Issue 13 Fall 2019

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November 13, 2019 VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 13

Housing Fees Delayed 3 Months

By SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS News Editor

Thirty-three Lincoln Center students living in McMahon Hall were affected by a billing glitch that charged them for fall 2019 housing three months late. Depending on a student’s financial aid or scholarships, the fees for a student’s fall housing and tuition are usually posted in the E-Bill suite in June before the semester. However, these 33 students were not charged until September 2019.

One of the affected students, see GLITCH page 2

JOE KOTTKE/THE OBSERVER

Over a thousand protesters storm the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street subway station in Brooklyn to demand change after a teenager was arrested at gunpoint for fare evasion. The NYPD and MTA have increased the policing of public transit this year, including the hiring of 500 new police officers.

Students Storm Subway Protesting NYPD, MTA

By JOE KOTTKE Staff Writer

An emergency action protest against the New York Police Department (NYPD) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was held in downtown Brooklyn on Nov. 1, 2019. The march of more than 1000 people formed in response to incidents of officers punching a teenager and holding another at gunpoint for evasion of the $2.75 fare.

During the demonstration, protestors partook in mass fare evasion at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Streets Station, hopping turnstiles in front of on-duty officers.

The unsanctioned protest was focused on highlighting the differ-

ence in enforcement of fare evasion penalties towards low-income and minority commuters. “I was impressed by how intentional the organizers were in giving voice to certain people,” said Amelia Antzoulatos, another protest attendee and Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’21. In her opinion, the protest allowed “black faces and voices to rise to the forefront” of the conversation around fare evasion enforcement.

Woody Wisz, protest attendee and Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, said, “The city has reached a point where people aren’t comfortable standing on the side anymore.”

“It was a very militant demonstration, and I think it’s only the

Printing Errors Lead to Ramifications

see PRINTERS page 12

which would cost the MTA more than $50 million a year.

However, many students at the protest disapproved of Cuomo’s proposition. “Spending millions of dollars on hiring more officers is hypocritical when the problem is supposedly needing money from the fares,” protest attendee Olive Zota, FCLC ’23, said.

The protest’s final gathering was outside the Barclays Center. “Seeing the massive crowd in one area surrounded by police solidified how much power there is in community political efforts,” Zota said. “As a white student, I have to weaponize my privilege to fight oppression.”

According to the New York City government, about 19% of New

see SUBWAY page 3

Thanksgiving Recipes

By KRISTEN SKINNER Staff Writer

One might assume that, after a 30-year presence of printers in the Quinn Library, according to Linda LoSchiavo, director of Fordham University Libraries, the printing system at Fordham Lincoln Center would run smoothly. Unfortunately, with each year comes new printing problems, and students and faculty alike are consistently frustrated with the situation, especially during critical periods like midterms.

Student frustrations are sometimes heightened by the fact that they have to pay for it.

“It’s a good resource,” Maia Nunez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, said. “I can’t say anything too bad about it, other than the fact that we have to pay.”

It costs 5 cents per page to print in black and white at Fordham and 25 cents to print a page in color.

While this may not seem like a lot, it certainly adds up, especially when printing readings

beginning. There is no sign that it is going to stop,” said Travis Knoppert, FCLC ’21 and Socialist Students Coalition (SSC) organizer.

“We hopped the turnstiles to protest the NYPD’s broken-windows policing,” Wisz said. Broken-windows policing is the practice of enforcing visual signs of civil disorder — such as graffiti, loitering and fare evasion — which in theory dissuades more serious crimes. The practice saw widespread implementation in New York City throughout the 1980s and was largely discontinued in favor of surveillance in the early 2000s.

According to the New York Times, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has advocated for hiring 500 additional officers to patrol subway stations,

Pages 10-11

Opinions

Arts & Culture

Sports

Artistic cynicism and an artist’s right to disruption

Rainbow Alliance and FFP blew the wigs off the FLC audience

Rams fought to the buzzer against Notre Dame

Your Art Is Bad Page 8

Drag Show Page 15

Women’s Basketball Page 20

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

Columbus Day Controversy Sparks Petition

By BENNETT REINHARDT Staff Writer

On Monday, Oct. 14, Fordham University was closed in honor of Columbus Day — a culturally fraught holiday which has, by many individuals, communities, institutions and local governments, been abandoned in recent years. Instead, many now advocate for and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which memorializes the Native American communities that were displaced and killed during European colonization of the Americas.

A petition was distributed via social media throughout October by the Diversity Action Coalition (DAC), a committee of the United Student Government at Fordham Rose Hill. The petition called on Fordham University to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Those who celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day have expressed that Christopher Columbus’ legacy is one of damage and destruction and that changing the name of the holiday will help to reframe contemporary understandings of this part of history.

“The people and parts of history we choose to celebrate reveal our values and the narratives that we believe deserve to be recognized,” the petition reads. The group cites Fordham’s Jesuit identity among its primary motivations for championing this cause.

They wrote, “If we are to act with bothered excellence, and be men and women for others, we must come to terms with history, take action to educate our community, and work to create a more inclusive and just future.”

Carsyn Fisher, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’21 and co-chair of the DAC, reported that more than 400 Fordham community members have signed the petition. “If this initiative passes, we could be the first Jesuit university in the country to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, which would be an important step forward,” Fisher wrote in an email. see PETITION page 4

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ResLife Seeks Open Communication With Residents

By MICHELLE AGARON Staff Writer

Communication between the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) and residents has noticeably changed this semester. During a hot water outage in McMahon Hall in early October, ResLife was quick to inform students of the outage and encouraged students to reach out with any questions or concerns. The decision of the office to send a full outline of how all Fordham breaks will affect residence halls to residents also differs significantly from ResLife’s communication last academic year.

At the beginning of the Spring 2019 semester, an email from the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) appeared in residents’ inboxes stating the dates McKeon Hall would close and reopen for spring break. With only two months’ notice and no information regarding alternative housing, a group of freshmen recalled their struggles over winter break, expressing similar concerns for how they’d fare in the spring.

Rosa Schembari, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, said that Fordham’s policy to close McKeon hall during winter

break cost her dad an extra trip to New York to pick her sister up from college as well. Likewise, Matthew Chen, FCLC ’22, had to buy expensive international tickets back to Taiwan and was forced to look for hotels in New York when he returned before the dorms reopened. Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, said they bounced between their hometown and Manhattan, couch surfing and exchanging sexual favors to have a place to sleep for two nights.

Following the release of these winter break testimonies, ResLife sent out further emails restating McKeon’s closing policies and offered information about alternative housing. Freshmen who found themselves in “extreme circumstances” were encouraged to apply for temporary spring break housing in McMahon.

At the time, students who faced difficulties over winter break reported that they were encouraged by the new information but hoped that ResLife would be more upfront with such information in the future.

At the beginning of the following fall semester, on Sept. 11, 2019, ResLife sent a full outline to all undergraduate residents of

how this year’s calendar breaks will affect residence halls. Another email was sent to residents on Oct. 28, restating the information from the first email, and inviting students to reach out to ResLife with any questions they had.

Students affected by the lack of communication last winter break mostly commended ResLife’s efforts.

“They definitely send emails more in advance now. I know they sent that one with the list of dates a few months ago, which was really helpful,” said Schembari.

As for Chen, the increased communication didn’t make much difference. “To be completely honest, I haven’t noticed much of a difference,” he said.

“But that’s also because I learned my lesson from last year and I don’t really trust them to look out for me anymore.”

The student who asked to remain anonymous, however, did appreciate the increased efforts

by ResLife. “I definitely feel like they’ve been more transparent with information. I’ve gotten a lot more reminders for due dates and things like that,” the student said.

“I really liked the email with the list of dates. I’ve also noticed sig-

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

Jenifer Campbell, senior director of ResLife, aims to increase transparency.

nage around the residence halls, which has been helpful.”

Jenifer Campbell, senior director of Residential Life, said that “staff within the Office of Residential Life has focused on providing information and updates as early and in many cases

as often as possible in an effort to make certain residents are aware of programs, events and facilities issues.”

“We endeavor to continue to investigate the best options for sharing information on an on-going basis,” said Campbell.

33 Students Confused The New, Digital Media Landscape Journalism professor hosts panel to discuss the future of media

by Missing Bill

GLITCH from page 1

Sophie Ambro, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, first noticed the issue when her mother went to pay her tuition online in August. “My mom realized right away, she was like, ‘Why is this number so low; that makes no sense,’” Ambro said.

Ambro and her mother then began checking her account often so that they could be prepared for when the fee was posted. “It is a big chunk of money to have dropped on you, so we were paying attention,” she said.

On Sept. 25, the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) notified the affected students through email that an audit of student accounts showed a glitch in the billing audit and caused the missing fee. Senior Director of ResLife Jenifer Campbell wrote that the corrected housing fee would be posted in the coming week and that they were working with the Bursar’s Office to solve the issue quickly.

Students admitted confusion about when exactly their bill was due, as they were accustomed to the usual June billing schedule.

Zoey Liu, FCLC ’22, said that she was not aware of the missing fee until she received the email; “my family and I were paying so much already that we just assumed my housing was included in the bill.”

In their email, ResLife wrote that affected students “will not be assessed any late fees by paying (their) bill after the published date because of this action.” On Sept. 30, the Bursar’s Office posted the housing bill on the students’ accounts.

Students admitted confusion about when exactly their bill

was due, as they were accustomed to the usual June billing schedule. Liu said she and her family also “needed extra time to prepare because it wasn’t in the beginning of the year like we expected.”

On Oct. 21, Ambro received an email notifying her that a hold had been placed on her account because of an overdue balance. The hold appeared on Ambro’s DegreeWorks as well, raising concerns that she might not be able to register for classes. Ambro went to the Office of Financial Services, who told her that the only way to get the hold removed was to set up a payment plan. Her mother then quickly set the plan up and Ambro was able to register for her Spring 2020 classes.

Both Ambro and Liu were then charged late fees on Oct. 28. Liu was charged $128, and another $505.99 on Nov. 4. She said that after sending some emails to the Office of Student Accounts, she was able to get the late fee removed from her account.

“It is annoying that they charged me a late fee after I set up a payment plan,” Ambro said.

“My mom is in constant conversation with them; they know that I am going to pay, so the fees seem a bit unnecessary.”

Campbell told The Observer that ResLife will work with any student who was charged late fees. “We apologize for the error, and for the stress it may have caused the affected students and their families.”

Even with the confusion, Ambro and her family said that they were grateful for all of the work that Financial Services did in helping to correct the error quickly. “They can be very nice and accommodating,” she said.

“I am really fortunate in that my family and I can deal with this, we were never too worried,” Ambro added. However, she acknowledged that students with different financial aid, scholarships or personal finances may have had a different experience.

JOE KOTTKE/THE OBSERVER

Women from different elements of the media industry discuss their realities, accomplishments and challenges.

By JOE KOTTKE Staff Writer

Journalism professor Jonathan Zalman hosted a panel of women working in media for his Arts and Culture Reporting class and any students interested in learning about the media on Nov. 11. The panel included Jenna Sumberg, senior account executive at BuzzFeed; Melanie Mignucci, lifestyle editor at Bustle; and Jordan Rodman, deputy director of publicity at Simon and Schuster.

Zalman said that the women reflected the three components of the digital and print media landscape: editorial (reporting and editing), advertising and publicity. The panelists discussed the realities of working women in the ever-changing digital media industry, and some of the trends they have noticed.

“It was interesting to hear about the media environment and how small of a world it is,” Emma Paolini, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’21, said.

According to Sumberg, consolidation is becoming more popular in media organizations, such as Vice acquiring Refinery29. “Consolidation is beneficial for brands because they can

use one internal team, but not good for prospective employees,” Sumberg said. “It’s quite scary. I have friends worried about losing their jobs in the upcoming few weeks.”

Sumberg began her career in 2011 with an entry-level job at Condé Nast and Wire Magazine.

“I always thought I was going to be a writer, but I worked in sales and fell in love,” Sumberg said.

“When I was in college, I had no idea that my job existed.”

Sumberg currently works for BuzzFeed as a salesperson. She said that 70% of online traffic is coming through the side door — links and social media posts — not the homepage.

“Media is changing really fast and I learned I need to put myself out there more,” Sophie Guimaraes, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’20, said.

“Jenna keeps the lights on for people like me, who work with writers, putting out content to maintain a solid audience,” Mignucci said. Mignucci also began her career at Condé Nast, which she described as “the ivy league of publishing” and the hardest year of her life.

At Bustle, Mignucci covers women’s issues in health and

wellness and social justice.

When developing content, Mignucci said that it has to be something beyond the accepted societal narrative and that she has to fight for what she’s talking about.

“I don’t get to say I work in media; I work in women’s media,” said Mignucci. “When navigating outside my field, I have to show that what I report is as important as issues that affect all genders.”

Rodman said that when she goes to interviews she asks them as many questions as possible to see what type of a boss she could be working for.

“Male authors will always ask how old I am; it’s pretty offensive,” Rodman said. “You never have to answer that question.

Your work speaks for itself.”

Rodman described her job as being paid to read books and tell people to read them: “I get different audiences to buy the book by contacting media outlets that cater to specific demographics.”

Part of Rodman’s position is hiring entry-level candidates, and she recommended telling “everyone what you want to do because you never know who people know.”

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News

Fordham Alum Set to Enter Priesthood in 2020

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF PERRY PETRICH

Petrich (fourth from the left) alongside his fellow Jesuits. The entire process from becoming a Jesuit novitiate to priesthood takes 10 to 11 years.

Petrich is passionate about ministering to immigrant families and feels that Fordham offers a friendly environment.

By JOE KOTTKE Staff Writer

“When I got to Fordham in fall of 2003, I was not planning on becoming a Jesuit,” said Perry Petrich, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’07.

Sixteen years later, Petrich was ordained as a deacon on Oct. 19, 2019, and will be ordained as a priest on June 13, 2020. “I had a deepening call to ministry of reconciliation, to bring peace, joy and generosity to God’s people,” Petrich said.

