Observer Issue 6 Fall 2024

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The STudenT Voice of fordham LincoLn cenTer

Fordham Lacks Plan to Address Drought

New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared a drought warning on Nov. 18 amid the driest conditions in exactly a century, urging New Yorkers to voluntarily conserve water.

New York City’s reservoirs were at 60% capacity on Nov. 19 according to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), down from about 79% normally.

Fordham has not outlined a plan to reduce its water consumption or promote the conservation of water on campus. Some members of the Fordham community are concerned that the university is not doing enough to reduce water consumption.

Professor of journalism Amy Aronson said that Fordham should do more to reduce its own water usage amid the worsening drought.

“Is there anything the institution is doing to cut back its own water usage in food preparation or in the gardening and planting of the lawns?” Aronson said.

Fordham boasts Rose Hill as the largest green campus in New York City, and maintaining lawns such as those on Fordham’s campuses can be highly intensive for water usage.

1.75" total precipitation since Sept.

Black Women on the 2024 Election

The 2024 presidential election brought to the forefront complicated questions of representation, identity and structural barriers in the political world for Black women.

The Department of African & African American Studies held a post-election discussion on Nov. 16 at Fordham University at Lincoln Center. Attendees discussed the aestheticism of political parties, increasing socio-political division and the complexities of people of color who have fallen into MAGA ideology.

The gathering provided students with a space to reflect on the election’s significance, particularly in light of Kamala Harris’ candidacy and what it revealed about the political and social landscape of the United States.

After the event, Lauren Payne, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, said that Harris’ campaign resonated with her.

“As a Black woman seeing a Black woman, whatever any capacity that she’s in truly, for me was a very inspirational thing and I loved it,” Payne said.

Growing up under the Trump administration and COVID19 pandemic, Payne said she became politically aware during a period of deep division.

Laurie Lambert, associate

professor in the African & African American Studies department, reflected on a deeper societal conflict that the Harris-Walz campaign was met with.

“She’s experiencing a certain kind of racism and a certain kind of sexism that are different from the racism a Black man would experience or different from the sexism that a white woman would experience because it was compounded into one body,” Lambert said.

President of Black Student Alliance Kennedi Hutchins, FCLC ’25, said that she looked up to Harris as a role model who broke barriers in higher education and government. But said she was well aware of the double burden carried by Harris, “there’s the notion of being Black where not only is she a woman inferior to the male gender, but the white race on top of that.”

Although many felt hope and pride, there was an undercurrent of frustration. Lydia Williams, FCLC ’25, said that Harris may have “added pressure, nuance and maybe aggression due to her race and gender.”

“The thing about Black womanhood is that people can clock it from a mile away... Because it’s already baked into people’s perceptions about you, you’re kind of screwed and stuck with it,” Williams said.

271 fires first two weeks of Nov. in NYC

29 consecutivedays without rain 19% loss in New York resevoirs

Jhailyn Paige Farcon, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’27, was leaving class at The Ailey School when she received the life-changing call informing her that she had been casted in “& Juliet” on Broadway. She soon made her Broadway debut as Imogen on Oct. 29, officially becoming both a Fordham student and a Broadway performer.

Despite her demanding performance and rehearsal schedule, Farcon plans to graduate from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in four years.

“I’ll do classes from 8:30 to 4:30, and then I’ll go to the theater and do a show,” Farcon said, casually describing a schedule that would likely overwhelm the average college student.

However, Farcon is not an average college student. She has

been working professionally since she was six years old. Her resume boasts impressive experience, from supporting Justin Bieber at Madison Square Garden, to performing with Mariah Carey at Rockefeller Center. Notably, at the age of eight, she toured North America with “Billy Elliot: The Musical.” Farcon’s decision to continue her education while performing in “& Juliet” is unusual.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JHAILYN PAIGE FARCON
Farcon, FCLC ’27, made her Broadway debut in “& Juliet” on Oct. 29.
STEVIE FUSCO/THE OBSERVER
Sprinklers water Lincoln Center Plaza on October 15. Fordham Campus Operations have not outlined a plan to mitigate water usage on campus.

Fordham Flat Footed Amid Historic Drought

Facilities shared no plan to mitigate water consumption during worst drought in a century

Landscaping accounts for over a quarter of water used by schools, according to the EPA.

Aronson asked if Fordham was doing anything to address the drought in its landscaping operations.

“ Is there any response to the drought from the institution tending to its own garden, so to speak. ”

“Is there any response to the drought from the institution tending its own garden, so to speak?” Aronson said.

Will Schnider, associate director of Grounds & Transportation, declined to comment on Fordham’s water usage. John McDonaugh, director of Facilities Operations at Lincoln Center, said Fordham was in compliance with the city’s water regulations.

“We’re following all the New York City codes, that’s all we have to say about it,” McDonaugh said.

Fordham has touted its sustainability and environmentalist efforts in recent years, including a $50 million grantmaker partnership with the EPA and hosting a climate week summit in September. In 2018, Fordham committed to reduce water consumption on Lincoln Center by 5% over two years as a part of the New York

City Department of Environmental Protection Water Challenge.

