Volume 104 Issue 7

The Fordham Ram Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 Volume 104, Issue 7

TheFordhamRam.com

March 23, 2022

SwanstromBaerwald Awarded to Fordham Grad

GSB Dean’s Council New Budget

By EMMA KIM

By EMMA LIPKIND

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

OPINION EDITOR

Bridget Bucardo-Rivera, an alumna of Fordham Univeristy's International Political Economy and Development (IPED) graduate program, became the recipient of the Swanstrom-Baerwald Award on March 9.

The ceremony was held in the Keating First auditorium, where students, faculty and the recipient’s family gathered to congratulate Bucardo-Rivera. The award “honors Fordham alumni who have shown excellence in the service of faith through the promotion of international peace and development.”

Based on information from Fordham’s IPED Director, professor Henry Schwalbenberg, the recipient is decided upon

by Fordham and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). CRS is an organization aligned with the Catholic Church that works with “local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality.”

SEE AWARD, PAGE 3

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Many students traveled, marking the return of spring break after the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

Spring Break Returns for the First Time Since COVID-19 Pandemic

By TAYLOR MASI

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The re-introduction of spring break since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has resulted in the mixed feelings of students, especially considering Fordham’s implementation of COVID-19 safety precautions after the break.

Assuming that most students traveled over the break, Fordham enacted a COVID-19 testing policy for the return to campus to control the virus’s possible spread.

According to the testing requirements, all students who enter campus must submit a COVID-19 PCR saliva or nasal swab test result no later than March 30, regardless

of whether they traveled during the break. The test must be performed no earlier than three days prior to their return to campus and no later than five days after.

Since the university does not know precisely how high the COVID-19 rates will be when returning from spring break, SEE SPRING, PAGE 4

A Look at the Presidental Transition

By AVA ZINS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

CSM hung up supportive t-shirts around Edward ’s Parade to empower survivors of sexual misconduct.

CSM Hosts their Bi-Annual “Week of Action”

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University’s United Student Government’s (USG) Committee on Sexual Misconduct (CSM) hosted their bi-annual “Week of Action” from March

7–11. The purpose of the week is to support survivors of sexual misconduct, as well as help educate the Fordham community on prevention through hosting a variety of events.

The committee’s events range from a variety of educational pre-

sentations to movie screenings to The Clothesline Project.

CSM opened the Week of Action by participating in The Clothesline Project.

The Clothesline Project was started in Massachusetts and aims to create a visual display of how sexual assault SEE CSM, PAGE 5

On Feb. 10, 2022, the Board of Trustees, the presidential search committee and Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, unanimously elected Tania Tetlow, J.D., to be the next president of Fordham University. President-elect Tetlow will begin her time as president on July 1. However, until her inauguration in July, McShane will continue to actively serve as Fordham’s president.

Despite an almost fivemonth gap between the date of election and tenure, Tetlow has a long, preparatory list to complete before she begins to serve as Fordham’s president. Until her tenure begins this summer, Tetlow has been, and will continue to, attend a multitude of briefings. These SEE TRANSITION, PAGE 5

The Gabelli School of Business (GSB) Dean’s Council got a new budget conjunction approved with the Boogie Down Grind and Lit. Bar for an upcoming event on April 4 at 1 p.m. on the Rose Hill campus in the Great Hall. Owned

by Bronx native and author, Majora Carter, the Boogie Down Grind is a hip hop cafe in the South Bronx that serves a variety of coffee, beer and food. Likewise, the Lit. Bar is owned by Noëlle Santos, a Bronx Native, and currently serves as the only independent bookstore in the Bronx.

Colin Wexler, GSB ’22, is one of the co-heads for the Outreach subcommittee, which is part of GSB Dean’s Council.

The new budget conjunction allows for the purchase of Carter’s new book, “Reclaiming Your Community: You Don't Have to Move Out of Your Neighborhood to Live in a Better One” from the Lit Bar and pastries from the Boogie Down Grind for the event. Carter will be coming to Rose Hill’s campus to speak about her book and talk about Bronx businesses.

Students who attend will be entered into a raffle to win a copy of the book.

“The Boogie Down Grind was founded and invested in by local residents who grew up during tough times for their borough.

The cafe is a community-owned and operated, high-quality space for everyone to enjoy the Bronx’s Hip Hop Jazzy vibe,” said Wexler.

“From coffee to mimosas, there is something for everyone to enjoy while soaking in true Bronx roots.”

Chloe Mathewson, GSB ’24, is the other co-head for the Outreach subcommittee. “I believe it is important that Fordham students are exposed to more Bronx businesses than those on Arthur Ave,” said Mathewson.

SEE COUNCIL, PAGE 4

in this issue

Opinion

Page 8

Tips for Improving Your Cybersecurity

Culture

Page 9

Rams Around the World

Sports Men’s Basketball

Page 16

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS March 8 Southern Boulevard 1:45 p.m.

A student parked his car north of the Southern Boulevard entrance. When he returned from his class at 8:45 p.m., he noticed that someone had broken his rear passenger window and removed sneakers and a portable speaker.

March 10 McShane Campus Center 2:44 p.m.

A student called Public Safety and stated she was stuck in elevator three. Public Safety, along with an elevator technician, responded and freed the student. The elevator was repaired and put back in service.

March 11 Walsh Hall Parking Lot 7:30 a.m.

A landscaping contractor reported to Public Safety that an unknown person(s) had damaged newly poured cement by etching into it before it had settled. Video was obtained, and there was a judicial referral.

March 14 Campbell/Salice-Conley 12:12 p.m.

An independent contractor damaged a feeder cable on Walsh Library lawn, which resulted in temporary power loss to Campbell and SaliceConley Halls. Temporary generators were brought in to restore power, and facilities operations, along with an electrical contractor, responded and completed repairs.

Follow us on Twitter! @TheFordhamRam

March 23, 2022

Fordham Library Creates A Community Among Students

By MICHELA FAHY ByCONTRIBUTING LUCY PETERSON WRITER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

During last semester, United Student Government (USG) Senator Thomas DePaola, GSB ’22, proposed the idea for a TakeA-Book, Leave-A-Book Program on the Fordham campus. Now the new program is making an impact on students and faculty at both Fordham’s Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses.

The concept for DePaola’s idea was generated by the Little Free Library program, an international nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood book exchanges. The nonprofit was founded in 2009 and is now responsible for more than 90,000 public book exchanges and 125,000 little free libraries.

DePaola worked closely with his fellow USG Senators Kristen Ronan, FCRH ’22, and Joseph Marraccini, GSB ’22, to secure funding, materials and administrative support for the miniature library.

Ronan said that the little free library initiative received widespread support from other USG members. “Everyone was really excited about the idea,” said Ronan.

Ronan and DePaola said they were hoping to make an impact during their last year on USG at Fordham by introducing more initiatives geared towards fun opportunities that the student body could enjoy.

“We wanted to do something that [students] could enjoy, especially as we’re all getting back on campus postpandemic. [The mini-library] is something a lot of people can use and interact with together,” said DePaola.

The mini-library is located on the first floor of the McShane Campus Center across from the multipurpose room. Ronan said that within the first few days of its opening she witnessed several excited conversations and discussions about the library. Students are already visiting the library frequently to exchange books.

This is exactly the outcome that the senators hoped for. The new mini-library provides a space for Fordham students to access books and engage in dialogue over non-academic reading.

DePaola, a fan of mystery and science-fiction novels, said he hopes to see the mini-library stocked with a variety of interesting genres.

According to the two senators Ronan and DePaola, it was easy to secure funding and materials for the creation of the new library. “Sometimes it’s harder to pass proposals with USG, but everyone was really happy to contribute to the library,” Ronan said.

Senators DePaola, Ronan and Marraccini worked closely with administrators in the Gabelli School of Business, as well as the Fordham English Department, to make the library happen. Ronan said that while the money for the physical library was granted through a USG budget request, Fordham’s English Department played an instrumental role in the donation of books.

Ronan said she collaborated with Professor Mary Erler of Fordham’s English Department, specifically.

The mini-library has proven to be a popular addition to Fordham’s Rose Hill campus. DePaola and Ronan said they’re interested in possibly expanding the project to create more libraries.

“A USG Senator from the Lincoln Center campus reached out to me and is following a similar protocol to establish a secondary mini-library for students on the Lincoln Center campus,” said DePaola.

DePaola also noted that the mini-libraries are a great addition to the Fordham campus because they are self-sustaining.

Although he hopes to appoint someone on the USG communications committee to act as a “bookkeeper,” the library runs on the honor system. The hope is that every time a student takes a book from the library, they put a new book inside.

After several months of work to establish the mini-library, senators DePaola, Ronan and Marraccini look forward to the new conversation, friendships and stories that are shared as a result of the miniature library program. Given its early success, it has already proven to be a positive contribution to student life and will hopefully continue to flourish on Fordham’s Rose Hill campus.

COURTESY OF NICK DESILVA/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Take-A-Book, Leave-A-Book Program has officially started.

COURTESY OF SEBASTIAN DIAZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

The program is open to all students who want to participate.

This Week at Fordham Wednesday March 23

Wednesday March 23

Thursday March 24

Thursday March 24

Sunday March 27

EVC Hosts Movie Night

Panel for Women’s History Month

USG Election Information Session

Waffle Bar Hits the Marketplace The Marketplace 4:30 p.m.

FinTech Python Intermediate Event

Blackbox Theatre, Collins Hall 10 a.m. –5 p.m.

Fordham’s Every Vote Counts is hosting their first ever movie night, featuring the film Slay the Dragon, a documentary about a woman who leads a grassroots movement in her community with no political experience.

The DEI Advisory Board is hfosting a Women’s History Month panel which features a breadth of women in highranking corporate positions, featuring companies such as Meta and Ralph Lauren.

United Student Government is hosting a number of information sessions regarding the upcoming election season, including this one on Thursday. All potential candidates must attend one.

Dining Services is holding a number of events this week, including a waffle bar starting at 4:30 p.m. Make sure to get there early; it’s sure to be a hit! Check out Fordham’s website for further dining events.

Fordham’s FinTech Network is hosting a Python intermediate workshop, led by Art Yudin, CEO of Practical Programming. Sign up on Instagram @fordhamfintech; the program is limited to 20.

Keating 1st 7:30 p.m.

12th floor lounge 3:45 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Zoom 7:30 p.m.

NEWS

March 23, 2022

Page 3

Bridget Bucardo-Rivera wins Fordham IPED Award FROM AWARD, PAGE 1

Bucardo-Rivera received the award because of her work in various countries through CRS. Toward the end of her graduate studies, she went to Nicaragua to conduct research that would eventually be used to help provide funds to local farmers in need.

She later traveled to El Salvador, where she assisted local businesses with microfinancing.

After receiving her Master of Arts in IPED from Fordham in 2009, she returned to Nicaragua, where she contributed to a proposal that garnered $10 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for small agricultural producers. Bucardo-Rivera continued this pattern of providing assistance to countries around the world with the help of CRS, such as Zambia, where she helped bring in $10 million for HIV/ AIDS treatment services.

Other notable work mentioned during the ceremony was Bucardo-Rivera’s time providing relief to those affected by natural disasters in Haiti, both after the 2010 earthquake and the 2016 hurricane. When describing her work in Haiti, she mentioned the uncertainty that came with her

efforts. She continued to explain that not all of her work abroad was as hectic and dire and that the nature of the projects have varied.

Now, Bucardo-Rivera serves as the Senior Technical Advisor in Capacity Strengthening for CRS, a position she has held since 2018.

At the ceremony, Schwalbenberg presented the award to Bridget Bucardo-Rivera after introducing her and her work.

Maureen McCullough, who is the Northeast regional director of CRS, also gave her remarks and led a prayer at the ceremony.

There were several other prayers that were recited during the ceremony, some of which were addressed to Bucardo-Rivera, and others addressed to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Those who prayed for Ukraine chose to do so because of the award’s nature being tied to international affairs. The formal ceremony was followed by questions from the audience, where students asked about more details regarding Bucardo-Rivera’s experience, both working for CRS and as an alumna of the IPED program.

Schwalbenberg explained the significance of the award: “We don’t recognize the wonderful people we have

here at Fordham all the time. This way, we can recognize what a special place this is.” He also said, “I’m just amazed when you walk around the globe and you go to a trouble spot that if you dig enough, you’ll find out there’s a Fordham alum there.”

According to Schwalbenberg, the aspects of the IPED program which often produce recipients of this award include curriculum that encourages being inquisitive, competitive internships that provide real-word experiences and a large network of alumni. Although many past recipients have been IPED alumni, Schwalbenberg said that it’s not a requirement so much as it is a pattern. However, he said it is required that the recipient be “a Fordham alumni who works overseas for Catholic Relief Services.”

The first Swanstrom-Baerwald award was given in 2009 to Michael Weist, who earned his Bachelor of Arts in English at Fordham.

The award is named after the late Fordham professor, Friedrich Baerwald, and his mentee, Bishop Edward E. Swanstrom. Part of the reason the award was named after these two men was because Baerwald was a political philosophy professor at Fordham and Swanstrom helped found CRS, explained Schwalenberg.

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF FORDHAM'S IPED DEPARTMENT

The Swanstrom-Baerwald was awarded to Bucardo-Rivera for her work.

March’s Student Life Council Meeting Discusses Russia-Ukraine The meeting opened with a discussion about the ongoing conflict happening in Ukraine.

Rev. Arthur Shea, S.J., university staff chaplain, began with a prayer for Ukraine and affected individuals. Shea also noted his family history and heritage to the affected area. Following the prayer, a discussion began regarding the conflict.

Rodgers began the conversation by speaking about the need to support students during this time, especially students with family or who are from the affected region. Rodgers talked about the importance of students’ mental and spiritual health during this time.

“War is a shock to the moral conscious,” said Rodgers.

