Observer the
August 24, 2018 VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 8
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WFUV Lands 13th Spot as ‘Best College Radio’ By RUBY GARA News Editor
The WFUV public radio, licensed by Fordham University, appeared among Princeton Review’s annual ranking of best college radio stations. In a list of 20 universities, Fordham University’s Voice was ranked 13th. Princeton Review based its list, posted on Aug 8, on student rankings garnered from their conducted surveys. As stated on their website, the WFUV is “New York’s discovery music station and the public media service of Fordham.” Running since 1947, they broadcast different styles of music, such as rock and indie. They also air live performances from emerging artists in addition to interviews and broadcasting of sport events. As a member of the National Public Radio (NPR), the WFUV is a non-commercial and listener-supported radio that has an estimated 350,000 listeners, leading them to receive national recognition. WFUV’s studios, located in the basement of Keating Hall at Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH), offer Fordham students the opportunity for hands-on experience with broadcast journalism, as many then pursue a career in media. Mary Munshower, FCRH ’18, worked at WFUV during her four years of college in video engineering. Her duties involved editing the photos and videos taken during recording sessions and posting them online. “We also travel offsite to concerts throughout the city to record those,” she stated. Fordham alumnus George Bodarky, appointed news director of the WFUV in 2008, has since helped students in broadcasting as he has extensively worked in newscast broadcasting. In regard to the ranking, Bodarky stated that “It’s always humbling to receive such a designation. WFUV works very hard to maintain and grow a learning environment that sets students up for success.” By creating a space designated for building knowledge and a set of skills, “students are able to receive what [the WFUV] like[s] to believe is unmatched on the job training that allows them to graduate the University with skills that set them apart from the rest in the field.” As the fall semester approaches, Bodarky stated that “as always, WFUV will be looking to build upon its success in the upcoming year. We will be looking to advance training and opportunities in the digital space, including social media and podcasting.” The WFUV will also focus on collaborating with Norwood News, as well as BronxNet TV, to grow their audience “and provide additional learning opportunities for our student staff,” he said. The WFUV states that its training and students contribute to NYC “through community engagement and public service.”
LENA ROSE/THE OBSERVER | GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY SABRINA JEN
Title IX processes require university councils to remain impartial in divisive cases: In Fabricant’s case, it left her emotionally isolated.
Title IX Impartiality Leaves Student Unsupported Neutral Procedure, Limited Resources Press Students to Recover From Trauma Alone
“If I wasn’t this strong of a woman, I would have folded by now,” Madeline Fabricant wrote in an email last February addressed to the Fordham University Title IX response team. By then, she was embroiled in a year-long battle with university administrators over her attempts to secure sanctions against an abusive ex-boyfriend. She asked for sanctions to protect her own physical and mental safety on campus – sanctions which Fordham, despite finding her ex-boyfriend guilty in its Title IX proceeding, was unable to provide due to his status as a fellow student. Fabricant, now a transfer student at Chapman University, is a survivor of sexual assault who reported personal discomfort and difficulty concerning administration’s treatment of her trauma, disabilities and personal safety during her Title IX proceedings. By the end of Spring 2018, growing frustrated with the university’s response, she opened cases with the NYPD and the U.S. Dept. of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) with the hope of acquiring the sanctions Fordham refused to grant her.
Title IX cases at academic institutions exist to protect their members from sexual violence or misconduct, as well as to prosecute those who violate the statute within university boundaries. Broadly, these cases refer to a ruling from the OCR that states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program.” Keith Eldredge, dean of students for Lincoln Center and deputy Title IX coordinator, openly acknowledged the sensitive nature of Title IX cases. He told The Observer that the trauma and discomfort inherent to the circumstances of such an investigation mean those involved in proceedings are never “fully satisfied” with the outcome. However, Eldredge also said that “one of the biggest misunderstood pieces
of the process is my role needs to be that of an objective decision maker... it’s not designed in our process for me to be that emotional resource person.” Fabricant’s complaints of bureaucratic insensitivity and inefficiency surrounding her case point to a greater dilemma within Title IX proceedings. The Title IX process requires university councils to remain impartial parties in divisive cases: In Fabricant’s case, it left her emotionally isolated by administrative processes and reliant on peers for support. Fabricant’s alleged abuser was her ex-boyfriend, another Fordham student. They lived together from June 2016 to January 2017 before, she claimed, he assaulted her by throwing her across the bedroom and attempting to strangle her on a 2016 birthright trip. The two broke up during summer 2017, but both returned to campus that fall. In October 2017, Fabricant filed a report against her ex-boyfriend in which she cited a series of aggressive interactions instigated by him on campus. Fabricant told The Observer, “He would do things like walk past me and mutter things under his breath, or he would sit two seats
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The Class of 2022 PAGE 6
away from me in the library but scream at me that he wants nothing to do with me.” Her claims were corroborated by Al Finan, Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, who said Fabricant was so unnerved by her ex-boyfriend’s presence that she would take photos if he were near to collect physical proof of him following her. Finan also said Fabricant would ask him to walk her to the elevators as a safety precaution, should she run into her ex-boyfriend. “It was this weird, ‘he’s always on top of me, I’m always seeing him’ thing,” recalled Fabricant. “I was starting to realize that this isn’t okay, and I started telling people, and that’s when they told me to go to Dean Eldredge.” Fordham’s Title IX proceedings state that in any case presented, the university aims to end the sexual violence, prevent its reoccurrence, and “remedy” any effects. The procedure is conducted by a team of administrators trained in protecting the safety of victims and promoting accountability, the university’s Title IX website states. “It’s not a process I think anyone wants to go through, it’s not see TITLE IX pg. 2
Risky Business
Crossword Inside
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THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER
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August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
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Title IX Proceedings Leave Student Unsupported TITLE IX FROM PAGE 1
a process that I hope anyone has to go through,” said Eldredge, referring to the Title IX complaint procedure. “We strive to make it as fair and equitable as possible … it’s really important that we treat everyone with respect and care and compassion, recognizing that there are two perspectives.” Preliminary steps assured by the Title IX process include a no contact restriction between the parties in question as well as interim sanctions to ensure the victim’s safety that are determined by “the specific needs expressed by the complainant.” After filing her report, Fabricant was immediately granted a no-contact policy and the aid of an administrative support person (ASP) while her case underwent investigation. Eldredge informed Fabricant that he intended to have a decision before spring classes began. In the interim, however, Fabricant was not granted her requested sanctions, which mostly consisted of banning her abuser from select spots on campus. While early communications between Fabricant and her ASP, Joe Corcoran, resident director for first year students, attempted to set restrictions on her abuser’s library hours, conflicts between their schedules forced Fabricant to leave for winter break without sanctions in place. Further conflict arose when Fabricant received a series of emails the week before school resumed that pushed her decision date back from Jan. 12 to Jan. 16, two days after she and her ex-boyfriend returned to campus. According to procedure, Eldredge was required to simultaneously inform both parties in writing of the investigation’s outcome. Prior scheduling conflicts delayed Eldredge’s final meeting with Fabricant’s ex-boyfriend, thus delaying the outcome notification and eventually resulting in Fabricant attending two days of school without protection and without clear knowledge of Eldredge’s ruling. On Jan 17. 2018, Fabricant received the first set of decisions regarding her case: Eldredge and the Title IX committee found her ex-boyfriend guilty of violating minor sexual misconduct policy and procedures concerning the December 2016 assault. While they could confirm he had expressed anger and behaved aggressively towards her, they stated they were “unable to establish corroborating information” to support the allegations of physical abuse. In addition to renewing the no-contact policy, Fabricant’s ex-boyfriend was placed on university disciplinary probation, which prohibited him from holding leadership positions on campus, until the end of the semester. Eldredge cited a lack of evidence other than the complainant and respondent’s verbal testimonies
“I was starting to realize that this isn’t okay, and I started telling people, and that’s when they told me to go to Dean Eldredge.”
