Issue 12 Fall 2023

Observer the

November 1, 2023

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

VOLUME XLIII, ISSUE 12

Holy Cross Defeats Fordham Football on Family Weekend, 49-47

By CHRIS MURRAY Sports & Health Editor

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Family Weekend at Rose Hill brought sunny weather and packed stands to Joe Moglia Stadium. As the temperature broke 70 degrees and the seats filled with maroon-garbed supporters, Fordham football took the field to face their Patriot League rivals, the 22nd ranked College of the Holy Cross (HC) Crusaders.

The game was marked as a sellout by Fordham Athletics, but a bustling stadium and beautiful weather could not will the Rams to victory, as a late pick six thrown

by CJ Montes, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’26, led to the home team falling just short, 49-47.

The line to set up tailgates in the parking lot started early in the morning. By gametime, the entire lot had filled with cars, barbecues and a sea of tailgaters eager to support the Rams. There were so many people that even as the game began with Moglia Stadium’s bleachers filled, there remained a large contingent of Fordham fans at the tailgate enjoying the clear skies and unseasonable warmth.

Fordham Athletics reported a sold out stadium for the Family Weekend game, as fans filled Moglia Stadium to enjoy the weather and cheer on the Rams.

see FOOTBALL page 6

SJP Hosts Middle East Information Session

By SAM BRACY Staff Writer

College campuses across the U.S. have grappled with students’ responses to the war which ensued after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants and the subsequent siege and bombardment of the densely populated Gaza strip by Israel’s military. In response, leaders of Fordham’s undergraduate Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized an information session open to university community members on Oct. 26.

The Israel-Hamas war has mushroomed into a lightning rod issue across different campuses, with many universities fearful of conflicts between different student groups in support of Israel and Palestine. Protests have sprung up at campuses across New York City, including Hunter College, Brooklyn College, Columbia University and New York University. The scale and frequency of demonstrations in response to the violence has led many universities to be fearful of violence targeting community members.

According to a spokesperson from SJP, they sought to strike an “educational” tone by holding an information session. On the eve of the first incursion of Israeli ground forces into Gaza,

NEWS PAGE 2

A Rainy NYC

Stormy weekends continue to dampen students’ moods

SJP asked students to come with “questions and a willingness to learn” in a flier posted on the group’s instagram.

Students formed a circle and listened as a spokesperson for Fordham SJP, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, initiated the event by characterizing the conflict between Israel and Palestinians as a political, rather than religious, struggle.

“We don’t conflate Jewish identity with the Zionist movement,” the student said, referring to the political movement which advocates for the formation of a Jewish nation. “We believe that is bigoted.”

The student requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation and cited repercussions experienced by activists who stand in solidarity with Palestine. The anonymous student added that they are afraid they will be barred from visiting Jaffa, their family’s ancestral home in Palestine, if they are publicly identified as a pro-Palestinian activist.

Student attendees then took turns sharing their perspectives on a variety of subjects from the rights of Palestinians inside of Gaza, the history of conflict in the region and their own relationships to their Palestinian or Jewish heritage. see SJP page 4

SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE 6

Fordham vs LUC

Men’s Soccer team loses in regular season finale

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/THE OBSERVER

Fordham has not announced and declined to confirm details regarding the program’s status.

LSE Study Abroad Program Not Offered in 2024-25

The study abroad partnership program between the London School of Economics (LSE) and Fordham University will not be offered as a part of the Office of Study Abroad’s list of approved programs for the 2024-25 academic year, according to Andrew Byrne, assistant director for partner and exchange programs.

Joseph Rienti, director of study abroad, declined to comment on the state of the LSE study abroad program and refused to address the specific reasons behind the decision to not offer the program in the following academic year.

He stated that Fordham continues to monitor “the health, safety and security risks in locations

where students, faculty, and staff travel.”

Will Breare-Hall, student recruitment and study abroad manager at LSE, said that as of Oct. 27, he had not been notified

by Fordham that the program would not be offered for the 202425 academic year. He described the news as both a “surprise” and a “disappointment.”

“Fordham and LSE have worked together for many years and we have been delighted to welcome Fordham students to the School,” Breare-Hall said. “I hope this decision reflects a hiatus in, rather than an end to, our relationship.”

The partnership with LSE afforded students the opportunity to study at the institution — which is ranked seventh in the world for economics and

business — for an entire academic year. Other comparable programs, such as those offered at Fordham’s London Centre campus, have a duration of one semester. Fordham students who studied abroad at LSE participated in the school’s general course, which allows participants to choose from over 300 courses spanning the social sciences, according to the school’s website. The website also stipulates that students in the general course become lifelong alumni of the school, which provides a range of benefits. General course students, according to the school’s website, typically enroll in four full-credit courses which span their full year at LSE.

CENTERFOLD PAGE 8-9

OPINIONS PAGE 12

ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 15

By ANA KEVORKIAN Managing Editor

Halloween Runway

Fordham students compete in FFP’s Halloween Runway Event

Modern Dating

The current dating experience lacks openness and genuinity

see STUDY ABROAD page 2

LA Band in Brooklyn

Andy Frasco & The U.N. rock their Brooklyn performance

2

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November 1, 2023

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

Weekly Rainstorms May Be the ‘New Normal’ for New York

Fordham community members weigh in on rainy weekends, dangerous roads and dampened moods

By COLBY MCCASKILL Contributing Writer

New York City has faced record-setting heavy rains in recent months, resulting in unpredictable commute patterns, broken umbrellas, underground subway seclusion and the loss of sunshine for Fordham students.

The New York Times reported that New York City only saw 12 weekends to date in 2023 without rainfall in Central Park, and heavy rainfall has set records in some parts of the city.

The weather station at John F. Kennedy International Airport in southeast Queens recorded 8.05 inches of rain on Sept. 29, according to the public weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

That figure has set the new record for the most rainfall recorded since the inception of that weather station in 1948.

For some students, excessive precipitation has led to serious danger.

Anya McGoldrick, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’24 and a student-worker for the university’s transportation department, said that excessive rain has posed a risk to Ram Van drivers and noted that harsh weather conditions increase the chances of experiencing a road accident.

She also shared that Ram Vans run the risk of hydroplaning due to their large size and, to avoid this risk, drivers are advised to steer clear of the flooded shoulders by driving in the middle lane.

There are parts of the route, however, where water is an unavoidable obstacle.

“When you go over a puddle, you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh. I could lose control at any time,’” McGoldrick said.

Driving in the rain is not a once-a-year event: Ram Van drivers shuttle students between the university’s Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses in every type of weather. When the rain is particularly heavy, however, McGoldrick said flooding is common and noted that compared to last year, the flooding is “a lot worse so far.”

Other water-related hiccups can contribute to delayed schedules and late students, as even the simple problem of water on the ticketing tablets can make it hard to board effectively. On a larger scale, though, these hazardous driving conditions can become what McGoldrick called a “safety issue.”

Plinio Gonzalez, Director of University Transportation at Fordham, confirmed that rain weather heightens the risk of accidents for Ram Van drivers. He also pointed out that on Sept. 29, the day of the major flooding events, Ram Van drivers successfully ferried students back — without any complaints or accidents. Furthermore, if any driver expressed a desire to not drive, “they don’t have to drive,” he said.

With other students, these excessive rains and weather conditions have been a barrier to their fall plans.

According to Missy Lalo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’26, cold and rainy conditions mixed with humid subways are a recipe for unpleasant commutes.

On a recent trip downtown, Lalo

wasn’t sure if she was drenched more from the rain or sweat. At another point, she noted a massive puddle form in the middle of a once unpaved road.

“Before they repaved the road, it was so bad,” she said. “There was no way of escaping that corner without getting your socks wet.”

With the sun less present, Lucía Barberena, Professional and Continuing Studies ’24, has looked into getting her daily vitamin D intake some other way. She added that she has been looking into investing in sun lamps because she is a “big sun lover.”

Barberena shared that Friday afternoons had meant basking in the stress-free rays of the weekend, but with the onslaught of rain, her plans were often disrupted.

According to climate experts, changing weather conditions might not be going away soon.

Stephen Holler, associate professor of physics at Fordham, has extensive experience in weather monitoring. He noted that the amount of quick, intense rain is what differentiates a rainy season from storms caused by global-heating.

“What’s attributable to climate change is the amount of rain that comes down all at one time,” he said.

According to Holler, a warming planet, while seemingly incompatible with a cold rainy day, is actually the very reason for the storms. Defined simply, “a warmer atmosphere holds more water.”

Both Holler and Rohit Aggarwala, — the Chief Climate Officer for New York City, both are

TAE HONG/THE OBSERVER

Consistent rains for the past 16 weekends have led to inconveniences for some and hazardous driving conditions for others.

in agreement upon the idea that New York City will continue to see more intense weather.

“It was frightening, but what’s even scarier is we know more of these events are coming,” Aggarwala said on Oct. 11, before a New York City Council session.

“We have had three record-breaking rainfalls in the last two years.

This September was the wettest month the city has experienced in 100 years.”

“The sad reality is our climate is changing faster than our infrastructure can respond,”

Aggarwala explained on the day of the major flooding-events.

Despite hopes for a quick solution, he noted that “changing infrastructure takes time.”

Meanwhile, Fordham students may continue to see intense weather disrupt their everyday lives. For those most knowledgeable about our changing climate, these patterns aren’t going to suddenly cease. Aggarwala concluded that the growing frequency of these storms is so certain that they constitute, in his words, “our new normal.”

Administrators Declined To Explain Status of LSE Program

The study abroad program allowed students to study at the world-renowned institution for a full academic year STUDY ABROAD from page 1

The eligibility criteria for the course include the successful completion of at least two years of university-level study in a country outside the United Kingdom and success in one’s academic coursework, particularly in the social sciences.

Vincent Pascasio, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25, is currently studying at LSE as a part of the collaboration between LSE and Fordham.

Pascasio said he was “shocked, but perhaps not surprised” to find out that the program is not being offered in the 2024 application cycle.

D’Souza added that while he had no idea the program was not being offered in the next academic year, he was not surprised as he described there were many problems at LSE during his stay Pascasio explained that although participating in the program is a significant academic and personal commitment, he feels that the opportunity to gain experience

outside one’s social space makes that commitment worthwhile.

He regrets that this opportunity will not be available to Fordham students for the following academic year

Echoing Pascasio’s sentiment, Adam D’Souza, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’24 and The Observer’s former business manager, studied abroad in the program partnership with LSE during the 2022-23 academic year and noted that the one academic year duration of the program was a key factor in leading him to choose to attend LSE. “Being there for such a long time, you get to do so much,” D’Souza noted. He described the program as “the best year of my life.”

Despite his positive experience overall, D’Souza noted that union activity at LSE during their year abroad made the experience more difficult, particularly when it came to transferring credits.

Pascasio said that labor activity within the educational sphere has not disturbed his experience, but a train workers’ strike

has led to canceled classes due to commute delays.

D’Souza added that while he was unaware the program was not being offered in the next academic year, he was not surprised as he described many problems at LSE during his stay.

“Teachers would go on strike — and they would go on strike for three weeks — and you just wouldn’t have class for three weeks,” D’Souza recounted. “So what were you supposed to do?”

He further explained that, despite being in his final year at Fordham, he is classified as a sophomore due to the delay in receiving his LSE transcript as a result of the marking and assessment boycott. According to D’Souza, this has caused confusion between his adviser, the Rev. Vincent DeCola, S.J., assistant dean of the Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center; the study abroad office; and LSE. DeCola declined to comment on the status of the program.

The marking and assessment boycott was an industrial action by the University and College Union in the United Kingdom which “covered all marking and assessment processes that contribute to summative assessment decisions for all students.” The boycott lasted from April 20, 2023, to Sept. 6, meaning students did not receive grades from impacted institutions during that period.

Pascasio noted that he will consider taking advantage of the discounted tuition rate for

MARLUS GANCHER VIA WIKI MEDIA COMMONS

The London School of Economics was unaware of Fordham’s decision to discontinue the program collaboration for the 2024-25 academic year.

graduate school at LSE, which is offered to him as an alumni of the institution, and said he regrets that this opportunity will not be available to Fordham students for the following academic year.

While the LSE program is no longer approved by the study abroad office, the university’s study abroad website continues to advertise its London Centre campus, which is open to both Fordham College and Gabelli

students and is located in Clerkenwell, a central part of London.

At the time of publication, Dennis Jacobs, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, could not be reached for comment. Additionally, Bob Howe, associate vice president for communications and special adviser to the president, declined to comment beyond the statement provided

by Joseph Rienti.