According to Dean Rodgers, Residential Life is helping to make arrangements for Ukrainian and Russian students who need to stay on campus during spring break. He also said that the university is working with students whose financial situations have changed because of the conflict.

Charles Clency, assistant dean of students and director of residential life, echoed Rodgers’ statements.

Christie-Belle Garcia, assistant dean for student support and success in FCRH, stated that FCRH had reached out to any students who indicated that they were Ukrainian or Russian.

Garcia emphasized the want to be a “point person” for students seeking help and

support. Additionally, Garcia stressed the need to think about NEWS EDITOR long-term solutions and support On Wednesday, March 9, for the affected students. various clubs and departments Reuter shared that USG had came together to participate in posted graphics on social media Fordham’s monthly Student Life displaying resources that the uniCouncil (SLC). versity has to offer to students.

Representatives from the ComA question was raised about muting Student Association (CSA), the availability of long-term the Office of Multicultural Affairs housing and counseling services (OMA), Campus Activity Board, for students affected by the conResidence Hall Association, Gabelli flict. According to Clency and School of Business (GSB), Fordham Rodgers, more long-term supCollege Rose Hill (FCRH), United port is being provided to students Student Government (USG), the on a case-by-case basis. They added Office for Student Involvement and that the university has the reOffice of Residential Life were all sources to help students in “virpresent. Christopher Rodgers, tually” all the ways mentioned dean of students, was also present. above. According to Residential The meeting was led by USG presLife and Student Affairs, there ident Thomas Reuter, FCRH ’22. have not been a large number of students that have expressed the need for these services yet.

The overarching theme of the SLC was “senior transitions.”

Within that theme, Annette McLaughlin, director of the career center, as well as representatives from Senior Week all attended as special guests. The SLC speakers spoke about specific events for seniors and advised the graduating students.

McLaughlin stressed the importance of students coming to and interacting with career services. She pointed out that students have to be confident in their skills and what they have achieved at Fordham to get a job.

She also noted that career services can help students frame the work students have done.

“You’ve done the work. You just have to package it,” explained Director Annette McLaughlin.

McLaughlin recommended that students use Fordham’s job-finding platforms. She noted that the COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM job market is “great right now” Departments discuss providing resources to Russian and Ukrainian students who are affected by ongoing conflict. and that 70,000 jobs have been recently placed on Handshake.

By ISABEL DANZIS

Representatives from Senior Week spoke about the upcoming events being planned.

After spring break, there will be a personal finance night for seniors and a job-hunting panel. In April, there will be an event showing seniors ways to stay involved with Fordham after graduation and beyond.

Juan Carlos Matos, assistant vice president for student affairs for diversity and inclusion, spoke about events that OMA will be hosting to celebrate the diversity of graduating students around their commencement.

Matos said that committees will plan events to help celebrate AAPI, Black, LatinX and Lavender (LGBTQ+) graduates. He hopes that these events will feel like important Fordham events for students and not like they are happening “on the side.”

The mask mandate was lifted on March 4. Garcia noted that faculty are generally happy that they can choose to enforce masks in their classrooms. She said that most have been using anonymous surveys or pollings to decide whether to enforce masking or not.

Rodgers stated the feedback from the community has been largely positive on the new, relaxed mask policy.

He also noted that the way that the Fordham community acted in accordance with guidelines throughout the pandemic was “admirable.”

The meeting concluded by various departments sharing “goods of the order.”

Matos shared that OMA has increased the amount of money they raised on Giving Day from the year before through an extensive outreach campaign, making it a financial success.

NEWS

Page 4

March 23, 2022

GSB Dean’s Council Works with Local Bronx Business FROM COUNCIL, PAGE 1

“Our committee’s goal is to foster relationships with our immediate community and find creative ways for Fordham students to support local businesses. There is great work happening in urban revitalization all over the Bronx, and the Boogie Down Grind and the Lit Bar are prime examples of this.”

Carter’s new book addresses multiple issues, such as how brain drain affects low-income communities.

In the book, Carter also discusses development strategies to help these communities succeed.

She shares her own personal experience and rethinks important topics.

Katherine Doss, GSB ’23, is another member of the Outreach Subcommittee, and believes the event will have a positive impact.

Doss said, “the discussion will also include advice on how Fordham students can reclaim their Fordham community and maintain their connections to the school when they graduate.” She continued, “Majora is a very lively and personable speaker, and I think

everyone will walk away from the event feeling invigorated.”

“By showcasing unique Bronxbased businesses to Fordham students, this budget request will allow students to gain a new appreciation for the area surrounding their campus, fostering a deeper connection between the Fordham and Bronx community,” said Wexler.

This is not the first event that GSB Dean’s Council has organized to promote Bronx businesses.

In fall 2020, during a hard time for many businesses because of the pandemic, Wexler and Shauna Fortier, GSB ’21, organized a virtual event, A Bronx Tale: Speaking to Bronx Businesses, where there was a panel of keynote speakers from Bronx businesses.

The included businesses contain Bronx Brand, Mainland Media, WallWorks, Born Juice and Boogie Down Grind.

With many COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the GSB Dean’s Council is excited to be able to welcome their first-ever

Bronx business leader to the Rose Hill campus, said Wexler.

“As a business school in the Bronx, we feel it is our duty to not only educate our students on best business practices but also lead by example by supporting the businesses that stand as a pillar in the community that surrounds us,” said Wexler.

“The Bronx is the most diverse borough of New York City. Yet most Fordham students do not feel connected to the borough that we call home, said Wexler. “Therefore, we wanted to create an event on campus this spring with Majora Carter from the Boogie Down Grind to educate students on local Bronx businesses outside the Belmont community.”

Wexler continued, “[a]s an urban revitalization strategist and local business owner from the South Bronx, Majora Carter is a leader in our community, utilizing a talent retention strategy to create welcoming and desired spaces throughout the Bronx.”

COURTESY OF NATALIA KIMMELSHUE FOR THE FORDHAM

Students show off their books from the Lit Bar, which is located in the Bronx.

COURTESY OF COLIN WEXLER FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

The GSB Dean’s Council hopes to lend support toward local businesses.

Students Travel for Spring Break for the First Time Since 2020 FROM SPRING, PAGE 1

these regulations were put in place to prevent any possible surge.

Marco Valera, vice president of administration at Fordham, remains optimistic concerning the control of COVID-19 cases based on the positive progress in the rest of New York City.

“Of course it’s difficult to predict if cases will rise,” said Valera. “In general, NYC and many parts of the country are seeing much-reduced cases, so we hope this trend continues when students return.”

Since Fordham added spring break back into the academic calendar, many students took advantage of the opportunity and vacationed with family and friends both internationally and nationally.

Mike Pappano, FCRH ’22, traveled to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for spring break with other Fordham seniors. COVID-19 was not one of Pappano’s concerns during his travels and he was thrilled to have the opportunity to go on vacation.

“I’m super excited to be able to travel again,” Pappano said. “Since cases are really low and they still have COVID-19 protocols on planes, I’m not worried about being exposed. I’m ready to really return back to normal, and I think I’ve felt that normalcy in the past few weeks, especially after the omicron wave subsided.”

During Pappano’s stay in Jamaica, he and other Fordham seniors abided by the rules of the resort.

The hotel policy required visitors to wear masks in every dining establishment and when using the restrooms.

Since the resort was mainly outdoors, masks are not required around the beach and pool complexes.

“Any more protocols would’ve felt too strict,” said Pappano. “I’m glad that that’s all we had to do.”

Rebecca Chretien, FCRH ’24, also took advantage of the break by traveling to Orlando, Florida, with her family.

Chretien was a little cautious about traveling, especially to the state of Florida, since the COVID-19 precautions are more relaxed than those in New York.

“I was pretty nervous about traveling since I knew I was going somewhere where the COVID-19 protocols are a lot less strict than where I had been for a while,” said Chretien.

“Plus, you always hear stuff about how Florida is ‘the’ place to get COVID-19.”

Orland, Florida, had little to no COVID-19 restrictions that guests had to follow.

Chretien and her family, along with every other visitor, did not have to wear a mask throughout any of the Walt Disney World parks, neither indoors nor outdoors. The only places that enforced mask-wearing were the buses traveling from the parks to the hotels.

“I was honestly really taken aback by this, especially considering Fordham just recently said we were

COURTESY OF TWITTER

now mask optional,” said Chretien.

“Florida looks very different from New York right now.”

As someone who is always trying to prevent the spread of the virus, Chretien believes Fordham’s testing requirements for the return onto campus are necessary but thinks the university could have done more to prevent a potential outbreak.

“I think it’s a bit of a complicated situation because if there was something more Fordham could do to ensure we’re safe coming back to campus that doesn’t entirely disrupt campus life, then I’d totally be down to do it,” Chretien explained. “However, I’m not really sure if Fordham is willing to take those strides, so I’ll take what I can get. If they think testing is the best thing to do, then I’ll do my part.”

Unlike Pappano and Chretien, Christine Han, FCRH ’23, did not go on vacation for spring break but instead traveled to his hometown of Chino Hills, California.

Although she did not travel, Han is both vaccinated and boosted, so contracting COVID-19 is not something she is concerned about when returning to campus.

“I’m not worried because people at school haven’t been getting COVID-19 as much,” said Han. “It seemed to have been okay after winter break so as long as people are testing and quarantining if positive I think it will be okay.”

In the event that Fordham experiences a COVID-19 surge on campus, the university administration has backup strategies that can be put in place if needed.

“We have all the tools in our toolbox that we deployed earlier this year if cases were to rise significantly,” said Valera. “For example, we could reinstate the masking policy.”

Classes resume on Monday, March 21, and Fordham will monitor the COVID-19 cases from that moment onward.

COURTESY OF UNSPLASH

Places like Florida are popular locations for college students to travel to for spring break. Many students travel far from Fordham to beaches or tropical locations to celebrate the spring

NEWS

March 23, 2022

Page 5

CSM Educates Students on Sexual Misconduct FROM CSM, PAGE 1

can affect people. At Fordham, CSM invites students to write messages about sexual assault on t-shirts, which are then hung up around Edward’s Parade for the entirety of the week.

Later that day, CSM hosted a screening of the documentary, “The Hunting Ground,” which discusses the failure of colleges across the United States to investigate sexual assault cases.

It also brings attention to how many sexual assault cases on

college campuses go unreported. The film also discusses the use of Title IX complaints as a way to respond to sexual assault and encourage universities to investigate. Female students at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill were the first to use a Title IX complaint about sexual misconduct. Today, using Title IX is an extremely common way to report instances of sexual misconduct in universities.

CSM teamed up with Fordham’s Women’s Empowerment club to host “Speak Out Against Sexual

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

CSM’s Week of Action focuses on empowering survivors of sexual assault.

Assault” at Rodrigue’s Coffee House on Tuesday. This event returned to the “Week of Action” this year.

During the speak out, individuals are invited to share their experiences with sexual misconduct to an audience.

According to CSM’s Instagram, the speak out creates a “safe space [of] listening and learning from survivors and allies.”

Another returning event to the “Week of Action” was a presentation given by a representative from the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.

According to CSM, Scarlet Thompson from the District Attorney’s office gave an “interactive presentation on supporting survivors and restorative justice.” In the past, CSM has featured presentations from the DA’s office about topics like “Bystander Intervention” and “Repair & Responsibility.”

CSM also brought back their tabling event, “Candy and Consent,” hosted in the McShane Campus Center.

This event offers students candy as well as educational resources on consent. In addition to the events that returned

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/ THE FORDHAM RAM

CSM hosted a table educating students on consent and its importance.

to the Week of Action this year, CSM introduced a new event called “Healing Yoga,” a program aimed at teaching students about the restorative and healing properties that yoga can have on people.

Additionally, “Healing Yoga” featured a representative from Counseling and Psychological Services to have a conversation with students about mindfulness.

CSM teamed up with Leading Women of Tomorrow, Spire and CurlTalk to host their returning program “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.”

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace” is a presentation aimed at

educating students on instances of sexual harassment in the professional world. The presentation tries to show students “ways to spot, combat and report sexual harassment in the workplace.”

The week concluded with a bake sale hosted by CSM in the McGinley Gallery.

Students who want more information about the “Week of Action” or the Committee of Sexual Misconduct can follow the committee’s Instagram page, @csm_fordhamusg to stay up to date on their upcoming events or resources.

Fordham Transitions the Presidency from McShane to Tetlow FROM TRANSITION PAGE 1

meetings will touch on academic and student affairs, budgeting and finance, enrollment, facilities, public safety, fundraising, marketing and communication, as well as a variety of other topics.

She will also be informed on mission integration and planning, as well as overall briefings regarding Fordham’s different schools.

The information from these briefings is essential for Tetlow to start in the fall, and for her to continue Fordham’s legacy and mission.

These informational meetings will include McShane, Tetlow, members of the Board of Trustees, the cabinet and the deans of all of Fordham’s schools. These meetings will take place both virtually and in-person.

Because July 1 is also the first day of the new fiscal year, she has been thoroughly informed of the 2022-23 budget.

In order to ensure a smooth transition, Tetlow and McShane are in frequent contact.

According to Robert Howe, Assistant Vice President for Communications and Special Advisor to the President, Father McShane wants to see Tetlow succeed and is doing everything to make her transition to Fordham a seamless one.

Once students begin to return to campus in the fall, there will be a formal installation ceremony for Tetlow. Details regarding this ceremony will be sent out in September.

Tania Tetlow was named as McShane’s successor as president on Feb 10, 2022.

She will assume the office on July 1. Tetlow is currently the

president of Loyola University New Orleans, although her ties to the Fordham University community run through her from her family. Coming from a family of Jesuits, her parents were both alumni of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Upon the announcement of Tetlow replacing McShane, the current president had kind words for Tetlow, saying “[she] has in abundance the qualities of leadership one needs to run a major university, among them discernment, patience, decisiveness, selfawareness and magnanimity….

