable” album,” she said, “but I added a little girl to the couple to signify Leslie, his wife Nicolette, and their daughter.”

For the final detail, Finnerty worked with a local store to design a shoelace charm, “I was able to work with my local jewelry store ‘Ted’s Gift & Jewelry’ in Pulaski, NY and personalize a set of dubraes (the metal shoelace charms) that had his album title on them.”

Finnerty said that the dubrae was a surprise for Odom Jr., “I didn’t tell Leslie or Andrew about that little finishing touch on the shoes and felt like those just tied in the whole design perfectly.”

Finnerty was able to ship the shoes to Odom Jr. and his assistant captured the moment of Leslie opening the box. This moment fulfilled her dream.

“The first email I received from his assistant was in early September and we worked collectively to design a pair of Air Force 1’s focused around his first original album ‘Mr.’,” she said. “The whole process took about 3 months and that included designing the shoes, ordering materials, making the shoes, and shipping them out to him!”

“Having the ability to create a pair of shoes for someone that I have looked up to for so long like Leslie Odom Jr. was an absolute dream and the fact that he loved them was amazing,” she said.

Finnerty said that the shoes are sported frequently on the actor.

“Andrew emailed me after he received them and told me Leslie wears them around the house all the time,” Finerty said.

As for her future business plans, Finnerty aspires to continue creating custom shoes.

“I plan on growing my business further and hope to expand into the sports industry and customize cleats and sneakers for professional athletes,” she said.

“My business has been steadily growing since I started my Instagram account for it in the fall of last year and I plan on building upon that growth and taking it as far as I can!”

Follow @Finncustoms on Instagram to see the creative pieces and artwork of Julianna Finnerty.

Julianna Finnerty, @finnscustoms, with the custom Air Force 1 shoes that she created for Leslie Odom Jr. JULIANNA FINNERTY/ COURTESY

She included special lyrics that are words from Odom Jr.’s grandma, a design of his family, and a unique shoelace charm.

JULIANNA FINNERTY/ COURTESY

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

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Lecture Speaker Leslie Odom Jr. “Having the ability to create a pair of shoes for someone that I have looked up to for so long like Leslie Odom Jr. was an absolute dream and the fact that he loved them was amazing,�

Finnerty said.

Follow @Finncustoms on Instagram to see the creative pieces and artwork of Julianna Finnerty. JULIANNA FINNERTY/ COURTESY

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Jasper Jams: Winter Break Edition JASPER JAMS Gabriella DePinho Senior Writer

Though winter break was only a week longer than usual this year, it felt longer because of the time spent away from campus. After campus closed just before Thanksgiving, the semester went on, but the winter break mindset of lounging on the couch and baking cookies kicked in earlier than usual. I finished my classes out despite the desire to hibernate and held off on listening to holiday music until the end of finals.

Winter break is usually a weird time for music. Lasting from mid or late December to mid or late January, it’s not necessarily a popular time for new releases. Artists may feel inclined to do a late November release so their albums are wrapped as gifts for the holidays, or wait longer into the new year to release music, so their songs are not lost in the shuffle of the transition to the new year. Yet, winter break was not without noteworthy releases and songs I can’t stop listening to, so in case you had some doubts about what kind of music has been released, look no further– this Jasper jams is for you. drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo I had to start out strong with one of my new favorite songs. If you haven’t heard this song yet, I’m impressed because this track has been everywhere. And so has the drama that supposedly is the story behind it; however, the drama (that reminds me of the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez,

Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus drama of the early 2000s) is not what drew me to this song.

At 17, Rodrigo has written and released one of the best and most emotional breakup songs I have ever heard and I truly cannot stop listening to the lyrics and her powerful, yet controlled voice. Also, it’s been smashing streaming records, so clearly I’m not alone in loving the track. this is how you fall in love - Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler Zucker and Cutler, successful artists in their own right, are just a short time away from releasing their second collaborative EP, “brent II” which is named after their first EP together, “brent.” I admire the musical friendship between Zucker and Cutler (that extends into a semi-quadrilateral with artists Noah Kahan and Quinn XCII) because it’s an admission that the music they make together as a unit is distinct and unique from the music they make individually. This song was released ahead of the EP and if it’s a hint at what else is to come, I’m excited. Also, who doesn’t love listening to a good love song immediately after a breakup song?

