Observer Issue 13 Fall 2022

Observer the

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

November 16, 2022 VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 13

‘The Moors’: A Dark and Whimsical Comedy

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zied need for connection binds people in love, hate and obsession. Director Manon McCollum, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, spoke on the multifacetedness of the play, saying, “All these plots center the feeling of being truly seen, and the lengths to which we will go to get that feeling of truly being seen … again and again.”

'TH EM OO RS' p

Running from Nov. 6 through Nov. 11, Fordham Studio Theatre’s “The Moors,” written by Jen Silverman, centers femininity, solitude and companionship against the unforgiving and savage whimsy of its titular env i ron ment.

The play focuses on t h e

lonely estate of two sisters, their brutish Mastiff and a maid wearing many hats as they all prepare for the arrival of a young governess.

The governess, enchanted by letters she had received from the house’s master, arrives enthralled by the position and the man offering them. When the master of the house is nowhere to be found, the governess finds herself caught in the snare of cruelty, unable to escape though not actually held captive.

At the center of the play’s eerie and foreboding atmosphere lies loneliness and the desperate clawing for emotion that rises within us.

The play is painstakingly human, as the fren-

se e

By SOPHIA GRAUSSO Staff Writer

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HELEN HYLTON

Students and Staff React to 2022 Midterm Elections

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

The 2022 U.S. general midterm elections, which concluded on Nov. 8, highlighted multiple issues on ballots across the nation and consisted of tight electoral races between candidates that determined governorships and party controls for the House and Senate.

According to The New York Times (NYT), one of the topics highlighted nationwide was abortion rights, which is a result of the reversal of Roe v. Wade via the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Other topics that brought voters to the polls included conversations concerning drug policies and voting access.

The Democratic Party recently maintained control of the Senate after Catherine Cortez Masto’s win in Nevada, giving the Democrats a 50-49 Senate majority. Georgia’s Senate election will advance to a runoff scheduled on Dec. 6 due to neither Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock nor Republican candidate Herschel Walker receiving over 50% of the votes.

Control of the House remains unknown with the results of nine districts too close to call. Either party needs to win 218 districts in order to gain control, and as of Nov. 15 the Democrats hold 209 districts while the Republicans hold 217. The Democratic Party held the majority following the U.S. House election results of

2020, after winning 222 districts compared to the Republicans’ 213 districts.

For the Senate races, the Democrats were able to flip one seat, in Pennsylvania, in the election between Democratic candidate John Fetterman, Republican candidate Mehmet Oz and Libertarian candidate Erik Gerhardt. According to NYT, these wins in the Democratic Party and the tight races across the country, both for governorships and positions in the House and Senate, have led Republicans to question their performance in the midterms. see MIDTERMS page 5

Students Disappointed With Fordham’s Attendance Policy Fordham’s attendance policy expects students to attend every class for the courses they are registered for and allows flexibility for attendance at the professor’s discretion. As a result, whether unexcused absences are penalized or permitted is contingent on the instructor.

An unexcused absence, per the university’s definition, is any reason for missing class other than a religious holiday, serious illness, death in the student’s immediate family or required participation in a university-spon-

sored event. The student must provide the appropriate documentation to their dean by filling out an excused absence form.

According to Jenifer Campbell, dean of students at Lincoln Center, the university opted to use the form to monitor the different reasons students were requesting absences in order to make the process for filing for an unexcused absence consistent.

The maximum number of total absences, excused or unexcused, allowed in a class per semester is six for a class that meets three times a week, four for one that meets two times a week and two if it meets once a week, unless

otherwise noted in the professor’s syllabus. Professors have the liberty of deciding how many of those absences can be excused or unexcused, ranging from zero to the maximum number allowed by the university.

A student’s final grade can be docked for accruing excessive unexcused absences if it is their professors policy, professors maintain final say on the matter and are not obligated to allow for students to complete makeup work. Faculty members are required to specify their attendance policies in their syllabus, which is to be distributed at the first course meeting, and estab-

lishing a more stringent policy requires the approval of their respective department.

Undergraduate students have expressed dissatisfaction with the required qualifications for an excused absence. In instances such as sickness, individuals may find it unnecessary to pay for a doctor’s visit, which would then result in them receiving no documentation for an excused absence. This can cause students to attend class while sick in fear of how this may affect their grade.

Rachel Dasey, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’25, shared that she becomes sick often and gets a fever every two weeks.

“Having limited absences means I have to go to class while sick, which I don’t want to do,” she said.

Isabella Katis, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, also has personal experiences with a condition that has caused her to not attend class, with her absence marked as unexcused.

“I have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and I have celiac disease, so sometimes it happens that I get cross contaminated, for whatever reason, and I’ll get really ill,” she said. “I definitely don’t want to come to class.”

NEWS PAGE 4

SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE 6

CENTERFOLD PAGE 8

OPINIONS PAGE 10

ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 14

By MADELYN KINZEL Staff Writer

Picketing the Poke

New vaccination mandate inspires passion across the university

Leopards’ Loss

Fordham football hurtles toward post-season with recent victory

Sapphic Spaces

New York’s nightlife scene fails to cater to lesbian community

Resource Rundown

QuinnX remains underutilized by students on campus

see ATTENDANCE POLICY page 5

Fashion at Fordham

Allison Pfingst describes flourishing fashion studies program

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News

November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

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Fordham Hosts UN Event For Pope Francis’ World Day of the Poor

The international political economy department introduced the Pope Francis index on Nov. 11 to address the importance of ending poverty

By KIA FATAHI Staff Writer

The international political economy and development department (IPED) at Fordham held an event on Nov. 11 to recognize the World Day of the Poor, a Roman Catholic observance established by Pope Francis in 2016 which is marked annually on Nov. 13. The event took place at the Church Center for the United Nations (UN) and was co-sponsored by the Caritas Internationalis and Catholic Relief Services.

The organizers for the event included Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, permanent observer of the Holy See to the UN; Henry Schwalbenberg, director of IPED

at Fordham; María Alejandra Hincapié, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ’22; and Bill O’Keefe, executive vice president of Catholic Relief Services and the keynote speaker. Brianna Fitzpatrick, liaison to the UN for Caritas Internationalis, moderated the panel.

In honor of World Day of the Poor, the panelists highlighted the pope’s call on nations to take concrete actions in reducing global poverty.

“Too often we participate in the globalization of indifference,” O’Keefe said, reiterating the pope’s own words. “May we strive instead to live in global solidarity.”

On behalf of Fordham, Schwalbenberg and Hincapié

NEPTUUL VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

At this event for the World Day of the Poor, leaders addressed the importance of reducing global poverty and climate change.

first presented the 2022 issue of the Pope Francis Global Poverty Index, a global multidimensional poverty measure. Schwalbenberg summarized the findings of the report, noting that “extreme global poverty is the worst it has ever been since 2016 when the index was first created.” He attributed these findings to four existing categories that reflect the current problem: undernourishment, lack of above-subsistence-level employment, gender inequity and restrictions on religious freedom.

“Based on the most recently available data, we found that serious gaps exist in all seven dimensions,” he said. “They range from a low of roughly 9% to a high of 59% of the world's population.

The global poverty score is currently 26.2%.”

Following the analysis of this report, O’Keefe delivered the keynote address titled “Global Climate Crisis – Pathways for the Poor.” He emphasized that the convergence of increased conflict, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term climate crisis and high inflation rates could “greatly aggravate human suffering, displacement, hunger and poverty.”

In his address, he also added that even though we have made “steady progress” toward better living conditions, there are still things that need to be done to ensure that the leaders of the most powerful nation on earth can tackle climate change head on.

“I think there’s an increased

consciousness. Even in our own country, which is the last country to accept the reality of climate change, our own experiences are beginning to make a difference,” O’Keefe said, referring to the renewed initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to combat climate change in the ongoing session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt.

At COP27, Biden announced funding for new initiatives to expedite the execution of the Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), which aims to support more than half a billion people in poor countries to adapt to the effects of climate change. Efforts include the allocation of $100 million to the Adaptation Fund (AF) and $150 million to the Africa Adaptation Initiative.

According to O’Keefe, the first step to allocate $100 million for global adaptation to climate change requires increased funding for climate adaptation. Adaptation is the process of adjusting to the current and future impacts of climate change, whereas mitigation entails dealing with the root cause. O’Keefe said that rich countries such as the U.S are “doing worse on adaptation than mitigation” and not doing enough to help the most vulnerable nations.

The second step, which allocates $150 million for disaster emergency response across coun-

tries in Africa, requires governments to be accountable for their climate impacts and participate responsibly in addressing the issue of “Loss and Damage.” Public climate finance must be provided in the form of grants rather than non-concessional loans, and O’Keefe noted that the already existing gap between core and periphery countries when it comes to making decisions about climate change must lessen.

Echoing the statements of Schwalbenberg, O’Keefe continued by highlighting that nations in the Horn of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East are the most harmed by the impacts of climate change due to minimal basic infrastructure and humanitarian assistance.

O’Keefe also recounted stories about local people taking action on domestic problems in nations like Somalia, Afghanistan and the Philippines to inspire the audience to take action on issues of climate change and poverty.

He concluded his presentation by stating that it is “a moral and ethical imperative” for nations such as the U.S. to support those least responsible and capable in handling such issues.

“I believe that the arc of history does bend towards justice, but that requires people to bend it,” O’Keefe said. “It all depends on the actions that individuals, families and communities take which will make a difference in the long run. It’s up to us.”

SCOTUS’ Affirmative Action Ruling May Impact Fordham Admissions

The court’s decision to prohibit the consideration of race in admissions would alter a core component of the university’s acceptance process and diversity mission

By KASSIDY DE NOBREGA Contributing Writer

The United States Supreme Court heard two affirmative action cases on Oct. 31: Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) v. Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina (UNC). SFFA is a nonprofit fighting “racial classifications and preferences in college admissions” and places Harvard and UNC affirmative action policies in direct violation of the Civil Rights Act. As a higher education institution, affirmative action is implemented in Fordham’s admissions practices.

In both cases, SFFA argued that in their efforts to admit a diverse class of undergraduate students, the universities discriminate against Asian American applicants. The broad case against UNC targets the 2003 court decision of Grutter v. Bollinger, which upheld the constitutionality of the landmark affirmative action decision, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.

The legitimacy of affirmative action was established in 1978.

Now, SFFA is challenging the notion that historically underrepresented groups should continue to be given a collective advantage.

UNC, however, maintained that affirmative action was necessary to their diversity mission. Even today, only 8% of the UNC’s undergraduate student population is Black, compared to 22% of the total North Carolina population.

At Fordham, affirmative action has served as a vital role in diversifying the student body and

acknowledging the collective disparities which pro-affirmative action groups have fought to convey during the Supreme Court hearings, according to Patricia Peek, dean of undergraduate admissions at Fordham University.

“As a Jesuit university in the heart of a multiethnic and international city, it has been both part of the University’s mission and an important goal for us in the Office of Undergraduate Admission to build a campus community that is likewise diverse, and which fosters inclusive mindsets,” she said.

Shirley Omari-Kwarteng, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25, said that she believes affirmative action is necessary for redressing past and present injustices and that the Supreme Court’s likelihood of overturning the policy represents a regression in redressing historical wrongs.

“The only question I pose for the Supreme Court is that if we are all equal and meritocratic method is what you wish to proceed with from henceforth, why do we still, as a nation, celebrate firsts in positions of authority,” Omari-Kwarteng said.

She explained that when historically disadvantaged individuals of Black, Latine and Indigenous descent win elections they are still celebrated as instances of racial progress as opposed to their success being standard.

“Why don’t we acknowledge white people in power in the same manner?” she asked University President Tania Tetlow, J.D., spoke with ABC News regarding race-based college admissions prior to the Supreme

Court hearings concerning affirmative action and highlighted the importance of diversity on college campuses as well as addressing historical inequalities between different groups.

“When we have groups missing (from campus), we know we're missing some of our best and brightest,” she said. “There’s something very particular about growing up in this country, dealing with the ways that you were underestimated, the educational opportunities you were denied — when a student comes to us having overcome all of that, and succeeding in a way that means they belong at Fordham we’re even more eager for them to be here.”

Past Supreme Court cases against affirmative action resulted mainly in narrowing race-conscious admissions to be more individualized for each applicant.

This individualization ensured that no applicant should be put at an advantage solely for their racial identity, a process referred to as holistic admissions. Should SFFA prevail, UNC, Harvard College and other universities across the country would have to adopt race-neutral admissions policies that do not evaluate applications with nuance due to applicants’ racial identities.

Currently, Peek believes that Fordham approaches the admissions process holistically by considering diversity, inclusion, academic performance and high school rigor as well as the availability of opportunities, service and commitment, and leadership among other factors. Pending the policy’s potential removal, the university’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions intends

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

If the Supreme Court decides to prohibit affirmative action policies, the values of diversity in Fordham admissions could be impacted.

to implement colorblind initiatives, according to Peek.

“Any further narrowing will create a loss of information that informs an understanding of the student experience,” she said.

“So admission offices will need to think about more race-neutral strategies that can provide some of that missing context.”

The extent of the Supreme Court’s potential overturning of affirmative action legitimacy is expected to trickle down to other race-conscious programs, including employment policies.

Omari-Kwarteng believes that eradicating affirmative action in higher education would hinder upward social mobility and achievements for minority groups.

“If the Supreme Court proceeds with the assumed ruling on Affir-

mative Action, they are robbing American youth of potentially leveling the socio-economic playing field,” she said. “We’ve only just seen marginalized groups begin to crack the glass ceilings placed above us for centuries and to eliminate affirmative action is to re-seal the cracks made by those before us.”

