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Students For Justice in Palestine Win Historic Lawsuit
see SJP page 5
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Menstrual Products Provided free by CSA
August 26, 2019 VOLUME XXXIV, ISSUE 8
New Cost of Attendance Larger Than Advertised By GABE SAMANDI News Editor
the aspirations of its new leadership. Auricchio, a third-generation New Yorker, believes that she can help realize Fordham Lincoln Center’s goal to strengthen its connections to Manhattan. “I really want to be sure that we are living up to the motto, [New York is my campus. Fordham is my school,]” said Auricchio. “I love that, and I want to be absolutely certain that we are living up to that.” To Auricchio, that means connecting students to more cultural and arts events in the city, as well as pushing them outside the bounds of our twoblock campus. By immersing themselves in the spirit of New York, Dean Auricchio hopes students will live and breathe the city as passionately as she does. And by all indications, the Class of 2023 is ready to do so.
On June 6, 2019, the Office of the President sent out a university-wide email announcing a 3.3% increase for undergraduate tuition across all programs. The language of the email highlighted the school’s efforts to minimize the inflating cost of higher education. “The University and its Board of Trustees are concerned, like many of you, about the cost of a college education,” stated the email signed by University President Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J. “[We] are doing what we can to rein in the cost without affecting the academic experience at Fordham.” The 3.3% tuition increase, which the university claims is relatively small in comparison to previous tuition increases, comes amid rising on-campus housing costs and the recent Fordham health insurance mandate, potentially resulting in a much higher total cost of attendance (COA) from last year for many students. For a student living in a shared McMahon bedroom and utilizing the Fordham-Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, the COA for 2019-20 reaches $73,068 — all before any required fees, books or meals, which could increase that number to over $75,000 for one year of school. Further, one can expect expenses to increase if living in a single in McMahon Hall, or living in McKeon and utilizing a meal plan with the university. Certain classes can also incur additional expenses, such as extra required fees or textbooks. Some students have reported that the university has shared personalized COA estimates upwards of $77,000 before aid. This estimate
see WELCOME page 5
see TUITION page 4
By SOPHIE PATRIDGE-HICKS News Editor For over two years, five Fordham students have waged a legal battle against Fordham University to establish a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at the Lincoln Center campus. On Aug. 5, the students landed a victory in court when Justice Nancy Bannon annulled the university’s decision to overrule United Students Government (USG) vote to grant club status to SJP. SJP faced resistance from the University to attain full club rights and privileges since they first submitted paperwork for club status in November 2015. In December 2016, Keith Eldredge, dean of students, said that the group’s presence on campus would be “polarizing,” and made a final decision to permanently ban the group. It was the first time a dean had overruled a USG decision. The University’s decision resulted in The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) listing Fordham University as one of the 10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech in 2017. Students protested the decision on the Lincoln Center campus even spilling out onto public streets. Following that, dozens of faculty, alumni and civic justice organizations wrote an open letter to the University expressing their support for SJP. In April 2017, Ahmad Awad, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17, Sofia Dadap, FCLC ’18, Sapphira Lurie, FCLC ’17, and Julie Norris, FCLC ’19, represented by cooperating counsel Alan Levine, as well as the organizations Palestine Legal and the Center for Constitutional Rights, filed a lawsuit against the University in an effort to get the club recognized. In February 2019, two years after the initial case filing and with only
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COURTESY OF MADDIE HILF Students from the Class of 2023 who participated in Urban Plunge had an early start learning about all New York City has to offer, as well as the mission of Fordham.
New Class, New Dean, New Fordham The start of the fall semester marks a new era for the Lincoln Center campus
By GABE SAMANDI AND SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS News Editors On Aug. 25, 2019, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) welcomed the Class of 2023 for move-in day, officially marking their start at Fordham University. To first-year college students, acclimating to a new school often feels like paving the road and driving the car at the same time. “Honestly, I’m not too nervous about anything, more just overwhelmed with the whole process of moving in and getting my bearings once I’m on campus,” said Xavier Morales, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’23. Plenty of online lifestyle articles, high school counselors and nostalgic relatives can offer advice about adjusting to a new life on a college
campus, but only a few know what it’s like to be new to FCLC. Someone who does know is FCLC’s new Dean, Dr. Laura Auricchio. After only a handful of weeks working on FCLC’s campus, Aurrichio is also trying to get her bearings, and admits to getting lost on campus more than once — but she is very grateful to all the friendly Fordham faces who have helped point her in the right direction. “I’ve experienced this warm embrace of me, of who I am, and people are excited that I am here, and it’s just wonderful,” Auricchio said. “I want to welcome all of the incoming students and their parents in the same way that I have been.” As the Class of 2023 adjusts to the transition of becoming college students, they will also shape how Fordham Lincoln Center adjusts to
Centerfold
page 10
Page 2
Opinions
SJP Perspectives
Optimism and caution found in SJP court decision Page 8
Arts & Culture
Late Night Bites
Where to eat after dining hall hours
A Naturalist’s
Page 15
Guide to Fordham University
Features
Club Speed Dating
Every Fordham Lincol Center club in ten words or less Page 17
Sports & Health
Student Researchers Four Lincoln Center students showcase their research Page 20
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER
THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY OLIVIA BONENFONT/THE OBSERVER
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August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
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Fordham Alumni Take Up Anti-Discrimination Case Against NY1 have been ignored: “individually, we took our concerns to management, which labeled us complainers, and we documented what was happening,” said Ramirez. “This is hardly a new phenomenon in the news media, and we are not alone,” the plaintiffs wrote. “It has been widely reported that older female television journalists often face never-ending hurdles towards advancement and frequently face uphill battles just to maintain the status quo.” Ramirez explained that the choice to file a suit publicly was intended to highlight the larger issue in the field. “The choices for us were to do nothing and allow ourselves to be pushed out, quit and find another job or file a lawsuit and fight not only for
Seperately we all started to feel like we were being marganilized, Jeanine Ramirez,
Anchorwoman at NY1 and Fordham Alum
COURTESY OF JEANINE RAMIRZ
The plaintiffs of the case. From left to right (standing): Jeanine Ramirez, Vivian Lee and Kristen Shaughnessy. (Seated:) Roma Torre and Amanda Farinacci. By ESME BLEECKER-ADAMS Layout, Fun & Games Editor
On June 19, 2019, five anchorwomen — including two Fordham University alumni — filed a discrimination lawsuit against their employer, Charter Communications, which took over New York’s local Spectrum News channel, NY1, in 2016. The suit was originally filed in Federal District Court by reporters Amanda Farinacci, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’01, Vivian Lee; Jeanine Ramirez, FCRH ’92; Kristen Shaughnessy and Roma Torre, on the grounds of age and gender discrimination. The plaintiffs assert that, in
spite of ample experience, they have been “treated like second-class citizens for years,” according to an open letter released the same day as the suit. They report being excluded, unrecognized, pushed aside or denied air time in favor of men and younger women, particularly since Charter bought the network. “Separately we all started to feel like we were being marginalized,” said Ramirez, a Brooklyn native and Fordham graduate who has been at NY1 since 1996. “When we began to talk to each other, we realized this was systemic.” “Why should a woman who has worked hard to build her
career suddenly find she’s losing value as she ages?” asked Ramirez. “Why do all of those years of experience only count for men who are revered for their depth of knowledge and credibility as they get older?” In contrast, older male reporters at NY1 typically receive awards and honors for their commitment to the network, such as when “Mornings on 1” host Pat Keirnan celebrated his 20th anniversary at NY1 amid much fanfare in 2017. Women with more experience have allegedly been denied the same recognition as well as financial compensation. Upon voicing these concerns, however, the anchors claim to
ourselves but for all of those who have been forced out of their positions because they got old.” On July 31, former NY1 employees Michelle Greenstein and Thalia Perez followed their example and filed a second lawsuit, claiming that they were fired from NY1 after starting families of their own. Perez, who was fired while pregnant, and Greenstein, who was fired shortly after becoming a mother both say they were replaced by younger reporters. Charter claims that the decision to fire them was part of an effort to hire more full-time employees and that neither reporter applied for an open position. Since the initial filing, “the work environment can be awkward at times” for the plaintiffs, according to Ramirez. “Of course not everyone supports us but we’ve been very clear that we bear no animosity toward any of our colleagues,” said Torre. In July, Torre was denied the chance to cover the US women’s soccer team’s victory parade, which she believes was retaliation by the management for signing her name to the lawsuit. Torre, who has been working at NY1 since 1992, responded with a second open letter on July 9, calling her exclusion “a further demonstration of NY1’s complete
failure to take women’s issues seriously.” “By excluding me from the live coverage and going against their own best interests, I had to conclude that the problem is systemic within Charter and needed to be called out,” Torre said in reference to her open letter. “They were in effect demonstrating the very same discriminatory practices the World Cup women were fighting against.” Torre’s second open letter is addressed to Mayor de Blasio and concludes with a call for him to “condemn NY1’s actions in the strongest terms and continue to stand with us as we make change.” The mayor tweeted his thoughts in response: “@RomaTorreNYC is a tireless advocate who’s worked hard to earn the trust of New Yorkers — she belongs at this parade.” However, Torre drew a few lessons from the situation. “Corporations, as we all know, can be ruthless, and their deep pockets ensure a protracted fight,” she said. “My only and best advice [for individuals facing similar workplace conditions] is to document everything and keep detailed notes. Research workplace policy pertaining to discrimination, and share concerns with colleagues who may be experiencing similar mistreatment.” Despite tensions at the studio, Ramirez went on to say that “what’s been amazing though is all of the support we’ve received from co-workers who see what’s been going on” and that “viewers who have watched us and relied on our reporting for years.” “Though we were all very committed to following through with the lawsuit, we were dreading the fallout once the news broke … I believe I was the first to walk into the newsroom when the NY Times article hit and it was rather surreal,” said Torre. “Instead of being shunned, I was embraced, literally, by many of my colleagues.” Both Torre and Ramirez also addressed the wider implications of the lawsuit. “We’re hoping our action shines a light on the discriminatory practices in the TV news industry that have been going on unchallenged for decades,” Ramirez said of herself and her colleagues. “We obviously struck a nerve with this case,” Torre said, “and if it means we’ve helped other women combat their own unfair treatment, then no matter the outcome, we’ve won at least that round.”
Jesuit Living at Rose Hill Accused of Sexually Abusing Minor
VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Reverend William J. O’Malley is known for his portrayal as Father Joe Dyer in the 1973 film, “The Exorcist.” By GUS DUPREE Asst. News Editor
Reverend William J. O’Malley, a former theology teacher at Ford-
ham Preparatory School and onetime actor, has been accused of sexual abuse against a minor. Rev. O’Malley is known for playing Father Joe Dyer in the 1973 film “The
Exorcist” and currently resides on the Rose Hill campus. Rev. O’Malley taught theology, English and drama at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY, from 1965 to 1986. The accuser, identified only by his initials, “J.W.,” claims that the Rev. O’Malley sexually abused him during the 1985-86 school year. J.W., who was 17 years old at the time, claims that he was assaulted multiple times in a classroom, in school hallways and at school-sponsored events. The victim claims to suffer from “severe emotional and psychological distress, humiliation, fright dissociation, anger, depression, anxiety, family turmoil and loss of faith” due to Rev. O’Malley’s abuse. In 1973, Rev. O’Malley took a sabbatical in order to film “The Exorcist.” During that time he also worked as an assistant theology professor at Fordham University, where the movie was filmed. He
returned to McQuaid High School after filming: “I was a moonlight actor, but I’m a teacher,” Rev. O’Malley said in an interview with the Rochester Democrat in 1975. “My life is with the kids.” After working at McQuaid High School for 22 years, Rev. O’Malley started teaching theology at Fordham Preparatory School in 1986. According to then-Fordham Preparatory School President Rev. Kenneth Boller in a report by the New York Post, he was let go in 2012 for his “abrasive” and “confrontational style.” Rev. O’Malley, now 87 years old, currently lives in Fordham University’s Spellman Hall, which houses other members of the Fordham Jesuit community. It is unknown when the Rev. O’Malley moved into Spellman Hall, which opened in 1947, nor is he listed as a resident of Spellman on Fordham’s website. He has not been employed at Fordham University nor at Fordham Prepa-
ratory School since being let go in 2012. The allegation comes after the passing of the Child Victims Act in New York which allows sexual abuse victims of any age, including those whose cases had expired under the old statue of limitations, to take legal action. Hundreds of allegations of sexual assault have flooded New York’s courts since the act went into effect on Aug. 14. O’Malley is the tenth Jesuit priest connected to the Fordham community who has been accused of sexual assault this year. On Jan. 15, University President the Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., released a statement credibly accusing nine priests of sexual assault. McQuaid High School and the Jesuits USA Northeast Province have denied having any prior knowledge of Rev. O’Malley’s alleged abuse before the release of the lawsuit. Fordham University has also not commented on the case.
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THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
CSA Launches Free Menstrual Product Initiative
By COURTNEY BROGLE Managing Editor
After several town hall discussions surrounding the need for readily available menstrual hygiene products, Fordham’s Commuting Students Association (CSA) has worked to provide a safe and inexpensive option for students who suddenly get their periods while on campus: offering free menstrual products in Lowenstein lockers. Former CSA Treasurer Sally Mo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, spearheaded the “Go with the Flow” initiative last spring. After several semesters of students airing their complaints about the lack of available products, CSA entered a “trial run” of their initiative last spring, in which products were stocked in an unlocked fifthfloor Lowenstein locker. “I’ve been on the CSA E-Board for the past two years and it’s been something that we talked about often in our meetings and town halls,” Mo said. CSA President Mayra Guallpa, FCLC ’22, emphasized the importance of having easy-to-access menstrual products for students who need them so as not to sacrifice their studies. “In other schools, they have menstrual products more readily available, so it was something that when you get to Fordham you say, ‘Well, what happened here?’” As a private institution, Fordham is exempt from the 2016 bill Mayor Bill de Blasio signed requiring public schools to provide free menstrual products. However, other private schools like New York University and Columbia University have free products
GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER
While a locker with free menstrual products has been a long-awaited service at Fordham, CSA hopes to continue improving it this year.
available on campus, causing CSA to feel that students here experience the same treatment. Guallpa noted that one of the obvious hurdles for getting the project off the ground was funding. “We reallocated the money we were already budgeted for a coffee break,” she said. “So we didn’t do the coffee break, and we bought the menstrual products.”