Fordham has framed environmentalism as part of its Jesuit mission, publishing the Laudato Si’ Action Platform after Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical. Professor of theology, science and ethics Christiana Zenner said that Fordham should become a leader in water conservation as an extension of its stated environmental ethics.

“Since water is a collectively vital resource, and Fordham is a mission-driven institution, it’s a great opportunity to Fordham to consider how water-related conversation aligns with our increasing focus on sustainability,” Zenner wrote. “Fordham has an opportunity to lead by example!”

Julie Gafney, director of the Center for Community Engaged Learning, said she was unsure if Fordham was continuing water

conservation efforts. However, she expressed hope that Fordham could approach water conservation as a holistic, community-wide effort.

“I think this is the kind of thing that I think, along with other initiatives, it would be great to see departments, schools, administrative units coming together around just day to day activities that can actually make a significant difference,” Gafney said.

In addition to draining reservoirs, the lack of rainfall has sapped bodies of water. Gafney said rivers and creeks near her hometown in upstate New York were alarmingly dry.

“I’ve never seen the rivers this low or just fully dried up,” Gafney said. “So, you know, we’re seeing the impact here, in our day to day, but even just in the natural world, it’s stunning to see.”

Exceptionally dry conditions

have raised the risk of fires in the region. Several brush fires have broken out in the city, including in Inwood Park, Prospect Park and Van Cortlandt Park. More fires have broken out in New Jersey, Connecticut and upstate New York. The Fire Department of New York has formed its first Brush Fire Task Force to respond to and contain fires in the five boroughs.

Smoke from the fires impacted air quality in the area and led to hazardous conditions for several days in November. The elevated fire risk prompted Mayor Adams to ban grilling in all city parks. Little to no rainfall, drying reservoirs and wildfires have been a fact of life for many in the western United States. Christian Hidalgo, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25, grew up in Bakersfield, California, which has faced drought conditions for much of

the past decade. Hidalgo said that the drought makes it clear that water conservation is important on the East Coast as well.

“Despite us being in like the largest metropolitan area in the U.S., we are still affected by a drought,” Hidalgo said.

Drought-afflicted western states have implemented policies to conserve water. Zenner highlighted restrictions on water used for landscaping while drought conditions persist as a practical step to curb waste.

“States like Colorado and California have long had watering restrictions during droughts. This is one move that could make a difference,” Zenner wrote.

Meredith Leahy, FCRH ’25, works with Hidalgo at Fordham’s Students for Environmental Action and Justice club. She said that the drought and wildfires demonstrate that the consequences of climate change are already taking hold.

“Climate change isn’t this far off effect,” Leahy said. “It’s right on our doorstep really.”

Director of Residential Life Kelly Sosa said Fordham will create a flier including recommendations for voluntary water conservation from the DEP. Sosa said the flier will be distributed to RAs starting next week.

The DEP recommends that individual New Yorkers can conserve water by turning faucets off whenever possible, taking shorter showers and being vigilant about leaks in their homes.

The National Weather Service forecasts over an inch of rain for Wednesday night and early Thursday, providing some muched needed relief for the city's parched resevoirs.

Trump’s Energy Pick Signals Retreat from Climate Action

Members of the Fordham community expressed concern that another Trump term would intensify the climate crisis.

President-elect Donald Trump appoints Chris Wright, CEO of a fracking firm Liberty Energy, as secretary of energy on Saturday. Trump’s cabinet picks represent a profit-seeking agenda, pointing to a future with vast climate policy ramifications.

“There is no ‘climate crisis.’ The only thing resembling a crisis with respect to climate change is the regressive, opportunity-squelching policies justified in the name of climate change,” Wright said in a video posted on LinkedIn last year.

His skepticism towards manmade climate change brings forth questions about the future of the United States’ energy sources.

Fordham professors weighed in on possible outcomes and gave advice to students. Marc Nicholas Conte, an economics professor, said that most economies are in favor of renewable energy, making it more difficult for the Trump administration to switch back to fossil fuels in the future.

“First, markets now in many parts of our country, and many parts of the world favor renewable energy, meaning that it is cheaper to build new renewable-energy facilities in many parts of the world than facilities that depend on fossil fuels. For that reason, I don't know the extent to which policies from the Trump Administration can stop the change that's happening." Conte said.

Fordham professors urge students not to lose hope

Anna Levy, an adjunct professor of environmental justice, summarized her predictions for the Trump administration's policies towards the climate crisis.

“The coordination, infrastructure, and funding for the aftermath of those crises is going to be a lot weaker,” Levy said.

Trump’s climate policies in his first term were criticized by environmental advocates. During his administration Trump prioritized fossil fuel production, repealed over 100 environment regulations and withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, a legally binding international treaty among 195 nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The United States re-joined the Paris

Climate Agreement in February 2021 under President Joe Biden. With Trump’s second term approaching, President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), one of his administration’s largest policy achievements, comes under threat of repeal. The IRA, signed into law in August 2022, aimed to invest in domestic energy production while promoting clean energy, among other objectives.

The IRA permitted production subsidies and consumer subsidies in the field of electric vehicles (EVs). Conte said that production subsidies could be harder to repeal because they directed money to congressional districts.

Trump promised to cure American ails by slowing inflation. Conte expressed how this

emphasis on low prices may exasperate greenhouse gas emissions.

