The Fordham Ram Volume 108, Issue 17
Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 TheFordhamRam.com
October 28, 2026
Students Rally for Fordham to Impose an AI Freeze By GRACE KAWECKI & GABRIEL CAPELLAN
MARY HAWTHORN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
The Fordham University Faculty Senate meets at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus.
A Look at Fordham’s Recent Faculty Salary Negotiations Fordham University’s Board of Trustees imposed a 3% salary increase for non-law tenure-stream faculty in June 2026, after salary negotiations between faculty representatives and the administration failed to produce an agreement. Tenure-stream faculty are professors on a career track that can lead to tenure, a form of long-term job security and academic independence. The decision ended negotiations for the 2025-26 academic year without a new contract, prompting concerns among faculty about compensation, benefits and the university’s shared governance process. Negotiations, which were set to produce a contract that would take effect in the 2026-27 academic year, took place between late fall 2025 and June 2026. Faculty representatives had sought a 4% salary pool, which is a pool of funding allocated for faculty salary increases, arguing that a larger increase was necessary to keep pace with inflation and rising costs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consumer prices increased by 3.7% between September 2025 and September 2026. The administration had offered a 3% salary pool, and the board ultimately imposed that figure. Faculty Senate President Lori Wolff said faculty representatives had urged
trustees to allow negotiations to continue, believing the two sides were close to reaching an agreement. The dispute echoes a similar breakdown in 2016 and 2017, when the administration imposed a 2.1% salary increase for faculty without reaching a formal agreement with the Faculty Senate. Tensions over salary negotiations, health insurance and shared governance escalated in April 2017, when 431 out of 488 faculty members voted no confidence in Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president emeritus. The 2017 vote followed a breakdown in negotiations over faculty compensation, health insurance and shared governance, issues that have also featured in the current dispute. “I felt that we at Fordham, and as a faculty and as an administration, even though people had changed, that we still felt the ramifications of what happened 10 years ago,” Wolff said. “For all the efforts that have been made … something like a salary imposition can really set that back.” The recent dispute also raised questions about how Fordham determines salary increases, what financial constraints affect those decisions and what role faculty should have in setting university priorities. In response to questions from The Ram, Jennifer
Petra, associate vice president of Communications and spokesperson for Fordham University, provided a statement explaining the administration’s rationale for the increase and the financial pressures facing higher education. The statement did not address each question individually, including why the board chose to impose the salary pool or how the administration plans to approach future negotiations. “After months of goodfaith discussions, negotiators reached an impasse in June 2026,” Petra said. Petra said the board reviewed financial data and faculty proposals before deciding to impose the 3% increase. She added that the increase would preserve the university’s ability to maintain operations and support services for the Fordham community. “This increase will ensure that sufficient budget is available to maintain operations, as well as the support and services available to the Fordham community,” Petra said. The Ram reached out to University Secretary Dorothy Marinucci to request a statement from Board of Trustees President Armando Nuñez, but Marinucci declined to comment and referred The Ram to Petra. How faculty negotiations reached an impasse
3 News SLC
8 Opinion ICE in Marble Hill
IN THIS ISSUE
By CAYDENCE JONES FEATURES EDITOR
SLC Hosts Title IX Coordinator Liz Fanelli
The Illegitimacy of ICE
SEE FACULTY, PAGE 4
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Chants of “Freeze AI!” and “Shame! Shame! Shame!” were heard from the Fordham community in front of the Metro-North Gate at Fordham University Rose Hill on Oct. 20. Fordham’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), an unofficial club on campus, organized the rally to call for an artificial intelligence (AI) freeze at the university. They then joined a nationwide protest in front of OpenAI’s office in Soho in response to the lack of regulation of AI under the Trump administration. The rally brought high emotion from the crowd, with passing cars blaring their horns in support of the protestors. At the scene, protestors held signs with the phrases, “Freeze AI,”
“We Didn’t Elect Big Tech” and “Unplug Silicon Valley.” They also wore pins that read “grow socialism,” “freeze data centers” and “abolish ICE.” Matthew Smith, FCRH ’27, is the president of Fordham’s YDSA and said AI poses a threat on multiple fronts within the Fordham community. “We [YDSA] see AI as a threat to our privacy,” Smith said. “We see AI as a threat to our environment. We see AI as a threat to our safety.” Smith said AI is not a good tool for learning, and that students can give Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini a prompt based on what professors ask in class. “It’s just not good for learning. You’re supposed to be learning information. You can’t do that if you’re looking SEE RALLY, PAGE 5
USG Mid-Semester Progress Updates By MAGGIE WILSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
At the midpoint of the fall 2026 semester, the United Student Government (USG) has reached a key transition point under the leadership of the Executive President Madeleine Ando, FCRH ’27, and Executive Vice President Ayden Johnson, FCRH ’27. The semester has been marked by the structural additions, leadership transitions and policy updates designed to support the student body. Advisory and Leadership
Following the departure of former Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Catharine McGlade on Sept. 1, Juan Carlos Matos, assistant vice president of Multicultural Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion and head of the Office for Student Involvement (OSI), was appointed as the new faculty advisor for USG. In addition to administrative adjustments, USG recently completed elections for the class of 2030, welcoming five new class representatives to the governance team. There SEE USG, PAGE 5
HANNAH SULLIVAN/THE FORDHAM RAM
Ando and Johnson update on USG’s progress so far this semester.
11 Culture Oktoberfest Say ‘Guten Tag’ to Oktoberfest
18 Sports Giants
Are the Giants Actually Good?
NEWS
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PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS
October 28, 2026
Fordham Stands With Migrants and Refugees
Ram Fit Center Oct. 20 12:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 12:30 p.m., a student reported the theft of their navy sweatpants from the inside of an unlocked locker in the Ram Fit Center. The supervisor responded and canvassed the area for the missing sweatpants. The supervisor then reviewed the video. An offender was not identified. Dealy Hall Oct. 21 10:50 a.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 10:50 a.m., the Campus Operations Supervisor reported that an unknown person ripped the toilet paper dispenser off the wall of the first floor men’s room in Dealy Hall. The supervisor then responded and photographed the damage.
GRACE KAWECKI/THE FORDHAM RAM
Jackie Perez, a member of the Ballet Folklórico at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a local church in Belmont, dances in celebration of peace.
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Fordham University faculty and students, along with Bronx community members, stood in solidarity with migrants and refugees as they prayed and walked in procession to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church on Thursday, Oct. 22. This act of solidarity was done in part of the Jesuits’ International Day of Hospitality, where Jesuits came together to celebrate their commitment to hospitality and peace. The public witness in solidarity was co-sponsored by Fordham University Campus Ministry, Fordham University’s Initiative on Migrants, Migration and Human Dignity, Fordham Preparatory School, Belmont Catholic Community and St. Nicholas of Tolentine. It was also done with Jesuit Refugee Service USA, an international organization that serves and advocates for refugees. The procession met at the Fordham University Church, where a welcome address and opening prayer took place before the Fordham community processed in prayerful silence to Fordham Plaza to convene with neighbors from the Bronx. At Fordham Plaza, the community gathered together, holding signs with messages including: “Build bridges not walls,” “somos una familia” (Spanish for “we are a family”) and “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” In the gathering, speeches were delivered in both English and Spanish. In an email to The Ram, director of Catholic Life, Kathryn Anderson Kuo, explained who spoke at the show of solidarity. She said, “The speakers represent Fordham University and Fordham Prep students and
members of two local parishes who have experienced the immigration system firsthand. From Fordham Prep students who participated in an immersion project at the U.S.-Mexico border, Fordham University students accompanying migrants at legal clinics, or family members of those who have been detained.” Speakers also read from scripture and led the gathering in song and prayer, including praying the rosary. Jackie Perez, a member of the Ballet Folklórico at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, a local church in Belmont, also danced to music. Carol Gibney, director of Campus Ministry for solidarity and leadership, spoke about the connection between public witness of solidarity and Fordham as a Jesuit institution. “A faith that does justice, that’s what we’re all about,” Gibney said. “And solidarity in communion with our brothers and sisters.” The procession then continued up East Fordham Road in prayerful reflection toward St. Nicholas Tolentine, stopping along the way at Traffic Island at Grand Concourse to pray and give testimonies before continuing along. While processing up Fordham Road, Ella Cohen, FCRH ’29, said it is crucial to be aware of and to support our neighbors in our community. “I think it’s super important that we don’t just remain in the gates of our campus. There’s an entire community that is right outside of these gates that many of our students are living in,” Cohen said in an interview. “I just think it’s necessary to be standing in solidarity with our immigrants and neighbors.”
Cohen emphasized recognizing the privilege of having citizenship that many students at Fordham, including herself, are fortunate enough to possess, and the power it provides them with. “We can be a protection. We can be a person that is getting in the way of the violence that’s happening here,” Cohen said. “And I think we really need to collectively think about what power we have because it’s a lot.” Fordham Preparatory School students passed out bags with zines written in English and Spanish to Fordham staff and students, which explained how to report U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sightings and activities. The zines explained that ICE encounters can be reported to the NYC ICE Watch Hotline, which is 229-304-8720, and to New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office. The bags were then distributed to community members along the walk. Malia Meredith, FCLC ’27, explained Fordham’s responsibility to take care for its community. “I think Fordham existing in this neighborhood or even Fordham Lincoln Center existing in what used to be San Juan Hill, I think Fordham has a responsibility to be contributing to and helping these issues,” Merida said. Trena Yonkers-Talz, director of community center, outreach and accompaniment at Belmont Catholic Community Center, spoke on the importance of the Fordham community standing in solidarity with migrants and refugees. “That’s what Jesuit education is about,” Yonkers-Talz said. “Capacitating people to be
future leaders and future leaders who are compassionate, who are confident, who are loving and who have a commitment to those on the margins.” Yonkers-Talz explained the obligation Fordham has to help our neighbors. “And so just everything that’s happening in the country and especially in our community in the last couple of months. Just a way to come together as a community and say, ‘we stand with our neighbors and we stand with our neighbors who are most vulnerable,’” YonkersTalz said. Anderson Kuo explained that Campus Ministry co-sponsored this public witness in solidarity because care for immigrant communities is foundational to the Catholic Church, and Catholic Social Teaching emphasizes care for the vulnerable. She also explained the partnerships they have that allow an event like this to be possible, including their relationships with local parishes and with the Jesuit Refugee Service. Anderson Kuo explained that this act of solidarity is only one of many projects Fordham is involved in to care for New York’s communities. She explained that the Fordham community has a responsibility to stand in solidarity with migrants and refugees. “For me, the reason is simple: Fordham was built by and for immigrants,” Anderson Kuo said. If you would like to stay involved in the movement you can advocate, contact your legislators to defend the rights of your neighbors. You can also volunteer to walk in the court and street accompaniment program with those who are forced to appear in court proceedings.
Wedsenday Oct. 28
Thursday Oct. 29
Friday Oct. 30
Saturday Oct. 31
Sunday Nov. 1
CAB-o-ween ...
Trick or Treat ...
Halloween Show ...
Halloween Parade ...
Women’s Rowing ...
Edwards Parade 7 p.m.
McShane Lobby 12-2 p.m.
Rodrigues Coffee House 8 p.m.
Greenwich Village 7 p.m.
Lake Carnegie 10 a.m.
Students can enjoy an inflatable slide, obstacle course, face painting and gems, fortune telling, crafts, candy apples, popcorn and a mummy contest, all on Eddies.
Students can fill up their bag with candies and treats given out by Fordham’s Commuting Students Association in McShane Lobby.
At Rodrigues Coffee House, CAB will host bands dearjune, Marlboroboros and Krussler for this year’s Halloween show.
It’s Halloween! Get out your best costumes, and head down to Greenwich Village and experience an iconic NYC parade.
Support the woman’s rowing team as they head to Princeton on Sunday and compete for the best time in multiple races.
Off-Campus Oct. 21 1:40 p.m. On Oct. 21, at 1:40 p.m., a Resident Assistant reported that while conducting a routine health and safety inspection on Hoffman Avenue, they discovered a marijuana water bong on a table in the living room and a strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from the device. The apartment was unoccupied.
Volume 109 Staff Applications Open Now! Due 11/10 Check our Instagram for more information.
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By GRACE KAWECKI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
This Week at Fordham
NEWS Pedro Arrupe Volunteers Assist in Meal Preparation
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October 28, 2026
By MURIEL CORLEY STAFF WRITER
An enthusiastic group of volunteers gathered at Fordham University Lincoln Center’s Lowenstein Lobby on Oct. 22, to support the Campus Ministry and Ignatian Mission Initiatives’ meal preparation service program. The group was led in a prayer before forming an assembly line at long tables ready with bread, peanut butter, jam, fruit snacks, Kool-Aid, Ziploc bags, brown paper bags and napkins. The event lasted from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and produced nearly 240 meal packs. Shama Uddin, FCLC ’28, is a student worker for Campus Ministry. Uddin participated in the program and shared that the group’s assembly line system involved volunteers at one end of a table packaging juice and fruit snacks, volunteers in the middle of the table preparing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and volunteers at the other end of the table packaging the sandwiches. Uddin also shared that the majority of the volunteers were either Fordham’s Pedro Arrupe Volunteers (PAV) in Campus Ministry, who are mainly students, or part of the
Ignatian Mission & Education Initiatives. Robert Parmach, senior director of Ignatian Mission & Education, explained that the “Mission-in-Action Sandwich Making Project” is a recurring program at Fordham. PAV often collaborates with Ignatian Mission Initiatives as well as the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). This joint collaboration offers sandwich-making service projects seven times per year throughout fall, spring and summer semesters at both Lincoln Center and Rose Hill. On average, each program sees around 20-25 volunteers complete 225 meal packs, projecting to about 175 volunteers and 1,575 meal packs total per year. Parmach also stated that recipient organizations for the meal packs are selected by NYCHA leader Marlene Williamson, who helps identify populations most in need of support. Recipients are typically in Manhattan or Bronx communities. The meal packs from the program will be distributed to the Amsterdam Houses community at NYCHA, a few blocks away from Lincoln Center. Parmach believes that the program fosters an important connection to Fordham’s
Jesuit mission and its commitment to service. “It gives students, faculty and staff the opportunity to forge relationships, reflect on shared Ignatian values and serve in a concrete way, all while encouraging a deep sense of self-awareness, intentionality, care for the other and soft skill development,” Parmach said. Parmach shared St. Ignatius’ recommendation “to make love shown more in actions than in words alone,” which is reflected in the action-oriented and passionate programs mobilized by volunteers. “It’s also a great way to team up with others in the Fordham community, learn a new perspective, challenge stereotypes, share your talents and gain a greater sense of belonging,” Parmach said. “It’s a very special thing to have a first-year student working alongside a Fordham professor or department secretary or alumna or IT technician and then observe their simple yet powerful connection to mission with smiles on their faces and re-energized to continue the day with a sense of purpose and drive.” PAV and Ignatian Mission Initiatives each organize dozens of programs. PAV partners with various organizations
such as Midnight Run to prepare and distribute meals to people experiencing homelessness in Manhattan, Bronx is Blooming to help clean and restore local parks and Abbott House to support children in foster care. Some upcoming Ignatian Mission Initiatives include
Storytime with Neighborhood Kids at Lincoln Center on Nov. 13 and a Spellman Hall Jesuit social event featuring a live a cappella performance by the Fordham Ramblers taking place on Nov. 19. The next Mission-in-Action Sandwich Making program will take place at Rose Hill on Nov. 17.
COURTESY OF SHAMA UDDIN Pedro Arrupe Volunteers gather to assist with the meal preparation service. program.
SLC Hosts Title IX Coordinator Liz Fanelli By EMMA LEONARDI NEWS EDITOR
The Fordham University Student Life Council (SLC) met for the second time this semester on Wednesday, Oct. 21, where they hosted Title IX Coordinator Liz Fanelli and provided various updates from around campus. The meeting began with Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion Juan Carlos Matos reminding the council and all attendees of the purpose of SLC: to bring together student leaders, faculty and administrators to talk about the student experience and campus resources, as well as to provide feedback on policies, programs, events and organizations. Following Matos’ statement, Fanelli was brought up to share a presentation about the Title IX office as well as to teach consent, bystander awareness and more. Fanelli began her presentation by introducing herself and the Title IX office. She then delved into the definition of Title IX and how it relates to New York State (NYS) Law Article 129-B. In short, NYS Law Article 129B is not limited to geography. Fordham has to abide by both Title IX and NYS Law Article 129-B. Fanelli shared statistics on Fordham Title IX reports from
the 2025-26 school year, which included but were not limited to 75 reports of sexual harassment, 15 reports of stalking, 29 reports of sexual assault and 16 reports of sexual exploitation. Fanelli also defined consent and provided information about prohibited conduct. In terms of consent, she emphasized that it is affirmative, which means it must be a “yes.” She did note that consenting words can look different based on the people involved in the relationship, and that people and their partner’s words can be specific to them, but that they must be on the same page about what consent means in their relationship. Fanelli used an acronym to help define consent more clearly: FRIES, which stands for freely-given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific. She shared prohibited conduct, which included sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, intimidation and retaliation for reporting and any other form of sexual or gender-based discrimination. Fanelli added that there are prohibited relationships at Fordham, even if they are consensual; students and employees (which include graduate students, coaches, professors, etc.) are not allowed to be in relationships.