The project is funded entirely by CSA, who receives their budget from the Office of Student Involvement. The cost of pads, tampons and locker rental fees for each floor with lockers in Lowenstein was factored into their fall 2019 budget. Members of the club volunteer to restock the supplies as often as demand needs to be met.
“Something we wanted to make sure of was that it was offered for free, because we didn’t think that people should pay for it,” Mo said. “We thought that as commuters, it would be hard for us if someone forgot a pad. Not everyone necessarily has the money or the time to run to CVS and buy a whole new pack, and people may not be necessarily comfortable asking others if they
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had their products with them.” Mo also acknowledged that the support from other on-campus clubs has been encouraging, particularly the discussion about free menstrual hygiene products on campus at last spring’s United Student Government (USG) debate, which she claims made a difference in the dialogue between students and staff. “We did go to a USG meeting to talk about why we thought our project was important,” Mo said. “USG decided to support us in our initiative, which I think did help the Office of Student Involvement approve our appeal for the locker.” An issue that the group continues to address is marketing. Due to Fordham policy that prohibits locker and wall decorations and posters, the locker with the menstrual products is not easily noticeable to an average student. Guallpa did say that going into the fall, one solution they have in mind is to stock their supplies in the same lockers on each floor they are permitted to use for the initiative. “We want to have consistent locker numbers because we want people to remember,” she said. In their initial reallocation request, Mo emphasized that the project is meant to help all students, regardless of their residential status. “Although we are the ‘Commuting’ Students Association, we are opening up access to all,” Mo said. “A point that we wanted to make is that this is a temporary solution,” Mo said. “I think that in the future, it would be nice for the school to have products in bathrooms.”
10 Digital Resources
Fordham Students Need FREE Microsoft Office Online Yes, free! (As long as you’re a Fordham student) My.Fordham > Student tab > Microsoft Office Online
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Watch Philo TV and HBO Go! Stream. Watch TV. 20 hours of DVR space. HBO Go! FREE for on-campus residents. hbogo.com
Print Anywhere on Campus Send your doc to remoteprint@fordham.edu from your Fordham email address. Add funds to your Fordham ID card online: remoteprint.fordham.edu
$5 Printing & Photocopy Credit For active students. Credit good for 1 academic year. If you missed the initial $5 load in August, contact IT Customer Care and request $5 for your Pharos account. (Some students may receive additional funds from their schools.)
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IT Team Back-toSchool Support Get tech help on move-in day from the student IT Team. They’re in the blue shirts! Sunday, August 25, 9 am–3 pm
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(freshman halls)
Monday, August 26, 10:30 am–2:30 pm (upper class halls)
Tuesday, August 27, 10:30 am–2:30 pm (upper class halls)
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Full Access to G Suite Your @fordham.edu address is your gateway to Google’s G Suite Apps! Drive, Hangouts, Calendar, Earth, YouTube and dozens more. Fordham.edu/Gmail
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Get tech help all semester long. CALL 718-817-3999 Monday–Friday: 8 am – 8 pm Saturday: 10 am–6 pm
Help Wanted! Work for Fordham IT fordham.edu/ITJobOpportunities
• Instructional technology assistants • Network and User Support technicians • Office and media assistants • IT Customer Care consultants • Internships and much more! Part-time and work-study positions available for students who love technology. Training provided. Give yourself a professional edge. Work for Fordham IT.
VISIT US Rose Hill | McGinley 229 Monday–Friday: 8 am–8 pm Saturday: 10 am–6 pm Lincoln Center | Lowenstein SL19A Monday–Friday: 8 am–8 pm
Microsoft Online Learning What will you learn today? Digital literacy. MS Office. Programming. Infrastructure. Self-paced online courses. My.Fordham > My Apps tab > Microsoft Online Learning
IT Customer Care (itcc) for Tech Help
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Tech Help Tab Ask for tech help online, anytime, from any device. Check the status of your requests, too. My.Fordham.edu > Tech Help tab @ FordhamIT • fordham.edu/STS
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August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
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Fordham Cost of Attendance Soars for 2019-20 Academic Year Higher tuition, housing and insurance costs spell mounting expenses for students and families
Increases in cost of attendance
Average Aid Package: 34,495
Average Aid Package: 23,800
3.3% 3% 3%
Tuition Increase
Housing Increase Average Aid Package: 12,300
Average Aid Package: 12,600
Meal Plan Increase
TUITION from page 1
only calculates the bare minimum of living at and attending Fordham, and not the expensive entertainment options or tastes students often indulge in while living in New York City. This number contrasts sharply with Fordham’s COA for 2018-19. Minimum required expenses sat at just $67,659 (before fees, books and meals) last year — assuming a student attended under the circumstances of sharing a bedroom in McMahon and using a pre-existing health plan. A student attending under those same circumstances this year can estimate paying roughly 8% more for their minimum required expenses, at $73,068, if their previous health plan is deemed ineligible by Aetna. A student who is eligible to waive the new mandatory health insurance fee can take $3,073 (4%) off of that estimate. For comparison, students going into fall 2018 could expect to pay just 3% more for all minimum required expenses, from $65,495 to $67,659. While the 3.3% tuition increase was proportionally smaller than recent national trends and Fordham’s own previous increases, many students have reported being surprised by the size of their bill this summer. Of course, the exact charges billed to each student depend on countless factors, such as housing status, transportation, re-
quired fees, meal plans and health insurance eligibility, which all have an effect on individual billing statements. But even estimating conservatively, Fordham’s COA now reaches roughly 1.5 times the median for a private four-year university, which sits at around $48,510 per year.
ranks in the top fifth of U.S institutions, meaning most students are paying far less than the $75,000 sticker price. According to collegefactual.com, the average yearly aid package for first-year students is $34,495, with 91% of students receiving some kind of aid. However,
While Fordham ranks among the most expensive universties in the world, its financial aid ranks in the top fifth of U.S. institutions. Available student meal plans also increased by about 3% across the board. Stefano Terzulli, director of student accounts at Fordham, explained that the changes to tuition are a result of Fordham University’s high costs of operation and expansion. “Virtually all universities raise tuition annually to keep pace with inflation and rising costs,” he said. “This is especially true in New York City, where goods and services are more expensive than they are in many locations.” However, new Fordham students and parents concerned about affording school shouldn’t be too worried. While Fordham ranks among the most expensive universities in the world, its financial aid
a significant portion of that aid is in the form of student loans. Scholarships and grants are given out to 81% of students, with an average yearly award of $24,954. The email from the President’s office highlighted Fordham’s commitment to financial aid, stating “Fordham dedicates more than $150 million in financial aid to undergraduate students each year.” Unfortunately, that commitment to financial aid does not extend to raising scholarship award amounts for students that are currently attending. According to Terzulli, “Students receiving full tuition scholarships will see their awards increased. However, in most cases, school-provided grants and scholarships will not match the rate increases.”
According to Fordham’s financial aid website, across all undergraduate programs, just 22 students are offered scholarships that cover both tuition and on-campus housing through the university’s Presidential Scholarship and its Excellence in Theatre Scholarship. In addition, “the top 2-3% of all admitted students” are offered full tuition scholarships through the Fordham Scholarship for Semifinalists. None of these grants cover fees, books, meals or living expenses, but this contingent of students — assuming they actually accepted their offers of admission from Fordham — may be able to avoid most of the new charges this year. According to Terzulli, “students not already utilizing their loan eligibility may opt to use that eligibility to cover the increased cost.” However, students should be aware that borrowing for education is a high-risk financial strategy, and while there is good news about federal loan interest rates for this fall, borrowing may become even more dangerous in 2020. Fordham’s high cost can most likely be attributed to its location in New York and its low student-tostaff ratio. As Fordham continues to grow in prominence as a nationally recognized university, it finds itself in the position of needing to attract a diverse, qualified array of students and professors — typically through expansion of the University’s physical and academic
offerings. “Fordham is making a concerted effort to routinely improve facilities to enhance the student ex-
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Increased COA due to new health insurance charge perience,” said Terzulli. Fordham’s most recent expansions at Lincoln Center include the renovation of both the second and sixth floors of the Leon Lowenstein Building and the reopening of the “QuinnX” study space. Rose Hill has also been the site of “major construction” this summer. Additionally, the school has expanded its scholastic offerings in recent years, creating or upgrading degree programs in academic fields both established and exploratory.
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THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
SJP Legally Recognized After Four Years
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Awad, et al. v. Fordham is the first lawsuit between a Palestinian advocacy group and an educational institution
Fordham’s Students for Justice in Palestine plaintiffs with representatives from the Center for Constitutional Rights and Palestine Legal after their court victory. SJP from page 1 one of the original four members still a student at Fordham, Veer Sheety, FCLC ’21, also joined the lawsuit. After a lengthy legal battle, Judge Bannon has ruled in favor of establishing an SJP chapter at FCLC. “The consideration and discussion of differing views is actually part of Fordham’s mission, regardless of whether that consideration and discussion might discomfort some and polarize others,” wrote Bannon. At a public university, the decision to deny SJP’s club status would be seen as a violation of the First Amendment. As a private institution, Fordham tried to argue in court that it was not obliged to follow the orders. “There’s no First Amendment right at a private university. There just isn’t. The law is very clear,” said Jim Ryan, an attorney for Fordham, in court. However, regardless of the First Amendment, Bannon made note of Fordham’s commitments to free speech and expression in its mission
statement and demonstration policy. Bannon also said that Fordham University’s “disapproval of SJP was made in large part because the subject of SJP’s criticism is the State of Israel, rather than some other nation, in spite of the fact that SJP advocates only legal, nonviolent tactics aimed at changing Israel policies.” Eldredge originally said that the group’s support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) would “present a barrier to open dialogue,” as reasoning for his decision in December 2016. However, many activists see this increased restrictions on pro-Palestinian advocacy as “the Palestinian exception” to free speech. Critics have pointed to occasions when the University has upheld its commitment to free speech for other parties on campus. In 2012, when College Republicans invited Ann Coulter to speak at Fordham, a petition calling for the administration to ban Coulter from speaking began circulating the cam-
pus. The Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., university president, wrote in a university-wide email that “preventing Ms. Coulter from speaking would counter one wrong with another,” and, “I fully expect our students, faculty, alumni, parents, and staff to voice their opposition, civilly and respectfully, and forcefully.”
There’s no First Ammendment right at a private university. There just isn’t. The law is very clear.
Jim Ryan Attorney for Fordham University
Awad, et al. v. Fordham University is the first lawsuit in the country that challenged censorship of students advocating for Palestinian rights. The SJP victory came only a
day before Rep. Doug Collins, ranking Republican of the House Judiciary Committee, announced the reintroduction of The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act. In 2018, Palestine Legal published a legal letter saying that the act’s “real purpose is to silence campus advocacy for Palestinian rights and to censor criticism of Israeli government policies.” News of this case stands as a departure from many of the national headlines surrounding U.S. interests in Israeli-Palestinian affairs. In recent years, individuals around the country who advocate for Palestinian rights, in many cases university students, have faced accusations of being “anti-semitic” and “enemies of Israel and the United States.” In recent months, many Muslim Americans and Palestinian advocates have been labeled as “radical” or “anti-Israel,” and have been wrongly connected to Islamic terrorist organizations by far-right policy groups, politicians and media outlets. Since SJP’s court filing, all four original plaintiffs have been listed
VIA @FORDHAMSJP ON INSTAGRAM
on the website of The Canary Mission, an organization that identifies people and groups that “promote the hatred of the USA, Israel, and Jews on North American college campuses.” The website lists over 2,000 people in total that they deem as “anti-Jewish,” including some Fordham faculty, on their website. In a statement from the University on Aug. 8, Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications, reiterated Fordham’s commitment to its students and their interests, inside and outside of the classroom. “The University is reviewing the court’s decision before deciding on a way forward,” said Howe. The University did not offer a timeframe or how it plans to implement the ruling.
Experience an interactive timeline of SJP’s legal journey at fordhamobserver.com
Dean Auricchio Welcomes Class of 2023 to New York City WELCOME from page 1 “Between Fordham’s wonderful location, both the proximity to Lincoln Center and New York with all its energy, I knew Fordham was the right choice,” Cooper Wilson, FCLC ’23. Gabriel Garcia, FCLC ’23, also chose to attend Fordham because of its location and is looking forward to meeting like-minded people who are drawn to Fordham’s unique campus. Auricchio emphasises that she is accessible, approachable and interested, and wants students to know that she is “here to serve.” Her advice to incoming students: take academic risks. Always passionate about art and history but unsure of a career path in college, Auricchio remembers how it was not until her
junior year that she took her first art history class and discovered her love for the subject. Much like the students she is welcoming, Auricchio believes that right now, her job is to “listen, learn, take notes and communicate.” And she asks that the students on campus, both old and new, do the same as they push themselves to new heights this year. “We are in school to grow,” said Auricchio. “The whole point of college is to open yourself up.”
Excited about all the change coming to Fordham this year? Stay up-todate by visiting The Observer online at www.fordhamobserver.com, or by following @FordhamObserver on Instagram and Twitter. Check out Retrospect, the Observer’s official podcast, for more.
COURTESY OF LEAH JOHNSON
Excitement ran high at Urban Plunge, a pre-orientation program for freshmen hoping to learn more about the city.
Opinions
Opinions Editors Evan Vollbrecht - evollbrecht@fordham.edu Grace Getman - ggetman@fordham.edu
FORDHAM IS WHAT WE MAKE IT
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sized and outstanding freshman cohort and more lead us to hope and believe that the future can be bright for everyone involved in our campus community. Student advocates and reform-minded administrators have a chance to use the current momentum to create real, lasting change at the university — if they can work together.
