Issue 11, Spring 2019 - The Quadrangle

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Volume XCVIX, Issue 11

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NEW YORK, APRIL 9, 2019

Dollars On Dollars In 8 Places: The JasperCard Story Gabriella DePinho News Editor

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The Manhattan College Jasper Dancers won the national championship in Daytona, Fla., this past weekend in the Division I Hip Hop category.

For coverage on their Send-Off, visit page 16.

Nationals coverage will continue in next week’s issue. Congratulations!

MARINA MULE / COURTESY

Group of Students Create ‘MunchCoin,’ A Cryptocurrency For Local Eateries Taylor Brethauer Senior Writer

A group of Manhattan College students have started their own entrepreneurial project and named it “MunchCoin.”

The project utilizes cryptocurrency to serve local eateries and has slowly gained notoriety throughout the Bronx borough and Yonkers, N.Y. The project was started

by Hunter Brea, a senior mechanical engineer, during his sophomore year with an official launch in February 2018 with the launch of the MunchCoin website.

For Brea, he’s just keeping it in the family.

“My love for cryptocurrency and the idea behind it is what really drove me to come up with my own cryptocurrency. I first just wanted to do it for the fun of it but after talking it over with my father who was also briefly interested in it I decided there should be a more noble reason and meaning behind it. Since my father

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is an entrepreneur, I decided to go the route of assisting small business which is the backbone of any efficient society,” said Brea.

The name also came from a collaboration between Brea and his father. After throwing out different options, they settled on MunchCoin.

The project was not a solo show for too long.

“I later realized I would be a fool to go on doing this by myself. So I recruited a few of my friends that I deemed trustworthy and harding working enough to run this thing,” said Brea.

Those friends included Chris DuBois, a senior electrical engineer in charge of technological development, Elvis Rodriguez, a senior economics and global business major serving as the chief financial officer, Gregory Urena, a junior business analytics and computer information systems major in charge of data analysis, Michael Fulton, a graduate from the class of 2018 serving as the chief technological officer and Stephen Serulle, a senior

IN FEATURES: Women’s Week Coverage on p. 10

marketing major acting as vice president of marketing.

Serulle feels what they’re doing in the cryptocurrency field is relevant and important.

“The team, including myself, are absolute food junkies who have entrepreneurial parents. We know how hard it is to create and sustain a business, let alone one in the food industry, which has recently become oversaturated,” said Serulle.

But how is a cryptocurrency created? Serulle expands upon this.

“Since we are a token, we took a slight shortcut; we are built on the Ethereum blockchain, that way we do not have to go through the extensive process of building our own blockchain,” said Serulle.

A blockchain, based on a simple Google definition is “a system in which a record of transactions made in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency are maintained across several computers that are linked in a peer__________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

It’s a typical Friday night, you’re hanging out with your friends and you get hungry.

The solution to your craving is usually solved by a trip to a deli where you pull out your Jasper Card to get the sandwich of your dreams. This system seems so natural to students at Manhattan College, but in fact, this system has not been around for very long and is more complex than a midnight Benson from Best Deli and Grill.

Charles Lippolis, the coordinator of the One Card office, started working on campus in 2011. Manhattan College originally had an off-campus dining program through a company called Off Campus Solutions.

“When I first came [here], we used a company called Off Campus Solutions, OCS, but then they decided to move out of this business,” said Lippolis.

The college had to find a new way to provide the same service to their students. Ken Waldhof, the director of business services, started working at the college in fall of 2013 and helped to bring this off-campus Jasper Card system to life.

“The program started in the fall of 2014 so just going on about 5 years ago. When I first came to the college in September of [20]13, I had acclimated myself to the different areas and learned that we did not have an off-campus program at the time. Where I had worked previously, we had and it was fairly successful. The local merchants like it, of course,” said Waldhof.

The program is managed through a third party called DishOut. According to DishOut’s website, the company was founded in 2011 and “immediately became a player in the closed-loop stored-value space with customers in a variety of verticals including higher education, hotels, ISOs, restaurants, and retailers.”

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DishOut only works with the off-campus locations. The on campus dining options that accept Jasper dollars and Dining dollars are managed through the One Card office.

Waldhof said, “What they [DishOut] do is they provide the local merchants with the hardware and the connectivity to access our card system on a regular basis. They manage the relationship, they sign up the merchants and then they manage the accounting back and forth. We basically fund DishOut and DishOut, in turn, compensates the local merchants for the business that’s processed at their location using the Jasper Card and Jasper Dollars.”

Lippolis works with DishOut in setting up the system.

“My part of the technology is giving them a merchant number in our ID card system. The company DishOut sets them up with a card reader, kind of like a credit card reader and… it goes into a gateway or an API, that’s I think the term, basically to route all the transactions,” said Lippolis. “So if they swipe a card, it knows which account to debit the money from.”

He continued.

“We actually work with DishOut because they handle all the technology and provide the security once it leaves the college network. Security is the big benefit of DishOut,” said Lippolis.

DishOut also helps the college expand the program.

“DishOut themselves also has a team of people who they also visit the area a couple times a year and they’ll walk the neighborhood and see if there are any new merchants have opened up,” said Waldhof.

Throughout the years, businesses have joined and left the program. Two of those businesses include Dunkin Donuts and Broadway Joe’s, a beloved pizza option for many students.

“My assumption is that be__________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Inside the Cheer Team’s Tryouts on p. 15

Opinions & Editorials

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the Quadrangle Volume XCVIX, Issue 11 APRIL 9, 2019

The Editorial Board Megan Dreher Editor-in-Chief

Gabriella DePinho News Editor

Joseph Liggio Maria Thomas Asst. News Editors

Alexa Schmidt Features Editor Managing Editor

Katherine Heneghan Asst. Features Editor

Rose Brennan Arts & Entertainment Editor Managing Editor

Madalyn Johnson Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

C. Garrett Keidel Sports Editor

Pete Janny Asst. Sports Editor

Lauren Schuster Social Media Editor

Brian Asare Photography Editor

Alyssa Velazquez Production Manager Sophia Sakellariou Samantha Walla Production Editors

Nicole Rodriguez Asst. Production Editor

Michevi Dufflart August Kissel Web Editors

Abby Crowell Distribution Manager

Extra Special Prom: The Event We So Badly Needed Taylor Brethauer Senior Writer

This past Friday, I had the absolute honor of attending the Extra Special Prom. Think of this op-ed as sort of a review for the event-- I will also let you know right off the bat that I would give it five out of five stars.

The Manhattan College (and this country in general, really) has seen some hard times: strenuous political discourse, trying to stay above the water in a very difficult and combative time in society and what feels like sometimes a lack of interest from the younger generation.

This was absolutely not the case at Extra Special Prom.

For those unfortunately unable to attend, let me tell what you missed out on: an event where every kind of MC stu-

About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization run by the students of Manhattan College. We strive to cover news around campus and the greater community, publishing weekly in print and daily online. Our goal is always accuracy, relevancy and professionalism.

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

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

Connect with The Quadrangle

mcquad.org @mcquad @mcquad mcquad

dent, whether it was a studentathlete, a super-involved person or just a friendly face you see around campus coming together to support and celebrate special needs and autistic individuals. There was so much happiness, laughter and good times spread around by everyone, it was a night spent embracing so much inclusivity and letting go of any worries.

I thought I had a highlight of the night but I think back to many throughout the prom, including when my buddy finally started getting into the groove and jumping up and down to Katy Perry’s “Firework” or when his mom and a few other moms told us that they were able to go out and enjoy a dinner together for the first time in a while or when a giant conga line started that everyone joined. I don’t think I stopped smiling once.

This was an event that reminded me how important it is to give back to the community in varying ways. Volunteering doesn’t always have to be getting your hands dirty-- it can also be doing the macarena with some of the happiest people smiling and laughing along and enjoying some excellent music.

It just goes to show that if you have any sort of idea you want to see become a reality on campus, there will always be a community of Jaspers willing to help you out and make it triumph.

Extra Special Prom was an event I wish had started many years earlier, seeing as I’m in my senior year now. But I hope for nothing but absolute success in years to come. Thank you so much to Kelly and Mary Kret for your dedication and showing true Jasper spirit.

Clearing Up the Insulin Issue Haley Burnside Senior Writer

Nicholas Gilewicz Faculty Advisor

THE QUADRANGLE

There is an issue that has grown in popularity on the internet in the past year. I almost did not notice, because it is an issue I have dealt with every day of my life since I was four years old. Recently, the world has starting talking about it.

Because the vocabulary is so common in my daily life, I did not notice the conversation entering the mainstream. But now it is here, and I am ready for us to talk about the cost of insulin.

First, I need to lay out the facts. Insulin is a hormone used by type 1 and type 2 diabetics to control blood glucose levels.

From what I gather from the online discourse, many believe that insulin is not necessary, and it is only needed for people who refuse to exercise and eat healthy. That comment spreads false information, and without living as a type 1 diabetic, it is impossible to truly understand how frustrating that is to read.

Using my own life as an example, I would like to clarify a few things.

I run an average of twentyone miles each week. In addition to that, I do yoga once a week, and I typically walk at least five miles per day. I also

monitor every carb that goes into my body in order to give myself the proper dosage of insulin (this is something that I manually calculate each time I eat even a bite of food). Still, my daily dose of insulin is higher than the average person. That is because controlling blood glucose levels is never an exact science, as every endocrinologist has told me throughout my life. My menstrual cycle makes my blood sugar spike every single month. Getting a cold results in higher numbers. Sitting in class for more than five hours in a day can increase my readings. Adrenaline always causes an intense spike for me, too. These are just some of the factors out of my control that affect my blood sugar.

Now, imagine being a typical twenty-one year old college student. Late nights studying, lack of sleep, stress of exams, alcohol, greasy dollar slice pizza, skipping breakfast, not having money for an actual nutritional meal until payday-- these are the trademark factors in the life and health of an undergraduate student. As a senior in multiple clubs, four honor societies, a 3.8 GPA, and a job, I experience the issues that come with the college lifestyle. I balance all of that along with my diabetes. It has never been a choice for me.

In the most genuine sense, it is do or die.

Now that insulin--the strong-smelling clear liquid that allows me to even exist--is the center of heated debate online, I feel the need to share my reality. Insulin is NOT optional, and I am tired of reading misinformation that blames diabetic people for their problems. I am not lazy, but that should not even matter. Lazy should not be a death sentence from the corporations that profit off of my disease. Every time people say that I would be free of my lifelong battle with diabetes if I only exercised more and ate healthier give those companies permission to raise the prices the way they do. These comments imply that I am a voluntary participant in this market (due, again, to my laziness).

This is not an issue of consumerism. This is my life, and I cannot have it without insulin.

The debates around big pharma and the insulin manufacturing industry is not one that I claim to entirely understand. I know that I do not have all of the answers. I also know that I deserve a life, and I deserve to enjoy it. I cannot enjoy it if I am starving to death, and that is what I will do without insulin. That is the debate as I see it.

CORRECT ION

The article “Manhattan College To See Updates to Overnight Parking Policy” was written and published before the March 13, 2019 Manhattan College Senate meeting where this proposal was revoked. The Quadrangle published this without the knowledge that this proposal had not been brought before the Senate for voting yet. The standing overnight parking policy will remain in effect. We apologize for the misinformation.

The article “Jasper State of Mind Announces 2019 Campaign for Student Government” featured a chart of the candidates. GinaMarie Napoli, running for VP of Social Life, was accidentally excluded.

APRIL 9, 2019

Opinions & Editorials

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Knights of Columbus: Contradictory to MC’s Lasallian Mission (Part 2) Rose Brennan A&E Editor

On Sunday, March 31, The Quadrangle received an anonymous message which came out in opposition to the article “Knights of Columbus: Contradictory to MC’s Lasallian Mission,” which was published in print and online on Tuesday, March 5.

The message was delivered in an interdepartmental delivery envelope, and contained a portion of the Catholic Catechism which detailed the Church’s social teaching on abortion. On top of the paper was a Post-It note, typed, which said, “I would like to submit the attached from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in response to the article in the Opinions & Editorials of the March 5 edition of the Quadrangle entitled ‘Knights of Columbus: Contradictory to MC’s Lasallian Mission.’ The Knights of Columbus is a charitable Catholic organization and it would appear that the author’s disagreement is not with the Knights but with Catholicism.”

