Observer 2016-2017 Issue 5

Observer the

MARCH 30, 2017 VOLUME XXXVIII, ISSUE 5

www.fordhamobserver.com

Service Dog Denial Breached Law

S.A.G.E.S. Takes On Professor

By BEN MOORE Editor-in-Chief

By ELIZABETH LANDRY News Co-Editor

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE)’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in New York determined that Fordham University breached Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 when it denied a student’s request to live with a service dog in university housing.

A letter signed by Timothy Blanchard, director of the New York OCR, on Feb. 24 2017, stated “OCR determined that the University was in violation of the regulation implementing Section 504,” which guarantees legal rights to an individual with a disability. The document specifies that this section is further supported by Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)’s definition of a “service animal” and stated protections of disabled individuals from discrimination in places of public accommodation.

Despite her documented disability with the Office of Disability Services, Fordham denied the student’s request on three separate occasions since the process began in February of 2016. She submitted her request shortly after transferring to Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) and moving into McMahon Hall in the spring semester of 2016.

On Aug. 4, 2016, just before she began her junior year, the DOE opened an investigation based on her allegations, with resolution proceedings that concluded in February of 2017.

The student seeking the service dog provided The Observer with the OCR’s Letter of Findings for the case and the Resolution Agreement, signed on Feb. 23, 2017 by Elaine Crosson, general counsel at Fordham. The Letter of Findings states that it should not be relied upon as a formal statement of OCR policy.

Per the OCR resolution document, Fordham denied the student’s request “in part because the documentation provided in support of the request was confusing, in that the complainant submitted documentation regarding various medical conditions at different times, and documentation was provided from doctors the dean did not believe would be most knowledgeable about the condition.” The document also states that the involved dean “did not believe that the documentation and information provided by the complainant adequately addressed how a service dog would address any major life activity affected by the complainant’s disability.”

Through the course of the investigation, the OCR decided that “the University considered the complainant to be a qualified individual with a disability” and that “the complainant followed University policy in making a request for a service animal for her housing, and provided documentation demonstrating a nexus between the animal’s proposed function and her disability.” The document also stated that the university’s policy on service animals was “not discriminatory against disabled individuals on its face.” see SERVICE DOG pg. 2

JESSE CARLUCCI/THE OBSERVER

Despite having the sensitive location distinction, Fordham is not officially a “sanctuary campus.”

The Uncertainty of I.C.E. What it means to be a “sanctuary campus”

By COLIN SHEELEY Staff Writer Many universities hesitate to declare themselves “sanctuary campuses,” and those who do have varying ideas about what that means. California State schools are building legal cases for undocumented students that might face detainment. Columbia University announced that it would not allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) agents on campus without a warrant or subpoena.

Acquiring those forms of authorization, however, is a much easier task than might be expected. According to the I.C.E. Sensitive Locations policy, which checks agent operations in Fordham and other schools, as well as medical centers, places of worship, public ceremonies and demonstrations, agents are not bound by restrictions when obtaining records and documentation, or serving subpoenas.

Fordham President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. issued a Jan. 29 statement announcing that Fordham “stands with” the undocumented immigrant community. The university has not openly declared itself a sanctuary campus, but has created a resource page for undocumented students that includes the Sensitive Locations policy.

The policy, which otherwise requires agents to re-

OPINIONS

Where is Everyone?

Why being involved matters

Page 5

ceive approval of a high-ranking Homeland Security official before conducting operations within a Sensitive Location only covers arrests, interviews, searches and surveillance. Obtaining University records of students’ immigration statuses falls well outside of those actions.

Moreover, in the event of certain “exigent circumstances,” officers can conduct enforcement operations without authorization. Those circumstances include when the enforcement action involves a national security or terrorism matter, if there is an imminent risk of death, violence or physical harm to any person or property, as well as others.

The Sensitive Locations policy has been in place since 2011, and I.C.E., whose membership increased from 10,000 to 21,000 agents under the Bush and Obama administrations, expects to gain 10,000 more.

The agency, however, maintains that while some enforcement actions may occur at sensitive locations, such actions will generally be avoided.

“Some of our undocumented students are both vulnerable and afraid,” Vice President of Public Safety John Carroll said in a recent meeting with representatives from United Student Government. “Our ultimate goal is to protect,” he said.

This week, students began speaking out about the Theatre Department director, Matthew Maguire. The tenured professor of 25 years, who currently teaches two classes per semester and advises students, recently settled a lawsuit brought by a former assistant professor which sought damages for sex discrimination and sexual harassment.

The New York Post cited Kris Stone’s documentation as claiming that Maguire “made sure all his colleagues knew he was in an open marriage and consistently devoted ‘the first 20 minutes’ of each faculty meeting to a ‘monologue’ about sex,” as well as “[forced] ‘attractive female students’ and faculty advisers to go on dates with him,” and “required ‘some students in his acting classes to perform in class acts of rape, masturbation and molestation” and “to perform acts of simulated anal sex on stage.” According to New York Daily News, the accusations also included that Maguire talked about sex “nearly every time Stone saw [him],” “often boasted to her that he had slept with ‘hundreds of women’” and volunteered “that he had ‘masturbated with a snake.’”

Fordham University denied the allegations and called them “deliberately provocative,” saying that the denial of Stone’s reappointment inspired her suit. On Feb. 15, a $20,000 settlement was reached in Manhattan Supreme Court. It included a gag order which silences any discussion of the case

by Stone, whose position was not renewed in 2014. The Fordham administration did not notify students.

Maguire is a well-known playwright, director and actor in the theatre department. A New York Times profile on his one-man autobiographical 2010 show “Wild Man” described his play as “affable, absorbing [and] buzz-inducing” and the man himself as “an appealing, talented performer.”

In a rollicking Observer interview from 2010 about his one-man autobiographical show “Wild Man,” Maguire said his “drug of choice” was “lust.”

Murmurs about Maguire’s case have prompted action by students anonymously, and attention from unofficial group Students for Sex and see SAGES pg. 2

SPORTS & HEALTH

FEATURES

ARTS & CULTURE

Art Across the Pond

Profile: Maya Bannitt

A photographer’s London journey

Aspiring theatre professional

Fresh faces for Fordham football

Page 21

Page 7

Page 22

THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

Three New Coaches

2

News

March 30, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

DOE Rules Against Fordham in Service Dog Case SERVICE DOG FROM PAGE 1

Further, the OCR determined that the student and university “engaged in an interactive process” regarding the matter, but that “the University failed to apply the appropriate standard when considering the complainant’s request.”

Among the listed reasons for this failure were that “the University based its ultimate denial of the request on the fact that the University did not believe the documentation provided by the complainant sufficiently addressed how a service dog would address any major life activity impacted by the complainant’s disability.”

OCR found that the provided documentation “was at least sufficient proof of the complainant’s arthritis diagnosis, which limited the major life activities of performing manual tasks and walking; of the animal’s proposed function; and of the nexus between the complainant’s disability and the animal’s function.” Additionally, OCR determined that after denying the complainant’s request, Fordham did not offer any alternatives to accommodate her disabilities.

In an email response, Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Lincoln Center, stated “the University would not communicate on the situation, because the matter has not concluded.”

The resolution agreement explains that in order to resolve the case, “Fordham University assures the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), that it will take the actions detailed below pursuant to the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.” The three action items are

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

The university denied this student’s request for a service dog, despite her documented disability.

listed below: 1. “By February 28, 2017, the University will notify the complainant that the documentation she submitted in support of her request to live with a service animal in University housing contained sufficient proof of the complainant’s disabilities; of the proposed animal’s function; and of the nexus between the complainant’s disabilities and the proposed animal’s function.”

2. “By March 31, 2017, the University will provide training to all University staff responsible for eval-

uating requests for disability-related accommodations in housing, on the policies and procedures applicable to processing requests for disabilityrelated accommodations.”

3. “By March 15, 2017, the University will assess whether the complainant requires any academic remediation as a result of academic deficiencies she suffered during academic years 2015-2016 and 20162017 because she did not have approval to have a service dog living with her in University housing.”

The resolution agreement con-

tinues that “OCR will not close the monitoring of this agreement until OCR determines that the University has fulfilled the terms of this agreement” and that “OCR may visit the University, interview staff, and request such additional reports or data as are necessary” to determine whether the University has fulfilled the terms of this agreement.

The university issued a letter signed by Jeffrey Gray, senior vice president for student affairs, to the student on Feb. 27, 2017 regarding the OCR’s resolution. The letter re-

quires her to “submit documentation to the University demonstrating that the service animal is trained to perform the functions that you indicated would accommodate your disabilities.” Per the letter, Fordham would have 10 days to notify the student of any deficiencies in the submitted paperwork.

In compliance with the OCR Resolution Agreement, the letter states that Fordham will grant the request, except if it “requires a fundamental alteration in the housing program,” “creates an undue burden on the University” or “the animal poses a direct threat to the health or safety” of other students. Fordham must consider “effective alternatives” if any of these conditions are met.

As for the student, her next steps include bringing Ella, a German Shepard mix who will spend a couple of months in training before returning to the student to continue training with her in the summer, to her non-Fordham residence. The student says that Ella will hopefully be done with her training by the fall semester, but will go back for a little more training if needed.

“Now I’m very happy, but prior to that, it was a lot of frustration and a lot of waiting,” the student said when commenting on the approval process that has now lasted over a year.

During training, Ella will be judged against the public access test, a guideline used by service dog organizations to determine if a dog is well-behaved enough to take into public. The student explained that some of the training includes “how the dog walks through a doorway [or] how the dog walks next to you,” and teaching the dog to obey stopping and sitting commands.

Admin Transparency Questioned in Maguire Case SAGES FROM PAGE 1

Gender Equity and Safety Coalition (SAGES).

On March 21, article printouts were left in public areas such as the Ram Cafe and the student lounge, with headlines like “Horny professor made students simulate sex in class: lawsuit” and “Fordham University theater professor Matthew Maguire boasted about ‘masturbating with a snake,’ made students act out sex, rape scenes in class, suit charges.” This effort to increase visibility was met with curiosity and sparked discussion amongst students. One student said, “I guess somebody’s got beef

with Matt,” while another exclaimed instantly, “Oh yeah, that guy’s a d*ck.”

Over the last few weeks, SAGES members have spoken informally with members of the student body about the settlement. “A lot of students reached out to professors individually, saying they were generally feeling unsafe,” one SAGES member said. “What they found was that a lot of professors didn’t know about it.

And we found that really disturbing.”

Representatives from SAGES, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the group planned to attend a theatre department meeting on Monday, March 27. It was meant to be “a full conversation about how Title

IX works, particularly with regards to the Fordham Theatre Program,” and the department email strongly advised all students in the program to come. Fordham’s Title IX Coordinator and Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance Anastasia Coleman was to be in attendance to answer questions. The morning of, the department emailed to tell would-be attendees that the Title IX Coordinator would no longer be available due to a “Title IX emergency” and that the meeting would be postponed. No date was given.

The SAGES members said they plan to engage the theatre department in a dialogue about sexual threats on

campus and administrative transparency. “Now that [coverage of the settlement] seems to have died down people want to claim that there are no problems, but it doesn’t mean that students are now safe,” they said.

They also are asking the university to speak out about similar cases in future. “We’re not allowed to let other students know about what’s going on and that’s really unfortunate,” they said. “All of this comes out in student networks, like ‘Avoid this guy because he’s an abuser,’ when it should be the university sending out emails that ‘someone was assaulted on campus today.’ But we just get emails about petty theft or students who play the card

games in the street. Crimes happen here. Crimes are committed by our students and crimes are committed by our faculty.”

According to the Post, the settlement included no admission of guilt by Maguire or the university. The SAGES representatives said they wanted to open discussion not because they want to say the ruling should have been different, but because they ask the school to increase transparency with student safety issues to include informing the community about student safety cases that do not fall under confidentiality rule—which would apply if the case were under Title IX. This case was filed publicly.

Faculty Senate Discusses Ongoing Fight Over Salary, Benefits “ If you never get sick, then this is the insurance plan for you,” referring to how the standard plan adds extra cists that would “significantly affect” faculty and lower-level administration.”

By KATHERINE SMITH Asst. News Editor

Following an ongoing dispute with the administration over salaries and benefits, the Faculty Senate met on March 23 to discuss the conflict.

The meeting occurred after an email from the university was sent out to the Fordham community, in order to clarify and make corrections to a flyer released by the Faculty Senate. Andrew Clark, Ph.D., chair of the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee, described the email as a continuation of the “series of different tactics” the administration has been using to “impose new rules on the faculty without their consent.”

Martha Hearst, the university’s senior vice president, said in a “clarifications” email that the negotiating team felt “compelled” to correct a “number of misleading and wholly incorrect assertions” in the flyer distributed by the Senate.

One of the main asserted correc-

–

JOHN DRUMMOND,

Faculty Senate Salary & Benefits Committee

tions responsed to the Senate’s claim that the administration is demanding great reductions in health care benefits. Hearst said that the administration has not made any demands, but has instead offered different proposals and tried to adjust them after listening to the concerns of faculty.

The proposal will replace the two existing, more expensive health insurance options in favor of a new option called the Fordham Plan, that would be “affordable, effective and competitive,” according to the email. The clarification goes on

to list the new benefits to the plan, including a platinum prescription drug program, a pre-certification waiver and the establishment of a health reimbursement account fund of $350,000, a benefit meant to serve as a “safety net” for faculty that are most affected by the transition to the new plan.

While the email states that the healthcare plan “would carry the most generous health insurance benefits Fordham would offer,” faculty members still find issue with many of the provisions in the response. There is still a 10 percent

co-insurance rather than 0 percent in-network, and a 30 percemt coinsurance out of network, according to data presented at the meeting.

In addition to the co-insurance, the Senate claims that there is also an increased maximum out of pocket for both in and out of network, as well as increased co-pays and increased co-pays on tiered drugs.

There are also in-network deductibles and co-insurances that don’t exist in the current Enhanced Plan, and various procedures and treatments that will no longer be covered, according to the info given.

One faculty member commented that they are seeing “both a decrease in salary and an increase in health care plans.” Among other problems listed with the Standard Plan, one professor commented that it is “unclear” who manages and will qualify for it, what procedures it will cover, and how it will be dispersed out to faculty.

“There is no transparency reflected in their response,” the faculty member said.

Another faculty member who presented more statistics on the rise of healthcare costs said that “if you never get sick, then this is the insurance plan for you,” referring to how the standard plan adds extra costs that would “significantly affect” faculty and lower-level administration.

The last part of the meeting focused on moving forward. Opinions differed on how to handle the situation, but many members agreed on taking some form of action in order to avoid rising costs.

“If we are going to have the impact we want, then we have to show how the university will be affected,” one member said.

The administration board will be voting on the issues on April 20.

Although no solid decisions were made on how to proceed, Clark said the number of members who attended was “amazing” and that it was “fantastic to see such an awesome turnout.”

“The most admirable part of this institution is its care and solidarity of the faculty,” Clark said.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER March 30, 2017

News

3

New Science Labs Underway for Fall 2017

By VICTORIA MICALIZZI Contributing Writer

If you happen to be passing room 816 of the Leon Lowenstein building and peer into the window of the door you will see a large, dark, empty room undergoing extensive renovations. Formerly one of the larger classrooms in the Lowenstein building, able to hold up to 70 students, LL 816 will soon be converted into a set of new labs for the natural sciences department.

The primary reason for this addition is to teach more classes. The current lab space is constantly in use, cluttered with equipment and specimens, and too limited to facilitate enough science classes.

Chair of the Natural Sciences department Jason Morris, Ph.D. said, “Our department has needed more space for a very long time,” In addition to natural science classes these labs hold classes for all core physical science requirements, some core life sciences, environmental science, pre-health and integrated neuroscience. The current lab facilities are simply not enough space.

Furthermore, enrollment in science classes has been rising, which introduces a need to open up more classes. According to Morris, the department has even had trouble with offering enough classes for timely graduations due to the lack of lab space.

