“We Do Journalism”
the Quadrangle
Visit Our Website mcquad.org
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY | SINCE 1924
FREE
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Volume CXIV, Issue 2
Blood Drive Smith Auditorium
Wednesday September 16 2026 12 P.M. - 6 P.M.
Blood Donors Needed! To make an appointment, scan the QR code:
Manhattan College Parkway Now Co-Named Manhattan Co-Naming Ceremony Marks University Way Manhattan University Way Addition New York State politicans Eric and Jeff Dinowitz pictured with President Frederick Bonato and Community Board 8 member Bob Bender.
Editor-in-Chief
@MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
O’Malley Library Undergoes Changes for New Semester Zendrah Bonnick Asst. News Editor
Over the summer, Manhattan University’s (MU) O’Malley Library has undergone some changes in spacing, staffing, furniture and more. These updates are based on an end-of-the-year poll that students voted on last semester, posted by the library on Instagram. The Quadrangle interviewed library staff to better understand recent changes. Sarah Sheehan, interim director of public service, told The Quadrangle that the library’s layout and
IN NEWS: TIME Ranks MU in America’s Best List pg. 4
varying noise levels across floors allow students to use it as both a quiet study space and a place to socialize. “[If] you’re an engineer, or a business [major] ... you’re going to be working in groups,” Sheehan said. “There needs to be a space where the students can get together and be loud-ish.” Susanne Markgren, interim director of the O’Malley Library, shared how the library recently implemented changes to create more room for quiet spaces and group work. “We had some shelving removed, and we created two new study areas,”
IN FEATURES:
JPHP Hosts Meet the President Event pg. 5
Barbara Vasquez
Markgren said. “We added several charging stations because that was always in demand ... We have added several more whiteboards. You’ll see them on every floor.” Sheehan also elaborated on how varying sound levels throughout the library help accommodate students’ diverse needs. “There also needs to be spaces where [students] are able to concentrate and are provided different sound levels ... depending on the students, we’re seeing lots more neurodivergent students __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Manhattan College Parkway has been co-named Manhattan University Way, made official with a public ceremony this Thursday, Sept. 3. Manhattan University Way will not replace Manhattan College Parkway; instead, both street names will refer to the same intersection. Manhattan University (MU) President Frederick Bonato explained the reasoning behind the conaming. “Co-naming the street is not a compromise,” Bonato said. “It is the most accurate way to do this, because this place is both.” This street has been named Manhattan College Parkway since 1953, when it was first changed from Spuyten Duyvil Parkway to honor the university’s 100th anniversary. Aileen Ryan, a local Bronx activist and former New York State politician, spearheaded the original movement. Her son, Jim Ryan, showed his support for the co-naming in her honor.
IN A&E:
Catch Up with Arts Groups at the Club Fair pg, 9
Neighbors on Manhattan College Parkway will be able to keep their established addresses, while the change will eliminate the discrepancy between the university’s name and the street it sits on. Bonato further explained the decision to retain both names. “There are many thousands of people walking around this city with a Manhattan College diploma, and they are not ‘former’ anything,” Bonato said. “They are Jaspers, and this is still their campus. We are also a university now with three schools, more than 100 programs, and students who come here from all over the world. Both of those things are true at the same time, now the street will say so.” This co-naming was celebrated by both MU and nearby Bronx communities. Faculty, students, Bronx Community Board 8 members and New York City Council Member Eric Dinowitz were all in attendance at the ceremony. Chair of the history, __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN SPORTS: Climbing Club Revived After 3-Year Hiatus pg. 11
News
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Volume CXIV, Issue 2 September 8, 2026
The Editorial Board
Barbara Vasquez Editor-in-Chief Maddie Rosado Managing Editor
Maddie Rosado News Editor
Leyla Mercado Features Editor
Zendrah Bonnick Asst. News Editor
Sarah Rolka Asst. Features Editor
Maria Castaño Arts & Entertainment Editor
Zeke Jazwinski Sports Editor
Joshua Reichard Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Emmamuel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editor
Misha Jabal-Abadi Production Editor
Lois Boateng Social Media Editor Leyla Mercado Asst. Social Media Editor
Jayden Gonzalez Nicky Lombardo Photo & Video
Nishat Parvez Faculty Advisor
Aureliano Morales Web Editor
About The Quadrangle A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news or ganization run by the students of Manhattan University. 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 University or the student body.
Join The Quadrangle The Quadrangle’s staff holds weekly open meetings on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. in Kelly Commons. All are welcome to come and join the club. If interested, please email thequad@manhattan.edu!
