Observer the
@fordhamobserver
www.fordhamobser erver.com
February 10, 2021 VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 1 Online-Only Edition
A Case for Anti-Racist Education PETER WOLFF Contributing Writer
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley is surrounded by her team after being congratulated for her 200th win with the Fordham Rams.
Head Coach Gaitley Wins 200th Game at Fordham By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor
The Fordham women’s basketball team came back to defeat the University of Rhode Island (URI) Rams Sunday, Feb. 7, after falling behind nine points early in the third quarter. The Fordham Rams’ record in Atlantic 10 (A10) conference play improved to 7-2, placing them third in the standings behind Dayton University and URI. After a sluggish start, Anna
DeWolfe, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, scored 14 points in the final 16 minutes of play, leading a successful effort to secure Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley’s 200th victory at Fordham University. “This was such a great team win,” Gaitley said. “We showed so much toughness and resilience against a very good Rhode Island team!” At the beginning of the week, Fordham was slated to play two games, and Rhode Island was not
originally one of the scheduled opponents. However, after two postponements and a last-second schedule addition, the Rams had to cancel travel plans and remain home for a rematch with the URI Rams. Since their last matchup on Jan. 8, which the Fordham Rams won 64-58, both teams thrived in the A10 despite missing multiple games to COVID-19-related incidents. Fordham won three games, lost one and postponed four, while Rhode Island went undefeated in
six games while postponing four. The rematch had high stakes, as both teams sat in prime positions to challenge the undefeated Dayton University Flyers in the A10 standings. Fordham and Rhode Island were supposed to play Dayton at different points earlier this season, but both games were postponed, preventing the Flyers from taking on two of the A10’s strongest teams. see WOMEN'S BBALL page 4
Black History Month Kicks Off Online By ALLIE STOFER Asst. News Editor
With the start of February, clubs are hosting hybrid and virtual events to celebrate Black History Month. This year, many of the events are being created by Fordham’s Black History Month Committee, which is sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA). “Fordham has made a point to be more inclusive about the type of programming they highlight, this year is maybe a bit more intentional given the racial unrest we see throughout the world,” Lilibeth Ramos Flores, the graduate intern from OMA who oversees the Black History Month Committee, said. The committee is made up of students who have an interest in the cultural month. The com-
mittee members and the cultural programming coordinators came together to decide on events that the Fordham community will not only find fun and entertaining but also provide learning and thought-provoking spaces. “We also want committees to explore intersectional identities within their programming; linking committees together for joint events,” Ramos Flores said. “Planning for the month has been both exciting and difficult. It is exciting because I love the process of planning creative cultural programming and I was happy to do it on a heritage month that I personally relate to,” Lincoln Center Cultural Programming Coordinator Jemina Molines, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’21, said.
see BHM page 2
The year 2020 was a racial awakening for the United States. The murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police caused protests in all 50 states and many countries worldwide. These protests opened many Americans’ eyes to their complicity in an anti-Black, racist system and forced them to reckon with the idea of a racist society. Institutions, like individuals, were forced to do the same. Universities and colleges hold even more responsibility in our society, as they are responsible for molding and educating a younger generation. For many students, this molding and teaching will lead to habits and beliefs that they hold on to for the rest of their lives. For many students, Fordham may be the last chance for them to adapt and learn to be racially literate. I created a survey with the hopes of seeing whether or not Fordham alumni are anti-racist. With the data collected, we can compare it to Fordham’s anti-racist action plan and see whether or not Fordham goes far enough with its proposals. Fordham’s action plan, found on the university’s website, is divided into goals with subsequent actions. The goals include, but are not limited to, fixing the curriculum, creating a more welcoming campus and building a lasting partnership with our neighbors. While these goals are adequate, the university’s plans do not go far enough to ensure that every Fordham student will leave the university anti-racist. We can directly see this in the curriculum. see ANTI-RACIST page 9
Editor’s Note: 40th Anniversary
ZOOM
Clockwise from top left, Katelyn Figueroa, FCLC ’24; Jemina Molines, FCLC ’21; Juan Carlos Matos, assistant vice president for Student Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion; and Mary Olivette Bookman, FCLC ’24, participate in the Music Revelation event on Feb. 8.
To honor The Observer’s 40th anniversary, we are publishing historical content from our archives and producing new projects to celebrate 40 years of high-quality student journalism. We will primarily share this content on our website, fordhamobserver.com, throughout the semester due to COVID-19 restrictions on campus. Thank you to all of our readers for your support as we celebrate this exciting moment in The Observer’s history.
News
Sports & Health
Opinions
Features
Arts & Culture
Fordham wins lawsuit against tuition reimbursements
New COVID-19 variants cause concern for vaccination efforts
How Biden’s policies are failing the trans community
First-year student Melissa Joy releases debut EP
Amanda Gorman makes history once again
Page 2
Page 5
Page 9
Page 11
Student Case Dismissed Virus Mutations
US Anti-Discrimination Joy-ful Music
The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center
Inauguration Poet Page 12
2
News
February 10, 2021 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
Court Rules Against Student in Class Action Lawsuit
A filing for tuition refunds from April 2020 after suspension of in-person classes was dismissed last month By MARYAM BESHARA Contributing Writer
Fordham University won a class action lawsuit in January 2021, dismissing the calls for refunds on tuition and campus-related fees following the suspension of in-person classes due to the coronavirus pandemic. The plaintiff, Kareem Hassan, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’21, filed the class action lawsuit in April 2020 after classes shifted to online learning and he was unable to access laboratory facilities. As an undergraduate student majoring in chemistry, Hassan said he believed that he was not able to receive the same quality of education that he paid for in order to further his education.
“ Fordham uses any and all legal, financial, and biblical justifications for these tuition charges. What else can we expect from a private university that has always prioritized profits, reputation, and maintaining order. ”
Tess Gutenbrunner, FCLC ’21
“Online learning options offered are subpar in practically every aspect, from the lack of facilities, materials, and access to faculty,” Hassan claimed in the lawsuit. “Students have been deprived of the opportunity for collaborative learning and in-person dialogue, feedback, and critique.” Hassan represented his fellow students as a petition circulated around Fordham demanding a response. Hundreds of students signed the petition and several Fordham families added to the request for lowering tuition costs and removing added on-campus fees. The university
DANIEL BONE VIA PIXABAY
In January, Fordham won a class action lawsuit filed by Kareem Hassan, FCRH ’21, who called for a tuition refund following a lower quality education due to online learning.
did not alter the cost of tuition. “Fordham University has proven once again that they are incapable of standing for what is right in the name of their students,” Tess Gutenbrunner, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21 and an organizer of the petition, said. “No one actually thinks that the quality or level of education we are getting online, regardless of the thankless work and struggle of our professors, is anywhere near worth what it was before the pandemic.” Gutenbrunner, along with several fellow petition organizers, voiced her opposition to Fordham’s financial response to the coronavirus pandemic as the institution neglected to recognize the impact the pandemic had on its students. “Fordham uses any and all legal, financial, and biblical justifications for these tuition
charges. What else can we expect from a private university that has always prioritized profits, reputation, and maintaining order,” Gutenbrunner said.
Bob Howe, vice president for communications, said that the university believes the case was correctly decided. Insiya Gandhi, FCLC ’24, said she was pleasantly surprised by her first semester of college courses and was proud of the efforts her professors made to ensure that the virtual learning modality was not burdening students. Regarding the university’s efforts in accommodating the financial burdens of its students
and faculty, Gandhi said that she believed the university showed a lack of concern. “Although I have no prior college experience to compare my virtual learning semester to, I know that it is not even vaguely equivalent to what an in-person, non-covid semester would be like,” Gandhi said. “I know that I should not be charged added lab fees to my tuition bills for online classes. Given all the financial hardships families are enduring due to the pandemic, I believe that the added fees are unfair and inconsiderate of the economic situation that has beset Fordham students.” Bob Howe, vice president for communications, said that the university believes the case was correctly decided. “Since March of 2020, thanks to the hard work and student-centered creativity of our faculty, Fordham balanced the
imperative to protect the health and safety of the campus community with our mission to deliver a high quality education, regardless of teaching modality,” Howe said. Hassan claimed that his courses were selected based on their modality being in-person and that the “on-campus experience” is a benefit of enrollment. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York responded by saying, “None of these statements, however, constitutes a specific promise on Fordham’s part to provide ‘certain specified services.’” The court ruled in Fordham’s favor; a motion to dismiss the case was granted due to the plaintiff’s failure to make a claim. A “plaintiff’s obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of (their) ‘entitlement to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions.”
