Observer Issue 8 (2015-2016)

Observer the

AUGUST 27, 2015 VOLUME XXXV, ISSUE 8

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LC Overload: Space Difficulties

Photo Feature

By ANA FOTA News Co-Editor

The incoming freshman class holds the record for largest registered class at Fordham Lincoln Center (LC), with over 600 students. This significant increase in the number of students on campus could mean furthering LC’s issue with space availability.

With the opening of the new residential building on campus, McKeon Hall, came the possibility of a larger residential community at LC. Incoming freshmen classes are set to gradually increase over the span of several years, leading to both the freshman dorm and the upperclassmen residential building, McMahon Hall, being occupied at full capacity. According to Keith Eldredge, dean of students at LC, “ it’s all part of the plan of growing Fordham, by increasing the class size over three or four years in a row, before we get to the desired number of students on campus.” Ideally, all the beds in both residence halls would be filled.

The class of 2018, first to experience the newly opened freshman dormitory, was considerably larger than the previous class, with 556 students, as opposed to 449 in the class of 2017. Last year all the beds in McKeon were occupied, with the exception of a few last minute withdrawals. There were, however, three floors worth of vacancies in McMahon. “We knew that was going to happen,“ Eldredge said, “when we added McKeon we added a little over 430 beds and there was no way to add that many residential students all at once.” During the 2015-2016 academic year, there will also be freshmen living in the upperclassmen hall, on the fifth floor and half of the sixth. Jenifer Campbell, director of the Office of Residential Life at LC said that every freshman that got placed in McMahon expressed an interest in the building. “We were able to accommodate the acceleration of the see 2019 CLASS pg. 5

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The Observer Photo Team shared moments they captured from summer travels. Pictured above are rice farmers harvesting in the mountains of Vang Vieng, Laos. For more, see centerfold and www.fordhamobserver.com

New York and Fordham Await Papal Visit

By IAN SCHAEFER Staff Writer

Fifty years after the first papal visit to the United States, New York has begun preparing for the current pontiff’s visit next month. In anticipation of Pope Francis’ trip this September, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York has sent out an open invitation on their website to anyone who wishes to “welcome [Pope Francis] and share a message of charity” using videos, photos or text. Amongst the many who responded to the invitation are movie stars, presidential-hopefuls and professional athletes, though the majority of messages come from average Americans from all across the country.

Fordham University’s presi-

dent Fr. Joseph McShane – joined by members of our football team – submitted a short video to celebrate the Pope’s arrival in New York.

The project has become a moving mosaic of this country, with participants of diverse religious, ethnic and linguistic backgrounds coming together to welcome the first pope born in the Americas.

All of the celebration and excitement serves to accentuate the message that Pope Francis is coming to New York to deliver. His latest encyclical letter, “Laudato Si” is critical of contemporary society’s tendency to mistreat the environment at the expense of those who our economy has forgotten – those without food security, adequate housing, and who are often most dramatically affected by natural di-

sasters. Francis, who eschewed the use of the Popemobile during his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires in favor of public transportation, urgently appeals for “every person living on this planet” to end environmental degradation and work together to take greater care of our “common home.”

Drawing on his background as a chemist and the abundance of literature, scientific and spiritual, already written on the subject, the Pope calls for an acknowledgement of the “human origins of the ecological crisis,” as well as concrete changes on both the personal level and the global level to work towards a remedy. A piece filled with as much hope as it is criticism, this encyclical shows that the Pope will have much to say when he addresses

the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 25, as the international organization meets to discuss sustainable development and climate change.

Pope Francis’ trip to the United States will also include an address to Congress in Washington, DC, as well as a visit to Philadelphia for the World Meeting of Families. While in New York, he will attend a Vespers service in St. Patrick’s Cathedral the evening before his assembly with the UN the next morning.

Later that day, the Pope will hold a multi-religious ceremony at ground zero, visit a school in Harlem and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden before departing for Philadelphia. Find the full NYC Pope schedule on our website.

Inside

FEATURES

SPORTS

ARTS & CULTURE

Surviving Freshman Year

First Female NFL Coach

Dancing Our Masks Off

Your tips to FCLC

Jen Welter breaking glass ceiling

A dancer’s identifying experience in Israel

More than just music

Page 13

PAGE 14

PAGE 10

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THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

OPINIONS

The Rep of Rap

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August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

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Payment of Media Internships May Change

By JENNIFER MCNARY Layout Co-Editor & Asst. News Editor

Unpaid internships seemed to be a thing of the past after a federal district court judge in Manhattan, William H. Pauley III, ruled that Fox Searchlight studios broke New York and federal minimum wage laws by not paying two interns who worked on the set of “Black Swan.” However, the tide took a turn in favor of media companies on July 2 2015, Fox Searchlight won their appeal in favor of unpaid internships. So, what could this mean for Fordham students and the internship experience?

“Generally, most internships at big corporations tend to be very valuable, and most of them, up until recently, have been unpaid,” Brian Rose, professor of communications and media studies, said.

The movement towards making internships paid allows more students from different socioeconomic backgrounds the opportunity to have them.

“If people have wealthy parents then the experience is worth more than the money, but students not in that situation it is different,” Hugh Hansen, professor of media and law and the director of the Fordham Intellectual Property Law Institute, said. Students that need to make money during the year are left at a disadvantage, considering most would not be able to spend time they could be working for profit at an unpaid internship position.

Along with that, Hansen believes big companies are exploiting students and young graduates by not paying interns. “I think it is wrong when companies that have the money to pay their interns and they are just trying to reduce their bottom line,” Hansen said. Many large companies have the money to pay their interns but it wasn’t until cases like the Charlie Rose Action Litigation in 2012 that media companies made the switch to paying interns. Some large companies still have some unpaid internships, despite all of the lawsuits, like CBS where I am interning this semester.

“If you just take a lot of interns

JESSICA HANLEY/THE OBSERVER

The movement towards making internships paid allows more students from different socioeconomic backgrounds the opportunity to have them.

in and you’re not paying anything people can get lost in the shuffle, and not get supervised properly.” Hansen said. “They may be doing things that are not actually a learning experience.” These types of internships are not beneficial to the student other than something they can put on their resume.

“Some of them end up doing work that absolutely should be compensated. Others do very valuable work, and is not something that any employee has previously been paid for, and companies have done their best to provide these unpaid interns with a valuable academic experience,” Rose said.

There are six pieces of criteria that the Department of Justice established to test if the unpaid internship is lawful:

“1. The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; 2. The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; 3. The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; 4. The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; 5. The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and 6. The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.”

Rose went on to not discourage students from taking unpaid internships. He teaches the internship seminar course at the Lincoln Center campus. “I think that 80 percent of the class has a very good experience with their unpaid internship, and that is traditionally what internships have been.”

Offering college credit is normally how most companies get around paying their interns. However, there are mixed feelings about whether or not that is a fair trade. “I don’t think there is any question that it is exploitation,” Rose said in regard to receiving college credit. Others think that it would be an incentive to take an unpaid internship. Chelsea Landman, (FCLC) ‘16, who has had a paid internship at Sesame Workshop said, “I would take an unpaid intern-

ship if I felt that the position would be a valuable enough learning and networking experience, and I could get school credit for it.”

The legal disputes that led to many interns getting payment was a victory for undercompensated interns But, “now that Fox Searchlight has won their appeal, I think that the movement is to start paying interns over the past year is probably going to go back now,” Rose said.

However, the appeal was only just won in July. Considering the win is so recent, “it is really anyone’s guess what is going to happen,” Rose said.

“Whether the trend will continue, we really don’t know.”

If students are unsure whether they should be compensated for their unpaid internship, visit http:// unpaidinternslawsuit.com/.

Fashion Law Degree at Fordham is A First To Be Directed by Fordham’s Fashion Law Institute Director

By MARIANYS MARTE Contributing Writer

On June 22, Fordham Law School (LAW) became the first accredited law school to offer a degree in fashion law, consisting of a combination of intellectual property, cargo, and contractual law. The degree was created by Fashion Law Institute director Susan Scafidi, in conjunction with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, founder of fashion company DVF and President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Fordham undergraduates now also have a fashion minor, which was introduced in fall 2014.

The fashion law program will be offered both full-time and parttime, offering two degrees: a Master’s of Studies in law (MSL), for professionals interested in fashion law, and a Master’s of Law (LLM), for those who already have a Juris Doctor law degree. The American Bar Association has approved the program and it also has the support of von Furstenberg. Susan Scafidi, director of the Fashion Law Institute, said this “new era of transparency” is meant to fulfill the mission of the the Institute, which is to offer advice to the fashion industry and fashion designers by educating them. Almost every decision that is made in the fashion world involves law, according to Scafidi. “Whether a designer wants to open a new

WALLY SKALIJ/ LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA TNS

Designer Diane Von Furstenberg (pictured) partnered with the Fordham Law School to fund the degree.

boutique, export their merchandise elsewhere or decide on a company dress code, the law must be involved,” Scafidi added. The purpose

of this program is “to promote legal literacy,” Scafidi said. According to her, designers need to understand the law and now Fordham is open-

ing the law school doors to the fashion industry.

Within the first 24 hours the program had its first applicant. “It

is important that we’re training people who want to study that industry,” Scafidi said. Not only do designers need legal training, but business training as well. This program provides them with the legal training necessary for this to happen. With the rise of the Fashion Law program, students are curious to know if we will see a change in the undergraduate program. Eavan Schmitt, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC ‘16), said, “Hopefully the introduction of the Fashion Law degree will reinforce support for the minor, particularly among the faculty and administration, where other fashion minors and myself have found it to be somewhat lacking.”

As for the minor becoming a major, there is no new information.

However, fashion minors are definitely not opposed to it. “The minor should absolutely become a major, either free-standing or as a collaboration between the Theatre and Visual Arts departments, where there is already a Pre-Professional Design concentration that would dovetail nicely with fashion design classes Schmitt said. Courtney Romans, (FCLC ‘16), agrees saying, “There’s definitely a lot of interest, so I think it could be a really popular major.

Plus, being in New York City attracts a lot of different people.”

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Fordham Names New Theatre Chair

By CONNOR MANNION News Co-Editor

On Aug. 11, Fordham University named JoAnne Akalaitis, founder of the experimental theatre company ‘Mabou Mines’, as the new 2015-16 Denzel Washington Endowed Theatre Chair. This followed within one month after the previous recipient, television and film actor Stephen McKinley Henderson, withdrew for “urgent health issues” in August, according to a Fordham News press release.

Akalaitis is very excited to come to Lincoln Center for the opportunity it provides for interacting with undergraduates. “It’s just an incredible honor to teach in the heart of New York, and I love that I have the opportunity to work with undergraduates.”

She singled out Fordham’s theatre faculty for “their work as working professionals, not just in academics … Fordham has a great number of amazing teachers,” she said.

Matthew Maguire, director of the Fordham theatre program and head of the performance track, is very excited for Akalaitis to be the new chair.

He said in a statement, “JoAnne Akalaitis is a giant in the American Theatre. She studied with the most influential artists in Europe and the U.S., including Jerzy Grotowski and Joe Chaikin … From her deep roots as someone with a radical perspective, she broadened her vision to encompass the plays of Beckett, Genet, Pinter, Euripides, and Shakespeare.”

Her “radical perspective” was shown in her former role at ‘Mabou Mines’, an experimental theatre company based in the East Village, founded by Akalaitis and her former husband, avant garde composer Philip Glass. She left the theatre company following her appointment to the position of artistic director of the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1990.

