Observer 2016 2017 issue 6

Observer the

APRIL 13, 2017 VOLUME XXXVIII, ISSUE 6

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It’s On Us Hosts Regional Summit

By ELIZABETH LANDRY News Co-Editor

Following a Week of Action, the Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) It’s On Us (IOU) Coalition hosted a regional summit for the eponymous national organization on Saturday, April 8. A series of student-led events focused on educating the community about sexual violence and its prevention ranged in topic from comedy to toxic masculinity and even witchcraft.

The Week of Action included events from Monday to Friday, which were often facilitated by members of other clubs on campus.

“Punching Up (How to Write Inclusive Comedy)” was a panel discussion which featured Claire Holmes, FCLC ’19 and president-elect of the Feminist Alliance, Chandler Dean, FCLC ’18 and president of campus comedy club Stove’s Cabin Crew, Stove’s members Cristina Pardo, FCLC ’19 and Jason Irukulapati, FCLC ’18, and as moderator, Shannon Constantine, FCLC ’19 and Vice President of Stove’s. They discussed how offensive jokes are often developed and how to steer away from that, as well as how to talk about sensitive subjects in nonoffensive ways in general.

“I think that when you hear the phrase ‘just a joke,’ it’s generally used immediately after a joke has not worked,” Dean said. “Typically it’s after someone’s been hurt. If you have to say it’s just a joke you probably didn’t construct it well in the first place… If they’re part of a marginalized group and you’re making fun of them using a stereotype, that is not only hacky but is wrong and perpetuates whatever ill-conceived ideas society has about those groups.”

Of friends who make offensive jokes, the panelists agreed that a blunt rejection is the best way to expose the joker’s hurtful thinking. “Just keep asking them why it’s see IT’S ON US pg. 2

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA / THE OBSERVER

Members of Fordham Faculty United chanted in support of adjunct faculty unionization.

Adjunct Union Push Goes Public “ The NLRB has no... jurisdiction over

By ELIZABETH LANDRY News Co-Editor

Unofficial organization Fordham Faculty United (FFU) have recently gone through the process of applying to form a union for non-tenure track faculty, and the Fordham administration’s rebuttal was uncompromising. After weeks of statements and correspondence, FFU continues to organize activism despite the fact that the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has withdrawn their application to represent the adjuncts.

A major argument by FFU is that the school has grown increasingly dependent on non-tenure track faculty, who do not receive benefits of any sort. According to the Fordham Ram, “As of 2016, for a standard undergraduate course meeting for three hours per week, Fordham University is said to have a minimum pay of $3,900. Depending on the

Fordham University as a self-identified religious university.”

– FORDHAM STATEMENT TO NLRB

professor’s experience and credentials, that number can reach $5,000 per course.”

This is not an unusual pay for adjuncts, as according to the CUPAHR 2017 Faculty and Department Heads in Higher Education Salary Survey adjunct faculty are typically paid $1,000 per credit hour. This report showed that on average, there are three adjunct faculty members for every four full-time faculty members. However, at Fordham adjuncts and contingent faculty make up a majority, and FFU argues that

the the likelihood of being financially secure as an adjunct is close to nil.

On March 9, an FFU group with student solidarity marched to Fordham President Fr. Joseph M. McShane, S.J.’s office to inform him of their intent to unionize, though he declined to meet. Over the last few weeks, developments have rolled quickly toward public conflict between FFU and the Fordham administration. This article cites numerous emails which were provided by an adjunct professor and member of FFU on condition of anonymity.

Student Groups Shut Down Chick-Fil-A Proposal

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor For now, members of the Fordham community will not “Eat Mor Chikin.” Following push back from clubs and independent students over LGBTQ issues and menu offerings, the university has opted to decline an Aramark proposal to install a ChickFil-A in the Ram Cafe.

The proposal, initially discussed in early March, included renovating the grill area, or Urban Kitchen, to house a Chick-Fil-A. The hot entree station, or Cloverleaf, would have remained in place.

The student groups that were consulted in responding to the proposal were the United Student Government (USG), the Commuter Students Association (CSA), the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the Rainbow

Alliance.

The Rainbow Alliance was consulted in the decision-making process because of a controversy regarding Chick-Fil-A’s stance on LGBTQ issues that has been stirred up to varying degrees since 2012. That year, the family that owns the fast food chain made public statements against marriage equality, a stance backed up by several million dollars in donations they have made over the years to organizations working actively against same-sex marriage. When the chain opened their first location in New York in 2015, they faced protests on the issue.

Representatives from Chick-Fil-A offered to collaboratively run unspecified programming with the Rainbow Alliance in conjunction with the rollout of a venue on campus. Due to continued concerns regarding this

issue, however, the Rainbow Alliance unanimously voted against the proposal. Several students independently reached out to USG to voice their concerns, according to thenUSG president Leighton Magoon, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17.

“If they want to bring in ChickFil-A, they can bring in Chick-FilA,” Renata Francesco, FCLC ’19 and Rainbow Alliance Co-President, said.

“But we’re not going to partner with an institution, a corporation that has so strongly supported other institutions that work to destabilize and demolish movements for queer equity.”

When resistance to the proposal started to gain steam, the USG executive board began to reconsider if USG was okay with having a ChickFil-A on campus, said Magoon. Over spring break, they were informed

that the university had declined the proposal and that Aramark would no longer pursue the installation of a Chick-Fil-A. Francesco said that she was surprised about this decision, because of “Fordham’s recent handling of major queer issues on campus, most notably the hesitation and denial to create trans-inclusive spaces.” The Observer reported on issues facing trans students on campus in a recent issue.

“Part of me is hopeful that they’ll start taking this attitude of listening to queer students and queer voices, because there are so many on this campus and just in life,” she said. “I really do hope this is a step, as opposed to just a final ‘Oh we’ll do this, we’ll give them that,’ as a way to placate us. But we were very happy with see CHICK-FIL-A pg. 2

THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

On March 20, FFU filed a petition to hold a union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In an email within FFU, leadership wrote, “This is a big step towards joining our fellow contingent colleagues at the University of Chicago, Duke University, Georgetown and nearly 40 other schools who have come together under [SEIU Local 200United] over the past few years.”

The Georgetown case was a particularly bitter two-year struggle of organizing and bargaining that concluded in September 2014. Most Fordham peer institutions have seen faculty win NLRB cases in the last year or two, including Loyola University, Boston University and George Washington University.

The public letter of support on March 20 argued, “For contingent see ADJUNCTS pg. 2

OPINIONS

Vagina Monologues The controversial play returns Page 5 ARTS & CULTURE

ARS Nova Students present original research

Page 7 FEATURES

Commuter Life A local student’s story

Page 11 SPORTS & HEALTH

Into the NBA Chartouny declares for draft

Page 15

2

News

April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

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IOU Expands Reach with Regional Summit IT’S ON US FROM PAGE 2

funny and eventually they’re going to have to explain,” Holmes said. “‘Just keep asking why… and eventually either you’re going to get it like ‘oh, this is a really funny joke,’ or they’ll have to realize it’s something problematic.”

Wednesday’s event was entitled “Potions, Sigils and Love.” “Learn about the history of witchcraft and how its epicenter is full of powerful womxn,” the Facebook page advertised. “Even if you know nothing, practice another religion, or practice this spirituality yourself, you are welcome to come make some self healing/loving/reassuring sigils.”

On Saturday, approximately 45 IOU members from colleges like Syracuse University, Hunter College and Sarah Lawrence College came to campus for the It’s On Us Northeast Summit 2017, which featured a full day of talks by students and faculty as well as officials from the city. Guest speakers included Domestic Violence Bureau Chief of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office Michelle Kaminsky and West Point Academy Sexual Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program Manager Samantha Ross, as well as IOU Deputy Director Alex Zeitz-Moskin.

Throughout the day, the group participated in panels and discussions on topics like digital organizing, sensitive term defining and utilizing New York City resources.

IOU Coalition heads from the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill chapters, Lexi McMenamin and Monica Sobrin, led the group from one session into the next, as well as introduced more campus leaders like Northeast Regional IOU Leader Samantha Skaller, Syracuse University ’17.

ELIZABETH LANDRY / THE OBSERVER

Hunter Blas, FCLC ’17, moderated a panel on toxic masculinity in an afternoon breakout session.

Associate Professor of History Dr. Kirsten Swinth spoke on the evolution of terms’ definitions, such as those of sexual assault, abuse and harassment, and hostile environments. She also spoke on the history of anti-rape and anti-sexual harassment movements in the United States, touching on the National Association of Colored Women, the Anti-Mashers campaign and the resurgence of the women’s movement in the 1970s. More recent developments like Title IX battles, Take Back the Night and “slut walks” were also discussed.

“Although of course there’s a lot of policy that needs to be changed, there needs to be a change in culture,” said Zeitz-Moskin. The group asked sensitive questions for discussion such as “How do you create safe spaces in a potentially triggering environment?” and “How do you define nontraditional allies in order to reach out to them?”

The afternoon breakout panel on toxic masculinity featured Dr. Margaret Schwartz of the communications and media studies department, United Student Government (USG) President Leighton Magoon,

FCLC ’17 and President Pro Tempore Yint Hmu, FCLC ’17, as well as Martin Nunez-Bonilla, FCLC ’18.

Hmu described his discovery of the masculine conditioning young men are pressured into, and NunezBonilla related the struggle of bringing a “machismo”-influenced mentality into a majority-women college campus. Magoon described struggling to unpack his position as USG President, saying “I fit that societal stereotype of what a president, especially in the United States, is supposed to be...but [being student body president] doesn’t give you a

token to take up space in a room or take an issue and make that my prerogative.” He also recommended that attendees watch “The Mask You Live In,” a film on toxic masculinity. The film had been scheduled as a Week of Action screening before a mix-up resulted in the club failing to get showing rights to the film in time.

Schwartz said that even as a tenured professional, she has had experiences of discrimination. “I have... had encounters with men that were very triggering and very frightening for me,” she disclosed. “Where men closed doors and spoke to me like I was a child, and even raised their voices. And the fact that when I attempted to try to institutionally cope with that situation… it was surprising to me how silencing the experience was.”

