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November 11, 2020 VOLUME XL, ISSUE 19 Online-Only Edition
Clashes and Celebrations Unfold on NYC Streets
ANDREW BEECHER/THE OBSERVER
New Yorkers celebrate the tentative presidential victory of Joe Biden on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Columbus Circle. The celebration comes after days of marches and protests around the city while the election results were still being counted. By JOE KOTTKE News Editor
Prior to the presidential election on Nov. 3, there were a multitude of possible scenarios. Many Democrats anticipated a landslide victory for President-elect Joe Biden. Simultaneously, the New York Police Department (NYPD) increased its presence and stores boarded up their windows due to the possibility
of civil unrest. When many of the states’ projected results were predicted by news outlets early on the morning of Nov. 4, the “red mirage” of in-person votes favoring President Donald Trump showed him leading in many swing states. Trump’s premature declaration of victory led to turbulent showdowns between protesters and the NYPD later in the week.
Several organizers led protests in the West Village and Union Square on Nov. 4, leading to a collective 60 arrests made by hundreds of armored riot NYPD officers. On Nov. 5, a group called the Stonewall Protests led its 21st march for Black transgender lives in Greenwich Village with the message that Biden and Kamala Harris will not usher in an age of freedom.
Leah Toledano, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’21, began attending the Stonewall Protests in August. They said that last Thursday’s gathering was “undoubtedly one of the largest police presences” they have ever seen for the group. Toledano said that the police were fully armored: “The cops were dressed up in ‘cockroach gear,’ but I think the reason why their presence increases every week is that
more and more folks are showing up,” Toledano said. “And specifically, they are showing up unafraid and undaunted, ready to resist. It is apparent that the cops find this alarming and intimidating, their anxieties grow the more and more this community demands validation and liberation.” Demonstrators were met by hundreds of NYPD
Features
News
Sports & Health
Departments make educating their students about racism mandatory
70-year-old Frank Puppola was a watch engineer at FLC
The importance of moderation during a pandemic
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see ELECTION REACTIONS page 4
Fordham Celebrates Native and Indigenous Peoples’ Month By VICKY CARMENATE Asst. Arts & Culture Editor
For the third year and counting, Fordham has dedicated the month of November to celebrate and learn from the Native and Indigenous populations in the community. Though the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Native & Indigenous Peoples’ Month (NAIPM) Committee numbers are small, the month is full of hybrid and online events for both in-person and online students to attend. Chanelle Dortch, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, and Viviana Vera, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, have been planning events since the summer. The biggest reason the committee comes together every year is because “I want to show that Native is not in the past tense of America — it’s not history, the
culture is alive,” Vera stated. Dortch stressed that the committee has been planning far in advance so that they do not harm anyone both physically and mentally in the process, since there are some sensitive topics covered when speaking about Native and Indigenous history. The group emphasized that at Fordham, the curriculum centered around Native and Indigenous culture is very surface-level. They hope to introduce Fordham students to a more in-depth rundown of their culture and history. “We want to give people resources that they can actually learn from and participate with,” said Dortch. “If we can go deeper and actually get people to understand, we can help the community be better allies as a whole.” see NAIPM page 21
Anti-Racist Initiatives FLC Mourns Employee Quarantine Drinking
Election Week in NYC Opinions
Arts & Culture
Stop shopping solely at the Strand; instead, embrace local bookstores
Celebrating a familial holiday differently and safely
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Shop Indie Bookstores A New Thanksgiving
The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center
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November 11, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Faculty Troubled by University’s Decision to Cut Retirement Contributions
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER
On Oct. 28, the university announced a suspension to its retirement contribution for employees. This was met by immediate backlash from many faculty members who had accepted a salary freeze. By SAMANTHA MATTHEWS and NICOLE PERKINS Features Editors
Building a retirement fund is something everyone is instructed to do from the time they enter the workforce. Constantly, financial advisers will tell people that they can never start saving early enough and that they should look for an employer who will help them build a steady, reliable retirement fund so that when they finally do decide to take the jump, they’ll be set for the rest of their lives. In the past, Fordham has regularly contributed to faculty and administration retirement funds. Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications and special advisor to the president, wrote that the university contributed around $20 million each year for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 and FY 2019. He also stated the university’s contribution was determined by length of employment and union contracts. However, the university announced in an Oct. 28 email that it would be suspending retirement contributions for the foreseeable future. In the email, University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., and Chair of the Fordham Board of Trustees Robert Daleo stated that this suspension would be “effective for the November 6, 2020 payroll and extending
“ This shows me that the Fordham board of trustees sees faculty just like they see students: as spoiled peons they can extract money from. ”
anonymous contributor, @fordhamfacultyspeakout
through June 30, 2021.” This decision was met with immediate backlash from faculty, as they were already enduring a salary freeze they had willingly accepted in order to assist the university with its financial recovery. An Instagram account called @fordhamfacultyspeakout was created on Oct. 27 and has been posting anonymously about these concerns.
Associate professor of philosophy Shiloh Whitney wrote, “We agreed to the salary freeze on the condition that the university administration sign a contractual agreement that they would negotiate with us in good faith about any further changes to our salary and benefits.” Whitney and other faculty members claim that Fordham violated the agreement held by their union and Fordham because it bypassed negotiations altogether and removed retirement
“ In the middle of the
most difficult week of the (most) difficult semester we have ever had, when we are working harder than we ever had in our lives, and faculty are strained to the breaking point ... they broke the contract they made with us. ”
Shiloh Whitney, associate professor of philosophy
contributions anyway. Fordham attributed the move to a $9 million budget gap and argued that the suspension of the retirement plan was done in order to “minimize other actions that could have a more direct effect on the core mission of the University.” Howe further expanded that suspending retirement contributions saves the university $800,000 per pay period, which is roughly $1.6 million per month. “The savings this year won’t equal those amounts because we didn’t suspend a full year of the University’s contribution, only eight months,” he clarified. This news comes amid a semester where the amount of work faculty members are doing to support their students has increased dramatically, with some feeling as though the work they are doing is exacerbated by the lack of respect they're getting from the university. On Oct. 29, one Instagram contributor wrote, “They break their contract with us, walk away from
negotiation, saying they’re taking our money and there’s nothing we can do about it — contracts and universities about shared governance be damned. This shows me that the Fordham board of trustees sees faculty just like they see students: as spoiled peons they can extract money from.” Another post published on the same day echoed this sentiment. “After I have eaten my one meal of the day, I will resume working to prepare for tomorrow’s classes. I will do the same tomorrow, and on the weekends, and every day after that, because I believe in the value of higher education.” The displeasure among faculty is not just limited to social media. Although restricted by their contracts and concerned about the effect of speaking out on their employment opportunities, there is a general agreement that the university did not handle things properly and are turning to the faculty and staff to shoulder an undue financial burden. “In the middle of the most difficult week of the (most) difficult semester we have ever had, when we are working harder than we ever had in our lives, and faculty are strained to the breaking point ... they broke the contract they made with us and violated the statutes and walked out on negotiations,” Whitney stated. The university contended that suspending retirement contributions was the only means of preserving its commitment to avoid layoffs and furloughs; in a follow-up to the first email days later on Nov. 3, McShane stated that “it would be more compassionate to temporarily suspend the retirement match than to introduce University wide layoffs or furloughs at this time” but that the university could not “commit to a set term for repayment of the retirement match, because we don’t know when there will be sufficient funds in the budget to do so.” He also argued that the common suggestions they were receiving — using the contingency fund, committing to a set date to repaying the retirement fund, running a deficit or spending money from the endowment — were all not feasible for the university at this time. Whitney disagreed, stating that the Fordham administration “presented the retirement suspension as a forced choice
between furloughing people and compensating us as our contracts require. But that’s false: there are other available funds, as they’ve acknowledged in negotiations with the faculty.” In their initial email, McShane and Daleo stated, “The Board of Trustees and the administration deeply appreciate the dedication, resilience, and resourcefulness of the faculty, administrators, and staff in serving our students during what we know is a very stressful period.” These professors say that this is the exact opposite of how Fordham is treating its staff. “Fordham has charged students full price for online courses, and faculty have worked extraordinarily hard ... to come through for our students in the online environment, and the result is that the university is not in dire financial straits. So why present the situation as if we are?” asked Whitney. It was also noted that this is not the first time the university has faced financial pitfalls. Howe wrote that during the 2008 recession, salaries and hiring were frozen, but retirement contributions were not as the “pandemic requires significantly greater budget reductions.”
“ So the core issue for
us is about the university breaking its own statutes, breaking its contracts with us, taking advantage of this crisis to act unilaterally and take away faculty's agency, further corporatizing our university. ”
Shiloh Whitney, professor
A faculty member on Instagram explicitly mentioned this, writing, “Never once in all the salary and benefit rollbacks since the 2008 recession has anything they have taken been restored.” Howe noted that the budget gap this year was due to an inability to accurately plan; the
university had initially anticipated a FY 2021 scenario in which there were “overall enrollments of approximately 88% of prior year enrollments,” as well as the prediction that remote learning would only last one semester. This discrepancy led to “significantly less net tuition revenue and room and board revenue.” Fordham usually releases a budget report by this time of the year, but has yet to do so. Faculty members acknowledge the financial setbacks the pandemic has brought — and argue that they’re suffering from them, too — but continue to assert that the suspension of retirement funds with no end date in sight was not a necessary measure. “We know times are tough, and we were prepared to negotiate about that! But the university was not. So the core issue for us is about the university breaking its own statutes, breaking its contracts with us, taking advantage of this crisis to act unilaterally and take away faculty's agency, further corporatizing our university,” Whitney wrote. The bottom line: Faculty feel deeply unappreciated and undercompensated for the work they’re putting in, and to them, the university doesn’t appear to be working to rectify that any time soon. McShane concluded his email with a different message — in his Nov. 3 follow-up, he stated, “We can and will rise to the present challenges ... through our sense of shared purpose, our resilience, and the knowledge we are all shouldering the burden together to help Fordham deliver on its promise of a transformative education for our students.” Whitney disagreed with McShane’s stance. She highlighted her hope in the school — “I still believe that Fordham can be the institution it aspires to be” — but remarked that it would come at a cost. She called for high-effort initiatives to build a Fordham that valued everyone with fair compensation, saying that “it will take leadership at the highest levels that changes course on these issues. ... I would like to see the Board demonstrate that they value the work faculty do and that they respect the mission and integrity of the university, and commit to investing in people and relationships.”
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THE OBSERVER November 11, 2020
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Departments Work Toward an Anti-Racist Future
English and communication and media studies departments plan initiatives to foster inclusivity By ALLIE STOFER Asst. News Editor
After the murder of George Floyd, conversations about racism began to be more widely discussed on campus. Fordham students said that the university’s response lacked concrete action and wanted more than Fordham’s thoughts and prayers. Throughout the summer, some academic departments took it upon themselves to take action. Communication and Media Studies Department The communication and media studies (CMS) department began preparing its anti-racist plan over the summer. Co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and CMS Professor Anirban Baishya explained that there was a large number of faculty in the department who expressed a desire to take action. “We just felt that there was a need to acknowledge and to say something and to take some accountability,” Co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and CMS Professor Jennifer Clark said.
“ One of the biggest
things to me was, can we do this? Is this a feasible plan? We don’t want to promise something we can’t deliver on. That was a constant concern. ”
Jennifer Clark, Co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee
The plan was drafted by volunteers, utilizing information the department had been gathering since earlier this year. They then sent it out for review by the entire department. One of their main concerns while creating the plan was making sure the promises listed were within reason. “One of the biggest things to me was, can we do this? Is this a feasible plan? We don’t want to promise something we can’t de-
liver on. That was a constant concern,” Clark said. The plan states that the department will hold Fordham accountable for the promises it has made in its Addressing Racism and Educating for Justice action plan and will partake in other initiatives from Fordham: “(We) want to make it clear that we support the ASILI statement of demands wholeheartedly.”
“ No university — no
academic department can avoid the fact that these institutions are founded on white supremacist logic. ”
James Kim, Chair of Diversity and Social Justice Committee
In June, ASILI, the Black Student Alliance at Rose Hill, released a list of 11 demands for Fordham to address its anti-Blackness — only three of which have been met by Fordham. The CMS department initiatives address two of the demands from ASILI that Fordham did not meet. The first initiative supports ASILI’s demand to cut ties with Aramark due to its historic connections to prison abuse and racism. Racism within Aramark was recently an issue when in 2019, it served “watermelon water” at New York University during Black History Month. The anti-racist plan states that the department will no longer use Aramark to cater events, and it will promote the use of an ethics board when deciding whom to contract. ASILI has also demanded that Fordham acknowledge and look into Public Safety’s ties with the New York Police Department (NYPD). “We support the call from ASILI ... to acknowledge and assess the university’s relationship with the NYPD and ensure that students and local community members of color are not the subject of racial profiling by public safety officers,” the plan states.
Both Clark and Baishya said that the department used social media to gather feedback from students. Clark explained hearing from all students on Instagram, not just student groups, allowed them to not make assumptions about students' demands. Clark and Baishya emphasized that this plan is not going to be quick or easy as it is not a “BandAid solution.” The plan was created with the knowledge that they wouldn’t be able to get it all done in one year. “This is a realignment of our department, and that is a cultural shift, that’s an economic shift that requires not only our desire, but it requires the support of other participants and other players, including the university itself,” Clark said. English Department Within the English department the Diversity and Social Justice Committee (DSJC) is chaired by Associate Professor of English James Kim. It was first founded as a working group in 2016, but became a permanent part of the department in 2017. “No university — no academic department can avoid the fact that these institutions are founded on white supremacist logic,” Kim said. In the summer of 2020, the DSJC created an anti-racist pedagogy group in response to police brutality against Black people. “We just did a bunch of readings on what it means to create an anti-racist class, not just in terms of the content that gets taught, but also the way in which courses are administered,” Kim said. The English department released a statement regarding how it will address racism within itself, echoing the initiative from the CMS department. “Our abhorrence of the ongoing violence against Black, Indigeneous, and other people of color obliges us to take account of, and take responsibility for, our own cultural and institutional roles in perpetuating white supremacy,” the statement reads. The statement went on to say that DSJC will spend the next 12 months examining the department, followed by the release of a second plan in October 2021.
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
The English department founded the DSJC in 2016 and will now begin editing its syllabi and working toward accountability.
“We're interested in the histories of the department, the numbers, what do our students look like, what kinds of students are we attracting,” Kim said. “We’re also interested in scrutinizing our syllabi and reimagining our syllabi where necessary.” One action previously taken was requiring a “Race and Social Justice” course for all English majors, along with a “Difference and Intersectionality” course for English graduate students. Beginning in November, the English department will also be having its composition classes examined by two outside consultants. “They’re going to give us a report on the best practices at other universities and a significant arm of that study ... is how do we teach composition I and II in a way that doesn’t support white supremacy,” English department Chair Mary Bly said. She further revealed that since all students are required to take a composition class, it is an important starting point. The department is also focused on creating opportunities for faculty to learn about racial justice, including staging an accountability group. When the plan was published, the department had submitted a grant proposal for a Teaching Race Across the Curriculum program, which
was later approved by the Office of Diversity and Equity. “We were given $30,000 by Fordham in order to institutionalize a year long colloquium on teaching racial justice that’s going to give all of our faculty training and anti-racist pedagogy,” Bly revealed. The English department is also looking forward to its Bridge Program, which allows students from Bronx community colleges to join the English department. Students will take a class in the summer and receive support from faculty before fully joining the program in the fall. “We understand too that this work is neither easily nor quickly done. With this statement, the Fordham University English Department publicly commits to seeing it through,” the statement ends. It also outlines that the next steps will involve deeply looking at the department and their practices. The English and CMS departments are leading the way for other departments to released their own anti-racist plans in the future. “Diversity work doesn’t have a finish line,” Baishya said. “So in some ways, we should have to continuously go back and revise what we’ve done.”