According to Maguire, “When the legendary Joe Papp decided to retire from the New York Shakespeare Festival, which he founded, he appointed JoAnne Akalaitis to succeed him. He said that, “JoAnne has the most original mind in the theater today,” he [Papp] said. “As a leader, she is independent. She doesn’t recognize

JESS LUSZCZYK / THE OBSERVER

Akalaitis is in conversation about other roles for her within the theatre department, alongside her role as endowed chair and teaching a class.

boundaries and you can’t pigeonhole her. She has great drive. And she is very astute about how the theater is run,” Maguire continued, quoting Joe Papp directly.

She also received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1978, a grant for persons “who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts,” according to the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Akalaitis is familiar to academia, as she previously served as a co-chair of Juilliard’s directing program until 2012.

Now at Fordham, Akalaitis will serve in the chair established by Oscar winning alumnus Denzel Washington, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ‘77. Washington es-

tablished the chair with his donation of $2 million earmarked toward the Fordham Theatre Department. Additionally, he established an endowed scholarship with a gift of $250,000, with the intent it be given to a minority undergraduate theatre major, preferrably one who also graduated from Washington’s high school district of Mount Vernon, New York, a city located in upstate Westchester county.

Other theatre professors are excited for her arrival, including Daniel Alexander Jones, associate professor of theatre and program director of the playwriting track. He said, “The powerful, evergreen gift of the Denzel Washington Endowed Chair is proven by the list of artists who have occupied it. Phylicia Rashad, Joe Morton, Christine Jones, Kenny Leon, and

now, JoAnne Akalaitis.”

As Jones pointed out, last year’s endowed theatre chair was Kenny Leon, Tony award winning director of the 2014 revival of “A Raisin in the Sun,” also starring Washington in a leading role. Leon is now directing a live televised version of “The Wiz” to be aired on NBC on Dec. 3, with a future Broadway adaptation in the works.

Maguire continued, he said “we are thrilled that she is doing us the honor of joining us for a semester as the fifth Denzel Washington Chair.

She will teach Creating a Character for our advanced acting students.”

While Akalaitis is only teaching this class according to Maguire, she is open to other possibilities in her time at Fordham. “I don’t want to be

trapped or put in a box, so there has been discussions about other opportunities.”

According to Maguire, “the search was not difficult, it was immediate.”

Maguire’s lack of hesitance in the appointment comes from a great admiration for Akalaitis. “JoAnne’s work with Mabou Mines was the first work I saw in the theatre when I arrived in New York, and it transformed the way I saw the possibilities of the theatre,” he said.

Akalaitis feels a mutual respect, echoing Maguire’s praise with her own. “I know Matthew [Maguire] and I admire him deeply along with the other faculty. Fordham is blessed to have so many great artists in their community,” she said.

USG Lacks VP of Student Affairs In Fall 2015

By CONNOR MANNION News Co-Editor

As students begin to fill their seats on campus, one seat remains empty: the student affairs vice presidency in United Students Government (USG).

Last year’s election, which decided both the current president and secretary for USG, did not have a candidate run for election in the race for Vice President of Student Affairs. In fact, the incumbent vice president Gabriella Besada, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC ‘16), did not seek re-election, and creating a search for the next vice president of student affairs.

Leighton Magoon, (FCLC ‘17) and USG President, is not at all worried about the position of vice president of student affairs remaining unfilled.

He said, “The position will definitely be filled in the fall semester, no one needs to worry about going a full academic year without a vice president of student affairs.”

According to the USG Constitution, available in full on USG’s club page on Orgsync, the vice president of student affairs is the chairperson of the student affairs committee, which is responsible in coordinating town halls for the general student population, facilitating dialogue between USG and academic departments, and “organizing all USG programming, including all formals.” This includes planning Winterball, which is currently being handled by the president and Dorothy Wenzel, the advisor to

USG, according to Magoon. All other responsibilities are currently inactive until the academic year begins in early September.

In September, there will most likely be another election alongside freshmen Senate elections, as the USG Constitution states, “If there are any positions still vacant from the April election, the elections committee will fill those positions at the September election.”

Even if the position remains vacant after the September elections, the USG board can “nominate qualified students to fill the position and choose based on a majority [vote] of the USG Assembly.”

Whoever the future vice president may be, they are in for a strenuous workload, according to the former VP. Gabriella Besada, (FCLC ‘16) and former USG vice president of student affairs, said “Anyone who is interested in the position should expect a great deal of responsibility and a considerable time commitment.”

“With that responsibility comes the opportunity to make quite a difference if one really charges forward with proposed systematic changes and ideas that reflect the general student sentiment,” Besada continued.

Magoon has already reached out to a slate of candidates over the summer, and has received back considerable interest. “I reached out to a couple of people I thought would be good for the job, and I received a lot of enthusiasm back about it. Now that we’ve reached August, people have

JESS LUSZCZYK /THE OBSERVER

Leighton Magoon, USG president, is confident in finding a new VP before the end of the fall semester.

started thinking about it, and I’ve been getting these positive responses as we go into the year,” he continued, explaining his confidence in the position being filled.

And it is important that there is a new vice president of student affairs, as Magoon said, “this year, the student affairs vice president will chair the Winterball committee with

a representative from CAB [Campus Activities Board] … I’ve been filling in on that over the summer, since the position is not filled.”

Until then, Magoon expects a good year and has faith in filling the currently vacant position. He said, “I am completely confident that we will find a new VP within the fall semester, I have no doubt about that.”

The former vice president agreed on the importance of the position, she said, “A lot got done during the last academic year and several of the programming events would have never happened without student affairs.”

“Like any position, it comes with its stresses, but it teaches you a lot about yourself,” she added.

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Increase In Clubs, Budget Remains Stagnant

By ANA FOTA News Co-Editor

With a record number of clubs on campus, how will the Student Activities Budget Committee (SABC) fund all 65 of them?

During the 2014-2015 school year, 11 new clubs were approved at Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC), meaning SABC will have to divide its already tight budget among even more student organizations. The money allocated to clubs comes directly from the activities fee that students at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) and the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) are charged with every semester.

Although the fee is constant, the incoming freshman class is considerably larger than the previous one, which could translate into an increase in budget.

The amount of money every club receives is discussed and decided upon within SABC, while trying to meet the demands of club leaders. The chair of SABC is a position automatically occupied by the treasurer of the United Student Government(USG). Leighton Magoon, (FCLC ‘17) current president of USG, was last year’s chair and treasurer. As such, Magoon was in charge of budget allocation and cuts.

“We’re hoping the increase [in class size] will give us more to work with, and that even with the new clubs, it will still help,” he said.

When asked whether this will solve the problem, Magoon said,“ it won’t fix the issue of having to cut budgeting expenses down, but we are hoping it will make a difference. “ The class of 2018 showed an increase as well, with 556 accepted students as opposed to 449 the year before.

In order to form a new club, students must submit a club registration packet, which includes a written constitution. Due to the overwhelming amount of club applications received last year, a new policy was added, asking students to also submit a sample budget for one semester, either general or itemized.

“Most clubs just need a couple hundred bucks for dinner outings,” Jacob Azrilyant, (FCLC ‘16) said. Azrilyant has served as vice president of operations for USG during the

CONNOR MANNION /THE OBSERVER

The amount of money every club receives is discussed and decided upon within SABC, while trying to meet the demands of club leaders.

past two years and has overlooked the creation of 16 new clubs on campus. “No club was denied on the basis of its sample budget, that was just an extra conversation that we had with them,” he said. “Sometimes we had to let them know they might not get what they want.”

With the creation of new clubs came the need to divide a roughly constant budget into several smaller pieces. Asked about budget cuts, Magoon responded, “we try to be as fair as possible.” When it comes to the decision-making process, there is no set algorithm. If we were to make clean cuts across the board,” Magoon said ”smaller clubs would be more affected. We try to make deductions based on how large a club

is, but its needs as well: larger clubs host larger events.“ Azrilyant, however, offers a different solution for allocating funds.

He said, “it is fiscally irresponsible to host Winterfest, an event that costs a lot of money and recently hasn’t been hitting its attendance quota, when so many clubs are in need of funds.” According to the former USG member, the money going into Winterfest should be allocated towards the small clubs on campus that are trying to build a participant basis and grow. “My concern is with the clubs that have a solid leadership in place and a powerful mission statement but are denied their potential to grow because SABC doesn’t have the necessary

funds,” Azrilyant stated. Winterfest 2015 cost Fordham roughly $36,000 according to Dorothy Wenzel, director of Office Student Leadership and Community Development (OSLCD). ”As part of a schoolwide vote around 2002, the undergraduate student body voted to dedicate a certain amount of money to the Campus Activities Board (CAB),” which organizes Winterfest. “That amount was $30,000 every semester, which is money they use for Winterfest and other events. So if we canceled the concert, that money will not be split up between clubs.“ USG received an overwhelming number of applications, particularly from the incoming class. “It’s not uncommon to see freshman want to

start new clubs as soon as they get to Fordham,” Magoon said. For this reason, another policy that has been discussed was setting a time limit within which students can submit club registration packets, the first and last months of a semester being off-limits. “Last year I had two new club requests from freshmen on the second day of orientation,” Azrilyant mentioned. Out of the 11 new clubs approved last year, three were started by freshmen.

As for this year, Alec Padron, (FCLC ‘18) and incoming chairperson of SABC, will work closely with Magoon to “make sure we will be addressing the budget and make sure the deductions continue to be fair.”

Rose Hill Struggles With Student Life, In Contrast to LC

By MARCELA ALVAREZ Assistant Sports Editor

Late last school year, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH)’s, The Fordham Ram, published a series of articles expressing students’ dissatisfaction with the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development at Rose Hill (OSLCD).

Some of the articles include, Silence of the Rams: Fordham’s Free Speech Problem by Canton Winer, (FCRH ’15) and Editorial: Talking About, and Fostering, Change on Campus

by The Ram Editorial Board. One of the articles, How Administrators Caused a Culture of Apathy by Frank Sivilli, (FCRH ’15), starts with saying, “This is a piece that has been long in the making. It upsets me to think just how long. It seems I have had issues with the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development (OSLCD) and the Office of Student Life (OSL) since the day I first became a student leader.” This signifies that the issues that students are facing were building for a while before resulting in the series of articles.

According to James Demetriades, (FCRH ‘15) and author of Ram article “OSLCD Takes Steps to Improve,” one of the issues Rose Hill students face is the lack of individual attention towards club leaders. The article states that students suffer the consequences of OSLCD being understaffed and therefore not able

CONNOR MANNION/THE OBSERVER

One way that LC is hoping to avoid the same reaction that happened at Rose Hill is by hosting a town hall.

to manage the more than 100 clubs on campus. According to the article, club leaders complain about late money returns, problems communicating with the staff, and problems concerning booking rooms for their meetings and events.

Dr. Dorothy Wenzel, director of

OSLCD at Fordham Lincoln Center, said, “There is a frustration level that I worry about, because when I started here there were only 28 clubs and I do worry that students may have a frustration here, in regards to finding space on campus.” With 54 clubs, the question is whether students at Lincoln Center feel the same

dissatisfaction with members of OSLCD. Leighton Magoon, United Student Government (USG) president and Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC ‘17), said that he hasn’t experienced any conflict with OSLCD, stating “[USG] has a close relationship with OSLCD.” Magoon said ”the relationship I have had at

Lincoln Center [with students] is very different than the relationship between a club leader and OSLCD at Rose Hill.” He believes that this results from USG working closely with OSLCD at Lincoln Center, forging a “more personal relationship.”

With a record amount of clubs being approved this past year and the other clubs that will be approved this coming year, concerns turn to whether there is a growing concerning that club leaders will experience the same problems as those of Rose Hill. Magoon doesn’t believe that Fordham Lincoln Center will experience this problem, however “what is happening at Rose Hill is something to be aware of.” He said, “we [members of USG and OSLCD staff] are making sure both OSLCD and USG are fitting the needs of the students for next year.”