Her commitment to Jesuit pedagogy and to Fordham’s Jesuit, Catholic mission is both deep and well-informed. I shall rest easy with her in the office of I have occupied for almost two decades.”

During her time at Loyola New Orleans, Tetlow is credited with helping the university achieve an economic turnaround in one of the most financially challenging times in the university’s history.

Fordham Provost Dennis Jacobs, Ph. D., had similar kind sentiments to share about Tetlow: “Tania Tetlow brings to Fordham a powerful mix of academic accomplishments, a deep love of Jesuit education, a record of tirelessly fighting for justice, and visionary leadership in higher education … She is eager to build strategically on Fordham’s strong foundation in the liberal arts and superb graduate and professional schools.”

Jacobs continued, “Tania aspires to distinguish Fordham as an outstanding university, offering a transformative education for its students and working to build a more just and thriving New York City, nation and world.”

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Tetlow and McShane are working together during the coming months to ensure the smoothest transistion of power.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

Current President McShane has expressed confidence in President-elect Tetlow's presidental abilities.

OPINION

Page 6

March 23, 2022

From the Desk | Kari White

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 with a readership of over 12,000 and a web readership of over 300,000.

Website TheFordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Editor in Chief Ava Erickson Managing Editor Hanif Amanullah Editorial Director Hasna Ceran Production Editor Michael Sluck Multimedia Director Pia Fischetti Business Director Matthew Colucci Copy Chief Amanda Yarolin Assistant Copy Chief Hannah Boring News Editor Isabel Danzis Features Editor Sebastian Diaz Assistant News Editors Samantha Minear Emma Kim Opinion Editor Nicole Braun Assistant Opinion Editors Emma Lipkind 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 Editors Theodore Wai 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 Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

In Defense of Bird Watching In the concrete dreariness of a wintering city, there doesn’t seem to be much life. As someone who spent her childhood with her hands in the soil, her mother naming the birds singing above her, I worried about moving into a city notoriously sparse when it comes to wildlife. I mean, what does New York City have? Rats?

For me, home cannot exist without membership in a community, and I have always used the natural world as a tool to connect with wherever I am. At Fordham, birdwatching (albeit an old-lady pastime) has taught me how to engage more deeply with my community and appreciate the random experiences that make up college life.

It was the first few weeks of freshman year, when I sat in my dorm room and only interacted with my classmates over a virtual platform, that pushed me to go outside. Suddenly forced to live on my own without a steady core of people who cared for me or the ability to have new experiences, I stood upon a glass walkway bridging an abyss. If I fell, I would fall endlessly. There was no ground beneath me. I was trapped within the concept of college with no idea of how to anchor myself to the people I had met and the place I now inhabited. So, I did what my mother had always taught me to do: I went for a walk outside.

At first, the blue jays, who flew along the oak trees towering over Martyrs’ Lawn, sang to one another with my mother’s voice. The red-tailed hawks over Fordham Road flew through memories I had with her. Every glimpse of them

reminded me of the bird feeders she had hung up beside our home in Delaware, which she had taught me how to refill even when I was too young to undo the top myself.

As it turns out, squirrel-proof and child-proof are fairly synonymous.

Yet, as the crippling isolation of that first semester prompted me to go on walks around campus and the New York Botanical Gardens, I began to feel more connected to Rose Hill. College evolved from an abstract concept to a space to a foundation upon which I could start building the rest of my life.

What happened on those long walks, where I became more acquainted with the plants and birds, was that I stepped beyond myself.

To focus on the sparrows hopping around Urban Kitchen is to extend your consciousness beyond yourself, and, for a moment, become a small part of a greater community.

It is meditation.

Learning how to remove myself from the anxieties twisting through my mind enabled me to not only appreciate the ecological community, but also the human community at Fordham. As a kid, I spent so much time agonizing over my jokes, word choice and tone of voice. In discovering how to connect with the world beyond me through birdwatching, I discovered how to quiet that nagging voice, always picking at my flaws like scabs. In becoming more acquainted with the world around me, I became more acquainted with myself. In seeing the world as a community, I began to discover my place in it.

As I began to engage more

within Fordham’s community, I realized how many of my favorite memories are the results of random chance. The thought that I have created so little of my life through deliberate decisionmaking terrified me. It was a realization that forced me to go on even longer walks around campus.

There, I realized that these little, feathered birds shaped their lives by seizing the opportunity that a moment presented. It’s a rather obvious sentiment, I confess, but it’s deceptively simple.

None of us have complete control over our lives, and our favorite moments are rarely those that we have curated. I’m writing to you now only because my roommate befriended a random girl our freshmen year, and I had enough free time last semester to let that once-random girl convince me to write a few articles. Being a part of The Fordham Ram staff is one of my favorite college experiences so far, but it is the result of complete coincidence. That alone would

have made me spiral a year ago.

Yet, I now find peace in the absolute obliviousness I have about the future. My changed perspective is not because I like to birdwatch, but it’s a skill I learned while doing so.

We all spend so much time on our phones, on our laptops or twisted up in our anxieties that it’s difficult to allocate moments to breathe, meditate and appreciate the world around us. We’re college students, we can’t help it.

Still, as the weather warms and spring blooms on campus, take time to watch and listen to the creatures of campus. When you get your crispy chicken wrap at Urban Kitchen, stop and listen to the House Sparrows chittering over the spilled french fries. When you walk past Edward’s Parade, watch the robins hopping around the green. Every once in a while, as you walk to Walgreens or the Metro-North, see if the hawks chase one another over Fordham Road. The world is wide, rich and random. Learn to appreciate it.

Editorial | Lifted Mask Guidelines

Mascara Contra Carnero: Fordham University Unmasked Mask mandates have been relaxed or lifted entirely at schools and institutions around the United States, and whether it’s the fever talking or a mask cutting off our oxygen, it’s a change that has left our heads spinning.

In accordance with the CDC’s updated guidelines for masking up indoors, a COVID-19 update was sent to the student population on Friday, March 4. In the email, the Office of the Vice President for Administration announced that the university would be lifting the mask requirement for most communal indoor spaces on campus, excluding the Ram Van and University Health Services locations. Some welcomed this announcement, while others remained hesitant.

Now, we wait for the projected consequences of spring break as students return to New York from all corners of the United States and abroad. Here at the editorial board, we find that our trepidation is especially amplified by the fact that the mandatory COVID-19 tests students need to submit following spring break can be taken as late as the end of

the month. In the meantime, possible carriers of the virus are free to roam maskless.

At the same time, COVID-19 is here to stay, and certainly no one expects to be masked forever. If the student population is waiting for the magical point where the pandemic is completely over and we can live without worry, well, we’ll be waiting a long, long time.

We support the university’s decision to lift the mask mandate. However, we feel it would have been safer to wait until after spring break, particularly the post-spring break mandatory test, to ensure most of the student population is not infected before lifting the mandate.

We feel the real issue is the fact that Fordham has put the responsibility of deciding whether masks should be allowed in classrooms onto professors. We understand why this would be up to faculty — we certainly wouldn’t advocate for faculty that are still uncomfortable with potential unmasking to be forced to interact with a large group of reckless undergraduates.

On the other hand, having faculty be responsible for asking students to wear masks when they may not want to could cause a lot of resentment towards professors from their students — something that could be a problem considering the amount of individual interaction professors have with students.

It could also cause resentment towards the general concept of “the administration.” Of the 16 professors with whom we at the

editorial board have classes, four have outright required masks in class, and one has requested that their students wear masks in class. Either way, the nose is out of the mask now. We can only hope the university doesn’t feel the need to mandate masks indoors once again, as it’s going to be incredibly difficult to wrangle students back into masks now that we’ve gotten used to seeing the lower half of each other’s faces.

OPINION

March 23, 2022

Page 7

Hochul’s Cash Bail Rollbacks Won’t Reduce Crime

By EMMA LIPKIND OPINION EDITOR

Cash bail reform is one of the most contentious issues in New York. It draws criticism from the progressive left, while Republicans and some moderate Democrats are often in favor. In an attempt to take back public safety in the city, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has introduced a new plan that would destroy the city’s past efforts to improve the fairness of cash bail laws.

Cash bail is an amount of money that someone accused of a crime must post so that they can be released from custody until their trial. Its purpose is to act as leverage to ensure that the accused person complies with the court mandate they receive. Once the court officially closes the case, the defendant, or accused person, will get their posted bail back.

The progressive changes to cash bail legislation were put in place by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York Democratic Legislature in 2019. Some elements of this reform included ruling out money bail and the detainment of non-violent defendants and those charged with misdemeanors ahead of their trials. Although he made numerous errors during his political career, this move was a step in the direction of reforming the severely-flawed criminal justice system in the United States.

Gov. Hochul’s idea to repeal Cuomo’s cash bail reforms is part of a larger, 10-point safety plan. One of the key elements in the rollback is reinstating the “dangerousness standard,” which allows judges to place cash bail based on their assumption of whether or not a person will commit a crime while awaiting trial.

According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, “[if the] dangerousness standard is applied, we know it will especially hurt Black people and other people of color.”

Gov. Hochul’s plan will also allow police to make arrests on more low-level crimes, rather than issuing desk appearance tickets. This will ultimately put more accused people behind bars before even having a trial, instead of curbing violent crime. One of the supervising attorneys at the Legal Aid Society, Marie Ndiaye, said this new legislation would be regressive, disproportionately harming the Black and brown communities in New York.

By rolling back on the efforts made by the Cuomo administration, Gov. Hochul is dropping the ball when it comes to making New York more equitable for everyone. To make matters worse, since Gov. Hochul has stated outright that she refuses to negotiate or explain her legislation more thoroughly to the public, this new plan has blindsided many New York residents.

The idea of cash bail itself is

Earn your master’s degree with only one year of study beyond your bachelor’s degree.

incredibly flawed and disproportionately affects those who lack necessary resources. If a person who committed a nonviolent crime can’t afford their bail, they are forced to remain in prison ahead of their trial. Since the U.S. legal system considers people innocent until proven guilty, when those who can’t make bail are forced to sit in jail before trial, they are essentially serving a sentence when they are still considered innocent in the eyes of the law. Essentially, if two people committed the same crime but only one of them can afford the price of their bail, one will have the freedom to go home before their trial while the other sits in jail.

A famous example of the harm caused by cash bail is the case of Kalief Browder. He was a young man from the Bronx who was held at Rikers Island for three years because his family couldn’t afford the $3,000 bail price tag.

Browder was accused of stealing a bag that allegedly held valuable items, but there was no incriminating evidence found. Years after Browders left Rikers, he took his own life due to trauma and paranoia.

An alternative to cash bail that would still ensure those accused of a crime show up to their trial is the supervised release program (SR). This tactic employs nonprofits to supervise defendants before their trial, and has been

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Gov. Hochul’s cash bail reform is a part of her 10-point safety plan.

proven just as effective as cash bail in terms of getting people to their trials. After the program launched in 2016, “SR has helped divert over 24,000 individuals from jail.”

Removing cash bail entirely won’t solve the problem of crime, but promoting cash bail legislation is not going to curb crime either. In fact, the NYCLU found that “There is no evidence that bail reform has contributed to an increase in crime.” Of course, someone who has been proven to have committed a crime should not go unpunished, but allowing wealthier individuals to have the

opportunity to be comfortable at home before their trial is wildly unfair.

I commend Gov. Hochul’s efforts to make New York a safer place, but going backwards on cash bail reform is not the way to do it. Instead, we must look to other options that will still ensure there is justice for crime, but not in a way that punishes people for being poor.

Emma Lipkind, FCRH ’23, is a French and international political economy major and journalism minor from Holland, Penn.

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OPINION

Page 8

March 23, 2022

Tips for Improving Your Cybersecurity Safety

COURTESY OF PIA FISCHETTI/THE FORDHAM RAM

It’s important that people take appropriate steps to protect themselves online.

By MICHAEL SLUCK PRODUCTION EDITOR

You might be tempted to skip this article. You may even say to yourself, “I know how to make strong passwords,” or “Why would anyone even want to hack me?”

However, the sad truth is that the majority of people don’t take proper cybersecurity precautions and are leaving themselves incredibly vulnerable in a world where hacking is becoming more and more commonplace.

You may not believe it, but password protection, and cybersecurity in general, are some of the most important skills you should learn.

It’s something everyone needs to understand, and it’s only going to become more important in the future.

Think about how many aspects of our lives are connected to tech-

nology: financial information, personal records, communications and more.

A study by the University of Maryland suggests that every 39 seconds a computer gets hacked.

Our entire lives exist online, and if you don’t take the necessary steps to protect yourself, you leave yourself vulnerable.

However, in spite of all this, many Americans still engage in outdated cybersecurity practices.

They make silly mistakes, like using one, easy-to-crack password for all their accounts. They use passwords based on names of family members or birthdays. Bad habits like these expose our digital lives to even more risk.

No one would go away on vacation and leave the doors unlocked, the windows open and a sign outside that says, “We won’t be home until next weekend.”

So why do we make these mistakes with our passwords?

But fear not, because I am here to help! There is a vast quantity of resources out there with advice on how to best protect yourself, but here are a few basic measures everyone should be taking in regards to their digital lives.

First and foremost, do not use the same password for all your accounts. This is one of the most common errors, and it’s one of the most potentially dangerous. Using one password for every account means that if hackers get access to even one of your accounts, they have access to all of your information. It may seem like a hassle to have multiple passwords, but it is also a hassle to have locks installed in your house; no one would ever suggest going without locks. Security is worth the effort. At the very least, make sure your important accounts (email, school and banking) have unique passwords.

Your passwords should not be common words that can be easily associated with you. They should be a mixture of letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and symbols. Ideally, people should follow cybersecurity experts’ advice to move from passwords to passphrases, strings of seemingly meaningless text, in order to make accounts harder to hack. Remember: the longer the password, the better.

Consider this example: if I made my password “theram,” it would take about 0.65 seconds for a hacker to crack. If I made my password “TheRam35” it would take about 37 seconds to crack. If I used “TheFordhamRam,” it would take about 12 hours — not bad.

