Observer Issue 8 Fall 2023

MTA Fare Increases For First Time in Eight Years

By SABRINA VIDAL Staff Writer

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) announced increases to the base fare for the subway, local buses and paratransit for the first time in eight years on July 19. The cost to ride these modes of transportation was raised by 15 cents — from $2.75 to $2.90, and went into effect on Aug. 20. Commuting students, defined by the university as “anyone living off campus,” make up 50% of the undergraduate student population at Fordham and have expressed concerns regarding how this increase will affect their travels to campus.

According to an announcement released from the MTA, fare increases were scheduled to be implemented every two years before the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement noted that due to funding received from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the MTA was able to delay the fare increase scheduled for 2021 and agreed it would return to regular fare increases in order to “maintain current service levels and even increase service frequency.”

Hutchins Steps Down as VP

By INSIYA GANDHI News Editor

Kennedi Hutchins, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25 and former vice president of United Student Government at Lincoln Center (USGLC), resigned from her position on Aug. 21 shortly after being elected on May 1. Hutchins won the election with 97.3% of the vote and was the only running candidate. She shared that her decision to step down was communicated to the current president of USGLC, Tanzema Qureshi, FCLC ’24, as well as to Christina Frankovic-Sepsi, USGLC’s advisor and director for the Office for Student Involvement.

According to Hutchins, she considered leaving the vice presidency position toward the end of the summer after being dissatisfied with the club’s future trajectory and noticing that the club’s working style had shifted from that of years prior, with disagreements arising amongst the executive board over USGLC’s prospects. She added that as she began working alongside e-board members within the 2023-24 administration, she wondered whether she would be able to dedicate her time toward USGLC alongside her other leadership position on campus as the president of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) as well as time commitments on campus.

“I can only do so much as one person, I just felt I’ll step down. My time on USGLC can be used in a different way, and I can let the e-board run as they would,” she said.

Hutchins also explained that because not all USGLC positions

were filled during the spring election period, which took place from April 27-28, she felt USGLC was inevitably focused on a multitude of different initiatives with minimal resources to execute them.

“The future dynamic of USGLC this year wasn’t really in my best interest,” she said. “I feel like the focus of USG is really being spread thin, and while in theory it’s for the better and it’s great to help in every way we can, we also need to acknowledge what we can do as a student government of a campus of a huge university.”

Hutchins first joined USGLC as a first-year senator and later became the student affairs chair her sophomore year. She noted that she chose to run for vice president last spring because she wanted to become more involved with operations, especially as she entered her third year with USGLC.

The former vice president noted that she had cultivated close-knit ties with other members who joined USGLC during the COVID-19 pandemic and were committed to improving the club for in-person activities. She mentioned that the nature of USGLC evolved in a direction she disfavored as new members who were not present when pandemic restrictions were in place.

“A lot of the members last year were upperclassmen, people who were not reelected or were just filtered out,” Hutchins said. “It was a swarm of new people and new ideas and people who weren’t as familiar with how USGLC can necessarily operate.”

By ANA KEVORKIAN Managing Editor Fordham Lincoln Center’s Ildiko Butler Gallery

works from abolitionist, activist and artist Shana M. griffin.

exhibit, emphasizing the insidious nature of displacement and dislocation.

has been dis -

playing “ERASED//Geographies

of

Black Displacement”

since June 19, an exhibit that seeks to explore “geographies of Black displacement, dislocation, containment, and disposability in land-use planning, housing policies, and urban development.”

The exhibit features over 60

According to the press release for the exhibition, these pieces “examine the multiple ways displacement takes place, how it shapes Black life, and how sites of displacement become ones of everyday violence, subjectivity, resistance, and possibility.”

Alongside photographs and cartographies of plantations and urban planning, griffin included a wide variety of archives in the

“The consequences of racial slavery and conquest,” a plaque at the front of the gallery posits, are not limited to those which are obvious and direct. Rather, these consequences are also “executed through the carceral spaces of slave ships, auction blocks, plantations arrangements, architectural violence, confinement.”

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

impact all subway, bus and paratransit fares.

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

The exhibition, titled “ERASED// Geographies of Black Displacement,” seeks to highlight the human impacts of gentrification and exploitation across U.S. history.

Fordham Unveils Islamic Studies Minor

The secondary area of specialization aims to promote a holistic understanding of Islam through multiple subjects and encourages interdisciplinary learning

By QUINCY REYES Online Editor

Fordham University will offer a minor in Islamic studies beginning in the fall 2023 semester for the first time after student demands to explore Islamic civilization more comprehensively were brought to instructors. Faculty and students spearheaded efforts in fall 2022 to develop the minor and the Islamic studies minor was approved by the arts and sciences councils of both Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) on May 3, and offers students the opportunity to learn from varying perspectives of Islamic thinking and belief.

According to the 2023-24 academic bulletin, the newly created Islamic studies minor helps students gain exposure to various Islamic discourses and challenges them to view the world through non-Western European constructs.

“Simply put, a minor in Islamic studies promotes other ways of knowing and being in the world,” the bulletin said.

Sarah Eltantawi, associate professor in the theology department and one of the leading proponents of the minor’s creation, noted that the minor also offers specialized courses that allow students to delve into Islamic theology and civilization in all its complexity. She added that students will also be able to choose courses from various categories such as theology, history and philosophy; or arts, culture and politics.

“The idea is that a student that completes an Islamic studies minor will emerge with a solid understanding of the complexity of Islamic civilization; they will have dipped their toe in, for example, a class on the Quran, a class on Islamic art, and a class

on Islam in Medieval Europe as a foundation,” she said.

During the minor’s development, Eltantawi explained that student interest was a catalyst. She noted that her and Kathryn Kueny, professor of theology and director of the Middle East and religious studies programs, were “periodically approached” by students seeking a more organized structure for studying Islamic civilizations at Fordham.

“We realized that we already had a wealth of resources at the university and it was a matter of getting organized,” she said.

To create the minor, Eltantawi and other members of a working group for the minor contacted faculty across multiple departments they believed would support the interdisciplinary effort, drafted a proposal, shared the preliminary proposal with stakeholders and then asked them for feedback and edits.

According to Eltantawi, the collaborative process of creating and refining the curriculum for the Islamic studies minor involved extensive workshops and consultations with faculty members from various disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach aims to ensure that students receive a holistic education, and are able to explore the impact of Islam on history, literature, art, politics and social sciences within the minor.

Tanzema Qureshi, FCLC ’24 and president of the United Student Government at Lincoln Center (USGLC), expressed her enthusiasm for the minor’s inclusion in the 2023-24 academic bulletin. During her candidacy, Qureshi spoke on the significance of students of color and diverse backgrounds feeling ignored or underrepresented.

Qureshi added that she is glad people from different countries

and communities on campus that are interested in learning about Islam are now given a place to apply this interest by having the option to pursue the minor.

“I’m looking forward to the Islamic history being taught where different communities can relate, as well as the tenets of Islam: faith, charity (zakat), prayer, kindness, and much more,” she said.

Qureshi added that the minor’s creation will allow students who are interested in Islamic studies to feel heard. She is hopeful that the long-term significance of the minor is that it empowers students at Fordham to pursue careers in relation to Islamic studies with “full support and full force” from the program and its prospective students. She also noted that due to pre-existing misconceptions about Islam, she hopes that the minor will help eliminate harmful perceptions of Islam and promote understanding and respect across cultures.

In regard to student engagement and intrigue in the Islamic studies minor, Eltantawi shared that former students of hers have expressed much delight in hearing the news.

“It’s actually very heart warming for me to see how excited they are — I have literally witnessed jumping up and down and squeals of delight, which, I must say, as a professor, one does not see every day in relation to academic courses of study,” she said.

Benedict Riley, FCRH ’23 and a former student of Eltantawi, was one of the students who had approached Eltantawi expressing excitement about the minor. He noted that he believes the minor will allow a new approach to studying Islam that doesn’t “relegate it to simply a phenomenon of the Middle East,” which is significant

when considering issues like ongoing struggle for racial equity in Muslim communities.