One of the ways that Lincoln Center is hoping to avoid the same reaction that happened at Rose Hill is by hosting a town hall. Magoon plans to have, “an open town hall event, to hear club leader feedback and how we can improve or if there is any room for improvement.” Furthermore, Jessica Jones, a student worker in the OSLCD office (FCLC ’17), said that from her perspective club leaders, “are very happy. They’re involved in multiple clubs, they do GO! Projects and are constantly in the [OSLCD] office. Even after they graduate there’s a lot of alumni who come back and say hello.”

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Fordham Welcomes New Deans & Grad Interns

By CONNOR MANNION News Co-Editor

While the undergraduates are preparing for a crowded year, other academic changes on campus are in effect for mainly graduate and law students as new deans have been named for The Fordham Law School (LAW), the Graduate School of Education (GSE), and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

Additionally, the graduate School of Business and undergraduate Gabelli program, have been unified into one Gabelli program under Donna Rapaccioli, dean of the unified Gabelli program.

Some of the new deans are very excited to start their tenure and expressed enthusiasm in working at Lincoln Center. Eva Badowska, dean of GSAS, cited a strength of the campus, she said,“Its [the campus’] sense of itself as cohesive and separate really stands out.”

Badowska cited her co-workers as well, she said “All my LC colleagues in the English department, for example, strongly identify with the campus and its students.”

Although there are new deans at the campus of Lincoln Center, Fordham Lincoln Center will see minimal changes in day to day academic activities. According to Keith Eldridge,

dean of students at Fordham Lincoln Center, “There are no new deans in FCLC [Fordham College at Lincoln Center] or Gabelli. There is a new dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, a new dean of the law school, and a new dean of the graduate school of education, but I don’t think any of them will have much of a direct impact on FCLC or GSBLC students.” Rapaccioli previously served as interim dean of graduate business, alongside her role as dean of undergraduate business, which is a change.

While there will be few changes from the deans of FCLC, there are notable changes in the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development (OSLCD) that will affect students, the addition of two new graduate interns and the departure of the previous assistant director of Alcohol and Other Drugs Education (AODE) Kelly Schumacher, according to Dorothy Wenzel, director of OSLCD. The two new OSLCD staffers are Princess Chukwuneke, (FCRH) ‘15 and graduate intern for student organizations, and Chrissy Glaser, Graduate Intern for Commuter Student Services. Chukwuneke is currently pursuing a Master’s degree from GSAS, while Glaser is pursuing a graduate degree from New York University. Chukwuneke will be ad-

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The new deans are very excited to start their tenure and expressed enthusiasm in working at Lincoln Center.

vising and assisting the club leaders of Fordham Lincoln Center, while Glaser will serve as faculty advisor to the Commuting Students Association (CSA) and a supervisor of the Commuter Freshmen Mentor (CFM) program.

As for AODE, leadership of the

program remains unfilled. According to Wenzel, “The position was posted with Human Resources. The search for a new Assistant Director is beginning.” She also said that the programs provided by AODE, normally education on the risks associated with heavy consumption of

alcohol, will still be planned for the upcoming year. “The Office of Student Leadership and Community Development will continue to work with the new LC Health and Wellness Organization in planning outreach to the LC student community,” Wenzel added.

Class of 2019 Largest Freshman Class to Arrive at LC SPACE FROM PAGE 1

growing of the freshman class because we had some vacancies available [in McMahon],” she said.

This year no additional classes will need to be added, according to Eldredge. Most classes will, however, will be at full capacity. A factor that accounts for the lack of space on campus is the need most clubs have to hold their meetings during the only official activity block, on Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. “It’s also a matter of scheduling,” Eldredge said. Both he and

Campbell agree that the increase in the number of students will not drastically change life on campus.

“It will be tighter,” Campbell said, “but I still feel that with collaboration and cooperation between the different departments, we will be able to accommodate everyone.”

The 2015-2016 academic year is a “transitional” one, as Dean Eldredge put it. Although there will be more students on campus, the space issue will only be improved by the Fall 2016 reopening the renovated law school building, at 140 West 62nd Street. The building’s ground

floor will serve as a space designed primarily to host club meetings and other student activities, as “the spaces where we hold club events is not always ideal,” according to Eldredge. “That is where the building is going to help.”

The increased number of students coming to Fordham also affected the way New Student Orientation(NSO) is organized. The class of 2018 was the first one that needed to be divided, between Pope Auditorium and the conference hall on the 12th floor of the Leon Lowenstein building.

“That’s the new normal,” Eldredge

commented.

Students will experience no other changes in terms of space at LC. “What I think is the key point to consider,” Campbell mentioned, “is the fact that the increase is just accelerated: we are at a fuller capacity a year sooner than we thought, but the number of individuals on campus was anticipated.”

Last year Fordham acquired the old College Board building, at 45 Columbus Avenue. Eighteen administrative and faculty offices have moved into the building, which opened in July 2015.

According to Patricia Peek, director of undergraduate admissions at Fordham, the Lincoln Center campus is set to welcome undergraduate students from 37 states, with nine percent of the freshman class consisting of international students. As per Peek, the commuter population will remain constant.

Campbell welcomed the class of 2019, stating: “we are excited about the new class coming in, as we always are to have new students join our community. It’s always an exciting time for our staff and for the community members.”

Changes to Communications Major Up for Future Approval

By ANA FOTA News Co-Editor

If changes to Fordham’s Communications major are approved by the New York State Department of Education (NYSED), Lincoln Center will have four new majors under the umbrella of the communications and media studies department. s.

Jacqueline Reich, Ph.D, professor and chair of communications and media studies (CMS), and Gwyneth Jackaway, professor and associate chair of CMS, have spoken to the Observer about these changes.

OBSERVER: Tell us about the four

new majors that will be developed.

JACQELINE REICH AND GWENYTH JACKAWAY:Here are the

titles of the four proposed majors.

These are pending approval, and as such we cannot call them new majors and minors. Communication and Culture, Digital Technology and Emerging Media, Film and Television, Journalism OBSERVER: Will any of these ma-

jors come with new minors?

JR & GJ: Yes. All will have minors,

plus Sports Journalism will be an additional Journalism minor.

OBSERVER: When will the new

majors be available to students?

JR & GJ: Our goal is to have the new

majors up and running for Fall 2016.

We should have the details solidified

by Spring 2016.

OBSERVER: What was the approval

process like for the four new majors?

Were any of them favored?

tries)

JR & GJ: It was a great deal of work.

JR & GJ: The proposal is for each

We did a lot of background research: our Department collected and analyzed multiple data: 1) student surveys on the strengths and weaknesses of our current program; 2) enrollment data on total majors by concentration, in connection to the major’s growth on all three campuses; 3) consultation with Fordham Department Chairs and Arts and Science Deans; and 4) qualitative and quantitative content analysis of the structure, curriculum and programmatic features of regional, peer/ aspirant, and Jesuit Communication and Media Studies programs around the country. Our sample for this study was comprised of 79 schools, yielding data on 124 individual majors. Among the variables examined were: departmental structure, types of majors offered, specific major requirements and theory/practice balance. This study provided us with valuable insight into the ways in which our rapidly transforming discipline is being covered at Universities nation-wide.After it was approved at the departmental level, the Chair presented the proposal to the Deans of the Arts and Sciences. It was then approved by the FCLC and FCRH College Councils, the Majors and Curriculum Committee of the Arts and Science Council, and then the Arts and Science Council.

OBSERVER: What is the theory to

practice ratio like?

JR: We believe that is our responsi-

bility as communication and media

proposed major to have its own distinct intro course. In addition, we have proposed one departmental introductory course that all students majoring in the four new majors will be required to take, as well as an Ethics, Law and Policy requirement.

OBSERVER: Will this change neces-

sitate the creation of any new classes for any of the majors, or will existing course be reorganized?

JR & GJ: Both.

OBSERVER: In the past, certain

tracks of the communications major, like journalism for example, have been staffed by mainly adjuncts with few regular professors (especially at Lincoln Center). Is there a plan to create more structured department for each of these tracks if they become separate OBSERVER: What about the use of adjuncts in contrast to professors?

ANGELICA GARZA/ THE OBSERVER ARCHIVE

Gwyneth Jackaway, professor and associate chair of the CMS.

educators to provide our students with a solid grounding in theory while simultaneously offering specialized preparations necessary for today’s changing media landscape.

OBSERVER: What fields of work are each of these majors geared towards?

JR & GJ: Because mediated communication is at the center of all human experience, there are a multitude of professional paths students can take.

Some are more obvious than oth-

ers– journalism, television and film industries, for instance. But students who study any of the proposed majors can go into a myriad fields such as marketing, advertising, public relations, political communication, media activism, orsocial media.

OBSERVER:Will this remove the

intro courses from the curriculum, if not how will they be sorted within the new majors? (Intro to Communications and Intro to Media Indus-

JR & GJ: In the last two years, we

have been moving toward an artistin-residence model: we have one for film and television – Jim Jennewein -- and have just hired a digital artistin-residence, Catherine Katsofouris.

With the cooperation of the administration, we hope to hire artists-inresidence in each major who will teach some of the more practical courses in which students learn how to apply theory to practice.

If the modifications are approved, the major will be available to students in 2016.

Opinions Co-Editors Tyler Burdick- tburdick1@fordham.edu Lexi McMenamin- amcmenamin4@fordham.edu

Opinions

STAFF EDITORIAL

OBSERVER GETS WITH THE TIMES: PUSH TO DIGITAL

A

nother exciting year at Fordham Lincoln Center has begun. As you start your new classes, jobs and internships, meet new roommates and friends and acclimate to New York (or maybe even America), you will likely face some uncertainties. We are also commencing a new journey here at The Observer and are ready to take on the unpredictable challenges that come our way.

The newspaper industry has witnessed a drastic change, where digital media has taken over print media.

An online focus not only allows for flexibility, but more importantly for accuracy and timeliness. And now, The Observer is set to embark into this digital world.

In the past, we based our operations on a biweekly print cycle, which was not conducive to breaking or developing news stories, nor did it allow for us to to best serve you, our fellow students and the Fordham Lincoln Center community.

So, since this past spring, we have made major changes.

We overhauled our website.

We built an internal site for our editors. We launched two new social platforms, LinkedIn (Fordham Observer) and Snapchat (@fclcobserver).

We also filled our Multimedia Position and actively began a search for a social media team. We have almost completely restructured our operations in order to give

“And now, The Observer is set to embark into this digital world.” everyone the experience they need and the support the paper itself needs.

Because let’s face it. It is no longer sufficient in the field of journalism for someone to just be a good writer. Now, journalists also have to have a good eye for photography, a solid understanding of web technologies and above all a willingness to learn new skills and programs.

Thankfully, we are at the point where the students on

the Editorial Board are as equally comfortable working with these new tools as they are with traditional print media. Each section has embraced the new online format and continues to work to combine multimedia content to connect all of the parts of the paper.

With every new class that comes to our campus, there will be an influx of students who are are more and more skilled in these emerging journalism practices and ready to embrace whatever comes next. At The Observer, these are the people we are looking for. Their ideas and input are going to drive the paper forward and keep it on the cutting edge.

We have not abandoned our print edition, but our online presence has become our primary focus. For our readers, this will amount to more content on a more regular basis. Our print edition will expand on the best of our online content and will also feature long form pieces better suited for print.

The industry has spoken, and we have responded. Join us.

