Observer Issue 10 Fall 2022

the

Observer

The STudenT Voice of fordham LincoLn cenTer

Faculty Union in Negotiations To Renew Contract

ALEXA VILLATORO Social Media Editor

Since March, Fordham Faculty United (FFU) has been negotiat ing its next collective bargain ing agreement with Fordham to improve working conditions and benefits for adjunct and full-time nontenure-track professors. The union ratified its first contract in 2018 and began deliberations for its new contract this year after the three-yearlong contract was ex tended in 2021 due to COVID-19.

FFU has outlined three priori ties: increased pay, better health

benefits for adjunct faculty and pay parity among professors in different schools within the uni versity. The demands were first announced on Aug. 16 in an open letter addressed to the Fordham community.

According to FFU’s promotional flyers, the typical maximum ad junct faculty annual salary at Ford ham is $28,800. Joshua Jordan, chair of FFU and a senior lecturer in French at Fordham, said that the pay is insufficient, especially given the rising costs of living in New York City. The current living wage salary in NYC, as calculated by the

MIT Living Wage Calculation for Bronx County, is $52,000.

According to Jordan, the ma jority of faculty at Fordham are contingent, not tenured or ten ure-track, and among FFU’s esti mated 650 members, about 530 of them are adjunct.

In order to address these issues, FFU is proposing a $500 to $1,000 increase in pay per course each year. This change would amount to a total increase of at least $1,500 in three years for adjunct professors.

MTA To Install Security Cameras in All NYC Subway Cars

Latine Celebration at Lincoln Center

By CHELSEA CASILLA Contributing Writer

For me, National Hispanic Heritage Month is every day. It is not something that comes and goes in the fall that I later set aside into the abyss of non existence once Oct. 15 hits. It is an unremovable cloak I proudly wear that manifests itself in my lawless hair, warm-colored skin and the way that I speak.

By SABRINA VIDAL Staff Writer

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Sept. 20 that the Metropolitan Transportation Au thority (MTA) of New York City will install security cameras in every subway car. The measure is funded by a $2 million grant from the Urban Area Security Initiative and is in response to concerns about safety and rising crime in the city’s subway system.

Many of Fordham Lincoln Cen ter’s students use the MTA every

Debt Is Done

Biden’s loan forgiveness program provides relief to students

day to commute to and from cam pus, and residential students rely on the MTA to travel around the city. Approximately half of the 1,800 full-time undergraduate students at Lincoln Center are commuters, according to Student Services.

To Vishesh Chawla, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Cen ter ’25, vice president of Lincoln Center’s Commuting Students’ As sociation (CSA) and a commuter from New Jersey, this change is long overdue.

“I think this change was need

ed 10 years back,” he said.

Previously, Chawla used the PATH trains to commute from New Jersey, and he explained that he felt safer and more comfortable on them than he did on the sub way.

“The subways just do not feel safe, considering the crimes that have been happening for so long,” he said.

He noted that the addition of cameras will especially make a difference for students commut ing to early-morning or late-eve ning classes or taking the subway

CENTERFOLD PAGE

St. Bonaventure,

out West New Yorkers

Tetlow’s Tent Celebrating the start of homecoming weekend at Pres Ball

at non peak hours. With cameras installed inside subway cars, “peo ple will have some sort of safety that someone is watching.”

Karolina Kozak, Fordham Col lege at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, a resident in McMahon Hall and a native New Yorker, said she feels that trains have become more dangerous. They expressed that when in a subway car with a po tentially threatening individual, cameras would not provide much help in de-escalating the situation.

OPINIONS PAGE 11

Mourning the Monarch May the queen rest in peace, and the monarchy with her

This year, however, I found myself wanting to become even more connected to my history and learn the ways in which people in my community take up space in the arts — and there’s no better month to do so.

With upcoming events on campus and around the city organized to celebrate those of Hispanic and Latine heri tage — the latter being a gen der-neutral term contrived to encompass the identities of all members of the community — I made it my goal to attend at least one and figure out what it means to be a Latine person creating in the artistic realm.

ARTS

Pizza, Piccolos and Prizes

Inside Little Italy’s Feast of San Gennaro

LAUREN MOON/THE OBSERVER

the NYC subway system, the MTA will be installing security cameras to monitor every subway car.

NYC’s Housing Crisis Impacts Immigrants: A Common Grounds Conversation

By JACKSON LEWIS Contributing Writer

Campus Ministry and the Of fice of Multicultural Affairs hosted this year’s Common Grounds Con versation, an annual event led by Carol Gibney, director of Campus Ministry Solidarity and Leader ship, on Sept. 15. The series fo cuses on the intersection between two critical sociocultural issues, with this year’s discussion titled “The Integration of Migration and Houselessness.”

Mary Owens, Graduate School of Social Service ’10 and director of 30th Street Men’s Intake Shel ter, and Jairo Gúzman, president of the Mexican Coalition, were invited to share their perspectives on New York’s housing crisis in relation to the recent increase in immigration.

Both Owens and Gúzman work closely with NYC’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS), which “works to address street home lessness, provide safe temporary shelter, and connect New Yorkers experiencing homelessness to suit able housing,” according to DHS’ mission statement. During the talk, Owens discussed the three sections DHS is divided into: fam ilies with children, adult families and single adults. She noted that by creating distinct areas, the sys tem ensures that everyone’s needs are being addressed and that those utilizing the shelters have access to critical services.

According to Owens, the shel ters have experienced a drastic influx of clients over the past six months. She said that the number

of immigrants arriving at shelters “significantly increased in the last few weeks,” partially due to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant busing program, which sends migrants to other cities including New York.

On Sept. 12 alone, the 30th Street Men’s Intake Shelter saw 300 cli ents arrive at its doors, which is 10 times more than the average number.

Gúzman discussed how even though the number of immigrants arriving is increasing, the motiva tions behind immigration aren’t new.

“Migration continues to be

what it was many years ago,” he said. “(They’re) trying to make sure that their families are protect ed and gain access to health care and quality education.”

Gúzman illuminated the dis crepancy between the perverse stigmas surrounding immigration and the reality of lived experiences.

“The truth is that when they come in there, they're not coming with their hand standing out asking for donations, asking for a handout,” Gúzman emphasized. “They’re ask ing for an opportunity for them to start taking care of themselves.”

Owens and Gúzman added that, in their experience, one of the most challenging barriers for immigrants once in the country is a lack of information. Gúzman noted that it’s critical for immi grants to have someone “trying to direct and help them navigate the various systems that exist here.”

A persisting obstacle for those on the other side of the issue, such as shelter workers and volunteers, is not just funding but bureaucracy, according to Gúzman. These orga nizations have to operate within specific parameters, particularly

when the resources that they uti lize are supplied by government agencies.

Gúzman explained that money left over at the conclusion of the fiscal year cannot be used to pur chase supplies that are outside of what the money was initially in tended for. He noted that the nec essary solution isn’t always more funding and called for the capabil ity to reallocate resources.

“Give us flexibility to deal with some of the stuff that needs to be done immediately. (That way,) if we need to find food for some body ... we don't have to chase 100 pieces of paper in order for us to be able to serve a family that has immediate need.”

When asked about what mean ingful contributions might look like, Owens and Gúzman recom mended prioritizing consistency over scale and challenged others to act with purpose and respect.

“Fordham teaches you to think on the macro, and I’m a real micro person,” Owens said.

The two added the need for “human capital” and suggested helping on the phones at shelters. They also recommended pushing nonprofits to improve, and Owens noted that consistent, predictable donations allow for agencies to more accurately prepare for the future by distributing funding through appropriate channels as far ahead of time as possible.

Gúzman concluded the con versation with the mantra that in forms his behavior each day.

“I don’t care where you’re from,” he said. “I care that you’re a person that needs our help.”

Aramark Makes Dining Changes at Lincoln Center

By ALEXA VILLATORO Social Media Editor

Fordham’s dining provider Ar amark introduced new changes at the Lincoln Center campus for the fall 2022 semester, including the expansion of dining options and sustainability-oriented initiatives.

The adaptations include two new food service stations at Schmeltzer Dining Room, locat ed on the second floor of Ford ham’s Law School, which now caters sushi and Mexican cui sine. The Cronin Café, found in the library on the sixth floor of the Law School building, has switched to a new coffee supplier called La Colombe, a well-known chain with several locations throughout the city.

In the Community Dining Hall, Aramark has introduced Babylon micro-farms, which grow fresh produce to be used by the service provider’s culinary team. The Ram Café has replaced Grille Works with a new station, “Burger & Fries,” which serves burgers as well as classic signa ture menu items such as chicken tenders.

The university has also contin ued the “Our Greens To-Go” takeout program, where students at both Lincoln Center and Rose Hill dining halls have access to reus able containers.

Rachel Diaz, marketing man ager for Aramark, added that they will also launch a program later in the semester called “Cool Foods” which aims to create a “low-carbon footprint dining experience.” The program includes labeling qualify ing meals as low-carbon footprint dishes and educating students on how to find these offerings.

“The changes that we make are prompted with our students and mission in mind,” Diaz said. “We take in feedback every semester in a variety of different ways to learn about the evolving needs and wants of our students.”

Lauren Owen, Fordham Col lege at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, shared that when she had a meal plan as a first-year, she preferred alternative on-campus dining es tablishments over the Community Dining Hall.

“It was very much a hit or miss,” she said. “But I frequented Schmeltzer’s a lot. I just got the same thing every time.”

While Owen chose not to pur chase a meal plan this semester, hearing about the new sushi sta tion at Schmeltzer made her excit ed about potentially reenrolling in a plan for the next semester.

In regard to incorporating different cuisines into dining options, Diaz said that Aramark “takes into account the different food and cultural trends when conceptualizing our offerings.”

Owen said she believes that Ara mark’s increase of diversity among dining options is a positive change.

“I’m glad they instituted it be cause they don’t have much eth nic food,” she said.

Nicholas Wesley, FCLC ’24 and a resident assistant in McMa hon Hall, had a meal plan during his first two years at Fordham. He echoed Owen’s thoughts on Schmeltzer, saying he went there often because it was “the most consistent place.”

He added that he is glad to see the expanded dining options avail able at Schmeltzer.

“I saw some email about how they are having some Mexican restaurant caterer there,” Wesley said about the new station named “Zoca Fresh Mexican Flavors.” “I feel like it’s a good attempt at a little bit more inclusivity with the

food options and catering to dif ferent cultural needs.”

Wesley chose not to purchase a meal plan this semester, due to his previous experience.

“It’s very lackluster; it’s not any thing really exciting, restaurant quality of course,” Wesley said, describing the dining options at Lincoln Center. “It’s just something you eat to survive, if you don’t want to go out and spend at least twen ty dollars on DoorDash, that’s just what you eat to make it by.”

Miu Someya, FCLC ’24 and a student with a meal plan this se mester, agreed with Wesley’s feed back on the dining services.

“The quality of the dining op tions at Lincoln Center aren’t the best in my opinion,” Someya said. “I think the meal plans are too pricey.”

Someya also believes that among current menu options at the Ram Café and Community Dining Hall, there can be some more diversity in offerings and improvement in quality. She not ed that for commuters like her self, the Ram Café is one of the most accessible and convenient options.

