SPRING 2026 ISSUE 12

ManhattanCaucus: ConflictBetweenthePope andtheWhiteHouse

Elaina Batista

Asst. Social Media Editor

Recently, there has been building tension between Pope Leo XIV and President Trump. In a back and forth between the two on the war in Iran, Pope Leo made a statement that the fighting unleashed in the Middle East is “absurd and inhuman violence.” In his call for peace Pope Leo also stated, “God does not bless any conflict.” Trump claimed that Pope Leo was in favor of Iran having nuclear weapons.

Trump then took to social media to write in a post how the Pope is “weak on crime.”

Later, going on to say how he was a shocking pick for pope, stating, “He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”

While speaking to reporters on a flight to Alegria, Leo said, “I have no fear, neither of the Trump administration, nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel. And that’s what I believe

I am called here to do.” When asked to comment on Trump’s Truth social post he responded with, “It’s ironic — the name of the site itself. Say no more.”

Vice President JD Vance, has also weighed in on the issue commenting that the pope should, “be careful when he talks about matters of theology.” While the attack on the pope by the United States executive is unprecedented, Leo remains an avid critic of the war.

After Trump threatened to end “a whole civilization”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Asst. Sports Editor

A team of six Manhattan University (MU) mechanical engineering students have been named finalists in NASA’s 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, earning a spot among the top contenders in one of aerospace’s most prestigious student competitions.

The team’s project, Aircraft Enhanced Resilience and Intelligence Systems (A.E.R.I.S.), aims to solve a costly and persistent problem in commercial aviation: keeping aging aircraft operational with fewer delays and less wasted time on the ground. Manahill Gohar, a senior mechanical engineering student and team member, spoke to The Quadrangle about the team’s objective in the competition.

“Basically, in the event that a plane needs to stay on the ground, it bleeds the airlines a lot of money,” Gohar said. “As the planes get older, it’s much harder to find parts for them.”

The team’s solution centers on retrofitting legacy aircrafts, older planes which are used primarily for cargo. With sensors capable of detecting mechanical issues earlier, a problem is identified and the system runs through a solution matrix to determine the fastest fix; whether that means 3D printing a replacement part on-site, or having one pre-ordered and waiting at the station by the

time the aircraft arrives.

What sets A.E.R.I.S. apart, team members said, is its ability to bridge the communication gap between older aircraft systems and modern predictive analytics platforms. Legacy aircraft generate significant sensor data, but that data is formatted differently than what today’s maintenance software is designed to read. Angie Centeno, a junior mechanical engineering student and team member, expanded on this.

“Our system will bridge that gap between the legacy aircrafts and the modern predictive analytics,” Centeno said. “We’re just going to make the best out of the information that we already have from the legacy aircrafts.”

Centeno also emphasized that the technology is designed to support, not replace, the human technicians who rely on it.

“It’s made to help them out,” Centeno said. “It just makes the entire airplane system work faster.”

Labiba Saddika, a junior mechanical engineering student, continued to note that the most challenging part of the project was identifying the right problem to solve in the first place.

“It’s just a broad topic, but we did a lot of outreach,” Saddika said. “Manahill reached out to a lot of local hangars in Long Island, and we contacted our aerospace mentors.”

Gohar noted that another

Volume CXIII, Issue 12

APRIL 21, 2026

The Editorial Board

Laili Shahrestani and Barbara Vasquez Editors-in-Chief Maddie Rosado Managing Editor

Leyla Mercado Features Editor

Sarah Rolka Asst. Features Editor

Zeke Jazwinski Sports Editor

Emmamuel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editor

Leyla Mercado & Elaina Batista Asst. Social Media Editors

Maddie Rosado News Editor

Zendrah Bonnick Asst. News Editor

Maria Castaño Arts & Entertainment Editor

Joshua Reichard Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor

Amy Forster Production Editor

Lois Boateng Social Media Editor Thom Gencarelli Faculty Advisor

Misha Jabal-Abadi Asst. Production Editor

Alba Kortoci Web Editor

About The Quadrangle

A tradition since 1924, The Quadrangle is a news organization 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 4 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

LETTER from the EDITOR

Hellooo wonderful readers and welcome to issue 12!

This is our second to last issue of the semester, to be followed by our SPECIAL ISSUE! (and issue 13, but that’s not quite as exciting.) Please be on the lookout for this issue on stands next week, because we’re in print!

