OPINONS
PHOTO FEATURE
Break Up. Not Break Down. PAGE 5
FCLC students share their plans for summer 2012. PAGES 12-13
SUMMER PLANS
BROKEN WOMEN
THE OBSERVER www.fordhamobserver.com
MAY 3, 2012 VOLUME XXXI, ISSUE 7
PHOTO SPOTLIGHT
Guest Pass Policy to Change in Fall 2012 By RICHARD RAMSUNDAR Asst. News Editor
Beginning in the fall 2012 semester, commuters at Fordham will no longer have to request a guest pass 24-hours in advance. According to Alexa Rodriguez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’13, United Student Government (USG) had this change on their agenda for the past two years. Since fall 2011, resident students at FCLC have been required to request a pass from the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) 24-hours in advance. Rodriguez, vice president for operations for USG, said that many commuters found the policy to be inconvenient. The new policy will allow residents to obtain a pass for commuter students on the day they will stay over, but the policy will remain the same for outside visitors. During a town hall meeting last November, Jenifer Campbell, director of ResLife, said that her job was to maintain the safety of McMahon Hall, and the passes were implemented for Fordham to protect the students. However, during the meeting, many FCLC students felt that commuters should still have leeway in this policy. Resident student Alejandra Alcala, FCLC ’13, said, “I had many visitors like my sister visit me during my freshman year, and it was always accessible to get a pass…but now with this 24-hour in advance policy, it has not been so simple.” Alcala said, “I understand that for safety reasons they want to keep a record of who comes in and out of the building or are staying the
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
On May 1, Occupy Wall Street protestors participated in “May Day.” Protestors skipped work, school and shopping, taking to the streets of NYC to challenge the current economic system. Above, the 12-foot Statue of Liberty puppet welcomes protestors to a general strike in Bryant Park.
Retiring Professors Say Goodbye to FCLC By LOUISE LINGAT Staff Writer
ANNE MANNION
As the academic year comes to an end, several professors at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) have announced their retirement. Among the retirees are Associate Professor Anne Mannion, Associate Professor Astrid O’Brien, Professor Fred Harris, and Associate Professor Charles Kelbley. The Observer was able to sit down and chat with Mannion and O’Brien.
Mannion has been part of the Fordham community for 53 years. She is a full-time associate professor of history and is the current director of the Honors Program at FCLC. She is also the director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and serves as a member on several of Fordham’s committees, specifically the committee that hires new faculty. She specializes in medieval history. OBSERVER: What are your plans for
the future?
see GUEST PASS pg. 3
Inside ARTS
KEVIN DEVINE
A former FCLC graduate finds musical success. u PAGE 9
SPORTS
SOFTBALL
A conference title in sight. u PAGE 23
LITERARY
CHILDREN’S LIT
Students from Prof. Wyeth’s class share their work. u PAGE 15-21
A.M.: I plan to spend time with my
family, spend time traveling and spend some private time to take care of my life. OBSERVER: What was your favorite
part about teaching at Fordham?
A.M.: The kids. The students. It has
always been about the students at FCLC. I enjoy teaching in such a diverse community because students bring different ideas and thoughts to class. I also enjoy teaching in an urban environment because I think the city is the campus. I believe the city can be used as an extension of
the classroom. OBSERVER: Why did you decide
now was the right time to retire?
A.M.: 53 years is enough. I just know
it is time to let someone else take a shot.
OBSERVER: Are there any projects
you are working on, like publishing a book? A.M.: Currently, I am working on a
collection of 12th century monastic see RETIREMENT pg.3
New Neuroscience Major Added to Curriculum By RICHARD RASMSUNDAR Asst. News Editor
The natural science department at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) will include a neuroscience major starting fall 2012. Currently students who want to study neuroscience can only take general science courses with the natural science major. However, this new major will be offered beginning next semester. According to Joan Roberts, professor of chemistry at FCLC, and Donna Heald, associate dean of the sciences at Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH), the neuroscience committee first met in 2004 and the neuroscience major was approved in 2011. Donald Gillespie, associate vice president for institutional research, said, “The percentage of science majors has been gradually rising in recent years and includes students who listed natural sci-
ence as their intended major, as well as students for whom it is a second major. The percentage of science majors was three percent in fall 2003 and held steady at seven percent from 2008 through 2010.” According to Heald, students who pursue the major will take nine foundation courses that include the disciplines of other courses. For example, two of the nine courses that will have to be fulfilled are a statistics course as well as a chemistry course, which can be fulfilled by taking existing courses from Fordham’s core, electives or by taking a new chemistry course. Heald said students will have to take three track connective neuroscience courses, which are offered in the department of psychology, biology and natural science. In addition, Heald said that students can also specialize in certain areas, called tracks. The three tracks are a solid
THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM COLLEGE AT LINCOLN CENTER
molecular track that emphasizes biology, a cognitive track that emphasizes psychology and a systems and computational neuroscience track that emphasizes computer science. According to Heald, all students pursuing the major will have to participate in a research program that is two semesters long and a capstone seminar. The capstone seminar will allow students to come together during their last semester and share their research. In total, students will need 16 courses including the research experience along with the one credit seminar to fulfill the neuroscience major requirements. Roberts said that the new major will bridge the gap between as many fields of science related to the brain as possible. “Neuroscience is the most innovative and interdisciplinary scientific area of see NEUROSCIENCE pg. 2
2
News
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
Graphic War Photos Prompt Ethics Questions By MEHGAN ABDELMASSIH Blog Editor
Photos of U.S. soldiers posing with mangled Afghan corpses have polarized the Fordham community in recent weeks. A U.S. soldier, who obtained the photos of the soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Division released them to the Los Angeles Times with the intent to reveal the collapse of military discipline. Editor of the L.A. Times Davan Maharaj considered the requests from the Defense Department to not circulate the photos; however, his decision to publish two of the eighteen photos was based on the “duty to report vigorously and impartially on all aspects of the American mission in Afghanistan.” The Defense Department was concerned that the circulation of the photos would result in an increase in attacks on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Maharaj communicated with the Pentagon, White House and Army officials regarding the appropriate time to release the photographs weeks before the story’s publication date. When the L.A. Times decided to officially release the story, the Pentagon requested that the newspaper wait an additional 24 hours in order to protect the soldiers depicted in the photographs. According to Isabel Krome, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’12, the photos should have been published, but they do not truly represent a collapse of
military discipline. “A single case is not indicative of an entire system,” Krome said. The two photos published, depict two soldiers holding a corpse’s hand with its middle finger in the air. In another photo, a U.S. soldier held his unit’s unofficial badge, “Zombie Hunter,” next to a dead body. The conversation surrounding Maharaj’s choice to publish the photos has been a hot topic in the media world. The ethical justification had been made from the journalist’s side; however, U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, condemned the newspaper for ignoring the Pentagon’s request to withhold publishing. A Defense Department spokesman commented that the photos were not a true representation of its forces. Philip d’Afflisio, FCLC ’15, a former U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and Counter Intelligence Agent for the Special Operations Command said, “What the photos represent is not a complete collapse of military discipline, but individuals who have no moral fiber—and you find them in everyday society. They desire respect from others, but they cannot respect individuals who are from a different culture, race, sexual orientation, gender, etc...” The L.A. Times reacted to the controversy surrounding the published photos by hosting a Q&A with Maharaj. Readers were able to post questions, which were later filtered out by the L.A. Times’ national editor, David Smith. One
JON STEPHENSON/MCT
U.S. soldiers posted in Afghanistan stand guard alongside their unit. More graphic photos published recently in the L.A. Times have stirred controversy among readers.
question, posted by a reader named Javier, addressed the motivation behind the newspaper’s publication of the photos, saying, “You have blown a thing out of proportion and sound more like the National Enquirer than a civic-minded paper? EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS! was your subhead.” According to Maharaj, the American public has the right to see the photos, which is why he went forth with publishing. Dr. John Entelis, professor of political science and director of Middle East studies said,“The few
print sources that are left are doing everything they can to get readership back. The financial incentive has never been as severe as it is now.” D’Afflisio said that the L.A. Times crossed the fine line between being a “civic-minded newspaper” and a tabloid. “There is a job on the media and government’s part that information should be released on a need-to-know basis and there are journalistic ethics involved that is placed on the L.A. Times editor,” D’Afflisio. “It doesn’t mean these heinous photos themselves needed to be published.”
Although some agree that the photos do represent the breakdown of military discipline, others have taken the opportunity to raise the issue concerning the role journalistic ethics should play in reporting news. The third player in the story involves the government and its unique role in dictating what information is necessary and what is harmful. The end result of the photographic controversy had been multiple attempts by the Defense Department and military to uphold the reputation of its troops and to prevent any violent backlash against active soldiers.
Neuroscience Major Available to Students Next Semester NEUROSCIENCE FROM PAGE 1
research for this century,” Roberts said. The neuroscience major will be interdisciplinary, meaning that students will take classes that incorporate other subjects. Roberts said, “To truly understand all aspects of this field it is essential to have a background in genetics, molecular biology, physiology, anatomy and computer science. As well as that, students must have a background in neural networks, robotics, psychology, physics, neural imaging and chemistry.” Tommaso Vagaggini, FCLC ’13, said, “A neuroscience major that incorporates different scientific disciplines in its curriculum would create very well-rounded minds and would allow students to explore relevant issues from equally important and interesting angles. I thus think that the new neuroscience major, in a similar way to the natural sciences major, will help students gain insight in the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of biological and medical studies and help them bridge the gap between different sciences.” Roberts said that she believes the major will benefit any student interested in neuroscience and some other fields. “There are many recent applications of neuroscience in law and business and so would also be
a benefit for those intending to continue on to receive an MBA or law degree,” said Roberts. According to Roberts, students will not be able to double major or minor in neuroscience due to the requirements such as the research thesis and presentation. Roberts said that students from both FCRH and FCLC will be able to major in neuroscience and will not be required to travel in between campuses unless they devsire to do so. “As our reputation grows, I’m certain that there will be a strong influx of students. With a neuroscience major as elegant as this one, we have very little competition from Columbia in the New York City environs,” Roberts said. Some students look forward to the new major. Yzabelle Onate, FCLC ’15, said, “I love science and I think it’s a great opportunity to expand the science department especially for students who aren’t interested in just natural science. Also, this will help students who want to become neurologists.” Other students aren’t particularly interested in the major, but still see its benefits. Devi Gopal, FCLC ’13, said, “Neuroscience wouldn’t really interest me mainly because my path aligns with ecology and zoology but I do know natural science students who love their neuroscience class and want to pursue it in graduate school.”
MARICE COHN BAND/MCT
Neuroscience, a popular interest among natural science students, can be studied as a major in fall 2012.
Members of Fordham Community Killed in Accident By HARRY HUGGINS News Co-Editor
Two Fordham employees were killed in a car accident on the Bronx River Parkway along with five of their family members on April 29. Sisters Maria Gonzalez and Maria Nunez were custodial services workers and died when their van crashed through a guardrail and fell six-stories onto the grounds of the Bronx Zoo. Also killed in the crash were the
parents of Gonzalez and Nunez, Ana Julia Tejada and Jacobo Nunez; Maria Gonzalez’ daughter, Jaslyn Gonzalez and Maria Nunez’ daughters, Marlyn Rosario Nunez and Naily Rosario. Fordham President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., sent an email to the community on April 30 expressing his condolences to the deceased’s remaining family members. “No worse tragedy can befall a family, and words are simply inadequate to convey the grief their loved ones
must feel today,” McShane said. “I offer, too, my direct and heartfelt condolences to the friends and coworkers of the victims who work and study here at Fordham.” According to the University website, Fordham has established a fund to help the Gonzalez and Nunez families afford the funeral and burials. More information on how to donate can be found at www.fordham. edu. McShane also detailed the funeral plans. There will be a wake at the
Ortiz Funeral Home at 2121 Westchester Ave. in the Bronx from 4 to 9 p.m. on May 3, and the funeral Mass will be at St. Raymond’s Church at 1759 Castle Hill Ave. at 9:45 a.m. on May 4. “If there was ever a time to show kindness and compassion for our brothers and sisters in the campus community, this is it,” McShane said. “I am confident that we will all evidence our genuine love and care for one another.” Earlier this year, another car fell
off the same stretch of highway, but there were no deaths in that accident. The Associated Press reported that that stretch was one of three sections of the Bronx River Parkway on the New York State Transportation Department’s 5 Percent List of areas of road that “exhibit the most severe highway safety needs.” According to the Associated Press, the accident was New York City’s deadliest accident since 14 were killed when a tour bus driver crashed into a pole in March of 2011.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
News
3
Guest Pass Policy Loosened for Commuters GUEST PASS FROM PAGE 1
night, but as long as their names are taken down before they enter the building, it shouldn’t matter how many previous hours it has been done.” Rodriguez said that the guest passes will be available during the normal ResLife office hours, which are from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. She said that as of the fall 2012 semester, only nine guest passes will be available for commuters per day. Rodriguez said that this is ResLife’s way of testing this new policy. “Hopefully this can expand in the spring 2013 semester to the point where there is no limit on the number of same day commuter guest passes that can be requested,” Rodriguez said. In addition, she said that the change was made possible by USG’s coordination with RHA and CSA at both FCLC and Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH). A formal proposal to change the policy was sent to Vice President for Student Affairs Jeffrey Gray and the Division of Student Affairs in February after USG held multiple meetings with Campbell since last semester. As for guests of a different sex, the overnight guest passes will remain subject to the same ResLife policies. “The change is that now there will be a limited number of passes available to commuters on the same day,” Rodriguez said. Many commuters and residents at FCLC said that they look forward to the guest policy change. Janely Fernandez, a commuter and FCLC ’15, said, “Changing the guest policy is a good thing because there have been instances when I wanted to stay late here at school with my friends
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AYER CHAN/THE OBSERVER
A McMahon Hall security guard signs a commuter student into the dormitories.
and I couldn’t because of the 24 hour policy. Now, I can stay when I need to and I don’t have to worry about my two-hour commute.” Commuters from FCRH also
agree. Mat Benicasa, FCRH ’14, said “I take classes here and it’s reassuring to know that I can spend the night the day that I went to and not have to worry about a policy getting in the way
Play Adresses Muslim Identity By REX SAKAMOTO Asst. News Editor
After the “Dirty Paki Lingerie Party” performance, a onewoman play that portrayed different views of Muslim women in America and Pakistan, a panel discussion was held at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’s Kehoe Theatre on April 18. Aizzah Fatima performed five different characters in the self-written play. She later addressed questions pertaining to conflicts seen in the play during the panel discussion along with Erika Gould, the director of the play, John Entelis, professor of political science and director of the Middle East studies, Ismahan Sharhan, a Muslim student and FCLC ’15, and Orit Avishai, professor of sociology at Rose Hill. The speakers expanded on the views of Muslim women that are typically not seen in mainstream media during the panel. These Muslim women confront and deal with everyday problems such as marriage, sex, gender roles and dating, which are sometime and sometimes not resolved. After the play, there was a time for questions from the audience for the panelists. Fatima said that she started writing the play about two years ago in a writing class. She wanted to show that “Muslim-Americans exist and come in all shapes and sizes.” At first she had only a series of essays, but after taking it to Gould, the developer and director, she had a play. Gould helped intercut the play and rearrange characters in order to make the play flow better. While none of these are Fatima’s own stories, they are real stories of people she knows or has heard about. Fatima said she believed, “We as Americans have to look at our foreign policy and see how that affects other countries
and there’s a lot of anti-American sentiment, because of the drone strikes and all. This is not shone in the American media, but I want to show that side of it.” Fatima was born in Saudi Arabia, and her parents are from Pakistan. She moved at the age of 13 to Mississippi. Fatima said she spent her college life not wanting to be a part of the Muslim community. She also said that moving to N.Y. was easy for her because people thought that she was just another “Hispanic chick.” She did not advertise her “Muslim-ness.” However, after 9/11 there was a change in her. “As an artist there is an obligation to share this with the world. It is because of 9/11 that this play exists.” Sharhan said, “I relate to it a lot, you don’t really get to see the human side of Muslims in the media. All you get to see is, well, what you see in the media.” She recalls having a boy in elementary school pull off her hijab (headscarf). “This was the equivalence of having your pants pulled down in public.” She ended up punching him and from then on learned that she needed to stand up for herself. In response to a question about the panelists’ reactions to the play Avishai said, “Tensions around gender, between sexuality and between generations kind of cross between cultural lines.” Gould also said, “People relate to this play from all over the world and cultural backgrounds. There is a universality about an ethnic groups coming to America and living in a liminal space until everything is sorted out.” Entelis was born in France and remembers assimilating to American life as young boy. Entelis said, “The whole effort for anyone who was not born here was to eliminate your previous identities. You never wanted to be a hyphenated American, but now
people insist on being a hyphenated American. Hyphenation is a way people create an identity.” Before the play had received rave reviews, Fatima met the most resistance from the Muslim community. Fatima said, “They were very concerned about what other people would think.” The audience also asked about Muslim women’s position in family life. Fatima said that there are some Muslim men who say, “Men are saying you are good enough to sleep with, but I am not going to marry you.” Avishai followed this up when she said, “It requires rethinking once women realize they can transcend these boundaries of marriage and religion.” One of the audience members confirmed the universality of this dilemma. Megan Louise Cerezo, FCLC ’12, said, “I relate the most to the woman on the plane. I’m Latin American and guys often think like ‘wow you’re this exotic creature. You’re fun to mess around with, but not good enough to marry.’” Fatima also talked about the “American dream.” She said, “There is this expectation that America will be great. The American dream does exist, but Muslim women must be aware of the hard work involved and there is no shortcut.” At the end of the session, an audience member asked how the events on Sept. 11 had affected the panelists. Entelis reminded everyone, “The minute you say 9/11 it implicates all Muslims, but the 19 hijackers were Arab, not Muslims.” Sharhan said the events on Sept. 11 led her to question her religion. She also advised others to do the same. She said, “Question it, because questioning your religion leads to understanding. You might find a greater purpose if you question your religion.”
of my plans.” Cinthya Pererira, a resident and FCLC ’15, said, “The change is amazing because there have been a lot of times when I wanted my commuter
friends to stay over but I could not because of the policy. I think seeing more commuters in the residency hall bridge the gap between commuters and residents.”
FCLC Professors Retire RETIREMENT FROM PAGE 1
documents. For this collection, I need to work in a private and quiet area, which is another reason why I decided it was time to retire. OBSERVER: Are there any hobbies in
particular you can take advantage of now? A.M.: As I enter retirement, I know I will
have the time to travel. I love to travel, especially to Europe, particularly France and England. I also love gardening and swimming. I also enjoy hiking— at the end of summer, I am going hiking in Nova Scotia. OBSERVER: What is one thing you will
miss about Fordham?