As students, we are obliged to push for the changes we would like to see. As students, we are obliged to push for the changes we would like to see. Apathy has plagued the student body at times in recent years. Students’ activism elsewhere in the city and the world seems to end at Fordham’s gates. We must be more attentive to the power of our presence here to positively or negatively impact the campus. It is our greatest strength; its absence is our most concerning weakness. Issues that have afflicted Fordham for years — such as restrictive approaches to residential guest protocols, discriminatory policies for housing for trans students and punitive limitations on con-
Observer the
STAFF EDITORIAL
s students arrive at Fordham for the new fall semester, they’ll enter a campus on the brink of change in many forms — and they’ll arrive in a position to make it happen. Recent developments on campus prove that change is possible and should serve as inspiration for the next wave of reform. Fordham is, now more than ever, exactly what its students make of it. We enter Fall 2019 particularly conscious of this responsibility. This spring, the university accepted the most diverse and high-achieving class in Fordham’s history. It hired Dr. Laura Auricchio, a provost from a socially-conscious and justice-oriented school, as academic dean for Fordham College at Lincoln Center. It implemented a policy allowing students to change their student ID to their preferred name. Most recently in August, Fordham was forced to allow Students for Justice in Palestine on Fordham Lincoln Center’s campus as an official club, almost 1,000 days after its United Student Government approval was vetoed. This could become a watershed moment for Fordham; a lawsuit won in support of free speech and student power on campus, a new dean, an out-
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
traceptives on campus — can be addressed fully and with finality, but it will require the dedication and passion of everyone at Fordham Lincoln Center, from the greenest of freshmen to our most experienced faculty. This power can be wielded in many ways in the name of positive change and justice, from club activity to student government elections. The classic recommendation to new students is to get involved. It is up to us to realize that this participation does not only supplement our college experience; it is essential to it. As we’ve seen in the past year, change is possible. But that change will only continue to be possible if we encourage each other to enact change on campus. This is the standard to which we are obliged to hold each other throughout our time here, and it is what will characterize us long after we graduate. It is important that we take these recent changes and highlight their positive momentum, but it is equally pertinent to acknowledge that it is only the beginning. We have high hopes for the coming academic year, and we depend on each and every member of the Fordham Lincoln Center community to fulfill them.
Editor-in-Chief Owen Roche
Managing Editor Courtney Brogle Business Managers Alexios Avgerinos Kristian Koprivica Teymur Guliyev Online Editor Izzi Duprey Layout Editors Esmé Bleecker-Adams Steph Lawlor Asst. Layout Editors Defne Akiman Lara Foley News Editors Gabe Samandi Sophie Partridge-Hicks Asst. News Editor Gus Dupree Opinions Editors Evan Vollbrecht Grace Getman Asst. Opinions Editor Nicole Perkins Arts & Culture Editor Gillian Russo Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Ethan Coughlin Features Editor Marielle Sarmiento Asst. Features Editor Roxanne Cubero Sports & Health Editors Lena Weidenbruch Luke Osborn Asst. Sports & Health Editors Aiza Bhuiyan Patrick Moquin Photo Editor Andrew Beecher Asst. Photo Editor Lena Rose Copy Editors Jill Rice Libby Lanza Melanie Riehl Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams Social Media Managers Maca Leon Shamya Zindani Newsletter Editors Gillian Russo Shamya Zindani Multimedia Editor Zoey Liu Asst. Multimedia Editors Caitlin Bury Defne Akiman Retrospect Host Kevin Christopher Robles Retrospect Producer Alyssa Morales IT Manager EJ Ciriaco Visual Advisor Molly Bedford Editorial Advisor Anthony Hazell PUBLIC NOTICE No part of The Observer may be reprinted or reproduced without the expressed written consent of The Observer board. The Observer is published on alternate Thursdays during the academic year. Printed by Five Star Printing Flushing, N.Y
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES • Letters to the Editor should be typed and sent to The Observer, Fordham University, 140 West 62nd Street, Room G32, New York, NY 10023, or e-mailed to fordhamobserver@gmail.com. Length should not exceed 200 words. All letters must be signed and include contact information, official titles, and year of graduation (if applicable) for verification. • If submitters fail to include this information, the editorial board will do so at its own discretion. • The Observer has the right to withhold any submissions from publication and will not consider more than two letters from the same individual on one topic. The Observer reserves the right to edit all letters and submissions for content, clarity and length. • Opinions articles and commentaries represent the view of their authors. These articles are in no way the views held by the editorial board of The Observer or Fordham University. • The Editorial is the opinion held by a majority of The Observer’s editorial board. The Editorial does not reflect the views held by Fordham University.
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THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
Fake Polls, Real Money
Opinions
7
Misleading and manipulative polls on social media want your money, not your input CASEY BRENNAN Staff Writer
Facebook ads tend to be spot-on when it comes to identifying their audience. When I silently think to myself, “Man, we’re running out of dish soap,” I magically encounter an ad for Ajax the very next time I open Facebook. However, the social media algorithm likes to throw me a curveball every once in a while. Most recently, it recommended that I take a poll sponsored by the Trump campaign. In the past, I’ve thought that these “Official 2020 Trump vs. Democrat Poll” clickbaits are not worth my time and continue scrolling; but this time, however, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to click on the link. Was I outraged by the questions? Yes. Was I surprised? Not particularly. The first question asked, “Who would you rather see fix our Na-
When asked, “How would you rate President Obama’s first year in office (2009)?” the option of “Poor” was added to the list of options. The ability for voters to vote negatively of Obama, but not for Trump, completely discredits the validity of any poll produced by the Trump committee. On Feb. 6, 2017, Trump tweeted, “Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election.” On other occasions, Trump has referred to polls regarding the 2016 election as “dirty,” specifically those conducted by ABC and the Washington Post. It is alarming to see a president reject the validity of surveys done by reputable sources, but this is not a new tactic. Trump has been calling the polls a “Phony Witch Hunt” since before he was even elected. From the absurdity of the survey that I encountered, you would expect that these polls are some sort of advanced satire,
Although it would be nice to believe that they are just satirical, this poll, along with others, is paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., which runs his official campaign website. tion’s immigration policies?” Voters were then given a vast choice of answers: “President Trump” or “A MS-13 Loving Democrat.” The next ten questions were similar, with a personal favorite being question eight: “Who do you believe will fight for you every day?” with the choices of either “President Trump” or “A Low Energy Democrat.” With further research, I realized that this most recent Trump poll was not even the worst one to date. In 2017, another poll sponsored by the Trump committee, “Inaugural Year Approval,” barely gave voters the chance to critique the Trump performance. When asked, “How would you rate President Trump’s first year in office (2017)?” voters had a wide range of options: “Great,” “Good,” “Okay” and “Other” (in which “Other” could not be specified).
LEO BERNABEI Staff Writer
One of the most important cornerstones of our federal republic, the Electoral College, is as old as the nation itself. The portion of Article 2, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution that codifies the system of electing the chief executive goes into more excruciating detail than any other single issue in the entire Constitution — more than war powers or taxation. But turning on the news today, we witness a relentless barrage on this once-cherished institution from those who claim the system is undemocratic and was devised to uphold slavery. While these claimants have their hearts in the right place, their change is not something that would make our Union more perfect. Many of the criticisms ignore the most crucial and common sense reasons why our indirect selection of a chief executive is not only democratic, but a norm amongst developed nations. The Electoral College provides the greater mechanism for stability, competition and
mocking the outrageous ego of the president and his belief that the polls are always in his favor. Although it would be nice to believe that they are just satirical, this poll, along with others, is paid for by Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., which runs his official campaign website. If President Trump cannot believe that the polls that show him in a negative light are at all accurate, his solution seems to be to create his own poll, which is rigged for him to win. The “Official 2020 Trump vs. Democrat Poll” is laughable, to say the least. The goal of surveying is to gather scientifically valid information on the opinions of the general public. With Trump’s polls, they simply exist to direct users to donate to his re-election campaign while also giving him a cheap ego
FROM DONALD J. TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT, INC.
boost. Even though I refused to vote in favor of Trump in the survey I took, I could not choose an answer that portrayed a Democrat in a positive light, as every answer included some sort of negative descriptor of the Democratic option. If any other president had
advertised a survey such as the “Official 2020 Trump vs. Democrat Poll,” the media would be quick to call out the poll for what it is: a scam. But with every scandal, contradicting statement or blatant lie from Trump, a cheap marketing scheme disguised as a survey does
In Defense of the Electoral College
clarity in presidential elections compared to a national popular vote. To address one of the most heated arguments surrounding the College, it was certainly not founded to aid the institution of slavery. Although electoral votes are partitioned based on the “whole Number of Senators and Representatives” of each state, in 1787, the number of representatives was calculated on the basis of three-fifths of the population of “all other Persons” (including slaves). But the Electoral College only reflected these numbers. The dominant slave states would have preferred their slaves counted as five-fifths of a person in order to bolster their number of representatives, so the idea that African Americans being counted as only three-fifths of a person and that the ensuing political effects of this policy were racist misses the forest for the trees. Interspersed in these ofttold grievances of the electoral college is the view that it is undemocratic, but that hardly holds up either. While it is not found in the Constitution, the
phrase “one person, one vote” is so dogmatic in our society that it holds a unique status. Although the Electoral College itself is attacked for skirting this principle, it seems to me that a more logical way of maintaining “one person, one vote” would be the way in which electors are appointed in the first place. In 2016, Donald Trump won
think that we’d hear much less complaining that the College is “undemocratic.” But besides this point, many nations that do hold first-pastthe-post elections, including Venezuela, Botswana and Yemen, are hardly considered beacons of freedom and democracy. In fact, large and favorably ranked democratic nations that
But turning on the news today, we witness a relentess barrage on this once-cherished institution from those who claim the system is undemocratic and was devised to uphold slavery. While these claimants have their hearts in the right place, their change is something that would not make the Union more perfect. 48.2% of Pennsylvania’s popular vote. In comparison, Hillary Clinton garnered 47.5% of the state’s popular vote, but Trump received all 20 of Pennsylvania’s electors. If all states followed the lead of Maine and Nebraska and split their vote by two on a statewide basis and the rest per each congressional district, I
are much less ethnically diverse than the United States, like the United Kingdom, France and India, elect their heads of state through indirect means or two-round systems themselves. We are hardly an outlier of large, democratic countries in our means of selecting a chief executive.
not seem to be of much importance and has seemed to go under the radar. The only real issue that would arise from these polls would be if Trump actually started citing them. And if he does, at least you can now call them out for what they are: fake news.
Moreover, we are reminded by the Electoral College that our nation’s smaller states oftentimes house functions that outweigh measurements of population, alone. Smaller population states host some of our nation’s largest farming communities, most beautiful and well-preserved national parks and destitute Native American reservations. We depend on these states every day for the energy that heats our homes, the gasoline that powers our cars and the food we eat for dinner. If anything, many federal policies affect these states disproportionately to their relatively small populations. Our Founding Fathers were invested in liberty, not expediency. Nearly all branches and sections of our federal government are prone to gridlock and unresponsive to instantaneous pressures. The Electoral College is no different. It embodies the vision our Founders laid forth. The College prevents, in James Madison’s words, a “tyranny of the majority,” and allows the Founders to posthumously tell us all to slow down.
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Opinions
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
SJP’s Win is a Victory for All of Us
www.fordhamobserver.com
SJP court decision has important ramifications for Fordham and for Palestinean advocates across the nation EVAN VOLLBRECHT Opinions Editor
In 2016, they came together to form a club. They applied for official status. They were approved by United Student Government (USG), but denied by Dean Eldredge. A lawsuit was filed, a legal advocacy group hired and petitioners recruited. Some of those petitioners graduated, and new student leaders stepped up to take their place. Now, years later, their labors finally bear fruit, and on Aug. 6, 2019, Fordham was ordered by Judge Nancy Bannon to recognize Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) as a formal club on campus. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this victory. It has been well-documented by the progressive Center for Constitutional Rights that pro-Palestinian student activists face undue
percussions go far beyond SJP alone. After all, the Palestinian exception is only a symptom of a greater pattern of hypocrisy and arbitrary control over discourse. The University’s draconian attitudes towards free speech and student power are well-known and long-standing, but for the first time in a while, they’ve been forced to capitulate. The administration has always been at an advantage because change takes time — time to build relationships, make connections, persuade, compromise, negotiate and, yes, litigate. Students have a mere four years full of classes, internships, summer vacations and all the other routines of college life. What this court decision proves is that students can organize across the necessary time scales, passing the torch from one cohort to another so that they may keep the fire burning. Further, it proves that we can do so and win. This case should serve as a warning to
Four SJP students, Ahmad Awad, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17, Sofia Dadap, FCLC ’18, Sapphira Lurie, FCLC ’17, and Julie Norris, FCLC ’19 file a lawsuit to sue Fordham over the decision to reject SJP.
Fordham students interested in raising awareness about Palestinian rights submit an application to form a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) club on Fordham’s campus.
On the last day of the semester, Keith Eldredge writes to the SJP students After SJP students voice their over-ruling concerns to Dean Eldredge via USG’s vote for email, he responds that club status. “there is no appeal of my decision.”
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and disproportionate opposition to their advocacy — opposition enforced by college administrators like Dean Eldredge, in violation of the school’s own principles of free speech and diversity of ideas. These are, of course, the same principles cited as justification for overruling far greater student-led and faculty-supported opposition, such as that facing Roger Stone’s invitation to Fordham. University administrators across the nation should look at the wording of the decision and take warning: capricious and unjustified selective enforcement of standards that other groups are not held to does not stand up in court. Such actions are no better than politically motivated censorship and will be judged as such. Pro-Palestinian activists should take heart and use this decision as precedent in defense of their own advocacy against the next stonewalling of their efforts. For us at Fordham, the re-
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The Center for Constitutional Rights, Palestine Legal and FIRE all send letters to Fordham with their concerns about free speech rights on Fordham’s campus.
Fordham students file for a preliminary injunction that calls on Fordham to reinstate USG’s approval of the club soon as only two petitioners still attend Fordham.
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Fordham alumni write an open letter to Fordham administration condemning their decision.
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dedication of the club’s founders, they finally have an opportunity to champion their cause on campus. To echo the words of the USG back in 2016 when they put their support behind the club, I have faith that SJP and its members will positively contribute to our community in a respectful and sensitive manner. I expect it will promote open academic discussion, diversity of thought and intellectual rigor, and that Fordham will remember its commitment to the pursuit of such. I trust that its members will prove Dean Eldredge wrong, and, far from being a polarizing presence on campus, will bring students together in support of humanitarian values and the rights of the Palestinian people. And above all else, I believe that all of us at Fordham can take advantage of this chance the leaders of SJP have won for us, and bring about a new era of open discourse without undue administrative sanitization.
Court allows new petitioner and annuls Dean Eldredge’s decision mandating that Fordham recognize SJP as an official club.
Students file a motion to add a new petitioner, Veer Shetty, FCLC ’21 to the case.