“People change their behavior in response to prices. So, we need to have a price on the emission of greenhouse gasses so that the costs of climate change influence our consumption decisions. Otherwise, I don't believe that we will adequately address it,” Conte said.

Levy said that Trump’s promise to ameliorate economic troubles may not be felt for all Americans however considering environmental inequality.

“We’re going to see a resurgence in inequality within cities and states of who’s experiencing the brunt of rolled-back regulation in terms of water contamination and air pollution,” Levy said. Levy also specified how public

health will be the sector to suffer the most under Trump’s climate policies.

“Public health is going to be one of the things that is affected first and foremost,” Levy said. “I think we’re going to see a resurgence in the inequality within cities and states who are experiencing the brunt of rolled back regulation in terms of water contamination, air pollution, things like that.”

In light of politicians neglecting the severity of the climate crisis, some students said they feel hopeless for what is to come. Levy said that for students that feel disheartened by a lack of federal action, they should remember that action from state governments is important.

“Under repressive conditions, you see the most transformative and radically progressive policies at the local level,” Levy said. Instead of succumbing to feelings of despair, Eun-Hee Kim, Chair of Strategy and Statistics at the Gabelli School of Business, encouraged students to stay passionate about environmental action.

“Students are enthusiastic about these issues, and as long as they keep their enthusiasm, this momentum will continue.” Kim said. “If you do, if you follow your passion… then you can make a difference.”

Despite the potential for a future that will contain a lack of federally-funded initiatives, all three professors pushed for students to stay engaged and to keep fighting. In periods of environmental uncertainty, young people need to step up and get involved at the local level.

ARIANA WHITE/THE OBSERVER
Smoke from a blaze in Inwood Park on Nov 13. Dry conditions have heightened fire risk in the area.
Amy Aronson, Professor of journalism
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
Trump has vowed to roll back environmental regulations in the name of economic stimulation.

Students Awake to Second Trump Term

Fordham Community members from across the political spectrum weigh in on America’s new president-elect

Lying sleepless in bed on the morning of Nov. 6, Myah Balaporia checked her phone.

“I saw multiple notifications that he had won,” Balaporia said. “I got a text from one of my friends back home.” Her friend had texted her, “I can’t do this.” Balaporia wrote back, “neither can I.”

Balaporia, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, is from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and her parents are immigrants. She said former President Donald Trump’s reelection made her worry about their rights.

“It’s hard to think about the safety of everyone I love and care about. I don’t know. It’s just hard. Everything is hard right now,” Balaporia said.

For Balaporia and some of the Fordham community, the results of the 2024 presidential election have been an object of intense focus. The monumental political event had included a rapid campaign, rambunctious news events, podcast appearances, assassination attempts and so much more. In the wee hours of the morning on Nov. 6, as the AP called the race for President Trump, the results were anything but inconsequential.

Some Fordham students were delighted with the outcome. In fact, a few had been actively campaigning for the former president.

Michael Bellia, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’25, is the current president of the Fordham College Republicans club. Bellia was working at Newsmax Media as Trump’s “commanding” victory played out.

“For him to come back and, again, kind of against the odds, facing criminal indictments and obviously a couple assassination attempts, and just the overall political climate of the times, it was just interesting to see history unfold in that way,” Bellia said.

Bellia said his club had worked hard to do their part to push the former president to victory.

“There was a tremendous amount of phone banking that we did,” Bellia said.

Fordham College Republicans also sent members to campaign in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with the thinnest vote margins in the state. According to Pennsylvania’s

election results website, Trump led by less than one percentage point.

“There was an effort there, no doubt, and I think all that work definitely helped us,” Bellia said.

Democratic-leaning students also canvassed in Pennsylvania. They focused on Allentown, the state’s third most populous city.

Fordham College Dems Secretary Caroline Lehman, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’26, said the club partnered with Swing Left, a progressive political action group, to spread awareness on Sunday.

“Fourteen of us knocked on over 300 doors,” Lehman said.

Fordham College Dems also held a watch party on election night, and Lehman said attendees began to grow nervous around 10:30 p.m. As she watched the Trump victory become more and more imminent through the night, she became increasingly distraught.

“Prior to that, everyone was really excited. People were cheering,” Lehman said. “I was trying to stay optimistic.”

Soon, she left the party and went home, where she watched the coverage with her roommates. Eventually, she found herself

watching it by herself.

“Until 5 a.m., I sat there, alone,” Lehman said.

With all the work she had done, the prospect of Vice President Kamala Harris losing devastated Lehman.

“Watching this all unfold felt literally horrible. Me and my roommates have been crying all morning,” Lehman said on Nov. 6. “I was sobbing last night.”

“ It felt good to inspire people and be politically active, especially because a lot of people that went on that trip were freshmen that had never canvassed before. ”

Despite the result of the election, Lehman didn’t regret any of the effort she and her peers put into campaigning for Harris.

“We have done a lot in this election,” Lehman said. “I think we bonded as a group and it felt like what we were doing was really important. It felt good to inspire people and be politically active, especially because a lot of people that went on that trip were freshmen that had never canvassed before.”

Given the result, Lehman said she found herself “disappointed.”