Catholic deacons provide familial support and teach faith. Deacons can be transitional (like Petrich, working towards priesthood) or full-time. Catholic priests perform sacraments — such as baptisms, funerals and marriages — in their parish, or local community.

Petrich entered the Society of Jesus in 2008 and spent six weeks at spiritual boot camp in Portland, Oregon. There, he worked on an American Indian reservation and in a L’Arche community. Only three years later, in 2010, Petrich

took the three vows of the Society of Jesus — poverty, obedience and chastity — which are taken when entering the religious order.

“The absolute core of Jesuit spirituality is gratitude,” Petrich said. “It’s wonderful to think back to Fordham and feel gratitude for creating friendships through small class sizes.”

While at Fordham, Petrich studied theater production and theology. “He was always the person you could count on to have a smile on his face,” said Chad McArver, chair of the Theatre and Visual Arts Department. “I was surprised that he knew what he wanted to do so early. He was determined. His mind was made up,” McArver said.

Petrich has fond memories of late nights with the theatre department and 2 a.m. conversations in the McMahon elevators.

After graduating from Ford-

ham, Petrich earned his master’s degree in philosophy at Loyola University Chicago in 2013 and is currently completing a three-year theology program at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University.

Petrich lives in a house with 12 other Jesuits, in a neighborhood of an additional 60, in Berkeley, California. “There’s a real experience of a community, a feeling of loving and being loved,” Petrich said.

The Chicago Jesuit Academy, Brophy College Preparatory and Kino Border Initiatives are just a few of the places that Petrich has taught in his career.

One of Petrich’s many passions is working with immigrant families. Petrich’s mother immigrated from the Philippines to the United States in 1966. “To have the privilege to work with immigrants like my mom has been wonderful; it

brings out the best parts in me,” he said.

According to Petrich, Catholic schools like Fordham have a fantastic platform to work with immigrants.

“I was working at Our Lady of Grace Nativity School in San Jose during election night, which consists of mostly mixed-status families,” Petrich said. “It was a terrifying moment. We had perfect attendance the day after the election; families trusted us with their children.”

Developing relationships with immigrant families was very meaningful to Petrich, and an important component of his Jesuit values. “Jesus calls us to be reconcilers and to love everyone. It can never devolve to an us versus them situation; we always have to stand up for those being marginalized,” Petrich said.

Protests Highlight Concerns About Equality in NYC

SUBWAY from page 1

Yorkers live below the city’s poverty line. In 2019, Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson introduced the half-priced metro plan, but so far only 13,000 New Yorkers have been eligible.

Across the City University of New York (CUNY), a coalition of students and faculty have formed the organization “Free CUNY” to fight for an anti-racist, tuition-free instiution.

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the SSC — as well as student groups from Brooklyn College, New York University and Columbia University — have expressed solidarity for the Free CUNY movement.

“It is in the interest of every Fordham student to pay attention to the repression happening at CUNY — where the majority of students are working class and people of color,” said SJP President Batool Abdelhafez, FCLC ’21. “We need to protect access to higher education at all levels.”

In a statement Free CUNY issued on policing in NYC, they called for the removal of police officers on campus, expressing disapproval for tuition increases funding student surveillance.

“I think those in positions of power absolutely must recognize that they cannot remain complacent or silent,” Abdelhafez said. “All struggles for liberation are interconnected, so we are showing solidarity for Free CUNY. We have unified interests.”

“Violence towards fare evaders isn’t going to stop,” Knoppert said.

“The addition of 500 police officers in the MTA is only going to spark outrage and lead to more organized resistance; we intend on playing a role in that.”

Free CUNY’s statement was posted in the wake of the New York City

Council approving an $8 billion plan to close Rikers Island and build four new jails in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens by 2026.

The plan is supported by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“The military-industrial complex enacts direct violence on poor people of color, while also withholding education and healthcare,” Abdelhafez said. “The money to fund CUNY education is within the $9.5 billion budgeted for new jails and more policing.”

Knoppert labeled the city’s fixation on policing as “an act of class warfare on behalf of the city’s administration.”

“Students in urban centers have always played pivotal roles in struggles for change and progress; Fordham students could always be doing more,” Knoppert said.

Abdelhafez said an easy way to help is to “swipe it forward” if you have an unlimited MetroCard and see someone waiting outside the turnstiles: “It’s legal, simple and a small way we can help protect fellow New Yorkers.”

After attending the protest, Antzoulatos recommended that students should not only speak on their own behalf through publications, clubs and student governments, but pressure institutions to address police brutality. “Many students are dismayed when the university releases condolence statements for our fallen rankings rather than for a teenaged community member murdered a few blocks from the school,” Antzoulatos said.

“A proper response from the university would entail fundamental changes that student organizers have been demanding for years,” Abdelhafez said. “It’s one thing to discuss these issues. It’s another to challenge the system and demand change.”

JOE KOTTKE/THE OBSERVER

Activists campaign against increased policing, which they believe targets minorities and low-income communities.

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Petition Circulates in Time for Native American Heritage Month

PETITION from page 1

According to the authors of the petition, “Fordham University is one of only two Jesuit universities in the United States (out of 27) to continue recognizing Columbus Day on our academic calendar.” Likewise, the authors stated how only 6 of the 73 universities ranked above Fordham on the U.S. News & World Report officially recognize Columbus Day. While many colleges have stopped recognizing Columbus Day as an official calendar holiday, only a few have renamed the break as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Many schools simply don’t recognize the holiday at all. Usage of the two names vary among the 27 Jesuit universities in the U.S. Among the student groups supporting the change is Lincoln Center’s Humanitarian Student Union (HSULC), which encouraged students to sign the petition in one of its weekly club announcement emails.

Aidan Donaghy, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21 and president of HSULC, expressed his personal solidarity, and that of the club, with the goals of the petition. “We support any effort to uplift and validate Indigenous voices and experiences,” he wrote via email.

“Indigenous peoples in the United States face a long history of systematic oppression, and while University recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day is only a small part of reversing these racist systems, it’s an important and necessary one,” Donaghy stated.

The petition was introduced just before the start of Native American and Indigenous Peo-

ples’ Month. During November, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) hosts a series of programs at both undergraduate campuses. Flyers about the events have been posted throughout the Lin-

We support any effort to uplift and validate Indigenous voices and experiences.

Aidan Donaghy, President of the Humanitarian Student Union

coln Center campus, and OMA has promoted the month on its social media pages. “We are grateful to be pushing for these initiatives at a time of the year when there is increased visibility of Native American culture on campus,” Fisher added.

The programming will include an online “Digital Dialogue,” where participants can log in using an online interface and contribute to a discussion about the roles of indigenous peoples in contemporary American society, on Nov. 18. The online discussion will be facilitated by members of the first-ever Native American and Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Month Committee, which has collaborated with OMA to plan such events throughout the month of November.

On Friday, Nov. 22, the LC After Dark programming will be a “Two Spirit Celebration,” which will explore Native American conceptions of gender and iden-

COURTESY OF TOM STOELKER/FORDHAM NEWS

Sheldon Raymore dances in traditional regalia on Edwards Parade during the first Native American Festival in 2017.

tity. “We’d love to see LC student support specifically for the closing event since it’s the first time we have been able to do a larger program at LC in celebration of Native and Indigenous Peoples,” Juan Carlos Matos, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion, wrote in an email.

OMA partnered with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and the Chief Diversity Officer at Fordham’s Native American Festival. On Saturday, Nov. 9, Fordham hosted its third annual event in the McGinley Ballroom on the Rose Hill campus.

The event has sought, in the

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past, to unite the Fordham student body and Native American communities in the Bronx, New York City and throughout the country. (According to data from spring 2019 from Fordham’s Office of Institutional Research, less than 1% of the university’s total student body is listed as American Indian/Alaska Native.)

“We had even more members from the Bronx community attend the event, which was very exciting for us,” Matos added.

The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers, a traditional dance group, performed at the event. “We have always felt you can learn a great deal about a

people through their music and dance. We strive to help broaden peoples understanding by fully explaining the dances we do, there tribal origins, purpose and importance,” Louis Mofsie, the group’s founding director, wrote in an email.

About the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Mofsie said, “The importance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day is to recognize the culture that is part of our American history, and if possible as told by the people themselves, as Fordham is doing. It helps people understand that we are still here with a vibrant and living presence.”

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Lauren Duca Talks Fordham, Politics and New Book

By BENNETT REINHARDT AND ETHAN COUGHLIN Staff Writer and Asst. Arts & Culture Editor

On Friday, Nov. 8, journalist and media personality Lauren Duca, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’13, appeared at the McNally Amphitheatre in a candid and wide-ranging interview.

The event was hosted by the paper, an alternative student-run newspaper published at the Rose Hill campus, and sponsored by the Fordham English Department.

Duca was Editor-in-Chief of the paper while she was a Fordham student and discussed how she became interested in the organization during Fordham’s club fair. In a written question-and-answer session published in the paper ahead of the event, Duca stated that “writing for the paper is the thing that made me decide to be a journalist.” After Fordham, she was an entertainment reporter at “The Huffington Post” and since 2015 has been a freelance journalist.

John Bugg, professor of English and director of Graduate Studies,

introduced Duca as a Fordham alumnus and one of his former students. “We’ve been working to reach out to our English alums to bring them to campus for events like this. They are out there in the world doing a lot of fascinating things, and I think it’s important

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Duca said in the interview. “There really is a democratizing force available in these, the new spaces that have been offered up by the internet,” she added.

Duca also spent significant time discussing negative comments she has received through-

After answering audience questions, Duca signed copies of her book, which were given free to the intimate crowd, and chatted with those in the audience. for current English majors to see the different kinds of career paths they might follow,” Bugg wrote in an email.

Duca commented on how technology is becoming extremely important in journalism and society. “Everybody communicating online ought to hold themselves to the standard of journalism, and a feminist journalism, in the sense that we should all be trying to give each other information to have more collective power,”

PHOTOS BY ETHAN COUGHLIN/THE OBSERVER

Lauren Duca interviews with the current co-editors of the paper, the publication Duca wrote for as an undergraduate at Fordham.

out her career: “This angry force that from all different angles is basically just saying, ‘Shut up,’ you know? ‘Don’t express. Don’t create. We don’t want to hear you.

Your voice is not good enough.’”

But she encouraged young people not to allow others’ criticism to limit their potential. She added that “actually receiving it and continuing to create anyway has been the greatest gift that I could have ever hoped to evolve from.”

Jack Archambault and Meredith McLaughlin, both FCRH ’20, both editors-in-chief at the paper, interviewed Duca on-stage during the event.

“I thought one of the most interesting ideas brought out was the idea of gatekeepers in politics and journalism— people who ‘make the rules’ and decide who can and can’t participate in conversations and have a voice,” Archambault wrote in an email.

Duca also talked about her debut book, “How to Start a Revolution: Young People and the Future of American Politics,” which was published on Sept. 17. Duca wrote, “In ‘How to Start a Revolution,’ I unpack the political industrial complex as a source of alienation, especially among young people.”

After answering audience questions, Duca signed copies of her book, which were given free to the intimate crowd, and chatted with those in the audience.

The event was part of a larger series of appearances that Duca is making after “How to Start a Revolution” was published.

This event was not the first time that Duca has spoken at Fordham since her graduation. She spoke at an event hosted by the Lambda Pi Eta communications honor society in March 2017, where she also discussed online journalism and young people in politics.

McShane Maintains Fordham on Upward Trajectory

By DANIEL HUR Staff Writer

On Sept. 12, 2019, Fordham University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., sent an email reporting this year’s University rankings and preliminary outlook from various academic review publications.

Fordham improved in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education Rankings, rising from 203 to 176 among 800 national institutions, as well as moving from 148 to 141 out of 650 schools according to Forbes Top Colleges.

However, McShane stated that “despite significant improvement in our graduation rate in all other categories,” Fordham dropped in national rankings on the U.S. News and World Report, falling from 70 to 74. According to McShane, Fordham was negatively affected by the addition of 100 new institutions in the

rankings. The U.S. News methodology also changed this year, with the category of “high school counselor rankings” no longer being considered. Endowment also continues to be a critical factor- one which Ivy League schools have traditionally dominated.

McShane detailed in the email how the university has been seeking to improve its graduation and retention rates, both of which are important factors in U.S. News’ ranking system. “The Retention Task Force,” according to McShane, “has outlined an action plan that should enhance both our first-to-second year retention rates and our graduation rates.” Additionally, McShane announced that Fordham will hire a communications firm in order to “get the news about the University’s accomplishments out more widely.”

The email also stated that the university will take the time to analyze these rankings and de-

Fordham has already begun to take steps to turn the tide and make the effort to improve rankings.

cide appropriate actions. Fordham has already begun to take steps to turn the tide and make the effort to improve rankings.

According to Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications, Fordham’s “ongoing attention to graduation rates and retention is separate from the work of the communications firm.”

“Broadly speaking,” Howe continued, “the communications firm’s job is twofold: identify what Fordham accomplishments our audiences find most compelling; and, identify the best way

to share that data with those audiences. To that end, the firm will conduct a survey on our behalf— likely before the Christmas break. Once the results are in we will meet and discuss the next steps.”

Fordham students expressed confidence in the university’s efforts to improve it’s rankings, and how Fordham’s rankings highlight the competitive and prestigious nature of its academic programs, opportunities and acceptance rates.

Jenna Goldblatt, Fordham University Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, commented, “I hope to see the ranking improve and I believe it would be beneficial if Fordham could lower the overall acceptance rate by accepting fewer students by choosing applicants who will actually attend the university,’’ Goldblatt said.

While Fordham is taking active steps to improve the rankings, Goldblatt is hopeful that the uni-

versity’s acceptance rate should change for the rankings to improve. Additionally, Goldblatt suggested, “Fordham can work to improve the rate of students they choose to accept and the rate of students that actually attend to make it more equal.”

Giovanni Barreiro, FCLC ’23, said, “I think it’s good for the school to improve itself. By seeing them never stopping to give us a better education, it motivates me to do better for Fordham and do better to succeed for myself.”

McShane clarified that rankings weren’t synonymous with Fordham’s educational value.