Connect with The Quadrangle mcquad.org @mu_quad @mu_quad mcquad
2
NOTES from the EDITOR
3
News
THE QUADRANGLE
Manhattan College Parkway Now Co-Named Manhattan University Way
__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
political science and international studies department, Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., has taught at MU for 27 years and has lived in the North Bronx community for longer than that. As someone who emphasizes community involvement, the MU professor took the lead on having the street name altered. “In New York City, to get a street co-named you need
the support of the local community board and the city council,” Groarke said. “Because I am somewhat active in the community, I felt like that was a place I could help. I knew a lot of the people who would get people to think about allowing us to do this.” Bob Bender, vice chair of Bronx Community Board 8, spoke on the issue and said it was more of a “formality” than anything else. “There was never any question that we would go
Manhattan University and local Riverdale community members celebrated the name change. NICKY LOMBARDO / THE QUADRANGLE
along with it ...” Bender said. “...We are proud to have MU in Community Board 8. Proud of the students, the faculty, the alumni. It is a great institution. Congratulations on the renaming as MU and on the co-naming of the street.” This co-naming of this street sign represents more than simply renaming the block. For some community members, like religious studies and philosophy professor Mehnaz Afridi, Ph.D., the change is symbolic of the university’s values and reenergization as well. “Today, as we rename this parkway, the Manhattan University Way, we are not simply changing a street sign,” Afridi said. “We are naming what we hope every person who walks or drives this path will feel: that they are seen, that they belong and they are welcome here... That is our mission made visible: dignity, justice and
Margaret Groarke, Ph.D., helped bring the change to fruition. NICKY LOMBARDO / THE QUADRANGLE welcome for anyone who passes this way.” Even with its long process, this change is also representative of what can be possible for those who speak out in their community. For Groarke, taking action achieves change. “I want students to learn in my class that you can advocate for change, and
what are the most effective ways to do that?” Groarke said. “We can all do some part to make our campus or our community or the country a better place than it is, in whatever way we think that should be. We all have different values and interests, but there are ways to say, ‘here’s something that should be better than it is, and I’m going to help make it happen.’”
O’Malley Library Undergoes Changes for New Semester
__________________________
we have access to,” Paradise said. “[Another] fun one CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 is Canopy, our streaming movie database. Selections that need a very particular have really improved over type of environment to be the last couple of years... successful in ... sound levels and now they have a bunch [can help],” Sheehan said. of A24 [movies as well].” Bernadette LopezFitzsimmons, a member of the university’s tenure library faculty, commented on how the sound levels help; however, they are not a perfect solution.
Sheehan then went onto elaborate on the library’s role in supporting student research. “Librarians are here to help with research, and you don’t have to go it alone,” Sheehan said. “The subjectspecific databases that will allow you to drill down directly to resources that are specific to the area you’re researching.”
“Group work is very much part of a lot of courses now, I knew a big issue was with students [wanting] quiet spaces to study,” LopezFitzsimmons said. “We try to keep the noise down, but it’s hard, because sometimes In addition to the the noise travels.” librarians being a resource to help students with Beyond studying and research, the O’Malley group projects, the O’Malley Library is also home to the Library continues to serve university’s archive and as a space for both research Holocaust, Genocide and and reading. Interfaith Center. Laurin Paradise, digital outreach and student engagement librarian, highlighted resources she believes students could benefit from using more often.
Amy Surak, director of archives and special collections at MU, discussed working to implement changes to the archive office.
“The archive [office] “Zotero, which is a citation contains extensive management software that information on the Catholic
Church and the brothers’ mission, much of it in French,” Surak said. “AI has helped translate the material, with the goal of eventually making more archival documents accessible online, though balancing digitization with ensuring the collection is properly accounted for remains a challenge.” While physical book reading has declined nationally, MU’s library still houses approximately 320,000 books, offers e-books and has expanded its manga collection. Through interlibrary loan, students can also access books and other materials not currently available in the library’s collection.
changes the library is planning to implement, The Quadrangle spoke to Erin Walden, the newly hired emerging technologies librarian. “My position is going to be focused on helping students and faculty navigate using AI,” Walden said. “I’m working on creating an online kind of module to just have something where students can go and find lots of resources about AI use in their classes and through our online library databases. We’re going to be working closely with other departments to ramp up and create a pretty robust AI support network.”
Markgren also added that repairs and improvements have been made to the library’s tech hardware. “We have all the new printers in the library,” Markgren said. “We have all new computers on the fifth floor, and IT will be slowly replacing all the computers in the library. We also have web prints, so people can print from their laptops, phones and other devices.” With updates to its spaces, technology and resources, the O’Malley Library continues to adapt to the changing needs of MU students.
“You’ll get an email... you go upstairs to the circulation desk and tell them you ordered a book through the interlibrary loan,” Lopez-Fitzsimmons said. “You have to return it in time, and they’ll tell you the due date. But if you need articles, they’ll come within two or three days and you click on the link and get a PDF. So, the articles come really quickly.” To gain more information about the technological
The O’Malley Library Archives. ZENDRAH BONNICK / THE QUADRANGLE
News
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
4
TIME Names MU Among America’s Best Colleges institutions.