Now without further ado, let’s get into this week’s issue. First in news, we cover a group of Manhattan University students and their project Aircraft Enhanced Resilience and Intelligence Systems (A.E.R.I.S.), which has been selected as a finalist in N.A.S.A. ‘s Gateways to Blue Skies Competition. To be recognized by N.A.S.A. is such an impressive feat - congratulations to the team! Next, our Manhattan Caucus provides a run-down of the current tension between the White House and Pope Leo XIII - give it a read if you’re interested!

In features, we start off with a story by Laili and I, covering Black Student Union’s Pop the Balloon event. When I saw this flyer on campus, I couldn’t believe it was an actual event happening at our school, and Laili and I had to cover it - the event ended up being a huge hit on campus and was a ton of fun to watch! Definitely give this one a read for a good laugh. We end off with a Voices on the Quad column, asking students about the recent surge in hot weather and subsequent activity on campus.

Next in A&E, we start off with coverage of Jadakiss’ performance at Springfest. Being able to watch, meet and speak to Jadakiss was an incredible opportunity - give this a read to see what he had to say after his show! Following that, we cover MU’s first ever Sixth Borough Film Festival, which took place last week. This festival was a culmination of months of hard work from students and staff which definitely paid off. Finally, you can read more about poet Jason Schneiderman coming to campus as part of MU’s Major Author Reading Series, where he read aloud a few of his poems.

In our final section, we cover the golf teams at MU and their expected performances at the upcoming MAAC tournament in Florida (at Disney’s golf course, mind you. Can you believe that?!) Then, you can read about softball and baseball’s recent performances with our games of the week.

That’s all for now - thanks for reading!

See you all next week (in print ;) ),

Editor-in-Chief

MUAll-WomenEngineeringTeamNamed NASABlueSkiesFinalist

distinguishing factor in the competition was the team’s hands-on research approach. Rather than building the project from the outside in, team members contacted working technicians directly to understand the real problems they face on the job.

“The judges seemed to really like the fact that we actually spoke with technicians to hear what the issues were,” Gohar said. “That made us stand out.”

Amelia Mantuano, a junior mechanical engineering student, said the crossdisciplinary nature of the project also reflected how problems are actually solved in industry.

“You can imagine, for every company, they have a different way of processing

data,” Mantuano said. “It’d be like switching from Microsoft to Apple to Linux for different software, and our system brings all of that together.”

The team began work in the fall semester, spending months on outreach to local hangars on Long Island, consulting aerospace mentors and working with industry professionals. Later, submitting their initial paper by the Feb. 14 deadline. Finally, receiving word that they had advanced on March 14.

From here, the team must submit a finalized 10-page research paper and a poster by May 3, followed by their slideshow presentation on May 15. On May 17, the team will travel to NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia to present their work.

Dr. Bahareh Estejab,

Ph.D., who has advised student teams in this competition for four years, said this group stood out for how quickly they developed as researchers.

“At the beginning, I saw the way that they started learning how to do research, how to go over different sources, find the data, the information that they need,” Estejab said. “Until now that we are working on our final paper, I don’t have to say anything. They know what they’re doing. They actually bring up ideas and add to what we’re doing here, which is amazing to see.”

For the students themselves, the value of the experience extends beyond any trophy. Gohar said that for many on the team, the competition has served as a preview of senior design work ahead, while also to enter.

deepening her connection to the aerospace field she hopes

A.E.R.I.S. was announced as a finalist in the Gateways to Blue Skies Competition this March. NASA.GOV / COURTESY

“Whenever I took a plane, I didn’t think about the specifications of the engines or anything like that,” Gohar said. “So it’s just interesting learning more about the field that I want to get into.”

Centeno, who is pursuing biomedical engineering rather than aerospace, said the project pushed her beyond her comfort zone in the best way.

“I just wanted to gain a new perspective and broaden my horizons,” Centeno said. “Now I’m motivated to really win the competition.”

ManhattanCaucus:ConflictBetweenthePopeandthe WhiteHouse

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 in Iran, the pope said that “this threat against the whole population of Iran was really not acceptable.” Then urged citizens to contact their political leaders to ask them “to work for peace and to reject war always.” It is reported Vance converted, became a Catholic in 2019,

and even attended Leo’s inauguration.

Former White House attorney Ty Codd, suggested that President Trump’s cognitive decline has “accelerated” since his first term pointing to his recent attacks against the pope. Trump also posted an AIgenerated photo depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure,

and later took it down claiming that it had been misinterpreted. He thought the image was by a “very beautiful, talented artist”, and believed the picture depicted him as a doctor.

Conservative Activist Reiley Gaines took to X and commented that she couldn’t comprehend why Trump posted the image stating,

“Does he actually like this?.. A little humility would serve him well…God shall not be mocked.”