“The food quality is not that good,” Someya said. “I feel like they can improve the vegetable and meat products they use.”

In addition to Ram Café, Someya goes to Argo Tea and said that because they aren’t part of Aramark, she feels that the quality is better.

On any upcoming and continu ing changes, Diaz noted that Ara mark is “looking forward to build ing these efforts even further and (is) excited to introduce new con cepts, offerings, and innovations in the near future.”

COURTESY OF CAMPUS MINISTRY

Mary Owens with a student leader from Pedro Arrupe Volunteers following the talk on migration and houselessness.

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

Schmeltzer Dining Room has two new cuisine options: sushi and Mexican stations.

Mary Owens and Jairo Guzman discussed their work with unhoused populations and encouraged volunteerism

quality and meal offerings around

Adjuncts Express Concerns With Job Stability and Pay

The largest increases for ad juncts would be directed toward narrowing the gap in the Gradu ate School of Arts and Sciences, the Graduate School of Social Ser vice, and the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education (GSRRE), where adjuncts are paid significantly less than their ten ured peers.

For an adjunct faculty with three or fewer years of experience in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), the union’s proposal would in crease pay per course from $7,000 to $8,500 by 2024. The adminis tration’s proposal will increase it to $7,649.09 by 2024. Prior to unioniz ing, adjuncts made as little as $3,900 per course working in CAS.

As of the most recent nego tiation session on Sept. 22, the Fordham administration wants to increase pay per course for under graduate adjunct professors in the next contract by 3% each year. For professors in CAS with three or fewer years of experience, that raise would amount to approximately $216 in pay per course each year.

FFU also proposed pay pari ty among the schools at Fordham University as one of its priorities.

Currently, adjunct faculty with three or fewer years of experience at GSRRE are earning $4,600 per course, thousands less than adjunct faculty with the same experience in CAS. The university is proposing a 3% increase for them as well and, through negotiations, has been willing to raise the base salary up to $5,500, according to Jordan and Ashar Foley, FFU’s chief steward and an advanced lecturer in com munications and media.

Bob Howe, associate vice pres ident for communications, shared that the university’s 3% wage in crease is in line with the wage in

creases that the university has set tled on with other employee groups during the same period.

“The proposed increase follows the approximately 40% increase Fordham provided to most mem bers in the first collective bar gaining agreement entered into in 2018,” Howe said. “Because the adjuncts in the Graduate School of Social Service and Graduate School of Religion did not fully realize the large increases gained in the 2018 contract, we have proposed a sig nificant jump in their base salary which far exceeds 3%.”

He added that the university has offered adjunct faculty a payment of up to $800 to assist with the cost of health benefits because many re ceive subsidized health benefits on the New York State Exchange and noted that the university’s proposal will provide most adjuncts with an increase of over $1,800 in the first year of the contract.

FFU believes that working con ditions provided by the university should reflect its motto and values.

“It’s a real gesture but it comes up well short of what most of us think of when we think: cura per sonalis,” Jordan said.

According to Jordan, the uni versity is providing up to $1,760 for adjunct faculty in total, and most do not qualify for the full amount. Faculty who taught cours es during the previous academic year and have been offered cours es at Fordham this academic year could potentially be offered $240 per course they instructed last year as a one-time “bonus” under this proposition. This bonus, in addition to the $800 health cred it, contributes to the $1,760 total.

Jordan noted that the addition of the health credit does not mean that adjuncts are offered a better health plan.

Foley said that for weeks the ad ministration has not been willing to increase their current 3% proposed raise. According to Foley, Fordham instructors hadn’t seen any blanket raises for 10 years before the union was recognized in 2018 and rati fied its first contract, which meant that prior to that, professors had to negotiate individual raises.

Before becoming a full-time fac ulty member in 2017, Foley worked part time as an adjunct professor at Fordham and the New York City College of Technology in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. She described her experi ence as an adjunct faculty member as “cobbling money together.”

“You are constantly worrying about whether or not your classes get full enrollment, whether you get offered classes, and wheth er or not anybody complains or there’s any other problem that’s going to take classes away from you,” Foley described. “Because then you have to figure out how to fill that three- to five-thou sand-dollar gap or more, depend ing on where you’re working, and it’s just a constant churn.”

Adjunct professors are limit ed to teaching two courses per semester, meaning that many depend on employment at other colleges and universities to work a living wage. Without knowing whether they will be assigned to teach a course the following se mester, adjuncts are employed with limited job security.

And yet, when Foley was of fered a full-time, nontenure-track position at Fordham in 2017, pri or to the unionization of nonten ure-track faculty, it wasn’t a simple decision.

“It will mean more stability, it will mean more money, but I will not be having a union job any

more,” she said. “So, I could switch over, lose my benefits, lose my se niority, lose my place at CUNY, in order to work for Fordham, a nonunion workplace, where they could use me for a semester and fire me if they wanted to, and then I would be royally screwed.”

Jordan noted that the total cost of the union’s proposed pay raises for all faculty does not exceed $2 million per year. He compared it to the operational costs of the newly built Joseph M. McShane, S.J. Cam pus Center, which totals $9.3 mil lion annually.

In addition to pay raises, FFU is asking for more comprehensive health benefits for adjunct faculty. Adjuncts are offered limited medi cal coverage by the university, and

Undergraduate Admissions Extends Test

By ADITI PRAVEEN KARIYANAHALLI Staff Writer

Fordham’s Office of Under graduate Admissions announced on Sept. 12 that it will extend the test-optional policy to include prospective students applying for the fall 2024 admission cycle. The university originally implemented the change alongside many other colleges in May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The measure was initially in troduced at the beginning of the pandemic to allow applicants to be able to apply to colleges with out risking infection by entering potentially dangerous testing centers. Patricia Peek, dean of undergraduate admissions and associate vice president at Ford ham, explained that the decision went further than addressing the effects of the pandemic, as it also aimed to make the admissions process more holistic.

“By making standardized tests optional, we have improved ac cess for students who might not otherwise apply to the University, and have done so while maintain ing our commitment to academic rigor,” Peek said. “For some stu dents, testing is an accurate mea sure of their achievement and for others it may not be so. Our policy allows students to demon strate their strengths in context.”

The policy extension stemmed from the belief that in addition to highlighting other skills and interests of applicants, forgoing mandatory admissions tests will increase diversity among the student body at Fordham, ac cording to Peek.

Among Fordham students, the extension of the test-optional poli cy has gathered support.

Mia Simmons, Fordham Col lege at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, said that the test-optional policy at Fordham made her application ex perience more pleasant. Simmons noted that by not requiring this component, more aspects of a stu dent’s application are considered during the admissions process.

Simmons also added that the test optional policy gives students the chance to come to a universi ty without having to be defined by their standardized test scores. They are qualified through other factors such as their grades and rigor displayed through their high school courses.

She also added that Fordham’s decision to implement this policy will help students of color during the college admissions process.

“Because there are some stu dents that are people of color who have amazing grades, essays, vol unteer and extracurricular activi ties however, they are overlooked often at prestigious universities due to their lower SAT or ACT scores because they do not have the resources to have SAT tutors and ACT tutors, as well as work shops in their areas,” she said.

Many students expressed their support for the change, as it will allow for applications to more ac curately reflect the student that is applying.

Dylan Parks, FCLC ’26, said that admissions should consider other aspects of a student’s appli cation and said that he hopes to see the test-optional policy con tinue to be extended in the future.

“I still believe that I have the ability to academically compete at the same level with students who did take it, which makes me think it’s an archaic testing format, at this point,” she said. “I’m glad that Fordham’s extending the test-op tional policy.”

Peek mentioned that the pol icy extension has been well-re ceived by students and noted that the admissions trend was representative of that.

“The fact that we have enrolled the two largest and most diverse classes in the last 2 years is an en couraging sign,” she said.

In regard to whether the poli

the union proposed that adjuncts have access to the same health benefits tenured faculty receive. According to Jordan, enrollment records provided to FFU by the uni versity show that only one adjunct faculty member is enrolled in the health benefits currently available to adjuncts.

“This has been a goal of ours, and we’ve achieved only part in 2018, and that’s to lift up the most precarious and most vulnerable amongst our members,” Jordan said. “Part of that, especially com ing off of COVID-19, is health.”

The union and administration are continuing negotiations on an extension that will end this month. Faculty and students have been wearing purple in solidarity with

sions cycles, Peek stated that more thought and data analysis has to occur before an affirmative decision is made. She said that she believes that Fordham’s test-optional policy will increase access to students who are seeking the benefits of a Ford ham education.

“We know that in a holistic re view, students present a complex array of qualifications and charac teristics that make them unique,” Peek said. “We strongly believe that we can fairly evaluate appli cants who submit test scores— along with those who do not—and offer admission to candidates who can thrive at Fordham.”

“I did not apply to Fordham with my SAT/ACT scores,” she said. “I believe the test option al policy should still be in place for the upcoming years because standardized test scores limit the abilities of most students. Ford ham accepts people on a holistic standard, however, test scores are usually a big chunk of the ap plication process.”

“Admissions counselors should focus more on students' in-school success, such as what clubs they are in, how they have gotten in volved in their local community and how a student is doing emo tionally,” he said.

Bella Reyes, FCLC ’25, never took any college admission standardized tests in high school and said she feels that the exams fail to accurate ly represent students’ skill sets.

“ Admissions counselors should focus more on students' in-school success, such as what clubs they are in, and how they have gotten involved in their local community and how a student is doing emotionally. ”

Dylan Parks, FCLC ’26

COURTESY OF ASHAR FOLEY

The union's bargaining committee met to discuss further negotiations for adjunct and nontenure track professors.

‘I didn’t think it would actually happen’: Biden Announces Debt Relief Plan

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

U.S. President Joe Biden an nounced a one-time student loan debt relief plan on Aug. 24 that is intended to forgive federal student loans for low and middle income families. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s student aid website, an online form will be made available for those who are eligible for the debt relief program by early October, with the deadline to submit the application being Dec. 31, 2023.

Under the forgiveness pro gram, loans taken out prior to June 30, 2022, qualify. These in clude ones under the William D. Ford federal direct loan program, which consists of subsidized, un subsidized, parent and graduate PLUS loans, Federal Family Edu cation Loan program loans, Fed eral Perkins loans and defaulted loans.

In order to be eligible for the debt relief program, an individ ual’s annual income, married or single, cannot exceed $125,000 if they file separately for their tax returns. If an individual files their tax returns jointly due to marital status or because they are the acting head of house hold, their income cannot exceed $250,000.

There are two qualifications for debt relief assuming an in dividual falls below the income threshold: If a student received a Pell Grant as a part of their fi nancial aid offer in college and fall, they can get $20,000 of their loans forgiven or they can get $10,000 in student loans forgiven if they are a non-Pell Grant recip ient.

A federal Pell Grant is award ed to undergraduate students who demonstrate an exceptional need for financial aid. The grant is awarded to students who are in the process of pursuing a bache lor’s, graduate or professional de gree.

Rising

“I don’t know if I’d feel safer,” they said. “My general feeling of safety on the MTA relies on the people that are in the cars.”

Chawla echoed the need for other people in the subway cars to feel comfortable and highlight ed a safety training that CSA con ducts, which advises commuters to avoid traveling in empty sub way cars. He added that he hopes the new measure will alleviate such safety concerns.