for the mild sentence, writing that establishing the occurrence of Fabricant’s harsher allegations would have resulted in in “more serious sanctions.” “If we do find someone responsible for a violation, then we look at how that impacts their ability to remain a student here,” Eldredge said of Title IX proceedings. He emphasized the necessity of allowing both complainant and respondent to continue their roles as students at Fordham after the investigation, specifically posing the question: “How do we allow someone to continue with their academic experience, the things that they’re entitled to do, while yet trying to provide for someone to have a safe experience?” Fabricant’s ex-boyfriend, who
“If I wasn’t this strong of a woman, I would have folded by now.” spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the nature of his investigation, told The Observer he felt his case was mishandled, citing “a poor choice of words over a very minor detail” concerning the alleged aggression as the ruling’s determining factor. He also felt that his position as a PCS, off-campus student posed a serious obstacle to his ability to defend himself. Additionally, Fabricant’s ex-boyfriend believed that the off-campus incident should not have reached Fordham proceedings and claimed “the other party” lied during the case. More pressingly, Fabricant’s ex-boyfriend’s dissatisfaction with the case seems to stem from the same roots as the complainant’sthey both perceived Fordham’s response as too lenient towards the other party. “Having an attitude of better safe than sorry is not appropriate,” he said. While the respondent felt too many charges had been brought against him in order to appease Fabricant, Fabricant herself felt endangered and disempowered by the lack of sanctions placed against her ex-boyfriend. Fabricant requested specific sanctions be put in place so she could navigate Fordham without running into her ex-boyfriendyet, nearly all of them were rejected. While Eldredge said he understood interaction with an abuser is “a traumatic experience every time it happens,” he also said the administration had to keep the “reality of a small campus” in mind. The small size of the Lincoln Center (LC) campus, Eldredge said, complicated creating sanctions that both separated respondents and complainants while giving them access to all campus resources. The proposed sanctions included banning Fabricant’s abuser from the third floor of the library so she could study safely. Eldredge replied that he was unable to restrict any student from the library’s only quiet floor and instead suggested removing Fabricant’s ex-boyfriend from Quinn’s first or second floors. The exchange resolved to give Fabricant exclusive use of Quinn Library’s third floor until 5 p.m., at which point her abuser may also enter the area. Fabricant wrote in an email that Eldredge’s refusal of her sanctions made her feel as though “[her] mental health
was second to [her abuser’s] right to use the library.” Fabricant was also unable to walk around campus without the possibility of running into her abuser. While she had requested the ability to text a Public Safety officer to escort her without interrupting class, she was told that she could only call. This inconvenience resulted in Fabricant having to disrupt class whenever she needed an escort. One of Fabricant’s friends, Eliza Putnam, staff writer at The Observer and FCLC 19, confirmed that this situation led to her having a group chat of almost 60 people on call to walk Fabricant across campus. “It’s very very challenging to say to a student, ‘you’re never going to see this other student on campus,’” Eldredge said of the complications surrounding enforcing sanctions on the small Lincoln Center campus. “We try to anticipate as much as we can ... but as new things come up ... we’re going to have to adjust to each new situation.” A main rule meant to help stop interactions, Eldredge stated, was that it was the responsibility of the respondent to avoid contact with the complainant and “incumbent” on the Title IX team to frequently meet with both parties to ensure they remain satisfied with the sanctions. Yet, according to Fabricant and her friends, the administration did little to uphold their rulings or grant new sanctions. During this time, Fabricant reported that her abuser continued to corner her in the library and in elevators despite her sanctions and the no-contact order. “I didn’t know what to do because I was all by myself,” she said. “[Dean Eldredge] was ignoring every single sanction that I asked for.” By mid-January 2018, on the advice of her therapist, Fabricant turned to help outside of the university and went to the NYPD where she filed for a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend. He later fought the order, which weakened the order’s efficiency for Fabricant and caused her to drop the case with the NYPD. In February 2018, Fabricant began to report escalated aggression from her ex-boyfriend that she claimed her given sanctions failed to prevent. In one email to Eldredge, she wrote that he had followed her along the Lowenstein plaza windows, an interac-
“I didn’t know what to do because I was all by myself,” she said. “[Dean Eldredge] was ignoring every single sanction that I asked for.” tion that Fabricant claims could have been avoided if one of her earlier sanction requests, preventing her abuser from entering through the Lowenstein plaza, had been taken. Fabricant then requested for Fordham to place a public safety officer on her abuser to avoid such conflicts. Following this incident, Fabricant filed for an appeal regarding her case that passed in her favor. The Student Review Council, a university group organized to review the Dean of Students’
“If they [Fordham] don’t follow through on the things we signed off to mediate for, the investigation continues and they get called out on their shit.” decision on student conduct cases, upheld the verdict that found her ex-boyfriend guilty of abuse, extended his probation until December of 2018, and renewed the no-contact order. The appeal refused to grant Fabricant her proposed sanctions, only recommending “that Dean Eldredge work on additional measures that minimize interactions between [Fabricant] and [her ex-boyfriend].” After her appeal, Fabricant grew increasingly dissatisfied with the administration’s treatment of her case. She attended school without sanctions, as well as without Public Safety escorts, at a time when she said her abuser continued to violate their no-contact policy and restraining order without witnesses. Eventually, Fabricant’s distrust of her security led her to take off a week from classes. (While emails from Eldredge stated her ASP would notify her professors of her situation to qualify her for excused absences, Fabricant’s professors wrote to her saying they hadn’t been alerted.) Fabricant was also forced to miss class in order to attend her own appeal review. In two emails concerning this mid-February string of events, she wrote that administrative decisions had “negatively impacted [her] ability to function in school to an endless degree” and “completely impeded with my ability to be a student.” On Feb. 12, Fabricant filed a complaint with the OCR, under the Department of Education, alleging that Fordham had “failed to respond appropriately to a complaint of domestic violence.” Once Fabricant opened the independent investigation into the university’s proceedings, she also elected to pursue mediation to resolve her conflict with the school, which began in mid-April. Following the OCR report, Fordham granted Fabricant many of her requested sanctions, including a Public Safety escort to class and work, exclusive use of the law library during finals, continued use of Quinn Library’s third floor until 5 pm, limiting her abuser to using one entrance to the university, restricting his use of Lowenstein only to the floors he has classes on (as well as the third and sixth floors) and renewing the no contact policy. Eldredge stated that trials and intervention outside of the university’s own procedure may be “impactful,” but ultimately are “separate and independent” from his and the university’s investigations and ultimate decisions regarding the case. As a result of electing to enter mediation, Fabricant began a series of meetings between herself and Fordham administrators, guided by the OCR, in which she hoped to reform some of Ford-
ham’s practices regarding Title IX procedures. Fabricant said that while filing with the OCR had begun as a means to improve her personal experience at Fordham, she believed her mediations may have campus-wide impact by calling attention to faulty Title IX practices. “If they [Fordham] don’t follow through on the things we signed off to mediate for, the investigation continues and they get called out on their shit,” Fabricant said of the continuing effort to improve sanctions and security for Title IX cases on campus. Both Eldredge and Fabricant pointed to the efficiency of student groups, rather than administration, in pushing for rights concerning sexual health and the survivor’s experience on campus. Fabricant herself credited notable events like the instatement of CARS-V and the yearly performance of the Vagina* Monologues in giving her a supportive network and encouraging her to speak out about her experience. In reference to the lack of administrative action regarding on-campus sexual misconduct and education, Eldredge said “peer to peer influence is much stronger than anything else” and doubted that administrative programs would be “that effective.”
“This process is made to destroy young women who are brave enough to stand up and say that something is wrong... My ex destroyed me when he beat me up, I didn’t think my school would too.” Instead, he hopes to expand administrative support and visibility through clubs and residential life. Eldredge said topics like consent workshops or spreading information about the university’s student conduct policies would be best relegated to residential life staff, freshman mentors and United Student government with support and resources provided by administration. But Fabricant disagrees, saying that administration’s reluctance to engage in conversations about sexual assault is hurting students who don’t have emotional peer support when they undergo proceedings. “This process is made to destroy young women who are brave enough to stand up and say that something is wrong,” Fabricant wrote, referring to the various complications regarding her case. “My ex destroyed me when he beat me up. I didn’t think my school would, too.” By the end of the year, Fabricant said that she felt safer, not because of administrative aid or sanctions, “but because I had more people surrounding me.” Going forward, she aims to use her case and OCR mediations to incite change in the manner Fordham treats the mental health and personal safety of its Title IX complainants, as well as better the experience of other survivors on campus.
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THE OBSERVER August 24, 2018
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The newly renovated Ram Café offers new menu items and stations for students.