August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

Observer the

Editor-in-Chief Adriana Gallina Managing Editor Ben Moore News Co-Editors Justin Rebollo Ana Fota Connor Mannion Asst. News Co-Editor Jennifer McNary Opinions Co-Editors Tyler Burdick Lexi McMenamin Asst. Opinions Co-Editors Areeg Abdelhamid Annunziata Santelli Arts & Culture Co-Editors Loulou Chryssides Sri Stewart Features Co-Editors Alanna Kilkeary Hansini Weedagama Literary Co-Editors Jessica Vitovitch Erika Ortiz Asst. Literary Co-Editors Kayla D’Angelo Connor Mannion Sports Co-Editor Matthew McCarthy Kathleen Kirtland Asst. Sports Editor Marcela Alvarez Copy Chief Alysha Kundamal Copy Editors Brianna Goodman Asst. Copy Editors Chrissy Pusz Kaitlyn Lyngaas Tyler Burdick Layout Co-Editors Jennifer McNary Elodie Huston Multimedia Producer Ninett Rodriguez Asst. Multimedia Producer Jesse Carlucci Photo Co-Editors Jessica Hanley Jess Luszczyk

Interested in journalism, reporting, photography or layout?

Sign up for one of our workshop classes!

Asst. Photo Editor Jason Boit Online Editor Ben Moore Business Manager Victoria Leon Faculty Advisor Prof. Elizabeth Stone Faculty Layout Advisor Kim Moy

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• Letters to the Editor should be typed and sent to The Observer, Fordham University, 113 West 60th Street, Room 408, New York, NY 10023, or e-mailed to fordhamobserver@gmail.com. Length should not exceed 200 words. All letters must be signed and include contact information, official titles, and year of graduation (if applicable) for verification.

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• Opinions articles and commentaries represent the view of their authors. These articles are in no way the views held by the editorial board of The Observer or Fordham University.

• The Editorial is the opinion held by a majority of The Observer’s editorial board. The Editorial does not reflect the views held by Fordham University.

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THE OBSERVER August 27, 2015

Opinions

7

YONG KIM/ PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS VIA TNS

The feud between Meek Mills, pictured here, and Drake has kickstarted the revival of battle rap in mainstream hip-hop.

The Return of Battle Rap: More Than Just Music Jalen Glenn Staff Writer

2015 has been a great year for hip-hop. Big name artists such as Big Sean and Kendrick Lamar have released albums, newcomer Fetty Wap dominated the charts, and Kanye West continues to tease listeners with SWISH, his upcoming album. But 2015 will also be remembered as the year that battle rap reemerged in mainstream hip-hop.

In truth, it’s about time– we’ve been craving it for some time now. But it is important to keep in mind the context and nature of this art form so as to ensure that we characterize rap justly.

Rappers Drake and Meek Mill have been engaged in an ongoing feud for the greater portion of the summer. This all started when

Meek Mill allegedly discovered and revealed that Drake did not write his own verse for the song “R.I.C.O.,” which appears on the latter’s Dreams Worth More Than Money.

However, what followed was not a celebration of Meek for his actions, nor a berating of Drake for his (or lack thereof). Instead, it sparked one of the most entertaining rap feuds in recent memory.

Drake responded with the song “Charged Up,” in which he proclaimed that he was “done doing favors for people/cause it ain’t like [he] need the money [that he] make off a feature.” This was a clear reference to not only Drake’s contribution to the song in question, but also to his contribution to Meek’s 2012 hit “Amen.” To further continue the onslaught, Drake then released “Back to Back,” in which he posed the question as to whether Meek’s tour was “a world tour or [his] girl’s

tour.” Additionally, Drake publicly agreed with a Twitter user’s comment on how Meek may not be “the best rapper in his relationship” with Nicki Minaj.

With his back against the wall, Meek responded with “I Wanna Know.” In the song, Meek premiered the reference track to Drake’s “Know Yourself,” and also compared the Canadian to Milli Vanilli.

While this initiated fierce debates as to who the victor was, these same debates also highlighted how consumers have been yearning for a considerable rap battle for some time.

Why? Hip-hop feuds are not a new phenomenon. Who can forget Dr. Dre vs. Eazy-E, Biggie vs. 2Pac, and 50 Cent vs. everyone (Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and so on). The latter example indicates that 50 has been an important figure in this strain of hip-hop. When he began

to fade into the background around the turn of the 2010s, so too did battle rap in mainstream hip-hop.

As a consequence, listeners had to scour through the website World Star Hip Hop and YouTube in order to find a good old-fashioned rap battle. Luckily, Drake and Meek have helped to reignite this spirit. At the same time, however, if we do not contextualize this aspect of hip-hop, we run the risk of suggesting that this genre of music is “violent” or “aggressive” for its own sake, which would be as inaccurate as suggesting that “gangsta rap made them do it.”

Battling has been part of hip-hop since its origins in the South Bronx in the late 1970s. As the seminal film Wild Style shows, crews would use their words, and not their fists, to command respect. To fully understand the roots of these young people’s desires, one needs to consider the economics of this

neighborhood at the time. With high unemployment rates, burning buildings and a lack of a social safety net, these young people’s socioeconomic positions were precarious ones. Therefore, their quest for respect was a response to the lack of economic support from the United States government, which continues to ignore this section of our country.

For this reason, battling has become almost inseparable from hiphop’s identity. Even more significant is how our engagement with these battles suggests that battling is part of our American identity as well.

This is further reinforced by the music battles between Mariah Carey and Eminem, and more recently, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. Therefore, the tradition that Meek and Drake are engaged in is as American as burgers, pies and fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Is This the End of Gender-Based Labeling in Retail?

Emily Sitner-Medvedovsky Staff Writer

Girls play with dolls. Boys play with superheroes. Girls like pink, while boys like blue. These are some of the common stereotypes of each gender, but some feel that these labels are unnecessary and wish to remove them for the sake of creating a more progressive society. Recently, Target has announced that its team is working on removing announced that its team is working on removing gender-based signs to create balance and eliminate constricting labels. This includes anything that denotes which aisles or areas cater specifically to certain genders. It’s a bold move—but these labels are not necessarily as confining as many may believe, and removing them as part of a push towards making the two genders as similar as possible is harmful to our society.

Amy Severtsen Stanwood, a supporter of the move, stated in a USA Today article that “Target is not saying that genders don’t exist. They are simply recognizing that toys and bedding do not have genders.” But what is the real

underlying problem of toys having ‘genders?’ It is not as if girls are prevented from playing or purchasing a Batman or Superman action figure. And boys are not stopped from dressing up their teddy bears.

Some may believe that teasing and bullying may ensue because of this, but if bullying contributes to the removal of gender-based labeling, that in and of itself should be the real target of concern by producers and consumers. Early intervention and prevalent anti-bullying campaigns are just some of the many possible ways we can promote tolerance, which is what we should be doing, rather than hurriedly removing publicly displayed references to gender–it doesn’t do anything besides hide the key problems under a rug.

There is nothing wrong with having separate toys, bedding or equipment made for either gender.

Companies do this because they, as a business, have a target demographic they want to make sure they hit. I think our society, though progressive, is also becoming highly sensitive to certain topics.

Gender, as I witness in magazines, television and conversations that arise among friends, is becoming one such topic. We shift uncomfortably in our seats while discuss-

COURTESY OF MIKE MOZART VIA FLICKR

Target has decided to remove signs referencing gender from its stores.

ing homosexuality and transgender issues, lowering our eyes and avoiding questions which may help shed light for those yearning to ask questions and learn more. We are afraid to say something wrong and be labeled as homophobic or antiLGBTQ, and it seems that because of this fear we are quickly attacking social norms that don’t necessarily need to be changed.

But if a girl knows she is a girl and wants to express herself in feminine ways, then she should not be reprimanded–and likewise for a boy expressing his masculinity.

Gender-based labeling should be

embraced, so that girls and boys can appreciate their differences.

The “sameness” that can develop from the removal of gender-based labeling is uncalled for, and possibly even harmful. If girls and boys grow accustomed to the idea that gender has no role in toys, bedding or furniture, as Target suggests will happen, it means that the differences between the genders will minimize. Gender will become meaningless. One possible reason some may see this as a good thing is because they want to close the gender gap in society. But labels aren’t the problem; gender inequal-

ity has to do with how we raise our kids, the values we teach them, and their experiences as young adults that shape their personalities. I was never raised to assume that I can’t play with race-cars and superhero figures, wear dark colors or participate in anything that may seem too masculine. As for toys that are placed in aisles labeled “gifts for boys,” the implication is that yes, these toys were initially created for boys–but there is no sign preventing a girl from showing interest in them. As this girl grows older, she will realize for herself that she may visit the race-car aisle if she wants to and may begin to explore any other interests she so chooses.

Labels are suggestive, not restrictive. Girls believing that they are just as good as boys has nothing to do with gender labels found in retail stores. These labels can be abolished tomorrow, but a girl will never believe she can succeed on the same path as a boy if the constant feedback from her peers or family is negative and undermines her positive abilities. Establishing differences does not inherently imply that one category is superior to the other. We should embrace our differences, and accept that neutralizing these labels will be a hindrance to social progress.

8

August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Observer the

Editorial Board 2015-2016

Adriana Gallina Editor-in-Chief

Major: Communication and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Production turned Karaoke nights Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Gilmore Girls Media Addiction: Tumblr Song of the Summer: Origins by Tennis Last Text Received: I’m reading it on iBooks, I know I’m awful.

Ben Moore Managing Editor/Online Editor Major: New Media and Digital Design Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Wordpress Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Castle Media Addiction: Reddit Song of the Summer: Anywhere But Here by Rise Against Last Text Received:They found the keyboards.

Jennifer McNary

Elodie Huston

Major: Communication and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Staying up super late during production night...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Favorite Show to Binge Watch: So many but one is Orange is the New Black Media Addiction: Tumblr Song of the Summer: Octahate by Ryn Weaver and her whole album too Last Text Received: No it’s fine! I’m caffeinated!

Major: English Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Making final edits and helping people find their zen Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Outlander Media Addiction: Twitter Song of the Summer: Next Time Around by Little Joy Last Text Received:I can’t believe you had a square dancing unit in high school.

Layout Co-Editor/Asst. News Editor

Victoria Leon

Layout Co-Editor

Business Manger

Ana Forta

Major: International Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: The networking Favorite Show to Binge Watch: I don’t have one Media Addiction: Instagram Song of the Summer: None Last Text Received:Just like Instagram, hold the button

News Co-Editor Major: Undecided (Communication and Media Studies) Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Late nights with great people Favorite Show to Binge Watch: The Office Media Addiction: Facebook Song of the Summer: Slash by World on Fire Last Text Received:We’re getting the truck back but we can get sushi after

Connor Mannion News Co-Editor/Asst.Literary Co-Editor Major: Communication and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: The editorial board Favorite Show to Binge Watch: No Reservations Media Addiction: Netflix Song of the Summer: Thunder Road by Bruce Springstien Last Text Received: Got the pizza

Justin Rebollo News Co- Editor Major: Undecided Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: The craziness Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Mr. Robot Media Addiction: Netflix Song of the Summer: Never Ending Circle by Chvrches Last Text Received:Any sign of?

Tyler Budrick Opinions Co-Editor/Asst. Copy Co-Editor Major: English Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Opinions Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Sherlock Media Addiction: Netflix Song of the Summer: Hotel California by The Eagles Last Text Received: Have fun at FIT, sis!