Karina Garcia, FCLC ’25 and a commuter from Brooklyn, also spoke on the necessity of taking extra safety measures.

“Currently, I would say that it is very uncomfortable to be on the train, and I think in recent months, commuters have learned to be more aware of their sur roundings,” she said.

Students have expressed mixed opinions on whether the new cameras will effectively de crease the likelihood of a crime being committed on the subway.

Kozak added that the MTA has had cameras at stations before but that most of the time they are not on and are rarely monitored.

“In the past, cameras at the stations haven’t really been effec tive at all,” they said.

Kozak hopes that the installa tion of cameras in subway cars will

Any student who has received at least one Pell Grant of any amount throughout their college career is eligible to receive the full $20,000 in student loan debt relief. Federal aid is determined through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). To check if you qualify or have re ceived a Pell Grant, log onto your FAFSA account and check the financial aid offers outlined in your package.

Brian Ghanoo, associate vice president for student financial services, noted that if students are eligible for a Pell Grant, it should be listed as a part of their financial aid offer which is view able on their financial aid portal.

Alisha Alam, Fordham Col lege at Lincoln Center ’24, said that when she first learned about Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, she was relieved and surprised. She added that she is delighted for others who have been struggling or are currently struggling to keep up with their loan payments.

“I didn’t think it would actual ly happen,” she said. “I personally have both Federal loans and Pri vate loans to cover my tuition at Fordham so it is a big help.”

Hannorah Ragusa, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’26 and a stu dent who qualifies for $10,000 in student loan forgiveness, shared that at first she was excited about the program’s announcement but then felt less enthusiastic after hearing more information.

“As much as I appreciate the help, it feels superficial,” she said. “I think it helps but more should still be done.”

Ragusa noted there should be better programs in place to help students learn about how to han dle their debt, suggesting cours es that can help provide ideas, guidance and information about loans. She also believes that if she knew more about her options, “the whole concept of student debt wouldn’t seem so scary.”

Alam shared that she had heard about the program through TikTok and continued to research

Motivate

lead to safer conditions, but she believes that more effective securi ty measures can be implemented.

Desara Murati, FCLC ’25 and a commuter from downtown Brook lyn, believes that the addition of cameras on the train cars is a step in the right direction but does not think it is the overall solution.

“I don’t think it will complete ly stop the crimes that have been happening or how people have been getting pushed onto the tracks more recently,” she said. “But I think it’s a safety net. Peo ple will be maybe more afraid to do these things.”

Murati also noted that the installation of cameras does not combat the root issue of crime and believes that there should be more preventative measures added.

“Cameras are good for catch ing people, not for preventing crime,” she said.

Garcia believes that installing security cameras would make the MTA much safer and create a more comfortable experience for commuters. She also noted that she believes the cameras will hold people more accountable for their actions if they know they are be ing recorded.

“I do think it’s a step towards the right direction, but I don’t think that it is going to solve the

overall issue of using the train system,” she said. “I think there needs to be a lot more put into place to make people feel safe and comfortable while using the train every day.”

Robert Dineen, director of Public Safety, shared that the office provides all incoming stu dents with safety tips while trav eling on the subway and issues public safety advisories and re minders on mass transit to the university community during the school year.

He expressed satisfaction with the new safety measure, praising it as an effective investigative tool for law enforcement when they review camera footage after an incident. Dineen also noted that cameras would serve as a de terrent for individuals intent on harming others.

“I believe the subway car cam eras will help to restore riders’ sense of safety and feeling of be ing protected,” he said.

Dineen hopes that the cameras — alongside law enforcement — will reduce crime in the subway system.

“Subway car cameras, along with our elected leaders and law enforcement officials, and service providers, working together on developing strategies and solu tions to address crime and other

the initiative on her own. Despite her efforts, she had outstanding questions about the process of loan forgiveness.

“I’m hearing different things about it, and anytime I try to search up information on it on the FAFSA website, it all seems con fusing and a bit vague,” she said.

Alam expressed confusion regarding the process and won dered if those who have already made their payments will be com pensated.

According to the Department of Education’s website, individu als can get a refund for any pay ments they have made during the payment pause enacted since March 13, 2020 by contacting their loan service provider to re quest a refund.

Ghanoo shared that there are various types of student loan for giveness and recommended the Department of Education’s web site as a resource to understand the different types of loan cancel lation, forgiveness and discharge.

He also noted that the Office of

Financial Aid placed information on both the undergraduate and graduate financial aid web pages about loan forgiveness.

Alam shared that she intends to utilize Fordham’s financial aid office as a resource when the time comes to file for student loan for giveness. She added her hope that the financial aid office will send out emails updating students on the program when the application goes— the semester is a busy time for students, and she anticipates needing a lot of help during this process.

“I will definitely be reaching out to the financial aid office to guide me through the process,” she said. “I hope they can help.”

Jim Cirillo, campus director of student financial services, shared that the university has not re ceived further information from the Department of Education re garding the student loan forgive ness program. He emphasized that students will likely have to work directly with the federal government to work on getting their loans forgiven.

Ghanoo echoed this sentiment and expressed that students will be in direct contact with the De partment of Education in order to process their loan forgiveness.

“The Department of Education will not be providing training for staff at colleges or universities on the application process,” he said. “Students must work with the De partment of Education directly to navigate the application process.”

The Biden student loan debt relief program intends to make the loan system more manage able for borrowers and hopes to provide relief for up to 43 mil lion borrowers, according to a fact sheet released by the White House. While awaiting the appli cation, individuals are encour aged to ensure that their contact information is accurate so that they can be reached by their loan servicers and to sign up to receive text and email notifications.

social issues in the subway, will go a long way in affecting positive change relative to subway safety,” he said.

Regardless of changes to the MTA’s security systems, Fordham students, especially commuters,

will continue to rely on the sub way system.

“Whether the cameras are there or not, it’s not going to change the fact that I need to take the subway to get from Point A to Point B,” Kozak said.

INFOGRAPHIC BY ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER

Football Drops Heated Bout to Ohio, 59-52 Sports & Health

GABRIELLA BERMUDEZ and ALEXANDER FLINT Sports and Health Editor and Contributing Writer

Fordham fought in spectacular fashion and put on a heart-racing performance on Saturday, Sept. 24 against the Ohio University (OU) Bobcats, ultimately losing, 59-52, to their Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent. The Rams entered the stadium 3-0. Head Coach Joe Conlin was hope ful that his team could extend its winning streak to 4-0. In the end, the game wouldn’t go his way.

The high-powered offensive duo of Tim DeMorat, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, and Fotis Kokosioulis, FCRH ’23, was the backbone of the Rams ef fort. Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham Graduate School of Arts and Sci ences (GSAS) ’24, and James Con way, FCRH ’25, led the team in tackles, with six apiece, but Ford ham’s defense struggled to keep the Bobcats in check.

Rams kicker Michael Bernard, FCRH ’23, set the tone with a touchback on the kickoff, starting Ohio’s possession at the 25-yard line. On the Bobcats’ first drive, running back Nolan McCormick, OU ’26, marched the offense down the field with ease, getting his team into the redzone.

Ohio made it to the one-yard line with little resistance from Fordham’s defenders before quar terback Kurtis Rourke, OU ’24, rushed into the endzone. Rourke faked a pass to Jake Neatherton, OU ’23, and the Rams fell for the deception, allowing Rourke to by pass every single Ram on the field. The Bobcats took an early 7-0 lead with around eight minutes re maining in the first quarter.

Fordham was eager to even the score. DeMorat relied on the abilities of running back Trey Sneed, GSAS ’24, on the opening drive. Sneed found small pockets of space in the Bobcats’ defense to run through. OU was forced to send over multiple defenders to take down Sneed as he steamroll ed his way downfield. His efforts were not enough, as Fordham was forced to punt.

DeMorat kept a strong poker face throughout the game. Falling behind the Bobcats by 14 points seemed to leave the Ram unfazed.

With possession once again, Rourke pulled another fake pass and sent the ball 39 yards down the field into the hands of Ty ler Foster, OU ’25. There was not a single Ram near Foster as he taunted his way into the end zone, bringing the score to 14-0.

DeMorat kept a strong poker face throughout the game. Fall ing behind the Bobcats by 14 points seemed to leave the Ram unfazed. Fordham continued to display its offensive strength into the second quarter.

With 13 minutes left in the half, DeMorat showed faith in his teammates’ athletic ability. He found Kokosioulis for a 33yard touchdown, giving Fordham its first touchdown. Kokosiou lis made his way down the field without a single Bobcat getting near the loose Ram. After a suc cessful extra point kick, the Rams were on the board, 14-7.

On the next drive, Neatherton attempted to run with the ball. He freed himself from Fordham’s defense, but Greenhagen tracked him down. The 6’1”, 245-pound linebacker clung to Neatherton and carried him out of bounds.

Greenhagen held the respon sibility for preventing many runs during the game. With 11 minutes left in the second quarter, Rourke made a pass to his left toward Mc Cormick. But once again, Green hagen launched into the hips of the Ohio running back.

Rourke then made a 14-yard pass to Sam Wiglusz, Ohio Uni versity Graduate College (OUGC) ’23, to enter the redzone. Finally, after a Fordham stop, Ohio at tempted a field goal, upping the score to 17-7.

With six minutes remain ing in the first half of play, De Morat made a 74-yard pass to Kokosioulis. Tariq Drake, OU ’24, made a brave attempt and launched himself at Kokosioulis, yet the Ram brushed him off and continued his single-man race to the end zone, bringing the score to 17-14.

On Ohio’s next drive, Rourke passed to Tyler Toledo, OU ’25, who ran through Fordham’s de fense and landed in the end zone.

Natani Drati, GSAS ’24, attempt ed to impede him, but his efforts were useless against Toledo’s reach past the goal line. The score was now 24-14 with only two minutes remaining in the half.

As the second quarter wound down, the Rams made a strong effort to add to their score. De Morat tacked on a 45-yard pass to Dequece Carter, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’23, which brought the Rams to the Bobcats’ 15-yard line.

DeMorat targeted Carter once again, but the pass slipped through his fingers and fell harm lessly to the ground. DeMorat’s teammates adopted his poker-face attitude and Carter was not fazed by the error.

DeMorat sent the ball in Car ter’s direction a final time, and this time found success. Carter seized the ball and planted his feet on the end zone paint. Fol lowing the extra point, the score was now 24-21 with 1:50 left in the quarter.

It appeared that Fordham was within striking distance, but with six seconds left, Rourke com pleted a 21-yard pass to Justin Birchette, OU ’23, who dragged the Fordham defender, wrapped around him, into the end zone. The first half of play concluded with a devastating blow to the Rams with the score at 31-21.

Both offenses continued to thrive in the second half. The Bobcats did not maintain their 10-point lead for long. The Rams received the ball and started their drive from their own 26-yard line. The offense advanced into Ohio territory before DeMorat found a wide-open Kokosioulis for an easy 45-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Bobcat lead to three.

Before the Rams could celebrate, however, Keegan Wilburn, OU ’26, returned the kickoff 97 yards for a quick touchdown. Ohio regained its double-digit lead, 38-28.