Even Pope Francis has expressed opposition to violence, he wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin opposing military participation in Syria, and organized an unplanned vigil to call for peace in the

country’s civil war. It is not new for popes to voice their opinions on contemporary political matters.

In 2016 a back and forth occurred with Trump, Francis even declared that someone “who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”

Trump described the pope’s remarks to be “Disgraceful.”

BSU Brings Campus to the Quad with “Pop the Balloon” Event

& Barbara Vasquez Editors-in-Chief

The Black Student Union (BSU) at Manhattan University (MU) held a “pop the balloon” event this past Wednesday, April 15, drawing a large crowd to the campus quad.

This event takes after the “Pop the Balloon or Find Love” gameshow, originally posted on Youtube, which has blown up in popularity across social media in the recent year. The premise of the show involves a single contestant meeting a panel of other singles, who hold a balloon and a needle. After asking introductory questions, the panel has the chance to pop their balloon if they are uninterested in the contestant, and vice versa.

During BSU’s event, students volunteered to participate, with the top two couples getting the chance to win $30 gift cards to local restaurants Salvatores of Soho and Yo-Burger. The game lasted four rounds, with the student-packed chapel steps serving as the live audience for the game.

Raya Caamano, a junior and the co-president of BSU spoke about the decision to spend $60 total on prizes for the event, and how these gifts were chosen.

“We actually were toying with it at first,” Caamano said. “And we were like ‘no not at all, we shouldn’t waste our money on this.’ But then we started thinking about how to draw in more people, and how to spend our budget, and realized what’s better than bringing [and incentivizing] people to [come to] an event? And honestly over half the people didn’t even get a prize, and they still showed up.”

The participants The Quadrangle spoke to listed a number of different reasons for attending the event. For freshman marketing major Kimmy Stober, attending was about her involvement within the campus community.

“I found out [about the event] by Instagram, and I wanted to be more a part of my community,” said Stober.

The original inspiration for

the event came about through a student by the name of Isatou Gaye, who approached BSU’s senior advisor Ashlee Okunoke, and mentioned that there is a large people of color (POC) commuter population that are interested in attending BSU events. Gaye emphasized that hosting an event such as this one, out on the quad, during “regular” school hours would allow for the POC commuter population to participate.

Gaye’s recommendation did not fail, as the quad was packed with over a hundred students, both participating and observing the game.

A few of these audience members volunteered to serve as participants for the game, taking a chance at finding love.

During one of the rounds, a line of women stood holding their balloons, when one man served as the contestant. Within just a few moments of beginning the game, one of the women, freshman Johlana Tatum, popped her balloon. When asked for her reasoning by the host, Tatum responded with one sentence.

“I’m gay,” Tatum said. Additionally, in another

round May Jannah, a freshman psychology major, also popped her balloon within a few seconds. She was first out of all the women to do so, in that round.

The Quadrangle spoke to Jannah more in depth, and asked her for her reasoning behind being the first in line to pop her balloon.

“If I’m going to be honest, up there I did say I have a boyfriend [for my reasoning], but it was actually because of the fact that he [the contestant] was wearing slides, which is not my cup of tea,” Jannah said.

One of the male contestants and freshman mentee for BSU, Tristan Blake, ended up finding a match through the game. He and his match ended up winning one of the $30 grand prizes, as an incentive to get the new couple to go out on a date.

However, after the event concluded, Blake mentioned that he unfortunately does not believe that he and his new couple will last in a romantic relationship.

“No, honestly she’s just one of my best friends, she’s the GOAT, that’s it,” Blake said.

The Quadrangle asked Caamano the same question, hoping to get deeper insight into if she believes any of the winning couples will last beyond the game.

“Honestly, I don’t think they will last,” Caamano said. “I really don’t. But if they do, then kudos to them.”

Stober, who Blake won the round with, shared a similar sentiment about their friendship. Instead of ‘finding love,’ she enjoyed the event for other reasons.

“I didn’t think a lot of people would come, but it was more people than I thought,” Stober said. “It was quite fun.”

The event surpassed expectations for many. Mark Haynes, junior mechanical engineering major and member of BSU, shared his reaction to the popularity of the event.

“I was not thinking that there was going to be that many people on the quad today,” Haynes said. “But again, it’s good to be seen, have some publicity and be out there.”

Haynes participated in the event and made it all the way through his round, winning it alongside one of his friends.

However he shared that despite the prize, the biggest highlight of the event for him was simply having fun with his fellow students.