A.M.: I will miss working with the stu-
dents. I enjoy talking and working with the young people. No two students are the same. I have been around long enough to see students enter college for the first time, and what they turn to when they walk out the door. I believe that college is meant for you to examine your life, to learn more about yourself. You see different things and you get to know the students. It has been a great experience. OBSERVER: What is one thing you are
thankful to Fordham for?
A.M.: I have always wanted to be a
teacher and I love history. FCLC is the perfect place to teach medieval history. This campus is not held to a regimented curriculum; there is independence in this campus. The faculty and the students here are so supportive. I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to teach at this campus because there is no better place to be. ASTRID O’BRIEN
O’Brien has been a part of the Fordham community since 1960 when she was appointed a full-time professor. She is an associate professor of philosophy, specializing in Thomas Aquinas, medieval times, women in religion and women philosophy. OBSERVER: What are your plans for the
future?
ASTRID O’BRIEN: I plan to do a lot of
reading and possibly some writing. I also
want to spend time with my children and my grandchildren. OBSERVER: What was your favorite part
about teaching at Fordham?
A.O.: My favorite part was teaching. I
personally love teaching adult students because they were highly motivated. However, I did enjoy teaching all the students I had over the 52 years I have been here. One thing I’ll always remember, in terms of my students, out of all my 52 years of teaching classes with 40 plus students is throwing a student out of class for being insubordinate. I have also enjoyed the collegial relationships I have made with other faculty members, who I will miss and I hope to keep in touch with. OBSERVER: Why did you decide now
was the right time to retire?
A.O.: I decided to do a phased retirement,
which is a three-year process and is a binding contract. In a phased retirement, you have to retire within three years. This time period can be shortened, but it cannot be prolonged. Once the three years are over, you have to retire. I chose a phased retirement because I wanted to finish a book and I knew I could not finish it if I was teaching three courses. Within this period, I was able to finish my book. Now, the three years are up, and it is time for me to retire. OBSERVER: Are there any hobbies in
particular you can take advantage of now? A.O.: I plan to do more volunteering,
more baking and more sewing. I had made my own wedding dress and my own maternity clothes! After that, I had no time to sew. Now, I have more time to do more things. OBSERVER: What is one thing you are
most grateful to Fordham for?
A.O.: When I was hired as an adjunct
professor, a man named Robert O’Brien was hired as a full-time professor. Who would have known that I would meet my future husband here at Fordham? He retired from Fordham some years ago. Regardless, that is one of biggest things I am most grateful to Fordham for, aside from the opportunity to teach something I am extremely passionate about.
Opinions
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
STAFF EDITORIAL
EXPANSION FOCUS MUST BE ACADEMIC
W
alking through the Outdoor Plaza can serve as a swift reminder of the structural changes the administration at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) have been making to our campus. But something that hasn’t been as visible is the development of a new major at FCLC. The neuroscience major, under the natural science department, has been in the works since 2004 and was approved in 2011, as reported in Richard Ramsundar’s article, “New Neuroscience Major Added to Curriculum” on page one. What is interesting about this news is that it was seldom advertised to the public, while the expansion of dorm space and law school facilities has been widely discussed and publicized. What does this say about Fordham’s intentions for the future of FCLC’s studies and our reputation? What it seems to be showing is an emphasis on the physical aspects of our college experience
“What is important right now is...not the expansion of facilities but the enhancement of fields of study.” rather than the actual intellectual programs that teach us. FCLC is by no means an institution that has to pour all of its resources and time into enhancing our academic reputation. But while we may enjoy a comfortable standing among universities nationwide, this does not mean that aspects of our university cannot be improved upon, should be forgotten or even overlooked. We hope that the administration will be in tune with the academic needs of FCLC as an institution of higher education. What is important right now in creating Fordham’s legacy is not the expansion of facilities, but the enhancement of fields of study and the
enrichment of the facilities we have now. Right now, it is clear that the Gabelli School of Business will be expanding to the Lincoln Center campus. For FCLC, one clear outcome of this would be an increased student population. But what good is an increased student population without the opportunity for students to pursue whatever degree they feel most passionate about? Creating new majors, not constructing new buildings, can help provide students with even more focused areas of study. More buildings will make FCLC more impressive in the physical sense, but unless these new buildings are used to enhance our school’s (not just the business school’s) educational opportunities, they fall short of making FCLC a better school. We hope that the recent trailblazing in the natural science department will prompt the administration to focus on the development of our current academic services and facilities.
JOSE M. OSORIO/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/MCT; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY HARRY HUGGINS/THE OBSERVER
Rick Santorum’s comments on statehood for Puerto Rico stirred the debate on whether or not English should be its standardized language.
Liberty and English For All POINT NINA GUIDICE Staff Writer
Recently, Rick Santorum said— in Puerto Rico—that for Puerto Rico to become a state, by federal law it would be required to speak English. Yes, he was wrong because that’s not true, but was the sentiment entirely wrong? There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with being bilingual. In fact, I believe that all children should be required to learn a new language in their years of schooling. People who have a non-English native tongue should keep that language close. They should celebrate it. They should speak it as freely as they want to, and no one should begrudge them if they choose to speak that language predominantly. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t also have a handle on English. As a Puerto Rican, most of my relatives are bilingual, with their Spanish being stronger than their English. From firsthand experience, it definitely hinders them. School is more difficult; jobs are harder to come by. At home, I love when my family speaks Spanish, but language is an important part of upward mobility. In turn, upward mobility in the United States is partly predicated on the idea that everyone speaks the same language. Now, am I advocating there be adequacy tests everywhere, that everyone be required to speak perfect, un-accented, grammatically correct English? No. I mean, George W. Bush didn’t speak perfect English. And of course there are racial undertones to the English-as-a-national-language argu-
ment, especially in this time of controversial immigration policies. Some people are xenophobic. Some people just want all would-be immigrants to stay where they’re from or go back to their homelands. But like it or not, America is mostly an English speaking nation. Many states require that politicians be able to read, speak and write in English. Most businesses require you to speak English before they hire you, and it becomes more imperative the higher the job level. For example, take the recent incident in Arizona in which candidate Alejandrina Cabrera’s election to the governing board in San Luis was challenged on the basis that she was not proficient enough in the English language to serve. She was serving a bilingual border city, and admitted her difficulties in English while claiming that her level of proficiency was “fine for San Luis.” But the question remains, who is gauging what “fine” means? I propose a national standard, not a regional one. Encouraging people to speak English in a predominantly English speaking society shouldn’t be a controversial statement. It’s practical; it’s pragmatic. People who speak only Spanish, or only Chinese, or only Arabic will have difficult “making it” in the United States. The same principle would apply in another, non-American setting. Would I hope to become successful in say, Japan if I didn’t speak Japanese? No. I couldn’t hope to be a politician in Russia, or a CEO in Italy if I didn’t speak those languages. Every citizen of the United States should be able to communicate with each other; every citizen should have an equal shot at success. Speaking proficient English is a fundamental step in that direction.
COUNTERPOINT SARA AZOULAY Photo Editor & Asst. Opinions Editor
Rick Santorum, a former candidate for the presidential republican nominee, said that English would have to be Puerto Rico’s main language if they did eventually become a state. Although Santorum is thankfully no longer a possibility for the Republican candidate, there are two things that bother me when people say that Puerto Rico should have English as their first language. Firstly, both English and Spanish are currently their official languages. That’s right; Santorum was demanding that English be an official language, when it already is. But besides this, there are people who believe that if Puerto Rico became a state, it should speak English solely and Puerto Rican language should be secondary. As a Puerto Rican myself, I believe that this is a tiny island with a lot of flavor and culture. To say that Puerto Rican culture is not already touched or influenced by American culture would be a lie. Becoming a state would probably change some things in the country. But, the one thing that should remain untouched is their language. Language, among many other cultural aspects in Puerto Rico, is a defining factor of their culture. Puerto Ricans have a culture that is very strong, tough and loving. Asking them to require that their main language is English would be sabotaging a sacred part of the Puerto Rican culture. Because that’s something that is theirs, and theirs alone. Puerto Rico has never been a truly independent country. Their culture
and language has influences from Taíno, Africa, Spain and Europe. Puerto Rican Spanish, like other dialects of Spanish, is unique to it’s own. It should remain a big part of Puerto Rican lifestyle. Think about the different states in the United States. New York dialect is different from South Carolina dialect. I know that we’re all speaking the same language, but the culture of each state shapes the way we speak to each other. Spanish may be a different language, but Puerto Rico already takes steps to include the English language in their culture. All of my Puerto Rican cousins can speak English well. So, why should we demand that they stop speaking a language that reflects their history and culture? I’m not saying that it shouldn’t be a requirement to speak English on the island. In fact, most of Puerto Rico does speak English now even as a commonwealth of the United States. The schools teach mostly in English, already. As a state, I think some things will change (like the fact that Puerto Ricans will finally be able to have a voice in their government) but their language should remain the same. If and when Puerto Rico becomes a state and the question is asked: Are you American or are you Puerto Rican? I think Puerto Ricans can easily say both—without compromising their culture or language. English should be a part of their country if they ultimately become a state, but we must recognize and value Puerto Rican Spanish too. American culture will touch their island in another way, if they become a state. So, no creo que inglés debe ser el primer lengua de Puerto Rico. I do not believe that English should be the primary language of Puerto Rico.
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Opinions
THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
5
“Black Girls” Music Video Missed the Mark Sexual Attraction Should Be Based on Character, Not Race MONIQUE JOHN Managing Editor
THE OBSERVER Fordham College at Lincoln Center 113 West 60th Street Room 408 New York, New York 10023 Tel: (212) 636-6015 Fax: (212) 636-7047
Editor-in-Chief Faith Heaphy Managing Editor Monique John News Co-Editors Laura Chang Harry Huggins Asst. News Co-Editors Richard Ramsundar Rex Sakamoto Opinions Editor Colleen Thornhill Asst. Opinions Editor Sara Azoulay Arts & Culture Co-Editors Mike Madden Katie Lockhart Asst. Arts & Culture CoEditors Brian Bruegge Olivia Perdoch Features Co-Editors Mario Weddell Darryl Yu Asst. Features Editor Clint Holloway Literary Editor Matt Petronzio Asst. Literary Editor Salma Elmehdawi Literary Staff Zoe Simpson Bianca Leggio
How sweet. Someone wrote a song just for me. Want to know how it goes? Here’s a couple lines: “I got a thing for black girls/La, la la la la, la la, la la la la, la la…/You know I got some love for black girls/ La, la la la la, la la, la la la la, la la…yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah…” These lyrics are from a song is called “Black Girls,” recently released by the indie pop band Chester French. If the song wasn’t bad enough, the video makes it exponentially worse. Directed by Francesco Carrozzini, it stars model Jodie Smith (who is black) actress Rie Rasmussen (who is white) who poses as the lead singer, DavidAndrew Wallach (who is also white). Carrozzini milks the racy, interracial sex theme for what it’s worth; the whole video is shot in black and white with close ups of Rasmussen and Smith grinding their naked torsos against one another and licking their lips, among other things. Sounds catchy right? I didn’t think so, either. I wish I could be more excited—it’s not every day that someone writes a song for you. But how could I be? The arrangement is more erratic than edgy, the chorus is a little irritating and the third verse doesn’t make much sense. More importantly, the whole black girl-fetish thing doesn’t impress me. Interracial dating is fine, but chasing after a woman just because of her race is a serious problem. KarmaloopTV, the YouTube video channel for the media outlet of the same name, is promoting the video, describing it as an “unabashed, hard-hitting celebration
KARMALOOPTV/YOUTUBE.COM
Chester French’s racy music video for “Black Girls” wrongly glamorizes black women as a sexual fetish.
of feminine beauty and interracial love.” But what does love have to do with it? The video is a just a soft-core porn scene filled with girl-on-girl action to capture the attention of the masses. Love has nothing to do with the song’s uninspired lyrics. It has nothing to do with the video’s tired, raunchy nookie shots. Because if it is love, then what is it based on? Something as superficial as the curve in a colored woman’s backside? The flare in her lip? Is it based on some outdated, irrelevant stereotype of black women being hypersexual jezebels? I saw a video purely celebrating lust, feeding into the notion that in order to be attracted to black women, you have to have a “thing” for them, a particular penchant for these exotic creatures (as opposed to ordinary women) that most would overlook, or even scoff at. It’s no surprise that I reacted to the video in this way. I once knew a white man that pursued me because of my race. He was a charmer—extremely tall, intelligent, connected,
worldly and of course, a Democrat. Initially, I was excited that he had taken an interest in me, and was really receptive to his advances. But then I noticed him using the same approach to countless other women of color on campus. As you can imagine, I was sorely disappointed. Most people I know take it for granted that interracial relationships are a common and accepted. Even so, we still ask ourselves: If you haven’t already been in one, could you see yourself in an interracial relationship? And how can you really connect with someone that has a different culture, history and drastically different appearance from you? My answer to both of those questions is yes. I’ll admit that I’ve never had a serious relationship with someone outside of my race before. However, I have been attracted to men outside of my race and if any of them were interested in having a serious relationship with me, I would have gladly tried it. Furthermore, I would be willing to make the extra
effort it might take from both of us to be sensitive, to be aware of our own biases and to be willing to engage in one another’s culture. There is nothing wrong with being curious and wanting to try new things. What is important is that curiosity is based on genuine interest, respect and care for someone, and not some perverse, outlandish sexual fantasy. To the artists of Chester French, I applaud you for trying to be provocative and humorous to connect with your audience. And hey, that song you guys did in 2009 called “She Loves Everybody” was kind of cute. But for me, “Black Girls” did not make a high C. Next time, if you want to impress a girl, show her you’re interested in her as a human, not an experiment. It’s funny. I usually don’t give YouTube commenters much credit, but someone said something that really resonated with me: If Chester French loves black chicks so much, why don’t we see them in the music video?
Sports Editor Randy Narine Asst. Sports Co-Editors Jasper Chang Joe Sporacio Copy Editor Matt Petronzio Asst. Copy Editor Anna Luciano Copy Staff Jessica Cheung Juhi Patel Layout Editor Amanda Fimbers Asst. Layout Editor Tayler Bennett Layout Staff Jewel Galbraith Amanawil Lemi Ariella Mastroianni Ian McKenna Photo Editor Sara Azoulay Asst. Photo Editors Mario Weddell Ayer Chan Online Editor Ariella Mastroianni Asst. Online Editor Ian McKenna Business Manager Natalia Ramirez Faculty Advisor Prof. Elizabeth Stone Faculty Layout Advisor Kim Moy Faculty Photo Advisor Amelia Hennighausen 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 Thursdays during the academic year. Printed by Five Star Printing Flushing, N.Y
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Questioning TV’s Broken Woman Stereotype ALISSA FAJEK Staff Writer
When watching television or movies, we’ve all seen the woman that completely falls apart after a break up who needs a new man or a best friend to put her back together. And admittedly, you’ve probably laughed all the way through. It is an often-used formula for romantic comedies and sitcoms. But why can’t she just be normal? Act cool, calm, and collected? There was once something to be said about being poised, but this stereotype pours that all down the drain when a woman has lost her man. NBC’s new hit comedy “Best Friends Forever,” created by and starring Bridesmaids’ Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, portrays how this “broken woman stereotype” is explored in the media. The show’s synopsis is that Jessica (St. Clair) is served divorce papers via Fedex from her husband who is away on a trip. To cope, she flies across the country back
to Brooklyn to move in with her best friend Lennon (Parham), who is now living with her current boyfriend, Joe (Luka Jones). In just the pilot, we see how Jessica needs taking care of because of her break up, and how that takes up all of Lennon’s energy, leaving her boyfriend at a loss. We see how everyone tiptoes around Jessica, afraid to set off her because she is already in such a depressed state. In the second episode, “The Butt Dial,” Jessica accidentally butt dials her ex while complaining about the various things that have been wrong with her since the divorce, such as the “butt rash” she got from wearing nothing but yoga pants, being mistaken for a homeless woman at the grocery store while wrapped in a blanket, and of course, all the waterworks. With this bringing her even further below rock bottom, she decides to sulk in the tub for so many hours that her best friend needs to physically drag her out. “Best Friends Forever” is not the first, and certainly not the last to bring this stereotype into its main storyline. Notoriously, classic “Sex and the City” is about the ups and
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KATHERINE FOTINOS/THE OBSERVER
It’ s called breaking up, not breaking down.
downs of a group of female friends in Manhattan, which inevitably means lots of encounters with men—and the ends of these relationships. We’ve been there for them through the tears, the eating of entire tubs of ice cream, and the post-break up rituals, and of course Carrie’s advice in the end. “You’ll never get through
it without your best friends,” Carrie once stated as the golden rule of break ups. But this may be taking it a little too far. Former NBC show, “Friends,” also showed this storyline many times. My favorite has to be the Anti-Valentine’s Day ritual of burning their men’s things...and almost their entire apartment. In a different genre, teen thriller/drama “Pretty Little Liars” also shows the girls, more than once, being unable to leave their beds for weeks after a tough break up. Regardless of the genre, women of all ages are shown in break ups in one way: not accepting them. All of us have experienced a rough break up. You might sulk for a day or two, but the reality is that life goes on. Why can’t it be the same for the women on the silver screen? As women, we have come so far to be strong, to be independent, to hold our own. Our lives revolve around far more important things than that one guy we couldn’t work things out with. The media needs to get out of the 1920s and realize that we’ve moved on, and they need to, too.
