Observer 16-17 issue 1

Observer the

JANUARY 26, 2017 VOLUME XXXVIII, ISSUE 1

www.fordhamobserver.com

Student Denied Service Dog

By BEN MOORE & MATTHEW MCCARTHY Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editor Fordham’s Office of Student Affairs denied a student’s request for a service dog to live with her on campus, despite her documented disability with the Office of Disability Services. 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, just before she began her junior year, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) opened an investigation based on her allegations. Since then, the university also offered her $5,000 during settlement proceedings, which she rejected.

The Observer has granted the student anonymity for this story to prevent potential hiring discrimination in the future based on her medical conditions, but she has agreed to publish relevant identifying information for this article exclusive to The Observer. She also provided us with the documentation that she submitted to various members of the Fordham administration, including an annotated copy of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), her medical information that has been verified and signed by her doctors as well as her email correspondence with the university.

Colleges are required to provide reasonable accommodations for service animals under both the Fair Housing Act (FHAct) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, according to an official Housing and Development (HUD) notice on service animals for people with disabilities. The section of Fordham’s student handbook on animals complies with these documents, stating, “For reasons of health, safety, compassion for animals, and inconvenience to other students, no animals, including but not limited to dogs and cats, are permitted in any University buildings or unleashed on University property, except as in accordance with the law.” see SERVICE DOG pg. 2

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA / THE OBSERVER

Protestors paticipate in the Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after the innauguration.

Women’s March Draws Students to D.C.

By CARSON THORNTON GONZALEZ Asst. Features Co-Editor On Nov. 9, 2016, more than half of the United States found themselves in shock as the results of the presidential election became obvious. Three months later, on Jan. 21, 2017, more than 3 million people across the United States expressed their discontent in what is now being called the biggest collective demonstration in U.S. history.

As Donald Trump took his seat in the Oval Office this week, a crowd of around 500,000 people took to the streets of Washington D.C. to protest the 45th president and his policies. The “Women’s March on Washington” hoped to exemplify the outrage felt throughout the country, focusing especially on equality and inclusion, fighting against a leader who people feel is

“ I marched because I had to...I have reached a point in my life where I refuse to believe that complacency is justifiable.”

–

not an accurate representation of their political views. It was a march to express the fear and anxiety that Trump and his cabinet represent to women, people of color and minorities.

While the organizers of the march expected around 200,000 protesters in D.C., the total count was at least double their estimation.

The energy level was palpable as the crowds emerged from the metro station and as trains pulled up to the Judiciary Square stop, the platforms

GILLIAN NELSON, FCLC '19

became too crowded to maneuver.

Even with the growing number of people, however, a sense of safety and peace pervaded the general feeling of the crowd. A sea of pink hats and creative posters weaved toward the exit and amidst the crowd, a plethora of young children clinging on to their parents’ jackets.

Among those protesting were a number of Fordham students, including Saim Alam, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20.

While every person had their own

Fordham Vetoes Students for Justice in Palestine

By ELIZABETH LANDRY &

STEPHAN KOZUB Asst. News Co-Editor & News CoEditor

Dean of Students Keith Eldredge has vetoed the formation of a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) club on Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. Leading up to the Dec. 22, 2016 decision, the club had undergone an application process that started in November 2015 and spanned over a year. It had also received the United Student Government’s (USG) approval on Nov. 17, 2016.

In an email on Dec. 22 to the intended SJP members and their faculty advisor, Chair of the English department Glenn Hendler, Ph.D., Eldredge explained his reasoning.

“While students are encouraged

to promote diverse political points of view, and we encourage conversation and debate on all topics, I cannot support an organization whose sole purpose is advocating political goals of a specific group, and against a specific country, when these goals clearly conflict with and run contrary to the mission and values of the University,” Eldredge said.

Interviews were conducted with would-be SJP President Ahmad Awad, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’16, intended member Lexi McMenamin, FCLC ’17, and two members who wished to keep their identities anonymous for reasons of personal safety. Eldredge and Director of the Office of Student Involvement Dorothy Wenzel, Ph.D. both declined to comment.

The SJP’s constitution stated that their mission was “to build support

in the Fordham community among people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds for the promotion of justice, human rights, liberation and self-determination for the indigenous Palestinian people.”

“It’s shocking to me,” Awad said, regarding Eldredge’s decision.

Awad, who is of Palestinian descent, was one of the students who submitted the club’s application on Nov. 19, 2015. “It is simply a social justice group looking to have human rights and simple rights given to Palestinian people.”

Following Eldredge’s decision, the would-be SJP members consulted Palestine Legal, “an independent organization dedicated to protecting the civil and constitutional rights of people in the US who speak out for Palestinian freedom.”

Palestine Legal and the Center

for Constitutional Rights (CCR) released a letter on Jan. 17 to Fordham President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., detailing a timeline of the correspondence and meetings between SJP members and USG, Eldredge and Wenzel.

In the letter, Palestine Legal and CCR claim that “all evidence indicates that the denial was based on the viewpoint of students’ message and/or their national origin.” They further state that “the denial violates free speech and association principles, the University’s commitment to protect free inquiry, and could give rise to a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.” They demand McShane to “immediately approve SJP, apologize, and reaffirm Fordham’s commitment to free speech, associa-

THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

see SJP pg. 4

particular reasons for marching, Alam felt that President Trump’s election directly affected his and his family’s future. Alam said, “My future as a gay person of color will depend on our resilience in times like these.” He continued, “I have two little sisters whose futures will be shaped by the strength of our resistance now.” While marching for equality on every platform, Alam made it obvious that the Women’s March on Washington should look specifically at Trump’s policies that will target women in America. “On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade,” he explained, “50 years later we sit here worrying about a woman’s right to choose being stripped away from her.” A large portion of the propaganda at the Women’s March focused on just this: a woman’s right to legal and affordable healthcare. see WOMENS pg. 14

OPINIONS

Next Steps Challenging power in Trump-era Page 10 ARTS & CULTURE

Dancing with the Pros Senior joins Ailey II company

Page 11 FEATURES

Michael Appler Student writes for Village Voice

Page 14 SPORTS & HEALTH

Stay On Track Keeping a New Year’s resolution

Page 16

2

News

January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

D.O.E. Opens Case Against Fordham Fordham Under Investigation After Denying Service Dog Request SERVICE DOG FROM PAGE 1

The Observer has also learned that the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has no record of any other investigation involving service animals at Fordham University.

The student provided The Observer with a letter from the DOE dated Aug. 16, 2016, stating that the OCR would move forward with the investigation since it “determined that it has jurisdiction and that the complaint was filed in a timely manner.” The student alleges that the university discriminated against her on the basis of her disability by denying her request for a service dog.

The student’s disability is an inflammatory rheumatic disease called ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS). “[AS] basically causes multiple places in my body to be inflamed and painful,” she said. “Like today, I’m fine, today’s a good day. But there are times when I can’t walk that far, can’t go upstairs, sometimes can’t get out of bed. It’s physical disabilities, so like being able or not able to do certain things.”

Symptoms typically manifest in two ways: either through inflammation that causes pain and stiffness in the spine, or through bone destruction which could lead to deformities of the spine and reduced function of the shoulders and hips, according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). “There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but treatments can lessen your symptoms and possibly slow progression of the disease,” Mayo Clinic states.

The student says that she suffers from an immunodeficiency as a result of the medication that she takes to treat AS. She also experiences hypoglycemia, a deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream, and has trouble with orthostatic retention, or getting up from a supine position.

A letter verified by her doctor at Greenwich Adolescent Medicine in Greenwich, CT listed reasons for how a service dog would benefit the student. These include fetching ice packs and medications, which the student said would be “particularly helpful at night during the two hours I rotate ice packs on my joints,” as well as juice packs during episodes of low blood sugar.

The student also states that a dog would “provide emotional support, because sometimes I get frustrated and a little depressed having to live in constant pain every day.” Her Rheumatologist from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York added that “walking a dog would be a good low impact exercise for [her]” and that a dog can “also alert patients to hypoglycemia, which could be very helpful.”

“I don’t have a service dog at the moment,” the student said. “It’s something I began exploring a year and a half, two years ago. My parents initially wanted me to hold off because there were still some medications that we had not tried that could work. I’ve been on those for a while now and it became evident that they weren’t making that much of a difference. In fact, aspects of my condition were getting worse.”

After doing independent research on the topic, she began her request for a service dog on Feb. 15, first reaching out to Jenifer Campbell, director of the Office of Residential Life. The next day, Campbell forwarded her request to Vickki Massy, associate director of Housing Operations, who opened the discussion with Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Lincoln Center, via email on Feb. 22. After months of what the student said was very little progress, she scheduled an in-person meeting with Eldredge and Massy on May 5.

When asked about the univer-

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

This Fordham student’s request for a service dog to live with her on campus was denied by the university.

“ [AS] basically causes multiple places in my

body to be inflamed and painful. ...Like today I’m fine, today’s a good day. But there are times when I can’t walk that far, go upstairs, sometimes can’t get out of bed.”

–

STUDENT, who was denied service dog

sity’s policy on service dogs, Campbell stated in an email “I apologize, I am not able to speak on the record about this matter.” Mary Byrnes, director of Disability Services, also declined to comment when asked the same question over email.

At that meeting, the student said she provided both Massy and Eldredge with documentation of her disability, including three separate signed letters from her doctors verifying her medical history and ways in which a service dog would benefit her. In her initial letter to Eldredge, she said that her “disease does substantially limit one or more life activities,” citing the language in the ADA and that she was “perfectly comfortable educating and spreading awareness [of her] condition.”

Title III of the ADA defines a service animal “as any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability,” and that “the work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.”

Among the potential functions of a service dog that the HUD Notice lists are: providing protection or rescue assistance, fetching items, alerting persons to impending seizures or providing emotional support to persons with disabilities

“who have a disability-related need for such support.”

A National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA) document clarifies that the Department of Justice (DOJ) does not consider “emotional support, comfort, or companionship animals,” as service animals under the ADA and ADA Amendment Acts (ADAAA).

Despite the student believing her request fell within ADA and HUD guidelines, her request for a service dog was denied at the meeting on May 5, 2016. Later that day, she emailed Eldredge again, claiming that he had misinterpreted the sections of the ADA that she had provided. He agreed to meet again, stating, “I want to reopen the decision based on the conversation we had yesterday,” and that he would prefer to hold off on providing a formal, written denial until after they spoke again.

An official document (FHEO2013-01) from HUD, which cites the ADA, asks two questions to determine if a housing provider is required to modify or provide an exception to a no pets rule or policy: 1) Does the person seeking to use and live with the animal have a disability? and 2) Does the person making the request have a disability-related need for an assistance animal?

When the answer to both questions is yes, “a person with a disability is

permitted to live with and use an assistance animal(s) in all areas of the premise where persons are normally allowed to go.”