CPS Holds Election Week Safe Spaces for Stressed Students By STEPHEN BRAGALE Staff Writer
Over two-thirds of Americans said that this year’s election was a significant source of stress in their life, according to an American Psychological Association survey. In response to this wave of anxiety, Fordham University’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) held online support groups for students to process and discuss election-related stress. An Oct. 26 post on the CPS Instagram page announced several Zoom meetings before and after the election, offering “Election and Sociopolitical Support Spaces.” Most of the meetings occurred as votes were counted between Election Day on Nov. 3 and the announcement of Joe Biden’s projected victory on Nov. 7. Jeffrey Ng, director of CPS, saw the meetings as an opportunity for students of all political backgrounds to come together. “Our hope was that these pre and post election spaces would offer students the opportunity to support and be in solidarity with each other regardless of their political stance or perspectives,” he said.
COURTESY OF FCLC JUNIOR CLASS DEANS
The university's Counseling and Psychological Services held online discussion groups to help students with election-related anxiety and stress.
Ng said that students’ responses to this year’s election were different from 2016. “In 2016, most students seemed shocked by the election results and experienced it as an invalidation and threat to their identities,” he said. “It seemed like most students this year were anxiously optimistic/hopeful about the election and
expressed relief about the results.” Hannah Kang, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, said that she attended one of the CPS meetings on Thursday, Nov. 5. By that point, President-elect Joe Biden had established a lead over President Donald Trump. “It was very cathartic hearing everyone's concerns and fears regard-
ing the outcome of the election,” Kang said. “You would think that Zoom would sort of dull the vulnerability and emotional experience, but this really wasn’t the case.” It’s been a busy year for CPS. In addition to offering services around Election Day, CPS has also helped students deal with additional stress related to COVID-19 and racial injustice. Kang said that these issues were addressed in her post-election meeting as well. “There is a collective trauma from the first hit of COVID-19 that has hurt so many students and families,” she said. “There’s an even longer span of trauma from the police brutality and disregarded racial hate crimes faced over the past few decades. I related to a lot of the other students, and I learned so many new perspectives that haven’t even crossed my mind. I left feeling reassured that I wasn't paranoid about these anxieties.” Frankie Osso, FCLC ’22, is a Wellness and Outreach Intern at CPS. He said that the support meetings “seemed incredibly effective in allowing people to share their personal attachment to this election, to open up their fears that may come with it, and to be vulnerable among their peers. Vulnerability is
strength in my eyes, especially in a time like this.” Osso said that turnout was lighter than expected. “We were unsure of the turnout of our spaces because of the unpredictable nature of the election,” he said. “Nevertheless, we wanted to provide a place for students regardless of political affiliations, who might be experiencing significant stress due to the results of the election.” However, the election of Biden hasn’t eliminated all of students’ concerns. When asked how she felt about Biden’s victory, Kang said she wasn’t quite relieved. Biden’s “presidency may help us combat a few key issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, but the reality is we have such a divided nation that this was never and isn’t going to be a ‘peaceful’ transition,” she said. “Even when it feels like it’s over, it’s not over.” Kang sees the need for political activism that goes beyond Election Day: “There’s so much more work to be done within grassroots organizations and local communities that can't wait for this election, so regardless we can’t pat ourselves on the back and call it a day once January comes. There is still so much work to do.”
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November 11, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Protests and Parties Mark Mixed Reactions to Election Results ELECTION REACTIONS from page 1
officers in armor and mounted on bicycles. The officers kettled the protesters, a tactic used by police to entrap groups into a confined space to make arrests or disperse crowds, which led to 19 arrests. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio did not acknowledge cases of police brutality, stating that the arrests were justified by protester wrongdoing. De Blasio also said he condemns police kettling tactics. “The presence of the police was very clearly aggressive and oppressive from the outset,” Lila Holley, FCLC ’23, said. “It was clear they were waiting for the perfect moment to surround us and make violent arrests. even as we split apart to follow their rules, they came up the streets around us to keep a barrier around us.”
Holley said that there were more officers than protesters present. “I thought it was unnecessary and that their fear tactics are fundamentally opposing the idea of free assembly and free speech.”
“ They treated Biden
winning as an end result and not the first step to completely changing how America functions. ”
Adah Unachukwu, FCLC ’23
The climate of New York City quickly changed on Saturday morning, Nov. 7, when the Associated Press declared Biden the winner of the election at 11:25
a.m. EST. The city transformed into a celebration. Car horns and shouts filled the streets, parks played host to celebrations with champagne, and people gathered outside Trump Tower to dance and chant. Maddie Hilf, FCLC ’22, was with her roommates in McMahon Hall when she found out that Biden was projected to win. “We opened the window and heard cheering, banging pots and car horns honking,” she said. “At that moment, I felt really lucky and proud to be in New York. It felt like a collective sigh of relief.” She went to Trump International Hotel and Tower at Columbus Circle, where she said there was a sense of community, solidarity and joy. “It felt special and historic.” “When I went outside to the front of the Trump Towers, I saw people of all ages and races
ANDREW BEECHER/THE OBSERVER
Citizens flooded Columbus Circle outside Trump International Hotel by the Fordham Lincoln Center campus. Police presence was high in the days before the election, but enforcement decreased after the results were announced.
LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER
Washington Square Park was another center of celebration. One student said, “There were people playing in the fountain, drinking champagne and dancing.”
celebrating the removal of a racist, facist president,” Adah Unachukwu, FCLC ’23, said. Unachukwu also went to Washington Square Park to join a march, but she couldn’t locate the organizers because of how many people were swarming the park in celebration. “There were people playing in the fountain, drinking champagne and dancing. For the marches I have seen and/or participated in, I have never seen that kind of turnout.” The scenes of celebration from Saturday contrasted what the city looked like only days before. Union Square Park, where mass arrests took place on Wednesday, became a hub of celebration and singing. The West Village, where trash cans were ablaze earlier in the week, buzzed with people celebrating Biden’s victory over brunch and massive gatherings of Biden’s supporters. “If we had a fraction of that energy and enthusiasm at our weekly protests, I think the cops would be forced to take a step back,”
Toledano said. “If white liberals channeled that energy towards abolition and the liberation of Black and Brown queer and trans folks, where could we be?” Hilf said she hopes people don’t get complacent after Biden’s win: “I am glad the city took a day to celebrate the end to the long nightmare that was Trump, as it was a long time coming and much deserved, and the unity felt quite significant, but Biden is not the end all be all and Trump was not random, so we can’t get comfortable.” Following the citywide celebrations that went well into the night, hot spots like Washington Square Park were left littered with trash, though groups collaborated the following morning for a clean-up action. “They treated Biden winning as an end result and not the first step to completely changing how America functions,” Unachukwu said. “I am happy that people were able to celebrate, but I wish that they understood that this isn’t the end.”
Frank Puppola, Fordham Watch Engineer, Dies at 70 Years Old By MICHELLE AGARON Asst. News Editor
Francis “Frank” Puppola, a watch engineer at Fordham Lincoln Center who was known for his humor and selfless nature, died suddenly at his work station in the Leon Lowenstein Center on Oct. 28. The cause of death was a heart attack, according to his family. He was 70 years old. Fordham News reported that Puppola did not seem unwell before he started his eight-hour shift, even speaking to a colleague a few hours before he passed.
“ He would help anyone who asked him, and help them anytime or anywhere. He did so much for us. ”
Lizabeth Puppola, Frank Puppola’s wife
Despite this, paramedics declared him dead at the scene. Lizabeth Puppola, Frank Puppola’s wife, mentioned that her husband contracted COVID-19 in March, which the medical examiner believed to have played a role in his sudden heart attack. A native New Yorker, Frank Puppola was born on March 30, 1950, and raised in the borough of Queens. He served as a private first class in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War and was stationed
in Thailand from 1969 to 1972. Although the Puppolas attended Queens College at the same time, they officially met for the first time while working at AT&T. After dating for some time, the couple got married and moved to Chelsea, where Lizabeth Puppola had grown up. In the years that followed, she gave birth to their sons, Peter and Phillip. Given their proximity to the Lincoln Center campus, Lizabeth Puppola attended the Fordham Graduate School of Social Service, which she graduated from in 2017. While the two differed in their religious beliefs, Frank Puppola swore before a priest that he would raise their sons Catholic because he knew it was important to his wife as a practicing Catholic. “If he saw a woman struggling with packages, he’d say to our boys, ‘What would Jesus do?’ and they’d go over and help her out. Everyone always complimented us on them,” Lizabeth Puppola told Fordham News. “He would help anyone who asked him, and help them anytime or anywhere. He did so much for us.” Not only was he a caring figure in the lives of his family members, but colleagues at Fordham recalled the compassion he exhibited for younger employees within his department, as well as for students at Fordham. “He was always generous ... and very caring about all the other guys, especially the younger guys; when they had children, he’d be the first one with a gift,” said John Mc-
Donagh, director of facilities operation at Lincoln Center. “And he cared for the University; he always made sure the lights were on and that the kids living in the dorms were comfortable. He really felt for the kids.” Looking back on his early days as an overnight engineer at Fordham, Julio Garcia recalled Frank Puppola’s willingness to extend his aid and expertise even beyond his regular work hours. He would call Garcia in the middle of the night to ascertain that nothing was out of order and to see if he could offer any help. He would do the same for any new engineers in the department. University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., affirmed this sentiment, describing him as a “genial and always helpful presence” who worked hard behind the scenes to ensure that the Lincoln Center campus was running smoothly. Beyond his work ethic and dependability, Puppola had a comedic reputation and was constantly entertaining his colleagues with corny jokes. Both Garcia and Patrick Howe, a fellow watch engineer, noted that Frank Puppola had a joke to tell every day. Regardless of whether the joke was good, he would deliver it with the hopes of giving his colleagues a laugh. “The best part about working with Frank was spending time with someone who was a friend first and a coworker second,” Howe said. “He always had a new joke with a smile and a giant heart to match.”
COURTESY OF THE PUPPOLA FAMILY
Frank Puppola, a Vietnam War veteran, worked at Fordham for 16 years as a watch engineer. He was always very compassionate and generous to his family, colleagues and students.
Frank Puppola is survived by his wife, Lizabeth Puppola, and their sons, Peter and Phillip Puppola. A visitation was held for Frank Puppola on Nov. 7 between 12 and 2 p.m. at Redden’s
Funeral Home. Guests were required to wear face masks and practice proper social distancing. Only 30 guests were allowed to be in the building at the same time.
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THE OBSERVER November 11, 2020
International Students Seek Affordable Care
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Fordham held a town hall to find a compromise between inexpensive health care and quality coverage By KATRINA LAMBERT News Editor
When many international students were denied the option to use their own health insurance at the start of the semester, 48 of the affected international students signed a petition that was emailed to the Fordham administration on Sept. 3. After two months of waiting, a town hall was held on Wednesday, Nov. 4, to clarify and resolve the issue. “I think we made a good achievement in the town hall,” said Levy Li, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) at Rose Hill ’21 and an international student from China. Li, along with a few other international students, had been emailing the university about the issue since September. Fordham updated its health insurance criteria during the spring 2020 semester, now requiring that international students have an Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant alternative health care plan to waive the university health insurance, Aetna.
Even if the plan is based in the U.S., if the company is financed overseas it will not be subject to state insurance laws that protect the consumer within that state. Li said that many students raised their concerns at the town hall about the ACA compliance restriction and that the university seemed open to reforming its current guidelines. The ACA compliance requirement is intended to guarantee that any alternative plans international students purchase will cover preexisting conditions, prevent unreasonable rate increases, have no monetary limits on medical care and cover a number of prescription pharmaceuticals. According to Gregory Pappas, assistant vice president of student affairs, these guidelines are the “gold standard” colleges use to evaluate health care. Fordham decided to adopt these standards to apply to international students last year after discovering that many foreign insurance plans do not guarantee coverage for COVID-19. Even if the plan is based in the U.S., if the company is financed overseas, it will not be subject to state insurance laws that protect the consumer within that state. Conflict arose when many international students purchased a foreign plan, UnitedHealthcare, through a broker. Even though the company is U.S.-based, it is financed internationally, and therefore students covered by this foreign plan will not be subject to the same changes and regulations afforded by the ACA. International students at the town hall seemed to understand this reasoning behind the change; however, they were unhappy with their limited options for affordable premiums if they are required to purchase an alternative domestic plan or Aetna. Pappas addressed students’ concerns about unaffordable domestic plans, stating, “we have many international students that do not buy the Fordham plan — we do accept other domestic plans that are much more affordable, and actually some of the students on the call have actually bought those plans already.”
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
A health insurance card sticks out of a student’s wallet. Fordham requires all students to have health insurance, but some international plans are not allowed after policy changes made last semester.
U.S. domestic health care plans generally have much higher premiums than foreign plans because of greater coverage and highly paid specialists and doctors. UnitedHealthcare offers domestic plans as well, but depending on the student’s income, they may not be eligible for an ACA-subsidized plan. This could make purchasing a domestic plan more expensive than Aetna, which includes a $150 administrative fee to Fordham. Another option for international students instead of the domestic plans or Aetna is to opt into New York state insurance plans, such as NYC Care, Essential Plan or Marketplace plans, which have littleto-no cost. Choosing these plans, however, can have consequences, such as affecting international students’ future visa statuses, Li said.
A resident who receives public benefits, such as enrolling in state-issued health care, “is generally inadmissible to the United States and ineligible to become a lawful permanent resident,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A revision to the ACA under the Trump administration states that a resident who receives public benefits, such as enrolling in state-issued health care, “is generally inadmissible to the United States and ineligible to become a lawful permanent resident,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Zifan Li, GSAS ’21 and an international student from China who coordinated the town hall, said that he thinks there is more work to be done on resolving the issue, but that a lot of progress has been made at the town hall. Fordham representatives “agreed to seek a better option with us in the future and they said they are open and welcome any opinions and ideas,” he said. The representatives and students decided that the next step will be to design a survey issued to all
GRAPHIC BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER
the international students at Fordham composed of specific questions, including whether having to abide by ACA guidelines instead of ACA compliance is preferred, whether students have found Aetna beneficial and if they have felt burdened by medical costs. Zifan Li said that he plans to design the survey with the help of other international students, and the university will be in charge of distribution. While Fordham does not require its international students to purchase the university-issued plan, Pappas said that some colleges do require this because it allows the university to monitor the plan and actually lowers the premium. By increasing participation level, “they can have a very robust benefit-offering and a low premium rate,” he said. Pappas suggested adding mandatory participation on the school plan to the survey as well because it may solve the issue of high premiums for complete care. On behalf of other international students, Levy Li said that he believes removing the ACA compliance requirement is still negotiable with the university and it will better serve international students to choose their preferred health insurance plan. Yet, Pappas regards the foreign plans as too risky to allow students to be covered under, even if the benefits offered are comparable and it meets the ACA criteria.
“It’s not a domestic plan, so we don’t even know if that company is going to be around a year from now,” he said. “If it’s not a domestic plan, it is not subject to state insurance department laws and related oversight that protect the consumer. Students have to carefully read the fine print even with domestic plans to insure appropriate coverage.”
Most international students struggle with finances because the total financial package of attending U.S. universities includes plane tickets, visa fees and international student add-on fees in addition to their general enrollment costs By requiring that a company is subject to ACA rules and guidelines, the university aims to prevent students from having to pay out-of-pocket after having a health emergency if the company doesn’t cover something specific or changes its guidelines. “The main reason students can’t maintain enrollment is because of finances, and the main reason that
people have difficulty with finances is because of a health issue or an inappropriate insurance — we know that statistically,” Pappas said. It is true that, statistically, the U.S. has more cases of bankruptcies due to medical bills compared to other countries because of its health care system. It is also true that international students generally list finances as the main reason for not continuing with education. However, most international students struggle with finances because the total financial package of attending U.S. universities includes plane tickets, visa fees and international student add-on fees in addition to their general enrollment costs. Additionally, international students do not receive federal aid and have proportionally lower financial aid to their total cost of admission than domestic students. Levy Li felt that the town hall met his expectations and that there was a general consensus that both the administration and students would continue to work toward a compromise. He said that there will be future meetings held, especially since only about 10 international students were able to attend. Going forward, Levy Li emphasized the need for the town hall to be held on a weekend and during the evening since many students are dealing with time-zone differences and work schedules.