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Opinions
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
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Panem in Our Own Lives Oppression Portrayed in “The Hunger Games” Mirrors Segregation and Poverty in the Real World RYAN O’TOOLE Staff Writer
I’ll admit it. I am obsessed. I want to learn archery, berries now have a whole new significance for me, and I daydream in class thinking to myself, “How would I do in the Games?” Yes, I am without a doubt a “Hunger Games” addict. I started the first book in the series about a month ago, and since then I have read all three and seen the movie twice. Why is this fictional world so present in my consciousness? Why is it that I can’t shake the story out of my head? Maybe that’s because I see the books everywhere in our daily lives in the United States. All of us as Fordham students living in New York City need to be aware of the similarities between “The Hunger Games” and urban poverty in our nation, and be more engaged in ending urban poverty. Millions of people around the country have probably read or seen “The Hunger Games” recently and thought “What a crazy idea” or “I wonder how she thought of that.” Unfortunately you would not have to look hard to find a possible inspiration for “The Hunger Games.” In “The Hunger Games” series, the rich and elitist Capitol controls 12 districts throughout North America, whose role it is to manufacture goods such as livestock, fish or coal for the sole use and exploitation of the Capitol. The districts exist only to serve the wants and needs of the Capitol, and the government is able to sustain this oppression by
keeping the Districts separated from each other. This separation prevents political opposition from coalescing because residents of each District literally cannot visit, see, or communicate with residents of other districts. In many ways, it is a brilliant way to control a population—strip them of their ability to form relationships and bonds of solidarity. Without solidarity and connection, the districts are divided and weak. We see this class division in many American cities, like The Loop in Chicago or the French Quarter in New Orleans, dominate the interests of the city, just as the Capitol dominates Panem. It is not in the natural interest of a rich person in the French Quarter to care about the problems of residents of the Lower Ninth Ward, but it needs to become natural for residents of cities to care for each other, regardless of class or race. Collins also portrays District 12 as a classic American urban ghetto through the impoverished children in the city. Children in District 12 in “The Hunger Games” are poor and their tributes to the Games generally lose because they are less trained. Therefore there are few living victors who can mentor new tributes, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and failure in the District. The same is true in real life; when children attend struggling schools in poor neighborhoods, they are less likely to attend college and are less likely to obtain high-earning jobs. They will then probably stay living in their home neighborhood since they will not be able to afford housing elsewhere. The greatest tragedy surrounding poverty in “The Hunger Games”
COURTESY OF LIONSGATE
Katniss and Gale are fictional characters, but the problems they face in “The Hunger Games” are very real.
is that President Snow’s government does not want residents of the Capitol to know that the districts are starving and suffering. He doesn’t even want residents of the districts to know what’s happening in other districts. Equally, in real life, the privileged are too often ignorant of problems facing the lower class. When the rich do not realize that others in the city are struggling with the demands of poverty, they will
certainly not do a single thing to alleviate that poverty. To deprive people of solidarity and relationships with others is one of the greatest sins imaginable, and is capable of condemning someone to a cycle of poverty that cannot be broken. By the final book of Collins’ trilogy, the residents of Panem unite to overthrow the Capitol once they form connections with each other and see each other’s suffering. We
should be aware not just of the events in our school’s area at the Time Warner Center and Lincoln Center, but also the problems faced by those living in the Amsterdam Houses. We need to not ignore the suffering of our neighbors, as District 2 ignored District 12. We need to be aware that segregation is still a harsh reality in the United States of 2012, and we need to be actively involved in ending it.
Why You Should Read “Fifty Shades of Grey” The Case for the Scandalous Novel that Everyone is Talking About COLLEEN THORNHILL Opinions Editor
When I tell people I’ve read and love the book series “Fifty Shades of Grey,” I typically get the same reaction as when I tell them I’m a Ke$ha fan. “Are you serious? You? Why?” Yes, me. I am just one of millions of ladies (and guys) who have picked up the scandalous new novel “Fifty Shades of Grey” that has taken the literary world by storm. Haven’t heard of it? Well, get with it. This book is about young college graduate Anastasia Steele who falls head over heels for the 27-year-old billionaire, Christian Grey. What’s so shocking? Christian has a secret. He likes S & M. Actually, he doesn’t like it. He loves it. Practically lives for it. Horrified yet? I bet my parents are. But there’s a lot more to this book than some crazy (and I do mean crazy) sexual fantasies. It turns out Christian isn’t just some one-dimensional sex addict. The man has a serious back story that needs some heavy delving into. He can’t get past his problem until Anastasia can get him to acknowledge it. Blah blah blah, you’re thinking. But give it a chance; don’t just dismiss it as a sleazy romance novel. There is actually impressive character development once you get past book one, which, yes, is a horrendous example of literature and not something that merits the word “novel.” It does, however, merit the word entertainment. This book is hysterical. It is practically impossible not to laugh aloud as Anastasia enlightens us with
her use of the words, “Holy moly” and “Oh jeez.” If you don’t go into the book thinking you’re about to read literature’s greatest treasure, you’ll have a helluva time. I didn’t even know what the book was about when I bought it. I was getting on the plane back home for Easter break, and I knew it would be an excuse to finally put that Kindle I got back at Christmastime to good use. I took a quick look at the top Ereader books, and “Fifty Shades of Grey” was at the top. Imagine my shock when I got to the more, um, detailed moments of the novel.
FYI) is a little slow on the uptake and definitely a weak little thing at first, but this girl quickly became one of my favorite literary heroines. That’s right, I just called her a literary “heroine.” The Jane Austen fan in me is cringing, I assure you. Ana wants to help Christian, but she stands her ground. Ana’s not about to let Christian do whatever the hell he pleases just so she can be his girlfriend. This is when things get good. Books two and three, “Fifty Shades Darker” and “Fifty Shades Freed,” (I know, such great names) explore Christian’s
If you don’t go into the book thinking you’re about to read literature’s greatest treasure, you’ll have a helluva time. It took all I had not to burst out laughing in horror, embarrassment and amusement in front of everyone on the plane. When I first got to those steamy S & M scenes, I didn’t know how to react. I’m more a Harry Potter/Hunger Games kind of a girl. But I’d spent money on it, and I don’t like to waste my money, and frankly, Christian Grey was the most intriguing (read: hot) literary character since Edward Cullen. Christian Grey is so much better than that sparklyskinned vampire, and he’s human to boot. Anastasia Steele (please, I invite you to laugh at her name as much as I do) is also way better than Isabella Swan, so don’t even try to pretend like this book is taking feminism three steps back. Sure, Ana (that’s her nickname,
dark past and his realization that he shouldn’t feel this need to harm women. Again, don’t get horrified, please. Christian has safe words and all sorts of things to protect his lady friends. (Wow, my parents must be cringing just as much as my inner Jane Austen fan.) Just know this: Do not judge “Fifty Shades of Grey” until you read it. The first book is full of racy, scandalous scenes, but how else is an author supposed to sell a book in modern-day society? (That’s a joke. I read non-racy books. I swear.) The series actually turns into a worthwhile, intelligent read by books two and three, with thoughtful character development and surprisingly suspenseful plot twists. Or maybe I’m just blinded by the beauty of Christian Grey. But is that really so bad either?
COURTESY OF KNOPF DOUBLEDAY PUBLISHING GROUP
“Fifty Shades of Grey” has garnered an unexpected following in the literary world, most likely because of its shocking subject matter.
Arts & Culture
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
COURTESY OF WESTFESTTV/YOUTUBE.COM(LEFT); ARKASHA STEVENSON/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT(RIGHT)
Coachella offered a suprising variety of acts including a hollagram of Tupac (left) amongst a beautiful and vibrant California backdrop (right)
Coachella 2012 Marked by a Lineup of Eclectic Acts A Student’s Rundown of One of the Year’s Biggest Music Festivals By DANIEL DALENA Contributing Writer
Despite the popular belief that the annual Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival serves as a mecca for young Californians, Fordham University represented itself well throughout both weekends of the festival. At least five FCLC sophomores enjoyed the first weekend, while I was fortunate enough to make the trip out for the second weekend. I grew extremely excited as I began to hear about the events of the first weekend from friends who went, although I couldn’t help but feel a bit apprehensive, and the thought of missing classes only weeks before finals, with so much to do, constantly badgered my conscience. Upon arriving, it was immediately apparent how trivial my worries were compared to the utter brilliance of Coachella. The first thing that struck me was the fantastical and often surreal landscape of the event. Nestled in a sort of oasis
within the desert of Indio, Cali., the site of Coachella is peppered with soaring palm trees, bizarre sculptures and structures, colossal amphitheatres and a giant Ferris wheel peering above the grounds. The whole spectacle becomes even more amazing at nightfall, during which the festival transforms into a luminescent dreamscape. Every palm tree is illuminated by changing neon lights while various structures boast fire or take on the form of giant lava lamps through electronic illustrations—all of which are accompanied by the omnipresent and glowing Ferris wheel. But let’s get to the real reason why people go to Coachella—the music. While I had heard how incredible the 2012 line-up was, it didn’t hit me until I was actually standing in the front the of the tents, looking at all of the set times, and desperately wondering how I was going to be able to see everyone you want. The festival boasted big names like Swedish House Mafia, Florence + The Machine, Snoop Dogg, The
Black Keys, David Guetta and many more. I planned to see all of them, even if that meant only witnessing 10 minutes of a performance. On day one, like most of the weekend, I spent a good amount of time at the Sahara tent, which featured electronic house music spun by some of the most well-known DJs in the world. Afrojack and Alesso were unsurprisingly great; Both succeeding in pumping up the audience and kicking off the weekend with their hard-hitting drum machines, original remixes, synthesized arrangements and mesmerizing lights. One DJ that stood out was SebastiAn, who incorporated political symbols into his light show, which often included the phrase “Vote SebastiAn” in front of the French flag. Deciding to take a break from the DJs, my friends and I made sure to catch The Black Keys, who dazzled the audience with a lively performance of “Dead and Gone.” Directly after The Black Keys, Swedish House Mafia closed the night at the main
amphitheatre, where the arena was flooded with seemingly thousands of people who danced and jumped to the group’s electronic beats. One of my favorite acts was Kaskade, who, despite closing out the night, spun an outstanding sequence that made everyone believe the party was just getting started. On the other hand, Guetta proved to be a disappointment. Everyone seems to know and love him, as he is easily the most commercial and popular DJ out there, however, he lacked the originality that other DJs exhibited throughout the weekend. I found some of his sequences, along with his light show, which mostly just displayed “DAVID GUETTA” rolling across the screens, to be even boring at times. As opposed to Guetta, Bon Iver was definitely an act I’m glad I didn’t miss, as they gave a truly captivating performance that exuded a beautiful essence of melancholy that resonated perfectly to those of us who sat throughout the grounds amongst the glowing palm trees and
neon lights. As the final day of Coachella came around, the festival stages were dominated by showstoppers. Avicci wowed hundreds with his electrifying light show, while over at the outdoor theatre an equal number were haunted by the majestic voice of Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine. And of course, this would not be a proper review of the festival without including the final closing act of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, which included surprise performances from Wiz Khalifa, 50 Cent, Eminem, and even a computer-generated hologram of Tupac. Despite having already heard of such surprises from the news of Coachella’s first weekend, it was still a mind-blowing act that had everyone jumping and yelling with excitement. It was definitely the perfect end to a perfect weekend—one that I recommend everyone try to make next year, no matter where you live or how much work you have to do. Just get there.
Brooklyn Festival Has Much to Offer for Music, Art and Film Lovers By BRIAN BRUEGGE Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor
Summer is fast approaching and already the city is actively gearing up for the season’s constant flow of events. The summer is always a time for excellent concert series in New York, from events like Central Park Summerstage to free shows on the Stuyvesant Town Oval all season long. One of the most exciting of these events, the Brooklyn Northside Festival, is just around the corner. From June 14-21, the neighborhoods of Bushwick and Williamsburg will become home to this festival of music, films and panels. Though it is only in its fourth year, the Northside Festival has gained a lot of publicity for bringing in some of the best musical acts, both locally and from around the globe, to its relatively small patch of Brooklyn. The quality of the musical acts that the festival is able to bring, both unknown and familiar, have many music critics warning other festivals like Austin’s
COURTESY OF THE L MAGAZINE
Scott Stedman and daughter Louise Stedman take part in the festivities at Northside Festival 2011
South By Southwest (SXSW) to watch closely. This year will be no different, as well-known acts including Of Montreal, Questlove and Screaming Females have already been scheduled to appear. In addition to music performanc-
es, there will also be four days of film screenings, both old and new. Another exciting aspect of the festival will involve over 100 visual artists in the area opening up their studios to the public to exhibit their work and promote creative collaborations.
The festival is concentrated in several venues that are only a short walk from the L or G trains. The close proximity of all these venues is convenient, because with more than 350 bands playing more than 70 different shows, you won’t want to be hopping onto the train and wandering all across the borough to get to the next show. The Northside Festival is presented by Northside Media Group, which also publishes periodicals including “The L Magazine,” and holds other events in the area. According to Northside Media Group’s CEO Scott Stedman, “Brooklyn has become an adjective for ‘what’s next,’ and Northside Festival defines and showcases that adjective for a regional and national audience.” Much like SXSW or NYC’s own CMJ, you will be able to purchase badges that grant access to any show of the festival or buy individual tickets to each show. Although the festival runs for a full eight days, the different events are not spaced out equally
among these dates. The concert series will run from June 14-17, at which point the film festival will begin and run until the entire festival ends on the June 21. For anyone who will be in the city this summer, the Northside Festival promises to be one of the best cultural offerings of the entire year. IF YOU GO
Brooklyn Northside Festival WHEN: June 14-21; detailed schedule
pending
WHERE: Venues across Williams-
burg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn. All venues are within short walking distance from stops on the L or G train. PRICE: Badge prices range from $40-$250 or tickets can be purchased for individual events. MORE INFO: http://northsidefestival. com
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THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
Arts & Culture
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Spring Weekend a Success Despite Low Expectations By JACKSON GALAN Staff Writer
Many believed Fordham’s Spring Weekend 2012 to be a flop before it even began. The big-name artist would be Jay Sean, whose name is certainly not as recognizable as last year’s nostalgia-stars Third Eye Blind, or MGMT who headlined in 2010. He does that song “Down...Baby are you down, down, down, down, down?” Indeed, many of the Fordham population seemed down; not agreeable, but glum. Nevertheless, Fordham College at Lincoln Center students headed to the at Rose Hill campus in droves, ready to take advantage of free ice cream, hot dogs and music. Security scoured purses for stashed alcohol, commemorative shirts were doled out and Frisbees sailed from hand to hand on Martyr’s Lawn. Dirty Bird, the first opening act, took the stage at 1 p.m. before a meager standing audience and a scattering of turf-top loungers. The quartet ran through a set of earnest indie-rock with spectacular result. Frontman Alex DeSimine’s mellow, heartfelt vocal and emphatic accompaniment on acoustic guitar meshed seamlessly with Asher Bank’s driving drum work and Zach Moses’s electric lead ornaments. The pulse of the band, however, emanated from bass player Alex Tremitiere, whose dynamic lines and back-up vocal seemed to dictate the energy of the performance. The crowd responded with hearty applause, and Dirty Bird left the stage in triumph. Such success of a relatively unheard of band proved that performers don’t
JACKSON GALAN/THE OBSERVER
Jay Sean and Dirty Bird perform at Fordham University’s 2012 Spring Weekend at the Rose Hill campus.
neccesarily need a big name to enact a successful performance. The opening act could not have been more appropriate for the time and place, and the stage was well-set for Jay Sean. More people poured in and the crowd became denser. A DJ took the stage and, in attempts to get the crowd fired up, yelled “Are y’all ready for Jay Sean!?”
That’s when things started to go downhill. Because, yes, we were ready for Jay Sean, and no, he did not arrive. The DJ continued to play prerecorded music, just like we’d been listening to in the interim, only now we had a DJ interrupting it to yell things like “Make some noise!” He sounded angry. The stage was occupied by the
band’s guitarist—tuning up—and keyboard player—standing there. The energy level took a hit. Jay Sean eventually took the stage, and the crowd livened up. He is a talented and enthusiastic performer, with plenty of stage presence and a tight backing band. There were some minor hiccups (his request for a re-
peat-after-me of “Take money money Take money money mon-ay” didn’t get a repeat, and he left stage midset to simply take a break), but the crowd keyed into his generally festive vibe and the show went smoothly. He closed the show with “Down,” and everybody moved on.
Tribeca Film Festival Showcases Cinematic Cream Of The Crop By KATIE LOCKHART & MIKE MADDEN Arts & Culture Co-Editors
The Observer got the chance to attend the Tribeca Film Festival to check out some of the industry’s most anticipated films arriving in the coming year. It certainly did not disappoint, with films ranging from strong family dramas to documentaries on the beauty found in male grooming. Here are four of our favorites. Your Sister’s Sister The Tribeca Film Festival seems to favor emotional family dramedies that end in cliffhangers, leaving the audience surprised and a little bit annoyed. “Your Sister’s Sister” was exactly that type of film. It centers around Jack (Mark Duplass), his best friend and his dead brother’s ex-girlfriend Iris (Emily Blunt), and her sister Hannah (Rosemarie Dewitt). After a hilarious and awkward outburst at the one-year anniversary of Jack’s brother’s death, Iris suggests Jack get away and stay at her family’s cabin off the coast of Seattle. However, when he gets there, Hannah is standing half-naked in the kitchen. The two quickly bond while swapping sob stories over a bottle of tequila that ultimately ends in sloppy drunken sex. The two wake up with hangovers and a surprise visit from Iris. While the three bond, there are multiple secrets being held from each person including a sneaky pregnancy plot, unrequited love and the awkward drunken sex between Jack and Hannah. The plot of the film is a bit playedout, but the characters are what make the movie worthwhile. Watching them joke and hang out made you wish your friends were as funny as them. Although there is an unexpected twist, the film didn’t provide much more than a few good laughs. Take This Waltz In Sarah Polley’s latest film, “Take This Waltz,” one can learn a thing or two about love and marriage. The protagonist Margot (Michelle Williams) is married to her loving husband Lou (Seth Rogen). The two are seemingly very happy, waking up each morning
SOFIA ALVAREZ/THE OBSERVER
Dedicated cinephiles line up for the 12-day festival, which brought this year’s most anticipated movies to New York City.
telling each other, “I love you so much I wanna mash your head in with a potato masher.” When Margot is abroad for work, she meets a handsome and charming man (Luke Kirby) who just so happens to be her next-door neighbor. The two have an immediate intense connection and begin to go on walks, go for drinks and take midnight swims together. The sexual tension is so strong between the two of them, you have to awkwardly squirm and look away. But every night Margot comes home to her loving husband who cooks her a chicken dinner and showers her with affection. Ultimately the young and immature Margot is overcome with sexual desire and decides to leave her husband for her hunky neighbor. In what is possibly the best scene of the film, you get a glimpse at their life together over the following year in a fast-forward montage of, at first, constant sex with multiple partners, then a rearranging of the furniture and finally them sitting on the couch just watching TV. The moral of the story comes from a quote in the film. “Will you still like
him in 10 years?” It seems obvious by the quick deterioration of their sex life and their move to the lifestyle of a boring married couple situated on the couch that maybe Margot made the wrong decision. Downeast For the folks of Gouldsboro, ME (or ‘Downeasters’ as they like to be called), the nation’s poor economy and unemployment rate have the small town significantly hard, particularly the senior citizens of the former sardine canning company that put almost all the towns’ residents to work. But when Italian businessman Antonio Bussone comes along to reopen the canning property and turn it into a lobster processing factory, the people of Gouldsboro regain a little bit of hope when all they want to do is get back to work. But one underlying theme this poignant documentary of Smalltown, America shows is the David versus Goliath-like struggle of a man looking to take care of the people of Gouldsboro and the fight against the major banks who suspiciously aim to shut Bussone down altogether. “Downeast” doesn’t use any bells and whistles to grab the attention
of the viewer. Instead, the testimonies and interviews of the towns’ senior citizens and fishermen provide a humorous yet heartfelt dissection of what matters most to them: family and keeping their dignity despite their age. The documentary explores a region of the U.S. that is rarely seen but should certainly get more exposure, due to the interesting dynamic the Maine fishing industry has with the rest of America and Canada. “Downeast” creates heroes and villains, but sometimes it’s difficult to determine just whose opinion is right. The viewer rallies for Bussone and his success where, by the end, the intensity of not knowing whether he is able to keep the lobster plant open grabs at one’s heartstrings and pulls. Mansome Never has there been such a cinematic feat when it comes to documenting a man’s beard: Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker known for ‘Super Size Me,’ is back with ‘Mansome’—a look into the world of male grooming, masculinity and what really constitutes what it means to be a man in 2012. Interviews with Zach Galifianakis, Judd Apatow, and a comedic commentary
conducted between Will Arnett and Jason Bateman at a day spa only add to this uproariously funny, insightful and smart look into male hair. Spurlock evokes the same personality that viewers love in all his documentaries; genuinely enthusiastic, interested and a well-likeable guy that is able to laugh and insert himself into the project. While Spurlock shaves his famous handle bar mustache in honor of No Shave November, the movie also explores the other side of the spectrum in competitive beard growing. Jack Passion, the egotistical, sometimes neurotic American champion, walks the viewer through his philosophy of beard growing, paralleling the movie’s attempt at deciphering why men consider hair so masculine. And “Mansome” isn’t only for the men—women get in on it to. Testimonies from women range from “I love it” to “I can’t stand it” when asked whether they like facial hair on a guy. The responses are hilarious, while the men justly try to defend their beards to the last hair. “Mansome” leaves the men rooting for their gender while at the same time questioning it, a fantastic juxtaposition that is entertaining for all.
