Issue 5 Spring 2020 by Fordham Observer

The New Normal: The Observer Adapts see page 10

OBSERVER THE

@fordhamobserver www.fordhamobser erver.com

April 1, 2020 VOLUME XL, ISSUE 5

Online-Only Edition

Fordham Forced to ‘PAUSE’: NYC Shuts Down By SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS and GABE SAMANDI News Editor and New Editor Emeritus

New York City is currently the most -

“PAUSE,” March

on 20 -

es of these extraordinary mea-

“This is not life as usual,” Cuomo said at a conE ference in US

5 ge a p

A eP e s

same day the PAUSE order was sched-

GABE SAMANDI/THE OBSERVER

A man wearing a mask and carrying a trash can walks along the middle of Columbus Avenue in front of a shuttered Lincoln Center. New Yorkers are advised to stay home and avoid large gatherings.

From Dust We Came, To Dust We Returned

McShane Delays Commencement

Fordham Issues Partial Refunds to Students

GABRIEL GARCIA

By SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS News Editor

Contributing Writer

By GUS DUPREE News Editor

ment and diploma ceremonies because we cannot assume it

has announced that in most locations, Easter celebrations faith, odds are that at least one -

and the campus community in -

Fordham has announced a partial refund to students due

Ash Wednesday is an annual commitment for many, this year

sity to suspend face-to-face class-

see LENT page 12

board and selected fees by ap-

The news was announced

Fine Arts Classes Adapt to Online Learning

suspension of all face-to-face

By VICKY CARMENATE, WES GREEN, JACQUELINE PIERCE and GILLIAN RUSSO Staff Writers, Asst. Features Editor and Arts & Culture Editor

McShane wrote a separate dents to share the news and offer his sympathy and support

in your childhood bedroom and hold a butterknife while your

announced that Fordham will for commencement, as well as the Baccalaureate Mass on

be found in the White Box Studio

expressed their disappointment at the news, many said that they understood the deci-

refunds in the form of direct defunds are expected to be refund-

it balance in the near future as a

The email explained that additional costs of “new technolo-

one of many hands-on art class-

COURTESY OF BETTE DANGANAN

Dance, theater and visual arts students are presented with a learning curve

“The transition hasn’t been

see COMMENCEMENT page 6

Many students are apprecia-

see ARTS page 18

see REFUNDS page 3

News

Sports & Health

Opinions

Arts & Culture

Medical Supply Donation

Study Abroad Canceled

Fordham Sports Shutdown

Stuck at Home

Digital Guide to NYC

Page 4

Page 6

Page 8

Page 11

Page 14-15

Fordham contributes 30,000

Students forced to return home

THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

How to experience the city’s art, literature and music from home

News

WWW.fordhamobserver.com

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

Abrupt Ending to Spring Semester Sparks Move-Out Dilemmas By KATRINA LAMBERT and SAMANTHA MATTHEWS Asst. News Editor and Features Editor

dent from Peru who depends on the President suspended all face-toface instruction for two weeks with hope to resume classes on March

face-to-face instruction for the rest residential students to return home immediately and not come back to Many students consider Fordham to be their primary residence IZZI DUPREY/THE OBSERVER

A McMahon Hall resident packs belongings into a car on March 20. Some students were lucky enough to have parents nearby and able to help with the unexpected move-out process.

The day after Moneymaker re-

of the residence halls “no later than Friday, March 20,” with the excep-

decision to protect the “health and safety of all members of the FordMoneymaker had her return reasked “students to explain any sebut also at this time it would not be

my essentials out of the dorm,” she

adds a layer of complexity to the

Campbell explained that in

GRACE GETMAN/THE OBSERVER

A student’s belongings are quickly gathered to be moved out after the sudden announcement.

Because of the swift departure

from RA duties for the rest of the

expectation to return, many stu-

contact with one of the resident directors who was on duty at the -

be with her sister who is a resident there, but “due to the rapidly

window of time between March -

all non-essential businesses and to Austria and European countries -

students will not be able to return lifted, with the exception of return-

The premature closure of residence halls left many other studence for the rest of the academic -

take a train from there to VienIZZI DUPREY/THE OBSERVER

stayed in McMahon Hall until

maker feels that Fordham has not been transparent about potential-

“My time at home has been

possessions with the expectation of

written an Opinions piece on her

home with my family, but in these

for a permanent address, she sub-

The familiar cardboard boxes line the entrance to the McMahon lobby earlier than usual.

life and schedule has been turned

precautionary measures: stay home

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THE OBSERVER April 1, 2020

News

50% of Room and Board Fees to be Returned

Coronavirus Impacts Students and Aramark Employees By JOE KOTTKE Asst. News Editor

REFUNDS from page 1

Fordham’s decision to complete sity employees’ incomes, as precautions taken by the state, city

really scared we would be kicked -

dents to “return home immedi-

said he was “disappointed” by

closure of non-essential business-

that professors need to continue IZZI DUPREY/THE OBSERVER

dent workers and allies to send to “Many student workers rely on -

The Freshens stand in the Ram Café is open for takeout only. With so few customers, the usual Aramark employees behind the counter are nowhere to be seen.

the full Fordham community,” the that Fordham has made the decision to pay us student workers on

and monetarily supports our fama stable source of income, which

“We, as members of the Fordham community, demand that the Fordham administration support

ments for Fordham students on

Fordham’s Black Student Alli-

Center and Rose Hill deans and

stand in solidarity with Fordham’s -

of Student Employment said the

face instruction until the end of -

room, board and tuition reim-

student body that is skewed and

the assumption is that business is

to “help ameliorate and expedite departures” after students were -

standard course of business for -

cation will be sent to both students

Yaun also said that Fordham has a robust conference business -

Yaun, out of the 300 union em-

come of a Fordham student is up-

to online classes and announced the shutdown of all campuses on

While student employees can expect checks to continue to be mailed to their home addresses,

normal, Yaun said that Aramark has “excellent solutions for staff

ary since Rose Hill’s Marketplace

that they would issue prorated re-

part of the community and they

the room cost for the amount of

Student Clubs and Organizations Respond to Distance Learning By MICHELLE AGARON Staff Writer

For the Fordham community,

will continue to host weekly meet-

marked by uncertainty followed all in-person classes were canceled

al boards, the club has decided to

editor-in-chief of The Comma, beno time to adjust to the switch to online communication, some clubs

On March 23, Christina Fran-

COURTESY OF MADDY CASALE

Stove’s Comedy Club at Lincoln Center is one of the student organizations that has transitioned to online meetings.

students nominate each other or

line has posed its issues, Nix is opti-

as well as Fordham’s Got Talent, annual talent show, will now take -

president of CAB, explained that CAB will continue to host weekly

the days without necessarily know-

who are asylum seekers and refu-

The

Humanitarian

Student

nature of Flash impedes their abili-

keep some consistency for the next few issues at least, and without a

ethical and personal implications -

keep members of the union and the

with both somewhere to place their work and somewhere to see work -

tion for fashion, beauty and New York City culture, will not proceed ly relies on in-person collaboration and the editors are currently dis-

laboration as they establish what kind of experience they would like

News

WWW.fordhamobserver.com

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

Fordham Donates Over 30,000 Medical Items to Fight Coronavirus By JOE KOTTKE Asst. News Editor

Bill de Blasio warned that the city has one week’s worth of supplies

medical items for donation on ond round of donations on March -

sciences, that expressed that his department had unneeded personto-face classes were suspended contacted Auricchio and Maura COURTESY OF FORDHAM NEWS

As city medical supplies dwindled, Fordham donated exam gloves, respirator masks and surgical face masks.

Robert Beer, associate dean for STEM and pre-health education at FCRH, became Fordham’s point person; he coordinated with

policy interests of New York state from Public Safety, Beer and lab -

By Sunday, March 22, all of the

how Fordham could help in some

Rose Hill before Cuomo’s PAUSE -

portation picked up the donations

surprise to me that the Fordham -

nations as an example of why she

that Beer collected an additional

were so disrupted, took the time

has been the opportunity to witinfuses the Fordham Family,” Auwas unsure of what will be asked of Fordham as the pandemic continues, she said that “our community

United Student Government To Host 2020 Elections Online By ALLIE STOFER Staff Writer

As Fordham students are spread of the semester due to the coronaCurrently, the usual process of USG President Tina Thermadam, Thermadam said that USG is the debate and post it on other so-

can now access the election packZOEY LIU/THE OBSERVER

COURTESY OF LOREEN RUIZ

This year’s USG presidential candidates, Loreen Ruiz (left) and Robert Stryczek (right), will campaign and debate online.

has been suspended for this year’s stated that last year, USG tabled for the election for multiple days,

the best interest to try and make students abroad for the circumstances of the population,” Therwill remain similar to the way it

about online communication is

new reality we are set into so hopefully, people feel that much more One USG presidential can-

so that people can still see the candidates and feel compelled to make so a lot of people may not be pay-

Thermadam stated that she hoped students would be able to know candidates as well as they -

they want Fordham to look like

WWW.fordhamobserver.com

PAUSE from page 1

“Accept it and realize it and deal with it.” Cuomo’s order issued the closure of all non-essential businesses, effective from 8 p.m. on March 22. University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., emailed the Fordham community on March 21 explaining how the ban would affect the university. “Though I know this may be a great inconvenience to some of you, the University has no choice in enforcing the executive order, and these measures will help protect the University community from greater exposure to the COVID-19 virus,” McShane wrote. Residential Life asked all students living on campus to move out of residential halls for the rest of the semester. Yet the Fordham students who live in the city full-time or who have nowhere else to go are trying

THE OBSERVER April 1, 2020

to continue their lives in the center of the outbreak. “I haven’t left my house in a week,” said Harry Wu, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’21. Unable to go home to Hong Kong, Wu chose to stay in his apartment in Manhattan. “I have most of my food delivered, and the delivery driver leaves the food at the door which feels safer,” he explained. The World Health Organization recently stated that it is possible for the virus to be transmitted through airborne new concerns about transmission. “It might get worse before it gets better,” Wu said. “So I am saving all of my non-perishable food for when or if that happens,” he continued. New Yorkers prepared for the city shutdown by rushing to grocery and pharmacies to stock up on supplies. As demand for items like hand sanitizer, toilet paper, non-perishables and meat soared,

News

supplies quickly ran out across the city. New Yorkers have also been instructed to practice social distancing at all times, and essential businesses have been asked to implement rules that will help maintain a 6-foot distance between customers. Some grocery stores, including Fordham Lincoln Center’s local Trader Joe’s on 72nd Street, have placed signs that remind shoppers to keep their distance. “We only leave the house to go grocery shopping,” said Zack Clark, FCLC ’21, who also decided to stay in the city to avoid potentially exposing his family to the virus. “Trader Joe’s is only letting a few people in at a time so you have to wait in line and stay six feet apart from everyone. Once you’re inside there are people handing out disinfecting wipes too,” he said. Another student, Emalyn

NYC Forced to ‘PAUSE’

GABE SAMANDI/THE OBSERVER

Smith, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’20, is currently alone in her apartment in Brooklyn. Although she is staying inside, the few times she has had to leave her apartment for food, she has experienced a noticeable difference in the city. “The mood has changed due to the hysteria and it’s noticeable,” Smith said. Few people are out on the streets and the subways are virtually empty, she said. “When I took the subway to get to Fordham, I was the only one on the train,” she said. Cuomo also stated that all non-essential social gatherings or celebrations should be canceled or postponed. On March 27, McShane wrote to the Fordham community announcing that the university would delay commencement. Vince Costello, FCLC ’21, also chose to stay in his apartment in Harlem throughout the outbreak because he works as an EMT for Richmond County Ambul ance. As the virus continues to spread

through the city, Costello has worked some shifts. “Each EMT has been given one N95 mask to re-use for every single non-covid patient,” Costello said. “There’s simply not enough key equipment to go around.” On March 23, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that the city might only have a week worth of medical resources left. In response to the scarcity, Fordham donated over 30,000 medical items to the city on March 28. “Emergency rooms are very packed, with people waiting on beds and chairs in hallways. It’s pretty harrowing, I’ve never seen emergency rooms look like this,” Costello continued. While he says that medical personnel are fatigued and on edge, there is a sense that everyone is ing their best. “I work with really great people and I’m really honored to be a part of the COVID-19 response,” Costello said.

