Observer Issue 8 Fall 2022

Observer the

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

Tetlow Greets Fordham Community

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

Over the summer, Fordham hosted a coffee reception at both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campus to welcome Fordham University’s 33rd President Tania Tetlow, J.D. These welcome events were some of the university’s community members’ first times meeting the new president in person, as she was finishing her term as Loyola University New Orleans’ president prior to assuming office on July 1.

At the reception, Tetlow shared that she received her best inspiration to begin her new position a week before she took

office.

She explained how she went on a pilgrimage to Rome to walk the steps of St. Ignatius alongside members of the board

COURTESY OF PATRICK VEREL

University President Tetlow addresses Lincoln Center community at the coffee reception hosted on Bickford Terrace.

New COVID-19 Protocols Adopted for Fall 2022

ALICE MORENO/THE OBSERVER

With the start of the fall semester approaching, Marco Valera, vice president for administration and COVID-19 coordinator, announced in an email sent on July 27 the updated COVID-19 policies for the university. These protocols include changes to the use of the VitalCheck daily screenings, as well as to the visitor and guest policies.

For the first time since the university closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Fordham campuses will be open to non-Fordham visitors and guests, as well as to university-sponsored external events, beginning on Sept. 1. Visitors must have completed their vaccination

series and will be required to provide proof of vaccination to gain entry to campus. Valera added that details regarding visitation policies to the residence halls and overnight guest policies will be provided soon by the Offices of Residential Life at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center.

Megan Richardson, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25 and a resident in McMahon Hall, said that she is excited to have guests on campus and believes opening campus to the public could be done safely and be a positive change to the university’s community and environment. She added that although guests must be vaccinated and boosted, she feels a little nervous about the little-to-no COVID measures in place for everyone’s

NEWS PAGE 4

SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE 7

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

Many Voices Award

New award seeks to diversify perspectives on The Observer's staff

Football Preview

Rams seek to maintain upward trajectory in upcoming season

return to campus considering the rise in cases in some areas.

“If anything, I feel that the university should have waited until after the return to campus rush settled down, in order to monitor if cases become more prevalent on campus.”

Richardson believes that it will be a matter of time before the Fordham community sees how these new adopted protocols affect the health of Fordham students.

Michael Kroll, FCLC ’25, is excited about the campus opening to the public again, sayings that it will be nice to share the public space with the university community who gives so much back to Fordham. see COVID page 5

CENTERFOLD PAGE 8

Roe Reversal Reaction Fordham community reels from landmark abortion decision

and Vice President for Mission Integration and Ministry John Cecero, S.J. The president noted that she saw the location where the university’s patron saint worked and was inspired by how he listened to others. This revelation led her to want to learn about what matters most, why Fordham is special, why they fell in love with it and why they have been here for decades.

Tetlow also expressed that she was honored people came out in the middle of the summer.

“I could not have gotten a warmer welcome than each of you has given me, and I feel so at home here already on week two of my tenure here,” she said. “This is an incredible place and this campus is an incredible place for you to exist, to be part of one of the most exciting square miles of the world.”

Michael Trerotola, assistant university secretary and special assistant to the president, said that people were really excited to meet Tetlow. He added that there were over 100 attendees at both welcome events at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center in July.

“I had lots of conversations with my colleagues at the events, and it was clear that they had read and seen so much about her online that they couldn’t wait to meet and hear from her in person,” he said. see TETLOW page 3

Meet The Furry Friends of Fordham’s Neighborhood

By MARIA AKOSTA GKALINTO Contributing Writer

Fordham’s updated guest policy opens the campuses to the public on Sept. 1, among other changes in the updated guidelines.

August 26, 2022 VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 8

Fordham is my school, New York is my campus, and Hell’s Kitchen dogs are my companions.

As my senior year of college approaches quickly and the months of my apartment lease in Hell’s Kitchen pass by, I walk the streets of my community with a smile and wandering eyes.

After a year, this is my neighborhood now. The restaurants are extensions of my apartment building, and the wait staff are my next door neighbors. As I turn the corner

onto Ninth Avenue, heading north towards campus, I bump into the fluffy, limping, panting, unleasWhed, four-pawed neighborhood regulars that parade our sidewalks. Their paw prints show up side-by-side to ours. see DOGS page 13

MARIA AKOSTA GKALINTO/THE OBSERVER

Contrary to the New York City requirement that all dogs must be leashed, Gregory, pictured with his favorite soccer ball, is always off-leash.

OPINIONS PAGES 11 & 12

McKeon Vs. McMahon

Rams debate superior on-campus housing option

ARTS & CULTURE PAGE 15

“Oh God” Review

Alison Leiby’s political onewoman show tackles timely topic

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August 26, 2022

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Differences in Fordham Campus Culture Drive Internal Transfers

Students mentioned career goals and self-expression as reasons to transfer between Lincoln Center and Rose Hill

By MADELYN KINZEL Staff Writer

A Comparison of the Campuses

Fordham University is made up of three campuses across New York State, two of them serving the undergraduate population: the Rose Hill campus located in the Bronx and the Lincoln Center campus located in Manhattan. When applying, prospective Fordham students are required to choose which campus to apply to when they submit their application.

The most notable difference between the university’s two undergraduate campuses is their size and setting, with Rose Hill being an 85-acre, gothic-style and more traditional campus, and Lincoln Center serving as a vertical, two-block campus located in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City.

Rose Hill, where the university was founded in 1841, is also the home of all the university's sports teams and has multiple athletic facilities and other athletic amenities on the campus. The campus has the Rose Hill gym, which houses the basketball and volleyball teams; the Jack Coffey Field, which is home to the football and soccer teams; and the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center, in which the swim and dive teams practice; among many others.

With the larger campus comes a larger undergraduate student population. Fordham Rose Hill has an undergraduate population of 6,320 students and Fordham Lincoln Center has an undergraduate population of 2,968 students. This can be attractive for students looking for a more “typical” college experience with a larger population and a more traditional campus, although Greek life is notably not present on either campus.

Both campuses provide many opportunities for campus involvement. In addition to athletics, there are a wide variety of student organizations that focus on academic interests, personal interests and cultures.

Some students may find themselves limited to one campus based

“ Accordingly, the LC

campus tends to attract a very creative group of students. The Rose Hill campus has room for all of the sports fields, so our student-athletes are almost always based at the RH campus. ”

Rebecca Stark-Gendrano, Assistant Dean for Juniors and Transfers

After beginning their enrollment, some students find that they are a better fit for a different campus because of their major, interest in student organizations or because their desired college experience does not match their original campus. If a student feels they would be more successful at a different campus than they originally chose, they then have the ability to request an internal transfer.

COURTESY OF ARNAV BHUTADA

Keating Hall was constructed in 1936 and is recognized as the Rose Hill campus’ centerpiece.

on their area of study, which also varies between campuses. The dance and theater majors, for example, are exclusive to Lincoln Center, while resources for the biological sciences and chemistry majors are at Rose Hill. Rebecca Stark-Gendrano, assistant dean for juniors and transfers at Lincoln Center, noted that the majors and interests of students at both campuses differ.

“The BFA Dance program and the Theatre program are both based at the Lincoln Center campus, which means that LC has become the hub of the Fordham artistic community,” Stark-Gendrano said. “Accordingly, the LC

campus tends to attract a very creative group of students. The Rose Hill campus has room for all of the sports fields, so our student-athletes are almost always based at the RH campus.”

If a student wishes to change campuses, they must go through the internal transfer process.

This process consists of meeting with a class dean, completing a transfer application and waiting for approval.

Fordham Lincoln Center is located at West 60th Street and Columbus Avenue, neighboring the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Plaza and The Juilliard School. Lincoln Center began as the Liberal Arts College in 1968.

The first classes held at the location were through Fordham Law, which remains a part of the Lincoln Center campus.

The artistic environment in and around Lincoln Center makes the campus ideal for students who are studying the arts, or simply enjoy spending their time at the theater, ballet or a nearby museum. What Lincoln Center lacks in campus it makes up for in the neighborhood that surrounds it.

Central Park is a block from the campus, and Broadway shows and Madison Square Garden are a short train ride away.

Additionally, some students prefer living in the city over living on a traditional campus, whether it be day-to-day life or the fact that Lincoln Center is often closer to internship opportunities.

Student Perspectives on the Internal Transfer Process

KYLA MCCALLUM/THE OBSERVER

The Plaza's greenery is an oasis, acting as an escape for students at the Lincoln Center campus.

If a student wishes to change campuses, they must go through the internal transfer process. This process consists of meeting with a class dean, completing a transfer application and waiting for approval. If a student wishes to transfer into the Gabelli School of Business, they must also attend an additional information session hosted by Dean Steven Najdzionek. Depending on the college, the internal

transfer may be more difficult. For example, if a student is attempting to transfer into the Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center, there may be a lesser chance of success since the program is smaller and more selective.

Catie Flores, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’25, transferred from Lincoln Center to Rose Hill after her first semester. Flores said she found that her career goals aligned more with GSBRH and was motivated to transfer due to differences in student life between the campuses. “(Lincoln Center) kind of felt like high school a little bit. I felt like the people here (at Rose Hill) are friendlier,” she said. “There was kind of a lack of community unless you are super, super involved, which I could have done more to be more involved. I just felt like I didn’t have very many friends.”

Flores also found it easier to join student organizations at Rose Hill that fit her interests, such as the First-Year Diversity Scholars Program.

“ Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery and a different pace.”

Rebecca Stark-Gendrano, Assistant Dean for Juniors and Transfers

Lauren Schumacher, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, had the opposite experience of Flores. She began her college career at Rose Hill and then transferred to Lincoln Center after her first semester. Schumacher also switched from a psychology major into the new media and digital design major when she transferred, which is only offered at Lincoln Center.

In regard to campus life, Schumacher felt the Lincoln Center campus offered more creative freedom and outlets for self-expression.

“There’s so much to do (at Lincoln Center), whereas at Rose Hill, it kind of felt suffocating, in a way,” she said. “I think there are just a lot more creative people here. Not to say there isn’t at Rose Hill, but there’s more creative space.”

Both Flores and Schumacher expressed they were satisfied with their decision to transfer.

“Sometimes all you need is a change of scenery and a different pace,” Stark-Gendrano said.

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August 26, 2022

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ICCS Held In-Person for First Time Since 2019

The ninth conference invited the U.S. attorney general, Google executives and government officials to speak on the threat of cyberattacks

By MEGAN YERRABELLI Staff Writer

Fordham University, in collaboration with the FBI, hosted its annual International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS) on July 18-20. The convention was created by Anthony Ferrante, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ’04, and his mentor, Clavius Distinguished Professor Frank Hsu of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, in 2009 after Ferrante joined the FBI and worked on a case that involved a terrorist cell using advanced technologies to plan an attack against the U.S. In the past, the conference has attracted numerous speakers from the government, private sector and academia and has brought together directors from across the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency. ICCS has also invited the director of national intelligence, according to the conference’s website. ICCS takes place every 18 months and is a two-day convention where global leaders in cyber threat analysis, operations, research and law enforcement engage in discussion and share their experience facing cyber threats.

This year was the ninth conference and was the first convention to be held in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference was hosted at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus in the Law School building.

Registration for the conference was limited to 200 attendees and tickets were sold at $895.

Additional programs, such as the Cyber Security Tutorial and Law Enforcement Workshop, cost an additional $75 per session. The conference sold out and was

COURTESY OF CHRIS TAGGART

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco delivered the keynote address on the conference's opening day.

packed with panels featuring Google executives, government officials and more.

The FBI’s New York Cyber Branch Acting Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel oversaw the conference and helped organize the event. When asked about the planning, he revealed that this year’s ICCS was only planned four months in advance, whereas, in the past, the conference had been planned with a year’s notice. He also spoke about the notoriety the conference has gained over the years, which explained how ICCS was able to garner several experts and executive guests and speakers in attendance.

The program kicked off with a keynote address delivered by the U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. Monaco was previously invited to speak at the conference in 2016 while she was serving as the chief counterterrorism adviser under former U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration.

Following Monaco’s address, Kent Walker, president of global affairs at Google, presented his keynote speech about the importance of transparency in cyberattacks. He described his experience handling a series of cyberattacks called Operation Aurora Google in 2009; Google

was one of the few companies that decided to publicize the attack. He urged the cybersecurity community, law enforcement and the public to be more transparent about their struggles with cybersecurity threats to improve security worldwide.