“There is no metric for educating students of conscience, competence and compassion, nor do the numbers speak to our intellectual rigor,” McShane said. “I am very proud of our faculty and our students. . . and I feel honored by the privilege of working with all of you every day.”

Opinions

Opinions Editors Grace Getman - ggetman@fordham.edu Evan Vollbrecht - evollbrecht@fordham.edu

EMPOWER FACULTY TO USE TECHNOLOGY

P

rective to leave the class if they come empty-handed.

To make matters worse, professors don’t often realize the economic costs of printing for students because those costs don’t exist for them. While faculty at Fordham are allowed 500 pages of printing per day, it costs students 5 cents per black-and-white page and a startling 25 cents per color page.

When we fail to use the resources that technology places at our disposal, we pay the price in resources far more valuable: our time and money.

Some professors require these readings in print on principle — to prevent students from surfing the web on their electronic devices, or because paper is mistakenly considered to be superior to the online version.

Although students may take longer to read virtual essays rather than print ones, they still perform at the same level for tests and quizzes — the amount of paper, time and money we spend pining after supposedly better comprehension outcomes is a waste.

This is far from the only example at Fordham of inefficiency and conflict caused by lack of awareness and tech literacy. How many times has a professor struggled to operate a projector, delaying the lesson?

How often does a Google Drive error derail a dean’s

Observer the

STAFF EDITORIAL

rinting is an incessant subject of debate at Fordham Lincoln Center. Long readings or book excerpts are posted on Blackboard with the expectation that they’ll be printed, annotated and stapled together for discussion.

But printing is much more costly, time-consuming and frustrating to deal with than it ought to be. The conveniently placed printers throughout Lowenstein are only open to faculty. There are only so many printing spots available to students, and too often, at least one stops working just as a line begins to form on the first floor of Quinn Library. As students, we understand that having the reading in front of us allows us to reference it in real-time, but the fixation on the printed page still seems misplaced.

It’s not surprising. At this point, we’re all familiar with Fordham’s awkward and distrustful relationship with technology in the classroom, and the headaches that result from it. At times it can seem unreasonable, Luddite-driven policy, handicapping ourselves out of fear, for which the consequences can be dire.

It’s common at Fordham, especially in the humanities, for professors to base their lectures and in-class discussions on the printed page; in extreme examples, professors may penalize students for coming to class without a printed version. These penalties come in the form of points off final grades, or even a di-

November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

presentation? When we fail to use the resources that technology places at our disposal, we pay the price in resources far more valuable: our time and money.

Technology in the classroom is an issue of education, both literally and figuratively. After all, tech literacy is a skill that can be taught like any other.

If carefully regulated, better utilization of these resources will lead to better cost, time and environmental outcomes. The biggest hurdle isn’t the technology itself — often, that’s just a click away. What we need is an attitude shift.

The problems we face are not insurmountable. Even without simple technological fixes like disabling WiFi, it would be a disservice to the teaching skills of our professors to assume that they are less engaging than a laptop or incapable of holding students accountable for paying attention in class. Further, seasoned academics with multiple degrees are perfectly capable of learning how an HDMI cable works. It just takes a little investment, a little training and a little confidence to realize the full potential of the technological resources at our disposal.

Faculty and administration alike need to take a clear-headed and pragmatic view of the incidental costs and work with students to devise simple, practical expectations. Technology may not be a cure-all, but there’s no need to fear it, either. Used properly, it can make all our lives a little easier — even by just shortening the printer line.

Editor-in-Chief Owen Roche

Managing Editor Courtney Brogle Business Managers Alexios Avgerinos Teymur Guliyev Online Editor Izzi Duprey Layout Editors Esmé Bleecker-Adams Steph Lawlor Asst. Layout Editors Defne Akiman Lara Foley News Editors Sophie Partridge-Hicks Gabe Samandi Asst. News Editor Gus Dupree Opinions Editors Grace Getman Evan Vollbrecht Asst. Opinions Editor Nicole Perkins Arts & Culture Editor Gillian Russo Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Ethan Coughlin Features Editor Marielle Sarmiento Asst. Features Editor Roxanne Cubero Sports & Health Editors Luke Osborn Lena Weidenbruch Asst. Sports & Health Editors Aiza Bhuiyan Patrick Moquin Photo Editor Andrew Beecher Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams Copy Editors Libby Lanza Jill Rice Melanie Riehl Social Media Managers Maca Leon Shamya Zindani Newsletter Editors Gillian Russo Shamya Zindani Multimedia Editor Zoey Liu Asst. Multimedia Editors Defne Akiman Caitlin Bury Retrospect Host Kevin Christopher Robles Retrospect Producer Alyssa Morales IT Manager EJ Ciriaco Visual Advisor Molly Bedford Editorial Advisor Anthony Hazell

PUBLIC NOTICE

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

MORE BATTLES TO BE WON OVER CLIMATE CHANGE

As a young adult pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies in New York City, I care about climate change because I am aware of its devastating and disproportionately concentrated impacts. To allow these impacts to persist, the lion’s share of which are being experienced by poor countries and frontline communities who are relatively less responsible for the climate crisis, is a crime against humanity.

I would like to thank my district representative, Senator Brad Hoylman, for co-sponsoring and voting yes on the ‘Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act,’ which effectively mandates that the state of New York move away from fossil fuels and cut its emissions by 85%. I am frustrated that some members of the Assembly and State Senate have appointed stakeholders and representatives of the fossil fuel industry to the Climate Action Council, which oversees the act’s implementation. This is not only a conflict of interest but a threat to the efficacy of the Council and I urge the legislature to appoint more genuine climate champions to entrust a swift and successful implementation of the Act. This law will be paramount to achieving New York’s mission of climate action; nevertheless, there is still room for improvement and initiative. With that, a good next step would be to implement a tax on the state’s major emitters and to reinvest the revenue into the state’s larger goal of fossil fuel independence. In the meantime, I will continue to commend my fellow climate activists for their passion and hard work and encourage other young people to get involved by reaching out to their elected officials about the climate crisis.

Cosima Balletti-Thomas, FCLC ’20

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THE OBSERVER November 13, 2019

Opinions

You’ve Got Your College Relationship Wrong

POLINA UZORNIKOVA Staff Writer

One day you wake up, and you can’t remember whose idea it was to start dating.

Your friends’? Your roommate’s? Your grandma’s? Your dog’s? If it was not yours, then congratulations, you have been peer pressured into a relationship.

Relationships are great, but they’re only great when you actually want them. Unfortunately, the collective college mind seems to only remember the first half of that sentence. The more you have, and the sooner you have them, the better, right?

Wrong. If you’re wondering why your new college relationship doesn’t seem to be working out, thinking that you’re about to get into a relationship that seems unnatural for you or just want advice for the future, then welcome to my TED Talk.

The general question you should always ask yourself is: Why am I doing this? If it’s because you genuinely click with the person, then good for you, stranger. But do you really? Maybe you’re just fooling yourself, and there was a different reason for your relationship, one that is going to come back to bite you and leave you confused for weeks.

Did that just make you paranoid? If it did, I have bad news for you. Humans in general have pretty good instincts, so trust yours when they’re telling you something’s wrong.

So, why are you in a relationship? No sappy business.

Is it because you wanted a fresh start, and thought that it required a fresh partner? Are you

doing it to spite your previous romantic involvements? Are you from California and need a cuddle buddy to survive the harsh New York winter? Your subconscious motivations are hard to notice, especially if you are still attracted to your current fling (I hope).

But think about it. Are you really attracted to a guy you share your rush-hour Ram Van trips because of his sharp wit (or whatever you’re into)? The fact that he’s the total opposite of your environmentally-conscious ex, who would rather bike to the Bronx than set a foot in a gas-emitting vehicle, is not enough reason to dive into a relationship.

Or do, and watch yourself get hurt and disappointed. Similarly, there’s nothing inherently wrong with being attracted to someone outside of your type, as long as it’s genuine. If it’s not, and you just want to experiment for the sake of experimentation, go to a food festival instead — it won’t hurt anyone’s feelings (unless you’re a vegan stuck in a meat-cooking exhibition).

Speaking of food festivals, imagine going to one. You come in, and see a lot of stuff that attracts you. There’s sushi, salads, burgers, pasta, noodles, pizza, ice cream, a cart that deals exclusively in dishes with foie gras (gotta eat it all before the 2022 ban). Naturally, you decide to overindulge on everything. It feels good for a while, but then you get indigestion.

Overdosing on relationships is ten times worse. If you’re for some reason finding yourself flirting with seven people at the same time and proceeding to engage in later steps with four of them, maybe you should reconsider your priorities.

I’m going to sound like your

mom, but keeping it complicated isn’t good for your mental health.

To extend the food metaphor, think about pouring hot chocolate into your soup. Doesn’t feel too good, does it?

Here’s another question: Did you want to be in this relationship in the first place? So very often, we start out being friendly to someone, and then it develops into a mutual attraction. More often, however, one person wants to take it further, and the other doesn’t. You met this girl in your Composition II class, and you have good times together, but she always seems to be hoping for something more than just sharing a good laugh with a classmate.

You’re reluctant at first, but you’re lonely and far away from home for the first time, and she persists to a point when you start thinking that her affection is endearing and, more importantly, good for your self-esteem. You decide to give her a shot.

Bad idea. Just because there is no better option on the horizon, doesn’t mean that a better option is nonexistent. Trust Madonna when she sings: “Don’t go for second best, baby,” because in this case you’re not even going for second — you’re going for fifth, or even 11th.

The next celebrity I will quote is Marie Kondo. Does it spark joy? If it doesn’t, throw it out.

Simple as that. Of course, talking to your partner is the thing you might want to do before getting rid of them once and for all (they, perhaps, deserve more respect than your five-year-old yoga pants with holes in peculiar places). But if they genuinely don’t seem to understand the problem, or don’t think there is one, then there’s really nothing you can do except call it quits. You wouldn’t want to be that one strange per-

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ANDREW BEECHER/THE OBSERVER

It’s wisely said that fools rush in, and a hastily formed college relationship can leave a bad taste in your mouth.

son on the Titanic that thought the ship was going to magically fix itself.

If it’s beyond repair, it’s time to let go.

What’s the most important lesson to be learned from this whirlwind of advice? If you’re a resident, don’t have a relationship with someone who lives on your floor. Seriously. There is a high chance that it won’t last, and then you’ll bump into them at the elevators and spend five (20 if you’re on the east side of McKeon) torturous minutes staring into blank space and pretending they don’t exist.

Trust your feelings.

And listen to your friends.

Not when they tell you that you

should hook up with someone, but when they tell you that you should probably break it off.

Speaking from experience, however bad your friends may be at dating advice (one of mine thinks that Quinn Library is a prime spot for initiating relationships), they’ll sense your unhappiness before you do.

But even more importantly, trust yourself. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t shove it in the back of your mind. Deconstruct your relationship, turn to a friend who is into psychoanalysis, schedule a Jesuit therapy session with Fr. Vin. Do whatever you need to do to come to the realization that if it feels wrong, then it probably is.

The Anatomy of Corporate Appeasement to China PATRICK RIZZI Staff Writer

As China continues its staggeringly high rate of economic growth, it is now beginning to influence the Western world in previously unthinkable ways.

Such influences now extend to the ways that American corporations do business in China.

As the country has become more “Westernized,” it has proven a remarkably appealing nation for American companies to invest in. Many popular American chains such as KFC have opened branches in China and are often wildly popular in the country.

American entertainment is also an astonishingly hot commodity in China today due to the unprecedented expansion in the country of “Western” commodities like movie theaters and streaming — if it can pass the country’s stringent censor board. For example, “Avengers: Endgame” made over 4.2 billion yuan ($614.3 million) in China this year, which would have been unthinkable even a decade ago.

Corporate America’s fascination with China has also recently extended to professional sports, as the NBA is now housing occasional games in China to try to expand the its fan base on an international level.

However, attempts at “Westernizing” China can lead to severe backlash. The NBA wants to reach a larger audience in China due to the popularity of

basketball in the country, but as a result, the league has been recently criticized for allegedly caving to China’s anti-democratic tendencies.

The controversy started when the general manager of the Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, tweeted in solidarity for the protesters in Hong Kong, who are putting their lives on the line to peacefully protest in support of democracy and against China’s creeping authoritarianism on the island.

The Hong Kong protests erupted after a bill was proposed in China that would allow China to extradite accused criminals to the mainland.

While the bill has now been withdrawn, protests continue as Chinese police have become increasingly brutal against the demonstrations, including the use of live ammunition against protesters.

Morey’s tweet had considerable consequences, as China refused to broadcast two preseason games and sponsorships for the Rockets were removed.

The tweet has since been deleted, and it appears that many in the NBA are trying to engage in damage control right now as a means of appeasing China.

Such controversy and appeasement reached a fever pitch when an NBA player implicitly called Morey’s tweet “misinformed” and “not educated.”

That player was the legendary LeBron James, widely regarded as one of the best professional basketball players of all time. Because James has such a large following around

the world, his comments were amplified. He was swiftly accused by critics of seeming to appease China. Unfortunately, these critics are correct not only about James, but the league as a whole.

It is not too demanding to expect that a seemingly socially responsible American corporation with great worldwide influence should be supportive of democracy around the world. This expectation transcends all ideological and partisan lines. The NBA’s censorship of a general manager’s tweet showing solidarity for Hong Kong is a tragedy, and it shows the lengths that American businesses may now go to in order to appease China.

If China is willing to try to censor anyone that criticizes them as their overreach of Hong Kong becomes more brutal, why should American companies feel that they must play such a game with them?

While China has many basketball fans that would probably love the ability to see periodic NBA games in their country, the relationship between the NBA and China now is nothing short of parasitic given the country’s increasingly authoritarian behavior.

Although the United States and China must salvage economic relations with each other to some extent to have strong economies, companies who do not find investment in China to be economically necessary should think twice before appeasing the Middle Kingdom. After all, this

STUDIO INCENDO VIA FLICKR

During the recent Hong Kong protests, the NBA had to choose between free speech and profit from Chinese contracts. Can you guess what they chose?

is a country that engages in unprecedented, high-tech mass surveillance against its own people, complete with facial recognition technology that makes George Orwell’s “1984” look like child’s play. China also may be forcibly detaining at least a million Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang province in northwest China.