The need for expanding lab space and the idea to possibly use LL 816 to accomplish this is more than a decade old but the request was granted this year, according to Morris. In the past the crowded Fordham Lincoln Center campus, high Manhattan real estate costs and the needs of other departments to balance had hindered the increase in lab space. In the interim,

ASEAH KHAN/THE OBSERVER

Room LL 816 is currently being converted into a new set of labs for the natural sciences department.

the department has taken advantage of the new classrooms in the 140 West building.

The new space will serve several purposes. Half of the room will be used as a general teaching lab for classes such as physical science, and there will also be a room for confocal microscopy, an important tech-

nique in cell biology, genetics and molecular biology research. Also, Dr. Alma Rodenas Ruano, Ph.D., a new faculty member who is a neurophysiologist and a geneticist, will have space to conduct research on the nervous systems of zebrafish.

These renovations will facilitate more research opportunities, and

better, more exciting work in the labs. All research at Lincoln Center is done with undergraduate students so the lab space will also create more opportunities for students to present work and research.

“This is a great opportunity for the college. It’s going to improve our research and our teaching and

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it’s going to affect a lot of students,” Morris said.

According to Brian J. Byrne, Ph.D., Vice President for Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the construction is on schedule for the labs to be finished during the summer of 2017, and they will be available for use starting in the fall semester.

Opinions

Opinions Editor John McCullough - jmcculloughiii@fordham.edu

STAFF EDITORIAL

the

USG ELECTION PROVIDES PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ISSUES

U

nited Student Government (USG)’s election season is upon us and the issues that the Fordham community faces are myriad and diverse, including free speech on campus, faculty benefits and the rights of transgender students.

As we approach the election, we must answer the question: how should we, as a community, address these issues? The simple answer is to choose representatives who will take our concerns to the administration and ensure that policy decisions are made accordingly.

Ideally, students would use this opportunity as a chance to elect USG members that will carry out this job, as they engage in dialogue with administrators over issues concerning the student body.

Over the past year, we have seen that the administration has remained largely inactive on LGBTQ+ issues, such as housing policies and bathroom signage. Despite various students’ efforts to push for

progress in these topics, the University has not officially acknowledged the points raised by student advocates. In some instances, like that of Students

“As members of the Fordham community, students need to make their voices heard through entities such as USG” for Justice in Palestine (SJP)’s club approval bid, the administration has dug in its heels as pressure from the student body increases. These actions have only incited an uproar amongst the student body, seen in the several protests that occurred on and around campus earlier this semester. With the choice of a new USG President impending, the stances the candidates take on the relationship

March 30, 2017 THE OBSERVER

between the university and its student body will be essential.

While voting in the USG election and taking part in student activism are essential parts of enacting meaningful change, they must also be coupled with other forms of action. Advocacy on issues such as these can only be won with a diverse set of practices that take into account and utilize all forums that exist to address these concerns and work towards their resolution.

As members of the Fordham community, students need to make their voices heard through entities such as USG, and vote for whichever candidate they believe is best fit to act as their top representative.

With several issues on the line and the authority of student and faculty-run organizations put in jeopardy by recent administrative decisions, it is incredibly important that the Fordham student body plays an active role in defending and maintaining the institutions which give us a voice.

Observer Editor-in-Chief Ben Moore Managing Editor Matthew McCarthy Business Manager Michael Veverka Layout Co-Editors Sabrina Jen Katie Maurer Asst. Layout Editor Elodie Huston News Co-Editors Stephan Kozub Elizabeth Landry Cecile Neidig Asst. News Editor Katherine Smith Opinions Editor John McCullough Asst. Opinions Editors Alex Seyad Kathy Yoo Arts & Culture Co-Editors Elena Ciotta Ana Fota Morgan Steward Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editors Maryanna Antoldi Samantha DeAssis Features Co-Editors Ruby Buddemeyer Asst. Features Editor Carson Thornton Gonzalez Reese Ravner Sports & Health Editor Mohdshobair Hussaini Asst. Sports & Health Editor Alexander DiMisa Artemis Tsagaris Photo Co-Editors Hana Keiningham Asst. Photo Editor Aseah Khan Brooke Parrett Literary Editor Erika Ortiz Asst. Multimedia Producer Kaylee Kilkenny Copy Co-Editors Izzi Duprey Erika Ortiz Morgan Steward Social Media Co-Managers Andronika Zimmerman

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THE OBSERVER March 30, 2017

Opinions

7

The Low Attendance Rates Plaguing Fordham ALEX SEYAD Asst. Opinions Co-Editor

STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

Fordham Lincoln Center proudly boasts a vast array of clubs and activities spread throughout the week and now thanks to LC After Dark, there are events during the weekends. Unfortunately, many of the clubs and organizations hosting these events are running into a major issue: not enough people are showing up.

At many events over the course of the academic year, attendance has been extremely low, and has become the subject of frequent discussion amongst student leaders.

Normally, low student participation is expected in student government bodies, like USG and RHA, granted there are high turnouts at events like Winter Ball and the Bash. While thus far these events still boast high attendance rates, other fordham activities and club events have seen diminished turnouts. This discussion came to the forefront last year during the Diversity Task Force community meetings, which had low attendance rates. At the time, students believed the reason was a lack of trust between the students and the administration that anything would be accomplished by such meetings.

Such a belief and a lack of attendance is disconcerting because it jeopardizes the future of the Fordham community and of the university as a whole. As members of the Fordham Community, our participation in student governement and events determines whether or not any of these will be a success.

In the past academic year, this campus has seen a surge in student activism. Over a hundred members of the Fordham community, whether they are students, faculty, or staff, have turned out to different protests to challenge decisions made by the university and to advocate for inclusivity and myriad policies.

ASEAH KHAN/THE OBSERVER

If Fordham students wish to change their campus for the better, they must play an active role in events and activities.

Public demonstrations have almost become the norm here, with protests on the plaza becoming a more common sight.

At the same time, however, USG meeting attendance rates remain abysmal, with only a handful of non-USG members attending general meetings on any given week.

Additionally, other club events have seen attendances so low that they leave the organizers and participants embarrassed by the apparent lack of interest.

Initiatives to introduce more of a student voice into administrative and faculty decisions have been aborted due to a lack of student participation. The Arts & Sciences Student Advisory Council, which is in place to give students to have more input and communication with deans and department heads, was cancelled this year due to repeat-

edly poor turnouts from students who had initially indicated that they would participate. Some could argue that lack of willingness from the student body to voice is their opinion is that they will be vetoed or overpowered by administrators.

The question here is: where does participation matter, and how reliant is it on students being actively involved in the Fordham community?

The short answer is that being actively involved does matter.

Just as being active citizens in our hometowns and states is important, so too is being an active member of the Fordham community. The protests are a start, but we cannot expect any real improvement to the Fordham community, until we start helping each other and supporting one another more. Trying to have clubs and organizations live in

isolated spheres will only harm our community and leave us all at a disadvantage. Also, choosing to isolate ourselves from social activities will affect the growth and development of new clubs.

Many club events on campus are designed to be informative, like the Refugee Experience, or to be a fun social outlet, like Winterfest.

The posting boards around campus are littered with flyers that advertise different events, but if no one attends it affects the morale of club leaders who are trying to better the Fordham community.

The recent protest on campus on Trump’s executive order on immigration was a prime example of how student organizations can come together to work towards and address a commonly agreed upon issue. Similarly, the Pies for Charity event brought together clubs such as

the Muslims Students Association, the Jewish Students Organization, Stove’s Comedy Club and United Student Government together to achieve a common goal of raising money for Syrian refugees.

At a time of division in this country and increasingly throughout the world, this kind of collaboration is what we need to the most of in the Fordham community.

There are plenty of issues to be addressed and solved, but it can only be solved if we all work togehter.

Try collaborating with different student clubs and organizations on campus, and show up to each others’ events as much as you can.

Doing so will forge trust between students and clubs, creating stronger groups to accomplish the common goals which they desire to achieve, and ultimately create a better Fordham community.

Jeff Sessions is the Latest Symbol of Putin’s Puppetry JORDAN MELTZER Staff Writer

In early March, Attorney General Jeff Sessions became the subject of yet another controversy in the Trump administration. The Department of Justice discovered that Sessions had met with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak twice during Session’s tenure as Alabama’s Senator. One of those meetings was conducted last September, a time during which the Russian hacking scandal—and its influence on the U.S. election—was at its peak, according to U.S. intelligence officials. Not only did Sessions orchestrate these meetings, but he also lied about them under oath. During his Attorney General confirmation hearing he stated that he “did not have communications with the Russians.”

He is not the first person associated with President Trump who has owned the spotlight because of ties to Russia (or, at the very least, reasonable evidence to believe such a claim). Trump’s pick for national security adviser, Michael Flynn, made a series of phone calls to ambassador Kislyak. He then lied about them to Vice President Pence, which got him fired, according to the White House. Meanwhile, former Trump campaign manager

COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE VIA FLICKR

Jeff Sessions has long been a controversial figure in Washington.

Paul Manafort allegedly had longstanding ties to the Russian state and received almost $13 million from Ukraine’s pro-Russian former president. And let us not forget the leaked dossier alleging that Russia

had compromising information about Trump.

It may seem unimportant that all these members of the Trump team have ties to Russia because of Trump’s seemingly unabashed

praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is not the case. The difference between Trump and his henchmen is that Trump is relatively outright about his praise for Putin while his henchmen consistently lie about their Russian ties.

Every Trump team member who has met with Kislyak has either denied it or claimed not to recall it—which means that either Kislyak is a particularly boring guy or Trump’s minions are hiding something.

And, unfortunately, I’m inclined to suspect the latter.

This narrative of Trump and his administration conspiring with Putin and his officials is one that makes all too much sense. If Russia really does have compromising information about Trump, it would be logical to conclude that Putin wanted Trump in power to use him as a political puppet. Putin knows that Trump wants to protect his name and brand, so Trump will do what Putin says for the sake of that brand. It also makes sense that Trump picked many of his top aides to be affiliated with Russia. In addition to the aforementioned members of his circle with secret Russian bonds, there is also Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, who has had business relations with the Russian state and an Order of Friendship from Putin—a high Russian honor.

While investigating Trump

and his team’s involvement with Russia, we should not forget the legitimacy of the danger of Russian ties. The Obama administration, which has been called too weak by people like Trump himself, placed economic sanctions on Russia, indicating that Russia is too much of a threat and an enemy for the U.S. to do any trade or financial transactions with it. But Trump himself has business and financial ties to the Russian state. So it makes no sense that Trump would praise Putin and allow the members of his administration to have ties to such a government.

This Trump-Russia tumult is indicative of how seriously Trump takes the job of President. If he is willing to squander such a momentous opportunity so that he might not tarnish his name, he probably does not regard this role with much importance. And since a President must prioritize the safety of American citizens, he might not consider that item as a scary thought.

Am I suggesting that Trump might put the lives of Americans in danger just for the sake of his name? Yes. Should you believe me?

Ultimately, that decision is yours, but I do encourage you to maintain a healthy skepticism of this administration. As I once read on a sticker on a telephone pole, “Informed dissent is more patriotic than blind obedience.”

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Two Seniors Face Off in USG Presidential Election Delivering a Positive Impact

Community: It Takes Inclusivity BECKY SONG Contributing Writer

What defines a person? Is it their personality? Their intelligence? Their goals?

Personally, I think it’s the communities they are a part of. I believe that we are all part of a community – many communities in fact.

These communities shape who we are, and in turn are also shaped by us.

In my life, I have been a part of many communities that have brought me to who I am today, and to which I actively contributed.

My high school lacrosse and debate teams, my church youth group and my family have all built me and made me into the person I was when I enrolled here at Fordham.

Being an Orientation Leader, co-chair of the Winter Ball Committee and USG Vice President for Student Affairs have all helped to mold me into the student leader asking for your vote for USG President today.

I think one of Fordham’s admirable traits is the celebrated sense of community that we as students strive to uphold.

I regard the Fordham community as intimate, scholarly and welcoming to all.

For these reasons, I place great value on being a part of Fordham and I further value working consistently to make this community better because although I consider us great, I know we are not perfect—yet.

To me, a community of individuals creates an opportunity to form fellowship with others through a feeling of common attitudes, interests and goals. When incidents of prejudice, or violations of free

speech happen on campus, Fordham’s feeling of fellowship weakens. If we hope to consistently improve our community, we need to ensure that we do the work to consistently make others feel welcome within it.

I feel it is our responsibility to work together on the issues that leave so many feeling unheard. As USG President, I pledge that I would always be the first to make sure that the marginalized among us know they are welcomed and loved in our community.

If I am lucky enough to receive your vote and be elected as USG President, I will make improving the Fordham community at large the utmost priority of my USG administration.

For example, one of the issues in my campaign platform is giving the international student community a greater voice; the international student community is a valuable part of our institution, but we so rarely include these students in our decisions and activities.

I also wish to ensure that every student voice will be heard by USG and the Fordham administration.

As I’m sure you all know, USG general meetings are open to everyone and will remain as such, but I recognize that many students are unable to attend these meetings.

Therefore, I plan on creating an online form so students may anonymously submit any comments or concerns they have regarding issues surrounding our community.

I am also willing to answer any questions you may have before the election, so please do not hesitate to reach out to @rebeccasongforusgpres on Facebook, or rsong6@fordham.edu. Thank you for your time and (hopefully) your vote!

ALEC PADRON Contributing Writer

The summer before my freshman year, I was overcome with anxiety about starting college. I worried about fitting in at Fordham and whether or not I would enjoy my environment on campus. After voicing my concerns to my parents, I was given one piece of advice that would stay with me: “Remember to stay relevant.” To me, staying relevant means trying my best to have a positive impact that will outlast my time at Fordham. When I finally began freshman year, I joined United Student Government (USG), the club that I felt would give me the best opportunity to “stay relevant.”

During my first year on USG I served as the Gabelli Senator for the class of 2018.

I sat on the facilities committee where I worked on several initiatives, including the addition of single stall gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. USG gave me the opportunity as a freshman to integrate myself with the community and learn how to address students’ concerns and suggestions. The following year, I felt that I could take on more responsibilities within USG and joined the Executive Board as the Treasurer. I acted as the chairperson of the Student Activity Budget Committee and helped distribute funding to clubs.

After a semester abroad, I returned to USG as a Junior Senator. Serving the Fordham student body as a member of USG helped me realize that I am passionate about creating and upholding an environment that is open and responsive to all members of the community. I am grateful to have the opportunity to run for USG President, and if elected, will make building the community at Fordham my top priority.

My platform aims to have students feel integrated as contributing members of their community, rather than feeling like they have no input in the important decisions USG makes. In the past, it has been very difficult for non-USG members to learn information about USG’s accomplishments or how they can contribute to important discussions. To improve this, I plan to introduce an online USG form to make expressing concerns easy and accessible for all students, not just those in a club or committee. Having an online form in place will aid in the facilitation of an open and receptive environment for all students at Fordham. I also would like to publish a USG newsletter, which would publicize information on USG’s general meetings and town halls.

Of course, in addition to hearing concerns I also plan to act on them. Some of my top priorities as president would be addressing the extension of library hours, meeting with Student Involvement to make the club approval process faster and more transparent and to simplify guest speaker forms.

Simply put, I would like to be president so I can help make Fordham a better place for all. Fordham is a very special place to me, and I want everyone to experience the same feelings of being welcomed and integrated that I had my freshman year through my involvement with USG. As my campaign for President progresses, I would like everyone to know that it is my goal to continue bringing positive change to Fordham and strengthening the community. I love Fordham, but I know it’s not perfect – I will work tirelessly to implement your suggestions and make Fordham a place with an efficient governing body, but more importantly, a strong and caring community

Is Fordham Fighting a Surface-based Crusade?

KILEY CAMPBELL Contributing Writer

Recently, one flyer out of the many posted through Fordham’s halls caught my eye—partially because of its large bold lettering— advertising an upcoming discussion on microaggressions as they apply to race. For a split second, I thought little more than “Oh, cool, good on Fordham for sponsoring this.”

Quickly, though, I ended up thinking of a recent Observer article in which Dean Keith Eldredge stated that Fordham’s administration conforms to the Catholic stance on gender.

Namely, that there are two genders and the sex assigned to a person at birth is assumed to be permanent.