Fanelli went over confidential resources on campus versus mandated reporters, which students can read more about in The Ram article that explains the Title IX process. Fanelli elaborated on bystander intervention and how to support survivors in her presentation. She began by noting actions bystanders should take: Remind friends that consent is the difference between sex and sexual assault and that someone can be too intoxicated to give consent take the initiative to stop a friend who chooses to use violence help friends who aren’t thinking clearly due to becoming targets of violence recognize dating or domestic partners who cause fear of physical pain to their partner and voice concerns where appropriate. This means referring them to Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) and then contacting Public Safety, the Title IX coordinator, dean of students or someone else who can help. In terms of supporting survivors, Fanelli shared another acronym to help: TALK, which stands for thanking for telling, ask how to help, listen without judgement and keep supporting. Fanelli said to let the person share as much as they are willing, and to give them space while also not altering usual interactions.
There were many questions from the council following Fanelli’s presentation. United Student Government (USG) Executive President Madeleine Ando, FCRH ’27, referenced Fanelli mentioning options for accommodations for classes and housing if requested, and asked who would have to change their accommodations, the complainant or the accused party. Fanelli replied that the office can’t do something that would be seen as punitive, and that it really depends. Sometimes the complainant requests to change their accommodations, but it isn’t out of the question to switch accommodations for the accused party instead. USG Vice President of Budget and Finance Siri Bhat, GSB ’27, asked how students who aren’t as involved on campus can continue to be reminded of resources. Fanelli said she is happy to collaborate on events year-round. Ando also asked about limitations of the office in terms of if a case doesn’t fall under the university’s purview. Fanelli responded that even if it were a case with a non-Fordham student as the accused party, the office is there to help any Fordham complainant in getting the support they need. Matos noted as well that an increase in reports doesn’t necessarily mean that things
are getting worse, it just means students are actually reporting more and feel more comfortable sharing. After the presentation, Neha Thyagarajan, GSB ’27, introduced herself as the new SLC chair for the 2026-27 school year. From there, Thyagarajan asked Associate Director of Residential Life for Operations Nicole Brenner, M.Ed., to share the intoxication report. There were 41 intoxication instances, compared to 32 at this time last year and 31 the year before. There have been five cases of Refused Medical Attention (RMA), compared to seven this time last year and four the year before. From there, Dean of Students Kevin Williams requested the council for their monthly updates. For a full list of updates, refer to the online version of the article at fordhamram.com. Williams shared that his office is going to begin the process of reviewing the current Recording Video and Audio policy. Williams noted that it will likely be a year-long process, and will include asking students for feedback. Williams ended the meeting by noting that the next SLC guest will be Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Burris. SLC will meet again on Nov. 11, in Bepler Commons. All are welcome to attend.
NEWS
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October 28, 2026
Faculty Salary Negotiations Restart After Spring Imposition FROM FACULTY PAGE 1
According to Wolff, the previous salary and benefits agreement covered the period from 2023 through 2026. Negotiations for a new agreement began in late 2025, with faculty and administration representatives forming separate negotiating teams. Wolff, who became Faculty Senate president in May, said the administration initially requested a one-year agreement rather than the multiyear contracts that had typically been negotiated. The faculty representatives agreed to the proposal, with the understanding that the arrangement would be non-precedent-setting and would not establish annual negotiations as the norm. “The language was that they wanted that to be, you know, non-precedent-setting oneyear contract to make it clear that it was not the faculty’s intention, nor do I think the administration wants to negotiate this every year,” Wolff said. Wolff also said the faculty accepted the one-year approach partly because of uncertainty surrounding changes in federal policy as well as their potential effects on higher education and Fordham’s enrollment. Early on in the negotiation process, the administration proposed a 1% salary pool, while faculty representatives sought a 6.4% increase. As negotiations continued into mid-May, the administration raised its offer to 3%, while faculty representatives sought 4%. Around that time, a survey was conducted asking more than 300 faculty members whether the negotiating team should accept the administration’s 3% offer. At least 78% of respondents advised against accepting it, according to Wolff. The faculty representatives instead continued to pursue a 4% salary pool, which they argued would better account for inflation and other rising expenses. When the board intervened in June, Wolff said the faculty negotiating team believed an agreement remained possible. “We felt that we could continue,” Wolff said. “We felt it was best to continue negotiations, and we felt that we were close.” Following the board’s involvement, Wolff and two other faculty negotiating team members met with the Board of Trustees at the board’s request. Wolff said they cautioned trustees against imposing a salary pool and urged them to allow the negotiations to continue. The board nevertheless imposed the 3% increase on June 15. The decision also increased the Academic Pursuit Fund, which supports
Lori Wolff, Ph.D., is the current head of the Fordham University Faculty Senate.
research expenses for eligible non-tenured faculty on the tenure track, from $750 to $1,000 annually. Other benefits, including retirement benefits, remained unchanged, according to Wolff. She said faculty representatives had received assurances that existing benefits would remain in place, but the absence of a newly negotiated agreement left uncertainty about the terms. “Because we don’t have a contract, none of that is actually in writing,” Wolff said, referring to the salary and benefits provisions that would ordinarily be outlined in an agreement. Petra said the university had previously been able to commit to salary increases for multiple years, but considered a one-year approach more responsible given current economic uncertainty. “In recent years, we have often been able to commit to the raise pool for several years in advance, but the current headwinds facing higher education make it more responsible to take one year at a time,” Petra said. Petra cited federal student loan changes, demographic declines, lower international student enrollment and rising operating costs as pressures affecting higher education. The university also provided historical figures comparing faculty salary pool increases with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the New York region. According to the university, salary pool increases for tenure-track and tenured faculty exceeded regional CPI inflation by an average of approximately 0.5 percentage points annually between 2012 and 2026. Salary increases exceeded CPI in 11 of those 14 years. Those figures describe average salary pool increases over time, rather than changes
in each faculty member’s takehome pay after individual expenses and benefit costs. Budget constraints and competing priorities Haim Mozes, Ph.D., a professor of accounting at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business, offered context on the university’s budget and its capacity to fund salaries. Mozes has served as a faculty resource to the University Finance Committee for more than a decade and is a nonvoting faculty member of the committee. Mozes also explained that compensation is one of several demands on the university’s budget, alongside facilities, maintenance, student services and other administrative and academic expenses. “If salaries are higher, then they’ll spend in other areas lower because they’re bound,” Mozes said. He said the university aims to avoid operating at a loss that would require it to draw on its endowment. His comments provide context for the trade-offs involved in budget decisions, but do not establish whether Fordham could have funded the faculty’s proposed 4% increase without reducing spending elsewhere. Petra’s statement said the board reviewed financial information before imposing the salary pool, but did not provide a detailed breakdown of how the university evaluated the competing proposals or determined that 3% was the appropriate increase. The disagreement over salary increases also reflects broader questions about faculty involvement in university decision-making. Faculty salaries and shared governance Fordham’s statutes outline a process for determining faculty salary pools through discussions between the administration and the Faculty
COURTESY OF FORDHAM GSE NEWS
Salary and Benefits Committee. The statutes also address the sharing of relevant budget and financial information with the committee and the review of negotiated proposals by the Faculty Senate. Wolff said the statutes contemplate a negotiated agreement but do not specifically describe the board imposing a salary pool after negotiations reach an impasse. She acknowledged that the board may have the legal authority to act under its bylaws and fiduciary responsibilities, but argued that intervening was not the best course of action. “I think our argument was more so, ‘even if you have that authority, [it] may not be the best action to take,’” Wolff said. Wolff also said faculty representatives believed the board’s decision could undermine trust between faculty, the administration and trustees. She referenced the dispute roughly a decade earlier, which led to grievances and votes of no confidence during the administration of McShane. Wolff did not say that a new no-confidence vote was planned. Instead, she said faculty representatives were considering how faculty members could respond collectively while maintaining opportunities to work with the administration. She also described shared governance as requiring faculty, administrators and trustees to understand one another’s priorities and work toward common goals. She also said that timely access to financial information was important for faculty members to contribute to university decisions. “There is some level of distrust,” Wolff said, describing relationships among the university’s different constituencies. She said
she hoped to rebuild those relationships through continued communication with the president and provost. The salary dispute also intersects with concerns about health insurance costs. Wolff said Fordham employees pay 20% of their health insurance premiums, while the university covers the remaining 80%. Although that percentage remained unchanged after the board’s salary and benefits imposition, Wolff said rising premiums could increase employees’ out-of-pocket costs. Wolff estimated that employees could pay 8% more in premiums as health care costs rise, even without a change in the percentage they contribute. As a result, she said, a 3% salary increase may not translate into a comparable increase in takehome pay for every faculty member. Wolff also discussed the work of the university’s Healthcare Advisory Committee, which brings faculty and staff together with human resources representatives to discuss health benefits. She said faculty representatives had sought more detailed information about health plan options and costs so faculty governance bodies could review proposed changes before making decisions. She said the timing of that information raised concerns about whether faculty had sufficient opportunity to evaluate changes and participate in the process. The next round of negotiations Because the imposed salary and benefits are only set to last for one year, the Faculty Senate is re-entering negotiations with the administration this fall. Wolff said the newly formed negotiating team and process are still in the early stages as faculty and administrators prepare to resume discussions. Despite being asked about the administration’s plans for future negotiations, Petra’s statement did not address how the university intended to approach the next round of bargaining, focusing instead on the rationale for the oneyear salary increase. For faculty representatives, the next round will involve more than the percentage increase. Wolff said she hopes the university can rebuild trust and establish a process in which faculty and administrators can reach agreements without another board-imposed salary pool. The unresolved questions include how the university will assess future salary proposals, what financial information will be shared with faculty representatives and how the parties will approach negotiations after the board’s intervention.
NEWS
October 28, 2026
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YDSA Rallies for Fordham AI Freeze FROM RALLY PAGE 1
stuff up on AI and ChatGPT,” Smith said. “If a professor asks [students] a question, you’ll see them type it into ChatGPT before they answer that. That’s so disheartening.” This year, Fordham rolled out an AI chatbot called “Remy” to provide emotional support to underclassmen. The service has been met with confusion and disregard from the student body. John Villavicencio, FCRH ’28, a protestor at the event, criticized the university’s AI regulation, citing the release of Remy. “I feel Fordham isn’t doing anything to say that they’re regulating [AI],” Villavicencio said. “They definitely aren’t. They’re sort of supporting [AI implementation] with Remy.” Villavicencio also said Fordham is going against Pope Leo’s encyclical where he denounced AI. “We know [the Catholic Church’s] opinion on it,” Villavicencio said. “If they want to follow Jesuit values and become a Jesuit institution, they cannot be a hypocrite and claim to follow what the Pope says. He put a whole encyclical out towards it.” YDSA is composed of eight members, including Nathan Patron, FCRH ’29. At the
rally, he explained that AI undermines a liberal arts education. “It undermines the work that we do here,” Patron said. “Research is the entire basis of a liberal arts education. [AI] skips the entire process of education and just goes right to the result.” Eloise Graves, FCRH ’29, gave a speech at the rally, in which she criticized the gaps in AI regulation at Fordham. “The topic of AI occurs very sparsely in Fordham’s Standards of Academic Integrity, with a total of two sentences dedicated towards the use of artificial intelligence,” Graves said. Graves denounced the ease of unethical action as a byproduct of AI and the lack of action in response to it. “Fordham’s Sexual Misconduct Policy fails to comprehensively prohibit abuse and assault through AI, leaving a loophole gaping open for students to be victimized, to be sexualized nonconsensually by others through the use of AI,” Graves said. Graves also voiced her and the YDSA’s support for the students in France who are protesting over their schooling conditions. “Merci pour votre influence, pour votre courage, pour votre
GABRIEL CAPELLAN/THE FORDHAM RAM
Members of the YDSA rallied in front of the Metro-North gate calling for an AI freeze.
colère (thank you for your influence, for your courage, for your anger),” Graves said. “To Fordham, we say, you have a duty to us, to your students and educators, to strictly regulate AI within our institution.” According to a study by Berkeley Lab, 4.4% of the energy produced in the U.S. went to data centers in 2023. It’s projected that by 2028, data centers could consume 6.7% to 12% of all energy produced in the U.S. Ella Cohen, FCRH ’29, is another YDSA member who has felt the impact of this
energy consumption in her own hometown, Archbald, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has become one of the most popular places to build data centers in the U.S. The state has over 50 centers in development and Archbald has six of them. “I’m from a town in Pennsylvania that’s being bombarded by data centers, and I’ve seen the effects of AI use on the ground in environmental ways,” Cohen said. “I just saw how this rapid development, when it’s not regulated, is having adverse
effects on people’s environment and people’s health.” YDSA joined other schools such as LaGuardia High School and SUNY Purchase in their efforts. Smith and the other protestors called on students to take responsibility for their education, saying that they should deny AI in their classrooms because students deserve better. “You’re spending tens of thousands of dollars to attend the school, and because of the implementation of AI, you’re not getting the quality education that you deserve,” Smith said.
USG Shares Mid-Semester Updates FROM USG PAGE 1
were 13 candidates who ran for the class of 2030 Senate, nine for Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and four for Gabelli School of Business (GSB). The winning candidates campaigned on platforms focusing on better dining options for students with allergies, commuter student needs, more input from the student body, etc. Ando and Johnson were elected to their positions last spring. In an interview published by The Ram on Sept. 2, Ando and Johnson had stated their goals of modernizing USG through website and social media updates, encouraging more proposals from senators and continuing to collaborate with Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) on proposals and initiatives. Accomplishments and Commissions The communications and marketing committee, led by Vice President of Communications and Marketing Ari Patel, GSB ’29, has modernized USG through a website calendar, a legislation tracker and enhanced social media outreach. The website calendar includes important dates for USG made public to the student body to help ensure the publicity of events and what USG is working on during the academic year. Events include the meetings that occur every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Bepler Commons, as well as other
committee meetings and events run by USG. The website now includes a legislation tracker to visualize the progress of proposals and whether they are currently being implemented. Updates to the USG social media encourage students to stay connected through Instagram (@fordhamusg) or TikTok (@ fordhamusg), in addition to the website. When regarding campus life initiatives, extended marketplace hours originally introduced during the 2025-26 academic year remain active for the 2026-27 school year to maintain broader access to dining services at Fordham University. The Marketplace is now open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and opens at 8 a.m. on weekends. This initiative was led by class of 2029 FCRH Senators Evie Maravilla and Domenick Fedele II under the guidance of Ando, former Vice President of Facilities and Dining, after the proposal was approved in November 2025. On the operational front, USG has established three active commissions: the Governing Documents Commission, the Archive Commission and the Ministry of Merch Commission. The Governing Documents Commission started by reviewing USG’s Election Code document as of Oct. 15. The Archive Commission works to create a more organized system to record and track proposals, legislation and
transition documents for every committee and senate class. The commission is underway and working on the creation of transition documents, and each USG committee was assigned a liaison. Finally, the Ministry of Merch Commission has recruited students to assist in merchandising and design. Proposals and Ongoing Initiatives In line with their goal of encouraging more policy change from senators, each senator is now asked to develop at least one proposal to work on per semester. Ando and Johnson said they want to make sure that things aren’t just being proposed and passed through USG, but implemented and continually worked on throughout the semester. “Some of the proposals currently being explored include expanding gym access through free guest passes, improving professional development opportunities for Fordham College students, increasing access to mentorship and career resources and creating more accessible study abroad information, particularly surrounding credit transfers and internships,” Ando and Johnson said in an email to The Ram. “We’re also looking at several campus improvement initiatives, including accessibility audits, bathroom maintenance, additional outlets in McShane, better meal options for commuter students and alternatives to
single-use plastic cups.” Many of these proposals have not yet been brought to fruition, but as they continue to be researched and developed, Ando and Johnson are encouraging collaboration between senators and committees to increase the feasibility of the goals and initiatives. Ando and Johnson noted that the biggest thing they have been working on this year is improving how USG supports the student body. One large topic has been club funding and the allocation of resources to the different clubs on campus. “We’re looking at club audits and ways to better understand what resources organizations actually need, where there may be gaps and how we can make the process more efficient,” Ando and Johnson said. To address these issues, they have explored options including creating a larger collection of shared resources managed by OSI rather than expecting individual organizations to repeatedly purchase materials. Ando and Johnson explained that they are aware of the tight budgets many clubs work with and want to be thoughtful about how resources are allocated to the different organizations. Due to feedback and suggestions from the large community of transfer
students at Fordham, they are also working on the creation of a Transfer Student Committee that will work to better represent these students across campus. “This exciting initiative will better help us represent all of our students and their unique college experiences!” Ando and Johnson said. Future Outlook and Academic Year Goals As the semester continues, USG’s executive leadership still remain focused on developing new legislation, advancing active proposals and outlining strategic goals to achieve before the conclusion of the academic year. Ando and Johnson outlined three main goals for the remainder of the academic year: make USG more transparent and accessible, make meaningful progress on larger issues surrounding student organizations and encourage senators to do meaningful work on their proposals. “At the end of the day, we want to leave USG in a better position than we found it,” Ando and Johnson said. “We don’t think the success of a student government should be measured solely by how many proposals it passes, but by whether those proposals actually make a difference and whether we’ve made it easier for the next group of student leaders to continue that work.”
