Volume 104 Issue 14

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 104, Issue 14

Fordham Welcomes New Assistant Dean

Walsh Library Celebrates 25th Anniversary

By EMMA KIM

By JULIANNA MORALES

Catherine McGlade, Ed.D., became the new assistant dean for student involvement at Fordham in May 2022. She is originally from the North Bronx and Yonkers border and attended high school in the Bronx.

Dr. McGlade is already familiar with Fordham.

“Fordham is where it all began for me in higher education. It gave me great academic roots and roots for life,” said McGlade.

In the ’90s, she came to Fordham College at Rose Hill as a commuter student and later moved on campus as a resident assistant. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1995.

Afterwards, she got her master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) in 1999 and then a second master’s degree in Education and Counseling in 2006 both at Fordham Lincoln Center’s Graduate School of Education.

Rose Hill’s William D. Walsh Family Library celebrated its 25th birthday this year. The library opened on May 27, 1997, for the summer session courses, as reported by Courtney McGrath in The Fordham Ram archives. It replaced the Rose Hill campus’ previous academic library, the Duane Library, which has served as an administrative building since. Walsh Library was built with numerous features, such as a surplus of computers, multiple copy centers, 20 group study rooms and a small auditorium to accommodate the critiques that students and faculty had about the lack of resources in the previous Duane Library.

By SOFIA DONOHUE TheDIGITAL construction of the Walsh PRODUCER Library was a $54 million endeavor. It was paid for by a mix of government grants, money raised by alumni and other contributors. $10.5 million of this fundraising came from Fordham alumnus William D. Walsh, who the library is named after. Walsh was a successful businessman in California who attributed his

SEE DEAN, PAGE 3

SEE WALSH, PAGE 4

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

September 21, 2022

TheFordhamRam.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Students attended the annual President’s Ball to celebrate Homecoming and meet President Tetlow.

Tetlow Hosts First President’s Ball and Homecoming Weekend as President

By GRACE GALBREATH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The annual President’s Ball took place on Sept. 16. President’s Ball aims to provide students with an opportunity to get dressed up and enjoy an evening of fun with their friends on Edward’s Parade.

This year, however, for many

President’s Ball has remained a very important annual event to bring Fordham students together. The event also celebrates the commencement of Homecoming, a weekend full of events for students and alumni alike. Tetlow honored the age-old tradition started

by McShane by hosting her

students the event took on a whole new meaning.

It marked the first time that Fordham’s newly-elected president, Tania Tetlow, hosted the dance and provided an opportunity for students to meet her. Started in 2003

by Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president emeritus, the

SEE HOMECOMING, PAGE 6

President Tetlow Takes to Twitter

By EMMA MURPHY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY ISABEL DANZIS/ THE FORDHAM RAM

The micro-farm is maintained by the company, Babylon. They control the ambiance within the case.

Community Dining at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center Add "Micro-Farms"

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

The Marketplace inside the McShane Campus Center recently added a new display by its entrance that advertises sustainable eating and locally-sourced food. The display

features a glass box, known as the “micro-farm,” with various green plants growing inside it.

“The display shows progressive, live growth of herbs and greens that will be used in select items in Community Dining at [Lincoln Center] and in the

Marketplace at [Rose Hill],” said Deming Yaun, university dining contract liaison.

Fordham’s new micro-farm comes from the company Babylon. The company advertises itself as a way to grow food sustainably and SEE MICRO-FARMS, PAGE 5

President Tania Tetlow won’t be formally inaugurated as president of Fordham University until October, but she’s already showing the social media savvy she’ll bring to the job.

On Friday, Tetlow attended Fordham’s Homecoming and President’s Ball where she kept her followers updated on Twitter. On Saturday she tweeted a picture with the

caption “Got to meet so many students at #Homecoming,” only one of many on her account from the weekend.

This is a contrast to Fordham’s previous president, Rev. Joseph M. Mcshane, S.J., president emeritus, who was not active on social media. Tetlow is especially active on Twitter, where she has almost 700 followers. She tweets about the events she attends, the people she meets and Fordhamrelated announcements.

SEE TWITTER, PAGE 5

in this issue

News

Page 4

Opinion

Page 11

The Class of 2026 Senate Election Results

Basic, Cheugy Girls: Another Manifestation of Misogyny

Culture

Sports

Page 19

Award Season Underway with the 74th Annual Primetime Emmys

Page 24

Football Defeat Albany in Homecoming Weekend Thriller

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS Sept. 12 Ram’s Deli 10:50 p.m.

A student said that they were walking east on East Fordham Road when a male brushed against them and purposely dropped a big bag of food to the ground. The male followed the student to Ram’s Deli and repeatedly demanded that they pay for the food.

Public Safety conducted an unsuccessful canvas with the student and transported them back to their dorm.

Sept. 13 On-Campus 12:50 p.m.

A supervisor observed a person pedaling a bicycle at a high speed from Campbell Hall towards the gate. The offender was identified as a student.

Public Safety informed the student that bicycle riding was not permitted on campus, and the student said that they understood.

Sept. 18 On-Campus 6:45 p.m.

A student reported receiving emails from someone identifying themselves as a Fordham professor offering a job opportunity. The student answered the first e-mail, but they became suspicious of the second when a request was made for their banking information.

The student also received a text message, but they didn’t respond to it or the second e-mail.

Follow us on Instagram! @thefordhamram

Sept. 21, 2022

Fordham Sophomore Researches Women in Early Modern Colonialism

By MICHELA FAHY ByCONTRIBUTING NATALIE FEDDE WRITER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Catherine Williams, FCRH ’25, is currently working on a research article about landed class women in positions of authority as a symptom of early modern colonialism.

Williams originally came up with the idea for this research topic during this past spring semester in a course on Modern U.S. Women’s History. In July, Williams drafted the research article and sent it to a journal.

She has since received corrections and hopes to get published sometime in 2023.

Williams’ article focuses specifically on the colonial southern United States and the colonial Caribbean. The purpose of the article is to use examples of landed class women in these settings to challenge the belief that all women are victims of patriarchy.

“There’s this common assumption in our society and culture that women are, always have been and always will be victims of patriarchy,” said Williams. “But it is important to understand how they overcame barriers to authority and challenged patriarchy.”

One example Williams describes is how landed class women found loopholes in patriarchal traditions.

“Primogeniture, the practice of giving everything to the oldest son, was designed to prevent women from occupying positions of authority. But women overcame those barriers because of the loose interpretations of traditionally male-dominated practices,” said Williams.

Williams uses many sources from the colonial era including runaway slave advertisements, marriage contracts and wills written by women to show how women controlled property and wealth.

“In the colonial south, a lot of landed class women placed those runaway slave advertisements, and they directly stated themselves as the planter, claiming ‘I own this plantation, bring back my property’ which definitely challenges the idea that women couldn’t own property in their name,” said Williams.

The concept of women owning property was very normal at the time, according to Williams. “In the colonial south,

COURTESY OF CATHERINE WILLIAMS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

This is a marriage contract from 1756 that Williams used to aid her in her research about landed colonial women.

men were very ambivalent to women occupying positions of authority, and a lot of women even employed low class white men to do all their dirty work.”

In both sections of her research, Williams explores women’s authority in relation to marriage.

She describes how “unmarried women in the southern U.S. exercised authority as delegates, working alongside wealthy white men,” and how in the Caribbean “women made marriage contracts with strict criteria for husbands.” Williams then discusses how, in both the southern U.S. and the Caribbean, husbands and wives hold equal authority as plantation owners.

“Women subverted patriarchy to occupy and assert positions of authority on plantations. But in this day in age, women subvert patriarchy to claim agency and gain rights or regain agency and regain rights that were previously denied,” said Williams.

Williams said that she researches women of the past to better understand the obstacles

COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

A building during colonial times in the Caribbean, a focus of Williams’ research.

women face today.

“In addition to challenging the notion that all women were victims of patriarchy, it is increasingly important to understand how women assumed their own agency when they were systemically denied from having it in the first place,” said Williams.

“With recent events in the United States and in other countries with barriers to female

agency, it is important to understand how women rose above pro-male institutions to claim it in the past. That way, we can learn from landed-class women in the Colonial Era so that women can reclaim their lost agency or gain agency they never had.”

Williams’ research on landed class women during early modern colonialism will help to promote forgotten female history and subsequently help women now.

This Week at Fordham Wednesday Sept. 21

Thursday Sept. 22

Thursday Sept. 22

Saturday Sept. 24

Monday Sept. 26

Demystifying the Recruiting Process

Midnight Run

Get a NYPL Card with Fordham

Wiffle for a Cause

Scripture Connections

Handshake 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

McShane Campus Center 215 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Walsh Library 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Murphy Field 12 p.m.

Ignatius Loyola Room 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Career Services is hosting an event to give students a “behind-the-scenes look at what a recruiter looks for” when hiring for internships. There will be panelists from Deloitte and Warner Bros.

Campus Ministry is hosting a series of volunteering events this Thursday, including their midnight run, which will involve assembling toiletry kits for the homeless in JMCC. There are other events online.

The librarians at Walsh will be hosting an event to issue students a New York Public Library card from 10 am to 12 pm. Having a library card gives you endless access to all types of literature, so attend!

Fordham Athletics is hosting a wiffle ball tournament for charity. Register by Wednesday the 21st to secure a spot in what is sure to be a contentious game! Participation requires a $15 donation.

A “simple way to connect more deeply with the Gospel [and] reflect with your peers,” Campus Ministry will be hosting Scripture Connections every Monday in the lower level of the University Church.

NEWS

September 21, 2022

Page 3

Fordham Graduate Returns as New Assistant Dean FROM DEAN, PAGE 1

In 2021, she received her doctorate in education from Queen’s University of Belfast in Northern Ireland with a dissertation on international student adjustment in higher education.

As assistant dean for student involvement, she is well versed in what it means to balance education and co-curricular activities. After graduating from Fordham College at Rose Hill, she went to teach in Seoul, South Korea, for a year. “I knew that I really enjoyed teaching, as well as my student affairs background,” said McGlade.

She then came back as a residential director at Lincoln Center, which is where she worked to obtain her master’s degree from the Graduate School of Education.

It was always that academic, career and co-curricular together, said McGlade.

Before coming back to work at Fordham, McGlade also worked in a Brooklyn high school, where she earned her professional counseling license.

“I enjoyed working with students and utilizing Fordham’s education and guidance counseling

particularly,” said McGlade.

“As an alum, I have stayed connected to the community,” said McGlade. “I have never really felt far from Fordham. I have always felt like part of the Fordham community and family.”

Since she wanted to come back to higher education, Fordham was the perfect opportunity, explained McGlade.

She is excited to get a chance to work with students who are leading and learning with the co-curricular experience since she works in the Office of Student Involvement (OSI).

OSI has partners and services that are offered to students, such as Orientation, First Year Formation, Commuter Student Services and student clubs, which McGlade is also looking forward to leading.

McGlade wants to “partner with them to help them shape their experiences with the services we have and continue to build upon many of the successes we have had and also embrace the areas we need to continue to improve as we move forward during this moment at Fordham.”

Along with the new role she is in, McGlade is glad to be back at

COURTESY OF DR. MCGLADE

McGlade received her doctorate in Belfast, Ireland from Queen’s University after she attended Fordham.

Fordham.

“I am so delighted to be a part of a university that embraces Jesuit ideals and Jesuit pedagogy… It is a unique place to be and work every day… The Jesuit mission is something that I think is the fabric of who

United Student Government Discusses Missing Printer, Imposter Accounts and By-laws

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

United Student Government (USG) hosted their weekly meeting last week on Sept.

15. The meeting was led by Executive Vice President Ava Coogan, FCRH ’25.

Senator Andrew Falduto, FCRH ’23, raised the public concern that the printer in Hughes Hall was missing.

Executive President Santiago Vidal, FCRH ’24, tasked Natalia Kimmelshue, GSB ’23, vice president of Gabelli School of Business, to address the issue. Vidal asked her to bring an update on the printer to next week’s meeting. Senator Jamie Serruto, FCRH ’24, proposed looking at the quality and status of all printers around campus. Alex Chavez, GSB ’23, vice president of finance and budgets, brought up that many printers are maintained by residential life.

Vice President of Fordham College Rose Hill Gaby Simporios, FCRH ’24, brought up the concern that because of the

Monday schedule the week of Labor Day, the add-drop period ended before some students got the opportunity to attend labs.

Vidal recommended that she talk to the deans about resolving that issue for future semesters.

Serruto raised the concern about more communication within USG. USG released a giveaway last week, giving away tickets to the music festival Rolling Loud. Serruto said that he and other senators were unaware the giveaway was coming out and were unequipped to answer questions from students. Vidal said the giveaway was done on a “first come first serve” basis.

According to Vidal, it was important to keep information about the giveaway to a small group so word did not get out and people did not manipulate the “first come first serve” system.

On the topic of the Rolling Loud giveaway, Vidal noted that the USG Instagram account received an increase in attention. While the account gained more followers, Vidal

said that there were a few imposter USG accounts created.

To resolve that in the future, Vidal showed interest in trying to get the official USG account verified.

USG approved the club “Next Impact: Undergraduate Chapter.” The club aims to inspire the next generation of leaders and inspire positive impact.

Briana Al-Omoush, FCRH ’24, vice president of diversity and inclusion, re-introduced changes to the Diversity Action Coalition (DAC) bylaws.

Al-Omoush presented the changed by-laws to DAC, and the committee voted to keep the terminology as “co-chair” instead of changing to “vice chair,” as discussed in the USG meeting the previous week. DAC also voted to approve the changes that the cochair must have been on DAC for a semester to be elected.

Coogan announced that the changes were approved.

Simporios also proposed changes to the FCRH Dean’s

we are as a community. It is wonderful to be part of it as an alum and as a professional now.” Overall, McGlade wants to emphasize that she is here for students.

“I invite students to let us know how we are doing and come by.

My door is open, and come say

hello to the team. Let us know how we can help students get involved.… I want to emphasize the opportunity for students to share their vision and share their feedback. McGlade looks forward to getting to know the Fordham student body

Council by-laws. There will now be two co-chairs on the committee, and they will be elected in the spring semester to help the vice president with the summer transition.

Simporios changed the bylaw to state that if the vice president were to get impeached or resign, one of the co-chairs would serve as the interim vice president.

Lastly, she proposed to change the by-laws so that anyone with a second major, minor or concentration for FCRH is eligible to join the Dean's Council. The changes were approved.

Serruto raised concerns that some USG members must leave the meetings early due to class conflicts, which affects voting procedures.

Vice President of Operations Jillian Choy, GSB ’24, suggested that in the future, all issues should be added to the “public concerns” section of the meetings instead of being brought up during. This suggestion was made to potentially help streamline the meetings and help them get done promptly so people do not have to leave in the middle.

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

USG discussed imposter accounts created after their Rolling Loud giveaway.

NEWS

Page 4

September 21, 2022

Walsh Library Celebrates 25th Birthday FROM WALSH, PAGE 1

accomplishments to his Jesuit education and looked to give back to both Fordham and the wider New York City community. The project first began construction in 1994 but faced multiple delays including harsh winter weather impeding progress, as well as time-consuming wiring and import demands to build the library as it was desired to be.

Since its completion in 1997, Walsh Library has endured a great deal, including the flooding damages in early September of last year. However, it has continued to be a staple of campus life for many. This May marked the 25th anniversary of the library’s opening and it is a triumph which the library department has planned to celebrate with the Fordham community.

Fordham Library News published an article stating that the library would honor this anniversary with the launch of the Walsh25 campaign. They have planned numerous celebrations to take place throughout the fall semester. During the first week of classes, students who visited the library likely noticed the display of free Walsh Library merchandise. The opportunity to grab some of the items is not gone forever, as the library plans to sporadically set up some more giveaways.

Additionally, the Exhibition Hall located on the first floor of Walsh is currently home to a display about the history of the library. It contains a collection of writings, designs, blueprints and modeling from when the building was undergoing its original construction. Current students and com-

munity members can get a snapshot of the library’s construction process, opening and history. As of early September, there were plans to add a display of books which were best sellers in 1997, when the library doors opened.

The display will remain in place through October.

Fordham University Director of Libraries Linda LoSchiavo was able to provide her insight into both the history and the future of Walsh Library. LoSchiavo explained that the library was designed by Shepley Bulfinch, a prominent architecture firm for academic libraries, just at the start of the more technological era. Because of this, the library has needed to change throughout its 25 years to keep pace with electronic advancements. However, Walsh Library is flexible, keeping its traditional aspects throughout these transitions.

LoSchiavo detailed some of the functional transitions that various areas of the library have undergone, including what was once the Periodicals Reading Room being converted into the Fordham Museum of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Art. What current students know as the East Reading Room was once the Reserve Room, among other changes. However, LoShiavo highlights an important consistency of the Walsh Library as well. That is the large volume of physical books that the library is home to. Despite the increasing prevalence of e-books and other online resources, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Walsh Library continues to grow its collection of

over one million books.

In terms of the biggest change in student use of the library, LoSchiavo explains that as the emphasis on collaborative work has become more common, so has the occurrence of seeing multiple students occupying the study rooms at a time. However, according to LoSchiavo, some student habits don’t seem to ever change.

“One of the things that hasn't changed is that students are still trying to sneak food into the library but our detection rate is very high,” said LoSchiavo.

The story of the Walsh Library is far from over.

“Walsh Library has a long life ahead of it. Every university library has a core set of deliverables that will never change. Students and faculty want and need information,” said LoSchiavo. “They want places to study, to read, to do research, to collaborate with each other. They need librarians to guide them through some of this and to make sure that research and teaching needs are supported. None of this has changed in the past 25 years, nor will it in the next 25.”

LoSchiavo said that the role of the library staff is likely to change drastically, as will the technology once again, but books will remain on the shelves. Beyond that, she said it is hard to predict what the future will hold.

For updates on the Walsh25 celebratory events and other library events, one can refer to the University Libraries’ social media pages.

They are accessible on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook in addition to the library website.

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Walsh Library serves as the primary library on the Rose Hill Campus.

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Library staff celebrated the Walsh Library's birthday detailing its history.

The Class of 2026 Senate Election Results

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

Five candidates from the First-Year class won the seats in the United Student Government (USG) elections for the class of 2026 senate.

The elections took place on Sept. 19- 20.

Rhianna (Reese) Dains, FCRH ’26, received 119 votes. She plans to focus on sustainability, efficiency and campus beautification projects as a senator. She is already a member of the USG Sustainability Committee. According to her platform, she hopes to look into Fordham’s printer program. She says that many academic buildings require papers to be printed single-sided and wants to create options for documents to be printed double-sided to reduce waste.

Dains hopes to make the club application process easier.

Dains also wants to work with

Dining Services to use compostable cups on campus instead of plastic. Lastly, as a senator, Dains will push Fordham to put air conditioning units in every building on campus.

Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, garnered 100 votes. Hjertberg served on student government in high school. As a senator, he will work to get what the class of 2026 needs done and is open to taking suggestions from his fellow classmates.

Nicky D’Abundo, FCRH ’26, won his seat by getting 125 votes. D'Abundo wants to work as a senator to help integrate the First-Year students into the greater Fordham community. D’Abundo wants to help existing initiatives like getting water bottle filling stations in residence halls. He also wants to add contraceptives to campus, improve the food options, change the guest-pass policy and improve access to lowcost academic materials.

Mikaela Casanova, GSB ’26 received 104 votes. As a senator, Casanova wants to bring more activities to campus.

She proposes a sports day and more recreational activities for students. She wants to give First Years a folder of resources like a map and printer guide.

Additionally, Casanova wants to make the Duo mobile app optional. She also hopes to make improvements to the facilities in Martyr’s Hall. Lastly, she wants to expand vegetarian options on campus.

Muhammed Zaveri, GSB ’26, won 95 votes. He stresses the importance of diversity.

He believes diversity and inclusion are the most important issues on campus. As a senator, he hopes to improve food options on campus.

Additionally, Zaveri hopes to enhance student life by improving activities and emphasizing intramural sports.

Rhianna Danis

Lucas Hjertberg

Mikaela Cassanova

Muhammed Zaveri ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM USG

There was no picture available on the USG website of Nicky D’Abundo.

NEWS

September 21, 2022

Page 5

Micro-Farms Help to Improve Sustainability on Campus FROM MICRO-FARMS, PAGE 1

aesthetically. The company also claims that the use of its vertical products is great for places where space is limited.

Babylon remotely maintains Fordham’s garden. They can control the environment and atmosphere inside the case.

