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THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY | SINCE 1924
Volume CXIV, Issue 1
Southside Smoothies Opens in Kelly Commons Joshua Reichard & Riley Kopceuch Asst. A&E Editor & Contributor
Jaspers Start Their First Week On Campus Manhattan University welcomes students back to campus @MANHATTANUNIVERSITYPRESIDENT / INSTAGRAM
MU Welcomes New STEM Programs in Computer Science Zendrah Bonnick Asst. News Editor
Over the summer, the New York State Education Department granted official approval for the 128-credit cybersecurity bachelor’s program to come to Manhattan University (MU). The new programs being added to MU’s Kakos School of Arts and Sciences include majors in computational n e u r o s c i e n c e , cybersecurity, data science and integrated marketing communications. Due to the recent approval, the university’s new programs are currently only available
IN NEWS: JPHP Opens New Lounge pg. 4
FREE
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
to continuing students.
In a short article published on the manhattan.edu website, the university announced the implementation of the new programs at MU. “The program’s introduction comes at a moment when the importance of cybersecurity expertise is more visible than ever,” the university stated. Lawrence Udeigwe, Ph.D., a professor of mathematics and director of integrative programs at the university, spoke to The Quadrangle about how the university intends to implement the new majors as a part of its interdisciplinary
IN FEATURES:
Student Engagement Hosts New Students Barbecue pg. 5
integrative program known as ARCH. “ARCH stands for analytics, research, creativity and humanity, but we just call it ARCH,” Udeigwe said. “The goal is that if you go to MU, you choose a major and you’re supposed to have an in-depth [education] surrounding that major. ARCH is a way of adding something else, adding more range through the activities going on at the university.” Beyond the new majors, the university’s announcement, posted on the manhattan.edu website, also highlighted __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Last week, Manhattan University (MU) welcomed a new dining option to campus. Southside Smoothies, a grab-and-go smoothie bar opened for business in Kelly Commons. “Southside Smoothies welcomed the MU community with free samples, giveaways and plenty of excitement during its grand opening,” Gourmet Dining wrote in a statement to The Quadrangle. “In its first week, the new location served approximately 500 orders, giving the dining services team an enthusiastic first look at what students are looking for from the new concept.” The new location operates in the space formerly occupied by Starbucks, which sat vacant for the 2025-26 school year. The fast-casual spot is open every weekday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. At Southside Smoothies, students can build their own smoothies and acai bowls or select from the preset menu of smoothies with names inspired by MU.
with the execution.
Brianna Quiros, a junior civil engineering major, gave her review on her “build your own” smoothie. “[I ordered] Greek yogurt with pineapple juice, strawberry, pineapple and lime,” Quiros said. “It’s not too sweet, which I appreciate, but you can add sweeteners. I saw an option for that.” As a recent transfer student, Quiros appreciates the new campus option. “I’m a transfer [student] so this is my first time trying anything from Kelly Commons, but I’m impressed, it’s very good,” Quiros said. Quiros also suggested that the smoothie spot should have more inclusive options for students with dietary restrictions. “A suggestion I have is that when ordering on Grubhub, there should be a place where you can take out certain ingredients of the pre-made smoothies rather than having to go in and make your own, for those who have dietary restrictions,” Quiros said.
While Quiros’ comments remained more favorable, other students voiced The Quadrangle spoke criticism of Southside with members of the student Smoothies. body this week around campus to get their honest Cassia Mbungu, a senior opinions on the new dining public health major, was option. On the location’s disappointed with the long opening day, reviews were wait time she experienced mixed with students excited __________________________ about the new campus CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 option, but disappointed
IN A&E:
MU Singers Unveils New E-Board pg, 7
IN SPORTS: Acrobatic & Tumbling / Flag Football Arrive at MU pg. 9
News
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
Volume CXIV, Issue 1 September 1, 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!