As the author of the original article, I would like to take this opportunity to address the claims of this note.

Before I begin, I would like to express my sincere disappointment that this was delivered to The Quadrangle anonymously. The published editorial clearly states, “The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.” In short, I am the one who wrote the article; The Quadrangle merely published it, so the grievance should have been sent directly to me, not The Quadrangle.

This brings me to my second point. I had the guts to put my name on the article, and therefore assign myself to beliefs that could be considered heretical. This grievance with the article was delivered anonymously. Should the author of this anonymous note have wished to discuss the article with me, they easily could have reached out to me personally, and I gladly invite them, along with any other people who might have taken grievance with the original article, to still do so.

But that wasn’t how everything played out. So, because I cannot address this person’s concerns privately, I have no choice but to publish it in The Quadrangle to ensure they see it.

So, let’s do this.

To the author of this anonymous note: Yes, I am well aware

of the Church’s stance on abortion, and I did not need a printout of the Catechism to remind me. Nowhere in the Catechism does it say that people have the permission to intervene when a woman is exercising her right to choose, especially since there is a separation of church and state in the United States.

Intervening in this process in the way the Knights of Columbus sought to do is harmful to the woman seeking an abortion, and in my opinion, it actually violates the Lasallian core principle of “respect for all persons.” That principle is highly inclusive and implies that even people with whom you don’t agree are inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

In the original article, I stated that I did not believe abortion is a sin, but if I were to take the Catholic position on people who have abortions as sinners, I would like to direct the author of this anonymous note to this quote from the very same Catechism they sent to me: “There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open contradiction of the Gospel: Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer and more humane conditions.

Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.”

This passage is an explicit example of the Lasallian core principle of “respect for all persons,” and it also recognizes that we must strive for fairer conditions for marginalized people in society which, as I noted, are the people who are primarily targeted by the horrid acts of CPCs. I would also like to add that the copy of the Catechism provided to me is also out of date with current Catholic practice.

This Catechism still assigns the penalty of excommunication to the “offense” of “formal cooperation in an abortion.” However, Pope Francis did give priests the permanent ability to forgive abortion in the sacrament of Reconciliation, as I mentioned in my original article. So as we can see, even the Pope recognizes that abortion is not the black-and-white situation the Church often makes it out to be. Abortion, like any other “sin” the Church recognizes, should be able to be forgiven and absolved from a person’s conscience. The Pope has recognized this, and it is high time for the Church to “get with the times.”

Let me state, for the record, that I am not opposed to people

believing differently than I do.

If you will notice, in my original article, I did not even mention the fact that various chapters of the Knights of Columbus participate in the March for Life every year, and that is because I am not opposed to the Church protesting institutions in which they do not believe. I have actually participated in several peaceful protests myself, though for different reasons.

I am not opposed to peaceful protest.

However, I believe directly interfering in the process of a woman seeking an abortion in the way that volunteering at a CPC does is going way too far, and would go so far as to say it is an act of violence. It aims to shame women and judge them so they will not seek an abortion out of fear of isolation from the Church.

Furthermore, it seeks to have control over women’s reproductive ability, and assumes that a man outside of the women’s experience truly knows best, as opposed to the person who is actually pregnant and has a more allencompassing view of their circumstances which led them to make such a decision. This presumption and enforcement of male privilege is why I cannot support the Knights volunteering at CPCs. As I stated in the previous article, these men will never know the journey women seeking abortions must endure in order to procure an abortion.

The Knights of Columbus are simply a manifestation of the already-inherent patriarchy of the Church, in which men’s voices are brought to the forefront and the voices of women are ignored, if not institutionally silenced.

Traditionally, in the Church, women were not allowed to advocate for themselves, and they still cannot, in many ways. In the year 2019, I still know of churches where women are not allowed to approach or stand on the altar, not even as lectors, cantors, altar servers or eucharistic ministers.

Women’s voices continue to be ignored and silenced because the Church still does not allow women to preach, nor does it allow them to be ordained to the priesthood. This exclusivity is both wrong and counter-intuitive, because not only is this discrimination inherently gendered, but women also have a beautifully nuanced view of Catholicism and the Catholic experience that is by definition inaccessible to men. Nevertheless, it is ignored and not utilized.

Furthermore, the Catechism of the Church was written by men, and that is an issue for two reasons. First is the idea of “men” being fal-

lible. The Catechism was not written by an infallible being, such as Jesus Himself or even the Holy Spirit. It was written by humans, who are inherently fallible. I know I am most definitely not perfect, and in truth, no one is. Not only that, it was written by human men. Women, like in several other aspects of the Church, were not consulted when the Church wrote a doctrine to govern our reproductive ability without our input and without our consent.

Once again, women are expected to sit down, shut up and not make waves.

In short, the Catechism is not the Bible, and we should not pretend that it is. It is certainly part of the social teaching of the Church, but it is not the cornerstone of the Catholic faith. That cornerstone, of course, is Jesus Christ Himself, who taught his disciples and us that it is our duty as Christians to care for oppressed and marginalized groups, many of whom (women, people with low incomes and people of color) are targeted by CPCs. In my opinion, if the Knights truly do care about women and are a “charitable organization” as the author of this note suggests, there are countless women’s shelters throughout the whole of New York City, and perhaps their efforts should be concentrated there instead.

Finally, I would like to assert my anger regarding this response to my article, particularly its selective outrage. As I mentioned in my article, information about the Knights was distributed wherein a pamphlet referred to women seeking abortion as “abortion-minded women.” And now, the author of this note has done the same thing to me. To them, my defining characteristic is that I am defending people who want to have abortions. Once I made that claim, every other valid argument I had to make about the issue was therefore invalidated.

Moreover, the language of this note implied that I was not truly a Catholic because of it.

The person who wrote this note has no right to tell me what I believe, nor do they have the right to insinuate that my belief surrounding the Knights of Columbus’ involvement with CPCs distances me from my belief that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and for theirs. Why should my position on Catholic social teaching, which was instituted by men, interfere with my belief in the Catholic faith, which was instituted by the divine?

In truth, I am hurt by this anonymous message because it implies that I am “not Catholic enough” because I expressed that I do not believe in an aspect of the social teaching that op-

presses another essential part of my identity: womanhood.

So, for the time being, I will continue to participate in all the rites my faith allows me. I will continue to go to Mass. I will continue to take Communion. I will continue to sing in my college’s Music Ministry, because singing praise to my God is the way in which I most intimately connect with Him. I will continue to give up caffeine for Lent, no matter how hard it is. Most importantly, I will continue to wholly identify as both a Catholic and a feminist, and I still believe the two are not mutually exclusive.

The Church may have had success in isolating countless women from their faith in the past. I refuse to become one of them.

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in The Quadrangle are those of the individual writers and do not not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board, the College or the student body.

Rose Brennan is a junior English and communication major, and is The Quadrangle’s Arts & Entertainment Editor/Managing Editor. She is a Catholic and a feminist, and she does not believe the two are mutually exclusive.

ROSE BRENNAN/ THE QUADRANGLE

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.

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News

THE QUADRANGLE

Gourmet Dining Encourages Students to Use Chattback Anonymous Tip Line Service Mike Carlson Contributor

Food at Manhattan College is not hard to come by. But how would a student reach out if they wanted to make a change to the food being served instead of just complaining to their friends? Luckily, students can get in touch with people who can make changes to the food being served by using Gourmet Dining’s Chattback feature, contacting the Food Service Committee and many other ways.

Nicholas Valinotti is the Resident District Manager for Gourmet Dining at Manhattan College. He wants for students to reach out to voice their comments and opinions about their dining experience at Manhattan College. One way students can do this is using Gourmet Dining’s anonymous tip line service, Chattback.

“Our Chattback program, which has been in place for three years, is a great opportunity for our community to share their dining experiences with us,” said Valinotti.

“We are always constantly working to provide the best service possible for the Manhattan College. We have taken the time to reinvent our entrée lines for lunch and dinner. We ask that if the community has

any suggestions, concerns or ideas to please reach out to me via email nvalinotti@gourmetdiningllc.com or by Chattback by texting (929) 294-2282. I will also be conducting a “Dining with the Director” through our dining venues once a month,” said Valinotti. “These dates can be found on our calendar in Locke’s on the TV screen or via our social media platforms @ gourmetdiningMC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.”

Students’ awareness of the channels available to them is important to make sure the channels are being used to their full potential.

Nick Impieri, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, has heard of the Chattback service before.

“I’ve personally never used it, but my roommate has once.

He used it to comment on the quality and flavor of something being served at the ‘Expo Station.’ I’ll give Gourmet Dining credit, since the next time they served the dish my roommate’s request seemed to have been taken into account,” said Impieri.

Chattback isn’t the only way students can make an impact on the food at Manhattan College. Students can also join or contact the Food Service Committee, which is a committee that reports to the Student Government Assembly at

With Chattback, students can reach out their comments and opinions about their dining experience at Manhattan College. Students can also join the Food Service Committee (FSC) to make a direct difference and speak face-to-face with Nicholas Valinotti, the resident district manager for Gourmet Dining.

TAYLOR BRETHAUER / THE QUADRANGLE bi-weekly assembly meetings.

The Food Service Committee was established at Manhattan College in 2016 with the intended purpose of enabling a dedicated group of students to address concerns involving dining.

Fatoumata Soho, a sophomore majoring in marketing and minoring in management, is the current head of the food service committee.

“A lot of times I’ll be passing by people and hear them complain about the food and I’ll ask them have you tried going to the food service committee or using Chattback and they’ll say, what’s that? And there’s a place that has been made for these types of things.

Complaining by word of mouth to your friends will not make things happen. Chattback and the food service committee

exist and are there to serve students. Make use of it.” said Saho.

Regardless of whether or not students’ comments that reach the FSC, Chattback or Valinotti himself are positive or negative, the most important thing is that student voices are raised to the appropriate channels and are heard by the appropriate people on the college’s campus.

Join the Quadrangle WE’RE LOOKING FOR WRIT ERS / GRAPHIC DESIGNERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS / VIDEOGRAPHERS Inquire by email at thequad@manhattan.edu

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News

APRIL 9, 2019

5

MunchCoin Cryptocurrency Created By MC Students __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 to-peer network.”

And now that the currency is up and running on their website, munchcoin.co, many eateries are joining in.

As stated on their website, “When an eatery is certified, it means that they have passed our requirements to be part of our project and are eligible for anyone to receive $MNCH rewards from. The MunchCoin Certified sticker will be located somewhere on their storefront (i.e. the door or window).”

It is important to note that the cryptocurrency is only available to be used on something made by the eatery, not something brand name.

At the time of this article, Manhattan College-proximity eateries include Best Deli, New

Riverdale Gourmet Deli and Jasper Deli.

Securing Best Deli came easy, according to Serulle.

“I have been a faithful customer since I was a freshman and was able to get on a first name basis with the owner [Joe]. We spoke to him about the benefits of becoming a certified eatery and no less than 5 minutes later, our sticker was on the door,” said Serulle.

Their only roadblock so far has been explaining to older shop owners what exactly MunchCoin is and how it can support their businesses. But ultimately, the project focuses on giving back to communities and small businesses.

“It is not easy to run your own business, especially when you have the stress of relying on that business to bring money in to feed your family.

By eating at these places your putting money back into the community rather than a big corporation,” said Brea.

He continued.

“At the end of the day giving back to your community is the most important thing to do.

The people and places within our own communities raised us and continue to raise the younger generation. I intend to have this project essentially being able to run itself within the next few years. The goal is to have it being ran by the community, one way, or another.”

Students interested in seeing their favorite local places on MunchCoin are encouraged to reach out to the team with suggestions. An app for mobile phones is currently in the process.

For more information and ways to use the currency, visit munchcoin.co.

MUNCHCOIN / COURTESY

A Look Into Local JasperCard Offerings __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 cause of the popularity of those two places they probably felt they don’t need to be part of the program,” said Waldhof.

The program, though beneficial, comes at a cost for the participating companies. Participating companies have to pay a monthly fee to DishOut in addition to a fee per transaction.

“It does cost them something for the management and the technology to be there.