Three Events Start Black History Month Celebrations
The Black History Month Committee shares its plans for the month of February amid the pandemic BHM from page 1
So far, three events have occurred in the first week: Firsts on the First, Trivia Night and Music Revelation. The Firsts on the First event took place on Feb. 1 and celebrated notable first Black people in different fields. The event celebrated people such as Constance Baker Motley, the first female federal judge, and Toni Morrison, the first female Nobel Prize winner for Literature. Due to the snowstorm that occurred on Feb. 1, the committee had to adjust and make the event virtual, according to Ramos Flores. “It was a couple of folks from the community but a lot of the committee members were there to support the team,” Ramos Flores said about the event. “I think it was a great way to start the month but I can only hope attendance at the events increase.” In the past, Fordham has had different clubs host events for Black History Month. In 2020,
the Black Student Alliance (BSA), Student Organization of Latinx (SOL), Caribbean Students Club (CSC) and Muslim Student Association (MSA) held an event to celebrate with food,
“ History is black
history and the more people understand that the more understanding and empathy we can have for one another. ”
Lilibeth Ramos Flores, OMA graduate intern
dancing and music. Last spring, BSA also tabled every Thursday in February in order to speak about different aspects of Black culture and activism. Since the majority of Lincoln Center campus classes are administered online, the Black History Month Committee want-
ed to ensure that every student could participate in the events. To do this, the committee created a Google Form that students could fill out to request items to be shipped to them. Even though the first week of February is over, there are still plenty of events left throughout the month. Ramos Flores said that she is looking forward to the book club event and the Love Your Hair Panel. “I think we can all do more to read and engage with black authors to learn for ourselves about black history,” Ramos Flores said. “I'm also excited for the Love Your Hair Panel/ Tabling events because it was something that a lot of folks remember from last year being such a great event.” Ramos Flores encourages all students to attend the events and learn about Black history. She hopes students will learn from the events and continue to do outside research after the events. “It is important that we view Black History as not just
a month in the year, but rather a constant concept that folks need to engage with,” Ramos Flores said. “History is black history and the more people understand that the more understanding and empathy we can have for one another.” Molines echoed Ramos Flores’ comments and added that she hopes that the committee will continue to grow after she graduates. “Black History is also about recognizing how the world can come together to see and hear the pain, heartbreak, and rage of Black people and working together to create a world where the beauty of Blackness is loved, appreciated, and nurtured,” Molines said. “After I graduate, my hope is that the Black History Month Committee continues to blossom as a meaningful hub and space for Black students and the rest of the Fordham -community.” Students can RSVP for the upcoming events through the link in the committee’s Instagram, @blackhistoryatfordham.
Black History Month Committee Events February 12: Movie Night February 17: Book Club February 17: Self-Care Tabling February 18: Black in Dance Discussion February 19: Paint Night February 22: Love Your Hair Panel February 25-26: Love Your Hair Tabling Giveaway
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER February 10, 2021
News
3
Deans Initiate Changes to the Leave of Absence Protocol
Two adjustments made to the processes to ensure inclusivity and accommodate COVID-19 circumstances By KATRINA LAMBERT News Editor
The medical (MLOA) and non-medical leave of absence (LOA) policies are in the process of reexamination by the deans of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) and Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) to ensure that the guidelines promote diversity, equity and inclusion. “This means ... asking questions such as ‘does this policy or practice have a differential impact on different groups of students’?” Laura Auricchio, dean of FCLC, said. At the start of the summer, Fordham administrators put together an action plan “for confronting racism and educating for justice.” Since then, departments within the university have taken steps to diversify their curricula in accordance with Fordham’s anti-racism pledge.
The LOA does not require a screening prior to returning to the university, but the student must be in good academic standing in order to be eligible for withdrawal. Now, other policies and practices at the university level are in the early stages of being analyzed as well. The current processes for the MLOA and LOA vary slightly, with the MLOA allowing for the
leave to take place either during or at the start of a semester; however, the LOA can only be initiated prior to or following a semester.
“ Clearly, this is an
enormous undertaking and, as I mentioned, we are only at the initial stages of planning, but it is an undertaking to which we are committed. ”
Laura Auricchio, dean of FCLC
The MLOA also requires the student to be cleared by the university’s Mental Health and Medical-Related Re-Entry Process, as well as provide documentation verifying their readiness to return. The LOA does not require a screening prior to returning to the university, but the student must be in good academic standing in order to be eligible for withdrawal. Auricchio and Maura Mast, dean of FCRH, have begun initiating an approach to review the MLOA and LOA in order to assess whether they are “keeping with current best practices, if they are student-centered, if they are clearly spelled out and widely disseminated, if they are consistent (when appropriate) across schools or other units,” according to Auricchio.
VIA FORDHAM.EDU
The leave of absence form has now been updated to include a COVID-19 related concern. This option is meant to encompass the variety of ways in which students may have been impacted by the pandemic.
“Clearly, this is an enormous undertaking and, as I mentioned, we are only at the initial stages of planning,” Auricchio said. “But it is an undertaking to which we are committed.” In part with the approach to assess policies’ impact on diversity, inclusion and equity, the non-medical LOA form has been updated to include “COVID-19 related” as one of the options in the list of reasons for the leave of absence from the drop-down menu.
The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected students in a variety of ways beyond health and well-being, especially relating to financial instability. Its impact is also disproportionately affecting racial and ethinic minority groups due to unequal access to health care, job stability and housing. With the change to the LOA form, students can now request time off, either before or after a semester, for any circumstance
brought on by the pandemic. Since the process is in its early stages, there are no other members involved in the reexamination at this time. However, according to Mast, they expect to seek student input in later stages of the process. In addition, reviewing the MLOA policy will be a joint effort with Student Affairs and the University Health Services, as those two offices oversee the MLOA process.
New Year, New Transitions for Deans
Former Dean of Students Keith Eldredge is expected to replace Gregory Pappas as the new dean of student services By KATRINA LAMBERT News Editor
After spending over 40 years at Fordham, Gregory Pappas, the former dean of student services, retired from the university. Effective Jan. 4, 2021, Keith Eldredge, former dean of students at Lincoln Center, was appointed to replace Pappas. Eldredge has worked within Student Affairs at Fordham as the dean of students for 15 years after he assumed the position in July 2006. In his new role, he said that he will start learning more about the specific departments he will be super-
vising so that he can help them accomplish their goals to serve students to their full potential.
“ I believe this
knowledge will be an asset as I transition to this new role ”
Keith Eldredge, new dean of student services
Leaving behind his former role, he said that he will miss working closely with students and staff at
the Lincoln Center campus. “I am very happy that I continue to work at Fordham, but I know things will not be the same,” he said. “I enjoy spending time with the fabulous student leaders who help foster the LC (Lincoln Center) community, as well as, with the wonderful folks who work in Residential Life and Student Involvement.” However, overall, he is excited about the new challenges his role will bring as he strives to fill the shoes of the dean before him. “Dean Pappas was extraordinarily passionate in his love for Fordham,” Eldredge said. “He provided a constant and steadying presence, but he did not let his love and devotion blind him to seek ways to help his areas grow and improve. I hope to continue to build on the strong foundation he has built and continue to follow his example to strive to understand student needs and respond to them effectively.”
(Campbell's) goal is to understand every aspect of her new role and how she can better serve the position
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Jenifer Campbell is the new dean of students at Fordham Lincoln Center. She is continuing to hold her role as the senior director of Residential Life as the search for her replacement is conducted.
Jenifer Campbell, the former senior director of residential life, was appointed to replace Eldredge. Campbell has held her position within Residential Life for 13 years. “My Residential Life expe-
ADRIANA GALLINA/THE OBSERVER
After 15 years as the dean of students at Lincoln Center, Keith Eldredge has been appointed as the dean of student services, taking over from Gregory Pappas.
rience allowed me to work in close proximity to the Dean (Eldredge) and those instances provided exposure to various aspects of the Dean’s responsibilities,” she said. “I believe this knowledge will be an asset as I transition to this new role.” In her transition, Campbell said that she is planning to meet with the various individuals and departments with whom she will work. Her goal is to understand every aspect of her new role and how she can better serve the position. Campbell and Eldredge are
working closely together to ensure a smooth transition, Eldredge said. During the spring 2021 semester, the two new deans will meet regularly to assist Campbell with learning her new role. There will be a search committee to hire a new senior director of Residential Life at the Lincoln Center campus, which will be conducted toward the end of the spring 2021 semester with anticipation of hiring by the summer. Until then, Campbell will maintain oversight of the department.
Sports & Health
Sports & Health Editors Gus Dupree - adupree1@fordham.edu Patrick Moquin - pmoquin@fordhamw.edu
February 10, 2021
THE OBSERVER
Fordham Men’s Basketball Prevails Over La Salle, 76-68
The Rams found success from behind the three-point line to overcome a strong second half from the Explorers By CHRISTOPHER MURRAY Staff Writer
The Fordham Rams scored 76 points in their victory over the La Salle University (LSU) Explorers in a Saturday matinee on Feb. 6. The win featured the most points scored in a game by the Rams this season, beating their previous high by 14 points. The Rams’ victory over the Explorers was their second win of the season, following seven consecutive losses. Interim Head Coach Mike DePaoli also registered his first career win as a head coach, a role he only just assumed after previous Head Coach Jeff Neubauer left the program. “I’ve been here for 11 years and I’ve done everything from take out the garbage in the locker room to be the head coach,” DePaoli noted after the game. “It’s special, I’m not going to lie to you. And what makes it even more special is doing it with this group of guys.” Fordham’s explosive offensive performance and active defense throughout the game could perhaps be attributed to DePaoli’s effervescent energy on the sidelines. DePaoli ceaselessly vocalized instructions and encouragement to his team. The result of this animation was a balanced offensive attack that included five Rams scoring in the double digits and a defensive performance that featured guard Kyle Rose, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23, notching five steals, a career high. La Salle entered the game riding a wave of positive momentum. Not only had the Explorers won nine consecutive meetings against the Rams, but they also beat Atlantic 10 (A10) powerhouse Saint Louis in a high-scoring shootout in their previous game.
The Explorers utilized a high-octane offense to power them to a record of 8-10 entering their meeting with the Rams, scoring 67.6 points per game on average. Fordham entered Saturday’s game averaging 51.5 points per game. The Rams combated La Salle’s strong offense from the jump, keying in defensively on the Explorers’ top scorer, Sherif Kenney, LSU ’23. Kenney scored zero points in the first half and finished the game with only six points.
Ultimately, timely and efficient shooting, notably an 18-point performance by Perry on 6-9 (66.6%) from three and a career-high 15 points from Rose, was too much for La Salle to overcome. Meanwhile, Fordham’s offense clicked for the entire game. After the Explorers’ lone burst in the first half, an 8-0 run at the 13:54 mark, the Rams exploded on the offensive end. For much of the half, the Rams went shot-for-shot with the Explorers, and the game remained close with guard David Beatty, LSU ’21, making a layup to give La Salle a 17-16 lead with 9:57 remaining in the half. From that point on, the Rams outscored the Explorers 21-7. Guard Ty Perry, FCRH ’22, made three three-pointers during that stretch, and the Rams carried a 37-24 lead into the halftime break.