THE OBSERVER November 1, 2023

www.fordhamobserver.com

News

3

Rose Hill RA Union Remains in Contract Negotiations

The RAs reported slow progress on communications with the university, which have been ongoing since May

By DYLAN VILELA Contributing Writer

Members of the Rose Hill Resident Assistants (RA) union at Fordham are still in the process of reaching an agreement with Fordham University over their demands. The union, which represents all RAs at the Rose Hill campus, is calling for an increase in compensation, improved paths of communication with the Office of Residential Life at Rose Hill, and protection from dismissal due to violations of stipulations in undistributed handbooks.

According to Tarchithaa Chandra Sekharan, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’24, the union’s elected bargaining committee consists of twelve members, nine of which, including herself, presented a shared statement to The Observer. These members include Mo Kranwinkel-Omisore, Teshley Kamen, Araly Langomas and Chandra Sekharan, all FCRH ’24; Henry Pelmas, Heba Elsetouhi, Sophia Ghelardini and Isabella Guaraniello, all FCRH ’25; and Seamus Dougherty, FCRH ’26.

These bargaining committee members conjunctly expressed both optimism and concern about the ongoing negotiations.

“There has been a change in communication from the administration since the efforts of the union began,” the statement read.

“We have protection in a way we never did before with the union and resources to check in with to quell our fears of dismissal over any unreasonable and unstandardized expectations that may come up.”

In a social media post uploaded to the union’s Instagram account on Feb. 1, the caption announced the unionization of Rose Hill RAs,

where they expressed that they were “tired of no pay, and a lack of respect and communication.”

Rose Hill RAs also noted their desire for compensation, protection and communication as the baseline for their unionization efforts; the union organized a rally on Feb. 3 and has since hosted several events, such as an information session and social event, which have been open to all Fordham resident assistants.

A formal motion to unionize — with a 76% approval rate from the Rose Hill RA staff — was presented to University President Tania Tetlow on Feb. 1. The university refused to acknowledge or accept the union, according to another post uploaded to the union’s Instagram page. Afterward, a formal vote among RAs was held on March 21, the results of which (47-19) mandated that the university recognize the union.

“We believed that we no longer should be exploited and treated as if our labor was replaceable and was not attached to our personhood and are now empowered by collective power,” the statement from members of the bargaining committee said.

Additionally, according to the statement, some bargaining committee members noted that although the Rose Hill RAs wait for responses from the university on changes made to their contracts , this often results in no response being received whatsoever. With the ongoing unionization efforts, however, the RA’s are able to negotiate and collectively organize to improve contracts, which determine their compensation, commitments and job description.

The Rose Hill RA union is represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, a union of over 103,000 employees in the Northeast region. Scott Williams, the Rose Hill RAs’ OPEIU representative, shared that OPEIU provides legal assistance to the students and has helped the team navigate their relationship with Fordham both as students and as an employee union.

OPEIU also represents RA unions at numerous other colleges and universities, including Barnard, Tufts and the University of Pennsylvania.

According to Williams, the Rose Hill RAs did not have a detailed official job description or handbook last year, and current RAs for the 2023-24 academic year are in the process of outlining their roles and responsibilities with the hope of attaining the three pillars they were bargaining for.

“Through organizing and coming together, student workers can have a real voice and work to improve the quality of life for students at Fordham through the collaboration and respect that is the collective bargaining process,” Williams said.

In advocating for a stronger voice in the Rose Hill RA employment contract, summer training sessions organized by Fordham and the RA union in 2023 allowed for the union to ask questions about their employment contract.

The training sessions are a new initiative led by the Rose Hill RA union’s bargaining committee.

Prior to this system, the employment contract was ascribed to RAs without the opportunity to collectively negotiate factors such

HOWCHOU VIA WIKI MEDIA COMMONS.

Rose Hill RAs across the residence halls, including Martyrs Court shown above, have been calling for compensation, protection and communication.

as compensation and the ability to have a grievance procedure, members of the bargaining committee noted.

Despite the implementation of these sessions, some members of the bargaining committee claim they have yet to receive an official updated handbook, which was promised to them by the university during the summer training sessions in August. The handbook stipulates the processes of dealing with grievances, programming procedures for residents and other details regarding RA employment.

“We believe that this union and the contract we are working on will bring us closer to Residential Life in the long term,” the bargaining commitee wrote in the shared statement. “The contract we are bargaining for collectively is one that we hope will bring accountability and understanding between us the employees and Fordham the employer.”

According to the university’s union negotiations page of the website, the most recent bargaining session occurred on Oct. 4. While no new proposals were presented to Fordham’s administration, three counter-proposals were given relating to nondiscrimination, terms of appointments and orientation. Furthermore, the university made two new proposals on management rights and no protests.

“We are empathetic to the RA’s experiences and look forward to working together to develop a shared standard for the working environment,” the university’s human resources website reads.

Bob Howe, associate vice president of communications, declined to comment further on the university’s position toward the union’s efforts.

According to the university’s information page on the union negotiations, additional bargaining sessions are scheduled for Nov. 8 and Nov. 15.

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November 1, 2023

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THE OBSERVER

Students With Opposing Viewpoints Engaged In Dialogue With SJP

The discussion aimed to spark open conversations among students of differing opinions on longstanding tensions between Israel and Palestine SJP from page 1

Sam Gluck, FCLC ’26, who identifies as Jewish, drew a parallel between the historical displacement and killing of Jewish peoples and the present-day violence in Gaza.

“ I wish for a two-state

solution. This can only be achieved in a world where the Palestinian government is willing to share the land with the Jews.”

David Wyle, FCLC ’27

“It is very antisemitic, in fact, to conflate all us Jews with this brutal violence,” Gluck said.

“You hear Jewish people, when they talk about the Holocaust, they say ‘never again,’ but it’s happening again right now in Palestine.”

David Wyle, FCLC ’27, spoke in support of Israel and argued that Hamas poses a fundamental obstacle to coexistence in the region so long as the group remains in control of the Gaza Strip.

“I wish for a two-state solution,” Wyle said. “This can only be achieved in a world where the Palestinian government is willing to share the land with the

Jews. This means that Hamas cannot exist.”

Wyle’s responses incited passionate reactions from other students at the information session.

The spokesperson for SJP, however, stepped in to moderate the conversation and ensure that Wyle had the opportunity to respond.

The two sides struggled to find common ground as disagreements over the history of the Israel and Palestine conflict posed an impasse. Soon, everyone in attendance was standing, and passions escalated as the conversation moved to the present-day hostage situation in Gaza.

agrees that killing is never okay,” Kristeen said. “We are here because Israel’s government is cutting off food and water and electricity to civilians and bombing them to force them from their land.”

After the event, the SJP spokesperson said they were happy with how the information session went.

“It was the most engaged I have ever seen my club,” they said. “Usually, it’s just a head nodding session. It’s good to have some diversity.”

Wyle seconded that the conversation was well-mediated and allowed for people of

differing opinions to voice their viewpoints. He commended the spokesperson for SJP, who acted as the moderator, for not dismissing his opinions, engaging with his ideas in “good faith” and for “being very civil and allowing me a chance to speak.”

The undergraduate SJP remains unofficially recognized

by Fordham’s administration after Keith Eldredge, assistant vice president and dean of student services, decided in 2017 — when he served as dean of students at Lincoln Center — to permanently ban the group, arguing that if officially sanctioned SJP would “present

a barrier to open dialogue.” The ensuing six-year legal battle concluded after the New York State Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling that mandated Fordham’s recognition of the club.

At Thursday’s event, the spokesperson for SJP signaled hope that Fordham would reverse the decision this semester.

Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications and special advisor to the president, declined to comment on the matter. In a statement from March 16, 2023, Howe said the university does not plan to revisit SJP’s club status.

“ We are here because

Israel’s government is cutting off food and water and electricity to civilians and bombing them to force them from their land”

Samarali Kristeen, FCLC ’27

Samarali Kristeen, FCLC ’27, disagreed with Wyle and said that Israel’s goal of eliminating Hamas could not justify the human cost of war in the form of civilian casualties.

“Everyone here agrees that antisemitism is real. Everyone

GSE Lecture Addresses Racial Equity in Schools

The talk, which discussed improving educational conditions for students of color, highlighted a seven-yearlong research project from Decoteau J. Irby

By NISHKA SINGH

Contributing Writer The latest installment of the Graduate School of Education’s (GSE) annual Barbara Jackson, Ed.D. Lecture invited Decoteau J. Irby, associate professor in the department of educational policy studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, to speak on eliminating educational obstacles for students of color. The event was held at the E. Corrigan Conference Center on the 12th floor lounge of the Lincoln Center campus’ Leon Lowenstein Center.

The lecture, entitled “Getting Past Stuck: Research-Practice in the Pursuit of Racial Equity and Justice,” walked the audience through a seven-yearlong research project Irby undertook with Central Waters High School.

Much of Irby’s extensive participatory action research on educational policy and racial equity took place at Central Waters, which — while majority white — has an increasing proportion of students of color.

In this project, Irby observed mundane violence at Central Waters, which he defined as small, little actions and behaviors that chip away at students’ sense of belongingness and powerful learning and educational experiences.

Irby described an example of when Kevin, a student of color, was standing in the lunch line with two white students in front of him. The server provided meals to the white students before him but closed the line when it was Kevin’s turn, leading him not to receive

lunch that day. He recounted the situation to his principal, Ms. Moore, who was Black.

The principal immediately confronted the lunch server that day, and the server offered Kevin soup rather than an entire meal.

Kevin refused the meal and said to the server: “I want you to know that I know what you did to me.” Irby argued that this type of mundane violence against students of color undermines schools’ capacities to become a supportive community.

His time at the school culminated in the writing of his most recent book, “Stuck Improving: Racial Equity and School Research,” which was published

by Harvard Education Press. Irby, who teaches education policy studies, is the author of multiple published papers and four books.

His book recounts the story of how Central Waters grew its organizational capacity for racial equity, which Irby described as “a collection of resources (material, relational and aspirational) that allow a person or group to accomplish a particular task within an organization.”

Irby used his research at Central Waters to draw key insights into the everyday experiences of students of color and provided the audience with concepts applicable to educators efforts. He asserted that effective racial equity change consists of disruptive and creatively expansive practices in opposition to the more commonly implemented “add-on equity” approach many schools choose to put into effect.

One example Irby highlighted in his research was Central Waters’ desire to increase the number of Black and brown students who engaged in extracurricular activities. Administrators first increased the number of early and late buses available, which did little to change the status quo.

Later, the Central Waters made a deep organizational change — adding extracurricular activities in the middle of the school day schedule. This disruption led to the proliferation of not just Black and brown students in extracurricular activities, but also teachers who advised the programs.

Another resource suggested to educators in the lecture to increase organizational capacity is influential presence.

“Influential presence is really about the idea that Black and brown people’s histories, ideas, aspirations, find their way into the organization in a systemic way,” Irby said. “This can happen through the curriculum, through leadership, and it’s not about any individual person.”

Irby went on to explain that improvements stem from likeminded and driven people committed to making a change.

“While racial representation is important, I argue that influential presence is more important than representation,” he said.

Following the event, Elizabeth Leisy Stosich, an associate professor and associate chair of the division of educational leadership, administration and policy at Fordham, offered her reflections on Irby’s lecture.

COURTESY OF DR. DECOTEAU IRBY

Irby's lecture explored development of educational policies that center racial equity.

“Dr. Irby’s research is unique in that it draws heavily on theory yet provides specific guidance for educators seeking to advance racial equity in schools and systems,” she said. “I was struck by his long and sustained commitment to working with the school (Central Waters High School) because deep and lasting change takes time.”

Stosich said that leadership programs at Fordham GSE’s use improvement science to approach change in educational

institutions, and Irby’s work has helped Stosich to think more deeply about the challenges and opportunities of leading towards equity.

At the conclusion of the event, Irby shared that the main insight he hopes audiences take away from the lecture would be that improving racial justice in school is a collective effort.

“Making schools more racially equitable and just requires struggle from educators, parents and leaders,” he said.

THE OBSERVER November 1, 2023

www.fordhamobserver.com

USGLC Fills Nine Open Positions in Fall 2023 Election Cycle

News

5

Newly elected representatives aim to address students’ unmet needs, such as commuter resources and involvement within the organization

By INSIYA GANDHI AND ALEXA VILLATORO News Editors

United Student Government at Lincoln Center (USGLC) elections for the 2023-24 academic year were held on Monday, Oct. 23 at around 2:30 p.m. and closed the following day on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. There were 12 available positions in this election cycle, of which nine were filled.

The Office for Student Involvement announced available positions and elections in an email on Oct. 5. USGLC announced the election results on Oct. 24 through a post on the Instagram account @fordhamusglc, detailing the rosters for each position as well as the votes each candidate received.