“I am so excited to hear about this program and applaud all who have worked on it,” Riley said. “I cannot wait to see what the future Islamic studies graduates will go on to do.”

Eltantawi believes the Islamic studies minor aligns with Fordham’s commitment to fostering a global perspective among its student body, by allowing students to understand and appreciate the complexities of Islamic civilization, thereby dispelling misconceptions and promoting intercultural understanding.

“Islam as a religion and Islamic civilization are perhaps the most misunderstood and opaque in the United States,” she said. “Encouraging students to start untying those knots are, at the very least, an excellent intellectual exercise and at best can expand their world views in profound ways.”

The Islamic studies minor will provide all students with an opportunity to expand their

worldviews and perspectives, according to Eltantawi. She added that the program will also allow students to understand how interconnected the western and Islamic world is.

Additionally, Eltantawi highlighted the visible and growing population of Muslim students at Fordham. She believes that the minor will send a signal to students who practice Islam that they are welcome and supported by the university.

As for Qureshi, she noted that the minor will be a step forward in university efforts to expand a global learning experience for students.

“This broader goal of Fordham requires much transparency, effort, action, and a commitment to the global community of students at Fordham,” she said. The required coursework for the minor includes classes on Islamic sacred text, foundational history and culture. Students interested in pursuing the Islamic studies minor can learn more on the academic bulletin.

Future Plans Raised Tensions Within Leadership

The former vice president cited disagreements over the governing dynamics, a shift in the club’s focus and other leadership commitments as reasons for her resignation

Hutchins specified that she doesn’t attribute her reason to leaving on a specific situation or certain individuals. While she is glad many new members joined various positions on the editorial board, the lack of familiarity with how USGLC functions as well as what actions can and cannot be undertaken made leaving the position more appealing.

“There is more than enough room to grow on the board and I look forward to the e-board learning and progressing,” she said.

Since Hutchins had assumed the vice presidency in May, the initiatives she had originally planned during her candidacy were not executed.

Qureshi shared her support of Hutchins’ decision and passed on well wishes.

“I think it’s a practical good decision to make as she is president of BSA and this is a large time commitment, and I’m so excited to see everything she will accomplish through BSA,” she said.

Bianca Ortega, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’25, said that Hutchins’ decision to step down as vice president was “interesting,” and hopes she will remain in the club in some capacity. She noted that she is “not surprised” as USGLC positions can be stressful without adequate support or collaboration, and cited that Hutchins was a leading figure alongside Djellza Pulatani, FCLC ’24 and former president of USGLC, in the 202223 administration.

president, and hopes she continues involvement with USGLC. Hutchins mentioned that she is looking forward to the events planned by new members of USGLC, such as the humanitarian ad-hoc committee and the

committee of sexual misconduct. She also expressed her gratitude for her time at USGLC, having described it as her “home,” and sends well wishes to Qureshi and whoever fills the vice president role.

“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “I’m sad to go but I’ll definitely be involved one way or another.” The former vice president noted that she may remain involved with USGLC as a general member in the future.

The former vice president of USGLC said that some members adopted a singular approach to governing USGLC, as opposed to embracing student government as a collaborative approach. While she believes the club will still be successful and accomplish many goals, she noted that the community aspect she once felt is no longer present and that USGLC has felt similar to a “tasking club” as the years have gone.

“I completely stand with Kennedi and support her in her decision,” she said. “I understand where she’s coming from and would not be surprised if others follow suit, as Kennedi has been a pillar of USG and has been a driving force in what USG accomplished last year along with Djellza.”

Frankovic-Sepsi also shared that she is supportive of Hutchins’ decision to step down as vice

“ I understand where she’s coming from and would not be surprised if others follow suit ”

Bianca Ortega, GSBLC ’25

COURTESY OF SARAH ELTANTAWI/THE OBSERVER

Faculty began working on an Islamic studies minor in fall 2022 in response to student demands to explore Islamic civilization more comprehensively.

Just two months after her election as vice president and after two years with USGLC, Kennedi Hutchins, FCLC ’25, decided to step down from USGLC, citing dissatisfaction with the club’s future trajectory.

Additional Increases of 4% Are Expected in 2025 and 2027

Commuter students express their concerns regarding the new base fare and desires for action from the university

“The MTA is always working to cut costs to reduce operating expenses and keep fares affordable for customers,” the announcement read.

Vishesh Chawla, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’25, vice president of the commuting students’ association and a commuter firstyear mentor, believes that all commuter students will “feel the pain eventually,” since the 15 cents increase will add up. As a global business student, Chawla has also considered the economic reasons for the MTA’s board to decide to raise its prices, but still believes that improvements are needed in order to justify the spike.

“I feel that if the MTA is increasing the fare just to cut down their deficit and not improving the safety, or not improving other features, then it’s not justified,” he said.

Chawla cited increasing safety, reducing delays and providing more concessionary fares for low-income residents, college students and young riders as potential improvements the MTA could implement to make the higher cost worth it for travelers.

Erika Shaw, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, mentioned similar desires for the MTA to make improvements in cleanliness and safety in order to justify the current fare. She noted her frustrations that subway tolls have risen without the guarantee of better services and added that she previously used the MTA to explore the city while residing on campus, but will now rely on its services as a commuting student from the Upper East Side.

“I think that if they are going to

raise the prices, they better invest that money in making sure there are fewer delays, cleaner cars and safer stations,” Shaw said.

On May 4, the MTA detailed a phased rollout of subway service enhancements, impacting numerous train lines across multiple different boroughs. Additionally, a press release on Aug. 22 announced service increases on N and R train lines, aimed at decreasing wait times with trains arriving every eight minutes instead of every 20 minutes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays.

In regard to reliance on the MTA, Chawla, a commuter from New Jersey who uses a New Jersey Transit bus to enter Manhattan, noted that the fare increase has

made him reconsider whether he will still utilize the MTA’s buses or subway to travel from the Port Authority bus stop to the Lincoln Center campus.

According to Chawla, other commuters, particularly those who live within a 30-minute walk of campus, share this perspective and noted that they will only consider using the MTA as a last resort if they do not have the time to walk.

Chawla expressed a desire for Fordham to respond to the MTA fare increase with its own MetroCard program, or concessionary fares, for commuter students. This is a point he said he raised during the town hall sessions with University President Tania

Tetlow, immediately following her appointment as president of the university.

Aidan Ilnitzki, FCLC ’24 and a commuter to the Lincoln Center campus, expressed a similar recommendation to the university.

“To support students with this added cost, Fordham could consider providing subsidized transit passes or offering shuttle services from major transit hubs to campus,” he said.

The MTA offers student MetroCards that are distributed by the university. According to the MTA, the New York City Department of Education Office of Public Transportation works with schools directly to distribute these cards.

Bob Howe, associate vice president for communications and special adviser to the president, said that the university is unable to respond to specific increases in the cost of living in New York City. He noted that the university’s aid budget was increased this year alongside the 6% tuition increase, with extra funds being distributed primarily to students with the most compelling financial needs.

Fordham University currently offers a $10,000 Metro Grant to students who commute to its campuses from their permanent residence. The grant is available to commuter students regardless of financial need and can be renewed for the duration of enrollment, up to four years. Despite the grant’s stipulation, Chawla noted that the grant has shortcomings. For instance, the Metro Grant is only available to those who, during their time of admission, applied to Fordham as commuters from their permanent New York City residence or its surrounding areas, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and are enrolled full-time during their time of admission.

“The Metro Grant has its own specifications and limitations. Not everyone is eligible for the grant,” Chawla said. “I think increasing the accessibility of the Metro Grant would be a step in the right direction for Fordham.”

According to the MTA, the toll and fare increases are projected to generate a total revenue of $117 million. The projected incremental increases in 2025 and 2027 to the tolls and base fare are expected to be an additional 4% increase each time the price is raised.