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Kevin Devine Finds Success in Music After Fordham By AMY BUCKNAM Contributing Writer
Standing behind the merchandise table at Best Buy Theatre in Times Square after his set, Kevin Devine happily greets a line of eager fans stretching across the room. One fan mentions Fordham and Devine’s eyes instantly light up as he is flooded with feelings of nostalgia. He is taken back to cherished years of his life, a time before his sold out shows and months on the road, to the place where his days as a solo indie rock artist began. Devine, now a 32-year-old songwriter and musician, graduated from Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) in 2001 as a communication and media studies and English double major. Since then, he’s gone on to share the stage with the likes of Bright Eyes, The Get Up Kids, Nada Surf, his friends Manchester Orchestra and Brand New, and most recently with Say Anything. Before he was headlining tours and performing at music festivals as big as Bonnaroo, Devine was trying out his new solo material on his FCLC friends and classmates, performing regularly at open mic nights on campus. Devine was gained recognition throughout New York City during college, playing venues like CBGB and Mercury Lounge. Prior to this time, Devine had been playing in band called Miracle of 86. He credits FCLC as the place where he was able to stretch his legs as a solo artist. “That’s the first place I gained a certain breed of confidence in playing as me and not just in Miracle [of 86],” Devine said. “That was really one of the first instances when I got to gain some sort of traction as a songwriter and as a performer.” Devine was born in Brooklyn and grew up both there and in Staten Island. As a teenager, he was actively involved in the Staten Island punk rock and hardcore scenes, frequently playing and attending local shows. A major result of his urban upbringing is his multiform sound. His music doesn’t seem to embody character-
COURTESY OF KEVIN DEVINE
Kevin Devine, FCLC ’01, has gone on to have a successful career in music after attending Fordham.
istics of only one particular genre, which enables Devine to tour with bands of different sorts. “I don’t necessarily like being pigeon-holed into any specific genre or presentational style. I like to be able to switch up what I do as I see fit,” he explained. “I think that kind of comes from being in such an eclectic culture in general, like a place like New York, and not really feeling like I want to be any one thing all the time.” In his latest album, “Between the Concrete and Clouds,” Devine’s
openness and musical freedom allowed him to try out different methods of songwriting. “There was a concept to try to be as expressive, but in fewer words, or to be as communicative, but not as specific,” Devine said . “Finding a way to lean to something that was more imagistic—it would almost be that it was vague, but on purpose—as a way to kind of let the songs be more open.” Devine’s careful attention to words is nothing new to him. He
honed in on his writing skills at Fordham, not only through songwriting, but also through his involvement with The Fordham Observer. Elizabeth Stone, faculty advisor to the newspaper and friend of Devine’s, remembered him as a skilled writer. “He’s a smart guy and he’s always been a smart guy, and he’s always had a real sensitivity to language,” Stone recalled. Looking back, he now sees the way he spent his free time at FCLC as a kind of “research” for him as a
songwriter. He remembers walking up the block to see Sonic Youth play at Avery Fisher Hall in his freshman year. He remembers walking past Lincoln Center to the Tower Records that was once there to buy concert tickets. He remembers listening to “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” album in his McMahon Hall dorm room and feeling inspired—Dylan, whose songs Devine had previously thought of as his “mom’s music,” became another one of his musical influences after this dorm room revelation. It was also in McMahon Hall that Devine fell in love for the first time, and it was there where he learned of the heartache that can come with it. Stone remembered a conversation with Devine at the end of his senior year when she had asked him what he was going to do after graduation. “He said, ‘I have to give this music thing a shot. I’ll probably do something else in a year, but I’ve got to do this music thing. I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t,’” Stone recalled. “And he did.” Nearly 11 years later, he still is. His days on the road began when he was fresh out of Fordham. He hasn’t seemed to slow down since, touring extensively and stopping briefly to record. “At some point it, it feels more normal than not. It’s about marrying the two lives,” Devine explained. “I try to keep in contact with the important people in my life. People in my life have to be both really understanding and really supportive.” Devine just finished his U.S. tour with Say Anything on May 3 and he already has plans for a UK tour with Cursive, a band from Omaha, this June. On top of that, he’ll be playing a few summer music festivals, including the Bunbury Music Festival in Cincinnati in July, and Lollapalooza in August. He also expects the second album of his side project, Bad Books, with friend and front man of Atlanta-based band Manchester Orchestra, to be finished by the end of this year or the beginning of next.
Summer 2012 Promises Enticing Variety of Movies By CLINT HOLLOWAY Asst. Features Editor
After putting all of that brainpower to exhaustive use on the last stretch of the school year, the summer season allows you to kick-back and indulge in some mindless and carefree cinematic entertainment. With said season just around the corner, it is time to take a look at what it has to offer—highlighting some of the releases that will hit the big screen during the dog days. Hollywood’s apparent shortterm memory and lack of creativity continues to run rampant, as a plethora of various sequels, prequels and reboots are prepared to ride into theaters on a wave of freshly buttered popcorn. First out of the gate is “The Avengers,” hitting theaters May 4, which sees all of the major Marvel comic book characters, from Iron Man to Captain America to Thor, teaming up to stop arch-nemesis Loki. The plot is pure routine, but it should be a kick to see Tony Stark’s wiseass antics coexisting alongside the muscled Norse god Thor and the temperamental Incredible Hulk. It’s a relatively swift return to the drawing board for the Spiderman franchise, as a mere five years after the Tobey Maguire-starring trilogy has brought an entirely new origin story in the form of “The Amazing Spider-Man,” due out July 3. British actor Andrew Garfield will be assuming the role of Peter Parker, with real-life Emma Stone playing his love interest Gwen Stacey.
COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS ENTERTAINMENT/PARAMOUNT PICTURES/COLUMBIA PICTURES/20TH CENTURY FOX
The summer movie season will be heavy on blockbusters, with new releases like “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Avengers,” “The Amazing SpiderMan,” and “Prometheus.”
With “Prometheus,” opening June 8, Ridley Scott offers an enticing prospect for science fiction buffs. The plot of the film, thought shrouded in secrecy, is set to be a return of sorts to the world of his inf luential sci-fi horror classic “Alien.” Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace star as crewmembers of a spaceship who encounter an ancient extraterrestrial race that proves potentially dangerous to the wellbeing of Earth, with excitement and scares surely in tow. Christopher Nolan will be bringing his modern Batman trilogy to a close with “The Dark Knight Rises,” out July 20. One of the most talked-about aspects
of the film is its incorporation of two iconic villains, as British actor Tom Hardy will be taking on the role of Bane and Anne Hathaway will be portraying Catwoman. Nolan’s combination of gritty intensity with the more fanciful aspects of the comic book has proven wildly successful with the previous installment’s recordbreaking box-office. It will be interesting to see if he can close the series of films on an equally high note. For those that are not in the mood to strictly stick to the megaplex, the impending season also has its fair share of specialty projects, as a slew of prominent indie auteurs are set to release their
movies during the summertime. One of the most anticipated is Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom,” hitting theaters on May 25. The plot sees a pair of misfit lovestruck kids who run away together, causing their tiny New England town to band together to try to find them. Judging by the preview, Anderson fans who are well-versed in his characteristic whimsy and visual inventiveness are sure to be satisfied, not to mention an enticing ensemble that includes such Anderson regulars as Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. Another notable art house release is “To Rome With Love,” opening on June 22. Despite be-
ing 76 years old, director Woody Allen shows no signs of slowing down, having consistently released one film a year for the past two decades. He has also been on something of an international exploration, as seven of his eight last features have taken place in the likes of London, Barcelona and Paris. His latest has him tackling the Italian capital, bringing along an eclectic barrage of stars, from Penélope Cruz to Alec Baldwin to Allen himself. So whether you are in the mood for Hollywood-crafted spectacle or more obscure fare, this summer is sure to have something to satisfy any cinematic sensibility.
Features
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
I PITY THE JEWEL
Act One: Dance Dance Resolution By JEWEL GALBRAITH Staff Writer
Hey, Observer readers! My name is Jewel Galbraith, and this is my new column, which will start running every issue at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. I’m a freshman, a transfer from Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and a tap dancer. I’m originally from Silver Spring, MD. “I Pity The Jewel” details my everyday life as an undergrad in New York City, and the unusual, often embarrassing experiences that go along with it. *** I spent a good 15 minutes today trying to think of an uncommonly funny or embarrassing story that I could write about as an introduction to my column. Then I remembered that there’s something embarrassing that I do every Monday and Friday at 8:30 a.m.: take a class at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. First of all, a disclaimer: Nothing in this article is meant to be disparaging to the Alvin Ailey studio, its teachers or its students in any way. If anything, I stand in extreme awe of their talent and artistic ability. When it comes to my misadventures in dance class, it’s not them, it’s very much me. That said, I’ll explain how my modern dance saga got started. I told you already that I’m a Rose Hill transfer and a tap dancer. I’ve trained in tap my whole life, but the last time I really took modern or ballet was at summer camp in elementary school, and it wasn’t exactly a rigorous course of study. The Rose Hill element is important because, as you know, Rose Hill is a bit removed from the goingson at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC). When I was up in the Bronx looking at dance class options, I saw “non-major dance class” and assumed it was a class full of non-major dance students. So when I had space in my schedule for the spring semester at FCLC, I cheerfully signed up for this “Horton I” dance class in the name of becom-
REX SAKAMOTO/THE OBSERVER
Jewel questions her dance skills outside Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater every Monday and Friday morning at 8:30.
ing a more well-rounded tap dancer. It was time to unleash my inner Ailey student. The first red flag was the dress code: black tights and a black leotard. My inner Ailey student did not own either of those items. But I was still optimistic about my prospects of becoming an expert modern dancer, so I threw down some cash at the Capezio store and practiced putting my hair in a ballet bun in preparation for my first class. It might as well have been an upbeat romantic comedy montage set to Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” I had no idea what I was in for. When I arrived at the Ailey studio on that first Monday morning, the other leotard-clad students were sprawled out on the floor in splits and various other contortions, looking suspiciously strong and flexible.
Wow, I thought, where did all these non-major dance students come from? I took my place in the back of the room and glanced down at my toes considering trying to touch them. I decided against it. At that point, I was still holding onto the hope that things would go my way once class started. Then, a man holding a single drum walked into the studio. Had he picked the wrong room? No, he sat down, and I realized we had a live drummer as accompaniment for our class. Our class at Ailey. Full of dance majors. It was 8:30 in the morning in the middle of January and before I could go to Spanish class, I would have to execute an hour and 20 minutes of modern dance in a leotard and tights with a bunch of BFA students while a grown man sat in the front of the room and played
a drum. The answer to the question of whether I was in over my head had just swung from “unsure” to “definitely yes.” Don’t forget, though, I did eventually have to actually dance. Or more accurately, go through physical movements that might fall under the broad umbrella that constitutes the dictionary definition of “dancing.” Even meeting that qualification wasn’t always easy. The first tough thing about Horton technique is that everything has a scary name. Within the first class we had already covered lateral Ts, eleven-threes and Fortification One. It sounded more like a covert military operation than a dance class. Equally tough was the fact that I was unable to pick up or execute a majority of the combinations. Every step I did involved a dif-
ficult decision between awkwardly half-doing the step and moving full out in a way that could only be objectively described as “flailing.” Anything the teacher showed us I forgot instantaneously. I spent a good portion of the class looking around desperately and doing each step a beat behind the rest of the group. My lateral Ts were Ys at best. After the first few weeks, things started to improve. Slowly. The across the floor portion of class is still a struggle, but I will say that I can do a pretty solid eleven-three compared to how I started. Even though I might not necessarily miss waking up for the class over summer break, I can foresee myself breaking into a few spontaneous Fortification Threes from time to time. But that may just be the leotard talking.
Get Inspired with Attire for a Warmer Season By BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE Staff Writer
BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE/THE OBSERVER
Amanda Brooklyn’s floral dress features a soft color palatte.
With record heat waves as early as April, it seems like we might be skipping spring this year resulting in a three-season calendar. When it comes to schoolwork this abrupt welcoming of summer may be distracting, but thankfully, the impressively warm weather makes it easier to break out the shorts and sundresses while relaxing under the beaming sun on the Outdoor Plaza. Within the past few weeks Fordham students have put their best spring and summer sartorial choices on display while enjoying the abundant sunshine. The trendiest students at Fordham this spring have been opting for more muted colors, like neutrals and pastels for a softer look. An affinity for pastels and softer colors is also evident in some of the biggest runway shows this season from designer labels like Chanel, Phillip Lim, and Louis Vuitton. With subtle hues and pastels dominating the color palette, floral print is also an essential staple since it is a springtime classic. Amanda Brooklyn Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’13 pairs her stylish vintage floral print dress with a pair of tan Jeffrey Camp-
bell wedges. Her dress consists of the soft neutrals, which are hot this spring, and she ties the subtle look together with simple shoes in a similar shade to her dress. Wedges are a fashionable alternative to heels because they are comfortable, which is key to feeling and looking great, and complement sundresses perfectly.
Fordham students have put their best spring and summer sartorial choices on display while enjoying the abundant sunshine. Kalon Hayward, FCLC’12, adds spunk to his sporty look with a salmon-colored vintage Lacoste cardigan which supplies the perfect pop of color to a spring look. Tank tops for guys are also a big trend this spring and also for summer, as seen on Hayward with his tank top from All Saints. He also pairs his tank top and cardigan with do-it-yourself Levi’s denim cut-offs, rolled up for additional flair. These homemade shorts can be created with any old pair of
jeans and can work for girls as well. Making them yourself is a great alternative for this trend as opposed to paying nearly $40 for the “Urban Renewal” versions found at Urban Outfitters. Hayward adds a polished finish to his retro chic look with a pair of vintage Ferragamo loafers in a glossy rosewood color. Both Brooklyn and Hayward opted for vintage pieces to create their one of a kind spring and summer looks, which is the perfect suggestion for college students on strict budgets. You can still look trendy in some of this season’s most original pieces without hurting your bank account. Beacon’s Closet, Cure Thrift Store and Metropolis Vintage are all thrift stores located in downtown Manhattan, where students can find the perfect pieces for the up upcoming warm weather at affordable prices. Amanda’s Look 1) VINTAGE SUNDRESS: $30 2)JEFFREY CAMPBELL WEDGES:
$169
Kalon’s Look 1) VINTAGE LACOSTE CARDIGAN: $20 2) FERRAGAMO LOAFERS: $35 3) ALL SAINTS TANK TOP: $35 4) DIY LEVIS SHORTS: Free
BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE/THE OBSERVER
Kalon Hayward sports DIY shorts and vintage loafers.
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Features
THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
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N.Y. CHALLENGED
Lessons Learned and a Pre-Graduate Goodbye MARIO WEDDELL Features Co-Editor & Asst. Photo Editor
After four years of college, I’ve learned some things. I know that wasn’t a groundbreaking first sentence, but years from now we’ll probably see that on a university brochure somewhere. It’s definitely a selling point. In these four years, I learned a little about myself, a bit about other people, many Wikipedia facts and nothing about sleep. Mostly I’ve learned that I want to slow down. Throughout high school, I was the pedal-to-the-metal guy who had his morning commute calculated down to the millisecond. I preferred to eat fast, drive fast and walk fast. I did everything fast. If I gave myself too much time to relax, I got in trouble. I was the guy who couldn’t show up to class too early or he would stick all the teacher’s pencils in the ceiling before she arrived. I was the kid who finished his assignment too fast, then snuck into the student activities office when no one was looking and created a huge poster commemorating himself as the “Student of the Day.” I was bored. So I preferred running late because that never gave me enough time to do anything stupid. At least that’s what I tell myself, since mostly I just never got enough sleep to be on time. But now, I hate rushing. Sometimes when I’m behind schedule, running down the street, I pray that a bus will graze me. Not tragically, just enough to give me an excuse to take an hour-long detour through Central Park, and still seem like a hero for showing up late. I value time more now. I’ve learned that I like talking
MARIO WEDDELL/THE OBSERVER
Mario will leave Fordham with an undergraduate degree and four years’ worth of captivating stories to share.
to people who are older than me. I never used to take the time to actually listen to someone. I engaged in conversations the same way that people order food for delivery. It didn’t really occur to me until a few years ago that professors are just older students, and parents are just children who have children. I know that may seem obvious to some people, but it came as a shock to me. All the best conversations I’ve had in New York have involved older people who had some knowledge to share. I remember the night my friends and I met a Quaker on
the sidewalk who explained why an “Irish coffee, no coffee” was the best drink to order when going to a new bar. He also explained that Viagra was great for men over 50, because now he could make his wife un-mad at him again when they argued. He told us that getting old is great because nobody remembers what is true anymore, so lying gets easier. I’ve learned a bit about relationships. Despite this high-octane world of short-lived romances we think we live in, everybody still wants to feel special. I have friends who think that getting with a
stranger at a party is the most exhilarating thing that could happen to them, but nobody ever seems too proud when that does happen. Maybe we’re afraid of intensity. We like to imagine that velocity and intensity mean the same thing in this world, but they don’t. There’s a reason epic film moments occur in slow motion. Few things are more intense than fully experiencing all the moments in a measure of time. Really getting to know someone is scary. It’s exhilarating, too. I’ve realized that the idea of success in New York is different from
everywhere else. Here, we picture success in extremes. You have to be the best at something. Everywhere else I’ve been, success just meant moving to New York. I’m not very good at saying goodbye. I usually end phone conversations by saying, “I’m going to hang up now.” At parties I bounce between groups of people, quietly moving on to the next group when I’ve run out of things to say. Then I can tell the same stories and hope nobody from the first group notices. I’m saying goodbye now, but I haven’t run out of things to say.