The USGLC elections exhibited a low voter turnout, which has been a consistent pattern over the years. The vice president, chair of facilities, chair of student affairs and secretary elections garnered over 180 votes each, representing approximately 6% of the total student body population at the Lincoln Center campus. The position with the most votes cast was the first-year senator position, which collected 365 votes. The GSBLC first-year senator position collected 28, and the senior senator position collected 13.

Fiona Shehu, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25 and vice president-elect of USGLC, said that she decided to run for the vacant vice presidency because she believed the position was an integral part of USGLC. She added that she felt the vice president would provide helpful auxiliary support in terms of sorting through logistics and correspondence within USGLC. Additionally, following her role in kickstarting two humanitarian relief fundraisers as the former chair of the humanitarian committee over the summer alongside USGLC President Tanzema Qureshi, FCLC ’24, Shehu wanted

to increase her involvement with different USGLC committees.

“It was a matter of interest to me, whether it’s the committee of sexual misconduct, facilities, affairs or my own committee I was running, it just felt right,” she said.

The following positions, which included vacancies in the secretary and chair positions were also elected: Daphne Mei, FCLC ’25, was elected secretary; Rachita Mehta, FCLC ’24, was elected chair of student affairs; and Isabella Casano, FCLC ’25, was elected as chair of facilities.

Several senatorial positions were also filled in the election cycle, ranging across all four undergraduate grades. Annabel Kinsey, Annarosa Lam and Samirali Masoud, all FCLC ’27, were elected to serve as firstyear senators for FCLC; Hannah Huang, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’27, was elected as the GSBLC first-year senator; and Emely Sosa, FCLC ’23, was elected as the senior senator for FCLC. Mei shared that while briefly serving as sophomore senator, she felt inspired to assume a more “impactful” role within the organization, which prompted her to run for the position of secretary.

She expressed that her goal as secretary is to introduce initiatives which improve communication between student government and students at Lincoln Center. Mei adds that this effort encompasses providing regular updates on USGLC activities, hosting open forums to garner student feedback, and initiatives to engage more students in decision-making processes.

“I am a firm believer that by nurturing a transparent and inclusive environment, we can establish a student government that authentically represents the diverse needs and aspirations of our student body,” Mei said.

Shehu echoed a similar sentiment and added that she has heard students express that they feel underrepresented, and wants to work toward making communities at Fordham feel

COURTESY OF FIONA SHEHU

Fiona Shehu, FCLC ’25, was elected vice president of USGLC in the recent elections.

heard and appreciated.

“My strategy was just to be authentic and only because it was just really important for me to assure the student body that I’m there to represent them and help them in any way that I possibly can,” the vice president-elect said.

Elected as a first-year senator, Kristeen said that she ran for office because she wants to have a lasting impact on spaces she is involved in. She added that she enjoys being an active member of the community and felt that running for a senate position would immerse her into Fordham.

“Being a productive member of this university means a lot to me and I’ll always do my best to be a voice for those who feel they do not have one,” she said.

Kristeen added that her priorities as senator will include being equally dedicated to both commuter and resident students. She noted that she hopes to spend the year bridging the gap between residents and commuters, with practices that will outlast her time in the senator position. She describes what is a “distinct” divide between the two groups that can leave commuters feeling ostracized.

In regard to resident students, Kristeen said she also wants to voice their concerns due to high on-campus living costs.

“If students moved across the country to pay thousands of dollars a year, they should have everything they are paying for.”

Hoping to focus on improving commuter resources and class offerings, Sosa was the sole runner and winner of the open senior senator position. Sosa, who is a commuter herself, said it can be hard for students to feel like they are a part of the university community without sufficient resources available to them.

The newly elected senior senator for FCLC pointed to lounge and designated study areas as areas of needed improvement and described that they lack comfortability and space in comparison to those at the Rose Hill campus. Sosa hopes to influence the university’s investment in the commuter experience at Lincoln Center during her time as a senator.

“I don’t see the same investment in making the spaces at LC the same,” Sosa said. “And if you have been to both campuses, then you can really tell the difference.”

Sosa added that she has had positive interactions with members of USGLC so far and believes the team will work well together.

She emphasized that she is determined, approachable and easily accessible to the student body.

“I can talk to people and just make them feel like they’re being heard and listened to,” she said.

Differences in the amount of course offerings for majors such as political science across the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses are another issue of interest for Sosa. She noted that within her major, political science, students often have to take classes at the Rose Hill campus because course offerings at the Lincoln Center campus are too limited. While Sosa questions whether this might be an administrative issue, she wants to address it regardless.

“Maybe changes will not be seen by the time I graduate but will definitely continue to post my time at Fordham,” Sosa said.

The elected chair of student affairs, Mehta, previously served as a sophomore senator

COURTESY OF DAPHNE MEI

Daphne Mei, FCLC ’25, was elected secretary of USGLC in the recent elections.

COURTESY OF ISABELLA CASANO

Isabella Casano, FCLC ’25, was elected USGLC chair of facilities in the recent elections.

for FCLC and chair of operations during her junior year at Fordham. She shared that because USG represents the student population and their values, it is the student government’s responsibility to make sure that students feel both safe and welcomed.

Mehta added that she hopes to organize events that are memorable for students and reflect a positive experience at Fordham.

“I want to try to pull out all the stops I can in line with Fordham’s budget and restrictions hopefully,” she said. “I want to create a community where people can engage, communicate, and feel satisfied this year and have a good experience.”

Elected to the chair of facilities position, Casano shared that one of her goals is to improve the student experience on campus. She conducted most of her campaigning through social media on Instagram by interacting with prospective voters and highlighting her goals should she be elected for the positions.

Casano expressed her desire to increase involvement within USGLC and for more Lincoln Center students to become active members of the organization.

“I plan to work with students and take their feedback seriously to implement the change needed to make facilities on campus the best it can be,” she said.

Sports & Health Editor Chris Murray

Sports & Health

November 1, 2023 THE OBSERVER

Fordham Lost to the Crusaders in the Final Minute of the Family Weekend Game

The Rams fell to their rivals in the Ram-Crusader Cup for the seventh consecutive time in front of a packed crowd FOOTBALL from page 1

While the Family Weekend festivities claimed a bulk of attention, the focal point of the afternoon was the football game. Both offenses woke up on the right side of the bed and it did not take long for the scoring to start.

On its opening drive, Fordham marched down the field. Powered by the energy in the stadium, the Rams struck first and Montes delivered a strike to Garrett Cody, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ’25, for a 36-yard touchdown. The roar of the crowd could be heard across the campus as Fordham took a 7-0 lead in swift fashion.

Unphased by the hostile environment, the Crusaders’ offense got to work. This time around, they were led by quarterback Joe Pesansky, HC ’25, rather than Matthew Sluka, HC ’24, who started their previous game this season and their previous three matchups against the Rams.

Sluka was not the starter because he didn’t “feel up to it” according to head coach Bob Chesney in a postgame interview, but the junior quarterback making his first collegiate start performed admirably in his place.

On Holy Cross’ ensuing offensive possession following the Rams’ touchdown, Pesansky completed his first pass attempt of the day for 21-yards to break into Fordham’s territory. He immediately followed that play with a confident 41-yard toss over the heads of the Fordham defense to Jalen Coker, HC ’24, for a touchdown to make it 7-7. Right out of the gate, Pesansky proved he belonged on the field.

The Rams appeared to be working on a productive drive upon receiving the ball once again, but a penalty and a sack pushed the offense out of field goal range and forced the team to punt. The Crusaders got back to work, moving down the field almost effortlessly.

Pesansky connected with Coker for another 41-yard gain and the drive was capped with a 1-yard rush by running back Jordan Fuller, HC ’25, to give Holy Cross its first lead of the game, 14-7. Coker would finish with 102 receiving yards and a touchdown while Fuller added 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The lead seemed to be shortlived as Fordham squeezed in

another touchdown courtesy of a 45-yard rush into the end zone by Julius Loughridge, FCRH ’25, just before the conclusion of the first quarter. Kicker Brandon Peskin, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’24, missed the ensuing extra point, however, and the Crusaders maintained a one point lead going into the second quarter. It could not have been known at the time, but this missed extra point would be crucial to the development of the game.

The Fordham defense forced a punt in the opening moments of the new quarter and quickly regained the lead with another long run by Loughridge. This time he found a gap and ran 50 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Fordham found itself on top once again, 20-14, but in keeping with the theme of the game the lead did not last for very long.

A series of strong rushes by Fuller pushed Holy Cross toward the Rams’ end zone before the Crusaders stumbled upon a third down situation. Pesansky threw an incomplete pass that would’ve brought about a fourth down, and likely a field goal to preserve Fordham’s lead, but a defensive pass interference call meant that the Crusaders moved to the Rams’ twoyard line with a new set of downs.

With that fortunate call, Fuller capitalized by powering into the end zone to reclaim Holy Cross’ lead, 21-20. The scoring was far from over, as both teams traded touchdowns, including a masterful 55-yard connection between Montes and MJ Wright, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’24, on their next two possessions to rapidly increase the score to 28-27.

Fordham scored once more before the half, credited to a 47-yard touchdown pass from Montes to Cody and entering the half the score sat at 34-28. To contextualize this high volume of scoring, in this past week’s slate of NFL games, only two games featured as many points in their entireties as Fordham and Holy Cross scored in their first half.

In the second half, both coaches made concerted efforts to slow the game down and tighten up on defense. That did not stop Pesansky from delivering a looping pass to a wide open Tyler Purdy, HC ’24, for a 34-yard touchdown after the entire Fordham defense

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Julius Loughridge, FCRH ’25, ran for over 200 yards and scored three touchdowns during the game, but he could not push through the Holy Cross defense to convert the decisive two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter.

committed to stopping a run play that never happened. Holy Cross took a 35-34 lead with 12:26 remaining in the third quarter.

It must have become clear that the scoring would not stop, so Fordham’s next possession took a methodical tone aimed at keeping the ball out of the Crusaders’ hands. The drive featured 12 plays, the most of any Fordham possession up until that point, and centered around short passes by Montes and rushes by Loughridge.

Ultimately, Fordham still reached the end zone when Montes found Mekai Felton, FCRH ’24, cutting across the middle to give the Rams a 41-35 advantage.

Holy Cross reciprocated with a long drive of its own, running 17 plays in a drive that spanned the final seven minutes of the third quarter and into the fourth.

As the clock continued to tick, the atmosphere became more intense. Fordham’s fans made the ground tremble and filled the air with excited screams during every pivotal play. The Holy Cross offense was up for the challenge.

Sluka even appeared when the Crusaders needed to convert a crucial fourth and two deep in Fordham’s territory.

Everyone in the stands and on the field understood the importance of this possession, but Chesney’s decision to run his offense onto the field when the

Although CJ Montes, FCRH ’26, threw for 410 yards and four touchdown passes, many Fordham fans will remember the pick six he threw midway through the fourth quarter more than his impressive play.

Crusaders faced fourth and 10 on the Fordham 10-yard line still left many speechless.

The play he called worked to perfection as Pesansky delivered a bullet to Coker for a contested catch in the end zone, but a holding call on Holy Cross negated the score and pushed the Crusaders back to the 20-yard line. Everything seemed to be going Fordham’s way, as the ensuing field goal was missed by Luis Palenzuela, HC ’26, and the Rams preserved their six-point lead.

Fordham got the ball back but could not put anything together.

The offense used only a minute of clock and failed to obtain a first down before being forced to punt.

Holy Cross got the stop it needed but could not capitalize on it and quickly punted as well.

Now with 11:15 remaining in the fourth quarter and a 41-35 lead, the Rams appeared poised to consume time and put the game out of reach. But once again, the offense could not convert a first down and punted after an exceptionally quick possession.

This time Holy Cross learned its lesson. In only six plays, the Crusaders were in the end zone, and Fordham had lost its lead. Fuller wore the Rams defense down with hard rushes up the middle, but it was Purdy who finally broke through for the 14-yard rush that made the score 42-41.

The game was far from over, however, as Fordham received the ball trailing by only one point with 6:34 remaining in the game.

Montes immediately started the Rams’ push with two quick completions to Felton and Cody.

Loughridge then found a hole to burst into Holy Cross territory.

The Rams now sat at Holy Cross’ 45-yard line, just on the edge of field goal territory, as tension in Moglia Stadium began to build.

A pass down the middle to Jeff Ciccio, FCRH ’24, nearly gave the Rams a quick first down, but the ball bobbled out of his hands and fell harmlessly. The crowd roared in anticipation as Montes stepped back to throw on second down.