“For those interested, the garden is watched via the internet by Babylon. They control water and light and advise harvest time and provide preplanted seedlings to start the process over,” said Yaun.

The food grown at Fordham’s micro-farm goes directly into the food at the Marketplace. According to a video posted to the Ramdining Instagram, the produce is harvested directly from the cases by opening up the back and is then used in salads and other dishes.

Yaun said that using this display is more effective than shipping vegetables in terms of the adverse environmental effects and cost.

“These will become ingredients in the food prepared onsite. In addition to being garden fresh, shipping costs and energy used to get the greens to Fordham is much less, and there is less packaging used,” said Yaun.

Yaun said this initiative came about because of student’s interest to be more en-

vironmentally cautious.

“Most students come to us very educated and interested in sustainability. This is one way to take some of the abstract nature about our food supply and turn it into a tangible example. It should be educational and interesting at the same time,” said Yaun.

Climate change and the current method of food production are closely linked. The process of transporting food across long distances results in increased carbon emissions.

Finding enough space to grow food can result in deforestation.

Cattle and other livestock’s grazing and waste release methane which can lead to rundown land, causing floods.

The issue with mass food production was another motivator for Yaun when creating this display. “[The display was prompted by] becoming as sustainable as possible, with the goal of someday being 100% sustainable is the big motivator. Worldwide, the rising temperature of the climate has slowed, and it has long been demonstrated that vegan/vegetarian diets are more sustainable than other diets,” said Yaun.

Yaun said that he hopes students engage with the display.

According to Yaun, the new display provides a way for students to see how food grows , which they may not have had the op-

portunity to see before.

“Students should be excited about this first step in Fordham growing and supplying fresh ingredients to be used in dishes here on site,” said Yaun. “Some of us have never seen a garden grow, the remarkable speed that the same space can produce multiple harvests.”

Some students have noticed the micro-farm in the Marketplace and are excited about it.

“I was curious about the case when I first saw it. I think it’s cool that you can watch produce grow,” said Jeremy Fries, FCRH ’24.

Others have even noticed and taken an interest in the specific type of produce the case is growing.

“I’m really excited about the plants growing. I’m most excited about the basil, I can’t wait to see it incorporated into the food in the cafeteria,” said Claire Bickel, FCRH ’24.

According to Yaun, while the micro-farm serves as a way to source vegetables sustainably, it also provides a simple reminder to students of where food comes from. “[The micro-farm] is a way for all of us to be in touch and to see and be reminded that produce does not have to always come cello wrapped,” said Yaun.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

The display helps to improve food sustainability on both of Fordham's campuses.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Plants from the Babylon case are being used in food at Lincoln Center.

Tetlow on Twitter: A Change from McShane FROM TWITTER, PAGE 1

A social media presence like this could be a big change for the university. For one thing, some have noticed the potential for Tetlow’s social media efforts to attract the attention of prospective students. It is possible that prospective students, intrigued by the idea of life in the big city, will identify with her bio alone, in which she calls herself “A New Orleans transplant exploring New York City.”

Students on campus seem to be responding positively. Gulru Aksu, FCRH ’26, and Ilayda Coskun, FCRH ’26, who both attended the President’s Ball, agreed that they wouldn’t mind taking a picture for social media if the president asked them.

Some students say they like it because Tetlow’s social media presence makes them feel closer to the president.

“I think President Tetlow having a Twitter makes her more relatable. A lot of students have

Twitter so it’s a way that we get to interact with her more.

It also feels like we can get to know her in a more casual way,” said Lusa Holmstrom, FCRH ’25.

Still, some on campus seem indifferent.

“It doesn’t really make a big difference to me if she tweets or not. I think it’s kind of inevitable. Trump has a Twitter. Elon Musk has a Twitter.

It’s just the age we’re in,” said Dora Conrad, FCRH ’26.

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham’s new president, Tania Tetlow, has a very active Twitter presence, a change from prior administrations.

Others want to wait and see what the new president posts before giving their full support.

William Ronac, FCRH ’25, said he really hopes she’s authentic.

He wants her to post whatever she wants to without other administrators interfering. He added that it would also be best if she didn’t post everyday.

Although Tetlow is most active on her Twitter, another one of her accounts has seemed to elicit a more passionate response around campus. Her Instagram

for her golden retriever, Archie, is already well known and loved by the Fordham community.

“I recall seeing a photo of President Tetlow’s dog on instagram and it was absolutely one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen,” said Fawwaz Omer, FCRH ’25.

This kind of personal connection with the campus community is no small matter. If social media is about outreach, it seems to be working well for both Archie and Tetlow.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Tetlow likes posting about her love of dogs online.

NEWS

Page 6

September 21, 2022

President’s Ball Comes to Campus for 2022 Semester FROM HOMECOMING, PAGE 1

inaugural President’s Ball.

Michael Trerotola, assistant university secretary and special assistant to the president, worked directly with Tetlow, vendors and campus staff to organize the event. Trerotola said the anticipated outcome of the event was to “give [the students] a chance to have some fun.”

Although leadership has changed since the last President’s Ball, Trerotola said the basic mechanics of the event would remain the same. Students entered into the tent with Tetlow standing out front to greet them, shake hands and take pictures. Under the tent,

students were met with a section containing tables and chairs for dining, various food and drinks and a large dance floor equipped with a DJ and flashing strobe lights.

Trerotola was also certain to emphasize the importance of having an event like the President’s Ball, where students are given the opportunity to meet and talk with the president.

According to Trerotola, it is “an opportunity for a large number of students to say hello to her.”

Trerotola also stressed the importance this event held for McShane and affirms that Tetlow feels

similarly.

Because it was Tetlow’s first major student-focused event at Fordham, Trerotola and Tetlow planned carefully.

“One of the really important things for her [Tetlow] as she starts is just to meet everyone.

We are a pretty big university and there are a lot of people to meet. An opportunity like this, where she can have some interactions with a large number of students is really important because it gives her a sense of who our students are,” said Trerotola.

The event also worked to foster intermingling between Rose

tendees was to be much higher than the current count.

Among the student body, morale remained high for the event. Molly Ewing, FCRH ’25, said she was, “super excited to hopefully meet President Tania Tetlow.” Many students also mentioned their eagerness for the event's music and food.

Carolyn Kennedy, FCRH ’25, was, “looking forward to an oncampus event where everyone felt included.”

Overall, the consensus across campus is that the event was a fun night for all students and Tetlow alike.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Families gathered for a weekend of Homecoming activities.

Hill and Lincoln Center students.

Transportation was provided for Lincoln Center students who wished to attend. For many Lincoln Center students, it served as their first introduction to the Rose Hill campus. Trerotola said the event always “gives a chance for both campuses to be together.”

This year, over 2,000 students RSVPed to the event, a number only slightly lower than the previous year.

Trerotola was sure to mention, however, that many students do not RSVP, and that the total number of expected at-

In addition to the President's Ball, alumni and seniors were invited to the tent on Edwards Parade.

Students Express Opinions Over Health Care Plan

By ADAM LEMOINE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In 2019, Fordham University mandated that all undergraduate students have health insurance coverage. With this, Fordham changed its partnership with Aetna’s Student Health Plan from opt-in to opt-out to ensure that students would have a health insurance plan.

As Fordham’s Student Health Insurance Plan website states, “Now more than ever, Fordham students need healthcare and insurance they can count on.”

The Aetna Student Health Plan premium cost is $3,905 for the year, varying from $3,975 in 2016 to $3,073 in 2019.

This plan is on the high end of the price scale for student health insurance plans, although not outside the average range.

Over 200 universities partner with Aetna to provide students insurance, such as Columbia University and Manhattanville

College. Columbia charges students $4,189, while Manhattanville charges students $3,429.

Maureen Keown, director of university health services, said that during the 2021-22 school year, the average price range for a plan at similar institutions was between $2,141 and $4,386.

Fordham chose to partner with Aetna through a competitive market bid of prices, services and benefits, with the most recent contract negotiation being for the current academic year.

The cost of the plan is solely based on the cost of the student’s medical claims. This makes the number of students who purchased the plan in years past important.

Costs can be spread across a larger population, and contracts can be negotiated if Fordham has a larger customer base to leverage.

Keown says that approximately 25-30% of Fordham students purchased the Aetna

Student Health plan in recent years, which was an increase from the 2019-20 academic year when only 18% of students were enrolled in the plan.

Some students have been discussing ways for students to be better informed about their options when purchasing a student health insurance plan.

“I think that Fordham should do more to ensure that students can explore all possible options when purchasing student healthcare.

While I appreciate the plan that they provide, I want to research all options to be sure that I am buying the best plan I can within my price range,” said Avery Mitts, FCRH ’25.

For many students, $3,905 can be too much to pay for health insurance. Others may need specialized or expansive coverage. While Fordham has attempted to resolve some of these issues in the last year, some students are still unsatisfied with the plan.

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

Health care coverage is required for all students at Fordham University.

OPINION

September 21, 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 Sebastian Diaz 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 Assistant News Editors Emma Kim Samantha Minnear Opinion Editors Nicole Braun Taylor Herzlich 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.

Page 7

From the Desk | Nick DeSilva

The Ram is Practice for the Perfect Picture During my sophomore year, at the peak of COVID-19 anxieties, I found myself slipping into some of my worst habits. In between going to class and socializing with friends, I would drown myself in TV shows and TikTok videos, spending less and less time on productive and healthy activities.

I saw all these students, some my age and some even younger, turning their lockdown hours towards passion projects. Envious of their time management skills during what seemed to me like dead hours, weeks and even months, I decided to lean into anything I could get my hands on.

It all started with a picture of Keating I took on my phone at dusk, which would soon become my favorite time to adventure.

Unsatisfied by the lack of control I had with my phone, I decided to call my parents and have them send me an old, basic Nikon digital camera we had bought for a vacation years ago. Once the camera arrived, I realized I had no idea what I was doing. So, I did what I do best and scoured the internet, teaching myself the basics of photography — a humble beginning, but something I believe many in this generation can relate to.

I decided to try out my newfound knowledge at the Botanical Gardens. With the gardens’ proximity to campus, it was not too big of a commitment. Besides, what could be a more accessible place to take photos than a place literally designed to look beautiful? Although only about 10 or 15 of the several dozen pictures I had

taken were remotely acceptable, I was hooked. Drawn to the idea of creating “great works,” I searched for my magnum opus, a picture I could send to my loved ones when they asked the previously embarrassing question, “What have you been up to recently?”

I took solo trips into the city during my off days in search of this moment, a scenery in pure form, righteous enough to be called my “best picture yet.” I found it eventually and almost immediately afterward, I sunk into a great disillusionment. I doubted everything I was doing.

I started making rookie mistakes about aperture, shutter speed and even ISO. For those who understand this lingo, you know how annoying it can be to miss a perfect moment because you miss-spun a single dial.

I had basically forgotten everything I had learned up to that point and, out of frustration, I didn’t pick up my camera for months. Like many others addicted to the instant gratification of social media and the internet, my attention span could not hold steady through creative droughts and frustration. I still showed people the photos I had taken. I was very proud of them, but neither my hands nor my eyes could keep up with the lofty vision I had set out for.

I eventually picked my camera back up; whether out of guilt, a feeling of responsibility or a genuine desire to try again I might never know. I had results similar to those I had before. I took pictures I thought weren’t too

shabby, whether my first images were the result of beginner’s luck or the fact that I was probably just overcomplicating the entire thing (something I admit I am prone to do). At least I had started again, this time with the wisdom that not everything I take has to (or will) be remotely perfect.

It was around this time that I heard that The Fordham Ram needed a Photo Editor, and they would accept quite literally anyone with any form of photographic knowledge. Somewhere between doubt and blind confidence, I decided that I fit the bill.

I did not want to leave this kind of opportunity hanging, especially since I was already looking for a club to join.

The story pretty much tells itself, except for the challenges. My wanna-be pseudo-artsy style does not fit in journalism. At the beginning, I thought the medium was somewhat limiting of my vision,

but I quickly learned that new styles and rules aren’t just limiting. They are an opportunity to grow. Telling a real story through an image is different from my ideology of capturing beautiful moments, but it is not its antithesis.

Admittedly, I am not a journalist, but I am also not an artist. I’m just a dude trying to learn new things.

That is why I am incredibly grateful to the Ram and the people who got me here, so I could have a chance to teach myself new styles while also being held somewhat accountable for my creative craziness. Who knows where my love for photography would be if I didn’t take this opportunity at the Ram? Would I still be able to hold my camera without it feeling like a weighty responsibility? All I know for sure is that I am still doing it and still practicing. Maybe one day I will finally catch that elusive dragon and produce my new greatest photo yet.

Editorial | Fordham & The Bronx Community

Fordham: The Bronx’s Burden

Last week, The Fordham Ram published a video highlighting various student opinions regarding university students’ impact on the Bronx community. Students expressed nuanced positive and negative views. On the positive side, students said the university has aided the Belmont community economically by supporting local businesses. On the negative, students noted the nuisance that student nightlife can become.

While it is fair to say that the economic boost that Fordham students have given to local businesses is substantial, the same boost has also had largely negative effects on locals who are not small business owners. All you need to do, for example, is compare the cost of living in Belmont, the neighborhood south of Rose Hill and where students live off campus, to the average household income of local Bronx residents.

An economic analysis by the New York Times showed that as of 2017 the average Fordham student comes from a household whose median income is about $151,000. Compare this to the median household income in Belmont, Crotona Park East and Tremont: $29,158.

When Fordham students begin moving off campus and renting apartments in the Belmont neighborhood, their wealth advantage creates an economic disparity

between local real estate companies and Bronx residents. Real estate companies will raise their prices on apartments and housing units to accommodate the wealthier class of students, creating an environment in which economically disadvantaged locals can no longer afford rent in their neighborhoods. This is the basic rule of gentrification.

Well-intentioned finance advisors will often talk about the 30% rule — monthly rent should cost just 30% of the renter’s average monthly income. According to the NYU Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy, as of 2019, only 27% of rental units in Belmont and East Tremont fit within the 30% for local residents.

Residents are much more likely to obtain an apartment if they are willing to allocate 80% of their monthly income to rent (not including other factors of living like utilities, groceries or transportation). The same demographic analysis showed that low-income and severely rent-burdened households make up 43% of households in the neighborhood.

Affordable housing is nearly impossible to find in the area, with the most expensive housing just blocks away from Fordham’s campus (where a two-bedroom apartment below $1,600 is functionally nonexistent). While apartments tend to get cheaper farther away

from campus, the price decrease is negligible.

This is not a stagnant or declining trend. If anything, this trend is on the rise and shows no sign of stopping.

It’s important to note that, for the most part, this gentrification seems to be mostly focused around Belmont and residential areas. Commercial zones, like Fordham Road, benefit from the economic injection brought forward by students who can afford to spend more. However, this also has a negative consequence for locals. Business owners will respond to the adapting neighborhood and raise their prices to an affordability accessible to Fordham students, but not so much to locals. This process works much the same way as it does for housing.

In a space undergoing gentrification, one of the basic living needs — housing — is treated no differently than coffee.

Beyond the negative economic impact on locals, student life off campus can also be incredibly disruptive to the neighborhood and its residents. Every Friday night, swarms of students roam the streets searching for parties.

For working-class residents who have to wake up early for morning shifts on Saturday or Sunday mornings, having Fordham students loudly and obnoxiously partying until 2 a.m. directly outside their apartments is disturbing.

The morning after, empty cans, vomit and general trash generated by the previous nights’ misadventures dirty the neighborhood’s streets.

All in all, student life encroaching on local streets ultimately does more harm than good. It’s crucial to remember that if we want to do better and keep the peace around us, the best we can do is have respect for our neighborhood and those who live in it.

OPINION

Page 8

September 21, 2022

A Bill Meant to Curb Drug Use is Comedic and Chaotic

By OLIVIA TEARE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kids and adults alike can understand the simple joy of buying whipped cream from a grocery store. For most of us, whipped cream reminds us of our childhood and the satisfaction of a perfectly placed Cool Whip topping on our dessert.

We don’t usually associate this delicious topping with drug use as media sources and legislation have this past summer.

Whipped cream has received an increasingly illegal association. A new bill, Bill S2819A, aims to prohibit the sale of whipped cream dispensers to minors. The steel cylinders that charge whipped cream canisters contain trace amounts of nitrous oxide, and the bill was created to curb consumers under the age of 21 who are using the canisters as inhalants to get high. The bill was approved in 2021 and defended by the 57 votes it received on June 1 by the New York State Senate (NYSS). Although backed by good intentions, this law has

proven to be a nuisance.

According to the NYSS, violating this bill results in a $250 fine for an initial offense and a $500 fine for each subsequent offense. Yet, the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) did not start enforcing this penalty until months after it was approved on Nov. 25 due to a lag in the tracking of the law. This remains true even a year after the bill’s approval; when I checked the NYSS website for the current bill status, it says the bill was delivered to the governor but not yet vetoed or approved.

Moreover, restriction and I.D. checks have only recently begun to pop up in the Capital Region, according to NYACS President Kent Sopris. There has been a lack of communication between state officials and businesses over this confusing new law.

As individuals began to learn about the bill, many questioned its intent. Senator Joe Addabbo tweeted on Aug. 29 that restricting the sale of whipped cream itself was never

the goal. Instead, the bill was meant to prohibit the sale of individual chargers, which can be sold separately from the whipped cream canisters, to minors. Whether or not grocery and convenience stores continue to card customers for buying whipped cream is up to them, according to the senator.

Once the real purpose of the bill is clarified, the question of why the law flew under the public’s radar is raised. Was the Senate aware of the controversy they knew would follow the bill, so they tried to silence its arrival?

While this law certainly caused a lot of chaos, it is grounded in a well-meant idea.

The bill’s language was confusing right out of the gate. The Senate should have clarified the language immediately instead of waiting until the public caught the error. An easier transition from the governor’s desk to the public could have included a briefing by the Alcohol and Drugs Foundation (ADF) on the concerns about nitrous oxide usage. Psychosis, memory loss, depression, a

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

This bill has incited more laughter than any tangible effects.

weakened immune system and other serious long-term effects have been linked to nitrous oxide cartridges. Yet, nitrous oxide is still used in many real-life situations, from enhancing car engine performance to numbing at the dentist.

As for curbing minors’ use of inhalants, there is no statistical proof that Bill S2819A has been effective yet. It is unclear whether this is due to the lagging electronic issue that the bill is having or if there is genuinely zero evidence of any success. Hopefully, this strange bill will be a lesson for the Senate.

There is an unfulfilled need for

increased transparency between the Senate and New York citizens.

In all honesty, the situation has generated some great headlines. Media sources have wasted no time poking fun at Addabbo and his law. The bill hasn’t seemed to have had any harmful or adverse effects, so in times like these, this bill may have been the comedic relief that we all needed — even if that wasn’t its intention.

Olivia Teare, FCRH ’26, is an anthropology major and peace and justice studies minor from Duxbury, M.A.

The Choices Charles Faces Already Weighs Down His Reign

By HANNAH DEVLIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at her residence in Balmoral Castle, Scotland, on Sept. 8, 2022. Queen Elizabeth became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch in 2015, and this past February, she celebrated her seventh decade on the throne.

Her 70-year reign has encapsulated many important historical moments, from the aftermath of WWII to more recent events like Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The queen’s impact goes far beyond the events she ruled over. In the seven decades that Queen Elizabeth reigned, she became a symbol for the British and a constant presence in a world where so much is subject to change.

At 73 years old, Queen Elizabeth’s son Prince Charles — now King Charles III — transitions into his new role as monarch. There are many questions and concerns about what this change means for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

As he ascends to his role as king, there is no way for Charles to fill the legacy that his mother left behind. Charles was the longest-serving heir to the throne. The queen had 70 years to cultivate a connection with her subjects. Charles will not have the time or relationship with the British public that his mother did.

Britons are still grieving the loss of the queen, and their at-

tachment to her as a figure will not fade overnight. This grief may interfere with receptivity to Charles, as people are not ready to welcome a new presence so quickly after her passing. This is just one reason that I believe Charles will struggle to have the same popularity and image as the queen.

Prior to the queen’s death, Britain was already in a fragile state — the country has faced economic challenges like inflation in recent months as the threat of recession looms. The country is not at its strongest point, so it is reasonable to wonder whether Britain can handle a transition of power right now.

Polling and approval ratings have already shown that Britons are far less impressed with King Charles III than his mother. While Queen Elizabeth maintained a 86% approval rating, a polling from May indicated that Charles’ stood 21 points lower than his mother’s at 65%. The fact that Charles is coming into his rule with economic hardships already in place will likely exacerbate these low approval ratings.