While modern China has never been a beacon for any sort of human rights or democratic institutions, the country

is only getting more brutally authoritarian under the leadership of now-President-for-life Xi Jinping. Sadly, it may be seen as more socially unacceptable to criticize China in tWhe near future if American corporations become increasingly dependent on the world’s largest nation as a source of revenue, and it will take far more than corporate responsibility toward China, if such a thing even exists, to urge Beijing to chart a far different path.

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Opinions

November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Veterans Have a Place at Lincoln Center

MELANIE GONZALEZ Contributing Writer

Veterans Day is the holiday on which we honor our vets, but it can be hard to honor a group without knowing who they are.

So, what do we think of when we hear the word “veteran”? It’s easy to imagine grandparents who served in some distant war, or of elderly men wearing uniform caps weighed down with medals and regalia from their days of service.

It’s easy to brush off the term “veteran” as the label of a peak that has long since passed — or as part of a holiday we celebrate once a year and let fade into the background until next November.

“Veteran” is a modern word too, encompassing the recently discharged service members of a younger generation. Fordham has more than 400 student veterans in every major and school across the board. Our veterans are men and women who, like their traditional student counterparts, are investing in their future, but uniquely so, as they are also adjusting back into civilian life.

Fordham is an interesting university at which to be a student veteran: St. Ignatius of Loyola was a military man before he left that life behind him to found the Society of Jesus. Like St. Ignatius, most student veterans at Fordham have left behind our military lives to pursue higher learning — and try to affect our own sense of “cura personalis” through whichever major we pursue. During this time of changing values, engagement with the non-veteran population is key to easing the transition. Traditional Fordham students have a handle on the rhythm of civilian and student life that makes them all perfect allies

ISABELLE DALBY/THE OBSERVER

Student veterans, like the writer (pictured above, center), have a unique perspective to offer at Fordham.

for their student veteran community. There’s endless common ground between us.

While Fordham student veterans are just as passionate as other students about pursuing their interests in everything from photography and filmmaking to start-ups and nonprofits, their military-to-civilian transition demands that student veterans lean heavily on their military identity, almost ridiculously so. Former service members must confront their veteran status when they register for class with the Department of Veterans Affairs each semester, when they apply for health care via their military benefits and when they pay for their NYC housing with their G.I. Bill stipend.

Student veterans’ financial, medical and academic standing all revolve around that veteran

status. It’s no surprise, then, that their social circles follow suit.

When universities create systems catering to the unique ecosystem of student-veteran needs, student-vets tend to become isolated from the non-veteran community — despite sharing countless hobbies and interests.

This semester, a new fully-functioning veteran center opened in room 145 of the 140 West Building on the Lincoln Center campus to continue to serve Fordham student veterans. While it will undoubtedly be an improvement in the lives of the student veteran community, I think this veteran center can bridge the divide between student veterans and traditional students.

This veterans center facilitates and advocates for all the aforementioned aspects of student veteran life (academic, fiscal and

medical), but the center is also a physical place for community.

Matt Butler, Fordham’s director of Military and Veteran Services, said, “Many of our veterans are not far removed from the traditional-aged student. There are many things that can be learned by having a robust interactive and inclusive community of veterans and non-veterans on campus.

Service and fellowship with each other will produce a richer experience and produce greater outcomes for everyone involved.”

Until now, Fordham student veterans haven’t had an adequate physical space to build connections, but the center can now be a place of community for not only student-vets the rest of Fordham too. Butler agreed, “Most veterans have a desire to serve others once they leave the military. Their individual experiences give them

a wide range of perspectives on the world, that they are willing to share. Much like any immersion experience in other countries, learning about other people’s culture and conditions are excellent learning opportunities.”

I would implore traditional students to pop in and get to know their student veteran counterparts. Student veterans and traditional students share countless interests. Are you a senior with questions about joining the military after graduation?

Come ask about the culture at the veteran center — they’ll answer your questions and maybe share some hard truths. Are you writing a sociology paper and referencing Navy culture without first hand experience? Come interview a former sailor at the veterans center. Did you write a play about a soldier, but you don’t know if you nailed realistic military dialogue?

Let a student veteran read it for you.

There is synergy between these communities waiting to build. Student veterans have life experiences that can enrich traditional classes by adding to the beautiful diversity of voices in a classroom. Traditional Fordham students are creative and driven and will be out in the workforce right alongside student veterans.

Traditional students can support student veterans by bringing them into their communities, clubs, friend groups and creative circles. Engagement is support.

Being needed or included is being honored. Time and exposure to additional communities beyond student veteran-oriented ones can only help student veterans in their transition back into civilian life.

Supporting veterans doesn’t have to remain a weeklong affair.

It can be a lifestyle choice. A high tide floats all ships, as they say.

Lamenting ‘The Commuter’s Lament’ OLIVIA BONENFANT Staff Writer

I’ve walked (or more often, ran) through the 42nd Street subway underpass between Port Authority and Times Square more times than I can count. And every single time, I’ve had my day made infinitely worse by some completely mysterious, contextless words drilled into the ceiling: “OVERSLEPT / SO TIRED / IF LATE / GET FIRED / WHY BOTHER? / WHY THE PAIN? / JUST GO HOME / DO IT AGAIN.” I’m really just trying to take the subway, dude. That underpass is crowded and smells like gym socks. Every time I’ve wondered what the hell that was there for and whether New York City was having a sick laugh at my expense. Which, as it turns out, is basically what’s happening.

The literal sign that your dreams are truly dead, better known as “A Commuters’ Lament” is a poem by Norman Colp installed in that cursed underpass in the 1980s, intended as a tongue-in-cheek nod to life as a New York City commuter and worker.

“Life sucks!” the poem reminds us, but here we are, living it anyway. Isn’t that funny?

I already know the world sucks and working life is futile, thank you very much. I don’t need anyone or any subway station to remind me.

I’m far from the only per-

EVAN P. CORDES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

For many New Yorkers, seeing their predicament stated in such stark terms can be more exhausting than subversive.

son who feels this way about the poem. In 2011, a college student from the Bronx taped over some of the signs to create a happier version of the poem, in a self-described attempt to make New York a little bit of a happier place.

Well guess what, millennial? The world SUCKS! The late artist’s wife responded to the “happy vandals” with this defeatist quote: “Why be optimistic in these times? Be realistic — life sucks. You get through it the best you can.”

Positivity is lame, kids.

Wake up and smell the overpriced coffee.

What exactly are we laughing at here, though? Being a corporate slave? The degradation of the American Dream, or the fact that we’re all sitting by and letting it happen?

Maybe I’m just not a “real New Yorker,” but I don’t find that funny. Sure, the joke about New York commuters’ tiring collective experience at the office once might have been amusing, and even subversive, but now, on a whole, we’re painfully aware of the systems

we’re trapped in and how they systematically suck out our souls. So excuse me for being insulted by a city-sanctioned art exhibition that basically laughs in my face and tells me there’s nothing I can do about it, backed by an endless list of people who tell me optimism makes me a hapless and idealistic child.

Now, there’s nothing inherently bad about cynical art.

Art is an expression of feeling, and cynicism, darkness and a critical eye on society are completely valid and arguably

necessary things to express.

The problem is forcing everyone to accept bitterness against their will and dismissing any criticism from people who are understandably depressed by it — or even worse, who dare to think differently.

So the real question is this: Where is the line between your right as an artist to express yourself, and the right of your art to disrupt people’s lives?

And where is the line between preventing such disruption and outright censorship? After all, the purpose of art is to make you think. It can’t exactly do that if it’s all rainbows and sunshine blending into the background.

But my problem is that rainbows and sunshine don’t blend into the background, at least not anymore. Yes, life sucks — but outright cynicism about it has become the status quo, not a joke we all quietly share as we go about our disappointing days. We’re not laughing at our condition. We’re being laughed at for not being able to do anything about it. We’re being dismissed for even daring to try.

I absolutely think “The Commuter’s Lament” is a menace to New Yorkers en masse, but I’m not saying that it needs to be taken down. That infernal thing has every right to make my day a little bit worse. I’m just asking artists and those who give their art a platform to consider that in a world where cynicism reigns supreme, they should think twice about where they want to draw it.

Rubberneck The

SATIRE SECTION

Rams in Vans

THE OBSERVER November 13, 2019

Opinions

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The intercampus transportation you can always rely on JILL RICE Copy Editor

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of taking a class at Rose Hill, you are surely aware of the Ram Van, Fordham’s splendid intercampus transportation.

Maybe you’re a science major on your way to chemistry labs that Lincoln Center doesn’t have.

Maybe you’re on your way to a club meeting, or heading out on a Friday night to visit Barnyard or Mugz’s. Or maybe you’re a classics major like myself, however unlikely that may be. In any case, the Ram Van is the shining star in a world of darkness of any trip to the Bronx.

It seems the vans are late on purpose when you need to be early. You want to get to your 9 a.m. class at Rose Hill? The Ram Van will happily cruise into Lincoln Center at 9 a.m. so you’ll get to class an hour late.

The first road you traverse, no matter whether you’re taking “Mosh,” “Overpass” or “Deegan,” is Henry Hudson Parkway, a pleasant trip if you’re looking to draw a seismogram with the notes you should be taking for your next class.

If you ever need to go to Rose Hill and back but don’t have the free class pass, you can fork over $7 that you could’ve spent on a sushi tray from the Ram Cafe — taking the subway would be cheaper, costing you $5.50, but maybe your wallet or your

innocence as well.

It’s clear the student body is fed up with the service we get from the Ram Van, so Fordham should replace them with something more economical, practical and environmentally friendly: Rams in Vans.

You’ve heard that Fordham used to have live Ram mascots — we should reinstate that tradition in a more modern way.

Let’s send students to class on real rams. It will prepare these Manhattanites for life in the wilderness of Rose Hill.

As for the “in Vans,” that’s where a corporate sponsorship slides onto the scene. Fordham’s always hoping for more money, and not only is a partnership with the shoe company Vans the perfect way to earn some real cash, but we can also outfit rams and Rams alike with footwear.

The rams’ feet will be protected, and students will have more Fordham merch to throw out as soon as they graduate. Vans are popular, and a collaboration with the company will be a boost in income much greater than the amount they get from the few riders who currently pay $3.50 for each ride. Not only that, but we’d see increased ridership for the Instagram possibilities alone, and what other school can boast that it gives students the opportunity to ride on the school mascot on a regular basis?

Besides the added revenue and publicity, Fordham would save thousands with Rams in

ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER

Vans: No more gas expenses, no more vehicles in the shop and no complaints about what music the driver might be playing. When the rams aren’t wandering along Riverside Drive, the university can use them as free lawn care on Edwards Parade.

In addition to helping the campus, Rams in Vans will aid you as a student: When you direct your own ram, you can take whichever route you want.

Now you don’t need to page the piteous worker in the Ram Van Office ten miles away. Is there traffic on Henry Hudson Parkway? Take a stroll up scenic Riverside Drive. Don’t want to take I-95 back home? Wander down Grand Concourse, the ChampsÉlysées of the Bronx. Want to go past Central Park? Nothing’s

stopping you from riding all the way into the Bronx on Park Avenue.

Sure, you might take issue with the speed of a ram carrying an average-sized person — but have you ever seen a ram run?

Given that I’ve spent what feels like half my life on the Ram Van, I can attest to the Ram Van’s ridiculous snail speed.

I’ve watched ants creep down the road faster than we travel.

The construction workers have changed shifts 15 times as I’ve sat staring out the Ram Van window. I’ve grown and shaved six beards on a single ride.

Is riding a Ram in Vans ethical? Yes. The current Ram Van situation is definitely not, given that I’ve been forced into the mid-

dle of the back row between a man-spreader and a person who didn’t believe in deodorant. The driver blasted pop music and sang out of tune at top volume.

Two days in real time and four years of mental anguish later, I emerged from the van a changed person.

From their timely manner to their connections to the outdoors, Rams in Vans will guarantee a pleasant trip to Rose Hill for any Lincoln Center student.

They’re less expensive than Ram Vans, less dangerous than the subway and highly unusual in New York — finally, something that gives Fordham a reason to stand out in its rankings. Could Columbia students ride lions to class? Of course not — that’s what makes Fordham so iconic.

Fordham Pilots New ‘Jesuitte’

GRACE GETMAN Opinions Editor

Declaring student tuition “not enough,” on Nov. 14, the Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, announced during a press briefing that the university would seek new sources of funding through the creation and broadcast of a new Fordham-themed “Bachelorette” franchise, airing this spring.

The new show is titled “The Jesuitte” and features 25 Fordham Lincoln Center undergraduates competing for the heart of Olivia DiGiorno, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21.

DiGiorno, who also attended the press conference, said she is seeking a man who is “the perfect study buddy,” “not afraid of the McMahon rats” and “a big fan of animals ... including Blue Goose.”

While the men competing for DiGiorno’s heart have not been announced, The Rubberneck spoke to a source close to the show who revealed several juicy details.

The frontrunner is considered to be John Hughes, Gabelli School of Business (GSB) ’20, an international business major with a concentration in marketing, who stood out on his first introduction to DiGiorno by revealing that he only uses mango mint Juul pods.

During his first interview, he said that he doesn’t brush his teeth because he feels that “the mango mint does all the work.”

Other candidates include several English majors trying to find someone who will unbury them from student debt, one freshman who got lost on his way to class and a

student from Rose Hill as a diversity candidate.

Dates will include a Fordham -sponsored $25 shopping spree at the bookstore, a never-ending Lowenstein elevator ride and some romantic abstinence. The hours of 3:30-6:00 a.m. have never felt safer.

Before the final rose, the two men left standing and DiGiorno will be taken on a vacation to the exotic location of Fordham’s Westchester, New York campus.

Playing host will be new Dean of Fordham College Lincoln Center, Laura Auricchio, who said that she’s “genuinely excited to meet a student from Rose Hill.”

