New Dining Director to Incorporate StudentFocused Initiatives
By EMMA LEONARDI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Fordham University’s new Director of Dining Business Operations and Contract Management, Orla Fitzsimons, is set to replace Deming Yaun, former Dining Services Contract Liaison, who retired in April.
Despite the amended title, Keith Eldredge, associate vice president and dean of Student Services, notes that the position will not change significantly when transitioning from Yaun to Fitzsimons.
“The position is the primary point liaison with Ram Hospitality to support the provision of an outstanding dining experience at all venues across the Fordham campuses,” said Eldredge. Fitzsimons started her career in New York City, working in hospitality and recruitment. She did a brief stint in California for a year before moving back to Ireland, where she raised her two daughters.
SEE DINING, PAGE 5
Fordham’s Solar Commitment Expands Under New Agreement
on Staten Island.
Half of Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus will now be powered by solar at peak performance after the University extended a previously existing power agreement.
The agreement, which took effect Monday, Sept. 1, is delivering an additional 625 kilowatts (kW) annually of clean energy through an installation
Combined with the existing EnterSolar contracts and the panels already installed on campus, a total of about 3.6 megawatts (MW) of solar energy will now power Rose Hill’s campus. At peak performance, the remaining of 50% energy use on campus will continue to be powered by various sources through Consolidated Edison (Con Edison).
Fordham’s “NYC Carbon
Physical IDs Now Only Available Upon Request
By JORDAN DONEGAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Fordham University has made the decision to stop automatically issuing physical identification (ID) cards to incoming students, making electronic ID cards on students’ smartphones the default for the class of 2029, according to university spokesperson Jennifer Petra.
What began as an attempt
to “build upon technology introduced years ago” has instead left Fordham’s firstyears and transfer students feeling “worried” and “uneasy” about relying on their phones to access campus amenities.
Students shared their experiences with the electronic ID cards, with many reporting they’ve felt “frustrated” with their ID’s slow loading times, repeated glitches and the fear
of not being allowed back on campus if their phone dies. Several students have reported that their electronic IDs “don’t even work half of the time” and create redundant technical difficulties. According to university officials, physical ID cards “remain available to students if the electronic ID is not an option.”
“I dislike the fact that we no
September 10, 2025
Inaugural Dean of Arts and Sciences Prioritizes Community
By JACQUI LYSON & SIENNA REINDERS
Jessica Lang, Ph.D., who was hired as Fordham University’s inaugural Dean of Arts and Sciences in the spring, recently started her new position on July 1.
Challenge” initiative started in 2007, when the University pledged a 30% decrease in CO2 emissions from 2005 to 2030. To start the process, in September 2012, Fordham installed 250 kW of solar panels on top of the William D. Walsh Family Library. Then, in 2019, additional
SEE SOLAR, PAGE 5
Through visits to Fordham’s Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses, along with over 200 hours of meetings with campus chairs, directors and upper administrative leaders, she says she has seen a possibility to further integrate Fordham’s community across its different campuses and hopes to use her new role to do so.
Lang’s vision supports President Tania Tetlow’s goal to connect the communities of Fordham’s various campuses. “We should be thinking really comprehensively about what SEE LANG, PAGE 4
Fordham Announces Update to Pre-Law Program
By NORA MALONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Last week, there was some confusion surrounding updates to Fordham University’s prelaw program. The Fordham Ram reached out to University Spokespeople Jennifer Petra and Bob Howe for clarification.
“Fordham University’s advising program is evolving as we strive to elevate the student experience and, as a result, we are actually expanding and strengthening the program during the 2025-2026 academic year,” they said in a statement.
“In addition to welcoming a new Vice President of Student Success to the University, we are also hiring a new Assistant
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Students Travel to Rome for World Youth Day
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Dean for Pre-Professional Advising who will oversee the pre-law and pre-health advising programs, and expand the preprofessional advising offering even further as student demand necessitates. While the evolution of the program will require some personnel changes, we are proud to already have a lawyer and seasoned professionals with relevant pre-law experience on our advising staff, and we anticipate bringing others onto the team who can offer our students the dedicated guidance that will help them succeed long after their time at Fordham.”
As the program evolves, The Ram will continue to report on the changes.
Opinion
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The Robot Revolution, Delivered Directlty to your Dorm
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The 10-acre solar power plant on Staten Island sending energy to Fordham.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM NOW / THE FORDHAM RAM
Previously, students had the option between a physical and electronic ID, now they do not.
SIENNA REINDERS / THE FORDHAM RAM
By SIDNEY BLASCO & ANDREW MASSIE
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS
Southern Blvd. Sept. 7
2:30 a.m.
On Sunday, the guard assigned to the Fordham Preparatory School guard booth observed a suspicious male on Southern Boulevard. The guard approached the male who was standing next to a double-parked car. The car had tires and rims removed. The male got into a minivan and drove away. A second male appeared and swung a tire iron at the guard. After the offenders fled, the guard called for the supervisor. The supervisor responded and called the NYPD. The supervisor reviewed the video and still provided photos of the offender to the NYPD. The guard was not injured.
University Church Sept. 7
7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the Director of Campus Ministry reported an emotionally disturbed person (EDP) in the University Church. The supervisor responded. The investigation revealed the offender exited by the Metro-North guard booth. The director said the offender was speaking loudly. The director approached the offender and offered assistance. The male said he was a public safety guard and the FBI. The male then took cookies and left the church. The male entered campus through the Metro-North guard booth and provided identification and signed in. The supervisor prepared a ban notice.
Metro-North Gate
Sept. 8
8 p.m.
On Monday, during a scheduled fire drill, a resident assistant discovered marijuana in a room. The supervisor responded and took possession of the marijuana.
Olympic Champion Gabby Douglas Talks with Students
By NORA MALONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Two-time Olympic champion Gabrielle “Gabby” Douglas visited Fordham University last week as part of the American Age Lecture Series. Douglas was the first African American to win the all-around gold in the 2012 Olympics.
She holds six Olympic and World Championship titles, making her the 11th most decorated female United States gymnast of all time.
Douglas spoke about her experience at her two Olympic Games, as well as her advocacy for mental health and against cyberbullying in the Fordham Preparatory School Leonard Theatre on Sept. 4. “Accolades and medals, they’re amazing, but they don’t define the person. Gymnastics is what I do, it’s not who I am,” Douglas said.
The conversation was hosted by Sofia Hernandez, FCRH ’27, co-chair of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) LIVE! Committee.
Douglas discussed her return to gymnastics in 2023 after taking eight years off.
“Towards the end of my second Olympics, I lost the love and passion that I once had for the sport,” Douglas said. “I just felt like the people
within the gymnastics community were trying to put me in a box.”
Douglas shared that she was trying to compete in the 2024 Olympics in July 2023 and made her competitive return at the 2024 American Classic. She qualified for the U.S. Championships on the vault, uneven bars and balance beam; however, in May 2024, she withdrew from Olympic consideration after an injury.
“I finally started the journey to get back in the gym and love it again, and my goal was to just step foot in the gym and love gymnastics again, no matter the outcome,” Douglas said.
Douglas was part of the “Fierce Five” and “Final Five” Olympic teams, and during her time in the spotlight, she had both a Barbie doll and a movie inspired by her. For many attendees, she was someone who had inspired them in their youth.
“When I was little, I did gymnastics, and she was a big inspiration for me,” said Emilie Campbell, FCRH ’27. “So it’s like I’m making little Emilie’s dream come true.”
Douglas has been an advocate for mental health since she left the gymnastics world, working with Lady Gaga’s
Born This Way Foundation.
“I really feel like people are talking about it more, which is a great thing,” Douglas said, in reference to mental health in women’s sports. “I like that they’re doing a lot of safety nets and [being] more handson with psychological training for young girls. I’m happy to see that change.”
This year, Douglas was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, the first Black female gymnast to receive the honor.
“I didn’t even know my name was put into the hat,” Douglas said. “It was a really special moment, it feels amazing to be [alongside] other athletes.”
Currently, Douglas lives on a farm with her family in Texas, where she raises cows and llamas.
The event had around 60
attendees and lasted about an hour, including 30 minutes of questions and answers.
“I remember watching Gabby Douglas on the TV when she was at the Olympics, and I saw her win a gold medal, and as soon as I saw that she’d be here, I really wanted to come and see her,” said Maria Valino, GSB ’27.
Students’ questions spanned from how Douglas fought through mental blocks, to her favorite song. She encouraged attendees, athletes or not, to set goals for themselves and create a good support system.
“Don’t listen to the naysayers, don’t listen to anyone that says you can’t do it, because who are they?” Douglas said.” You have so much quality to add to the world, don’t listen to the keyboard warriors, they don’t matter.”
AI-Focused Professor Hired by Philosophy Dept.
By JACK MCDONALD ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Fordham University recently hired Sam W. McGrath to teach a new course titled Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
McGrath will be the inaugural professor of this course and will serve as an assistant professor in the philosophy department.
of today’s cutting edge academic debates,” McGrath said in an email to The Fordham Ram. “My aim is to help put Fordham students in a position to contribute to and advance these crucial discussions.”
Follow The Fordham Ram on Instagram, Facebook and X @TheFordhamRam
Wednesday Sept. 10 9/11
Rememberance 9/11 Memorial 10 a.m.
Join the Student Experience Committee to remember the Fordham students and alumni who died on 9/11. Beautify the Memorial Garden located across from Finlay Hall.
McGrath earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Chicago before pursuing a Master of Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin. His research interests include artificial intelligence, analytical philosophy and cognitive science, according to his website.
“The rise of AI has placed many perennial philosophical questions — questions at the heart of a liberal arts education, and of Fordham’s intellectual mission — at the center
Stephen R. Grimm, professor and chair of philosophy, shared what it means for Fordham to begin hiring professors with this type of specialization.
“Jesuit universities have always been at the cutting edge of conversations about what it means to be fully human, how to live a flourishing life, and how to serve those in need,” Grimm said in an email to The Fordham Ram.
He noted how the presence of AI encourages universities to think deeper about these questions.
“From a spiritual or religious point of view, it should
This Week at Fordham
Wednesday Sept. 10
Mass of the Holy Spirit University Church 4 p.m.
Be part of a global Jesuit tradition as we call on the Holy Spirit to ignite our new academic year. After Mass, a reception will be held on the University Church Lawn.
Thursday Sept. 11-13
Rose Hill Classic
Rose Hill Gymnasium 3 p.m.
Fordham Volleyball is hosting the annual Rose Hill Classic from Sept. 11-13. Cheer on the Rams as they take on FDU, Hofstra and Temple. Admission is free.
also cause us to be more reflective about what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God,” said Grimm.
“Thinking about both the extraordinary powers and the limits of AI systems should inspire us to think more deeply about this ‘imago die’ claim, which is at the heart of the Catholic tradition.”
Hiring McGrath also aligns with the Fordham Philosophy Department’s current academic direction and goals, according to Grimm.
“Fordham wants to be the first choice for students who want to make a difference in the world,” Grimm said. “And the contemporary world will be shaped by AI in ways that are now hard to fathom.”
Grimm said further that philosophers need to play a role in the conversations on AI and society.
Saturday Sept. 13
Ignatian Day of Service
Rose Hill 9 a.m.
Do service with the Pedro Arrupe Volunteers, Alpha Sigma Nu, and Campus Ministry for an Ignatian Day of Service. They will meet at 9:00 a.m. at Bepler Commons in Faber Hall.
“I think philosophers have some of the best developed and most carefully explored views on what it means to be conscious, or to be morally responsible, or to have agency, or free will, or be a friend, or to have beliefs or understanding,” he said. Conversation and thought pertaining to these issues will be essential for the development of modern philosophy, according to Grimm.
McGrath’s goal is to educate students on AI in established courses at the university.
“There are many places where engaging with AI systems themselves may be helpful to students — for example, if curious to learn more about a topic that arises in class, I encourage students to pursue it further by debating, in Socratic fashion, with ChatGPT or Gemini,” said McGrath.
McGrath believes it is important to offer new class options related to the philosophy of AI. As a graduate student at Brown University, McGrath taught a course about the intersection between AI and philosophy, focusing on theoretical and ethical implementations of the software. Next semester, he will be teaching a course titled Technology and Values.
Students should browse the course catalog to learn more about new course offerings in the philosophy department.
Gabby Douglas on the podium.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM FOR THE FORDHAM RAM / @USAGYM
Students Travel to Rome for World Youth Day
By EMMA LEONARDI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Fordham University’s Office of Campus Ministry sent an email to students last fall, inviting them to apply for a trip to Rome that would take place in July 2025.
This summer, all five of the accepted candidates had the opportunity to travel to Rome to take part in World Youth Day celebrations with Catholics from around the world.
The students, who were there from July 27 to Aug. 4, got to
participate in a pilgrimage, visit tourist attractions, such as the Coliseum and the Vatican and connect with members of the global Catholic community.
“There were two pillars to our time in Rome. The first was completing the regular pilgrimage to Rome by visiting the four Papal Basilicas and going through the four holy doors that are only open every 25 years,” said Aidan Nanquil, FCRH ’27, as he was describing his experience on the trip. “The other pillar was participating in the World Youth Day with the Catholics there.”
Nanquil said he was very grateful to have been able to participate in the trip. “I have never been to Rome and it’s always felt like a dream, something like an unattainable goal to ever really visit,” he said. Nanquil added on, “Being in Rome at the same time as one million other Catholics, meaning that people from Brazil, Argentina, Jordan, like all over the world, is just a real privilege to experience what the church is as a global community.”
USG Opens Internal Bylaw Review Commission
By SOFIA SEMPER COLUMNIST
The Fordham University Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) met on Thursday, Sept. 4, for their first meeting of the semester in which they discussed USG expectations and changes to policy.
Executive President Lucas Hjertberg, FCRH ’26, began the meeting by stating that the majority of Fordham's student government members are new this year and he is excited for the new perspectives that they will contribute. He then reviewed the meeting’s dress code, attendance and behavioral expectations.
USG said that the Office of Disability Services (ODS) will be moved to the first floor of Faculty Memorial Hall (FMH) and that the Office of International Services (OIS) is being moved to the basement of Walsh Library. The first Student Life Council meeting of the year has been moved to Sep. 17.
There were two revisions to standard USG policy made regarding proposal drafting and all executive reports.
Hjertberg had explained that, rather than senators working individually on their proposals and it being a more self-driven process, he is going to create proposal teams. The current plan is to create five teams of senators. Each team would collaborate on some proposals over the semester. The goal of this, according to Hjertberg, is to have five fully planned proposals to enact by the end of the semester.