Sports & Health
Sports & Health Editors Aiza Bhuiyan - ebhuiyan@fordham.edu Patrick Moquin - pmoquin@fordham.edu November 11, 2020
THE OBSERVER
Coronavirus and Counting Sheep: How the Pandemic Is Affecting Your Sleep
By AIZA BHUIYAN Sports & Health Editor
Over the course of nine months, the pandemic has caused college students across the nation to toss and turn in their sleep. Students forced into quarantine have had to adopt new schedules and minimize their outdoor activities. Since human bodies and brains depend on consistency, experts say that any disruption to one’s routine can lead to poor sleeping patterns. The human body has a biological clock that regulates one’s circadian rhythm, an internal process that rotates the 24-hour sleep-wake cycle of individuals. If a student is staying up more during the night and sleeping more in the daytime, their melatonin levels can fluctuate. Melatonin is the sleep-inducing hormone that can only be produced under dark-light conditions which occur between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. If a person does not sleep during this period, their body could inhibit the production of melatonin because individuals are likely to be exposed to light at other times. Students are also increasing their screen time as a result of the pandemic. More exposure to the blue light from phones, tablets and laptops can also lead to the suppression of melatonin secretion. Anoosh Kouyoumdjian, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, believes that her blue light consumption is due to an increased virtual workload, which further impairs her sleep schedule. She stated that it made
her sleep cycle “more erratic.” “Especially on days I don’t have class or meetings, it takes a lot of discipline to make sure I get up and get my day going,” Kouyoumdjian said. “I think my sleep cycle got in the way of my school performance in the beginning, but now I try to stay on track and allow myself to get at least seven hours of sleep.” A study from the journal of Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment found that sleep problems and disorders can negatively impact college students’ academic performances. The study stated that 31% of students were prone to morning fatigue. These researchers also found that 60% of college students had poor sleeping habits, while 7.7% of these students met the criteria for insomnia. Additionally, people who did not have effective sleeping patterns had reduced daytime functioning and often had lower GPAs. “The quality of my sleep does affect my productivity,” Loli Alvarez, FCLC ’21, said. “Between classes, senior thesis, grad school applications and work I am always busy, so there never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done. Despite hitting the deadlines for class work I still feel behind.” Current Biology reported in a study that even though some people may be sleeping more as a result of quarantine, the quality of their sleep has declined. Jasmine Petrov, FCLC ’22, stated that even though she is getting more sleep on average because
she no longer has to commute, she has decreased energy levels. “I have naturally gotten less energy throughout the day overtime and thus am a little more sluggish and more prone to doing all of my work late at night,” Petrov said. Students with poor sleeping schedules can develop mental health problems or become more prone to poor immunity. Sleep deprivation can coincide with depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue and a lower quality of life as a result. Irregular sleep cycles can lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity as well as higher risks of diabetes and obesity. With a looming second wave, individuals must strengthen their immunity since underlying medical conditions can make one more susceptible to severe cases of COVID-19. Sleeping well is essential to building your immunity. Although regular sleeping patterns have become yet another casualty of the COVID-19 crisis, there are some ways to improve the quality of your slumber. During the pandemic, there has been an increasing trend in alcohol consumption. An article published by UC Davis Health suggests that having an extra glass of wine can augment sleep issues. Instead, they recommend decreasing one’s dependence on alcohol and caffeine. Furthermore, UC Davis Health encouraged creating a normal daily routine and avoiding naps throughout the day. Students can also regulate their sleep cycle by reducing their screen time at night and exercising regularly.
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Disruptions to daily routines due to the pandemic and quarantining this year have thrown off many students’ sleep schedules.
The pandemic has disrupted the sleep-wake cycles of many college students. However, to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is crucial for young adults to get a restful seven
to eight hours of sleep. Establishing a daily routine will not only improve the health of college students, but may also positively impact their academic performance.
You Booze, You Lose: Why Alcohol Shouldn’t Be Your Only Pandemic Coping Strategy By LUKE OSBORN Sports & Health Editor Emeritus
In response to the pandemic, many of us have changed our habits to fit life under quarantine. Some of these, such as how much Americans drink alcohol, are changing for the worse. In these highly anxiety-inducing times, it’s natural for individuals to form new coping mechanisms, but drowning your stir-craziness in alcohol may do more harm than good. A survey recently published in the Journal of the American
Medical Association indicated an increase of alcohol consumption among adults. In particular, three out of four American adults consumed alcohol one more day per month on average when compared to 2019 data. The results of the survey also noted an increase in heavy alcohol consumption. The researchers ran this survey in response to the increase in alcohol sales following the pandemic: Compared to one year prior, sales of alcohol were 54% higher the week of March
21. In 2020, online alcohol sales have jumped 262% compared to 2019. Though this article does not focus on college-aged students, the risk of increased alcohol consumption can’t be discounted for the student population. A 2018 national survey of college students found that 54.9% of fulltime undergraduates aged 18 to 22 drank in the month leading up to the survey. The survey also reported that 36.9% of college students engaged in binge drinking — consuming more
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
A recent survey revealed an increase in alcohol consumption among adults between 2019 and 2020. Due to the potentially adverse health effects of heavy drinking, other coping mechanisms may be a better option.
than five drinks in one sitting. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) issued a warning for the parents of college students in August 2020 before the start of the new semester. “Certain aspects of college life, such as unstructured time, the widespread availability of alcohol, inconsistent enforcement of underage drinking laws, and limited interactions with parents and other adults, can intensify the problem,” the NIAAA said. On top of these circumstances, lockdown conditions can heighten the urge to drink, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). If you usually have alcohol in your home, it may become tempting to drink at times you typically wouldn’t. The WHO highly advises against drinking during your workday, and the same advice can be extended to college students during the school day. In addition to curbing the urge to drink during the day, the WHO recommends against stockpiling alcohol. Having access to large amounts of alcohol may make it easier to binge drink. The most updated U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that women should only have one drink per day, and men should consume no more than two drinks per day, so keep this recommendation in mind when you purchase alcohol. Though the urge to drink might be on the rise, the health hazards associated with drinking outweigh its benefits. Moreover,
two negative health outcomes associated with drinking might be especially detrimental during the pandemic: The WHO states that alcohol can weaken the immune system and impair decision-making. Protecting yourself from COVID-19 requires being vigilant and adhering to social distancing measures. The NIAAA noted that when under the influence of alcohol, you might let your COVID-19 guard down, which can lead to contracting the virus yourself or spreading it to others. The WHO also states that you shouldn’t ignore alcohol’s negative effect on the immune system. In place of using alcohol to cope, the WHO recommends exercising, which can have a positive impact on your immune system. Since drinking alcohol is not the best way to cope with anxiety arising from the pandemic, explore healthier coping mechanisms like journaling or meditating. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also enumerated general guidelines for dealing with stress in a healthy way. They recommend taking care of yourself by eating well, getting enough sleep and ensuring adequate exercise. Of course, it’s possible to drink in a way that won’t negatively impact your health. What’s more, drinking within the guidelines of the NIAAA might be a welcome stress reliever at the end of a difficult day, but it’s very important to ensure that drinking, even if you’re doing it in moderation, is not your only coping strategy.
www.fordhamobserver.com
By KATRINA MANANSALA Staff Writer
THE OBSERVER November 11, 2020
Sports & Health
Beau, Bella, Bellissimo: The Beauty and Benefits of Bilingualism
Although the pandemic has prohibited us from traveling internationally for the foreseeable future, we can still learn about foreign cultures by learning new languages. Bilingualism is a highly appraised skill throughout various fields of work and study. It is much easier to learn a second language as a child because the brain is more flexible in terms of cognitive development. However, it is not impossible to learn a new language later in life. It is even quite beneficial for the young adult brain in terms of improving concentration, response time to stimuli and overall cognitive function efficiency. The Benefits of Bilingualism Substantial data from a 2017 article written by Canadian psychologist Ellen Bialystok concludes that bilingual adults have better overall executive performance, and higher attention spans and concentration levels than their monolingual peers. One study found that “Bilinguals could more efficiently shift attention between dimensions to select the correct response” when presented with multiple tasks to complete. The particular function studied is known as “task switching,” which is the unconscious abil-
ity to “shift attention between one task and another.” When strengthened, this function enables faster and more efficient adaptation to various situations. Another study from 2008 found that response times were faster among bilingual individuals because the brain is more adapted to changing back and forth between languages. This is also due in part to the brain’s ability to task-switch. The ability to formulate quick responses is an important skill, especially since employers often value workers who are able to communicate with a variety of people. Knowing a second language can also protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. The skills required to learn multiple languages enable the brain to function better than a monolinguistic brain both before and after developing a neurodegenerative disease. Although there is no cure for such diseases, having strong cognitive function is a good way to promote one’s health for as long as possible. Learning a New Language in a Pandemic While social distancing guidelines and quarantine protocols mean that learning from locals is impossible, there are still lots of resources one can use. A New York Times article offers several options for language
learning, including apps like Duolingo and Babbel, podcasts like Coffee Break, YouTube videos, and TED Talks. The article also suggests that people try the digital newsstand PressReader or the free e-book library Project Gutenberg to practice reading. Watching foreign films and television and listening to foreign radio are also recommended. Using dating apps like Tinder and Bumble to match with people around the world can be a fun way to improve both f lirting and language techniques. Meanwhile, Rosetta Stone and Pimsleur are also known as effective language learning programs. Some of these options require payments for complete program access, such as Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Babbel and PressReader. Viewing foreign films often requires a subscription to a streaming site like Netf lix, Amazon Prime, Hulu or HBOMax. Duolingo, YouTube, TED Talks and Project Gutenberg, on the other hand, are all free to the public. Coffee Break is also free, but for those who enjoy the podcast and want to take more advanced courses, there is also Coffee Break Academy available for a fee. Most Fordham students are required to study a foreign language up to a 2001 or “exit level” course, depending on major requirements and place-
ments made by the department of modern languages or classics department. While it may seem tedious and time-consuming, the skills and knowledge gained from learning foreign languages can prove beneficial in the long run. Not only is brain function strengthened, but the ability to find new opportunities also increases. Knowing more than one language enables us to connect with more people outside of our immediate circles. Within the
five boroughs of New York City, we are surrounded by hundreds of different languages, and through distance learning, we are connected to our peers from around the world. You don’t have to meet people in person in order to connect with them. In a world where social distancing is becoming a norm, communication is more important than ever, and we can further bridge the connection gap by learning new languages.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CLEO PAPADOPOULOS /THE OBSERVER
Fordham Professor on the Front Lines of HIV Research
By ANUSHA IMRAN Contributing Writer
The idea of research sparks the synapses in the brain of every science-inclined student, causing millions of neurons to formulate a desire to make a difference. Imagine being a part of initiatives that use pathology — the study of diseases — to trace effects on the nervous system. Christopher Woldstad, Ph.D., an adjunct professor in the Fordham College at Lincoln Center natural sciences department, has had a fascinating education and research journey. Woldstad completed his undergraduate degree at the Uni-
versity of Texas at Austin, where he majored in neurobiology. He then pursued a Ph.D. in pharmacology and experimental neuroscience at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is currently doing post-doctoral training at the Weill Cornell Brain Health Imaging Institute (BHII), where he focuses on studying brain changes due to conditions like hypertension and traumatic brain injuries through the use of neuroimaging. He looks at the relationships between the occurrence of white matter lesions with hypertension. The adverse effects of high blood pressure on the brain are quantified and categorized by mea-
COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER WOLDSTAD
Christopher Woldstad is an adjunct professor at Fordham College at Lincoln Center who is currently studying the brain using neuroimaging at the Weill Cornell Brain Health Imaging Institute.
suring how well the brain works with any impact on the cerebral blood flow. Woldstad values incorporating new ideas and working with experts in different fields to put together cutting-edge research projects. His advice for new researchers and undergraduates exploring their interests in academia is to “be a pleasure to work with, communicate well and be open to constructive feedback; you will see how remarkably far you can go.” As a Ph.D. student at the University of Nebraska, he sampled a variety of lab courses in the first few months of his education in order to figure out his desired focus for the rest of his journey. Woldstad chose a lab that used theranostics and imaging to look at HIV antiretroviral drug therapy (ART) concentrations. Theranostics is derived from two words — therapeutics and diagnostics — to diagnose and deliver personalized radioactive drug therapy to patients. The lab’s primary goal was to examine the different types of antiretroviral drugs that people with HIV take to figure out how to make them last longer, resulting in increased compliance rate — long-acting, slow, effective-release antiretroviral therapy. It is one of the best HIV labs in the country and uses polymer chemistry and chemical engineering to package the drugs differently to make them last for months in a person’s system rather than just a few days. Compliance and consistently taking medications crucially benefits one’s outcome. HIV patients have to take their medications every day, constantly reminding them of their condition and affecting their mental and emotional health.
7
The lack of education and awareness around this condition also plays a part in the lack of compliance and treatment. Thus, making drugs that last longer and only require consumption once a month is a big step in pharmacology and in the lives of patients. Woldstad investigated the pharmacokinetics — how the body processes the drug — and dynamics of ART drugs using a pilot theranostics nanoparticle system to track its movement within the body. His job was to use MRI and magnetic nanoparticles to expedite the pharmacokinetic data in order to investigate the difference in concentrations after time elapse. He would insert the various ART drugs into this nanoparticle theranostics system. A nanoparticle is about 200250 nanometers in diameter and encompasses diagnostic and therapeutic components. This meant that the nanoparticles had both the ART drug and paramagnetic iron ferrite nanoparticles that could be visualized and quantified on MRI. The point was to do pharmacokinetic research using MRI systems to get an idea of the drug’s journey to see what the three to six month data looked like based on two to three weeks of data. Injecting the nanoparticles into mice and scanning their kidneys, liver and spleen at different intervals helped Woldstad quantify the ART drug level in live mice. MRI was used to detect the drug concentrations until the particles were flushed out of the system, which is impossible to do by sacrificing the animal, thus helping expedite the data process. Woldstad’s second project addressed a significant prob-
lem: understanding why about one half to two-thirds of the patients who take the ART drugs develop HIV-caused neurocognitive disorders. One of the most recent hypotheses stated that ART drug therapy itself causes toxicity in the brain, not HIV or inflammatory cascade, suggesting that the drugs themselves are seeping into the brain. To test this hypothesis, he injected ART drugs into mice and waited for them to reach the brain, which took about a week. Then, using a focused beam microwave irradiation machine (FBMI), he compared the control subjects with the mice given ART drugs to see the over- or under-expressed metabolism in the brain. The FBMI machine helped researchers get the right biochemical data without compromising the brain’s chemical anatomy due to the animal’s euthanization. The heated microwaves denatured the brain’s enzymes that would cause the metabolic changes following the death of the mice. Woldstad then cut sections of the cerebellum, frontal cortex, ventricle cortex and hippocampus to study them under a microscope, a difficult task, since the brain is about the size of a thumbnail. They found that a specific drug, Dolutegravir, passed through the blood-brain barrier, which surrounds the brain and prevents most harmful agents in the blood from crossing into it. However, Dolutegravir was able to pass through and caused oxidative metabolic stress to the brain when this occurred. Woldstad hopes to continue his research when things get back to normal, as having human subjects in the lab right now is difficult due to the pandemic.
8
Sports & Health
November 11, 2020 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
Mental Health and School Counseling Programs Project Greater Enrollment
Programs struggle to keep up with increased demand and awareness for mental health services Mental Health Occupations Psychologist
Percentage of Growth
-7.7 % 31.5 %
Psychiatrist 7.4 %
School & Career Counselor
15.9 %
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselor 11.4 %
Mental Rehabilitation Counselor
13.9%
Marriage and Family Therapist
18.8%
Social Worker -10
-5
05
10
15
20
25
30
35
Average National Annual Salary SOURCE: US NEWS GRAPHS BY PAMELA PAJARES/THE OBSERVER
By GUS DUPREE Asst. Sports & Health Editor
The year of 2020 has been predominantly defined by its many changes and disruptions. Recent events in 2020 have prompted an increased demand for mental health services across all disciplines — and graduate programs are struggling to keep up. The COVID-19 pandemic forced people to socially isolate at home and fear for themselves and their loved ones. The killing of George Floyd sparked a nationwide movement against police brutality and the 2020 election was strikingly divisive.