Nicholas Melendez & Zeke Jazwinski
Staff Writer & Sports Editor
In a publication released by TIME on Aug. 25, the magazine shared an article titled “America’s Best Colleges of 20262027,” ranking Manhattan University (MU) 103 out of 500 institutions. The rankings are based on statistics gathered from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which collects information annually from colleges and universities across the United States. TIME Magazine evaluates each university based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness.
To better understand the significance of MU’s ranking, The Quadrangle spoke with Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., dean of the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS), about recent developments at the university that may have contributed to the recognition. Now in her fifth year at MU, Kelly also shared her perspective on being part of the university community. “I love being around the students… the faculty and our staff,” Kelly said.
Kelly emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive environment The university was evaluated on student outcomes, learning where faculty can help environment and attractiveness. inspire and prepare students MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY for their future careers. She explained that the Kelly also discussed the “We try to enhance [the] within its student body. relationships between university’s recent merger scholarship and to bring it Each admissions counselor According to TIME, students, faculty and staff of the School of Arts and to the students,” Kelly said. is assigned to a specific student outcomes, which contribute to the overall the School of Science, region from which they carry the greatest weight experience at MU. which formed the Kakos The KSAS merger has recruit students, allowing in the rankings, measure School of Arts and Sciences. also led to the development of the university to reach “I want everybody to feel “what students gain from She highlighted what she new academic opportunities prospective students attending an institution, like they belong… every believes is an admirable and programs, giving from different areas and measured after they leave single faculty member got quality of the university: the students additional options backgrounds. into their jobs because it.” The ranking provides effort faculty and staff put to explore different areas of recognition for universities they want to help the next into providing students with study. “We’re always looking across the country and generation of scientists, a quality education while to grow and be better offers prospective students writers, the health care creating opportunities that “[A few] examples every year,” Kennedy said. professionals,” Kelly said. another way to compare span multiple disciplines. would be our new “Every year here [at MU], majors, computational everybody’s trying to make neuroscience, data science, it better to attract more cybersecurity and integrated people and bring in more marketing communication,” to the community, whether Kelly said. that be more internships for students, more clubs, Kelly noted that MU’s everyone’s always looking recognition is also partly to improve.” due to the work of vice president of enrollment Kennedy also believes management and marketing, the university’s faculty, staff Stephen Pugliese and his and students contribute to team, who have worked the sense of community that to communicate the makes MU deserving of opportunities and resources greater recognition. available to prospective students. These efforts “It’s really great to are part of the university’s have MU mentioned, or broader attempt to attract promoted more because students and highlight what being a smaller school, not MU has to offer. everybody really knows about MU,” Kennedy said. Admissions counselor “But everybody that comes Kelly Kennedy discussed here loves it. I think it’s great the university’s efforts to to kind of get our name out broaden the experiences and MU ranked 103 out of 500 institutions. more.” backgrounds represented MANHATTAN.EDU / COURTESY
5
Features
THE QUADRANGLE
“JPHP Meets the President” Event Brings Students to Smith Auditorium Joshua Reichard
Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
As the fall semester begins, The James Patterson Honors Program (JPHP) at Manhattan University (MU) is gearing up for a busy year ahead. The program hosted its second event of the school year, “JPHP Meets the President” on Aug. 31. The event, the first in JPHP’s history, comes as the program enters its second year and welcomes its second group of members from the university’s largest freshman class in recent years. JPHP was started in the fall 2025 semester with support from James Patterson ‘69, and was designed as an opportunity to provide select students with academic, and student success, academic professional opportunities excellence and the Lasallian to enhance their college values that define our Jasper experience. community,” Saracino said. “We are grateful that he’s “Inspired and supported joined us today to meet you by one of MU’s most all, answer your questions, illustrious graduates, share his perspective on life best-selling author James and life at MU.” Patterson ’69, JPHP provides students with curated President Bonato gave a academic and leadership brief speech to the audience workshops, as well as in between personally professional development introducing himself to the opportunities including attendees. In his speech, internships, mentorships he touched on the honors and research experiences,” program. reads the University’s website. “This is one of the most exciting things to me at Michele Saracino, Ph.D., MU, JPHP,” Bonato said. serves as the executive “And if I didn’t think that director of JPHP. She before, I definitely think was excited to welcome that now after going around President Bonato to the and speaking with some of event and introduce him to you very impressive young the audience. people.” “President Bonato After being asked why he leads the university with chose to become president a strong commitment to of MU, Bonato went into