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LETTER from the EDITOR Dear readers, I cannot believe I am saying welcome back already! The fact that summer is over and we are right back in the swing of things is insane. Whether you’re a returning or incoming student, I hope you enjoy these first few weeks of school and settle in alright! I am personally beginning my senior year and have never felt older than returning to school, only to not recognize half of the students here. There are so many new faces and changes around campus, and the energy is as high as ever! To me, it seems like a great year in the making and I am very excited to return to The Quadrangle and keep campus updated with its news. I also would like to take the time to acknowledge that I will be writing these letters on my own for the remainder of the year – Laili Shahrestani, my dear friend and past co editor-in-chief, graduated last May and is off onto bigger things. She was an amazing asset to this paper and showcased her passion for it day after day, night after night. Our staff wishes her the best always and will work hard to continue the standard she and I worked to set last semester! On that note, I would love to welcome all our new members who have joined our team so far. Everyone’s enthusiasm is super exciting, and a great look forward to the coming year. If any student has questions regarding joining The Quadrangle, or you have a story you want to be told, please do not hesitate to contact thequad@manhattan.edu. We are committed to telling the stories of our campus and would love to hear your voice! Treat this first issue of the semester as a way to re-introduce yourself to campus: find out what updates happened while you were gone, what you can expect further in the semester and hear from your fellow campus community. Happy reading! Sincerely,
Connect with The Quadrangle mcquad.org @mu_quad @mu_quad mcquad
Editor-in-Chief
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News
THE QUADRANGLE
Southside Smoothies Opens in Kelly Commons
__________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
on opening day after placing an order for an acai bowl. “I ordered about 30 minutes ago at this point, and I still don’t have my food, but I have class and I have to go,” Mbungu said. “I don’t know if my food will be here when I come back.” Mbungu, although disappointed in the wait time, was compassionate to the fact that the establishment had only just opened. “I’m going give it a little grace because it’s the first day of class, and everything’s a mess,” Mbungu said. Some students who wished to remain anonymous also wanted to share their feedback, while expressing disappointment with the consistency and flavor of the smoothies they ordered.
“I don’t even know if I can finish this,” one MU student said. “If I could return a meal swipe, I would.” Valentina Manu, a junior childhood and special education major, was disappointed at the size of the acai bowl, citing the high cost for the amount of food received. “The acai bowl is really small, and [it was] two meal swipes.” Manu said. “My friends were complaining that for somebody without a lot of meal swipes or for a commuter, that’s a lot.” The Quadrangle posted an anonymous comment box on Instagram where members of the student body were encouraged to share their opinions on Southside Smoothies. “SCAM,” one Instagram
user wrote. “The size for an acai bowl is so small, you only get three toppings? For two meal swipes.” Gourmet Dining, the operator of Southside Smoothies, has already made changes to Southside Smoothies during its first week of operation in response to student feedback. “Two new offerings have already been introduced following student input,” Gourmet Dining wrote in a statement to The Quadrangle. “Southside Smoothies has launched a ‘buy nine, get the tenth free’ smoothie rewards promotion, allowing students to earn a free smoothie after purchasing nine.” Additionally, smoothies will now also be available in a smaller 16-ounce size, only
Southside Smoothies’ Logo GOURMENT DINING / COURTESY costing one meal swipe. “The location has added a new 16-ounce smoothie size, which is available as a meal equivalency for one meal swipe, giving students another convenient way to use their meal plan,” Gourmet Dining wrote to The Quadrangle. Southside
Smoothies
is committed to listening to student feedback and making changes as needed. “In the upcoming weeks, we will continue to gather consumer data to help Southside Smoothies continue to grow and evolve alongside the MU community’s needs,” Gourmet Dining wrote to The Quadrangle.
MU Welcomes New STEM Programs in Computer Science __________________________ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
the changes to the computer science program, which are intended to strengthen the STEM program and help students keep pace with the evolving technological landscape.
systems grow more capable and are increasingly tested in real-world security contexts, organizations need professionals who can anticipate, defend against, and respond to emerging digital threats,” the university stated.
Later, in his interview, “As artificial intelligence Udeigwe shared more
specifics about the goals of the ARCH program. “We bring interdisciplinary speakers, multidisciplinary speakers, to talk to our students,” Udeigwe said. “Another way is that we encourage students to inquire about how they can get involved in interdisciplinary projects
through their classroom or extracurricular activities. We hope to inspire interdisciplinary conversation through these new majors, including data science, integrated marketing and communication, computational neuroscience and cybersecurity.” Richie Alvarez, a sophomore civil engineering major, shared his perspective on the university’s changes to the STEM program.
Alvarez also discussed how students with backgrounds in these fields may fare in an increasingly technology-driven job market, where technological tools have become more accessible and widely used.
“I think it’s good,” Alvarez said. “There are more opportunities and different pathways that students can take.”
“[There is] definitely the demand in the job market, and opportunities that you can get by pursuing this type of education,” Alvarez said.
Udeigwe went on to further explain an example of how the interdisciplinary program is intended to function in his description of computational neuroscience.