Don’t ask me why I thought of that article at that moment; maybe I made a link to trans rights when I saw the word “microaggressions,” or maybe that I simply had this article on my mind, At any rate, seeing that poster and making a link to that article and the rally that inspired it made my blood boil. I angrily asked myself, why is Fordham willing to host a discussion on something so tied to progressive liberalism, but close their doors to their trans community? Eldredge’s almost gleeful confirmation of Fordham’s stance no doubt makes many in Fordham’s community, including myself, a bit sick. Very recently, Fordham sponsored a discussion on trans rights under the new presidency. However, beyond this discussion, little has been done in the way of the trans community. Fordham’s administration seemingly gives conflicting messages, hosting a panel on trans rights one day and openly dismissing the existence of its trans community the next. As a transgender person, to

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/THE OBSERVER

Despite Fordham’s recent progressions, more can be done to accomodate LGBTQ+ students.

hear the Dean of Students refer to the concept of gender in such a way feels rather insulting. First and foremost, the sex I was assigned at birth is not permanent—I’ll see to that myself, and while I fall on the gender binary, there are far more than two genders.

Plain and simple.

But Eldredge’s—and Fordham’s as a whole—lack of understanding of the intricacies of gender identity is hardly the issue. Instead, it is the seemingly two-faced nature of an administration that is willing to

advance some liberal issues, but not others. As often as I’ve heard the phrase “cura personalis” in a discussion about transgender rights at Fordham, the selective application of this phrase to student life is baffling. Perhaps I need to employ the

assistance of the President of the New York School for the Hard of Hearing, but allow me to explain, once again, that “cura personalis” is an irrelevant phrase ifs every individual is not being given equal support by the administration.

In addition, Fordham’s staunch conformity to Catholic social standpoints is understandable, but not justified in the least. The contemporary Society of Jesus prides itself in being an organization committed to challenging the conservative ideals of Catholicism, to be a progressive group in and of itself. Fordham’s history as a Jesuit school is one of breaking away from tradition. “Cura personalis” is the hallmark of Ignatian and Jesuit spirituality. Fordham cannot claim to embody the Jesuit spirit and refuse to live up to what is expected of Jesuit spirituality. Conformity to the status quo is the most powerful enemy of progress.

While we cannot ignore the progress made this year with singleoccupancy bathrooms, we must not fall into Eldredge’s mindset that what has been done is enough. The issue of accommodation of trans people is not just about fair bathroom use, it is about the life that each trans student lives within this institution. Equity of life amongst all students cannot and will not be achieved until Eldredge and the Fordham administration examine their selective progressivism and recognize their stagnation in accommodating some of their most embattled students. Eldredge has said that he views the bathroom progress as a suitable compromise. I cannot in any way say that I believe Fordham is “trying to accommodate the best way [they] can” if the creation of a few all-gender bathrooms is viewed as suitable. Words mean nothing if there is no action to support them, and thus far, I am not swayed.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editors Elena Ciotta - eciotta@fordham.edu Ana Fota - afota@fordham.edu Morgan Steward - msteward2@fordham.edu March 30, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Paving Her Way to the Great White Way

By JENNA BATTAGLIA Staff Writer=

Maya Banitt, Fordham College of Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, is currently completing a degree in Theatre Arts Administration. If this major sounds unfamiliar, that’s because it should—Banitt designed it herself.

Banitt originally intended to major in International Studies but found herself constantly drawn to New York City’s incredible theatre scene. During her freshman year alone, she saw over 60 shows. She also joined the Theatre Intern Network, a program sponsored by The American Theatre Wing, through which she attended monthly meetings and learned about possible careers in the theatre industry, besides just performance art, from working professionals. As a member of the Theatre Intern Network allowed Banitt to receive complimentary tickets to Broadway shows, volunteer at the Obie Awards (Off-Broadway Awards) and even attend the 70th Annual Tony Awards. After a year full of amazing theatre experiences, Banitt said to herself, “Wait a second, I spend all my free time being involved with theatre in the city.

That’s telling me something!”

Banitt knew that she did not want to major in theatre performance, but still wished to remain in the industry. By working closely with the Sophomore Dean, Dr. Pancza Graham, Banitt was able to design the Theatre Arts Administration major, which combines economics with theatre. Designing a major is not an easy process, and only a couple students decide to do this every year. In order for Banitt to accomplish this, she had to find two faculty members to mentor her, write a proposal explaining her intentions and research a potential capstone project to be completed senior year. The resulting major consists of eleven courses in business, economics and theatre which will all contribute to Banitt’s success in the industry. Through her coursework at Fordham, Banitt has had some amazing opportunities. For example, she was able to shadow the

ERIN O’FLYNN/ THE OBSERVER

Maya Bannitt has created her own Theatre Arts Administration major.

stage manager of the Broadway musical, “In-Transit.” She also interns for Magis Theatre Company, where

she assists with research to help the company get grants. Ultimately, Banitt hopes that these experiences

will help her achieve her goal of becoming a company manager for a Broadway show.

“The theatre Intern Network had a panel of company managers and I remember hearing them talking about their jobs and it sounded really interesting. They’re the direct liaisons between the business side of theatre and the actors. The company managers handle a lot of the budgeting, financial and logistical situations within the company. Everyday they’re at the theater talking with the actors and they’re also at the offices dealing with the budgets and the business side of things. I’d love to be a company manager one day.” Besides learning about the business side of theatre, Banitt is an expert audience member. She attends more shows in one semester than most people attend in a lifetime. She even writes reviews for shows on show-score.com. Her favorites include “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Finding Neverland,” which she’s seen a total of 15 times. Banitt is an inspiration for anyone who wants to see the wildlypopular “Hamilton,” and was able to get tickets by waiting in the cancellation line at 5:30 a.m. This season, Banitt is particularly excited to see “Miss Saigon,” and “Amélie,” starring original “Hamilton” cast member Phillipa Soo. Despite a heavy course load, Banitt still makes time for all of her various interests. She has taken several semesters of ballet at The Ailey School and is a member of the Fordham University Choir, with whom she recently embarked on a tour of Puerto Rico. Banitt is proof of the endless opportunities New York City can provide for exploring interests and following passions.

Of her unique academic career, Banitt said: “I think if someone has a really strong idea of what they want to do with their life and what they’re passionate about, they should follow that. If that means building a major because they can’t find the right major within the school they’re at, then I definitely recommend it. I feel like this is definitely the right course for me. It’s not for everyone and it does take a lot of work and time, but it’s going to pay off because it means I get to do what I’m passionate about.”

French Theatre Professor Stars in Off-Broadway Play Hélène Godec and students make French language play accessible to all.

By COURTNEY BROGLE Contributing Writer

Artist-in-Residence of the Fordham Modern Language and Literature Department Hélène Godec recently starred in a local production of Jean Genet’s “Les Bonnes” (The Maids). Working as both an actress and a French professor at Fordham University, she had the unique opportunity to perform in this experimental production of the provocative play. In addition to playing one of the principal characters, Godec helped three of her students attain one-credit internships for their work with the La Mama Theatre, where they performed jobs that enhanced the viewing experience for non-French speaking audiences.

Genet’s play follows two maids whose fantasies about revolting against their master start to take form upon his arrest. Godec became involved in the experimental production about the unraveling of family and class conflicts after she was approached by her friend, producer and actress Laura Townsend.

Townsend introduced Godec to director Oliver Henzler and musical composer and cast member Cloe

COURTESY OF HELENE GODEC

Godec hired three of her students for one-credit internships.

Xhauflaire. She participated in a week long workshop before deciding to join the project.

“It has been weeks of rehearsal to develop the physical quality of our characters and to create a strong ensemble,” Godec said. “The text is very poetic and symbolic and it was necessary for us to work

on the play in a very visceral way to bring this story into our contemporary world.”

Godec began her career in Paris and has been in the business for 15 years working as an actress, a professor of theatre and a consultant in public speaking. She teaches a French Theatre and Performance

course at Fordham, where acting, history, reading, theory and analysis of major contemporary playwrights combine to create a class designed to encompass French language and public performance. In addition, Godec instructs a class on French business culture (that covers bi-cultural business ventures) and runs a weekly atelier, “Les ateliers du mercredi” that is open to all students for French theatre and public speaking.

Godec not only engages students in a classroom setting, but also in the workplace with handson experience. She opened up opportunities for Mariam Moustafa, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, Lucy O’Brien, FCLC ’19, and Ellen Thome, Fordham College at Rose Hill, (FCRH) ’20.

Though each girl varies in specific areas of study, all three are French majors that received word of the chance to intern for the show.

They worked as translators, running English captions for audience members unfamiliar with the show in its native French. O’Brien explained, “Mariam, Ellen and I wrote out an English translation of the show, drawing from the French

script and two English scripts… [making] a new translation, as conversational as possible.”

“This experience taught me so much, such as working under pressure and taking quick actions,” Moustafa said.

“For example, when the actors skip lines while we are moving the slides of the PowerPoint with subtitles, we should be able to find the right slides with the right subtitles as quickly as possible.”

“I’m very glad for this opportunity to work with such a challenging piece of literature,” Thome agreed. “Even though I’ve gone over the play so many times, I find new things watching each performance.”

Though the show’s run ended on March 19, Godec has no plans to slow down. She is currently working on a production of “Advice to a Young Bride” by Marion Aubert, a dark comedy about married life in contemporary society. She is immensely grateful for the opportunities she has, calling New York a “multi-cultural city” with “a space for an international theatre” that has made “an audience… interested in discovering European artists.”

the comma presents

2017 creative writing awards PHOTO COURTESY OF SABRINA POLKOWSKI

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The Comma

March 30, 2017 THE OBSERVER

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Matryoshka

By ANNA MARIA VOITKO

&

Awarded the Margaret Lamb Prize Writing to the Right-Hand Margin Prize

If Evelyn was still mad at me she wouldn’t have invited me over to her apartment.

Friends don’t really do that unless they want to yell at you in private. I’d like to think that the doorman thought we might have been more than friends but the way he looked at me let me know that I fell somewhere on his creepy guy radar.

We went past him, up the stairs to the second floor, and down the hall until we found her door. She unlocked it, flipped on the lights, and went in. I followed her inside wordlessly and stood waiting as she hung her keys on a hook near the door and took off the first of her five shawls. On our way up the stairs I figured that if each shawl she wore was a different color then I could tell how many layers she had on by checking the colors. This backfired when she removed her outer pale green shawl and I still saw the color on her. Maybe she only had three or four layers on. That would make her a bit more normal.

Of course, I didn’t really want to stand there counting her shawls all day but the hallway was narrow and I didn’t want to be the first to speak. She still might have invited me up here to yell at me in private. With her it was always safer not to assume anything. So I concentrated on her shawls again and the way their ends layered around her thighs.

Evelyn must’ve realized she was blocking my way because she scooted towards the wall and turned to look at me.

“Oh sorry, go on ahead,” her face changed from neutral to questioning.

I’m not sure what she expected to see behind her but it probably wasn’t my look of intense concentration. I avoided her gaze, slid off my shoes and stepped past her.

“Thanks” I muttered.

The rest of the apartment wasn’t big either but it had that quasi-Scandinavian look that Evelyn was into. A light wooden counter separated the kitchen from the living room. On the other side, across from the hall where I stood, a row of windows overlooked Central Park West.

I went to get a better look but at this time of day the park was mostly a mass of dark trees broken up by the occasional streetlight. Of course, The rest of the city was alive and humming. I glanced back at Evelyn in the doorway and wondered for the second time that day, how a college student could afford to live in a place like this. Rich parents would make sense but Evelyn didn’t have any. She’d said so the first time we met. A will? In any case, now wouldn’t be a good time to ask.

Sitting down on her couch seemed like the most harmless action. There was a coffee table in front of it and beyond that a shelving unit that housed what must have been Evelyn’s stock pile of weird things she found in the city. At least, weirdness was the only unifying theme I could see in the piles of figurines, old books, and decorative vases. One of the figures caught my eye – probably because it had been painted wearing shawls. It was wooden and carved into a smooth, rounded shape of a women wearing a red patterned outfit.

“What’s that?” I pointed at the doll. Evelyn, now stripped down to only one shawl over her dress, walked over to the shelf and picked it up.

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, then spoke “It’s a Matryoshka, a kind of Russian doll.”

I blinked. “But last time that’s what you called her…” my voice trailed off.

And I realized that despite our efforts an invisible third person had walked into the apartment and now stood between us. Its presence was so strong that it might grow to overtake the entire room if we both kept thinking about her. I didn’t have to say who she was. Evelyn knew.

Vividly, the end of the last icy meeting with Evelyn replayed in my mind.

“You shouldn’t get involved with a matryoshka,” she had said. And I of course, had defended the invisible person then because that’s what you do when someone insults the former love of your life. But this only made Evelyn frustrated and it was a while before we spoke again.

In the apartment, Evelyn’s expression was softer. The memory of the argument was more of a bad dream. She sat down next to me and ran a finger over the glossy paint.

“So…what exactly is a matryoshka?” I ventured. It was probably better to keep my questions vague and let Evelyn control how much she wanted to talk.

Instead of answering at first, she twisted the doll so that the top separated from the bottom. The doll was hollow and inside was a smaller doll only this one had a blue outfit painted on instead.

“They’re also called nesting dolls,” Evelyn began. “Each doll opens up to reveal a smaller one hidden inside. If you keep going, eventually you’ll get to one that can’t be opened. That’s how you know you’ve reached the end.”

She kept splitting the dolls and reassembling the halves until there were six painted women all wearing different colors lined up on the coffee table staring back at us. I picked up the smallest doll and slid it cleanly back into the next largest. It was oddly satisfying. “That’s pretty cool. They’ll always be a perfect fit?”

It wasn’t really a question but Evelyn answered it anyway. “Well yeah, dolls don’t grow.”

The way she said dolls revived the invisible person – the other matryoshka.

I decided to take the risk.

“So when a person is…a matryoshka how does that work?” I tried to keep my voice and face neutral. Evelyn gave me a strange look but began as if she were lecturing a class.

“Most people adjust or put on a slightly new face to match a situation.

That’s normal. I probably wouldn’t want to hear the steamy details of my barista’s latest hook-up, even if that’s what’s on their mind when I meet them in the morning.

Likewise, although you’re my friend, I’m probably not going to share all my hopes and dreams with you. At least not this early in the night when I’m sober.”

I nodded but didn’t say anything.

She continued, “But even if people wear masks or half masks or whatever, at the end of the day they still have some idea of who they are underneath it all. Even if they haven’t reached some magical level of self-actualization, they at least have some idea of how they got to the person they are now. They track their growth.”

Evelyn began to talk a bit slower now as if she had thought about this a lot but had never spoken it aloud. “On the other hand, a matryoshkas are different. Their outer shell morphs but doesn’t ever completely sink back into their original identity. There’s always a gap between the two. It’s almost like… like they put up a wall between who they were and this new person they created. A wall that at most lets only the facts of their memories pass through. If they had any feelings about those memories well…they’re gone.”

“But…” I interrupted, “but that’s impossible. You can’t just lock up all the feelings you had in your life. You could ignore them or something sure, but they wouldn’t go away. What would happen if this so-called wall somehow broke and the new persona suddenly got all these emotions?”

I wanted to continue but her face stopped me. Evelyn’s eyes were now as glossy as paint on the surface of the dolls.

“It would hurt…” her voice quavered, “…a lot.”

She suddenly got up “I’m getting a drink, want one?” She started moving towards the kitchen before I could say yes. I kept staring at the dolls, turning over Evelyn’s words in my mind.

“Don’t get involved with a matryoshka” she’d said. But her definition of a matryoshka was so personal, so oddly specific. The accusation was ridiculous unless Evelyn had known the invisible person before I had. Suddenly, I realized that I was standing on the edge of a whole world I didn’t know about. One that I didn’t want to enter just yet.

I put the dolls back together one by one and turned the complete matroyshka away from me until I couldn’t see its face. Evelyn came back over with two wine glasses and a bottle that was in danger of slipping out of her grip. I took it from her and placed it on the table. Evelyn noticed the completed doll. Her eyes met mine and we came to a mutual understanding. For the rest of the night, we would ignore the matroyshka in the room.