Fordham files a motion to dismiss the case. Students oppose and file a brief opposing Fordham’s attempt to dismiss the case.
One of the plaintiffs, Sapphira Lurie, organizes a protest in support of SJP on the Lincoln Center campus.
After a year-long application process, where SJP students attended a number of meetings regarding administration’s concerns about their club, USG grants SJP full club rights and status.
Fordham’s administration: the balance of power is not so skewed in their favor that they can expect to get away with trampling student voices underfoot. SJP’s victory should herald a new era of cooperation between administration and students. After all, a more even balance of power means a more healthy relationship, and this display has leveled the playing field a bit. It’s been proven that decisions unpopular with the student body cannot go unchallenged and that some of those challenges will result in less-than-desirable optics for Fordham University. Administrators are incentivized to work with, rather than against, students — and students should feel emboldened to do so, secure in the knowledge that Fordham is less eager to pick fights with a bloody nose. For now, the “S” of SJP can rejoice and revel in their victory. Through the bold efforts and
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A public hearing is held at the Manhattan Civil Courthouse on the students’ preliminary injunction and Fordham’s motion to dismiss. Community members and supporters of SJP overwhelm the courthouse
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AUGUST Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications, says “the University is reviewing the court’s decision before deciding on a way forward,” in an official university statement.
Fordham files a motion opposing adding a new petitioner to the case. Dadap claimed that this decision was “maybe because they hope that after all four original petitioners graduate, student solidarity with colonized and oppressed peoples will die down.”
“We believe that by denying organizational status to Students for Justice in Palestine after the group was approved by the Fordham United Student Government (USG), then by singling out one student protesting this decision for disciplinary action, you contribute to the systemic silencing and punishing of students who choose to exercise their free speech to organize in support for the struggle for justice in Palestine.”
Someone Who Tries
A Jewish Fordham Student’s Perspective on SJP BRANDON SATZ-JACOBOWITZ Contributing Writer
I never felt really “Jewish” until starting at Fordham University. My grandparents were Holocaust survivors and I lived with passed-down stories of their suffering, but these were distant memories of a faraway place. But I remember my first “swastika email” from the Rev. McShane, S.J. And the remarks I’ve heard from Fordham students about large Jewish noses or Jewish political power. Then we witnessed the Charlottesville neo-Nazi rally with chants of “Jews will not replace us” and the horrific mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Suddenly, I was sending out emails of solidarity to the Jewish Student Organization (JSO) and organizing vigils for stolen lives. I don’t know if I did enough. I just know I tried. And now I speak again, not as a member of JSO or Fordham community, but just someone who tries. I’d heard of anti-Semitism from other Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters,
how Vassar College’s SJP organization posted a 1944 Nazi propaganda poster depicting a monster in a Jewish loincloth holding an American flag and a bag of money, trampling a European town, or how Hunter’s SJP chapter conflated tuition hikes with “Zionist” influence. Hatem Bazian, the original founder of SJP, has even retweeted anti-Semitic images, one depicting a man in traditional Jewish garb saying, “I is chosen,” with the hashtag “#Ashke-Nazi.” Bazian apologized, but the impact caused pain. And when our leaders refuse introspection, there’s a grisly butterfly effect. Trump’s rhetoric validates racism towards Latin Americans, Muslims and Jews, which sparks horrific mass shootings. Fordham’s SJP has emphasized First Amendment rights over those of Jews and Palestinians. In June 2017, Fordham SJP shared a Facebook video about “tactics used” to silence free speech, which included a cartoon of a man in Jewish garb taping the mouth of an anthropomorphic Earth, with the yellow tape labeled “anti-Semitism.” Another image showed a
giant hand with a Star of David stamping “hate speech” on pro-Palestinian activists. These illustrations, similar to Nazi imagery, imply that Jews “control the world,” feigning oppression for political goals. I’m not sure why Fordham’s SJP organization felt the need to post this video, but I felt sick after watching it. When a poster found in Lowenstein depicted Uncle Sam saying, “I’m Israel’s Bitch and So Are You,” Fordham SJP condemned the poster but alleged it was “part of a Zionist and anti-free speech effort” to “derail” their club. When anti-Semitism arose at their events, Fordham’s SJP remained silent. At their event, “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) at Universities” speaker Sarah Aly stated, “Zionists are going to use you for their agenda” and “The Jews ... The Zionists are using you as the token brown guy,” referencing a pro-Israel Latino student. I felt paralyzed with fear and shame and waited for event organizer Sapphira Lurie to say, “Wait, don’t attack Jewish students in anger toward the administration.” But she remained silent.
Founding members Gunar Olsen and Sapphira Lurie both blasted Fordham’s decision to hear Jewish anxieties about SJP. Lurie bemoaned how USG was “instructed” to “solicit opinions ... from Zionist professors and the Zionist Jewish Students Organization.” The derogatory use of “Zionist” for Jewish groups also has neo-Nazi origins, though I hope this wasn’t her intent. According to Lurie, Olsen resigned following alleged sexual assault accusations. He has since publicized the identities of Jewish Fordham students and faculty who had raised concerns about SJP, a choice I find disappointing and unsettling. When Fordham’s SJP organized a “Rally against Islamophobia” following the 2017 Muslim ban, it became a protest against Dean Eldredge’s decision, calling for a “militant movement” with chants of “student power.” That was the first time I felt really afraid, watching Christian friends stand in solidarity with an anti-Semitic club, forgetting the Muslim Americans barred from coming home. Lurie took advantage, asking protestors to join her club and “bring
this energy to the movement.” I wanted to see Fordham SJP try. They had three years to speak out against anti-Semitism, three years of swastikas, hate speech, neo-Nazi rallies and mass shootings nationwide, but they never extended a hand. I just want my Jewish friends currently at Fordham to feel safe and a part of their community. It was strange writing this, looking back when SJP started, before the Tree of Life mass shooting, before the Virginia white supremacist rally. I know things are getting worse for Jews in America, just as they are for immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ communities and countless other marginalized populations, and I just wish things could get better, even for a moment. But they don’t. And when I think about my time at Fordham, I feel like I’ve let my community down. To those who work toward Palestinian activism, please walk the path of light even if it isn’t the one in front of you. And to my Jewish friends, I’m sorry that my trying wasn’t enough. Please stay safe.
Rubberneck The
Welcome to the Observer’s satirical severance with seriousness.
Summer Mega Brain
THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
Opinions
9
A deep dive into Fordham’s biggest conspiracy yet: stolen brainpower NICOLE PERKINS Asst. Opinions Editor
I am significantly dumber than I was three months ago. My speech is no longer perfectly assembled and articulate, my writing is severely lacking and yesterday a commercial asked me to add two very small numbers together and I struggled for a socially unacceptable amount of time. At first, I assumed that the summer slump had truly hit me. The disuse of my brain had caused it to shrink down, and the first classes of the semester would jar it out of the rut. One minute I would be struggling to think of which century man landed on the moon and then it would hit — I would regain every little tidbit of history that had ever even been mentioned near me. My brain would become a work machine yet again and I would whirl through every piece of homework thrown at me. But then I began to think: what if my extra brain power wasn’t lost, but instead stolen? I’m sure that if you took all the smarts lost by Fordham University students and combined them together, you would get a larger-than-average brain. A big brain, if you will. Perhaps a brain the size of the planet, or several planets. A Summer Mega Brain. This, of course, lends itself to immense power. Forget walking into the first day of classes and actually knowing what’s going on. With a galaxy brain, you could walk in and teach the class. The university would be in your control. The statue of Ramses would be knocked down, and in its place, a sculpture of your
ILLUSTRATION BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
When students return to school after summer break, many are despondent over what they’ve forgotten. What if there was something more sinister at play?
ginormous brain. Students would weep. Professors would marvel. Visitors would be immensely confused. Yet, this begs the question: Who would harness this brain power? “Megamind” (2010) led me to think of several suspects. First, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., whom I immediately ruled out. He already has one of the biggest brains known to man. This would not give him anything new. Who could it be then? The
answer is not a simple one. The array of people who would want a big brain is hard to narrow down. One suspect that stood out is the statue of Ramses. This may come as a shock, but how else is he expected to become a living, breathing Ram? With Summer Mega Brain, he could surely figure out a way to breath life into his metal lungs. This would be the best case scenario. Imagine how wowed potential students would be if they saw a giant brass ram
running around campus. I know I would enroll immediately. But let’s say that for some reason it’s not Ramses. The next most likely subject would be my freshman year roommate. Months ago, I permanently borrowed some of the silverware that she had kindly volunteered to bring to our dorm. With the school year fast approaching, she may need that silverware again. The only way to track down its location? Megabrain. I would be found
within seconds if it’s her behind this, and I ask that someone check in on me on Sept. 2 to make sure I am safe and sound. The third option, of course, is that I am just looking for an excuse to justify the decline in my intelligence over these breaks. I almost immediately dismissed this idea because of its ludicrous premise and truly think I nailed it with option two. Wait for another update from me in another issue or transmitted telepathically.
Oh, Canada
A functioning healthcare system and non-crippling student debt? Overrated ANNA MONEYMAKER Contributing Writer
As the 2020 elections loom overhead, the millennial electorate has shown that they have long departed from a moderate left. Calls for “healthcare for all” and “free tuition” plague Twitter, and, what’s worse, the candidates who endorse such policies continue to gain strong support in the polls. The desire for full-blown socialism among these voters is not at all stifled by the clear failure of socialistic government displayed by our northern neighbors. Oh, Canada? That’s right. Sen. Bernie Sanders has championed his advocacy for universal healthcare throughout his presidential campaign, yet, year after year, statistics show us that Canada’s healthcare-for-all system is a disaster. Ill people enter doctors’ offices with no fear of massive out-of-pocket costs, and can easily afford the medication that is prescribed to them, as it is free. Sound good to you? Didn’t think so. I love the fact that in addition to pricey insurance premiums, Americans who earn enough to not be covered by government insurance have to pay large amounts for prescription medication and other possible medical bills. It teaches us responsibility, and also makes me very
ILLUSTRATION BY JEFFREY UMBRELL
Canada isn’t as great as many people make it out to be. It’s time to spill the maple syrup on the world’s worst country.
scared of ever getting sick or hurt. Win-win. Lowering the cost of tuition for higher education sounds great, but we know all too well that the left loves to live in a fantasy. It is a well-known fact that lowering, or, even worse, abolishing tuition
costs in colleges and universities would bankrupt the government and destroy the quality of education. In Canada, people exit university without being forced to take minimum wage jobs to pay for their crushing debt. These entitled students go on to find
jobs in their field and contribute to society like the sensitive snowflakes they are. After being forced to live in this godforsaken country for two months, it is clear the government here does not know how to manage their money. I have seen
the effects first hand: healthier people, a cleaner environment and less debt. As an American, it baffles me. I asked a man in Quebec if he felt his healthcare and education justified the enormous taxes he paid. He responded, “Quoi?” Another mark of an abysmal education system. They would be smart to learn a little something from the U.S., the country with the largest external debt in the world. This trounces Canada’s spot at number fourteen, proving that the U.S. always comes out on top. What we may conclude from this barrage of damaging evidence is this: Socialism does not work. Does this stop the Dems from pushing for big government? Quite the opposite. In an interview with The Nation, Sen. Sanders stated, “Do they think I’m afraid of the word? I’m not afraid of the word.” Well, Bernie, maybe we should be afraid of some words. Our Founding Fathers knew some words were bad and scary, and therefore did not include them in the Constitution, like “immigration” or “woman.” Sanders used both of those words on numerous occasions as well. Let us learn from this cautionary tale and steer clear of big government. We would not want to end up like those suckers, eh?
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Opinions
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
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A Naturalist’s
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Fordham Lincoln Center
GRAPHIC ILUSTRATION BY LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER
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GRACE GETMAN AND EVAN VOLBRECHT Opinions Editors
Fordham University is home to a complex ecosystem, one that features species that can be found nowhere else in the world, despite their desire to attend either NYU or Columbia. This biodiversity can be overwhelming for first-time visitors, so we’ve assembled a definitive guide that will be helpful for both those new to the field and seasoned researchers. First, a bit of history. Fordham University features two distinct biomes, Rose Hill and Lincoln Center. Although at first these two habitats seem to harbor entirely different populations, recent research has revealed that the same species can be found in both locations, though significant behavioral differences are common. This conclusion was drawn after individuals were seen traveling back and forth between both locales for brief periods, freely intermingling with conspecifics at each campus. However, reports of interbreeding are somewhat rare, possibly indicating that the populations are beginning to diverge. The Rose Hill ecosystem is far larger and more open, allowing for greater biodiversity. Basking behavior,
THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
rarely seen at Lincoln Center, is far more common here, and Fordham Jocks (Fordhamensis Ramses) are only found on the wide-open practice fields of Rose Hill. Despite being the only local species to inhabit this ecological niche, they are ill-adapted to the wider world and are often outcompeted by other species when they venture outside the fence. Historical analysis has concluded that the Lincoln Center populations are the result of a small group of Rose Hill individuals that settled in the area. It is theorized that they were cut off from their native habitat during an excursion sometime around 1968 CE, possibly by a traffic jam or D train maintenance. This population bottleneck may have caused the lower biodiversity at Lincoln Center. Returning to Lincoln Center, where our gaze rests, one can observe several distinct species. The most prevalent group is the Common Liberal Arts Major, scientific name Fordhamensis Unprofitabilis. Prolific and diverse, the “common” epithet in the name of this species is well-deserved — it is second only to the city rat in when it comes to population on campus. The sheer number of individuals has led to the formation of several subspecies dedicated to finding a particular niche, but
members still freely intermingle. These subspecies include the Bohemian Visual Artisan (Fordhamensis Unprofitabilis cryptid), the Chatty Marketeer (Fordhamensis Unprofitabilis internis), the Crook-Bodied Politic (Fordhamensis Unprofitabilis neuroticus) and the Bly’s English Fool (Fordhamensis Unprofitabilis unprofitabilis). One species that diverged early from the ancestor of the Common Liberal Arts Major is the Gabelli’s Pinstriped MBA (Fordhamensis Gabelli), the males of which can be identified by their khaki legs and business casual appearance. During internship season, they shed their casual study coat for darker, more formal “suit” coloration for use in their courtship displays, known as “interviews.” Females have more colorful displays, and can frequently be seen at coffee holes. An incredibly rare sight on campus is the Lincolnian Honors Programmite, Fordhamensis Honorabilis. Unlike most species of the genus Fordhamensis, the Programmite is highly adapted to group living and forms close, insular bands with conspecifics of the same age. They are normally quite shy and elusive creatures and only move between their numerous communal dens under
cover of darkness. Occasionally, Programmites may adopt one or two Common Liberal Arts Majors into their group, provoking many theories about how the two species could be related. Fordhamensis Dramaticus, the Silver-Tongued Thespian, is the alpha predator of the Fordhamensis system, prowling the hallways for new recruits and intimidating others through song. Due to high rates of intraspecific competition, few individuals live to adulthood, and fewer still make it to their fourth year. Their colorful plumage is not just for mating purposes, but to warn away anyone who would seek to challenge their dominance. If you see one, your best option is to play dead — in their efforts to outperform you, they, too, will emulate a corpse, allowing you to slip away as they lay trapped and unable to break character. The gentler cousin of the Silver-Tongued Thespian is the Lesser Ailey Dancer, Fordhamensis Cavortus. Although this species is now known to be merely the juvenile form of the Greater Ailey Dancer (Saltator Ailey) found at the Joan Weil Center, it has kept its Fordhamensis classification as it is better understood in the context of the Fordham ecosystem. Their plumage is much more drab than the Theater Major,
Opinions
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a consequence of their significantly more active lifestyle. They can often be seen striding through the halls, hurried yet graceful, as they move to the beat of their own busy schedules. The most endangered species at Fordham Lincoln Center is Fordhamensis Profitabilis, better known as the Hunchback of Lame Notre Dame. Members of this species trek long distances for either internships or labs at Rose Hill and frequently boast to other groups that they are the only Profitabilis that they know. This brazen behavior means they are preyed upon by nearly every other species on campus, who hunt them for sport due to jealousy of their future career prospects. As such, Fordhamensis Profitabilis limits their Fordham Lincoln Center appearances to studying at Quinn Library or crying in the stairwell. The extreme evolutionary pressure on the population has led to the development of several subspecies, including Grey’s MCAT (Fordhamensis Profitabilis medicus), the Lesser Caffeinated Litigator (Fordhamensis Profitabililis nefarius) and the Reticulated Science Major (Fordhamensis Profitabilis loseribilis), though fossil evidence suggests they might have once been highly successful.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY OLVIA BONENFANT/THE OBSERVER
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Editor Gillian Russo - grusso12@fordham.edu
Empowerment Through Selena
August 26, 2019
THE OBSERVER
Selena for Sanctuary benefit concert calls attention to immigration rights
By PATRICIA ANGELES Staff Writer
PATRICIA ANGELES/THE OBSERVER
The concert was interspersed with speeches promoting hope for the preservation of immigration rights.