However, if I used the phrase “T heFordham7RamI$theBestPape rEver” it would take a hacker one billion years to crack. See how useful a phrase can be? (If you’re curious about testing this for yourself, I recommend Password Monster, an anonymous website that allows you to check how long it would take a hacker to crack your passwords).

However, it is possible that someone trying to hack my account would research me first, discover I am a member of The Fordham Ram and use that information to try to better guess my password. For this reason, you should use a random phrase no one would ever associate with you. A random string of words is perfect: “eleven6FOX/ McShane&Magnoliablizzards?” would take about four hundred trillion years for a hacker to crack, and it seems unlikely the hacker would guess I would be using any of those words.

As for phone passwords, don’t use your birthday or the birthday of anyone close to you. Ideally, don’t use a date at all — just choose a string of random numbers. It’s six numbers that you use everyday, so it should be easy to remember.

Try your best not to share your passwords with anyone, and never, ever share your passwords to important websites, like your bank.

You shouldn’t write all your passwords down somewhere that’s easily accessible — like a notebook or a Google Doc — either. Most cybersecurity experts recommend changing your passwords every couple of months. If that seems like too much of a burden, aim to change your important passwords at least once a year. That way, even if your password is stolen, it will

soon become useless to hackers.

Of the abundant, free cybersecurity safety resources online, the first one I recommend is a password manager, which automatically stores your password in a heavily-defended digital account.

It allows you to have diverse, complex passwords without having to go to the trouble of remembering all of them. Furthermore, password managers can help by suggesting passwords that will be even more difficult for hackers to crack.

You might also want to consider a two-step verification application, which requires multiple devices to access an important account. In order to access your MyFordham account, you need to go through a two-step verification process, using the app Duo Mobile. You can enable two-step verification for multiple accounts, making it harder for hackers to access your information.

College is a great time to start building good password habits that will last you for the rest of your life. If you put in the time and effort now to make sure your data is sufficiently protected, you’ll save yourself a headache in the future.

Don’t wait, make sure you’re safe.

A little bit of effort goes a long way.

After reading this article, you may be curious to know if your information has ever been released in a data breach. I recommend “Have I Been Pwned,” a free website that allows you to enter your email and see if your personal information has ever been stolen in a data breach. If it has, change your passwords immediately.

Michael Sluck, FCRH ’24, is a political science and computer science major from Verona, N.J.

Financial Burdens are Necessary to Help Ukraine

By LAINE FINEGAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Since Russian forces invaded Ukraine under the pretense of a “special military operation” aimed to combate “genocide” and “NeoNazi groups,” people all over the globe have been forced to reckon with the effects of this crisis.

The United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies have condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for the violence that followed these unsubstantiated claims. However, the domestic impacts of sanctions imposed upon Russia have been met with varying degrees of support from the public.

To punish Russia for its crimes against humanity, the U.S. and European allies have effectively ceased importing Russian oil, one of the country’s biggest exports.

This move, in tandem with the decision to cut off Russia from international banking systems such as SWIFT, has tanked the value of the ruble, which is now worth less than one cent.

However, the American economy has also hit a speed bump, with investment bank Goldman Sachs predicting a recession in the

near future. Since Russia accounts for nearly 10% of the world’s oil supply, its sudden absence from the market has caused demand to outweigh supply, leading to a drastic increase in oil prices. This issue combined with record-high inflation, the beginnings of which preceded the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, are causing consumers to face higher energy costs, as well as increases in prices across the market, on everything from groceries to childcare.

There is work to be done by federal, state and local governments to assist the people hit hardest by this most recent blow to the economy, but the solution is not rolling back sanctions on Russia. The Biden Administration is working off the idea that Americans are willing to take on financial sacrifices to help combat the conflict caused by Russia, but where Americans truly place the blame depends on who you ask.

It is difficult to dismiss the worries of those most impacted by rising prices. Although many things are seeing price increases, wages have not been able to keep up, rising by only one penny in February 2022. Transportation alone is becoming a struggle for Americans,

to the point where commuting to work may soon become utterly unaffordable for some people.

With Russian forces targeting civilians, hospitals and schools, economic sanctions are the only retaliatory actions the U.S. can take short of putting troops on the ground, which many fear would spark a third, potentially nuclear, world war. The U.S. must retaliate against Russia and their “war crimes,” as Secretary of State Anthony Blinken referred to the country’s actions on March 17.

This is the right thing to do, since anything less than a united response from NATO may embolden Russia to push into other European countries, which would spark further conflicts and catastrophe.

So what is being done now and can be done in the future to alleviate the financial burden on Americans? The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates to combat inflation. This move incentivizes people to borrow and spend less on things, including labor, which might slow the wage-price spiral.

In his State of the Union address, the President insisted that the problem can be assuaged with competition among businesses and

a stronger supply chain, though the efficacy of these approaches will take patience to determine.

In the short term, individuals can combat rising gas prices by trying to use public transportation whenever possible. When it’s impossible to take public transit, do not accelerate or speed vehicles excessively and pay close attention to the use of heating and cooling systems, both of which burn fuel and money when used excessively.

In the long term, the United States must invest in alternative forms of energy — not only due to

the ongoing environmental crisis, but also to decrease our reliance on foreign entities, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, to meet citizens’ energy demands. We must invest in public transportation, making it accessible, safe and fuel-efficient.

Finally, we must move away from the automotive city, in which people often have no choice but to travel by car.

Laine Finegan, FCRH ’24, is an English and communications and culture major from Rockville Centre, N.Y.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Increasing oil prices and inflation are causing higher energy costs.

CULTURE

March 23, 2022

Page 9

Rams Around the World

By ELISABETH MURRAY CULTURE EDITOR

I fell in love with Portugal over spring break. The week before I had planned to visit London to see my friends studying abroad this semester, Fordham lifted the travel restrictions on its abroad programs. As soon as we got the email, the three of us hopped on a FaceTime call and immediately booked the cheapest flights we could find. Days later, we were off to Portugal. We landed in Lisbon at 10 p.m., but it was midnight by the time we got to our hostel (much to our roommates displeasure). We woke up bright and early the next day with no plan and wandered around the city.

By noon, we had shopped, eaten our way down Rua Augusta and wandered to Praça do Comércio. Luckily for us, the weather was perfect.

Over lunch — delicious ceviche paired with fresh sangria — we decided to book bus tickets to Porto for the following night, as we were only able to secure a two-night stay in our current hostel. We spent the rest of the

day exploring Sintra, a nearby city full of rich history. We ended up getting locked in Pena palace as we overstayed our welcome without realizing it. It’s impossible not to get lost in the endless evergreen gardens, and there was no announcement that the park would be closing or that the buses stopped running after 6 p.m., so by 7 p.m., we were panicking.

After several Uber cancellations

and unhelpful phone calls with tourism police, we braved the scary walk down the mountain ourselves and made it back to civilization just in time for the last train back to Lisbon. The next day we were off to Porto.

Porto was another incredible experience. The three of us shared a room with one other woman named Sunny, who we learned was a professor from

The Douro Valley.

COURTESY OF ELISABETH MURRAY/THE FORDHAM RAM

Portugal is very mountainous so many residential neighborhoods are built on hills.

NEWS EDITOR

By ERICA WEIDNER

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EMERITA

I always wanted to go on a fun college spring break trip.

That didn’t happen my freshman year because my friends and I weren’t close enough to plan a vacation together, and the pandemic erased my sophomore

COURTESY OF ERICA WEIDNER/THE FORDHAM RAM

Erica enjoys her trip.

By NATALIA CRUZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

My friend Cole and I both decided that we wanted to spend spring break somewhere that would provide a once-ina-lifetime opportunity. We always wanted that European travel moment, and knowing we were going to study abroad junior year, we decided against traveling to London, Paris or Spain. This was when Greece came up. It’s been my

in my heart. I cannot wait to go back because there is so much I did not get to see or try in my short four-day visit. Between the views, the food, the culture and the people, I cannot recommend visiting Portugal enough!

COURTESY OF ELISABETH MURRAY/ THE FORDHAM RAM

By ISABEL DANZIS Over spring break, I traveled to Galveston, Texas with some of my friends. Growing up on the East Coast, I had never been to a southern state besides Florida, so going to Texas was a completely new experience. I got to see some iconic places in Texas like Buc-ee’s gas station and the grocery store H-E-B. My friends and I flew to Houston and were able to see a few sights in the city before driving 40 minutes to Galveston. Galveston is

Germany who had spent the last couple of years living a nomadic lifestyle. On our last full day, we took a tour of wineries in the Douro Valley. During this time of year, the Douro Valley gets hit with sands from the Sahara Desert, which look a little like fog, but it made the views even more breathtaking.

Portugal is a hidden gem and it will always hold a special place

COURTESY OF ISABEL DANZIS/THE FORDHAM RAM

A historical inn in Galveston, Texas.

an island with beaches as well as an adorable downtown area.

My time in the city was really relaxing and fun. I would wake

up in the morning and go for walks downtown and stop to get coffee or walk around and window shop. One morning, we ran

along the seawall to get donuts for the rest of our friends. It was fun to see a new part of the island (and, obviously, to get donuts). Later in the day, we would go to the beach, which was warm, yet windy. I liked being able to go into the ocean and play soccer on the sand with friends. Our nights were pretty tame: We would make dinner at home and go out for ice cream. We mostly spent time together, watching movies, playing cards or playing iconic video games like “Just

and junior year spring breaks.

It’s my senior year, so I was determined to make it happen this time. Spring break came around, and my friends and I set off for Aruba.

When I got off the plane, it felt like I had stepped into another world. Not only was it 60 degrees warmer than the Bronx, but everything around me looked different. Palm trees swayed in the near-constant wind. Patches of cacti and shrubs dotted the landscape. I’d never seen a cactus in the wild, and I insisted on touching one.

For a week, my friends and I explored and enjoyed Aruba.

We loaded up our bright red rental car, the “economy” op-

tion, with crank windows, and headed for the beaches. The water was turquoise and warm.

The windy weather was a blessing and a curse; it kept the sun from feeling too hot, but it also pelted us with sand. I’m pretty sure that my copy of “American Gods” will always have sand trapped between its pages.

We didn’t spend all of our

time on the beach, though. My friends and I climbed the side of a long-dormant volcano, the Hooiberg, for a great view of the island. It’s been several days, and my calves are still sore. We ran around a rock formation like third graders let loose at recess. We snorkeled around a group of sea turtles munching on seaweed.

dream to visit. After all, what girl doesn’t want her classic

“Mamma Mia” moment along the white buildings, blue

oceans and flowy dresses? We realized that the ticket and the hotel stay would be the same price as going to Florida, and that was the selling point. We spent a week running around the beautiful city of Plakka, climbing mountains with historic structures that have lasted hundreds of years, taking a boat to the closest island Aegina and, of course, seeing the Parthenon in all shades of the day. Being in Greece was for the younger

COURTESY OF ERICA WEIDNER/THE FORDHAM RAM

The weather in Aruba was perfect for the beach at this time of year.

COURTESY OF NATALIA CRUZ/THE FORDHAM RAM

Greece was the perfect last-minute spring break destination for Cruz.

Dance.” My spring break in Texas was great. It was relaxing and fun, and it was cool to see a new part of the country.

We drank piña coladas and got caught in the rain.

Aruba was a gorgeous, warm, tropical place where I was free of responsibilities for a week.

I’m a little sad writing this article in Walsh Library, wearing a sweatshirt and staring down this week’s homework. I’m just glad I finally got to experience a spring break trip.

me, fueling the Percy Jackson fan that never went away.

CULTURE

Page 10

March 23, 2022

“Fresh” is Not for the Faint of Heart

By SARAH SULC

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As a lover of the classic slashers of decades past, my expectations for new horror are often low. However, Hulu’s “Fresh” is worth a try, even for the insatiable horror junkie. Written by Lauryn Kahn and directed by Mimi Cave, “Fresh” is, for lack of better wordS an extremely refreshing film. Cave is finally stepping out onto the mainstream horror scene after years of exclusively directing short films and music videos. Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones take us on a dark and twisting journey during which we are positive we know what happens next but always end up wrong. Cave makes refreshing decisions that may unsettle certain viewers while still drawing inspiration from classic themes and tropes in horror films.

While embodying both classic rom-com and horror tropes, “Fresh” twists our expectations in an elusively devilish way.

The first quarter of the movie is subtly humorous and delectably suspenseful. The film is categorized as a thriller, but that is easy to forget until the title card appears around the 30 minute

mark. Early on, we are reminded of the horrors of dating when Noa goes on a perfectly atrocious first date with Brett Dier’s misogynistic, hipster-esque Chad. Noa’s horrible dating experience is relatable enough to make us laugh and predictable enough to deceive us into thinking we know how the movie ends. That first quarter had me feeling slightly unimpressed — it felt like I’d

seen this movie before. But, the enticing performances from both Edgar-Jones and Stan were enough to keep me engaged.

The movie’s early predictability is intentional, making the twists and turns far more drastic and exhilarating. The movie cycles through several tonal shifts, keeping viewers on their toes, both eager and horrified to find out what happens next.

Edgar-Jones reimagines the classic “final girl” trope as Noa, while Stan plays the Machiavellian antagonist, Steve. The duo is conventionally attractive, but not without reason. The movie’s plot is driven by the characters’ ability to weaponize their sexuality and allure.