DRIVE - John the Ghost John the Ghost is the name for the solo projects of John O’Callaghan, the lead singer of the band The Maine. My roommate — who loves The Maine — made me aware of this track and I joked that “we love driving-themed songs” but it’s true.

The track’s quiet and chill vibes make it an easy and welcome listening experience. I also love solo projects from band mem-

bers because his voice is familiar and pleasant but sonically, it’s a unique experience from listening to the band.

You Hear Me Now?” in January.

ELIO continually delivers great songs, and I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from her.

Holy Feeling - Greyson Chance If you feel like the name Greyson Chance might vaguely be familiar, it’s because he went viral on YouTube covering Lady Gaga in 2010, ended up on ‘Ellen’ and ended up with a record deal. His music has drastically changed over the years and I have always loosely listened along. This is Chance’s first release of 2021 and according to his own words, “It captures the most unpolished version of” himself. I appreciate authenticity from artists, so I think this song is a success.

hi neighbor - contradash Chase Blohm, a 22 year-old artist better known as contradash, just released his debut mixtape “ALL-STAR” with Interscope Records, which features this song. The upbeat track is different from the rest of the mixtape’s sound, but contradash’s brand comes across through his voice, which sounds the same regardless of what drums and basslines play behind him.

King Bed - Emma Jayne I didn’t even know Emma Jayne had released a new song until I went to go listen to her 2017 album “Jetlag” and I saw the new release sitting at the top of her artist page. You can never go wrong with a soulful Emma Jayne song and I recommend listening to her entire discography when you have the chance. Also, in terms of diversifying perspectives in your listening, she’s Jewish and a member of the LGBTQ+ community and she talks about it openly, which is neat.

CHARGER - ELIO I’ve been a fan of ELIO, otherwise known as Charlotte Grace Victoria from Canada, for about a year now, after finding her through another band I like. Her debut EP “u and me, but mostly me” arrived in summer 2020, but just a few months later, she released another seven song project “Can

blame game - Beach Bunny Beach Bunny’s most popular song is “Prom Queen” after the song became a viral audio clip on TikTok. The four-piece band has been working at music since 2015 and six years later, has a steady following. Their new ep ‘blame game’ is a four track follow up to their debut album “Honeymoon” released in February 2020. Though ‘blame game’ (the song) was not the lead single from the short problem, it’s the one that Spotify happened to recommend when making this playlist, and I think

Spotify knows what it’s doing.

Self Care (with COIN) The Knocks Remix - Louis The Child I saw both The Knocks and Louis The Child at the Governor’s Ball music festival in 2016. It was the first music festival I’ve ever been to — also the only one. This remix, which features COIN, a band that I love, makes me think back to that festival. Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic, it’s crazy to think we used to partake in such large crowds with such nonchalance.

Resonant Body - Maggie Rogers Just when finals finished, Rogers released her album “Notes from the Archive: Recordings 2011-2016” which I’m tempted to call her “sophomore” album, but that’s not quite what it is. Rogers decided to release music that had previously been unheard by the public, before taking the next step in her musical journey. The album is evidence that Rogers has always been a talented singer and songwriter and she makes it hard to pick just one track for a playlist.

Add Jasper Jams to your playlist by scanning the QR Code:

Rich Mysteries, Real World Parallels and More in “Chain of Gold” BOOK NOOK Mariana Duque Contributor

Cassandra Clare has been entertaining readers since her debut in 2008 with “City of Bones,” the first installment of the Shadowhunter Chronicles.

As one of her major fans, I had to jump on the bandwagon of her latest adventure following her infamous shadowhunter characters.