President Bonato speaks to JPHP members in Smith Auditorium. JOSHUA REICHARD / THE QUADRANGLE detail about his professional the students that I’ve spoken career and how he became with today.” president. Bonato added that he “The answer is pretty values James Patterson’s simple, I never wanted involvement with his alma to leave college,” Bonato mater, especially with his said. “I had such a great continued support of the experience in college that I program. never wanted to leave, so I never left. I went to graduate “[Patterson] not only school, stayed in college. I comes himself to speak became a professor, became to students, he’s helpful an administrator, became in attracting other great president.” speakers,” Bonato said. “He’s very involved with President Bonato also how well [JPHP] is going spoke to The Quadrangle and checks in all the time. I after the event where he know he keeps close tabs on emphasized his positive how it’s going” view of JPHP, and praised students involved with the Bonato also touched program. on the day’s event, and his positive experience meeting “I consider JPHP to be students and answering more than just an honor their questions. society,” Bonato said. “I see it as a leadership development “I hope people found program. I know it’s only it somewhat interesting, in its second year, but I’ve the questions were great been very impressed with questions, deep questions
about leadership, about what I think is important in higher education and why I’m here.” Bonato said. “I’m not here just because it’s a good job. I’m here because I really do care about the lives of all [students] and [their] success.” Students who attended also found the experience to be valuable. Aiken Ramos, a junior civil engineering major and a peer mentor for JPHP, found the event to be a good opportunity for students. “All the events, in my opinion, are wonderful opportunities to find something that could be useful,” Ramos said. “Whether it’s a speaker series event or just coming and hanging out with other JPHP students.” To keep up with upcoming JPHP events and opportunities, follow the program on Instagram @ jphp_mu.
Features
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
6
MU Freshman Adjust to College Life as the New Fall Semester Begins Isaiah Minaz Staff Writer
Manhattan University (MU) welcomed one of its largest freshman classes in recent years this fall, as a new group of students arrived on campus with diverse expectations, goals and experiences. For many freshmen, the first weeks of the semester have meant adjusting to a new academic environment, meeting new people and navigating the independence of college life. While some students are living on campus for the first time, others are experiencing MU as commuters. Salma Rodriguez, a freshman civil engineering major from the Fordham area of the Bronx, entered MU without expectations but said she was surprised by what she learned about
the university’s engineering programs. “I knew they were good, but as they talk about it more, I definitely feel more confident that I’ll graduate and achieve success later on,” Rodriguez said.
While adjusting academically has not been particularly difficult for Rodriguez, the financial responsibility of attending college has changed how she views her education. “The only thing that does feel a little surreal to me is that I’m paying for my tuition, so I kind of do need to get the best grades and opportunities out of MU,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez currently commutes from New Jersey and said the length of her commute has made her consider living on campus in the future. “It’s definitely a journey,” Rodriguez said. “So, I am thinking about dorming next semester.”
For other freshmen, the transition from high school to college has been most noticeable in the classroom. Catherine Glasser, a freshman engineering major from Long Island, said college coursework requires an adjustment from her previous classes. “I feel like the biggest adjustment is probably the coursework and the classes because I feel like my high school classes were way easier than what I’m doing now,” Glasser said. Natalie Foster, an undecided freshman from Westchester, shared a similar experience, explaining that professors expect students to take more responsibility for their work. “The teachers expect you to do everything, and in high school they help you out a lot more,” Foster said. That adjustment has not been the only surprise for some freshmen. CC Cahill, a freshman communications major from Pennsylvania,
Freshmen coming together for summer program at Manhattan University. @MANHATTANUADMISSIONS / INSTAGRAM
Freshmen after JPHP Blue Tie Event in Kelly Commons. ISAIAH MINAZ / THE QUADRANGLE came to MU hoping to participate in a film production program. “My expectation of MU was that they were going to have a film production program because that’s why I came here,” Cahill said. Despite her disappointment over not having the necessary prerequisites, Cahill said she is looking forward to meeting new people, enjoying her first year and completing her coursework. Living on campus has also given her an opportunity to get to know her roommates and adjust to campus life. For Rahma Ahmed, a
freshman political science major from Manhattan, commuting has offered a different college experience. Ahmed said the commute is manageable because she lives about an hour from campus. Looking ahead, she hopes to become more involved in the university community and make the most of her first year. “I’m looking forward to joining the clubs and then getting more education, but also making super fun memories and, again, making new friends,” Ahmed said.