The panel discussions that followed were based on current cybersecurity threats that were relevant on a global scale and discussed how best to respond when faced with them, according to Kachhia-Patel. He voiced that the selection of panel topics was based on current cybersecurity threats that were relevant on a global scale.

“We talked a lot about, in a theoretical context, what it would be like if there were an actual cyberwar, and now we are actually seeing that with Ukraine,” Kachhia-Patel said.

“So, we were very fortunate to have the (Ukrainian officials) who happen to be making a trip to the United States, and our conference coincided with their trip.”

Some of these panels allowed attendees to receive one continuing professional education (CPE) credit in the information technology field and up to 10 CPE credits at the conference.

According to Kachhia-Patel, the highlight of the conference was a panel titled “Under Cyber Siege: How Ukraine is handling its virtual front line” that took place on the conference’s last day. The panel was composed of four Ukrainian officials supervising cybersecurity during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. The officials discussed their defense against security threats and how collaboration and communication within the global cybersecurity ecosystem will create the solid cyber alliance needed to face such threats.

Although numerous government officials were speaking at the event, Kachhia-Patel hopes there will be more participation from the private sector in the future.

“I would love to see a focus on private industry and what they are doing in the cybersecurity space at the next conference along with all the great government speakers that we get out there as well as the international law enforcement.”

New President Welcomed Across Campuses

The coffee receptions were the first opportunity staff, faculty and students many had to meet the Tetlow TETLOW from page 1

He noted that Tetlow made it clear from the beginning that it was her top priority to get to know the campus community.

He also added that the president is on a listening tour to get to know how Fordham works, what its faculty, staff and students love about it, and what areas can be focused on to improve the Fordham experience.

“ There’s a lot of hope for what Fordham is going to be able to accomplish moving forward with her leadership. ”

Juan Carlos Matos, assistant vice president for student affairs for diversity and inclusion at the Office of Multicultural Affairs COURTESY OF PATRICK VEREL

Juan Carlos Matos, assistant vice president for student affairs for diversity and inclusion at the Office of Multicultural Affairs, was an attendee at the Rose Hill welcome event and said that there was a sense of excitement and wonderment about what the future will hold for Fordham’s new president among those in attendance.

“There’s a lot of hope for what Fordham is going to be able to accomplish moving forward with her leadership,” he said.

The president spoke to over 100 faulty, staff and students at each event and said that she couldn't have received a warmer welcome.

Matos is looking forward to working with Tetlow and the Diversity Leadership Team the university is currently working to develop. He added that at a divisional staff meeting for the division of Student Affairs, Tetlow shared that she was very aware of Fordham’s need to improve on increasing the number of Black students at Fordham, and he believes that she is very versed in diversity work through her previous law experience.

Melanie Sztulman, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’23 and an orientation coordinator for the 2022-23 academic year, said that she and the other orientation coordinators were invited to the Lincoln Center welcome event by Associate Director of First-year experience Dan Patterson. She noted that she was both excited and nervous to meet the president.

“I was just excited to get to know her and to meet her, see what her

“ It seemed like she

was actually listening to us and not just asking us questions to ask us questions. It genuinely seemed like she cared. ”

Melanie Sztulman, GSBLC ’23 and orientation coordinator

personality is like, how she interacted with students and whatnot,” Sztulman said.

She added that as an orientation coordinator and an active member of United Student Government, meeting the president is important to students who are in leadership positions because student leaders gauge the president’s likability. She described Tetlow as “incredibly sweet” and noticed that when the president was in conversation with all four of the orientation coordinators, she genuinely seemed like she was curious about their answers.

“It seemed like she was actually listening to us and not just asking us questions to ask us questions,” Sztulman said. “It genuinely seemed like she cared.”

Sztulman spoke on the upcoming orientation and the challenge that comes with integrating the different cultures of Fordham’s two campuses. As an orientation coordinator, Sztulman is excited to see how Tetlow navigates this and how she plans to culturally unite the two campuses.

Trerotola said that there will be more events to welcome the president at the start of the academic year to provide the community with opportunities to meet her in person. Tetlow will participate in the Interfaith Prayer Service at Lincoln Center on Aug. 31 and the Mass of the Holy Spirit on Aug. 28 at Rose Hill. All undergraduate students are also invited to the President’s Inaugural Ball at the Rose Hill campus on Sept. 16 and a series of events will be held in October in anticipation of the president’s inauguration on Oct. 14.

F an la a C g

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August 26, 2022

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Fordham Professor Announces Award for Undergraduate Paper's Staff

The Elizabeth E. Stone "Many Voices" Observer Award hopes to uplift student-journalists who belong to underrepresented groups and contribute to The Observer

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

Elizabeth Stone, former and founding adviser to The Observer and current professor of English at Fordham, announced on June 9 that she is creating an award in her name that is intended to increase diversity efforts and hopes to bring reporters from underrepresented communities to work on the paper.

Stone first publicized the award at a special Fordham Observer Alumni gathering in Platt Court held during the alumni Block Party at the Lincoln Center campus. In her speech at the reception, Stone mentioned that the inspiration for this award comes from a staff editorial published by The Observer in 2020, in which the paper acknowledged its staff’s lack of diversity.

“Right now, democracy is in big trouble, a trouble due to too many lies and too much silence, because not everyone who should be at the table is at the table,” she said.

Stone added that advising The Observer was the most gratifying part of her years at Fordham. She helped found the undergraduate newspaper in 1981 after a group of students approached her with the idea for what would later become the College at Lincoln Center’s campus paper. She is the current adviser to The Comma, Fordham’s creative literature magazine which used to publish its work within The Observer before moving toward self-publication.

“ When you don't have a lot of diversity of people, I think that really limits how far we can go as an organization, and it also really limits our ability to sometimes represent the perspective of the entire student population. ”

Shaily Jani, GSBLC ’23 and podcast co-host at The Observer

Stone expressed that her intention is to nourish the strength and excellence of the paper’s future generations of writers, photographers, videographers, podcasters, designers and editors.

“Each generation embraced innovation, let go of what no longer served, and deepened the parts of its culture and traditions that anchored it and provided for its continuity,” she said.

The Inspiration Behind the Award In a recent interview with The Observer, Stone said that she always knew she wanted to do something for the paper to increase diverse points of view for political opinion pieces. She was so sure of her desire to create a prize that she made an arrangement around 10 years ago with Fordham for a sum of money to go to The Observer.

She mentioned that she would have released the award after she retired but she wanted the award’s announcement to fall under former University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J.,’s presidency, who left office on June 30, 2022. Stone knew that

McShane was a fan of The Observer and was supportive of her, which pushed her to release the award under his administration.

As a first-generation student herself, she also mentioned the impact that the prize would have had on her if she had been a student when it was developed.

“Had I gone to Fordham, I would have been eligible for that award,” Stone said. “As a first generation student, and as the granddaughter of immigrants, I would have written about myself ethnically, and that is what I did as a young writer.”

Although it is not a requirement for students who qualify for the award to write about themselves or write about their experiences, she encourages them to do so.

Stone added that she was essentially repaying the discounted tuition her son paid when he attended Fordham College at Rose Hill and was putting it toward the award’s fund.

“I always figured I had three children,” she said with a smile.

“My two sons and The Observer.”

Editorial Board Members Speak on Award’s Intentions The Observer’s editorial board is composed of 41 editors across digital and print sections who work to produce print versions of the paper on a biweekly schedule.

The award is open to those members as well as its contributors who have composed at least three works for the paper in the form of photo projects, articles or equivalent creative work.

Shelby Williams, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25 and an assistant copy editor at The Observer, spoke about how open the publication is to receiving new voices and new staff members. She believes that the prize will provide student-journalists with the resources to grow themselves, further their education and strengthen what they have to be able to ensure that the paper is doing all it can to represent the Fordham community.

Shaily Jani, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’23 and a podcast co-host at The Observer, agreed that having this incentive is going to help increase the publication’s diversity. When asked about diversity and The Observer, Jani noted that she thinks about the fact that there are very few people of color on the paper.

“When you don’t have a lot of diversity of people, I think that really limits how far we can go as an organization, and it also really limits our ability to sometimes represent the perspective of the entire student population,” she said.

Jani emphasized that especially at predominantly white institutions like Fordham, representation is really important.

“As a person of color, if I want to join a certain organization and I don’t see a lot of people that look like me or it’s overwhelmingly white, sometimes it does make you kind of hesitate,” she said.

Jani said that she believes if the general student body is aware of the Many Voices Observer Award, then, over time, it would increase the diversity of the paper. She does not think that the presence of the award will increase diversity on its own.

She added that diversity is not just having people of color present, but also having them be engaged in the decision-making process and contribute to what the organization is putting out. She noted

that it should not be performative and should aid in representing the entire student population.

Award’s Advisory Board Expresses Its Excitement Anthony Hazell, FCLC ’07, former editor-in-chief of The Observer, former adviser to The Observer and the chair of the award’s advisory board, spoke kindly about Stone’s legacy with the student paper and mentioned her ability to encourage students to set a higher bar for themselves in an interview with The Observer in 2021.

“I think the best tradition that she started was really just making the students at The Observer feel that they were independent and in control of the content that they published,” Hazell told The Observer.

The award’s advisory board is composed of selected alumni, The Observer’s editor-in-chief and managing editor, and a representative from Student Affairs.

Both Stone and Hazell hope that the advisory board becomes an active part of the Observer Alumni Affinity Chapter and will be a liaison between current students and alumni.

In a recent interview with The Observer, Hazell spoke on his communications with Stone and when she had first told him about her plans for the prize. He noted that he was both surprised and not surprised because Stone often describes the paper as the most gratifying part of her career at Fordham, so he could envision her wanting to do something that would have a lasting impact on the paper’s future.

“What did surprise me is that, even in the years that have passed since she was advisor to The Observer, she still has her finger on the pulse of what will make student-journalism better and more relevant to the campus community,” he said.

Colin Sheeley, FCLC ’19 and former editor-in-chief of The Observer, received an email from Hazell in March with information about the award and an invitation to join its advisory board. Sheeley noted that he was very impressed with the fundraising and scholarship opportunities the paper has been able to generate in the span of a few years.

“ The Observer is always striving to be the student voice of Lincoln Center, and we cannot be that if all students do not feel represented. ”

Maddie Sandholm, FCLC ’23 and managing editor at The Observer

“I think that this is a great step in the right direction for diversity and for The Observer,” he said.

He added that this scholarship addresses that students who have the ability to put in hours and hours of unpaid labor into a newspaper tend to be white students who don’t have to rely on a second job or take care of responsibilities outside of school. He has always felt that the newsroom of The Observer has struggled with diversity in some respects and is reflective of Fordham Lincoln Center’s demographics.

COURTESY OF CHRIS TAGGART

Stone first announced the award during a speech at an Observer alumni reception on June 9.

ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER

The award aims to increase diversity among the voices uplifted and published at The Observer.

“It was always my goal when I was editor to try to gather as many voices as we could,” he said.

“I would say that this scholarship is the most direct action that we have taken in that respect.”

Sheeley believes that this award, as well as The Observer’s independent $1,500 scholarship, can foster an endowment that will transform the paper into an even more professional, independent and successful college newspaper.

Allie Stofer, FCLC ’23 and The Observer’s current editor-in-chief, and Maddie Sandholm, FCLC ’23 and the managing editor, had a meeting with Stone and Hazell in early May to discuss what the scholarship would look like and the details surrounding its release.

According to Stofer, she and Sandholm had been prioritizing increasing diversity efforts prior to the meeting, and she was excited to hear about the award.

“I was just excited that we have a way to increase our diversity efforts besides just reaching out to people because having that monetary aspect is very helpful,” Stofer said.

Stofer cited that one of the reasons The Observer is not a diverse publication is because more people tend to join the club through their friends. She added that she is interested in more outreach, such as visiting other classes or reaching out to other clubs, and being purposeful with trying to reach out to the voices that the paper is lacking.

The editor-in-chief feels that the award is going to help increase diversity efforts and hopes that it will allow more people to make the time commitment that The Observer requires.