The court will likely not release a decision until June or July of 2023. Due to the court’s conservative majority, the potential effects of the abolition of affirmative action policy are being seriously considered by universities and students across the U.S. if the court rules in favor of SFFA, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions concluded that they would have to modify their 2024-25 admissions cycle.

THE OBSERVER November 16, 2022

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Running the Tracks: Faces of the MTA

New York’s transit network carries millions of passengers daily, a task that relies on its operators

By MARYAM BESHARA and AURELIEN CLAVAUD News Editor and Asst. Photo Editor

The New York City subway system is used by New Yorkers and tourists alike, serving as a vital function of many people’s daily mode of transport. According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the subway maintained a ridership of approximately 2.4 million daily passengers in 2021. On Sept.

21, the subway system transported 3.8 million people, due to the convergence of riders using the MTA for school, work, concerts, games and other special events across New York City, surpassing the MTA’s previous record of 3.7 million riders on Sept. 20. These are the highest ridership numbers since March 2020 as the city continues to recover from the pandemic.

The transit lines offer 28 rail services that run through the city’s five boroughs. The subway holds the stories of passersby as they set out on their daily commute, as well as tourists who visit the city. These accounts also include those of the employees of New York City Transit (NYCT), a subsidiary of the MTA that employs the New Yorkers who transport millions throughout the city.

We intended to accurately represent the faces of the transit employees in an effort to bring attention to their work and lives.

AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

A train operator motions a peace sign to the camera after dropping the window and says "Have a good day now" as his train leaves.

Working our way down from the 72nd Street station to the 59th Street-Columbus Circle station, we captured the workers of the 1, 2 and 3 lines.

72nd Street Looking up at the schedule of the 72nd Street station, we

eagerly awaited the arrival of the downtown 2 train. As the train came to a stop, the operator smiled and posed for a photo. Despite working a demanding job, the operator was cheery and waved goodbye as the train pulled out of the station.

A few more trains passed on either side of the platform. Passengers came and went, but the station wasn’t too lively. Eventually, a downtown 1 train crept to a halt before us, and the window to the operator’s cabin came down.

“I hope you’re making me look good,” the operator said.

66th Street-Lincoln Center The Lincoln Center station was not crowded, but a few passengers wandered up and down the platform awaiting the trains which weren’t operating as frequently at 9 p.m. Other than an express 3 train passing through the station every few minutes, the station was quiet.

AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

An NYCT operator checks the platform before departs from the 72nd Street Station.

Before hopping on the downtown train, we took a last-minute photo of an operator who pulled down their window and posed with a peace sign.

59th Street-Columbus Circle We took the 1 train downtown to Columbus Circle with the same operator who had posed for us.

After exiting the train, we turned to unexpectedly see the operator look at us, smile and wave.

“Have a good day now,” they said with a nod.

As we made our way toward the exit, we decided to capture one last image of a train operator. Running to the front of the uptown 1 train, we saw the driver turn to our lens and flash a wide smile.

The NYCT subway operators offer a window into the efforts of the individuals who are responsible for facilitating the smooth transportations of millions of riders across NYC’s boroughs throughout the day. We sought to capture the diverse workers of New York’s MTA, the largest and most developed public transit system in the United States.

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

Passengers at the 66th Street-Lincoln Center station stick close to the wall as they wait for their train to arrive.

AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

Train cabin crews consist of a driver at the front of the train and an operator in the middle of the train.

AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER

An NYCT employee watches passengers board the downtown 1 train and monitors the flow of traffic on the platform.

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November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

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Bivalent Booster Mandate Triggers Debates Across Fordham Members of the university community express their positions in response to the administration’s decision, with some pushing petitions in support of the mandate and others against

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

Fordham’s mandate of the bivalent booster sparked reactions both for and against it. Separate petitions have been released by different organizations in the Fordham community and a protest was organized on the same day as University President Tania Tetlow’s, J.D., inauguration prior to the university’s vaccination deadline.

In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its recommendations, Fordham updated its COVID-19 policies and protocols to mandate that anyone seeking access to campus receive the bivalent booster dose, according to Marco Valera, vice president for administration and the university’s COVID-19 coordinator. Valera announced the new vaccination guidelines in an email sent on Sept. 26.

Prior to the announcement in September, the university’s weekly “Five Things” email newsletter, which contained Fordham’s COVID-19 announcements and updates, noted in its April 1 update that “it may be necessary to require a second booster shot for eligible individuals beginning in September 2022.” The updates were discontinued one month later on May 6, 2022.

Community Members Respond to Bivalent Booster Mandate Fordham’s bivalent booster mandate caused petitions both in support of and in opposition to the mandate by faculty members. According to Mark Naison, professor of African American studies and history at Fordham Rose Hill and one of five faculty members who organized a petition in support of the mandate, they collected 222 signatures over the 10 days that the petition was open On Oct. 17, the faculty group began circulating the petition in support of the booster mandate, according to Naison. He noted that it was sent to Tetlow on Oct. 27 and was mainly composed of faculty signatures across the Lincoln Center, Rose Hill and Westchester campuses.

Naison said his reasons for supporting the mandate stem directly from his contact with commuter students and residents of the Bronx who are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 than other areas of New York City.

“The booster requirement is important to protect the health of everyone at Fordham, especially the most vulnerable among us, and people living and working in the areas adjoining our Lincoln Center, Rose Hill, and Westchester campuses,” the petition read.

Fordham Together, an organization composed of 573 parents, Fordham staff, faculty and students, has an ongoing petition in opposition to the mandate that has yielded 1,297 signatures as of Nov. 14. According to the group, an affiliated organization by the name of Fordham Students Together collected over 300 signatures as of Nov. 14 on a separate petition.

On Oct. 14, during Tetlow’s inauguration, Fordham Together protested the bivalent booster mandate. The group had submitted a letter to the university voicing their opposition to the mandate a week prior on Oct. 7 and according to James Mermigis, senior owner and partner of the Mermigis Law Group, they had not received a response from the university as of Oct. 20.

“This censorship, vagueness, refusal to provide scientific reason-

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

The bivalent booster is being administered in the South Lounge on the Lincoln Center campus.

ing, and conflicting responses continue to this day,” Fordham Together told The Observer on Nov. 14. “If Fordham was as open to diverse perspectives as it claims to be, censoring and social shaming its own students and staff would not be an option and forming our group would not have been necessary.”

Mermigis Law Group, a law firm on Long Island, has threatened litigation against Fordham for the mandate, according to The Bronx Times. Mermigis co-authored a letter addressed to Tetlow calling the policy “coercive” and cited it as unlawful since the vaccine is currently being distributed under emergency use authorization. Mermigis also claimed that the mandate is a “breach of implied contract” because it was announced after students paid their tuition.

Nicholas Tampio, a political science professor at Fordham, attended the protest held on Oct. 14 against the bivalent booster mandate and was one of the organizers of the faculty petition that was in opposition to the mandate. The petition read that the group believed “the final decision whether to receive the bivalent booster should be left to the judgment of each individual, in consultation with that individual’s physician and conscience.”

According to The Ram, the faculty petition in opposition to the mandate has received 113 faculty signatures as of Oct. 25.

Virginia Ungaro, organizer of the protest and a Fordham Office of Enrollment Services employee, spoke with The Fordham Ram about her opposition to the mandate and shared her concerns about the university’s lack of transparency regarding the repercussions for not receiving the booster.

“They are not telling us if you don’t get this, you will be disenrolled,” Ungaro said to The Ram. “I think they’re just purposefully pulling a bait and switch on the students, and parents should be outraged. This is not cheap, it’s an education.”

According to The Ram, approximately 20-30 Fordham students, faculty and staff gathered outside the university’s main gates across from the New York Botanical Garden on Southern Boulevard to protest the bivalent booster mandate while Tetlow’s inauguration ceremony was taking place.

Robert Dineen, vice president of Public Safety, told The Observer on Nov. 1 that, at the time, the university was in the process of contacting members of the Fordham community who did not update their vaccination status and did not receive an exemption for the booster, for which

the deadline was Oct. 28, to confirm their compliance with the policy.

Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications, said that as an institution, the university is not in a position “to choose among the many COVID-19 studies” and relies on guidance from the CDC to formulate its COVID-19 protocols.

“The University is not reconsidering the vaccine/bivalent booster mandate,” he said on Oct. 31. “The Jesuit teaching that runs through everything Fordham does is being people for others.”

Howe added that the vaccine is about protecting the community and cited that multiple news outlets have reported an increase in COVID-19 infections in Europe which, in the past, has foreshadowed trends in the U.S. “Being fully vaccinated and boosted helps protect students, faculty and staff — some of whom are more vulnerable to COVID-19 because of age or their individual medical histories,” he said.

Howe did not comment on the potential lawsuit the university is facing, the petitions released in support of and against the booster from faculty groups or the protest.

Jenifer Campbell, dean of students at Lincoln Center, said that she was aware of the Fordham Parents Together group. She added that she was aware of some complaints from students regarding the booster mandate but that those complaints “were tied to the parents that had been protesting.”

Campbell stands by the university’s decision to mandate the booster and noted, “I love the fact that we offer it.”

“At this juncture, the university is standing by its right to say this is what we require for individuals to enter the premises, and there is no plan to change that,” she said.

Students Respond to the Mandate and Share Their Vaccination Experience Louis DeSalvio, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’24, received his bivalent booster dose on Oct. 27 in Lincoln Center’s South Lounge located in the Ram Café. He did not have an appointment and noted that his overall experience took him a little under an hour. DeSalvio suggested that the university make greater use of its availability for appointments and mentioned that he was unable to set up an appointment once the times were released.

“I don’t know how other people’s experience was with ap-

pointments, but for me it wasn’t very good, and I would have liked people to get in and out of there pretty fast,” he said.

Veronica Eulate, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’25, received her booster dose on Oct. 31 in the Great Hall at the Joseph M. McShane, S.J. Campus Center and expressed similar thoughts to DeSalvio. She noted that her overall experience was time-consuming and could have been improved if the process was more organized.

“I actually took around four hours, which was very frustrating because they actually ran out of Pfizer vaccines in the middle of it,” she said. “I understand that there was a lot of people coming in, which was something very good, but at the same time I thought they would be more prepared for something like that — especially since the deadline for the booster mandate is coming up soon.”

Eulate expected the wait to be 30-40 minutes and noted that she ended up being late for her class while waiting in line to get the vaccine.

In response to student complaints about the long waits at the university’s vaccination sites, Campbell said that she believes that the lines are a result of students “waiting until the last minute to take it” and said members of the Fordham community had ample time to secure an appointment for the booster prior to the Nov. 1 deadline.

Sophia Maier, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’23, received her bivalent booster dose on Oct. 18 at the Lincoln Center campus in the South Lounge and noted that her vaccination experience was “pretty unremarkable.” She mentioned that because she received her booster dose prior to the week leading up to the deadline and made her appointment in early October, her experience getting the vaccine was not difficult.

“I walked right in, and I was 20 minutes early for my appointment too because I got out of class early,” she said. “But they took me in right away and didn’t make me wait for the appointment or anything.”

Maier noted that from the time that she arrived to when she received her vaccine, including the wait time, her appointment took no longer than 25 minutes.

Regarding the mandate itself, Eulate thinks that everyone should be vaccinated but believes that the mandate is getting to a point where “we don’t really have a choice anymore.” She noted that

the obligation to get a fourth dose is “getting a little too much” and added that she is mindful of other people’s frustrations.

“Am I going to be getting a booster every six months until I die?” she said. “That’s my way of thinking about it.”

DeSalvio noted that he was not surprised to see that the policy received backlash. He added that Fordham’s mandate was an “interesting choice” and mentioned that in a city like New York, transmission of COVID-19 is “really, really easy.”

DeSalvio noted that the university’s decision to mandate the bivalent booster was an “interesting choice” but that he was not surprised to see that the policy received backlash. He understands Fordham’s mandate and mentioned that in a city like New York, transmission of COVID-19 is “really, really easy.”

“I think it’s a necessity,” he said.

“It seems like we’re past the pandemic, but I think it’s kind of stupid to sit there and say, ‘Oh, well, this doesn’t matter anymore,’ and throw a fist about a COVID vaccine mandate.”

Maier believes that getting the vaccine is the “right thing to do” and worth it because she believes that it will help prevent others from becoming sick.

“Especially as Fordham likes to say that it is a member of a larger New York City community, in order to that we have to take into consideration our neighbors and the people we’ll be interacting with,” she said.

Student Body Raises Concerns Over Vaccine Mandate United Student Government at Rose Hill (USGRH) held its sixth senate meeting of the semester on Oct. 6, at which one of the public concerns raised was regarding the vaccine mandate.

President of USGRH Santiago Vidal Calvo, Vice President of USGRH Gaby Simporior and Senator Jamie Serruto, all Fordham College at Rose Hill ’24; Senator Keegan Roeder, FCRH ’23; and Senator Sean Power, FCRH ’24, spoke with Keith Eldredge, assistant Vice President and dean of student services, about the concern and fielded questions from the student body.

During the conversation, an audience member said that they were speaking on behalf of a large group of students, parents and members of the Fordham community and asked what the university’s response would be if the mandate received a lot of pushback.

Eldredge responded by noting that the CDC is not a regulatory authority that installs mandates but that their guidance is beneficial to the Fordham community.

He also emphasized that the university is considerate of their constituents’ concerns.

“We listen to all the feedback, but ultimately those who are in charge of making these decisions are in charge of making these decisions,” Eldredge said at the meeting. “Feedback will be considered, and we will try to make the best decision that we can.”

Although Fordham is one of the few institutions to mandate the booster, alongside Harvard University, Tufts University, and Yale University, the administration believes that others will follow suit, according to Howe.

