Commencement

COMMENCEMENT

May 11, 2022

R

Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918

The Fordham Ram is the university journal of record. The mission of The Fordham Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Fordham Ram is published every Wednesday during the academic year to all campuses.

Website TheFordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Editor in Chief Ava Erickson Managing Editor Hanif Amanullah Editorial Director Hasna Ceran Production Editor Michael Sluck Multimedia Director Pia Fischetti Business Director Matthew Colucci Copy Chief Amanda Yarolin Assistant Copy Chief Hannah Boring News Editor Isabel Danzis Features Editor Sebastian Diaz Assistant News Editors Emma Kim Samantha Minnear Opinion Editors Nicole Braun Emma Lipkind Assistant Opinion Editor Daniella Terilli Culture Editors Elisabeth Murray Kari White Assistant Culture Editor Ilaina Kim Sports Editor Nick Guzman Assistant Sports Editors Thomas Aiello Maddie Bimonte Social Media Director Frances Schnepff Digital Producers Ava Carreiro Justin Charles Sofia Donohue Visual Director Nicoleta Papavasilakis Photo Editor Nick DeSilva Graphics/Illustrations Cory Bork Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Policy The Fordham Ram’s editorial reflects the editorial board’s opinions or views.

Opinion Policy The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Fordham Ram. Submissions Policy The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject or edit any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. No part of the The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

2022 Commencement Schedule Baccalaureate Mass: Friday, May 20, 2022 at 6 p.m. — The Baccalaureate Mass at Rose Hill will be held in the Rose Hill Gymnasium. Music will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the event will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person.

University Commencement Ceremony: Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 10 a.m. — The main university commencement will be held at the Rose Hill campus on Edward’s Parade, weather permitting. The deans will present the graduates and Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, will officially confer their degrees.

Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III will also speak.

Colleges and Schools Diploma Ceremonies: May 21-May 24 — Following the university commencement ceremony, individual schools will hold diploma ceremonies.

Saturday, May 21, 2022 at approximately 12:45 p.m.

— Immediately following the university commencement cer-

emony, the following schools will hold diploma ceremonies: Fordham College at Rose Hill on Edwards Parade, Gabelli School of Business (Bachelor’s Candidates) on Jack Coffey Field, Fordham College at Lincoln Center on Walsh Family Library Lawn, Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies in Fordham Prep Auditorium, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the University Church and Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education in Keating First Auditorium.

Monday, May 23, 2022 — The School of Law diploma ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Edward’s Parade. The Graduate School of Education ceremony will also take place on Edward’s Parade at 3 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 — The Graduate School of Social Service ceremony and the Gabelli School of Business (masters and doctoral candidates) ceremony will take place on Edward’s Parade at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. respectively.

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Letter from the Editor: Congratulations Class of 2022

By AVA ERICKSON EDITOR IN CHIEF

We at The Fordham Ram would like to extend our congratulations to the class of 2022.

Your time in college has been met with unprecedented times, from the COVID-19 pandemic to countless acts of violence in New York City and across the world, and I would like to commend all of you for making it through.

You did it. Despite your college experience being unusual and

challenging, I sincerely hope it was rewarding. While I know many of your schedules will be overwhelmed with celebrations, job interviews and big decisions during this time, I hope all of you can take a moment to be proud of yourselves. Graduating is an incredible achievement.

This commencement issue of The Fordham Ram serves as a celebration of all of you and your achievements throughout college. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

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Graduation is a wonderful time to celebrate achievements.

Four Years of College Isn’t Guaranteed

By HASNA CERAN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Coming into college, there are certain expectations nearly everybody has for their “college experience.” Fordham University at Rose Hill, with its surprisingly-expansive campus and Gothic Revival architecture — not to mention the number of bars around campus — plays into the idea of the traditional four years on a college campus in many ways.

However, four years isn’t guaranteed. In fact, as the March 2020 send-off proved, it wasn’t guaranteed for an entire graduating class. As someone who was a freshman at that time, spent sophomore year in remote learning on the other side of the country and is now concluding my studies at Fordham a year early following this summer, I’ll only have spent a single full academic year on campus. That’s why I think it’s so important to make the most out of every moment you get on campus, and to not miss out on the numerous opportunities that are offered at this critical transitional period.

Let’s start with the most obvious of the opportunities presented on Fordham’s campus: the location. Even if you’re not a Lincoln Center student, it’s fair to say that New York City is just as integral to your four-ish years as Keating Hall. Looking back now, I wish I had explored it more. We don’t all leave Fordham to go to bustling metropolises, and, depending on our plans post-graduation, we may not get the opportunity to live in the heart of one for a long time after. Even if traveling to Manhattan from Rose Hill on a whim seems daunting, even the time spent on the commute will probably be more rewarding to

look back on than hours spent in a dorm room or apartment, browsing the same internet that’ll be there when you graduate.

Attending Fordham isn’t just a foot in the door for New York City, though. Fordham University itself offers an incredible array of academic and personal opportunities that so many people can graduate without ever taking advantage of. A university campus is a uniquely-populated shared space. Being here, you have access to not only the concrete resources around you, but the people that you share the campus with. Not only do your fellow students afford you a diversity of lived experiences that you have no choice but to be exposed to and learn from, but your professors and advisors are likely to be people that have dedicated a large portion of their careers to an academic niche. A niche that — should you find yourself interested in it — you could (politely) ask about.

And learn about. Imagine that.