“Fresh” equips its characters with “pretty privilege,” or the ability to use conventional attractiveness as a manipulative tool and

COURTESY OF TWITTER

Sebastian Stan and Daisy Edgar-Jones co-star in Hulu’s latest thriller written by Lauryn Kahn.

self-defense weapon. Cave and Kahn are expressing their apathy towards the “final girl” trope by weaponizing female companionship and femininity itself, instead of pitting female characters against one another.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Khan explains how the “diversity of its characters gets at the nuances of sexism and survival.” For some, “Fresh” may fall short with its pacing and almost too satisfying ending. Typical lovers of horror may have preferred less of the rom-com build up and a darker, gorier conclusion. “Fresh” challenges the horror junkie to patiently understand suspense and terror sans-jumpscares. While the movie doesn’t totally shy away from disgust, it is somewhat light in terms of gore, which was disappointing, personally. Khan’s choice to cut back on gore is indicative of the fact that carnage is not what defines horror; it’s the macro- and micro-metaphors for real-life horrors. As valid as this choice may be, I will always root for more gore.

Ranking 4.5 out of 5 stars in my book, Hulu’s “Fresh” is so deliciously twisted, it’s almost good enough to eat.

The Makings of a Genius: The Humble Beginnings of “Jeen-Yuhs”

By PENELOPE CESPEDES CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the three-part Netflix documentary, “Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy,” directors Clarence “Coodie” Simmons and Chike Ozah follow the life of music artist Kanye West. This documentary gives a behind-the-scenes look at the budding and early career of West, showing how he grew from a small producer to a name known across the world. The series starts in 2020 with the West the world knows today. With a microphone in hand and a mixed beat, West is recorded in his natural environment doing some vocals. After that, West’s public life flashes on screen, including mentions of his 2020 presidential campaign, the Rolling Stone cover of him with a throne and crown, his handshake with Donald Trump and snippets of his many performances throughout the years.

Though we first see these more popular moments flash before us, through the series the audience can also see a new side of West not shown in the media. From West’s holiest of moments to his more human moments, this series gives an insight into the life of one of the most influential artists of the 21st century.

The documentary series is split into three different parts, and the title of each one represents a part of West’s life. The first episode is entitled “act i: VISION,” and it shows West as a producer in his early twenties trying to make a name for himself in an already saturated industry. While West was making waves producing beats for many famous rappers,

he was still trying to get signed, so he could pursue a solo career.

The second episode, “act ii: PURPOSE,” follows West afterhis tragic car crash that left him with a broken jaw, seemingly halting his budding rap career.

While this accident could have meant the end of his career, he pushed through, even with his jaw wired shut, as he continued to finish his debut album, “The College Dropout.” In this episode, we begin to see how impactful West’s music is and how he dealt with the newfound success of his first album.

The last episode of the series, “act iii: AWAKENING,” feels the most rushed with content as it contains the rest of Kanye’s extensive career after “The College Dropout.” The last episode glosses over many of Kanye’s most infamous moments in order to fit the rest of his 20 year life into an hour and a half.

The first two episodes, “VISION” and “PURPOSE,” give an astounding look into who West really is outside of the spotlight. It conveys his true love for his craft and his hunger for success. Simmons functions as a third party perspective through Kanye’s creative process making his first album. Simmons shows Kanye’s drive to be more than a background producer and to make a name for himself.

The most emotional moments are West’s interactions with his mother, Donda, who is his biggest supporter and motivator.

His love and admiration for his mother is an important part of why West never lost hope in his dreams. Donda gives West confidence in what he’s doing,

making him better at his art. We see that West’s love for his craft comes from Donda’s love and belief in him, and I believe that without her support, West would not have become the artist he is today. While West continues to gain success, he never loses touch with his mother. After seeing how Donda impacted West’s life, it is devastating to see how her death massively impacted West and his mental health afterward.

These moments with Donda show a West who is vulnerable and humble while also showcasing Donda’s impact on West.

It has recently become increasingly difficult to justify West’s actions. However, when looking at “VISION” and “PURPOSE,” viewers can see why West is so widely loved and admired by many of his fans. West’s determination and hunger for success is something that is deeply admired universally, especially considering artists like Pharrell and Jay-Z who are in awe of West’s pure tal-

ent. It is West’s early years which personally piqued my interest in him as an artist; he was a fresh face with incredible talent, and he was doing what he loved.

When viewing the last episode, I could feel the disconnect between Simmons and West in the growing years. “AWAKENING” is a very packed episode and is clearly rushed in comparison to the last two episodes. This episode quickly passes through some of the most major public moments in West’s career.

When I first saw the trailer, there were many clips of West’s most public moments: West saying on live television that, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” West interrupting Taylor Swift’s award speech and West’s relationship with Donald Trump. Simmons might have rushed through these moments because this project was not meant to be completely about West’s life. I think when setting out to make this documentary,

Simmons wanted to capture what he saw in a young and up incoming musical genius.

While I still have my criticisms towards the last episode, it does illustrate the constant struggles that came after West’s debut album, especially after the passing of his mother. “JeenYuhs” serves to give people an insight into who West really is behind all the controversies and drama surrounding his life.

Simmons’ awe for West’s art is apparent throughout the series, and we as the viewers see why West has amassed such a devoted fan-base throughout his musical career. This documentary is definitely one for long-time fans of West, but the first two episodes can also serve as a way for nonfans to understand West’s impact on music today. While many fans today can agree that West can at times be difficult to support, it is undeniable that he is incredibly talented at what he does.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The Netflix documentary explores the evolution of West’s music from when it began in the early 2000s.

CULTURE

March 23, 2022

Page 11

“The Dropout” Depicts America’s Favorite Fraudster

By ERICA McHUGH

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

No one likes to feel deceived.

However, many people can appreciate a good villain story, especially if the villain is as complex, mysterious and intriguing as the infamous Stanford dropout, Elizabeth Holmes. In recent years, the story of her deceptive persona and her fraudulent company, Theranos, has gripped the American public consciousness.

How could such a company fool so many, and how could a once infinitely promising entrepreneurial mastermind fabricate such a thoroughly corrupt scheme?

In Hulu’s new miniseries “The Dropout,” show creator Elizabeth Meriwether traces the extravagant rise and fall of Holmes and Theranos through a thoughtfully crafted, carefully stylized lens.

In 2003, 19-year-old Holmes founded Theranos, claiming that her unconventional blood testing machine would completely revolutionize the landscape of medical technology.

However, private investors and the general public had no idea that the technology she built her entire career upon simply did not work.

In 2018, Theranos imploded after its executives, Holmes

and company president Sunny Balwani (who was also Holmes’ secret boyfriend), were charged with fraud by the SEC. “The Dropout” was released at the perfect time — Holmes was found guilty on four counts of fraud in January 2022 and is currently facing up to 20 years in federal prison. This verdict, of course, comes after over a decade of billiondollar investments, countless violations of FDA health and safety standards and deep personal detriment to dozens of employees and patients.

While watching “The Dropout,” viewers feel transported into the mid-2000s. The time period is reflected in everything from the deliberately compiled soundtrack, to the costume choices and set design to the evolution of the technology itself. The show also provides interesting insight into Holmes’ life and personality, although it is important for viewers to keep in mind that the portrayal certainly takes creative license to illustrate an ultimately enigmatic and confusing figure.

The incredibly talented Amanda Seyfried stars as Holmes in “The Dropout,” accompanied by fellow powerhouse Naveen Andrews as her secret lover, Balwani.

Seyfried adopts Holmes’ man-

nerisms and unique voice impeccably. Every aspect of her outward appearance is tailored to match the real life version, but Seyfried brings deeper dimensions to the character. She is the ambitious, intense and disingenuous figure that much of the American public has come to perceive, but she also manages to convey a sense of almost endearing awkwardness, particularly when acting Holmes’ younger Stanford days.

The depth of her characterization is also where the show takes its creative liberties — in reality, there is a lot about Holmes that the public simply will never really know. In the first episodes of “The Dropout,” viewers watch Holmes struggle with her experience at Stanford. We know that in real life, she dropped out, but the show provides us with a detailed, behind-closed-doors perspective of her intimate conversations and interactions with family, friends and schoolmates.

The production is beautifully orchestrated, and the visual reality of Theranos’ evolution from a oneroom, ant-infested Palo Alto office to a sprawling, glass and steel encased workspace emphasizes the vast extent of her deception.

One of the strongest points about the series is the cast per-

formances. Seyfried and Andrews are utterly convincing in their roles, and the supporting characters are just as strong. Stephen Fry shines as Ian Gibbons, former chief scientist at Theranos; he brings a sense of humanity to the show that contrasts with Holmes’ greedy pursuits. William H. Macy and Laurie Metcalf also make appearances, along with Michel Gill, Josh Pais and Alan Ruck. Every single cast member brings their character to life in a vivid, tangible way, humanizing each persona in this com-

plex and deeply entangled tale.

If you enjoy true crime in any form, you will probably enjoy “The Dropout.” The real-life story of Holmes and Theranos alone is intriguing enough to capture attention, and the beautifully portrayed visual aspects of the series are just as enjoyable to watch. “The Dropout” is released weekly on Hulu on Thursdays, with the final episode scheduled to air on April 7. Catch up if you haven’t already and tune in this week for the sixth episode.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

“The Dropout” follows the fall of Holmes’ infamous company, Theranos.

Editor’s Pick | Television

“Skam:” A Norwegian Teen Drama Gone International

By ISABEL DANZIS NEWS EDITOR

In my lifetime, I have watched countless television shows and movies trying to depict the life of teenagers, but each fails miserably. Most renditions of teenage life on the screen tend to be dramatized, simplified or even dull. When I was in high school, I constantly looked for media that would accurately portray my life and how it felt to be a teenager. And that’s how I originally stumbled across the Norwegian teen drama “Skam.”

“Skam” is set in a Norwegian high school and follows a few main characters, with every season depicting the specific story of one character. The overarching plot of “Skam” focuses on a group of high schoolers raising money to go on “russefeiring,” a Norwegian tradition where students in their final semester of high school buy or rent a bus and throw continuous parties on it. Alongside that ongoing conflict, the show’s plotlines are not particularly innovative or exciting. The writing is not groundbreaking either — the show didn’t even have a solid script. The actors were encouraged to go off script and contribute to building their characters.

What makes “Skam” unique is its extreme focus on characters and the fact that the entire show is an immersive experience. Each “Skam” character

had their own Instagram account run to look like it was a real person’s account. The show’s episodes were released through 10-minute segments which were posted on a website in real-time. For example, clips of the characters at school would be posted during school hours. If there was a party happening at 9 p.m., then a clip of the party “dropped” at 9 p.m.

Unlike many other shows that I’ve seen depicting teenage life, the characters on “Skam” are imperfect. They struggle, make mistakes and deal with the consequences. However, the characters’ errors are not meant to teach lessons to the audience, nor are they always resolved. The characters deal

with bigotry, hatred, sexual assault and sexuality crises. Unlike so many other shows in this genre, discussion and depiction of issues does not seem forced. It honestly feels like all the show’s creators wanted to communicate was “life is hard.”

In the simplest way, watching “Skam” feels like watching people live their lives.

“Skam” took the world by storm. It was popular in certain groups of people and utterly unknown to others, sparking an odd subculture. People worldwide found each other online and created communities around the show. Finding “Skam” was not necessarily easy. If you didn’t live in Norway, finding the show meant comb-

ing the internet for reposted clips. Because of that, the fans represented an odd, niche group of people who felt seen by the show. People made obsessive fan art, comedy clip compilations called “Skam crack” and followed the series obsessively.

The series’ success inspired spin-offs made in other countries. The American version, “Skam Austin,” was released on Facebook TV and flopped after two seasons.

However, the show continues to thrive in Europe. There are currently versions of “Skam” in Germany, France and Italy. However, the versions set in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands ended after a few seasons.

COURTESY OF TWITTER

“Skam” captures the pain, humor and sheer awkwardness of adolescence in a way that created an international sensation.

Honestly, I had forgotten about “Skam” until a friend and I realized over spring break that we had both watched the show. When we talked about the show, I remembered all the little nuances and how “Skam” made me feel when I watched it in high school. My high school experience was not all rainbows and butterflies. I had a handful of friends, but I struggled with social anxiety.

I always felt alone, different and misunderstood. While a lot of that was me just being a dramatic teenager, it was rooted in real feelings and a lack of emotional intelligence.

Watching “Skam” was an escape and it showed me that I wasn’t alone. A lot of the characters were going through the same things that I dealt with and that I struggled to even put into words. But, because of the way the series communicated the plot, I didn’t feel influenced to act a certain way.

I have no connection to Norway, and neither do most of the people I know who watched “Skam,” yet the show still spoke to the essence of adolescence.

To this day, I have never seen a show quite like it or with the same type of fans. It just emphasizes the unique impact that “Skam” had on people. The show introduced me to new things and made me think about myself differently through the lens of the characters.

Plus, it gave me a love for Norwegian pop music.

CULTURE

Page 12

Women’s History Month | Women’s Rugby Football Club

March 23, 2022

Women’s Rugby Football Club Tackles Misogyny

By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR

When it comes to traditionally masculine spaces into which women have begun entering, none stands out as much on a college campus as sports. And when it comes to sports, few are as traditionally masculine as rugby. Players stand in a line trying to push through the opposing line, bending low and aiming to take out an opposing team member by pulling their knees out from beneath them. Stories of broken noses, bloodied lips and, the most horrifying of all, torn ACLs are traded as badges of honor between players, who fit the description of “delicate flower” about as well as a ripping wind. The Fordham University Women’s Rugby Football Club (FUWRFC) provides a warm, welcoming environment for female college students to come together to play a fun, unique sport with a group of amazing people.

Club captains Maria Fournaris, FCRH ’22, and Kiara Marques, FCRH ’22, explained that they originally joined the club to push themselves as freshmen. “I joined FUWRFC to stay active

in college and surround myself with other motivated and mentally and physically strong individuals,” said Fournaris.

“Rugby is a very new sport here in America and combines a lot of elements of other sports students may have played in the past, so I think it’s the perfect sport if you’re looking to try something new,” Marques explained. Yet, it’s the atmosphere of the club that convinces new players to make it a central part of their college experience.