To learn how you can begin taking graduate courses during your senior year and save up to 30 percent on tuition, contact fuga@fordham.edu. No application fee. No GRE required.

To learn more, visit fordham.edu/gsas/accelerated or scan the QR code.

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

The toll and 4% fare increase will impact the commuter population at Fordham, which makes up 50% of undergraduate students, who utilize the MTA regularly.

Sports & Health

Fordham To Induct Eight Rams Into Athletic Hall of Fame

By CHRIS MURRAY

Sports & Health Editor

Fordham will recognize eight former Rams by inducting them into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The seven athletes and one coach come from different sports teams at the university and each excelled during their time as a Ram. The inductees of the 2023 Hall of Fame class are Ifeatu Otue, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’73; Natali Sunara, FCRH ’96; Jason Harris, FCRH ’01; Elise Fortier, FCRH ’14; Titi Fagade, Gabelli School of Business ’15; Samantha Clark, FCRH ’16; Chase Edmonds, FCRH ’18; and Nick Macarchuk, former men’s basketball head coach. Individuals in the Hall are recognized based on the “significant contributions” that they made during their time with the Rams.

Otue was an esteemed athlete on the men’s soccer team from 1970-72 and was named the team’s most valuable player (MVP) as well as captain for two seasons. Otue sits within the top five in both career goals and assists in Fordham men’s soccer history. At the time, Otue’s career goal and assist totals were school records. Otue still holds the university’s record for assists in a single season with 15 in 1972.

Honoring the Fordham’s women’s tennis team, Sunara transferred to play for Fordham after being ranked as a top 10 singles player in 1993 for the junior college division of the Rolex/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Collegiate National Rankings.

Sunara continued her excellence at Rose Hill, leading the team to a 14-3 record in the 1994-95 season and representing Fordham at the 1994 Rolex ITA Regionals.

Sunara was awarded the 1994 Patriot League Tournament MVP and earned All-Patriot League honors in both singles and doubles, in addition to winning the 1995 Hobbs Family Award, which recognizes Fordham’s most outstanding female athlete each year.

In 1995, Fordham moved into the Atlantic 10 (A10) Conference for women’s tennis, and Sunara subsequently made the 1996 Academic All-Atlantic 10 team, concluding her Fordham tennis career with yet another accolade.

Having excelled as a two-way player for the men’s basketball team, Harris was a key contributor during his four years at Fordham. He sank the most career three-pointers in the university’s history, while also earning the A10 All-Defense honors in 2001. Harris was particularly prolific

during the 1999-2000 season, where he averaged 15.3 points per game and set single-game records in three-pointers made (10) and steals (nine). Since the conclusion of his playing career, Harris has coached basketball at the high school and collegiate

levels, and is now a head coach and the associate athletic director at Atlantic Collegiate Academy in South Carolina.

Today, Edmonds is set to enter his sixth NFL season as a player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A record-breaking softball player, Fortier dominated during her time at Fordham. She was named to an A10 All-Conference team in each of her three seasons with the Rams and earned the 2014 A10 Player of the Year Award for her historic campaign.

In 2014, Fortier hit 20 home runs to pair with her .389 average and staggering 73 runs batted in (RBI) to lead Fordham to its second A10 Championship in a row. Despite transferring to Fordham and only playing for three seasons for the Rams during her academic career, Fortier holds the record for career home runs (46) and career slugging percentage (.695), while claiming the second most career RBI (159) in team history.

Fagade is another Ram who set numerous records during her time on the women’s track and field team. She holds the record for the indoor 400 meter, 500 meter and 800 meter runs, as well as the outdoor 400 meter dash. She was also a member of the record-setting relay teams for the indoor 4X800 meter relay and the outdoor 4X400 meter relay. Fagade’s numerous accolades include being named the indoor team’s MVP in three different seasons and receiving the Hobbs Family Award in 2015.

As a starter for the majority of her four years at Fordham, Clark was a crucial contributor to the women’s basketball team. She finished her career as only the fourth player in the program’s history to score 1,200 points and 900 rebounds. A double-double machine, Clark also accumulated the third most blocks in Fordham history and was a key contributor on the A10 Championship team in 2014. She was recognized as an A10 All-Defense Team member in 2015-16 and was honored as a co-winner of the 2016 Claire and Jack Hobbs Memorial

Award alongside Jessica Widmann, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’16.

Setting records not only for Fordham but also for the broader Patriot League, Edmonds had a historic collegiate football career. Edmonds made an immediate impact as a Ram, starting all 14 games at running back and leading the Patriot League in rushing yards (1,838) and touchdowns (23). He would go on to win the Patriot League Rookie of the Year Award and the 2014 Jerry Rice Award, recognizing the Rookie of the Year for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.

Edmonds’ first season set the tone for the rest of his athletic career with the Rams. For Fordham, he holds the top three single-season rushing yard, the career rushing yards record (with more than 1,200 yards separating him from the second position on the list), the top single-season and career rushing touchdown marks and the record for most yards rushed in a single game, when he rushed for 359 yards against Lafayette in 2017. Additionally, Edmonds holds the Patriot League records for career rushing yards, single-game rushing yards, and career rushing touchdowns. Today, Edmonds is set to enter his sixth NFL season as a player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The final inductee of the 2023 class, and only non-athlete, is Macarchuk, head coach of the men’s basketball team for 12 years from 1987-99. During that period, Fordham won backto-back Patriot League titles and Macarchuk led the Rams to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1971. He was also awarded the Patriot League Coach of the Year Award in 1991 and the A10 Coach of the Year Award in 1999. Another key marker of his coaching career is that he guided the Rams through a transition from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference into the Patriot League as well as the transition five years later into the A10.

These esteemed athletes all left indelible marks on the Fordham Athletics community. It is entirely fitting that they have their legacies cemented and their accomplishments celebrated. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Oct. 5 under the Homecoming tent on Edward’s Parade before the inductees’ names are officially placed in the Hall itself.

The selected athletes and coach, representing seven different teams, were selected based on the significant contributions they made to Fordham athletics

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS/THE OBSERVER

The eight inductees made indeliable marks on the Fordham Athletics community and will be honored at homecoming weekend this fall.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS//THE OBSERVER

With just three seasons at Fordham, Fortier was able to achieve ground-breaking records as a softball player.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS//THE OBSERVER Macarchuck is the only coach of the eight Rams to be inducted and led the men’s basketball team to its first NCAA tournament since 1971.

The Return of Rose Thrill: A Preview of the Men’s Basketball Season

After a thrilling 2022-23 season, the Fordham men’s basketball team looks to fill gaps from graduated players in pursuit of another successful campaignother successful campaignpursuit of another successful campaign

By CHRIS MURRAY Sports & Health Editor

The offseason can be a tumultuous time for any basketball program due to roster changes and shifts in expectation, among other reasons. That is especially the case when there were several games in the 2022-23 season that made the Rose Hill Gymnasium tremble as thousands of raucous fans cheered on the Fordham men’s basketball team. The Rams finished the season with 25 wins, the program’s highest win total since the 1990-91 season.

Led by Darius Quisenberry and Khalid Moore, both Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) ’23, the team was projected to finish in 11th place in the Atlantic 10 (A10), according to the A10 Men’s Basketball annual preseason poll. Instead, they finished third, invigorating the campus and stunning the nation.

With Urgo at the helm, the future of Fordham men’s basketball seems to be in good hands.

The Rams, however, have undergone a rapid transformation in the aftermath of their success. Quisenberry and Moore have graduated, leaving an enormous void for the existing Rams to fill. The two accounted for almost half of the points Fordham scored each game and kept the team composed as leaders in close games. Moore’s successes have paid dividends since he left Fordham, as he transformed his collegiate career into a run with the New York Knicks Summer League team and landed a professional contract in Greece with Lavrio BC.

The team will also be without Rostyslav Novitskyi, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, and Patrick Kelly, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’23. Novitskyi was a valuable contributor, appearing in every game last season and starting 16 of them. He averaged 6.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this past year. Kelly was also a valuable contributor off of the bench, appearing in 23 games for the Rams last season.