“It takes up a lot of time to be a part of The Observer, which people don’t have because it is a club, and it’s unpaid,” she said. “So by being able to offer this I think it’ll be very helpful.”

Sandholm said that she hopes the award will encourage students to make their voices heard

and to celebrate journalists and other members of The Observer community, which would fulfill Stone’s mission. Sandholm noted that speaking with Stone about her time with the paper was a wonderful experience because Stone spent so long mentoring previous Observer generations.

She also spoke on how invaluable the prize is for The Observer and how diversity has been something the paper has been working toward.

“The Observer is always striving to be the student voice of Lincoln Center, and we cannot be that if all students do not feel represented,” Sandholm said. “It is one of the goals of The Observer that all students feel supported in sharing their voice with the Fordham community and beyond.”

Logistics, Eligibility and the Award’s Projected Release The first prizes will be awarded in 2023 with what is currently projected to be one award.

Student-journalists who belong to historically underrepresented groups in higher education and have contributed at least three works to The Observer, otherwise considered as members of the paper’s staff, are eligible for the award. According to Stone, the prizes within the award are expected to be at least $1,500, with the discretion of who will receive the reward left to the award’s advisory board.

In her speech at the alumni reception, Stone noted that journalism is at its best when it is most inclusive of diverse voices and expressed her hopes for the prize: to bring new and underrepresented voices to The Observer and to add fundraising and alumni contributions to expand the award’s fund, allowing for additional prizes in the years to come.

“What I’m really trying to do is — get ready — encourage many voices,” she told The Observer.

“Hence the name.”

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August 26, 2022

New Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Appointed

News

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Ann Gaylin comes to Fordham from Yale and is the first dean to be appointed under President Tetlow's tenure

By ERIKA TULFO Features Editor

As a new school year begins, Fordham is welcoming a new dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). Ann Gaylin, Ph.D., was appointed as the GSAS dean on July 5, following the passing of former dean Tyler Stovall, Ph.D., in December of last year.

“I wanted to make a difference in the lives of students at an institution committed to learning with discernment and purpose,” Gaylin said. “With an inspiring new president, Fordham is poised to build on existing strengths and develop new areas of excellence.”

Gaylin’s appointment, the first under Tetlow’s tenure, came into effect on Aug. 1.

A Nationwide Search Vice Provost and Chair of the search committee Jonathan Crystal said that the search for potential candidates customarily begins early on in the fall season. However, the death of the late dean Stovall pushed the search for his replacement later in the academic year.

The search process was performed on a sweeping national scale and began with a large pool of candidates before the group was eventually whittled down to three finalists through various interview stages.

According to Crystal, the attributes sought out in a candidate include a vision for graduate education backed up by significant experience in the field; a record of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and creativity in developing graduate programs that both appeal to students and prepare them for a range of careers — all qualities he believes Gaylin possesses.

“(Gaylin) combined a compelling vision for graduate education with a hands-on approach toward getting things done — both a deep thinker and a pragmatic leader,” he said. “While she had lots of creative ideas, she was also eager to listen to what students, faculty, and staff had to say about Fordham’s strengths and challenges.”

As for Gaylin, she said that the proudest moment of her career so far was being offered the deanship of the GSAS. “I am so excited and honored to be joining the Fordham community and to be able to integrate all I’ve learned, in the service of graduate education,” she said.

“ While she had lots of

creative ideas, she was also eager to listen to what students, faculty, and staff had to say about Fordham's strengths and challenges. ”

Jonathan Crystal, vice provost and chair of search committee

From Ivy Walls to Maroon Halls “Prolific” is the first word to come to mind when describing Gaylin’s career. Prior to coming to Fordham, she served as associate dean of the College at Brown University, associate dean of undergraduate education for academic support at Harvard University, and associate dean for graduate education at Yale University.

After a decade as a faculty member in comparative literature, Gaylin found that her calling fell beyond a single discipline. From there, her goal of making higher education more accessible for traditionally underrepresented students has been a focal point of her career.

Gaylin’s previous positions at Brown and Harvard have involved her working closely with undergraduate students in resolving both academic and personal challenges while offering her support. At her most recent position as associate dean at Yale, Gaylin’s chief focus was on the betterment of the graduate school, including setting goals for admissions and building upon the program’s strengths.

Though Gaylin’s experience in the field of higher education is extensive, she cites “cura personalis” — or care for the whole person — as the one constant throughout her journey, both within and outside of academia.

“Cura personalis” is a guiding principle of Jesuit education and a familiar phrase to many a Fordham student.

“This commitment has always guided my approach to higher education and to life in general, so I’m delighted to be working at an institution that values this principle so highly,” she said.

Gaylin’s Goals as Dean As dean of the GSAS, Gaylin’s duties will primarily consist of working alongside members of the faculty in determining potential areas for development in the university’s graduate program and creating offerings based on their findings.

“Our goal is to create graduate offerings that will attract talented individuals from around the world to study and advance knowledge at Ford-

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA STEGMULLER/THE OBSERVER

GSAS' coat of arms includes the owl of Pallas Athene, which symbolizes the goddess of wisdom and rational inquiry.

ham, in the service of the greater good,” she said. “(We) collaborate with others on campus to support students, so that when they graduate, they use the skills and knowledge developed here to create a more humane, equitable, and just global society.”

The environment that Gaylin hopes to cultivate is a diverse and inclusive one that will attract more curious minds to pursue graduate studies at Fordham. Her hope is to generate opportunities for personal and professional development that enable students to succeed in their careers.

Another area that she intends to focus on during her tenure as dean is using Fordham’s unique location in New York City to its advantage.

“We can leverage Fordham’s place in the city, existing part-

nerships locally, domestically, and internationally, and engage our alumni in this important work,” she said.

To the incoming graduate class, Gaylin encourages them to make the most of their time at university to explore what they hope to accomplish following graduation.

“Strive for excellence in all you do but know that asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness,” she said. “There are many people here eager to help you in this next phase of your intellectual, personal, and professional development.”

Crystal expressed his excitement about Gaylin’s future at Fordham.

“I’m thrilled with the final result,” he said. “I have no doubt that Ann Gaylin will be an excellent leader for Fordham’s Graduate School of Arts and Science.”

Guest and Visitor Policies Change, Campuses Open to Public

Updated visitor and guest policies and discontinued VitalCheck daily screenings are among the changes COVID from page 1

“Fordham has so much to offer on the Upper West Side throughout the year in terms of art and theater and green space,” he said.

All students, faculty and staff are also required to be up to date on their vaccinations, which currently includes having received all doses in the primary series and all recommended booster doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The university will continue to consider requests for individuals who have medical or religious accommodations.

Free COVID-19 vaccinations became available on campus on Monday, Aug. 1.

Another change from the spring 2022 semester is that surveillance and return-to-campus testing will no longer be required for the fall semester, but Valera noted that all individuals returning to campus are encouraged to take a PCR or rapid antigen test prior to their arrival. Testing before arrival was especially recommended for individuals traveling from outside of the New York metropolitan area.

Kroll believes that eliminating mandatory surveillance testing

after a lot of students have traveled to campus is risky as Fordham navigates the transition to a COVID-endemic world.

“Testing is easy, it’s a very non-invasive way for our community to function with limited restrictions in our day-to-day lives but also maintaining a sense of security for those who are most vulnerable,” he said.

The university will provide on-demand testing and testing for suspected exposure but will limit diagnostic testing to students only. Employees who have COVID-19 symptoms are advised to not come to campus and should instead see their health care providers for diagnostic testing.

Weekly testing is no longer required for individuals who have medical or religious accommodations for their vaccination status or individuals who are not fully up to date on their vaccinations.

Since the fall 2020 semester, Fordham has partnered with the company VitalCheck to monitor the campus population’s COVID-19 symptoms. Beginning on Aug. 8, daily VitalCheck screenings will no longer be required to access campus. The VitalCheck notification will still be

sent daily so individuals can report any COVID-19 symptoms and access telehealth appointments.

“The University will continue to use VitalCheck to manage vaccine, testing, and isolation requirements, and for integration with the ID card system for access to campus,” Valera said.

Wearing masks continues to be recommended but not required in classrooms, labs, work settings and public spaces for individuals who are up to date on their vaccinations in compliance with CDC guidelines. Unvaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks.

“All individuals may wear masks in any setting if they choose to do so,” Valera noted.

“Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if they believe the particular circumstances warrant such measures.”

A mask mandate remains on Ram Vans and in University Health Services’ locations on campus, which include offices and testing and vaccination sites.

The isolation and quarantine process remains the same since it was last updated on Jan. 18. Resident students who are unable

ALICE MORENO/THE OBSERVER

Fordham's updated guest policy opens the campuses to the public on Sept. 1, among other changes in the new adopted protocols.

to travel home to isolate will be placed in designated residence hall rooms, and commuter students will be required to isolate in their off-campus residences.

Valera noted that Fordham’s contact tracing process is currently being reevaluated and details regarding its protocols will be released when available.

Quarantining upon exposure continues not to be required for students, faculty and staff who

are up to date on their vaccinations, but the university encourages them to monitor their symptoms and to take a COVID-19 test five days after exposure. Human Resources will provide employees with guidance should any employees become ill on campus.

The university’s policies and protocols are subject to change depending on campus conditions and federal, state or local regulations, according to Valera.

Sports & Health Editors Gabriella Bermudez Chris Murray

Sports & Health

August 26, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Vin Scully, Legendary Sports Broadcaster and Fordham Alum, Dies at 94

The beloved commentator served as the voice of the Dodgers for 67 years and helped found the WFUV radio station

By CHRIS MURRAY Sports & Health Editor

Renowned broadcaster Vin Scully, Fordham College ’49, passed away on Aug. 2, 2022, at the age of 94. Scully has a long list of honors but is best known for the 67 years he spent as the play-byplay announcer of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Scully fell in love with baseball as a child. After taking pity on the New York Giants for losing miserably to the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the 1936 World Series, he became a devout fan.

He would frequently sit in center field at the Polo Grounds, nearly 500 feet from home plate, to cheer on the Giants and soak up the atmosphere of the stadium.

It did not take long for Scully to shift his fandom to the Giants’ crosstown rivals.

Known for his descriptive imagery and remarkable poise, Scully is regarded as one of the greatest sports broadcasters in history.

Before joining the Dodgers, Scully created extensive ties to Fordham. In 1941, he attended Fordham Preparatory School before matriculating to Fordham University. While at Fordham, Scully called games for the baseball, football and basketball teams.

He also wrote for The Fordham Ram and helped found the WFUV radio station in 1947. Scully graduated from Fordham in 1949 with a degree in English.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Vin Scully, sports commentator and Fordham alumnus passed away on Aug 2, 2022. He had a long career as a broadcaster, primarily for the Dodgers.

Scully frequently gave back to the Fordham community. In addition to being an inspiration for many WFUV sports broadcasters, Scully often spoke with the heads of Fordham athletics. He even went so far as to lecture members of the WFUV team and meet with players on the Fordham baseball team.

In 1950, Scully began his illustrious tenure with the Dodgers. Destined for greatness, Scully became the youngest person to commentate a World Series when the Dodgers faced the Yankees in the 1953 championship. He stayed with the organization when the

Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles in 1958 and remained the voice of the team until his retirement in 2016.

Although Scully spent the majority of his time calling games for the Dodgers, he also gained fame for his national sports coverage.

Scully served as a broadcaster for the National Football League for CBS Sports from 1975 to 1982, as well as the lead baseball broadcaster for NBC from 1983 to 1989. After leaving NBC, he spent eight years as the national radio announcer for the World Series.

Known for his descriptive imagery and remarkable poise, Scully

is regarded as one of the greatest sports broadcasters in history. In his career, Scully called 28 World Series and was behind the microphone for historic moments such as Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series; Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965; Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run in 1974; Mookie Wilson’s roller up along first that got through Buckner in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series; and Kirk Gibson’s improbable walk-off in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.

Throughout his career, Scully earned a number of achievements

for his work. In 1982, the National Baseball Hall of Fame awarded him the Ford C. Frick Award, given to baseball commentators for their “commitment to excellence, quality of broadcasting abilities, reverence within the game, popularity with fans, and recognition by peers.” Additionally, Scully was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995 for his “mastery of the English language and his enviable demeanor” throughout his distinguished career. Former U.S. President Barack Obama also awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed by the president of the United States, in 2016.