“ Look at what’s
happening: the pandemic, racial tensions, political tension, trying to do school on Zoom — the amount of stress and adjustment is just overwhelming. ” Joseph Ponterotto, professor in the Graduate School of Education’s mental health counseling program
All of these events have had tremendous impacts on people of all ages and backgrounds, from kindergarteners all the way to college students. It is no surprise that the demand for mental health counseling has dramatically increased over the course of the year, and graduate programs that provide students with the credentials to
effectively counsel and better the wellbeing of their clients have recognized the growing need for licensed practitioners.
“ Everybody benefits
when mental health services are embedded within the system.” Joseph Ponterotto, professor in the GSE
Mental health counseling and school counseling are two similar yet very distinct professions within the field of psychology. Joseph Ponterotto, professor in the Graduate School of Education (GSE)’s mental health counseling program, explained that school psychologists and counselors are solely accredited to work with students in school settings, while mental health counselors are authorized to practice clinical therapy in any field. For example, a school may employ a school psychologist to administer mental aptitude tests and tailor special needs programs to students, while mental health counselors would interact directly with students. Ponterotto described how licensed mental health counselors are in demand now more than ever, citing the turbulent year of 2020 as the main culprit for many people’s stress. “Look at what’s happening: the pandemic, racial tensions, political tension, trying to do school on Zoom — the amount of stress and adjustment is just overwhelming.” The changes wrought upon people’s everyday
lives has created what Ponterotto called “a perfect storm of stress.” From worrying over the future of the nation, to lifestyle changes like social distancing and staying at home while juggling school, work and family obligations, Ponterotto explained how many people could benefit from speaking to a mental health professional and learn how to better cope with stress while improving their mental well-being. The increased demand for licensed mental health practitioners has been recognized by university graduate programs, including Fordham. A recent financial forecast projected “huge growth” by 2028, with universities like Fordham standing to greatly benefit if they invest more into their mental health counseling and school counseling graduate programs, which are two separate masters programs. Mental health counseling in particular has a bright outlook, namely due to the expansive variety of workplaces and environments in which a licensed counselor can work: from schools to businesses, hospitals to correctional facilities — “everybody benefits when mental health services are embedded within the system,” Ponterotto said. Although mental health professionals are in greater demand than ever, universities generally have not given graduate programs enough resources to enroll and train more students. Ponterotto attributed this to the often already-strapped budgets that colleges and universities have in order to operate, as well as the tendency to allocate more resources to other departments and hire professionals in other fields. “Budgets are tight, and usually (colleges and universities) hire a teacher or a tech person before a school coun-
selor,” Ponterotto admitted. Despite these current restraints, Ponterotto is confident that mental health services and professional mental health counseling education have a bright future ahead. He noted in particular the ever-increasing acceptance of mental health issues and lessening the stigma against seeking treatment. “You hear celebrities, star athletes, musicians talking about how mental health therapy has helped them,” said Ponterotto. This in turn encourages ordinary people to seek mental health treatment “not only for help with one’s struggles in a specific field or environment, but also for simply feeling better about yourself and the world around you.” Mental health professionals have adapted to social distancing by primarily continuing to serve clients via telehealth or teletherapy — speaking with a client virtually via phone, computer or other device. However, Ponterotto stressed the large disparities within school counseling resources between school districts, creating a dilemma where “people are more open to refer students to school counselors, but there aren’t enough counselors to meet all of these needs.” The highly competitive nature of graduate school doesn’t help the matter, with many programs only admitting a small percentage of students each year out of hundreds or even thousands of applicants. According to Ponterotto, Fordham’s master’s program in mental health counseling can only admit about 20 to 30 applicants per year. The school counseling program is even more restricted, only enrolling 12 to 15 students. Ponterotto blamed this disparity on a “combination of less interest
and less budget,” with greater interest in obtaining a mental health counseling degree among graduate program applicants as opposed to school counseling, which has a comparatively smaller job market. Another appeal of a mental health counseling degree over school counseling for potential graduate students is that those who have obtained a masters in mental health counseling are certified in New York state to work in private practice. Private practice, which typically involves scheduling appointments with clients on one’s own time rather than through an institution, boasts a greater job market and average salary compared to other psychological fields, especially school counseling.
“ I think especially after
this pandemic mental health careers are going to become more essential especially in schools. ”
Rebecca Altschul,
GSE ’21
Students enrolled in Fordham’s GSE like Rebecca Altschul, GSE ’21, feel that recent events have given them unique insights into their studies. “I think especially after this pandemic mental health careers are going to become more essential especially in schools,” Altschul said. While obtaining a degree through mostly virtual classes may not be ideal in becoming licensed practitioners, their future prospects are looking bright.
Mental Health Occupations Psychologist
2018
Psychiatrist
2010
School & Career Counselor Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder and Mental Health Counselor Mental Rehabilitation Counselor Marriage and Family Therapist Social Worker 0
50000
100000
150000
200000
Average National Annual Salary
250000 SOURCE: US NEWS
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER November 11, 2020
Sports & Health
Remembering Coach Skip Gallagher: The Hard-Nosed Team Builder That Saved Fordham Baseball
By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor
Last month, longtime Fordham baseball coach Dan “Skip” Gallagher passed away at the age of 84. Between 1984 and 2004, Gallagher led the Rams to seven conference championships and five NCAA tournaments, but his effect on the school community was more meaningful than any number of awards could ever convey. In a Fordham Sports press release reporting the news, current baseball coach Kevin Leighton said, “There’s no doubt Skip was hard on his players and I know he didn’t say it often, but in our conversations, he often told me how much he loved his players, how much he missed them, and how much he appreciated them. Skip, Fordham Baseball will miss you, and we will push ourselves each day to live up to the legacy that you left.” This ideology of tough coaching and deep caring proved to be highly successful for Gallagher, as he earned 518 victories in his time at Fordham. Only Jack Coffey, the Rams’ first full-time baseball coach from 1922 to 1958, has more. However, despite spending 21 years at Fordham University, Gallagher’s career in baseball actually began as a player. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he found a spot in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ organization as an outfielder, and was in line to replace Duke Snider before a shoulder injury ended his career. He then began coaching high school baseball on Long Island, and after many successful
seasons, he received the coaching job at Fordham. While Gallagher fielded competitive teams in the Bronx for more than two decades, many of the players he developed in that time went on to even higher heights in the sport. Three of his players, Pete Harnisch, Miguel Jimenez and Ray Montgomery, reached Major League Baseball in the late ’80s and early ’90s. After three years with the Astros, Montgomery turned to the administrative side of the game, and now serves as the scouting director for the Milwaukee Brewers.
“ We had talent all over
the roster, and we were all the same type of player, and I think that’s a credit to Skip. ” Pete Harnisch, former Fordham baseball player
Meanwhile, after a legendary pitching career at Fordham earned him a place in the first round of the 1987 MLB Draft, Harnisch went on to have great success in professional baseball. He made an All-Star Game appearance in just his second full season in 1991, and went on to play for five teams before retiring in 2001. In the Fordham Sports series “On This Date” published in June 2020, Harnisch was quick to credit Gallagher for his
individual and team success in college. “We had talent all over the roster, and we were all the same type of player, and I think that’s a credit to Skip,” Harnisch said. Much of the success Harnisch described came in 1987. That year, while Harnisch completed his three-year college career with a 21-3 overall record and 213 strikeouts, the Rams reached the NCAA Tournament for the very first time after winning the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship. In the Northeast Regional, Gallagher’s Fordham team pulled off close victories over the University of Georgia and University of Michigan. Following that first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1987, the Rams returned to the national stage in 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1998. After Gallagher retired, the team would not advance that far again until the 2019 season. In 1999, Gallagher had to undergo open heart surgery after suffering prolonged chest pain. By that point, he had become one of the most popular figures on the Rose Hill campus, and in a time of need, the community rallied around him. There was an outcry of support for the coach’s recovery and return to the dugout, to such an extent that Gallagher received a fullpage spread in a 1999 edition of The Fordham Ram. “If we ever had all these prayer groups that are praying for me now, praying for peace, we would never have another problem with war,” Gallagher said.
THE OBSERVER ARCHIVES
An article in The Observer’s Feb. 3, 2005, issue reports on Coach Dan Gallagher’s retirement. Gallagher passed away last month at the age of 84.
In his 21 years, Gallagher always prioritized these moments of community above his conference championships, multiple trips to the national stage or even his three Iron Major awards, traditionally given to the best Fordham coach each year. When he was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012, he made his priorities clear in his speech. “My job was to get them prepared and turn everyone into a team. Everyone comes from different walks of life,” Gallagher said. “I used to change the rooming list every game, so all the ball players got to know each other. This helped
create teams that really cared about each other. On top of that, we had a 97% graduation rate. These kids worked hard on and off the field. So many kids have come back to tell me that the discipline and work habits have shaped them as men.” It’s certainly an accomplishment to develop three college players into Major League Baseball players. It’s quite another accomplishment to help mold hundreds and hundreds of teenage boys into men, and that’s what Gallagher considered most valuable in his tenure. It’s this contribution to the Fordham community and world at large that will never be forgotten.
The Fordham Dance Team’s March to D1 Status Continues By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor
It once seemed like the Fordham dance team’s promotion from a club sport to a Division I (D1) program was inevitable. But in a pandemic and on a tightened budget, both the administration and the athletic department have had to delay this decision. For now, they’re still a club sport, working tirelessly to realize a dream left unfulfilled for too long. For the second straight year, Taylor Masi, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’22, has been named captain of the dance team, and ever since taking this position, she and her teammates have been working toward one goal: becoming a certified D1 team.
Recognizing them as a D1 sport would be a sign from the administration that the team’s passion for Fordham is equal to that of the very athletic teams they cheer on.
“During the summer, the other captains and I worked with the athletics department to increase our program’s status,” Masi said. “The girls and I were incredibly excited to find out we are on the road to becoming a D1 team.” The difference between a D1 team and club team comes down to what that team can afford to do. Right now, the dance team
COURTESY OF GILLIAN RUSSO
Fordham’s dance team, based at the Rose Hill campus, is currently working toward becoming a Division I team.
performs at home games for football and basketball, as well as local events at Fordham or nearby. However, as a D1 program, they could travel with the teams for away games and compete in dance competitions against other universities. At one point, Masi and the team considered this fall to be a possible time for the team’s promotion. However, several obstacles have come up that have relegated them to at least another semester as a club sport.
The pandemic has diminished the role of athletics on campus, which has in turn affected the money Fordham can afford to spend. Without many traditional revenue streams coming in, fielding a new team could be more difficult. Beyond the current state of athletics, the most significant issue concerns Title IX guidelines, which state that colleges must field the same number of men’s and women’s sports teams. This law was originally made to
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prevent institutions from discriminating against women’s athletics, but in this case, it impedes the all-women’s dance team. To earn their promotion, they now need the university to make further changes within the larger athletic department to accommodate them. Masi and the rest of the dance team continue working to improve. Most Fordham students see the dance team at football and basketball games, but as an independent organiza-
tion, cheering on other athletic teams is only part of their role on campus. “We love performing and cheering our teams on, but we also love to do events individually,” Masi said. “We have done many community service events in the past, including performing for Autism Speaks on campus, performing during the Fordham Dance Marathon event to raise money for pediatric cancer and traveling to local schools in the Bronx to dance with the children.” The pandemic has halted their activity along with the rest of the athletic department, but when action resumes next month, they hope to find some way to return as well. Tryouts have continued virtually, with many students submitting videos instead of appearing in person. Through a host of challenges, the dance team continues to work and improve their status and reputation on campus. Recognizing them as a D1 sport would be a sign from the administration that the team’s passion for Fordham is equal to that of the very athletic teams they cheer on. “To an individual that claims our progressing status is less than that of another team, I would say we deserve to be up there because we give so much of our dedication to supporting the school we love and practice hard and long hours each week to improve ourselves,” Masi said. For a club program that appears most often on the sidelines, it may be time for the dance team to finally take center stage.
Election Week In Revie After two long years of presidential campaigns, debates and politically divisive conversations with friends and family, Election Day finally arrived on Nov. 3, 2020. While Americans could not predict the outcome of the results, it was certain that the 2020 Election would be unlike any others. President Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden’s campaigns were defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and unprecedented voter enthusiasm. Over the summer, New York City experienced multiple protests and marches in response to the murder of George Floyd by police officers. Worried that the city could erupt into protests once the new president was declared, owners of stores, restaurants and other businesses began boarding up their windows before the election.
Hundreds gathered in Times Square following the announcement of the 2020 election results.
By 7 p.m. EST, the polls in New York had closed as well, and more votes began rolling in.
At 6 p.m. EST, the first polls closed in parts of Indiana and Kentucky. Waiting for results, the Fordham community joined the rest of the world to watch the votes be counted on TV.
All around Manhattan, workers put up boards and fences to protect property in the event of post-election unrest.
The Trump International Hotel in Columbus Circle has its Eighth Avenue entrance blocked off to cars and guarded by police.
Columbus Lincoln Ce people rejo
The state of New York consistently v was an early win for Biden on the nigh the Associated Press called New York Tuesday evening, earning the candida In Manhattan, where the Fordham L pus is located, Biden won the vote by Times reported that in Manhattan Bid votes while Trump gained 65,001. The Bronx, where Fordham’s Rose cated, showed similar voting trends borough by 82.5%. However, not all states were called York. The “battleground,” or “swing,” s define the states where the both can chance of winning and have a signific election — captured the attention of audiences for the remainder of the el These swing states include Michigan Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina. Unlike other years, it took four days presumptive next president of the Un remained glued to their laptops or TV watched the votes roll in.
On election night, Ohio and Florida were both cal evening, gaining Trump 47 electoral votes. Minnes later on that same night, earning him 10 electoral in the lead.
Workers board up the windows of a residential building on Broadway on the mornin
ew
s Circle, down the street from the Fordham enter campus, held a mass gathering of oicing after the election.
votes Democratic. It ht of the election when state for Biden on ate 29 electoral votes. Lincoln Center camy 84.5%. The New York den earned 377,605
Enthusiasm was also present among people driving through the streets, like this driver on Broadway.
e Hill campus is los, as Biden won the
as early on as New states — terms used to ndidates have a good cant influence on the media outlets and lection. n, Minnesota, Nevada, o, Georgia, Arizona
s to declare the nited States. Many V screens as they
City celebrations continued down to Washington Square Park near New York University.
The next day, Wisconsin and Michigan were both called for Biden, giving him a significant lead over the sitting president. Attention then switched to keeping track of the votes coming in for Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Georgia. As the absentee ballots were counted in the days following election day, it became clear that Biden was taking a lead over Trump in these remaining swing states.
An American flag raised above the celebrating crowd at Columbus Circle. New Yorkers dressed in Biden/ Harris attire on their way to Times Square.
lled for Trump early in the sota was called for Biden votes, still keeping Biden
ng of Election Day.
It wasn’t until Saturday, Nov. 7, that Pennsylvania was called for Biden — securing him enough electoral votes to win the election. Nevada was called for Biden soon after Pennsylvania; Arizona and North Carolina are still counting votes, and Georgia is expecting a recount in the upcoming week.
After Biden was announced as the president-elect, the streets of Manhattan erupted in cheer. New Yorkers shouted out their apartment windows and from outdoor dining at restaurants with enthusiasm; cars honked on the streets as people ran outside to dance on sidewalks and avenues. In the city’s public parks, Fordham students and other New Yorkers gathered with masks on to play music and repeat chants in celebration for Biden’s win — and for the end of Trump’s term as president of the United States. BY KATRINA LAMBERT and SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS, News Editor and Editor-in-Chief PHOTOS BY ANDREW BEECHER, ANDREW DRESSNER, LARA FOLEY, GRACE GETMAN and GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER GRAPHICS BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER
Opinions Editors Emily Ellis - eellis14@fordham.edu Haley Smullen - hsmullen@fordham.edu
Opinions
November 11, 2020 THE OBSERVER
Observer the
Editor’s Note: The front page and centerfold of this issue feature images of New Yorkers celebrating the Biden victory around the city. In lieu of a staff editorial, The Observer would like to make space for and recognize the important work of organizers and citizens who have been taking to the streets, both before and after the election, to advocate for anti-racism and structural changes. While these protests have been met with armed police presence, those who attended the celebrations on Saturday reported less police intervention. Below are resources where readers can find journalists of color who are reporting on these events. As an outlet run by a predominantly white, privileged staff, The Observer hopes to amplify the voices of people of color by sharing these resources. The Native American Journalists Association The National Association of Black Journalists The National Association of Hispanic Journalists Asian American Journalists Association We encourage our readers to seek news from different perspectives and to diversify the kind of news they consume and the reporters they read.