Hjertberg mentioned he believes this will not only be a more efficient way of drafting proposals, but will additionally help everyone in USG be involved more and will strengthen the USG community.
Similar to how all the class senates give weekly reports on their work, each proposal team will also give a short, weekly report on any updates regarding their proposals. Hjertberg said the purpose of this is to hold everyone accountable to their work and to show what progress is being made. USG will begin working on new proposal ideas at their retreat on Sept. 18.
Further, the second revision
within the standard USG protocol will be in regards to how the USG Budget Committee as well as the USG Operations Committee present each of their weekly updates. The USG Executive Vice President Andrew McDonald, FCRH ’26, said that the USG Vice President of Budget and Finance Peter Grimes, FCRH ’26, as well as the USG Vice President of Operations, Tina Pathak, FCRH ’28, will additionally now be expected to create weekly updates that will include short and detailed presentations.
Hjertberg said he hopes these presentations will help with transparency and keep each and every USG member well-informed on spending and club details.
While he was presenting his executive report, Hertberg announced that in alignment with the university’s “One Fordham” image, he is now planning a meeting with the Lincoln Center student government and Rose Hill in order to encourage more collaboration between the two campuses.
Hjertberg did also note
that some USG documents — such as the constitution and bylaws — are “archaic” and have been “unrevised for years,” so he wants to create a new Commission to work on revising these documents throughout this semester.
According to the USG Internal Governing Structures, the description of a Commission is a small group of individuals who are assembled for the purpose of addressing an inhouse matter within USG.
Pathak cited this year’s club fair as one of their most successful. She also announced that the new club forms have been opened.
Grimes had stated that his finance committee recently gained four new members. He then briefly explained that USG is block-funded — meaning that, if they do not use their entire budget, they will receive less funding the following year.
Vice President of Student Life Luc Angus, FCRH ’26, said that in his committee meeting, the Student Life Council discussed creating an official name and a plaque for the art exhibit on the second floor of the McShane
Campus Center. Angus also announced that the annual Keating Steps performance is scheduled for the end of September and they plan to have a lengthy set list.
Vice President of FCRH Mary Hawthorn, FCRH ’26, said that there have been changes regarding the Deans this year. Hawthorn has been working to figure out the exact changes that have been made and how it will affect the Dean’s Council. Hawthorn’s first event this year will be “Donuts with the Deans” where students can ask questions, talk with some of the administrators and then be able to educate themselves about the FCRH Dean’s Council.
The Vice President of the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) Hunter Gholson, GSB ’26, said that he is currently planning the GSB Club Fair.
Vice President of Dining and Facilities Maddie Ando, FCRH ’27, mentioned that the Starship Grubhub robots that launched last week and currently service five oncampus dining locations.
USG will meet again this Thursday, Sept. 11.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AIDAN NANQUIL FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
During the trip, the students took part in World Youth Day activities.
The students participate in the global Catholic community.
From left to right: Anne-Sophie Gray, Genevieve Curoe, Aidan Nanquil, Jack O’Brien and Gabriella Chinnici.
Students Share Frustrations with Electronic IDs
longer have physical IDs. It has been difficult navigating the app because I’m new to it and also because it was having a bunch of technical difficulties,” said Kendra Trummer, FCRH ’29. “I am worried that if my phone dies that I won’t be allowed back on campus or be able to get into my dorm because my ID is solely electronic.”
Aeyla Sainsbury-Carter, GSB ’29, said that not having the option of a physical ID can be annoying at times when she doesn’t have reception on her phone and needs to get back into her dorm. “Every single time you go to open your ID you have to login which can take like up to a minute,” SainsburyCarter said. “And then every time you hold it up to a sensor, it brings up your wallet on your phone if you have that turned on.”
Fordham officials say that electronic ID cards were made
the default because most firstyear students already own smartphones. They said that 4,700 electronic ID cards have already been activated.
“Approximately 90 percent of adults in the U.S. have a smartphone, and that number is even higher when we look at first-year students at Fordham,” Petra said. “Building upon technology that was successfully introduced at Fordham years ago, the Entering Class Management Committee (ECMC), Public Safety, IT, and Strategic Sourcing have made electronic IDs the default for the incoming Class of 2029.”
Petra said that physical ID cards are still available for those who cannot access electronic ones. She also said that Service Desk ticket volume has heavily declined.
“While a very small percentage of students did not have their electronic IDs activated prior to arriving on campus we are
pleased to share that all initial Service Desk requests have since been resolved,” Petra said. “Service Desk ticket volume has decreased significantly and any new issues that arise are being resolved as quickly as they come in.”
According to several students, first-year students are not the only ones impacted by Fordham’s transition to electronic ID cards.
Alexandra Lake, GSB ’28, had an electronic ID card for the entirety of her freshman year and said that she had planned to transition to using a physical ID card for her sophomore year. When Lake found out that physical ID cards were no longer an option, she said she was “shocked and disappointed.”
Lake described some of the difficulties she has faced while using an electronic ID card. “It glitches sometimes and it can be kind of slow sometimes,” she said. “Sometimes, it doesn’t
scan. You have to scan it around five times for it to work … Another big issue is when your phone dies and you have to get into your building.”
Gianna Cortez, GSB ’28, initially had an electronic ID card when she began her first-year at Fordham, but switched to a physical ID card because she “realized how inconvenient it was for [her] to keep going on [her] phone.”
“Sometimes, it wouldn’t even load, sometimes other things would pop up instead of my ID. It would hold up lines when I had to scan it, so it was just a lot more convenient for me to switch to an actual ID,” Cortez said.
Before the fall semester began, students took to social media to warn incoming first-years about the inconveniences of owning an electronic ID. In a TikTok video posted in July of 2024, Katherine Zaino, GSB ’27, gave advice to incoming
first-years at Fordham saying not to choose the electronic ID option because of the many difficulties that come with it.
“My number one thing is that when you get your school ID, they are going to offer you a digital school ID or a physical school ID. Get the physical school ID,” said Zaino in her video. “The digital ones won’t work half of the time. They are so finicky. Everyone switches to a physical one, so just get the physical ID. Also, if your phone dies, you can’t use your digital ID.”
Although Fordham officials have talked about the positive aspects of having an electronic ID card, students have continued to voice their frustrations and concerns about no longer having the option of a physical ID card.
“What if you’re out late and your phone dies? You can’t get into wherever you need to go on campus,” Sainsbury-Carter said.
Jessica Lang Starts Her Position as Dean of Arts and Sciences
‘One Fordham’ means, so I love the vision that President Tetlow has,” Lang said.
Lang graduated from Cornell University in 1995, where she received a degree in English, despite being on a pre-med track. She attributes this switch to her love for literature.
“I just came to the conclusion that I would rather spend my time thinking about really big questions,” she said.
Lang held her first administrative role as a Post Doctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University from 2003 to 2004. But soon after, she decided to take a position at Baruch College as an assistant professor.
At Baruch, she rose through the ranks from assistant professor to associate professor and eventually tenure professor. Because of the various positions she has held throughout her career, Lang said she identifies with faculty members.
“I think that’s a strength. I believe it’s my great strength. I kind of see the lens of the institution through faculty eyes, but I’m also, given my administrative and leadership experience, kind of able to bring these other knowledges, these other experiences, to bear,” Lang said.
During her time at Baruch, Lang founded the Sandra K Wasserman Jewish Studies Center and began the Antisemitism Studies Lab, which is still a foundational part of the center to this day. Despite no longer being the head of the center, Lang said she was able to create a succession plan that allows
her work to continue to aid the Baruch community. “I know sometimes there’s a feeling that some centers and programs kind of live and die with the individual who started them,” Lang said. “My goal, always, in creating that center was to create a sustainable place of learning and research for the community and for students and faculty.”
Before coming to Fordham, Lang also served as the Dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch.
Lang said she believes there is a lot of value in the arts and sciences education and that these areas of study provide enrichment for individuals. When applying for the position of Dean of Arts and Sciences at Fordham, Lang was intrigued by the university’s recent
reorganization of the arts and sciences as well as Fordham’s mission.
“I always wanted to be at an institution where arts and sciences was intrinsic to the identity of the institution, to the origin story of the institution and was held at the heart of the institution, and that’s what arts and sciences is at Fordham,” she said.
Lang said she was thrilled when she received the news that she had been accepted to the position.
“It was really a dream come true to get this position,” said Lang. “I got the call and I literally started jumping up and down.”
In her new position, Lang hopes to look for opportunities for unification between Fordham’s campuses. She said her vision is aligned with the strategic goal of “One Fordham” promoted by Tetlow.
Lang believes reaching the goal of “One Fordham” is not just about Lincoln Center and Rose Hill, but the Calder Center as well. After visiting the campus herself, Lang found that the opportunities the Calder Center provides can give students both academic and social benefits. She hopes that by hosting orientation events or providing more opportunities for field work at the Westchester campus, Fordham can further its unification goal.
In her position, Lang says she wants to build relationships with Fordham students. So far, she has greeted students and families on first-year move-in day and attended orientation events.
Looking forward, Lang says she wants to expand her interactions with students into a classroom setting. She hopes to teach first-year English, a core curriculum class, so that she can meet new students and help them integrate into the Fordham community.
“I want to meet with students,” Lang said. “That’s why we’re all here, and I want to stay close to that mission.”
JESSICA LANG FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
Jessica Lang started her position as the inaugural Dean of Arts and Sciences on July 1.
Fordham Welcomes a New Dining Director
FROM DINING, PAGE 1
In 2011, Fitzsimons moved back to New York to work in higher education, and found her way to Fordham.
In her previous position in higher education, she noted achievements in working with students to bring positive change to their campus.
“I led initiatives for enhanced meal plan offerings, introduced innovative dining concepts, managed major construction projects and collaborated closely with student leaders,” Fitzsimons said. When asked for a specific example, she brought up a successfully-changed meal plan format, where she collaborated directly with students to tailor the arrangement to their needs.
Fitzsimons stepped into her role on Wednesday, Sept. 3, but shared that she had visited Fordham’s campuses well in advance. She highlighted her experience during opening day, reflecting on the welcoming environment created by the administration and upperclassmen for the first-years moving in.
When asked about why she wanted to work at Fordham, she not only commented on this encounter, but also on the university’s mission of cura personalis. “Fordham aligns with my background and values and my experience working in
higher education,” she said. Fitzsimons was especially happy to see this environment because she herself is a mother, and one of her daughters is an undergraduate student. She references the intersection of her parental and employee
perspectives as being extremely applicable to her new position at Fordham. With knowledge of both sides, she is able to see the resources available while noting potential challenges and solutions.
Fitzsimons emphasized her
goal of accessibility to the overall student body. She wants to make sure that she is available to help any students to understand the resources they have access to, as well as working directly with student organizations. “By working
closely with student groups, campus leaders and the broader Fordham community, I aim to be a partner in all aspects of dining and catering,” said Fitzsimons. She noted that while change takes time, she always wants to be working towards a resolution and a common goal.
Fitzsimons shared additional information about her plans for the future at Fordham and her objectives to complete under her position. “My goal is to enhance the overall dining experience by introducing innovative, studentfocused concepts and creating operational efficiencies,” she said. “I am committed to engaging with the students, faculty, and staff to ensure our dining services reflect the values and expectations of the Fordham community … Open communication will be key as I work to shape a dining experience that is inclusive, forward-thinking, and uniquely Fordham.”
Fitzsimons’ office is on the Rose Hill campus, but she shared that she will be at the Lincoln Center campus at least once a week, since her position covers both campuses.
As per her request, the Fordham Ram is including her email address (ofitzsimons1@ fordham.edu). She urges any student with questions to contact her for assistance.
Fordham Continues its Pledge to Decrease Carbon Emissions
panels totaling approximately 1 MW were added to the roof of the parking garage.
In 2019, Fordham’s goal to decrease CO2 emissions changed from the previous 30% goal to 40%, in response to the New York City Local Law 97, which passed that same year. The law, which set emission limits for big properties, required buildings larger than 25,000 square feet, including educational institutions, to cut CO2 emissions 40% by 2030, or risk facing annual fines.
In response to the law, Fordham signed a 20-year agreement with EnterSolar, granting 2.6 mW of solar from their 10-acre farm on Staten Island; about the size of eight football fields. Fordham does not directly own the Staten Island panels. Instead, it leases energy from EnterSolar.
Fordham signed its second 20-year lease with EnterSolar this past summer, providing 525 kW of energy. “With the solar agreements that we already have in place,” said Marco Valera, vice president for administration. “This will allow us to have roughly close to half of the electricity for the campus from a solar installation.”
Through this arrangement, Fordham saved “$153,000 over the past fiscal year,” and “over $1 million” over the past seven years according to Valera. Con Edison, is an energy company that provides utility to a large majority of New York, including Fordham. “Unfortunately, what we save from the current electric rates … [is] more than offset by the increase in electric rates coming out of Con Edison,” Valera said.
Standard solar panels degrade over time, losing about 0.5%-1% of efficiency each year. After 25 years, they function at about 80% capacity, which is a standard lifespan before being decommissioned. Disposal of the solar panels poses another challenge. Recycling panels can cost $20 to $40 each, while incineration and waste-site disposal can cost from $1 to $20.
Because of the costs, including maintenance and decommissioning, Fordham opted to lease solar panels rather than install more of its own. However, solar is still in consideration for future investments. “What I’m hoping is that at some point in time,” Valera said. “the price of panels will
come down and again, make it feasible to install them.”
Some students support the investment despite its drawbacks. “It’s a step in the right direction. It’s what we need,” said Ayden Johnson, FCRH ’27, vice president of sustainability for United Student Government (USG).“We need to move away from fossil fuels.”
The new agreement aligns with the USG Sustainability Committee’s goals to making the university a “sustainable institution.” Johnson also described the plan as a temporary fix. “Much like things today, this is a shortterm solution to a very longterm problem,” he said.
“The impact we’re getting from this, the savings are good, but we’re really doing this as part of our sustainability initiatives,” said Valera. “We actually expected to have a lot of support based on the solar in New York and New York City, but that market has dried up because the tax initiative and stuff aren’t there anymore.”
Aside from solar energy, Fordham is making changes to continue its commitment to sustainability according to its 2021 Climate Action Plan, including a uniform recycling
program, ensuring new buildings are in compliance with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, achieving a New Construction Silver rating and converting the Ram Van fleet to use biofuel.
Valera also said Fordham will continue exploring renewable energy options, including solar hot water heating for the Lombardi Center pool. Valera said that any new rooftop arrays
are unlikely at the current price, and because of location constraints. “We don’t have a lot of rooftop space anymore,” he said. “So you need to have large installations to kind of pay off the cost.”