Ram Café Renovated for Fall 2018 New Cuisines Promise Greater Variety, Better Customer Service
By CARMEN BORCA-CARRILLO News Editor
Fordham Dining Services will welcome students back this year with a newly renovated Ram Café. The popular dining spot underwent changes in response to customer feedback last year and said they will reopen with new cuisine options, improved customer contact, and streamlined methods for food service. The renovations, which began in late May, were chiefly overseen by Fordham Capital Projects (FCP), Fordham Dining’s general contractor for the last five years. Aramark and Freshens, Fordham-partnered companies, provided design and building specifications for their areas individually under FCP’s project manager. The café’s most significant changes include the installation of a Freshens Fresh Food Company area, an improved Aramark
Grill and an expanded salad bar. Fordham Dining Services hopes to overcome specific customer complaints from last year, including a limited variety of food options and cumbersome lines for food and payment. The addition of the Freshens Food Studio aims to expand the options of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options available to students at Ram Café. Described as a “healthy ‘fast casual’ concept” in their advertisements, Freshens will offer smoothies, rice bowls and salads among other dishes. “The amount of variety and the number of options to choose from is going to increase dramatically,” Deming Yaun, Fordham University dining contract liaison, said of Freshens’ varied menu. Out of three options proposed by dining services, the Food Committee of Lincoln Center United Student Government chose Freshens as the
best fit for the college. For students who have vegan and vegetarian diets, Freshens’ new options are a welcome change. “I feel like with the options I’ve had these past two years, I’ve been able to maintain a vegetarian diet but not necessarily a healthy vegetarian diet,” Noel Langan, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) 20, said. “I really like the idea of a more health-based, plantbased dining option at Fordham ... it’s a good move for Fordham, considering there is such a great number of vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians and people who are just interested in eating healthier, more balanced and less meat-centric diets at Fordham.” Aramark Grill also underwent improvements to increase customer service and satisfaction. One major change is the removal of a hood between the café and food counter that blocked customers
from seeing the person making their food. Yaun said the new setup will ensure better customer contact and improve customer service. Other additions included an expanded self-serve salad bar with options for soup and hot food by the ounce. Both the Aramark Grill and Freshens Food Studio are national brands whose Ram Café locations will be monitored by brand divisions. This means the restaurants’ menus specify the products and equipment used to make their food and have pre-set standards for preparation, presentation and price. Fordham Aramark managers underwent training during the summer in order to ensure company standards would be instituted and upheld throughout the school year. Additionally, brand representatives of both Aramark and Freshens will assist Fordham
dining managers during Ram Café’s opening and will return periodically throughout the year to conduct quality assurance checks on the restaurants (locations must score a 95 percent success to pass inspection) and introduce new products. Future endeavors at Fordham Dining may include reconfiguring seating to better accommodate large groups and introducing on-campus food carts to cater to individuals who need to eat on the go, said Yaun. Yaun said there is no current plan for further renovation once the Ram Café is open. “We’re at a point now where we’re becoming comfortable with where the Lincoln Center restaurant portfolio is,” he said. “As long as the brand partners we’re doing business with keep infusing freshness into their own brands, we are able to bring freshness here.”
McShane Condemns Pennsylvania “Predator Priests” By RUBY GARA News Editor
University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., addressed the Fordham community on Aug. 16 with a statement on Pennsylvania’s attorney general’s report. He stated that “as a Jesuit, Catholic university, Fordham unequivocally condemns the actions of the clergy and others who perpetrated and enabled the victimization of so many innocent children.” A grand jury report released by the State Supreme Court on Aug. 14 revealed that over 70 years, an estimate of 300 priests abused at least 1,000 children in the state of Pennsylvania. In one of the nation’s largest investigations, running for 18 months, the members of the grand jury found evidence of abuse dating back to 1947. They reported on child sexual abuse in six out of eight dioceses- Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton- and labelled the accused members of the clergy as “predator priests.” McShane served as the President of the University of Scranton from 1998- 2003. As written in the report, the number of victims is most likely higher than reported due to the lost records and those who are too afraid to come forward to report the abuses they have endured.
“ Such actions are
a disgrace for anyone: for members of the clergy devoted to the most vulnerable among us it is not merely shameful, but deeply sinful.” REV. JOSEPH M. MCSHANE, S. J.
McShane served as the President of the University of Scranton from 1998- 2003. Additionally, most of the records are too outdated in order for the priests to be rightfully prosecuted as the statute of limitations has run out. McShane also addressed the “searing” crimes covered-up by the Church and its senior officials. He wrote that it was “equal-
ly painful” to see “the apparent lengths to which abusers were shielded from scrutiny of— and consequences for— their actions. Such actions are a disgrace for anyone: for members of the clergy devoted to the most vulnerable among us it is not merely shameful, but deeply sinful.”
LENA ROSE/THE OBSERVER
According to the report, most of the victims who were subject to sexual assault were young boys, although some of the recorded cases involved girls and teenagers as well. “The pain and suffering visited upon innocent children can never be redeemed. Whatever paths their lives have taken, they
will always bear the scars of their abuse.” “In using their spiritual authority to justify the abuse, these priests have despoiled the Gospel and diminished their victims’ capacity for love, trust and faith,” wrote McShane. McShane said that, as the upcoming fall semester approaches, the university “ will explore how the University can rebuild trust that has been strained or broken by the horrific actions beyond our campus but within the Catholic community.” “I hope you will join our community as we pray for the victims’ healing and recovery,” McShane concluded.
Opinions
Opinions Editors Jordan Meltzer - jmeltzer3@fordham.edu Owen Roche - oroche2@fordham.edu
HIGH HOPES FOR NEW FCLC DEAN
W
lenge for the new dean; it could prove difficult to handle them all in a diligent and effective way. Amidst the confusion, we
“‘Cura personalis’ and ‘men and women for others’ are allencompassing and praiseful morals; we ask that these values guide you through your tenure as dean of our college.” at The Observer have but one request for the new dean: value the student body. In your decision-making process, we ask you to consider Fordham’s Jesuit values in our ever-changing sociopolitical landscape. “Cura personalis” and “men and women for others” are all-encompassing and praiseful morals; we ask that these values guide you through your tenure as dean of our college.
Observer the
STAFF EDITORIAL
hile many of us were enjoying our summers at home, far away from Fordham University both physically and mentally, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) underwent a dramatic shift in administration: Rev. Robert Grimes, S.J., stepped down from his position as dean of the college. When University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., made the announcement in late June, he noted that Dr. Frederick J. Wertz, a professor of psychology, would serve as interim dean. However, the university has yet to make a decision on a more permanent appointment for the position. It is no secret that last academic year was a turbulent one for the university, what with the controversy surrounding transgender housing, the adjunct faculty pay issue, the suspension of a prominent faculty member, the Roger Stone event and more. The new FCLC dean will inherit a host of affairs, all deeply important and sensitive in their respective ways. The politics of these matters will certainly pose a chal-
August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
Many of the issues you will face will directly affect students in the Fordham community, many of whom are members of marginalized groups. Fostering dialogue accessible to all allows Fordham to care for the whole person and each person on campus, and it is vital to your success. In order to ensure that every student is valued and treated with respect, it is essential to maintain open lines of communication with the student body. This is a relationship that was lacking during previous academic years, but we look forward to a year of transparency and dedicated diligence in both your position and ours. Ultimately, we have high hopes and great expectations for the new dean of FCLC. It is the responsibility of the dean to strive to make FCLC a safe and supportive environment, and a job well done will allow students to thrive and maintain this institution as a powerful catalyst for success in all forms. For an organization with values and principles as lofty as Fordham University, we ask nothing less.
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• 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 24, 2018
James Gunn Deserves Forgiveness KEVIN CHRISTOPHER ROBLES Asst. Arts & Culture Editor
Imagine that you’re James Gunn. You’re a couple weeks away from your 52nd birthday, and you’re taking a little time to look back on your life. You had a couple of missteps when you were younger, for sure, but you’ve grown — and you’re proud that you’ve grown. Now, you’re at the head of an extremely successful movie franchise which has made hundreds of millions of dollars for The Walt Disney Company. You’re helping spearhead an entire division of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and even have input on blockbusters like “Avengers: Infinity War,” which has locked in about $2 billion at the box office. You’re happy. Your family is happy. And the people giving you money are happy. Everything is going great and you’re looking forward to directing the third entry in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series. Then on July 20, 2018, Disney fires you. You were removed over a series of tweets posted many years ago that made some very inappropriate jokes concerning sexual assault and pedophilia. They’re bad jokes, truly terrible jokes and you regret having made those jokes — as you’ve made clear to reporters time and again. But you still made those jokes. Disney is in the middle of an extremely sensitive merger with 21st Century Fox, and you know that they can’t risk a PR problem right now. So, the company fires you. Your relationship with Disney has evaporated over atoned sins and poor timing. It seems like just bad luck — which it would be, if it wasn’t absolutely premeditated.
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As Gunn’s old tweets resurfaced in July, scandal thrust his future with the Disney franchise into jeopardy.
Does the name Mike Cernovich sound familiar? He’s an alt-right activist who seems to relish in spreading conspiracy theories and conducting smear campaigns. You probably know him for the infamous “Pizzagate” debacle, wherein he alleged that John Podesta, former White House deputy chief of staff and Democratic leader, was actually running a child sex slave operation out of a pizzeria in Washington, D.C. With absolutely no basis in reality, Cernovich used this false information to help radicalize people into the alt-right. He received concrete proof of his success when 28-year-old citizen Edgar Welch walked into the pizzeria with a loaded assault rifle,
claimed to investigate the Podesta child sex ring and fired the gun. While there is obviously no secret sex trafficking enterprise coming out of that pizzeria, it speaks to Cernovich’s ability to manipulate others that he can get things like the pizzeria shooting to happen. And now, Cernovich has smeared Gunn’s reputation by spreading his old tweets to his large network of followers, doing to him what he had done to John Podesta. Tactically, this happened not only in the middle of Disney and Fox’s merger, but during San Diego Comic Con, when Disney would want the least amount of negative press possible. Unfortunately, a reactionary uproar about
Gunn’s years-old tweets erupted and, in a rash move, Disney chairman Alan Horn decided to terminate Gunn. So, why target Gunn in the first place? It seems readily obvious: Gunn was one of the most outspoken and vocal directors in Disney’s employ. He used his platform to help spread awareness about the #MeToo movement and often criticized the actions of President Trump and the alt-right. In other words, he was yet another symbol of the “liberal intelligentsia” that Cernovich absolutely despises, so he had to be brought down. Now that Cernovich has proved successful in getting results from his attacks, no one is
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certain who is next on his list. Perhaps most upsetting about the Gunn situation is that he absolutely does not deserve to have been raked over the coals the way he has been. If he were actually a pedophile and a sexual predator, then the situation would be something else. However, no one has come forward to say that Gunn is, in fact, these things. Indeed, quite the opposite has happened. The entire main cast of “Guardians of the Galaxy” came out in defense of Gunn, even issuing a statement of support signed by all of them. There are now even rumblings of discontent within Marvel Studios concerning Gunn’s firing, and the Twitter hashtag #RehireJamesGunn has gone viral. Gunn’s firing was an injustice; there is no mistaking that. Mike Cernovich executed a plan that deeply damaged this man’s career and reputation for no other reason than that he didn’t like what Gunn said on social media. Did Gunn make bad jokes that made light of pedophilia, rape and sexual harassment? Yes, he did. But isn’t part of the reason why we fight against those issues to show the people who make those jokes why their jokes are in poor taste? Gunn learned that lesson and we should be commending him for having grown up. Bowing to the whims of the alt-right’s manipulation of today’s reactionary social climate and modern cancel culture in order to destroy a man whose only crime was making bad jokes for which he has apologized repeatedly is not my idea of compassion and empathy. Gunn figured out what was right and what was wrong, and he became a better person as a result. James Gunn deserves your forgiveness, and it would be a huge mistake for Disney not to rehire him.