Photos of computer lab in Miguel Hall ZENDRAH BONNICK / THE QUADRANGLE
Students will learn neuroscience, psychology, cognitive neuroscience and systems neuroscience, while also developing skills in mathematics, advanced statistics and machine learning.
“Computational neuroscience is a major that prepares you to study the brain,” Udeigwe said. “It combines the strengths of our biology, psychology and mathematics programs to give students the tools to model the brain computationally and theoretically.”
News
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
James Patterson Honors Program Expands Reach with New Lounge, Summer Initiative
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Nicholas Melendez Staff Writer
The James Patterson Honors Program (JPHP) has spent the summer expanding its footprint at Manhattan University (MU), funding a renovated student lounge and launching a new summer program aimed at helping local high schoolers prepare for higher education. The lounge area inside the Zaro’s Family Bakery has a new look this semester. New tables, seats, a stage and string lights now fill the space – the result of a renovation funded through the JPHP. The upgrade is part of a larger push by JPHP teams to reshape corners of MU with student comfort in mind, giving students more space to gather, study and connect with one another outside the classroom. Aine Kolpa, a junior biology major, is credited as one of the project’s inspirations, citing her participation and eventual win in James Patterson’s “Disrupt Everything” contest.
Members from The Summer on the Quad Summer Enrichment Program. AMY FORSTER/ COURTESY For Kolpa, the win was tied to a need she had noticed as a freshman: the lack of a true third space on campus.
her own connection to that energy despite having only joined the university staff six months ago. “Being here with new students, the buzz is just fun,” Newman said. “Everyone is excited to start school.”
“We have such a wide variety of people on campus,” Kolpa said. “Commuters need more third space so they can sit around while Newman pointed to a they’re stuck on campus between classes. Residents wave of changes coming need to get out of their out of the JPHP office as evidence of that momentum. room.”
That momentum behind Kolpa recalled the the renovation reflects a moment she found out she larger shift within the JPHP had won. office, said Eliza Newman, assistant director of the “I was ecstatic … I was program, who discussed flabbergasted,” Kolpa said.
“There have been many changes made for the better over in the JPHP office, new branding and marketing, punch cards, challenges for JPHP members … new and exciting ways for students to get plugged in and stay plugged in,” Newman said. Much of that energy, Newman explained, traces back to this past summer, when the JPHP ran a program aimed at local high school students. She credited Amy Forster, a senior English and special education major, with spearheading the effort.
In an interview with The Quadrangle, Forster explained that the idea Jaspers’ new lounge area in Thomas Hall, made by JPHP. began with a conversation MISHA JABAL-ABADI/THE QUADRANGLE with Michele Saracino, Ph.D., executive director of
the James Patterson Honors Program at MU. “[We discussed] a project that could strengthen our bond with local schools as an education department, as well as help local students feel comfortable on college campuses and get ready,” Forster said. From that conversation, Forster took the next step of securing funding, reaching out directly to James Patterson to support the program. She discussed the payoff was evident by the end of the summer, both for the high schoolers involved and for the broader community MU serves. “The results were incredible, how much they learned and how much more comfortable they were,” Forster said. The program was designed with firstgeneration university students in mind, providing direct guidance on navigating the admissions process while drawing on the experiences of MU students and staff. The JPHP partnered with several schools in the surrounding area, including
Atmosphere Academy, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, Sacred Heart and In-Tech Academy. Forster described the kinds of questions the program was designed to help students work through, many of which can feel daunting to a student without a family member who has gone through the process before. “How do you look for scholarships? Where do scholarships come from? What does early decision versus early action mean? What do I look for in dorms?” Forster said. Structurally, the summer program brought together two groups totaling 21 students. Each group moved through morning and afternoon sessions that combined research work, a creative storytelling session designed to build public speaking skills and college essay workshops. The curriculum was built around the essentials of preparing for a higher education, with organizers looking to carry that momentum into the rest of this year’s fall semester.