Fordham’s shooting success and La Salle’s shooting woes highlighted the first half. The Rams shot 10-23 (43.5%) from the field and 5-13 (38.5%) from beyond the three-point line. These shooting figures are far from astounding but still markedly better than La Salle’s 8-24 (33.3%) from the field and 2-11 (18.2%) from deep. The second half differed greatly from the first. La Salle picked it up on offense, with Fordham’s defense struggling to contain the Explorers’ newfound success. As a result, Fordham attempted to match La Salle’s firepower with scoring of its own. While this strategy may have failed in past games, the Rams’ scoring in the second half helped them maintain their lead despite La Salle’s offensive barrage. Fordham even managed to improve shooting statistics in the second half, shooting 13-25 (52%) from the field and 6-12 (50%) from deep. Despite the shooting success by the Rams, La Salle managed to cut into Fordham’s lead. This is partially due to the intense press utilized by the Explorers, defending Fordham’s ball-handlers for the length of the court rather than sitting back in the half court. While the tight defense by La Salle did not limit the Rams’ shooting abilities, it did force turnovers that allowed the Explorers to sneak back into the game. Ultimately, timely and efficient shooting, notably an 18-point performance by Perry on 6-9 (66.6%) from three and a career-high 15 points from Rose, was too much for La Salle to overcome, and the Explorers never reduced the lead to fewer than five points. Forward Joel Soriano, FCRH ’23, had another strong perfor-
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Ty Perry, FCRH ’22, scored 18 points off the bench in Fordham’s victory over La Salle on Saturday.
mance. He finished the game with 13 points and 13 rebounds, contributing on both ends of the floor. With Kenney neutralized for most of the game, La Salle guard Christian Ray, LSU ’23, stepped up and filled the scoring void. He scored 11 of La Salle’s 24 first-half points and would finish the game with 18 points and 9
rebounds, leading the Explorers in both categories. The victory could not have come at a better time, as Fordham approaches a very difficult stretch of games that culminates in the A10 Tournament. The Rams will try to maintain the momentum from this victory as they head to George Mason to play the Patriots in an evening game on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
Fordham Women’s Basketball Charges Back to Defeat Rhode Island, 56-53
WOMEN’S BBALL from page 1
In the first half against one of its most challenging adversaries, Fordham struggled to score against a notoriously stingy Rhode Island defense. The URI
Rams scored eight points in the opening minutes and seldom relented thereafter, maintaining their lead over two quarters to pull ahead 28-23 at halftime. In the first 20 minutes of play, the Fordham Rams shot 43%
from the field and committed nine turnovers. Meanwhile, leading scorer DeWolfe only managed to score four points, a paltry total for a player averaging 23 points per game. At the beginning of the third
quarter, DeWolfe did not appear on the floor, and the URI Rams scored two quick baskets to take a nine-point lead, 34-25. The game was quickly turning into a runaway until DeWolfe subbed back in with 6:48 remaining.
In the final 90 seconds, the Fordham Rams made all six of their free throws, keeping Rhode Island at bay to earn their seventh conference victory of the season.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
The Fordham team crowded around Coach Gaitley in celebration immediately after the buzzer sounded.
For the remainder of the quarter, Fordham outscored Rhode Island 16-6 to take a 41-40 lead entering the fourth, with DeWolfe scoring seven on her own. The team’s shooting percentage didn’t improve, but four different players scored four three-pointers while the defense held the URI Rams to a 37.5% field goal percentage. Despite allowing Fordham back into the game, Rhode Island retook control early in the fourth quarter, scoring six unanswered to take a 46-41 lead. However, Fordham responded with a run of its own, as DeWolfe and Kaitlyn
Downey, Gabelli School of Business ’22, scored eight points to take the lead back, 49-46. The result was still in question in the closing minutes as both teams refused to yield. Fordham and Rhode Island found themselves on even terms, tied at 50, with 1:56 remaining. From there, free throw shooting, something Fordham practiced exhaustively, decided the result. In the final 90 seconds, the Fordham Rams made all six of their free throws, keeping Rhode Island at bay to earn their seventh conference victory of the season, 56-53. After the game, the players crowded around Gaitley as the PA announcer congratulated the head coach for her 200th victory at Fordham University. In over nine seasons with the Rams, Gaitley has continued an extremely successful coaching career spanning 35 years. In her time at Fordham, she’s led seven teams with a winning record and coached two to the NCAA Tournament. There is still plenty of time left in the 2020-21 college basketball season, but Fordham is currently poised to make another successful run under Gaitley’s leadership. The team is a major contender in the A10 for yet another year, and victories against teams like Rhode Island will become more and more valuable as playoffs approach.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER February 10, 2021
Sports & Health
New Year Brings New Concerns Over COVID-19
By KATRINA MANANSALA Staff Writer
As early as September 2020, new variants of COVID-19 were detected in Denmark, Britain and South Africa, according to the World Health Organization. In early January, another variant from Brazil was confirmed in Japan and in Minnesota. While mutation of the virus is unsurprising, concerns over the high virality of the British and South African strains, which were announced in December, have taken global health experts by storm. How Viruses Mutate In order to understand what is happening around the world, it is necessary to understand viruses. First and foremost, they are dependent on a host for survival, binding to the host’s cells and using their own RNA to disrupt normal cell function. The translation and replication process of RNA is rapid and prone to minor changes over time called “antigenic drift.” This usually refers to alteration of the virus’ protein structure, which enables the body to recognize and respond to it. COVID-19 is not the first coronavirus in existence, but it is the one that has bound itself to human beings. So far, only drifts have occurred in the virus. However, there is worry about “antigenic shift,” an abrupt and dramatic change in the structure of the virus. Such a change can allow a virus to change hosts, like from animal to human, and make the virus difficult to detect and treat with current tracing and treatment techniques. Discoveries in the UK In late December 2020, the BBC reported on the variant that was discovered in September
5
and is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the U.K. While it is not proven to be more deadly and current vaccines still appear to be effective against this strain, it is more easily transmissible. B.1.1.7, as it has been named, has been found in at least 60 countries and 33 states in the U.S. The virality and mutation rates of the virus are leading health care workers to worry about increases in hospitalizations and the potential for vaccine-resistant strains. As of Feb. 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 611 B.1.1.7 cases in the U.S., a number that is continuing to rise. South African Variant South Africa also reported another new strain of COVID-19 in December: 501Y.V2. Now more commonly known as B.1.351 for a protein mutation that makes transmission easier and faster, this mutation is also found in the U.K. variant. However, what is more troubling to experts are the mutations not found in the U.K. strain, which, according to CNBC, “could affect how vaccines against Covid work.” On Jan. 12, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the South Africa variant “could pose a threat to antibody treatments that are used to prevent people from falling seriously ill from COVID-19.” Scientists are still studying the efficacy of current vaccines, but evidence from three recent studies displayed signs that antibodies and these vaccines are less effective in fighting this variant. Moreover, following these studies, Fauci recently said that those who were previously infected with COVID-19 may not be protected against B.1.351 and can be reinfected. The first cases of B.1.351 in
GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY PAMELA PAJARES/ THE OBSERVER
the U.S. were found in South Carolina in mid-January, with Maryland recently reporting a new case last week. On a lighter note, Moderna has continued to update its vaccine, developing a booster shot to combat other potential variants. Pfizer has also begun “laying the groundwork to respond quickly” to new variants that show potential resistance to current vaccines. Despite public concerns over vaccine efficacy in protecting against the virus, immunologists, virologists and other disease doctors, including Fauci, continue to recommend getting the vaccine as soon as possible. With the virus continuing to spread, the primary goal now is to minimize the number of hospitalizations and deaths. However, although vaccine eligibility is opening to include the elderly and essential work-
ers, the speed of distribution is still a serious concern. What This Means for the US Amid the global frenzy, concerns over vaccinations and spread in the U.S. are at the forefront of health workers’ minds. Hospitals and vaccination sites nationwide have struggled with vaccine distribution since the beginning of the year. The biggest issue is not having enough vaccines. Operation Warp Speed’s goal was to deliver 300 million doses by the end of January, but according to The New York Times vaccine rollout tracker, only 30.6 million doses have been distributed and about 11.1 million people have received the initial dose. With the number of positive cases and COVID-19-related deaths continuing to climb and new variants being found within
the U.S., the race to vaccinate the public is on. On Jan. 12, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded vaccine eligibility to include adults over 65 and immunocompromised individuals. Now, at least 28 states have followed suit in vaccinating the elderly population. In addition to health and long-term care employees, teachers, grocery store workers and individuals whose jobs put them at higher risk of contracting the virus are now included in the programs of at least 32 states. However, each state operates at its own discretion in prioritizing who receives the vaccine. As the spring semester begins, many students have returned to college campuses nationwide. Although the vaccine is now reaching the public, following and maintaining university and state COVID-19 guidelines remains of the utmost importance.
Understanding the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
By ANUSHA IMRAN Staff Writer
Contracting the coronavirus, whether mild or severe, can be a difficult battle. Days and nights of chills, fevers and body aches can take a toll on an individual both mentally and physically. Then, when it may seem as though one has overcome the virus, there are a number of long-term effects that can affect the body. Pathway of the Virus A virus enters the body by infecting healthy cells. The coronavirus invades by latching its spiky surface proteins to the cell receptors and multiplying, especially in the lungs.
