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Students Leave Campus As Cases Spike By ALLIE STOFER Asst. News Editor
Students who resided on Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus during the fall semester are leaving until classes resume in February. Due to the pandemic, the new protocol was already requiring students to leave campus before Thanksgiving to limit travel to and from campus. Move-out comes only two weeks after a spike in COVID-19 cases on campus, causing students to question the safety of an in-person spring semester.
see RESLIFE page 4
VOLUME XL, ISSUE 20 Online-Only Edition
SJP Faces Fordham in Court Again
COURTESY OF FORDHAM STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE
Safety of Living in the Dorms Living on Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus during the fall semester was bound to look different than previous semesters due to COVID-19. Fordham’s university-wide infection rate surpassed 1% for the first time this semester as of Nov. 13, and public schools in New York have closed as well due to the city-wide spike. On Nov. 24, a Fordham Forward update announced that the university-wide infection rate is at 1.31%. “Due to the recent rise of COVID cases, I will be emptying my entire apartment prior to winter break in case I decide not to return to my dorm for the spring semester,” Stevie Martin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, said.
December 2, 2020
Veer Shetty, vice president of SJP, holds a sign from a social media campaign. SJP returned to court against Fordham on Nov. 24. By JOE KOTTKE and VICKY CARMENATE News Editor and Arts & Culture Editor
However, this game also marked the beginning of a new, hopeful era for the program after several months of misfortune. First, a defeat on March 7 against Virginia Commonwealth University in the 2020 A10 Tournament semifinal ended its run for a second straight conference title. Then, the team’s berth in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament was revoked when the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To complicate matters, after a summer in isolation, star player Bryson Cavanaugh, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’21, announced in October via Instagram that he would not be returning to play for Fordham in the 2020-21 season.
Fordham Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) faced Fordham University in the appellate division of the New York State Supreme Court on Nov. 24, continuing its fiveyear battle to gain official recognition as a club on campus. Cooperating Counsel Alan Levine said “it is very difficult to tell” how long it will take the judges to make a decision, but he said if they lose, they will appeal to the New York State Court of Appeals, and they expect the same course of action from Fordham if SJP wins. Levine, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and Palestine Legal were responsible for filing the lawsuit on behalf of the students of SJP in 2017 — two years after SJP submitted an application to form the club. On Aug. 5, 2019, the court ruled that Fordham should recognize SJP as an official club. Fordham appealed the court order on Jan. 27, 2020, claiming that the university’s decision to ban the club was based on the premise that a chapter of SJP on campus is not in the “best interests” of Fordham’s students, according to Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications. Katherine Kuemerle, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21 and treasurer of SJP, said that throughout the prolonged periods between court dates, SJP has maintained frequent contact with both Palestine Legal and the CCR.
see BASKETBALL page 8
see SJP page 4
ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
Masked and Making Merry
United Student Government’s annual tree lighting kicked off the holiday season with hot chocolate, paper snowf lakes and, of course, Fordham’s mascot Ramses.
Women’s Basketball Wins First In-Person Game of the Season By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor
COURTESY OF STONY BROOK ATHLETICS
After playing a supportive role on offense for most of the game, Sarah Karpell, FCRH ’23, sunk a few shots in the game’s last few minutes, including a three-pointer, that brought the team to victory.
News
Sports & Health
Ex-Cardinal McCarrick, FCRH ’54, found guilty of sexual abuse
COVID-19 vaccines in final trials before public distribution
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Page 7
Opinions
Arts & Culture
How we can be active and thoughtful allies
Club hosts Filipinos in Fashion Virtual Event
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Vatican Defrocks Alum Immunity Endgame
An eight-month period without Fordham sports has finally ended. In its season opener, Fordham women’s basketball nearly blew a large lead but hung on to defeat the Stony Brook University (SBU) Seawolves, 62-58. In some ways, this victory is a continuation of the team’s previous success. Since Stephanie Gaitley was hired as head coach in 2011, the team has become a mainstay in the upper echelons of Atlantic 10 (A10) women’s basketball. The Rams’ victory against a stout opponent like Stony Brook, reigning finalists in the America East conference, sets the tone for another successful season in the Bronx.
Features
Students Produce Movie in Quarantine
Trans Awareness Week FLOW Fashion
The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center
Despite obstacles, feature film comes to life Page 10
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News
December 2, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Coronavirus Cases Are Rising Again in NYC and at Fordham
Fordham’s positive COVID-19 test rate is above 1% for the first time this semester as students leave campus By JOE KOTTKE and MICHELLE AGARON News Editor and Asst. News Editor
Coronavirus cases at the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses and in New York City are rising. According to an update from the Office of the President on Nov. 24, the university’s positive COVID-19 test rate is above 1%. Fordham’s COVID-19 Testing Data page states that as of Nov. 30, there are 8 positive results at Lincoln Center and 59 positive results at Rose Hill. Based on the 14-day summary, the university’s total infection rate currently stands at 1.50%, which is up 0.15% from Nov. 21. If a campus reaches the threshold of 100 cases in a two-week period, all on-campus instruction and face-to-face activities would be suspended. Fordham’s infection rate correlates with the recent increase of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in New York City — reaching levels that have not been seen in the city since June.
“ I would give anything
to be back in the city, but I just don’t think that it is possible to completely ensure the safety of all students in-person. ”
Ky Hayward, FCLC ’21
According to the university’s COVID-19 guidelines, if one person in a classroom tests positive, New York City requires that everyone physically present in the class has to quarantine for 14 days. The need for a quarantine period depends on the size of the classroom and the duration of the course. Eva
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Before students returned home for Thanksgiving break, the university’s total infection rate passed 1% for the first time. There were 67 cases between Rose Hill and Lincoln Center as of Nov. 30.
Gelman, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, found herself in a quarantine-dedicated suite on the 21st floor of McKeon Hall. After attending her Invitation to Theatre course on Nov. 9, Gelman received a call the following day from Fordham Public Safety informing her that a student in her class tested positive for COVID-19. Her quarantine began that same day. Fordham provided Gelman with an empty suite and food delivered to her door every day, but she said she doesn’t feel that there is enough surveillance of quarantined students. “What I find funny is that we're not actually being observed. Nobody is actually making sure that we don’t leave our room,” she said. “We’re allowed to leave to get tested, so I can see so many possible ways for someone to violate quarantine. ” Since beginning quarantine, she has tested negative twice. Gelman plans to return to campus again for the spring semester.
Another student, Ky Hayward, FCLC ’21, who is not on campus this semester, had to quarantine after a waiter at their workplace in Massachusetts tested positive for COVID-19. While they would like to return to Fordham for the spring semester, they do not feel assured of their own safety or the safety of the Fordham community. “I know that not being on campus presents all sorts of challenges for students from different backgrounds, especially low-income students, queer students, and students with disabilities,” Hayward said. “I would give anything to be back in the city, but I just don’t think that it is possible to completely ensure the safety of all students in-person.” Faculty members at Fordham have also been asked to quarantine following positive test results in their classrooms. Bruce Berg, a political science professor at Rose Hill, quarantined in his Manhattan apartment after one of his students tested positive in October.
He is now teaching this section of the course exclusively over Zoom. Given that he taught in a physical classroom this semester, Berg has experienced teaching with new COVID-19 regulations for a few months and stated that he would like to continue doing so for the spring semester. He believes that both the Fordham administration and students have done a “very credible job.” “The fact that we made it through the entire semester as planned is a credit to the students, who are really driving this. I think everyone’s done a very good job,” he said. Fordham has continued to operate both in-person and online during the pandemic. The same cannot be said for New York City public schools. On Nov. 19, New York City’s public schools system closed only for Mayor Bill de Blasio to announce on Nov. 29 that elementary schools would reopen. Despite concerns that a second
wave of the coronavirus could surge through New York City this winter, bars, gyms and restaurants remain open. Maria Garcia, a Fordham parent, teaches first graders at P.S. 314, the Muscota New School. She said that schools shouldn’t have been opened to begin with. “Do I enjoy teaching in front of a computer screen? No, but I enjoy protecting my life, my coworkers’ lives, and my students’ lives more,” she said. Garcia said she anticipates that the rest of the school year will be online. “My job definitely becomes harder,” she said. “Four- and five-year-olds love to talk and move around, so it is difficult for me to not manage their needs directly.” Garcia said she expects to have more daily meetings, conversations with parents and lesson plan adjustments while teaching online. In comparison with the closure of all public schools in the city, the Archdiocese of New York announced that Catholic schools in the region will remain open until they deem the decision “unsafe.” Garcia said if public schools are closing, Catholic schools should terminate in-person operations as well. “It’s all a mess. We, the workers, and students are going to be dealing with it.” The brunt of essential work has fallen on the workers and families who are unable to leave, disproportionately impacting Black and brown people. In the last eight months of the pandemic, more than 300,000 people have fled New York City. Students will not return to campus to finish the fall semester, and the spring semester is not expected to commence until Feb. 1. Maureen Keown, director of University Health Services, affirmed that Fordham and University Health Services will have a plan in place prior to students returning to the university in the spring.
Fordham Retention Rate Continues to Decline
Despite university efforts, fewer students than ever are coming back to the classroom By NICOLE PERKINS Features Editor
Retention and enrollment rates are dropping once again, continuing a yearslong trend confirmed by new data released from the Fordham Fall 2020 Factbook. As fewer students choose to return to campus, the university increasingly struggles to counter the loss of revenue from tuition and room and board. The Fordham Class of 2023 — across both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses — had 2,260 students in the fall of 2019, according to the factbook. This year, 89.4% of those students returned. The most recent first-year class that entered in fall 2020 is small compared to past years, with just over 2,000 students. This is the smallest entering class since 2013. Taking a closer look at the individual colleges affected shows that some were harder hit than others. At Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), only 83.3% of the Class of 2023 chose to return for the fall. This is the lowest second-year return rate listed in the factbook for undergraduate students, which dates back to 2006. Comparatively, the Class of 2022 had a retainment rate of 89%. The university is heavily dependent on high student enrollment and retention rates for funding. Tuition and auxiliary fees, which include room and board and dining,
ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
Fordham's retention and enrollment rates have dropped again, with a major reason being the coronavirus pandemic. This drop has a significant effect on the school's budget.
are crucial components of the ability to have a larger budget. With the university already losing money from a lack of event rentals and other coronavirus restrictions, a dip in both of these numbers could lead to drastic cuts in order to balance the budget. The higher percentage student contributions are in their budgets, the more universities suffer when there is a drop in enrollment. Schools consistently aim to increase enrollment and retention, meaning that simply maintaining the same levels is considered a shortfall. At Fordham, tuition alone makes up 79.3% of the university’s
budget. The university’s auxiliary revenue makes up an additional 13.6% of the budget. In total, over 92% of the budget directly depends on students paying tuition, living on campus and using the dining halls — and right now, that’s not happening. Other universities have a lowered level of student enrollment dependency. Columbia University derived 24% of its operating budget from student tuition in 2019. Tuition and fees account for 57% of New York University’s budget, and housing and dining account for an additional 10%. The New School more closely
reflects Fordham, with 73% of its budget coming from net tuition and 11% from auxiliary enterprises. Higher education enrollment was already suffering before COVID-19, mostly due to the stability of the economy and the rising cost of college. Even students in their fourth year of college are choosing to leave rather than stay for two more semesters. For the Class of 2010 at FCLC, about 319 of the original 404 firstyears returned for their senior year. Now, the numbers have dropped. Out of the 539 students who were originally part of the class of 2021, only 396 have re-enrolled.
Sam Vogel, formerly FCLC ’22, transferred to The New School. According to Vogel, the Fordham staff member she met with regarding transferring tried to persuade her heavily to stay. “A (Fordham) staff member said that the school (I transferred to) already had enough people, that they wouldn’t want me, that they wouldn’t give me money,” Vogel said. For Vogel, she decided to transfer regardless, mainly for financial reasons. She also cited additional frustrations with the small class choices for the college and how the school was much less secular than it presented itself to be. The Gabelli School of Business (GSB) at both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center suffered drops as well, although not as steep. There was a roughly 4% drop in returning second-year students from the Class of 2018 to the Class of 2019, and about 66 fewer students enrolled. To emphasize that, 10% less students enrolled in GSB overall this year compared to last year. Although this comprises fewer than 100 students, that is 10% less funding to be put toward university costs — such as running facilities and paying faculty. Fordham administrators have already indicated that this is a much smaller enrollment than they anticipated for the fall term, and as a result, the university suspended retirement contributions for Fordham staff until further notice.
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THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
News
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Meme News at Fordham: Troubling Trend or Trusted Trolls?
Accounts such as @lc_sinners and @lowensteamy_memes provide entertainment and an outlet for student frustrations By CHLOE ZELCH and STEPHEN BRAGALE Staff Writers
News satire was first popularized by “The Daily Show” when a survey in 2004 found that the show’s viewers were more informed about political issues than people who read newspapers or watched televised news. In recent years, “Last Week Tonight” has also been recognized for “the John Oliver effect,” a term for the show’s ability to create awareness and spark change concerning political issues with its comedic journalism. News satire among Fordham Lincoln Center students is now becoming more popular with meme pages like @lc_sinners and @lowensteamy_memes taking on a prominent role in the community. @lc_sinners “LC Sinners for the win!” Panharidth In, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, said. In is one of the growing numbers of Fordham students who looks for a dose of comedy and campus culture from student-run meme pages on social media. @lc_sinners began as a meme account, but since the COVID-19
pandemic it has taken on a new, expanded role as a student news source with almost 4,000 followers. The account currently functions as an outlet for Fordham students to express opinions and share news. Some of the earliest news-related posts on @lc_sinners were critical of Fordham’s response to COVID-19. The page posted a screenshot of an email that had been sent to the entire Fordham community about the suspension of face-face instruction on March 9, spreading awareness about the university’s decision. Later that day, the page parodied Fordham’s mass email format, posting a meme joking that a trip to a local Bronx sports bar’s bathroom past 2 a.m. would render someone “immune from the coronavirus.” @lc_sinners also documented the unsafe activities of some Fordham students during the pandemic, such as footage of over 100 Rose Hill orientation leaders gathered together on Aug. 20, a post that gained over 800 likes. “I think what’s so remarkable about LC Sinners is that it is a meme page turned advocacy page because of the amount of student confessionals and eyewitness videos they post,” In said. The many student accounts that @lc_sinners has posted
have not all been credible. In acknowledged some doubt about the merits of statements posted on @lc_sinners. “I’m not sure I would consider it a news source, but maybe an opinion/eyewitness confessional source,” he said. “I always question how much of the posts are regurgitated from the University’s statements and how much opinion is added to it.” @lc_sinners has posted DMs submitted by students about COVID-19 testing policies, particularly how often students could be tested and if there was a limit to how many times students could be tested. The posts prompted statements from University Health Services Director Maureen Keown, who clarified the university's testing policy. A large volume of these posted DMs can be traced back to @lc_sinners receiving DMs from students telling the creators that their account was doing more harm than good in mid-October. Following these concerns, the account asked its audience if it should shut down the page. Ultimately, as expressed through the DMs the account posted on its story, the student body convinced @lc_sinners to stay on Instagram. @lc_sinners has a history of controversy surrounding the valid-
ity of its posts, especially concerning COVID-19 policy violations. Rumors were circulating concerning members of the Fordham men’s basketball program testing positive for the coronavirus, with students and players allegedly putting coaches at fault for mismanaging safety procedures. @lc_sinners posted DMs confirming the coaches’ mistakes, alongside others claiming that no one was to blame.
“ I think the meme
and news pages help generate a conversation about what is going on at Fordham. ”
Maria Tergis, FCLC ’22
Maria Tergis, FCLC ’22, said that meme pages occasionally post important information more clearly and quickly than other campus news sources. “There were some things posted, particularly at the beginning of the semester/over the summer that I had not known about,” she said. “I felt some uncertainty about what Fordham was doing as regards the pandemic and COVID-19 guidelines leading up to this semester, and some of the accounts shared updates from RAs that gave me a better idea of what things were looking like on campus.” @lc_sinners did not respond to The Observer’s request for comment. @lowensteamy_memes
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER
Students are increasingly turning to Fordham meme accounts as a way to receive updates about the university.