A Conversation with the Author Anna Maria Voitko

By ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA Comma Editor

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/THE OBSERVER

Anna Maria Voitko was awarded the Margaret Lamb Prize & the Writing to the Right Hand Margin Prize.

Anna Maria Voitko is a senior Psychology major at Fordham Lincoln Center. She won the Margaret Lamb and Writing to the Right-Hand Margin for her short story centering around a mysterious young woman named Evelyn and her matryoshka dolls. She is first generation Russian American and grew up in New York City.

Voitko has always considered herself a writer and attempted to write her first book in the sixth grade. She prefers writing on her computer rather than with pen and paper. After graduation, she plans on taking a gap year (or two) to write her first novel before continuing her studies with psychology.

Can you define a story?

Oh man, I was really going to say something cheesey, like, a story is something that moves

your heart and connects you to something larger. But, a story is a series of unorganized steps that when you look back on connects in a meaningful way. That also sounds kind of cheesy but that’s the most concrete way I can describe an abstract concept.

Who is an author you look up to and why?

I have people that I look up to because I enjoy how they make me feel when they write. So like Haruki Murakami is one of my favorites. And he is a Japanese author. I really like how he gets the daily life tasks written pretty clearly and to the point. And his characters really aren’t super, super interesting. Especially protagonists, they are kind of like boring middle-aged men who are kind of just going through life. But, I like how realistic everything feels, and then on the other side of the spectrum I really admire J.K. Rowling of course, because what she did with Harry

Potter was incredible.

Your character, Evelyn she has depth and mystery to her, but the narrator seems almost very mundane. Do you see a connection between the author you admire and your piece?

Just generally, I’m a psychology major so I’m like, really fascinated by people. And even boring people are a lot more interesting than they might seem.

I don’t think that I’m a super exciting person, but maybe to somebody else, I’m, I don’t know cool or mysterious or whatever. And likewise, I’m probably thinking like, “Wow, they’ve got this interesting quirk about them, they’re really awesome, I wanna be like them.” I feel like we are always doing that to each other. So when you read about a mundane character, you’re like, “Oh I can connect to this character because they are just like existing.” And I kind of feel the same sometimes.

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The Comma

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Poems by Heath Wade Hampton Jr. Awarded the Ully Hirsch & Robert F. Nettleton Poetry Prizes

bienvenidos a nueva york This is where I start today the way day starts drop by drip drop dreary on drowned sidewalks paved with rain, car tires, rain boots. the day starts also thunderheads around cigarette butts, red huffs of lightning; umbrellas to hold in all the flood of rain drip by drop drip day dreary smells like coffee dew on business red lip-stick and like anger and like yesterday’s poodle’s dogshit yesterday dropped right here hear car tires spread it like pavement on rain, sidewalks, rain boots.

Sunlight was naked bulb breaking between clouds and some dead men’s male impotence maybe he was making up for the way he always overcompensated,always looked at the bust line of sight above his secretary’s bright eyes, always shook hands too firmly, always was from a small town, always was hard because hard has to be hard it’s hard to build love out of concrete and rebar.

Naked fluorescence like a gym light vaguely flickering on, but outside it’s called sunlight, and yup he yuppie stretched across avenues. the light was angry and broke, ‘the fuck you smiling for’ it kissed my neckline, ran its hands too far up my thigh.

I was face-down with my cheek pressed against 57th street, I want to hear the city wheeze through an asphalt century of stubble.

It smells like weed, dead horse, spring time.

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/THE OBSERVER

Heath Wade Hampton was one of two students awarded the 2017 Ully Hirsch & Robert F. Nettleton Poetry Prizes.

UN SELECCION DE “SUS OTROS HIJJOS”

“AL LECTOR

Aviendo salido a luz” what was unsonned in the deep of red and brown, en la loma sobre de sus tumbas (que sondas tumbe grave and crashing fractal through grit, o la idioma de carne y las vueltas de tiempo) does not make that thing transparent. The past cannot be displayed ni se entiende, rather me abrasa abrasivo, y junto, este tejido y yo empezamos hijear nuestro raiz. Transparency, the bare white lie of understanding, is only a solution. It is only the worm, it has always been the worm, has always dissolved centuries of pyres and coffins, however, in this loom we are radicalized together, and in the deep earth the worm has a cemetery luminescence que “se broncea” transparency into tlayohualli: our house in the sun, la oscuridad de luz, the word’s precise obsidian grit. O aclarar, it is only para mostrar, o para provocar, empathy and the compulsive cohesion of people that the white of it is engraved into this weave, through here it be monstrous and uncertain. It is necessary, then, for our sake, con cada palabra a crear el alma amalgamada, a tejer la tierra de Tejas, in order, finally, to irrupt from the altared earth with the clarity of history and anger the many varied threads of this weft, this fracture.

A Conversation with Heath Wade Hampton Junior

By ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA Comma Editor

Heath Wade Hampton Jr. is a Senior English Literature major at Fordham Lincoln Center.

Hampton won the Ully Hirsch and Robert F. Nettleton Poetry awards for the beginning of his thesis which straddles poetry and prose; and for his poem Bienvenidos a Nueva York.

After graduating, he’s off to join Teach For America (TFA).

He acknowledged that people have varying opinions on the program but said that TFA will allow him to be a part of the solution to a national problem.

Hampton attributes much of his writing ability to the unofficial club on campus, Poetry Collective, which he began attending his Freshman year of college.

Who is an author that you admire and why?

Dylan Thomas. He has this one poem that he says when he first learned to shape his thoughts to the stoney idiom of

language. And I read that when I was really young before I knew about, like, meta-linguistics and the study of semiotics and stuff like that. I thought it was just a wonderful way to talk about how there are things that cannot be communicated necessarily within the structure of language, but that language can be utilized in order to get at that metalinguistic possibility.

Do you consider yourself a poet?

Um, probably -- I don’t know.

I’m published now?

Can you define a poem?

So poem, comes from the greek word, Poiesis, which means to create. And so, that’s definitely part of it. You made something that was not there before hand. But, poetry also is right now, as we look at is a very specific literary category, that intends to do things the way other poems have done things.

So, it’s creating in a historical

“ Poetry is attempting to express something that seems beyond the sphere of history” space. And not only that, but poetry gives you the ability to get beyond linguistic problems. Like things, that you cannot express in language commonly. So, what I would perhaps call poetry is the temporal horizon of writing. Poetry is writing at the place where all of the context meets the impossible lack of expression that exists just outside of it. Poetry is attempting to express something that seems beyond the sphere of history, immediately.

You give a lot of credit to Poetry collective for shaping you as a writer. Can you talk about what community means for you as a writer?

Poetry collective is really

cool and I wouldn’t be half the writer that I am without Poetry Collective. Poetry Collective is the poetry group that meets every Thursday now, usually at 9 p.m., usually on campus. It’s just a public space for people to read poetry and stuff. ... It’s like church for writers. But sexier.

When you write alone … you are your own sounding board, it all sounds the same, basically. So, if you get multiple sounding boards, frequently, it helps you develop a clarity to your own sense of voice and style. It also helps you to assess your work actively, as you go. What is effective? What is not effective? How do you read this? How is it read by others?

Do you have a specific writing process -- a notebook you keep with you or is it mainly on your phone?

It’s probably mainly on my phone. In the notes app, I have like 5,000 notes.

Your inspiration for your poem Bienvenidos a Nueva York was obviously the city, but did something happen to you on a particular day that then sparked this piece?

I wrote that poem two and half years ago, three years ago....

I was at Europa Cafe at 57th and 7th, and I hadn’t been able to sleep the night before. My friend and I used to go out and walk in the middle of the city sometimes. I hadn’t slept the night before and it was like four or five in the morning. And I went to Europa Cafe because it was the only place open. And it just smelled terrible. Everything smelled awful and people were beginning to walk to work and stuff.

I was there for four hours. And around seven or eight, the people who were walking through the city was changing. But this happens every morning, this is people’s commute. This is how they experience this space and time all the time.

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Autobiographic, Thanatotic, Poetic

By AARON PINNIX Awarded Academy of American Poets Prize

Imagining satellites’ vision I see them passing even in city when at sunset light reflects off their metal shells, shine briefly flare then disappear.

A palimpsest of images overlap

at night in Manhattan trees appear against purple lit full moon like fingers in trees the lungs of genetic memories each in subtle ways.

Everything with a sense of fullness an air of expectation, a slow rumble of spring storm, a strong moving current, pink on mien.

A Conversation with Poet Aaron Pinnix “ The poet is just like an assembler...My task is

By ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA Comma Editor

to try to construct it in its best self and put it out into the world, like an ugly baby that lives on it’s own.”

Aaron Pinnix, winner of the Academy of American Poets Prize, is a self described “outdoorsy man” who grew up in rural Alabama. In addition to teaching English Composition, he volunteers with Poets Out Loud Outreach Program. He is an English Ph.D. student in his third year and his dissertation focuses on poetry about the ocean. Pinnix likes the “antihuman” elements of the ocean, that he believes necessitates a certain kind of imagination to represent. He finds his fodder from all aspects of nature, from rats on the subway to the greenery in Inwood Park. It was a walk through this park after sunset, a daily occurrence for Pinnix, that inspired his award winning poem.

This is an edited conversation with the author.

Do you have an app that you cannot live without?

Absolutely not. … I have the stupidest phone possible, it’s not very good at surfing the internet or anything like that. I intentionally produce space between me and my technology.

Who is an author you admire and why?

Let’s go with Muriel Rukeyser. She’s great. I just recently finished reading all of her work.

It’s really smart. It develops and grows over the course of her life time in really interesting ways....

And I think that she is also underappreciated and underrepresented. So, she deserves to be known.

Can you talk more about

– AARON PINNIZ, poet & Creative Award Winner

PHOTO BY ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/THE OBSERVER

Aaron Pinnix was awarded the 2017 Academy of American Poet Prize.

your writing process? Do you write with pen and paper or computer?

Oh I do both. My process is usually I carry a piece of paper and a pen and take notes while I’m out walking around in the woods. I’ll often write and arrange my handwritten notes or rewrite them and kind of work by hand first. Then, I transcribe my notes to the computer and play with it on the screen. Maybe I’ll print that out and work some more on it. So it really is a lot of going back and forth between my hand and computer and my hand and computer. I find that both modes are helpful for kind of drawing attention to the plasticity of language. ... I find if I am alternating between them I like how it looks a little more. I think that each model of text produc-

tion kind of prompts certain kinds of texts.

In terms of the driving image or idea, do you know it when you first sit down or does it develop?

It develops. I mean, what I have in mind whenever I first start to write is whatever kind of catching my eye and I scribble it whatever I’m carrying around. … For instance the poem that won the award, every time I would pick it up, I would alter it, in some way. … Usually becoming sharper and smaller. Sometimes the poem, I’ll conjoin two poems. But mostly it’s a process of ratification. To turn it into steam or something like that.

What is a poem?

That’s an impossible question.

Well, I mean a poem is, I think one thing that is important about a poem is that different readers can take different things from a poem ... I don’t think a poem really has anything to do with writer’s intention. I think it has more to with the reader’s response and how you take it up....The kind of multiplicity of meanings also relates to a multiplicity of the language itself where it’s variable and shiftable.

I think that’s what a poem is, its multiplicity.

Do you consider yourself a poet?

Of course, of course. I think it would be foolish not to consider yourself a poet. I think that there’s no reason to curtail or do border guarding about that.... I don’t think there’s any need to have a sharp, you’re in, you’re out. I mean there are better and worse poets for sure.

You give the poem a lot of agency, then what is the role of the poet?

The poet is just like an assembler. My notes come from lots of different places. Am I this organizing agency behind is or is the poem kind of organizing itself? Both. I’m going to have it both ways. A poem has a certain amount of agency. And it calls for, you know, certain revisions make it strong and strengthen it.

Certain revision at times weaken

it. My task is to try to construct it in its best self and put it out into the world, like an ugly baby that lives on it’s own. Once the poem is out in the world, it’s out. It has it’s own life, it’s own thing. My purposes and intents don’t really matter.

With the state of our country, is it the time to write poetry or are there more pressing things that need to be done?

Art and expression are most important. And that’s what’s trying to be repressed. Because of the ways in which there’s a multiplicity in language. That’s a challenge to this one sort of meaning that wants to reduce all other forms of meaning. A kind of dominating narrative that overwrites all other narratives, that’s the time to write poetry, that’s the time to write prose, that’s the time to write all sorts of things.

Love poetry is important during times of domination and imperialism. Poetry is the kind of bastard step-child of arts. But I do it because it’s a calling and there’s lots of ways in which poetry and prose and literature are interestingly, they can be political even when it’s not intending to be. I’m reading this book that reminds me of other kinds of spaces and places and things. Which takes me outside of this one kind of narrative. One kind of story.

I think it’s even more important now than ever before.

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Stomach

By DANNI HU-YANG

Awarded the Ully Hirsch & Robert F. Nettleton Poetry Prizes

A circular knife is blood sealed in tongue Running across fire Doesn’t burn me as much as choked by foreign water Bound in thick nets thick Not as thick as my mouth Breathing in dry air Sucked out of your pores Be my father While I am your negative Vision through a tiny yellow nose No tongue Language unrecognized Arms recharging Limbs doubling Lay our bodies flat

PHOTO COURTESTY OF EMMA YI

Danni Hu-Yang was one of two students awarded the 2017 Ully Hirsch & Robert F. Nettleton Poetry Prizes.

Currency Taken out of the blackness of my hair Running underground on a grass of broken blades Stained in my old blanket of pain

A Conversation with Danni Hu-Yang

By GRACE THOMPSON Comma Editor

Danni is the winner of the Ully Hirsch and Robert F. Nettleton Poetry Prizes. They are a senior English major with a Creative Writing concentration, and after graduation they will be attending a performance workshop at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange. They grew up in Shanghai and moved to New York for college, where they explored writing as well as theater. They try to include only what is necessary in their poems, and this has been effective, demonstrated by the fact that this is their second year in a row winning the same prize.

What’s the first word that comes to your mind?

Salt.

Do you consider yourself a poet?

Yeah, somewhat. I don’t really know what’s the definition of a poet, but yeah I write things that most naturally come into things that people call poetry, or like imagery things, so yeah.

How important do you think accessibility of meaning is for poetry?

The words I try to use are as simple, as accessible as they can be, but the meaning of it, I like to give space for the readers. I’m more interested in what they feel, instead of having a complete message that I want to show. I mean, I do have my personal life, but I also, I want it to be generative, something that can generate something in the readers so it multiplies.

What was your central im-

age? What did you start with?

I was doing homework in a dramaturgy class… The final project for this class is to make a casebook for one of the plays that we read in the class, but also something you want to adapt it to your version... So the play I chose was “Suddenly Last Summer.” It’s by Tennessee Williams, so it’s a very carnal and really weird and twisted story, and it has to do with race too. Also, the play was both considered, by certain people it was considered a successful queer story, but some other people think it was kind of queer-phobic, because of the way it portrayed the people in the play… So you collect all the images from the play that you really think speak to you, and you also find some other sources of images, outside the play, and then you write your own response to that, then you make all your response

into a poem. But it doesn’t have to be too much to do with, literally, how the play works, but is inspired by that.

You use a lot of bodily imagery, and it’s called stomach, what did you want to evoke with using that kind of bodily imagery?

I think I’m very used to, or tend to use bodily imagery, and I like to write about how I feel.

I want to maybe show a feeling but I don’t know how to describe it, how to make people feel the same way, but I just write how I feel. And body parts and how bodies are seen by others, are really interesting to me, and it can be really disgusting.

What’s your creative process?

This particular one is very precise, because I was guided

through very specific steps: first find images in the play, then be inspired by them, then make your thinking, so that’s a very helpful process. If not, I would not really write that much. My other creative process is very much in everyday life. I don’t really sit down and write a bunch of things. I do write sometimes on the subway, if I have space and can put a book, I can write something. Mostly in my head, I think about things and the things that don’t go away will continue to be remembered, and things like making food. And I think one of the things that’s really important that I didn’t realize before is talking to people, like people you really trust, and just go rant about something and then I can produce some new thoughts.

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TIGHTROPE WALKERS

By ALEXANDRA O’CONNELL Awarded the Bernice Kilduff White & John J. White Creative Writing Prize

“I’ve decided I’m not going to be a girl anymore.”