On their next drive, the Ram of fense continued to make their way down the field, taking advantage of some poor Ohio tackling. Mul tiple big runs from Sneed set the Rams up deep in Ohio territory, leading to a 25-yard touchdown pass from DeMorat to wide-open wide receiver MJ Wright, GSBRH ’23. Once more, Fordham made it a three-point game.

On the Bobcats’ first drive of the second half, Rourke and the Ohio offense began to make their way down the field with solid plays picking up large chunks of yard age. Eventually, the drive stalled out in Ram territory as Fordham forced a turnover on downs.

The Rams’ offense picked up again, and its next drive included huge completions to Kokosioulis, one for 27 yards and another for 14. After a defensive pass inter ference call, the Rams set up on first down from the two-yard line, leading to an easy go-ahead rush ing touchdown for running back Julius Loughridge, FCRH ’25, set ting the score to 42-38.

After Fordham forced a punt

thanks to an excellent tackle by de fensive back Anthony Tony-Itoyah, GSAS ’23, DeMorat fired a bullet to a wide-open Kokosioulis, who took it to the house for an 85-yard touchdown. Fordham extended its lead to eleven points and the of fense seemed unstoppable.

On the following Ohio drive, Rourke found wide receiver James Bostic, OUGC ’23, who would have likely scored if not for a diving tackle by Fordham de fensive back B.J. Ferguson, FCRH ’23. The play brought the third quarter to an end, and the score stood 49-38 for Fordham.

Rourke fumbled, and the Rams maintained their six-point lead with under six minutes left in the game.

At the start of the fourth quar ter, Ohio continued its drive and scored a touchdown on a impres sive one-handed grab by Foster. It was initially flagged for pass in terference, but Foster held on to the ball for a touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, the score stood at 49-46 in favor of the Rams.

With the ball once again, Ford ham took it to the red zone, but after an incomplete pass on third down, was forced to kick a 36yard field goal and settle for a 5246 lead.

Ohio’s offense began to drive again after a perfectly executed

wheel route by running back Mc Cormick. The drive ended in the red zone after Rourke was sacked by a ferocious Fordham blitz. Ro urke fumbled, and the Rams main tained their six-point lead with un der six minutes left in the game.

The Rams’ next drive died quickly, as DeMorat’s long pass to Carter was broken up on third down. Fordham punted and gave Ohio yet another chance to take the lead.

Unbelievably, the Rams forced another fumble off Rourke and recovered it again, giving them the ball and a chance to seal the win. On the first two plays of the drive, however, the Rams’ offense committed two 15-yard penalties, leading to a punt on fourth and 34 with plenty of time for Ohio to come back and score.

The Bobcats swiftly took ad vantage. Rourke marched down the field in a matter of minutes. Ohio’s comeback was capped by a 5-yard completion to Jacoby Jones, OU ’24, who made an in credible catch in the endzone to give the Bobcats a 53-52 lead with under a minute left to play.

On the Rams’ final drive, they committed a number of penalties to push their offense back before fumbling on a lateral attempt, leading to an Ohio touchdown and a final score of 59-52. With that, an upset victory slipped through the grasp of the ambi tious Fordham squad.

The Rams did put on a remark able performance, particularly on offense. DeMorat’s passing was excellent. He recorded 27 comple tions for 503 yards and 6 touch downs on Saturday, which pushed him into first place on Fordham’ football’s career completions and career passing list. This perfor mance against a bigger school is likely to attract attention from professional scouts.

Kokosioulis shone with a re cord breaking stat line of 13 re ceptions, 320 yards and four touchdowns. He now holds the Fordham and Patriot League sin gle-game receiving yards records.

Despite the loss, the Ford ham football team is going to face higher-stakes conference opponents in the coming weeks. Fordham will return to Football Championship Subdivision play, where the competition will not be nearly as stiff as the Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference.

The Rams return to Rose Hill for their next game on Oct. 1, against Georgetown University during Parents Weekend. It will be Fordham’s first Patriot League contest of the season.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fotis Kokosioulis, FCRH ’23, received the ball 13 times for 320 yards and 4 touchdowns.

After a fiery back and forth, the Bobcats broke through in the final quarter to upset the Ram’s fragile lead

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Tim DeMorat, FCRH ’23, runs the ball. The quarterback scored 6 touchdowns.

Sports & Health Editors Chris Murray Gabriella Bermudez

Post-Roe, America Unravels for Female Athletes

Testimonies and Supreme Court documents reveal that female athletes feel nervous about the future

By AURELIEN CLAVAUD

Asst. Sports and Health Editor

America is never stagnant. Landmark achievements can shape an entire generation. Some can be touchstones for American freedom, while others may tip the scales completely.

On June 23, 1972, Congress passed Title IX, which prevents sex discrimination in educational set tings that receive federal funding. The act was one of many education reforms that were passed that year. It was a progressive milestone on the tail end of a tumultuous period of social upheaval characterized by the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement.

Title IX reinforced constitution al freedom. It was — and still is — a fundamental pillar of women’s rights in America. Today, Title IX is often referenced for giving women the same opportunities and funding for athletics that are given to men.

Roe v. Wade was another con stitutional precedent that was set tled during this period of time. The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of reproductive choice on Jan. 22, 1973, roughly seven months after Title IX passed in Congress.

Title IX celebrated its 50th an niversary on June 23, 2022. The anniversary was grimly followed by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade just one day later on June 24.

Advocacy groups such as Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union have cited the 1973 decision as a crowning achievement for equal rights, arguing that the constitu tional right to freedom includes the right to reproductive choice.

However, the Supreme Court has recently swung to the political right. In the case of Dobbs v. Jack son Women’s Health Organization, a case which involved a Mississippi law that would ban abortions af ter 15 weeks, the majority opinion held that “the constitution does not confer a right to abortion.”

This effectively overruled Roe as well as Planned Parenthood v. Ca sey, a similar case decided in 1992 that furthered the precedent set by Roe v. Wade. The decision caused an upset throughout the nation.

Before the ruling, a draft opin ion was leaked to Politico. An analysis by the Graduate School of Global Affairs at Tufts Univer sity found that following the leak, social media (specifically Twitter) erupted in negativity, reaching a peak on June 24.

A particular subset of these reactions belonged to female ath letes. Many of these athletes have since made statements regarding their fears that go beyond what other activists are saying about a “Post-Roe America.”

A general sentiment among fe male athletes is best articulated by an amicus curiae brief in support of abortion access. The brief was submitted during the Dobbs case and consists of testimonies from over 500 current and former wom en in sports.

“Without Roe’s constitution al protection of women’s bodily integrity,” the authors said in the brief, “women would not have been able to take advantage of Ti tle IX and achieve the tremendous level of athletic participation and success that they enjoy today.”

Many of these arguments cite deliberations from Roe and Ca sey. Primarily, the brief stated that women athletes would not be able to fully participate in sports without the protections afforded by Roe.

Quoting Casey, the brief ar gued, “For a female athlete facing the physical and emotional reali ties of pregnancy, the right to de cide whether to carry a pregnancy to term is critical for her ability to ‘participate equally in the econom ic and social life of the Nation,’ in cluding sports.”

The brief also included personal stories. An anonymous professional soccer player recounted her experi ence and, crucially, her freedom of choice under the Roe precedent.

“I accidentally became preg nant in college due to a failure in my birth control,” the player ex plained. “I went to Planned Par enthood to discuss my options, and I decided to have an abortion to ensure I could continue to pur sue my collegiate and professional soccer career ... knowing I had the option to control my body and my life ... is what gave me the freedom to pursue my dreams.”

The brief’s argumentative power lies in the balance between a wom an’s dreams and her personal life. Once again quoting Casey, the brief explained, “The decision to become pregnant, thereby risking long-term health and career consequences, involves ‘the most intimate and per sonal choices a person may make in a lifetime, choices central to person al dignity and autonomy.’”

The brief features many prom inent female athletes such as soc cer star Megan Rapinoe and water poloist Ashleigh Johnson. It is a culmination of years of activism by athletes across the nation.

Some, such as Billie Jean King, a legendary tennis player and icon of the women’s rights movement, spoke out even before the decision was released.

In May 2022, King tweeted, “A woman has had the right to make decisions for her body since #Ro eVWade in 1973. If Roe falls, mil lions of Americans would lose ac cess to critical reproductive care.”

On the day of the decision, these athletes solemnly reflected on the consequences. During a pre-match press conference, Rapinoe con demned the majority opinion.

“I wish we could talk about soccer today,” Rapinoe said. “But obviously, with the ruling on Roe v. Wade, obviously that takes pre cedence over everything.”

In a tweet, tennis player Coco Gauff shed light on a major risk of banning abortions, saying that “The sad part is this (the Supreme Court ruling) will not stop abortions from happening ... this will only increase illegal and unsafe abortions. Today is a very sad day for our country and I cannot believe once again history is repeating itself.”

Johnson — who featured in a Time magazine article — spoke about the lasting repercussions women may face. “It’s just one more barrier. It’s really hard to consider sports this clear pathway for girls to find empowerment and for wom en to really pursue their dreams if they don’t have these protections.”

Time also featured Crissy Per ham, an Olympic swimmer and gold medalist who is personally in vested in abortion rights activism. Perham publicly shared her story in the brief. When she was in the midst of her collegiate career, on scholarship at the University of Ar izona, her birth control failed. She was faced with a daunting decision.

“I wasn’t ready to be a mom, and having an abortion felt like I was given a second chance at life,” Perham wrote in the brief. “I was able to take control of my future and refocus my priorities. I got better in school, I started training really hard, and that summer, I won my first national champion

ship. My life would be drastically different if I had been pregnant and forced to sit that race out, because that race changed the course of my life.”

Following the abortion, Per ham made the national team. Per ham called out what she views as hypocrisy: praising Title IX as a major step forward just a day be fore the Supreme Court ruling. For her, and for many athletes across the nation, it is hard to hear that women’s opportunities have been expanded and that Title IX offers equality and freedom, all while those very freedoms are seemingly undermined.

There have been undeniably negative reactions to the rever sal of Roe v. Wade, and female athletes make up a considerable share of these outcries. For these women, Title IX and Roe v. Wade were two sides of the same coin. Removing one undermines the other and puts female athletes in danger.

If America stands for deny ing reproductive rights in favor of a strict interpretation of the Constitution, then these women want nothing to do with it. They have demonstrated a will to re direct the narrative of this na tion, leveraging their platforms to highlight what they believe should be lasting reform.

Men’s Soccer Dominates St. Bonaventure, 3-0

By CHARLES BINNS and AURELIEN CLAVAUD Contributing Writer and Asst. Sports and Health Editor

In their second Atlantic 10 (A10) contest of the budding season, the Fordham men’s soccer team se cured a decisive 3-0 win against the St. Bonaventure University (SBU) Bonnies on Sept. 25. The start of the year for the Rams has been middling in many respects, enter

ing the SBU game with a 2-1-4 re cord despite having a 7-9-3 season the year before. After an unevent ful first half, the Rams exploded in the second to take an insurmount able lead over the Bonnies.