Features
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THE QUADRANGLE
Jaspers Kick Off the Semester with Food, Friends and Fun! time. If you’re a resident student, you’re feeling really Isaiah Minaz & homesick. Probably, it’s Barbara Vasquez the time when you’re most Staff Writer & Editor-in-Chief likely to be like, ‘I don’t feel like I’m fitting in. I want to leave,’ and we know that Manhattan University you’re meant to be here on (MU) welcomed incoming campus, so we want to show freshmen and transfer you that.”
students at a new-student For freshman psychology barbecue event this past major Jaida McAllister, the Thursday, Aug. 27. barbecue provided another Jasper Launch, the opportunity to meet new university’s first-year peers and build even more experience program, put on relationships with people the event as a way to bring from on campus. Beyond together different aspects meeting other students, she of campus life. Attendees said that she greatly enjoyed enjoyed activities, food and seeing people from the free t-shirts from Student university interact with each Engagement, all while other.
sharing the experience with “I just came to meet new their peers. For freshman people and socialize with childhood education major Tatiana Cortez, the barbecue my peers in my class, and was a way to get more be able to see everyone familiar with the community. that’s been here and try to make new friends and new McAllister “I came to grow the connections,” said. “Just being able to see connections I’ve already everyone connect with each made and create new ones other gives us all a sense of as well,” Cortez said. “I just wanted to see everybody community, we’re all here who’s new as well, because for each other, even seeing that’s something [where] we some of the professors here all relate. We’re all scared, as well, talking to them, it’s we’re all just starting, so very nice to get to connect I wanted to make new with them.” friends.”
The barbecue was one The first week of classes of a plethora of welcome have been full of events events available to freshmen for incoming students, during their first week on with more coming in the campus. McAllister said one next six weeks, according of her favorite events was to announcements made the outdoor movie event, by director of Student where her highlight was the Engagement Nicole refreshments. Brosnan.
“I liked the popcorn, the candy and everything, and “One of the reasons that to be able to sit out and talk we put so much emphasis on the first six weeks is, with everyone, but also enjoy you’re brand new,” Brosnan the movies,” McAllister said. said.
“It’s
the
scariest
Mariah Newsome, a freshman computer engineering major, also saw the university’s welcome events as a chance to interact with new students outside of an academic atmosphere. Newsome said she went to an event that brought new students from across the university together and met people she may have not otherwise met. Looking ahead, Newsome said she hopes future events will continue giving students opportunities to interact with professors in a more sociable setting. “I enjoyed it, meeting new people, people not necessarily in my school, maybe in the arts and sciences, but everyone’s different...” Newsome said. “ I agree with [Jaida], meeting professors, wanting to get to know them, and then as well as some sort of hands-on activities that the students can do.”
Students line up for food at the barbecue. BARBARA VASQUEZ / THE QUADRANGLE
Student Engagement will continue to host first-year events for the first few weeks of the semester. To stay updated and get involved with all events on campus, follow @mustudentengage on Instagram. “You guys are much cooler than I am and you know what your fellow students like,” Brosnan said. “So if you have ideas, don’t be afraid to stop in my office. Don’t be afraid to send me an email, tap me on the shoulder if you see me walking to a meeting. We want to plan what you want to see.”
Students gather around to eat and socialize during the new student barbeque in Smith Auditorium. BARBARA VASQUEZ / THE QUADRANGLE
Features
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
Jaspers Return to Campus for Fall 2026 Sarah Rolka
Asst. Features Editor
Manhattan University (MU) Jaspers returned to campus last Monday on Aug. 24. The quad was busy with old and new faces, ready or not, for the start of classes. With the sun out for the first day, students didn’t take the weather for granted; many people were out on the quad enjoying the warm first day of classes, with this time only being interrupted by their following classes. Despite the interruption, most students felt positive about returning to MU, yet the main issue some people had was getting back into the routine of everything. Diana Torres, a junior exercise science major,
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commented about her experience so far with her first week of the fall 2026 semester. “So far, the first few days of classes have been pretty good,” Torres said. “[I’ve been] getting back into the schedule of coming in early, waking up, having to go to classes. Then, since I’m already a junior it’s the ‘quick syllabus week,’ so I already know that next week is ‘starting the grind’ again.” Avec Fabian, a freshman sound studies major, additionally commented on his experience with the first week of classes and having more freedom, especially as a new college student at MU. “…The freedom is really nice because it’s all up to
you,” Fabian said. “You don’t have your teachers bugging you constantly. You’re in charge of your own schedule, so I really like that.” Some students spent their summer relaxing, working or otherwise; however, some incoming freshmen attended the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) at MU. According to manhattan. edu, the program aims to “engage students who are pursuing careers in STEM and licensed professions and are from backgrounds that were previously underrepresented in those fields. CSTEP services are targeted over the four years to provide participants with the resources to help them succeed in their studies and transition into their chosen career paths.”