Other sessions focused on overarching themes drawn on a compass for considering goals on campus community and city levels. The axes of “support” and “power” balanced on a field labeled “most” and “least” influential for the action’s objective, and “strongly support” and “strongly oppose” the action’s objective. Each individual brought their leadership experience to the fore and offered anecdotes from their campuses’ organizing histories.

The day closed out with an open forum for discussion and meditation on the day’s lessons, as well as what the students would bring back to their campuses. Although a number of visiting students had had to leave early to catch transportation, several Fordham club members stayed behind to continue the conversation after the last session ended.

Additional reporting by Staff Writer, Colin Sheeley.

Chick-Fil-A Proposal Raised Concerns Over LGBTQ Rights CHICK-FIL-A FROM PAGE 1

the decision.”

Students also had concerns with Chick-Fil-A’s menu options, according to Dining Services Contract Liaison Deming Yaun.

“Certainly, there were some menu concerns as it related to special diets that Chick-Fil-A did not have a lot to

offer for,” Yaun said. “They didn’t have a lot to address special diets.”

Additionally, the proposal process revealed that any instillation of a national chain in the Ram Cafe would also necessitate a total revamp of the hot entree Cloverleaf station.

“What came out was that Cloverleaf cannot stand on it own against a national brand really of any kind,”

Yaun said. “So we were off replacing one format, but it’s really got to be a comprehensive change involving the whole line.”

Regarding the concerns that students had, Yaun stated that “if we were to try again, we would make sure that everyone that was in the decision process heard the presentations” that the representatives from Chick-Fil-A

gave during the proposal process. As of now, there are no alternative plans being discussed to install a national chain in the Ram Cafe in light of the decision on the proposal.

While the leaders of the Rainbow Alliance see the rejection of Chick-FilA as a step in the right direction, they say that it is only a “tiny step.”

“This is something that I don’t

want to congratulate Fordham for, like ‘Oh my god, I’m so glad that you can see this. You’re such a good person,’” said Rainbow Alliance co-president Roberta Munoz. “I don’t want to pat them on the back. You can’t say ‘Oh you’re such a great ally’ when there’s still so many issues with our queer students. Like great, love it, but keep going.”

Faculty United Continues To Push for Union ADJUNCT FROM PAGE 1

faculty, Fordham’s flexible hiring practices have led to unstable and inconsistent employment, a lack of benefits and financial insecurity. As a result, we have less time to prepare our courses, less time and resources to focus on students’ needs, and we’re prevented from playing a stronger role in our departments.” It also cited the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ definition of the rights of workers, which includes “the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages” and “to the organization and joining of unions.”

On March 22, the department of modern languages and literatures and the department of philosophy issued statements of solidarity with FFU’s push to unionize. “We join the adjunct faculty here and at other Jesuit colleges and universities to call for a just employment policy in conformity with a long history of Catholic social teaching that recognizes the right of workers to organize and form unions without employer interference or retaliation in order to negotiate fair and equitable wages and a safe and just work environment,” wrote philosophy department Chair John Drummond.

FFU received their answer when,

ELIZABETH LANDRY / THE OBSERVER

Lecturer Nate Sloan spoke in support of the union petition.

on March 30, the Fordham administration sent their statement of position unequivocally reading that, “The NLRB has no, and/or should refrain from asserting, jurisdiction over Fordham University as a self-identified religious university,” and that “If the Regional Director directs an election and overrules the Employer’s arguments, only those who should be included within the unit are: nontenure track, non-clinical, non-temporary or casual, part-time faculty who do not provide services in the

Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University School of Law, or who do not provide service in the areas of Graduate Education and/or Graduate Social Service. Those eligible to vote would be those who held an appointment in both the Spring 2017 and Fall 2016, and who taught two (2) courses per semester.”

It cited the Pacific Lutheran University NLRB 2015 decision, calling the ruling incorrect, in which “the NLRB rejected the school’s claims that its full-time, non-tenure track

faculty members are managerial employees and thus are not entitled to collective bargaining,” according to InsideHigherEd. The question of the role of religious education was also a key point.

The Pacific Lutheran decision set the standard that a religious college would need to show that “it holds out the petitioned-for faculty members as performing a religious function” in order to prevent its faculty from unionizing. “[The listed-as-inapplicable] faculty share an overwhelming community of interest with the petitioned-for unit – to wit, the provision of a Jesuit Catholic education to students pursuing higher learning,” the administration statement read.

“The strength of this community of interest in imparting a Jesuit Catholic education to Fordham’s students is further evidence of the impropriety of the NLRB exerting state power over Fordham’s religious freedoms.”

In reaction to the position, an email within FFU on March 30 called the administration’s position “shameful and hypocritical.” “[Fordham’s] actions have indicated that going through the NLRB process would likely mean a lengthy and uncertain legal battle,” the email said. “Instead of being caught up in a legal fight, we believe it is in our best interest to

go another route and begin a robust public campaign to recognize our union and win a real voice.”

On April 3, the SEIU voluntarily withdrew their petition to represent Fordham faculty, and an order for a petition for decertification was filed, which institutes a vote to dissolve the intended union.

Two days later, an email to the Fordham community disseminated

by FFU members launched the new public campaign. “We are appalled that Father McShane and the Fordham administration would so flagrantly disregard Jesuit values of economic justice and equality and block contingent faculty in their efforts to attain a basic standard of living,” it said.

At the rally FFU held on April 8 at Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC), speakers showed they intended to appeal the decision with another application to unionize, but emphasized their need for strong community advocacy. “By the time the case goes to the court system, the National Labor Relations Board will be stacked with reactionary judges appointed

by Fordham’s new favorite alumnus, Donald J. Trump,” lamented adjunct professor Alessandro King of Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) in front of a crowd.

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THE OBSERVER April 13, 2017

News

3

F.F.U., S.A.G.E.S. Clash with Spring Preview

By ELIZABETH LANDRY News Co-Editor

The April 8 Spring Preview, a longstanding tradition of showcasing what Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) has to offer, became a magnet for activism this year as two unofficial groups vied for leverage against the administration. While members of Students for Sex and Gender Equity and Safety Coalition (S.A.G.E.S.) passed out flyers on the sidewalk in front of Lowenstein Hall, Fordham Faculty United (FFU) representatives from all Fordham campuses rallied in support of adjunct and contingent faculty’s right to unionize.

Following a strong reaction from Fordham’s legal representation against their Service Employees International Union (SEIU) petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), FFU decided to withdraw the petition on April 3 in favor of a public campaign for community support.

From around 9 a.m., members and supporters of FFU occupied the front of Lowenstein, handing out flyers and displaying bright posters reading, “Give Faculty a Vote,” “Low Pay is Not the Jesuit Way” and “Faculty Working Conditions Student Learning Conditions,” among others. As the crowd grew, drawn by a widely circulated Facebook event, Fordham Public Safety officers asked them to move to the other side of the stairs to the sidewalk.

They moved without complaint, but soon the rally had grown to more than 60 people. Many were students, but there were many faculty members as well.

At the same time, members of S.A.G.E.S. took up the vacated corner of the sidewalk, handing infor-

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA / THE OBSERVER

Prospective commuter students and parents listen to Fordham Faculty United protesters at Spring Preview.

mational flyers to the prospective students heading inside for Spring Preview. “We’ve been planning this since last semester,” one said. The flyers told readers Fordham’s policies regarding the availability of contraceptives and the fact that the residence halls have gendered housing, among other topics. They also included information about Theatre Director Matthew Maguire’s February settlement of a $20,000 sexual discrimination suit, filed by a former assistant professor, and some sensational details of the sexual misconduct claims against him.

The S.A.G.E.S. students did not attract much attention from Pub-

lic Safety officers, as the rally became louder and more prominent throughout the morning.

“It’s truly baffling that at such a polarized time in our nation’s history, the administration would side with an anti-education, anti-labor fervor, that has paralyzed the country’s highest offices,” Alessandro King, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) English adjunct instructor, said.

“My position at Fordham is one of complete precarity where any day I could no longer be here,” Nate Sloan, adjunct music professor, said.

English and Communications

and Media Studies professor Chris Brandt said, “I try to teach my students about justice, at the same time knowing my colleagues and I are being paid wages that cannot possibly support someone who lives in New York City.” He continued, “We cannot give you students the kind of individual attention which you all deserve, given the enormous tuition and fees that you pay.”

Compared against figures from the CUPA-HR 2017 salary survey, Fordham’s typical payment to adjuncts of $3,900 to $5,000 per course with a two-course cap is nationally average. However, FFU argues that the high cost of living in

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New York City makes it unreasonable for adjuncts.

Rally organizers led the group through the front doors of the school with a banner saying “McShame Give Faculty A Voice” despite a Public Safety officer spreading his arms wide and saying loudly, “You can’t go in there.” Entering the Atrium, the group chanted in front of a room full of prospective commuter students and their families having brunch with student representatives.

Conversation stopped while organizers spoke. They chanted: “Father McShane, you can’t hide / We can see your greedy side,” while any attempt to derail the demonstration was blocked by the sheer volume of protesters. Parents at the tables looked askance and asked their student representatives for an explanation with generally displeased looks on their faces.

Once the speakers finished, they turned and exited through the emergency door, setting off the alarm for the next few minutes. A smattering of claps followed them.

The demonstrators filed through the door and returned to the front of the school. Just moments after the rally disbanded, some groups still milling around, a New York Police Department vehicle arrived to confer with Public Safety. They left after getting a look at the dwindling crowd.

On the rally, Assistant Vice President for Communications Bob Howe said via email, “The administration was surprised by the demonstration that took place ... because the union (SEIU) had voluntarily withdrawn its petition to represent our adjuncts. We are not aware of the reasons behind their decision to withdraw their petition.”