The aftereffects of inflammation in the olfactory nerve and the central nervous system (CNS) cause severe encephalitis, vascular damage and destruction of the blood-brain barrier. These viral proteins make their way into the whole body through ACE-2 receptors in order to hijack and destroy healthy cells. As the
virus moves down the respiratory tract, it can progress beyond common cold symptoms and lead to infections in the alveoli of the lungs, causing pneumonia. However, problems caused by COVID-19 extend far beyond the lungs. “At the beginning, everything was acute, and now we’re recognizing that there may be more problems,” said Helen Su, an immunologist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Maryland, in an interview for Nature. The aftereffects of inflammation in the olfactory nerve and the central nervous system (CNS) cause severe encephalitis, vascular damage and destruction of the blood-brain barrier. The olfactory nerve is one of the 12 cranial nerves and passes from the nasal mucosa to the forebrain. Similarly, encephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain which can cause symptoms like fevers, headache and epileptic seizures. Permeating Into the Brain The neurological symptoms of the virus revealed that it has tropisms, which means that the viral strain of coronavirus has the ability to infect different types of cells and tissues. According to the Elsevier Public Health Collection, the SARS-CoV-2 genome receptor was located in the brain tissue of infected patients. COVID-19 has the power to enter neural tissue, causing inflammatory lesions in the brain affecting the thalamus
features of the brain, the bloodbrain barrier protects against any circulating toxins or pathogens that could cause brain infections while allowing vital nutrients to reach the brain. Degradation of this feature makes the border of the brain extremely vulnerable to additional viruses and pathogens. Progress Toward Prevention
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Lesser-known aftereffects of the coronavirus include inflammation and damage within the brain.
and hippocampus. The implications of this invasion are harmful because the thalamus relays sensory and motor signals to the body and helps individuals stay conscious and alert. Some symptoms include difficulty maintaining balance, loss of memory and changes in speech. Inflammation of the brain caused by the coronavirus is predominantly a white-matter disease that results in the demyelination of neurons. A demyelinating disease is one that damages the myelin sheath which acts as a protective covering for nerve fi-
bers, optic nerves and the spinal cord. When this protective layering is damaged, an individual can have slow nerve impulses, leading to neurological problems like vision loss, multiple sclerosis and diminished control over one’s bladder. The virus can also spread to the brain by interacting with the ACE-2 protein in the smooth muscle lining of the vascular system. The activated immune response to this at the protein receptor causes the loss of bloodbrain barrier integrity. As one of the most important anatomical
A recent study done by the American Academy of Neurology collected cerebrospinal fluid from eight COVID-19 patients to test for coronavirus antibodies. Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear substance that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Its function is to serve as a cushion to prevent injury and remove waste from the brain. The spinal fluid was tested for autoimmune encephalitis antibodies and several markers of ongoing neurodegeneration. A high antibody count of SARS-CoV-2 was determined to be directly proportional to the amount of damage done to the blood-brain barrier. As global COVID-19 deaths surpass 2 million, scientists and doctors are carrying out more observational studies to determine the role of the pathogenic antibodies of the virus. This will help the medical community to identify and plan early therapeutic and pharmacological drug therapies to prevent life-threatening residual effects of the virus.
Scenes From a Snowy City: Hist
Blizzard forces Fordham to suspend in-person classes and By ANDREW DRESSNER Photo Editor
New York City witnessed its largest snowstorm since 2016 last week, with 17.4 inches of snow reported falling over Central Park. The winter storm hit much of the East Coast, starting Sunday evening and lasting until Tuesday. Though the 2016 storm was the highest snowfall ever recorded in NYC, the recent storm tied for 15th on that list.
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
A historic winter storm hit New York last week, closing Fordham’s campuses and offering spectacular views around the city.
Both of Fordham’s campuses were closed last Monday and Tuesday due to the unsafe travel conditions; all in-person classes were canceled, and Fordham’s COVID-19 testing centers were closed.
ALY
Fordham Lincoln Center’s plaza has been engulfed in classes canceled to accommodate the storm, there are disturb the pristine blanket of snow.
The National called last week’s s nor’easter,” dumpi of snow per hour in city was met with the postponemen vaccine distributio closures as the n outdoor dining are sible. Gov. Andrew a state of emergen LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER
A bicycle sits untouched in the Village as the streets and sidewalks continue to pile up with snow.
ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER
New Yorkers have been hard at work plowing and shoveling for the past two days. Here, a street in upper Manhattan continues collecting snow on Monday afternoon.
A snow-covered path in Central Park leading weather, New Yorkers still enjoyed the scener
toric Snowstorm Hits NYC
d New York City to suspend COVID-19 vaccine distribution
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
In midtown, a delivery worker brushes the accumulated snow off his bike as he gets ready to work. Food delivery workers are considered essential personnel by the state of emergency.
YSSA DAUGHDRILL/THE OBSERVER
snow. With in-person e no rushing students to
Weather Service storm a “powerful ing up to 2 inches n some areas. The h school closures, nt of COVID-19 on and restaurant newly constructed eas were not accesw Cuomo declared ncy on Monday.
GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER
Bethesda Fountain, one of the largest fountains in New York, has been decorated with snowmen of all sizes.
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
The heavy snowfall on Monday decreased visibility of many buildings; however, Times Square still shined bright through the storm.
This is the second year in a row in which Fordham closed campus on the first day of the spring semester. Last year, Fordham Lincoln Center faced a water main break between Broadway and 63rd Street on Jan. 13. The closure this year, however, offered much better scenery around campus and the city.
ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER
Crews worked tirelessly to clear Times Square for visitors and store owners.
ALYSSA MACALUSO/THE OBSERVER
g to Columbus Circle. Despite the ry that the park offered.
GILLIAN RUSSO/THE OBSERVER
Leon Snowenstein happily points out and appreciates all the passers by who observe proper social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines in the park.
This snow day was unlike previous campus closures because, for most students, classes went on as usual in a virtual setting due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Students who could step away from their computers witnessed beautiful snow-covered streets and sidewalks. Views of Central Park showed snowtopped trees towering over the vast white sheet below. There was an abundance of sledders sliding down the many hills, and snowmen filled every open space. Even some skiers could be seen trekking the fields.
G R A P H I C S BY
MA D D
IE SA
NDH
OLM
O /THE
VER BSER
Opinions
Opinions Editors Emily Ellis - eellis14@fordham.edu Polina Uzornikova - puzornikova@fordham.edu
Editor-in-Chief Sophie Partridge-Hicks
FORDHAM SHOULD NOT ABUSE ITS STATUS TO CENSOR FREE SPEECH
O
formation on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and resources for other human rights movements. Its new posts receive hundreds of likes from the Fordham community and beyond, as the ongoing legal battle has brought the club national recognition. @lc_sinners, a popular Instagram meme page that caters to Fordham students, has also backed SJP by posting multiple memes about Fordham’s censorship of the club, particularly attacking Fordham’s flimsy “private institution” excuse for silencing students.
The court’s decision demonstrates how profoundly Fordham’s label as a private institution has enabled it to interfere and restrict the rights of the student body. As student journalists, we at The Observer feel that free speech is crucial to the well-being of the university community. The student body cannot be expected to grow and learn in an environment where the only ideas that are permitted are those that the administration deems acceptable. While Fordham is a private university, it still received $19.6 million in 2018 of a total of $933.5 million and $2.5 million in 2019 in government grants. When any private university receives federal funding, however miniscule, it should abide by federal law. Therefore, its students and their free speech should be protected from actions like those that Eldredge has started against SJP. When discussing freedom of speech at a private institution like Fordham, we would be remiss in not mentioning the case of Austin Tong. In a similar action to SJP, Tong
Observer the
STAFF EDITORIAL
n Dec. 22, 2016, the last day of the fall semester, then-Dean of Students Keith Eldredge sent an email that incited four long years of legal action and fees. In the email, the dean denied the request by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to form a club after the United Student Government had already approved it. The dean wrote that he “cannot support an organization whose sole purpose is advocating political goals of a specific group, and against a specific country, when these goals conflict with ... (the) values of the University,” all the while without specifying what values SJP contradicted. In response, the members of SJP went to court, using a New York state law (article 78) that allows students to challenge a decision at a private school if the decision was contrary to the institution’s own rules, which SJP felt was the case. On Dec. 22, 2020 — exactly four years after Eldredge’s letter — the New York State Appellate Court overturned the 2019 ruling and held that Fordham was actually within its rights to deny the club. The court added that SJP’s political activism could potentially be disruptive to student life and as a result, they are still fighting for recognition to this day. The court’s decision demonstrates how profoundly Fordham’s label as a private institution has enabled it to restrict the rights of the student body. By silencing the political opinions of SJP, especially at a university where other partisan clubs exist, the Fordham administration has shown a concerning lack of support for the diversity of student opinions on campus. Discussions and support for SJP’s case and cause have extended past campus and onto social media. The Instagram page @fordhamsjp provides its audience of 954 followers with updates on the court case, general in-
February 10, 2021 THE OBSERVER
attempted to challenge a disciplinary action in court, but his case was dismissed since it was decided that the university administration had reasonable grounds to believe that Tong’s behavior was hate speech. His case shows that SJP’s case is not the only target of Fordham censorship; however, his comments online sparked reactions of fear and condemnation within Fordham that SJP has not received. Tong’s behavior was heavily criticized by many in the university community, and many people expressed “fears for their own safety.” Contrary to Tong, SJP has garnered a wide array of support from the Fordham community. It is clear that Fordham has hidden behind its status as a private university — meaning that the vast majority (nearly 88%) of the revenue for the university comes from tuition and fees alone — and it abuses that power to play fast and loose with its First Amendment allowances. As long as this continues, it will suppress those student voices that are unsuitable for the image it wants to project. As the first of its kind, SJP’s case has set the precedent for all of New York state’s private universities. College students in this state or anywhere should not be silenced for expressing their political views in a peaceful and nondiscriminatory manner, yet their freedom of speech is now in danger because of Fordham’s actions. Moreover, all students are paying for the duct tape that Fordham is putting over SJP’s mouth. The legal fees for the SJP trial were included in our tuition bills, a shockingly improvident and uncompassionate use of money during a time when it could have been used to alleviate financial hardships wrought by COVID-19. Is this use of funds, power and time truly in line with Fordham’s values?
