OPINIONS
FEATURES
PETA PORN
PLACEBO EFFECT
New ad campaign uses sensationalism to promote vegansm. PAGE 6
Can good throughts cure the common cold? PAGE 19
the observer www.fordhamobserver.com
OctoBER 20, 2011 Volume XXx, Issue 11
Wall Street Protesters Recount Experience By Laura Chang News Editor
The Occupy Wall Street protest began Sept. 17 and has since grown into a widespread demonstration with daily media coverage. Some of these protesters include Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) students who go downtown straight after classes end. “Protesting on this level is much more fun than a football game,” Mark Naison, professor of african american studies and history, said. Naison said, “Hell yes this is a movement.” He said that the concept of “‘occupy’ didn’t even exist a month ago,” yet these occupants have “changed the vocabulary of political discourse.” “Nobody talked about the concept of occupation in August. Who would have understood ‘Occupy Fordham’?” Naison said. “It’s making people think that they have the power to take control of their situation.” Naison has actively participated in several “Occupy” groups from Occupy Wall Street to Occupy the Bronx and even Occupy New Jersey. “Every time I’ve gone down there, there are drums beating and people are dancing,” Naison said. “Since they can’t find jobs, they might as well have a good time trying to change the country.” According to Naison, while he was growing up, the top one percent of America only controlled nine percent of the nation’s wealth and now it is up to 44 percent. “I’ve been waiting for something like this to happen for a long time. This level of inequality just rubs me the wrong way.” Megan O’Hara, FCLC ’13, went to the protest whenever she did not see Wall Street pg.3
FATIMA SHAbBIR/the observer
As Occupy Wall Street enters its second month, protestors remain unhappy about the current state of the economy.
Unstable Economy Causes Students To Question Future By Esther FERNANDO Staff Writer
Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’s students reacted to an article by TIME Moneyland entitled “Americans Overwhelmingly Pessimistic About the Economy,” with both concern and optimism. According to the article by Brad Tuttle, a survey was conducted which polled U.S. residents regarding their views on the current status of the American economy and how optimistic they are of future improvement. Fordham students who hope to get a job once they graduate have concerns about finding one.
One concern is not being able to pay for graduate school, said Megan Brandon, FCLC ’13. “I’m optimistic about the economy. However, not over a short period of time because it’s a process to regain people’s faith in inverting and buying.” She said that it takes time “for job creation and employment to affect those who aren’t currently employed.” She continued, “I am extremely nervous about getting a job after I graduate, especially since I plan to invest in law school upon getting my undergraduate degree.” Michael Thurman, a professor in the political science department, stated that the problem is not economic, but political. “Be-
ginning with Ronald Reagan, a mantra appeared that said that the government was the problem and this has been exacerbated by the ‘Tea Party’ movement. In a sophisticated modern economy, government is absolutely essential. If you say that the government is the problem, what do you have left?” The article said that the majority of Americans believe that the economy is in a crisis and have little confidence on it getting any better: only 6 percent of respondents categorized current economic conditions as excellent or good. The survey said that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) described
conditions as “poor,” while 31 percent rated the state of the economy as “only fair.” Fordham students who hope to get a job once they graduate have concerns about finding one. Angela Krontiris, FCLC ’13, displayed optimism as well, but with concern over the competition of other students looking to apply for the same job positions. “I am concerned that once I graduate it will be hard to find a job because of the competition of other graduates searching for a job, as well as the experienced workers who were laid off finding entry-level positions,” Krontris see ECONomy pg. 4
features
Inside OPINIONS
NobeL peace prize
Well-deserved win for activist. u PAGE 7
LITERARY
Eve’s new eyes
Adam's apple, lodged in his neck like a cork u PAGE 21
ARTS & CULTURE
bob dylan
Is his artwork real? u PAGE 14
Syrian Professor, Activist, Discusses Conflict in Home Country By Faith Heaphy Editor-In-Chief
The conf lict in Syria, which began in March to overthrow the dictator, President Bashar al-Assad, is not losing any steam as protesters, taking a cue from Egyptians, crowd the streets and use the Internet to demand democratic freedom from an oppressive and brutal regime. At latest count, the fight for new leadership has cost more than 2,900 lives. While the debate continues at the United Nations as to whether foreign intervention will hurt or help
the cause, human rights activists are demanding relief for those tortured and killed every day. The Observer spoke with Syrian-born Mohamed Alsiadi, coordinator of the Arabic Language and Cultural Studies program at Fordham, who is a leader in the American-Syrian support movement which seeks to aid peaceful protesters seeking political change in a nation filled with turmoil. Observer: What is the main goal of
the protest?
Mohamed Alsiadi: The pri-
The Student Voice of Fordham College at Lincoln Center
mary objective is to topple Assad’s regime, which has always been oppressive and brutal but is much more so in the face of opposition. It’s also clear the people want an altogether new political system in Syria, one where they enjoy more basic rights we take for granted in America, like freedom of speech. The Syrian people dream of democracy. This dream was unfathomable to them in the past. But Syrians have been inspired by the resistance movement in Egypt. They began see SYRIA pg.18
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News
October 20, 2011 The Observer
Briefs METRO
Number of Homeless in the Bronx Decreases On Oct. 17, the New York Times reported that the number of single homeless people in the streets of Bronx has dropped 80 percent since 2005. The Bloomberg administration said it was due to small shelters called Safe Havens that provide about 40 beds. The Safe Havens help the homeless find permanent housing near social services.
Queens Man Arrested for Series of Sex Attacks According to The New York Times, Joshua Flecha was arrested for attempting to break into a parked car on Oct. 18. He was in possession of a pornographic video, marijuana and his pants were undone. A victim later picked Flecha out of a lineup for an assault that happened back in May. NATIONAL
Social Security Gets First Raise Since 2009 On Oct. 18, the Associate Press reported that Social Security recipients will receive about a 3.5 percent raise in January. This is the first increase in benefits since 2009, and will provide about $38 extra a month. The Social Security Administration said that most retirees rely on the fund for 90 percent of their income.
Obama’s Telemprompter Stolen According to MSNBC, a van with President Obama’s teleprompter and lectern were stolen on Oct. 17. About $200,000 worth of audio equipment and other equipment were also inside of the van. There was no classified information inside of the van.
Children Under Two Advised Not To Watch TV On Oct. 18, the American Academy of Pediatrics warned parents to limit the time their infants or toddlers spend in front of televisions, computers, self-described educational games. The New York Times reported that the group said, “vVdeo screen time provides no educational benefits for children under age two and leaves less room for activities that do.” International
Gilad Shalit Returns Home Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, was freed on Oct. 18 after a deal that involved the release of 1,027 Palestinians from Israeli prisons. According to the Guardian, thousands of people celebrated his return to Israel. The soldier has been held captive since 2006.
Tibetan Nun Dies in Protest Demonstration On Oct. 18, the BBC reported that Tenzin Wangmo, a Tibetan nun, set herself on fire in a town near Sichuan, China after calling for freedom of Tibet. The protest is to free Tibet from Chinese occupation. This is the ninth incident in recent months where monks from the monastery set themselves on fire.
Hilary Clinton Visits Libya According to the Associated Press, the Obama administration offered millions in new aid to Libya. On Oct. 18, Hilary Clinton announced that Gadhafi will hopefully be captured or killed soon. Clinton visited Libya for a day where she talked about the upcoming changes United States wants to see in Libya. Compiled by Laura Chang & Sara Azoulay
www.fordhamobserver.com
University Hosts Dream Act Forum By REx sakamoto Contributing Writer
Anyone can apply to college, but not everyone can afford to pay the hefty tuition. Most solve this problem by applying for financial aid, but for undocumented students this is not an option. Undocumented students are youth that have moved to the United States and are not considered to hold legal residency. According to Salvatore Longarino, director of the Office for International Students, Fordham does accept undocumented students, but they tend not to be able to pay for the tuition. He said, “Fordham and many other big universities like Columbia and NYU do not check for legal status, but we are denying education to those who cannot afford to pay tuition since we cannot award them financial aid.” Longarino said that many undocumented students come from low-income families, who tend to maintain low paying jobs that do not require a background check. However, Fordham performs a background check when students apply for financial aid, and without financial aid, an undocumented student cannot afford the tuition. On Tuesday Oct. 11, Fordham hosted a meeting addressing the Dream Act in New York. This act would provide a way for undocumented youth in the U.S. to receive financial aid as well as a path to citizenship assuming they have plans to attend college or serve in the military. On Oct. 8, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed the Dream Act allowing undocumented students to receive state scholarships. With the support of New York Senator Bill Perkins as well as other groups that endorse the Dream Act, the meeting hoped to inspire change in New York State as well. Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles, Cardinal Roger Mahoney, who commented via videolink at the beginning of the event, said, “The reward of having young people build their lives on sound character so they don’t feel guilty because they don’t have legal status is them having the literal amplitude to become legally present and productive in our society. It increases their own moral values and their moral ethical commitments to our loans.” He also brought up the history of Fordham and the fact that the Irish immigrant John Joseph Hughes founded the school and it would be contradictory to our history if we did not accept undocumented youth. Many families immigrate to the U.S. in hopes of providing a better future for the next generation. After high school, however,
KATHERINE FOTINOS/The Observer
State senator Bill Perkins discusses immigration reform at the event held at Fordham.
undocumented students’ choices are limited, as many colleges and jobs require citizenship. This was the case for Melissa Garcia Velez who spoke about her personal experiences and trials at the meeting. Velez is a sophomore in the honors program at Lehman College and president of the Lehman Dream Team. She is from Buga, Colombia, and is an undocumented student. “Lehman College does not check your citizenship status. They care more about your academic future and abilities, which is how it should be,” she said. Asmaou Diallo, FCRH ’12, said, “In high school I was an undocumented student. Some of my friends, were undocumented, too, and I would talk about our situation because we did not know what to do. Sometimes we would joke a little about the alternatives but when we went home we would cry because we were scared and didn’t know what to do.” Fortunately for Diallo, she was able to obtain a green card, which allowed her to attend Fordham but for many other students this is not the case. Obtaining a green card or be-
coming a naturalized citizen does not happen overnight. The process of becoming a citizen sometimes takes 10 to 20 years or more. Elaine Congress, associate dean at Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service, said, “Telling immigrants to get a green card is an elitist thing to say. Many people don’t realize the time and resources necessary to obtaining one.” This does not mean that Fordham does not have any undocumented students. Logarino presented the following hypothetical situation: “Suppose I was a straight ‘A’ student and valedictorian of my class and I was accepted to Fordham. I would not apply for financial aid, though. Instead, I would set up a deal with my father or rich uncle to help pay for my tuition. But once I finish college and get a degree, I cannot get a job because I don’t have citizenship, a passport and I can’t travel.” Despite the positive future the Dream Act promises, many people feel that it is too costly and we should focus on people who are U.S. citizens. NPR stated that the Dream Act could cost upwards of six bil-
lion dollars, which is a large financial strain to have on an economy with 9.1 percent unemployment (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Darryl McLeod, Center for International Policy Studies and Economic Department at Fordham, said, “The Dream Act is an investment and the return could be as much as one to two trillion dollars in the future. The undocumented students who come to our school would become educated and then become an active citizen in our society. The United States would then be able to benefit from their connections because they tie us to other economies around the world.” Mahoney said, “As a Catholic university it is our duty to reach out into the community and help those in need.” At the end of the meeting, the speakers encouraged Fordham to start their own Dream Team as well as soliciting the support of the state legislature. In their fight for citizenship, undocumented students like Velez have adopted the motto, “undocumented, unafraid and unapologetic.”
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Commuter-Resident Ratio No Longer 50/50
News
3
Calendar THUR., OCT. 20
Sophomore Convocation
By Kusum Dhansinghani Contributing Writer
The resident population at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) has gradually increased while the percentage of commuters has subtly declined over the last five years. Most students are told that half the student population commuts to school while the other half live in McMahon Hall dormitories, a fact that no longer holds true. According to Patricia Peek, associate dean of admission and director of Lincoln Center’s Enrollment Group, applications for admission have been increasing in general across all categories, whether they are applying for housing or not. This year, 59 percent of freshman students live in McMahon while 41 percent reside off-campus. Peek also said that 58.1 percent of the general FCLC population was comprised of non-residents in 2006, and decreased to 55.9 percent in 2010. The percentage of resident students was 41.9 percent in 2006 and rose to 44.1 percent in 2010. Peek pointed to various reasons that play a role in the changing percentage of resident to commuter students. “Each year there are some fluctuations in the number of residential life spaces available for freshmen. These factors include vacancies due to study abroad, attrition and students who opt to live off-campus.” She said that in recent years, the demand for housing has been high at FCLC and the school was unable to offer residential spaces to all students who requested housing. “There will be additional residential spaces available when the new residence hall opens and at that time, we will address how that may change the ratio of residents on campus.” However, commuters like Kevin Quaratino, FCLC ’13 and president
Noon - 1 p.m. Pope Auditorium
Club Networking Dinner 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Cafeteria Atrium
CSA’s Taboo Night 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Student Lounge
SOL’s Movie Screening of “City of Gods” 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Student Lounge TUE., OCT. 25
CAB/Res-Life Halloween Party 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Cafeteria Atrium & Student Lounge THUR., Oct. 27
CSA’s Trip to Haunted House 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Steampunk Haunted House
FACE AIDS’ Movie Screening of “Philadelphia” 7 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. TBA photo illustration by SARA AZOULAY/The Observer
The lockers at FCLC are available for commuters to use but the percentage of commuters is dwindling.
of the Commuting Students Association (CSA), does not believe that an increase of residents is a concern for the organization. Quaratino said, “The commuter population is very involved and they tend to really stick together and they understand that because they are not traditional college students, their college experience is really up to them, and as a result they’re really good about attending CSA events.” There may be no threat for CSA, but some students think the invisible line between the two groups exists.
Nikaurys Quiterio, FCLC ’13, who commutes from the Bronx said, “I don’t feel like commuters and residents have a sense of unity.” Quiterio said that it isn’t as strong as it could be, but she does not think an increase of residents would have an effect on her. “Yes, Lincoln Center is more of a commuter college, but it’s also a college and it needs to have that residential aspect,” she said. Commuters are not the only individuals at Fordham who notice the divide. Laura Cunningham, FCLC ’13 and a resident in McMahon, said, “A lot of events aren’t
convenient for commuters so I feel like there is a disconnect. I’ve made commuter friends in class and when I ask them to hang out they tell me that they don’t live here.” Although some students see the divide, it is still not the case for everyone. Jonathon Johnson, FCLC ’13, is a commuter but has many friends who live here on campus. He said, “I’m friends with commuters and residents, and I’ve never had a problem. I feel like when people make those factors distinguishable, they’re separating and isolating themselves.”