He went through his reads, scanning for an open receiver.

As he moved out of the pocket it became clear that nobody was open and Montes threw the ball into a sea of players, hoping to hit a maroon jersey. Instead, it sailed into the hands of Matt Duchemin, HC ’24. He darted across the field and by any Rams

hoping to stop him en route to a 68-yard pick six that extended the Crusaders’ lead to eight.

The energy of the crowd was zapped as the packed stands fell into a stunned silence. Still, time remained, and Fordham found itself trailing by only one possession. The Rams quickly moved up the field, hoping for a miracle. Four consecutive completed passes from Montes broke Fordham into Holy Cross territory before the reins were passed to Loughridge.

He powerfully drove through the Crusaders’ defensive line toward the goal line. Finally, with 54 seconds left, he broke through the wall of defenders, bouncing off of them and into the end zone to make the score 49-47. The Rams were now a two-point conversion away from sending the Ram-Crusader Cup to overtime.

The crowd nervously cheered on the home team as they lined up for the decisive play. There was an element of trickery, as Montes slid an unexpected pass to Loughridge hoping to catch the defense off guard, but there was no room to run and Loughridge was smothered before reaching the goal line.

Fordham’s attempt at an onside kick failed, and Holy Cross ran the clock down to win its seventh straight Ram-Crusader Cup, 49-47. Fordham now sits at 1-2 in the Patriot League and 5-3 overall. Lafayette remains the only unbeaten team in the Patriot League, leaving it more unpredictable down the stretch than in previous years.

“You can’t beat a good team, the defending champs, if you have that many penalties and obviously we turned the ball over and they didn’t,” Fordham head coach Joe Conlin lamented after the game. “(The Patriot League) is still wide open, plenty of teams can still lose games… I think we’ve got a really good football team.”

Despite the loss, numerous Rams performed exceptionally well. Montes finished with 410 passing yards, four touchdown passes and only seven incomplete passes. Loughridge finished with an astonishing 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns while Wright and Cody combined for 291 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.

The Rams will look to get back on track against Bucknell University next week.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

November 1, 2023

Sports & Health

7

Men’s Soccer Falls to Loyola Chicago in Regular Season Finale, 1-0

The loss dropped the Rams in the Atlantic 10 standings, but Fordham secured the eighth seed in upcoming championship

By CHRIS MURRAY Sports & Health Editor

The regular season came to a close for the Fordham men’s soccer team this past weekend.

The Rams lost to the Loyola University Chicago (LUC) Ramblers, 1-0, and fell to the eighth spot in the Atlantic 10 (A10) standings. This position was good enough to sneak into the A10 Championship, but Fordham has now failed to win a match in six straight contests heading into the playoffs.

The Rams had already secured a playoff spot prior to the game, but official seeding remained up in the air. The situation was the same for the Ramblers, although the home team was pushing for a higher position than Fordham with home field advantage on the line.

Early in the game, the Rams claimed the majority of opportunities. In the third minute of the game, a dangerous cross found the feet of Daniel D’Ippolito, FCRH ’26, who proceeded to shoot through traffic toward the right side of the goal. Aidan Crawford, LUC ’27, made a diving save but could not corral the ball.

Liam Salmon, GSAS ’24, chased down the rebound and took a shot of his own from point blank range, but Crawford dove again to make a leaping stop and keep the Rams scoreless.

Through the first 30 minutes of play, Fordham outshot the Ramblers 6-2. Loyola was still able to create an opportunity for

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Daniel D’Ippolito, FCRH ’26, finished with three shots, including a dangerous shot on goal in the opening few minutes of the game.

itself with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Lukas Ender, LUC ’25, drove toward the Rams’ net and found space to shoot.

His attempt tailed away from goalkeeper Carter Abbott, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) ’24, but he was able to leap and push the ball out of harm’s way. The game remained tied heading into the halftime break, 0-0.

The second half began similarly to the first. Aside from a shot on goal by Julian Cisneros, LUC

’24, that was saved by Abbott neither team threatened to score in the first segment of the half.

The game moved along until the 75th minute when Fordham got its best chance of the game. Salmon fired a screaming shot toward the top corner of the net that required Crawford to tip the ball very slightly directly into the crossbar.

Despite the dangerous opportunity, the score remained knotted with 15 minutes remaining.

The draw was broken in the 84th minute. Jack McFeely, LUC ’27, sent a cross through the

box that deflected off of a few feet before bouncing in the air.

The ball fell directly to Markus Maurer, LUC ’24, who forcefully headed it into the back of the net.

With that, Maurer did a celebratory backflip and Loyola took a 1-0 lead.

Fordham would put one more shot on target in the final minutes of the game, as Salmon sent a shot directly into Crawford’s grasp with just over a minute left in the match. When the final whistle blew, the Rams did not know what position they would

find themselves in or who their opponent would be, but it was determined that Fordham would occupy the eighth and final seed in the upcoming A10 Championship.

Meanwhile, the Ramblers moved to a final regular season record of 8-2-4 with a 4-1-3 record in A10 play. That ended up being good for the second overall seed due to their last minute victory against the Rams.

After a hot start to conference play, Fordham lost some steam down the stretch. It opened with three wins in its first four A10 matches but concluded with a series of draws and losses that left it with a 3-3-2 record against the conference.

Now, the Rams will face the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams on Nov. 3 in Richmond, VA. VCU finished the regular season as the top team in the A10 and will be a tough foe to defeat in the opening round of the A10 Championship.

VCU has allowed only five goals by A10 opponents, the least in the league this season. Fordham will need to put together one of its more complete performances of the year to overcome the stingy VCU defense and get the ball past goalkeeper, John Ermini, VCU ’25, who leads the league in save percentage at .839.

For Fordham to move on it would require the team to win for the first time since Oct. 4. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ for Fordham supporters who cannot attend the game in person.

Diving to the Championship

Athlete of the Week: JULIUS LOUGHRIDGE

The Fordham water polo team continued its stretch of dominance this weekend. After losing by a point to fourth-ranked Pepperdine last weekend to end the Rams’ intense west coast road trip, the team returned to the Bronx to resume Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) play. The Rams swept their conference foes.

The Observer Athlete of the Week, for the week of Oct. 23 to Oct. 30, is Julius Loughridge, FCRH ’25. The star running back of the football team rushed for 211 yards and added three rushing touchdowns. When his 25 rushing attempts are factored in, Loughridge averaged 8.4 yards per carry during the Ram-Crusader Cup.

First, they beat George Washington University by only a point on Saturday morning.

Later that afternoon, the team dominated last place Mount Saint Mary’s 19-8. The following day, Fordham closed out the weekend with a 16-12 victory over Bucknell University. With these three wins, the Rams move to 12-0 in the MAWPC and have moved up to the 15th-ranked position in the Collegiate Water Polo Association varsity poll.

Through eight games this season, Loughridge has tallied 934 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Both statistics are good for second overall in the Patriot League.

At this rate, Loughridge may produce a season that ends up in the record books.

The Rams would not have been remotely close if not for the contributions of Loughridge, and for that reason, Loughridge is highlighed.

Fordham is now done with conference play and will close out the regular season with a series of non-conference matches over the next two weeks. The MAWPC Championship will begin on Nov. 17 and the Rams should be the favorite to emerge victorious.

Women’s Soccer Falls Short The Fordham women’s soccer team will miss the playoffs this season. The Rams appeared to have a legitimate opportunity to qualify for the A10 Championship, sitting at a 2-1-3 record in the conference on Oct. 8. The team dropped its final four games, however, to finish in tenth place in the league. Over the final five games of the season Fordham allowed 11 goals while scoring only five of their own. In the pivotal final two games of the season, Fordham only scored a single goal. Ultimately, the Rams ended the season with a 4-10-4 record overall and a 2-5-3 record in the A10.

FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Students Strike a Pose at FFP Halloween Runway Event

Performers, judges and audience members celebrated spooky season with a night of dancing and dress up

By MATTHIAS LAI Opinions Editor

Thirteen costumed contestants walked the runway on the 12th floor lounge of the Leon Lowenstein Center on Oct. 30 for a Halloween celebration hosted by Fordham Fashion for Philanthropy (FFP).

The models were students at Fordham Lincoln Center who swaggered across the stage to walkout music, strutting with sass and verve while dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes. The event was hosted by FFP and the Fordham Lincoln Center Residence Hall Association (RHA). The 12th floor lounge in the Leon Lowenstein Center was filled with a crowd of 76 attendees who cheered for the runway models and voted on their favorites. Jassadi Moore, a resident director for McKeon Hall and adviser for RHA, was one of the judges at the event.

“This blew my mind,” Moore said of the performances. “Tens across the board!”

Contestants were judged on crowd response, costume design and runway walk by a panel of five judges consisting of members of FFP and RHA. Nate Rodriguez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, won the night as Ghost Face from the “Scream” franchise, followed by second place winner Jaron Givens, FCLC ’25, who came as Edna Mode from “The Incredibles.” Rounding out the podium was Bella Riether, FCLC ’26, who dressed as Joy from the movie “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

All of the contestants came dressed to impress, and attendees at the event enjoyed the lively show as well as catered Chinese food, a polaroid photo corner and a free raffle for Milk makeup products.

The program was planned and put on by FFP. Meilin Morefield, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’24 and the club’s president, said the night was a massive success. “The point of the event was for everyone to have fun,” Morefield said after the event. “And I feel like everyone did that.”

First Place: Nate Rodriguez, FCLC ’26, frightened his way to first place as Ghost Face.

F ir Pla st ce

Sec Plaon ce

Students who attended the event enjoyed food, music and atmosphere at the 12th floor lounge.

Brihana Singh, GSBLC ’25, captivated the crowd as Anya Forger from “SpyX Family.”

Kaela Calderon, FCLC ’27, swooped down the stage as Batman.

Lizzy Letson, FCLC ’27, raised a riot as Joker.

Raquel Sklar, FCLC ’25, served a salty strut as McDonald’s mascot Grimace.

Ogulshat Gulova, FCLC ’27, fluttered across the runway as Tinkerbell.

Julia Lagrange, FCLC ’26, sailed along the strip as Nami from “One Piece.”

Leeann Surjoto, FCLC ’27, graced the stage as a fairy.

Rowan Luzzi, FCLC ’27, pranced with precision as Patrick Bateman from “American Psycho.”

Second Place: Jaron Givens, FCLC ’25, swaggered to second place as Edna Mode from “The Incredibles.”

Third Place: Bella Riether, FCLC ’26, placed third with a sassy showing as Joy from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

nd

Th Pla ird ce

Audience members cheered as 13 contestants dazzled down the Runway.

PHOTOS BY MATTHIAS LAI/THE OBSERVER DESIGN BY ALYSSA SHONK/THE OBSERVER

Opinions Editors Jake Eraca Matthias Lai

Opinions

November 1, 2023 THE OBSERVER

Citi Bike Needs a Student Plan

College students should not have to spend a fortune to experience the magic of biking in New York City MATTHIAS LAI Opinions Editor

There is nothing like biking in New York City. Although riding through busy downtown streets can be stressful, biking at the right location — whether it be a bridge connecting two boroughs, a path along the river or a meandering route through a park — is magical.

Biking is expensive, however, and not all students have the means to invest in it. Citi Bike, a privately owned public rental program which provides access to bikes for New Yorkers, could change this by introducing a discounted subscription plan for riders in college.

From steep prices for high-quality bikes to frequent costly tune-ups and repairs, owning and maintaining a bike in New York City can add up.

This can make biking inaccessible for people who don’t have the money, time or space to invest in their own bicycle, but biking should be an activity that anyone can enjoy.

Thankfully, New York City is rife with Citi Bikes, which serves every borough except for Staten Island. With recent price increases, however, riding a Citi Bike can present an economic challenge for students. Lyft, the parent company of Citi Bike, needs to introduce a student plan to allow more students to bike to school and throughout the city.

All students should have the opportunity to bike freely throughout the city — whether they own a bike or not Citi Bikes are a ubiquitous sight on the streets of Manhattan, sharing bike lanes with delivery drivers on motorized scooters or e-bikes and eco-friendly commuters biking to and from work.

There are two docks within a five-minute walk from Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, one on West 63rd Street and Broadway and one on West 60th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.

The access that Fordham students have to Citi Bikes is great, but there are limitations with the program, one of

the most prohibitive being their price. I believe that all students should have the opportunity to bike freely throughout the city — whether they own a bike or not — and they shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to do so.

At the beginning of 2023, Lyft raised the price of all Citi Bike services. Currently, the cost for a 30-minute ride on a classic Citi Bike is $4.49, which is an increase of 50 cents from the previous rate, which was installed in January of 2022. This costs more than one and a half times the price of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) subway and bus fare ($2.90).