Behind the Scenes With USG’s “Senior of the Year,” Matt Ortiz By IAN MCKENNA Asst. Online Editor
Matt Ortiz, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’12, is one of the most recognizable faces at our school, having been involved with many clubs, organizations and events that aim to make FCLC a better community, which is why he was nominated, and eventually won the Senior of the Year award. In recognition of important students in the Fordham community, the United Student Government (USG) annually awards outstanding student leaders in each grade. And Ortiz certainly deserved it for all of his involvement in creating and orchestrating events here at FCLC to enhance students’ college experiences. Ortiz has been involved with numerous clubs and organizations, including acting as the chair of the Student Affairs committee for USG, helping to organize the Spring Fling Treasure Hunt, being on the Winter Ball committee, and planning the Undergraduate Appreciation Awards. And this is only an abbreviated listing of his accomplishments. Most recently, Ortiz has been the brain behind the Under the Crane dance, an answer to the Under the Tent dance hosted at Rose Hill during Spring Weekend. The Under the Crane dance is a semi-formal dance, which will take place on the Outdoor Plaza on May 3 as a fun way to end the year and relax before finals begin. The reasoning, he said, is simple. “I wasn’t very happy with the events on campus so I decided to make a new event,” Ortiz explained. Ortiz first became involved in student leadership in high school as company commander of the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. After
deciding to enroll at FCLC because of its location and a generous scholarship awarded to him, Ortiz began his path to Senior of the Year by joining the Residence Hall Association (RHA). After a couple years of involvement with RHA, he moved on to USG to affect more of the student body. “I think it’s important to be involved because its your way of leaving a legacy for those that come after you,” Ortiz said of his involvement on campus. “The best way to solve what is wrong with your school is to get involved and make a change.” This year, he took on the role of vice president of Student Affairs for USG. Dorothy Wenzel, director of Student Leadership and Community Development, explained just how influential Ortiz was this year in coordinating and enhancing on-campus activities. “He has done a tremendous amount to revitalize the Amazing Race; we had more teams compete than we had in the past several years,” Wenzel remarked of the scavenger-hunt style race through the city which took place in March. “Undergraduate Appreciation Awards and his big project this year has been creating this new, large-scale program called Under the Crane by renting tents on either side of the Atrium and having a dance floor to create a big, end-of-the-year semiformal dance.” “I think that there are a lot of really great things about Fordham and with that comes some bad things, so instead of just sitting back and complaining about them, I like to go and do something about them,” Ortiz said of his dedication to creating, helping coordinate, and running activities for FCLC. While Ortiz said that a lot of his leadership has been a result of his time in high school, he also said, “It’s a continuing process and you’re always
learning more.” While those who do not directly work with Ortiz may only reap the benefits of his hard work through participation in his fun events, those who know him are in awe of his character and personality. “I’ve worked with Matt on USG and he has just come up with so many different initiatives to make our school better,” Alexa Rodriguez, FCLC ‘13 said. “And he has done all of the footwork, to make sure that everything he does is successful. Not only is he coming up with new initiatives and is so creative, he is also extremely dedicated to making FCLC a better place for everyone.” Hillary Fisk, FCLC ’12, lived across the hall from Ortiz freshman year and, through involvement in similar activities, has witnessed Ortiz’s growth into an amazing and dedicated leader. “Matt has become such a large part of bringing so many great things to Fordham at Lincoln Center that we have never had, like Under the Crane,” Fisk remarked. “I just see his passion and creativity being harnessed into great events for Fordham. He is just a fun, lovable guy.” When asked what makes Ortiz a great leader, Wenzel said, “He’s passionate, very creative, is willing to listen to his peers and their ideas, he is really great at getting people motivated.” With his career here at FCLC coming to an end, Ortiz is gearing up for next year, when he hopes to begin law school. What will he miss most? “All the great people that I met. There are a lot of great students on campus and I think that the best thing was getting to know all of them,” Ortiz said. I have a feeling we will miss him even more.
KATHERINE FOTINOS/THE OBSERVER
Matt Ortiz, FCLC ’12, received the Senior of the Year award for his contributions to the university and to students.
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Features
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
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Grab Lunch When It’s Crunchtime at These Study Spots By REX SAKAMOTO Asst. News Editor
With finals fast approaching, the search for the best study spot begins. The ideal study space has to meet a few basic requirements: a quiet atmosphere, free WiFi and easy access to snacks. Although McMahon’s lounges may seem perfect, they often become overcrowded and distracting. Upon seeing friends, a two-hour study-session can quickly turn into a two-hour social. In Quinn Library there is always that annoying someone who is clicking their pen, tapping the table or “whispering” to their friend. And studying in a bedroom room is often the worst because of how easy it is to procrastinate and take a nap instead. So for spring 2012 finals, look to these off-campus spaces to get work done and still enjoy the city.
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN 50 W. 72nd St.
7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Free Wifi This French café’s quiet atmosphere allows students to get their work done without distractions. Excellent study food options include the hunk of French bread that comes with assorted jams and spreads with a warm mug of hot chocolate or coffee. Definitely try the Noisella, which is the dark chocolate version of its cousin Nutella. The waiters here are pleasant and allow you to stay as long as you want. An afternoon here will run you about $10 including tip. The only drawback is that they close relatively early in the evening, which is when many students like to start studying. However, if you happen to be an early bird, Le Pain Quotidien might just be the place for you.
BRIAN JASINSKI/THE OBSERVER
Starbucks is one of the great study spots Fordham students can take advantage of during finals.
PANERA BREAD
STARBUCKS
6 a.m.-10 p.m. Free Wifi This Panera may be downtown, but it’s a surprisingly easy destination for a solid study session. Just a feet from the 28th St. stop on the downtown 1, they have an assortment of soups and sandwiches and fresh breads that could keep any student’s tummy happy. The highlight of this place is their wide range of seating options, but lunch and early evening hours can be busy so plan your trip accordingly.
5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Free Wifi Fordham’s unofficial “home” Starbucks is nice for studying because it is not as crowded as the one in Columbus Circle. With the assortment of drinks and snacks one never has to leave this place until closing. There is limited seating inside, though, so you may have to commit to a few minutes of waiting to snag seating space. At the end of your study session reward yourself with a motivating cake pop or whoopee pie.
330 7th Ave.
2 Columbus Ave
WORD OF MOUTH
Get a Taste of Local Culture at Mikey’s BY DARRYL YU Features Co-Editor
In a city filled with 24-hour delis and diners, finding the right and satisfying New York City burger can seem impossible. Many people say that Shake Shack and the Burger Joint are perfect examples of a traditional New York City burger, but although they are both good in their own right, I feel that these two spots have lost their unique local appeal. There are many other hidden places out there that offer the same delicious NYC style burger but still retain their uniquely Manhattan style. One of these places is Mikey’s Burger. Located in the middle of the narrow streets of the Lower East Side, Mikey’s is a down-to-earth local burger place that is very different from the more established burger places in NYC. Small, hidden and alluring, Mikey’s resembles the old-fashioned mom and pop burger joints that used to populate NYC. The main sight at Mikey’s is its long bar table. It stretches across the restaurant and offers customers a direct view into Mikey’s open kitchen. You can even see the freshly cooked burgers being made from start to finish right in front of you. You could easily have a quick chat with your chef while he cooks up your delicious meal. Filling the small outside street with the glorious smell of char-grilled patties, Mikey’s attracts all sorts of people from around the neighborhood. From the secluded bookworm reading in the back to the group or close friends looking for a quick meal, Mikey’s seems to be a place everyone can enjoy. On top of creating a nice localized atmosphere, Mikey’s also has a good selection of dishes, ranging
DARRYL YU/THE OBSERVER
Mikey’s offers a unique NYC style burger.
from simple fries to larger offerings such as Mikey’s burger. But despite having an array of mouth-watering dishes, only two of them really stood out for me: the BLT burger and chili cheese fries. A grilled beef patty on a slightly toasted bun topped with Kewpie mayo, lettuce, tomato and Chinese bacon, the BLT burger is one of the popular choices at Mikey’s. The unique quality I noticed about the BLT burger was the Chinese bacon. Half the size of normal bacon but double the oiliness, the Chinese bacon added a sweet flavor into the BLT burger. Mixed with fresh Kewpie mayo, the BLT burger had a good balance of overall flavors. It didn’t fall into the trap of being too salty, which is normally the case with burgers around the city. Although the BLT burger may seem a bit greasy at first, it is a delicious choice for those not counting calories. Paired with a side of slightly salted fries, the BLT burger is a filling meal for anyone. Classified as an appetizer on the menu, the chili cheese fries at Mikey’s are big enough to be considered a proper meal. The fries are served in a large foil box covered
with melted mozzarella cheese and jalapeno peppers. Filled with a mixture of cheesy and spicy flavors, the chili cheese fries are the right meal for a person with a huge appetite or great for a person looking for that extra burst of zest on their taste buds. I would recommend sharing this dish with a friend. Thanks to its great location in the Lower East Side, Mikey’s is the ideal place to go to after a long night out. At the same time, Mikey’s can also be a good place to have a quiet lunch alone. With so many options in a city, it may seem impossible to find the right burger joint. But if you look closely you can find neighborhood burger hangout spots like Mikey’s. In my opinion, there is nothing more satisfying than finding a local spot to fill your hunger needs. IF YOU GO mikey’s burger
$$ out of $$$$$$ Where: 134 Ludlow Street New York , NY 10002 Darryl’s Recommendation: BLT Burger
LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS PATIO Broadway and 65th St.
Open during daylight hours Free WiFi A change of scenery and some fresh air are as close as 65th St. At the Lincoln Center Patio you can sit amidst trees and study at the tables or the counter and chairs. The reflecting pool and distant murmur of the fountain create an ideal study place as it drowns out the city sounds and neighboring conversations.
RIVERSIDE LIBRARY 127 Amsterdam Ave.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free Wifi The Riverside Library is silent. Except for the occasional flip of a page, people here are fairly conscientious about the noise level. The study rooms are great too with the nice large tables that allow you to spread out. Unfortunately, the hours are a bit restrictive, but if you get some time, head on down to this study haven.
WELCOME OBSERVER EDITORIAL BOARD 2012-2013! Harry Huggins Editor-in-Chief Ian McKenna Managing Editor Richard Ramsundar News Co-Editor Mehgan Abdelmassih News Co-Editor Gabriela Mendez-Novoa Assistant News Editor Monique John Opinions Editor Alissa Fajek Assistant Opinions Editor Olivia Perdoch Arts Co-Editor Clint Holloway Arts Co-Editor Brian Bruegge Assistant Arts Editor Jewel Galbraith Features Editor Rex Sakamoto Assistant Features Editor Salma Elmehdawi Literary Editor Michael McMahon Sports Editor Joseph Sparacio Assistant Sports Editor Amanda Fimbers Layout Co-Editor Tayler Bennett Layout Co-Editor Sara Azoulay Photo Co-Editor Ayer Chan Photo Co-Editor Anna Luciano Copy Editor Clint Holloway Asst. Copy Co-Editor Zoe Simpson Asst. Copy Co-Editor Ariella Mastroianni Online Editor Mike Madden Multimedia Producer Nicholas Milanes Blog Editor Nina Guidice Assistant Blog Editor Mujtaba Mahmood Business Manager
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Features
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
PHOTO FEATURE The Observer photographers stayed on campus for this photo feature and asked Fordham College at Lincoln Center students about their summer plans.
SOFIA ALVAREZ/THE OBSERVER
SOFIA ALVAREZ/THE OBSERVER
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
Nichole Chmura, FCLC ‘14
Rhazes Hernandez, FCLC ‘13
Carmelle Alipio, FCLC ‘13
Nichole is interning with Maroon 5 this summer.
Rhazes is travelling to the West coast and working on a website.
Carmelle is working in the city and attending LSAT prep.
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
Mark Solinas, FCLC ‘15
Diana Muniz, FCLC ‘12
Mark plans to stay outside by playing golf and also working.
Diana is taking two summer courses at Fordham and working down the street from Fordham at American Apparel.
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
Erica Mancinas, FCLC ‘13
Erica is interning with the History Makers Scholars Program, as well as interning at Alprion Capital Management. She also plans on visiting family in Arizona.
SOFIA ALVAREZ/THE OBSERVER
Matthew Ortiz, FCLC ‘12 Matt will travel and prepare for law school.
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
Logan Douangsitthi, FCLC ‘15 Logan said he is finding a strong, independent woman, listening to TLC, and perfecting muscle tone.
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Features
THE OBSERVER May 03, 2012
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PHOTO FEATURE
AYER CHAN/THE OBSERVER
Alexander Lupo, FCLC ‘13 Alex will travel to Italy, South Africa and to the west on a GO! trip.
KATHERINE FOTINOS/THE OBSERVER
Hillary Fisk, FCLC ‘12
David Anders Loose, FCLC’14
Hillary is working as the Deputy Press Secretary for Sarah Steelman’s campaign. for U.S. Senate.
David is going home to Minnesota for work and to visit family.
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
JACKSON GALAN/THE OBSERVER
Amy Bucknam, FCLC ‘14
Mesmer G. Alfa, FCLC ‘14
Amy is going on GO! West to Montana and Colorado.
Mesmer hopes to land a work-study position at the Quinn Library.
JACKSON GALAN/THE OBSERVER
Connie Lee, FCLC ‘15 Connie plans to go on a road trip across the country to California.
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
Juanita John, FCLC ‘13 Juanita said she is interning in the legal field this summer, in addition to raveling within the tri-state area and working on law school applications.
AYER CHAN/THE OBSERVER
John Bezark, FCLC ‘14 John is staying in the city, doing theatre and getting an internship.
Literary
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
Students of Professor Sharon D. Wyeth’s Children’s Literature class share their work, from bedtime stories to excerpts from young adult novels. Professor Wyeth describes her transition from reading stories as a child to writing stories for children: “When I was a kid, reading was my thing. When I grew up, my thing became writing books for kids to read. Passing my love of children’s literature on to the students in my workshop is the icing on the cake. Reading their work and watching it develop is amazing fun.”
An excerpt from
THIS SUMMER By CHRISTINA CELONA Contributing Writer
The lights were off in Clara’s room, but I had a feeling she was in there. My hands were full because I was carrying two plates of cake, so I knocked with my head, which is not as good of an idea as it sounds. The door opened up. Clara was sitting on her bed. “Are you still mad?” I asked. “No,” grumbled Clara. “I don’t care.” I put the plates down in front of her and climbed up to sit next to her. “I liked it,” I said. “I didn’t mean for it to happen,” said Clara. She flopped back on the bed and glared up at the ceiling. I followed her eyes. The ceiling wasn’t the ceiling anymore. It was the night sky. I couldn’t ever remember seeing stars looking so big and near as they did just then, like low-hanging lights, and I half expected to see them swinging on the ends of clear floss. Clara stretched one skinny arm outwards and upward, and when she pulled it back, I saw her fingertip had been singed brown. “Why can’t I do that?” I asked. “I dunno,” said Clara. “Everyone’s different I guess.” “Not everyone,” I said. Movement caught my eye—water. Clara’s bedroom was filled with water that gleamed black in the darkness. When I peered over the edge, the light from the stars lit up my reflection. I looked down, and could see little silver fishes just below the surface, nipping at water bugs and weeds. I pulled off my sandals and slid my bare toes into the cool water cautiously. Within moments, the fish were nibbling at them eagerly, but it didn’t hurt. It felt like hundreds of tiny kisses, and made me giggle. “How deep is it?” I asked. “How should I know?” said Clara. A large silver fish, bigger than the ones I’d seen so far, came leaping out of the water. As we stared, it caught one of the lower-hanging stars in its mouth and hit the water again with a splash. Our eyes wide, we both leaned over the side of the bed to follow the fish’s now-illuminated progress, to see the strange underwater glow that was the fish with the star in his mouth until it faded away under the soft waves. “What do you think will happen to it?” I asked. “The star?” she answered. “Or the fish?” “Either,” I said. “Both.” “The fish will get tired eventually,” guessed Clara. “And he’ll have to let go. Then the star will go shooting back up to the sky.” “That’s too bad,” I said, and I meant it. I wanted the fish to have his star.
An excerpt from
RIDER TAYLOR AND THE MYSTERIOUS CRATE CASE By ABIGAILE SANDS Contributing Writer
Chapter 8
Rider tossed and turned all night. Waiting for Sunday morning had been miserable, and before the sun even came up Rider was out of bed, dressed, and ready to go. Before long he realized that he still had to wait another ten hours or so before Mr. Muti would leave as he did every day, so Rider crawled into bed fully clothed with an anthology of The Master’s short stories, and finally drifted off. When he woke it was nearly 3:30, so he called Owen and headed outside to wait. Rider surveyed Mr. Muti’s house and backyard for any visible clues. As his eyes followed the outline of the roof, he made eye contact with Mr. Muti, who was standing in an upstairs room looking down at him. He was smiling. Rider tried to look casual by grabbing a nearby ball and tossing it around. Inside he was praying for Owen to show up so he didn’t feel so alone. Like a target. Owen finally came, strolling down the sidewalk and switching to a run once he hit the driveway. “Hey man, did he leave yet?” Owen said as he crossed the yard. “Shhh!” Rider warned and pointed to the window. “He’s watching us!” Rider looked up at the window, but it was empty. “Well he was watching me at least.” Suddenly, Mr. Muti’s car slowly made its way down the driveway. Once he was safely up the street, Rider and Owen sprung into action. Rider’s eagerness to get into the shed made him run faster then he ever had before, even when he was facing Hobart. It took Rider less than 10 seconds to unlock the giant padlock. Next to him, Owen jumped with joy at the prospect of getting into the mysterious shed. Once the lock fell to the grass below, the boys stared intensely at the combination lock, picking their brains for the four numbers they needed to open it. “I got it!” Owen exclaimed. “What? Really? How?” Rider stumbled over his words. “Give me the map.” Rider took the map out of his pocket and handed it to Owen. Owen examined it for a moment, and pointed to the word RORY. “This word, Rider. This is the combination!” Rider beamed. “Of course! Owen you’re a genius!” Rider began to punch the numbers 1213 in the combination lock. “Red, Orange, Red, Yellow. 1213.” The lock slid off. The boys exchanged wide-eyed glances and Rider gripped the handle. “Okay, let’s go in!” Rider led the way into the walk in shed. Sitting against the west wall was the large crate. “There it is, O! I’ve been waiting for this for a week!” Rider stood in front of the crate, looking down with expectant eyes. “Time to find out what’s inside.” Owen closed his eyes. “Please don’t be a body, please don’t be a body…” he chanted. Rider lifted the lid. For a moment, the boys stood in Mr. Muti’s shed, puzzled looks stuck on their faces. Rider reached in to grab the note at the bottom of the otherwise empty crate. “A note? That’s it?” Owen asked. Rider read the note out loud. “Come to the school library Monday after class. I’ll be waiting.” Owen’s face drained of color. “You’re not going are you? This has to be a trap.” “I have to, Owen. It’s my only chance to find out the truth.” Rider placed the lid back on the crate and left the shed, note in hand, leaving a stunned Owen behind.
