Issue 10 Spring 2020

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May 13, 2020 VOLUME XL, ISSUE 10 Online-Only Edition

FLOW Gives Back to the NYC Frontliners

Students raise nearly $1,000 to deliver meals to NYC doctors and nurses on the frontlines

By KATRINA LAMBERT News Editor

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOVY CASTILON

Using the proceeds raised through the FLOW for Frontliners Fund, FLOW students showed their appreciation for the doctors and nurses at Mount Sinai Morningside by delivering breakfast to the hospital’s staff on the morning of April 23.

Seniors Graduate Without In-Person Ceremony

By ALLIE BEEKMAN Staff Writer

Though their last semester at Fordham is ending differently than was expected due to the coronavirus outbreak, Fordham has assured the Class of 2020 that they will still have their commencement ceremony at a later date when they can celebrate their accomplishments together.

University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., first announced the postponement of the 175th commencement ceremony in an email to the Fordham community on March 27.

“We are committed to holding an in-person University Commencement and diploma ceremonies for the Class of 2020,” McShane wrote in another email updating students on April 24.

“We will rely on the advice of public health authorities to determine when it is safe to do so. An announcement will be made to the University community when a new date has been determined.”

On May 5, Gov. Andrew Cuomo extended the social distancing guidelines which prohibit mass gatherings and the opening of any non-essential businesses in the state through June 4.

Due to the restrictions, Fordham organized a virtual commencement ceremony for seniors on the day of their planned graduation, May 16. Due to a multitude of time conflicts, the commencement video will be available on Fordham’s commencement website beginning at 10 a.m. EDT. see GRADUATION page 5

Shelter-in-place orders have led many students to feel a lack of motivation to do the most mundane of tasks. For students who are still in the New York City area, there is an additional concern of safety as the county continues to be the global epicenter of the coronavirus, leading with 182,318 confirmed cases as of May 5.

Despite this trying time, the Fordham student club Filipinos of LC Offering Welcome (FLOW) took it upon themselves to give back to NYC health care workers, demonstrating Fordham’s mission of being women and men for and with others.

FLOW partnered with Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital near Columbia University to create FLOW for Frontliners Fund. The see FLOW page 3

Volunteer Opportunities Connect Students

By ALYSSA MACALUSO Copy Editor

COURTESY OF EMME WEISENFELD

Emme Weisenfeld, FCLC ’23, is sending handwritten postcards to stay connected with friends. Volunteer organizations like Operation Gratitude send handwritten letters to veterans, first responders and health care workers.

For many, staying at home hasn’t been easy: It can be stressful and frustrating to see all of the suffering in the world, but not know how to help.

As Fordham students, the Jesuit mantra of “homines pro aliis,” or, as we’re more used to hearing it, “men and women for others,” has been drilled into our hearts and minds. Now, with our Fordham community spread across the globe, we have the chance to apply these values through service in both our local cities and our campus home in New York City. see VOLUNTEER page 16

Happy Mother's Day! POLINA UZORNIKOVA/THE OBSERVER

News

Sports & Health

Aramark workers affected by Fordham's financial losses

How pets can help during quarantine

Page 4

Page 8

Workers Without Pay Can I Have One?

Σ VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

See Page 17

Opinions

Arts & Culture

Students retrospectively respond to Bernie’s campaign

The visual arts senior thesis exhibition goes online

So Long, Bernie COURTESY OF CLEO PAPADOPOULOS

Page 12

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

Digital Art Show Page 14

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May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

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Fordham Raises More Than $100,000 for Student Relief

By JOE KOTTKE News Editor

Over $100,000 has been allocated by Fordham for immediate and emergency student relief during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Christie-Belle Garcia and Tracyann Williams, assistant deans of student support and success, the money came from a previous emergency fund, in addition to fundraising organized by the Office of Development and University Relations in a GiveCampus campaign titled Student Emergency Fund.

As of May 11, the campaign has garnered over $117,000 from the support of Fordham alumni, donors and staff.

“Though the fund is limited, it can be very impactful in helping to meet basic, immediate financial needs for students during this challenging time,” Garcia said. “We hope that our students will be able to focus on their other needs by eliminating some of their financial stressors.”

Fundraising began in early March and the committee reviews requests on a rolling basis as they come in from faculty.

“There is no deadline and no formal application process,” Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Burris said. “The process has been designed so it is extremely flexible, timely and does not involve large amounts of paperwork for students.”

The purpose of the fund is to provide relief to student-related food or housing insecurity, medical issues or online course technology access. Garcia and Williams are both designated points of contact to secure the financial aid.

“It is definitely important that people are made aware of the help available if they need

assistance,” Sarah Rapp, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, said. Rapp did not know about aid or that students could apply for it.

According to Bob Howe, assistant vice president of communications, there was no official Fordham communication about the fund. Instead, they relied on staff referrals.

“Since the fund is not very large, it is not advertised to the community,” Burris said. “Faculty and staff throughout the University are aware of the fund and refer students who need emergency financial assistance to a committee that oversees the fund and reviews each request.”

Alumni, donors and staff raised concerns about how they could help during the pandemic, according to Burris, leading to the creation of the fund.

Laura Auricchio, dean of FCLC, also confirmed that professors, Campus Ministry and the Office of Student Affairs are helping to “get the news out” about the fund to students.

Trina Stewart, FCLC ’23, had not heard about the possibility to receive aid. “I am glad that Fordham is offering relief; however, I wish the information was made more available to the general student body,” Stewart said.

“Without knowledge of the aid, students cannot recommend it to a friend or apply themselves when they need it.”

Burris said, “If students are experiencing severe financial hardship due to the COVID(-19) situation, I encourage them to reach out to their college assistant or class dean, any staff member in Student Affairs or any staff member in Campus Ministry so their situation can be reviewed.”

$117,390 raised for Student Emergency Fund

559 Donors

Donations came from: 67% Alumni 10% Faculty/Staff 11% Parents 4% Students 2% Friends 6% Other

If you need financial assistance paying for housing, food, travel expenses or online course access, reach out to a member of staff you feel comfortable talking to — including professors, Campus Ministry, the Office of Student Affairs or the Dean’s Office.

There is no application process or deadline, so seek financial support if needed. Requests are granted on a rolling basis.

NYC Pride Prepares for Digital Celebrations

By BRYSON KERNAN CLARK Contributing Writer

With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, NYC Pride 2020 has become one of many casualties. This will be the first year since 1970, when the Pride March was founded, that New Yorkers will not be able to celebrate together in person.

On April 20, the City of New York and Heritage of Pride, a nonprofit organization, announced the cancellation of NYC Pride 2020. While the city has

seen an overall decline in coronavirus cases, organizers cited “the collective concern for the overall safety of the community” as the reason for canceling the celebrations months in advance.

The celebrations were originally scheduled to take place from June 14 to June 28.

For many students, this would have been their first time attending Pride festivities. “It was going to be my first experience being with people I’ve always wanted to be with, without having to hide,” Raekwon Fuller,

Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, said.

Some students will have to wait until next year, citing the inability to partake even in virtual celebrations at home. “I’m not out to my family,” a student who wished to remain anonymous said. “I’m not sure it’s going to be the same without my friends and that whole experience of being and feeling free.

How am I supposed to feel free and express my identity when I don’t feel safe doing that at home?”

ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER

Participants took to the streets for the 2019 Pride March in New York City. This year, the usual celebrations will be replaced by a virtual Global Pride event on June 27.

Instead of the traditional festivities, the event organizers are planning to place an emphasis on initiatives such as Pride Gives Back — a program that annually awards thousands of dollars in grant money to organizations that support the LGBTQ community.

As a result of the cancellation, companies that previously supported the LGBTQ community are no longer producing the same campaigns, and queerowned businesses are predicted to take great economic losses.

“It’s always been frustrating to see companies commodifying the LGBTQ community during Pride Month and really using Pride for profit,” Minwa Alhamad, FCLC ’23, said. “Ever since Pride got canceled, companies realized they won’t be making money off of queer people so they haven’t released any of their usual campaigns. It’s just disheartening but I hope it’s eye-opening for people.”

Determined to gather despite the pandemic, Pride event organizers from around the globe have united to organize a Global Pride event on June 27. Led by the organization InterPride, Global Pride will be a virtual response to the cancellation and postponement of hundreds of celebrations. “We need community and connection more than ever,” J. Andrew Baker, co-president of InterPride, said in an official statement.

Using online platforms, InterPride will livestream a 24-hourlong event that will be available to anyone with internet access.

The virtual event will include musical performances, speeches

and key messages from human rights activists. The innovative approach will allow people to celebrate from the safety of their homes while following guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization.

“ We need community and connection more than ever. ”

J. Andrew Baker, Co-president of InterPride

“I’ll definitely be attending the Global Pride that they’re organizing instead, just to see what it’s going to be like in comparison to actual Pride,” Annabel Filpo, FCLC ’23, said.

However, many people are unaware of the virtual celebration. “Honestly, I didn’t even know there was an online global pride until now,” Larry Hetz, FCLC ’23, said.

Some students voiced their concerns over the situation.

“What upset me more (than the cancellation) were the bigots on social media using it as an opportunity to be disgusting and homophobic,” Filpo said.

Fordham’s Rainbow Alliance will not be holding meetings for the remainder of the academic year but have recognized the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on the LGBTQ community. They encourage members to donate to organizations who continue to do critical work, including The Trevor Project and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

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Fordham’s Financial Steps and Missteps During the Pandemic A SPECIAL REPORT BY THE NEWS AND FEATURES DESK

As the outbreak of the novel coronavirus continues to disrupt employment, education and the economy, finances are a point of contention around the world.

Fordham University is a large nonprofit with 735 full-time instructors, 437 tenured faculty and 833 part-time instructors, in addition to student workers, administration and contract workers.

University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., said in a University Update on May 5 that the university is committed to “staving off layoffs” in these dire circumstances.

Funding Refunds The university aimed to relieve students who may be experiencing financial hardships by issuing refunds for the latter half of the spring semester.

On March 31, after students were encouraged to move out and the university moved to an online format, Fordham issued a partial refund to its students. According to an email sent by the Office of Student Financial Services, the reductions would be applied to “room, board and selected fees by approximately 50% for the spring

2020 semester.”

For the 2019-20 academic year at Fordham, tuition for a full-time undergraduate student is $52,980, without taking into account scholarships or financial aid. Housing costs for the 2019-2020 academic year at Lincoln Center can range from $12,175 to $19,895 and meal rates range from $6,262 to $7,375 depending on the student’s specific housing and meal plan.

Then there are additional fees: a $75 fee for residence hall communication, a $252 general fee and $247 technology fee, each per term. Depending on the student’s program, affiliated college or courses for the semester, other fees might be reimbursed as well.

Collectively, these costs add up to a minimum of $72,565 for the year. Residential students received a quarter of room and board, and all students received a “selected fees” refunded as compensation for the lost half of the semester.

The refund would be a minimum of $4,896 per residential student. Fordham currently has 9,645 undergraduate students enrolled and if every student was refunded the same amount it would cost Fordham close to or above $47 million dollars.

Room and board and other auxiliary costs accounted for

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

Even with the partial refund, commuter students feel they "got the short end of the stick" with transitioning online.

13.6% of the university’s proposed budget for 2020 — a total of $88.3 million. The university returned tens of millions of dollars to students they had anticipated using in the budget.

Many students are facing financial challenges in the aftermath of Fordham’s move to an online format.

One Fordham student filed a lawsuit against the university claiming that the new remote learning conditions are not comparable to in person classes. The plaintiff, Kareem Hassan, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’21, claims that online classes “are subpar in practically every aspect,” in the lawsuit.

Similarly, a Change.org petition created by the students running the Instagram meme account @lc_sinners that also urged for tuition refunds, gained over 1,000 students’ signatures.

“I hope Fordham will consider a small tuition refund across the board,” said Kaitlyn Smith, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20. “As proud Rams, we are all doing our best to adapt to online learning and squeeze what we can out of the Spring 2020 semester. However, the COVID-19 crisis has stolen the pulp from our experiences and inflicted much of the student body (and their families) with unforeseen hardship.”

Commuters, who at minimum would pay $53,978 per year — without the added costs for lab and college specific fees — would have received as little as $249.

“I am a single mom whose child’s schooling and childcare have also been paused during this pandemic,” one anonymous graduate student said. “There should be a partial refund for students’ tuition given the hardships presented by the pandemic and the fact that remote learning has less overhead costs for the university and does not fully replace in-person learning.”

For commuter students, who don’t have the same expenses for room and board and housing fees, the refund was said to be insufficient, according to an anonymous commuter from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham.

“When you compare the commuters’ refunds to the residents’, commuters definitely got the short end of the stick,” the student said.

“I feel that I’ve invested more in

my education, commuting costs included, than I got in return,” they said.