Opinions

Opinions Editor John McCullough - jmcculloughiii@fordham.edu

STAFF EDITORIAL

the

A DISSERVICE TO OUR ADJUNCTS IS A DISSERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS

I

t is no secret that pay, benefits and working conditions in academia for adjunct faculty are less than ideal, and Fordham is no exception. Adjunct and contingent faculty have lobbied for over a year to secure better wages and the right to unionize, but the administration remains unmoved and unwilling to meet these demands.

Although the salaries of the university’s adjuncts are comparable to peer institutions, this says far more about the inequity present in the higher education system than about the fairness of the Fordham administration. Per Service Employees International Union (SEIU), over one in five adjunct professors live below the poverty line. This is especially inexcusable when the number of adjuncts and contingent faculty working at Fordham is taken into account. Making up a sizable percentage of Fordham educators, as noted in our reporting this issue, these individuals are largely responsible for shaping and enriching the educational experiences of students. To refuse the request of adjuncts to unionize and

advocate for benefits is to deny the group of educators who currently form the backbone of the learning environment at Fordham the ability to advocate for themselves.

“Denying adjuncts the right to unionize goes against [Fordham’s] proud tradition of compassion and solidarity.”

The administration cites the Pacific Lutheran decision in order to claim that employees of religious institutions are not under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). To use the university’s status as a religious institution to block the unionization efforts, however, contradicts the legacy to which Fordham ties itself. During the time when Fordham was founded, Irish-American immigrants, the same community that was instrumental in the creation of Fordham, strug-

April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

gled severely with workers’ rights. In the decades following, other major figures such as Dorothy Day, after which the university’s service and justice center is named, fought further for the rights of workers. Denying adjuncts the right to unionize goes against this proud tradition of compassion and solidarity.

In addition, there is already precedent set by other Jesuit universities to recognize an adjunct union. Georgetown University, one of the premier Jesuit universities in the country, has recognized their adjunct faculties’ union, and according to Georgetown’s official statement, “the university and the adjunct union were able to reach their contract agreement while maintaining a high level of cooperation and respect on both sides of the bargaining table.”

In order to move forward and ensure the health of the Fordham community, adjuncts should be allowed to unionize and advocate for better salaries and benefits. If they are able to, the university will be truer to its mission and a better place to learn and grow.

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Opinions

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Why We Need To Talk About Vaginas KATHY YOO Asst. Opinions Co-Editor

The annual production of “The Vagina Monologues” introduces a wide range of experiences surrounding the vagina. Here at Fordham, women of diverse sexualities and races perform a series of monologues composed from interviews conducted by writer Eve Ensler in New York with over 200 women of different backgrounds, sexualities, races and ages.

As the official “The Vagina Monologues” site explains, the production and related events are created to “raise awareness about violence against women and girls as well as raise money (100 percent of the proceeds must be donated) for local beneficiaries that are working to end violence.” It celebrates women’s bodies and sexualities yet tells agonizing stories of sexual violence. It promotes body positivity by normalizing a word considered taboo and encourages the audience to reclaim the vagina by introducing a wide range of ways to refer to the body part: coochie snorcher, punani, monkey box, a Schmende in the Bronx, mushmellow and many more.

Since the original production as an off-broadway show in 1996, “The Vagina Monologues” has been heavily criticized for portraying violence and explicit sexual content.

Additionally, the original production lacked diverse perspectives, such as the experiences of trans women.

While the portrayal of women of diverse sexualities and races aims to empower all women regardless of their background, many are hesitant to attend a show featuring strong feminists unapologetically talking about their sexuality, their experiences and their genitalia.

After it was briefly banned, the production restarted at Fordham as an event unaffiliated with the university. The opposition began because of the monologue “The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could,” which involves underage drink-

JESSE CARLUCCI / THE OBSERVER

The annual production of “The Vagina Monologues” is an educational and empowering tradition.

ing and a sexual encounter with an older woman. After the continuous pressure from the university to erase the monologue completely, “The Vagina Monologues” supporters have argued that to erase any monologue in the production would not only deny the very existence of the experience, but would also violate Eve Ensler’s rights as a creator. Since then, Fordham administrators have continued to fight against “The Vagina Monologues” and its attempt to be recognized as a school production even after removing controversial lines in the monologue and its renewal as an non-university affiliated production.

In contrast to other productions that are put together by the theatre department and performed by theatre majors, “The Vagina Monologues” is often an entirely studentrun show with students of diverse background, interests and majors.

It is imperative that safe spaces and outlets like “The Vagina Monologues” are available for students as a means of expression and communication. These productions provide a space in which students can have honest dialogues without the fear of slut-shaming or any other forms of judgement. Fordham’s current lack of financial support for “The Vagina Monologues” and continued efforts

to end the production perpetuate censorship of women’s experiences, including the underreported number of sexual assault cases on campus.

Admittedly, “The Vagina Monologues” production at Fordham has progressed since its removal. The production previously took place in the student lounge, where both the audience and cast members could be easily distracted by activity outside the large windows and the noisy cafeteria right outside the door.

Currently, the show is performed in Franny’s Space, an intimate room in the visual arts wing.

While the title may suggest otherwise, “The Vagina Monologues” is

not only important for people with vaginas. The range of topics that the play explores—such as menstruation, sexual assault, love, pubic hair and childbirth—can impact and educate anyone regardless of their age, race, class, gender or sexuality.

Fordham, along with other colleges across the country, must ensure that these spaces exist as it is their responsibility to provide an inclusive and accepting space for all students.

Especially under the influence of a president who encourages grabbing women “by the p*ssy,” it’s imperative that Fordham makes the effort to ensure that women’s experiences are recognized.

Showing Solidarity with Non-Tenure Track Faculty SAPPHIRA LURIE & SOFIA DADAP Contributing Writers

For many contingent faculty at Fordham University, working conditions are shaky at best. They are constantly questioning whether they will be asked to return to teach again in the fall, or if their classes will be full enough to avoid cancellation (and the pay cut that comes along with cancellation). They often have to teach at other schools or work other jobs to make ends meet and contingent faculty are not afforded the job security they deserve.

This is the case for hundreds of professors at Fordham - over half of our faculty are not tenure track, as per business insider. Approximately 900 adjunct and contingent faculty in total will be impacted by this unionization effort.

Last week, Fordham’s contingent faculty officially filed for a union election with SEIU Local 200 (Service Employees International Union). For over a year now, the contingent faculty have been working with the union to win their right to unionize. Their efforts to organize, of course, do not happen in a vacuum. They are significant to the academic and political environment here at Fordham as well as the larger workers’ struggle for adequate working and living conditions. As Fordham students experience barriers to free speech in their activism, as Fordham’s admin-

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA / THE OBSERVER

Adjunct faculty have repeatedly lobbied the administration for the recognition of their right to unionize.

istration violated the university’s statutes during tenured faculty’s wage negotiations last year and as a national anti-union right to work bill has been proposed in the House of Representatives under the Trump administration, one cannot help but connect all these different struggles.

It has always been those with uncer-

tain employment who are cut off from collectives of other workers and are unable to express dissent.

A union would transform the lives of Fordham’s contingent professors and ideally alleviate widespread poverty among adjuncts, as 22 percent live below the poverty line.

Unionization could give these pro-

fessors much-needed job security and help them organize for other labor rights.

As Fordham students, we have a stake in our contingent faculty’s labor rights. A professor who cannot afford to maintain their own health or spends their time outside class at another job is not going to be

able to be dedicated as a professor.

This is especially true when they are without access to proper benefits, money for their bills and time for leisure and research. Poor conditions for teachers make for poor learning conditions for students.

But beyond that, it is our duty as “men and women for others” to take up the call by contingent professors to support their efforts to organize for their own rights. We recognize the positive impact unionization would have on students, but emphasize the moral and ethical necessity of supporting faculty rights as fundamental human rights. Because of that, we hope that Fordham’s administration will remain neutral as faculty move forward in the union election process.

We cannot stand by and watch as the people who help educate us, experience poverty. As members of Fordham Students United (FSU), a student group that actively supports unionization efforts at Fordham, we would like to call upon other students to get involved and support their professors. Reach out to your professors and offer them your support. Inform other students of their duty to support professors’ labor rights, both through informal conversations and by bringing it up during class. Get involved with FSU to help support our faculty. Our professors dedicate themselves to our education and to our growth as individuals, and it is our responsibility to stand up for them and support their right to a union.

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Opinions

April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

We Need to #Findourgirls ALEX SEYAD Asst. Opinions Co-Editor

In March, the D.C. Metro Police Department released over a dozen files of missing girls, all of whom were of African-American or Latinx descent, on it’s social media account.

The police department also reached out to the Justice Department and the FBI for assistance in finding these missing girls.

When many people began to notice the racial trend in these missing persons files, #findourgirls began trending online. Many question the efforts by D.C. police in devoting time, effort and resources to these missing persons cases and why the cases weren’t made public before.

Many have claimed that if these females were white, the scenario would be much different and would garner more public attention. The discussion of the racial factor forces the public to acknowledge the social reality that girls of color face everyday nationwide. Many of these girls are labeled as runaways or products of the domestic welfare system in which they voluntarily chose to leave public housing.

The alarming situation is that 501 cases of missing children have been reported in the first three months of 2017 in D.C. according to CNN, and it is assumed that this number will grow to the normal average of over 2,000 missing children cases in the area.

One missing child is too many, but what steps are taken to protect children, especially those from minority groups? The answer is disturbing. Many of these children

COURTESY OF STEPHEN MELKISETHIAN VIA FLICKR

The controversy of #FindOurGirls has ignited a new discussion on the ramifications of white privilege.

are considered to be problem cases.

They are presumed to be facing situations of abuse, either emotional or physical, and lack a proper support network. These girls can either be kids who ran away from a terrifying life or victims of abduction, but if there is no outcry to save or protect them, then we can expect to see many more cases.

In numerous reports by CNN and other outlets, residents reported a lack of amber alerts regarding any of these girls, but are able to cite

,

The Observer just won 3 NYPA Better Newspaper Contest awards: 2nd place general excellence, 3rd place editorial writing and 2nd place best website.

many cases where public attention was drawn to the disappearance of white children. I can recall many prime cases where all of the local media was dedicated to finding missing white children here in New York City, but I honestly struggle to recall cases that involves children of color.

