Observer 2016-2017 issue 3

Observer the

FEBRUARY 23, 2017 VOLUME XXXVIII, ISSUE 3

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Honoring Fordham’s Black History

Change in Library Hours Spurs Backlash

By STEPHAN KOZUB

By CLAIRE HOLMES Staff Writer

News Co-Editor

The university has decided to shorten the operating hours of Quinn Library after observing low usage numbers late at night. The three branches of student government have responded with disapproval, stating that the decision was made without their consultation and contradicts promises made in previous semesters.

Last semester, the Quinn Library had a 24-hour study zone, open to students from 11 p.m. on Sunday to 10 a.m. on Friday. The library, however, will now be closed from 2-6 a.m. every night, restoring the schedule in place before the library moved to the 140 W. building in July 2016.

“The Library administration considers the student body from all departments and schools to be our primary constituency and we are committed to supplying all of our resources toward their academic success,” Robert Allen, assistant director of Quinn Library, said in an email statement.

He explained that the library staff monitored patron usage between 3-6 a.m. last semester, and found that “there was little to no demand for maintaining a 24-hour schedule.”

“According to the data collected over several months, there was an average of seven patrons using the 24-Hour Study Zone from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.,” Allen said in the statement.

“Some nights the only person in Quinn during those hours was the Security Guard.”

The library, however, will maintain a 24-hour operation during midterms, Reading Week and finals, according to Allen. He added that the Maloney Law Library experimented with a 24-hour schedule and independently found similar results.

United Student Government (USG), Residence Hall Association (RHA) and Commuting Students Association (CSA) at Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) sent a joint statement to Allen and Nicholas Alongi, head of access, information, and collection services and operations at Quinn, on Jan. 30 stating that they “are disappointed with the recent changes to the operating hours of the Study Commons of Quinn Library.” They also requested a meeting to discuss the matter and are currently working with Allen and Linda LoSchiavo, Director of University Libraries, to schedule a date and time.

“We are unsure why such a decision was undertaken without consultation with the elected representatives of students,” the statement reads.

They further state that they were not notified of the changes, and “instead found out from fellow students who were ejected from the Study Commons in the middle of the night.”

The students also explain that they were promised a space with 24-hour access when Quinn Library moved to its current location. “To revoke access to the Study Commons without consultation is very troubling and contradictory to the conversations [USG] has had in the previous semesters,” the statement reads.

Hmu, who sent the statement on behalf of USG, RHA and CSA, said that they hope to reverse the decision in meeting with Allen and LoSchiavo.

get into a show and you don’t have to own designer pieces to have your photograph taken. Rather, you just have to play and look the part, keep your head high, be confident and realize that everyone in this industry is more or less at the same level. Although there are high-profile editors and celebrities sitting in the first rows of each fashion show, the average New Yorker can also be part of what these notable attendees are experiencing.

Before moving to New York, I fantasized walking up to security at the door of a NYFW show, the guard asking my name and me saying, “Karin Hadadan. I’m on the list.” I would picture the guard

As Black History Month draws to a close, Amir Idris, Ph.D., professor and chair of the African and African-American Studies (AAAS) department, shared his perspective on the month’s designation and the need for an intersectional approach in academia.

“It would be a mistake to limit our focus and concern to a certain month,” Idris said. Doing so, in his view, tells students that Black history is not significant, and that it can be trivialized and ignored throughout the rest of the year. “We need to rethink that approach, [and] make it part of the academic community.”

Fordham University’s AAAS department was founded in 1969. According to a Fordham News article about Quinton Wilkes, one of the department’s founders, it originated as the Institute of Afro-American Studies, and was eventually given full departmental status by the university in 1976. It was formed by a group of determined students who, through campus organizing efforts such as sit-ins, sought the recognition and inclusion of African and AfricanAmerican history in the school’s curriculum. The current goal of the department, according to it’s website, is to prepare students “to become a global citizen, scholar, and social activist who is sensitive to the demands of an increasingly diverse America and world.”

Idris says that the department also seeks to encourage people to think critically about the roles people of African descent hold in the United States, and to promote “a better understanding of humanity in a globalized world.”

While Idris thinks that many people on campus mistakenly perceive the program as being solely about racial identity, he says the department offers a variety of courses on a range of topics including immigration, gender, colonialism and urban studies. He further believes that the department is a leader in facilitating discussions on the multitude of histories, experiences and peoples within the United States.

Part of that conversation involves having more study and discussion of Black history and the contributions people of color, especially Fordham

see NYFW pg. 13

see BLACK HISTORY pg. 4

KARIN HADADAN / THE OBSERVER

New York Fashion Week graced Manhattan with the highest names in fashion.

The Truth Behind NYFW

By KARIN HADADAN Contributing Writer

Everyone assumes New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is glamorous. Event after event, party after party, show after show — it seems as though the lavish lifestyle of “Sex and the City” becomes a reality where the elite actually do control Manhattan in the first two weeks of February. Restaurants are overpacked with Instagram “celebrities” who forged their way into the industry and my go-to coffee shop for midterm studying is filled with well-known fashion bloggers taking “in-between-fashion-show coffee break” photos. While five years ago this industry was untouchable, present day fashion month reveals how anyone can be part of it. NYFW is not as lavish as it may appear in films such as the “Devil Wears Prada”—you don’t need major press contacts to

NEWS

Fake News The impacts of social media

Page 5

SPORTS & HEALTH

ARTS & CULTURE

FEATURES

MoMA Protest

Travels Abroad

Using art to fight ignorance

Student shares experiences

Expert weighs in on hazards

Page 11

Page 14

Page 16

THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

Solution to Smoking

2

News

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

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A Look at Fordham’s Freedom of Speech Policies

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

When it comes to college campuses, freedom of expression can be particularly difficult to navigate. At Fordham, there is a Demonstration Policy, a Speakers Policy, a policy pertaining to Bias Related Incidents and/or Hate Crimes, a Distribution of Literature Policy and a Publicity and Posting Policy.

“By its very nature, the University is a place where ideas and opinions are formulated and exchanged,” the university’s policy on dissent reads. “Each member of the University has a right to freely express his or her positions and to work for their acceptance whether he/she assents to or dissents from existing situations in the University or society.”

The following statement in the policy, however, sets the tone for the policies overall.

“To insure that freedom is maintained, expressions of assent or dissent cannot be permitted to infringe on the rights of the members of the University community or the community itself - not only their freedom to express positions, but their freedom to engage in other legitimate activities,” the Demonstration Policy reads. “Actual or threatened coercion or violence are abhorrent in a University because they can destroy those rights and freedoms which are necessary for the existence of the University.”

That philosophy is present in the Demonstration Policy. Approved demonstrations are allowed to proceed, as long as they do not hinder entrances, exits, passageways and the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, do not create a disruptive amount of noise, employ force or violence or constitute an immediate threat of force or violence, disrupt the university’s normal functions, or fail to fulfill the responsibilities of organizers and participators outlined in the policy.

In order to hold a demonstration, students must schedule a meeting with the Dean of Students, who will meet with the organizer(s) within one business day, according to the policy. The demonstration cannot be scheduled any less than 2 business days after the meeting. The Demonstrations FAQ page, however, states that “in some cases, the Dean can work with groups on even more rapid turnaround.”

The page also states that “a request to use space at Fordham for a protest or a demonstration has never been turned down based on the viewpoint or content of the protesters/demonstration.”

“The purpose of that meeting is to get a sense of their parameters, what they’re looking to do, with a focus on time, place and manner and impact on the rest of the university community,” Dean of Students Keith Eldredge explained. “So from that conversation, then I go to the space planners on campus, the folks that oversee reservations for the outside plaza or if somebody wants

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA / THE OBSERVER

Dean of Students Keith Eldredge oversees the student conduct policies regarding freedom of expression on the Lincoln Center campus.

to do something in a classroom or meeting room.”

He explained that in situations where students want to protest an event on campus, they would try to find a way to make it work. “We’re not going to put you in the multipurpose room in 140 for an event that’s happening in the atrium,” he said.

“That doesn’t make any sense. But where could you reasonably be that’s going to allow the event to continue in the way that it’s designed, but also give you the presence for what you want to have?”

The consequences of violating the Demonstration Policy vary, according to Eldredge.

“Generally, and I would say this for many violations, a first time offense with no mitigating factors is going to get a low level sanction,” he said. Among the possible sanctions are a written warning, Residential Life Probation or Student Life Probation.

As outlined on the university’s website, a Residential Life Probation constitutes a warning “that future violations of the residence hall regulations or University Code of Conduct will result in dismissal from the residence halls” and that “residents on probation at the time of the housing lottery will automatically be placed in overflow housing unless notified that this condition of Residential Life Probation is waived by a hearing officer.” Under Student Life Probation, a commuting student “is warned that future violations of the University Code of

Conduct or residence hall regulations on or off-campus may result in further and more serious sanctions, including University Disciplinary Probation.”

Eldredge said, however, that if a demonstration engages in “harassing behavior towards the community or does things like block the entranceway or goes into classrooms and disrupts the academic business of the campus, that would warrant a higher level of sanctions versus a demonstration that’s simply unregistered.”

The Speakers Policy is broader, with the three main prohibitions being that speakers cannot “threaten to endanger the safety of any member(s) of the University community, pose a threat to the physical facilities, or obstruct or disrupt the normal functions of the University.”

It adds that “expression that is indecent or is grossly obscene or grossly offensive on matters such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual preference is inconsistent with accepted norms of conduct at the University” and that “obviously, and in all events, the use of the University forum shall not imply acceptance or endorsement by the University of the views expressed.”

Fordham ran into its own issues with controversial speakers back in 2012, when the College Republicans tentatively booked Ann Coulter to speak at the university.

“To say that I am disappointed with the judgment and maturity of the College Republicans, however,

would be a tremendous understatement,” University President Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., said in a statement to the College Republicans at the time. “There are many people who can speak to the conservative point of view with integrity and conviction, but Ms. Coulter is not among them. Her rhetoric is often hateful and needlessly provocative—more heat than light—and her message is aimed squarely at the darker side of our nature.”

McShane preceded this statement, however, with “Student groups are allowed, and encouraged, to invite speakers who represent diverse, and sometimes unpopular, points of view, in keeping with the canons of academic freedom.

Accordingly, the University will not block the College Republicans from hosting their speaker of choice on campus.”

The College Republicans cancelled the event, a decision which McShane commended in a later statement.

Eldredge said that the policy of the university is to “try to give pretty wide latitude” when it comes to speakers and their points of view, “unless it gets into that area of violence, danger, or safety issues” as outlined in the policy.

Regarding Posting and Publicity, the United Student Government (USG) is working on establishing a Community Posting board on the garden level of the 140 W. building.

Previously in place outside of Student Affairs’ old office in the Low-

enstein building, the board offers students not affiliated with clubs and official entities at the university a space to post flyers with Student Affairs’ approval.

Regarding preserving freedom of expression and safety on campus, Eldredge said that “I think a big piece of my job is focused on the safety and well-being of students.”

“I think if students don’t have the basic levels of safety taken care of, we can’t get to those other issues, and so safety has to be paramount,” he said. “And that cuts across not just speakers on campus or demonstrations, but a lot of the work we do related to student discipline, our alcohol policy, our approach to the amnesty policy for alcohol issues and our approach to sexual assault.

And so that’s got to be present.”

He elaborated, however, that he thinks “we need to be careful that we don’t use that as an excuse to stifle the free exchange of ideas, because it is an academic institution and that’s part of what students should get in an academic institution--to be exposed to different ideas, to hear new things, to have their own beliefs challenged in an appropriate way so that there’s dialogue and conversation and not just simply everybody repeating the same thing. So we have to have that opportunity for free speech, knowing that that safety is there on a foundational level.”

Full text of Fordham’s policies regarding freedom of expression can be found on the university’s website.

USG Draft Constitution Expands Leadership, Structure

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

The executive board of the United Student Government (USG) has drafted a constitution adding new leadership roles and expanding multiple aspects of the group’s structure, including the electoral process. Even though the constitution is not yet official, the executive board has voted in approval of the draft.

The two new positions added are Vice President of USG and Vice President for Facilities.