It was a bright and sunny Sunday until scattered thunderstorms hit Central Park the afternoon of Aug. 18. About 2,000 people stood in the pouring rain outside SummerStage waiting to get into the much-anticipated Selena for Sanctuary concert organized by artist manager and activist Doris Muñoz. Breakthrough Latin artists such as Kali Uchis, Cuco and Helado Negro gathered together with Muñoz to put on this free outdoor concert to celebrate legendary Latina artist Selena Quintanilla-Pérez and bring awareness to immigrant rights. People in line from all walks of life and all different ages were drenched from head to toe, but nothing could stop them from persevering through the storm. The third annual Selena for Sanctuary concert was geared towards bringing to light immigrant rights group Make the Road NY; LA-based fashion brand Kids of Immigrants; and Muñoz’s own non-profit, Solidarity for Sanctuary (which became official that day). Make the Road NY is an organization that mobilizes policy innovation and provides legal services to those seeking safety and the needed support to combat discrimination, abuse and poverty. Kids of Immigrants is a unifying clothing brand that teaches people that we may all be cut from different fabrics (race, gender, citizenship status), but together can make a whole. The Solidarity for Sanctuary concert series began as an attempt by Muñoz to raise funds to cover the legal fees necessary to help her undocumented parents and siblings attain citizenship. The nonprofit has since
blossomed to help immigrant statement ensemble that had rights organizations and others the phrase “No human being is obtain citizenship. illegal” written all over. Uchis When the doors opened at sang her hit song, “After the 6:30 p.m., a flood of eager fans Storm,” a collaboration with poured onto the wet, grassy Tyler, the Creator, and the turf and bolted toward the Selena song “Como La Flor.” stage to watch their favorite For the final song, Uchis sang Latino artists. Overall, about “Baila Esta Cumbia” and invit5,000 people showed up for the ed all the artists to come back packed event, and there were onto the stage and dance. still many more waiting outThe Selena for Sanctuary side the gates to get in when it concert was not only an unstarted. forgettable experience, but it The Santuario House band, also felt like the beginning of led by Adrian Quesada, kicked an artistic revolution charged off the show with Helado Newith the strength of the Latigro. Supporting artists Ambar no community. For Muñoz, Lucid (who danced with her litmusic has allowed her to fostle sister, Mia, on stage), IV Jay ter activism and show society (who delivered a heartwarmthe harsh realities of deportaing performance of “Dreaming tion. Every day, families going of You”), La Doña and Jaspar through the process to obtain Bones also hit the stage, singcitizenship are torn apart. ing some of their own songs as The concert served as a well as popular Selena songs. safe terrain for those affectBroadway star Ana Villafañe ed by immigration law and joined in on the celebration, a community space for those bringing her killer dance moves in need of support. Muñoz to the stage and pumping up has tirelessly devoted herself the crowd. to social justice and is one to The crowd went wild when watch as she leads SolidariCuco sang “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” ty for Sanctuary into its next and was joined by Chris Pérez, chapter. lead guitarist and husband of the late Selena. Onwards, the night was filled with dancing and singing along to some of Selena’s most popular songs, such as “Amor Prohibido.” Co-founder of Kids of Immigrants, Daniel Buezo, the Make the Road NY team and Muñoz came out to stress the importance of family and express the importance of coming together to support undocumented immigrants. “¡Si Se Puede!” chanted the crowd all throughout the night after empowering speeches fueled by hope for a brighter future. Finishing out the show was critically acclaimed Latina Kali Uchis, the event’s headliner, performed her artist Kali Uchis, own music along with classic Selena hits. who wore a stylish
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
Arts & Culture
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Alumni Spotlight: Kathryn Feeney
Bicoastal actress paves her way in entertainment from the laptop screen to the silver screen By GILLIAN RUSSO Arts & Culture Editor
Comedy actress and writer Kathryn Feeney, FCLC ’10, has great cause for celebration. Feeney plays Katie the bartender in the new Netflix sitcom “Mr. Iglesias,” which premiered in June and was recently renewed for a second season. The show stars comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias and follows a high school history teacher with a mission to uplift gifted but disadvantaged students. According to Feeney, a similar good-natured spirit exists off-camera, too. “Kevin Hench, who created [the show], and Gabriel Iglesias have a motto that’s in the show, actually: ‘Work hard and be nice,’” Feeney recalled. “Every time I was there, they made me feel so at home, so welcome. Everyone was really lovely.” One of Feeney’s best friends, fellow actor Maggie Geha, was cast as the show’s perky history teacher, Abby Spencer. Shortly afterward, Feeney ran into the “Mr. Iglesias” creator at a studio lot where she was working on another project. They began to discuss Geha’s casting and things “just started falling into place” for Feeney from there. She sent along her reel and soon landed the part. “It was one of those things where, they say in this business, ‘Luck is when opportunity meets preparation,’” said Feeney. “That’s very much how this felt. It wasn’t the conventional way of getting a role … but if I hadn’t been working for all these years and I hadn’t put together a strong comedy reel, even with that crazy encounter, I probably wouldn’t have gotten it.” She can also be seen in the movie adaptation of “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?,” which was just released in theaters on Aug. 16. Feeney is only in one scene as
COURTESY OF JOANNA DEGENERES
Feeney can currently be seen in Netflix’s “Mr. Iglesias” and the film “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?”
a pharmacy employee, but that scene gave her an “exhilarating” opportunity to work closely with the movie’s star, Cate Blanchett. “It took 13 hours to do that one scene,” said Feeney. “I was terrified, but only because I was letting myself be that way. She was perfectly lovely, and it was really cool to watch her work …
I’ve never worked with anyone at that level before.” Feeney’s own Los Angeles career began shortly after her graduation from Fordham. She has now lived and worked there for seven years, but the New York native “100,000%” wants to move back in the near future. “It’s a lot more sprawling here;
it’s hard to connect with people,” Feeney said of LA. “I’m considering [moving back to N.Y.] as we speak. I’m engaged, and my fiancé is from Pittsburgh. He’s an actor, too, and we’ve both always, always known we’re going to head back east at some point.” Prior to establishing herself on the West Coast, Feeney was
a child actor in New York from age 10, appearing in a national tour of “Ragtime” among other productions. She was not a theatre major at Fordham, however; her early exposure to professional theatre caused her to become disillusioned at a young age. “By the time I was 12 I felt unemployed. All these awful things that make life difficult when you pursue a career in the arts as an adult, I was already experiencing that as a child,” she said. This feeling drove her to explore other paths in college — she studied political science and communications with a journalism concentration, putting much of her time into The Observer. The unexpected loss of one of her colleagues in a car accident made her reconsider her passion. “Casey [Feldman] was the news editor when I was the assistant news editor,” Feeney said. “When Casey passed away, a lot of us went through a lot of emotions. That’s kind of what spurred me on to decide to go back to acting and pursue my career in show business because I was like, ‘Well, I might as well pursue my dreams while I’m still here.’” That’s not to say she’s given up on her other interests entirely. Feeney put her plans to attend law school on hold for her acting career, but recently started attending law school part-time while working on acting projects. “It’s something I’ve always been interested in,” she said. “I don’t know what I want to do with it. I don’t have any plans to become a full-time lawyer … but I figured, this opportunity presented itself, and I’m taking it day by day and seeing where it leads me.” Perhaps she’ll find herself studying for another exam in her dressing room during season two of “Mr. Iglesias.” Whatever project she takes on, on whichever coast, she’ll surely keep busy.
Tony Nominee Named 2019 Denzel Chair By BRIELLE CAYER Contributing Writer
Tony nominee LaTanya Richardson Jackson will join Fordham’s theatre program this fall as the new Denzel Washington Endowed Chair in Theatre. Jackson is known for her extensive career in film, television and theatre. She has appeared in films such as “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Losing Isaiah,” “U.S. Marshalls” and “The Fighting Temptations.” She has also found success on television with credits including “100 Center Street,” “Luke Cage” and “Rebel.” Throughout her career, Jackson has crafted astounding performances onstage at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, the Negro Ensemble Company, Signature Theatre and the Kennedy Center, among others. In 2014, Jackson assumed the role of Lena Younger alongside actor Denzel Washington, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’77, in the Broadway production of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic, “A Raisin in the Sun,” for which she received a Tony and a Drama League nomination. Currently, Jackson continues to captivate audiences eight times a week as Calpurnia in Broadway’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
COURTESY OF FORDHAM THEATRE Jackson will bring expertise from years of film, television and theatre experience to Fordham Theatre this year.
Matthew Maguire, former director of Fordham Theatre, first saw Jackson on stage during the Broadway dress rehearsal of “A Raisin in the Sun.” “LaTanya was chosen to step
into the role of Lena Younger on short notice because the original actor cast needed to withdraw for health reasons,” Maguire said. “LaTanya’s work blew me away. I knew that she had the
briefest of rehearsal time. Plus, she was playing Denzel’s mother, and they are the same age! She was transformative. As I’ve told her, I was in awe of the power she generated.” Jackson grew up in Atlanta, Ga., where she acted as a teenager. In a 2017 interview with Variety magazine, she recounts falling in love with acting at an early age: “I saw ‘Camelot’ and was so in love with that musical and was like, ‘Oh, I want to do this.’ When you think about what acting actually is, it’s a very unnatural thing to do as a vocation. It needs to be somewhere inside of you.” Jackson graduated from Spelman College in Atlanta with a B.A. in theatre in 1974. In 2012, Spelman granted her an honorary doctorate of fine arts for her artistic achievements. As Fordham’s newest Denzel Chair, Jackson will join the select few who’ve held this position since 2011 when Denzel Washington gifted $2.25 million to Fordham Theatre to establish the chair. As former director of the theatre program, Maguire has had the major responsibility to choose each year’s Denzel Washington Chair. “It’s been an exciting challenge because — over time — the pool of artists who have held the Denzel Washington Chair be-
come a brain trust, an art trust, who inspire the Fordham Theatre community,” he said of the task. “They have achieved the highest levels of recognition for their talent. They are more than luminaries; they are luminous.” “One of my parameters is the ability of the artist to move between mediums,” Maguire added.” I used Denzel as a model: The artists have shone in TV and film, but they always return to the theatre. Denzel has repeatedly told our students that theatre is their artistic home where they learn their craft.” Fordham Theatre is thrilled to welcome and learn from Jackson. “LaTanya will finally get the chance to do what she told me she intends, which is to bring to our students all the pragmatic techniques of acting that they will use to thrive in their careers,” Maguire said. When asked by Variety what she tells students about her industry, Jackson replied, “I tell them if you choose this business, you need the heart to see it through. If you’re tenacious and prepare yourself by studying, it pays off — the dividend is so great. I tell young people that if your heart is there and you have some talent, nurture the talent and stay committed.”
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Arts & Culture
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
Balenciaga, Ballet and a Biennial A New York exhibit roundup
PHOTO BY YANG HAO/COURTESY OF CHRISTINE SUN KIM, WHITE SPACE BEIJING AND FRANÇOIS GHEBALY
The Biennial reflects the current relationship between politics and art.