@lowensteamy_memes has taken a different approach from @lc_sinners and posts satirical “infauxgraphics” or multi-slide memes, as the creator explained in an anonymous interview. The owner of the account said they post memes to create “a place to exercise our unalienable right to constantly mock and complain about our immediate surroundings like true New York liberal arts college students.” @lowensteamy_memes, despite only having about 800 followers,
has caught the attention of Dean of FCLC Laura Auricchio. In a satirical post that advertised a fake bake sale to solve Fordham’s budget deficit, @lowensteamy_memes peddled “Auricchi-O’s,” resulting in a friendly exchange with Auricchio and a rendered mock-up of a box of the fake cereal. Auricchio commented, “Where do I sign up to bid on the Auricchi-O’s?” while @lowensteamy_ memes responded, “For you? On the house” with a red heart emoji. @lowensteamy_memes has taken a more satirical approach in its critique of Fordham, unlike @lc_sinners, which directly brings up concerns. Lily Carlisle, FCLC ’24, said that “@lc_sinners tells it like it is,” while “@lowensteamy_memes is less of a place to go for news, it’s where you go for jokes after you already know the news.” Students like Tergis value these kinds of pages for the discourses they create. “I think the meme and news pages help generate a conversation about what is going on at Fordham, as well as provide students with an outlet to express their frustrations and experiences with the administration,” Tergis said. “I also think that getting news from student run accounts might appeal to more people as it feels like the updates are coming from someone in the same position that they are in.” Jordan Singleton, FCLC ’22, said that she doesn’t follow any of Fordham’s meme pages and fails to see them as a legitimate news source. “I think a majority of students see news/meme pages as a harmless entertainment and a source of school spirit,” she said, “but a minority of students take the pages very seriously and try to gain recognition from their peers by appearing on these pages.” The majority of the meme pages on the list of top Fordham meme accounts published by The Observer last year have been inactive for multiple semesters, leaving room for @lc_sinners and @lowensteamy_memes to succeed. It remains to be seen which direction their accounts take in the future, but Fordham students are certainly watching.
Fordham Offers Free Supplemental Courses With LinkedIn Learning
Learn career-building skills from experts in a variety of fields including business, technology, communication By KATRINA LAMBERT News Editor
Through its new partnership with LinkedIn Learning, Fordham students are able to take courses and develop professional skills on their own time. From building a personal brand to learning how to network with professionals in one's field, there are many skills that colleges don’t teach students; this partnership aims to fill in those gaps.
“ I’ve been using
LinkedIn Learning to learn programming tools that I may not learn in my classroom. ”
Ora Kalaj, FCRH ’23
Using the Fordham-specific link, members within the Fordham community are able to access a variety of courses for free. Courses are taught by experts in their fields. Topics range from
prioritizing mental health in the workplace to training in JavaScript. A study conducted by LinkedIn analysts found that students who take part in LinkedIn Learning are 11% more likely to be employed after college than those who don’t use it. “As a chemistry major, I’ve been using LinkedIn Learning to learn programming tools that I may not learn in my classroom,” Ora Kalaj, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, said. She anticipates the help that these tools will serve her for future opportunities in her field. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors have a variety of programs on LinkedIn Learning to choose from to support their college education at Fordham. The programs offered are not only skill-specific, but also provide tips for career building. Women account for 36.1% of STEM majors receiving bachelor degrees in the U.S., yet they make up only 28.5% of the STEM workforce. LinkedIn Learning offers courses catered to women in STEM-related fields. There are lectures assisting women in STEM with tips for dealing with adversity and highlighting successful wom-
en in STEM to encourage women to pursue their desired fields. The courses are also helpful for faculty and staff members of the Fordham community. Derek TiceBrown, an assistant professor at Fordham's Graduate School of Social Service, said he uses LinkedIn Learning to assist his research and lectures. “It has been really helpful in obtaining perspectives by watching videos from experts such as Stanford’s Dereca Blackmon,” Tice-Brown said. Blackmon works as an assistant vice provost and executive director of the Diversity and First Generation office at Stanford University. She has several courses on LinkedIn Learning educating heads of departments and leaders on how to create an inclusive environment. The programs on LinkedIn Learning from Blackmon, as well as other experts, offer resources for students and faculty to educate themselves about engaging in allyship and anti-racism meaningfully, if they choose to seek these courses out. In response to demands from the Black Student Alliance at Rose Hill, ASILI, this past summer, Fordham made a statement
LINKEDIN LEARNING
Fordham's new partnership with LinkedIn Learning allows students to take a variety of free courses on skills and topics that may not be taught in their classes.
of commitment to combating anti-Blackness on campus. As a part of that commitment, Fordham aimed to implement employee implicit bias training, and these LinkedIn Learning resources are aiding their work. Fordham community members do not need to have a previous LinkedIn account to access the Fordham LinkedIn Learning, although students can connect their personal LinkedIn profiles to the Fordham account if they wish.
Once students or community members leave the university, they are no longer eligible for a free LinkedIn learning experience. However, if one wishes to, they can purchase a LinkedIn Learning account for a $29.99 per month subscription fee. By partnering with LinkedIn Learning, Fordham joins 58% of the top QS-rated universities in the world which use LinkedIn Learning to increase student success.
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December 2, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Fall Semester Closes as Uncertainties Rise
A recent spike in cases during the move-out period has left students concerned about the spring semester RESLIFE from page 1
The recent rise in cases on campus caused Martin to reflect on her campus experiences and how safe she felt it was. “I have felt somewhat unsafe on campus due to the fact that I know of many students who are not following social distancing guidelines, wearing masks, or taking other precautions to prevent the spread of COVID either on or off campus,” Martin said. “Because it is difficult to tell who those people may have been in contact with that I might also interact with, I have tried to keep my circle as small as possible, even when taking all the necessary precautions.”
“ I was pleasantly
surprised that we were able to finish this semester till thanksgiving without getting kicked out. ”
Mark Asper, FCLC ’22
However, Mark Asper, FCLC ’22, had a different experience living on-campus this semester. “I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to finish this semester till thanksgiving without getting kicked out,” Asper wrote. “I felt very safe with the protocols enforced by reslife. I felt like the monthly testings and no guest policy has made living here safer.” Prior to the phased move-in in August, the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) had already made
adjustments to avoid overcrowding. Those living on campus also received training on the use of face masks, social distancing and sanitizing procedures, as well as the expectations of the Ram Pledge. “There was an adjustment period for individuals to get used to wearing masks/face coverings in public spaces,” Senior Director of Residential Life Jenifer Campbell said. “After an initial friendly reminder, instances of non-compliance were minimal.” “Living on campus has been a bit strange this semester,” Martin said. “Obviously due to COVID there are a lot of new guidelines that need to be followed, such as wearing a mask in public and when visiting other dorm rooms, and limiting the number of people per elevator in the dorms and in Lowenstein.” The new guidelines were not the only strange part of living on campus this semester. “It’s been a quiet experience living (on campus) this fall semester,” Asper said. “Comparing it to previous semesters, the residence hall has been less busy with less people.”
and will be staying on campus until the semester ends. He explained that the process of requesting to stay on campus was simple; he only had to fill out a form and speak with Campbell about his reason for staying. “I am staying mainly because the timezone difference between the US and Philippines will affect my productivity,” Asper said. “I want to make sure I finish my semester first before I travel back home.”
“ I would not want to
be randomly assigned a roommate because I would not know if I could trust them to be safe when interacting with people outside of our room. ”
Stevie Martin, FCLC ’23
Fall Move-Out
Expectations for the Spring Semester
Although the majority of students will be moving out, Campbell said approximately 90 students will be allowed to stay on campus after Thanksgiving. Campbell explained that students may be staying on campus for a few reasons, the main one being that Alvin Ailey dance students are required to stay since their in-person classes have extended instruction past Nov. 24. Students are also permitted to stay longer if their home country has imposed travel restrictions. Asper is from the Philippines
Students also began to reconsider their expectations for the spring due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases on campus and in the city. Martin explained that she is worried about the potential of adding more people to apartments. “I am concerned with housing's intent to add more people to each apartment next semester,” Martin said. “I am currently in a single room inside of a three person apartment in McMahon, and I would not want to be ran-
OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER
Most students living in the dorms this semester moved out before Wednesday, Nov. 25, with the exception of approximately 90 students who will stay for dance classes or due to travel restrictions.
domly assigned a roommate because I would not know if I could trust them to be safe when interacting with people outside of our room.” ResLife does not have a confirmed number of how many students will be living on campus for the spring semester. “We will continue to accommodate student requests as we did during the summer,” Campbell said when asked how room assignments will be made for the spring semester. Aside from the worry of more people being added to rooms, both Martin and Asper empha-
sized that they would like to see more ways of socialization in the spring semester. Martin advocated for more virtual events and outdoor activities once the weather is nicer. Asper said the only thing he would change is finding a way for guests to visit safely. The spring semester does not begin for about two months, and it is unknown how many people will be on campus when it does begin. However, those who were on campus for the fall semester were able to experience a very different campus life than ever before.
Students for Justice in Palestine Appear in Appellate Court
The legal battle over the club’s status continues more than a year after Justice Nancy Bannon ruled in favor of SJP SJP from page 1
“Both have been an incredibly valuable support team since day one. They’ve assisted us in understanding the legal frameworks of the case as well as providing us with social media and marketing assistance,” Kuemerle said. After months of inactivity on their Instagram account, SJP announced the court date in a video on Nov. 19, calling students to support them by joining a YouTube live video of the oral argument. “The university rejected SJP because we are advocating for Palestinians,” Kuemerle said in the video. “Despite their attempts to stop us, we will continue speaking out.”
The video has over 5,000 views, and Kuemerle said that SJP received 22 photos of students standing in solidarity with the club. “It’s been really interesting to see all these people from different backgrounds joining forces for Palestinian rights,” Kuemerle said. “Dean (Keith) Eldredge claimed that SJP would cause polarization, but it seems that since our club has been in existence, it’s really just brought a lot of people together, and allowed for some meaningful discussions to be had with regards to human rights.” The oral argument lasted just over 11 minutes, with only two clarifying questions from Judge Anil Singh — both of which were directed at Levine.
Fordham’s counsel, Jim Ryan, stated that Dean of Students Keith Eldredge did “extensive research” and concluded that “SJP chapters regularly disrupted and interfered with students and campus operations. The promotion of BDS was the cause of many of the safety and security issues associated with other SJP chapters.” BDS, which stands for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, is a Palestinian-led movement that promotes the use of those tactics — all of which are forms of nonviolent protest — against Israel. BDS aims to pressure Israel to comply with international law. “This is something that never came up in the decision-making
process when Eldredge vetoed the formation of SJP,” Radhika Sainath, a senior staff attorney at Palestine Legal, said. “It’s insane that they’re bringing this up at the eleventh hour and completely without basis.”
“ As a student of
Fordham, it’s mindboggling in this time of austerity and budget cuts, Fordham still has the resources to pay a team of lawyers for five years, to not allow us to have a club, which in and of itself is just ridiculous. ”
Veer Shetty, FCLC ’21 and vice president of SJP
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE
Katherine Kuemerle (left) and Anita Kwok (right) hold signs of support for SJP as part of a social media campaign that received 22 submissions.
After the court hearing, the CCR and Palestine Legal hosted a debrief webinar in collaboration with SJP. The panel included Veer Shetty, FCLC ’21 and vice president of SJP, and Ahmad Awad, FCLC ’17, one of the students who filed the original lawsuit. “As a student of Fordham, it’s mind-boggling in this time of austerity and budget cuts, Fordham still has the resources to pay a team of lawyers for five years, to not allow us to have a club, which in and of itself is just ridiculous,” Shetty said.
Fordham’s financial situation shifted when the pandemic hit. Students were not refunded for tuition when education transitioned to online learning during the spring semester and Fordham halted contributions to retirement funds for employees in October. “There are no additional funds nor other pools of money from which to draw,” wrote University President the Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., in an email to the Fordham community on Nov. 3. Awad said he is shocked that they are still litigating the issue but remains hopeful because of the students who organize SJP and the ones standing in solidarity with them. “All of this is about the controversy surrounding Israel and Palestine, and one understands Fordham's reluctance to stir that hornet’s nest, but avoiding controversy is not a grounds consistent with its (Fordham’s) mission statement,” Levine said. In his argument, Levine mentioned that denial of official club recognition has “real consequences to the petitioners,” such as the inability to solicit facilities and Fordham funds for club use. As an official club, SJP has been able to host events, such as their collaborative poetry event with the Muslim Student Association. They are also able to congregate for club meetings on campus, utilizing Fordham facilities. Shetty said he was confident that the ruling will be in the club’s favor because “justice is on our side.”
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THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
News
5
Ex-Cardinal McCarrick, FCRH ’54, Investigated in Vatican Report
Minors, seminarians and priests accuse longtime archbishop of sexual abuse and abuse of authority By JILL RICE Head Copy Editor
Trigger warning: Nonconsensual sexual activity and abuse The Vatican released a 450-page report on Nov. 10 about Theodore McCarrick, ex-cardinal of the Catholic Church and Fordham College at Rose Hill ’54, regarding his abuse of power and authority, as well as his abuse of minors, seminarians and priests. The new report is the result of Pope Francis’ call for a full investigation into McCarrick’s actions in October 2018. Relying primarily on official Vatican documents and correspondences, as well as witness interviews, the report covers McCarrick’s tenure as a priest, bishop, archbishop and cardinal over the past 50 years. In 2019, McCarrick was defrocked, meaning that he is unable to perform the pastoral and ministerial duties of a priest or to marry, as a layperson — someone not ordained as a priest — would. Fordham rescinded McCarrick’s honorary degree and has changed the name of its fellowship for a graduate program in International Political Economy and Development to the John Fidelis Hurley, S.J., Fellowship. Rise to Power and First Allegations According to the Vatican’s report, McCarrick was appointed as an auxiliary bishop in New York in 1977 under Pope Paul VI. He was then elevated to the seat of bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1981, and archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, in 1986 under St. John Paul II. McCarrick was “lauded as a pastoral, intelligent and zealous bishop” and no credible information was present to suggest any misconduct, the report stated. He became the archbishop of Washington, D.C., in 2000 and created cardinal in 2001. When he was elevated to cardinal, according to the introduction of the report, there were four general allegations against McCarrick. Anyone who testified against McCarrick remained anonymous, and the report labeled the priests as Priest 1, Priest 2, and so on, for clarity. First, “Priest 1,” a former Metuchen priest claimed that McCarrick had performed a sexual act in front of him with another priest, and he attempted to engage in sexual activity with Priest 1 in 1987. Next, a set of anonymous letters from 1992-93 were sent to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, some cardinals and the apostolic nuncio — the pope’s
ANDY METTLER/WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM VIA FLICKR
In 2018, Pope Francis called for an investigation on ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. On Nov. 10, the Vatican released its report on his abuse of power and of minors and priests.
diplomat to the United States — accused McCarrick of pedophilia. Third, McCarrick “was known to have shared a bed with young adult men in the Bishop’s residence in Metuchen and Newark”; and last, he was similarly known to have shared a bed with adult seminarians at a beach house in New Jersey. In the report, Vatican officials state that John Paul was convinced of McCarrick’s innocence in the above matters due to a last-minute letter declaring his lack of wrongdoing. Explaining the pope’s decision, Marc Cardinal Ouellet referenced the former pope’s friendship with McCarrick, as well as his youth spent in communist Poland, where priests would be wrongly accused of sexual abuse. To weaken the church, the secret service would denounce priests, undermining their reputations; “this left a very strong impression on him,” Ouellet, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, said. The report states that, through information known now, three of the four bishops who reported to the nuncio provided incomplete information about the alleged misconduct, which then influenced the pope to approve McCarrick’s rise to the position of cardinal.
child abuse; the “allegations of misconduct with adults related to events in the 1980s; and there was no indication of any recent misconduct.” McCarrick remained in active public ministry, traveling the world for the U.S. Department of State or otherwise with Vatican approval. Toward the end of Benedict’s papacy, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the apostolic nuncio to the United States at the time, learned of Priest 3, who brought allegations against McCarrick of sexual misconduct that occurred in 1991.