Managing Editor Marielle Sarmiento Business Manager Owen Roche Online Editors Andrew Beecher Gillian Russo Layout Editors Lara Foley Maddie Sandholm Asst. Layout Editors Pamela Pajares Olivia Stern News Editors Joe Kottke Katrina Lambert Asst. News Editors Michelle Agaron Allie Stofer Opinions Editors Emily Ellis Polina Uzornikova Asst. Opinions Editors Stevie Cortez Clara Gerlach Arts & Culture Editors Vicky Carmenate Ethan Coughlin Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Madeline Katz Features Editors Samantha Matthews Nicole Perkins Asst. Features Editor Mia Agostinelli Sports & Health Editors Gus Dupree Patrick Moquin Asst. Sports & Health Editor Maggie McNamara Photo Editor Andrew Dressner Asst. Photo Editors Esmé Bleecker-Adams Alyssa Daughdrill Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams Head Copy Editors Alyssa Macaluso Jill Rice Social Media Editors Roxanne Cubero Grace Getman Asst. Social Media Editors Sunnia Khan Maca Leon Multimedia Editors Alison Ettinger-DeLong Mateo Solis Prada Retrospect Hosts Cate Galliford Corbin Gregg IT Manager Evan Vollbrecht
Visual Advisor Molly Bedford Editorial Advisor Anthony Hazell PUBLIC NOTICE No part of The Observer may be reprinted or reproduced without the expressed written consent of The Observer board. The Observer is published on alternate Wednesdays during the academic year. Printed by Five Star Printing Flushing, N.Y.
To reach an editor by e-mail, visit www.fordhamobserver.com
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES • Letters to the Editor should be typed and sent to The Observer, Fordham University, 140 West 62nd Street, Room G32, New York, NY 10023, or emailed 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 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.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER February 10, 2021
Opinions
9
Words Aren’t Enough: Fordham Needs More Anti-Racist Education ANTI-RACIST from page 1
Fordham’s goal is to “Develop Curricular and Cocurricular Initiatives That Support the Imperative of Confronting Racism and Educating for Justice.” The actions include providing grants for faculty to integrate anti-racist teachings into introductory courses and create library resources on race and anti-racism. While these are steps in the right direction, they do not go far enough. It was easy to see the inconsistency in the data collected, with some students taking a diverse set of core courses and others not. In response to the question of whether the core curriculum fosters interest in other cultures, students said, “you must go out of your way to choose (non-Eurocentric classes)” or “it all depends on the classes you take.” We can see that some students are getting an anti-racist education; however, students must do it deliberately. Fordham needs to create courses that directly teach about the history of racism and the complex system of racism present in our society. Around 85% of respondents stated that Fordham needs to do more to teach about the forms of everyday racism. Along with this, 80% of students said they would be interested in a course that teaches about racism in the United
States, and 87% said they would be interested in a course that covers racism globally. Fordham needs to create these courses and either modify an existing core requirement or add a new core requirement for anti-racist teaching. Another area where Fordham needs to change its approach is Fordham’s relationship with the Bronx. Over 90% of responses said that Fordham needs to do more to engage with the Bronx community. Fordham engages with the Bronx by being a host for the Bronx Book Festival, honoring local Bronx artists and hosting a Bronx youth summit. While these are well-intentioned steps, these actions will do nothing to change the dynamic of our relationship with the Bronx. A
majority of students said they had created a relationship with residents in the Bronx through service projects. However, this is the sole means of interaction that students have with the Bronx. The one-sidedness of this relationship creates division. Instead, we need to create a partnership. If we held events for multicultural Bronx residents to come on campus or panels for Bronx residents to share their stories, students could connect with the Bronx community and learn to be anti-racist. The Bronx is not a place for us to help and guide with a savior lens. It is a diverse community that is a resource for Fordham to teach students about different cultures. Fordham needs to make an
effort to open up its campus to the Bronx. Bronx residents should be allowed on campus at designated times throughout the year. Right now, Fordham is a gated community, thus sending the message that Bronx residents are unwelcome and that we don’t want anything to do with the Bronx. One of the most ignored areas in Fordham’s response to racism is discrimination on Fordham’s campus. Fordham has a goal to make the campus more welcoming for all its students. Actions like instituting mandatory anti-racist training for everyone on campus and building a new multicultural center are important; however, there are no systems in place to address discrimination present throughout Fordham’s campus.
90% surveyed believe discrimination is present on Fordham’s campus.
Information courtesy of Peter Wolff
GRAPHICS BY OLIVIA STERN/THE OBSERVER
Some of the most staggering information from the data was the pattern of racism on Fordham’s campus. Over 90% of respondents said that they believed discrimination was present on Fordham’s campus, with over 50% witnessing it happen. The most frustrating aspect of these incidents was how similar each was to the next. The perpetrators included professors, students and public safety. The majority of events were microaggressions, with the university taking no action at all, even if the situation was reported. Fordham needs to create a system to report and deal with discrimination incidents on campus, no matter how small the incident might seem. There needs to be a set process to deal with all cases to ensure that the victim understands that they have a voice on campus and that members of this community cannot spread hate on this campus. Fordham is not doing enough to ensure that all students feel welcome on campus and that every student leaves here being anti-racist. The fact is that Fordham University is a racist university. The only way this will change is through the implementation of concrete policy from the Fordham administration and faculty.
Biden’s Anti-Discrimination Laws Aimed at Helping the Trans Community Are Only Performative VICKY CARMENATE
Arts & Culture Editor
President Joe Biden ran on a campaign that was going to “restore America” from the mess that Trump and every past president has left it in. Promises were made to end student loan debt, close the camps at the border and return children to their families, distribute stimulus checks, end discrimination … the list continues. So far, camps are still open, student loan debt is still rising, stimulus checks have not been distributed, and the LGBTQ+ community, specifically Black trans people, are still facing everyday problems like securing safe housing and employment. It is abundantly clear that Biden’s promises were solely a strategy for winning the election rather than actually helping people. He did, however, pass anti-discrimination laws specifically aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. Their impact? Questionable. The Horrific Year of 2020 The trans community in the United States faced a tragic and horrifying year in 2020. The United States held its spot as the most dangerous country for trans people to live freely, and, tragically, we lost at least 44 transgender or gender-nonconforming people. I say at least 44 because those are the reported deaths. Many times these deaths go unreported due to the transphobic violence the victims face, not to mention that trans people are often misgendered in death, making it harder to locate loved ones. The majority of the beautiful trans lives that we lost in 2020 were Black and Latinx trans women. As always, hopes were high for a portion of the American people when Biden won the presidential election, as well as when he was inaugurated in mid-January. For me, and many people within the trans community, a win for Biden meant little to no real fundamental change in life. Especially for the super-exploited Black trans woman,
Biden offers no substantive change besides stating that trans lives matter to him. How can we praise the uplift of the trans military ban when trans people in the United States live in constant fear and danger? How can we expect trans people to serve a country that does not serve them? Super-exploitation, a term coined by Claudia Jones, a Black communist journalist, explains how the Black woman is exploited due to her race, her gender and her labor. My question is, do Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris really know how to solve the issue of the super-exploitation of trans people? Both Harris and Biden have a history of supporting pro-mass incarceration legislation. Harris, in particular, put a trans woman in a men’s jail. Biden created the 1994 Crime Bill, which is responsible for incarcerating people at alarming rates and disproportionately targeting Black people. There is a lot of pressure from Biden/Harris supporters to see the duo enact real and fundamental change in their first 100 days in office. I don’t have high hopes at all; past legislation sets the current tone for the Biden administration, making it clear that the new legislation passed is a performative act rather than a life-changing structure for marginalized lives. Biden’s First 100 Days Approach On Jan. 25, Biden reversed the transgender military ban, while also using his new executive power to prohibit discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. At the surface level, these look like great wins for the LGBTQ+ community — laws put in place to incite further legislative action. But, as we have repeatedly seen in the history of the imperial core, words are one thing; actions are another. Biden lifting the military ban on trans people, stating that nobody can be discriminated against due to their gender identity (adding to the anti-discrimination laws already put in place), is the farthest thing from an improve-
ment. It is a performative act that propels no real change toward the everyday challenges trans people face living in the United States, like obtaining safe housing, employment and health care. In Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched of the Earth,” the philosopher draws on these conclusions of past history and present promises from U.S. politicians. Fanon wrote, “We have become so used to the occupier’s contempt and this determination to maintain his stranglehold, whatever the cost, that any semblance of generosity or any sign of goodwill is greeted with surprise and jubilation.” This is why empty promises of “no discrimination” do not cut it. This is exactly what happened with liberals and Biden administration supporters who cheered and reposted photos of him, praising him for allowing trans people into the military. How can we praise the lifting of the trans military ban when trans people in the United States live in constant fear and danger? How can we expect trans people to serve a country that does not serve them? That doesn’t protect them? Where will these troops go and who in the Global South will be affected? Consequently, we are sending trans troops to enact violence on other exploited and marginalized lives abroad and praising that as a win. Foreign Policy and International Discrimination While in America things are all fine and dandy from a power change from one white supremacist to the next, abroad, Biden has his hands tied. He has recognized the Venezuelan opposition leader, Juan Guaido, as the country’s president instead of the democratically elected socialist president, Nicolas Maduro. While Biden’s appraisal of the fake Venezuelan leader, Guaido, is not new news, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken claimed that the U.S. Senate and Biden would seek to place sanctions on Venezuela until Maduro backs down to Guaido.