Marques continued, “We also have a very diverse team of people of many different identities and as we like to say, rugby is for everyone. We pride ourselves in having made an inclusive space where all identities are welcome on and off the field.”

This was the case for Marques, who explained that she joined the team when she first started college to try a new sport and challenge herself. Her favorite memory comes from freshman year, when she went to her first regionals tournament. “It was a weekend long trip and I really bonded with my teammates and felt truly a part of an amazing community afterwards.”

Fournaris and Marques have

worked hard to maintain a welcoming environment. Fournaris explained she was thrilled to evolve through the different roles in the club, “One of my favorite memories on the rugby team was Kiara and I running our first ever captains’ practice together this year. Ever since we were freshmen on the team, we had hoped to continue the legacy of our amazing teammates before us and lead the future of the team as captains. It’s something I’ll always cherish.” Like so many organizations at Fordham, it’s this sense of community that makes the club such an amazing space for women on campus.

Outside the welcoming community of the WRFC, members of the team often face misogyny when it comes to the validity of their sport. “Myself and many teammates have often been asked, ‘Who do you know on the men’s rugby team?’ when wearing our own team’s merch, because too often people view rugby as a masculine sport. On our team, we try to challenge these views and gender norms and, in doing so, we support those who are gender nonconforming,” said Fournaris.

Safe spaces are essential for providing community to students

who may feel unrepresented, as is the case for many women all across Fordham’s campus.

However, the onus of creating safe spaces often falls upon the students themselves. Fournaris has no problem with that, as creating a welcoming campus is the duty of both the university’s administration and the student body themselves.

“No university is perfect, and Fordham definitely falls under that category. However, I think that the university can only go so far. More recently, club sports’ new leadership has done an amazing job in ensuring that women’s and men’s teams are both treated equally and given a fair shot to succeed. I feel that these small actions can go a long way, and real change can only be done when the student body grows and learns,” said Fournaris.

When it comes to what Fordham might do to improve, Marques argued for a more fair division of resources and attention amongst all of the groups that serve students.

“Fordham definitely could do better in many different areas, and I believe it begins with administration actually listening to the student body’s concerns and meeting them with action. I think Fordham

could also do better by not favoring organizations or groups of people over others, which in our case they often do with varsity sports over club sports. They could definitely do more to allocate resources more equally, and provide more resources to the clubs who are creating the welcoming and safe spaces on campus.”

Lastly, as a running feature of this series, I asked both Fournaris and Marques who their favorite feminist icons were. Fournaris answered Ilona Maher, “As an Olympic rugby player, she has brought so many people to the community while also advocating for women in sports and challenging society’s understanding of gender stereotypes.” Marques replied with Hayley Kiyoko, as, “Her and her music have broken down many barriers for women and the LGBTQ+ community and have helped me a lot in my own journey of self-empowerment.”

If you wish to try a new sport, get stronger and meet some amazing people, you can reach out to Fournaris (mfournaris@fordham.edu) or Marques (kmarques1@fordham.edu), as well as dming the FUWRFC Instagram (@fuwrfc).

Who’s That Kid? | Julian Ogawa, FCRH ’25

Freshman Documents Doing What He Loves Around Campus

By AMANDA YAROLIN COPY CHIEF

As soon as I sat down to talk to Julian Ogawa, FCRH ’25, the conversation was immediately full of friendly excitement. Ogawa, from Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, was inspired to come to Fordham by his uncle, Joe Juntereal, a Fordham alum, GSB ’08. Juntereal also inspired Ogawa to join the Fordham University PhilippineAmerican Club (FUPAC). Aside from FUPAC, Ogawa is also a part of Pep Band, Asian Cultural Exchange (ACE), Photography Club and Film Club.

The historian position and board member position he holds on FUPAC and ACE respectively, seem like a perfect fit, as the conversation then turned to Ogawa’s work with photography and videography.

The digital technologies and emerging media major’s love for film is not only evident in his academics, but carries over into many of his hobbies, as he spends much of his time documenting his life and the fun adventures he partakes in.

Ogawa started his daily vlogs early in the semester but has since slowed down on uploading due to midterms. He would spend hours outside of class filming, editing and uploading; sometimes, one might even find themself involved in the vlog, as he tries to get anyone and everyone involved,

including some of his professors. The official Fordham Instagram page (@fordhamuniversity) has even recognized Ogawa’s work, reposting a glimpse of one of his recent vlogs and commenting on his amazing charisma.

These vlogs are modeled after famous YouTuber Casey Neistat, whom Ogawa believes is set apart from other vloggers and internet influencers because he truly loves his work. Ogawa emphasizes that he wants to be “loved for doing what he loves,” and explains what he believes sets him apart from other beginner influencers, “People who are flaunting on social media ‘I’m a photographer’ or ‘I’m an influencer’ that’s their main thing, to flaunt that they do this stuff. I want to see their work … But why are you doing that? I like watching and seeing the reason people like to film, and that’s what I want to mimic.” Ogawa’s work can be seen on his Instagram and YouTube, both @julimages.

Talking to Ogawa, it is easy to tell that he is a leader, not a follower. Not only does he pave the way with his vlogs, but in other activities he is involved in, such as Pep Band and the 2021 Mr. PhilippinesIsland Pageant (Mr. PI).

In Pep Band, Ogawa plays third trumpet and has played since seventh grade. When asked what made him want to pick up the trumpet, he re-

sponded: “I liked having the melody in the song … I want to play the main part of the song.”

In regard to the Mr. PI Pageant, Ogawa was recommended

by FUPAC to partake in the event and was one of the only freshmen to participate, going against upperclassmen of other schools in the region. Ogawa recalls putting a lot of his time and energy into learning the dances, creating acts and preparing speeches, but remembers it mostly to meet a lot of new people. Past members of FUPAC have also participated in the pageant, with Ogawa only continuing this culturally unifying legacy.

He might be seen around campus zooming by on his penny board, running around with his camera or working out in the new gym, but anywhere he is, Ogawa is surely spreading his energetic personality.

As we were talking, groups of people came up just to say hello to Ogawa, further emphasizing the point that he loves to make new friends and talk to everyone he meets; if you see him around campus, make sure to say hello.

When we weren’t discussing the basics of schools and clubs, the conversation would turn to random facts about himself. I learned that he puts coins on the windowsill of wherever he lives for good luck, and that Rocky is his favorite movie.

He can even do the splits —

he stood up during our interview, in the middle of the new student center gallery, just to show me his flexible skills.

I can give you endlessly more interesting facts about Ogawa, but I think the real treat is to

sit and meet with him yourself.

However, I will leave you with one message he lives by that he wishes to share with the people reading this paper: “If you can’t beat the fear, do it scared.” — Will Smith.

COURTESY OF JULIAN OGAWA

Julian Ogawa uses his art at film-making to document his life on social media.

SPORTS

March 23, 2022

Women’s Tennis Extends Winning Streak to Five Games

By LOU ORLANDO STAFF WRITER

Fordham’s Women’s Tennis put together three dominant wins over the past two weekends, improving to 8-2 and leaping into first place in the Atlantic 10 standings. The Rams are on a roll, winning five straight matches, and six of their last seven.

The Rams capped off a fourgame road trip with a 6-1 victory over Queens College on March 12.

Fordham dominated in doubles play, winning all three matches.

Junior Avery Aude and freshman Loraine Bergmann were paired together for the first time this season and won their match 6-0.

Fordham carried their domination into singles play, winning five of the six matches. Aude, Bergmann, graduate student Carlota Casasampere-Escoda, senior Nicole Li and junior Rachelle Yang all came away victorious, with sophomore Eleni Fasoula suffering the only loss. The victory was Fordham’s third straight road win after dropping their road opener to Brown.

Fordham followed the Saturday win over Queens College with a Sunday shutout against Siena College. The one game homestand was Fordham’s final game at Life Time Athletic as the Rams said goodbye with a dominant 7-0 victory. For a second straight day, Fordham dominated in doubles play as the pairings of Aude and Deminova alongside Casasampere-Escoda and Yang secured the doubles point.

Deminova, Aude, Fasoula, Li, Yang and Casasampere-Escoda won their singles matchups in the sweep, as the Rams improved to a 4-1 reccord at home.

The Rams let the good times

roll this past Sunday, recording their second straight shutout in a 4-0 victory over Marist. The parings of Aude and Deminova and Casasampere-Escoda and Yang secured the doubles point. The duo consisting of Aude-Deminova has proved to be an excellent combo as the pairing improved to 5-0 on the season with their match win on Sunday. Li, Bergmann and senior Genevieve Quenville won their singles matches, ensuring a victory for Fordham, on the other hand, Aude’s, Yang’s and Casasampere-Escoda’s matches recieved an unfinished ruling.

Fordham entered this season with eyes on the Atlantic 10 championship, a goal that seems incredibly attainable as the Rams continue this stretch of wins.

Head coach Mike Sowter is getting excellent production from Deminova and Li. Deminova is undefeated in singles play and is 14-1 overall with her one loss coming in doubles play. Aude, Yang and Fasoula have had an incredible impact as well. It sure seems like the pieces are falling into place for a lengthy run come tournament time for the Rams.

Fordham’s winning percentage sits at .800, giving them a slight edge over Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) (12-4, .750) and University of Massachusetts (UMass) (9-3, .750). They’ll need to continue their winning ways if they wish to stay atop the A-10 standings. That will be no easy task as the Marist game was just the first of a seven game stretch. Fordham will play a pair of games this weekend against both Temple University and St. Joseph’s College before traveling up to Amherst next week for a tough matchup against UMass Amherst at 1 p.m.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham Women’s Tennis improved their season yet again.

Page 13

Baseball Drop Nine Straight Games

By MADDIE BIMONTE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

After a series of weather cancellations, the Fordham men’s baseball team resumed play, though with underwhelming success, as they were swept in their most recent six games. The Rams started their losing streak earlier this month against Florida Atlantic University, and have faced four different opponents since. Their opponents included Long Island University (LIU) and Yale, before facing LIU again two days later.

The Rams continued their homestand against Wagner College last Wednesday for a one-game series and three game series against Marist College last weekend.

In the first game against LIU, the Rams struggled to stop the home runs pouring out of the Sharks dugout. LIU’s E.J. Exposito hit two home runs and drove in four runs, and additional home runs came in from Colin Adams and Luke Turner, amounting to a grand total of four during the game.

The Rams managed to put up single runs in the first, third, sixth and eighth innings. Senior infielder Jack Harnisch slammed a solo home run in the first inning, later going 2-for-4 in the series.

Senior catcher Andy Semo had an RBI-single in the third inning and freshman first baseman T.J. Wachter recorded a sacrifice fly in the eighth. The Rams’ run in the sixth inning came from senior outfielder Jason Coules, who singled, stole second and third and scored on a failed pickoff attempt. Ultimately, it was not enough, as the Rams dropped the game 9-4 and went on to face Yale for game two.

Game two featured strong pitching from Yale’s Mike Walsh, who struck out nine batters over six innings, allowing just one unearned run. Fordham’s runs came in the sixth and eighth innings on an RBI-groundout by Wachter and a Yale error. With a final score of 11-2 in favor of Yale, the Rams bats struggled to make up ground.

In a slugfest against Wagner College, both teams showcased their strong hitting abilities. Both teams were matched at 2-12 for the season and continued their matchup by recording two runs

each in the first. The Rams got on the board thanks to Semo who singled to right field to score senior outfielder Jake Guercio. Then, the freshman outfielder Sebastian Mexico hit a sacrifice fly out to left in order to score Coules.

The Seahawks regained the lead in the second with three runs.

The Rams cut that deficit to 5-4 in the fourth inning, as Mexico led off with a double and was followed by RBI-doubles by junior Zach Selinger and Wachter. For the Rams, sophomore shortstop Nico Boza registered a two-run double and Harnisch slammed a three-run double to highlight the scoring. The Rams inched closer, making the score 14-11 in the seventh inning. Mexico scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore third baseman Michael Taylor.

Wagner put an end to the Rams’ comeback, getting a three-run home run in the eighth, for the 19-11 final. Mexico led the team, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI, while Harnisch helped drive in three runs.

Shifting their focus to the series against Marist, game one almost had potential to snap the long losing streak. The Rams forced the game into extra innings, however, they came up short of a victory.

The Red Foxes were up by three runs going into the third inning and after a two-out walk to Wachter, Semo hit a ground ball to third base, allowing Wachter to score from first base.

Fordham cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, when sophomore outfielder Ryan Thiesse led off with a solo home run to left, his first of the season. The Rams then grabbed a 4-3 lead in the sixth.

With runners at first and second and one out, Mexico drove a single to left to load the bases, but the left fielder overran the ball, allowing Selinger to score. Wachter later singled up the middle to score sophomore shortstop Chris Genaro to give the Rams the lead.

The lead held up until the eighth, when Marist tied the game on a bases-loaded walk. The score stayed tied at four all the way to the 11th, when the Red Foxes recorded six runs to secure a 10-4 win.

Game two featured hot Marist

bats as the Red Foxes jumped out to a 5-0 lead immediately in the first inning, featuring a two run and three run home-run.

The Rams put up one run while the Red Foxes scored a whopping nine over three innings, making their lead 14-1. Fordham scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, as junior second baseman Will Findlay registered an RBI-double, while Genaro hit a solo home run to left for his first of the season and first of his career.

Marist finished their scoring with two runs in the sixth and one in the eighth inning for their 17-run total.

Fordham put up two runs late in the game, but to no avail. The eighth inning saw an RBI-single from Diego Prieto, while in the ninth inning, Genaro connected on a three-run home run for his first career multi-home run game.

But, it was not nearly enough to contend with the power hitting and pitching of the Red Foxes, ending the game at a score of 17-7.

For their final game of the series, the Rams faced strong pitching from Marist’s Alex Pansini who tossed 7.2 innings with only five hits. The only two runs of the game came in the second inning, as Marist loaded the bases on two walks and a single with no outs.