Lyft should create a plan which allows students to sign up to Citi Bike at a discounted rate for semesterlong subscriptions and introduce a reward system for riding consistently For students who want to bike around the city, this is not a viable commute option, especially for lengthy rides which would require payment for multiple 30-minute trips.

The alternative to that is a day pass, which costs $19 and allows riders to take unlimited half-hour rides for 24 hours. However, people could choose to take six trips with the MTA and still save over $1.50 at that price.

Citi Bike needs a long term student plan that makes biking to and from school both affordable and worthwhile.

A yearly membership to Lyft Pink All Access, Lyft’s membership program, is by far the best deal available for Citi Bikes. Riders can pay $199 annually for unlimited 45-minute rides in addition to Lyft’s ridership perks.

If you use the bikes daily, the Lyft Pink All Access membership is a bargain.

Because of winter and summer breaks, however, many college students will only end up using about two-thirds of that yearly membership; even then, busy school and work schedules will likely hinder their ability to bike consistently.

Lyft should create a plan which allows students to sign up to Citi Bike at a discounted rate for semesterlong

subscriptions and introduce a reward system for riding consistently. This plan would increase Citi Bike usage and boost profits for Lyft by encouraging the more than 1.1 million college students living in New York City to buy subscriptions and ride with them.

Encouraging cycling will reduce student burnout, resulting in a healthier workforce as they enter the professional world The benefits of biking are endless.

Physically, consistent cycling has been shown to help with weight loss, improve heart health and lung capacity, boost your immunity and help you get more sleep, among countless other advantages. It has also been shown to have extensive mental health effects, from activating endorphins and reducing stress to providing an opportunity to explore the world by creating community with others.

Additionally, a study by the University of Bristol links regular exercise with better workload and time management. Encouraging cycling will reduce student burnout, resulting in a healthier workforce as they enter the professional world.

A discounted student plan from Citi Bike would give Fordham students unlimited opportunities to cycle through Central Park or along the Hudson River Greenway, which is one of my personal favorite bike paths in the city. It would also provide students with an outlet to step away from their busy college lives and explore the city with less urgency, boosting their physical and mental health as they enjoy their time.

Citi Bikes are a wonderful option for students in New York City who don’t own their own bikes to experience the magic of biking. This experience can be made even better with a student plan that incentivizes regular bike riding while accommodating the structure of college schedules, which would result in more bikers and create a healthier student body and a healthier city.

It is time for Lyft to accommodate the college-aged population in the city to make biking even better.

Observer the

Editor-in-Chief Maryam Beshara

Managing Editor Ana Kevorkian Deputy Managing Editor Erika Tulfo Online Editor Quincy Reyes Creative Director Aurelien Clavaud Layout Editor Alyssa Shonk Asst. Layout Editor Giada Evangelista Head Copy Editors Smile Butt Grace Ehle Asst. Copy Editor Emily Davis News Editors Insiya Gandhi Alexa Villatoro Asst. News Editors Stevie Fusco Gabriella Gutierrez Sports & Health Editor Chris Murray Opinions Editors Jake Eraca Matthias Lai Asst. Opinions Editors Avery Grafeld Ana Winston Arts & Culture Editor Aditi Praveen Kariyanahalli Asst. Arts & Culture Editors Julia Jaramillo Juliana Sharon Features Editors Lola Cravath Madeleine Signore Asst. Features Editor Caroline Sensenig Fun & Games Editor Abby Grunzinger Social Media Editors Eeshita Wade Shelby Williams Multimedia Editors Lauren Bocalan Maria Terzulli Asst. Multimedia Editor Riley Kraus Podcast Host Morgan Johnson Podcast Producer Nellie Podokshik Editorial Adviser Richard Rosen Visual Adviser Hamidreza Nassiri

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The Citi Bike program services riders in all New York City boroughs except Staten Island but is price-prohibitive for many students.

The Observer is published on alternate Wednesdays during the academic year.

Printed by Five Star Printing, Flushing, N.Y.

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THE OBSERVER

November 1, 2023

We Needed Male Birth Control Yesterday

Opinions

11

The lack of research into contraceptives for men has forced the burden of pregnancy prevention onto women AVA MIN Contributing Writer

The other day, I had a sickening headache. I can’t definitively attribute my headache to any one cause, but I had a strong suspicion as to what the culprit was: the female contraceptive pill.

Women are forced to deal with the negative side effects of contraception on a daily basis; we’re left to wonder if our boobs are hurting because of a tumor or a small pink pill. On the other hand, research into men’s birth control has stalled, leaving them off the hook for preventing pregnancy.

It goes without saying that this needs to change.

According to a 2017-19 survey performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 65% of women aged 15-49 use some form of contraception, for reasons ranging from pregnancy prevention to period control. The most common forms of reversible female birth control — the pill, the arm implant and the intrauterine device (IUD) — are all notorious for their nauseating side effects which range from mild to severe, including the possibility of life-threatening blood clots and heart disease.

For a complete list of side effects, the instruction sheet or manual provided with any form of birth control should be consulted.

If you use the contraceptive pill Junel Fe, unfolding the side effects packet that comes with your pills reveals a sheet of paper so large you might consider using it as an extra blanket.

The sheet notes a disclaimer that “most side effects of the pill are not serious.” Nausea, vomiting, bleeding between menstrual periods, weight gain, breast tenderness, and difficulty wearing contact lenses are the most common side effects and “may subside within the first three months of use.”

The endless side effects of female hormonal birth control is something we take with our morning tea. In order to work properly, the pill must be ingested at the same time every day, so most women take it with their breakfast. As a result, I’ve suffered from work-obstructing headaches, nausea, mood swings, breast tenderness and fatigue.

While I complain, I don’t actually do anything to change this, because what could I possibly do?

Most women are not jumping at the chance to become mothers at the wizened age of 18, and there is no alternative if we want the surefire protection against a condom. Even if I were to opt for a nonhormonal option — such as the copper IUD — there are a plethora of horror stories ranging from excruciating insertions, cervical infections and ectopic pregnancies.

Why has modern technology failed to give us a better alternative?

The quick-and-dirty answer is the patriarchy. While many might shake their heads at this answer or describe the patriarchy as a ‘hot-button’ word at which feminists seem to direct all their anger, it’s important to consider the following: Why hasn’t there been a need to take some weight off of women’s shoulders while men are

just as complicit in the catalyzation of pregnancy? The more complex answer involves the fact that male birth control has been proven to be harder to develop.

Currently, there are only two approved forms of male birth control: vasectomies and condoms. According to a 1990 study conducted by the World Health Organization, hormonal medication for males is “trickier” because men produce high concentrations of sperm on a daily basis. Women, on the other hand, have easy-topredict ovulation cycles.

Several scientists have experimented with the idea of rewiring the way male contraceptives operate; rather than halting the functions of hormones like testosterone, they have considered making sperm production slower and less efficient at “swimming.”

No substantial findings have yet to be published.

In 2016, researchers at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology conducted a study which concluded that the rate of side effects in male oral contraceptives was higher than what women typically experience using hormonal birth control.

The experiment was shut down after a cost-benefit risk analysis; in addition to a slew of reported symptoms such as depression, acne and weight gain, the degree of symptoms that participants reported was significantly worse than that of women.

Why stop the experiment there? Herein lies the “patriarchy” part of the answer. If our society were truly to treat females and males equally, there would be far more extensive research on the

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

Contraceptive pills for women come with a range of side effects, meanwhile little research is done into options for men.

topic of male birth control. We would attack the problem with rigorous testing, the same way we approach the rest of America’s health issues. Yet, after a couple of unsuccessful trials, men drop like flies and testing companies throw up their hands, looking at each other in a stunning show of bystanderism.

The corporations that monopolize both birth control production and distribution have shirked accountability for far too long.

Since men are not the ones actually risking pregnancy, they’re far less likely to care — and for them to be willing to take any sort of birth control, the side effects are expected to be nearly non-existent.

There is also a lack of social awareness about what happens every time we place a pill on our tongues or have metal pogo-looking sticks painfully inserted into our uteruses. Education on available birth control options is meager, and men are scarcely

aware of what goes into the decision of taking it.

We live in a world in which sexual health education stops at the line where the information no longer concerns men, and they’re content to allow us to shoulder the burden alone — because we’ve done it for this long and because we don’t really have any other choice.

Developing male birth control may not be easy, but that is certainly a terrible excuse for why research has slowly grinded to a halt. The 2016 study was the latest study to involve human trials; there has since only been one other partially-promising trial involving mice, but it has yet to yield any results.

The responsibility for birth control must be doled out equally, and it should bother everyone — yes, even you — that in the decades since the first female pill was put on the market, we have failed to create a male equivalent.

Republicans, Form a Third Party

The House of Representatives needs a coalition government to fix the dysfunctional bipartisan system TATYANA MASTERS Contributing Writer

Just 10 months after Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California was elected as speaker of the House, his chair sat empty on Oct. 3 following an ouster initiated by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and the far-right Freedom Caucus.

The latest bout of chaos in the House that resulted in Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana being elected as the 56th Speaker of the House is yet another example of partisan extremism that is corroding the foundations of American democracy as we know it.

The two-party system has proven itself to be volatile to internal divisions and insurmountable partisan politics. The natural next step is forming a coalition bipartisan government, beginning with three parties: the far-right Freedom Caucus, the traditional Republican Party and the Democratic Party.

This schism has been building for a long time, plagued by partisan vitriol and increasingly extremist legislative action for decades. The only way to save American democracy is to form a coalition government with three parties, wherein the Democrats, the Freedom Caucus and the traditional Republican Party can function as independent entities.

If the House were to split into three parties, the Freedom Caucus would give the more united Democratic party the majority, making House minority leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York the congressional lead. Jeffries has proven himself to be a leader that can unify; he earned a plurality of

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

Partisanship in Congress has caused insurmountable gridlock, and the only solution is to create a coalition government.

votes for the speakership, so naturally, he should lead the House.

Jeffries has called on Republicans to form a bipartisan coalition government. In an op-ed published in the Washington Post on Oct. 6, he said that, “The House should be restructured to promote governance by consensus and facilitate up-or-down votes on bills that have strong partisan support.” If Republicans cooperate with Jeffries’ idea, it could radically shift how the U.S. governs and allow for more progressive legislation.

Splitting into a three-party coalition system would not only allow for legislation to come forward, but it would also encourage discussion and debate on the floor. It would shut down Republican political performances, such as the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden, and result in a spending deal with which a majority of the House is content. It would also prevent severe political acts, like the ousting of a sitting

speaker, from happening as quickly in the future.

For three weeks after the ouster, the Republican Party struggled to gain enough support behind any candidate, rendering it unable to introduce or vote on any bills or budget measures in the meantime.

Finally, on Oct. 25 — after multiple failed candidates and internal party ballots between nine potential nominees — Johnson was elected in a 220-209 vote.

While the issue resulting from a vacancy of the speaker seat has been temporarily resolved, this entire stint demonstrates the volatility of a two-party system reliant on strictly partisan propaganda.

This marks yet another stall in the democratic process for young voters, one which halted major and impactful legislation from coming into effect. Bills which would enact assault rifle bans, wider access to health care and congressional term limits are currently making the rounds through the chambers. The

Supreme Court recently ruled that student loan forgiveness has to pass through Congress; without a legitimate speaker, no progress can be made on this or any other critical issue.

Outside of already proposed legislation that has been stalled due to the three-week vacancy, Democrats promised to place climate change at the center of their agenda. Without bipartisanship, they cannot move forward on any action on that front.

At this point, any form of congressional bipartisanship seems unlikely, especially given the lack of unity on the right side of the aisle. The clashing factions of the Republican party are reluctant to engage in a coalition government because together they hold a slim majority in the House. While some may view this as an unlikely proposition, this is basically how the House is operating now.

Essentially, the Freedom Caucus operates as an independent entity separate from traditional Republicans. Just look at what they did to McCarthy — they have serious power.

Making this party shift wouldn’t be all that different from how the two parties function now. Additionally, three parties would better reflect the American electorate. Voters are increasingly undecided, and these divisions within the Republican party have proven to be frustrating for Americans. Many do not want to vote for Republicans in fear of being associated with the far-right agenda but are frustrated with the Biden Administration for a number of reasons including the economy, inflation and his take on foreign policy.

If the parties were split into three, it might better reflect the

ideas of the populace. This would also allow for progressives and more moderate Democrats to divide if necessary.