“ Given my
circumstance as a seminarian under Cardinal McCarrick, I never felt able to resist his requests, and so I often complied. ”
Priest 2
Ouellet instructed Viganò to perform an inquiry into the allegations, but the nuncio never followed through, failing to discover the credibility of Priest 3. McCarrick continued his public ministry, though to a lesser extent due to his age — he was 83 years old in 2013. When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, according to the Vatican report, he saw no need to change what his predecessors had decided about McCarrick; until 2017, he claimed he was only informed of the allegations and rumors that John Paul and Benedict had dismissed.
McCarrick Under Benedict and Francis McCarrick served as cardinal and archbishop of Washington from 2000 to 2006. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, John Paul’s successor, knew as much of McCarrick’s actions as his predecessor did. The report states that Benedict did not prevent McCarrick from public ministry, citing that there were no credible allegations of
After the first credible accusation that McCarrick had sexually abused a minor, a claim received by the Archdiocese of New York on June 8, 2017, Francis instructed Timothy Cardinal Dolan of New York to begin an investigation, and he asked McCarrick to resign from the College of Cardinals, and he was “dismissed from the clerical state.” Findings From the Vatican Report The report revealed the witnesses of 17 priests and laymen who interacted with McCarrick as late teenage or young adult men in some capacity during his time as bishop, archbishop and cardinal. Their testimonies shared certain commonalities: They claimed the ex-cardinal abused his authority to gain access to young men and boys, who in turn felt “powerless to object” to his advances. “Given my circumstance as a seminarian under Cardinal McCarrick, I never felt able to resist his requests, and so I often complied,” Priest 2 said in the report. The report also found that McCarrick would befriend families and especially the adolescent boys, insisting that they call him “Uncle Ted.” In an open letter posted online and cited in the report, Richard Sipe, a former Benedictine monk and psychotherapist who focused on clerical sexual abuse within the Church, wrote that he had McCarrick’s “correspondence where he referred to these men (certain priests and seminarians) as being ‘cousins’ with each other.” The witnesses also mentioned that they felt a “sense of ‘gratitude’” for McCarrick taking them
Timeline of McCarrick’s Priesthood and Investigation Nov. 1981 — McCarrick is named as bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey.
1955
1980
1954 — McCarrick graduates from Fordham University.
May 1986 — McCarrick becomes Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.
1985
1984 — The Diocese of Metuchen purchases McCarrick’s beach house in Sea Girt, New Jersey.
Between 1989 and 1996 — Three priests report sexual assault to McCarrick’s successor, but there is no evidence that he reported it.
1990
Summer 1987 — Priest 1 alleges that he spent the night at McCarrick’s New York apartment; he reported this in 1993.
Feb. 2001 — McCarrick is elevated to the role of cardinal.
1995
Nov. 2000 — St. John Paul II names McCarrick as archbishop of Washington, D.C.
Information from National Catholic Reporter and Catholic News Agency
May 2006 — Pope Benedict XVI accepts McCarrick’s resignation as archbishop.
June 2017 — The Archdiocese of New York receives a claim that McCarrick “unlawfully touched” a minor in the early 1970s.
2000
2005
June 2005 — McCarrick resigns as archbishop of Washington when he turns 75, per Canon Law.
March 2013 — Pope Francis becomes the next pope.
on trips to foreign countries and introducing them to important leaders, including the pope. McCarrick would isolate his victims from supervision and take them to his Bishop’s Residences, his own apartment, or his beach house. Some reported that he provided underage boys with alcohol. For overnight travel, witnesses reported that McCarrick made sleeping arrangements to share beds; he wore only his underwear to bed and encouraged the witnesses to do the same. While some said that he would initiate physical contact such as back rubs or embraces, a few others claimed that he initiated nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact in or out of bed, including touching, masturbation, and “in a few instances, penetration or attempted penetration.” At the end of the report, many victims stated that they previously felt powerless to report any misconduct because they feared being “disbelieved” or that they “would be retaliated against if they came forward.” Results of the Allegations, 2008-2020 In the early 2000s, McCarrick lived near the seminary by Seton Hall University and at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Hyattsville, Maryland, even while Nuncio Pietro Sambi wrote to other Vatican officials knew that “he may be involved in sex scandals at any moment.” In response to these scandals and accusations, McCarrick repeatedly swore on his oath as a bishop and on God that he had never had any sexual relations with any man, woman or child. In 2017, the allegations brought against McCarrick from the 1970s were unanimously found substantiated and credible by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. These were brought to light in 2018, per archdiocesan policy. Further allegations emerged from 17 witnesses in 2019 and 2020. According to Catholic News Agency, after Sambi asked McCarrick to move out of Redemptoris Mater Seminary, “An emotional McCarrick told Sambi that because Priest 1 was 25 at the time of the allegations, what had happened was not a crime, and that his continued pursuit of the allegations seemed to be a grab for money.” The Church has focused on exposing the illegal abuse of minors by priests, but the abuse of adults, especially seminarians and priests, has been brought to light in McCarrick’s case and may lead to greater transparency within the Church about similar allegations.
May 2018 — The allegation involving the minor is found to be credible.
2010
Dec. 2017 to April 2018 — Preliminary investigation is conducted.
Oct. 2018 — Francis orders a thorough study of the documents in the Vatican’s archives related to McCarrick.
2015
July 2018 — McCarrick renounces his position as cardinal.
2020
Feb. 2019 — McCarrick is defrocked and can no longer act as a priest.
GRAPHIC BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER
Sports & Health Editors Gus Dupree - adupree1@fordham.edu Patrick Moquin - pmoquin@fordhamw.edu
Sports & Health
December 2, 2020
THE OBSERVER
Behind the Mask: The Barriers Against a Federal Mask Mandate By GUS DUPREE Sports & Health Editor
Facial coverings have been around long before COVID-19 began spreading worldwide from Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Now, face masks have become associated with the coronavirus and 2020. Health experts and world leaders alike touted face masks’ ability to reduce the spread of infected droplets and encouraged everyone to don a mask or some sort of covering when heading outside. But what has been accepted as a given across much of the world has been ensnared in the American political scene. President Donald Trump has openly questioned mask-wearing procedures and refused to wear a mask even after he was infected in early October. Although 72% of Americans are reportedly wearing masks whenever they’re outside the house, apprehension and misinformation surrounding facial coverings continue to permeate. COVID-19 cases are rising across the country, and 260,000 Americans have already died. Although there is no guaranteed method to avoid infection besides constant physical isolation, mask-wearing remains one of the key methods for preventing infecting yourself or others when out in public. Regardless of this advice, many continue to ignore — or even actively resist — mask-wearing. Anti-maskers tend to oppose mask-wearing by denying or downplaying the presence of COVID-19. However, the
wide-ranging sentiment is also in no small part due to Trump’s aforementioned refusal to implement a mandate. From a psychological perspective, this is an instance of “in-grouping,” where people within a certain social group — in this case, certain conservatives — tend to conform to their “ingroup” beliefs. In an already tribalistic political climate where a group leader actively tells supporters not to wear a mask, certain members of society are reinforced in their belief that mask-wearing is not only non-essential but also that mandates and encouragement to wear a mask are a threat to the group itself. Nowhere is this narrative more apparent than in the many anti-mask demonstrations and protests that have sprung up across the country since mask mandates meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 were first introduced in April. Monika McDermott, professor of political science at Fordham University, argued that the polarization of masks has caused fewer people to wear them. According to McDermott, “in some states and localities, in which local enforcement would be necessary, it is going to continue to be ignored as a public safety measure.” “In brief,” McDermott stated, “a federal mask mandate will not work.” While academics like McDermott have acknowledged the divisive image that mask-wearing now generates, Fordham students were overwhelmingly support-
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
While 72% of Americans are reportedly wearing masks, many others, including the president, have questioned and undermined their effectiveness.
ive of a federal mask mandate, if not similarly apprehensive about whether or not it would be followed. Natalie Blair, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, thought that a mask mandate was “necessary, but there will be outrage from some.” Matt Chen, FCLC ’22, had similar concerns. “It works on a small scale,” he said about enforcing a mask mandate. “But I think it’s almost impossible to apply in the US.” Since the pandemic, Chen has been staying at his home in Taiwan, and he doesn’t plan on
returning to the United States until after a vaccine is developed and widely distributed. Despite the controversy surrounding a federal mask mandate, many states, cities and businesses have implemented their own mandates and guidelines to try to prevent the spread. As of Dec. 1, 37 out of the 50 states have required mask-wearing, in addition to Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Many large companies and corporations have required employees and customers to wear masks
when present at their respective locations. The United States may currently seem anything but united, with the tense debate surrounding mask-wearing effectively showcasing this divide. Despite this apparent division, mask-wearing itself has proven to be widely accepted among the general public. Ultimately, governmental mandates lack impact when mask-wearing in the United States has become a matter of personal choice.
Winter Is Coming: Suit Up and Boost Your Immune System
By KATRINA MANANSALA Staff Writer
Winter and flu season are upon us. As the coronavirus shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, it is more important now than ever to maintain a strong and healthy immune system. Because COVID-19 and the flu display similar symptoms, being healthy is imperative to preventing viral spread. There are several ways to boost the immune system, such as eating healthy foods, exercising, getting proper sleep, taking vitamin and mineral supplements, and taking active measures to prevent infections. Maintaining a healthy diet is no new surprise to staying healthy overall. The body functions at its best with sufficient intake of different nutrients. However, certain foods contain vitamins and minerals that can improve the immune system, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, B6, C and D3. Zinc is an important mineral for “fighting off invading bacteria and viruses,” according to the National Institutes of Health. It is also necessary for protein and DNA production in all cells and for the development of infants and children. Zinc can be found in foods such as oysters, red meat, poultry, seafood, beans, nuts, grains and dairy products. Selenium is a trace element that plays a vital role in a number of crucial bodily functions, including “protection from oxidative damage and infection.” Brazil nuts are the best source of selenium, but it can also be found in fish, red meats, poultry, grains and dairy products. Vitamin A helps improve organ function being important for vision, immunity and reproduction.
Beef liver, salmon, green leafy vegetables, apricots, mangoes, dairy and fortified cereals are all sources of vitamin A. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and aids in collagen production and immune system function. Oranges and grapefruits are excellent sources, as are broccoli, strawberries and tomatoes. Vitamin D3 is one of the two main forms of vitamin D. Necessary for calcium absorption and bone health, it also reduces inflammation and regulates immune and neuromuscular function. Fatty fish, like salmon and tuna, as well as fish liver oils are the best sources of D3, but it can also be provided by fortified milks, cheeses and cereals. One of the easiest ways to absorb vitamin D3 is through sunlight. Of course, simply eating right may not be enough to receive
proper amounts of these vitamins and minerals. Supplements are an excellent way to bridge the gap in deficiencies and to make sure the body gets what it needs to stay strong. Vitamin D is particularly important to the immune system but with fewer natural sources, taking supplements may be necessary. Recent studies from the Mayo Clinic have found correlations between vitamin D deficiencies and an increased likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19. Furthermore, the risk of death from acute respiratory failure was also reported to have increased. Such deficiencies are largely found in members of Black and Latinx communities, as well as among the elderly. Additionally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, racial and ethnic mi-
nority groups and adults over 65 years of age are at higher risks of contracting the coronavirus. For members of these communities, it is even more important to adopt cautious and healthy habits during this time when the spread of infectious diseases is very high. As with any medical concern, it is important to contact your primary care provider before starting new over-the-counter supplements and medications to ensure you are getting the correct and necessary doses. Exercise is another method of strengthening immunity. While there is no direct correlation between physical activity and the immune system, exercise promotes general good health in addition to healthy eating. The cardiovascular system’s strength is improved with exercise, which in turn fosters better blood circulation, an important
ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
Vitamin supplements are one way to give the immune system a boost, which is especially important during the pandemic and flu season.
function to transport nutrients throughout the body. Getting enough sleep is also important to the state of one’s immune system. According to the Mayo Clinic, cytokines are proteins released throughout the body during sleep. Production of these proteins increases with the presence of infection and inflammation. However, sleep deprivation impedes this process. Go to bed at a reasonable time now and then rather than continuously staying up during the holidays. Finally, active preventative measures reduce the likelihood of contracting unwanted bacteria and viruses. Practicing good hygiene like covering coughs and sneezes, hand-washing, and not picking at healing wounds or blemishes prevents the spread of bacteria and development of sickness. Additionally, staying up-todate on vaccinations for measles, HIV and the most recent flu virus creates the necessary antibodies required to fight off infection. Be cautious of excessive disinfecting, especially when it comes to your skin. Too much washing can remove the natural good bacteria and oils on the skin that protect the rest of the body from invading germs. As winter and the holiday season approach, a majority of students, faculty and staff are going home for winter break. While staying home may seem like a simple and easy solution to avoiding the flu, coronavirus and common colds, it is imperative that individuals practice habits that will not only boost immune systems, but that will also prevent the spread of infection and sickness, such as practicing social distancing and maintaining proper hygiene.
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THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
Sports & Health
7
Vaccine Vulnerabilities: Hesitancy Among Public Throws Immunization Efforts Into Uncertainty
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY PAMELA PAJARES/THE OBSERVER
By AIZA BHUIYAN Sports & Health Editor Emerita
As COVID-19 cases continue to climb across the country, the development of a cure has become even more crucial. According to the World Health Organization, as of Nov. 30, there have been over 13 million cases and over 263,000 deaths in the United States since Jan. 3. In November alone, there were over 4 million new cases nationally. According to a New York Times database, since the COVID-19 outbreak in New York, the Fordham community has had 112 cases. Additionally, the database recorded that COVID-19 cases at Fordham were escalating once again. To most effectively combat the pandemic, it is important to achieve herd immunity. This type of resistance to the virus occurs when there are enough people within a given population that have preexisting immunity as a result of infection or vaccination. Because an entire community is protected from the virus, herd immunity slows down the spread of the virus because it decreases the rate of contraction. Mayo Clinic reported that more contagious viruses will necessitate a larger proportion of the population to be immune to it to minimize its spread. Herd immunity also protects those who are not able to receive vaccines due to compromised immune systems because there are significantly fewer people who can spread the virus to them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), what percentage of the population needs to get vaccinated to develop national herd immunity to the coronavirus is still unknown. Also, revaccination may be necessary to maintain this communal immunity. The CDC reported that as of Nov. 24, there have been five coronavirus vaccines that have made it to Phase 3 clinical trials. Only one of these vaccines needs one shot to be effective; the rest of the vaccines require a person to be inoculated twice. Although it is likely that a vaccine would most significantly reduce the effects of the pandemic, there is growing public distrust
that is discouraging people from potentially receiving the injection. There is a minority of the population who is skeptical about the vaccine and believe it would harm rather than help their health. Mayo Clinic reported that religious objections would be another factor that may increase opposition to the vaccine and in turn inhibit herd immunity. As of Nov. 1, Gallup polling suggests that only 58% of Americans would get the vaccine, while over 40% were unwilling. Among 18- to 44-year-olds, the biggest concern contributing to vaccine hesitancy was a “rushed timeline” to produce it. Overall, the willingness to get the vaccine has dropped since the beginning of the year. The Siena College Research Institute’s latest poll suggests 24% of New Yorkers will not take a vaccine for the coronavirus when it becomes available. Moreover, Black and Indigenous Americans share a common concern regarding a coronavirus vaccine due to historical abuse and exploitation of these groups by the scientific community. A Pew Research Center survey found that nearly 66% of white Americans shared the belief that the bene-
fits of experimental trials of the vaccine would outweigh the risks, while 60% of Black Americans believed that the risks would outweigh the benefits. Throughout the country, Black and Latinx Americans have been disproportionately affected by the virus. Nevertheless, recent data suggests that they are also being underrepresented in the efficacy trials as a result of both limited cooperation and under-recruitment by testing officials. To create a vaccine that is effective for all Americans, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci believes there needs to be increased inclusion of minority groups during these clinical trials. Regaining the trust of these groups is vital for representative data and herd immunity. The CDC reported that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) outlined four ethical principles for vaccine distribution if supply is limited. Two of them include mitigating health inequities and promoting justice. The ACIP aims to minimize health disparities that have caused certain groups to bear the brunt of the pandemic by eliminating systemic barriers to vaccination. To achieve
this, it is essential for public health and scientific communities to mend the mistrust among these groups Higher education institutions will soon have to decide how to deal with this distrust among students and faculty members. Hope VanDerwater, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, emphasized the importance of Fordham addressing the growing apprehension regarding these vaccines and safety. She said, “I believe that Fordham should do everything they can to instill faith in these vaccines in our community and I hope to see more discussion about the trials and the vaccines in my science related classes this year.” Many students are optimistic about this vaccine as well. Maria Nettgen, FCLC ’22, expressed her confidence in the Phase 3 trials of the vaccines. She echoed, “I am optimistic about their efficacy and think Fordham should be promoting all of the science that comes out regarding these vaccines as new information is released.” Fordham already requires two measles, two mumps and one rubella vaccine upon matriculation. If a vaccine is approved by the
RIO TUASIKAL VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Volunteers participating in a COVID-19 vaccine trial in Indonesia in August 2020. As of Nov. 24, there were five potential vaccines that have made it to Phase 3 clinical trials.