Another commuter, Marzana Mutee, FCLC ’21, is from Queens and was not as troubled by the amount of money she was refunded. As a student receiving aid from the Higher Education Opportunity Program, she feels grateful that her academic costs are not at the forefront of her concerns.

“Since I have a scholarship that essentially covers everything, even if I didn’t receive the check from Fordham I wouldn’t have noticed,” Mutee said. “I didn’t even expect to get a check from Fordham, but I actually received more than I expected.”

Enrollment and Endowments According to an email released by the Office of the President on May 4, Fordham has already started making spending cuts in order to offset the refund loss. “(W)e took a number of measures: we instituted a freeze on discretionary spending; a freeze on all University-sponsored travel; cut all funds earmarked for Commencement and end-of-year ceremonies; instituted a freeze on hiring until the end of the fiscal year; and cancelled a number of University events, including the annual Founder’s Dinner, Jubilee, and other alumni events.”

Fordham also has to tackle the expected decrease in enrollment, which is projected to be about 12% lower than fall 2019, according to the Office of the President.

The administration is planning for situations in which enrollment may drop due to concern of being exposed to the virus, financial hardships caused by the coronavirus, or travel difficulties and bans that are currently in place.

A significant portion of the budget is the student-raised tuition and fees. The net tuition makes up 79.3% of the budget, and it directly correlates to the number of students enrolled. A downturn in enrollment means a downturn in the total amount of tuition collected.

Questions have been raised about Fordham being too tuition-dependent in the past. A report by the Middle States Visitation Team (of the Middle States Commission on Higher Educa-

tion) highlighted Fordham’s need to diversify its revenue streams — specifically criticizing its dependence on student-raised funds, which accounted for over 90% of its income in 2016.

Steve Raymar, associate professor and area chair in the Gabelli School of Business, addressed his concerns over enrollment regarding graduate students. “With the graduate business program, there’s logical fears of lower enrollment because of international students having difficulty getting to the United States. That, more or less, affects the whole schoolwide budget.”

Fordham faces heavy blockades on using the school’s endowment — which was valued at $733,516,000 in 2019 — to counter these missing funds. Endowment funds are usually deemed for a specific use by the donor, such as funding a scholarship for low-income students from a certain area. Even if money is allowed to be withdrawn, an ABC News article details, only a certain percentage is allocated, and it is the return on the investments of those funds themselves that can be used.

Government Aid In response to the coronavirus, the U.S. government issued aid to colleges and universities through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Fordham is set to receive over $8.1 million in aid, with roughly $4 million allocated for students.

The Higher Education Emergency Relief section of the CARES Act funds institutions in order to provide emergency relief to students during the pandemic. Through doing this, students receive aid from their college, not the Department of Education, giving institutions the power to determine how grants will be calculated and distributed to students.

The CARES Act numbers were released publicly, leading students to question the locations of the funds. According to Bob Howe, assistant vice president of communications, as of April 30, the university has not received the CARES Act funds and is following up with the Department of Education.

Students Join Together to Help NYC Hospitals

FLOW from page 1

donation fund aims to feed health care workers in NYC hospitals who risk their lives every day on the frontlines of the pandemic.

Former President of FLOW Josh Castilon, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, was the first to initiate this partnership as a way to give back to health care workers.

“My mother works as an emergency room nurse at Mt. Sinai and talks about how every day in her hospital during this pandemic is a battle, so I decided to utilize the platform of FLOW to give back to the healthcare workers who risk life and limb every day during this global health crisis,” Castilon said.

Mount Sinai is one of the hardest-hit hospitals in the city; across its seven citywide locations, 8090% of its patients are being treated for the new coronavirus.

Castilon made the first food delivery on April 23 at 7 a.m. After putting on a mask and gloves, he was able to bring breakfast to the Mount Sinai emergency room nurses, doctors and staff members using the donations from the FLOW for Frontliners Fund.

He said he had the privilege to speak with those on the frontlines about their experiences treating COVID-19 patients as the pandemic reached its peak.

“It was nothing short of humbling,” he said. “For me, it’s important as a leader to be adaptive in times of crisis, while also finding ways to take care of the well-being of your community.”

Castilon’s mother, Jovy, who has been an emergency room nurse for 16 years, said that she and her co-workers were touched by the kind gesture from Fordham students.

“We will never ever forget the love, support, kindness and generosity of the neighborhood and the people that supported us — the FLOW Club at Fordham,” she said.

“This has lifted our spirit from all the support, big and small!”

Joseph Romero, Gabelli School of Business ’22 and the vice president of FLOW, furthered the initiative by taking advantage of his connections with the non-profit Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK).

Romero said he had been working with ARK for a few months, offering to bring meals from Filipino-American-owned restaurants in Manhattan and deliver them to

hospitals in the NYC area. He set up a partnership between FLOW and ARK to help promote donations and volunteer work to feed frontliners.

FLOW and ARK have also delivered meals to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Bellevue Hospital and North Shore-LIJ Health System.

Romero has made five deliveries so far, each including 50 to 60 meals. He said that he hopes to do more deliveries after finals.

On April 30, FLOW received a large donation from the non-profit Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND), bringing the fund to a total of $955. FIND aims to promote the growth of collegiate Filipinos on the East Coast.

Gabby Rivera, FCLC ’20 and club treasurer, is also making the donors bracelets as a thank-you for their support.

“It’s a team effort here at FLOW,” Romero said.

As a nurse on the front lines, Jovy Castilon said she has recently been called a hero by friends and family members. Even though she appreciates the kind words, she said, “I am not a hero, we are not heroes, we are here to do our job which is to save lives.”

COURTESY OF JOVY CASTILON

Josh Castilon FCLC ’20 woke up at 5 a.m. and put a mask and gloves on to head to Dunkin’ Donuts. He picked up donuts, bagels and coffee to bring to the nurses and doctors at Mount Sinai Morningside.

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May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

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The Finances Behind Fordham’s Workforce Breaking down how the move to online courses puts strain on contract and student employees

By MICHELLE AGARON Asst. News Editor

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Fordham’s finances were stable. Nearly two months after the school closed its doors, money is entering and exiting the institution rapidly. The dining department now lies deserted and is unable to promise employment to contract workers for the next few months, while student workers question the longevity of their employment.

Due to a score of canceled events the dining department was depending on for continued employment and profit, Dining Contract Liaison Deming Yaun does not anticipate the return of the staff until at least August. At the end of March, Yaun expected that graduation and summer conferences might still go on as planned. Looking back on what could have been, the department’s financial loss is considerable.

“Around March 11, the expected return from the dining department to Fordham and the expected income for Aramark went to zero. Our expectations for the rest of March, April and May, catering and graduation, Summer Session I and the conferences in June and July –– they’ve all gone to zero. What do you do with that? Tough decisions had to be made,” Yaun said.

Due to the increased costs from online instruction and the partial refunds, the university decided to not accept the liability of contract workers during this unanticipated crisis, according to the statement the University released on April 22.

Aramark workers being furloughed is not unique to the cooks, cashiers and servers

who work at Fordham. At the University of Virginia, students petitioned their university to continue to support the salaries of the dining hall workers that were laid off by their employer, Aramark.

As a result, the University of Virginia appeased the students by issuing a two million dollar emergency assistance fund for employees and furloughed contract workers, according to The Washington Post. However, this money cannot be used to pay any recurring expenses such as credit card bills or child support.

To mitigate the effects of the coronavirus, however, Aramark extended employee benefits through the end of June, added 21 days of sick leave if their employees fall ill and guaranteed them their previous positions when Fordham reopens facilities.

Contract workers include “employees of firms (vendors) with which Fordham has contracts for goods and services,” Howe said. For Fordham, this mainly includes personnel in Public Safety and Dining Services.

This classification of workers are not directly employed by the university, and therefore, Fordham said that it is “not possible ... to accept financial responsibility for its vendors’ employees.”

Fordham also reimbursed over half a million in dining dollars, a process that began in early April and is set to be completed by mid-May. Students who were on mandatory meal plans are receiving 50% of their dining dollars back, while students on voluntary meal plans already had carryover policies in place.

Coupled with the Office of the Provost releasing their plan

IZZI DUPREY/THE OBSERVER

The Ram Café will continue to remain empty in the months to come as Aramark employees have been furloughed. To help relive the financial strain on their workers, Aramark has expanded employee benefits and sick leave.

for the fall semester on May 11, planning for Dining Services in the fall has also begun, according to Yaun, although new policies have not been announced yet. Restaurants on campus will most likely have “socially distant” seating, a form of protection between the customers and staff, and Yaun said there will be a likely increase in student use of the food delivery app Grubhub.

Another key part of the Fordham workforce is its student workers, who faced a period of uncertainty regarding the status of their positions in late March.

Federal work-study student employees are still receiving checks through the end of the academic

year, which the Office of Student Employment announced in March.

However, due to the lack of internships available this summer, students may be seeking continued employment as student workers. Bernadette Sutton, senior assistant director of student employment, confirmed the university’s plan to continue paying students who choose to work during Session I of summer courses, which will be conducted remotely.

“The most difficult part of spearheading student employment during the pandemic was compiling all the data necessary to provide the best outcome for

our student workers. We are currently working on our summer employment placement process and will begin planning for the Fall in the upcoming weeks,” she stated.

According to an email sent to student workers on May 12, only students who have “work from home access” can participate in the summer work-study program for Session I. Session II is still set to proceed on campus, but the university’s decision is contingent on Gov. Cuomo’s mandate.

As of now, no adjustments or changes have been made to the fall session of student employment.

Canceled Primary Could Lead to Low Voter Turnout

By ALLIE STOFER Asst. News Editor

After New York canceled its presidential primary, U.S. District Court Judge Analisa Torres ruled that it was a violation of the First Amendment, as voters will no longer have the oppor-

tunity to choose delegates who reflect their views. Now, the New York Board of Elections is appealing the decision to hold the primary. Since holding the primary is still being debated, many are worried about the negative impact that canceling the primary would have on student voters.

IZZI DUPREY/THE OBSERVER

With the decision on the New York primary still up in the air, there is concern about how this will affect student voter turn out. Many are advocating for online voter registration and an expanded vote-by-mail option.

“This cancellation will have significant effects on turnout, especially among the young voters,” political science major Emaan Choudhry, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22, said before the primary was reinstated. “Frustration and annoyance move a person a long way and I wonder if the general election will be affected by this or not.”

In recent years, student voter turnout has been increasing, rising from 29.5% in 2014 to 55% in 2018. At the same time, new laws that make it harder for students to vote have also passed.

Many states are implementing voter-identification laws, requiring everyone to present a government-issued form of ID. Additionally, Texas shut down nine polling places that were used to cast the majority of student ballots.

Due to coronavirus precautions, on March 28, the Democratic primary was rescheduled to June 23; however, when Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign, the New York Board of Elections chose to remove all names from the ballot except for the assumed nominee, Joe Biden. During this time, the New York Board of Elections was still planning to hold primaries for congressional and state-level races.

After reinstating the primary, Torres explained that she recognizes the reason for canceling the primary: to limit the spread of the coronavirus. With the primary being over a month away, Torres believes that there

is enough time to decide how it can safely be held.

Claire McDonnel, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’21 and president of Fordham College Democrats, stated that she expected a lower turnout for the more local primaries due to the cancellation but encouraged students to still vote if they are able.

“There are many other important races happening at the state and local levels that students can have real influence on,” McDonnel said.

Both the Sanders campaign and his supporters were unhappy with the cancellation. Sanders had been telling his followers to vote for him in order to gain more delegates. His supporters then led a Twitter, phone and mail campaign to attempt to keep him on the ballot.

“What the Sanders campaign wanted is essentially a beauty contest that, given the situation with the public health emergency, seems to be unnecessary and, indeed, frivolous,” the Board’s Democratic co-chairman Douglas A. Kellner said, according to The New York Times.

However, the decision to reinstate the primary was not caused by Sanders supporters, but by a lawsuit from Andrew Yang. As a previous Democratic candidate, Yang stated that his rights were violated when his name was removed.

“If the primaries remained canceled, it would be taking away my chance and millions of others’ chance to have a say in our government,” Annabel Filpo, FCLC ’23, said. “I wasn’t

always the biggest fan of Yang, but when he referred to the cancellation as ‘authoritarian and illegal’ I just had to agree.”

Filpo explained that she believes that vote-by-mail is the best option going forward.

“This whole situation should serve as a lesson for this state to consider passing a new law to vastly expand vote-by-mail,” Filpo said. “When it comes to voting, in general, there is a major problem with low voter turnout.”

Filpo was not the only one thinking of the vote-by-mail option. On May 5, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams hosted a virtual rally for young voters.

The purpose of the rally was to convince Gov. Andrew Cuomo to pass online voter registration.

“I believe most 18-year-olds aren’t super knowledgeable about their local elections, presidential elections are what brings them to the ballots,” Long Island Organizer and Programs Associate Deseri Tsepetis said. “When they see more names on the ballot than they were expecting, they are more likely to go home and do research on local elections and maybe get involved.”