Lexi McMenamin Opinions Co-Editor Major: Politicial Science/English/Overcommitting Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Arguing (lovingly) with Stone Favorite Show to Binge Watch: I fall asleep whenever I watch TV Media Addiction: Instagram Song of the Summer: Hotline Bling by Drake Last Text Received: Truly amazing and beautiful

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 27, 2015

9

Sri Stewart

Arts & Culture Editor Major: Communication and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Friendship Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Grand Hotel Media Addiction: Instagram Song of the Summer: Cha Cha- D. R. A. M. Last Text Received:That would be greaaat

Alanna Martine Kilkeary Features Co-Editor

Major: English Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Writing for Features Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Dexter Media Addiction: Instagram Song of the Summer: California Dreamin’ by Sia Last Text Received: Eric Van der Woodsen was thrifting with me today (I wish I was kidding)

Hansi Weedagama

Kathleen Kirtland

Major: Communications and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Writing for Features Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Scandal Media Addiction: Netflix Song of the Summer: Dangerous Last Text Received: Whyyyy

Major: Communicationsand Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Getting to work with each of the editors and writers, getting to know them and making those connections Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Gilmore Girls Media Addiction: Vogue & Allure Magazines Song of the Summer: Want to Want Me by Jason Derulo Last Text Received: haha clearly it wasn’t that important if I forgort so no worries

Features Co-Editor

Matthew McCarthy Sports Co-Editor

Major: Global Business Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Production Night Favorite Show to Binge Watch: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Media Addiction: Snapchat Song of the Summer: My Way by Fetty Wap Last Text Received:How do I use an electric stove?

Sports Co-Editor

Ninett Rodriguez Multimedia Producer

Major: Political Sciene and Communication and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: The awesome vibe Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Suits Media Addiction: Digital media (Love love love Vox media, they do it ALL) Song of the Summer: Call You Out by Juce Last Text Received: I just ran into Jake

Jessica Hanley

Jessica Luszczyk

Major: Psychology Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: I like taking pictures--ulitizing my love of photography Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Parks and Recreation Media Addiction: Tumblr Song of the Summer: Bros by Wolf Alice Last Text Received: I’m at my place if you want to

Major: Social Work Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Stressful production nights Favorite Show to Binge Watch: 30 Rock Media Addiction: Snapchattin’ Song of the Summer: Hold My Hand by Jess Glin Last Text Received:You are the light of my life

Photo Co-Editor

Alysha Kundanmal Copy Chief Major: English Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: My face on the desktops Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Parks and Recreation Media Addiction: Tumblr Song of the Summer: Trap Queen by Fetty Wap Last Text Received: Ugh nap was so good

Erika Alicia Ortiz

Photo Co-Editor

Brianna Goodman Copy Editor Major: English Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: The website... it’s visually appealing and pop-up free!

Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Orange is the New Black Media Addiction: The New York Times Song of the Summer: For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder Last Text Received: I brought her an adult coloring book

Literary Co-Editor

Jessica Vitovitch

Major: Undeclared (English) Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Working with The Comma team Favorite Show to Binge Watch: Bones Media Addiction: Tumblr Song of the Summer: Honey I’m Good by Andy Grammer Last Text Received: On skype and an ad pops up for harry potter world weeping about how I wanna go so bad

Major: Communication and Media Studies Favorite Part About Working with the Observer: Being given the opportunity to fuel the creative writing community here at Fordham LC Favorite Show to Binge Watch: 30 Rock Media Addiction: Buzzfeed Song of the Summer: Powerful by Major Lazer Last Text Received: JESS! Do you have a strainer for like pasta making?

Literary Co-Editor

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Co-Editors Loulou Chryssides- lchryssides@fordham.edu Sri Stewart-sstewart13@fordham.edu

August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

Theatre Alumna to Star in Off-Broadway Drama

By SRI STEWART Arts & Culture Co-Editor

When an outsider of the dance world thinks of major locations for the performing arts field, common places may include New York, Paris, Los Angeles, Moscow and more. One does not typically think of a place in the Middle East. However, in Israel there is a thriving contemporary dance scene that holds one of the most esteemed dance schools in the world. Marie Paspe, Fordham at Lincoln Center (FCLC ’16), who is pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Administration had the chance to study in Israel last spring semester.

Paspe went to study at the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (KCDC) for a five month long program, which she did through Masa Israel Journey. [‘Masa’ means ‘journey.’] She stayed in Kibbutz Ga’aton, the International Dance Village that is home to dancers and choreographers of the school. KCDC calls the program a ‘Dance Journey.’ Describing the company and her motivation to study there, Paspe said, “It is an incredibly innovative dance company.

There are both dancers and choreographers from around the world going to Kibbutz to study the [repertoire] pieces [of KCDC]. It was kind of a gateway to Europe. I thought strategically about where I see myself and where I want to dance.”

Paspe also expressed excitement for her chance to work with Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin. Naharin is considered to be one of the world’s most original choreographers. “He is the art director of one of the leading dance companies of the world. I thought about starting in Israel and making a network there and at least seeing how possible it is for someone like me to sort of tap into that world,” Paspe said.

Besides dance, Paspe also was studying and doing hands-on volunteer work. “I studied Hebrew and culture and politics. We did a lot of volunteer work and a lot of outreach.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN TURI

Marie Paspe, a dancer at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC ‘16) in a shoot at a house in Kibbutz Ga’aton, Israel.‘

We went to help at adult special education.” Paspe asserted that her experience was one of the best she has ever had and was able to apply those lessons to her life and future projects.

Paspe revealed three major lessons she has learned: “I learned that [dance is] not only about the craft and the way you move within the craft, it’s how you treat and respect yourself in the movement and how the cultivation of yourself is just as important as cultivating your craft. You have to know that this is who I am. It was like an enlightening moment for me; it changed the way I move, I dance, and the way I see the world.” She also says to never be afraid of failing. “It’s

when you fail and make mistakes, especially the worst ones, you really grow from them and become the person you’re meant to be in the best ways,” Paspe said. In terms of networking, Paspe also said, “Take care of the relationships that you make.

You never know what in the future they might bring.”

Over the summer, she participated in The Bates Dance Festival, held

by Bates College, in Lewiston, Maine.

The festival is a program with workshops and performances put together by various choreographers, performers, students and educators from different parts of the world. Since approaching dance from a newer and

more personal viewpoint, it seemed appropriate that Paspe would take on the project of a 12-minute piece titled ‘Skinless.’

Paspe worked with Mexican choreographers Omar Carrum and Claudia Lavista from Delfos Danza Contemporanea and 13 other dancers. The dance incorporated the metaphor of how masks conceal identities. “You put on layers and layers of this mask that hides who you are due to social circumstances and how you socialize. [The piece] is about how you strip away those masks. You go back to who you are as an individual and what that identity means to you,” Paspe said.

Paspe’s lessons from studying in Israel and continuing to dance over the summer will stay with her forever. Her busy schedule will continue when she has to choreograph for the Senior Choreography showcase in the fall. Paspe also had advice for incoming freshmen dance majors: “It’s very important that you do things that aren’t dance and you make friends with people that you’re not going to be with all the time,” Paspe said. She also stressed, “Always think about why you love dance and what made you start in the first place.”

The Comma Interrobang

The Real Breakfast of Champions

By CONNOR MANNION News Co-Editor and Asst. Literary Editor

I’m the type of person who takes his eggs early in the morning. Really early, like 6 or 7 a.m. — it makes me a difficult roommate. My eggs are most often lightly fried with a strong cup of coffee, and a side of reheated or refried leftovers.

It’s not exclusive to pizza, doesn’t matter the leftover I’ve chosen to go with eggs, but they tend to go well even when the combo violates common sense. Baked scrod works well if I don’t have pizza. I actually put the eggs on top of the pizza slices, but it’s not required. I do it, life is short and egg-pizza is very delicious. Plus, dollar pizza can always use extra flavoring. As you can see, I love mixing together weird disparate tastes in the morning. But nothing beats my craving for blood cake. Yes, blood is involved—unlike the blood orange, blood cake … I’m not really sure how to say it other than to just tell you that blood cake is fried blood.

It sounds morbid, and it really is to the untrained palate.

The primary ingredient is pig blood, and then some other enticing parts of the beast (a mix of bacon and ground pork is the favored template) and variety of spices. It’s best not to

think of the recipe when you eat blood cake, just remember it pairs fantastically with fried eggs and a strong cup of black tea or strong coffee. If you are from the Pennsylvania/ Virginia region, this may remind you of scrapple, appetizing and repulsive for similar reasons. Learning about how scrapple is made is not recommended, like learning how hot dogs are made. Same goes for blood cake, so just repress what I said here. Besides, blood cake is a delicacy in the area where food is generally all terrible. I mean of course my homeland of Ireland, and to a lesser extent England.

Blood cake is considered a good way to start the day in Ireland and England, where most of my family is from. I’m a mix of Irish and Irish-Canadian for full disclosure, but I haven’t yet tried blood cake with syrup I have no doubt I’d find it delicious. I’ve enjoyed blood cake (or English Wheaties) home and abroad, separately on a platter alongside eggs, baked beans, sausage, bacon, some potatoes and sometimes with grilled onions and mushrooms. Tomatoes are also a popular companion, but I prefer the poorly classified fruit more in tomato paste form (e.g. pizza that I tend to eat at

7 a.m. with eggs and coffee). A sandwich is also an option, with all of the above platter items stuffed into a long roll. Not the baked beans, though.

PSA: Don’t eat baked bean sandwiches, even if they seem like they should work based on my aforementioned logic.

They don’t.

I hope you aren’t thoroughly disgusted, because if anything I’m hungrier now. Blood cake and weird foods for breakfast are a great way to start the day. They aren’t particularly healthy, being fried blood and things not meant to be eaten before noon. I’m not a Gremlin — I eat what I want when I want to eat it, and you should too since we are technically adults that can’t rent cars. Best way to start your morning with blood cake, and why I do it: I sit in a dark living room with the TV at low volume showing the news of the night on CNN, and counterintuitively, I feel ready for the day. Because, when you’ve eaten things that shouldn’t be eaten before the sun comes up, what could the world throw at you that you couldn’t be ready for?

See how fun The Comma is? observercomma@gmail.com

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 27, 2015

Arts & Culture

11

AFROPUNK’s Messages of Activism Conflict With Artists’ Lyrics

By SRI STEWART Arts & Culture Co-Editor

AFROPUNK Fest is a music festival that first began in 2005. It was part of an urban movement to gather people of different cultures, especially black, who shared an interest in punk, alternative and indie rock. The idea of the festival arose from Matthew Morgan and James Spooner, creators of the film ‘AfroPunk’ (2003). They wanted to show that there is another audience outside of white people who have a passion for the punk/hard-rock scene. My two days spent at this year’s AFROPUNK Fest, Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23, were full of loud music and Korean food. The festival certainly displayed a vast array of fashion, music and people, but I found conflicting messages between the performers on what ‘afropunk’ and the festival is all about.

‘Afropunk’ says more than being black and liking punk and rock music. The term also implies being different from the mainstream. For this reason, the term may also seem like another form of a hipster. However, afropunk is different because it also connects activism with its celebration of people who feel different from others. On the website, people were able to sign up to do volunteer and activist work within their communities or on social media. This way, they would earn a ticket to go to the festival for free. The festival used to be free, but this year was the first year that people had to pay for their entry; there have been complaints about this decision.

Some people have questioned whether it was leading to AFROPUNK sell-

PAULA MADERO/THE OBSERVER

Entrance of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), located on 11 W. 53rd St.

ing out.

The term ‘afropunk’ also celebrates people’s unique style without judgement. It encourages people to join together and stand up against hate in society. At the festival, the main stage was lined with banners that read the festival’s title but also had phrases such as “No Sexism”, “No Racism”, “No Homophobia”,

“No Transphobia” and more. Crowds shouted, “Black lives matter!” during a performance by Raury.

Raury, a 19-year-old musician from Atlanta who makes a mix of soul, hip-hop, and folk rock sang and rapped about a better world. He plays the guitar and sings passionately, making also some rather dramatic head movements throughout.