OPINION Reality Check | Midterm Elections This May Be the Dumbest Election Ever
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By DOMENICK FEDELE COLUMNIST
Incredibly, every election in my living memory has been the most important election of my lifetime. Bernie Sanders claimed a few weeks ago that the 2026 midterms are “the most important in modern American history,” which may lower the stakes a bit for people toward the end of their lifetimes. Perhaps they already experienced a more important election decades ago. Even more incredibly, the U.S. has been having its most important elections almost ever since day one. In 1805 — yes, 1805 — the Philadelphia Aurora declared Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial contest “the most important election you have ever been called upon to attend.” An irreversible floodgate was opened, and the media and politicians found their favorite phrase for the next 220 years. The point, of course, is that this is one of the most tired clichés in all of politics, and it is hard to believe that such phrasing moves the needle anymore.
How can it be objectively determined if an election is the most important in any given time period? I have no clue — and an exploration of political realignment theory will show that nobody really has one. Thus, the 2026 midterms are almost certainly not the most important election in anyone’s lifetime, with the exception of first-time voters. There is, however, plenty of evidence that this may be the dumbest election in history. Finding a starting point to tackle the immense stupidity of the current midterms is a challenge in itself. Perhaps it is appropriate to start at the top, with the sitting president of the United States attempting to bribe the entire nation with dubious-at-best $5,000 checks in exchange for Republican votes. Yes, it still sounds as ridiculous a month and a half later as it did at the time of the announcement, probably because it is absurdly ridiculous. Anyone holding their breath for their Trump Dividend (they could really use more creative
naming) is long dead. When you have one of the lowest approval ratings in history, I guess you’ve got to try everything. For his part, Vice President JD Vance has succeeded in crafting some of the worst messaging in electoral history. Exes across America can attest that “Give us another chance” has almost never worked, but perhaps it will make everyone forget that gas is so expensive, thanks solely to the pointless war waged by this administration. Vance has a solution, though: “Don’t vote for the people who made the problem to begin with.” This is a perfectly sensible message to run on. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work nearly as well coming from those who created the problems. “Vote against us” is a bold strategy. Desperate times call for desperate measures, it seems. The absurdity of these midterms has trickled down to races across the country. In Michigan, Republicans are engaged in a pathetic campaign to see just how much Americans
still hate Muslims, dedicating the entire Senate race essentially to a referendum on Dr. Abdul El-Sayed’s name. In a twist that couldn’t be scripted any better, Mike Rodgers’ own comments about working with the Muslim Brotherhood in 2012 have resurfaced. In Texas, their preferred attack against James Talirico has centered around allegations of veganism and calling him a “freak.” An ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother in the Ohio gubernatorial race led to criticism from some Republicans, but President Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy only tripled down. Similar stories have played out in dozens of additional races. The common thread here is obvious — there is almost no focus on actual policy issues. This is undoubtedly by design. When inflation, the economy and healthcare are the top issues for voters heading into the midterms, it is hard to run as the deeply unpopular incumbent party that has historically had abysmal approval ratings
October 28, 2026
in all three areas (and essentially all others). When you have no answers to the issues, and even worse, are actively failing to address them, you are left with few options. Trump and Republicans have spent the entire administration attempting to distract from their unprecedented unpopularity and incompetence through stunts and distractions — Lake America, invading Greenland, tariff wars — and hope to win two more years through the exact same playbook. Economics is one of the greatest predictors of election results in America, and right now it is a five-alarm fire for the incumbents. We are watching their last-ditch effort in real time: If they can make these midterms the dumbest ever, perhaps voters will be so fatigued and overwhelmed that they forget just how much Trump has hurt their wallets. It is almost certain to fail, but what other choice do they have?
Domenick Fedele, FCRH ’29, is a political science major from Yorktown, New York.
You’re Hired and Fired! By KELLY BUBAN ASST. CULTURE EDITOR
Five days. This is the length of time Katie Zacharia lasted as White House press secretary before being removed from her position on Oct. 16. In less than a week, Zacharia managed to make history as the shortest-serving press secretary in American history, leaving behind questions about her qualifications, the White House’s hiring process and the relationship between the Trump administration and the press. The role of the White House press secretary is arguably one of the most important communication positions in the country. It requires someone who can confidently answer difficult questions, communicate the president’s policies and serve as a reliable connection between the administration, journalists and the American public. Zacharia’s brief tenure raised questions about whether the White House had adequately prepared its newest spokesperson for the responsibilities. Following former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s resignation in August, the position remained vacant for months. When Zacharia finally stepped behind the podium on Oct. 13, there was considerable attention given to her first appearance. However, what was supposed to be an opportunity to introduce herself and establish a relationship with the press quickly became the beginning of the end of her time in the White House. Zacharia’s first and only press briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which she answered just three
questions, all from conservative or Trump-friendly outlets. According to BBC News, the briefing was widely criticized, with Zacharia appearing unprepared for the responsibilities of her new position. To some extent, I can understand why someone might struggle during their first press conference. Public speaking is difficult enough, let alone when the entire country is watching and journalists are waiting to question you. However, there is a significant difference between having a difficult first day and being unable to fulfill the basic responsibilities of a position. The White House press secretary is not simply another public relations employee. The position carries an obligation to communicate information that affects millions of Americans. Taking only three questions during a briefing, especially after an extended vacancy in the role, raises legitimate concerns about how much access journalists are being given to the administration. But Zacharia’s performance was only part of the controversy. Before and after her appointment, questions emerged surrounding her professional qualifications. Zacharia, who previously appeared as a conservative commentator on Fox News, had repeatedly described herself as a lawyer or attorney. However, it was revealed that although she graduated from Pepperdine University’s law school, she had failed the California bar exam and was not licensed to practice law. According to CNN, members of Trump’s own administration questioned how Zacharia had been selected without a more thorough vetting process. There
is nothing inherently wrong with failing the bar exam, as plenty of successful people have experienced academic and professional setbacks. The problem is not that Zacharia failed an exam but rather the questions surrounding how she portrayed her qualifications afterward. For someone whose primary responsibilities included communicating information accurately and transparently, the controversy over her credentials was particularly significant. If the public questions whether a press secretary has accurately described her professional background, it becomes harder for her to establish credibility when speaking on behalf of the president. Interestingly, the criticism did not come exclusively from the liberal news outlets one would assume; conservative commentators also challenged Zacharia’s explanations. Fox News host Sean Hannity questioned her about both her first briefing and her use of the term “lawyer.” The scrutiny demonstrated that concerns about professional transparency do not necessarily have to fall along party lines. President Donald Trump defended Zacharia against what he described as unfair media treatment, but ultimately encouraged her to reconsider the position. By Oct. 16, she was out of the job. Some might argue that Zacharia was judged too quickly and never given a fair opportunity to adjust. There is validity to that argument, as five days is hardly enough time for someone to become comfortable in a demanding new role, particularly one involving intense public scrutiny. Still, I
COURTESY OF CNN
After five days as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia was removed from the position.
think the larger question is not simply whether she deserved more time but rather how someone could be appointed to such an important position without the White House ensuring that she was prepared for its responsibilities. Speaking from the perspective not of a journalist but simply as someone passionate about civic responsibility, I find the broader implications for the press in this situation especially important. Journalists are responsible for questioning those in power, verifying information and keeping the public informed. However, this responsibility becomes increasingly difficult when access to government officials is limited or communication is very much inconsistent. Press briefings are not supposed to be opportunities for an administration to receive favorable publicity. They are supposed to provide journalists with an opportunity to ask questions on behalf of the American people, including questioning those in power, verifying information and keeping the public informed. However, that responsibility becomes increasingly difficult when access to government officials is limited or
communication is inconsistent. This is not an issue that is exclusive to one political party. Regardless of who occupies the Oval Office, Americans expect transparency, accountability and qualified individuals representing their government and being the voice they hear from. Zacharia’s five-day tenure may eventually become another unusual footnote in this administration’s White House history, but right now, the questions surrounding her appointment extend beyond one individual or one poorly received press conference, or the fact her tenure was shorter than the length of time it takes for bread to go bad. The public deserves a White House that communicates clearly, answers difficult questions and recognizes the importance of a free press. After all, the press secretary’s job is not simply to speak for the president and the administration, but to ensure that the American people can hear from their government, and that responsibility should last considerably longer than five days. Kelly Buban, FCRH ’29, is a journalism major from Middlebury, Connecticut.
OPINION
October 28, 2026
R
Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918 The Fordham Ram is the university journal of record. The mission of The Fordham Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Fordham Ram is published every Wednesday during the academic year to all campuses.
Website TheFordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu Editor-in-Chief Sienna Reinders Managing Editor Ian Nelson Production Editor Sarah Verrastro Editorial Director Molly O’Connor Multimedia Director Hannah Sullivan Business Director Nishanth Aduma News Editor Emma Leonardi Features Editor Caydence Jones Assistant News Editors Gabriel Capellan Grace Kawecki Opinion Editor Loresa Zeqiraj Assistant Opinion Editors Erynn Sweeney Elaina Gibson Culture Editors Lara Ejzak Makenzie Smith Assistant Culture Editor Kelly Buban Sports Editor James Nelson Assistant Sports Editors Molly Friedman Ethan Bess Copy Chief Indigo Towers Executive Copy Editors Emma Kelner Amelia Stricherz Hannah Michalowski Mia Smith Photo/Graphics Editor Emily McCall Wilson Speller Social Media Director Marisa House Digital Producers Han Le Haniyyah Usmani Advertising Directors Violet Wallace Juan-Pablo Valencia Rishika Lingamdinne Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Policy The Fordham Ram’s editorial reflects the editorial board’s opinions or views. Opinion Policy The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Fordham Ram. Submission Policy The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject or edit any submission for any reasion, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent. Correction Policy The Fordham Ram is committed to fair and accurate reporting. If you are aware of an error, please contact us at fordhamramonline@gmail.com.
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From the Desk | Hannah Sullivan
There’s No Place Like B-48 College is a rough time. It feels like you’re always moving, rushing and stressing. Time flies here and so much can happen in one semester that sends your life in brand new directions. For me, when my world feels like it’s spinning off its axis, when I’m so overwhelmed I can barely think straight, I have found having an anchor helps. Mine is at exactly 5 p.m, previously 7 p.m, when I walk into club suite B-48, slump into my uncomfortable wooden chair and get ready to spend the next four hours reloading WordPress and skimming articles on a fold-out plastic table. I serve as the Multimedia Director of The Ram, previously as a digital producer, and The Ram has served as a stable home when I needed one most. The beginning of my first year was rocky to say the least. I was away from my family and living in a new state for the first time in my entire life. I was struggling to find my
place and fit in. I felt like my only comfort was the thought of potentially transferring. I felt behind listening to my friends from home talk about their college lives and watching everyone else seem like they had it figured out. When I applied for The Ram, I thought myself to be totally under-qualified. I had no journalistic background and a basic grasp of Instagram. However, I managed to make it to an interview and eventually, calling my mom to tell her I made it on staff. All of a sudden, no matter how chaotic things got, as college tends to be, I had something stable. I had a comforting, windowless room in the basement to hide away in, even when my life was whirling around me. With only a number of weeks left in Volume 108, subsequently my last year at The Ram, I have been forced to face what my life will look like without the safety of club suites B-48 and B-52. It is hard to imagine a
Tuesday night where I’m not in McShane Campus Center basement until 9:30 p.m. at least, or a Sunday night where I’m not in a budget meeting or working on the briefing (which you should sign up for using the link in our Instagram bio to get weekly article highlights). In my time at The Ram, I have grown so much from
my very first article on Suki Waterhouse to now filming and editing student interviews. In my two years on staff, I have grown so much as a person, a writer and a professional. I have found many things at The Ram, from a passion for digital marketing to my closest friends and a safe place, but most importantly, I found my place at Fordham.
Editorial | Importance of Voting
Get Your Butts in the Booth! President Donald Trump is on the ballot next week: He said it himself. Though it isn’t a presidential election year, voting in the midterm elections is just as important, if not more. The midterm elections happen right in the middle of the presidential term, giving people the chance to vote on local and state candidates and issues. Members of the House of Representatives are required by the U.S. Constitution to be put up for election every two years, as opposed to the president’s four-year term. This helps maintain a closer connection between representatives and their constituents, pushing them to listen to the communities they represent and focus on the issues they care about. Historically, voter turnout for midterm elections is significantly lower than for presidential elections. Over the past five midterm elections, the national average voter turnout was 43.2%, compared to most presidential elections topping 60% voter turnout. Turnout for the primary midterm elections is even lower, with this year’s national average being just 23.3%. New York sat in the bottom three of state voter turnout at just 7.8%. Wake up New York! The primaries are no joke, but they often go ignored because there isn’t as much publicity around them, and the voting dates are dependent on state and local elections. Lower voter turnout in the
midterms in general comes from lower visibility and lower campaign spending compared to presidential elections. In addition, general satisfaction with local governments can make people feel like they don’t have anything they care to vote on, or that there are lower stakes. Because of this trend, every vote in the midterm elections counts even more. Especially looking at local elections that could be determined by less than 200 votes instead of 200,000, voting is absolutely crucial to make your voice heard in both your local and state communities. Before you head to your voting site or send your mail-in ballot (if you requested one by your state’s deadline), make sure you do your research on the candidates and ballot questions you will be voting on. The best and most reliable way to learn about local candidates and issues is to read local newspapers or watch local news to hear directly from the candidates. When looking for information on larger topics that impact your entire state or even the entire nation, you can use a media bias checker when utilizing larger news sources to ensure you are getting the most accurate, factual information. Social media, while not entirely invalid, should not be your only source of information about the elections. It’s good to be aware of what people in your communities are advocating for, and some
well-researched posts might have reliable sources attached that you can look into, but you still need to be cautious when taking in information from social media. On the ballot this year are some major hot-button issues that have taken over the news cycle over the past two years of Trump’s presidency. The economy is the one topic that almost everyone across political parties agrees is a top issue. Affordability has been a major point of contention in the country since the beginning of Trump’s attacks on Iran, as the current average price of gas nationally still stands at $4.28 per gallon. Immigration, Trump’s power and his administration, as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of data centers are also central on voters’ minds heading into the midterms. In New York City specifically, housing, public transportation, education and the environment are all on the ballot. It is quite common for the incumbent party to lose congressional seats in the midterms due to presidential policy, and if their majority is slim, voters have the potential to flip the House or the Senate to the other party. Currently, Republicans have only a four seat majority in the House of Representatives, which is contributing to predictions of a Democratic flip. A flip would force more negotiation and bipartisan policymaking in order to pass laws because
the government would be divided instead of entirely run by one party, as it is now. In the Senate, Republicans hold a larger majority, with 53 seats to the Democrats’ 45 (plus two Independents that caucus with them), so it is not predicted to flip, but the majority is predicted to shrink, potentially to just a one seat difference. Flipping the House and potentially the Senate is not something to take lightly. Congress represents a massive part of our federal government and the decisions that impact every single person in this country. If you are unhappy with the way the country has been running with the Republican majority across all three branches of government over the past two years, you can be a part of a massive change simply by voting next week. Regardless of whether or not the candidate you support wins or the ballot issue you advocated for passes, voting is our civic duty as American citizens. By researching and voting for issues on the ballot, you will learn a lot about what’s happening in your city, state and country, and you will meaningfully engage with your community and your government. It can be discouraging when an election doesn’t go your way, and maybe that happened in the presidential election for you, but that only makes voting in the next election all the more important. Get out and vote!
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OPINION Professors Using AI: A Double Standard
By ALEENA SIDDIQUI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A quiet transformation is taking over Fordham University’s classrooms. Across campus, professors are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to evaluate student work, from multiple choice quizzes to research papers and essays. AI promises faster turnaround and neatly organized feedback. For professors, balancing teaching loads, research commitments and their own lives, the appeal is obvious. But for students who pay tens of thousands of dollars in tuition expecting real engagement with experts in their fields, feedback
written by AI feels transactional. This raises the question: When algorithms start evaluating human thought, what is left of the mentor-student relationship? This double standard is difficult to ignore. Students are repeatedly warned about strict university-wide policies on AI. Using ChatGPT to outline an essay or Gemini to polish a paragraph without permission could leave you with an academic integrity violation, which leads to a failing grade. Faculty policies, meanwhile, remain unevenly designed and inconsistently applied across departments. Some professors are trying a fairer approach. In the Gabelli
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Different policies regarding AI usage can be difficult for students to navigate.