With the New York Board of Elections appealing the decision, Tsepetis stressed that students should still vote in the local elections, no matter what happens.

“There's no doubt the system is broken in the United States, and I think this whole process showed that, but the hope is that young people see that, and change it within,” Tsepetis said.

“Your vote still counts.”

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WHEELS Fundraises for Student Access to Higher Education

By MIA AGOSTINELLI Contributing Writer

Cory DeWeese’s daughter graduated from Fordham in 2015. In the years since, he has been helping to make dreams of college for other students a reality. One way DeWeese realizes this goal is through rousing volunteers in the Washington Heights area, and partnering with local organizations like Friends of the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning Schools (WHEELS) WHEELS is a public charter school in upper Manhattan serving students from pre-K to 12th grade. One of the many goals of the school organization Friends of WHEELS is “to make sure that every student in our school has the information, counseling, and extracurricular experiences they need to get into and succeed in college and beyond.”

In order to help with financ-

es, they hold a number of community events throughout the year, of which the largest is the WHEELSUP annual benefit. DeWeese was so moved by the work Friends of WHEELS did last year that he decided to return to help again this year.

As a result of the organization’s efforts, 78% of WHEELS graduates have chosen to attend college, enrolling in universities in New York City and all across the country. Since 2012, the percentage of WHEELS graduates enrolled in college is greater than that of the city-wide average of high school students seeking higher education, which is at 22%.

Despite this hard work, everything changed when the novel coronavirus — which causes COVID-19 — spread to New York City, provoking unforeseen challenges in the entire community.

This, however, has not stopped WHEELS from pursuing their

mission. The WHEELSUP benefit is now being held virtually on Wednesday, June 17, from 7-8 p.m. and the organization has formed the Forward Together Campaign, which is aimed at supporting the residents through this difficult time.

“ While they don’t know

for sure what college will look like in the fall, we can make a promise to students and families: we will be with you every step of the way. ”

Cory DeWeese, Friends of WHEELS Volunteer

There are many concerns students have over the unknowns of

the future. “Washington Heights is one of the most disproportionately impacted NYC communities, with a large Latinx community, in line with what we are experiencing as a nation,” DeWeese said. “COVID-19 is twice as deadly (in) black and Latinx communities (and) NYC’s Latinx residents are being hit hardest

by Coronavirus. Many families are still working on the frontlines or are out of work, so food insecurity and loss of income is especially challenging for many in our community.”

According to data from the New York City Government, the hardest-hit communities have been largely in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens along with parts of Staten Island and northern Manhattan. The map shows that these areas have seen upwards of 1,500 cases in each neighborhood.

According to U.S. census data from 2018, the percentage of

COURTESY OF WHEELS

Friends of WHEELS aid students in the Washington Heights area by providing opportunities and information to prepare for college and beyond.

people who identify as of Hispanic or Latino origin with a high school diploma in New York City is 67.7%, and the percentage of those with a bachelor’s degree is 17.9%. Among black residents, those numbers are 83.0% and 24.2%, respectively. Friends of WHEELS is actively trying to change those numbers and get more of their students through school. “While they don’t know for sure what college will look like in the fall, we can make a promise to students and families: we will be with you every step of the way,” DeWeese said.

In the Washington Heights neighborhood, there are many students struggling with loss as well. Over the past few months there have been more than 60 deaths that have directly impacted the WHEELS community, including the grandfather of a current WHEELS student.

Educators, too, have found it difficult to make the transition. “Some students and families had technology issues, but WHEELS was able to distribute Google Chrome books to Upper Grade students right before school closed,” DeWeese said.

“The mental health (effects) and stress for students (are) profound and, while teachers have worked tirelessly and creatively to support students, online learning doesn’t feel as important as social emotional wellbeing.”

As a result of the efforts of many, the community is grateful for the tireless work of teachers and staff who continue to support students and families. Both the school and organization administrations have been trying to give back as much as they can by helping students continue to make college decisions and even by assisting with food delivery for those who need it.

In response to how WHEELS is adapting these days, DeWeese said, “Being able to help this organization out has provided myself and the entire team working with me a tangible way to move a community forward in these very uncertain times.”

Seniors Anticipate a Future In-Person Commencement GRADUATION from page 1

As McShane stated in his April 24 email, the university is committed to holding the ceremony whenever it is safe to do so. Pace University and New York University have expressed the same sentiment to their students. Columbia University, however, is only hosting a virtual ceremony on the day commencement was set to take place.

Wayne “Juice” Mackins, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, said the idea of a virtual ceremony is “a bit disheartening”; however, he did commend Fordham’s administration for this plan.

“A huge portion of college is the experience of the ceremony to show the conclusion of one's hard work and consistency with family and friends,” Mackins said.

Other students, like Sarah Takash, FCLC ’20, are grateful for the virtual ceremony and believe the Class of 2020 is taking this decision better than many may think.

“I think that seniors are more understanding than people think.

It’s not like we were angry; we were just really bummed out,” Takash said. “But it’s not Father McShane’s fault; it’s not Fordham’s fault; it’s just they have to follow the rules.”

“ A huge portion of

college is the experience of the ceremony to show the conclusion of one's hard work and consistency with family and friends.

”

Juice Mackins, FCLC ’20

Takash is also looking forward to an in-person ceremony in the future, though she does not want to disrupt the Class of 2021 and their commencement next spring. This sentiment, Takash said, comes from the Fordham/Ailey BFA program rescheduling their senior week performances to next fall. BFA seniors look forward to this celebration and graduation, but Takash does not want these to take attention away from the following graduating class.

“It’s not just picking up your diploma: the whole pomp and circumstance of it really is a big deal. There are first-generation college graduates in my class; it is a very big deal,” Takash said.

Lauryn Masciana, FCLC ’20, is thankful Fordham is committed to an in-person ceremony but also takes into account the

fact that others may not have the same ability to attend the ceremony in-person like she does. Masciana lives in New Jersey and realizes this gives her a much easier time getting to a commencement ceremony than her classmates across the globe.

Distance won’t be the only thing preventing students from attending their postponed in-person commencement ceremony. Morgan McDaniel, FCLC

’20, is uncertain of whether she will be able to attend due to her potential work schedule. As a member of the Fordham/Ailey BFA class, her future location will depend on where she can get a dance contract. She is also hesitant about watching the virtual ceremony on May 15.

“I want to step away from technology to fully acknowledge the work that I've done these past four years and share in a

moment of celebration with the people who have rooted for me since the beginning,” McDaniel explained.

Takash agreed that she hopes commencement will be as normal as possible under the unusual circumstances and that people make the effort to come back for it if they have the means to do so.

“Everyone deserves a graduation. It’s not our fault that we had to go home,” Takash said.

VIA FORDHAM.EDU

Commencement will take place virtually on Fordham's Commencement Website and in-person when it is safe to do so.

Students farther away from campus are concerned about not being able to return for the in-person ceremony.

6

News

May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

WNYC Reporter and Fordham Alum Dies

The man who ‘woke New York City up’ served on Fordham’s Master of Arts in Public Media Advisory Board

By SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS Editor-in-Chief

Richard Hake, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’91, died on April 24 in his home in Manhattan.

He was 51 years old and died unexpectedly of natural causes.

Hake was born on Jan. 4, 1969, to Richard James Hake, a New York City police detective; and Joy Mekeland, a clerical worker and secretary. He attended Carmel High School, where he graduated in 1987. His co-workers and friends spoke about his connection to New York as intrinsic.

While at Fordham, Hake majored in communications and media studies, and in 1990, he was the recipient of the Edward A. Walsh scholarship which recognizes excellence in journalism and communications.

His senior year, Hake lived in a suite in Walsh Hall with six other men who went on to become lifelong friends, even celebrating their 50th birthdays together last year. One of them, Matt Anderson, FCRH ’91, said that Hake was his best friend.

Anderson, a founding partner of the entertainment company Purveyors of Pop, talked about how he shared Hake’s interest in media and love of New York City, and how they were both navigating life as Catholic gay men.

“When you are in your twenties the possibilities feel endless, and we shared a lot of dreams in that way,” Anderson said.

In their suite, Anderson said that he and Hake would often go through their other “very fashionable” roommate Andrew’s clothes to find out what was trendy and where to shop.

“He was a delightful gossip,” Anderson said. “He liked to know

everything going on in that suite.”

While at Fordham, Hake worked at WFUV-FM, Fordham’s radio station. Chuck Singleton, the general manager of WFUVFM and one of Hake’s Fordham professors, said that Hake was one of the students who surprised the faculty with his great instincts and radio smarts.

“I’m struck by the fact that the Richard we enjoyed every day on Morning Edition was in many respects the same Richard who walked in the door at WFUV 3 decades ago,” Singleton said. “He had that signature Richard Hake sound, even as a college junior.”

A New York history buff, Hake produced an investigation on immigration in the Lower East Side, focusing on the Tenement Museum on Orchard Street for a final project in Singleton’s audio production class. Singleton said that the piece “was easily the most sophisticated of the student work, and hearing it today, it holds up.”

A few years later, Hake would drive Anderson around New York City late at night telling him the history of the city they both loved.

“It was very effortless, he just knew so much about New York,” Anderson said. “Of course it’s only now that I’ve found out he extensively researched it for a project!”

Before he graduated college, Hake began working at WNYC radio in 1991. “That doesn’t happen every day, to step out of your university station newsroom and into the big time in NYC,” Singleton said.

Looking back at it, Anderson says that at the time he did not comprehend what Hake had achieved. “Now to think that A, he had already figured out a direction and that B, had already landed a job there ... it’s just so impressive,” Anderson said.

COURTESY OF MATT ANDERSON

Hake (left) remained close friends with the men he lived with his senior year at Fordham. Matt Anderson (right) said that Hake was his best friend when describing their adventures in New York City.

As a young adult, Hake excelled at WNYC and quickly became the voice that woke New York City up — as he fondly named himself.

Shumita Basu, host and reporter at WNYC, co-hosted with Hake from 2016 to 2018. “He taught me how to smile on the radio, how to calm my nerves, how to emote while reading (his body would move up and down like a rollercoaster),” she said. Basu tweeted that Hake was her mentor and her radio big brother.

New York Public Radio President and CEO Goli Sheikholeslami recognized Hake’s achievements and contributions to WNYC in an official statement on April 25.

“He was an extraordinary broadcaster and journalist who had a passion for excellence and who took great pride in serving our audience. We will remember him very

warmly,” Sheikholeslami said.

Hake continued to remain involved at Fordham, serving on Fordham’s Master of Arts in Public Media Advisory Board and on the Edward A. Walsh scholarship committee.

“As his career progressed, he brought what he learned back to FUV. He shared his talents and wisdom with later generations of young journalists, speaking to WFUV’s workshops, and in Fordham Communications classes,” Singleton said.

As former committee members moved on from the committee, Julianne Welby, FCRH ’93 and a committee member, said that Hake began to take on a larger role.

“Richard also looked forward to the many years we could attend the luncheon or reception that honored the Walsh winner, which allowed

us to meet the student and their family in person,” Welby said.

“I'm sure Richard would want to see this great tradition and opportunity continue to boost the careers of future Fordham winners, as it did ours,” Welby continued.

Hake’s journalism was well-respected, and he received several awards from the New York Press Club, the Associated Press Broadcasters Association, The Society of Professional Journalists and the National Federation of Community Broadcasters.

“I always knew how fabulous he was, but I didn’t know the world did,” Anderson said about the outpour of love after Hake’s passing.

Hake is survived by his father; mother; stepfather; his brothers, Ryan and Jack; and his sister, Christine.

Influential Law Professor on Privacy in the Digital Age Dies at 59

By JOSEPH KOTTKE and KATRINA LAMBERT News Editors

Joel Reidenberg, professor of law and the founding academic director of Fordham’s Center on Law and Information Policy (CLIP), passed away on April 21 after a hard-fought battle with leukemia.

He was 59.

Reidenberg was born to June and Marcus Reidenberg on Feb. 6, 1961, in New York state. In September of 1988, he married Pascale Sauleman, and together they had two sons, David and Jeremy Reidenberg.

University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., announced the law professor’s death the morning after he passed in an email to the Fordham community.

“He was a towering figure in his field, a dear friend, and man of

principle, grit, and a devilish sense of humor. He ennobled everyone who knew him,” McShane said.

Reidenberg became a professor of law at Fordham University in 1997, where he taught courses in cybersecurity, information privacy law and international trade for 30 years.

His passion for information technology policy in the digital age led him to establish CLIP at Fordham Law School in 2005, and he remained the director of the program for the rest of his time at Fordham.

As a professor at Fordham, he became a mentor to many of his students and even kept in touch with many of them. Pablo Palazzi, Fordham Law School ’00, met Reidenberg in August of 1999.