Basically, all of the merchants that participate in the program, a small percentage of each sale is shared between DishOut and Manhattan College, so we derive a benefit of it,” said Waldhof. “We help promote their local businesses through the program. We’re promoting them.”

In a 2014 article, The Quadrangle reported on Broadway Joe’s decision to no longer take the Jasper Dollars in which Lou Porco, the owner of Broadway Joe’s, said “Accepting Jasper dollars did not cause us to lose profit.”

The fees for the program at the time were an 8% charge per swipe, 15 cents per transaction and a $30 monthly charge for the machine needed to accept Jasper dollars.

With Broadway Joe’s being as popular of a pizza spot as it is, taking Jasper dollars may not have been necessary for them to get students into the place.

For other businesses, accepting the card makes the location more attractive to students.

Goodfella’s Pizza has been accepting Jasper dollars since the program went live. Mike Orfano, an employee of Goodfella’s, finds partaking in the

program has been beneficial for business.

“Students become more loyal to us and we become more loyal to them. It’s a convenience for both them and us,” said Orfano.

Ariel Coronado, the owner of Blue Charcoal Grill, which has been accepting Jasper dollars for a year and three months, spoke to the benefits of the program.

“This gives me an extra edge as an option,” said Coronado. “Some of the students, all they have is that card, so the pizza place doesn’t take it, only the deli takes it but if you’ve had so much of the deli and you want a break, you end up here so I want to keep this option.”

However, the cost of partaking in the program has increased since Broadway Joe’s decided to leave the program.

“I pay $45 [a month for the system] plus the processing fee per transaction... I spoke with them so that we can figure something out because during these months [the summer months] there’s no usage so I’m basically just paying the 45 dollars,” said Coronado.

In regards to the current per transaction fee, Orfano said, “It’s more than a credit card fee for sure. It’s probably eight or nine percent.”

Along with Blue Charcoal Grill and Goodfella’s Pizza, the Jasper Card program is currently accepted at Buffalo Wild Wings, Burger King 1434, Best Deli and Grill, Gourmet Market and Bagel, Jasper’s Deli, New Riverdale Gourmet Deli and Pizza Supreme. Students are also able to use their Jasper dollars in the school bookstore.

Waldhof is also looking to expand the Jasper dollar program on campus in another way.

“I’m talking to a vending company about getting the vending machines to also accept Jasper dollars,” Waldhof said. “The convenience of having your ID card with you versus carrying cash or a credit card, if you want something to drink or snack on, ideally, in time, I’m hoping to have it in place by the fall that most if not all the vending machines will accept Jasper Dollars.”

While the school and DishOut are working to find new ways to expand the JasperCard program, students are hoping for more options.

Junior Olivia Haveron chimed in on what she wants to see with off campus options.

“I feel like there should definitely be more off-campus options. The delis are great but it’s the same thing over and over again and you’re not getting a variety of choices. Also we only get 25 dollars each semester which isn’t a lot,” said Haveron.

The meal plan for students in the four residence halls on main campus only gives the resident students 25 dollars to use off-campus each semester but students have the option to add more Jasper dollars to their card. When students add money in increments of 100 dollars, they recieve a ten percent kickback.

Junior Ryan Askin wishes the school would expand the options available with the Jasper card program.

Askin said, “From the eight places [that accept Jasper dollars], four of them are delis and two of them are pizza places…

A chinese place would be nice, Asian Tokyo maybe. Burger King is fine but it’s not for everyone. They’re not the healthiest options.”

While New York University

and Fordham University, two big competitors for Manhattan College, offer more meal plan options than Manhattan offers students, Manhattan stacks up well against and even rises above its competitors in regards to off-campus dining.

Julia Mancuso, a freshman at New York University’s Manhattan campus, described her experience with the NYU meal plan options and off-campus dining choices.

“Dining dollars allow you to buy off campus food but meal swipes are for dining halls and certain coffee shops and cafes located around campus. I used most of my dining dollars at Starbucks,” said Mancuso. “I am satisfied [with my options]!

NYU had really different foods and services at each dining hall and I can pretty much know there will be at least one thing I like.”

Mancuso said she knew of about six or seven places around her NYU campus that she was able to use her Dining dollars. According to NYU’s dining location website, there are 4 cafes available for Dining dollar usage, a P.O.D Market that accepts Dining dollars and a campus marketplace that houses outside vendors that accept the Dining dollars.

Melissa Canavan, a sophomore who spent her freshman year mostly at the NYU Brooklyn campus, had a different experience with meal plans than Mancuso.

“I didn’t like it but I was a freshman at the engineering campus and we only have one dining hall in Brooklyn with horrible food options,” said Canavan. “Most people in Manhattan enjoyed their meal plan but NYU definitely makes you get a larger meal plan than you really need... There are more

choices in Manhattan.”

A student from Manhattan’s biggest rival, Fordham University, shared about her experience with Fordham’s dining options. Kristen Egan, a sophomore at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, had choices with her meal plan but limited options for places to eat.

“I picked a much smaller plan than last year after realizing how little swipes I actually need and how much more I value DCB, our dining dollars,” said Egan.

She continued.

“Our meal plan does not allow us to eat at places off campus but we can use our meal plan at different places on campus other than our dining halls such as Cosi, Chopstix, Boars Head, Urban Kitchen, Salt&Sesame, and Starbucks.”

While Egan could only speak to Rose Hill’s campus not allowing for off campus dining options, The Fordham Observer’s article “Declining Balance, Diminishing Returns: Comparing LC and RH Meal Plans” published in March of this year confirms that Fordham Lincoln Center meal plans do not offer off campus options.

Both NYU and Fordham house outside vendors on their campuses in the same way Manhattan houses Starbucks, but NYU and Fordham do not give students the same option to leave campus as Manhattan does. Though Manhattan students are used to the convenience of the Jasper dollars, not every college student gets the same experience that Jaspers take for granted.

Editor’s Note: Maria Thomas contributed to reporting.

News

6

THE QUADRANGLE

Dr. Dello Buono Takes Over as Director of Study Abroad Sophia Sakellariou Production Editor

Ricardo Dello Buono, Ph.D., has taken over as director of Study Abroad at Manhattan College, where he intends to use his passion for travel and knowledge of social problems to enhance students’ societal interactions abroad.

A professor of sociology, Dr. Dello Buono has researched extensively on social issues including war, poverty, gender-based oppression, and economic development and has lectured on said issues in Panama, Argentina, Mexico and several other Latin American countries. His passion for travel was evident as he spoke animatedly about the plans he has for this new role.

“I’ve always wanted to travel since I was young and I was unable to study abroad for economic reasons when I was in college,” said Dello Buono.

“It’s really important to make it more accessible and my whole kind of drive in getting involved with study abroad, in part, was to make it more available to people.”

He explained that the college has a good system for getting financial aid for trips, particularly for a semester abroad.

Additionally, other options have increasingly offered scholarship information for economic aid, including this summer’s trip to Bogota, Colombia.

Having had lived in Colombia for a brief time in the past, providing students with the opportunities to experience its culture as well as the cultures of other countries across the globe, is really important to Dello Buono.

“Connecting with another culture, learning how other people live, experiencing some of the other kinds of problems and wonderful experiences that people have,” Dello Buono said are just a few of the benefits to studying abroad.

“I’m a sociologist by trade so sort of everything social is interesting to me, but I realize that for business students it’s an important kind of comparative approach to how other economies work and what other kinds of challenges face businesses,” said Dello Buono.

In regards to planning the trips the office organizes, Dello Buono turns to faculty as the driving force behind the programs offered.

“The faculty play the key role. It all starts with a faculty [member] who has an idea and we try to build around their networks, their expertise, their knowledge of on-site,” he said.

“We’re not buying into some package program. We really emphasize the sort of custom designed faculty led programs.”

Dr. Dello Buono shared his passion for travel with students last spring when they embarked on a semester abroad in

Rome, Italy as part of a Lasallian University Collaborative Education Program (LUCE).

“My experience was phenomenal,” said Kaiyun Chen, a senior English and secondary education major and attendee on the trip. “Studying abroad not only allowed me to learn from the culture, art, and literature, but it also allowed me to learn more about myself as an individual, how I interact with other people and how I understand the world around me and beyond us.”

“Dr. Dello Buono provided his students with a safe and comfortable space to communicate. Although I was away in a foreign country, Dr. Dello Buono gave me a sense of home,” said Chen.

Antonio Paone, an international studies major and another attendee on the trip,

explained his experience in Rome.

“Dr. Dello Buono hosted a series of lectures in addition to a series of site visits throughout Rome, and outside the city as well, to enhance and facilitate student understanding on the European migration crisis, and the politics, economics, and history behind this issue,” said Paone. “[He] connected me with an organization in Rome where I eventually interned at while studying abroad, it was an incredibly enriching experience to which I am grateful to Dr. Dello Buono for helping facilitate.”

Dello Buono enjoyed his trip to Rome, having had the opportunity to show students firsthand the value in experiencing a new culture.

“Even the most minor kind of cultural knowledge and cul-

tural expertise becomes cultural capital in this business,” said Dello Buono. “You’re only competitive edge is to stand out from the rest and study abroad is one of the best ways to [do that]. Just having done it, it says a lot about you. It’s cultural capital and that’s how employers look at it.”

With a variety of trip options available, there’s an experience for every student to enjoy and Dr. Dello Buono hopes his plans as director come to fruition to ensure that every student has the opportunity to see the world through a new lens.

ABOVE: Students not only learned through in-class lectures, but explored the city through various on-site visits and excursions.

LEFT: Dr. Dello Buono with students on a semester abroad in Rome, Italy.

DR. DELLO BUENO / COURTESY

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News

APRIL 9, 2019

7

New Digital Arts and Humanities (DAsH) Minor Offered at Manhattan College From left to right: Maeve Adams, Adam Arenson, Musa Jafar and Adam Koehler will all be teaching courses with the “Digital Arts and Humanities,” or “DAsH” minor.

Photos from MANHATTAN COLLEGE / COURTESY.

RikkiLynn Shields Senior Writer

Manhattan College’s School of Liberal Arts currently houses 17 majors and 30 minors in arts, humanities, and social sciences. The most unique of its kind, Digital Arts and Humanities (DAsH), has officially become a minor at Manhattan College. As stated in an article on the college’s the DAsH courses “bring the techniques of data analysis and digital representation to traditional questions in the humanities and social sciences.”

Overall, the DAsH minor is meant to shape critical thinkers in a digital age– and that’s exactly what Maeve Adams, assistant professor of English and creator of the minor, is aiming to do in every single DAsH class offered at Manhattan.

The idea for the DAsH minor came about when Maeve Adams, assistant professor of English who specializes in 19th-Century British Literature, decided that, rather than strictly studying literature and taking different core classes involving mathematics and other methods there had to be a way to combine it all.

Adams and the other faculty who came up with DAsH wanted to create a minor that provides students with digital skills that professors found themselves using in their own careers.

“Many faculty, particularly in the School of Liberal Arts were already doing this kind of work. Dr. Adam Arenson, in the History Department, for example, conducts research and teaches classes that use com-

puting technologies to study the history of slavery, tracking migrations of freed slaves after abolition,” said Adams. “My own research has used digital archives and large corpus data analysis to map and visualize the development of literary genres and trends over long periods of time. We also spent a lot of time researching similar programs at other small and large colleges across the country, considering how we might craft a program that was unique to Manhattan College while drawing on the lessons learned in developing interdisciplinary programs like this one.”

Following the idea for the DAsH minor, Adams believes that pursuing to get it approved as an official minor within the school of Liberal arts was both valuable and important.

“There are couple of super practical reasons. Our faculty were already doing the kind of work that falls under the heading of DAsH, so why not capitalize on those skills and produce a more coherent, integrated program that would get students more involved in that cutting edge research,” said Adams. “Increasingly, furthermore, potential employers not only expect students to be strong critical thinkers and coherent writers, they also expect them to have at least some familiarity with things like HTML, data-visualization and even VR/AR development.”

She continued.

“DAsH will make students into the double threats of our current job market. Like actors who can also sing and dance, our students will have a leg up on jobs because they can de-

ploy these skills in tandem and meaningful relationship with one another… It’s not enough anymore to just be able to build a webpage; increasingly you also need to understand why that webpage will matter to potential visitors and persuasively articulate those values to potential funders or consumers.”