Features
7
THE QUADRANGLE
“Movie on the Quad” Returns for MU’s Fall Semester Nicole Brosnan, director of student engagement, the event is designed for all Staff Writer students to attend, with a particular focus on giving As Manhattan University freshmen and new students (MU) moves further into an opportunity to connect the semester, “movie on the with one another. quad” has returned for the “We highlight [the event] past two Fridays. to our new students, so “Movie on the quad” is they know it happens, but open to all MU students and student engagement runs features a pre-selected movie these movies every year each week. Two weeks ago, and everybody’s welcome to students watched “Michael,” attend,” Brosnan said. followed by “Mean Girls” Travis Vega, a freshman this past Friday. The event psychology major, saw the has been a university event as Brosnan described, tradition since 2019. an engaging way for new Attendees are provided students to meet others on with free food, candy campus while being able to and drinks outside Smith enjoy a movie. Auditorium. According to
Sophia Fortunato
Manhattan University students watching “Michael” Friday Aug. 28 SOPHIA FORTUNATO / THE QUADRANGLE
Movie on the Quad flyer for last week, featuring “Mean Girls.” @MUSTUDENTENGAGE / INSTAGRAM
“I think [this event is] great,” Vega said. “You have the ability to meet new people while watching great movies. Perfect for new students trying to find their people.” Vega added that “Michael” was one of the highlights among the films selected for the first few weeks. “It was pretty chill, you can never say no to some Michael Jackson,” Vega said. Cecil Marian, a freshman political science major, said he enjoyed the movie, particularly because he liked the music. “I really enjoyed it,” Marian said. “He’s one of my favorite artists. I do like him a lot, and I thought it [the movie] was very interesting.” Marian also noted some issues with the event’s setup, particularly the sound quality. “I thought it was a little quiet though for an on-thequad movie, and there was pretty dramatic volume
differences,” Marian said. “I had a little trouble understanding some parts, but I still enjoyed it.” Promotion for Friday’s events was posted around campus and on MU student engagement’s social media. However, Marian said the event could have drawn a larger crowd with more promotion. “I think it’s a cool idea, but I don’t think it gets a lot of popularity because it’s hard to hear about it,” Marian said. “I think if we advertise it a little bit better… more people will attend because it’s something quick and easy to just do with friends on the quad.” When asked whether students have a say in selecting future movies, Brosnan discussed that orientation leaders help choose the films with input from the incoming freshman class. “Over the summer, I have a team of 10 orientation leaders who are current MU students who help greet our
newest Jaspers and let them pick the movies because they know what students want to see,” Brosnan said. “When we do something that’s not just right at the beginning of the semester, we love to let students vote on it.” Marian explained that the event also provides students with an opportunity to unwind and spend time with friends. “Honestly, I think it’s a good way to kind of see your friends again after a long week or weekend, and then gives you a chance to really relax and then start the next week fresh,” Marian said. For the rest of the semester, movie nights will be held at Van Cortlandt Park. The first event is scheduled for Sept. 11, and all screenings are free and open to everyone. Students can also follow @mustudentengage on Instagram for updates on upcoming events.
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Features
8
Manhattan University Hosts Fall Club Fair
Jayden Gonzalez Photographer
Arts and Entertainment
9
THE QUADRANGLE
MU’s Creative Clubs Welcome New Members at Fall Club Fair
“Students should join WRCM because it is a great creative outlet and Staff Writer fits in with each individual Manhattan University schedule,” Fox said. “It is a (MU) students gathered for low time commitment but is the fall semester club fair a great resume builder and on Sept. 1, where student- fun way to spend time on run clubs and organizations campus.” showcased their groups and The club allows students opportunities to get involved on campus. The event was of all class years to create originally scheduled for and host their own radio the quad but was moved to shows while organizing Smith Auditorium due to the concerts and DJ events on campus. This semester, the weather forecast. club is partnering with other Student representatives groups, including LOTUS, from various clubs set to organize its Halloween up tables to discuss their Bash, featuring student organizations, upcoming bands, performers and other events and plans for the activities. semester. Many of the Fox emphasized that university’s arts and entertainment groups were students do not need to have among those promoting any experience or have any their organizations to specific major to be a part of students. The fair gave WRCM. Students are able to students an opportunity to host shows themselves and explore interests outside can support the club behind the classroom and connect the scenes by listening to with new communities on other students’ programs. campus. “The only requirement Sadie Fox, a senior for WRCM is good vibes and communication and English an hour a week,” Fox said. double major and the “We have students from president of We Are College all majors involved, and if Music (WRCM), MU’s own people aren’t interested in student-run internet radio hosting, they can support by station, said getting involved listening to shows.” offers students a creative Students can also outlet while enabling them to work around their own get involved in campus publications regardless schedule. of prior experience. The
Isaiah Minaz
Lotus Magazine and co-editor-in-chief Sienna Gallus ISAIAH MINAZ / THE QUADRANGLE
Scatterbomb Club and President Giada Dougherty (second from the right). ISAIAH MINAZ / THE QUADRANGLE Quadrangle spoke with Sienna Gallus, a senior psychology major who holds leadership positions in three MU publications. Gallus serves as co-editor-inchief of LOTUS Magazine, editor-in-chief of Manhattan Magazine and submissions editor and vice president of Logos Academic Journal. Gallus explained that students should not assume they need experience in writing, editing or design to join a publication. Instead, she encourages students to use these organizations to develop their skills while gaining experience in areas