News

WWW.fordhamobserver.com

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

Students Shed Light on Study Abroad Cancellations By SOPHIE PARTRIDGE-HICKS News Editor

to Japan to be with her parents. “At the time it seemed so risky, but now I am grateful I’m not in the U.S.,” Liu said.

The global coronavirus pandemic has forced world leaders to implement travel bans or close their countries’ borders to try to contain the spread of the virus. These changes have affected thousands of travelers around the world, including the Fordham students who had chosen to study abroad for the spring 2020 semester. the President announced that all study abroad programs in Europe had been canceled. Joseph Rienti, Ph.D., director of international and study abroad programs, emailed all students to return home immediately. Shortly after that, Donald Trump announced that he was expanding the European travel ban to include the United Kingdom and Ireland, which would go into effect on Monday, March 16, at midnight. The ban barred foreign nationals from entering the United States, but ensured that U.S. citizens and their families would still be able to return home. Students enrolled in separate iated with Fordham University received an email on March 12 asking them to return home immediately. All study abroad students formation and return address into a Google Forms document created

Returning to the U.S. Joe VanGostein, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’22, was studying abroad at the Fordham London Centre and began worrying that Trump’s travel ban would prohibit him from getting back home to the U.S. news, VanGostein and his friends originally planned to continue with their spring break travel plans, but “the situation kept getting worse and worse every couple of hours.” and we kept getting updates from different people. So we didn’t know what was just a rumor and everyone was panicking,” VanGostein said. When London staff sent an email to students stating they and leave as soon as possible, VanGostein and his parents decided to VanGostein received a call from his parents and realized he had acto JFK on Sunday, March 22, only one day before all students needed to leave the U.K. was a disaster. The website kept crashing. I used the phone at the London Centre because I was out of U.K. minutes on my phone. Matthew Holland (director of student affairs for the London Centre) was

Life in Lockdown David Hernandez, GSBLC ’21, was studying abroad at Freie Universität in Berlin, Germany, when he received the email asking him to leave. “All of a sudden I get an email past midnight on Wednesday night telling me to leave immediately. It took us all by surprise,” Hernandez continued.

COURTESY OF ETHAN SHAMIM

around and checking up on people. I ended up having to book a whole new round trip because it was cheaper than a one-way.” VanEthan Shamim, GSBLC ’21, was studying abroad at the WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in Vallendar, Germany, when he was asked to return to the U.S. Shamim was able to book a He said that while the airports were functioning normally, he did notice that some of the shops were closed and that there were noticeably fewer people.

seats, but he claims that no more ceived a health form from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that asked him some questions about his health and where he had been and gave him information on how to quarAt this time, there were reports of U.S. airports that were overtraveling home. “My dad told me hour wait for additional screenings being performed at the airport,” Shamim said. said that he went through additional border control security and had his temperature checked by a contactless thermometer. He was able to leave the airport within an hour.

Forced to Leave abroad felt returning to the U.S. was the right choice for them. Gabrielle Stewart, Fordham Col-

lege at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, was studying abroad in Vienna, Austria, when Fordham students were recalled back to America. Stewart said that Austria was taking preventative measures very early and that citizens were following them diligently, so she felt very safe in the city and in the country. When she approached her adviser at the University of Economics and Business, he assured Vienna and continue her online learning and that she would need to communicate her decision with her university in the U.S. “My mother and I both wanted me to stay in Vienna because of how well the country was doing to counteract COVID-19 and that I had already paid for my housing through the semester and was bound by a contract,” Stewart explained. Further, Stewart’s mother was exhibiting symptoms of the virus and they both felt like it did not make sense for Stewart to travel through international airports to a household that had potentially already been exposed. When Stewart emailed her concerns to Fordham’s Study Abroad must return to the U.S. regardless of her situation. They also told her that she would not receive any credit for the semester if she chose to stay in Vienna without their permission. Likewise, students studying abroad at Fordham’s center in Pretoria, South Africa, felt that it would actually be safer for them to stay rather than return to the U.S. cases in South Africa than the U.S., and we felt like traveling through international airports to head back home to houses with older relatives and young siblings was not going to help anyone,” said Gabe

Samandi, FCLC ’22 and news editor emeritus. On March 16, students studying abroad in Pretoria received an email requiring them to leave them only seven days of warning. own and that was very cost-prohibitive for a lot of people,” Saa way back to the U.S., Samandi -

Nowhere to Go For some students like Zoey Liu, FCLC ’22 and photo editor emeritus, there was not an obvious answer as to where to go after she was told to leave. She was studying abroad at the London had to leave. Liu’s parents moved to Japan after her high school graduation, meaning she had nowhere to go home to in the U.S. With the closure of all Fordham residential where to stay in the U.S. eliminated the possibility of traveling to America. At that time, there were more cases of coronavirus in Japan than in the U.S. Liu was concerned about her own safety traveling to a country with so many cases, as well as travel bans that could render her stuck in Japan for an unforeseeable amount of time. When Liu went to Holland with her concerns and to ask for help, she claimed that he and the Fordham London Centre administration were not prepared to support students with special travel cases like herself. Faced with no support from nancially viable option to travel

his mother’s house in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday, March 15. Only one day earlier, on tional lockdown, as it was the third most infected country in the world at the time. Hernandez is at home waiting for the lockdown to be lifted; he is only able to leave his mother’s house to go to the grocery store, pharmacy or hospital. Freie Universität moved to Hernandez says that since he had to leave so unexpectedly, he was unable to take any of his midterm exams. “I can’t take any of the tests unless I have a proctor, but all of the universities here are closed and none of us can leave our houses unnecessarily anyways. So now I can’t take any of my midterms until things reopen here and I can start looking for proctors,” Hernandez said.

Finishing the Semester in Quarantine As the semester continues, study abroad students have expressed concerns about how they will be able to proceed with their classes. To try to accommodate different time zones, the London Centre decided to put all class materials online in Powerpoints for students to access on their own times and weekly hourlong discussion meetings via Zoom. Classes that were usually 2-5 p.m. GMT are now hosted from 5-6 p.m. EDT to accommodate students in the U.S. but force professors still in the U.K. to teach from 9-10 p.m. GMT. online has also introduced new challenges. Stewart explained that her “group members are from Madrid, Milan, and Salzburg so we have had to be conscientious when scheduling times to go over assignments.” cial support from Fordham for last-minute travel costs. There has been no communication from host programs or from Fordham’s tuition or room and board reimbursements.

Commencement Postponed for Community’s Safety COMMENCEMENT from page 1

“While everything that’s happening is, yes, unfair to the work and achievements of the Class of 2020 at Fordham and in schools all over the world, it’s necessary to understand that this is part of a much greater picture and in the best interests of containing the global health crisis at hand,” said Julia Britto, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20. Finley Peay, FCLC ’20, said that she appreciated that “the university is doing the best they

can to commemorate the occasion and give us all our due.” McShane stressed that the 175th commencement ceremony has not been canceled but postponed for a later date. “While it’s disappointing news, I was actually a little bit relieved,” said Matt Jordan, FCLC ’20. “Other colleges are doing online graduations so I was relieved to see that they are just postponing it,” he said. Purdue University, the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins University are among

other colleges that have been forced to move their ceremonies to virtual celebrations. “I promise you that when we gather to toast you in-person on Edwards Parade, we will do so under the banner of your class: the Dodransbicentennial banner, the same banner that hung on the facade of Keating Hall when you began your Fordham journeys and the same banner that will welcome you home for your reunions,” McShane wrote to conclude his email to the Class of 2020.

IAN MCKENNA/THE OBSERVER

Sports & Health

Sports & Health Editors Patrick Moquin - pmoquin@fordham.edu Lena Weidenbruch - lweidenbruch@fordham.edu April 1, 2020 Even though most of us understand and agree with the rationale for social distancing, some college students may struggle with being told what they can or cannot do since autonomy and independence are especially salient for adolescents and young adults. He also mentioned the fact that for many, social distancing and quarantining could lead to decreased physical activity, an important aspect of mental health and emotional well-being. Warning signs of deteriorating mental health (for you and people around you): It’s important to be cognizant not only of your own mental health, but also that of others with whom you interact. Ng listed a few indicators of worsening mental health that he said are relevant even “outside of any pandemic.” Persistent irritability, sadness, anger, anxiety and/or hopelessness, especially for several weeks, are signals that emotional and mental health may be worsening. This is concerning if “it re-

ALISON ETTINGER-DELONG/THE OBSERVER

By MAGGIE MCNAMARA Staff Writer

"Take care of yourself": A phrase that, for obvious reasons, you’ve probably heard more in the last two weeks than in the past two years. With the coronavirus rapidly spreading, health, both mental and physical, is critically important. You’ve all heard to wash your hands and avoid touching your face, but maybe information about your emotional well-being was a little less clear.