Isabel Quinones, a junior at Manhattan College thinks the minor is a great step up for Manhattan College in creating a new minor that will be appealing to a large group of students.

“Even though I am in the school of Education and Health, I think this minor is a good opportunity for students in the School of Liberal Arts to reach out to different departments and take classes they would not typically take with their normal major track. It’s so cool that Manhattan College is trying to make their programs more competitive and appealing for students once they get out into the workforce.”

Christyann Armen, a sophomore psychology major says the DAsH minor is something that sparked her interest immensely.

“After hearing about the DAsH minor, I was instantly fascinated. With plans to go to nursing school after finishing up here, I think the courses that the DAsH minor offer create such a unique classroom environment, and can help me hone skills I need to be not only an attractive employee, but also skills I could use in my day-to-day life. Technology is something that seems to keep growing, and being able to learn important skills of such nature is something I’d love to

do while finishing up my last two years of studies at MC,” Armen said.

Classes range from History 100: Slavery in the Bronx, to English 335: Victorian Media or English 392: Writing and Remembering. All of these classes which will include not only a set curriculum, but will also implement a variety of digital skills.

Students who partake in the DAsH minor or even just take a class or two with the DAsH tag on it can expect to learn HTML, augmented reality development, virtual reality development, Excel, WordPress, GeoJSON, data visualization, and digital archives.

What’s different about DAsH, however, in comparison to other minors offered at Manhattan College, is the fact that it is interdisciplinary– something few other minors at Manhattan College are.

“Like a few other minors on campus DAsH is an interdisciplinary minor, but DAsH draws faculties not only from all disciplines in the Liberal Arts, but from from other schools on campus, including the Business School and, we project, Education, Engineering and Science. DAsH is also not only a minor; it is a cross-college curricular initiative that aims to make the DAsH experience an opportunity for any student.”

The mission of this minor is to educate broadly. Overall, the creation of the DAsH minor is meant to encourage students to reach out of the classroom and engage in experiences that go beyond the walls of the traditional college classroom.

“With the founding of the DAsH program, we have also

formed a partnership with the NYC Media Lab--an organization that fosters public-private liaison that will yield internship opportunities for students at companies like Verizon and Audible. Because were are one of just a handful of schools who have been invited into partnership with Columbia, CUNY, NYU and a few others, students and faculty at Manhattan College will also have opportunities to collaborate with people at those other institutions on research and innovation projects. DAsH will elevate and expand the kinds of opportunities that translate into lifelong value for Manhattan College graduates.”

For Adams, the goal of the minor is not only to educate, but it is also to invest in the future of technology and its importance and ever growing relevance in the job sphere.

“DAsH knows no potential bounds--because it is invested in the present and future of digital tools and data-analytic methods, we expect the program to grow with the times, constantly updating student learning and opportunities with respect to the technologies that define our world and the persistent questions and concerns they raise.”

Regardless of your major, look out for DAsH approved courses when creating your Fall 2019 schedule, and consider adding on a minor that will give you a unique skill set in the many Liberal Arts fields.

“DAsH fills in the gaps for all students, whatever their chosen major. DAsH creates critical thinkers for the digital age,” said Adams.

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Features

8

THE QUADRANGLE

Students Engage with Industry Professionals at “Networking Your Future” Madalyn Johnson Asst. A&E Editor

On Wednesday, March 27 in Kelly 5A, students were given the opportunity to meet with working professionals in a variety of fields including law, business, education, health, government that were Italian natives and of Italian descent.

At the event, “Networking your Future”, guests emphasized to students the advantage of learning another language, such as Italian, and how beneficial it would be in their careers.

John Calvelli, who is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), widely known as being associated with the Bronx Zoo, spoke in the beginning about the workers attending the event that consisted of educators, lawyers, medical practitioners and nonprofit sectors. He especially praised and notified students about one special guest, Francesco Genuardi, who came to New York in 2016 to become the Consul General of Italy.

“We are blessed here in New York to have a dynamic Consul General as in the world of diplomacy. The Consul General represents the Republic of Italy here in New York, he is the highest-ranking official representing the Republic of Italy here.”

He continued.

“He has been a true friend and this session is to talk about the importance of Italian networking and the Italian-American community,” he said.”

Genuardi discussed how happy he was he could make it

to the event and explained his role in building relations between the country of Italy and the state of New York.

“I really value the moments of being in the five boroughs, meeting the people, and trying to explain what we do at the consul, what we do to strengthen more and more the bonds between Italy and New York City and we try to do that as much as possible,” he said.

Genuardi as well recognized the partners in attendance that night that were there to speak and guide students on Italian networking.

“We are very lucky because we have great friends and great partners in New York such as John Calvelli,” he said.

Students in attendance, which included Fordham students from the Lincoln Center Campus, were able to partake hear from professionals after the guest speakers, as they circuited around the room table to table, about why picking up a second language would strengthen their resume and the work they do in the future.

Freshman Mary Stahl, an environmental studies major, talked about what she gained from the event held at MC and how she thinks it will help her find jobs in her profession.

“I thought the event was a very valuable experience to see how my years of studying Italian will help me with job searching,” Stahl said. “The networking aspect was very open, friendly and casual. I really appreciate the Italian department putting such a beneficial event together for all students to be able to begin networking in a very welcoming environ-

With the help of the Italian department at Manhattan College, the event was able to take place and welcome many Italian-American professionals.

LUISANNA SARDU/ COURTESY

ment.”

Ariella Omar, a senior double majoring in political science and international studies, also thought the experience was worthwhile considering it taught students who are new to the working world about networking and how connections are made.

“I thought it was a great event that showed young individuals such as ourselves how important both being active in our communities and networking is,” Omar said. “It was crazy to see people of all ages and professions come together to talk to us all because they had the common thread of either being Italian or spoke Italian and all managed to be there on that night for us to give us advice we can use in our future.”

With the help of the Italian department at Manhattan College, the event was able to take place and welcome many Italian-American professionals, working in a variety of significant fields, to come and advise students that attend New York universities. Luisanna Sardu, who was one of the leading coordinators and is a professor who teaches Spanish and Italian courses at MC, is very passionate about picking up on the skill of learning a second language.

Born in Lima, Peru, Sardu grew up in Sardinia and says her constant traveling led her to develop a love for teaching.

“I traveled my entire life, and teaching Italian paid for my rent, my food, but also allowed me to develop friendships in many parts of the world. Most importantly, it laid a strong foundation for my love of teaching,” she said.

Living up to that desire to teach others, Sardu has taught at numerous universities, including at Florida Atlantic University as a graduate student and at Queens College, Hunter College and Bronx Community College when a Ph.D. candidate. She found Manhattan College through a colleague at the CUNY Graduate Center who left his Italian teaching position at MC to go to Europe.

Sardu found great success in the networking event, for many students at MC show interest in Italian and American organizations in New York.

“Students from Manhattan College and Fordham University gathered to find out where their knowledge of Italian can take them after graduation.

This event opened doors for students who have studied Italian, pairing it with other major fields of studies such as law, medicine, engineering, and

The event welcomed various working professionals in fields including law, business, education, health and government. They were all of Italian descent or natives of the country..

LUISANNA SARDU/ COURTESY business,” Sardu said.

She continued.

“I think students at the event realized that learning a language can have a lifelong effect on who they are as people and that today society demands for us to be multilingual, multicultural and to embrace global awareness.”

Sardu also touched on the impact the event had on women, who may feel discouraged joining a profession that is generally male-dominated, by naming the many female professionals who were present that night.

“We invited many inspiring women to this event with the purpose of encouraging young women at Manhattan College.

For example, Dr. Maria A. Branca served on the Board of Trustees of New York State

Podiatric Association. In 2021, she will serve as president of the NYSPMA, the third woman to hold the position. Dr. Rachel Filastro is an active member of the White Plains Bar Association, the Columbia Lawyers Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Dr. Donna La Spina is a director on the Multinational Corporate Coverage team at BNP Paribas Global Banking Americas in New York”. Sardu summarized how the women’s’ achievements were inspirational based on what it probably took to get them to where they are today.

“Overall all, strong and enthusiastic women who, I am sure, had their difficulties, but nevertheless persisted and succeeded in fields traditionally male-dominated.”

Features

APRIL 9, 2019

9

Fifth Annual Take Back the Night Honors Survivors of Sexual Assault Alexa Schmidt & Shannon Gleba

Features Editor & Staff Writer Manhattan College’s chapter of the national organization, Take Back the Night, hosted their fifth annual event on April 3 in Smith Auditorium.

The concept of Take Back the Night started in 1975, and later became a non-profit organization dedicated to ending sexual, relational and domestic violence. The event began with an introduction and welcoming by the Take Back the Night committee who explained the importance of the event.

The committee was led by seniors Brittney Vargas, Samantha Monfils and Eva Pugliese, all of whom have previously taken part in planning the event.

“Take Back the Night has been an extremely important event to me for the past four years,” Vargas said. “Coming together with survivors of sexual assault and being supported by allies has been so empowering and amazing.

Through this event, I have found self-love, strength, and compassion for others. I have built unbreakable bonds and I want to thank everyone who has come along with me on this journey. Thank you for standing up for survivors and working towards putting an end to rape culture,” Vargas said.

After the welcome, spoken word poet Melissa LozadaOliva treated the audience to a set of poems. The poems all ranged in style and themes, but all were centered on the experience of women in the modern world.

As an MFA candidate at New York University, LozadaOliva has written many poems about the death of singersongwriter Selena QuintanillaPérez. She shared a poem about her experience living in New York and her struggle with anxiety, as well as a poem about what would happen if she got paid for her emotional labor.

The poem started off with all of the ridiculous things she would buy, like colorful wigs and a pony. As the poem went on, it got more emotional.

“If I got paid for all of my emotional labor I would send a thousand rainbow empanadas stuffed with nails to Mike Pence’s house. I would hire an unassuming relatively attractive white man to follow me around so every time you don’t believe me he can just repeat what I said. If I got paid for all of my emotional labor, I would buy my mom a house in a place that smells like oranges.

I’d give my Abuelita all of the

Take Back the Night concluded with a candlelight vigil to honor survivors of sexual assault. @MCTBTN INSTAGRAM / COURTESY

calling cards I could find. If I had a nickel for every minute I stayed up too late for someone who would never wake up for me, a dollar for every second I spent trying to make a sad man feel less sad, a penny for every time I had to bend and stretch to prove to you that I am here. That I exist. My heart would rattle and shake with all of the coins spilling back into it.

Lozada-Oliva finished.

After participating in an interactive reading of sonnets, the audience was asked to walk to the outside of the auditorium.

Then, students Mousa Naji and David Caifa lead the audience in a mindfulness activity for ten minutes. The mindfulness activity required participants to slowly walk the perimeter of the room and call attention

------------------------

“We imagine that sexual assault only happens to women and girls, particularly those who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Whether walking too late in an alleyway, or a dimly lit park.” said Bryant.

-----------------------I would stop digging around in my pockets for pieces of myself covered in lint. I blew my soul’s piggy bank back together. I give her a kiss, I’d put her back on the shelf. I’d only worry about saving myself. I’d never feel like any of this was my fault or like I owed you one again,”

to their body movements and thoughts to promote calmness.

The program took a 40 minute break to allow the attendees to speak about their experiences and eat dinner.

During the break, participants were invited to enter into a raffle, as well as pick up a tote

bag with some products inside that promote healing, like an essential oil roller, lip balm and crystals.

After returning to their seats, Dr. Courtney Bryant approached the microphone to speak about the importance of recognizing trends in sexual violence and advocacy. In addition to teaching courses in the religious studies at the College, Bryant is also an ordained American Baptist minister.

One of the many important topics Bryant spoke about was the injustice women of color face in situations of sexual assault. While black women make up only 13% of the population in the United States, they account for 19% of reported rates. Likewise, she stated that only 5% of rapes and assault in the U.S are reported.

Bryant also spoke on the fact that society’s image of what sexual assault looks like is not always true.

“We imagine that sexual assault only happens to women and girls, particularly those who found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Whether walking too late in an alleyway, or a dimly lit park.

Or being snatched from a car while minding one’s own business,” said Bryant.

