by Olivia Young

Two years after Manhattan College was renamed Manhattan University, its street followed suit at a co-naming ceremony Sept. 3 — with one sign that reads “Manhattan College Pkwy,” and another underneath that says “Manhattan University Way.”

Manhattan University first announced the name change in August 2024, saying at the time that it better reflected the school’s more than 100 majors, minors, graduate programs and advanced certificates and degrees. The shift also aimed to attract more students from around the world to “this premiere higher educational institution,” the school said.

Council member Eric Dinowitz, Assembly member Jeffrey Dinowitz, Bronx Community Board 8 members, Manhattan University faculty and students, and neighbors gathered at the intersection of Waldo Avenue and what is now both Manhattan University Way and Manhattan College Parkway to commemorate the moment.

The actual unveiling was thwarted by a snapped rope while the Dinowitzes and university leadership attempted to pull a cover off. But the university’s facilities team was able to finish the job less than an hour later, according to Council member Dinowitz’s office.

Council member Dinowitz told the crowd of about 50 that the university’s history is one rooted in ethics. Founded in Manhattanville in 1853, before moving to Riverdale in 1922, the university teaches according to the Lasallian Catholic tradition, while “evolving to meet the needs of a changing world,” according to its website. Today, Lasallian tradition means inclusivity — the university offers Jummah prayer for Muslim students and transportation to Riverdale synagogues — respect for human dignity, and honesty and moral courage, among other things, according to the site.

The street became Manhattan College Parkway in 1953, renamed from Spuyten Duyvil Parkway in observance of the university’s 100-year anniversary, according to a New York Times article from that year.

Frederick Bonato, president of the university, said the co-naming is different. One street is not being replaced by another, he said. Thousands of people are walking around the city with a Manhattan College degree, and  “they are not former anything,” Bonato said. By the same token, he said, the university has expanded.

“Both those things are true at the same time,” Bonato said. “The street now tells the whole story instead of half of it.”

Co-naming also ensures residents living on that street keep their same addresses, he said.

Bronx Community Board 8 played a small role in the co-naming, said Bob Bender, vice chair of the board. Before it reaches the city council or the mayor, a street change application goes through the community board, which approves or denies it in an advisory capacity.

“There was never any question that we would go along with it,” Bender said about the Manhattan University Way proposal. He said that Manhattan University alumni, faculty and students are part of the fabric of the neighborhood.

He referenced Margaret Groarke, professor of political science at the university for 27 years who lives near the campus. Groarke said she’s watched Manhattan University grow over time. She cited two buildings — the Higgins Engineering and Science Center, which opened in 2021, and the Kelly Student Commons, opened in 2014, according to The Press’ previous reporting — as well as an expanded library and updated facilities.

Manhattan University is located at  4513 Manhattan College Parkway, with a student enrollment of 3,227 — 2,746 of whom are undergraduate students, and 481 of whom are graduate students — according to its website. Its campus spans 23 acres.

Notable alumni include American Express Chairman and CEO Stephen Squeri, author James Patterson, former New York City Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly and former Apple Vice President and Chief Litigation Counsel Noreen Krall, according to the university.

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