“We strongly suspect other institutions will be revisiting their vaccination policies this fall, if they have not done so already,” he said.

THE OBSERVER November 16, 2022

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Tight Races in 2022 Midterms Spark Concerns Over Party Control Reproductive rights and voter access are among the issues that affected decisions at the polls this November

MIDTERMS from page 1

Political Science Professors Share Key Insights Into Midterm Elections Christina Greer, associate professor of political science at Lincoln Center, spoke in a panel co-sponsored by the Academy of Political Science, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and the Tenement Museum, hosted at the Museum at Eldridge Street on Nov. 3. The event, titled “2022 Midterm Elections: Democracy at Risk,” discussed the issues highlighted in the midterms and the importance of voting in the elections.

Ester Fuchs, professor of international and public affairs and political science at SIPA, moderated the panel and posed a question to Greer regarding redistricting and voter turnout across the state.

“My students in the audience would know this: I always say that states are inherently red,” Greer said. “There just have to be enough districts within those states to turn them blue.”

In discussing voter turnout and the issues that would bring voters to the polls, Bruce Berg, professor of political science at Fordham Rose Hill, noted that crime, the economy, reproductive rights and the future of democracy were issues highlighted in New York City polls this election cycle. Berg also mentioned that, in New York specifically, the governor’s race was a major debate topic as Democratic candidate and current governor Kathy Hochul was seeking a full term in her race against Republican candidate Lee Zeldin.

With his research specializing in New York City politics and intergovernmental politics, Berg noted that Manhattan and the Bronx are Democratic party strongholds. According to Berg, he did not foresee Zeldin resonating with those two boroughs, especially on his crime campaign, which aimed to oppose any efforts to defund the police, increase the number of police officers and require unanimous decisions by Parole Commissioners granting parole. Berg also noticed

that Hochul did not perform as strongly as previous Democratic candidates either.

On the topic of reproductive rights, Berg highlighted that, for several decades, the Democrats have done better locally and nationally in terms of gathering the attention of women voters in comparison to men. He added that although Zeldin said that New York State’s policy on abortion would not change if he were elected governor, he’s not sure that voters trusted that statement “given the Republican party position on this issue nationally.”

Zein Murib, assistant professor of political science and co-director of the women, gender and sexuality studies department at Fordham, noted that the Dobbs decision may have been a factor for people going to cast their ballots.

“Social science research suggests that people don’t like to lose things they’re used to having,” they said. “Furthermore, the majority of people polled support abortion access in some way.”

Faculty and Students Speak on Their Voting Experience When voting, Berg noted that he faced no problems and was able to vote up the street from where he resides in the Upper West Side, and Murib shared that they were traveling before the midterms, so they voted absentee in New York City but heard differing experiences from their students.

“I was lucky to get my ballot in time to submit it, but I’ve heard many stories of students from states like Arizona and Illinois not receiving the absentee ballots they requested, which means those students were disenfranchised,” Murib said.

One student who experienced such issues was Maribelle Gordon, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’25.

She shared that her voting experience was frustrating because she did not receive her absentee ballot to vote in Harris County, a county located in Texas’ seventh congressional district. She submitted her application for an absentee

ballot in late September but never received a paper copy confirming her request.

“I was able to go to the website where you can track the ballot, but it said that since I had not actually sent in the actual application there was no ballot to be tracked because I hadn’t ‘received an application yet.’”

Jelaney Wright, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’24 and a resident in the North Bronx, mentioned that because she was already registered to vote, casting her ballot wasn’t too difficult.

“My voting experience for the midterm elections was pretty okay,” she said. “It was a quick process.”

Wright voted in person at an elementary school near her house in the Bronx but mentioned that her mom was turned away from the voting facility where she was initially registered to vote at, forcing her to go to a different location.

She spoke on how the lack of notice could act as a hindrance for citizens who are attempting to cast their ballots since not everyone has the flexibility to make last-minute adjustments to their plan.

“I think it’s also interesting because in the North Bronx there’s a lot of Black residents and obviously that’s historically a Democratic vote, so it was all the more insidious that it’s in the North Bronx that there’s voter suppression,” she said.

Regarding the provision of resources at Fordham, Gordon noted that some of her professors had canceled classes or moved classes to be asynchronous to accommodate students who were trying to cast their ballots on election day since the university did not provide the day off. She also mentioned that outside of those accommodations, she did not receive information or hear from the administration about voting.

“I don’t think there was a lot that was being done, at least by the administration,” she said. “I know that there were a lot of students who were mobilizing their friends to vote.”

Gordon added that although she is unaware of the resourc-

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

The 2022 midterm elections pressed voters with important issues including drug policy, voting access and reproductive rights.

es other colleges provide to their students, she believes the university could have done more and that providing resources like the installation of ballot drop boxes throughout campuses would have been helpful for a lot of students.

According to Fordham News, the School of Law launched its “Voting Rights and Democracy Project” on March 16 to train voting rights lawyers in an effort to protect the rights of voters in civil rights cases.

Fordham Law Advocates for Voter Rights also partners with When We All Vote, a nonpartisan organization working to increase voter participation across the country. Aside from this, the university’s undergraduate colleges at both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center did not have ballot-drop boxes or active posts about access to voting resources around its campuses.

Jenifer Campbell, dean of students at Lincoln Center, noted that no students have voiced their dissatisfaction in Fordham’s attempts to encourage or facilitate voter participation for the election.

“I hadn’t heard anything in all honesty, but nothing had been

brought to my attention about students registering any complaints or issues about the election or access,” she said.

Wright noted that Fordham emphasizes the importance of its students being politically active and shaping policy, so it has some culpability in instigating a change.

University President Tania Tetlow, J.D., advised faculty and members of the administration to be flexible with students and colleagues in their commutes to the polls in an email sent to the Fordham community on Nov. 7.

“Tomorrow is election day, the moment we each decide whether to earn our democracy or squander it,” she said. “Please go vote, if you haven't already.”

Although most races from the midterms have been called, conversations regarding the remaining House races and Georgia’s Senate race advancing to a runoff continue to spark conversations on who will hold the congressional majority and how issues will be handled by elected political figures, both newly-elected and re-elected.

Students Disappointed With Fordham’s Attendance Policy

Auricchio noted that the policy may be adjusted due to general confusion and dissatisfaction from members of the Fordham community ATTENDANCE POLICY from page 1

Katis believes that an unexcused absence is unreflective of the work ethic of a dedicated student if they are committed to the course loads expectations.

“If you’re a diligent student, that shouldn’t reflect your grade,” Katis said. “It’s up to you to make it up.”

Mandy Castillo, FCLC ’25, spoke on how she attended her classes while experiencing side effects of

the COVID-19 bivalent booster.

Side effects in the days following the bivalent booster dose range from soreness to fever and chills.

Although these effects do not constitute a “serious illness,” Castillo noted that they may be a reason for students to not be present in class if they feel unwell.

“I had chills, followed by heat flashes and body aches,” she said. “I thought it would go away

by the morning, but I woke up feeling worse.”

Castillo added that she had two classes that day but found it difficult to get out of bed which made attending class even harder.

Additionally, commuters may also run into unforeseen events on their commute that could result in them missing class.

Diane Detournay, a professor in the women, gender and sexuality

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

Some students have been dissatisfied with the necessary requirements for obtaining an excused absence such as paying for a doctor's visit to receive an official note.

studies department, highlighted the various reasons that students tend to miss class and stressed her approach of working alongside students to ensure their well-being in addition to attendance.

“If a student is missing class, it is usually because they have something going on in their lives– it could be anything from needing to support family members to contending with mental health issues,” she said. “Rather than punishing students for not attending, I think the response should be to check in and strategize together about how to get back into the classroom.”

Detournay also noted that she values time with students in class and thinks it is important for students to be there, but she doesn’t believe in “punitive and disciplinary approaches.”

Fordham’s attendance policy is more structured than the policies of other nearby private universities like Pace University or New York University (NYU).

Korbin Vera, NYU Tandon School of Engineering ’25, said he has yet to run into any issues concerning his attendance.

“Sometimes, a small part of your grade is determined by participation which can include at-

tendance, but there’s no hard rule or requirement,” Vera said. “It’s usually implied that if you don’t go to class you won’t do as well, but you can not go often and still do well.”

Laura Auricchio, dean of FCLC, emphasized that a standard attendance policy is crucial for any university, because it serves as a guarantee of student learning as well as maintains engagement within classrooms. Additionally, the procedure ensures students eligibility to qualify for participation in federal financial aid programs as well as compliance with visa requirements.

“I have observed a good deal of confusion on the part of students, faculty, and administrators alike about the specifics of Fordham’s attendance policy and the practices of implementing it,” Auricchio noted. “For that reason, policies and practices around attendance are on the list of topics that will be considered by a new standing committee on undergraduate academic policies and practices that will have its inaugural meeting later this month.”

Auricchio said that the attendance policy may soon be subject to change.

Sports & Health Editors Gabriella Bermudez Chris Murray

Sports & Health

November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Fordham Football Tramples Lafayette Leopards, 45-10

The Rams never gave up their lead as they continued their late-season push with postseason ambitions

By CHRIS MURRAY Sports and Health Editor

The Fordham football team dominated the Lafayette College (LC) Leopards 45-10 on Nov. 12 to improve its record to 8-2 for the season. Yet another strong offensive performance has kept Fordham’s hopes of advancing to postseason play alive, improving to the No. 14 spot in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) rankings ahead of its last regular season game of the year.

The Rams’ contest against Lafayette began relatively slow. The teams took to the field in unchar-

acteristically warm weather for mid-November — the temperature approaching 70 degrees at kickoff — but neither team started off hot.

On Fordham’s second possession, the offensive chemistry began to take shape. Quarterback Tim DeMorat, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, started the drive with a 59-yard connection to Mekai Felton, FCRH ’24. A pair of rushes

by Julius Loughridge, FCRH ’25, moved the Rams up to Lafayette’s 1-yard line before DeMorat thrusted through the Leopards’ defensive line and into the end zone to give Fordham a 7-0 lead with 6:54 left in the first quarter.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Tim DeMorat, FCRH ’23, took command with four passing touchdowns, 482 yards and two rushing scores.

After a quick stop, the Rams received the ball once again. Their drive stalled, but they were able to put themselves in a position for Brandon Peskin, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’24, to make a field goal and extend Fordham’s lead to 10 right before the end of the opening quarter.

In a season that has featured its ups and downs, the Fordham defense made its presence known.

Lafayette’s offense failed to gather any momentum. The Rams’ defense forced an interception, recovered a fumble and accumulated five sacks over the course of the game.

Fordham built on its lead late in the second quarter. DeMorat carried the ball past the goal line, running 3 yards to secure his second rushing touchdown of the game and increase Fordham’s lead to 17-0 with 3:49 left before halftime.

Little time remained, but the scoring was far from over. A 40yard pass by quarterback AhShaun Davis, LC ’25 rapidly moved the Leopards upfield. While the Rams prevented Lafayette from finding the end zone, a field goal

by Jakob Trestik, LC ’24, put the struggling offense on the board with only a minute and a half to go in the period.

However, the time constraints were no challenge for Fordham’s electric offense, as DeMorat marched down the field in a matter of seconds. He swiftly connected with Dequece Carter, GSBRH ’23, for a 30-yard touchdown, and the Rams added to their lead after a 56-second drive. As the teams entered the halftime break, Fordham held a commanding 24-3 lead.

After a few failed drives by both teams, Lafayette finally got the

chance to contest Fordham’s lead.

On its own 48-yard line, Fordham attempted to convert a fourth down with only a yard to gain.

The play collapsed, and DeMorat’s effort to salvage it backfired, as he was sacked for a loss of 20 yards resulting in a turnover on downs.

“ We’re just trying to

play better every week.

Whatever we did wrong this week we gotta fix it, and we gotta move on and prepare. ”

Joe Conlin, head coach of Fordham football

The calamitous conversion attempt gave Lafayette prime field position, starting at the Rams’ 28yard line. The poor play continued for Fordham. On the Leopards’ first offensive play after the turnover, defensive back Stephen Williams II, FCRH ’23, dangerously connected with the helmet of wide receiver Carl Smith, LC ’24. The play was deemed targeting, and Williams was disqualified from the game. The line of scrimmage consequently advanced to Fordham’s 14-yard line, and Davis threw a touchdown pass on the very next play to cut the score to 24-10.

Fordham immediately responded, regaining its momentum after the string of uncharacteristically disjointed plays. The Rams paraded 72 yards into the end zone in only four plays. A contested 35-

yard touchdown pass to Carter gave Fordham a 31-10 lead with 7:53 left in the third. Fordham scored again on its next offensive possession via a 33-yard pass to Fotis Kokosioulis, FCRH ’23, and the Rams held a commanding 3810 lead heading into the fourth.

Fordham’s final score of the competition came with 8:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. DeMorat connected with Kokosioulis once again for a 14-yard touchdown, changing the scoreboard to its final reading of 45-10.

DeMorat’s statistics in the rout were masterful, as he finished with four passing touchdowns for 482 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Although he failed to find the endzone, MJ Wright, GSBRH ’23, caught 11 passes for 155 yards by the end of the game.

All in all, the win marked one of the Rams’ most successful games of the season, with both the offense and the defense playing impressively. As the regular season comes to a close, dominant performances like this may influence the voters who hold Fordham’s postseason destiny.

Head Coach Joe Conlin remained levelheaded after the decisive victory. “We’re just trying to play better every week,” Conlin remarked to WFUV after the game. “Whatever we did wrong this week, we gotta fix it, and we gotta move on and prepare for a good Colgate team.”