Sunset from the summer. SARAH ROLKA / COURTESY
Paris Mitchell, a freshman psychology major, spoke on her experience with the program and how they had enjoyed that time
The quad during welcome week. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM during their summer. “They [the program at MU] emailed me originally,” Mitchell said. “I’m from Albany which is three hours away; it’s a really small town, so this summer I was like ‘Let me do something new, let me go to New York City.’ I spent the summer in the CSTEP program, attending classes Monday to Thursday. I spent time with friends and toured the city, which was really fun instead of being cooped up in a really small town.” As previously mentioned, students spent their summer doing various activities or traveling. Anahi Briones, a freshman psychology major, spoke to The Quadrangle on how she spent her time in the summer. “I didn’t really go anywhere besides just travelling back to [MU] for one of the orientation dates in June, but other than that I just stayed back in my hometown [San Diego]
working and saving up money,” Briones said. “But I did go on a little trip with my best friend’s family for a weekend, which was really nice.” Many Jaspers have spent their summers occupied and will also have the chance to do so during the semester with MU’s extracurriculars and events. To stay updated with what comes up on campus, follow @manhattan.edu on Instagram.
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Arts and Entertainment
THE QUADRANGLE
Fall Semester Kicks Off for the MU Singers New E-Board is, of course, to welcome them [incoming students] Barbara Vasquez with music, and to show Editor-in-Chief them that we have this great music program that you can get involved with, but also the choice of repertoire is The Manhattan University (MU) Singers very positive. We want to have elected a new e-board have stuff that really invites for the 2026-27 academic them into our community year and spotlighted a and has a message like new low-stakes, one-credit ‘you’re going to be a part of course for people interested us.’” in singing or conducting ensembles.
The Singers board members are elected and Singers are MU’s voted on by their peers. Corvino, senior ensemble choir, consisting Dean mechanical engineering of students, staff and faculty across the university. major, served as treasurer In the fall semester, the of the board last year. This group hosts performances year, Corvino was chosen during their annual winter as the new president of the Lessons and Carols show Singers. The Quadrangle and open house – they are spoke to Corvino about what one of the first organizations initially pushed him to run prospective students are for this position. exposed to at MU.
“This whole club is just my college experience,” Singers’ e-board work Corvino said. “I’ve been together with director Andrew Bauer, performing singing since well before arts director at MU, to put middle school, and once I together their repertoire joined this club, I met all my for the semester. Each friends here. This is where recommended song is I hang out with my closest critiqued on a number of friends. I just want the best different factors: does it for the club, and if I’m in this match the season? How position, that’s what I can will the audience react? Is it do.” technically possible?
Corvino has been a part of Singers since his “One of the most important things that we do freshman year, when he in the fall semester is the was inducted by his student open house performance,” leader at orientation. He Bauer said. “Our reasoning told The Quadrangle that
since joining, the group has changed his experience on campus. “Personally, I was a very different person freshman year, so I had not-a-lot of connections in there at first,” Corvino said. “... But like I said, all the people who I’ve grown close to today, I met the majority in there.” Sophia Whitmore, sophomore adolescent education major, is the head of public relations for Singers. She joined the group last year, where she “found her people,” much like Corvino. After returning to Manhattan University following a gap year, Whitmore felt out of place; she was older than her class, and she commuted to school, causing her to feel she was missing out on campus life. For her, the community Singers provided, and continues to provide, is her favorite aspect of the group. “I was kind of feeling a little bit more on the outside, especially because I didn’t have as much time on campus as everyone else did to get to know people,” Whitmore said. “When I joined Singers, it was really nice because it was a big group of people, and everyone was willing to talk to me and willing to hang out with me.” Singers is an opportunity open to the entire campus population, regardless of field or skill level.
Andrew Bauer directs the Singers during Lessons and Carols. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM encourages beginners. Students who are interested in developing their skills have the option to enroll in private vocal lessons with their soprano section vocal coach Rachel Coloff, or even learn repertoire and conducting with Bauer. Students can register for these one-credit classes by enrolling in MUSC 131 sections. “There are many schools that have the ability to do choir for academic credit, but I don’t think there are many that have our program where they get private vocal lessons in addition to that,” Bauer said. “With the private vocal lessons, you can do so many things. … We work with the students and see what their needs are.”
With the beginning of the fall semester in full swing, Singers is busy narrowing down songs for their setlists and recruiting new members to the group. To get more information on joining, students can sit in a weekly rehearsal on Wednesdays, from 7-9 p.m., or keep up to date by following @singerssmu on Instagram. “If you feel lost, like you don’t have a community on campus yet, I would 1,000% recommend [joining] it because everyone loves music,” Whitmore said. “Singing is not hard. It’s such a great, easy skill to learn and an easy community to build. And then from there, you can branch out and do other things. But I think it’s a good way to build confidence.”