The game was certainly a tale of two halves. As the Rams lined up, attention was placed upon this season’s star, Nathan Simes, Ga belli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’26. With six goal contributions this season, five

goals and one assist, the New Zea lander first-year provides young blood to what most consider a vet eran-led team. The first half began with 20 minutes of Ram domina tion, as Head Coach Carlo Acquis ta’s team looked to set the tone. Al though out of possession for large portions, St. Bonaventure never lacked effort, with David Cubillos, SBU ’24, spraying the ball to both wings, advancing play and target ing leading goalscorer Matthew Wrobel, SBU ’25.

Fordham’s dominance in the first portion of the game did not result in a goal, something out of character for Simes consider ing his recent form. However, his pressure on the back line of the opposition led to the Rams’ con trol over possession.

The Bonnies began stamping their presence in the game just be fore the end of the half when Pe ter Massoqui, SBU ’23, struck the post in a 1v1 with Fordham keeper Demetri Skoumbakis, Gabelli Grad uate School of Business (GGSB) ’23. When the halftime whistle signaled the break, the on-screen statistics did not tell the full story, as Fordham had nine shots to St. Bonaventure’s three.

The halftime break revitalized the Rams as they came out firing. Their energy overwhelmed the Bon nies, who must have felt as though they were coming back into the game with an opportunity to steal a goal. However, the first attack of the second half was executed by Fordham, setting a dangerous tone. As the Rams pushed down the left wing, Simes intelligently laid the ball off to Jakob Gesien, GGSB ’23, who ultimately missed.

This pressure set the tone, as the second wind did not come un fulfilled. Adrian Valentine, GSBRH ’23, played a reverse ball across the 6-yard line where midfielder Ben Shepherd, GGSB ’23, buried the ball into the bottom left corner to give the Rams the lead.

The goal seemed to wake up St. Bonaventure, as they began to build pressure with an excellent opportunity for Matthew Wroebl, SBU ’25, around 32 minutes left in the game, but he was unable to capitalize on it. Fordham’s control of the game resumed, when St. Bonaventure goalkeeper Nicolas Pucci, SBU ’26, came rushing out of the goal and fouled Florian De letioglu, GSBRH ’24. Jack Sluys, GGSB ’23, slotted the penalty kick

home to put the Rams up 2-0. St. Bonaventure showed little resis tance when mere minutes after, Jed Dixon, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’25, received the ball from penalty winner Deletioglu and put the Rams up 3-0, effec tively ending the game.

Fordham dominated the game, but it was not one that lacked op portunities for St. Bonaventure. However, the Bonnies were not clinical enough, and they suf fered the consequences. Mean while, the Rams managed to score three goals without Simes finding the back of the net. High-scoring games are undoubtedly a step to regaining the success of two sea sons ago when Fordham won the A10 Championship.

With the win on Saturday, the Rams have broken a three-game tying streak, including a scoreless game against Loyola University Maryland. The Rams then drew, 1-1, against Rutgers University on Sept. 26 in their final non-confer ence game before facing a slate of A10 contests.

The first of the conference games will be against the Universi ty of Massachusetts Minutemen on Alumni Day on Oct. 1.

GRAPHIC BY MARIA TERZULI/THE OBSERVER

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Forward Nathan Simes, GSBRH ’26, has led the Rams in scoring this season with five goals and an assist.

By CHAISE JONES Staff Writer

It is the time of year again when students from both Lincoln Center (LC) and Rose Hill enjoy a weekend of homecoming events, beginning with the President’s In augural Ball (Pres Ball). On Sept. 16, the student body officially welcomed University President Tania Tetlow, J.D., to the Ford ham Ramily.

The fateful night for LC stu dents began with a luxurious car riage ride (in the form of a coach bus) along the Henry Hudson Parkway. Students were then led to Eddies Parade where the ball was located.

A chilly breeze settled over Rose Hill, welcoming a night of celebration. Cecilia Frazier, Ford ham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, remarked that, “The setting of the lawn was perfect for the great weather that night.”

The Inaugural President’s Ball: Fordham’s

Upon arrival, Tetlow and her daughter, Lucy, greeted the illus trious guests — the students. She shook hands and invited them in with a friendly smile and warm energy. Although dress code for the ball was semiformal attire, the students were an assorted bunch. Some were in long gowns, others in bow ties and slacks, and several in jeans.

Fifteen circular tables were scattered on either side of the dance floor for those who wanted a break from the festivi ties throughout the night.

The tables were located un der the tent, but there were not nearly enough to seat those who stood aimlessly around the drink and food tables. While the food sustained ballgoers, the selection reminded one of a Yankees’ game outing rather than a traditional inaugural ball.

The food supplied included fried mac and cheese bites, mini Philly cheesesteaks,

and asiago arancini. Drink tables were adorned with sweet tea, lem onade and water dispensers.

First-time Pres Ball attendee Owami Masiyandima-Mlotshwa, FCLC ’24, said she was “expect ing something similar to a high school homecoming dance,” and her wish was Pres Ball’s com mand: The ball was a semi-formal event with subpar food and music from the 2010s.

The DJ, orchestrating the rhythmic movements of the night, stood on a raised platform above the crowd. Students took their spots on the small wooden floor reserved for dancing.

A look back on the opening ball for undergraduate students from both Lincoln Center’s

Fordham’s Finest Swoon Under the Tent

The heralded DJ played fan fa vorites: “You Belong with Me” by Taylor Swift; Pitch Perfect’s “Riff Off;” “Starships” by Nicki Minaj; “That’s What Makes You Beauti ful” by One Direction; and “Gas olina” by Daddy Yankee.

While classic balls enjoyed dances such as la boulangere and the quadrille, students instead followed along to the “Cha Cha

was too small to fit all the attend ees, leading some to find solace on the grass nearby.

Though Fordham provided some Lincoln Center students with free transportation to and from the ball, there were too few Ram Vans available to take students home if they did not sign up early enough to ride the coach bus.

“My ten year old wanted to put on her best dress and come, and she was very impressed by everyone’s outfits,” she said. “She finds it mortifying when I dance though, but I talked her into one line dance with me.”

Tetlow’s introduction to the Fordham student body at Pres Ball was a night that ended in happily ever after for all.

Opinions

Federal Student Debt Forgiveness Is a Drop in the Bucket

Although Biden’s plan is a good start, it isn’t enough to resolve the trillion-dollar student loan crisis

MATTEO AGUDELO Contributing Writer

Many Americans are unfortunately all too familiar with student debt. U.S. Presi dent Joe Biden passed an executive order on Aug. 24 that provides student loan for giveness to a number of those Americans. Most notably, it forgives up to $10,000 in federal student loans for students meeting a certain income threshold and up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness for Pell Grant recipients. The Biden administration is also spearheading an income-based debt repayment plan so that future borrowers’ loan balances will not grow.

The student debt relief plan will help millions, but some wonder: Why stop at $10,000? Why not forgive all student debt? Forty-five million Americans owe student debt, but only about 14 million will have their debt completely eliminated by the plan. While loan forgiveness still helps federal loan borrowers, 31 million Americans will still struggle to pay off their loans despite this decision. It really only provides a Band-Aid solution for stu dent debt. Biden’s plan does not address the underlying issues with loans, so in a few years America will accumulate the same amount of nationwide student debt.

Any student loan forgiveness at all is surely a good thing, so why am I com plaining? Because Biden absolutely has the capacity to eliminate more debt. This plan gives us just a crumb of hope that the government actually can help, sometimes.

No Republican politicians (and very few Democrat poli ticians) ever whine about the deficit when it comes to tax cuts for the wealthy, business bailouts or any government action in their own interest.

they are today. Back in the 1970s, one notable university with free tuition for residents was the University of California. Ronald Reagan cut the state’s education budget when he became governor, which some have suggested was because he was interested in punishing student protesters. Today, the university costs approximately $14,000 per year for in-state students and $44,000 for out-of-state students.

Excessive student debt has effectively created a debtors’ economy that produc es servile workers who must work not only in order to support themselves but also to one day pay back their loans. In order to become a productive part of the workforce, you have to take on a large debt, even more so if you are less class-privileged than others. Many have to take on any available minimum-wage job just to survive.

All student debt should be forgiven. Everyone who wants to pursue higher education should be able to receive it without going thousands of dollars into debt.

forgiveness a bribe. He even posted a tweet summarizing his lack of empathy on the subject: “Other bribe suggestions: for give auto loans? Forgive credit card debt? Forgive mortgages? And put a wealth tax on the super rich to pay for it all.” Call me crazy, but I personally think he might be onto something.

It is always seen as a problem if the U.S. is providing relief to the working class, but never a problem if the risk mitigation of corporations is funded by taxpayers in the form of bailout packages. It wasn’t a problem for the businesses who received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans but still laid off employees. Don’t forget all of the politicians and rightwing media companies who eagerly took the loans but continue to advocate against them on their broadcasts.

The issue here is not an inability to forgive loans. The government has money. The problem is that sentiments like Ronald Reagan’s famous quote, “The top 9 most terrifying words in the English Lan guage are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,” have irreparably broken the brains of Americans.

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Government assistance can improve the well-being of many. For example, stimulus checks during the COVID-19 pandemic averted extreme poverty for many people and prevented what was sure to be a major economic disaster. Free COVID-19 vaccines gave us the tiniest glimpse of an America with universal health care. And now, Americans are being relieved of some of their crushing student loans, but I believe that students should not have to take on massive amounts of debt in order to receive higher education in the first place.

There was a time where some colleges in the U.S. did not charge tuition, and if they did, the costs were a fraction of what

Since student debt is so embedded in U.S. society, it makes sense to attempt to help the situation by forgiving the loans. However, there is often opposi tion to this idea when it is proposed. Criticism has come from conservatives and liberals alike, usually along the lines of “What about the deficit?” or “How will we pay for this?”

To them I say: Since when do Amer icans care about the national deficit?

Biden’s proposed budget for 2023 requests $813.3 billion for national defense. Amer ica spends more on the military than the next nine top military-spending countries combined. Neither political party, nor the media, bats an eye at our ever-increasing military spending.

No Republican politicians (and very few Democrat politicians) ever whine about the deficit when it comes to tax cuts for the wealthy, business bailouts or any government action in their own interest.

Besides the common deficit talking point, there is always the good old Amer ican value of refusing “handouts.” Many opposing Biden’s actions call this “a bribe for votes.” But aren’t politicians supposed to try and win elections by using popu lar legislation? American politics are so backward that when politicians actually do something good, it’s somehow a bad thing. They buy votes from corporations and the wealthy every day, so why not entice actual voters?

Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah is one of the opponents calling debt

Only in America would government aid and social safety nets be seen as neg ative and “terrifying” things. Americans collectively have $195 billion in medical debt as of 2019, while many other com parable countries across the world have some form of universal health care, as well as other social programs. Instead of charging students for an education, coun tries such as Finland go as far as paying citizens to attend universities.

The U.S. has prospered when it has passed economically progressive educa tion bills. For example, education became more accessible to millions in 1944 be cause of the G.I. Bill, the benefits of which have reverberated throughout society.

By allowing students to graduate with minimal or no debt, the G.I. Bill sets those students up for new levels of success, especially with regard to home ownership. Through programs like these, the govern ment can help develop a productive and stable labor force in America.

Education at every level should be accessible for all, not only the wealthy and privileged. Having a better educat ed workforce would allow us to better compete in the world economy. However, in order to do this, public colleges and universities need to be tuition free. In the meantime, all student debt should be forgiven. Everyone who wants to pursue higher education should be able to receive it without going thousands of dollars into debt.