The Vice President of USG will be responsible for assisting the Presi-

dent in performing the duties of the presidency, presiding over and preparing the agenda for all USG General meetings, typing the agenda for each USG meeting, helping draft the USG budget, casting the deciding vote in the event of a stalemated vote and assisting other Vice Presidents as needed.

The VP of USG may also act as a voting member of the Student Activities Budget Committee (SABC) and must provide the Senate with immediate notification of all Executive Actions and reserve rooms for general meetings.

The Vice President for Facilities

The Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center will also gain an additional Senator per class with two Senators per class.

must also assist the President in performing the duties of the presidency, along with serving as chair of the

Facilities Committee and the Food Services Committee, providing the Senate with immediate notification of all Executive Actions and reserving rooms for committee meetings.

The Food Services Committee, which previously existed but was not operating under official guidelines, is now outlined in full in the draft constitution. The committee is “mandated to meet once a month with the Food Services contractor to discuss and improve dining on campus.”

The drafted constitution also includes changes in the electoral process. The President and Vice

President of USG will run on a ticket system, which is the system in place at the Rose Hill campus.

The Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center will also gain an additional Senator per class with two Senators per class. Fordham College at Lincoln Center will continue to have three Senators per class.

Due to the restructuring of leadership, the line of succession is now as follows: Vice President of USG, Vice President for Operations, Vice President for Student Affairs, Vice President for Facilities, President Pro Tempore, Treasurer and Secretary.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER February 23, 2017

News

3

Admin Firm on SJP After Disciplinary Charges Draw Ire

By ELIZABETH LANDRY Asst. News Co-Editor

The university has charged a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organizer for violating the Demonstration Policy. Over 100 faculty members have sent a letter to University President Joseph M. McShane, S.J., to request intervention in the disciplinary proceedings scheduled for Feb. 22, to which the administration has since responded.

Sapphira Lurie, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17, helped organize a Jan. 23 rally in support of SJP without approval from the administration. On-campus demonstrations are required to be approved by the dean of students.

An application to protest has never been turned down based on the viewpoint or content of the protesters/demonstration, according to the university website.

Lurie, who has never had a disciplinary hearing at Fordham, said that she was involved in organizing the rally, but believed it was sanctioned. “One of our members had met with Dean Eldredge to establish that the rally was going to happen,” she said. “At no point during that meeting did he indicate that the rally was unsanctioned or that we shouldn’t go through with it.”

Dean of Students Keith Eldredge said via email that he would not be able to speak about the disciplinary process for a specific student.

SJP began organizing on campus after Eldredge vetoed their club application on Dec. 22, despite having previously gained United Student Government (USG) approval. The university has stood by Eldredge’s decision, despite statements of solidarity with SJP from USG, student groups and pro-Palestine and freedom of speech groups outside the

ELIZABETH LANDRY / THE OBSERVER

Sapphira Lurie, left, at a protest of the travel ban in January.

University.

Eldredge supported the group’s other two rallies on Jan. 26 and Jan. 30 as sanctioned free speech.

The Demonstration Policy states that “each member of the University has a right to freely express his or her position and to work for their acceptance.”

There are exceptions to this rule which arise when participants do things that physically or auditorily hinder the university’s normal functions, employ or threaten immediate violence or fail to designate an “Organizer/Liaison” who meets with the Dean of Students two days or more before the demonstration.

Lurie said that she believed the Policy’s directives to be satisfied. “I was very shocked… to find out that Dean Eldredge, who was the person who personally denied us the estab-

Master of Arts in

lishment of the club, also filed the complaint to himself, noticed the complaint and then decided to pursue disciplinary action against the students involved,” she said.

Lurie requested the ability to bring legal counsel, a faculty advisor or a neutral third party into the hearing, which Eldredge denied. In the Palestine Legal report publicizing the situation, Lurie’s attorney Radhika Sainath criticized Eldredge for being “the complainant, prosecutor, judge, jury and sentencer.”

In their letter emailed on Feb. 21, 121 faculty members wrote: “At every step in this series of events, the administration has evinced a fundamental disregard for academic freedom.” The letter accuses the administration’s veto of SJP of interfering with students’ rights to free association and free exchange of

ideas. It also insists that the charges be dropped, that SJP be allowed to proceed, that a new demonstration policy be instituted immediately, and that the Student Conduct Disciplinary process be immediately reviewed and revised.

Professor of English and African American and African Studies Fawzia Mustafa said in a statement that some of the faculty involved saw the ban on SJP to be “an academic freedom/free speech emergency.”

She also called Lurie’s engagement in social justice to be a sign of Fordham’s success in achieving its educational goals.

Mustafa called the situation “staggering in its abrogation of fairness, transparency and protections against gross abuse of authority.”

“No matter how evenhanded any given administrator may be, this process abandons any pretense at fairness,” she said.

The Student Conduct Sanctions in the Student Handbook say that when a student has been found responsible for violating a university rule, sanctions range from a reprimand to a student life probation, or group probation, to suspension or expulsion. There is also the potential for a university Disciplinary Probation, which bars the individual from representing the school or holding office in a club or organization, with the added possibility of being barred from all extracurricular activities or only allowed on college property “to the extent that his or her class schedule and his or her residence on campus requires.”

“I think that this is a blatant attempt to intimidate me into silence and that it can’t be allowed to stand,” Lurie said. “No matter what they try to do I’m going to have to keep organizing on campus, keep involving myself in causes that I be-

lieve in.”

Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Jeffrey L. Gray responded to the faculty letter on behalf of McShane’s appointed staff. He stated that the university supports students’ free expression, but said that the organizers of the rally were “well aware” that they were outside of the policy parameters that are in place.

Of the demonstration and student conduct policies and protocols, Gray wrote, “I can assure you that they are reviewed and updated on a regular basis, current, seek to balance the rights and responsibilities of all parties, and are consistent with standard and best practices in higher education…[our protocols] have consistently held up well under challenging circumstances.”

Gray also said in the letter, “the focus in this matter is on conduct that did not comply with University policy, not expression or speech,” and called it a “low level policy matter.”

Another rally was held on Feb. 21, organized by students from the FCLC graduate schools and facilitated by the Comparative Literature Program, which was entitled a “Solidarity Rally for Student Freedom of Speech.” Speeches focused on solidarity with SJP and Lurie, and other perceived freedom of speech suppressions on campus. Chants included “Dump Eldredge.”

Of this rally, which was not under his purview, Eldredge expressed support, saying “While I may not always agree with the opinions expressed by all of the members of our community, I remain committed to finding ways for them to express them.”

The online version of this article will reflect the results of the Feb. 22 hearing as soon as they are available.

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Visit fordham.edu/pmma to learn more.

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News

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

DeVos Sparks Questions for Higher Ed

By ELIZABETH LANDRY Asst. News Co-Editor

Betsy DeVos was confirmed last week as President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, after a heated Senate exchange which ended with an unprecedented tie-breaking vote by Vice President Mike Pence.

Her instatement will make her the direct liaison between the President and the department, which currently collects data and does research on student outcomes and successes, administers the Title I program for schools with high numbers of lowincome students as well as federal postsecondary student aid. It also handles matters related to discrimination in schools and colleges by race, gender, sexual orientation and other characteristics.

In her previous career DeVos was the founder and chairwoman of the Windquest Group, which invests in technology, manufacturing and clean energy. She also is a chief investor in and board member of Neurocore, which offers biofeedback therapy for disorders including autism, but has not published its work in peer-reviewed medical literature.

She has also been known for her advocacy of school choice, school voucher programs, private and charter schools, a greater influence of Christianity in education and the paring down of federal power in the education system, particularly K-12.

This interest in decreasing the department’s reach is not small: in an Axios interview on Feb. 17, DeVos said, “It would be fine with me to have myself worked out of a job, but I’m not sure that -- I’m not sure that there will be a champion movement in Congress to do that.”

She will soon have the ability to change curricula. Congress’ upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act will allow her to make changes to teacher preparation regulations, potentially changing how education students are trained, according to USA Today. This development might impact schools of education immediately or require

VICTORIA PICKERING / FLICKR

Protestors have been demonstrating against the appointment of DeVos.

further interpretation by the states.

During her confirmation hearing on Jan. 18, DeVos gave ambiguous answers to the few questions concerning her opinions on issues in higher education, the Washington Post reported. In an exchange with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), she refused to either commit to or denounce enforcement of the “gainful employment” regulation, which threatens to withhold federal financial aid from career-training programs whose graduates fail to land jobs earning enough to repay their education loans. Congressional Republicans have voiced criticism for the rule, but DeVos did not indicate her opinion.

During the hearing she was also asked about her plans on possibly

reducing student loan delinquencies, default and interest rates, or whether she plans to preserve the Direct Loan program or reinstate a private lender-funded federal student loan program, which existed up until 2010. U.S. News says that the credit requirement for private loans is much more stringent than for federal loan programs, which could lead to lower-income students being excluded from their college of choice.

Both a change in loan types available and requirements for private loans could have real impacts at Fordham, where 91 percent of students received aid which totaled $51.5 million in 2014-2015, including $2.4 million in federal grants, $7.3 million in federal student loans

and $3.65 million in other loans, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“For too long a college degree has been pushed as the only avenue for a better life,” DeVos suggested in her remarks in support of vocational and technical education. It is not clear, however, how she might go about encouraging higher enrollment in these types of schools. The unemployment rate in 2015 for fouryear college graduates age 25 and over was 2.8 percent (with a median usual weekly earning rate of $1,137), while the unemployment rates for those 25+ with only some college or a high school diploma were 5.0 percent ($738) and 5.4 percent ($678), respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

When Sen. Bernie Sanders (IVt.) asked whether she would work towards making public colleges and universities tuition-free, she responded, “There’s nothing in life that’s truly free, there’s somebody that’s going to pay for it,” before saying that she would work with Sanders to make sure that higher education is “affordable for all young people.”

The Washington Post has warned that a particularly significant power of the Secretary of Education is to direct federal policy on sexual assault in college. Under the Obama administration, the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) waged a six-year campaign against sexual assault and harassment on college campuses, prohibited under antidiscrimination law Title IX. The OCR’s urging of college officials to respond promptly to reports of sexual violence and use a standard of “preponderance of the evidence” when determining whether an assault occurred, however, has been criticized and used by Congress Republicans as an example of Obama’s overreach.

During DeVos’s hearing, she agreed that sexual assault “in any form or in any place is a problem,” but said it would be “premature” for her to agree or disagree with a commitment to uphold Obama’s Title IX guidance. “I look forward to understanding the past actions and current situations better and to ensuring that the intent of the law is actually carried out in a way that recognizes both the victim, the rights of the victims, as well as those who are accused,” she said.

Here at Fordham, Title IX, which encompasses sexual assault, harassment, violence, exploitation, discrimination and gender discrimination, is enforced by the Department of Public Safety, the dean of students and the Title IX coordinator, as well as staff from Residential Life, Health Services, Counseling Services and off-campus resources when appropriate.

Discovering Fordham’s Black History BLACK HISTORY FROM PAGE 1

alumni, have made and continue to make across all disciplines, beyond just the month of February.

Denzel Washington (FCLC ’77) is one of the most well-known graduates of Fordham University, having won two Academy Awards. In 2011, the actor donated $2 million to the university, establishing the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre. The endowed professorship has hosted such artists as Stephen McKinley Henderson, JoAnne Akalaitis, Kenny Leon, Christine Jones, Joe Morton and Phylicia Rashād.

The first African American woman to practice law in New York State was also a Fordham graduate. Ruth Whitehead Whaley graduated from Fordham Law cum laude in 1924, as the first woman to have ever graduated from the law school.

Whitehead Whaley later became the first Black woman to practice law in North Carolina as well. She served as president of the New York City National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, and for the National Council of Negro Women, as well as on the Fordham University Council. Today, Fordham Law honors students in the top 25 percent of each class by naming them Ruth Whitehead Whaley Scholars.

The first Black student enrolled at the university is believed to be Matthew Adams, a pre-med student who graduated in 1947. The first AfricanAmerican man to earn a doctorate in psychology from Fordham, Quinton Wilkes, also helped to found the AAAS Department.

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER

Frederick Douglass is one of the many figures celebrated during Black History Month.

Today, the AAAS program continues to grow well beyond the institute Wilkes and other students fought to have included on campus.