Fordham will face the Colgate University Raiders at Rose Hill on Nov. 19 in its regular season finale. Another convincing win would increase the likelihood of Fordham securing a spot in the FCS Championship for the first time since 2015.

Women’s Basketball Loses to Maryland Terrapins

A late rally could not save the Rams from the Terrapins offensive prowess and Fordham fell to its ranked foe

By GABRIELLA BERMUDEZ Sports and Health Editor

The Fordham women’s basketball team were dealt their first defeat of the 2022-23 season on Nov. 13 against the University of Maryland (UM) Terrapins, 83-76.

The Terrapins are now ranked 19th according to the Associated Press rankings and 21st by the USA Today Coaches Poll after the single-digit loss, both downward shifts from their positions before the win. The competition was close throughout, but the Rams struggled to keep up with their powerhouse adversaries.

The Rams began this season with solid wins — their strongest outing so far was an 81-39 game against Saint Peter’s University on Nov. 10 — but their luck changed just three days later as they struggled to overcome Maryland’s lead.

Although Fordham was expected to lose, they found success throughout the game. In the second quarter, the offense even managed to outscore the Terrapins but overall failed to maintain its lead.

Fordham’s star players have defined themselves well in the young season. Anna DeWolfe, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, led the team with 24 points; Kaitlyn Downey, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), ’24 chipped in 17; and Asiah Dingle, GSAS ’24, finished with 16.

Dingle started off the game with a made jump shot, but Fordham’s defeat was foreshadowed by the eight points that the Terrapins racked up within two minutes of the start.

For five minutes, the Rams kept the net dry as the scoreboard held up the score, 12-4 with Fordham trailing. With just over four minutes left in the first quarter, Megan Jonassen, GSAS ’24, made a jump shot and tightened Maryland’s lead to six.

Fordham was able to continue scoring despite poor shot selections and rebounding struggles, earning seven more points by the end of the quarter. Maryland on the other hand, capped off the quarter with two free throws by Diamond Miller, UM ’23, exiting the period 21-11.

Both teams traded blows in the opening moments of the second quarter. Not 10 seconds had passed since the players returned to the court before DeWolfe found an opportunity for a jump shot and successfully made it. Only 23 seconds later, Faith Masonius, UM ’23, found room for a layup to recover Maryland’s double-digit lead.

The distance between the Terrapins and the Rams continued to grow. Only three minutes into the second quarter, Maryland comfortably stood 14 points ahead.

But with 6:30 remaining on the clock, DeWolfe put in seven points in just over 60 seconds to cut the lead in half.

Shots poured in from both teams, but Fordham’s defensive efforts shortened the Terrapin advantage to one point. In a decisive shift of momentum, the score stood 34-33 by the end of the first half of play.

More of the same continued in the third quarter. The Rams continued to trail behind the Terrapins

by a slim margin. Miller began the quarter with two free throws, followed by Abby Meyers, UM ’23, sinking a jump shot. DeWolfe responded by rattling in a three, and Meyers struck back with another bucket. Downey then spotted up on the wing and sent in a shot of her own. By the end of this offensive battle, the score was 40-39.

For the next five minutes in the quarter the Rams remained stagnant as the Terrapins’ growing score taunted Fordham on the board, 54-39.

With 4:55 left in the third quarter, Dingle made a jumper and brought the Rams up to 41. Efforts from Dingle, Downey, DeWolfe and Matilda Flood, FCRH ’24, shrunk a 15-point lead to three points.

For exactly ten seconds, Fordham was ahead of Maryland, 59-58. The Rams finally held a lead in the game. This short-lived triumph ended due to a foul by Flood, which sent Shyanne Sellers, UM ’25, to the free throw line where she evened the score at 59-59. The third quarter was sealed by a three-pointer by Miller, and Maryland reclaimed the lead, 62-59.

The Rams persisted and fought for the lead once again in the fourth. However, Maryland’s consistent shooting left Fordham stumbling, and the Rams’ missed open shots proved devastating for any hope of revival.

Sellers, Miller and Masonius drove Maryland to a predictable victory against the Rams. Still, the Rams proved worthy competitors, and the final score reflected the back and forth as the ranked

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

The Rams struggled offensively but were still able to rack up 22 points in the second quarter.

Terrapins escaped with a marginal 83-76 win.

The two teams’ shooting metrics told the story of the game.

Maryland performed significantly better than the Rams in terms of shooting. The Terrapins made 47% of their field goals and 82% of their free throws. While Fordham did perform better with their free throws — shooting 90% from the charity stripe — they failed to

make it to the line and only shot 11 compared to Maryland’s 28.

Fordham will next take on another impressive opponent on November 16th, when they face the Princeton University Tigers. The Tigers received votes in the most recent iteration of the Associated Press NCAA women’s basketball rankings and will be yet another test for the Rams in the budding 2022-23 campaign.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

November 16, 2022

Sports & Health

7

WTA Finals: A Recap

The Women’s Tennis Association tournament leaves fans and students buzzing

By MIRANDA SAENZ DE VITERI Contributing Writer

One fuzzy little green ball can discern a champion from a qualifier, and it can transform a competitor into a winner. This is the power of tennis.

The tennis world has recently turned over a new leaf, as renowned players such as Serena Williams and Roger Federer have stepped down from their acclaimed thrones, setting the stage for the next generation.

While this historic tennis season is now closing, one final tournament garnered attention from fans for its top-tier level of play: the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals.

At the conclusion of each season, the WTA hosts a competitive tournament with the top eight WTA-ranked players participating in the event. This year the finals were held in Fort Worth, Texas, featuring (in order of rank) Iga Świątek, Ons Jabeur, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Maria Sakkari, Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka and Daria Kasatkina, all competing for the title. The tournament is set up in a round-robin style. The player with the best record wins the tournament.

In the first rounds of the group stage, there was an immediate upset as Sabalenka (7) came back from a slow first set to take the win over Jabeur (2). The final was 3-6, 7-6, 7-5. This match was followed by Pegula (3), the 28-year-old American, against Greece’s Sakkari (5), squaring off in back-to-back tiebreaker sets, with Sakkari ultimately prevailing.

Then came a battle between up-and-coming U.S. tennis star Gauff (4) against French-favorite Garcia (6). After finally breaking serve in the first set, Garcia was able to convert into winning two straight sets. Last was Świątek (1) against Kasatkina (8). Świątek reminded audiences why she is ranked number one in the world by dominating with 6-2, 6-3 sets.

Some Fordham students who kept up with the finals comment-

ed on the players, providing their take on how the tournament might play out. “Świątek is looking unstoppable,” tennis fan Noah Hemley, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, said after the first round of matchups. “Her forehand is insane. I think the only players who could match that level of hitting might be Garcia or Sabalenka.”

The players continued to go head-to-head with one another, leading up to the semi-finals qualifiers. Jabeur and Sakkari met again for the fourth time of their careers, with the expectations of Jabeur’s triumph lingering on everyone’s radar, especially after making finals appearances in two grand slams — Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

“After Jabeur’s performance this year, I was sure that Jabeur would make it into the finals,” another tennis aficionado, Alexa Zeiber, FCLC ’25, noted.

However, Sakkari surprised the masses by shutting down Jabeur in straight sets of 6-2, 6-3.

“ It’s so interesting to

see that both Pegula and Gauff got knocked out early. Especially with home court advantage, it’s not often that you see players from their home country lose in tournaments. ”

Alexa Zeiber, FCLC ’25

Pegula and Sabalenka followed, with Sabalenka dominating the first set, leaving Pegula with her back against the wall, fighting to stay in the tournament in the next set. Pegula, with a great fight, was able to hold on to a 5-5 set until Sabalenka eventually broke serve,

CACTUS93 VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The Women’s Tennis Association Finals took place in Fort Worth, Texas, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 7.

advancing to the semi-finals with a win of 6-3, 7-5.

Following up, Świątek dominated Gauff, showing the young American why she has yet to be toppled from her throne; the Pole won in straight sets 6-3, 6-0.

Gauff’s loss left both Americans disqualified from the tournament; neither won a single match throughout the event.

Thus, the world’s No. 3 and 4 ranked players were dismissed from contention.

“It’s so interesting to see that both Pegula and Gauff got knocked out so early,” Hemley said. “Especially with home court advantage, it’s not often you see players from their home country lose in tournaments, showing the disparity in skill between them and their respective opponents.”

Garcia and Kasatkina clashed to wrap up the group stage, bringing out the true competitor in one another. Kasatkina took the first set 6-4, managing to break Garcia once. She was countered with a formidable response from Garcia, leading the next set 6-1 in Garcia’s favor. They went on to a third and deciding set, leading to a tiebreak where Garcia ultimately prevailed.

In the semi-finals, fans were immediately in for a treat with a great battle of powerful hitting between Sabalenka and Świątek.

To everyone’s surprise, Sabalenka shut down Świątek in the first set, capitalizing early and winning the set 6-2.

“ The tournament

showed why these players are the best of the best. ”

Noah Hemley, FCLC ’25

However, Świątek countered this deficit by mirroring the second set, taking back control and prevailing 6-2 over the Belarusian. In the third and deciding set, Sabalenka came out with a head of steam and defeated Świątek 6-1, advancing to the finals and becoming the third player this season to upset the top-ranked competitor.

“It’s rare to see anyone take down Świątek, especially with

the impressive season she’s been having,” Zeiber said. “The game was insane. Sabalenka definitely rose to the occasion.”

On the other side of the bracket, Garcia displayed poise and precision as she handled Sakkari easily, finishing up the semi-final matches 6-3, 6-2.

When Garcia and Sabalenka finally met head-to-head to battle for the title on Nov. 7, the two put their best foot forward, doing everything they could to stay on serve while also doing anything they could to break it.

The first set had no breaks and was soon sent into a tiebreaker, with Garcia pulling through, winning 7-6. As the second set began, Sabalenka was broken early, leaving her fighting during Garcia’s serves to level out the playing field. Despite strenuous efforts and tireless battles, Garcia finished things off, winning the championship 7-6, 6-4 over Sabalenka.

“The tournament showed why these players are the best of the best,” Hemley said. “Their level of play was extraordinary, and it shows that these eight are all of the same calibers.”

ROB KEATING VIA SHUTTERFLY PETER MENZEL VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

French phenom Caroline Garcia emerged from the Finals as the victor, winning the championship match 7-6, 6-4.

Seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka performed well enough to reach the final round of the event but fell just short of victory.

Your Guide to NYC Lesbian Bars

MIDTOW EAST

A rundown of the pros and cons of all the lesbian bars left in the city

JESSICA YU Asst. Opinions Editor

Lesbian bars are a sacred place for queer women. Straight bars are ... well, straight. They’re stifling — you feel like you’re being force-fed heteronormativity, even more so than everywhere else, and you certainly cannot kiss a girl without having at least a dozen creepy men stare at you.

Although a very different experience, gay bars are dominated by gay men, making them also not completely safe for queer women. Even if they are not openly hostile to queer women, it almost feels like there’s an unspoken rule that if you’re looking for fellow sapphics, you will not find them at typical gay bars. Just take a walk through Hell’s Kitchen, and you’ll see dozens of pride flags and gay men hanging outside late-night establishments, but sadly, no she’s and they’s.

After I turned 21, I began going to lesbian bars, and despite the fact that I’m not one for drinking, the atmosphere of these places is both exhilarating and healing at the same time. Nothing beats the feeling of finally being surrounded by queer women after searching for a sense of belonging for most of your life, especially considering how rare these spaces are.

As of 2021, there are only 21 lesbian bars remaining in the United States and only three in New York City. Well, The Woods is also a lesbian bar, but only on Wednesdays. So, I guess that technically makes it three and one-seventh lesbian bars, and I’ve been to all of them. If you’re queer, over 21 and looking for a night out with fellow sapphics, read on for my reviews on all the remaining lesbian bars in New York.

times is barely audible. The first time I went, they were playing throwback rock songs I didn’t recognize and couldn’t vibe to. The second time, it was pop songs that didn’t stand out and didn’t inspire any dance moves.

This, however, is definitely the best place to meet someone.

The space is intimate, allowing for conversation. You don’t have to pine for someone across the room, as they’re probably just a few feet from you, and there’s an understanding that people are there to mingle.

If you need some liquid courage before starting a conversation, the drinks are not too pricey.

Also, there’s no cover charge to get in.

2

1

Cubbyhole

Arguably the most wellknown lesbian bar on this list, Cubbyhole was originally known as DT’s Fat Cat and has been around since 1987, though it got its current name in 1994. It calls itself the “friendly neighborhood bar,” and while it’s primarily a lesbian bar, Cubbyhole welcomes non-lesbians, too. Located in the West Village, the space is small, quite literally like a cubbyhole.

There is often a long line outside, partially due to its limited availability inside and partially, I hypothesize, due to the promotions of their hot bartenders on TikTok. On a busy night, the wait to get inside can be as long as 40 minutes. Depending on your motives for going, it may or may not be worth the wait.

Inside, the bar takes up most of the space, with a couple bar stools and a few two-person tables. Its most notable feature is the collection of rainbow paper decorations hanging from the ceiling, giving the space a fun and youthful vibe.

This is contrasted by the jukebox, which brings an old school feel to the place.

Cubbyhole is strictly a bar, with no dance floor. Their music is not what you go for, as it’s often playing in the background and some-

Henrietta Hudson

About a 10-minute walk south from Cubbyhole is Henrietta Hudson, which is not only the oldest lesbian bar on this list but also the oldest in the entire country. They often host fun events, such as queer prom, drag comedy, “The L Word” trivia nights and karaoke nights.