I recently spoke with Dr. Jeffrey Ng, director of Counseling and Psychological Services for Fordham University at the Lincoln Center, Rose Hill and Westchester campuses. Here’s what I found out, as well as some ideas to help you cope with these strange times of adjustment and uncertainty. Why does social distancing put mental health at risk in Ng pointed to a few different reasons for this. Humans are in-

nately social and relational and have evolved to be interdependent with one another for their survival and well-being, he said. Removing the physical aspect of our interdependence can be somewhat shocking. Not only this, but Ng noted that the mandate for social distancing was out of our control. “There’s a sense of helplessness about it,” he said. “We did not willingly decide to maintain physical distance from each other. We were told we had to.”

how (one) knows (oneself) to be” or if “it interferes with day-to-day functioning,” Ng said. He encouraged students to be mindful of how able they are to attend to basic needs such as sleeping, eating and hygiene. It’s also crucial to be aware of thoughts about death, dying or self-harm. Ng recommended connecting oneself or others with professional help if thoughts such as these arise. The most important thing to remember: I wanted to know if Ng could point to one key takeaway for students to keep in mind. “Practice being more self-compassionate,” Ng urged. “Be kinder and more patient with yourself. It’s probably not very realistic to expect

THE OBSERVER

to ‘stay on track,’ whatever that means” personally. One can’t hold oneself to the same productivity the pandemic hit, he said. “It’s critically important for us to acknowledge and lean into our feelings about all this, whether it’s sadness, or anger, or frusrather than ignoring, neglecting, or suppressing it,” Ng advised. Distracting ourselves from our feelings can be helpful at times, he said, but it’s essential to return to and process them when we’re ready. ure out what works for them from a self-care perspective. “Every student is unique, and what might be optimal for one student might not be the best for another,” he said. While some students may be ready to process their emotions about the social distancing situation, others may more readily seek distraction. Activities such as journaling, meditating or conversing with partners in isolation or with other friends and family over FaceTime can help to confront some of these new and burdensome feelings. Taking a walk outside or taking the time to learn a new hobby are other activities that may help to alleviate stress. Resources: Counseling and Psychological Services is still providing services remotely. Ng also recommends the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-237-8255, and the Crisis Text Line, which is available by texting HOME to 741741 in the U.S., to 686868 in Canada, and to 85258 in the U.K. Also, he encourages students to research additional resources

For more about this story, visit www.fordhamobserver.com

The Science Behind ‘Flatten the Curve’ By LUKE OSBORN Sports & Health Editor Emeritus

has been thrown around on social media in light of the coronavirus pandemic, especially with regard to social distancing. The curve being referenced is the number of new cases plotted against the course of the coronavirus outbreak. This graph demonstrates two scenarios: what would happen with protective measures and what would happen without protective measures. With protective measures like social distancing, the number of cases rises gradually and peaks much later. Without protective measures, the number of cases would rapidly increase as the virus spreads through a community, and then the curve would fall sharply since most of the people who could catch the virus have already been infected. Though the outbreak lasts ber of cases doesn’t overwhelm the health care system all at once. The curve with the sharp increase in infections results in the number of sick patients far exceeding the maximum amount of individuals the health care system can care for, and with hospitals operating past capacity to treat coronavirus patients, those needing care for other health emergencies won’t be able to get the care they need. Moreover, the lower rate of new infections buys time to develop

BERGSTROM VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The curve plots the number of new cases against the course of the coronavirus outbreak and demonstrates the potential outcomes with or without the implementation of protective measures.

vaccines or antiviral treatments. curve is to make our reality in er curve through the guidelines of public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health. University Health Services Director Maureen Keown said, “By staying home and following the guidance from the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, we can hopefully decrease the number of people getting infected. This will give

the healthcare system some time to treat those who are ill today and be ready for those who may get ill in the future.” Space in hospitals to treat new patients isn’t the only limiting factor in our health system. Hospitals have a limited amount of personal protective equipment, which includes masks, gloves and face shields; these supplies keep health care workers healthy while treating ill and highly contagious patients. “This is a big problem because if they cannot protect themselves, they may become ill and

we will have less healthcare personnel who will be available to care for the sick,” Keown said. Another piece of equipment that’s rapidly becoming scarce in this crisis is ventilators. For critically ill patients, the go-to method of treatment is supportive care through the use of ventilators that increase the oxygen of ventilators in New York has gotten so severe that health care workers are using one ventilator to treat two patients at New York Presbyterian Hospital. This strain on the health care

system can be avoided through protective measures like social distancing. According to the CDC, “The best way to prevent the illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus,” since there is currently no vaccine. Social distancing involves staying indoors as much as possible in order to reduce face-to-face contact with people who could be sick with the coronavirus. States like New York and California have imposed shelter-inplace orders in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Of course, individuals are allowed to leave their homes for necessity, but people should keep a distance of six feet from others. Many students in the Fordham community are not at risk of dying from the coronavirus. According to Keown, most people, if they get infected, will develop a mild case of the disease and will be able to recover without having to go to the hospital. Both the CDC and Keown emphasize that it’s imperative for these people who catch the coronavirus to stay at home. The people most at risk for developing a severe case of the coronavirus are older adults and those of all ages with underlying medical conditions. These broadly include asthma, diabetes and conditions that cause immunosuppression. Though most Fordham students are young adults with fully functioning immune systems, we can still spread the virus to others that don’t have these advantages.

Sports & Health

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

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Inside the Final Days of Fordham Sports By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor

When Bre Cavanaugh, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’21, learned about the cancellation of all women’s basketball tournaments, she said she felt “shattered.” “We were very hungry and we were preparing ourselves each day. To know that this would have been my third straight postseason appearance ... and to have that taken away, or canceled, was heartbreaking,” Cavanaugh said. For her and other members of the Fordham women’s basketball team, the cancellation of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) ensured that their season would end on a sour note. Having lost to Virginia Commonwealth University in the (A10) Tournament the weekend prior, the suspension of all college basketball tournaments due to fears concerning the spread of the coronavirus denied the team a chance at redemption. Fortunately, the women’s basketball team doesn’t currently have any seniors on the roster. However, opportunities this year have already been lost — national competition, TV appearances and public exposure that current players will never get back. Despite the unfortunate timing of this pandemic for Fordham women’s basketball, Cavanaugh was quick to think of others. In an even more grave tone than she had maintained when relating her own feelings, the star basketball player commented, “I was devastated, and not only for us. I felt bad for our softball team.”

In terms of Fordham Athletics in relation to COVID-19, Cavanaugh’s sympathy is well-placed. Women’s basketball lost their chance at a run in the WNIT, while the men’s basketball team was unable to participate in the men’s A10 Tournament. As winter sports, these teams had their seasons shortened by days. Some teams, like softball, lost months. When Madie Aughinbaugh, FCRH ’20, found out that her season was suspended, she was in JFK Airport with the rest of the softball team. They were on their way to South Carolina for the Charleston Cougar Classic held over spring break, and were already through security when the news forced them to return to Rose Hill. Aughinbaugh and the rest of the team had been on edge all week as season suspensions became increasingly frequent, but still held out hope that they could continue to play. After the news broke, the senior captain was initially in shock. “I was in disbelief,” Aughinbaugh said. “It wasn't until later that evening I broke down and then again the next day. You work so hard for months for the opportunity to continue the legacy and it felt like it was taken away so easily in an instant.” The baseball and women’s basketball programs at Fordham have been successful in recent years, but the softball team is Fordham’s only dynasty in modern collegiate athletics. Since 2011, they have won eight A10 championships in nine years, and the 2020 season will be ship since 2012. In all, nine varsity athletic teams had their seasons sus-

Bre Cavanaugh, FCRH ’21, and the rest of the women's basketball team lost an opportunity to play out the rest of its season.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

The women’s basketball team, in addition to many others, had its season cut short due to the coronavirus.

pended for the spring. Many of these teams expected to play well into June; instead, they were only able to compete for a few bitterly cold weeks in February and March. According to Fordham baseball player Jake MacKenzie, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’21, the idea of wasted potential appears especially frustrating. Last season, the baseball team won the A10 Tournament and former Fordham pitcher Kyle Martin was signed by the Baltimore Orioles. With an elite pitching staff and potent offense, MacKenzie thought the team was poised to make another run in the 2020 season. “We were supposed to do the same thing,” MacKenzie said pectation and every belief that we had the pieces to do it again, but it just didn’t end up happening.” Unlike the softball and women’s basketball teams, the baseball team faces a different problem in that a large group of seniors are set to graduate withAt least seven key contributors to the team will have to choose to return for another year after graduating. The importance of a player’s last season of eligibility cannot be overstated. Players with professional aspirations may have lost the most important games of their career, games that could convince scouts to risk a draft pick. But for the many seniors on the team that aren’t MLB-bound, this unforeseen disruption holds even more weight, as they may of organized baseball. There was no grand farewell for them, no show of gratitude. On March 11, these men were baseball players, and on March 12, an email informed them that they last time. Looking beyond the impact this event has had on individual players, it may have an effect on the team’s future as well. With so many seniors potentially leaving, the road to another championship in 2021 is unclear. In a rare admission, even MacKenzie stressed the team’s dependence on its departing players, saying, “We had a good core group of seniors coming back, and it’s going to be pretty tough trying to do it next year

without them.” The one thing that most can agree on is that this situation has been unfair, particularly to senior athletes, and the one group capable of providing assistance is the NCAA. Many solutions have been suggested, but rectifying such a wide-ranging injustice has proven to be a logistical nightmare. One of the immediate reactions to the suspension came via social media, where several trending hashtags called for a nationwide redshirt year. This option would give every single spring college athlete an extra year of eligibility, and was approved in an NCAA council vote Monday evening. When asked about this option, Aughinbaugh fully supported it, saying, “Everyone lost the year, not just seniors. It's a little more bitter for seniors because it's potentially the end of our careers but every grade deserves to be granted eligibility to compete in an additional season.” Other athletes, like MacKenzie and Cavanaugh, believe that seniors in spring sports deserve priority. Thinking of the senior athletes’ experience losing their entire season, Cavanaugh said, “I couldn’t imagine. Our season was 98% done, but their seasons just started. I agree that they deserve those seasons back.” MacKenzie, in particular, remained skeptical of a nationwide redshirt year. Providing such assistance to current players would be fair to them, but in MacKenzie’s view, would make freshmen with the roster spots they were initially promised. “Seeing as how we didn’t really get to play, I think that would be good, but I also think it would screw up the entire NCAA with eligibility and roster spots and incoming freshmen,” MacKenzie said. “If I could get two more years of baseball instead of one, that’d be great, but for seniors, no one should have to go out like that.” However, even providing seniors with an extra year could prove to be an ineffective solution. Most students don’t play sports in college on full scholarship, and an extra year would season, but it would also force them to pay for another year they may not be able to afford. Other students may simply

wish to graduate and move on with their lives. In any case, giving these students an extra year does not exactly make up for the seniors’ last years will always be wasted, and giving them another season next year, a time they may want to spend pursuing other things, is not the same as giving them their senior year back. ward student athletes seeking another year of eligibility is an time of sickness and death. The aforementioned social media movement calling for a “coronavirus redshirt year,” for example, was incredibly divisive. Some wished to protect athletes, but many others were quick to point out more pressing issues in the world, issues that have only grown worse in the weeks since. To accuse these athletes of of their timing than their argument. People are dying every day as hospitals struggle with it isn’t the best time to discuss the premature end of a few seniors’ baseball careers. However, none of the athletes advocating for eligibility are trying to prioritize their issue over others. Cavanaugh, MacKenzie and Aughinbaugh all returned to the same points. They all stressed the hard work they had done to prepare, the potential such a season could have, and the ramcommitted to play. Aughinbaugh was particularly adamant on this point, saying, “Athletes give everything they have to the NCAA to be able to compete in the game we love for four more years.” By calling for the NCAA to provide assistance to affected athletes, these Fordham players are not attempting to undermine the experiences of those expressing disappointment, but they’re not complaining. They understand the scale of this terrible event, and also understand that their respective cancellations are for the best. These athletes prepared for a season that will now never come, and in a decision that future, they’re simply requesting something be done to return what they’re owed.