“We have lost an icon,” Dodgers CEO and President Stan Kasten said in a statement. “The Dodgers’ Vin Scully was one of the greatest voices in all of sports. He was a giant of a man, not only as a broadcaster, but as a humanitarian. He loved people. He loved life. He loved baseball and the Dodgers.

And he loved his family. His voice will always be heard and etched in all of our minds forever. I know he was looking forward to joining the love of his life, Sandi. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this very difficult time. Vin will be truly missed.”

There are few people in history who can solidify themselves as legends in their field. Scully managed to do just that. In doing so, his voice reached millions of people with authenticity and composure that set him apart. From his humble beginnings covering baseball games at Fordham for a newly minted WFUV radio station to any of the various World Series that he commentated to his final game in the booth, Scully left his mark on the game of baseball and the world at large.

Fordham Responds to the Monkeypox Outbreak

The university released facts and guidelines to prepare students from the poxvirus spreading across the country

By CHRIS MURRAY Sports & Health Editor

As the rate of monkeypox infections increases in New York City and around the world, people are beginning to express concern about the virus. Fordham’s University Health Services (UHS) sent an advisory email to the Fordham community on Aug. 10 that outlined steps students can take to protect themselves and others from monkeypox.

Although monkeypox, an infection related to smallpox, is rarely fatal — with over 99% of individuals likely to survive, according to the email from UHS — symptoms can range from manageable to severe. Patients often have a fever, swollen lymph nodes, a headache, muscle soreness and, most notably, a rash distinctive to poxviruses.

Symptoms can be extremely painful and permanent scarring from the rash can occur. Complications may also arise, albeit rarely.

In addition, monkeypox is now being globally transmitted faster than ever before. The World Health Organization (WHO) designated monkeypox as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” on July 23, 2022, a designation previously reserved only for COVID-19 and polio.

As of Aug. 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 45,535 global cases of monkeypox. There are currently

MARIA TERZULLI/THE OBSERVER

an estimated 2,800 cases in New York City, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

While that figure may pale in comparison to staggering COVID-19 statistics, the U.S. leads the world in total number of cases, with the CDC reporting 16,602 cases.

Monkeypox is far from a new virus. It was first discovered in 1958 and is similar to the eradicated smallpox virus in both its symptoms and treatment. For that reason, many clinicians already have a head start on managing monkeypox outbreaks.

Unlike COVID-19, monkeypox rarely spreads through respiratory

droplets. This alone makes it much less transmissible than other viruses. The most common transmission of the virus is due to close contact with an infected individual. In most cases, the contact must be intimate or prolonged, according to the CDC and the WHO. UHS stated that individuals should “avoid close, skin-to-skin contact” with people who have a rash resembling monkeypox. It also recommended that individuals should not share utensils and cups with an infected individual and refrain from touching or handling the bedding, clothing and towels of a person who has contracted monkeypox. Additionally, the email re-

iterated that students should wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently.

Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, Director for the Center of Infection and Immunity with the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, emphasized that although most of the cases being reported are among men who have sex with men, “there is nothing intrinsic about the virus that makes men who have sex with men more susceptible to infection.” Other groups are also at risk, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, who appear to be disproportionately affected by the virus. Demographic information like this can be crucial to

providing effective guidelines and preventing monkeypox’s spread.

By determining the impact of the virus on different populations, health officials can ascertain the severity of the outbreak, craft the structure of health advisories for communities, and establish an effective approach to halt the transmission of monkeypox.

The email from UHS also contained a link to find monkeypox vaccination sites in New York City, as the DOHMH has begun distributing vaccines to those who are displaying symptoms and who might be susceptible to the virus. According to the DOHMH, men 18 years or older who have sex with men and have had multiple sexual partners over the previous 14 days are eligible to get vaccinated.

The vaccination is free and the department recommends vaccination if your partners are showing symptoms of monkeypox; if you met recent partners through online applications or at large gatherings; or if you have a condition that may increase your risk for severe disease if you contract monkeypox.

The UHS email also stated that individuals should not come to campus if they have symptoms of monkeypox and should contact their health care provider immediately. UHS is arranging virtual appointments for those with symptoms and offering monkeypox testing.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

August 26, 2022

Sports & Health

7

Fordham Enters 2022 Season With High Hopes

As the preseason winds down, the Rams are set to begin their pursuit of the Patriot League Championship

By GABRIELLA BERMUDEZ Sports & Health Editor

After former Head Coach Joe Moorhead left Fordham’s football program in 2015 to coach at Penn State, the Rams’ have struggled to earn back their once-great reputation. Since Moorhead’s departure, the team has had two head coaches: Andrew Breiner and current coach Joe Conlin.

Under Moorhead’s leadership, Fordham had its most successful seasons in the recent history of the program. In 2013, the Rams had a 12-2 record and were ranked ninth nationally by the NCAA in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

Breiner maintained Fordham’s athletic reputation for the two years in which he served as head coach, 2016 and 2017. But once the team transferred to the hands of current head coach Joe Conlin, the Rams’ records sank.

In Conlin’s first year as head coach in 2018, the Rams had a 2-9 season. Although his tenure at Fordham began shakily, he has a notable pedigree. He spent four years as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Yale University. The year before Conlin became Fordham’s head coach, he led Yale’s football team to beat arch-rival Harvard, 24-3, winning the Ivy League football championship after a 37-year drought.

Fordham football’s losses are balanced by a host of impactful players who are returning for the new season.

During Conlin’s tenure as offensive coordinator at Yale, the team ranked 12th in the NCAA offensive FCS with 4,507 yards per game. Fordham Sports shared the details of Conlin’s Ivy League past. Under Conlin, Yale was “13th in passing efficiency (152.41) while also ranking in the top 22 in the NCAA FCS in red zone offense (14th), rushing offense (14th), scoring offense (14th) and fewest sacks allowed (22nd).”

Now, Conlin seems to be turning things around for the Rams — the team’s 2021 football season showed immense

improvement. After a condensed spring season due to COVID-19, the team concluded the 2021 fall schedule with a 6-5 record, with their largest losing stretch being just three games. Notably, the Rams ended with a 4-2 record in the Patriot League, finishing the year in third place behind Holy Cross University and Colgate University.

Despite their overall upward trajectory, the Rams’ first game of the 2021 season against the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers was a disastrous loss, with the team only successfully making one touchdown and an extra point, ending the game 52-7. This anomalous loss can be chalked up to the Fordham program seeking out stiff competition from the Big 10 Conference, with the Cornhuskers being a far more talented team than any FCS competitor the Rams would face. After Fordham’s opening calamity, it lost its next two games before going on a sixgame winning streak.

According to Fordham Sports, during the 2021 season, “the Rams rank third in the Patriot League in fumbles recovered, 20th in the NCAA FCS, and rank third in the League in both tackles for loss and sacks per game.”

Quarterback Tim DeMorat, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, and linebacker Ryan Greenhagen, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) ’23, are returning for their final season — unless DeMorat continues his education at Fordham and is not drafted into the NFL. DeMorat has been named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for three consecutive seasons by the Patriot League.

2021 was DeMorat’s best year, recording nearly half of his 67 career touchdowns during the season. The 6’4” quarterback threw 31 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. When the season concluded, the star was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year If DeMorat continues to keep his stats at this level, there is a chance he could be drafted into the NFL by the time graduation comes. DeMorat’s equally stellar teammate, Greenhagen, was named the 2020-21 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

Although Fordham already has a handful of athletes who could potentially restore its reputation in the world of college

Wide receiver Dequece Carter, FCRH ’24, outruns a Monmouth defender to complete a pass.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Tim DeMorat, FCRH ’23, throws a pass as Phil Saleh, FCRH ’23, blocks a Holy Cross defender.

Ryan Greenhagen, GSAS ’23, makes a tackle while James Conway, FCRH ’25, and Alfonzo Dixon IV, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’23, apply pressure.

football, the team lost a major piece of its offense this past off-season. In March of 2022, offensive lineman Nick Zakelj, GSAS ’21, was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Before that, Zakelj served as the 2021 team captain and led the Rams’ offensive line.

There is another change to Fordham’s starting roster, as former wide receiver Hamze El-Zayat transferred to Eastern Michigan University. El-Zayat was a three-year starter with the Rams, and he caught 40 passes for 400 yards and one touchdown last season.

Fordham football’s losses are balanced by a host of impactful players who are returning for the new season. Last season, DeMorat, wide receivers Dequece Carter, FCRH ’24, and Fotis Kokosioulis, FCRH ’23; offensive lineman Phil Saleh, FCRH ’23; and running back Trey Wilson III, FCRH ’24, were named First Team All-Patriot League. All are back with the team this year.

The hopes for 2022 are high considering Fordham’s performance last fall as well as the exciting roster. The 2022 team captains are Jonathan Coste, FCRH ’23; Trey Sneed, GSAS ’24; DeMorat; and Saleh.

Coste returned late in the 2021 season after missing time due to an injury sustained during

spring training. But he has been a starter on the defensive line for three years and earned First Team All-Patriot League honors in 2020-21.

Fordham looks to build on last year’s success and hopes are high that the team could compete for the Patriot League Championship.

Sneed, who was derailed by injuries last season, has a total of 1,177 rushing yards in his career. Last season, he provided the Rams with a total of four touchdowns. In 2020-21 he was also a First Team All-Patriot League selection.

Fordham football’s future looks bright, given that they continue to carry the same energy and approach as they did last season. Fordham may have no trouble returning to face rivals Bucknell University or Georgetown University, two schools that the Rams defeated by a landslide this past season.

Conlin and the rest of the coaching staff have led the Rams toward a stunning 2022 season.

A highlight for the Rams in the upcoming season is the homecoming game against University at Albany on Sept.

17. The team will also face Georgetown University in its Patriot League opener on family weekend, Oct. 1. The final regular season game is shaping up to be exciting as well, as it is against Colgate, a team that finished ahead of the Rams last season.

Fordham’s primary rival will be Holy Cross. The Crusaders have won the last three Patriot League Championships and beat Fordham in the de facto Patriot League Championship last season. They are also predicted to finish first in the league for the upcoming season by the League office.

The same poll projects the Rams to finish in second place, but the team earned two firstplace votes. Fordham looks to build on last year’s success and hopes are high that the team could compete for the Patriot League Championship.

Luckily for the Rams, they will not be facing a team of Nebraska’s caliber this upcoming season. They will attempt to get off to a hot start with Patriot League Championship aspirations when the season officially begins and they face Wagner College on Sept. 1.

Fordham Community Responds to Sup Administrators, student groups and alumni express

By SABRINA VIDAL Staff Writer

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on June 24 to overrule the precedent set by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey determined that abortions are no longer a constitutional right, leaving the decision to permit or deny abortions to individual states and their constitutions.

Abortion access is protected in New York, but following the decision, different forms of abortion bans and restrictions immediately challenged access to abortion rights in other states.

Following the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, abortion bans were repealed to allow for abortions to be a constitutional right, though some states passed trigger laws that were intended to ban abortion if the Supreme Court ever reversed its decision. Currently, some of the restrictions include consent laws, parental involvement, gestational bans and penalizations for abortion providers.

The case that overturned Roe, ​​Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, was brought before the Supreme Court to challenge Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act, which mandated that unless a medical emergency or a fetal abnormality warranted an abortion, a person does not have the right to “intentionally or knowingly perform ... or induce an abortion of an unborn human being” if the gestational age was past the 15-week mark. Jackson Women’s Health Organization argued that the right to an abortion was protected under the Constitution and cited previous precedents, including Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992 which reaffirmed the decision in Roe, to support this right.

The case was first presented in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, which sided with Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Dobbs appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court, which also sided with the previous ruling in Dec. 2019. The case then made its way to the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Constitution does not provide a right to abortion.

In response to the decision, individuals and groups within the Fordham community have expressed their opinions regarding the decision. In addition, current students and alumni have taken action to provide support and aid to those impacted by the reversal and departments within the administration have extended their resources to students affected by the ruling.

Where Abortion Rights Stand Across America

COURTESY OF JASON BONNER/THE OBSERVER

Activists at Foley Square protest the Supreme Court’s leaked decision on May 3.