Editor-in-Chief Sophie Partridge-Hicks Managing Editor Marielle Sarmiento Business Manager Owen Roche Online Editors Andrew Beecher Gillian Russo Layout Editors Lara Foley Maddie Sandholm Asst. Layout Editors Pamela Pajares Olivia Stern News Editors Joe Kottke Katrina Lambert Asst. News Editors Michelle Agaron Allie Stofer Opinions Editors Emily Ellis Haley Smullen Asst. Opinions Editor Polina Uzornikova Arts & Culture Editor Ethan Coughlin Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Vicky Carmenate Features Editors Samantha Matthews Nicole Perkins Sports & Health Editors Aiza Bhuiyan Patrick Moquin Asst. Sports & Health Editors Gus Dupree Maggie McNamara Photo Editor Andrew Dressner Asst. Photo Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams Copy Editors Alyssa Macaluso Jill Rice Melanie Riehl Lulu Schmieta Social Media Editors Roxanne Cubero Grace Getman Asst. Social Media Editor Maca Leon Newsletter Editor Grace Getman
PHOTOS BY VICKY CARMENATE/THE OBSERVER
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES • Letters to the Editor should be typed and sent to The Observer, Fordham University, 140 West 62nd Street, Room G32, New York, NY 10023, or emailed to fordhamobserver@gmail.com. Length should not exceed 200 words. All letters must be signed and include contact information, official titles and year of graduation (if applicable) for verification. • If submitters fail to include this information, the editorial board will do so at its own discretion. • The Observer has the right to withhold any submissions from publication and will not consider more than two letters from the same individual on one topic. The Observer reserves the right to edit all letters and submissions for content, clarity and length. • Opinions articles and commentaries represent the view of their authors. These articles are in no way the views held by the editorial board of The Observer or Fordham University. • The Editorial is the opinion held by a majority of The Observer’s editorial board. The Editorial does not reflect the views held by Fordham University.
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Opinions
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The Strand Is Not the Best Indie Bookstore to Support in NYC KENNEDY ROBINSON Contributing Writer
The Strand is perhaps one of the most iconic bookstores in the whole of New York City. It has been a neighborhood staple since its founding by Benjamin Bass in 1927. The store’s current location on 12th Street and Broadway has been a fixture in the area for decades. As one of the last standing bookstores from the historical Book Row, it has great historic and sentimental value for many New Yorkers. Trying times have led the establishment to lean into its customers’ nostalgia to garner financial support. In light of some of the Strand’s recent practices, supporting the store is a controversial choice. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll on many small businesses and, according to current owner Nancy Bass Wyden, the Strand is one of them. On Oct. 23, Wyden issued a statement asking for the public’s support. In response, the public showed up in masses to purchase books from the store in person and online, giving the store $170,550 in sales in one weekend. Wyden told CNN, “When I meet people, they always have a heartwarming story about the magical time they first found a book or went on a first date at the Strand, so I felt like I knew the Strand touches people.” An important question to be raised is: Does historical and personal nostalgia warrant support in the present? Instead of continuing to blindly support an institution that has sentimental value, we
should examine whether or not the Strand and Wyden have earned our support. Wyden said that the store’s revenue has gone down 70%. The enormous loss in revenue, in addition to the general stress that independent bookstores have faced from big box bookstores like Barnes & Noble and major corporations like Amazon, has apparently led the Strand to its dire situation. The pandemic slowed business down so much that in March the store temporarily laid off 188 of its current 212 employees. In July, the company rehired 33 employees; however, 12 more union employees were laid off again shortly thereafter. Some have begun to criticise Wyden for these practices in light of the $1-2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan she accepted in April to ensure those 212 jobs were
protected. If this loan did not protect these jobs, then where did the money go? The criticism from Wyden’s employees does not only stem around their employment but also extends to their working conditions. The limited staff has left the retained workers both overworked and, according to union worker Will Bobrowski, underprotected. Bobrowski told The Baffler, “When the store reopened, we didn’t have enough PPE and cleaning equipment … (Wyden) did not want to spend money on anything—she was blocking ordering acrylics, bottles of hand sanitizer, boxes of masks.” The Strand’s owner continues to demonstrate a disregard for her employees’ safety and well-being in favor of her own personal wealth. For many bookstore owners,
the money that they generate from their businesses is the only money they have at their disposal to ensure that their company survives. Wyden is a millionaire. Her wealth comes from assets left to her from both her father and grandfather, with the former leaving behind a $25 million estate after his death in 2018. She has at least $8.5 million in assets. Since April she has purchased approximately $3 million in stock. Upwards of $150,000 of that money was spent on stock in Amazon. This particular purchase hit close to home for her staff, seeing as Amazon is a direct competitor to the bookstore — one that Wyden herself has criticized publicly. If the goal of her purchases was to further support her store, would that money not have been better served going directly to those who
ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
The Strand recently opened a second location on Columbus Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets.
work in it — the some 100 employees who have been laid off — instead of a company whose success is a direct threat to Wyden’s own business? Wyden said that she will continue to “pull out all the stops to keep sharing our mutual love of the printed word.” From the viewpoint of her employees, the only thing she seems to be pulling out is the rug from underneath them — in the middle of a pandemic. There is no doubt that independent bookstores deserve our collective patronage and increased support during these trying times. Bookstores offer sources of innovation and inspiration that can be invaluable to their communities. Many work on social projects and improve the lives of their customers not only in a literary sense, but also in a structural one. These initiatives benefit and uplift both the stores themselves and the communities they serve. When picking an indie bookstore to support during these hard times, make sure that it is one that deserves your patronage. It is worth it to remember that while the Strand is arguably the most popular independent bookstore in the city, it is nowhere near the only one. To find other bookstores in your area to support, visit Bookshop, an independent bookstore locator — just type in your location and a list of stores pops up. We must not forget that there are other bookstores that need our support during this time. If you are looking to support indie bookstores, then your patronage should not begin and end at this store. Make sure that those you are supporting are dedicated to supporting others as well.
The Armenian Genocide of 2020: The Fight for Indigenous Armenian Land NICOLE MARK Contributing Writer
Trigger warning: genocide, rape, ethnic cleansing, assault Imagine sitting in your college lecture class and taking notes. Then you receive a call from a family member and it strikes terror in your heart because you know the war that’s going on isn’t a war — it’s a massacre — and it’s taking lives left and right. Imagine this call informs you that your father has died, and only an hour later a similar call informs you that your boyfriend and close cousin have met the same fate. This is the heartbreaking reality of too many Armenians right now. Towns and churches are being destroyed, families torn apart, but for what? All for the sake of wiping out the Armenian people. Armenia, which at 4,000 years old is one of the oldest nations in history, is facing the atrocities of genocide and ethnic cleansing once again, and the world is letting it happen. Nagorno-Karabakh, referred to as Artsakh by Armenians, is a small region to the east of Armenia in the South Caucasus. With an over 99% Armenian demographic, it is filled with ancient Armenian churches and monasteries, not to mention the famous monument titled “We Are Our Mountains,” which is symbolic of Artsakh’s Armenian heritage. At the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, its land was granted to Azerbaijan by Stalin in order to appease Turkey. Armenia demanded that their land be returned to them, but Azerbaijan refused. War broke out in 1993 and was followed by a Russian-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has violated this ceasefire countless times since then, and the situation escalated dangerously in the summer of 2020. Azerbaijan, in the midst of a pandemic, made the decision to wage war against Armenia with the help of Turkey.
The conflict is rooted deep in the Armenian Genocide of 1915, in which Ottoman Turks conducted the systematic massacring of 1.5 million Armenians. They raped women, murdered children and destroyed cultural artifacts of all sorts to erase the Armenian people and move closer to their goal of pan-Turkism. To this day, Turkey denies ever committing such acts and spreads anti-Armenian sentiment and propaganda. Its youth are taught to hate Armenians and deny the genocide, as well as to spread the denial and hate beyond their community. It is this denial of genocide that helped enable other genocides like the Holocaust. Hitler himself said, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” Today, Azerbaijan’s leaders are committing one war crime after another under the fabricated claim that they are fighting for their territory. They have been purposefully targeting civilians, especially women and children, as well as torturing and beheading prisoners. They are using illegal tactics such as releasing cluster munitions and denying it despite photo and video evidence and multiple witnesses. They also burned down forests and towns with illegal white phosphorus, causing irreversible ecological damage and killing innocent people. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have bombed a personal protective equipment factory, multiple hospitals, a maternity ward, preschools, churches and thousands of homes. Moreover, Azerbaijan refused to sign the U.N. global coronavirus ceasefire. It is clear that the Azeri goal is not to claim their territory; rather, it is to erase any trace of Armenians. If Azerbaijan stopped fighting, there would be peace. If Armenia stopped fighting, there would be no Armenia. Azerbaijan and Turkey are spreading false propaganda and accusing Armenia of being the aggressor. How could a small nation with
a $634 million military budget be the aggressor against two nations whose combined military budget is approximately $20 billion? If that doesn’t spark suspicion, it should be known that both Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ilham Aliyev, the leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan, respectively, are openly Armenophobic. Erdogan wants to achieve pan-Turkism, and Armenians, the Indigenous people of the Caucasus region, stand in his way. In Reporters Without Borders (RSF)’s press freedom index, Azerbaijan ranks 168th out of 180, with 180 being the least free country. Armenia, on the other hand, falls into 61st place. Azerbaijan’s government is only allowing local and Turkish journalists to cover this conflict, whereas Armenians are welcoming all coverage they can get. Azerbaijan also releases clearly edited and plagiarized photos from previous historical events, among other falsified evidence. You may be thinking, “How does this affect me?” Quite simply, your tax money is being used to fund ethnic cleansing, genocide, terrorism and environmental destruction. The U.S. grants hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid to both Turkey and Azerbaijan and is the largest exporter of weapons to Turkey. They have been using this money to hire Syrian mercenaries and terrorists to fight their war, which has been confirmed by U.S., Russian and other European authorities, as well by the Syrian mercenaries themselves. Due to the U.S.’s relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan as well as Azerbaijan’s media censorship, U.S. media coverage of what has been happening in Artsakh is slim-tonone. We are alone in our fight for existence. Social media has become the strongest tool for spreading awareness of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s violation of humanity. This is not just a regional issue. Turkey is a global threat — a threat to human rights around the world. If atrocities like this can be committed without any repercussions, then
human rights can be destroyed and taken away at any time. That can’t be the world we live in. Turkey is a part of NATO, which is a political and military alliance aimed at defending peace and democracy, resolving issues, and preventing conflicts. None of these qualities characterize Turkey — they’re needed in defense against Turkey. If a country such as Turkey can be part of a peace organization while committing genocide, justice and human rights are incredibly threatened for other nations and ethnic groups as well. Eliminating Armenia is the first step in spreading Erdogan’s imperialist pan-Turkic regime, and what could follow it is
frightening. Over the past month, as the situation has grown worse, Armenians around the world have held marches and protests to fight for U.S. action against Azerbaijan, as well as for media coverage that has been dangerously lacking. This has attracted the attention of Azeris and Turks, thus leading to violent incidents and vandalism. It has been an incredibly heartbreaking and difficult time as the world has been watching Armenians struggle and doing nothing about it. We need to do better as citizens of the world to be a voice for people whose shouts for justice are being silenced.
MARK_PANONIAN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Artsakh is the location of many Armenian religious and heritage sites. Ownership of the region has been a source of tension and violence since Stalin granted it to Azerbaijan at the collapse of the Soviet Union.
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November 11, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Stop Overanalyzing Fictional Lesbian Relationships JESSICA LOVETT Contributing Writer
“The Haunting of Bly Manor” (2020) by creator Mike Flanagan is the second installment of what promises to be a nouveau “American Horror Story”-type thriller series. The Netflix show is a heartfelt — if a little hammy — story of haunted houses and doomed au pairs. While Flanagan’s previous horror series, “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018), did feature a peripheral queer character in the form of Theodora, in Bly Manor, a lesbian storyline takes center stage. Dani (Victoria Pedretti) is the doe-eyed American nanny who comes to look after the children of the manor, and she falls in love with Jamie (Amelia Eve), the guarded English gardener and groundskeeper. Their love story is ultimately what guides the series to its end. As is common with portrayals of queer and specifically lesbian relationships in the media, their storyline has no shortage of criticism. Dani and Jamie offer us a rare look at a normalized lesbian couple — the kind that is seriously lacking in television and film alike. But they also offer us a chance to reconsider how we police representations of queerness and to what standards we hold it to, as opposed to those of straightness. I didn’t really love their rela-
tionship. Though well-acted by both Pedretti and Eve, there wasn’t enough — enough yearning, enough longing stares, enough harbored emotions transferred with a brush of a hand or the flitter of an eye. However, I also take issue with recent critical stances, like Jude Dry’s at IndieWire, that deem the relationship “no cause to celebrate.” Regardless of my own high standards for sapphic portrayals in the media, I did not take issue with Flanagan’s overall characterization of the couple. I think we need to have a serious conversation about “deciding” when queer viewers are “allowed” to celebrate or not. Dry is disappointed with the lack of so-called development of the queer characters, among other things. “Jamie’s tragic backstory,” according to them, “is delivered via one emotional monologue, which is shoehorned into a fireside chat and devoid of any mention of her sexuality.” Sure, maybe it would have been nice to hear a little bit about Jamie’s queerness in the course of her fraught upbringing, but what Dry’s doing here is assuming that sexuality must be mentioned only when it’s queer. Of course, it is implausible — and sometimes harmful — to completely rip the context of a heteronormative and homophobic society away from queer subjects (the show is set in the 1980s), especially since this very oppression and otherness is what, to an extent, informs their
identity. Susan Lanser’s “The Sexuality of History” reckons with this dilemma in a more academic sense, but one that I think is still useful here. To attempt to paint a utopian version of the world where queer, and specifically lesbian, relationships need no extra explanation given their existence as non-straight in a heteronormative social economy would be simply false — wishful thinking, yes, but inaccurate. But like I said, Lanser is a historian, concerned with understanding sexuality — and specifically sapphic subjects — as a controlling rather than a controlled factor in history, often guiding social change, social transactions and larger political moments. Mike Flanagan, on the other hand, is a storyteller. A more in-depth debate about realism in television and cinema is definitely warranted here. But I humbly offer that realism — at least as it pertains to a show about 18th-century faceless phantom murderers and scorned lovers incarnating the bodies of eight-year-olds — may not really be the issue here. When it comes to creation in this form, I think that we can forgo the formality of “announcing” queerness. Refusing to denote its difference or emphasize its impossible otherness as if it’s anything more than two people falling in love is not only warranted, but also powerful. Critics have written that the domesticity of Dani and Jamie’s
relationship is so casual that it feels like a step backward for queer representation. What, so we’re not afforded domesticity? Of course it is productive to try to imagine a happiness or a contentment outside of the notion of “domesticity” and the extraordinarily heteropatriarchal systems it connotes. For example, the right to marry, though of course a prideful achievement, does not really afford queerness any space to exist outside of the systems of oppression they have been so long (and still are) trapped in. However, it exists: It’s what we have, it’s what’s here. To deny “conventionality” to sapphic subjects is wrought with the problematic presumption that queerness must never encroach upon our traditions, our notions of normalcy
— because it cannot, and never will be, normal. Of course this is not true, not necessarily, at least — and I by no means think that critics actively believe this to be true, either. And even though “normalcy” is an enigma — and, personally, a nauseating one at that — I mean it in the sense where it may one day be normal enough for two women to hold hands on a train and not be violently attacked, or walk down the street or drive a car. In other words, so long as normalcy is not life-threatening, I’ll take it — and I’ll take it in television shows that have the power, one could argue, to make things normal, to remove stigmas, to simply present things as they are in subtle, gentle and moving ways.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER
Is Gender Equality Taking a Step Back? DIANA SILVA
Contributing Writer
It was one tense holiday season when my Hispanic and very traditional family found out I wasn’t going to be a doctor. Can you imagine how awkward it was when I told them that I wanted to be a part of the barely 38% of female lawyers in the country? I’ve had my fair share of arguments with the men in my family, and even my mother, about the traditional guidelines set on women that control them and tell them what to do with their lives, criticize their bodies and looks, and objectify them. Those discussions never ended prettily and created an anger in me like no other. Unfortunately, the steps that we have taken to better the situation for women in this country seems to have regressed in the past couple of weeks. The tragic death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg left a slot in the Supreme Court up for grabs. Ginsburg was a respected and loved judge with her positive morality toward women and body autonomy. Her dying wish was to wait four weeks after her death for someone to be appointed into her position. Unfortunately, her wish was overlooked. Trump’s nomination of Amy Coney Barrett didn’t come as a surprise to anyone. She was a top pick and hot-seat favorite to take the place of Ginsburg in the Supreme Court. There is no denying that Barrett is a highly esteemed intellectual, graduating first in her class from Notre Dame’s Law School. I ask you this: Do you think it was appropriate to appoint someone during the election instead of waiting until after? After millions of Americans had already voted? It isn’t her accredited education that is causing controversy in the news and especially among young women like me, but her views of women and her opinions on body autonomy. Abortion rights date back as far as the early 1970s with the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade (1973). Roe v. Wade was a landmark decision that shook the
country. It allowed women to exercise their right to have an abortion without the influence or restriction of the government. This court decision emphasized body autonomy and respect for women. It was disappointing to hear that not only is Barrett underqualified for the Supreme Court judge job in comparison to other judges, but she is also a woman who threatens women’s autonomy over their bodies — exactly what Ginsburg advocated for as a judge. I still can’t grasp how a woman who’s barely had three years of experience as a judge and has never argued an appeal or never tried a case before could fulfill this esteemed and difficult position.