One important constant for the team will be Keith Urgo, head coach of the men’s basketball team. Urgo took the reins after the departure of Former Head Coach Kyle Neptune on April 20, 2022, and instilled a gritty, crisp playstyle that immediately transferred into wins. His infectious energy motivated not only the team, but also Fordham fans, and he ultimately won the A10 Coach of the Year award. With Urgo at the helm, the future of Fordham men’s basketball seems to be in good hands.

The Rams have also made a number of additions to offset their losses in offensive production. Jahmere Tripp, FCRH ’27 and a three-star recruit standing at 6 feet 6 inches, headlined the 2023 recruiting class. Tripp was a top player at Our Savior Lutheran School in New York and should make an instant impact as a versatile scorer and defender.

Additionally, Fordham added a trio of transfer players. Guard Japhet Medor, FCRH ’24, will be joining the team after a successful season at the University of Texas

at San Antonio. Medor led the team in points, assists and steals per game last season and could add a much-needed spark to the Fordham backcourt if his skills translate to A10 action.

Joshua Rivera, FCRH ’26, comes to the Rams from Lafayette College. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 10.6 points and 5.3 rebounds as a first-year with the Leopards; it will be interesting to see the role he fills at Rose Hill, given his versatile skill set and the flashes that he showed last season.

The final transfer, who was only recently added to the roster, is Ogheneyole Akuwovo, GSAS ’24. Akuwovo, a 6-foot-9-inch forward/center most recently played at Binghamton University and has faced the Rams this past season, tallying five points and seven boards in a losing effort for the Bearcats. He will likely play a role in bolstering the Rams’ paint presence in the wake of Novitskyi’s departure.

Returning Rams Noah Best and Angel Montas, both FCRH ’26, are not new to the roster and should see expanded opportunities after limited roles in their first years. Best, a former three-star recruit, missed all of last season due to illness. He was a top-five shooting guard in New York in his recruiting class after averaging 19.1 points per game in his senior year at Mount St. Michael’s High School in the Bronx.

When you put it all together, it would appear that the Rams may be able to offset the subtractions made to the roster this offseason.

Montas also entered Fordham as a three-star recruit and missed the majority of last season after suffering an injury. He averaged a ridiculous 34.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.7 assists per game as a senior at Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Florida. So long as he can remain on the court, Montas will likely have a substantial role for the 2023-24 Rams.

Overall, Fordham enters the upcoming season with an extremely young roster. Along with the aforementioned athletes, Romad Dean, Elijah Gray and former standout recruit Will Richardson, all FCRH ’26, will likely assume more responsibilities as they enter their second year and continue to refine their skills.

Antrell Charlton, Abdou Tsimbila and Kyle Rose, all FCRH ’24 and multi-year contributors, offer substantial experience to carry the momentum from the past season. When you put it all together, it would appear that the Rams may be able to offset the subtractions made to the roster this offseason.

Regression is possible given how drastically the team overperformed last year, but there are certain intangible qualities that the men’s basketball program has implemented over the past few seasons that are sure to carry over. Much remains to be seen. Nevertheless, fans of Fordham men’s basketball should feel comfortable entering the upcoming season with an optimistic spirit knowing that a tenacious, energetic team awaits them later this year.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS//THE OBSERVER

Urgo motivates the players and has shown results for the team since he stepped in following Neptune’s departure.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS//THE OBSERVER

The Rams have added a trio of transfer players that could each play a role in bolstering the basketball team’s presence in the upcoming season.

Rams Debate: Is Adolescent Life Best in a Suburb or City?

An Ode to City Adolescence

By DANA EBRALIDZE Contributing Writer

According to research conducted on the diversity of U.S. suburbs, suburbs tend to attract a more culturally homogenous population. Cities, on the other hand, are more socioeconomically diverse — a statistic that keeps increasing overtime. Additionally, cities, as opposed to suburbs, tend to have more diverse cultures and lifestyles. This is beneficial to children as they need to experience living alongside people from diverse backgrounds — racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, etc. — to learn and become educated in different cultures.

One ride on the 7 train could take you through the most diverse neighborhoods in Queens: Jackson Heights, a South-Asian micro-neighborhood; Elmhurst, a neighborhood with a high Hispanic or Latino population; and Flushing, home to the city’s largest Chinatown.

Further, city residents tend to speak a variety of languages, exposing children to those they may not hear in their own home or community. Exposure to other languages at a young age makes it easier for children to learn them as adults, making this another advantage to raising children in a culturally diverse environment.

These two points: steady increases in socioeconomic diversity as well as the diversity of populations, are favorable for children being raised in city environments.

I grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, in an area called Coolidge Corner. Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts and is considered to be a part of Boston’s metropolitan area. The T (Boston’s version of the subway) was a five minute walk from my apartment, allowing me and my family to reach the heart of Boston in about a 15 minute commute.

Multiple forms of public transportation were very accessible and there were multiple benefits to having a direct line to the city. These benefits included earlier independence, diversity in activities and people, and forced a basic understanding of one’s surroundings.

I strongly benefitted from growing up in such close proximity to Boston, and I believe that raising children in an urban environment is an overall positive. Cities are often diverse, have

public transit, offer a wide range of activities and teach children valuable life skills.

One of the greatest skills I gained from growing up in Boston was my ability to navigate transit systems. When I was around 11, I began commuting on the T by myself or with friends. Although I mainly relied on one train line and mostly got on and off at the same few stops, I learned the basics of how to use a subway system which helped me both when I moved to New York and while traveling to other cities that utilize metro systems.

By the time I got my first summer job at 16, I needed to travel with a train and a bus for the commute, and I was nearly an expert at traveling via the Massachusetts Transportation Bay Authority (MBTA). Not only is public transit beneficial for the environment, but many cities (including New York) are pushing initiatives to encourage people to rely on trains and not their cars.

I’m very glad that my childhood in Boston enabled me to seamlessly learn New York’s transit system when I came to Fordham. Learning this valuable skill will certainly benefit children in the long run if they choose to live in cities for school or work.

In addition to public transit, cities offer a wide range of activities that enhance childrens’ entertainment and development. A child’s day in Boston could be spent at the Boston Children’s Museum, the Museum of Science, the Public Garden or the New England Aquarium. My family and I never needed to plan out a road trip to get to one of these attractions; we could always hop on the train for both a spontaneous and educational trip.

Extracurriculars and activities have been proven to be beneficial for childrens’ development, and living in close proximity makes it easier for families

to encourage this growth. Growing up in Brookline and being surrounded by several museums and extracurriculars made school field trips exciting and unique. Trips to the science museum and the aquarium are some highlights from my childhood, and they certainly enhanced my education.

I cannot deny the fact that I have seen things in Boston that may be inappropriate for children — public indecency, loud arguments between strangers, etc. There are hardships that come with living in a city, so safety precautions are vital when raising children in urban environments.

Even through high school, my parents did not allow me to walk alone at night or travel to unfamiliar places within Boston. While these kinds of protections are necessary, I do not think that children should be completely sheltered from the realities of the world that are often more present in cities.

Living in a city is worth the risk; in fact, experiencing the chaos that’s inevitable in cities with large populations made me feel comfortable living in New York, as I moved here knowing exactly how to protect myself from dangerous situations.

Growing up in Boston made me who I am, and I’m so glad that my parents chose to raise me in an urban environment because I learned how to navigate cities and benefited from the variety of activities

available. I hope to one day raise my children in a place where they can have similar experiences and learn the same skills I did.

Growing up in a city is beneficial and offers unique experiences that provide a diverse education for children

In Defense of the Humble Suburb

Are the childhoods of city dwellers and suburban denizens comparable?