Party realignments in American politics are nothing new; our country’s history is riddled with ideological changes that have redefined the national party structure. From the founding of the two-party system in the early 19th century until now, the system has evolved multiple times: from Democrats and Whigs, to Republicans and the Know-Nothings, and back to what we ultimately know today as Republicans and Democrats.

Parties have shifted and will continue to realign with modern day demands.

These party realignments are necessary when there is no path forward. With the Freedom Caucus’ reluctance to put their weight behind any moderate candidate for fear of losing their far-right base and Democratic refusal to side with anyone remotely associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again populist ideology, the speaker vote is not the last difficult one.

In American politics, party realignments have played a pivotal role in addressing partisan divides and reshaping the political landscape. The current impasse reflects profound and seemingly insurmountable differences. To sustain effective governance and continue to hold a leadership role on the global stage, the adoption of a three-party system is imperative.

This model fosters increased discourse, transparency and efficient governance, all of which are essential for navigating the complex challenges of today.

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Let’s Hold Landlords Responsible

Property owners are more exploitative than ever to their tenants, and renters need more rights to make up for it JACK BRUDECKI Contributing Writer

As rent and inflation climb, renters in New York City are struggling to make ends meet while landlords continue to line their pockets. This relationship is inherently exploitative, and renters ought to organize to take power back from their landlords.

Establishing a universal basic income would provide all New Yorkers with greater economic freedom and specifically allow renters to build up wealth in order to eventually afford a home. The Biden administration announced an outline of protections, such as these in a Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, in January, but these rights should be implemented immediately.

Renters struggling in the current economic crisis cannot and should not have to wait any longer for the relief they deserve.

The path to achieving better conditions for renters is through collective action and self-advocacy. The government will only listen and provide relief if tenants band together through unionization efforts and voice their concerns as a group. The recent success of unions like the Writers Guild of America and Teamsters show the true power of collective activism. Similar successes can only be achieved through solidarity with one another.

There are countless stories of tenants struggling with both their landlords’ failure to address issues in their units as well as harsh economic conditions, and these struggles are not exclusive to America.

Lack of protective rights for renters can be attributed to the power generated by landlords, as almost half of Congress is made up of landlords.

Those working in government will not sabotage their own economic self-interest unless renters work together to make sure their concerns and demands are heard. With the Supreme Court questioning rent control and no end to rent increases in sight, the power of landlords seems to be secure for the future. Politicians, however, should work for the benefit of tenants, not just landlords.

Changes won’t be made unless the people advocate for themselves.

Tenants must work to not only solve the issues they face personally but to solve those issues for all tenants. The goal of the government should not be to simply provide relief for renters today, but to allow those same renters and more to succeed economically tomorrow as well. More rights and protections for renters must be established in order to grant renters the ability to save enough money to eventually afford a home of their own.

New York City has some of the highest housing costs in the United States, with the median rental price of a one-bedroom apartment totaling $4,240 per month according to rental platform Zumper’s National Rent Report. Additionally, rent has increased by 30% since February 2020 in New York City, a figure that has significantly outpaced inflation.

Wage increases, on the other hand, have not been able to keep up with inflation in the post-pandemic world. The problems faced by renters are not merely the product of extreme circumstances but a feature of the landlord-tenant relationship.

A study conducted by Moneypenny in 2019 used data from the online real estate marketplace Zillow compared median rent prices with median mortgage payments for single family rentals. It found that, on average,

tenants in New York City pay well over double their landlord’s mortgage payments. Tenants are paying more to rent a property than they would if they simply owned it and paid the mortgage.

Professional landlords’ status as a subsect of the middle class is important in understanding the occupation’s financial security and privilege as a whole. Most renters are working class Americans, while landlords are generally in a richer and more financially stable position. On average, landlords make almost double the median full-time salary in the United States, which is $1,118 a week.

These property owners are paid solely because they own the property which their tenants are renting; they receive the same rent payments regardless of whether or not they provide any additional services on the property. Professional landlords are not renter’s friends, nor are they in the same boat as them; their livelihood is generated by and through their tenants.

The relationship between landlord and tenant is one between an owner and an asset. It is far from a relationship between equals.

The unchecked power of professional landlords allows for further exploitation of tenants. In a time where homes are becoming more expensive and in a city with the highest cost of living in the world, landlords hold extraordinary power over renters. Unable to purchase homes for themselves, renters are forced to pay regardless of how exploitative a landlord’s imposed rent may be.

The ability to raise rent as much as landlords see fit poses an additional real threat for tenants, especially in times of great financial instability. The COVID19 pandemic exacerbated these conditions, causing the majority of tenants to feel financially

OWAMI MASIYANDIMA-MLOTSHWA/THE OBSERVER

New York City rents have skyrocketed in recent years, raising questions about the ethics of the landlord-tenant relationship.

encumbered. Almost half of all renters across the U.S. qualified as “rent burdened,” which means that they spent at least 30% of their income on housing in 2020.

These statistics should not be viewed purely as a product of the pandemic, as they shed light on big issues that arise from a lack of rent control and other renters’ rights.

Tenants only qualify for rent control if they have lived in the same apartment continuously prior to July 1971. Government-provided housing in the city is provided through the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), but only a fraction of renters receive the Section 8 vouchers — a federal housing voucher program established for assisting low-income families, the elderly and the disabled in affording “decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market.

Section 8 housing vouchers act as a rental subsidy. What is even more concerning is that

NYCHA reports that those who qualify for Section 8 vouchers still typically pay 30% of their monthly income on rent. These benefits should be extended to more renters and provide more robust economic assistance.

At the very least, renters who are considered “rent burdened” should automatically qualify for rent control as well as Section 8 vouchers should they need additional aid. Additionally, tenants should also be given at least a 30 day warning of rent increases.

Changes must be made in order to not only aleve current tenants of some of their financial burdens, but to help prevent future economic crises from arising in the first place. Financial stability and freedom for renters can be achieved through a renters’ bill of rights. While rent control and government housing exist in New York City, they do not do nearly enough to help renters in need.

Modern Dating Culture Is a Hellscape

The solution? Single people need to be genuine and upfront about their dating intentions AVERY GRAFELD Asst. Opinions Editor

Too many singles in the dating pool have been left to question our every move in the modern dating world. There’s an expectation of playing elusive — don’t be too vulnerable, or you’ll get hurt; be upfront, and it’s received as a turn-off. There are several unwritten rules and it becomes easier to negate your own feelings in an attempt to align with what you might think someone else wants.

While out with my friends one night, I met a really cute guy. It was straight out of a rom-com: We exchanged phone numbers and made plans to see each other again. He offered to take me to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which, in my mind, implies a genuine interest far removed from a hookup.

Before our museum date, however, he invited me to a house party, and I quickly became flustered. I declined out of fear that if I agreed, he would think of me as “too available.” In the end, being elusive was not helpful because on the

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

The difficulty of modern dating is only compounded by the performative nature of social media and dating apps.

day of our intended museum date, I was ghosted.

Without an explanation or an apology, I was left to overthink what happened. Was he less inclined to take me to the museum because I declined his invitation to the house party, or had the Met date never even been a possibility? Was he looking for something serious or a convenient hookup? I was spiraling for answers I could never receive.

People need to be more upfront about their dating intentions. Too many young adult singles are being left to decipher cryptic text messages, toxic love bombing and inevitable ghosting. These tactics are manipulative and often largely perpetuated by a fear of commitment and a facade of unlimited options. Unfortunately, technology and the prevalence of online social interaction are only growing these unhealthy dating behaviors.

Dating apps are one of the biggest culprits responsible for our generation’s toxic practices.

They provide an enticing service: find a partner with a few swipes and no consequences, similar to a game of some sort. The reality, however, is much more complicated; online interaction removes accountability, so ghosting has become a popular solution for avoiding conflict.

Instead of establishing healthy lines for communication, people refresh their matches and start over. This creates a pattern of meaningless interactions and

rejection without explanation, which can be demoralizing for both sides of the relationship.

According to dating coach Briana MacWilliam, 90% of Gen Z have expressed frustrations with dating apps — and why shouldn’t we be? The endless cycle of men delivering the same corny pick-up lines is exhausting.

I could not tell you how many times a match has opened with “I usually go for 8’s, but I guess I’ll settle for a 10,” or “I’m new in town. Could you give me directions to your apartment?”

The funny part is most of these guys would never say this in person, but on dating apps we’re all pretending to be somebody else.

Unfortunately, I myself have been guilty of presenting a facade to attract attention — choosing photos that highlight my body instead of my personality and picking shallow prompts that cater to “business bros” have led to some dry online interactions. It feels impossible to be genuine on dating apps since looks determine popularity.

As social media has become the norm, the dating pool has been expanded to thousands of people online. Before they were able to hide behind a screen, people were forced to face conflict directly. Of course, toxic dating habits have always existed but today, they are much more prevalent given the global reach of the internet. One way to avoid these patterns is to step away from the dating scene, but

that’s not always the best way to find what you need.

Many young people are finding solace in choosing a single life, and I can’t blame them. One negative experience can tarnish the rest. For a while, after I broke off a complicated relationship, I would snap at any man who approached me, not believing that any of them were being genuine. At the time, I blamed my ex for stealing my faith in men. Instead of simply giving up on dating, I’ve now learned to better establish my interests when talking to guys.

Dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge include a feature that allows users to share what they’re looking for in a relationship; I’ve noticed, however, that many people on those apps do not use that feature sincerely.

If you know you want a hook-up, don’t say, “I’m still figuring it out.”

Just say that you want a hook-up.

The same rule extends to those seeking a relationship. Being vulnerable about your true intentions can be scary, but in the long run, you’ll be doing yourself a favor.

Being open about what you want in your dating life will connect you with people who share your goals and aspirations. For every person looking for a situationship, a short-term relationship or a life partner, there are others looking for the same thing. It’s not fair to manipulate someone to serve your own self-interests.

By normalizing being open, we can make the dating experience a safer and kinder experience.

Arts‘Herstory’ & Culture Packs a Punch at the New Museum

Arts & Culture Editor Aditi Praveen Kariyanahalli

November 1, 2023 THE OBSERVER

Judy Chicago’s first major survey of work boasts a chameleonic collection — as evidenced by the stylistically varied exhibition

By MADELEINE SIGNORE Features Editor

Judy Chicago is nothing if not persistent, and her artistic trajectory — both triumphantly heralded and viciously contested by the media — has paralleled a lifetime of resolute activism.

“Judy Chicago: Herstory” is an impressively multifaceted albeit fragmented exhibition at the New Museum in SoHo as well as the first comprehensive New York survey of work — an analysis of an individual’s artistic works — completed by Chicago.

“Herstory” insists upon the breadth and longevity of Chicago’s

career, which includes work spanning from the 1960s to the 2010s, and it’s moving that her feminist oeuvre feels as timely today as it did over a half-century ago.

Resistance and liberation from patriarchal structures, both those within and independent of the art world, are perennially relevant, as “Herstory” suggests. Chicago has spent a lifetime translating the most primordial facets of the human experience — chiefly the female experience — including birth, mortality and the social construction of self in all of its complexity into visual terms.

The survey of work evidences Chicago’s range and heralds her

GRAPHIC BY AURELIEN CLAVAUD; SOURCE: MADELEINE SIGNORE/ THE OBSERVER

“Herstory,” a comprehensive survey of Judy Chicago’s multimedia artwork, is on display at the New Museum now until January in New York City.

as an artist with depth beyond her infamous 1974-79 installation, “The Dinner Party.” A gargantuan, triangular dining table topped with 39 table settings, the work represents significant women in global history.

Chicago possesses a unique ability to deftly appropriate eccentric materials, to mold them in unprecedented manners into agents of resistance. She wears many hats: sculptor, feminist, radical and mechanic, to name a few. Upon the completion of her bachelor’s of fine arts and master’s degrees, both from the University of California, Los Angeles, Chicago enrolled in auto-body school in 1964. This instilled in her a fascination with industrial mechanisms and traditionally masculine material, which manifested itself in the “Hoods” series (1964-65).

The exhibition encapsulates the disparate materials represented in her collections into a singular show. “Herstory” is successful in its communication of Chicago’s artistic malleability; rare is the artist whose vision has funneled through such a vast range of materials — from lacquered automotive hoods to ceramics to textiles to needlework — and retained the original essence.

Perhaps it is profound adaptability that has rendered Chicago’s artwork persistently relevant; she’s left no medium unattempted, and oftentimes these efforts are gratifying. Chicago maneuvers conversations on female bodily agency, and the stripping of its agency by the patriarchy, with poignancy and dexterity.