Most nights, though, it’s just a giant dance party. Due to their proximity to each other and their totally different vibes, I know plenty of queer women go to both Cubbyhole and Henrietta’s on a night out. One major con of Henrietta’s is that it is the only bar on this list with a cover charge, costing $12 to get in.

When you arrive, you may be greeted by a group of older lesbians who guide you through the line to get in. Simply seeing the sight of older lesbians overwhelms me with joy — their existence is a testament to their resilience and a beacon of hope that there is a future for us in a world where hate crimes against queer women are still committed at alarming rates.

One time, I even witnessed one of the older lesbians assertively shoo away a group of straight people that were making a mockery of the place, a testament to their power.

The space itself reminds me of someone’s living room, with an exposed brick wall, cute nooks with cushioned window seats, colorful wallpaper and curtains in every window. The main room has a dancefloor, a bar and a DJ. Walk through the small hallway to the back room, and you’ll find another bar and a couple places to sit.

The rooms have multiple hooks on the wall where you can hang your coats.

The music is a good mix of pop, Latin pop and throwbacks.

Chances are you’ll hear some Bad Bunny, Pitbull, Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. If none of those are your jam, you could also request something at the DJ booth (if you can squeeze your way through the crowd of bodies on the dance floor).

If you want to start a conversation with a cute girl, this is not the place. But if you want to dance with your partner or wingman your friends, Henrietta’s is your best option.

3

Ginger’s Bar

Ginger’s Bar sits on a charming street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. On the newer side, Ginger’s Bar was opened in 2000 by an Irish woman named Sheila Frayne. It shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, like many queer bars across the country, but thankfully survived.

Like Henrietta’s, Ginger’s also hosts activities and events, including karaoke, gay trivia and pizza parties.

You’re less likely to find a line outside of Ginger’s. Once you enter, you’ll see a bar with a hallway leading to the back room with a well-decorated wall featuring queer art and a pool table in the center. Pool makes for a great bar activity, but unfortunately, the wait to play a game can be very long. When I went, there was a small blackboard on the wall with a list of 10 groups ahead of me. If you go on an emptier night, you might luck out with an empty table. Ginger’s also has a small backyard with plenty of seating options for people to sit and chat under strings of mini pride flags.

The atmosphere is very chill, with some music playing but no one dancing.

Around the pool table, you’ll see plenty of people sitting on benches making conversation with their friends. The demographic in Ginger’s is slightly older: more millennials, fewer college students. I even saw a pair of married women hanging out with a group of friends.

It seems like this is the best spot to go to if you already have a queer friend group, are at a more mature stage of life, or just want to have a simple, non-flirtatious conversation with other queer women. For those who are not a big fan of loud, crowded spaces but just want a chill queer space to hangout, Ginger’s is the place to go.

4

The Woods

Technically, The Woods does not identify as a lesbian bar. Instead, The Woods is your closeted “straight” friend who experiments on the down low but never talks about it.

Let me explain: Most nights of the week, The Woods is just a regular bar located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On Wednesdays, though, it’s a lesbian bar.

If you do a quick Google search, you’d have a hard time finding any information about lesbian Wednesdays at The Woods. The only reason I know about it is that I have lesbian friends who dragged me there on a Wednesday night. A Wednesday! I have to admit though, it was worth sacrificing my midweek slumber for.

After some digging, I have found only one source to confirm this information: an article

HUDSON YARDS

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CHINA

on all the lesbian bars and popup parties in New York City. Unlike pop-ups that don’t have a permanent location, The Woods Wednesdays is a regular occurrence, which is why I decided it’s worth including — that and the fact that it’s super freaking dope.

First of all, the music is fantastic. The DJ doesn’t take requests, and it’s not hard to see why. No one could possibly request a better selection of songs than what was already playing. When I went, every song was a hit and extremely danceable, from the moment I stepped foot inside to the moment I left.

In the room there is a spacious dance floor, with a friendly younger crowd that was quick to hype each other up whenever someone busted a good move.

Looking around, the demographic of The Woods was the most racially diverse compared to other bars on this list. You’ll also find pairs of queer women making out, so if you’re looking for a midweek rendezvous, you might get lucky at The Woods.

Next to the dance floor is the bar. There are three water jugs with plastic cups next to them on the bar, making it easy to stay hydrated.

The backyard space is huge.

Queer women and nonbinary people gather on the long picnic ta-

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

bles to smoke and converse. The chatter is loud, and everyone is squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder despite it being a large space. Even if it’s only for one night a week, The Woods is where I found myself surrounded by the largest groups of queer women I’ve ever seen. Behind the tables is an outdoor bar area where you can order food. If, like me, you get hungry easily, this is a huge perk.

The fact that they only give lesbians Wednesdays is frustrating, but if your schedule allows, a trip to The Woods is worth it. Whether you want to chat, dance, kiss or make friends, The Woods opens you up to plenty of possibilities.

There may not be a lot of lesbian bars left in the country, but New York is very lucky to have three. And a half-ish. I’m grateful to be able to access them easily and fortunate to have had good experiences at all of them.

Cubbyhole, Henrietta Hudson, Ginger’s Bar and The Woods all have unique vibes, so whatever it is you’re looking for in a queer space, you have a good chance of finding it.

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1

Much like its name would suggest, Cubbyhole is small and intimate, with an old school feel.

2

Henrietta Hudson is not only the oldest lesbian bar featured here, but is also the oldest in the entire country.

3

If you are looking for a more chill night, Ginger’s Bar might be the place for you.

4

The Woods might only be a lesbian bar on Wednesdays, but it is a worthwhile midweek adventure.

KIA FATAHI/THE OBSERVER

KIA FATAHIR/THE OBSERVER

ALICE MORENO/THE OBSERVER

ALICE MORENO/THE OBSERVER

Opinions Editors Ava Peabody Isabella Scipioni

Opinions

November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Is FLC’s Library Underfunded or Underused?

Fordham Lincoln Center’s library staff want students to know just how many resources they have at their disposal

With study rooms, quiet spaces and over 365,000 untouched books, QuinnX is a majorly untapped section of Quinn Library.

Different departments of the university provide support in all the ways they can: Office of Multicultural Affairs enrichment training programs, Career Center resume writing workshops and Campus Ministry mindfulness retreats, to name a few. It’s easy to write the library off as an ambiguous institution with unfulfilled promises and limited resources, but I’m here to tell you that getting help at the library is as easy as saying, “Hey! Please help me.”

FLC’s primary library, Quinn Library, is home to thousands of digital and print archives, novels, scripts, plays, movies and performances. When I spoke with Nicholas Alongi, the head of access, information and collection services, and operations at Quinn Library, he expressed widespread misunderstanding and neglect of the library, which is not limited to students but extends to full-time and adjunct faculty as well.

“There’s a lot of phenomenal services offered all throughout Fordham, and it’s not just students. I think there’s also

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Sentiments such as “We don’t get funded like Rose Hill does!” or “Of course, Rose Hill gets a new student center, and we don’t!” can be heard just about anywhere on Fordham Lincoln Center’s campus. Though grumbles about a lack of resources are valid, a question is presented: Are resources at Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) really underfunded, or just underused?

I’ve observed through various platforms that our generation is typically hesitant to believe that our calls for additional resources and overall change in institutions will be answered. As young people in a quickly changing world, it’s difficult to hand over issues we deem important to our representatives, officials or, in this case, university administrators. I share the same sentiments.

Though we aren’t tasked with solving these issues, we do need to do a little digging into what we consider important, whether that is state law, representation or how to do research for our Composition II class. Resources are available to help cross the bridge from problem to solution, especially here at FLC.

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Library services are available for Fordham students if they are willing to ask for help.

a lot of faculty who aren’t aware of everything that’s taking place too,” Alongi said. “There’s a ton of adjuncts coming on board, scrambling at the start of the semester. I think it takes a while to figure out all of the things they have at their fingertips.”

With study rooms, quiet spaces and over 365,000 untouched books, QuinnX is a majorly untapped section of Quinn Library. While the third floor of Quinn Library, a dedicated silent study space, usually provides more than enough space for students to complete their classwork during typical school weeks, QuinnX provides additional space during particularly busy periods. Alongi said he wishes more students would utilize this valuable resource.

“QuinnX is the ideal study space on this campus. If I were a student, that’s where I would be doing all of my projects purely because I like that quiet, classic library environment,” Alongi said. “I sometimes find students studying in the cafeteria or down by Student Involvement, and I always want them to know there are other options available for them.”

QuinnX is a precious space due to the sparse amount of Manhattan real estate set aside for quiet usage. For commuter students, QuinnX can be a silent lifeline among the regular hustle and bustle of FLC’s campus.

Despite the awkward placement and the unnerving presence of a security guard staffing the desk, QuinnX is a unique and friendly place. Over six years ago, the windowless QuinnX space was the main library for students and staff. When the Fordham Law School took over the newly built Maloney Library at 150 W. 62nd St., all three floors of the previous law library were renovated for undergraduate usage as Quinn Library. Though Quinn Library

QuinnX is often overlooked, but staff encourage students to come take advantage of it.

is primarily an undergraduate space, resources are also available for graduate students.

However, library staff realized there would not be enough space for their multitude of books while still allowing places for students to congregate and study. Quinn Library’s collection was split into books published since 2000 residing in the main Quinn Library space, with books published prior to 2000 staying in QuinnX. As for funding, the library has hundreds of subscriptions to databases, journals and newspapers ranging from medical research to original theater and dance performances. The library staff works hard to ensure students have the resources they need by tracking books between campuses and all over the city.

“ We want students to come

up and say ‘Help me.’ This is why we’re here and what we’re waiting for every day. ” Nicholas Alongi, head of access, information and collection services, and operations at Quinn Library

“We have staff chasing books all day long. Whether you’re in the Bronx or the Westchester campus or here, somebody can get that book for you too if it’s just not convenient,” Alongi said.

Lincoln Center students are independent, motivated achievers, which sometimes makes asking for help more difficult. The library staff has recognized this and wants to help FLC students achieve their highest potential.

Quinn Library has on-desk librarians during operating hours and a 24/7 chat to happily answer those 3 a.m. research questions.

“We want students to come up and say ‘Help me.’ This is why we’re here and what we’re waiting for every day.

We have a ton of resources,” Alongi said. There are over 2 million books, over 50,000 journals, over 60,000 e-books and many staff librarians waiting for students. “We want students to come and engage with us, whether it’s on the desk or doing it over the phone, Zoom, email, etc. Our students are very independent here. They kind of like to figure things out for themselves, but we do get that there are certain things that you just don’t know how to do.”

Despite the student consensus that FLC is the underfunded of the two campuses, a multitude of resources are available to students that aren’t being used to their fullest potential. They’re right at our fingertips. We just have to check them out.

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11

It’s Time to Say Bye to Biopics

Movies like ‘Elvis’ and ‘Blonde’ are just hypocritical, shallow ploys for cash and acclaim BIVAS THAPA Contributing Writer

Films about celebrities such as “Elvis” and “Blonde,” about Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe respectively, are seen as independent auteur visions, powerful artistic statements and showcases of fantastic performances.

However, it’s more accurate to categorize these movies as dumbed-down retellings of tragic stories for the sake of Hollywood elites earning golden trophies and a lot of money.

Baz Luhrmann’s biopic on the life of Elvis Presley, who is played by Austin Butler, glosses over Presley’s life and paints him as a tortured artist who just wants to sing but is crushed by “the system.” In “Blonde,” directed by Andrew Dominik, we see Ana de Armas’ Marilyn Monroe similarly suffocated by Hollywood, but she’s even less of a fully developed character. De Armas’ version of Marilyn has no complexity, and the movie focuses primarily on her state of suffering rather than deeply interrogating why she acts and behaves the way she does.

The best explanation that we get is a visualization of the neglect and abuse she suffered from her mother, but it isn’t sufficient and seems to just cast her character into the predictable stereotype as “another-girl-with-parental-issues.” Many viewers are repulsed by depictions of people like the one in “Blonde.” The fact that these movies achieve such mainstream success, however, speaks to how we have normal-

ized these retellings as inspired, astute performances when more often they are really just self-indulgent, materialistic and Oscar-baity.

Even though there are differences in both films’ depictions of celebrities being suffocated, they both relish in the imagery of their subjects’ powerlessness.

In “Elvis,” we see the tragic fall of the titular character, but it’s difficult to even call “Blonde” a tragedy. The movie presents itself like an inescapable nightmare that only emits pure misery.

Our male heroes are abusive yet tragic figures, while our female characters are shown as victims of abuse in constant misery. Whether we’re watching Elvis trapped in the hotel he can’t escape because of “contractual obligations” or Marilyn being torn apart by trauma, memory and nightmare, both films are obsessed with showing stars being miserable and dehumanized.

Butler’s and de Armas’ choices to play these characters are also worth calling into question. The actors’ intent is very clear in that they simply want the golden trophy — the Oscar. We are programmed to think it is out of these actors’ pure artistic intent — that deep down, regardless of their six- to seven-figure salaries, they just wanted the chance to interpret iconic roles. Or better, they deeply cared about Monroe and Presley. But who would want to embody such tragic and miserable characters with all that makeup and long set hours if it wasn’t for the goal of recognition?

This tendency to defend actors’ choices, grounding them

in the belief that they’re doing it for their artistic and altruistic interests, is a cover-up for the sad fact that their primary interest is monetary. In movies that criticize spectacle and the exploitation of artists, these performers are intent on climbing atop the hierarchy that ensures this toxic system continues. They’ll criticize the sexism and the toxicity of the system while reaping the benefits of it.