“My favorite moment of the event was just seeing the people there, and everyone laughing and having fun,” Haynes said. “I feel like there are so many problems within the world today, that it’s good to share some laughter.”

Voices on the Quad: Spring has Sprung on Campus

Last week, the sun finally came out in New York City. Many people on campus and in the city have enjoyed the sunny weather by starting to wear their summer closet and spending time outside. Spring has also officially sprung with all the flowers and trees blooming and pollen has been affecting those with allergies. The Quadrangle spoke with students regarding the hot weather and changes in their outfits in response to the heat but also the colder weather in the following weeks.

Besjana Krasniqi ‘28, psychology major

The Quadrangle: How has the last week felt for you with all the nice weather?

Besjana Krasniqi: It was really exciting. I got to go to Central Park and I’ve just been spending a lot of time outside.

TQ: What has changed regarding your wardrobe this week?

BK: Lots of short sleeves, I like linen pants and long skirts. Jeans and like nice sleeveless tops.

TQ: Thoughts on the colder weather next week?

BK: I like the winter time, so I like the cold weather but I just wish it would just stay “normal.”

TQ: What are your thoughts on seeing everyone outside on the quad hanging out?

BK: I find it really cool how everyone gets together for the nice weather because I know before that barely anyone was outside. So it’s nice to see that sort of community come out.

TQ: Anything you might like to share regarding the

summer and nicer weather? Any fun plans?

BK: I’m actually going back home to Kosova right after finals so that’ll be a lot of fun, seeing family, going to the beach in Albania and that sort of thing.

Sofimar Encarnación ‘26, political science major

The Quadrangle: How has the last week felt for you with all the nice weather?

Sofimar Encarnación: I have felt like it was wonderful and amazing but I’ve also been really angry because I always check the weather like two weeks ahead and I know it’s going to be cold next week, so I’m really pissed.

TQ: What has changed regarding your wardrobe this week?

SE: I wore a dress, I pulled my cute little black dress out of retirement… I wore sleeveless tops, that was fun. Little more

“off-the-shoulder” moments; just a jolly old time, I wore shorts. It was wonderful, it was great.

TQ: Thoughts on the colder weather next week?

SE: I don’t hate it. This week has pissed me off a little bit because ‘yes, it’s so nice’ and I like that it’s nice, but what happened to ‘April showers bring May flowers?’ It feels like the first time in April that it’s rained… That’s insane, but generally speaking, I’m slightly excited for the cold but I could go without it too.

TQ: Thoughts on seeing everyone outside on the quad hanging out?

SE: I feel like whenever the weather gets warm and I see people on the quad, it kind of reminds me that the school is a real place. I feel like I sort of exist in a vacuum when I come to school until it gets hot outside, and I’m on the quad and see like 15 million people and I’m like ‘Wow, people go

SARAH ROLKA / THE QUADRANGLE

here.’ That is cool but also it makes me think, ‘So many people have different lives.’ You don’t know anything about it until you see everybody on the quad and you’re like ‘Wow, everyone’s enjoying the same thing at the same time for once.

TQ: Anything you might like to share regarding the summer and nicer weather? Any fun plans?

SE: I’m graduating next month. The week after graduation, I am taking a week-long trip to Florida to celebrate myself but mainly also to celebrate my sister’s 21 birthday. So I’m going to be outside.

Juliana DeSouza ‘28, management major

The Quadrangle: How has the last week felt for you with all the nice weather?

Juliana DeSouza: Definitely really nice, I’ve been outside doing a lot of my work.

JD: I’m going back home, I’m from Maryland. So, just spending time with family and friends. The trees in bloom on campus.

TQ: What has changed regarding your wardrobe this week?

JD:I get to wear shoes, I like a pretty casual [style]...

TQ: Thoughts on the colder weather next week?

JD: I didn’t know it was going to be colder… I don’t really like the humidity but I wish it would get a little colder.

TQ: Thoughts on seeing everyone outside on the quad hanging out?

JD: I’ve definitely seen more of my friends outside just casually walking by and it’s nice - everyone’s playing sports and stuff.

TQ: Anything you might like to share regarding the summer and nicer weather? Any fun plans?

JadaKiss Takes the Stage as MU’s 2026 Springfest Artist

Barbara Vasquez & Leyla J. Mercado Editor-in-Chief & Features Editor / Asst. Social Media Editor

This past Saturday April 18, Manhattan University (MU) welcomed rapper Jadakiss to campus as this year’s Springfest performer.