There will be few other places where there will be so many different events happening under your nose, most of them costing only your time. This doesn’t only go for the obvious events like concerts, socials or club gatherings either. I consider myself lucky to have ended up covering some events for the Ram that I would otherwise never have attended. One of my favorite experiences at Fordham was actually attending a lecture on sexuality in modern Catholicism that I listened to my freshman year. If I hadn’t been encouraged to write about it, I may never have even bothered to check it out. After all, a lecture entitled “The Sexual Dynamics of Modern Catholicism” wasn’t the kind of thing I imagined spending a weekday

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Fordham students should try to experience as much as possible.

night listening to.

It was riveting, though.

Enough that I chose a theology course to satisfy my core requirements over other options when the time came.

Which brings me to another opportunity I don’t see appreciated enough. The flexibility of the much-maligned required core curriculum has allowed me to explore so many niches outside of my intended economics major, that I would consider it the biggest selling point of an education at Fordham University.

First, the core curriculum is really not as restrictive as some people seem to think. The requirements are quite easy to fill, and there is usually an incredible variety of courses offered for any one requirement. Second, this incredible variety can and should be taken advantage of.

Taking an introductory music history course to fulfill my fine arts core requirement may not have awakened a long-dormant musical prodigy inside me, but it ignited a love of the opera.

My understanding historical change requirement prompted me to take “Islamic History and Culture,” which led to me taking on Middle East studies as a second major, which then led

to me taking “Arabic Literature in English Translation,” which led to my overstuffed bookshelf groaning under the weight of the works of great authors that I may never have otherwise discovered.

What could have been an opportunity for me to complain about how an economics major didn’t need any “fine arts” or “ethics” to slow me down, turned into an opportunity to learn more about what’s important to me, and what kind of person I wanted to be moving forward.

This is all to say that, looking back, my time at Fordham was so short. Despite doing everything I could with it, I just keep looking back and thinking there were so many great chances I held back from, for no reason at all. So my advice to anyone not yet graduating is this: No matter what you do, don’t hold back. Talk to that person. Meet with your professors. There’s so much more to do than the usual routine, and there are so many fewer consequences for being less-than-perfect than you might think. Four years pass by quickly enough, and, for me, three years has felt like nothing at all.

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Fordham University Class of 2022 Valedictorians FCRH Co-Valedictorian: Molly Henschke Henschke is graduating with a bachelor of arts in English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in peace and justice studies. She is the president of Alpha Chi Omicron, Fordham’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, an international English honors society. She is also a recipient of the Reid Family Prize, an award given to Fordham students for excellence in the field of creative expression. Henschke has been

an intern at Our Time Projects (2019), a documentary and film production company, and BOMB Magazine (2022), an art magazine. She is currently a content writer for GR0, creating written content for brands.

In 2019, she was a research assistant for professor Keri Walsh and in 2021 she was a research assistant for Columbia professor Terry McGovern. She is also the director of Our Story, a storytelling project at Fordham.

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FCRH Co-Valedictorian: Maja Sato Sato is graduating with a bachelor of science in general science on the pre-med track.

She is a member of Fordham’s chapter of Sigma Xi, a scientific research honor society, Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honor society, and Alpha Sigma Nu, a Jesuit honor society. From June 2021 to January 2022, Sato was a Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens Boots Alliance in Boulder, Colo. Sato volunteers as a Crisis Counselor with Crisis

Text Line and as a translation service volunteer at Contra COVID, helping Spanish speakers navigate the healthcare system.

She also worked as an Emergency Medical Technician with Fordham University Emergency Medical Services (FUEMS) from January 2020 to February 2021. She has also been a tutor and teaching assistant at Fordham throughout her time in college, aiding chemistry students through recitations and review sessions.

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GSB Co-Valedictorian: Brandon Aptilon Aptilon is graduating with a bachelor of science in finance with a secondary concentration in value investing. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, an academic honor society for business students, and the Boyle Society, a scholarly group of Gabelli students who assist faculty in research and tutor their classmates.

In 2021, Aptilon was an Industrials Portfolio Manager and Options Strategist for the Fordham Student Managed Investment Fund, a student-run program

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GSB Co-Valedictorian: Andrew Pace Jr. Pace is graduating with a bachelor of science in finance.

He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, a business honor society, and the Boyle Society, an academic society for Gabelli students. In 2021, he was a Managing Director for the Fordham Student Managed Investment Fund where he worked with other Gabelli students to manage a portion of Fordham’s Endowment. From May 2020 to August 2021, Pace

was a Private Credit Intern at Star Mountain Capital and after graduation he will work as an Investment Analyst at W. P. Carey Inc. Pace was a teaching assistant in Credit & Special Situation Investing for Professor Michael Gatto and he is the Logistics Director for the Fordham chapter of St. Jude Up ‘til Dawn club, as well as a member of Fordham University Rugby Football Club.

COURTESY OF ANDREW PACE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

which consists of two consecutive one-semester academic courses.

During the program he collaborated with 28 other students to manage approximately $2.2 million of Fordham’s endowment. During the summer 2021, Aptilon was a Corporate Banking Credit Summer Analyst for Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG). He is also a resident assistant, the vice president of the Fordham Value Investing Club and the manager of the Fordham women’s volleyball team.

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May 11, 2022

Rev. Calvin O. Butts III to Deliver Keynote Address at 177th Commencement

By ELISABETH MURRAY CULTURE EDITOR

Rev. Dr. Calvin Otis Butts III, the pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, will be delivering the keynote address at Fordham University’s 177th Commencement.

The ceremony will honor Butts’ return to Fordham, as he has previously taught Black church history as an adjunct professor and returned in the spring 2022 semester as a distinguished visiting professor teaching in the Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy Division in the Graduate School of Education. In addition to delivering the address,

Butts will also receive an honorary doctorate degree in divinity.