This is a repetition of the dirty history of sanctions and economic coups that the U.S. places on other countries. Nothing about targeting a Latin American socialist government screams “ending discrimination.” It is absolutely necessary to look at how our actions affect countries and people internationally. It is not enough to say that people here aren’t discriminated against when the very person who is making that claim is discriminating against people abroad. Sanctions kill. Sanctions block access to resources that are necessary for life. During a pandemic, the United States should prioritize the health and safety of the entire world, instead of actively placing sanctions and starting coups in Latin America. Biden’s administration is picking up right where Trump’s administration left off, only this time, the Biden administration will cover its actions with unsubstantial legislation. Biden also promised to close the camps on the borders and release the children who were
separated from their families. While the latter has been approved (who knows how they are going to reunite 500+ children with their families), there have been crickets about actually closing the camps. As of Feb. 2, the Biden administration is preparing to reopen an “overflow facility for migrant children”; in other words, Biden will reopen the camp in Carrizo Springs, Texas. These are just a few examples of what Biden has and hasn’t done for the transgender community and for the most marginalized people in the world. Biden cannot be “pushed left” by the people because Biden is not valuing the words and needs of said people. The people, in the ruling class’s eyes, do not have political power over them. If we the people could actually change things electorally through figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar or even Biden, we would have already. But we haven’t, because to U.S. politicians, the priority has never been the people, but rather their own pockets.
THE WHITE HOUSE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
One of Biden’s most-discussed executive orders has been the lifting of the ban on transgender people serving in the military, which is not a meaningful improvement to their lives in America.
10
Opinions
February 10, 2021 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
On Revolution: The Capitol Riots Are a Critical Turning Point STEVIE CORTEZ Asst. Opinions Editor
Politics of the People When right-wing rioters forcibly entered the United States Capitol, they set a disturbing precedent. They thoroughly desecrated the building, kicked their feet up in Congressional offices, looted government property and objects of significance, and left their trash strewn in the halls. Violence marred the country’s facade of unity only six days into the new year. The defacement of the deeply symbolic Capitol sent the clear message that the right can do anything they want. On the other hand, it sent the message to the left that key figures in government and society are not just indifferent to their cries for justice, but directly in opposition to them. This event will change the trajectory of both factions and push them further toward extreme radicalization. The Capitol riots mark a critical point in the storm of discontent that has been brewing for decades. On the Right Side It’s obvious how radical conservatives and their ideology will be affected by the events at the Capitol. Simply witnessing it via news and social media was powerful enough, but being able to identify with the people advancing their cause with so little resistance will only embolden their platform to move farther right. Before this event, many rightwing sympathizers were afraid to voice their more intense views for fear of judgment or reprisal. Now that they have seen their affiliates succeeding in their goals and even being implicitly supported by government officials, the sky’s the limit for the exaggeration of their rhetoric and claims of conspiracy. If those on the radical right
can go as far as to fatally attack a police officer in the Capitol in front of dozens of witnesses, anything goes. But the manner in which those at the Capitol succeeded is just as important as the success itself. Rioters were actively aided in their siege by police, encouraged by members of Congress and even affectionately regarded by the president. They may argue retroactively that these words were not intended to incite violence, but the quotes and actions speak for themselves. This makes it abundantly clear that, at the highest levels, some congresspeople share the ideas of the group that stormed the Capitol. After the riot, many even voted in favor of the rioters’ demands to overturn the election despite witnessing the violence. Government-sanctioned violence is a fundamental ingredient for destabilization, though luckily the majority of our government (and crucially, the military) has condemned the actions and perpetrators at the Capitol.
No longer is it just possible that law enforcement unequally targets certain groups — it is absolutely certain. Some might point out that the offenders are slowly being rounded up and arrested for the crimes they committed in D.C., but this is an empty gesture unless they are sentenced fairly. If these criminals aren’t prosecuted justly it will only serve to further legitimize their cavalier actions, sending the message that repercussions for future insurrections will be lenient. On the Left Side The Capitol riots will also push the left over the edge. The hypocrisy of the incident, particularly by law enforcement, is a slap in the face to those who have spent the past year striving toward justice and the most basic of rights. Black Lives Matter and other groups advocating for social justice were met with heavily armed resistance during protests all last year, even
TYLER MERBLER VIA FLICKR
With the support of former President Trump and members of the police force, rioters breached the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, leaving destruction in their wake.
during the most peaceful of protests like the violin vigil honoring the life of Elijah McClain. In many cases, weapons were used against protesters, which caused serious injury and made a clear statement that protests are punishable by extreme means. Lives and bodies were on the line as people advocated for their cause. However, the justification for this was always the need for “law and order,” which, although in retrospect was being used disingenuously, is in theory a valid justification for the mobilization of law enforcement. The response to the Capitol riots has shattered this illusion. No longer is it just possible that law enforcement unequally targets certain groups, it is absolutely certain. Though non-violent leftist protesters were met with 400 National Guard troops this
summer, violent right-wing protesters on Jan. 6 were welcomed with open arms by some members of the police, who took selfies with and opened the gates for the mob. On top of this, while more than 300 arrests were made in the same city in one day during the George Floyd protests, only 100 arrests were made across the country in the week after the riots on the Capitol. One also can’t help but notice that, in the D.C. riots’ case, offenders were ridiculously easy to identify, since they posted proof of their complicity all over the internet, and yet they aren’t being hunted down like their counterparts. There is no excuse for this discrepancy in arrests. The left sees this inequity. It’s unrealistic to expect them not to react to it. Government officials and law enforcement choosing sides in such a blatant way it is a foreboding sign of a coup. This may sound like an overstatement, yet it’s been reported and explicitly flaunted that Capitol rioters were advocating for actual civil war and secession. It remains to be seen whether or not the left will respond with equal intensity.
Implications Our country is very close to a boiling point, and there is strong evidence of historical precedent for this. Many people look desperately toward the new Joe Biden administration to smooth over the potentially explosive tension between the right and left. Unfortunately, the riots at the Capitol have proven that many people in the country are unlikely to accept Biden. He is beginning his presidency with a deficit of support from those who, in the end, will decide whether our country will descend into further internal conflict. Moderates without significant affiliation with either party can only watch, apprehensive and dismayed, as events unfold, refusing to participate in the future they too must have a part in. Even if those at the Capitol are the minority, they have proven that they are a very dangerous one. On the other hand, the left has made it clear that it will make its voice heard despite resistance. An unstoppable force is meeting an immovable object. Hopefully, justice can be achieved without more violence and terror, though only time will tell. What is certain is that the riots at the Capitol made history, and its effects will shape the future of America.
TYLER MERBLER VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The Capitol riot last month was not an isolated incident; the implications for the political future of the nation are ongoing and dangerous.
Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture Editors Vicky Carmenate - vcarmenate@fordham.edu Ethan Coughlin - ecoughlin7@fordham.edu February 10, 2021
Rock Star Rams: Melissa Joy Releases New EP
THE OBSERVER
Fordham musician’s project ‘light pollution’ shows you don’t need to see the stars to be one By GABRIEL GARCIA Staff Writer
Despite the uniqueness of the 2020-21 school year, talent can be seen, particularly online, among the first-year students. While there are many singers among the Fordham community, I recently spoke to Melissa LoPiccolo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’24, better known by her stage name, Melissa Joy. I talked with Joy about her discography, including her recently released EP “light pollution,” which came out on Feb. 5.
Joy said she didn’t even consider herself to be a musician, “just a girl in her freshman dorms with headphones and a laptop.” Joy explained that she chose to use Joy, her middle name, for privacy reasons, since she started writing as a minor. She also thinks her real last name is a mouthful. Currently studying digital technologies and emerging media, Joy believes that anyone can be an artist no matter what they study. Joy said she didn’t even consider herself to be a musician, “just a girl in her freshman dorms with headphones and a laptop.” Joy grew up on Long Island and spent a lot of time in the city over the years, but she said that actually moving to New York was a big deal for her. The name of the EP, “light pollution,” reflects her move to Manhattan. When Joy was younger, she always liked looking at stars and dreamed about living in Manhattan. While great things have happened to her since coming to the city in the fall, she said that the light pollution is intense and can make her feel “foggy-brained.” Joy released her first song, “I Don’t Mind,” in 2019. She said it was inspired by a night out at a diner with her friends from high school. When she tried to say something to her friends, people
were talking over her and she felt detached from the moment. Joy evokes that feeling by including inaudible conversation in the middle of the song. The theme of detachment appears throughout Joy’s discography and she uses the imagery of stars in “light pollution” to evoke powerful emotions. “I used the imagery of looking up at the sky/stars as a symbol for trying to reconnect to my surroundings and self,” she said. Three out of five songs on the EP mention stars. “There’s a lot of meaning behind feeling compelled to find some relief in the sky. In “light pollution,” I talk about how I continuously try to find sanctuary in looking at the stars.” While “Metropolitan” is Joy’s most streamed song on Spotify, she said it is actually her least favorite song that she has made. It was made in two days during a time where she was struggling with writer’s block. However, Joy decided to share it during quarantine on her TikTok. The TikTok “blew up,” getting around 130,000 views. Beyond these songs, Joy has also collaborated with other artists. The single “Ocean Park” was created alongside fellow Fordham musician Pineapple Island, also known as Tommy Pallai, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’22. Pineapple Island and Joy connected as they were from the same hometown. Joy said the song was a challenge to make, but she was happy with how it came out. “I am naturally drawn to write acoustic music with lyrics that take a lot of breaking down to understand,” Joy said. “When Tommy sent me the demo for ‘Ocean Park,’ the overall electronic sound called for something that required more straightforward in terms of melody and lyrics. I tried to keep as much imagery as I could in the lyrics though, which isn’t found too much in the EDM/Pop genre.” Joy’s second collaboration, “headlights,” was created in tandem with Joy’s friend and fellow musician, Frank Leibman. “He helped me write the guitar part for ‘headlights,’” Joy said. It is the longest of her songs,
“light pollution” was released on all major streaming services on Feb. 5.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF @MXLISSAJOY VIA INSTAGRAM
Joy leans into the challenges of moving to Manhattan and creating during a pandemic in her new EP.
and it was released on New Year’s Day of this year. The lyrics in the song are more forward-facing than her previous work, such as “Wondering if he’s ever gonna try to make a move” or “I’m feeling tension in the air tonight.” She shared that she wrote it in December to celebrate 2021 after all the hardships of 2020. The song also served as “a new beginning” since she procrastinated at times in 2020. “light pollution,” the song, is more focused on the present than her older work. Joy said that was intentional, as “light pollution” “captures a moment while it is happening.” Later songs on the EP like “armageddon” and “unrequited,”
on the other hand, are more nostalgic and have acoustic instrumentals. They both have similar messages of looking back on lost love, which can be seen as “sappy” according to Joy.