This year will see two new faculty members, Tyesha Maddox, Ph.D., a specialist in Caribbean history and culture, and a new member in the fall 2017 semester, joining the department. It is also hosting a symposium on the role of the Catholic Church in American slavery, and is under-

taking large-scale research projects such as the Bronx African American History Project (BAAHP), which “is dedicated to uncovering the cultural, political, economic, and religious histories of the more than 500,000 people of African descent in the Bronx,” according to its page on the Fordham website.

The BAAHP has recorded the oral histories of hundreds of Bronx community members, going back to

the 1930s, in order to “provide an in depth portrait of the cultural, political, and social history of Bronx Black communities.”

Additionally, the program has partnered with African American and Latino community leaders, a local high school and the Bronx Borough Historical Society to ensure that the “rich history of our borough” is brought to life and shared with the public. It also is undertaking detailed archival surveys

on materials ranging from the papers of civil rights leaders, to materials on Latino jazz in New York, and has a significant amount of its archival collections available for public use, according to its webpage.

Fordham has had a complicated relationship with communities of color. The very establishment of the Fordham Lincoln Center campus had damaging effects on the surrounding African American communities and other communities of color, which were displaced in the construction of the campus and of the Lincoln Center Plaza.The architect of the project, Robert Moses, known as the “master builder,” has been the recipient of many criticisms regarding the displacement and destruction of the neighborhoods which existed at Lincoln Center long before Fordham established a presence here.

However, Idris was quick to note that “Fordham is not unique. This is a national problem.” He remarked that the university has made “steady progress addressing mistakes of the past,” evident in the types of courses offered, the expansion of the numbers of majors and minors, and growing student interest in the AAAS program.

He hopes that the program will “continue to build on this initiative,” and that more people will look at his department as an entity with a “significant role to play in discussing issues affecting American society, and the diverse experiences we all cherish and value in the United States.”

Additional Reporting by News CoEditor Cecile Neidig

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER February 23, 2017

News

5

EMMA DIMARCO / THE OBSERVER

The current political climate has called the legitimacy of trusted news sources, such as the New York Times, into question.

Are You Being Fooled by Fake News?

By MARINA POUDRET Contributing Writer

The spreading of rumors or “fake news” has always been an issue on social media platforms such as Facebook. 48 percent of college age students use social media as their main source of news, according to BBC News. The plausibility of fake news integrating itself within the other real news articles posted on social media leads to a misrepresentation of information that can impact the judgements of individuals who mainly get their news on social media. After the past election in November 2016, the issue of fake news came to affront companies like Facebook and Google when commentators accused them for influencing voters through false news articles (New York Times).

Without strict regulation to filter through posted content, Facebook has had trouble controlling the user generated content and articles put out by publishing companies using AdSense, as opposed to content created through more traditional and reputable news. This struggle has allowed

people to post fake news which falsely informs the public, possibly influencing the public’s opinions in certain affairs.

A particular article stood out among the recent accusations. An article named “Pope Francis Shocks World, Endorses Donald Trump for President, Releases Statement” by Ending the Fed went viral a month before the election, receiving 960,000 Facebook post engagements. This article turned out to be false, after respected newspapers such as the New York Times and the Huffington Post immediately contested the article. It was taken down, but not before thousands of social media users read and reposted it.

In comparison, the top mainstream election story within the same time frame, “Trump’s History of Corruption is Mind-Boggling. So Why is Clinton Supposedly the Corrupt One?” by the Washington Post, received 849,000 Facebook post engagements (Buzzfeed News). Both articles received a high number of social media buzz, grouping them together in the “trending news” tool

on Facebook. This grouping led to assumptions that both articles were equally reputable reports of current events surrounding the election, although one ended up being fake.

To tackle the issue, Facebook and Google have tried several measures which include consulting third party news organizations to fact-check articles as well as reconfiguring various posting and advertising policies, creating news tools such as the “Trending News” Facebook sidebar, and banning sites that spread misinformation.

So how does this apply to Fordham students and the New York student population in general? In light of these claims, we decided to conduct an anonymous survey on news awareness among Fordham students and individuals between the ages of 18-28.

About 80 percent of students responded that they sometimes trusted “the media” and 63 percent consulted other news articles to validate a story. This reveals that the majority of students question media output and don’t blindly believe in everything

it puts out as “fact.” Furthermore, 73 percent of the participants didn’t consider social media to be a reliable news source. We found that the majority of students who don’t consider social media a reliable source also consult other news sources upon reading a story. Meanwhile, the majority of those who responded that they rarely or never read the news believed that social media was a reliable source.

The Fordham sample was taken from a random sample of students in undergraduate classes with all years accounted for. The public sample was taken from a random sample of individuals 18-28 years old.

The impact of social media upon news awareness is significant as social media makes it easier to spread false information and manipulate voters. The Washington Post found that with social media, individuals “tend to read and quickly digest ideas and views from individuals whom we already consider “friends” or “followers,” mixing them with those from the news media.” So how does this impact individuals who are reading

the news on social media without consulting other established news sources? Research has not established a clear connection between those who have been duped by fake news and the news habits of individuals. However, the more news you read from various sources, the more information you receive and can cross reference.

Overall, the participants representing the Fordham student body show that Fordham students are rather involved and aware of circulating news. Although social media persists as a main source of news, respected news sources like the New York Times, CNN, and BBC are among the most popular news sources to read. The possibility of ‘fake’ news influencing Fordham students over the ‘real’ news is less likely as long as there is open discussion and fact checking that takes place within our community. Although social media has proven to be a platform that allows a large flow of news to be widely shared, students should always consider reading various newspapers as well as discussing with other individuals to stay properly informed.

Faculty Look Forward After Protest

By KATHERINE SMITH Asst. News Co-Editor

After members of the Fordham Faculty Senate held a silent protest outside of a Continuous University Strategic Planning (CUSP) meeting on Feb. 2, faculty members are still working to reach an agreement with the university administration.

The protest was the result of a series of disagreements over the university’s decision to determine the amount of annual faculty pay increase without the approval of the Faculty Senate, as well as whether the Faculty Hearing Committee was able to hear and rule on grievances filed against the administration.

Anne Fernald, Ph.D, President of the Faculty Senate and English Professor, filed grievances against three administrators and the Board of Trustees in September, saying

“ Being there was also to remind the board

that we have not forgotten them. The symbolic tape on the mouth was that our silence was an imposed silence.”

–

ANDREW CLARK ,

chair of the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee

that the administration decided on the amount that would be spent on a pay increase for the faculty without the involvement or approval of the Faculty Senate.

The Faculty Hearing Committee determined that the Board of Trustees and the Administration had violated University Statutes by not making a final decision with the Faculty Senate, but the admin-

istration countered that the Hearing Committee did not have the power to make decisions on the grievances.

Among the ongoing disagreements is the issue of health insurance for faculty and staff members.

Andrew Clark, chair of the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee, says that the administration is attempting to remove an “enhanced” healthcare plan that the faculty had

already negotiated on for the past several years.

According to Clark, over 150 faculty members participated in the protest, wearing pins, flowers, and tape over their mouths while they stood in silence. Clark said that the faculty wanted to give a “silent indication” of “in a respectful way” that showed their “frustration” and “discontent” with the Board of Trustees.

“Being there was also to remind the board that we have not forgotten them,” Clark said. “The symbolic tape on the mouth was that our silence was an imposed silence.”

Clark says that there have not been any reactions or changes from administration since the protest, but that Stephen Freedman, the Provost of Fordham University, “acknowledged their presence” and that it was a “nice gesture.” He also said that a positive response has

come from faculty members and the Fordham community.

In response to University Counsel Elaine Crosson’s comment that the Committee “had no authority to act upon the grievances,” Clark said that the response was not “surprising.”

“I think what was unfortunate and not surprising is the way we became invisible for pretty much every single person who walked into that room,” Clark said.

Clark said that they will be continuing to work with administration, and that their main concerns are about pay cuts and the changing of health care plans, as it significantly affects the lives of many faculty.

“We’re willing to sit at the table and try to find productive ways of saving money, but that don’t penalize people,” Clark said.

Opinions

Opinions Editor John McCullough - jmcculloughiii@fordham.edu

STAFF EDITORIAL

the

THE PERCEPTION OF FAKE NEWS THREATENS OUR DEMOCRACY

W

hat does it mean for something to be fake? MerriamWebster defines it as “not true or real.”

Unfortunately, the question of what is “true” has come up time and again throughout history, instigated by conspiracy theorists and those who wish to deny reality. Individuals have denied and challenged everything from the Holocaust to climate change to the Sandy Hook shooting. To say the least, these rejections of reality are toxic and utterly despicable.

Recently, however, the definition of truth is being raised again in a way that strokes the distrustful rage of the American people that has been coming to a boil for years. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump took to social media to say “The FAKE NEWS (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @ CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People!”

This statement does not just discredit the truthful reporting that these news organizations, as well as many others, do on a regular basis. It also dangerously insinuates that the media and journalists are seeking to do the United States and the American

people harm.

Trump’s comment, however, feeds into recent American sentiments. Americans’ trust in mass media sank to new lows in a Gallup poll released on Sept. 14. On

“To believe that mainstream journalists and media are the enemy of the American people threatens our democracy...” average, only 32 percent of Americans said they trusted mass media. Democrats trusted mass media the most at 51 percent, while Republicans trusted the mass media the least at 14 percent. Independents were closer to the average at 30 percent.

Even though Trump’s views of the press may coincide with that of Americans, that does not condone it. To believe that mainstream journalists and media are the enemy of the American people threatens our democracy and leaves us susceptible to manipulation and pervasive chaos. As John McCain recently warned,

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

suppressing the press “is how dictators get started.”

Attacks on the press and the widely reported proliferation of fake news requires us to take steps for mainstream media to reclaim the trust of the American people.

As media consumers, we can take caution in the stories we read and share. News organizations and programs such as WNYC’s On The Media have helpful guides in order to determine the legitimacy of news sources. Those of us who wish to pursue media careers can have an even larger impact by being ethically minded journalists.

Now is not the time to prove a point or shove personal opinions into writing. The way we got to this point was by looking to media to validate our opinions and for an opportunity to scoff at opponents, instead of actively seeking out meaningful reporting.

Journalism is protected by the First Amendment. Now more than ever, however, current events require us to exercise additional diligence, hold the powerful accountable and take the steps we can to ensure the continuation of our rights as Americans. Most of all, we need to stand by facts, as the Washington Post’s new slogan reads, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

Observer Editor-in-Chief Ben Moore Managing Editor Matthew McCarthy Business Manager Michael Veverka Layout Co-Editors Sabrina Jen Katie Maurer Asst. Layout Editor Elodie Huston News Co-Editors Stephan Kozub Cecile Neidig Asst. News Editors Elizabeth Landry Katherine Smith Opinions Editor John McCullough Asst. Opinions Editors Alex Seyad Kathy Yoo Arts & Culture Co-Editors Elena Ciotta Ana Fota Morgan Steward Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editors Maryanna Antoldi Samantha DeAssis Features Editor Ruby Buddemeyer Asst. Features Editor Carson Thornton Gonzalez Reese Ravner Sports & Health Editor Shobair Hussaini Asst. Sports & Health Editor Alexander DiMisa Artemis Tsagaris Photo Editor Hana Keiningham Asst. Photo Editor Aseah Khan Brooke Parrett Literary Editor Erika Ortiz Copy Co-Editors Izzi Duprey Erika Ortiz Morgan Steward Social Media Co-Managers Andronika Zimmerman Asst. Social Media Co-Managers Angelika Menendez Visual Advisor Molly Bedford

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• 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 February 23, 2017

Opinions

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Yiannopoulos’ Hate Is Not Free Speech

COURTESY OF RICHARD CASSAN

The cancellation of a Yiannopoulos speaking engagement at the University of California, Berkeley ignited a new debate over the limits of free speech.

JOHN McCULLOUGH Opinions Editor

On Jan. 27, a scheduled speaking engagement by former Breitbart editor Yiannopoulos Yiannopoulos at Berkeley was cancelled in response to widespread opposition and protests by Berkeley students, as well as the application of “black bloc” rioting tactics by anti-fascist anarchists. These political actors, referred to collectively as “Antifa,” have been excoriated in the media from such outlets as Fox News and The Intercept. Right-wingers have criticized protesting, rioting and property-damage as an affront to freedom of speech. Meanwhile, liberals and many on the center-left have criticized such tactics because it portrays all opposition to Trump as violent and irrational.