As the senior pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church — historically New York City’s largest Black church — and a globally recognized leader in education, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, regards him as “a giant of the civil rights movement.”

Education and faith are the hallmarks of Butts’ ministry and he has dedicated his life’s work to many services and causes in New York City.

Butts has been a part of Abyssinian Baptist Church for over 30 years and was the president of the State University of New

York College at Old Westbury for two decades before retiring in 2020. He is the founder and chair of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a community-based nonprofit organization that contributed over $1 billion in housing and commercial development throughout Harlem. Additionally, Butts serves on the leadership board of New Visions for Public Schools and was a crucial part in the establishment of the Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social Change, a public intermediate and high school in Harlem, as well as the Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School. Further, Butts was a board member

of the September 11 Fund and served as the president of Africare NYC, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in rural Africa. “[Butts] is a powerful preacher and educator who has used his voice in the service of the city’s marginalized and dispossessed: In this he is our lodestar and our conscience,” McShane said.

Butts grew up in New York City, graduating from Flushing High School and then attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, Butts returned to New York and earned a Master of Divinity from Union

Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University. He has received honorary degrees from Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the City University of New York/ The City College of New York as well as numerous honors and commendations for his community activism including the United Negro College Fund’s Shirley Chisholm Community Service Award; The Medal for Distinguished Service from Teachers College, Columbia University and Man of the Year, Morehouse College Alumni Association.

The commencement for the class of 2022, where Butts will be speaking, will be held on Saturday, May 22 at the Rose Hill campus.

2022 Honorary Degree Recipients

Rev. Dr. Calvin Otis Butts III, Pastor: honorary doctorate in divinity

Kim Bepler, philanthropist: doctorate of humane letters

Bill Baccaglini, former CEO of the New York Foundling: doctorate of humane letters

Rosamond Blanchet, R.S.H.M., MC ’62, former provincial superior of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary: doctorate of humane letters

Laura Swain, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York: honorary doctorate of laws

Mandell Crawley, managing director and chief human resources officer at Morgan Stanley: doctorate of humane letters

Patrick J. Foye, FCRH ’78, LAW ’81, former chairman and CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority: doctorate of humane letters

Archbishop of Washington, U.S., Cardinal WiltonGregory: honorary doctorate in divinity

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OMA Hosts Diversity Graduation Celebrations

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

Throughout the week of May 2-6, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and Office of the Chief Diversity Officer partnered to host five Diversity Graduation Celebrations.

Each graduation celebration focused on a specific identity in order to celebrate the accomplishments of certain groups of Fordham students. The celebrations took place in person on both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses and included a live stream so people could attend virtually.

On Monday, the graduation celebrations kicked off with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) celebration. Following the AAPI event, on Tuesday OMA hosted the Lavender Graduation Celebration. The Lavender celebration commemorated the accomplishments of LGBTQ+ Fordham students. On Thursday, OMA hosted the Latinx Graduation Celebration.

To conclude the week of celebration, the Black Graduation Celebration was hosted on Friday.

These celebrations are meant to recognize the accomplishments of Fordham’s graduating seniors that identify with traditionally marginalized groups.

“For these communities that feel marginalized, having some sort of celebration of identity is important,” said Juan Carlos Matos, assistant vice president for student affairs for diversity and inclusion.

For Matos, hosting the Diversity Graduation Celebrations is extremely important to the college experience. According to Matos, OMA hosts many events for new and

returning students, like the BIPOC student mixer and the OMA block party that happens during orientation week. He noted that it’s also important to the college experience to recognize the accomplishments of those who are graduating. “[I think] it’s great to have these bookends important experiences, especially if you are a person of color or LGBT. Being at a predominantly white institution, having these moments of recognition, I think affirms all the work that these groups of students have done, and the things they have contributed to their individual committees but to the community at large,” said Matos.

The graduation celebrations are student run. They were each planned by separate student committees, meaning that the format of each celebration looked different. However, for Matos, it was important that at each celebration students will be presented with a stole and a certificate. Matos as well as Rafael Zapata, chief diversity officer, special assistant to the president for diversity and associate vice president for academic affairs, read out the names of graduating seniors and presented them with the stoles, certificates and other giveaway items.

According to Matos, one of the inspirations for the creation of the Diversity Graduation Celebrations was Matos’s own participation in a similar program in his undergraduate and graduate education.

“I still have [my stoles], well over 15 years later. I still have the stoles that I received as an undergrad. It

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The Lavendar Graduation Ceremony took place on May 3 and celebrated LGBTQ+ students. was such a significant experience celebrations were all in-person.

Shane’s address will be played to for me, and such a momentous Despite 2022 being the first year both campuses virtually. Then, experience for me. Recreating that that the celebrations were be fully the [celebrations] start to vary,” [experience] for Fordham stuin-person, Matos and OMA saw a said Matos. dents is something that I have lot of student excitement and anFor the Latinx and Lavender hoped [to do] for a long time,” ticipation for the event. celebrations, awards were given said Matos “We had one person who alout. The AAPI celebration partAdditionally, Matos noted that ready RSVPed who said that she nered with Asian-identified clubs, OMA provided students with was looking forward to this event which created superlatives that things to accessorize their stoles from last year when she was a juwere presented to the graduating to better fit their personal identity. nior,” said Matos a week before seniors. All the celebrations have “Every person who RSVPed will the ceremonies began. some sort of keynote address. receive a certificate, a stole, giveMatos hopes that the DiverThe keynote speakers range from aways and we do have a number of sity Graduation Celebrations will alumni to faculty to current stuclub logos and buttons. People are evolve to be a Fordham tradition dents. The celebrations were all really going to be able to swag out that underclassmen can look forfollowed by a reception. their stoles. We have patches too. ward to participating in when they This is the second year that the We have flag patches for countries are seniors.