Jadakiss, or Jason Terrance Phillips, is a Yonkersnative rapper most known for his work from the 1990s and 2000s.When Phillips took to stage in Draddy Gymnasium, he performed these classic songs such as “By Your Side”, “U Make Me Wanna”, “New York” and “Put Your Hands Up.” Attendees of the concert sang along, with strobe lights, sparklers and smoke machines creating a true concert-like atmosphere, all at MU.

The Quadrangle spoke to Phillips after his performance, and asked him about what it was like to come to a college campus, such as MU, and perform for a student crowd.

“Actually, a college crowd is one of the best crowds to see if you’re still lit,” Phillips said. “If you could rock a college crowd, then you know your career has legs, because those are the most vibrant people in the

world. They’re going through exams, they’re dealing with all of this stuff, and then if they [colleges] book you, and the college kids come out and rock with you, then you know you’re in a good space.”

Yonkers, just minutes away from Riverdale, is where Phillips was born and currently resides. He takes pride in his hometown and stays active within the community - when

The Quadrangle asked Phillips how it felt to come to a school so close to his home, he shared that the experience was especially meaningful.

“[This performance was] very meaningful, I’m always in the area and I know a couple of alumni, players, coaches,” Phillips said. “When I got the call to come here, it’s like, it’s in my backyard. It’s a no-brainer for me to come and be a part of any Jasper experience, because it feels like home for me.”

Students in the audience also felt the same sort of nostalgia. Enjoying Phillips’ performance led them to become even more aware of such,

Layla Luciano, a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in education, spoke to how experiencing the performance led her to be more present in the joy she shared

with her friends that night.

“It hit me, I had a great time for my last year at Springfest.”

Luciano said. “I really enjoyed myself with my roommates, and we danced a night away. We were able to bring in so many random people, meet new faces and make a community out of it.”

Moments like these are what truly made today so special.

For Raya Caamano, junior criminology and psychology major, Philips’ performance was a cool experience both for herself and her family.

“I thought the performance was great,” Caamano said. “I think that Jadakiss is really good in the generation above ours. Even just being able to tell my mom that Jadakiss was coming to perform was such

a huge deal for her - I even FaceTimed her in the crowd.

A bucket list item, I would say.”

JadaKiss even went on to share insight, as someone who’s had a major impact on the industry for the past few decades, and the impact he plans to leave with students before him who may be interested in following his path to the music industry.

“Just that is possible,” Phillips said. “Don’t get discouraged, because it’s a very discouraging business, but if you perfect your craft and learn your business and learn your ins and outs of what you want to get into, it is a very capable business. And not as hard as some of the other things you might want to venture off into. Music is something, if your

heart’s telling you want to do music, keep working at it, you’ll be successful.”

arts and entertainment

MU Hosts First-Ever Sixth Borough Film Festival

Maddie Rosado Managing / News Editor

After much anticipation, Manhattan University (MU) hosted its first-ever Sixth Borough Film Festival (SBFF) from April 10 to 12, turning Kelly Commons and Hayden Hall into a three-day showcase of student and international films.

The festival featured a diverse range of studentproduced work across genres, including narrative films, documentaries, animation and horror. Screenings began at noon on Friday, April 10, with students welcoming guests throughout the day. Audiences rotated through a variety of showcases, with popcorn adding to the theaterstyle atmosphere. Screenings resumed the following day at the same time, continuing the festival’s momentum.

In total, 102 films from 27 countries were screened over the three-day event. With such a wide international reach, Michael Grabowski, Ph.D., a professor in the Communication, Sound and Media Arts Department at MU and host of the SBFF, reflected on the efforts that went into making the festival possible.

“This really was a studentrun film festival,” Grabowski said. “Students were organized into teams. They were responsible for everything, from programming to social media and press to operations.”

Grabowski’s student-driven approach extended into the festival’s marketing and digital presence. Mia Porritt, social media director for the SBFF and a senior communication major, said her role centered on shaping the festival’s outreach and overall brand.

“Grabowski gave me the

freedom to be creative, and I really appreciated that trust,” Porritt said. “I really wanted to make the content feel fun and appealing to college students, but also professional enough to attract people who are genuinely interested in film. My goal was to appeal to a wide audience, keeping it clean and polished, while still making it engaging and informative.”

Porritt emphasized that this creative control allowed her to define how the festival was presented online.

“I had a lot of independence in how I approached the visuals and overall branding, which allowed me to really shape the identity of the festival’s social media,” Porritt said.

Grabowski noted that this level of independence was intentional, as uplifting students was central to the festival’s mission.

“My goal was to allow the students to make key decisions for the festival,” Grabowski said. “I really wanted them to have ownership over the festival.”