This hypocrisy isn’t only extended to the actors but also the directors themselves. Luhrmann’s style is ostentatious. It condenses and edits away the intricate and complex lives of talented individuals into digestible tidbits and vignettes to fit the movie structure. Luhrmann offers nothing more than a coked-up visual interpretation of Presley’s Wikipedia page. It’s a three-hourlong Instagram Reels montage of the glitz and glamor associated with Presley’s career, and a dumbed-down advertisement for the brand of Elvis. The film counters the dehumanization of people into products by, ironically, commodifying its subject.

In the same respect, “Blonde” counters the male gaze with more male gaze. Why does Andrew Dominik think showing close-up, nude shots of Marilyn offers a legitimate critique of the patriarchy? A solution: Don’t focus the camera or use cinematic techniques that are qualified within the movie as “monstrous,” but rather use new devices of storytelling beyond the sexualization of Monroe. Stop making a circus out of stories that are trying to criticize the entertainment industry.

NYCKOLE LÓPEZ LEÓN/THE OBSERVER

These movies aren’t an accidental miscommunication of the tragic fall of good-natured artists and the terrors of the male gaze.

Rather, their core intentions are to indulge in the sensory experiences of tragedy and mayhem so that audiences everywhere can feel special. These movies give us the impression that we are peeking into an unseen truth — akin to people watching a crime scene or looking at art in a museum.

Essentially, it’s voyeuristic eye candy.

These films want viewers to talk with disdain among their peers about the tragedy of Presley and the misery of Monroe — but also about how great the movies about them are — so that they too can be inspired to watch

this content in order to participate in the discourse. It isn’t provocative out of pure artistic merit, but rather in order to entice more consumption.

The films are vehicles for stuffy awards, spaces for directors to be self-indulgent, and a hypocritical visual feast for the masses. The pretension around these movies, as if they are anything more than advertisements, is ridiculous. In a culture where everything is a product, let’s stop pretending that these movies rise above the consumerist fantasy.

So much of the bile emitted onto the screen is just frenzied nightmare fuel that we watch because Hollywood needs more cash, prestige and big golden statues to put in their cabinets.

Elon Musk Carelessly Indulges in Foreign Policy

The world’s richest man faced backlash when he determined that the war in Ukraine is not profitable enough JILLIAN ARENA Contributing Writer

Elon Musk became the wealthiest person in the world on Oct. 25, 2021. Five months later, Vladimir Putin mobilized Russian troops and invaded Ukraine. Shortly after, SpaceX (Musk’s privately-owned space flight company) began providing a newly invaded Ukraine with its global internet service: Starlink.

Since then, Starlink satellites have become crucial to frontline communication in Ukrainian resistance efforts against Russian invasion. However, the security of Ukraine’s internet access was threatened on Friday, Oct. 14,

2022, when Musk tweeted that SpaceX could not “fund the existing system indefinitely.”

This declaration came days after the billionaire sparked outrage with a Twitter poll urging Ukraine to reach a peace agreement with Russia by ceding Crimea. By encouraging additional Crimean elections and claiming the separation of Crimea from Russia was a “mistake,” Musk implied the citizens of Crimea actually desire to belong to Russia.

The Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014 but remains internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory. Crimea’s ethnic makeup is diverse, and includes large populations of both Russians

CLAIRE SEKA/THE OBSERVER

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) and Elon Musk (right) are at odds.

and Ukrainians. Putin uses the presence of Russians in Crimea to claim that the peninsula should belong to Russia per popular demand, the argument Musk has adopted. However, the referendums in Crimea and similar territories, overseen by the Kremlin, have been denounced by Ukraine as rigged through coercion and Russian threats of violence. The majority of Ukrainian citizens clearly do not want to belong to Russia.

No individual should assume the power to recklessly influence one of the most abhorrent acts of imperialism in recent history.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Musk by publishing his own Twitter poll asking users if they would prefer Musk supported Russia or Ukraine. Ukrainian diplomat Andriy Melnyk even told Musk to “f--- off” via Twitter. When asked why he threatened Starlink, Musk tweeted that he was just following Melnyk’s recommendation.

This petty Twitter controversy happened amid Musk’s purchase of the social media platform and after an alleged meeting with Putin. Musk denies Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer’s claims that he spoke with Putin about Ukraine preceding his

tweet encouraging the surrender of Crimea — however, the billionaire’s “peace” advocacy was swiftly rejected and labeled Kremlin propaganda by antiwar proponents and Ukrainian officials, and it was praised by prominent Russian imperialists.

After widespread public backlash, Musk retracted his request for the U.S. military to take on the cost of funding Starlink, tweeting sarcastically that “even though Starlink is still losing money & other companies are getting billions of taxpayer $, we’ll just keep funding Ukraine govt for free.”

It’s important to note that 85% of the 20,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine are already being paid for in part by countries like the U.S. and Poland. Musk likes to imply he’s selflessly bearing the brunt of the cost, but in reality major powers are supporting the expensive endeavor. It appears as though Musk only tried to back out of his commitment because the violent humanitarian crisis in Ukraine was not profitable enough for the man who just bought Twitter for $44 billion.

This contentious situation brings a broader issue into question. Why does an individual billionaire feel entitled to involve his company in foreign policy? How can the fate of a country at war be influenced by the will of one man? How has the U.S. created an atmosphere in which an American celebrity believes himself qualified to potentially cripple a resistance movement overseas?

Musk’s crass impulsivity is one of many examples in which the idolization of the exorbitantly rich has adverse social or

political consequences. Rather than look to our government and elected officials to implement meaningful, material solutions, many prefer relying on the charity of corporate America.

Billionaire fan clubs, such as those who venerate Elon Musk, expect these innately exploitative men and their corporations to solve society’s most pressing problems, ignoring how unqualified they may be.

Musk got involved during the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He was celebrated for his apparent selflessness but quickly trivialized one of the most blatant cases of violent imperialism since the 20th century as soon as it became unprofitable. Elon Musk is aware of the rigged elections and intimidation taking place in Crimea, and presumably, he fully understands the increased violence that would ensue should Ukraine cede Crimea. Still, he used his influence to threaten Ukraine’s internet access after publishing a Twitter poll publicly announcing his support for these elections — and therefore, for the Kremlin agenda.

Just as the majority of the world’s wealth should not rest in the hands of one man, no individual (especially not a businessman ill-versed in foreign policy) should assume the power to recklessly influence one of the most abhorrent acts of imperialism in recent history. If Musk truly cares about the autonomy of Ukrainian citizens, he should stop spreading Kremlin propaganda and instead fulfill, without complaint, his commitment to providing Ukrainians with internet access.

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Opinions

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November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Does Fordham Promote Healthy Eating Habits?

Our campus must make substantial changes to on-campus dining to improve students’ relationships with food KELLY SCHWINT Contributing Writer

Content warning: discussion of eating disorders.

As a first-year student, I arrived at Fordham full of worries about adjusting to life in New York City, balancing my course load and making friends. Despite my past struggles, my relationship with food wasn’t at the top of my list of stressors. However, even though I was a year and a half into my recovery from an eating disorder when I started the school year, I still felt a bit of regression in my progress. The extensive hours of orientation left me with little time to eat and a hunger in my stomach.

I was hopeful that once I settled into a routine, my eating habits would return to what they were before the first few days of college — healthy, with regular snacks and meals.

After my first trip to the Community Dining Hall, I knew this would not be the case. To my surprise, the dining hall listed cal-

ories on every item on the menu.

Calories are usually listed on food items in order to fight obesity. A recent study from the National Library of Medicine found that 88% of New Yorkers who noticed the labeling were influenced to choose the option with the lower number.

The adverse effects of this strategy are often overlooked.

There is a healthier way to go about losing weight (if medically necessary) than hyperfocusing on numbers and restricting your food intake. So many college students struggle with disordered eating, with some finding comfort in restricting what they eat due to an unpredictable future. With stressors all around us, why are we pressured into focusing even more on food?

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 10-20% of female college students and 4-10% of male college students suffer from eating disorders including, but not limited to, anorexia, bulimia, orthorexia and binge eating. In addition, 4.4–5.9% of teens enter college with a preexisting, untreated eating disorder. Calorie counting, a practice

encouraged by listing calories on menus, can lead to and worsen eating disorders. Whether or not you have a diagnosed eating disorder, you can find those numbers floating around in your head for days or weeks.

While some might be able to ignore the numbers and continue with their day, others could feel obligated to choose the lower caloric option or even not eat at all.

The impact of these menus is more harmful than beneficial. It should be fairly simple to value students’ physical health without disregarding their mental health.

Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus also has very few dining options that are open late. I acknowledge that late hours are difficult for staff; however, the limited dining choices at night create a bigger predicament for those who struggle with disordered eating. A few places stay open past 8 p.m.: SVK, Argo Tea and Cronin Café are available until 10 p.m. a few days a week. But the main dining locations, Ram Café and the Community Dining Hall, are only open until 7 or 8 p.m., depending on the day. Many students have

LAUREN MOON/THE OBSERVER

Fordham’s dining policies are not conducive to a healthy relationship with food.

classes as late as 8:45 p.m., leaving them with few places for dinner on campus, if any.

By contrast, the Rose Hill campus is home to Queen’s Court, open until 12 a.m., and Urban Kitchen, which is open until 1 a.m. Many other universities have dining choices open late as well.

New York University has on-campus food available until 11 p.m., and Columbia University has dining options for students open until 1 a.m.

In addition, students who live in McKeon Hall, a building with only one communal kitchen, are left with no choices late at night but to eat off campus or eat whatever snacks they have in their dorm bedrooms (pizza rolls aren’t exactly the best source of nutrients). McKeon residents are required to purchase expensive meal plans, but there is an insufficient window in the day for students to take advantage of them. With the city’s costly food prices, it is unrealistic to expect students to frequently eat meals off campus.

Some students may also feel unsafe going out alone in the city at night to buy food or groceries.

The short hours at the dining halls limit students with eating disorders and encourage all students to have a set of rules to follow around food. We are forced to eat depending on the time rather than how we feel. Rules are an impactful symptom of eating disorders, as they tend to worsen the illness.

Instead of eating based on the time of day, many people practice intuitive eating, which is an approach to food focused on making choices that feel good, allowing you to nonjudgmentally understand your body. Intuitive eating experts encourage those with unhealthy relationships with food to eat when it feels necessary and to “honor your hunger.”

Even if you can grab a bite before the dining hall closes,

you have to eat quickly, and you cannot take your food elsewhere.

When students cannot bring food outside the community sitting area, it creates discomfort for those who might need to eat in a safe space, like their room or with a supportive group of friends.

Many people with eating disorders feel uncomfortable eating in public areas, as they are afraid they are being watched or judged.

The options at the dining hall also fluctuate from day to day. Those who struggle with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) can run into challenges when their “safe” foods are unavailable on the menu.

Although the dining hall clearly cannot accommodate everyone’s food preferences, changing the options every day makes it impossible for those with eating disorders to plan, which is regularly suggested by therapists when encountering a possibly triggering experience.

Despite this dangerous situation, there is a lack of resources on campus for eating disorders.

There are no licensed counselors on the Lincoln Center campus who specialize in eating disorders or have experience with them, only interns who have an interest in these disorders. The good news is that a registered dietitian, Susana Debbe, who specializes in eating disorders, allergies and dietary restrictions, can be seen on both campuses and on Zoom.

Although it is a pain to have to continue to push for resources and support for those with mental illnesses, continuing to do so is the only option. Putting a Band-Aid on a broken bone is not enough to fix the national surge in eating disorders. It takes preventing and treating illnesses with intuitive strategies and education to help those who are struggling. Fordham cannot save students everywhere, but the least it can do is support the ones at this school.

Ask Em: What’s in a Name?

Should I pursue a relationship with someone who has the same name as my ex?

EMILY ELLIS Online Editor

Dear Em, I recently matched with this girl on Bumble and she has the same name as my ex. She seems really awesome, and I’ve enjoyed talking to her so far, but I get startled every time I see her name pop up on my phone. Is it weird if I continue pursuing a relationship with her? Will my ex find it weird if we ever make it official?

Sincerely, Stumped Swiper Dear Stumped Swiper, Names are arbitrary, but emotions associated with them are not.

After dating someone and developing an emotional connection with them, it is only fair that their name will remind you of your experiences and memories with them. So while it’s easy to say that names don’t mean anything, it’s useless to pretend that it doesn’t impact your experience communicating with someone.

If you like talking to this person and you see a future with them, your best bet is to give

MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER

them a nickname. Pet names or nicknames are great ways to differentiate between people, and they might help your mind create space between your past partner and prospective future ones.

Regardless, always communicate with your prospective partner about your desire to call them by a nickname and ensure that they are comfortable with that name.

If they are not, you can always stick it out until they become the

primary person that you associate with the name.

Similarly, be honest with your partner about how weird you find the situation. While it might seem like a difficult conversation, especially early on in the talking stage, it will help your partner understand your perspective. Hopefully, they are empathetic to your past experiences.

There is nobody at fault for this, and nobody did anything

wrong. While the situation is surely uncomfortable in a multitude of ways, both your past and present partner will have to come to terms with the situation. Rather than paying attention to how your ex and your current partner are the same, focus on the ways that they are different. Make sure your current partner knows that you view her as her own independent being rather than an extension of your ex. You can do this by sharing

new experiences with her and refraining from talking about past romantic experiences. Nobody likes to feel like they are being compared to past partners, so ensure that you adequately address those concerns through both your words and your actions.

In your question, you ponder how your ex might feel when she discovers you are dating someone with the same name. While it is certainly an interesting situation, if you’re still worried about what your ex might think, maybe consider that you aren’t completely over that relationship. It is completely normal to care about what an ex thinks, but that shouldn’t be your only motivation for dating someone new. Make sure you are not pursuing people with the same name as an ex to inspire jealousy in past partners.

