Issue 1 Spring 2021

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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

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Page 9

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Student Case Dismissed Virus Mutations

US Anti-Discrimination Joy-ful Music

The Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center

Inauguration Poet Page 12


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