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Sports & Health

From Fan to Personal Manager: Catherine Coddington Remembers Kobe Bryant By EMMA SEIWELL AND NIKO KONSTANTELLIS Asst. Features Editor and Contributing Writer

As a staff writer and then News Editor Emeritus for The Observer, Catherine Coddington wrote a number of articles prior to transferring to the University of Southern California (USC). Her articles largely covered sports. In December 2004, she wrote one titled, “As Athlete, Bryant Deserves Respect.” Coddington, originally from Los Angeles and raised in a family of sports fans, calls herself a “lifelong Lakers fan.” She said, “Some of my favorite childhood memories with my dad were going to Lakers games at the Forum.” Her admiration for Kobe Bryant in particular was evident in her Observer article. At that time, she could never have imagined that just three years later, upon graduating, Bryant would hire her as his personal communications manager. Coddington began college at Fordham in 2002 after a brief professional dancing career with the American Ballet Theatre in New York City. She enrolled in a Fordham program for former dancers. Eventually, she found herself missing her family and California, so she decided to transfer to USC where she got her degree in public relations. After taking a sports journalism course with Fordham professor Hank Hirsch, which she said “changed her life,” she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the sports industry. While in college, she had a number of internships with various sports organizations before landing an internship with the Los Angeles Lakers in their Community Relations department

COURTESY OF CATHERINE CODDINGTON

Coddington met Kobe Bryant as a senior in college while interning for the Los Angeles Lakers. The immediate connection they had shaped the course of her career.

during her senior year. As an intern, one of her duties included helping with team autograph days, where players spent hours signing items for fundraising efforts and community organizashe met Bryant, and they immediately connected. “I just happened to be standing at the very end of the table and Kobe was sitting right next to me,” Coddington said. “We chatted for like things and so we got to know each other then,” she continued. According to someone working with him at the time, after meeting

her that day, Bryant said, “She’s really smart. We should hire her when she graduates.” Coddington worked for Bryant’s advertising agency, Zambezi, after graduating and was offered the position as his personal communications manager a few months later, at just 25 years old. When accepting the position, Coddington said she was relatively young and inexperienced. She described it as “a very intense time” when Bryant was receiving aggressive attention from the media. While transitioning from college into a demanding professional life, Coddington said she looked to two

of her Fordham journalism professors, Hirsch and Elizabeth Stone, who were “incredibly supportive and helpful.” While Coddington worked for him, Bryant won NBA MVP and led one championship. She said his demand for excellence translated into his life off the court as well. Coddington recalled the immense impact Kobe had on her and all those around him. “His work ethic was unmatched and he worked so hard to make himself the best he possibly could be,” she said. “That really rubbed off on myself and I think the rest of the people that worked

so closely with him.” She said her fondest memory with Bryant was a conversation oring the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic gold medal-winning basketball team in Chicago. “He was always so interested in the college experience because he never had one. And so he was asking me a lot about my favorite classes at USC and what subjects were most interesting and what the social experience was,” Coddington said. “It was a really special moment,” she added. Coddington currently works for the State of California as District Director for Jesse Gabriel, a state assemblymember. Even with her shift in careers, she said she consistently looks back to her time at Fordham, as well as her time with Bryant for guidance. As a Fordham student, Coddington saw Hirsch and Stone as both professional and personal mentors and still does to this day. “That personal relationship that I developed with both of them really helped shape so much of what I do,” she said. “I look to a lot of the coaching and support that they provided during that time and I use that on a daily basis.” She shared a similar sentiment for Bryant and the lasting impact he had on her. She described her three and a half years working with him as “something that kind of set me forth on a path forever and how I tackle the job that I’m doing in my career.” In a post commemorating Bryant on Jan. 30, Coddington said, “Still can’t believe he’s gone but trying to focus on and cherish the memories I have. Thanks for the memories KB.” She said his tragic passing on Jan. 26 is “still surreal."

Opinions Editors Grace Getman - ggetman@fordham.edu Evan Vollbrecht - evollbrecht@fordham.edu

Opinions

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

THE

STAFF EDITORIAL

PURPOSE IN THE TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS

urrently, more than half of the United States is under orders to stay at home, with exceptions for workers in essential industries and only the most necessary of outings. Hospitals and emergency response services are already being stretched thin, and according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, the worst is yet to come. Fordham is among thousands of universities nationwide that have transitioned to online classes in the past few weeks. The dorms have been vacated with very limited exceptions for almost two weeks now, leaving the vast majority of students and staff to try to make sense of the situation from rate homes. Even with the best and brightest the internet has to offer in the way of virtual communication technologies, it’s hard not to feel isolated, and playing the waiting game comes with a profound sense of powerlessness. When faced with a crisis, we have always been told to act, and yet in the face of this one, public health and safety demand that we lie low. Social media has been abuzz with encouraging messages of positivity and solidarity, but what we really need right now is to feel we have a purpose. We’re looking for a chance to address the problem rather than simply wait it out. Thankfully, the coronavirus can’t stop charity and

goodwill, and it’s still possible to stay involved and make a difference — in some cases without ever leaving your bedroom. You can donate to food banks, soup kitchens and shelters, which need your help now more than ever with resources dwindling.

Coronavirus can’t stop charity and goodwill, and it’s still possible to stay involved and make a difference. Ordering takeout or delivery from local restaurants nancially or buying gift cards to use in the future, is a great way to help your hometown of all, you can advocate for transparency and increased aid from our lawmakers and try to make this trouble a little easier for all of us. If you’re looking to give back to the community around Fordham Lincoln en continues to work to provide toiletry supplies and food to New Yorkers in need, the Flatiron District continues to run a soup kitchen and a food pantry. Additionally, if you’re in a position to aid students in the Fordham community who are struggling due to the upsets caused by the coronavirus,

a university-sponsored Student Emergency Fund has been opened on GiveCampus — your contribution will be greatly appreciated, as well as whatever donations you can solicit. Just as there are ways for individual students to be more involved, the university should also be doing everything in its power to support its students and the wider New York community during this pandemic. We as students appreciate the effort that the Fordham administration has put into communication and updates throughout the month, and look forward to how they continue to develop the university’s response to this crisis and take more direct action. Fordham’s decision to donate personal protection equipment to New York state medical workers was an excellent start, and as the situation develops, we ask that they consider opening dorm rooms as hospital beds as hospitals begin to have begun to do. Hang in there, and know that there’s plenty you — and Fordham — can do to help. This is an opportunity to put into practice the values of service that are fundamental to our Jesuit education. Even though it’s in our best interest to remain far apart, if we do our part to take care of each other now, we can forge bonds of solidarity that will serve us well when it comes time to leave our quarantine and build a better world together.

OBSERVER Editor-in-Chief Owen Roche Managing Editor Courtney Brogle Business Managers Teymur Guliyev Srushthi Kshirsagar Online Editor Izzi Duprey Layout Editors Esmé Bleecker-Adams Lara Foley Asst. Layout Editors Maddie Sandholm Olivia Stern News Editors Gus Dupree Sophie Partridge-Hicks Asst. News Editors Joe Kottke Katrina Lambert Opinions Editors Grace Getman Evan Vollbrecht Asst. Opinions Editors Emily Ellis Haley Smullen Arts & Culture Editors Ethan Coughlin Gillian Russo Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Kendall Bottjer Features Editors Samantha Matthews Nicole Perkins Asst. Features Editors Jacqueline Pierce Emma Seiwell Sports & Health Editors Patrick Moquin Lena Weidenbruch Asst. Sports & Health Editor Aiza Bhuiyan Photo Editor Andrew Beecher Asst. Photo Editors Isabelle Dalby Andrew Dressner Fun & Games Editor Esmé Bleecker-Adams Copy Editors Libby Lanza Jill Rice Lulu Schmieta Social Media Editors Roxanne Cubero Maca Leon Shamya Zindani Newsletter Editors Gillian Russo Shamya Zindani Multimedia Editor Caitlin Bury Asst. Multimedia Editor Alison Ettinger-DeLong Retrospect Host Kevin Christopher Robles Retrospect Producer Alyssa Morales IT Manager EJ Ciriaco

Canine Candid

COURTESY OF SOPHIE CHOO

A silver lining of an unexpected extended stay at home is the opportunity to spend quality time with pets, leading to some a-dog-able photos.

The New Normal As Fordham has transitioned to a new, remote reality, The Observer resolves to continue its role as the Student Voice of Fordham Lincoln Center — and now a student body spread across the country and around the world. In light of the coronavirus pandemic and Fordham’s campus closures, The Observer has suspended all print operations for the duration of the semester. Online-only issues such as this one will be published weekly until the end of the school year, accessible through ISSUU.com/fordhamobserver and emailed to the Fordham community. The Observer’s presence and breaking coverage on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook will continue as usual. We appreciate our readers’ understanding and hope for their continued health and well-being.

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.

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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.

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April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

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Home, Alone: A Meditation on Social Distancing POLINA UZORNIKOVA Staff Writer

willing, you can sort out all the stuff that you left unsaid over the years. However, that type of overwhelming candor may well result in eviction, so proceed with caution. matter how many people you’re

Social distancing sucks. There’s no other way to put it. Whether you’re back at home with your parents or hibernating in your overpriced New York City rental, self-isolation is beyond unbearable. To stay or not to stay in NYC? You, a college student, are trapped between the rock of going feral from lack of human contact, and the hard place of killing your fever. I experienced both options for two weeks and can attest: Both of them suck (yes, even if you’re an introvert). To look for the silver lining or not to look? Fellow freshmen, I’m sure you have spent countless nights in your old bedroom, wondering: “Why did I suddenly crash-land back in my paternal nest?” At family — and that’s normal, you missed them — but then you remember all their habits that you most certainly didn’t miss, and your life starts to resemble an eternal hell, in which you are shown the worst moments of your childhood and adolescence on repeat. Is there a silver lining? If you’re lucky and your parents are

life. Faced with a prospect of a week without direct sunlight (’tis the fate of all New Yorkers whose windows don’t face the street), complete all the chores I have been putting off. Alas! Chores are like heads on the hydra that Hercules fought. As soon as you complete one, three more appear in its place. Silver lining? An apartment does tend to look better disinfected and compartmentalized, but at what psychological cost? Ever stared out a window for more than an hour? Well, now you have the opportunity to do so. With all of your family at their respective work-from-home spaces, 24 hours a day of human contact amounts to almost nothing. So, you start having conversations with yourself. Or at least I did (out loud at that, but I do enjoy hearing myself speak, as the unfortunate people stuck with me in an online lecture will an amazing thing for personal growth, but when you have too much of it, it turns into a mental cially if you’re a Cancer. In this case, the silver lining is the fact that the majority of your friends are equally bored. Time

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER

to think up some conversation starters, since there’s not going to be any personal drama in a while (great shame for my Slytherin soul). Could it really get any worse? Yes. It is due time to stop whining and get on with your life. Imagine if Fordham didn’t close. Yes, you’d

still be able to see your friends face to face but that’s because you’d probably share the same isolation room with them, chained to a bed completed with a surrounding sealed plastic border. I’m not going to take a life coach stance and tell you that this is all for your personal betterment.