Lastly, if you can’t overcome the awkwardness of dating someone with the same name as a past partner, it is okay to move on. There are many other people on dating apps that you can find connections with. Stay true to your gut, and if your gut says that it is too weird to develop an emotional connection with someone who has the same name as an ex, that is entirely okay.

Everyone is allowed to have boundaries, even if they seem irrational to others.

Arts & Culture Editors Isabella Gonzalez Olivia Stern

Arts & Culture

November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

‘Tartuffe:’ A Gorgeous Exploration of Illusion and Delusion

Fordham Theatre Mainstage presents French playwright Molière’s religious drama in a revolutionary light

By LOLA CRAVATH Staff Writer

Fordham Theatre Mainstage first welcomed guests on Nov. 10 to the theatrical performance of a lifetime: “Tartuffe,” freshly set in the 1980s.

The play, which was originally written in 1664, takes audiences on a fresh exploration of family dynamics. Enabled by daring creative choices, the play explores religious deception, sexual deviance, patriarchy and the struggles of trans women of color, all over the course of its two and a half hour run time. The play is an old, rhyme-y masterpiece turned modern and made brilliant by every member of its cast.

“Tartuffe” is about a military family in the ’80s. Their life has been infiltrated by a religious enigma in the form of fraudulent Tartuffe. Having wooed the head of the family, Orgon, with his pious appearance, Tartuffe wreaks havoc on every aspect of their life. He threatens their financial stability, their home and, frequently, their personal autonomy.

Perhaps most torturous, Orgon is blind to everything until he is painfully past the point of no return. Tartuffe holds power over him and plays that power so well it’s sickening.

The play’s leading family contains a variety of beautifully developed characters, but outside of the immediate family, their house maid steps to the forefront. The maid Dorine, played by Raekwon Fuller, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, is a force to be reckoned with.

In this adaptation, the maid is portrayed as a Black trans wom-

COURTESY OF JAMES BARTHOLOMEW

Trystan Edwards (left), FCLC ’24, and Raekwon Fuller (right), FCLC ’23, play Madame Pernelle and Dorine, respectively.

an, and her experiences throughout the script are given new depth through this creative choice. This adaptation also chooses to center her role to an extent many other productions have not.

“She’s a servant, but she’s the one driving the story,” Fuller said.

“So, to explore what it means for a Black trans woman to be taking on the brunt of this play was very interesting, very intriguing.”

This decision on the part of director Terrence I. Mosley meshed both beautifully, and painfully, with the 1980s setting. This era, in all of its beige and Reagan-obsessed glory, was hostile not only to trans women, but also to people of color. The endurance of physical violence, abusive language and misgendering, while loyal to the original script, are used to reach out

to a modern audience. Dorine is a testament to the unique struggles of the genderqueer experience, namely in an environment void of basic respect.

“Even if it does not say that Dorine is a trans woman in the script, there are so many elements in the script that contribute to not only the trans experience, but the genderqueer experience,” Fuller said. “Experimenting, doing new things and experiencing the violence perpetuated against that group of people.”

Despite being an emblem of the genderqueer struggle, Dorine is far from a victim. She continually warns the family of the dangers of Tartuffe, encourages a sullen Mariane, played by Natalia Guedes, FCLC ’25, to stand firm against her father’s pressures, and maintains the household despite a

jarring lack of respect and gratitude. She is continually correct and content in being right, even if she goes entirely unappreciated.

“She is not an angry Black woman,” Fuller emphasized. “She is a powerful Black woman who has so much to say and knows what needs to be done.”

Beyond Dorine, the casting and depth in each character is striking from the first to the final moments. Actor Tyler Bey, FCLC ’24, who plays Tartuffe, laughed when asked who else he would play in the show if given the chance. It is apparent that everyone’s pure mastery of their respective role is too impressive a feat to challenge.

According to Bey, at a first glance over the script, some faculty worried that the show’s characters read a little too flat. However, all of this changed as the roles

were given over to the actors, and the depth that lay within was brought out in full.

“Just watching them work and discover their characters and their point of views ... is very active and not flat at all,” Bey said of their castmates. “It’s not something I would have discovered, but it’s there. It’s there.”

For Bey, his own process in discovering Tartuffe has been equally active and, for him, is still ongoing. Though Tartuffe is the clear antagonist, both Bey and Mosley wanted to avoid a “mustache twirling, charlatan schemer.” They demanded something more complex.

“Terrence and I had this idea of: what if he’s being honest, until he’s not,” Bey explained. “Instead of someone who’s just manipulative throughout.”

They both wanted to portray a human who does a bad thing in the end, but with motives that may have varied throughout this show. Despite the play being packed with digs implying his pure corruption, the vision was actually to combat that exact perception. This choice communicates a greater faith in humanity’s goodness as well as the dire reality of temptation’s potent sway.

All in all, “Tartuffe” is a show that poses questions to its audience. It challenges viewers to examine the influences in their lives and the forces of corruption they may be blindly ruled by. Viewers leave having learned something not only about themselves but about the often silent struggles of others. It is a force for contemplation, for reflection and ultimately, for change.

‘Beetlejuice’ Will Lower Its Curtain in January

After a brief rerun, the beloved show about death is among the number of Broadway shows that will close in early 2023

By JULIA JARAMILLO Contributing Writer

It’s a packed house at the neon-lit Marquis Theatre on Halloween weekend. A handful of audience members have donned red gowns, green hair dye and various articles of clothing patterned in black-and-white stripes. The giant marquee sign on stage reads “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.” Unfortunately, saying the name once more will cease to summon the iconic demon after Jan. 8, 2023.

Despite humble beginnings with its 2018 premiere in Washington, D.C., “Beetlejuice” has grown to become a deeply loved fan-favorite among the musical theater community.

The 1988 original Tim Burton film follows a young, married and recently deceased couple, the Maitlands, as they try to scare away the new inhabitants of their home, the Deetz. They implore the help of eccentric “bio-exorcist” ghost, Beetlejuice (spelled “Betelgeuse”), who can be summoned by saying his name three times. While the beloved film is fun and enjoyable in its own right, the musical (ironically) puts a much more lively and heartfelt spin on the story.

Although it premiered less than five years ago, the show is no stranger to revivals. In 2019, the Shubert Organization booted it from the Winter Garden Theater in favor of “The Music Man” due to poor ticket sales. It seemed hopeless when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down a number of Broadway shows. However, similar to other

JULIA JARAMILLO/THE OBSERVER

“Beetlejuice” will have had 679 performances when it closes on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on Jan. 8, 2023.

shows such as “Six,” “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Beetlejuice” gained immense popularity through social media. With TikTok reenactments, Youtube fan animations and a mural’s worth of fan art, “Beetlejuice” was revived in April 2022 to eager crowds.

Unfortunately, the revival will not last. Alongside other shows, including “Phantom of the Opera,” “Dear Evan Hansen” and “The Music Man,” it was announced in September that “Beetlejuice” would be closing its doors early next year. By its closing night on Jan. 8, “Beetlejuice” will have had 679 performances.

The pandemic took a heavy toll on Broadway. And perhaps rising inflation and rising crime in New York City led to lower tourism, and thus, ticket sales. Regardless, it’s no

surprise that “Beetlejuice” was part of the bunch.

Originally capitalized for $21 million, the show itself is an eye candy spectacle of props, effects, lighting and transforming sets.

There’s even a giant animatronic snake. “Beetlejuice”’s topsy-turvy backgrounds burst with character.

The most impressive set is the Maitlands’ home, which undergoes three alterations throughout the show. Between scenes, the crew switches out furniture, decor and wallpaper as the various owners make renovations. What was once a homey country setting turns into a fresh, modern household.

Yet somehow, with each version, the whimsical, Tim Burton feeling never leaves. For quick on-stage transformations, lights are shined upon the sets and change the entire

scene’s mood. This change helps portray Beetlejuice’s chaos-bringing powers.

The musical’s departure from the film’s more macabre, albeit comedic, brooding setting isn’t the only thing that is different. The events and all the characters are altered in some shape or form — and not just with an added song or two.

Writers Scott Brown, Anthony King and Eddie Perfect expand and give much more depth to the already loved cast.

Instead of the Maitlands being the focus, the heart and soul of the musical is the Deetz’s teenage daughter, Lydia, currently played

by Elizabeth Teeter. The show opens with her at the funeral of her mother, who isn’t even mentioned in the film, and she is properly introduced after the Maitlands die.

Shades of Winona Ryder’s enduring, deadpan film character are still there. However, now, the audience is also given, as stated in both the film and musical, a “strange and unusual” but grieving young girl.

Delia, Lydia’s stepmother in the movie, is originally an egocentric perfectionist who makes horrible avant-garde sculptures and constantly berates Lydia. In the musical, Delia also has terrible design taste but is now Lydia’s air-headed life coach. Their relationship is still strained, but it’s clear that she genuinely means well and cares for the Deetz family.

Most notably, the crude and mischievous Beetlejuice, played by Alex Brightman, has a much more prominent role. Constantly manipulating the Deetzs and the Maitlands for his freedom, his antics and witty self-aware lines never failed to elicit laughter from the audience. However, rather than just being a mayhem-loving demon, his behavior stems from being neglected in his youth. This added element of his character not only makes him sympathetic but also allows for more comedic moments and fun dynamics with the rest of the cast.

Brightman’s more unhinged take on the character, for which he was nominated for a Tony, makes it all the more enjoyable.

“Beetlejuice” the musical makes many improvements to a well-loved classic. It’s no surprise that it has become so adored online. Fortunately for fans, the show will go on a yearlong North American tour starting this December, a month before its curtains close on Broadway.

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Arts & Culture

November 16, 2022

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

The Fashion Studies Program Looks Forward: Professor Allison Pfingst in Conversation

Fordham’s fashion studies administrator talks self-presentation and social media in the liberal arts arena

By MADELEINE SIGNORE Contributing Writer

For Allison Pfingst, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’14 and current professor of fashion studies at Fordham, the university’s fashion studies program isn’t just an impressive amalgamation of disciplines ranging from finance to fine arts, nor is it simply one of the university’s most rapidly expanding programs — it’s a homecoming of sorts, the fruit of years of Pfingst’s labor.

Much of this labor happened close to home, both in the halls of the Lowenstein Center as well as museums scattered around Manhattan. As an undergraduate art history student insistent upon writing all of her papers on fashion, and more recently as an adviser and administrator of fashion studies at Fordham, the intersection of art, fashion and education has long been a cornerstone of Pfingst’s academic and professional careers.

“ If you want to be at the forefront of what’s going on with fashion, you need to understand the context it’s created in.”

Allison Pfingst, FCLC ’14 and professor of fashion studies

After graduating from Fordham in 2014, Pfingst worked in art galleries, later receiving an accreditation from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in collections management. Further study of dress and textiles history led her to Scotland, where she completed her postgraduate studies in 2017 at the University of Glasgow.

Fashion Studies, Full Circle A comprehensive background in art history informed Pfingst’s approach to crafting the fashion studies program, but she considers her time as a Fordham student to be the most valuable preparation for her current role. The current fashion studies program only existed in theory during Pfingst’s undergraduate years.

“We were very vocal, those of us fashion girlies back in the day, about wanting more,” she said.

At the time, the only offering was a singular course in fashion design, taught by a Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) graduate and the then-director of the theatre department. Since then, fashion studies has blossomed not only into a myriad of interdisciplinary courses but also into a minor at Lincoln Center with a prolific community.

The fashion studies program boasts roughly 120 students whose minors are officially declared. Pfingst anticipates the number will increase in coming years.

She attributes the program’s popularity, affirmed by a sizable influx of students declaring a fashion studies minor, to the ways in which our world has become highly visual, amplified by, or perhaps stemming from, social media.

“This idea of self-presentation has become so central,” Pfingst stated. “I have kids coming who have, literally, millions of followers on social media. And even if, you know, it’s a few dozen, or a few hundred, or a few thousand, you’re being seen by so many people, all the time.”

Pfingst intimately knows the value of the student voice. Since her days of advocacy as an undergraduate, she’s been focused on building the program that students want.

“It’s very Fordham from start to finish, with a lot of alumni involvement and a lot of student involvement,” she said.

Clothing in Context The program frequently markets itself as one that teaches fashion in context, an idea of which Pfingst is a fierce proponent. She described the phrase as the notion that a piece of clothing is not solely aesthetic.

“You can’t separate it from the person wearing it,” she said.

“You can’t separate them from the body, from the time period it was created in, from the culture that was surrounding it.”

From this vantage point, fashion, and the history that accompanies it, becomes intimate, personal and perhaps more accessible to the modern student.

According to Pfingst, teaching fashion in context isn’t only valuable for fashion studies students.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ALLISON PFINGST

About 120 students at Fordham University are officially declared fashion studies minors, and Pfingst hopes to increase that number in the next few years.

She believes that students interested in current trends and in the constant breadth of change that characterizes the fashion industry should also seek an understanding of the larger picture.

variety of sources, she also hopes that they understand the value of self expression as well as fashion’s capacity to aid an individual in presenting the most authentic version of themselves.

at Fordham is holistic and, given the nature of the minor program, inextricably linked to academic fields outside of the fashion arena.

“ You have your

Humanities Through a Fresh Lens

that we can allow some more flexibility and kind of personalization within the minor and hopefully, some more overlap between the minor and different majors. ”

theology, your politics, your social sciences, but where the rubber hits the road is in how we present ourselves. All those ideas were kind of abstract until they met humanity, until they met the human body. ”

Allison Pfingst, FCLC ’14 and professor of fashion studies

“If you want to be at the forefront of what’s going on with fashion, you need to understand the context it’s created in,” she explained, clarifying that such an understanding “requires an understanding of the other cultural factors.”