Food and Drug Administration, states and colleges may be able to mandate that all students receive it to gain entry on campus. On Nov. 7, the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) approved a resolution urging the state to make the upcoming COVID-19 vaccination mandatory. The NYSBA recommended that this should occur if the amount of initial voluntary vaccinations is not enough to help the population build mass immunity to the virus so long as there is consensus among the scientific community regarding its safety and efficacy. Additionally, they proposed that this vaccine should be compulsory regardless of “religious, philosophical or personal” objections. “Once a vaccine or vaccines are approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration and available, proof of vaccination will be mandatory for all faculty, students, and staff who will be on campus,” Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications, said. “The only exceptions will be for those people who have documented medical reasons for not being vaccinated.” Across the Fordham community, some students support a compulsory coronavirus vaccine. VanDerwater said, “I do think that once there are enough vaccines, Fordham should require students to get vaccinated to return to campus, although I believe they can only do so if they provide vaccinations on campus, as they are currently doing with the required COVID tests.” When asked if there were plans to distribute the vaccine on campus Howe said, “It’s too soon to say yet. We have no idea how quickly the vaccine will be widely available.” The CDC stated that if supply is limited when the vaccine comes out, the ACIP will first consider healthcare personnel, essential workers, the elderly and those who have underlying medical conditions to receive it. As the need for a vaccine increases, public health experts, scientists and government officials must find ways to build trust with the public whom they serve. Without public compliance, even the most efficacious vaccine will not be enough to curb the coronavirus crisis in the near future.
8
Sports & Health
December 2, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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Fordham Women’s B-Ball Holds On to Win Season Opener, 62-58
COURTESY OF STONY BROOK ATHLETICS
Anna DeWolfe, FCRH ’23, pictured holding the ball, scored 25 of Fordham’s 62 points in the Rams’ first game of the season. BASKETBALL from page 1
In a pandemic, without its leading points scorer and following a disappointing loss the previous year, the Rams took the floor against Stony Brook with a different mentality. For the first time in a very long time, they had something to prove. Among a sea of empty bleachers and masked sideline officials, they had to reestablish themselves as a team to watch. To begin the first quarter of their 2020-21 season opener, Fordham jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes, forcing Stony Brook to take an early timeout. After so much time away from the court, the team emerged with energy and momentum. The Seawolves managed to gather themselves and get back into contention, but as the first buzzer sounded, the Rams still held a slim lead, 17-14. Fordham was playing well in some respects. Lead returning scorer Anna DeWolfe, FCRH ’23, was left wide open on several occasions and capitalized on that opportunity to score eight points, but the team had its incidents early on nonetheless. In her 100th college basketball game, Kendell Heremaia, FCRH ’21, committed two fouls and suffered two turnovers in the first six minutes of play. Normally one of the team’s key contributors, she was quickly subbed out and didn’t return until the second half. Heremaia wasn’t alone, however, as the team recorded 19 turnovers over the course of the game, something Kaitlyn Downey, FCRH ’21, chalked up to early season jitters. “In practice we emphasize the importance of taking care of the ball and we are known for
low turnover counts, so we are looking to improve this in the future,” Downey said. With five team fouls, a bevy of turnovers and a benched starter, it seemed like the Rams would have to compete tooth and nail with the Seawolves for the next three quarters. However, if the first quarter revealed the team’s weaker points, the second demonstrated one emphatic strength on offense.
“ We knew we had to
take them out of their comfort zone and limit second chance opportunities.”
Kaitlyn Downey, FCRH ’21
Downey said that the team’s efficiency on offense comes from “getting everyone involved and honing in on each one of our particular strengths.” In the second quarter, there was only one strength that mattered as the team made way for DeWolfe. In the 10 minutes before the half, the sophomore guard from Maine took over for Fordham offensively. In a quarter where the Seawolves scored 11 points, DeWolfe scored 15 on her own, making six of eight shots from the floor and making two of three free throws. She also added a steal and an assist in a star-studded quarter that extended Fordham’s lead at the end of the half, 39-25. If DeWolfe had been the only eligible scorer for Fordham, her 23 points would have been nearly enough to lead Stony Brook anyway, such was her dominance early on. It’s clear
now that she’ll be a new leader on the floor for a very seasoned team. However, for a talented opponent like the Seawolves, such an offensive strategy could only work for so long. As the Seawolves reemerged for the second half, it was clear that they had made the necessary adjustments. Fordham’s leading scorer was completely stifled in the second half and only scored two more points in the final 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Heremaia reentered the game but almost immediately committed another pair of turnovers and fouls and had to be taken out. As Stony Brook’s defense grew stouter, the Rams’ lack of depth off the bench began to take its toll as well. Following a free throw by Downey early in the third quarter, the Seawolves went on a 20-4 run that went well into the fourth quarter. The Rams were vastly outplayed during that stretch, committing eight turnovers and scoring two times on 11 attempts from the floor. With six and a half minutes remaining in the fourth, what was once an 18-point lead for Fordham had now dwindled to a single point, 50-49. Following this terrible stretch, Fordham finally found its offensive footing again and the teams began exchanging baskets. The Rams were still clinging to their lead, 55-53, as Sarah Karpell, FCRH ’23, brought the ball up the court with two minutes remaining. Despite running the floor for the entire game, Karpell’s role on offense was purely supportive for most of the game. Up until this moment, her five assists equaled her five points, and after a while, Stony Brook players began to give her large amounts of space under the assumption
that she wouldn’t shoot. Even then, she had only attempted two three-pointers and missed both. On this possession, she passed it off again and cut right to the corner. This time, however, the ball came back to her as Downey failed to find a lane to the basket and kicked it back out to the perimeter. In a twopoint game, Karpell took her third three-point shot of the game and drained it, putting the Rams back out in front by five, 58-53.
“ That was a great win
for a lot of reasons – winning on the road and stopping their (win) streak, coming back after building a lead, seeing different kids stepping up to the challenge. ”
Stephanie Gaitley, Fordham women’s basketball coach
Stony Brook continued to compete as time dwindled, but Karpell’s score put the game out of reach and led Fordham to a 62-58 victory. In the 201920 season, the Seawolves went 15-0 on its home court and hadn’t lost in the Island Federal Arena since Jan. 23, 2019. The home court advantage was obviously diminished by the absence of fans, but a road victory for the Rams is valuable nonetheless. While DeWolfe’s 25 points came in sudden bursts, Downey’s presence was more constant and kept the team in contention at times. In addi-
tion to 15 points, the second highest total on the team, she also had 20 of Fordham’s 39 rebounds, a significant statistic that Downey believes gave the team an edge. “Last year, SBU led the America East Conference in O-boards and out-rebounded their opponents by about 10 each game,” Downey said. “We knew we had to take them out of their comfort zone and limit second chance opportunities.” For Gaitley, her 10th season at Fordham could not have begun with a better result. Her team made up for errors and fatigue with a good deal of courage, staying in the game even after they had lost all momentum. She was very happy with her team’s performance after the game. “That was a great win for a lot of reasons – winning on the road and stopping their (win) streak, coming back after building a lead, seeing different kids stepping up to the challenge ... Great win for the Rams!” Gaitley said. Fordham’s next game against Manhattan College on Dec. 2 has been canceled after a member of the Jaspers program received a positive COVID-19 test and forced the team to enter quarantine on Nov. 25. The Rams’ next contest will now take place on Dec. 5 against Quinnipiac University. On a campus that wasn’t fully coeducational until 1974, the women’s basketball team is one of the few athletic programs that’s earned the fans’ respect in recent years. After an eightmonth hiatus, those fans deserved an honest performance to mark Fordham’s return to athletic competition, and to that end, there is no better representative to usher in this new, uncertain season.
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THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
Sports & Health
Jack Stephans, ‘The Transparent Coach,’ Passes Away at 81
By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor
On Sept. 29, former football coach Jack Stephans, who ran the team for two seasons in 1979 and 1980, passed away due to complications from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). He was 81. While Stephans’ tenure at Rose Hill was short-lived and turbulent, his love of football was just as much a part of his time with the Rams as it was in a life he dedicated to the sport. Born in 1939 in Hoboken, New Jersey, Stephans grew up playing football and was known for his talent. He attended Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey, where he was a Group IV All-State player and member of multiple undefeated teams across his four years. He received an athletic scholarship to play as a linebacker and center for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks but later transferred to play for Boston University. After college, it didn’t take long for Stephans to begin his coaching career as he took on jobs at several New Jersey high schools in his 20s. Even after he received his first college head coaching job at Jersey City State College, he continued to instruct at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, holding both positions simultaneously for several years. At Jersey City State College, now known as New Jersey City University, Stephans led the Gothic Knights to multiple winning seasons. Originally a club team, his team went undefeated in 1966, his debut season. After 1967, it became a Division III football team in the New Jersey State Athletic Conference. In 1972, the team went 8-1 and won its first conference title, and by the time Stephans left in 1973, he had compiled a 48-15 record as a college head coach. He was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1983. In a New Jersey City University press release commemorating Stephans, several former players provided their accounts of com-
peting under his tutelage. Jose Linares, who went on to become Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, remembered him for more than his success. “He was also a leader with the unique ability to lead, teach and meld together young men of many different personalities, backgrounds and skills into a cohesive unit,” Linares said. “He treated us all as family and we became one as a team.” In 1974, the head coaching position at Fordham became available and Stephans applied for it. However, the position was given to Dave Rice instead, who went on to serve as the athletic director. Stephans did not express any ill will toward Rice or Fordham after losing the job. In an interview with The Fordham Ram in 1979, Stephans said, “I really did not envy what he had to do. It was a lot of hard work, and he did accomplish a good deal. In fact, that is one thing I really did envy: his record.” After serving as an assistant coach at William Paterson University in 1974, Stephans took over head coaching duties the following season. In his three years with the Pioneers, he improved on the 1-8 record he earned in his first season but never reached the same heights he had with Jersey City State. He relinquished his position before the 1978 season, when a familiar offer came across his desk. For years beforehand, many speculated that the Fordham football team would begin to climb the ladder in the college football world. Once touted as one of the best teams in the country, the Rams had become an afterthought in Division III football. Fans, coaches and players alike hoped that the team would begin revamping the program on the way to Division II status. However, following the 1978 season, the athletic department announced that it was instead scaling back the historic program. At the end of the year, the Rams left the Metropolitan Intercolle-
giate Conference and became an independent Division III team. The aftermath of the decision was devastating for the program. Without the ability to offer athletic scholarships, the university’s recruiting ability suffered greatly. As many team members considered transferring, The Ram reported that a group of 30 football players organized a peaceful protest at a Fordham basketball game. The players “wore practice jerseys with black armbands tied around their left arms and walked peacefully around the perimeter of the court.” In the midst of this unrest, Rice resigned from his position as head coach in order to fully focus on his role as athletic director of the university. Just as the administration’s priorities were moving away from football, Stephans was hired to be the new coach. It wasn’t an enviable position. The new head coach approached his position with conflicted optimism. In a 1979 season preview, he appreciated that many of his players “were recruited for a higher level of college football.” However, he worried that there weren’t enough of those players, and that injuries could expose the team’s lack of depth. The new coach was working for a university that had just expressed its disinterest in his program, and he did his best under the circumstances. In his debut season for the Rams, he managed to lead the team to a winning record at the end of the season. Fordham compiled a 5-4 record, defeating teams like Washington and Lee University, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Seton Hall University. They lost badly to Millersville University and Dayton University, 48-7 and 59-11 respectively, but for a team that had just been relegated to the rock bottom level of college football, Stephans and the Rams were exceeding expectations. In the 1980 season, the team did not match the relative success of the previous year. Following a 32-6 victory against Pace Univer-
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Jack Stephans ran Fordham’s football team for two seasons, leading the Rams to a 5-4 record in 1979.
sity, the team only won two of its next eight games. At the end of the season, Fordham administration expressed interest in hiring a full-time football coach, and decided not to renew Stephans’ contract. The team would eventually gain Division I status in 1989 and joined the Patriot League, its current conference, the following year. Before then, however, the NCAA forced Fordham to vacate Stephans’ victories because of a scandal involving player Frank Mauro. The center played football for two years without registering for classes, making him ineligible. It was attributed to a “human error,” and while no individual was blamed or punished besides Mauro, Stephans’ entire tenure was retroactively marred by the incident.
Stephans never coached college football again but returned to high school football at several points in his life thereafter. His role at Fordham was diminutive, a blip on the radar in the storied (and spotty) history of the school’s football program. However, one could make the argument that few coaches at Rose Hill ever had to face the adversity he did to run his team effectively. He wasn’t often recognized for it, and his teams never achieved any tangible award for their efforts, but Stephans coached one of the most historically significant football programs in the country at a time when no one cared about them. A love of the game is the only motivation for fulfilling such a thankless task, and Stephans carried it out in a way that should never be forgotten.
From Filmmakers to Friends By SAMANTHA MATTHEWS Features Editor
In a socially distant visual arts classroom, the ferocity of friendship erupted beyond distance. Wearing a Columbia Picturesembossed sweatshirt, Tommy Espinal, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, displayed his passion with the logo on his chest. His best friend, Enrique Caballero, FCLC ’22, sat by his side as they reminisced on how their devotion for filmmaking led to their close bond. Be Free and Be Friends It all began when the two were enrolled in the Ghetto Film School (GFS), an immersive and intensive filmmaking program for high school students. According to its website, GFS’s mission is to aid aspiring artists in “learning both the art and business of cinematic storytelling and production training while getting the preparation and guidance to advance their education.” “We were always in a position where we had to be near each other,” Espinal said, looking with amusement at his friend. “I didn’t really know what to expect from him. I just didn’t think we’d be friends,” Caballero said. “Then, we’re in a film program together and we kind of have to do projects together. I started to realize that he’s a pretty nice dude.” At the end of the program in 2018, Espinal’s script was chosen for an international thesis project that GFS runs twice a year. The project was titled “Be Free,” and it told the story of an orphan boy in the 1937 British Palestine Mandate, where he is “forced to examine his own moral compass when he risks his life to save a young girl.” Espinal was able to pick his production team, where Caballero gave a directorial pitch that im-
pressed him. Espinal and Caballero spent a year workshopping the script and 10 days together shooting the film in Israel, where the process both forced and fostered their relationship. “We became better friends as the process continued, but also it’s hard to become a friend of Tommy’s because he’s closed off. So I definitely think he was my friend first before I was considered his,” Caballero said.
