Zendrah Bonnick, Asst. News Editor
Over the years, Manhattan University (MU) has gone through numerous changes, altering and modernizing in some areas of campus while still maintaining its more classical brick and mortar buildings.
The Quadrangle spoke to members of the student body about the atmosphere of the university’s physical environment. Students discussed areas on campus that may go overlooked, and the role of nature, specifically flowers, has on the often-stressful university environment.
Max Mayer, a junior political science and criminology double major, told The Quadrangle about how he feels physical maintenance and changes have impacted life on campus.
“Everything was under construction, and just since then, I feel like we’ve been rebuilding and switching to MU,” Mayer said. “I feel like campus life has honestly just become better. I feel like it’s more lively.”
Mia Porritt, a senior and communications major at the university, later told The Quadrangle about her feelings on the campus’s physical appearance.
“ I think it’s really beautiful,” Porritt said. “The quad is always immaculate.”
While being interviewed, Mayer went further in-depth about his experience as an MU campus resident.
ZENDRAH BONNICK / THE QUADRANGLE
“I live in Chrysostom,” Mayer said. “I feel like the gardens outside of the Chrysostom are just so beautiful. And, I mean, it’s kind of like a small little stepway up there, so not a lot of people go up there… that may go unnoticed.”
Krysha Amanda De Guzman, a junior political science and criminology double major,went more in-depth on how strenuous upkeep on a college campus can be.
“Throughout the spring semester as well, as the days have been getting warmer and more students are on the quad, it is clear that many of our maintenance staff are working hard to ensure that the quad and other areas of campus are well kept and maintained clean,” De Guzman said.
Porritt expressed a similar sentiment later during her interview.
“The physical plant, they’re always working so hard,” Porritt said. “We’ll be on the quad, and always see them doing something, always mulching, and I really think that we could take a moment to be gratuitous towards them.”
Porritt went on to discuss the significance the campus’s grassy quad has on socialization on the campus.
“Obviously, having something aesthetic and pleasing to look at is always a nice plus, and I really think that the physical plant, they do a great job with the flowers,” Porritt said.
Porritt also gave a suggestion for the university to pursue flowers more suited for New York’s volatile environment.
“I think it’s very important, and it’s also a great marketing aspect, to show that we have this beautiful place of greenery in a city, where that’s sometimes kind of hard to come across, where it’s so peaceful, and it’s a haven, in a big metropolis,” Porritt said. “I think that we always see students sitting on the steps, on the beautiful benches. That truly does mean a lot to me as a student for my well being and also just a social aspect of campus.
Eleanor Sak, a junior political science major, shared her perspective on watching MU physically transform over the years.
“Coming to MU in 2023, a lot of our campus had scaffolding all over from our church to Thomas Hall,” Sak said.
“As our campus has continued to maintain and update our campus, the beauty that has been in fruition has made campus a place that feels enjoyable and like home,” Sak said. “I think a well designed campus creates a sense of structure and academic support for students and creates a more welcoming environment.”
Later, Amanda De Guzman further empathized with the role maintenance staff and MU physical plant staff have on the campus ground.
“Our maintenance staff has truly been underrepresented and deserves to have light shown on them for all their hard work to keep our campus a happy place for all,” De Guzman said. “Upkeep is truly so significant on our campus as it allows a sense of community and belonging, [like] when we see the beautiful grass on the quad being clean and the flowers around campus that I, as well as many of my friends, stop and take pictures of.”