FRI., OCT. 28
SOL Block Party Electric Amazon 8 p.m. - Midnight Cafeteria Atrium & Student Lounge TUE., NOV. 1
Fordham’s Got Talent Audition Day 1 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Cafeteria Atrium & Student Lounge
Compiled by Laura Chang
Faculty and Students Discuss Wall Street Movement Wall Street From PAGE 1
have class, and said that she went the first day it began after reading a post by Anonymous, the online activist hacking group. “I think it’s insane and beautiful how people have really caught on to the ideas that have been broadcasted through the Occupy Wall Street movement.” She said that the reason she thinks the protests have lasted a month has largely to do with the protestors’ discipline and respect. “There’s a huge emphasis on respect and nonviolence and that’s given the movement a lot of staying power because police and authorities have no excuse to put a stop to it,” O’ Hara said. Naison agrees with O’Hara’s statement, and said, “Everytime you send the police there, it only
makes the movement even bigger.” In May 2011’s Vanity Fair issue, Joseph E. Stiglitz wrote the article entitled “Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%,” where he stated that the top one percent control 40 percent of our nation’s wealth. That one percent is mainly wealthy corporations and people who work in national corporations like Wall Street. It is the rest of the 99 percent in which O’Hara said the protest is trying to shift consciousness towards. “Students are a part of the 99 percent of the country that did not benefit from the bank bailouts and it is our student loans that aren’t getting bailed out.” As a student, she said that it is our responsibility to take action. “We’re about to go out and enter the world after we graduate and
we should be the ones making sure for ourselves that it’s the world we want to go out into.” Another FCLC student said he really wants to go, but cannot make it due to his class and internship schedule. However, Ardi Domgjonia, FCLC ’13, said that he strongly supports the protestors at Wall Street and hopes the movement will continue to be strong. He said that he is skeptical about how much longer this movement will last. “With winter coming along, I don’t know how many more people will stand outside in the cold and sleepover parks, but my hope is that this movement, although it has the name Wall Street, will continue to spread to other places and not stay on Wall Street.” He discussed how Boston and Wash-
ington, D.C. have held their own version of the protest, but the fact that hundreds are arrested over there is as important as if it were on Wall Street. Domgjonia also said that he is glad the protest is at Wall Street, a symbolic space that has inf luenced cities across the nation. He said that the media will always cover the good and the bad, “but the important thing is that they have attracted media attention.” In addition, Naison said that he encourages everyone, not just his students, to go. “This is where the action is in American right now because it is all over the world.” He concluded, “Things can change very fast, and this movement is a month old, but its already made history. Hold on to your hats because it’s going to become more.”
Crime FRI., OCT. 7 At 1:20 a.m., a guest tried to walk passed the security desk in McMahon Hall as a resident and failed to display an ID card. He was with five other students who had their ID card with them. He refused to cooperate and security was notified. Sat., Oct. 8 At 1:10 p.m., a former student entered the Lincoln Center bookstore and attempted to steal a book. The student was apprehended by security and taken off the premises. SUN., OCT. 9 At 1 a.m., a supervisor received a call that there was a heated dispute from an apartment in McMahon Hall. Upon arrival, the supervisor found broken beer bottles and the students were referred to Residential Life. Mon., OCT. 10
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A student was walking on the plaza to McMahon Hall when she was encountered by a group of nine males at 3:45 p.m. The males started to harass the student so they were ejected from the plaza and are subject to arrest if they had returned. Thurs., OCT. 13
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At 11:15 p.m., a student found a plastic bag containing marijuana in the laundry room of McMahon Hall. Security was immediately notified. Compiled by Sara Azoulay
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October 20, 2011 The Observer
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New Club System Beneficial to Organizations By Richard Ramsundar Contributing Writer
Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) students and club leaders manage and organize clubs through a system called OrgSync. The Office of Student Leadership and Community Development (OSLCD) decided to replace Campus Groups, the previous system used for three years, after students found that it was inconvenient. The switch to OrgSync first took place at the beginning of this school year. After a month, several students and faculty shared positive feedback about it. Michelle Tam, FCLC ’13 president of Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC), said that Campus Groups was not functional and said, “As treasurer of APAC last year I only ever used it to request money and request rooms. No one was on it and the only reason people went on it was for treasurers to request money.” Tam said, “I like Org Sync because now everyone is on it and all the students can check the calendar to see what is going on instead of just relying on emails which are not always delivered.” Aisha Blake, FCLC ’13 and secretary of Global Outreach (GO!), said that Campus Groups was an “unfortunate self-fulfilling prophecy.” She said, “I didn’t get any updates from clubs when I was a freshman, so I forgot about it.” Blake also said, “When I became a club leader, I figured most people had a similar experience, so why use it if no one was going to pay attention to my updates?” According to Dorothy Wenzel,
Org Sync provides a layout that students did not have access to when using campus groups.
director of Student Leadership and Community Development, “Campus Groups was a good system for processing club requests, but we had some complaints from students about technical difficulties.” Wenzel said that after FCLC students participated in a demonstration of OrgSync last year, they recommended to switch. She said that
OrgSync is “designed for the entire student body,” not just club leaders. In addition, Wenzel said that OrgSync is “a great way to find out what’s happening on campus.” “Students can join clubs through OrgSync and get news and updates about their student organizations. FCLC students also have access to the Rose Hill clubs and organiza-
tions to join those groups and find out about events happening at Rose Hill. “ Kevin Quaratino, FCLC ’13 and president of Commuting Students’ Association (CSA), agreed with Wenzel about OrgSync’s convenience, and said, “From what I understand, it’s extremely user friendly. We’re big fans of the “so-
cial networking” inspired design as well as the efficient process for submitting event requests.” Other leaders like Nazia Kamruzzaman, FCLC ’13 and public relations officer of Desi Chai, said, “The greatest part about OrgSync is that we can book rooms without clashing with other clubs and students are well aware about where and when club meetings will occur.” “There are times when OrgSync gets confusing but there is a ‘help’ button which provides explanations and can help you find what you’re looking for,” Kamruzzaman said. Umma Saima, FCLC ’14 and also public relations officer of Desi Chai, said, “Last year people barely ever knew anything about what was happening at Rose hill. With OrgSync, it’s easier to stay updated about both campuses.” First year students, like Noureen Qureshi, FCLC ’15, said that OrgSync helped her stay involved on campus. “In general, this tool allows me to schedule my academic and social life, leaving little room for mixups in my schedules,” Qureshi said. “At first the system takes some getting used to, but the calendar and event list are to the point and easy to access.” Overall, students like OrgSync better compared to Campus Groups, but there were still some that disagreed. Leon Nisnevich, FCLC ’15, said, “It’s one more social network type of thing I have to keep track of. He said, “It’s must easier to use Facebook. Clubs should have better Facebook integration because it’s much easier to use and is a multiplatform.”
Students React to Uncertainty of America’s Economic Future Economy From PAGE 1
said. “The best advice for a student facing the struggles of finding a job in the future should continue their education by going on to graduate school.” Thurman said, “All economies go through difficult periods after a recession, and this one was bigger than most. It may take a year or two for it to recover. This is not unusual for a recovery of this size.” Only 31 percent of people surveyed are optimistic about the economy. Over 51 percent believe that we are still in a recession and are not sure if the economy will be in a better state. According to the TIME Moneyland article, “The two groups who are the most optimistic about the economy in the next 12 months are the groups who many people say have suffered the most over the past few years: young people ages 18 to 34 (41 percent optimistic) and African Americans (61 percent).” The statistic continued and said that 61 percent of people surveyed are pessimistic of the government enhancing economic growth in the future. Ashley Misir, FCLC ’15, displayed some positivity about the economy improving, but with little concern, “I have hope that the economy will get better, but I will definitely intern before I graduate to try to secure a job. Getting a job once I graduate is my main concern and affected my major choice. But I plan on going to graduate school, and I’m
hoping that the extra education will provide me with a higher chance of getting a job.” As for the elusive American Dream, of the four out of five people surveyed, 80 percent believe it is harder to achieve now than in the past. Only 12 percent of Hispanics and 17 percent of African Americans feel that it is currently easier to accomplish the dream. In addition, “Youngsters in the 18- to 34-year-old category are the least likely to think that achieving the American Dream has gotten harder over the last 10 years.” Some Fordham students hope to intern to secure a job once they graduate. Katarina O’Regan FCLC ’12 said, “I would love to be able to get a job out of the internships I did in the past. Even if I don’t end up working for them I will have job experience which would make me a more competitive candidate.” In addition, O’Reagan said that she wanted to be positive about the economy getting better, but she thinks it will take a while. “I am definitely concerned about getting a job after I graduate especially because as a liberal arts student I don’t think I am very much in demand,” she said. “I do want to go to graduate school eventually because I would like to get a job that requires an advanced degree. Ideally I’d like to work for a bit after undergraduate, and then get my master’s, but if I can’t get a job I might have to go straight into graduate school.”
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The Observer October 20, 2011
News
5
Q&A: Larry Stemple
Music Professor Receives Kurt Weill Book Prize For Novel you don’t know what it looked like on stage. I came across in the memoirs of none other than Mark Twain, who happened to be traveling through New York in 1866 and saw this show. He writes a description that is as vivid as you can imagine. He describes what is awe inspiring about this production. I just happened to be reading Mark Twain! The whole history was put together like this. As you get to the 20th century, you’ve got more and more material. Even then, some of the shows changed so it’s tough to get a hold of what a show was- what it looked like, what it sounded like. Observer: Describe the class you’re teaching at LC next semester.
By Sara Azoulay Photography Co-Editor & Asst. News Editor
Larry Stempel, a professor of music at Fordham University at Rose Hill, was honored with the Kurt Weill Book Prize for his book, “Showtime,” on Oct. 12. Professor Stempel will be teaching a history course based around theatre next spring at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) and will use “Showtime” as the main text for the course. The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music, established in 1990, awards scholarly work in the disciplines of music, theatre, dance, literary criticism, and history every two years. The award also includes a 5,000 cash prize. “Showtime” is a history of the Broadway musical theatre dating back to the 18th century. In a review of “Showtime” in the Washington Post, critic Lloyd Rose refers to Stempel’s approach to establishing the difference between 18th century and modern theatre as “painstaking genius.” Professor Stempel had worked on his novel close to 30 years before finally releasing it in 2010.
ST: Well, the class will use the book
Observer: What is the synopsis of
“Showtime”?
Larry Stemple: The book is a
comprehensive history that goes over in rough chronological order from the 18th century, when the Europeans first came over and did a little musical bits for entertainment, to the present day. Observer: What influenced you to
start the book?
LS: I had been writing music all
along, a lot of it was far out electronic music, but [then] I joined Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). [They] had a musical theatre workshop that I joined in the early 1970’s as a composer. They hooked me up with a lyric writer and we started writing musicals. And as I got into the nitty gritty of it, I realized
Sara azoulay/The Observer
Professor Larry Stempel recieved a high honor from the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.
I didn’t know much of the past of where musicals came from. I started looking into it and the more I did, the more fascinated I become. I then realized there was no book that had really looked at primary documents or had approached it from a scholarly perspective. There was a lot of general books, some journalistic, that looked at the whole history of musical shows but none of them that seemed to do it systemically and comprehensively. So I started, not realizing how many years it would take, to get through this. Observer: Why do you think it
took so long? ST: It’s a combination of things.
Number one, there were very little other scholars work that I could rely on so I really had to go to primary sources, that sometimes didn’t even exist. The other thing was the nature of the beast I was studying, which is not documents but live performances. So you’re looking for the traces of live performances and sometimes they don’t exist either. Often times you have to fall back on newspaper reviews that you don’t know what the songs were, what the lyrics were, what the story was about. To give an example,
a show that was a break through show called “The Black Crook” from 1866. Everybody mentions it but very few people have actually looked at the text, I finally got a hold of the text and read it, but nobody actually knows what the music was. There were so many revivals of it that a lot of the music from the revivals have been attributed to the original production. As far as I can find, I still don’t know really what the specific music from the original production. Another thing is “how did it look like?” There were no photographs at all. There were a couple of studio shots from the revivals but
[“Showtime”] as a textbook. In the course of the class, I hope we also will analyze the components: What makes a lyric a lyric and how the notion of what a lyric for a song has changed over time and how it works differently from a show from the 1920s as opposed to a show in the 1950s and from today. It’s really a history class but it also focuses on the elements that goes into making a show. We look at lyrics , we look at the music, and we look at writing a play that lends itself for songs. And what I’m hoping to do is to try and link that to some show that we will study and that we will actually see. I’ll take advantage of New York City. Observer: When did you find out
about the Book Prize?
LS: I just got an email from Carolyn
Webber the first week of October. I’m delighted and grateful. I have a project related I’m working on - a spin off. I want to put together an ethology of primary documents that we can look the history of theatre by reading exactly what people wrote. It’ll be the actual voices of the people who actually created these or saw them in performances so getting a cultural perspective on the musical from the “horses mouth” so to speak.
Dominican Republic and Ecuador Added to Global Outreach Trips By anthony gong Contributing Writer
Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’s Global Outreach (GO!) added two new destinations to its list of projects for the 2012 academic year, Dominican Republic (DR) and Ecuador. They are scheduled to take place during winter and spring break, respectively. Theresa Murphy, coordinator of GO! at FCLC, said that she is very excited and fortunate to have both projects happening early next year. The sudden event for including the DR came when Elizabeth Brockland, a former member of GO! and Fordham alumnus from Rose Hill, suggested Murphy to visit the DR after finding an organization who was willing to cooperate with them. According to Murphy, selected members of the GO! team will go to the town of Esperanza in northwest DR, promoting both educational and social justice toward the Dominican and Haitian communities. Another group of students will travel to the city of Quito, the capital of Ecuador, working with less fortunate families and to get a feel of how hard life is like there. “It’s a learning experience first and foremost,” Murphy said. “This program is created to examine a world outside yourself. Global Outreach is referred by many sources like other organizations, and past graduates who recommends us on places to go see.” Murphy said that GO! is a service-based and cultural immersion program designed to teach Fordham students numerous matters of
Courtesy of Monica Hanna
Tasks for different GO! projects vary, but students in the spring 2011 New Orleans trip exemplify how the team helps the community.
political and economic injustices, while living a life that stimulates spiritual improvement. It first began in 1999 at Lincoln Center. Its philosophy centers around four pillars that serve as the structure of the program: spirituality, social justice, community and simple living. Abiezer Mendez, FCLC ‘12, and leader of the DR project this year, said that he and his team will partner up with the Joan Rose Foundation, an after school program for the Dominican and Haitian youths.
The children receive food, education and clothing from the organization. Coordinated by a Haitian couple, the foundation tries to build bridges of understanding between Dominicans and Haitians alike. “Global Outreach has allowed me to realize my passion for direct service and has taught me a lot about myself,” Mendez said. “It’s a life changing program. Everything about Global Outreach is appealing to me: the reflections, the bonding, the experience, everything,” he
said. As for the Ecuador project, Laura McClelland, FCLC ’13 and leader of GO! Ecuador, said that her team will be working with the Working Boys Center (WBC), a Jesuit organization centered in the capital city. It was founded to help young boys in need who worked on the streets shining shoes. “For more specifics, the project is fairly new so I’m still working out all the kinks,” said McClelland. “As a member of Global Outreach, all I
can say is that this is the best program offered at Fordham. I highly recommend GO! to everyone, especially those who don’t think they will like it.” Monica Hanna, FCLC ’12, and leader of the Ghana project next summer, has been a member since her sophomore year. She has gone to Florida and New Orleans with GO before leading New Orleans last spring. “A GO! experience is a GO! experience,” said Hanna. “GO! is not about helping people but going to work with the community toward their goals. GO! will certainly teach you a very different way of thinking.” Hanna also said that you will learn “the difference between charity and justice.” In addition, both Murphy and Hanna believer fundraising is important to any team’s trip for GO! Murphy said that she believes individual fund-raising is the bulk of GO!’s project cost. Hanna said that fundraising for both domestic and foreign GO! trips are estimated to cost anywhere from $300-$3000 per student. She said, “It’s not like I’m just selling cookies or waffles. I want to tell people just what exactly I’m doing.” Murphy said that she encourages students to participate and get involved because “it’s lasting and deep.” “Here at Global Outreach, we want students to look at or be touched in the experiential learning, but also see the justice which is long term social change,” she said.
