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By Isaiah Rosario, Sports Editor

Jan. 25 was a night that students of Manhattan College would never forget. At around 7:38pm, a Jasper-911 email was sent to students, faculty, and staff about a possible suspect with a gun on campus. The college’s campus was sent into immediate lockdown as requested by public safety. 

The New York City Police Department responded quickly and began an investigation into the situation. During lockdown, the college’s women’s basketball team was playing Marist College at home in Draddy Gymnasium.

One of the cheer coaches notified public safety of the incident just before halftime. After the cheerleaders and dance team were notified of the lockdown situation, they went behind the bleachers for an extended period of time. 

“I think that the cheer coach did a really good job,” dance team member Brooklyn Schriver said. “She stepped in and handled it really well. She was one of the ones who told the public safety officers what was even happening in the first place. I would like to commend student engagement too, they did a really good job.”

Once the public safety officers in the gym were notified, the officers and athletics workers began locking all doors and barricading all potential entrances to the gym. 

The overhead announcer made the fans aware of the ongoing situation by stating that there was an ongoing issue on the college’s campus resulting in a lockdown. He also announced that the game would be suspended until further notice. 

“I just felt really nervous especially because we were in such a big public area,” dance team member Annie Rasetina said. “If someone did have a gun or was actively shooting, I felt like [Draddy] was such a targeted area that someone can go to with such innocent people. I also just found it very strange that it took the cheer coach having to go up to public safety to explain what was happening rather than public safety already knowing.”

The lockdown occurred during halftime and both Marist and the Jaspers were locked down in their locker rooms. Around 15 to 20 minutes later, it was announced on the overhead speaker that despite the ongoing lockdown, play would resume and the teams would begin to warm up for the second half. 

The cheer and dance teams did not return to the floor for the second half. After the basketball teams went back out on the floor, the cheerleaders and dancers were moved to Alumni Hall and shortly after moved to the locker rooms. They stayed there until the lockdown was lifted. 

“Our coach gave us the option [to go back to the floor], she didn’t want to incite her views on us because she herself didn’t think it was appropriate,” cheerleader Victoria Aulov said. “She gave us the choice. ‘Do you guys feel comfortable performing?’ We said yes and then we told her but we don’t think it is appropriate and that’s all she needed to hear to tell them that we are not performing and we will not be going back out there.”

After the game, forward Jade Blagrove said that some of the international players were visibly emotional and shaken up because they were not used to the concept of guns.

“I’ve never experienced something like this, thankfully, and so this was definitely new, and I know how I react in a situation like this,” cheerleader Mikayla Brown said. “I would have liked to see more control over the situation from people who have more information about what’s going on. We just listen to what people tell us.”

Freshman Riley Deane was a spectator of the game and experienced the lockdown firsthand wanted to give a message to administrators regarding the situation that took place on Jan. 25. 

“I want them to care more about the students, put the students first, and care more about them instead of their reputation,” Deane said.