Fordham held Marist to just those two runs, turning a pair of double plays and getting clutch relief performances by senior Gabe Karslo and junior Ben Kovel.

Karslo threw 5.2 scoreless innings of five-hit relief with seven strikeouts, while Kovel added two shutout innings of relief, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Fordham had opportunities to get on the board, but couldn’t make it home.

With attempts in the first, eighth and ninth, the Rams left runners stranded in scoring position, falling to the Red Foxes 2-0 for their ninth straight loss in a row.

Sitting at 2-15, there is still time for Fordham to improve their record. The Rams have only four more games before their first Atlantic 10 game of the season against St. Louis University.

Fordham’s next game is a matchup at Jack Coffey Field against the Monmouth University Hawks on Friday at 3 p.m.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Men’s Soccer

Follow us on Twitter at @theram_sports

Wednesday Mar. 23

Thursday Mar. 24

Friday Mar. 25

Saturday Mar. 26

Sunday Mar. 27

Monday Mar. 28

Tuesday Mar. 29

St. John’s 7 p.m.

Women’s Track & Field

Rider 5-Way Invitational

Men’s Track & Field

TBA Rider 5-Way Invitational TBA

Men’s Tennis

Richmond 12 p.m.

St Joseph’s 12 p.m.

Women’s Tennis

Temple 12 p.m.

St Joseph’s 12 p.m.

Hartford

Men’s Golf

Invitational

TBA Jesuit Invitational

Women’s Rowing

Baseball Softball

TBA

Monmouth 3 p.m.

Monmouth 1 p.m.

Rhode Island 12/2:30 p.m.

Monmouth 1 p.m.

Rhode Island 12 p.m.

Manhattan 3 p.m.

SPORTS Student Athlete Column: The Last New Beginning

Page 14

By KALEY BELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR EMERITA

I know I have mentioned the fact that this is my senior year multiple times throughout my time writing this column, but now that there are only about 60 days left until I walk across the graduation stage, reality has started to kick in. In less than two months, I will say goodbye to Fordham and everything that I have done here will become memories. Everyone I have met here will become distant friends, and homework will be a thing of the past. Obviously, a large part of these memories will deal with the ups and downs of being a Division 1 track athlete, and a disbelief that I will never be in this type of space ever again.

You never realize how much you will miss something until it is gone, and with only about three or four meets left to go for the season, it seems like track and field will become the thing that I will miss. As

I count down from each meet and practice, I find myself wanting to slow down and take everything in.

To me, this means being intentional in every workout and placing myself in a mentality that I am here to close out my last year year in a strong manner.

Outdoor season opened this past weekend, and after not competing in nearly three months, I was a little nervous. More nervous than I had been even in my freshman year, which was a new experience for me. In being intentional about my workouts and every little thing I do, I find myself striving for a new type of success, to be better at every workout and every drill.

The way I do workouts now is different compared to when I did them freshman year. While before I was doing everything I could to get better, and there’s no question about that being the goal, now it’s doing the workouts like it could be my last. Last indoor season, a

variety of injuries and unexpected tragedies came my way that forced me to stop running. I was sitting around kicking rocks, waiting for the next opportunity that I would get to run. Now that I am back in action, I don’t want to stop. When you’re injured, it’s like being in limbo, and for me, it was like being out of a routine that had become vital to my daily functioning.

Stepping into the real world, I will lose this routine and have to find ways to build a new lifestyle around work, friends and free time.

As I start this last season of track, I am looking ahead and thinking about how I am going to have to do workouts without a team around me, and that means a whole new beginning. A beginning where I will be alone and without the structure and support of a coaching staff whose goal it was to win. My goals will change, and this scares me. It will certainly be a challenge, but it’s a challenge that I will embrace.

Track and Field Begins Spring Season

By MADDIE BIMONTE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Fordham Men’s and Women’s Track & Field spring season is off to the races. After competing this past Saturday at the Stony Brook Snowflake Classic, the teams received no team scoring, however many Rams brought home school records as well as top finishes.

While there were not many events, the star of the day was newcomer Tiffany Hanna, a graduate student transfer from Wagner. In her debut meet, she won the shot put event with a school record throw of 12.61m, besting the previous record of 12m by Jeana Fletcher in 2009. The Rams additionaly placed third and fourth in the event with junior Amanda Gurth (11.17m) and senior Casey Metzler (10.18m), respectively.

Fordham also had event wins in both the men’s and women’s 800m, as the Rams had 1-2-3 finishes in each event. Sophomore Molly Mulvaney won the women’s 800m in 2:25.54, followed by senior Angelica Piccini in second with a time of 2:26.55 and senior Dominique Valentine in third at 2:29.67.

On the men’s side, graduate student Antony Misko grabbed first in the men’s 800m with a time of 1:57.87. Junior Jack Reilly followed in second in

March 23, 2022

Varsity Scores & Stats Men’s Basketball Atlantic 10 Tournament Fordham George Mason

54 49

Fordham Davidson

56 74

Women’s Basketball WNIT Fordham 66 Bucknell 79 Softball Fordham Saint Louis

4 9

Baseball Fordham LIU

4 9

Fordham Saint Louis

5 3

Fordham Yale

2 11

Fordham Stony Brook

3 2

Fordham Wagner

11 19

Fordham Stony Brook

6 0

Fordham Marist

4 10

Fordham GW

4 5

Fordham Marist

7 17

Fordham GW

5 7

Fordham Marist

0 2

Fordham GW

1 3

Fordham Sienna

11 6

Women’s Tennis Fordham Queens College

6 1

Fordham Florida Atlantic

8 17

Fordham Siena

7 0

Fordham Marist

4 0

Men’s Tennis Fordham Sienna

1 6

–Compiled by Maddie Bimonte COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

The track and field teams are ready to compete this spring.

2:00.36 and sophomore Justin Lombardi in third at 2:00.95.

In the 200m dash, junior Kaley Bell was the top finisher for the women, coming in eighth place with a time of 29.09 seconds, while sophomore Eric Galante grabbed eighth on the men’s side in 24.37 seconds.

The 1500m dash featured a strong performance from junior Alexandra Thomas as the top women’s performer. She took third place in 4:53.65 with junior teammate Mary Kathryn Underwood in fourth at 4:56.90.

On the men’s side, junior Samuel Wilcox took fourth in 4:10.07.

In the 3000m run, the Rams had a pair of third place finishes by juniors Nathania Tan (10:58.76)

and Colin Flood (8:44.23) and junior Taylor Mascetta securing fourth place in 11:08.76.

The remaining events were for the men, and the Rams continued to add top finishes.

In the 400m, junior Robert LeFevre recorded a sixth place finish with a time of 53.62 seconds. Sophomore Justin Rhee competed in the long jump event, securing third place with a mark of 6.68m. Rounding out the events was senior Alec Wargo in the field. In the shot put, Wargo brought home second place with a mark of 11.38m.

As another successful weekend concludes, the Rams are back in action at the Rider Invitational on March 26.

Athletes of the Week Gabe Karslo Senior Baseball

Rachel Hubertus Redshirt Senior Softball

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

Despite the Rams getting swept over three games

by Marist College this week, Karslo was one of the bright spots for the Fordham Baseball team. The senior and former Atlantic 10 champion threw 5.2 scoreless innings of five-hit ball and sat down seven batters in Fordham’s 2-0 loss against Marist.

Softball had quite the week, headlined by graduate student Rachel Hubertus who propelled most of Fordham’s offense by destroying softballs all week long. Hubertus smacked four home runs in all four of the Rams’ previous seven games and drove in eight runs while batting .270 during that stretch.

News & Notes 38 Fordham Football Athletes Named to 2021 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll The Patriot League’s seven football programs combined to place 239 student-athletes on the 2021 Patriot League Football Academic Honor Roll when the league office released the list last week, 38 of which were Fordham student-athletes. Fordham came in at second for most students admitted to the honor roll in the Patriot League. The list included the following: two freshmen (Trey Bradford and James Conway), seven sophomores (Patrick Barr, Tyler Cook, Mike Courtney, Michael Petrillo, Tom Sharkey, Cole Thornton and Grant Wilson), 11 juniors (Nolan Aloia, Jackson Barletta, Michael Bernard, Dan Byrnes, Tom Callahan, Dequece Carter, Fox Fay, B.J. Ferguson, Joe Mariani, Trey Wilson III and MJ Wright), 13 seniors ( Jesse Bramble, Natani Drati,

Antonio Cortez Feria, Peter Fitzgerald, Austin Glazier, Ryan Greenhagen, Gabriel Jacques, Fotis Kokosioulis, Aidan McCarty, Edward Schwartz Jr., Luke Simon, Zac Spencer and Jaden Vazquez) and four graduate students (Deondre Carter, Zach Davis, Anthony Diodato and Nick Zakelj).

Fordham Athletics Records RecordBreaking Fordham Giving Day Fordham Athletics raised a record-breaking $425,000 on Fordham Giving Day, director of intercollegiate athletics Ed Kull announced on Friday. The funds came from more than 450 donors who gave to the campaign. Fordham Athletics Giving Day was created to help support both varsity and club teams at Fordham University. All gifts of any size counted towards the campaign, which lasted for 1,841 minutes in honor of the university’s founding year.

–Compiled by Maddie Bimonte

March 23, 2022

SPORTS Fordham Softball Splits, Sweeps and Gets Swept

By THOMAS AIELLO ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Fordham Softball opened up Atlantic 10 play on March 14, with a double header matinee against the Saint Louis Billikens at the friendly confines of Bahoshy Field in the Bronx. It was Fordham’s first home stand of the year.

The Rams opened up A-10 play against the Billikens, a team that they won over 20 games against since St. Louis joined A-10 softball in 2006. In the first game of the doubleheader, graduate student Rachel Hubertus began Fordham’s A-10 offensive reign with a sacrifice fly that drove in a run to make it 1-0 by driving in fellow graduate student Briana Pinto.

After a scoreless second inning, St. Louis responded in the top of the third off of a Sadie Wise fly ball that was dropped which scored two runs. Wise was responsible for two RBIs in the first game of the doubleheader.

In the sixth inning, parody struck as Rams junior Michaela Carter would drive in a run off of a dropped fly ball. Carter drove in sophomore Bailey Enoch to knot the game up at two in the sixth inning. Following a scoreless seventh, the Rams and Billikens were sent into extras.

The Billikens responded in a big way. Graduate student Christy Stevenson would send a solo home run over the fence of Bahoshy Field to push the Billikens out in front three to two in the top of the eighth inning.

Fordham responded in the bottom of the eighth inning; graduate student Kelly Bright struck an RBI single that tied

the game at three. However, Fordham became slightly ambitious when they had the bases loaded trying to send in the second runner to win the game, but senior Julia Martine was tagged out at home plate.

The Billikens, however, had other plans that day. Sparked by a two-RBI single by senior Gabby Kowalik, the Billikens proceeded to score six runs in the ninth inning off of Enoch.

Fordham would get one back, as Hubertus launched a home run to make the score nine to four at St. Louis would win game one of the doubleheader.

Rams junior pitcher Devon Miller, who started the game, would eat the loss. She struck out 10 batters and allowed only two earned runs, one of her better performances of the young season.

Game two saw them storm back in a victory to split the first series in A-10 play. Things got off to a choppy start in the first inning as the Rams allowed another homerun, this time it was Stevenson who whacked one off senior Makenzie McGrath to open up game two’s scoring.

In the third inning Fordham allowed two more runs for the Billikens to push the lead out 3-0, freshman Allie Clark would take a run back for Fordham via an RBI single, but Stevenson and Wise both had RBI singles that drove in a run each, and then St. Louis was holding serve for the rest of the way up until the sixth inning.

With a runner already on board up came senior Sarah Taffet who smacked a two-run home run over the right-field

fence to even the score up at three; it was her first home run since 2021. Then came back the hard-hitting Hubertus who put the game away for Fordham by smacking a two-run home run over the scoreboard in leftcenter field and the Rams took game number two 5-3.

McGrath collected her fourth win of the season for Fordham.

Going the distance while striking out six players and walking only four to help push the Rams to their first A-10 victory.

The Rams welcomed Stony Brook University to Bahoshy Field later on in the week for their second consecutive double header. Game number one saw Stony Brook jump out in front thanks in part to a two-RBI single by sophomore Catherine Anne Kopinski.

However, in the fourth inning the Rams had other plans. The Hubertus show continued as she sent a two-run home run out of the field to drive in Clark and tie the game up at two.

“Rachel is a veteran and she knows what she needs,” said head coach Melissa Inouye. “She really hasn’t seen pre season pitching since 2019 but she’s put the work in. 2020 she was out with a knee injury. And on paper last year, she was our biggest offensive threat and it is a credit to her hard work.”

Fordham got insurance run number three via a fielding error, in which freshman Mary Grace O’Neill took full advantage and scored. Miller took the win for Fordham, her second of the year. It was freshman Emily Watkins who started the game going four and a third innings

Men’s Tennis Drops Fourth In A Row

BY MILES GROSSMAN STAFF WRITER

The Fordham men’s tennis team continued their tough stretch of games last Sunday, losing to Siena College 6-1. This was technically a home match for the Rams, but home has not been a hospitable place for this group in 2022.

Home, for the time being, is the Life Time Athletic Center in Harrison, New York. This temporary court has not been kind to the Rams this spring semester, considering the 1-3 record they have posted there in 2022.

Those three losses have been against mid-majors that have proved to be challenging opponents for the Rams, including

St. Francis College in Brooklyn and, most recently, Siena.

While the decision to play in Harrison was surely one made out of necessity, Fordham’s lack of success so far this year on their home court is an interesting development.

Siena is one of the stronger Men’s Tennis programs in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) at 10-6. The MAAC preseason coaches poll placed them in the number four spot, right behind Quinnipiac University, who Fordham handled for their single home victory in the spring season. Needless to say, the Ram’s third straight home loss was a tough one. Junior Toi Kobayashi provided the only ray of sunshine

with a straight-set victory in the number three spot for the Rams.