You are very likely to be very bored, and probably already are. However, there are things that can make you less bored. I, for example, took up cross-stitching in order to prove that I can repeatedly stab something over 200 times. Check back in on this column in two weeks for more updates.

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Coronavirus: Embrace the Uncertainty Grappling with the effects of the pandemic requires accepting what we can actually control LEV YAKOVLEV

Staff Writer

When I started writing this text, the U.S. did not have the largest number of coronavirus cases in the world. I don’t think I ever remember statistics changing so rapidly, that the only way to look at them would be to stay tuned all the time. Before the quarantine, I never checked the news before noon because I think it is unhealthy, but now I cannot envision a morning without looking up the outbreak statistics, and I am certainly not the only person to have an urge for the most fresh information. However, I think that this desire is actually what got us into this mess proceed to self-isolate ourselves, we face a serious trial of patience. As an international student, “Dude, that really sucks for you,” became the most frequent sentence I hear. Right now I sit at home on a mandatory quarantine; on entrance to Estonia, where I currently live, I was forced to write down my ID to a special database that keeps an eye on me. Sneaking out is impossible, because every single policeman in the country is on patrol, and in about a week they will start using my mobile data to track me in real time; they say it’s still under the Data Protection Act, they will not be sharing this information with anyone and they will destroy it, but what if other, less honest regimes start doing the same? This all feels like re-living the Book of Job, and I cannot even begin to imagine how terrible this situation turned out for those who were kicked out of their dorms and had no other place to stay, or those who were denied entry to their home country because of a lockdown. I myself had to rush tickets and almost spent my last dollars paying fees for overweight bags (the employees were generous to me, nobody anticipated anything quite like that pandemic). These days I barely leave my

room; I sleep on the couch, which is also my study zone, and the same bags that got me stopped at ble. If I am considered lucky, then what is there to say about the rest of the world? I remember how a month ago my teacher that hopefully I will miss her class not because of the coronavirus. I remember how doctor asked me if I have recently been to Wuhan, and I said that I started feeling worse after getting Chinese food. Even after our classes were canceled, I did not take the matter seriously. That day all of my university friends, myself included, spent the rest of our day in Central Park playing in the spring sun, and back then I realized that this is going to be a last truly happy moment for a while. A few days later, I received news that my country was preparing for lockdown, and my parents’ business was shut down due to government regulations. Shortly afterwards, my theatre tickets, which I bought the same day that classes stopped, were canceled due to the outbreak. As I went to Trader Joe’s for groceries, I saw a line of people reaching the end of the block. It seemed like the apocalypse had begun, and all this time I thought that the crisis was just a minor inconvenience. Not so long ago I saw a story on Instagram, where my friend wanted to apologize to all the apocalypse movies where nobody listened to scientist’s warnings until it was too late. I really hope that this pandemic is not going to kill us like the zombie apocalypse, but I think that humanity deserved to undergo this trial. The pandemic even infected someone in my small town of Tabasalu, which is only 10,000 people. Despite mass hysteria, and the fact that we live in a completely different world with irreversible changes, I have little fear of the virus itself. After all, the coronavirus did not buy out all the toilet

paper, or blame itself on Chinese people, or denied its existence until social isolation all over the world became the only way to contain it. To my knowledge, English language has recently coined a term “covidiot,” which is someone who either treats a serious issue with ignorance, or who looks out primarily for himself during these tough times. Judging by the endless photos of empty store shelves, this word is too relevant, and it seems like all of us are covidiots, but unlike those before us, we are aware of what happened during the past pandemics. As history and literature teachonce said, “History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes.” If an online etymology dictionary and four sources on Wikipedia are to be trusted, the root of the word “quarantine” comes from Italian word “forty,” which is the amount of days that ships had to spend in port before unloading during the Black Death. Back then, anywhere from 75-200 million people died from the plague, and judging by how rapidly the virus spreads, it looks like we all might one day have it, but will our humanity allow us to save all these lives? It is an impossible question to ask. All I know is that we have power over what we can do, and it looks like this point in history is a perfect time to dedicate more effort to working on things that we can control. Personally, I found this part of the outbreak to be extremely challenging. I grew up used to knowing everything in the present moment, and I have never really experienced anything even remotely similar to the uncertainty that the pandemic brought with itself. Truth be told, I really wish that some politician, economist or doctor would come out right now and tell the world that buying 10 rolls of toilet paper saves one person from this disease, or maybe that if we place a hand sanitizer on a shrine to Danny DeVito, then the virus will pass our lives by. As a

LEV YAKOVLEV/THE OBSERVER

To handle the chaos caused by the coronavirus epidemic, we should remember what we can control, not what we can’t, such as long lines.

person who tried both of those things, I am frustrated that it doesn’t work. Sacred Texts class, and if the Bible has taught me anything, it’s that nobody trusts a prophet at their word. Jesus had to actually do miracles to people, to die and be reborn only for others to admit that he truly was the son of God. I feel like something very similar is happening to us right now, that power of nature only after it has really hurt us. If we are to learn from the

instead of constantly worrying about how it slowly takes over our cope. There is a lot of advice online, and the evolution of technologies does wonders to the amount of sources we can access from home. I hope that the world after coronavirus will not be as cruel as the trials that we all undergo right now. In the end, God had mercy on Job, and hopefully the same will happen to all of us, but before it does, we have to learn to face the uncertainty and not rely on plans. Everything is subject to change, and nothing is determined.

The Connection Between Lent and Quarantine LENT from page 1

nature of the coronavirus let us forget the lives we had just a few weeks ago. Instead, this time should be

take part in the ritual myself. his faith have long piqued my interest, and he was giving the evening service, which persuaded me to check it out. Commuting to Lincoln Center in order to attend my 8:30 a.m. class, I remember being surprised to pass by several people who had already received their ashes. It was equally unexpected to see people that I actually knew at the chapel. That day served as a stark reminder to me that the strangers seen in the city streets share more in common with us than we would like to think. Sadly, those interpersonal connections are some of the many victims of coronavirus. Whether it be the loss of a pet hamster, a romantic breakup, the passing of a loved one or some other unfortunate event, all of us have felt loss before. However, all of those incidents are merely parts of the whole; they show comes with the human condition, but not the image itself, through which that suffering is connected. Ironically, the social isolation that we must all go through reminds us of the obligation that all

ANDREW BEECHER/THE OBSERVER

human beings share: concern for the state of our neighbor and the common good. Though the comforting traditions that Catholics are used to have been lost, the universal qualities of hardship and community that come with

this time of year are stronger than ever. While we share the burden of social isolation, that burden is harsher on some more than others. As a New York City native, I have the privilege of not having

to worry about spreading the virus to my community, or being unable to return to my home country; I do not have to live with an abusive family or worry about meeting my basic needs. However, we must not let the omnipresent

Lent demands. Although there are privileges that are limited to some of us, many are applicable to all Fordham students. Not only were we college students, which is a rare honor in any circumstance, but college students in New York City, at Fordham. Regardless of where we currently reside, the personal developments made over our college experience, the academic accomplishments that will guide us to the next professional chapter in our lives, the friendships we made and continue to maintain online, have not vanished. So quick we are to see the dust of the beginning and the end, the blessings received in the middle go ignored. A popular saying among several family members of mine is, “When man makes plans, God laughs.” While this can be used to prepare for and accept the worst, it is also a reminder that there is world until the dust returns, as Jesus demonstrated all those years ago. When the time comes for us to leave our own caves, may we all be able to laugh together. Amen.

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Mayor de Blasio’s Botched Pandemic Response BRANDON SAPIENZA Staff Writer

Righ

Looking on the

t Sid e

The world, the United States and the City of New York are seeing a crisis unlike any other. The rapid spread of coronavirus has had devastating effects on the economy and the personal lives of billions of people across the world. New York City remains the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States and continues to spread the virus rapidly amongst the densely populated 8,000,000 oughs home. Unfortunately, New York City a man whose approval rating is amongst the worst in the country, with just 42% of New Yorkers numbers will surely get worse for de Blasio considering his handling of the coronavirus pandemic has consisted of nothing but fear mongering, blaming others like the Trump administration, and showing no resolve to make deciFor the entire duration of this pandemic, de Blasio has made it his business to offer no help to his constituents and instead spend his time on news networks playing the blame game. Parks people not heeding the guidelines of social distancing, and de Blasio waited too long to close New York City public schools, risking so Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles has offered calming words to his constituents and even went as far as encouraging private religious participation during this tumultuous time along with taking appropriate actions in accordance with the

recommendations of healthcare professionals. While an argument can be made about the inaction in Washington, D.C., President Trump is the leader of the United States as a whole, not just New York, and he needs to ensure resources are dispersed equally among other states who have a growing need for materials as well. As a mayor who runs the United States’ largest petri dish, de Blasio should be working instead to help those in the greatest need and ensuring that those at the front lines have what they need in order to stay safe. De Blasio tried but when he asked for help, it was too late, as personal protective equipment was all out of stock as the entire world was also set on trying to get the same materials. At that moment, he set his city on a course for the current state of uncertainty and lockdown that we live in now. Before the number of conrise, de Blasio, along with other members of his administration including health commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot, urged New Yorkers to not change their lives even with the impending threat of a pandemic, keeping schools open and telling millions to risk their lives every day. This happened as numbers started to rapidly rise. Nothing can change previous mistakes made by de Blasio and his response team, but what can change is the message he conveys to New Yorkers. Right now, New York is on the global stage as a city enduring a pandemic of cataclysmic proportions. At the moment, one in every 1,000 New Yorkers has been diagnosed with coronavirus. It is hard to put into words the level of fear that is running through the minds of New Yorkers and their loved ones across the nation and the world. The daily circumstances we endure here in New York are characterized by turmoil. We are

GAGE SKIDMORE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

As the consequences of his failures threaten the city, de Blasio has found that spreading the blame is preferable to stopping the coronavirus from doing the same.

homes, unsure of when life will return to normal. Right now, hundreds of Fordham students are unsure of when they will be able to return to their dorm rooms and gather their belongings and are trying to adapt to the changes in online classes. Everywhere you go, circumstances have changed, and with that, there is unrest and concern. De Blasio knows this, and as a leader, he is one of the most important people to attempt to quell the fears that millions are currently living with. “And after that, unfortunately, we think this crisis is going to That’s the truth,” de Blasio said lieve over half the people in this city will ultimately be infected. Over half.” Will more than 4,000,000 people get coronavirus? De Blasio believes so. Science didn’t tell him that, he just said that to go

against Trump who wrongly said in an interview with Sean Hannity that New York state did not need 30,000 ventilators. Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force said that the statistics being put out by some, including world leaders, are misleading and dangerous, and they would only cumstances that include no public cooperation with strict guidelines. “If you do these projections, when you got to those projections that said like in Germany and others that implied that 60% or 50% of the population would get infected, I want to be very clear, the only way that happens is that this virus remains continuously moving through populations in this cycle, in the fall cycle, and another cycle,” Birx said. The fear mongering de Blasio is putting out in all of his interviews is irresponsible and a major cause for concern. On every level of government, now is not the

time to have “gotcha” moments with any political rivals. All hands must be on deck to help, not win and concerned about the well-being of themselves and of loved ones. Times like these call for of all levels of government. At this point, we’re not getting that, and that must change. New York City is seeing travesty on an economic and human scale that has not been seen since 9/11. In times of crisis like the coronavirus pandemic, we need to depend on our leaders, even, de Blasio to properly guide us through this trying time and ease the minds of millions of unsure New Yorkers. For all levels of power and all political parties, facts and science need to prevail in this pandemic, and with that, de Blasio needs to be reminded that he is a leader, and his sole duty is to prepare his city, educate his people and act as a comfort to all those who need it.