As of now, the Staten Island agreement pushes the University forward in its significant solar expansion. The agreement helps Fordham meet legal requirements to advance sustainability goals and offset rising energy costs.
FROM SOLAR, PAGE 1
ORLA FITZSIMONS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
Orla Fitzsimons began her role as the new Director of Dining on Sept. 3.
SIENNA REINDERS/THE FORDHAM RAM Solar panels were installed on the roof of Fordham’s parking garage in 2019.
Rose Hill to the South Pole: Alumn Builds a Career in Antarctica
By ANDREW MASSIE FEATURES EDITOR
When John Fromer, FCRH ’18, chose to study political science at Fordham University, he was motivated by a curiosity about politics and its reach across fields. At the same time, he was also developing skills in carpentry. That unusual combination would eventually take him farther south than most people ever dream of going.
Fromer has spent multiple seasons working as a carpenter at McMurdo Station, the largest United States research hub in Antarctica. His role combines technical expertise with history and a sense of adventure and community that he credits to his education at Fordham.
Foster responded to questions in an email. “My Fordham education fostered the curiosity necessary that motivated me to explore seemingly extreme possibilities,” Fromer said in an email. “My time at Fordham, surrounded by so much history and tradition, made pursuing work in a field that is also deeply connected to its historic roots and tradition important for me.”
Fromer’s fascination with Antarctica began with stories of explorers like Edmund Hillary, Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. He was particularly drawn to the Irish crew members who played pivotal roles on early expeditions. “This led me to consider the possibility that I could find a role working at McMurdo Station in a modern context and sure enough, my resume aligned
well with a carpentry position at the station,” he said.
Traveling to the station each season is a complicated process.
First, Fromer must fly from New York to Houston, Texas, to Auckland then Christchurch, New Zealand. Upon arrival, he is outfitted with cold-weather gear, including the iconic red Canada Goose parka, before boarding a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster to land on the ice runway near McMurdo.
At the station, carpentry means more than maintenance. “The typical day in the Carpentry Shop could consist of building crates to ship specialized equipment home, station maintenance or working on constructing specific apparatus that was requested by the scientists at the station for their individual research projects,” Fromer said.
The job often takes him far beyond the base. Fromer has traveled by helicopter and small aircraft to remote sites, where he
and his team built research camps ahead of scientists’ arrival. They later returned to dismantle the camps once the research was complete.
At Cape Crozier, home to one of the world’s largest Adélie penguin colonies, he helped build a permanent research hut and sometimes received curious visitors. “Now and then a few wander into camp for a visit,” he said.
Some work could feel surreal in such a setting, according to Fromer.
“Another assignment at a remote site in the McMurdo Dry Valleys was to lay new linoleum in the tiny lab structures at the camp,” Fromer said. “This last one seemed kind of funny to me to be in such a middle of nowhere type place installing something as ordinary as linoleum.”
Fromer noted that the environment can be harsh.
“The biggest challenge is one that I can’t say is unexpected is the level of coldness,” Fromer said. “It was not uncommon to experience -35 degree ambient temperatures, with wind chills making it feel much colder.”
But the rewards are equally vivid. Fromer remembers standing before the Asgard Mountain Range and first spotting penguins at Cape Royds, where he also entered Shackleton’s preserved hut.
“That is a rare experience,” he said.
Life at McMurdo offers more than work. Evenings might be spent at the station’s bars, in the library or in the crafts room, in a routine that Fromer compared to college.
He especially values the friendships he has formed.
“We’re all from different parts of the country and some from other parts of the world.
We’re often amused by our regional slang,” he said. “Life
at McMurdo allows a lot of interaction with staff and scientists from several other countries, like New Zealand and Italy.”
The diversity of his work community impresses him just as much as the natural beauty.
“It’s also unusually normal to meet someone working as a janitor or a galley steward who is a Ph.D. or an archaeologist or some equally impressive academic, all drawn to the station because of a shared interest in the continent,” Fromer said. “This coupled with knowing we’re doing important work, makes the experience really intellectually stimulating and rewarding.”
For all Fordham students and alumni considering an unconventional path, Fromer’s journey shows where curiosity and opportunity can lead. Although his education is rooted in the Bronx, Fromer’s influence stretches all the way down to Antarctica.
COURTESY OF JOHN FROMER FOR THE FORDHAM RAM.
John Fromer said he often worked in very cold temperatures in Antarctica, and had to bundle up.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN FROMER FOR THE FORDHAM RAM.
One of Fromer’s “coworkers.”
The wide expanse of Antartica is the view from Fromer’ s temporary home.
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OPINION
Editorial | Shootings
Thoughts, Prayers and Dead Children
Please take a moment to imagine what the bullet-riddled body of a child might actually look like … How horrifying it would be to see flesh and sinew violently rended from bone. How terrible it would be to see a tiny body disfigured beyond recognition by bullets and shrapnel. How traumatizing it would be to realize that the dead child laying in front of you has been robbed of their future in the most inhumane way possible.
If the very act of imagining this murdered child is nauseating and gut-wrenching beyond tolerance to you, then just imagine how awful, devastating and traumatizing the reality of actually experiencing it must be. Yet, it is indeed the reality that the parents, loved ones, classmates, friends and teachers of the 44 communities that have already experienced a school shooting this year have had to endure. It is also the reality experienced by the 83 communities who suffered a school shooting in 2024, the 82 communities who suffered a school shooting in 2023 and the 80 communities who suffered a school shooting in 2022. However, what is especially disgusting and frustrating about this senseless loss of American children to school shootings is the fact that everyone knows what the problem is: guns. Yet
“Look
nothing ever changes. Instead, after a school shooting, the same cycle of revolting inaction plays out.
First, mental illness, not the prevalence of firearms in America, is named as the true cause of these mass tragedies. This deflective lie masquerading as a legitimate claim, of course, conveniently ignores the fact that while America has almost identical rates of mental illness to countries like Australia, Portugal and Spain, it experiences school shootings at rates 57 times higher than any of these other industrialized nations.
After this, politicians may then float around their perceived solution to this boogeyman of mental illness, proffering up the idea that there just needs to be more “good guys with guns” capable of stopping the next school shooting before it happens. Never mind the fact that America already has more guns than people in this country, or that armed responders have already proven themselves ineffectual and impotent when it comes to reducing the harm of shootings of any sort.
However, at some point in this process of creating a false cause and pushing a ridiculous solution to this false cause, a politician will commit the most egregious cardinal sin in all of school-shooting enablement, and put out a tweet with
What You Made Me Do:”
By EMILY MITTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Consumers once found themselves flipping through a magazine to find the hottest new trends. Now, people’s biggest shopping influence often comes from photos posted online. Although celebrities may not walk into the limelight intending to have such an influence on public opinion, they must be more thoughtful about what they support or showcase due to the platform they hold and the responsibility that comes with immense popularity. From Taylor Swift’s engagement photos causing her pictured outfit, a blackand-white striped Polo Ralph Lauren dress, to sell out on every website, to Harry Styles wearing Adidas Sambas on stage, causing a 2,638% sales increase of the shoes in 2023; celebrities largely influence consumer trends and public behavior, whether they intend to or not.
Celebrities possess an authority over millions of people across the globe, which in turn shapes trends, opinions and consumer behavior. With a simple Instagram story or TikTok rant, celebrities have the immense power to affect how consumers view the world and its many evolving aspects. For example, celebrities’ political endorsements in the 2024 Presidential Election influenced the result of the polls more than one may think. According to a YouGov poll conducted in November
that infamous and empty set of words: “thoughts and prayers.” In the eyes of the Editorial Board of The Fordham Ram, it is this offering up of this sentiment of “thoughts and prayers,” while simultaneously doing nothing to curb the number and accessibility of guns in America, that is perhaps the most morally reprehensible and frustrating post-shooting action to witness. Not only is this phrase a vague nothing in terms of content (its specificity and ethos are akin to a Hallmark “sorry for your loss” card), but it also has no theological or practical ground to stand on. This is not to say that one should never pray for change or for the victims’ families to find peace, but rather that these prayers must be accompanied by direct action. This is not the opinion of this publication, but rather that of Catholicism’s leaders. Pope Francis, for instance, directly identified the solution to the struggle against gun violence with direct action: “In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.” Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger made an even more direct plea for praxis in the wake of the recent Annunciation Catholic School shooting, saying “[A]s we pray for those whose lives were
taken today, I also ask that our prayer be matched by firm endeavors to end the superabundance of handguns and assault weapons in our great nation.” The Interfaith Alliance likewise echoed this blunt sentiment in their respective response to the Annunciation School shooting, putting out a “stark reminder of … the urgent need for action to address gun violence.”
Thus, considering all this then, how can one possibly sit back and do nothing about America’s gun problem other than waxing poetic about mental illness and how many non-specific prayers are being sent a family’s way. The empirical and spiritual realities at play clearly call for the enactment of sweeping gun control — the parameters of which are better saved for another article — in the immediate now. In fact, this issue is not even one of moral, sociological or theological complexity, but rather one of simply taking direct action lest your community becomes the next one forced to deal with the trauma and horror of a bullet-ridden child. Thus, it is the opinion of this Editorial Board of The Fordham Ram that the “thoughts and prayers” should become a relic of days past, instead being replaced with something more practical: ceaseless action.
Celebrities Fueling Overconsumption
of 2024, “About one in 10 Americans (11%) say a celebrity has ever caused them to reconsider their stance on a political issue, while 7% say they have supported a political candidate because of a celebrity endorsement.” People tend to look to celebrities as inspirations or even sources of hope through rough times. With a celebrity’s increased power comes a higher responsibility, meaning stars should think critically about what they are saying, posting or publicly supporting. Choosing to endorse a political party, stand with or against a certain social group or even simply making an offhand comment about their new favorite product can and most likely will shape the public’s perception of these topics.
Celebrities’ actions can drive people to make critical lifestyle decisions, such as how and what they spend their money on, all based on what’s “in.” The ultimate face behind the intensity of each social fad is the support and promotion of celebrities. In recent times, this effect has evolved into a more intensified craze with celebrity lifestyles. In our modern era, many now closely follow celebrity lifestyles, which, in turn, pushes more crazy or radical forms of celebrity influence into average consumers’ daily lives. The most common result of the public eye watching and obsessing over celebrity
lifestyles is the development of unrealistic expectations, with a great example including modern-day weddings. As wedding trends have come and gone throughout the decades, it is clear that weddings have had an increase in prioritizing showing off wealth, or the illusion of it, to copy celebrity standards. While some people have tried harder and harder to push an average lifestyle to fit the stakes raised by celebrities, these efforts have, in turn, caused the deeper running issue of overconsumption, which is shown by the increase of outlandish wedding decorations and the rise of videographer hirings to capture and post the special day. The more celebrities post about their lavish lifestyles, the more the average follower begins to feel their own life is inadequate, often resulting in making unnecessary purchases in an attempt to fill the void of a celebrity’s over-glamorized impression. As celebrities’ weddings have become ludicrously
expensive and arguably overconsumptive, the average person, in turn, has felt a higher pressure to follow suit and blindly follow their lead without thinking about whether it is what they truly want, or if it is a false image they want the internet to see instead. Overall, celebrities have fallen into the position of setting the standard for the average person’s life, which, as a result, has unfortunately led to a dramatic rise in overconsumption. With the average person watching celebrities make choices on their lifestyles, beliefs and practices, many people fall down the rabbit hole of overconsumption, never truly satisfied with what they already have. Celebrities should continue to be more mindful of what they choose to promote, endorse and showcase to the world, as they will have a larger impact than they may realize before they click and post.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce recently announced their engagement.
MEGHAN CATTANI/THE FORDHAM RAM
Emily Mitton, FCRH ’29, is a Journalism major from Lisbon, New Hampshire.
OPINION
From the Desk | Grace McCarron
The Little Things in my Big City
While furiously trying to think of something to write for my first From the Desk, waiting for an idea to hit me like a tidal wave, I started writing a list of things. Some smaller than others, but listing things that I had been given due to being where I am. The fabric of who we each are as people is greatly developed from where we find ourselves spending time. It is almost unimaginable to me that I could have been born anywhere in the world because of how big an impact New York has had on my life. I was born and raised in Manhattan and have lived in the same apartment my entire life, in the middle of everything the city has to offer. A major part of the reason I came to Fordham University was to stay in New York while also experiencing true campus life a short distance from my home. It’s crazy to think of how different my life might have looked if my parents decided to settle down and build a life somewhere else.
There are some things on this list, which I sample from here, that aren’t entirely specific to New York. Still, I’d like to include them anyway because they are important to me and they are part of the journey to where I am in my life these days. There’s sitting on the floor of my Finlay Hall dorm room (which might be haunted) and waiting for my roommates to grab their snacks before a debrief. For the baseball-obsessed folks like myself, there are those slightly chilly autumn days in October when you know there’s a game to yell at that night (looking at you, October 2024). There’s being home on Thanksgiving, going on a morning coffee run down the street with my dad before going home to watch the parade and set up the feast. There’s Christmastime in New York City, going to the Union Square Holiday Market not too far from my family’s apartment on a Sunday morning before planting myself on the couch to watch football the rest of the day. There’s walking
down Arthur Avenue to meet my friends for dinner on the first warm day of the spring, when the sun sets just right, school doesn’t feel quite real and finals are a foreign concept.
I think you get my point. It is a true cliche, but it really is all about the little things. No other place in the world can show you the little things like a big city, such as the one I’ve always called home and always will. It might seem like the opposite, like New York is only about the grandeur and glitz of a city that never sleeps, but I don’t believe that to be true. I think New York teaches you to find the smaller joys amidst the chaos. When things become overwhelming, you are reminded of how much bigger the world outside is than whatever is overwhelming you. I have been able to find peace in the noise, and I hope that first-years and future students at Fordham University can feel the same way when they begin here.
New York isn’t for everyone, but it’s the kind of place that
From the Desk | Stuart Cremer
I think everyone should experience at least once. Of course I am quite biased, but I can’t imagine where I would be without my little moments in New York. Every sidewalk you walk down, in whatever neighborhood you find yourself in, contains its own little things. We build our own little things wherever we put down roots, as things that once seemed foreign
become routine. The walk home to your dorm on the first night of college, where you might not even know where you’re going (I know I didn’t) becomes your everyday, as you notice new things about your surroundings. I am beyond happy and grateful that I get to establish my own little things in a place like New York, and I hope to continue to do so for a long, long time.