This lack of public attention can only give more reason for predators to focus on children of color. If we are so willing to call out the social reasons why these missing girls may

be missing, then how do we justify standing around and letting these situations continue? If we can’t even devote public attention and energy to better the lives of children in minority communities, then they will continue to feel alone in this world and we will continue to see more of these cases.

Life may not be fair for anyone, but everyone deserves to have some form of a support group that can help make life easier. We need to restructure the public system so that it

pays attention to these children and makes strides to protect them.

Our world is plagued by abuse in all forms and these cases of missing girls exemplify what is wrong with our world. This article and others like it use numbers from the D.C. area, but imagine the horrifying number of unsolved cases for missing girls of color nationwide. We must make a concerted effort to devote ourselves to children who need our support now more than we could ever imagine.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editors Elena Ciotta - eciotta@fordham.edu Ana Fota - afota@fordham.edu Morgan Steward - msteward2@fordham.edu April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Fordham Students Excel at ARS Nova Showcase

By COURTNEY BROGLE Staff Writer

O

n April 6, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) presented its annual ARS Nova Arts and Research Showcase, where dozens of students displayed their research projects and artistic endeavors. Hosted on the ground floor of the Lowenstein building and wrapping around the entirety of the hallway, many students presented their work in different ways: on tri-boards, in an interpretive dance in the White Box Studio, through art in the Ildiko Butler Gallery and in Franny’s Space, or in engaging discussions at the Kehoe Theatre their creative projects.

As viewers walked around to the exciting sounds of the Fordham Jazz ensemble in the Lowenstein lobby, classmates presented their research, both completed or in its final stages, to inquisitive individuals. Students of all graduating classes were able to learn about many different senior theses and research projects and view various artistic endeavors from their talented classmates.

Anna Barbano, a senior at Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC), presented her piece, entitled Comparing Different Approaches to the Diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress

Disorder (PTSD). She analyzed the variances in criteria found in the fourth and fifth versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). She conducted studies with a local program for survivors of torture and found that the discrepancies in inclusivity to the diagnosis and identification of PTSD could be the result of expert opinion rather than adherence to the guidelines set forth in the DSM, as the DSM-IV provided a more broad definition and higher inclusivity rate than the DSM-5. She was inspired to look into this topic upon the uproar of clinicians to the changes in the manual and that the level of agreement among both publications may help in a better understanding of the impact of changes in diagnoses on a professional and self-reporting level.

“I am here [at the ARS Nova event] because of the Dean’s Research Grant, which allowed me to conduct my research,” Barbano explained.

“I applied for these grants and was awarded the funds to stay in New York and conduct this research, and part of that is to present at the ARS Nova Research Fair.”

Fiona Ball, FCLC ’17, presented

her research, titled Religiosity, Spirituality, and Well-Being in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Catholics, where she explored the correlation of wellbeing among LGBTQ members of the Catholic population. Ball hypothesized that there would be a difference between extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity due to identity integration among those who can reconcile their religion and sexuality versus those who are battling between inherently contradictory identities (for those in the LGBTQ community). While her analysis and final data count is not yet complete, her work with Dr. David Glenwick is the first of its kind to explore the relationship between sexuality and spirituality within the Catholic faith.

Ball said that the ARS Nova Exhibition “was easy [to apply for], I was doing this for my thesis and already had the abstract and I’m so interested in the psychological aspect of the impact on one’s well-being because both communities are such strong markers of defining who you are.”

Yint Hmu, FCLC ’17, also presented his senior thesis entitled Reflections on Sulla: A Conservative Purge of the Late Roman Republic c. 80s

B.C.E. He explored the reign of Lucuis Cornelius Sulla and found that with the increase of Italian territory, the growing wealth inequality within the economy was the biggest reason contributing to the downfall of this seemingly perfect government.

“As a Political Science and Classics double major, I’ve always been fascinated with the republic as a form of government,” Hmu said. “What better way to study a republic than Rome, the foundation of all of today’s forms of government, and I wanted to explore why this ideal government as I see it fell.”

Hmu expressed his appreciation for the opportunities available at Fordham’s ARS Nova event. “It’s a very unique opportunity, and I’m very glad that this exists for students presenting their senior theses or other research work, who would never be able to present their findings or gain experience presenting otherwise.”

I am happy to be here and I think it’s a good opportunity for students to be able to present their research because that’s something you can put on a resume and it sounds really impressive,” Ball agreed. “I think it’s a really good opportunity to show off

ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN/ THE OBSERVER

Students presented their research in subjects ranging from mental disorders to the Late Roman Republic.

their hard work and research.”

In addition to the presentations of senior theses, many other artistic endeavors were displayed, from design showcases to paintings to dance performances. Katherine Liu, FCLC ’19, presented a piece danced

by Sumire Ishage, Tori Hey and Sophia Parker. “It’s a narrative of a pilot who’s stranded on a new planet that’s been discovered in the solar system, and how she interacts with the environment that she’s placed in,” she explained. The interpretive dance piece was incredibly moving and widely well received by the audience.

The ARS Nova Arts and Research Showcase was a brilliant way to explore the creative and intelligent minds present within the Fordham community. While it was unfortunately a one-day event, there is no telling what research students will present at next year’s show.

It’s Time to Create Again for Campus MovieFest

By LINDSAY JORGENSEN Staff Writer

Campus MovieFest (CMF) the world’s largest student film festival, is coming to Fordham for its ninth year! Whether filmmaking is a passion or hobby of yours, or you have never picked up a camera in your life, CMF is the best event to learn how to create and perfect a movie. Plus, this entire experience is free, thanks to organizations like Seeker, Panasonic and Adobe.

“To give you an idea, we travel across the US giving students all the equipment they’ll need to make a movie in one week, all for free,” CMF marketing coordinator Julia Howard said. “At the end of the week, the students return the equipment, submit their films and watch the top movies screen at a huge red carpet finale.”

To participate in CMF, sign up at www.campusmoviefest.com/fordham and then show up to Launch

on April 18 from 12–5 p.m. in the McGinley Center at Fordham College at Rose Hill. At Launch, students will pick up their equipment and start shooting that week. Additionally, there will be an optional session where students can learn about the equipment, details of the event and the special categories of the competition. Tech support will provide students assistance throughout the week for how to shoot, edit and polish their film.

At the end of the week, students will return the equipment and submit their film. These films are then judged, and the top 16 will be screened at the CMF red carpet finale, which will be held on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Keating 1st Auditorium at Fordham College at Rose Hill.

CMF is not limited to the students who are interested in filmmaking.

Those who are movie-lovers or simply want to support their friends’ films should attend the red-carpet

ERIN O’FLYNN/THE OBSERVER

CMF Launch will be held on April 18 at the Rose Hill campus.

event, as there will be refreshments and delicious treats at the reception beforehand as well as the chance to win prizes as an audience member.

Audience members should make sure they convey which student’s film they are coming to see, because the filmmaker that brings the most

people to the finale will receive a free all-access badge to TERMINUS in Atlanta.

TERMINUS is the national competition where the top four movies from Fordham will move on to compete in.

New to CMF is a documentary category from the presenting sponsor, Seeker. This category offers $10,000 and a trip to the Cannes International Film Festival. These film submissions do not have to be completed during the one week CMF is on campus. Seeker submissions are open until May 1.

“Not to get a little cheesy, but CMF is an opportunity to get creative, learn something new, discover a passion and tell your story,” Howard said. “No matter what your experience level, you’re definitely going to have fun!”

If you are interested in creating for Campus MovieFest, be sure to attend Launch on April 18.

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Photo Feature

April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Feelings on the Current State Given the plethora of astounding news reports released daily, how do students and other members of the Fordham community feel about the country they live in? The Observer staff photographers went around campus asking members of the University to describe how they felt about the current state of America in just one word on a single sheet of paper. The identities of those photographed remain anonymous.

www.fordhamobserver.com

Photo Feature

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ASEAH KHAN, BROOKE PARRETT, GEORGE HORIHAN, JESSE CARLUCCI, EMMA DIMARCO, JILLIAN JAYMES, ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA, KATARINA MARSCCHHAUSEN, & ERIN O’FLYNN DESIGN BY KATIE MAURER

9

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER MARCH 30, 2017

Arts & Culture

10

Miriam Miller: Balancing School and the Stage

By JENNA BATTAGLIA Staff Writer

Miriam Miller is about to embark on her second spring season with the New York City Ballet. At age 19, Miller is already a breakout star with the company, having performed coveted roles such as Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the Lilac Fairy in “Sleeping Beauty.”

Miller joined the company as an apprentice in January 2016 and was performing principal roles within four months.

“I didn’t have time to process everything, but in the moment you just do it. You go day by day and you just get it done and enjoy it. Looking back on it now I can’t believe that that was even my life,” Miller explained. She continued, “It’s been amazing and I am so fortunate that we get to perform so much because it’s what I love to do and being on every night is pretty amazing.”

One of Miller’s favorite roles is Titania in George Balanchine’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Miller’s tall frame makes her perfect for the role of the fairy queen, who guides the company throughout the ballet. Miller also recently debuted as the Lilac Fairy in “Sleeping Beauty” and as the Siren in Balanchine’s “Prodigal Son.” She hopes to one day perform “Swan Lake” as Odette/ Odile (White Swan/Black Swan).

“It’s such a feat to be able to get through that entire ballet. Of White Swan and Black Swan, Black Swan would be more challenging for me and to be able to conquer that would be amazing. It’s something I look forward to in the future,” Miller said.

One of the most memorable moments for Miller over the past two years was performing George Balanchine’s “Agon” with principal dancer Amar Ramasar. “When I came off stage I was like ‘Oh my god! That’s the most fun I’ve ever had on stage.’ I felt like I was in a whole other world. The music is so intense, the lights are so bright, and

“ Its hard sometimes

to have a personal life outside the New York City Ballet, and that’s part of why I go to school. It gives me an outlet and helps me not be consumed in the ballet world.”