Stop Making Offensive Jokes About Coronavirus EVELYN SIMS Staff Writer

When faced with life’s challenges, dark humor is a common coping mechanism among millennials and Gen Z. If you log onto any one of your social media accounts these days, it is likely you will come across someone’s attempt to joke about the effects of the coronavirus — but where do we draw the line? As self-quarantining has forced many people to stay at home, social media quickly became saturated with content attempting to make light of this challenging time. The persistent use of overly morbid, racist and insensitive humor desensitizes others to the effects of the coronavirus and fuels the narrative that it is not something to worry about despite the severe suffering it has caused. As TikTok is one of the fastest-growing apps in the world with millions of users, content mocking problematic situations that arise from self-quarantining can potentially hurt more people than it can help by normalizing unsafe behaviors. Although some TikTok users spread useful information regarding the disease, many take a more unsettling route by normalizing excessive drinking and troublesome family dynamics that result from self-quarantining. With so much uncertainty

surrounding the long-term effects of the coronavirus, mental and physical health needs to be taken seriously. Since the death rate for the coronavirus is currently higher among the elderly because of their weaker physical health, jokes expressing happiness that baby boomers are dying spread quickly. The term “boomer remover” emerged as a means for younger generations to make light of the coronavirus by framing it as a way to kill off baby boomers. Our own grandparents and loved ones are threatened because of this disease. Dark humor regarding death is an inappropriate and problematic way to cope with the stress of the coronavirus. Claiming that a positive result of the coronavirus is its higher rate of mortality in the elderly dehumanizes the victims of the disease and perpetuates the idea that only the elderly have to worry about it. The coronavirus outbreak originating in China has also resulted in anti-Asian prejudices going viral on social media. The covers everything from fearing Asian people coughing in public to claiming that dating an Asian woman now is “unsafe.” There is a reported increase in hate crimes towards Asian people as offensive cartoons and memes mocking them spread across the internet. The president even took

part by referring to the coronaand viewing racist social media posts desensitizes us to anti-Asian violence and ignores the ongoing prejudice they are facing. Humor has caused growing desensitization to the effects panic shopping has on vulnerable groups. Although it can be a useful tool in pointing out the ways in which panic shopping has gone too far, excessively joking about it is insensitive to the harm it directly causes for at-risk groups when they are unable to buy products their lives depend on. The elderly, people with special dietary needs like allergies and diabetes and those living in poverty risk not being able to get what they need to survive due to panic shopping. As humorous as panic shopping may be for some, it needs to be taken seriously in order to stop hurting vulnerable members of society. When these at-risk groups cannot get the food and products they need to survive, it can quickly evolve into a matter of life and death which is no laughing matter. Since humor is such a common times, I encourage those wanting to shed light on this situation to do so through a positive lens. Humor can be used to encourage people to take care of themselves through hand washing or comment on common struggles of social distancing. Using humor to promote

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the importance of cleaning your house or sharing unique ways to have fun indoors while quarantining is helpful information to spread to others.

When used appropriately, humor can help spread positivity rather than adding to the darkness we all face as a result of the coronavirus.

Arts & Culture Editor Ethan Coughlin - ecoughlin7@fordham.edu Gillian Russo - grusso12@fordham.edu

Arts & Culture

April 1, 2020

THE OBSERVER

A Fordham Student’s Digital Guide to

NYC By GRACE GETMAN AND JILL RICE Opinions Editor and Copy Editor

Stuck at home and missing the days when you and your friends would traipse around New York City’s most famous artistic and cultural institutions? Rest a little easier with these digital resources from classic New York institutions, from as close to campus as Fordham Libraries to as far away as the Brooklyn Historical Society. Tour the Met and the Guggenheim, listen to the best concerts from Jazz at Lincoln Center and soak in the cultural wealth of the city that never sleeps from even the sleepiest small town. Perfect for relaxing during your downtime, hanging out with friends and even showing off on a Zoom date.

Literature Fordham Libraries The Fordham Library has added databases to its docket for current undergraduate students to use while away from school. It now supports Swank, a streaming service that provides recent under “Databases.” The library also offers e-books from dozens of sources spanning a range of time periods, from Latin and Greek literature with the Loeb Classical Library to more recent literature in its Digital Book Index. Whether you’ve been meaning to read “The Invisible Man” or you were assigned “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” for class but have no physical copy, you can go to Fordham’s online library and Linda LoSchiavo, director of Fordham Libraries, wrote, “The Fordham Library offers close to 1-million e-books, so it’s safe

PAULA MADERO/THE OBSERVER

Students’ New York Public Library cards aren’t useless just because they’re not in New York — they grant access to thousands of e-books, historical photos and more.

something to interest you, beyond what you’ve been assigned in class.” Fordham’s collection of old photographs, newspapers and art objects is on view online yearround, but now you can see them from the comfort of your own home. Just imagine: There you are, sitting on your couch, reading copies of The Observer from 1985 instead of working on a research paper.

“The most important thing to remember is that the Fordham Library is here for Fordham stucult time,” LoSchiavo added. Brooklyn Historical Society The Brooklyn Historical Society has a few online exhibitions that make Brooklyn and its past even closer to you than it was back at Fordham. You can learn about the Packer Collegiate Institute and its connection to Brooklyn education, or go down to the East River and explore Brooklyn’s waterfront history. The society also has an archive of Photos of the Week, where curators show images from the borough’s past — the Brooklyn Red Cross, Emily Roebling’s Bridge or Coney Island, for example — from the collection. The New York Public Library

If you have a New York Public Library (NYPL) card, that’s even better — the library’s plethora of digital resources has always been available to patrons, meaning that your e-book obsession doesn’t have to end when the quarantine does. If you don’t have an NYPL card, you can use the SimplyE app to get one and receive access to the NYPL’s collection of e-books, audiobooks, databases and other resources. SimplyE is only one

app of many that NYPL offers to its patrons: It also offers Libby, an app for e-books and audiobooks; Cloud Library, which holds mostly e-books; AudioBookCloud; and Flipster, a resource of online magazines. The NYPL also has a digital collection even more vast than that of Fordham’s library, with hundreds of thousands of items from the library’s past in digital format. The projects include photographs of New York, fashion plates and posters, just to name a few. If you want to feel a bit closer to Lincoln Center, the Jerome Robbins Dance Division has photographs and some videos available for free in its online collection. Similarly, you can access photos and prints from the Billy Rose Theatre Division, one of the world’s largest archives for theater. Both have their physical home base at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on 65th Street, right next door to Fordham.

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Arts & Culture

Art The Guggenheim Museum While this Upper East Side institution has closed its doors for the time being, that’s no reason not to explore the Guggenheim’s extensive and growing collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modernist art. Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 but has been a mustsee for tourists and native New Yorkers alike since its opening in 1937. Its website contains interviews with Guggenheim staff members and contemporary artists on recent exhibitions, digital tours of the museum’s building and, of course, the museum’s bountiful artistic offerings in its online collection.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art No discussion of art in New York City would be complete without The Met, the most famous art institution New York has to offer. Through The Met 360° Project, visitors can gain an intimate and expansive view of the Met’s exhibits, including the Temple of Dendur and the Arms and Armor Galleries. For those who either prefer much older art or much newer art, the Met also offers 360° views of its home for modern and contemporary art, The Met Breuer; and its repository for medieval art, The Met Cloisters.

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Music

While students can no longer visit the Guggenheim’s beautiful building on the Upper East Side, the museum’s website offers a wealth of art to view online.

Jazz at Lincoln Center

New York Philharmonic

The Met Opera

Bordering Columbus Circle, Jazz at Lincoln Center is an impossible-to-miss New York insti-

Any Lincoln Center music lover should attend a concert at the Philharmonic — the commute to the concert hall can’t be beat, especially when you could sometimes hear the music from your dorm on the north side of McKeon. Thankfully, that commute has gotten even shorter now that the Philharmonic has brought its concerts online in the form of its webpage “NY Phil Plays On.” You can watch and hear hours of music from the award-winning musicians of the Philharmonic on the free website. Offerings

The Metropolitan Opera sits in Fordham Lincoln Center’s backyard, and it’s also one of the easiest institutions for students to access from home. For the time being, the Met Opera is offering free HD and audio streams of its operas, airing a new performance each night. Interested in opera but don’t know where to start? Anne Hoffman, a professor in the Fordham English department and an experienced operagoer, recommended taking advantage of the Met Opera’s streams as they’re “a great way to enter into the world of opera” and that the camerawork “brings you into the intimate space of the story that’s unfolding.” For the upcoming HD stream schedule, her highlights include the contemporary opera “Nixon in China” on April 1, which she said presented fascinating charcent American history, and Verdi’s “Macbeth” on April 4, an operatic treatment of one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragic heroes. From the comfort of your couch, these New York institutions are still accessible even if you’re hundreds of miles away. And when you return to campus, they will be waiting to greet you with open arms.

Center students as soon as they step off campus. What’s also impossible to miss are Jazz at Linconcerts — led by famed jazz conductor Wynston Marsalis — which were released for free on YouTube beginning in March.

and Juliet” (to assuage your romantic woes during the time you spend apart from your crush) to Brahms’ German Requiem (to let you pretend this break is for relaxing, not for taking a Zoom exam tomorrow morning).

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WEIYU LI/THE OBSERVER

videos of full-length performances to occupy your quarantine time.

KIRSTIN BUNKLEY/THE OBSERVER

Anne Hoffman, Fordham English professor, said this is the best time for curious fans to get into opera, as the New York Metropolitan Opera is streaming a different show every night.

Arts & Culture

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

Mark Blum, Former Fordham Professor, Dies From Coronavirus By GILLIAN RUSSO Arts & Culture Editor

Mark Blum, a stage actor and former Fordham Theatre professor, died March 26 at 69 years old due to complications from the coronavirus. “With love, Fordham Theatre mourns the loss of Mark Blum, our longtime friend and colleague,” reads a post on Fordham Theatre’s Twitter account. “Mark, we are forever grateful for all you contributed to the lives of our students and our program. Thank you for being part of the Fordham Theatre family.” Blum was a guest professor in the program’s Acting IV class in the spring 2010 semester. Students from that class recalled positive memories of working with him, including RJ Vaillancourt, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’12. “I remember him being warm, thoughtful, and sincerely invested in the work we were doing,” Vaillancourt said. “I reached out to Mark a few years after graduating advice, and not only did he reply immediately, but answered with the same care and thoughtfulness I’d remembered experiencing in class with him.”

together and would always enjoy seeing him in various stage productions or television shows,” said Nicole Ventura, FCLC ’12 and another of Blum’s students that semester. “He was a very sweet and approachable professor and person.” Blum’s more than 40-year acting career included nine Broadway shows between 1977 and 2013, the most recent being Richard Greenberg’s “The Assembled Parties” in 2013. Others include “The Graduate,” “Twelve Angry Men” and two appearances in “Gore Vidal’s The Best Man.” He also performed in off-Broadway productions, most notably as Al in Playwrights Horizons’ “Gus and Al” in 1989, for which he won an Obie Award. Onscreen, Blum the 1980s and in episodes of TV shows including “Succession” and several “Law and Order” iterations. Blum had a recurring role as Ivan Mooney on the 2018. Vaillancourt said, “He was a rare combination: a genuinely good person and a mega acting talent.”