No Such Thing As ‘Free’ Speech
When you live in a country where freedom of speech is enshrined in the Constitution as the first fundamental right of citizens — prohibiting the federal government from making any law abridging citizens’ speech, press or peaceful assembly — it can be easy to take such fundamental freedoms for granted, to think that free speech really is free. For a long time, it didn’t seem like I had to do anything to maintain my fundamental right to express my identity, my beliefs and my opinions. Respect for the will and rights of all subjects under the government is the foundation of our democracy and our government. Therefore, the American government should not be able to exist without respect for the rights of everyday citizens. The pluralistic nature of the American government
allows for many points of access. Our system of checks and balances prevents abuse of power. If respect for the rights of the people is so ingrained in the United States government, it would help explain why the United States has remained a democratic nation at times when other governments lapsed into authoritarianism or despotism. Despite its simplicity, this story helps explain how and why many Americans have enjoyed freedoms that people in other countries have been denied. It’s the easiest to ignore all the ways in which this story has worked when it stops working. I’ve been as confused as everyone else I know about the shifts in the American political landscape in the past 10 years. How can a government violate what seem like the fundamental rights of its people and stay in power?
How can the president issue an executive order that attempts to dictate which people get the privileges of citizenship, openly contradicting over a hundred years of legal precedent and an amendment to the Constitution? How can the president withhold federal funding from universities in retaliation against studnets’ peaceful protests?
Since I started as a staff writer for the news and opinion sections in Volume 106, being part of The Fordham Ram has been a great experience. The things I’ve learned here and the people I’ve gotten to work with have changed my answers to these questions. It’s strange to think back to this time a year ago and wonder what I would be doing now if I hadn’t decided to join the mailing list for the opinion section. As I’m writing this, the alternate-reality version of myself that isn’t on staff at the Ram is most likely sleeping. Even though I’ve lost one or more hours of sleep for the Ram, I’m so glad to have been a part of this.
These days, I’m more able to recognize exactly what makes free speech so important and what free speech costs. In my one semester as Assistant Opinion Editor, we broke news on a lot of politically charged stories and published many students’ strong opinions on those matters. Working with the whole staff, especially Indranil Kar and Abigail Adams, to ensure we were representing each student’s voice fairly alongside all the pertinent facts was a
lot of work, but I would do it all over again.
Looking forward to the semester ahead of us, I’m excited to take on more responsibilities, even though I’m going to miss our former Volume 107 staff members. Sitting next to and being able to commiserate with Allison Schneider, a former Assistant Opinion Editor herself, always made the occasional curveballs we got in the opinion section easier to handle. Being on staff at a newspaper makes you realize how much work it takes to accurately and effectively communicate information to any audience, even at a small newspaper run by college students. Ram production nights are long and exhausting, no doubt about it, but I choose to show up because I have so much fun with all these wonderful people and because we all care about doing this job and doing it well.
I titled this article “No Such Thing As ‘Free’ Speech” because I thought it sounded cool, but also because the times we live in have made it incredibly obvious that free speech is not free. It requires a collective investment on everyone’s part that ensures everyone has access to their basic needs and the opportunity to exercise their rights. This investment shows up in a lot of ways, often in how we spend our time and money. When that investment isn’t enough, the rights of everyone begin to gradually and then rapidly erode. That’s why it should alarm everyone that
the Trump administration and Congress have forced the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to shut down.
In signing a recession bill into law, President Donald Trump clawed back $1.1 billion of federal funding for public media, earmarked for the CPB for the next two years. The CPB funds over 1000 public radio stations and hundreds of public television stations. Seventy percent of this funding goes directly to local public media stations, and almost half of the grantees are rural. While some of these stations are finding other ways of raising money, including listener donations and community initiatives, the ones in rural areas without consistent revenue from donations are likely to be hit the hardest. Public radio stations run by universities, too, are being impacted by these cuts, including Fordham’s own WFUV. These stations give millions of Americans vital access to news, public media, educational materials and all the other information they need to fully exercise their rights. Now more than ever, freedom of speech requires the investment of our collective time and effort.
Public media is an important pillar of this collective investment. Even though poorer and more rural communities will likely be the most impacted by CPB’s closure, everyone will be at a disadvantage. When anyone is uninformed, everyone is worse off for it.
By UMA PETZKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
How many times have you come back to your room after a day of classes, clubs or a night out and found yourself craving a 300-page novel? Many of us, if not all, would say never.
Thinking about the amount of time we spend reading for our classes, how is it possible that so many students wouldn’t consider reading a pastime? In the first few weeks of classes we all received our logins for Blackboard where we found homework, exam dates and required readings. In fact, for this semester of classes, I don’t need to own a single book or textbook to study. All the work and reading is online, and I would have to go out of my way to receive the paper versions. Over the summer, it is much easier to fill time with a new book, but, when the academic year starts, my amount of free time is vastly reduced. When summer breaks go away and we begin working year-round jobs, will we continue reading or will our last book read be an assigned reading from a core class?
As students in higher education, professors and administrators expect us to have done quite a bit of reading in high school, given how they assign longer readings in college. All through high school, we are told that the stakes in college are higher and more will be expected of us. If we focus solely on the topic of reading, though, this doesn’t seem to be
By EMMA KELNER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When people visit your home, do you ask them to take off their shoes? As I walked around Central Park with an old friend from high school (who currently attends Hunter College Macaulay), I was asked that same question. I have always been a slipper person (something my Soviet parents instilled in me), but apparently, there are some die-hard slipper fans at Hunter College.
My friend visited her friend’s dorm room and while she was there, a maintenance worker came to fix
OPINION The Art of Reading
an accurate description. The question I am posing is as follows: Are students reading for pleasure? Going off my own experiences, I feel I can answer pretty quickly and claim no, students aren’t reading much for pleasure. Even when we are, it is usually isolated to the summer months when we have the spare time. A better question to ask might be, “Why are we less inclined to read?” And if we aren’t being incentivized by our universities to pick up a book outside of class, is it really that important?
Multiple studies in recent years, including one published by the New York Times and the Medical Press have found that Americans are reading 40% less since 2003. This is a huge shift in Americans’ use of time, and not enough research has been done into the “why” aspect of it. I conducted a small poll of students from my dorm floor and came up with answers that I feel resonate with many of us. There is, of course, social media that consumes so much of our time either scrolling, posting or ranting; we spend hours on our social media apps. There is also the societal pressure to constantly be productive. When we only have 15 minutes between classes, a smart phone is a much more accessible option than a book. When I asked students why they think they aren’t reading for pleasure, almost all of them said that their reading habits are correlated with what is asked of them in
class. Teachers assign readings and, for many students, that fulfills the reading requirement they hold for themselves. Unfortunately, this removes much of the pleasure from reading, since assigned readings are basically just chores on a checklist, waiting to be completed. During orientation, we received handfuls of packets for clubs, events and other opportunities around campus. In one of those pamphlets was a free subscription coupon for Max, previously known as HBO Max. When I saw this, I immediately signed in and looked at all the new show options I have access to. I was excited to start a new show and find new characters to fill my days with. As I started brainstorming for this article, I thought back on that coupon. What is Fordham saying about its priorities by providing streaming service access to all its students? That
money could potentially be better spent elsewhere, like giving students discounts on textbooks or expanding the catalogue of books offered at the Fordham bookstore. If a student wishes to purchase a physical book for pleasure or even for a class, they would need to find and pay for it all by themselves, which is hardly as accessible as a free streaming service or online readings for class. The shift from paper to digital is not something that students are necessarily creating themselves; it’s also being built that way around us by our university. This makes it our responsibility as students to seek out new books and challenge ourselves to read. Though reading is becoming harder to fit into our busy lives, it has consistently been shown that reading is important for brain development, and it may even add years to
Cute Shoes... Now Take Them Off
the broken air conditioner.
The girls in the room asked him to remove his shoes because they were trying to keep their floor clean. The maintenance worker was shocked, and rightfully so. He said he would come back later, but he never returned to fix the air conditioner. In my opinion, this story takes the whole “shoes on or off” debate way too far. That being said, how do you approach house rules in your dorm room?
Let us begin with cultural norms. Americans in particular are very relaxed about taking their shoes
off inside. In most parts of the world, however, keeping your shoes on inside is considered disrespectful. In fact, in Russia, you will most likely be given a pair of slippers to wear inside the house! If you find yourself as a guest in this slipper-culture, it is also customary to bring a gift, whether it be flowers, dessert or a bottle of wine (or vodka!).
Speaking of drinks, different cultures have different rules for toasting. In Georgia, wine is meant to be consumed exclusively at the end of a meal during a toast, not during the meal, as is customary in
America. In Japan and China, serving tea is extraordinarily ritualized and must be done in a specific way. For example, in China, tea ceremonies require “specific types of pots, cups, bamboo tools, tongs, tea towels, brewing trays and ‘scent cups’ for guests to smell before brewing.”
Similarly, breaking bread looks very different depending on where in the world you find yourself. In some countries, like Turkey, Japan and India, leaving food on your plate is a sign that you did not enjoy the meal. However, an empty plate in Iran and China suggests you are still hungry. Your host may keep piling food onto your plate until you cannot eat anymore.
To bring things back to the topic of shoes, there are a plethora of reasons someone could want a visitor to take off their shoes. Most of the time, the first reason people can come up with is a hygienic one. In a study on shoe soles as vectors for diseases, Alam et al. found that “39.7% (25 out of 63) of shoe bottoms collected from household[s] were contaminated with Cl. difficile.” Similarly, Schoder et al. found that “[l]isteria monocytogenes was prevalent in 40-80% of shoes of facility patrons.”
Outside of hygiene, taking off your shoes in someone’s
your life. But how can we incorporate reading for pleasure in our everyday lives? I asked Professor Elizabeth Bolger from Fordham’s English department about her thoughts on this issue. She said, “I know that the amount of books I read for sole pleasure ... decreases a bit during the academic year. That being said, I’ve found that audiobooks have been a great way to read and get some chores done!” Finding new ways to read, whether it’s online or an audiobook, provides a potential solution to the issue of finding convenient opportunities to read. Since information is everywhere, reading for pleasure might no longer be about keeping up rather about giving yourself an opportunity to slow down.
home is a sign of respect. If a host asks you to remove your shoes, not removing your shoes can be viewed as extremely disrespectful. Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) in “The Office” probably said it best when he asked, “You cheated on me? When I specifically asked you not to?” Though this doesn’t entirely relate to taking your shoes off in someone’s house, the idea behind the quote is the same. If someone asks you to do something that’s important to them, you really should listen.
Now, my roommate and I have not had many guests in our dorm, but we always take off our shoes and put on our slippers when we enter our room and we would ask houseguests to do the same. We also ask that no guests sit on either of our beds or go through our snacks without asking first. These boundaries are essential for living in a shared space. Without boundaries, the world would be one accidentally eaten snack away from anarchy. Whether or not you agree with the girls described in the introductory anecdote, I’m sure we can all agree that our and other people’s boundaries are paramount.
COURTESY OF LORESA ZEQIRAJ/THE FORDHAM RAM
Leisurely reading is possible during the academic year.
ABIGAIL ADAMS/THE FORDHAM RAM
Uma Petzke, FCRH ’29, is a psychology major from San Francisco, California.
Wearing shoes is a contentious topic among many cultures.
Emma Kelner, FCRH ’29, is an undeclared major from Staten Island, New York.
OPINION
Let’s Delve Into It: The Insidious Effects of AI on Language
By JOHANNA BROOSLIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It took all of 30 seconds for me and my friends to turn to ChatGPT to find the final piece for our group Halloween costume. Always having a funny TikTok or Instagram reel one swipe away conditions users to seek instant gratification. It is no surprise, then, how quickly we have become reliant on generative artificial intelligence (AI) to do everything that takes even the smallest bit of effort. My friends and I are smart and creative enough to come up with the sixth piece of our group costume, but why think for five minutes when ChatGPT can give us the perfect idea in five seconds?
This mindset is where the problem starts. The increasing employment of generative AI to handle various tasks has negatively impacted the writing, speaking and thinking abilities of its users. Although generative AI technology is relatively new, several studies already prove the harm in using large language models (LLMs). A MIT Media Lab study asked three groups — one using ChatGPT, another using the Google search engine and a third only their brains — to write SAT essays. The study found that those using ChatGPT to write “consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.” Not only did the quality of the writing suffer,
but the ability for the ChatGPT users to think critically was also harmed.
LLMs have also impacted the way users speak. In the process of training generative AI models, LLMs learn to use specific words like “delve” and “intricate” at a higher rate than human English speakers. Words like “delve” and “intricate” that are more frequently used by LLMs are now invading our real-life conversations. According to a study cited in Scientific American, people have begun to use “delve” more in normal, spoken conversation. Without realizing, we have begun to absorb speech patterns of generative AI and use them as our own. But why is this harmful? Surely incorporating a few words used by LLMs cannot be all bad. The issue is not that humans are using the word “delve” more often, but rather how quickly we subconsciously adopted the linguistic patterns of a machine. Humans should not have to make an active effort to avoid sounding like AI. At the same time, we should be more aware of how these patterns seep into our everyday language, diminish our originality and push us toward algorithmic and flat speech.
With ChatGPT reaching 700 million weekly users worldwide, the effect of generative AI on our language, thoughts and writing is impossible
to ignore, especially since its influence will likely only continue to grow. Generative AI has become integrated almost everywhere online, from search engines to social media platforms. As usage of these technologies increases, so does their impact on how we express ourselves. Since generative AI is increasingly difficult to avoid, we must adapt to life with it. Adjusting to this new technology does not mean we should surrender our creativity or our voices by parrotting generated phrases. When one chooses to use a generative AI program, it must be done with careful intention and not as a shortcut to avoid thinking. AI can assist but should
never lead. Using AI to write our essays and emails or letting it change how we think and speak are all examples of how we risk losing ourselves to LLMs. Allowing these systems to take the wheel causes us to lose important skills and doubt our ability to produce meaningful writing and speech. Generative AI models have damaged our ability to think, write and speak. But now the choice lies in our hands: we can give in and continue allowing these systems to shape how we communicate, or we can push back with intention and awareness. The process of sitting in frustration not knowing the next line to write in an
essay, or that of struggling to come up with Halloween costume ideas, should not be interrupted by typing in a prompt to ChatGPT. Since its release in 2022, the tolerance for encountering difficulties has sharply declined since a solution can be so easily found through generative AI. We crave the same instant gratification that comes from scrolling through social media. But the moments of struggle are where creativity and critical thinking emerge. Only by embracing the discomfort are we able to fully grow as thinkers, writers and speakers. Johanna Brooslin, FCRH ’27, is an English major from Medfield, Massachusetts.