By JAKE ERACA Opinions Editor

As a New York City transplant from Poughkeepsie, the last stop on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Hudson Line, I’m routinely astonished to find children half or even a quarter of my age navigating the same streets as me. While that may be partially country ignorance to city life, I find it disconcerting that

to be the vast difference between my own childhood in a suburb and those raised in the city. Regardless of whether one chooses to have children or not, an even bigger issue is where to

have them. The cost of living is increasing at an exponential rate across major cities in the U.S., with inflation averaging a cool 4% across 50 years. New York City, along with cities like Miami and Honolulu, are not friendly places to new parents, with basic costs for life reaching up to 122% higher than the national average. Childhood homes become a hallmark of who we become as people and shape our perceptions of the world.

Even further, the environs of adolescence can affect the way our bodies process sound, handle stress and a plethora of other factors. Yet, not all environments are created equal, especially when examined through the lens of childhood.

City environments tend to be tinged with privilege in this way and, depending on generational influence, many adults without children living in cities find themselves unfairly impacted by gentrification, zoning laws and poverty. Cities are productive hubs of largely working people, with many inner areas consisting of temporary spaces really only suitable for couples and the single workforce.

While creating and raising a family in the place you grew up is arguably a right of the native, this is simply unattainable in cities. Despite living on a certain block

or in the same neighborhood for most of their life, urban dwellers could be forced to move quite far if they decide to start a family sheerly based on cost alone.

The question then becomes, where should urban dwellers move to? Depending on the urban locale, surrounding suburbs, such as those strangling Los Angeles or the communities of the Upper Hudson outside of New York City, can cost just as much if not more than city living. This dichotomy, however, becomes less apparent once the decision of schooling is made.

Choices between private and public school alone can determine the cost efficiency of raising a family in the city or the suburb. Education is a cornerstone of adolescent development and shapes one’s perception of the world.

Coming from the suburbs of the Hudson Valley, I was forced to reconcile my public education with that of my city-dwelling peers. For no tuition, I was entitled to abundant opportunities from music to athletics, all equally afforded to my peers and I regardless of our socioeconomic stature.

While city schools set out to accomplish the same thing, the heavy class lines and district gerrymandering especially prevalent in city settings impede results from being delivered. Additionally in contrast to public schools outside of urban areas, metropolitan education tends to become an issue of class. In New York City for instance, public schools have a staggering 54.1% economic disadvantage rate, with 90% minority enrollment. This can be compared to Trinity School, a private school in the Upper West Side boasting a 55.1% white enrollment rate and a staggering $58,495 tuition rate.

Again, this becomes a matter of money amplified by the environment. While the wealthy parents of the city can afford to send their children to private schools with rigorous curriculums and strong communities, the vast majority of parents rely on public education for their children.

City public schools provide amenities in different and often disparate ways due to their concentration of students. While amenities such as extensive music and athletic programs are helpful tools, their availability is a considerable factor in the education that they are able to provide.

The disparities between city and suburban public schools are made abundantly clear when one recognizes the private schools that the urban wealthy send their children to have first-hand access to all these amenities and more. Baring private schools, there is additional competition for metropolitan spaces in the form of charter and magnet schools.

Growing up in the suburbs gave me a childhood abounding with opportunity and a diverse skill set transitioning into adulthood. The space and resources abounding in a suburb foster a wholesome adolescence that outshines its city counterparts.

The End of Race-Based Affirmative Action

The landmark decision from the conservative-leaning Supreme Court can determine the future of college admissions

By LEAH MALLORY Contributing Writer

The U.S. Supreme Court voted in favor of Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), a legal advocacy group, on June 29 in two cases: SFFA v. Harvard University and SFFA v. University of North Carolina. In the 6-3 landmark decision, the court’s conservative justices deemed race-based affirmative action unconstitutional. SFFA alleged that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) discriminated against Asian Americans in their application process, and that their racebased admissions programs violated parts of the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment.

According to Britannica, affirmative action is defined as “the active effort to improve employment, educational and other opportunities for members of groups that have been subjected to discrimination.” It considers gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, ethnic origin and race. If Asian Americans are being discriminated against in the college admissions processes due to practices like affirmative action, then this is an issue we need to resolve; we should not diminish their plight. Claiming (like in the cases) that Asian Americans are not accepted into selective schools because Black, Indigenous and Latino people are being chosen instead, does not solve the issue of discrimination — it only fuels division between racial groups.

The decision overturned decades old precedents from similar cases, including one as recent as 2016 in the case of Fisher v. University of Texas, where the Supreme Court ruled that race as a consideration of admissions did not violate the 14th Amendment. The allegations against Harvard and UNC were first brought to the lower courts between 2013 and 2014 respectively by SFFA, who accused the universities of holding Asian Americans to a higher standard based on their race and giving preference to Black, Latino and Native American applicants.

Both Harvard and UNC denied these allegations and defended their admissions programs, but a few years later, the Supreme Court would find their claims of “no discrimination” to be untrue; SCOTUS ruled that race-based admissions procedures at both universities were unconstitutional, marking the end of race-conscious affirmative action practices at colleges and universities — public and private — in the United

States.

For decades, universities have used the practice of affirmative action to increase diversity in their student body and across their campuses, but today they are being forced to find other ways of achieving inclusive and diverse environments due to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

According to a study performed by Mark C. Long and Nicole A. Bateman, current research shows that in states such as California and Texas where race-based affirmative action was already banned, enrollment of Black, Latino and Indigenous people decreased significantly, particularly at more selective colleges. With the national ban, Black, Latino and Indigenous enrollment is expected to decrease even more.

So what does this mean for Fordham, the private Jesuit university of New York?

On the day the Supreme Court released its decision, University President Tania Tetlow addressed the ruling in a university-wide email.

“When universities recruit a class, it is not possible for us to line students up in rank order of merit,” she said. “We understand that talent comes in many forms, including the brilliant creativity of an artist; the fierce discipline of an athlete, or dancer, or soldier; and

necessary for us to coincide and survive in this world.

To put restrictions on what elements are considered during these admissions processes limits diversity, learning, growth, our view of the world and ability to make it a better place. Without the practice of race-based affirmative action — which considers these aspects — I don’t believe that I would have

been accepted into Fordham if I were to apply today.

I had excellent grades and I had the extracurriculars, but my test scores were awful. I did not submit the scores or any letters of recommendation. I even submitted my application late, but I was still accepted. Personally, I think my race gave me a leg up, considering I didn’t include test scores and recommendations in my application. This is a strong claim to make because many people of color (including myself) refute claims that we are products of race-based affirmative action. The claims discount our documented qualifications by suggesting we were only accepted into selective schools to meet a racial quota and that we are taking seats from qualified white students — and even Asian American students based on the Supreme Court cases.

remarkable acts of leadership.”

Tetlow hit it right on the nose. There is an array of facets to consider during the admissions process beyond a person’s grades or standardized testing score. Ensuring a holistic examination of applicants — including one’s race — is essential to maintaining an inclusive and diverse environment reflective of the world we live in. College is where many people (like myself) see that reflection of the real world for the first time. We are able to witness the complexity and intersectionality of the human experience, and see the type of resilience, ingenuity and leadership

But, I don’t believe that I took a seat away from any qualified white or Asian student as SFFA might claim. I am qualified and deserve my spot, but without race-based affirmative action or consideration of my race, I think I would have just been seen as a straight A’s carbon copy with nothing other than some brains and a few accolades to offer Fordham.

Assuming that my race makes me interesting is not necessarily a bad thing. It can come off as patronizing or as typecasting (depending on the assumption), but it is true that the way I see the world is very different from my non-Black counterparts. And for some colleges, including this worldview on their campus may be more valuable to creating a diverse environment than a person who has viewed the world without that lens.

Editorial

Observer’s editorial board. The Editorial does not necessarily reflect the views held by Fordham University. To reach an editor by e-mail, visit www.fordhamobserver.com

Personally, I think my race gave me a leg up, considering I didn’t include test scores and recommendations in my application.

The way I see the world is very different from my nonBlack counterparts.

Separating Art From Artists — How Far is Too Far?