By LEILA CARSON STAFF WRITER
On Oct. 8, 28-year-old Oscar Belgal was ambushed by a group of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the Marble Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. The agents were dressed in plain clothes and allegedly did not identify themselves before opening fire at Belgal’s car, shooting him in the neck. To make this situation even more horrifying, Belgal’s five-yearold son sat in the backseat of the car while the entire incident occurred. Although Belgal has a history of criminal acts, it does not justify the use of deadly force that was exercised by ICE. The U.S. Constitution guarantees due process and explicitly limits deadly force, and ignoring these basic legal boundaries sets a terrifying precedent. This incident in Marble Hill is not isolated; it demonstrates a dangerous pattern of federal immigration officers utilizing excessive violence and violating the constitutional rights of the people that they arrest. In 2022, Belgal evaded immigration authorities and entered the United States from the Dominican Republic. Once he moved to New York, he had difficulties holding down a stable job and quickly spiraled down a path of crime, spanning from robberies to firearm possession and drug-related charges. Despite this history, many of Belgal’s
School of Business’ first-year class, Ground Floor, for example, students can disclose their AI use through an “AI receipt,” a short statement listing the platform, prompt used, date and how the tool helped. It is a simple idea built on transparency: Students show their work and the professor can judge it with full context. It also raises an obvious question: If students can be asked for a receipt, why can’t professors? The date suggests that the gap is wide. College Board found that 88% of faculty are concerned about student AI use, yet 77% admit to using AI tools in their own professional work. Students are left navigating different rules in every class. We are held to rigid standards of original authorship while the people evaluating our work can outsource their feedback to the very tools we are warned against. This risks creating a feedback loop. If students use AI to draft papers and professors use AI to grade them, software ends up evaluating software. Original thought, personal voice and intellectual challenge disappear, making it hard to justify the effort and expense of a four-year degree. Higher education is meant to be a space
for debate, nuance and growth. These are things that can not be replaced by an algorithm. All this being said, the pressures on faculty are real. The Chronicle of Higher Education has documented the workloads and large class sizes that make a quick turnaround difficult. Proponents argue that using AI for routine checks, like structure and formatting, can free professors to focus on other aspects of teaching. But speed should not come at the expense of substance. Inside Higher Ed has reported that automated grading software struggles with nuance, often penalizing creative thesis statements and unconventional arguments that don’t fit standard patterns. Ohio State University’s Assessment Center notes that AI evaluators grade unpredictably, showing unwarranted leniency towards weaker papers while penalizing complex, high-performing writing. Educational technology researcher Leon Furze points out that language models generate responses from statistical probabilities without real understanding or domain expertise. When students realize no human being reads their work, their motivation to try on the next assignment drops.
The Illegitimacy of ICE
neighbors reported that he was a kind man, describing him as “mild-mannered.” ICE claims that Belgal’s criminal history gave them reason to arrest him, however, having a criminal history does not diminish his humanity or make ICE’s excessive violence justifiable. Under the Trump administration, violent interactions with ICE have become increasingly normalized. The organization has received billions of dollars in funding from Congress, including $75 billion under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” Additionally, the administration has undergone a rapid hiring spree, as hiring standards have been lowered and training has been shortened. On top of the agency’s growth, the Department of Homeland Security ended protections for undocumented immigrants in areas such as schools, hospitals, workplaces and places of worship, leading to ICE raids in these respective areas. Within the first two months of Trump’s presidency, there was a 353% increase in ICE officers’ use of force, including the utilization of extreme physical force, chemical agents and damaging of cars when attempting to detain individuals. These extreme uses of force have led to the death of both American citizens and immigrants across the country. In January 2026, Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE agents in Minneapolis when the
agents shot inside of her car, claiming that she was trying to run over an ICE officer. Again in January, Geraldo Lunas Campos died while being detained in a facility in El Paso, Texas. His death was ruled a homicide after it was revealed that he was handcuffed and held down by five guards while another squeezed his neck until he lost consciousness. The tragedy at Marble Hill is a direct reflection of these systemic failures. Just as in Minneapolis, El Paso and all across the U.S., what happened to Oscar Belgal demonstrates how lowered training standards, unchecked authority and blatant racial biases translate into unwarranted acts of violence by a government agency that is supposedly meant to protect national security and public safety. When agents dressed in plain clothes ambushed Belgal’s vehicle without clear identification or purpose, they mirrored the reckless and aggressive enforcement style that has been greenlit nationwide under the current administration. But beyond these statistics and systemic injustices, the force that ICE has been using against people — no matter what their immigration status may be — is a profound human tragedy. Belgal is not just a data point in the reports against ICE’s misuse of force, he is a father who was targeted in broad daylight and is now sitting in a detention center with a bullet still lodged in his neck. The severe
psychological trauma that was inflicted on his five-year-old son, along with the subsequent denial of proper medical care, shows the inhumane treatment and cost of these federal tactics. Although the agency tried to play this attack off as a justified arrest, it is clear that it was a violent escalation that shattered a family, terrorized an entire community and sent shockwaves across America. Beyond the glaring safety risks, the actions taken by the ICE agents represent severe violations of established constitutional law. Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S Constitution, every individual on American soil is protected against unreasonable searches, seizures and the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers. Under Tennessee v. Garner, the legal threshold for using lethal force is extremely high. Officers may only discharge their weapons if a suspect poses an immediate threat of death or serious injury to either the officers or the public. In the case of Oscar Belgal, this does not apply. Belgal was in his car, driving his son home from school after stopping to pick up food from McDonald’s. Despite the fact that Belgal entered the U.S. illegally and has a criminal history, these actions do not void his rights under the Constitution, nor are they justifiable means for ICE’s actions. At that moment, Belgal posed no immediate threat to the officers who approached his car without proper uniform
October 28, 2026
There are also concerns regarding fairness. The Pew Research Center surveys show widespread public worry about bias in AI systems. When automated tools grade subjective writing, biases embedded in training data can unfairly penalize students whose styles fall outside algorithmic norms. Fordham needs clear, transparent policies that apply to both sides of the learning dynamic. If students are expected to submit original work, professors should be expected to provide original evaluation. The AI receipt shows what that could look like: Any instructor who uses AI as a grading assistant should disclose it on the syllabus, note where it was used and personally review and verify all final feedback. Students already document their AI use when asked, so faculty can do the same. Efficiency has its place, but it shouldn’t warrant a tradeoff between itself and mentorship. Transparency is a good start, and a receipt for processors would be fair. The heart of Fordham lies in the relationships and exchanges between teacher and students, and AI should not let that slip away. Aleena Siddiqui, GSB ’30, is a business administration major from Allendale, New Jersey.
or identification. The Fifth and 14th Amendments of the Constitution guarantee due process, meaning that any alleged offenses must go through proper courts, trials and legal proceedings, not through unprompted violence on neighborhood roads. The shooting of Oscar Belgal represents an immediate threat to basic human rights and legal accountability of federal agencies. The Constitution and its amendments were designed to ensure that no government agency is able to operate with unchecked power on American streets as ICE is doing right now. The constitutional protections against excessive force and violations of due process are universal rights that apply to every single person on American soil, regardless of their immigration status or any prior records. When federal agencies act in ways that directly conflict with the Constitution, it jeopardizes the civil liberties and safety of entire communities and sends a message across the United States: Nobody, regardless of their citizenship status or race, is safe. Stripping away a person’s dignity, rights and sense of safety under the guise of law enforcement does not create any security in American society, it directly undermines the very foundations of justice that America was built upon. Leila Carson, FCRH ’30, is a political science major from Waipahu, Hawaii.
October 28, 2026
By ELAINA GIBSON ASST. OPINION EDITOR
New York City has the power to imprint on the soul of everyone who sets foot in it, but only few truly let it pierce the surface. There is a reason it serves not only as a backdrop for so many movies and novels, but also as a character to engage with rather than merely observe. The superficiality of popular tourist destinations and viral attractions can inhibit new residents’ ability to be fully immersed in the culture and community offered. Anthony Bourdain’s advice frequently floods my Instagram
OPINION The Eye of the Traveler reels with his philosophy of being a traveler, not a tourist, shaping how I strive to interact with the city in a meaningful way. Being a tourist is easy, comfortable and planned, but it heightens the risk of experiencing new things on autopilot or hyperfixating on documentation. The popular choice is to follow an itinerary tailored to a top 10 thingsto-do list or to viral stores and restaurants that will look incredible on your Instagram grid. However, this approach inhibits the creation of lasting memories, while worrying about capturing perfect pictures impedes on what you
EMILY MCCALL/THE FORDHAM RAM
Having the mindset of a traveler can lead to greater exploration.
are actually there to see. Some of the most immersive days happen when there is no plan other than to simply walk around with an open heart. This involves closing the Maps app and taking the AirPods out to tune in with the sounds of the city. At the end of the day, being aware of your surroundings is not just a safety practice but a way to pick up on the little idiosyncrasies that make New York truly alive. The hustle and bustle is not something one should ignore. Jazz tunes coming out of a dimly-lit bar, views of fashionable outfits worn by the coolest people and the surplus of beautiful architecture that stretches to the sky are all freely available if you dare to look up and pay attention. Bearing witness to a city is just the beginning; the next step is interaction. Human connection is a lovely way to make a day memorable. As someone who gets attached easily, it can be heartbreaking to build a meaningful relationship with a person just to turn around and never see them again, but by taking that chance, they still gain a spot in the scrapbook of your life. The best conversations I have are those I share with members of the older
generation. Being open and accepting of the wisdom elderly people so freely share can give new insights you would otherwise be blind to. Just the other day, I was reading Betty Smith’s “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” when an older man quoted a passage to me from memory. We connected over our love for the author, and he told me to visit the specific Brooklyn neighborhoods where the book is set, since he had biked there the other day. Ultimately, that is what being a traveler is about: opening one’s eyes to different ways of life and cultivating curiosity about others’ stories. Very little genuine selfdiscovery happens when confined to a rigid schedule or bucket list. The value of the journey can seem overstated, but it is largely cast aside by a generation and culture that prioritize efficiency by maximizing productivity. There is nothing necessarily productive or efficient about being a traveler, and I think that’s what gives it charm. It often leads to taking the longest path, making many stops along the way or getting completely lost altogether. When “traveling” in the city where you live, the decreased sense of urgency can increase the room for error. You can spend more time in specific
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areas, your conversations can be prolonged and the food you try can be even more exploratory. While I wholeheartedly support having spots you frequent and building long-lasting relationships with the immediate community, I also recommend venturing outside of the campus bubble to avoid getting stuck in a strict routine. In a city that has thousands of opportunities to offer, there is little reason to limit yourself to the familiar. Go to spots where you feel a little out of place and meet a new person. Try the cuisine you are unfamiliar with just to say you’ve eaten it once. That is where growth starts. The time spent as a resident in any city is never guaranteed. With few things sadder than wasted opportunities, exploring where you live can help fuel the curiosity that gives life meaning. A conscious effort should be made to venture off the beaten path and into the plot of a new story, one shaped entirely by how you choose to interact with the world around you.
Elaina Gibson, FCRH ’29, is a political science major from Kansas City, Missouri.
Adulting on Adrenaline By HAILEY BAKER STAFF WRITER
I remember going to Disney World in eighth grade and being disappointed by the lack of thrilling roller coasters. “The point of Disney is the magic and the characters,” my mom reminded me, but I didn’t care, I just wanted the rides. I’ve always loved thrill-seeking. I love climbing intense ropes courses and going ziplining. I parasailed off the coast of Cape Cod with my sister, which I would do again in a heartbeat. It is my dream to go skydiving one day. I don’t think that adults should be discouraged from seeking adrenaline rushes. I recognize the value of thrill-seeking in providing a fulfilling and healthy way to experience excitement and challenge. However, people must recognize the vast difference between calculated risks and reckless behavior that puts themselves and others in dangerous situations. Instead of making one’s primary way to escape underlying emotional problems adrenaline seeking, they should find safer and healthier coping mechanisms to pursue excitement. There are way more dangerous adrenaline-producing activities than I have ever or will ever partake in, such as paragliding, cliff jumping, volcano
boarding and street racing, among many others. But seeking excitement is a normal human desire, and is not inherently unhealthy. For some people who are growing bored with their mundane lives and repetitive everyday routines, adrenaline-seeking can provide excitement, enjoyment and a break from everyday routines. Different people have different motivations for thrill-seeking. Some genuinely enjoy adventure, while others may be seeking temporary relief from stress or emotional numbness. Enjoying a rush does not automatically indicate an underlying emotional problem, but that motivation behind an activity is what matters. “While I’m sure there are exceptions, thrill seeking is usually not as productive or wholesome as a hobby,” Daniel Baur, FCRH ’27, said. “Taking risks is great but not for the sake of risk alone.” Baur believes that many “people in the modern world are starved of risk or exciting challenges in their everyday lives, which is why people, especially firstworld males aged 15-30, might take risks purely for its own sake.” Oftentimes, the term “adrenaline junkie” is used to refer to someone who seeks out highrisk adrenaline-inducing activities as a way to feel alive and energized. According to the
rehabilitative Balance Clinic, adrenaline, known scientifically as epinephrine, is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is released by the body in response to stress or danger. The hormone triggers the “fight or flight” response, which increases one’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate, and provides a surge of energy that prepares the body to respond to a perceived threat. Over time, adrenaline-seeking can turn into an addiction. When we participate in highrisk activities, our brains release dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. Our brains can become addicted to the rush of dopamine, creating a cycle where we need to partake in increasingly risky activities to reach the same level of pleasure. I think with thrill-seeking, the most important thing to keep in mind is safety and risk reduction, so a thrill seeker can still get an adrenaline rush without putting themselves or others in unnecessary danger. For example, there is a major difference between rock climbing with proper training and safety equipment versus street racing that endangers innocent people. The major difference is that a rock climber willingly accepts personal risk and chooses to participate in the activity, while a street racer indirectly involves
innocent bystanders who haven’t signed on to the risks. College students may be even more susceptible to the risks of thrill-seeking and risky decision-making, given a peer-pressure infested atmosphere. College students who face severe academic pressure, social expectations, uncertainty about the future and newfound independence may use their newfound freedom to partake in risky activities. There is major pressure from society and friends to make college memorable, which might influence decisions about partying, dangerous stunts and other risky
activities. With this high-pressure environment, students need to be especially careful to keep their physical safety, academic progress and well-being in mind. Ultimately, the goal of thrill-seeking should be to pursue excitement responsibly instead of eliminating it. Adrenaline-seeking can be a positive part of life, but people should consider whether these activities actually enrich their lives.
Hailey Baker, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Gaithersburg, Maryland.
COURTESY OF WEBMD
Adults may seek adrenaline-inducing activities to seek temporary relief from stress.
OPINION The People Have Nothing Better to Do
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By LORESA ZEQIRAJ OPINION EDITOR
It’s no secret that students have historically been at the forefront of protest movements. In 1960, four Black college students started a movement of nationwide sit-ins in an effort to dismantle public racial segregation. During the 60s and 70s, students across the country organized walkouts in protest of the military draft and the Vietnam War. The infamous Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 were led by university students who took part in a weeks-long hunger strike in demand of democratic freedoms. Greta Thunberg was only a student when she began repeatedly mobilizing youth and adults alike globally to demand government action on climate change. As recently as 2024, student activists on campuses across the country set up encampments
to demonstrate solidarity with Gaza. I once had a professor tell my class that students protest because we have “nothing better to do.” Students (especially in high school and college) typically have more free time because they’ve yet to begin a full-time career, and don’t have to worry about mortgages or supporting a family. Even the possibility of getting arrested would hypothetically have less of an impact on their life than it might for someone with the previously mentioned responsibilities. However, in reality, young people fight for change because they aspire to be homeowners, politicians and parents, and eventually they will have burdens that are determined by the economy and policies that they have the power to shape. On top of all of this, colleges are a space intended to encourage the spread of ideas which facilitate circulating information and
COURTESY OF ABC NEWS
Over half a million people joined anti-government marches throughout France.
mobilizing groups of peers. Recent unrest in France began with high school students in Parisian suburbs staging protests due to inadequate resources and heavy workloads. By Sept. 29, these protests spread to around 400 schools and today high school students are joined by university students and locals of all ages in riots and protests against governmental inaction. Students were fed up with poor infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms and flaws in the admission system for higher education. The discussion surrounding admissions to higher education has been relevant for years, as students have called for a reform in said system. Protests started off suddenly on aggressive footing, with students physically blocking entrances to schools, some using their bodies and some using obstacles like e-bikes. Other students threw projectiles and set fire to trash cans as a symbol of resistance. The French education minister Édouard Geffray condemned the confrontational nature of the students’ protests while validating their demands as “legitimate.” The 400 affected schools became 1,000. On Oct. 17, more than half a million people joined 110 anti-governmentmarches throughout France. At this point, university students, labor unions, parents and other activists with an array of grievances met in mass protest. Curfews have been imposed, some protestors are peaceful
and some are rioting. As the number of protestors grows, so does the deployment of police. As the movement grows, the government only tries harder to suppress it. Similarly, the current weeklong protests taking place in Albania began with students. Albanians have been protesting for months against a corrupt government, lack of transparency, democratic backsliding, etc. The ultimate goal of the mass protests is the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. In October specifically, a very large-scale anti-government movement kicked off. The cause has merged with previous grievances of a resort project linked to President Donald Trump’s son in law, Jared Kushner, which impeded on legally-protected land and other accusations of corruption by Rama. In early October, student protests converged with months of demonstrations — but protests quickly turned violent in the capital of Tirana. Rama has continued to refuse to resign and students have reaffirmed that they won’t stop protesting. Like students in France, students in Albania are also advocating for a better system of education and relieving the rising cost of living. “I’m protesting because I want Albania to be a country that is not ruled like a dictatorship … We feel connected to the youth protests we are seeing across Europe,” said Redjan Shkembi, a recent Albanian university graduate.
October 28, 2026
Knowing all this, and living through the current state of a fascist U.S., when my professor said students lead protests because they “have nothing better to do,” I couldn’t help but agree. When we have voices to use and are lucky enough to be able to physically stand up to a government that doesn’t serve us, we should. We are watching the foundation of our future be built, and the action or inaction we take today directly influences how we live years from now. It’s no coincidence that France and Albania are seeing intense and massive movements simultaneously. When people demonstrate courage it inspires others to do the same. When the people of a country collectively unite against a corrupt government, it proves where power lies. To believe that we are helpless under a leader or system, and to ever submit to one that harms us at most and doesn’t help us at the least, would be wasteful. In fact, we would arguably be subjecting ourselves to such mistreatment because having the power to enact change and remaining silent instead is a choice. The students that choose to lead movements and the ones that join in protests are exercising their natural rights and there is nothing “better to do” than exactly that.