“ I used the imagery of
looking up the sky and stars as a symbol for trying to reconnect my surroundings and self.”
Melissa Joy, FCLC ’24
Joy’s contagious music went viral on TikTok, garnering over 400,000 likes.
The next song on the EP, “unrequited,” was also released as a single last year. Interestingly, “unrequited” was not written from her point of view; instead, it was inspired by an unhealthy relationship she was in, and the song is about obsession with other people instead of romance. “armageddon” and its lyrics are apocalyptic in nature. Joy said the song was written the day her high school was shut down and senior play canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. The song was supposed to be hypothetical since she thought things would be back to normal in two weeks, but now it’s the song of 2020. Joy said the pandemic has inspired lots of music. The pandemic has given her the free time to take music seriously and devote herself to songwriting; it offered opportunity for self-discovery. However, she’s also looking forward to sharing the musical experience with others in person, post-pandemic. The final song on the EP, “while I was looking up,” is all four previous songs worked into one. A lot is happening in it at once, and lines from previous songs are present, so it serves as a bookend. Joy said it was the most complex track she ever made, and it was entirely self-produced. Joy gave advice for aspiring creatives, stating that everyone should try to work on their artistic passion whether it be writing, drawing or even athletics. She encourages utilizing the free time we may find ourselves having during this period of quarantine and isolation because we never know how all of our time spent will pay off. Joy is immensely happy with how her musical efforts in “light pollution” have turned out.
12
Arts & Culture
February 10, 2021 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
Amanda Gorman Defies Age and Climbs the Hill Anyway The poet makes history as the youngest person to recite a poem at the presidential inauguration at 22 years old By ETHAN COUGHLIN Arts & Culture Editor
“ We close the divide because we know,
“When day comes we ask ourselves, / where can we find light in this never-ending shade?” That was the question that opened “The Hill We Climb,” the poem that Amanda Gorman wrote and recited at President Joe Biden’s inaugural ceremony. Though her inauguration appearance introduced her for the first time to most of the country, Gorman has been doing incredible things long before the ceremony. Gorman became the country’s first National Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, two years after she published her first poetry book, “The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough,” at 15 years old. Since then, she’s only continued to stack up accomplishments. Gorman founded a youth writing nonprofit, One Pen One Page, wrote a tribute to Black athletes for Nike, penned a twobook deal with Vikings Children Books and more. We would need an “Amanda Gorman Special Edition” paper to include every one of her accomplishments.
to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.”
Amanda Gorman, inaugural poet
“ I can imagine the
impact she has on young and aspiring BIPOC creators to see a celebrated Black poet receive acclaim, it perpetuates the idea that anyone could do it.”
Maia Nuñez, FCLC ’22
Looking at all that Gorman has achieved, it’s easy to see why First Lady Jill Biden recommended her for the ceremony, making her the youngest person to recite a poem at the inauguration ceremony at just 22 years old.
CARLOS M. VAZQUEZ II/ OCJCS VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Gorman cemented her place in the history books with her captivating performance but was sure to leave some space for her accomplishments to come.
Sticking with what seemed to be the theme of this inauguration, Gorman’s poem centered around the idea of uniting the divided nation. “We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, / we must first put our differences aside / We lay down our arms / so we can reach out our arms / to one another.” Gorman told CBS that she amended her poem following the insurrection of the Capitol. “And then on the Wednesday in which we saw the insurrection at the Capitol, that was the day that the poem really came to life,” Gorman said. “And I really put pedal to the metal.” Maia Nuñez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’22,
the secretary of Lincoln Center’s creative writing publication The Comma, said that though she was not familiar with Gorman’s work before the inauguration, she loved her poem and looks forward to reading more of her work. “I’m particularly impressed with the lines ‘And the norms and notions / of what just is / Isn’t always just-ice.’ I love the phonetic play and manipulation of the word ‘justice,’ especially when you consider the double meaning of the preceding line,” Nuñez said. “We’re simultaneously asked to define the word ‘just’ while also being forced to reckon with the general, but hurtful despondency of ‘...it just is.’ It’s very clever and it illustrates the reality of the U.S.
as anything but a utopia, rather a messy and enduring work-inprogress.” Following her recitation, both of Gorman’s upcoming books, “The Hill We Climb” and “Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem,” became bestsellers, despite not being slated for release until September 2021. Gorman also signed to IMG Models and she recited a poem before the coin toss of Super Bowl LV. It’s clear that America loves Gorman and that we’ve definitely not seen the last of her. “I can imagine the impact she has on young and aspiring BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) creators to see a celebrated Black poet receive acclaim,”
Nuñez said. “It perpetuates the idea that anyone could do it.” She added that she hopes other young artists and writers can get the chance to receive recognition for their work like Gorman. One of the most impressive things about Gorman is just how confident in herself she is (as she should be). Gorman has never shied away from reciting on the biggest stages and using her poetry to address topics and issues that you may not expect from someone so young. She has repeatedly said that she intends to run for president one day, and based on her track record, I’m inclined to believe that she will not only run but give whoever runs against her a good race.
Ram Jams: ‘OK Human’
Weezer delivers internet-themed, string-heavy, pandemic-appropriate 14th album By JILL RICE Head Copy Editor
Genre: Pop Rock On a Playlist With: AJR, Jukebox the Ghost, Cage the Elephant “OK Human” was a surprise release from the nearly 30-yearold band Weezer, as it was announced on Jan. 18 with a release date of Jan. 29. I freely admit that I’m a recent fan, and I only really know the self-titled white album (2016) and “Pacific Daydream” (2017), plus some older popular songs. (I’ve just gotten into “Pinkerton” (1996) and predict it will become one of my favorites.) The first thing that stands out about this album is the theme of the online world — the title is a nod to Radiohead’s technophobic “OK Computer.” As much as one may dislike being online, the coronavirus pandemic has made the internet even more necessary. The lyrics on this album might age very quickly, making it a bit awkward to sing in the shower in 2030 about “Homework or memes, slime or BLACK-
PINK.” The melodies, rhythms and transitions between songs make the album eminently listenable this year or any year. We’re all living through the pandemic, spending hours on computers, and Rivers Cuomo, Weezer’s frontman, deftly remarks upon the world we inhabit. “Screens” repeats the chorus, “Now the real world is dying / As everybody moves into the cloud / ... / Everyone stares at the screens,” showing a fear that the real world will become unimportant in the face of the web. But I am helpless in the face of its cello/bass opening — I must bop my head along. With a namedrop of “Zoom interviews” in “Playing My Piano,” future listeners can easily date this album to a very specific time in history. Before the pandemic, “Aloo Gobi” was about Cuomo’s boredom with his “same old dull routines” of having dinner and seeing a movie with his wife. During the pandemic, he realized he took the mundane for granted, and he admitted to NME, “The irony in that song is unbelievable to me.”
Because we’re so surrounded by the internet, the band decided to use no electric guitar, instead turning to acoustic strings, piano and vocals for the entire album. This isn’t the first time Weezer has explicitly left a seemingly necessary part of rock music out of an album — “Pacific Daydream” never uses the word “girl,” while the white album had it in the titles of three songs. The least interesting songs on the album, “Everything Happens for a Reason” and “Mirror Image,” are only boring on their own; they mesh perfectly into the album itself, flowing seamlessly into “Here Comes the Rain” and from “Playing My Piano,” respectively. My favorite songs on albums often end up being the last song, so I am anticipating that I will soon come to love “La Brea Tar Pits,” but right now it’s a solid OK. An honorable mention goes to “Numbers” and Cuomo’s recitation of the Fibonacci sequence at the end, which I, a nerd, love. “Grapes of Wrath” references a number of classic novels such as “Mrs. Dalloway,” “1984” and “Moby Dick” — perfect for a col-
lege student who’s read most of them. The titular novel emerges in the chorus “I’m gonna rock my Audible / Headphone, ‘Grapes of Wrath’ / Drift off to oblivion / I just don’t care, I just don’t care.” Cuomo wants to escape real life into a book, but he does it by 21st-century means. As an audiobook fan, I can relate. “Grapes of Wrath” reminds me of “Pacific Daydream” songs in the melody, rhythm and tone. I can’t pick out a specific track it sounds like, but the upbeat vibes are the same. “OK Human” is on par with “Pacific Daydream” — not Weezer’s best work, but very catchy — so I gave it the same rating as I’d give the latter. It’s a solid record, and if it were created by anyone else, I might have rated it higher than 7/10. However, the white album is one of my top-five albums ever, and if that’s a 10/10, I need to accurately show the space between perfection and everything else. Although the album is about loneliness and discontent, many of the songs feel positively peppy, and the hope found in the lyrics is something to hold onto
even during the isolation of the pandemic. The Bottom Line: “OK Human” is a satisfying album perfect for the pandemic, though the lack of electronics may turn off some seasoned Weezer fans.