“I think Singers is unique because you don’t need to be good,” Corvino said. “As long as you have the passion to want to be good, or to want to improve, and you go to Singers, you’re going to improve. You have all these people surrounded by you who have the same exact idea, and they’re very willing to help you.”
Dean Corvino (right) pictured at last years’ Lessons and Carols and performance. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
In
fact,
the
group
The Singers consist of students and staff across the university. @MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
Arts and Entertainment
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Jasper Jams: Songs to Listen to During the Hour-and-a-Half Gap in Your Schedule María Castaño
Arts & Entertainment Editor With the beginning of a new semester always comes new challenges, and as a commuter, a recurring theme I have to grapple with is the almost inevitable dead spaces in between classes that I have to do something with. It is scientifically proven that being productive during those times is harder than walking barefoot on glass, so the temptation to just open reels and spend an hour and a half on the quad feeding my phone addiction is really big. This playlist is made with the intent of keeping you away from your phone during that dead hour and actually trying to focus on something else; maybe go on a walk, read, be productive (again, easier said than done), or do anything to keep you away from shortform content. These couple of songs then will hopefully make that time pass faster, or at least make it enjoyable to just sit and people-watch, as I made sure all of these songs are as vibe-y as possible.
Sexy to Someone - Clairo
me in the mood to relax and look at the things around me, romanticize my daily life a bit, and think about my friends. It’s fun, and it reminds me of the chiller days right before the summer ends, when the cold begins to whisper, and you look up to see two or three singular orange leaves.
Favorite lyric: Sexy is something I see in ever ything / Honey stickin’ to your hands, sugar on the rim
Green Eyes - Er ykah Badu If sexy to someone is supposed to ignite the mood to slow down in you, this song is supposed to keep you in it. To help you embrace the lethargy caused by knowing you are technically wasting your time, but the end of the summer is too nice to feel guilty about sitting in the quad between classes without at least checking your email or catching up on a reading for tomorrow’s class.
Favorite lyric: Before I I decided to open the song heal it’s gonna be a while, I with something softer but still know it’s gonna be a while, fun. This is a song that gets chil’.
Paper Bag - Fiona Apple I kept wanting to call this song theatrical for some reason, although it is, like the past two songs, on the slower side, telling the story of a toxic relationship with unrequited love, until I finally made the connection between the story told here and the one in The Deep Blue Sea by Terrence Rattigan, which I read last semester in my English class. The thing I loved the most about this play and that still haunts me is the last scene when Hester essentially decides to keep living (I cannot rant about it here, but please watch the play; it’s so good).
Favorite lyric: Hunger hurts but star ving works when it costs too much to love.
Tonight - Pink Pantheress Necessary hard pivot from all the sad songs! As everything produced by Pink Pantheress, this song is a vibe and easily puts me in a good mood, so I wanted to include it since I think it’s important to keep a positive outlook. This
song, to me, kind of represents the fun in anticipating. The fun part of having expectations and fantasies that keep us from apathy, even if these don’t come true; daydreaming is always fun, especially with the right playlist in the background!
Favorite lyric: Anticipation makes me feel like throwing up / But tonight, can you get ready?
Cementerio Club Pescado Rabioso
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A Estos Hombres Tristes - Almendra A song about losing yourself to the city and trying to reconnect with the quotidian and the natural. It critiques the fast-paced environment on which a city depends and defends the need of the individual to engage more authentically, naturally, and slowly with the things that matter to be able to discover yourself. I think a song like this belongs in this playlist for obvious reasons, and it makes me think about the importance of balance and measuring what you want and how to get these things without giving yourself up, or worse, never getting to actually know you. While it seems a little overkill for a playlist about a half-hour gap in my schedule (and it kind of is), I think it puts a nice ribbon to it, ending on a high note.
I love walking with this song in the background. I associate it with a hot Sunday afternoon, when the heat feels suffocating, and you can do nothing but sit and hope it passes quickly. Yet it’s not a bad feeling; it’s a type of waiting that feels justified, especially if you hate hot weather as much as I do. It’s a song that doesn’t ask for much; it just wants to be listened to, almost inevitable like those dreaded afternoons Favorite lyric: Una vez – or gaps in between classes. vi que no cantabas / Y no sé porqué / Si tienes voz, tienes palabras / Déjalas caer (Once I saw you did Favorite lyric: Qué calor not sing / And I don’t hará sin vos en verano (How know why / If you have a hot will it be without you in voice, you have words / let the summer). them fall).