we are taught that seeing any woman in power is an inherently progressive or glass-ceiling-shattering thing, but that’s just not true. ”
position to literally turn back the clock and take away rights other women and female identifying individuals have fought to give her.” Similarly, Julia Rinaldi, FCLC ’23, expressed a similar sentiment and added: “As women, I feel like we are taught that seeing any woman in power is an inherently progressive or glass-ceiling-shattering thing, but that’s not true.” Just because a woman has been given the opportunity to be in a position of leadership does not mean that she will do women justice in that position. The reactions toward Barrett becoming a Supreme Court judge were a mix of disappointment, fear and concern in regard to the future of body autonomy. No woman I know wants to be told what to do with her body. Why should we let a bunch of government officials decide what’s best for our bodies? I think it’s important, though, to recognize that, as a young person, I am able to voice my opinion to the public, bring it up to professors in talks and share it with my peers. It’s imperative to note the power of young people in society and the change we can create in the world, no matter how big or small.
Even more concerning is the fact that Barrett was a member of an anti-abortion group called the South Bend’s Women’s Care Center (WCC) that promoted a clinic misleading women about health care options. The WCC claimed to provide abortions, when it reality it tried to intervene with the women’s decisions. Women’s rights became even more imperiled the moment Barrett replaced Ginsburg. Samantha Bohrer, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, voiced her initial reaction to Barrett’s nomination: “I was immediately afraid for my reproductive rights and I was angry that another woman would work so hard to get a position in which very few women had held, and would use that
Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice on Oct. 26, about a week before Election Day.
“ As women, I feel like
Julia Rinaldi, FCLC ’23
“I definitely think it’s important to admire how far we’ve come in only 100, even 50, years in regards to women’s rights,” Rinaldi said. “However, it’s 2020 and women still make an average of 78 cents for every dollar made by men, and the number is even less for women of color.” How are we supposed to feel empowered and equal to men when we do the same job as them, yet still make less than them? Hillary Ordoñez, FCLC ’23, emphasized that more needs to be done for Black women. “We can’t have gender equity if there isn’t racial equity, and that’s where we can start. Focusing on issues like prison reform, institutionalized racism, lack of health resources, high maternal mortality rate, gentrification and employment discrimination are all (but not limited to) facets where black/women of color are always disadvantaged,” she said. Similarly, Sophie McAndrew, FCLC ’23, said, “There’s a lot of work to be done especially for women of color, disabilities, limited access to healthcare, etc. I think there needs to be more programs put in place at the workplace/institutions for diversity,
equal pay and more women in higher positions.” Within the population of women, women of color suffer even greater challenges in society. There needs to be more women of color in positions of leadership so that they feel empowered and safe. But how can we be safe when an anti-abortion Supreme Court judge can potentially determine what we do with our bodies through the law? Although our country has made significant changes in favor of women, there is still a lot that needs to be done. We need to remind ourselves that we have a voice and should refuse to let someone tell us what to do with our bodies. I was not born into this world to let the government tell me what to do with my body. I was not born into this world to submit to some of the horrific societal problems there are today. We need to be reminded that we are strong, powerful and heard women. We have a voice and we will be heard. Ginsburg once said, “I said on the equality side of it, that it is essential to a woman’s equality with man that she be the decision-maker, that her choice be controlling.”
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15
Cuomo Called All the Shots — and Failed LEO BERNABEI Staff Columnist
FIVE GUYS New York City Politics As states around the nation grappled with the COVID-19 crisis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called all the shots in New York. He failed every step of the way. From the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the state to the present situation, Cuomo, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’79, has utterly failed to deliver a safe and equitable response to the coronavirus pandemic for all New Yorkers. An analysis of Cuomo’s pandemic response, divorced from the glossy and romanticized version that the media presents, reveals a man who has continuously made the wrong decisions at every turn.
It appeared that both leaders were genuinely concerned about the well-being of their constituents. As time went on, it became clear that I was wrong. Right after we all packed our bags and were ushered off campus, I wrote an article praising New York’s response to the impending pandemic, including the leadership of both Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. At the time, I believed that the state and city were acting quickly in response to the viral trends,
and it appeared that both leaders were genuinely concerned about the well-being of their constituents. As time went on, it became clear that I was wrong. Cuomo declared New York state on “PAUSE,” short for Policies that Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone, on March 20. But the coronavirus was ravaging downstate well before the state was shut down. By March 20, there were over 8,300 cases throughout the state, most of which were in Westchester and Nassau counties and New York City. According to anonymous sources and administration insiders, Cuomo preferred a gradual shutdown, not wanting to cause mayhem. De Blasio, on the other hand, was ready to declare a stay-at-home order before Cuomo informed him that he had no such authority to do so. And therein lies one major problem with Cuomo’s pandemic response: Many of his actions were not based on rational grounds. They were simply done to “put de Blasio in his place.” Look, I’m no de Blasio fan, either, but is a pandemic really the time to pull out the legal books and parse hairs over who has control over what in the city? Take, for instance, the closing of New York City’s public school system. In April, after schools had already been closed for a month and officials realized that their earlier plan of reopening them to finish the academic year was practically impossible, de Blasio sent Cuomo a text message informing him that he decided to keep the schools closed. Mere hours later, Cuomo went to the podium insisting that he and only he could make that decision. This insistence from Cuomo came even as both men realized that there was no question de Blasio was right and that the schools wouldn’t reopen until September. Consider Cuomo’s action a pure power flex.
Despite Cuomo’s claim that President Trump downplayed the virus threat in February and March, he did so too, potentially to a greater extent. On March 10, when the state reported 173 cases, Cuomo said to the press, “As the number of positive cases rises, I am urging all New Yorkers to remember the bottom line: We talk about all this stuff to keep the public informed — not to incite fear — and if you are not a member of the vulnerable population, then there is no reason for excess anxiety.” At one point, he even stated that “the seasonal flu was a greater worry.” By the time that New York finally shut down, researchers at Northeastern University estimate that 10,700 people were already infected in the city.
Cuomo’s antipathy for a quarantine of the tristate area had disastrous consequences. According to The New York Times, New York City travelers seeded outbreaks across the country. While coronavirus ravaged the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all New York travelers quarantine for 14 days, Cuomo and the state’s health commissioner, Howard Zucker, shrugged off this suggestion. Magically, that view changed once New York had flattened the curve and was trying to fend off a new spike of its own. Cuomo’s antipathy for a quarantine of the tri-state area had disastrous consequences. According to The New York Times,
New York City travelers seeded outbreaks across the country. Obviously, the virus would have reached these places eventually, as it has in nearly every corner of the globe, but the inability of state leaders to so much as recommend that their own residents think of the well-being of the citizens of the states to which they fled is disappointing. As horrible as that was, it wasn’t even Cuomo’s biggest mistake. On March 25, the state’s health department ordered that coronavirus patients be readmitted to their nursing homes if they were previously at a hospital; nursing homes were barred from testing readmitted residents. New York only counts deaths of nursing home residents when those deaths occurred at the physical home, unlike many other states that include hospitalized deaths, so there is no accurate count of how many people this policy killed. Conservatively, it resulted in the deaths of over 6,500 elderly people in the state. Including deaths at hospitals, that number balloons to more than 11,000. There is no excuse for allowing that to happen. The entire country watched in shock and horror as death and devastation tore through unprepared and overwhelmed nursing homes in Washington state in February and early March. That is why other governors, such as Ron DeSantis of Florida, specifically banned COVID-19-positive nursing home residents from returning from the hospital prior to testing negative. We now know that the Greater New York Hospital Association, a powerful lobbying group with a history of donating massive sums of money to Cuomo’s gubernatorial campaigns, had a hand in this nursing home policy, which is incredibly disturbing. They believed their hospitals would be overwhelmed, despite the fact that field hospitals constructed at
the Javits Center and other locations were never even filled close to capacity. Let’s remember, we have been living with COVID-19 in the United States for approximately 10 months now. While there are a handful of states with many more cases than New York, none have even come close to the Empire State’s death toll in terms of both sheer numbers and per capita fatalities. The idea that this state should be lauded for its handling of the virus is insane, considering the proportion of deaths here is higher than most countries, even those that had been plagued by the virus for longer than the United States. We may never know the true toll of these horrendous coronavirus policies in New York, considering that many in the media idolize the state as the gold standard in its handling of the crisis. But despite the gleaming coverage that Cuomo has received, he has failed to protect not only the health and safety of New Yorkers but of all Americans. This is a man motivated by egoism and power. Democrats claimed Trump was insane when he said that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose voters, but evidently Cuomo can kill thousands and gain some more. Now, as the nationwide crisis rages on, Cuomo has written a book laying out his ostensible successes in leading New York through the pandemic. You don’t “call it a win at half time,” as he suggested, but evidently publishing a book was in order. On CBS, Cuomo said that his book’s purpose was to “learn the lesson from the first half of the game and play a better second half,” yet the narrative arc of the story ends on June 19 (his final daily press briefing). Everything thereafter is called “The Aftermath.” We are in the aftermath — not of success, but of failure.
NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD VIA FLICKR
Gov. Cuomo and members of the New York National Guard attend a press conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in March 2020. The site was designated as a field hospital, but it was not filled to capacity and closed in May.
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Opinions
November 11, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Straight Girls: Please Stop Kissing Your Friends for Attention JESSICA YU Staff Columnist
Queens, Queers and Everything in Between I was drunk the first time I kissed a girl. She was even more drunk. She was sloppily making out with some friends a few feet away from me. My best friend, knowing I’d been grappling with my sexuality for some time, pushed me in their general direction. Next thing I knew, I was making out with her in that purple-LED-light-tinted haze. We were teenage girls, coming of age under the male gaze. I felt icky about it for a long time after, not because I feel icky about kissing girls but because she’s straight. And so were her other friends. And they made out with each other in front of some guys they were trying to impress. I was still far from coming to terms with my queerness, but I immediately felt guilty for contributing to the fetishization of queer women.
Sadly, the fetishization of lesbians is old news. It isn’t even news: It’s an overused oppressive trope that hurts queer women. It’s a few years later. It’s Wednesday morning; I’m in college; I’m out as bi but I could be gay, I don’t know; I’m scrolling through Instagram when I come upon a picture of my straight friend making out with another girl. From the way their bodies are positioned, I would have believed that they are a couple if I didn’t know she was straight and had a boyfriend. That’s not fair, I think to myself. That’s not okay at all. My first exposure to women loving women in the media was through an intensely fetishized lens. I don’t remember what movie or show it was. I do remember that one female character got onto a bar and started making out with another female character. I remember thinking, “that looks fun” before realizing that they were only doing it to turn on the guys watching them. Lesbian porn is one of the most searched (if not the most searched) topics on Pornhub. Are all these searches made by gay women? You already know that’s a silly, silly question and that the answer is no. There certainly aren’t enough of us to dominate the Pornhub search domain. Obviously, most of these searches were made by men. Not to mention the amount of inaccuracies in lesbian porn. For the majority of lesbian porn, the actresses’ actions are not performed for their own pleasure; rather, it involves conforming to a specific perception of female sexuality that devalues everything lesbian sex can and should be. (But this is the porn industry, after all. Their issues with feminism go far beyond lesbian fetishization.) Even in the lesbian movie “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” there is an unnecessarily long sex scene between the two female leads that has been criticized for not accurately portraying lesbian
sex at all. Was this intentionally to target a male audience who fantasize about lesbian porn? Or is the fetishization of lesbians so normalized and ingrained in the male brain that director Abdellatif Kechiche could not manage to make an artistic lesbian film without some level of sexualization of the characters? Whatever it is, it makes way for conversation about a larger issue. Sadly, the fetishization of lesbians is old news. It isn’t even news: It’s an overused oppressive trope that hurts queer women. And it doesn’t stop at queer women either. While there is progress being made, gay men experience a similar level of hypersexualization in the media. In a study looking at advertisements in various magazines including The Advocate and Out magazine, the men posing are sexualized through nudity or advertising for items such as underwear, porn magazines, lubricants and more. There is also something called M/M fiction in which straight women fetishize gay men. One of the many problems in M/M fiction is that there is always a more masculine man and a more feminine man. Another sickening theme in these stories is that these masculine men often rape the more feminine men. We can agree that this is fetishization and that it is an issue, right? So, when I see straight girls kissing each other and posting it on social media for attention, I get pissed. That picture was not an isolated incident. I’ve seen several posts of straight girls kissing.
Another time, a straight girl posted an image in which she was holding hands with her best friend and referred to her as her “girlfriend” in the caption. Once again, I almost fell for the cuteness until I realized she has a boyfriend.