According to the student, she and Eldredge met again on May 9, at which point she says that he requested further information about her medical condition.

The HUD document says “A housing provider also may not ask an applicant or tenant to provide access to medical records or medical providers or provide detailed or extensive information or documentation of a person’s physical or mental impairments.”

She said that at some point between then and the end of May, Eldredge convened a committee to discuss her case and shared her medical information without her consent with those members. Eldredge denied her request again at the end of May 2016, according to the student.

On June 13, her mother sent an email to Eldredge, requesting that the student’s rheumatologist be able to speak to him or the appropriate medical personnel at Fordham, for her daughter to meet again with Eldredge or the entire committee, and for a letter from her therapist to be considered in their evaluation process. Eldredge responded on July 5, agreeing to meet with the student and speak to her doctor.

The student’s mother took part in an additional discussion on Aug 3. She said in an email to Eldredge “despite all of [the student’s] doctors’ notes and descriptions of why [she] is in need of a service/emotional support dog, some, but not all, of Fordham’s Representatives have rejected the view of her medical professionals and have denied [the student’s] request for such animal.”

The next day, Eldredge responded, confirming this decision. He said in an email, “I am responsible for making the decision on [the student’s] request, and you are correct that I informed you on August 3 that

I have denied the request.”

On Aug. 4, the Department of Education (DOE) opened an investigation after the student sent them Eldredge’s written rejection. It informed Fordham University of the case on Aug. 16. In a letter, a compliance team member from the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights wrote “OCR determined that this allegation is appropriate for investigation.” It cited Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, claiming that it had jurisdictional authority to investigate the complaint, since the “University is a recipient of financial assistance from the Department.”

On Oct. 24, Mary Kate O’Neal, an attorney at the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights, sent an email to the student stating, “I just spoke to the attorney from Fordham. They are willing to credit your account for [$]5,000. This is their best offer.”

The student rejected the offer stating, “They tried to offer me money, but it wasn’t a lot so I said no.”

She explained, “It seems as though their intention is they’re trying to pay me to keep quiet and not get a service dog and not talk about this to anyone, but that is not my intention.” Because the administration declined to comment on the matter, The Observer could not clarify the intent of this financial offer.

On Dec. 4, The Observer contacted Eldredge regarding the student’s request, but he also declined to comment on the matter.

When asked for a statement from the university, Bob Howe, senior director of communications for Fordham, said that “[the student’s] request is being investigated by the Office of Civil Rights. The University won’t issue any statements while the investigation is underway.”

Since the two parties have not reached a resolution, the investigation is currently open with a determination expected on Jan. 31. The Observer will reach out to all parties involved after that date for further comments.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER January 26, 2017

News

3

Students Advocate for Gender Neutral Signage

By CLAIRE HOLMES Contributing Writer

Student advocacy for genderneutral bathrooms on campus continues, as Peyton Berry, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, and other students meet with university administrators about getting official signage for unisex restrooms on campus. Temporary signage was posted outside the single-occupancy bathrooms in the McMahon lobby, but some students remain frustrated with the lack of progress.

Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Fordham Lincoln Center, said that these signs are only there until placards simply saying “Restroom” can be installed. “My expectation was that [the new signs for the McMahon bathrooms] were both going to say ‘Restroom,’ like the third floor of Lowenstein, but something was miscommunicated during the installation,” Eldredge said.

The temporary signs are printed on plain printer paper. They state that the single-stalled bathrooms are “now designated for Single-Occupancy and is available for use by all members of the Fordham community,” and hold no reference to sex or gender.

The debate over what labeling to use on unisex bathrooms on campus has been going on for some time now. Berry, the student currently spearheading the newest iteration of the push for full signage, says that they’ve been involved since their freshman year (2014 — 2015), and that from their understanding, it really started with the efforts of recent Fordham graduate Chris Hennessy, FCLC ’16.

Eldredge said the first non-gendered signs went up in the fall of

ASEAH KHAN/THE OBSERVER

Signage of bathroom located near the lobby of McMahon Hall was changed to just say “Restroom.”

2015, after talks with students concerned with the lack of restrooms available to transgender and gender-nonconforming students. After meeting with them and discussing what language to use, he said, “We decided as a university that the best thing to put on the signage was simply ‘Restroom.’”

He continued that he was “not going to say that [the students] necessarily supported it or agreed with it at the time, but my sense of

it at the time was they said ‘Okay, at least it’s a step in the right direction.’ And so the signage went up.”

While Eldredge said that the plain “Restroom” signs are what “the standard is from our perspective,” he also mentioned that new students have since come forward to disagree, and are working with Dorothy Wenzel, Ph.D., director of the Office of Student Involvement, as well as himself to continue pushing for explicit labeling of these re-

strooms as gender-neutral.

“I’m still open to continuing that conversation: is what we have sufficient, is it meeting all the needs of the students, hearing from some students that it’s not, and want[ing] to continue that conversation,” Eldredge said. “But I [also] think I’m waiting for sort of the next set of information to come back, and to [have students] let us know exactly what they’re looking for.”

Berry, however, disagrees. They

say that people involved, including members of the Rainbow Alliance, Fordham Lincoln Center’s LGBTQ+ club, and Hennessy have done just that, but it still feels like their efforts have not been enough.

“It’s really frustrating,” Berry said. “We’ve done surveys, we’ve done petitions, we’ve done faceto-face meetings, I’ve had written statements from non-binary students, and nothing, apparently, is enough to sway the minds we need to sway. ” The newest signs have caused Berry further frustration.

“The reason it was offensive to me was because we have talked endlessly, every single person who has been involved with this, about the language, specifying that it says ‘for all genders,’ and I, as a gender nonconforming person, do not feel as though the university accepts or approves of my identity,” Berry said.

“I’m disheartened,” they continued. “That sign really actually made me lose a lot of hope, and made me kind of want to not fight for it anymore, because it just seems like it doesn’t matter what I do.”

Eldredge said the laminated McMahon signs are just a temporary measure, and that they are only there to remind students that, unlike with other public bathrooms on campus, they need to lock the door used to enter the restroom.

“We wanted to say, ‘Hey, this is designed now to be a single-use bathroom, but if you’re not used to that, you might want to lock the door,’” Eldredge said.

He reiterated that althoug students would ultimately have to take things up with Facilities, he remains “happy to continue to work with folks” on this issue.

4

News

January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Students Protest Fordham’s SJP Ruling SJP FROM PAGE 1

tions rights and academic freedom.”

They requested a response no later than Jan. 23.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act states, “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” If an organization is found in violation of Title VI, “the federal agency providing the assistance should either initiate fund termination proceedings or refer the matter to the Department of Justice for appropriate legal action.”

When the intended members of SJP initially proposed their club, they said they thought the approval process would only take a few months, according to the letter from Palestine Legal and CCR. In an interview on Oct. 28, 2016, USG Vice-President for Operations Kayla Wolf said that the process of deciding on a club’s proposal typically takes “maybe a month” once she has the completed paperwork.

In SJP’s case, it took twelve months of what Palestine Legal and CCR allege were “delays,” “interrogations,” and “railroading” for the USG Senate to hold the vote.

Palestine Legal and CCR frequently cite SJP’s shared name with National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP) as a source of concern in their letter. The organization’s website states that it is “an independent grassroots organization composed of students and recent graduates that provides support to Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters on university campuses and the broader U.S. movement for Palestinian freedom and equality.” The Office of Student Involvement and Eldredge asked the students to define their relationship with NSJP on three separate occasions on April 26, Sept. 20 and Oct. 14, 2016, for which the club obtained a letter from NSJP confirming no relationship existed.

Other colleges’ chapters of SJP have been accused of creating tension and students have reported feelings of intimidation or harassment.

In his Dec. 22 email vetoing the formation of SJP, Eldredge referred to it as “a club affiliated with the national Students for Justice in Palestine organization.”

The Office of Student Involvement also expressed concern over SJP’s support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), a controversial movement opposed by both the Democratic and Republican Parties, which attempts to put pressure on Israel to end its Palestinian occupation.

According to Hendler, discussion of BDS surfaced at Fordham in December 2013, when the American Studies Association voted to join the movement. A number of Fordham American Studies professors wanted to renounce the school’s membership.

“There was a quite heated debate in the program that led to four or five of the 40 members resigning from the program,” Hendler said.

In addition, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s June 5, 2016 executive order titled “Directing State Agencies and Authorities to Divest Public Funds Supporting BDS Campaign Against Israel,” stated that “the State of Israel is a critical and valuable ally of the United States,” and that “the State of New York unequivocally rejects the BDS campaign and stands firmly with Israel.” On May 5, 2016, the New York City Council also adopted a resolution “condemning all efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the global movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction the people of Israel.”

The letter from Palestine Legal

“ The narrowness of

Students for Justice in Palestine’s political focus makes it more akin to a lobbying group than a student club.”

OFFICIAL FORDHAM UNIVERSITY STATEMENT ON SJP

states that in a meeting on Oct. 27, a member of SJP was questioned as to whether Cuomo’s order would prevent the formation of SJP on campus.

The members of the intended SJP Executive Board responded with documents from the New York Civil Liberties Union and other legal experts defending their right to organize.

The FLC Jewish Student Organization (JSO) became involved with the approval process in late October, a development which SJP members referred to as “inappropriate” and “an exploitation of the democratic process.” They said that this indicated “concerns we have not been told of.”

USG President Leighton Magoon, FCLC ’17, told the members of SJP that JSO had previously requested a meeting with the USG Executive Board and “the Senate was interested in hearing the group’s opinions from the group directly,” according to Palestine Legal’s and CCR’s letter.

The Observer requested comment from JSO on Jan. 18, but has not yet received a response.

At the meeting, the members of SJP were asked if they “would partner with JSO at events,” to which a student interested in joining SJP “inquired why a political advocacy organization should be asked to partner with a religious organization,” according to the letter.

SJP chapters and regional organizations have partners on and off college campuses. These include Jewish organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), which “opposes antiJewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab bigotry and oppression” and supports “an end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.” The prospective members of SJP said that they “would like to work” with JVP when asked by Eldredge and Wenzel.

The letter also states that Wenzel requested the opinions of “several Jewish faculty members” on the formation of SJP during the previous ac-

STEPHAN KOZUB/THE OBSERVER

Students protested in support of SJP on Jan. 23, marching to and from Columbus Circle.

ademic year.

Hendler said that a number of faculty members had come to him to “express worry.”

He said that he told them the same thing as he told Dean Eldredge: “That these were students who wanted to advocate for their cause and who wanted to have discussions and debates with people who just differed with them, and there was nothing more than that at stake here.”

Hendler continued, “I felt during [my] conversations [with Eldredge] that he wanted to learn about the issue and about what different constituencies felt about the issue and about this club, and I respected that.”

For Awad, consulting JSO and Jewish faculty was “absurd.” He equated it to the university consulting male professors if students tried to form a feminist club.