Opinions
October 20, 2011 The Observer
STAFF EDITORIAL
C
thankful to be heard
oncerned with the current state of our economy, students increasingly fear the difficult search for jobs that will face them after graduation. Some students, especially those in liberal arts, wonder whether they even chose the right major. According to Esther Fernando’s article on page 1, “Unstable Economy Causes Students to Question Future,” some are relying on opportunities from internships to keep them afloat, while others are banking on graduate school to put off the inevitable job search. Although many may alter their career paths based on what will be most lucrative for their future, others hold onto the hope that their passion for a subject will be enough to sustain a stable salary. It’s not just at FCLC where we feel anxious about the future. Protestors are heading downtown in droves to fight what they feel are unjust practices in the corporate world; it’s clear that it’s not just students who are making themselves
As Americans, we have the ability to speak our minds and fight for causes because our constitutional rights allow us to do so.
heard as they grow frustrated with the strain of financial insecurity. Everyone has been affected. However, while this is ample cause for concern, we must put our plight in perspective. According to an interview with Prof. Alsiadi, a leader in the American-Syrian support movement on page 1, citizens in Syria who desire to break away from government corruption are also anxious about their economy, yet they cannot voice their anger as freely. Protesters there face the threat of torture and even death. In a brutal regime, fighting for democracy and freedom is stifled, as
thousands have lost lives in the struggle to overturn current conditions in a land controlled by a dictator. As Americans, we do not face that fear. As Americans, we have the ability to speak our minds and fight for causes because our constitutional rights allow us to do so. While some may discredit protesters as ignorant masses of people who just want to stir up trouble, there are many people with opinionated voices who are passionate about what they believe and do feel that outwardly showing their support or aversion will make a difference. And our voices can evoke change. Consistent media coverage ensures that citizens across the nation are kept up-to-date on what protesters face and accomplish. Syria however, does not get that same level of media exposure. As students, we must learn to not only appreciate our liberties, but understand how protesters in countries not always consistently visible in the news, face oppression daily.
PETA Uses Sensational Advertising to Promote Veganism The Organization Concerns Itself With Stirring Up Controversy, Not Making a Positive Difference SARA AZOULAY Photo Co-Editor & Asst. News Editor
I was 12-years-old when I decided that I no longer wanted to eat meat. I was always freaked out by the idea and it was my personal decision. I was also very intrigued by the organization called People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA, to 12-year-old Sara, looked like a great organization that stood up for animal rights. I actually believed that they wanted to educate people on the cruelty that animals were exposed to. They lured me in with their promise of cute puppy stickers every year and the ability to help animals around the world. It all looked so ideal and perfect; I was willing to be a part of an organization that helped any animal. My choice to support PETA has been retracted through the years, however, due to the many controversies that they’ve been a part of. PETA has become a bunch of sensationalists and extremists who have lost sight of helping animals. They also have been known to kill thousands of animals based on the principle of euthanasia—a matter that I won’t even address in this article but that should be known to everyone who might support PETA. Their organization is such a joke that most people can’t take animal cruelty seriously anymore. PETA announced their plans to launch a PETA porn site with an xxx domain. They say that the aim of the site will be to promote the vegan and vegetarian diet. The site is set to launch in December and although I haven’t seen the images yet, I can only imagine what it will look like. According to the Huffington Post, people who visit the site will be presented with pornographic images as well as images from previous PETA campaigns. Videos and images of cruelty of animals will immediately
Courtesy of peta
Payback may be hell, but so are PETA’s advertising policies, which are are more about causing a sensation than raising awareness.
follow the pornographic images as well as tips for becoming a vegetarian and vegan. My first reaction was, “This is a joke, right?” But no, it isn’t. Official plans have been made to launch the site in December. While this site may attract many “unique” individuals who find pleasure in naked women and grotesque images of animal cruelty, there is no way that this campaign will be effective. I’m not entirely sure how PETA came up with the idea to help animals by creating a porn site, but it’s misleading. Animals need a better spokesperson than what PETA is offering. We should be focusing on educating everyone out there on how animals are mistreated on farms and animal testing facilities.
While this porn website creates controversy and publicity it doesn’t help end animal cruelty. PETA, over the years, has claimed to have the best interest of animals on their mind—but in reality, they’re just interested in being an organization that is constantly ridiculed and talked about. They’ve also recently created an advertisement that shows a shark eating a human leg with the words “PAYBACK IS HELL” etched with blood across the ad. I personally find it offensive because they are misrepresenting animals to be vindictive and cruel beings. I’m fairly certain that sharks don’t go after humans because they know that we’ve harmed their population (the shark
in the ad should really find a lawyer and sue PETA). According to the Discovery channel’s website, there are only about 65 shark attacks worldwide each year. It is more likely that you’d be hit by lightening then attacked by a bitter shark avenging his brother (although, it seems like a good plot to a fictional movie). Not to mention, this ad personally offends every victim of a shark attack. PETA is an organization that claims to give a voice to animals. Animals aren’t able to communicate their pain and they can’t rebel against the cruelty that is happening to them. A PETA advertisement, instead of enlightening people about animal suffering, shows a cute
bunny next to a naked body as if to say, “Animals are cute. Don’t harm them.” It goes deeper than that, and it definitely goes deeper than saying that animals (like sharks) will attack people. As a vegetarian, I believe that what animals go through is despicable, but I don’t think PETA is helping at all. On behalf of all animals out there, I beg PETA to stop misrepresenting the pain they go through. Instead of concentrating on sex appeal and vindictive messages, they need to educate the masses about the pain animals experience. I hope that a real animal rights group will step forward and be a real spokesperson for animal cruelty out there (Dr. Dolittle, we need you!).
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The Observer October 20, 2011
7
Yemini Activist Tawakkul Karman Rightfully Earns Nobel Peace Prize Recognition SOGAND AFKARI Staff Writer
Nobel Peace Prize laureates haven’t always been deserving of the accolade. I’m still wondering why President Obama received a Nobel Prize. I also don’t understand why Al Gore earned one for “An Inconvenient Truth” when he didn’t lead the scientific research behind its content. In these cases, the famous award is more of a gesture to encourage a politician’s humanitarian work and/or to spread
Her selfempowerment explicitly contradicts the Western stereotype that all conservative Muslim women are oppressed. awareness about an issue. This year the bestowment of the prize to Tawakkul Karman (one of the three laureates) encourages the Arab Spring, the progression of political protests that have thrown various Middle Eastern dictators out of power. It also spreads awareness about Yemen, Middle Eastern feminism and the flaws of American foreign policy. This year, a laureate is actually deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. Karman is a 32-year-old, hijabwearing mother of the three and the journalist who is known as the “Mother of Yemen’s Revolution.” She famously called for her country’s “Day of Rage” (the title used for the largest and most organized demonstrations in Arab Spring protests) in February. As a result, she was able to organize a dawning uprising that started a month earlier. Since that epic day in February, Ms. Karman has been regularly spending time in a tent in the epicenter of demonstrations, Change Square, where the “Day of Rage” occurred. This altruistic and devotional Yemeni activist was actually in her camp when she was informed of her Nobel Peace Prize win. Karman’s “Day of Rage” was inspired by Tunisia and Egypt’s uprisings and is consequently a major contributing factor to the wildfire that is the Arab Spring. Today Egypt’s January 25th revolution, which overthrew its dictator of 29 years in 18 days, seems to be crumbling. It’s military lacks transparency in its dealings with government transitioning and minority Coptic Christians are being killed off during this state of political instability. However, because Karman is a symbol of the Arab Spring, her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES • Letters to the Editor should be typed and sent to The Observer, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, Room 408, New York, NY 10023, or e-mailed to fordhamobserver@ gmail.com. Length should not exceed 200 words. All letters must be signed and include contact information, official titles, and year of graduation (if applicable) for verification. • If submitters fail to include this information, the editorial board will do so at its own discretion. • The Observer has the right to withhold any submissions from publication
Opinions
and will not consider more than two letters from the same individual on one topic. The Observer reserves the right to edit all letters and submissions for content, clarity and length. • Opinions articles and commentaries represent the view of their authors. These articles are in no way the views held by the editorial board of The Observer or Fordham University. • The Editorial is the opinion held by a majority of The Observer’s editorial board. The Editorial does not reflect the views held by Fordham University.
Adam Baron/MCT
Due to her efforts at home, Karman is a dictionary example of what great peacemakers symbolize.
reminds the world of the strides of these political activists. These audacious figures dare to confront authoritarian politicians by tirelessly fighting their corrupt administrations through civil disobedience. Consequently, Karman is also a fierce reminder of the leaders who brough the Arab Spring into action. One controversial topic of conversation in regard to the Arab Spring is American intervention. Egyptian activists pride themselves as progressing independently of foreign powers. Yemen, on the other hand, became another example of how destructive and counter-productive an American intervention in a Middle Eastern revolution can be. A re-blogged tweet highlights the irony of a former Nobel Prize laureate (President Obama) bombing a new laureate (Karman).
Ms. Karman also wrote an article for The New York Times called “Yemen’s Unfinished Revolution,” which uniquely counters the Obama administration’s bombing of Yemen. It’s important that the activist uses her prominence not to align herself with powerful Western powers but to advocate independent political change in the Middle East. Women have been at the forefront of these Arab Spring uprisings and Karman is a symbol of power for many of them. She is the first Arab woman to win any type of Nobel Prize. Karman is also one of the seven co-founders of a Yemen-based organization, Women Journalists Without Chains, which advocates freedom of the press. This remarkable woman is well known for her humility, her passion for freedom of speech and her
social conservatism. Her self-empowerment explicitly contradicts the Western stereotype that all conservative Muslim women are oppressed. As she leads rallies and marches, her husband goes ahead of her for physical safety purposes and thousands of Yemeni with millions of supporters worldwide following behind. Tawakkul Karman’s name has been added to the list of deserving Nobel Prize laureates that include the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Elie Wiesel and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Karman’s tireless work to bring about freedom of speech, of press and of association through peaceful protests is another example of how powerful an Arab women and a democracy movement can be. I think this definitely warrants a Nobel Peace Prize.
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Opinions
October 20, 2011 The Observer
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New Debit Cards Charges Reasonable? Don’t Bank on It Banks are a lot more accommodating for people who have a lot of friends named Benjamin. My closest friend is...Ramen.
MARIO WEDDELL
Features Co-Editor & Asst. Photo Editor
“Here’s an idea! How’s about we charge them money for spending money, unless they have a lot of money? You know, so if they can afford to pay the excess fees, we won’t make them pay the fees. But if they don’t have a lot of money, and they just spent the little money they had, they should have to give us some more money. It’ll be funny.” I assume this was the reasoning when Bank of America announced their new debit card policy: consumers who use their debit cards to make purchases would have to pay a five dollar monthly fee. That means if you want to use your card to buy groceries or to pay for a cab or maybe to buy a ski mask to rob a bank, a five dollar fee will be charged to your account. This is supposed to go into effect early next year, unless the cardholder has a premium or privilege account, in which case the fee does not apply. That makes sense, because banks don’t want to lose their clients who have more money. It makes a lot of sense. So what are my options? I could switch banks, use cash for purchases or swipe my credit card. With more banks looking to hit their clients with service fees (Wells Fargo and Chase, to name a couple), I’m not looking to join another Henry F. Potter-esque bank (Don’t know who Henry F. Potter is? See “It’s A Wonderful Life.”). My best bet would be to join a credit union. Credit unions are non-for-profit, meaning they exist to serve their members, not to maximize profits for shareholders. That’s incredibly reasonable. Unfortunately, I’m probably not going to switch anytime soon.
fatima shabbir/The Observer
It may be your money, but the bank will find a way to take it from you in any clever way they know how.
Credit unions tend to be local and since I can only work part time as a student, I need my parents to pay my rent. That means money from Texas sometimes magically appears in my New York ATMs. So I’m stuck with Bank of America, for now. The fee isn’t outrageous. I could find a way to save an extra five dollars a month. For example, if I chew my food less, I won’t have to brush my teeth as often, prolonging the life of my toothbrush, saving me money on a replacement.
It’s easy to save money. But I don’t want to change my behavior for a bank. The principle is outrageous. And, as we all know, banks usually take an interest in the principal of their clients, so I have a right to be upset. A little bank humor there. The bank wants me to use cash to buy things. Or even better, credit cards, because they profit if I mess up on a payment. Unfortunately, it’s against my personal code to pay for things with cash anymore. To the bank, using cash
makes sense, but to me, it only makes cents. Since I don’t carry a change purse, the pennies and nickels I get stuck with after a purchase just find their way into a jar on my shelf. It brings a new meaning to the term “old money.” By the time I gather enough pennies to make a trip to the bank worthwhile, my penny has probably decreased in value. The day I realized that a debit card allowed me to pay for things to the exact amount was a glori-
ous day in my financial journey. Besides, according to the U.S. Mint, the cost of making a penny in 2008 was 1.7 cents. It’s illogical. I can’t get behind such a backwards system. The argument for penny preservation is rooted in a fear of change. Ironic, I know. Simply put, a lot of people like Abraham Lincoln’s head on their coin. Hell, I’ll put his picture on my debit card if it means I don’t have to use cash. Besides, I’d rather not have a full wallet if I get mugged. If I can’t use my debit card, and using cash is preposterous, I’m stuck with credit cards. Still, paying for everything with a credit card can be just as risky. If I don’t pay my bill in time, I have to deal with tough interest rates (since I’m a non-premium, unprivileged student) that only support the money-grubbing banks further. Again, banks are a lot more accommodating for people who have a lot of friends named Benjamin. My closest friend is named Ramen. I can’t use my debit card and switching banks is out of the question for now. It seems that it’s time to make a choice. Cash or credit? Either way, I’m getting robbed, right? I guess I can at least decide who I want my mugger to be: a guy in a hoodie, holding a knife or a guy in a suit, holding a pen. Maybe I can put all my pennies in a sock and use that as a weapon. Cash it is.