Diversity Graduation Celebraof origin, as well as LGBTQ+ flag “There are so many senior tions have occurred. The planning patches,” said Matos week traditions that people for them began in 2020, however, While each celebration looked look forward to, I’m hoping those celebrations were canceled different, they all followed the that this joins in the chorus of due to the onset of the COVID-19 same general opening procedures. things that people come in as pandemic. In 2021, a hybrid “The basic layout for all of them first-year students and say ‘I model was adopted, with some will be a welcome address, opencan’t wait to graduate because students being celebrated virtuing remarks, Father McShane I want to go to those diversity ally and others in person. This made a video, so Father Mccelebrations,’” said Matos. year marks the first year that the

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

Become competitive in the fast-growing tech industry.

Fordham’s Computer and Information Science Department now offers the following graduate programs:

• • • • • •

Ph.D. in Computer Science M.S. in Computer Science M.S. in Cybersecurity M.S. in Data Science Advanced Certificate in Financial Computing Advanced Certificate in Financial Econometrics and Data Analysis

Evening, weekend, and some online/hybrid classes are available Reduced tuition for master’s programs Visit fordham.edu/cisgrad to learn more.

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May 11, 2022

After Four Years at Fordham...

The Fordham Ram has chronicled events both big and small relevant to Fordham University since 1918. Below are headlines — recounting both the good and the bad — that have appeared in the Ram over the course of the last four years. We encourage graduating seniors to read and reflect on one of the most trying and exciting four-year periods in Fordham’s history.

By HANIF AMANULLAH MANAGING EDITOR

University Condemns Petition Against Drag Show Volume 100 Issue 17, Published Oct. 24, 2018 A number of Fordham administrators called Student Action’s (TFP) petition to cancel a Lincoln Center drag show “cruel” and “dehumanizing.” Jonathan Crystal, interim provost, stated: “The university’s position is that part of cura personalis is honoring the individuality of all our students, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

Priest Previously Accused of Abuse Housed at Fordham Volume 100 Issue 21, Published Nov. 28, 2018 The Fordham Ram brought to light previous allegations of sexual assault made against the late Rev. Cornelius Carr, S.J., who spent the end of his life living in Murray-Weigel Hall.

Bronx Bodega Becomes a NYC “Safe Haven”

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Volume 101 Issue 3, Published Feb. 6, 2019 Following the killing of a 15-year old Belmont resident outside a bodega in 2018, the bodega across from 183rd St. and Bathgate was designated by the NYPD and the United Bodegas of America as a “safe haven bodega” outfitted with panic buttons, cameras and magnetic locks.

Fordham Dance Marathon Breaks Donation Record Volume 101 Issue 7, Published March 15, 2019 FDM raised $121,364.88 during its sixth annual dance marathon. Though the goal was kept a secret, co-director Kimona Dussard, FCRH ’20, mentioned in her statement to the Ram that FDM had surpassed it.

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Michael Higgins, President of Ireland, Visits Fordham London Center Volume 101 Issue 15, Published Oct. 4, 2019 President of Ireland Michael Higgins gave a spokem address titled “Humanitarianism and the Public Intellectual in Times of Crisis” as part of Fordham London Center ’s Humanitarian Lecture Series.

African American Studies Department Celebrates 50 Years Volume 101 Issue 20, Published Nov. 15, 2019 In 2019 the African American Studies Department (AFAM) celebrated 50 years since its creation, which followed a student protest and sit-in in a dean’s office in 1969.

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Fordham Suspends All In-Person Instruction for Spring Semester Volume 102 Issue 7, Published March 13, 2020 Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency in New York regarding rising COVID-19 cases. According to an email from Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, Fordham would reevaluate COVID-19 guidelines on March 30.

May 11, 2022

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...A Look Back at Noteworthy Headlines Fordham University Celebrates 175th Commencement Online Volume 102 Commencement Issue, Published May 16, 2020 Fordham University administration’s decision to make commencement virtual was met with mixed response from the Class of 2020. To many, online ceremonies like commencement had “lost their value.” To others the 2020 commencement was “a nice gesture” given strenuous times.

Fordham Announces Campus Reopening Plans Volume 102 Non-Issue Release, Published July 20, 2020 Fordham reopened on-campus living for the 2020 fall semester, the details of which were released in an email from Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university. The reopening followed CDC guidelines regarding event gatherings and mask protocols.

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Fordham’s LGBTQ+ and Ally Network of Support Reaches 10 Years Volume 102 Non-Issue Release, Published Oct. 21, 2020 The network, launched in 2010, is run by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA).

Since its creation, Fordham’s LGBTQ+ network has had over 900 members.

Off-Campus Social Scene Thrives Despite COVID-19 Pandemic Volume 103 Issue 8, Published April 14, 2021 Emails from Fordham’s COVID-19 coordinator Marco Valera urging students not to engage in indoor social gatherings notwithstanding, off-campus parties and socializing at local bars surged through the Spring 2021 semester. The positive COVID-19 test rate at Rose Hill as of mid-April was 1.36%.

Fordham Provides Vaccines on Campus Volume 103 Issue 9, Published Apr. 21, 2021 As of April 20, Fordham began receiving 150 vaccine doses to administer each day. The university had to request vaccines from through a centralized distributor in New York City at the beginning of each week.