Out with a Bang: Richard Russell’s Barrel Roll An airline worker’s stolen plane suicide must be enough to give us pause OWEN ROCHE Opinions Editor
He was a good person; ask his high school’s track coach. He was a football player, wrestler and discus thrower. He was surrounded by people who cared about him. He was a funny guy. He was an airline worker at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. And he was alone when he died. He died in a stolen airplane, reduced to fiery wreckage in a crash designed to induce but one fatality: his own. If you think he was simply another addition to the 44,000-plus self-induced deaths in this country this year — you may be right. Then again, you haven’t heard the rest of Richard Russell’s story. On Aug. 10, just as the sun began to set on Puget Sound, Richard Russell crashed a stolen, otherwise-empty 76-seat prop plane into an uninhabited island, killing himself in the process. We know from bystander reports that he successfully executed a loopthe-loop and finally lost control attempting a barrel roll. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has Russell profiled as suicidal, with little elaboration. With that, his life became a statistic: one of the 123 suicides committed each day in the United States in an ever-increasing yearly tally. But this was no run-of-the-mill suicide. The beautifully twisted tale of Richard Russell’s demise is thought-provoking, the image of
STEPHEN REES VIA FLICKR
The Olympic mountains above Puget Sound, Russell’s picturesque view from his comandeered plane.
the flaming post-joyride wreckage captivating. What amounts to a Cannes-sweeping movie plot — a tale of a broken man, a commandeered plane and a simple desire to go out with a bang — must somehow make this tragic event more than a passing headline in a thoughts-and-prayers world. However, we know the final minutes of his life through the airplane’s salvaged cockpit voice recorder. Despite its grand fashion, Russell’s death might just be a textbook case. During the back-and-forth between Russell and air traffic control as the latter
tried to steer him toward the nearest runway, the vigilante pilot interspersed comments on the picturesque Olympic mountains with rueful self-revelation. His motivations were not grounded in political upheaval or earth-shaking conviction. “Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess,” he can be heard saying. “Never really knew it until now.” Russell was no terrorist, nor was he out for vengeance. “No, I told you. I don’t want to hurt no one,” he insisted to air traffic control. The only damage he desired to inflict was on himself. He felt
alone. Moreover, Russell, in the midst of his heist, felt shame. “I’ve got a lot of people that care about me, and it’s going to disappoint them to hear that I did this,” he said. “I would like to apologize to each and every one of them.” The most bittersweet moment of the doomed flight, in any other context, would surely be the most memorable, as Russell looped the plane and flew it upside down for a period of time. He was disappointed, however, radioing to air traffic control, “I was kinda hoping that was going to be it. You know?” His journey had not yet ended in a grand display as he had hoped. Through all his regret and loneliness, Russell wanted to die with style. Why he did so is perplexing — he didn’t need to do any of this if he simply wanted to die. Whether his goal was to send a message or fulfill a dream is unknown. Perhaps, in the end, his avian acrobatics were one final cry for help. His conversation with air traffic control was not a manifesto, but a final attempt at normalcy and penance for a cornered man. It’s possible the duality of shocking novelty and grim predictability surrounding Russell’s suicide can send a much-needed message. No one hopes to die in vain, but not many people go out the way he did. Russell doesn’t deserve admiration, and the act of taking one’s own life is no adventure movie jaunt. But if his death — facilitated by a constant and frightening notion that he truly
had nothing left to lose — doesn’t scare us, nothing will. There is a tradition in America of treating mental health as a personal issue and dismissing it as a personality flaw. Richard Russell was an airline worker anyone else would have described as normal, but in his final minutes he knew he was broken and alone. A surefire sign that suicide might be a problem in your country: people get creative with it — and stop to admire the mountains on the way. It shouldn’t have taken a stolen plane and daredevil flight patterns to reveal to Richard Russell — and everyone around him — that he needed help. Drastic measures, those less daring than Russell’s included, are the results of too many unanswered cries for recognition; for understanding. It takes a community to uplift and acknowledge the individual, and it takes a country to accept mental health as a threat that manifests beneath a façade of normalcy. If an image of the flaming wreckage of a life cut short in style isn’t enough to burn the importance of mental wellbeing into the public consciousness, what is? Richard Russell, with no formal pilot’s training, took to the skies in a stolen airplane intent on going out with a bang. Some of the most exciting moments of his life were his last. His story is finished. We must be diligent to ensure that those after him can rewrite their endings with recognition, understanding, support and happy landings.
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Features
August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
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Mapping out Success
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THE OBSERVER August 24, 2018
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for the Class of ‘22 Wise words from FCLC Upperclassmen
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By GIANNA SMERAGLIA Asst. Features Editor
reshman year can evoke a whirlwind of emotions — from pure excitement at the idea of starting a new chapter, to extreme fear at the thought of entering a complete unknown. As a rising junior, I think back to my freshman year and all of the life lessons that I learned along the way. Speaking with fellow juniors, I posed the question: What are the things you wish you had known your freshman year? One important thing to remember as a freshman is to avoid overpacking, according to Jamie Haas, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20. “You don’t need 15 binders or three emergency flashlights … ever.” To Haas, it may feel like you’re being prepared when you overpack, but remember that you are going to college, not hunkering down for the apocalypse. If you end up needing something, you’ll definitely be able to find it. So, when you’re looking at that 24-pack of Clorox wipes at Costco, remember this advice. For Loïc Khodarkovsky, FCLC ’20, it was really important to join clubs as a way of integrating himself into the Fordham community and finding friends with similar interests. This advice was also true for Justin Westbrook-Lowry, FCLC ’20, as he felt that he did not insert himself enough into Fordham his freshman year. “I wish that I spent more time getting used to Fordham,” Westbrook-Lowry said. “I missed a great opportunity to meet and make new friends.” For students in the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Program, life can be especially demanding due to their rigorous schedule. For Haley Williams, FCLC ’20, finding this balance was one of the most important lessons that she learned as a freshman. “First semester, especially, it can be easy to stick to your room and FaceTime your friends from home,” Williams said, “but the way to make new friends is to be present with all the new people you’re meeting and invest time into cultivating new friendships, which will be awkward and hard and frustrating sometimes.” However, Williams thinks that “it’s important not to stretch yourself too thin because you’re afraid of missing out. If you take on more than you can handle you won’t be able to effectively devote yourself to anything.” Fellow B.F.A. student, Bettina Harcken, FCLC ’20, felt similarly about taking time for yourself and she regretted not doing this enough her freshman year. “I wish that I had known to seek out time for myself more,” Harcken said. “While it’s fun to be around people all the time, it can be really exhausting.” For her, it was important to make that time for herself by taking a walk to clear her head or finding a quiet study space where she could focus and be alone. It might feel like you need to be present and social all the time at college, but don’t forget to take a breather for yourself. The biggest fear that so many people entering their freshman year have is that they are the only ones who are nervous or confused. According to Sarah Grace Houston, FCLC ’20, this idea is nonsense. “Everyone is just as lost as you are, so ask any questions that you have,” Houston said. “Plus, if you mess up, there’s always going to be a way to fix it.” It may seem like everyone else around you is thriving as a college student, but you’re actually all experiencing the same struggles and fears. Ian Sokolowski, FCLC ’20, had similar advice as he wished he had known that “nobody has their act together as much as it seems, and odds are you’re doing just fine.” To Sokolowski, it appeared that everyone had big plans for internships and multiple majors, but they were just as lost as he was. Whatever issue you face or fear that you have, someone is definitely experiencing the same feelings, and, in the end, you will figure it out. Freshman year is a new chapter in life. High school is over, and your years of higher education are just beginning. Ultimately, whether you are beyond excited to start your freshman year or dreading every second of it, it’s important to remember: you are going to be fine.