Occupying Wall Street: It’s About Time We Stood Up For Ourselves RYAN O’TOOLE Staff Writer
Occupy Wall Street is the best thing that has happened to this country in a while, and as its inception is happening a short train ride away from FCLC, I urge all Fordham students to take a stand and join the protests, as students did in the 1960’s. Throughout 2011, we have witnessed the emergence of a corporatocracy in the United States whereby the richest one percent own 40 percent of the nation’s wealth, more than at any other time in the country’s history since the 1920s. This percentage is effectively dictating the direction of American politics and economics. There is one thing they haven’t been able to control though: American society. On Sept. 17, a few brave people decided that they didn’t believe in the system anymore, and they went to downtown Manhattan to sit down in a park and begin the movement that has spread across the country to Boston, Philadelphia, DC, Portland, Seattle and LA, among other cities. There is no question these protesters are staying right where they are, and the Occupy Wall Street movement is not just a fad. Some have even suggested that it could become a liberal Tea Party, a grass roots people’s movement without a designated leader but with boundless energy that will be challenge an entrenched system. I certainly hope so. Since the emergence of the Tea Party I have wondered when the left
SARA AZOULAY/The Observer
Young protesters, frustrated with their prospects, have taken this opportunity to make their voices heard.
and moderates of this country would demand that the ultra-conservative Tea Party not dictate the direction of the United States. It appears that we are witnessing the birth of another grassroots protest movement; the great difference between Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party though is that Occupy Wall Street fights for the well-being and future of the average working American. It strikes at an essential problem in the United States: the heart of America lies in small business owners, manufacturers and hardworking Americans across the country, not millionaires who sit in fancy offices
down on Wall Street who own four houses, actually use the word summer as a verb and are now gauging the American consumer just to make a larger profit. Americans today, particularly college students and twenty-somethings, are seeing their futures increasingly clouded by the dark cloud of burgeoning student loan debt. For others we are being schemed in more immediate ways: I just recently closed my Citibank checking account because they were going to charge me $20 a month to own a checking account with less than $15,000 in it. I don’t know about anyone else at college, but that
amount is a faraway dream for me still. It is infuriating to have grown up in the 90s believing that our nation’s economy would be strong, and there to support us after we finished school. Now, as I stand on that cusp as a senior, I cannot believe that I have to close my checking account essentially because I am a student who works part-time for minimum wage. This movement is morally just. Increasingly the United States is becoming a banana republic and students, the poor and the middle class are being squeezed for all we are worth, which is becoming less
and less. According to a recent article published in The New York Times, the average annual salary of the richest 20 percent of New Yorkers is roughly $371,000 versus an average of $9,000 for the poorest 20 percent. There is something fundamentally wrong in a society where people are charged money to access the money they worked hard to earn. Frankly, we are just mad that while most of us working Americans trim our budgets and try to save money, Wall Street and bank executives are still getting bailouts, multi-million dollar bonuses and paying a lower tax rate than working Americans do. One of the most frustrating aspects of this great movement has been President Obama’s silence. His Chief of Staff, Bill Daley, recently said he “wasn’t sure if [Occupy Wall Street] was a good thing” and Obama has been effectively silent. Are you kidding me? This movement represents exactly the kind of populist anger that he needs to win reelection and he remains silent. Occupy Wall Street has the potential to be an American form of the Arab Spring; it has the potential to be a thrilling, democratic movement to restore power to the people and take it away from K Street lobbyists, Wall Street bankers and stock brokers. Many who oppose the Occupy Wall Street movement claim that it is provoking class warfare. Why is that a bad thing? As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, we need to take a stand to keep the American Dream alive for all Americans, not just the rich ones. Luckily, the origin of the movement is just a train ride away, and we can be a part of it.
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Opinions
9
Holy Shat: William Shatner is a Character Worth Your While Shatner has had his pudgy fingers in every aspect of life and...has become the undisputed court jester of the 20th and 21st century.
GIANMARCO FONGARO Staff Writer
Who gives a shat about William Shatner? Oh, that pompous windbag? Why there’s more girth than good in him! The greatest thing about Shatner is that his greatest defects—ego, hammy delivery, ruddy cheeks—are that they are also his most glorious attributes. Not only has he honed his natural talents into a storied career as a TV actor, he has exploited his flaws through self-parody—and no one channels intentional or unintentional self-parody quite like Shatner. Lately, Shatner has been a man about town promoting his twopronged media attack, the release of his new album “Finding Major Tom” and his new book “Shatner Rules: Your Guide to Understanding the Shatnerverse and the World at Large.” While on the Good Morning America Show, he proclaimed, “say yes to everything.” This is not rhetoric but a mantra he has lived by. Shatner has had his pudgy fingers in every aspect of life and in the process has become the undisputed court jester of the 20th and 21st century. That is what makes him so endearing. He has no scruples and for those that do we can live vicariously through him. I shall be transparent and reveal my Shatner bias outright. In 11th grade, I was exempt from my physics final despite my scientific ability being on par with that of the Renaissance popes. The reason for my exemption: the Shatapult. The Shatapult triumphed in the catapult-building contest due to its startling accuracy and I credited Shatner with the victory, simply because I had dedicated it in his honor, ignoring the fact that El Sia, a jerrycurled carpenter, had done most of the construction. I also drive around with a cardboard effigy of Shatner in my backseat to ward off demons. So I’ll let his work speak for itself and it
WilliamShatner.com via PopMatters.com/MCT
No matter how much you hate him, you simply can’t resist the piercing gaze and subtle smile of Mr. Shatner.
speaks volumes. Shatner is one of those actors who can be appreciated in a “so bad it’s good kind of way.” No one has a style quite like Shatner’s with his stilted delivery of dialogue involving inordinate pauses and improvised cadences. He is also a shameless egomaniac. Close-ups of his face, even when he wasn’t speaking, were a staple during
his tenure on “Star Trek,” and he seemed to find his way out of his shirt in almost every episode, revealing a stocky and well-oiled chest. These flourishes of egoism led to the eventual rift between him and the original Star Trek cast members. George Takei, known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, denied Shatner an invitation to his wedding because
of it and Shatner brushed it off as “psychosis.” In an age of affected manners, Shatner’s egocentricity and his insistence that it is nonexistent is a breath of fresh air. Despite not having a polished singing voice, Shatner embarked on a vocal career in 1968 with the release of “The Transformed Man,” a spoken word album, marrying popular
music with famous soliloquies and monologues. He was so earnest with passion for the artistic integrity of this project that it’s hard to tell whether or not it’s a joke, and this only adds to its comedy. In his cover of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” he sings, “In the jingle…jangle…mornin’…I’ll come… following ya.” Only some with full confidence in their ability could croon those lines in such awkward phrasing and think they are good. Not one to be deterred by lack of critical success, Shatner has released two other albums: “Has Been,” which featured noted musicians like Ben Folds and Henry Rollins, whose contributions only added to the absurdity of the record, and his most recent album “Finding Major Tom.” The chief pleasure of seeing Shatner in action is that you can never tell just how serious he is. You tend to say no one could be serious but then you counter, “It’s William Shatner. Of course he’s serious.” “Anything done well is an act of sex,” said Shatner. By that standard his entire life has been an orgy: he is a Bacchus of our times. The title of his memoir, “Up Till Now,” succinctly summarizes his anticipation for life and of seeing himself in action. Only he, on the verge of becoming an octogenarian at the time of publishing, would title his book with a name that implies he still has much work to do and for that, to risk sounding snooty with my French, joy de vivre is why we should appreciate Monsieur le Shat.
The Future of South Park: Show’s Creators Like Causing Anxiety JOSEPHINE TROTT Staff Writer
The newest episode of “South Park” recently aired this fall after a summer-long hiatus and everybody who follows “South Park” (especially me) was really looking forward to it. Sadly, after last season’s finale, “You’re Getting Old” aired on June 8, fans were left stunned. In this episode of “South Park,” the writers hinted at one of their most iconic and important characters, Stan Marsh, was going to leave the show. Stan is known for being the “normal one” out of the four main characters and most fans find it easier to relate to him. The show would not be the same without the balance his character maintains for the show. This leads to questions about how much longer the series would be airing despite its successful 15 year history. As for me, I just remember the shock when the show ended without a resolution. It seemed as if creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are quickly tying up loose ends so that they could cancel the show. But during an interview with their co-worker on Comedy Central in June, Jon Stewart, the pair were questioned about the new turn their show was taking. Parker said, “We love South Park. It’s still our thing.” When Stewart mentioned their latest episode, they said, “When we did that last episode, we obviously did it by the seat of our pants and obviously we had a lot of themes of things we were feeling in it.” The anticipation and fear that my friends and I had at
MCT
After 15 years, characters like Wendy, Kenny, Cartman, Kyle and Stan are familiar faces whose crazy antics have always entertained audiences.
this moment was palpable and the suspense was only drawn out when they continued, “...we came back and people were like ‘Are you okay? Is the show coming back?’” And the reply of the creators? “Yeah, we had a really good time doing that! It was fun!” The bastards even admitted that they didn’t really know what they were going to do next, but they would figure that out when they had to make the next episode which would air in October. This was such a typical carefree Parker and Stone answer that it was both a relief and an annoyance to hear. Didn’t those assholes know how attached a fan (like myself) could be to the show? The subtext during that episode had felt so obvious—surely, the end is near. I was certain that
everything I knew and loved about “South Park” would be coming to an end; it’s my greatest fear. Even now, hearing them deny these questions, I get the distinct feeling that they’re just messing with me. However, despite all of their supposed faults (crudeness, shamelessness, etc.), I can’t deny that South Park has been a thrill since I began following the show. It’s clever, insightful and it has witty social criticisms on American culture. Celebrities, politicians, religious figures, dictators and the like are not spared and they’ve caused several controversies about where the line should be drawn as far as “appropriate” is concerned simply because they can. The Mohammed controversy (when they decided it would be fun to offend Muslims by
showing an image of Mohammed on television, thereby breaking their religious law) is one of my favorites, and to this day, those episodes are still banned. Now, the real question I’ve been thinking since all these new anxieties have popped up is, “Are Stone and Parker hitting their peak?” Well, if they are, it’ll be a while until they’re completely washed-out hasbeens. They’ve created a musical, “The Book of Mormon,” that is beyond successful, they released their “Making of South Park” documentary on Oct. 9 and of course, they have their prolific cartoon series which started before I even began the first grade. Everything is going well...for now. Certainly, though I love the show beyond what I can possibly de-
scribe in this article, it cannot go on forever and I’m not sure if I’d even want it to. Stories, movies or shows that don’t end when they should have are unbearable to see, like witnessing an oncoming train wreck Even though “South Park” is obligated to continue by contract until 2013, I trust that if they wanted to change the entire show then they would just do it and not give Comedy Central enough time to respond. And if the show is going down the toilet, they have shown a hidden passion for Broadway (I’ve been trying to go see “The Book of Mormon” for months now). But whatever Stone and Parker decide to do, I know it will make waves. They’re sure to piss off somebody, and that’s my kind of entertainment.
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Opinions
October 20, 2011 The Observer
www.fordhamobserver.com
Point Counterpoint
Must Romance Always Get in the Way Between Friends?
COLLEeN THORNHILL/The Observer
On a small campus like Lincoln Center, some feel it’s inevitable for romance to develop within one’s circle of friends, while others believe it’s easy to keep things platonic.
Men and Women Can’t Be Friends MICHELLE TALIS Contributing Writer
I cannot stand those girls who have this notion that they are the Carrie Bradshaw’s of the world. Those falsely fierce and drippy girls who sit over their candy-colored cocktails extolling their own rhetoric about men. They sit there, lamenting over lost loves, kvetching about chivalry being dead and whatever else they can get into their claws. Yet sometimes I find myself becoming one of them. Give me the right man who did me wrong, and the independent woman who used to reside in my head is ducttaped down by the crazy obsessive chick who just wants to shout “Can’t we still be just friends?” Only to answer my very own question with a nasally whine, “No, we really can’t, because men and women can never be just friends.” To all those girls who are about to tell me how I’m wrong because they are friends with boys and are not dating any of them, I start with the example of a good friend of mine. She has always thought of herself as “the guy’s girl.” She plays poker, prefers beer and can outwit and out vulgar them all. She is not the exception to my rule: she is the one that proves it. Every good male friend of hers has either had an unrequited crush on her or had a mutual attraction so they ended up dating without officially calling it such. She really doesn’t have one true platonic guy friend. There was always one person left wanting and waiting for more. Their
A friendship in its most basic meaning doesn’t even exist...Friendship is a form of love—it is intimacy in an altered form. conversations became fraught with tensions. This is no longer a friendship, but a precursor. In reality, relationships are just extensions of friendship. They require trust, openness and two people who rhythmically vibe together more than just inside the bedroom. A friendship in its most basic meaning doesn’t even exist. It’s not just about people who have common interests. Friendship is a form of love—it is intimacy in an altered form. It may not be the frat boy’s idea of intimacy, but it is still intimacy. A deeper understanding and camaraderie exists between friends; add a shared respect and that friendship becomes something more. This is what my friend has with her “boys.” It’s more than just playful insults: it’s something more meaningful. When she reveals a part of herself to them emotionally, they suddenly become more than just friends. What we claim to be the boundaries of friendship are always being muddled by us, the very creators of the definition. Men and women can’t be friend because the denotative meaning of the word simply doesn’t exist: there is always the possibility of something more.
How to Be Friends (And Only Friends) With Women HARRY HUGGINS Staff Writer
“Men and women can’t be friends because the sex part always gets in the way.” This line from “When Harry Met Sally,” one of my all-time favorite movies, represents a philosophy that seems to govern the interaction of the average young adult with the opposite sex. This philosophy is ridiculously childish. Maybe if you believe all the movies that are about mixed-gender friends—we had two just this year, “No Strings Attached” and “Friends With Benefits”—it makes sense. They’re always about how friendships can’t exist when sex is an option. Of course, since this is Hollywood, they have to end up happily in a relationship—they just can’t remain friends. But wait, what about “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” a film where, in the end, the protagonist actually realizes that she can love her best guy friend and remain friends? Or the fact that most Fordham students are actually old enough to distinguish movies from real life? What, then, is the real cause of the belief that men and women can’t be friends? I’ve had female best friends since eighth grade, and not once have I experienced any Hollywood-style complications. What I have experienced, however, is the surprised reaction when people learn that I am, in fact, NOT dating the girl who I hang out with on a regular basis. How could I possibly spend so much time with someone I’m not sleeping with? When I’ve asked people why they don’t
There is no way limiting yourself to friends of your own sex will be as fulfilling as hanging out with both men and women. believe that I’m actually friends with girls, their answers are usually fairly juvenile. Some would argue that it takes more work to be friends with people who aren’t your own sex, but I find that ridiculous. Is it work to be open to different life experiences? Is it work to appreciate new viewpoints? Thinking that you can’t be friends with men because they’re rude and violent or with women because they’re emotional and gossipy is too close-minded for someone our age to still believe—I didn’t even think that in middle school. Think about it this way: for any person of even average complexity, there is no way limiting yourself to friends of your own sex will be as fulfilling as hanging out with both men and women. There just won’t be enough diverse personalities to keep things interesting, and you’ll end up being a duller person. If not for my girl friends, I’d be much more uptight, have little-to-no appreciation for musical theater or photography and I’d still hate the French. My female friends are insanely better at organizing outings/parties than guys, and I’m always thankful for them when I need to dress to impress. Obviously, men and women should be friends—only children would say otherwise.
“Rainy days at rose hill always get me down” by Kitty Buehler
Kitty Buehler/The Observer
Can you spot the Lincoln Center student in one of these Rose Hill pictures? Hint: She’s definitely not carrying an umbrella or wearing a hoodie.
Arts & Culture
bbc films El Deseo S.A.
October 20, 2011 The Observer
see-saw films Fox Searchlight Pictures
New York Film Festival Finishes Strong with Highly Anticipated Films By Katie Lockhart Arts & Culture Co-Editor
“My Week with Marilyn” I can’t imagine how Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) spent an entire week with Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams) when after only an hour I was sick of her. Williams’ portrayal of the famous sex icon was precise, down to the tone of her voice but Marilyn came off as a spoiled dolt with daddy issues. The film, based on the book, “The Prince, the Showgirl and Me,” chronicled Clark’s role on Sir Laurence Olivier’s production of “The Prince and The Showgirl” where he became Marilyn’s confidant. When Monroe’s husband, the famous playwright Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), returns to America, Clark falls in love with Monroe and they become lovers, just for one week. The film had a comedic and fanciful undertone that didn’t make sense juxtaposed against the panic attacks and pill overdoses of Monroe’s sad life in the spotlight. Overall, the film was a disappointment but the portrayals of Monroe, Olivier (Kenneth Branagh)
and Sybil Thorndike (Dame Judi Dench) stole the show and prevented the film from being a total dud. The film opens in theatres on Nov. 23.