The rise of ‘cancel culture’ within the media often makes fans of entertainers question everyone and everything, including their favorite celebrities

By CAILEY KOCH Contributing Writer

In recent years, the media has become a massive presence within people’s everyday lives. With different social platforms and news outlets constantly reporting on celebrities’ lives and allowing the public to be in the loop, it’s difficult not to fall down rabbit holes of information about celebrities — digging into concerning actions they had committed or even statements they had said years prior.

This public shaming of celebrities and revelation of every mistake they made created the origin story for “cancel culture,” a contemporary phrase used to refer to individuals who have acted in a manner that is deemed unacceptable and is ostracized. Though news outlets and angry fans have been slamming celebrities left and right since the rise of global media, “canceling” was not a term that was thrown around until recently — more specifically until about in 2017; I say “thrown around” to include the myriad instances in which “cancel culture” is misused.

“Cancel culture” has become well-known within popular culture, as it applies to every form of media. Musicians, television and movie stars, and even authors have been and continue to be “canceled” for something they’ve done that’s deemed unacceptable by the public. These actions can range from the most miniscule of incidents to some of the most appalling acts.

But, how far is “too far” when it comes to canceling someone? When, if ever, is it acceptable to separate an artist from their

art? In my opinion, the answer depends on the context of the situation; the art and the artist can exist separately in cases where the “canceled” action is redeemable and the artist’s output outweighs the severity of their action.

Because of this, there are times where separating the art from the artist is valid. If someone really enjoys an artist or another sort of influential figure’s work, it may be difficult for them to part with the art because of the action, or actions, that person committed. This could be because the consumer has a deeper connection to the work than just simply seeing it at face value, which has the possibility of meaning that they are less open to the idea of canceling the person who has created the work they are attached to.

That being said, there are two sides to the coin. One side is separating the art from the artist, and the other is acknowledging what the artist has done and extending

that disapproval toward the person’s artistic output.

It can be argued that often, people simply think that celebrities need to hold themselves “accountable” for what they’ve done. The general public believes that by hearing these celebrities discuss the matter themselves and apologize, all will end up right with the world.

actions that they have committed years ago, or are accused of actions that may not have even happened at all. Therefore, asking individuals with large audiences to explain themselves and acknowledge their responsibility can be tricky in situations where the action in question is ambiguous due to lack of proof or the amount of time that has passed. There is a very fine line between what could be considered “redeemable” and what could be considered “irredeemable.” If a celebrity has publicly acknowledged and apologized for or tried to make a change within their life, their initial offense can likely be redeemed and a public cancellation is too extreme.

However, this acknowledgement from the celebrity’s behalf is not always the case.

A recent case where fans found it difficult to see an artist in the same light involved Travis Scott and the 10 fatalities that took place at Houston’s “Astroworld” festival in 2021. News reports stated that a fatal crowd crush took place on the first night of the music festival, where victims were pinned against barriers and trampled.

This Houston Astroworld festival and the lives lost allowed me to realize that sometimes, when things are too extreme, such as when people are falling victim to acts of violence or fatal situations, you cannot separate art from the artist.

Sometimes, however, these celebrities are called out for

Of course, fans may still be wary about said celebrity or artist due to what they’ve done, but I believe that going so far as to completely turn against them is unnecessary when a change is seemingly being made on the celebrity’s part.

All in all, the issue of separating art from artists is seemingly opinion-based. It all depends on who is consuming the media and their views on what actions are “redeemable” and what is “irredeemable.” This should depend on the extremity of the circumstances, what the celebrity has done to speak out about or draw attention to the issue at hand and the type of connection that the individual has to the celebrity’s work.

If there is a celebrity whose work I really enjoy and I found out that they’ve done something minor, but owned up to it and made a change, then I see no issue in continuing to follow them while still being cautious. As for a celebrity I like who has committed a crime or has serious allegations against them, I find it much harder to look past these standards and, more often than not, decide not to support them anymore.

Are We Thinking About Mental Illness the Right Way?

Our level of ‘awareness’ concerning mental health might be causing more emotional harm than good

By ANA WINSTON Asst. Opinions Editor

The United States is experiencing a mental health crisis, with 20.78% of adults — nearly 50 million Americans — reporting combatting a mental illness in 2019-20 according to Mental Health America. This crisis has brought about a great deal of publicity from across the nation: Nonprofits have worked to research the state of mental health in the U.S.; The New York Times has reported on the adolescent mental health crisis; and U.S. President Joe Biden has addressed the nation’s mental health crisis.

Along with the rise in rhetoric of a “national mental health crisis,” there has been an increased level of awareness of mental health, specifically how to spot and manage symptoms. Mental Health Awareness Month is celebrated every May and promoted by various groups dedicated to mental health support: These include the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America and the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The rise in awareness and concern for mental health is touted as a possible solution to the mental health crisis. This is done in order to destigmatize certain disorders that have been misunderstood and were not well researched in the past, and enable more people to seek out treatment. Amid rising levels of mental health awareness and acceptance, the number of Americans diagnosed with mental illnesses has only increased.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, anxiety

disorders are the most common mental disorder in the United States, affecting 18.1% of American adults. Major depression affects 6.9% of American adults and bipolar disorder affects 2.6%, according to the same study from 2015.

It could be argued that this increase in diagnoses of mental illness is merely a result of our changed contemporary belief that mental health is a real concept — humans have always had mental illnesses, but now there is enough knowledge and resources to diagnose these symptoms, creating a logical rise in cases.

Reports have shown that there are also various social factors that could account for this rise in cases, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of effective mental healthcare and the precarious state of the United States’ economy and politics.

Another contributing factor, I argue, could be our general perception of mental health. I believe that, due to the prevailing rhetoric of a “mental health crisis,” we might be too aware of our own mental health, resulting in a paranoia of mental illness. We are too overzealous in our quest for mental wellness, causing even more undue stress.

Due to modern scientific developments, psychiatrists can prescribe clinical drugs in order to help patients diagnosed with mental illnesses. These drug treatments, however, aren’t miracles. According to a study published by Cambridge University Press, they work better in conjunction with other treatments, such as psychotherapy, but are not optimally effective on their

own. Additionally, Mayo Clinic noted that these treatments help patients improve their symptoms, but they do not actually heal mental illnesses.

It’s wholly impossible to completely eradicate mental illness — perfect mental health is essentially unattainable, even with our modern medicine. Mental illness is a fact of life that we do not yet have the power to overcome.

Scientists agree that medication is not the sole answer to mental illness: Mental illnesses require a holistic approach, considering multiple treatment options and personalized care. Even then, these treatments often do not fully cure mental illnesses. We need to accept that fact and realize that some pain and strife is beyond our control.

I believe that our society has not come to terms with this fact yet and that might be an exacerbator for our mental health crisis. A recent headline about Ozempic, a drug typically prescribed for people with diabetes, raises interesting questions about the way individuals view modern medications and their impact on mental health.

Ozempic’s usage has been associated with cosmetic weight loss. Recent reports from Ozempic users have shown that the drug might also have an additional function: preventing addictive and compulsive behaviors.

Certain medicines, such as methadone and naltrexone, are indispensable tools toward addiction recovery. Ozempic, however, is not celebrated by online discussions for its merits as a means for recovery from harmful substances. Instead, it’s been acclaimed online

for its alleged ability to halt compulsive behaviors, such as biting nails, picking at skin and shopping, through an unknown and not thoroughly studied side effect of the medication.

Although Ozempic might help patients with their compulsions, it also carries its own side effects and possible risks.

The praise for Ozempic’s unintended side effects shows how insistent we can be on perfect mental health. Even though compulsive behaviors such as biting nails or lips are undesirable and bothersome, they can also be natural reactions to normal levels of anxiety. In cases with mild symptoms, the benefits of medication may not be worth the associated risks.