THE
WHITNEY BIENNIAL By GRACE TYSON Contributing Writer
Whether art imitates life or life imitates art, the eclectic, high-
ly provocative spread surveying North America’s most relevant and affective new artwork at this year’s Whitney Biennial proves that this current American life is more volatile than ever. The highly anticipated biennial contemporary art exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art has a history of amplifying the country’s strongest up-and-coming artistic voices. This year, between the turbulent political climate and the museum’s biggest controversy yet, expectations for the collection are exceptionally high, if not a bit uncertain. This is the first biennial to be curated entirely during the Trump presidency, and all the art reflects the changes and traumas his administration has brought to the art world and the country at large. Recent condemnation of the Whitney’s Board of Trustees by museum employees, artists and critics has only added to anxious discourse surrounding the Biennial. Following the discovery that former vice chair Warren B. Kanders’ company Safariland manufactured tear gas used against 2018 migrant caravans, several artists withdrew their pieces from the program. Kanders left the Whitney on July 25, stating in his resignation letter that he “does not wish to play a role ... in [the museum’s] demise.” Curators Jane Panetta and Rujeko Hockley certainly did not disappoint, however, in providing a comprehensive representation of how art has reacted to or shaped the chaos of our time. The collages of El Paso, Texas,’ Troy Michie investigate the relationship between media representation of marginalized communities and the political reality of those communities. The photography of John Edmonds showcases intimate portraits of black identity that challenge objectification of
the black body. Sofía Gallisá Muriente’s short film examines colonialism and relations between her home, Puerto Rico, and the United States, while deaf artist Christine Sun Kim’s charcoal drawings express her frustrations with the treatment and perceptions of disabled communities. The sound art of composer Laura Ortman explores post-genre music by fusing classical violin with indigenous musical traditions, and Argentine Agustina Woodgate portrays the erosion of existing power structures and labor systems through her installation of synched analog clocks. Altogether, every piece in the Biennial has something poignant to convey about what life in our country has been, what it is becoming and what it ought to be. This year’s biennial is not to be missed, so be sure to take a look before it closes on Sunday, Sept. 22.
www.fordhamobserver.com
CAMP:
NOTES ON FASHION By ROXANNE CUBERO Asst. Features Editor
Until Sept. 8, swarms of layclothed New Yorkers and tourists alike congregate at The Metropolitan Museum of Art to answer one question: what is camp? The answer is found in Gallery 999. When you enter the exhibit, it looks like your typical art gallery, save for the hot pink walls. You are first greeted by a statue of Antinous, the lover of Roman Emperor Hadrian, striking a contrapposto pose, the “archetypal camp pose” according to Head Curator of the Costume Institute Andrew Bolton. This first section of the exhibit serves to explore the etymological history of camp, whether it be used as a verb in Molière’s 1671 play, “The Adventures of Scapin,” an adjectival euphemism for homosexuality in the 19th century or Oscar Wilde’s exemplification of the noun “camp.” This is all before Christopher Isherwood would distinguish “high” and “low” camp, and before Susan Sontag’s 1964
essay “Notes on ‘Camp,’” which Bolton used as the framework for the exhibit. The final section is like a Piet Mondrian painting, if he used neon colors. The oversized shadow boxes along the walls display camp fashion from iconic camp designers like Rei Kawakubo and Jean Paul Gaultier, as well as works from new talent like Molly Goddard and Tomo Koizumi. In the center is a display solely dedicated to accessories, featuring platform Balenciaga Crocs and a flamingo mask by Schiaparelli, among other extravagant items. Ultimately, if you haven’t figured out what camp is, you probably never will. Or you just haven’t visited the exhibit yet. “Camp: Notes on Fashion” serves to give laypeople — you and me — the tools to understand camp, but still, not everyone will get it. And that’s okay. As scholar Fabio Cleto states, “camp is a question mark that won’t let its line be straightened up into an exclamation
ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER
The extravagant fashion in the Met’s “camp” exhibit reflects a phenomenon that is difficult to define.
ARCHIVE IN MOTION:
75 YEARS OF THE JEROME ROBBINS DANCE DIVISION By GILLIAN RUSSO Arts & Culture Editor
If you’ve heard of Genevieve Oswald, kudos — I regret that I didn’t learn of her before she passed. To anyone interested in the arts, history, philanthropy, design or even international relations, she might become your new hero. Seventy-five years ago, Oswald was fresh out of college when her reference-librarian job at the New York Public Library (NYPL) led her to create a division solely for the preservation of historical dance materials, a task previously encompassed by the music division. The NYPL for the Performing Arts’s exhibition, “Archive in Motion,” primarily traces her career as the Dance Division’s curator, researcher and leader for 43 of those years, and highlights the continued progress made in the following 32 years.
mark.” Bolton doesn’t want people leaving Gallery 999 knowing what camp is; he wants them to still think, what is camp? The power of camp is in its lingering presence in the human consciousness and in the human efforts to try to define it.
GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER
The history and movement of dance is captured in art, on film and in writing.
You may find yourself between Isadora Duncan’s regal purple sheath dress and sheet music with Jerome Robbins’ original choreographic notes in the margins. Step (ball-change) a few feet away and you can watch Agnes de Mille perform at the charity gala that saved
the building you’re standing in, surrounded by almost-living paintings of dancers in your periphery. Then shuffle along toward a richly woven Japanese kimono gifted to American researchers by an emperor on your left, and excerpts from antique books on your right.
The exhibit is a treasure trove for dance buffs, but what gives it universal appeal is that it taps into larger historical themes. The library acknowledges that even the beautiful history of dance was not immune to the ugliness of racism, sexism or exclusion. Before the division was founded, co-founder of the New York City Ballet, Lincoln Kirstein, dismissed the young Oswald for attempting to launch the project. A plaque beneath the small section of materials on black dancers acknowledges its smallness and the years of discrimination against black artists that caused it. The overall message, though, is a positive one: art ultimately brings people together. Kirstein was eventually moved by Oswald’s determination and would become one of the division’s greatest benefactors. The preservation of black artists’ work has grown since the Dance Division began to film performances. Until January, global history is on display, underscored by gentle orchestral music and the rhythmic hum of an electric circuit that just might put a little lilt in your step as you walk through. Coming Soon: On Sept. 18, the NYPL for the Performing Arts will open an exhibit on Hal Prince, the late theatre producer whose credits, like “West Side Story” and “Cabaret,” shaped Broadway as it’s now known.
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THE OBSERVER August 26, 2019
Arts & Culture
Film Festival Returns to Lincoln Center
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Fifty-seventh annual New York Film Festival presents a wide range of movies right across the street By ETHAN COUGHLIN Asst. Arts & Culture Editor
The start of classes means the return of textbooks, essays and, of course, The Observer in print. However, to film buffs like myself, something exciting is also arriving soon. The coveted New York Film Festival will return for the 57th time on Sept. 27, and Fordham students have a lot to look forward to. Hosted by the Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC), almost all of the screenings and special events will happen within walking distance of campus. This year’s main slate competition features 29 films from 17 different countries. Additionally, the FSLC has announced two other sections. The Projections category will include 40 experimental films. The Convergence section will contain five programs that explore immersive storytelling through gameplay, virtual reality and more. The film festival will also include numerous other sections that have yet to be announced, but we can assume to at least see one documentary as well as a shorts category, based on previous years. Opening this year’s festival is the highly anticipated world premiere of Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman.” Scorsese’s latest film sees him working with frequent collaborators Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel and others. Little is known about the plot of the film, but it does see Scorsese returning to one of his favorite subject matters: organized crime. Perhaps he has another “Goodfellas” on his hands. The centerpiece of this year’s festival is “Marriage Story” by another quintessential New York director, Noah Baumbach. “Marriage Story” stars Adam Driver a stage director and Scarlett Johansson as an actor struggling with their divorce from across
By MARIA HAYAKAWA Staff Writer
We’ve all been there before. It’s 10 at night; you’ve been up studying and cranking out a research paper that’s due the next day. Sometimes you get so busy with work that you forget to eat, and it can be difficult to squeeze in a meal before the dining halls close at 8 p.m. New York is the city that never sleeps, and places to grab something to eat are no exception. There are many options in the Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) area for some late night bites. A classic Fordham late-night spot is The Flame on the corner of 57th Street and Columbus Avenue. It is open 24 hours and has many options: everything from mozzarella sticks to waffles. While it is a little pricey for diner fare, it has well-portioned sizes and comfort food. Another diner right across the street from McMahon Hall is the Olympic Flame on 60th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, which has good food as well and similar prices. My favorite place is Empanada Mama on 49th Street and Co-
GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER
The festival, presented in part at Alice Tully Hall, will showcase filmmakers from 17 countries, include interactive events and present a secret film premiere.
the country. Baumbach is known for his mature, dialogue-focused writing seen in his other films like “Francis Ha” or “The Squid and the Whale.” Closing the festival is Edward Norton’s return to directing after a 19-year hiatus with “Motherless Brooklyn.” Norton plays a private detective with Tourette syndrome who is trying to solve the mysterious murder of his friend and mentor, played by Bruce Willis. Norton’s previous directing credit, 2000’s “Keeping the Faith,” was met with mediocre reviews from fans and critics alike; however, being selected as the closing film of the festival is a promising sign for his sophomore effort. Within the main slate competition, there are numerous other films to look forward to this year
such as Kelly Reichart’s A24-produced “First Cow,” which tells the story of a 19th century cook who joins up with fur trappers in the Oregon Territory and builds a connection with a Chinese immigrant. In Bong-Joon Ho’s “Parasite,” a family struggling to make ends meet hatches a plan to infiltrate the wealthy family of an entrepreneur. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, “Parasite” took the top Palme d’Or prize in May. Finally, Academy Award-winning writer Pedro Almodóvar returns with “Pain and Glory,” about director Salvador Mallo, a fictionalized version of Almodóvar himself. Every year, the film society also announces a secret film premiere during the festival that is often by a notable director or
writer. Last year’s was “Mid90s” by Jonah Hill. Considering that “Mid90s” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before coming to New York, I hope to see Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit” announced as the secret film this year. No other film festival in the city is as accessible to Fordham students as the New York Film Festival. If you have any interest in films or are just trying to make the most of your fall semester, I suggest you to look into the festival yourself as I could not highlight all the fantastic films that will be showing. While some screenings are reserved for press and industry, there are still plenty of screenings for which students can pick up tickets either online or at the
box office across the street from Lincoln Center on 64th Street. If you can’t get tickets to one of the larger screenings, there is usually a standby line to get into the theater where tickets are often cheaper than face value. However, you’ll want to get there early, as the lines get long and standby spaces are limited. On top of screenings, the film festival also hosts many other events and talks, some of which are completely free. Waiting hours outside Alice Tully Hall with my roommate last year to get into the U.S. premiere of “Mid90s” was one of the highlights of my freshman year at Fordham. I hope you and your friends can create some incredible memories at the film festival this year, too — I know I will.
A Guide to Late Night Bites
lumbus Avenue. It is also open 24 hours a day, so it is definitely a go-to place. It has a variety of empanadas as well as other Colombian dishes. My personal favorites are the nachos, spicy chicken empanada and guacamole with plantain chips. They have great-tasting food that doesn’t break the bank, and it’s perfect for late-night food runs.
New York is the city that never sleeps, and places to grab something to eat are no exception. If you want to go somewhere a little closer to Fordham, Burrito Box on 57th Street and Columbus Avenue is also a local spot that has amazing burritos, quesadillas and tacos for less than $10. However, unlike the other places mentioned, Burrito Box closes at 11 p.m. People often forget all the food cart options available, es-
pecially around FLC. While cart food might seem scary to some people, it is perfectly safe and very underrated. During late nights, the halal cart in front of FLC and the taco truck on 58th Street and Columbus Avenue have cheap, convenient comfort food. A lamb over rice is only $6 and is great when you need something filling. The taco truck also has cheap, authentic Mexican food. Lastly, The Jin on 56th Street and 10th Avenue is a casual restaurant that has Korean fried chicken, barbecue and other Asian fusion dishes. Everything on the menu is less than $20, so it’s an inexpensive option for delicious Korean comfort food. It can be difficult to be a hungry college student in New York, especially in an area where everything is expensive. So when the dining hall is a bust, explore the area and check out these places to satisfy your late-night hunger pangs. Do you have a favorite late-night spot? Found a new go-to place in the area? Write to us at fordhamobserver@gmail.com or tweet @fordhamobserver.
COURTNEY BROGLE/THE OBSERVER
The neighborhood surrounding Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus has plenty of restaurant options for every post-8 p.m. food craving.
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1. maple trees 2. small building blocks 3. protective sheet 4. individually 5. use an oar 6. characterizing an era 7. none, en Español 8. Noah’s methods of transportation 9. imitative artwork 10. sound of amazement 11. Charlemagne’s sister 12. subtle flavor 13. certain 14. proverb 15. Moisés Arias’ character on “Hannah Montana,” with 81 down 16. fruit related to the lychee 17. classmate 18. chances 23. looked at 25. relaxation destinations 28. “WALL-E” villain 32. “in other words”: Abbr. 34. a type of Indian lentil soup 35. an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation: Abbr. 37. one who has experience 38. Dutch astronomer Jan 40. tree appendage 41. largest forearm bone 42. platform or mission statement 44. product that Mazola is known for 45. instrument used in a craps game 47. was the first in 48. Miller of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” 49. Spider-Man’s assets 51. Catholic activist and writer Dorothy 54. Katelyn Nacon’s character on “The Walking Dead” 57. fellow 58. emit lava, as a volcano 59. cry heavily 60. an organism with multiple sets of genetic material 61. positions 65. “help us”: Abbr. 67. endearing term for one’s parents’ sisters 69. condition caused by blocked pores 71. Mother’s Day month 72. ingest 74. make a profit off of 75. accurate 76. place where Rapunzel’s fate is decided 79. travel safety agency under the Dept. of Homeland Security 81. Moisés Arias’ character on “Hannah Montana,” with 15 down 82. “ Your Mother Know”; ABBA song 85. system of speaking through hand motions; Abbr. 86. public uprising 89. small summits 90. Jackson Pollock’s form of art 92. enzymes, for example 95. word placed in front of a trigonometric function to make it inverse 96. executive in charge of day-today administration: Abbr. 97. leafy vegetable related to cabbage 98. uses (a coupon, say) 99. group of two 102. operator 105. guards against heartbreak 106. animal in the weasel family 107. not qualified 110. sarcastic in an unpleasant way 111. assisted 112. play (with) 113. protection and research agency renamed MDA in 2002 114. footlong item of apparel 116. unit for measuring land area 117. create a digital image of 119. resting on 121. port in a storm 122. file extension for a Microsoft Office 2000 document saved as a webpage 124. in the direction of Puerto Rico, from NY
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER 5
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Ram Tech
1. vocal range lower than soprano 5. summary, for short 10. most populated island of Hawaii 14. quickly: Abbr. 18. “Thinkin Bout You” singer Frank 19. “La Bohème,” for one 20. Norse war god 21. a shade of purple-brown 22. platform used by Fordham students to keep track of graduation requirements 24. career services network used by Fordham 26. stop in 27. Rica 29. upset (a boat, for example) 30. welfare structure: Abbr. 31. “yes,” colloquially 33. birth control implants: Abbr. 36. draped Indian garment: Var. 37. penne alla 38. number system that uses base eight 39. Greek letter used to symbolize water potential 40. unit for measuring emitted light 43. online seminar about drinking safety for incoming Fordham freshmen 46. emit rapidly 50. joyous 52. product of some mines 53. break down into parts 55. “ of Green Gables” 56. warn 59. filter (phone calls, for example) 62. sphere 63. just 64. material used for knitting 65. neighborhood just west of Little Italy 66. Ross and Vreeland, for example 68. gov. body that regulates air travel 70. multi-factor authentication app required for Fordham students 73. expected 74. stink 77. Mia and Miller, for example 78. animal food 80. band whose members include Pharrell Williams: Abbr. 83. locations for immediate medical care: Abbr. 84. in an organized way 86. breaks 87. group of three 88. Martin of the Reformation and John of the series starring Idris Elba 90. broadcast 91. per person 93. pope who convinced the Huns not to invade Rome 94. site used by Fordham professors to post assignments, resources, and grades 100. second chances 101. carry with difficulty 103. make fun of 104. units of currency used in France since 2002 106. city that Chandler is transferred to on “Friends” 108. young horse 109. “just ”; Nike slogan 110. character Puckett of “iCarly” 113. exchanges jests 115. eliminate 118. Feldstein of “Booksmart” 120. the university’s main web portal 123. numbers required for Fordham students to sign in (see 120 across) 125. concern for a faucet 126. long periods of time 127. studies at the last minute 128. connection points 129. honey bunches of 130. singer of “So Sick” and “Miss Independent” 131. awkward 132. drove beyond the limit
Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams - ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu
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Virgo
NGH UNSI A MOH BY PRISK taff Writer S
This month is all about you and your heart. You will finally be listening to your heart this month and emotionally connect with someone from the Water sign. You have been lacking or focusing less on such a connection that could have been as intense as it’s about to become. Career-wise, you will be experiencing a life-changing opportunity.