The university has pledged to spend advertising and merchandise revenues on completely blacked-out glasses so students no longer have to watch the painful losses of the Fordham football team.

The university has faced significant blowback for this decision, which critics charge as “incredibly stupid,” a “complete waste of money” and “the very antithesis of the values that this university was founded on.”

The editorial staff of The Rubberneck takes a firm stand against these charges. Is “The Jesuitte” any more ridiculous than the 536-footlong Lazy River that Louisiana State University sports? The 250-cubic foot hot tub at Ohio State University? Any more ridiculous than the thousands that our university spends on plastic monogrammed cups? “The Jesuitte” promises to bring riches and prestige to Fordham, a school often lacking both of those qualities.

Tune in to the first episode when it releases, and watch the Jesuit sparks fly.

LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER

10

Arts & Culture

November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

WWW.fordhamobserver.com

1 cup of coffee 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin Pumpkin pie spice Cinnamon 1 tablespoon of maple syrup Milk of choice

— LW

Make one cup of coffee. The amount of each ingredient used will vary depending on the amount of coffee you make and how flavorful you want the drink to be. I used a Keurig and the 8 ounce option. While the coffee is brewing, heat the desired amount of milk. I used a hand frother to froth the milk.

Mix 1 tablespoon of pumpkin into the hot coffee until dissolved.

Add a few dashes of pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon to the coffee.

Mix 1 tablespoon of maple syrup into the coffee until dissolved.

Add the hot milk to the coffee, add a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice to the top and enjoy.

Pump Spic Lat

Bringing

Something New to the Thanksgiving Table

BY SAJANI PATEL AND LENA WEIDWENBRUCH Contributing Writer and Sports & Health Editor

Turkey

(or vegetarian substitute)

Vegetable of choice (my personal favorite is green beans, but peas work great as well)

Mashed potatoes Butter (optional) Gravy (optional) Puff Pastry

— SP

Six new takes on your favorite fall flavors

Finely chop th e turkey (or m eat substitute) making sure th and the vegeta ey are small en bles, ough to work chopped turkey as a filling. Fold and vegetable in the filling parts into potatoes, then with the mashe assemble the pu d ff pastries (cut squares work be ting them into st — remembe r, they will rise quite a bit).

Add a spoonful of filling to the center of one sq square of doug uare, place an h on top and se other al all four edge with a fork. If th s by crimping e filling is startin th em g to spill out, ca some with a sp refully remove oon because if it flows out of burn. Bake it in the sides, it co the oven acco uld rding to the te on the dough mperature and package. You ca time n brush some golden brown butter on the to crust. The dish p for a can be served alone or with gr avy.

Savory Puff ANDREW BEECHER/THE OBSERVER

Tha Preheat oven to 32 5 degrees.

Mix wet and dry in gredients together in the order listed. Depe nding on the type of flour used, the amount of milk needed w ill va ry.

Start with 1 cup an d add more gradua lly if the batter is too th ick. Keep in mind th at th apples will add m e oisture to the muffi ns as they bake.

Fold the diced ap ples into the batte r.

Pour batter into a lined muffin tin an d bake for 30 minutes.

Take the muffins ou t of the oven and stick a toothpick through the center. If the to othpick does not come ou t clean, put the m uffins back in the oven an d bake in fiveminute increments until done.

Let the muffins sit for at least 20 minutes to cool be fore enjoying.

2 cups of flour of choice 1 teaspoon of baking soda 3 tablespoons of cinnamon 1-2 cups of milk of choice 1/4 cup of coconut oil 1/4 cup of maple syrup 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract — 1 cup of diced apples

LW

WWW.fordhamobserver.com

pkin ce tte

THE OBSERVER November 13, 2019

Arts & Culture

Turkey e sauce cu Barbe low onion el 1 cup y dwich

per san

Pulled Turkey BBQ Sandwich

anksgiving Pizza

rks, ey with two fo Shred the turk d toss ecue sauce an then add barb the ixed. Leave it to until evenly m the sauce soak into side to let the ing et u are compl meat while yo re si p the de d the steps. Cho n into slices amount of onio th of an inch about one-eigh wide.

Butter il Olive o f bread o e ic Cho w: colesla bage mix) e h t For ab c ge (or rots Cabba hredded car s 1/4 cup aise n nal) Mayon stard (optio u m Dijon r peppe k c a Bl — SP t l Sa

of olive and a teaspoon er tt bu of on em with a teaspo lid and allow th Heat up a pan . Cover with a ns ke io ta on ld ur ou yo is sh oil, and stir in occasionally. Th g in g for irr st tin le ai hi w w le heat. Whi m to caramelize iu ed m to a bowl, es on low dded carrots in re sh about 10 minut d an e ag and black the cabb sprinkle of salt a the onions, mix e, is na on ay of dijon on of m er. A teaspoon th add a tablespo ge to aw sl le ss the co pepper, and to is is optional. add d a kick, but th ad ill w rd saucepan and ta us m ed turkey to a dd t 5 to re ou sh ab ed r at ium heat fo ed m Add your marin on r ve s been water. Co e everything ha nc O . a tablespoon of re tu ix m ble the reheat the tter and assem bu tle 10 minutes to lit a ith w ith mac your bread can replace it w u yo cooked, toast , aw sl le co u don’t like sandwich. If yo element. add a creamy and cheese to

Prep the pizza dough by flour ing your work and stretching surface the dough to th e desired size.

Doing so with your fingertips is best — work from the center outward, leavin g it a little thic around the ed ker ges for the crus t. Bake your do for half the tim ugh e instructed (fo r example, if it says bake for 15 to 20 minutes, bake it for 7 to 10 minutes) W hile the pizza is baking, wash an chop the gree d n onion.

Carefully remov e the crust from the mashed po the oven, spre ad tatoes as a base and add the vegetables an d mozzarella ch eese as toppin your pizza for the remaining gs. Bake time and, whe add your choice n removed, of drizzle: cran berry sauce or Finally, add th e green onions gravy. works well with . Crushed red pe this dish if you’ pp er also re looking for a little kick.

Pizza dough (pre-made is the easiest)

Olive oil Green onion Mashed potatoes Veggies of choice Mozzarella cheese (optional, works better with gravy than with cranberry sauce)

Cranberry sauce or gravy

— SP

Apple Muffins

11

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut the spaghetti squash in half and poke a few holes in the skin of the squ ash with a fork.

Drizzle olive oil onW the inside of the squash and place it face down on a baking sheet.

Bake for 35 minutes or until the edg es are brown and the inside is soft.

While the squash is cooking, saute shallot over medium heat with oliv e oil for 5 minutes.

Add the ground turkey and break it up as it cooks.

Season with desired spices. I used salt , pepper, rosemary, paprika and pars ley. Cook for 5 minutes until the meat is not pink anymore.

Add tomato sauce to the pan and turn the heat down to low. Let the turkey and sauce simmer until the squash is done.

Take the squash out of the oven and let it cool for a few minutes.

Shred the inside with a fork.

Add half of the squash to the pan with the ground turkey. Allow the squash to sit with the 1 ounce of ground turkey sauce for a few minutes for 1/2 to 1 cup tomato sauce optimal flavor.

Half of a spaghetti squash Olive oil This recipe makes two servings.

Half of a shallot To add the entire squash, double — LW the sauce recipe.

Spaghetti Squash Turkey Bolognese

Features Editor Marielle Sarmiento - msarmiento3@fordham.edu

Features

November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

To Print or Not To Print Casey Feldman’s Values Still Resonate

PRINTERS from page 1

for class, as is common with many professors.

According to LoSchiavo, workers at the libraries have run into print problems ever since they have been here, whether the problems have had to do with changes in the system like going cash-free or changing to the remote print system, Pharos.

Pharos is the newest printing system used at Fordham. Though it is a more convenient service for students and staff members, as now they can add money for printing through their phones and personal computers, printing problems still arise from time to time.

LoSchiavo explained as much as library staff members try to help, they have little control over the Pharos system, and it is up to Fordham IT to solve the problem in most cases.

Just a few weeks ago, during midterms, there was a problem with mobile printing, which affects the entire printing system on campus. This problem was more apparent in Quinn Library because so many people come to Quinn for printing purposes. As a result, the issue had a snowball effect on the Quinn printers and anything that was printed properly came out at an unusually slow speed.

Staff members of Quinn Library were on the phone and emailing the IT department, trying to figure out the root of the problem.

Robert Allen, assistant director of Fordham University Libraries, and Nick Alongi, head of Library Operations at Quinn Library, described spending four hours at work communicating with the IT Department in addition to bringing students to their offices and the main desk to try printing from their library computers.

Both Allen and Alongi added that while it takes up a significant amount of their time, staff members at Quinn Library do not mind trying to fix printer problems because their ultimate job is to help students.

“The only people who feel worse than the person who’s standing at the printer waiting for a print job is all of us,” LoSchiavo said.

She explained that what is most frustrating is what goes on behind the scenes when the printers are down. She added that students should come to a library staff member right away if a printer is not working properly.

“You’re not going to hurt our feelings,” she said. “That’s the only way we can make things better.”

While Quinn Library staff members enjoy helping students in any way possible, Allen wishes he could spend more time helping students find resources and information.

Statistically speaking, 30% of staff members at Quinn Library’s time is spent trying to resolve printer issues, Allen said.

“I’d love to be devoting that 30% to real research needs,” Allen said.

Many individuals believe adding more printers around campus could help alleviate some of the printing problems at Quinn Library. There has been talk in the past about adding printers to the residence halls, though according to Michael Shanburg, who works in the Department of Special Products for IT, there are no current plans to do so.

Considering the fact that students pay for printing, Nunez thinks there should definitely be more printers around campus and said it would be helpful to have printers in the residence halls.

LoSchiavo mentioned though there will always be printers in Quinn library, it would be nice to have them elsewhere. According to both Shanburg and LoSchiavo, though staff members are there to support students with whatever they may need, students should speak up if they want printers to be added or changes to be made.

“If you students want something, don’t be afraid to say so,” she said. “Because administration really will listen to you.”

Though printing in Quinn Library is a continuous battle that students and faculty members have to face, students can rest easy knowing that staff members are aware of the problems that take place and the battle is not one to be fought alone.

JAKE CHADWELL/THE OBSERVER

The most ideal printer locations in Lowenstein are only open to faculty.

Ten years later, News Editor is remembered

COURTESY OF THE CASEY FELDMAN FOUNDATION

Dianne Anderson holds up her daughter’s image to fight for a new pedestrian safety law in New Jersey.

By SAMANTHA MATTHEWS Staff Writer

It has been ten years since Casey Feldman was struck and killed by a distracted driver in Ocean City, New Jersey. Casey, who served as the 2008-2009 News Editor of The Observer, was about to enter her senior year at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) and pursuing a career as a journalist. While that all came to an end on July 17, 2009, her parents continue to make sure Casey still has an impact on the Fordham community today.

“She was so kind-hearted, so loving and always found time in her busy, busy schedule to help those less fortunate, said Dianne Anderson, Casey’s mother. “That included volunteering at a soup kitchen, a women’s shelter and a no kill animal shelter.”

Anderson, along with Joel Feldman, Casey’s father, try to preserve and project Casey’s character and values into the world today through their foundation, The Casey Feldman Memorial Foundation (CFMF).

Casey was a passionate journalist. In her time at The Observer, she wrote over 20 articles tackling topics ranging from HIV and AIDS to the mental health of college students. Her suitemate, Janine Repka, FCLC ’10, said, “I think she was always looking for something that was a little bit more meaty than your average college campus story.”

After Casey passed, Feldman and Anderson began working with legislators in New Jersey to revise their Pedestrian Safety Law. The law previously stated that motorists are required to yield for pedestrians. The new law, which her parents refer to as “Casey’s Law,” now requires motorists to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in marked crosswalks or at intersections where there are no marked crosswalks. This was the beginning of their path into advocacy because of Casey.

Every year on the date of Casey’s death, which those that were close to her refer to as her “angelversary,” the foundation sponsors a day of service.

Matthew Thornton, who was Casey’s boyfriend, attended and said, “it’s an opportunity for people to go and live the experience that (Casey) would have by cleaning up and rearranging in shelters and dating the food that gets donated.”

The foundation is also focused on financially helping current students. At Casey’s high school,

Springfield High School in Pennsylvania, they offer a yearly scholarship. Thornton assists the Feldmans in choosing the recipient, in which they look at student’s essays and activities for qualities that align with Casey’s, as well as those who show a commitment to volunteering.

The foundation also supports The Observer financially.

“The Feldmans wanted to do something to keep Casey’s memory alive, said Elizabeth Stone, Ph.D., professor of English at FCLC and advisor to The Observer at the time of Casey’s death. “So together we talked through what would be useful and most help The Observer.”

Stone and the Feldmans devised three ideas that were then implemented. The first was an internship scholarship for communications students; however, since New York State is changing its laws on unpaid interns, the Feldmans are looking at ways to redirect those funds to The Observer in a different capacity. The second was underwriting funds for educational purposes, such as sending more students to journalism conferences and hosting speakers. The third was providing funds for hardware and software The Observer otherwise wouldn’t be able to have. Additionally, the foundation itself takes on interns from The Observer. This semester, it is Copy Editor Melanie Riehl, FCLC ’22.

A large project of CFMF is End Distracted Driving (EndDD), which raises awareness against distracted driving. EndDD is spearheaded by Casey’s father. About three months after Casey’s death, he had a realization: “I could have been that driver because I drove distracted all the time,” he said.

EndDD has a network of over 500 volunteers who give speeches to schools nationwide, all without cost to the school.

EndDD centers their presentations on respect. By establishing that most students would consider themselves respectful people, Feldman said, “There’s really not a whole lot that’s respectful about driving and looking at your phone instead of the road. Respect for others, to me, is a full-time value.

It’s not something we do when it’s convenient.”

EndDD is always working on how to make their presentations as effective as possible by providing free educational materials. Every year they sponsor a teen distracted driving video and meme contest.

This facilitates students learning

about distracted driving and affirms the fact that the students do not want to become distracted drivers. No one wants to be the driver who killed someone’s best friend, partner or child because they were distracted.

