“We Do Journalism”
the Quadrangle
Visit Our Website mcquad.org
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MANHATTAN UNIVERSITY | SINCE 1924
Volume CXI, Issue 5
FREE
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 18, 2025
Manhattan University Holds Annual Blood Drive
Manhattan University Student Government Announces Midyear Appointees Leyla J Mercado A&E Editor
Manhattan University held its annual winter blood drive on Wednesday, Feb. 12. @MANHATTAN.EDU / INSTAGRAM
New Block Schedule Changes Proposed for Spring 2026 Semester Dean of Kakos School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) Marcy Kelly, Ph.D., held a student town hall on Feb. 11 to review the new block schedule draft, which includes an extended common period for commuters. The new changes to the block schedule are expected to take effect in the spring 2026 semester, with some minor changes to language labs being implemented as soon as the fall 2025 semester. On Jan. 23, an email was sent from the Office of the Provost to announce that an ad hoc committee had been created, which consisted of students and faculty representatives, to propose new changes that they wanted to see in the block schedule.
“The ad hoc committee sought community feedback via a survey and determined that our current block schedule was not meeting all of the needs of the community,” the email stated. “The ad hoc committee used the feedback they received from the survey to inform the development of a new proposed block schedule.” Kelly explained that the need to revise the current block schedule system was due to scheduling conflicts with two-hour block classes. If a science course was slated to run for two hours but there was no two-hour block available, professors had to schedule into other three-hour class blocks. “I ran into this problem with faculty who were trying to schedule courses,” Kelly said. “The current block schedule doesn’t have two-hour blocks or four hour blocks, and some of our courses are two hours. So what ended up happening
IN NEWS:
IN FEATURES:
Angelina Persaud Senior Writer
MU Student Government Kappa Delta Pi Hosts Announces Midyear Lietracy Alive Event Appointees pg. 5 pgs. 1 & 3
was faculty who taught two hours, like the science courses, because there’s no such block, they would have to schedule off of the block, [and] schedule in a three hour spot.” The new draft of the block schedule includes an extended two-hour common period at 3:30pm on Tuesdays, whereas it previously began at 12:30pm. There is also an additional 75-minute common hour at 2:30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. This change specifically arose from the concerns of students who had a larger gap after 12:30pm but wanted to participate in activities that began at 2:30pm and still make it to class in the 3:30pm block. “We decided we needed to move that common [time] down to 2:30 with the stipulation that there’s a class period right after it at 3:30,” Kelly said. “Students __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Manhattan University’s Student Government Association (SGA) has announced three new members to fill their vacant positions. The newly elected students will serve through the end of the spring semester. Andrew Berg was sworn in as one of two O’Malley School of Business vice presidents, Delaney Briggs as one of two Kakos School of Arts and Sciences vice presidents and Maggie Voll as one of the sophomore class vice presidents. Candidates presented their speeches on Feb. 5 at SGA’s general meeting where they presented their goals and initiatives, which were followed by current and executive assembly members voting on who should be appointed. With the intent to fulfill the positions that were currently vacant, Executive Vice President Colin Ratner, a senior communication major, discussed what qualities he was in search of when regarding possible candidates. “Personally, I was just looking for someone wellconnected and enthusiastic,” Ratner wrote to The Quadrangle. “Someone who’s up for the challenge and can follow-up while working efficiently. These roles fit perfectly into what we are
IN A&E:
Two Time Grammy Winner Joins MU Faculty pg. 6
trying to do, which is laying the foundation for future success.” The new appointees have made it their mission to represent the student body of their new constituents through efforts to ensure student voices are heard and concerns are addressed. Berg, a junior finance and accounting double major, shared what led him to his decision of running for the position. He elaborated on how his involvement in other MU spaces have contributed to his ability to fulfill the position. “I’m involved in a good amount of business clubs [and] on the E-boards as well, so I felt like that gave me the experience to be able to represent the student body here at the O’Malley School of Business,” Berg said. “I feel like now being in this role, I’m able to let all business students know that I’m a contact point for them.” Berg went on to discuss the plans he has moving forward in this position. “I would like to host a town hall,” Berg said. “It would give myself, as well as my co-Vice President Chris Parson, a better understanding of some of the concerns or maybe even ideas that students would like to see here in the school of business. I think it would also be helpful to engage in that open dialogue to understand where everyone is coming from, especially in terms of certain events that they would like to see.” __________________________ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN SPORTS: MU Men’s Basketball Adds a Win to Record pg. 8