The declaration was bold, the usual confidence ringing out from Samantha’s voice. Samantha and Isabel were sitting in Samantha’s room after school. It was an uncomfortably warm day. Her ceiling fan didn’t work—it had never worked—and a layer of dust coated the windows that were too heavy for them to open. The heat in the apartment had slowed them down, batted away all suggestions of their usual rotation of games.

Samantha lay on her bed (pink, piled high with stuffed animals), while Isabel attempted to cool herself against the hardwood floor. She unstuck herself now, her shirt clinging to her back.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” she said. She surveyed Samantha carefully, but she looked the same: beads of perspiration dotted her face, but beside that her hair still hung in its usual ringlets, her freckles still dotted the exact same places, her knees were still scraped above her white knee socks.

“Of course you can. You can do anything.” Samantha kicked out one of her legs; it landed back on her bed with a muffled thump. “I’m bored. Let’s play house.”

Isabel lay in her bed, her mother’s and his shouts sliding beneath her door and mingling with the bars of moonlight that striped her room. She closed her eyes and probed at a loose tooth.

“What’s it like not being a girl?”

The night was hot, sticky. The girls had carted an old fan into Samantha’s room, placed it within the cave of blankets and pillows they had built earlier.

Samantha was quiet. Isabel thought she might’ve fallen asleep.

“It’s good,” she said finally, her voice slow and heavy.

She raised one of her hands in front of her face, her eyelids fluttering open.

“They can’t touch you if you’re not a girl,” she mumbled, closing her eyes and letting her hand fall down on top of Isabel’s.

“Put your goggles on.”

Isabel complied, placing her hands in Os around her eyes and pulling down on air. She turned her head for Samantha’s approval.

“Looks good. Make sure they’re tight.”

Isabel tugged at an imaginary strap.

“Let’s go.”

They were in the park by their apartment building.

It wasn’t too much of a park, a straggly bunch of trees clinging to the edge of a concrete block. But it had become their place.

Today they were playing Amelia Earhart (Samantha, of course). In their version she had survived, accompanied by her assistant (Isabel). They had just swum through a shark-infested ocean, Amelia barely pulling her assistant out from the murky waters.

Isabel followed Samantha into the stand of trees—it was dimmer here, the stagnant heat softened by the tangle of branches overhead, filtered through the thin green leaves. She watched one of the leaves now—she thought it was moving, fluttering slightly, but there was no breeze, and she was determined not to blink and miss it— “Are you looking for treasure?”

Samantha’s voice pierced the air, and Isabel turned, saw her pulling up handfuls of dirt, kneeling at the base of a tree.

“Yes. There could be something buried here that could help us escape.”

They always kept the box hidden here, spot marked by a broken brick they had found near the trash. Samantha pulled it out now, the once-pink lid of the old jewelry box faded to a murky salmon. The box of lost things, little bits and scraps they had taken or stolen which no one would notice were missing: a pair of rusty scissors snagged from an unused drawer in Samantha’s mother’s desk; scraps of lace they had taken from the art room at school; a tiny bird’s skull they had found here at the park; a key they had picked up on the sidewalk one day; one glove with a hole in the thumb.

“Amelia Earhart had short hair, didn’t she?” The scissors rested in her hand. She gave an experimental click.

“Cut off my braid.”

Isabel eyed the length of curls, wrested back into a ropy strand that hung down the middle of Samantha’s back.

“Your mom will kill you.”

Samantha considered this.

“It doesn’t matter. Whenever she gets upset with me now I start screaming and she leaves me alone.”

Samantha handed her the scissors, turning around so that her back was to her. Isabel felt the weight of them in her hand, brought them up to the springy knot at the base of Samantha’s neck, noticed the curls lingering against the rusty metal. She cut.

Without speaking, she tucked it, carefully, almost tenderly, into the box, mutely took the scissors from Isabel’s hand, and returned it to the earth.

Isabel’s mother had spent the night at her boyfriend’s again. Isabel made herself some cornflakes, sitting close to the refrigerator so she could hear its hum. She pressed an ear against it for a few seconds before she left.

“She doesn’t believe me.”

It was recess, later that week. Samantha kicked up a pile of woodchips. Isabel didn’t know what Samantha meant, but she reached over and squeezed her hand, a woodchip sandwiched between their hands digging into her palm.

They were being loud tonight. Isabel turned over onto her side, experimented with stuffing her head under her pillow, her fingers in her ears.

She thought about what Samantha had told her the other day, about when she started yelling. Opened her mouth (loose tooth poking out a bit), imagined what would happen if she started screaming and screaming.

Her boyfriend was at breakfast the next morning, heavy boots thudding against the kitchen floor. He sat at the head of the table, blocking her view of the fridge.

Isabel eyed his hands as he poured milk into his cereal. They were almost as big as the entire gallon. She remembered once shyly staring at his hands, and how he had held one of them up to her head, laughing, and cupped it around her entire face. Ha, ha, ha, he had laughed. *** “It’s not working.”

“What isn’t?”

“Not being a girl.”

Samantha was looking out at the playground, squinting at something or someone. The glare of the sun was too bright; Isabel could not see what it was. She instead studied Samantha’s newly short hair instead, noticing the way the ends of it just touched her collar.

Samantha was in one of her bad moods. She didn’t say anything, but Isabel could tell. Small electrical currents that seemed to be zooming around her head, exploding from her fingertips. Isabel didn’t say anything—it was usually better to stay still when people were like this.

They went over to Samantha’s apartment for dinner. It was something small that did it, her carrots dipping into her mashed potatoes. She slammed her first on the table, knocked over her glass of water, started screaming. Isabel waited for her to calm down, watching as her mother left the room, lighting a cigarette in a shaking hand.

And again they lay in Samantha’s room, blankets only halfway covering them, window still lodged shut but fan whirring steadily.

Samantha had calmed down a few minutes after her outburst, finished her dinner, and played with her the rest of the evening. Isabel knew, instinctively, not to discuss it.

But now the darkness clothed them, and it was easier to open her mouth, to look at Samantha when her edges were softened.

“Why do you yell?”

Samantha shifted so that she was facing Isabel. Samantha brought a hand up toward her head, ran it down the length of her hair, twisted a few strands between of Isabel’s hair between her fingers.

“I need to make sure I still can,” she whispered. “I can’t when it’s happening.”

Isabel turned over so she was facing Samantha.

“Tell me.”

Samantha shook her head.

“We’ll play a game,” Isabel said. She cleared her throat quietly, rubbed a sweaty palm against her nightgown before slipping Samantha’s hand in her own.

“I want you to think about it. “ She leaned over so her forehead was touching Samantha’s, the slightly damp ends of their hair curling around each other. “I’ll know when you do.”

“How?” “I just will. That’s the game.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“I’ll squeeze your hand after you think about it. I’ll know,” Isabel said, voice so light she wasn’t sure if Samantha had heard it. She gave Samantha’s hand an experimental surge of pressure. “We’re playing mind readers. We both work at a traveling circus. I’m the psychic.”

“Who am I?” “Who do you want to be?”

“Trapeze artist. No-- tightrope walker. I have a sparkly outfit.”

Isabel nodded. She saw, dimly, Samantha close her eyes. She pushed her head closer to Isabel’s.

And later Isabel slipped her hand out of Samantha’s palm and placed a soothing hand on top of her head.

She imagined her hand holding Samantha still until both of their edges continued to blur and melted back into the patches of darkness around them.

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A Conversation with Alexandra O’Connell

By GRACE THOMPSON Comma Editor

Alexandra is the winner of the Bernice Kilduff White & John J. White Creative Writing Prize. She is a senior English major with a Creative Writing concentration and is deciding whether to continue her studies after graduation or enter the working world. She intends to continue writing regardless, and she is currently about 30,000 words into what she calls a “significant writing project,” the topic of which is a secret. She has been writing ever since she was a child, mostly fiction, and she tries to set aside time each day to write.

PHOTO BY ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/THE OBSERVER

Alexandra O’Connel was awarded the 2017 Bernice Kilduff White & John J. White Creative Writing Prize.

How did you get started writing?

When I was little I wrote this really, now-embarrassing story called the Time Machine.

It was about these three girls who moved into a mansion.

Their parents went away, they just left them there on vacation (I was, like, 8) and then they found a time machine in one of the rooms. I think I still have it somewhere.

Do you have an author that you admire?

Oh, I have so many, I can’t just pick one. So I really like Richard Wright, he’s one of my favorite writers, and then I’ve been reading a lot of Jean Rhys

and Willa Cather lately, so I really like them. And I just finished this really good book, Universal Harvester, by John Darnielle, and it’s really good. I’m always reading like 20 things and never finishing them.

How did you get the idea for this story?

I usually have the idea for a character first, and I just see them doing something. I just saw these two girls and I was like, “oh, I should write a story about them.” I just had the idea of them on the playground, and it stuck with me. I feel like I find things as I go along, and this was a third draft of this story, so I like to discover as I’m writing, but I have an embryo of an idea. Because, for me, characters are the most important part of a story, so it’s important for me to give them a strong personality, and as I thought of what I wanted the story to be, I felt like the two characters of the girls were what was holding it together for me.

Samantha is so much more the stronger personality, but you seem to focus more on Isabel, and could you talk about why you chose to do that?

Well I think the bond between them is really important, and I guess it’s easier to focus on a louder person--they’re just bolder--but I do think Isabel is really important to the story. I want

her to be just as characterized as Samantha. I’m really interested in silences, in my writing, and in them being just as rich and loud as talking and dialogue. So, as a very quiet, observant character, it is her story too… I think it is more of her story just because she’s the one observing it.

Why did you decide to open with the line “I’ve decided I’m not going to be a girl anymore,” and then why do you choose to continue calling her a girl?

I just like good first sentences, and I want to get readers’ attention, like you’re gonna want to read this… I guess Isabel is the narrator, so it’s what she sees, and another [reason] is this disjunction between she’s saying “this is what I’m going to do to like fix this,” but it doesn’t fix it.

Can you tell me about the title, Tightrope Walkers?

Yeah, I hate titling things, I’m so bad at titling things. I just took it from the ending scenes when they’re talking about what Isabel is helping Samantha through, and she’s like “let’s make it a game.” So I took it from that because the games were an important center to childhood and their bond together. Yeah, but I hate titling things, like this was untitled until I submitted it.

I’m that annoying person who never titles things in workshop.

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March 20, 2017 THE OBSERVER

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Poetry Series by Emily Mendez Awarded The Reid Family Prize

“I Would Like to Describe” I would like to describe the way water turns my face into a cool clandestine swirl, curling my hook nose and churning my wide-set eyes.

“Hurricane Georges” Hurricane Georges made landfall in Key West on September 24th, 1998. It was a category 2 storm and caused over $400 million in damages over the span of the following week.

In-between the algal pools, the silt-bottomed river bed, the rocks worn smooth, and the skittish fish with their gulping mouths, is me.

Further up the coast in Miami the outer bands of the storm tore down power lines and poured over two feet of rain inundating coastal buildings.

In my tenderness which after all is not made of water, I ask the water for a face. Upriver from my mothers and sisters, I search.

You were born on June 9th, 1998, and I remember my parents struggling to take care of a new baby and to repair the damage that Georges had done.

My grandma asked them what they made of this, of their baby and the storm.

My mom said it was a coincidence.

My dad knew it was an omen.

Beating out their laundry and begging for a current, the river tosses back something both they and I know that we cannot catch.

My vain attempts have been curdled by time and in the fetid convulsions of an image that I cannot grasp, I look to my right and I see her face.

“Gilligan’s Island” There are 98 episodes and two TV movies, so I know I had at least that much time with you.

She is my mother.

Scaly hands and clammy heart she is looking past the bedsheets and into the slimy, viscous deep.

I taught you how to use the internet because you wanted to buy the boxed set.

When it came in the mail, we watched all three seasons in a week.

She knows her face not through the violent churn of our tidal river but through me. It is our cool clandestine swirl that I would like to describe.

I asked you which character you liked best and you said the Professor.

I asked why.

After telling me that I ask too many questions you said that it was because he was smart even if nobody liked him.

“Girl Scouts” My girl scout troop met twice a month in the rotating homes of various troop mothers.

We did crafts, talked about sisterhood and one day you came tottering into our room.

The topic was friendship and I asked what your friends meant to you.

I don’t think you ever noticed the regret in my eyes as I immediately realized you didn’t have any.

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“Dr. DeLeon” When I was sixteen we packed all of you into our Dodge Caravan we drove two miles north and one mile west to a medical plaza that spoke only in Spanish and you screamed so loud in the parking lot we thought someone was going to call the police.

The hallway connecting suites 105 and 106 smelled like Dr. Quintero’s dentists’ office and it reminded me of the white roll in mother’s mouth when she called him Dr. Q and how you always made me go in first because E comes before G and those are the rules.

I watched you tearing leaves off of a plastic plant in the waiting room you asked why anyone would want a plastic plant and I answered that they wanted the look of a living plant without having to take care of it, and you answered that anything living was worth taking care of.

I was sitting in the corner of her office when Dr. DeLeon came in, and I remember you refusing to shake her hand, to make eye contact, to sit on her couch and so you paced and paced and hyperventilated and we left with an uncovered medical bill but not quite a diagnosis.

On the car ride back I asked you why you didn’t speak, and you said you didn’t trust people with strange voices or plastic plants and I remember being thankful that I wasn’t the one driving home because you were insolent the whole fucking way and I doubt my field of vision would have extended far enough.

A Conversation with Emily Mendez

By GRACE THOMPSON Comma Editor

Emily Mendez, winner of the Reid Family Prize, is a senior English major with a Creative Writing concentration.

She studied creative writing at Johns Hopkins before transferring to Fordham, where she has continued to write poetry about her life, her family, and her experiences growing up in Miami.

She also works for Fordham and writes some of the online content—so next time you make fun of a post, know that she might be the one you’re making fun of!

This collection of poems is about her family; the first poem is about her mother, and the others are about watching her younger brother, George, grow up with Asperger’s.

You’ve submitted 5 poems in a collection. What do you think the connection is between all of these? Why did you choose them?

The way I was thinking about it was in a very, kind-of, selfish, narcissistic way. My life values a lot (this is all sarcastic) and other people should know a lot about my life. If you read Junot Diaz, who I was inspired by, the tone of his books is very authentic and there’s a strong POV and I think that if I had anything of value to write it would be about my family and it would be about Miami.

And so, these are all about my family, like all about my nuclear family.

Growing up everyone thinks their life is normal, you know?

You could live out of a van and

think that completely normal, and I remember going to college at Hopkins, and it was completely different than how I grew up. Miami is like living in South America; the way that I grew up was just, really kind-of bizarre, and very awkward in a lot of ways, which I touch on in there.

And I would tell people, like very casually, “oh, X,Y,Z happens,” and they’re like, “that’s not normal, like that’s pretty bizarre, ac-

through when he’s a toddler, and he’s learning how to use the internet, and he’s going to school.

And the last one is him going to get therapy or treatment or trying to work through this in some way and then it doesn’t work out and then I leave for college and then he’s done.

Do you mind if I ask what’s up with him?

He has Asperger’s, but when

“ I was inspired by [Junot Diaz’s authentic-

ity]... If I had anything of value to write about, it would be about my family and it would be about Miami.”

–

EMILY MENDEZ, Reid Family Prize Winner

tually.” So I mean it’s interesting to me, reflecting back on it, but it was more just an exercise in selfreflection.

So the first poem is about your mother, and then all the others are about your brother.

I literally just went in chronological order. One starts out with his birth, and then as he’s growing up. He’s born and we’re all like “something’s wrong” and then my grandma’s like “what?” cause she’s from Jamaica and Jamaicans are super big into premonitions and everything is black magic, and she always has these weird feelings. So we kind-of brushed it off, and then as he grew up the poems move

he was born especially, like back in the early 2000’s, that wasn’t a really common diagnosis. I think today, if you see someone like that, I’m pretty sure the vast majority of people know what Asperger’s is as a particular point or range of points on the autism spectrum. People acknowledge what that is, but especially back then autism was just like “oh, he’s weird.” And growing up with Jamaican parents who don’t believe in mental illness, who don’t believe in autism, they would say like, “oh he’s just weak,” “he’s just weird,” “he’s just a freak” and they didn’t believe in treatment. So he has gone a long time without treatment, and not that autism, you

PHOTO BY ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/THE OBSERVER

FIX PHOTO CAPTION & CREDIT

need to be treated for, to become normal, but some kind of therapy would have helped, or some kind of just not cutting him off and treating him like a monster would have helped. Yeah, so he’s autistic, but my parents don’t acknowledge that.