However, to better understand Antifa, it is important to understand the threat posed by someone like Yiannopoulos. He does not

There is a fine line between free speech and barbarism, and Yinannopoulos’s assault on the security of oppressed peoples should not be granted a plantform. intend to forward his own opinions through reasoned debate. He seeks to bully and mistreat those who are already socially disadvantaged due to hierarchical power structures, and keep them marginalized.

According to The Independent, Yiannopoulos intended to use this speaking event as an opportunity to teach Berkeley students how to publicly expose undocumented immigrant students. He has acted out stunts like this before. Per New York Magazine, Yiannopoulos outed a transgender student at the University of Wisconsin in front of her class, claiming that she had “forced his [sic] way into the women’s locker rooms this year.” Yiannopoulos singled out a

specific student, and mocked her for her gender identity, actively disseminating naked bigotry from the platform he had been given.

This is not protected speech.

This is hate speech and direct violence against a member of a marginalized group. It is the exact kind of incitement that has, in the past and present, caused innocent people to be beaten and killed.

There is a fine line between free speech and barbarism, and Yiannopoulos’ wanton assault on the security of oppressed peoples should not be granted a platform.

Even many who agree that having Yiannopoulos speak would be unacceptable have objected to black bloc tactics, claiming that the

property damage associated with radical direct action only causes people to view the opposition to fascism with further disdain. This viewpoint upholds the ideological notion inherent in capitalism that the property of the ruling class holds greater importance than human life, specifically those lives destroyed by transphobia, racism, xenophobia and other oppressive forces. In order to confront the structures of institutional violence that subjugate people on a daily basis, it sometimes becomes necessary for that anger and outrage to take a more volatile form.

While many have utilized the example of Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violence to denounce political riots, it would be wise to look to the man’s actual views on the subject for guidance. In his 1968 speech “The Other America,” King declared that “a riot is the language of the unheard.” The riot is the manifestation of the voice of a people who believe honestly that they have no say in the established

political processes. The expression of unbridled rage that emerges from a riot makes an extremely powerful statement to those in power: that those in society who have been marginalized will be defended, and those that seek to further repress the persecuted will not be supported in doing so.

In a speech given by Hitler in 1933 at Nuremburg, he stated that the only way the development of fascism in Germany could have been halted would have been that those opposed to Nazism had “from the first day annihilated with the utmost brutality the nucleus of our new movement.” In line with this principle, we cannot allow for a political climate in which fascists are coddled and hate speech is accepted. We must be willing to take a stand, and collectively protect each other when our basic rights are under attack. We must recognize the extreme danger posed by a figure such as Yiannopoulos, and fight him with every weapon in our arsenal.

Adele’s Grammy’s Speech Addresses Racial Issues DANERAH PIERRE Contributing Writer

Needless to say, the Grammy’s were amazing this year. The artists, namely Adele and Beyoncé, performed flawlessly. In fact, they killed it. To say that Adele did George Michael’s song, Fastlove, justice would be an understatement.

And, when she teared up at the end, I bet that the whole world was crying tears of awe and joy with her. I certainly was.

As beautiful as her and the other artists’ performances were, the most awe-inspiring act of the night was her acceptance speech upon winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year: “I can’t possibly accept this award. And I’m very humbled and I’m very grateful and gracious, but my artist of my life is Beyoncé.”

Yes, you read that right: she effectively “Kanye’d” herself. But, unlike what Kanye West did to Taylor Swift, Adele wasn’t just being belligerent and kissing up to Beyoncé.

She was making a brutally honest statement about race relations in the world.

She went on to say that Beyoncé’s most recent album,

COURTESY OF THE GRAMMY’S

Adele’s comments at the Grammy’s contribute to a dialogue on race that becomes more relevant every day.

“Lemonade,” was monumental (which it truly is) and that Beyoncé empowers and encourages her and her black friends to stand up for themselves.

I wonder if she understands the power behind her speech.

She didn’t go into a rant about

how black people are treated badly in the country. But, she didn’t need to. The fact that she had to specify that her black friends, in particular, felt empowered to stand up for themselves is indicative of the fact that our society puts them in a position of constantly needing to do so.

Is that necessarily news? Not at all. But, that is exactly why we can never forget it. Especially since we live in a world where people such as Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin have been subject to police brutality, and killed for standing up for their

rights, no matter how respectfully they did so.

Race is an uncomfortable subject for many because of all the historical implications that come with it.

For that reason, it is often considered a taboo subject to discuss among mixed company. But, we can’t shy away from talking about a relevant issue simply because it makes us uncomfortable.

I applaud Adele for being unafraid to speak so openly about race. Her acceptance speech was not just about whose music people should like better. It was about calling issues as they are, and coming together to acknowledge them.

The best part about Adele’s acceptance (or technically, rejection) speech is that it came from a place of frankness and humility, rather than from a savior complex, or a desire for positive publicity.

Of course, nobody just went up to her and said, “Oh, you’re right!” and snatched the Grammy out of her hands in order to give it to Beyoncé. But, it is often said that the first step to solving a problem is to admit there is, in fact, a problem.

If we hope to improve race relations, then we must never become complacent about challenging the system that destroyed them. Adele’s speech was a great example of that.

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Fashion Feature

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

Lessons in New York Fashion Week Student Covers Backstage Beauty via Internship

By RUBY BUDDEMEYER Features Editor

I discovered my affinity for fashion when I was 10 years old. After growing out of my favorite pair of jeans, I bluntly snipped off the legs, sewed the bottom shut and affixed a bright pink strap to either end, marking the beginning of my (short-lived) purse business. While I experimented off-and-on with fashion design for the years to come, I simultaneously morphed into a book-obsessed teenager with a pen glued to my hand and a notebook always by my side. When I arrived at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) in 2015, I began combining my two passions—solidifying my voice as an English major, all the while tapping into my creativity as a Fashion Studies minor. FCLC’s location is ideal for anyone interested in or intrigued by fashion, and since arriving, I’ve wanted to attend one of the city’s most coveted events: New York Fashion Week (NYFW). This year, my goal came to fruition, and through my internship, I was given the opportunity to cover the backstage beauty of the Jason Wu Fall Winter 2017-18 Collection.

I work as an editorial intern for the fashion, beauty, and lifestyle website StyleCaster and am surrounded by women with years of experience in the industry. In January, talks of NYFW began circling the office, and many of the editors began to map out what the stressful, action-packed February week would look like. My boss created a fashion week schedule that noted which editor would attend the various shows, and by the beginning of February, the schedule was stacked. One day at work, I glanced at the schedule only to notice that my name was marked next to the Feb. 10 Jason Wu show.

With little authority or recognition in the industry, I was surprised that I was assigned to cover such an important show. Regardless, I agreed wholeheartedly and anxiously waited for the day to arrive. As the show approached, my boss gave me a brief run-down on her expectations. I was to attend the backstage of the show on behalf of StyleCaster’s beauty team, where I would interview the makeup, hair and nail artists and get a glimpse of the looks

that would be sent down the runway shortly after. She described the experience as a cattle-like atmosphere, where editors were quickly orchestrated around the room in a stressful 30-minute exchange. While I wouldn’t be an audience member for the actual show, I was excited to have the opportunity to attend the backstage presentation under an editor capacity.

The show was set in the St. Regis Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. I arrived promptly at 3 p.m. and was ushered to the second floor ballroom.

The room was stunning, with cream-coated walls adorned with gold trim. I was immediately greeted by pure chaos as I watched stylists, designers and assistants run frantically throughout the room.

The energy was high, and it was exciting to see the work of these dedicated individuals coming together. I walked into the fitting room, which had each look organized and labeled with the assigned model’s name. It felt special to see the first look at Wu’s latest collection.

The various editors and I were split into groups—my first stop was with nail artist Deborah Lippmann. I was standing next to editors from Elle and the New York Times, and as Lippmann began, a sea of recorders jutted out from the crowd. Lippmann spoke of her latest nail polish launch and of the specific color for Wu’s show. “His draping this season is off the charts, very, very strong, bold colors. We decided for the nail that it needed to be really, really sheer. And this is a shade that I just created, it’s brand new, and it’s called ‘A Brand New Day,’” Lippmann explained. “This idea for [Jason Wu] was just that the nail really didn’t detract at all from how strong this woman is.” As Lippman wrapped up, I stepped into the hair station, which was overwhelmed by a thick cloud of heat from the rapid blowdryers and flat irons.

The makeup artist, Yadim, began speaking and the editors darted to the makeup station. The artist, who was working in collaboration with Maybelline, had to yell in order for us to all hear him.

www.fordhamobserver.com

Fashion Feature

RUBY BUDDEMEYER/ THE OBSERVER

Buddemeyer, FCLC ‘19, covered New York Fashion Week for her internship.

Yadim sat a bare-faced model in a chair in front of us, and began to create the makeup look as he explained each product and movement. The makeup rested on dewy, natural-looking skin. “Jason really likes that. He likes to be able to see the natural beauty of the girls,” Yadim noted. As he began applying a red lip (that only a few of the models were donning), Yadim highlighted the importance of breaking up the makeup looks, explaining that he didn’t want each model to look like a replication. Yadim focused on “perfecting the makeup to each individual girl,” which resulted in a very fresh and modern ensemble.

As Yadim concluded his presentation, various assistants began running around the room, exclaiming, “Jason needs everybody out now.” The countdown to the runway had officially started and chaos was spreading around the room like wildfire. I was escorted out of the ballroom alongside the other editors and was relieved for fresh air as I stepped onto the street.

My 30-minute venture backstage at the Jason Wu show was a whirlwind. It was inspiring to be around a plethora of talented and experienced editors, and it offered me a glimpse into what my future could one day hold. Next year, I hope to attend a show as an audience member, but until then, I’ll revel in the excitement of my first experience at New York Fashion Week.

RUBY BUDDEMEYER/THE OBSERVER

At NYFW fashion brands displayed the latest, upcoming trends.

DESIGN BY KATIE MAURER/THE OBSERVER

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Opinions

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Calling All Musicians: Create Art Against Trump JORDAN MELTZER Staff Writer

My all-time favorite album is, far and away, “American Idiot” by Green Day. Written after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, it is a self-proclaimed “rock opera” that, among other things, bashes the Iraq War and metaphorically beats the Bush Administration to a bloody pulp. I have paid for the “American Idiot” CD, the vinyl record and albumrelated merchandise. I have chanted politically driven lyrics, like “Zieg Heil to the president Gasman,” at Green Day concerts. Now, without a doubt, the Bush administration was a dangerous one that cost tens of thousands of Americans their lives in wars. So, was it right of Green Day to use the horrible events that occurred during the Bush Administration to make a profit?

Absolutely. In fact, not only is it moral, it is necessary. Politically charged art is a form of protest, and protest is one of the best means that citizens have for enacting change (or at least beginning that process).

The presidency of Donald Trump is bound to incite protests and motivate artists to create powerful pieces rejecting Trump’s ideology. In Trump’s America, the artistic community — music in particular — has good reason to resist. And I like the idea of musicians manifesting their resistance in the form of catchy tunes that also pack a punch.

Even before Trump was elected, musicians were rejecting the hateful agenda of soon-to-be President Trump in songs. Rapper Eminem released a seven-minute freestyle aptly entitled “Campaign Speech” last summer. On the epic track, he declares: “You should be afraid of this dang candidate … a f**king loose cannon who’s blunt with his hand on the button and doesn’t have to answer to no one,” before sarcastically remarking, “Great idea!”

The aforementioned hard rockers in Green Day released their twelfth studio album, “Revolution Radio,” last October. The album is a political powerhouse, attacking Trump many times in several songs. Specifically,

ERIN O’FLYNN/THE OBSERVER

The Trump presidency is the newest in a long line of targets for rising countercultural movements in art.