“Chain of Gold”, her first installment of “The Last Hours” trilogy follows Cordelia Carstairs, a shadowhunter– a half angel, half human tasked with ridding the world of demons– trying to figure out how to rescue her father who is under trial in London. Set in the Edwardian era and featuring

characters from “The Infernal Devices” trilogy, Clare does not disappoint and wastes no time in displaying the action, interesting characters, immersive world building and high moral stakes.

The characters are faced with mysterious demon outbreaks in plain daylight, but also with a scandalous love triangle between the main characters Cordelia and James. If both external and internal pressures were not enough, James Herondale has access to a shadow realm that is unknown to everyone and poses an even greater threat, as he gets lost in it from time again.

Filled with interwoven storylines between Cordelia and her brother, James and his family, and a mysterious new char-

acter Grace, Clare manages to structure a general plotline and character arcs that are as intriguing as well as fascinating.

I cannot pinpoint exactly what I really liked about this novel, because there were a lot of aspects that kept me at the edge of my seat for quite a while. First of all, James’ entire character arc was fascinating, including his access to the mysterious shadow realm. Plenty of questions went through my head as I analyzed the reason behind this, as well as his love for Grace Blackthorn, which I did not think could last.

A character I also loved was Cordelia’s older brother, Alastair. At first, he was the stereotypical older brother, and in that era, he behaves as a second parental figure to her.

However, a secret of his is revealed midway through the story and it kept me intrigued as it introduced yet another, though impossible, love triangle.

With regards to the plot itself, I found it fascinating how, after the mysterious attacks, it parallels the COVID-19 pandemic in the real and contemporary world, as many of the characters in the story are quarantined and taken care of in several of the infirmaries.

The main characters are not affected by the attack directly, so they take it upon themselves to find the antidote and at the same time, the source of the attacks. This parallels the doctors and nurses fighting the real life pandemic. This is very interesting to see in a book released just before the world shut down

in mid-March last year.

I really enjoyed this book with its interesting storyline, complex characters and rich world. Additionally, as an up and coming fantasy writer myself, it is a great book for picking up cues of worldbuilding and complex characters, as many of her shadowhunter novels.

On March 3, Clare will be releasing “Chain of Iron,” the continuation of this trilogy, and I personally cannot wait to continue the journeys of these lovable and interesting characters.

So, if you do not have anything else to do, or you want to go and enjoy a rich historical fantasy, pick up “Chain of Gold.”

The new queen of fantasy does not disappoint.

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

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With Super Bowl LV On the Horizon, Students Help Preview the Big Game VOICES ON THE QUAD As Super Bowl LV quickly approaches, Jaspers are feeling the excitement. The Kansas City Chiefs, led

by Patrick Mahomes, will be going head to head with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are led by the legendary Tom Brady. Performance aside, the Buccaneers are already making Super Bowl history as they are the first team in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl hosted at their home stadium. Kick-off is this Sunday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 pm and will air on CBS. Interviews compiled by Maria Thomas and Anna Woods, Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief

Brenna McNamara, Sophomore Marketing Major

Jonathan Abadir, Freshman Mechanical Engineering Major

Anthony Behpour, Freshman Mechanical Engineering Major

Who do you want to win?

With Tom Brady leading the Bucs into his tenth appearance on the Super Bowl stage, it is the first time the Bucs will see the big stage in about 20 years. On the other hand, young superstar, Patrick Mahomes is making his second appearance with the Chiefs in his four seasons. Evidently, it will be the battle of the young versus old as tension between Chiefs and Bucs fans heat up on social media over the week in preparation for the big game. As for a dedicated Jets fan myself, I will definitely be watching the game and rooting for the Chiefs with Mahomes leading charge.

Personally, I just haven’t been a fan of Brady since ‘Deflategate’. Plus, the ongoing rivalry between the NY Jets and Brady’s long-contracted team, the Patriots left a bad impression.

Who do you want to win?

I want the Chiefs to win just because I don’t like Tom Brady. You’ve seen him win so many times, everyone wants an underdog.

Who do you want to win?