“The Skin I Live In” What is possibly the best film at the New York Film Festival is difficult to describe in all its twisted glory. The latest from Pedro Almodovar is stunning in every sense, from the close-ups of the beautiful Vera (Elena Anaya) to his storyline of tragic revenge. Antonio Banderas gives an outstanding, chilling performance as Robert Ledgard, a mad scientist plastic surgeon grieving over the tragic death of his wife and mentally disturbed daughter. The film’s plot involves Ledgard kidnapping the young man who raped his daughter, causing her suicide and surgically experimenting on him for years, leading to a startling twist. The film has many layers dealing with issues of gender, love, body image, grief and revenge. Although
the film is disgustingly warped, Almodovar adds touches of humor throughout the film that lighten the mood of this intensely disturbing thriller. The film may make your skin crawl but when the credits start rolling it will leave you stunned. “The Skin I Live In” is in theatres now.
“Martha Marcy May Marlene” We first meet Martha (Elizabeth Olsen) frantically escaping from some sort of lushly remote farm, eventually calling her sister Lucy (Sarah Paulson) to come get her. Having not spoken to her in two years, Martha operates under the vague pretense that she was living with a boyfriend in upstate New York. Through a series of flashbacks, we come to learn that she has spent her time living in a cult. At first she is drawn in by its promise of community, but then grows fearful, as the cult’s methods turn abusive and violent. Upon moving in with her sister and her sister’s fiancé, she continues to struggle with the psychological oppression and manipulation she left
behind. “Martha Marcy May Marlene” casts an impressively evocative spell, the elegant shifts in time between Martha’s life in the cult and her attempts to readjust to real life perfectly representing her disjointed psyche. Unfortunately, the film falters in its final scenes, sacrificing its emotional complexity and tantalizing ambiguity for a disappointingly heavy-handed ending. The saving grace of the film is Olsen (the younger sister of child stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) who gives a stunning performance as Martha, making you feel every moment of her confusion and fragility. The film comes out in theatres on Oct. 21.
“Shame” At face value, Brandon (Michael Fassbender) seems like your regular well-to-do thirty-something, with good looks and successful job. Beneath the façade, however, lies a secret: Brandon is a sex addict, spending much of his time engaging in random intercourse, watching pornography
and chronically masturbating. Due to his addiction, he goes through life closed off, unable to forge any real emotional connections. Brandon’s world is thrown off balance when his sister Sissy (Carey Mulligan), who has her own problems with compulsive behavior and emotional instability, moves in with him. Needless to say, “Shame” is a bold and provocative film. Director Steve McQueen, a former visual artist whose debut feature film “Hunger” also starred Fassbender, does not shy away from the uncomfortable effects of Brandon’s addiction, as the film is sure to ruffle the feathers of the MPAA with its frank depiction of sex and nudity. While the movie could have tipped over into exploitation, it is absorbing and powerful viewing. It features outstanding performances from both Fassbender and Mulligan, who bravely bare all, physically and emotionally, in portraying profoundly damaged people trying to battle their inner demons. “Shame” opens in theatres on Dec. 2.
The “Sundance of Musical Theater” Returns to Broadway By Katherine Fabian Contributing Writer
Hipsters, bankers and… Jane Austen? No this isn’t another New York City protest; it’s the New York Musical Theatre Festival 2011 (NYMF), where new and original shows and talent take on the Broadway scene, giving the theatre district something to buzz about. NYMF is an annual event in which new musicals are given the opportunity to be produced in an affordable way so they can get exposure in the industry. The event was first founded in 2004 when one of its productions, “[title of show,]” was the first NYMF show to be made into an off-Broadway show. NYMF has since become known as the “Sundance of Musical Theatre.” Other Broadway and off-Broadway productions that got their start at NYMF include “Next to Normal,” “Gutenburg! The Musical!” and “Altar Boyz.” The festival also gives musical theatre enthusiasts the opportunity to see up-and-coming musicals for a fraction of the price of a Broadway show.
Many of the plays in this year’s lineup contained subjects that are particularly relevant to the social and political trends of today’s society. “Fucking Hipsters,” written by Keythe Farley (starring Brandon Wardell of “Catch Me If You Can”), tells the story of a Williamsburg musician whose world gets thrown upside down by a new-in-town lady hipster who steals the scene. “Times Between Us,” written by Tess Barker and Brett Schrier, allows audiences into the lives of two recent art school graduates who are ready to take the world on their own. “Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, A Musical,” written by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs, gives a fresh spin on the classic novel following suit with other Austen-inspired works like Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and the 2007 film “Becoming Jane” starring Anne Hathaway. The Seligman Brothers’ comedy “The Big Bank” offers another current hot button topic: the economy. The play is centered around the Big Bank of Brooklyn where accountants thrive on foreclosing clients who don’t pay
Courtesy of new york musical theatre/The Observer
The New York Musical Theatre Festival celebrates another year on Broadway with a Jane Austen-inspired play.
their bills. However, things change when one of the accountants falls in love with a client who he is supposed to be foreclosing. The plot then unfolds through a series of hokey songs and dance routines. Although the play is
good for some laughs, particularly from the insensitive female boss at the bank and the liberal Marxist ecologist client who tries to take it down, it’s hard to see it going anywhere beyond the St. Clement’s church theatre.
NYMF relies predominantly upon donations in order to achieve its goal of helping new actors, producers and playwrights to get a chance to break into the theatre industry. “Ticket sales only cover a quarter of our profits that are needed here at NYMF,” said David Glenn Armstrong, director of “The Big Bank.” Although these plays are either hit or miss for most audiences, NYMF is a great opportunity for theatre junkies to see new and original musicals. The raw nature of the shows allow for viewers to get an idea of how these musicals get to the Great White Way. NYMF also allows for people to donate towards a cause that many New Yorkers hold near and dear to their hearts: saving and preserving the arts. In today’s world where people are predominantly concerned with the Internet and consumerism it’s nice for them to be able to go back to the roots in the arts that run so deeply in New York City. NYMF 2011 ran from Sept. 26-Oct. 16 for more information about other upcoming events and how to donate visit nymf.com.
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Arts & Culture
October 20, 2011 The Observer
www.fordhamobserver.com
Monthly Music Review
October Album Release Grab Bag By Mike Madden Arts & Culture Co-Editor
courtesy of the Madison Avenue Gagosian
Dylan gets controversial with his recent art exhibit, “The Asia Series.”
Controversy Behind Dylan Exhibit Won’t Stop People from A’ Coming By Shaun Chaudhry Contributing Writer
A newly revealed series of paintings by Bob Dylan have been on display at the Gagosian Gallery on Madison Avenue, exposing New Yorkers to a side of the singer that few have seen or known about before. The exhibit itself displays 18 of Dylan’s paintings based on his travels and experiences through East Asia. However, the exhibit, entitled “The Asia Series,” not only consists of the beautiful paintings of a passionate singer and songwriter. Behind the art is a controversy that questions Dylan’s own artistic intent. According to the description offered by the Gagosian, Dylan has been making visual art since the 1960s, but his work had not been publicly exhibited until four years ago. The first public exhibit of his visual work was in Germany, followed by another series based on his travels in Brazil, shown in Copenhagen. This is the first exhibit of Dylan’s original work in New York. However, originality is the subject of the Dylan controversy. Due to the intense investigation by obsessive fans, many people online claim that the paintings were not based on his own experience but rather other photographs, with no credit given to the original photographers. The main source of this theory comes from Okinawa Soba, a Flickr user who uploads pictures from East Asia on his profile, six of which appear to be almost identical to the paintings shown at the Gagosian exhibit. Soba believes that some of the paintings were simply brushed over blow-ups of the original photographs. The Gagosian has released a response to the controversy behind the art, stating, “While the composition of some of Bob Dylan’s paintings is based on a variety of sources, including archival and historic images, the paintings’ vibrancy and freshness
come from…the scenes he observed during his travels.” Soba’s photos on his page disagree with this statement, as the photographs appear to be all too similar to the paintings by Dylan. Dylan is no stranger to controversy. James Fisher, an American Studies professor at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), offered his own take on Dylan and his history with controversial themes. “The key issue with Dylan and his audience is authenticity: ever since the early 60s when he rode waves of ‘folk revival’ here in New York City, the issue was, ‘Does he honor folk music ‘tradition’ or is he a self-styled popular artist who adapts idioms to suit his creative or commercial impulses at [the] moment?’”Fisher said. “Fans rioted at Newport Folk Festival in 1965 when he came out on stage with an electric guitar: that [was] a big no-no to folkie purists. This has been going on for decades with him. So for example, when Andy Warhol copied photos etc., it was art; with Dylan it always raises the issue [that] he is a mere copycat. Fans are over-invested in his authenticity in my view,” Fisher added. Some other fans believe that, despite these affirmations made online, Dylan is still offering something unique to those who appreciate art. Troy Krusz, FCLC ’15 and a selfproclaimed “huge fan” of Dylan, explained that despite the controversy, his love of Dylan still remains. “My visit didn’t change the way I viewed Bob Dylan. Even though he copied those pictures, it’s still his artistic take on them, and I appreciate anything Bob touches pretty much,” Krusz said. “Think about it like a cover song. He didn’t write it but he can put his own twist on it and make it his own anyway.” See the paintings of the artist for yourself and then look up some of the original photographs online. “The Asia Series” by Bob Dylan is being put on display through Oct. 22 at the Gagosian Gallery, located at 980 Madison Ave.
M83/mute
Kitty, daisy & lewis
M83
real estate/domino
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis
Real Estate
“Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” released Oct. 18
“Smoking in Heaven” released Oct. 18
“Days” released Oct. 18
French group M83’s Anthony Gonzalez soars through newly paved neon highways on their long-awaited new album “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” which features a more sonic, all-encompassing sound that leaves you drenched in dripping, colorful soundscapes. M83’s albums have always been compared to a John Hughes-soundtrack-that -never-was-vibe, but with “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” the vibe is just as present; at many points the album sounds more like “The Neverending Story” than “The Breakfast Club.” Gonzalez’s voice seems to grow even bigger on this album, showing great power yet control in songs like the slow chanting “Soon, My Friend” and “Wait,” whose guitar sounds like an outtake of The Smiths “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” paired with orchestral arrangements. There are some songs on the album that don’t quite hit the mark; short instrumentals that don’t seem to have purpose even if they are trying to act as the transition to the next song. “Raconte-Mon Une Histoire” is by far the weirdest but most creative song on the album, combining the spoken word of a happy young child with an Animal Collective-like loop of synths. “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” is a pretty album that takes off in epic directions that are extravagant and truly noteworthy. Besides also being very pretty, “Hurry Up” is very, very, very long. With a collection of 22 songs, it’s gets to you sometimes. But with any great work of art, the listener must absorb everything it has to offer, examine its eccentricities, and find something no one else has seen in it before.
This three-piece brother/ sister group from North London take authenticity to new levels with their own brand of young, spunky rockabilly. But this isn’t your granddad’s rockabilly: Kitty, Daisy & Lewis lop their sound up with as much mascara, red lipstick and hair grease as possible and mix it with sensual croons, old school ska and Delta blues. Their newest album, “Smoking in Heaven,” has all of this and more—most importantly, an understanding of a rich traditional past by a younger and respectful generation. The songs (all 13 of them) are charming with an element of charisma brought out by brother Lewis and levels of sensuality with sisters Kitty and Daisy. But just like M83’s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” the length can get to you. The songs start sounding the same and the lyrics take on the same themes of love and heartbreak. The musicianship all over “Smoking in Heaven” is evident: chicken pickin’ guitar lines, mature voices, and a ragtime sensibility that makes you want to don a cigarette and get your nearest Southern speakeasy. Songs like “Baby Don’t You Know,” “Don’t Make a Fool Out of Me” and “You’ll be Sorry” cast a hand-clapping spell over you; it’s impossible not to tap your foot. The ska oriented songs like “I’m So Sorry” and “Tomorrow” sound as if they could fit in a Jim Jarmusch film perfectly. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis have a long road ahead of them, but in the meantime they’ll travel that road in style—no T-Bird necessary.
In the last issue of the Observer, I reviewed Ridgewood, New Jersey band Real Estate’s pre-album single, “Green Aisles.” I praised the single, which received a great review as well by other people who shared the same sentiments. “Green Aisles” did its job hyping up their most recent album, “Days,” which bookmarks where the band left off with their debut self-titled LP. “Days” is a breath of fresh air from an already opened book; everything from their selftitled is here and familiar, but there is a happiness and joy that comes through with their new album. The melodies are more playful, singer Martin Courtney’s vocals sound more hopeful, and the quietness and simplicity of suburban Jersey is omnipresent. People sometimes create a memory of an album based on the time they first listened to it. For me, “Days” is an unconventional fall album. Real Estate is known for their lo-fi, hazy surf rock ways, but the guitars are brisk and autumnal; they change colors and moods. “Municipality” and “Kinder Blumen” are just two of the best examples of this on “Days.” “Kinder Blumen” could belong in the sun as well as the chilled shade of a fall evening. I had this album stuck in my head coming back to school from my home in West Orange, N.J., a couple weeks ago. It was the perfect soundtrack to everything it represented: time by yourself, the little things that pleasantly surprise you and knowing that you have a nice place to go back to if the city gets to be a bit much.
The “earth” without “art” is just “eh.” -The Ink Society FORDHAMOBSERVER.COM
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Arts & Culture
Alternative Art to See This Fall: NYC Art for New Yorkers By Olivia Perdoch Contributing Writer
There is no doubt that New York City is one of the great art capitals of the world. With all of the art sites to see in the city, it’s common for NYC residents to feel overwhelmed with options or to limit themselves to big name museums like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met). While these are both incredible museums housing some of the most inf luential art ever created, the city is also filled with hundreds of lesser-known art institutions that show
works by tremendously talented photographers, sculptors, painters and performance artists who aren’t quite as famous as Picasso or Warhol… yet. This fall, local museums and galleries, some located only blocks away from Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), will display some exciting new must-see exhibitions. So, the next time you’re in the mood to see art, try something different and visit one of these alternate art spaces.
IF YOU GO
Chelsea Gallery District
Chelsea Gallery District
Chelsea is home to over 300 art galleries featuring paintings, sculptures and photographs from the most acclaimed contemporary artists like Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns to promising up-andcomers fresh out of art school. The architecture of the gallery buildings is a sight to be seen in itself, the interior and exterior of each one flawlessly designed to display the visual art treasures found inside. The Mary Boone Gallery on 24th Street, for example, has an incredibly intricate exposed wooden ceiling and skylights that allow natural light to stream onto the artworks. Most of the galleries have stark white walls, polished cement floors and plenty of open space for visitors to wander between pieces. Unlike almost everything in NYC, admission is free. Many of the galleries appear non-descript from the outside, without any sign or indication that the public is welcome, but don’t be fooled—anyone can walk right in and browse. This was done purposely in an effort to keep out tourists and become a place where Manhattan residents can take advantage of the city’s culture without the crowds. Only a few feet away from the Highline and within walking distance to several inexpensive restaurants, the Chelsea Gallery District is an ideal area for college students on a budget to spend the day.
Where: Start at Gasser Grunert Galley, 524 W. 19th St., and wander into the many different galleries between 10th and 11th Avenues all the way up to 18th Street. Price: FREE More Info: www.chelseagallerymap.
com
Must See This Fall: “Burning, Bright” at Pace Gallery, 545 W. 22nd St.; Several well known contemporary artists take the ordinary, everyday light bulb and turn it into art. Runs through Nov. 26, 2011.
P.S. 1 IF YOU GO
P.S. 1 Where: 22-25 Jackson Ave., at 46th Ave., Long Island City Price: $5 With Student I.D. More Info: www.momaps1.org
Must-See This Fall: Anthology; Artist Clifford Owens presents his first New York exhibition featuring photography, video installations, and live performance art. Runs Nov. 13 through March 12, 2012.