they might not otherwise regardless of prior theater have access to. experience. “We do event organizing, “Scatterbomb breaks we do marketing, we do a lot you out of your shell of collaborative work with whether you’re a freshman other people or other clubs or a senior,” Dougherty on campus,” Gallus said. “I said. “Being onstage and think all three of these clubs entertaining an audience, are great areas if you’re doing sometimes looking for community, you outrageous things, makes want to express yourself you a more confident [or] you want to honor the person.” work that you’ve done both in college and as a person.” According to Dougherty, more Gallus also emphasized than half of the club’s that students can learn new members joined without skills after joining. previous performing arts experience. New members “We have people on all learn basic acting and the teams who will happily improv fundamentals, train you, so we have room making the organization to build skills,” Gallus said. accessible to students with “You don’t just come in with different backgrounds and certain skills. There’s plenty levels of experience. of room for growth.” For Dougherty, While MU’s publications however, the club offers give students opportunities more than an opportunity to to express themselves perform. The relationships through creative work, she has built through Scatterbomb offers a Scatterbomb have become similar outlet through live the most meaningful part performance. of her experience. Giada Dougherty, a “Going on stage and junior communications making a whole audience major and president of laugh is truly bliss,” Scatterbomb, described the Dougherty said. “But what organization as an improv makes me want to be a good comedy group that performs president, what makes free shows every other me get up and go to every Friday night in Hayden Hall show and rehearsal, and room 100. Dougherty told what makes me put my heart The Quadrangle that the into every performance, are group helps students build the people who are involved confidence in performing in this club.” and public speaking,
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
Arts and Entertainment
10
Movie Review: The Witch María Castaño
Arts & Entertainment Editor
While searching for horror films that were not too frightening in an attempt to build my courage, I stumbled upon Robert Eggers’ “The Witch” (2015) and have been unable to stop thinking about it. The film explores religious paranoia and misogyny through Thomasin and her Puritan family, who are banished from their community after her father clashes with its leadership. From the beginning, the film establishes an eerie atmosphere that drives much of its horror, avoiding the typical reliance on jump scares and gore. Instead, the characters’ gradual descent into estrangement and hostility creates a sense of unease, leaving the audience desperate to discover what is causing the family to fall apart. Misogyny plays a significant role in this movie as it directly feeds the familial tensions. The movie begins with Thomasin, the oldest daughter, having to take care of Samuel, a baby barely a few months old and in an innocent game of peeka-boo. Between camera cuts, he disappears into the forest. While Thomasin had no way to predict or avoid this, she must deal with the guilt of how losing her brother is undoing her mother and the rest of the household to grief. Thomasin’s relationship to her mother is subsequently tainted as she is seen as the sole cause of the family’s suffering, and is from that point on under constant scrutiny and suspicion that alienates her. Her own two little siblings, at multiple points, make fun of her or say more bluntly what the adults think: that she is at fault for Samuel’s disappearance. This plot serves as a conductor to emphasize distrust and hyperawareness as unavoidable pieces of womanhood. A scene that was striking to me when I saw the film for the first time was during supper, when the mother asks Thomasin where a cup she valued dearly was;
Poster of The Witch (2015) featuring black Phillip in the middle. IMDB.COM/COURTESY Thomasin was honest and said she doesn’t know where it could be, causing an argument between them where Thomasin is humiliated, perpetuating her status in the house as a persona non grata. The cup had been sold by Thomasin’s father some time earlier due to the family’s financial struggles, unbeknownst to his wife. When the truth is eventually revealed to both women, the mother immediately assumes Thomasin is lying and verbally berates her while the father simply watches. I found this moment to be a powerful depiction of how patriarchy can position women as
perpetual scapegoats because of their expected role as caretakers of the family. This leaves women with little room to make mistakes or grow, as they are often held accountable when the family fails to uphold the conservative ideal of a traditional family structure. Paranoia drives much of the film’s conflict, creating a cycle of guilt and resentment that is intensified by the family’s religious beliefs. Eggers’ exploration of misogyny and patriarchy within the family dynamic also humanizes the characters, making their eventual downfall even more disturbing. Near the end of the film, nearly every
character, except the two toddler twins, carries some sense of guilt or remorse and believes they played a role in the family’s destruction. Their search for scapegoats reflects a deeply human attempt to escape the guilt consuming them, even though they have no way of predicting or reversing what happens to them. This cycle is reinforced by their religious beliefs, which are rooted in guilt, punishment and the idea that suffering is an unavoidable part of a righteous life. With this, I haven’t even gone into detail about the troubling resolution of the film, which I really liked during the first watch. But
now have more opinions about it as I watched it through a feminist lens. While I believe the ending (of which I will give no spoilers!) is consistent with the film’s overall understanding and treatment of the patriarchy, I believe this liberation Thomasin goes into simplifies, in a way, her struggles and the complexity of gender oppression by just having her “get lost in the forest.” It is still an amazing film that I can’t recommend enough if you are not too queasy or if you dislike blood and a bit of butchery, but it could certainly be worked upon a bit more.