Other students watched the results without passion for either candidate, like Bobby Jones, FCLC ’25, who said he is more “politically disengaged.” Regardless of his apathy, he said that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) failed to effectively market their candidates.

“The DNC has s— the bed,” Jones said.

Democrats did indeed suffer losses in the down-ballot races for Congress. Republicans claimed a majority in the Senate as of Nov. 8, according to New York Times reports. They also currently enjoy a healthy lead in the House of Representatives.

When Jones woke up, both the results and reactions were what he expected.

“The general mood at MSNBC, while downtrodden, was more

angry,” Jones said. “The democratic base is angry and should be angry.”

Jones said he thought the mood on campus was gloomy the morning of Nov. 6.

“My lecture this morning felt like a funeral,” Jones said.

Another Fordham student also saw the Trump victory incoming. Ashton Green, FCLC ’28, told her roommates, “it’s not looking good, let’s just go to bed.”

Green, a Texan, was disappointed in how members of her local community voted.

“I immediately was on Instagram,” Green said. “I saw so many of my classmates posting, ‘yes, Trump.’” She said she spent a lot of time that morning unfollowing people.

“ I feel like they are both trying to take away individual liberties and rights, just different ones. ”

Another voter put off by the president-elect is Sean Fitzgerald, FCRH ’26. But he also said he wasn’t necessarily a big fan of Harris either.

“I feel like they are both trying to take away individual liberties and rights, just different ones,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m a big environmentalist. I believe in the importance of the preservation of the environment. I believe that is the most important issue on the political map right now.”

Because of this, Fitzgerald said that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was his previous top choice. Kennedy ran as an independent candidate prior to suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump on Aug. 23. In contrast, one student from Brooklyn strongly preferred Harris, and was sad to see her lose. Noah Hemley, FCLC ’25, lives in Bay Ridge, and he said that the loss would mean he hopes to work again for the Brooklyn City Council member Alexa Alvilés in order to “mitigate the repercussions” of Trump’s victory.

Regardless of their personal political leanings, Fordham students are staring down the future of an America in which Trump will once again occupy the nation’s highest office.

Sean Fitzgerald, FCRH ’26
IKMA INUSAH & COLBY MCCASKILL/THE OBSERVER
Fordham students woke up to a Trump victory.
COLBY MCCASKILL/THE OBSERVER
Sean Fitzgerald (left) woke up Nov. 6 and immediately went to Google to find out the results of the presidential election. Ashton Green (center) found out about the Trump victory first thing in the morning on Apple’s News app. Bobby Jones (right) found out about Trump’s victory through MSNBC.

Women of Color Weigh in on Trump Re-election

Election results rippled through Fordham, but one group felt the election in a different way

A recurring theme in the discussion was the lack of direct engagement with Black women’s needs in campaign platforms and media narratives. While Harris represented a historic breakthrough, many said that they felt her campaign missed opportunities to address issues uniquely affecting Black women. Payne said that gendered violence, particularly within prisons, has been excluded from the political discourse.

“Black women are more subject to domestic violence and sexual violence in prisons,” Payne said.

Lambert critiqued the larger political discourse for not trusting Black women's leadership and expertise.

“The country did not trust a Black woman like Kamala Harris to lead,” Lambert said. “As a Black woman, things happen day to day all the time that you're always questioned on your authority for anything.”

Hutchins explained this argument and said that, while the Democratic policies on healthcare and higher education were forward-looking, they often failed to address systems that create disparities for Black women.

“While policies may have been assumed to affect Black women and have that notion to appeal to them, I don’t think anyone is really thinking about Black women,” Hutchins said.

Nora Flamer, FCLC ’24, pointed out differences she has observed in how each party advocates for Black women as voters during election cycles. First she said that Democrats took the support of

Black women for granted in the 2024 election.

“On the Kamala side, it was ‘oh we got Black women in the bag,’” Flamer said. “And so Black women did not really need to be convinced, and that’s why there wasn’t much talk of what Black women were actually benefiting from.”

On the other hand, Flamer said she believes that the Republican party does not consider the interests of Black women.

“I feel like Black women are never paid attention to on that side. We don't exist on that side,” Flamer said.

Additionally, Payne said that Black women are always organizing through their shared struggle.

“We are always the group doing it. Organizing and mobilizing. It's just a matter of taking our

mobility as a group and as a sisterhood and being able to spread that, create more political power, create more solidarity,” Payne said.

The conversations also touched on how media coverage framed the public opinion of the Harris-Walz campaign. While some progressive outlets saluted her historic run, conservative narratives used Harris’ identity against her. Hutchins said even Candace Owens, “who was a black woman herself”, questioned Harris’ racial identity.

“The question of ‘is she Black, South Asian?’ or whatever, she presents as a Black woman,” Hutchins said. “People have a problem looking at her. So it’s this skewing of race as an inferior notion that she can’t be in power because of that.”

Lambert pointed out a worrying silence in mainstream media over the intersectional barriers Harris had to overcome.

“There was enough to point out the racism and the sexism that she was facing,” Lambert said. “There's a need to uncover and expose these issues.”

Williams said progressive media’s focus on Trump overshadowed Harris' identity.

"When you look at more progressive media, I don’t want to say it was an afterthought but they very much treated it as like ‘she's a black woman but that's not the headline because of Trump,’" Williams said.