Loresa Zeqiraj, FCRH ’28, is an international studies major from Yorktown, New York.
The Nightmare Before Class Registration By CATHERINE PAYLEITNER STAFF WRITER
As spring registration approaches, thousands of Fordham University students are preparing for the familiar race to secure a class schedule that works for them. For many students, registration is a confusing system that seems to work against their needs, not to mention the dreaded 8 a.m. time slot. Between monitoring Degree Works, planning requirements and competing for limited seats, the process can feel less like academic planning and more like a strategic game. Every semester, we have the same problem: While students spend countless hours deciding which classes to take, we often know very little about what those classes will actually look like once the new semester starts. When registering for a course, students can usually see a course title, a brief description and the professor’s name. Beyond that, much of the class remains a mystery. In many cases, no syllabus information is available. There is little (if any) information about how the course is organized, how students will be assessed or
what expectations exist outside of class. As a result, students are often forced to make important academic decisions with incomplete information. This can leave students with expectations that don’t reflect the reality. Jozef Antoniak, FCRH ’28, experienced this firsthand when he enrolled in a course titled Gender in American Politics. He said, “It’s just not the class I wanted, and I can’t even have the class description back me up because all it says is ‘Gender in American Politics’… so, you’re going into a class based off of the vibes of the title of the course.” A course description may tell students what they will study, but it rarely explains how they will learn. Will the class be primarily lecture-based or discussion-based? How are the exams laid out? Are there assignments every class, or will most of the grade depend on a midterm and final? These questions matter because classroom structure has a significant impact on student success. Research supported by the U.S. Department of Education has linked classroom structure to higher levels of student achievement,
engagement and academic competence. Not all students learn the same way, so understanding a course’s structure can be an important factor when deciding which classes to take. Students deserve the opportunity to understand which environment they are choosing when registration begins. The issue becomes even more important when considering workloads that extend far beyond scheduled class time. As a journalism major, I have learned that some courses require substantial work outside the classroom. Reporting assignments often require students to conduct interviews, attend events, gather information and draft stories on their own time. Yet registration materials provide little indication that these courses may require substantially more work outside the classroom than others with the same number of credits. Of course, every college course requires work outside the classroom. The problem isn’t that some classes demand more time than others, it’s that students are rarely given enough information to anticipate those demands before enrolling. The registration process
itself often makes this lack of information even more frustrating. Students frequently sift through pages of courses that aren’t running and constantly have to cross-reference course requirements with Degree Works. In recent years, concerns about registration have repeatedly surfaced in campus conversations, and the United Student Government (USG) has taken steps toward addressing them. Last fall, USG introduced a proposal to improve the registration website; in an Instagram post, they acknowledged that the student experience with course planning and registration could be more effective and user-friendly. The existence of these conversations is encouraging. It suggests that concerns about registration aren’t isolated complaints but recurring issues that students face. Yet as another registration cycle begins, many of the same frustrations remain. Students are still navigating an interface that requires constant vigilance, while also competing for limited course seats and still making important academic decisions with limited information about what their classes
will actually look like. Fortunately, improving transparency wouldn’t require a complete overhaul of the registration system. Even small changes could make a significant difference. The USG proposal includes useful amendments, such as an indication of how many students have added a course to their plans, time restrictions for commutes, course syllabus information and the hiding of classes that are not being offered. None of these changes would eliminate the stress of registration. Course competition would still exist, and scheduling conflicts would continue. However, students would be able to make more informed choices about their education. If Fordham expects students to plan their academic careers thoughtfully, it should provide the information necessary to make those decisions. Registration should be about selecting an education, not guessing what kind of classroom awaits on the first day of the semester. Catherine Payleitner, FCRH ’28, is a political science and journalism major from Chicago, Illinois.
October 28, 2026
By KATE JAMES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I thought I was no stranger to Oktoberfest festivities. Back in my small, midwestern hometown, a handful of local celebrations would pop up in September and October, and I’d regularly attend a few of them. An Oktoberfest party in suburban Ohio typically features costumed attendees, live cultural music and a generally family-friendly atmosphere. The party I stumbled into on Stone Street on Oct.
CULTURE Say ‘Guten Tag’ to Oktoberfest 24 was completely different. Every year, the Financial District’s Stone Street hosts five consecutive Saturdays of Oktoberfest festivities, running from noon to 11 p.m. Stone Street’s Oktoberfest is one of New York City’s largest, bringing its attendees traditional German glassware, live music and lederhosen-clad serving staff. Unless you’d like to pay $10 for VIP treatment, the event is free to attend, with food and drink available for purchase from the participating bars and restaurants lining the street.
COURTESY OF EATER
Oktoberfest is being celebrated all across NYC, embracing German culture.
As I left the Bowling Green Station by Battery Park and touched down in the Financial District, the ground underneath me buzzed with activity. Despite being three blocks away from the actual event, the spirits of the celebration pulsed through the streets — it was as though Stone Street’s Oktoberfest acted as the neighborhood’s heartbeat. Drawing closer, I was amazed by how the street overflowed with merry revelers hoisting their steins in the air, dancing to the music and linking arms to drink with one another. The festivities were impossible to miss. Stone Street Oktoberfest’s greatest triumph, I think, lies in its commitment to cultural decor and atmosphere. The street’s iconic cobblestone pavement is lined with long communal wooden tables that create a delightful outdoor dining space with a vaguely European feel. Moreover, Bavarian pennants and fairy lights hang between buildings, vendor booths are adorned with inflatable pretzels and clusters of German flag-colored balloons are tied to lampposts. Together, such intentional choices make Stone Street feel less like a Manhattan block and more like a corner of Bavaria. German cuisine is one of the cornerstones of Oktoberfest
celebrations, and the Stone Street event didn’t disappoint in that regard, either; the streets smelled of charcoal-grilled currywursts and freshly-baked soft pretzels. I immediately stocked up on pretzel bites, which were baked to golden perfection and served with an obligatory American cheese sauce: Naturally, they tasted like heaven. After I had my fill of pretzel bites, I headed straight for a bratwurst and indulged in one piled high in sauerkraut. I think I must’ve eaten the whole thing in three bites. The bratwurst was delightfully rich and the sauerkraut keenly bright — together, they made a meal I’ll be craving the rest of my life. Despite its commitment to recreating the atmosphere of a traditional Oktoberfest, the festivities on Stone Street appeared to attract people more concerned with having a good time than with German tradition. Before departing for the celebration, I spent a lot of time mulling over my outfit. I worried that I’d be shunned by the people of Stone Street Oktoberfest for failing to dress appropriately. My fears were dispelled immediately upon arrival, when I realized that the event’s cultural presentation was somewhat at odds with the interests of its attendees. Judging from the crowd alone — largely
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composed, it seemed, of NYC’s recent college graduates and young professionals — you’d think I had waltzed into a frat party rather than a cultural festival. The employees wore Trachten hats, while the attendees wore backwards caps. For many, the focus seemed to be less on German culture than on drinking and reveling in the frenzy of a Manhattan street party. Still, I can’t be too cynical about the revelers when it was their barefaced enthusiasm that breathed life into the event. Perhaps, then, Stone Street’s Oktoberfest says less about the preservation of German culture than about our perennial desire to find an excuse to celebrate. Stone Street’s Oktoberfest might not offer the most culturally immersive experience, but its lively atmosphere, tasty food and zealous attendees make it hard to resist. I might not recommend this celebration to someone sincerely interested in engaging with German culture, but for anybody looking for a lively Saturday evening, there’s plenty to enjoy. Ultimately, Stone Street Oktoberfest’s greatest appeal may lie less in its preservation of German tradition than in its ability to bring people together presenting German culture with drinks, food, music and dance.
An Easy A+: ‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 5 By TANISHA MAITI PATRA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
I was just wrapping up reading Euripides’ “Medea” for my theology class when I decided to throw on season five of Quinta Brunson’s “Abbott Elementary.” Sitting in my dorm room, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far both I and this show have come. I first started watching “Abbott Elementary” back in my first year of high school, feeling pretty clueless as my world was changing. Now, catching the new season as a college first-year, it feels like I’ve grown up right alongside these characters. That sense of quiet, genuine evolution is exactly why season five of this Emmywinning sitcom feels so special. While plenty of workplace comedies run out of steam after five seasons, “Abbott Elementary” continues to thrive, as it lets its world and characters mature without losing that warm, lightning-in-a-bottle magic that made us fall in love with Willard R. Abbott Elementary in the first place. The development of individual characters are just as solid this time around. Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson)
has naturally grown from an over-eager rookie into a confident educator. Watching her and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) move past that classic “will-they-won’tthey” tension into an actual, full-fledged relationship feels completely grounded and earned. Their small growing pains around boundaries and career goals are handled with a lot of care. Instead of relying on cheap misunderstandings or manufactured drama to keep viewers hooked, season five gives Janine and Gregory space to figure out what being partners in and out of school really looks like. We watch them tackle the awkward side of dating a coworker: setting breakroom boundaries, balancing personal dreams and talking through clashing teaching styles. It’s genuinely refreshing to see a comedy treat a long-awaited romance with this kind of emotional maturity. The focus on natural growth extends across the entire staff. Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) is still the anchor of the school, though season five subtly tests her usual stoicism as she thinks about her legacy and a transforming school landscape.
Melissa Schemmenti, played by Lisa Ann Walter, is as sharp and loyal as ever, but her storyline reveals a softer side. Even Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti) and Ava Coleman (Janelle James) get richer writing; Jacob’s idealism comes with a bit more self-awareness, while Ava’s classic self-absorption gets balanced by surprisingly real moments of administrative skill. Plus, teachers end up having to set up temporary classrooms in abandoned mall stores this season, leading to absurdity when students keep getting lost in the old department store hallways. And, as always, Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) remains the show’s ultimate secret weapon, dropping hilarious, out-of-left-field wisdom from the hallways. What makes season five work so well overall is how it centers its comedy around real-world struggles. “Abbott Elementary” has never shied away from how underfunded public schools are, but this season handles those institutional hurdles as well. Whether the staff is navigating new district mandates, wild facility issues like those abandoned mall shops or
changing classroom dynamics, the show lands on a sweet spot between sharp satire and genuine affection for frontline teachers. “Abbott” is a cozy reminder of what happens when a community leans on each other, showing that resilience comes from daily teamwork, shared laughs and having each other’s backs. Ultimately, season five proves that “Abbott Elementary” isn’t just coasting, it’s truly thriving. Seeing Janine and the rest of
the Abbott crew get comfortable in their own skin mirrors the shift so many of us experience in early college. Season five provides fans everything they love: quick humor, big heart and a comforting reminder that growing up isn’t about becoming someone completely new, but evolving into a surer version of who you’ve been all along. For a show that consistently brings top-tier heart, season five earns an easy A+.
COURTESY OF DISNEY+
“Abbott Elementary” released the first episode of their sixth season on Oct. 7.
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October 28, 2026
Who’s That Kid | Marcos Cordova, GSB ’29
Marcos Cordova Aims to Use Law to Expand Representation By GRACE KAWECKI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
After gaining firsthand knowledge of how representation and financial literacy can change people’s lives, Marcos Cordova, GSB ’29, plans to become a lawyer to increase representation and make a concrete impact. Cordova is a public accounting major in the Global Business Honors Program at Fordham University. When he was applying to college, he originally chose an international relations and international studies major. “I’m very much a humanities person,” Cordova said. However, when Cordova received a scholarship to
Fordham, which was in his best financial interest to accept, he looked into the best programs offered there. This led him to settle on the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) for its exceptional program and resources. “My end goal was to go to law school,” Cordova said. “So, for me, an undergraduate degree wasn’t necessarily as important.” Cordova explained that he initially started at Fordham as a finance major, but quickly realized it wasn’t something he enjoyed. He discovered his enjoyment of accounting, citing factors such as a less intimidating recruiting process and an emphasis on skill-based concepts over networking.
MARCOS CORDOVA FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
Cordova is a public accounting major in the Global Business Honors Program.
“I really enjoyed my accounting class, and I just enjoyed the vibe around the people who were doing accounting and just the accounting space in general,” Cordova said. He also cited his love for the humanities and how they may help him in his mission to make lasting change. “I love writing, and I also like the intellectual rigor,” Cordova said. “But at the same time, I want to be in a job where I feel like there’s a tangible impact.” Cordova said that growing up among Latino and minority communities stressed to him the importance of sacrificing pleasures to achieve those goals and financial stability. He said that his grandparents and other family members are small-business owners, so they instilled in him the importance of financial security and the impacts of financial systems. He emphasized that Latino communities don’t always have access to the resources needed to achieve financial literacy and don’t understand how to use finances for their benefit. “So, for me, it’s: ‘How can I bring back that knowledge to a community that raised me?’” Cordova said. Cordova explained that in law school, there is a small percentage of practicing Latino attorneys. He believes that education is the way to create a future for yourself and to increase representation in such a field. “So again, when there’s not
that much representation within the field, and there’s already stereotypes that pertain to Latino groups, immigrant groups, it’s like, ‘how can I rewrite that? How can I challenge that?’” Cordova asked. Cordova currently works at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an investigations intern. As an intern, he assists with looking at bank records, helping with cases where individuals are accused of financial fraud, in addition to working through financial transactions and helping organize data. Cordova explained that the biggest takeaways from this opportunity include becoming proficient in Excel, learning email etiquette, presenting himself in meetings and calls and collaborating with team members. “I was kind of thrown into the deep end because I was given a computer and it’s like, ‘okay, email these people, reach out to these people about this,’ and then you’re collaborating with these people on your assignments,” Cordova said. “So I think for me that’s been the biggest learning curve.” Cordova is involved in a variety of extracurricular activities. He is the vice president of the Mariachi club at Fordham, which he helped get chartered. He is involved in the VIVA club at Fordham, which celebrates Mexican culture and heritage, and is taking over an e-board position next semester. He is
part of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion board for GSB at Fordham, where he helps with networking events and tabling. He is also involved with Consult Your Community (CYC), where he provides consulting to NYC’s small businesses. Lastly, he is a consultant at Bronx Political Consulting, where he advises firms and businesses on political matters. Cordova’s involvement in the Global Business Honors Program at Fordham has also given him the opportunity to take a couple classes in particular that have pushed him to think in new ways. Two notable classes were his honors business math class and his global business readings class, a mix of multivariable calculus and linear algebra. “Those two classes I definitely think really challenged us as students, particularly our global business readings class, because I think it really forced us to think outside the box in a way that we’re not necessarily challenged to in a traditional classroom setting,” Cordova said. Cordova also explained that the social network has been important for him. “I think that’s what’s really nice is having a group of friends in a community, a built-in community, where we can bounce ideas off of each other, understand that we’re all going through the same process and we’re all likeminded,” Cordova said.
Rodrigo Just Raised Our Expectations With Roan Collaboration By KEZIAH MICKLE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Oct. 18, Olivia Rodrigo amped up her recent release, “Expectations,” with a Chappell Roan feature. The campy, 80s-inspired music video perfectly blended both artists’ signature styles and set the scene for the fun track. With numerous outfits, celebrity cameos and an elaborate Jeopardy-esque set, Rodrigo and Roan certainly didn’t hold anything back in raising our standards for pop collaborations. Rodrigo’s post-breakup “mantra song,” which she says is fashioned after Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble,” playfully urges listeners to raise their expectations in men. It was only right for Roan to join in and add a queer spin to this message, transforming “I’m not kissing any boy that is passive,” to “I’m not kissing no boy,” period. Together, the pop icons warn of Los Angeles women and free-loading, careerless men. The song’s release was
accompanied by a starstudded, 80s-style game show parody, with cameos from David Byrne, Dan Nigro, Aquaria and the Venus Twins. More than attention-seeking celebrity endorsements, these appearances pay homage to the musical and artistic references and inspirations of both artists. With Byrne as the game show host, both singers delivered their lines in Family Feud fashion, competing on opposing teams, the Rodrigos and the Roans. Later on in the video, Rodrigo sports an extravagant gown in a “Deal or No Deal” spoof, wrapping up with Roan and Rodrigo joining one another in recreation of “The Brady Brunch” introduction. “The video evolves into a parade of more-is-more fashion moments — think: supersized bows, full-body plaid, and hot pink berets — referencing music video legends like Pat Benatar, Toni Basil, and early Whitney Houston,” Natalie Michie wrote in W Magazine. Altogether, these references
make the music video feel like a love letter to pop stars of the past. The tributes to 80s variety television, fashion and accompanying hairdos throughout the video adds to its theatricality. While it may seem like a daunting task to merge Rodrigo’s pop-rock aesthetic with Roan’s largerthan-life drag-inspired style, stylists Chloe and Chenelle Delgadillo and Briana Andalore perfected the combination of these two worlds. Ultimately, the remix reminds us that pop collaborations are much more than an extra verse or two on a track. Through intentional references, fashion and a playful production, Rodrigo and Roan joined their iconic images to create a memorable music video without diminishing each other in the process. In a year with such big pop collaborations such as PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson’s “Stateside (Remix)” and Madonna’s recent releases with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli xcx on her album
“Confessions II,” it’s beautiful to see Rodrigo and Roan continue this unity. With so many great emerging artists, the “Expectations (Remix)” is a reminder that female artists
can share the space instead of being expected to compete for the spotlight. I hope we’ll see more of these major pop collaborations as the year comes to a close.