The USG Senate ultimately voted to approve SJP, releasing a statement on Nov. 17 saying that they believed the “chapter of SJP” and its members “[would] positively contribute to the Fordham community in such a way that is sensitive to all students on campus.” The Senate said that they have faith that SJP “can function on campus respectfully,” and that it “fulfills a need for open discussion and demonstrates that Fordham is a place that exemplifies diversity of thought.”

On Dec. 22, Eldredge vetoed the USG Senate’s decision.

“I disagree that the proposal to form a club affiliated with the National Students for Justice in Palestine organization is the best way to provide [open, academic discussion and the promotion of intellectual rigor on campus],” Eldredge said in his email to the members of SJP, Hendler, Wenzel and Wolf. “I welcome continued conversation about alternative ways

to promote awareness of this important conflict and the issues that surround it from multiple perspectives.”

Eldredge told the Observer, “Unfortunately, I am not able to speak on the record about this matter due to the possible litigation,” and referred to an official statement from the University published in InsideHigherEd. The statement reads, “Fordham has no registered student clubs the sole focus of which is the political agenda of one nation, against another nation. For the University’s purposes, the country of origin of the student organizers is irrelevant, as is their particular political stance. The narrowness of Students for Justice in Palestine’s political focus makes it more akin to a lobbying group than a student club. Regardless of the club’s status, students, faculty, and staff are of course free to voice their opinions on Palestine, or any other issue.”

The USG Executive Board defended their process and decision, saying, “We felt the chapter would have fulfilled a need for open discussion and demonstrate that Fordham is a place that exemplifies diversity of thought.”

“I was honestly shocked when I received word,” Awad said. “Everything seemed perfect, that he was happy with the way we discussed, how we answered all his questions.”

“We fulfilled all of Fordham’s requirements in the constitution for the club,” Awad said. “This was prior restraint. They were trying to restrain our free speech without us even doing anything.”

The veto of SJP has since garnered attention from Jewish Voice for Peace and NYC SJP, both of which have started online letters of solidarity for supporters of Fordham SJP to sign.

The Jewish newspaper Algemeiner reported that the Committee for Ac-

curacy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA), the Simon Wiesenthal Center and AMCHA have supported Eldredge’s decision. In contrast, InsideHigherEd has reported that “The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, which advocates for free speech on campuses, has also taken an interest in the case and plans to send its own letter to Fordham, according to Ari Cohn, the director of FIRE’s individual rights defense program.”

Though the USG Club Application Packet does not provide procedure for a veto by the Dean of Students, Eldredge said via email on Jan. 6 to the SJP members that there will be no appeal of his decision. He invited them to contact his supervisors, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Jeffrey Gray and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Michele Burris to discuss their concerns.

The FLC Black Student Alliance (BSA) organized an online petition in support of SJP, demanding that Fordham reverse its decision. The petition says that Eldredge’s description is “belittling, offensive and denies Fordham Student’s [sic] rights to effectively practice being men and women for others as our Latin motto encourages us to do.” A “Solidarity Rally” took place on Jan. 23 and drew almost 100 students. Awad has also published an opinions piece in the New York Daily News about his experience.

“I think that not recognizing a duly recognized student group clearly cuts against notions of academic freedom and open debate,” Hendler said of the outcome, noting the diverse religious background and open-mindedness of the students involved. “I think they embody Fordham’s values and I think this decision does not.”

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER January 26, 2017

News

5

EMMA DIMARCO/THE OBSERVER

Before attending the University of Pennsylvania for two years, President Donald Trump was a Fordham student at Rose Hill.

Inside Trump’s Days at Fordham

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

President Donald Trump likes to talk about the fact that he went to the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, mentioning his academic achievement in his book “The Art of the Deal” and throughout his presidential campaign.

Trump, however, did not spend all four years of his college career at the University of Pennsylvania’s prestigious business school. Before earning his degree in economics, he was a student at Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) for two years.

Today’s Fordham students expressed mixed feelings about Donald Trump’s time at the Rose Hill campus. Ranging from indifference to happiness to one sophomore feeling “terrible” that the President’s name is tied to her college.

Although Trump boasted about attending Wharton, Fordham wasn’t his first choice of college, and real es-

tate wasn’t his first choice of career either. Trump originally wanted to be a movie producer, according to Newsweek. When he was rejected from the University of Southern California, he chose to attend Fordham until he eventually decided to pursue business and transfer to the University of Pennsylvania. “That’s where he got in,” Trump’s sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, said regarding his decision to go to Fordham in Gwenda Blair’s “The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a Presidential Candidate.”

During Trump’s time at Fordham, he would’ve studied topics such as Islam, Socrates, Aristotle and logic, according to John T. Carey, FCRH ’68, in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Trump also chose to attend Fordham at a historical time for the university. Joan Ann Poroski had just become one of the first women admitted to the university’s undergraduate student population, as reported by The Fordham Ram at the

time. Trump himself, however, did not leave “footprints” at Fordham, despite playing squash, according to President of the Fordham College Alumni Association Paul F. Gerken, FCRH ’68, in The Chronicle.

The Fordham community, however, was not the only place that Trump didn’t leave his footprints during his college years. Using his status as a college student, Trump successfully received draft deferments for the entirety of his college career, avoiding service in the Vietnam War. “Trump had avoided the draft— and the possibility of being sent to fight in the Vietnam War—by obtaining four separate deferments so he could stay at Fordham University and the University of Pennsylvania,” according to The Washington Post.

Even though he could have been conscripted once he graduated, he was “medically disqualified” after he failed an armed forces physical examination on Sept. 17, 1968, two months after he graduated from

Penn. His disqualification resulted from “small bone growths on his feet called heel spurs,” according to The Times (London).

Trump’s days at Fordham concluded with the end of the spring 1966 semester. “I decided that as long as I had to be in college, I might as well test myself against the best,” Trump wrote in “The Art of the Deal” on his decision to transfer to Wharton. With the help of an admissions officer who was a high school classmate of Trump’s older brother, Freddy, he traded the ivy-mantled walls of Fordham’s Rose Hill campus for an ivy league degree.

Trump’s short time at Fordham has left students with mixed feelings about his attendance, but some students such as Kyoka Millard, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, would rather just forget that he went there. “I feel pretty terrible about it,” she said regarding the President’s connection to the college. “I’m really proud of the fact that Fordham has kind of disavowed

him and been very open about being welcome to immigrants.” Fordham President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., recently pledged his support for undocumented students in a written statement emailed to students.

Other students who voted for Trump, such as Andrew Budisak, FCLC ’20, hope that students on all sides of the discussions over Trump can see eye to eye.

“Not everyone on either side is representative of the candidate as a person and no one is a representation of their whole party,” he said.

“Although you have the right to disagree and be angry and have fear, there comes a point where you need to actually unite and discuss to actually get things done.”

Trump may have left Fordham for the same reason as most transfer students: the college just wasn’t for him.

“I think there’s a good reason he didn’t stay for all four years,” Renee Garrahan, FCLC ’18, said. “I don’t think it was the right fit for him.”

Biden Issues Letter on Sexual Assault to College Presidents

By KATHERINE SMITH Asst. News Co-Editor

Former United States Vice President Joe Biden issued a letter on Jan. 5 to college presidents urging them to continue the fight against sexual assault, an issue Fordham is still working to address and prevent.

Biden published both an open letter and a guide on how colleges should create a safer environment on their campuses through different campus policies and stronger enforcement of Title IX, a federal nondiscrimination law that has expanded to include sexual misconduct, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

In the letter, Biden informs the presidents that one in five students in college experience rape or sexual assault, a statistic that hasn’t changed in the past 22 years, while one in four transgender students and one in three bisexual students experience the same.

“As presidents, chancellors, deans and administrators, you have an obligation to stand up, to speak out, to foster the safest and most inclusive environment possible for every student that walks onto your campus-

“ There [are] things that we think are effective, like Haven and the things we do at orientation, but we’re always looking for new things to add on, which is why we were so excited when It’s On Us approached us.”

–

es,” Biden wrote.

In addition to encouraging colleges to adopt frequent campus climate surveys and thorough investigations, the Obama administration advocated for expanding Title IX to include sexual assault in order to help lower the rates of campus assault.

Fordham students and administrators have been working to promote awareness for and reduce sexual assault on campus.

At Fordham, The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance covers Title IX policies and has a Title IX coordinator to monitor all forms of discrimination on campus. There is also the Campus Assault and Re-

KEITH ELDREDGE, dean of students

lationship Education, or CARE, that outlines the sexual assault policies on campus, as well as the rights of students and resources to report any type of misconduct. The program also publishes an annual Campus Climate survey, to measure students’ beliefs and attitudes on campus sexual violence.

Student orientation is another opportunity for Fordham to educate its students. Through presentations and required online courses, students are educated on dating violence, assault, and the bystander effect.

Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Lincoln Center, said that such programs are “trying to make sure that students are clear that that behavior

is not tolerated at Fordham, but also recognizing that ‘hey, this happened to me and it’s not okay, and this is something I can get support and help for.’”

Additionally, the student-led It’s On Us Coalition is aimed at spreading awareness and preventing sexual violence on college campuses. Led by Monica Sobrin, Fordham College at Rose Hill, FCRH ’17, and Lexi McMenamin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, FCLC ’17, the committee has already begun to work within the college community through workshops and events that are meant to educate students and begin an open discussion about assault on Fordham’s campuses.

The coalition hosts events that provide education about sexual violence as well as consent and bystander workshops, while also improving current CARE programming to help further support students who report sexual assault.

McMenamin feels that the committee is a “grassroots, feminist” effort that helped to address problems Fordham has had with having an open discourse on sexual assault, where conversation was more “informal” and people asked their friends

for help. McMenamin also credits national protests like Emma Sulkowicz’s mattress protest and the 2012 Steubenville, OH sexual assault case for helping inspire Sobrin, herself and others to bring the coalition onto campus.

“It was desperately needed long before it came to be,” McMenamin said. “Survivors need to be supported and institutions need to support others.”

Eldredge acknowledged concerns that more could be done at Fordham to improve the conversation about sexual assault, and that the university “tries to improve every year” after hearing student feedback.

“There [are] some things that we think are effective, like Haven and the things we do at orientation, but we’re always looking for new things to add on, which is why we were so excited when It’s On Us approached us,” Eldredge said.

McMenamin spoke about the importance of acknowledging that those who assault others are “a person we’re connected to,” as well as having a “cultural change” in addition to a policy change, that addresses Fordham’s environment rather than just its rules.

Opinions

Opinions Editor John McCullough - jmcculloughiii@fordham.edu

STAFF EDITORIAL

the

SJP DECISION LIMITS POWER OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT

O

n Dec. 22, 2016, Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), overruled the decision of the United Student Government (USG) to grant full club status to Fordham Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). After over a year of waiting for USG approval— an unprecedented amount of time—Fordham SJP was denied the right to organize.