Many expect the Democratic Party to fight in favor of student loan forgiveness, but the party knows that it can coast on its current platform of not being the Repub lican Party. They don’t have to deliver on promises so long as Republicans don’t make things worse (which they continue to do anyway).

We are told to “just vote” as if that helped with saving Roe v. Wade. Now, instead of attempting to get some abortion rights back through Congress, Democrats just send out emails to raise funds for their campaigns. We can’t expect the par ty to take action on student loan forgive ness and free public education as long as the status quo remains.

We have to create mechanisms of pushback to let the Democratic Party know that rights and aid are not just talking points for elections. Organize your workplace, plan protests, go canvassing for local leaders who truly want change, or simply talk to other people. Spread your ideas. Make concepts such as eliminat ing debt more palatable for the average American. Ultimately, these mechanisms of pushback start with us.

While Biden’s student loan for giveness plan may have helped start a revolution in higher education, it is our job to finish it.

Opinions Editors Ava Peabody Isabella Scipioni Asst. Opinions Editors Jake Eraca Laura Oldfather Jessica Yu

Arts & Culture Editors Isabella Gonzalez Olivia Stern Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Mael Quentin

Features Editor Erika Tulfo Asst. Features Editors Abhipri Chowdhury Olivia LeDuc

Fun & Games Editor Irene Hao

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KELLY SCHWINT Contributing Writer

As an avid reader, I was instant ly intrigued when I saw dozens of TikTokers praising the works of Colleen Hoover. However, I must confess that despite the weak writing, surface-level characters and trauma porn, I was hesitant to express my opinions and admit that, in contrast to praise I saw online, her books were terrible and actually quite problematic.

When I initially picked up a Colleen Hoover book, I went along with the masses on TikTok, afraid to challenge anyone’s thoughts. My hesitancy wasn’t about the quantity of fans but the quality of them. Creators with hundreds of thousands of followers expressed their diehard love for these novels — how could I go against them? They must have some sort of credibility, right? With a bad taste in my mouth, I wasn’t sure what to think, and although I wish that I didn’t get entrenched in the opin ions of strangers on social media, I sometimes do.

If you’ve never read a Colleen Hoover book, I envy you. That probably means you don’t spend all of your time glued to your phone scrolling, as most of her readership has come from TikTok. Or maybe you saw the bright red flags from the beginning. Whatev er your reason, congratulations— you’re better than me.

The best way to describe a Colleen Hoover book is an adult romance novel filled with uncom fortable scenes, disappointing characters and corny lines that Hoover clearly wants to become popular quotes reposted on Pinter est. Fans praise Hoover for these

Cancel Colleen Hoover

“deep statements” that tend to only be reused quotes like “just keep swimming” from “Finding Nemo.”

After one (“It Ends With Us”) and a half books of genuine confusion and twisting anxiety, I slammed “Ugly Love” shut mid-book, mid-page. With over 1.6 million Goodreads reviews av eraging 4.38 stars, “It Ends With Us” looked like a good starting point. Yet, I was dismayed with the romanticization of homeless ness and abuse. I was even more confused about the main charac ter, Lily, who is 23 years old in the novel, writing diary entries to ... Ellen DeGeneres? Something just wasn’t clicking.

Sure, you could argue that victims should avoid reading books containing triggering subjects, but when there are no trigger warnings, how are they supposed to know? Let’s move past the victim blaming.

Regardless, it’s a moot point when millions of people obsess over fictional abusers on social me dia — platforms that are unavoid able if you want to keep up with all the latest trends, which we’re all expected to do. And when you’re not a carbon copy of everyone else on the internet, you feel left out, stuck in an endless cycle of misery and self-destruction.

that claim. It’s a bit dismissive to chalk up real abusive circumstanc es to just an “insane situation.” Fur thermore, readers using Hoover’s exploitation of mistreatment as “es capism” shows a lack of awareness about these sensitive topics.

There is an unhealthy numbness around abuse and sur vivors. It’s interesting how the main appeal of Hoover’s work, utilizing violence for plot twists, is the exact reason why her books are inappropriate.

I don’t say this to sound better than anyone, but I hope I nev er find enjoyment in glorified

suffering. I also hope to never write about it. If all you take away from reading this is to reconsider the media you consume and have more sensitivity around trauma, that’s a win for me.

Unfortunately, abuse in the real world won’t stop anytime soon, but we can at least stop glamorizing it. Meanwhile, ask yourself, why do you obsess over traumatized characters? Also, why do those characters love Ellen DeGeneres? You might not have immediate answers to these questions, but asking them is a good start.

JAKE ERACA Asst. Opinions Editor

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was held on Sept. 19, 11 days after her death on Sept. 8, with a full ceremony at Westminster Abbey accompanied by a proces sion. Britons everywhere seemed to mourn in unison, with flowers hurled at the queen’s hearse and a 14-hour queue just to see the coffin of the late monarch.

On the day of the funeral, a bank holiday was declared, as outlined in Operation London Bridge, a plan enacted in the 1960s which explained the proce dures in the event of the queen’s death and the ceremonies that

The discussion, or rather, romanticization, of trauma is not only triggering but can also be harmful to a potential reader who has experienced it. Although many adults have post-traumatic stress disorder caused by a traumatic event in their life, a lot do not receive proper treatment, whether due to the cost of therapy, lack of access to services or societal stigma. Regardless, the ones who receive treatment can experience a regression in their recovery when symptoms like codependency, control and a lack of boundaries are glorified in books.

Although it can be education al to read about these subjects, using them as plot devices is not. Hoover uses violence for its shock value, rather than addressing it with any real substance. Not only does this invalidate people’s expe riences, but it belittles them too.

These principles remain true even in more corners of the in ternet like BookTok, the commu nity for book lovers on TikTok. Although BookTok can be a safe space, sometimes community members can still be harmful— whether they intend to be or not. Some creators and viewers recall details from their favorite Colleen Hoover books, such as times throughout her books when the main character, usually a woman, experiences some sort of trauma, and her love interest, a man, saves her. This problematic trope per petuates misogynistic stereotypes.

There is a moment in “It Ends With Us” where Lily writes in her diary (yes, to Ellen) about how her father beat her mom and then her. Moving on, Hoover begins to write about how Atlas, a homeless boy living in Lily’s backyard, comforted Lily even while he was freezing, saying, “I might have thought it was sweet if it wasn’t so sad.” Not only is this a specifically triggering scene to people who have faced abuse, but the fact that Hoover gives Atlas a savior complex throughout the story while Lily faces abuse is harmful.

While many TikTok users applaud Hoover’s “honesty” in “insane situations,” many others, including myself, disagree with

Save the Monarchy?

would surround it. This extensive plan, which was enacted flawless ly throughout the country, has resulted in an inopportune exac erbation of the already looming economic crisis that Britain faces.

The British Parliament was suspended for a 10-day mourning period, resulting in a delay on the passing of crucial economic bills (see Liz Truss’s fiscal event), which could help resuscitate an economy that is suffering tremendously. Beside the slight bump in tourism that royal events create, especially one as large and unprecedented as the queen’s funeral, the British econ omy looks worse for wear after the passing of Her Majesty, once again raising the question that many Britons seem to be asking

themselves: Do we still need the British monarchy?

In the wake of such a presum ably unifying moment as a be loved monarch dying, there is still controversy around the role of the British monarchy in the world. For many — especially those outside of Britain — the queen’s death is something that calls for celebra tion rather than mourning.

From a global perspective, Elizabeth was a relic of an era many thought dead. Monarchies, though less powerful now than in the past, are loaded topics in the modern era, especially when one has a bloody past like the British monarchy does.

The permanence of the queen has often been a focal point for British adoration of the monarch. Many in the U.K. have likened her to a “grandmother” or kindly figure of tradition. For many throughout the Commonwealth, however, the queen is a reminder of the crown bearing down upon them. Her perpetuity throughout the years is utterly antithetical to the idea of decolonization, something which has supposedly been in effect throughout British territories for several decades.

While the queen’s reign did not consist of any actual con quering or colonizing, she still held a role in British politics as a spokesperson and oversaw the downfall of the British Empire and dozens of revolutions in the country’s former colonies.

The British royal family, albeit

stripped of major governing powers, still have considerable wealth and political influence, much of which was extracted from the peoples they oppressed through colonization.

While the country mourns and a historical figure is laid to rest, the questions that define Britain’s future lay more exposed than ever before.

While the queen was relegat ed to a figurehead role, she still had the choice to be vocal and overturn the legacy of coloniza tion that she inherited. Instead, she left behind the same trail of blood initiated by her forefathers. She is a symbol of a violent and outdated form of governance, and she utterly failed at deliver ing the bare minimum when it comes to reparations.

The impact of colonization is not confined to a govern ing body. As an imposition on other humans, colonization has redefined many lives. It has engendered a deeply racist system of beliefs in entire societies.

Indigenous cultural practices became diluted through British colonization, which is why many former colonies still partake in

customarily British activities such as tea-drinking, cricket and even parliamentary governing systems.

The effect of the monarchy upon the territories impacted by British colonization cannot be understated. The trajectory of entire cultures and countries was irrevocably altered. The descendants of these people are still alive today, and they do not mourn the queen. Instead, many celebrate her passing and hope that this moment will serve to reform, or even abolish, the mon archy as a whole.

From the outside looking in, the economic turmoil furthered by the pomp and circumstance of the queen’s passing only exem plifies the negative connotations of an arguably archaic system of governance that once dominated the world, both literally and met aphorically. While the country mourns and a historical figure is laid to rest, the questions that define Britain’s future lay more exposed than ever before.

How much veneration do we give to someone with such a complicated and problematic past? When will the atrocities of the past be properly addressed and recti fied? How can Britain honor its tra ditions without utterly destroying British society and economy?

The only way for Britain to adequately address its past is for it to abolish the monarchy and leave behind the archaic sys tem that has oppressed millions around the world.

Content warning: This article includes mentions of domestic abuse.

Hoover uses violence for its shock value, rather than addressing it with any real substance.

GRAPHIC BY CHLOE ZELCH/THE OBSERVER

The writer who took ‘BookTok’ by storm glorifies trauma in her romance novels

The Rise and Fall of HBO Max

The decision by Warner Bros. Discovery to remove shows from streaming platforms for money will backfire

BRIANNA DOUCETTE Staff Writer

Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. recently acquired HBO and is planning to merge the platforms HBO Max and Discovery+ into one streaming service. To facilitate this, they are choosing to remove content from both sites without any notice or information about what will happen to the pulled shows.

So far, they have removed at least 36 shows under the guise of saving money to ensure that HBO Max remains a “viable business.”

Part of the profit will come out of employee pay since by removing existing content rather than can celing it, Warner Bros. Discovery does not have to pay royalties or residuals to the people who worked on the shows. As John Oliver, who hosts an HBO show, pointed out, cutting the shows can also be used for tax write-offs. Although this removal should save millions of dollars, it will be nowhere near CEO David Zaslav’s overall goal to save $3 billion. This means that we are likely to see more media pulled or never released.