Libra
It’s time to let go of your indecisiveness and take some risks this month. You will be required to make a decision that has been making you feel unmotivated. After you cross this road and make a choice, you will find yourself much happier with your routine, as if a great weight has been lifted off your chest.
Scorpio
Unlike the struggling Libra this month, you will find yourself doing the opposite. Instead of settling for something you are not quite sure about, keep your options open. Try your best to divide your attention among your mental health, money and relationships with family, friends or a possible lover mid-September.
Sagittarius
After a strong emphasis on your personal goals and health, you are transitioning into a routine you have yet to get comfortable with. Along the way, remind yourself to avoid shortcuts and maintain your ideals no matter who or what you come across.
Capricorn
For the curious Capricorn, your life is finally taking a twist in the coming months — as you’ve been expecting. The coming weeks are all about healthy changes and adapting to them. As you are broadening your horizons, remember to stay patient. It’s not going to be easy, but with your logical approach towards situations, you will adjust.
Aquarius
You, the people around you or your career? Aquarius, you will finally have to do something you’ve ignored for months. As much as it sounds like a nightmare to you, you’ll have to realign the structure of your priorities. This will be a major shift, as you haven’t allowed yourself to make the changes you’ve thought about recently.
Pisces
With a successful past few months of ambition and desire to pursue your goals, these coming weeks will lead you into a great opportunity. This specific opportunity will consistently poke you to take a look at it. After you do, you’ll find that no matter what others are saying, this is the right decision for you and your future advancement.
Aries
A relationship that has kept your mind in the dark for the past couple months (be it a strong friendship, ex-lover or family member) will reappear in your life positively. This opportunity may be your only way to gain closure, or this might be the last time you’ll learn your lesson.
Taurus
Soon you’ll be facing the harsh reality that something you’ve invested so much time and energy into was, in fact, not quite worth it. You’ll find it difficult to pick up that time, energy and emotion you put into that aspect of your life and to redistribute it somewhere else. Keep your head held high as you eagerly search for the perfect exit to a smoother road after a bumpy highway!
Gemini
Your cautiousness will be of great use this time around. You’ll be around new things, people and opportunities for the next couple months. Remember to stay wary of these new parts of your life and stay in touch with the people who have always been there for you.
Cancer
You’ll be building your own recipe to a better routine and life in the upcoming weeks. With three-quarters optimism, one-quarter confidence, composure and a hint of sassiness, you can pave the way to your next goal in the direction you feel is most comfortable. You’ve been overthinking about overthinking lately. You missed out on an opportunity you wish you hadn’t, and you’re bottling that regret up. This has been affecting your personal growth and relationships around you. It is up to you to take the missed opportunity as a lesson and grab an opportunity that fulfills your goals and desires even better than the one you missed out on.
Leo
Features Editor Marielle Sarmiento - msarmiento3fordham.edu
Features
Speed Date With Fordham Clubs
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
Your guide to Club Day
By ROXANNE CUBERO Asst. Features Editor
Imagine this: you go to Club Day, eager to get involved on campus. You’ve heard of some clubs here and there, but you want to consider all of your options before you commit to one. You enter the Outdoor Plaza (or
Indoor Plaza if it rains) and you’re greeted by chaos. Like, Black Friday at Walmart chaos. E-board members from every club offered at Fordham Lincoln Center are seated at tables, like a circle of vultures with school spirit. They coax you with colorful posters, smiling faces and — most alluring of all — free stuff.
Between the food, t-shirts and stickers, how can you possibly decide which lucky club will receive the honor of having your email on their sign-up list? Have no fear — your guide to Club Day is here. Below you will coln Center, summarized in 10 words or less.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP
Campus Activities Board (CAB) - Not a taxi service Commuting Students Association - Not a resident? Not a problem! Residence Hall Association - Fun things to do without leaving your dorm United Student Government - Improving student life, one event at a time
ACADEMIC
Consulting Club - Career Services, but make it a club Girl Boss: Undergraduate Women in Business - Females are strong as hell International Studies Club - Engaging with the world Investment Banking Club - Gabelli, but not Gabelli Investment Group - Here to help you not become broke (hopefully) Math Club - A math course for fun Philosophy Club - A philosophy course for fun Science Club - A science course for fun Pre-Law Society - Fordham School of Law for undergraduates Tech @ LC Club - Bridging STEM & liberal arts
ARTS & PERFORMING
A Cappella Club — F#s - Make music with your mouth Chamber Singers - Mouth music with music not from your mouth Filmmaking Club - Join to become the next Spielberg Songwriting Club - Join to become the next Bob Dylan Splinter Group - “High School Musical,” but college Stove’s (comedy club) - If you’re funny you’re probably already in Stove’s
COMPETITIVE TEAMS
Mock Trial Team - If you put Pre-Law and Theatre Majors in a courtroom Model United Nations - Diplomacy, diversity, and lots of debate
CULTURAL
- Field trips to Jollibee Black Student Alliance - Celebrating melanin everyday and everywhere Caribbean Students Club CIAO (Cultural Italian American Organization) - Closer than Arthur Avenue or Little Italy Desi — C.H.A.I. (Culture Honored Among Individuals) - A deep dive into South Asian culture Hellenic Society - Fordham DOES have Greek life Jewish Students Organization (JSO) - Not the Jesuit Student Organization Korean Students Association (KSA) - More than just K-pop and kimchi Lighthouse Christian Fellowship - New friends in Christ Muslim Student Association - Conversations, spiritual growth and understanding Students for Justice in Palestine - A win for free speech
PUBLICATIONS
6062 Collective - An online focus on fashion The Comma - It’s not news? It’s not fashion? It’s in here The Observer - Spoiler alert, you’re reading it right now
SERVICE AND PHILANTHROPY
Active Minds - Opening the conversation on mental health Coalition for a Cure - On-campus cancer awareness Deaf Education & American Sign Language (DEASL) - Making the world more accessible, one sign at a time Fashion for Philanthropy - Serve the community, but make it fashion Feminist Alliance - Empowerment and equality Global Outreach (GO!) - Community, simple living, social justice and spirituality Operation Smile - Bringing twofold smiles to children with cleft palates Rainbow Alliance - Whoever you love, you are welcome UNICEF - For the children and for the community
SPECIAL INTEREST
Anime Appreciation Society - Bringing Japanese culture to the West BeWell LC - Hub for health and wellness Environmental Club - More than metal straws Gamer’s Guild - With us, it’s always a good game Humanitarian Student Union - Passionate about social justice and human rights
Pop Culture Conspiracy Club - Enough said
SPORTS & FITNESS
Tae Kwon Do Club - Fordham DOES have sports Yoga & Mindfulness - Put your mind at ease
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Features
August 26, 2019 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
How to Be a Good Ally During Pride And the rest of the year
COURTESY OF JORDAN MELTZER
Pride is celebrated in many major cities around the world in the month of June with parties and parades.
COURTNEY BROGLE/THE OBSERVER
Pride participants celebrating outside of The Stonewall Inn, where the modern gay rights movement began in 1969. By ROXANNE CUBERO Asst. Features Editor
For one month out of the year, city streets and corporation windows are filled with rainbows and glitter and displays of love. I have always wanted to join in on the festivities — who doesn’t? Though I am not queer myself, I have many friends who identify as LGBTQ. I want to celebrate them, but I’d never known if I was welcome in that space. Turns out, I am. Having straight and cisgender allies that are both dedicated and respectful are crucial to the progress of the movement towards mainstream acceptance. Thus, straight people are very much
By MARINA VERGARA Staff Writer
welcome join the celebration every June; however, there’s a line between genuine celebration and joining in just for an Instagram picture. So how can I, as a cisgender and heterosexual person, be a good ally to my LGBTQ friends? To find the answer, I simply asked them. Many advised me to know my LGBTQ history. Pride may seem like a party, but it wasn’t always this way. The modern gay rights movement — and subsequently Pride — is rooted in the violent riots at The Stonewall Inn in 1969. The joyous celebration that we know today is the result of an uprising headed by transgender
women of color, such as Marsha P. Johnson. As Ky Hayward, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, puts it, “it used to be a funeral march.” Fifty years have passed since the Stonewall Riots. A lot of progress towards equality has been made since then, but there is still a long way to go. There is still legislation that oppresses queer people. For example, U.S. Department of Defense regulations currently bars transgender persons from serving in the military, though the Pentagon announced in 2015 that it was formulating a policy that would allow transgender soldiers to serve. This comes on the heels of the 2010 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the federal policy that barred gay people from openly serving in the military. LGBTQ history goes far beyond 1969, so it can be a lot to take in. Regardless, it’s important to know as an ally. If you don’t know LGBTQ history, don’t be afraid to ask. Madonna said “express yourself;” Marina Vergara, FCLC ’22, says “educate yourself.” My friends advised me to join the Pride festivities, but know my place. Hayward said to “remember that this is a space designed for us to be ourselves, and if we are welcoming you into it, please remember that and please be respectful.”
Quite simply, just be respectful. This includes only entering spaces in which you are welcome. Your presence is powerful because it signifies your support. Being respectful includes asking for pronouns and normalizing giving out yours, as suggested by Gillian Russo, FCLC ’21. (Mine are she/her.) Being respectful includes refraining from making a spectacle out of Pride. Yes, it’s colorful and flamboyant, but it’s not a zoo exhibition. Don’t treat it as such. Being respectful also includes refraining from trying “gay things” for the sake of celebrating Pride, as suggested by Cameron Dasher, FCLC ’22. Just be present and celebrate queer people as you are. Next, they advised me to defend my queer friends. If I see someone make homophobic or transphobic jokes, I need to call them out and educate them. As a straight person, I don’t experience the targeted hate that many people in the LGBTQ community face. I should acknowledge my privilege and use it to do some good. But the true hallmark of a good ally is year-round dedication to the cause. Just because Pride month is over on July 1, the hardships that the LGBTQ community don’t go away for the other 11 months of the year. There won’t be parties and parades to attend, but there
are still things you can do. Hayward urges that we pay attention to where our money goes. They urge us to invest in businesses built and run by queer and transgender persons. (My favorite shops are Ash + Chess and Double Denim Dude, who are located in Brooklyn and Queens, respectively.) They also encourage us to donate what we can to organizations that fight for LGBTQ equality, such as The Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Allyship isn’t something that you can pull out of your back pocket come June. Likewise, Pride isn’t a backdrop for your Hot Girl (or Boy or Non-Binary) Summer Instagram post. It began as a riot, and it is a celebration of progress; but there is still so far to go. One last thing — Charles Scheland, FCLC ’20, advised me to “thank my queer friends for how they enrich your life.” So consider this one big thank you to all of the queer people I have met and to all of the queer people I will meet. Your constant resilience in the face of adversity inspires me, and you have taught me what true loyalty means. You bring color to my life and you never fail to teach me new things about the world and myself. You have taught me the power of love. Thank you.
A Girl in Flux
To whomever needs this, Let me start this off by telling you my story. It begins with me as a freshman in the Fordham/ Ailey B.F.A. program, and it ends (spoiler alert) with me as a sophomore on the road to becoming an English major, not one leotard in sight. Here’s what happened. This summer I changed my major. To many this may seem like a small decision; people change their majors all the time. It’s no big deal, right? But for me, this was a major life choice, because changing my major meant leaving behind what was my dream — dancing in the Fordham/Ailey B.F.A. program. Dancing in this program was my goal; I hoped and prayed to get in, and when I was fortunate enough to, I was ecstatic. I was grateful to be able to dance in one of the nation’s top dance programs while still getting a degree, all in the dance capital of the world. I was living my dream. But after a while, my mental health took a turn for the worse and my dream became a nightmare. I have dealt with mental illness for most of my life, specifically clinical depression and anxiety. I take medication everyday and I
am not ashamed of that. Depression and anxiety are apart of my life, but sometimes they take over my life. Anyone who struggles or has struggled with mental illness will know that depression has a way of creating a nasty haze of self-hatred and self-criticism that ruins anything it touches. For me, my depression targeted my passion — dance. Dance turned into this torturous thing that fueled my depression, forming an endless cycle of internal torment. I spent classes holding back tears (sometimes unsuccessfully), riddled with anxiety. I had to make it stop. So I made a change, left the dance program and changed my major. You may be wondering, “Why should I care about this one girl’s story about her changing her major?” To that I say, I hope that you can connect with my story in some way, no matter how small, and that that connection will bring you comfort knowing someone else out there understands. I hope you see that everyone is always metamorphosing; we are all in a constant state of flux moving from caterpillar to butterfly and back again. Change is scary — believe me I know — but maybe it will be less scary knowing change is normal, natural, human. We all go through it, why not be more honest about it?