He performed on AFROPUNK’s smaller Red Stage. His set had songs about love but also about issues in the U.S. He mentioned in one rap performance the vicious cycle of expensive college tuition and the pressure to make money and get a job to pay for it.

One song was about perhaps the biggest issue in the black commu-

nity today: police brutality. His song, “Fly,” is about the black people who lost their lives in police altercations and how he worries that because of the way he looks, he could become a victim of police brutality. He also sang about hope for improved relations between people of different races, fostered love and children who will be dreamers. Before performing the song, Raury explained that he was not someone making music for the money. “Times is too serious for people to be making music about bull****,” Raury said over the microphone.

Ironically, the next performer Goldink was rapping heavily about women and sex in his opening song.

There seems to be a contradictory message between the artists that AFROPUNK would have a difficult time avoiding. Partly, it is because the variety of artists that the festival has lined up brings in a larger crowd to support it. The festival’s goal is to gather people who have alternative tastes from the mainstream together, and so AFROPUNK would not deny the artists that fit this category. The misogyny is present in so much music, but the catchy beats do not stop people from listening. I remembered this idea from the Chapel Hill student, Madiha Bhatti, in her poetry slam that she posted in November 2012.

AFROPUNK Fest is diverse, and it’s not only about rock music anymore. The festival promotes love, but some of the artists on its stages do not seem to fully embody the message of all that the festival is against. It is contradictory, but we as consumers of this type of music do not make it easy to truly stop it.

What to See Before Summer Ends

By LOULOU CHRYSSIDES Arts & Culture Co-Editor

With summer winding down and the semester rapidly approaching, there is still plenty to see around New York to help one cope with those ‘back to school blues.’

From parties at museums, to interesting exhibits, to free art, below are some of the ‘must-sees’ for summer in NYC. PARALLEL CONNECTION BY OS GEMEOS

Where: Times Square When: Every night in August between 11:57p.m. and 12a.m..

Cost: Free For the entire month of August, the Brazilian artists known as Os Gemeos are bringing their art to billboards throughout Times Square for three minutes each night. The animations are interactive, with characters appearing to point and stare at onlookers. The display is part of Times Square’s ‘Midnight Moment’ project, which aims to promote contemporary artists by bringing their work to the billboards in the surrounding area.

MOMA PS1 WARM-UP OUTDOOR MUSIC SERIES

Where: MOMA PS1 When: Saturdays beginning June 27 and ending on Sept. 5 Cost: $18 in advance, $20 the day of the event MOMA PS1 is one of NYC’s most famous summer music series. Each year, local as well as international, DJs play their music for audiences, who also get to experience various art installations while the music is playing.

FRIDA KAHLO: ART, GARDEN, LIFEW

Where: The New York Botanical Garden When: May 16-Nov. 1 Cost: $18 with a student ID The exhibit at The New York Botanical Garden gives an exclusive look into the most personal space of the extraordinary Frida Kahlo. The exhibit is a reimagined design of Kahlo’s studio and garden. Visitors can also listen to lectures and music inspired by the life of Frida Kahlo.

SMORGASBURG

Where: Saturdays—176 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene Brooklyn; Sundays—50 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg Brooklyn When: Every weekend from April—November Cost: Varies, depending on vendor.

Smorgasburg is an annual food festival that runs from April through November in two Brooklyn locations. Each weekend, food lovers have the opportunity to try almost every type of cuisine one can imagine. From mac n’ cheese and doughnuts to tacos and truffle fries, visitors of Smorgasburg are sure to leave full and happy.

LIVE AT THE GANTRIES

Where: Gantry Plaza State Park When: Every Tuesday at 7:00p.m. from July through Aug. 25.

Cost: Free Live At The Gantries is a summer music series that allows audiences to enjoy live music while enjoying an incredible view of the Manhattan skyline, for no charge.

Performances range from live Jazz to traditional Mexican dance artists.

Features

Features Co-Editors Alanna Kilkeary—alannamartine@gmail.com Hansini Weedagama- hweedagama@fordham.edu

August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

Toto, We’re Not In Romania Anymore ANA FOTA News Co-Editor

I remember dragging two enormous suitcases and a backpack to campus on move-in day this time last year. I had just left home behind and moved to the mighty New York City.

As an international student coming to the United States from Bucharest, Romania, there was a lot I had to get used to. I left a town known for its early 20th century architecture, manifested through majestic Parisian-like buildings, for a life amongst imposing concrete mountains and impending deadlines. When I first got here, I was alone and uninformed. I didn’t know anyone who lived in the city, nor how an American university worked. But eventually, confidence, good company and unique experiences are what got me through my first year of college.

Leaving everything familiar an ocean away and diving into a world unknown was very brave of me.

Aware of that, I began my college career confident and hopeful, but with a healthy dose of insecurity aboard.

Knowing that I had a lot to learn allowed me to quickly grasp new information and develop my understanding of this mysterious world I was slowly uncovering. However, being convinced that I could succeed if I tried motivated me daily to work hard towards creating a life for myself in the New World. Overall, I’d say a combination of confidence and doubt was the perfect recipe for success.

Befriending Americans First off, I needed to make friends.

The human being is a pack animal, not designed to live in solitude. After spending some time amongst American students, I learned their ways and was quickly adopted as their foreigner puppy-friend in need of guidance.

I was taught what expressions to use and what I should never say. Apparently, I should not trust everything I hear in movies - who knew “oh no, I’m in a pickle” is not a phrase cool people use? The main difference between Americans and Europeans, if you ask me, is their openness towards fellow human beings. Having American friends allowed me to better un-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANA FOTA

Ana, on a path through the Carpathian Mountains, in the heart of Romania.

derstand the society I was now living in, and why ‘Dancing With The Stars’ is a show I should, in fact, watch.

There are so many cultural differences I have yet to understand, like why Americans find fart jokes funny.

Equal ground I shared not being used to American customs with fellow international students. Meeting people with various backgrounds made the whole experience that much more diverse and enjoyable. Knowing other international students allowed me to express my misunderstanding of how peanut butter and jelly could possibly be “delicious” together, as well as discuss the cultural shock we were all experiencing. Being able to talk about being so far away from home made the whole experience seem universal.

What we were, in fact, going through

was not moving to a weird continent, it was the first time on our own.

Mommy can’t save you now What I did not yet realize would affect me was a crucial difference from living at home: the lack of family. Whilst living in the parental house, I was naturally accustomed to a life of getting home to a mother ready to make me feel better about my day. Starting a new life without my mother, my brother and my father meant putting them in the viewer’s seat. We were no longer going through life together. From then on it was me, alone, telling them stories about my day as if we were all talking about a friend we knew. Thank god my mum doesn’t cook, otherwise I would miss her even more. Being away from family made me appreciate having a roommate that would

ask me about my day. Having someone to listen to me ramble on about how I spilled coke all over myself at lunch that day truly made a difference, as far as keeping your morale up goes.

Confidence in class Considering I had never been to school in taught in English before, I had never written an essay nor experienced office hours, I did not know how I should behave. Like a child, I learned how to behave by watching others around me.

After 12 years of a routine in a specific educational system, I had to forget every habit that pertained to my school life and start learning how to do it the ‘American way’, where you are trusted enough to be allowed to eat in class, as long as you are paying attention. Trusting students to look

out for their own best interest was not something I had experienced before.

I mean you are not punished for eating in class, suddenly leaving to go to the bathroom, or arriving 20 minutes late to class. The way you behave in class is strictly your responsibility, and is treated as such. High school in Romania seems very strict in comparison, as such behavior was not allowed and not obeying the teacher’s way would often be deemed “rude” or “impertinent.”

I had to shed and re-learn everything I knew about going to school.

For example, it is considered polite in Romanian schools to stand up from your seat when a teacher enters the classroom, as a sign of respect. I found myself doing that here, particularly at the beginning of the year, and then pretending I had dropped something on the floor only to conceal my embarrassment. I had a history teacher in high school that was particularly strict when it came to this custom.

My first semester of school here I took history and, I found myself standing up every time our professor would walk in, as if I had just woken up from a bad dream. Subconsciously, I am set to behave the way that I have been taught is proper, in the span of so many years.

Looking back and gazing forward I bet my life on the unknown and it paid off.

Now, already about to start my second year of college, I look back at what got me here. I remember that I decided to move to the U.S. without thinking much about it. When an American family friend had explained to me that getting into a good college in the U.S. was possible, I set my mind on it and never looked back.

At the time, I had never even visited the country, but it did not matter, because I had this gut feeling that I would be happy there. Trusting my gut was what made all the difference, as being confident in my decision and working daily towards my goal did, in fact, get the job done.

When I came here, although I knew that I had so much to learn, although I had no promise that I was making the right decisions, I was confident enough to believe that everything was going to turn out just perfect. In fact, I’m still sure it will.

Friday Finds: Where To Wander In NYC This Weekend FROM SIGHTS TO SOUNDS TO SMELLS TO TASTES Nanor Hartounian Staff Writer

If you’re feeling hungry… grab an acai bowl! Located on 164 Mott Street, Two Hands has quickly become one of the most Instagramworthy spots in the city. Even more impressive than its quirky and quaint décor are its delicious acai bowls. Its acai mix includes a blend of blueberries and bananas with cacao, acai powder and almond milk, topped with granola, chia seeds, coconut flakes and more fresh fruit.

Ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch… (do you see where I’m going with this?), this filling meal makes eating healthy feel like anything but a chore.

If you’re feeling artsy…take a guided graffiti tour! I’ve found that one of the best ways to learn about a city’s culture is by quite literally looking around and admiring its street art. A place as exciting yet hectic as New York City constantly keeps its residents busy and running from place to place. It would be a shame to let its inspiring and thought-provoking graffiti go un-

MARIA KOVOROS /THE OBSERVER

Graffiti Hall of Fame mural in Spanish Harlem.

noticed. Visit timeout.com for more information.

If you’re feeling musical…go to a concert! The 2015 Global Citizen Festival is on September 26th and conveniently located in Fordham College at Lincoln Center’s

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOHN T VIA FLICKR

Just some cool eats and sights you can experience this weekend.

own backyard, Central Park. This event is ideal for students who are in the market to enjoy music without breaking the bank because you can easily earn free tickets online.

The best part? This year’s headliners include Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Cold-

play and Pearl Jam. The even better part? It’s all held in the name of fighting inequality, protecting our planet and ending extreme poverty around the world within the next 15 years. Visit globalcitizen.org for more information.

If you’re feeling theatrical…see a show! What I’m suggesting is a little more avant-garde than Broadway.

Take advantage of the few summer nights we have left by seeing a free show brought to you by the Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park.

Presented at the open-air Delacorte Theater in Central Park, the upcoming musical adaptation of The Odyssey is running from September 4-7 and sure to impress more than just Greek epic enthusiasts.

We’ll be trading sandals for boots sooner than you think, so reserve your seats on publictheater.org before it’s too late!

If you’re feeling adventurous… go on a citywide scavenger hunt!

Coined as “ingenious and unique”

by Time Out New York, Accomplice productions send participants on a mission through the city. Audiences are assisted by various clues and mysterious cast members scattered throughout locations as notable as iconic landmarks and obscure as random street corners.

Sure to make you see New York City in a completely new light, Visit accomplicetheshow.com for more information about this one of a kind experience.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

August 27, 2015

Features

13

FCLC’s Declassified School Survival Guide overrated and like old news BUT it is crucial! Fordham’s classes are small and that’s a killer advantage for you. When your biggest class has only 35 students, it’s easy to make an impression the first day. Here’s a tip - if a professor remembers your name by the second or third class, you’ve definitely stuck out in their mind. If you’re not as comfortable being vocal in a room full of brand new faces, stop by the professor’s office hours. Odds are, most people won’t be stopping by the first week, so you’ll have some great initial face time. Let them know you’re a great and dedicated student but you’re just shy in class. They’ll be way more accommodating and impressed at your maturity instead of just thinking you’re a disengaged student.