This use of veto power was explained in an email statement

by Eldredge: “The purpose of the organization as stated in the proposed club constitution points toward that polarization. Specifically, the call for boycott, divestment and sanctions of Israel presents a barrier to open dialogue and mutual learning and understanding.”

However, if the issue is polarization, there are plenty of clubs allowed on campus that take stances on controversial issues. As civil rights organization Palestine Legal pointed

out in their response to the decision, the candidate of the Republican Party has been one of the most polarizing and controversial figures of the 21st century. And still, despite their polarizing standard-

“We condemn both the abridgement of free speech and the disrespect shown to the democratic decision of USG.” bearer, the Fordham College Republicans are (rightfully) allowed to exist and organize on campus. Fordham SJP has been denied this right. As Dean Eldredge points out, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is indeed an issue so charged and meaningful that it can be incredibly difficult to hold a productive debate. However, it is even more difficult to have this necessary discussion when one side is kept from promot-

January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

ing their stance. This decision only shuts down debate and stifles free association.

Furthermore, in his veto, he has limited the power of the Fordham student body by invalidating the democratic vote of USG to approve the club’s charter. Democratic structures of student power mean very little if they can be overwritten so easily with the stroke of a pen. The fact that this decision was made on the very last day of the fall 2016 semester, when most USG members had already left for winter break is even more egregious.

This move ensured that there would be few left on campus to object to this breach of authority.

We condemn both the abridgement of free speech and the disrespect shown to the democratic decision of USG. We hope to see that the ban is lifted and that Fordham SJP is allowed to operate on campus to the same extent as other clubs and student organizations.

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 Cecile Neidig Asst. News Editors Elizabeth Landry 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

FOLLOW THE OBSERVER ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Asst. Social Media Co-Managers Angelika Menendez Visual Advisor Molly Bedford Editorial Advisor Anthony Hazell

Twitter: @fordhamobserver Instagram: @fclcobserver

PUBLIC NOTICE

No part of The Observer may be reprinted or reproduced without the expressed written consent of The Observer board. The Observer is published on alternate Thursdays during the academic year.

Printed by Five Star Printing Flushing, N.Y

To reach an editor by e-mail, visit www.fordhamobserver.com

Facebook: The Fordham Observer POLICIES AND PROCEDURES • Letters to the Editor should be typed and sent to The Observer, Fordham University, 140 West 62nd Street, Room G32, New York, NY 10023, or e-mailed to fordhamobserver@gmail.com. Length should not exceed 200 words. All letters must be signed and include contact information, official titles, and year of graduation (if applicable) for verification.

• If submitters fail to include this information, the editorial board will do so at its own discretion.

• The Observer has the right to withhold any submissions from publication and will not consider more than two letters from the same individual on one topic. The Observer reserves the right to edit all letters and submissions for content, clarity and length.

• Opinions articles and commentaries represent the view of their authors. These articles are in no way the views held by the editorial board of The Observer or Fordham University.

• The Editorial is the opinion held by a majority of The Observer’s editorial board. The Editorial does not reflect the views held by Fordham University.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER January 26, 2017

Opinions

7

Liberals: Megyn Kelly is Not Your Friend JOHN MCCULLOUGH Opinions Editor

During the Republican primary season, the vast majority of media attention was intensely fixated on the eventual victor, President Donald Trump. Through the grueling months of pageantry and spectacle, Trump successfully spellbound the media with demagogic rhetoric and political theatrics. One of the most widely focused-on incidents came during a Fox News Republican Primary debate, in which tension arose when moderator Megyn Kelly questioned if Trump possessed the “appropriate temperament” to serve as President of the United States. This conflict was heightened as Trump responded to the criticism in media, attempting to undercut Kelly with a misogynistic reference to her menstruation. Kelly’s feud with Trump turned her into an overnight hero of journalistic integrity among liberals and centrists. To many, this was proof that she was the “good kind” of conservative, a member of an “honorable opposition” that could be trusted to foster reasoned debate.

However, in liberals’ haste to recruit an enemy partisan to their side, Kelly’s actual record as a mudslinging right-winger was swiftly forgotten. Her new fair-weather friends forgot about numerous outrageous statements that had won her their contempt years before, such as her gravely serious insistence on air that Santa “is white,” or that community activists should “stop complaining” about the excesses of police brutality.

The sands had shifted, and no matter how contemptible her stances on the issues were, she would be exalted as a hero of idealized decency. The problem with this is simple: as the political spectrum shifts further to the right, more and more reactionary figures will seem positively reasonable by comparison. In fact, this is

EXCHANGE ASSOCIATE/FLICKR

Megyn Kelly gained many plaudits from the center-left from her many media bouts with President Trump.

already happening.

Politicians formerly decried as right-wing extremists and warmongers have now been deemed principled figures of a bygone era.

Comparisons have been made longing for the days of George W. Bush, whose administration used false information to kickstart a war that killed hundreds of thousands of people. Others who have been forgiven for past offenses when criticizing Trump are Paul Ryan, whose number one political goal is the privatization of social security and medicare, and Chris Christie, who has waged an all-out war on teachers’ unions in his

tenure as Governor of New Jersey.

Naturally, both capitulated to Trump as soon as it became politically expedient.

Liberals reveling in the spirit of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is nothing new. During the 2016 Democratic National Convention, former Reagan administration staffer Doug Elmets received lavish applause when he declared to the Republican nominee: “Donald Trump, you are no Ronald Reagan.” While this has quite a bit of rhetorical stopping power, it is a form of historical revisionism that seeks to exonerate a particularly shameful period of

American history. It seems doubtful that Trump would be so offensive to a man who refused to sanction apartheid in South Africa, funded anti-communist terrorists, and ignored the AIDS epidemic while thousands of Americans languished and died. Attempts to paint Reagan as a man who would be appalled by the evolution of Republican Party are at best naive and at worst disingenuous. When the man decried in the 70s as the most extreme right-wing candidate the party had yet seen is appealed to as a moderate forefather, a grave historical error has been made.

Instead of real dissent or argument, many liberals remain satisfied with pining for a forgotten “rational conservatism.” Many seek to re-write history to suit the narrative that reactionaries of the present-day are historical anomalies that The Right of the past would want nothing to do with. This practice does nothing to help liberals; it only exonerates their past enemies. If the center-left does not cease with this reckless variety of political rehabilitation, they might someday be forced to laud Trump in the face of a president so reactionary he will seem reasonable in comparison.

Don’t Mourn, Organize!

LINDSAY POULOS Contributing Writer

I’ve been having a hard time this week knowing that this inauguration was inevitable, shifting between bouts of anger, despair and numbness at this election. I’m sure a great deal of you have felt this as well.

Moving forward, I’m trying to focus on the things that are within my control. Here are some ways we can do that.

“Like” your senators and representatives on Facebook so you can see what issues they’re vocal about.

Call and email them when an issue comes up that they haven’t been vocal about. Make sure you state if you’re for or in opposition to a bill.

In my experience, Govtrack.us is the best way to track bills. Political offices do keep track of how many calls they get on an issue. It’s their job to vote in the interest of their constituents. Remember, they work for us.

Meeting for an in-person appointment is one of the most effective ways to influence your representatives on a particular issue. Anyone can do this if you’re a constituent of their district.

Join your local community board. Consider joining a committee within your community board.

Meetings are open to the public.

Grassroots-level activism begins with individual participation.

Enlist in an organization that aligns with your values and addresses the issues you wish to change.

Work as a campaign staffer for

SCOTTMONTREAL/FLICKR

Following the inauguration of President Trump many have taken to the streets to show their displeasure.

a politician you admire. Better yet, run yourself.

No matter what anyone tells you, protests work. However, it doesn’t take one day. It takes weeks, months, sometimes years.

Massive monetary boycotts are the best way to get a company to change their behavior.

Register to vote. Help other people register. Vote in local and

midterm elections. Mark your calendar for Nov. 6, 2018. Thirty-three Senate and 435 House seats are up for election.

Healthcare; social security; climate and environment; voter rights; education; police accountability and alternatives to incarceration; immigrant rights; women’s rights; economic rights for the poor, working and middle class are all issues

we need to vigilantly fight for. There will and have already been motions to dismantle these causes in the Republican-held Congress.

Whatever anxiety or fear you have about contacting someone in a position of power you need to get over real quick. You have a voice and it is powerful. Use it. Social media informs your circle, but we need to move outside the echo chamber

that is our friends list. Likes, shares, and Facebook arguments aren’t enough.

If you voted for Trump (or are a Trump apologist/normalizer/ give ‘em a chance-er) you need to stop pretending like your work here is done. Holding the president accountable for their words and actions is a non-partisan issue. It’s every American’s right to be politically informed and active. It’s vital to exercise that right.

Don’t let fear take over. It is a tactic that people in power, namely Trump, use to garner support. We all have more in common than the top one percent who control our government and try to divide us, and with that said, denial forgoes reality. Recognize the systems of oppression that are still alive and well, and fight to dismantle them together. Find strength in being an ally. Equality without intersectionality is dead on arrival.

Ultimately the resistance is growing and building every day. It transcends politics. It rejects the notion that won this election: fear of the “other.” Our cause is rooted in loving one another. Opposition will try and paint us as violent rioters to discredit this movement, but we know where we stand. Nonviolent civil disobedience worked for the Civil Rights Movement, and it will work for this civil rights movement.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” –except, this small group is backed by millions. Stay informed. Stay vigilant. Stay loud.

Stay loving.

8

Photo Feature

December 8, 2016 THE OBSERVER

Students Join Women’s Marches Around the World

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

“If you think about it, it’s a question of justice. Donald Trump during his campaign has mistreated women completely, and now, he’s mistreating women as president.

Women are under attack and somebody’s got to back them up, right? So that’s why I showed up.”

Justin Westbrook-Lowery, FCLC ’20

DESIGNED BY KATIE MAURER/THE OBSERVER

People around the world joined together in Women’s Marches on Jan. 21 in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington. Among these marchers were Fordham students, who participated in New York, Washington D.C., London and Barcelona. These are some of their accounts of the day.

“When I got here at the beginning of January, I searched for a march in Barcelona, and joined the Facebook group of a little over 100 people. Yesterday, 2,000 of us marched down the streets of Barcelona. We carried signs written in English, Spanish and Catalan (the main language of this region of Spain.)

We chanted in all three languages. It was so rich in culture and so unifying to see the people of Spain marching in solidarity with us.”

Nopell Wong, FCLC ’18

(Marched in Barcelona)

ASEAH KHAN / THE OBSERVER

Protest signs seen at NYC Women’s March on January 21, 2017.

www.fordhamobserver.com

“I decided to participate in Women’s March London because although I’m currently studying abroad, I am not isolated by the politics and policies of the new administration.