While Pfingst hopes fashion studies students graduate with practical skills like the ability to synthesize information from a

“Sometimes everything we learned about in history is so big. It’s the king, it’s the war, it’s these extraordinary, once in a lifetime things,” Pfingst said. “But everyone has woken up and chosen what to wear, put on clothes, brushed their hair.”

The interdisciplinary nature of fashion studies is quite literally woven into the fabric of the program (no pun intended). The courses are hosted by a variety of departments, from “Fashion as Communication” under the communications and culture umbrella to “Fashion and Art in the Modern Age” held by the art history department.

Pfingst explained that a lack of photographs, especially prior to the 19th century, makes the study of art history in relation to fashion critical. Any understanding of historical dress, she argued, comes from “paintings, drawings, sculpture, etc. So it’s really important to be able to understand the mechanics and the history of the art.”

While students interested in the design and synthesis of clothing are encouraged to take handson courses like Fashion Design, the fashion studies program has a decidedly academic focus — one that’s highly informed by FCLC’s liberal arts curriculum.

According to Pfingst, real world application is central to and inextricable from the fashion studies pedagogy.

“You have your theology, your politics, your social sciences, but where the rubber hits the road is in how we present ourselves. All those ideas were kind of abstract until they met humanity, until they met the human body,” she said.

A Bright Future for Fashion Studies

Allison Pfingst, FCLC ’14 and current professor of fashion studies at Fordham, is accredited in collections management by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

The liberal arts nature of Fordham’s course offerings also distinguishes the university’s program from the plethora of fashion and design schools riddled throughout New York City.

“We’re not teaching you how to sew,” she said.

Instead, the program “is meant to be a broad scope, from creation through selling.” Fashion studies

“ We’re looking at ways

Allison Pfingst, FCLC ’14 and professor of fashion studies

“We know we’re not FIT or Parsons, which have very different focuses; the kind of transitioning between the fashion industry itself and the more academic side of fashion study I think has definitely been helpful when developing the program,” she said.

In fashion studies courses, a unique dynamic is at play — the convergence of traditional academic fields, like art history or business, merge with cornerstones of the digital age, such as TikTok and influencer culture, making for a dynamic, unprecedented intellectual landscape.

As for fashion studies’ future?

Look out for expanded course offerings and, down the line, a new major. Pfingst is hopeful about the program’s capacity for intersection with a broader swath of fields of study so that students are able to complete the necessary courses.

“We’re looking at ways that we can allow some more flexibility and kind of personalization within the minor and hopefully, some more overlap between the minor and different majors,” she said.

Pfingst believes that people are starting to understand the power of self-presentation “in creating an identity and a sense of self.”

She hopes, quite fervently, that students see their interests represented in the curriculum and feel inspired to engage with them.

“I think it’s really gratifying and validating for students when they come to Fordham and realize that we are taking this very seriously, and our courses are considering this topic seriously,” she said.

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November 16, 2022

Arts & Culture

15

Fordham Studio’s ‘The Moors’ Perfectly Suited Its Titular Environment

The play is an illuminating inquiry into the complexities of human emotion after being starved of it for so long ‘THE MOORS’ from page 1

McCollum also credited Silverman, who presented the idea that “‘The Moors’ is not at all about queer politics ... moreso, there’s a loneliness ... an openness to change ... to being more than one thing at the same time. These are things I associate with my own experience of being queer.”

The story’s players include the cold and brutish Agatha and her younger sister Hudley. The sisters live with their maid, who goes by many names and performs many duties, all at the whim of what Agatha demands. As each person is alone and inconsequential, they are driven by their loneliness to accept connection in any form it arrives.

The estate operates to Agatha’s every will, something particularly irritating to her sister who is desperate to become anything. Hudley, played by Matt Green, FCLC ’24, desires nothing more than to

be known. Subjected to neglect and critique from her sister and with no other companionship, she turns to a diary, which she reads out loud at any opportunity that presents itself.

Hudley is particularly enthralled by the arrival of the governess Emilie, eager for a companion, until Emilie and everyone else diverts her attention to Agatha. The rejection of this companionship spurs Hudley’s hatred and resentment toward Agatha, a dynamic observed and taken advantage of by the maid, played by Isabella Acuña, FCLC ’25.

Emilie, played by Anne Lois Bullington, FCLC ’25, undergoes a transformation in the moors. Upon realizing the man she has been compelled to love through written correspondence is, in reality, the cruel mistress of the household, her initial heartbreak morphs into a savage tenderness for the woman.

The reconciliation grounded by the harsh nature of the environment

spurs on Emilie’s reclamation of autonomy and personhood, making her an actor of circumstance rather than a victim of occurrence.

Ryan Murphy, FCLC ’25, portrays Agatha with a perfect balance of harsh and soft lines, her acting breathing life into Agatha’s projection onto the moors — savage, wild, turbulent. Murphy’s performance is perfectly controlled, illuminating Agatha’s need to keep herself tame by allowing a measured cruelty.

Murphy gives an expert portrayal of Agatha’s shock and disarmament when this affection is returned.

She never forfeits the regimented viciousness of Agatha but reveals a selective softness simultaneously.

Her performance is a true study of conflicting human emotion.

Persuasion becomes centered as a cornerstone of the play, as each character’s desire to be seen leaves them desperate for a manipulated affection and malleable to the

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HELEN HYLTON

The show opened on Nov. 6 and ran through Nov. 11 at Fordham’s Studio Theatre.

wills of others. Each character’s loneliness feeds off one another and leaves them straining for what breeds the connection they so yearn for. Even Mastiff feels this loneliness, desperate for love in any form and willing to do anything to secure it.

The Mastiff, played by Asa Nestlehutt, FCLC ’24, encounters a Moor-Hen, played by Melissa Bautista, FCLC ’24, after she becomes injured from a crash landing, a frequent occurrence in the moors.

Mastiff and Moor-Hen rarely interact with other characters, but their story serves as a fabling of the larger plot. Nestlehutt plays the Mastiff with desperation culminating in aggression and control — a refusal to be left alone again. Their narra-

tive exposes the animalistic nature of the toxic relationships displayed.

At the crux of many relationships lies the fleeting intangibility of happiness, the instability of love being harder to accept than the absence of any love at all.

McCollum designs a masterful iteration of “The Moors,” using the lighting, sound and set design to reflect the actors’ conflicting emotions. He presents an adaptation that centralizes the openness essential to Silverman’s writing of the play while still fostering the feeling of being trapped in something insurmountable to overcome.

A compelling play punctuated with a strong directorial vision and dynamic cast, “The Moors” triumphed as a Studio Show.

Isabella Acuña (left) and Anne Lois Bullington (right), both FCLC ’25, starred in “The Moors.”

‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’: Representation of Disabilities in South Korea

An entertaining and emotional show about an autistic lawyer serves as a space to discuss disabilities

By KIA FATAHI Staff Writer

Hand mannerisms, lack of social awareness, sensitivity to loud noises, preference for cleanliness and a fascination with whales — these are just some of the traits that the protagonist in “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” Woo Youngwoo (Park Eun-bin), exhibits.

“Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” a 16-episode TV series, quickly became one of the most viewed non-English shows since its release on June 29th and took over the Netflix Top 10 chart.

What makes this drama unique is its use of the slice-of-life genre to explore normal people and the real drama that arises from everyday life, while simultaneously creating a provocative sketch of some of the underrepresented problems in Korea.

The show follows Young-woo, an autistic lawyer who is raised by her single father. She is an eccentric and intelligent woman who is fighting to build a life where she can help people while living with a disability.

The titular character’s obsession with whales, a recurring theme of the drama, adds a childish but unique dimension to her character.

In an interview, Park remarked, “Woo Young Woo accepts that in this world, she’s a narwhal among all the beluga whales that swim around the vast ocean, that the life of a narwhal is not at all lonely,

and that it’s okay because this is her life. Her saying this may look unusual and peculiar but shows upfront that it’s also meaningful and beautiful.”

One can point out striking similarities between her character and whales: Both are lonely yet extraordinary.

The drama also highlights her autism as a weakness and reminds the audience of how judgmental society is. Prior to the story, she graduated at the top of her law school class at Seoul National University.

But due to her diagnosis, no company was willing to hire her.

Finally, she obtained her first job at Hanbada, a large law firm in Seoul, through one of her father’s connections. Ironically, the name happens to be translated as “One Ocean” in English. But being different from her peers, she encounters clients and co-workers who are prejudiced against her in different ways.

At its core, this drama highlights what it means to be extraordinary for someone like Young-woo, in both good and bad ways. Extraordinary, on one hand, is defined as someone who is “extremely good or possesses a special quality.” On the other hand, it also carries a negative connotation.

Even though discrimination against workers with disabilities is prohibited by the Constitution, the stigma remains prevalent in Korea.

According to Jung Youn Park, a Korean scholar, discrimination

against those with disabilities, although mitigated by the emergence of anti-discrimination laws, emerges in the form of microaggressions.

In the third episode, people on the internet posted derogatory comments expressing their hatred for Kim Jeong-hoon (Moon Sanghoon), Young-woo’s client who is an autistic man accused of causing the death of his elder brother, who was an accomplished medical student. Learning how he is treated by the public, Young-woo’s monologue perfectly sums up the reality of how the society in which she lives often deems autistic people as unworthy of life.

“Only 80 years ago, having autism meant being unworthy of life.

Only 80 years ago, Kim Jeong-hun and I would not have been considered worthy of life. Even now, hundreds of people click the ‘like’ button of a comment that reads, ‘It is a national loss when a medical student dies and an autistic person lives,’... That is the weight those of us with this disability bear,” she contemplated with a somber expression.

At this point, the show poses deeper questions: Is the life of a human being only valuable if they fit societal standards? Isn’t life already worth living because you’re alive, no matter who you are?

Another remarkable component of this show was the variety of clients Young-woo represented in each episode. Cases of domes-

tic abuse, a North Korean defector who abandoned her daughter, among many others, shed light on the stories of marginalized communities to both the Korean and Western audiences.

But while these themes provide some compelling depiction of the aforementioned groups in both an entertaining and educational manner, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” is still incomplete as it focuses on ensuring it is relatable to neurotypical audiences.

For instance, Young-woo is played by a neurotypical actress.

Incorporating autistic people into the production would be a more appropriate way to address this is-

sue. Disabled actors are able to give their characters authentic insights from their own lives and raise awareness about the shockingly low employment rates of autistic and disabled people in Korea.

Over the past few years, Korean dramas, including “Squid Game,” “Crash Landing on You” and “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay,” made strides in implementing diversity (such as LGBTQ, racial, gender, political and economic representation) in the media. With a second season coming to Netflix in 2024, I can confidently say that “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” is one of them.

THEKHIP VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Following the success of its first season, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has been renewed for more episodes by Netflix.

Fun & Games Editor Irene Hao

un & ames

November 16, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Thanksgiving Word Search P

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BY IRENE HAO

Parade Gobble Pumpkin Gratitude Corn

Feast Cranberry Stuffing Turkey Apple pie

Sudoku

BY IRENE HAO

Instructions: Each row, column and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.

9 4 8 1 1 5 7

8

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3 4 8 1 6 9 7 4 2 6 7 8 4 3 1 8 2 5 6 3 7 4 GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS AND PAGE DESIGN BY TARA LENTELL

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Crossword: Turkey Time

BY KREENA VORA

Across

Down

1. Slightly burn, as food 5. His razor favors simple explanations 10. Gorillas and chimpanzees, for two 14. Regulation 15. Island in Outer Hebrides, Scotland 16. Close 17. Opposite of sciences in academia 18. Somber and poised 19. Argentine black and white lizard 20. Feminine shirt 22. Spiced, as a turkey 24. New York City neighborhood 25. Antidepressant drugs (Abbr.)

26. Demon or ogre in Japanese folklore 27. Genre for dragons and princesses 31. Start of a famous speech given by Juliet below a balcony (2 wds) 33. Jack___, film series with Steve-O 34. Bottle ___ 37. When many American families gather to feast and be grateful 44. Prisoner 45. ___ of Good Feelings 46. What Moses parted 49. Journalist Gloria 53. Tool to fell a tree 54. ___ mater 57. Choose 58. One of the “Friends” 60. Feast on grass 64. It lost to a tortoise in fable 65. Upright 67. Protagonist, generally 68. Stately trees 69. Jump in horror?

70. Actress Moriarty from “The Boys” 71. Harper and Robert E., among others 72. Chicken and beef company 73. Serving of medicine

1. Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” 2. Throw 3. High voice 4. Outcome 5. Be preoccupied with 6. It might fear a dog 7. Angry 8. March to April sign 9. Common cheesy side 10. Concerning (2 wds) 11. Talented up-and-comer 12. Lee Yang from the Try Guys 13. Apartment without a bedroom 21. There are seven in saying and song 23. Firetruck sound 27. Commonly trimmed from meat 28. Fireplace soot 29. U.S. spy group 30. Stretches on a mat 32. Abbreviation for an association 35. Center of a peach 36. Nights before holidays 38. “___ for Noose” by Sue Grafton (2 wds) 39. Action done to bread dough 40. Tiniest 41. Cozy room in a house 42. You ___ here 43. It’s candied in side dish 46. Another of the “Friends” 47. Breathe out 48. “Oh my!”

50. Radio countdown subject 51. Life-saving pen 52. Scratched 55. Forgiveness or compassion 56. Regions 59. Loch ___ monster 61. Emperor who burned down Rome 62. Colored part of an eye 63. Edible ice cream holder 66. ___-Magnon