“Similarly, the narrative for the kinds of people that engage in sexual violence are seedy, suspicious, evil, degenerate, and even depraved strangers,

typically men lurking in the shadows ready to strike at any moment. But we know now that these ideas are in fact incorrect. As are the images in our imaginations that bring these ideas to life. Over the years we have learned that attackers are not so easily discernible with a quick glance or a passing conversation. The truth is, most sexual violence is perpetrated by someone the victim knows.”

After Bryant’s lecture, which spoke to more awareness and mindfulness about the kinds of behavior we engage in, two students from MC’s poetry club bravely shared their poetry about the emotional trauma sexual assault can cause. Juniors Rose Brennan and Rabea Ali shared original works, called “One in Four,” and “Those Brown Eyes,” respectively. Brennan went on to share a monologue performed by singer Halsey at the Women’s March in 2018.

To end the night, the attendees were invited to leave the auditorium to participate in a candlelight vigil held outside on the stairs of the quadrangle.

Standing in a solemn circle, the Take Back the Night Committee thanked the crowd for attending and for doing their part to end domestic and sexual violence.

10

Features

THE QUADRANGLE

MC Hosts Extra Special Prom

Haley Burnside & Lauren Schuster

Senior Writer & Social Media Editor Thanks to the dedication of two sisters, Manhattan College hosted a prom for people with special needs on April 5. Kelly and Mary Kret, the Extra Special Prom’s organizers, have spent most of the semester preparing for the event. They recruited students to volunteer as “buddies” of the attendees or as “paparazzi” by the entrance of Smith Auditorium.

The two sisters have spent the entire semester working to bring this event to campus.

They each divided up responsibilities in planning. Kelly credits their team dynamic for ultimately bringing the Extra Special Prom into reality.

“It’s been pretty cool to work on this event together, especially to have someone who

believes in something just as much as you do. We definitely have a good balance, Mary was the one who really thought of bringing it to Manhattan and I’ve been handling more of the logistics,” said Kelly.

The event was originally scheduled to be held in late February, but the date had to be pushed back due to various coordination and partnership issues within the College.

“We did have a lot of difficulty getting this event off the ground! It took a while to find a department who believed in its worth. I wasn’t surprised, I mean I was disappointed, but good things always face resistance. I don’t want to focus on the negative, but it definitely wasn’t easy, so we were so thankful when Father Tom agreed to let us run it under his supervision,” said Kelly.

For the sisters, the event had personal significance. In addition to a family connec-

Students volunteered as buddies or paparazzi to make the event run smoothly.

LAUREN SCHUSTER/ THE QUADRANGLE

tion to people with disabilities, Mary finds connection through her future career path.

“I have always been drawn to working with people with special needs. I’m studying to be an Occupational Therapist and I hope to work with young children with disabilities,” said Mary. “Also, Kelly and I have a cousin, a year younger than me with Down Syndrome. We are extremely close, we actually live on the same block! She’ll be attending our dance with a few of her friends!”

The idea of a prom for people with disabilities came about when Mary realized the potential for connection between the attendees and students at Manhattan College.

“I think the main thing Kelly and I wanted to do was to close the gap between us and those with special needs. In a setting like a school dance, it gives the opportunity for us all to hang out and realize that we are more alike than different.

Our event is especially unique because all the volunteers are college students and close in age to our guests! We have had the most positive response from the students here at MC, it’s been amazing,” said Mary.

One of the MC students in attendance was sophomore education major Camryn Kidney.

“I feel like it was a great way to be inclusive and to give people the opportunity to have an accommodating experience that they might not have otherwise,” Kidney said.

To make this inclusive experience a reality, the Krets

Extra Special Prom was hosted in Smith Auditrorium where attendees ate and danced throughout the evening.

LAUREN SCHUSTER/ THE QUADRANGLE have had to put in their all.

“It’s been a lot of work, but obviously the end result will be worth it. The response from the student body has been awesome and so encouraging. The fact that this event is running is thanks to the student body - they’ve been so positive and we’ll have well over 100 Manhattan students involved the night of,” said Kelly.

Kidney was excited to be involved in the evening’s festivities as well as the statement that the event would make.

“I am really passionate about how important it is to treat people with special needs as equals and as peers, and not people that you need to look down to,” Kidney said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t understand that.”

Like any prom attendees,

participants danced the night away to their favorite songs, bonded with their buddies, munched on snacks and posed for photos together.

“When you have an event like this, not only does it raise awareness to able bodied people on campus that people with special needs exist and they are important and it’s important to accommodate for them, but it’s also just important to have events where people with special needs can have a good time,” Kidney said. “I know part of Kelly and Mary’s mission was to have a place where people who come with special needs don’t feel like they are being watched by parents or by teachers or people who feel like they’re above them. Overall, we’re peers and we all come to have a good time.”

The Faces Behind Women’s Week 2019 Megan Dreher & August Kissel

Editor-in-Chief & Web Editor On March 28, 2019, Women’s Week kicked off with a talk

by Jamie Manson titled “Agitating in the Charismatic,” where she addressed why women and LGBTQ Catholics must unite in their struggle in their for inclusion within the church. Events were planned and followed for the rest of the week, and the whole following week through Saturday, April 6.

The events to follow revolved around the themes of intersectional feminism, addressing sexual violence and assault in our communities, activism, allyship, healing, and justice.

“Women’s Week at Manhattan College is an event that involves students, faculty, and staff coming together to empower women. This week long event embraces Intersectional Feminism as well as Lasallian values to create empowering and educational programs for members of the Manhattan College community. With this

event comes the visibility and awareness of issues that are not normally discussed on college campuses,” said sophomore Schuyler Aplaugh Students and administration joined together joined together to discuss and plan this week.

Planning for this event was on the thoughts of the team at the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center since the beginning of last semester.

“Dr. Badruddoja and I acted mainly as facilitators for student ideas and coordinators with existing programming across the college. Our goal is to draw in campus partners like Campus Ministry and Social Action, Catholic Studies, Just Peace, and LOTUS and build programming that draws together our respective communities and reflects student priorities and interests,” said Dr. Jordan Pascoe PICTURES (left to right): @SYDNEY_C0LLINS INSTAGRAM / COURTESY MANHATTAN COLLEGE / COURTESY @SCHUYLER142 INSTAGRAM / COURTESY

Sydney Collins

Jordan Pascoe

Which event was your favorite and why?

My favorite was the student poster presentation on different kinds of sex or gender representations across different fields from the Psychology of Sex class. It was really cool to see students and friends presenting on what they learned in school. I really liked that students were allowed to incorporate their work into women’s week, and that teachers are allowing students to share valuable information like this on campus.

Which event was your favorite and why?

My favorite was the student poster presentation on different kinds of sex or gender representations across different fields from the Psychology of Sex class. It was really cool to see students and friends presenting on what they learned in school. I really liked that students were allowed to incorporate their work into women’s week, and that teachers are allowing students to share valuable information like this on campus.

Freshman

Co-Director of the LWGRC

Schuyler Alpaugh Freshman

Do you believe the work being done has been and will continue to be impactful to the college?

I absolutely believe the work being done on campus has been and will continue to be impactful to the college.

There is still a lot of work to be done as social justice advocates, but every person that is educated or empowered by events such as Women’s Week creates a positive impact.

APRIL 9, 2019

Arts & Entertainment

11

The Clothesline Project Puts Emotional Artwork on Display Haley Burnside Senior Writer

The Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center collaborated with the Multicultural Center to create an emotional display on the quadrangle this past Wednesday, April 3. The event, known as the Clothesline Project, was the result of the efforts of Jo-Ann Mullooly and Hannah Rome, who worked with a number of student volunteers to bring awareness to issues of violence in society through art.

One of the student organizers, Samantha Monfils, explained the concept of the event and the artwork displayed.

“The Clothesline Project is a visual display dedicated to raising awareness about the reality of violence in our society.

It is composed of t-shirts created by survivors of violence, or in honor of someone who has experienced violence,” said Monfils. “Each t-shirt reflects the personal experience of its survivor, and the color of each shirt also represents a different kind of violence.”

The white shirts represented people who have died

due to violence, while the yellow shirts represented battered or assaulted victims. The red shirts represented survivors of rape or sexual assault, and the blue shirts represented survivors of incest or child sexual assault. Finally, the purple shirts represented people attacked because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

The artists then inked messages onto the shirts. Some featured poems or inspiring quotes, while others recounted personal stories or experiences of violence. The artists were given total control over their respective shirts, so there were several that included swear words or graphic explanations of experiences. The names of the artists were not displayed in order to protect the privacy of the survivors.

Jo-Ann Mullooly, one of the key organizers of the project, was careful to ensure that the event was handled with the utmost care toward the survivors and their stories.

“We opened up the Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center last week every day for long hours, and invited students to share their stories with us,” said Mullooly. “We

Students made personal statements on the t-shirts.

ROSE BRENNAN/ THE QUADRANGLE

The Lasallian Women and Gender Resource Center collaborated with the Multicultural Center to host the Clothesline Project.

ROSE BRENNAN/ THE QUADRANGLE instructed them that information would be provided ahead of time, like that names would not be collected at the door, students would be staffing the center well into the evening as volunteers, and that each shirt color represented a different type of violence. Twenty-eight students were so brave to share their stories of intimate partner violence. Twenty-eight students trusted us with their stories. And of course, I know that there are more students who’ve experienced this out there. I knew we needed to go on with the project to honor their stories, no matter if was going to be an uncomfortable sight to see for some.”

The display of shirts was strung up on the quad following Accepted Students Day. The wind blew strong, making the shirts flap like flags. This drew attention to the clotheslines, and several passerby walking through the quadrangle stopped to read the messages on some of the shirts, including accepted students and their families. Behind the display, a table was set up with informative brochures, flyers and literature on violence and sexual assault, as well as ways to take action against them.

Mullooly was confident that setting the display up during this busy day will help spread the mission of the overall project to a larger audience.

“We chose to do it on Accepted Students Day for a few reasons. The main reason was because it fell on the same day as Take Back the Night, a night with the mission of ending sexual, relationship and domestic violence of all kinds,”

said Mullooly. “Secondarily, we believe it is extremely important for incoming students and families to know that this campus is taking a stand against the nation-wide campus epidemic.

It showed student activism. It showed we care. Sexual assault and harassment is not a Manhattan College problem, it’s a worldwide epidemic. Anyone who missed that point has not been paying attention.”

The organizers and volunteers were hopeful about the impact the project could have on the Manhattan College community. One of the student volunteers, Evaniz Orellana, is hopeful that this event will inspire more awareness and sympathy among the community moving forward.

“When individuals see that it does affect their community to a great extent, then they will be more sympathetic towards the situation. I hope that this inspires individuals on campus to help individuals who suffer from violence, encourages them to take a stand for those who they have never met, and to be kind to all people that they encounter as everyone has a story,” said Orellana.

Senior communication major Lauren Alexander was hoping that the students would not be the only ones affected by the exhibit.

“I am more interested to see the impact this may have on faculty. From my own personal experience and what i have heard from other women, Manhattan College does not have a very sound policy when it comes to dealing with issues of sexual violence and harassment on campus so I hope the

project will be a wake up call to faculty,” said Alexander.

The project had personal meanings to the individuals who participated and helped organize it.

Monfils chose to get involved in the project after she saw a version of it back in high school. The experience stuck with her throughout her years at MC, so she was excited to participate when she heard that the Clothesline Project was coming to campus. After personally witnessing the impact of the project, Monfils is eager to help others have a similar journey.

“When I first saw this project seven years ago, I was so taken back by the amount of tshirts hanging all over my high school campus, and each one had a horrifying story of violence. It really put into perspective for me that these violence statistics are more than just numbers. Each one is, or was, a human being,” said Monfils.

Orellana had not heard of the project prior to college, but she knew she had to get involved when it was announced as an event on campus. She knew that it would provide an opportunity to discuss the trauma that follows violence in an open and honest way.

“I chose to get involved with the project as I have many loved ones who have been forced to endure violence and cope with their trauma in silence. I wanted to raise awareness on the importance of the Clothesline Project to show that oppressive barriers are not obstacles that are easy to overcome, rather individuals are fighting every day to survive,” said Orellana.