On the other hand, Lambert said conservative media featured a steady stream of prejudiced rhetoric.

“The more conservative side,

they were very much focused on these incredibly inflamed, racist and transphobic ways of going about things,” Lambert said. “I think it certainly allowed the conservatives and the Republicans to control the narrative of who she is and the Democrats didn't really take back that narrative and shut it down.”

Despite the challenges, Lambert saw examples of hope and resilience in the 2024 Presidential election. Lambert cited that 89% of Black women voted for Kamala in the election across educational, class and geographic differences.

“Black women are willing to vote for what they think is going to be best for the communities around them, even if it’s not necessarily something that's going to help them in the immediate sense. Black women understand the challenges that we face as a country in a particular way and that comes out of the experience of moving through the world in a body that is raced and gendered in a particular way,” Lambert said.

Lambert also encouraged Black women to prioritize their well-being.

“The country has shown us what we experience on a day to day, but in a very large-scale way, and so maybe the work is to take care of ourselves a little bit more right now,” Lambert said.

Flamer said the election was a push toward further investment in the political leadership of Black women.

“We need to really support Black women in politics, and there may be initiatives that come out of it that specifically support Black women in politics because of what happened,” Flamer said.

Anne Golomb Hoffman, Professor Emerita, Dies at 78

A beloved professor for four decades, Hoffman is remembered for her contributions to Jewish studies, psychology and art

Anne Golomb Hoffman, professor of English and modern Hebrew literature Emerita at Fordham passed away suddenly from a heart attack at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson, New York, on Nov. 4. She was 78 years old.

Hoffman received recognition for her outstanding guidance and teaching, and for Fordham's Outstanding Teaching in the Humanities Award in 2003. In 2019, she was recognized for her 40 years of service to the institution.

Hoffman was born on June 19, 1946 in New York City and raised in Brooklyn. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and comparative literature from Cornell University, followed by a master’s and Ph.D. in the same field from Columbia University. She started teaching at Fordham in 1979, 11 years after Fordham Lincoln Center opened.

Hoffman wrote several research papers and essays that addressed identity, trauma, memory and reconciliation during her long and distinguished career. Her written works also include “Between Exile and Return: S.Y. Agnon and the Drama of Writing,” as well extensive contributions to edited volumes and journals, which remain foundational texts in their respective fields.

As well as being a professor, Hoffman was a special member of the Association for Psychoanalytic Medicine of the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic

Training and Research. Hoffman wrote extensively on gender and psychology, and translated a large breadth of literary works from Hebrew to English. She frequently taught classes on Israeli literature and film as part of the program in Middle East studies at Fordham.

She was instrumental in establishing the annual Nostra Aetate Dialogue series in 1992, fostering Jewish-Catholic dialogue and acceptance. Hoffman was also a co-founder of Fordham’s Jewish Texts Reading Group in 2002, which continues to thrive.

“It was an exciting time at Fordham Lincoln Center, with an intergenerational student body and interdisciplinary divisions,”

Hoffman said in an interview with the Center for Jewish Studies at Fordham last year.

Hoffman mentored dozens of

members of the Fordham community in her time as a professor. One such mentee was Andrew Clark, professor of French and comparative literature, who remembered Hoffman’s lucid conception of her own work.

“We had lunch about a week before she died,” Clark said. “She said ‘I’ll always be teaching no matter what I am doing,’ and ‘I work with words.’”

Clark reflected on Dr. Hoffman’s unique ability to connect with her students.

“She always made them feel like they had this intelligence, and that they had what they needed to go forward,” Clark said. “I think that’s an incredibly beautiful skill.”

United Student Government at Lincoln Center President Fiona Shehu, Fordham College at

Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, was a student of Hoffman’s. Shehu wrote that Hoffman’s legacy is that of influence and passion.

“Anne’s passion for justice and education inspired countless individuals, and her influence shaped the lives of many students, including myself,” Shehu wrote. “Her unwavering belief in the power of knowledge and her deep understanding of the systems that shape our world opened my eyes to the importance of justice and how it affects our communities.”

Isabella Naluz Alejandro, FCLC ’25, was also a student of Hoffman’s. She reflected fondly on how Hoffman integrated social justice into the classroom and encouraged students to think critically about the sociopolitical climate they are in.

“I find especially in academia

it’s very easy to separate your ‘work’/’studies’ from any ‘social issues’ you’re passionate about, to the point of borderline performativity, but for Prof Hoffman you always felt that they were one and the same thing if u get what I mean. Even after retiring, I heard she went to continue on her work at Rikers … She will definitely be missed,” Alejandro wrote. Hoffman also had an enduring love for drawing and painting from early childhood.

“In contrast to my work on (and in) language, it’s precisely the non-verbal dimensions of drawing and painting that engage me so deeply. Quite simply, they allow for absorption in the domain of the visual,” Hoffman said in an interview with Fordham English.

Her artwork was showcased at Fordham’s Butler Gallery in Nov. 2023, reflecting her belief in the synergy between artistic expression and intellectual inquiry.

A funeral service was held at Plaza Jewish Community Chapel in Manhattan on Nov. 4. A memorial service open to the university community will be announced at a later date.