“ We have a lot of
conflict when we work. But I think when we collaborate, it’s probably the best work we could get out there.”
Enrique Caballero, FCLC ’22 PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOMMY ESPINAL AND ENRIQUE CABALLERO
Espinal jokingly replied, “Oh yeah, I definitely just kept thinking, ‘who is this dude who keeps following me around?’ but he grew on me.” There was rarely a dull moment throughout this interview as the two constantly laughed and bounced their energies off one another, resulting in hilarious banter. However, the tone did get more serious the more their past projects and films came up. The pair truly loves what they do and they never spoke of their work in a way that was anything less than earnest. The time spent working together on “Be Free” created a duo that now rarely works without the other. However, the creative process doesn’t always go as smoothly as their chemistry. “We have a lot of conflict when we work,” Caballero said about their process. “But I think when we collaborate, it’s probably the best work we could
Their recent project has come to fruition amid the coronavirus pandemic, and although it has been a long and difficult process, Caballero feels as though it may have been for the best.
Enrique Caballero (left) and Tommy Espinal (right) met at the Ghetto Film School, and the two bonded during the production of their short film, “Be Free.”
The pair are now working on Espinal’s passion project entitled, “Method.” It tells the story of a method actor who must choose between his passion and his obsession.
get out there. When I try to do my own work or he’s trying to do something, it’s not as good as if we just work together.” Espinal agreed, highlighting that their creative differences may in fact be one of their greatest strengths. “We have a lot of similarities but at the same time, we have different styles. It kind of clashes but also meshes really well.”
“ I mean, I always felt
like I know where I wanted to be in my life, and sometimes I put so much time into that idea that I lose sight of the smallest things.”
Tommy Espinal, FCLC ’23
A Methodological Alliance During Espinal’s senior year of high school, he completed the script of a short film titled “Method.” He said the film slowly but surely became his passion project. “At the core, ‘Method’ is about how someone’s obsession for art can kind of ruin their relationships with the people that they love. It tells the story of a Method actor who’s obsessed with trying to finish this audition tape while being in the process of having his first daughter. So it’s really this battle between your passions and your obsession,” explained Espinal. A Method actor desires to fully inhabit their character both on and off the set. Inspired by the infamous stories and conspiracy theories behind Heath Ledger’s decision to go Method for his performance as the Joker, Espinal found a bit of himself in the message of the film. “I mean, I always felt like I know where I wanted to be in my life, and sometimes I put so much time into that idea that I lose sight of the smallest things like family time, or spending time with my sister, or even having moments like this. Sometimes like I feel like mentally I’m just so focused on getting there that I forget about what’s happening now,” Espinal said. Caballero laughed and disagreed, joking that he doesn’t feel this sense of obsession because he’s constantly sleeping during the day. Side-eyeing his friend, Caballero clarified that “filmmaking is my passion and my life, but I’m thinking of the way of the actor in the movie and I’m not necessarily on that level.” Getting this project to produc-
tion wasn’t an easy process. “Originally, I was supposed to shoot my senior year of high school,” Espinal said. “But we didn’t have the money, we didn’t have the resources, we didn’t have the people, the script wasn’t there, so it was all these reasons for waiting for the right time,” Caballero continued, picking up right where Espinal left off. After finding the right leading actor, (a friend from GFS and a Method actor himself), gaining financial support through a GoFundMe fundraiser and working through the script together, “Method” finally went into preproduction in March 2020 when New York City went into lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. “At the time, we thought this whole thing (lockdown) was going to be like a month,” Caballero said. Sadly, this was not the case, and NYC was in a state of lockdown until the first phase of reopening in June. During that time, they continued to work on “Method,” supporting each other both as colleagues and friends. The two were finally able to film throughout the summer and fall. Caballero noted that this film may be coming out at exactly the right time, despite the hurdles. “Because we were using the ele-
ment of theater and Broadway is closed right now, we can’t really see that anymore. But we get to reintroduce that to people cinematically.” “Method” is currently in its final stages with roughly 10% of filming left and post-production editing well underway. Both Caballero and Espinal are hopeful for the film to premiere in 2021. When prompted what would be next for the two creatives, Espinal said, “I’m taking a break. I’m taking a detour. I think I might take a month or two and just move away from making the movies and just try to focus on other things.” However, Caballero was doubtful about his friend’s rest due to the fact that he is currently writing his own passion project. “I’m writing my next movie. I’ll direct it, and he’s saying he’s taking a break, but the next thing he’s gonna do is help me, so no break yet,” he said. Espinal rolled his eyes, knowing that Caballero was right. So while filmmaking may be responsible for the origin of this friendship, it’s not vital to its endurance. “We’ve grown to love each other, even though we never say it,” Espinal said. Caballero responded with a heartfelt “Ew,” before wholeheartedly agreeing with his friend’s sentiment.
Caballero noted that while the two may experience conflict when they work together, it’s usually for the betterment of the project. Their difference in style is what makes them mesh so well.
Opinions Editors Emily Ellis - eellis14@fordham.edu Polina Uzornikova - puzornikova@fordham.edu
Opinions
WE ALL NEED TO FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING PROTOCOLS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
T
sible employees to adhere to the above protocols. Avoiding public places might be impossible for those of us with a job, but that does not mean that we are exempt from coronavirus protocols.
All Fordham students, regardless of whether we have been completely virtual or in-person, need to follow all social distancing protocols: wear a mask, wash our hands frequently and avoid large gatherings. Though workers must go out, consumers do not have to. Those of us who are privileged enough to not need a job to support ourselves and our family in these tough times can and should limit going out to retailers and restaurants — we can always safely support our local businesses by ordering in. It is likely that many of us will want to return to New York City for the spring semester. With a more populated campus, both by residents and commuters, the Fordham community needs to
Observer the
STAFF EDITORIAL
he end of the semester has been long overdue. With endless classwork, the stress of midterms barely over and the ever-exhausting impact of the coronavirus pandemic, life is not easy right now for any Fordham student, The Observer staff included. However, with the number of coronavirus cases rising every day, social distancing is more important than ever. During the holiday season, it can be hard to stay at home. But now is not the time for us to budge on social distancing protocols — the health and well-being of our families are at risk. We all want to see our loved ones this holiday season — especially the grandparents that we haven’t seen in a while. While it might be tempting to give our relatives a hug, we need to consider the possible implications of coming into contact with people who are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19. All Fordham students, regardless of whether we have been completely virtual or in-person, need to follow all social distancing protocols: wear a mask, wash our hands frequently and avoid large gatherings. Some of us have part-time or full-time jobs which come with an added risk of exposure to the virus. It is our duty not only as responsible citizens but also as respon-
December 2, 2020 THE OBSERVER
take necessary precautions to keep ourselves and the people in our neighborhoods safe. Moreover, it’s not just our behavior while at Fordham that matters — it is also what we do at home. Even if we don’t infect our families while home, we could easily transmit the virus to our friends once back in NYC, especially if we don’t quarantine for the required time. And, yes, quarantine means “no social contact at all,” and not “it’s OK to see my friends as long as no one knows.” The economic and personal tensions of being stuck at home are no doubt very stressful, and the appeal of taking some of that stress off through social activities is a strong one. Yet, it is ultimately in the best interest of everyone — our communities, friends, families and ourselves — to restrict or cancel our travel and social plans this winter. While it may not be enjoyable, continuing to adhere to social distancing procedures is ultimately what will save the most lives and bring about the end of the pandemic sooner. It is our moral duty to be responsible over the break and for the foreseeable future so we can protect our friends, family and community from the coronavirus. Staying home for the holidays might be hard, but attending the funerals of loved ones is much harder.
Photo Feature: Pining for Snow
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Christmas tree stands are setting up shop around the city as residents anticipate a holiday season unlike any other.
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What Is It About a Man in a Dress?
Opinions
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Conservative commentator Candace Owens sees a looming threat in Vogue’s first male cover star LAUREN FICHTEN
Contributing Writer
According to conservative commentator and author Candace Owens, America as we know it is under attack. On Nov. 24, Owens bravely took to Twitter to warn the American people of a cunning menace threatening to wreak havoc upon Western society: Harry Styles in a dress. The cover of Vogue magazine’s December issue features the singer in a grassy field sporting a Gucci jacket and gown with the title “Harry Styles Makes His Own Rules.” On Nov. 14, Vogue tweeted a photo of him in the dress as well as a quote from its cover story on Styles: “There’s so much joy to be had in playing with clothes. I’ve never thought too much about what it means — it just becomes this extended part of creating something.” To this Owens responded, “There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.” Owens, ever the provocateur, resorts to fearmongering, playing into the standard conservative ideals of masculinity and femininity that at least a large fraction of
her 2.8 million Twitter followers are bound to harbor. Owens seems to imply that the “feminization of men” is part of a broader scheme that goes hand-in-hand with an apparent infiltration of Marxist values in the minds of young Americans. Despite the fact that the quote from Styles explicitly states that he has “never thought much about” his fashion choices, Owens continues to assert that there must be some deeper meaning, that it has to be an “outright attack” on Western society as we know it, carried to fruition by the “liberal media.” It’s hard to recall exactly where in his Vogue feature Styles mentions that “The Communist Manifesto” inspires his day-to-day fashion — he doesn’t, of course — but nonetheless, Owens seems to have found a connection between a man in Gucci on the cover of a fashion magazine and Marxism. Owens’ tweet resulted in widespread criticism, triggering thousands of conservative followers and prompting them to rush to her defense. Conservatives often refer to the left as “weak,” but the fact that Styles in Gucci can send such intense shockwaves through the conservative community speaks to the fragility of the American political right. To Owens and her followers, Styles’ Vogue debut represents a society in which men wearing traditionally feminine articles of clothing is normalized (oh, the horror!), making Owens’ extremely
vague mention of “The East” all the more interesting. While dresses have not been widely incorporated into typical men’s fashion in America, the genderfluid, nonheteronormative, androgynous hellscape Owens and her followers so deeply fear already exists. For example, in Harajuku, a district of Tokyo, inhabitants are known for their bold and quirky streetwear. Outfits are often extravagant, mixed prints are common and genderbending is the norm. In Indonesia, men can be seen in formal or casual sarongs, a skirtlike garment popular throughout Southeast Asia. The pervasiveness of Eurocentrism rears its ugly head with the realization that certain toxic standards continue to guide Western behavior. The notion that dresslike garments are a definitive indicator of whether or not someone qualifies as a “strong man” is as ignorant as it is disrespectful. Owens’ reference to “The East” contradicts itself, as her definition of a “manly man” is defined by Western prescribed gender norms. While Owens’ comparison of the United States to “The East” is not only extremely broad, making for a confusing reference point, her definition of “strong” has yet to be elaborated on. The word “strong” has different connotations depending on which gender it refers to. The phrase “strong woman” often alludes to
certain personality traits that display a mental resilience, whereas a “strong man” is often defined by physical attributes displaying strength. Does Owens mean a man who is strong in his character? A man who holds fast to his values? Or is she referring to a man who feels as if he has to live by certain machismo standards and therefore is labeled as “strong”? The public will never know, as when asked what constitutes a “strong” man, the best reply she could muster was “Since I’m trending I’d like to clarify what I meant when I said ‘bring back manly
men’. I meant: Bring back manly men. Terms like ‘toxic masculinity’, were created by toxic females. Real women don’t do fake feminism. Sorry I’m not sorry.” For Owens, Styles gracing the cover of Vogue in a dress is indicative of a future where a liberal “anything-goes mentality” trumps conservatism and all traces of traditional gender roles are erased. As concerned conservatives work to preserve and promote their cultural agenda, a publication like Vogue threatens to upend what they see as “right” with the release of a few photographs of a British man in a dress.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER
White Women: This One’s for You White women must reckon with the racism underlying their support of Donald Trump AVA PEABODY
Staff Writer
As the dust settles from the 2020 election, it’s time to reflect on what happened and how we move forward. There are already calls from Democrats and some Republicans for all Americans to unite, regardless of their chosen candidate. Trump voters should be the recipients of our empathy, the admonishment goes, and our only hope of healing as a country is to set aside our political differences and come together. But constantly asking the people harmed by white supremacists to show white supremacists empathy allows racism to continue. White women contribute to that perpetuation of racism, and we must put an end to it. While unity may seem like a decent and even therapeutic request, it is important to recognize who is routinely offered empathy in our society and who is not. Does the call to “heal the divide” really improve the country? Or does it ignore the suffering of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) for the sake of superficial peace? Trump voters are explicitly asking for policies and rhetoric that harm BIPOC. To ask for reconciliation is to willfully ignore the racism that underlies support for Trump and his policies. Trump has tangibly worsened the lives of many Americans. Millions of voters chose to ignore his incompetence — which resulted in economic downfall and mass death — in order to protect the privileges afforded by whiteness. If there was any doubt surrounding the power that whiteness holds in America, it has surely been eradicated by the results of this election. The
election might have seemed close, but when we look at the statistics, it was only close for white voters. The majority of white people voted for Trump, including 55% of white women — a larger percentage than in 2016. White women as a category are guilty of perpetuating racism. Liberal white women, particularly in the North, might pin blame on the “backward” South, but people are not intrinsically racist because they live below the Mason-Dixon line, nor is racism solely confined to those states. All that is accomplished by writing Southern women off as unsalvageable is a feeling of moral superiority, when we could instead be recognizing it as an opportunity for progress. By relegating the issue to a distant geographic location, you signal that you don’t have any racism worth examining. You signal to BIPOC that you are not committed enough to dismantling racism and doing the uncomfortable business of interrogating yourself and people like you. And if you won’t do it, who will? The election results may have come as a surprise to more liberal white women, but surprise represents a crucial failure of white women to examine themselves as a cohort. White women may imagine they are incapable of bigotry because they see themselves as marginalized in the same way BIPOC are. They do face significant inequity, but they also receive the benefits from white supremacy, including access to better education, safety from law enforcement and more wealth. Although the specific rationalization of each Trump voter may be different, white women vote against policies which would alleviate the struggles of women — against the services provided by a well-funded Planned Parenthood or against tax plans that
would largely spare them raises — because they have determined that protecting white supremacy is more important. As white women, one of our primary goals in dismantling this white supremacy must be to investigate ourselves as a demographic: our excuses, prejudices and fears. We have to first let go of the notion that America is a bastion of freedom and justice. Someday, we could be, but right now we are — at best — a deeply flawed democracy. Every time a white woman responds to the Biden/Harris victory with “I’m so glad America is good again,” the implication is that America pre-Trump did not have major flaws. Such an assessment plainly disregards the innumerable injustices that have existed in America throughout every single presidential administration, as well as the conditions which allowed Trump’s presidency in the first place. So what are we going to do? It feels useful to tell people to vote, and it can be. But you have to know who your audience is. If you’re talking to other white women, particularly ones who are politically disengaged, it can be immensely productive to urge them to vote. However, if you are directing that message to BIPOC, it is important to recognize that it is white people ourselves who have undervalued those lives and depended on them for votes almost in the same breath. It is not useful to patronizingly pressure people into voting when all you plan to do is benefit from their participation and then immediately ignore their concerns after the election. This mindset parallels the white savior complex, in which white people offer input on how to deal with racism instead of dismantling the racism itself.