In addition to social media efforts, outreach was further expanded through postproduction work, including the creation of the SBFF trailer. Jason Tiziano Silva, a senior communication major with a concentration in media production and filmmaker, led the trailer’s editing and other post-production operations for the festival.

“When I was asked by Grabowski to handle postproduction for the festival, which included the SBFF trailer, I felt honored, ” Silva said.

Silva went on to explain that he was surprised by the overwhelming response to the trailer, which garnered millions of views on Instagram.

“I didn’t expect it to get that much attention,” Silva said. “It went from thousands

A promotional flyer for Manhattan University’s Sixth Borough Film Festival.

to millions of views, which was insane to me. As a kid, I always wanted my work to reach a lot of people, even just a thousand. So seeing something I worked on reach millions, it really meant a lot.”

Beyond Silva’s work behind the scenes, he also directed his own film, “The Company We Keep,” which was featured in the festival’s horror showcase.

“The movie is about the main character facing his internal demons, but also a literal demon at the same time,” Silva said. “I was really nervous because I directed it and edited it. When you’re that involved, you see every imperfection. But when I saw the audience reacting, laughing at certain moments and even getting jump-scared, it made me feel a lot better.”

Other filmmakers shared similar reactions to the audience engagement.

Sam Ogunremi, a Canadian filmmaker and winner of Best Horror for “Nebuchadnezzar,” described the impact of seeing viewers respond in real time.

“The audience was really engaged and quiet, paying attention to the details,” Ogunremi said. “Then at a key moment near the end, I could see people physically react — they jolted. That was exactly the effect I was hoping for.”

Ogunremi’s film stood out

@MANHATTANEDU / INSTAGRAM

for its unique concept, blending satire with thriller elements.

“I thought about what would be fun to satirize, and a talk show came to mind,” Ogunremi said. “From there, it came together quickly, the idea of a protagonist working behind the scenes and this larger-thanlife, almost maniacal talk show host as the antagonist.”

Ogunremi added that the film explores deeper social themes through its narrative.

“One of the main ideas is how easily a kind of totalitarian environment can form without people realizing it,” Ogunremi said. “The protagonist doesn’t notice anything at first, but once she becomes more aware, she has a choice — either confront what’s happening, or ignore it.”

Ogunremi’s concept resonated with audiences at MU, which is what ultimately earned “Nebuchadnezzar” the award for Best Horror at the festival’s capstone ceremony. The festival concluded with a luncheon and awards ceremony on Sunday, April 12, honoring participants and their work.

A special addition to the ceremony was the presentation of the inaugural Vanguard Award to Daphne Rubin-Vega, honoring her invaluable and visionary contributions to film, theatre, television and music. MU presented the milestone

award in recognition of her expansive artistic career and cultural impact.

“The award ceremony was really a celebration of a successful festival,” Grabowski said. “It was really touching to hear [the filmmakers’] acceptance speeches.”

For Grabowski, the most meaningful takeaway was the sense of pride and ownership demonstrated by his students.

“What was the most rewarding for me was to hear the students who presented the awards talk about how thankful they were that the university trusted them to make this happen,” Grabowski said. “It really showed me that true ownership just took over the festival. And I think they had a right to be very proud at the award ceremony for the good job that they did.”

Silva emphasized that sentiment, noting the collaborative effort behind the festival’s success.

“It was a huge team effort between students and Grabowski,” Silva said. “Without him, there wouldn’t be a festival, but without us, there wouldn’t be one either. Everyone contributed, and it created a really meaningful experience.”

arts and entertainment

Jason Schneiderman Takes to MU as Part of the Major Author Reading Series

J. Mercado

Features Editor & Asst. Social Media Editor

On April 15, Manhattan University hosted a new Major Author Reading Series (MARS) event in Hayden 100, where Jason Schneiderman, a professor and poet took the stage to read some poems from his most recent work, “Self Portrait of Icarus as a Country on Fire.” Schneiderman has taught creative writing and has lectured on poetry for over 20 years.

Before the event commenced, Melinda Wilson, Ph.D, adjunct professor of English and director of the Center for Academic Success, took to the stage to introduce Schneiderman.

“I have the amazing opportunity tonight to introduce a poet whom I think of as a friend, but also a literary role model, and I’ll explain why,” Wilson said. “In fact, I’m proud to call myself a Jason Schneiderman fan girl. In his newest collection, “Self Portrait of Icarus as a Country on fire,” he boldly tackles some of life’s largest and most daunting questions — questions of personal identity, his Jewish heritage, questions about matters of the heart and questions surrounding the polemical politics of our time.”