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Literary
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
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MARIA’S KITCHEN By CHRISTINA CURRAN Contributing Writer
On the corner of 110th and Broadway, across from the subway station that rides downtown, underneath the high-rise brick apartments that house yapping little dogs, to the right of the store selling hardcover books about faraway places sits Maria’s Market. The outside of the market looks the same as many other food markets on this street: juicy oranges waiting to be peeled, shiny red peppers with their other oddly-shaped friends, crisp green apples showing off their little stickers. Inside of Maria’s Market, there are big rolls of toilet paper in aisles with sponges. There are peanut butter jars in aisles with jellies. Maria’s Market is just like any other market, aisles 1-10. But, take 15, size-10 footsteps to the right of the aisle with the Cheez-It’s boxes, and you will start to smell deliciousness before you see it. Maria’s Kitchen is the size of a basketball court, including the out of bounds area. Behind the counters, men in white chef hats work alongside spotless stoves, shiny sinks and clean countertops. Delicious home-made desserts, appetizers, and main courses fill trays behind glass. The people on 110th and Broadway who live in high-rise brick apartments and read hardcover books and ride subways downtown love to eat in “Maria’s Kitchen.” They sit at tables with friends, devouring Maria’s Homemade Roast Beef Sandwiches followed by Maria’s Gooey Peanut Butter Brownies. They get big bowls of Maria’s Hearty Three Vegetable Soup when it is chilly outside and their noses are runny. They come for one of Maria’s Red Velvet Cupcakes and leave with a “Birthdays by Maria” chocolate cake But, who and where is this Maria of Maria’s Market and Maria’s Kitchen? Sometimes, a man buying Maria’s Chicken Soup asks the man behind the counter “So, where is this Maria who makes me such delicious soup?” The man behind the counter always winks. Sometimes a woman eating Maria’s Ravioli says to herself “I wonder if Maria lives in Italy.” To answer this question, we must dig underneath Maria’s Market, to the level of the subway across the street that rides downtown. Dig all the way down to the level of… Maria, herself. In a grey basement cluttered with pots, pans, stoves, knives, a bed and a television, stands Maria. Her grey hair is pinned to the side with a single red bow. Six arms stick out from underneath her apron, cooking 500 pounds of food daily for unseen people to enjoy. The two noses on her face can smell the moment her cakes are ready to be taken out of the ovens. She uses her extra eye, located in the back of her head, to check on the entrées while she is making desserts. She has not been upstairs, to Maria’s Market or Maria’s Kitchen in 50 years, not since her late husband held the market’s opening ceremony, naming it after her. He had surprised Maria, the love of his life, knowing that she loved to cook but also knowing that she was shy. So, they had taken one another’s hands and walked up to the celebration to greet the crowd. Together. 50 years later, just this morning in fact, a little tiny slip of paper is placed in the elevator that sends raw and cooked food, up and down, from Maria’s Kitchen to Maria’s kitchen. It is from Sal, the manager of both the kitchen and the market. She makes sure to read it, holding the letter with three hands. “The 50th Anniversary of Maria’s Market and Kitchen is being held upstairs in Maria’s Kitchen tomorrow. The people of this community will be there, ready to eat free food, celebrate, and finally meet you, the Maria who cooks all of their favorite foods. I am asking you to use the upstairs kitchen equipment to cook. It has not been touched in 50 years but it will be ready for you. Please do consider coming upstairs tomorrow and cooking, even if only to honor your late husband.” At first, she cannot move. Or think. Her second eye twitches. If she goes upstairs for the opening ceremony, she will surely… Well, what will she surely do? Will her heart stop beating immediately out of nervousness? Will her face turn the shade of a bruise? Will she blurt out the word “pie” instead of “Hi”? Will she run out of the market door and keep running?
An excerpt from
VERUM VIRIDIS By CAMILLE HAIMET Contributing Writer
Chapter 4 Dom looked through the schedule on his hologram machine and read, “Monday, 10 a.m., ‘Discovering Our Society.’” “Great, how ironic,” he thought. “Here it goes.” He pressed on the class and immediately, in billions of pixels, Professor 3783 appeared in front of him along with the faces of Dom’s hated classmates and a screen that read, “Let’s learn about the D.R.O.W.” “Great, again,” Dom muttered under his breath. “Ah! DominikVeridis11@realfacetimeNY.com, glad you could join us today, however late,” said the professor with as much sarcasm as a teaching device’s electronic voice could pull off. He was tall and meant to resemble a human all while looking a little too metallic to succeed. “What a show-off, thought Dom, of course real professors never had a chance at keeping their careers when tough guys like these could be so easily programmed to know everything.” “So class, today we are going to learn a little bit about the D.R.O.W. which I believe our good friend Dominik is familiar with. His dad used to be Head of Organization there, am I right?” “Sure,” said Dom. He noticed the eyes of his classmates upon him. Were they shocked that just because he was a considered a failure he did not come from a family of failures? “Well, the D.R.O.W is quite important in our society because it takes all of our waste and scouts out new places to put it so that it doesn’t bother us. Many of us wouldn’t know it, but this is an extremely dangerous job…” As usual, Dom thoughts trailed off and the class became only a faint background noise. It wasn’t his fault. How was he supposed to listen to Professor 3783’s annoying voice droning on and on? All of these advances in technology and he still couldn’t link his words in a natural way. Just as Dom was starting to daydream that he was Marco Polo exploring exotic lands of the past, a word caught his attention. From the elevator music his class had become, he heard it again: “Exits.” Dom broke free from his thoughts. “Sorry, what was that you were saying about exits? I didn’t quite, um… understand.” “Dominik, am I to believe you’re actually interested? Or are you using this as an excuse to go on one of your rants about technology again?” There was a general round of laughter, but Dom didn’t care. He could feel the excitement that was bubbling up in his stomach. “…Well, since you want to know, I was explaining how the D.R.O.W workers navigate the intricate operation that is the sewage system. In order to find their way back to the new areas they have cleared for the disposal of waste, they use the numbers one through four as representations of north to west: one for north, two for east, three for south and four for west. Of course there are unlimited possibilities for this, so they usually start from their headquarters, from there take the Fast-Speed Tunnel in the direction of the first number. Once they get to the end of that tunnel they take the next one in direction of the second number and so on. Then, we get into more complicated directions such as five, six, seven and eight, but there is no need to get into that today because…” “WOW. I guess I’ll have learned one interesting thing in this stupid bore of a class. So long!” And with that, Dom pressed the red icon on his hologram machine and the class vanished before his eyes. Why hadn’t he ever thought of this? Where else did his father ever go besides his office at the New York D.R.O.W headquarters and his multiple travels through the sewage systems? Dom, who usually was quite calm, was now in a complete frenzy. He grabbed the metallic box his father had given him, and bounced to the moving standway.
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THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
Literary
17
An excerpt from
THE LAST STORY TELLER By CATHARINE KANE Contributing Writer
“Let’s go, Pegasus,” Orestes said, slapping the horse lightly on the side. It began trotting across the courtyard and Danny forced himself to take a few deep breaths as his stomach threatened to bounce out of his mouth. Orestes leaned forward, and the horse picked up speed, breaking into a gallop. Danny hung on tight, any awkwardness he might have felt erased by his desire to not fall off. “Hang on,” Orestes called back, and Danny clenched his fists in Orestes’s blue shirt as the horse flapped its wings, great gusts of wind sweeping across Danny’s face and blowing strands of blonde hair into COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS his eyes. Suddenly they tilted back, and just as Danny was sure he was going to lose his grip and fall off, they rose into the air, Pegasus’s wings flapping furiously until they were at level with the top of the palace. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Orestes asked, voice almost lost in the wind. Danny opened his mouth to say it hadn’t been horrible, but then they flew around one of the towers of the palace and the city lay before them, glittering in the early afternoon sun. “It’s beautiful,” Danny gasped, surprise making him forget to be afraid. He could see gleaming white and cream buildings, some with stone roofs, others with stucco in rich blues and greens. The river wound through the city, growing wider as it left the large public buildings near the center and stretched out past the smaller homes that formed an ever-expanding circle around the castle. “It’s Troy,” Orestes said. Danny yelped as something swept over their heads, the cross breeze almost making him loose his grip on Orestes’s shirt. “What—“ “What’s the matter, Orestes? Don’t you watch where you’re flying?” Danny looked up to see Sandry and Astyanax hovering above them, both grinning madly as Bellephron nickered and flew a circle around Pegasus, making the other horse snort with annoyance. “I’m letting Danny look at the city,” Orestes said calmly. “I don’t feel the need to show off.” “Is that a challenge?” Astyanax asked, eyes bright. His black hair was blowing like a crown around his head, his wild expression a perfect match for the horse he was riding. “Your father said we shouldn’t race,” Orestes said, although he didn’t sound as unenthusiastic as Danny might have hoped. “Do you see his father up here?” Sandry asked, and Danny gulped as she let go with both arms to gesture around her. Her braid whipped behind her head like a dark gold banner, twisting in the wind. “Good point,” Astyanax told her. “Styx, I don’t think—“ Orestes started. “Well, if you’re too scared…” Sandry said. Danny saw Orestes’s shoulders tighten. “I’m not scared,” he said. “Great,” Astyanax said cheerfully. “Try not to get swept away!” he yelled, and then dug his knees into Bellephron’s side. The horse whinnied with joy, and as Danny watched, half fascinated and half horrified, it spread its wings and took off flying away from the castle, enormous wings flapping as it soared across the sky. Orestes muttered something under his breath in a language Danny didn’t recognize. “I’m sorry,” Orestes said. “I didn’t mean to make him do that—“ “It’s okay,” Danny said. “Um, Astyanax won’t let them fall, will he?” “Nah, he knows what he’s doing.” There was a pause, and then Orestes said, “I could beat him, you know. If we could go a bit faster.” “What?” Danny asked incredulously. “But they’re already so far away.” “I could still catch them,” Orestes said, and Danny could hear an undercurrent of excitement in his voice. “Astyanax is good, but...” he glanced back at Danny and grinned. “I’m better.” Danny hesitated. He was afraid to fall, but Orestes sounded so excited, and besides, he didn’t want to let Sandry beat them. “Go for it,” he said. “What? Danny, are you sure?” Orestes said. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” “I’m sure,” Danny said, although his heart was thudding like crazy. “Just, um, don’t let me fall off or anything.” “Oh, there’s no chance of that,” Orestes said, and now he actually sounded like the kid he was, instead of the undersized adult he’d acted like since Danny had met him. “Hold on tight, and I won’t let anything happen to you.” “Oh—.” The rest of the word was stolen from Danny’s mouth as Orestes gave a shout and pulled sharply on the reins, and the next thing Danny knew they were rocketing downward in a dive straight towards the city, the buildings rushing up towards them with alarming speed.
An excerpt from
DWARVES 7 By ONIYIDE FRANCIS Contributing Writer
Sixth Chapter: The Invasion
The field was now dark; the dwarves had no idea how long they had been out there, but they knew it was for a few hours. The only source of light that they had was the fireflies, the moon and a small lamp in the distance that looked as if it was getting closer. “What is that? Is someone coming over here?” Paley asked. “Guys maybe we should avoid them,” Timmy said. “I really hope that they are friendly, I can’t lie here anymore,” Manny complained. Letty walked over to Al, to make a suggestion. “Al, we should go over there. I don’t think they mean us harm but if they do we will have the element of surprise.” “That’s a good idea; there was a lot of commotion from the town, who knows what came from there. I’ll tell the others,” and with that Al gather the other dwarves and he explained the plan. They would split up into two groups and flank these mysterious people from the side. “I hope they are enemies, I’ve been aching to use this all day long,” Riley said as he swung is dangerous weapon around. “Riley you are definitely coming with me,” Al exclaimed. As they got closer they could see it was a carriage and there were was one man on each side. There was also a young looking man who appeared to have been in battle and had not even taken the time to wash up. He went into the carriage and came out with a familiar sight, it was Doopey. “No way,” Al could hear Riley say. Al heard the man ask Doopey if he knew exactly where his friends were, Doopey being Doopey of course had no idea. At this point the carriage was not moving and as far as Al could surmise, Doopey was acting out of his own will. Al knew he better get Doopey’s attention before he has the carriage go into the forest, but Manny beat him to it. “Doopey? Doopey!” Manny screamed as he got up and ran toward the carriage. Manny ran as if he was never shot by an arrow or he was outside in a field all day. The guards were startled especially since Doopey jumped off the carriage and used one of them to break his fall. All the others got up as well and went to greet him too and ask him a barrage of questions. “Doopey, how in the world did you even get over there?” Paley asked. “I…walked,” Doopey responded. They all looked at him like they wanted to ask a follow up question but they knew it would be futile. “It doesn’t matter, he’s all right and that’s the important thing,” Letty putting things into perspective as usual. “Every time I think you can’t surprise me, you do just that,” Riley said as he patted Doopey on the back. “Good evening, dwarves. My name is George and your friend here has helped us a lot,” George said as he motioned toward Doopey. “I know you have questions and they will be answered, but first you must be tired and hungry. There is a feast being prepared in town and you will have your minds and bellies full.” With that they all got in the carriage and headed back to town, thankful for their brief respite. The dwarves sat at a large table that was located at the mayor’s home, they were celebrating the liberation of the town and the safety of friends. The food was plentiful and the drink; even more so. This meeting was not just about having a good time; serious business was to be discussed in light of recent events. “Excuse me, excuse!” George shouted to get attention. “I promised you dwarves some answers and now is as good as time to deliver” The mayor stood next to George and whispered something in his ear; George bowed a bit and sat back down. The mayor had a long face with a great beard that was starting to gray; he looked as he has seen many winters but not so much that he could not hold his own in a fight. “I want to apologize for what you have been through and I’m happy one of you was able to help us. I’ll get straight to the point, those people who shot at you and had taken over our little town were soldiers from Vania,” the king explained. All the dwarves were surprised and looked at each other, all save for Doopey; who didn’t understand anyway and Al who did not want to betray that he knew anything about that place, they were supposed to be undercover after all.
18
Literary
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
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An excerpt from
EDIE GIRARD AND THE ORPHAN SOCIETY By EMILY HELCK Contributing Writer
I didn’t think we’d be able to sleep, but after talking things over upstairs for a little while, one by one my companions began to drift off. Lou first, of course, with Pompom on her bed, taking up mostly the whole thing. They wrapped around each other, and their rhythmic breathing soon became too relaxing even for me to resist. I fell into a troubled sleep, full of nightmares. You ever get the one where you’re being chased, but your legs don’t work? Eventually these gave way to calmer things. I dreamed I was on the beach, with Ma and Lou. Then Pa was there. It turned out he had never died at all, it was just a mistake. He said sorry for scaring us. He hugged me and we lit a campfire on the beach, like we had done once when I was very young. I breathed a deep breath of the sweet sea air, that I hadn’t smelled in so long. But as I took this deep gulp, something burned. The smoke, the fire was smoking too much. I started coughing. I coughed hard, hard enough to wake myself up. I sat up in bed, the dream still with me. Was Pa really alive? My head cleared. No, he wasn’t. It just felt like it. It was just a dream. Except. What was that smell? I sniffed, and looked around. I noticed Pompom was up now, doing the same. I sniffed the air hard. It was smoke. Pompom hopped out of bed, and let out a low growl under the door. I walked over to where she stood and opened the door. The smoke and heat hit me like a kick in the guts. “Pompom, get Lou!” Somehow she knew, she knew I was scared, and she let out her sharp alarm bark. I ran to the beds, shaking my friends and screaming “Get up, get up!” Pompom nosed them until they were sitting up, rubbing their eyes. “We have to get out!” Alice was up first. She knew what to do, she was always so good at being in charge. “Move downstairs, now! Bess, you first and get Meme. Lou, hold onto Pompom!” Alice brought up the rear, as we squinted and coughed down the stairs. Bess was in Meme’s room, she screamed for Alice. “She needs help!” Alice pushed past us to the front of the house to get to her. Together they pulled Meme, who was coughing very badly, out into the fresh air. Harold was in front of me, and I could feel Lou and Pompom’s steps behind me. Harold and I tumbled out the front door, coughing and gasping on the ground. I heard a crash behind me and crawled away from the house. I reached back to hold Lou’s hand. But there was nothing there. Lou wasn’t behind me, and neither was Pompom. I looked around the yard, counting one, two, three other bodies silhouetted against the fire’s red flow. No five and six, no dog and girl. I heard Pompom’s sharp bark again, and felt the whole world stop. They were still in the house. Sound became muted, and everything slowed down. I screamed her name and ran toward the house, stumbling. Someone, two someones, I guess Harold and Alice, grabbed my arms and wouldn’t let me in. I couldn’t lose her. She was in there alone. I had to get to her. I fought with them, but the two were stronger than me and I collapsed in sobs and screaming. As I stared at the house, now totally engulfed, I saw a silhouette dash by, seemingly into the flames. My mind was playing tricks on me, or else it was a ghost, or an angel, come to take my sister to heaven. I stood, hugging my arms to myself, not knowing what to do. She was lost, I knew it. She couldn’t survive in there. But then, I heard that bark. That sharp bark of Pompom’s. I looked up, at the dog charging through the flames, with an unidentifiable lump attached to her. She trotted out into the yard like it was any other day, shook herself, and the lump fell off her back and broke into two pieces. Two moving pieces. I knew one of them had to be Lou. I crawled over, and got close enough to see her face. Her beautiful china doll face. She was coughing and smudgy and her beautiful hair was crispy, but she was breathing. She was still here. My sister was still here, I hadn’t lost her. The sobs came up again, my throat burning from the smoke, I cried all over again while we hugged each other. There was a crashing sound from the house; the top floors had fallen to the ground.