T. CHARLES ERICKSON VIA FLICKR

shows in Blum’s storied career.

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Art Therapy: Painting the Isolation Away

POLINA UZORNIKOVA/THE OBSERVER

Cross-stitching, writing screenplays and creating abstract paintings like the piece above, all forms of art therapy, are how some keep their minds at ease. By POLINA UZORNIKOVA Staff Writer

I’ve always been into painting, cross-stitching and writing, but only recently have I started to consider the therapeutic nature of my recreational and professional pastimes. On day one of quarantine, most recent cross-stitching pattern, and on day two I moved on to abstract painting. Day three, I completed the screenplay I’ve been months. That got me wondering: Did I simply have more time to complete my outstanding projects, or was the process of completing them a way for me to calm my anxieties? The phenomenon I was experiencing has a name: art therapy. According to Psychology Today, art therapy can help release emotion, deal with stress and manage anxiety and depression. In other words, it can provide help that our mental health desperately needs in the times of self-isolation and social distancing. Olive Zoda, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, got

ter at Fordham. “Since coming to college, I have been trying to make peace with and move on from a few events in my life that have caused me a lot of pain,” she explained. “My roommate suggested I try writing and while I initially was unsure, I ended up writing a few poems I was actually a bit proud of. It felt really good to be able to talk about those events in my life in a way that was creative Zoda started doing art therapy last semester. Vicky Carmenate, FCLC ’23 and a staff writer for The Observer, is practicing it now. “Playing my bass has given me peace during all of this,” she said. pecially since I’m in an environment where I typically regress into an unstable mental health state, music helps me take my mind off of everything going on around me.” Have you never touched a paintbrush in your life? Was your last piano lesson in second grade? Do you consider yourself not to be enough of a reader to be able to write? I’ll let you in on a little se-

cret: No prior artistic talent is necessary for art therapy to succeed. Art therapy is not about the artistic value of the work. It’s about letting what caused them. No one is going to force you to share your work with the world — art therapy is there to make you feel better. It’s still relatively simple to get supplies, even in the time when going outside is ill-advised. For the most basic forms of art therapy you don’t even need them. I’m sure you can scavenge a pen or a pencil at home, or use your laptop. You can even use your face as a canvas and makeup as paints. If you have a more complex project in mind, Amazon and Etsy are your best friends. Just make sure your delivery is contactless, and don’t overon your new hobby. Depop is good for selling old clothes, not unused 20x20 canvases. recent Lego project. And remember, if you’re feeling anxious, lonely, or just sad go express yourself — mindfully. You don’t want to get evicted for going Basquiat on your rental’s doors.

Projects in Quarantine: Camp Quarantine By ETHAN COUGHLIN Arts & Culture Editor

With most of the world under quarantine and practicing social distancing, students are looking free time at home. While many are picking up a new book, committing themselves to learning a new skill or spending hours playing the new Animal Crossing game, Ailey School student MaryBeth Rodgers, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’21, has set up “Camp Quarantine” on Instagram. Camp Quarantine is a program Rodgers created to highlight resources for dancers and artists alike that they can access from their homes while they are out of school. Every day, three times a

COURTESY OF MARYBETH RODGERS

MaryBeth Rodgers, FCLC ’21, uses Camp Quarantine to share the activities that she herself is doing to stay active during the quarantine.

designed on her story, and the entire program is saved as a highlight on her account page. The concept for Camp Quarantine began at school when Rodgers and some of her fellow dance majors, played around with the idea of trying to teach one another things

like their favorite dances and exercises during their time quarantined. “At that point, I don’t think any of us thought that we would be separated,” Rodgers said. “We wanted a resource to keep up that energy from dancing while we patiently wait for quarantine to end.” While Rodgers was the only one to keep the idea going once the group was separated, she said her friends have sent her different pages to include. She’s even highlighted some of her classmates like Jaryd Farcon, FCLC ’20, who taught a free online ballroom dance class on March 20. In addition to the pages her friends have suggested, Rodgers tent for her project on Instagram because she was already following many dance organizations. From there, she also reached out to many of her favorite dance companies to see how they are observing quarantine. She found many offering free online classes or free performances to stream. Since Rodgers is a dance major, most of her posts are different classes or activities

to keep her followers busy and boost their energy, like dance exercises and yoga classes. She also likes to highlight accounts that she believes will simply cheer her followers up. She plans out all the posts days in advance and has featured pages like @ontheboards, which offers streams of dance performances; @goodnews_movement, which highlights lighthearted stories from around the world and @jivayoga, which has offered free yoga classes over Zoom. Rodgers plans to keep Camp Quarantine going for another two to three weeks, and then she wants to try something different. “After the program, I want to look at engagement differently, and instead highlight some of the people who followed along for Camp Quarantine,” Rodgers said. “I think it’s super important in this time of uncertainty for dancers and non-dancers alike to express themselves and heal in their own ways,” Rodgers said. “We’re dancing alone, together.”

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Arts & Culture

Fordham Mainstage Announces 2020-21 Shows About Purpose, Identity and Determination By KRISTEN SKINNER Staff Writer

The circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic made for an abrupt end to this year’s Fordham Theatre mainstage season. The Bone,” should have begun performances April 1, but was put on hold until further notice after weeks of rehearsal and preparation. Though there are still many factors in question after the past few weeks, the 2020-21 Fordham Mainstage season was announced Monday, March 23. Students, faculty and staff will continue to work collaboratively, whether remotely or in person, to organize rehearsals, determine how character roles will be selected for each show and decide how to go about missed performances from the spring season. The four shows to be performed next season are “Men on Boats,” “Uncle Vanya,” “Water by the Spoonful” and “Everybody.” After several monthly planning meetings that were open to all Fordham Theatre students and going through numerous student suggestions, Stefanie Bubnis, interim managing director of the Fordham Theatre program, seand sent them to her colleagues and the production staff before ment. Bubnis explained students had many thoughtful suggestions that helped her to choose the four plays of the season, and she is very pleased with this year’s selection. All of Fordham’s plays for this upcoming season were written

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY LARA FOLEY/THE OBSERVER

by people of color. The season covers a variety of questions: “What is our purpose?” “What lies ahead?” and “How am I going to get through this?” Bubnis said she came up with these topics before the coronavirus pandemic was a cause for concern. “Men on Boats,” written by Jaclyn Backhaus and directed by Sarah Wansley, a New York-based director, producer and educator, son. The comedic play centers around the topic of toxic white masculinity and what it means for white men to have written much of history. Backhaus, a female playwright of color, contributes a unique sense of humor and challenging material for actors to practice for the show. The second show of the season, Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Van-

ya,” will be directed by the new artistic director of the Fordham Theatre program, who has not yet been announced. The play, adapted by Annie Baker, centers around a Russian family living in the countryside. It is a story about love, rejection and the turmoil that sometimes results from them. Quiara Alegría Hudes’ “Water by the Spoonful,” which will be the third show of the Fordham mainstage season, is another show with family at its center. It tells the story of many characters connected by familial bonds, either through the bloodline or online communities, like addiction support groups. This play focuses on the subjects of trauma, addiction, love, forgiveness, identity and culture. It examines the idea of digital communication

and whether that is acceptable in the world that is so constantly plugged-in today. Mary Hodges, actor and director to many performances including “Slave Play” on Broadway, will direct. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ “Everybody,” directed by Terrence Mosley, a narrative-based director, actor and performer who has perviously directed at Carnegie Mellon University and SUNY Purchase. The play is based on “The Summoning of Everyman,” a 15th-century play that demonChristian concepts in order to better themselves and live faithful lives. Mosley said in his director’s statement that he believes this play is in line with Fordham’s mis-

mentary roles of faith and reason in the pursuit of wisdom and learning,” he said. “I think this play is in synergy with that goal.” According to Mosley, the play relies heavily on faith, reason and laughter. Mosely said through humor, we learn about what we should pay more attention to in terms of how and why we live each day. Jayla Pollock, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, is a director herself and stated she is excited for the upcoming season, especially for such talented directors to work on the shows. “Because I attended most of the season planning meetings, I know there’s something amazing about each of the plays and I cannot wait to see what the cast (and) creative team comes up with,” she said.

A Trip to the Art Show, All From the Comfort of Your Phone Cincinnati painter Benjamin Cook is looking to preserve students’ artistic exhibitions through his ‘Social Distance Gallery’ By KEVIN STOLL Staff Writer

Amid arguably the biggest medical and cultural crisis of this generation, there have been a few “heroes” that have found a way to stand against the worldwide fear of coronavirus. Some of those heroes are local restaurant owners who have now begun offering a complimentary roll of toilet paper with every takeout order. Others are renowned musical artists and singers who have chosen to livestream their performances through YouTube and social media. And one of those heroes is Benjamin Cook, a seemingly ordinary painter who decided to look on the bright side of this crisis. When universities around the world, including Fordham, declared that their campuses were suspending in-person activities for the remainder of the spring semester, art majors were left without a venue to publicly display their work. Many of them began to question whether or not their work would ever be appreciated by anyone other than themselves. However, their answer came in the form of an adjunct professor at the Art Academy of Cincinnati who knew that this pandemic wasn’t going to prevent students from sharing their work with others. Cook, whose own pieces have been featured in various blogs and media outlets such as Maake Magazine and Booooooom.com, wanted to create a social media account for Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students to exhibit their theses shows to not

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BENJAMIN COOK

Lucy Plowe’s thesis painting was supposed to be displayed within a physical gallery at Cornell University, but it will now be shown as part of the Social Distance Gallery.