“Troubled Times” asked of listeners, “What good is love and peace on Earth when it’s exclusive? … What part of history [do] we learn when it’s repeated?” Singer Billie Joe Armstrong then proclaims repeatedly that “we live in troubled times.” He has never been one to keep his opinions to himself — and his fans love it. At the American Music Awards, shortly after Trump’s election victory, Armstrong got the crowd riled up when Green Day was performing by starting a chant: “No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!” The chant made its way to anti-Trump protests nationwide — I’ve seen it myself; It’s a beautiful thing.

Perhaps the most sophisticated musical response to Trump’s hatred comes from the thrash metal giant Megadeth. “Dystopia,” the rock veteran’s 15th album about modern American politics and the impending Trump administration. One lyric in particular that stuck with me is: “This planet’s become one big spinning disaster. If you don’t like where we’re going, then you won’t like what’s coming next. What will we look like in a post-American

world?” Other titles on the album – which speak volumes in and of themselves – include “The Threat is Real,” “Lying in State,” and, of course, “Dystopia.” With this album having been released before the election, I can only say that Megadeth warned us.

Since Trump’s election, musicians have taken to the stage, especially those with a national audience, to get their messages across. In just the past few weeks, artists made a splash in mainstream media by making political statements during their performances at the Super Bowl and the Grammy Awards. At the Super Bowl, the women who portrayed the Schuyler sisters in the original Hamilton cast sang “America the Beautiful,” during which they added two important words to a lyric: “And crown thy good with brotherhood, and sisterhood.” (I would kill for a t-shirt with the words “And Sisterhood” on it.)

Additionally, Lady Gaga performed her 2011 hit “Born This Way” at the halftime show. The pop jam includes the lyric, “[Whether] you’re black, white, beige, chola descent, you’re

Lebanese, you’re orient … rejoice and love yourself today, ’cause baby, you were born this way.” Her inclusion of the song is a clear jab at Trump’s Muslim ban and hateful rhetoric in general. Meanwhile, at the Grammy’s, hip-hop legends “A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ)” and rappers Busta Rhymes, Consequence and Anderson Paak perked up the ears of the nation when they performed together and directly called out the president. Between songs, Busta confidently said to Americans everywhere: “I’m not feeling the political climate right now. I just wanna thank President Agent Orange for perpetuating all of the evil that you’ve been perpetuating throughout the United States … [and] for your unsuccessful attempt at the Muslim ban.” Then, a group of people, including a woman wearing a hijab, knocked down a wall that had been set up on stage as Busta rapped, “When we come together, we the people.” The apparent metaphor was followed by a song and the repeated chanting of “Resist!” by the performers.

Every lyric, every album and ev-

ery performance in these examples motivated me to do exactly what ATCQ told me to do: resist. I spoke about them and their messages on social media and encouraged my friends to attend protests. I also bought all the music, and even some merchandise and concert tickets, that the artists were selling. Some people might find it immoral to benefit from bashing the President of the United States; others might find it immoral because these “troubled times” should not be manipulated for profit. I disagree.

I think that musical political resistance adds to a revolution that is so vitally important given the current political climate (with which Busta Rhymes is admittedly dissatisfied).

I support these artists with my money, and I encourage everyone on their side to do the same. I also encourage musicians like myself to create the music that the revolution needs. Where America is the movie, Trump is the evil villain; the protesters are the protagonists, and the soundtrack is the music of the resistance.

Fordham Dining Fails to Meet Needs of Students

By MARCO PEZZOLLA Contributing Writer

College is a hectic time for many students who are juggling between academics and personal commitments. Trying to study for multiple exams while also attending back-toback classes can be quite stressful.

After a strenuous day and an empty stomach, you can hardly wait to get home and have some of that amazing home cooked dinner. That is until you realize you live at college.

Well, at least there are many varieties to choose from… right? While this applies more to residents than commuters, Fordham dining is the main source of food for the three meals a day for all freshmen living in McKeon Hall. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences, but one common complaint regarding the dining hall is the lack of healthy options.

The dining hall is a nice advantage to living on campus. While it may not be open 24 hours a day as some may wish, the dining hall is open for reasonable hours seven days a week. Regardless of one’s opinions on the dining hall, all freshmen residents in McKeon Hall are required to purchase a meal plan. So if you are one of the people who dislikes eating dining hall food, and you are a freshman, you may have to somehow manage to get by with Fordham’s food.

Fortunately for those who prefer

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER.

French fries and chicken fingers in the Ram Cafe on Feb. 15.

to not eat campus food, after your freshman year, you are free from the dining hall. The dining hall has fries, burgers, pizza and sandwiches available everyday for lunch and dinner with a constantly-changing main course for all three meals of the day. It seems like salads are the only continuing option always available for lunch and dinner. But, one healthy option in comparison to the rest of the unhealthy food options that are available is completely unbalanced.

Several Fordham residents had varied opinions regarding the dining hall quality and choices of healthy options.

One student gave a positive

review of the dining hall’s array of healthy choices. Matthew Gallo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, who went on to admire the food options, stated, “The dining hall gives out many healthy food options, especially with the salad bar, their gluten free section, and the sandwich section. I really don’t have anything bad to say, because I always am able to eat something healthy, like broccoli, when I’m down there, without feeling I’m limited on my options.” Gallo went on further and said, “In fact, I believe that the dining hall has more healthy options when compared to the Ram Café, due to the dining hall allowing the students to get as much

lettuce and other healthy things without buying a separate salad.”

He concluded his overall opinion by adding, “So, overall, I believe that the dining hall gives plenty of healthy options, from their salad bar in the middle, to their gluten free section in the corner. What I would like to see changed is their quality of scrambled eggs, because they don’t taste very good, and are watery.”

Aramark, Fordham dining’s food provider, commented by explaining its food selection process.

When asked the question, “How do you decide on the food Aramark makes and ships each day,” they replied with, “Lots of input from our talented team of professionals and certified chefs goes into the meals we create each day. We have an exceptional culinary team on the ground that works to craft menus based on a broad range of factors specific to our students here at Fordham.”

Aramark went on to say, “Our menus feature lower calorie choices; vegan, vegetarian and whole grain options; seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables; and a variety of whole foods that are raised, grown, harvested, and produced locally and in a sustainable manner. We are also continuously introducing new entrees and side dishes, featuring international flavors and more seafood, vegan and vegetarian

entrees… In addition to our team on the ground, we have regional and other forms of support that help to ensure best practices and drive us forward.”

Aramark then went on to state that their “operation includes 18 different restaurant styles concepts, 13 retail dining locations, and four resident dining facilities serving the community every day, all months of the year.”

The food service provider emphasized its focus on delivering the best quality food with great management. The representative stated, “[We] fielded a fantastic team of top line managers who came to support Fordham leaving positions at renowned campus dining programs such as NYU and Columbia while retaining managers that joined from Sodexo such as myself and Rose Hill catering director John Burns.”

Despite the many employees, Aramark prides itself in having a front line staff dedicated to engaging with students each day and providing the common goal of an exceptional delicious dining program.

Regardless, the dining hall is either a great or not so great place for getting your meals. For all freshmen in McKeon Hall, it is smart to just make the best of the dining hall by being responsible with what you eat.

For those who dislike the dining hall, after your freshman year, you won’t have to eat there again.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editors Elena Ciotta - eciotta@fordham.edu Ana Fota - afota@fordham.edu Morgan Steward - msteward2@fordham.edu February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

The New Future of African-American Cinema

By ALYANA VERA Contributing Writer

The past six months have seen a radical change in the way that stories about black people, particularly in film, are being told and how they are being received by the broader public and awards shows.

A 2011 study conducted by Andrew J. Weaver, a professor at Indiana University, found that white audiences tend to stay away from stories that feature predominantly black actors because they feel they are “black movies” and that they cannot connect to them. Of course, an exception to this rule seems to be slave narratives, which in the past have been widely received by the public and commended with award after award, such as “12 Years a Slave” and “The Butler.” While these films are important culturally and cinematically, it’s easy to become frustrated with the lack of diversity in terms of stories that are being told about black people.

In a January 2014 roundtable with the Hollywood Reporter, Justin Simien, director of the indie darling “Dear White People,” which is getting a TV counterpart on Netflix, stated, “There is an obsession with black tragedy. If you see a black movie, it’s typically historical, and it tends to deal with our pain.” While the extent to which this statement is true remains to be seen, it is curious that the first African American to ever win an Academy Award for Best Director won for “12 Years a Slave.” There is a way in which awards shows and by extension film studios, prioritize and elevate slave narratives that do not encourage in-depth storytelling. When it comes to stories about the modern lives of black people, Hollywood studios are under the impression that they are too niche to appeal broadly.

For some reason, studios are convinced that movies that feature a predominantly black cast can only be “black movies;” that is, movies that white people cannot relate to on a personal level. Of course, this idea is antiquated and presumes that black people and white people are fundamentally different in a

ALYANA VERA/THE OBSERVER

“Moonlight,” starring Mahershala Ali, is nominated for several awards at this year’s Oscars Ceremony.

way that does not allow for stories that crossover. In fact, a recent Nielsen report, “FOR US BY US? THE MAINSTREAM APPEAL OF BLACK CONTENT” suggests that shows with predominantly black casts or black leads actually draw in more non-black viewers than black viewers, with the show “Black-ish” having an almost 80% non-black viewership. If the appeal of black stories wasn’t obvious before, now there is evidence that there is great potential for cross over audiences.

Most “black movies” can be categorized into three topics: slave narratives, exemplary black figures and gangs. Not to trivialize the importance of telling stories about important, historical topics, but there is more to the black experience in America than gangs, slavery and Martin Luther King Jr. To simplify the black experience into these categories reinforces the idea that black people are a monolith and that they

don’t deserve the stories that reflect their diversity of experience. Movies with black casts aren’t simply black movies, they are human stories. Perhaps the wish to show black characters doing things that white characters have been doing for ages has caused a deeper narrative to be explored about black life in America. Movies such as “Dope” (2015), “Dear White People” (2014) and “For Colored Girls” (2010) have all explored the nuances of black life in America.

The last six months have seen the shattering of the idea of a “black movie—” they have explored a side of the black experience in America that often goes untold. Those whose experiences vary from that of the black cis-heteronormative male are being explored. “Moonlight,” a tale of love and self-discovery, not only speaks to the harsh life of a boy growing up in a poor neighborhood, but also the complexity

of his relationships with his abusive mother and his close friend, all while he tries to come to terms with his burgeoning sexuality. “Hidden Figures” tells the story of three women, Katherine G. Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, who played an integral part in the launch of John Glenn into space and overcame several obstacles not just as black folk, but as black women. These movies break out of the cookie-cutter narratives of slavery, household names and tales of gangs and explore the depth and complexity of life. “I Am Not Your Negro,” based on the unfinished manuscripts of James Baldwin, tells the story of race relations in America through the lives of three men: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Medgar Evers. “13th” explores the history of race in America and how overt racism has evolved into a more insidious breed of racism that manifests itself through the prison

industrial complex, showing how far we have yet to go in terms of true equality for all.

I would, however, hesitate to call this movement a trend. Calling it a trend would suggest that it will easily ebb and fade after some time, but I believe that we are experiencing a renaissance in all-black art. In the last year we have seen critically acclaimed shows featuring predominately black casts, from “Atlanta” to “Insecure,” as well as older shows that have gained critical recognition such as “Empire,” “Luke Cage,” “Black-ish” and “Chewing Gum.” Not to mention the rise in experimental and provocative music, such as Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” Solange’s “A Seat at the Table” and Frank Ocean’s “Blond,” among many more. From Ta-Nehisi Coates to Ava Duvernay, black artists are flourishing and providing relevant and necessary social commentary.

Not only are they speaking out, but they are also getting recognized for their work; Grammys, Oscars and National Book Awards have been handed out in droves to these artists. This movement could be seen as a response to the increasing public focus on the racial climate in America; police brutality, the prison industrial complex and the rise of white supremacy as a legitimate political opinion has elicited a strong response. Art has always been a means through which the oppressed has made a space for themselves, and is often as reactionary as it is provocative to the dominant culture.

In the same Hollywood Reporter roundtable, Simien explains that portraying the black experience as a monolith is deceiving and degrading, “You know what that says, very subtly? It says that we’re not human.

Because human beings are multifaceted.” The effort to humanize black people in the eye of a country that still treats them as second class citizens is ongoing. The need for stories about the daily life of black people, and their experiences, has never been more pressing. Now, thanks to this recent rise in diverse stories, movies are starting to truly reflect the multiplicity of black experience, showing how truly multifaceted black people are.