COURTESY OF BILLBOARD
Chappell Roan (left) and Olivia Rodrigo (right) dressed in 80s style.
CULTURE
October 28, 2026
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In Defense of Modern Art: Roy Lichtenstein at the Whitney By VEDHA GOKUL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Oct. 11, the Whitney Museum of American Art opened a new exhibit featuring the breakthrough works of Roy Lichtenstein. The collection, entitled “Roy Lichtenstein: Like New,” showcases some of his famous works along
with lesser-known pieces in an exceptionally well-curated exhibit that captures the subversive and postmodern commentary of the Pop Art movement. For individuals like myself who are perhaps skeptical about modern art for reasons including its lack of complexity and authenticity at face value and, arguably, a
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“Girl in Window (Study for World’s Fair Mural)” by Roy Lichtenshetin in 1963.
lack of timeless quality, this is an exhibit you undoubtedly need to see. The exhibit’s namesake piece, “Like New,” consists of two oil paintings joined by hinges. The work is made out of Lichtenstein’s signature mechanical-looking fields of dots, the panel on the left creating the illusion of a hole burned in the center and the one on the right with no flaws. The work poses the question: How can we change the meaning of art and the messages it conveys? This is a significant question when considering that Lichtenstein is deemed a foundational figure of the appropriationist movement, which was popularized by artists who repurposed work to comment on domesticity, patriotism and consumerism. Another example is “Rouen Cathedral, Set III,” which is easily recognized as one of Monet’s famous works. Lichtenstein “appropriated” and reworked this classic impressionist piece to fit his Pop Art style. I really enjoyed this set of acrylic paintings: From afar, they were easily recognizable, and felt almost like an optical illusion; as you approach the canvases, the distinctive outlines of the shapes begin to blur. The works in this exhibition
tell us that perspective is everything, which is also seen in my other favorite work, “Portrait of Madame Cézanne.” Another interpretation of an impressionist painting, Lichtenstein references an outline diagram of French artist Paul Cézanne’s compositional methods to create a black and white rendition of the woman’s figure. The work is objectively simple, but also ingeniously humorous, and a masterclass in modern art. The beauty found in the literal abstraction of a traditional painting demonstrates the abstractionists’ talent for creating something with aesthetic value that is also self-referential and thoughtprovoking. Lichtenstein was therefore able to convey a new conceptual meaning to his audience by changing the original artwork’s medium and allowing them to fill in the gaps with their feelings. One of Lichtenstein’s most popular and recognizable pieces, “Masterpiece,” was also on display and strikes up a similar dialogue with the viewer, criticizing the crude devoutness of people in the art world. It features a woman speaking to a man, with a speech bubble that reads, “Why, Brad darling, this painting is a masterpiece! My, soon you’ll
have all of New York clamouring for your work!” With his motif of comic-book-esque wide lines and colorful dots filling white space, “Masterpiece” was like a self-fulfilling prophecy for Lichtenstein, as he soon experienced his own breakthrough success. Perhaps the most intriguing and convincing section of the exhibit was called “Please Touch.” Whether you frequent galleries and museums or not, the universally acknowledged rule is that touching art is forbidden. However, the set of tactile designs on display encouraged visitors to touch and feel the progression of Lichtenstein’s dot patterns over time. Comparing his use of both hand-painted dots and commercial templates across different works, it was fascinating to see the details of his method up-close. For those who approach modern art with skepticism, “Like New” offers an opportunity to reconsider what makes art meaningful. Creating something new does not always equate to creating something thought-provoking. I encourage everyone who has a chance to visit the Whitney to see (and touch!) this exhibit. It will be on view until May 10, and entry is free for anyone under the age of 25.
’Tis the Season for Leaf Piles and Musical Soundscapes By OWEN THEBERGE STAFF WRITER
Fall is the season for pumpkin spice lattes, cardigans, sweatpants, and headphones. Especially in New York City, everyone loves to walk around blasting their favorite tunes that encapsulate the vibe of leaf-falling season. What I would describe as a “fall song” is a song that isn’t necessarily all about the season, but one that instills a vivid image of the fall that we all know and love. Think “we fell in love in october” by girl in red — a song that paints the picture of a beautiful relationship that started during fall. It’s rich with the feelings evoked by red and orange and the sensation of a crisp air traveling through leafless trees. An album that encapsulates the feeling of fall for me is “Blue Banisters” by Lana Del Rey. It captures the darker side of fall — the rising seasonal depression, finding comfort in friends and doing typical yardwork chores. It brings you into the fall that I know best: a cozy, New England cafe where you have a seasonal drink in one hand, and a delectable pumpkin treat in the other. Songs like “Arcadia” and “Violets for Roses” bring me right into this imaginary cafe, and I can’t go through autumn without listening to this album.
For a nice fall stroll, I immediately think of the songs “When Am I Gonna Lose You” by the Local Natives and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” by Zella Day. Both songs have a rustic feeling to them that transport you to a beautiful fall morning where the trees are turning orange, and you have your favorite sweater on. These two songs sum up the feeling of fall through music. Another song I highly recommend for a nice walk through an autumnal park is “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Throat” by last year’s Spring Weekend opener Del Water Gap. This is a song about having the urge to tell someone your feelings for them. It’s my go-to song for when I want to sit down and either carve pumpkins or do a fall-themed puzzle with a pumpkin scented candle burning next to me. If you want to make your listening habits more seasonally inspired, amongst my other recommendations are artists like Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. As an avid album listener, “Stranger in the Alps” by Phoebe Bridgers, “Red” by Taylor Swift and “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones are some of my favorite options for a full track list. “Scott Street,” “The Last Time” and “Don’t Know Why” are specific songs from each album that instantly put me in an autumnal mood,
and are definitely worth giving a listen. Saving the best for last, of course, are Vince Guaraldi’s scores from the “Peanuts” franchise. Am I slightly biased due to my avid love for Charles M. Schultz’s character Snoopy?
Maybe, but a jazzy tune that symbolizes Snoopy’s wild imagination, Thanksgiving feast or Charlie Brown’s many wacky hijinks will never fail to create a sense of wonder and warmth during such a beautiful season. Regardless of whether you
listen to music through your phone speaker, a JBL speaker, AirPods or wired earbuds, the soundscape of fall is universal, and never fails to put you in the spirit for warm coffee and clothes, as well as heartfelt gatherings with loved ones.
OWEN THEBERGE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
The fall foliage around Fordham’s Rose Hill campus is the perfect setting for listening to autumn tunes.
CULTURE
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October 28, 2026
A New Take on ‘Sense and Sensibility’ By ADISA BALIC STAFF WRITER
It has been the year of movie adaptations: We started it off with a unique take on Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” that left fans enthralled for months. Then we kicked off the summer with Homer’s epic “The Odyssey,” famously brought to life under the direction of Christopher Nolan. Now, as the end of the year approaches, the spotlight shifts once again with a brand-new adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility.” Before diving into this newest cinematic vision, it is worth remembering where it all began. As an English novelist, Jane Austen provided the blueprint for modern romantic storytelling. Her beloved books, such as “Persuasion,” “Pride
and Prejudice” and our current focus, “Sense and Sensibility,” have spent over two centuries serving as the basis for endless screen adaptations. The original book centers on the Dashwood sisters, Marianne and Elinor, as they deal with abrupt poverty and strict social norms after their father’s untimely death. John Dashwood, Henry Dashwood’s son from his first marriage, inherits all of his estate, Norland Park, upon his death. John gives his stepmother and half-sisters a meager sum after being persuaded to do so by his self-centered wife, Fanny. After losing their wealth, the Dashwood women pack up and move to Devonshire’s Barton Cottage, a small house provided by a kind relative that is far from the town’s conveniences. Austen masterfully connects
the title of the novel to the identities of the story’s two main characters. Elinor is a metaphor for “sense,” the wise, restrained oldest daughter who maintains her composure. She secretly develops feelings for Edward Ferrars, a nice and compassionate man who is eventually constrained by his obligations. When she learns that Edward has been caught in a secret engagement to a lady named Lucy Steele, her emotional control is put to the test. Marianne, the middle sister, on the other hand, epitomizes “sensibility.” She is passionate and honest about her feelings, and she falls deeply in love with John Willoughby, a handsome man who saves her after a fall. Their blissful summer romance shatters abruptly when Willoughby vanishes to
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The new adaptation of the Jane Austen novel transports viewers into her classic world.
London, only to later treat Marianne with icy coldness at a party before marrying a wealthy heiress to settle his own financial debts. Until this year, the famous film adaptation of the novel was Ang Lee’s iconic “Sense and Sensibility” (1995). Widely regarded by the masses as one of the finest Austen adaptations to ever hit the silver screen, it remains a cinematic masterpiece. While my personal bias means the 2005 version of “Pride and Prejudice” will forever hold the number one spot in my heart, the 1995 “Sense and Sensibility” is a close second. Its creative costumes, amazing performances and faithful yet cinematic script captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. Stepping out from the long shadow of the 1995 classic is no easy feat. The announcement of a new adaptation had many fans wondering if it would be as good. Director Georgia Oakley took a bold and distinct path with her 2026 adaptation. Oakley creates a remarkably earthy, organic and raw period piece instead of matching Emma Thompson’s script’s polished, cozy warmth. Working with the cinematographer Arnaud Potier, Oakley eliminates the immaculate, tightly corseted aesthetic that characterizes regency dramas and gives the audience a more modern feel. This is reflected in the detailed scenery as well, as the camera lingers on hands stained with the juice of freshly harvested wild berries, rainy wool and disheveled hair. The typical
ballroom glitz is replaced by a moody, dark setting that reflects the sisters’ inner conflicts through the film. This earthy landscape revolves around the amazing sisterly chemistry between Daisy EdgarJones as Elinor and Esmé CreedMiles as Marianne. EdgarJones delivers a masterfully restrained performance. Her eyes are capable of expressing vast reservoirs of longing and heartbreak, despite her perfectly-composed posture. Creed-Miles’ Marianne deftly opposes Elinor, standing out in the film by letting Marianne’s vulnerability feel entirely pure. Creed-Miles’ ability to fully inhabit a character is truly one of a kind. “Sense and Sensibility” (2026) is a masterpiece in terms of a tale of sisterhood surviving a cold world, and although the film’s cinematography and grounded performances are praiseworthy, some diehard Austen fans may disagree that this lives up to adaptation standards. Compared to earlier adaptations, the film occasionally forgoes Austen’s trademark wit in favor of a heavy, melancholy psychological drama, and the pacing can occasionally feel a little hurried, especially during Marianne’s emotional development in the third act. It also feels as though some of the novel’s most captivating elements were left out of the adaptation. Nonetheless, this adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility” stands as a compelling, visually striking entry in this enormous year of adaptations.
Neighborhood Guide: West Village By MARISA HOUSE SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
I’ve explored every avenue of New York City, and while there is an unimaginable amount to do, the West Village has always been one of my favorite places to explore. The neighborhood is filled with unique stores, memorable restaurants and a culture that has continually stood out to me. From vintage shopping to some of my alltime favorite places to eat, there is something around every corner that makes you want to keep exploring. With Halloween coming soon, it may be time to start looking for a costume, and Screaming Mimi’s should be your first destination. Located on 14th Street, this charming vintage shop offers a vast selection of vintage clothing, Halloween costumes, accessories, shoes and jewelry. Its assortment of pieces is organized into categories like angels, fairies, witches and mythology, making it easy to find inspiration for a costume that is a little more creative than the usual lastminute option. Even if you
arrive without a specific idea in mind, browsing the racks is a fun experience in itself. If you love collecting things that remind you of a place, Artful Posters is worth adding to your itinerary. Vintageinspired prints and artwork are dorm room and apartment essentials, and this store has something for everyone. I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago, and what started as a quick browse turned into two hours of looking through music, movie and travel posters available in a variety of sizes. It is the kind of stop that encourages you to slow down, browse and discover something that catches your eye. A short walk from the West Village’s shopping streets, A Salt & Battery on Greenwich Street serves traditional British fish and chips. The casual restaurant offers a fun change of pace from the neighborhood’s many cafes and trendy lunch spots. If you start craving something comforting and warm after an afternoon of walking, it is a perfect place to stop by. As a fish and chips enthusiast, I can confidently say
that this restaurant has always been at the top of my list. And a cheetah-print photo booth? Yes, please! Memento Photobooth on 10th Street is a fun stop for a photo session with your best friends. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, spending an evening in the city or simply looking for something different to do, a photo strip makes for the perfect souvenir. It is a simple way to capture a memory while exploring one of Manhattan’s most admirable neighborhoods. I was lucky enough to attend Harry Styles’ Together, Together Tour on Night 21, and I was thrilled to find a pop-up merchandise store in the area. The pop-up offers a limitedtime retail experience that is especially fun because it brings fans together and gives visitors another reason to explore the village. With a wide selection of merchandise celebrating the tour, it is a great way to commemorate an incredible artist and concert. For fans, it is more than just a shopping stop; it is another unique opportunity to be part of the excitement surrounding a live
music fan experience. The West Village is easier to reach than you may think. If you are coming from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus, you can take Metro-North into Grand Central Terminal and continue downtown by subway. Subway and bus routes also make the neighborhood accessible from other parts of Manhattan, like Lincoln Center. Personally, I have always
been someone who likes to get my steps in, so I usually walk two miles to get there. While that might not be everyone’s first choice, walking is one of my favorite ways to experience the city. You’ll notice little storefronts, and side streets that you might otherwise miss. After all, some of the best parts of exploring the West Village are the places you discover along the way.
COURTESY OF CITYNEIGHBORHOODS NYC
The West Village is the go-to neighborhood for trendy shops and restaurants.
CULTURE
October 28, 2026
Page 15
Editor’s Pick | Television
The Show That Will Be There for You By MIA SMITH EXEC. COPY EDITOR
Even though “Friends” is rated TV-14, I watched episodes with my family at the age of nine. Even though I couldn’t relate to most of the storylines in the show, as I was a fifth grader and the characters were all in their late 20s, something about “Friends” resonated with me. It was comforting, humorous and an easy watch. As I grew older, I never felt like I outgrew “Friends.” I continue to watch it to this day by myself and with my family, most often my mom,
and we still laugh at the same jokes we’ve heard 10 times. The show feels just as relevant today as it did when it first aired 30 years ago, and when I first started watching it. Now, my appreciation for each character has grown even fonder. Each of them have specific traits I admire, stories I look up to and qualities I think go unnoticed. Rachel Green is one of the most admirable characters in the show. She left a man she didn’t love at the altar and got cut off from her family, and rather than giving up, she built a career for herself by working
various jobs. She eventually became an executive at Ralph Lauren while raising a child and balancing a personal life. She did it all without the help of the people who didn’t support her decision to go out on her own. She found a new family in her friends and never looked back. Monica Geller has always been overlooked to me. She is extremely strong and persistent despite being ridiculed by her mom and having an unlucky love life. Monica knew what she wanted: her own restaurant, a husband and kids. She achieved it all by the end of the show
through her perserverance and patience. She had goals she never let people take away despite their harsh criticism. Phoebe Buffay is probably my favorite character. She is whimsical, funny and caring. Phoebe’s childhood trauma is discussed frequently throughout the show: her mother killed herself, her stepfather went to prison and she is not on speaking terms with her twin sister Ursula. Instead of feeling isolated and resentful, Phoebe embodies sunshine. She demonstrates that we have no excuse to not be optimistic. Joey Tribbiani may be the
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The classic sit-com “Friends” delivers on entertaining characters that audiences continue to relate to.
most comforting character in all of television. He is lovable, funny and never fails to cheer up his friends and the audience watching. He may be the best friend in the show, as he always has the best interest of his friends at heart and prioritizes their happiness over his own. Joey is always forgiving and understanding despite the other friends taking advantage of his kindness, something I always thought went undiscussed in the show. Chandler Bing’s sarcasm and wit is unlike any character in TV. Despite his frequent pessimism, Chandler makes every situation lighter through his jokes. He is perhaps the most consistent of the friends, as a calm, steady and humorous presence always around for whoever may need him. While Chandler’s view of love is somewhat tainted due to his parents divorce as a child, he proves to himself that he is capable of love and a happy life through his relationship with Monica. Ross Geller is an extremely underrated character. Even though he can be egotistical and untrustworthy, he is perhaps the funniest. You could always argue that if you think you’re having a bad day, Ross is probably having a worse one. Ross is indecisive and doesn’t act upon what he wants until it’s too late. Despite his flaws, he is still persistent and never gives up on his love for Rachel. “Friends” as a show has provided me, among other viewers, with laughs and fond memories, but perhaps most importantly, a cast of characters one can always count on for guidance, optimism and a laugh.