ALYSHA KUNDANMAL Copy Chief

Welcome to college and, more importantly, welcome to Fordham!

I know you’re beyond excited to be here, but I also know you might be a little scared (even if you won’t admit it). And that’s completely understandable. You’re surrounded by brand new people, in a brand new school and in the most amazing city ever. It can all be a bit overwhelming, so I’m here to help. I’m Ned Bigby (loljk my name’s Alysha) and I’m here to try and do the impossible - create a guide to help you survive the first couple weeks of college.

Keep your door open: No seriously, buy a doorstop or pile up some textbooks, but either way find a way to invite the new and fun breeze of friendship in. It sounds weird, but it’s actually such an easy way to meet people. If you’re just sitting on your bed scrolling through Facebook (I know you’re checking up on all your high school friends) and you see someone walking down the hall, say hello, introduce yourself and invite them in! If that sounds too scary, play some music - maybe someone across the hall will hear it and be overjoyed that you like the same obscure, indie Swedish pop band.

Don’t put off doing your laundry: Look, I’m sure you convinced your mom to buy you a ton of new underwear so you could prolong your laundry-less life for as many

ALANNA KILKEARY /THE OBSERVER

Alysha here, to make your first few weeks survivable.

weeks as hygienically possible. However, once everyone runs out of clean clothes two or three weeks into the semester, the laundry rooms are going to be packed tighter than sardine cans. To avoid this cluster- um, situation, turn laundry time into social time! Pick a time when most people are in class or eating lunch and grab a new friend and head down (or up) to the laundry room together. It may seem like a buzzkill way to spend your time, but trust me, you’ll have the last laugh when your clothes are

squeaky clean and your roommates are digging through their hampers for something to wear to class.

The dining hall is nothing like the one in Mean Girls: Where you sit and who you sit with will not define your social status. There are no defined zones for certain types of people nor do cliché and stereotypical cliques of people actually exist outside the dramatized realm of Hollywood -- at least not here at LC. If you’re

hungry, ask someone to join you! It can be as simple and casual as noticing someone else packing up their stuff in the study lounge at the same time you are and pointing at your stomach and asking “yours growling too?” It’s honestly kind of like the platonic edition of speed dating the first couple weeks of college, but hey -- everyone had to go through it.

Introduce yourself to professors: I know this sounds completely

Don’t forget about me time: You will not be branded a loner if you just want to get an ice cream cone from the Mister Softee truck in Columbus Circle and walk around Central Park for an hour. LC is full of independent students who love going on dates with themselves.

Take advantage of that. Meeting so many people and constantly being surrounded by them can be super draining (I’m looking at you, introverts). Self reflection time is important so you can really think and learn about yourself, but it also gives you some very necessary time to recharge your social batteries so you’re ready to go back tomorrow.

So here’s to making new friends and all the amazing experiences that await you. And be on the lookout for even more college survival tips and tricks in our next issue!

Confessions of a College Senior

We’ve been waiting for this for so long... and now it’s here Shaheen Tokhi Staff Writer

There is something incredibly bittersweet about going into your senior year of college. If you’re sentimental, you’re just trying to savor every moment. If you’re just over undergrad life, you probably wish you could speed through to graduation. And some people are torn between both worlds.

It didn’t really hit me until I thought of how I would be an orientation leader for the second time in a row. The freshman class will be graduating in the year 2019.

By then, I will be a long gone from Fordham. Well, not that long gone, but it definitely felt that way when I was overthinking it and staring at my Fordham e-mail as it warned me that New Student Orientation (NSO) was approaching. It wasn’t a big deal until it suddenly was. My last move in, my last first day, my last time sitting in Pope auditorium for hours of welcoming excited, nervous and exhausted freshman. I remember when that was me. I remember being afraid, and nervous, and excited. I recall imaging what my college career would look like. The feelings are different but the same. Seniors are seasoned pro’s at undergrad life, even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

Speak up.

So you’ve found your place here at FCLC. You’ve got it all figured out by now...or not. Either way, it’s never too late to start speaking up. Pardon the cliche, but college is about finding your voice - senior year is about perfecting its tone. Senior year comes with the advantage of finally starting to feel comfortable in your own skin.

Even if you’re unsure, you’re now unashamed about your right to be unsure. You don’t have to have all the

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAHEEN TOKHI

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAHEEN TOKHI

Shaheen and her friends exploring the New York subway as freshmen.

And 3 years later, they all still find time to get together and have fun.

answers, but you owe it to yourself to speak up and be authentically who you’ve always wanted to be. If you’re still hesitant, ask yourself, what are you waiting for?

Don’t be afraid to make new friends.

We know you’re probably already best friends with Leon and the rest of the FCLC security squad, (Don’t deny it. They know how often you seamless!) but that doesn’t mean new friends are out of the question. Senior year is not the mad rush of freshman year. Hoards of people are no longer desperate to find friends, but that doesn’t mean new friendships aren’t a possibility. So maybe you

and when to spring for the fancy meal. Study hard, but don’t ignore the fact that you’re going to college in the best city in the world, or you’ll wake up senior year full of regrets and feeling like you’ve already run out of time. As of now, you’ve still got plenty of time. Make it count!

Step out of your culinary comfort zone.

We get it, you know Hell’s Kitchen like the back of your hand.

You’ve eaten at the good, the bad, and the unspeakable. You’ve seamlessed late into the night. You’ve got a favorite halal food cart, you know which flame diner is the real deal, and you’ve taken the late night walk

haven’t gotten it all right so far. Lots of people haven’t. People grow and people change and people still want to make new friends. Just because you’re hustling through your senior year doesn’t mean that there isn’t time to form the lifelong friendships that you’ve always wanted. Put yourself out there.

Have fun.

Whether you’re ready to admit it to yourself or not, this is the last time you’ll be doing the undergrad thing.

School is important. Grades are important, but balance is everything.

Know when to skip the night out and when to go to a concert with your best friend. Know when to eat cheap

to Justino’s at least once during your Fordham career. We’ve all got our favorite quick fixes we can run too, but that doesn’t mean you should limit yourself to what’s convenient (and delicious). New York City is made up of thousands of worthy restaurants.

You can eat anything you want, anywhere you want. Do you really want to look back on your time here and say you are at the same 5 or 10 places? Your taste buds deserve better than that.

I’m nostalgic as I look out into a room full of anxious freshman. I’ll be happy and confident in the fact that it all comes down to five simple words: it’s going to be okay.

Sports Editors Matthew McCarthy - mmccarthy80@fordham.edu Katie Kirtland - kkirtland@fordham.edu

Sports

August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

Jen Welter Hired as First NFL Female Coach

By MARCY ALVAREZ Assistant Sports Editor

The National Football League (NFL) is breaking barriers once again. Earlier this year the NFL employed Sarah Thomas, the first female referee. In another historic step, the Arizona Cardinals hired Jen Welter, the first female coach.

As part of an internship, Dr. Welter will be an assistant coach on defense, focusing on inside linebackers, for the summer training camp and preseason.

With her 14 seasons of experience playing pro football in the Women’s Football Alliance, being the first female to play running back in men’s pro Indoor Football League and two gold medals from the International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championship, Dr. Welter seems more than qualified for the job.

However, critics are pointing out that she has no experience playing in the NFL and therefore cannot lend any experience to coaching. To these remarks, Time Magazine pointed out that many other male coaches have never played in the NFL either, some of which include Vince Lombardi, who was a Fordham graduate and former head coach of the Green Bay Packers, Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, and Joe Gibbs, former head coach of the Washington Redskins.

Other critics have taken to Twitter to express their more misogynistic opinions. One Twitter user wrote, “Women have no place in a mans [sic] sport, they should be home cooking and taking care of the children.” Another Twitter user wrote, “What is this nonsense of Arizona hiring a woman to coach in the NFL? Women don’t play real football.” Another Twitter user, tweeted, “Look, I’m all for women’s equality and all but hiring a woman as a football coach in the NFL is one of the dumbest moves I’ve ever seen.”

RON JENKINS/FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM TNS

Jen Welter is currently an assistant defensive coach for the Arizona Cardinals this preseason.

In response to the negativity, people have shared their support and congratulated Dr. Welter. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright tweeted, “I don’t know much about football, but I do know what it’s like to be first. Congrats to @jwelter47 & the @AZCardinals.

I’m rooting for you!” Nicole Kucik, an eboard member of In Strength I stand (ISIS), says, “I hope that this is the threshold to allowing several more women in the sport and hopefully closing the gender gap between male and female coaches and athletes in general.”

Even Vice President Joe Biden has recognized the importance of hiring Dr. Welter tweeting, “Breaking barriers and reaching new heights. Congratulations to Jen Welter. This is what progress looks like.”

However, the most important support comes from Arizona Cardinals staff and players. During Dr. Welter’s introductory news conference, Bruce Arians, head coach of the Cardinals, called her a “trailblazer.” Furthermore, the linebackers she’s coaching are having a positive response to her as well. In an

interview with ESPN, Kevin Minter said, “I feel like she’s really benefiting us right now.” During the same interview, Glenn Carson said, “Honestly, she’s like your typical football coach. There’s really no difference whether it’s a guy or girl.” The same opinion could also be said of Becky Hammon, the first female assistant coach who then transitioned into the head coach for the San Antonio Spurs during the Summer League.

Overall, Dr. Welter seems to be a great addition to the Cardinals’ coaching staff. Moreover, she’s an inspiration for women everywhere

that anything is possible. As she said in a news conference, “I didn’t start playing football to be here. I didn’t even dream that it was possible. And I think the beauty of this is that, even though it’s a dream I never could’ve had, now it’s a dream other girls can grow up and have.”

Although it is uncertain if she will be hired full time, one thing that is certain is that the hiring of a female NFL coach is not a stunt or a ruse, it is progress toward an integrated sport, where people of all sexes and genders can coach and play alongside each other.

Fordham Fitness: Finding the Perfect Gym for You

By MATTHEW MCCARTHY Sports Co-Editor

School is upon us and that means the possible onset of the “freshman 15,” or the continuation thereof for returning upperclassmen. For college students with limited budgets and full schedules, finding a time and place to exercise is the most difficult part of warding off those extra pounds and unwanted stress.

Our Lincoln Center campus is surrounded by a number of fitness facilities. Facilities range from the costless, albeit small, McMahon Hall fitness center to the luxurious, yet pricey, Equinox Sports Club.

Reviews of the McMahon Hall gym span from ideal to adequate to disgraceful; however, opinions have changed since additions were made to the facility last April. In the past, the fitness center was filled with outdated and often broken cardio equipment, including treadmills and exercise bikes. Renovations not only updated the existing equipment, but also added more free weights, rowing machines and elliptical machines making the gym more versatile for the average gym goer.

One of the biggest complaints coming from the student body was that the gym didn’t have the proper equipment for building muscle.

That is no longer a concern as nautilus equipment and dumbbells were added to the fitness facility to accommodate the growing needs of students. Additionally, updated sta-

CONNOR MANNION/THE OBSERVER

The McMahon Hall Fitness Center underwent improvements last spring, adding free weights and elipticals.

tionary bikes, new treadmills and other cardio equipment were incorporated in the renovation. While there is still room for improvement, the McMahon Hall gym will suffice for those looking to get a good, basic workout in without straying from campus.