Arts & Entertainment

12

THE QUADRANGLE

Previewing the Muslim Student Association’s Art Exhibition Brian Asare

Photography Editor Islam Awareness Week is a week in which the Manhattan College Muslim Student Association (MSA) tries to promote peace and understanding within the environment in which they exist. The week’s main goal is to make clear that although we have many differences, we also have many similarities.

This year’s Islam Awareness Week is jammed packed with a variety of interesting events which aims at shining some light on student advocacy and activism. Out of all the seven programs planned for the Islam Awareness week, one new event caught the eye of The Quadrangle, which is the Art Exhibition in collaboration with Sanctus Artem, Manhattan College’s art club ,making it the first of its kind.

Nadia Itani, the event coordinator of the MSA wanted to shed some more light on the week as well as how excited she was for this new event.

“The art exhibition is the second of seven events planned

for Islam Awareness Week,” Itani said in an email statement.

“The theme of the week is student advocacy and activism, and this art exhibit is meant to give the students and members of the Manhattan College community a platform to share their artwork. The artwork itself shows the artist’s perspective of American Muslim identity, background, and heritage.

Both Muslim and non-Muslim individuals are encouraged to participate, in order to show the variety in identity among those on our campus when it comes to advocacy and activism in terms of Islam.”

She also gave her take on why art is the strongest medium to convey deep and heartfelt messages as compared to all the other forms of expression that exist.

“We are so used to attending lectures and listening to speakers and sitting in rooms while people tell us what to think,” Itani said. “However, I believe that art is a lost form of expression and one that people are often afraid to share. This exhibit is meant to provide artists with a safe space to express themselves, as well as give those observing the artwork to

think for themselves and come to their own conclusions based on the art they see. Whether a video or painting or poem, this exhibit is meant to give viewers a chance to effectively observe the art and its meaning, stimulating emotions in terms of American Muslim identity. It is a refreshing way to inform the community about the goal of Islam Awareness Week without having to verbally explain what it all means.” Nadia said.

Fatoumata Saho, the secretary of the MSA also wanted to give her take on how this new event is going to showcase the talents that exist in Manhattan college and how she is really excited about the collaboration with Sanctus Artem.

“We decided to do the art exhibit this year because this years theme is activism and advocacy and another way to be active and show voice through art, poems and pictures,” Saho said. “A lot of people here in Manhattan College are very creative and so we decided that why not make an art exhibit with the theme of the Muslim American identity and in this, we portrayed how people view Muslim Americans, how Muslim Americans view themselves

and the struggles they are going through.”

She continued.

“Sanctus Artem [is] amazing! We are collaborating with them because they are amazing at putting up an art exhibit and they were willing to help us so we decided to collaborate with them because they are just great people,” Saho said.

Husnaat Malik, the treasurer of the MSA gave his take on why the art exhibition is different from most of the other programs being held during the week.

“The entire week is based around Islam Awareness Week, but a lot of that is through people physically talking, but the good thing about the art exhibition is that it is more of a mental thing. The purpose of the art exhibition is to mostly appeal to the emotions through different forms,” said Malik.

He continued.

“I feel like art is unique in the sense that everyone looks at it differently, maybe like a basic them like American Muslim identity, while there may be that theme, everyone is going to look at the art differently and everyone is going to take away something different and I feel

like the beauty of art,” he said.

Submissions so far are looking pretty promising according to Itani.

“So far, we have about 15 submissions, whether they be videos, paintings, photograph collections or poems. Each submission brings along a new perspective to the theme of Muslim American Identity and it is interesting to see what different people can come up with given the same theme.

Each submission has a story behind it to guide the thoughts of its viewers, while still leaving enough room for interpretation.” she said.

Malik has high expectations for the Art exhibition and hopes its one that it is something that continues next year as well.

“This is the first year I believe we are doing this so I feel like it would be a great addition to Islam Awareness Week because it just something a little different and breaks up the week a little nicer because it something a little different and it is just a different way of expressing things,” he said.

Photographer, Marketer, Director, Actor: Jiuxing “Paul” Fucao PERFORMER PROFILE Madalyn Johnson Asst. A&E Editor

Jiuxing “Paul” Fucao, a junior majoring in management and marketing and minoring in digital media art, is a prominent performing presence on Manhattan College’s campus, as a member of Players, Music Ministry, and Jazz Band.

Fucao is originally from Shanghai, China. Leaving his family behind, Fucao came to the US alone when he was just 14 years old.

“It took me a while to adjust, but since I attended a boarding school, I was able to assimilate rather quickly. It definitely helped that I came to New York, as Shanghai is the largest city in the world, and New York definitely feels closer to home than anywhere else, albeit with a much smaller population, one-third of that of Shanghai,” said Fucao.

Fucao attended boarding school at the Stony Brook School on Long Island and continued studying abroad in the U.S. through college under a student visa. Typically in a year, Fucao goes home once to see his family for two to three weeks at a time during the winter intersession or summer vacation.

“It’s certainly hard and I miss them a lot, but I do call them regularly. I’ve gotten used to being away from

them over the course of seven years. Music helps me to take my mind off of a lot of things, homesickness included. When I submerge myself in music or any other type of performing arts, I tend to forget about everything unpleasant and just enjoy the moment,” said Fucao.

Fucao began learning English when he was just three years old but it wasn’t until a year after living in the U.S. that he felt like he had solid communication and writing skills.

Adjusting to a new culture was difficult for him at first but he had help from his “dorm dads” at his boarding school. He has since used those skills he has gained to become a valued member of the Manhattan College community.

“I’m the Marketing Chair of Players, Digital Marketing Manager of Visual & Performing Arts, and the School of Business Vice President in Student Government. In my free time I practice photography, play the piano and bass, and I take up photo and piano gigs from time to time,” he said.

Fucao started playing the piano when he was six years old. He became interested in the performing arts in in high school, and joined the Theater Arts Society and Chamber Singers. He had never performed in an acting role before his junior year of high school.

“Theater instantly drew me in. The sensation that theater

brings is thrilling to say the least: it is a refreshing experience every time taking on a role, however insignificant it may be, to live out his or her life until the curtains close,” said Fucao.

Fucao received the performing arts scholarship over this past winter break. It is required that the recipients actively partake in two performing arts clubs on campus, Players excluded.

“I received the award thanks to the generosity of Professor Andrew Bauer, the Director of Performing Arts, who told me that I was given the scholarship due to my past contributions to performing arts. I also have dear friends in performing arts that recommended me as a worthy recipient, and I owe them my deepest thanks,” said Fucao.

Fucao is currently working as the assistant music director for “Urinetown,” the Players’ spring musical, which he considers his biggest project. He assists in making sure music rehearsals go smoothly as well as run them when the Music Director, Bauer, is absent.

“The performing arts program here at Manhattan College is very impressive considering that we’re not a performing arts school per se. The fact that Players is essentially student run is a very attractive aspect of the club for me as well, as the faculty direc-

Fucao serves as marketing chair of Players, along with the role of assistant music director he has taken on for “Urinetown,” the spring musical. He can also be seen in some Players shows throughout the year.

PLAYERS INSTAGRAM / COURTESY tor traditionally has acted as an overseer and adviser, instead of someone who decides everything we do down to the most minute detail. This proud tradition continues to this day, and hopefully will continue into the foreseeable future,” he said.

Urinetown performances will take place on April 11, 12, and 14. In the meanwhile, Fucao is continuing assisting the other Players with notes on their performances and questions that the actors and actresses may have.

“As part of the routine duties of Marketing Chair, I also work with Taylor Brethauer,

our Graphic Designer, and designed the poster and other marketing materials which will start appearing on campus in the coming days. I am also the club photographer, and I will be taking pictures at dress rehearsals during tech week,” said Fucao.

Fucao’s time at MC is starting to draw to a close, but it seems performing arts will continue to be an integral part of his college journey until that time.

Editor’s Note: Taylor Brethauer is a senior writer for The Quadrangle.

Arts & Entertainment

APRIL 9, 2019

13

Scatterbomb Presents “Honey, I Shrunk Scatterbomb!”

Lauren Schuster Social Media Editor

Mountain Dew Baja Blast, rowing lessons and Michael Phelps might seem like an odd combination, but for the Scatterbomb crew, it’s just another Friday night in Hayden 100.

The first scene of the evening started with Brendan Hanney and Kevin Donald’s characters on a first date at Papa John’s. As the date continued, Donald’s character made it clear that he was obsessed with two things: the girl he’s on a date with, and drinking Mountain Dew Baja Blast. However, a wrench was thrown in Donald’s plans to woo his lady when Erin McWilliams and Meredith Taylor sat at the table next to them and started getting into some dramatic divorce proceedings.

To add salt to McWilliams’ already deep wound, Taylor was revealed to be having an affair with their divorce lawyer, played by Aeden Roney.

As Hanney escaped Donald’s growing obsession by stealing away to the bathroom, Donald confronted McWilliams and Roney, accusing them of ruining his “perfect date” with their depressing divorce drama.

When Hanney returned, Donald spent some time questioning his date and then revealed that his name was Jeremy Dahmer, laughing at its “weird” similarity to serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer before running off to the bathroom himself. In his absence, Hanney attempted to enlist Taylor and Roney’s help to escape the date, explaining Donald’s weird mention of Jeffrey Dahmer. Roney, who had just revealed to Taylor that he had abandoned his son many years ago, came to the realization that his last name is Dahmer too, implying that Donald was actually his long lost son.

The team transitioned to the next sketch, where Donald began directing McWilliams rollerskating as part of a Subway ad for Five Dollar Footlongs.

Soon, other members joined in, posing as famous athletes for the commercial. Hanney

raised concerns about hitting a meatball with a meatball sub like a baseball, and Roney, playing Michael Phelps, discussed how to keep the sub from getting wet when he jumped in the pool. Donald was revealed to be filming the entire thing on his smartphone, and got nothing but terrible, choppy footage before his phone ran out of battery. However, the group then cut to Donald accepting the award for commercial of the year for his work.

In the following scene, Aunt Janet, played by Roney, was suffering from an empty nest, and went to Taylor to see if she could “borrow” one of her kids by taking them to live with her. This launched into a competition between Hanney and Donald to win her affections in which it was revealed that Hanney’s bowel movements were too large for Aunt Janet’s toilets and Donald showed off some of his tap dancing skills.

Aunt Janet was unimpressed by this, and asked if the “baby,” four year old Sally, played by McWilliams, was up for grabs.

Taylor called her downstairs and Aunt Janet was smitten. Arguments ensued, with Hanney once again asking why he can’t be the one to live with Aunt Janet. Donald replied with a simple reminder, yelling “big poops!” The audience exploded into laughter.

The next scene began with McWilliams and Hanney miming rowing a boat, with McWilliams instructing him and reassuring him that he’s doing fine. Then, Taylor and Moira Delaney came up next to them in their own imaginary rowboat, heckling McWilliams and Hanney about their slowness.

Soon Donald and Roney called out to the rowers saying “Ahoy!

Ahoy! We are the harbormasters!”

The harbor masters then accused Taylor and Delaney of speeding and McWilliams and Hanney of being too slow.

Donald, pretending to hold a harpoon gun, then began to tell the group that he used to hunt whales, and hunted them into non-existence in the very

The Scatterbomb crew puts on their opening skit.

LAUREN SCHUSTER / THE QUADRANGLE waters they are rowing in. Next thing you knew, Taylor was shot by the harpoon gun, killing her and the scene.

In the next sketch, Donald mimed reading a book in the library, announcing “This one is on Sudan. Very cool!”

Taylor joined him, discussing her love of books and asking him about his literary interests. Donald revealed that he has only read seven books in his life: the first six Harry Potter books and “Heart of Darkness.” Naturally, Taylor asked him why he never read the seventh Harry Potter book, to which Donald responded “I just don’t want it to end!” and began to get choked up. He then revealed that he sometimes likes to pretend that “Heart of Darkness” is a continuation of Harry Potter in which the characters go on an adventure up the Congo River. They then cut to Donald’s interpretation of a Harry Potter and “Heart of Darkness” crossover, with him having scar pain in the African jungle.