MoMA Protests Trump’s Immigration Ban with Art

By MARYANNA ANTOLDI Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor

This month, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) chose to fight President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on immigration in the greatest way the institution can—with art.

In response to the Jan. 27 order which temporarily bans refugees and citizens of several Muslimmajority countries such as Iraq and Iran from entering America, MoMA replaced several pieces in their permanent collection on the fifth floor, which usually displays European works from the 1880s– 1950s, with pieces by artists from the nations affected. With Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting “Starry Night” in the center of the gallery, the fifth floor is easily the museum’s most popular area and therefore most appropriate place for the pieces.

The pieces, seven in total, vary in medium and are placed throughout the exhibit to complement the European works of similar artistic style. The pieces are fairly simple to spot due to their corresponding wall plaques with the museum’s intention clearly written under their titles.

The statement reads, “This work is by an artist from a nation whose citizens are being denied entry into the United States, according to a presidential executive order issued on Jan. 27, 2017. This is one of several such artworks from the Museum’s collection installed throughout the fifth-floor galleries to affirm the ideals of welcome and freedom as vital to this Museum as they are to the United States.”

The works on display are just as diverse as their artists. Some are heavily inspired by Western tradition, like “The Mosque,” a Cubistinspired painting that merges elements of a mosque such as minarets and Arabic calligraphy with an elongated, masked figure in the center of the image. The work was painted by Sudanese artist Ibrahim El-Salahi, who studied in London and absorbed information about the Western movements of art. At first glance, with its dark, versatile shapes, the work flows seamlessly with the Picassos and Braques hanging beside it; it symbolizes the combination of Sudanese and Western traditions into one, cohesive image. In a similar way, “Lamentations,” a piece consisting of metallic paint and stamped ink on paper by Iranian artist Faramarz Pilaram,

MARYANNA ANTOLDI/THE OBSERVER

The Museum of Modern Art’s new exhibit features seven pieces of art.

combines the geometric aspects of modern European art with Iranian motifs to create a large tapestry-like creation that easily commands the same room as Pollock’s “Number 1.”

However, many of the works also stand on their own as representations of the cultures they embody.

Iranian artist Parviz Tanavoli’s sculpture entitled “The Prophet” is a new highlight of the gallery. Using

parts from drains, faucets and latticework which were then sculpted in wax and cast in bronze, Tanavoli forged a new form of sculpture entirely. He started an artistic movement in Iran called “Saqqakhaneh,” a word which refers to the public water fountains that are surrounded by metal in the nation. Created in 1964, this piece is one of the newest in the gallery and seems out of place; however, it does stand as an

interesting sculpture that differs from the mix.

My personal favorite piece in the collection is simply named “Untitled,” by Marcos Grigorian of Iran.

Consisting of soil, sand and mud on the canvas, the artist wanted to capture village life in Iran by making art from the materials used to construct a typical, adobe-like home.

The layering of mud and soil add an element of physical dimensionality to the piece, easily catching the light in the room at all angles. The artist made this work from Iranian materials, so the work functions as an actual representation of Iranian life and is easily a piece to remember.

MoMA’s new installments show how art can clearly make an impact.

With only seven pieces, the museum is successfully displaying odes to Middle Eastern culture that stand in silent protest of one of the most controversial executive orders to date. Because art is a universal form of communication, the museum’s message speaks clearly to people of all cultures that art is a powerful medium to express one’s voice, and that it can be more potent than any traditional form of protest.

Currently, the exhibition has no end date.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER FEBRUARY 23, 2017

Arts & Culture

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Influential Artists to Celebrate This February

By SAM DEASSIS Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor

As Black History Month passes by, it is important to take note of the outstanding accomplishments made by black idividuals within society. Aside from widely-known historical figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., there are plenty of individuals that have flourished within their careers that can be celebrated this month as well. Performers, for example, make their mark on society in unique ways.

Here are some of the great black artists to take note of:

Broadway Star

Actor

Denzel Washington

Audra McDonald

With six Tony Awards, McDonald is arguably the most revered Broadway star to date. Starting with outstanding performances in shows like “Carousel” (1994) and “Ragtime” (1998), McDonald already had three Tony-winning performances under her belt by age 28. She then continued to work on Tony-nominated Broadway shows such as “Marie Christine” (2000), “A Raisin in the Sun,” which earned her her fourth Tony in 2004, “110 in the Shade” (2007) and “Porgy and Bess” which earned her her fifth Tony in 2012. With her performance as Billie Holiday in “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” McDonald became the first performer to earn six Tony awards, including one in each of the four performance categories.

Even in the midst of all of her success, McDonald remains humble and thankful for those who came before her. In her acceptance speech she said, “I am standing on Lena Horne’s shoulders. I am standing on Maya Angelou’s shoulders. I am standing on Diahann Carroll and Ruby Dee, and most of all, Billie Holiday. You deserved so much more than you were given when you were on this planet. This is for you, Billie.”

Because of her success and her appreciation of other African American women who have made a name for themselves, McDonald is a perfect example of the type of figure to be kept in mind during Black History Month.

As an alumnus, Denzel Washington is a figure that is well-respected and celebrated among the Fordham community. However, during Black History Month, it is important that his accomplishments as an African-American in a caucasian-dominated film industry are noted.

Washington has received a total of 91 award nominations, 39 of which she won.

He has received eight Academy Award nominations with two wins and nine Golden Globe nominations with three total wins. He has won 17 Film Critic Awards and several other miscellaneous awards, and was most recently nominated for Best Actor and Best Picture for “Fences” (2017). With all of the nominations and wins taken by this one actor, it is clear that he is more than qualified to be a household name.

Washington has expressed in the past that he is “proud to be black, but black is not all [he] is.” He appreciates his race and his roots but emphasizes that it is not all there is to him. Although Black History Month encourages celebrating African Americans, it is important to note that the accomplishments of each of these people are important regardless of their race.

Author

Musician

Toni Morrison

Beyoncé

A name that one can hardly go a day without hearing is Beyoncé. With her undeniable fame and well-known musical credentials, Beyoncé is impossible to forget this month.

Starting with her R&B group Destiny’s Child alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, Beyoncé has spent a great deal of her life in the public eye. She was an influential name in the African American community from the beginning with her outstanding success in R&B and pop. After Destiny’s Child disbanded, Beyoncé’s career continued to soar with outstanding reception by the public for every album she has released, from her debut album “Dangerously in Love” (2003) to her most recent “Lemonade” (2016), which became her most critically acclaimed album to date. She has been nominated for a whopping 48 Grammy Awards and received 17, proving her musical prowess is appreciated both by the public and those higher-ups in the music industry.

But Beyoncé is not only notable for her voice and talent for producing successful music. Forbes listed Beyoncé as the world’s most powerful woman in entertainment in 2015, and was listed sixth in Time Magazine’s 2016 “Person of the Year” list.

During Black History Month, we can keep in mind Knowles’ success as well as her strong support of the African American community. This is shown in her actions such as her 2016 Super Bowl performance, which included strong references to the Black Lives Matter movement.

One more notable individual to note during Black History Month is Toni Morrison. An incredible writer and intellectual, Morrison has won both a Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award for her novel “Beloved” in 1988. Morrison’s other most notable works include “The Bluest Eye” (1970), “Sula” (1973) and

“Song of Solomon” (1977).

Her works include many interesting themes that involve African American culture, such as the story of a young African American girl who wished for blue eyes in “The Bluest Eye” (1970). She wrote several influential short stories and literary pieces discussing ideas centered around African American lives.

Morrison was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1993. She was also later selected by the National Endowment for the Humanities to give the Jefferson Lecture in 1996. This is the US federal government’s highest honor for achievement in humanities, showing just how influential Morrison’s work truly is to the field.

The fact that Morrison was able to become so successful and reach achievements that very few could match up to causes her to be someone we can celebrate during Black History Month. What makes her even more notable in the African American community is her tendency to include important African American themes in her literature, showing that her heritage is something she values and is proud of.

A Writer’s Guide to Getting Late-Night Talk Show Tickets

By COURTNEY BROGLE Contributing Writer

One perk of living in New York City is the unique social experiences, like getting free tickets to tapings of renowned late-night shows such as “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and even “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” Witnessing a live recording of these hit shows for many would be a dream come true, but few know just how tangible that reality is.

Getting tickets to your favorite late-night programming is much easier than many may think. Just ask Julia Britto, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, who has seen “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” this semester.

She wins her tickets through 1iota. com, the website that most shows with live audiences use to fill their studios.

The website lists a variety of programs that offer tickets, ranging

BROOKE PARRETT/THE OBSERVER The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a favorite late night spot among FCLC students.

from late-night entertainment to morning talk shows, and even movie screenings for those in the Los Angeles and Hollywood, California areas. The website allows an account holder to enter a request for tickets, putting the individual on the waitlist. From there, one can win free

tickets if their request is answered.

Britto recommends that those who truly want to go should request tickets at least two weeks in advance for a better chance at priority seating, which guarantees floor-level spots, as well as arriving earlier than the established check-in time to in-

crease the odds of getting seats closer to the stage. “Most of all, be sure to just be nice,” Britto emphasized.

“You never know who’s in charge of the seating, and many people in this industry remember those who are kind!”

Spencer Akers, FCLC ’20, is also no stranger to winning tickets to live tapings; he has seen a variety of programming, including “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” “The Chew,” “Good Morning America” and “Live with Kelly.” Again, most of these tickets were acquired through 1iota, with the exception of John Oliver, who releases tickets on his own website (lastweektickets. com). Akers recommends keeping a close eye on ticket release schedules, as each show does this differently; while Fallon’s tickets come out the first week of every month for the following month, Oliver’s tickets are released promptly at 3 p.m. every Wednesday for the show in approximately two weeks. He also suggests setting alarms, especially for tap-

ings that are usually more competitive like Last Week Tonight, which usually sells out within a minute of the tickets becoming available. He also highly recommends using more than one email, or even creating a separate account just for ticket requests. “This way,” he explained, “you don’t have to worry about emails going into the Spam folder or information about shows getting lost.” Above all, Akers encourages hopeful audiences not to be afraid to enter more than one ticket request.

“Many people just enter once and then get so easily discouraged. After all, ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’ –Wayne Gretzky, Michael Scott, Spencer Akers.”

Those with tapings closest to Fordham University are John Oliver and Samantha Bee (CBS Broadcasting Center at 528 West 57th, between 10th and 11th) and Stephen Colbert (Ed Sullivan Theater at 1697 Broadway, between West 53rd and 54th). However, nothing is truly too far away from campus; Seth Meyers and Jimmy Fallon record in the Rainbow Room, which just requires a quick trip on the D train.

Features

Features Editor Ruby Buddemeyer - rbuddemeyer@fordham.edu

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

KARIN HADADAN/THE OBSERVER

Karin Hadadan attended the Club Monaco presentation, which included bold silhouettes and floral prints.

Student Explores the Season’s Latest Looks NYFW FROM PAGE 1

giving me a nod that they’ve given to everyone before me and afterwards they would unhook the red rope to allow me to walk past. I would then stroll over to get my ticket scanned, strut to my seat, sit next to elite New Yorkers as well as international attendees and observe what designer everyone around me was wearing.

I would then wait for the lights to dim to see the first preview of a new collection of a designer whose name I could barely pronounce. I imagined that in order for that to occur, I would have to be well-established in this city, with my name rolling off the tongues of significant New Yorkers or high profile individuals within fashion.

Fast forward to my fifth NYFW show: I’m not well-established, my name doesn’t roll of anyone’s tongue and I don’t have any contacts within the industry to get me in anywhere.

What I do have, however, is the ability to look as though I recently went on a shopping spree at Bergdorf’s and the ability to act as if I know exactly what I’m doing. In reality, the outfits I wear are either from the 75 percent off sale racks from high-end department stores or borrowed from the back of my roommate’s closet. In fashion and dressing, I know what I’m doing, without actually knowing what I’m doing. I act in a way that seems like I’m part of this industry, but each time I say or do something, I’m simply hoping that it goes my way.