An excerpt from
EYE OF THE CARDINAL By CELESTE KMIOTEK Contributing Writer
COURTESY OF LAUREN VOGELSTEINR
LIBBY AND THE SUPER SHAPE SOLVERS By LAUREN VOGELSTEIN Contributing Writer
Hello! My name is Libby and these are my friends Nate and Madeline. I am a circle. I have smooth round edges. I love to roll wherever I go. Nate is a square. He had 4 sharp points at his edges. I like to wear my hair sharp and spiky and fit into the corners of pages. Madeline is a triangle. She has 3 sharp points at her edges. I like to sit up straight on my base edge and model my newest bow. Together we are the Super Shape Solvers! Whenever anyone has a problem… we help! When a wagon needs a wheel… I roll on in! When lots of food needs to be carried… Nate slides on over as a box. When a seesaw needs to see and saw… Madeline perches herself into place. And at the end of the day… We all come together to make a home where everyone belongs!
A twig hit me in the face as we walked further and further away from my house. I don’t know why it was always my woods that we decided to explore on the weekends, especially since there hadn’t been anything exciting there since we were about seven and realized we could look at deer tracks -- big whoop -- but for some reason we always walked back there when we were bored. Something about primitive rotten-log bridges that always broke made the guys happy, and Anne and I could gossip without accidentally running into the gossip-ee. Not that that had happened before. “You guys! We need to plan!” Anne was whining now, and she knew it. Chris and I were chatting about running, and she hated being left out of things -- and she detested running. She said her asthma held her back, but I had a feeling it was her pride. “Anne, I know I started this, but we don’t have much of an option,” Pete tried to reason. “Dawn said Mr. Carfluck wouldn’t really talk to her, and Mrs. Baron sure isn’t going to tell. We could ask Brandon, but I doubt he pays attention to what his mom does at the PFA meetings. Actually, judging by his personal hygiene, I don’t think he pays attention to much besides Playstation.” “But we have to try! Please! Come on, guys, we’re in eighth grade. We’ve obeyed the rules for almost nine years” -- Chris coughed at this point -- “we only have so long to make a difference. Shouldn’t our difference be letting there be more after-school activities? They already got rid of electives, and the only sport we have is water polo now. Gym class is a joke. It’s simply not fair, since we can’t join the public school teams. If they want to be re-accredited, they need teams, and right now, they’re failing. They’re failing every kid who just wants to be a kid after school. Don’t you miss being a Cardinal?” Pete peered oddly at Anne through his glasses. Actually, we all looked at her weirdly. We were used to impassioned speeches (There was one in fifth grade that was a doozy. Something about why the pizza was burnt at lunch and our personal safety and wellbeing.), but this one made sense. And actually seemed a little important. “Anne, we’re kids -- barely teenagers,” Chris said. “We aren’t supposed to do this. This is adult stuff. Not our stuff. We can only fight back so much.” “Even our parents weren’t concerned,” Pete added. “Yeah, Chris and Dawn should have a track team, but this is over our heads. We have drama.” “We have drama because it’s what people do after school. We goof around and have fun. We do it to socialize. And none of us are going to ever do it again. But Dawn and Chris will do track in high school, and I still want to do soccer but they cut that too. And you want to do baseball, but didn’t they vote that down two years ago? We do drama because it’s there.” “It’s too small a school for those things.” “Is it? Poll the class. How many guys wouldn’t jump at the chance of being on a team, with warm-up suits and posters and face paint and all. I’d go out for baseball just for the swag. Remember watching the football games in fifth grade? I miss that. We all miss that.” “What if we just talked to Mr. Riley?” I asked Chris. “He might know something.” “You already talked to him, and did he say anything?” “No,” I said, and Chris gave me a look I didn’t recognize. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know something! We only emailed. What if we asked? Nothing will hurt from asking. Especially Mr. Riley. He likes us!” “Dawn, are you sure?” Pete looked at me with his huge blue eyes, magnified behind the lenses, as if he pitied me -- as if I were a child. I hated when he did that. “What if you find out that there’s no chance it’s coming back? What if you find out that Mr. Riley got in trouble? What if you find out the team wasn’t good enough? You might be happier not knowing. Just accept that it was something stupid.” “No. I’m going to try. I’m a captain, aren’t I?” Anne beamed and Pete nodded. I looked at Chris, whose lips twitched into a smile. He was still giving me that weird look, but his eyes were warm and his shoulders relaxed a little. “Please?” I asked. “You’ve got it,” he nodded and smiled. “But nothing illegal. Now let’s keep going. I want to see if we can add a railing to the bridge.”
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THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
Literary
19
QUIRK AND GARY By ANGIE CHEN Contributing Writer
1. Quirk Quirk was a porcupine who loved to read. He’d been reading ever since he was a tiny baby porcupine without spikes. When he got older, he moved into a nice spacious tree in the redwood forests for a study abroad trip. In his nest, he had books of all kinds. Books about princesses, dragons, 7th grade algebra, and even an interior-designing book his mother gave him. Yep, Quirk had it all. The only thing he loved more than reading was writing. Quirk wrote just about anything. He wrote about his daily walks near the lake. He wrote about his breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He even wrote about himself on epic adventures. Life was great for Quirk. Except he had writer’s block.
2. Gary Gary was a bookworm who loved to eat. Bookworms are like earthworms, but they like books—except Gary ate books. He lived under a rock next to Quirk’s tree. (But Quirk didn’t know it yet) Gary ate anything. Apple cores, egg shells, coffee grounds, and even wet pizza boxes. But books were his favorite snacks. Mystery books tasted fishy. Some romance books were too sweet. Gossip magazines were his favorite—they were just the right amount of juicy. There was only one problem. Gary was messy. Very, very messy. He only cleaned under his rock every two months. Life was great for Gary under his rock. Except he was always losing his books because he was just so messy.
3. Quirk and Gary One day, Gary had no more books to nibble on because they were all lost. He looked for it by the tree next to his rock. “Maybe it’s up in that hole in the tree,” said Gary. And so he slithered up the scratchy bark. As he got closer to the top, his tiny bookworm nose twitched. He was in Quirk’s home—which was filled with books. “Books! I’m in heaven!” he said, burrowing into a nearby dictionary. Gary was so busy gobbling up the page that he didn’t notice Quirk packing a knapsack at the other side of the room.
COURTESY OF ANGIE CHEN
An excerpt from
VIVE LA MARIE-FRANCE! By NOËLLE GALLAGHER Contributing Writer
Marie-France found it hard enough to have a new baby in the family. Now she had to share a room with baby Margaret. Marie-France felt her eyes sting, and she sniffled quickly to hold back the tears. She looked defeated, almost unlike herself. Then Margaret’s cry was heard over the baby monitor. As Dad left quickly to see what was wrong, Marie-France’s eyes narrowed, sending rays of anger at the mangled baby cry. Marie-France watched him leave, and then she jumped to her feet. “Louis, mon cher, please help.” She knelt at her brother’s feet and put on her cutest French accent. Ever since she was four, she had used the accent to get what she wanted. “For pete’s sake, enough with the French accent,” Louis said. She stood up. “Can I share a room with you?” “No way.” “Please.” “Learn to deal with Margaret.” “I don’t like her.” “You have to love your sister.” “No I don’t,” she said. “Well, m’amselle, you are royal pain,” said Louis, and he left the room. Marie-France turned to David. “Your room?” she asked. “But Margaret is so cute!” he said. “I don’t think so.” “That’s silly.” Marie-France glared at David. How dare he turn against her? This was not fair. She ran out of the room and up the stairs. She stopped short at her bedroom. The baby was in her room. Ugh. Marie-France quickly grabbed her picture book of The Little Prince. She ran into the bathroom, and locked the door. She couldn’t read all the words, but she tried. She could look at the pictures at least. She struggled with four chapters, but no one came to find her. She ventured out into the hallway. No one was there. So annoying, but this wasn’t over! She would try a different way to get that baby out of her room. Marie-France went to bed without a fuss, which surprised everyone. She brushed her teeth, said her prayers, and went to sleep without shedding a tear. Margaret was as happy as could be. That annoyed Marie-France even more. When the lights went out, the house was silent. Marie-France grabbed her pillow and her blankets and headed for the hallway. She stopped in front of Louis’ door. The light was still on. She could wait. She sat down and watched the crack in the door, waiting for the light to go out. It was taking so long that Marie-France considered going back to her room, but finally the room went dark. Marie-France quietly opened the door and crept in. She made a bed on the floor out of her pillows and blankets. Just as she nestled down, she heard a voice come out of the darkness. “Are you crazy?” “Louis, you should be asleep.” Louis turned on the light. “What are you doing in here?” he asked. “I can’t sleep with Margaret,” Marie-France said. “Is she being loud?” “No.” “Then what’s the deal?” “My room smells like baby. “We” do not like it.” It was the “royal we.” Marie-France only used the first person plural when she was being super stubborn. “You sure you want to give up so easily?” Louis asked. “Yes. She stinks.” “Come on Marie-France.” Louis picked her up, pillow, blankets, and all, and brought her back to her room. Louis placed her in her bed and sat down next to her. “You have to stay here. Do you understand?” he asked. “Louis, I don’t want to share my room.” “It’s not so bad. I shared my room with David for a few years.” “I don’t remember that.” “You were both little. But he had a hard time sleeping through the night, and somehow, he was able to sleep in my room. That’s what families do. They have to help each other. I didn’t want to share my room either, but once I did, it wasn’t so bad.” “But you liked David.” “Not when I had to share a room with him. I was angry. After a few days I realized my mistake. So give it a shot. You might surprise yourself.” Marie-France wasn’t completely convinced, but Louis was trying. She kissed his cheek and climbed under the covers. He tucked her in. “I still don’t like her,” she said, “but I’ll try to share my room. For you.” “That’s a good girl.” “Now leave us. We need our beauty sleep.” Louis shook his head. “Yes your majesty,” he said with a smile. He leaned in and kissed his sister’s forehead as she sleepily waved for him to leave her presence. She did not like sharing a room, but it was still hers. Margaret was a guest in her room. Marie-France would make sure that the baby never forgot that.
20
Literary
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
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An excerpt from
GEM By JENNIFER ROSARI Contributing Writer
1 A stack of freshly folded clothes sat on Gemma’s small but comfortable, pink sheeted bed. Gemma had spent the day rummaging through her closest in an attempt to gather her nicest clothes. She hadn’t seen her father in nearly six months, and since her parents had separated a few years back, Gemma saw less and less of her father. “Are you sure you’ll be okay this weekend?” Her mother asked as she watched Gemma’s fragile face become paler and her eyelashes flutter. “We can ask Dad to come pick you up another time if you aren’t feeling well.” Gemma’s mother knew that she often became anxious, her face was readable, and she’d at times fidget nervously. Her nails were bitten to its lowest point and her cuticles were raw. She was always to herself and incredibly timid. She didn’t speak much and didn’t do very well with strangers. Gemma had seen her father so little since the separation that he started to feel like a stranger. She had forgotten what it was like to have him present. His scent, his voice, his laugh, and his mere existence sometimes seemed as though it were fading. She didn’t want to forget him, but sometimes it hurt less and she missed him less when she couldn’t remember him as well. “If I forgot what he’s like,” she thought, “what if he forgot what I’m like?” The thought of being forgotten by her father made her stomach curl. She wanted to push the stack of clothes off of her bed and hide under her covers until she felt better. She knew her mother would cuddle her if she did so and that comforted her. But instead she sat on the edge of her bed, tracing the patterns of her favorite purple floral shirt that sat at the top of the stacked clothing with her finger. She turned her face away from her mother’s stare because she knew if her mother had asked her what was wrong she would cry. “Do you think he’ll notice that my hair has gotten longer?” Gemma asked her mother. She remembered that her father had once told her he thought girls were the prettiest when they had long hair. Keeping this in mind, Gemma tried avoiding getting her haircut every few months with her mother. She wanted her hair to grow long, and she secretly wanted her father to tell her she was pretty too. “Of course he’ll notice! It’s the longest you’ve had your hair!” Her mother replied. “It’s still not very long. I wish it were up to my waist.” “It nearly is, Gem.” She liked whenever her mother would call her Gem. She knew her mother had named her Gemma precisely because of gemstones, she said she would have named her Gem but she wanted her name to be a bit more subtle. Nonetheless, she loved her name, and mostly because she loved the reasons why her mother picked it. Her mother had said upon first seeing Gemma after birth, she was the most beautiful thing she had ever held as beautiful as a rare gemstone.
2 Being raised as an only child, Gemma became accustomed to being alone, and after her parents’ separation, Gemma developed a stutter that made her terribly introverted. “Will dad be able to realize that I’ve been taking speech therapy? Will he see a difference?” Gemma wondered. She was afraid that once she saw her father again, her nerves would erase everything she was taught at speech therapy and she would retreat to her old ways, when her parents struggled to understand whatever she was trying to say. She dreaded the looks of confusion on their faces whenever she’s opened her mouth, and she was embarrassed whenever they’d ask her to repeat what she said once more but slowly. Gemma had been taking speech therapy for five months now, but her mother had kept it a secret and so did she. Her father had not known. He had missed her improvements and part of her growth. Gemma hoped to surprise her father, she hoped when she spoke he would understand. However, the thought and pressure just made her feel more anxious.
An excerpt from
THE TIGER OF SUNDARBANS By PIYALI SYAM Contributing Writer
“One morning, so early that everyone else was still asleep,” Abhay’s grandfather said, “I was taking a stroll on the balcony. I can remember it so clearly, even though your father was then the same age you are now. I can still see the mists of the early dawn, feel their chill. Well…that day, I saw something extraordinary.” He paused and looked into his grandson’s eyes, which were wide with fascination. He was hanging on his every word. “A big, catlike silhouette was moving through the mist. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The rare and elusive king of all animals, on my doorstep! It must not have seen me, for if it had, surely it would have run away, for they are shy animals. “Quietly, I peeked my head in through the kitchen window, where one of our maids was working. She was making breakfast, but I asked her to rouse your father and his brothers and sisters. They couldn’t miss this opportunity! “Luckily, the silhouette had stopped moving, so we had some extra time. It sat on the ground, laying its majestic form lengthwise. Then I saw it was followed by three smaller silhouettes just like it, which also lay on the ground next to it. They were playing, rolling around in the grass, raising their little paws in the air.” “Did Baba see them in time, Dadu?” Abhay asked, a genuine note of worry in his voice. Dadu smiled. “Your father was the first one to rush out onto the balcony. He had the sense to remain quiet, but he gasped in awe. ‘Wow, Baba’, I remember he said. ‘A tiger!’ “Unfortunately your aunts and uncles didn’t have the same sense. They stomped out onto the balcony like a herd of elephants, clumsy with drowsiness. ‘A tiger!’ ‘Look, it has babies!’ They were all so excited they couldn’t help but shout. ‘Shh!’ I warned, but it was too late. She had heard us. The mist cleared. For a second, we could see them all in their glory. Bright, orange-colored fur and black stripes…They were the most beautiful animals I had ever seen. “The mother looked at me. She seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. When her eyes met mine, I felt the strangest feeling, like I was…suspended in time. I stopped breathing. I was caught by her gaze; all I could do was stare into those great, yellow eyes that pierced straight through my soul. And then I noticed something very strange. The stripe markings under her right ear almost looked like they formed the ancient Indian symbol for Om. How peculiar, I thought. “She stood up abruptly, keeping her eyes on mine. She drew her cheeks back and bared her teeth. I could see hundreds of sharp fangs inside, and fear struck my heart. Then she turned and scampered off into the forest, again obscured by the mist. Her little ones, her cubs, followed her. My little ones were disappointed. ‘Ohh’ they groaned. But I told them to be thankful that God had granted them the very opportunity for such a great sight.” “Wow, Dadu. So you saw a real live tiger? And baby tigers?” “I sure did. But you know, Abhay, the story doesn’t end there.” His grandfather’s eyes twinkled. “It doesn’t?” and when Abhay gasped, he realized he hadn’t been breathing. “I decided to tell my father, your great-grandfather, about what we saw. He was staying with us in the bungalow, but was not able to join us on the balcony, for he was bedridden due to his age. I ran upstairs and recounted my experience to him. I could see his eyes widen in shock. He then told me something that I almost could not believe.” “What, Dadu? What did he tell you?” The boy bounced up and down on his stool in his eagerness to know. “He told me…’My son, you have seen Isha.’ ‘What is Isha?’ I asked. He said, ‘There is a rumor, told to me by my father, told to him by his fathers before him, of a mysterious tiger that lives in the jungles of India.’ This tiger, just like the one I and my children had seen, has the marking of Om upon her head. Legend tells that this sacred marking bestows her with immense but secret power. She lives forever, and quietly guards the wilderness and the creatures that live in it. However, she can be caught. If she is captured, she will bargain with her captor for her release, granting him one wish that his heart desires.” Abhay’s knuckles were white from gripping his seat so tightly. “Do you think it’s true, Dadu?” he whispered. “Do you think such a tiger exists?”
CHRIS 71/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
Literary
21
BAD GUYS By SOPHIA LEE Contributing Writer
Page 1 Sometimes Mitch wonders how it would be like to fight the “bad guys” in his body. He would take a sword like a knight and slay every single cancerous cell just so he wouldn’t have to go to the doctor. Mitch hates going to the doctor. Slowly, day-by-day, his treatment is making him lose hair. He is going bald.
Page 2 Mitch’s tired body is covered with dark blotches because he bruises easily. Sometimes his throat hurts, but mostly his head and his back. Luckily, Mitch has his best friend Charlie who lives right next door. When Mitch looks too sick to go to school, Charlie comes to visit. Charlie likes to use a sharpie to draw blotches on himself so Mitch wouldn’t be alone.
Page 3 Old clothes no longer fit Mitch’s tiny body. That doesn’t stop Mitch from having fun with his oversized clothes. He throws his shirts right over his head and runs around like a ghost. “Boo!” says Mitch to his mother as he jumps out from behind the couch. “Ahh! You scared me!” says his mother, laughing at her silly little ghost.
Page 4 There are days when he feels like puking, especially after his trips to the hospital. Going to the doctor is his least favorite thing in the world. “Dad, please don’t make me go to the hospital! It hurts and people are scary!” says Mitch. “Sorry buddy. If you don’t get treatment, you won’t get better. We need to catch those ‘bad guys’,” says his father.
Page 5 On the way to the hospital in his father’s car, he sees a park. Mitch’s parents used to bring him every day after school. “Can we go to the park after?” Mitch asks. “No, Mitch. You’re body is always tired after treatment. You have to rest at home,” says his mother.