This formerly abandoned public elementary school in Long Island City, Queens, is now a restored contemporary art annex of the MoMA, and is a playground for the world’s newest and most innovative artists. Starting Nov. 13, artist Clifford Owens will present his first New York exhibition, “Anthology,” which will incorporate photography, video installations and live performance art. P.S. 1 is also home to some surprising site-specific exhibitions, including Selbstlos im Lavabad (Selfless in the Bath of Lava), a video installation by artist Pipilotti Rist, implanted into a two-inch hole in the floor of the museum’s lobby. Past exhibitions include Laurel Nakadate’s “Only The Lonely,” a collection of videos and photographs she created while visiting the homes of strangers as she traveled across America. P.S. 1 is only a train ride away from FCLC, making a visit to this museum the perfect excuse to explore New York outside of the borough of Manhattan.
International Center For Photography (ICP) Located within walking distance from FCLC, ICP holds an eclectic collection with past exhibitions including works by famous 1940s photojournalist Ruth Gruber, as well as a compilation of photographs of Amelia Earhart from the 1930s. From now until Jan. 8, 2012, the museum’s main show is a five-part multi-artist exhibition commemorating the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The exhibition, titled “Remembering 9/11,” includes photographs from Francesco Torres and Eugene Richards, a five-channel video installation by Elena del Rivero and Leslie McCleave and an excerpt from a larger, well known collection by anonymous photographers titled “Here is New York: a Democracy of Photographs.” The museum is currently offering two other exhibitions, including “Signs Of Life,” the black-and-white works of Peter Sekaer, a photographer who worked closely with the U.S. government during the Great Depression. The third is a compilation of photos from renowned fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, most known for its unrivaled photography spreads shot by prominent names such as Peter Lindberg and Karl Lagerfeld. ICP also has a school across the street, which offers full time programs, as well as one-week workshops in both film and digital photography during Fordham’s winter break.
IF YOU GO
Internation Center For Photography Where: 1133 Avenue of the Americas
at 43rd St. Price: $8 With Student I.D. More Info: www.icp.org Must-See
This Fall: “Remembering 9/11;” A collection featuring works of dozens of photographers that capture the recovery efforts in New York City after the Sept. 11th attacks. Open now until Jan. 8, 2012.
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Arts & Culture
October 20, 2011 The Observer
www.fordhamobserver.com
PHOTO FEATURE Observer photographers venture out into New York City’s night life to capture its brights lights, famed skylines and vibrant residents.
charlie puente/The Observer
charlie puente/The Observer
Katherine fotinos/The Observer
sara azoulay/The Observer
ayer chan/The Observer
katherine fotinos/The Observer
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Arts & Culture
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PHOTO FEATURE
maddy chambers/The Observer
sara azoulay/The Observer
maddy chambers/The Observer
charlie puente/The Observer
maddy chambers/The Observer
ayer chan/The Observer
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Features
October 20, 2011 The Observer
Spice Up Your Trick-or-Treating This Halloween By David Wall Staff Writer
It’s mid-October and you still don’t know what to wear for Halloween? It’s hard to come up with a costume, because, let’s face it: Halloween is all about showing off how creative and fun you can be. Good costumes make you appear as fun-loving and witty, while weak costumes can make you seem bland or boring. There’s a lot of pressure. There are so many things to consider. Will this costume help me stand out? Will people like it? Will it make me appealing to that girl/guy I’ve been trying to get with all semester? These are all very important questions, yet difficult to address. 1.Dress up as your favorite movie character. This one isn’t very original, but it’s a safe option, and people will be able to recognize you right away; just don’t get too obscure with your character (unless you’re a hipster, of course). There won’t be a lot of explaining to do, which is nice. After you tell someone that you are Rocky Balboa, Kung-Fu Panda or the darker Natalie Portman from “Black Swan,” then no more needs to be said. It can be an instant topic of conversation and nice icebreaker. If people haven’t heard of the movie you picked or don’t like that movie, then don’t talk to them. It’s probably not worth it anyway. 2.A board game piece or character. This one is also pretty easy to do, but more clever than a movie character. Just about everyone played board games when they were a kid, but that was long enough ago that the idea won’t occur to most people. Who wouldn’t love it if you showed up to a party as the Monopoly man or Colonel Mustard or Miss Scarlet from “Clue”? You’ll tap into everyone’s inner child as well as spark some nostalgic conversation. 3. An Apple-related product . This will probably be overdone this Halloween in honor of Steve Jobs, but it’s still a good idea for a costume. Go as an iPod or even something as
Courtesy of Fox search light pictures (left); Courtesy of The Children’s Television Workshop (Right)/MCT
For an easy Halloween costume option, dress as someone from a movie. For something more unique, try something quirky like Occupy Sesame Street.
abstract as Safari. This idea will get you noticed, because who doesn’t like Apple? Just don’t go to any PC exclusive parties (in NYC, there’s probably not much to worry about). 4.Go as Occupy Wall Street. Dress up as a hippie or even a Wall Street fat cat. Granted, the protesters have some pretty great costumes of their own, so maybe just lift their ideas? It could be a good move. This idea doesn’t have to be so one dimensional either; you could go as the economy (a beat up businessman/worker) or anything else related to the topic. If you’re into politics you can use this as a sort of forum for your own interests. Like-minded people will appreciate that-- just be prepared for fewer treats in the bag if you promote your ideals too strongly.
5. Go as a contradiction. This has the potential to be very original and people are sure to love it. Go as a rat princess or a yeti in a bathing suit. Dress as anything you can think of that just really doesn’t make sense. It’s easy: find two things that don’t fit with each other and put them together. People will appreciate the wit and you’ll get plenty of compliments. 6. Go as an everyday item. This one is pretty easy and has a homemade feel, which is always a bonus in the costume world. Try the functional human marker: put a sponge on your head, soak it in paint, and head-butt things to leave your mark. Wrap yourself in something and slap on a Crayola logo to make the costume complete. Head-butting
people is risky, so it might be best to try this particular idea with a buddy. Have your buddy dress up as a note pad, and write all over them. Try anything you find on your desk and try to replicate it in a costume. Someone will be impressed. 7. Go as Occupy Sesame Street. This one is a popular Internet meme, so if you go as it you might not get points for being original, but at least you’ll be easily recognizable. Go as the impoverished Oscar the Grouch or a (money) counting Dracula. 8. Go as wordplay. This one will get you points for being clever, but it might receive the same groans that spoken puns get. Try some “animal magnetism” and cover yourself in plush figurines, or
follow “The Office” and dress up like Facebook by making a book helmet. When people ask you what you are, you’ll get a good, “Oh, I get it.” And then they might just walk away, but at least you’ll create some interest, and maybe someone will stick around if your idea is particularly clever.
10.Go as a person in a famous
painting. This one is also easy, but not particularly popular, which means you’ll definitely stand out. If you go as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” or Edvard Munch’s “Scream,” people will recognize you right away, and if that person is into art they will definitely try and talk to you. This works especially well if you’re trying to get with an art history major.
Click and tell
A Second Date and One Drink In the Ninth Ring of Hell By Diana Kokoszka Staff Writer
When I started writing about my online dates, I made it a rule to only discuss my very first date with each guy, and none after that. Partially because of that overused ’90s movie plot in which a girl finds out about a secret condition to her relationship, like the guy placed a bet on her or was paid off to take her out. If I ended up actually liking any of these guys, I’d rather not live out the tail end of these cinematic treasures and run after anyone yelling “but it was just an article!” Until this point, it has been particularly easy to stick to my guns because I just wasn’t getting any callbacks for a second date. Having explained my good intentions, I will proceed to discuss my first second-date for the sole reason that I hope to never see him again. If you’ve been a devoted fan of my tactless retellings of dates good and bad, you might remember “The Canadian,” better described as the hot high-fiver (Observer Issue 9). If you managed to fall upon this article by chance on your way over to the sports section, then I will catch you up by saying it was an awkward, platonicfeeling date that ended with a little more chemistry than it began with. Texting me the day after our first
meeting, he told me that he had a “good time”. This defies everything I’ve been told about “waiting a few days” and playing hard-to-get, but I’ll give the guy ten points for skipping the bullshit. We make plans for the upcoming weekend, and I pick a lounge-y Thai place with ten different types of mojitos. We arrange to meet at 9, and I have shamelessly doublebooked myself to meet friends later in the night, so I hope he’s not feeling extra chatty. I get to the bar a little early to scope out the terrain. In my dating adventures I have found that it’s always preferable to have home field advantage. On a first date you want to avoid that awful deer-in-headlights moment where you scan the room for someone that looks vaguely like their photo, maybe without the red cup in his hand or the drooping eyelids. Even on a second date I found myself second-guessing my memory of the Canadian and begin staring down every male that walks into the bar. 9 a.m. passes without him. I had set my purse down on the next bar stool to save my date a seat, but as I look down now it’s just mocking me. 10 a.m. comes and the bartender starts eyeing my drink, which I’ve been nursing since I got there, as I try to stretch the last few gulps into tiny sips until he arrives.
Photo Illustration by Mario Weddell/The Observer
Waiting an hour and a half for a date is a deal breaker, especially when he has a poor excuse.
At 10:30 he walks in. “Sorry, my thing I had, it ran late.” That’s it? You weren’t resuscitating an old woman that collapsed on the sidewalk en route to our date? You weren’t signaled by Gotham officials to fight villains as your alter ego, Batman? Nope, just a nondescript “thing” that he “had”, well you know, it just
“ran late.” For some reason I am feeling merciful, so I restrain myself from giving him an earful of my well-practiced profanity and accept his offer to buy me a drink as a step towards rectifying his first rate screw-up. This mysterious “thing” he spoke of, must have involved physical activity because he is famished and
orders an appetizer at the bar. I am not particularly hungry, but the Canadian raves about his food and says, “you have to try this,” as he loads up a fork. I open my mouth to receive the spicy Thai goodness and instead taste…nothing? He put the fork in his own mouth and it is clear that he had no intention of feeding me a bite of his food. He does, however glance over at me just in time to catch me with my mouth hanging open. Ouch. Our conversation never makes it past polite chit-chat and I reach for some standard night-ending lines. “Oh man, it’s getting late” is hard to pull off at 11:30, but I’ll be damned if I don’t try. He doesn’t seem to get the hint, and instead gets us another round. Great, he’s bribing me into hanging out with him. He’s attractive and loose with his wallet, but I’m not into him. I take a few sips of the drink while I plan my escape route, and he says, “I bet that I can finish my drink faster than you can,” and I look around wondering when this place turned into a frat house. Did I just get challenged to a chugging contest? And just like that, I have reached my douchebag threshold. I push my drink away and explain to him my elaborate excuse for ending this water-boarding session of a date: “Sorry but I’ve got this thing I need to get to.”
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Features
The Observer October 20, 2011
17
Ariella Mastroianni and Laura Chang/The Observer
Sik Gaek, a Korean restaurant off the 7 train in Queens, offers a short rib and seafood hot pot. They also offer something more exotic: a platter of still-moving tentacles from a fresh octopus.
Word of Mouth
On Tonight’s Menu: Tentacles and Suction Cups DARRYL YU Features Co-Editor
It’s a dark and quiet night in the New York City borough of Queens. With not a soul in sight, this somber scene is something one wouldn’t expect in the “city that never sleeps.” The rumble of an overhead 7 train pierces the silence as it makes its way toward the bright lights of Manhattan. A group of friends have just exited the train, heading toward the Korean restaurant called Sik Gaek. Edging closer to the restaurant, the group mentally prepares themselves for their upcoming cultural challenge: dark, black eyes surrounded by eight tentacles lined with hundreds of little suction cups. They must eat the live octopus. My friend planned the excursion to Sik Gaek a few weeks ago. Normally, Korean restaurants are known for barbecue, but Sik Gaek is known for its seafood and hot pots. I couldn’t resist the offer. My friend suggested that we get a large group so we could order a hot pot. Upon arriving, I was surprised by the amount of knick-knacks
on the restaurant walls. The Soju (Korean alcoholic drink) cap bottles, Korean pop star posters and Christmas lights reminded me more of a festive bar than an actual restaurant. After we sat down, we were soon joined by a tall Korean man. He introduced himself as Captain Kevin, fired up the stove situated in the middle of our table and started making us some fried eggs. Now in most places, I would have expected complimentary breadsticks or peanuts, but at Sik Gaek it was a complimentary fried egg. Noticing the confused looks on our faces, Kevin quickly explained that the protein in the eggs were used to make sure the spicy Korean dishes wouldn’t damage our stomachs when we ate them. We wanted to try the infamous baby octopus, so Kevin suggested we sample the octopus chopped in pieces. Normally eaten whole in Korea, Kevin said smaller pieces were the beginner’s way of getting used to the dish. Eventually, we all settled on ordering one baby octopus accompanied with a short rib/seafood hotpot. Watching our soon-to-be dinner being fished out of the tank, I could only imagine
how it would feel to eat something that was still moving. As we waited for our main dishes, Kevin brought us a mixture of Korean appetites ranging from fresh bean sprouts to spicy Korean rice cakes. Just as I was getting full, I noticed a small plate heading towards our table; on top of it was, without a doubt, the octopus. Squirming and slithering away, the chopped-up tentacles of the octopus freaked me out when I first saw them. Since they looked like a bunch of worms on a plate, it took me a while to muster up the courage to try it. After finally catching a small tentacle with my chopsticks, I quickly dipped it in the spicy sauce and sesame oil. Chewing vigorously to avoid the uncomfortable feeling of moving food, I was shocked when a piece of its suction cup got caught on the roof of my mouth. Terrified at the thought of choking on a tentacle, I used my tongue to quickly pry it loose. Similarly, some of my friends were also turned off by the suction cups of the octopus, but still continued chewing. Impressed by our adventurous nature, Kevin came over and reassured us that there was nothing to fear when eat-
ing octopus. He said that in Korea octopus was a good home remedy in recovering from an illness, and that by eating octopus we were doing our bodies a favor. Aside from interacting with my mouth, the tentacle had an interesting flavor. On its own, the tentacle was very bland, but with the addition of sesame oil and spicy sauce, its flavor was enhanced. The texture was rubbery at first, but after a while, I got used to it. Shortly after the octopus, our short rib/seafood hot pot came. Packed with noodles, short ribs, shells, shrimp, clams and even a live abalone (sea snail), this gigantic hot pot could have easily fed 10 people. Supported by a spicy kimchi broth, it was like the food treasures of the ocean were captured in one pot. To top our seafood feast off, Kevin gave us cucumber juice to help with digestion. It seemed like every single Korean dish had a way of bettering our bodies: the egg for our stomachs, the octopus for our illnesses and now the cucumber juice for our digestion. Stuffed and happy with our “food babies,” we decided to call it a night and go home. Although the meal did cost us a
bit (it was $90) we all agreed that it was worth the amount of food we got. Sik Gaek is a perfect place for a big group of adventurous college students. One hot pot is more than enough for any big group (we were five people and we only finished a third of the hot pot). More importantly Sik Gaek presents the chance to eat foods you never thought you’d try. (Despite having problems with the octopus in the beginning, it was the only dish we finished when we went to Sik Gaek.) If you’re feeling up for the challenge, head over to Woodside, Queens and see if you have what it takes to eat a live octopus. For more information about Sik Gaek, check out the video on FordhamObserver.com IF YOU GO
Sik Gaek
$$$ out of $$$$$ Where: 49-11 Roosevelt Ave , Woodside , NY, 11377 Darryl’s Recommendation: Short Rib Hotpot
(Live Octopus for the brave)
Observation Deck
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever tried?
“ The weirdest
thing I’ve ever eaten was lamb tongue. I ate it during Easter and I’ve been scarred ever since.” –
Christina Markesinis FCLC ’13
“ My friend from
Mexico made me try some fried crickets. They were pretty good. They tasted like chips. That was probably the weirdest food experience I’ve ever had. ” –
Sunny Khahera, FCLC ’14
“ The strangest
food I’ve ever eaten was octopus. I’m not too sure if it was raw, it was really chewy and salty. I actually really liked it.” –
Ashley Breunich , FCLC ’12
“ The weirdest
food I’ve ever had was bull testicles. It was in a stew so I didn’t know what it was at first. It was weird, and once they told me what I was I didn’t eat it anymore.” –
Aldo Juraidini, FCRH ’12
“ The weird-
est food I’ve ever tried was alligator jerky. It was good like chicken with a hint of fish. I would definitely try it again. ” –
Anthony Porretto FCLC ’12
18
Features
October 20, 2011 The Observer
www.fordhamobserver.com
NY challenged
The Day I Caught a Sneaky Sweet-Tooth I could tell that my dad had grown up watching my grandpa do more curious things than closeted candy eating.
MARIO WEDDELL Features Co-Editor & Photography Assistant Editor
Memories of my grandpa resurfaced the other day. I was making dinner with a friend, and she held the opinion that black pepper should be added to everything. My grandpa was the same way. He also lived by a very regimented schedule: a six mile walk at 5 a.m., no singing before breakfast (or you would cry before night) and a salad at 3 p.m. He covered the salad in pepper. I remember growing up in awe of his strict and healthy routine, until the day I caught him in a moment of weakness. I was six years old and always in a hurry. My neighbors and I were outside playing tag, but decided that soccer would be more fun since we were only three people. I ran into the house, to my bedroom, to find a ball. My bedroom was very dark and big, with no windows; it was in the middle of the house. The room been converted into a bedroom, but it still had two sets of doors, one on each side of the room. I entered from the side of room that was far away from the light switch, and being the time-efficient first-grader that I was, I decided to scramble around in the dark. I reached under my bed, lying on the floor and stretching my arms out, digging for a soccer ball. While I pushed sneakers and boxes aside, I heard a strange sound from the other side of the room. It was the rustle of paper, interjected with stifled grunts. Maybe I could describe it best as the imagined sound of Santa Claus wrapping presents. I shrugged it off and kept looking for the ball. In those days, my
Courtesy of Jim Weddell
My grandfather was a man with healthy routines and a secret sweet tooth, as I learned first-hand.
determination to have fun was only outmatched by my determination to avoid showers. I finally managed to poke the ball out from under the bed, and it rolled across the floor toward my closet. My closet had no doors, just curtains. The curtains
swayed slightly as my ball rolled toward them. I heard the sound again; this time I could pinpoint its location as behind the curtain. The sound died as I approached. I picked up the soccer ball and flung the curtains open. There,
standing amongst my shoes and leaning on my coats, stood my grandfather. He stared at me, mouthing silently like a fish underwater searching for words, lips covered in chocolate. He waved the half-eaten Snick-
ers bar at me like he was trying to direct air traffic, still standing in the closet. He stumbled over an explanation, “Oh, um, I, well I, your grandma…” Being the fun-dedicated 6-yearold that I was, I slowly closed the curtain while he rambled, and ran out of the room to play soccer. My feelings about the situation were sort of equivalent to those of a young child who needs to go to the bathroom during an intense game of hide-and-seek. I would address the matter later. More important things were at stake. I didn’t tell anybody what happened until later in the evening, when I simply asked my dad, “Why was Grandpa eating a Snickers in my closet?” My dad seemed unsurprised. “Oh he was? I don’t know, he seems to have this idea that Grandma doesn’t like it. So he tries to be sneaky. She knows, but I don’t think she cares.” I could tell that my dad had grown up watching my grandpa do more curious things than closeted candy eating. When I saw my grandpa later that night, I said nothing about it. Neither did he. I understood. It was like when I lied to my mom and told her that I had already showered that day. We all need to feel like we’re getting away with something, sometimes.
Professor is a Leader in the Movement for Syrian Democracy syria From PAGE 1
began connecting with one another, especially on Facebook and they’ve been learning from one another. Before March, there were a couple of people on Facebook in Syria. Now there are thousands, it really is an Internet phenomenon. Observer: How did Wikileaks
contribute to the protests?
M.A.: When people in Arab-speak-
ing nations read the Wikileaks documents translated by Al Jazeera, they learned how their so-called leaders were betraying them. The American documents told of the corruption, oppression and apathy that prevailed in the governments of Arab-speaking nations and the documents named these leaders. Armed with the facts, people began to network and to take action. Those documents became a battle cry for social justice and freedom. Observer: How inf luential do
you think the Syrian National Council, who want to overthrow Assad, movement will be? M.A.: The council is still in the
infancy stage. Not all of us agree about who has been chosen to be on the council but we support it because the overall intention is right. I met with the leaders in Washington D.C. and I think their inf luence will depend on who they put out there to do the ground work. Those people will be key to success. And for them to succeed, those people will need to be f lexible and will have to listen to diverse and competing political interests of the country, too.
What would help them be more effective? Observer:
M.A.: The council needs to consid-
er having an office in the countries or in the cities with large populations of Syrians to garner support for the protests. They need to infiltrate the media—that is going to be a challenge. They need to be very organized about fundraising so it’s effective in supporting their goals. They also need to understand that with Syria it is not going to be days or months, this is going to be a long process. Observer: Does the Syrian peo-
ple’s desire for national independence require foreign intervention? M.A.: Syria is on the brink of civil
war and the resistance will need other countries to step up activity if they want the outcome to be democratic. But countries can take action now to weaken the government. No country should sign a treaty with Syria. No country should acknowledge Syria’s government. Syrian protesters need more political support from America and other countries around the world to acknowledge their cause and help them communicate with one another and with others abroad, and help them organize for their cause. Observer: Will future protests
become more violent?
M.A.: I’m not sure the protests can
continue to be peaceful. I know for sure that people are buying guns now. I think the people will have no choice but to become more violent to protect themselves and to
claim victory. Also, I very much doubt the extremist faction of the resistance movement will keep it a peaceful movement much longer. Observer: What about the recent
large rally of support for Assad?
M.A.: The real question is “Why
are we seeing this now?” It’s because all the schools are open so the government sends in buses and forces people to rally in support of Assad. If you don’t follow orders, government goons take your mother or father to jail or take you to jail and beat you, torture you. People are being forced to obey. Observer: Would you consider
the protesters revolutionaries?
M.A. : Not yet. It’s a social move-
ment with political ambitions. We don’t know what kind of political system will result from this or how things will change. Observer: What is the biggest challenge Syrian protesters face? M.A. : Their biggest challenge is
maintaining momentum and continuity. They need to win over most everyone in the country if they are to succeed. The other challenge is to get a unified message out to the media, along with communicating their own actions and those of the government. And they need to do this in Syria and abroad to gain support and traction. That’s tough to do given the recent clamp-down on the communication systems by Assad, but protesters are proving themselves resourceful. Syrian protesters are strongly motivated. They are not going to give up.
ayer chan/The Observer
Fordham professor, Mohamed Alsiadi, is a leader in the American-Syrian support movement, aiding peacful protesters in Syria.
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Features
19
Dawn To Dusk
The Hopes and Fears of a Fresh Dancer and a Future Doctor By Monica Tyson Staff Writer
The transformation from freshman to senior can be a dramatic. An incoming freshman can go from feeling like the top dog in high school to the new puppy on the block, while a senior prepares to be thrust into the world after finally becoming comfortable in college. Terrence Diable, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’15, and Claire Michel, FCLC ’12, show us how different the two really can be. So read on, fellow freshmen and seniors, and any of you that fall in between, as the dawn turns to dusk.
Terrence Diable
Year: FCLC’ 15 Major: Dance BFA Hometown: New York City Current Residence: New York
City
Why did you choose Fordham? [It was an] Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and F.U. culmination. I’ve been with Alvin Ailey for the past three years in their Junior Division Program, an afterschool program for youth. And for their strong academics… Oh! No math! Anything odd about your family or that sets them apart from other families? My family is kind of artsy, we joke around. That’s probably why I got into the arts. They were musicians—I started out in music myself. It’s a positive relationship between my mother and father. I joke around all the time with my mother, but my dad is like a comedian, on the low. Are you close to your family still? Yes, very close, definitely. I’m a commuter so I live with them. Compare being your old senior self in high school to your new freshman self. Well I was like man on top. I worked for something that I thought was hard, but now that I look back it was
Photo courtesy of Terrence diable (left); mario weddell/The Observer
Terrence Diable, FCLC ’15, hopes to pursue a career as a dancer, and Claire Michel, FCLC ’12, plans on going to medical school after graduating from Fordham.
easy. And then I came here and it’s like, oh shit. This is the real deal. At Fordham you’re the newbie and you’re fresh meat. Do you get embarrassed easily? Never been embarrassed, but in dance specifically you’re always in such a rush… I’ll forget my ballet shoes or my tights. And you’ll be like are you serious, now I have to sit out, then you get yelled at by the teacher and they’re like “Oh you should have packed the night before.”That’s kind of embarrassing. Anything that you’ve experienced recently that you wouldn’t have dreamed of doing? I took class led by Alissa Clark and Erika Pujic both graduates of Julliard that was pretty amazing.
What about when your dance career is over? I would love to work with other dance companies just to see what their idea of dance is and different movement. I would love to choreograph, and of course, teach.
Claire Michel
Year: FCLC’ 12 Major: Natural Science Hometown: Brooklyn Current Residence: Brooklyn
Why did you choose Fordham? I chose Fordham mainly because of its reputation and it was the best school I got into. Are you still close, or as close with your family as when you started college? Yes and no. I would say we now
have a different relationship. My brother and I get along now for the first time. We’re five years apart. As for my parents and I, we are getting closer as they let go a little bit. What is the biggest difference, you think, between a freshman and a senior? Besides seniority, I would just say awareness. Freshman year you walk in with such confidence, only the college world is different from high school. The fact that everything you do counts for your professional life—as a freshman you know it, but as a senior it becomes a reality. Most awkward moment in the past four years? My most awkward moment would be freshman year, I was in the cafeteria realized that we had to hand in a health insurance
information sheet in two hours and my class started in 30 minutes. So I took the sheet and bolted out of the cafeteria [and] went through the one of the doors with an alarm. And everyone just stared at me when the alarm went off. My new friends at the time laughed at me for the rest of the day. Anything that you have experienced in the past 5 years that you wouldn’t have done otherwise? Rock climbing—I’m scared of heights. And Pinkberry—I just never liked buying expensive stuff, but this could be a treat once in a while Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Hopefully in medical school.
The Placebo Effect: The Real Power of Positive Thinking By Karen Lo Staff Writer
As another seemingly endless winter of discontent approaches, the promise of being mercilessly coughed and sneezed on during subway rides becomes a common nuisance in New York City. But do not worry, there may be a way to minimize your sniffly winter blues, and it is in your hands or at least, it is in your brain. Earlier this year, scientists at the University of Madison in Wisconsin conducted an experiment in which patients suffering from symptoms of the common cold were observed, and their rates of recovery and response to medication were measured. Scientists divided patients with symptoms of the common cold into four groups, where they were given one of four treatments: a simple sugar pill, an echinacea pill without being informed of the fact, an echinacea pill while informed or no treatment whatsoever. Of the total 719 adults who participated, 120 of them reported that they believed echinacea to have curative properties before undergoing the study. Echinacea, a flowering relative of the daisy, has a long history of medicinal application as a stimulator of the body’s immune system and
as protection against infections. In fact, when subjected to close scrutiny, research on the effects of echinacea on cold symptoms were inconclusive at best, and it was only possible to maintain that taking the supplement had, at least, no measurably negative effects on patients. At the end of the study, those patients who both attributed echinacea with symptom-soothing abilities, and thought, correctly or not, that they were being treated with it, reported that their cold had subsided more than a day before the other participants, and that the symptoms had been less severe overall. This shouldn’t be the case, considering that in reality, colds are caused by a viral infection that must run its course. Aside from a few hours of relief at a time with help from the drugstore, there are no shortcuts that curb the duration of illness or reduce the symptoms. That is, until, we consider the placebo effect, which can often change the game considerably. Dr. David Malcolm a psychology professor at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), whose own research includes behavioral analysis and learning in humans and animals, explained the usefulness of the placebo effect in medicine, when we consider that in itself, thinking is a behavior. “The old saying that ‘it’s all in your mind’ is of course
as long lasting,” and therefore less controlled, but in some cases results in “a complete lifting of the depression.” Lastly, Malcolm contends that the most important consideration for the placebo effect is how best to harness its power. Among the most important variables that impact effectiveness is the relationship between a patient and their doctor. For instance, “What differences in the approach and style of physicians leads to stronger results? One thing that is clear is that when the patient views the physician as ‘warm and caring’ they often get relief sooner.”
Katherine Fotinos/The Observer
According to the study with placebo drugs and more positive mindset you can beat the fall flu this season
true—the mind is the brain, and the brain and immune system have been shown to work together. Behaviors can affect the immune system and vice versa,” Malcolm said. Being sick even impacts our social behavior. “Often when you are ill you become less social and wish to be left alone, which is your immune system affecting your brain,” Malcolm said.
The phenomenon of the placebo is certainly not limited to fleeting viruses which make for a few dreary days in the dead of winter, however. In particular, Dr. Malcolm notes, “One area where the effects are very strong is with antidepressants. Estimates have been made that almost half of their effect is a placebo effect. When compared to drugs, however the effect is not
Patients’ trust in their doctors, as well as doctors’ confidence in their own opinions and practice, mutually reinforce each other and bolster treatment. Placebos like echinacea show more prominent results in medicine because when knowledge of home remedies is passed down, perhaps from family elders we trust, they command a certain austere authority. Luckily, this trust only adds to the effect, as placebos rely on our bodies to respond to our minds, and, whether we are the doctor or the patient, we require little more encouragement once in a while to recover from an illness.
Literary
October 20, 2011 The Observer
Salma ElmehDawi/The Observer
Eve’s New Eyes By Salma Elmehdawi Photo Co-Editor & Asst. Literary Editor
Eve squints her new eyes. The trees, glimmering in their fresh bark suits, want to know her name. The sharpened grass blades at her feet, white as pear juice, want to know why she came. In her, an organ is pushing up a glass tooth. Beating too, wants her to obey. Around her, a city skyline tries on new clothes. Long legs pulling up and down gold pantyhose. She can hear him now through the floorboards. Her teeth, on the wings of a kiss, refusing to miss Adam’s apple lodged in his neck like corkscrew or an alarm clock ringing for her.
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Literary
21
Parva Puella By Bianca Leggio Staff Writer
Why do you waste your time wasting? At least shout at the stars to make sense of your waste, your breath lonely and important and wasted. Shout at the stars a little while (see if you feel better.) You’ll find that they remain although you won’t, gold and wide and blue. They see what you can’t and know how to waste gloriously.
Kyle Morrison/The Observer
Present By Zoë Simpson Staff Writer
Once you decide it counts Put a box on the left Place it somewhere convenient on the list Under the proper heading (That way, you know you’re alive) Once you notice the box Is only ever empty Or it’s checked Mark it “repeat” (That way, you know you’re living) When you realize your life Is a line of boxes On a page In a stack Look at where you’re sitting Realize you’re waiting for your laundry And all you can ever have Is waiting for your laundry Or the contour of your shoes Or how cold it is in this room
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Sports
October 20, 2011 The Observer
Mistakes and Missed Opportunites: Rams Stumble to Fourth Consecutive Loss By Mike McMahon Staff Writer
In a game that was close as late as the third quarter, with the Rams trailing 20-12 after an 82-yard touchdown pass, Fordham could not capitalize on several opportunities, falling to the Lehigh Mountain Hawks 32-14. The Rams quickly fell into a 10-0 hole after the Mountain Hawks scored on each of their opening drives. Despite several small responses, Fordham failed to come up big when they needed it most, and suffered their fourth consecutive loss, leaving them 1-5 on the season. In the first quarter, with the Mountain Hawks driving up 3-0, the Rams defense had Lehigh quarterback Chris Lum dead to rights in the backfield on third and 10 on Fordham’s 17-yard line. Just when it looked like the Rams’ red zone defense might be the story of the game, Lum escaped and threw a 17-yard score, putting the Mountain Hawks up by 10. On the following drive, a 49-yard completion led to the Rams driving all the way to the Lehigh 11, but a lost fumble left Fordham with nothing to show for the drive. After the turnover, Patrick McGee, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’12, blocked a Lehigh punt attempt for a safety. On the ensuing free kick, Fordham seemed to be building momentum, returning the ball all the way to the 50. The Rams marched down the field on a run-heavy drive that culminated in a field goal, putting the team within sight of the lead. However, this would be as close as they would get. Lehigh tore apart the Rams’ defense on the next drive with a slew of accurate short passes, scoring a touchdown on the last one, a two-yar pass to Lehigh fullback Zach Hayden. The game was not without its highlights; in fact, it was the big moments that made you wonder just why the Rams could not win it. Between the blocked punt, several completions of 15 or more yards (including an 82yard touchdown from Ryan Higgins, FCRH ’13, to Greg Wilson, FCRH ’13), and a few great red-zone stands, it took a few good looks at the scoreboard to truly realize that the game was out of hand late. And yet, for all the notable moments the team had, they blew opportunity after opportunity. Down 27-12 and nearing the end of the third quarter, the defense gave up the fatal dagger, a 62-yard score to Lehigh receiver Ryan Spadola. Though the Rams gave up two runs of considerable length and were buried by a 62-yarder, the story of the day was the surgical and methodical movement of the Mountain Hawks’ offense. No three plays seemed particularly noteworthy, but strung to-
gether, they resulted in first down after first down. Asking the average fan leaving the game, not one of them likely would’ve guessed at the total yardage surrendered by the home team’s defense, a staggering 598-yards on 90 plays. The late-game play calling by Fordham bordered on baffling. With less than four minutes to go and a huge deficit, the Rams ran three straight run plays deep in their own territory, giving the home crowd little respect for sticking around. A football team cannot expect to win if it’s willing to roll over when the going gets tough. When asked about the Rams’ struggles, Katy Piszczek, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’14 said, “Fordham needs to be more aggressive. They would have closer games if they would begin to capitalize on their opportunities. It’s hard to stay competitive when the offense only scores a total of 12 points.” Others took a different perspective. Liz Cole, FCLC ’14, said that instead the defense should do a better job of containing the opposing offense. “When the opponent can move up and down the field as easy as Lehigh did, there’s a defensive problem that needs to be looked at,” Cole said. The problem existed on both sides and despite two interceptions, a blocked punt, an 82-yard touchdown pass, and a few good red zone stands, Fordham never held the lead. The Rams had the feel of a competitive football team, but without the score to prove it.
Ayer Chan/The Observer
The Rams defense had a dismal performance, allowing almost 600-yards of offense and surrendering 32 points to Mountain Hawks.
Rams Still Striving Towards Victory in New Conference By Max Wollner Sports Co-Editor
The men’s rugby team, a club celebrating their 50th season at Fordham, is looking to build on the recent success of the school’s other club sports by performing well in their 2012 season in the newly founded Empire Rugby Conference (ERC). In 2010, the sailing team qualified for their first national championship regatta, and the hockey team clinched their 11th consecutive postseason appearance, en route to winning their second championship. The Men’s Rugby team will look to replicate this level of success in their 2012 season, as a sluggish start in their new conference has killed all hope for success this season.
Their new conference, the ERC, was founded earlier this year as a product of USA Rugby’s reorganization of the sport at the collegiate level. Instead of following the old Division I model, USA Rugby has replaced it with a conference system similar to those used in NCAA football. The ERC consists of nine teams that are divided into two divisions based on geographic location. Fordham plays in the Eastern Division against Iona College, SUNY Stony Brook, and USMMA at King’s Point. The teams in this division play a six-game season consisting of a home-and-home series game against each of the other teams. The Rams are off to a disappointing 0-4 start and are looking to regain the form they had
in their old conference, the Metropolitan New York Rugby Union (METNY). In the METNY, the Rams won championships in 2003, 2004, and most recently in 2009, when the Rams were the number one seed in the playoffs. However, unlike a varsity sport, it is very difficult to keep strong teams intact because attendance is not mandatory. One of the two team captains, Seth Houston, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’13, said, “We don’t have as much of a structured schedule as most of the NCAA sports have. We practice three times a week and you make the practices when you can.” If the athletes do not attend practice on a regular basis, odds are they won’t play in the weekly
match, but this year the Rams are working around this problem because of a drastic increase in their roster size. This season men’s rugby consists of 46 undergraduate athletes with a very strong representation from the freshmen class. “This year we recruited 15 freshmen,” Houston said. “Last year, recruitment was a little slow, but it picked up this year, which was great because roster depth is a commodity.” Fordham still has two games remaining on their schedule where they can salvage what’s left of their season and gather momentum and experience heading towards the 2012 campaign. In order to improve as a team, Houston noted that recruitment of strong athletes is always important, but hav-
ing committed athletes is in some ways more important. “The most realistic way to improve is to have guys that can attend the practices,” Houston said. “I know it can be tough to make all three practices a week, but if we have guys that attend on a consistent basis, we will improve faster as a team. We have to find a way to make attendance matter.” Fordham rugby’s 50th season as a club sport wasn’t as successful as some of their previous seasons, but that won’t stop them from playing their hardest. The team’s next game will be an away game on Oct. 21 against conference rival Stony Brook. Then they will return home a week later to play the final game of the season against Iona.
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The Observer October 20, 2011
Sports
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Water Polo Shooting For Late Season Surge By Randy Narine Sports Co-Editor
Despite a tumultuous start to their season (6-16 record), the Fordham University men’s water polo team is still in a good position to make a late season run at the Eastern Championships. The team has struggled primarily with replacing the talent from last year’s squad. The Rams lost their two leading scorers from last season, All-Americans Ali Arat, Graduate School of Business Administration (GBA) ’11, and Ryan Hultman, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’11, to graduation. Arat led the team in points (102) and goals (91), while Hultman was second in points (50) and third in goals (32). While trying to make up for these losses, it hasn’t helped that ` the Rams have struck by a bad case of the injury bug. Rams head coach Bill Harris said, “We have had some serious injuries. One of our top recruits, Charlie Reed, has yet to play in a game and hopefully he gets in the water.” The injuries have cost the Rams more than just the scoring ability of those players. The team has also suffered by lack of numbers in their lineup. Harris said, “The lack of depth has really hurt us. We have been ahead in games and we usually relinquish the lead in the second half. Because we don’t have enough quality players coming off the bench, the guys get fatigued.” However, the Rams head coach does not feel the team’s record is reflective of their play to this point in the season. “Everything considered, this is one of the hardest working teams I’ve ever had,” Harris said. “Overall we played a lot of top 20 teams. We’re not in bad shape in our conference and we are still in running to get to Easterns [Conference Championships], which is our goal.” One of the major bright spots on the team has been driver Robert
Courtesy of Fordham Sports
Despite their injuries, Men’s water polo must perform well in their two remaining conference games to ensure future success.
Flemming, FCRH ’12. Flemming has asserted himself on offense and currently leads the team in goals (45) through the first 22 games. Flemming’s strong play this season was recognized when he earned the honor of Northern Division Player of the Week on Sept. 27. In the two games he played that week, he scored nine goals, two of them being game-winners, and added five steals. Harris said of his leading scorer, “Bobby’s been terrific for us. He’s been scoring more and he’s
been really aggressive in the water. He’s been a leader on this team and we’re going to miss him because this is his last year.” Harris added that he felt the team’s “never say die attitude” was one of their biggest strengths. The head coach said, “Everyone really supports each other. It’s been a tough season and we haven’t gotten a lot of wins but they never quit. It’s a good group of guys and I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished so far.” Of the team’s 16 losses, seven
of them have come against teams ranked in the top 20. The team can put those games behind them, as none of their four remaining opponents rank inside the top 20. However, these are the games that will matter the most. The final two games of the season are conference games against Iona and Connecticut College. The Rams will need to perform well in these games if their hopes of a late season run are to be realized. Harris said, “We have a critical
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game coming up against Iona which will establish who we play in the Northern Conference Championships. As far as how we do in the Easterns, I’m going to take it one step at a time. Our mission right now is to get there. And it’s going to be a challenge but I think we have a good shot. We’ll play either MIT, Iona or Harvard in first game of the Conference championships and if we win, we go to top eight in the east, which is what we’re shooting for.”
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October 20, 2011 The Observer
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From Sing Sing to the Boxing Ring: Bozella Realizes Dream By Randy Narine Sports Co-Editor
After serving 26 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Dewey Bozella finally got what he had worked for, a professional boxing match. He did not disappoint, beating opponent Larry Hopkins by unanimous decision. Bozella was charged in 1983 for the murder of 92-year old Emma Crasper. Crasper was murdered in her Poughkeepsie home in 1977. Bozella’s case included false testimonies and a failed investigation that led to a judge sentencing him to 20 years to life in prison at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York. After a few years of incarceration, Bozella entered the prisonboxing program. In boxing, Bozella found what would help him survive prison. In an ESPN interview Bozella stated, “Boxing saved me. Boxing deals with morals, obligations and responsibilities. And the main thing is discipline. It helped me to find that freedom I needed. That was my peace.” Bozella excelled at boxing, becoming the undefeated light heavyweight champion at Sing Sing. His prowess in the ring earned him a special fight with former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Lou De Valle. De Valle would win the fight due to blood stoppage after a combination of punches opened a gash on Bozella’s forehead. Bozella said in his interview, “What I loved about it, even though it was a loss, was he was the first man to knock down Roy Jones. I can’t complain. I’m happy.” While doing battle in the ring, Bozella also continued to fight for his freedom in Sing Sing. In 1990, Bozella was granted a retrial. The district attorney offered the boxer a deal: he admitted his guilt he could walk free. Bozella refused the deal and in his interview stated, “I cant. You’re not going to make me say I did something that I didn’t do. Everything that I stood for, everything had been taken away from me. Ev-
Dewey Bozella spent 26 years wrongfully imprisoned in Sing Sing Correctional Facility.
erything. I can’t live with you or anybody else telling me that I killed an old woman.” Bozella was found guilty and was again trapped in prison. He continued to fight to improve his situation by earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. He sent endless letters to the Innocence Project, a non-profit group that helps to prove the innocence of wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing. The firm took up Bozella’s case and searched for evidence to prove him innocent.
The Innocence Project referred the case to the law firm, WilmerHale. All of the evidence from the case had been disposed of but the firm found that Arthur Regula, the lead detective in Bozella’s case, had kept a copy of the case file. It was the only case file Regula ever kept because he was not entirely sure Bozella was guilty. The file showed the prosecution withheld evidence that another man had already been convincted of the murder. On Oct. 14, 2009, after Bozella had served 26 years
in prison, Justice James T. Rooney ruled that he had been wrongfully convicted. Following his freedom, Bozella was honored this year at the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards (ESPY’s) with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. All Bozella had been through led him to his fight on Oct. 15. Bozella started the four-round fight slowly by trailing for the first round of the fight. However, after he got warmed up in the second round, Bozella would never look back. He was the aggressor in the fight and the 52-
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year old boxer as young as his 30year old opponent. By the fourth round Bozella had Hopkins reeling. His opponent, who had dropped his mouth guard six times, was saved from Bozella’s flurry of punches by the bell. After the fight Bozella said, “This is my first and my last fight, so I thank you all very much.” He cited age as the reason but added, “It’s one of the greatest moments of my life.” And after all the suffering, Bozella finally got his well-deserved win under the big lights.
NHL Skates By Topic of LGBT Rights in the Game By joe Sparacio Contributing Writer
Kevin P. Coughlin/newsday
The NHL dropped the ball by not fining Wayne Simmonds for his antigay slur against Sean Avery (pictured).
Hockey is known as one of the most physical of professional sports, rife with bad blood and plenty of trash talk, but how much is too much? On Monday, Sept. 25, the New York Rangers played the Philadelphia Flyers, in what is always a very heated rivalry in the Eastern Conference. Games are usually exciting, filled with flashy goals, brilliant saves and oftentimes heated brawls. This could all be expected, but the game’s integrity took a turn for the worse when Rangers hot-headed winger Sean Avery claimed that Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds called him a homophobic slur during the first period of the preseason contest. A video replay showed that Simmonds did indeed call Avery the slur as he was passing the Flyers’ bench. Avery is known by the NHL to be a very fiery player and often instigates arguments, but he was both offended and disappointed in Simmonds. Avery was a spokesperson for LGBT over the summer, doing campaign ads and appearing in a public service announcement in May supporting gay rights and marriage equality. Avery said that he was disappointed in Simmonds, stating, “It’s an issue that people are dealing with and trying to overcome and 10 years ago, maybe it wasn’t so much an issue but it’s certainly an issue politically with people in the game. And just in life in general.” What is even more controver-
sial about this exchange is that the NHL had the ability to punish Simmonds, but chose not to. Though it was clear that Simmonds did in fact use a homophobic slur towards Avery, the NHL did nothing, claiming in a statement that, “Simmonds said he couldn’t remember what he said and that none of the referees on the ice could verify what was said.” As a result, they could not punish Simmonds in any way. If anyone were to watch the replay and had even the slightest ability to read lips, they would know that Simmonds used an anti-gay insult to try to elicit a reaction and offend Avery. Simmonds was unapologetic and did not deny what Avery claimed, saying, “Honestly, we were going back and forth for a while there and … I can’t recall every single word I said.” The NBA had similar incidents in the past and they were dealt with immediately and efficiently. During Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls Joakim Noah was caught yelling the same derogatory insult at a fan out of frustration and was fined $50,000. The Lakers Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for yelling a similar phrase at a referee. This was after the NBA promised to take a stronger stance against insults, especially those regarding race and gender. The NHL didn’t take after the NBA and fine Simmonds, despite the fact that both incidents used the same words and were caught on video. LGBT representatives from Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) and Human Rights campaigners were wondering why the leagues treated the cases differently. When Noah made the mistake during the Finals, Joe Solmonese, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement, “It’s just plain unacceptable. At a time when the NBA and a growing number of pro athletes are publicly standing up for equality, it’s too bad Noah worked against their efforts last night. That said, we’re pleased he quickly realized the error of his ways and apologized.” Yet, in the case of the NHL there was more backlash against the league itself. On their website, GLAAD accused the NHL of being hypocritical. The NHL promised that homophobic slurs “will not be tolerated” yet, when it comes down to it, some authorities turn a blind eye.” Professional sports set an example of a lifestyle that many young teenagers closely follow. The NHL is setting an awful example of how to deal with intolerance. The gay community has to deal with problems like these on a daily basis and the fact that the league turned a blind eye makes it seem acceptable for others to be intolerant. It is important to recognize the controversy and it is the players’ jobs to avoid allowing similar circumstances to happen in the future. Maybe next time, the NHL will learn from the NBA and stand up for the tolerance that it claims to defend.