What’s your creative process?

So I feel like there are three things that I value. One would be setting, over characters, over plot. That’s just a personal thing and I understand that the vast majority of people probably don’t like that. So establishing a really particular, concrete setting, which I try to do in my poems, and then I also like keeping things very accurate, so I’ll always have internet explorer or safari open, and if I’m going to put the distance between two towns, I want that number to be right. I just like researching. If

it’s about me I don’t really have to, but if it’s about something else I really like fact-checking a lot. Also I keep thesaurus open, which I know is probably cheating, but I always keep the thesaurus tab open and look for different words. Especially with poems word choice is really important, I mean obviously, but not so much in terms of what the words mean but in how they sound and how they look, visually.

How long did it take you to write these?

I would say like an hour. I just got them out really fast cause they were for a class that I had due the day after. These are a revised version of them, but I would say maybe an hour and a half, if I’m pushing it, just because it’s about me. It’s so just unabashedly, selfishly me that I’m just like “everyone cares about my life” and I write about that.

finis.

2017 creative writing awards PHOTO COURTESY OF SABRINA POLKOWSKI

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THE OBSERVER MARCH 30, 2017

Arts & Culture

18

A New Exhibition at Fordham, Created for Fordham

By LINDSAY JORGENSEN Staff Writer

This month, the Visual Arts Department at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) presents a new exhibition, “Prismatic Shifts” in the Ildiko Butler Gallery. Curated by artist-in-residence Carleen Sheehan, the show brings together two internationally recognized Brooklyn artists Lee Boroson and Diana Cooper, who created their works for the exhibition inspired by the physical space itself. “[The Ildiko Butler Gallery] reads like a stage or large diorama as you come down the escalators,” Sheehan said. “The artists bring attention to both the street outside the gallery and to the lobby interior.”

Boroson traditionally works with material objects and transforms them into natural environments to investigate how humans domesticate nature. Cooper often works with transportation elements as well as other man-made objects to create a new perception of the world for its viewer. Sheehan hoped that by bringing these two artists together, “[Boroson] would bring nature in through the windows and [Cooper] would pull the building’s

architecture” into the collaboration.

“We take in an enormous amount of visual data every day,” Sheehan said. “This exhibition was inspired by the idea that the gallery space could be a place to filter, synthesize and reinterpret our environment.”

The left-hand side of the gallery contains pieces by Lee Boroson—a domestic coffee table, a reconfigured Ikea coat rack that displays drawings and a brightly-colored tapestry of ribbons. Beneath the coffee table, titled “Clearcut,” is a built-in waspnest, depicting how humans domesticate nature, but then nature comes back and ultimately takes over. The reconfigured Ikea coat rack looks like tree branches balanced precariously, referencing nature negotiating a man-made form. The antique ribbons that make up the tapestry, titled “Breach,” are hand-stitched – Boroson likes to choose pieces for his work that have a history of domesticity.

The center and right-hand side of the gallery contain pieces by Diana Cooper: an installation titled “Undercover” and her first onechannel video presentation. “Undercover” is created out of many different types of materials including vinyl, photographs and styrofoam. This is an example of her

GEORGE HORIHAN/THE OBSERVER

The new exhibit is curated by Artist-in-Residence Carleen Sheehan

most well-known style—building self-generating environments and worlds. In this piece, Sheehan said the viewer is “experiencing the experience of an urban environment.”

The escalators are the focus of Cooper’s untitled video displayed on the right-hand side of the gallery. Like a closed-circuit television in a security office, Cooper’s

video starts off recording the escalators in a series of eight cells – as the video progresses, these cells meld together and become kaleidoscopic.

What makes this exhibit even more special to Fordham is that FCLC Senior Seminar Visual Arts students were able to observe Boroson’s and Cooper’s works in the process and participate in the gal-

lery installation and filming of the video. This experience will “give [these students] perspective and hands-on skills to take with them as they work towards their own Senior Thesis Exhibitions this spring,” Sheehan said in her Curator’s Note.

“Prismatic Shifts” will be on display at the Ildiko Butler Gallery through March 31.

The Inside Scoop on Broadway’s Spring Season

By MARRYANNA ANTOLDI Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor

It is finally spring, and with the season typically comes warmer weather, blooming flowers and a brand new batch of Broadway shows.

In fact, with many revivals and beloved classics on stage, this spring may produce some of the most entertaining shows to date.

The most anticipated musicals are adaptations of popular movies recreated for the stage. “Groundhog Day,” a musical based on the Bill Murray film of the same name, tells the story of a pessimistic Pittsburgh weatherman who is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, PA. However, when he finds himself trapped in a never-ending time loop, he has to figure out how break the cycle. Matthew Warcus (director) and Tim Minchin (composer and lyricist), who first worked together on the Tony-Award-winning “Matilda: The Musical,” have reunited to bring this project from the West End to Broadway. After a successful run at London’s Old Vic Theatre, “Groundhog Day” has found its new home at the August Wilson Theatre where it officially opens on April 17.

Another adaptation this season, Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” might just be the sweetest of them all. The new musical tells the classic story of an impoverished boy who finds a miraculous golden ticket that allows him into the wondrous world that is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The musical stars Tony-Awardwinner Christian Borle (“Something Rotten”) as the master chocolatier Willy Wonka, with three Broadway newcomers Jake Ryan Flynn, Ryan Foust and Ryan Sell alternating performances as the lucky golden ticketwinner Charlie Bucket. What makes this musical so interesting is that Charlie is the only true “child” in the production. All of the other “kids” in the show are actually played by

EMMA DIMARCO/THE OBSERVER

Many of the plays and musicals this season are adaptations or revivals.

adults, which is an extremely creative and imaginative take on such a classic story. Marc Shaiman both composed the music and wrote the lyrics with help from Scott Wittman, his partner-in-crime in the popular production “Hairspray.” Previews for the show begin on March 28 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

However, one of the most anticipated musicals this spring is “Anastasia,” based on the stunning 1997 animated film of the same name. Telling the story of one of the last surviving members of the Russian royal family, “Anastasia” is all about the title character discovering her true identity and finding love along the way. The musical will feature the iconic music from the film such as the dreamy yet nostalgic “Once Upon a December” as well as plenty of new additions from composer Stephen Flattery and lyricist Lynn Ahrens (“Rocky” and “Seussical”). Starring Christy Altomare (“Mamma Mia”) as Anya and

Derek Klena as Dimitri, this musical may be the most magical on Broadway come April 24.

While adaptations seem to be extremely popular on Broadway this season, there are also a handful of great revivals on stage as well.

Bette Midler, although a star on the big screen in roles such as Winifred Sanderson in “Hocus Pocus,” has yet to star in a Broadway production. It is finally her time to shine through her role as Dolly Gallagher in “Hello, Dolly!,” a 1964 musical taking place in the turn of 20th century America.

Tony-winning director Jerry Zaks (“Guys and Dolls”) and choreographer Warren Carlyle (“After Midnight”) are both working on the production; however, the musical will also be paying plenty of tribute to its original director and choreographer Gower Champion, who launched the musical to fame. So, put on your Sunday clothes, because previews for the show end April 20.

Another revival gaining rave reviews is “Miss Saigon,” a dramatic musical that takes place during the Vietnam War. Broadway newcomer Eva Noblezada stars as Kim, a Vietnamese girl who falls in love with an American soldier, Chris (Alistair Brammer). A role originated and made famous by Lea Salonga, Noblezada has quite large shoes to fill.

The musical still stands as an emotional and passionate ode to human connection and consequence during the Vietnam War. Originally written

by Claude-Michel Schönberg, the revival will take a new directorial lens through the eyes of Laurence Connor (“School of Rock”). If you would like to see this show, do so quickly— it runs as a limited engagement until Jan. 15, 2018.

While the musicals on Broadway are certainly eye-catching, it is also important to mention some of the great plays as well. “The Little Foxes,” a revival of a 1939 play written

by Lillian Hellman, stars three-time Tony winner Laura Linney as well as Cynthia Nixon, who won a Tony of her own for her performance in “Rabbit Hole.” The two actresses alternate nightly between playing the lead characters of Regina Giddens and her sister-in-law Birdie, two women who are unafraid to clash in a world where a woman’s wealth depended only on the men they marry.

However, while the play takes place in the bygone era, the play’s themes will resonate deeply with the issues that our country faces today. Previews for the show begin March 29 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater.

Finally, “The Glass Menagerie” by Tennessee Williams is currently in its seventh Broadway revival, which features Joe Mantello, who won a Tony last season for directing “The Humans,” stepping out of the shadows along with actress Sally Field.

What makes this particular revival of the play so spectacular is that the role of Laura, the disabled daughter of Field’s character Amanda, is actually played by Madison Ferris, an actress with muscular dystrophy.

Ferris is therefore the first actress in a wheelchair to play a leading role on Broadway. If you want to see this play, though, do so quickly—it is playing for a limited time and ends on July 15. Broadway’s growing lack of original concepts makes this season’s batch of new shows extremely interesting. It seems that, in a similar trend to the movie industry, plays are looking to either revive old musicals back to life or base them on already popular films and novels in order to receive more hype and popularity.

Looking at the immense success of original ideas such as “Hamilton,” perhaps replacing revivals and adaptations with new concepts to create a completely fresh batch of plays would be extremely refreshing for viewers everywhere. However, no matter what the idea is for a show, it is usually a success—and these spring releases will fare no differently.

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Your Ticket to Cheap Concerts in NYC this Spring

By JORDAN MELTZER Staff Writer

New York City is teeming with small yet reputable music venues that often host affordable concerts.

For a college student, that is a dream come true. When Ed Sheeran comes around, it may not be the best fiscal decision to buy a front-row seat, but I found a few alternatives with less exorbitant price tags. Here are some cheap—yet impressive—music shows that are worth looking into this spring.

Arguably the most famous venue that will appear on this list is Webster Hall. Located in the East Village, Webster Hall has hosted artists including Halsey, Green Day and Metallica in the past two years alone.

Among other artists, their schedule this spring includes Australian singer-songwriter Betty Who. The synthpop artist has only been active since 2010 and has managed to achieve international success. Her debut fulllength album “Take Me When You Go” charted on the Billboard 200 at number 68 in 2014. Her sophomore effort “The Valley” will be released on March 24 of this year. Tickets for her show on April 14, start at $25 on TicketWeb. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at Webster Hall, just a train ride away via the N, Q, R or W from the 57th Street–7th Avenue station, which is the closest to Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC).

Just around the corner from Webster Hall is Irving Plaza, a venue that was listed eighth among the “50 Best Concert Venues in America”

by Complex. Having hosted rocker Paul McCartney in 2015 and rapper Machine Gun Kelly in 2016, the versatile stage will feature Mike Posner and The Legendary Mike Pos-

JILLIAN JAYMES/THE OBSERVER

Some great venues for affordable concerts include Webster Hall, Irving Plaza and the Knitting Factory.

ner Band (yes, that is actually what they’re called). Posner’s writing has spawned a number of hits, including 2010’s “Cooler Than Me” and “Please Don’t Go.” Last year, a remix by production trio SeeB of his song “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” became an international sensation and his comeback hit. Now, he is touring and making a stop at Irving Plaza, located in the Union Square neighborhood of New York. Tickets for his show on Sunday, April 16, start at $25 on Live Nation’s website. All it takes to get there is a ride on the N, Q, R or W. Closer to the Hudson River is the Highline Ballroom, a much smaller venue situated in Chelsea. Its capacity

maxes out at 700 with standing room (which isn’t always included), but the intimate setting gives live shows a different kind of atmosphere—an aesthetic, if you will. Now, if you’re less of a music freak and you prefer a good TV suspense-drama instead, the Highline Ballroom may have just the concert for you: Graeme of Thrones. The concert, which could almost be characterized as musical theater, is a three-person parodical recreation of international television superhit “Game of Thrones.”

British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) winner and critic Jon Brittain said of the show, “It’s nice to be in a room where being an anally

retentive fanboy is actually a good thing!” On TicketWeb, tickets start at $30, and VIP isn’t much more at $55. The Highline Ballroom can be reached by taking a train via the A or C line from the 59th Street–Columbus Circle station.

A bit further south is the Bowery Ballroom, another borderline puny location; it holds only 575 patrons, all standing room. This venue, home usually to local acts, is getting a bit of a treat: British-born Canadian actor, producer and director Kiefer Sutherland. Sutherland released an album in 2016 entitled “Down in a Hole” that spawned two singles, each with a music video. The actor is best

known for portraying Jack Bauer in “24” and President Tom Kirkman in “Designated Survivor,” and is also an Emmy and Golden Globe winner.

He is now taking his musical talents to the stage on May 25 at Bowery Ballroom. General admission is $25 on Ticketfly, which is a steal to see such a renowned star (warning: the show’s age minimum is 21). Your best bet is to get there via the D train from the 59th Street–Columbus Circle station.

Moving into a different borough altogether, the Knitting Factory is the smallest venue on this list; it fits a measly 300 people. However, this Brooklyn hotspot is famous for being the namesake not only for a chain of identically titled venues around the nation, but also a record label.

If you’re willing to spend a night listening to music for a good cause, then there is one upcoming event that might interest you: a concert for Planned Parenthood. On March 30, Desert Sharks, Treads, Lady Bits and B.R.A., four female-fronted local alternative rock bands, will be performing and donating all ticket funds to the organization. Tickets are only $15 on TicketWeb, so this is an opportunity that is not worth passing up. Transportation is most convenient from FLC by taking the 1, A or C lines to 14th Street, transferring to the L train, and taking it to Bedford Avenue.

I encourage you to check out all the other shows at these venues yearround. Local artists could use your support, and you might discover a thrilling new band you wouldn’t have otherwise known about. You also might discover that your favorite band from 7th grade is playing across town. Who knows? Do some searching—you’ll thank me later.

Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” is the Belle of the Ball

By SAM DEASSIS Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor

Whenever a classic film is remade, an understandable wave of skepticism follows. The die-hard fans of the original are often unwilling to accept any remake, believing that no production could ever live up to their expectation.

However, over the course of the past few years, Disney has been making quite a profit by redoing their old cartoon classics as live-action films.

The success and popularity of these remakes is generally undeniable, with films like “Maleficent” (2014) grossing nearly $800 million and “The Jungle Book” (2016) grossing almost $1 billion. And, it is clear that this year’s remake of “Beauty and the Beast” is no different.

With a star like Emma Watson playing Belle, popularity is hardly unexpected. The film has already earned $462 million in the box office, despite only premiering on March 17. But, popularity does not necessarily mean the movie is quality, especially compared to the original. Only those who have watched both the original and this remake can judge whether or not the story was done justice, and many Fordham students seemed to greatly appreciate the live-action film.

“I walked into the movie theater with low expectations—I felt nothing could match my favorite classic Disney movie,” Amanda Egan, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, said. “Throughout my viewing experience I found myself feeling happily surprised! It was very well cast, and I even loved the new songs added. Simply breathtaking!”

Although the original cartoon may be hard to live up to, this adaptation did a fair job of keeping true to the story. The only differences were some additions to

JILLIAN JAYMES/THE OBSERVER

You can catch this Disney revival at any local AMC Theater.

“ I walked into the movie theater with low

expectations- I felt nothing could match my favorite classic Disney movie. Throughout my viewing experience I found myself feeling happily surprised!”

– the storyline, such as the story of both Belle’s and the Beast’s family backgrounds and the inclusion of a few new songs. But these were not unwelcome additions. In fact,

AMANDA EGAN, FCLC ‘19

the added content seemed to make the storyline even more enriching.