After obtaining a press pass through my previous internship to Club Monaco’s Spring/Summer 2017 runway show at their flagship store in the Flatiron District, I made sure that my outfit was something that others would look at and think to themselves, “She looks cool.” It’s something I always think of when I see other women flaunting the newest Gucci loafers and pairing them with vintage Levi’s, so I just hoped that others would think the same about me. I tossed on a fur coat, a pair of

high waisted mom jeans, a t-shirt wasn’t going to give up just yet. “I formal invitation or ticket, my friend that I designed from my own brand, was at a different event and the traffic persuaded me to come along. It was 8 random pieces of jewelry and heeled was insane. Plus, I have a press pass,” p.m. in Manhattan, the night was still boots to give me the height I would I said. I was being honest — I was young and the worst thing that could need to look remotely tall, since I at a different event to meet Danielle happen was being turned away. And would be surrounded by 6-foot mod- Bernstein, fashion blogger of We- after all, we did look the part. So, we els. Head-to-toe, I was wearing cloth- WoreWhat, and there were insane both headed to the West Side. After ing worth less than the price tag of a amounts of traffic that caused me to getting out of our Uber, we walked single accessory most attendees were be late. Although he wasn’t having it, into the Skylight Clarkson studios on flaunting. he whispered something to the other Washington Street and saw a crowd I was running around New York security guard who then allowed me of people that seemed never ending. all day, so by the time I got to the to go in. I thought to myself “Thank This isn’t going to work. I didn’t exClub Monaco show I was 30 min- God,” and made my way into the pre- pect to see such a wide array of peoutes late, missed the runway show, sentation. ple aging from early teens to their late felt my stomach giving me signals to Three minutes later, I was finally 70s. Everyone was dressed in eclectic, eat something, and had less than 20 immersed in the presentation. Club minimalistic looks, which completepercent battery left on my phone. Af- Monaco’s See Now/Buy Now collec- ly represented the Telfar brand. This ter slamming the cab door shut and tion made me instantly crave warmer designer is known for his androgyslipping on brown, melted snow, I weather and an occasion to wear the nous street style looks, which shapes walked up to the this era of ungensecurity guard to dered fashion, show my ticket, especially in New Yet here I am, a student who is simply intereven though York.

Luckily, there was a line ested in the fashion industry and gets to partici- due to the insane across the corthe secupate in the same experiences as those who are crowd, ner filled with rity was flustered people just like and acted in an already well-established. me; stylish, cold extremely lenient and most likely manner, espehungry. At this cially since the point, the brand show was startwas showing the collection as a pre- pieces I was being shown. Although ing soon. At that point, they didn’t sentation, which was accessible to florals for spring aren’t ground- even care who was going in. the public (hence the long line). Be- breaking, the designers of Club MoAfter waiting for 20 minutes, my fore walking to the back of the line naco incorporated floral patterns friend walked up to get her ticket with frozen fingers and an empty on structured garments, mixing scanned so I followed behind her. Alstomach, I had an inclination to try traditionally feminine prints with though I didn’t have my own ticket, something else. more masculine shapes. The patterns the crowd was so large and hectic With an innocent tone, I walked were inspired by the gypsy-themed that the security guards didn’t ask to up to the stern security guard and documentary “Latcho Drom,” inte- see mine. After passing through seasked, “If I have a press pass do I have grating the bold and elegant prints curity with a bit of luck, we overheard to wait in line?” He looked at me with with cold-shoulder tops, flowy boho the runway coordinator yelling, “Fill a facial expression that seemed like he skirts, silky ruffles, as well as classic up the last 3 rows!” We instantly didn’t want to be bothered and said, trenches, loose blazers and striped saw two open seats in the third row “Can I see the pass?” while proceed- suiting. The presentation included fe- where we sat side by side and waiting to keep the doors shut. I showed male models standing and swaying, ed for the show to start. Unlike the him my pass, confident that he would male models sitting and chatting, all typical movie scenes, where everyone allow me in, but his response was the while the guests were treated with has their own individual seating, us opposite. “That pass was for before. champagne and light bites as they commoners were squished on the You’re late so you’re going to have to walked around the store. benches where we had to hold all of wait in line.” Typically, I would have After an hour of people watching, our belongings in our laps while we just walked to the back of the line admiring the pieces and networking somehow managed to take photos of and accepted the defeat. But after be- with fellow viewers, a friend men- the runway. ing in the cold weather all day, and tioned that she was attending the The Telfar show embodied the paying for countless modes of trans- Telfar SS17 show in a couple of hours. idea that fashion is for everyone — portation just to get to the show, I Regardless of the fact that I had no streetwear and sportswear shouldn’t

have to be gender specific. This designer merged denim jeans with sweatpants, puffers with pea coats and oversized hoodies with cargo pockets. He patched different fabrics, morphed pieces together and sent down a diverse set of models to show off his looks. The show was intriguing, even if the styles weren’t considered typical fashion week etiquette.

I have been to five NYFW shows thus far, and each time that I attend, my experience solidifies the fact that fashion is no longer for the elite nor is it untouchable, it is for everyone.

If you appear as if you’re part of this industry, keep your head high and act in a self-assured manner, you will notice that everyone in this industry is essentially at the same level.

Although I am far from having the same title as blogger Aimee Song or actress Katie Holmes, we all saw the same collection on the same night at Club Monaco’s presentation, even if we were there thirty minutes apart.

We all viewed the pieces in person, drank the same champagne, and ate the same finger foods. This industry has the tendency to make outsiders feel as though they need to have the connections to be part of the iconic NYFW schedule. Yet here I am, a student who is simply interested in the fashion industry and gets to participate in the same experiences as those who are already well-established.

We all have the ability to be part of an iconic week in Manhattan, and as the years go by, these events become less unattainable and more approachable. While part of me does wish that fashion was more elite and luxurious, like how it was in the 90s where editors and buyers were the only ones sitting in the front row, times are changing and so are the attendees. Fashion is a universal commodity, therefore we should all be represented in these events. If you are passionate and admire the NYFW lifestyle, you too can be part of this exhilarating week in Manhattan.

Simply keep your head up, act assertively and dress to impress. After all, it is fashion week.

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Features

February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Gaining Two Perspectives: A Student’s Year Abroad

By JAMES BERRIGAN Contributing Writer

They don’t tell you that your English will get worse. I have been studying in Spain since the beginning of the fall 2016 semester. During the fall, I was a direct exchange student in Bilbao in the Basque Country, and this semester I am participating in the Fordham in Granada program.

It’s been a wild ride. I’ve been to 15 countries since the beginning of September, with my travels during winter break included. My Spanish has improved, but nobody mentions that after speaking with so many nonnative English speakers, you start to speak like one, too.

I have lived with Spanish families both semesters and the names of my host family members were practically all I knew going in to Bilbao. Five minutes after arriving in Bilbao and I had already learned a new Spanish insult—apparently an American towering over the local Bilbainos looks like an easy target for panhandlers. I came to appreciate the Basque Country and its many idiosyncrasies, not the least of which was the language, Euskera. I had no idea that I was studying in a hotbed of secession and Basque nationalism.

Part of my daily routine was trying to understand the fresh graffiti from the night before spray-painted along my walk to the university. Coupled with their delicious pintxos and vino tinto, I left with a great, and certainly distinctive, impression of the Basque Country.

Studying as a direct exchange student means you’re offered a staggering amount of freedom. With minimal guidance during the few hour-long orientation sessions, a direct exchange student must find his own accommodations, figure out his class schedule and learn to navigate a foreign city. It was daunting, but also refreshing. I later realized that direct exchange students have much

COURTESY OF JAMES BERRIGAN

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain is one of the many destinations James Berrigan has visited during his year abroad.

more freedom than normal American exchange students, who usually come through programs that guide them along the way. Being thrown into the situation forces you to step outside your bubble. I wouldn’t have overcome my self-consciousness of talking to native speakers if I hadn’t had to ask so many people for help the first week.

Now, as a student in Fordham’s structured Granada program, I am beginning to see the pros and cons of studying with a program. In Bilbao, I was forced to put myself out there to make friends and to plan my own adventures. With a program, your activities are planned for you and it’s easy to restrict yourself to only meeting other Americans. Being outside the program environment in Bilbao, I saw how the Americans tended to

clump together, while the other exchange students, mostly Europeans, all mixed together with little regard for nationality.

Whether you’re with a program dictates how you experience another staple of studying abroad: travel. I made plenty of mistakes and found myself in some tight situations, but it was part of the adventure. While sleeping in the Barcelona airport due to a canceled flight was not on my agenda, it made for a memorable experience. I learned plenty of new words that night when the airline announced at 3 a.m. that after an eight-hour delay, the flight was finally canceled. Unwillingly having a snake draped on your shoulders in Marrakech or arguing politics with a t-shirt vendor in Belgrade is not on any program’s itinerary, but made for

some of the best stories from my first semester. A word of advice: double check where your ferry is taking you, or you may end up desperately trying to explain in French to a cab driver in a dark Moroccan port that you need to get to Tangier.

Traveling as a student in a program takes care of the hassle and logistical problems, but also limits the adventure and freedom. Needless to say, shenanigans are not encouraged and being stranded on the coast of Africa is never a good thing. Tending to stay within the group limits the fellow travelers you meet, especially those you might meet if you stayed in a hostel or were stranded in a bus station. However, traveling as part of a tour group ensures that you see the highlights and main attractions of the places you visit. Additionally,

tour guides often provide you with a variety of interesting facts and tidbits that a solo traveler might miss.

Studying abroad, and especially traveling, has forced me to step out of my comfort zone and it has put me in contact with people and cultures that I never would have experienced otherwise. My time in Europe has given me hope for the future. Seeing the way European students from different countries treat each other, and the ease with which one can travel through such a diverse continent, is a testament to the possibility of peaceful and beneficial coexistence.

I wholeheartedly recommend studying abroad for as long, and as alone, as possible. Jump headfirst into the country and its culture, because America will always be there when you come back.

Fordham Students Attend the State of the City Address

By KYLE J. KILKENNY Staff Writer

On Monday, Feb. 13, students of Dr. Christina M. Greer’s “Introduction to Urban Politics” course waited on line outside the world-famous Apollo Theater for what was to be a historic night. Mayor Bill de Blasio was to give his annual State of the City Address, outlining his administration’s accomplishments over the course of his tenure, and his hopes for the coming year. In a crowded room of reporters, elected officials (former Mayor Dinkin was in attendance), and members of NYC’s academic community, one of New York’s progressive beacons took the stage. However, in a time where the news cycle is plagued by stories about the length of neckties, espionage and the rights of global citizens, this second-generation American delivered a surprise: a mellow speech.

Dr. Greer’s class introduces students to the politics of major urban centers, and de Blasio’s speech was seen as an opportunity to allow students to see their weekly course readings and material come alive.

It should also be noted that this address carried incredible significance, as it is the last State of the City before the Mayor’s re-election campaign this fall. With a Democratic primary contest in September, and the general election in November, Mr. de Blasio had to make the case that he deserves to stick around in City Hall for another term. Here’s how he set the stage- literally.

Unlike past addresses, the Mayor and his administration carefully picked out the Apollo Theater as the venue for Mr. de Blasio’s de-facto campaign kickoff. Once a failing performance venue which was not

KYLE J. KILKENNY/THE OBSERVER

The State of the City Address was held on Feb. 13 in the Apollo Theater.

open to people of color, the Apollo has since become an iconic hot spot for Black artists and entertainers, including James Brown, and even a pre-teen Stevie Wonder. Mr. de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, greeted the audience with a brief history about the Apollo, and that despite being a door to stardom for so many performers, the theater remains a not-for-profit and a public space for all New Yorkers.

The speech was a clear victory lap for the engaging campaigner. Stopand-frisk is down 97 percent since Mr. de Blasio took office, New York public schools are enjoying the highest graduation (72.6 percent in 2016) and lowest dropout rates in their history, and Mrs. McCray’s Thrive-

NYC initiative is helping combat the stigmas surrounding mental health throughout the five boroughs.

Fordham students watched with curiosity as the mayor spelled out a clear blueprint for the coming year: lower unemployment, increase incomes, and provide affordable housing for more New Yorkers. The members of NYC’s AARP chapter responded joyously as Mr. de Blasio said, “When you sell a home worth $2 million or more, you pay a little bit more. That gives us $336 million, and we use that money to provide affordable housing for 25,000 senior citizens in New York City.” The mansion tax proposal was just one of the many initiatives Mr. de Blasio touched upon in an effort to address

New York City’s affordability crisis.