Many people have already expressed the desire for Charles to stay out of politics and limit his involvement.

Considering the current economic difficulties, this reaction from the public puts Charles in a difficult position. While it is the natural instinct of a ruler to try to help solve their country’s hardships, I believe that it would be in Charles’ best interest to listen to the desires of the people. No matter how he gets

involved, there will be people who are unhappy with his activity. To avoid being painted in a negative light so early on in his rule, I think that Charles should attempt to lay low at the moment.

Besides the fact that there is a general disliking of Charles, there comes the issue of unfamiliarity. 80% of the British public has only ever known Queen Elizabeth as their monarch, according to a poll from 2017. The longevity of her reign has allowed the cultivation of a deep relationship between the queen and her kingdom’s people. This connection is something rare, and, without the proper time and care, it may be irreplicable.

With this in mind, there are rising concerns about how Charles will maintain support for the Royal Family, especially considering the fact that young Britons are more in favor of replacing the monarchy with elected state officials. Not only is Charles responsible for representing the Royal Family in Britain, but he must also maintain support in the Commonwealth.

Not only does Charles have to account for this lack of a relationship, but he must also address the anti-colonial presence that has risen recently.

This presence was exemplified

by Barbados’ break away from British rule earlier this year.

With Queen Elizabeth’s recent passing, nations may see this transition of power as an opportunity to separate from the Commonwealth, especially considering the success of

COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Charles cannot fill the void his mother left behind after 70 years of service.

Barbados. In order to combat this anti-colonial sentiment, I believe that Charles will have to appeal to these nations early on in his reign.

Additionally, there may be cause for concern about what the queen’s passing means for the Royal Family itself. In an interview that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — completed with Oprah in 2021, Prince Harry explains that despite his distance from the family, he still has a great deal of love and respect for his grandmother. He also says that his relationship with Markle has complicated his relationship with his father, explaining that Charles stopped taking his calls at a certain point. I believe that with the queen’s passing, the divide between Prince Harry and the other members of the Royal Family will deepen.

If part of the reason why Prince Harry and Markle kept their relationship with the family was due to their respect for the queen – as they explained in their interview – their connec-

tion to the family’s other members will weaken without her presence.

For a family as powerful and renowned as the Royal Family, it is important to present a united front. Taking into account that there is an antimonarchy movement present in Britain, the troubles within the Royal Family will be magnified. As the matriarch of the family, Queen Elizabeth’s presence unified members and created the appearance of a collective front.

The whole world will feel the impact of the queen’s passing.

Her reign was one of unprecedented longevity and service, and the absence of that will be felt not just by her subjects. It is undeniable that Charles has big shoes to fill in his ascension to the throne — and I do not think he will.

Hannah Devlin, FCRH ’24, is an English major and classical civilizations minor from Port Washington, N.Y.

OPINION

September 21, 2022

Page 9

Plastic Surgery Isn’t a Quick Fix for Self-Love

COURTESY OF PIA/FISCHETTI THE FORDHAM

Self-love and plastic surgery cannot coexist without whole self-acceptance.

By NICOLE BRAUN OPINION EDITOR

Last year I was digging through some old family photos when I stumbled across my grandparents’ wedding album. My grandmother looked stunning in her gown and she had the broadest smile on her face.

And then I spotted my nose, the nose that I don’t like very much. I studied it on her and found that I didn’t think it engulfed her face or dipped too low when she smiled. I thought none of the things that I think when I look at myself in the mirror. Her nose was beautiful and it was hers and it made me feel better about mine.

And then I remembered she got a nose job.

This remembrance quickly tampered down the newfound exciting acceptance of my nose, but it did make me think more deeply about self-love, acceptance and what those buzzwords even mean. Why was I so quick to accept something I haven’t always liked about myself just because I have it in common with someone I love?

I think love comes from acceptance. It comes from seeing flaws in yourself and others and not really caring because they are just parts of the thing that you love.

Some people say “I love myself now,” post-cosmetic surgery,

and that implies they didn’t love themselves before going under the knife. If you get plastic surgery and feel a greater sense of self-acceptance and love, I’m not sure you can look back at your former self without feeling some level of contempt.

I do not want to come across as shaming those who want or who have had plastic surgery.

If your cosmetic surgery brings you joy when you look in the mirror, then all the power to you. I’m just doubtful if this joy post-surgery is actually true self-love. I don’t think self-love will ever be true until we accept all parts of ourselves, both past and present, both loved and not.

Self-love is hard to understand these days, even though it is a concept we’re talking about more than ever before.

It is such a complicated topic partly because it has been hijacked by the capitalist agenda.

Mainstream neoliberal (and often white) feminism has tried to convince us that if we want to love our bodies, completely and wholeheartedly, we have to spend money on expensive procedures. We’re being taught that if we undergo plastic surgery for ourselves and our sense of self-love, not just to satisfy the male gaze, then that surgery is empowering. But we can’t forget that one of the plastic surgery industry’s primary objectives is to profit off of our need for self-love, not help us achieve it.

This message of undergoing

plastic surgery in an empowering way is hard to ignore because this message is coming from everywhere, not just our favorite influencers and celebrities, but also the people in our everyday lives who buy into it, literally. How do we learn to love ourselves, to see something we may not like and accept it, if we’re constantly being reminded of and pushed toward a quick fix? That fixing it won’t just make you look better physically, but also feel more empowered internally? (Again, my intention is not to discredit those who do feel more empowered as a result of their plastic surgery, because there is power in having the agency to change something you don’t like. However, there is a clear difference between making a choice for yourself and having a choice thrust upon you by outside influences.)

Not only is the neoliberal feminist and capitalist agenda hard to ignore, it can also be deadly. Earlier this month, the FDA released a warning that “certain cancers may develop in scar tissue” that forms around breast implants. The risk of developing cancer as a result of implants is rare, but it does give us pause to think about not only the mental consequences of searching externally for self love, but also the physical ones.

The number of people getting plastic surgery has been on the rise for a long time – in 2021 the number of cosmetic surgeries increased by 40% from

2020. But what goes up must always come down.

People are becoming more outspoken about how they wish they didn’t follow social media beauty trends or fall victim to societal ideals of beauty. In a notable 2022 interview with Vogue, Bella Hadid, one of the world’s most sought-after models, admitted to having a nose job at 14, and confessed that she now regrets that decision.

She wishes she “had kept the nose of [her] ancestors.”

If you decide that plastic surgery is something you want, don’t do it just to chase a trend, because they are fickle and ever-changing. Do it because you think it will make you happier, and remember to hold some love in your heart for the person you were before. You can only really love yourself by accepting all parts of yourself.

Cosmetic surgeries only create surface differences. The real work has to come from within.

When I look at my nose, I think of my grandmother and how she changed hers. I will never know exactly why she did it, and I can’t promise that I won’t change it myself one day. Maybe I won’t ever love my nose, but I will do my very best to accept it, to see it as just another part of a person I love, or hope to love: myself.

Nicole Braun, FCRH ’24, is an English major from Saddle River, N.J.

AI Software Cannot Replace Artists

By OWEN SIBAL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to compete against humans at a vast amount of things, from truck driving to playing Where’s Waldo?, activities that require precision and skill. That is why it seems strange to imagine AI infiltrating the fine arts, an industry defined by human creativity and individuality. AI is permeating into the creative spheres of the human experience, with some AI-generated art even winning awards in art competitions. Should artists be worried about these potential replacements? I don’t think so.

The technology behind these AI art creations, such as Midjourney or DALL-E, is really just an algorithm that has been made to look at a massive amount of pre-existing art and then generate an image based off of a user created prompt.

Initially, it may seem like a hit. AI generated art is a massive shortcut that could democratize the arts, letting anyone who can think of a picture produce that image. But art is something so inherently human that no AI can ever replace human made art.

If one were to look at Jason Allen’s award-winning AI-generated “Théâtre d’Opéra Spatial,” most will admit it’s a pretty picture. But it lacks personality. It doesn’t have a distinguishable style specific to one artist because it compiles the styles of thousands of artists.

If you take a look at the other picture generated by Jason Allen via Midjourney, this disparity will be made clearer. Allen’s awardwinning picture looks like a legitimate painting of the afterlife from a medieval artist, while his other painting looks like a poster for an overly CGI-edited sci-fi movie. These paintings could not be more stylistically different. Now look at any two paintings from Claude Monet.

Can you tell that the same artist made those paintings?

We can see a similar occurrence in music. There is music software that can play Paganini’s 24th Caprice in A minor perfectly in every way, available to anyone, at any time. Yet people will still pay thousands of dollars to hear another human being perform it once. Why would someone pay more money for an inherently flawed product, do we prefer those human flaws?

By removing the person from

art, you strip art of what makes it unique. The irreversibility of carving a block of marble or putting paint on canvas is a commitment. Art reflects our flaws, the imperfect nature of our hands. What makes art beautiful is not what was done right, but rather, the little quirks that trace the art back to its creator. Creating art doesn’t advance the interests of our species, nor does it satisfy any biological urges.

This doesn’t mean that artists should be worry-free, however.

These competitions have to rank the submissions by some sort of metric, which is usually based on the performance of different artistic techniques.

No human can compete with AI when it comes to technical precision and perfection. Many of these competitions pay the bills for small artists. Unless AI is banned from these competitions, art as we know it will die.

AI systems like Midjourney destroy the creative process of making art. When Allen generated his works, I strongly doubt that he envisioned anything close to what the final product would be, if he even had a vision of what it was going to look like.

He simply thought of a string of

words and was lucky enough to end up with a pretty picture. When “Impression, Sunrise” was being painted, Monet was looking out at the bay of Le Havre, transferring what he saw onto the canvas, immortalizing his hometown through his work.

I am not an artist, and, to be fair, I definitely can’t claim to understand how the codes behind AI systems work. However, I understand why art has value: because the person who made it has put their blood,

sweat and tears into the medium. Art is a human product.

It is a fragment of the artist and a result of their vision.

What meaning does paint on a canvas have if a machine that has never experienced the real world, for no other reason than because it was programmed to, put it there?

Owen Sibal, FCRH ’26, is a political science major from Richmond, V.A.

COURTESY OF CORY BORK/THE FORDHAM RAM

AI art is fundamentally inferior to art created by human experiences.

OPINION

Page 10

September 21, 2022

Yeshiva University Case Emphasizes Deep Ties Between Religion and Government

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Yeshiva University refused to recognize the YU Pride Alliance.

By ALLY DUGAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Yeshiva University has dominated headlines in recent weeks during its fight against its own students. Yeshiva University, a private Jewish university in New York City, has gone to court to defend its refusal to officially recognize the YU Pride Alliance, a club formed by undergraduate students.

When asked to approve the club in 2020, the Yeshiva administration denied the students’ request on behalf of the university’s religious affiliation; in response, a small group of alumni and students sued the university.

Yeshiva University is America’s oldest Jewish institution, and its refusal to recognize the YU Pride

Alliance highlights the greater issue of the blurred lines between religion and government.

This case exposes the university’s commitment to religion over its own students, especially when it comes to silencing their own members’ identities on the basis of religion.

This battle has been going on for more than a year, but plenty of recent developments have occurred. On Sept. 14, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to deny Yeshiva University’s request to block state ruling, requiring Yeshiva to recognize the group as the legal fight continues.

Yeshiva University announced two days later, on Sept. 16, that it will suspend all student clubs at the university indefinitely. This

drastic decision is affecting all students at the university. “The Pride Alliance seeks a safe space on campus, nothing more. By shutting down all club activities, the YU administration attempts to divide the student body and pit students against their LGBT peers,” states Katie Rosenfeld, the pride alliance’s attorney.

I agree with Rosenfeld. This tactic further highlights the university’s prioritization of religious identity over its own students. By suspending all clubs, the university is inhibiting its own students from flourishing, whether it be socially, culturally or academically, in order to prove an outdated point.

Despite Yeshiva’s fervor in attempting to protect its religious identity, students are already actively involved in the institution’s religious values. This involvement is sometimes not by choice, with some students spending as much as five hours a day in religious studies and being expected to uphold Torah values on campus.

The university especially prides itself on its “five core Torah values.” These five core values, according to the school’s website, “compromise our moral compass and guide us toward a better future.” The last two of these values, compassion and redemption, struck me, as they are focused on

treating others with empathy. The website describes compassion as “to care for their fellow human beings; to reach out to them in thoughtfulness, kindness and sensitivity; and to form a connected community” and redemption as “humanity’s purpose is to transform our world for the better and move history forward.”

This is interesting, considering how Yeshiva is treating its own students during this legal case. The administration does not seem to be following up on these core values, ignoring that society is moving forward, progressing and acting as a community.

So, why isn’t Yeshiva following through? Where is this “kindness” and “community?” It is 2022 and Yeshiva is located in one of, if not the most, diverse and culturally enriching cities in the world.

Change is inevitable, especially in this diverse, fast-paced city.

Young people from all over the world come to New York City with the dream of finding out who they truly are. From personal experience while studying at Fordham, the exposure to an urban college setting is unmatched; there are countless new opportunities and experiences everyday.

College is a marketplace of differing opinions, perspectives and thoughts. Students do not solely

learn from textbooks or lectures; we learn through each other and our varying viewpoints. In order for students to learn and grow, they have to meet people who are different from them.

Yeshiva does not have to embrace YU Pride Alliance. It does not have to advertise the club or endorse it. Simple recognition is kindness and respect and shows that the university believes that its students matter, regardless of differences. This issue of religion, though, goes far deeper than just this university’s current court case.

Concern about the entanglement of our government with religion is a concern for many, especially this year with the overturn of Roe v. Wade this past June. Many are concerned, scared and confused about the state of our country and its ties to religion. The Yeshiva case is still unfolding, and it will be interesting to see how this case may become a precedent for other religious institutions.

My hope is that the members of Yeshiva University, and all universities with religious affiliations, eventually feel safe and welcomed enough to fully express themselves, their true selves.

Ally Dugan, FCRH ’23, is a communications and culture major from West Chester, P.A.

Psychiatry Must Have a Strong Social Context

By ALEXANDER GANNON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The rise in psychiatric drug prescriptions reveals the need to shift away from corporate biopsychiatry toward social psychiatry.

Discourse around mental health in America has been marred by an overemphasis on genetic causes and chemical solutions. This issue likely originates from the interests of pharmaceutical corporations, but has seeped into the moral language of our society.

There is a popular insistence to “just go to therapy” and “take your meds” in America that is truly negligent. This is not to say that medication and therapy are wrong. Many of those who can afford medical treatment clearly benefit from these prescription drugs. Making medication affordable should be a top priority.

However, the most common mental illnesses like depression cannot accurately be understood as a spontaneous neurochemical imbalance, as explained by Noam Shpancer, a professor of psychology and clinical psychologist. At least, there is not enough evidence to definitively link all cases of depression with chemical imbalances. Mental illnesses like depression can be categorized under a biopsychosocial model: negative mental phenomena that emerge on the level of the individual due to the disorganization of our social structures, or a way of considering

mind, body and social factors in diagnosing mental illness.

Economic inequality is not going away anytime soon. In the meantime, we need to use modes of psychiatric help that utilize the mind, body and social sciences to address the socioeconomic dimensions of mental illness.

I believe the dominant popular psychiatric discourse has two poles: denial and nihilism. On one end, mental illness is treated as unreal by some people. Chronic issues like depression are denied as the consequences of solely personal choices; some myths include saying that depression can be fixed by eating leafy greens, smiling more and going on a jog.

On the other end, some categorize mental illness as hyperreal. It is as if illness is coded into genetic code from birth; it is a fixed part of your identity, something that will forever alienate you from the rest of society. Nothing you do could significantly change it, only mitigate its effects. When this viewpoint is taken, medication is seen as an unambiguous cure. While these might seem like opposite positions, in practice, they lead to similar results. Both encourage individual apathy towards mental health care.

We have to address how young people are coping with these common societal viewpoints, especially since young people are receiving more prescriptions than ever.

Younger generations have been

more open to the importance of mental health awareness, but still some people fall within the binary of generalized praise of medication and mental illness nihilism. I think this arises from a misunderstanding of genetics.

In most cases, genetic code does not cause mental illness on its own. Instead, it predisposes an individual toward one condition or another given certain environmental conditions. For example, some genetic sequences make people more likely to have depression, but only if they go through significant childhood trauma. Extraordinarily little is written in stone about anyone from birth.

The modern world is built upon pistons, crutches, code, wheelchairs, glasses and medications that augment our bodily capabilities to increase our autonomy and welfare. Yet, when it comes to our mental health, I think some young people simply submit to it, ingrain it into their identity, think of themselves as wholly “depressed” or “anxious” people. Their sense of how tough it is to fix these issues is genuine and entirely justified.

However, lots of mental health issues do not originate from just the individual, but also the societal fabric they are raised within.

Some young people submit to the concept of mental illness as an unchangeable individual identity, but this frustration should be directed toward the social structures that trigger these conditions.

This is not solely a juvenile position. Contemporary politics often encourages a sense of social nihilism. Consider the 2008 financial crash, the 2016 election and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events feel as if they are no one’s decision, like they simply occured. Society tries as hard as possible to return to baseline. Banks are bailed out. Mask mandates are lifted preemptively. The “new normal” is announced. In short, many Americans live in passive times.

Since social factors play a large role in mental disorders and many Americans lack social agency, it is exactly this political nihilism that makes many feel hopeless and alone with their mental health issues. These political events explain why some may abandon

the role of social factors on mental health and instead assign the blame to something fundamental about themselves, even if that goes against the science.

The real issue is not that there are too many prescribed medications, but that we are ignoring the social pandemics that spread alongside the biological. We cannot resolve these issues only through individual medication and therapy. We need to revise the model of individualistic neurochemical psychiatry in favor of holistic psychiatry that is focused on the mind, body and social factors.

Alexander Gannon, FCRH ’25, is a neuroscience major from Allentown, P.A.

COURTESY OF CORY BORK/THE FORDHAM RAM

Young people are receiving more prescription drugs than ever.

OPINION

September 21, 2022

Page 11

Basic, Cheugy Girls: Another Manifestation of Misogyny

COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

Women dominate how we understand trends, yet are punished for following trends.

By MICHELA FAHY

ASST. OPINION EDITOR EMERITA

With the approach of fall comes the appearance of many self-proclaimed fashion and culture police intent on critiquing the infamous “fall aesthetic.” This aesthetic consists of a combination of knee high boots, oversized sweaters, wide brimmed hats, pumpkin-scented candles and pumpkin flavored foods, to name a few. Many social media users jump head first into this aesthetic, welcoming falling leaves and hot spiced drinks. Others, however, are more than ready to reject these modern autumnal traditions, going so far as to poke fun at those who subscribe to this annual trend and denote them as basic and outdated. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about the ease in which

we collectively mock the people who subscribe to trends like “Christian Girl Autumn” until our school’s Welcome Week speaker, Brittany Broski, brought up how much shorter our trend cycles are becoming as microtrends become the norm. Since that event, I have noticed just how often we write off certain expressions of style once they oversaturate our social media feeds and become “overdone,” as well as the way in which this pattern of writing off trends relates to gender.

Social media influencers, as defined by Forbes, are “people who have large audiences of followers on their social media accounts, and they leverage this to influence or persuade this following to buy certain products or services.” In other words, social media influencers serve as a fairly new form of

marketing in the world of business. Many influencers are perceived to be shallow, self-centered or disingenuous because of their carefully curated messaging and the aesthetics they use to define their brand. As a result, many of the trends that are pioneered by social media influencers (regardless of the size of their platform) oftentimes have a negative connotation, simply because being an online influencer is not widely recognized as a respected career path.

Although many people are wary of social media influencers, they have become increasingly important in the effort for brands to reach customers. Fashion, home and lifestyle brands often participate in these trends by mass producing popular products and partnering with certain influencers to reach their base of followers. 8 out of every 10 consumers have bought a product after seeing it promoted by a social media influencer, according to a Rakuten study. This has created a notable shift in how brands reach consumers, with 93% of marketers using influencers to sell products. However, at a certain point in the life cycle of a trend, a problem occurs.

Trends are a unique expression of creativity and change, but as soon as this creativity is mass-produced and interpreted by bigger brands, people resist

subscribing to these same trends.