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Father McShane Announces his Departure from Fordham in June Volume 103 Issue 10, Published Sept. 15, 2021 In an email to the Fordham community, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, announced he would be leaving in June 2022 after 19 years of service. “It is time to step aside and allow someone else to have the great joy of leading Fordham into the future,” McShane wrote.

Fordham Sustains Flood Damage Volume 103 Issue 10, Published Sept. 15, 2021 A deluge caused by tropical storm Ida inundated several campus facilities on Sept.

1, the first day of fall semester. The damage prompted university officials to cancel in-person classes for the remainder of the week, and to shut down several areas of the university.

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Commuter Students Weigh in on New Student Center Volume 104 Issue 3, Published Feb. 9, 2022 The long-awaited McShane Campus Center opened to the Fordham community in February. The space provides a modern replacement for the commuter lounge, as well as new office spaces for the Career Center, Campus Ministry and Counseling and Psychological Services.

Tania Tetlow, J.D. Announced as New Fordham President Volume 104 Issue 3, Published Feb. 10, 2022 In a post on the university Instagram, Fordham announced Tania Tetlow, J.D., as the 33rd president of Fordham University. Tetlow is currently the 17th president of Loyola University New Orleans.

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May 11, 2022

A Letter from the 2021-22 USG Executives

By THOMAS REUTER & ARIANNA CHEN

Dear Fordham community, In following tradition, we wanted to address our peers in the Class of 2022 one last time as the outgoing Executive President and Vice President of United Student Government (USG) and offer a few brief reflections in this commencement edition of the Ram. Our community has undergone a variety of changes throughout our four years: a new strategic plan, a presidential transition, a global health crisis and a racial justice movement. And we navigated this all as students, researchers, friends, family members, professionals, advocates and committed Fordham community members.

Thank you for continually putting your trust in us as student government representatives, peers and, most impor-

tantly, friends. It has been an honor beyond description to be in kinship with you all and we’re so proud of how our community has come together — USG, clubs and organizations, individual students — to support the magis through initiatives such as: • The expansion of the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the new Campus Center • Integration of antiracism into the new core curricula • Enhancement of professional experiential learning opportunities • Expanding fiscal allocations to Counseling and Psychological Services This is all in addition to compiling reports, allocating the Student Activity Fee, approving new clubs, writing statements of solidarity and the various other items which our members have spent late hours on in the past few years.

It is difficult to articulate the extent of appreciation we hold for advisors, administrators, faculty and staff members with whom we have worked closely and come to know sincerely in our advocacy efforts.

Beyond the knowledge they’ve imparted, they have more poignantly shown us all how to lead with kindness and grace, as dictated by Aristotle’s 12 virtues.

Fordham continues to be a place of compassion and prosperity because of their tireless dedication.

We will miss our spirited conversations with them dearly.

As for our classmates, it was a privilege to lead such daring and curious minds. We continue to be inspired by you all, even in these final weeks. From the lighting of your orientation candle to the moment you are handed a diploma, you experience a collective group that cares both deeply and warmly for one another. In the classroom and on

the Zoom screen, on Edward’s Parade and at the cafeteria table, in the creation of organizations and the stewardship of long lasting groups, the passion of our peers is felt and lasts long past our four-year tenure at the university.

We ran a campaign and established a record which centered on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. This commitment to antiracism not only impacted the types of proposals we pursued throughout the year, but also the way that we sought to foster kinship in our Fordham and Belmont community with empathy and active listening. With the strongest imperative, we urge our community to continue engaging in these important conversations about cultural competency. What spaces are we shaping for historically underrepresented students? If leadership is fertile ground for skill development, how are we

institutionally creating a culture of support for all students to pursue these opportunities? It is our collective responsibility to cultivate a community of empowerment and love, which requires shared prioritization. We look forward to contributing to this just pursuit in our new role as alumni.

To the Class of 2022 — we extend our most excited congratulations and sincerely hope that you treasure the many, many celebrations to come. Thank you so much for allowing us to share space with you all these past four years. It is time to put the work in action: “go forth and set the world on fire.”

For and with others, Thomas Reuter and Arianna Chen Executive President and Executive Vice President Emeritus

Fordham Hosts Ceremony to Officially Dedicate New Campus Center to McShane

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

On April 28, a ceremony was held in front of the new campus center to officially dedicate the building to Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university. The new McShane Campus Center was officially opened in fall 2021 and represents the first completed part of the McGinley Student Center renovation.

David Ushery from WNBC hosted the ceremony. Ushery opened the event by discussing his own personal connection to Fordham — his wife received her undergraduate degree from the university, and Ushery himself has received an honorary degree from the school.

James Miracky, S.J., FCRH ’83, led a prayer in honor of both McShane and the new building.

“May [the campus center’s] character emulate that of Father McShane himself. Making this [a] place where we can joyfully congregate and communicate, reflect and create, discuss and debate, and perhaps charm and cajole in the Irish way,” said Miracky in his address.

Following his remarks, Bob Daleo, GSB ’72, Chair of the Board of Trustees, spoke about the dedication of the building. Daleo read a tribute to McShane from President Joe Biden. Biden praised McShane in his address, stating: “It is my honor to recognize your accomplishments as 32nd president of Fordham University. For nearly 19 years, you have led the university with faith, dedication, love, and through unprecedented challenges in an ever-changing world. Your strong leadership has prepared the next generation of students

to succeed and inspire them to find courage, hard work and passion. I wish you all the best on your next chapter of life.