Kobayashi’s consistent play in the middle of the Ram lineup provides some welcome stability for head coach Nelson Peña on a week to week basis.

This upcoming weekend, the Rams take a road trip to Saint Joseph’s University where they will begin Atlantic 10 conference play. On Saturday they will face the University of Richmond on Saint Joe’s home court, before playing the hosts on Sunday.

Although it’s been a tough start to the season for the Rams, they will look to use this weekend’s A-10 kickoff as an opportunity to to turn over a new leaf and get their season on track.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Toi Kobayashi grabbed the Ram’s only point with a straight set victory in the #3 match last Sunday.

while striking out three and allowing two earned runs.

Game two prompted Fordham to shutout and sweep their twogame series against Stony Brook, 6-0. Enoch tossed a masterclass by going six innings, sitting down seven batters, walking two and allowing only two walks. McGrath would come in relief and close things out in the seventh by striking out two more.

The Rams also produced six runs by way of one player of each class: freshman Allie Clark, sophomore Bella Ayala, junior Michaela Carter and senior Julia Martine charging a three-run homer to provide Fordham with a nice sweep and go 3-1 in their four game homestand.

The Rams then headed to the nation’s capital to take on George Washington University in a threegame series. In game one the Rams’ big bats of Hubertus and Martine propelled them to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with consecutive solo home runs.

Martine would have an RBI triple in the fifth that scored Bright and Pinto to push Fordham’s lead to 4-0. But in the sixth the Colonials would ultimately win the game thanks to two home runs, the first one being a three-run moonshot by sophomore Maddie Spell to pull the Colonials within one, then a two-run home run by sophomore Alexa Williams to put the first game away 5-3 for the Colonials.

Game two saw Fordham down 7-0 at one point, thanks to the Colonials’ offensive exploding.

They scored three runs off three doubles, two runs off a throwing

Page 15

error, one off a single and then one more off a solo home run by Spell. But Fordham attempted a comeback that was sparked by a few unlikely sources.

Sophomore Julia Petrovich got things started with an RBI single in the seventh that drove in one run, then freshman Mallory McClellan walked which forced in a second run with the bases loaded. Martine laced the second single of the inning which scored a third, and that was followed by freshman Sydney Wells singling to drive in two more but it wasn’t enough. Fordham would lose 7-5 in game two.

Game three saw Hubertus hit another home run, her seventh of the year, but George Washington sent two home runs out: a tworun shot in the third by Williams and then a solo shot by graduate student Maddie Dwyer to complete the sweep of the Rams 3-1 in the final game.

In this series against GW, Fordham pitchers gave up a combined 15 runs, and suffered their first sweep of the season to an A-10 opponent.

“It was a tough week this week, George Washington is obviously a tough opponent and we knew that they could hit the ball,” said assistant coach Matt Klampert. “We battled through some adversity ... but it is one of those things where we know we’re going to see them again.”

The Rams return home Saturday in the battle of the Rams as they’ll play host to the University of Rhode Island Rams at Bahoshy field in the Bronx for their third A-10 opponent of the 2022 Softball season. Fordham has a 9-13 record so far this spring.

Ortof Dives in NCAA’s; Swimming & Diving Season Ends

By NICK GUZMAN SPORTS EDITOR

After an impressive season, Fordham senior Natalie Ortof earned the opportunity to represent the Rams at the NCAA Zone A Diving Championship in Annapolis, Maryland on March 8. Ortof, participating in the one-meter dive and three-meter dive, looked to build on a season that saw her break two personal records.

Her scores of 278.77 in the one-meter dive and 282.22 in the three-meter dive earlier this season were both personal bests, highlighting what was the strongest season of Ortof’s Fordham career. She also placed eighth overall in the one-meter dive and 12th overall in the threemeter dive at the Atlantic 10 Championship in Ohio.

In Annapolis, Ortof first competed in the one-meter dive, where she placed 57th in the preliminary round with a score of 211.35. Although only the top 18 scores advanced to the final round, Ortof finished ahead of 22 swimmers from schools such as Harvard, Brown, Navy and Yale. The one-meter dive

was ultimately won by Teagan Moravek of Virginia Tech, with Buffalo’s Victoria Franz coming in second and Rutgers’ Savana Trueb finishing third.

In the three-meter dive, Ortof also finished 57th, this time out of 60 divers with a score of 204.60. This competition was won by Abigail Knapton of Rutgers, who just missed out on the podium in the one-meter dive by finishing first. Elizabeth Kaye of the University of Virginia came in second while Franz secured her second podium finish of the competition, placing third.

The women’s team finished team competition with a perfect 7-0 record and an impressive fourth place finish at the A-10 Championship, while the men’s team finished 5-3 to go along with a seventh place finish at the A-10s.

Although Fordham will lose important seniors on both the men’s and women’s side like Spencer Clarke, Becky Kamau and Ortof, the Rams still have impressive young talent to lead the team into next season.

SPORTS

Page 16

March 23, 2022

Men’s Basketball Finishes First Season Under Kyle Neptune

By ALEXANDER WOLZ SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

March is the time for Cinderella stories. We’re seeing it with Saint Peter’s University, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The Iowa State Cyclones defeating the Wisconsin Badgers despite a 7-11 Big 12 Conference record.

Ultimately, it is the story of college basketball. It does not matter how teams start, but rather, how they finish. No thread weaved its way through the Fordham Men’s Basketball season more than that.

Coach Kyle Neptune tirelessly repeated: “We want to be playing our best basketball by the end of the year.”

There were moments throughout this year’s journey where that looked to be true. Others disagree. However, with one holistic picture to look back upon a 16-16 record, 8-10 in-conference and an exit in the Atlantic 10 Championship Quarterfinals, there is no doubt Neptune has been proven right.

Listening to Neptune throughout the year, a lot of postgame comments will sound familiar. The attributes of “toughness,” “togetherness,” “attitude” or treating every game "like our Super Bowl" all come to mind.

It may sound like coachspeak for someone completing his first year in charge, yet it has been true from the very beginning.

Look back to March 31, 2021, the first day Neptune addressed the Fordham community. “We want to be tough,” he said. “We want to be a team that teams come in here and do not want to play against.” Anyone who laid an eye on the team this year could attest to that.

Flash forward eight months, following the Rams’ opening night win against Columbia University: “They’ve had just an eerie sense of togetherness from the very beginning,” Neptune said of his players.

Skip ahead and pick any moment in time. Say Dec. 6, the night of a loss to St. John’s University, one of the local schools Neptune promised

to pit his team against. “We were resilient, didn’t back down, played them tough … It’s one thing that we’ve definitely learned about our team is that the guys never quit.”

It’s an essential quality to this team because there were so many opportunities to quit.

The team had already lost its first game by that point, 66-60 to Manhattan College. That was a growing pain in itself, a winnable game lost down the stretch. Yet, a loss one week later, 75-73 to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), in the Rose Hill Gym no less, proved much worse.

UMES likely shouldn’t be a hurdle for a team with aspirations to compete in the A-10. Yet what seemed like a step back at the time, a regression to an era the team is striving to put behind, turned out to be a massive leap forward.

A sizable, 20-point slaughter of the University of Akron and narrow defeat to the University of Delaware at the Gulf Coast Showcase followed, both of whom danced into the NCAA tournament.

Then came more tough defeats, to the aforementioned Red Storm or the University of Miami at the Barclays Center. Again, another tournament team, this one advancing into the Sweet 16. A COVID-19 pause put things on hold before conference play.

Yet, regardless of the outcome, there was an underlying sense of toughness in each of these games.

There were no blowouts nor lopsided outcomes, just competitive basketball. That was a change bigger than anyone could have expected.

A-10 competition opens up on an even higher note: two wins against La Salle University and Duquesne University, the latter highlighted on a buzzer beater by junior guard Antonio Daye.

The greatest authors in the world could not write a start better than this. It was history-making in year one, just two games into conference play, with visions of the team’s potential ahead. Until it wasn’t.

One day later, all of those hopes drastically changed. The university announced that Daye was leaving the program, forcing the team to find a new identity for itself.

There will always be the ultimate question of, “What If,” especially when losing a leading scorer. Could the Rams have surpassed this season’s performance with Daye, become a top seven, top five, A-10 seed? What would the conference record look like? How good could this team be?

Ask Neptune and none of it will probably matter. His focus has always been on this group of players, whoever it is. That remained true until the very end, when graduate guard Darius Quisenberry sat on the sidelines as the Rams battled the Davidson Wildcats in the A-10 Quarterfinals.

It is one last reminder of the season it has been, one where it felt like one piece was missing in each loss. Sometimes it was Quisenberry or graduate forward Chuba Ohams due to injury. It was always Antonio Daye.

With those circumstances, it could have been very easy for this year’s team to fold or concede that this simply wasn’t their time yet. However, the reality could not be any more opposite.

Instead, this year’s team vastly exceeded its expectations, fighting with the top dogs of the A-10 all season long and finishing eighth, 8-10, by the end of it. That may not look overly impressive under a magnifying lens, but it is when widening out to the scope of what this program has been.

Those eight wins surpass the total from the last three years combined.

The end of the road in the quarterfinals, the first time Fordham has appeared there since 2007 and just the fourth in program history. This season’s 16 wins are the most since 2015-16.

Individually, Quisenberry earned the accolade of A-10 Player of the Week back on Jan. 24 after averaging nearly 30 points across a two game span. At the time, it was

Fordham’s first such accolade since 2017.

Then, what more can be said about Ohams. In his true final year in the maroon, Ohams averaged 14.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He also set a new school record with 21 double doubles on the year, as he entered the Fordham record books for career blocks as well.

It is one thing to receive recognition at Fordham, another to do in the conference. Ohams earned that same nod of Player of the Week himself on March 7, and a few weeks later, the honor of Chris Daniels Most Improved Player as well. He was also named Second Team All-A-10 and to the conference All-Defensive Team.

All of that happened amid a knee injury that Neptune often said left Ohams playing well shy of full strength, not to mention coming after playing just a single game a season ago.

There is also something to be said about the fact that two of the team’s most consistent performers all season long — Ohams and graduate student Josh Colon-Navarro — have spent their entire careers at Fordham. In one sense, they are not Neptune’s recruits. Yet, in another, they are all the same.

Ohams, Rose, and Colon-Navarro could have walked away, like many

from last year’s roster did. But something encouraged them to stay.

Maybe it was a teammate, a coach or a simple feeling that they could make this work.

That something seeped its way into the other players on this team too: the recruits Neptune did bring to Fordham. Now, it has carried into a future that looks even brighter, with two recruits — Romad Dean and Will Richardson — the first of many to commit to playing in the Bronx.

So that becomes the test. In the process of building a team, a startup company, beginning a new era, progress is the only option. The Rams found that progress in year one to heights few could even imagine. The challenge becomes building upon that.

Many doubted Fordham could be successful in the A-10 coming this year. Now, the bar has risen. While this year may be saturated with the question of what could have been, it has set the expectation for what Fordham Men’s Basketball is.

Take it from a Fordham legend himself, Vince Lombardi, “Winning is not a sometime thing, it’s an all the time thing. You don’t win once in a while … you don’t do the right thing once in a while … you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.”

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Neptune took the Rams to new heights in year one with much more in store.

Women’s Basketball: Postseason Birth Ends in a Home Loss

BY KALEY BELL

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR EMERITA

It was a disappointing season for Fordham Women’s Basketball as they ended their season with a loss against the University of Massachusetts Minutewomen.

It was a hard-fought battle, as the team awaited to hear about their offseason chances in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).

The Rams got into the tournament for their sixth straight postseason berth, the ninth postseason berth in 11 years and their seventh WNIT berth all-time. Head coach Stephanie Gaitley and the team were not shy to this tournament and came in ready to play hard against tough opponents.

Fordham hosted their opening game against the Bucknell Bison this past Friday in the Rose Hill Gym. While most of campus was on spring break, there was a signif-

icant amount of fans who brought energy and excitement to the stands. Fordham fans everywhere knew that this game would be an exciting one to witness.

In the first few minutes of the game, Bucknell played hard and tough. Their players were ready to attack, but Fordham was right behind them by only three points as they headed into the second quarter.

Graduate student guard Kendall Heremaia and senior guard Asiah Dingle did what they could in making sure that the Rams were afloat.

Every chance they got, they tried to answer Taylor O’Brien’s hot hand for the Bison. Unfortunately, they were unable to keep up.

Heremaia and Dingle had help from senior Kaitlyn Downey and junior Anna DeWolfe, who were able to get back on defense and block some shots. However, the Bison were a bigger team with a strong scorer. O’Brien did not let

up and exploded for 35 points. The Rams did everything they could to stop her, with a full-court press and a double team, but she was out of their reach.

During the second quarter, the Rams were only able to score four points due to the large size of their opponent and their strong defense. The missed shots converted to rebounds, and points for the Bison helped secure their strong lead going into halftime.

It was Emma Schafer who was able to box out the Rams and grab 12 rebounds, the most by a player on either side. Downey was right behind her with 12 boards, doing what she could to get those defensive rebounds and bring the ball back up the court. Despite this, the Rams were down 28-18 at the half, and things were not looking good.

Coming back from the break, the Bison wanted to secure their win.

They led by as much as 23 points going into the fourth quarter, and

the Rams knew that they were in trouble. However, they fought until the end, closing the season out strong. The Rams shot only 34.3% from the field, nowhere near the Bison’s mark of 48.0%.

The Rams finished the season with a winning record of 18-11 overall. With only three losses at home, the Rams’ strong season

was one that Gaitley was very proud of. “Tough finish to a solid season. Anytime you get invited to the postseason, you know you’ve had a good season. Hopefully we can build on this in the future.”

The team will lose seven seniors after this year, and they are looking forward to building on the success that they have had thus far.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham earned their ninth postseason birth in the last 11 seasons.