I am, and have been, deeply troubled by President Trump’s rhetoric and behavior against women and other marginalized groups. I am an American citizen but I am also a citizen of the world and as these international sister marches highlighted, American policies have global implications. I marched to stand in solidarity with the women marching in the U.S., but also for the women around the world.”

Mariea Sekijima, FCLC ’18 (Marched in London) “What really stood out to me was the people who were coming from all sorts of different places. There were folks coming from different places in the country and from all different backgrounds. I saw a group of people who were protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline and they came from North Dakota.

I even saw some people who said that they had flown to New York from Argentina to be part of the protest.”

Photo Feature

“I was initially kind of hesitant about the protest because of white feminism that was going on around it and stuff, but my sister invited me to come with her and my sister is a very, very intersectional person. And I wound up actually really enjoying myself.

Obviously, there were still problems with it, but it was nice seeing a lot of people in the same place fighting for the same cause.”

Maya Tatikola, FCLC ’20 “The one thing I’m most nervous about is immigration and everything because my mom is from Ecuador and my dad’s family is from Ireland and I’m a first and second generation person. So I marched around with my Ecuadorian flag around my shoulders because it was very important to me and I know that the Women’s March was really based around women’s reproductive rights, but in light of many recent things that have happened, I think it’s important to remember the intersectionality of all of that.”

Kelty Lonergan, FCLC ’19

“I went because I’m not just a woman. I’m a woman of color, I’m a queer woman, I’m an immigrant, like I am a lot of things and all of those avenues of my own identity are being targeted and that’s just a fraction of the intersections of people’s identities that are being threatened by this administration. And so adding one or two more bodies to the streets of D.C. was really, really powerful.”

Alysha Kundanmal, FCLC ’17 (Marched in D.C.)

Shannon Constantine, FCLC ’19

ASEAH KHAN /THE OBSERVER ERIN O’FLYNN /THE OBSERVER

Protest signs seen at NYC and Washington D.C. Women’s March on January 21, 2017.

9

8

Opinions

January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

In the Age of Trump, Keep Watch for “Fake News” ALEX SEYAD Asst. Opinions Co-Editor

Following President Barack Obama’s farewell address in Chicago that called for Americans to come together and fight forces trying to divide our nation, President Donald Trump held a press conference that encouraged this divide.

While addressing the nation and a room full of reporters, Trump and his incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer, addressed the leak and following coverage of an intelligence dossier that has been confirmed as unverified.

While many hoped that these two would handle the situation in a professional manner, the ensuing accusations erased many of the good feelings that were left by the Obama speech the day before.

Trump called out news outlets Buzzfeed and CNN for covering and spreading this unverified report, but he didn’t stop there.

When a CNN reporter requested an opportunity to ask a question regarding Trump’s accusation, the reporter was denied by Trump who told him “No, you are fake news,” and proceeded to ignore the reporter’s plea to ask his question.

While the reporter certainly didn’t show much etiquette in handling the situation, Trump’s accusation of “fake news” sparked a debate.

In response to these claims, CNN clarified that they only reported as to the existence of this report and they refused to publish the entire document. Despite this press conference, the term “fake news” has been used in this past election cycle to describe other

KARL-LUDWIG POGGEMANN/FLICKR

A media frenzy occurs after President Trump calls out press for promoting “Fake News.”

sources. Given the popularity of social media and other forms of digital media, many get their information from online sources at what seems to be the instance that they occur. The issue presented here is that many of these sources are not verified, but are still spread through outlets like Facebook, which causes a flow of misinformation through the populous.

While many organizations, including Facebook working with the University of Pennsylvania, have tried to crack down on the number of unverified news sources available, it seems to be too late.

Other types of fake news come in the form of misrepresenting

facts or plainly spreading false information. A recent example involves NBC calling Trump out on the non-existent role he played in recent job creation which, as expected, resulted in him calling them “biased” and “fake news”. It may seem common to many that a politician will claim responsibility for any positive outcome that they had little to no influence on. Is this an example of what President Trump or his Administration calls “alternative facts”?

Following this press conference, there were numerous reports that the Trump Administration was looking to move the press corp from the West Wing to another lo-

cation outside of the White House.

It seems that the nature of the Trump Administration may have negative implications for future relations between the White House and the media. It may be important for the Trump Administration to note that the media industry can be a very dangerous enemy to a public figure. While Trump is notorious for making enemies with every group possible, like his current feud with the intelligence community, there may be an ulterior motive to this current debacle.

One possible reason for Trump’s display was to take the attention away from the confirmation hearings of Senator Jeff Sessions

and former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, that occurred during the same week. These confirmation hearings were the first of any of his cabinet choices and followed controversial news that Trump wanted to appoint his son-in-law as his senior advisor, which violates several anti-nepotism laws. By taking over the news cycle with his own antics, Trump was successful in diverting attention from the more sensitive actions of his early administration.

As we have seen prior in the election, Trump will create his own sound bites that will be covered by multiple news sources. This is until the vast population is sick of hearing about it. This tactic gave him the popularity he needed to gather a large amount of support during the election and now he is using it to divert the public’s attention from his controversial choices.

Aside from ulterior motives, it would be wise for the Trump Administration to limit the number of enemies it makes. By ostracizing the intelligence community and now the media, Trump will have to be careful with every move he makes, because there will be sharks in the water waiting for him. As he is already an unpopular president, many will be looking for him to make mistakes, so his opponents can call for his resignation or impeachment. As we look towards the new Trump presidency we can only speculate what his feud with the media will do to current rumors about his relationship with Russia, his controversial and inexperienced selections for his cabinet and his inflammatory tweets. If he intends to effectively carry out his office, he should be on his best behavior.

Summer Session 2017 Take hard-to-find core classes like • Human Function and Dysfunction (NSCI 1030) • Films of Moral Struggle (FITV 4570) • Classic Islamic Texts (THEO 3715) • Anthropology of J.R.R. Tolkien (ANTH 4005)

Or choose from more than 200 available courses!

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

Learn more at fordham.edu/summer eeo

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editors Elena Ciotta - eciotta@fordham.edu Ana Fota - afota@fordham.edu Morgan Steward - msteward2@fordham.edu January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER R. WILSON/FACEBOOK

Christopher Wilson is spending his senior year dancing with Ailey II, performing throughout Europe and the United States.

Fordham Senior Stuns in Ailey II Tour

By JENNA BATTAGLIA Contributing Writer

Christopher Wilson, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17, is spending his senior year the way all aspiring dancers dream of—touring the country with the renowned dance troupe, Ailey II. Having completed all academic requirements for a B.F.A. in dance performance, he is now completing his degree by earning credits through professional performance work.

Ailey II is the second company of the legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT). Members of Ailey II perform for up to two years as a starting point in their careers, working under Ailey artistic director Troy Powell. The company performs a mix of repertoire choreo-

graphed by Alvin Ailey himself and new works by current choreographers. They perform both locally and internationally, and most recently embarked on a domestic tour of the United States.

“I think Ailey II is a great training base for professional dancers who want to move on to bigger things,” Wilson said of his experience in the company. “We get the full professional experience: working with choreographers, touring, rehearsing, all that. It’s a platform to launch you into something bigger, and that’s why I’m so grateful for it. Because if I think this is hard, I can’t even imagine what the big time is like. So it’s scary but exciting at the same time.”

This season, the dancers are performing a mix of classic repertory

by Alvin Ailey, pieces by AAADT

artistic director Robert Battle and new works by visiting choreographers. Wilson was especially excited to work with former Complexions Contemporary Ballet member Jae Man Joo on his new piece “Circular.”

“He pushed us in different ways that none of us have ever been pushed before, so I think we all benefited in some way working with him,” Wilson said.

The company members will also appear in “Stream of Consciousness” by AAADT member Marcus Jarrell Willis. This piece is set to contemporary music by Max Richter and involves gestural movements as a representation of inner thoughts.

Wilson described this piece as “just fun” and “really weird and quirky.”

He went on to explain, “We all have fun while we’re dancing it, and that’s

what I can really appreciate about dancing: you just find something and go with that, and his is fun. It’s just fun, and that’s what we go with.”

Ailey II’s Fall 2016 tour made stops in the Midwest, the Bahamas and along the East Coast. One of Wilson’s most memorable moments of the tour occurred in Rockford, Illinois.

“The theater there was literally enormous and it was filled to the top with little kids, screaming at the top of their lungs and it was just adorable,” he explained. “Their energy just gives us more energy, and that’s why I love performing for children.

They bring a different energy and they’re so curious and so open and so excited to see dance, and I think it’s great.”

The reality of being in a dance

company involves more than just performances. Wilson and the members of Ailey II take classes every morning before rehearsing for six hours straight. This can be both physically and mentally overwhelming, but it prepares the dancers for future careers as members of major dance companies.

For Wilson, all of this hard work is worth the experience of living his dream as a professional dancer: “I love it, and I think that’s what all dancers want, to be able to do what you love as your profession. It’s incredible.”

This spring, Ailey II will be performing in Germany, France, Washington state and Hawaii. You can see them perform live in New York from March 29 to April 2 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

Internet TV Gives “The Big Four” a Run for Its Money

By SAM DEASSIS Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor

Long ago, there was a strange phenomenon that occurred often, driving many to frequent outbreaks of frustration and angst. This phenomenon would occur when its victims either let their obligation slip their mind or found themselves too busy wrapped up in other things to make sure to tune into their weekly escape from reality. No matter what the cause, for the average American, missing an episode of their favorite television show was a means for major heartbreak.

Nowadays, however, this idea has been completely lost in the rise of internet television. According to a Nielson report on the amount of hours spent per week watching traditional television, the public’s viewing habits have been steadily declining for the past five years to about forty percent lower than what they were in 2011.

This may suggest that watching television is slowly going out of style, but then how is it that almost any person you meet will gladly tell you about whatever show they are currently watching?

ASEAH KHAN / THE OBSERVER

Internet television, like Netflix and Hulu, is making a name for itself.

According to a study done by digital media firm Defy Media, younger generations are streaming shows on the internet about twice as often as they watch traditional television. “I don’t have traditional television I only watch TV on Netflix, HBO GO, and Amazon Prime,” Rachel Meyer, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ‘20, explained.

“I prefer services like Netflix and Hulu over conventional television because there’s more power in my hands when I use those services,” Paolo Estrella, FCLC ‘20, said. “I’m able to choose what I want to watch and when I want to watch it as opposed to TV where I have to conform to its schedule.”

It seems that TV shows are more

often being enjoyed through the monitor of a computer than through an actual TV. However, internetcentered companies such as Netflix, Amazon and HBO GO have taken their idea to the next level, providing a new medium through which to access shows that originated on television. Netflix and Amazon have started to create their own series exclusive to their platforms and distribution channels.