In fact, the people least served by our democracy were the ones who defended it the most. Biden won Georgia and the state is teetering on the brink of two Democratic senators; that is not because white women all put “VOTE” on their Instagram story, it’s because Black women worked tirelessly to overcome voter suppression. For all the celebration and relief among liberal white women, white women did not do enough to win this election. Our responsibility to combat white supremacy does not stop at the ballot box. As a supplement to broadcasting the generic “vote” message to your audience, communicate with the white women around you. Show them how the prejudices held and the fantasies constructed tangibly damage the lives of other Americans. Such criticism might provoke defensiveness, but such a reaction is exactly why it is important to have these conversations. White women often loudly denounce racism, declaring their love for everyone regardless of race. They insist that proximity to BIPOC in the form of familial
ties or friendship absolves them of any fault. But refusing to see the inordinate privilege inherent in hindering others’ progress in order to protect yourself is not love. To eliminate racial inequality, we must use our privilege to criticize and oppose facets of American life that engender and perpetuate racial inequality, such as capitalism, the growth of Fox News and the myth of American exceptionalism. White women must learn about the complex history behind American institutions, norms and political movements, then use that information to educate each other. Taking a careful, nuanced view of where we came from and how we got here will give us a roadmap for how to get out. To show true solidarity with BIPOC, we must call fellow white women out. Holding each other accountable is the absolute least white women can do. We must identify and disarm in one another the preservation of whiteness, rather than accusing some amorphous “other” category of white women and hoping that will be enough to make it go away.
GRAPH BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
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Finding Credibility in a Noisy News World: The Struggle to Be an Informed Citizen GO! VOTE CAMPAIGN TEAM
Contributing Writers
With all the social and political events that have occured in 2020, it seems that we are constantly consuming some regular form of news. While many understand that internet sources are often inaccurate due to the limited regulation of content, people are unaware of the faulty nature of established news sources. Although it may not be explicit to most viewers or readers, news sources almost always have a biased agenda that is swayed by the people funding the station. Sources that don’t depend on an ad-based revenue model are often able to produce more objective work since they don’t need to conform to the ideologies of the companies they advertise. However, very few news stations actually have this revenue model, which makes news biases more common than we may assume. So how can we, as college students, approach the biases that occur throughout different types of media sources? Although we cannot change the innate prejudices that a source contains, we can take action to discern the credibility of a source. One helpful way of doing this is by remembering the acronym CRAAP, which stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose. The first step is to look at the currency of the article or news story. Recent articles are more reliable because older information is often proven wrong.
Secondly, the relevance of the article should be taken into account. Instead of just accepting the article at face value, it is necessary to see whether the article could be of use to you. Some articles might be visually appealing but ultimately provide no relevant content. The third step is authority, which forces you to evaluate the author and their knowledge. Have they written other articles on this topic? Are they well-known within their field? For this step, you should do some further research on the author in order to understand their biases and perceptions. The fourth step is accuracy. The best and most valid sources are often verified by other sources, making articles that appear in only one web search a cause for concern. This is because content is more likely to be factual if several different news sources are reporting the same information. Lastly, the purpose of the article should be questioned. Often, news sources add in emotional appeals to engage readers. However, this may misconstrue the information. If you experience a strong reaction to an article, such as sadness or intense happiness, then it is possible that the information is overly dramatized. Checking your sources by utilizing CRAAP will automatically be useful in understanding their credibility. In addition to looking for flaws in the media, it is also important to recognize trustworthy qualities within a news source. One of the clearest signs that a news source has fair and accurate coverage is when it is transparent to consum-
ers. For example, the news source should clearly indicate where and how it obtains its verified information; a news source that does not disclose this information should be questioned further. It is also important to examine the expertise of the news reporters. While education level is certainly not all that should be considered, good news sources often hire reporters and writers who have an education in ethical journalism. You can find the education and credentials of reliable journalists through an internet search. Some news companies train new hires themselves, which can lead employees to develop biased techniques and standpoints. Similar to how the news contains prejudices, it is important to recognize our own biases while consuming media. Confirmation bias is the tendency for us to seek out information that confirms our preconceived notions, while also rejecting information that challenges our beliefs. In many ways, confirmation bias allows us to feel secure and confident in our way of thinking. While one might assume that higher education levels lead to less confirmation bias, a study by Klein and Buturovic in Econ Journal Watch and reported in the Atlantic found that college students and professors are still victims of confirmation bias and groupthink. The article argues that the best way to overcome preconceived notions is by seeking out discourse and sources that challenge your natural beliefs. Many news sources tend to in-
dicate certain political ideologies. For example, sources such as CNN, MSNBC and the Washington Post lean more toward liberal viewpoints. Other sources, such as Fox News, National Review and the Washington Times, are more conservative. Lastly, there are several media outlets that put out centrist news coverage, such as ABC News, BBC News and NBC News. The best way to evaluate your own biases is to challenge the narrative of the news and media you are consuming. When reading and engaging with news sources, questioning the narrative can help reduce the “fluff” that comes along with putting together a news story. Through the pursuit of discourse and repeatedly encouraging yourself to strip the
story and anecdote from the news material, you can truly engage in the most authentic news source material. Although the process of discovering reputable and reliable news sources will never be perfect, actively educating ourselves to be aware consumers can help combat news biases and inaccuracies. It is important to approach every potential source with a skeptical mind and a motivated attitude that allow us to dig deeper into the information. Now more than ever, we must evaluate the credibility of our sources in order to hear the real and full story. By Daphne Buitron, Sarah Cassidy, Emma Ferguson, Noor Kaur, Julia Mayes, Diya Patel, Anastasia Pezza and Blanca Sarmiento
ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
It is important to recognize biases in the sources we consume news from and to question the narratives they present.
Trans Awareness Week: Taking Action Past the Week of Remembrance VICKY CARMENATE
Arts & Culture Editor
Trigger warning: violence against trans people, trans murder The year 2020 has been the deadliest one on record for transgender people in the United States. We have already lost 44 trans siblings and most mainstream news outlets have not covered this epidemic. On Nov. 20, and every day, we honor the beautiful trans lives that have been taken from us too soon. Yuni Carey was stabbed 36 times on Nov. 18. She was well known for being an active member of her community as an entertainer. She was found unresponsive in Miami, Florida, and the suspect has not yet been identified. During Trans Awareness Week, and all weeks in the future, it is imperative that we center the trans community so that their needs can be heard and represented. Understanding the intersection of race, class and gender when talking about these issues is important, as Black trans women constitute the majority of people who are victims of transphobic violence. They are victims of violence from cisgendered people, heterosexual people and even queer people. According to a study conducted by the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, Black trans women in the United States have a life expectancy of 35 years. Thirty-five. Many of the victims of transphobic violence didn’t even reach the age of 20. It is news like this that em-
phasizes the absolute necessity of protecting and uplifting trans lives. It is simply not enough to be saddened by these statistics — we must push ourselves as a community to do better. Doing better means holding ourselves accountable, it means making mistakes and it means taking action moving forward. Here in New York, a group of Black trans women, led by Qween Jean and Joel Rivera, have come together to organize a protest that happens every Thursday at the Stonewall Inn. These women carry on the legacy of the Stonewall riots and have protested for 23 weeks straight for Black liberation. Rivera is just 19 years old and started this movement on June 18. Through going to Stonewall protests, I learned that Rivera and many other Black trans women
did not see other Black Lives Matter marches screaming the names of the Black trans people we have lost this year. The media outlets aren’t including trans Black people either doing it either. We all know George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s stories, as we should, but do we know the stories behind Angel Haynes or Brooklyn Deshuna? Do we know about their lives? Angel Haynes was a beautiful Black woman who was fatally shot in the head in Memphis, Tennessee, on Oct 25. She worked as a cosmetologist and was a friend and loved one to many. Brooklyn Deshuna was a 20-year-old Black trans woman who was killed in Shreveport, Louisiana, on Oct 7. She was a student at Bossier Parish Community College studying to become a
cosmetologist. We must acknowledge the lives that have been lost in Puerto Rico, a United States territory that seems to gain little-to-no coverage in the U.S. media outlets. Six of the trans people who died in 2020 were from Puerto Rico, and many were trans people of color. How can we, as a community, do better? We can listen to and not assume the needs of others. We can get educated, and we can educate our friends and families. Especially for cisgendered people, now is the time to educate yourself so that even after this week has ended, the work that needs to be done can continue. Start looking up the names of these beautiful lives that have been taken due to transphobic violence. Learn their stories and
VICKY CARMENATE/ THE OBSERVER
Qween Jean, activist and co-organizer of the Stonewall protests, speaks at one of the events. These protests are led by a group of Black trans women and focus on Black liberation.
say their names. When we see a trans person in a situation in which they are in danger, we must stand up for them. We must fight back for them. It is our duty as a community to make sure that our trans family members get to their places of living at the end of the night. That their needs are met. That they get to indulge in some of the luxuries that many of us take for granted, like going out to a nice dinner. For many trans people, their place of living is not a home, nor is it safe or comforting. Many trans folks go back to their spaces of living and are met with the same transphobic violence that they experience on the streets. That is why it is so important for us to be donating to organizations that house trans folks. Organizations like For the Gworls are actively helping pay the rent and medical bills of Black trans people. Another organization, Gays and Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S), recently purchased a housing complex for the trans community in Queens. Donating to these two organizations alone will help trans people live their truth in comfort. Everything that I mentioned above is a product of the hard work of Black trans organizers, especially the ones at the Stonewall protests. Listening to them has equipped me to stand in solidarity with my Black trans family. Understanding our own identities and how they give us privilege or hinder us is the key component to educating ourselves. If we can’t address our own privileges and use them for others, what are we really doing for trans lives?
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
Opinions
15
The Grammy Nominations Are Out and I’m Upset The Recording Academy has really outdone itself this year on being corrupt and out of touch ETHAN COUGHLIN
Arts & Culture Editor
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards. Every single year, the nominations seem to get worse and worse as the Academy continues to fail to fully reflect popular or high-quality songs. The rules of eligibility for a nomination seem to change on a whim so that the Academy can insert whomever it wants in whatever category it wants. The ceremony will be on Jan. 1, 2021. Unlike the film industry, which was hit very hard by the pandemic, the music industry has not been affected nearly as much. Many artists seemed to actually flourish with their additional free time to write and record music. Taylor Swift found the time to make “Folklore,” and Spillage Village were unexpectedly able to come together to record “Spilligion.” Record of the Year First up is the Record of the Year category. Nominees include “Black Parade” by Beyoncé, “Colors” by Black Pumas, “Rockstar” by DaBaby, “Say So” by Doja Cat, “Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish, “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, “Circles” by Post Malone and “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion. This category is usually dominated by whatever was commercially popular, so I am less upset with this category than others. I would like to see Doja Cat win for “Say So,” one of my favorite singles of 2019. The song is funky, infectious and easy to dance to. Something that rubs me the wrong way in this category is the inclusion of “Colors” by Black Pumas. My criticism of the nomination has nothing to do with the quality of the song but rather with the fact that it was released in April of 2019. The Grammy eligibility period is between Sept. 1, 2019, and Aug. 31, 2020. The album the record is on did come out in 2020, but I feel that it’s wrong to pick a song technically outside of the eligible period when so many incredible records inside the eligibility period were left out, primarily the Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.” Album of the Year The nominees in the Album of the Year Category are “Chi-
lombo” by Jhené Aiko, “Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)” by Black Pumas, “Everyday Life” by Coldplay, “Djesse Vol. 3” by Jacob Collier, “Women in Music Pt. III” by HAIM, “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa, “Hollywood’s Bleeding” by Post Malone and “Folklore” by Taylor Swift. Of all these albums, I think that “Djesse Vol. 3” by Jacob Collier should win. His album was creative and imaginative and Collier has more musical talent in his pinky finger than most of the other nominees. (This is not meant to be an insult to the other nominees, but rather a testament to the incredibly gifted, multi-instrument musician that Collier is.) I’m far more outraged by what was not included in this category than what is. While there are half a dozen albums I would personally like to see in this category, the obvious snubs to me are Fiona Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” and The Weeknd’s “After Hours.” Fiona Apple’s album was loved by fans and critics alike; the album was the first perfect 10 that Pitchfork has given out since Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” in 2010. Many picked “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” to win the category, so I, like them, was shocked that it wasn’t even included. The Weeknd was ignored not only in this category but also frankly in the entire competition. His album “After Hours” was well-received by critics and loved by fans. The lead single “Blinding Lights” set a new record for consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Radio Songs Chart. The Weeknd should probably have the most nominations of any artist, and, instead, was left with none. After the announcement, The Weeknd took to both Twitter and Instagram, saying, “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.” Though it is not confirmed, reports suggest that The Weeknd was given an ultimatum between performing at the Super Bowl and performing at the Grammys, and though the Academy ultimately agreed to him doing both, that decision might have cost him Grammy nominations. Best New Artist The last category in the General Field I will touch on is the award for Best New Artist. The nominees are Ingrid Andress, Phoebe Bridgers, Chika, Noah Cyrus, D Smoke, Doja Cat,
KAYTRANADA and Megan Thee Stallion. I have always been bothered by this category because the only eligibility requirement for this category is that the nominee has never received a nomination before. This causes the Academy to nominate artists who’ve been releasing music for years, like most of these nominees, when they could use the category to shed light on really brilliant young artists. Of all the nominees, I’d like to see D Smoke win because his discography is actually young, but the award will almost certainly go to someone like Doja Cat or Megan Thee Stallion. Though Megan Thee Stallion has a lot of music from before this year, I would not be too upset if she took this prize because of the stellar year she’s had.
People were excited to point out that all of the nominations are women for the first time ever, but none of the nominations are rock songs! If I could add any nominee to the list, I would suggest Flo Milli. Her debut album “Ho, why is you here?” was one of the best trap albums of the year, and at only 20 years old with almost all of her music coming out in 2020, she would have been the perfect candidate for the award. Best Dance Recording One of the most competitive categories this year is the Best Dance Recording category. The nominees are “On My Mind” by Diplo and SIDEPIECE, “My High” by Disclosure, “The Difference” by Flume, “Both of Us” by Jayda G, and “10%” by KAYTRANADA. All the nominees are incredibly strong, and I would not be upset with any of them winning. They’re all explosive and innovative songs from electronic artists who continue to evolve with every project. That said, my personal favorite would have to be “My High” by Disclosure with features from Slowthai and Aminé. The chorus is infectious, and it’s the kind of song that makes you add a little swagger to your step. Also, the
features give it a diversity that the other songs lack. I really wish that J Rick’s “Me & You” was nominated, but I suspect the British producer is not yet big enough for Grammy attention. Best Rock Performance The nominees for Best Rock Song are “Shameika” by Fiona Apple, “Not” by Big Thief, “Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers, “The Steps” by HAIM, “Stay High” by Brittany Howard and “Daylight” by Grace Potter. People were excited to point out that all of the nominations are women for the first time ever, but none of the nominations are rock songs! Phoebe Bridgers’ “Punisher” is my favorite album of the year, but it is definitely not a rock album. Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple and Brittany Howard’s albums are all nominated in the alternative category. If they wanted to put an actual rock song in this category, Yves Tumor’s “Kerosine!” should have gotten a nomination. I think this is just a reflection of the fact that rock, at least how we know it, is dying. This became painfully obvious to me when the top three rock songs of the decade were by Imagine Dragons. I think we need to step back and question what the genre of rock really is. If every rock performance nominee is going to be from an alternative album, should there even be a category for Best Alternative Album? Best Rap Album The nominees for Best Rap Album this year are “Black Habits” by D Smoke, “Alfredo” by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, “A Written Testimony” by Jay Electronica, “King’s Disease” by Nas, and “The Allegory” by Royce Da 5’9”. I think that this year’s nominees are some of the weakest in years; however, when I look at rap as a whole this year, few projects really stand out to me compared to the past. I would personally replace “King’s Disease” and “The Allegory” with “Eternal Atake (Deluxe) - LUV vs. The World 2” by Lil Uzi Vert and “Insomnia” by Skepta, Young Adz and Chip. Three rappers from three generations of British hip-hop came together to create the best trap album of the year. I don’t think anyone but Sketpa could pioneer an album like this. Since I didn’t get to pick the nominations, I am torn between “Alfredo” and “A Written Testi-
REBECCA LADER (LEFT) AND KAYLA JOHSNSON (RIGHT) VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Flo Milli and The Weeknd were two of the artists snubbed in this year’s Grammy nominations.