EndDD focuses their mission on the people who really need to hear it — the next generation of drivers.

In December, they are launching a new program directed at elementary schools — the first of its kind in the country. It’s going to teach children to recognize when their parents are distracted and the communication skills to articulate that they feel unsafe. This aims to create fewer distracted drivers now and in the future.

Here at Fordham, not many students drive a car daily, but even as a pedestrian or passenger, there are ways to help end distracted driving. Casey’s best friend and roommate at Fordham, Kelsey Butler, FCLC ’10, said there are ways for non-drivers to help end distracted driving.

“As a passenger, you have an ability to make an impact,” Butler, who is a board member of CFMF and former Observer editor, said.

“If you’re driving around with friends and they are driving distracted, you can always speak up and say something.”

In the past 10 years, CFMF and EndDD have both grown, but their mission stays the same — projecting Casey’s generous spirit and ending the act that took it all away.

The Feldmans took what is the worst tragedy a parent can face and turned it into a mission for good.

In spite of his daughter’s passing, Feldman said, “I think I’m about the luckiest person in the world because I get people coming up to me and saying how it’s changed their lives. They’re being saved.”

Thornton lauded the Feldmans’ approach to grief, and even adopted it himself. He said, “You either move forward and find the best out of what you can. Otherwise, it just leaves people kind of paralyzed and empty. I don’t think that people want to live their lives in that vein.”

The Feldmans’ career of volunteering and advocacy helps others in need, but in doing so they are also spreading a little bit of Casey’s heart wherever they go. Because of that, Casey’s memory and her values will live on in all who are touched by her story.

Read the full story on

www.fordhamobserver.com

Club Spotlight:

By JACQUELINE PIERCE Staff Writer

Those who attended the campus Drag Show on Friday, Nov. 1 might have questioned how one club could have pulled off such a well-coordinated event — that’s because the show marked a special collaboration between two Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) clubs: Fashion For Philanthropy (FFP) and Rainbow Alliance.

The two clubs worked together closely leading up to the event; on the Wednesday before the event, members of FFP and Rainbow Alliance could both be found working hard to create decorations for the drag show. With the guidance of the FFP President Ellie Kim, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, and Rainbow Alliance President Katz Fantulin, FCLC ’22, FFP members created banners, posters and donation collection boxes, which were decked out in rainbow colors and with quotes of queer icons like Lady Gaga and Todrick Hall.

One poster even read, “Don’t be a drag; just be a queen.”

FFP member Kaela Hohn, FCLC ’22, helped with the creation of a big thermometer illustration that was used to track donations collected during the show. As a second-year member of the club, she described her work helping put on the show as “a great opportunity to talk to new people and to give back.”

Because of the success of last year’s show, FFP and Rainbow Alliance decided to collaborate for a second year to create this year’s drag show. This year, though, club leaders had to work around a change in venue from Pope Auditorium to McNally Amphitheatre. The small circular stage allowed less space for performers and decorations onstage, so club members focused on decorating around the stage and along the aisles in the audience.

One could feel the energy and excitement surrounding the event even while preparing on Wednesday night. The E-Board members of both clubs were working hard to ensure the success of the show, an event that aligns with the two clubs’ goal of advocacy.

FFP has been a club at Lincoln Center since the spring of 2017, and they have worked to increase student interest in both fashion studies and philanthropy. Treasurer Bawila Idris, FCLC ’21, described the club as “a space for people to talk about issues in

THE OBSERVER November 13, 2019

Features

13

Fashion for Philanthropy & Rainbow Alliance

GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER

Katz Fantulin, president of Rainbow Alliance, said that “drag is about style,” so working with Fashion for Philanthropy simply “makes sense.”

fashion that are prevalent, but not spoken about often.”

FFP reflects the student population of FLC’s widespread interest in fashion, despite the lack of a fashion studies major. Vice President Chloe Felopulos, FCLC ’21, described the club as a way to “meet other people with the same interests” while the fashion studies minor is still developing.

The club works to promote sustainability in addition to philanthropy. Last year’s Garbage Gala encouraged students to reduce, reuse and recycle their fashion choices while also helping those interested in fashion to learn how to think creatively. Kim described other FFP events like resume workshops and panels with fashion professionals that allow mem-

bers to learn more about working in the fashion industry.

Similarly, Rainbow Alliance, FLC’s LGBTQ and ally club, serves as a safe space for all, with focuses on creating a sense of community and promoting advocacy.

Fantulin described the importance of the club as a “physical space to meet and see each other concretely.”

The E-board of Rainbow Alliance explained how the club uniquely serves LGBTQ freshmen and transfer students who might be worried about attending a Jesuit Catholic university. Marian Winget, secretary and public relations representative, FCLC ’21, stated that students can learn from each other about “how to Fordham while being queer.”

Vice President Ky Hayward, FCLC ’21, explained how Rainbow Alliance’s collaboration with FFP came to be. Last year, Hayward asked then-president Jack Bugbee, FCLC ’19, “What if we did a drag show and FFP helped us raise money?”

Hayward stated that fashion and style often serve as the “best tools for expressing yourself,” something that is crucial for people exploring their identity.

Fantulin continued by explaining that working with FFP “just makes sense. Drag is about style.”

The show allowed people of varying identities to express themselves in whatever manner they wanted; performances ranged from lip-syncing to standup comedy. The audience could

see how the event allowed performers to express their personal style in a variety of ways, from their choreography to makeup to clothes.

While fashion and style clearly played an important role for the performers, FFP’s most crucial role was facilitating the fundraising aspect of the show. “We are going to donate all money raised to a local LGBTQ center (the LGBT Community Center of NY),” Kim explained.

This event epitomizes the important work of both FFP and Rainbow Alliance, ensuring that a safe and loving environment exists as part of the Lincoln Center campus, while also working as part of the larger New York City community that Fordham reflects.

Forever Fordham Homecoming Saturday, Nov. 16 Homecoming Information Session and Tour of Rose Hill Campus

10 a.m.

Tognino Hall, Duane Library Open to all alumni and children

Mimes and Mummers Alumni Association Presents Collins-coming Eighth Annual 5K Ram Run

10 a.m.

9 a.m.

Collins Auditorium

Front of McGinley Center Registration opens at 8 a.m.

Celebrating 160 years of Mimes and Mummers

Hidden in Plain Sight: Discover the Jesuit Presence at Rose Hill

Fordham vs. Holy Cross Kickoff

11 a.m.

1 p.m.

Lobby of McGinley Center

Jack Coffey Field

Led by Dean Robert J. Reilly, FCRH ’72

Homecoming Tent Opens

11 a.m.

Edwards Parade Tent open to alumni and seniors

POTS Part of the Solution

Cheer on the Rams as they take on the Crusaders

Homecoming Mass 30 Minutes After End of Game University Church Mass celebrated by Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J.

11 a.m.

Homecoming Tent Support POTS at the Alumni table

You can sign up for these events online at forever.fordham.edu.

ILLUSTRATION BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS

Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams - ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu

F un & G ames

November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

Crossword: Fowl Language 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

14

15

17

18

20

21

23

24

27

28

9

10

11

12

13

16 19 22 25

29

26

30

31 34

8

32

35

33 36

37

38

39

40

44

45 48

41

46

49

50

54

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

1. put up with 7. furthermore 11. Elsa’s medium, in “Frozen” 14. of or relating to electrical impulses in the body 15. Cuarón film nominated for Best Picture in 2019 16. pester 17. cellar opposites 18. turkey accessory 20. removed bird?

22. bought without a prescription: Abbr.

23. type of shirt or golfing tool

Fun Facts

43

47

53

Across

42

51

52

40. problems reversible by Narcan: Abbr.

41. serpentine symbol of royalty in ancient Egypt 44. turkey accessory 45. “ Patrol” on Nickelodeon 47. actress Michele of “Glee” 48. model Marie Carangi played by Angelina Jolie 49. frigid bird?

53. chicken house 55. prolonged period of cold, globally 56. first lady?

57. org. that shoots for the stars 58. demeanor 59. prefix meaning “in the center of” 60. Robert who played A.J. Soprano 61. compounds made from acid and alcohol

Down

BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS

24. response: Abbr.

25. tested (one’s patience, for example) 27. older folks: Abbr.

28. everyone’s favorite school mascot 30. the most common type of volcanic rock 31. brought into existence 33. speaks 34. “the bird has been prepared”?

37. city once divided by a famous wall 38. excellence, in Greek 39. element 53

Pisces

1. brings to fruition 2. Minecraft hell 3. responsibilities 4. acid; cause of gout 5. resting place for bicycles or coats 6. “What is new?”

7. malicious firestarting 8. flower similar to a waterlily 9. dirt flake 10. mean word for a clumsy individual 11. begin

Instructions: Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 6, and each demarcated section must contain numbers that add, subtract, multiply or divide to produce the number in the top left corner.

12. marked as used, for a postage stamp 13. chicken preceder, controversially 19. give up 21. river in eastern Australia 25. psychic cards 26. John Randle and Alan Page, e.g.

28. resembling pitch or tar 29. substance formerly used to bleach flour 30. heckled 31. Venezuelan independence leader Simón 32. travel agency: Abbr.

34. father of Queen Elizabeth II 35. inducted into the clergy 36. large group 37. Tom Hanks movie with a famous scene at FAO Schwarz 41. simplest type of hydrocarbon 42. folk singer and activist Pete 43. ones who give money 45. clique or social group 46. devotional structure or site of sacrifice 49. stocking stuffer for naughty children 50. will tell 51. college application system in the UK 52. “Seasons of Love” musical 53. edge of a garment 54. trolls of Japanese mythology

Horoscopes

By JILL RICE, Copy Editor

By PRISKA MOHUNSINGH Staff Writer

• Sarah Josepha Hale, the composer of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” petitioned Abraham Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday and finally succeeded in 1863.

• Animals from the Central Park Zoo took part in the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924.

BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS

Scorpio

Help the pie get to the whipped cream.

Real Talk Thanksgiving: Instagram Poll Results: Thanksgiving Food Which is better?

Useful Deflections for Prying Questions pumpkin pie: 35%

• It depends.

• It’s complicated.

• Don’t even get me started on that.

• I’m working on myself first.

• Many successful people were liberal arts majors in college (Susan Wojcicki, Howard Schultz, J.K. Rowling, e.g.)

• Golly, would you look at the time? It sure is getting late, and I know you have a long trip home.

• Excuse me while I search for my noise-canceling headphones.

• PLEASE LEAVE.

apple pie: 65%

Are you a turkey fan? yeah: 67%

nah: 33%

How do you like your apple cider? hot: 57%

cold: 43%

Pick a potato? mashed: 82% Follow us on Instagram: @fordhamobserver

baked: 18%

Oct. 23 — Nov. 21

Scorpio, your financial situation will improve this month as you focus more on your investments and career rather than the little things surrounding your social life. Although your mind may not be in the right place at the start of the month, you will pick up a habit of being productive when a deadline comes your way.

Sagittarius

Nov. 22 — Dec. 21

Sagittarius, your focus will be on your family members and fulfilling their needs and wants in November. To control your stress levels and care for your mental health, you will need to find a balance between your wants and your needs. If you are thinking of trying something new, research it before you jump into anything that may turn out to become a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

Capricorn

Dec. 22 — Jan. 19

Capricorn, Venus is circling your relationships this season. A fresh new start in your relationship sector this November will allow you to have some peace and calm in the other sectors of your life. This balance will allow you to achieve professional development this month.

Aquarius

Jan. 20 — Feb. 18

Aquarius, this month will be a special one since important people will join your adventures from now on. You will gain new friends who will play vital roles in your personal development and networking. Instead of focusing on your love life so much, try spending time with the people who make time for you.

Feb. 19 — March 20

Pisces, you’ve been on a roll when it comes to school and work. Take some time off to get some rest and catch up on the things you’ve held off. Try that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to visit. If you don’t take care of your body, it will eventually break down and take care of itself.

Aries

March 21 — April 19

Aries, your love life will probably not get better in November, but at least you’ll be spending time with family and friends. Step out of your comfort zone to try healthy things your closest friends have been urging you to attempt. Who knows, maybe you can find a new hobby that you might’ve never imagined you’d have any interest in.

Taurus

April 20 — May 20

Taurus, peace and harmony are the keywords to a better workplace this month. Although work may be getting a bit chaotic, your social skills remain intact, and everyone around you recognizes your hard work. These social skills may help you find a partner this month since you’re so approachable and well-liked.

Gemini

May 21 — June 20

Gemini, you may find yourself in a state of confusion when it comes to your career this month, but don’t settle for anything you can’t put your heart into. You will spend more than enough time wondering what to choose and when to choose it when it comes to dating and careers, but at the end of the day, you will naturally listen to your heart when making these vital decisions this month.

Cancer

June 21 — July 22

Cancer, fun and creativity are the basis of your relationships this month.

Emotional security should be your main goal in the upcoming weeks as you continue to struggle with mental stress and difficulty in your career and education. Take time to relax and enjoy activities before it gets colder.

Leo

July 23 — Aug. 22

Leo, Venus is aligned in your favor in the next few weeks. Your love life will be full of creativity and entertainment this month as you start to explore new hobbies and passions.

Your health may be compromised as midterms and chaos in your work are not letting you unleash your full potential in terms of your work ethic. A little bit of focus on your health and energy levels can make your professional life a little bit better.

Virgo

Aug. 23 — Sept. 22

Virgo, although your health may be good in comparison to your friends’ this month, you will focus on the health of the people around you more than yours. Seeing your loved ones suffer is something you can’t stand, so you’ll often go out of your way this month to make sure your friends are happy and healthy.

Libra

Sept. 23 — Oct. 22

Libra, passion and romance are two important aspects of your routine in the upcoming weeks. Your emotions will be vital to your career development this coming month, as you will find yourself stuck between spending more time with family and friends or on your projects. Remember to make a career decision based on your mind, not your heart.

Arts & Culture Editor Gillian Russo - grusso12@fordham.edu

Arts & Culture

November 13, 2019

Drag Show: Anything But a Drag

THE OBSERVER

Students show that drag is more than wigs and makeup — it’s self-expression

By VICKY CARMENATE Staff Writer

“There’s a loud LGBT presence at Fordham,” Rainbow Alliance President Katz Fantulin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, stated, and this year’s drag show only proved this.