Sports
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THE QUADRANGLE
Meet the Acrobatic & Tumbling and Flag Football Coaches Maria Castaño
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Manhattan University (MU) has introduced the women’s flag football and acrobatic and tumbling teams as brand-new athletic programs that are set to begin play during the fall of 2026. Hallie Fowler was announced on July 14, 2025, as the inaugural Acrobatics & Tumbling Head Coach, and has been working on recruiting the 32 athletes currently on the team. Frank Jennaco was revealed as the inaugural Head Coach for the women’s flag football team at the beginning of 2026 and has recruited 30 athletes for the team. Fowler was a renowned student-athlete before coming to MU, being named an All-American by the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association (NCATA) in 2025, winning a national title in Open Pyramid in 2024 as well as a national title in Six-Element Acro in 2025. She was also a competitive gymnastics coach during her time at Quinnipiac and a competitive team director at JAG Gymnastics in Wallingford, Conn. Her capabilities as a topranked athlete made her MU’s choice to lead one of their newest Division I teams. Acrobatic & Tumbling was only recently recognized as an NCAA sport, and Fowler shared
with The Quadrangle the importance of this shift and emphasized it as a historical moment for the athletic world. “We are the only team starting this year for our first-ever season,” Fowler said. “My 30 freshmen are the only ones to step in as NCAA athletes and leave as NCAA athletes, so it’s really special to not only have built that team, but to kind of have Manhattan [University] be a part of the fact that we are NCAA…. I don’t even know how to explain the gravity of it all. The history of how much impact these women are having, not just at this school, but also throughout the country and all of women’s athletics. They have a huge impact on my life, and I hope to have a huge impact on their lives.” Jennaco also had a fruitful professional career before coming to MU, coaching the flag football team at the College of Staten Island into an undefeated 11-0 record during the 2024-25 regular season, and operating as the founder and president of the National Collegiate Flag Football League since 2024. Similarly to Fowler, Jennaco is full of ambition for what he wants to achieve with the women’s flag football team, and places emphasis on giving the athletes a positive experience so they can reflect all of their potential in the field. “I think it’s really important to clearly identify what your standards are going to be,” Jennaco said.
“Identify what steps you need to take in order to achieve the goals that you want and lay them out early and as clearly as possible, so that way we have a framework, we have a pathway for our athletes to follow; so that way they can go and achieve their goals and their dreams, and ultimately represent Manhattan University in a positive way.” Jennaco is focusing on building a strong foundation for this new sport at MU by forming positive bonds between teammates, but also with the rest of the community. He shared with The Quadrangle that he’s hosting a football reunion, scheduled on Sept. 13, where past football alumni can come back to campus and see how the sport has progressed and what flag football is about. He wants to make flag football a core sport for MU that will bring people together. “It’s going to be really about driving awareness this fall, so that way we can get people out to our games because we know that we’re going to be a really good team,” Jennaco said. “That’s really what our goal is: to get people in our stands, get our supporters out there. I truly believe that within a year – and I told Jordan, our athletic director, this when he hired me – that by the end of the year we’ll be the best team on campus, and I also think that we’ll be the most supported too. We want to be the game where Friday nights, that’s where everybody goes.” The following games the flag football team has on schedule are on Oct. 25; this will be their firstever game at home, against Manor College. Their next game will be another home game on Nov. 7 against the College of Staten Island. The Acrobatic & Tumbling team’s schedule is set primarily for spring 2027.