In addition to taking his course on information privacy, he said he worked with Reidenberg as a

COURTESY OF FORDHAM LAW

Reidenberg taught cybersecurity and law for 30 years while also founding CLIP in 2005, running it for the remainder of his time at Fordham.

research assistant, studying the emerging field of privacy in Latin American countries.

Palazzi moved to Argentina after graduation, but he said every time he was in New York City, the two of them would meet up for lunch.

“I will miss him a lot,” Palazzi said. “He was always full of fresh and original ideas and shared them with generosity.”

In 2010, Reidenberg became one of 23 elected chairholders at Fordham Law School; he was named the Stanley D. and Nikki Waxberg Chair in Law, which enabled him to pursue his academic research in data privacy through Fordham’s resources.

In addition to his students at Fordham, he impacted the lives of many colleagues, such as Tom Norton, the executive director of CLIP. Norton had worked with Reidenberg since 2012 and said he was a good friend and a real mentor.

“I wouldn’t be where I was today without him. He is single-handedly responsible for my career trajectory and where I am today,” Norton said.

When Norton was a first-year law student working for CLIP as a summer internship, he was considering not returning to law school the following year. Reidenberg convinced him to stay and offered him a full-time position at the center to earn some money while finishing his degree.

“My story is not unique. He helped out so many people, giving opportunities to folks. He was never selfish. His loss is a great one,” Norton said. “He was so kind and compassionate, always going out of his way to lift people up.”

One anecdote that Norton recalled was Reidenberg’s famous interaction with late Court Justice Antonin Scalia. According to Norton, Scalia had made a statement that individual details of one’s life could remain private in regard to data and online presence. In response, Reidenberg had one of his classes scour the internet, digging up all public information about the associate justice. The class managed to produce a 15page dossier on Scalia, which led to a back-and-forth in the press between the two.

Reidenberg’s influence stretched beyond the North American continent, as he studied and taught at the Université de Paris. Omer Tene, vice president and chief knowledge officer at the International Association of Privacy Professionals, said he crossed paths with Reidenberg frequently since he also studied in France and had an interest in New York, the city in which they worked together.

Tene said he worked with Reidenberg at the Debevoise and Plimpton firm, where Reidenberg worked prior to coming to Fordham. “From my first days in privacy, Reidenberg was a friend and a mentor, a people’s person who could make connections and introductions across languages, disciplines and nationalities,” Tene said.

“It takes decades to build the reputation and stature that he has had as a diplomat, thought leader, executive and scholar,” Tene said. “Fortunately, he is succeeded by more than one generation of students and proteges that have gone on to assume roles as judges, professors, regulators and chief privacy officers in at least four

continents and a dozen countries around the world.”

Tene said he is grateful to be one of them.

In 2014, Reidenberg was elected to The American Law Institute for his demonstration of high character and excellent achievements as a law practitioner. There, he became an adviser on the Principles of Law, Data Privacy project.

The law professor’s most recent research was on the Usable Privacy Policy Project — a multi-year collaborative project in which he served as the principal investigator.

While Reidenberg made astounding advancement in academia, his family continues to remember him for his legacy outside of the university and law environment. “We didn’t know him as Professor Reidenberg, but as a loving and devoted husband, dad, son, brother, uncle, and ecstatic grandfather,” Reidenberg’s son, Jeremy Reidenberg, said on behalf of his family.

“He had incredible values that he instilled in all of us,” Jeremy Reidenberg said. “He truly knew how to live and understood the meaning of life.”

Norton said that Joel Reidenberg’s family was his pride and joy; he always talked about them and what they were doing. He is survived by his wife, Pascale; his two sons, Jeremy and David; his daughter-in-law, Caitlin; his grandchildren, Luca and Sophie; and his mother, June.

The services for Joel Reidenberg were held on April 24 at the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel in Livingston, New Jersey. Due to the restrictions surrounding the coronavirus, the services were small and private.

The Dean’s Office of Fordham College at Lincoln Center is proud to celebrate the achievements of our graduating seniors. Congratulations to this year’s honorees!

EXTERNAL AWARDS Mobeen Ahmed, ​Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Indonesia Jonathan Alegria, ​Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Israel Stephen DeFerrari, ​Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Tajikistan Mahbuba Hossain, ​New York City Urban Fellowship Aamnah Khan, ​Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs Danielle Rybinski,​ (Semifinalist) Fulbright U.S. Student Research Grant to Israel William Schmidt,​ (Alternate) Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Uruguay Emerson Sherbourne,​ (Semifinalist) FAO Schwartz Fellowship Joshua Somrah, ​Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to India DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS Jonathan Alegria, ​Stephen Freedman Award in Jewish Studies Olivia Cabrera, ​Katie Fraser Prize in Comparative Literature Stephen Howard, ​Passarelli Award in Natural Sciences Valasia Makridis, ​Anne E. Leicht Memorial Award in Psychology Alisia Ortiz, ​James C. Higgins Memorial Award in Psychology Emma Quinn, ​Ellacuria Award for Excellence in Theology Michael Singer, ​FCLC Alumni Chair Award Michael Singer, ​Natural Sciences Award Michael Singer, ​Theta Alpha Kappa Award in Theology Sarah Takash, ​Susan J. Lipani Award in Visual Arts Tina Thermadam, J​ ohn Long SJ Award in Orthodox Christian Studies Shalaha Viba, ​Natural Sciences Award

DEPARTMENTAL HONORS Natassja Agina Veronica Barczak Allyson Blatz Asia Bonilla Ava Braccia Simone Cameresi Katherine Connors Zixuan Cui India Derewetzky Nat Kelley DiMario Liam Doolan Jaryd Farcon Francesca Flamminio Kylie Ford

Adina Fradkov Matthew Gallo Leah Garza Sofia Gomez Stone Hocker Kathryn Hornyak Megan Johnson Eunice Jung Meagan King Emma Kreutzmann Noel Langan Kimberly Larios Jiaxin Lin Oscar Loja

Valasia Makridis Christian Minicozzi Claire Mondry Ariana Montenegro Tasmin Neha Alisia Ortiz Samuel Painter Ann Pekata Angel Quiah-Londono Tanzina Rahman Kylie Rothwell Eliana Rowe Bessie Rubinstein Carlotta Santoni

Charles Scheland William Schmidt Emerson Sherbourne Ashley Simpson Joshua Somrah Sarah Takash Leah Tedesco Steven Thomas Rebecca Thompson Teresa Travnicek Alyana Vera Haley Williams Wei Yong

HONORABLE MENTION Mobeen Ahmed Martin Austin Veronica Barczak Ava Braccia Hongyi Chen Grace Clark Matthew DiVitto

Anne Dreyer Ashlyn Frank Melinda Greenberg Miles Gutierrez-Riley Bettina Harcken Sequoia Harris Dana Kaufman

Nina Hudak Megan Johnson Lindsay Jorgensen Caroline McArdle Morgan McDaniel Stephanie Mizrahi Ariana Montenegro

Paul Novak Kelly Privette Rocio Sergio Danielle Smith Ian Sokolowski Gianna Theodore

Sports & Health Editors Aiza Bhuiyan - ebhuiyan@fordham.edu Patrick Moquin - pmoquin@fordham.edu

Sports & Health

May 13, 2020

THE OBSERVER

Staying Fit Online: The Guide to YouTube Exercise Videos

By KATRINA MANANSALA Staff Writer

While YouTube is a wonderful platform for watching music videos and funny animal compilations, it’s also an excellent place to find exercise videos to help you stay fit during social distancing. Whether you’re Fordham’s top athlete looking for some High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) action or a student seeking a more easygoing routine, YouTube has some great exercise videos to suit your needs.

When performing any exercise regimen, it is important to make sure you are in an appropriate location for your activity. Make sure you have enough space to move and a floor conducive to your needs; shoes, socks or mats may be beneficial but are not always necessary.

Once you’ve established that your space is fit for exercise and you’re wearing comfortable attire, it’s time to get moving.

Workout videos are an excellent way to boost cardio and build strength and endurance. Here are a few videos ranging from beginner to advanced.

20-Minute Full-Body HIIT Workout This beginner-level workout from the Group HIIT channel includes demonstrations of each exercise and a visual timer with audio cues. Captions describe the movements and offer notes to keep in mind during each activity. Since there is no background music, feel free to add your own beats for motivation.

Low-Impact Full-Body HIIT MadFit demonstrates this low-impact 20-minute HIIT work-

out. Low-impact training offers non-jumping exercises, so they are great for anyone with neighbors living below them. This video leans more toward an intermediate fitness level due to the balance and core stability needed for some of the exercises.

10-Minute Leg Workout Daniel Ventura from PROMiXX leads these intense leg exercises.

This video is solely focused on leg strengthening with a lot of squatting. It’s great for the glutes and thighs, but if you have knee problems, this may not be the best workout for you.

30-Minute HIIT Cardio Workout After a five-minute warmup, Lita Lewis from SELF leads an intense cardio workout followed by a short cooldown. This video is more advanced because the body is in constant motion for two and a half minutes before a 45-second break, as opposed to the typical 30-second exercise and 30-second rest.

Stretching is also important, especially after an intense workout.

Yoga is one option for stretching and flexibility, but it also works as a gentler way to build strength. Here are some videos on gentle strengthening and stretching.

10-Minute Morning Yoga for Beginners This quick video from the SarahBethYoga channel begins seated and moves into gentle spinal mobilization. It is followed by some standing movements and ends in child’s pose. Onscreen modifications for certain movements are

KATRINA MANANSALA/THE OBSERVER

No space? No problem! YouTube offers numerous at-home workout videos that will keep your body happy.

also included. This video works as a moderate pre-workout warmup.

15-Minute Beginner Flexibility Routine While the title says “beginner,” the exercises done here are for people of all ranges of flexibility.

Exercise leader Tom Merrick takes viewers through a series of simple but effective stretches progressing through the neck, arms, back and hips.

20-Minute Full-Body Yoga Stretch Another video by SarahBethYoga brings viewers through a series of deep stretches for the body, especially for tight leg muscles. A

personal favorite, these exercises are particularly good after aerobic activity like running, bicycling or HIIT. Full-Body Stretch Yoga Instructor Cole Chance guides viewers in a slow, deep stretch for the body. Chance sets out to release tension and mobilize each part of the body and offers suggestions on how to make the most of different positions.

Something to consider before starting any sort of exercise is your personal limits. If cardio is not interesting to you, then skip the 30-minute advanced HIIT workout.

If flexibility is not your strength, don’t force yourself into any pain-

ful positions. You most likely don’t have a teacher or trainer with you to prevent injuries, so practice common sense. If it hurts too much, stop.

These videos are only suggestions to get you moving. In fact, you may find other videos you like better. YouTube has thousands of fitness and workout videos available.

Know your own body and figure out what works best for you.

It is important to maintain your physical health, especially during this quarantine period. We may not be able to run around Central Park, stroll across Lincoln Center or play games on the Plaza, but we must make do with what we have.

Now get up, open YouTube and get moving.

Students Share the Perks of Pets During the Pandemic

By GILLIAN RUSSO Online Editor

It’s a conversation often heard on the Plaza and in the dorms: students regaling their (human) friends with stories of their furry friends back home, sometimes accompanied by a photo — or 20 — of the pets they miss.

Since higher education institutions have shuttered and transitioned to online learning to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of students have unexpectedly gotten a lot more time at home with their pets — and as city and state governments worldwide have enforced restrictions on travel and in-person contact, pets have become some people’s primary source of companionship and comfort.

“I think my dog is actually keeping me sane,” said Jordan Wappler, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’22.

“She is always up to play and truly has a kind heart.”

Wappler lives in Seattle, Washington, one of the first locations of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. As such, Wappler’s community had been on extra high alert, and people were encouraged early to social distance to an exceptionally high degree. Gov. Jay Inslee issued a stay-at-home order on March 23, which has now become the norm across the country.

“I have only been in physical contact or proximity with my dog, sister and dad,” Wappler said. “I am a big extrovert, so being with people is what fuels me emotionally.”

For the time being, she has taken to regularly hiking with her dog, Lisbon, which she had never done before — she previously undertook the activity with friends.

This kind of routine has benefits, according to Jeffrey Ng, director of counseling and psychological services at Fordham. He said the responsibilities of pet ownership, including regular walks and a con-

sistent sleep schedule, promote physical health even prior to the pandemic.

During social distancing, people can become more attuned to both the physical and emotional benefits of time with their pets in the face of loneliness and uncertainty, even if they don’t normally experience these feelings.

“Pets can provide their owners with unconditional love/attention and physical affection, which positively influence mental health and well-being,” Ng said. “Spending time with pets can also promote experiences of ‘being in the moment,’ which is a protective factor for depression and anxiety.”