This problem creates tension while everyone tries to find the perfect balance between authenticity and acceptance in the increasingly unforgiving world of social media. Why are we so quick to determine who is accepted and who is the object of ridicule? We are being encouraged to follow trends by influencers, brands and products, yet are ridiculed when we do follow these trends for being trend-followers.

An additional layer of complication is how gender roles play a part in social media influencing.

With 84% of influencers identifying as women, it is safe to say that women are the primary trendsetters in our society. Additionally, women make up 70-80% of all consumer purchasing decisions.

It is quite literally these women’s jobs to influence others and be trend-setters. However, if we as followers subscribe to the trends these influencers promote, we are in danger of being perceived as “basic” or “cheugy,” a word that was recently legitimized through social media.

These trends that are being sold to us are manifested in the products that brands sell. We have seen this in fashion recently with the resurgence of Y2K fashion, which has been popularized

by Gen Z influencers on TikTok. The hashtag #Y2K has more than 9.3 billion views on TikTok and

3.7 million posts on Instagram.

Another particularly popular trend that social media has defined is the “millennial aesthetic,” which Gen Z social media users love to hate.

It has become increasingly difficult to separate social media trends from our culture’s definition of acceptance, since so many are criticized for following trends. With so many different ways to create, consume and promote different products, the amount of time it takes for trends to become cheugy or out of style feels like it gets shorter with every trend that reaches mainstream media. Clearly, we are a society built on learning about and following trends.

As mentioned earlier, women dominate how we understand and define trends on social media, playing a huge role in the products we purchase and consume as a result of their influence. Yet, there is a simultaneous punishment for women who subscribe to these popular trends, being derogatorily labeled “basic” or unoriginal. This catch-22 is inherently sexist, reflecting a constant push and pull of progress for female empowerment

Michela Fahy, FCRH ’23, is an English and humanitarian studies major from Cedar Grove, N.J.

Tuition Should Include Textbook Costs

By GRACE CAMPBELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With the new school year getting back into swing, students are once again being burdened with a list of new books to buy for their classes, with some books costing hundreds of dollars. With the typical Fordham freshman student taking five classes, required materials for all of these classes can be extremely expensive. Students and their families are already paying a high price for a quality education at a private institution like Fordham. Class required materials, like textbooks, should be included in the tuition for which they are being charged.

After all, college textbooks

cost an estimated average of $105; add to that the online homework platforms that students need to purchase in order to do homework, as well as smaller books for classes, the price becomes ridiculous. The average college student pays more than $1000 in one school year on course materials alone, according to Education Data. In my personal experience, I paid $100 this year to rent just one textbook for the semester.

Students should not be responsible for materials of such high costs. Textbook prices at colleges around the country have increased by 88% from 2006 to 2016 according to Teen Vogue.

Here at Fordham, we received news that our tuition would be

raised by 4% this academic year, yet we also seem to have increased prices for our required learning materials year by year.

There are many possible reasons for the price increase. It could be related to general economic inflation over time, or the fact that prices were already out of reach for many, causing people to turn to used or counterfeit options and decrease profits for the publishers and writers behind these books.

Either way, the price increase over time is almost impossible to keep up with on top of tuition increases. If the school is not willing to include these prices in tuition, then at the very least, the required textbooks for our classes need to be at lower prices.

COURTESY OF NICOLETA PAPAVASILAKIS/THE FORDHAM RAM

Class required materials, like textbooks, should be included in the tuition for which students are being charged.

Clearly, it’s not the professors’ fault that they need to teach material from certain textbooks, and they don’t control the prices. Because of that, a lot of professors here at Fordham are very understanding of the costs that their students have to pay. I’ve had teachers who upload pdfs of reading material online for us to use as a free resource, and others encourage students to try to find online versions of the readings. However, this pattern of providing free readings and materials is usually found in liberal arts classes. Students who take math and science classes, which almost always require a physical textbook, are at a disadvantage when trying to find cheaper alternatives.

There are free online options for some required texts, and it is possible to find used books on eBay or Amazon for a cheaper price. However, finding the exact book you need is difficult. Students should not have to struggle to find affordable versions of class requirements because books are so expensive. Some students simply cannot afford to pay the high prices that are charged at the bookstore. Not including textbook costs in tuition directly affects the academics of students. If they’re not able to afford what they need from the bookstore, and can’t find a cheaper alternative elsewhere, getting the education they paid for feels like a hopeless task.

Textbooks are not the only out of pocket cost that students have to think of at college, especially

here in New York. The cost of living is increasing exponentially. The cost of groceries, public transportation, outings with friends, etc. are all things that students need to save their money for. In order to live independently and take advantage of their New York college experience, students need to spend money on things other than textbooks. So when they are already paying a high price for their education, they shouldn’t have to worry about the hundreds of dollars they’re going to need to spend for their required textbooks.

Without financial aid, an education at Fordham costs upwards of $70,000. I find it hard to believe there is no room for the high price of Fordham tuition to cover required materials for students.

Fordham is not the only school to which this applies. Countless universities across the country run the same way and students everywhere are burdened with the cost of expensive textbooks. In fact, only two universities (Thomas More College in Kentucky and Schreiner University in Texas) include their students’ textbook costs in their tuition, according to PUPN magazine.

Including costs of textbooks in tuition is only fair and just for students who are already paying so much for an education.

Grace Campbell, FCRH ’25, is a new media and digital design major, from Northborough, Mass.

Page 12

MEET THE STAFF

Sep. 21, 2022

AVA ERICKSON, EDITOR IN CHIEF

HANIF AMANULLAH, MANAGING EDITOR

Ava Erickson is a senior from Denver. Her passion for writing and language led her to double major in journalism and Spanish studies. She began working for the Ram at the end of her freshman year, writing for Culture and Opinion and later served as Culture Editor for one year. She is taking on the role of Editor in Chief for Volume 104, as the Ram has been such an important part of her time in college!

Hanif Amanullah is a junior from Austin, Tex., majoring in international studies, whose passion for news writing and multimedia led him to the Ram. Hanif began writing opinion pieces about film and politics for the paper in late 2020, eventually supplementing the staff as an Assistant Culture Editor in 2021 and as Managing Editor for 2022’s Volume 104. In addition to working with the Ram, Hanif plays in a jazz ensemble, works as a print staffer for FURJ and has been published in Fordham’s Rhetorikos journal.

SEBASTIAN DIAZ, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

MICHAEL SLUCK, PRODUCTION EDITOR

Sebastian Diaz is a junior majoring in journalism and film & television. Returning to The Fordham Ram staff for Volume 104, Sebastian remains on the staff as the Editorial Director. When they’re not practicing on a drumkit, watching movies or listening to music, Seb can usually be found writing articles for the Ram or other publications.

Michael Sluck is a junior from New Jersey majoring in political science and computer science. He began working for the Ram at the beginning of his freshman year as a copy editor and serves as the Production Editor for Volume 104. He is looking forward to becoming a part of The Fordham Ram’s legacy, as well as making sure no Oxford commas slip through the cracks.

PIA FISCHETTI, MUTLIMEDIA DIRECTOR

MATTHEW COLUCCI, BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Pia Fischetti is a senior from New York majoring in new media and digital design. She began her journey with the Ram during her freshman year as a photographer. She is so excited and grateful to be acting as Multimedia Director for Volume 104.

When not busy with class or extracurriculars, she can often be found watching sitcoms or listening to show tunes.

Matt Colucci is a sophomore from Long Island, N.Y. at Gabelli School of Business. He joined the Ram Business team to further his interest in advertising. He is also involved in other clubs such as Autism Speaks. He is excited to be continuing his role as Business Director for Volume 104!

AMANDA YAROLIN, COPY CHIEF

HANNAH BORING, ASST. COPY CHIEF

Amanda Yarolin is a junior from Yonkers, N.Y., majoring in biology on the pre-health track. She began as copy editor for the Ram in the 2021 semester and will now serve as Copy Chief for Volume 104. She loves the STEM work she has done so far at Fordham but is excited to explore her passion for writing while being part of a great creative team. Her hobbies include reading crime fiction novels, exploring the city and spending time with her friends and family.

Hannah Boring is a sophomore from Annapolis, Md. majoring in communications & culture. Her passion for journalism, along with her love for correcting her friends’ essays, led her to the Ram as a copy editor in fall 2021. Two of her favorite activities are making playlists for books she’s read and talking endlessly about them. She also participates in intramural volleyball and coaches when she returns home during the breaks. Hannah is very excited to be part of the Volume 104 staff as Assistant Copy Chief, fulfilling her dream of “red-penning” articles, both for work and for fun.

ISABEL DANZIS, NEWS EDITOR

EMMA KIM, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Isabel Danzis is a junior from Maryland majoring in journalism and digital technologies & emerging media. Her passion for writing and journalism drove her to start writing for the Ram her freshman year. She worked as Assistant News Editor for Volume 103 and works as News Editor for Volume 104. Outside of the Ram, Isabel loves to explore new places in New York City.a

Emma Kim is a sophomore from Pittsburgh majoring in economics. She began writing for the Ram last semester in News, and she is excited to continue working in the section. She enjoys participating in other school activities and exploring the city.

SAMANTHA MINEAR, ASST. NEWS EDITOR

TAYLOR HERZLICH, OPINION EDITOR

Samantha Minear is a junior double majoring in international studies and communications. A Jersey Shore native, Sam began writing for the Ram during her first semester and has enjoyed profiling various Fordham-adjacent Instagram accounts.

Outside of the paper, Sam is a resident assistant in Loschert Hall, an employee at the health center and a member of the Fordham Pep Band, playing flute.

Taylor Herzlich is a senior at Fordham College at Rose Hill. She is majoring in journalism with a minor in English. Taylor started writing for the Ram her freshman year and she considers it to be one of her best decisions. Joining the Ram helped convince her to pursue her passions and earn a liberal arts degree. This will be her second volume as Opinion Editor, and she could not be more excited to get back to writing and editing.

Sep. 21, 2022

MEET THE STAFF

Page 13

NICOLE BRAUN, OPINION EDITOR

ELISABETH MURRAY, CULTURE EDITOR

Nicole Braun is a junior from New Jersey majoring in English and minoring in French. Outside of the Ram, Nicole expresses her passion for women’s rights as an E-Board member of Leading Women of Tomorrow. You can often find Nicole reading, baking or forgetting to delete the Oxford comma.

Elisabeth Murray is a senior from New Jersey majoring in international political economy with a double minor in economics and history. She started at the Ram in fall 2021 copy editing and writing for Culture. Outside of the Ram, Elisabeth has also been involved in Global Outreach and Mode.

Now, as Culture Editor, she is excited to continue pursuing her passion for writing while exploring all of the excitement the city has to offer.

KARI WHITE, CULTURE EDITOR

ILAINA KIM, ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

Kari White is a junior from Wilmington, Del., home of President Biden and Aubrey Plaza! Devoted to writing and literature, she is pursuing an English degree at Rose Hill and has written articles for both the Ram and STEM magazine, BioMag. She hopes to use her position as editor to share the amazing talents of Fordham students and lay the rich culture of NYC at Fordham’s doorstep.

Ilaina Kim is a junior from Atlanta, Ga. majoring in English with a minor in philosophical studies. This is her first year as Assistant Culture Editor for the Ram, and she is eager to fully immerse herself in the Volume 104 community. An avid reader of both literature and film subtitles, her consumption of media will be promptly channeled into her writing.

NICK GUZMAN, SPORTS EDITOR

MADDIE BIMONTE, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Nick Guzman is a sophomore from Flemington, N.J. majoring in journalism. He first got involved with the Ram last fall, writing pieces about a variety of different sports. When not working at the Ram, Nick is involved with WFUV.

Maddie Bimonte is a junior from North Carolina majoring in journalism with a minor in political science. As a transfer, she got involved with the Ram’s Sports section during her first semester at Fordham. When not talking about her love-hate relationship with the New York Mets, she also is involved with WFUV and gives tours as a Fordham Ambassador. She’s super excited to continue working on Volume 104 as one of the Assistant Sports Editors with such an amazing team!

THOMAS AIELLO, ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

FRANCES SCHNEPFF, SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECCTOR

Thomas Aiello is a senior from New Jersey majoring in journalism. He began writing for the Ram following his COVID-19 quarantine experience in February 2021 and hasn’t stopped since. While writing for the Ram, Thomas simultaneously works in WFUV and Fordham Athletics in various capacities. He is a struggling Knicks fan, thriving Packer stan, confused Yankee fan and a Fordham basketball almanac. His hobbies include tweeting, shooting hoops and reading the Fordham men’s and women’s basketball record books.

SOFIA DONOHUE, DIGITAL PRODUCER Sofia Donohue is a sophomore from Washington, D.C. majoring in political science. She wrote for the Ram as a contributing writer throughout fall 2021 serves as Digital Producer for Volume 104.

Having been involved with her high school’s literary magazine, Sofia joined the Ram to continue her passion for writing and further explore her interest in journalism. She is excited to step into her new position and be a part of the Ram’s staff!

NICK DESILVA, PHOTO EDITOR Nick DeSilva is a senior from Massachusetts majoring in international political economy. He picked up photography in search of what some may call a “hobby.” Looking for something to do, he decided to try his luck and apply for a Photo Editor position. Now, Nick asks himself every day if he can actually call himself a professional photographer.

Frances Schnepff is a sophomore from Chicago majoring in communications and culture. This is her first year on the Ram and she is looking forward to continuing work on social media this volume. She loves all forms of media and is a big movie watcher. Her favorite movie is “Frances Ha” and not just because they share a first name!

AVA CARREIRO, DIGITAL PRODUCER Ava Carreiro is a junior from New Jersey pursuing a major in marketing. She began her time at the Ram in the fall of 2021 as a copy editor and now serves as Digital Producer for Volume 104.

At Fordham, she is also on the USG Marketing & Communications Committee and the University Orchestra. She is excited to be part of the staff and to continue managing the Ram’s social media pages!

NICOLETA PAPAVASILAKIS, VISUAL DIRECTOR Nicoleta Papavasilakis is a senior at Fordham College at Rose Hill, majoring in journalism and minoring in Spanish. She is still quite new to the Ram, as she only began writing for the Culture section of the newspaper at the beginning of Fall 2021. Unfortunately, the pandemic put the brakes on her plans to join earlier. Nonetheless, Nicoleta is thrilled to be the Visual Director of the Ram and continue to tell stories that engage the different senses. She also runs track and cross country for Fordham University and announces track meets at the historic Armory Track in Washington Heights.

OPINION

Page 14

September 21, 2022

Generation Z Will End iPad Kids Once and For All

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Many parents today have begun to provide their five-year olds with smartwatches.

By ABIGAIL MARTIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“Do you have any games on your phone?” We have all heard that question before. There they are, that tiny goblin with grabby hands reaching out to you. They have pleading eyes, and for a moment you almost give in, nearly handing over your valuable possession to the youngling. That is of course until you come to your senses. You say no … and the tantrum begins.

Screaming. Crying. It is in moments like these where you ask yourself, “How did we as a society end up like this?”

Children like this are what my generation likes to call “iPad kids.” Such a term is culturally understood as anyone who was

raised with such a high attachment to technology that it stunts their perception of the outside world and hinders their ability to communicate well with others.

Children become this way because parents do not know how to raise their children correctly when it comes to technology.

How could they? It is not entirely their fault. They do not have the life experience or wisdom it takes to coach their children through any kind of struggle in that realm of life because they did not experience a childhood full of technology. However, because of this, the first generations growing up with technology are taking a lot of the first blows when it comes to online addiction and corruption.

Generation Z was completely

thrown into the deep end of technology entirely unaware of its consequences. We had no one to guide us. We had no one to tell us what could go wrong. Parents gave us iPads and iPhones at an incredibly early age. Before many of us even reached middle school, we had full access to the internet. Why would there be restrictions? Parents never even knew we needed them.

We were the guinea pigs for a drug no one realized could be addictive. Now it is too late. My generation is stuck in a deeprooted attachment to the internet. We are addicts, and our rehab centers have only recently been constructed. Our children and their children after them will succumb to the same fate unless we do something about it now.

Generation Z is undeniably the most tech-savvy generation alive. That being said, such a lifestyle will definitely have an impact on our future parenting styles. Since we are aware of the possible damages and the nuances of the internet, we have what it takes to protect future generations from falling into the same trap we fell into.

How exactly will we do this?

Well, the key word here is moderation. Protecting our children does not have to mean depriving them of technology altogether.

It simply means putting smart

restrictions on their access to certain websites, as well as limiting their time spent on devices.

Restrictions can be placed on a child’s phone through different parental control apps that prohibit their ability to run into explicit content online. Many millennial parents today have begun to provide their five-year olds with smartwatches, an unprecedented consumerbase for the gadget. With smartphones, parents can track their children while simultaneously introducing them to the world of technology slowly and without full access to the internet at the getgo.

Such action will only work on younger kids. When a child gets older, they most certainly have the intelligence to work around any and all restrictions placed on them by their parents. That is where parent-child bonding and empathy comes into play.

Honest and real conversations about the effects of technology addiction have to be had once children get to an age where they are more independent.

Within these conversations, teenagers also need to be taught that their worth is not defined by the amount of likes they receive on an Instagram post. They need to be made aware of the dangers of ill-intentioned people who prey on the naivety of teenagers.

As a generation of people who

have been preyed on online, we know the warning signs of exploitative and dangerous people and can pass this information onto our children. Lastly, our children need to be aware of the importance of physically spending time with friends. We can understand what it is like to be tempted to communicate digitally most of the day. In many cases, this technological fluency is a generational superpower that can be used for good.

However, if overused, people neglect their basic human need for physical contact and develop social anxiety due to lack of face-to-face conversation. The next generation of parents must be especially encouraging of their children developing public social skills.

I believe that this next generation of parents can provide their children with knowledge and skills that previous generations could not.

If done correctly, we can cure the ill-effects of technology and instill a foundational, healthy relationship with it for generations to come. By tackling the problem at its root, “iPad kids” will no longer exist.

Abigail Martin, FCRH ’26, is a journalism major from Dallas, Texas.

Fordham’s Test-Optional Policy Should Be Here to Stay

By LUIS ROLDAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham University recently announced that it would extend its test-optional policy for another year after having the policy for two years, beginning during the 2020 application season. If someone asked me what my stance on test-optional policies was a year ago, I probably would have argued against the policy. But now, as a freshman who just endured the chaotic and competitive world of college admissions, I view these test-optional policies as crucial. Like my peers, I remember frantically filling out the Common Application and

anxiously writing supplemental essays for the 16 colleges on my list. I spent hours laboring over the math section of my ACT practice book late into the night, relying heavily on caffeine to keep me awake. It was the fall of my senior year and I wanted to spend Friday nights at Homecoming games, not writing the 10th draft of my personal statement.

In 2020, some colleges began announcing they were making SAT and ACT test scores optional. I viewed this as a natural decision. Most students were still in lockdown, and many testing centers were closed. However, COVID-19 restrictions in Florida were generally looser at

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham University recently announced that it would extend its test-optional policy.

the time, which meant I was able to take both the SAT and ACT. I found that the ACT aligned more with my strengths and I chose to dedicate my time to improving that score. But there came a certain point where I began to ponder, “Why am I wasting my time practicing for a standardized test when so many other people are simply not going to send their scores to colleges?” I thought all of my strenuous efforts would feel worthless if colleges began to admit students with no test scores over a student like me who went the extra mile.

I ended up submitting my ACT score to most of the colleges I applied to, including Fordham. Admittedly, I grew nervous. I thought it was unfair to the students who earned high scores on these exams to be placed on the same playing field as those who did not. But it was wrong and inconsiderate of me to think in this way.

Many people who chose to not submit test scores were either unable to take these tests or did not perform to the best of their abilities. High school students fall into two categories: good test takers and bad test takers.

Bad test takers should have the opportunity to prove themselves elsewhere — one’s grades and high school performance over four years should always be valued higher than a numerical score from a three-hour exam.

I recently stumbled upon

Jeannine Lalonde, an associate dean of undergraduate admission at the University of Virginia who regularly posts content on her blog and TikTok account (@uvadeanj) with the goal of helping prospective applicants navigate the process.

Lalonde says that she does not need to see a test score in order to make a good decision on an application.

This shift toward test-optional policies is not to say that high scorers should not be applauded for their achievements, because they rightfully deserve recognition for their scores. I am only expressing that one number should not define a person’s ability to succeed at a particular institution.