You cherry-pick which parts of queer culture you wish to participate in without experiencing the fear, the shame, the suppression, the self-hatred, the continual questioning, the lack of representation, the lack of rights. You may think it’s all fun and games — you may even think it’s “hot,” and perhaps it is — but you get to go to bed at night without wondering what it’ll be like coming out to your homophobic parents. You don’t have to tense up everytime they ask about any boys in your life, wishing you could tell them about a girl you like instead. You don’t have to experience straight men harassing you for videos after you and your girlfriend kiss in public. You cherry-pick which parts of queer culture you wish to participate in without experiencing the fear, the shame, the suppression, the self-hatred, the continual questioning, the lack of represen-
tation, the lack of rights. You get to kiss your friends without getting attacked and hospitalized. For five years of my life, I identified as bisexual in a very subtle and dismissive way. I can’t tell you how many times I invalidated my sexuality by telling myself, “Oh, I’m just doing that for attention. I’m probably just saying that so guys will find me more attractive,” when, in reality, I swallowed my butterflies and refused to let them flutter on display. It was never for show. It’s a few years later. It doesn’t
really matter right now if I’m bi or gay or whatever label the world can come up with. I know my attraction to women, sexually and romantically, is real and cannot be dismissed. But simply for the sake of living my life, I have to consciously make an effort to unlearn the effects of hypersexualization of lesbianism and queer peoples in general. Don’t dismiss my sexuality by kissing girls for attention if you are straight. And certainly don’t post it on Instagram. It’s not funny to call yourself an ally and then become part of the issue.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
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Opinions
17
Zoom Survival Kit: Tips to Get You Through the Semester ABBIGAIL RAMNARINE
Contributing Writer
Zoom is inescapable — it has become an essential platform in our lives for school, socialization and a plethora of other matters. Spending so much time (maybe too much time) with Zoom has put its problems on display. However, with every problem comes a solution! Put a Ring (Light) on It In low-light rooms, laptop cameras can make it seem as if we are Zooming straight from a cave. Instead of leaving the other participants wondering if you are actually in a dungeon, purchasing a selfie ring light can be an easy fix. The lights clip right on to your laptop, phone or tablet and can be found for as low a cost as $5. Since Zoom forces us to stare at our reflections every day, we might as well enjoy it, but I’m sure you still look great after waking up one minute before class starts. Most clip-on ring lights come with adjustable light settings so it can be adjusted accordingly. Their purpose is to cast lights on objects, thus illuminating your face on Zoom. Blemishes and shadows are banished with this small-scale tool that is commonly used in professional photography and videography. Whether you are actually in a cave or want to turn your Zoom video into a glamour
shot, a pocket-sized ring light is sure to do the trick. Save Your Eyes in Style Staring at a screen for hours can take a toll on the eyes, and although this has been an issue for many pre-pandemic, it has become even more perceptible in the Zoom era. In order to put an end to fatigued eyes, blue light glasses are essential. The lenses are designed to protect eyes from the light emitted from electronic devices by blocking out the blue light waves. They come in a wide variety of frames, allowing you to live out your hipster fantasies with circular lenses. Between reducing the strain on your eyes and hiding those under-eye bags (believe me, I’ve been there), you can’t lose with blue light glasses. Get Even Lazier For those days when we do not feel like making the trip to our desks or dining room tables, a portable desk can save the day. Portable desks make it easy to place your laptop, notebooks and other items somewhere without the fear of them toppling over in the middle of your call. I’m sure you could play it off as an earthquake, until someone decides to Google “latest earthquakes.” A stack of pillows can be an option for a makeshift desk, but it offers less stability. Using a portable desk mirrors a work environment and can amplify focus. Some desks come with
USB ports and cup holders, which can upgrade your Zoom experience to the Bedroom Edition. Add More Energy to Your Life Keeping devices plugged in during Zoom meetings ensures that the battery will not deplete in the middle of a meeting. If having a setup that is near a power outlet is not possible, a portable laptop charger or external battery packs can be of use for peace of mind. Turning on the power saving mode can also assist with this issue — but please, just close all of those tabs. The Tea (Literally) Self-care is necessary in the age of Zoom, and drinking herbal teas is an exemplary way to tend to oneself. For example, green tea is nutrient-rich and has been known to assist with
focus, which is certainly something we all need after a mere 15 minutes into our lectures. Chamomile, lemon balm and lavender tea are also among the popular choices that reduce stress. Chamomile tea is a floral tea that doubles as herbal medicine. Lemon balm tea is the cure for sleepiness and can also reduce stress. Lavender tea might be the most well-known tea on this list, as lavender is used in a wide variety of products to act as a stress reliever. Herbal teas are a great way to instill a sense of well-being. However, drowning yourself in a pool of herbal tea is not encouraged, as this is not the Zoom death kit. If tea is not your fix, having a bundle of lavender or an essential oil diffuser serves the same purpose. Aromatherapy is as voguish as it sounds, but for
good reason, given its ability to reduce stress and anxiety as well as to relax the body and mind. Some reasonably priced diffusers on the market have additional funky features like color-changing LED lights and speakers. It’s kind of like a party, except you’re the only one there and you’re actually enjoying yourself. With the help of a clip-on ring light, blue light glasses, a portable desk and chargers, along with teas and essential oils, Zoom University will be far less maddening. These items will be of assistance in closing out the semester as strong as possible. Before you know it, this semester will zoom by, so it is time to attach your ring light to your laptop and get distracted by how good you look for the next few weeks!
LEM
ON
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER
The Inconclusive World of Tattoos in the Workplace EVELYN SIMS Staff Columnist
e Daily Dos Of Reason Tattoos have a controversial reputation and are seen as inappropriate in the workplace largely because they have been associated with criminal activity. However, as more tattooed people enter the workforce, many employers don’t think tattoos are as important. This begs the question — how exactly do words or images on a person’s skin dictate whether or not that person is worthy of being called “professional”? Due to the growing popularity of tattoos, businesses struggle to figure out how to incorporate them into their dress code due to the endless scenarios that exist about them. People tend to look at tattoos in the workplace through a “right-or-wrong” lens, when in reality there is no concrete answer as to what defines appropriate tattoos for employers. It is a common trend that employers tend to not favor people with tattoos because they do not want to risk having a negative image, but this has proven to be costly. The U.S. military was forced to change its policy prohibiting visible tattoos as they were becoming too mainstream and thereby hurting recruitment numbers. Similar to the military, employers commonly claim the location of a tattoo is the biggest factor in determining if they are appropriate for the workplace — but these locations are never clearly specified. So who exactly is supposed to let you know
whether or not your small wrist tattoo is too inappropriate for the job? Tattoos allow a person to express themselves through permanent art on their bodies. It is hard to determine what is so “bad” about tattoos that makes them inappropriate in a workplace — with the exception of hate symbols, they are not harming anyone. If the size, shape, style and exact location of your tattoo can make or break your
job prospects, then there is no formulaic way of knowing whether or not your tattoo is allowed in the office. This concept includes covering up your tattoo for a job interview — it tends to be the widely known way to feel as though you’ll better your chances of getting hired, but what difference will it make? Who’s to say the meaningful tattoo you paid hundreds of dollars for holds the same value as the uniden-
tifiable image your co-worker got tattooed on their arm after partying? This also begs the question — who actually cares about whether or not you have a tattoo? According to recent studies, 63% of people age 60 and older find tattoos inappropriate in a workplace while only 22% of people ages 18-25 think they are inappropriate. In addition, around 70% of children do not mind if their caregivers or pediatricians
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY CAITLIN BURY/THE OBSERVER
have them. Those children are more decisive about their beliefs than the executives promoting unspecified tattoo policies at their companies. If employees without tattoos are truly better for business when handling clients, this raises the question as to whether or not the company is hiring less productive workers for the sake of its image. If a business fears that its public reputation will be harmed so significantly by having employees with tattoos, things don’t add up. The statistics prove this false. No matter the age range, there are always people for or against tattoos — there is no perfect solution to this. In the coronavirus pandemic, the dispute between whether or not tattoos are now acceptable in the workplace is further complicated. Since working from home allows people to dress more casually while on the job, this raises the question as to whether or not exposed tattoos still matter as much. Employers can’t enforce dress codes as much as they once could, thereby normalizing them in this new casual setting. After all, what’s worse — showing up to work with no pants or with a colorful upper-arm tattoo? Tattoos allow a person to express themselves and have power over their body. They are a form of art on a person’s body that is often limited by societal standards against them. In reality, there is a move toward social acceptance of tattoos, and they are not as big a deal as they once were. However, contradicting beliefs toward tattoos never give a clear indication that they are inappropriate in the workplace. If tattoos make you happy, rest easy knowing tattoos are becoming more acceptable in the workplace. It’s time to start getting answers as to whether or not tattoos are truly appropriate for your job.
Arts & Culture Editor Ethan Coughlin - ecoughlin7@fordham.edu
Arts & Culture
November 11, 2020
THE OBSERVER
Testing, Testing: New Podcasting Club Launches at FLC According to Tahseen, the E-Board felt that podcasting was an effective, unique way to share their ideas with the Fordham community. They felt that the podcast format fit their needs better than a radio station, like Wavelengths at Lincoln Center — or a written publication, of which the university already has many.
“ I love that I can
attain the gratification of finishing a project every time a new episode is finished.”
Julia Newcorn, FCLC ’22
COURTESY OF AAMER TAHSEEN
Podcasting Club President Aamer Tahseen worked with club members to produce the group’s first show, “The Fractured History Podcast,” earlier this semester. By HANNAH KASKO Contributing Writer
You’ve just hopped on the D train and sat down for a long ride. You press play on your phone, settling in for a dynamic conversation with Sofia and Alexandra on “Call Her Daddy,” or maybe an hour-long true crime broadcast on “Crime Junkie.” Podcasts like these are popular among commuters on their way to work and class. As you let the podcast pass the time, you dream up all
the different ways you can chime in, and you think, “Hey, I can do that too.” The new Fordham Podcasting Club allows students to turn these sparks of ideas into something real by producing their own shows. The Fordham Podcasting Club was created as a collaborative effort between President Aamer Tahseen, Vice President Margaret Franzreb, Secretary Jaaee Nadkarni and Treasurer Nick Smusz,
all Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22. Tahseen had been interested in podcasting since high school. He realized he had a knack for spearheading discussion after conducting a long interview as an intern at WKCR 89.9, Columbia University’s radio station. With the idea for the Podcasting Club in mind, he approached the rest of the future E-Board, and together they decided to form the club.
Tahseen explained that many club members, including himself, are drawn to podcasting “because it is the best medium to get your ideas out in today’s fast-paced world.” He articulated that podcasting is cost-effective, conducive to any schedule, modern and versatile to the listener; the audience can listen anytime, anywhere. Member Julia Newcorn, FCLC ’22, who worked on her own podcast prior to joining the club, likes to podcast because she learns something new every time she creates an episode and enjoys the fulfilling process that podcasting has to offer. “I love that I can attain the gratification of finishing a project every time a new episode is finished, but I have the option to continue adding to the podcast as a whole,” Newcorn said. “Each episode shapes the show a little bit more, so it feels like a continual (and often collaborative) art project.” The club’s YouTube channel, “Podcast Society of Fordham LC,” is where all the podcasts will be posted. The actual recordings are done outside of meeting times so that the showrunners can create on their own time using the recording software apps provided by the club. If there is more than one host, they typically record through Zoom and Google Hangouts. Upon a full return to campus, the club
hopes to establish its own studio space for members to use. About a month ago, the first podcast, “The Fractured History Podcast,” was published. It was a collaborative effort between Tahseen and club member Ting Hin Li, FCLC ’22, in which the pair exhibited their knowledge of historical topics not typically covered in mainstream education and media. Tahseen expressed his and Li’s love of history and explained that “‘The Fractured History Podcast’ was born with the main goal to simply cover people, places, historical concepts and events from a different perspective, and to bring to light some very obscure topics.” Tahseen and Li’s latest project was a two-part series on the history of Buddhism in which they explored the origins of the religion and the controversy surrounding it. They aimed to derive a new image of Buddha that differs from the picture perpetuated by popular culture. They also have episodes on topics such as historiography and nation-states. “The Fractured History Podcast” publishes new episodes regularly. For the long term, the Podcasting Club plans to continue expanding its network of shows, including an upcoming true crime podcast. Tahseen hopes to see more programs in development soon so that there is a wide variety of podcasts that will appeal to all interests. The club is also working to get its shows onto streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Its members’ goal is to grow their audience, not only within the Fordham community but outside of it as well, establishing themselves as a fully formed media outlet. Tahseen mentioned Brigham Young University’s “BYUtv,” which features the popular comedy show “Studio C,” as an example for the level he would like to see the club attain. The Fordham Podcasting Club meets every Wednesday on Zoom at 2:30 p.m. ET, where club members talk about their progress and the next steps for their individual projects, as well as pitch ideas for new content. Those interested in joining the club can email the E-Board at podcastclublc@fordham.edu.
Fordham Students Rise Together for New Talent Show By GABRIEL GARCIA Staff Writer
On Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 p.m. in the McNally A mphitheatre, hybrid and remote students gathered to watch Fordham Rising Stars. This was a talent show, and the first of its kind, featuring a broad range of acts from administrators and students. Carli Freeman, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, sang her original song “Your Ghost,” which was part of a pilot she wrote during quarantine. Chloe Djomessi Siakam, FCLC ’21, performed her original song “Soft Serve.” Emily Masia, FCLC ’23, performed “Last Moment,” which was a prerecorded dance video. Chesca Mac, FCLC ’21, had a prerecorded performance of herself playing the piano and singing. Arpitha Gorur, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’22, sang a cover of Billie Eilish’s “idontwannabeyouanymore.”
Rishabh Ganesh had a prerecorded “Card to Phone Magic” trick referencing Jesse Eisenberg from the movie “Now You See Me.” David Perry, FCLC ’23, had an acoustic performance, playing the guitar and singing. Joshua Screen, FCLC ’24, sang an original song accompanied by ukulele. Igualson Pua-Venzon, FCLC ’23, played “Cover of Komm SuBer Tod” on piano, prerecorded. Richard Putori Jr., FCLC ’24, fresh out of a Ram Van, sang “Suppertime” from the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Finally, Aastha Aggarwal, GSBLC ’22, read slam poetry that she had written. Two students also had standup comedy routines. When asked what inspired him to perform stand-up comedy at the show, Adam Hmada, FCLC ’21, replied that he’s been doing stand-up for two years and how opportunities are limited now due to pandemic restrictions. Hmada said he likes to keep his stand-up separate from
school, but it was nice to test out material in front of real people instead of other comics like in open mic sessions. When asked about what to do if you want to perform in comedy or any other field but have never tried it, Hmada was blunt in saying it can be heartbreaking and scary. However, Hmada also said that things get better with experience.
Fritz explained that every program strives to do something new, and that was certainly the case with this hybrid show. There was a vote on who won the various gift cards, which were awarded to the top three performers, with Chesca Mac earning first place. An audience
member won the raff le after the vote, earning an Amazon Fire Stick. After that, the audience sang karaoke to “Don’t Stop Believin’” and we were free to go, able to treat ourselves to bags of candy and chips outside of the amphitheatre. Maeve Swift, FCLC ’24, spoke about her reaction to the event, and expressed that she thought it was “very good.” Swift also said that she liked the hybrid format, as it allowed for a diverse representation of the talent present at Fordham. When asked, Swift said she would attend this event if it occurred next year. Lindsey Fritz, FCLC ’22, was one of the main organizers behind this event. Fritz explained that she had been working with others on this project since August, holding weekly meetings to discuss and plan. Fritz explained that every program strives to do something new, and that was certainly the case with this hybrid show. Finally, when asked if all
the work was worth the effort, Fritz said that it was worthwhile and that she hopes to hold this event in years to come. Fritz was very pleased to learn that students would be interested in attending the talent show next year. Lastly, Senior Director of Residential Life Jenifer Campbell and Senior Director at the Office for Student Involvement Dorothy Wenzel spoke on their experiences performing as administrators. Campbell said that she enjoys her time at the university working with young adults and gets a lot of satisfaction from it. Campbell said she hopes that hybrid events like this will continue in the future, as it allows both on-campus and virtual communities to get to know each other. Wenzel also highlighted how remote students could submit performances via YouTube and be part of the event, and that the transition between in-person and virtual acts felt seamless.
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Arts & Culture
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Committee Offers Learning Opportunities This Native American and Indigenous Peoples’ Month Fordham students create community based curriculum centered around Native and Indigenous culture
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NAIPM from page 1
Dortch spoke further about the need for allies, especially when the Native and Indigenous population is so small at Fordham. “Allies can do good things for Native and Indigenous people by taking a step back to learn and understand while allowing these students to take the spotlight and let their voice be heard.” The committee wanted to make a space where allies and Native or Indigenous students can learn through fun activities. They acknowledge that learning can be hard work, so by making it enjoyable, they hope in turn to make stronger connections with the community. The group will be hosting five events spread across the month of November. The kick-off event is a Native Festival, which aims to celebrate the start of the month with dancing, drummers and storytelling. The event, held on Nov. 14 at 12 p.m., will be in McGinley Ballroom at Rose Hill, but online students are welcome to participate from home as well. Compared to past years, this year’s Native Festival looks very different. Pre-coronavirus, the group would host the event at Rose
Hill where the greater Bronx or New York community could also come to learn and participate with the students. Now, since the campus isn’t open to the public, things look a little bit different. “We want to take precautions to make sure our performers are safe too, so we gave them multiple options (in-person and online) to make sure they feel safe,” said Marie Castro, the graduate intern at the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
“ An acknowledgment
of the history of the land that we are on is so important — the history of the tribal nations surrounding you and having a greater cultural and racial awareness.”