Student Reactions and Mutual Aid Fundraisers In response to the decision, students and alumni began fundraising on social media and posting infographics to break down the changes Dobbs would bring to abortion access across America.

Sophia Grausso, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24 and president of the Feminist Alliance at Lincoln Center, spoke on the importance of action and urged students to turn their feelings into effective action.

COURTESY OF ALEXA VILLATORO/TH

= States that expanded abortion access post Dobbs = States with a constitutional protection to abortion = States with no abortion protections in place = States that are hostile towards abortion/have many restrictions or trigger laws in place = States with trigger laws to make abortion illegal post Dobbs

Protestors call for the abolition of the Supreme Court following the Dobbs

“We will all feel the effects of this precedent being overturned, which is why we need to be vigilant about voting, protesting and aiding those organizing resistance when we can,” she said.

Grausso and the Feminist Alliance hosted a fundraiser on Instagram, where they raised $40 out of their $100 goal.

They donated the proceeds to the National Network of Abortion Funds and are awaiting the beginning of the school year to take additional action as a club.

“We have (compiled) a list of resources that we hope to continue adding to as the semester goes on,” she said.

“We’re hoping to (incorporate) bringing awareness and taking action in each of the events we put on this semester.”

She added that the Feminist Alliance is committed to using its platform on campus to fight against restrictive legislation and hopes to host more fundraisers at events throughout the semester.

“Even though we haven’t raised much, we’re hoping it slowly and surely adds up over the course of the year,” Grausso said.

Ritamarie Pepe, FCLC ’22 and co-founder and current editor-in-chief of grain of salt magazine, an online publi-

The S Paren on Ju law c based dent s June

The Supreme Court case of Doe v. Bolton was decided on the same day of Roe v. Wade. This lessened the restrictions around getting abortions in Georgia.

January 22, 1973

1973 1973 January 22, 1973 The Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade was decided on Jan. 22, 1973. The Court declared that the right to an abortion was conferred by the Constitution.

1976 July 1, 1976 The Supreme Court case of Planned Parenthood v.

Danforth overturns a Missouri law that required women to have their husbands’ consent to get an abortion.

preme Court’s Reversal of Roe v. Wade their opinions in the wake of the landmark’s fall cation that publishes projects by female-identifying and nonbinary individuals, revealed that her immediate reaction to the ruling was one of concern for its effects on marginalized communities, the LGBTQ+ community and those falling below the poverty line.

“Reproductive rights are a form of healthcare, and healthcare is a human right,” Pepe said.

“Knowing the impact this will have on some of our most marginalized communities is very scary.”

To alleviate the repercussions that such groups would endure, Pepe introduced the idea of a fundraiser to the magazine’s editorial board. According to Pepe, grain of salt worked with the National Network of Abortion Funds and began their fundraiser following the ruling’s announcement on June 24. The magazine began with the goal of raising $200, but within two days, they accumulated over $1,350 in donations. Ultimately, the fundraiser raised $1,825.06 for the organization.

“It didn’t feel right to just sit and talk about it or share information,” she added. “I wanted to do something that I knew had an impact.”

Pepe emphasized that the watershed decision reaffirms grain of salt’s mission to continue being a space where creatives and marginalized communities can connect with other people who are upset and looking to channel their want for change into some form of creativity.

The Fordham College Republicans club and Fordham Respect for Life group did not respond for comment.

Responses From University Groups and Administration

In addition to students speaking on the decision, many Fordham groups and departments also contributed to the conversation.

The Fordham Undergraduate Law Review, a student-run publication that discusses legal issues at both the domestic and international levels, released a statement regarding the decision and noted the effect this decision had on the geographically diverse group of students, facHE OBSERVER ulty, staff and administrators that make up the s decision.

Fordham community.

“The laws which banned or severely limited access to abortion services lay dormant until Friday, when suddenly many members of our community had their constituionally guaranteed rights stripped away,” the statement read.

The United Student Governments (USG) at both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center also released a joint statement in July expressing their “full support for all students who are directly and indirectly affected by this decision.”

Within their statement, USG recognized the variety of reactions the decision may produce within the Fordham community and included Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) and University Health Services (UHS) as resources for students to seek out on campus.

“Our purpose as Fordham students is to raise our voices against injustices in society and fight for each person’s point of view in an equal and fair manner. We recognize and accept all points of view on the Supreme Court’s decision,” part of the statement read.

CPS released its own statement through its Instagram account and stated that it recognized the range of emotions among students as a result of the Supreme Court’s decision and encouraged students to reach out and speak to a counselor if they are struggling, feel overwhelmed or need support.

Pro-abortion access Foley Square protestor raises sign amid crowd calling for social freedom.

Jeffrey Ng, director of CPS, noted that the statement was released with the intention of reassuring students that their mental health would be attended to in the wake of Roe’s reversal.

“Even before the decision was officially announced, we were already reflecting on how the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade could impact our students’ mental, emotional and psychological health and well-being,” he said.

Similar to Pepe’s concerns, Ng noted that CPS was mindful of both the individual and broad implications this ruling will have on the rights of historically oppressed groups.

“We wanted our students to know that there are supports available for them regardless of whether they were concerned about the reversal of Roe v. Wade or the potential impact that that decision could have on other legal precedents,” Ng noted.

UHS director Maureen Keown said that “UHS is available to assist and support all students with any medical needs including issues related to sexual health and pregnancy.”

Keown added that UHS does not prescribe birth control except for “medical conditions such as acne, irregular periods, heavy periods, cramps, (and) polycystic ovary syndrome with supporting medical documentation.” According to Keown, UHS also provides education on safe sex and STI prevention, screening and treatment.

“We encourage any student who has concerns over their personal or sexual health to contact UHS and make an appointment with a provider,” she said. “UHS is a safe and confidential resource for all students.”

COURTESY OF JASON BONNER/THE OBSERVER

derful surprise in that it proved to be a genuinely engaging and constructive and generous conversation on a topic so fraught I hesitated to do anything on the abortion issue,” he said. “I couldn’t envision what sort of constructive engagement we could have on such a polarized topic.”

Diane Detournay, professor of English and women, gender and sexuality studies, said that the decision will impact her teachings in the classroom, with a focus on how students can organize at Fordham.

“I think I cannot stress enough that a reproductive justice agenda is not limited to abortion access, but rather seeks to build and imagine a world that supports the bodily sovereignty and self-determination of all people,” she said.

Pepe echoed this sentiment and believes that the best thing people can do currently is “support other people and be there for them, knowing what this (decision) means.”

Roe’s Reversal and Its Impact on Teaching and Education The overturning of Roe v. Wade has caused professors to consider the impact the landmark decision may have on their coursework and marginalized communities in the greater context of the American abortion debate.

Over a year before the Supreme Court’s decision, Fordham’s Center on Religion and Culture (FCRC) hosted a panel on the abortion debate in America on Jan. 27, 2021. It was moderated by the center’s director, David Gibson, and FCRC invited experts and faith-based voices to discuss the argument over abortion rights. In an interview with The Observer on Aug. 10, Gibson spoke about the relevancy of this panel to Roe’s recent reversal and the conversations that are expected to come.

“The panel we hosted on this topic last year was a won-

GRAPHICS AND PAGE DESIGN BY TARA LENTELL

Supreme Court case of Planned nthood v. Casey was decided une 29, 1992. Future abortion constitutionality was evaluated d on the “undue burden” preceset in this decision.

29, 1992

COURTESY OF ALEXA VILLATORO/THE OBSERVER

Several activists gather at Bryant Park and Grand Central to protest the fall of Roe.

The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case was formally released on June 24, 2022 officially overturning Roe and Casey.

June 24, 2022

1992

2022 2022 May 2, 2022 The Dobbs decision was prematurely leaked and seemed to overturn the Roe and Casey precedents.

2022 August 2, 2022 Kansas constituents voted no on a proposed constitutional amendment to get rid of the constitutional protection of abortion access, the first proposed amendment to state constitutions to go to the polls since the Dobbs decision.

Opinions Editors Ava Peabody Isabella Scipioni

Opinions

August 26, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Fordham’s Best Dorm, McKeon Hall

A comprehensive guide to your first year in the university’s superior dorm CHRISTA TIPTON-NIGRO

It is undeniably the closest Fordham Lincoln Center students will get to a traditional college dorm at an anything but traditional college campus.

The building’s personality depends on its residents, and each floor has its own vibrant feel from students and the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) student staff members. The building itself has its own unique quirks — from the four elevators shared by over 400 residents, to the turnstiles by the dining hall that randomly allow or deny passage, to the oddly-stained carpeted hallways. But the experience of living in McKeon cannot be beat.

While residents complain about the trash rooms with a climate of their own, the one shared laundry room and the walls that allow you to intimately know your neighbors, it is undeniably the closest Fordham Lincoln Center students will get to a traditional college dorm at an anything but traditional college campus.

These distinct features can certainly add up and become frustrating, but they simply add value to the two-term sentence dedicated to the first-year dorm: They make for hilarious stories to share at dinners, and the seemingly paper-thin walls provide funny gossip to share with your friends. Your time in McKeon will create many sentimental memories with friends.

Editor-in-Chief Allie Stofer

Managing Editor Maddie Sandholm

Contributing Writer

Atop Fordham’s law school sits one of the most notable features of Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus: McKeon Hall. The first-year dorm is a tall contemporary building with large windows that provide amazing views.

Not only does it make for excellent photos, but McKeon is where most resident students first call home at Lincoln Center.

No Lincoln Center student’s experience is complete until they have visited the Plaza with their friends (before it closes at 10 p.m., of course) and looked up at the beautiful McKeon Hall to see the iconic, illegal LED lights that almost every first-year decorates their room with.

Some new students are worried about living in a more traditional dorm, especially in comparison to the spacious apartments in McMahon Hall. However, they should never fear, as McKeon is the best college dorm at Fordham, and maybe even in all of New York.

Observer the

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Sitting atop the law school, McKeon Hall is filled with first-years from floor 11 to floor 22.

McKeon makes up for its faults with its stunning views of the city.

Those living in an even-numbered room have a $10-million view of downtown Manhattan of buildings like the Hearst Tower, the Deutsche Bank Center, Hudson Yards and, in some rooms, the Freedom Tower. You also have a nice view of the campus you call home.

Those living in an odd-numbered room have a different, but also gorgeous, view. As someone who lived on this side, I would argue it is the better view. Your room faces uptown, and residents can see Lincoln Center, the Juilliard School and a snippet of the Hudson River. At night, students can see a building cased in white light and another lit up in a magenta that is located near Columbia University, a whole 60 blocks away. This view is gorgeous and gives students the opportunity to see stunning sunrises and sunsets.

If you find yourself on the uptown side of McKeon and are looking for a fun game, go down to Lincoln Center and try to find your room! My first-year roommate and I did that, and it was a great memory. We acted like proud parents when we recognized our room.

While the strange quirks and stunning views are certainly part of every McKeon resident’s experience, new students are often most concerned about one thing: What will their room look like?

If you are anything like me, I am positive you are searching for everything you possibly can to get an idea of what McKeon is like. I know which YouTube videos you have watched, like the one with the girl showing her room on the even side and telling you it is the best side. (I still think the odd-numbered side is better.) YouTube videos are a great way to give you an idea of what the dorm looks like, but

MOLLY HIGGINS/THE OBSERVER

With its impressive skyline views and social spaces, McKeon Hall offers a wonderful place for first-years to dorm.

there is so much more to McKeon, and I guarantee it is very different from what you are imagining.

The furniture provided is ... an acquired taste, and the room without any decorations is boring, bland and stifling, making it important to decorate the walls with posters and art. I also recommend having desk lamps for better lighting. I would never advocate or support students breaking policies relating to LED lights or hanging lights, and I do not at all think they make the room nicer and add a far better light than the fluorescent lights do. I totally do not recommend people get them for their room, because it is not allowed per ResLife guidelines.

Anyway, it is important to make your room as cozy as possible! It will take a while before your room is perfect — I only had around two wall decorations at move-in. I later bought a “Jujutsu Kaisen” poster, a “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” poster (from the “Stardust Crusaders” story arc, in case anyone was curious) and more wall art after attending Anime NYC. It took some time before my room started to feel like home.