Schneiderman is the author of five poetry collections, and most recently, “Self Portrait of Icarus as a Country on Fire,” published by Red Hen Press in 2024, serving as a poetry collection that navigates different themes of life with gracious wording.

Before reading aloud his poetry, he went on to discuss the insight he’s gained throughout his professional and personal endeavors.

“Life in the age of digital communication has come to feel unrehearsed to me, or to be more precise, life has come to feel like a play that is

under-rehearsed in the days where I wanted to be an actor, because I wanted more than anything to escape the confines of my life,” Schneiderman said. “Why bother going to the Guggenheim or the MoMA, there are sidewalks and card tables with artists setting up their art…”

Schneiderman started by reading the seventh poem in the book, “Catastrophist.”

“Your heart doesn’t have to break every day, it’s okay if sometimes trees are just trees, and all the leaves on the ground look exactly like all the other leaves you’ve already seen

in your lifelong life if some days you don’t even bother to look closely at the flowers as you keep on walking towards wherever you were going…” Schneiderman recited.

After concluding the poem, Schneiderman went on to share other poems with those before him, providing the audience with a look into both his creative process and personal experiences behind his work.

When asked how he maintains the privacy of his work while allowing himself to be so vulnerable, he provided a glimpse into what exactly that looks like during his creative process.

“One of the things I like about the poem is that because it’s such a shaped object, I have a lot of control over the selfpresentation, and so a lot of the time what seems kind of like very raw and vulnerable is actually very carefully shaved,” Schneiderman said. “So I have a really strong awareness of what that looks like.”

Heidi Laudien, Ph.D., associate professor of English at MU, went on to share the impact his work had on her and her classes, as she has taught some of Schneiderman’s work.

“Prior to you coming here,

I’m going to admit that I did not know much of your poetry,” Laudien said. “Then I started looking into your work, and I stumbled upon [your poem] ‘Vocabulary,’ and I shared it with my classes, and they actually loved it. I have to thank you for this idea that discovery is always tamed with sorrow, and the fact that you go on to say that you’ve been living without something — we try to learn when we’re young because we don’t want to regret what we don’t know.”

sports

Jaspers Golf Teams Eye Historic MAAC Championship in Florida

The Manhattan University (MU) Jaspers golf teams are looking to shock some people at the MAAC Championships in Florida this week. It has been a spring season full of promise, and both the men’s and women’s programs are heading into the conference tournament with momentum, confidence and something to prove.

Some of the high points for the Jaspers this spring have come directly against MAAC competition. The men’s team finished first at the Sacred Heart Invitational, while the women’s team turned heads by finishing second in that same tournament. These highlevel performances have set the tone for what both squads are hoping to accomplish in Florida.

This is the first year of women’s golf at MU, and the program has wasted no time making an impression. For a brand-new team to come in and compete at this level against

established MAAC programs is a testament to the talent that has been assembled and the culture being built from scratch. The women’s team has a real shot at making noise at the MAAC tournament, and

nobody in the field should be taking them lightly.

The women’s team has had plenty of contributors this season, but some of the most important play has come from freshman Jayden Peters,

who has quickly established herself as one of the team’s key players. According to GoJaspers, Peters finished tied for second alongside Siena’s Emely Kintzel, shooting three over par for a combined total of 75. As a first-year player on a first-year program, Peters’ performance speaks volumes about the vision of where this team is headed.

The men’s team has been making waves in the conference as well. Beyond the first-place finish at Sacred Heart, the Jaspers also turned in a strong showing at another invitational, where they placed third. Cabell Faulkner was particularly impressive, finishing tied for fifth place individually and providing the team with a reliable anchor at the top of the lineup. That momentum has carried over and helped the Jaspers sustain their level of play heading into championship week. The green and white are hoping that consistency translates into a strong finish when it matters most.

It has not been a completely smooth road to get here. The Jaspers have had their ups

and downs throughout the season, dealing with the kind of adversity that every competitive program faces at some point, but what sets MU apart is the team’s ability to bounce back from any challenge.

Now, the Jaspers are looking to do something no golf team at Manhattan has ever done: win the MAAC Championship. For the women’s program, this is just the beginning of what they hope will be a long run at contention. For the men, the memory of 2016 still lingers. That year, according to GolfStat, Manhattan fell to Siena College in a playoff after both teams finished deadlocked at 26-over through 54 holes. The Jaspers actually finished stronger down the stretch, posting a closing 290, but Siena’s final round forced extra holes and ultimately made the difference.

Despite these near misses, this week in Florida, both teams have a chance to write a different ending.