At first, many seemed to dismiss these internet-originated series as less prestigious or impressive than those distributed by big-name television networks. It was suggested that shows on CBS, ABC, NBC or Fox were the “real deal” when it comes to quality entertainment. It was only on one of the big name networks that a series could be respected. However, if this year’s Golden Globe nominees are any indication of how successful a TV series is, then that old paradigm is starting to shift.

With Netflix leading overall with eight nominations, it is clear that its shows are no longer something to look down on. Netflix beat out Time Warner, Disney, Starz, Fox and ABC with this whopping number of nomi-

nations, showing that it is prevailing as a big name in the entertainment industry. Amazon was not far behind, roping in five nominations on its own— a number competitive with the number major television networks won.

“I think that internet-based television is slowly replacing cable television and I think that is really exciting,” Melanie Katz, FCLC ‘20, said.

“I’m currently watching ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’, a show produced by Netflix, and I think that it is a really impressive show. The writing, acting and production are all incredibly well done, which is in line with Netflix’s other original shows. I’m excited about the future of internetbased entertainment.”

It is clear that the former “big names” in television have to watch out. Not only is internet television becoming a more popular medium due to convenience, but it also seems as though it is being regarded as a much more respectable source of original series than ever before. If you are an aspiring actor, internet television may now be more of a goal to reach for than a role in a “big network” series.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER JANUARY 26, 2017

Arts & Culture

12

Learn The Truth Behind “The Zookeeper’s Wife”

By MORGAN STEWARD Arts & Culture Co-Editor

Poland, 1935. The Warsaw Zoo is thriving. Recently bought by Jan and Antonina Zabinski, the menagerie is quickly being turned into one of the premiere animal establishments in Europe, with groundbreaking new methods for housing their animals that include making several “mini ecosystems” based on each animal’s home environment.

Poland, 1939. The German Blitzkrieg has turned the once prosperous zoo into an almost abandoned pile of rubble. Antonina Zabinski and her young son Ryszard have fled the area to seek asylum in the country while Jan stays behind. The magnificent zoo is now nothing more than a heap of trash that the Germans commandeered to use as a pig and fur farm for their soldiers.

At least, that’s what it appears to be on the outside. In reality, the ruined zoo is now the underground location of the Polish resistance and a refuge for Jews who have escaped from the Warsaw ghetto.

This is the picture that Diane Ackerman, famed American poet, essayist and naturalist, paints in her historical non-fiction novel “The Zookeeper’s Wife.” Based off of Ackerman’s own research and the diary entries of Antonina Zabinski, the novel is the astonishing true story of the Zabinski family’s efforts in aiding the Polish resistance during World War II and hiding hunted Jews right under the Nazis’ noses.

“The Zookeeper’s Wife” does not read like your average historical non-fiction book—it feels more like one of Ackerman’s poems,

JILLIAN JAYMES / THE OBSERVER

The book, which can be found in Quinn Library, will soon be turned into a motion picture.

filled with descriptive diction and imagery. She does not simply write that “boys rowdily play outside,” but insteads opts to describe their activities as “taking part in a timeless ritual designed to rouse nature from her slumber and fill the trees with fruit, the land with a rich harvest.” Even the Zabinskis’ story itself, successfully hiding 300 displaced Jewish individuals at the

same location where German soldiers stayed, seems too outlandish to be true.

The Zabinskis successfully hid these refugees by creating codenames for all of their Jewish fugitives— animal names. Prior to the start of World War II, Antonina and Jan gave all of their zoo animals that lived in their villa human names based on their distinct per-

sonalities. To the Zabinskis, these animals were part of their family and deserved to be treated as such.

When Jewish fugitives started fleeing to the zoo, the Zabinskis knew they had to be extremely careful when referring to their secret guests. And what was the easiest way to refer to things in a zoo? As animals. Each family that arrived was given an animal name—squir-

rel, giraffe, elephant—that the Zabinskis would use when talking about them in front of others. “The squirrels need to be fed” was really code for “the family hiding in the squirrel lodge need food.”

One of the most polarizing aspects of Ackerman’s book is the way she abruptly, yet smoothly, transitions from scenes of total carnage as a result of Germany’s occupation of Poland to whimsical and lighthearted descriptions of the beauty of nature and its animals.

As a reader, it can be slightly unnerving to read a lengthy description of the endearing escapades of the family’s pet badger, followed by an equally long description of a bombing that destroyed half of Warsaw. This uneasy feeling is exactly what Ackerman needs to get from her readers to call this novel a success—it transports the reader directly into the ruins of the Warsaw Zoo, hiding in cold, cramped cages while surrounded by German soldiers whose jobs are to capture you.

Upon its release in 2007, “The Zookeeper’s Wife” was received well by the literary community, winning the Orion Book Award and landing the number 13 spot on The New York Times’ non-fiction best seller list. Now, the Zabinski’s tale is being turned into a movie. Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty”) stars as Antonina Zabinski, with Belgian actor Johan Heldenbergh starring as Jan Zabinski.

The film will hit theaters in March of 2017. In the meantime, you can find a copy of this war story in the Rosenblatt Holocaust Collection in Lincoln Center’s Quinn Library.

See What’s Next: A Look at 2017’s Most Anticipated Films

By MARYANNA ANTOLDI Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor

It is a brand new year, and with a new year comes the exciting prospect of new films. Movies have the ability to whisk a viewer away from reality into somewhere new and thrilling. For 2017, while some ideas are original and fresh, most of what we will see are science fiction sequels and remakes.

2016 had its fair share of sequels, and many of 2017’s most anticipated films continue this trend. Some examples include “The Fate of the Furious” (April 1), the eighth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise, and “War of the Planet of the Apes” (July 14), the third installment of the Planet of the Apes franchise. With other films such as “Transformers: The Last Knight” (June 23) and “Alien: Covenant” (May 19), science fiction is the genre that will dominate this year.

Many of these reboots seem to focus on two distinct factors— war and death. “War of the Planet of the Apes” entails the final conflict between the humans and the apes, leaving only one species to dominate. In a similar way, “Transformers: The Last Knight” focuses on Optimus Prime’s return to Earth, where the collision of the Transformers and humans may result in war.

With the constant dystopian trend in films from the last few years with films such as “The Hunger Games” (2012) and “Maze Runner” (2014), it seems that movies are exploring the causes of the apocalypse, rather than life after the ruin.

However, not all science fiction films in 2017 have a pre-apocalyptic plotline. Marvel Studios will also be releasing their fair share of sequels, including “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (May 5). With the original film’s massive success in 2014, the same team will return in

NAOYA FUJII/FLICKR

This year’s films are mostly sequels or reboots of successful science fiction franchises.

the newest installment for more adventures, with characters such as Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) — even including the return of Groot (voiced

by Vin Diesel). Its usage of hit classics from Peter Quill’s “Awesome Mixtapes,” not only contributes to the atmosphere of the film, but also allows fans to fully immerse themselves in every aspect of it — from plot to soundtrack. Marvel will also be releasing “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (July 7), a reboot featuring Tom Holland as the titular character, and “Thor: Ragnarok” (Nov. 3), the third installment of the hero’s franchise.

There are also plenty of other interesting reboots worth mentioning that do not fall into the science fiction category. The Walt Disney

With the constant dystopian trend in films from the last few years...it seems that movies are exploring the cause of the apocalypse, rather than life after the ruin.

Company will be releasing a liveaction version of “Beauty and the Beast” (March 17) starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. Drawing on the classic animated feature, the live action version contains incredible CGI visuals that create the classic fantasy world that many fell in love with in the animated film. Another anticipated film is Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” (July 21), a period piece set during World War II. Originally made in 1958, the film

centers on a group of allied British soldiers left stranded in France, who must travel to the town of Dunkirk in hopes of being rescued.

The events in the film were inspired by the true Dunkirk Evacuation of British troops, also known as Operation Dynamo, in 1940.

In the field of animation, however, there are original ideas on the scene, such as Pixar’s film “Coco” (Nov. 22). Inspired by the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of

the Dead), the film stars a 12-yearold boy named Miguel who is descended from a family of shoemakers. However, they banned music ever since his great-grandfather left his wife to become a musician.

Miguel, who loves to play music, mistakenly attempts to emulate his idol, the late singer Ernesto de la Cruz, and ends up in the Land of the Dead. By meeting his ancestors and embarking on a quest to meet de la Cruz himself, Miguel must make it back to the Land of the Living with their blessings to perform before it is too late. Starring an all-Latino cast and drawing from old Mexican traditions, “Coco” will definitely be a film to watch out for this fall.

The most anticipated movie of the year by far will be the recently titled Star Wars film “Episode VIII: The Last Jedi”. Expanding on the events of “The Force Awakens,” the film will contain both old and new favorites such as Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren and Rey, and will further elaborate on the battle between the Resistance and the First Order. The movie will also have Carrie Fisher reprising her role as Princess Leia for one last time. With the immense success of “Rogue One” last year, fans of all ages are eagerly awaiting the next installment of the series to release this December.

With the upcoming release of all of these films, it is important to note that Fordham students can see all of them at discounted prices!

Movie tickets are only $11 if purchased from the RHA office found in McMahon Hall.

Overall, this year’s movie season seems to bring with it a fair share of highly-anticipated sequels and reboots. And, as long as fans continue to request more content, filmmakers will continue this trend until ideas run dry. In the coming years, hopefully we will see some original ideas steal the show that will help redefine cinema as a creative art form.

Features

Features Editor Ruby Buddemeyer - rbuddemeyer@fordham.edu

January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIEA SEKIJIMA

Mariea Sekijima, FCLC ’18, is studying Political Science at the University College London (UCL), following her interest in the masters program and rigorous courses.

Lights, Camera, London!

One Fordham Student’s Adventure Across the Pond

By MARIEA SEKIJIMA Contributing Writer

London has always held a special place in my heart. As the backdrop to the Muggle world in Harry Potter, the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the home to many influential writers, philosophers and artists, the cultural significance of the capital of the United Kingdom cannot be understated. Naturally, when I was choosing my destination to study abroad, London was my top choice. I’m currently an affiliate student studying Political Science at University College London (UCL), a school I chose because of my interest in their masters pro-

grams and challenging courses.

It’s been three weeks since I first landed in my new home for the duration of the spring term. Upon arriving, I was immediately reminded of my excitement for the unknown.

The United Kingdom and the United States share many similar traits, among them the English language and their melting pot nature of diversity. Although similar, one can’t ignore the differences that make living on this side of the pond so refreshing and unique.

Although New York City and London are both major cities and the hubs of social, economic and political activity, I’ve found London to have a sort of pleasant charm to

“London was able to preserve its history and culture whilst still adapting to the modern day.” - MARIEA SEKIJIMA, FCLC ’18 it that I see as absent in New York City. When I picture New York, I think primarily of flashy neon lights, skyscrapers and crowds of tourists. While many tourists undoubtedly flock to London as well, I’ve noticed that London was able

to preserve its history and culture whilst still adapting to the modern day. Historic buildings in London stand next to newly renovated office spaces while (free!) museums housing ancient artifacts and artwork are scattered across the city.