The strengths are evidenced in works such as “Rejection Quintet,” which features renderings of flowering vulvas in graphite and colored pencil accompanied by tender personal statements inscribed in Chicago’s

characteristic, looping handwriting. Her personal statements are notes on vulnerability, rejection and resilience and the series functions, in effect, as a visual diary revealing the artist’s most intimate vulnerabilities, which are strikingly familiar to those who share in the female experience.

Here, she finds her central theme.

Chicago’s survey of work is underscored by a passionate assertion of womanhood. It’s evidenced in her repeated usage of the vulva motif, in her subversion of domestic gender roles, and, famously, in her celebration of traditionally marginalized female mediums like textile.

Beyond this feminine undercurrent, however, the exhibition lacks continuity. Each gallery functions largely as a self-contained vignette, radically distinct from those that neighbor it in terms of both style and material.

This may be intentional or, rather unavoidable, as Chicago’s career in its entirety is uneven because of its vast scope. As a result, the survey functioning as a reflection of Chicago’s career (minus “The Dinner Party”) feels disjointed.

While an artist’s trajectory does not need to be linear, the transition from one gallery to the next winds up feeling disorienting to the viewer, and its curatorial philosophy is elusive. Such a disparity is most jarring on the second floor of the exhibition, which features multiple unrelated photo series, sculptural installations and paintings with no discernible relationships to one another.

The commentaries on masculinity, reproduction, environmental dangers and domesticity, each project distinct from one another, are testaments to the artist’s boundless creative spirit and technical prowess. When presented in tandem, however, their

atmospheres — denied room to breathe — impede one another.

In a different part of the exhibition, on the fourth floor, a collection of loaned works attributed to over 80 female and nonbinary creatives entitled “The City of Ladies” dazzles. These artists include Georgia O’Keefe, Sojourner Truth, Hilma af Klimt and the Italian Baroque luminary Artemisia Gentileschi.

“The City of Ladies” is a remarkable selection of artwork and an unabashed celebration of female identity, sisterhood and artistic production, which positions Chicago’s contemporary work in a tradition of greatness.

It is staged below a hanging installation of banners created

by Chicago, which pose questions about the ways in which society might function if it was structured around womanhood: What if women ruled the world? Would old women be revered? Would buildings resemble wombs?

Chicago proves herself not only as an artist but as a cultural historian with “The City of Ladies,” a creative whose artistic ideology has been born of a sophisticated understanding of the women whose activism preceded hers.

While Chicago’s “Herstory” is not the only show on exhibition at the New Museum, it is certainly the most comprehensive and perhaps the most timely. As women’s bodies continuously manifest as topics of debate time and time again, viewers look to Chicago’s biomorphic, vaginal forms, brazenly candid prose, and insistence upon the visibility of women’s issues as a beacon of defiance.

Chicago’s sweeping bodies of work, unfailingly imbued with an impassioned flavor of resistance and liberation, remain consistently critical to the modern art landscape.

‘High School Play’ Marks Mainstage Return

The play is the first Fordham Theatre mainstage production of the year and tackles the nuances of growing up queer in the American South

By ELEANA KOSTAKIS Staff Writer

Fordham Theatre’s first mainstage production of the year, “High School Play,” commenced in Pope Auditorium on Oct. 5. The crowd was full of Fordham students ready to take in the play on opening night.

“High School Play” follows a competitive high school theater troupe; the play seemed to take on the characteristics of a “Glee” episode — in real time, set in the South — in the best way possible.

The play, written by playwright Vichet Chum and directed by Cristina Angeles, was an attempt to delve into the lives of these characters with talented actors.

In an interview with Fordham News, Chum said that working with students at Fordham Theatre provided him with the room to work “in a space that is educational and at the same time, immersed in the theater capital of the world.”

Upon entering the theater, music from the early 2000s was playing in the background before the play began, and I realized that I truly had no idea what the plot was about. Previous assumptions had led me to believe I would be watching a depiction of a high school theater group trying to achieve their “big-city” acting dreams. I would later find out that

there was so much more nuance and character to the story.

The play tackled several issues including homophobia and the grooming that many young adults who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community face. Marc Laurent Plaskett, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’24, played a character named Rich and gave an amazing monologue that highlighted the danger young people who identify as a part of the LGBTQ+ community can face in the early 2000s. His speech stayed with me even after I left the theater because of the sheer emotion that he displayed for the audience.

Aside from the passion in Plaskett’s performance, he is also able to inject comedic relief into the play’s heavy themes, and I laughed every time he showed up on stage. Though on the surface level, there was a comedic flare, you could also sense the suppressed emotional feelings contained in Plaskett’s monologue.

Plaskett’s portions of the play were among the highlights of the show because of how connected the audience felt with the character, as well as the actors. Each major character had a monologue tailored to them, and each served a different emotional story.

Further developing the actor’s wardrobes, Grace Jeon, the

costume designer for the production, did an amazing job representing the clothing of the American South in the early 2000s. The outfits were tailored to each character perfectly, and the personality of each character seemed to come alive through the clothes they wore in each scene.

Although I enjoyed the play, the storyline felt overdone at times,

as all of the characters had the same goal: to leave their hometown and live out their theater dreams. Throughout the entire play, I had a lingering feeling that I had seen the show before and already knew the ending because it was so predictable.

Despite this limitation, the play was an amazing depiction of growing up in a small town and

learning more about who you are, as well as becoming the adult that you are meant to become.

Each character, through their endurance, allowed themselves to overcome endless obstacles and flourish into complicated beings and fully-fleshed characters.

“High School Play” ended its run on Oct. 13 after showing for eight days in Pope Auditorium.

COURTESY OF CASON DOYLE VIA FORDHAM THEATRE

Fordham Theatre kicked off their first mainstage production of the year with “High School Play,” running for eight days in Pope Auditorium at the Lincoln Center campus.

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Boygenius Releases New Chapter To Previous Record

The indie supergroup’s new four-track EP is not just leftover songs, but an existential story that stands alone

By CASEY SHARGEL Contributing Writer

Breakout indie trio boygenius released their four-track EP, “the rest,” on Oct. 13, six months following the release of the band’s first full-length album, “the record.” The EP writes a new chapter of their latest studio release and tells a story separate from the album, containing themes of the universe, relationships and self-identity.

The supergroup — a musical group of members who already have successful careers as solo artists — consists of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker.

When the three friends merged to form boygenius, their talents complimented each other and created a truly unique sound.

The relationship between how large the universe is and how mundane humans are serves as a recurring theme throughout the EP “Black Hole” is the opening track of “the rest” and introduces listeners to the extraterrestrial motif that is scattered throughout the EP. The song features all three of the band members and begins with a quiet solo from Baker backed with instrumentals from the piano. It then gradually builds into a more intense harmony, bringing in Dacus and Bridgers.

The opening lyrics of “Black Hole” describe an individual smoking a cigarette while looking up to the sky and seeing the stars. In that moment, this individual realizes how small they truly are, and the relationship between how large the universe is and how mundane humans are serves as a recurring theme throughout the EP.

In the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship and break up, the narrator feels as if they are “a man on the moon,” completely separated from the earth The song fluidly merges into the second track featured on the record, “Afraid of Heights,” mainly sung by Dacus. Showing off her rich and honeyed voice, the track personifies Dacus’ internal conflict of not wanting to risk the life she is grateful to have been given for short-term thrills, while also acknowledging that the future is uncertain and fragile.

“Afraid of Heights” chronicles a cautious individual’s relationship with a friend who’s more willing to take risks, opening with them watching their friend jump off a cliff: “I got the point you were makin’, when I held my breath ’til you came up.” As they both are holding their breath, the narrator realizes that the two are similar, even though only one of them took a life-threatening risk.

The lyrics transition toward the end of “Afraid of Heights,” as the

story flips to show an aspect of the more adventurous person’s character: “You called me a crybaby, but you’re the one who got teary.”

The ostensibly confident person reveals themself to also be someone who is afraid of the uncertainty and entropy of life.

The song further implements the theme of how large the universe is and how different people are figuring out how to navigate it.

Bridgers leads the third song on the tracklist, “Voyager.” The song documents one’s feelings of confusion and loneliness that follow the end of a chaotic relationship. The lyrics carry Bridgers’ feathery and haunting voice beautifully, creating an eerie, echoey sound. The vocals contrast Bridgers’ work on “the record” and are more reminiscent of her solo career.

Utilizing extraterrestrial imagery to convey the experience from a relationship, Bridgers notes that in the aftermath of a tumultuous relationship and break up, the narrator feels as if they are “a man on the moon,” completely separated from the earth.

“Voyager” continues with the lyrics: “I never imagined a dot quite as pale or as blue, you took it from me but I would’ve given it to you,” referencing the photo taken of Earth from the space probe, six million kilometers away. The relationship, despite once being thought of as the whole world, is now seen as a small pale blue dot, unreachable and distant.

Fans of Bridgers often compare the singer to the moon, a reflection of her own deployment of its celestial imagery. In “Moon Song,” a track from her second studio album, “Punisher,” Bridgers writes “If I could give you the moon, I would give you the moon.”

BOYGENIUS

The members of boygenius — Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker — came together to create the unique, extraterrestrial sound of their latest EP.

On the fourth and final song from the EP, “powers,” Baker leads listeners through an existential line of questioning relating to one’s “origin story,” employing other comic book tropes along the way. There is an extremely raw aspect to this track, due to the simple sounds and Baker’s deep breath that can be heard before she begins to sing.

In the EP’s last track, Baker uses her husky tone to relate to comic book characters and their origin stories, asking “How did it start? Did I fall into a nuclear reactor, crawl out with acid skin?”

The questions she raises are relatable to many fans, and this connection is something that is

prominent in many of her other solo songs. The EP ends with an echoey trumpet solo in “powers,” which puts an end to the chapter that is “the rest.”

The supergroup’s latest release is an incredible testament to their talent. Although the artists are able to share their individual messages, each of their stories melt together to create new meanings.

The lyrics in “the rest” are heartbreaking and emotional, which is nothing new for boygenius. Each of their voices compliment one another, and with the release of the eerie, extraterrestrial and existential EP, they cement themselves as masterminds of indie music.

Beasts, Warriors and Lawyers, Oh My!

Fordham Theatre showcased Anna Ziegler’s adaptation of the classic Greek myth ‘The Minotaur’ as a part of the studio thesis series

By CAITLIN LAMBROS Contributing Writer

“The Minotaur” by Anna Ziegler delivers a modern retelling of a story exploring control and the human experience, with tales of Greek legends, mythical beasts and young love. At Fordham Lincoln Center, “The Minotaur” ravaged audiences with its witty humor and complex characters throughout its run at the Kehoe Theater from Oct. 5-7.

The actors in “The Minotaur” — empowered by the direction of Yev Gelman, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24 — give stellar performances and connect audiences to the fully fleshed out characters.

The warrior is the charming yet slightly arrogant hero of the original story At the beginning, we are introduced to Ariadne (Riley Halpern, FCLC ’25), the daughter of King Minos of Crete, and her brother, the Minotaur (Mariana Miranda, FCLC ’27), who was born when their mother became infatuated with a bull. This sibling dynamic is the heart of “The Minotaur,” and although Ariadne holds resentment toward the Minotaur for burdening their family, she still deeply loves him. Their profound performances were the driving forces behind this production.

COURTESY OF LIJAH SCHNEIDER VIA FORDHAM THEATRE

Actors take the audience on a journey through the adaptation of the Greek Classic, “The Minotaur.”

Theseus (Cade Parker, FCLC ’26), a warrior set out to kill the Minotaur, becomes a love interest for Ariadne despite her connection to the Minotaur. The warrior is the charming yet slightly arrogant hero of the original story.

His legacy and his incredible Black Adam tank top charms her enough to — presumably — Facebook stalk, as well as give him the tools to kill the Minotaur.

One of the strongest parts of the play follows when Theseus makes it through the Labyrinth, where he and the audience face the question of what a beast really is. How can we call the Minotaur

a beast for no reason other than the way he was born?

The play handles the complexity of determining what makes a beast while contrasting it with the Minotaur’s actions. Miranda’s character is fully realized, though, as his past cruelties toward those in the Labyrinth are brought before him and he no longer defends himself. This scene fully displays Parker and Miranda’s talents, as it depicts the Minotaur’s death and the haunting screams that followed left a lasting impression on the theater.

Throughout the story, we are led by the Chorus — a priest (Kei

Sugae, FCLC ’26), a rabbi (John Stengel, FCLC ’26) and a lawyer (Evan Woodfill, FCLC ’27). Their witty banter and chemistry steal the show and lead the narrative in its given direction. The audience perceives their judgment as fact throughout the play, but when Ariadne and Theseus leave Crete after the Minotaur is killed, it becomes apparent that they don’t act for the good of the characters. Here, they move away from the story the Chorus wants to happen. Instead of heading to Athens, Ariadne and Theseus stay on a remote island and make a new life for themselves, no longer

controlled by the world around them. They cast away the Chorus and rest in their solitude.