mony.” While “Alfredo” has some good tracks, the entire album is weak compared to Freddie Gibbs’ past efforts. “A Written Testimony” has the opposite problem; there is a lot of good rapping but not many good songs in my opinion. Best Music Video I am a huge fan of music videos and think they’re incredibly underutilized by most artists. Unfortunately, nine out of 10 music videos are meaningless, thrown-together productions that the labels use to get more money out of songs. However, a good music video can enhance a song instead of diluting it. The nominees this year are “Brown Skin Girl” by Beyoncé, directed by Beyoncé and Jenn Nkiru; “Life Is Good” by Future feat. Drake, directed by Julien Christian Lutz (better known as Director X); “Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak, directed by Dave Meyers; “Adore You” by Harry Styles, directed by Dave Meyers; and “Goliath” by Woodkid, directed by Yoann Lemoine. I think the music videos for “Life Is Good” and “Adore You” are significantly worse than the other nominees. The “Life Is Good” music video mostly sees Drake and Future working normal jobs like being a trashman or a fast-food server, which feels out of touch. While I am usually a huge admirer of Dave Meyers’ work, the color grading in “Adore You” had me turning up my brightness the entire time just to realize that wasn’t the problem. I really would have liked to have seen the music videos for “You’re Too Precious” by James Blake, directed by Orfeo Tagiuri, and “Ready to Eat” by SahBabii, directed by Bobby Lee Palmer and Jabari Flemings, receive nominations. “You’re Too Precious” would have added a brilliant, animated entry to the list among live-action videos, and I think that “Ready to Eat” is a great example of less-ismore with a simple yet well-done video. I think the award will end up going to “Brown Skin Girl,” because it’s Beyoncé. I won’t be upset because the video is gorgeous and well-edited, and it features WizKid, whom I adore. However, if it were up to me, “Goliath” would take home the award. Though I am not at all familiar with the work of Woodkid or Yoann Lemoine, this video is incredible. It’s the kind of video you watch and wonder: First, how the hell did they come up with this idea? And second, how the hell did they actually film this? While I have never seen the Grammy wins or nominations as properly reflective of a piece of music’s quality, I think the Recording Academy has shown a dramatic decline in overall soundness of judgment year after year. While snubs are inevitable, the fact that The Weeknd received absolutely zero nominations should be alarming to fans of the Grammys. If commercial and critical success is not enough to even get an artist nominated for a Grammy, that begs the question, what does it actually take? The Academy voting body is made up of music creators, including artists, engineers, producers and songwriters. With multiple music creators, including Sir Elton John, calling out the Academy, it makes you wonder why the Academy’s music creators feel so different. Here’s my best piece of advice for anyone (like me) still trying to cling to this stupid awards show: Watch the Grammys for the performances, not the awards.
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Editors Vicky Carmenate - vcarmenate@fordham.edu Ethan Coughlin - ecoughlin7@fordham.edu
The Show Must Go On
December 2, 2020
THE OBSERVER
Fordham hosts its third annual ode to drag culture with an online ball in a row that we’ve had, it was not going to be on my watch that we were going to break our streak of having a drag show, even if it’s not going to be able to live up to previous years — we have to have it, we have to keep that community going,” Fantulin said. Though the Fordham Drag Show doesn’t have traditional categories like a typical ball does, it creates a space for anyone to perform how they see fit. This year, there were lip-syncs, instrumental performances, performances of original music and lots of dancing. The sense of community within the drag show performers is what brought Wayne Babineaux, FCLC ’20, back to perform once again.
By VICKY CARMENATE Arts & Culture Editor
The History of Drag The act of drag has a long history, and though it has evolved from a simple theater term to a pop culture necessity, its purpose has always remained the same — to give people the chance to play around with gender and performance in a world that otherwise demands they stick to the rigid rules of the binary. “Paris Is Burning” is a documentary that captures ball and drag culture in New York. Filmed in the mid-1980s, the documentary is a time capsule of the culture that bloomed in that era. Now, in queer communities, the film is considered historic and provides an extensive background of queer and transgender history.
Fordham’s Drag Community
Ballroom emerged as a place where the community could come together and support each other regardless of their race, class, gender or sexuality. Drag emerged out of a want for luxury and access. People of all genders would act as though they were part of a glamorous lifestyle that was realistically out of reach. It is important to note that drag culture emerged out of the need for safe spaces for Black and brown queer and trans people. The purpose of the ballroom community for the people in “Paris Is Burning” was to provide everyone with an opportunity to display themselves in their own fantasy. Ballroom emerged as a place where the community could come together and support each other regardless of their race, class, gender or sexuality. Traditionally, a drag ball or show had various categories, many of which were meant to allow folks to feel the “realness” of cisnormativity in a queer space. Not every category entailed playing around with gender: Some envisioned a world without the barriers of class and race. For Black gay men, for example, having access to an executive corporate space is not common. By participating in a category like executive realness, where one would dress in corporate masculine attire, they could create a fantasy that felt real even if it was just for one night.
COURTESY OF WAYNE BABINEAUX
The Fordham Drag Show, although virtual this year, lived up to its goal of creating an encouraging place for anyone to perform how they wish.
star featured in the documentary, said. Fordham’s Rainbow Alliance actively seeks to foster this same community, ensuring that everyone feels comfortable to perform despite now being virtual. Elements of a Drag Show For the students at Fordham, the same magic art of inclusion occurs during the annual drag show. As Katz
Fantulin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22 and secretary of Rainbow Alliance, described, the performance of drag is the act of creating a fantasy in reality. For students, that could mean becoming their favorite artists or embodying a totally different persona. Rainbow Alliance hosted its third annual drag show on Nov. 20, which also happened to be Trans Remembrance Day. “It’s the third drag show
“I’ve been proud to call this community home for the past three years,” Babineaux stated. “I’ve grown a lot as a person since last year. I remember stressing out about every detail of my performance ... this year, my piece was all about accepting who you are and where you are in this present moment.” Babineaux performed two songs, “Authors of Forever” by Alicia Keys and an original piece that he is currently writing called “Dust.” These two songs allowed him to share the main reason why he chooses to perform drag — tapping into different parts of his identity and accepting himself as he is. From his house in New Jersey, Bradley James, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, performed a lip-sync to Ariana Grande’s “34+35.” The virtual performance was a collective effort between him and his friends from home, who also got to participate despite not being Fordham students. James utilized the space that he had in his home to make the performance more interesting and interactive. Compared to being on a stage last year, he found more ways that he could get creative with his space. “I wanted to make it feel like a music video, so I had a friend film differ-
ent shots of us around the house,” he said. “I love dancing and lip-syncing. I used to do it at parties and random events for fun, so doing it this year for the drag show was really special.” Fantulin performed a lip-sync of the song “Never Wanted to Dance” by Mindless Self Indulgence. “When I drag, the emotion I am trying to channel is some dude on stage with a band singing a song, so I try to emulate stage movements rather than a dance routine,” they said. Fantulin described the stark differences of performing drag online versus in person, emphasizing that access to materials became much harder while socially distanced. They used what their McMahon room had to offer — a whisk and their roommate to film the performance. “On one hand, it sucks to not have the equipment, but improvising and using a DIY angle is fun in and of itself.” James also expressed that he didn’t have the full resources to do a full drag transformation, but that didn’t stop him or Fantulin from creatively tapping into their drag personas. The drag community has found a way to foster a space where people can work through their differences through art. Babineaux seconded this with his belief in the healing powers of drag within the Fordham community. “I wanted to bring comfort, strength, and healing to the Drag Show community this year, because I know from personal experience how hard this year has been, especially for young artists like us,” he said. Being virtual has only allowed for the community to grow stronger while farther apart; the Zoom chat was full of words of encouragement from friends and family. Rainbow Alliance has now created a community where alumni like Babineaux can come back and still maintain a close presence with club members and Fordham as a whole. Even though traditional balls are no longer taking place, the Fordham body and larger NYC area continue to find ways to express themselves freely.
“ I love dancing and
lip-syncing. I used to do it at parties and random events for fun, so doing it this year for the drag show was really special.”
Bradley James, FCRH ’23
“In real life, you can’t get a job as an executive unless you have the educational background and the opportunity. Now, the fact that you are not an executive is merely because of the social standings of life — Black people have a hard time getting anywhere and those that do are usually straight,” Dorian Corey, a historic trans woman and ball
COURTESY OF BRADLEY JAMES
Bradley James, FCRH ’23, pictured on the left, put together a lip-sync performance with his friends at home for the drag show. The virtual setting encouraged him to get more creative with using the space around him.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
Arts & Culture
17
TREE LIGHTING from page 1
Making Spirits Bright USG and CAB host a successful holiday tree lighting in person and virtually By ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS Asst. Photo and Fun & Games Editor
The annual Holiday Tree Lighting at the Fordham Lincoln Center campus took place earlier than usual this year on Nov. 20. Since the university has moved fully online for the remainder of the semester following Thanksgiving break, students gathered on the plaza a
little early this year for the Holiday Tree Lighting. The festive Lincoln Center tradition is organized annually by the United Student Government (USG) and Campus Activities Board (CAB). Fifty in-person attendees got to make snowflakes and treat themselves to cocoa and cookies. The tree lighting ceremony was also livestreamed on the USG Instagram account for virtual viewers.
PHOTOS BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
Members of USG and CAB also posed with Ramses. The two clubs collaborated to host the event and promoted it on social media in the days prior.
Hot chocolate was served and paper snowflake-making kits were handed out. Masks were required, and hula hoops were used to designate social distanced viewing spots on the plaza.
A Blue Christmas
ARTECHOUSE brings Pantone’s Color of the Year to life By ALYSSA DAUGHDRILL Asst. Photo Editor
Stepping into Chelsea Market’s ARTECHOUSE gallery washes the world in luminescent blue. As a color that symbolizes peace, tranquility and stability, the shifting currents of blue designs contrast the tumultuous tides of change outside the boiler room walls. The twisting and pulsing designs of the exhibit encompass the entirety of the room and project over the visitors, uniting them under cool blue tones. ARTECHOUSE is a digital art installation space in the Chelsea Market boiler room. It first opened in September 2019, and artists like Shohei Fujimoto and Refik Anadol have showcased their work there in the past year. “Celestial,” the current installation, was produced in collaboration with Pantone and was inspired by the Pantone color of the year — Classic Blue. It is part of the ongoing Submerge series that began in February 2020. The Submerge installations in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Miami will continue into 2021. “Celestial” first opened on Oct. 22, 2020, with COVID-19safe guidelines and restrictions in place. Masks are required, visitation is by appointment and ARTECHOUSE has set up hand sanitizer stations inside. Visitors’ arrival at ARTECHOUSE is accompanied by temperature checks at the ticket counter before guests are shown an introductory video on the space.
Once the video is completed and guidelines have been explained, guests are welcomed into the two-story immersive exhibit. The current installation will be up until Jan. 3, 2021. Tickets are $24 for adults and $20 for students. The ARTECHOUSE founders, Tati Pastukhova and Sandro Kereselidze, created the space to be an immersive experience that utilizes digital projection technology and accompanying music to transform the space and intrigue visitors. Though Pantone’s color of the year was chosen before the pandemic began, the sentiment it was meant to convey is especially applicable to the unrest and uncertainty that the pandemic and political events of the year inspired. According to the press release, Kereselidze said that Classic Blue was intended “to sustain us during a time of change” as it evokes feelings of peace and rejuvenation. Entering the “Celestial” exhibit is like stepping into another world. The ever-changing display moves around visitors, fully integrating them into the projected designs. Music is synced with each sequence to build a unique story and experience. The street-level entrance usually opens into a balcony space containing a sitting area, mocktail bar, and mini exhibit explaining how the installation was developed and how it works in the space. Now, in light of COVID-19 restrictions, the mocktail bar has been replaced by a dynamic, shifting version of the
COURTESY OF ARTECHOUSE
In a truly timeless exhibit (sans clocks), the exhibit encourages participants to embrace the feeling and color of the year: Classic Blue.
diner from Edward Hopper’s painting “Nighthawks.” This, and the distance between visiting groups, are the only noticeable changes the pandemic has brought to the space. Down the stairs, every surface of the boiler room except the ceiling is fully integrated into the exhibit. Guests spread throughout the room, taking pictures and sitting on the floor and benches as
they admire the looping sequences of moving parts that make up the installation. The deep reverb of the discordant music and the pixelated, fluid images encapture audiences as the walls and floor appear to swell, twist and rotate along with the installation’s movements. The exhibit creates a liminal space where the passage of time seems less obvious and relevant.
This installation is a combination of brief visual sequences composed of different shapes and structures that are united by the use of Classic Blue and played in a looping cycle. Each series has a set range and style of motion that is carried out by tides of vibrant lines, shapes or a combination of the two. They blend together so that the room is rarely bare, and the dizzying movements keep the cycle from feeling repetitive. Though appointment slots are typically only for an hourlong visit, ARTECHOUSE allows guests to stay as long as they like, and there are no windows or clocks in the room to help keep track of the time. The exhibit’s shifting cast of bobbing lights transform from shoal-like swirls of quickly flashing rectangles to iridescent scales to lively pulses of curling lines and dots. At times, standing in the exhibit looks more like standing inside van Gogh’s “Starry Night” than a converted boiler room before the images shift into a glowing depiction of planets and supernovas in space. ARTECHOUSE’s dedication to creating a fully immersive experience has led to a space that combines technology and art in such a way that visitors can briefly step away from their lives when they experience the dynamic installation. “Celestial” is a refreshing and engaging use of imagery and Pantone’s Classic Blue, and it offers a fun respite from the struggles 2020 has brought.
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Arts & Culture
December 2, 2020 THE OBSERVER
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FLOW Hosts Filipinos in Fashion Event
Filipino designers and drag queen spoke about community, sustainable fashion and their cultures By ANENWOJO OMAGU Contributing Writer
Filipinos of LC Offering Welcome Club (FLOW) hosted a virtual fashion event in partnership with Columbia University’s Liga Filipina, a student club, on Nov. 20. During the event, three panelists spoke about their experiences in fashion and shared valuable advice for people interested in the industry. Regine Anastacio, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’21 and president of FLOW, reached out to accounts she followed on Instagram to find speakers for the event. “As a fashion studies minor, I’ve always wondered why I never really learnt about Filipino Fashion and something I’ve always been interested in was the intersectionality between Filipino Fashion and feminism.” The first speaker of the night was Caroline Mangosing, the creative director of VINTA Gallery, an ethical, e-commerce modern Filipiniana clothing brand based in Canada, reaching a global Filipino market. At the event, Mangosing detailed her journey of rediscovering her connection with Filipino culture at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver. This led her to start her own production company in Toronto, Canada, creating exclusively Filipino film and television content. She eventually left and founded a Filipino arts center before finally deciding to become a designer. Under VINTA Gallery, Mangosing makes clothes inspired by her heritage, all of which are ethically and sustainably made in the Philippines. Being able to share Filipino culture is central to her work, as her goal is to expand the ideas that people have when they think of Filipino style.
ZOOM
FLOW hosted a virtual fashion event on Nov. 20 with guest panelists who offered insight into their experiences in the fashion industry and with Filipino culture.
The second speaker, Rona Navales, is a Bay Area-based creative activist, teacher, journalist and fashion producer with a focus on ethical fashion and decolonial education. She commented on the importance of events and stated that they are a great way for the Filipino community to connect through their love of fashion.