VIA ATLANTIC RECORDS
The Peaks: “Grapes of Wrath,” “Playing My Piano,” “Screens” The Valleys: “Everything Happens for a Reason,” “Mirror Image” The Verdict: 7/10
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER February 10, 2021
2020
A roundup of the Arts & Culture team’s favorite projects from last year Vicky Carmenate:
Madison Soeyadi:
“Fetch the Bolt Cutters”
by Mac Miller
“Circles”
by Fiona Apple
Ethan Coughlin:
“Made in Lagos” by WizKid
If you had asked me back in January 2020 what I thought my favorite album to come out in the coming year would be, I would have never predicted it to be a WizKid project. While I was familiar with his work before this album, I really hadn’t listened to his solo discography much. That all changed when I listened to “Made in Lagos.” This album is exciting, has incredible instrumentals and is absolutely impossible not to dance to. WizKid continues to be at the forefront of what’s globally popular and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The album employs strong features from Burna Boy, Skepta, HER and more. My favorite tracks have to be “Ginger,” “Mighty Wine,” “Smile” and “No Stress,” but I would consider this a no-skip album, so my favorites change with almost every listen.
VIA STARBOY
Caitlin Bury:
“Punisher”
by Phoebe Bridgers Ushering us in with the primary track “DVD Menu,” Phoebe Bridgers sets up her second studio album, “Punisher,” as a kind of auditory storytelling that fully encapsulates this year. Beginning with the more sonically upbeat tracks, “Garden Song” and “Kyoto,” Bridgers reflects the hope that many had for the year to come. However, as the tracks wind down with tales of failed Madeline Katz:
“After Fillmore County” by Vansire
Listening to “After Fillmore County” by Vansire feels like embarking on a cross-country roadtrip. It’s early morning, the dew still lingers on fields of grass and you’re somewhere
13
Best Albums of
By
THE ARTS & CULTURE WRITERS While the live music scene was put on pause in 2020, this didn’t mean that the beats stopped. Instead, artists did what they do best and created new music. From the upbeat sounds of Wizkid to the cathartic chords of Phoebe Bridgers, there was a wide range of music to keep us company and offer comfort when we needed it the most. Perhaps live music has shifted into something more personal, an escape from the troubles of today, in which we may live in the music. To kick off the start of the semester and keep you grooving through finals, here are our top musical picks from 2020.
Arts & Culture
There weren’t many albums that I loved in 2020 — maybe it was the year or my lack of creative inspiration. There was one new album, though, that really impressed me in 2020, and that was Fiona Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” Released in April, the album nurtured my newly pandemic-ed brain in a way that I did not expect. “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” is raw and real in its lyrics, but what I have grown so fond of over time is the piano in almost every track that so per-
Sophia Ortega:
“Horizons” by Surfaces
Surfaces was one of the last concerts I went to before gathering for live music became a health hazard. After seeing them in concert at the end of 2019, I was beyond excited to listen to their newest album when it released in February 2020. I was curious to see how “Horizons” would compare to “Where the Light Is,” their most popular album featuring their hit song “Sunday Best.” I am happy to report it did not disappoint. “Horizons” beautifully blends nostalgia and hope and became my unintentional anthem for the year. This album feels like falling asleep on the beach,
relationships and signs of a world in distress, Bridgers sings with such poignant urgency that you can’t help but relate to. Although not exactly the escapist album of the year, tracks such as “Savior Complex” and “I Know the End” signal to the listener that they are not quite alone in their frustration and isolation. So, as we leave 2020 behind and enter 2021, with uncertainty still at the helm of this ever-sinking ship, put on Bridgers’ “I Know the End” and scream with her as you ring in the new year. lost in the rolling bucolic roads of the midwest. “Driving just to hear the preferable songs / You loop with every passing day” on “Central Time” depicts a moment suspended in time with dreamy soundscapes filling the car and shading the contours of the land in radiant hues. Josh Augustin and Sam Winemiller, the duo behind Vansire, are college seniors who use their music to explore bigger themes
VIA EPIC RECORDS
fectly articulates the feeling she is trying to get across. The piano riffs are electric and aggressive, the drums steady and the bass subtle. What I love the most about this album is that it allows me to sit in emotions that I typically try to run away from.
Released two years after the incredible artist passed away, “Circles” by Mac Miller was my favorite album of 2020 and will continue to be my favorite for years to come. Disguised in a smooth R&B flow, the hip-hop/ rap album feels like listening to Miller’s innermost thoughts. This year has been filled with moments of joy along with immense sadness. Miller was well equipped with the feelings of loneliness and heartache that we’ve all faced especially during the pandemic. He even writes in the opening song on the album, “Circles,” “We’re doing well, sitting, watching the world falling
down, its decline,” which seems to resonate with the world we know today. But as the new year begins, I am reminded of these lyrics from my favorite song off of the album called “Surf”: “Until we get old, there’s water in the flowers, let’s grow.” Here’s to 2021; let’s grow.
VIA WARNER RECORDS UK
VIA KITSUNÉ MUSIQUE
VIA WARNER RECORDS
cooking breakfast on a Sunday morning and driving down the coast at sunset. My favorite tracks are “Sunny Side Up” and “Horizons,” with “Remedy” and “Lazy” as close seconds. It’s one of the most wholesome albums; everyone should go listen for some serotonin.
Warren Christopher Green:
Aastha Aggarwal:
“Future Nostalgia”
“Live Vol. 1”
Being a long-standing adherent to genres of pop and deep house, I’m highly addicted to the foot-tapping sounds of Dua Lipa’s latest album, “Future Nostalgia.” Just like its oxymoronic name, the album holds a collection of songs ranging from a positive, uplifting tone to a deep-house vibe. Overall, the entire album boasts a sultry sophistication only reminiscent of earlier British musicians like Adele or Sam Smith. My favorites, “Break Your Heart,” “Physical” and “Future Nostalgia,” are among the album’s masterpieces. Well, what are you waiting for? Tune into “Future Nostalgia” to dance your way through the pandemic.
In early 2020, as live music became scarce, Australia-based 5-piece electro-pop group Parcels released their first fulllength live studio LP, “Live Vol. 1,” along with a video recording of the entire performance on their YouTube channel. The seamless 18-track recording was performed at Hansa Studios in Berlin where the group relocated in order to escape the artistic isolation they felt down under. Parcels blend acoustic and electric instrumentation cohesively to create an idiosyncratic, up-tempo funk ballad with the power to hypnotize. This group’s uncanny ability to fit snugly in a groovy pocket for over an hour straight while also incorporating improvisation, instrument switches and ambient interludes blew me away. To be able to accomplish a complete, unblemished take all the way through the album is extraordinary. This multimedia masterpiece was released at the perfect time of cultural stagnation in which the world turned to the internet for live musical performance, rather than the usual venues. Props to the beautiful cinematographic direction of Carmen Crommelin and the harmonious mix and master done by Perceval Carré and Zino Mikorey respectively.
by Dua Lipa
VIA SURFACES MUSIC
VIA DEAD OCEANS
of adolescence and coming of age in uncertain times, something we can all relate to. Perfect for dancing in your room or drifting to faraway lands in your mind, “After Fillmore County” feels both familiar and exciting at the same time. My favorite tracks are “Central Time” and “Précis Two,” although all of the songs deserve a listen. Buckle up and prepare to embark on a sonic roadtrip of the mind.
VIA SPIRIT GOTH
by Parcels
Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams - ebleeckeradams@fordham.edu
un & ames
February 10, 2021 THE OBSERVER
Mini Crosswords ACROSS
1. music samples 6. reason to get up in the morning 7. composer of “La Traviata” and “Aida” 8. more frozen 9. sharply defined, or Ironman’s real name
DOWN
By ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS
1. writer and activist Angela 2. vote into office 3. Julie Andrews’ character in “The Sound of Music” 4. command, or decision at a restaurant 5. mocking smile
ACROSS
DOWN
ACROSS
DOWN
1. Fordham’s mascots 5. narrow boat steered with a paddle 6. become a parent, perhaps 7. ___ up; irritates 8. “___ Your Mother Know”
1. WFUV station’s medium 2. type of lizard often kept as a pet 3. pouts or sulks 4. performance backdrops 5. ID ___; object used to scan in
1. you should unmute yourself before you do this 5. number of Fordham campuses in the United States 6. pass on, of information 7. prayer conclusions 8. clutter
1. something many crosswords have (but not this one) 2. city in France where Van Gogh lived 3. is slanted 4. objects used in opening acts 5. Roosevelt Island ___ (for short)
Visit fordhamobserver.com to play these crosswords online throughout the week.
DOWN
CLUES 1. Neither Student 1 nor 4 is eating ice cream. 2. Either Student 3 or 4 is watching “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” 3. The person watching “Moonstruck” is eating cupcakes. 4. Student 5, who is eating chocolate, is either watching “Love Actually” or “The Lovebirds.” 5. Student 2 is not eating cookies, and the person who is eating cookies is not watching “Love Actually” or “The Lovebirds.” 6. The student eating doughnuts is watching “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” 7. Student 1 is watching “Moonstruck.” 8. Student 3 is not eating cookies. 9. The person eating ice cream is not watching “Love Actually.”
Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4 Student 5 When Harry Met Sally Love Actually Moonstruck The Lovebirds To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
To All the Boys...
The Lovebirds
cupcakes
chocolate
ice cream
Instructions: Match each student with the romantic comedy they’ll be watching and the dessert they’ll be eating this weekend.
cookies
By ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS
doughnuts
A Love of Logic
Moonstruck
1. animated film “Kung Fu ___” 2. pressure or persuade 3. requirement, or another word for 2 Down 4. library reserve service used at Fordham 5. become smaller or weaker
Love Actually
1. Leon Snowenstein the snowman, for example 4. cognizant 6. word following mountain or cattle 7. completed 8. small ocean
When Harry...
ACROSS