Page 6
COURTESY OF SOPHIA LEER
When they arrived to the hospital waiting room, Mitch begins to complain. “This sucks! Hospitals suck! Everything sucks! I never get to play anymore!” he cries. “Pipe down, Mitch. The nurse is coming to bring you guys in,” says his mother. For the third time, his mother stayed outside while the nurse brings Mitch and his father inside to see the doctor. Mitch wonders why his mother stopped going in with them. Maybe she’s even more scared of doctors than Mitch. That must be it.
A DREAM By KIARA SHEPHERD Contributing Writer
Long and lean, Kyle leapt across the room, keeping her head up high and her arms above her head. She smiled at herself in the mirrors that lined the walls of the dance studio. She had always wanted to be a dancer. For as long as Kyle could remember she had been dancing. Her mother had the video footage to prove it. She was a natural dancer. Everyone told her so. She’d heard it almost her entire life. It was the one thing she stuck to. The class had been over for thirty minutes, but Kyle continued to dance in the studio. She always stayed an hour after class to dance. The twins were in gymnastics and soccer and Nicole usually volunteered to read at the children’s library. All of their extracurricular activities usually left Kyle on the other side of town for an extra hour. Their mother could only pick up so many children at one time. Those were her exact words when Kyle asked why she had to stay for an extra hour when all of the other girls were at the slushy shop enjoying ice cones and ices. “Hey kiddo.” Kyle looked at the door, keeping her posture in the process. She smiled and broke out of her position immediately. “Daddy.” She threw herself into his arms and hugged him. “Whoa!” He chuckled and spun them around the studio floor. “If I didn’t know any better I’d think you really loved me.” “Of course I do!” She giggled as he sat her back on the floor. “What are you doing here? Mom said you were gonna be gone until next Wednesday.” Daniel Whitney smiled at Kyle and motioned for her to get her things. “I was able to get home today. I hope that’s ok. If you want I can go back.” “What?!” Kyle’s large eyes doubled in size. “No! I want you to stay home.” “I was just kidding, Kyle.” He grabbed her dance bag and threw it over his shoulder. Kyle nodded and smiled brightly at him. “Mom says you have a recital coming up. Did I make it back in time?” “That’s next month,” Kyle waved at all of her instructors as they walked out the front door and into the parking lot. “At the end of the month.” A proud member of the United States Army, Daniel was away from home for months at a time on duty. Kyle hated it. He’d missed her recitals to serve the country and keep it safe. She was proud. But she hoped he wouldn’t miss her auditions too. “Buckle up, kiddo.” Kyle waited for her father to walk around the car to tell him the good news. Well, the news he had somehow confused with something else. When he was settled in the car, she turned to him. “Auditions for the high school are in two weeks.” “I thought you wanted to go to school with Nicole,” Daniel checked his rearview mirror before backing out of his space. “That’s what we spoke about last time I was home.” “No,” Kyle shook her head quickly. “You and Mom talked about me going to school with Nicole,” she pointed out and pushed her dark hair out of her eyes. It had gotten damp with sweat and now the sharp ends poked at her eyes. “I want to go to the performing arts school. Remember? Where Erica goes.” She mentioned her cousin. “But, she’s graduating this year. You won’t know anyone.” It was no secret to Kyle that her father hadn’t liked the idea of Nicole going to high school by herself. He hated it even more that Kyle wanted to go to a school where she didn’t know anyone. If she went to school with Nicole he knew she’d be safe. Someone would be there to protect her. “We didn’t know anyone at Jefferson when Nicole started,” she said defiantly, clinging to her dreams of going to the performing arts school tightly. She couldn’t let go. “I knew Mr. Mitchell,” Daniel said before glancing over at Kyle with her arms crossed over her chest and her jaw set. “Ok, Kylie, what’s this really about, hmm? Why don’t you want to school with Nicole?” “I want to go to Baker. That’s all,” she shrugged her shoulders. “It has nothing to do with Nicole.” “I think it does.” He pressed. Kyle looked out the window at the familiar streets. They had lived in the same neighborhood her entire life. She knew everyone and everyone knew her. It was always “that’s Daniel and Gisela’s girl” or “that’s Nicole’s little sister.” She wanted a break from those labels. She was Kyle. She wasn’t Nicole’s little sister or Daniel and Gisela’s girl. She had a name. She wished people would use it more.
Sports
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
Yankees Pitching Suspect Early in 2012 By MICKEY CONNOLLY Contributing Writer
With baseball season underway, New York City is once again buzzing with the success of the Yankees. The Yankees have kept pace early with a 13-9 record through their first 22 games to start off the season. This is no surprise to baseball fans, as the Yankees have consistently been a powerhouse organization with a history of 27 World Series Championships, though it is probably welcome news for a fan base that has watched its team stumble out of the gate the last few years. Over the course of these past 22 games, the Yankees have experienced a real lopsidedness in terms of their performance. Offense has not been an issue. In fact, the Yanks are currently third overall in runs scored with 120, third overall in batting average with a cumulative .273, and number two in on-base percentage with .350 percent. In layman’s terms, the Yankees are not having any trouble at the plate. The team has been relying heavily on their offensive prowess due to a weakness at the mound. Pitching, however, is lacking thus far this season. Statistically speaking, the Yankees are 25th overall in ERA, 28th overall in quality starts and 21st overall in WHIP. These stats might certainly make Yankees fans wonder what’s going on at the mound. It is rather puzzling that such a skilled, winning team could be having issues on one side of the ball while dominating on the other. What exactly is the cause of this imbalance? We can quickly rule out experience as a fault. “CC” Sabathia has been in the league since 2001, first pitching for the Cleveland Indians, followed by the Milwaukee Brewers and leading up to the Yankees. Another Yanks starter, Ivan Nova, is relatively new, entering the Majors in 2010, but he does not lack experience. Since 2010, Nova has won 20 of the 26 games pitched. So what has led to the team’s imbalance? For years now, much of the offensive success has been due to the short-stop slugger, Derek Jeter,
HERROL ANDERSON/NEWSDAY/MCT
Yankee starting pitcher “CC” Sabathia has an impressive record early (3-0), despite a high ERA of 5.27, good for only third-best on the team.
and so far, the script remains unchanged. Despite his age of 37 years, considered old in terms of professional sports, Jeter has maintained his place as a prime leader in the Bronx Bombers’ lineup. So far this year the captain’s batting average of .392 leads the team. He’s second in runs scored with 14, first in hits with 37 and third overall in RBI’s with 13. With such strong
leadership, the Yankees offense has been dominating. While the defense looks solid from a win-loss standpoint (8-3 among qualifying pitchers), the team is still waiting for such a leader to solidly emerge. After last season, most fans are expecting Sabathia to continue to assert himself as the alpha-pitcher, yet so far he has underwhelmed a bit. This season Sabathia has racked
up 35.1 innings pitched, has an ERA of 5.27, third amongst the Yankees starters and three wins. Ivan Nova has pitched 19 innings with three wins, and an ERA of 5.18, second amongst starters. While neither has a loss on their record, both sport ERAs above five, making pitching somewhat of a cause for concern for a team like the Yankees, who sit in a rock-solid AL East where the
current last-place team has a .500 record. With the current dominance at the plate, the Yankees should have another successful season, but unless the pitching improves, that might be all. Fans are hopeful that after stability amongst the pitchers is determined, there will be another Yankees championship.
Rangers Take the Senators in a Thrilling Game Seven; Look to Knock Out Capitals By MIKE MCMAHON Staff Writer
With top-seeded teams dropping like flies in a Stanley Cup Playoffs crowded with talent, the New York Rangers took a stand at home in a decisive game seven. Once down in the series three games to two, the Blueshirts fought hard to win in Ottawa 3-2 on April 23 and bring the series back to New York, where they made certain that both number one seeds wouldn’t face an early exit. As the Rangers’ faithful fans have come to expect, the hard-fought win was spearheaded by a fantastic effort from goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who had 26 saves on 27 shots, including a hope-killer for Ottawa fans with five minutes to go, blocking an at-the-net attempt from the Senators’ Kyle Turris. For a team that ended the season in the top five for both goals against and penalty kill percentage, it came as no surprise that a low-scoring, tenaciously-defended effort sprung them to the second round. In fact, it was defensemen that scored both goals for the Rangers, with Dan Girardi notching what was both the deciding goal and his first in an NHL playoff game.
Being that they are the highest remaining seed, the Rangers current series is against the lowest-remainingseed Washington Capitals, who won their own thriller of a first-round game seven in overtime against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions, the Boston Bruins, in Boston. In the seven game series, the Capitals won two of their four games by scoring four goals. Such a feat may be difficult to come by when playing the Rangers, who averaged only 2.2 goals allowed per game all season, and even less in the postseason’s opening round (1.7). A victory over the Capitals would be especially satisfying for the Rangers, who have been knocked out of the playoffs by Washington in both of their last two qualifying seasons. While the Rangers can stand confident in having faced a bit of adversity early on, the Capitals have been fighting off bleak circumstances for a month now. On March 27, Washington saw itself on the outside looking in, out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference and having to hope that the Buffalo Sabers didn’t win out to end the season. They’ve fought hard in every game since, twice needing a win in Boston to keep their Stanley Cup
dreams alive, and, against all odds, are still in it. If they know anything about the playoffs, the Rangers will know better than to consider this red-hot team as a free ticket to the next round. Through the first two games of the series, all trends hold up. The Rangers and Capitals are knotted up at one game apiece, .500 against one another just as they were during the regular season, and Lundqvist has only allowed a total of three goals. However this series ends, the season has been impressive for New York so far. By advancing to the conference semifinals, the Rangers have already made it as far as they have at any point in the last fourteen seasons. Lundqvist, the team’s MVP for five years running, posted the best win percentage of his career this season, and is only 30 years old. Even if they get bounced by Washington, this team has plenty of promise for the coming seasons. Their top-seeded finish and first-round playoff-series victory are bound to be valuable experiences going forward. One thing is for certain: If the Rangers can make it out of the conference semis, they have as good a shot as anyone to take home the trophy come the end of the tournament. They are
BRIAN JASINSKI/THE OBSERVER
The Rangers look to continue their success in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
guaranteed home-ice advantage as long as they’re in the tournament and will likely be a difficult obstacle for any
opponent as long as Vezina Trophyfavorite Lundqvist can maintain his stellar play.
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THE OBSERVER May 3, 2012
Sports
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Rams Baseball Hopes to Finish Strong By JOE SPARACIO Staff Writer
The Fordham Rams are showing encouraging signs, especially in conference, as the 2012 baseball season winds to a close. At 47 games into the season, the Fordham Rams are 19-28. Yet, this record does little to highlight some of the promising statistics of the Rams’ season thus far. While the team isn’t on pace to have the winning season that they had last year at 31-23-1, they still have a good record at home and in their conference. They lost three position players and five pitchers this season and still managed a 10-9 home record and an even better 10-8 Atlantic-10 (A-10) record. The team is hoping for a few more overall win while maintaining the respectable records that they have, both at Fordham and in their division. The team’s wins are often led by the efforts of infielder Mike Mauri, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’13 and pitcher Daniel Munday, FCRH ’12. Munday and Mauri were rewarded for their efforts during the second-to-last week in April, being named A-10 players of the week. Mauri was named A-10 Player of the Week for the first time, while Munday was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week for the third time in his career (but first since his rookie year). Mauri has had an outstanding week, batting .588 through this span, with a perfect fielding percentage and four multi-hit games. This past week is merely adding to his already excellent season; Mauri is leading the team in nearly everything, including RBIs (27), hits (53), and batting average (.319). Munday also had an excellent week, striking a career-high nine batters in the complete-game shutout he threw against La Salle on April 20th. Dominant pitching nearly always translates into wins, and Munday has to continue to attempt to replicate this stellar per-
COURTESY OF FORDHAM SPORTS
Fordham starting pitcher Joseph Charest celebrates a successful inning.
formance to propel the Rams to a great end to the season. Munday (43) and teammate Joseph Charest, FCRH ’13 (4-7) have been the core of the Rams pitching staff, sporting 4.14 and 3.76 ERAs respectively. This past week, the Rams travelled to Columbia to take on their old-time rivals the Columbia University Lions. While Columbia had won five out of the last six team
meetings, the Rams had swept last year’s double-header, and they hoped to do the same this year. The rivalry dates back to the 1880s, and while Fordham has struggled recently, the Rams lead the Lions overall, 68-49-2. After a lackluster first game in which Fordham lost 6-1, the Rams came back and split the double header, winning the second game
4-2. Though the bullpen allowed five runs, starter John Porter, FCRH ’12, (2-5) took the loss in game one, allowing one run on two hits in three innings. Game two was much better for the Rams. Tim Swatek, FCRH ’14, who had three hits in the series, hit the go-ahead two-run-single in the seventh inning to win Game two when the score was knotted at 2-2. Closer
Rich Anastasi, FCRH ’13, came and locked down the game for the Rams, earning his third save for the season. The Rams still have nine games left, including four conference games and nine home games. The team hopes to finish the season strong and maintain their effectiveness in-conference.
Fordham Softball Set to Make a Run at Conference By RANDY NARINE Sports Editor
With the Atlantic-10 (A-10) Championships less than a week away, the Fordham Rams softball team looks poised to make a serious run at a conference title. The Rams struggled at the start of the season as they faced stiff competition, including three teams ranked in the top 25. However, the team picked it up once conference play started, posting a 14-2 conference record, and improving their overall record to 3020. “I think the beginning of the season was rough because there were so many young kids playing new positions on defense,” Jen Mineau, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’12, said. “We’ve started to put it together now and have been playing really well.” Early season struggles were to be expected as the Rams had to deal with competition with a very inexperienced squad. The team has just eight upperclassmen in comparison to four sophomores and nine freshmen. “I think senior leadership has played a big role,” Mineau said. “The four of us start every game, and it helps to have a consistent presence on and off the field. We’re showing the new kids what to do, what to expect and we’re leading by example.” The seniors have played exceptional softball to this point, with Mineau and Lindsey Kay Bright, FCRH ’12, leading the way in conference play. Bright is leading the
BRIAN JASINSKI/THE OBSERVER
Pitcher Jen Mineau, FCRH ’12, has been the leading force of an excellent softball team.
team with a .524 conference batting average and a .397 overall batting average. “She’s started in left field since her freshmen year and has really found her way this year,” Head Coach Bridget Orchard said. “She’s been a great senior leader who gets a lot of hits. She has over
200 hits and that’s only the fifth time in Fordham softball history. She’s just really stepped up her play to another level.” Mineau has been just as dominant pitching as Bright has been hitting. Mineau has a 24-11 record with a 1.64 ERA and 28 complete games. She’s been even more im-
pressive in the A-10 with a 13-2 record and a 0.80 ERA. “I’ve pitched well for most part,” Mineau said. “I’ve pitched a lot of innings, which is good because it’s my senior year and I want to pitch.” Orchard added, “She’s an AllAmerican pitcher this season who
has carried the team. She’s number two in strikeout and we can win every game she pitches. We just need to get her one or two runs because she gets a lot of shutouts.” The Rams will need to continue their recent strong play as they have a huge two game set against conference leading UMass. UMass has gone undefeated in conference to this point but a two game sweep would greatly improve Fordham’s chances of winning the regular season crown. “We’re really excited and a bit anxious,” Orchard said. “It’s a big weekend with UMass coming in. Hopefully we’ll take the number one seed from them. We’re happy to be put in position to play UMass and see what they have.” Mineau shared her coach’s enthusiasm, but stressed that the regular season crown isn’t the ultimate goal. “We’re already locked into the number two seed with a first round bye. Regular season championships don’t mean all that much. Of course we’d like to win but we just want to win the tournament right now. That’s our only goal at this point.” Orchard thinks that this team has gelled at the right time and can really make a run at something special. “We’re very confident if all of the pieces fall together,” Orchard said. “If our defense and our hitting perform, our pitching can take us far. The goal is to improve upon last year’s regional showing and make it to the superregionals.”
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Sports
May 3, 2012 THE OBSERVER
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Fordham Golf Turns in a Winning Spring By MIKE MCMAHON Staff Writer
Over the past several months, the Fordham golf team has enjoyed a considerable amount of success, most recently by sharing in the accomplishment of golfer Brian Engstrom, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’15, whose 13thoverall finish at the Peacock invitational was good enough named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. Accomplishments like this are what tell the real story of the spring season. If you were to focus on the Fordham golf team’s eighth place finish at the Atlantic-10 (A-10) Championships, an event that was shortened by a three-day rain cancellation, you would be overlooking what has been an impressive season. The team took home fourth place at the Peackock Invitational, a strong follow-up showing after winning the Rhody Invitational just over a week earlier. After finishing out the fall portion of the season with a first place finish at the Farleigh Dickinson University Golf Invitational, the team began the spring by continuing to win, this time at the La Salle Spring Invitational, where senior team captain Devon O’Rourke, FCRH ’12, placed second following a tie-breaker to determine the winner. In fact, all seven of Fordham’s team competitors had individual finishes in the top 20. The victory had the team at a final score of 621, 10 strokes ahead of next-best Iona. The team win at the Rhody Invitational was a closer finish, with Fordham staying ahead of second place Sacred Heart by a mere three strokes. Both spring season team victories featured strong performances by Jason Del Rosso, FCRH ’13 who finished sixth overall at La Salle, and an impressive third overall at the Rhody Invitational in Rhode Island. Also vital to the team’s two wins was Connor
COURTESY OF FORDHAM SPORTS
Fordham golfer Jason Del Rosso, FCRH ’13, has been an integral part of the golf team.
Monaghan, FCRH ’13, who placed seventh overall in both spring wins. “We really had it going this spring,” Monaghan said. “Overall, the spring went very well. Obviously we didn’t play as well as we would have liked to in the A-10’s, but we got two wins in the books.” As for the fall, Monaghan noted, “It’s going to be hard to replace
team captain Devin O’Rourke, but we have a few guys who showed up this season in Pat Herlihy (FCRH ’13), Brandon Nolan (FCRH ’14), and Brian Engstrom (FCRH ‘15).” About Engstrom in particular, Monaghan observed how “he has come a long way since the fall.” As long as he can keep up his current pace, Monaghan should be a vital
part of the team’s effort to continue succeeding in the fall. At the end of the spring the team has collected two fourth place finishes and two team wins. Add that to their fall 2011 campaign and the team is sitting pretty with three wins, a second place finish and a couple of fourths. The team got stronger as they gained chem-
istry over the fall and showed that with their consistent performance in the spring. Several returning members landed individual finishes in the top-10 and, as Monaghan expressed, are looking to “step it up” in the coming fall. They look to continue winning team events and, hopefully, fare even better in the coming season.
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