Games of theWeek

Emmanouel Sofillas Asst. Sports Editor

Women’s Softball

Manhattan’s women’s softball team traveled to North Andover, Mass. on Saturday afternoon, sweeping Merrimack in a doubleheader by scores of 2-1 and 2-0 at Martone-Mejail Field.

In game one, defense dominated early, with neither side recording a hit through the middle of the second inning. The Warriors loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second on a single and two walks, but starter Karissa Spring forced a groundout to escape the jam. Isabella Coulman reached on an error to give Manhattan its first baserunner, but the score remained tied at zero through three.

The Jaspers broke through in the top of the fourth, when freshman shortstop Samantha Kelly launched her second home run of the season over the left field fence to put Manhattan ahead. The offense quieted over the next two innings, outside of an Angelina Gencarelli double in the fifth. With one out in the sixth, Kaitlyn Moody grounded out to second to score Kelly, who had reached third on a Natalye DeBus double, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Merrimack made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh, knocking an RBI double to left field to cut the deficit to 2-1 and getting a runner to third with two outs. However, a popup to third base ended the game in Manhattan’s favor.

In game two, the Jaspers came out swinging immediately. Singles from Brianna Estevez and DeBus loaded the bases in the top of the first, and Moody followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to put Manhattan up 1-0 early. DeBus took control from the circle, retiring all but one batter she faced through the fifth inning and keeping Merrimack off the board despite runners reaching in each of the first two frames.

A sixth-inning error put Moody on base, but pinch runner Madison Douglass was thrown out at home on the same play to keep the score at 1-0. Merrimack threatened again with runners on first and second and one out in the bottom of the sixth, but a 5-3 double play snuffed out the rally. In the top of the seventh, Sophia Hannappel doubled with one out, and two batters later, Estevez singled up the middle to bring in an insurance run. DeBus closed out the win efficiently, recording a

Baseball competed against Rider University this past week. GOJASPERS.COM / COURTESY

strikeout and a groundout to end the game.

Moody led the Jaspers with two RBI on the day, one in each contest. Both Estevez and DeBus tallied three hits apiece in the afternoon, with all of Estevez’s coming in the nightcap. Spring and DeBus each threw a complete game, their fifth and sixth wins of the season respectively, combining for eight strikeouts off seven hits allowed.

Baseball

Manhattan’s baseball team traveled to Lawrenceville, N.J. on Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader against Rider University at Sonny Pittaro Field by scores of 6-4 and 13-9. In game one, the Jaspers got on the board in the top of the third when Jeremy Sosa worked a walk, moved to third

on a Ryan Lordier base knock to center, and scored on a Guriyandel Salva base hit to make it 1-0. After Rider tied the game, Manhattan erupted for four runs in the sixth. Hunter Sute drew a walk and Vincent Samuel followed with an infield single, before Andreaus Lewis laced a full-count RBI single to right to retake the lead. Justin Best added a sacrifice fly to bring home Samuel, and Trevor Hansen capped the inning with his eighth home run of the season to push the advantage to four. With Rider threatening late in the ninth, Sute delivered a key double to score Lordier and provide the cushion needed. Reliever Garrett Theile then closed the door on just three pitches, inducing two foul popouts and a double play to secure the win. Game two was a back-andforth affair from the start. After

falling behind by six through two innings, Manhattan stormed back with five runs in the third, headlined by Sute’s three-run home run to right field. Hansen drew a bases-loaded walk and Lewis crossed on a wild pitch to pull the Jaspers within two. The two clubs continued to trade blows deep into the game, with Manhattan tying it three separate times. Lordier singled home Mayer in the eighth, a wild pitch allowed Sosa to score and cut the deficit to one, and Salva singled to knot it at eight. Lewis then delivered a solo home run to tie the game for the third time in the ninth, but Rider answered with a walk-off home run in the bottom half to end it.

Sute was one of the day’s standout performers, going 3-for-8 with a home run, four RBI, two runs scored, and two

walks. Lewis was exceptional at the plate, going 6-for-9 with a home run, a double, and a stolen base across both games. Salva went 3-for-10 with two RBI and a stolen base, while Lordier, Best, and Lewis each contributed multihit efforts as well. Starting pitcher Hudson Pergamit was sharp in game one, striking out six while working 5.2 innings, and reliever Chris Fidanza earned the win with four strikeouts over 2.1 innings of work.

“Despite the loss in game two, I’m really proud of the fight and effort today,” head coach Steven Rosen said in a statement to GoJaspers. “We didn’t quit; we threw punches all day and put ourselves in a position to sweep a doubleheader. There’s no quit in this team.”