Teresa Jacobs, FCRH ’23
Even committee members are learning about their own Native and Indigenous culture, as well as learning about others. Castro spoke on the intersection of Latinidad and Native and Indigenous culture. She stated that a lot of the cultural practices her family does — farming, for example — come from the cultural practices of Native and Indigenous people in Puerto Rico. Since Fordham is a predominantly white institution, sometimes the history of different cultures can get lost or, worse, never even acknowledged. Committee member Teresa Jacobs, FCRH ’23, spoke on the importance of knowing who was on the land before the colonizers took it. “An acknowledgment of the history of the land that we are on is so important — the history of the tribal nations surrounding you and having a greater cultural and racial awareness.” Fordham University, in conjunction with New York City officials, have a long history of stealing land. Before the Fordham community was here, both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses sat on land that belonged to the Lenape tribe. The Lenape
community had been on the land for at least 11,000 years. The Lenape tribe focused on agriculture, hunting, fishing and communal gathering. Their land follows two rivers, the Delaware and the Hudson, and stretches through Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and New Jersey. Vera acknowledged the specialization and intersections of the culture. “Recognize that there are differences between Native cultures,” she said. “There were many many nations who practiced different cultures on this land way before my ancestors even got here. Think about all the land between California and New York; that has a lot of history.” Castro talked about the intersection of Native and Indigenous identity through other identities and the importance of that connection. “We have more in common than we do differences,” she said. “Although there is a small population on campus, we as underrepresented people need to be supporters of this community that is typically overlooked.” The group will also be hosting a Two-Spirit educational event
on Nov. 20, which happens to be Transgender Day of Remembrance. Dortch explained that Native and Indigenous people use the term Two-Spirit to encompass the intersections of their spiritual, sexual or gender identity. The NAIPM committee plans on collaborating with the LGBTQ+ committee since the day intersects the two cultures. “We are able to do much more if we can think of ourselves as moving pieces instead of stationary,” Dortch said. There will also be a guided painting event, a cooking show and a prize giveaway. These events, like the others, will highlight the cultural impact of art and food in Native and Indigenous culture. Event details are posted on the committee’s Instagram, @FordhamNative. “Because we live on land that has been stolen, and that has nurtured such rich cultures, we can’t help but have those traditions and values ingrained in our own cultures,” Dortch said. “Connecting this to Fordham, we really need to highlight that and show that we are all different but we also have a lot of similarities that can bring us together.”
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By ALYSSA MACALUSO Copy Editor
2020 has been a year defined by defying tradition. From virtual graduation ceremonies to mask mandates in public to the first president in U.S. history who refuses to concede, the experiences of Americans this year have been anything but traditional. Now, with one of the most traditional holidays rapidly approaching, many are struggling to decide which traditions to keep and which ones to break. Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 26 this year, has been an official American holiday since 1863, but it has been celebrated since 1621. The story starts with a three-day feast, during which members of the Plymouth colony and Wampanoag tribe celebrated the colonists’ first successful harvest — a harvest they were able to procure because of skills they learned from Indigenous peoples. There is a lot of controversy about whether Thanksgiving should still be nationally commemorated. Some believe that the story is used as an example of good relations between the two groups that downplays the violent actions of later colonists against Indigenous peoples. Every year, Thanksgiving ranks as one of the heaviest travel days of the year as families dispersed around the U.S. reunite. Even for those who do not travel to see family, dinners are often held with close friends, colloquially coined “Friendsgiving.” Each family incorporates its own traditions for the holiday, but most of the time a turkey and pumpkin pie are involved. One of the most popular Thanksgiving traditions is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York City every year; it will be held virtually this year. As COVID-19 cases are once again at astounding heights, many families are rethinking their Thanksgiving traditions. Usually a stressful event in terms of the large-scale planning and massive amount of food prepared, this Thanksgiving is made even more challenging as families try to figure out “how to observe traditions while also observing health regulations,” as one New York Times article put it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined the least risky activities for the holiday as a small dinner with members of the household and online shopping, while the
riskiest activities included shopping on or around Thanksgiving Day and participating in crowded events like parades or large indoor gatherings. Among the moderately risky activities was having a small dinner outdoors with friends or family who live nearby. However, there are other factors and ideas that families should keep in mind when planning Thanksgiving. Change With the Season Because Thanksgiving always falls on the last Thursday of November, the day changes every year, so the date itself is less important than the food and festivities that accompany it. Ava Peabody, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, explained that for her and her immediate family, Thanksgiving is “more about having the time to take a trip than having our particular traditions on the actual day. We can do them any day.” Peabody usually celebrates Thanksgiving with a trip to New York City with her parents, but they also have a more typical Thanksgiving celebration — which includes watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV (the live version as well as the rerun) and the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special and making deviled eggs — on or a few days after the holiday. Outdoors Are the New In(doors) The CDC notes that, if there is a planned gathering including people not in the immediate household, outdoors are much preferred to indoors. Thanksgiving dinners can be held in backyards, on rooftops or even in neighborhood streets. Opting for an outdoor dinner is a great way to have contact with people outside of the immediate family, especially at a time when many are lonely, isolated and anxious; it’s a great option for elderly individuals, in particular. Sam Elbedeiwy, FCLC ’22, usually reunites with family at his grandmother’s farm in Texas. This year, however, he and his family are going on a socially distanced camping trip to “avoid putting my other family members at risk.” He continued, “It’s definitely different, but I’m just excited to see my family together for the first time in a very long time.” The most im- portant thing to remember about an outdoor gath-
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ering is to maintain space between parties. Some suggestions include having different tables for each household that are properly spaced from one another or hosting a potluck-style dinner where the food is placed on a table and guests can serve themselves instead of passing dishes around. Host Rules If travel is unavoidable, then it is important to respect the rules of the host. College students, in particular, will be going home for the holidays as universities close campuses early. College students are also one of the populations with the highest cases of COVID-19, meaning that they pose an extremely high risk of spreading the virus to their home communities. Some examples of steps students can take before traveling include limiting contact with others and quarantining for 14 days before travel. If these are not feasible, then getting tested before and after they arrive home and isolating until results can also help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Avoiding visiting friends or people outside of the immediate family are further precautionary measures you can take. Bigger Does Not Mean Better Sometimes the best parties are those celebrated with a small group of loved ones. As one New York Times writer pointed out, “For many, instead of a celebration with relatives, this year will be spent with a chosen family, whether that’s with a pod or with friends — and sometimes both. Podsgiving (or Friendsgiving) still preserves the spirit of the holiday, with favorite dishes and the feeling of belonging.” Limiting in-person guest lists can help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and allow you to stop dodging the uncle you really don’t like speaking to at dinner. But, if your extended family and friends want to be included, then video conferencing platforms like Zoom can help connect you. Get Creative With the Cooking Thanksgiving is infamous for the hours spent in the kitchen preparing the dishes, and smaller-scale celebrations mean fewer hands to help out. It might not make sense to get as big of a turkey with a smaller number
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of dinner guests and portioning the side dishes so that they don’t have to be passed around are two ways that traditional Thanksgiving food can be revised. New York City chef and food writer Alejandra Ramos addressed the changes to Thanksgiving meals this year: “It’s important to acknowledge that this year is probably not going to look like previous ones and that is absolutely OK ... Nobody should feel pressured to match that same level this year. We don’t all have the same resources, cooking skills, time or even mental energy as we may have had in previous years.” For students like Max Breit, FCLC ’22, this may be the perfect opportunity to kick turkey off the menu and replace it with something else. He explained that “This may be an unpopular opinion, but I do not like Turkey and will forever dread having to eat it every Thanksgiving.” Another option is to throw out the old cookbook and define a new tradition. Exchanging the usual roasted turkey for pernil, turkey biryani or stuffed portobellos can be both a fun challenge for the family and can introduce exciting new flavors. We also need to take into account the fact that we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, and the health of the population is still at risk. As one Washington Post writer said, “All of this might seem extreme. People will wonder how we can give up so much, when we’ve already gone through almost eight months of isolation and stress. But that’s exactly the point. Don’t let that sacrifice be wasted.” This Thanksgiving, a powerful way we can show the longheld tradition of expressing gratitude is by keeping our loved ones safe to the best of our abilities. Kathryn Echele, FCLC ’23, reflected on the upcoming holiday: “Things will definitely be different. There will be no gathering, and I won’t see my cousins until maybe Christmas at the earliest due to the dangers of a pandemic. But, I am confident that our tradition of giving thanks will continue because that is unaffected by a virus.” Elbedeiwy agreed, saying, “We might have to sacrifice a few of our traditions this year, but I don’t care. I’m just happy that I get to see my family.”
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’Tis the Season for a Virtual Dance Season at Alvin Ailey
Watch and support the dancers of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s new and old work during the holidays The premiere of a piece titled “Testament” will feature choreography by Matthew Rushing, Clifton Brown and Yusha-Marie Sorzano, a powerhouse trio of choreographers. They collaborated to create this work in response to “Revelations” using an original score by Damien Sneed, an award-winning artist who excels in gospel and jazz. “‘Testament’ will draw on the deep personal experiences and reflections from current dancers,” Battle said.
“ Our voices ring
loudly through our bodies’ language, and when our hearts break, we get up. When our hearts break, we stand up. When our hearts break, we dance.” Hope Boykin, AAADT company member
SOPHIA ORTEGA/THE OBSERVER
This December, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be showcasing performances on YouTube for free, allowing anyone to see their work. By SOPHIA ORTEGA Staff Writer
With an extended winter break, you may already be worrying about entertaining yourself for two months away from school. If you need a break from social media and Zoom, tune in to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT)’s first ever Virtual Winter Season on YouTube. From Dec. 2-31, the company will be showcasing both old and new works in a completely online format. The entire season will be livestreamed for free and
feature guest artists as well as returning performers. Robert Battle, artistic director of the company, explained his goal as “bringing people together using dance and the African American cultural experience with works that inspire and enlighten as well as provoke conversation and change.” To engage with the community and younger generations, there will be an interactive “Family Matinee” and a variety of other special programs as a “much-needed opportunity to come together in a universal celebration of the human spirit,” Battle said.
The most renowned piece in the company’s repertoire, “Revelations,” will be celebrated opening night with a virtual benefit to commemorate 60 years since its debut. “Revelations” is a 36-minute ballet with 10 different sections, one of AAADT founder Alvin Ailey’s most famous works. With songs such as “Fix Me, Jesus” and “Sinner Man,” the piece uses spiritual themes to explore Ailey’s African American culture and childhood. For this virtual performance, “Revelations” will be “reimagined,” keeping the integrity of the original piece while using modern times as inspiration.
Another new piece to keep an eye out for is “A Jam Session for Troubling Times” by company member and choreographer Jamar Roberts. Jazzy, energetic and nuanced choreography will explore the music of Charlie “Bird” Parker through movement. This work will use the spirit of jazz and the sound of the saxophone to uplift and inspire. More jazz pieces will be showcased, specifically, highlights from Ailey’s collaboration with Duke Ellington in “Pas de Duke,” originally danced by Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov. To stay up to date with the company’s content and Virtual Winter Season, fans can subscribe to its YouTube channel. Last May, Battle announced “Ailey All Access,” a way to watch
the company’s performances for free through YouTube. Since the pandemic, Ailey’s YouTube platform has reached over 10 million countries. Company members produced multiple dance series, such as “The Show Must Go On,” “Dancer Diaries” and “Conversations With…” to keep the dance community alive. Being an artist during this time requires maturity and adaptability, adjusting as needed to the new protocols and COVID-19 surges. But one thing that has stayed consistent in these professional dancers is their work ethic, passion and dedication to the artform itself. The performers of AAADT are no doubt working just as hard in the studio, even if their pieces won’t have a live audience. Despite social limitations, these artists are taking full advantage of the opportunity to inspire communities with dance. Hope Boykin, a company member of almost 20 years, explained it best: “Our voices ring loudly through our bodies’ language, and when our hearts break, we get up. When our hearts break, we stand up. When our hearts break, we dance.” Some BFA students at The Ailey School are especially excited to see this event. Claire Pennington, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, remembers watching Ailey’s 2019 season last year. She kept the playbill and recalled how mesmerizing the performances were: “It was powerful. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. I was up on the balcony, but their movement was still able to captivate me.” Pennington also shared her perspective on the upcoming online format, saying, “The virtual performance will be like front-row seats — but you’re just sitting at home.” The Ailey organization is also collecting donations to give back to the dancers who will be pouring their hearts out on stage, knowing that their audience goes beyond the screen.
Ram Jams: ‘Positions’ Controversial, yet brave: Ariana Grande’s 6th album is not that good By DYLAN ANDERSON Contributing Writer
Genre: Pop On a Playlist With: Dua Lipa, Troye Sivan, Madison Beer, Bebe Rexha, Olivia O’Brien Ariana Grande released her sixth studio album, “Positions,” on Oct. 30, a little over a year and a half after her album “thank u, next” came out. With only five months between the releases of “thank u, next” and “Sweetener,” I don’t think that anyone was complaining about not having new Grande songs to listen to this past year. I was still somewhat excited about this album drop, specifically because of her vocal talents and her ability to write bop after bop. I was ready for brand new, happy music from Grande. A Grande who could deliver vocals with fun beats and lyrics that you want to scream with your friends. But what did she do? She did nothing of the sort. “Positions” opens with “shut up,” a song where she lets everyone know they need to mind their own business. She has gone through a lot in these past few years, but she
doesn’t need people to worry about her anymore. It is a very “I don’t care what others think of me, leave me alone please” version of her 2013 song “Honeymoon Avenue.” I think the beginning of the song is amazing: It’s the new her with some reflections to the old Grande. As the opener to the album, “shut up” should prepare you for what should be great vocals and a fun, new era. But, I don’t feel that is what ends up happening. The song I was most excited about was “motive” because Doja Cat is featured on it. With the discography that Doja Cat has, “motive” had the chance to be the best song on the album, but it’s so boring. The level of emotion in the song is the same the entire time. I know Doja Cat for her attitude and her funny and smart rap lyrics. Practically every Doja Cat song has a TikTok dance made for it. With lines like, “Want me on your neck ’cause you wanted respect / ’Cause you fightin’ some war, baby / Well, I had to bring the fists out, had to put a wall up,” you won’t catch anyone making a TikTok dance for this song. These women have made some of the most famous songs to ever exist. I don’t hear many people talking about “motive.”
The Weeknd and Ty Dolla $ign are also featured on the album. Despite his popularity, I do not like The Weeknd. In every song he sings, it sounds like he just finished crying, and I just can’t get down with that. “off the table” feat. The Weeknd is, unsurprisingly, a ballad, just like the majority of his discography. When artists come together, I want something new. I want something we haven’t heard before, but this song isn’t anything new. “safety net” featuring Ty Dolla $ign isn’t that bad. While I usually avoid his type of rap, his auto-tuned voice is nice. This song makes me imagine my friend and myself riding Citi Bikes downtown at sunset. The best song on the album is “my hair.” You have to wait through seven other songs to get to it, but the wait may actually be worth it. Grande’s vocals on this song are what the rest of the album was missing. Her famous whistle notes make their appearance, surrounded by her soulful voice, and create the excellence that is “my hair.” This song is perfect for late-night driving with the windows down, whether you or the Uber driver is behind the wheel.
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The last half of the album is no different from the first: underwhelming. And that’s OK. Grande could have done so much with this album, and the only reason I have been listening to it over and over is because I am writing this. With endless access to infinite numbers of songs, I don’t see myself playing these songs on purpose, but I also don’t see myself skipping them if they come on. I might just talk over them.
The Bottom Line: It’s not her best, but it isn’t bad. If you like it, that’s cool. The Peaks: “my hair” and the beginning of “shut up” The Valleys: “motive” and “off the table” The Verdict: 6.5/10