Hoffman is survived by her husband of 57 years, Leon Hoffman; her daughters, Miriam Hoffman and Liora Hoffman, and their spouses Dr. Steven Kleiner, M.D. and Rob Yalen; her brother, David Golomb; her niece, Danielle Golomb; her nephew, Jesse Golomb; and her grandchildren, Shoshana, Elisheva, and Hillel Hoffman Kleiner, and Greta and Max Yalen.

ARIANA WHITE/THE OBSERVER
Professor Laurie Lambert hosted an event for Black women to process the election results.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW CLARK
Ann Hoffman (center right) mentored countless students in her decades teaching at Fordham.

PHIL 1000: 60% ‘Dead White Dudes’

Potential changes to the core may decenter the Western canon in intro philosophy courses

At 8:30 a.m., Mari Narvilas sat in her Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 1000) class and read Descartes’s “Meditations.” As she had done on many occasions before, Narvilas raised her hand to ask “why” — why give voice to what seemed like the trivial musings of another privileged man?

The readings are under the university’s jurisdiction. By requirement, Philosophy of Human Nature features Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, and St. Augustine or Thomas Aquinas in 60% of covered material. Members of the Fordham community questioned the emphasis on specific Western thinkers as the core revision committee drafted a new core curriculum.

Narvilas, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’28, studied alongside students from around the world at an international high school in New York City. The curriculum reflected the diverse student body, including Eastern philosophers such as Confucius and Laozi.

By contrast, Narvilas was disappointed by PHIL 1000’s mandated focus on philosophers from the Western canon. Plato and Aristotle’s life stories felt alien to Narvilas.

“I don’t feel as strong as a connection to an extremely wealthy man who could spend his time pondering and drinking wine as I might to a woman who’s grown up in an urban environment whose life might have looked a bit more like mine,” Narvilas said.

“ It’s astonishing that we study some of these speakers without acknowledging that they’re just like, f—ing racist. ”

Associate Chair of the Philosophy Department, Brian Earl Johnson, had choice words for Plato and Aristotle, who were members of Athens’s elites.

“It’s astonishing that we study some of these speakers without acknowledging that they’re just like, f—ing racist,” Johnson said.

Fordham itself has attracted a diverse student body over several years. Reports on the Class of 2028 demographic illustrate that more than half of the incoming class are domestic students of color. Members of the Fordham community have asked if the core curricula reflect the university’s myriad of backgrounds.

Johnson attributed the mandated course description to Fordham being a Jesuit institution. He explained the four to five philosophers mandated in the PHIL 1000 course description are paramount to the history of Catholic theology.

He also said that Plato and Aristotle became more popular as intellectual touchstones in a relatively modern historical narrative.

“This idea that Plato and Aristotle represent the major crux of ancient philosophy is really an artifact of the history of thought,” Johnson said.

The PHIL 1000 curriculum also requires a contemporary philosopher and a figure from a traditionally underrepresented

group to accompany these pillars of the Western canon. Johnson said this clause was added to widen the scope of Philosophy of Human Nature classes when the core was last revised in 2009.

“The way that came about was precisely coming to contend with the fact that it’s not just the ‘Western canon’ as we conceive of,” Johnson said. “It winds up, as people joke, ‘dead white dudes’ number one, but number two we seem to have constricted it to a very narrow set of dudes.”

According to the university’s core curriculum revision webpage, the core is again under review by FCLC faculty and has been since the 2020-21 academic year. Councils formed of tenure and tenure-track professors will

vote to implement a revised core in spring 2025.

According to the minutes of an Oct. 24, 2024 College Council meeting, a proposed new core, created by a committee of nine professors, might dramatically change philosophy requirements.

According to the minutes of an Oct. 24, 2024 College Council meeting, a proposed new core, created by a committee of nine professors, might dramatically change philosophy requirements.

Associate Dean Robert Monoit said that he does not expect the emphasis on Western canon philosophers to carry over if the presented core is accepted by faculty.

“In the design of the new core, that is certainly going away,” Monoit said.

A new core could give professors more independence in choosing course materials.

Adjunct Professor Fred Copley, Narvilas’s PHIL 1000 professor, said he would like to make further changes.

“If given the freedom, I would

probably switch things,” Copley said. “I just take it that that’s the course I’m being hired to teach. I’m not designing this from scratch.”

In a study by Georgia State University (among others) that Johnson recalled, first-year students took philosophy courses with differing syllabi. The study found classes teaching a wide range of philosophers, including women and contemporary Eastern and Western philosophers, correlated with a dramatic increase in the number of women who majored in philosophy.

Fordham’s philosophy department is working to expand the topics they cover, but they had yet to address the PHIL 1000 class.

Johnson said that Fordham’s philosophy department is working to expand the topics they cover, but they had yet to address the PHIL 1000 class.

“At some point, that should involve rethinking Philosophy of Human Nature,” Johnson said.

The PHIL 1000 syllabus requirement predated Copley but he hypothesized that the influence of the mandated philosophers landed them a permanent space on syllabi.

“It’s a course on human nature, so I would speculate it might have something to do with thinking about these as figures … offering us particular views of human nature, but you know you could always say ‘well, aren’t there many other philosophers who do the same thing’ and you would be right,” Copley said.