The group opened the next scene with Roney throwing a chair and bashing his head into the wall in an elaborate display of how fed up he was with his brothers tormenting him. His brothers, played by Donald and Hanney, attempted to calm him and then mess with him again before he could tell their mom

on them. Donald pretended to crack an egg on Roney’s back, followed by Donald pretending to stab him in the back with a knife. Roney began to flip out again and yell for their mom.

Donald and Hanney rushed to quiet him and yelled out reasons why their mom could not enter the room. Eventually, they began stacking up the folding stairs on stage as a barricade to the imaginary door that their mom was on the other side of. Roney had finally had enough, and mimed pulling out a knife. Donald yelled out “Where did you get a real knife?” as Roney approached him and Hanney menacingly.

Roney began to stab his entire family, parents and grandma included. Ending the scene, he yelled out, “Sometimes you have to crack a few eggs to make a [expletive] omelette!” as the audience cheered.

The next scene centered around an a capella group waiting for their vocalist to arrive to begin rehearsal. The vocalist, it turned out, was David Archuleta, played by Hanney. Unfortunately, Hanney revealed that he had come down with bronchitis and needed someone to take his place. He offered up Donald as a suggestion, citing listening to him sing in the shower a few days earlier. Kevin then launched into a brief rendition

of “Uptown Funk” before they cut the scene.

To close out the evening, McWilliams, Taylor and Delaney acted out a meeting of a support group for people with certain dietary restrictions.

Delaney served as the new member of the group, explaining to them that she “just can’t eat blanched almonds anymore.” They then cut to why Delaney was traumatized by blanched almonds, showing her and Donald on a date at Papa John’s in which they ordered blanched almonds. The group rehashed some elements of the opening sketch, truly bringing the evening full circle. Like Hanney, Delaney escaped to the bathroom to avoid Donald.

This time, Hanney played the waiter, who Donald sent to go check Delaney. “Tell him I got drafted,” Delaney instructed Hanney. Refusing to accept his abandonment, Donald closed the show by loudly announcing to those around them, “She’s coming back! She said she had a war and then she was going to come back!”

Unlike Delaney’s character, Scatterbomb will be back with another show soon. The group’s final performance of the year will take place on May 3 in Hayden 100.

Connect with the Quadrangle

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online at mcquad.org

Arts & Entertainment

14

THE QUADRANGLE

Malcolm Da Kid and the Hip Hop Society ROCK THE QUAD

Gabriella DePinho News Editor

Junior marketing major Treysaun McGeachy transferred to Manhattan College in the fall semester of the 20182019 academic school year.

What Manhattan College did not know when they accepted him was that in addition to academics, McGeachy was looking for a place where he could make and appreciate music with others. When McGeachy couldn’t find that, he decided to take matters into his own hands, starting the unofficial and underground “Hiphop Society” that hopes to become a recognized official club now that the moratorium is lifted.

McGeachy writes, produces and releases his own music under the name “Malcolm Da Kid” and created “Hiphop Society” as a place for other artists and interested students to come together to collaborate, teach each other what they know and develop new skills together.

The Quadrangle: How did you first get into music?

Treysaun McGeachy: I first got into music in about eighth grade. Like, I knew about music but I really started getting into it around that time. I used to write rhymes in my notebooks and hang out with friends and joke around and make raps. I started taking it seriously in high school when I met one of my other friends whose like a producer. He made beats and was telling me “yo bro, I make beats you should get on one” and I said okay because I wasn’t taking it too seriously. But then I realized like ‘okay maybe I should.’ There was this one class where we did free writing and I took that class as an opportunity to test out some of my raps. The class loved it, other people started doing it. It was fun. Around that time, the same person who was a producer and wanted me to be on this beat, called me and was like ‘yo we’re in the studio, why don’t you come check it out’ and I was like “really?”. Around that period of time, I was more to myself so when I received that phone call there was a part of me that wanted to say no I’m busy but I really wanted to experience that so I decided to branch out and see how it is. I went and it was pretty dope, I met some really good people, got closer to some people. That environment, from there on out, I just started making music.

TQ: When you’re making music, is there a specific process or does it just happen for you?

TM: When I’m making music, I usually start by finding a beat because I feel like the beat is definitely an important fac-

tor for when you start writing.

I like to play with the beat and I feel like certain types of beat that create the sound. There are some that you hear and you’re like “eh it’s kinda sad” but there’s another one that’s more happy. I have to listen to the beat depending on my mood because if I’m feeling kinda sad or I want to talk or express myself, I look for a slow beat, something calm or chill.

Then I start writing. I usually try to rap with the beat before I start writing, trying to find a melody. Once I find the melody, I feel like it helps me better to write. When I get to the studio, usually I try to prep myself because when I go to the studio, I usually am paying for the sessions so when I get there, I want to make sure I do what I have to do because I don’t want to waste money. So I prep myself. I’m ready to go in, the engineer puts on the beat and I go into the booth. I always, the first time at least, practice with the mic and stuff because I feel like you can’t just go into it. You need to hear how you sound, the engineer needs to hear how you sound, play with your voice a bit. The second time, I take it a bit more seriously.

TQ: Who would you consider your biggest musical influences?

TM: Definitely J.Cole for sure. He’s definitely like my top one just because growing up, I listened to a lot of J.Cole and just seeing what he’s doing now. Not only is he at the peak of his rap career but he’s also helping out the younger generation and pushing his guys out which I feel is very important.

He realized, he owns a label, so he has to eat with his label basically. You can’t be the top guy and not have anyone else have the spotlight, but yeah, he definitely his storytelling abilities through his music and how he’s so vulnerable and real and just the way he does it too, in an authentic way. I have a lot of different influences in a variety of ways, J.Cole is definitely one of them and if I’m talking visual, I would say ASAP Rocky.

He came from a place kind of similar to the one I’m from. He came from New York - he’s from Harlem and I’m from the Bronx - but they’re both very similar in some ways. He came from this place and transformed himself to stardom. He went from the hood but he mixed the hood with luxurious things... If you’ve ever seen a video, it’s definitely like woah but he creates such crazy visuals.

TQ: Do you have a favorite song that you’ve written and put out there? How are you putting your music out there?

TM: Right now, one of my favorites is the one that I just released. It’s called “Dream of You.” I’ve been putting out music on SoundCloud but now I’ve

branched over to Apple Music and Spotify because that’s really where people of this day and age are listening to music and streaming it. I had to get away from SoundCloud. I still use it but I use it like if I wanted to drop something, I’ll just drop it on SoundCloud. That’s kinda what happened with “Dream of You.” I first put it on soundcloud but then it got so much love that people wanted it to be on Apple so I was like “okay.”

The reason I really like that song is because people see it as a love song, which is dope and it kinda is like that, but I feel like I made it in the way that it’s dealing more with insecurities.

This song is basically about me desiring somebody else but I’m not sure if I’m good enough for that person but it’s basically me, opening up, giving people how I feel in a way that might be a little hard to tell, but it might not be. If you listen to that song you might be able to hear what I’m talking about.

TQ: Do you drop your music under your name or a stage name? If it’s a stage name, where did you get it from?

TM: I drop it under my stage name which is “Malcolm Da Kid.” I got that name from, well growing up, I used to have these glasses so people said I looked like “Malcolm X” or something, so I was like “cool.”

And then a movie came out, called DOPE, the main character. He was kinda like a little bit nerdy but he was really into music. He did his thing with music but he was also into school.

The main character’s name was “Malcolm” so this Malcolm thing seemed to be popping up a lot so I’ll run with it. I took into consideration another person.

I forgot to mention but a person I look up to is Mac Miller and his name is Malcolm and I thought that would kind of be a tribute to him. I added “the kid” part because I felt like it makes more sense. I feel like we’re all in some ways still kids and we hold onto that memory of still being a kid, we hold onto these memories and hobbies that we grew up with.

TQ: Do you see yourself post-graduation - pursuing your music or your marketing thing or finding a way to combine both?

TM: Definitely a way to combine both. The reason I took on marketing is to learn to market myself because that’s one challenge as an independent artist is to market yourself and get out into the world. I have to be able to brand myself. What I’ve been learning in marketing I’ve been putting towards my music and it’s been working.

Also, as a career, I really want to get into the music industry so I’ve been applying to internships where I can get involved in that industry. I would feel more comfortable there but I

would work wherever I can get experience but my end goal is to end up somewhere involved with music or even start my own thing.

TQ: Do you go out and perform places or are you just releasing your stuff online?

TM: I actually go out sometimes and perform places because I feel like me doing that, I get to meet people and they get to her my sound. It’s good for me to practice, being on front of stage and people. Obviously, it’s a little nerve wracking knowing you have to get on stage and then you’re performing your song and you’re wondering are people going to like this song. Honestly it’s all about confidence and doing the best you can. Usually after my performances people will go to me and be like ‘oh what’s your instagram’ or I really liked that so you get that feedback. You can understand what the people liked and what they didn’t like and the target audience. Usually, the open mics that I’ve been attending are full of people and they’re usually 18 and up. You get to see how the younger people interact with each other and how the older age group interacts. Some older guys be coming in and they’re rapping and sometimes they do interact with the younger generation but sometimes they don’t. The younger generation, when they perform, the young guys be getting wildin’ and some of the old guys just be chilling. Being in that environment you get to see what people like and feed off their energy and get motivated. I’m motivated by these artists because I’ve seen a lot of talented people and it’s really dope because me meeting these people and sharing my music with them and hearing what they have to say is really important.

TQ: Have you had any cool collaborations come out of your experiences at these open mics? Are you open to them?

TM: I’m definitely open to them and I feel like people might not know that. Usually after performances, I’ll hit up certain people and tell them I thought they did good and they’ll say thank you and they thought I was good too. We’ll share music and whatever but hopefully, there’s one guy that I did meet and me and him are planning on working together soon. I met him at an open mic. There’s another dude I met just going to a concert and he asked me if I was an artist.

It was weird how he sensed that. He was like ‘I’m an artist too, maybe one day we should work’ and during the summer we actually got together and he booked this session at a studio called The Quad - yeah it’s really called The Quad. It was really fancy too, had the plaques up and stuff but it was really dope.

We recorded a few songs. I’ve gone with another friend and we’ve recorded some songs.

Experiences, getting yourself out there, it opens the door for opportunity.

TQ: Do you have any music projects - like an album or an EP - that you’re working towards?

TM: Right now, I’ve released two songs that are on platforms and I want to release one more and another one on SoundCloud but I really want to start working on an EP because I feel like that’s important. I want to give people a variety of songs rather than just releasing single after single so I’m really going to try to aim and do that for this summer, after school is done. Maybe go to more studio sessions, get that stuff in. I’m in the process of writing songs, seeing what I want on there, what I don’t.

TQ: Now that you’ve had music in your life for so long, when you first started did you see it becoming this important to you? What does it mean to you to have music?

TM: I always knew that it was going to be important because I’ve always done it. It was something that I didn’t let go. All the way in eighth grade, just rapping with my friends, I went far from that to where I am now. Music has become a thing where I have to find a way to do music, be involved in music or be involved in the community of music or work in that career path of music. I feel like it’s something in me.

There’s something about music, it just gives me that feeling, that happy feeling. That’s why I want there to be more music events at this school, just unity and together and being together with everyone and everybody enjoying the music. It’s wild. The way I see it, there are so many different concerns going on in the world, people have their own opinions, have their own views and perspectives but when music comes on, everybody gets together and they just enjoy it. That’s what I love about it.

You can check out McGeachy’s music on Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud under the name “Malcom Da Kid” and follow him on instagram @ treysonn_

Watch an exclusive performance from Malcolm the Kid for The Quadrangle on our YouTube channel!

Sports

APRIL 9, 2019

15

Manhattan College Cheerleading Team Hosts Tryouts RikkiLynn Shields Senior Writer

Kaci Forren, the Manhattan College Cheerleading coach began her career as a cheerleader in the first grade. After being contacted by an MC cheerleader whom Forren formerly coached on one of her Trumbull Pop Warner teams, Forren was contacted for an interview and accepted the job in 2016.

“I started cheerleading when I was in first grade with Trumbull Pop Warner and ended my career as a competitive cheerleader in 2011 with 13 years of cheerleading under my belt! Throughout high school I was a coach and choreographer for Trumbull Pop Warner and loved it so much that I continued for a few years after.