To help first-years meet new people, each floor in McKeon also has a specific lounge, perfect for social get-togethers and spaces for ResLife-sponsored events, courtesy of each floor’s residential assistants and resident first-year mentors. People often worry about making friends in college, but honestly, it can be easier than expected. Orientation is a great start, but your floors will also help foster a community feeling, and you will have a chance to meet people on your floor and on other floors too! The close-knit building allows you to easily go to a friend’s dorm and hang out.

Finally, while it can feel like an inconvenience to not have a kitchen, as students living in McMahon Hall do, a traditional college dorm is actually a great way to start your college career.

It allows for more time to focus on academics and allows you to fully transition into life away from home.

As many older students will say, McKeon feels like you are living in a hotel, which is a great way to begin adulthood and college life before transitioning into apartment-style dorms in McMahon Hall.

McKeon is a lovely place to live, and I recommend you enjoy your short stay there by taking advantage of the lifestyle it gives you as well as the great memories you will form in its hallowed halls. This year, as I walk home to my McMahon apartment across the Plaza, I will be able to fondly look up at McKeon and reminisce about my first year. Enjoy McKeon and welcome to Fordham!

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Opinions

11

All Rams Should Be Fans of McMahon

Apartment-style living in McMahon Hall is ideal for all students, regardless of their class year ISABELLA SCIPIONI Opinions Editor

My first year of college was anything but ordinary. First of all, I started during the pre-vaccine era of a global pandemic.

Then, as my remote fall 2020 semester wrapped up, I decided to transfer to Fordham University.

I knew that I was unhappy at my former school, and since the university had no plans of resuming in-person education for the spring 2021 semester, I hoped I could get a second chance at my first-year experience.

As I prepared for my do-over first semester, I was a little disappointed to open my email and discover that my housing assignment was in McMahon Hall, the residence hall that houses primarily upper-level students, rather than the first-year student-dominated McKeon Hall. McMahon seemed perfectly fine, but from what I’d heard from current students, McKeon was a recently built dorm with gorgeous views that helped first-year students get to know one another and adjust to college life together. I tried to make the best of it and hoped there would be other new students in my apartment, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit of FOMO.

Although there is a shared kitchen in McKeon, this experience in no way compares to having a kitchen of your own.

I soon discovered that I had nothing to fear, as I was assigned to a fantastic apartment where I was able to meet plenty of new people and form new friendships. Although I have never lived in (or even been in) McKeon Hall, I can say with absolute certainty that McMahon Hall’s apartment-style living is the better housing option for first-years and older students alike. While less traditional than most first-year residence experiences, McMahon Hall gives students the opportunity to escape the bubble of dorm life and fully experience what living in the city is like.

The Joy of Cooking

A Home, Not a Dorm

The biggest pro to living in McMahon is having your own kitchen. Although there is a shared kitchen in McKeon, this experience in no way compares to having a kitchen of your own.

Each McMahon kitchen includes a full-size refrigerator, sink and an oven with a stovetop. You and your roommates may need to invest in some cooking utensils and kitchen appliances (pots and pans, microwave, toaster, coffee machine, etc.), but that’s based on your preference. You can bring your own mini-fridge and microwave to a McKeon dorm if you would like, but these items are no substitute for a full, personal kitchen. Maybe the only dish you’ve perfected so far is a bowl of Frosted Flakes, but you will soon realize just how essential a kitchen is when you have to rely on expensive take-out dinners and your school’s cafeteria for every meal.

More important than having your own kitchen is being exempt from Fordham’s meal plan.

McKeon residents are required to purchase a meal plan, whereas McMahon students have the option of buying one. As a new student, you may think that it is easier to just get a meal plan, especially if you don’t want to worry about grocery shopping and cooking, but you will soon discover that the dining options at Fordham are less than popular among students.

I bought a meal plan for my first year of living in McMahon and canceled it shortly after purchasing my first meal. I never ate on campus again. Sure, the food is technically edible, but when you have a full kitchen at your disposal, it’s better to save the money on a meal plan and put it toward grocery shopping.

A busy college schedule can leave students exhausted, and it is likely that you will not have the energy to cook every day of the week. Even if you don’t plan on cooking a five-course meal after a long day of classes, there are plenty of easy meal options at your disposal, such as quick, pre-made meals at any local grocery store (consider Whole Foods’ endless hot bar or the hundreds of frozen options offered at Trader Joe’s). You can also give meal-prepping a try by cooking larger portions of multiple meals when you have extra time and reheating them throughout the week.

Another pro of living in a full-sized apartment is that McMahon dorms are built with common areas, whereas McKeon dorms are not. Each dorm has a living and dining room area that is fully furnished by the school with a dining room table and chairs, two coffee tables of different sizes, a couch and several other living room chairs depending on how many roommates you have.

While most of the furniture looks as though it has been used

by McMahon residents since the dorm was first opened in 1993, you won’t have to worry about buying or moving furniture into your apartment.

Although you technically have more roommates in each McMahon apartment than in a McKeon dorm, most students will still have only one or two roommates in their actual bedrooms: individual McMahon bedrooms come in single, double and, depending on incoming class size, forced triple configurations.

You can still spend time with your other roommates or any friends you invite over in your apartment’s common area. This allows you to have your own, private space while still being able to hang out with friends in your home, unlike in a McKeon dorm, in which your limited space for entertaining is also your bedroom, dining room and workspace.

Most McMahon apartments that I have lived in or visited have been fairly sized (or even large in New York City terms).

To be fair, I have only lived in corner apartments in McMahon (specifically, the B, M and H configurations), and others who have lived in other rooms may feel differently. While every apartment has its own quirks, such as the occasional small bedroom or closet and eerily stained furniture, most would agree that for their location, McMahon apartments are some of the nicest apartments that most students will ever live in in New York.

McMahon is by no means glamorous, but for a college apartment in New York, it doesn’t get much better.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISABELLA SCIPIONI

The Plaza entrance to McMahon Hall. Apartments in McMahon that overlook the interior of the campus compose “the fishbowl.”

though I strongly believe that McMahon is the better option, I can admit that the view from McKeon is far better than anything you will get in McMahon.

While the view from the majority of apartments in McMahon is not worth writing home about, your position in the building, and subsequent view, can vary.

Take it from someone who never lived in McKeon: You do not need to live there to have a great first year of college.

Getting the Best View McKeon is known for offering students gorgeous views of the city that most students will likely never be able to afford once moving off campus. Even

I have had a variety of views while living in McMahon, ranging from the entire westernmost wall of Lowenstein to the inside of living rooms of next-door luxury apartments and even the Empire State Building. While it can be difficult to predict what your view will be based on your room assignment, it generally helps to be on a higher floor in an apartment with a view facing the street.

The apartments facing the Plaza, colloquially known as “the fishbowl” since you can clearly see into other students’ rooms, have a less exciting but still comforting view of the school you call home. While your view is much more of a gamble if you choose to live outside of the fishbowl, you might just get lucky and have a gorgeous view of the city (that admittedly still does not compare to the views in McKeon).

An Alternative to Traditional College Living

McMahon Hall offers two- and three-bedroom apartments and is home to undergraduate and limited number of graduate students.

Most students have a clear idea of what their college dorm room should look like: a tiny cinder block room holding two, 10-foot-high beds on opposite sides of the room with a long

row of bathrooms down the hall shared by an entire floor.

Although living in McKeon is a more glamorous version of what most students imagine dorm living to be like, it still caters to the traditional image that many college students think they need to have when entering this next phase of their life.

If you are a first-year student living in McMahon, you may feel like I did when I first got my housing assignment.

You might be a little disappointed that you’ll never have a “traditional” college dorming experience. But let’s face it, if you decided to attend college in the middle of Manhattan, you already aren’t getting the traditional college experience.

If you are not originally from the city, it may feel strange to be going to school on a tiny campus in a major metropolis, when the majority of your friends are probably attending school on a sprawling, green campus in a suburban or rural area. However, going to college in the city will give you an exciting and unique college experience that you hopefully will enjoy to the fullest!

Living in New York City is a fantastic opportunity that many can only dream of. Living in a spacious apartment rather than a traditional cramped dorm takes it up a notch. Take it from someone who never lived in McKeon: You do not need to live there to have a great first year of college.

While McKeon offers sweeping views of the city and is a freshly renovated dorm that gives students a more traditional college lifestyle, McMahon offers a much more inviting layout, more privacy and more independence (especially with cooking). Part of me will always wonder what would have been different if I’d lived in McKeon, but ultimately, I am happy to have had the opportunity to live in McMahon, Fordham’s best dorm.

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Opinions

August 26, 2022 THE OBSERVER

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Don’t Be Afraid to Move to the City

Transitioning to college life and to living in the city is stressful, but you can tackle the discomfort with confidence AVERY GRAFELD Contributing Writer

I underwent a significant change of scenery when I began my first year at Fordham. In 2021, I left the comfort of home in Northern California and embraced the unfamiliarity of New York with equal parts fear and excitement.

For many Fordham Lincoln Center students, adjusting to Manhattan, one of the most densely populated regions of the United States, can be overwhelming. For incoming students from outside of the city, acclimating to New York will be a demanding, yet rewarding, experience. Although the first few weeks of your first year can be challenging, I hope my experiences can help ease your college transition.

Leaving Home On move-in day, saying goodbye to my parents was stressful. If I wanted to go home, I faced a six-hour commercial flight with little-to-no leg room. In comparison, my roommate lived in New Jersey, only 40 minutes from campus. I was situated across the country

and felt completely isolated. I remember second-guessing my decision and wondering if it was too late to take a gap year.

Filled with dread, I eventually found comfort in my roommates.

Two of my three roommates were from Massachusetts, and although closer in proximity, they too shared my dread of uncertainty. On the first night, we told stories of our past and our worries for the future. I realized they were just as apprehensive as me.

I learned that distance isn’t as important a factor when bonding in college — we all share a disruption in comfort and routine when entering a new chapter of our lives, no matter which coast we live closest to. While a greater distance from home does present unique challenges for new students, moving to college is uncomfortable for everyone.

Living in the City As the year progressed, I quickly found myself adjusting to city life. I lived in McMahon Hall, and unlike my first-year peers in McKeon Hall without a kitchen, I was challenged with the task of being able to cook

for myself. For students new to the culinary arts, I can assure you that cooking efficiently and simply will save your life.

I’d advise only buying groceries for yourself, because although wholesome, group cooking isn’t entirely practical. Trader Joe’s, located on 72nd Street and 10th Avenue, is a cheap alternative to the convenient yet expensive Whole Foods and Morton Williams. If you’re struggling with homesickness, I’d also recommend cooking home recipes to ease the transition.

Learning to cook was not the only adjustment I faced during my first year at Fordham. California has a warmer climate than New York, and my roommates constantly warned me, “You have no idea what real snow is.”

They were right: I did not.

My winter wardrobe had previously consisted of light jackets and knitted sweaters.

As the temperatures dropped, I quickly discovered the benefits of a winter coat, something I didn’t think I’d need given the sweltering humidity of New York’s summer months. If you’re not used to New York’s climate, be warned: New Yorkers experience all four

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MARIA TERZULLI/THE OBSERVER

seasons at their most intense.

Prepare for 100-plus degree days at move-in followed by near 30-degree temperatures in the winter.

During my first year in McMahon, I lived adjacent to the plaza. The open space provided insulation from the noise echoing from nearby streets. I was grateful for the quiet, but at times the view became dull in comparison to the opposing side with a street view. If you’re a heavy sleeper, I’d recommend living on the side with street access, as the sight of the skyline is spectacular and will definitely elevate your New York experience.

The silence from my side of McMahon, however, encouraged studying, which I did during the late nights. For me, balancing work with the endless activities the city had to offer was difficult, but learning to finish your work early, before procrastination sets in, will allow you to enjoy those recreations to the fullest extent.

Managing Homesickness Homesickness is often an inevitable response to living on campus. I grew up in the suburbs surrounded by thick redwoods and winding creeks which made the move to NYC especially daunting. I found comfort in Central Park, which can offer a peaceful escape from a not-so-peaceful city. For many, the park helps sustain a close relationship to nature that isn’t always found on the streets.

Picnics in the park are essential, and you can gather ingredients for a lunch outing from one of the many grocery stores surrounding campus.