Benjamin Cook was inspired to create the gallery when he knew his own students at the Art Academy of Cincinnati would be deprived of a physical gallery to display their work.

just their friends, family, classmates and professors, but to the rest of the world as well. “My studio practice explores painting and image dissemination. I make physical paintings, photograph them, and use the digital images as content for dissemination-based projects, ultimately exploring the blended space of digital and physical,” Cook said. “I thought that my studio practice could be a good way to help the students, and further explore my research. Since (the Art Academy of Cincinnati) wasn’t the only (university) that had to close, I thought the Social Distance Gallery could act as a platform for artists from around the world to show their thesis work.” Cook’s Instagram account has already received over 17,000 followers after initially announcing

is spread pretty thin,” Cook said. “With that said, the number of artists, faculty members and random people that have reached out to say how much this project means to them or someone they care about has been really wonderful. “I don’t think there has ever been such an expansive catalog of graduating seniors and MFA candidates from all around the world, so it will be interesting to see if people form their own networks through this.” No students from Fordham’s visual arts program are currently displaying work on the account. “I usually ask that students work with their peers to submit everyone’s work from a given program at one time,” said Cook. “I haven’t received any submissions from Fordham students yet, but I hope they

the project on March 13. User feedback on the announcement ranged from “Such a great idea. Thank you. We appreciate it,” to “IM A GRADUATING SENIOR THIS CANCELLATION IS AFFECTING US ALL!! THANKS TO YOU I CAN STILL SHOW MY WORK TO THE WORLD!!” The pieces currently being displayed on the account’s feed are from students enrolled at institutions near Fordham, such as Queens College, Cornell University and more. So many students have submitted their work to Cook that commend everyone’s talent. “There has been a lot of really great work, but to be honest, I don’t have the time to really sit and look at most of them. I am also teaching classes remotely, so my time

gather the information and send it to me as soon as they can!” Annie Dreyer, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’20, is looking forward to submitting her work to the account. “I was scheduled for the last senior thesis show spot, so I’m still working on the photo sequence, the artist statement, etc.” Dreyer said. “But I will probably submit ured out!” Students can send submissions to Cook through a link on the account page. At the end of the day, people want to show the world what they’ve poured their passion into. Especially in a time of self-isolation, sometimes the most human experience can be landscape.

Arts & Culture

April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

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Arts Students Make the Best of Online Learning ARTS from page 1

the easiest,” Rosenberg admitted. “The instructors are working really hard to try and actually have us continue to learn, though. In ies for us to watch, they’ve been in their basement to show us new moves.” Katie Heaton, FCLC ’23, a set design student, said she is also being presented with a learning curve. “With classes like Drawing and Drafting, my ability to keep up online is even more hindered through the lack of face to face instruction,” she said. Rosenberg, who is also part of a Design and Production Workshop centered around the analysis of the semester’s studio shows, said that instead, “we’ve been having pro-

COURTESY OF JENNIFER GERKEN

While most students are taking their online classes from their beds or desks, Ailey students like Jennifer Gerken, FCLC ’23, need much more space to take their classes.

we’ve seen Zoom into our classes and discuss their processes. It’s a really interesting way to learn, but felt I was getting out of the class before.” Lighting design student Amara McNeil, FCLC ’23, said online classes have changed her art form completely, including “having a complete restructure” of the freshman Collaboration class. In Collaboration, students “put together pieces and perform them in front of a class,” according to Heaton. “Now we must creatively combine digital media, online design, music composition, and ... more to create possibly even more interesting pieces.” According to Stefanie Bubnis, interim managing director of Fordham Theatre, program faculty hold weekly meetings via Zoom to check in and ensure their classes are running smoothly. Thus far, Bubnis said, the faculty have been swift to adapt. There is a limit, though, to how much can be done. “Theatre is supposed to be made by creating with each other, connecting with each other, feeling with each other, being in the same space as one another … In our movement class we move in the space while moving with music and we do a give and take style movement with a partner,” said Raekwon Fuller, FCLC ’23. “How are we supposed to feel them out?” Heaton and McNeil, however, are interested in the new outcomes of their classes. “While we have lost the ability to produce and devise work with each other in the sense of traditional theater, I am excited to step outside the box and explore different mediums of storytelling,” McNeil said.

COURTESY OF MEGHAN BOYLE

FCLC ’21, out of the studio to do their dance exercises for class at home.

Barre-d From the Studio Similarly to Fordham Theatre’s movement classes, the lack of in-person instruction presented a particular challenge to the Ailey/ BFA program, which is predicated on “studio practice and engagement with teachers, musicians and peers in person, in the way that students are accustomed to,” Ailey School Co-Director Melanie Person said. For Ailey/BFA student Hannah Hush, FCLC ’23, the transition to online classes was rocky. “When face to face instruction that teachers at the Ailey School had no idea what was going on at Fordham,” she said. “We had yet to receive an email from the director of the Ailey School to tell us what we were supposed to do; so we attended class as usual.” On March 10, an email sent to Ailey/Fordham BFA told students to not attend their classes at the Ailey School, despite it still being open for non-Fordham students. In emails sent on March 12 and 16, the Ailey School announced that they were suspending all face-toface instruction and switching to remote formats for the spring semester, with Ailey/Fordham stutheir requirements through Fordham.

On March 23, BFA dance students began instruction through Blackboard, with the majority of work being written assignments optional online classes were offered through Zoom. In a March 27 email, Ailey/Fordham students were informed that the Ailey School would “be launching mandatory live Professional Division classes online” beginning March 31. Students are required to complete one dance class each day, either joining a live Zoom class or watching the recorded class at a later time. According to Person, the program is adapting to the remote setup in a multitude of ways. Instructors are teaching live ballet and modern technique classes via Zoom to students dancing in their homes. Written assignments and video submissions of “creative projects,” like pieces of choreography, are also part of the curriculum. “The dancers are being asked to write about their dance instruction, articulate their learning goals/objectives and gain more authority in their individual dance training,” Person wrote. “The learning will occur for students and teachers alike. Finding new ways to share dance is essential in the 21st century.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY ESMÉ BLEECKER-ADAMS/THE OBSERVER

COURTESY OF MARLEY POKU-KANKAM

Marley Poku-Kankam, FCLC ’23, fashioned a barre out of PVC pipes to make her makeshift home studio more like the professional Ailey studios the students are used to.

Virtual Visuals Visual Arts Chair Mark Street also views the shift in the class format as an opportunity to explore new, creative ways of teaching and making art. He acknowledged the “unprecedented” nature of the changes, but he was optimistic toward his department’s ability to adapt class modules such as critique sessions, where students hang up their artwork in class for their peers’ feedback. Tori Pante, FCLC ’21, takes a photography class that relies heavily on critiques — she and her peers would bring 15 photos every other week for the class and the professor to examine. Now, she shares her photos (of her hometown) with her professor on Google Drive and receives feedback via email. “Since I am shooting digitally, I don’t have many challenges that I have been facing, other than not being able to receive feedback from my classmates, which was always helpful for me,” Pante said. Street proposed another way of adapting critique sessions: “People could hang work in their room, in their home, wherever they are and make a videotape of it,” Street said. “Upload it to the class and have people respond to the work in physical space, as mediated by the video.” “In all disciplines ... we’re still looking at slides,” he added. “When you’re studying a painting, it’s rare that you’re standing in front of that

painting. So, the idea of virtually sharing one’s own work or work that’s already out there is a pretty easy transition.” fessor, and he would often have students check out professional equipment from the university to longer available, students are using the camera functions and editing software on cell phones, as well as the Adobe Suite software. Other professors, he said, are similarly discovering ways to make use of available resources. about an assignment she had that involved found footage or appropriated footage,” Street said. “There’s tons of things you can download off YouTube and other sites where you can learn principles of editing by editing footage that’s already been shot, that’s already out in the world, so that’s another way of adapting.” In his department and beyond, Street hopes the online format will challenge a “hierarchical” way of learning and encourage more open collaboration. “We all have the same space in that virtual world,” Street said. “Maybe that’ll lead to things that are less formal in the good sense of the word ... talking about art in a way that doesn’t have to do with the dissemination of knowledge, and more of a back-and-forth or dialogue, which is what education should be anyway.”

THANK YOU With your generosity, we were able to meet and surpass our fundraising goal for the spring 2020 semester. PATRICKJJBROGLE BROGLE PATRICK

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Please accept our sincerest gratitude and humble promise to put these funds to good use. We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do it without you!

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

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April 1, 2020 THE OBSERVER

Crossword: Comfort Food 29. category of antidepressants: Abbr. 30. A brittle dessert bark, post-shower? (2 words) 37. the Super Bowl, in 2019 38. where a rabbit might go to dream? (4 words) 43. light beige 45. Vegas or Cruces 46. ___ na na na 47. like construction, especially early in the morning 48. site for critical medical attention: Abbr. 50. “I’ll drink ___” (2 words) 53. pink porkers cozily cuddling (4 words) 56. important part of a CPU 57. present for approval or advice (2 words) 58. main artery in the body 60. teaching method focused on communication and empathy: Abbr. 61. description of a bit or a baby (2 words) 62. you pull it or puff it 63. love poem, a tu amor mayonnaise 65. books of Norse mythology from the Medieval age BY GILLIAN RUSSO

ACROSS

DOWN

16. dull and bleak, in literature 18. meaningless 19. type of Asian noodle 20. where Italian chefs might rest their heads (2 words) 23. “___ it what you will” (2 wds.) 24. Owen Roche, to The Obs. 25. ___ exam or ___-B

1. Californian medical committee: Abbr. 5. dated slang for a cigarette 10. unit of rotational speed: Abbr. 13. German term of address 14. Clay molded into a star on reality TV 15. “Lord of the Rings” deity

1. what most full-time professors have 2. landscape 3. electrical device or street dancer 4. desire 5. 2010 AWOLNATION hit 6. The Vatican, among countries 7. striped mammal related to the giraffe

27. Moroccan city spelled like a hat

8. of phenotypes and Punnett squares 9. Italian natural gas company 10. guilt 11. the Antebellum Period, for one 12. fruit-and-nut oatmeal dish 17. site of Christ the Redeemer statue, for short 21. insult 22. what you do to your cool or your key (2 words) 23. probability metric: Abbr. 28. tropical root vegetable with a nutty 31. professional mediator, for short 32. there’s a lot of buzz about saving it 33. pot, por paella o sopa 34. you might bring arepas or queso to one 35. your clothes for the day, informally 38. leafy green known as “salad rocket” 39. botched 40. what’s done to a new era or theatergoers, with “in” 41. made small talk 42. munch 43. West Texas city (2 words) 44. like a snake at rest, often with “up” 48. occupied, as a bathroom (2 words) 49. query of permission (2 words) 51. ___ dime or whim (2 words) 52. when your bank account takes a hard hit from debt? 54. the colored part of the eye 55. alkaline solutions used for disinfecting or soap-making 59. Lovelace or Kepley

By JILL RICE Copy Editor

Folding instructions: 1. Print this page and cut out the square below. 2. Turn it to the blank side and fold the four corners to the center, along where the red lines are. 3. Turn it back over and fold the four corners to the center a second time, along where the green lines are. 4. Turn it over a third time, make creases by folding it in half horizontally and vertically, and insert your hands underneath the tabs.

4 5

6 7 8

“Baby Shark”

“The Star Spangled Banner”

“Yellow The “Friends” Submarine” theme song “When the entire I Was Your “Hamilton” soundtrack Man”

Clues 1. Mr. Lowenstein himself 2. lacking richness 3. rude 4. low voiced sound 5. water around a castle 6. tug or motor 7. worn in July in Australia 8. when high, Fordham’s tuition during coronavirus, for example

“Call Me “Despacito” Maybe”

Instructions: Get from Lincoln Center to your tuition by changing one letter at each level, highlighted in orange.

Fortune Teller: What to sing while washing your hands

Word Ladder