The Beauty of ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ By IMOGEN BUCK CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A couple of weeks ago, through an Resident Assistant program, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see a show that has been on my radar for a couple of years now: “Buena Vista Social Club.” I was extremely hesitant going into the show as I knew little about it or the historical context that surrounds it. Although I love live theater, I hadn’t been very interested in the show, as I didn’t think I was the particular audience for it. However, I could not have been more wrong. “Buena Vista Social Club” is a musical playing at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre that tells the story of a real band, the Buena Vista Social Club, and their rise to fame. The music of the show is entirely in Spanish, reimagined by Allan Williams for the score with modern orchestrations that honor the band’s original music. Accompanied by Saheem Ali’s
excellent direction, the show switches between the modern day and the past in order to tell a very moving story of the lives of Cuban artists. There were many elements in the show that stood out to me, particularly the cast and set, but also the lighting and costume design. Dede Ayite’s award-winning costume design perfectly honors the cultures and traditions showcased, but it is also vibrant and connects well with the music and story, creating an excellent picture. Tyler Micoleau’s light design — which won him a Tony Award in 2025 — also works very well with the set, particularly in moments when the time period switches. Arnulfo Maldonado’s muchawarded set is stunning and simple yet detailed, setting the perfect scene for the beautiful story. Above all else, Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck’s Tony-winning choreography is the star of the show. The way that the characters move and dance to the music enraptures the
audience and takes them away into this world with some of the best choreography I’ve ever seen on a Broadway stage. It is electric and manages to combine energy, emotion and history through movement. The cast is brilliant as well, and their joy in telling this story is palpable. This is particularly clear in Natalie Venetia Belcon’s portrayal of Omara, who is witty and stubborn, but also compassionate, serving as the heart of the show’s emotion. Her exceptional voice gives you chills, and her journey throughout the show brings the audience in and leads the show to stay with them long after they leave the Schoenfeld. As someone who had never even heard of the Buena Vista Social Club band prior to seeing this show, I didn’t expect it to affect me in the way that it did. The story was so emotional and relevant, and spoke to so many elements of human existence that everyone can relate to, like love, culture and deep connections that can be made
through art. In particular, the dynamics between characters made the show feel so human. Additionally, the music was impactful and meaningful, and even brought a lot of the audience to tears. The production made me
feel totally immersed in the show’s world, and I would definitely recommend “Buena Vista Social Club” to anyone who likes theater, or anyone who is interested in learning more about different cultures and types of music through theater.
COURTESY OF NEW YORK THEATRE GUIDE
Broadway’s “Buena Vista Social Club” is a cultural and musical masterpiece.
CULTURE A Discussion of Poetry and the Power of Translation
Page 16
October 28, 2026
By MAGGIE GARZA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Monday, Oct. 19, Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus hosted an event with Korean poet Lee Seong-bok and translator Anton Hur, who translated Lee’s poetry collection “That Summer’s End,” published Aug. 4, 2026. Both writers were in conversation with Fordham English professor Dr. Sneha Khaund, who moderated the event. The discussion was largely focused on the relationship between poetry and translation, as well as language and identity. Dr. Khaund currently teaches an English course at Fordham titled Texts and Contexts: Global Englishes, which is
centered around authors who are from countries where English is not the predominant language, but has taken root due to colonization or other global influences. The course is particularly geared toward understanding how these authors have made English their own, rejected standard forms of English or even rejected English itself through their writing. It is worth understanding what happens when a text written in another language is translated into English. What are the implications of translating something into English, both for the author and for the text, and what gets lost in translation? “That Summer’s End” was originally written in Korean
MAGGIE GARZA FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
On Oct. 19, Fordham Lincoln Center hosted poet Lee Seong-bok to discuss “That Summer’s End,” his collection of 106 poems.
and translated into English. It consists of 106 poems that focus on different aspects of nature and our surroundings, which Lee uses as mediums for self-reflection and contemplation. Through sequences of poems, Lee insists that the reader not seek answers to their questions but rather revel in the quiet unknown. The poems are vulnerable but avoid self-consciousness, and are centered around themes such as youth, love, fear, family, grief, old age and impermanence. They are inspired by Seon Buddhism, or the Korean tradition of Zen Buddhism, which focuses on meditation and understanding one’s true nature. Additionally, Lee teaches French literature, and his poems are influenced by French symbolism, which focuses on the interior, specifically emotion and spirituality. One of the most notable aspects of Lee’s poetry is the sparseness of the words used in the poems. Lee said that poems are “nothing less or more than making gaps” and that the “essence of poetry [lies in] what is not said.” Hur agreed with this sentiment, especially when it comes to translation, which he described as “experimenting with what [he] can leave behind,” in terms of words or phrases. This is something that he has become
more comfortable with, arguing that “not everything can or should be translated” and that although it makes him sad to leave certain material out of the translation, he has come to find that “what you leave behind is the poetry.” A similar melancholic experience follows Lee’s work, even though he is not translating it. “That Summer’s End” largely examines sorrow and grief, though towards the end of the collection there is a transition to joy. Lee commits himself to what he calls an “ethics” of poetry, meaning that he is committed to expressing all of life’s sadness and vulnerability through his poems as a way of being honest with himself and the reader. As a poet and teacher, he sees himself as a “provider” and views this commitment as a “promise” to himself. Similarly, Hur spoke of a cathartic experience when displaying this form of honesty, which he refers to as “the productivity of melancholy.” It is when he writes from this vulnerability and sense of melancholy that he feels his work is most effective. In addition to the emotional experience of translation, Hur described a physical relationship that exists when he is translating a text. He said that he translates from his ribcage and uses his body
as an echo chamber, and that the sound that comes out is the translation. A sense of trust, respect and care was deeply present between Lee and Hur throughout the conversation, and Khaund’s moderation of the discussion provided a safe space for this level of vulnerability. However, Hur explained that this relationship is rare between authors and translators, who are often pitted against each other during the publishing process. Hur described how translators are often “trampled on” by the publishing industry, and that there is a focus on the “actual” or original author. For this reason, he argued that translators need better protections in the industry, particularly when it comes to securing copyrights, better pay, higher advances and royalties for their work, as well as being given greater control over their work. Ultimately, this conversation illuminated how translation is more than just a literal substitution of words between languages, and that it comes from a true emotional understanding cultivated between the author and translator. Perhaps more dialogues such as these will inspire greater action on behalf of publishers to protect translators and will get readers to think about the process and impacts of translation itself.
The Fordham Ram Crossword - Halloween Edition 1
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Across 5. Bleh bleh bleh. 7. They're so slow, how do people even become these brain-eaters? 9. We miss the E Fordham Rd location of this costume and decor shop. 10. Did I scare you? 11. It's actually his monster, but it often goes by his name.
Down 1. Easy costume alert! All you need is toilet paper! 2. Who ya gonna call? 3. Fantastic Olivia Rodrigo song from "Guts." 4. These Salem ladies deserved better! 6. Tyler Posey humanized this monster in a teen drama. 8. John O'Candle.
SPORTS
October 28, 2026
Page 17
Formula 1: A Texas-Sized Triumph By CAROLINE KORBA CONTRIBUTING WRITER
On Oct. 25, Formula 1 (F1) made its valiant return to Austin, Texas, for the United States Grand Prix (GP). In the land where everything is bigger, every aspect of the race weekend hosted at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) certainly held true to this phenomenon. Introduced to the calendar in 2012, this track has history: Inaugurated by motorsport legend Mario Andretti, the circuit bore witness to the airing out of many famed rivalries, along with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s last win for McLaren before switching to Mercedes. This past weekend, the 18th round of the 2026 season certainly did its job in continuing a legendary run at COTA. When Hermann Tilke crafted COTA as the first purpose-built F1 circuit in the U.S., he drew inspiration from iconic tracks, incorporating elements from Silverstone in England, Suzuka in Japan and Hockenheimring in Germany into each 5.513 kilometer lap. With 20 corners, drastic changes in elevation and 56 laps for a total race distance of 308.405 kilometers, COTA set the perfect stage for some country-lovin’ chaos from Oct. 23-25. The weekend began, like usual, with three Free Practice (FP) rounds. FP1 on the 23rd saw speedy times from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris. FP2 had a similar podium with Leclerc again clocking the quickest lap, followed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Verstappen. FP3 on the 24th was another indicator of strong Ferrari performance, evidenced by Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc as the
COURTESY OF FORMULA 1
Charles Leclerc leads the pack in the practice session for Ferrari.
first and third-fastest, separated by Verstappen. At COTA, with a circuit surface said to undulate from year to year, it was clear that in 2026, these four drivers had established themselves as early contenders. Later that Saturday, the grid took to qualifying in Austin. Q1 was particularly rough for the Williams duo of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, but saw good showings from McLaren’s Norris, Leclerc and Verstappen. Track limits became an obvious issue throughout Q2 when several drivers went off with all four wheels; despite this, Leclerc, Antonelli and Mercedes teammate George Russell posted blazing laps in Q2. And when Q3 arrived, Antonelli delivered a decisive lap to earn him a P1 GP start ahead of the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. On Oct. 25, the grid said a big “Howdy!” to race day. With Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi and Arvid Lindblad taking penalties before the race, the lineup was set, including the first Antonelli-Verstappen front row in history. The latter driver’s Q3 complaints of grip hinted at how tire strategy would influence the results. For the Big 4 teams, Mercedes and McLaren used medium tires, whereas the Red Bulls and Ferrari started on softs. If — in a perfect storm of events — Kimi
Antonelli won the U.S. GP, Hamilton finished P5 or lower and Russell finished P9 or lower, he would mathematically win the 2026 World Drivers’ Championship (WDC). So how did it all play out? Once the lights went out in Austin, Antonelli sped away, getting noted for track limits for the first and (surprisingly) only time that day. With impressive maneuvers, Leclerc passed both Red Bulls as his teammate Hamilton overtook Hadjar. Though Verstappen was unable to use full deployment at the start, the delay was not enough for Hamilton’s Ferrari to pass him, too. Amidst this Lap 1 drama, Russell left the track to gain an advantage and eventually accrued a five-second penalty to be served during his first pit stop. Contact between Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Haas’ Oliver Bearman, along with two other separate collisions, led to a short-lived Virtual Safety Car (VSC) on Lap 2, which was soon reverted to a yellow flag on Lap 3. Bearman, who had climbed to P10, was issued a 10-second penalty for being at fault for the prior incident. He would go on to retire the car on Lap 27. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto did the same on Lap 37. With this action, COTA — the 18th round of the 2026 F1 season — continued the pattern of VSC or full Safety Car (SC) in every
Sophomore Abass Bodija had two impressive performances in Fordham’s exhibition wins over Fairfield University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Bodija had double-digit points in each game.
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Bridget Woodruff Junior Volleyball
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ST. JOE’S
Men’s Soccer
Volleyball Junior Bridget Woodruff was a bright spot in Rams Volleyball’s defeat at the hands of George Washington University. In addition to her career-high 18 kills, Woodruff also tallied six blocks.
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Football
Women’s Soccer Abass Bodija Sophomore Basketball
Antonelli’s win became more sure, the U.S. GP came down to a three-way fight for second. Having chipped away at the gap, Verstappen did what the four-time WDC does best: he overtook. In an exciting three-car-wide moment, the Red Bull driver passed Norris on Lap 47, bringing Leclerc with him. With Norris out of the way, Leclerc hunted Verstappen. When his opponent went wide on Lap 49, the Ferrari man seized P2 in what commentators called his “most attacking drive of the season.” The cars in red seemed to find their rhythm; behind his teammate, by Lap 50, Hamilton had gained 11.107 seconds over five laps as he battled — and ultimately beat — Norris for fourth. Later, with the power unit of Valtteri Bottas failing on Lap 52, a stopped Cadillac was in need of rescue in Austin. By stationing the recovery apparatus beyond the bounds of the track, a full SC and race restart were avoided, instead requiring a VSC lasting only until Lap 53. When the checkered flag waved three laps later, the U.S. GP was officially won by Kimi Antonelli, acclaimed by commentators as not just the dominant driver of the day, but of the year. Thirteen seconds behind, Charles Leclerc finished P2. Coming in P3, Verstappen was also happy with his result. With this race marking Antonelli’s ninth GP victory of the 2026 season, his WDC point tally increased to 365, a 123-point lead over teammate George Russell. Though his 20 years of age may seem young, for the driver two points from earning the biggest trophy and title in F1, winning — and the golden feeling of it — is not Antonelli’s first rodeo.
Varsity Calendar
Athletes of the Week Each week, The Fordham Ram’s Sports section honors two athletes for their on-field performances as “Athletes of the Week.”
single race this year. After the initial flurry of activity had subsided, Antonelli, Verstappen and Leclerc occupied the top three positions on Lap 7. Behind them, McLaren scuffles had Oscar Piastri off the track briefly before making way, per team orders, for Norris to go by. Opposite to Piastri’s compliance, Hadjar resisted when told to allow Verstappen to pass, not wanting to lose lap time. However, Verstappen had the pace and surpassed his teammate anyway, thanking his team for a good strategy. By the time Lap 24 rolled around, following a series of rapid pit stops and place-swaps, the top five were Antonelli, Verstappen, Hadjar, Leclerc and Hamilton. Antonelli, seeking to execute a one-stop race, then pitted for hard tires, coming out between the two Ferrari cars. Lap 26 saw Hadjar questioning his own tire strategy, splitting the McLarens of Norris and Piastri as he came out P6 on hards that were not fired up. With a very different plan, Verstappen was on softs, struggling with engine braking, radio issues and his car being “undrivable.” These issues were fixed after his pitstop on Lap 32, after which he emerged P5 behind Norris. Just over halfway in, Kimi Antonelli had victory in his sights; following a one-stop strategy, commentators noted he “just has to keep it clean.” The top eight really began pulling away then: Russell had a 30-second gap ahead of the driver in P9. Though Antonelli was largely clear of traffic up front, Sainz’s lapped Williams still ended up in the way, with the slower driver citing the excuse of a lock-up to explain his refusal to move. As the finish grew near and
Water Polo
5 p.m. URI 5 p.m.
RICHMOND GW 1:30 p.m. 1 p.m.
LOYOLA CHICAGO 6 p.m. PRINCETON
6 p.m.
Men’s Basketball
KANSAS 8 p.m.
Women’s Basketball
NIAGARA
Men’s Tennis
6 p.m.
Tuesday Nov. 3
SPORTS
Page 18
October 28, 2026
Are the Giants Actually Good? By GRACE MCCARRON SPORTS EDITOR EMERITA
When the cameras panned to the New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart on the field at SoFi Stadium, clutching his left knee in Week 2 of the NFL season, it felt like any wind behind the team’s sails immediately vanished. It was a lot of wind, considering New York’s invigorating Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football just a week prior. The confirmation of the team’s worst fears came two days later, when it was revealed that Dart suffered season-ending damage to his left knee, including a torn meniscus. Yet somehow, after their Week 7 overtime win, that loss to the Los Angeles Rams where Dart got hurt remains one of only two Big Blue losses. The Giants sit atop the National Football Conference (NFC) East with a record of 4-2-1, which is hard to believe when you consider that they’ve lost their best offensive player in Dart and their best defensive player in linebacker Brian Burns, who tore his ACL in Week 3. There are several things to think about when figuring out how the Giants have managed to stay afloat thus far. Their schedule has been light; two of their four wins came against the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals,
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Cam Skattebo leads Giants to a Week 7 win versus the Texans.
who have three wins between them, and even those games came down to the final push. The Giants’ schedule grows more difficult as the weather gets colder, with especially tough matchups against teams including the Jacksonville Jaguars, the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks rapidly approaching. But the Giants have displayed their ability to hang around in games, even when times are tough. You can thank the coaching for a big chunk of that. The Giants’ hiring of ex-Baltimore Ravens Coach John Harbaugh in January marked a turning point for the franchise. With the help of an experienced and highly successful coach who won Super Bowl XLVII with
Baltimore in 2013, the Giants have become much more capable than the team they ran out last year, no matter who they’re facing. Had the Ravens not fired their head coach of 18 years after last season, setting up the most obvious choice to replace the fired Brian Daboll, the Giants would likely be in a far worse place. When we evaluate whether the Giants are actually a competitive team, the answer becomes complicated. They are competitive in the sense that they can absolutely win a floundering NFC East, though it would be stunning. The Philadelphia Eagles, the preseason favorites to win the division, have suffered a myriad of injuries, including
a season-ending, terrifying situation with quarterback Jalen Hurts involving several blood clots found in his lungs. The Cowboys, despite possessing a star-studded offense that quarterback Dak Prescott dubbed the “Greatest Offense There Is” in the preseason, have struggled to be productive. The Washington Commanders carried out one of the most embarrassing game-ending plays in recent memory against the Giants in Week 5, and have themselves endured injury concerns with quarterback Jayden Daniels’ elbow and wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s season-ending torn patellar tendon. Therefore, it’s not outrageous to think that the Giants could end the season at the
top of this division. The more heartbreaking, glass-half-empty view says that if Dart’s knee was intact, the Giants might be running away with the division title, which they haven’t won since 2011. The Giants sat tied for 12th in Sports Illustrated’s preseason strength of schedule rankings, meaning theirs was projected as slightly harder than average. However, we must now take into account that they still have two divisional matchups against the Eagles, both of which will feature a backup quarterback, and other winnable duels against teams like the Indianapolis Colts and the Cleveland Browns. Harbaugh’s leadership can bring them other wins, too. As a Giants fan myself, I suggest Giants fans view every win for the rest of this season as a gift. When your franchise quarterback goes down just minutes into the second game of the year, it’s hard not to lose all hope. The Giants have already announced a change there, pivoting to J.J. McCarthy under center over Jameis Winston. A lot of the Giants’ coming success will hinge on what they can get out of the newly-acquired McCarthy, but the Harbaugh-led Giants have restored a bit of hope with exciting moments and a much more promising outlook than we originally thought.