Walking into the event, people couldn’t help but feel a sense of community within the crowd.

The McNally Amphitheatre buzzed with excitement as everyone waited for the show to begin. Immediately, attendees were presented with friends laughing, people talking and photos being taken left and right. All of one’s anxieties slipped away — this was a space where people could truly be themselves.

On Nov. 1, Rainbow Alliance and Fashion for Philanthropy came together for the second year in a row to host the Fordham Lincoln Center Drag Show. Signs were made and donation boxes passed around for the LGBT Community Center of New York. The clubs raised a total of $178 to donate.

The show was organized by Ky Hayward, FCLC ’21 and vice president of Rainbow Alliance; and Ellie Kim, FCLC ’21 and president of Fashion for Philanthropy (FFP). Both E-Board members took charge of the event alongside their club members.

FFP Vice President Chloë Felopulos, FCLC ’21, said the clubs’ intended purpose for the show was “to have a fun event where people can get together and express themselves and be someone that they’re not, or someone that they want to be.”

“I think that we really wanted

to explore where drag could take us,” she added.

Drag is a unique experience — one never knows what will happen. The performers were people audience members know and love, making the event even more special.

“I’ve never personally been to a drag show, so I thought it was fun.

Especially since it’s our peers, and we know all of them,” said Elizabeth Burns, FCLC ’23.

Colorful rainbow signs covered the walls of the amphitheatre.

One read, “Eyes, Lips, Face, Y’all need to hype me up!” and another showed a Rainbow Fordham Ewe. These signs made all 139 audience members eager to see what the show had in store.

The show allowed people from all walks of life to express themselves. Hanna Bowman, FCLC ’21, hosted the show, and when it opened, her energy made the crowd erupt with laughter. She captivated the audience and got them excited for the first act: Wayne Babineaux, FCLC ’20, as Coincoin, whose persona is literally a queen.

Students played the drums as Coincoin was introduced: “The queen approaches,” said one of her band members. Coincoin came floating down the stairs and the crowd burst into cheers.

She was costumed beautifully in a floor-length dress, sandals and, most importantly, a crown. Coincoin’s act was centered around the history of slavery and feeling silenced.

“I bet you didn’t come to the Fordham drag show to talk about slavery,” said Coincoin. Her performance was raw and portrayed

the hurt that black people have endured every day around the world. Coincoin got the audience singing and clapping along to her songs.

“I just thought it was engaging; it got everyone hyped up, and I loved the energy,” said Jack Bellamy, FCLC ’23.

Bradley Moyer, FCLC ’23, blew everyone’s wig off (besides her own) as Melania. She lip-synced Ariana Grande’s “Be Alright” and impressed the crowd with an outfit change and a death drop. The crowd loved her energy and her positive attitude after some minor technical difficulties.

Emily Krichmar, FCLC ’21, had the crowd roaring with laughter as Moe Zuzah, telling jokes about the drag king’s ex and the logic behind anti-climate changers.

The audience was on the floor after jokes like “‘Climate change isn’t real; it’s cold when I go outside’ is like saying, ‘Books aren’t real because I can’t read.’”

Fantulin not only helped organize the event but also performed as Scab Valentine along with other band members, creating the

Phantabulasms. The band painted their faces and gelled their hair into mohawks. Scab Valentine traveled across the stage, dancing and lip-syncing with ease.

Drag is a unique experience — one never knows what will happen. The performers were people audience members know and love, making the event even more special.

Bowman performed a comedy skit as Johnny Smash. His set was a commentary on different songs, including “Get Right” by Jennifer Lopez. He said that this song is for “when someone is too close to you on the subway.” Bringing up an audience member, Smash danced and got too close for comfort as the song played.

Johnny Smash had some technical difficulties trying to start his

set, but with participation from the crowd and lots of “turn the volume on!” shouts, Smash got his set rolling.

King Retrograde — Hayward’s own drag-king persona — performed “Somebody to Love”

by Queen. Dancing and engaging with the audience, the king brought the magic of Queen to life on stage.

Finally, Teagan Brown, FCLC ’22, ended the show with what he described as a gay magic show. He brought up two audience members to participate in his tricks.

From card tricks to multiplying bunnies, the audience was captivated at the sheer impossibility of his tricks. At the end of his set, he held a watch up in the air, and from the audience, you heard a “that’s mine!” from a girl who was brought up on stage earlier.

Drag creates a community where each performer and audience member can be themselves.

All of the performers at the show performed in their individual and unique ways, showing drag to be an art form that lets people express their individuality.

PHOTOS BY GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER

Fordham’s drag kings and queens’ energetic acts included magic, rock music and a death drop (pictured above).

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November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

‘Pippin’ Makes Dying and Climbing Look Easy

PHOTOS BY ANNA KRYZANEKAS/THE OBSERVER

Acrobatics and circus tricks are at the center of Splinter Group’s performance of “Pippin.”

By KEVIN STOLL Staff Writer

Pass by the auditorium near Argo Tea on a Tuesday night and you might notice several students working as hard as they can to lay on the ground while other students try to “musically maneuver” around them. Don’t worry, something wicked has not occurred on Fordham grounds. It’s all for show.

These students are members of Fordham’s Splinter Group.

Whether practicing basic foot movements or quite literally learning “how to die,” they have been hard at work when it comes to perfecting their upcoming performance of Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz’s musical “Pippin.”

Set against the backdrop of several different time periods, “Pippin” follows the titular young prince as he ventures off onto a journey to ultimately find himself. Whether it be on the battle-

field or through his relationship with his father, King Charlemagne, Pippin will not rest until he discovers what it takes to have true happiness and fulfillment in his life. A troupe of circus players accompanies him all the while.

In their adaptation of the story, however, the role of the Leading Player is portrayed by three different actors — Cameron Dasher, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22; Sylvie Tamar, FCLC ’22; and Jackson Lewis, FCLC ’23.

But “learning to die” isn’t the only rehearsal process the group practiced, as they also learned what it takes to become a “human staircase” for the musical number “Glory.”

“We call it ‘becoming stairs,’” said Public Relations Manager and Choreographer Rebecca Slaman, FCLC ’20. The formation consists of three different actors bending down while another walks on top of them, trying to maintain a sense of balance.

Some easily manage to hold the weight of their peers, but others like Dasher, choose to humorously acknowledge the physical pain of “becoming stairs,” as after the “climber” steps over her, she says that she “never felt a release quite like that.”

Needless to say, the entire rehearsal process has been anything but straightforward and simple. Under the direction of Kevin Mikuls, FCLC ’20, and Justice Somerville-Adair, FCLC ’21, the actors seem to manage that stress and pressure with optimistic enthusiasm. Mikuls gives detailed yet easy-to-follow stage directions while accommodating each of the actors’ own limitations. At the same time, even the directors are willing to admit that rehearsing has been stressful, but as long as the cast and crew know what they’re doing, Mikuls believes they have it under control.

“It always feels like a rush even when it’s not,” he said. “We’re trying to add a set this year, we’re

trying to rent lighting and it’s just a lot more than what we always think it’s going to be. But I think we’re a lot more prepared, we got to raise the bar with the cast and I think it’s going to be the best show we’ve had so far.”

“We’ve been rehearsing for about two weeks now,” said Somerville-Adair. “I tell (the cast) to give it their all and sometimes to go over the top. We’ve also been really encouraging professionalism in rehearsals, like arriving 15 minutes early to stretch, which (Splinter Group) hasn’t really done before.”

When it comes to “learning to die” in particular, even when dealing with an otherwise serious subject matter, Mikhuls and Somerville-Adair manage to control it by making it clear that this is an upbeat musical first and foremost. And when the direc-

tions being given include “Raise your hand if you just died onstage,” each actor is fully aware of the sheer ridiculousness of rehearsing how to step around each of the “corpses” during a musical sequence. At the end of the day, they are entertainers, and if someone such as Mikuls feels it is necessary to compare a routine to that of a “Scooby Doo-esque door chase sequence,” then so be it.

“I feel like we’ve been working as hard as we can,” said Savannah Miscik, FCLC ’23, who plays Pippin’s grandmother, Berthe.

“As a freshman, having an environment where you can come to be social, but also be productive and get work done, I feel is really rewarding.”

Splinter Group’s performance of “Pippin” will take place in Pope Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 22.

Ailey Students Dance in Christmas Spectacular

By KENDALL BOTTJER Staff Writer

Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular has been a staple of New York City’s holiday scene since it opened in 1933. Then only 30 minutes, the show has evolved into a 90-minute Christmas celebration featuring singers, dancers, musicians, figure skaters and, of course, the Rockettes.

Hundreds travel from all over the world each year to audition as dancers for the Christmas Spectacular, but with a cast of around 150 people and a reputation for perfection, only the best make it.

Maya Addie, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, is a junior in the Ailey-Fordham B.F.A. program who was chosen out of more than 400 women to be an ensemble dancer for the Christmas Spectacular.

Working full-time and pursuing an undergraduate degree might seem impossible, but for those pursuing a B.F.A. in dance through Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the program offers a unique opportunity that allows juniors and seniors to pursue fulltime dance careers while graduating on time. Dancers choosing to take advantage of this have their professional work count towards their degree, having fulfilled their other academic requirements with careful planning. Addie is taking full advantage of this opportunity by being a part of the Christmas Spectacular, and she

COURTESY OF MAYA ADDIE

Ailey/Fordham students and alumni Marquise Hitchcock (left), Maya Addie, Isabel Wallace-Green and Nicholas Begun will perform in this year’s show.

worked very hard to get the job.

After making it through two large cuts of dancers during the audition this past April, Addie was called back the next day to dance with about 25 other women. The director and ensemble dance captains taught combinations that

involved theatrical dance and jazz, including a section where dancers had to sing while dancing — something Addie herself did not prepare for specifically.

She was asked a week after the audition to attend the Radio City Rockettes Summer Intensive, and

on the second-to-last day of the program, she got the call offering her the job as an ensemble dancer for this season’s production.

Rehearsals have been in full swing since Oct. 7, with a typical day lasting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Tech rehearsals began in Radio City Music Hall the week of Oct. 28, giving the dancers a schedule more like that of the performances themselves. The ensemble members do less dancing than they did when they were learning the choreography, but they are expected to be able to transition from sitting in the house and watching another cast run the entire show to dancing it themselves.

Being a part of the “gold” cast — the cast that performs the evening shows — means that Addie is expected to perform the 90-minute show multiple times a day.

While Addie said that “the whole process has been more exciting than anything,” the show is physically and mentally demanding, especially when she and her cast are expected to dance their best in all of the shows that they perform. To make sure she is prepared for the upcoming show, Addie typically goes to the athletic training room in the theater to do a warm up with the machines, roll out, stretch and heat up her muscles. Then, she heads back to her dressing room where she listens to music, does her stage makeup and gets ready with the other dancers.

Addie’s role as a dancer in the show spans every scenario you can think of: From dancing as a panda bear in the “Nutcracker” scene to a “downtown girl” in a scene entitled “New York at Christmas,” she does it all. With so many quick changes during the show, the production employs backstage dressers to help dancers change costumes in as little as 78 seconds.

When asked what it meant to be a part of such a long-standing tradition, Addie explained how meaningful the production was to her. “It’s so exciting to be a part of this tradition that people can share with their families and friends, and to just spread Christmas joy. It really makes me emotional sometimes: It is just so crazy to be a part of such an amazing production.”

In addition to Addie, Nicholas Begun, FCLC ’21, will be performing in the Spectacular, along with Ailey-Fordham alumnae Isabel Wallace-Green, FCLC ’19 and Marquise Hitchcock, FCLC ’18.

The show began performances on Nov. 8 and will run through Jan. 5, so there is plenty of time to get a ticket to celebrate the holiday season and support Fordham students. The Campus Activities Board will also host an outing to see the show on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3:15 p.m., and undergraduates can sign up in the 140 West Building, Room G33, to enter the lottery for tickets.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER November 13, 2019

The Month of MoMA

Arts & Culture

17

A look inside the renovated space and one of the museum’s new interactive galleries

By ISABELLA SOTTILE Contributing Writer

On Oct. 21, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) officially reopened its doors to the public after the completion of a major renovation and expansion project that began in 2016. The museum has been closed to the public since June 2019 while the final pieces of the $450 million expansion were put into place. In collaboration with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gensler, about 47,000 square feet were added to the museum to allow 30% more gallery space.

The reimagined MoMA offers interdisciplinary gallery spaces invented to bring different media together for a new perspective on the artwork. Free ground-level galleries open to the public bring art to the streets of midtown Manhattan, a Creativity Lab offers visitors the opportunity to engage with and discuss the art, and a central multi-purpose performance space, the Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Studio, will host a variety of performance exhibitions.

MoMA’s Director of Real Estate Expansion and master orchestrator of the project Jean Savitsky detailed the process of these monumental renovations and the purpose behind the design during a tour through the new museum.

With regard to the additional constructions, Savitsky said, “We were threading together different decades of architecture on the exterior. But the interior experience is seamless as you flow from building to building, with only a subtle shift in architecture.”

representing more diverse artists in their exhibitions. On display now, “Betye Saar: The Legends of Black Girl’s Window,” is a collection of autobiographical prints which draw on themes of family, history and mysticism in Saar’s art and her earliest work in printmaking. Another exhibit, “Member: Pope.L, 1978-2001,” displays a collection of Pope’s public performances which raise questions “about a culture consumed with success yet riven by social, racial, and economic conflict.” The debut of the reinvented MoMA offers 10 provocative exhibitions in addition to the permanent collections.

Student admission is $14 with a valid full-time student ID, but the museum currently offers free admission on Friday evenings from 5:30-9 p.m. in a sponsored partnership UNIQLO. More information regarding admission and the exhibits can be found on the MOMA website.

The reimagined MoMA offers interdisciplinary gallery spaces to bring different media together for a new perspective on the artwork.