Copley said that Fordham contrasts with his experience teaching the philosophy of human nature at other universities, which he said gave him greater freedom to determine course material. He suggested that Fordham’s emphasis on Greek and Roman philosophers is unusual among other collegiate institutions.

“ I’ve been waiting until we get our core revision because, in a way, we're in a holding pattern. It wouldn't make sense to design a new core class without knowing what the core is. ”

“They basically gave you a list of things,” they said. “You ought to try to cover,” Copley said. “A list of philosophers but a longer list.”

Johnson looked forward to potential changes to the core.

“I’ve been waiting until we get our core revision because, in a way, we're in a holding pattern. It wouldn't make sense to design a new core class without knowing what the core is,” Johnson said.

This holding pattern is the current reality of the Philosophy Department. However, Monoit suggested that the proposed new core could include an openended “Philosophy and Inquiry” requirement where professors from other departments would explore philosophical ideas.

IKMA INUSAH/THE OBSERVER
The course material covered in Fred Copley’s PHIL 1000 class.
MILO POWELL/THE OBSERVER
A handful of students attend Philosophy of Human Nature taught by Fred Copley. Copley believes that a more diverse syllabus would increase interest in PHIL 1000.
Brian Earl Johnson, Associate Chair of Philosophy

Sports & Health

Men’s Water Polo Complete Historic Undefeated Season

B y CORA COST

Men’s water polo honor their graduating seniors and cap off a 28-0 regular season

Asst. Sports & Health Editor

The Fordham men’s water polo team defended their undefeated record in their home pool during their last triple-header of the season on Nov. 9.

The Rams came out on top against Bucknell University, Mercyhurst University and Mount St. Mary’s College. The tripleheader marked the last home games of the season and the Rams’ annual Senior Day, where they honored the graduating seniors on the team.

The three wins at the Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatics Center brought the Rams undefeated regular season to a close. With a historic 28 overall wins, 14 of them in the Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC), the Rams cemented themselves as a powerhouse of Fordham athletics.

Head Coach Brian Bacharach reflected on the Rams’ 28-0 regular season as a historic program record and an all-time top performance for a Fordham Athletics Program. Bacharach echoed the sentiment of his team: they have had incredible success this year, but have more to give as they turn to their postseason run.

“We are doing something spe -

“ We are doing something special, but at the same time, I feel like we all feel that there’s still plenty left to accomplish. ”

cial, but at the same time, I feel like we all feel that there’s still plenty left to accomplish,” Bacharach said.

The tripleheader opened up with a game against Bucknell University which the Rams won 17-7. They played a strong first half to end the second quarter with a score of 7-3. The team added 10 more goals in the second half to secure the win against the Bison.

Goalkeeper Thomas Lercari, Fordham College at Rose Hill

“ Honestly speaking, I had to hold back a few tears during the senior presentation before the last game. ”

Luca Silvestri, Co-Captain

(FCRH) ’25, put on an impressive defensive display with 14 saves, two steals in goal and three assists.

On the offensive side of the game, Luca Provenziani, FCRH ’28, scored four goals with three assists and two steals. His dynamic play over the weekend landed him his third MAWPC “Rookie of the Week” title.

The accuracy and precision of the Rams showcased against the Bison continued to shine during their second game of the afternoon against Mercyhurst University. The Rams scored 9 goals in the first quarter and rode that momentum to a 26-4 defeat over the Lakers.

Before the last game of the night, the Rams celebrated their eight graduating senior athletes, Lercari and Lucas Nieto Jasny, FCRH ’25, as well as George Papanikolaou, Gabriel Melillo, Luca Silvestri, Paul Armingol, Mark Katsev and Jacopo Parrella, all Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’25.

The team and the friends and family of the senior athletes honored them with senior presentations. Silvestri, co-captain of the team, said there were mixed

emotions about the seniors playing in the last home game of their Fordham water polo careers.

“Of course there was a lot of sadness because I know that my life will change at the end of this year and I will be missing Fordham water polo a lot,” Silvestri said. “Honestly speaking, I had to hold back a few tears during the senior presentation before the last game”

The expertise of the senior class led the Rams to their final win of their regular season: a 28-8 win over Mount St. Mary’s College. Six of the seniors found the back of the net in this game alone; Parrella with a stellar five goals, Silvestri with four, Nieto Jasny with three, Papanikolaou with two, Katsev and Armingol with one each.

Over the weekend, the talent of the senior athletes was on full display as every single senior except for goalkeeper Lercari — who had a dominant series in his own right — connected the ball with the back of the net.

The final games of the Rams’ season reflected the impressive winning streak the team have been on all year and the growth the program has seen since this year’s seniors became Rams. Bacharach said that these graduating seniors have come a long way since their first games.

“I don’t think there’s a group of seniors that has accomplished more in the program’s history, and the program’s been around for a very long time. So it’s about the highest praise you can give to a group of guys in terms of what they’ve accomplished,” Bacharach said. “And so, this group in particular, we’re going to be sad to see them leave, but are excited to see what they go and accomplish in the world.”

Silvestri, who joined the team

in 2022, has seen the team grow to the water polo powerhouse it is today.

“Fordham developed a winning mentality, and I am sure that it will be increasing even more during the years. The work that has been done by our coaches is amazing, not only inside the pool, but even outside,” Silvestri said.