Central Park is also home to glimmering lakes and grass fields, which are perfect views for a morning jog. I ran cross country in California and have incorporated it into my life as a college student. Creating simple routines that remind you of home can offer stability, since, unlike in high school, classes no longer span the entire day, so you have more

freedom to create a schedule that works for you.

Going Home Again After my first midterms, I went home for a brief Thanksgiving break. I was grateful to see my family, but I struggled to find complete relaxation given the cost of travel. Many of my friends were unable to go home for Thanksgiving because the length of time didn’t justify the expense.

At home, I noticed a shift had occurred in my personality that didn’t feel compatible with my surroundings. I had outgrown the person I was and it felt strange trying to replicate my former self. Even seeing friends felt awkward at first: Our lives had once been inseparable, but now seemed distant.

This tension eventually went away, but I’ll never forget the feelings of disarray that washed over me that first break. From a fresh lens, I saw how insecure I used to be, and only upon returning did I realize how little my insecurities mattered. I now carry a boldness and self-assurance that many people at home weren’t accustomed to seeing, and I’m grateful college gave me that confidence.

There are elements of California I realize I overlooked in New York and opportunities in New York that I wish I had in California. Sometimes in the city, I’m overcome with claustrophobia by the skyscrapers that tower over every street. On the other hand, being in California, I’m often bored by the lack of available activities. Only when you leave one place do you realize how much you took the other for granted.

As the fall semester approaches, I’m excited to return to Fordham. I’ll be sad to leave behind the natural landscape of California, but independence and living with my friends is a lifestyle I dearly miss. While starting college will definitely be an uncomfortable experience, I urge you to tackle the discomfort of starting this new phase of your life, and I hope you come to love Fordham and New York as much as I do.

Be Honest: Are You Being Real?

The latest social media phenomenon promotes authenticity but is plagued by the same issues as its predecessors JESSICA YU

Asst. Opinions Editor

The phone next to me buzzes.

A notification pops up: “Time to BeReal.” The alert is sandwiched between two warning sign emojis, giving off an aura of urgency and intimidation. My friend sitting next to me on my couch glances at her phone screen then goes back to the book she was reading.

It’s not until two hours later, when we’re in Central Park with several other friends, that she pulls out her phone and makes everyone get into her BeReal shot. Having been reminded of the daily task, two other people with the BeReal app follow suit, asking us to pose while they snap a quick picture.

If you haven’t heard of it already, BeReal is a new social media app that encourages people to, well, be real. The app challenges users to post content that is “authentic” by providing a two-minute window to post a front and back view of whatever they are doing when the notification goes off.

It may sound strict, but there’s an easy loophole — you are

allowed to post later. The only punishment is you get a sticker of shame that says “late,” but no one really seems to care.

As a concept, the app is refreshing, because if we’re being honest with ourselves, most of us have been victimized by social media at least once. We’ve compared ourselves to picture-perfect Instagram models, been bombarded with unrealistic body standards, been censored by TikTok when talking about any number of serious topics — the list goes on.

BeReal has some real fans.

Some users claim that it’s their new favorite social media app, while others find it comforting that the app reminds them they’re not the only ones watching Netflix in bed with greasy hair, acne and glasses that haven’t been cleaned in days. But with the rise of social media trends that ironically critique social media, I have to wonder why we’ve become so intent on creating anti-social media social media.

Take the movement to make Instagram casual again, which encourages people to post less filtered photos on Instagram. Forget

personal Instagram pages that are just selfies after selfies: Gen Z’s use of Instagram has new unspoken rules: 1. All Instagram posts must be a photo dump, a collection of photos that you’ve taken in the past 7-30 days.

2. Within this photo dump, limit the amount of solo pics you post. You can’t have people thinking you’re trying to show off how good you look in that vintage dress. Narcissism? That’s so millennial.

3. If you must include a food picture, it must be zoomed in. The food can’t be in perfect condition, take at least one bite before you take the photo. Ideally, it’s a picture of grease on an empty plate after you’ve finished your meal.

4. Include a funny, off-beat meme at the end of the carousel.

The movement to make Instagram casual has been around for a while, and now with the rise of BeReal, it’s clear that frustration with social media is reaching an all-time high. But will more social media, apps and ways to post save us from social media burnout?

Plenty of people wait to post

their BeReal photos until they’re out with friends, use multiple attempts to get a good shot, and even screenshot their own BeReal to post it in an Instagram photo dump (talk about meta!). It’s clear that the app’s good intentions have not been that successful. BeReal users are still stressing about creating a good post, carrying the traumas of their past relationship

with Instagram into this new app, while still going back to Instagram for the occasional hookup.

Instead of coming up with new ways to make social media less toxic, it’s time to admit that no such thing exists. Social media is always going to be bad for our mental health. A new app isn’t going to save you, but less screen time will.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN BOCALAN/THE OBSERVER

Arts & Culture Editors Isabella Gonzalez Olivia Stern

Arts & Culture

August 26, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Lincoln Center’s Local Canine Companions

Get to know the furry friends in and around the Lincoln Center campus and Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood DOGS from page 1

Lalita, Gregory and Sasha It would feel wrong not to introduce Gregory and Sasha as the first locals of my neighborhood dogs piece (and, no, it’s not just because they are my favorites).

My group chat with my roommates is filled with daily photos of Gregory and Sasha roaming the same streets we do. Whether you have walked up a few streets to the CVS on the corner of 58th Street and Ninth Avenue to replenish your Advil or treated yourself to a thick slice of pizza

from Amore across the street, you have probably spotted two seemingly incompatible characters: Gregory and Sasha.

Gregory — a pony-sized beige labradoodle — walks alongside his partner-in-crime, Sasha — a medium-sized chihuahua mix with velvety chocolate hair. Lalita, their mother, as she likes to call herself, walks not too far behind. Their contrasting sizes are not, however, their most notable features. Contrary to the New York City requirement that all dogs must be leashed, Gregory and Sasha are always off-leash.

PHOTOS BY MARIA AKOSTA GKALINTO/THE OBSERVER

Twix and his human Derrick have been living in New York City for five years. He is 17 years old.

Sherlock is a new resident of New York City. He is originally from the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Lalita attributes their seemingly professional training to their innate “perfection,” since they have never actually been formally trained. They are locals, masters of the streets that they confidently roam at a calm, relaxed pace. They are in no rush in the comfort of their native territories — true New Yorkers.

On every walk, Gregory carries a soccer ball, a handy accessory on busy streets. His soccer ball matches the shade of his curly white hair, and he will roll the ball to any friendly pedestrian with his nose to invite them to toss it right back to him.

Lalita, Gregory and Sasha have been living in Hell’s Kitchen for eight years and will continue off-leash on the streets that we all roam together.

Ambreen and Sherlock

Alfie enjoys hanging out in the grass at Balsley Park in Hell’s Kitchen.

Shifting from the leashless and extroverted Gregory and Sasha, the introverted golden retriever named Sherlock tugs on his leash nervously when crossing a bustling Ninth Avenue.

Sherlock and his human companion Ambreen live a block away from the entrance to Lowenstein, secluded from the chaotic activity outside the ground floor of their high rise. Sherlock, who is a year and a half old, recently moved to the city and into Hell’s Kitchen from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. His newness is evident as he tugs his human anxiously and diagonally along the 59th Street crosswalk, never straying from his daily path onto 60th and across to Central Park.

This path comforts him, each walk cementing his assimilation to Hell’s Kitchen.

“Central Park reminds him of our suburban past,” Ambreen said.

His long-haired tail slowly lifts out from between his hind legs as pedestrians lock eyes and flash a smile at him, but he remains vigilant and tense with each pop of an engine, siren of an ambulance, or thudding of footprints on the

metal grates. Sherlock, like many of us, is still learning to love the chaos of the city.

Derrick and Twix Walking further south into the heart of Hell’s Kitchen, you will run into Balsley Park, a teeny oasis on the east side of Ninth Avenue and a hub for post-work walks. The park is a communal refuge where delivery bikers, retirees, hoards of pigeons, dog owners and their companions, and others basking in a moment of nature and silence join together.

Here, you will usually find our neighbor Twix. Twix is a young 17 years old who walks with his human Derrick. His youthful hair — resistant to any graying — confident stance and relaxed tongue fools fans of his as they shout, “Look at that puppy!”

A shy senior, Twix avoids crowded spaces and Derrick makes sure to avoid the busier streets of our bustling neighborhood. They take advantage of the comfort of Balsley Park. On occasion, Derrick takes Twix for longer walks to Central Park, a popular favorite for our canine neighbors. Twix is a regular at Lincoln Center and the grassy plaza adjacent to the Lincoln Square and in front of the Empire Hotel. He travels west on busy 57th Street where the Hudson River meets the concrete grid and enjoys the breeze from the river and cars on the highway.

Locals now for five years, Twix and Derrick have mastered their destinations, and Twix has marked his territory in the major landmarks of our city campus, defying the reality of his age.

Tom and Alfie Finally, we have my sweet friends Alfie and Tom. Alfie, even though he has only lived here for a year, is already an unforgettable character of our streets.

You may be thinking of the restaurant at the corner of 53rd

Street and Ninth Avenue, Alfie’s, that serves a massive and pricey — but delicious — burger, but you are thinking of the less important Alfie.

This Alfie is medium-chihuahua sized, chai latte and beigehaired, mixed breed with the tender face of a golden lab.

Alfie is an 8-year-old rescue with possibly the happiest and fluffiest tail. At the top of the small hill in Balsley Park, Alfie’s tail waves to each pedestrian as he inspects every blade of grass that he greeted the walk before.

The sanctuary of nature “gets him going,” according to Tom. As horse-drawn carriages pass by, Alfie barks at the leading horse as it trots home down West 56th Street — an intersection of species in the concrete maze. Alfie is comfortable with his surroundings, yet his perked tail, wet nose and exposed tongue tell the story of an adventurer. Alfie and Tom are newcomers to our communal home, sensitive and curious to each spectacle within the diverse stretch of streets of our Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.

There are many more dogs that occupy the sidewalks, like the salt-and-pepper-haired, long, short-legged dachshund that walks a whole leash-length behind his human or the cream-colored Shiba Inu dressed in a hot pink harness. It would be impossible to capture them all in one short article.

Small or large, our neighbors remind me of the meaning, impact and privilege of my concrete surroundings. Central Park is a daily stop for our furry friends, no matter the weather or the time. The small sprouts of weeds in the grout of the sidewalks or the blades of grass in our mini oases around each corner of our daily commutes to Lowenstein connect us to our surroundings.

Take a page from the books of our furry neighbors that look up, curious and adventurous on the streets they walk everyday in Hell’s Kitchen.

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THE OBSERVER

August 26, 2022

Arts & Culture

15

‘Nope’? More Like Yep!

Jordan Peele’s new film ‘Nope’ is a hit that you just can’t say no to

By CHRISTA TIPTON-NIGRO Contributing Writer

Warning: Spoilers for “Nope” I am not the type of person who normally chooses to watch or enjoys horror movies. Instead, I usually gravitate toward comedy, action and romance. I would rather watch a predictable Hallmark movie before picking up a film like “The Shining” (1980) or “Silence of the Lambs” (1991).

However, on the rare occasion that I decide to shake things up and pick the dreaded horror category, I prefer more psychological films similar to “Annihilation” (2018), “Parasite” (2019) and “Get Out” (2017).

When I finally watched “Get Out” last Halloween in my dorm, I finally understood the praise and acclaim that Jordan Peele has garnered with his brilliant horror and thriller films. The film is genuinely unique, and the concept is something that teeters on the edge of reality and fiction, making it more thrilling to watch. Peele also added light comedic moments to put the audience at ease while maintaining concern for the protagonist’s situation. When my mother and I went to watch “Thor: Love and Thunder” (2022) in the theater and saw the preview for “Nope” (2022), we knew we had to see the movie as soon as it was released.

Peele has done it again with his new film, “Nope.” Unlike his other films, this movie, which was released on July 22, fits the science fiction genre as well as the horror genre. This different category allows for “Nope” to stand apart from his past two films and shows Peele’s adeptness in the horror genre.

A key theme in this film revolves around animals and an understanding of their true nature. The main character, Otis Jr. “OJ” Haywood, portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya, has intimate knowledge about animals and animal behavior, since he has been training horses his entire life.