INFOGRAPHICS BY KATIE MAURER IN COLLABORATION WITH SABRINA JEN ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORDHAM UNIVERSITY’S OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS, ACCURATE TO AUGUST 20, 2018
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Editors Courtney Brogle- cbrogle@fordham.edu Marielle Sarmiento- msarmiento3@fordham.edu August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
A Risky Business: Chloe Rice’s Journey Off-Broadway By KEVIN CHRISTOPHER ROBLES Asst. Arts & Culture Editor
At the Starbucks on 59th St. and Columbus Ave., I met Chloe Rice, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, for a drink and an interview. When she first walked in, I almost didn’t recognize her; the vibrantly dyed hair that she usually displays was replaced by an earthy chestnut, an early indication of the reason we were meeting up in the first place. After paying for both of our drinks, we sat by the window – I with a bottle of Ethos Water and Rice with a strawberry refresher – and got down to business. Asking how her summer had been, she answered with a characteristically understated response: “It’s been good. A lot’s going on. More than I expected.” You see, Rice had auditioned for and been cast in an off-Broadway show, “Comfort Women: A New Musical,” which plays at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater from Tuesdays through Sundays, until Sept. 2nd. Originally, Rice wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near New York as she thought someone else had gotten the part. “I had submitted [myself for the role] but I didn’t hear anything for a while,” she explained, on the audition process. “I assumed that they’d gone with somebody else. That’s how it goes a lot of the time.” Her mother works as a caterer in Bel Air, Maryland where Rice had sojourned after finishing her spring semester of freshman year. Rice informed me, “Our catering company has a food truck that goes to a lot of festivals and farm stuff during the summer. So, I actually originally agreed when my mom asked me earlier this year to work the food truck during the summer and I was actually really stoked to do that. I was excited to try something new and that kind of thing, but it hadn’t started by the time that I found out about [the show].” She described her current situation as “a pretty big jump” from where she would have been, but that her parents were incredibly supportive of the entire situation, even though she had spent a mere week and a half at home before receiving the callback. “They were really, really great
COURTESY OF DIMO KIM MUSICAL THEATRE FACTORY
Chloe Rice, FCLC ‘21, as Ellen Jansen on stage for “Comfort Women.”
the whole time,” Rice said. “They didn’t know that I’d submitted myself for this so when I did get the callback I sorta just went to them and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to Manhattan. I got a callback for an off-Broadway show.’ And they were just kinda like, ‘Okay. Let’s make some phone calls and figure [everything out].’” Within three days, she arrived in New York, performed at the callback, was offered the role, fitted for costumes, went home to pack, dyed her hair brown and went back to New York for rehearsals. Rice described the experience as “kind of a whirlwind.” Rice also mentioned that it had been a big risk going to perform for “Comfort Women,” though it is difficult not to think that her whole life had been preparing her for this sort of decision. Discovering a love for theater at age four, she had always wanted to move to New York to act, and fulfilling that dream necessitated
taking a lot of risks. One of those risks, as it turned out, was going to Fordham. By the time that she had been accepted to FCLC, she could no longer apply for the theater program and she had to weigh whether or not she still wanted to attend. While it is never too late to enter the program, one would have to do it in the middle of the semester, and Chloe explained that getting in was far from a sure thing. Biting the bullet, she decided to audition mid-semester. Her determination to go to school in New York City had won out – and she continued to take risks like acting in a production of “The Tower,” despite not being a part of the program. There, she got to know a lot of the people within said program. “I was just surrounded by a lot of really great theater people,” she said. “I’d heard about all of these things through the grapevine and I thought, ‘I might as well audition.’ The cast and crew of ‘The
Tower’ were super supportive when I was auditioning [for the program].” Eventually, Rice was accepted into the theater department and will begin her acting program come the beginning of her sophomore year. The culmination of all that risk-taking, however, was getting involved with “Comfort Women,” which has been something that Rice has put her all into. “Nothing could have prepared me for the scale of this show,” she confessed. “It’s just been super fun seeing all the advertising that we do for it. When I see ads for the show while I’m out or I talk to people and they’ve heard of it or seen it and being part of something that’s so much bigger than myself — it’s something I’m not used to. There’s been so many people working on it and so many moving parts and I think that’s the most shocking part for me.” Rice began rehearsing nine hours a day for six days a week at Molloy College starting in the middle of June until the show opened on July 20. “It really felt like I was taking a class,” she said. “But all day, every day.” “Comfort Women” follows the everyday life of a group of sex slaves during World War II. At camps called “comfort stations,” they would serve Japanese soldiers and, as Rice put it, “relieve them of their stress.” Rice plays the role of Ellen Jansen (nicknamed Jan but pronounced with a “y” like “yam”), who was based on a real person, Jan O’Herne, an Australian-Dutch comfort woman whose historical experiences informed much of Rice’s performance. Jan is the only Caucasian character in “Comfort Women” as
the rest of the cast consists of both Asian and A s i a n - A me r i can actors and actresses. Rice learned to internalize how much of a “loner” her character was. Speaking to her time working with a majority Asian cast, she said, “As a white person, I’ve been privileged enough to never feel like a minority in any context. It’s been awesome getting to learn about the other cultures present in this space. We have a lot of castmates who traveled from China and Korea to work on this play, and learning from them has been an awesome experience.” Rice also described her growing understanding of the struggles that Asian-American actors and actresses face in the media landscape. “[These women] are so much like me in a lot of ways, but then I hear that there are certain things that they’ll never be able to audition for or cast in just because of their ethnicity,” she said. “I feel like I’ve learned so much about these women and the history and culture and the business of theater,” she said, of working on off-Broadway. “I’ve learned, in the long run, what really matters and how hard it is for the managers and producers and the stage managing team. It’s been a learning experience that I could never have imagined.” So, what’s next for Chloe Rice? “I’m looking forward to taking a step back,” she said, talking about her excitement to return to Fordham. “I want to focus on my theater classes and honing my craft and improving it. I want to learn, and I know there’s always more I can work on.” She also has more ambitions for her future: “In the long run, I want to create and put out my own work. I love doing serious things and plays, but I would love to do comedy and crazy, absurd theater that no one’s ever seen before. If I could do that for a living, then that would be number one.”
‘Crazy Rich’ Representation: Why Hollywood Casting Matters By COURTNEY BROGLE Arts & Culture Editor
2018 has certainly been a year of social and political rebellion. From the public #MeToo/Time’s Up outcry to the national Black Lives Matter movement continuing to gain momentum, from the remarkable student-led March for Our Lives to the multi-faceted immigrant rights campaigns, one thing became crystal clear — the diverse public demands change. Jon M. Chu and Nina Jacobson also heeded that call. In August of 2014, after attaining the rights to adapt Kevin Kwan’s novel “Crazy Rich Asians” into a film, Jacobson, a trailblazing American film producer, and Asian-American director Chu teamed up to craft their culturally-inclusive project. With Adele Lim and Peter Chiarelli carefully crafting the screenplay, the team created the first film in 25 years with an all-Asian cast, starring Asian-Americans in leading roles — a feat not performed since “The Joy Luck Club” (1993). Touted by critics as “A water-
shed moment for Asian representation in Hollywood,” “Crazy Rich Asians” is inspired by Singaporean-American author Kevin Kwan’s comedic novel. The story follows a whirlwind romance between New York University professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu, “Fresh Off the Boat”) and her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding), who fails to mention one small thing about himself — he comes from one of the wealthiest families in Asia. So, as they visit Singapore for Nick’s best friend’s wedding, Rachel must battle her boyfriend’s domineering mother and his murky past. Although the inevitable glamour of the film can be overwhelming, the world created is in part satire, a critique of the consumerist battle of old money and nouveau riche, and offers a new look into East/West dynamics. These are not the stereotypically struggling Asian-Americans that the media often portrays; rather than pinching pennies, Nick’s family lives unabashedly in lux-
“Crazy Rich Asians” taps into the evolving frame of thought in the United States that supports diversity in blockbusters. ury. These are the overseas Chinese-Singaporean families with oligarchic wealth and British tongues. Whereas the last leading Asian ensemble of “The Joy Luck Club” aroused a hope for wider Asian visibility that turned out to be a fleeting pipedream, “Crazy Rich Asians” taps into the evolving frame of thought in the United States that supports diversity in blockbusters with non-white stars. In fact, Kwan himself has stated that the “chick-lit” audience embraced the novel … which is primarily dominated by white, Western sensibilities.