- MIRIAM MILLER

EMMA DIMARCO/THE OBSERVER

Miriam Miller, in addition to dancing professionally, is a student at Fordham College at Lincoln Center.

you feel so exposed because you’re only in a leotard. It’s so thrilling.”

This season, the New York City Ballet is hosting the Here/Now Festival, which celebrates choreographers and works of today. The company will be performing 43 ballets by 22 different choreographers, including world premieres by Justin Peck and Alexei Ratmansky. Miller is excited to be working with Christopher Wheeldon on “Mercurial Manoeuvers” and “After the Rain,”

and Ratmansky on “Namouna: A Grand Divertissement.” She will also be performing Peter Martin’s “Jeu de Cartes,” among other new works. The company rehearses for only four weeks before the six-week season.

On top of this heavy rehearsal and performance schedule, Miller finds the time to take classes at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus.

She is currently taking Introduction to Sociology as well as an online US

History course. Miller is interested in the social sciences, and believes that pursuing academic interests keeps her grounded.

“It’s hard sometimes to have a personal life outside the New York City Ballet and that’s part of why I go to school, because it gives me an outlet and I feel like it helps me focus on something else and not be consumed in the ballet world,” Miller explained. “I think everyone is capable of having school and being

in the company. It’s just prioritizing and managing time.”

One of the biggest challenges for Miller is also one of her favorite parts of being a ballet dancer: the struggle of always trying to be perfect.

“It’s great to always be perfecting yourself and finding things to work on. It’s challenging but it’s also a part of why we choose this job. It’s that challenge of being okay with where you stand and how you are and who you are and not looking at other people and comparing yourself and wanting to be just like them. You’re your own dancer and you have to work on your own things and try to be your better self,” Miller said.

Miller’s advice to aspiring dancers is simple. “Just be confident in yourself and your dancing, in who you are and how you like to dance.

Don’t let anyone force you to dance a way that you don’t want to. As long as you’re confident with who you are and you have that drive and are passionate about it, you’ll be able to get where you want to go. So never lose your confidence.”

Don’t miss New York City Ballet’s Spring Season, April 18–May 28 at the David H. Koch Theater.

Transgender Day of Visibility: “The Trans List” Screening

By SAM DEASSIS Asst. Arts& Culture Co-Editor

On March 31, many Fordham students acknowledged the holiday of “Transgender Day of Visibility,” promoting acceptance of all transgender individuals throughout the world. In celebration, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20 student Kiley Campbell decided to host a screening of “The Trans List,” an HBO documentary featuring several large figures in the transgender community.

The screening was held in the McKeon Residence Hall 16th floor movie lounge on March 30, where Campbell and her RA, Dillon Rebock FCLC ’18, co-hosted and encouraged McKeon residents to attend and stay afterwards for an informative discussion.

The documentary featured famous transgender figures like Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox, but also included some less well-known members of the trans community that had inspirational stories that otherwise may not have received recognition by the public.

“I think it’s a really good representation of voices you don’t necessarily hear,” Campbell said. “It’s so easy to get your perception of trans people from just Caitlyn Jenner… or Gigi Gorgeous… that’s what’s good about this. It’s different people in different walks of life that all have that common factor and experience… it’s that at a base level that’s so cool about it for me.”

One transgender man that had a particularly notable story that most of the public is probably not familiar

TIMOTHY GREENFIELD-SANDERS/COURTESY HBO

Acclaimed director and photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders shines a light on transgender Americans, several of whom share their insights on trans rights, the fight for equality, and their personal struggles and accomplishments.

with is Shane Ortega. Ortega was an Army Sergeant who was assigned the female sex at birth. He knew from a young age that he was not truly female, and continued to live his life as a man serving in the army. However, Ortega faced several obstacles to his trans identity throughout his years of service, as he technically was registered as a female and was often forced to wear female clothing that made him feel uncomfortable. This story of overcoming adversity and becoming a hero of the transgender community is something that this documentary

brought to light that may have otherwise stayed in the dark for many. “[Ortega]... I couldn’t even imagine. They made him wear a dress because he’s [technically] recognized as a woman? That’s crazy,” Rebock said.

“That’s not something that you think about. I couldn’t imagine someone making me go against what my gender identity is because that’s just what is says on a card. That’s mind blowing.”

Another strong transgender figure included in the documentary that many may not be familiar with is

Bamby Salcedo. Salcedo is the founder of the “TransLatin@ Coalition,” an organization that works to protect transgender Latin American immigrants in the United States. She made great changes for the trans community, which is grounds for her to be well recognized by the public.

However, as Campbell said earlier, society mostly just recognizes Trans people like Caitlyn Jenner and Gigi Gorgeous— those with enough money and a platform of their own.

But these individuals and their stories are not necessarily representa-

tive of the entire trans community and their experiences. That is why a documentary like “The Trans List” is so valuable, as it promoted an awareness of the lives and struggles transgender people have to go through, even today.

For Transgender Day of Visibility, it is important to take some time to think about the struggles faced by thousands of individuals all around the world about their gender identities. But all throughout the year, we should make it a point to bring this information sources like “The TransList” provide into our everyday lives, allowing for conscientiousness and possibility for change.

“So now after seeing this documentary and talking a little bit… where do we go from here?” Rebock asked. “What can we do as active and supportive members of our Fordham community, New York community, world community, to make change?”

This is an excellent question, and something we all need to keep in mind. Now that we’re aware of the issues faced by the transgender community, what can we do to make a difference?

The answer is found in our everyday lives. The more you keep an open mind and surround yourself with different people with different stories, the more able you should be to make a change. And with the celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility and events promoting it growing on the Fordham campus, we are slowly moving toward a more inclusive community for anyone who struggles with their gender identity.

Features

By ASHLEY RIVERA Contributing Writer

My commute home from school every day has become like clockwork.

Take the downtown 1 at 59th (the entrance adjacent to Starbucks so I can be toward the back of the train), get off at 42nd-Times Square right next to the staircase to the 7, and finally, take the 7 to 103rd street, exactly 18 stops. Sometimes, if I’m feeling lazy, I’ll take the Q23 bus after getting off the train, which leaves me two blocks away from my building. However, when I don’t feel like waiting 20 or so minutes for the bus to arrive, I choose to take the 20-minute jaunt home.

Over my almost three full years of being a commuter at Fordham Lincoln Center, I’ve developed a foolproof way of commuting. The 7 train route is for the days when I am feeling vivacious enough to make a 20-minute walk after a long day of going to class, working and attempting to socialize. Yet, as the years have gone by, these days occur less frequently, especially this semester as a junior taking 18 credits, writing for two campus publications and working as a tutor. Because of my changing schedule, I’ve come up with alternate routes to get me home without needing to walk much. One of them is taking the D from 59th to 7th ave, and catching the E, which runs express through Queens. I get off at 71st Ave Forest Hills and take the Q23.

About a week ago, I tried this route. I had to stay in school late that evening for a club meeting. I decided to grab dinner after with my boyfriend and go straight home to get my work done. I took the “E route,” and everything went smoothly. There was not a single delay on the train ride.

When I got off the train, I noticed that a line had already formed for the bus. I waited behind ten other anxious people on a blustery cold night.

I kept taking out my phone to check the Transit App, which tells me how far away the bus is. First it said nine minutes; that didn’t seem like too long of a wait. I had my earbuds in, blasting music as I waited. After three

The Wisdom of the Commuter

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER

The many commuter students of FCLC offer unique wisdom to the Fordham University community .

songs played and no bus showed up, I checked again. 11 minutes. I began to grow irritated and extremely cold. I waited another few minutes, checked again, and this time it said, 13 minutes. Now I was angry and so were the people waiting with me. The line had also grown a lot longer since I had gotten there. About thirty minutes passed until one guy at the front of the line noticed a small flier taped to a pole next to the bus stop that read, “The Q23 won’t be running today due to construction.” The crowd let out a large sigh in unison and proceeded to scatter. I was left standing there alone not knowing exactly what to do. It was rapidly approaching 10 pm, and while I could’ve walked if I really wanted to, I was not about to take the chance. I ended up flagging down a cab and paying nearly $12 that I did not really have to spend to get home that night.

My experience that night in Forest Hills made me think about how being a commuter has helped shape the person I have become. For every

student, college is a time in which you learn responsibility, become independent and try new things. Being a commuter student undoubtedly impacts these experiences, both negatively and positively.

According to Mariam Moustafa, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, “Commuting helps you grow up.” From the moment you walk on to campus as a commuter freshman, you are assigned a Commuter Freshmen Mentor (CFM), an upper classmen commuter whose job is to help integrate commuter freshmen into the Fordham community by hosting events and keeping students informed with what’s happening on campus. The most important responsibility a CFM might have, however, is to lend support to freshmen who may have a hard time adjusting to the perils of commuting and going to college.

While CFMs can be useful resources to help feel supported, there can be a lack of consistent communication. Alissa Rivera, FCLC ’20,

noted that it felt “like there wasn’t an open communication between the commuter students and certain CFMs … I think if you’re going to have a program like CFM, the CFMs have to be on top of their responsibilities.”

Rivera and Moustafa both agreed that commuting requires a certain mindset, which revolves around precise self discipline and time management skills. If Moustafa has an important class, test or club meeting, she makes sure to leave her house two hours earlier. “My whole day is ruined,” Mustafa said, referring to when she misses a bus or a train she’s supposed to catch. Rivera, in just her first year, has already developed a rigid schedule, for an 8:30 a.m. class, “I’m never out of the house later than 7 o’clock,” she said.

CFMs just may not be enough for commuter students. After freshman year, students no longer have a personal mentor and may lose the outlet they previously had to discuss their concerns as commuters. Taslima

Ruby Buddemeyer rbuddemeyer@fordham.

April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Kabir, FCLC ’18, for example, said that the route she takes to school now is less dangerous than the one she used to take. Many commuter students, including myself, take routes late at night that may not be safe.