As visitors enter the museum through the large lobby, they are met with art installations immediately. One of Savitsky’s colleagues pointed out that the lobby “evokes the feeling of a busy public square, not a hectic subway stop.”

The walk through the galleries feels fluid and easy, not like the typical monotonous museum march so often feared in museums with large collections — each room is inviting, accessible and full of fascinating artwork. Large windows dispersed intermittently throughout the galleries connect visitors with the outdoors as they view the art displayed in new and creative ways. Within the rooms, MoMA combines various media rather than separating painting from sculpture and photography.

The performance space is front and center, unlike many museum layouts which hide such a space away. Savitksy said that this feature, unique to the museum, is “designed to be an integral part of the journey through the galleries because they wanted to emphasize the importance of performance in their space.”

In addition, MoMA has consciously worked towards

ISABELLA SOTTILE AND DANIEL HUR/THE OBSERVER

The MoMA’s expansion includes free public galleries, the new Creativity Lab and a performance space for visitors to interact with the art.

By DANIEL HUR Staff Writer

For the last four months, The Museum of Modern Art closed and underwent extensive renovations with new pieces and exhibits of artwork and restructuring the architecture of the building itself. On Oct. 21, it reopened to the public with a new addition: the Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Studio, a new exhibit space for live events “dedicated to performance, music sound, spoken word, and expanded approaches to the moving image,” according to the official MoMA website.

Open to visitors to engage the art with their senses, the Studio enables people to be truly aware of what art can do as it comes alive through performances by artists who helped make it. Being a part

of this experience is truly a new approach to what art can mean for people. The Studio connects visitors with artwork made up of everyday objects, bringing new perspectives of how “modern” art can be.

Centered at the heart of the museum on the fourth floor within the collection galleries, the studio is a new space for the MoMA to display its collection as a living history for established and emerging artists.

The Studio allows people to see objects and hear sounds from speakers connected to each piece of artwork, like banging on a wooden wall or sounds of metal chains hitting against each other softly.

Designed to create an open experience, the Studio is surrounded by a double-height glass wall with a view of 53rd Street. On the other side of the small space, an overlook from the fifth-floor collection gal-

leries brings light into the room.

The walls of the Studio are shiny and black, and the lights on the ceiling create shadows on the floor. The Studio includes installations constructed from everyday objects, such as a metal barrel, a vintage compact disc and plastic tubes.

Since the MoMA’s founding, the museum has shown a “commitment to dance and the performing through its collection and exhibition programming.” The Studio positions itself as one of the bold innovators in live and broader narratives of art, providing a personal and emotional atmosphere within the room. The Studio also integrates art in a unique way, involving the viewers’ emotions and enabling them to see modern objects in new and unexpected ways.

The scale of the space with each display, which includes speakers where visitors listen to the sounds associated with the artwork, pro-

vides an intimate, focused experience. With a different approach to appreciating art from the other pieces in the museum, the Studio allows one to “feel” the art.

The Studio will be active throughout the year with multiple performances, which can be seen on the official MoMA website. One particular exhibit, “David Tudor and Composers Inside Electronics Inc. Rainforest V,” will be presented through Jan. 5, 2020, and can be viewed on certain dates in November and December. The exhibit features a musical score for choreographer Merce Cunningham’s dance of the same name to celebrate MoMA’s reopening.

The Marie-Josée and Henry Kravis Studio allows audiences to experience art in a way that not only appeals to visual tastes but also serves as an introduction to the whole-body experience of all senses with modern and contemporary art at the MoMA.

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November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

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Women’s March Posters Scream to Be Seen

By CLEO PAPADOPOULOS Contributing Writer

If a combination of posters, feminism and art quenches your thirst for culture, Poster House delivers.

Located on 23rd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, this museum is the first in America that is completely devoted to displaying posters. Poster House examines signs from as early as the 1800s to present day in an effort to study how large-scale graphic design can impact the perspective of the public.

The museum is currently showcasing an exhibit titled “20/20 Insight: Posters from the 2017 Women’s March” through Jan. 5, 2020.

The exhibit displays different posters created by the participants of the Women’s March in Boston two years ago. Each poster in the exhibition underscores the impact of the American public’s response to Donald Trump being elected as president of the United States in 2016.

A look around the exhibition room indicates that the creators of these posters were filled with varying degrees of disgust, pride

CLEO PAPADOPOULOS AND ANNA KRYZANEKAS/THE OBSERVER

Each poster on display was created for the 2017 Women’s March, recalling America’s response to the 2016 presidential election as 2020 approaches.

and indignation. Poster House curated the exhibit strategically, carefully grouping posters on the walls in an effort to inspire viewers. Each poster delivers a powerful message. For instance, there is a poster with the words “This Land was Made for You and Me” in red, white and blue next to a poster that says “Women are People” in the famous font of “We the People” as seen on the U.S. Constitution.

The exhibit is separated into the different themes expressed during the 2017 Women’s Marches, including “Trump Opposition,” “Reproductive Freedom” and “Internet Influence.” By using posters crafted by actual participants of these marches, the exhibit poignantly demonstrates the growing feeling of dissatisfaction of large groups of Americans since President Trump’s inauguration.

The statements on the posters vary, including phrases like “Girls Just Wanna Have Funding for Planned Parenthood,” “Trump is a Horcrux” and “Our Arms Are Tired From Holding These Signs Since the 1920’s.” Such posters bridge generations’ worth of political activism, making “20/20 Insight” a unique experience for all.

Art exhibits like “20/20 Insight” can change or influence our perspective of the world — even art as simple as posters. This exhibit at Poster House is a great place to start; getting there only requires 20 minutes on the 1 train to 23rd Street. In exchange, you may open your mind to new thoughts or controversial issues, and perhaps lend an ear to a cause that needs to be heard.

Sports & Health Editors Luke Osborn - losborn1@fordham.edu Lena Weidenbruch - lweidenbruch@fordham.edu

Sports

November 13, 2019

THE OBSERVER

Chase Edmonds Revisited: Catching Up with Fordham’s NFL Star

By RAHUL SUKESH Staff Writer

It has been a while since NFL broadcasters have praised Fordham athletes on football’s highest stage. This changed on Sunday, Oct. 20 when running back Chase Edmonds, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’18, was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He has since made great strides in bringing Fordham’s football program into the spotlight.

During his time at Fordham, Edmonds earned player of the year multiple times and graduated as the Patriot League all-time leader in career and rushing touchdowns.

On Sunday afternoon, Edmonds had one of his best performances in the NFL with 27 carries, 126 yards and three touchdowns.

I reached out to Edmonds on Instagram to understand how his time at Fordham helped mold him into who he is today and how he plans to move forward.

Following his time at Fordham, Edmonds was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

In your post-game interview you stated all you wanted to do was play on Sundays.

How did our football program help you to develop as a player and reach the professional level?

Currently, you are the only player in the NFL from Fordham. Coming from a small school like Fordham, how was your journey to the NFL different from other players’?

Playing at MetLife Stadium this past weekend, did your return to New York remind you of your time at Fordham? Do you have any favorite memories you’d like to share?

Fordham football helped develop me to have a professional career early because of the attention to details my coaches always required of me. We always treated every practice rep like a game rep. They instilled in me and our team that it was important to practice like a pro.

My journey was just different because I never had those experiences of playing in big time games and big time atmospheres.

Also always kinda just having that background of never really being exposed to elite talent competition. The speed of the game is much faster.

My return definitely (reminded) me of my time in New York.

Just to be able to come back to this great city and atmosphere in front of family and friends. Favorite memories from Fordham were just spending the countless hours with lifelong friends that I still have today and forever will have.

Nov. 14

Upcoming Sports Events

Men’s (M’s) Basketball vs.

Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bronx, N.Y., 7 p.m.

Nov. 15

M’s Soccer vs. Rhode Island, Atlantic 10 Championship, Bronx, N.Y., 1 p.m.

Squash vs. Stanford, Bronx, N.Y., 6 p.m.

Nov. 16

Squash vs. Cal, Bronx, N.Y., 9 a.m.

Football vs. Holy Cross, Bronx, N.Y., 1 p.m.

Squash vs. Northeastern, Bronx, N.Y., 1 p.m.

M’s Water Polo vs. Bucknell, Bronx, N.Y., 2 p.m.

M’s Basketball vs. Marist College, Bronx, N.Y., 7 p.m.

This is your second season in the NFL. How is playing now different than what it was two years ago? And what have you learned since being drafted?

More attention to details at the NFL level. Everyone is good so you really have to play every snap like it’s your last man. The speed of the game is very fast and you can’t hesitate on decision making.

But at the end of the day. It’s still the same game I’ve been playing since 5. I just always try to calm my nerves and everything else will follow.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

What advice would you have to give to any Ram reading this article aspiring to make it big?

Biggest advice I can give is whatever your dream or aspirations. Don’t allow another man to tell you what you can and can’t do. Anything Is possible with hard work and dedication. You just have to apply it every single day. Not just the days where you feel like it.

To read the rest of the interview, visit www.fordhamobserver.com

Nov. 17

M’s Soccer vs. A-10 Final, Atlantic 10 Championship, Bronx, N.Y., 12 p.m.

W’s Basketball vs. Villanova, Bronx, N.Y., 5 p.m.

Nov. 20

Nov. 22

M’s Swim vs. NJIT, Bronx, N.Y., 5 p.m.

W’s Swim vs. Stony Brook, Bronx, N.Y., 5 p.m.

W’s Basketball vs. Northeastern, Bronx, N.Y., 7 p.m.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us here at The Observer

General Meetings Monday @5:30 p.m.

Rm 325 in 140 West

20

Sports

November 13, 2019 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Women’s Basketball Loses Valiantly Before Sellout Crowd

BASKETBALL Nov. 5, 2019

Fordham

Notre Dame

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60

By PATRICK MOQUIN Asst. Sports and Health Editor

Last Tuesday, Fordham women’s basketball played their home opener against Notre Dame, last year’s NCAA Tournament runner-up. In front of a sellout crowd, the Rams fought to the very end but fell short in a 60-55 loss.

Going into their contest against Notre Dame, the Rams were already aware of the quality of their opponent. Fordham’s stellar 2018-19 season culminated in a trip to the NCAA Tournament. However, their performance was dwarfed by the run of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Following a 35-4 regular season and first place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), they entered the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed. They made it to the championship game, where they lost to Baylor, 82-81.

To start the 2019-20 season, these two former NCAA Tournament contenders faced off.

Notre Dame entered the game as a heavy favorite, but the first quarter did not favor the experts’ predictions. Through 10 minutes of play, the Fightin’ Irish led the Rams by only two points, 16-14.

After a competitive first quarter, star guard Breanna Cavanaugh, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’21, encouraged some of her younger teammates.

“I remember looking at the two freshmen and saying, ‘Listen, we got this, first quarter’s done with, we need to continue to push.’ They agreed and responded well to that,” Cavanaugh said after the game.

Despite a strong start, Fordham’s offense stalled in the second quarter. The Rams were held scoreless for the first six and a half minutes as Notre Dame went on a 13-0 run. An offensive spurt as the half ended did little

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Breanna Cavanaugh, FCRH ’21, drives to the basket while Vilisi Tavui, FCRH ’22, sets a screen against Notre Dame’s elite defense.

to erase what would eventually become a 36-24 deficit.

In one half, the Rams took 34 shots from the field and made only 10.

Their strong first quarter was followed by an offensive disaster in the second. However, Cavanaugh said, “It didn’t change the team’s mindset. We went into half time still hungry. They made their run, it was only an amount of time until we made our run to come back.”

Halfway through the third quarter, Kaitlyn Downey, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’22, recovered an offensive rebound. She then

scored on a jumper to cut Notre Dame’s lead to six points, 39-33.

However, the Rams could not get any closer and lost ground. A third quarter buzzer beater put them down 12 points again going into the fourth, 47-35.

With 10 minutes left to make up a 12 point deficit, Fordham made a valiant last stand. They scored eight points in the first two minutes to cut Notre Dame’s lead to four points. Caught completely off-guard, the Fightin’ Irish eventually recovered, going on an offensive run of their own to extend their lead to 10, 53-43.

With five minutes to go and

Anna DeWolfe, FCRH ’23, ran the offense at point guard in her first college career start.

their rally extinguished, Fordham’s fate seemed sealed. A three-pointer by Kendell Heremaia, FCRH ’21, kept the Rams alive. Over the next two minutes, they made three separate defensive stands and regained possession. The sellout crowd exploded as Heremaia made another three-pointer to close the gap even farther, 53-49.

With only two minutes remaining, Fordham was forced to foul their opponent and the game came down to free throws.

With 11 seconds remaining, Fordham trailed by only three points, 58-55. A Notre Dame player missed their second free

throw and it appeared that Fordham had regained possession and the chance to tie the game.

However, in the fight for the ball, a referee saw through the huddle of players in front of him and called a foul on Downey, bringing Notre Dame back to the foul line. These last few free throws were enough to put the game out of Fordham’s reach in what would eventually end as a 60-55 loss.

Above all else, this game spoke to Fordham’s talent and steadfast resilience. At three different points in the game, they trailed by double digits and fought their way back into the game. They only made 23 of their 72 shots, but their defense held at every key moment.

In Cavanaugh’s words, “The game showed that we can really compete at the highest level.

We didn’t shoot great, and we turned the ball over, but our defense and intensity kept us in the game.”

Cavanaugh never left the floor, playing all 40 minutes and scoring 14 points to go along with 8 rebounds. In addition, freshman point guard Anna DeWolfe, FCRH ’23, made a stunning first impression, recording 10 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists. She ran the Fordham offense against one of the best teams in the country and thrived in the role.

This Fordham team played an elite college basketball team and competed with them to the very end. Even more importantly, a sellout crowd erupted for each of their three comebacks and gave their team a standing ovation following their tough defeat. As the competition gets easier and players round into form, fans who choose to attend later in the season can look forward to watching one of the most competitive sports teams Fordham has to offer. When asked about the turnout, Cavanaugh excitedly said, “It was absolutely am azing and one of the best atmospheres and energy to play around. I hope we can fill The Hill for the rest of the home games, because this team deserves it that much!”