As some of New York’s most politically-conscious individuals, Fordham students shared what they enjoyed, what they didn’t and what they wish they heard during the State of the City Address. One of the highlights of the speech had little to do with the speech at all: the video which proceeded Mr. de Blasio’s remarks and, among others, featured a very well-spoken first grader. “I need to see Mayor de Blasio aggressively address the issue of homelessness in New York City. With the help of the famously charismatic and determined preschooler Gershey, di Blasio can make a real impact in an issue that has been swept aside for far too long,” said Johanna Cyran, Fordham

College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20. Chandler Dean, FCLC ’18, also enjoyed the video, stating, “The implementation of Universal Pre-K and the NYC ID garnered huge cheers from the crowd, but they were followed by more benign achievements, like the filling of potholes. This montage of accomplishments could have built to a crescendo and helped de Blasio begin his speech with goodwill from his audience. Instead, the speech was similarly uneven.”

As for the speech itself, Kayla Wolf, FCLC ’19, stated “I feel like I’m spoiled because I grew up in the Obama era. Whether or not you liked Obama’s politics, you have to admit he is an incredible speaker.

Because I grew up in his presidency, I just thought everyone could speak like that. de Blasio, however, cannot.” Some notable omissions from the speech included climate change solutions, such as carbon pricing, New York’s status as a “sanctuary city,” and mention of the ongoing conversations about the rights of Trans and gender non-conforming New Yorkers and the closing of Riker’s Island, two issues that are being thrust into national spotlight.

But perhaps most notably, why does Mr. de Blasio deserve another four years in City Hall? I would argue this was the Mayor’s attempt to get a feel about some potential campaign issues—a taste test of sorts—before diving into the main course as the fall approaches.

As for what’s next for the mayor, Dean observed, “de Blasio is right on many of the issues, and I suspect he will continue to make progressive strides as he winds down his first term. He might just need to bring his wife on the campaign trail to get people excited about it.”

Sports & Health

Sports & Health Editor Shobair Hussaini - mhussaini2@fordham.edu February 23, 2017 THE OBSERVER

A Look inside Counseling & Psychological Services

By JADE GRIFFIN Staff Writer

Fordham’s Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS) is among the many services offered to Fordham students. Located in room G02 of the 140 West building, CPS is a comprehensive mental health center, offering individual and group counseling, psychiatric services, crisis intervention and many more resources to Fordham students.

CPS is committed to helping students through an array of hardships since college is a time of high stress and uneasiness.

According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), 10 percent of college students have been diagnosed with some level of depression and many more are struggling, but have yet to seek help.

Students avoid seeking assistance for plenty of reasons, often because talking about mental health alone is a personal topic. Too often there is stigma and shame surrounding it, allowing people to view mental health concerns as weaknesses. But, mental health illnesses are just like physical illnesses and should be attended to as such, rather than working to define a person.

Mental health issues are especially difficult for students to manage because not only do they impact their emotions and thoughts, but their academic performance suffers accordingly. Georgetown University’s Student Health Services reports that 62 percent of students are academically impacted by stress, anxiety or depression. Being a college student is stressful in and of itself, so mental health difficulties only makes a student’s situation increasingly challenging.

Dr. Sophie Karp, Ph.D. and supervising psychologist and coordinator of outreach and prevention at Fordham’s CPS office, agreed that

ELIZABETH LANDRY/THE OBSERVER

The Counseling & Psychological Services office is open Mondays - Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. - 5 pm.m

“University life can be stressful due to academic, financial, family and social pressures. These stressors can sometimes contribute to more significant psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma or difficulties with sleeping, eating or attention.”

In order to combat such hardships, “CPS offers private, confidential and free services to help students better understand their difficulties, develop more selfawareness and enhance their overall well-being,” Dr. Karp added.

Thus, Counseling & Psychological Services plays a vital role at Fordham, as do counseling centers at any university.

Dr. Natasha Black, Ph.D. and Licensed Psychologist at Fordham University Counseling & Psychological Services, is one of the specialists of CPS’s Outreach Program, along with Dr. Karp. Not only does CPS provide for students in their office, but they work to promote their services to other parts of the university as well. “Outreach is a general term for anything we do outside

of the office,” indicated Dr. Black, “ranging from tabling events, like handing out brochures or simply providing information and education on our services or on a particular mental health issue.”

Various Outreach events take place on the Lowenstein plaza, including the upcoming “Wellness Week,” which occurs during midterms and is also being integrated with a common outreach called “Love Your Body Week.”

Dr. Black expressed that “[such events] are related to body-positive

messaging and stress reduction for midterms. CPS also trains the RAs on suicide prevention and mental health.”

The counseling staff at CPS works diligently with commendable education and experience, but most importantly, with great passion.Dr. Karp emphasized, “I deeply value bearing witness to our students’ efforts to heal and grow. I’m honored to support students through challenging times in their lives, and am continually impressed by their strength and resilience.”

Antwoine Anderson’s Path to Sucess Begins in the Classroom

By ANGELIKA MENENDEZ Asst. Social Media Editor

The clock was ticking and the Rams were running out of time to score. The buzzer rang, signaling that the game against Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) was headed into overtime. Luckily, Antwoine Anderson, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’18, scored a buzzer-beater, allowing the Rams to win with a final score of 69–67.

Anderson is a redshirt junior from Rochester, New York who scored two buzzer beaters in two different games, which led the Rams to victory. When scoring the shot, Anderson said he was “really excited because we weren’t playing that well, but then ended up beating the best team in the conference.” On ESPN, Fordham is ranked 10th in the Atlantic 10 division, while the team they beat, VCU, is ranked first.

Anderson has been playing basketball since he was six and said he grew up playing in the recreational center in his neighborhood, the Boys and Girls Club. He reminisced that “[his] mother would hand him a football, soccer ball and basketball, and [he] would always grab the basketball first.” During his time playing basketball he at one point broke his jaw and also had to have two bunion surgeries, which prevented him from playing for eight months. He thought he would not be the same player after these setbacks.

Luckily, during the recruiting process, he received offers from multiple colleges, including Boston University and Quinnipiac University. He was torn between Canisius

JILLIAN JAMES/THE OBSERVER

Anderson not only leads Fordham on the court, but also in the classroom.

College in Buffalo and Fordham, but ended up choosing Fordham because “[he] is from upstate New York and didn’t want to be too far from home.” Anderson decided to continue playing in college because he said he thought he had something to prove.

“I grew up with adults all around me always saying I couldn’t do it or that I wouldn’t be in a Division-1

school and I wanted to prove them wrong,” Anderson said.

Attending Fordham has helped Anderson improve as a player. He said that he is now “more in control of the [game tempo].” The experience is helping him be a better player every day. Anderson credits his coaches for shaping his growth process of becoming a better player.

He says they taught him many dif-

ferent skills that have enhanced his ability to perform as a point guard.

Anderson’s many years of training have taught him the fundamentals and strategy involved in the game of basketball.

During games, Anderson “wants to take over the game by helping his teammates create open shots or to even create opportunities of his own.” This especially applies to

games that go into overtime, because to Anderson the plays become “mind over matter.” On the court, Anderson said that he loves the support Fordham gets from alumni and the group of guys he plays with because it is a family environment.

When it comes down to the National Basketball Association (NBA), Anderson hopes to become a player for the New York Knicks. He wants to play for them because playing for a New York team makes him feel like he is at home. If he can’t play in the NBA, Anderson hopes to use the skills he’s learned as a communications major to enter the field as a sports analyst or to even work on the business aspect of basketball.

As for inspirations, Anderson’s biggest role model is Allen Iverson, who was a part of the NBA for 14 seasons on several different teams.

He explained that Iverson “was a small guy who achieved more than anyone thought he would in the NBA.” “He [played] with confidence, which is similar to how I play.” Anderson added.

Anderson hopes to be an inspiration to kids someday. He said his advice to children who want to pursue basketball is that “[the] biggest thing is to stick with it, despite whatever is going on.” He believes that it is not an easy route, and that you’re going to fall a bunch of times but you have to keep getting back up. For Anderson, rule number one is to maintain focus in the classroom. He thinks that regardless of where you want to go in life, it has to start in the classroom.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER February 23, 2017

Sports & Health

16

The Solution to Smoking: Just Don’t Do It

BY MADELYN CASALE Contributing Writer

Most of us have been raised on the knowledge that smoking negatively impacts one’s health. In 1865, Washington Duke made the first commercial cigarettes, and since then people around the world have built up incredible resources and data through real-life cases about the harms of smoking. These accounts make it clear that smoking will cause health issues and potentially shorten a person’s lifespan, among other side effects. But if smoking is so bad, why do people, especially high school and college students, do it? I sat down with Robert Madden, Ph.D, lecturer and biologist in Fordham University’s Department of Natural Sciences to speak about this issue and its impact on college students today.

“What the data on this shows is that the peak period for getting addicted to smoking is really [during] high school age, and that’s the main reason why the age for buying cigarettes was changed from 18 to 21 in New York City and some other areas of New York state,” Dr. Madden explained.

“If somebody hasn’t started smoking by the time they get through that period of time, they become much less likely to start smoking,” according to Dr. Madden.

The high school and college ages are most formative for young adults.

When our brains are still trying to absorb information and developing new neuron connections, smoking can have a seriously negative impact on our growth and leave us with lifelong health issues. “There’s pretty much nothing good to be said of smoking,” Dr. Madden said. “The list of medical conditions associated

ADRIANA BALSAMO-GALLINA/FORDHAM OBSERVER

While smoking is down for young adults, many college students still struggle with this harmful addiction.

“ In choosing to smoke a person is also choos-

ing to be affected by the symptoms later in life, and these will rarely go away.”

– DR. ROBERT MADDEN,

Lecturer and Biologist at Fordham University

with smoking has grown progressively over the last 50 years or so.”

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists a startlingly vast array of the effects of smoking cigarettes, including cardiovascular disease, increased risk of stroke, 12 different types of cancers and death.

Dr. Madden explained that “a lot

of it, particularly with high school, is peer pressure.” He said that when attempting to deal with a big life change, such as moving to college, students will often turn to smoking in order to destress and to feel some control over their lives. “[College students] tend to experiment with trying things that

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their parents discourage, so it’s an experimental age, and that can be a good thing if it’s channeled in a positive direction. Smoking is not one of the better ways to channel that,” he said.

While the percentage of smokers in America for young adults 18–24 has decreased from 42.4 percent in 1965 to 16.8 percent in 2014 (according to data from the CDC), it is still a lingering and highly addictive habit for college students in the United States. Young adults are feeling more pressure than ever to succeed and find their places in the increasingly-competitive workforce, and smoking seems to many like a good method for easing their stress. Smoking does release some stress due to the chemical reaction

of nicotine within the human brain.

But, while it may temporarily suppress frustration, stress and anxiety, nicotine is highly addictive. This, coupled with the more than 7,000 chemicals that are in each cigarette (at least 69 of which are cancercausing) per the American Lung Association, makes smoking an extremely dangerous activity.

But what about e-cigarettes? Are they good for us, at least, compared to cigarettes?

“We don’t have a lot of data on ecigarettes because they haven’t been around a long time,” Dr. Madden explained. “The popular opinion on this is that when someone is a smoker—which means that they’re subjecting themselves to all of the risks and adverse effects of smoking—switching to e-cigarettes is probably an improvement, as best we know,but it’s not a great recommendation.”

So, while e-cigarettes do not contain the 7,000 some chemicals that cigarettes do, they are still dangerous are highly addictive. It is recommended to steer clear of both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes.

But e-cigarettes may be a helpful first step for smoking addicts to stop smoking. Unfortunately, it may take 50 years before we know the e-cigarette’s true effects.

In terms of solutions for smoking addicts, nicotine patches, and support groups can all be helpful.

But in choosing to smoke, a person is also choosing to be affected by the symptoms later in life, and these will rarely go away. By quitting, a person can prevent further damage, but it is impossible to return to how one’s body was before deciding to smoke.

What is Dr. Madden’s solution?

“The best thing is not to start.”