The Robot Revolution, Delivered Directly To Your Dorm
By RACHEL SERVIDIO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Heated sentiment has been at the center of many student discussions with the arrival of the new Starship food delivery robots on the Rose Hill campus — it even made the local news. The robots have made quite a commotion, with students questioning the possibility of the robots forming connections with one another and their impact on student life.
The fleet of nine robots is a part of Fordham’s initiative of finding new ways to make students’ campus life easier — but do we students actually want this? The answer is a bit complicated. When questioned by Fordham Now about the new robots on campus, Vice President of Student Affairs Michele Burris said, “Being able to order food at different hours of the day and have it meet them as they’re heading to class, to practice or to an event—it’s just a very innovative and exciting opportunity.” The robots are able to deliver food from most of the restaurants on campus to any building. But with the option to deliver food instead of going in person, does this mean there will be a significant impact on student life on campus? I think so.
Looking back on my firstyear, as a wise old senior, I can truly say that hanging out around campus, going to the Marketplace with people I had just met and relaxing outside was imperative in my making friends and getting to know others. I made some of my best friends in the morning after a long night, meeting up at Starbucks for a quick coffee or taking the long hike to Urban Kitchen for some late-night chicken tenders. With the addition of these robots on campus, I can see students staying in their dorms more and being less social, a crucial part of college life.
I don’t seem to be the only person who feels this way, either. An Instagram account by the username @fordhamstudentsagainsttherobot, was recently created to share student-submitted photos of the delivery robots with captions hating on the presence of the robots on the campus. One of the posts made on the page reads, “This will not be the last thing automated away from us #humans at this school. They may be new, but a human could do this job better and faster and have the opportunity to be paid.”
And as crazy as it sounds, I agree with them. All the food
workers on campus are some of the nicest and hardestworking people I have seen, especially when they have to deal with students. AI has been a major topic of conversation, and with the robots integrating into our campus life, I am scared for the future of human connection. Conversely, another Instagram account was made under the username @fordhamstudentsfortherobot where the account administrators accept studentsubmitted photos and praise the work of the robots. They even made a post on Labor Day, reading, “No breaks for the robots even on Labor Day.”
One positive thing I see about having the robots on campus is that they will be able to accommodate students with disabilities or students who struggle to go out on campus and get food. For students with these issues, I think the delivery robots are a great alternative. However, for the rest of the student body, this could be detrimental to their ability to connect face-to-face with other students and get used to campus life.
I understand the process of integrating the robots into campus life, but all things considered, I believe that they are a waste of funding and time.
For many years, students have complained about conditions on campus, the tuition raises and, most importantly in this case, the food. Adding fancy robots to campus does not change the fact that the food still sucks or that tuition has increased 10% in the past two years. Additionally, the robots promote staying indoors when the focus should be to upgrade restaurants on campus, including increasing pay for the workers. That way, students will want to go out with their friends and spend more time on-campus. The delivery robots, while not all bad, are just unnecessary. The university’s focus should be on more important things, though I will definitely be using the robots at least once this year.
Rachel Servidio, FCRH ’26, is a communications and culture major from Poughkeepsie, New York.
Students can order food for delivery by robot using the Grubhub app.
EMMA LEONARDI/THE FORDHAM RAM
MEGHAN CATTANI/THE FORDHAM RAM
Large language models use certain words, such as delve and intricate, more frequently than humans do.
Zohran Mamdani: The Change New York City Needs
By GAVIN O’SULLIVAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As President Donald Trump’s threats against Democratic city leaders continue across the country, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani looms large as New York City’s best defense against a hostile federal government. Mamdani’s success in the June Democratic mayoral primary has given people in New York City and beyond a brighter and more hopeful vision of progress.
In the wake of Mamdani’s stunning primary victory, institutions and politicians, both conservative and progressive, have turned their attention towards New York City, as former Governor Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and the conservative public figure Curtis Sliwa vie for sole possession of the anti-Zohran voting bloc. As the race stands — with Mamdani on the Democratic ticket, Cuomo and Adams on their own independent platforms and Sliwa as the Republican nominee — the odds favor Mamdani with recent polls showing a +19 margin.
However, in recent days, Trump has privately discussed intervening in the race by offering Mayor Adams a government job in his administration — reportedly the Saudi Arabian ambassadorship — in return
for Adams dropping out of the race. Such a deal could substantially alter the outlook of the election. “I would like to see two people drop out and have it be a one on one,” Trump commented, also adding that he wouldn’t want to see the city led by “a communist,” referring to the democratic-socialist Mamdani. Adams has since come out and stated that he will be staying in the race. Meaningless diversions aside, Mamdani has been remarkable on the campaign trail. His campaign has solidified around concise and consistent messaging, making Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) policy points digestible and relatable. Promises to broaden the municipal safety net, expand the housing supply and focus on the affordability crisis vaulted Mamdani over Cuomo in June. His campaign has been buoyed throughout by his charismatic appeal and the institutional backing of NYC-DSA, allowing for a canvassing operation consisting of 50,000 volunteers. Cuomo, after his major upset in the Democratic primary, reentered the race as an independent candidate, evidently under the impression that he still had the best chance of defeating Mamdani, revealing both the height of his selfassuredness and a low opinion
of his compatriots, Adams and Sliwa. His “Building a New NYC” platform relies heavily on an image of New York City as downtrodden and vulnerable. It is difficult to see Cuomo in that role, the no-nonsense, clean-up-the-streets city patriarch, especially because of the many blemishes on his record, the best summary of which comes from Mamdani himself. In response to Cuomo calling into question his experience, Mamdani responded, “To Mr. Cuomo, I have never had to resign in disgrace. I have never cut Medicaid. I have never stolen … from the M.T.A. I have never hounded the 13 women who credibly accused me of sexual assault … and I have never done these things because I am not you, Mr. Cuomo.” Despite Cuomo’s questionable record, many high-profile Democratic politicians have either refused to endorse Mamdani or rallied behind Cuomo.
The two thorns in Cuomo’s side, Adams and Sliwa, are perfectly placed to ruin Cuomo’s chances by splitting the vote. However, the exact difference made by their continued presence in the race is unclear. In situations where Cuomo is isolated against Mamdani, as Trump sought to accomplish with his job offer to Adams,
the most recent polls from Zenith Research and VeraSight still show a double-digit lead for Mamdani. Also, when it comes to campaign war-chests, Mamdani has already reached the fundraising cap of $8 million, behind him are Sliwa with around $4 million, then Adams with around $3.5 million and Cuomo in last with $1.5 million. However, this form of fundraising is much more regulated and does not exactly correspond to the real capital behind these campaigns. Independent expenditures allow for businesses and PACs to spend on behalf of the campaign. During the primary, a Cuomo-affiliated super-PAC, Fix the City, raised around $25 million. This contrast reveals something important about the two campaigns. Cuomo’s campaign is an impersonal manifestation of largescale institutional resistance to change, whereas Mamdani’s
campaign builds itself around the New York City community and community organizations like the NYC-DSA.
What all the outrage and blathering about the danger of Mamdani reveals is deepseated fear. The promise of Mamdani’s campaign — resistance to fascist overreach, care for the community, the end of ivory-tower bureaucracy — is hard to accept for New Yorkers now accustomed to lies and compromise. That is not to say that Mamdani’s promises are a guarantee; even the slimmest victory will have to be hard-fought in Albany and Washington. The alternative, however, is Cuomo: equal parts corrupt and complacent. With the spectre of fascism looming, what is there to lose? Gavin O’Sullivan, FCRH ’27, is an English major from Monroe, New York.
Pumpkin Spice and Cozy Decor: Signs That Fall Has Begun
By TAHIYAT RAISA STAFF WRITER
As summer’s warmth wraps up and it starts getting chillier, my heart yearns for the crispness of fall and sweater weather. The sound of the crunchy leaves on the ground and those amazing pumpkinspice lattes at Dunkin’. For me, fall officially begins the moment students walk back onto campus in late August, not when a calendar decides it’s “officially fall.” The months of September through December are undeniably the best time of year. Fall is a time surrounded by cozy energy, new beginnings and seasonal comfort.
The wonderful irony is that stores and coffee shops are rushing ahead, opening their doors first in the fall. As “The Pioneer Woman” stated, “If you’re really into the festive season, why not decorate everywhere you can?” You’ll find Target aisles filled with seasonal decor, including wreaths, stuffed pumpkins and cute fall pillows. Before classes even start, we are subtly influenced by that early marketing, putting us instantly in that fall mood.
This is a retail strategy, not just decoration. With consumers treating the season almost like a shopping event in and of itself, fall is becoming a bigger deal for retailers. Fall turns from a date to a destination before the cold sets in.
And nothing screams “fall” more than Dunkin’ Donuts. Its 2025 fall menu, which combines traditional favorites with innovative new items, became available nationwide on Aug. 20. In addition to bringing back the beloved Pumpkin Spice Signature Latte, Dunkin’ is launching a nostalgic new Cereal N’ Milk Latte. “The latte, which can be ordered hot or iced, is made with marshmallow-flavored cereal milk for a sweet, creamy, nostalgia-packed flavor,” according to AllRecipes.
In an article titled “The popular fall menu has landed in stores — here’s the full list of pumpkin spice-flavored treats and more,” the New York Post praised Dunkin’s seasonal release as a late summer highlight. “Beyond pumpkin, Dunkin’ is rounding out the fall menu with more crave-worthy bites both sweet and savory,” said Dunkin’ Press Release, describing its fall lineup as a way to help fans celebrate the season with the flavors they crave. While the August heat persists, the brand is intentionally establishing the mood for sweater weather with its pumpkinswirled coffees and applethemed baked goods.
These early releases serve as mood-setters in addition to being marketing. As students starting a new semester, the taste of a Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice Latte in our hands or
the sight of warm fall décor in stores is the ideal way to change things up. All of these things serve as reminders that study sessions with friends, organized routines and campus traditions are just around the corner. Because, as we all know, Fordham University has one of the prettiest campuses, especially in the fall.
On-campus, fall is more than simply a season; it’s also a symbol. There will be chilly evenings where people can debrief on Eddies, discussing new classes and making friends. Fall club sign-ups help students find a sense of community, and fall weekends are perfect for trips to the pumpkin patch or apple picking. There is the sight of red and orange leaves surrounding campus walkways and the
sound of laughter carried on cool breezes.
Although Dunkin’ fall drinks may seem like the best in our society, it is important to remember that local cafés usually compete with or even outperform these well-known brands. There are a number of small coffee shops on Arthur Avenue, just a few minutes away from Dunkin’, that might have an unrivaled cinnamon-maple latte or pumpkin chai. These small businesses are one of the undiscovered treasures of the season, just waiting for students to find them. Perhaps your next discovery will be during a study break or even a chilly walk home, just to give you and your friends a break from William D. Walsh Family Library.
Let’s welcome the emerging fall magic in Fordham because it’s not too early to enjoy a hot Dunkin’ latte, decorate the dorms with fake leaves and allow the season to influence campus life. Fall is a season of coziness, connection and the excitement of fresh starts. Everywhere we look in late August, from Target aisles full of pumpkins and Dunkin’s limited-edition drinks to our own college lawns covered in gold, we are reminded that fall has arrived, and it couldn’t be more ideal. And as we all can agree, fall is Fordham’s season.
Tahiyat Raisa, FCRH ’28, is a psychology major from Jamaica, Queens,NewYork
The 2025 New York City mayoral race has an abundance of candidates.
MEGHAN CATTANI/THE FORDHAM RAM
Many signs herald the season of fall, from seasonal lattes to falling leaves to cooler weather. STUART CREMER/THE FORDHAM RAM
CULTURE
The Summer I Waited for an Ending
By AARYAN SAMA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Set four years after the events of the second season, the final season of the hit Prime Video series “The Summer I Turned Pretty” picks up with Isabel ‘Belly’ Conklin (Lola Tung) torn between the Fisher brothers for one last time. Belly, whose first love was the caring, yet flaky older brother Conrad (Chris Briney), finds herself in her “dream” relationship with his outgoing younger brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). While the season starts off with odd pacing and sloppy writing, it immediately begins to pick up as we prepare for the conclusion of the infamous love triangle in the upcoming final two episodes.
First off, we see almost inverse character paths for the Fisher brothers, as Conrad seems to have matured during his time at Stanford University, and Jeremiah joins a frat at Finch College and becomes completely irresponsible. He sleeps with another girl during his spring break in Cabo while on a break with Belly, and misses an email informing him that he doesn’t have the credits
to graduate. Both of these actions seem out of character for the man we saw Jeremiah grow into in season two, who showed up for Belly when no one else did, and was responsible enough to take care of his mother’s bills during her final months. After being forgiven by Belly for what took place in Cabo, he proposes another irrational decision that is the premise for most of the season: marriage.
Despite taking a backseat in the first few episodes, however, Conrad was always present and looming in Belly’s mind. The two share a number of intimate moments throughout the season’s progression that make Belly question her decision to marry Jeremiah. This unspoken tension ultimately leads to Conrad confronting Belly the night before the wedding and confessing his love for her. After Belly tells Jeremiah what happened, he calls off the wedding the day of, and Belly chooses to go through with her semester abroad in Paris. The latest episode, while some have criticized it for being filler, gives us the opportunity to see Belly in a new environment
without the Fisher brothers for the first time throughout the three seasons.
Besides the Conklin-Fisher love triangle that consumes the majority of the plot, there are additional plotlines that feel like a waste of time. For instance, we are introduced to Taylor’s mother (Kristen Connolly), an outgoing single mother in debt, but her addition to the show comes off unnecessary and doesn’t add much to the overall plot. We additionally meet Denise (Isabella Briggs), Steven’s (Sean Kaufman) colleague from the office, whom he builds chemistry with over numerous episodes, only for them to realize they don’t work romantically. While Steven and Taylor (Rain Spencer) are probably the easiest couple in the show to root for, a lot of the challenges presented to them this season felt like lazy writing in order to delay the inevitable ending of them being together until the final episodes.
Critical aspects aside, this season is definitely an enjoyable watch with some very strong and emotion-inducing episodes, specifically those that take place closer to the “wedding.” Since there are
only two episodes left, one can assume that Conrad and Belly will finally have their “happily ever after,” and it
How to Build the Perfect Routine from Sunrise to Sunset
By BRIDGETTE LEAHY CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Congratulations, Rams! We’ve made it through an official full week of the fall semester! Whether that means sprinting to your 8:30 a.m. classes, or 6 p.m. classes, figuring out where your classes are is an accomplishment in itself. Now that the first week’s chaos is settled, the next question remains: How do we settle into a daily routine that helps us stay grounded and on the right track to success?