All countries and cultures suffer from both negative and positive stereotypes, and England is no exception. Before arriving, many of my friends and relatives reminded me to expect rain every day while I heard from academic websites that silence is the norm in university classrooms. Both have been proven to be false– it’s only truly rained a few times while I’ve been here (although when it rains, it rains) and

my seminar portions of each class are largely discussion-based.

I’ve been lucky enough to be able to live in multiple cities throughout my life (Shiga, Japan, Los Angeles, New York City), each one of them different and alluring in its own way. London has been the first to make me feel both at home and like a foreigner at the same time. While these may be my first impressions, I have six months to explore and learn more about this iconic city, and I look forward to making lasting memories in my new home.

Mariea’s study abroad experiences will be further documented on her blog, marimilktea.wordpress.com.

Fordham’s Favorite Coffee Shops for Spring Studying like Spreadhouse Cafe or Whynot Coffee or Devocíon in Brooklyn because it gets you off campus and into the city, while at the same time being productive. When I’m on my way to work uptown I stop at Joe Coffee on 68th, I like that they feature different drip coffees.”

By EMMA CHILDS Contributing Writer

Food, water, shelter, caffeine– these are the four necessities to keep any college student functioning.

Caffeine is a needed kick for many and without it, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) students may become herds of useless zombies, confusedly marching around.

When it comes to studying in particular, coffee seems to be the only substance truly keeping students trudging along. While FCLC students have quick and easy access to spots like Argo Tea or the Ram Cafe, our Manhattan campus is conveniently surrounded by a plethora of spots to get your caffeine fix and find a cozy couch to study on. Here are a few spots Fordham students love to go to in order to sip their morning joe and get into the studying zone.

BESSIE RUBINSTEIN, FCLC ’20 “One of my favorites is Whoops Bake Shop in Brooklyn. The reason I like it so much is because it’s really cute. There’s a lot of neutral colors and flowers so it’s a very calming environment. It’s right in the heart of Williamsburg, so it’s pretty resi-

DREW HASTE, FCLC ’20 “I go to The Bean downtown on 12th because it’s very small and cute.

They have really good coffee and a very calming atmosphere, so it’s perfect to study and do work. It’s very cozy and not too big of a travel downtown so I love it for studying.”

JULIET ALTMANN/THE OBSERVER

Blue Bottle Coffee, a Fordham favorite, offers quality coffee and an ideal studying environment.

dential and is the perfect spot to go to if I really want to just focus on my work. It’s the perfect change in scenery for me whenever I need to study because it’s far away enough where I have no choice but to do the work I

set out to do. And, their macarons are absolutely yummy which is an added bonus.”

OLIVIA L aBARGE, FCLC ’19 “FIKA on 55th is my go-to for

studying because they have lots of natural light and table space. Plus, they have a great terrace that’s perfect for warm days. Sometimes on Saturdays, my friends and I will meet up to do work at a coffee shop downtown

ERIKA PICHARDO-LEY, FCLC ’19 “Blue Bottle Coffee on 40th and 6th Ave is my favorite way to start the day. I like this place because it overlooks Bryant Park, prices are reasonable, they carry top-notch, quality coffee and the baristas actually know how to make a shot of espresso and an exquisite cappuccino. I’m a sucker for small coffee shops that offer you the best, and Blue Bottle does just that. It’s never disappointed me and it’s definitely one of the best coffees one can try.

Highly recommended.”

14

Features

January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Student Finds His Village Voice as Journalist

By RUBY BUDDEMEYER Features Editor

Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film “Almost Famous” tells the outlandish story of William Miller’s journey of covering a fictional rock-band’s tour for Rolling Stone. Due to his impressive skill, Miller’s 15-year-old stature is unbeknownst to his editor. The beloved story encompasses the dream that so many budding journalists aspire to achieve: to be recognized as a real, published writer. Much like Miller, Michael Appler, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, has carried out a similar narrative as a features writer for The Village Voice.

Appler met me at Rex Coffee.

Laughing, he shared that the interview seat is a new territory for him.

While he may be more comfortable conducting interviews himself, he eloquently detailed his relationship with The Village Voice to me. Appler laughed, “I don’t think The Voice has yet figured out that I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Appler’s journey to The Village Voice began in August 2016 at a cafe in Greenwich Village, where he happened to sit next to a woman who would serve as a pivotal character in his life. “She had a pony tail that jutted out… she was wearing leg warmers, this cardigan that was way way too small, and her laptop was just covered in Bernie Sanders [stickers],” he explained, “I was like, ‘I don’t know who this lady is, but I just have to interact with her.’” Appler soon discovered that she was creating a Bernie Sanders themed musical. “I can’t understate the irony of it all, because they are these people from Park Slope who are these extreme, leftist, progressive, sort of disconnectedfrom-the-world ’Bernie or Bust’ people, who wrote this musical for their idol, [and] rehearsed it in this $3 million brownstone.”

Fast-forward to November and Appler is tasked with finding a story for his first person journalism course with Professor Luisita Torregrosa, and the amusing woman from the cafe immediately came to his mind. “I was like, ‘I might see if this ridiculous thing that this woman told me about ever came to fruition,” and Appler reached out. After she agreed, Appler began crafting the story, conducting interviews with the woman, attending a rehearsal, and chatting with the actors. Appler was proud of his work and began considering the possibility of publishing it. He thought, “Well this sort of matches The Voice’s sensibility, my writing fits well with

JESSE CARLUCCI/THE OBSERVER

FCLC Sophomore Michael Appler displays his cover story on The Village Voice.

“ That’s sort of like a strategy— which is don’t tell them who you are, just show them your writing, and if they like your writing, then who cares who you are.”

–

them,” and he cold-emailed the editor without any personal details or information. To Appler’s excitement

MICHAEL APPLER , FCLC ’19

the editor responded, expressing strong interest in his story. There was a caveat, however, as the story

was missing the climax: the performance itself, which was to set to be performed one time only in Burlington, Vermont. “I said ‘OK, fine’ and I figured that was it… it was nice being able to at least talk with them, and I sort of moved on.”

“Then, two or three days later, I got a call from my now editor.” After much deliberation, The Village Voice had decided they wanted the story.

“He said, ‘OK, we’re going to send you to Burlington. We already have the plane ticket [and] here’s your hotel reservation.” Just like that, Appler

was on his way to writing an in-depth feature for The Village Voice.

When asked why he chose to not disclose any personal information in his initial pitch, he said, “That’s sort of like a strategy—which is don’t tell them who you are, just show them your writing, and if they like your writing, then who cares who you are.” Appler’s confidence in his writing and bold presence on the page was enough for The Village Voice. He added, “They treated me like (and assumed that I was… and I guess I am now) a professional journalist.”

After already experiencing the delight of having his story picked up and of being flown to Burlington, Appler received news during the editing process that his piece had been chosen as the cover story. Appler quickly started learning the experience of a true journalist, gaining access to the lengthy, multi-faceted process of the print industry. “One thing you learn very quickly that’s really humbling is that… there is a lot that goes into publishing. There’s me writing, my editors editing, the layout people design the layout for the spread, there’s the artist who designs the artwork and there’s the copy desk,” he explained, “It’s not like I write something online and I click send and I close it… you are working in the business, which is really fun.” When Appler finally saw the end-result of his cover story, it was from an outsider’s perspective.

“It was like seeing it not as the person who wrote it, but as anybody else who would pick it up, because there was so much that I hadn’t seen.”

Appler will continue to write feature pieces for The Village Voice and he tells me his next story focuses on, as he calls it, the “creative class in Brooklyn.” He smiles, “No one is unemployed in Brooklyn, everyone has a project.” Additionally, Appler will spend the summer interning for Vice.

“This has been a pretty evolutionary semester for me. I knew that I wanted to write and that I wanted to be a journalist, but I didn’t know what that meant or how to do it really.” Appler credits much of his success to Professor Torregrosa, who challenged him to find and define his voice. “I did a lot more hands- on work with my writing than I had in years past… you will never like anything that you write if you’re invested in it. It’s very excruciating, but it’s fun. I sort of developed myself more as a journalist, just figuring out what that meant, enough so that I was clearly over confident enough to send an editor an email.” He added, “It was pretty ambitious, but it worked out I guess.”

Fordham Students Join the Women’s March on Washington WOMEN’S FROM PAGE 1

It also became clear throughout the march that Trump’s blatant sexist, racist and bigoted language was one of the main reasons for the resistance, and it would not be tolerated. “I marched because I had to,” Gillian Nelson, FCLC ’19, explained. “I have reached a point in my life where I refuse to believe that complacency is justifiable.”

However, this is not to say the march did not encounter backlash or resistance. Although no arrests were made at the march in Washington D.C. and the pro-Trump resistance was minimal, many liberal communities took issue with the reappearance of feminism that did not seem to incorporate the intersectional nature of these issues.

Nelson said, “I was taken aback by how white and privileged the space was.” She continued, “It was clear that many of the women marching in D.C. had the privilege to travel there from afar, not have to work that day and have the safety to express their ideas without fear.” Nelson went on to express concern that

ERIN O’FLYNN/THE OBSERVER

Fordham students joined the record-breaking number of protestors.

although these women showed up for the March on Washington, they may not necessarily have shown up

for other demonstrations of equal importance. “I was concerned that these women may not show up to

a Black Lives Matter protest,” she said, “or any other demonstration that doesn’t necessarily include a white feminist agenda.” Issues like these will require the understanding and promotion of equal rights on every level. While the march was an important message for Trump’s presidency, certain flaws that may need to be improved upon in the next demonstration were made evident.

What the future holds for American politics remains unclear.

What is obvious is that change will have to continue coming from the public, from a democracy that is willing and able to mobilize against a government that they cannot stand behind. When asked how he will continue to use this energy to promote change in the future, Alam said he plans to stay involved on a local level, working with politicians in New York and his home state of North Carolina. Nelson also hopes to create change within her community. “Sometimes we forget the injustices happening right in our very own backyard,” she said. “For

example, just recently, Fordham banned a student organization advocating for Justice in Palestine,” Nelson added. “This type of censorship follows the same troubling narrative of this election season in the sense that it includes the silencing [of] marginalized groups.”

While it is important that we continue to recognize the flaws within our democracy, both in this election season as well as the Women’s March on Washington, it is equally important that we do not discourage the population at large from advocating for what they believe in. The Women’s March brought out millions of people who refuse to accept Trump’s agenda.

In order to enact change in our government, it will be crucial that the public’s opinions continue to be known. Despite the complicated issues that became obvious for her at the march, Nelson noted, “I did find it incredibly beautiful to experience a public space filled with so many females in solidarity with one another. It is a feeling I will never forget.”