My journey to changing my major taught me a lot about myself and my life. I learned to accept change, almost see it as a friend. Change is everywhere and it is always happening. I learned that change involves loss; it’s guaranteed. Whatever new path you are choosing, regardless of how much better it may be, there is still an old one left behind. And this loss must be remembered, mourned. But I have also learned that the mourning is temporary, and moving on is possible; after embracing my new uncharted path, I felt a lot happier. I learned that change is necessary and natural; sometimes your body will tell you when it needs a renaissance — listen to it. Don’t keep doing something that doesn’t make you happy out of an artificial obligation; make a change, and do something for yourself instead of everyone around you. It’s okay to put yourself and your mental health first. It’s okay to be kind to yourself. It’s okay to change. My future is uncertain, but I am learning to like it that way. I can’t wait to see where you and I end up. All the best, Marina
LENA ROSE/THE OBSERVER
Marina Vergara, FCLC ’22, entered Fordham on a certain path. But as she begins her sophomore year, she finds herself on a different one.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER AUGUST 26, 2019
To Freshmen, From Upperclassmen
Features
19
We’ve been there, now you’re here
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY STEPH LAWLOR/THE OBSERVER
By ROXANNE CUBERO Asst. Features Editor
Well, Rams, it’s that time of year again. Your local grocery store has cleared out a whole aisle for school supplies, and your inbox is flooded with emails from the bookstore harassing you to buy your textbooks. At this point, it’s old hat. But it’s not like that for the newest members of the Ramily. We were all freshmen once, so why not share the wealth of wisdom we’ve gained during our time at Fordham?
“Plan for at least 15 minutes of elevator wherever you’re going.”
Esmé Bleecker-Adams Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21 For most New Yorkers, their most frequently used form of transportation is the subway. But as a student at Fordham Lincoln Center, you will likely find yourself using the elevator more than the 1 train. Lowenstein has seven elevators; McMahon, six elevators; McKeon, four elevators. That’s 16 elevators in total, but that’s not enough to transport every student at Fordham Lincoln Center in a timely manner. Particularly if you’re travelling to and from higher floors, you’re going to want to allow for some time. It’s a lucky day when you only stop on one other floor before your destination.
“Get involved, don’t be stupid, work smarter not harder and have fun!”
Jordan Meltzer Gabelli School of Business (GSB) ’20 At the end of the day, your main objective in college is to graduate. But who says you can’t have fun in the meantime? At Fordham Lincoln Center, there’s plenty of fun and engaging clubs and extracurriculars to join. You may join some clubs that pair well with your major; you may join some that have nothing to do with your major. Either way, there’s something for everyone. Robert Stryczek, GSB ’21, suggests that you join United Student Government. Owen Roche, FCLC ’21, thinks you should join The Observer. I think you should join whatever club makes you happy. As far as not being stupid goes, this can mean many things. You’re an adult, and you’re growing. You’ll do stupid things. But that doesn’t mean you have to be stupid. Learn from your mistakes and grow. Lastly, working hard will never go unrewarded, but remember that college is a marathon and not a sprint. Four years will only seem like a short time after you’ve received
your degree. In the meantime, work efficiently to avoid burnout. And have fun!
“Clubbing is a waste of money.”
Duncan Taylor, FCLC ’22 While a night on the town is always fun every once in a while, do keep in mind that expenses add up. And it’s not like we’re attending the cheapest university in America. From personal experience, going out got old after my first semester. Come springtime, my weekdays were so busy that I’d opt to relax on the weekends. While there are times to celebrate, like birthdays and holidays, there are other — free — things to do in the city that never sleeps.
“Dump your high school man.”
“Carry tupperware to every university event.” Alyana Vera, FCLC ’20
Being a college student is expensive; everyone knows this. But next time you walk outside of your dorm room, check out the flyers that are hanging up around you. Those events will more than likely have free food. While it is all you can eat, no one ever considers the concept of “all you can take.” You may look funny for squirreling away food, but free food always tastes better. Besides, food waste is a crisis in this country, is it not? Where does all of the extra catered food go when all is said and done? Why let it go in the trash when it could go in your mini-fridge and later your stomach? So next time you decide to go to a university event, grab tupperware, or even a Ziploc bag.
Stephanie Mizrahi, FCLC ’20 While many stories circulate the internet of successful long-distance relationships, we mustn’t forget that they take a lot of hard work. Regardless of whether you and your high school sweetheart decide to part ways or stay together for college, don’t let it get in the way of your experience. Your freshman year should be about you, not your relationship.
“Keep track of your dining dollars! Some people ran out super quick and some had $300 left.” Emma Kossoy, FCLC ’22
With the various meal plans Fordham offers, it’s difficult to know which one you’ll realistically use. As a result, people run out of swipes and dining dollars quickly; conversely, people get to the last week of school with enough swipes and dining dollars to feed a small village. No one likes spending more money to get them through the semester, nor does anyone like seeing their money go to waste. Fear not, for there are ways to keep track of your meal plan. At the register in the Community Dining Hall or the Ram Café, you can always ask how many swipes or dining dollars you have remaining. You can also download the Tapingo app to check your balance from your phone. But in the event that you find yourself with a wealth of swipes and dining dollars, there are things you can do to spend them quickly. For example, find some friends who are low on swipes and pay for their meals. Or, buy meals for those who can’t afford to, like Marina Vergara, FCLC ’22, did at the end of last semester.
“Office hours are invaluable! You’ll become friends with your professors; it’s the best!” Samantha Rizzo, FCLC ’20
While your time outside of classes is definitely your time, it takes work both in and out of the classroom to fully understand everything and do your best academically. If you’re lucky enough to not have one class’ office hours to overlap with another class, do take advantage of that. In the event of an unexpected absence or not understanding a concept, learning in person is more valuable than any YouTube video or Google search. And lastly, while emailing may seem easier, you’ll get an immediate response if you just see your professor in person.
“If you’re semi-interested in an on-campus event and there’s free food, go.” Gillian Russo, FCLC ’21
Clubs and committees host a multitude of events every semester, and it’s difficult to decide which one to attend. Time is precious when you’re in college; don’t waste it. With that said, you don’t want to graduate with regrets. You (or your parents) are paying too much to have any. If an event strikes your fancy — even just a little bit — and there’s free food, go. By attending, you might become even more interested in the club or committee that is hosting the event. You’ll meet the leaders and get a better idea of what they’re trying to accomplish. Or, if you don’t end up enjoying event, at least you’ll get free snacks out of it.
“Savor your time as a student. Internships will come when they do, but remember what you’re here for.” Marielle Sarmiento, FCLC ’21
College is “Real World Lite” to many people. As freshmen, you may be eager to get your foot in the door to the real world. Fordham often boasts the myriad of respected companies that its students have interned for, which may have been a selling point for you. I know it was for me. But as alluring as the real world might be, remember that, in the real world, summer is just another season and not a break. Slow down and savor the next four years.
“Always use Rate My Professor when registering for classes. But take it with a grain of salt.” Courtney Brogle, FCLC ’20
People have different qualities they look for in an educator. Whether you’re looking for a professor who doesn’t require attendance or a professor that will radically change the way you think about writing essays, Rate My Professor is the resource for you. I suggest having it pulled up in another tab while you look for courses. Read more than just the first couple of reviews. In fact, I’d suggest that you read every review you can to get a wide variety of perspectives on the professor. But keep in mind that the reviews can be biased. Maybe the student became close to the professor. On the other hand, maybe the student had an incident with the professor. One extremely bad (or extremely good) experience can dictate a student’s judgement of a teacher. People look for different things in a professor. For example, say one review ranted about how the professor solely used Socratic seminars. Maybe you enjoy Socratic seminars and you find them to be helpful. While the number rating on Rate My Professor is certainly helpful, gather all of the information you can before you commit to the class. Though us upperclassmen have a lot of knowledge to share, we’re still learning and growing like you. The only reason why we know what we know now is because we were once in your shoes. Whether it be working towards getting a “big boy job” like Meltzer, “trying to be less hard on [yourself]” like Vergara, or being a “health queen” like Alexandra Sheridan, FCLC ’22, we’re still working on it. Welcome, class of 2023 — and good luck.
Sports & Health Editors Lena Weidenbruch - lweidenbruch@fordham.edu Luke Osborn - losborn1@fordham.edu
Sports & Health
August 26, 2019
THE OBSERVER
Fordham Student Researchers Share Their Summer Experiences Four Fordham College at Lincoln Center students researched topics spanning from paleoecology to genetic neuroscience steps. At times, they did not find a high enough yield on part of their experiment, which impacted the initiation of the next steps. Van Buorgondien further explained that the compounds they created were sometimes slightly off from the structure they were looking for. Despite these challenges, Van Buorgondien believes that the proper production of this compound will allow them to pharmacologically create a form of treatment that can be prescribed in conjunction with some HIV medications. He emphasized the comorbidity of HIV and Hepatitis C and believes this compound administered in conjunction with other HIV medications will increase prevention and decrease the prevalence of Hepatitis C. He is optimistic about this study streamlining the process of making these drugs.
By AIZA BHUYAN Asst. Sports and Health Editor
Anusha Imran, FCLC ’22 Anusha Imran, FCLC ’22, spent her summer sifting through prehistoric mud from the Hyde Park excavation site. Under the supervision of her mentor, Guy Robinson, Ph.D., she collaborated with a group of students to find possible hair samples of mastodons — large mammals that went extinct during the Pleistocene epoch. Their closest living relatives in the animal kingdom are elephants. There is a consensus among the scientific community that mastodons were covered entirely in hair because of the climate in which they lived. Imran says they were able to find potential hair samples of these late creatures. However, there is no evidence yet to confirm this hypothesis. Imran believes the most important part of their research was the evidence they found regarding the climate change that occurred in that era. Imran and her fellow researchers had two components to their research. The first part was to extract samples from the utmost top layers of the sediment specimen that date between 11,230 to 12,120 years ago. With these samples, they collected many vials of spruce and needles. This indicates that these large mammals lived in warmer climates. The second part of this study was to stratigraphically analyze samples from 12,480 to 12,880 years ago. They were able to find Dryus plant remains, which suggests these samples are from a tundra-zone. This can tell us that climate change in their habitat is one reason mastodons went extinct.
Royal McMahon Ward, FCLC ’22 Royal McMahon Ward, FCLC ’22, teamed up with Mark Botton, Ph.D., this summer to study the degree to which flatworms infest adult and juvenile American horseshoe crabs in Jamaica Bay. One component of her research was to compare the severity of infestation among horseshoe crabs of different sexes, conditions and prosoma widths. Ward observed flatworms in every fully developed horseshoe crab but did not find any in the juvenile horseshoe crabs. After analyzing her subjects further, she found that female horseshoe crabs had a higher rate of infestation than males. She also found a correlation between the condition and prosoma width of horseshoe crabs and the scale of their infestation. When she combined the data for female and male horseshoe crabs, she found the presence of flatworms was more significant in larger horseshoe crabs. Ward believes that her data will establish the foundation for further research into how flatworms enter horseshoe crabs. She aspires to continue her research in order to develop a methodology to quantify the rate of flatworm infestation in horseshoe crabs.
Karel Van Buorgondien, FCLC ’21 Martin Di Grandi, Ph.D., and Karel Van Buorgondien, FCLC ’21, set out to find the most efficient route in synthesizing an anti-Hepatitis C compound. They focused on a model compound that was akin to the one they desired to create. The biggest obstacle they faced was trying to effectively complete all of their reaction
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AIZA BHUIYAN/THE OBSERVER
Karel Van Buorgondien, FCLC ’21, working on an anti-Hepatitis C agent in a chemistry lab at Rose Hill.
Jessica Caushi, FCLC ’21 In our brains, we have excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Excitatory neurons help generate action potentials that let us respond to external stimuli. When the brain is in a constant state of excitation, it can lead to a variety of neurophysiological disorders. The KCC2 gene is responsible for the production of
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Upcoming August and September Sports Events W’s Soccer at Hofstra, Hempstead, N.Y., 1:00 p.m.
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M’s Soccer at NJIT, Newark, N.J., 7:00 p.m.
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Thursday W’s Soccer at Manhattan, Riverdale, N.Y., 7:00 p.m.
W’s Soccer vs. Columbia, Bronx, N.Y., 7:00 p.m.
inhibitory neurons that help the brain circumvent the exhaustion that a prolonged excitatory state would produce. This summer, Jessica Caushi, FCLC ’21, strived to locate the KCC2 gene before and after it is turned on in order to create an epigenetic map of the gene in zebrafish. Caushi believes that this map is crucial to understand the role of this gene in the regulation of
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W’s Volleyball vs. Lamar, Georgia State Tournament, Atlanta, Ga., 4:00 p.m. M’s Soccer at Hofstra, Hempstead, N.Y., 5:30 p.m.
neurons. By using the zebrafish as a model of how the gene functions, she will later be able to understand how this gene operates in humans. She is optimistic that this epigenetic map will help future studies concerning neurophysiological disorders associated with an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, such as autism and epilepsy.
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W’s Volleyball vs. Norfolk State, Radford Tournament, Radford, Va., 10:00 a.m. W’s Volleyball vs. Rider, Radford Tournament, Radford, Va., 3:00 PM
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M’s Cross Country at Stony Brook Invitational, Stony Brook, N.Y., 10:00 a.m. W’s Cross Country at Stony Brook Invitational, Stony Brook, N.Y., 10:00 a.m. W’s Volleyball vs Western Carolina, Georgia State Tournament, Atlanta, Ga., 10:00 a.m. Football vs. Central Connecticut State University, Bronx, N.Y., 6:00 p.m.
7 M’s Cross Country, Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial, Bronx, N.Y., 9:30 a.m. W’s Cross Country, Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial, Bronx, N.Y., 9:30 a.m. Football at Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 2:00 p.m., Watch on ESPN3 M’s Soccer vs. Rider, Bronx, N.Y., 7:00 p.m.