As college students, we’ve all heard the expression “maintain a well-holistic balance in lifestyle.” But the question is always, “How?” It’s easier said than done. We know it can be challenging to maintain a well-holistic, balanced lifestyle. As a third-year student, building a morning and night schedule helps my mental and physical well-being, both academically and socially.
Let’s talk mornings. For some students, mornings are precious — sacred, peaceful times to embrace the early minutes of the day. However for some, like myself, it’s the least exciting part of the day, pressing snooze one, or five, too many times.
This might seem silly, but granting 20-30 minutes of waking-up time — including having coffee and breakfast, checking emails, homework, scheduling and planning for the day — can set up a stress-reduced day by increasing productivity. The stimulation we get in the
morning is significantly impactful on how the rest of our day will set. Some students like to meditate to help clear their minds and remove any negativity. I personally like to wake up an hour before my classes to have time to make my favorite Keurig-brewed coffee, pick out my outfit, check emails and/or classwork and journal, reflecting on my goals and intentions. This routine, which I have established over the past two years, involves switching it up and finding what works for me. Regardless of the approach, finding a schedule that works for you is the most important thing.
Equally important is how we end the day. It’s been a long day with classes, extracurriculars, sports and assignments. For most students, nights can be a tremendously stressful time as assignments, due dates and quizzes pile up, taking hours away from sleep.
For me, how I wind down impacts my sleep schedule. As a first-year, I would wind down by scrolling through TikTok until 2 a.m., knowing I would have to wake up in six hours for class, and then wonder why I felt so exhausted in my 8:30 a.m. classes. But now, I set aside electronics other than my laptop for assignments and read or journal to help relax and alleviate any stresses from the day. As I have adjusted my nightly schedule, I’ve noticed that
my sleep has improved due to the reduced stimulation my brain receives. As addictive as scrolling through TikTok was, the stimulation the electronics create fizzes out and engages you, creating an addiction to stay up longer, taking away those cherished hours of beauty sleep. In order to get a good night’s sleep, stress levels must be reduced. The key to following a relaxing nightly schedule comes with consistency. A habit is developed within 27 days of consistent practice, so it is never too late to break or start a new one!
Beyond the obvious routines of getting to class, studying and eating, it comes with a key component of consistency. Life can be unpredictable — especially college life, where we are all coming to our senses of living independently. Having a routine helps structure us and maintain our well-being, knowing that we have a set routine to follow. So, how do you start? Easy. First, take one step at a time. You do not need to change up your routine to become the “It girl,” “Pilates Princess,” etc. It is about coming to terms with what feels good and beneficial for you. Set two goals to change and follow: one in the morning and one at night. As time progresses, you will know what you need to add or take away from to maintain that routine. There are 24 hours in a day, which seems like a lot, but as busy as college can be, it can feel
overwhelming with the several errands and responsibilities we have to fulfill. Maybe it is making your bed, or setting out clothes for the next day. It could even be a few minutes of breathing exercises before sleep. Experiment, adjust and be patient with yourself. It’s okay if your routine looks different from your roommate’s or
all
changes over time. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s
It’s built in the
moments — in the
before sunrise, in the journal entries before bed and in the steady rhythm of a routine that works for you. So take a deep breath. You made it through week one. Now it’s time to find your flow.
will be interesting to see how the writers tackle the final stretch as we all prepare to bid farewell to Cousins Beach.
MEGHAN CATTANI / THE FORDHAM RAM
Being intentional with how we begin and end our day can make
the difference.
progress.
quiet
coffee sipped
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM
This season of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” has fans on the edge of their seats
CULTURE
Senior Experiences All That Fordham Has To Offer
By HANIYYAH USMANI DIGITAL PRODUCER
College is a journey in which you find yourself, in old pieces and new. In full circle moments and in the first arcs that shape them. In shaping a personality you want to carry and in the parts you prefer to leave behind. In a few short years, it’s time to leave, not just having studied a subject, but also yourself along the way. At graduation, once you walk across the stage, you step into the real world. The rapid pace of the four years emphasizes how college isn’t supposed to be for finding room to get comfortable. It’s where you find yourself to know who you’re going to be when you leave, and Fatimah Waqas, FCRH ’26, has made sure to do just that.
Waqas started her journey at Fordham University in 2022 as a student at the Lincoln Center campus from Skaneateles, New York, majoring in English and history, despite her wishes to pursue law. It wasn’t until she experimented with the core requirements that she officially switched over to her current majors: Political science and international studies, on the pre-law track. She recalls starting off as “such a timid and reserved
17 year old kid,” afraid of the environment and everything new that surrounded her. An example Waqas gives is her experience with the NYC subway system: “I wouldn’t even think about stepping onto a train alone. I always had to be with friends if I went anywhere. That fear wasn’t just about the subway; it reflected how I felt about navigating everything new and unfamiliar.”
Yet with time and some hard decisions, Waqas eventually found her place, after she transferred to Rose Hill for her sophomore year. “As much as I loved LC, I came to realize that Rose Hill is my true home ... There’s always something happening, and the sense of community is incredible. It truly feels like a classic college campus, and the people here have been nothing short of wonderful,” Waqas said. She was able to find herself and gain confidence. Her confidence was one of the first things I noticed when I met Waqas in her junior year.
From then on, she has truly made herself one with the community at the Rose Hill campus through her diverse list of involvements. She was previously involved in the Fordham University
South Asian Entity (FUSE) as Executive Secretary to connect herself with others who shared her South Asian roots. Waqas has now moved on to being President of the Pakistani Students Association, a club she worked hard to revive after two years of dormancy. Choosing to be more involved in these particular organizations allows Waqas to not only foster a deeper connection with her heritage, but also provide an environment for other students to learn more about South Asian and, more specifically, Pakistani culture, while simultaneously uniting students of the same heritage. In addition, she is also Creative Director of the Muslim Students Association (MSA), a role that comes after years of her involvement in the organization, allowing her to connect with many others from the same faith, as well as those who are not and simply wish to enjoy the community-based events.
The list only continues as Waqas is the current Special Events Lead of the Rose Hill Society, a role through which her love for Fordham is emphasized, and she notes that she was also previously involved in the Residence Halls Association (RHA). Ever the well-rounded individual,
Waqas is also a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, a testament to her academic excellence alongside it all.
Specifically when talking about professional growth, Waqas attributes her development to Fordham’s Career Center, to which she wishes to give the biggest shoutout: “Working there has been a fundamental part of my Fordham experience. I picked up so many skills and was able to network with so many people.” She says it’s how she was able to land a seven month internship at the NYC mayor’s office during her junior year.
The journey from being an extremely shy first-year to having a prominent presence on campus takes so much growth, and Waqas herself took a moment to reflect on the huge jump she’s been able to make.
“Freshman year, I couldn’t even take public transportation by myself, but now I was commuting an hour and a half away from campus by myself every single day for my internship,” she said. “Freshman year, I couldn’t even speak in front of more than five people without panicking; now, I [give] campus tours to groups of 25 to 30 people. Freshman year, I used to shy away from
leadership completely; I remember I once left a club meeting in tears because I messed up something important. Now, I’m so grateful that I get the opportunity to be President of the Pakistani Students Association (PSA) and create something special for Pakistanis on campus, as well as contribute to student life at Fordham.” These parallels go to show how the college journey is by no means defined by the first-year experience, because there is so much more to look forward to.
Whether it be connecting with her culture or gaining professional valuable skills, Waqas has pretty much done it all, allowing herself to be fully connected with her experience at Fordham.
“As we prepare to leave, the ache is real. It’s kinda hard to think of a life beyond Fordham because being a Ram teaches you to root yourself in people, ideas and justice,” she said. “And sometimes to uproot is to grieve. But even as seniors when we pack and part, we know that to be a Ram is not to just stay, it is also to carry forward the lessons, love and responsibility we learned from this beautiful place and its beautiful people.”
Waqas is involved in many activities on and off campus.
HANIYYAH USMANI / THE FORDHAM RAM
CULTURE
College Kitchen Chronicles: From Ramen to Riches
By ANNA GAYTON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I absolutely LOVE food. My mom has a collection of my favorite recipes from when I was younger, and I even wrote some of them myself. I can remember having brownie batter smeared across my face as a toddler. Now at the age of twenty, I would still love to have brownie batter every night, although that’s not the most sustainable. Cooking for yourself can always be a challenge, and between budgeting, eating healthy and planning, it can be a bit overwhelming.
While it might not be the most convenient to cook for yourself in a communal kitchen, you only need a few things to get started. I find cooking both fun and relaxing, and oftentimes I can do my homework while I am cooking, too. My first year, I only had a pot, a pan, a good knife, a spatula, utensils and a plate. Most of these items can be found at T.J.Maxx, Target or even a thrift store, and they’re fairly inexpensive. Many students don’t utilize the communal kitchens besides the microwave, so it is pretty easy to have some peace and quiet in the kitchen.
One of my favorite things to make in the dorm kitchens is what I like to call “my sweet potato dish.” It is pretty simple and full of protein.
Ingredients:
1 Sweet Potato
½ tbsp Olive Oil
½ cup Cottage Cheese
⅓ cup ground meat (I like turkey!)
1 tsp of your favorite seasonings
Procedure:
Take your sweet potato and grab a fork. Poke a bunch of holes all over it. Then, wrap the potato in a wet paper towel and place it in the microwave. Microwave your potato for two and a half minutes, flip and microwave for another two and a half minutes. Be careful; it will be incredibly hot. Unwrap your potato and let it rest.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet pan, heat olive oil on mediumhigh heat and add your ground meat and season to taste. I enjoy a mix of Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper. Try chili powder if you want some extra heat. Sauté your ground meat, meaning there should be no pink spots left.
Take your sweet potato, cut it down the middle and then, without breaking the skin, make a few more slices, as if drawing a six-pack. Now top your potato with your cottage cheese and ground meat. Enjoy!
Another thing I like to do is spice up the basic convenient meals with something fresh. For example, you can scramble
an egg in the microwave and add it to any instant ramen, or you can slice an apple and sprinkle some cinnamon on instant oatmeal. These changes help make these foods feel less “instant” and a little more like homemade comfort food.
At the end of every week, I see what leftovers I have lingering in my fridge, and I toss them together into a nice salad. This week, I took some roasted carrots, broccoli, half a tomato, some romaine, mozzarella and parmesan and threw them together. What really helped elevate this dish was some good salad dressing, specifically the Trader Joe’s goddess dressing.
I always like to try a new recipe on a day where I don’t have a lot going on and see if I could possibly add it to the rotation of food I have for myself. My friend made us these “Mediterranean Braised Chickpea Bowls,” and I absolutely loved it. We swapped rice for quinoa because that’s all that was available, and I really liked it. As I said before, adding your own spin to things really helps make cooking fun.
At the end of the day, I understand that cooking can be frustrating. I spent almost an hour trying to make breadcrumbs just because I forgot to grab them, and it took more time than just running back for them. Cooking for yourself isn’t always easy;
sometimes life can get in the way and the absolute last thing I want to do is cook for myself. It’s okay to have frozen chicken nuggets or to get Chipotle; moderation is the key. While I’m not a dietitian, I try not to look at what I eat in a day, but more so what I’m eating in a week. Food should ultimately make you happy. That looks different for everyone, but as long as you feel good about how you’re fueling your body, then you have mastered the art of cooking in college.
Little Italy Goes Big for Ferragosto Festival
By LARA EJZAK CONTRIBUTING WRITER
If Italian delicacies such as fresh pasta, seasonal refreshments and traditional pastries pique your interest, you need not travel to the Amalfi coast. On Sept. 7, Fordham University students didn’t have to look any further than their own stomping grounds to experience the best that the Italian culinary world has to offer.
Arthur Avenue has become known familiarly as the Bronx’s own Little Italy, and as such, it is the host for the annual Italian food festival known as Ferragosto. I was ignorant of this shindig my first year, so I made a point to go this year once I caught wind of its happening.
Walking down to the festivities with my friends, we happened to pass an older Bronx resident who spotted us as students and started informing us of the historical roots of the festival. During our walk-andtalk, she revealed that, technically, Ferragosto is a celebration of harvest in mid-August, explaining the “-agosto” terminology. However, since students aren’t present until later and the weather is more
inviting in September, the Bronx has taken a loose interpretation of the name.
This back-and-forth clued me in to two new pieces of information: the etymology of Ferragosto and how obviously identifiable I am as a student.
Starting at 187th Street and spanning a mere two blocks to Crescent Avenue, the road is strictly human traffic. Jampacked with cigar, pasta, pastry and drink vendors, there is hardly room for the masses of pedestrians that want a taste of all the festival has to offer.
The most noticeable lines at the time I was attending were for a fresh zeppole — a sort of Italian beignet — stand, the tent for Frankie’s Restaurant Arthur Avenue specializing in Aperol Spritzes and vodka pasta and freshly filled cannoli courtesy of Gino’s pastries. With the help of my friend, we divided and conquered to get the latter two of that list.
The vodka pasta was perfectly al dente, and despite the humid conditions and the cannoli maintained that signature crisp shell. For a combined total of $15 ($10 for the pasta and $5 for the cannoli), the portions were a tad disappointing, but the taste provided a perfect distraction from
any possible overcharge.
As a consolation, there was a tent offering free bowls of marinara rigatoni, which I quickly took advantage of.
Beyond just offering consumables, the streets were filled with live music and clothing stands. I got myself a free, temporary tattoo. Some artists were playing Italian American classics, while others offered a more contemporary mix and even karaoke!
There were dining areas every so often, but most attendees opted to stand and wander while eating. I was triple fisting a container of pasta, a cannoli and a lemonade, myself. With all the stimulation happening in the area, I was content to juggle my dinner while hearing a serenade from a man donned in an all-white suit.
The organizers advertise that the festival goes on rain or shine, and this Sunday proved that claim. Although it was raining earlier in the day, by the time I entered the scene, business seemed to be in full swing.
Walking down the street on either side were observers, looking at the crowd from their apartment balconies. There was no limit to the demographics present, with people
spanning all age groups.
For a Fordham student, seeing Arthur Avenue in the light of day may make it seem like an alien land. In contrast with the night scene, one can see the day scene of the iconic Belmont avenue.
Seeing families and friends patronize all the small businesses and enjoy an afternoon of food, drink and music is a refreshing reminder of the tight-knit community that exists amongst the college ecosystem. Locals were catching up, regulars and shop owners
were chatting as old friends and the street was filled with an air of camaraderie. Anyone who went to the festival had the unique experience of Little Italy, as many residents do, sans nightlife. For those unable to make the festival, there is no shortage of beautiful fall days ahead suited for ambling down the street, getting an espresso and biscotti from a local shop and simultaneously enjoying a mix of classic Italian music and hiphop jams blaring from a moped passerby. Now that’s amore.