As a matter of fact, I have several friends who were admitted to prestigious institutions this past year without test scores, including Vanderbilt University and Washington University. Carolina Alvarado, a freshman at Vanderbilt, believes other components of her application made her stand out to admissions officers. Among many of her impressive achievements, Carolina launched The Alvarado Project, which was geared toward helping teachers get the necessary support to continue teaching virtually during the pandemic. This is the type of engagement that competitive universities are looking for, perhaps putting less weight on standardized testing.

“I think colleges should keep the [test-optional] policy because it allows students who have strengths in other areas to shine through and let their other qualities prevail,” Alvarado says.

Aside from class grades and test scores (if submitted), top colleges like Washington University are paying closer attention to extracurricular involvement, personal essays and qualities, service and recommendations to make their admission decisions, qualities which ultimately shape their incoming classes. Prioritizing accepting a class of students who scored perfectly on their exams does not sound nearly as interesting as cultivating a class of those with a variety of backgrounds, passions and goals.

Test scores are no longer needed as a measure of evaluating the worthiness of an application.

These standardized measures of “intelligence” tend to be unreliable and easily manipulated, as the Netflix documentary “Operation Varsity Blues” notably exposed. Test-optional policies have the potential to empower applicants. Fordham’s choice to remain test-optional in their admissions process is a step in the right direction if they want to attract students who bring more to Fordham than just a number.

Luis Roldan, GSB ’26, is undeclared from Winter Park, Fl.

CULTURE

September 21, 2022

Page 15

Who’s That Kid? | It’s Olivia Oudkirk, FCRH ’23!

Senior Leads the Army ROTC Program

By AVA ERICKSON EDITOR IN CHIEF

When Olivia Oudkirk, FCRH ’23, was just 18 years old, she made a huge commitment. “It’s one of those things where it’s crazy to think back that it was September or October of my freshman year of college when I decided what I was going to do for basically the next eight years of my life.” In 2019, Oudkirk signed a contract with the U.S. Army that obligated her to serve for four years in Active Duty or eight years in the Reserves or National Guard after college. Oudkirk is a cadet in the Yankee Battalion, New York City’s Army Reserve Officers’

Training Corps (ROTC) program, and a recipient of a four-year, full ride scholarship in exchange for her service and commitments to the program during college.

Although she was young when she signed the contract, Oudkirk doesn’t regret her decision.

“I came into college and didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I was undeclared, but I knew my interests kind of fell within the government, so politics and international relations in general,” she explained.

Oudkirk’s parents work in the State Department and she grew up overseas, which she said influenced her decision to join the army and later declare

COURTESY OF OLIVIA OUDKIRK/THE FODHAM RAM

Oudkirk is currently awaiting her branch placement.

an international political economy major. “I was like well they’re paying for my college, I will graduate without debt, and then I will have a career for a minimum of four years, and if I hate it I can leave and I will have a career on my resume that I can market.” She added, “for that first month that I was in ROTC [before signing the contract] I was like ‘this is bearable and maybe I can even like it in the future,’ and I feel like that’s sort of how I rationalized making that decision then.”

Since signing the contract, she has discovered many aspects of ROTC that she does enjoy and the program has allowed her to have some incredible experiences. “My summer between sophomore and junior year I got to go to air assault school, and got certified by real army people to repel from Black Hawks which was like the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” she said. This year she will also lead the Yankee Battalion at the Battalion Commander in the Veteran’s Day parade in the city on Nov. 11.

Being a full-time student and an ROTC cadet can be extremely demanding. On a weekly basis, all cadets must attend physical training (PT) twice a week, a military science class on Wednesdays and lab on Fridays. They also attend one Field Training Exercise (FTX) a semester, where they go to an Army base for the weekend to

work on tactics and practical implementations of the skills they have learned in class and lab.

As cadets become juniors and seniors, they are also responsible for planning the program activities like PT, lab and other events. Oudkirk explained that the cadets really run the ROTC program. “It’s sort of overseen or supervised by officers and enlisted people in the actual army, so they just sort of check that we’re not messing everything up too badly, while the cadets sort of plan and execute everything.”

Oudkirk says being in these leadership positions, as the First Sergeant her junior year and the Battalion Commander this year, has helped her grow.

“Junior year put me in the uncomfortable position of being in a leadership position among my peers, in which I was basically required to hold them accountable for different things that they were not doing, which is very awkward.” She added that she learned how to have difficult conversations with her peers and discipline people within her position in ROTC without it affecting their personal relationship.

Additionally, between junior and senior year, all cadets attend Advanced Camp, a fiveweek-long test of their skills which includes written tests, a shooting range test, a medical qualification and a two-week FTX: “You get one day or half

a day off in between each field section, but that’s when you’re getting tested more on your ability to lead people in stressful situations, so it’s sort of based on tactics, but it’s more based on your ability to sort of be stressed out by situations like where people are shooting or yelling at you and stuff like that, and not freaking out,” said Oudkirk.

Oudkirk went to advanced camp at Fort Knox this summer, “For me it made me more confident in my abilities of ROTC and made me feel like I did want to go active duty, where with other people I know it had the opposite effect,” she said. “So I think it’s a really decisive experience for a lot of people, it either makes you want to do active duty officer or it makes you completely not want to.”

There are 17 branches that Oudkirk could serve in after graduation. This fall she submitted her top choices and will soon receive her branch placement. After graduation and commissioning, Oudkirk will learn where her unit will be. She will then attend a training program before being stationed. “I eventually want to do civil affairs, which you don’t get the opportunity to apply for until like six years in, so that’s the eventual goal,” she said. While she is not 100% sure of what she wants to do now, her drive and determination are sure to help her succeed.

Björk’s Single “Atopos” Definitely Has A Place In the Hearts of Listeners

By AMÉLIE ACEVEDO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Icelandic singer, Björk, returns with her first single since the release of her album “Utopia.” She describes the single “Atopos,” meaning “unusual” or “out of place,” as a passport to the rest of her upcoming album, “Fossora,”which is set to come out Sept. 30. The inspiration for the album title comes from the Latin word fossore meaning, “to dig.” Björk’s connection to nature for this album and this song specifically is clear by the cover art which depicts her as a “glowing forest sprite” covered in what appears to be moss, surrounded by mushrooms and darkness.

The music video that accompanies this song shows Björk standing in the middle of a mushroom-infested forest, with a light shining down on her. It abruptly switches over to a group of bassoon players all sporting brightly colored clothes, hair and makeup. Green lights flash while the bass clarinets, bassoons and percussion instruments sound.

Toward the halfway point of the music video, Björk changes outfits and is shown in the bright green, forest sprite outfit from

the single’s cover art.

Upon first listen I almost turned it off and considered writing an entirely different article due to the disjointed opening sounds. The instruments don’t seem to fit together or be playing a clear melody. When observed alongside the lyrics, however, a clearer picture is painted, and the “all over the place” feel of the accompanying instruments can be better understood and appreciated.

The lyrics to “Atopos” are those of hope for the future after COVID-19. Björk, herself, says that the song was written and composed for those who sought to create club-like atmospheres in the isolation of their homes.

The song is all about connection and how to achieve it. In the second verse she says that “Pursuing the light too hard is a form of hiding,” meaning that putting up a front of perfection is a means of avoiding true connection with others since you become unwilling to meet others in the middle. She also describes hope as a muscle “That allows us to connect,” meaning that our hope must be exercised and developed in order for us to be healthier individuals who are in tune with ourselves and those around

us. This line is accompanied by a beat that mimics the sound of a heart beating to enforce the idea of hope essentially being the heartbeat of human existence.

Although Björk intended to bring people together with her song, many listeners can’t get past her unconventional appearance in the video and way of conveying messages. Those who have been a fan since her debut in 1993 praise her for her consistent originality and out of the box way of conveying ideas. Many commenters below

the music video also took note of the reggaeton beat present throughout the song and express their delight at the inclusion of Caribbean and Latin American sounds. Others however, describe the video as “visually stunning” but “boring and repetitive” and criticize her for refusing “to follow any sense of rhythm.”

I urge those who criticized the song and Björk as an artist to consider listening to the song again. I understand where they’re coming from in that we are more drawn to catchy melodies and notes

that sound pleasing together. I do, however, think that this song was designed to be somewhat abrasive, because it prompts you to focus on the lyrics. The harshness of the sound allows you as the listener to realize the severity of a world devoid of hope and connection.

Björk, with this song, urges us to form close bonds and not be blinded by our own issues and ideas of perfection. I think we can all learn a thing or two from her unique, electronic and avant-garde music.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Björk’s new single is her most expiremental work yet, and fans don’t know what to expect from her upcoming album.

CULTURE

Page 16

September 21, 2022

Studying Abroad| Paris, France

Finding Hope Through Concerts and Conversations

By EMMA LIPKIND

OPINION EDITOR EMERITA

When I sat down next to Nadia, I was just looking for a spot to eat my fancy artisanal food from one of the many food trucks nearby. I was just about to take a bite when she asked me a question. I replied, mouth half-full, “quoi?” I was simultaneously unprepared and confused that this stranger was speaking to me at a random French music festival.

When we started chatting, I noticed that she was much younger

than I originally thought, probably somewhere in her mid-20s.

She had hair not unlike mine: wispy, curly, short and fairly untamed. As I stumbled through the French youth lingo I picked up in the last few weeks, I could tell by her puzzled look that she wasn’t sure what my deal was.

To save her the time, I told her I was from America, studying abroad for the semester and that I frankly didn’t like Paris as much as she did. Nadia said she was “en amoureuse” with Paris, having come here from Morocco where she lived up

COURTESY OF EMMA LIPKIND FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Being abroad can feel isolating, so it’s important to find inspiration.

until a few years ago.

Seeing Nadia’s face light up talking about Paris gave me the hope I didn’t know I needed.

Since my last article I have settled in a bit more, but with that has come a deeper understanding of the vast inconveniences of this seemingly lovely city.

I’ve been complaining to anyone who will listen about the lack of air conditioning and public restrooms, the deeply flawed metro system and mostly the constant bodily odors from everyone (they haunt my senses). As it has been a struggle to adapt, I have lost that wonder that drew me here in the first place. After my little talk with Nadia, I felt like I had unlocked a new perspective.

The reason I was at this festival was to see my favorite French artist, Emma Peters. I bought tickets for a measly 30 euros just the week before, feeling like this concert would be the moment of serendipity I had been craving.

I arrived at Parc de la Villette in Paris’ 19th arrondissement three hours before Peters’ set completely by accident. In fact, I thought I was going to be late because I misunderstood the timing. Initially disappointed by the fact that I had to entertain myself for three hours, I realized this was the relaxing alone time I desperately needed.

What I discovered in my time meandering the grounds and eavesdropping on peoples’ conversations is that if there is one thing the French do right, it’s

throw a music festival. The park was seemingly never-ending, allowing for tons of access without the chaotic crowds. It was a gorgeous day, with a slight breeze and even more sunshine to balance it out. People sat, lied and hugged each other on the grass. Then everyone swayed to the music: no phones, no frills — just dancing and singing.

Seeing Emma Peters was truly the cherry on top of this unexpectedly revealing and magical day. Standing atop a small stage with just an acoustic guitar in hand, she sang so clearly and effortlessly that I kept forgetting it was live and not blasting in my airpods like usual. As I sang along to one of her songs, “C’est bon,” I felt tears well up in my eyes. I quickly blinked them away, of course, as I have to maintain my stoic quasiFrench front, but that feeling was everything.

I didn’t expect any of this to happen. In fact, I was sort of worried it was going to be a horrible experience. Going alone to a concert in a place you’ve never been to before where you only understand about 40% (if that) of the language … What could go wrong? But Nadia, Emma Peters and everything leading up to them made me realize that I need to stay patient and persistent on this journey.

I recently told a friend that being here is just a huge test of patience — something that does not come easy for me. I said it as a passing comment at the time,

but I keep coming back to that thought. I wanted to feel settled on day one, but it’s pretty obvious that was never going to be the case. I am still in the early stages of my journey here, but I’m happy to report that I have found some footing. Not much, but it’s enough for now. After all, looking back on the clumsy moments where I completely misunderstood what someone said or was late to class because I went to a totally different location is pretty funny. It’s moments like those coupled with the ones like the festival that make for that once-in-a-lifetime experience I think Barry was referencing (see my last article if you’re not familiar with Barry).

Here are some other noteworthy moments that have definitely colored my time here so far: seeing the Eiffel Tower glitter at midnight and getting a warm crepe shortly after, spending hours gossiping along the Seine with a new friend, exploring nightlife, thrifting in neighborhoods like the Marais, seeing my first movie in a French theater, starting classes at the Sorbonne (please pray for me) and going to Versailles but not actually going inside the palace, just wandering around the area.

As my first month here creeps up, I feel like I’ve already lived 10 different lives in Paris alone.

I can’t wait to see who else I become in the rest of the time I have here, but I hope she’s cool and learns more French.

“Only Murders” Season Two Falls Short

By MICHAEL SLUCK PRODUCTION EDITOR

After successfully solving the murder of Tim Kono in season one, the Hulu hit “Only Murders in the Building” returns with a new mystery in season two.

After Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short) and Mabel (Selena Gomez) are framed for a crime they didn’t commit, the intrepid podcasters must attempt to prove their innocence, while also discovering the answers to the other mysteries that plague the Arconia.

The first season of “Only Murders” was a huge hit in 2021, garnering a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes as well as receiving several Emmy nominations. The second season, while still charming, fails to reach the heights of its predecessor, leaving viewers entertained but largely unsatisfied.

Many of the positive elements seen in season one are also present here. The comedy does not disappoint. Short’s character in particular is hysterical; there’s hardly a line that comes out of his mouth that doesn’t get a chuckle. The chemistry between the three leads is great, with their familial bond continuing to solidify. In many shows that depict friendships with large age

gaps, the comedy tends to focus on the clichéd idea that individuals of different generations are constantly at odds. While Charles, Oliver and Mabel may not always understand one another, they all like and respect one another, which makes their relationship one of the most charming parts of the show. The “different generations don’t understand one another” trope isn’t overused; and is usually highly entertaining. In fact, one of the best moments of the season is a scene where Charles and Oliver try to explain, in great detail, the Iran-Contra scandal to an exasperated Mabel.

Certain episodes and aspects stood out. “Only Murders” has never been afraid to tell stories from a unique perspective, like the episode in season one told from the perspective of a deaf man, where there are almost no words heard throughout the entire episode. One of the most unique episodes in season two involves the gang trying to reconstruct the murder victim’s last day, while simulateously allowing the viewer to see that final day from the victim’s perspective. The show has a great setting, and it really takes advantage of this, adding to the atmosphere with secret passageways and a sudden citywide blackout.

Despite the many positives retained from season one, season two had certain disappointing elements that weakened the show.

The biggest issue with this season is its length. Despite the relative shortness of the episodes (usually around 30 minutes), and an only 10-episode season, one cannot shake the feeling that the writers were desperately trying to find enough material to fill up the show. There are a half-dozen subplots that go nowhere, several of which are only tangentially connected to the mystery at hand.

“Only Murders” is, at heart, a murder mystery, and when it strays too far from that premise, it loses something. None of the subplots are bad, per se; most of them are at least mildly entertaining, and they’re usually pretty amusing. But when the show takes an abrupt detour to talk about paternal problems or relationship drama, the viewer is left wondering when we’re going to return to the murder mystery in this murder mystery show.

When we finally do get an answer to “whodunit,” we’re left feeling unsatisfied. One holds out hope that some of the plot threads that were left dangling earlier in the season will be tied up at the end — but a lot of the story elements seem to have no relation whatsoever to the murder.

The reveal of the murderer is a good one, but all the extra fluff throughout the season makes it feel like a bit of a letdown.

If you enjoyed season one of “Only Murders in the Building,” then you’ll probably enjoy season two. While failing to live up to the original season’s drama, the mystery is still interesting

and the comedy is still hilarious.

The final scene of the season — which, much like the ending of the first season, sets up the mystery for next season — is a fantastic one. Despite my complaints about season two, I’m excited to return to the Arconia again next summer to see what new mysteries lie in store.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Hulu’s “Only Murders” new season fails to capture the magic of the first.

CULTURE

September 21, 2022

Page 17

More Than Meets the Eye in “Barbarian”

By DAVID CUELLAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

*CONTAINS SPOILERS* What could go wrong when it’s midnight and a young woman discovers that her Airbnb is double-booked in a rundown Detroit neighborhood? Director Zach Cregger masterfully establishes this menacing scene as the primary setting and jumping off point in his highly-anticipated thriller, “Barbarian.” While this horror movie contains the haunting elements one might expect such as underground tunnels, an abandoned neighborhood and a bone-chilling soundtrack, it also contains social commentary about male privilege, gender inequality and female empowerment.

This subtle narrative is discreet enough to go over one’s head if they aren’t paying attention, but blatant enough for inclined viewers to dig deeper.

I might quickly compare “Barbarian” to a Jordan Peele film. Peele’s projects often present themselves as one thing but later reveal themselves to be much more. There is actually a comedic reference to Peele’s latest feature “NOPE” in Cregger’s film when the main character, Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell), walks away from a pitch-black doorway and mutters “nope” to herself. Peele explains that his characters say “nope” to poke fun at the typical white women in horror films who call out “hello” in a dark room.

Similar to Peele’s films, “Barbarian” requires patience and an open mind. “Barbarian” has three storylines that may cause

audiences to feel like there is no final destination to all the forks in the road. I felt this way initially, but my grievances were satisfyingly dissolved by the film’s close.

The first storyline follows a naive Tess as she ventures to Detroit for a job interview. It is pitch black outside and pouring rain when she pulls up to her isolated Airbnb on Barbary Street, only to find that a man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) is already residing in the home.

The camera framing in this initial scene is brilliant. Tess is made to look small, so that everything around her seems more daunting.

Skarsgård towers over Campbell as she stands before him on the porch. After trying to reach the homeowner and having no luck, Keith and Tess begin awkwardly conversing on the couch. I thought this was a perfectly unsettling way to begin the thriller. The dim lighting casting eerie shadows, the slow pans to Skarsgård and Campbell’s facial expressions and the lowvibration music in the background are enough to send a wave of unease throughout the theater.

When watching the first 20 minutes, most viewers assumed that Skarsgård would be a creep, luring Marshall inside to take advantage of her. Spoiler alert: he turns out to have no ulterior motive, but what does our universal presumption say about society? Cregger implores audiences to ponder gender roles in his film, and Skarsgård does an impeccable job of playing the warm but unknowingly entitled man who is friendly enough to make Tess laugh, but creepy enough to put her and the audience on edge. Elaborating on gender

roles, Tess tells Keith during their conversation that had the roles been reversed, she would have never allowed him into the Airbnb. At first, Keith takes personal offense, but after some probing he understands how letting some strange man into the rental home would be terrifying for a woman.

Without giving too much away, the two characters eventually find themselves in the Airbnb’s secret underground tunnels, and the viewer gets the inkling that they are not alone. We have seen this idea play out before, most notably in Bong Joon-Ho’s “Parasite.” I think the notion of not being alone in one’s home or being unaware of another sector of one’s home is one of the most horrifying but imaginative concepts. I applaud Cregger for creating another story with that element.

The concurrent storyline in “Barbarian” shows AJ Gilbride (Justin Long) as he falls under scrutiny following severe sexual assault allegations. Along similar lines, Cregger reminds viewers to examine their existing notions of people and the kinds of morals we associate with them before truly knowing their character. I had to catch myself automatically associating the truth to AJ’s story before hearing the woman’s side.

Long geniusly plays AJ’s blatantly entitled “alpha male” character, as his arrogance and privilege leads him astray. I questioned how Long’s storyline related to Keith and Tess’s, but the viewer eventually sees how the two intersect. My one critique on this section is that the transitions between storylines come out of nowhere, and it took

me a while to shift focus. These sharp cinematic turns are why I encourage viewers to be patient while watching.

The final storyline takes the viewer to the past where the viewer meets the menacing Everett (Zach Cregger). This storyline is the scariest in my opinion, but it nicely wraps the other two together into a bigger look at the effects of male privilege in society.

Therein lies the question of who or what is the “Barbarian” in the “Barbarian?” That is up to each viewer to decide. The answer is not glaringly obvious, and I am sure that several viewers left the theater without a solid idea. Fortunately, Cregger leaves us several Easter eggs as to the true meaning of the Barbarian for audiences

seeking to engage more. The name “Barbarian” itself is a double entendre. Of course, the street the Airbnb is on is called “Barbary street,” meaning that any resident is a “Barbarian.” There are also several characters who fit the definition of “Barbarian” — someone uncivilized or primitive. However, in my interpretation, “Barbarian” refers to the overarching theme of male privilege in the film. Part of the fun is determining that answer for yourself. Ultimately, “Barbarian” is a fantastic horror film that takes a few of our favorite elements of horror and combines them into one. Its commentary does not overshadow the film’s horror aspects which gives viewers the ability to engage as much as they like.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

“Barbarian,” Zach Cregger’s new film, makes a monster of masculinity.