Consequently, a film of this caliber faced head-on the questions about race and representation. The cast of Asian-descent actors came from all over the world — including Australia, Malaysia and Singapore — and the film does not apologize for its lack of whitewashed roles. Chu has said that his goal is for it to not just be a landmark film in the history of Hollywood cinema, but also one that helps contribute to a growing movement to represent minority populations in American media. Of course, that’s not to say the film doesn’t has its flaws. Just as the film has drawn praise for its inclusivity of Asian actors, many are quick to point out that non-Chinese actors, including Golding, play Chinese roles. A reporter from The Straits Times, John Lui, in response to the casting of Japanese costar Sonoya Mizuno as a Chinese woman, remarked, “Hollywood thinks that one drop of Asian blood makes a person ‘Asian’ or at least ‘Asian enough’ … Golding’s ethnically
ambiguous face on a movie poster simply works, from Bangkok to Beijing, from Taipei to Tokyo, and maybe Toronto.” In addition to the non-Chinese multiracial castings, others have expressed disappointment in the film’s lack of ethnic diversity and inclusion of South and Southeast Asians, focusing mainly on Chinese predominance. Of course, these objections are certainly valid; you can’t necessarily claim to be ethically inclusive when in reality your cast is not as diverse as audiences initially believe. That being said, “Crazy Rich Asians” must be acknowledged for bringing Asian identity to the forefront of a whitewashed cinematic landscape. It is not perfect, but it is certainly a good start. By generating a conversation on the depths of diversity, it helps lead toward a hopeful future of active change. The issue of diversity in Hollywood has been addressed, and action was taken; the next move is continuing this inclusivity initiative.
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The Official Ram Guide to Not Looking Like a Tourist The Secrets You Didn’t Know About New York City By COURTNEY BROGLE Arts & Culture Editor
To quote New York migrant Taylor Swift, “Welcome to New York — it’s been waiting for you!” You’ve made it to NYC, cross that off the bucket list. But what now? How do you live like a New Yorker? Especially as a pretty broke college student, who may have never been here before. Here’s the scoop on how to become a cultured local without blowing the bank. READ UP. When I was a freshman, I quickly realized how expensive books are. And I’m not talking textbooks; we all know how pricey those can be. I’ve always enjoyed reading a good book, and while the deals online can be unbeatable, there is nothing like the feeling of stepping into a bookshop to find your next great read. Big chain bookstores typically have huge markup prices, which hurt the wallets of consumers, especially broke college kids. So leave Barnes & Noble in the dust; NYC has loads of quaint and affordable bookstores. Of course there’s The Strand in Union Square, where you can buy new editions or used books at a discount, as well as attend funky book-related events you won’t find anywhere else. Book Culture has a few city locations, the closest one to campus being 450 Columbus Ave., which is within walking distance from the American Museum of Natural His-
tory and plenty of places to eat. For those looking for a fun excursion, just a few blocks from Little Italy is McNally Jackson Books (52 Prince St.), which even has a lively café. GO THRIFTING. Thrifting is quintessential New York — it is not only an affordable way to shop, but it lets consumers find unique pieces that aren’t easily found elsewhere. Plus, there’s nothing better than walking down the street feeling good in a power-outfit, something with a history that you’ve discovered and repurposed for yourself. Most people will tell you to hop on a train and visit Brooklyn’s Williamsburg or Greenpoint (Monk Vintage, Fox & Fawn, Dusty Rose, etc.). Or even some NYC classics, like Beacon’s Closet all over Manhattan and Brooklyn and No Relation Vintage at 204 1st Ave. (which was even featured on Buzzfeed). In my experience, some of the best finds are down in the Financial District. Not only is there the high-scale thrift shop Buffalo Exchange at 114 W. 26th St., there’s a sizeable Goodwill at 103 W. 25th St., the lauded Crossroads Trading Company at 24 W. 26th St. and The Thrifty HoG (Hearts of Gold) at 11 W. 25th St. At Crossroads, you can sell your current on-trend pieces for cash or store credit or add new in-style pieces to your closet; at Thrifty HoG, all proceeds made at the upscale resale boutique directly benefit homeless mothers and children supported by the store.
There are plenty of options here (and most everywhere) for those on the hunt for their next eclectic piece.
“ Welcome to New York... it’s been waiting for you”
TAYLOR SWIFT,
Singer-songwriter
SKIP STARBUCKS. Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts are fine for those in a pinch, but let’s be honest — their coffee doesn’t hold a flame to real-deal cafes in NYC. Not only can you explore new areas, but who can resist an aesthetically pleasing Insta post with open-brick walls, foliage, etc.? One popular joint is Joe’s Coffee at 187 Columbus Ave. and right next door is Vive la Crepe; both offer tasty brews and savory baked goods. Box Kite Coffee at 128 W. 72nd St. offers specialty coffees in a cozy setup. Blue Bottle Coffee, with locations all across Manhattan, offers premium coffee, yummy snacks and a trendy environment. If tea is more your thing, we’ve got you covered. Aside from Fordham’s own Argo Tea, check out Cha Cha Matcha and Bibble & Sip at 25 W. 51st St.
GET CULTURED. Life hack — lots of museum admission tickets are on a payas-you-wish system with recommended donations, since they are funded by New York taxpayers. However, some popular spots, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, now require general admission payments for anyone that is not a New York resident or student… which is good news for new Fordham Rams with their student IDs fresh off the presses. So be sure to do some research beforehand and (if need be) flaunt that 10023 ZIP code for those admissions perks! Additionally, many NYC museums offer free admission with presentation of a New York Public Library card; be sure to check nypl.org for further details. Aside from the traditional hotspots like the Met (which is hosting its Heavenly Bodies Fashion exhibit until Oct. 8), NYC is home to many quirky museums. The Fashion Institute of Technology boasts a free collection of student work as well as authentic historical pieces. The New Museum on the Lower East Side hosts rotations of offbeat modern art that carry impactful meaning and make for an amazing photo opp. The Museum of Food and Drink in Williamsburg is one of the coolest and pretty unorthodox, encouraging viewers to touch, smell, and even taste its exhibits! WATCH IT LIVE. Why sit at home (… er, in your
dorm) and watch Netflix when NYC offers a host of live entertainment? Obviously, the first thing you think of is live theatre, the lights on Broadway. If that’s your jam, be sure to take advantage of discounted tickets through TKTS booths in Lincoln Center, Times Square, and the more reliable apps like Today Tix. Be sure to rush student tickets for select shows the day of a performance. But the city has so much more than Broadway musicals and plays. One hidden gem is the Upright Citizens Brigade, or UCB. It provides a platform for up-and-coming comedians (and has cultivated the talents of Aubrey Plaza, Kate McKinnon, Amy Poehler, etc.) for tickets starting at $5. Additionally, many late-night talk show hosts are based in New York and offer free tickets to the public for live tapings. Tickets for comedians like Seth Meyers, John Oliver and Jimmy Fallon can be obtained via lottery on 1iota.com. While spots can’t be reserved or guaranteed, there are plenty of tips to increase your chances; be sure to check out the full article on getting those tickets on our website. Not to sound like your parents, but your studies obviously do come first. After all, you’re in NYC for a reason! But follow these tips for some well-deserved study breaks and you’ll shake that tourist reputation in no time.
What Rams Read This Summer By MARIELLE SARMIENTO Arts & Culture Editor
For most students, summer brings a much-needed break from classes and internships. What better way to relax than picking up a book? Several Rams used their free time this summer to catch up on their reading list. If you’re hoping to jump back into the bookworm habits of a middle schooler who’s just read Harry Potter for the first time, here are some recommendations:
“THE FEMALE PERSUASION” BY MEG WOLITZER This contemporary tale was recommended by Kara Hogan, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, who was already a fan of the author’s other works. Meg Wolitzer is a New York City based writer known for authoring “The Interestings,” “The Uncoupling” and “The Ten-Year Nap.” Hogan was intrigued by the premise of her newest novel. Published this past April, “The Female Persuasion” is categorized as feminist fictionwomen’s fiction. The book’s protagonist, Greer Katedsky, is a college freshman juggling her relationship with her boyfriend and school after meeting women’s rights activist, Faith Frank. Hogan said others should pick up “The Female Persuasion” because “it’s an interesting portrayal of white feminism throughout the last few decades and how we idolize or love can shift and change as we grow.”
“YES PLEASE” BY AMY POEHLER “I picked [“Yes Please”] up because Amy Poehler is a major role model of mine,” said Maddy Casale, FCLC ’20, about this famous female comedian’s memoir. “Yes Please” is a comedic book chronicling stories from Poehler’s personal life and career paired with funny anecdotes and advice. The audiobook, voiced by the author herself, won a Grammy in 2016 for Best Spoken Word Album. It’s perfect for a reader looking for a quick read (or listen) and a laugh. Casale said to potential readers, “Whether you love comedy or not, this is a great book for everyone because Amy gives amazing life advice and is especially empowering to women. She is open and honest and shows that no matter how famous you get, you’re still a human being with struggles and hopes and dreams. It makes her experiences both inspiring and relatable.”
“I AM NOT YOUR PERFECT MEXICAN DAUGHTER” BY ERIKA L. SANCHEZ As a Latina reader, Alejandra Garcia, FCLC ’21, was frustrated with the lack of representation in mainstream fictional narratives saturated with white protagonists. She found her saving grace in Sanchez’s “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.” Sanchez crafts a story that represents issues such as cultural identity, educational disparities, death and mental health. The story’s protagonist, Julia, attempts to navigate the torpid waters of college applications, her tenuous relationship with her parents and self-acceptance in the aftermath of her sister’s death. Garcia recommends this book to those looking for diversity in literature. “Sanchez’s novel is a beautifully realistic depiction of the Mexican-American journey through the perspective of a first generation Mexican-American woman trying to find peace within herself while living in a society that is largely pit against her,” Garcia said.