Ng’s analysis is supported by multiple studies that suggest the benefits of pet ownership. BMC Psychiatry’s 2018 review of 17 studies on the topic found that 15 reported some positive effects of pet ownership on subjects with existing mental health conditions.

The review’s summary of these studies said, “Pets were able to provide unique emotional support as

a result of their ability to respond to their owners in an intuitive way, especially in times of crisis and periods of active symptoms.”

It continued to say that pets provide physical companionship and opportunities for communication, which can reduce loneliness.

Although there is anecdotal evidence for the benefits of pets, some studies have concluded that the health of pet owners can potentially be worse, or else on par with, that of non-pet owners. Nine of the studies cited in the BMC review returned some negative effects, including the sadness that comes with losing a pet.

Some studies in a 2011 report of multiple international studies on the topic suggested that pet owners were at a higher risk for a range of physical and mental health issues.

A comparable amount of studies cited in the report found no discoverable difference in the emotional health of pet owners and non-pet owners. One, an American study by the Pew Research Center, found “no differences in the proportion of

pet owners and nonowners who described themselves as ‘very happy.’”

Though empirical data on “the pet effect” is inconclusive, students are nonetheless finding their pets a positive resource, especially in the time of the pandemic.

Ana Paula Camacho Pérez, formerly Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, has experienced this firsthand. The Mexico City native said her dog, Laika, has helped her through “moments of anxiety” toward both the government and her family’s handling of the pandemic.

The amount of cases in Mexico is low compared to countries like the U.S. — 27,634 as of May 6, according to data from Mexico’s Health Secretary — but has been continually rising since March, and Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador was initially slow to cancel large gatherings and impose tight travel restrictions.

On a smaller scale, Camacho Pérez said her family has also continued to go out for both work and pleasure, including her grand-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ISABELLA FRASSETTI, KAMILA VAHIDI AND ANA PAULA CAMACHO PÉREZ

From left to right, Isabella Frassetti, FCLC ’20; Kamila Vahidi, FCLC ’23; and Ana Paula Camacho Pérez, FCLC ’23, enjoy the company and support of their pets, Eloise, Snowy and Laika, respectively.

mother with preexisting health conditions. Camacho Pérez has sought refuge on her back patio, sitting with Laika and taking in the sun when she feels helpless to do anything else.

“I couldn’t vent out or go see (my grandmother) to stop her, so I think in those moments Laika really helped me calm down,” Camacho Pérez said. “I also think it’s been good for her as well, because she used to be a stray dog so getting more love from us has really helped her heal from what happened to her.”

Kamila Vahidi, FCLC ’23, has had a similar experience with her cat, Snowy: “My cat has been sleeping with me every night since I came home, which he never used to do. I am definitely more conscious of him now that I am home all the time.”

Increased companionship, as Camacho Pérez and Vahidi suggested, is a two-way street. However, it is temporary. Isabella Frassetti, FCLC ’20 — who said her main source of socialization has been weekly FaceTime sessions with her friends and all their dogs — worries about what effects this period of closeness will have on pets’ mental health. She said she has been careful to give her dog, Eloise, space from time to time.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen when life goes back to normal,” Frassetti said. “A lot of dogs have anxiety so it’s a good thing that we let them have some alone time so they don’t develop a dependency and become nervous when we leave to go to work or school later on.”

In the meantime, pets are more involved in their owners’ lives now.

Students can make the best of it by indulging in a longer-than-usual walk, spontaneous fetch session or in-person photoshoot — to have ample new material to show your friends when you’re back on campus, of course.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER May 13, 2020

Sports & Health

Fordham Baseball Falls to Yale, 118 Years Ago

In April 1902, the Fordham baseball team played Yale on what is now Edwards Parade, in the shadow of Hughes Hall.

By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor In a closely contested baseball game on a long-lost Saturday, the Fordham nine fell to Yale University by a score of 3-1.

With the score tied in the ninth inning, the Rams allowed two runs and were unable to respond in the final frame. The date was April 19, 1902.

Entering the 1902 season, the team from St. John’s College, already referred to as “Fordham” in newspapers, anticipated a very successful season. Captain Jack Doscher, St. John’s College (SJC) ’03, was only a junior but was leading a team full of senior talent. In fact, catcher John Butler, SJC ’02, had even spent time playing professional baseball the previous year before returning to the varsity team.

While Fordham fielded a roster of talented, mature players, the Yale nine had far less to work with at the beginning of the season. Many of their best players had graduated in 1901, and Captain Ray Guernsey, Yale University (YU) ’02, was forced to field a team with sophomores and even freshmen. They were considered a team attempting to rebuild, but instead, they simply built on the successes of previous years.

Along with Guernsey and pitcher John Garvan, YU ’02, a new freshman star appeared in New Haven. E.L. Cote, YU ’05, quickly established himself as a mainstay on the Yale roster in his first year. He became the starting left fielder and even appeared on the mound in relief for Garvan.

Despite losing much of their core

from the previous year, the Ells had managed to quickly reinvigorate their program.

Before facing the Rams, Yale was already having an excellent month. On April 5, they played the Philadelphia Athletics, a professional baseball team managed

by Hall of Famer Connie Mack and featuring Nap Lajoie, one of the greatest players of the era.

Garvan shut out the A’s for five innings, and the Ells hung on to win in a 7-5 upset.

Since that innocuous day on Eddies in 1902, thousands of college baseball games have taken place in the Bronx. The only reason this game is remembered is because a single photo remains to commemorate it.

On Thursday, April 16, before traveling to New York, Yale competed well against a tough Amherst College team in a 3-3 tie. That same day, Fordham trounced St. Francis Xavier College, known today as Xavier High School, by a score of 18-0.

That weekend, the Yale nine traveled to the Bronx to take on

the Rams at a field that has since been converted into Edwards Parade, or Eddies. Before the game, Guernsey announced that Cote would start on the mound, but that did not occur. In the shadow of Hughes Hall, Garvan started for the Ells against Fordham captain Doscher.

In the top of the second inning, Yale struck first to take a 1-0 lead. Fordham responded immediately, with second baseman Eddie Swetnam, SJC ’02, hitting a triple in his next at-bat and scoring later in the inning to tie the game, 1-1.

Following this early offensive exchange, neither team scored until the ninth inning. For eight innings, Fordham pitching had only allowed one hit, but that would change. In the ninth, the Rams allowed a double and multiple walks to load the bases. A single by right fielder A.Y. Wear, YU ’02, drove in Yale’s second run of the game to take a 2-1 lead.

Later in the inning, shortstop Louis Hartman fielded a ball and threw home for a play at the plate. Hartman’s throw was low and H.B. Miller, YU ’04, scored easily to increase Yale’s lead, 3-1.

The Rams returned to bat in the bottom of the ninth but failed to score, giving the Ells the close, hard-fought victory.

The loss was the beginning of a difficult stretch for Fordham, as they lost to Lafayette and Holy Cross soon after, the latter of which Yale would go on to defeat. Yale had a season far exceeding people’s original expectations, while Fordham may have underachieved given the

9

COURTESY OF FORDHAM UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES DIGITAL COLLECTIONS

experience on its roster.

Of the 18 men who played that day, only two Fordham players went on to play professional baseball. The Rams’ catcher Butler returned to professional baseball, but struggled for several seasons on three different teams before retiring. After graduating in 1903, Doscher had a five-year career, mainly pitching for the Brooklyn Superbas. He retired in 1908 after 27 recorded appearances.

Despite doing very little in the game, the best-known player on the 1902 Yale roster was second baseman Johnny De Saulles, YU ’02, who got most of his hits in the fall as the captain of a historic Yale football team. After graduating, he briefly worked as a football coach before entering a career in business and politics.

In 1917, just 15 years after his appearance at second base against Fordham, he was murdered under mysterious circumstances. In what would become one of the most high-profile criminal trials of the decade, his ex-wife was named the prime suspect but ultimately found not guilty, and his killer was never identified.

Meanwhile, rookie star Cote went on to have an illustrious college baseball career, becoming one of the most well-known players of his era in New Haven.

However, there’s no record he ever played professional baseball.

Since that innocuous day on Eddies in 1902, thousands of college baseball games have taken place in the Bronx. The only reason this particular game is remembered is because a sin-

gle photo remains to commemorate it. The names Doscher, Butler and Swetnam have been replaced countless times on the Fordham roster, most recently in 2020 by the names Stankiwiecz, Semo and Tarabek. Those players of the past were remembered by a few brief statistics if they reached the professional level, and very little at all if they pursued anything else.

Not every player on the 2020 Fordham baseball roster will play at the professional level, just as not every art major will join the ranks of Picasso and Pollock. Some will become lawyers, some accountants and others teachers. Hopefully, none will be most remembered for high-profile criminal trials, but many will be remembered for nothing at all.

Hundreds of thousands of Fordham students — athletes and art majors alike — have walked on the pathway in front of Hughes Hall in the time since, over a century later. Each of those students have contributed something to the community around them and the world thereafter, but almost invariably, those contributions are forgotten with time and further progress.

Players on the 1902 Fordham baseball team were far luckier than most, however.

The preservation of a single photo, hidden away in the archives, is proof that each and every student has their moment at Fordham. For two hours in April, 118 years ago, 18 men stood in the heart of Rose Hill, and they contributed to something.

Opinions Editors Emily Ellis - eellis14@fordham.edu Haley Smullen - hsmullen@fordham.edu

Opinions

May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

It’s Not Just a Flu: Reopening Businesses Will Risk Millions of Lives JESSICA YU Contributing Writer

Over the past two years, a series of unpredictable and unfortunate events have caused me to become a not-so-big fan of neither uncertainty nor recklessness. When I was about to begin my second semester of senior year in high school, I ended up being hospitalized with an autoimmune disorder. I will spare you the details, but the following months were not pretty. I didn’t know it until later on, but looking at my MRI scans, the doctors did not think I would ever walk again.

Instead of being careful in my recovery progress, after I got out of the hospital, I started going out until late and working my body until I was exhausted. My logic was that I felt fine, so I should be fine. It was completely stupid and reckless to mix the corticosteroids I was still taking with other substances, but I did it anyway. It only served me right when that landed me back in the hospital. So, no, I am not an advocate for being irresponsible with your health.

And the uncertainty part? Well, I was incredibly lucky to have made a full recovery with nearly no long-term effects. These days, I go about my daily life pretty much like any other 19-yearold. But the condition I have is not necessarily gone for good. It’s a rare disease, one that doctors don’t have extensive information about. All I have to work with is that there is a high chance that I could relapse. Neither doctors nor WebMD, can tell me what would trigger a flare-up: Most likely, it would be caused by completely unrelated viruses, but it could be anything that weakens my immune system. For the most part, I choose not to think about it. Truthfully, I cannot deal with the constant fear that I would ever have to go through those dreadful months again, much less grapple the idea that a slight slip-up, a random stroke of bad luck, could leave me blind or paralyzed. So, I keep that information tightly shut in a box, carefully placed in the back of my mind.

Times like these, however, force me to confront the anxiety I so eagerly ignore. I really have no idea what would happen if I contracted the coronavirus. There is a chance I would be asymptomatic. There is a chance I will be sick for a while and fully recover.

But there is also a chance that it could

cause a relapse of the autoimmune disorder that constantly lingers, never too far behind my spine.

When classes were canceled, I ended up in Texas with a friend rather than going home to Beijing. I’m so fortunate to have a safe place to stay, with a family that has warmly welcomed me. However, on April 27, as I was trying to pay attention to my history lecture (emphasis on the trying), the TV was broadcasting Greg Abbott, a Texan governor, announcing the plans to reopen businesses starting on May 1. My heart sank.

Starting May 1, restaurants, retail stores, malls, movie theaters, museums and libraries have opened at 25% capacity. After two weeks, those same businesses will increase capacity to 50%. This is absolutely shocking to me. I didn’t think a woman complaining about needing her roots redone would make a convincing argument in the eyes of government officials.

But alas. Welcome to the land of the free.

The country has barely gotten a hold on the spread of the virus. Actually, let me reword that: The United States has not successfully controlled the spread. Every day, the number of cases is still increasing. The number of tests available, unfortunately, is not on the same upward trend. Experts agree that providing widespread testing is a crucial part of beating the pandemic. For one, testing helps experts estimate the true severity of the pandemic and prevent the disease from spreading further than it has to. We have not reached a point where there are no new cases for 24 hours.

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER

But even if we had, we couldn’t trust those statistics unless testing expanded, ensuring that there were no undetected cases.

Meanwhile, there could be thousands of cases that are not accounted for, some mild, somecompletely unknown. The promise for increased availability of coronavirus testing simply attaches itself to the long list of empty promises made by the Trump administration. The threat of a second wave is very real, all the more so with premature reopening.

Yes, the economy is suffering, we are surely going into a massive recession, and many people have either lost their jobs or will lose their jobs. But who gets to decide that my life and the lives of many other immunocompromised, vulnerable individuals are worth gambling with? Why do people who have the luxury of confidence that they will be fine get to decide for those who do not?