Editor’s Pick | Film

“C’mon C’mon”: A Sketch of Love and Memory

By ILAINA KIM

ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

Within the beating heart of every Mike Mills film is an invitation veiled by whispers. His work — modest in its plot but rich with emotion — feels more like a largescale sketch than a motion picture.

Trance-like, flowing, and unabashedly humanist, “C’mon C’mon” meditates on control, love and the fact that nobody truly knows what they’re doing in this particular life.

I first watched “C’mon C’mon” on an evening flight to New York, drawn to it out of my affection for Mike Mills, Joaquin Phoenix and the muted melancholy of blackand-white films. A portrait of restoration set against the theme of time, it is a film in which memories, painful and proud, serve as the backdrop for its events.

The minimalist plot follows New York-based radio journalist Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix), who is working on a project in which he interviews the youth of various cities. One question serves as the foundation for his travels: When you think of the future, what do you imagine it’ll be? When his torn yet compassionate sister, Viv (Gaby Hoffmann), must seek emergency mental health care for her partner Paul (Scoot McNairy), Johnny

offers to take care of his young nephew Jesse (Woody Norman) in her absence.

There is a subdued sentimentality in the writing of these characters, creating intimate solidarity that I felt I shared as a voyeur. It’s almost as if my ear was pressed against a wall, their secrets just barely audible. I empathize with their pain, feel the lesions in their chests and see the tears on their faces. Johnny, the oft interviewer, is forced to reason with his own confusion and avoidance in taking responsibility for his countless actions and inactions. Jesse, though wide-eyed and eccentric in typical kid fashion,

is thrust into a world of adult issues that loom over his dwindling adolescence. Viv grapples with the weight of motherhood and her partner’s deteriorating mental health.

Imbued with sounds and words that bleed into each other like watercolor, these silent truths are a testament to the act of listening. Every individual is sacred and deserving of their own piece of film. Jesse refuses to be interviewed, but records sounds of the city, the beach and the silence of a hotel room.

Arguments and confessions alike fade slowly into “Clair de Lune.”

And through a series of phone calls between Johnny and Viv, lines of

communication are woven once again after being felled by the death of their mother.

Mills’ unimposing camera nearly broke the surface tension of the silver screen, submerging me in watery cityscapes, windows and mirrors, and frames within frames.

I understood what it feels like to run onto a bus for no reason at all.

To love something so much I cannot understand it. To feel alienated. To feel needed. To shudder at memories and to embrace them.

I was nearing the end of the film when my plane began its descent into New York. People began to place their bookmarks and

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Mike Mills’ “C’mon C’mon” explores the life that happens when people cannot control their situations.

crack open windows, shrouding the cabin in the off-gray of dusk. I wish I could write more about the color of the sky or the face of the passenger next to me, but that’s the thing about memories —- they are fragmented and fleeting. What I do remember, however, is seeing Jesse on my screen at that moment, donning an oversized pair of headphones and a long-sleeve jersey.

He looks slightly past the camera above and interviews himself, asking in an emulated Johnny voice: “Have you ever thought about the future?”

The microphone, which was comically large in his hands the entire film, suddenly seemed like an extension of himself. He goes on, “Ah, yea, whatever you plan on happening never happens. Stuff you would never think of happens.

So you just have to c’mon c’mon, c’mon c’mon c’mon.”

There’s a haze cloaking his repetition, as if Jesse is playing a hushed game of telephone with the viewer.

It is a plea and a promise, gently urging us to imagine ourselves both as children once lost in a grocery store and the people we hope to eventually become. “C’mon C’mon” is an ode to the value of moments we will eventually fail to remember, and the beautiful imperfections of those we do.

CULTURE

Page 18

September 21, 2022

“Pearl” is the Technicolor Killing Spree We’ve All Been Waiting For

By HANNAH BRADFORD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Wooden barn doors eerily creak open, revealing a turnof-the-century yellow farmhouse as an orchestra swells in an overture reminiscent of Old Hollywood classics.

“Pearl,” Ti West’s second installment to his “X” Trilogy, is “The Wizard of Oz” meets “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” in all the best ways possible. If you’ve seen “X,” you remember the horny and homicidal old woman, Pearl (Mia Goth), who murdered the adult film crew staying on her property.

In “Pearl,” Goth ditches her prosthetics, makeup and nightgown for a pair of overalls, pigtails and a pitchfork.

On a Texas farm in 1918, a young woman dreams of stardom in Hollywood, as far away from her cold, overbearing mother and flu-stricken father as possible. In her few moments of free time, Pearl whisks off to town to the picture show, where she meets a projectionist who shows her the future of entertainment: stag films.

Besides her mother, father and the occasional visit from her sister-in-law, Pearl doesn’t talk to very many people. Her clos-

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Ti West’s new film, “Pearl,” starring Mia Goth channels elements from hit classics and horror films.

est friend is the alligator in her backyard, Theda, who seems to enjoy her company and whatever treats Pearl decides to feed her, murder victims and farm geese alike.

If “X” is a gritty ’70s homage (think “Boogie Nights,” but with murder), “Pearl” is a Walt Disney-made slasher.

A woodwind-heavy orchestral score and breathtaking technicolor-like color grading perfectly contrasts with the grizzly, murderous action of the film in the most satisfying way. It’s like Ti West has summoned the spirit of Victor Flemming to deliver us with a horror flick that’s just as beautiful as it is unsettling.

The entirety of the “X” trilogy is pastiches of Hollywood classics, and West has said the trilogy as a whole has been designed around “highlighting the craft of filmmaking.” In an interview with Polygon Magazine, West compares “X” to its prequel, “Pearl.” He said, “X was really informed by a love

of cinema, and people being affected by cinema. “Pearl” has nothing to do with that. Pearl’s emotional state is much more about wonder and hope and ambition.”

While some are saying “Pearl” is a much better film from a storyline and aesthetic perspective than “X,” I really don’t know. The plot does not really grab my attention until the third act, partly because the mystery of the murderer’s identity is obvious from the beginning. However, in my experience watching the film, I could not take my eyes off of Mia Goth. She is a magnet on the screen, and it is delightfully entertaining to see her farm girl personality turn into a serial killer persona with the drop of a facial expression. In her killing spree, her psychosis is always somewhat grounded in her motivations, and as I left the theater I had to catch myself feeling for the murderous heroine. Where “X” was a campy slasher, “Pearl” has much more empathy and focuses on the “why” over the “how.” As far as prequels go, “Pearl” has definitely achieved what it set out to do, and beyond. And if you enjoyed “X,” then “Pearl” is worth a viewing.

Tell Me This Show Will Get Better: A “Tell Me Lies” Review

By JULIET MCALEE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When the first three episodes of “Tell Me Lies” dropped on Hulu on Sept. 7, the Internet erupted in chatter. Many sympathized with the experience of becoming entangled in a toxic relationship and praised the show for not glorifying such an experience. Others were more enthralled by the dramatics the series purveys through the sprinkling of soapy storylines into a relatively realistic portrayal of college life. No matter the reaction, “Tell Me Lies” is undoubtedly a hot topic in streaming

television and on social media.

“Tell Me Lies,” based on the 2018 novel by Carola Lovering, revolves around the turbulent relationship between Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White), following the two over an eight year period. The series opens in 2015 with Lucy – now in a significantly healthier relationship – attending the wedding of college friend Bree (Catherine Missal) and mentally preparing herself to interact with Stephen after their messy breakup four years prior, which Bree and Lucy’s friend Pippa (Sonia Mena) will

not let Lucy forget (despite her concerted efforts to).

After this brief introduction, we are whisked away to 2007, where we are enmeshed in the college years of Lucy and Stephen’s relationship. We remain there for the next four episodes. Lucy and Stephen’s relationship is marred from the beginning: Lucy struggles with her insecurities and the recent death of her roommate while Stephen remains unwilling to let go of his ex-girlfriend Diana (Alicia Crowder), creating a frustrating love triangle that will undoubtedly plague the rest of the season.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Emma Robert’s directorial debut, “Tell Me Lies,” is based on Cara Lovering’s novel of the same title.

Promising to be a psychological drama, “Tell Me Lies” ends up being a rather bland melodrama.

Despite almost half of the season being released by Hulu, “Tell Me Lies” has communicated very little in the way of its characters and plot. The series has mostly taken place in a flashback to the early years of Lucy and Stephen’s relationship with only fleeting glances at the future. This would not be an issue if the pacing were well done, except by the fourth episode we are still in the first couple months of Lucy and Stephen’s relationship.

While it is yet to be confirmed as to whether “Tell Me Lies” is renewed for a second season, with the pacing this poor, it begs the question as to how Lucy and Stephen’s relationship will play out over the next eight years and over the course of the series. If series creator Meaghan Oppenheimer were to play the long game with Lucy and Stephen and keep audiences invested, that would be doable. However, Lucy and Stephen are generally uninteresting to watch. The acting chops of Van Patten and White are not in question, as the two actors are quite adept in their respective roles; rather, their characterizations by the writers are weak and surface level. Lucy and Stephen’s relationship is toxic because it is intended to be all-consuming for them, those around them and the audience. As a viewer I felt like I wanted no part in their relationship, and not in the way the writers intended: I

was simply not drawn in.

What “Tell Me Lies” does right, however, is its refusal to romanticize toxic relationships, as so often happens in many forms of media. At its core, “Tell Me Lies” is a reflection on how toxic relationships can perpetually ruin lives even after the relationship ends. They are not simply learning moments to prepare yourself for “the one,” they can be detrimental to the self and destructive to others in the vicinity.

Stephen’s perniciousness is disguised as charm, which is what draws Lucy to him in the first place and keeps her with him.

She tolerates his lies for his affection and her comfortability during the relationship, but these lies stay with her well into her future. Even though narratively as a couple they remain difficult to become engaged in, the show has done its job in making their relationship difficult to watch.

Lucy and Stephen paint a painfully accurate picture of a toxic relationship that the show thankfully does not idolize.

For future episodes, I am hoping for more of a focus on Lucy and her desires rather than scenes of Stephen and Diana, who also deserves better than being pitted against Lucy. However, I am doubtful that this wish will be fulfilled, as the preview for the fifth episode proves to be unpromising. Though “Tell Me Lies” trudges at a slow pace, it does break from the tired and harmful trope in media of romanticizing toxicity in relationships. This fact gives me hope for the series.

CULTURE

September 21, 2022

Page 19

Award Season Underway with the 74th Annual Primetime Emmys

By NICOLE DIPIETRO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Monday, Sept. 12, awards season kicked off at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles with the 74th Primetime Emmys. Celebrating artistic and technical achievement in the industry, winning an Emmy is one of the most prestigious awards in Hollywood. This year’s show was hosted by actor and comedian Kenan Thompson, who kicked off the ceremony with an elaborate dance number to TV’s most recognized theme songs. Included in the spectacle were themes of “Friends,” “Stranger Things,” “Law and Order” and “Game of Thrones.” The comedian also cracked plenty of jokes throughout the night, starting by mentioning actress Zendaya Coleman’s recent 26th birthday. He joked: “Zendaya just turned 26. 26 is a weird age in Hollywood. Young enough to play a high school student, but too old to date Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Everyone’s favorite part of any televised event has got to be the glamorous red carpet looks pre-

ceding the true show, and the Emmys are no exception. This year some fan-favorite looks included Zendaya, wearing an elegant black ball gown and choker; Sydney Sweeney, sporting a delicate floral piece; and Sandra Oh, opting for a sparkling purple suit with a plunging neckline. On the flip, men on the red carpet normally deliver a cut-and-paste black suit, but some of the better looks of the night surely delivered. Those who went above and beyond were Colman Domingo, Lee Jung-Jae and Nicholas Braun.

The nominations for the 118 categories were dominated by HBO and its streaming counterpart, HBO Max, with 140 total. The next most recognized platform was their biggest rival Netflix, which obtained 104 nominations. Other networks like Hulu and Disney+ also tailed along with 58 and 34 nominations respectively. Of those 140 for HBO, “Succession” was the most-nominated program of 2022, earning 25 nods — including outstanding drama series. Runner-

COURTESY OF TWITTER

This year’s awards season returns with the Primetime Emmys.

up for most nominations is Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso,” and HBO’s “The White Lotus” both coming in with 20. Close behind was fan favorite “Euphoria” with 16 total nominations, including four nods to Zendaya, the star herself.

The three big winners of the night were predictably those sweeping the nominations. Of the 25 awards presented on TV, “The White Lotus” took home five, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, and Outstanding Writing and Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie accepted by Mike White.

Also awarded to the HBO original were supporting actor and actress to Murray Bartlett and Jennifer Coolidge. “Succession” celebrated the last award of the night as the cast gathered on the stage to accept the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. In addition, Matthew Macfadyen’s performance as Tom Wambsgans won him Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and the show’s writer Jesse Armstrong won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. On the comedy side, Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” came in a close second place after being named Outstanding Comedy Series in conjunction with three other wins.

Jason Sudeikis and costar Brett Goldstein respectively brought home Outstanding Lead Actor and Supporting Actor for a comedy series, while MJ Delaney accepted the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

While there was a clear stream of winners going back and forth from the Emmys stage, there were also a lot of other memorable wins.

To no surprise, Zendaya’s perfor-

mance in “Euphoria” won her the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Fans of the show praised the Academy for this win but expressed their disappointment when Sydney Sweeney lost in both her nominations for Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie. Another heartfelt win during the event was when Quinta Brunson, the sole writer and creator of the comedy “Abbott Elementary,” brought the audience to their feet with her win for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Many viewers celebrated this win because it coined Brunson as the industry’s first Black woman to win a solo Emmy award for writing on a show she created. History was also made when the lead of Netflix’s “Squid Game,” Lee Jung-Jae, became the first Asian actor to win Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama series, and the show’s director, Hwang Donghyuk, was the first Asian director to win Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series.

This year, the Emmys presented the Governor’s Award to Geena Davis. The Governor’s Award, from the Television Academy’s website itself, “recognizes an individual, company, or organization that has made a profound, transformational, and long-lasting contribution to the arts and/or science of television.” Davis was given the award this year for her work with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. This organization is said to promote gender equality and overall inclusion in the media industry, making it a

well-deserved win for Davis.

As with any televised award show, fans don’t hesitate to share their every thought on social media.

While it’s impossible to please everyone, fans (including myself) of “Succession” and AMC’s “Better Call Saul’’ were still disappointed in Jeremy Strong and Bob Odenkirk’s losses of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, but Lee Jung-Jae was deserving of the title nonetheless. Further, a plethora of fans expressed their distaste for Jimmy Kimmel’s attempted joke when he pretended to lay dead on stage after his loss of Outstanding Variety Talk Series. Due to unfortunate timing, Kimmel was at the feet of Quinta Brunson as she was called to accept the Emmy commemorating her writing, and stayed there as she attempted to say her thank you’s. Many argued that his feeble stab at a joke took away from Brunson’s moment. All in good fun, Brunson got her screen time back when she appeared on Kimmel’s late-night show just two days after accepting her award. She playfully interrupted him by coming out on screen before her official introduction to redo her acceptance speech. Later on air, he apologized for stealing her moment on the Emmys stage and made it clear he didn’t have any ill intent.

Overall, while there were no slaps or iconic selfies to come out of this year’s awards, the media coming together to celebrate achievements in the industry will always be entertaining. Whether you’ve given up on cable or still pick up the remote to tune into your favorite network every night, television is one thing that will surely bring the public together.

Rams Review Books | “The Jane Austen Society”

“The Jane Austen Society” by Natalie Jenner

By PAOLA GALIANO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

“We love Jane Austen because her characters, as sparkling as they are, are no better and no worse than us. They’re so eminently, so completely human. I, for one, find it greatly consoling that she had us all figured out.”

When I thought of Jane Austen prior to reading this book, my mind immediately jumped to some of her most notable works. I thought about how she was loved by so many, how her fanbase today is so startlingly passionate, more than 200 years after her death. “The Jane Austen Society” tells the story of this passion for Jane Austen’s works, as well as a tale of the person behind the words. In its bare bones, the author unites people from all walks of life, connected by a passion for this author and her novels.

The story takes place in Chawton, England, the resting place of Austen.

The last of Austen’s descendants is about to pass, leaving Austen’s belongings and artifacts at risk to be sold and lost to the masses. To save her legacy, an unlikely group of individuals comes together to try and preserve what is left of their beloved author.

Chawton is a small, quiet town, where its 377 citizens are barely getting back on their feet in the wake of the Great Depression and the end of World War II. The atmosphere of the novel felt incredibly authentic, its dreary tone complementing the time period, especially once Jenner begins introducing the characters.

Dr. Grey and Adeline Lewis are two characters that are introduced early on, both dealing with different types of grief. We’re soon met with other characters: Adam Berwick, a poor farmer; Evie Stone, a young teenager; and Mimi Harrison, an aging movie star. All of them emphasize the differences between the individuals that Jenner draws together.

The commonality they share?

Their love of Austen.

I appreciated how frank “The Jane Austen Society” appeared at times of heavier discussions, particularly relating to when the characters explained which of Austen’s novels they related to, based on their background and life experiences. For example, a griefstricken Dr. Grey found comfort in “Emma” and a melancholy Adam in “Pride and Prejudice.”

It is important to note, though

I never found the story lagging, this was not a plot-heavy book.

While the threat of Austen’s heritage introduced itself as the driving force for the coalescence of the Jane Austen Society, I understood that Jenner’s true purpose for her novel was a love letter to stories and storytellers.

Most important of all is the fact that you do not need to enjoy Austen at all to love this book. It is irrelevant to Jenner’s purpose.

Adam said it best when he expressed his confusion at how “people like his brothers could not see this — inside the pages of each and every book was a whole other world.” For him, to escape the monotony of his own life and the decisions he was forced to make at such a young age, he “could disappear inside that world whenever he needed to — whenever he felt the outside world, and other people, pressing in on him.”

The overarching note of the novel was simple: comfort.

These characters’ lives were hard and stressful at different times and in different ways. However, Jenner connected her group of wildly different characters with a simple hook. Ultimately, it didn’t matter if one was a movie star or

a farmer. At the end of the day, everyone wanted to feel safe and content. Everyone reached for something that could bring them comfort, for something to spell

out that “it was all going to work out in the end.” For the Jane Austen Society, their philosophy for such trying times was simple: “one can always read Austen.”

COURTESY OF TWITTER

“The Jane Austen Society” is a comforting fictional novel.

Page 20

Volleyball Drops Three Straight at Yale Invitational

By MILES GROSSMAN STAFF WRITER

Fordham Volleyball underwent a reality check this past weekend, suffering its first losing streak of the 2022 season. The Rams got off to a hot start, winning five of their first six matches, but have since notched four losses in their five most recent outings. Last weekend, they traveled to New Haven, Conn. for the Yale Invitational, where they were dominated by some tough competition.

Starting off on Friday, the Rams were swept by the Sacred Heart University Pioneers in a match that saw Fordham being unusually passive.

The Rams were only able to generate 30 kills throughout the entirety of the match, while Sacred Heart posted a resounding 44. The following day, Fordham was slated to play two elite clubs in Villanova University and the Yale University Bulldogs, the hosts of the tournament. In both of Saturday’s matchups, Fordham won the initial set before surrendering in consecutive reverse sweeps. The ability to get off on the right foot on the road is key, but the inability to capitalize on their momentum must be worrisome for head coach Ian Choi.

The disappointing results from New Haven put the Rams in a place they haven’t yet been in during this 2022 campaign, needing to bounce back and build momentum from scratch.

While Fordham does seem to be in need of a spark, any questions regarding the lineup appear to have been answered this past weekend.

Throughout the first month of the year, the duo of senior setter Megan

Brzozowski and high-flying freshman Audrey Brown have been platooning in the starting lineup with another duo, that of junior Lauren Arzuaga and freshman Mackenzie Colvin. It may have taken 11 matches, but it seems Choi has landed on his final lineup. Just like opening day, Brown and Brzozowski appear to have secured their spot in the Rams starting seven. After a stretch as tough as the one the Rams are in right now, no lineup is truly safe. That said, considering the consistent decision making of late, we have probably seen the final version of this year’s starting group.