“THE IMMORTALISTS” BY CHLOE BENJAMIN Chelsea Ashley, FCLC ’21, tackled her summer reading quest with a game plan. Overwhelmed by the thousands of book options at the bookstore, she decided to do some research before stepping into her local Barnes & Noble. She found her book on the “Amazon’s 10 Best Books of the Year So Far Are Perfect For Your Summer Reading Plans” list on Bustle.com. Her curiosity piqued after reading the synopsis for “The Immortalists.” Beginning in 1969 on the Lower East Side, Benjamin’s novel tells the story of four siblings who visit a fortune teller to find out the dates of their deaths. When asked why others should pick it up, Ashley responded, “You aren’t just reading about these siblings, you become each and every one of them through Benjamin’s skill at finding the humanity in every choice these children make from their decision to learn of their death dates to their actual deaths.”
“LESS: A NOVEL” BY ANDREW SEAN GREER People say “never judge a book by its cover,” but for Kylie Ford, FCLC ’20, that’s exactly how she found her favorite summer read. “Less: A Novel” caught Ford’s attention with its pretty pastel blue and intriguing illustration of a man falling from the sky. A quick glance over the synopsis on the back of the book hooked her on the idea of reading the whole thing. The winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, “Less” is a humorous love story following the adventures of Arthur Less as he attempts to escape his problems on a literary tour around the world. The author intended for the book to be a serious novel about LGBTQ issues, but it morphed into a satirical romantic comedy. Ford said, “Others should read it because it’s really funny without taking itself too seriously, and the main character is gay in a non-stock character or stereotyped way.”
Fun & Games
August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
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16. Poetry form used in the Quran 17. Most common ver. of cardiac ultrasound 18. Belief 20. British goodbye, when repeated 21. Ketchum of Pokemon 22. Pupper of Tibetan origin 23. Makes a break for it 24. Gun grp. 25. All the way up to, informally 30. Late summer Zodiac sign 31. Sphere 32. Ben-___ (1959 or 2016 movie) 33. Collegiate tennis org. with 13 Rams on its all-academic team 36. Muscles below pecs 37. Oldest univ. in Norway 38. 2006 film subtitled “The Meltdown” 39. Golden State Warriors arena 40. Land in New York or Egypt 41. S&P 500 manufacturing co. 42. Parliamentary approval 47. Threefold 48. Rooster’s sister 49. Teas, in Barcelona 50. Animal on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem 52. Anderson Silva org. 53. Ray-finned fish 54. Navarro of the news 55. Convent resident 56. Harp 57. Astoria dir., to Columbia students 58. Popped a squat 59. Sauna
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Features
Features Editors Lindsay Jorgensen -ljorgensen@fordham.edu Jeffrey Umbrell - jumbrell@fordham.edu August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
Grimes Ends Run as Longest-Serving FCLC Dean By CARMEN BORCA-CARRILLO News Editor
The 2018 fall semester will mark the first time in 20 years that Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) will open its doors without Rev. Robert R. Grimes, S.J. at its helm. Grimes, who holds the title of Fordham’s longest-serving dean, led the college during its formative years and helped develop the campus’ current artistic and scholastic visions. After entering office during one of FCLC’s most turbulent periods, Grimes went on to establish the programs, facilities and student life initiatives that increased the campus’ standing both within Fordham University and nationally as an independent academic institution. Grimes began his Fordham career in the fall of 1970 when he arrived as an undergraduate at Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH), then known simply as Fordham College, for his freshman year. One year earlier, the Lowenstein Center had opened downtown at what would eventually be called FCLC. Even in these early years at Fordham, Grimes recalls an eager fascination with the sister campus. “I always used to say Fordham had never really looked at what the possibilities are at Lincoln Center,” he said. “That’s something I’ve been thinking about from my college days.” While Grimes remembers his first years at Fordham fondly, living with friends off-campus on Baybridge Avenue, his admission to Jesuit studies called him to the
COURTESTY OF CHRIS TAGGART
Grimes is responsible for the university’s expansive language department. He helped keep Russian and Arabic in the program and added Japanese and Mandarin.
Jesuit Novitiate at Le Moyne College in Syracuse in 1972 where he began his Catholic scholarly formation. After returning to New York City two years later, he resided at Fordham for a total of six years, first finishing his Bachelor’s of Arts in Minor Languages and his Jesuit philosophy studies at Fordham and then a Bachelor’s of Music at the nearby Manhattanville College. Grimes credits these first years
at Fordham with stimulating his love for academia, recounting a particularly difficult battle against a computer programming as a “click” moment that set him on the road toward further schooling and his eventual decision to “spend [his] life at a university.” In a story he often tells incoming freshmen, Grimes recounts one night during his Fordham years that he spent hours poring over a computer program before finally
uncovering the solution. “It was the first time in my life I realized how fun the intellectual life can be, how much enjoyment you can get out of it.” Soon after he finished his studies, Grimes embarked on his academic career by teaching and studying across the Northeast; he taught high school in New Jersey, studied theology in Cambridge, Mass., worked in campus ministry as Des Moines College and
received a Ph.D in music at the University of Pittsburgh. Finally, in 1992, Grimes returned to Fordham, this time as tenure track faculty at Rose Hill teaching music – but within two years, Lincoln Center would be knocking at his door. In 1994, ostensibly due to the absence of Jesuits residing or teaching at FCLC, Grimes was asked to teach half his classes at Lincoln Center and move into McMahon Hall, which was then lacking any Jesuit residents. With his office in Faculty Memorial Hall at Rose Hill and his bed in McMahon, Grimes said he remembers this chapter of his career consisted of “lots of time on the Ram Van.” More importantly, Grimes claimed that his time teaching on dual campuses only increased his interest in FCLC at a time when the college was not very well respected uptown. FCRH’s enrollment numbers, program diversity and SAT entrance scores all surpassed FCLC’s, which Grimes suggested led some Rose Hill faculty members to “not have a very high view of LC.” “I always said I thought it was really important for a faculty member to teach on the other campus at least once, because it dispels myths about the other campus,” Grimes said. “I came back and just started talking about how wonderful the students were at Lincoln Center.” To read the full story, visit www.fordhamobserver.com
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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Microsoft Imagine Academy What will you learn today? Digital literacy. MS Office. Programming. Infrastructure. Self-paced online courses. My.Fordham > Student tab > Microsoft Imagine Academy
Watch Philo TV and HBO Go! Stream. Watch TV. 20 hours DVR space. HBO Go! FREE for on-campus residents. hbogo.com
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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.
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IT Team Back-toSchool Support Get tech help on move-in from the student IT Team. They’re in the blue shirts! Sunday, August 26, 8 am–4 pm
Get tech help all semester long. CALL 718-817-3999 Monday–Friday: 8 am – 8 pm, Saturday: 10 am–6 pm VISIT US Rose Hill | McGinley 229 Monday–Friday: 8 am–8 pm Saturday: 10 am–6 pm Lincoln Center | Lowenstein SL19A Monday–Friday: 10 am–6 pm
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
IT Customer Care (itcc) for Tech Help
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Help Wanted! Work for Fordham IT Love technology? Openings available for RTCs (freshmen only) and other positions. Training provided. fordham.edu/ITJobOpportunities
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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
Tech Help in Residence Halls A Resident Technology Consultant (RTC) lives in your residence hall, providing tech help and workshops 7 days week, until midnight. Fordham.edu/RTC Follow us! @FordhamRTC
(freshman halls)
Monday, August 27, 10 am–4 pm (upper class halls)
Tuesday, August 28, 10 am–4 pm (upper class halls)
@ FordhamIT • fordham.edu/STS
Sports & Health
Sports & Health Editors Luke Osborn - losborn1@fordham.edu Artemis Tsgaris - atsagaris@fordham.edu August 24, 2018 THE OBSERVER
The History of Amphetamines A Story of Abuse and Stigmatization
By AIZA BHUIYAN Staff Writer
The ancestry of Adderall dates back to 1867 when a Romanian chemist named Lazar Edeleanu unintentionally synthesized the first amphetamine. Because Edeleanu was more interested in his research refining crude oil, he abandoned his research on stimulants. It took another four decades to discover the potency of this central nervous system stimulant. Amphetamine was first utilized by the firm Smith, Kline & French (SFK) in 1928 as a pharmaceutical tool to combat congestion because of its ability to clear respiratory passages. The packaging of this easily accessible over-the-counter inhalant called Benzedrine consisted of a cotton strip soaked in 325 mg of amphetamine oil. From then, it was not long before the first Amphetamine epidemic began. The drug has mood-elevating effects including its efficacy in reducing anhedonia, fatigue and drowsiness while concurrently increasing alertness and concentration and heightening the senses. To magnify the inhalers’ euphoric effects, people began removing the strip of amphetamine oil and chewing or injecting it into their body for a quicker high. Amphetamines work by releasing chemical messengers called neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, a small space between adjacent neurons. This delays the time it takes for the neurotransmitters to be reabsorbed into the original neuron. The neurotransmitters involved are dopamine and norepinephrine, both of which increase arousal and productivity. The longer these neurotransmitters remain in the synaptic cleft, the longer a person can stay awake and focus. These physiologically and psychologically coveted effects increased the public desire for the pills, leading to privately funded studies by SFK to further the scope of the drug’s application. In 1934, the American Medical Association approved the drug for the treatment of weight loss, minor depression and sleep disorders thereby expanding amphetamine’s consumer base to
COURTESY OF ALEX DODD VIA FLICKR
The problem is not in Adderall, per se. Rather, it is the abuse of it — mainly by college students. nearly everyone in the nation. During War World II, amphetamines were supplied to soldiers and airmen to counteract their increasing sleep deficit and their alertness. When the war ended, the amphetamine fixation perpetuated its use among civilians. People valued the versatility of amphetamines in treating different physical and mental conditions. For example, many stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood in the early 1930s to the late 1950s fell victim to the abuse of these pills in order to maintain their weight and be able to withstand long hours of filming. Just 10 years after the introduction of amphetamines in the United States, the drugs promptly became known as “go pills” for soldiers, “pep pills” for movie stars, “diet pills” for suburban women and “smart pills” for college students. Although the Food and Drug Administration mandated that the drug can only be acquired with a prescription in 1959, the consumption rate of amphetamines skyrocketed; normalizing the illicit use of the drug. By the conclusion of the decade, other medications were introduced and endorsed by psychiatrists to counteract depressive symptoms; however, the anti-psychiatric sentiments of the time guided individuals to go to their private medical doctor for a prescription of the pill.