LARA EJZAK FOR THE FORDHAM RAM Arthur Avenue merchants have been participating in Ferragosto for over 25 years.
ANNA GAYTON FOR THE FORDHAM RAM Salads are a great way to clear out extra produce in the fridge at the end of the week.
By NORA MALONE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
If there are two defining qualities about me, they’re that I work for The Fordham Ram and that I’m a medieval studies major. Once I share that second piece of information, I always face the same point of inquiry.
“Why?”
It’s a common question faced by anyone who majors in something niche; Why would I spend years of my life studying a period of history that many disregard? My answers range from my belief in medieval people’s overwhelming humanity to a simple interest in the growth of Catholicism. But to say that those are the only reasons would be a bold-faced lie. In truth, my care and passion for the Middle Ages didn’t begin from a place of true academic interest; it came from a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) show released in 2008.
“Merlin” or “The Adventures of Merlin” is a retelling of the Arthurian legend that combines objectively fascinating adaptive choices with the ridiculous-looking CGI that the BBC used in the early 2010s. Where else can I consider whether the true Albion ever existed alongside a terrifying little blue creature with a long head and human face (Diamair — if you feel like a quick Google search)?
While I do love watching Arthur (Bradley James) swing a sword with Lancelot (Santiago Cabrera), Leon (Rupert Young), Percival
Take a Chance on ‘Merlin’
(Tom Hopper), Gwaine (Eoin Macken) and Elyan (Tomiwa Edun), the show’s beating heart is its titular character, Merlin (Colin Morgan).
“Merlin” changes up the traditional story by introducing Arthur and Merlin to each other as young men. Merlin is sent to live in Camelot and work alongside the court physician Gauis (Richard Wilson). Merlin becomes Arthur’s manservant through a series of events that Merlin considers unfortunate, but others consider destiny. Their mutual dislike for each other eventually grows into a strong friendship.
However, one secret stirs beneath the surface for all five seasons of the show — Merlin’s magic. The average person probably thinks of Merlin as the bold sorcerer of Camelot, an old man with a long beard and a pointy hat, standing beside King Arthur. However, in “Merlin,” he stands behind him, nothing but a servant.
Despite the show’s comedic tone, there is a deep undercurrent of magical prosecution. The audience enters Camelot beside Merlin and watches as a proclaimed witch is burned at the stake at the behest of King Uther Pengradon (Anthony Head). Throughout the show, Merlin has to contend by using his magic to protect Arthur, knowing that if he ever found out, Merlin could be killed.
For most of the show, Arthur is not King Arthur Pendragon, the Once and Future King; he is Prince Arthur, trying to find out who he is and what kind of King and man he will
be. The choices actor Bradley James makes bring sensitivity and gentleness that are not often seen in adaptations. Paired alongside classically trained Morgan’s Merlin, they turn these famous figures into something entirely their own.
I could wax poetic about Arthur’s dedication to keeping Merlin safe, or Merlin’s steadfast refusal to value his own life over Arthur’s, but instead I’ll leave you with a simple example of how this show turns the legend on its head.
In the fourth season, Arthur has become King, and Camelot is in trouble. The city is captured, and many of the citizens are on the run. Arthur cannot
find it within him to believe he is anything more than a fraud.
Merlin has to find a way to make Arthur see that he is the true King of Camelot, so he tells him a story of the first king of Camelot, who put a sword in a stone to test whether his descendants were true kings. Merlin tells Arthur that if he can pull the sword out of the stone, he must be Albion’s true King.
This part of the legend is familiar, but in this version, Merlin is the one who put the sword in the stone, and it is his magic that releases it. He waits until he sees Arthur truly believe in himself before he loosens the sword, once again
sidestepping the spotlight to give Arthur the strength he needs.
This idea, Merlin fighting tooth and nail to give Arthur a chance to come into his destiny, is the theme of the show. Merlin does everything in his power for five seasons to push Arthur to become who he is meant to be, without revealing his power.
His determination despite persecution is what gives the show the fire in its heart and what makes the ending so gutwrenching. I won’t spoil it, but if you have any interest in stepping into a version of Camelot that is unlike any other, I can’t recommend “Merlin” more.
The Fordham Ram Crossword
4.
5. ENERGY DRINK WITH A SOUR PATCH KIDS PARTNERSHIP
6. IT GIVES YOU WINGS
7. THE ENERGY DRINK OF FEMALE FOCUSED HEALTH AND WELLNESS BRAND
1. A PLANT-BASED ENERGY DRINK IN A YELLOW CAN
3. KNOWN BY ITS THREE SPEARED LOGO
4. A MONTH AGO, YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN DRINKING WHITE CLAW OUT OF ONE OF THESE CANS
MEGHAN CATTANI/THE FORDHAM RAM
“The Adventures of Merlin” released five seasons on the BBC, starting in 2008 and having aired the final season in 2012.
Football Falls to Monmouth in Home Opener
By LEAH RENSHAW CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The home opener for the Fordham University football team this weekend was nothing short of exciting. With touchdown after touchdown, Ram fans cheered in the stands with hope and anticipation, but were ultimately let down with a final score of 49-28 in favor of the Monmouth University Hawks.
The Rams squad started off strong with quarterback Gunnar Smith scoring the first touchdown on a four yard run about five minutes into the first quarter. Throwing for 382 yards in the game and completing 27 of 49 passes, Smith remains a standout player for the Rams thus far this season.
In addition, it was a big game for Fordham wide receiver Jabril Carter, who scored his first collegiate touchdown of his career.
The teams were evenly matched in the first half as the Rams traded touchdowns with Monmouth.
The fight was there for the Rams this weekend — something that had been lacking against the Boston College Eagles during their
week one matchup.
The Rams scored quickly to begin the second half on a 70-yard TD pass from Smith to senior receiver
to close out.
Despite the loss, there were several silver linings for the Rams. Fordham racked up an impressive 492 total offensive yards compared to Monmouth’s 518, showing that they were able to keep pace with the Hawks for a good deal of the Saturday showdown.
On the defensive side for the Rams, linebacker James Conway led the way with 11 tackles, continuing to be a steady force on that end of the field. Though the scoreboard didn’t reflect it, the Rams showed growth in execution and energy from the opening game. When looking ahead towards the rest of the season, Fordham Head Coach Joe Conlin emphasized the importance of building on this momentum and tightening up on defense. The home opener may not have ended in celebration, but it revealed a team ready to compete, and with a few adjustments, Fordham Football could potentially make some noise this year and surprise folks.
Jack Betten. After that, quarterback for Monmouth Derek Robertson took control and created a gap that the Rams would be unable
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Fordham Football fell short in their home opener to Monmouth University.
Volleyball Sweeps Big Apple Tournament
By JOE HENRY
Fordham University Rams Volleyball continues to defy expectations in 2025, stringing together a trio of compelling victories during last weekend’s Big Apple Tournament, and perhaps most intriguingly, finding different ways to win each of their matches.
After a trip upstate to Binghamton University, the Rams stayed close to home for their second tournament of the season, competing on the grounds of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York, in three matches between Friday and Saturday.
Junior Tatum Holderied, entering the weekend as the reigning Atlantic 10 (A10) Defensive Player of the Week and sitting at third in the nation in average blocks per set, showed no signs of slowing down in the Rams’ Friday morning matchup with Northeastern University.
A narrowly contested four-set affair, Holderied, sophomore Sophia Kuyn and senior Audrey Brown smothered the net with five or more blocks a piece. As set four went to overtime, it was Kuyn and Brown who combined to deny the Huskies of a set-tying kill and secure the Rams’ first victory of the tournament.
On the attack, Fordham junior Erynn Sweeney and senior Zoe Talabong have emerged as a dynamic and versatile duo, each tabbing double-doubles as Sweeney
had 12 kills and 11 digs, while Talabong hammered a matchhigh 18 kills to go with 10 digs.
Junior setter Whitney Woodrow carried the Rams defensively, posting a seasonhigh 18 digs while continuing to set with confidence to all areas of the floor, notching 36 assists.
A mere five hours later, Fordham returned to the floor against the University of New Haven — despite the doubleheader, the Rams made quick work of the newly-minted Division I club, 25-11, 2520, 25-19, behind another double-double from Sweeney. Holderied added seven blocks as the Rams mounted 10 total rejections, continuing their dominance at the tape.
In the closing set, sophomore Gabby Destler impressed in the third collegiate match of her career, logging four kills in 11 errorless attacks, good for a .364 hitting rate.
Fordham entered the finale vs. Columbia in search of its third straight win of nonconference play, and its third straight win over the hosting Lions — they checked off both boxes with a gutsy, come-frombehind five-set triumph, 22-25, 25-11, 19-25, 25-19, 15-10.
Talabong played the hero, crushing home a career-best 21 kills to go with a season-high 19 digs. In a tie-breaking set five, Talabong found hardwood on four kills, including each of Fordham’s final two points.
Talabong appears to be Woodrow’s go-to attacker in clutch situations; in both of
Athletes of the Week
Sophomore Andras Toth was a difference maker in Fordham Water Polo’s win over Santa Clara University to conclude the Princeton Invitational on Sunday. Toth scored six goals in the game, a game-high, after recording a hat-trick in the previous game vs. the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His performances over the weekend followed his 16 total goals, three assists and five steals in the first week of competition for the Fordham Rams.
The Fordham University volleyball team continued their strong start to the season this week. Senior Zoe Talabong notched a career-high 21 kills for the Rams on their way to a five-set victory over Columbia University to close out their sweep of the Columbia Invitational on Saturday. She also had 19 digs in the win. Talabong recorded a double-double in the finale, which she also did against Northeastern University in the opener on Friday. Talabong and her fellow Rams will now return to the Bronx for their next six matches at the Rose Hill Gymnasium.
Fordham’s five-set matches in 2025, Talabong has led all players in kills and drilled home the winning point for the Rams.
The 22.5-point effort from the Florida native nearly doubles her 11.5-point best from 2024, and marks the best performance of her career. The senior continues to strike with both clear force and finesse, whether she’s finishing plays after Fordham receives a free ball or bailing out the club with strong attacks while out of system.
Woodrow continued on her stellar campaign with a season-best 52 assists, adding three kills and a block as she continues to impact games as more than just a pure setter.
In the back row, it was sophomore Özge Özaslan enjoying a career night of her own, frequently laying her body on the line to earn Fordham some extra chances while the match
tightened. Özaslan finished with a career-best 26 digs, stymying the Lion attack in the Rams’ must-win sets four and five.
It was fitting that Özaslan had her breakout weekend in Columbia — watching from the sidelines were Fordham’s last two lead liberos, Mallory Lipski (GSB ’23) and Ryan Naumann (FCRH ’25). Having earned chief libero duties while an underclassman, Özaslan has distanced herself from the pack with her earlyseason play thus far.
Playing behind Naumann as a freshman, Özaslan never reached double-digit digs. In six games as a sophomore, she’s eclipsed 10 digs five times. In fact, Özaslan has nearly tripled her digs per set, from 1.35 in 2024 to 3.83 in 2025. Fittingly, Özaslan’s 26 digs Saturday are the most by a Ram since Lipski racked up 27 in her final game during the 2023 season.
A big contributor has been Holderied’s steadiness in the front row. Notching nine kills to continue a scintillating stretch that lifts her blocks per set to 2.09, Holderied has gotten a finger on just about every opposing attack, making life easier for her back row. Now the winner of three straight, Fordham’s 4-2 record is tied for the third best among A-10 teams in non-conference play. While the Rams were ranked last in the A-10 preseason poll, they’ve shown signs that they may turn out more competitive than their conference rivals initially projected them to be.
Fordham will make its return home for the Rose Hill Classic this week, with matches held on Thursday, through Saturday, marking the official debut of the Rose Hill Gym’s 101st season. All games this weekend will be streamed on ESPN+ for fans to watch.
Varsity Calendar
Andras Toth Sophomore Water Polo
Zoe Talabong Junior Volleyball
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS
Rose Hill Classic
Fordham Volleyball continued their great start to the season, sweeping the Big Apple Tournament this weekend.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM @FORDHAMVB/THE FORDHAM RAM
It’s Not Baseball, It’s Banana Ball
By MOLLY FRIEDMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
From kicklines to stunts to snacking on a piece of pizza in the batter’s boxes, the Savannah Bananas set out to make baseball more entertaining by twisting the classic rules and traditions we’ve come to know — a game for the fans, by the fans and with the fans. Banana Ball.
In 2015, Savannah, Georgia, found itself without a baseball team for the first time in over 90 years. The city yearned for baseball, so later that year, the Coastal Plain League (CPL), a collegiate summer league, announced Savannah’s newest team would begin play in 2016. Following a team naming contest, the Savannah Bananas came to life with a logo, colors and a new home at Grayson Stadium.
After finding success in the CPL, owner Jesse Cole and his team decided to spice the game up. Experiments with the format of Banana Ball began in 2018, and the first official game of Banana Ball was played in 2020. From then until 2022, the team participated in the CPL and the new Banana Ball League. Starting in the 2023 season, the Banana Ball Championship League was created and the Savannah Bananas began playing there exclusively. Their opponents
consist of Party Animals, the Firefighters, the Visitors, and the Texas Tailgaters. Since the first season of Banana Ball, the Savannah Bananas have sold out every single game. How does this style of play differ from baseball? Banana Ball’s rules promote entertainment and fun for the whole family. The games have a two-hour time limit and end, regardless of whether the players make it through nine innings. Games are won by the team that scores the most points. One point goes to the team that scores the most runs in each inning, except for the final innings where every run
counts. Batters are allowed and encouraged to steal first base at any point in the atbat. This game moves fast because there are no batter timeouts or mound visits. The game is highly engaging for the fans because foul balls they catch in the stands count as an out, and fans are even allowed to challenge plays.
Dancing is a central theme of the league; it is far more than a sporting event, it is a performance. The games feature dancing players, umpires and coaches who will wow you with unprompted breakdancing. Owner Jesse Cole attends
every game in a shockingly bright yellow tuxedo. Midgame, it’s common for the whole team to break into choreographed dances featured in popular music videos that energize the entire stadium.
Banana Ball gained traction through circulation in the media. The team is highly active on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. The Savannah Bananas’ Instagram has a whopping 3.8 million followers, which is extraordinary for a minor league team. Banana Ball has been featured in ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, CNN 10,
Sports Illustrated and aired live on YouTube and ESPN. Banana infielder Jackson Olson has been a driving force in gaining popularity for this team. He is known as the Greatest Showman for this team and is often seen performing dramatic lip syncs to popular songs as he navigates the crowd during a game. He was a key factor in promoting Banana Ball to younger audiences on social media.