Our awareness of mental disorders has gone so far that we often attempt to eradicate basic human tendencies experienced during healthy levels of anxiety because we do not even think that there can be a healthy level of anxiety. We should work to destigmatize mental illness, but we need to remember that no one can be perfectly happy or “mentally healthy” — and that is alright. We cannot get rid of all mental pain and dysfunction — especially not with rudimentary medications and treatments. While we can and should prioritize treating mental illnesses, we must also accept the imperfection of the human condition.

There is a very fine line between what could be considered “redeemable” and what could be considered “irredeemable.”.

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

Several factors have contributed to the rise in mental health diagnoses, including the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.

GRAPHIC BY ALYSSA SHONK/THE OBSERVER

Arts & Culture

Shana M. Griffin Displays Over 60 Pieces of Artwork in Gallery

The exhibit highlights the violence of enslavement and its impact on dislocation in land-use planning and urban development

By ANA KEVORKIAN Managing Editor

Arguably the centerpiece of the exhibit, placed along the back wall, is a shelving unit filled with jars of dirt, each bearing the name of a plantation across the southern U.S. These containers highlight the mundane nature of displacement and violence as well as draw a parallel between the U.S.’s brutal history of enslavement and New York City’s contemporary state of gentrification. From nondescript city planning buildings to everyday dirt, violence in its most insidious forms can take place far from Avengers-style battlefields.

The exhibition destabilizes history’s perceived linearity and suggests that, perhaps, the distant and the past are intimately intertwined with our present, immediate reality.

In drawing a parallel between the U.S.’s violent history of enslavement and New York City’s contemporary state of gentrification and displacement, griffin effectively connects the past with the present and the broad with the particular: While institutionalized slavery has fallen away, Black people remain incarcerated at five times the rate of white people. The exhibition destabilizes history’s perceived linearity and suggests that, perhaps, the distant and the past are intimately intertwined with our present, immediate reality:

The consequences of an event in 19th-century Louisiana continue to reverberate in 21st-century New York City. The press release for the exhibition noted that “ERASED// Geographies of Black Displacement” was funded by a Teaching Race Across the Curriculum grant offered by the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer at Fordham University. The grant, which was developed as part of the university’s June 2020 anti-racism action plan, seeks to “support

departmental efforts to thoughtfully and intentionally integrate questions of race into their curricula” and “support excellence in the teaching of topics related to race in the curriculum.”

Casey Ruble, associate clinical professor of visual arts at Fordham Lincoln Center, applied for the grant in order to mount an exhibition in the Butler gallery because “everyone who enters the school sees the show in the gallery as they walk past,” and she felt that the gallery was uniquely

suited to expose the entire community to teaching on race. Ruble chose to invite griffin to create the exhibition after encountering her 2021 exhibition titled “Displacing Blackness,” which was mounted at the Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans. She shared that she saw griffin’s show to be a fantastic and educational exhibit, as it told the story of Black displacement in many different ways — some were poetic and emotional and others were more straightforward

and academic.

“In other words, the works allowed for multiple points of entry and could speak to a wide range of people, including those outside the art world,” Ruble said. “I contacted griffin and we began discussions about mounting a similar show here at Fordham.”

“ My class is about storytelling, and storytelling is best done when it’s buttressed by a deep understanding of how we got to where we are.”

Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, griffin made visits to Fordham Lincoln Center, during which time she collaborated with students in Ruble’s class titled “Visual Justice: Using Image-Based Storytelling to Enact Change.” During these sessions, students uncovered documents and other ephemera which were then incorporated into griffin’s exhibition.

“My class is about storytelling, and storytelling is best done when it’s buttressed by a deep understanding of how we got to where we are, even if little or none of the details of that background end up in the story that ultimately gets told,” Ruble explained. “Things that wind up on the cutting floor still frame how we describe everything that doesn’t.”

“ERASED//Geographies of Black Displacement will run until Oct. 30 in the Ildiko Butler Gallery.

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

The gallery draws parallels between the U.S.’ violent history of enslavement as well as the ongoing gentrification of communities of color in New York City.

MARYAM BESHARA/THE OBSERVER

The layout of the exhibit featured a discussion of the history surrounding the Fordham Lincoln Center neighborhood and touched upon the drastic effect displacement had on Black communities.

Casey Ruble, Visual Arts Professor

Ram Jams: Take A Journey Through Hell In Hozier’s ‘Unreal Unearth’

The mythological is given an eloquent voice through the Irish singer-songwriter’s poetic new release

By KATIE HOHMAN Staff Writer

“Unreal Unearth,” the third studio album from Irish singer-songwriter Hozier — the stage name of 33-year-old Andrew Hozier-Byrne, is a lush, 16-track exploration of the ideas and people that we let consume us. Released on Aug. 18, Hozier continues a legacy with this album of ethereal vocals and heartbreaking lyrics that have come to define his unique musical style following the release of his past two albums — the self-titled “Hozier” (2014) and “Wasteland, Baby!” (2019).

The award-winning musician’s penchant for the mythological seeps into every track.

In an interview with Forbes magazine, Hozier discussed how his experiences during the pandemic and throughout intense times of isolation inspired the themes that tie together each track on his latest album. Born from times of hopelessness, the new album works to dig up the parts of humanity, and of ourselves, that have been buried deep. Thus, the beauty of “Unreal Unearth” comes from its thematic depth and the ways in which Hozier utilizes sound and lyrics to continually unearth

(and therefore reveal) that which makes us human.

In this album, Hozier cleverly draws from Dante Alighieri’s epic “Divine Comedy,” — more specifically the poem “Inferno” — exploring Dante’s nine circles of hell. The award-winning musician’s penchant for the mythological seeps into every track. Just as the poets Dante and Virgil travel deeper and deeper into hell in “Inferno,” the themes of the songs in “Unreal Unearth” take the listener on their own sonic journey of love and sorrow.

In “Francesca,” the fourth track on the album, Hozier draws inspiration from the true story of lovers (and contemporaries of Dante) Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta. The illicit love affair between the two, which eventually led to both of their deaths, is fictionally represented in Dante’s second circle of hell (lust) but Hozier seems to look beyond this centuries-old label.

The song’s use of somber words and an instrument-heavy backing transformed the doomed story of Francesca and Paolo into more than just a cautionary tale of unbridled lust; — through lyrics such as “I would not change it each time/Heaven is not fit to house a love like you and I.” This revealed a lack of regret and peace in the time they were able to spend together, despite its fatal consequences.

These feelings of desperation take a different shape in “Eat Your Young,” the sixth song from “Unreal Unearth” and one that has quickly garnered over 83

million streams on Spotify. The track utilizes a haunting vocal motif (repeated in the beginning and chorus) and sweeping violins to welcome the listener to Dante’s next circle of hell: gluttony. There is a sense of literal hunger being conveyed here, but also something more symbolic; a metaphorical appetite that leads to the continual sacrifice of the young and powerless in times of distress. Through “Eat Your Young,” Hozier seems to be telling the listener that, when push comes to shove, those in power would gladly “Pull up the ladder when the flood comes” if it means they get to walk away full.

The Irish singer-songwriter guides the listener to the final circle of hell in a slower and more intimately stripped down track titled “Unknown/Nth,” the penultimate song off the album. In “Inferno,” Dante’s ninth circle houses all those who have committed acts of treachery against people in their lives. Hozier expands upon this concept of betrayal in order to describe a more personal, intimate treachery: being fundamentally misunderstood in a relationship. He confesses that what plagues

him is not loneliness, but rather the emptiness that comes with realizing someone you thought loved you does not really know you at all.

The bridge of “Unknown/ Nth” delivers the listener with what is perhaps Hozier’s most heartbreaking lyric from the new album: “Do you know I could break beneath the weight?/Of the goodness, love, I still carry for you/That I’d walk so far just to take/The injury of finally knowin’ you.”

In true Hozier fashion, however, there is beauty to be found amid the suffering. With an outro that plays like a divine hymn, “All Things End” reminds

the listener that endings are an unavoidable part of living, but through the pain of loss one can choose to see something powerful and beautiful in the natural, never-ending cycle of life. In the same way that Albert Camus urges us to imagine Sisyphus happy (and thus find joy in the absurdity of life), Hozier encourages the listener to see the ways in which endings, that so often scare us, can be the push we need to begin again.