Without that personal mentor, it may be hard finding an outlet to speak out about it.

Commuter students have special and unique wisdom to offer Fordham’s community. Many residents who came to Fordham left home and live on their own for the first time.

Commuters, on the other hand, grow up and learn responsibility in their own way while still living at home. The night when I had to take the cab demonstrated to me just how much I have grown as a person.

During freshman year, I would have been scared and lost. However, now I know how to approach situations where I may not know exactly know what to do. Commuting also helps students develop impeccable time management and problem-solving skills. Sometimes the train is going to go express when we don’t expect it to, or we might be late to our 8:30 a.m. class because of a track fire, but after four years of being a commuter in college, we will have learned how to alter our route at the last minute and face professors who do not tolerate lateness.

Even though Fordham does try to support commuter students, a majority of this support only occurs in freshman year, and even then it is flawed. It’s hard for a program like CFM and Commuter Student Association (CSA) to reach commuters like Rivera for example, who doesn’t have classes on Thursdays and isn’t “compelled” to come to school. Beyond freshman year, there is much less support for commuters, and that can change, especially in the age of technology and social media. Perhaps instead of having just mentors for commuter students, there could be an online forum, maybe on Facebook, where I could share my story of having to take a cab home after waiting for a bus for thirty minutes so I could feel the support I once felt way back as a freshman.

Fordham Students Take On Greek Independence Day

By ARTEMIS TSAGARIS Asst. Sports & Health Co-Editor

On Sunday, March 26, 2017, a group of Fordham University students gathered in the lobby of the Leon Lowenstein building. While the group was small and made up of different people in different years, they had come together to celebrate one thing: Greek Independence.

March 25 is very symbolic in the Greek culture. It serves as two things.

For one, it is a religious holiday, the Annunciation of the Theotokos. The other event was to celebrate the beginning of the War of Independence against the Turks. The Greeks had been under Ottoman oppression for about 400 years. On March 25, 1821, the Greeks finally pulled all their resources together to stage a proper revolt. They also had help from the British, Russians and French, who sent their naval fleets to assist in the Greeks’ revolution.

Every year, around Greek Independence Day, Greeks gather from all around and participate in the Greek Independence Day Parade that takes place on 5th Avenue.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop of America, Evzones (the Presidential Guards of Greece), political figures, Miss Greek Independence and more attend the parade. Students from Greece fly in to New York to march and share their Greek pride. Many churches

COURTESY OF ARTEMIS TSAGARIS

Fordham University students joined together on Sunday, March 26 to celebrate Greek Independence Day.

also participate, coming in on floats and having their youth groups— Greek Orthodox Youth of America (GOYA), Junior Orthodox Youth (JOY) and Holy Orthodox Primary Education (HOPE)—march in the parade, waving Greek and American flags.

Each year, the parade has three battalions that show when each

school or church should be marching. All colleges were placed near the end of the third (and final) battalion this year. Both Fordham campuses proudly marched together. Maria Kovoros, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17, member of the Hellenic Society at FCLC, stated, “As a Greek-American, one of the greatest events to attend all year is

the Independence Day Parade. Gathering to celebrate the freedom of Greece with hundreds of thousands of other people on 5th Avenue creates a sense of community that is unparalleled, and it makes me feel so unbelievably proud to celebrate my roots with so many Greeks and nonGreeks alike. Ζήτω η Ελλάς! (Long live Greece!)”

We met up with Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and other colleges at East 65th Street.

We marched about 20 blocks north and ended up near the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As we marched the 20 blocks to the end of the parade, Fordham started a few chants—aside from trying to shout, “Fordham” over all the other schools, we joined the other school is chanting “Ζήτω η Ελλάς!” and throwing in a few “Happy Greek Independence Day!” Ellie Garas, FCLC ‘18, said, “I’ve been going to the parade for a long time. The reason I keep coming back the next year is not only to celebrate my Greek culture, but to see everyone in the Greek community get together. It’s not often that you get to see your family members, friends and church members get together and celebrate something in common.”

However, the Greek Independence Day Parade is not something only Greeks can enjoy. People of all faiths and nationalities can come and watch the parade go by, cheering and taking videos of the festivities.

Garas continued, “Spectators come that aren’t Greek and it’s nice for them to be introduced to something in our culture.”

The Greek Independence Day Parade is a great way for Greeks to be proud of our heritage and to continue to keep our culture alive.

12

Features

April 13, 207 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

The International Experience of Fordham Students

By COSIMA BALLETTI-THOMAS Contributing Writer

“It was funny, people were shocked that I didn’t have more stuff, coming all the way from Hong Kong, but I felt like I had more than enough because everybody at the airport thought we were nuts! It was a wonderful first day,” recalled international student Lyra Tan, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, about her first day at Fordham. “It just affirmed to me why I chose Fordham and why it is the right school for me.”

Fordham University is home to a diverse group of scholars, all driven by their own passions and ambitions. From a purely demographic perspective, Fordham is also a destination for students from all corners of the earth. The international students of Fordham University are people that, for a variety of reasons, made the decision to travel across countries and continents for their education. While living alone in another country may initially and undoubtedly pose its obstacles, the international students of Fordham reflect from their experiences and successes a strong sense of resiliency and dedication.

Alvaro Tirado, FCLC ’20, is an international student, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Spain. Since his earliest years, Tirado has traveled back and forth between Puerto Rico and Spain for school, family and vacation. Tirado’s first time in New York was when he came to Fordham as a freshman to attend the Gabelli School of Business. When asked why he chose to move across the country for school, Tirado replied, “In Puerto Rico, business is probably the worst faculty on the island. So, I chose Ford-

JESSE CARLUCCI/THE OBSERVER

Fordham University is home to many international students, all of whom offer the community a wealth of interesting experiences.

ham Gabelli School because New York is one of the business capitals of the world, it just seemed like the best idea.” Tirado furthered, “I was raised Catholic, and Fordham is a school that embraces traditional Jesuit values.” While Tirado reflects on his first-year experience positively, he nevertheless maintained

that there have been some keen challenges, noting, “Even though I studied formal English in school, my friends and I always speak Spanish together. So thats been a bit of a struggle, but I’ve adapted a lot.” Tirado’s story indicates growth, and his confidence in his decision to attend Fordham suggests something

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significant about the school itself.

Erika Pichardo-Ley, FCLC ’19, is another international student at Fordham with an interesting story.

While born in Mexico, PichardoLey has always been educated in the United States; San Diego for K-12, and New York for college. Every day, she recalls, “I crossed the border to [get] to school. I knew that such an immense sacrifice had to be fully appreciated, so I decided to attend college in the U.S. because I knew I was better equipped to continue studying [here].” Pichardo-Ley applied to Fordham having no real expectations of actually moving to New York; however, after having visited the Lincoln Center campus, she had a change of heart, recalling, “I became fascinated by [Fordham].

Its small classes make it easier for professors to be personal, the small campus is incredibly comfortable, while being surrounded by the big city.” Today, Pichardo-Ley is double majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Business Administration.

But like Tirado, Pichardo-Ley’s experience as an international student has indeed posed its challenges. She expressed the disparities between her expectations and the ultimate realities of leaving home, having initially anticipated an easy move and ultimately finding the culture shock extremely difficult. While the transition proved undoubtedly strenuous, PichardoLey offers some insight for future international students regarding Global Transition and the impact it had on her. “Coming to school for Global Transition and having that opportunity to explore [Fordham] was one of the best parts of my first few months at school and helped in assimilating to college life.”

Nobonita Chowdhury is from Dhaka, Bangladesh and is a Bengali International Student at Fordham University Gabelli School of Business (GSBLC) ’20 where she studies Global Business. When asked why she chose Fordham, Chowdhury explained that she had always wanted to study abroad, but that Fordham’s financial aid award as well as its prestigious business programs were the leading factors in her decision. Chowdhury expresses deep gratitude for the opportunities and academic environment here at Fordham, saying, “I feel like I’m blessed to be exposed to a more diverse environment at a very young

age as opposed to my peers back in Bangladesh. Also, learning to adjust in a foreign land thousands of miles away from home is in itself a unique experience.”

“You know that feeling when you step into somewhere and everything just falls into place? I felt that at Fordham.” Lyra Tan, FCLC ’20,

“ You know that

feeling when you step into somewhere and everything just falls into place? I felt that at Fordham.”

LYRA TAN, FCLC ’20.

is a half-Filipino and half-Chinese student who was born and raised in Hong Kong. She is a Communications major and Theater minor with a concentration in Film and Television. Reflecting on her first impression of Fordham, Tan recalls, “[I first visited] during Chinese New Year. I was able to see a lot of the action [and] to meet a lot of students who were able to share their experiences with me, and I really loved the campus and the feeling that I got.”

When asked “Why Fordham?” Tan recalls a feeling of belonging when she first visited the Fordham Lincoln Center campus, noting, “New York City was everything I wanted.”

In addition to the city itself, Tan also mentions the close proximity to Broadway, the welcoming, tightknit environment of Fordham and its students, and the suitable program all as major pull factors. Tan gathers, “Everything just pointed to Fordham, it was exactly what I was looking for.” She does, however, mention some of the difficulties of being an international student, such as the distance, homesickness, limitations of being on a Green Card and so on. Nonetheless, Tan concludes, “I don’t regret leaving home to go to college. Sure, there will always be struggles, but at the end of the day, I’m really happy with my choice. Fordham is an amazing school, and I’m so proud to be a part of the ‘Ramily.’”

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER April 13, 2017

Features

13

Fordham Students Rate Food Vendors

By ARTEMIS TSAGARIS Asst. Sports & Health Co-Editor

In the heart of New York City, finding a good, healthy and budgetfriendly place to eat shouldn’t be difficult. However, when college students are looking for a bite to eat around campus, things can become a bit tricky. While it seems that healthy options on campus may be limited, Fordham offers a number of food vendors that have nutritious options. Fordham Campus Dining offers several locations, such as the Community Dining Hall, Ram Café, Argo Tea and BonMi, that, according to students, all have healthy options.