The Chiefs

Who do you think will win? And Why? After this long season, my predictions for this upcoming Super Bowl LV are that the Chiefs will come out victorious with a slight lead over the Bucs. Some things to keep in mind are the records from this past season. Ultimately, I think it will be Tom Brady’s fourth quarter play that will reveal the winner. In addition, I really want to see Patrick Mahomes win his second consecutive ring, which hasn’t been done since Tom Brady’s repeat win in Super Bowl 39. All in all, I predict a 30-27 win for the Chiefs. Although, keep an eye out for a Bucs comeback and Tom Brady’s possible seventh Super Bowl ring.

What are your plans for the game?

After a year of craziness and lockdowns, I can’t wait to spend some time with my roommates to watch the game and eat a lot of food. Although, pretty sure my roommates will mostly be looking out for the halftime performance by The Weeknd.

Favorite Super bowl memory?

My favorite Super Bowl memory is in 2012 when the NY Giants took on the New England Patriots. During Super Bowl XLVI, my cousins came over to my house and we had a big viewing party. It was even better because my cousins are huge Giants fans, so the mix of junk food and yelling was a perfect way to spend the big game.

Who do you think will win? And Why? Probably Tom Brady because he’s like the greatest of all time.

What are your plans for the game?

I’ll probably go home and watch it with my dad.

Favorite Super bowl memory?

I went over to my friends in eighth grade and it was nice to reconnect and watch the game together.

Join

Who do you think will win? And Why? The Chiefs because Mahomes is a better quarterback than Brady What are your plans for the game?

I’m going to watch the game in my room with my roommates Favorite Super bowl memory?

2014 Super Bowl when Seattle should have ran the ball but didn’t and lost the game

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Manhattan’s Three-Game Winning Streak Ends at Saint Peter’s Pete Janny & Whit Anderson,

Sports Editor & Staff Writer The saying “defense wins championships” is always incomplete without the finisher “offense wins games.”

At this stage in the MAAC season, the thought of a championship is premature for any team considering there’s still over a month left of regular season basketball. The more logical concern is finding ways to win games; no matter what it takes. But that’s easier said than done when shots aren’t falling to the degree the Manhattan men’s basketball team experienced this past weekend against Saint Peter’s in Jersey City. When it rains it pours, and that was the lasting sentiment for Manhattan in light of being swept by Saint Peter’s.

Manhattan hasn’t won games this season because of the way their offense has performed. Instead, it’s been a total commitment to their principles on the defense end for the reason why they owned a solid 4-4 ledger in conference play before playing the Peacocks, a program whose success stems from doing the dirty work as well.

It’s no secret that the decisive factor for this series was which offense would stay afloat for longer stretches in the game. Almost by default, Saint Peter’s offense settled that debate, oftentimes parlaying strong defense on one end into points on the other despite their own fair share of problems with offensive execution over the weekend. Far from a prolific offensive attack, the Peacocks, however, did show adaptability across both games to overcome the Jaspers’ stout defense.

On Friday night, it was the three-point shooting that gave the Peacocks an edge over the Jaspers. Saint Peter’s shot 47 percent (8-of-17) from long range, compared to Manhattan’s 29 percent (5-of-17), and three of those came as part of a 15-2 scoring run that permanently changed the complexion of the game in favor of the Peacocks. Some of those big threes throughout proved to be important insurance for Saint Peter’s at the end of the game, when Manhattan retaliated with a surprising 10-0 run that shrunk the deficit to three in the final minute before the Peacocks iced the game from the free throw line to secure a 59-55 victory.

In game two, the Peacocks’

Manhattan falls to 4-6 in MAAC play after getting swept by Saint Peter’s this past weekend. The Jaspers have now lost four in a row to the Peacocks. GOJASPERS / COURTESY modus-operandi for getting points was pounding the ball inside to bigs KC Ndefo and Fousseyni Drame.

The constant pressure applied by Saint Peter’s down low eventually tired out Warren Williams late in the second half and opened the path to a 68-54 victory for the Peacocks. Williams would go on to foul out, while the Peacocks put the finishing touches on their 30-16 and 14-11 advantages in points in the paint and offensive rebounding respectively. Another crucial difference was the free throw disparity as the Peacocks took 32 attempts compared to Manhattan’s 16.