May God bless you.”

Daleo also mentioned that the Board of Trustees will be looking for another campus building to dedicate a space to Laurence J. McGinley, S.J., for whom the McShane Campus Center was formerly named.

Daleo ended his address by thanking McShane for his time and guidance as “pastor-inchief.”

Armando Nuñez, Jr, GSB ’82, and Mary Anne Sullivan, FCRH ’73, vice-chairs of the Board of Trustees, joined Daleo on stage to unveil the new sign that marks the Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J. Campus Center.

Following the sign’s unveiling, Thomas Reuter, FCRH ’22, executive president of United Student Government (USG), and Patricia Santos, FCRH ’22, vice president of the Commuting Student Association (CSA) spoke about the importance of the student center.

Santos recounted her first day at Fordham and the importance it holds for commuter students in particular.

“To commuters, [the student center] is a place we call home,” said Santos in her address.

Following Santos and Reuter, Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, spoke about McShane’s character, as well as their friendship.

“I think only in New York could a Jewish guy, around the corner from a building honoring an Italian football coach, celebrate an Irish priest,” said Bloomberg during his opening remark.

COURTESY OF ISABEL DANZIS/THE FORDHAM RAM

The dedication ceremony was held on a stage outside of the new campus center.

During his spoken address, Bloomberg recounted attending McShane’s inauguration as president of Fordham.

“I was in the audience that day and speaking about the value of a Fordham education was Joe McShane. He said ‘we are ever searching for greater opportunities for service at the sign of the times revealed to us, and demand of us.’ Whatever his next act may be, I have no doubt that Joe will remain ever searching, as the times are too demanding and the opportunities for service as too great,” said Bloomberg.

Following Bloomberg’s speech, McShane was present-

ed by Ushery as the last speaker of the dedication.

McShane opened by thanking all of the speakers. He then moved on to speak about the university as a whole.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the university. As the board knows, I fought against [the dedication]. This is about Fordham,” said McShane regarding the sentiments presented in the dedication.

“This is an extraordinary place, where miracles happen everyday. It’s a place where character is formed, hopes are born and talent is challenged.

That is what we are about. We’re

a dream machine in a certain sense, and we unleash great people on an unsuspecting world,” said McShane.

Following the conclusion of McShane’s speech, Daleo, Bloomberg, leadership donors, leaders of campus center renovations, special members of the clergy, as well as student delegates from both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses and athletics, joined McShane on stage to perform the ceremonial ribbon cutting. After the ribbon cutting, the Fordham Ramblers a cappella group closed the dedication ceremony by singing the Fordham song.

COMMENCEMENT

May 11, 2022

Page 9

“Girls,” Eddie’s Parade and Leaving the Nest

By ABBEY DELK NEWS EDITOR EMERITA

I’ve been watching “Girls” a lot lately. That Lena Dunham show that came out when we were in the sixth grade, remember? No? I didn’t remember it either. A show about a group of lost, stumblingthrough-life twenty-somethings didn’t really appeal to me when I was 12. I was still an avid Disney channel viewer back then, and I don’t think the sexual exploits of Hannah Horvath and her brunch bunch would have piqued my interest.

But a decade after the first season of the show aired, I find myself finally in the exact demographic the show was aimed toward. I am eating it up. The first episode of the series begins with Dunham’s character sitting down to a nice dinner in a nice New York City restaurant with her parents. Then they tell her that they are cutting her off. Sorry, honey. Welcome to adulthood.

Isn’t that kind of what graduation season feels like? A long show of wining and dining and then a swift kick to the curb. Everyone is buttering up us seniors, telling us how proud they are of

us for working so hard and getting through college during the most hellish years in recent memory. But … we still need to be out of our on-campus apartments before the sun sets on commencement day. We wouldn’t want to overstay our welcome.

I don’t mean to sound bitter.

Honestly, I don’t. We all have to leave the nest someday. It just feels so soon, doesn’t it? High school graduation feels like it happened a second ago, and now all of the sudden, I’m picking up a new graduation cap and trying to figure out how to wear it in a way that doesn’t make my bangs look insane in pictures. (Seriously, why are these things so ugly? I’m starting to understand why Serena Van der Woodson just tied the tassel to her hair and called it a day).

Really, it doesn’t even make sense that I feel so caught off guard by the arrival of my final month as a college student. A lot has happened since our graduating class arrived on campus in the fall of 2018. It should feel like an entire lifetime has passed. Donald Trump left the White House (and Twitter). A global pandemic forced us all to download the Zoom

app on our laptops. An entire building sprang up on the Rose Hill campus at some point. And, of course, Taylor Swift released three studio albums — five, if you count the re-releases of “Fearless” and “Red.” All of that, and it still seems we’ve barely had any time here.

Why can’t there be a few more slow days on Eddie’s, lazily basking in the afternoon sun to the distant sound of balls thwacking off of spikeball nets? Where is the extra time to sit hungover in the cafeteria at noon on a Sunday, complaining about the dining hall food and going over the sordid details of the previous night?

I doubt any of this year’s graduates would call our time at Fordham “perfect.” Maybe not even “good.” I mean, there was a whole three semesters of online classes and social distancing that kind of threw a wrench in the classic college experience.

I know we all feel bad for the younger students who had to start college in the middle of a pandemic, but at least they didn’t really have an idea of what they were missing, right? Our class?

We were exactly aware of how much fun we could have been

having in 2020 and 2021, and it was not the greatest time having to adjust our expectations to the very new, very depressing reality that life doesn’t always work out the way we planned. Welcome to adulthood, indeed.