Another option for Lincoln Center students is the YMCA on 63rd Street. The facility boasts nearly every amenity a gym goer could ask for, including multiple weight lifting areas, several cardio rooms, two

swimming pools, an indoor track and basketball court, a spin room, a yoga studio and racquetball courts.

In addition to the vast amount of equipment, the Y also has classes for members to workout in group sessions with professional trainers.

The biggest perk? The gym offers discounted memberships for Fordham students.

For $75 per semester, students will have access to all of the facility’s amenities, including the daily fitness classes. Students looking to

incorporate many different aspects of fitness into their routine should consider the YMCA. For students who make fitness one of their highest priorities and are able to endure the exorbitant cost of a membership, Equinox is the most upscale facility imaginable.

It is also the most expensive, costing nearly $200 per month. There are multiple locations surrounding our Lincoln Center campus and all of them are stocked with strength and conditioning equipment, spas,

pools and cycling studios.

Equinox focuses on the entirety of one’s health, as they have classes not only for slimming down or bulking up, but also to provide diet tips and post workout relaxation.

The Equinox Sports Club on 67th and Columbus is also equipped with a rock climbing facility, rooftop track, basketball courts and a stateof-the-art boxing studio. If cost isn’t a factor, the Equinox facilities are filled with the widest selection of amenities available for students.

The hidden gem of the Upper West Side is the Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center on 60th Street.

Only a block away from our campus, the facility is cheap compared to other options, at only $25 annually for a membership. Even though it is not a large building, the center manages to encompass fitness equipment, a basketball court, a swimming pool and a small dance studio in its facility. Though it lacks free weights, its other amenities more than compensate for it.

The center holds multiple classes for members, including yoga, cross training, and even dancercize if you are not looking to pack on muscle and just want a diverse, relatively cheap workout, then the Gertrude Ederle Recreation Center may be your best option.

The ideal gym should fit within your budget and satisfy all of your fitness wants. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress and maintain a healthy lifestyle during the school year.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 27, 2015

Sports

15

Fordham Fall Sports Preview

By KATIE KIRTLAND Sports Co-Editor

Fordham Men’s Polo Team their best finish to date.

Saturday, Sept. 26 against MIT at Rose Hill, 2:00 p.m.

With the start of the fall 2015 semester upon us, students are getting ready to tackle their classes and get back into university life. One of the best aspects of social life on campus is attending Fordham’s athletic events and cheering for our fellow Rams!

Coming up this semester are exciting seasons for many of Fordham’s teams.

Men & Women’s Cross Country: Last season, the men’s cross country team placed 10th out of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10 Championship race with 202 points. One runner, Quincy O’Connor, was named to the 2014 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team. Fortunately for the team, O’Connor will be returning to the team this season for his senior year. The men’s team will also retain Thomas Slattery, a sophomore who qualified to compete at the 2015 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Having won the IC4A Championship the past two consecutive years, the men’s team will be looking to defend their title for a third season. The women’s team finished 11th out of 14 teams at the Atlantic 10 Championship race. The women’s roster is very young this year, with nine freshmen holding spots on the 23-person team. Hopefully this new blood will help them to boost their motivation and bring them to even higher accolades in the coming season.

Saturday, Sept. 12 in the Ed Joyce Memorial Meet in Van Cortlandt Park, 10:30 a.m.

Men’s Football: Last year, Fordham’s football team went 11-3 and will enter the 2015 season as the reigning Patriot League champions. Two players, Chase Edmonds and Stephen Hodge, were specifically honored this offseason.

Edmonds, running back, was named Patriot League Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in early August.

Hodge, linebacker, was named the League’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year around the same time.

With both of these players on the roster for the upcoming season, the team has an excellent shot at defending their title. The team had a great season last

Women’s Soccer: After finishing their season 8-10, Fordham’s Women’s Soccer Team did not participate in Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament. This season, the team is welcoming seven new freshmen to its roster, and hopefully that will help take them to the championships for the 2015 season. The team is looking to rebound from a disappointing season last year and should be able to build upon the promising finish to the 2014 season. With a strong group of incoming freshmen, the future looks bright for these ladies.

Sunday, Sept. 13 against LIU Brooklyn at Rose Hill, 1:00 p.m.

L.FRANCOIS /ARCHIVE FROM THE OBSERVER

Many Fordham sports teams will begin the new season in the next two weeks at Rose Hill.

year, and there is every reason to believe they’ll be able to improve upon it this fall.

Saturday, Sept. 12 against Villanova University at Rose Hill, 6:00 p.m.

HOMECOMING GAME will be held Saturday, Sept. 19 against Columbia University at Rose Hill, 1:00 p.m.

some hard work and practice, the team should be able to make up for the departure of last season’s seniors and come back to improve their standing in the 2015 Atlantic 10 Championships.

Friday, Sept. 11 - Sunday, Sept. 13 in the Ryan Lee Memorial Tournament hosted by Central Connecticut State University

Men’s Golf: Last season, the men’s golf team finished in 10th place at the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament. Joe Trim, currently a sophomore, had the best final round of the Championship weekend, shooting an even par. Trim is set on the team’s roster for the upcoming 2015 season. However, Ben Alcorn, who has since graduated, had the best overall weekend at the Championship Tournament, shooting only four over par for the entire tournament. Alcorn’s departure may hurt the team, but this year’s roster is looking strong. With

Men’s Soccer: After finishing the regular season 1110, The Fordham Men’s Soccer Team took home the Atlantic 10 Champion title in the 2014 season, and should be looking to defend it this season. In the championship game, Christopher Bazzini and Jannik Loebe, both freshman at the time, worked together to score the only goal of the game. Both players will be returning to the team for the 2015 season. Last season’s goalkeeper, Sean Brailey, has graduated and will not be returning to the team. This could hurt them, as Brailey posted two

shutouts during the tournament. That said, with another excellent goalkeeper, the team could go on to defend their title this season for a second consecutive — and third overall — Atlantic 10 crown.

Tuesday, Sept. 15 against Army West Point at Rose Hill, 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Water Polo: Fordham’s Men’s Water Polo team made it to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championships for the fourth time in the school’s history. The Rams claimed ninth place in the tournament. Unfortunately for the team, goalkeeper Noah LeBeau has graduated. Ten of the players on the current 27-man roster are seniors or graduate students, meaning this year’s team should be very well-seasoned.

With such experience on the team, they should be able to make another appearance at the championships this season, and hopefully they’ll be able to advance even further and earn the

Women’s Tennis: Last season’s Women’s Tennis team made Fordham’s first ever appearance in the semifinals of the Atlantic 10 Championships. Unfortunately, that is where the season’s journey ended, but this team of three women — Destiny Grunin (junior), Carolina Sa (sophomore), and Estelle Wong (sophomore) — is determined to do even better this year. In fact, Wong was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice last year. With many seniors leaving and no new freshmen coming in, the team is beginning to dwindle in numbers, but that may mean they will become a concentrated force to be reckoned with.

Friday, Sept. 11 - Sunday, Sept. 13 in the Stony Brook Invitational Women’s Volleyball: The Fordham Women’s Volleyball Team finished the season with a 3-25 record and did not play in the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament.

With four members of last season’s team leaving to make room for three new freshmen, the team will be full of new talent. With a lot of practice and training, the team will be able to come back this season and hopefully make it to the A-10 tournament.

Friday, Sept. 4 - Saturday, Sept. 5 in the Rose Hill Classic

ESPN Cuts Commentary to Survive New Media Landscape

By CONNOR MANNION News Co-Editor

ESPN faces an uncertain future as a place for commentary, namely in the fact that the network has fired three high-value personalities in a fairly short time frame: Colin Cowherd, Keith Olbermann and Bill Simmons. The firings taken separately do represent ESPN distancing themselves from problematic content, but together they also show how ESPN has had to ally itself with content producers: the franchises which ESPN itself covers in depth.

On July 16, Colin Cowherd was terminated for insensitive remarks directed toward the entirety of the Dominican Republic, essentially insulting the intelligence of players from the Dominican Republic. Cowherd made a non-apology for how he phrased his remarks, his joke was condemned by Major League Baseball (MLB), and he was released from his contract by ESPN. Tony Clark, executive director of the MLB Players Association (MLBPA), said, “These recent comments are particularly disappointing when viewed against the backdrop of the important work being done to celebrate and improve the cultural diversity of our game.” However, ESPN has shown that it is willing to stand with the content providing franchises as opposed to problematic talent, and the MLB, which has

carved a strong foothold in digital media, will regard this positively.

Clark continued, almost foreshadowing ESPN’s actions. “Baseball’s partners and stakeholders should help such efforts, not undermine them,” he said.

Next came the release of Keith Olbermann from the network, after two years of hosting a self-titled show. Olbermann was a high profile talent with a strong voice, and had returned to ESPN where he got his start after the cancellation of his show on MSNBC, “Countdown with Keith Olbermann.” Unfortunately, his assertive voice became muddled in the transition back to his original network. His time at MSNBC made it difficult for him to moderate his comments against companies that ESPN couldn’t risk completely alienating, including Penn State and their cover up of Jerry Sandusky’s abuse. Olbermann had been suspended before his departure for picking a fight through Twitter with Penn State THON campaigners, in regards to the cover up.

The final firing was Bill Simmons. Simmons was not only a thoughtful commentator, but he had an incredible grasp of digital media unlike any other ESPN personality. However, Simmons has consistently clashed with management at ESPN, openly fighting with them on multiple occasions, and was most recently suspended

COURTESY OF DALE SWEETNAM VIA FLICKR

Colin Cowherd was fired for remarks against Dominican people.

for accusing Roger Goodell of lying after the leak of the video that showed Rice attacking his fiancee Janay Rice. The NFL investigation took place prior to the release of this video, from which the initial punishment was only a four game suspension for Rice, and no other repercussions. Rice was later released from his team after the video was leaked to the public.

“Goodell, if he didn’t know what was on that tape, he’s a liar. I’m just

saying it. He is lying.” he said on his podcast, referring to the leaked video. Also according to the leak, the NFL would have had access to this video for their internal investigation. “For all these people to pretend they didn’t know is such [expletive] [expletive],” Simmons continued.

He was suspended for three weeks following these remarks, and was released earlier this year.

While Cowherd is rightfully condemned for his offensive re-

marks, and the same could be said of Olbermann picking fights on Twitter, the logic at play there doesn’t hold as much weight for Simmons’ release. The only explanation is ESPN has moved itself into a “survival mode,” so it can no longer afford to employ someone like Simmons, as he would continue to speak out, unmoderated, with or without their approval. It is more Simmons’ release in context with the other firings that paint a larger picture of what the future of ESPN looks like.

More people are now only signing up for Internet connectivity as opposed to cable connections, according to recent SEC filings

by Comcast. Cable television has to find new ways to innovate and create new content. According to ESPN, the best answer is to follow Netflix’s example – maintain strong personal relationships with the companies that create content and try not to alienate them. According to Bob Iger, who owns ESPN as Disney’s CEO, the network is set to become a streaming service like Netflix as well. So, in the future, ESPN may continue to cut down on its commentary and criticisms in order to become more of a content provider, as to not alienate the franchises through the speech of a few individuals. For better or for worse, that is what these firings really represent.

16

Photo Feature

August 27, 2015 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

SUMMER TRAVELS The Observer photographers documented their various summer travels. For more photos see fordhamobserver.com

JESSICA HANLEY /THE OBSERVER

The Bluff Cliffs of Palos Verdes, California at sunset.

JASON BOIT /THE OBSERVER

God’s Little Brown church in Alburgh, Vermont.

JESS LUSZCZYK /THE OBSERVER

A woman canoes down the Mekong Delta through the Can Tho floating market.

JENNIFER MCNARY / THE OBSERVER

Radio City Music Hall during the Tony Awards.