Sports
11
THE QUADRANGLE
Climbing Club Returns to MU After Years-Long Hiatus Maddie Rosado Managing / News Editor
Manhattan University’s (MU) climbing club is returning to campus this fall after a three-year absence, with senior mechanical engineering major Mario Ballard leading efforts to revive the initiative. The club first started in 2019, with the last records of activity dating to 2023 before it seemingly disbanded. Ballard is now founding and serving as president of the revived club. In an interview with The Quadrangle, Ballard explained that the idea came unexpectedly after a trip to a rock-climbing gym. “Recently I was looking for something more physical to do, so a couple of Saturdays ago I went to a rock-climbing gym,” Ballard said. “I saw that Columbia University had a climbing club, and I thought, ‘We should have one too. Did we ever have one?’” That question led Ballard to an unexpected discovery. “I found this whole archived page about a MU climbing club,” Ballard said. “I guess it used to exist, but I don’t even remember hearing about it. That’s when I decided to look into bringing it back.”
To further understand the club’s history, The Quadrangle spoke with Robin Lovell, Ph.D., who served as the club’s original faculty advisor. Lovell, who no longer works at MU, told The Quadrangle that the club’s early success was largely driven by its student founders. “At the time, it was totally the students’ effort that put the club together,” Lovell said. “They were spearheading it and organizing everything, and then they got to the point where they started looking for a faculty advisor. I don’t take credit for any of it. The students put it all together and made it work.” As advisor, Lovell said his role centered less on climbing and more on helping the students navigate the university’s bureaucracy. “I worked with the students to get officially recognized, helping with paperwork, making sure they had a board of executive members, agendas at their meetings, all the bureaucratic stuff,” Lovell said. That bureaucracy, Lovell explained, ended up being one of the club’s biggest obstacles as they tried to expand its activities and outreach. “The process for
The new climbing club sign-up flyer created by Mario Ballard. MADDIE ROSADO / THE QUADRANGLE
A pictured rock-climbing session on the previous MU climbing club Instagram account from 2021. @MC_CLIMBING / INSTAGRAM becoming a legitimate club was a little onerous, a little too much for a full-time student and especially for the commuter students,” Lovell said. “Why would you make it so difficult just to be a group of people doing the thing they like to do? First you had to prove you were a legitimate group, and then maybe a year down the line they’d give you funding.” By the 2022-2023 academic year, it had lost the momentum that carried it through its early years. “There were two students who were really passionate and organized most of the club’s activities,” Lovell said. “I think they struggled to find a freshman or sophomore to take over… It went from meeting every week to once a month.” With that history in mind, Ballard is already looking ahead, taking steps to prevent the same problems that plagued the club in the past. “After I set up the initial structure of the club, I’ll find some interested underclassmen and bring them in to take over,” Ballard said. Before Ballard could think about succession, he first had to get the word out. As part of his effort to revive the club, he designed and hung flyers around campus. The simplistic design featured a rock with
googly eyes and a QR code for students to sign up. “I designed the flyer myself,” Ballard said. So far, interest has outpaced what he expected. “I’m very overwhelmed with how many people have signed up so far, close to 50,” Ballard said. Jackson Yerkes, a junior mechanical engineering major and rush chair of Alpha Phi Delta Fraternity, commented that the flyer’s design caught his attention. “The minimalist design really stood out to me, and I think it paired well with the ultimate frisbee posters,” Yerkes said. After stopping by the club’s table at MU’s fall semester club fair, Yerkes explained he left considering signing up. “I would consider signing up,” Yerkes said. “Even after going to the table at the club fair, they made a pretty convincing case. It seems like a lot of fun.” As interest grows, Ballard wants to preserve the low-pressure spirit that defined the club originally. “It’s not going to be anything serious or competitive,” Ballard said. “Just a group of people getting together on the weekends to have fun.” The club plans to hold regular sessions at a climbing gym chain with several locations across New York City.