But if there’s one thing I can say about this whole mess of a college experience, it’s that I got through it. We got through it. Not everyone can say the same. I’m not in the habit of making a big deal out of these kinds of milestones, but I also know that there were days in the last four years that truly, truly sucked and felt hopeless. I’m so glad they are behind us.

There will be more bad days to come, of course. Some of us are heading for a turbulent decade of heartbreaks, losing out on dream jobs, worrying about making rent and student loan payments — all the time wondering if we are making all the wrong choices. And, unfortunately, we are all going to make one or two wrong choices in these weird and confusing postgrad years. For me, it helps to know that there are a whole lot of other smart, funny and passionate people who are also worried and confused and scared and un-

sure about the future.

Maybe that’s why I keep watching “Girls,” a show that is clearly supposed to appeal to Buzzfeed millennials who wear cropped skinny jeans and owlthemed jewelry. (That isn’t a dig at millennials, by the way.

I love those Buzzfeed quizzes, too.) But even if the show was supposed to be the voice of the generation before ours, I still find myself captivated by the young female characters trying their best to navigate careers and love and identity. All of them are messy and strange and sometimes downright entitled and rude, but there is something comforting about watching them navigate young adulthood. Very, very slowly I am watching these young women discover who they are and what they want and — just as important — what they do not want.

That’s the one thing I hope for myself and for any graduating senior reading this. Let’s just try to figure out what we don’t want for ourselves and then run as fast as possible in the other direction. And let’s definitely steal as many cookies from the dining hall as possible for they kick us off campus for good.

Graduating Seniors Roberto Leito, Jilli Jones, Norah Burns and Gil Roberts Share Advice

By ELISABETH MURRAY CULTURE EDITOR

COURTESY OF ROBERTO LEITO FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Roberto Leito is a political science and history double major from East Fishkill, New York.

Leito is currently the senior resident assistant of Walsh Hall.

He is also a member of the Student Advisory Council of the Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, the Fordham University Board of Trustees, Phi Beta Kappa (National Liberal Arts Honor Society), Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society), Phi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society) and Rho Alpha Sigma (National Resident Assistant Honor Society). After graduation, Leito will attend Fordham University School of Law and continue to work in Residential Life.

“My advice to Fordham students: Never be afraid to follow your ambitions and your passions with all your heart, even if those change during your time at Fordham. There is nothing like pursuing a goal for yourself and seeing it through to completion. If you heed this advice and graduate, you should have no regrets about having made the most of your experience. Your time in college — and at Fordham in particular — is so precious.”

Jilli Jones is a communications and culture major from Wisconsin. She has been on the track team throughout her entire time at fordham. In addition to being a student-athlete, Jones has been a resident assistant in Campbell Salice Connelly for the past two years. Jones will continue to run track postgrad as she pursues a master’s degree in Gabelli’s Media Management program.

“My advice for Fordham students is this: REMAIN CALM. When things get stressful, uncertain, and hectic, remind yourself that you can do hard things!!!! There is a plan.

Everything will work out in the way it’s supposed to.”

COURTESY OF JILLI JONES FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Norah Burns is a math and computer science double major with a minor in political science from Frederick, Maryland. Burns has been a part of Navy ROTC for all four years at Fordham and was recently the Operations Department Head of the entire New York City Battalion. Burns has also been a part of Navy ROTC, campus ministry, the cheerleading team, the math honors society and managed the club hockey team. After graduation, Burns will be an Ensign to the Navy and a student Naval Aviator in Pensacola, Florida.

“The biggest piece of advice I have for Fordham students is to get involved as soon as possible in whatever they’re interested in while maintaining good time management. I wouldn’t have the friends I do today without the various organizations I am a part of, but managing my social life, academics, extracurriculars, and physical and mental health was difficult. With the help I got from reaching out to professors, advisors, coaches, and friends I was able to make it work and still have fun. What I have seen...is a very strong work hard, play hard mentality that makes the busy weeks worth it.”

Gil Roberts is a computer science major from Manasquan, New Jersey. After graduation, Roberts is looking forward to staying in New York City while she will be working for Girls who Code as a lead TA while working to become a software engineer. In her time at Fordham, Roberts has been very involved with theater as a member of the Mimes and Mummers, Theatrical Outreach Program, and Fordham Experimental Theater. She has also worked on MODE magazine, Fordham’s fashion publication.

“My best advice is to do orientation because it was one of the best experiences I’ve had at Fordham and I met so many amazing people because of it. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do and the memories you make are irreplaceable. My other advice is to support the arts!

Go see as many shows as you can because we have so many amazing talented people.”

COURTESY OF NORAH BURNS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF GIL ROBERTS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Page 10

COMMENCEMENT

May 11, 2022

Celebrating Outstanding Graduating Athletes

By NICK GUZMAN

Senior Nick Zakelj: Football (Offensive Lineman)

Senior Rachel Hubertus: Softball (Redshirt, Infielder)

Graduate Student Chuba Ohams: Men’s Basketball (Forward)

Graduate Student Luke McNamara: Men’s Soccer (Defender)

Graduate Student Kathryn Kelly: Track & Field

Graduate Student Kendell Heremaia: Women’s Basketball (Guard)

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

SPORTS EDITOR

Zakelj made history on April 30 — becoming just the third Fordham player since 1955 to be drafted into the NFL — when he was selected in the sixth round (187th overall) by the San Francisco 49ers. His accolades as a Ram were numerous, including being named First Team All-Patriot League in 2019, 2020 and 2021 in addition to Academic All-Patriot League honors for the last four years. As a team captain in 2021, he helped the Rams lead the Patriot League in passing offense at 296.7 yards per game.