Furthermore, this means that some TV shows and movies — most notably “Batgirl,” which was canceled long after production on the film concluded — may never be seen. Some shows are still available to purchase per-episode or per-sea son, while others also air on cable. However, there are a few that have only ever been available on stream ing services, meaning that they are nearly impossible to find now.

It remains uncertain if there will be a long-term way to watch these shows and films legally.

Some are currently available on Amazon and iTunes, though the creators are not convinced that this will remain true. In the case of one show, “Summer Camp Island,” Cartoon Network will air the final season, but whether it will be avail able on demand is unclear. Others have had everything, including the soundtrack, scrubbed from the in ternet, and that content may never be available legally again.

By showing that they only care about money, Warner Bros. Discovery has made it clear that they have no respect for creators.

The complete removal of the shows also has horrible conse quences for the creators. Residuals don’t just serve as a paycheck for them — they also go toward their union to fund health care, meaning many could lose their health insur ance entirely.

This serves as a clear reminder for all creators that they are at the mercy of streaming services. These events are disheartening and hurt the relationship between creators and networks, who weren’t told in advance that their shows were being removed. Given that many creators already are underpaid

and overworked, this move will discourage new creators and may drive existing ones out.

By showing that they only care about money, Warner Bros. Discovery has made it clear that they have no respect for creators. The company will likely lose out on new show ideas because few creators will want to work for them, given that at any moment, even before release, their projects could be cut.

In addition, many of these shows were very popular, so Warner Bros. Discovery can’t claim it only removed under performing shows. A lot of the shows removed were animated, a style frequently associated with children’s media in Western cul ture — although that doesn’t stop millions of adults from enjoying Disney movies and rewatch ing nostalgic shows. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is popular enough to receive another live action remake and is widely con sidered a great piece of media for both children and adults.

On the other hand, adult animation, such as “Archer” and the Adult Swim catalog, is often not taken as seriously as live-action programs.

Streaming services also do not take into account anime’s rise in popularity. For example, shows like “One Piece” and “My Hero Academia” are very popular in the United States. Now is quite possibly the worst time for War ner Bros. Discovery to show just how little they respect anima tion, as other streaming services who want to take advantage of

the medium’s popularity will now have less competition.

Warner Bros. Discovery is the bad guy for prioritizing money over art and the livelihoods of its workers.

Warner Bros. Discovery also failed to consider the reactions from fans to the company cutting their favorite shows. Many users are threatening to cancel their subscriptions, and some already have. For example, one Twitter user, @HYELa, stated that after the removal of “Close Enough,” they will no longer be paying for an HBO Max subscription.

‘Priscilla’ — Tribute or Disaster?

A decrease in the service’s number of subscribers means a decrease in profits, and even those who aren’t fans of the media cur rently on the chopping block are sure to be concerned by the swift and widespread loss of shows and movies. As Kayleigh Donaldson wrote in an article on the issue, “You’re not Disney. People aren’t slavishly loyal to your brand.” Arguably, even Disney would have issues if they attempted a drastic move like this, given the blatant disrespect for both creators and fans of the shows.

At the end of the day, Warner Bros. Discovery is the bad guy for prioritizing money over art and the livelihoods of its workers. The creators are the victims of the company’s greed, and Warner Bros. Discovery will suffer when their subscribers side with creators over the company’s crusade for more money.

Recent casting announcements for the upcoming ‘Elvis and Me’ film adaptation left fans worried about the movie

CAILEY KOCH Contributing Writer

Following the release of Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” a biopic about the proclaimed “King of Rock ’n Roll,” there has been a lot of renewed hype around Elvis Presley. Longtime fans have returned to showcase their devotion, and — thanks to Luhr mann’s tribute — new ones have also begun popping up, bringing multiple generations together in their shared infatuation with the Mississippi-born star.

The movie received adora tion from fans of all ages, and the Presley family was even able to come together through out the making of the movie, with both Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley reflecting fondly on their past relation

ships with their ex-husband and father, respectively.

In my book, no one could beat Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge as Elvis and Priscilla in Luhrmann’s recent biopic.

Now, with the success of Luhrmann’s film, the world’s already-abundant love for Elvis has only grown — so much so that another movie is in the works. Only this time, Priscilla will be the main focus.

While I’m all for another mov ie to commemorate one of my newfound idols, I do have some concerns regarding what little information has been released about the film thus far — and thanks to social media, I’ve realized that I’m not the only one with these concerns.

you’ve most likely heard of the show. Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor known for playing one of the show’s male leads, Nate Jacobs. Aside from his role as Nate, Elordi also had a notable role in the Netflix film “The Kissing Booth,” playing the main character’s love interest, Noah Flynn. Elordi went on to reprise his role in two later films in the “The Kissing Booth” series, with the most recent one released in 2021.

Even though this August marked the 45th anniversary of Elvis’ death, he is still being talked about, and, to this day, he is the best-selling solo recording artist of all time. His memory lives on through his music and his surviving family members, who each have their own ways of paying tribute to the King.

First, the new movie, titled “Priscilla,” will be developed by the movie studio A24 and is supposedly a new adaptation of Priscilla Presley’s memoir, “Elvis and Me.” The book goes into detail about Priscilla’s life with Elvis, dis cussing many different aspects of their time together. Most notably, it outlines the couple’s meeting, their relationship dynamic and the events that led to their divorce in 1973. It was originally published in 1985, with a made-for-TV movie adaptation coming out not too long after in 1988.

Of course, there are many books that have received more than one film adaptation. For example, Stephen King’s “It” was made into a TV miniseries in 1990, and a two-part remake was adapt ed for the big screen in 2017 and 2019. However, “Priscilla” feels unnecessary and poorly thought out. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Priscilla, but something about this movie feels off, and it could very well be the horrid casting choices.

Anybody who hasn’t been living under a rock for the past four years knows about the hit TV show “Euphoria.” Even if you don’t tune in to watch every Sunday when HBO releases a new episode,

Now, Elordi is reported to be taking on the role of the King him self. Sofia Coppola will write and direct, and Cailee Spaeny will be playing the leading lady, Priscilla.

I may be biased when I say that I absolutely hate this casting because in my book, no one could beat Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge as Elvis and Priscilla in Luhrmann’s recent biopic. And I’m not the only one who feels this way.

There has been a lot of talk go ing on in fan spaces about the cast of “Priscilla.” One Twitter user, @ austinsdaylight, posted a video of actor Dacre Montgomery, who also starred in Luhrmann’s “Elvis” biop ic, discussing Butler’s performance as Elvis. In the video, Montgomery states that there’s “no one else meant to play Elvis Presley.”

Another user, @jamiebutlers, posted a link to an article titled “12 Sexy Pics of Jacob Elordi & Austin Butler: Who’s the Hottest Elvis?” In their caption, they wrote, “How is this even a question?” Another Twitter user, @giogiorabbit, posted the same link, instead captioning it with “Y’all are setting Jacob Elordi up by comparing him to Austin Butler.”

Overall, it seems as though many fans have been impacted by Butler’s performance as Elvis — myself included. It is hard to

picture anyone else portraying the King, especially considering the fact that Luhrmann’s film was released so recently. Though these are just a few examples of people who have been disappointed by the news of the “Priscilla” film’s casting, a quick search of “Jacob Elordi Elvis” on Twitter brings up many more unhappy fans’ discus sions. It isn’t just Elordi that’s the problem, either — many users have also commented on Spaeny being cast as Priscilla, saying that she cannot compare to DeJonge’s portrayal in “Elvis.”

Despite A24’s best intentions, making another Elvis movie immediately after a blockbuster biopic is not wise.

It seems as though the news of this new film — despite its relevant subject matter — has upset fans rather than exciting them. With the response the news has received thus far, it should be interesting to see how the situation plays out.

Despite A24’s best intentions, making another Elvis movie immediately after a blockbust er biopic is not wise. Fans will inevitably compare the two films, and if “Priscilla” can’t measure up, it is doomed to fail. Only time will tell if Coppola and A24 can make “Priscilla” a new classic, or if it will be just a half-hearted effort that pales next to Luhrmann’s “Elvis.”

GRAPHIC BY CHLOE ZELCH/THE OBSERVER

Arts & Culture

Little Italy, Big Festival

By ANNA SCHURR Contributing Writer

I hopped on the C train, rode a couple of stops downtown, and there I was, at the Feast of San Gennaro. Only in New York City could one subway ride transport you to a place so full of culture that you felt as if you were in a different country.

The Feast of San Gennaro is a longtime tradition, and this marks the 96th year of its cele bration. Colloquially, it is known as “the feasts of all feasts.”

This tradition began in the

1920s by Italian immigrants whose passion for their culture needed to be expressed as they longed to celebrate their Italian heritage. The feast started as a one-day celebration honoring the patron saint of Naples and has since transformed into an 11-day feast that no New Yorker would dream of missing.

From Sept. 15-25, the feast stretches 12 blocks throughout Little Italy. Located along Mul berry Street, Hester Street, and Grand Street, it is hard to miss.

Being a first-timer at the fes tival, I had no idea what to ex

pect. At first glance, I noticed the overwhelming number of people walking on Mulberry Street. Since I attended the feast midweek, this came as a shock. I can’t imagine how packed a Friday or Saturday night must be. The excited crowd filled me with hope that the feast would be worthwhile.

I thought it would be impossi ble for Little Italy to be filled with even more Italian culture than usual, but I was quickly proven wrong. The lights and banners hanging from one side of the street to the other made for an extravagant celebration.

The mood was high; music was playing; food was cooking; and people were eating. The live Italian music playing through the streets set the tone for a great night. The age range varied from small children to college kids to middle-aged and older adults. The festival had something for everyone.

Classic carnival games in cluding the ringtoss and balloon blast occupied their typical audi ence; the various jewelry sellers kept their customers happy; and anyone looking for a cigar was definitely more than content. But what everyone shared was a zest for authentic Italian food.

No one was going home hun gry from the Feast of San Genn aro. An overwhelming amount of food filled every direction one could turn. The aesthetically pleasing outdoor dining stations on the sidewalk of each Italian

restaurant kept people occupied with options. I chose to dine at the various food trucks and stands that lined the perimeters of the streets. Not only are food trucks a popular dining option, but they’re also an affordable one, which is an essential fac tor for a college student like me. These trucks and stands served iconic Italian cuisine that would satisfy any pizza, pasta or meat ball lover.

The highlight of my evening had to be my cannoli from the famous Cannoli King. Though the obnoxiously long line ate up a good chunk of my night, the

perfect cannoli was well worth the wait. Other desserts like ge lato and zeppoles were in high demand as well.

Unfortunately, I missed out on the many food-eating con tests organized throughout the celebration. The contests show cased those who can inhale piz za, meatballs and zeppoles like no other.

But there is always next year, and I plan to be a frequent at tendee of the festival for years to come. I encourage you to go as well. This must-see NYC experi ence is definitely one to add to your bucket list.

Mucho Gusto Mixer and the Gift of Community

By MARIA AKOSTA GKALINTO Contributing Writer

The Student Organization of Latines (SOL) and the Caribbean Students Club (CSC) hosted their annual joint mixer Mucho Gusto on Sept. 23 in room G76 in the 140 West building. Flyers were hung in the school’s hallways days leading up to the event, advertis ing free food, a live DJ and other exciting activities. Mucho Gusto was everything advertised and

more, but it was the community that made it a night to remember.