He helped his father run their family ranch, which supplied horses for Hollywood movies and TV

shows, until his father was killed in a freak accident by a nickel plummeting from the sky and driving through his eye, leaving OJ and his sister Emerald “Em,” portrayed by Keke Palmer, to own and operate the ranch.

OJ understands that animals’ true nature is something that cannot be changed or tamed by others, and he recognizes that training an animal and respecting it is a key part of connecting with them. He also knows when, and if, to fear animals and is especially adept at reading and recognizing animals’ behaviors and reactions.

The film lays the foundation for OJ’s relationship with animals when it shows him anxiously standing next to Lucky, one of his ranch’s horses, and attempting to warn a commercial crew to not do something that he knows will frighten and anger the horse, potentially endangering those around him. After he is disregarded despite his warnings, the crew frighten Lucky by flashing a reflective ball at him, causing him to kick behind him and narrowly missing one of the crew members.

This interaction is a key moment in establishing OJ’s knowledge and understanding of animal behavior, as well as a moment of establishing his character, specifically his lack of confidence and voice, seen in how the crew ignored him and his warnings.

The film later introduces the audience to Haywood Ranch’s neighbor, Ricky “Jupe” Park, portrayed by Steven Yeun. Jupe, a former child actor with a Wild Westthemed mini park called Jupiter’s Claim, endured a deeply traumatic experience as a child when the titular chimpanzee on the sitcom “Gordy’s Home” reacted negatively to a balloon popping on set and maimed Jupe’s co-stars. Jupe was the only one left unscathed.

When the rampaging chimpanzee star Gordy spots Jupe hiding under a table, he lifts his fist to do their signature fist bump move. This interaction became a key moment for him, making him believe that he was

spared because of a connection he and the wild animal held.

This viewpoint heavily contrasts against OJ’s, who grew up in an environment where he saw firsthand the true untamable nature of animals and the importance of fear and understanding when interacting and training with them.

Character development is also a key aspect of this film and is especially noticeable with OJ and Em. OJ endures more subtle changes throughout the film, slowly becoming more confident and open in a perfect fit with the film’s progression.

When he is first introduced after his father’s death, OJ is soft-spoken, passive, docile and seemingly insecure in his new role as the Haywood Ranch owner. His insecurity is noticeable through how the commercial crew ignores his warnings about frightening Lucky.

His soft-spoken nature leads to a near-accident, and he gets fired from the commercial, losing revenue and forcing him to continue to sell horses to Jupe.

Throughout the film, he becomes more confident, communicative and assured. He gains the confidence to train Lucky to combat the territorial, violent, UFO-shaped creature he and his sister dubbed “Jean Jacket.” He gains the strength to stand up and face this creature and is prepared to sacrifice his life for his sister, luring Jean Jacket away from Em and giving her a chance to escape.

Em’s character development is extremely crucial to the film. She is strong but indifferent to the family ranch and wants to sell it rather than work with her brother. She is curious and inquisitive about the true nature of the ranch and encourages her brother to help her capture evidence of Jean Jacket.

Her active presence and continual interest in finding the truth about Jean Jacket moves the plot along.

She learns to appreciate their family ranch and becomes closer with her brother as they work together to gather evidence of Jean Jacket’s presence, and without her help, they would not have been able to

collaborate with other characters to gain the analog footage of Jean Jacket. Her appreciation and care for her brother later in the film is evident when she — despite his protests and attempt to lure Jean Jacket away — draws it in her direction, giving her brother a chance to escape. She then goes to Jupiter’s Claim where she unleashes a large balloon for Jean Jacket to eat and is able to get one last image of it before it seemingly explodes and dies.

“Nope” is an excellent film that leaves a lasting impression on its audience. Its unique plot allows for the film to be analyzed in depth,

and the messages incorporated into the film all come together to fit into the larger story. This film is truly eye opening with its multiple layers of deeper meaning and significance with seemingly contradictory genres and themes that flow together nicely and not in an overwhelming way. This movie steps outside of the bounds of Peele’s work thus far, and it will allow him to continue to develop more nonconventional stories apart from his past horror films. I highly recommend watching this film, even if the horror genre is not your favorite genre. It is truly an amazing watch.

COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

“Nope” is the third feature film directed by Jordan Peele.

‘Oh God, A Show About Abortion’ Resonates With Audiences

Alison Leiby’s political comedy at the Cherry Lane Theatre tackles motherhood, reproductive rights and more

By MARYAM BESHARA News Editor

“Oh God, A Show About Abortion” is not your traditional standup. It is a one-woman political comedy that follows the abortion story of Alison Leiby, a Brooklyn-based writer and comedian, who touched on the stigma surrounding womanhood and motherhood. The show also discussed the lack of equality in health care

access, as well as the social and political weight placed on the abortion debate in America.

Debuting at the Cherry Lane Theatre on April 25, the 70-minute show is a genuinely funny and informative commentary on the experiences connected to Leiby’s lack of desire to be a mother. She notably told the audience that a myriad of experiences, both physical and cultural, make up the umbrella of

COURTESY OF MINDY TUCKER

Alison Leiby put on a stand-up one-woman show about health care access, motherhood and abortion at the Cherry Lane Theatre.

motherhood, but it was not an experience she desired.

Leiby, who was 35 years old at the time, was on tour when she noticed that her period had been late. She wandered the fertility aisles of a Missouri CVS in 2019 looking for a pregnancy test. After seeing the positive result on her pregnancy test, Leiby told the audience that she tried to register her next steps. She noted that there is “no guide for what to expect when you’re expecting to stop expecting.”

Contrary to the title, her abortion story was not a significant portion of her monologue. She described her time at Planned Parenthood as “anticlimactic” and focused on addressing several topics relevant to her experience as she weaved in and out of the story. Throughout the show, Leiby touched on the meaning of motherhood and its relation to womanhood and posed the question: “If I am not a mother, then what am I?” She delved into the discussion of how motherhood and womanhood can almost be used almost interchangeably when referring to the achievement of societal milestones, leading to questions of worthiness and accomplishment for people who do not see children in their future.

“I don’t want kids,” she confidently told the audience.

She described herself as a 38-year-old writer with too many house plants who doesn’t pay her taxes on time and asked if that was enough. She also added that she was a woman that did what she had to do to protect the life that she had built for herself.

Responsibility was a topic Leiby covered in relation to motherhood as she jokingly assured the audience that she couldn’t keep her luxury plants from GRDN alive and, in turn, had no interest in being a mother.

Leiby’s monologue and performance style are sardonic, causing the audience to erupt in laughter several times throughout the show. Even with its limited crowd work — except for one moment where Leiby jokingly looked to an audience member and asked if they have ever had a near-lethal blood clot from a birth control pill called Yaz, to which the audience member exclaimed “Yes!” — Leiby’s story is one several people can relate to.

In between laughs, I found her words to be extremely powerful.

Leiby was able to share her story in a manner that allowed people to appreciate her transparency and learn from her story. Not ev-

eryone wants to be a mother, and that should be OK too.

The Cherry Lane Theatre’s small venue made the show feel even more inclusive, especially given the unspoken understanding of the reality taking place outside the theater’s doors.

Since the show’s debut, the political comedy has survived the unintended leak of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on May 2, followed by the Supreme Court’s official 6-3 ruling on June 24 that overturned the precedents of both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, abolishing the constitutional right protecting access to abortions.

Even with all of the topics addressed, Leiby managed to find and maintain a light-hearted balance which got her points across to the audience in a way that didn’t feel instructional. Two minutes would not pass before Leiby had delivered another joke about her inability to take care of house plants or suggestions for period tracker apps to be named after relatable board games “Sorry” and “Trouble” instead of the existing apps “Life” and “Clue.”

The political comedy closes on Friday, Aug. 26, with the last showing taking place at 7 p.m. at the Cherry Lane Theatre in the West Village.

Fun & Games Editor Irene Hao

un & ames

August 26, 2022 THE OBSERVER

Crossword: Find Your Path

BY KREENA VORA

Across

16. Anger 17. *Path for a major problem solver 19. Boxer Muhammad 20. Asian percussion instrument used to clear the way for important officials 21. The Summer and Winter Olympics, for two

1. “Cross my heart;” I 6. Suggest, as a solution 11. Hopping emotion 14. A bald one represents America 15. Russia’s dollar

23. Appliance necessary for baking 26. *Path for a major news reporter 30. Free (of) 31. Implies more to the meaning 32. Rodeo star 34. Text to an Android user (Abbr.)

35. Continent home to a terracotta army 39. A pen name, for example 40. Had food 41. Chris or Liam Hemsworth 42. Yodeled 43. Big ___,, Calif.

44. They had 11, 12, 13, and 8 in the movies 45. Writings on tombs 48. Fib 49. *Path for a major thinker 52. Exclamation of pity 53. Not the most 54. Each team gets three per inning 56. Type of tree lining the National Mall 57. *Path for a major number cruncher 64. Tirana’s country, for short 65. Nuclear weapon developed during WWII (Abbr.)

66. ___ Puffs 67. Two according to Dora the Explorer 68. Hangman’s knot 69. TikTok dances often become one of these

Down

1. “Now You ___ Me” 2. Obi-___ ObiKenobi 3. Incite or dare, with “on” 4. Ally with, as political parties 5. City in Nevada 6. Portland’s state 7. Pet hair 8. “White Collar” org.

9. National Liberation Army in Colombia (Abbr.)

10. Jamaican pop music 11. “___ “ Vice” 12. French city where Van Gogh painted 13. Benjamin Franklin’s religion 18. Have fun 22. Wine area in Northeastern France 23. Killer whales 24. Actress Davis of “How to Get Away With Murder” 25. Astronomer Hubble 27. Release, as a harness 28. Colosseum city 29. Opposite of days (Abbr.)

31. Adjacent over hypotenuse (Abbr.)

33. New Yorkers’ favorite breakfast breads 36. Stop in a stable?

37. Greek region once home to the Temple of Artemis 38. British asses 40. Prefix meaning self 41. Window unit letters for the summer

43. Bro’s sibling 44. What you might say after tasting something surprisingly delicious (2 wds) 46. Guy who sells you weed 47. Lisa Kudrow in Friends 49. Beg 50. 2015 Adele hit 51. Parts of Shakespeare’s pentameters 52. Fur trader John Jacob 55. Diplomat’s skill 58. Blood-typing letters 59. Also 60. Acronym for the Queen’s boats 61. Rocks at a bar 62. Pro’s opposite 63. How Eeyore often felt

Quiz: What ‘Major’ Vibes Do You Give Off?

by Irene Hao

What is your drink of choice in the morning?

A B C D

Water Energy Drink Tea Coffee

p ski rd! t ’ Don sswo ds cro e wor e h e t m the eal th e Th l rev to wil swers . z an qui e h t

Pick a hobby:

You’re required to present any topic to your class in any way.

How would you do it?

A

A Google Slides on something factual and uncontroversial

B

A show-and-tell on my latest creation

C

A profound essay questioning society, with photocopied handouts

D

A fun and interactive show with a script I don’t follow religiously

Mostly A’s

A Music B Baking C Gardening D Blogging

What is your role in group projects? the A Double-checking project guidelines

B Making the group chat

and scheduling meetings

C Conducting research D Making the presentation How well do you work under pressure?

A Very well, I’m rigorously prepare for everything

B Well, I follow a schedule I’m better with C Okay, things that I enjoy

Sudoku

Each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.

BY IRENE HAO

D Not well, I leave things to the last minute

51 ACROSS

You give off a neat and polished vibe.

You enjoy a logical approach to solving issues. You are detail-oriented and you may seem like a perfectionist, but really, you know that sometimes there is only one right answer.

Mostly C’s 49 ACROSS

You give off a scholarly, elegant vibe.

You either are a TA or you are often confused for one. You enjoy diving into research rabbit holes, and you can recite your favorite niche Wikipedia article from memory.

Mostly B’s 17 ACROSS

You give off a practical, straightforward vibe. You are always able to bring any idea to life. You enjoy structure and a hands-on approach to problem solving.

Mostly D’s 26 ACROSS

You give off a chic and approachable vibe, with a hint of chaos. You enjoy writing or reading (or both). No matter the severity of your procrastination habits, you always pull yourself together and make the deadline, somehow.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS AND PAGE DESIGN BY ROXANNE CUBERO