A feared power bat, Hubertus has cemented her place in the Fordham record books in nearly all major offensive categories. She ranks in the top 10 in all-time RBIs and the top five in all-time home runs and slugging percentage. Hubertus’s 54 RBIs in 2021 were good enough for fifth all-time in a single season, while her .662 slugging percentage in that same year ranks 10th alltime. As of May 3, her 16 home runs in 2022 place her third all-time in a single season.

After dealing with several different injuries over his time at Fordham, Ohams finally got the chance to show the elite player he is this past season (2021-22). Averaging a double-double with 14.8 PPG and 11.6 RPG, Ohams was named the Atlantic 10 Chris Daniels Most Improved Player to go along with Second-Team All A-10 honors. He ranked fifth in the nation in rebounding and double-doubles, and set a Fordham record with 21 total double-doubles.

McNamara’s Fordham career was full of success and accolades, including an Atlantic 10 Championship in 2020-21. He was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection in 2020-21 and a Second Team selection the following season, in addition to being named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region Second Team this past season.

As a stalwart in defense, McNamara started every one of Fordham’s games in the last two seasons.

Kelly’s impressive performances in her Fordham career have occurred both on the track and in the field. In the 2022 outdoor season, she’s posted team-best times in the 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump. A team captain, Kelly was named the 2019-20 indoor team MVP and helped the Rams take home both the indoor and outdoor Metropolitan Championships in 2022.

A five year veteran, Heremaia is just the 23rd Ram to reach 1,000 career points. She averaged 8.9 PPG, 2.2 APG and 5.5 RPG during her time at Fordham. On February 16, Heremaia set both a program and Atlantic 10 record by draining 11 three-pointers in a game against the University of Massachusetts. As a senior in 2020-21, she was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10.

May 11, 2022

COMMENCEMENT

Page 11

A Letter Congratulating Graduating Ram Staff

By HANIF AMANULLAH MANAGING EDITOR

Dear graduating Fordham Ram staff, Apologies for such a long message; a goodbye like this needs one.

The final issue of the 202021 (Volume 103) paper was distributed last December. The final production night of the first semester of Volume 104 took place during the last week of April. Both were bittersweet moments for the Ram: the former because it was the final issue created with a crew that consisted mostly of seniors, the latter because it was the final time that crew was able to gather in our beloved B-52 office.

Though the in-person component of the previous volume’s production was basically cut in half, it in many ways feels as if the excitement of an entire year

of Volume 103 was packed into the Fall 2021 semester. Double the fun, of course, but twice the stress.

Now that Volume 104 has completed its first semester, the staff who remain have fully understood The Fordham Ram is not easy to produce. Both myself and our current Editor-in-Chief Ava Erickson were newcomers to the Volume 103 staff, but we quickly learned that the amount of time, commitment, sweat and tears that goes into the creation of this paper is no joke. Each issue is the result of steadfast teamwork, communication, support and love.

The past few years have been especially challenging, and we want to thank all of our graduating staff for your constant dedication. Together we were able to revive the Ram and breathe new life into a 100 plus year old publication, all while battling the pandemic (and floods).

Throughout, you all have continued the Ram’s mission to serve the Fordham community –– and you have done it with elegance, diligence and wit.

The vast majority of the Volume 103 staff is leaving Fordham this year. That sentence alone, in the wake of everything we’ve been through, carries an incredible weight.

The majority of those leaving have carried the Ram on their shoulders through thick and thin. National elections, hurricanes ... there is something to be said for weathering such crazy experiences together –– and by now both Ava and I have seen enough this semester to accurately voice it.

Thank you to our cherished graduating staff: to Sara, for your swift editing and your humility –– thank you for running the Culture section with us and encouraging us to take on larger roles the Ram; to Collette, for keeping the Ram’s site running

with Katie, and for always making time for production night with your soccer schedule; to Mackenzie, for your valuable work with the Photo section; to Abbey, for managing one of the most important aspects of our newspaper –– that is, the News section itself –– all during your first year; to Kaley, for your professionalism and your insight to the Ram’s Sports section; to Katie, for your digital creativity, and social media resourcefulness; to Megan, for your earnestness and AP style expertise; to Kat, for providing as much acuity and motivation to our readers as any staff member; to Ginny, for your thoughtful water bottle runs and incisive wit; to Hunter, for your dry humor and skill in keeping our paper’s online presence sleek; to Vanessa, for your lasting commitment to the Ram’s iconic copy table, and for your help, advice and storytelling on production night; to Hasna, for your wonderfully ec-

centric jokes and your commitment to my and Ava’s late night final reviews; to Erica, for your hot takes, and for being the brilliant voice of our staff; to Dylan, for your impressions, your charisma, and most of all, your genuine care and respect for each member of the team; finally, to Rachel, for your calm and dedicated leadership –– to echo what everyone on the staff has either said, written, or thought, you truly have saved this paper.

As difficult as it is to say goodbye to our graduating staff members, we are incredibly excited to continue the Ram’s legacy of efficient communication, strong writing and journalistic integrity.

Thank you all for your resilience, determination and kindness.

Best, Hanif Amanullah, Volume 104 Managing Editor

Sara Tsugranis

Collette Campbell

Mackenzie Cranna

Abbey Delk

Kaley Bell

Katie Morris

Megan Dowden

Ginny Belt

Hunter Benegas

Vanessa DeJesus

Hasna Ceran

Erica Weidner

Dylan Balsamo

Rachel Gow