“Yesterday we got to the line more times so I thought that was the difference in the game,” Masiello told the Quad during a postgame interview on Saturday night.

The Jaspers lead the MAAC in offensive rebounding, but of all the teams they’ve played none compare to the length and ferocity that Saint Peter’s brings to the table.

“When I watched the film, I feel like we didn’t go for it for whatever reason,” Masiello said about his team’s lack of offensive rebounds in the series.

“You have to give the other team credit, but I didn’t think they really did anything that should have stopped us from going.”

Manhattan entered the series ranked last in the MAAC in both field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage, and couldn’t do anything against Saint Peter’s to counteract that stigma. That much was shown in how the Jaspers fared in all of the main three

shooting phases — 33 percent for two-point FGs, 28 percent for three-point FGs, and 61 percent from the free throw line.

In a season with far too many shooting stupors, this series looks to have been the perfect storm and hence a dire wake up call to the personnel to make the necessary changes before it’s too late. Despite only shooting 27 percent from three this season, the Jaspers still have a tendency of being too three-point happy at the expense of not getting enough baskets in the paint.

Samir Stewart came to play right from the start of game two, but was the only one who got the memo apparently.

Stewart scored the Jaspers opening 11 points of the game by hitting his first four shots, three of which were threes, to give Manhattan a 16-9 lead.

However, the Jaspers’ couldn’t fully capitalize on Saint Peter’s slow start, and besides Stewart the rest of the team shot 2-of14 over that same time span.

The Peacocks would close the first half on a 21-8 run to seize an eight-point lead at the break and begin the uphill battle for the Jaspers.

Manhattan made a conscious effort to get Stewart more shots in the second game after he scored 10 points on only seven shots in the opener.

In need of a spark, Stewart had his best two-game stretch of the season and likely saved his team from getting blown out in game two. Since coming back from an injury that sidelined him for over a month, Stewart has played six games and is averaging 11 points in those contests.

Overall, the guard play for Manhattan has regressed in recent games and that recent trend continued against the Peacocks. Outside of Stewart, the Jaspers offered minimal firepower from the guard position, with starters Eli Buchanan and Ant Nelson combining to shoot an ugly 4-of-28 for 11 points in game two.

“It’s just about good shot selection and taking what the defense gives us,” Masiello said.

In particular, Nelson’s performance has fallen off in a big way since starting off the season as Manhattan’s top weapon. The heralded transfer from Seton Hall averaged 20 points-per-game in the first four games, but has regressed to 10 points on 25 percent shooting from the field in the last seven contests.

“I think a lot of it is decision making,” Masiello said about Nelson’s recent struggles.

“He’s not reading defenses well right now. He’s pressing a little bit and missing easy looks. It’s really important to have that next play mentality.”

The match-up between Warren Williams and KC Ndefo of Saint Peter’s was one of the biggest storylines on paper heading into the series, and it lived up to the hype.

After going 5-of-11 from the free throw line in game one, Williams was more efficient in the second game, scoring 13 points on 66 percent (4-of-6) from the field. He combined with Stewart to score 31 of Manhattan’s 54 points in game two, while also adding 11 rebounds to his name for a double-double.

Ndefo, the reigning MAAC Defensive Player of the Year,

was more effective in game two scoring 13 points. A key for Ndefo was staying out of foul trouble, which relegated him to the bench for a large portion of the first half in game one. Ndefo and the Peacocks seemed to turn the corner in the series during the second half of game one, in which Ndefo blocked three shots in 45 seconds in one stretch.

Ndefo leads the country in blocks with 4.1 per game and added nine more to his record against Manhattan, including six in game one.

Manhattan’s next series will be at home against Monmouth (8-5, 8-4 MAAC) on Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7 with tip-off slated for 9 pm on both nights. Friday’s game will be Manhattan’s first time on national television this season and will be aired on the cable channel ESPNU. Saturday night’s game can be streamed on ESPN3 without a subscription.

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