Laili Shahrestani Editor-in-Chief

The Quadrangle consists of 14 hardworking members of masthead, all who share a common passion for storytelling and journalism. Each and every member has their own background, story and personalized feelings when it comes to how they got in their position today, and what this publication has done for them. 

For myself, The Quadrangle has shaped me in ways that I could have ever imagined. Transferring to Manhattan University at the beginning of last year, I immediately found myself drawn to this publication. By being a part of a journalism concentration that was extremely small, and had little to no students other than myself in it,The Quadrangle quickly became where I found my sense of belonging.

Going from a contributor, to a staff writer, then the features editor and finally editor-in-chief in just the span of 16 months, it has taken nothing short of hard work, dedication and most of all passion. It is my passion for journalism that keeps my work ethic strong. This publication has taught me that in my eyes, there is nothing more important than the role of a journalist. Keeping audiences informed, holding people accountable and explaining “what’s going on,” all reveal just a glimpse of what we do here at The Quadrangle. 

While my experience is unique to me, many other members here at The Quadrangle have their own insight to share from their own individualized perspectives. 

Barbara Vasquez ‘27, communication major with a concentration in integrated marketing communications, editor-in-chief 

The Quadrangle: What do you enjoy most about being a part of The Quadrangle?

Barbara Vasquez: My favorite part about being a part of The Quadrangle is how connected I feel to the campus community because of it. When I was coming into college, I was an extremely timid person, and The Quad has allowed me to experience so many different opportunities and meet so many people that I may have never crossed paths with, had it not been for the paper. I also just find The Quad really fun in general! Our meetings can be super fun — especially when our staff gets the ball rolling during open pitch — and as a former production editor, I have grown to love using Adobe InDesign and the entire production process!

TQ: What skills have you developed through working within this publication?

BV: From my time with The Quadrangle, I have truly developed as a person. My confidence in myself, my work and my overall ability has increased immensely, and I don’t think I would be who I am without the paper. This publication has shaped my college career, and I am so grateful that I took the leap my freshman year to join. Everything I do with The Quad is out of sheer love for the paper — I owe it that much!

TQ: Where do you see yourself moving forward in the future career wise? 

BV: I would love to go into magazine publishing in the future! This is actually something The Quad has really helped me lean into — I discovered that I, for some reason, love copyediting, as well as the design, production and even advertising processes that magazine publishing can encompass.  

Maddie Rosado ‘27, communication major with a concentration in journalism, managing and news editor

TQ: Can you walk me through a snippet of what this publication means to you? 

MR: During my time at MU, I feel like I’ve lived many different lives. It wasn’t until I became a staff writer for The Quadrangle that I truly found my place on campus. Being a part of The Quadrangle has given me a voice and an outlet to be heard. I take pride in being a storyteller, and I truly care about each and every article I’ve ever written. During my interviews, I always try to genuinely connect with the person so they know how much I appreciate them trusting me with their story and allowing me to put it on the record.

TQ: Where would you say your passion for journalism stems from? 

MR: My passion for journalism goes deeper than politics. The way I see it, I use my voice to amplify the voices of others and tell the stories that need to be heard. Journalism is not just about what you’re reporting on, it’s about the people. And while I’ve been a part of The Quadrangle, I feel that I’ve truly been able to fulfill that goal.

TQ: What has been the most fulfilling part about working at The Quadrangle? 

MR: I’m so incredibly grateful for the people I’ve met who are a part of the staff, but I’m also so grateful for the new people I get to talk to every day when I take on a new pitch. There’s always something new, and I think that’s the beauty of this work. My passion burns for this newspaper, and honestly, I don’t know what I would do without it.

Maria Castaño ‘28, double-major in English and Spanish, A&E editor 

The Quadrangle: What do you enjoy most about being a part of The Quadrangle?

Maria Castaño: The part I enjoy the most is definitely doing interviews. While I am mostly an introvert, talking to people about things that matter to them or affect them personally is always something I look forward to. I feel like I have learned a lot from some of the people I have interviewed, and it’s really fun to see things from the perspective of other people and try to do their opinions and experiences justice in an article. It’s equal parts challenging and rewarding.

TQ: What skills have you developed through working within this publication?

MC: I feel like I have become a better writer thanks to being a part of The Quadrangle. I get to practice my writing skills very consistently by writing articles weekly or editing them. It helps me identify mistakes or areas of improvement in my own writing a lot faster, which, as an English major, are invaluable skills that I have definitely seen work in my favor recently. 

TQ: What motivated you to join The Quadrangle in the first place?

MC: At first, I only joined because it seemed like the best club for an English major to join, and I wanted to practice my writing skills, as mentioned before. But after a while, it became much more than that. I enjoyed being updated on what was going on on campus; it made me feel a lot closer to the Jasper community, and as a freshman, I just really appreciated being able to feel part of something where I was contributing positively to the university, while also actively working to better myself and my future. It has been a very rewarding opportunity, and I find the process in and of itself quite enjoyable. 

TQ: What do you want to see in the Quad’s future?
MC: I hope more people who are passionate about journalism and writing join, so we can uphold the legacy that others created of The Quad as a reliable source of information on campus. I also want it to be even more enjoyable to read; whenever I read an article written by someone who I know put a lot of effort into researching it or who appreciates the topic, I can notice it, and the reading experience becomes a lot better. So for the future, I want the people who join to involve themselves in what we do and put an honest effort, since I think that if the writer truly cares, then the readers will notice it.