The counterculture of the ’60s can be distinguished partly by the recreational use of many drugs including amphetamines and methamphetamines. Methamphetamines are a more lethal and ersatz version of amphetamines. There is a structural difference between the two substances that allows methamphetamine to more rapidly enter the brain producing additional detrimental and addictive effects. A large quantity of middle-class American society received prescriptions for low-dose amphetamines from their private doctors to alleviate the stress of their daily routines. Members of the lower class and people from marginalized groups relied mostly on homemade methamphetamine, broadly known as crack, because of its widespread availability. Nevertheless, high profile public figures, such as President John F. Kennedy, were no exception to the stimulant compulsion. Kennedy was regularly injected with 15 mg of methamphetamine to treat the injuries he obtained from the war by his private doctor known widely as “Dr. Feelgood.” The rampant abuse of amphetamines was partially due to the introduction of intravenous injections which directly inserted the drugs into the user’s veins. Taking the drug intravenously proved to be more effective in inducing amplified euphoria.
The overprescription and illegal use of the medication raised an alarm for national concern, leading to the drastic shift in public opinion. Studies conducted worldwide displayed its negative effects, garnering a great deal of attention from individuals using or already addicted to the drug. Newly Discovered side effects like psychosis, addiction, malnutrition, major mood shifts, hallucinations and irregular heartbeats turned away many users. But while the stigmatization of the stimulant had begun, the abuse did not stop there. In 1996, amphetamine was reintroduced as a prescription drug by Shire Pharmaceuticals to mitigate symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) based on a 1936 study conducted by Charles Bradley on a group of boys with learning disabilities. Its new branding: Adderall. An individual with ADD/ ADHD displays symptoms of hyperactivity, poor concentration, and impulsiveness. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 percent of children aged 4-17 are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. There is a general consensus amongst psychiatrists that individuals diagnosed with the condition should either be therapeutically or medically treated in order to alleviate their symptoms. However, a residual stigma against amphetamine uti-
lization turns people away from treating their ADD/ADHD even though studies show that when amphetamines are taken under proper medical supervision in prescribed doses, abuse and addiction is not a risk factor. The stimulant provides a response rate of 70-80 percent in the case of treating ADD/ADHD and helps individuals control their impulses and filter out distractions. The problem is not in Adderall, per se. Rather, it is the abuse of it — mainly by college students. Nowadays, Adderall is a mainstream drug for students looking to cope with the stress of school and maintaining grades. Studies show that 60 percent of individuals who abuse Adderall are between the ages of 18 and 25. There is a widespread misconception a mong college students that Adderall makes you smarter or that they are entirely harmless with no harmful effects. Ramin Mojtabai, MD, Ph.D., a professor of mental health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, emphasizes the need to educate young people about the possible adverse effects of Adderall abuse. In addition, he proposes a possible solution in which Adderall is regulated in a similar way to how painkillers are. Mojtabi suggests that physicians enter prescriptions into a universal database to eliminate the possibility of a patient receiving one type of medication from multiple doctors. Amphetamine abuse is not a new phenomenon; soldiers, students, actors/actresses and ordinary individuals have abused the drug since the early 20th century. When the popularity of the drug declined towards the mid-20th century, the drug entered a new stage of social stigmatization. Today, the drug has been condemned because of its scandalous history. However, it is important to acknowledge the medical benefits of Adderall for people with ADD/ ADHD. Stigmatizing the drug itself only discourages people who may need it from using it. Instead, we should impart knowledge of the consequences of Adderall abuse amongst vulnerable populations to avoid further abuse.
Chemistry In Action By LUKE OSBORN Sports & Health Editor
Fordham’s Natural Science faculty recently finished a productive summer of scientific research. Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dr. Marie Thomas presented a poster at the International Conference on Phosphorus Chemistry in Budapest, Hungary and spent the rest of her summer researching a class of chemical compounds termed ionic liquids. Unlike most ionically-charged materials like sodium chloride (table salt), ionic liquids have melting points under 100 degrees celsius and are usually liquids at room temperature. These compounds were originally developed for batteries, but their applications later proved to be numerous. Scientists now use ionic liquids as catalysts and solvents, and the pharmaceutical industry also utilizes ionic liquids. Dr. Thomas’ main research involves a project she began three
years ago in which she sought to use ionic liquids to dissolve both cellulose, one of the polymers in plant cell walls and chitin, another polymer that makes up the invertebrate exoskeleton. These large molecules are extremely strong, so attempting to dissolve cellulose and chitin is a challenge. Dr. Thomas hopes that the resulting ionic liquid solutions will allow these biopolymers to become more usable fuels and chemicals in industry. On top of dissolving cellulose, Dr. Thomas embarked on two other projects involving ionic liquids this summer. One project is a study of the antimicrobial properties of ionic liquids in collaboration with Dr. Vicki Flaris of Bronx Community College. Dr. Flaris uses ionic liquids to create antimicrobial surfaces on plastic polymers. Dr. Thomas’s third project is in conjunction with Dr. Alma Rodenas-Ruano, assistant professor of Biology. Dr. Thomas and Dr. Rodenas-Ruano are investigating the toxicity of ionic
liquids on zebrafish, which are small tropical fish. As ionic liquids become more widely used, safe disposal of these compounds becomes an increasingly important area of research. “Unfortu-
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Unfortunately, there is not a lot known about the toxicity of these ionic liquids but that’s beginning to change.
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DR. MARIE THOMAS , assistant professor of Chemistry at Fordham University
nately, there is not a lot known about the toxicity of these ionic liquids,” Thomas said, “but that’s beginning to change.” Most Fordham professors take on student research assistants
to aid in their various studies. Neuroscience major Sultana Morioum, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’19, decided to help Dr. Thomas and Dr. Rodenas-Ruano explore the toxicity of ionic liquids this summer. This summer, most of Morioum’s and Dr. Thomas’s time was spent in one of Rose Hill’s chemistry labs synthesizing ionic liquids for the study. The synthesis Morioum performs in lab is a tedious, yet rewarding process, she said – one that gives her the opportunity to transplant her knowledge from class into a real-life application. Morioum explains that she enjoys working with ionic liquids, but “The only problem is cleaning the glassware.” Morioum is currently in the process of starting the second phase of the toxicity study: testing the zebrafish. Using the compounds she and Dr. Thomas created this summer, Morioum will be introducing these ionic liquids to zebrafish with Dr. Rodenas-Ruano at Lincoln Center’s
zebrafish lab on the eighth floor of the Leon Lowenstein building. The lab can house a whole population of zebrafish at every stage of their lives, allowing for an in-depth analysis of ionic liquid toxicity on marine life. Morioum remarked of Rodenas-Ruano, “I can see why Professor Alma likes watching them all day, because I can literally watch them all day. It’s so cool that you can actually get up close in the microscope and see their heartbeat. I feel like a surgeon.” Naturally, Morioum is eager to help finish the rest of Dr. Thomas’s and Dr. Rodenas-Ruano’s toxicology work. Science research like the ionic liquid studies Dr. Thomas undertakes is just a small fraction of work Fordham professors do every year. Faculty from various disciplines collectively pursue research to further investigate the intricacies of their respective fields. As in the case of Dr. Thomas’s research, both students and faculty can benefit from performing research.