“The gym is called Movement,” Ballard said. “They have a couple of locations in the boroughs. I want to try to do something at least once a week.” Because there’s no leftover funding from the club’s earlier iteration, members will cover their own costs. “It’s going to be entirely funded by individual students,” Ballard said. “I don’t think we have any money left over from the previous club. It looks like members will either pay for one-time passes or can get a membership if they choose.” Looking ahead, Ballard is also considering a potential trip to the Shawangunk Ridge, a popular climbing destination in southeastern New York known among climbers as “the Gunks.” “Someone at Movement mentioned there are a bunch of mountains upstate called the Gunks, so we might do a trip there,” Ballard said. For Lovell, hearing about the club’s return is a reminder for students to try something new and find an interest of their own. “If you’re all interested, just go for it,” Lovell said. “Just jump in and try it out, even if you’re not great at it at first.”
Sports
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026
12
Ultimate Frisbee Team Makes Its Return for Fall ‘26 Sarah Rolka
Asst. Features Editor
As the fall semester picks up speed as the weeks pass, Manhattan University’s (MU) club sports pick up as well. The Ultimate Frisbee Team kicks off its marketing for the club with posters and other “fun” gimmicks at the club fair to get students interested and hopefully join. After the first year when core members of the team graduated, involvement in the Ultimate Frisbee Team was down. However, since then, while the passion and involvement of the current members remain, reaching new members and keeping others involved has been a struggle. Sean Ryan, a junior chemical engineer and one of the main organizers for the team, comments on the enrollment and involvement numbers. “We’ve had previous problems with enrollment, so what we tried to do is, we try to ‘take it back,’” Ryan said. “Previously, we tried to make it a competitive team, where we go to tournaments and compete and go to sectionals and regionals, and this year, we’ve taken a step back and it’s very much for fun, low involvement.”
Flag of the Ultimate Frisbee Team. @MU_ULTIMATE_FRISBEE / INSTAGRAM Mario Ballard, a senior mechanical engineer and one of the other main organizers on the team, adds to Ryan’s statement, emphasizing how much “fun” playing with the team has been over the years and mainly due to enrollment, they’ve had issues keeping the team afloat. “The past years, we’ve both [Ballard and Ryan]
Flyer for the team’s practice for the Fall ‘26 season. SARAH ROLKA / THE QUADRANGLE
been on the team, and it’s been a really important part of our life on campus,” Ballard said. “… Everyone that joins, even if it’s just for one practice, they have fun and we want to keep that alive. We don’t want it to die, because a lot of clubs end up dying ... the second they don’t have enough enrollment, they die.” Members of the Ultimate Frisbee Team recount that one of the main reasons why people are hesitant to join is the time that practice is held at. Club sports [men’s and women’s club soccer, men’s flag football, ultimate frisbee and more] share Gaelic Park from 9 to 11 p.m. every day; D1 sports at MU have the field from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. While the late nights make it harder for members to join and stay involved as the semester goes on, members of club sports make it work and hope for a better time slot and field space sometime in the future. “… Especially considering how we [club sports] get kind of the short end of the deal with practice times, athletics at Manhattan kind of dominate any sort of practice time on the field,” Ballard said. “When it comes to D1 [athletics] versus club sports, it’s not even close… But we’ve worked around it. We’ve dealt with this the past few years and we just know how it goes.”
Paul Harrison, a senior electrical engineer and member of the team, agrees with Ballard’s statement with the situation and adds on, regarding possible commuters who might want to join but can’t due to timing.
chemistry related. So, Frisbee’s allowed me to meet some people in other majors… and so that can kind of help you, maybe not even network, but just get to meet other people on campus you wouldn’t typically run into.”
“I think it’s just the way it is,” Harrison said. “I don’t want to say ‘Oh I’m outraged,’ but it’s an unfortunate situation because it’s not just us… Do we wish we all [club sports] had more [practice time] and we didn’t have to start so late? Think about that, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., that isolates how many commuters [could join since it’s very late]…”
If you have not noticed around campus yet, there are posters around campus that have the caption “You Can Be a Good Boy Too!” According to some around campus, they admit how funny they find the sentiment and it intrigues them. Harrison comments on this and with how the team is marketing it, hopes it gets more students to join to keep the team afloat.
Regardless of how late practice or meets might run, members who are both residents or commuters address how, for them, the club has allowed them to meet new people, move around or have time to have some fun with friends. Ryan comments on how being a chemical engineering major has limited who you meet but with the team, he has met others he might not normally. “I think it’s a great way to meet people that aren’t necessarily in your major,” Ryan said. “… So for me being a chemical engineer, the clubs I’m in are all chemical engineering related or
“I think they’re doing a great job marketing it,” Harrison said. “I hope we get more people. I love to do it, it gets me moving… I feel like it motivates you more and keeps you more consistent. That’s my reason for keeping on going when I can because it’s healthy, [I’m] having a good time with my friends, get to throw a disc around…” To keep up with Ultimate Frisbee and join practices or meetings, check out their Instagram @mu_ultimate_frisbee.