MU’s Acrobatic & Tumbling inaugural coach, Hallie Fowler. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY
“Our first ever competition is [on] Feb. 6,” Fowler said. “It’s an away meet at Morgan State [University], and then we are currently in the works with a top 10 ranked team for our first home game, and
MU's flag football team inaugural coach, Frank Jennaco. CSIDOLPHINS.COM / COURTESY that will be a big deal for us. Then we have four home games that we are planning this season, and three away games. Then hopefully, you’ll see us in the national championship in April.” The process of recruitment from these newer teams poses a challenge as MU lacks any specific background athletes can look at, making the reputation and experience of the inaugural coaches especially critical. Reese Arnold, a freshman majoring in exercise science who specializes in playing as a linebacker or center on the flag football team, shared with The Quadrangle why she chose to become a part of the team. “It was honestly because Coach Frank is building a program here where he really values and supports his players,” Arnold said. “I can tell he wants us to be the best we can be and will do anything to help us get to that level. And there’s so many resources for us here, like our two athletic training rooms, the gym, a really nice field and coaches who again, want the best for us and want to see us thrive and grow, and who are more focused on us playing the best we possibly can, so that stood out to me.” This focus on building community on campus and seeing athletes as individuals is instrumental in the development of collegiate sports teams, so coaches are responsible for overseeing the competitive well-being of the team as well as looking
over everyone and helping them achieve their best. Fowler shared with The Quadrangle her goal as a coach for the Acrobatics & Tumbling team. “I always tell all of my recruits, nobody’s going pro here,” Fowler said. “So, I want you to come in and leave a better human than the way you came in. My goal at the end of the day is to not only have you enjoy your four years here and be successful, but also have you leave with a job. Have you leave with more connections than the day you came in.” The future looks busy and bright for both teams, looking forward to championships in the near future, as well as many games that will showcase their abilities. Arnold commented on the importance she feels in being part of the first class of the flag football team. “I’m really excited to be part of the inaugural team for Manhattan [University],” Arnold said. “Especially playing girls flag football, because there’s so many young
girls who play FNL growing up, and then they age out of it, and there’s not any option for them to keep playing ... especially for my little sister, because my little sister is 11 and she plays and she loves it. So, I want to show her that she can keep doing this, and there is a future in flag [football] if she wants it.”
Sports
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026
10
Games of the Week Maddie Rosado Managing / News Editor
Women’s Soccer Manhattan University’s women’s soccer team came out strong this past Sunday, defeating Wagner 3-1 at Gaelic Park to move to 2-1 in this year’s season. The Jaspers set the tone early and never let the Seahawks into the match, piling up 18 shots to Wagner’s three and holding a commanding 7-1 edge in shots on frame. Manhattan also worked the corner flag relentlessly, forcing 10 set pieces to match its season high. Senior captains Lauren Ahearn and Olivia McMaster each broke through for their first goals of the year. But the headliner was sophomore forward Scarlett Smith, who turned in the most productive afternoon of any Jasper, tallying a goal and an assist for three points and pushing her season total to seven. Manhattan returns to Gaelic Park on Aug. 31 to host Delaware State, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. and the match streaming live on the Jasper Sports Network. Men’s Soccer It was a rough week on
Women’s Volleyball opened their season against Temple University. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY the road for Manhattan’s men’s soccer team, which lost both matches to open the season and sits at 0-2. The Jaspers opened this past Sunday at Central Connecticut State and were edged 3-2 despite a spirited fight in New Britain. Freshman goalkeeper Gaspar Homar Bennasar made an immediate mark in his collegiate debut, turning aside eight of 15 shots he faced between the pipes.
MAAC First Team selection who paced the Jaspers with seven goals a year ago, announced his return from a season-long injury layoff by finding the net for the first time since Oct. 26, 2024, and led Manhattan with three shots on target.
Junior forward Tycho van Haaren, a transfer from Pearl River Community College, added his first career goal, finishing off a feed from sophomore midfielder Pau Mascarell, At the other end, senior who picked up the helper. forward Ziv Dahan, an All- Manhattan was outshot
15-10 overall and 11-5 on target but won the battle for corners, 6-3, though it was whistled for more fouls, 1614. The Jaspers’ misfortune continued Wednesday in Newark, where inclement weather set an ominous tone for a non-conference clash with NJIT that ultimately ended in a 2-0 shutout loss. Manhattan returns to the pitch Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 1:00 p.m., hoping to shake off an 0-2 start.
Women’s Volleyball Manhattan’s women’s volleyball team opened its season on the road Friday, falling in straight sets to Temple, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22, inside McGonigle Hall in Philadelphia to drop to 0-1. Senior outside hitter Katie Powers led all Jaspers with seven kills, with sophomore Emma Francesconi (5) and redshirt sophomore Brooke Johnson (4) providing secondary punch on the outside. Manhattan found its rhythm in the third set, hitting a season-best .269 as a team even in the losing effort. At the net, senior middle blocker Abby Morreale anchored the block party with three total stops, one solo and two assisted, while the setting duties were split between senior Emilia Kuzniar and junior Ori Briger, who combined to dish 23 of Manhattan’s 27 assists in the afternoon. The Jaspers stay on the road for the second leg of the Cherry and White Invitational, renewing their rivalry with Fordham in another Battle of the Bronx, this time played out in the City of Brotherly Love. First serve is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29, at
5:30 p.m..
Manhattan's women's soccer players embrace during their 3-1 win over Wagner's Seahawks. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY