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