The extended amount of time allotted to Belle and the Beast falling in love added a large amount of depth

to their romance that the original film lacked due to the stereotypical fairytale “fall-in-love-in-five-minutes” storyline. Additionally, the inclusion of the new songs about both the past of the major characters allowed for the audience to feel more connection to and sympathy for the main characters.

“I thought the movie was really cute,” Sacred Newman, FCLC ’19, said. “...[T]he visuals were amazing and I really appreciated how diverse the cast was,” Newman continued. This is true, as the cast of this film seemed to be more racially diverse than the cartoon original.

The fact that Disney has been more

conscientious of including more diverse casts shows that it is moving in a good direction with inclusivity. However, racial diversity is not the only type of inclusion this film contained.

This version of “Beauty and the Beast” seemed to include what may be the first gay Disney character.

LeFou, Gaston’s most trusted companion, is presumably gay in this film—an idea that is completely foreign to most Disney fairytales in the past. This may be opening a new door for Disney, as it suggests that the company is taking a step in the right direction when it comes to being more inclusive in its representations of people. What was formerly taboo in the close-minded past of Disney films may finally be accepted, as Disney may actually start including non-heterosexual characters in its films.

“I think that the incorporation of a homosexual character was a big step for Disney,” Rachel Meyer, FCLC ’20, said. “They also had Lefou change sides in the end, which put him in a more positive light than in the animated film. I am glad they included him in this way and allowed for other types of characters to be represented in the film.”

With the ability to mainly stay true to the original film with only minor, yet appreciated, changes, “Beauty and the Beast” was a clear success. And it seems Disney has found yet another source of steady income that is seeming to work without fail—remaking old films to appeal more to today’s audience.

If Disney continues to make small changes to the classics to make them more inclusive the way it did with the inclusion of a more diverse cast along with LeFou as a gay character, there’s no telling how many successful remakes the company can pull off.

Features

Features Editor Ruby Buddemeyer - rbuddemeyer@fordham.edu

March 30, 2017 THE OBSERVER

La Isla del Encanto: Fordham Choir Tours Puerto Rico

By KYLE J. KILKENNY Staff Writer

During Fordham’s recent Spring recess, the University Choir traveled to Puerto Rico to share music, culture and life lessons with local citizens and students. This marked another exciting activity for the choir who, during the current school year, has performed at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for Fordham’s Dodransbicentennial Mass celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan in October, added a third performance to Fordham’s Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols in December and most recently, performed at the world’s most famous concert hall, Carnegie Hall. To say the University Choir is having a “banner year” would be an understatement, and the group’s seven days in Puerto Rico were no exception.

The trip was a part of an ongoing University Choir tradition, to share a combination of music and service to communities not only across the country, but around the world. In recent years, the choir has traveled to Ireland, the United Kingdom and California. The choir, led by longtime director Robert Minotti, has groups at both Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), also known as the Lincoln Center Chamber Singers, and the Bronx’s Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH). While these groups typically rehearse separately, they perform together multiple times during the academic year. The annual Choir Tour allows FCLC and FCRH students to get to know each other and form longlasting friendships.

Though Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, it offers visitors a unique Caribbean experience they would not find in the mainland U.S. I, along with the rest of the choir, immediately felt immersed in the rhythm of the island—from the de-

KYLE J. KILKENNY/THE OBSERVER

During Fordham’s 2017 Spring break, members of the University Choir traveled to Puerto Rico.

licious food to the happy and welcoming locals. “I learned about a new place and culture,” Lydia Culp, FCLC ’19, said about the tour. She continued, “Even better, while I didn’t know the language, I was able to bond with students over a mutual love for music, which transcends the barriers of language and culture.”

These “students” were not only our fellow Rams from the Rose Hill campus, but also our fellow choir members whom we met throughout our week in Puerto Rico. The University Choir met and performed with accomplished Puerto Rican choirs from Pontifical Catholic University in Ponce, Colegio San Igna-

cio de Loyola in San Juan and the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey.

The trip was not only an introduction to “La Isla del Encanto” for many students, but also a homecoming for Rose Hill sophomore, Victor Rodriguez. “The most rewarding thing was seeing how my fellow Fordham students were genuinely impacted by it all,” Rodriguez, FCRH ’19, a native of San Juan and proud graduate of Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola, an all-male Jesuit high school located in San Juan, said. “I can’t put into words the emotions I felt standing with fellow Puerto Ricans and sharing our songs and stories with a group

of my kind and open-minded Fordham peers,” he continued. “It’s the kind of feeling I want to share with the world.”

Aside from Minotti, the choir was joined by Joan Cavanagh, director of campus ministry at Fordham’s Westchester campus, and longtime accompanist Kenneth Farnum, a proud Fordham alum.

With Rodriguez’s guidance and passion for sharing his island’s culture, both Fordham students and staff received an experience they will not soon forget. Maya Banitt, FCLC ’19, would agree, sharing with me, “[This] was an experience I am eternally grateful for. Not only did I

bond more closely with members of the choir, but I also made many new friends among the students we got to sing for in Puerto Rico.” Whether we were showing off our new salsa dancing skills, trying new foods and pastries, or even yours truly teaching our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters how to properly dance to the “YMCA,” the members of the University Choir made the most of every day during this enriching experience.

Perhaps the most amazing part of the trip was how kind and welcoming the citizens of Puerto Rico were to the University Choir.

Through our interactions with students and senior citizens alike, we were reminded throughout the week that as New Yorkers and as Fordham students, we have a great deal to be thankful for. Though Puerto Ricans are considered natural-born U.S. citizens, the unfair taxation of citizens without representation in the United States Congress (Puerto Rico is granted one non-voting member in the House of Representatives) or Electoral College has historically put Puerto Ricans at a disadvantage. Under a new administration in Washington, public universities and other programs afforded to U.S. citizens have found themselves on the chopping block.

As the week progressed, Fordham students were encouraged to remember the struggles of our fellow Americans—the citizens of Puerto Rico—and work towards helping sustain and maintain programs so near and dear to their heart.

“I feel like these experiences are extremely necessary given Puerto Rico’s current political and economic status,” Rodriguez said of the tour. “I want everyone to internalize that as fellow U.S. Citizens, all the beauty and pain that they saw is their privilege, responsibility and burden too.”

A Fordham Student’s Carnegie Hall Dream “Even though the performance passed by quickly on stage, it was dreamy and memorable.”

By LUCIA (WAN’TING) ZHOU Contributing Writer

Decorations above the legendary Perelman stage of Carnegie Hall were very delicate. I looked up at them, and wondered how it must feel to be up there and look down, seeing musical legends unfolding right in front of them: the 100 concerts era-defining composer Rachmaninoff in 1901, Leonard Bernstein’s sparkling debut as a substitute conductor at the Carnegie Hall in 1943, or Horowitz’s soldout recital of 1965.

Yet there I was, sharing the stage that had hosted the renowned musicians I grew up admiring. On the evening of March 11, I was standing on the Perelman stage of the enchanted Carnegie Hall. My heart was beating against my chest; excitement colliding with expectations. With my fellow Fordham University Choir members, I was about to perform “The St. Cecilia Mass” by Charles Gounod, as part of Masterwork Festival Chorus organized by Manhattan Concert Productions.

For any musician, performing at Carnegie Hall is momentous. Legend has it that one day, the prestigious pianist Arthur Rubinstein was walking down 57th Street when a tourist asked him, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Rubinstein, who had performed successfully at the Carnegie, said “Practice, practice, practice.” The experience of getting ready for this life-changing performance was indeed a lot of practice. But for me, it was practicing for things much greater than musical technicalities.

COURTESY OF BROOK WARD/FLICKR

On March 11, Zhou and the University Choir made their exciting debut at the venue of any musician’s dream: Carnegie Hall.

It is my first year singing at the Fordham University Choir, and I have been learning a lot about team spirit. At my first rehearsal, I was immediately impressed by the cohesion and talent of the team. Elder members of the choir have been very helpful and welcoming to new members, and I have learned not only how to sing in a choir, but how to behave as a committed member of a community. Chamber singing is a group activity—I still distinctly remember the time when Director Robert Minotti told me that I was singing way too loud. From then on, I listened to my peers more carefully. This awareness of teamwork continues to inspire me and reminds me to constantly look out for the team as a whole, instead of just myself.

Preparing for this performance, I was also tasked with practicing both professionalism and perfectionism. Part of of our responsibility as chamber singers, we rehearse for two hours every Thursday. In addition to the routine practice, we also participated in three additional practices in the week leading up to our Carnegie performance. Some rehearsals happened to coincide with mid-term examinations, and it was important to do well in both of them. Through the rigorous preparation, I understood the importance of balancing different aspects of my life. When I hear our voice beautifully blended together, moving as one though a piece in an expressive way, I always feel that it is worth it.

I wonder how Arthur Rubinstein would feel about the practice I went

through preceding my Carnegie experience. Having been a professional musician at some remote points in my life, I guess Rubinstein meant a practice of musical technicality when he pointed to “practice” as the way to Carnegie-level of musical mastery. Practices I had with my fellow friends were not exclusively on musical technicality. However, this meaningful experience taught me about teamwork, professionalism and balancing multiple areas of my life.

More importantly, it is a moving experience to achieve something great as part of a fantastic team.

Standing on the stage with my fellow members of the choir, I had never felt so proud and happy. I realized my memories about performing at the venue would not be about making myself a musical legend, but about how my friends and I grew together pursuing our love for music: Lydia Culp, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, and Fiona Whalen, FCLC ’19, taught me about the pronunciation of ‘weary’ when I performed for the first time with the ensemble at the University Mass. Katie Ott, FCLC ’17, helped me tailor my concert black dress days before her LSAT exam. Kyle Kilkenny, FCLC ’19, scored big in the team-building competition on

behalf of my group, so that we were the first to get sandwiches on my first day of choir. Lauren Frazier, FCLC ’19, kept an account to celebrate each precious moment we have as a team. Mike Figueroa, FCLC ’17, handed me the forms for auditioning for choir and wished me good luck before I went in Franny’s Space, and many more that I still need to mention. I realized that, in pursuing music, I have never been alone.

It is precisely because of these wonderful people that the Carnegie experience has become so meaningful and valid.

I brought my thoughts back and once again focused on the conductor. There it was, the moment before all the magic happens. I felt the gaze of the audience, the excitement of my fellow choir members and the presence of Carnegie Hall. I took another breath and sang the first notes on cue—there it began, one of the most beautiful 40 minutes of my life.

We performed with energy, love and passion, presenting the fruits of all our practices. Some moments are so special that you know, almost immediately, that you’ll never forget how you felt. Performing at Carnegie Hall is absolutely one of these moments.

Even though the performance passed by quickly on stage, it was dreamy and memorable. It was special because it manifested how much we grew, learned and achieved through our hard work as a team with the guidance of our wonderful Director Robert Minotti. I truly feel glad that I was able to experience it as a member of my beloved Fordham University Choir.

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FCLC Student Captures the Art Scene in London

By MATTHEW SCHEFFLER Contributing Writer

London is a gorgeous city, a kind of elderly statesman amongst the metropolitan capitals of Western Europe. Amidst the old, winding cobblestone lanes of Camden Market or the glowing banks of the Thames, culture blooms everywhere—there is so much to see and experience. This makes my job as a street photographer a challenge but also a thrill. As in New York, the experience of photographing London boils down to observing life in an urban space; both cities are petri dishes teeming with diversity. Perhaps the most challenging aspect as a photographer is capturing the city in a way that isn’t cliché, but instead timeless, iconic and intimate. Black cabs and scarlet double-decker buses speed by in a blur of motion, color and sound. The city is visceral—a living being, pulsating to the mechanized whir of urban life. As a tourist, a visitor, it’s hard to blend in. Now I know how it feels to be gawked at when tourists in New York visit Times Square, for example (I myself have received a fair share of annoyed glances when trying to take a selfie in Trafalgar Square). The experience of being a temporary visitor makes the task of street photography that much harder, and getting accustomed to the way local Londoners think is an aspect of that challenge.

Still, it remains that London is wellstocked in its art collections, galleries and museums; it’s a fantastic city for seeing art too.

Currently I am taking a course entitled “Art & Architecture in London,” which has served as an illuminating guide into the rich history of London’s 500-year-old art scene.

Led by independent art historian Dr. Geoff Snell, students are encouraged to explore the vast and diverse selection of the city’s galleries, museums

COURTESY OF MATTHEW SCHEFFLER

Matthew Scheffler, FCLC ’18, has spent his time abroad capturing moments on the streets of London.

and historic sites. We are given a comprehensive view of British art history from royal portraiture in King Henry VIII’s court to the latest photography of Wolfgang Tillman.

Every other week, students are not in the classroom, but on class outings to museums such as the Tate Britain, Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum. Integrating the streets of London, the course provides practical insight and firsthand knowledge, encouraging students to explore their own interests. Learning about Britain’s most important pieces of art, and then being able to actually see them in person has been the most exciting aspect of Fordham’s London Liberal Arts program.

When one thinks of titans in the history of art, England is seldom acknowledged; as history would have it, we remember Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso. Yet my time in London thus far has, if anything, shed light on Britain’s significant contributions to the art community. The city is proud of its artistic culture and celebrates it on the walls of the National Gallery, for example, where one can relish the blurry beauty of J.M.W. Turner or the scathing moral criticisms of William Hogarth. However, my favorite art institution in London is the Tate. Comprised of two separate museums, the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern, the Tate offers an in-

comprehensibly extensive selection of British artists. This month, our entire class had the privilege of viewing David Hockney’s retrospective at Tate Britain which encapsulates over sixty years of Hockney’s career, from his early sketches to his most recent iPad drawings. Hockney is heralded as Britain’s most prolific and virtuosic painter of post World War II twentieth century.

But for the most part, seeing art in London is a very similar experience to seeing art in NYC. The Tate Modern is my favorite and is akin to New York’s own Museum of Modern Art, while the Tate Britain is perhaps something closer to a combination of The Met, Whitney and Frick

Collection. If modern art isn’t your thing, I’d recommend the National Gallery or the British Museum; the latter chronicles the history of classic British art, while the former houses historic relics. Either way, stroll through (admission is free to most museums) and experience all facets of British art. The best way, I have found, is to walk the city — London is itself a kind of architectural gallery. Pass by landmarks new and old, for example, the Gherkin, a pickleshaped office building designed by Foster and Partners, or The Queen’s House in Greenwich which is just outside the city proper. Despite the dreary, gray weather, the London art scene is never boring.

Grad Lauren Duca Speaks on Media and Politics “ The only thing you need to express an opinion is to be informed. Don’t let people shut you down because of your youth.”

By VICTORIA MICALIZZI Contributing Writer

Witty and sarcastic in her opinionated tweets, Lauren Duca demands to be heard as a journalist and stresses that journalism is meant to empower the public with truthful information.

She is a twenty-six year old Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) graduate who has written for publications including The Huffington Post and The New Yorker, and is now an L.A. Press Club awardwinning freelance journalist. She visited Rose Hill on March 6 to discuss journalism and its current role in politics. Before the lecture, presented by Fordham’s Communications Honor Society, Lambda Pi Eta, Duca said that she wanted to inspire young writers and motivate millennials not to take their power in politics for granted.

She came into her freshman year at Fordham simply wanting to write, and found her voice as Editorin-Chief at the paper (Fordham’s alternative newspaper). She recently found herself in the middle of controversy and attention when her December 2016 Teen Vogue op-ed article “Donald Trump is Gaslighting America” went viral. In the article she accuses the Trump administration of “gaslighting,” a psychological method that causes people to question their own sanity.

The powerful claims in her article caught attention from CNN, The Washington Post and other media outlets, and Duca’s outspokenness gave her the opportunity to speak with Tucker Carlson on Fox News. After this appearance in which she was repeatedly cut off and demeaned for writing about celebrities for Teen Vogue, and called Carl-

LAUREN DUCA ,

FCRH ’13

COURTESY OF LAUREN DUCA VIA TWITTER

Duca has grown in popularity on social media in recent years. (www.twitter.com/laurenduca)

son a “partisan hack,” Duca tweeted “@TuckerCarlson is an enemy of rational discourse. In this fraught moment, his bully tactics are profoundly damaging, and achieve nothing.”