Time went by and I had to get back into cheer somehow so I became a tumbling instructor at the cheerleading gym that I cheered for, for many years then I finally landed my dream job with Manhattan College as the head cheerleading coach!

Besides coaching Manhattan I am also a bartender and bar manager, and I am currently in EMT school and will be done in July!” Forren said.

Since 2016, Forren uses her 13 years of experience to create an environment that is both challenging yet enjoyable for everyone on the team.

“We have two different practices - coaches practice and captains practice. Coaches practices we work on stunting tumbling and anything else in between - more of the technical stuff. These are the practices when I choreograph the routines for the season through-

out the season. We start with stretching warm ups and end with a little bit of strength and conditioning. If I feel something like a cheer or a dance needs to be tweaked I will take time to do that as well. Captains practices are held by our captains.

They practice and teach new cheers and band dances for the season. They also go over anything else I have taught them for their routines but stunting and tumbling as they cannot do anything dangerous if I am not present. These two practices allow us to put in all the time we need for each aspect associated with cheerleading. On a game day we show up to Draddy an hour early, fully ready and immediately change into uniform. We begin stretching and practicing. During half time we warm up for the next performance. Sometimes we even come up with cheers and stunts on the spot to perform with the band and/or dance team!” Forren said.

Forren’s time at Manhattan has been an experience that has both affected her life as a cheerleader, but also as an individual.

“The experience has been amazing. I’ve learned so much about myself and my coaching style. I have all my girls over the years to thank for that.

There are good times and bad times but that is all part of the sport. I wouldn’t change anything that I’ve experienced thus far because it has taught me so much,” Forren said.

For students interested in trying out for the cheer team, tryouts are being held in a different way compared to past years.

“This year we are doing tryouts a little differently. We are holding clinics before each

The Jasper Cheerleaders bring a lot of energy to Manhattan sporting events.

MANHATTANCHEER INSTAGRAM / COURTESY tryout so the girls and guys trying out feel more comfortable and confident at their tryout.

At each clinic we will go over proper stunting techniques, teach them a cheer, a band dance and teach them proper jumping techniques. We will also practice tumbling, and I will be able to spot them if need be,” Forren said.

If you’re looking to try out, Forren says the process is very simple, and welcomes anyone interested. While she recommends experience, there is no experience needed, and no reason to be intimidated or nervous.

“The tryout process is very simple. We start with stunting I look at everyone’s technique and I have them do a variety of basic stunts. After that is done, if there is any other stunting

The Manhattan College Cheerleaders are searching for new members to join what they call their “little family.” All backgrounds and levels are encouraged to try out for the team.

MANHATTANCHEER INSTAGRAM / COURTESY

talents they would like to show me they are able to do that as well. After stunting, I split everyone up into smaller groups depending on how many people are trying out. They perform the cheer they were taught, the dance and they execute two jumps of their choice,” Forren said.

Nicole Raymond, a sophomore Chemical Engineer major from Hillsdale, NJ and a co-captain of the cheerleading team began her career as a cheerleader in the third grade. Joining the cheer team made her transition from high school to college much easier and much more fun, providing her with a second family sooner than she expected.

“Our team is a great club to join with many benefits, most importantly gaining a second family. I have also personally experienced how being on the team has helped my time management skills by forcing me to stay on top of my school work, which is always good. I couldn’t imagine not being on this team and we look forward to adding new people to our family!” Raymond said.

Siobhan Riggsbee, a freshman psychology major from Englewood, NJ, the second co-captain of the cheerleading team began her career during her senior year of high school.

“Cheering has been the best decision I made since coming to school here. I have met some of the greatest people I know just from being on the team and I’m so happy to have a family on campus. They truly make school feel like home,” Riggsbee said.

For Riggsbee, game day consists of much more than intense practicing beforehand and showing up.

“For me getting ready for

a game starts 2 hours before the game. I put on my uniform, do my hair and then apply my makeup. After that I usually head to the dining hall to eat a little bit before getting to the gym. We get to Draddy an hour early to stretch and warm up a pyramid, cheer, or routine to perform during our first time out. After that we do flags and spirit the players onto the court. Then we go and do intros, usually people stunt, jump, and spirit as each basketball players name is called for the starting line up. We then cheer on the sidelines until our timeout, we perform what we warmed up, and then cheer for the rest of the half.

At half time we do the dance to our fight song, and then warm up another pyramid, cheer, or routine to perform during the second half. We cheer and perform through the second half, and then do the dance to the fight song again at the end of the game,” Riggsbee said.

Forren encourages anyone interested to tryout. The clinic “Manhattan Cheerleading is very different that a lot of teams. I have a unique coaching style, and I’m able to adapt to everyone’s individual personality and needs. I like to call Manhattan cheer a little family because that’s what we are! We support each other and constantly lift each other up. Every member on the team is always allowed to speak up and share their ideas for routines, dances, cheers, etc.. we’re in this together! Lastly, just as much as I am their coach, I’m most importantly a friend and someone they can always come to in any time of need. My girls would confidently say that I would give anything for them,” Forren said.

Sports

16

THE QUADRANGLE

Jasper Dancers Perform in Nationals Send-Off Alexa Schmidt & Shannon Gleba

Features Editor & Staff Writer The Jasper Dancers hosted their annual send-off event in Draddy Gymnasium on March 31 in advance of their Nationals competition in Daytona, Fla. The event began with a speech from the team’s coach, Kaitlyn Marquette, who expressed the importance of the send-off in preparing the dancers for such intense competition, especially because their jazz routine is new territory.

“This a big dress rehearsal for [the dancers], so be there for them, be supportive, it is their second time performing this jazz routine. This is their first time doing a jazz dance at Nationals, it is the first time in Jasper Dance history that we have ever done a jazz dance, so I am really proud of them for adapting to a new style and to perform it.

She continued.

“I choreographed it myself and I am really proud of how it came together.”

After, the dancers took the floor and performed their jazz routine, which evoked emotion in many audience members, Marquette went on to explain more about the dance program at MC. Marquette said, “We have auditions in September, and we practice 3-4 days a week during the fall semester and 4-7 days during the spring semester.

That may sound like a lot, and

it is, but there is a lot that goes into preparing the body and the mind for such an important competition. And doing two dances, it is a lot for the girls to take in, so 7 days a week sometimes.”

In addition to attending their own practices and competitions, the Jasper Dancers are also an integral part of the Sixth Borough, and perform during basketball games.

“They also perform at every women’s basketball game and every men’s basketball game.

Yeah, they have a full schedule, they also stay on top of their academics,” said Marquette.

After a short break for a costume change, the dancers once again took the floor to perform their hip-hop routine for the crowd.

For the team, this dance is a way to express themselves and their determination to make it to finals. Two years ago, the team placed fifth in the nation in their category. However last year, they pushed hard, but did not make it to the finals.

“This routine is our comeback, this routine is us talking to the judges, us talking to each other and ourselves, and we’re not going to give up. Regardless of if we make finals, or if we don’t, we are going to show it on the floor. We feel like we deserved it last year, and we’re going to take it back this year, with a lot of fight,” Marquette said.

In order to give themselves the best chance at a comeback, the team made some changes to their approach to practicing

The dance team performed for friends and family in Draddy Gymnasium as part of their annual Nationals send-off. The team competed in the Jazz and Hip Hop category.

TAYLOR BRETHAUER / THE QUADRANGLE and performing.

Junior dancer Taylor Aloisio said, “The style of dance is very different. We did hip-hop last year, but jazz we have never done before. Hip-hop, the style is very different, so we wanted to tell a story this year, rather than put as many tricks as you can into two minutes, that wasn’t our goal this year.”

Team co-captain, junior Taylor Malangone said, “I feel like going off the year we had last year, obviously things did not work out in our favor, so people came back with a different fight, a different motivation, so I think that is going to really help us, push us that extra step further than we did last year because we have more of something on our backs and we want to come back and fight harder.”

Malangone continued.

“Also, I think we practiced a little more this year, our hours definitely increased a little bit.

And we found outside people to come in and help us, we did

video critiques, we reached out to different options to get more help with our dances,” she said.

Coach Marquette emphasizes that the dance team is in the Division 1 category, which makes it tougher to compete against larger schools, who receive more funding.

Aloisio is the fundraising coordinator for the team and gets a firsthand look at the struggles of financing such a demanding competition.

“We are under student engagement, so we are not under athletics, so they give us a certain budget and then we can do with it what we want and we have to fundraise the rest...

I deal with the money all of the time and it’s really hard to come up with the money. But, everyone in the school is so supportive of us, and they are really willing to help us which is nice,” she said.

Malangone, added that the competition is more expensive than people realize.

“You have costumes, you have travel, you have hotels, you have the competition fees itself. And everyone on the team does their part, we deal with family, friends, businesses,” she said.

When asked how the team dynamic has been, Malangone said, “The best- we would like to say we are the best club here, because the bond we have is really not compared to any other clubs… No matter what, we are always doing something together, whether it’s dance-related, not dance-related, I could not imagine not having these girls in my college years.”

Editor’s Note: For the team’s Nationals win coverage, check back in next week’s issue. Congratulations to the Jasper Dancers, including our editor-in-chief Megan Dreher!

Jasper Softball Falls to Columbia at Home MANHATTAN 3, COLUMBIA 6

Stephen Zubrycky Senior Writer

In a battle for softball primacy on the No. 1 subway line, the Manhattan College Jaspers came up short against the Columbia University Lions (of the 116th Street station) at Gaelic Park Wednesday afternoon, losing 6-3 as the Jaspers’ fortunes went south in the final inning.

Fresh off back to back wins in a double header against the Morgan State University Bears, the Jaspers entered the game 11-15. The Lions entered the game 12-12 after taking 2 of 3 games from Princeton University Tigers in the team’s previous series.

The Jaspers started the afternoon strong, with freshman Jessie Rising’s pitching holding Columbia scoreless in the first five innings.

Manhattan was able to get

three runners on base in the bottom of the first inning, with a ground rule double to right from junior Christine Gebhardt allowing junior Adrianna Gambino to score the game’s first run.

Neither team put any runs on the board in the second and third innings.

In the top of the fourth, a line drive off the bat of Lions infielder Abby Stuart nearly hit Rising in the face, but fortunately for the Jaspers, Rising was able to catch the ball and make the play at first to bring Manhattan back to the plate.

The Jaspers’ bats would be hot in the bottom of the fourth.

The Jaspers’ second batter, junior Morgan Sgarlata, doubled to deep left and stole third off a flyout to right from freshman Megan Gillooley. A homer to left from Victoria Alonso would then bring Sgarlata home and put the Jaspers up 3-0.

The Lions fired back in the top of the fifth, closing the gap

to 3-2 with a home run from sophomore Maria Pagane.

From then on, it was all Lions.

Columbia quickly loaded the bases in the top of the seventh. A single from infielder Max Ortega’s bat brought one Lion home. Then, Jasper relief pitcher Kayla McDermott walked in a fourth Columbia run. Finally, Stuart doubled to deep center, adding two more runs to the Lions’ tally before Manhattan was able to stop the bleeding and get one final crack at it.

The Jaspers attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, with Gambino doubling down the left field line and sophomore Daniela Chiorazzi singling to right.

But ultimately, the Jaspers would not have enough to recover. With Chiorazzi on first and Gambino on third, Gebhardt, who would have been the tying run, flew out to right to end the game, with the Man-

The softball team competes on Gaelic Park’s field.

STEPHEN ZUBRYCKY / THE QUADRANGLE hattan Jaspers losing to the Columbia Lions 6-3.

“Jessie rising did a great job pitching yesterday and Victoria Alonso hit a big two run home run which was her first of career,” Head Coach Tom Pardalis wrote in an email.

Manhattan will be on the road for a double header against MAAC rival Fairfield this Saturday. The Jaspers enter the double header 10th place in the MAAC, with an overall record of 11-16 and a conference record of 0-2, after twin losses to the Quinnipiac

Bobcats. The Stags are 13-11 on the season and also 0-2 in conference play, after dropping two games against the Marist Red Foxes.

On Sunday, the Jaspers will host the third place Red Foxes for a double header at Gaelic Park with start times of 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Big MAAC weekend and a good chance for us to show some positives and make a statement,” Pardalis wrote.

“We have learned a lot in this pre MAAC season and now it is time to apply the lessons.”