The play has a lot to offer but never loses sight of its central themes. Though the story handles topics reigning from familial trauma to young love, the audience never feels overwhelmed by this multitude of ideas. The viewers can focus on one part of the story and develop their own interpretations to it. No individual is tied to one narrative or one interpretation, similar to the lesson demonstrated by the ending of the play. As Theseus says, “This story is everything and nothing.”

The set helps accentuate this as well. Consisting only of one ladder, as the Minotaur’s prison, the actors are able to dominate the stage without the assistance of large set pieces to make this play visually interesting. Aside from the ladder, a ball of yarn is used to its full advantage, acting as the magic weapon leading Theseus through the Labyrinth. The characters interact with it while using it to confine the story to the given space. When Ariadne and Theseus decide to abandon what is set out for them, the yarn is physically cut and no longer confines them to the narrative.

These creative set pieces not only assist in the blocking of the characters, but also are able to be physically altered and act alongside the plot.

“The Minotaur” gives a hilarious yet deeply emotional take on the Greek tale and its abundance of lessons. The clear direction from Gelman along with the talent of the cast delivers a fantastic show.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

November 1, 2023

Arts & Culture

15

No Brakes, All Gas: Andy Frasco & The U.N.

The multigenre rock band from Los Angeles wowed audiences with their triumphant show at the Brooklyn Bowl

By ABBY GRUNZINGER Fun & Games Editor

Just five minutes into our interview and a few days ahead of his band’s Oct. 14 show at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, the titular frontman, Andy Frasco, of Andy Frasco & The U.N. mused “What is art?” For the leader of a band with as notoriously rowdy of a reputation as his, the average listener might be surprised by such deep introspection.

“You’re writing art for you,” he continued. “You’re trying to express those feelings that are inside of you. I think first-hand is you write the art that’ll help you get through therapy, you know?”

“ I just took all that

knowledge and said, screw it. I’m going to do it for me”

Andy Frasco, frontman of Andy Frasco & The U.N.

Andy Frasco & The U.N., an American indie-rock band from Los Angeles, took their most recent New York City show to the Brooklyn Bowl’s bowling-plusfood-plus-live-music venue with a robust atmosphere and an exceptional staff. The gorgeous rustic decor, the disco ball on the ceiling and the background noise of toppling bowling pins provided the perfect backdrop for an incredible night, welcoming the audience as the opening band emerged to warm up the crowd.

Cool Cool Cool, a funk/house/ R&B group, celebrated their final night on tour with Frasco. They wowed with impressive vocals, a lively horns section and an upbeat rhythm that instantly energized the audience.

Afterward, the lights went down, and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” blasted through the speakers as Andy Frasco & The U.N. took the stage. This choice of introduction song is certainly no coincidence, as it alludes to Frasco’s experience with the less-than-glamorous aspects of the industry.

“The music stuff’s fun and easy,” he said, adding that the hard part of his day is waking up at 7 a.m. and driving the van from venue to venue.

Frasco is familiar with hustling through this industry. As a teenager, he had jobs at major labels like Drive-Thru Records and was

booking shows for bands such as Hellogoodbye, Something Corporate and New Found Glory.

According to Frasco, these experiences taught him important lessons, including how to budget for and reduce tour expenses as much as possible. He cited learning how to run your own social media and designing your own album cover art to cut costs.

“I just took all that knowledge and said, screw it. I’m going to do it for me,” Frasco said.

Since 2007 — when he was just 19 years old — Frasco has been doing just that. He has spent the last 15 years touring with a diverse range of musicians from all over the country and world (hence the U.N. in “Andy Frasco & The U.N.”), playing 250 shows a year on a nonstop journey of exceptionally hard work.

The band’s exuberance the moment they stepped on stage masked sweat and tears. No one could have guessed that they were playing their ninth show in their eighth city in the span of just 11 days.

“We never take it for granted,” Frasco said. “We’re never gonna phone it in. We’re always gonna bring it. Even if there’s 10 people or 10,000.”

The band’s variety of performance antics infuses a stellar musical display with belly-laughinducing fun With little formal introduction — merely a “hello, Brooklyn!” — the band dove straight into the music for the approximately 800 people in attendance. Frasco opened the night with “Love All of Me,” a jubilant, resounding track off of their August 2023 release and sixth studio album, “L’Optimist.”

The band’s new album is perhaps Frasco’s best so far. Its 10 tracks cover a variety of genres, spanning from funk to folk to pop but generally landing within the realm of indie-alternative rock. Though each song has its own unique message, “L’Optimist” is a beautifully coherent album, with every track manifesting the message of positivity that Frasco spreads.

“You Do You,” the second track off of the album, combines a driving rhythm with carefree lyrics to create an upbeat tune about

ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N.

From funk to folk to pop, Andy Frasco & The U.N. hyped up their New York City audience at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg.

self-acceptance. “Iowa Moon,” on the other hand, is an easygoing folksy love song, yet it still promotes the same idea of self-love.

“This whole record was all about just changing your perspective on how you approach life,” Frasco said.

He said that the album clicked with him not just as a songwriter and musician, but as a listener too.

“I am really proud of all these songs,” he admitted. “This is the first record where I can still listen to these songs and not get sick of them.”

As a massive fan of “L’Optimist,” I was delighted to hear “Love All of Me” as the concert’s opening song, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled to hear what came next: a 2016 Andy Frasco & The U.N. classic called “Mature As Fuck.”

“Mature As Fuck” — a boisterous, rowdy ode to life on the road — has become a staple in the band’s set and serves as a reminder that Andy Frasco & The U.N. have not lost the rambunctious energy for which they are notorious. A line in this song’s pre-chorus declares “it’s a regular day, but to you it might be insane,” another reminder that being in a band is anything but ordinary.

A night at a Frasco concert is certainly far from any other regular day, or any other regular concert, for that matter. The band’s variety of performance antics infuses a stellar musical display with belly-laugh-inducing fun.

ABBY GRUNZINGER/THE OBSERVER

The band energized the crowd with fun, stage antics such as switching instruments mid-song and when members Shawn Eckels and Andee Avila played on one guitar together.

For example, The U.N. routinely switches instruments in the middle of songs. Guitarist Shawn Eckels and drummer Andee Avila also maintain a recurring bit where they play the same guitar at the same time, with Eckels strumming the strings while Avila forms chords on the fretboard.

The band never fails to disappoint with their cover choices as well; the Brooklyn audience heard everything from Queen to Cheap Trick to AC/DC to Talking Heads.

“ This is what I believe

in: the power of putting good vibes into the air”

Andy Frasco, frontman of Andy Frasco & The U.N.

With all of this said, the highlight of the show is sure to be hearing Frasco’s powerful lyrics and diverse musical stylings in a live setting. It’s a space where you can hear the unwavering passion in his voice or see him get caught up in the moment — head back and eyes closed — as the band performs a brilliant, anthemic unreleased song marked only on the setlist as “Used to Be.” Perhaps the most emotional moment of the show was when Frasco performed “Somedays,” a

heartfelt and reassuring number dedicated to his mom. Frasco’s mother is in the midst of a battle with leukemia, and he has sung “Somedays” in dedication to her, every single night of his recent tour.

“This is what I believe in: the power of putting good vibes into the air,” he said. “Now, her kidneys are getting better ... That’s why I’ll always keep preaching optimism even through dark times.”

Ironically, the optimism, confidence and self-love which Frasco promotes is the very thing that fulfills those needs in himself.

“Once I see people start really loving themselves again, and seeing that I’m one of the — that me and my band are the reasons that people are becoming free inside their own body. I think that’s what keeps me going.”

I concluded our interview with a question that Frasco ends all the interviews on his podcast with: “What do you want to be remembered by?”

“Oh, man,” he began, taking a thoughtful pause as he considered the question that he’s asked hundreds of podcast guests. It’s a tough one. “I want to be remembered by someone who cared for other people. Someone who dedicated his life just to make sure people felt good in their skin.”

And, as someone who just attended her sixth Andy Frasco & The U.N. show in three years, I can confidently tell you Frasco does just that.

ABBY GRUNZINGER/THE OBSERVER

Lead singer Andy Frasco has been touring all over the country since he was 19 years old and worked for major labels during his teenage years.

Fun & Games Editor Abby Grunzinger

un & ames

November 1, 2023 THE OBSERVER

Crossword: Test Your Knowledge

BY ABBY GRUNZINGER

Across 1. Polite term for a lady 6. “And they lived happily ever _____.”

11. Cash contraption? (Abbr.)

14. Where you set something when you don’t want to think about it?

15. Stand up 16. Victoria’s Secret purchase, for example 17. *Linens for an affair? (2 Wds.) 19. Plural definite French article 20. “It’s not a _____, Mom!” 21. Hide and ____ 22. Kidnapper

25. Waiter’s bonus 27. Shade 28. Dried split pulses often use in Indian cuisine 30. Co-star of 1968’s “Speedway,” alongside Presley 34. Swedish range cooker 35. *“Yes” or “no,” for example (2 Wds.) 37. Like a text message after you hit the arrow 39. 1980 Journey song “___ Way You Want It” 40. Mickey, Reepicheep and Despereaux 41. *Questions with a 50% chance of success (3 Wds.) 46. Hot kind of roof where a cat stood?

47. Extensive areas of land 48. Corn unit 49. One who might do your taxes (Abbr.)

50. Video game alteration, for short 51. Washes 53. Low-register string instrument 56. Medically, it’s defined as a BMI of over 30 58. Part of the conscious personality, according to Freud 59. *The bane of a college student’s October? (2 Wds.) 65. Earl Grey or English Breakfast, for two 66. Like Halloween night

Word Search: Spooky Season?

BY ANA KEVORKIAN

Instructions: Search up, down, forward, backward and on the diagonal to find the hidden words.

S N R E T N A L O K C A J A S E V L O W E R E W X E C S H J

I

S

S K A E E S T M M E

A S O R E R Z E W A A R C E U S A L M R R O X O E N N O N W A O U O I

E M T L R S G

67. City in New York State on the Mohawk River 68. Serpentine symbol of royalty in Ancient Egypt 69. Romantic rendezvous 70. Dodged (away from)

Down 1. Apple computer, for short 2. Cigarette residue 3. “The,” auf Deutsch 4. Improvise, _____, overcome 5. Ways of doing something 6. Seeing the Grand Canyon might elicit oohs and ____ 7. 2021 Ryan Reynolds movie “____ Guy” 8. Classy neckwear 9. Like arrival times or plumbing costs (Abbr.)

10. Table retainer, for short 11. Competent 12. Willow or cedar, for two 13. Camouflage 18. Palin or Silverman, for two 21. Unpredictable body movement 22. Pure 23. Tools for boring holes 24. Common allergy 25. Spanish for “aunt” 26. Hotel 29. Aimlessly idles 30. Track three off of Taylor Swift’s “1989”

31. Interactive livestreaming platform 32. It might have a cup of sugar, a cup of flour, a pinch of salt...

33. Spots for gladiator fights 36. Single-stranded genetic molecule (Abbr.)

38. Cardinals, Lakers and Steelers, for three 42. Medical prefix relating to the ears 43. First color of the rainbow 44. Sword for a Jedi, with “light” 45. Dutch humanist considered to be the greatest scholar of the Northern Renaissance 52. Grown adults typically have 32 53. Type of pre-release test 54. Improves, like wine or whiskey 55. Sudsy substance 56. “Sex Education” protagonist 57. Red root 59. Encountered 60. Ending of “barr-”, “glac-” or “cash-” 61. Like paint after several hours 62. Twelve, to the Romans 63. Common brand of compression bandage 64. Angry

Sudoku

BY ABBY GRUNZINGER

Instructions: Each row, column and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.

2 3 5

4 2 6 3

5 4

9 1

3 6 7

4 7

8 2

6 1

2 6

5 9

9 5

T O E P T T S P D B O L H S E C N T S A O I M C

I O A E

4

D T E E O D M A Y A S E R H H O W X C D E D I

T V R S X

O B E T E E N N S C O K M E U E E E K A H S D N A H R O S R H E C W Y R E T E M E C E S P

6 5

8

8 4 9 1 6 3

7 4

I D E R S E E U M S A Word Bank

Costumes Candy Corn Vampires Ghosts Cemetery Zombies Haunted House Handshake

October Taxes Spiders Werewolves Midterms Halloween Jack-o’-lanterns GRAPHICS BY ALYSSA SHONK/THE OBSERVER