You don’t get to excuse this irresponsibility by saying the coronavirus is basically just the flu, when for some people it is not just the flu.

In fact, the National Health Council reports that over 150 million Americans have a chronic disease. You might argue, “Why can’t you just continue quarantining and let others go restart their lives?”

I can. And I probably will. But the reality still stands that once reopening begins, the risks will increase no matter how careful I am. I may wash my hands 20 times a day, but do the people I’m living with do the same? Do the people that they come in contact with? I can be careful, but my friend’s 17-year-old brother most likely will be seeing friends the first chance he gets (though he also falls into the immunocompromised category).

While most have been doing their part, there are still people out there who have not abided by isolation procedures and refuse to wear masks. If that is the case now, how do you reckon people will react once businesses reopen, which basically sends the intensely incorrect message that everything is now fine?

The act of deluding yourself into the fantasy that you are invincible in the hopes of actually becoming invincible never works. Trust me, I’ve been there.

Several times. You cannot throw caution to the wind and will safety into existence. This is recklessness. This is increasing uncertainty. Being reckless only prolongs the healing process.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: I was deeply upset at the student editorial “Have Empathy for Fordham’s Financial Situation.” How could something so tone-deaf be published? You claim that students should “have a little empathy for the Fordham Administration,” which is a perfectly valid argument. But what about the fact that students have heard little to nothing from residential life about the status of move-out? How about the students that have parents without jobs, lost paid internships/jobs, or are struggling to make plans for housing next semester? Have you thought about all the members of the Fordham community who have been afflicted with COVID-19?

It is this shocking lack of empathy for the community at large that makes your editorial so tone-deaf. When this administration sends out limited communications about the next steps, when I have received rehearsed emails from the administration about how one of my professors cannot be held to account for a racist joke made about the pandemic, and when the obscene amount of money spent on fledgling athletics does not go to students in need, my patience wears thin. The confidence I had in your newspaper to be “the voice of the students” has been lost. I am unsure if it will return.

Yours truly, Sean de Ganon, FCLC ’22

Editor’s Note: The Observer has received feedback from students who are concerned about our editorial from Issue 9 Volume XL titled “Have Empathy for Fordham’s Financial Situation.” We based our editorial on factual reporting of the university’s complicated financial situation; however, we did not intend to discount the very real experiences of students, professors and members of the Fordham family that are financially affected by this crisis.

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THE OBSERVER May 13, 2020

Opinions

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Open the Economy Safely, but Soon Government assistance will run out sooner rather than later, and we’ll pay for it JILL RICE Copy Editor

We all know the effects of the coronavirus on people, politics and society as a whole. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to remind us through the news and advertisements on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to stay home and stop the spread. We see the statistics of infection rates daily, and the coronavirus is the top conversation starter among friends, family and neighbors (from 6 feet away, of course).

By staying home, more people will recover and not spread the disease to others — a noble goal — but how long can we really stay at home? Some universities have suggested that they may not be in-person in the fall, and how many of those students will take a gap year rather than endure a semester of Zoom classes? How many businesses that rely on tourism and visitors will be forced to close, possibly forever?

The economic consequences of the coronavirus should not be overlooked — because we’ve gone nearly nowhere for two months, many people are not earning money. Sure, most well-known businesses don’t need to make huge profits right now, but they should remain in the black. Scream about the evilness of corporations all you want, but corporations are what keep everyday Americans employed. The profits of most businesses, especially smaller ones, go to buildings, taxes and employees, not into the pockets of the owners. Unlike what career politicians might believe, they simply don’t have extra cash lying around to pay non-working employees — Fordham’s lack of a nest egg is the biggest example in students’ minds right now. Even big companies such as J. Crew and Neiman Marcus have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

By refusing to let most people go to work, governments are destroying local economies. The stock market is improving, but its effects are not readily apparent in

our own communities. Telework is useful only to an extent — the people who are able to work remotely often earn more than those who can’t, so the length of the economic shutdown will predominantly harm those who can’t afford for it to continue. The longer we stay at home, the harder it will be for the average person to regain footing and to afford food and housing.

Conservatives aren’t advocating for people to go back to work just for “precious money,” and we do, in fact, care about the health and safety of older people. We understand that the only way for everyone to survive this pandemic without losing their jobs (and therefore houses and food) is to open up — safely and slowly.

Similarly, career politicians have never had to run businesses, and they haven’t been out of work for two months.

I’ve seen a Tweet saying that we’ve fallen to the bottom section of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and that we can’t open up the economy until those needs are

Editor-in-Chief

met. But money isn’t in the top section of the hierarchy — we don’t barter for goods; we use money, and people can’t have money until they go back to work.

Postponing rent and other payments will only help for so long.

Landlords and facilities workers aren’t made of money, and they’re people, too. The only solution is to open up as soon as it is safe because otherwise, even more people will face food insecurity and housing problems.

Government unemployment assistance is available to ease the burden, but states’ websites are notoriously dysfunctional. The federal government is offering $600 in pandemic unemployment compensation under the CARES Act on top of the states’ usual unemployment pay. For many states, including New York and my home state of Maryland, this may mean higher pay than what workers would be given at their jobs, possibly incentivizing people to not return to work, since they are being paid more to stay home through July 31. The average unemployed

person could now receive around $1,000 per week, the equivalent of a $52,000 yearly salary.

However perfect it sounds to be paid to not work, government assistance will run out, and we college students and young people will have to pay for it in taxes over the next few years of our lives.

History has proven it: After the Great Depression, taxes for all income levels rose, and the same is likely to happen for us, though hopefully not so drastically.

By opening the economy and businesses sooner rather than later, we will save people from food insecurity and housing insecurity.

This must be done with the utmost caution, but other countries that are opening back up have had success with not spreading the virus thus far. Denmark’s elementary schools opened on April 17, and they, along with many others, have not spread false information from the government or news organizations. We can have hope that we, too, will survive this with our homes, livelihoods and loved ones safe and sound.

Managing Editor

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER

FCLC Students Respond to Bernie’s Lasting Political Impact GABRIEL GARCIA Staff Writer

“I am once again asking for an election.”

This remark summarized the thoughts of many Bernie Sanders supporters on April 27, when the New York State Board of Elections canceled the Democratic presidential primary. After Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the presidential race, constituents believed former Vice President Joe Biden, who was unchallenged, would render the election performative.

The rationale presented by the Board of Elections should disturb anyone with even the mildest political interest. The actions of New York state presented a philosophy where the democratic process is simply a set of gentlemen’s agreements made by individual candidates, with no ideologies or policies at stake. Even worse, these cancellations give precedence to the fear by some that President Trump may attempt to cancel the election in November.

On May 5, a federal judge ruled that the presidential primary should proceed as planned, ruling

in favor of a lawsuit against the Board of Elections by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.

However, the election is still not guaranteed as the New York State Board of Elections filed to appeal the decision. Furthermore, from Bush v. Gore in the 2000 presidential election to the Supreme Court’s dismissal of absentee ballots in the Wisconsin primary this year, recent history has shown that the courts are not the most reliable defenders of democracy.

Since I was angered by this jeopardization of democracy, I decided that I’d create some democracy of my own by asking Fordham students on my Instagram story and in my political science class group chat for their thoughts on Sanders’ 2020 campaign. As with politics overall, there was a disappointing but unsurprising lack of participation. However, the few contributions that were offered were certainly insightful, each representing a different point of view.

Eva Gelman, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, said that Sanders succeeded in “moving the conversation leftward.” She also praised his integrity, “making him not just a political inspiration, but a personal one.”

Olive Zoda, FCLC ’23, talked about the New York primary cancellation, in particular, saying that it’s “a huge kick in the face and offensive to our ‘democracy,’ but I’m not surprised at all.” She elaborated further by pointing out that Sanders is still in the race even though his campaign is suspended, and said that “the idea that a state can even individually remove someone from the ballot while that person remains on other states’ (ballots) is absurd, it further negates the already weak power of voting.”

Lev Yakovlev, FCLC ’23, recalled a quote from his father: “Of all the Democratic candidates there are, Americans have to choose the one who is worse than Trump.” Yakovlev is from Estonia, which shows that the cynicism about American politics extends beyond those who live in the United States.

I once felt the same as that incoming Fordham student; I remember feeling reinvigorated when I attended the “Bernie’s Back” rally in October 2019. That motivation was equally present when I decided to sign up for a weekend of canvassing for the Sanders campaign with other supporters in New Hampshire.

When Sanders won the popular votes of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada — the first presidential

candidate in history to do so — I was foolish enough to think that a better future was possible.

Of course, all that enthusiasm was in vain. Biden proceeded to win South Carolina, receive the endorsements of several presidential challengers, get at least $100 million in free media advertising and sweep Super Tuesday and the states that followed. Considering how quickly consolidation occurred to stop Sanders and that the influence of former President Obama himself was required, Super Tuesday 2020 should be thought of as Super Coupsday by the left of the present and future.

Despite the future appearing bleak, I do not believe that we should give up. We should treat the planet and the people living on it like a loved one in the hospital. It is in those uncertain moments where you should care the most and do all that can be done for that loved one to feel better.

Like Zoda, I believe that voting is only the bare minimum for political action. I would like to offer some advice: Politicians are tools.

When a tool is no longer of use, it should be discarded. Sadly, Sanders now fits that description, and it is time to find a new tool that will suffice for the challenges ahead.

This article is my way of saying farewell to the power that Sanders and his campaign once held, for I am indifferent to the man. Part of me wants to write something sentimental about this loss. However, with increasing wealth inequality and climate change around the corner, the fates of most of his supporters will be far worse, so I’ll save my sympathy for them. Better luck next election!

GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Sanders smiles on the campaign trail in July 2019 as he gains a massive following.

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Opinions

May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Coronavirus: Environmental Savior or Devastator?

CORINA FUENTES

Contributing Writer

The coronavirus pandemic has swept through the world, leaving widespread economic and political mayhem in its wake. As countries around the world have hunkered down into varying degrees of social distancing, the natural environment has begun to adjust to the lack of outdoor human activity.

One of the most notable changes is in China, where the halt of industrial activity has led to a huge improvement in air quality. The Guardian reported that from early February to midMarch, emissions had decreased about 18%, equivalent to over half of the U.K.’s annual carbon output. This has led to a huge reduction of smog and a drastic improvement in air quality which can be seen from outer space.

While the economic standstill has led to a reduction of carbon emissions, this reduction will have a very small long-term effect on the climate.

Along with the decline in industrial production, the lack of widespread social mobility has also led to a steep decline in carbon dioxide emissions. In most developed countries, which lack a heavy industrial manufacturing presence, transportation is often the leading cause of carbon dioxide emissions.

According to INHABITAT, passenger vehicle traffic in the U.S. has fallen by 40%, and the U.K. experienced a shocking 73% reduction in traffic.

Just as is the case with China, this reduction in traffic has led to a visible smog reduction, most prominent in congested urban areas such as Los Angeles, New

York City and, most recently, New Delhi.

The transformation of India’s capital city is one of the most remarkable changes that has been brought about by the pandemic. For years, New Delhi has been categorized as the world’s most polluted city, yet recent pictures point to a transformed landscape that boasts an official good air quality rating (based on nitrous dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide levels) that hasn’t been awarded in decades. For the first time in 30 years, the Dhauladhar mountain range in Punjab is visible from Jalandhar. The rapid improvement of global air quality gives hope to the current climate crisis and has been the subject of much conversation. Given these statistics, the coronavirus must be the environmental savior of the 21st century, right? Wrong.

There is no denying that air quality has improved measurably in this time period, but the notion that the coronavirus may be an environmental reset is simply a ploy to distract from the more harmful (yet nuanced) effects the virus brings. During the pandemic, UNCTAD has reported an increased dependence on single-use plastics, an increase in household and municipal waste, and perhaps most notably the extensive rollbacks of American EPA policies regarding fuel economy and emissions standards.

While the country has been distracted by the pandemic, the Trump administration has taken advantage of the situation by quietly undoing several years of environmental regulations specifically targeting the automotive industry and fuel emissions standards. These rollbacks are aimed at businesses that have been affected by the coronavirus, stating that “the move would benefit both the auto industry and consumers in a time of economic difficulty.”

This is but another attempt to promote the fossil fuel industry at a time when oil prices have hit an all-time low.

The plastics industry has also been able to take advantage of the situation by pumping out

ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER

Household and municipal waste have increased during the pandemic, according to a report from UNCTAD.

more single-use products in light of contagion fears — despite the fact that the virus can still survive on single-use plastics. Companies that once promoted reusable containers (like Starbucks) have now switched gears amid virus fears. Additionally, plastic shopping bags are making a comeback; although many states had begun implementing bans or fees on plastic bags, some of these have been suspended due to the outbreak.