This past summer, Banana Ball went on a national tour, visiting 40 cities across 25 states. They played in soldout football stadiums and historic venues such as Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. This tour drew record crowds and was streamed on national broadcasts. The league is on the rise, and there is discussion about expansion. The commissioners are planning on adding two new teams in the 2026 season. While some may claim this is not real baseball and does not allow the players to grow and find further success, Banana Ball is not trying to replicate Major League Baseball — it’s building on something entirely new. It is rekindling a love for the game and creating a memorable experience for fans through a quirky style of play. Banana Ball allows everyone to go out and enjoy the love of the game.
Football Legend Lee Corso Retires at 90
By KURT SIPPEL STAFF WRITER
At 90 years old with 38 seasons in the books, Lee Corso has made his last headgear pick on ESPN’s College Gameday. The entertainment that Corso provided while giving real insight — breaking down the matchups for every game — was the best in the business.
Corso began his football career as a starting quarterback at Miami Jackson High School. Football was not his only sport; in 1953 he got an offer to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball along with a $5,000 signing bonus. Instead, Corso decided to go to Florida State University (FSU), where he played cornerback. After four years there he secured the school interceptions record with 14, a record that stood for over 20 years.
Corso landed his first job as a college coach at the University of Maryland as the quarterback coach from 1959 to 1965. Under his leadership at Maryland, he recruited the first AfricanAmerican player in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Darryl Hill.
After some work with the Naval Academy as the defensive backs coach, he would get his first shot at the
head coaching position at the University of Louisville.
In four years as the head coach, he had a winning season every year. Corso would bring Louisville to victory in its second bowl game ever.
This was one of many champion moments throughout his career.
He brought life back into the struggling Indiana University football program by leading them to their first ever Bowl appearance — winning the Holiday Bowl in 1979. Corso would finish his career with the Hoosiers with a record of (41-68-2) over the course of 10 seasons with the program.
Corso held other head coaching jobs at Northern
Illinois University and with the short lived Orlando Renegades of the United States Football League in 1985. After another year of coaching, he hung up the whistle and decided to pick up a microphone.
His broadcasting career began in 1987. A new crew was on the rise at ESPN to host a new in-studio college football show called College Gameday. Corso was one of the founding members of the crew, and he shocked fans with his immense football knowledge and showmanship.
College Gameday made its way out of the studio and onto different college campuses each week in 1993, which became a staple of the show.
He began his most noted
segment during the 1996 show, featuring the Ohio State University (OSU) and Penn State University matchup. Instead of Corso making his regular picks, he pulled the Ohio State mascot, Brutus Buckeye’s, head from under the desk and put it on. This would start a long standing tradition on College Gameday — Corso would make his pick of the day by wearing the team’s mascot head.
This tradition lived alongside Corso’s catch phrase, “not so fast my friend,” ignited when he disagreed with one of his co-hosts. Corso didn’t just make these picks, he was consistently able to back them up.
Throughout his time on
College Gameday, once he started his mascot head picks, Corso held a 286-144 when it came to his picks, a proud owner of a .665 win percentage. His best year of headgear picks was 1999 when he went 11-0.
This season, Corso decided that it was going to be his last and his last show had to be during Week One of the college football season.
His picks during his last show were FSU beating No. 8 University of Alabama, No. 13 University of South Carolina to beat Virginia Tech, No. 9 Louisiana State University to take down the No. 4 Clemson University Tigers at home and for his final picks, he chose No. 24 University of Tennessee taking down Syracuse University and No. 10 Miami University taking down No. 5 University of Notre Dame.
For Corso’s final mascot head pick, it was just like his first one way back in 1996 when he picked No. 3 OSU to take down the No. 1 team University of Texas. All of Corso’s picks he made for his final show on College Gameday were correct, going out with a bang — just like that on the first day 29 years ago when he first took Brutus Buckeye’s head from under his desk to reveal his winning choices.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM/@thesavbananas
Banana Ball is a revolutionary new way of playing baseball popularized by the Savannah Bananas.
COURTESY OF NBC NEWS
Legendary football broadcaster Lee Corso retired at the age of 90 after one last show.
Drama and Glory at the 2025 U.S. Open
By GRACE MCCARRON SPORTS EDITOR
Another year of Grand Slam tennis has come and gone, and it was certainly a memorable one for both the men and women. The 2025 Slam season concluded on Sep. 7 with the U.S. Open Men’s Singles Championship, which Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won, defeating Italian Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4. The day before, Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka defeated American Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 7(7)-6(3) to claim the women’s singles title.
You could say that these two winners are not a surprise, but as there always is at a Grand Slam, there was a lot to watch along the way. The women’s side saw Anisimova return to the next Slam final after losing the 2025 Wimbledon final 6-0, 6-0 to Pole Iga Świątek. Her appearance in Saturday’s final meant that an American woman appeared at every Slam final this year, with Madison Keys and Coco Gauff winning the Australian Open and French Open, respectively. Americans always receive the most support of them all at the finale of the Slams in New York, and the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd rallied behind Anisimova in an
enticing final match. And although she came up short, it will be great for American fans to watch her young career develop. Anisimova wasn’t the only American woman to go far into the tournament. The round of 16 featured five American women overall: Anisimova, Gauff, 2024 runner-up Jessica Pegula, Taylor Townsend and Ann Li. Alongside a great showing by Americans, there was another standout on the women’s side: Japan’s Naomi Osaka. Osaka, a four-time Slam champion (twice at the U.S. Open), lost in the semifinals to Anisimova, but her loss does not reflect a failed tournament. Osaka has endured ups-and-downs
in recent seasons, taking several months away from the sport in 2021 due to mental health reasons and struggling to make noise in tournaments since. To see her return to the final four of one of her best Slams is uplifting for her fans and sends a hopeful message that she might be able to reach the peak once again in the near future. As for the champion Sabalenka, she claimed her second U.S. Open title and fourth Slam overall, and will end the year protecting her ranking of world number one. Her dominance in Slams has become clear as she continues to be one of, if not the most, difficult woman’s player to beat on the tour.
Turning over to the men’s side, tennis fans were treated to yet another “Sincaraz” matchup in a Slam final. Sinner or Alcaraz have been featured in every single Slam final since the 2023 U.S. Open, with three straight finale matchups for the last three majors of the 2025 season. While it will be difficult to ever replicate the thrilling 2025 French Open final between the two, which lasted five hours and 29 minutes and had Alcaraz save three championship points, any men’s tennis fan salivates at the idea of another edition of the Alcaraz-Sinner saga.
The one in Queens on Sep. 7 was much shorter and much less dramatic, as
Alcaraz defeated Sinner in four sets to claim his sixth major title and second at the U.S. Open, and to reclaim his spot as world number one. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and Serbian great Novak Djokovic were runners up to Sinner and Alcaraz, respectively, in Friday’s semifinals. AugerAliassime would return to his final Slam semifinal in four years, upsetting world number three, Germany’s Alexander Zverev, along the way. Djokovic, of course, seems inevitable to the world of tennis. He turned 38 years old in May, but is still trucking along as ever, making the semifinals in all four major tournaments this season. While it certainly does seems odd to not have seen Djokovic in a major final this year, it cannot be overlooked how incredibly impressive his strong performances are as he nears 40.
There are still multiple smaller tennis events to play before the conclusion of the calendar year, but for now, many tennis fans will put their souvenir Honey Deuce cups in the back of their cabinets and patiently wait for the return of Grand Slam tennis with the Australian Open in Melbourne beginning on Jan. 12, 2026.
Giants and Jets Suffer Week 1 Defeats
By JAMES NELSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Both the New York Giants and New York Jets began their 2025-2026 campaigns with losses on Sunday, Sept. 7. The Giants were only able to muster two field goals against the division rival Washington Commanders, losing the game 21-6. The Jets experienced heartbreak at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, losing by two points for a final score of 34-32.
The Jets snatched a first quarter lead in Pittsburgh with a field goal before Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers fired back with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Ben Skowronek. New York returned the favor with quarterback Justin Fields lobbing a beautiful 33-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson to take a 9-7 lead. The Jets attempted a twopoint conversion by way of a run play up the middle, but the effort was stopped by the Steelers defensive line. Pittsburgh regained the lead with a field goal to open the second quarter only for the Jets to punch back by marching downfield and handing the ball off to
Braelon Allen for an eightyard rushing touchdown moving the score to 1610. After the Jets’ defense stopped the Steelers with a huge third down sack, their offense increased their lead to 19-10 via Nick Folk’s second field goal of the afternoon. As the first half came to a close, the Steelers offense mixed their run game with a pair of deep passes to enter the red zone. On second and goal, Rodgers completed a sneaky pass to Jonnu Smith who trucked through the Steelers defense for a touchdown.
After a series of punts by both teams to open the third quarter, the Jets found the
end zone once more from a two-yard quarterback rush by Justin Fields, making the score 26-19 Jets.
The fourth quarter began with Aaron Rodgers’ third touchdown pass of the day which moved the score to 26-24 with the Jets still leading. After the Steelers touchdown, disaster struck on the kickoff return for the Jets as Xavier Gipson fumbled the ball upon contact resulting in a turnover. The Steelers took over with advantageous field position and capitalized with Rodgers hurling his fourth touchdown pass of the day and giving Pittsburgh a 31-26 lead. New York responded by driving
down the field and Justin Fields scored his second rushing touchdown. Now holding a one-point lead, the Jets attempted a twopoint conversion to no avail. With little over a minute remaining in regulation, the Steelers were able to get in range for Chris Boswell to drill a 60-yard field goal, giving Pittsburgh the lead and ultimately the win.
Rodgers showed out in his Steelers debut, passing for 244 yards with only eight incompletions on the day. On defense, Pittsburgh outside linebacker Alex Highsmith raked up five tackles to go along with a sack.
The Giants hosted the
Commanders at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford in what was a quiet and uneventful loss for New York. Washington grabbed the lead in the first quarter with a passing touchdown by Jayden Daniels and never gave it back. The Giants only managed two field goals, making it their third straight season opener in which they didn’t score a touchdown.
Quarterback Russell Wilson looked mediocre in his debut with the Giants, going 17/37 for 169 yards and scrambling for 43 yards on eight attempts. The only sign of hope for the Giants was a partially blocked Commanders punt at the hands of their first round draft pick, Abdul Carter. The Giants narrowly edged out the Commanders in terms of possession time, yet had 200 fewer offensive yards. While New York football fans know the taste of defeat and disappointment well, Week 1 served as a reminder that both organizations are far from obtaining a winning formula. Both New York teams will face off against division rivals in Week 2 as the Jets look to rebound against the Buffalo Bills while the Giants head to Dallas to take on the Cowboys.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM
Aryna Sabalenka claimed her fourth Grand Slam title at the 2025 U.S. Open.
MEGHAN CATTANI/THE FORDHAM RAM
The New York Jets and New York Giants both fell short during their Week 1 matchups.
Overtime: Drafting Fantasy Sports Traitors
By IAN NELSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
It is finally football season. Seven months of boring weekends wasted doing things like spending time with your families, going outside, reading and practicing self-care. Week one couldn’t come fast enough. And with the beginning of a new NFL season comes fantasy football, my favorite obsession from September to December.
Drafting fantasy football can be tough, especially when you consider the chances of injury to your players. There are cases where players projected to have great seasons get hurt and ruin anything you thought you had going. I speak from experience.
The first time I drafted a fantasy football team was in 2016 and with my first pick, I selected the Buffalo Bills then star receiver, Sammy Watkins. Watkins was coming off a 60 reception, 1000+ receiving yard, nine touchdown season and things were looking good for him to continue his strong play into the new year. What followed was a significant foot injury, requiring him to spend eight weeks on injured reserve after Week 2. So, from someone who’s been there, here are three players to avoid and three late-round sleeper picks for the upcoming fantasy football season.
For players to avoid, look no further than Travis Kelce, Tua Tagovailoa and Christian McCaffrey.
First of all, Kelce is a great player and no matter what goes on in his personal life, he will go down as one of the best tight ends of all time, but his heyday has passed. Kelce is coming off
of career lows in receiving yards and touchdowns in 2024 and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has better receivers than in previous seasons. Look for solid production but nothing TE1 worthy.
For Tagovailoa, the reasoning is simple: The man is one more concussion away from retirement. It would be a miracle if he managed to play through the season.
Finally, a healthy McCaffrey is one of the best running backs in the league, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. While he is likely to suit up for week one, it should be noted that he is currently dealing with a calf injury.
For some late-round sleepers, give chances to Wan’Dale Robinson, Keenan Allen and Adam Thielen.
Last season, Robinson gave the New York Giants some consistency, and over their
last three games, he racked up 22 receptions on 29 targets. When your flex has a bye-week, Robinson may be just what you need to get some points on the board.
Secondly, Keenan Allen brings experience and success to any roster. While playing with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers he totaled six 1000+ yard receiving seasons and during his one season with the Chicago Bears he grabbed seven touchdowns. With him back in LA, look for a strong season from Allen.
Lastly, Adam Thielen finds a way to contribute. If he is still on the board in the last few rounds, he is one of my go-tos. After many successful seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Thielen spent two years in Carolina with the Panthers. And while the Panthers struggled mightily, he still put together two solid statistical seasons. Thielen
will return to Minnesota this year so look out for him to recapture some of that Minneapolis magic.
When playing fantasy football, the goal is clear: Vanquish your friends, family or complete strangers while showing no mercy. Putting together the best team by being the most informed drafter to win some money or just to have the ability to say “I won, I’m better.”
There are many stats to consider when drafting a fantasy football roster like targets, carries, yards and red-zone usage for football.
Drafting players who routinely score touchdowns can be the difference between a middleof-the-pack finish to a championship run. But what happens when your best available option is from a rival team. Is it ethical to pick them?
It’s difficult to decide whether or not you want to throw away
every prejudice you possess in order to compile the best team you can make. Especially when you consider bigtime rivalries like New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox or New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys. As a Giants fan, I never would have even considered drafting a Cowboys player until two years ago when I picked Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb. Lamb was fantastic for me, but my general loathing of everything Cowboys remained. And while Lamb brought me success all season, I still had to deal with the guilt that came from his 15 receptions and 228 receiving yards in two blowout wins against the Giants. In the end, any guilt is completely hypocritical. If you want to win, sometimes you have to make sacrifices. You may get some hate from friends and family for being a traitor, but what they seem to forget is that winning is really, really fun.
COURTESY OF MEGHAN CATTANI/THE FORDHAM RAM
Wan’Dale Robinson is an underrated fantasy football pick.