“ Tell yourself
you’re a bad b---because you are.” Bibingka Mama, Pinay Drag Queen
Navales explained that while fashion started off as a hobby for her, she soon realized that it kept organically coming back into her life when she needed it most. When she got the opportunity to produce a charity fashion show in the summer of 2019, she reached out to her Instagram community. Within a month, she successfully put together a team of models and photographers for the show. Navales believes she
pulled it off because she overcame any doubts she had about herself. “Everyone has permission to be revolutionary and walk in their power every single day,” she said. The third panelist was Bibingka Mama, a Pinay drag queen, baker, songwriter and entertainer. After moving to New York, they were embraced by a community that made them feel comfortable experimenting with fashion. After being asked to perform a drag routine, they came up with the name Bibingka Mama — an ode to their favorite dessert, a Filipino rice cake dessert called bibingka — and performed in drag for the first time. They began performing regularly and realized that many people did not know what Bibingka was. Attempting to educate people on their culture, they started baking Bibingka and other Filipino foods and selling it to the audience during their shows. When Bibingka Mama started doing drag, it was just for fun, but they’ve now been able to build a community, a business and educate people on Filipino culture because of it. Bibingka
Mama stated that drag taught them that they could do the unthinkable. They now have bigger dreams to open their own restaurant: a drag brunch place in New York. Bibingka Mama recently moved back to Los Angeles from New York during the pandemic and has used the time inside to learn how to edit videos. They are hoping to come back after the pandemic with more skills than before. Mangosing also took time during the pandemic to reflect. She realized the importance of expanding her reach into the Filipino community to let more people know about the business. Navales stated that despite the cancellation of all the events she had lined up, she wasn’t discouraged. She has spent this time working on her own personal healing by going to therapy and educating herself on various social justice issues. When asked about the cultural challenges the panelists have faced, Mangosing talked about the pressure of having to speak for all Filipinos. “Media outlets often reach out to me to speak on issues involving Filipinos and I’ve had to tell them no many
times because I’m not qualified to speak on everything.” Bibingka Mama, who doesn’t speak any Filipino languages, has been trying to educate themselves more on their culture so that they can get better at educating people outside the community on Filipino culture. The panelists offered some words of advice, speaking on their experiences and what they have learned from them. Navales talked about making vision boards and highlighted the importance of reaching out to people and building a community. Mangosing realized that she kept getting fired from jobs, so she decided to be her own boss, advising the audience to to “fake it till you make it.” Bibingka Mama explains that when they found themselves at a low point in their career and marriage, they decided to say yes to any opportunity that came their way. “Tell yourself you’re a bad b---- because you are,” they said. To close off the exciting event, Bibingka Mama played a fun video of their drag performance and Navales played a video of her fashion show from last year, showcasing a diverse group of people in beautiful outfits. One of the guests in attendance, Lea Salonganisa, a drag queen from LA whose name is also food-inspired, said that they are a huge fan of Bibingka Mama and was glad to attend a conference featuring an influential group of Filipinos in fashion. Anastacio was pleased with the event, stating, “Overall, I thought the event was a huge success because of how diverse and insightful the speakers were and I loved that people from different schools came and that people were so engaged and interactive!”
Ram Jams: ‘Good News’ By GRACE MUNSON Contributing Writer
Genre: Hip Hop On a Playlist With: Flo Milli, City Girls, Leikeli47 Megan Thee Stallion has had a newsworthy year. Following the success of 2019’s “Fever,” a mixtape that ushered in an era that will forever be remembered as the original Hot Girl Summer, the Houston rapper released “Suga” in early 2020, an EP that provided a fun and upbeat soundtrack to counter the scary, early days of the various stay-athome orders issued across the world. Then, in July, something confusingly dark happened. It was a major shock, given that Megan’s public persona throughout her rise has generally been confident, happy and carefree. Rumors began swirling about an incident between Megan and rapper Tory Lanez involving a gun that left Megan with a foot injury, but the parties involved weren’t talking. After weeks of speculation, Megan published a statement on her Instagram account that confirmed that she was indeed shot. Now, four months later, Megan has released “Good News,” her debut studio album. Despite all of the recent vitriol thrown her way as a result of some people not be-
lieving that she was the victim of this traumatic event, the album is not saturated with songs of sadness or pain. Megan chooses an alternate path — “Good News” exudes optimism, self-assuredness and power. Megan opens the album with “Shots Fired,” a track that delivers a strong blow to Lanez, explosively addressing his claims while emphasizing that she doesn’t need (or want) him around. The beat and the diss track format reference The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya?” one of many callbacks to previous eras of hip hop history throughout “Good News.” Megan proves her lyrical prowess immediately. Her strong delivery reminds me of her many Twitter-viral freestyles over the years, often featuring her in her car, having fun while spitting clever and provocative lyrics over an accompanying beat. The second track, “Circles,” is a highlight of the album, a musically snappy but lyrically bittersweet track that recounts some of her recent personal tragedies, noting, “bullet wounds, backstabs, mama died, still sad.” The song is a fantastic mix between very personal and vulnerable musings in harmony with a hook meant to be screamed in the car, reminding those listening that they shouldn’t be “going back and forth with the lil’ boys.” Several songs stand out for
their danceability: “Body” is an ode to body confidence heavily influenced by New Orleans Bounce music, and “Girls in the Hood” is a catchy reworking of Eazy-E’s classic “Boyz-n-the-Hood” with some added production elements to make the beat sound more current. Some of the collaborations generated high points of the album, especially “Freaky Girls” where SZA delivers a melodic and catchy chorus, and “Go Crazy,” where Big Sean and 2 Chainz’s verses both compliment Megan’s confident delivery well. The most well-known track from the album is also a strong collaboration — in “Savage Remix,” Megan and Beyoncé team up to deliver a smooth and memorable ode to their Houston roots that went mega-viral on TikTok. Some of the other collaborations end up being forgettable and add unnecessary weight to an album that Megan carries well on her own. “Cry Baby” featuring DaBaby isn’t as strong as “Cash S---,” a previous collaboration of theirs from Megan’s project “Fever.” “Do It on the Tip” featuring City Girls is a relatively boring song, which is quite unfortunate considering the fact that independently, City Girls have been at the wheel of smash hits like “Act Up” and “Twerk” during their relatively recent rise to fame. Still, these songs don’t ruin
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the momentum of the album — both tracks are then followed by “Sugar Baby,” a lighthearted and amusing song with an infectious early-20 0 0s-Sout her n-rap -inspired beat. The only real low point in the album is “Don’t Rock Me to Sleep,” a song that sounds less fit for an exciting, provocative debut by a clever and confident lyricist and more fit for an Old Navy commercial. Following solid tracks “Girls in the Hood” and “Savage Remix,” the album closes out with “Don’t Stop” featuring Young Thug, a song that doesn’t really stand out lyrically but whose production absolutely draws attention. The electronic beat sounds more like something out of Vince Staples’ “Big Fish Theory” rather than Megan’s usual sound, but it’s exciting. As an album end track
should, it makes me want to hear what’s next from her. As it has been for everyone, 2020 has been a tumultuous year for Megan Thee Stallion. As successful project releases have happened, so have tragic events, the shooting situation being one that led to harassment and distasteful jokes being hurled at Megan as she recovered. In a very timely and powerful tweet, she said, “Black women are so unprotected & we hold so many things in to protect the feelings of others w/o considering our own.” Beyond the fun and provocative lyrics that have become Megan’s signature at this point, “Good News” feels cathartic. With this album, Megan is able to let her feelings out — her happiness, her sadness and everything in between, and she does a fantastic job at it. The Bottom Line: It’s a strong album with some filler, but also with more than enough hits to make up for it. Stretch knees before listening. The Peaks: “Circles,” “Freaky Girls,” “Savage Remix,” “Shots Fired” The Valleys: “Don’t Rock Me to Sleep” The Verdict: 8.5/10
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THE OBSERVER December 2, 2020
How to Cook Comfort, Nonna Style Southern Italian recipes to get you through finals week By ISABELLA MALFI Contributing Writer
It’s December, and despite a school year full of uncertainty, there is one definite thing most Fordham students can depend on to be true: From here on out, we are cruising a high-speed luge down a slippery slope to finals. Rounding the corner to the break is like approaching a wolf in sheep’s clothing; that pecan pie is sweet until the bitter taste of final exams, essays, presentations and projects hits the tongue. Finals season can mean a lot of things to students across all the Fordham campuses. For some, finals might wreck their sleep schedule. For others, the unending mountain of work can force a loss in appetite or a compromised mental health state. “The worst part about finals season, especially right now, is the burnout,” Erin Lostraglio, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, said. “Back-to-back
So you can’t stare at your computer screen any longer, and you’re in need of an hourlong escape.
Sugo Rosso Homemade Tomato Sauce (serves 4)
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed ¼ cup white onion, diced 1 14-oz can of whole peeled or crushed tomatoes Salt, to taste (suggestion: 1 tbsp for 1 full box of pasta) Fresh basil (if desired) Pasta (of your preference) Procedure: 1. In a medium saucepan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and warm over medium heat. Once hot, add your two smashed garlic cloves and chopped onions. Nonna Note: How do you peel and smash a garlic clove? According to Nonna, all it takes is 10 seconds and your hand. Take the whole garlic clove, set it on your kitchen counter and smash it with the heel of your hand. The skin should fall right off and the garlic should crack. Nonna’s method offers an easy way to prepare a clove and a welcome release for that finals frustration. 2. Once the onions have b e c o m e translucent and the garlic has turned a
Zoom classes/meetings, then spending hours writing papers. I’ve become extremely prone to migraines.” Though perhaps there is a way to control the wonted panic of finals — in the Southern Italian household I grew up in, comfort in the presence of chaos was always found in a warm, steaming bowl of Nonna’s cooking. In order for anyone to become a master of anything, they have to spend at least 10,000 hours practicing. At 83 years old, Nonna has far surpassed 10,000 hours cooking in the kitchen, so you can trust that she knows how to make good Southern Italian food. After my 21 years in the kitchen with her, I’ve acquired her techniques and recipes and have compiled a few of them. Each recipe can be made for under $10 and with ordinary kitchen equipment: pots, spoons and forks. From Nonna’s kitchen to wherever this article finds you, here are three recipes for the ultimate comfort foods to help you conquer the dreaded fall finals on a full stomach.
light brown (around 2 minutes), add in your canned tomatoes. 3. Lower your heat to a low simmer and let the tomatoes cook uncovered for 45 minutes. Nonna Note: It’s more like a confession. Nonna doesn’t use canned tomatoes; she uses the jarred tomatoes our family makes at the end of the summer. But she firmly believes canned tomatoes work just the same. 4. If you’ve used a can of whole peeled tomatoes: After 15 minutes of cooking, squish the cooked tomatoes with a fork or a wooden spoon until they’re no longer whole. Nonna Note: If you’ve used crushed tomatoes, let them be. 5. Stir your sauce occasionally and add salt to taste. The sauce should cook no longer than one hour. Nonna Note: Nonna physically cannot cook sauce without the inclusion of some fresh basil. She grows a field of it from June to August. Once summer ends, she harvests the leaves, cleans and pats them dry, lays them in a Tupperware, and sticks them in the freezer to use throughout the winter. If you’re a lover of fresh herbs like she is, try her freezing method. It’ll save you money at the grocery store once basil and parsley are no longer in season. 6. Note From Me: This sauce can do anything. You can use it for pasta, gnocchi and Parmigiana. You can add a little heavy cream and make a tomato soup. You can pour it in a Tupperware, stick it in the freezer (sound familiar?), and pull it out to defrost and reheat just in time for fall semester finals.
Arts & Culture
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So you’ve got 30 minutes between one study session and the next:
Pastina con Le Uova Pastina With Egg (serves 2) Ingredients: ½ cup pastina Salt, to taste (suggestion: ½ tsp for 2 servings of pastina) 1-2 eggs (if you like eggs, use a second egg!) 2 tbsp butter Grated pecorino or Parmigiano Procedure: 1. Fill a small pot with 1 cup of lightly salted water and bring to a boil. Nonna Note: Pastina acts like rice: It soaks up all the water while it cooks. So if you want your pastina to have a texture closer to a typical pasta, boil only 1 cup of water. If you want it to be more like a soup, use 1 ¼ cups of water. I like mine sticky. 2. Once boiling, drop in your ½ cup of pastina. Nonna Note: Nonna has plenty of kitchen gadgets, but she doesn’t have measuring cups. Nonna will pour the dry pastina into a bowl, ask me how much I want and use my level of hunger as measurement! 3. Cook pastina until soft, approximately 5-7 minutes depending on your burner (those McMahon burners love to take their time). 4. Once the pastina is cooked, leave the pot on the stove, but turn the burner off. 5. Immediately, crack your egg(s) directly into the pot and mix with the pasta. Nonna Note: The key here is to mix quickly: You want the temperature of the pastina to cook
So you’ve reached the end of unending hours of finals and you feel like spending your first two hours of freedom celebrating.
Gnocchi di Patate Potato Gnocchi (serves 4)
Ingredients: 1 lb. Russet potatoes (2-3 medium-sized) 1 ¾ cup flour (½ pound) 1 egg Procedure: 1. Peel your potatoes and discard skins (or compost them). 2. Boil potatoes in a medium pot of salted water (salt it like you would pasta) until they are tender, around 20 minutes. Nonna Note: Like measuring cups, Nonna also lacks a timer in her kitchen. To test if the potatoes are done, she suggests piercing them with a fork. If they slide off the fork with ease, they’re ready. 3. Mash the potatoes with any kitchen utensil (masher, ricer, wooden spoon, fork). Let them cool. 4. On the kitchen counter or table, form a well with your flour. Nonna Note: When making pasta, Nonna never uses a mixing bowl. She only and always makes a well because a) it’s fun and b) there’s less clean up. To form a well, simply dump your measured flour onto a flat surface and dig a little hole in the center of your mound. It should look like a mini volcano: a sunken hole in the middle with raised sides around. 5. Into the center of the well, crack your egg. Then, to the egg, add your cooled mashed potatoes. 6. Slowly, using the flour from the outside edges of your
the egg without the addition of heat. The quicker you mix, the quicker the egg cooks and the better it incorporates into the pasta. 6. Once the pasta and eggs are combined, stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter. 7. Then, sprinkle in grated Parmigiano or pecorino to your taste and combine. Nonna Note: Nonna prefers freshly grated cheese; biweekly, she’ll buy herself two massive chunks of pecorino and Parmigiano and grate them herself using a food processor. She then transfers the cheese to these two jars whose only job for the past 60 years has been to hold the grated goodness. They sit and wait in her refrigerator door until she needs them (which is pretty much every day). If you’re a cheese lover, do like Nonna and splurge for a chunk. 8. Spoon out your pastina and top with a little more cheese and black ground pepper, if desired. Nonna Note: Nonna tops her pasta with a healthy sprinkle of both cheeses, every time. No shame there!
well, incorporate all three ingredients with your hands. 7. Gently massage the flour, egg and potatoes together until they are just combined and it forms a ball. Nonna Note: This is the one time in the history of Italian cuisine that you do not and should not knead the dough. The more you mess with this pasta, the tougher the gnocchi get. 8. Working in small batches, tear off a medium-sized chunk from the dough ball. 9. Then, roll out the chunk of pasta on the table into a snakelike shape until it’s approximately 1-inch thick. 10. Using a knife, cut the snake into 1-inch pieces. Promptly cover the cut gnocchi with a dusting of flour. 11. Using a fork, roll each gnocchi over the prongs to achieve the desired ridges. 12. Repeat steps eight through 11 until all the dough has been formed to gnocchi. 13. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to boil and cook the gnocchi for 3-5 minutes. Nonna Note: You know what’s coming: Nonna doesn’t believe in the concept of cooking time. She knows they’re ready when they float to the top of the pot. Now you do, too. Throw out that kitchen timer. 14. Strain gnocchi and serve with anything you’d like: a quick sage-butter sauce, some basil pesto, your own, delicious sugo rosso … you name it.
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS BY LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER
Fun&&Games GamesEditor Editor Fun EsméBleecker-Adams Bleecker-Adams--ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu Esmé
un&&Games ames Fun
September December16, 2, 2020 THE OBSERVER
Crossword: Off to See Wizardconsin Hidden Figures
29
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Sudoku
By ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS
Instructions: Every row, column and section (marked by the blue lines) contains the numbers one through nine.
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Instructions: Every column and concentric circle contains the numbers one through nine.
8 6 3 4 5 91 44 2 1 2 3 5 2 36 5 65 2 6 7 4 7 5 3 11 5 2 3 8 4 6 9 6 7
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Want to create cartoons, coloring pages, quizzes, horoscopes, recipes, games or puzzles of any kind? If you’re interested in contributing to the Fun & Games section, email: ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu
No experience necessary!
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