The Community Dining Hall is located on the ground floor of McKeon Hall. It is primarily used by first year students since freshmen residents are required to have a dining hall plan. The Community Dining Hall has a variety of options, ranging from pizza and sandwiches to meats and salads.

According to students, the Community Dining Hall is relatively healthy. Nick Howard, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, said, “The dining hall has the salad area—you can’t go wrong with that.”

The dining hall constantly promotes healthy events. Rachel Meyer, FCLC ’20, commented, “I would say the dining hall is the healthiest, because [it] hosts a lot of events that promote healthy eating.”

However, it is harder to eat in the Community Dining Hall if a student is vegetarian or vegan. Annalee Tomanelli, FCLC ’20, added, “There is a salad bar that’s always well stocked and there are vegetarian options.”

She continued, “However, there are

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER

Fordham students can buy healthy food at Argo Tea all throughout the day.

definitely limited options for vegans.”

The Ram Café, located on the ground floor of the Leon Lowenstein Building, is another dining option

where students can use their declining balance, or dining dollars, to eat. The Ram Café is great if you are looking for a quick snack to grab between classes, but they do have food

if you are looking for a more filling meal. Lyra Tan, FCLC ’20, said, “The Ram Café is good, I’ve had some of the entrées there and they are generally pretty healthy. There is a salad

bar there, too.” Steve Howard, FCLC ’20, agreed saying, “The Ram Café is pretty well set up. I think it’s overall healthy and good. They only have one section with hot food, but I wish they had more healthier sections where you can get a full meal.”

Argo Tea is located in the garden level of the 140 West Building. While they specialize in tea, they also have a variety of hot sandwiches and pastries you can buy using your dining dollars. Tomanelli said, “Argo Tea is great for vegans, because they always have vegan cookies and brownies.

It’s not always the most healthy option if you get a pastry every day, but tea is very good for you. It’s got a lot of healthy benefits—it’s a great stress reliever.”

BonMi is not part of Fordham in the sense that it’s not on campus.

However, the Vietnamese restaurant is right next to the dining hall—not a far walk at all—and they also accept Fordham’s dining dollars. They add vegetables in a lot of their food, so generally BonMi is healthy. Steve Howard said, “Bon Mi is really healthy—I’d say the healthiest food on campus. Any type of Asian diet usually has tea with most meals, and they have some form of vegetables.

They have a good combination of Omega-3 and Omega-6 [fatty acids] which allows you to be thinner.”

Howard added, “BonMi is really good, especially since it closes late.

I think it’s healthy. They have a lot of vegetables and you can get a lot of protein.”

Overall, these food vendors all seem to be nutritious. The problem most students face is the freedom to build their own diets. If students try to eat healthy, it is generally easy to do—they just need to be willing to look for the options.

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Sports & Health

Sports & Health Editor Shobair Hussaini - mhussaini2@fordham.edu April 13, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Preventing Digital Eye Strain “ When over 50, because

By JADE GRIFFIN Staff Writer

Digital devices permeate just about every aspect of the American life. Blue light, also known as high energy visible (HEV) light, is the light that is emitted from the screens of many technological devices and gadgets such as computers, phones and televisions. Blue light has the ability to penetrate deep into the eye, even further than ultraviolet light, which may cause damage to the eye’s retina. A much more common result, however, is eye strain, which heightens the risk of severe eye damage.

Digital eye strain is a common condition that many people encounter after staring at bright screens that emit blue light for long periods of time. As the use of technology increases, eye strain is becoming more prevalent. According to The Vision Council, more than 87 percent of Americans report using digital devices for more than two hours each day. Moreover, the Modern Medicine Network reports that approximately 28 percent of people spend 10 or more hours in front of digital devices daily.

This excessive screen time puts the eyes of individuals under undue stress, potentially causing irreversible damage to the eyes.

Now more than ever, people want to connect and be a part of the global, social network, yet they don’t realize how much they are jeopardizing their eyes as a result.

One’s eyes are the windows to the world and are one of the most vital organs of the human body. The consequences of eye damage are lifealtering. It is imperative to care for the eyes, starting with preventing eye strain.

of changes in the chemisry of the human eye, the damage is in the induction of catarcts and macular degeneration.

”

DR. JOAN ROBERTS, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER

Excessive use of digital technology may damage the eye’s retina over time.

Students are particularly subject to digital eye strain as they spend an immense amount of time in front of bright screens and on electronic devices. Not only is this generation the most technological one yet, but simply being a college student entails using computers to perform research and typing essays, both of which are technologically dependant.

Research is even deeming final exams detrimental to eye health because of the strain studying puts on them (which may be good news for students). The technology-heavy studying sessions, generally com-

bined with sleeplessness and unhealthy eating habits, prove harmful to not only one’s eyes, but one’s body as well. Blue light exposure, especially at night, can lead to further sleeplessness as it suppresses one’s melatonin levels, making it more difficult to fall and stay asleep. As students are constantly reminded, a restful night is key to maximizing performance on major exams.

Symptoms of eye strain include eye fatigue and irritation, neck pain, sleep disruption and headaches. However, these symptoms are not only restricted to younger

people. According to Dr. Joan Roberts Ph.D, Professor of Chemistry at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), the risk of eye damage heightens as one ages.

She stated, “When over 50, because of changes in the chemistry of the human eye, the damage is the induction of cataracts and macular degeneration.” Eye strain doesn’t result in immediate eye damage, but rather becomes a larger problem with the continued use of blue light devices as one ages. For instance, with cumulative and constant exposure, the retinal cells in the eye can be damaged. The retina

is a light-sensitive tissue, often considered the most important part of the eye as it transforms light into visual images. Once damaged, the retina cannot be repaired, so protecting the eyes from blue light is a great way to prevent retinal damage as well as damage to other parts of the eye.

Despite the fact that digital wonders will always be taxing on our eyes, there are many measures that one can take to help prevent eye strain. Individuals can follow the 20-20-20 rule which entails taking a break every 20 minutes to focus on something (not another screen) 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Additionally, one should sit a good distance from the screen, lessening the amount of strain on the eyes. Lastly, Dr. Roberts advises putting a yellow filter over the screen of the device, or getting an app that changes the background of the screen to removes the blue light, especially after sunset in an effort to avoid sleep disruption. Appointments can also be made with an opthamologist who evaluate the symptoms of digital eye strain and recommend either lifestyle changes or alternate lenses to improve eye health.

Paying the Price of Global Warming, One Degree at a Time

By COSIMA BALLETTI-THOMAS Contributing Writer

“We’re all in this together. So even if you are the most environmentally conscious person there is, if your neighbor and everyone else is not progressive then it sort of nullifies the goodness that [you] do. You have to get everybody into the lifeboat.” These are the words of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) Professor of Biology, Dr. Mark Botton Ph.D. Why should we care about the endangered animals, depleting stratospheric ozone, melting glaciers and rising sea levels? Because beyond individual forests and lakes and tundras, we are living in one vast ecosystem sustained by each and every organism and substance.

This global ecosystem that is home to millions of species is being threatened by the phenomenon known as global warming.

Dr. Botton is a professor of biology in FCLC’s department of natural science and the co-director of the Environmental Science program. After receiving both a bachelors and masters degree in biology from Stony Brook University and Brooklyn College, Botton completed his PhD in zoology from Rutgers University. Aside from teaching, Dr. Botton focuses on coastal ecosystems, with his focal point being horseshoe crab biology and conservation.

While Dr. Botton’s profession does revolve around ecosystem and environmental conservation, he acknowledges that there are global warming skeptics, commenting that “Nothing in science is ever an ab-

EMMA DIMARCO/THE OBSERVER

Dr. Botton believes in spreading awareness to sustain the environment

solute truth. [But] the fact that you can find a few scientists who have differing opinions doesn’t nullify [something].” Truth is based on the evidence, and the evidence that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising is abundant. Rising carbon dioxide levels lead to rising global temperatures and sea levels because, according to Dr. Botton, “As things warm, the volume occupied by those molecules [increases] and contributes to [this] rise.”

When prompted about why he thinks global warming skepticism exists, Dr. Botton explained, “In a glass of water you don’t notice rising sea levels because it’s such a small amount but in the oceans you deal with a huge amount of water [where] even a few degrees [causes] expansion. If you look at pictures, you can see that the glaciers are melting. I don’t think there’s any

way you can spin it so that that’s not a true statement.”

More specifically, Dr. Botton delves into the eastern coast conversation on global warming, noting, “We’re a coastal city, we know what’s [going to] happen.” He furthers adds that with low-level areas such as Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, what might appear to be a miniscule change to the public eye can actually contribute heavily to the coastal environment, using Hurricane Sandy as an example.

“The damage from these coastal storms cause inundation, flooding in areas that didn’t use to flood, and that’s true along the whole east coast.”

One of the main topics for debate is whether or not we, as a global people are responsible. To this, Dr. Botton contends, “It’s not a question of whether or not global temperatures

are increasing, its how much of that is a natural cycle versus [an unnatural one]. The evidence that humans are a significant contributor to the increase in CO2 levels [causing] the increase in temperature and sea levels is compelling.” He states, “Everything in science is based on the weight of the evidence, and here, the weight of the evidence is very clearly on the position that sea level rise and global warming are real phenomena and that in some way are tied to the additional emissions of carbon dioxide from internal combustion engines.” In addition to carbon dioxide, the other main greenhouse gases or, gases that trap heat in the atmosphere include methane, nitrous oxide and ozone.

Despite his stance, Dr. Botton does make a point to perceive the discussion from another lens. He articulates, “I think most of the people who take a contrary view [acknowledge that] it may be occurring, but that it’s not really that much of a problem. People will say ‘alright well the summer will be a little hotter and the winter a little milder, that’s not such a big deal’ [until] parts of the city start to become uninhabitable from flooding.”

Dr. Botton specifies flooding as the factor most likely to drive political interference. Already, former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has devised a comprehensive map that shows how far above sea level certain bureaus are.