It is this dedication to finding and creating beauty throughout times of darkness that makes Hozier, and all that his newest album aims to show us, something special.

Everything You Need To Know About the Hollywood Writer Strikes

The WGA and SAG-AFTRA are on strike for better working conditions and compensation structures, and to fight the threat of AI

By JUJU JAWORSKI Staff Writer

Strikes have been seen throughout history as well as in popular media, films and musicals like “Billy Elliot” and “Newsies.” They’re used to unite a front of working individuals who are not receiving fair compensation and appreciation for their work. Strikes prove to be a history-making event, inspiring those taking part and those who look on from afar. Now, moving from the screen to real life — creatives and writers who created these artistic portraits of strikes that have inspired entertainment fans are enduring their own strike in Hollywood.

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has been on strike for three months, with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) striking alongside the WGA since July 14. The WGA strike began on May 2 over an ongoing labor dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

The WGA voted on April 18 that if satisfactory negotiations with the AMPTP were not met by May 1, they would be going on strike. This vote received a 97.85% approval rate, and because the WGA and the AMPTP failed to reach an agreement by the May 1 deadline, the strike began the following day.

The leading issue, out of many, that has caused the WGA to go on strike is the dispute over residuals, financial compensation that artists receive based on consumption of their work, from streaming media. According to the WGA, the rise of

streaming media has led to drastically lower residuals for writers than those of traditional broadcast media. This is due to the latest Minimum Basic Agreement that the AMPTP established on May 2, 2020, which notes the minimum wage for film and television writers for broadcast television and not streaming television.

The WGA previously went on strike in 2007 after writers sought more compensation from large studios. Similar to the ongoing labor dispute, the 2007 strike was targeted specifically at the AMPTP and, at that time, the guild was on strike for a whopping 100 days.

As the WGA heads into its fourth month of striking, force majeure clauses allow big studios to terminate contracts with writers, complicating the conditions under which the strike began. Force majeure clauses entail a freeing between both parties within a contract due to outside events, such as labor strikes.

Two months after the WGA went on strike, SAG-AFTRA followed suit and joined the WGA to establish solidarity. The strike for the actors’ organization is historic as it marks the first time that both actors and writers have walked out simultaneously since 1960. In Manhattan, many union members on strike have formed picket lines outside of the NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery and Netflix buildings. Prominent celebrities including Matt Damon, Jennifer Lawrence, Margot Robbie and many more have voiced their support for the strike and SAG-AFTRA’s demands from AMPTP.

The reasons for the SAG-AFTRA

strike were numerous: Similar to the WGA, they included residuals as well as the use of artificial intelligence in replacement of actors.

According to Deadline, SAG-AFTRA cited several issues in their negotiations with the AMPTP. The issues included “economic fairness, residuals, regulating the use of artificial intelligence and alleviating the burdens of the industry-wide shift to self-taping.”

Both guild’s respective websites show messages of support and encouragement for one another. On SAG-AFTRA’s page, their guild wrote that “The time for change is now and we must be prepared to fight if management will not address our concerns.”

The joint WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes are the biggest halt of production and movement within the film and television industry since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The strikes seem to be at a stalemate, as the big studios have made no effort to respond to the ongoing strikes that are dominating the Hollywood industry.

According to Deadline, on Aug. 24, members of the WGA said that the AMPTP’s latest counteroffer for a new contract “is neither nothing, nor nearly enough.” The studios have begun to make strides in complying with the guild’s needs, but an agreement remains distant.

The best thing for film and television supporters and enjoyers alike is to support those striking, online and offline — attending picket line marches or donating to funds. Those in production for premiering work aren’t allowed to promote their films that fall under struck companies, due to

SAG-AFTRA’s guidelines. However, cinephiles should continue to support current independent hits such as Emma Segilman and Rachel Sennott’s acclaimed “Bottoms” and Charlotte Regan’s “Scrapper” — shining light on the hundreds of artists who contribute to these worlds of storytelling and deserve to be compensated fairly for their work.

Studios have made the distinction that if AI was to write a film or series script, it will not be considered literary material seeing as AI cannot be defined as a “professional writer.” However, guild members say that the studios still “continue to refuse to regulate the use of our work to train AI to write

new content for a motion picture.” Therefore, the integrity of a screenwriters’ work and creativity is still very much at stake. With the joint strikes now entering its 120th day, filmmakers and screenwriters continue to fight for their rights and residuals, hoping to change the landscape of Hollywood.

While the strikes has no near end in sight, members and nonmembers of the union continue to share their unwavering support for both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, reminding everyone that supporting filmmakers and artists of the film and television industry is vital to fostering the magic that comes out of your favorite show, film and artistic community.

GRAPHIC BY GIADA EVANGELISTA/THE OBSERVER

CREATIVE COMMONS/THE OBSERVER

The joint strikes have entered their 120th day, and members of the WGA noted that the AMPTP new contract offer “is neither nothing, nor nearly enough.”

In true Hozier fashion, however, there is beauty to be found amid the suffering.

un & ames

Crossword: Amusing Plays

29. Folder for unwanted messages

30. *Especially spectacular poetry readings?

33. With an __ ___ in “echo”

34. Places

35. Weather, to the French

36. Children’s author with original characters like the Wocket or the Glotz

38. Board game played with the Pop-O-Matic

40. First sign?

41. Study, as for a test

42. Like the beacons of Gondor in “Return of the King”

43. *Airplane landings

46. Subjects of a 2007 Jerry Seinfeld movie

47. Exclamations of disgust

48. Prefix with “graph” or “site”

49. Coagulated milk bit

50. Potentially polarizing deli decision for Fordham students: Rams or ____?

52. “Never ___ there been…”

53. Actor Paul or quarterback Rodgers

65. Caesar and Palpatine, for two

1. Fathers of Jrs.

2. Afghanistan monetary unit

3. Financial plan with Traditional or Roth options (Abbr.)

4. Large metal gong

5. Type of tree in the Sambucus genus

6. Pan or Mr. Tumnus

7. Final resting place, for some

8. Albanian coin

9. SpaceX destination

10. “I haven’t seen you in ____!”

11. Plot or chart

12. 1 bil = 1000 ___

13. “___ takers?”

15. Swanky ski town in Colorado

21. Do very simple math

22. Captain Jack, for one

23. Muhammad Ali’s birth name

24. Includes fine, visual and performing genres

25. Water vapor, for one

38. Molecule that plays a crucial role in protein synthesis

39. Something that holds your table at a restaurant, for short

41. On-off button, for short

44. MLB plays that get two outs at once (Abbr.)

45. Solemn vows

46. More occupied

49. On the side, with “à la”

50. British agent portrayed by Craig, Connery and Brosnan, among others

51. Finishes

52. Set of letters preceding “://”

53. Type of venomous snake

54. Dined

55. 1985 film adaptation of King Lear directed by Akira Kurosawa

57. The place with the helpful hardware folks?

58. Term for a traditional Scottish bonnet

59. Early European modern humans, with “Magnon”

BY ABBY GRUNZINGER

1. Vindictive

14.

16.

17. *Aggressive submersions?

18. One of many in a thread

19. Pontius Pilate’s X?

20. Word with “over-”, “under-” or “by-”

22. Reminder of a past burn

24. Like a fine wine or whiskey

Word Search

56. *Magician’s acts involving bunnies? (2 Wds.)

62. Something one can take?

63. Thrown in random directions

64. Awaits approval

26. Risk-taker

27. Suggested

28. Counterpart of liabilities

29. Put to sleep

30. “Breaking Bad” local businessman Fring

31. Octagonal red road sign

32. Romanian currency unit

33. One hopes that this never

60. Prefix of “-thump” or “-thud”

61. Memory cards for storing computer data (Abbr.)