With any and all lineup issues likely behind them, the Rams will now have the stakes raised with conference play beginning this Friday.

This weekend’s matchup with the Dayton University Flyers will also mark the Rams’ return home after five straight road games. So while returning to their home floor should give the squad a boost in confidence, the start of Atlantic 10 play could not come against a tougher opponent.

The Flyers have made a habit of appearing in the NCAA tournament by way of the A-10 championship, winning the title the last four years running. The Rams made a historic run to the A-10 championship last season where their Cinderella story was inevitably cut short by the perennial conference champions in the Flyers.

This weekend’s two game conference championship rematch from the Bronx provides the Rams with a litmus test, which will determine where they stand up against the best the A-10 has to offer.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Freshman Audrey Brown gets up for the kill at Yale last Saturday.

Athletes of the Week

Kristen Cocozza

Cocozza netted a goal in each of the Rams’ contests this week, facing off against St. Bonaventure University and George Washington University. It was a rough start to the season for Fordham Women’s Soccer in non-conference play, but Cocozza’s two goals helped the Rams to a win against St. Bonaventure and a draw against GW.

September 21, 2022

Will Minor League Players Finally Get What They Deserve?

By MADDIE BIMONTE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Two weeks ago, groundbreaking news swept through the baseball world: Major League Baseball (MLB) decided to recognize the formation of a players union for Minor League Baseball that is to be supervised by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). After years of complaints about the minor league system’s poor working conditions, notably unfair pay, players are finally able to make critical steps toward improving the nature of the minor leagues.

However, it likely wasn’t a decision made willingly by the MLB. The reasoning for the union’s recognition came after the MLBPA had collected enough union-authorization cards from minor leaguers expressing support for the MLBPA to represent them. More than 5,000 players expressed their support and interest in the unionization.

For MLB, they were left with two options at this point: recognize the union, or force the players to go through a vote via the National Labor Relations Board.

Either way, the MLBPA had won.

In MLB’s statement to the public, they dismissed any hostility towards the formation of the union and seemingly welcomed the prospect of it. It read, “Major League Baseball has a long history of bargaining in good faith with unions, including those representing minor and major league umpires and major league players.

We respect the right of workers to decide for themselves whether to unionize. Based on the authorization cards gathered, MLB has voluntarily and promptly recognized the MLBPA as the representative of minor league players. We are hopeful that a timely and fair collective bargaining agreement will be reached that is good for the game, minor league players and our fans.”

This has been a massive year for minor leaguers as they won their class action lawsuit against MLB earlier this summer, resulting in $185 million going towards overtime pay and minimum wage violations.

However, all these efforts could

COURTESY OF TWITTER

After a long wait, the Minor Leaguers are finally getting their union. not be possible without Advocates for Minor Leaguers, an organization started in 2020. The organization promoted its ideas of a reformed system where minor leaguers could earn an annual salary above the considered poverty line in America.

Yet, the majority of the efforts that came to fruition in the last few weeks were kept relatively quiet.

Most likely to prevent any interference or backlash from MLB, the emergence of the MLBPA in the plan to unionize was relatively new.

The fact that two years of work was expedited in just two weeks is a massive success for minor leaguers. For many who dream of making it to the big leagues, their dreams can stay alive. Baseball is America’s pastime, a cultural staple that has only existed on the backs of all the young players who work hard. Their hard work will finally be rewarded.

But in what way?

Now, the MLBPA and the minor leaguers have to come together to work out a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to restructure the way players are paid.

Currently, in the minor leagues, players can make anywhere between $400-700 per week, which is about roughly $12,000 per year.

HOME

Wednesday Thursday Sept. 21 Sept. 22

Friday Sept. 23

Each week, The Fordham Ram’s Sports section honors two athletes for their on-field performances as their “Athletes of the Week.”

Monday Sept. 26

West Point Invitational TBA

West Point Invitational TBA

12:30/2:30 p.m.

Dayton 6 p.m.

Dayton 2 p.m.

Rutgers 7 p.m.

St. Bonaventure 5 p.m.

Men’s Soccer

George Mason 2 p.m.

Women’s Soccer

Water Polo

Sunday Sept. 25

Bridgeport & Fairfield

Softball Volleyball

Saturday Sept. 24 West Point Invitational TBA

Women’s Tennis Conway was a bright spot on a day when Fordham’s defense got torched for 527 yards of total offense in a 48-45 win over the University at Albany. He recorded 15 total tackles and was named GEICO Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for his effort. While Fordham’s defense needs to improve in the coming weeks, Conway’s play on Saturday was nothing short of sensational.

Both parties hope this new CBA will be implemented before the 2023 season.

Until 2021, Class A baseball’s minimum salary was $290 a week and Class AAA’s was $502. Until this season, players were not guaranteed housing, which meant a minor leaguer would need to find rent cheap enough to be covered by their salary, share with multiple teammates or find various other jobs.

Negotiations can look daunting for minor league players, as many do not have the bargaining power that major league players do. They are working with significantly less, so while things may look optimistic, there is a tough reality many minor league players will have to face.

There are some concerns with this new revolution in the minors, specifically in regard to the stinginess of many team owners. Will they be willing to pay the current number of minor leaguers the new pay they will ask for, or will they reduce the number of players they have on a roster?

While optimism remains high now in favor of the MLBPA and all of their efforts, it will not be until the new CBA is officially agreed upon that change will truly occur throughout the minor leagues.

Varsity Calendar AWAY

Senior Women’s Soccer

James Conway Sophomore Football

SPORTS

USC 7:40 p.m.

UC Davis & UC Irvine TBA

Football

Ohio 2 p.m.

Golf

MacDonald Cup

TBA

MacDonald Cup

Tuesday Sept. 27

SPORTS

September 21, 2022

Page 21

Varsity Scores & Stats Cross Country Has Strong Showing at Jasper Fall Invite Football Fordham Albany

By COLIN LOUGHRAN

Men’s Cross Country

STAFF WRITER

If consistency is an art, then the Fordham cross country team took another step towards “mastery” this past weekend at the Jasper Fall XC Invite. The annual Montgomery, N.Y., event saw the men’s and women’s units finish third in their respective fields.

The men placed third out of 11 teams. Junior Steven Zucca led the charge both literally and figuratively. The Ohio native finished first in the 8K race with a time of 24:35.7. Zucca took third place at last year’s Jasper function, but was able to finish atop the 114man totem pole this time around.

All told, there were five Fordham men in the top 20 racers. Senior Colin Flood and freshman Nicholas Grabarz took home 11th and 12th with times of 25:49.7 and 25:58.0, respectively.

Junior Justin Lombardi ran for a time of 26:14.3 and finished 16th

Jasper Fall XC Invite

3rd/11 teams Women’s Cross Country

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Babe, Big Mac, Slammin Sammy, Bonds and, of course, Maris. Until Tuesday night, those five were the only men that could say they have hit 60 or more home runs in a Major League Baseball (MLB) season. After an incredible season, Aaron Judge can add his name to that prestigious list.

For Judge, 2022 started just like it did for many other baseball players: at home, wondering if there would be a season at all.

The ninth work stoppage in MLB history, and first since the 199495 strike, started in December 2021 when the 30 owners voted unanimously to lockout the players. January turned to February and February to March with still no deal in place and the first two weeks of the regular season getting canceled. However, on March 10, the two sides miraculously came to an agreement salvaging the season and thus giving way to history.

Not only did Judge’s season almost not happen, but it also started with his agency and the Yankees’ front office unable to come to terms with an extension, leaving his future after this year up in the air. The 2021-22 offseason was the final offseason that Judge was in arbitration with the team, and therefore under his last year of complete team control. Judge

By COLIN LOUGHRAN STAFF WRITER

This time last year, the Boston Red Sox were in the midst of a hotly contested American League Wild Card chase. Their season ultimately included a triumphant win over the New York Yankees in a one game playoff and an eventual trip to the ALCS. The 2021 Sox were only two wins away from a World Series berth. The 2022 version currently resides in the AL East’s basement and has been nowhere near the same scrappy unit that gave Lansdowne Street life

8 4

Fordham Georgian Court

5 0

Women’s Soccer Fordham St. Bonaventure

1 0

Fordham George Washington

2 2

Softball Fordham Molloy

8 4

Jasper Fall XC Invite COURTESY OF NICOLETA PAPAVASILAKIS

Steven Zucca led the pack for Fordham XC at the Jasper Fall Invite. overall. Freshman Ben Borchers continued his successful campaign, placing 19th with a time of 26:23.2.

The Fordham women finished third out of eight teams. They had five competitors finish in the top 20.

Senior Alexandra Thomas placed eighth in a field of 87 and registered a time of 22:39.0.

Sophomore Caroline McDonagh was not far behind. The Bronx native placed ninth with a time of 22:56.8. Junior Marin Bogulski (23:20.6), along with seniors Taylor Mascetta (23:48.8) and Nathania

Tan (23:39.6) also placed within the top 20 finishers, cementing a successful morning on the 6K course.

The Jasper Fall XC Invite was a chance to gain both consistency and momentum before Oct. 7’s Metropolitan Championships.

Both the men’s and women’s side of Fordham Cross Country flexed their ability to “stay the course” this past weekend. Only time will tell if their efforts to establish consistency will result in another Fordham championship glory.

A Season for the Ages

By NOAH HOFFMAN

48 45

Softball Fordham Molloy

and his camp made it very clear that if a long-term deal was not offered before Opening Day, then they would wait until after the season to discuss his future rather than make it a distraction during the campaign. The two sides were separated by four million dollars, with Judge filing at $21 million and the Yankees at $17 million, citing injury concerns. In June, they were able to settle at $19 million with $500,000 in award incentives, including $250,000 for MVP and another $250,000 for World Series MVP. Through the first 92 games of the year before the All-Star Break, it seemed like Judge would be in serious contention for both of those bonuses. The Yankees were looking like one of the best teams ever, starting 64-28 with as much as a 15 game lead in the division. He was slashing .284/.364/.618/.983 with 33 home runs and 70 runs batted in, leading the American League (AL) in voting to put him as a starter in the All-Star Game. However, it would be after the All-Star Game when Judge would kick into another gear and turn his great season into an unforgettable one.

Since July 21st, he has produced an incredible .363/.500/.813/1.313 slashline, hitting another 27 home runs (60 on the year) and driving in 58 more with 15 games still to go. He was a work stoppage away

from not having a season at all, and now he is having arguably two great seasons broken down into a mind boggling one. During this time, the Yankees went an abysmal 24-30, managing to win only on the back of Judge. Without Judge’s incredible play, the Yankees would not be in the position they are in now.

With 15 games left to go, every Judge at bat is now a must watch for not only Yankees fans but baseball fans all over. He’s hit 60 homers, one away from the AL record and an unlikely but not impossible 13 away from tying Barry Bonds 73. While this feat seems improbable, he has tied a record of 11 multi home run games in a season this year, making it not completely out of the realm of possibility.

If his season couldn’t get anymore impressive, Judge is also in contention for the AL triple crown.

He leads the league in home runs, has a sizable lead in runs batted in, and as of Sept. 18 is batting .316, .001 shy of the lead in Luis Arraez.

Winning the triple crown would be the cherry on top to a season for the ages, cementing himself in the history books and memories of baseball fans everywhere.

Yankees fans can only hope that it will all end with champagne and another championship in October, as well as a deserved substantial paycheck for Judge.

3rd/8 teams Men’s Golf Hartford Hawks Invitational 12th/16 teams Men’s Soccer Fordham Rhode Island

2 2

Volleyball Yale Invitational Fordham Sacred Heart

0 3

Fordham Yale

1 3

Fordham Villanova

1 3

Men’s Cross Country Bison Invitational Fordham 17 Mount St. Mary’s 13 Fordham Bucknell

10 7

Fordham Wagner

12 11

Fordham Salem

12 24

–Compiled by Maddie Bimonte

News & Notes Softball Unveils Fall Schedule Fordham Softball recently released their fall schedule which started this past weekend. Looking ahead, they will face off against the University of Bridgeport and Fairfield University in a double header. Then, the United States Military Academy and Rider University will travel to the Bronx for a matchup on Oct. 1. The Rams will also square off against Wagner University and Adelphi University before hosting their annual alumni game to close out the season.

Fordham XC/Track and Field Receives Coaching Grant Fordham Cross Country/Track and Field program announced that coach Nickeela Austin would receive the Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF). Awarded to only 10 universities and colleges across America, the grant is to help up and coming coaches across all sports pay for their living expenses, professional development and mentorship.

Boston Red Sox: Listless on Lansdowne just one season prior.

On paper, the Red Sox were in line to compete for a title. Even with moving parts and an improved division, Boston still figured to have enough talent to be a threat.

Injuries to their holistic pitching staff and an overall lack of depth plagued the Sox in reality.

At the time of this article, Boston has a below league average team ERA of 4.46. In fact, they’re only better than six other clubs on this front. In today’s “go big or go home” style of baseball, one would assume that the Sox have been

beaten by the home run ball. This is not true. The numbers illustrate that Boston pitchers have actually been able to avoid this trap.

Unfortunately for Boston fans, the staff holds the fourth worst barrel percentage this season. While opposing hitters may not be bashing the ball over the fence, they are making solid contact that’s resulting in base hits. The Red Sox have surrendered the fifth most hits this campaign and have suffered as a result. Injuries to Josh Taylor, Chris Sale, James Paxton and others hurt the team’s ability to keep

other squads at bay over the course of the season. These injuries speak to a larger problem that has affected the results on the mound and at the plate as well: depth.

Boston did not have enough manpower to “weather the storm.” Losing key arms from 2021 such as Eduardo Rodriguez, Garrett Richards, Martin Perez and Adam Ottavino placed added stress on younger players and new additions such as Garrett Whitlock and Matt Strahm. Injuries made the lack of depth noticeable.

This phenomenon was not solely connected to Boston’s woes on the

bump. Losing Hunter Renfroe and Kyle Schwarber in the offseason meant that Bobby Dalbec, J.D. Martinez and others would have to pull more offensive weight. Injuries to Kike Hernandez and the newly acquired Trevor Stroy forced tenured Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers to “bite off more than they could chew.”

Injuries and a lack of depth have launched the Red Sox into the terrifying realm of the irrelevant, and New Englanders can only hope that 2023 will be a massive improvement on all fronts.

SPORTS

Page 22

Momentum is Swinging in Women’s Soccer

By JULIA MOSS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) find themselves in a situation they haven’t faced in the better part of a decade: The spotlight has shifted away from them. Where it now lands is in the United Kingdom with the Lionesses of England, who just brought home the European Championship in dominating fashion. With the win, things are changing in England with how women’s soccer is perceived and respected. This is much like what American’s saw following the World Cup victories in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019. The momentum behind England’s recent rise in popularity is reminiscent of the 2011 World Cup, when U.S. forward Abby Wambach tied the game in extra time against Brazil in the quarterfinals, a game the Americans eventually won. While the U.S. would lose in the finals, the impact of the team’s run provided a base of dominance and fan following that is still felt today.

With England’s big win, there have been multiple records already broken in viewing and attendance of women’s matches.

The Women’s Euro 2022 final between England and Germany brought in a peak audience of 17.4 million on BBC, breaking English records for the mostwatched women’s soccer match in history. Not only was there a record breaking number of television viewers, but also an astounding in-person attendance number as well: A whopping 87,192 people packed into Wembley Stadium to watch the

September 21, 2022

Fordham Women’s Soccer Starts A-10 Play

By MICHAEL HERNANDEZ ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The Lionesses pose a threat to the dominance of the USWNT. match, breaking a record there as well.

These effects have been felt on the international stage as well. Ticket sales for England’s Women’s Super League (WSL) have skyrocketed also. Arsenal’s WSL team is set to smash records going into the new season.

They’ve already sold out their North London Derby matchup against Tottenham on Sept. 23.

The match has seen 45,000 tickets sold, beating the previous record of 38,200. This fixture is set to have more people attending than the last four games where the two teams faced off combined. Furthermore, a match between Manchester City and Manchester United that isn’t set to be played until December has already surpassed 20,000 tickets sold.

Given the roster turnover that seems to be happening for the USWNT right now that’s seen the likes of former mainstays Christen Press, Tobin Heath and even Alex Morgan be excluded from rosters, the U.S. is at a vulnerable spot right now. Add this to the ongoing adjustment towards new manager Vlatko Andonovski’s

coaching style in contrast to former coach Jill Ellis, things could change quickly on the international stage. England’s rise couldn’t have come at a better time for the Lionesses and a worse time for the Americans, especially following the U.S.’ performance in the 2020 Olympics where they only earned a bronze medal. The American squad is at a crossroads they haven’t experienced in a very long time.

However, it won’t take long for us to see where both teams truly lie. The two teams will face off on Oct. 7 in London at Wembley Stadium. This game provides the U.S. their first challenge since the Olympics, as their friendly matches of late have not been against dangerous teams. Traveling to the Lionesses’ home to take on the team with the most momentum in international play will give the U.S. squad a chance to see what they excel at, what they can work on and how they might shape up against the best teams in the world.

It will surely be interesting to see how it all plays out, but it’s definite that the standings in the world of women’s soccer are changing fast.

After a somewhat slow start for the Fordham women’s soccer team, the Rams kicked off their Atlantic 10 (A-10) conference play with two games over the past week. These A-10 games are critical for the team if they want to reach the A-10 championship at the end of the regular season.

The Rams started their A-10 play on the road against St. Bonaventure University. In the first half, Fordham dominated possession and were knocking on the door. They were finally rewarded in the second half when Fordham took the lead via senior forward Kristen Cocozza. Cocozza made a run at the top of the box and fired a shot from 20 yards that got past St. Bonaventure goalkeeper Chiara Gottinger, giving the Rams the lead in the 58th minute and Cocozza her first goal of the season.

Fordham continued to add pressure, forcing Gottinger into four more saves. In the final 30 minutes of the game.

St. Bonaventure also had some good chances, forcing Rams junior goalkeeper Serena Mensah into two saves in that same time period. After 90 minutes of play, Fordham held onto their 1-0 lead to kickoff their A-10 play with a win, the first time since 2019 that the Rams were able to achieve this feat.

A few days later, Fordham finally returned home for homecoming weekend as they faced A-10 rival George Washington University. Fordham kicked off the scoring in the 15th minute with Cocozza netting in a second

consecutive game, blasting a shot from around 25 yards out into the right side of the net to give the hosts the lead. Unfortunately, that lead didn’t last long with the visitors equalizing in the 27th minute courtesy of Rachel Sorkenn who scored her team-leading sixth goal of the year. GW then snatched a 2-1 lead right before halftime via Abby Mansoor who took a long range effort from around 30 yards that found its way into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

In the second half, Fordham hunted for an equalizer. In the 52nd minute, they found it via freshman forward Natalie Velde.

Sophomore Ryann Lucas took the initial shot that hit the post, with the rebound falling to Velde who slotted her second goal of the season into the back of the net to tie the game at two. Both teams then looked for an equalizer, but neither team was able to find that precious goal, ending the game in a 2-2 draw.

After these matches, Fordham’s overall record is 2-6-1 with their A-10 conference record at 1-0-1.

The Rams play one more A-10 match this week as they go back on the road to Virginia for a clash against George Mason University this Sunday at 1 p.m., which can be streamed on ESPN+.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Kristen Cocozza in action.

Student Athlete Column: Faster Doesn’t Always Mean Better

By TAYLOR MASCETTA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This past weekend, my teammates and I went farming.

Fordham’s cross country team competed at the Jasper Fall XC Invite, a race my teammates have lovingly nicknamed “The Farm.”

It’s a six-kilometer course that winds around cow pastures and rolling hills. Last year, I finished with a time of 23:17 and placed 19th overall. This year I ran 23:34 and placed 18th. Slower than last year, for sure, but there was a significant difference between these two races. I felt 100 times happier after this year’s, despite not being around the time I wanted.

Don’t get me wrong, running fast times feels amazing. Your hard work pays off, you place well in the race and it helps boost the team’s performance as a whole. I’m always looking to improve. But I’ve come to realize that processing these races in a healthy manner matters a lot more.

Let me explain. Last year, I felt nothing but disappointment the moment I crossed the finish line. I saw my time and realized I hadn’t broken 23 minutes. I set that goal since I

ran 22:30 two years prior, and I hated myself for not matching it. I spent the entire rest of the meet wondering what I had done wrong to have done so “badly.” I had forgotten it was literally my first 6K of the year, and with a little conversion magic, I also set a season’s best in the 5K. But all I focused on was it not being enough.