As Dr. Botton previously stated, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, and even parts of lower Manhattan are low-lying areas and are therefore at higher risk. Dr. Botton upholds, “It’s true that if you’re

only looking at something over a short time frame it’s hard to see a long term trend. One of the things about getting older is that I‘ve been around some of these locations long enough to see what’s going on.” One of these locations is Delaware Bay, the southernmost part of New Jersey. When he first started studying there, Dr. Botton described it as having vast areas of forest; however, rising sea levels have led to salt water infiltration, causing the forest to perish.

Reflecting on his experience at Fordham, Dr. Botton remarks, “I get the sense at least among the student population that there is no large number of people that are global warming skeptics.” He does recall, however, a student a few years ago who rejected the legitimacy of global warming. “I pulled a couple of graphs out of what’s called the I.P.C.C. (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). I said ‘look, here’s data that shows that CO2 levels are going up and here’s data that shows that temperature and sea levels are going up. Is it reasonable to think that they’re in some way completely unconnected?’ I don’t know whether I convinced him or not but you lay out the facts and then ultimately people will make their judgement.”

Dr. Botton concludes, “My job is not to tell students what to think but to present them with objective data and say ‘okay this is what the scientific consensus seems to be.’ It’s not up to me to impose my values on them but just to give them the way to sort through the information in a way that you can come to an intelligent decision.”

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER April 13, 2017

Sports & Health

15

Study Suggests Caffeine Improves Academics

By SHOBAIR HUSSAINI Sports & Health Editor

The average college student will be seen with certain essentials. These necessities consist of a pocketbook or backpack, textbooks and of course, a bottle of water. But, there’s one fundamental object which is more easily observable among students with 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. classes. Students with block courses also will often be seen carrying this essential, in addition to the professors teaching these classes. This common essential is a caffeinated drink, whether it’s a cup of coffee or tea. These different drinks contain relatively varied doses of caffeine. One is then urged to ask the following two questions: how much caffeine should one limit his daily intake to? Also, can caffeinated beverages help college students academically?

Caffeine is one of the drugs that is most widely naturally found or artificially added in present-day consumed foods. Because the drug is added to so many soft drinks, and other caffeinated drinks, some may find it mildly addictive. It is for this reason that coffee drinkers, specifically, experience withdrawal side effects when they stop their daily habit of drinking coffee. Some of these symptoms include headaches, fatigue and lethargy to name a few.

The avid caffeine enthusiast may drink multiple cups of coffee or tea each day. When asked, Muhammad Burney, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’19, attested to this. “Having an affinity for caffeinated beverages, if I normally don’t have Starbucks, I’ll resort to some sort of tea,” Burney said.

Each person has a particular reason for daily intake of drinks containing caffeine. “For the most part, I enjoy drinking iced coffee and iced tea for the flavor,” Burney said. Thania Hussain, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, however had a different reason for her daily consumption. “I often drink two cups of coffee on weekdays because it makes me feel energized and focused when I have to be productive,” Hus-

ASEAH KHAN/THE OBSERVER

Preliminary studies indicate a possible correlation between student caffeine consumption and improved academic performance.

sain said.

It’s helpful to know specifically how much caffeine each of these drinks contain. According to statistics compiled in the Journal of Food Sciences, Journal of Analytical Toxicology and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, there are different concentrations of caffeine used in each drink.

An eight oz. cup of brewed coffee will amount to approximately 95-200 mg of caffeine. Similarly, an eight oz. cup of a specialty drink such as latte or mocha can contain anywhere between 63-175 mg of caffeine.

While coffee drinks contain larger additions of caffeine, brewed tea and iced tea are known for lesser

concentrations of the drug. For instance, an eight oz. cup of brewed black tea on average contains 14-70 mg of caffeine in comparison to the approximate 24-45 mg of caffeine in green tea. An eight oz. bottle of iced tea, on the other hand, generally contains 5-40 mg of caffeine.

The amount of caffeine used in these drinks may seem generous. It’s important to note that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine per day.

Based on this daily recommendation, one must consider the average caffeine content of beverages from stores such as Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. For example, a blonde roast venti-sized cup of coffee from Star-

bucks contains about 475 mg of caffeine. A Starbucks Americano grande-sized cup of coffee can have up to 225 mg of caffeine. For Dunkin’ Donuts enthusiasts, a medium-sized cup of hot coffee has on average 210 mg of caffeine. It is evident that all of these drinks contain excessive concentrations of the drug.

One study conducted in 2016 and published in the Frontiers in Psychology journal hints at a plausible connection between caffeine consumption and enhanced academic performance. The study was led and authored by Stephanie Sherman, Ph.D, post-doctoral fellow in the psychology department at Boston College. The findings included observing that after consuming coffee, be it

caffeinated or decaffeinated, collegeage students were able to “[complete] implicit and explicit memory tasks in the early morning and late afternoon. During the morning, participants ingesting caffeine demonstrated a striking improvement in explicit memory, but not implicit memory.”

The publication further reports that caffeine has a specific benefit on student memory during non-optimal times of the day, such as in the morning.

The validity of this study is something that will certainly require further research. For the time being, however, this may encourage more students to consume caffeinated drinks for those 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. classes.

Chartouny Declares for NBA Draft

By ALEXANDER DIMISA Asst. Sports & Health Co-Editor

Joseph Chartouny, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’19, has declared for the 2017 National Basketball Association (NBA) entry draft. Chartouny has decided to not sign with an agent prior to entering the draft, which means that if he is not drafted he will have the opportunity to return to Fordham to play his junior year.

Chartouny is a 6-foot-3, 205-pound point guard who has provided the Rams with excellent scoring and defensive help.

Chartouny, who was born in Montreal, Quebec, played basketball for Collège Jean-De-Brébeuf where he had a very accomplished career. The Collège Jean-DeBrébeuf is a Jesuit high school located in Montreal, and is also the alma mater of Chartouny’s fellow Ram, Nemanja Zarkovic, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’18.

Chartouny led his team to the 2015 Provincial Championship, where he performed at a high enough rate to be named a five-time all-league selection and a five-time team most valuable player (MVP). To go along with this, Chartouny earned the title of fourth-ranked prospect in Canada by northpolehoops.com.

Chartouny has played in 55 games during his first two seasons as a Ram, starting in all but three of them and averaging 32.9 minutes of playing time. In the 2016-2017 season, he set the single season school record in steals with 94, which

JILLIAN JAYMES/THE OBSERVER

After finishing his second season at Fordham, Joseph Chartouny (#12) declared for the 2017 NBA Draft.

surpassed the former record by 16.

This led him to finishing first in the Atlantic-10 (A-10) Conference, and third in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in steals per game at 3.23. In addition, he finished third in the A-10, 56th in the NCAA, with five assists per game. In the 2015-2016 season he was named the A-10 and Met Writ-

ers Rookie of the year while setting the Fordham freshman assists record. During this award winning season Chartouny was named A-10 Rookie of the Week seven times.

The Rams may be losing another key player if Chartouny is drafted this June as forward Chris Sengfelder, FCRH ’17, is going to finish his undergraduate degree at Ford-

ham and transfer to Wake Forest University. Sengfelder is a 6-foot-7, 240 pound power forward that has provided both offensive and defensive help in the starting lineup.

In just three years, Sengfelder finished ninth on the Fordham career three-pointers made list with 160. In addition, Sengfelder started in all 93 games that he appeared in,

averaging 35 percent of three point shots attempted. This excellent shooting percentage helped Sengfelder become the 37th Ram to score 1,000 points in Fordham history.

Sengfelder also played for the German Under-20 National Team at the 2015 European Championships while still a student at Fordham.

Once at Wake Forest, Sengfelder will play out his final year of NCAA eligibility and will be available for the Wake Forest Deacons immediately.

Not only have Sengfelder and Chartouny excelled on the court for the Rams, but they have also been stellar in the classroom. Sengfelder, a psychology major, and Chartouny, a business administration major, were both named to the A-10 All-Academic Team in 2017, which makes it the second straight year for Sengfelder. In order to be named to the All-Academic Team, a studentathlete must be either a starter or essential reserve player and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Once these requirements are met, the AllAcademic Team is voted on.

With the possibility of losing two key players, Fordham basketball will have to rely on young help to rebuild and replenish a team whose season ended in the second round of the A-10 championship.

If Chartouny is lucky enough to be one of the 60 players drafted into the NBA, he will be the second student-athlete this year to leave behind both a fantastic legacy on the court and an excellent career in the classroom.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER April 13, 2017

The Fordham administration, backed by the Board of Trustees, has been pushing to cut faculty and staff compensation in ways that are unseemly for a Jesuit institution committed to social justice.

The Administration seeks to:

• Cut faculty and staff health care beneeits in violation of the faculty’s existing contract. The proposed cuts would shift millions of dollars in costs to the sickest and most economically vulnerable members of our community.

• Hold wage increases hostage to draconian cuts in health care beneeits.

• Ignore the legally binding Statutes of the university that protect the principles of shared governance and academic freedom. If our university won’t play by its own rules, what kind of example is it setting for our students?

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 1. JOIN OUR PROTESTS!

Wednesday, April 19th at 4 pm at Lincoln Center Thursday, April 20th at 1 pm at Rose Hill

2. SPEAK UP! WRITE, CALL, TAKE TO SOCIAL MEDIA. Outreach is crucial before April 19th, when the Board votes on the 2018 budget.

Our website has addresses and sample letters.

On social media use #FORDHAMFACULTYRIGHTS

3. CONTRIBUTE TO THE FACULTY SENATE SPECIAL FUND. (Suggested for faculty and staff only)

The Faculty Senate Special Fund pays for our attorney and health insurance consultant.

Wrong for Fordham faculty and staff.

Wrong for the Fordham students we teach and serve.

Wrong for the model urban Jesuit University for the 21st century.

To learn more visit our website:

www.fordhamfacultyrights.com This ad is sponsored by the Fordham Faculty Senate. Email: fordhamfacultyrights@gmail.com

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