On top of this, many smaller municipalities in the United States have suspended or reduced recycling programs, dramatically increasing household waste. Bloomberg Green reported that infected residents in Italy have been banned from sorting their waste at all. Hospital waste has also increased dramatically; in Wuhan, hospitals have gone from an average of fewer than 50 tons of waste per day to over 200 tons per day.

While the economic standstill has led to a reduction of carbon emissions, this reduction will have a very small long-term effect on the climate. Instead, it’s quite likely that environmental policies will take a backseat to economic ones when it comes time to restart the economy.

It is not the absence of humans that has led to this flourishing, but the absence of carbon.

This is exactly what happened during the 2008 recession; although there was an initial decrease in emissions corresponding with decreasing economic activity, as the economy recovered, emissions hit an all-time high. The beginning

of this can already be seen in Trump’s attempts to revive the fossil fuel industry by weakening environmental regulations.

Today, the world is at a pivotal crossroads: Regardless of how we decide to move forward (environmentally friendly or not), life won’t go back to the way it was before. As the world slowly begins opening up, we must try to remember the way it flourished in the absence of our fossil fuel-led lives. It is not the absence of humans that has led to this flourishing, but the absence of carbon. Humanity is more than capable of existing healthily with nature; we did it for millions of years as hunter-gatherers. If we hope to have a future worth living on this planet, we need to act now. This is not to say that we need to leave our technologically advanced lifestyles behind, but we need to find a new source of energy, and quickly; otherwise, global pandemics will be the least of our concerns.

RAYMOND M. COVENEY, JR. VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A layer of smog hovers over Los Angeles in 2006. Today, decreased transportation and industrial production has led to a decline in carbon dioxide emissions, but the pandemic also brings about detrimental effects to the environment, such as increased dependence on single-use plastics and a rollback of emission-regulation policies.

Dean Donna Rapaccioli and the entire faculty and staff of the Gabelli School of Business is proud to celebrate the achievements of all of our graduating seniors. Here is a preview of some of this year's honorees at Lincoln Center, with the full list of awards announced when we gather to celebrate and honor the class of 2020 in person. Congratulations one and all!

MAGIS AWARD This award honors students who have made outstanding efforts to promote and advance the educational and social programs of the Gabelli School of Business. This award is given in each of the Lincoln Center program’s academic concentrations:

Digital Media and Technology Global Marketing with Consumer Insights S. Victor Simpson, Jr. Sarah Ramirez – and – Yuan Jason Wang Global Finance and Business Economics Rachel Keough – and – Sofia Remez

Healthcare Management Christine Schwartz

GABELLI SCHOOL OF BUSINESS DEAN’S AWARD This award recognizes a student who has exemplified the spirit of leadership called forth in a Jesuit education: a leader who unites others behind a common cause to accomplish goals that could not otherwise be attained.

2020 Gabelli School of Business Dean’s Award at LC Siena Mayer-Costa

ALUMNI CHAIR AWARD This award honors an individual who inspires fellow students; who achieves excellence in academics, service, and extracurricular activities; and who lives out the Ignatian principles Fordham seeks to instill in its students.

2020 Alumni Chair Award at LC Tigerlily Cooley

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editor Ethan Coughlin - ecoughlin7@fordham.edu

May 13, 2020

THE OBSERVER

A Digital Rite of Passage: The 2020 Visual Arts Thesis Exhibition

By SAFET BEKTESEVIC Contributing Writer

Every year, Fordham’s Ildiko Butler and Lipani Galleries host the graduating Senior Thesis exhibition, an event intended to provide celebratory closure to the visual arts degree. This year, however, the galleries have postponed the exhibition and decided to showcase the graduating students’ work on a digital platform. The change has come unexpectedly for the student artists, some of whom expressed reservations about having their work exhibited online.

The digital exhibition consists of a page featuring pictures of every graduating artist’s work. Each picture serves as a hyperlink for the artists’ complete exhibition. Showcased in this fashion, the artists’ body of work appears slightly juxtaposed with each other, a condition that cannot be avoided, as it is almost intrinsic to the digital space.

For Annie Dreyer, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, who uses the medium of photography, the digital exhibition has prov-

en to be both beneficial and disadvantageous.

“It’s good in the sense that I am able to share the work with a wider range of people,” Dreyer said, “but bad in the sense that it seems to carry less importance, as we already spend a lot of our time looking at images on a screen.” Her work consists of a series of 14 photographs that capture scenes of the American vernacular in a suburban setting.

In the online exhibit, the act of scrolling down becomes an unintentional element in the experience of the photographs depicting laconic public signs in places curiously devoid of people.

One cannot help but wonder to what extent the photographs have been affected by the different sense of sequentiality in the digital space.

Dreyer offered a clue: “Showing work in a (physical) gallery allows people to experience your work exactly how you’ve printed and sequenced everything.” On the contrary, in the digital space, the art object seems to be less present as it has been estranged from the

PORTRAITS COURTESY OF GRACE SCHIAVONE

LANDSCAPE PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNIE DREYER

“ It’s good in the sense that I am able to share the work with a wider range of people, but bad in the sense that it seems to carry less importance.”

Annie Dreyer, FCLC ’20

material conditions that the artist envisioned for the work.

Another graduating artist, Grace Schiavone, FCLC ’20, explained that, although her work “translates well online,” she was “not able to create a digital exhibition because of short notice.” Indeed, in the case of her work, “all of the pieces were already framed and ready to be hung in the Lipani Gallery” just days before the gallery was forced to postpone the exhibition.

Schiavone’s work is mixed-media, incorporating elements of painting, drawing and collage. Some of these elements might be difficult to discern on a screen, which reflects rather than emits light.

In terms of the physicality involved in a regular exhibition, Dreyer explained that a conventional exhibition allows for “a more intimate relationship with the

work, and even potentially marks the end of a body of work that you’ve worked on for such a long time.” The act of setting up an art exhibition seems to be organically connected to the work of art, to the point that it offers both a sense of closure and opens up new possibilities of inquiry and artistic exploration.

Professor Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, Fordham’s gallery director, seemed to agree with the student artists’ impressions, as he stated that “digital space offers no replacement for physical space.”

He further asserted that in a digital space one cannot “explore the details and stand back and take the entirety of the piece of art.” A large Jackson Pollock painting, for instance, would be impossible to experience online, at least not in all its heroic and magnificent pres-

ence. While recognizing the value of a digital exhibition as a “supplementary” element to a regular exhibition, Hitchcock assured that the gallery will do its best to provide students with the opportunity to showcase their work physically once the university reopens.

The exhibition is considered a rite of passage in the career of all visual arts students. The rite consists of putting up a work of art or an installation and witnessing the foot traffic going to and fro in a gallery that is organically connected with the life of the university. The student artists and the audiences are waiting for the right moment to hang up an art piece on a wall for public view — a moment we all once took for granted — to be reestablished in the changed world in which we exist now. Hopefully, they will know soon.

iHeartRadio’s Celebrity Twist on Commencement

By KRISTEN SKINNER Staff Writer

High school and college graduates alike do not have the luxury this year of walking across a stage to receive their diplomas, nor will they be able to have traditional parties with friends and family to celebrate their accomplishments. Forced to find new ways to reach the graduating classes, universities, streaming services and podcasts like iHeartRadio’s “Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020” are getting creative this graduation season. iHeartRadio’s podcast will debut on May 15, when speeches from celebrities, musicians, athletes, journalists, political figures, and well-known television and radio hosts will be available. The

lineup features 30 different celebrities — some of whom include, John Legend, Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Fallon and Eli Manning.

The goal of these speeches is to motivate students and provide them with both the celebration and guidance they deserve as they graduate, move through the challenges of the pandemic and make their way to the next stages of their lives. Additionally, because there is a wide array of individuals giving speeches, the goal is to find someone inspiring for everyone interested.

Matt Di Vitto, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’20, said he would tune in for Hillary Clinton and Abby Wambach.

“What I think is cool about it is it is such a crazy, diverse set of people from a ton of different

backgrounds,” he said. “That’s really helpful because no one knows what is happening, so if you have such a massive group trying to reach a broad group of people who are going through such a transition, then it is more likely to find some kind of consensus and something that will hit home.”

Di Vitto has been listening to podcasts like Pod Save America and playing games like Animal Crossing to help him feel more at ease with quarantine and with not having the same closure he would have had if he had concluded his senior year in-person.

Doctoral candidate in the psychology department at Fordham Jacomina Gerbrandij thinks this is a great alternative.

“With this initiative, iHeart Radio is basically giving many

graduating students the opportunity to choose someone they personally admire to give their commencement speech,” she said. “As long as the celebrities/politicians seem authentic and transparent when talking about their own personal and professional development, including successes and failures, I believe they have great potential to shape graduating students’ next phase in life, and inspire students to become their best selves.”

It can be difficult to find ways to celebrate graduation at home and also difficult to plan what lies ahead. Even so, people around the world are doing what they can to make sure seniors in both high school and college are proud of their accomplishments and know there is hope for the future.

Speakers: John Legend Halsey Ryan Seacrest Jimmy Fallon Bobbi Brown Kesha DJ Khaled Khalid Pitbull Tim McGraw Hillary Clinton Stan McChrystal Mellody Hobson David Solomon Abby Wombach

Eli Manning Mike Krzyzewski Chelsea Handler Sienna Miller Katie Couric David Chang Guy Raz Stephanie Rule Sylvia Rhone Enrique Santos Angie Martinez Bobby Bone Jake Brennan Angela Yee Woody

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THE OBSERVER May 13, 2020

Arts & Culture

Saving the World, One Virtual Play at a Time

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The production ‘Madeline May Saves the World’ proves that interactive theater can still happen virtually

By AASTHA AGGARWAL Contributing Writer

What draws us to the theater? It is the feeling of being alive, heightened and immersed in a make-believe world. Thus, a live theatrical performance allows us to experience a world more real than real, but can we still experience the same virtually?

Introducing Fordham Theatre’s spring 2020 studio production “Madeline May Saves the World,” written by Alexis Chapin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, and directed by Madeline Barasch, an acclaimed director operating out of New York and Los Angeles. This maverick, make-your-adventure performance was set to open live on March 11, but as fate decided, the university canceled all in-person events two days before the show’s premiere.

It seems like the histrionics of the coronavirus overpowered the dramatic strength of theater.

But the makers of “Madeline May Saves the World” persevered, gathering all the courage and sanity needed to rework their almost-complete live production into a highly entertaining virtual format. “Madeline May Saves the World” was livestreamed on May 4 at 7 p.m. on YouTube.

Besides the impressive turnout of 394 eager and novelty-starved Fordham students, the live performance with pre-filmed scenes involved the use of audience polls to further the storyline, an experience which captures some, if not all, aspects of an engaging theatrical experience.

Two New York City activists possessing a fanatical edge have a chance encounter with a renowned

beauty influencer (based on a famous beauty mogul of a reality TV clan), presenting them with an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s hard to fathom how environmental activism and celebrity culture are related, but if our president can be an ex-reality TV star, according to Chapin, why not have climate change and the Kardashian lookalikes in one storyline?

While the show was a highly amusing reprieve from our current reality, it relayed a deeper message to its audience. “If we ignore climate change now, maybe after the pandemic, we could be faced with a bigger catastrophe,” Chapin said about the motive for streaming the play with a global crisis in the background.

The show had been 90% complete before the coronavirus pounded on our doors with an iron fist. Despite the cancellation of university events, the show stayed in limbo. “For two weeks, we were just humans in the world, waking up and reckoning with the bizarre circumstances,” Barasch said.

The stream included live monologues by a cast member that accompanied the pre-filmed content. “It is a translation of the live format,” Barasch said. “One play could have different translations and adaptations.”

The interactive nature of the play allowed the script to translate virtually without any major changes. “The structure of the play actually lends itself well to this (format), because of layers of reality stacked together,” Barasch said. “(We) felt really lucky that the ideas of the show didn’t need to be looked at in a new light to go online.”

“A couple lines from the original script had to be cut,” Chapin said.

The action directives in the original play had to be omitted; the inability of the actors living in different parts of the U.S. to share a screen and perform action sequences limited the scope of the performance.

However, this limitation was offset by the proximity factor; the audience could observe and relate to the emotions of the actors at a deeper level by coming face-to-face with them.

Adapting the play to a virtual format presented a few technical challenges. “If we tried doing the whole play live, we could face internet lag and issues with sounds and virtual backgrounds,” Chapin said.

“It took a few hours for the playwright, director and stage manager to figure out the capabilities of Zoom before bringing the actors on board.”

Despite the underlying global uncertainty, the makers of the show are hopeful of putting up an in-person theatrical performance. “The play has a viable life as an online art object now, but this does not mean that we cannot do a live version of the show,” Barasch believes. Also, both Barasch and Chapin are using this contemplative period to explore the new future of theater, whether it is embracing virtual plays or creating non-traditional works of art. “It is really important to not stop making things and to try and be excited about this idea of translating live to virtual,” Barasch said. Chapin, too, has decided to continue writing different projects while allowing her creativity to flourish.