Both of these things made Duca the subject of online harassment, which she writes about in her essay in the mental health section of TeenVogue.com entitled “To Trolls, With Love.” It details death threats, rape threats, explicit sexism and the ways this treatment has affected her.

In her speech Duca discussed threats to truth and willful spread

of disinformation by powerful entities. She referenced the Trump administration taking part in the distortion of truth. She suggested that there is a need for more funding for original reporting “because of what’s going on,” referring to limitations on the press imposed by the Trump administration. She also stated that one big problem is that Trump’s tweets are often just written up as a story without fact checking for his claims. With this she emphasized that journalism is a necessary check on power, and that if journalism does not stem from a

foundation of fact, it is nothing.

“Journalism is never perfect, but it is super imperfect online,” Duca said. Citing a lack of media literacy she expressed the danger in how frequently and quickly distorted or plainly false stories spread online.

She stated that today, among the the most important jobs of a journalist is to empower the public with facts.

Despite its unreliability, Duca said the internet is generally a good thing for media, citing that it has created more democracy of voice and of information. Primarily referring to Twitter, she explained that social media can be used as an

outlet for citizen journalism, giving everyone access to raw material and primary sources. Instead of reading about something that happened, there are actual videos available where we can almost witness the events.

This democracy of voice is also a powerful force and a crucial tool especially in movements involving marginalized people, Duca asserted, using the Dakota Access Pipeline as an example of a story that would not have taken off without Twitter.

Duca also had advice to offer for practicing media literacy and staying rigorously informed. When reading a report, she advised, “Ask yourself, ‘How are they telling me they know this?’” From this you can find the sources and look to original reporting to get the “nuts and bolts” before reading a story that may shape your view. She also suggested thinking critically about the journalist’s position and possible motives. “Why did they choose to write it this way?”

“As a non-journalism student I found the lecture incredibly valuable. I think we need to have discussions about the media and its value especially today when it is under attack,” said Braylee LeClair, a Gabelli business student (FCLC ‘19).

Finally, Duca, a millennial herself, addressed problems that millennials face in participating in political conversations. Sharing an anecdote about being overlooked as only “a voice for millennials,” she described the way millennials are often belittled in politics. She passionately encouraged the millennials in the room. “The only thing you need to express an opinion is to be informed,” she insisted. “Don’t let people shut you down because of your youth.”

Sports & Health

Sports & Health Editor Shobair Hussaini - mhussaini2@fordham.edu March 30, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Fordham Hires Three New Football Coaches on Defense

By ANDREW DONCHAK Staff Writer

EMMA DIMARCO/THE OBSERVER

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ast month Fordham football and head coach Andrew Breiner were proud to announce the addition of three new faces to the program. The hires filled several vacancies on the coaching staff and all are expected to immediately make the team stronger. The most eye-catching addition of the bunch is John Bowes, a former secondary specialist at Bucknell University who will take on the role of Fordham’s defensive coordinator and primary safeties coach. In addition, Andrew Jackson, who will be charged with commandeering the defensive line, and new linebackers coach Jordan Orlovsky.

Bowes comes to Fordham with a good deal of experience and will seek to strike a balance between the stingy Fordham pass defense that allowed less than 200 yards a game and only eight touchdowns through the air last fall, and a rushing defense that has had trouble containing the ground game late in contests.

For three of his four years at

Bucknell, Bowes served as the special teams coordinator in addition to his work with the cornerbacks and safeties. Bowes himself played both positions in a starting role with The Catholic University of America during his time there from 2003–2006.

Last season at Bucknell, he saw two of his starters, Bret Burg and Bryan Marine, get named to the AllPatriot League first team, an honor he’s seen bestowed upon five of his players in his time with the Bisons.

Thankfully, he’ll be inheriting a safety corps at Fordham with real expectations of receiving such honors themselves in Caleb Ham, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’18, and Antonio Jackson, FCRH ’19, who ranked second and third on the Rams defense in total tackles this past fall, respectively.

Before helping Bucknell to its best record in nearly 20 years in 2013 while working with their linebacker corps, Bowes served as an assistant coach at the College of William and Mary for five seasons as a defensive assistant,

special teams coordinator and safeties coach. Notably, he worked on the 2009 William and Mary tribe squad that advanced to the NCAA Football College Subdivision (FCS) Championship semifinals, losing to eventual national champion Villanova.

Bowes graduated from Catholic in 2006 with a degree in finance, where he then coached for one year prior to another one year stint as a graduate assistant at Clarion University.

Jackson, the youngest of the newly added coaches, graduated from LIU Post in 2011. He has risen in the football world, having earned his new position this past fall by helping Penn State to a 2016 Big Ten title and a berth in the Rose Bowl in his second year as a graduate assistant to the program. Jackson also spent time helping the Nittany Lions with scouting reports, in the video room and working on-field with the defensive tackles.

Prior to his work at Penn State, Jackson spent two years as a graduate assistant and defensive line coach at

Stony Brook University, immediately following the one season he spent fulfilling the same role at his alma mater, LIU Post, in 2012.

Jackson’s relatively short yet impressive experience may serve as an advantage in his arrival to Fordham, as he’ll be placed in charge of one of the younger units on next year’s Fordham squad. Fordham football has welcomed five defensive lineman in this year’s recruiting class, which is the most of any position on the team. That group will join the two returning starters from last year’s squad, defensive end Ty Green, FCRH ’18, and defensive tackle Nick Angeli, FCRH ’18.

The final new addition to the staff is linebacker coach Jordan Orlovsky.

Orlovsky has spent the past three years working with the linebackers and special teams at Old Dominion University, where he helped the Monarchs to a 10–3 record and a win in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl over Eastern Michigan University.

Before that, Orlovsky spent two

years as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut following two years with the coaching staff at his alma mater, the University of Miami. As a student, Orlovsky graduated from the U of M in 2009 with a degree in business management.

Orlovsky will be in charge of one of the youngest units on Fordham’s defensive end, led by the extremely talented rising sophomore Max Roberts, FCRH ’19, who tied for leading the team in sacks this fall as a freshman. This was even more impressive considering he had mostly played safety as a high school athlete.

Orlovsky has also turned heads as being one of the coaching staff’s more academically-inclined members. He earned a masters in Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut in 2014, and is currently working on a second masters in Sports Management at Old Dominion.

The Rams open next season on Friday, Sept. 1, as they travel to take on Army West Point.

Powering Through the Morning “ A combination

By JADE GRIFFIN Staff Writer

The saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” is constantly repeated around us.

However, many people start their mornings off without eating, developing a poor habit that haunts them throughout the day.

Lunch and dinner are equally important, yet breakfast receives most of the credit because it sets the tone for the day and affects just about every dimension of our being.

Not eating breakfast lowers one’s physical performance, because there is nothing to refuel the body in the morning. As a result, energy levels fall drastically, leaving one feeling restless and groggy.

Breakfast becomes especially important for student athletes who need a much higher level of energy compared to the average student.

Not eating breakfast affects one mentally even moreso, specifically one’s mood and focus. For instance, people who skip breakfast, will later feel agitated by hunger and not be able to focus much on the day’s tasks. This may also lead to overindulging in other meals like lunch and dinner.

Students are the most affected demographic when it comes to breakfast because it has such a significant effect on cognitive func-

of whole grains and protein will provide sustainable energy and may help [students] stay alert and focused in class.”

MELANIE SIMEONE R.D.,

Fordham University Dietitian

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER

A balanced breakfast is crucial for having sustainable energy throughout the day.

tion. Considering the high amount of focus required of students, breakfast serves to increase focus as well as attention and memory over the morning hours, specifically when attempting to process complex vi-

sual tasks.

Breakfast serves as the first source of energy for the body, providing a rush of vitamins and nutrients, assuming the right foods are eaten. Certainly, anything is

better than nothing for breakfast, yet, Fordham University Dietitian Melanie Simeone R.D., recommends fueling our bodies with nutritious, high-quality foods. She noted, “Some key nutrients to focus

on early in the morning include fiber, protein and whole grains. Fiber will help keep you full—a good rule of thumb is to aim for eight grams of fiber at breakfast—and a combination of whole grains and protein will provide sustainable energy and may help [students] stay alert and focused in classes.”

Simeone listed some common breakfast foods that should be consumed in moderation as well, such as pancakes and waffles with maple syrup, breakfast cereals with a high sugar content and breakfast pastries. Instead, great breakfast options to consider include an omelet with two to three vegetabless, whole wheat toast or plain greek yogurt topped with fruit and granola.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER March 30, 2017

Sports & Health

23

A Beginner’s Guide To Mindful Eating

By MADELYN CASALE Contributing Writer

It is hard enough knowing what to eat and how to control oneself while living at home. But, all of a sudden, you’re in college and hundreds of miles from home and parents—and mindful eating becomes that much harder. With no parent watching over their child’s shoulder to see if they’ve eaten all of their broccoli, a feeling of euphoria grasps college students around the world.

This liberation is both a blessing and a curse. While it is incredible to have the freedom to make our own decisions, this newfound autonomy can make it extremely difficult for college students to practice mindful eating.

Whether it is eating excessive amounts of food due to stress, or eating pizza and cupcakes nightly because “hey, it’s free!,” temptations are everywhere, and it can be difficult to control ourselves when a deliciouslooking treat sits before us.

Fordham University’s Registered Dietician, Melanie Simeone R.D., often helps guide students who have difficulty controlling their eating habits. Through her position, she uses her knowledge in this field to set up events where students can further learn about mindful eating on a daily basis.

“Emotional eating is something that almost every individual on Earth struggles with,” Simeone said. Typically triggered by feeling stressed, upset or overwhelmed, emotional eating can also come from “being overly excited, like when you get a job offer and you’re going out and celebrating.

We might not be actually physically hungry, but there’s no thought without a feeling.” Simeone went on to

ASEAH KHAN/THE OBSERVER

By letting go of poor eating habits, students can better lead a healthy-minded diet and lifestyle.

explain that there will almost always be a reaction to any emotion we may be feeling, and therefore, students often channel their stress or excitement into creating a habitual action.

“We have created a cycle where food gives you good feelings. It produces serotonin, which makes you feel happy. So when we feel down and out, we create this cycle where we consume food. And when we consume food, it doesn’t necessarily fix what we’re feeling.”

Simeone suggests that students should address the emotion driving our desires to eat in order to avoid

binge-eating. It is essential to take the time to realize that the food is most likely not going to change our emotion behind the action and will only be a quick fix or fleeting reprieve from whatever we may be feeling.

So, what would be the optimal approach for students to begin reversing this habit? “I always encourage students to keep a list, whether it’s on their fridge or their phone, of things they like to do that are stress relievers for them.” Simeone suggests reading, exercising, seeing a movie or other activities that will distract from the emotions that cause the urge to

binge. By paying attention to how they are feeling, students can not only help themselves to eat mindfully, but can also help them on the path to a healthier, more fulfilling life.

When it comes to exercise, being active does not give students a free pass to eat whatever they wish.

Simeone said that thinking that we’ve earned a treat by exercising can trick us into overindulging. “The mentality of using food as a reward for exercise can cause some negative habits. It’s important to fuel your body for the activities that you do, but having a relationship with physical activity

where you exercise to eat is a [dangerous] cycle. Exercise is just a part of what we should be doing to honor our bodies.”

But suppose exercise isn’t your thing. Students can still be healthy, and even lose (or maintain a healthy) weight, without exercise, as long as they are conscious of what they are putting in their bodies. This does not, however, mean that students should have to give up all junk food completely. “Put the choices you’re going to make on a pedestal,” Simeone advised. “If you’re going to treat yourself, it should be food worth enjoying and savoring.” She suggested asking yourself “If I eat this food, will I regret it later on?” or taking the food and sharing it with a friend. Living a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a balanced diet does not mean depriving oneself or having to feel guilty about eating the foods one loves.

Being in control and consuming unhealthy food in moderation is key.

“There are fun ways to eat healthier without denying yourself some of those other things that are less healthy… Your diet should be something that is sustainable and a lifestyle approach. Getting a lifestyle plan takes time; it’s a journey. It can change and evolve over time,” said Simeone. “It’s just putting yourself first, that’s all it really is. When we can take care of ourselves, we can give so much more [attention] to other areas of our life. When you’re the best version of yourself, all of those other things we enjoy come so much more naturally.”

Melanie Simeone offers one-onone free nutrition counseling for all Fordham University at Lincoln Center and Rose Hill students. Students can contact the health center to schedule an appointment.

Summer Session 2017

More than 200 classes in all major disciplines • Day, evening, online, and hybrid course options • Internship credit available • Registration is open

To learn more about new registration policies, visit fordham.edu/summer_registration

Session I: May 30–June 29 Session II: July 5–August 8

Register via my.fordham.edu eeo

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THE OBSERVER March 30, 2017

Sports & Health

24

Storm Looks to Lead Fordham Softball

By ANGELIKA MENENDEZ Asst. Social Media Editor

Starting at a young age, sophomore Jordana Storm loved watching baseball and was determined to continue with this passion. She found this enthusiasm in softball.

This dedication followed her to college, which is when she decided to leave her home in Walla Walla, Washington for Fordham University. Although it was difficult at first, Storm has come to love New York and the hustle and bustle of the city.

Storm grew up in a quiet town with approximately 30,000 people and attended Walla Walla High School where she was a four-year varsity player and served as team captain her senior year. She was also a part of a summer team, the Washington Lady Hawks, which she helped lead to a ninth place finish in the 2014 Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) Nationals competition. She said that being a part of this travel team helped ease the transition from high school to college. By traveling across the country playing, Storm become accustomed to the same competition she would face in college: “it was fun, but very similar to a college team in the fact that I had to dedicate a lot of time to it,” Storm said.

Traveling was a large component of the team. Storm played on a team in Seattle, where every weekend she would drive over five hours to practice for eight hours across two days.

This caused her to miss out on normal school activities such as dances and other events on the weekends.

However, she does believe that all this hard work and dedication paid off.

During this time in high school Storm was featured in Softball West, a sports magazine, that named her

COURTESY OF HILLARIE VIA FLICKR

Storm has been able to translate her success on the softball field to success in the classroom.

on the “Best of the West top 100.”

She said she actually did not find out about this honor until a month after it was released. “My high school coach had left so the principal of my school had to call me. I honestly thought I was in trouble, but then I realized what it was for and was pretty pumped,” Storm said.

As for high school memories, Storm said that her favorite was either playing in the state championships two separate times or be-

ing able to play at the University of Washington. University of Washington was one of her dream schools growing up, which made this experience surreal for her.

When it came to college, Storm was deciding between Boston College, Georgia Tech and Fordham University. She said that, out of all the schools, Fordham’s team was the one that seemed like a true family.

Before coming to Fordham she also knew junior Morgan Figueroa, who

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was on the team back home with her.

Now, after being on the team, she feels that they are a family. Storm said that they “truly do play for each other and want each other to succeed.” Last year the team won the Atlantic-10 Conference, and she believes that it will always be a great memory since it was a team effort.

In fact, this is Storm’s favorite memory at Fordham. “Having to win three games in one day was insane

and was an emotional rollercoaster,” Storm said. She that she hopes that they can do it again this season. Following that, they shared a great experience when they played against Oregon and other top notch schools in the Oregon regional competition.

During her time at Fordham, Storm has had the opportunity to learn a lot from the school and her team. She stated that she’s “had to grow and has come to understand [her] role on the team.” Since it was just her at Fordham, and there was no family to check in on her constantly, she learned to mature as a person and “make sure [she] was doing what needed to be done. Being an athlete, you don’t get a lot of free time, so learning how to manage the time to both get work done and relax was a key to success,” Storm explained.

Of course, when it comes to home, Storm misses her mom, sister and dog. She also mentioned that since she is from the northwest, she “misses the open space, like the numerous mountains and trees that surround [her].”

At Fordham, Storm is a communications and culture major with a concentration in media studies and a minor in business administration.

She decided on these majors because they cover many fields. With Fordham, she loves the opportunities she’s had to receive internships and how the school has a large network that exposes students to many different fields.

Looking into the future, it is Storm’s goal to first find an internship and decide what she wants to do with her life. She loves the idea of staying on the east coast and finding a job in the sports world, such as working for the front office of a Major League Baseball (MLB) team.