Sports & Health

Sports & Health Editor Mohdshobair Hussaini - mhussaini2@fordham.edu January 26, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Fordham Students Discuss NFL Playoffs

By ALEXANDER DIMISA Asst. Sports & Health Co-Editor

After a tumultuous regular season that saw the National Football League (NFL) face decreasing viewership, poor officiating, suspensions, injuries and other scandals, the 2016 season is nearing its final game, where the champions will be crowned. It will either be the number one seed from the American Football Conference (AFC), the New England Patriots, or the number two seed from the National Football Conference (NFC), the Atlanta Falcons who will be the champions of Super Bowl LI. The NFL playoffs are split into three rounds featuring the top six teams in each conference, and then the champion of each conference plays each other in the Super Bowl, which will take place in Houston this year.

The wild card round saw the demise of the bottom two seeds in both the NFC and AFC: Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders and the hometown New York Giants. Jon Oak, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, a passionate Giants fan, stated, “I was disappointed, but I am hopeful for the future, with the young players and coach that we have, we should be able to succeed for years to come.” Many other students on campus expressed similar feelings about the Giants, with overwhelming support being felt for the team that represents New York.

In the divisional round the Pittsburgh Steelers traveled to Kansas City, where they battled belowfreezing temperatures and the Chiefs, and were victorious. The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans, who had a chance to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. The Seattle Seahawks fell to the Atlanta Falcons, whose high-flying offense was too much for the Seahawks to handle on the road. The Green Bay Packers’ faithful supporters packed their hopes onto the leg of

KEITH ALLISON/FLICKR

The 2016 NFL season has culminated in the Super Bowl match up between the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons.

“ I was disappointed, but I’m hopeful for the future, with the young players and coach that we have, we should be able to succeed for years to come. ” –

their kicker, Mason Crosby, who made a game-winning field goal to down the number one seed Dallas Cowboys. Pete Haplan, FCLC ’17, a rare Kansas City fan in New York, said, “The Chiefs went out there and fought. We didn’t let [the Steelers] score a touchdown, but I have some very big questions about the team,

JON OAK, FCLC ‘18

especially at quarterback.” While he may have questioned the players in their loss, Marcus Lewis, FCLC ’20, was excited about his team, the Dallas Cowboys: “I am more than okay with how the playoffs went. I would’ve loved a win, but now Dak and Zeke have playoff experience, and that’s invaluable.” Quarterback

Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel (Zeke) Elliot are the two rookie sensations on the Cowboys who led them to the playoffs.

In the final round before the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh and New England faced off in the AFC, while the Packers and the Falcons faced off in the NFC. Neither game went well for the away teams, as both lost by more than 15 points. These games not only saw the end of the Steelers’ and Packers’ seasons, but also the Falcons’ stadium, the Georgia Dome, as they will be moving to a new stadium at the conclusion of the season. Katherine Tracy, FCLC ’18, a Packers fan, said the following on her team’s loss: “It’s disappointing to see them end on such a bad note, but they turned around what looked like a lost season, and did

excellent throughout.” Tate Miller (FCLC ’18), a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals, said the following on the Atlanta Falcons season: “The Falcons haven’t been to the Super Bowl since 1999, and have a chance to prove that they belong in the upper echelons of the league. I myself am a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it was frustrating to see the season fall apart in such a spectacular way, but many of the players improved throughout the course of the season.”

The NFL postseason brought students’ hopes of seeing a local team hoist the Lombardi Trophy dashed. However, plenty of students still have their hearts full of hope, and will have their eyes glued to the TV when the Falcons and Patriots face off on Feb. 5.

A New Trend Emerges in College Bowl Games

By ARTEMIS TSAGARIS Asst. Sports & Health Co-Editor

As the football season comes to an end, college football is sparking debate among fans, coaches and players. More and more players are starting to wonder if it’s worth playing in the bowl games which are scheduled at the end of the season. The games that they are electing not to play in will negatively affect their teams in the long run. Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey, running backs from Louisiana State University (LSU) and Stanford University, respectively, were both on the injury report. The reason listed was, “Lack of interest.”

Both Fournette and McCaffrey decided to sit out in anticipation of the National Football League (NFL) draft. Fournette led the pack by announcing his decision on Dec. 16, 2016. Three days later, McCaffrey tweeted that he would sit out as well.

A day after McCaffrey made his decision, Shock Linwood, a senior from Baylor University, elected not to play in the Cactus Bowl in order to focus on his draft preparation.

None of the players were willing to risk getting hurt before they could enter professional football. Just last year, Jaylon Smith, a linebacker from Notre Dame, was supposed to be a top five draft pick. However, in the Fiesta Bowl, he tore his ACL and MCL, and was picked up by the Dal-

TESSA VAN BERGEN/THE OBSERVER

There has been an increasing trend of college student athletes skipping College Bowl games.

las Cowboys in the second round. He was projected to make $20 million in a four year contract, but instead was given $6.4 million for the same amount of time.

There are many different opinions regarding whether players should sit out for the bowl games. Head football coach at Fordham University, Andrew Breiner, explained, “I think

players skipping what they view as less important bowls is bad for college football. That being said, everyone’s situation is different. If those players feel that the risk of injury outweighs finishing the season with their team, that is a personal decision.”

Some people feel that all the players who would normally play on a college football team should al

ways play in every game. They made a commitment to their team and to their school. Most times, the players’ schools give them a full scholarship in exchange for their participation in all of the games. Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys running back, tweeted, “All these young guys deciding to skip their bowl games. I would do anything to play one more time

with my brothers in that scarlet and gray”. However, he later amended his statement, saying that since Fournette and McCaffrey were injured, they had a right to sit out.

The bowl games are shown on national television. Many fans who go to the games are upset when they show up to the last game and see that their favorite player is not playing.

Many colleges make a lot of money off of their football programs. Texas University, the University of Tennessee, and LSU are the top three colleges that make the most money.

Colleges and fans are worried that if more and more stars sit out, watching second-string student athletes will lower ratings.

However, some people believe that it is up to the player to choose whether he should play in the bowl games or not. Their teammates and coaches understand their decision.

A scouting director for an NFL team anonymously stated that if they got hurt, it could change the rest of their lives. Jordan Meltzer, FCLC ’20, said, “It’s smart… when you’re thinking about your future, your health comes first. If you’re keeping your future in line for both the health and the money, it’s appropriate.”

The bowls that players are choosing to sit out in are not part of the regular season. If this becomes a trend, it raises the issue of how many more star players will be sitting out on bowl games in upcoming years.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER January 26, 2017

Sports & Health

Keeping the New Year’s Resolution

By MOHDSHOBAIR HUSSAINI Sports & Health Editor

“The key part to reaching a resolution—whether it’s weight loss or something specific, such as running a marathon—is for it to be something you absolutely desire and is achievable.” These are the words of Fordham University dietitian, Melanie Simeone, R.D., C.D.N. According to a 2017 poll conducted by the Statistic Brain Research Institute, 41 percent of Americans usually set a New Year’s resolution. Of this pool of resolution-makers, 32.4 percent reported a weight-related resolution. Fulfilling these resolutions can be problematic for students who may be occupied with their academics, in addition to a job or internship. This leaves little time for managing one’s eating habits and maintaining a consistent exercise schedule. As a consequence, these New Year’s resolutions tend to fail only a few weeks into the year.

For Fordham students, there have been quite a few obstacles for not being able to maintain healthy-eating resolutions throughout the year. One of these is the amount of healthy options on campus. Aramark’s national campaign, called “Healthy for Life,” focuses on spreading awareness regarding the importance of eating healthy. The menus created take into consideration the need for healthy options, and include many fresh fruits and vegetables. Simeone, in her role as University Dietitian and a proponent of this program, regularly hosts events at both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses. She stated, “I emphasize in my role on campus trying to reiterate to students the need to educate and spread awareness about healthy eating.”

Another reason often cited for

EMMA DIMARCO/THE OBSERVER

Students should start the new year with a resolution to live a healthier lifestyle by managing their diet.

broken resolutions is the lack of time.

Students can look to utilize the McMahon Gym or even use the stairs instead of the elevator in order to burn calories on a daily basis. Walking with fellow peers and classmates will further facilitate this by socializing on-the-go. Other students may not know where to start. This is where Simeone’s expertise and free service available to Fordham students becomes helpful. Students can schedule appointments by contacting the health center to work with a professional nutritional counselor and address individual concerns they may have regarding how to best achieve

their healthy-eating goals.

It’s important for students to set S.M.A.R.T. goals for themselves. This acronym stands for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

It maximizes one’s ability to reach a healthy goals. A specific goal helps guide students towards staying on track with meeting particular ambitions. “Regarding weight loss, a blanket statement such as wanting to lose weight is much more difficult to achieve than saying I have a dress I want to wear for this wedding,” Simeone said. The latter can help students set goals in increments in order to see different stages of progress. This

will further motivate students and provide a level of confidence to continue reaching their healthy-eating goals. Simeone added that students shouldn’t make such blanket statements because “[they] will feel overwhelmed by the long-term goal.”

With weight loss, it’s important to realize that numbers shouldn’t be the sole source of progress. Simeone pointed out that one’s weight can fluctuate up to five pounds in a day for a variety of reasons. Keeping track of one’s caloric intake is a better approach to have. By taking into account the number of calories one eats for breakfast, lunch and dinner,

it will become easier to track one’s eating and recognize what types of food to cut back on. For these particular food restrictions, it’s helpful to remember that certain indulgences every once in a while won’t hurt in the long run. “Food restriction creates food interest and can be toxic to one’s mindset when reaching a goal,” Simeone stated. By placing a limitation on certain food options, there is an even greater desire to then enjoy these particular foods.

Regarding snacks, it’s recommended to incorporate a combination of protein- and carbohydraterich foods. Such snacks should, however, be kept within a range of 150–250 calories, depending on the person’s gender and physical activity.

It is helpful to seek nutritional counseling in this case for a more in-depth and personal assessment. Simeone emphasized this, saying, “If I can meet with [students] and get a feel for what they’re eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner, I can provide some parameters for [them] to work with.”

This raises the question of whether the student who isn’t overweight and is within a proper body mass index (BMI) should still then decide to establish better eating habits. It is fundamental for students to think long-term by recognizing that vital organs rely on healthy-eating. Certain foods can help prevent future diagnoses of cancer, diabetes or heart disease.

It’s never too late for students to begin a track towards healthy-eating and wellness. Simeone explained, “For a lot of students, being at college is really when you develop your eating habits.” Apart from whatever stage of dieting a student is in, Simeone is “here to help guide students through the process.”

Want to get more involved?

Join The Observer!

Email us at fordhamobserver@ gmaiil.com START YOUR NEXT CHAPTER AT SUCCESSCAREERS.ORG Join our Information Session on February 9th, 5:00-6:00pm For more information, visit the event tab on Career Link and RSVP by Feb 8th.

Accepting resumes now!

16