Catch the virtual performance of “Madeline May Saves the World” on YouTube.

SCREENSHOTS COURTESY OF ALEXIS CHAPIN VIA YOUTUBE

Alexis Chapin, FCLC ’21; and the cast and crew of “Madeline May Saves the World” used YouTube livestream as a way to display their hard work despite being separated.

The show relied upon the 394 audience members to participate. Viewers voted in online polls to determine the plot and contributed ways to help the planet to a message board, pictured here.

Isolation Films to Fill Your Quarantine With

By MELANIE CORINNE Staff Writer

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER

In my publishing theory and practice class, a guest speaker from Penguin Random House shared that, in light of the coronavirus, books about dystopia and viruses were selling like hotcakes, Albert Camus’ “The Plague” being his example at hand. I wondered if this fascination for art speaking to our current moment extended to cinema, too.

There is no shortage of isolation films to dive into. For on-thenose depictions of isolation, there is “Cast Away” (2000), a movie about a FedEx employee stranded on a desert island. This movie captures the mental anguish, uncertainty and trepidation of our quarantine concerns.

Nicole Gagliano, Gabelli School of Business ’20, suggests “Contagion” (2011) for the eeriest likeness of our current moment.

In the movie, the ensemble cast races against the progression of a virus originating in China. The movie follows the perspectives of scientists, aid workers, struggling citizens and celebrity influencers — giving a well-rounded and holistic look at the scope of events.

It’s not for the faint of heart.

If a more abstract look at isolation is preferable, then there is Lenny Abrahamson’s independent film “Room” (2015). “Room” follows a mother and son who have been held captive for years and the culture shock of their reentry into an unfamiliar world.

Returning to a post-coronavirus world will likely have us feeling similarly as apprehensive as Jack

felt leaving the room.

“The Lobster” (2015) is a dystopian black comedy — suggested by Dylan Damboise, School of Professional and Continuing Studies ’22 — starring Colin Farrell. The absurdist film, which won the Jury Prize at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, examines isolation from romantic and emotional connection. People have 45 days to find a romantic partner or they are turned into an animal of their choice. While the stakes of social distance dating aren’t quite that extreme, the loneliness may be.

Another option for creative isolation films is “This Is Not a Film” (2011), a documentary released by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi offering a meta narrative of his experience under house arrest while he was banned by his government from making films.

Artists may find aspects of their own creative process or cathartic manifestations of their own anxieties in “This Is Not a Film.”

Poet Zak Erickson, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, suggested “Muppet Treasure Island” (1996), however, as an ideal isolation movie, pointing to its poignant musical number “Cabin Fever.” English major Savannah McClendon, FCLC ’20, backed him up. “My isolation recs? Maybe musicals or nostalgic content,” she said, “I think things that remind me of the city and of being at Fordham.”

And while Fordham remains shut down as the fight against COVID-19 progresses, there is no shortage of evocative isolation films to enjoy in the downtime.

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Arts & Culture

May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

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Fordham students can stay connected with each other by sending postcards and letters — something that feels a little more special than a text.

COURTESY OF EMME WEISENFELD

Staying Connected Through Service

Lend a helping hand in your local community by choosing to volunteer as your next quarantine activity VOLUNTEER from page 1

There are many ways to get involved in relief efforts from both inside your home and outside while safely practicing social distancing protocols — with the ways listed below, anyone can get involved.

Blood Drives With blood drives across the U.S. canceled in light of concerns about the novel coronavirus, organizations like the American Red Cross are facing shortages, though the need for blood donations has not decreased. The process of giving blood doesn’t put donors at risk of contracting the coronavirus, nor has there been evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted via blood transfusions, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA recently approved revised and less-restrictive guidelines for donating blood.

You can donate whether or not you have had the coronavirus as long as you’re feeling healthy on the day of your scheduled donation. In fact, many organizations

are seeking plasma donations from individuals who have had the coronavirus and recovered in order to treat those who are currently fighting the virus.

Food Banks As unemployment claims grow by the day and families struggle to pay for food, many have turned to food banks for relief, which are struggling to keep up with the demand. Organizations like Part of the Solution (POTS), a nonprofit based in the Bronx that offers meals to those in need and operates a food pantry, need both volunteers and donations.

A third option to support food banks and other organizations helping to provide relief is to make a financial contribution.

Tutoring With students learning remotely, tutors are all the more valuable. Tutors are a great resource for students who found it difficult to transition to online coursework. College students are in a prime position to tutor due to their flexible schedules, and tutoring can provide an outlet for

human connection in these lonely times.

Fordham has a number of partnerships with local schools, such as Aquinas High School and the East Harlem Tutorial Program, to provide tutoring services. Roxanne De La Torre, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’09, the director of campus and community leadership for the Center for Community Engaged Learning, has more information on how to get involved with Fordham-affiliate programs.

Additionally, sites like Pencil and Screen, GOCOVIDCONNECT, or the World Family Children Foundation are seeking tutors.

“ Not everyone has the

same access to resources or the ability to pay for those resources, so it is crucial that people support one another. ”

Kathryn Echele, FCLC ’23

Mask-Making

Staying Connected

As homemade masks become the latest way to express COVID-19-appropriate fashion, many individuals and organizations have taken it upon themselves to turn their mask-making abilities into a form of service.

POTS launched an initiative called POTS Makes Masks where volunteers can make masks — following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines — to donate to those in need.

Lindsay Bishop, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, has made and distributed over 300 cloth masks via her Instagram-based store Hats by Lindsay, which offers a selection of hats for pigtails and ponytails.

Instead of selling her masks, however, Bishop only asks that customers donate something to help with relief efforts. “People will send me donations on Venmo for the shipping and the supplies,” Bishop said. “It’s been great to see how people are giving. It’s connected me and I honestly feel closer than ever before to a lot of people just in doing this.”

Finally, one of the simplest and perhaps most important ways to serve is by maintaining connections.

Some Fordham students have turned to postcards and handwritten letters to keep in contact with their peers. Emme Weisenfeld, FCLC ’23, plans on sending out postcards to her friends after finals. “I believe there is something so wonderful about receiving a handwritten letter. Every time I receive a letter in the mail, I know that someone has put in a good amount of time and energy to make me feel noticed,” Weisenfeld said.

Operation Gratitude, an organization that sends care packages and handwritten letters to deployed troops, first responders and veterans, has recently extended its reach to include medical personnel and others working to curb the spread of the coronavirus in a new partnership with The Starbucks Foundation.

Similarly, the Goddard Riverside Community Center, situated close to the Fordham Lincoln Center campus, put out a call for volunteers to handwrite cards and letters to older adults in the area to boost morale.

Understanding why the inequalities that necessitate these needs exist is just as important as the service itself. De La Torre and Kathryn Echele, FCLC ’23, both emphasized the importance of advocacy and social justice alongside direct service.

“Not everyone has the same access to resources or the ability to pay for those resources, so it is crucial that people support one another,” Echele said. “Social justice is equally as important ... To ensure that critical mistakes don’t get repeated, people need to advocate for change.”

With the summer coming up, there will likely be more opportunities to volunteer. For example, Echele will complete a service-oriented internship over the summer in her hometown, St. Louis, helping to provide relief to immigrants in her local community and to aid in coronavirus recovery efforts.

The aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic will likely last a long time, so there will be plenty of opportunities to help with recovery efforts in the coming months. As classes end, staying connected to those near and far is more important than ever, and lending a helping hand — whether virtual or physical — could be just the thing you need to break out of that coronavirus slump.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LINDSAY BISHOP

Lindsay Bishop, FCLC ‘18, has made and distributed over 300 face masks, collecting donations for pandemic relief efforts. Giving blood and donating time or money to food banks are some of the other ways you can help out in your community.

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THE OBSERVER May 13, 2020

Arts & Culture

Rams Celebrate Mother’s Day! “ Dear Mom, Amie and

What would there be without mothers? Absolutely nothing.

Mother’s Day gives us a chance to reflect on mothers’ influence on our lives and thank them for all that they’ve done for us. A few students and staff share a special thanks to their mothers here.

COURTESY OF MARIELLE SARMIENTO

COURTESY OF MADDIE SANDHOLM

“ Dear Mom,

Happy Mother’s Day! Thank you for always supporting me and all you do for me, Dad & Em!” COURTESY OF MARIELLE SARMIENTO

Grandma, Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

Mom, thanks for all your support and advice.

Amie and Grandma, thank you both for helping raise me and always having yummy food whenever I visit!

I love you all so very much!”

Maddie Sandholm, FCLC ’23

Marielle Sarmiento, FCLC ’21

“ Mom, thank you for

putting up with me during quarantine, cooking delicious meals every day, and letting me bother you constantly with my insignificant problems!”

COURTESY OF MADDIE SANDHOLM

COURTESY OF MADDIE SANDHOLM

“ I am proud to call you

Margot Reid, GSBLC ’21

my mom. I appreciate you.

I love you. I owe so much of what I have been able to do to you. Thank you.”

COURTESY OF ALEXA SPECIALE

Madeline Dwyer, FCLC ’22

“ To my mom and

grandma: Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a strong and independent woman!

I love you gals!”

Cleo Papadopoulos, FCLC ’22

COURTESY OF MADELINE DWYER

COURTESY OF MADELINE DWYER

“ Thanks mom for always making me the happiest person in the world.”

COURTESY OF CLEO PAPADOPOULOS

Valeria Deminova, FCRH ’22

COURTESY OF CLEO PAPADOPOULOS

“ Mom - Thank you

for always believing in me and pushing me to be better!”

COURTESY OF CAITLIN BURY

Rachel Meyer, FCLC ’20

COURTESY OF RACHEL MEYER

COURTESY OF VALERIA DEMINOVA

17

Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams - ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu

un & ames

Crossword: Make or Break

ACROSS 1. movie carrier, before streaming services: Abbr.

4. protective layer over a healing wound 8. challenge for a speed competition (2 wds.)

14. “What ___ thou art, act well thy part” (attributed to Sheakespeare)

ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS

15. cavity 16. type of cell that changes shape in response to variation in moisture 17. ___ of; in love with 19. type of dragonfly, or one who mends socks 20. cause a commotion at the beach 22. capable of being perceived

Color a Graduation Gown Post a picture of your design and tag @fordhamobserver as well as a senior who has made your time at Fordham special.

May 13, 2020 THE OBSERVER

23. a nonprotein element of blood 24. negative responses 25. cultural club at Fordham: Abbr.

26. ___ Mexicano, across the street from the Lincoln Center campus 30. earth goddess in Greek mythology 32. where the film and television industry is centered: Abbr.

34. French sea 35. create a happy dawn 39. character Hakim of “Oklahoma!”

40. location of Annefield in Virginia 41. ___ of Liberty 42. one hundredth of a dollar 44. computer addresses: Abbr.

45. steal 46. 4,840 square yards 48. legal guardians, often 52. facilitate a spotless and complete exit 55. dresser or chest of drawers 56. “and so on” 57. approach with aggression 58. Simba or Nala, for example

59. polka ___ 60. Macbeth and Macduff, for example 61. organize by type 62. direction from Central Park to Prospect Park: Abbr.

DOWN

31. comparable 33. able to soak up liquid, of a sponge perhaps 35. Apple computer 36. salon offerings 37. cast out 38. student government vice president Stryczek 43. accept, as of a workload (2 wds.)

45. resentfulness 47. ___ and desist 48. terrace or small courtyard 49. necessities 50. varieties of a tropical edible root 51. ice or roller shoe 52. as ___; an equal amount 53. stage name of singer Alejandra Ghersi 54. slippery fish and sidekicks to Ursula 55. piece of baseball equipment

1. considers 2. ___ cavae; two large veins 3. “Hotline Bling” artist 4. theatrical steamboats, one of which is the setting of a Hammerstein musical 5. reef inhabitants 6. naproxen brand 7. saint and author of the “Ecclesiastical History of the English People” 8. type of snake with a bright underside 9. common sound in the morning 10. occupation Sign up for The Observer’s 11. Italian stratovolcano weekly newsletter for more 12. timid puzzles and the latest stories.

13. mess up 18. jerk, informally 21. Bantu language spoken mostly in Zimbabwe 25. facets 27. prophetic sign 28. small oceans 29. Noah’s building project 30. strong wind

Block Party

Can you place the pink blocks in the grid to form a complete square? They all fit in the orientation shown.

What do you want to see in Fun & Games this summer?

We’re still publishing!

Email: ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu

Congratulations to the FCLC Class of 2020!

Although we are unable to celebrate with you in person, we send along our very best wishes for a wonderful graduation day and a future filled with many blessings! We miss you!

Fordham College at Lincoln Center Office of the Dean and Academic Advising Center