At the end of this year’s race, I felt nothing but joy. I raced smart, passing as many competitors as possible and using my speed to take advantage of the downhills. My race this year paid off, helping my team to a third-place finish. I consider it a big step up from last year, where I accidentally started my finishing kick way too early. I was under the impression I was right near the finish line, not realizing I actually had another mile to go!

Not my finest moment.

Last year, I came into my junior season with an immense amount of pressure on myself, mostly set by self-made standards. I put in the work in the offseason. I grinded out 40 mile weeks, pushed myself to the limit in every workout, the list goes on and on. And physically, I felt great: I had never been in

better shape in my life.

But mentally, I was an absolute mess.

I dealt with some unexpected hardships in the months leading up to the season. I won’t get into it here, but let’s just say I came into the year wanting to run fast not just to run fast, but to prove to people that I could.

I wanted my performances to tell the world “Look at me!

I’m doing even better after the things I’ve gone through.

Take that!” A word of advice — it may sound cool, but don’t compete with vengeance. The people rooting against you do not deserve your energy at all.

Dedicate it towards something more worthwhile.

I thought I would have to smash my personal records or be placing in the top 10 at every meet. When I didn’t meet every single standard, I crumbled. I didn’t even realize I was having my best year of running ever performance-wise. I was just so concerned about not doing well enough to show the world that I was okay.

I remember the moment everything came crashing down, the one where I started to realize I put myself through hell for no reason. I raced the 1K at

the indoor Atlantic 10 Championship and failed to make the final. The top eight made it based on time, and I was 11th — the outside looking in. I ran the race in three minutes flat, my second fastest time ever.

But to me it wasn’t enough, since whatever I did was never enough.

I remember sitting on a high jump mat in silence for nearly 15 minutes, my teammates cycling past me telling me not to be disappointed; there’s always more races. I shut it out.

Tears streamed down my face as I recounted every workout leading up to the conference championships, thinking that I wasted all my hard work to drop the ball on the biggest stage. I felt like a failure because my fastest wasn’t fast enough.

It took me a while to figure out I had to reign it back. In April, I discovered I’d been working out on a nearly broken foot and needed to pause training for a bit. I was on the outside looking in again, but it ironically and completely shifted my mindset for the better. I realized how lucky I was to have the ability to run at all.

During my time off, I found

fulfillment in other hobbies, including WFUV and the paper. I made even more friends, produced content I felt proud of and realized I wasn’t defined by the times I ran.

I managed to overcome the injury to run outdoor A-10s in the 4x800m. Unfortunately, I ran a 2:35 split, nearly 20 seconds slower than what I ran three months prior. But after the race, I didn’t beat myself up in typical fashion. Instead, I felt a sense of pride that I toed the line after everything I’d been through.

I’m more than my races. It took me a while to figure that out. Sure, I’m proud of the athlete I am. But I’ve separated my performances from the opinions of others. I’m racing to make myself proud and to bring my team to new heights — and that’s what matters.

One of my coaches told us at the beginning of the season to strive towards progress rather than perfection. I’m getting a little better every week, and I’m excited to see how it all unfolds. Just like we did at The Farm, I’m cultivating a healthier, more forgiving mindset to bring me even more success in the future.

SPORTS

September 21, 2022

The New York Rangers’ “Revenge Tour”

By STEPHANIE LANE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Despite having a young team, the New York Rangers performed well in the 2021-22 season with a 52-24-6 record and a trip to the Eastern Conference Final. With less than a month to go until preseason, let’s take a look at the Rangers and some key players (new and returning) to watch in the 2022-23 season.

In the net, the Rangers have Igor Shesterkin, last season’s Vezina Trophy winner. Although it may be hard for Shesterkin to repeat the success of last season, he will provide excellent goaltending for the Rangers this upcoming season.

Shesterkin proved himself as he performed well while having big shoes to fill.

Alexandar Georgiev was the goalie between Henrik Lundqvist and Shesterkin, but Shesterkin had to live up to Lundqvist’s goaltending, ultimately showing everyone he was more than capable.

Shesterkin surpassed the singleseason franchise record Lundqvist set in the 2011-12 season with a save percentage of 0.935%.

Fans are also excited to see Jacob Trouba play his first season as captain, as he was recently announced as the 28th captain in team history.

Trouba never lets a game go by without leaving it all on the ice, as he was the team’s postseason leader in hits, and shots blocked. His aggressive gameplay stood out last season and should amplify with the new addition of “C” on his chest.

Alternate captains include Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, who worked together last season to score and assist countless goals.

Both players are forces on their

own, but when they are together, they’re unstoppable.

Kreider and Zibanejad have an unbelievable ability that allows them to consistently connect passes on the ice.

Much of the Rangers’ success last season can be accredited to the work of these two players on the stellar powerplay unit.

Going into the 2022-23 season, however, Kreider’s wrist injury is something that will have to be carefully dealt with.

Elsewhere, alternate captain Barclay Goodrow ended the season with a lower-body injury but is expected to return this season.

Fans are also excited for the return of Artemi Panarin (nicknamed the “breadman”) and his high-kick goal celebrations.

The alternate captain had an amazing season in New York and is expected to continue putting pucks past the opponents’ goaltender, like he did in Game 7 of the Rangers opening postseason series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

After falling short of the Stanley Cup in the last season, the New York Rangers have added some new additions to the team.

Zac Jones, drafted from the Hartford Wolf Pack, will be fighting for the sixth and last defenseman spot.

If he succeeds, he will be alongside Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller and Braden Schneider.

Jones has spent a great deal of time with the Wolf Pack and has been performing well at the rookie camp.

Kalle Vaisanen spent a decent amount of time on the ice at both the U-20 and professional level in his native Finland, averaging

about 19 minutes a game.

Vaisanen is coming from Turun Palloseura (TPS), the same team that fellow Rangers Kappo Kakko and Alexandar Georgiev have also played for. During his time with TPS, Vaisanen played 39 regular season games and six playoff games.

The winger can play on the right or left and also has experience at center. Vaisanen’s ability to play on both sides may earn him more playing time with the Rangers.

After winning the gold medal for Canada in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) U-20 Ice Hockey World Championship, Will Cuylle feels ready for this season.

His time with the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has prepared him well for his first season with the New York Rangers.

With these new pieces in mind, the first game of preseason should fire up the rivalry against the New York Islanders.

The game will take place at Madison Square Garden. Solid teamwork between the new and returning players is necessary to show hockey fans who the better New York team is.

This is followed by a matchup with the Boston Bruins and two games against the New Jersey Devils and young phenom Jack Hughes.

The Rangers have a lot of work to do heading into their “revenge tour.” Keeping up the effort that was put into last season while improving on their skills for this season is a challenge. The hardest part will be learning how to work as a team with the addition of new players to an already young group.

Page 23

Golf Competes in Hartford Hawks Invite

By WILL TALLANT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Fordham golf team visited Bull’s Bridge Golf Club in South Kent, Conn., this past weekend to participate in their second event of the fall season, the Hartford Hawks Invite.

The Rams finished 12th out of 16 schools who participated, one spot above La Salle University and one below Fairleigh Dickinson University and Hartford University.

Senior P.J. O’Rourke continues to lead the charge for this Rams team. After an excellent meet at the Ryan Lee Memorial, shooting par or lower in both matches, O’Rourke was the highest placed Ram in back-to-back weeks.

He followed up his 18th place finish last weekend placing 32nd at the Hartford Hawks Invite.

Along with O’Rourke, sophomores Chris Konefal and Jake Mrva were the only Rams to par a match with Konefal doing it twice with a 70 in round one and a 71 in round two.

A name to keep an eye on is sophomore Jake Mrva. The Massachusetts native improved after each round. Mrva started competition shooting a 75 in

round one. He continues to shoot in the lower to middle 70’s as the sophomore also shot a 73 and a 72 at the Ryan Lee Memorial.

Mrva competed in just five events as a freshman, averaging 78.8 strokes. In two consecutive events, the sophomore has taken good steps forward seeing his strokes average drop almost six full points at 73.

Luis Carrera of the University of Central Florida (UCF) ultimately won the invitational with a combined score of 200. He shot below a 70 in each of the three rounds he played.

His teammate Johnny Travale finished in a tie for second place with Jared Nelson of the University of Connecticut.

On the team side, Carrera and Travale’s performances were just enough to propel UCF to a victory, with Towson University placing behind them in second.

Next, Fordham travels to Yale University for the Macdonald Cup on Saturday, Sept. 24.

After that, the Rams will have around a month to regroup before they take part in the Lehigh Invitational on Oct. 21.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

P.J. O'Rourke was the Rams’ highest finisher.

Men’s Soccer Ties Third Straight Game

By MADDIE BIMONTE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Men’s Soccer opened up Atlantic 10 play this past weekend against the University of Rhode Island (URI), recording a 2-2 draw for their third straight tie and fourth of the season so far.

“The Battle of the Rams” proved to be a marathon for Fordham as they were not able to put the contest to bed despite scoring two terrific goals.

Fordham seemed to have had the game locked down early as they scored twice within the first five minutes.

The first goal came from graduate student Jakob Gesien assisting to junior Florian Deletioglu, who rocketed the ball into the upper left corner of the net in only the third minute of the game.

The two had a strong back-andforth passing game, as Deletioglu headed the ball to Gesien from the defensive end to get things started.

About a minute later, Fordham scored yet again, this one coming from freshman Nathan Simes.

Simes, who is having a fantastic rookie season, netted his fifth goal of the year against URI. The play started off a corner, as graduate student Ben Shepherd delivered the ball to the head of graduate student Timo Hummrich

for an opportunity at goal.

His header was saved by Rhode Island keeper Kax Hinke, but senior Conrado Duhour was right there to send it to Simes for an electric bicycle-kick finish.

Fordham seemed to have the game in the bag after these two goals. However, URI slowly grew into the game as the first half wore on.

They got a goal back in the 23rd minute after Deletioglu was called for handball in the box resulting in a Rhode Island penalty.

It was slotted into the top left corner by redshirt senior Patrick

Agyemang, who gave the Fordham defense fits all day with his speed and elite hold-up play.

The game would continue to be 2-1 throughout most of the second half until the 83rd minute, when Rhode Island struck again.

Agyemang would net yet another for Rhode Island, getting his second goal of the season off of a corner kick by graduate student Edvin Akselsen.

Akselsen lifted the ball over the outstretched hands of graduate student goalkeeper Demetri Skoumbakis right to the head of Agyemang, who made no mistake

with the finish.

Both teams did not have enough time to pull ahead, resulting in a 2-2 finish. In the final few minutes, Fordham put on the pressure with attempts from freshman Andre Insalaco and graduate student Daniel Espeleta.

Still, Rhode Island’s freshman keeper Hinke managed to thwart them. In terms of numbers, Rhode Island outshot Fordham 18-11, yet Fordham had an advantage in shots on goal with eight compared to URI’s five.

Goalkeeping was on point today

for both squads as Hinke recorded five saves for Rhode Island, while Skoumbakis recorded three saves for Fordham.

After a tough battle against a strong Rhode Island side, Fordham will seek a win next week as they face off against the St. Bonaventure University Bonnies.

So far, the Bonnies are 2-4-1 on the season as they dropped their opening A-10 matchup to George Mason University by a score of 2-1.

That game will be played on Saturday at 5 p.m. in Olean, N.Y., and will be available to be live streamed on ESPN+.

COURTESY OF EMMA EITMANN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham began their A-10 play this past weekend, but have yet to rack up a victory in their last three matches.

SPORTS

Page 24

September 21, 2022

Water Polo Sweeps First Weekend of League Play

By LOU ORLANDO STAFF WRITER

Fordham Water Polo went 4-0 at the Bison Invitational this past weekend, picking up three league wins in their first taste of conference play. It’s their first tournament sweep of the season as the Rams combined their high-octane offense with stout defense for a perfect weekend.

Heading into the invitational, head coach Brian Bacharach did not downplay the importance of these games. “We do a lot more prep work for our league games than we do in a tournament setting.”

Coming off a 2021 season that saw Fordham go 11-1 in conference play and come away with the MidAtlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) championship, it was important for Fordham to continue that success with a strong start in league play.

“This is our first chance to get to know those other teams that we’re gonna face on a run through the conference tournament,” said Bacharach. “We really need to start to get to know the other teams, their styles, their players and learn how to minimize their strengths and maximize our production against their weaknesses.”

Play began for the Rams on Saturday with a matchup against Mount St. Mary’s University. Up 14-13 in the final quarter, Fordham scored three goals in the final three

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Water Polo dominated the opening league games this weekend. minutes to secure a 17-13 victory.

Graduate student Nir Gross led the offense with five goals with sophomore Jacopo Parrella close behind him with four. Sophomore driver George Papanikolaou put together an eight point day behind three goals and five assists.

Sophomore Luca Silvestri scored two goals in his debut with the Rams after missing the first two weeks due to injury.

Fordham picked up its second win of the day with a 10-7 defensive thriller against Bucknell University.

Bacharach admitted that Bucknell would be a bit of a surprise for the team going in.

“We’re gonna be a little in the dark about who they are and what they’re gonna try and do against us so we’ll have to adjust on the fly a little bit.” The Rams managed just fine, holding the Bisons to seven goals as sophomore Thomas Lercari made 12 saves in net. Hat tricks from Parrella and Papanikolaou as well as a two-goal, two-

assist game from Silvestri were enough to carry Fordham to a win.

The Rams began Sunday with their final league game of the tournament, and potentially their toughest one at that, squaring off against Wagner College.

Bacharach was prepared for a tight game, noting that “they’ve got as good of a starting six as anyone on the east coast.”

Fordham maintained a small lead for much of the game, and capped off a one goal victory by holding Wagner scoreless for the final 2 minutes and 47 seconds to secure the 12-11 win. Parrella notched his second straight hat trick and was not alone in doing so as Gross put up three goals of his own while sophomore Lucas Nieto Jasny and junior Christos Loupakis contributed two each.

Fordham capped off the day with a non-league game against Salem University. Taking a 9-8 lead into halftime, the Rams exploded in the second half, scoring six goals in the

third quarter and nine in the fourth for a 24-12 victory.

Papanikolaou and freshman Balazs Berenyi scored four goals each while sophomores Nieto Jasny, Gabriel Melillo, and Victor Schultz notched two goals each. Lercari impressed once again, making 16 saves to pair with two assists as he held Salem to just four goals in the second half.

The Rams have now swept the Bison Invitational for three years in a row dating back to 2019. They seem to be getting better every week, something that should appease Bacharach as he emphasized building up for the high leverage games in October and November.

Thomas Lercari seems to be quelling any doubts about the goaltender position in the wake of Bailey O’Mara’s departure, proving himself as a talented young goalie week in and week out.

Parrella had himself a 10 goal weekend and Gross put up nine goals in his second week with the team.

Fordham had an excellent offense last year, and it may have gotten even better this year. With the additions of Gross, Silvestri and Berenyi to an already dynamic core, the Rams have a plethora of offensive weapons that makes them incredibly difficult to defend against.

In 8 of the 11 games played, the Rams have had a player score

four or more goals during a game.

Parrella, Berenyi and Loupakis have each accomplished the feat twice already.

Next weekend will be an exciting one for the Rams as Fordham travels to Stanford, California for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Invitational. It’ll be the biggest test of the season so far as 16 of the top 20 teams in the nation will be participating.

Fordham has the honor of being the only east coast team at the invite. Bacharach views the invite as a great test for the program, adding “I don’t know if we’re a top-10, top15 team in the country, but we will certainly know after we play those games.”

Win or lose, expect Fordham’s national ranking to change after the upcoming weekend. Still ranked #17 in the national polls, the Rams will open against #3 ranked University of Southern California on Friday. Saturday will feature a match against either #6 UC Davis or #12 UC Irvine.

A game against UC Davis would be a homecoming of sorts for Gross, who played there to tremendous results for four years. The final game on Sunday will be determined by tournament results but it would likely be another top 10-15 team.

“If we can win a few games out there, then we should be in that conversation,” said Bacharach. “If not, then we’ve got work to do.”

Football Defeats Albany in Homecoming Weekend Thriller

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Football sure knows how to play a heart-stopping contest. Just one week after their thrilling 52-49 victory over Monmouth University, the Rams defeated the University at Albany 48-45 on Saturday afternoon in their home opener at Jack Coffey Field.

The win pushes Fordham to 3-0 on the season, a perfect start for a team with Patriot League title aspirations.

While 3-0 looks great on paper, Fordham’s flawless record thus far has been anything but easy. In their first two games this season, the Rams went behind early before storming back late to eventually secure the win. Saturday was no different.

With the campus full of alumni for homecoming weekend, senior quarterback Tim DeMorat saved the day once again, completing 33 of 53 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns.

Fordham got on the board first courtesy of an opening-drive touchdown from DeMorat to freshman tight end Matt Buron, followed by a 38-yard field goal from junior Brandin Peskin, giving the Rams a 10-0 lead after one quarter of play.

In the second quarter, things shifted in Albany’s favor. A oneyard touchdown run from Great Danes running back Todd Sibley got Albany within three.

Fordham had an immediate answer for that through senior wide receiver Garrett Cody, who hauled in a 20-yard touchdown from DeMorat to extend the Ram’s lead

to 17-7. The rest of the first half belonged to Albany, though. In quick succession, a 75-yard scoring run from Sibley, a field goal and a 45-yard touchdown catch

by Sibley with no time remaining gave Albany a 24-17 lead heading into the locker room.

After the game, Fordham head coach Joe Conlin discussed his halftime message to his team. “I just said we’re not playing our brand of football. I said I think we’re the more talented team … but the team that plays the best is going to win the football game and that wasn’t us in the first half. If we want any shot, we have to play better for the next 30 minutes.”

This message didn’t immediately resonate with the Rams, as Fordham continued to struggle into the third quarter. Another touchdown run from Sibley and a 25-yard scoring strike from Albany quarterback Reese Poffenbarger to Julian Hicks extended the Great Danes lead to 38-27 entering the final quarter of play.

Down by 11 with 15 minutes to go, Fordham came up huge on both sides of the ball. First, DeMorat hit Cody for a 58-yard score to pull Fordham within five.

A defensive stop forced Albany to punt, giving the ball back to DeMorat and the offense. In no time, sophomore tight end Jaden Allen hauled in a 19-yard score to put Fordham on top 41-38 for the first time since the second period.

With over nine minutes still to play, Albany had plenty of time to find a response. They did just

that through a Brevin Easton touchdown catch on the ensuing possession, giving the Great Danes the lead again. But just as Fordham’s lead evaporated almost instantly, Albany’s would do the same. Graduate student running back Trey Sneed took over on Fordham’s next possession, rushing for 41 yards including the game-winning seven-yard score with under five minutes to go.

Although they allowed 527 yards of total offense on the day, Fordham’s defense shook off what has been a rough beginning to the season and delivered a clutch fourth down stop courtesy of excellent pressure off a blitz from senior defensive back Stephen Williams II. A first down from the Fordham offense then iced the game, delivering the Rams a thrilling 48-45 victory.

On the play of his defense, Conlin said, “I thought we did pretty well against the run except for the two touchdown runs. Sibley’s a good back … the kids fought. We’ve just got to do a better job of getting guys to the football and getting guys down.”

In terms of passing defense, Conlin believes his team will improve as the season goes on.

“They threw for 412 [yards].

Obviously it’s frustrating because we have guys right there fighting their tails off and we’re not doing a good enough job finishing through the hands and getting balls out downfield.”

Sophomore linebacker James Conway had a great day despite

the huge totals from the Albany offense. Conway registered 15 total tackles and was named the GEICO Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

On offense, there’s not much more that can be said about the play of DeMorat and this entire Fordham unit. DeMorat currently leads the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in passing yards and passing touchdowns.

As a whole, Fordham leads the FCS in total offense. Cody led the Fordham receivers with 123 yards and two touchdowns, followed closely by senior MJ Wright with 99 yards and a score.

Speaking on the nature of these close, high-scoring games to be-

gin the season, DeMorat said,“We love to be in those close games on offense when you have the ball with a chance to go down and win the game … I trust all my guys. Offensive line played great, receivers came up big … I was just doing my job trying to give them the ball and let my running backs go to work too.”

At 3-0 for the first time since 2013, Fordham travels to Ohio for a tough matchup against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent in Ohio University. That game is at 2 p.m. on Saturday and can be streamed live on ESPN+ or listened to on WFUV 90.7 FM. The following week, Fordham returns home to open Patriot League play against Georgetown University.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Sophomore James Conway earned Defensive Player of the Week.