Swept Away: Milwaukee Wins the NL Pennant By ETHAN BESS ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
On Oct. 15, the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-0. This was a strict redemption campaign after the Dodgers swept the Brewers in last year’s National League Championship Series (NLCS). A surprising aspect in this series is that the statistics for the team that swept the other were the absolute same as last year. Simultaneuously, this is the first time in North American sports history that a team that swept the other the year prior received a sweep in the next year by the same team. These instances are very rare in the MLB and have been amplified by the National League Championship Series (NLCS) this year. What this may show to a plurality of sports fans is that lots of money and spending don’t always translate into championships (take the New York Mets for example). Despite the Dodgers having the highest payroll in the MLB and the Brewers having the 19th highest, the Brewers’ redemption tour could not be
Trevor Megill and William Contreras celebrate NL Championship win.
denied. With that being said, we should examine the meaning behind this and how each team played. Coming into this series, the Brewers and the Dodgers had just beaten their respective opponents in the National League Division Series (NLDS), the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves 3-1. Both teams had over 100 wins, and this was proving to be a seesaw battle for the National League pennant. The Brewers won their first pennant since 1982, and this is the first time
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they have won the NL pennant. While they have been to the World Series before, that pennant came after an American League win over the then-California Angels. That World Series saw them lose to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Returning to the World Series this year against the Tampa Bay Rays, it will be redemption for 1982. The 2026 World Series is the first since 1991 to feature a battle between two small-market teams. The 1991 World Series resulted
in the Minnesota Twins defeating the Atlanta Braves in seven games. The seventh game of that classic series, ended in a 1-0 win for the Twins after their pitcher, Jack Morris, threw a 10 inning shutout and the Twins walked it off in extra innings to win the commissioner’s trophy. I am not suggesting that we will be in for that same phenomenon this series, but it’s likely given how small-market teams perform in the World Series (hence 1991). As the World Series has yet
to commence by the time of this writing, it serves as a good reminder to look at who is favored. According to FanDuel, the Brewers were heavily favored at -164 to win. The Brewers have 103 wins on the season, while the Rays have 98 wins. Both teams have won their respective divisions and both were the top seed in their division. These characteristics have sown the seeds for what could be an electric World Series matchup for the ages. If needed, the seventh game of the World Series will be played on Oct. 31, which of course is Halloween. Setting up for a spooky conclusion, nonetheless. Within the evaluation process, I believe we can conclude that the Brewers are favored on paper to win this World Series. However, let’s not underestimate the Rays in their quest for their first World Series title. As neither team has ever won the World Series, we have a situation on our hands where whoever wins will be a World Series champion for the first time in their franchise’s history.
SPORTS Rams Look Strong Heading Into the Season
Page 19
October 28, 2026
Varsity Scores & Stats
By ALEXANDER MCGILL CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Football Lafayette Fordham
31 17
Water Polo Fordham Navy
14 13
Fordham George Washington
21 10
Fordham Wagner
23 10
Volleyball Fordham George Washington
2 3
Fordham George Washington
3 2
Men’s Soccer Fordham Davidson
0 1
Women’s Soccer George Washington Fordham
0 2
Fordham Dayton
0 2
Fordham Men’s Basketball started the season off strong this past weekend, decisively winning two exhibition matches against the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) as well as Fairfield University. The first game against UMBC on Wednesday was an emphatic victory for the Rams by a 20-point margin, behind a 16-point performance by sophomore Abass Bodija and 14 points from senior Lateef Patrick Jr. While only an exhibition game, this win is very encouraging for gauging the Rams’ skills this year, as UMBC won the America East regular season title, captured the conference tournament championship and even made it to the NCAA Tournament last season. The game remained close throughout much of the first half, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Bodija sent Fordham into halftime with a 46-40 lead. The Rams carried that momentum into the second half, outscoring the Retrievers 8-2 over the opening five minutes to extend their lead to 54-42 on a sophomore Kelvin Odih jumper. Fordham maintained a double-digit advantage for the remainder of the game.
Amir Lindsey sizes up UMBC defender in the Rams’ exhibition win.
The Rams continued their strong play on Saturday, defeating Fairfield University 7962 on the road to finish their exhibition season undefeated. Patrick Jr. once again had a great game, leading Fordham with 20 points, shooting 7-for12 from the field, while junior Amir Lindsey added 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. The Rams also dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Fairfield 5129, with sophomore Jack Whitbourn grabbing a game high 15 rebounds. Unlike their victory over UMBC, Fordham entered halftime trailing the Stags 3432, but quickly turned things around with seven unanswered points to open the second half. Fairfield briefly regained the lead before a three-pointer
from Lindsey sparked an 18-4 Fordham run, giving the Rams a commanding double-digit advantage midway through the half. Fordham maintained that lead for the remainder of the game, holding Fairfield to just 28 points in the second half, and securing another convincing exhibition victory. Beyond the final scores, the two wins offered a few additional reasons for optimism. Patrick Jr. looked comfortable as a scoring option in both games, while Bodija and Lindsey showed that Fordham has other players capable of stepping up offensively. The Fairfield game was particularly encouraging on the glass, where the Rams’ 22-rebound advantage helped them control the contest even after a shaky first half. Just as importantly,
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Fordham showed they could make adjustments, turning a halftime deficit into a comfortable win. The challenge now will be sustaining that energy against tougher competition, especially once Atlantic 10 play begins. Still, there is plenty here for Fordham fans to get excited about. After sweeping the exhibition season, one has to ask, what’s the ceiling for this team? If they can beat a conference champ that made the NCAA tournament last year by 20 points, then what’s stopping them from appearing in March Madness for the first time since 1992? Although exhibition games should be taken with a grain of salt, there is a lot to like about the Rams this season.
Championships to Lottery Picks: Basketball in the Boroughs By KURT SIPPEL STAFF WRITER
Since 1976, New York basketball fans have been waiting to be on top of the world and enter a season with a target on their backs as champions. The Knicks finally did it, breaking through and winning it all this past season. But after the banner was hung in the Madison Square Garden rafters, the slate was wiped clean and a new season is beginning for both basketball teams in New York City. This season, the New York Knicks look a bit different. Mitchell Robinson, a key piece of the championship team, is now on the Boston Celtics, and in his place is NBA veteran Andre Drummond. Robinson left to sign a threeyear, $47 million contract with the Boston Celtics. This was a big loss for New York; he has been one of the most consistent and best offensive rebounders in the league. However, his downfall was health. Robinson has played only 108 regular-season games over the last four seasons, though last year was his most active, playing 59. Drummond has been a solid role player and somewhat of an NBA journeyman since leaving the Detroit Pistons in 2020. He will give the Knicks solid effort and can still grab boards with some of the best players in the league. His availability has been stellar compared to
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Michael Porter Jr. speeds past Mikal Bridges on the way to the rim.
Robinson’s injury-ridden past. The signing of Drummond is just the start of the Knicks losing the core that won last year’s championship. Knicks owner James Dolan has been adamant about the team not going over the second apron. This has raised many questions about the future of the Knicks’ core. Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart are both eligible for contract extensions, but talks have completely stalled until mid-season. “As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of. As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the
season,” a Knicks spokesperson told Shams Charania. Dolan’s decision definitely put a bit of a damper on the celebrations. Towns became the offensive hub of the Knicks’ championship team last season. He sacrificed his individual role to allow the team to flourish. “Simply put: I want to do something to keep the team together that works with the Knicks and also values me,” Towns said earlier this month to the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. “And none of those things are close to happening.” Towns’ feelings are valid, and he has said he is willing to take a pay cut to keep the team together. “I just won a championship,” Towns told The Athletic’s James Edwards. “You’d think [the decision] was pretty easy, unless you guys think I have
something else to prove.” As of writing this article on Oct. 25, New York is 0-3. With the stress of a slow start and tensions boiling over contract talks, this team that touted its chemistry last season might be showing cracks in the facade. But let’s look over the Brooklyn Bridge to the Barclays Center, where the Nets are attempting to turn things around after finishing 13th in the Eastern Conference last season. Nic Claxton and Jalen Wilson are out and Julius Randle is in, along with free-agent signings Moritz Wagner and Keon Ellis. Brooklyn also used their sixth pick in the draft to select Mikel Brown Jr., a point guard from Louisville. Brown has started the season well, averaging seven points, 2.5 assists and four rebounds. However, he has been on a minutes restriction after playing only 19 games in a shortened college season. The Nets hope to build up his workload as the season progresses. The Nets have the youngest roster in the NBA, with Randle joining Michael Porter Jr. as the veteran leaders on the team. At the time of writing, the Nets are also 0-3 after a slow start. Fans are looking to Egor Demin, the second-year guard selected in the first round with the eighth overall pick last season, to take a major leap this year. Last year, almost 71.7% of his shots were from beyond the arc, where he hit roughly 39%
of the time. Having put on muscle in the offseason, he can now diversify his shot diet, drive into the paint more, spread defenses out and play with greater confidence. However, in his three games this season, he has scored under 10 points twice, shooting poorly from the field and three-point line. Fans will be quick to point fingers at Demin or a number of other issues plaguing the team, but watching the games reveals clear key problems. The team has looked poor defensively, breaking down in close games and committing frequent turnovers. They currently rank third in the NBA in turnovers per game. The season is still young and there is plenty of time to turn things around, but fans are searching for something to hang their hats on. Brooklyn has missed the playoffs for the past three years and won just 20 games last season. While making the playoffs might be a lofty goal this season, it is not impossible. With an improved roster and good coaching, they are in the best position they have been in over the last few seasons. Both New York teams will need to figure things out early in the season. Though it will be a long slog to the end and things may look bleak now, things can change at the drop of a hat, and they could be off and running once again.
SPORTS
Page 20
October 28, 2026
Caught on Camera: Duke Player Under Fire By EMA GJENASHI STAFF WRITER
On Oct. 17, the quintessential rivalry between the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Duke University took center stage in Durham, North Carolina. Each year, the two schools’ Division 1 football teams face off in interconference play; the proximity of the two schools has led to a decades-long athletic rivalry. In the game’s third quarter, Duke defensive back Dashawn Stone suffered an injury on the field. Whilst two medical personnel were already attending to Stone, his fellow Duke defensive back Kimari Robinson moved closer to him as he was being treated. Concurrently, a female trainer sprinted in and placed her hand on Robinson’s shoulder in order to move him away from the immediate area where Stone was being treated. In response, Robinson aggressively swatted her arm away. Duke lost the game 24-20, and the nature of Stone’s injury has not yet been disclosed. The entire interaction between Robinson and the trainer was captured on live television, as the game was aired on ESPN and Fubo. As a result, the incident was clipped and disseminated online, drawing widespread condemnation against Robinson’s actions. What began
Duke defensive back Kimari Robinson involved in a viral incident with training staff.
as a brief confrontation, because of its virality, ended up raising questions concerning the conduct and professionalism of collegiate athletes, as well as Duke’s and other schools’ responsibilities to staff. Robinson released a statement on X acknowledging and apologizing for his actions. He claimed that after the game, he went to the trainer and apologized personally and that “she did not deserve that.” He also explained his concern for Stone, who he described as “family,” and the potential that he could be seriously injured, drove him to act recklessly. However, he also recognized that it didn’t excuse his aggressiveness towards the trainer. Notably, Robinson has turned the replies to his statement off.
Preliminary reports stated that he could be indefinitely suspended for the confrontation. Duke Football Head Coach Manny Diaz stated in a press conference that, “building a great program is about having extraordinarily high standards … The recent behavior of one of our players, Kimari Robinson, has fallen well below that standard. Kimari has apologized privately. He’s apologized publicly. And that’s now a matter that we handle internally.” He didn’t state whether the handling would be done solely by the athletic department or the university. The implications of Robinson’s suspension are significant for Duke football. With Stone and safety Andrew Pellicciotta both injured in the game against
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UNC and out indefinitely, Duke’s defense would be completely depleted. An indefinite suspension would also be a considerable scuff on Robinson’s reputation as a student athlete. Beyond Duke, the incident has wide implications for college football and college athletics as a whole. Athletic trainers are present on the staffs of collegiate teams across all sports, and serve to assist players with injuries, including those that occur on the field during play, where it is their responsibility to administer first aid care. It is essential that they are able to perform their duties without interference from other athletes, coaches, etc., yet Robinson demonstrated the opposite. This raises the question of
whether Duke did enough to protect their trainer and her duties, as well as if other programs do the same for their trainers. Another question is whether working women in sports are protected to the same degree as their male counterparts. The female trainer, whose name has not been made public, has not spoken out about the incident. However, in an age where women are breaking into the traditionally male-dominated world of sports, the incident certainly prompts discussion about the respect given to female professionals in the field. Although Robinson apologized publicly and reportedly privately for the incident, it’s still important to discuss the consequences for his conduct. The confrontation and resulting controversy not only highlight the importance of respecting medical personnel in college football but also demonstrate how programs like Duke respond to incidents like this. Ultimately, the controversy serves as a reminder that the standards defining a college football program are measured not only by its performance on the field but also by how its athletes treat those entrusted with keeping them safe and healthy.
Overtime: We Are Playing a ‘Moneyball’ Game By MOLLY FRIEDMAN ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
In 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers spent $412 million on player payroll, more than any other team in the league. Compare that with the $232 million that makes up the combined payroll of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers, the two teams playing in the 2026 World Series, and you see that money isn’t necessarily all that matters. Despite spending roughly half of the Dodgers’ goliath payroll, the Rays and Brewers have outlasted all 28 other teams to be facing off in the pinnacle of the Major League season. These small-market teams are defying the odds to etch themselves into baseball history. Professional baseball has seen this before: an overlooked team succeeding on a shoestring budget. In 2002, Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane used analytics to turn his neglected organization into a championship-caliber team. Bennett Miller’s 2011 film “Moneyball” illustrates how statistical innovation leveled the playing field for smallmarket baseball teams. This film shows how the Athletics flipped the widely-accepted script of signing big names to big contracts into building a team based solely on their statistical advantage of getting on base and scoring runs.
As Peter Brand (a fictional character based on baseball strategist Paul DePodesta) said, “Your goal shouldn’t be to buy players. Your goal should be to buy wins. And in order to buy wins, you need to buy runs.” Billy Beane led the Athletics to a 103-win season and set an American League (AL) record with 20 consecutive wins in 2002. Beane put together a team of misfits who had been shunted aside by other managers due to quirky habits or recurring injuries. This framework not only led the Athletics deep into the 2002 postseason without the starpower names of the other teams but also led the Boston Red Sox to offer Beane a $12.5 million salary. If he accepted, this would have made Beane the highestpaid manager in the league. But he did not accept this generational offer; he chose to stay with the Athletics despite incentive not to. Working with limited budgets and a lack of gravitas and fame, small-market MLB teams are having to adopt the “Moneyball” approach to become real contenders. The Rays have the third-lowest payroll among MLB teams and were predicted to have roughly a 2% chance of making the World Series. However, they have penetrated a million-dollar defense and silenced a starstudded offense to reach the biggest stage in baseball. How
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Small-Market teams are counting their coins this offseason.
have they managed this unexpected feat? The Rays have found immense success by doubling down on Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and “creating opportunities for their defenders to be in the best position to create outs.” The team has used partial shifts and positioning to save runs, tallying 85 DRS without a roster full of gold glovers. Essentially, the Rays are using small-ball tactics to win games in nontraditional ways, just like the 2002 Oakland Athletics. According to Adam Berry for the MLB, “They put the ball in play more than anyone, putting pressure on opposing defenses. They limit free baserunners better than anyone, forcing opposing lineups to hit their way on base. And they turn more balls in play into outs than anyone, not giving opponents extra outs to extend innings.” Their hitters’ low strikeout rates and pitchers’ low walk rates led to this team quieting offenses and getting on base
in crucial moments. Chandler Simpson’s speed on the bases and Yandy Diaz’s ability to make contact have driven this team to the championship series. The team’s athleticism and clever plays have made them nearly untouchable this postseason. Manager Kevin Cash has certainly leaned into the smallmarket style of play, with 98 wins in the regular season, the most by far in the AL. While the Milwaukee Brewers are funneling a bit more money into their organization, they are still paying a fraction of what the big names are paying, yet they continue to dominate. The Brewers have flourished this season with finesse. They “are the first club since the 1960 Chicago White Sox to finish a season among the top three MLB teams in runs scored and among the bottom three in homers.” The team is playing a remarkably defensive game, and it is working. The
Brewers scored the secondmost runs in the majors this regular season with 832 and the second fewest home runs with only 154. Despite their minimal power, the team had the most wins in the whole league with 103, breaking the franchise record. This team is not always blindly swinging for the fences; they are using smart at-bats to outlast their opponents, proving the core “Moneyball” philosophy: “He gets on base.” Milwaukee would not be this deep into the playoffs without the triple-digit heat of breakout star Jacob Misiorowski. He was drafted in the second round as the 63rd overall pick in 2022. The Miz found his groove this year, leading the league in almost every category, including ERA, strikeouts, batting average against and WHIP. Both of these World Series contenders used the tools and payroll they had to build defensively immaculate and offensively intelligent teams, utilizing players regardless of the round they were drafted. While Beane was not able to secure a ring for his team in that pivotal season, one of these teams that have adopted the renowned “Moneyball” style of play will go home with their first World Series title. Star power attracts attention, but as the 2002 Athletics proved, small-market teams have what it takes to win titles.