As the elevator doors opened into the Argo Tea area, the thumping bass and flashing lights guided undergraduate students of all years into the spacious G76 conference room.

Neon LED lights bordered the DJ’s booth and the dance floor at the center of the room. The lights illuminated a crowded line that weaved through the ta bles of students waiting for de

licious free food. Aluminum ca tering pans stretched out across four folding tables with food from Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine, a local restaurant chain.

Luisa Ferreira, Fordham Col lege at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, gushed about the food, saying, “This was the best food I’ve had in the past month.”

Eventgoers brought stacked plates back to their seats at the tables surrounding the DJ setup, where they were greeted with balloons and centerpieces filled with flags from countries all over Latin America and the Caribbe an. Students were quick to grab their flag, waving it as they fin ished their dinners and headed to get dessert: a creamy and spongy tres leches cake, which students raved about.

and environment they feel com fortable in.”

The collaborative event brought over 50 students together in com munity and in dance. Throughout the night, students slowly trick led onto the dance floor, where club leaders, members and guests danced together to Reggaeton, Bachata, Afrobeats and Caribbean pop songs.

At the end of the event, only a few people were still seated. The success of the event was not only indicated by the emptied catering tins but also the out-ofbreath students.

success of this event last year, but others were new students who came for the first time.

Kayla Ramdass, FCLC ’23 and president of CSC, said that to gether with SOL, they made the event earlier so that underclass men could get to know each other sooner in the semester.

Annabel Filpo, FCLC ’23 and president of SOL, echoed Ram dass, saying, “There are a lot of ex cited freshmen and sophomores.”

Vicky Carmenate, FCLC ’23, SOL’s public relations officer and former Opinions editor at The Observer, said, “The one thing that has been different for us this year is how many freshmen we have talked to who are excited and hopeful to have a community

Ayanna Alexander, FCLC ’26, expressed her satisfaction with the event.

“I came for the food and stayed for the dancing,” she said.

Many students returned to Mucho Gusto this year after the

The message SOL and CSC hoped to spread is the same from years past: They wanted to con tinue fostering a safe and com fortable space where all Latine and Caribbean students could get to know each other, empow er and unify the diversity of all students, and ultimately, as Filpo said, “Create what they want out of their club.”

PHOTOS BY KIA FATAHI/THE OBSERVER

This year marks the 96th year of celebrating the Feast of San Gennaro.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF @SOL_FORDHAM VIA INSTAGRAM

SOL and CSC offered students a variety of flags to celebrate their cultures.

The Feast of San Gennaro celebrates its 96th anniversary with cultural activities, history and food

SOL and CSC hosted a successful mixer that celebrated heritage and diversity — replete with food and dance

They (SOL and CSC) wanted to continue fostering a safe and comfortable space where all Latine and Caribbean students could get to know each other, empower and unify the diversity of all students.

The Student Organization of Latines and Carribean Student Club celebrate together at their annual “Mucho Gusto” mixer.

Musicians, artists, food vendors and more entertained festival attendees.

New York and Food Vendor Culture: A Photo Essay

Food carts, urban icons common around Lincoln Center, serve a variety of foods ranging from breakfast to falafels

By MARYAM BESHARA AND AURELIEN CLAVAUD News Editor and Asst. Photo Editor

Any New York City visitor will immediately notice the ev er-present food carts dominat ing the streets. For many people, these carts offer affordable food options along their commute to and from work. For Fordham students specifically, the ha lal cart outside the Lowenstein Center entrance at the Lincoln Center campus, located adjacent to the Ram Van pickup/drop-off point on West 60th Street and Columbus Avenue, is a staple of both the intercampus journey and the Fordham experience.

Many other carts located around Columbus Circle and the Lincoln Center area attract cus tomers from all walks of life. While we might consider the “New York minute” in relation to the speed of life, it can also be seen in transactions between food cart workers and their customers.

Said A., a street vendor em ployee operating one of the many Nathan’s Famous food trucks that occupy the Colum bus Circle intersection, began working at the cart on Sept. 19. He has lived in New York for 13 years and shared that through out his first week at the cart, work has been very slow.

“Business is no good,” he said. “Very few people.”

As we sought to capture both the business and the stillness of the traffic that surrounds street vendors near Fordham Lincoln Center, we hoped to hone in on the expressions of the food ser vice workers as well as their cus tomers. In these photographs, the focus of the food operators and the fleeting faces of their customers represented the New York experience — a city defined by its streets.

The halal cart operating by the Juilliard School in front of Alice Tully Hall on 65th Street is seen by Fordham students on their commute via the Ram Van.

A food vendor serving sweets, breakfast options and halal food in front of the 59th Street station’s entrance.

PHOTOS BY AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

Said A. posing inside his food truck located at the Columbus Circle intersection.

Several customers gathered in front of a Nathan’s Famous food truck serving hot dogs and Philly cheesteaks near the 59th Street Central Park entrance.

Fordham’s cherished halal cart, which operates in front of the Lowenstein Center, is a campus treasure.

The Lincoln Square halal cart, located near the Juilliard School’s campus on 66th Street, saw few visitors later in the evening.

A Block Party for the Ages

On Sept. 21, I went to what can only be described as an in door block party hosted by televi sion host and spokesperson Rhina Valentin with special guest star, Emmy award-winning actress and author Sonia Manzano. The event took place at Lincoln Cen ter’s David Rubenstein Atrium on 62nd Street from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

When I walked through the doors of the main entrance, I was greeted by a man named Tomás, who identified himself as a “pi ragüero,” which is a person who serves the traditional Puerto Ri can dessert that comes in the shape of a cone and is a frozen treat usually sold during summer time. He stood behind his vibrant pushcart making and handing out free shaved ice concoctions doused in fruit-flavored syrups like piña colada and tamarind.

As I talked with Tomás, he told me about the different names that Latin American countries have for this delicacy. In Puerto Rico they call them “piraguas,” whereas in the Dominican Republic they are known as “frio-frio”; in Mexico they are called “raspados”; and Cu bans refer to them as “granizados.”

sang, other members of the group carried out the harmonies and danced around the room wear ing traditional folk dress. A small crowd even gathered around a ta ble to watch others as they played a round of the game Dominoes, or as Latines pronounce it, dominó.

Manzano said to stay focused on the task at hand, because regardless of how you’re rewarded, your work will always speak for itself.

The stage was set; the ambi ance was palpitating with Latine culture and art; and Puerto Rican painter Victor Ramos — profes sionally known as “Sloan” — stood nearby placing the vibrant life in side the room onto a blank canvas.

Sonia Manzano’s Life and Legacy

After our cones were drained of flavor and the musicians and dancers settled into a quieter symphony, Valentin danced her way onto the stage and beauti fully transitioned into a poem she wrote about Manzano’s accom plishments in the television in dustry. She introduced the actress as a “Latina living legend” and petitioned the crowd to “scream really loud” as Manzano made her way up the steps.

and added that finding beauty in terrible things during that time can be something incredi bly inspiring when making art. She explained that she survived her childhood by “finding the banal and exalting it” through her writing.

in 2005. “West Side Story,” Man zano said, resonated with her because seeing a neighborhood that she was so familiar with be illustrated on the big screen was incredibly powerful.

“(That was) the first time I saw my crummy neighborhood look so beautiful. It’s like an impression ist painting,” she said.

Manzano. This special moment showed the audience the impor tance of “giving someone their flowers” while they are still around so they can feel the im pact their life has had on those who are coming after.

The Strength of the Latine Community Lives On

As I drank my cherry-flavored pi ragua, the sound of drums coming from the back of the room caught my ear and my body’s attention.

Musical organization “BombaYo,” headed by its director Jose “Mr. Drum” Ortiz, was playing and sing ing the melodies of the Afro Puerto Rican style “bomba” — a dance and music genre that emerged from the culture of enslaved West Africans on the Caribbean islands.

While Ortiz and a few others played the “barriles” (drums) and

Manzano spent 44 years of her life on the kids and family pro gram “Sesame Street,” playing the character Maria and writing for the show. She has since au thored nine books, all of which are aimed toward young audi ences. She also created the show “Alma’s Way,” which has recently been renewed for a second season on PBS Kids.

Throughout the conversation, Manzano placed great emphasis on the significance of children when it comes to creative expression and decision-making. The majority of the storylines she has written have been inspired by her childhood ex periences living in the Bronx.

She described youth as the moment when “it all happens”

Manzano wishes for young children of color to feel seen and repre sented in the media they consume and be welcomed into artistic spaces that have seldom allowed room for them.

Navigating the politics of a television production as a Latina proved to be difficult for Manza no. Her identity impacted her de sire to pursue her career, and she even stated, “You wondered what you were going to contribute to a society that was blind to you. They didn’t see you.”

The actress routinely worried about how she looked and spoke and was careful about the cultur al ideas she would bring forth out of fear they would be rejected. She talked about how her habit of speaking “Spanglish” on the program was met with remarks on the improperness of the hybrid language, even though they al ways urged her to be herself.

Manzano also spoke on the importance of staying true to her passions regardless of the way she was being treated. Com pared to her white counterparts, there were times when she felt she might’ve deserved more than what she was offered, but this never deterred her need to pro duce quality content despite her circumstances. She said to stay focused on the task at hand, be cause regardless of how you’re rewarded, your work will always speak for itself.

One of Manzano’s inspirations was the 1961 movie “West Side Story” starring Puerto Rican ac tress and film icon Rita Moreno. Moreno, alongside the co-writ er of the theme song for “Alma’s Way,” Lin-Manuel Miranda, pre sented Manzano with the Life time Achievement Emmy award

Manzano chose to retire from “Sesame Street” in 2015 to leave room for the newer generations that were being brought into that creative space. She added that she hopes her legacy will be one that influences other Latine and Hispanic artists to create some thing they perhaps never had the chance to while growing up. She hopes that young children of col or will feel seen and represented in the media they consume and be welcomed into artistic spaces that have seldom allowed room for them.

The night ended with more music and dance and Valen tin’s musically inclined daugh ter walking onto the stage and gifting some radiant flowers to

The experience was an en lightening one that affirmed the strength of the Latine community during a time of arduous struggle with the destructive Hurricane Fiona currently blazing through the Caribbean. Senior Director for Artistic Programming at Lin coln Center Jordana Leigh brief ly spoke about the East Bronx community and boxing center, El Maestro, that has been work ing toward helping the people of Puerto Rico. El Maestro contin ues to accept donations to sup port those affected by Hurricane Fiona on the island. Manzano’s journey reminds me that Nation al Hispanic Heritage Month lives on every day.

“ You wondered what you were going to contribute to a society that was blind to you. They didn’t see you.”

Sonia Manzano, Emmy award-winning actress and author

Musical organization “BombaYo” performed live at Lincoln Center with drums and singing.

Sonia Manzano: Through the Eyes of a Latine Artist Rhina Valentin’s talk with author and actress Sonia Manzano at Lincoln Center highlights her legacy in media

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDWIN PAGÁN

Sonia Manzano starred on “Sesame Street” for 44 years as both an actress and writer for the children’s show.

Television host and spokesperson Rhina Valentin and Emmy award-winning actress and author Sonia Manzano dance to the music of “BombaYo.”

BY KREENA VORA

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