The team’s dominant sweep on Nov. 9 also secured them the number one seed heading into the MAWPC Championships on Nov. 22 through Nov. 24 in Annapolis, Maryland. Lercari said the Rams are ready to take on everything the postseason has to offer.

“ We’re all looking forward to the opportunity to prove everyone wrong in the NCAAs on the West Coast . ” Jacopo Parrella, GSBRH ‘25

“Obviously, the job is not finished, and we are working hard to keep our win streak going as long as possible. I know that the guys and myself are looking forward to an exciting postseason,” Lercari said.

Heading into the postseason, the Rams sit at third in the Collegiate Water Polo Association weekly poll. The Rams are behind the University of California, Los Angeles, ranked first, and Stanford University, ranked second,which makes them the only non-California team

ranked in the top 10 universities.

The postseason consists of two parts for the team. First, they will play in the MAWPC Championships at the United States Naval Academy Nov. 22-24. The Rams are heavy favorites to win the conference for the fourth year in a row. Despite the team’s good odds, Parrella emphasized that they are not going to take their foot off the gas.

“The fun part has just started. I think it’s a big accomplishment what we have done so far, but we make sure the team stays focused and doesn’t let this positive environment relax us,” he said.

After the MAWPC Championship, the Rams hope to travel to California once again to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament at Stanford University. The Rams have had a tough time at the NCAA tournament in the past years, as they are 0-3. However, Papanikolaou highlighted the hard work the team has put into changing their odds in California.

“We’re all looking forward to the opportunity to prove everyone wrong in the NCAAs on the West Coast,” he said.

The Rams got some extra playing time in last weekend during their two exhibition games against Connecticut College on Nov. 15 and Brown University on Nov. 16. Though the games did not count to their season record, the Rams continued their winning streak and won both games.

The next game on the Rams schedule is the team’s first game of the MAWPC Championship. Hoping to continue their undefeated season, the Rams will face Mercyhurst University for the third time this year in the opening game of the championship on Nov. 22.

Brian Bacharach, Men’s Water Polo Head Coach
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
All eight senior athletes of the men’s water polo team after their final home games on Nov. 9. Each senior field player scored in the home game series.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Barnabas Eppel during the final tripleheader of the Rams regular season.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Tyler Fahey took posession of the ball in the second game of the triple header.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Luca Provenziani was awarded his third Rookie of the week title following the team’s success during their final triple header.

Men’s Soccer Fell to Dayton in A10

The Rams end their season in the semifinals on the road with a 0-2 loss against the Flyers

The Fordham men’s soccer team closed out their Atlantic 10 (A10) championship play in the semifinals with a 0-2 loss against the University of Dayton (UD) Flyers on Wednesday night.

The match was the second time the teams faced each other this season. At the last meeting, also at Dayton’s Baujan Field, the Rams defeated the Flyers 4-2, the last game the Flyers lost.

The Rams’ strong defense was able to hold off their opponents for the rest of the half, but offensively were outshot 16-3.

Star player Daniel D’Ippolito, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’26, led the Rams to the semifinals this season with a total of 13 goals and seven assists, but his skills would have been ineffective if it had not been for the entire team’s effort.

“The season was full of challenges from start to finish. Getting the new guys acclimated fast was super important for us to start strong. We have such a great locker room that stayed together in the tough moments which allowed us to get some big results. Making it to the semifinals at Dayton was a great experience for everyone and to play in the big games is what we work so hard for,” D’Ippolito said.

Fifth seeded going into the

match, the Rams were not able to use their usual offensive strength to take down the second seeded Flyers.

Dayton opened the game strong and found the back of the net in the fifth minute. Flyer midfielder Hjalti Sigurdsson, UD ’25, scored off a corner kick from teammate Martin Bakken, UD ’27, putting the score at 1-0.

Shortly after, Thomas Gray, Gabelli Graduate School of Business ’25, nearly leveled the playing field with a header into the box, but connected with the goal frame instead of the netting.

The Rams’ strong defense was able to hold off their opponents for the rest of the half, but offensively were out-shot 16-3.

In the second half, the Rams saw the same fate. Flyer Ethan Sassine, UD ’25, picked up a goal in the 69th minute assisted by teammate Felix Buabeng, UD ’27, to secure their 2-0 victory.

Despite the unsuccessful final match, D’Ippolito and the Fordham men’s soccer team have excelled this season ...

D’Ippolito was named A10 Midfielder of the Year just earlier in the day, only the second ram honored with the award. He led the Rams with five attempted shots against the Flyers, but fell short in showcasing his usual powerhouse play.

“Earning Midfielder of the Year means so much to me to be able to see the benefits of all the hard

Daniel D’Ippolito’s 13 goals this season is the highest number of goals in a season by an individual Fordham player since 1998 and is the first in 42 years to log two hat tricks in the same season.

work done during the off season. At the end of a successful season for the team any individual award after that is just an added bonus,” D’Ippolito said.

In his last game appearance against the Duquesne Dukes, D’Ippolito secured his second hat trick of the season to lead the Rams to a shutout 3-0 victory.

Despite the unsuccessful final match, D’Ippolito and the

Fordham men’s soccer team have excelled this season, finishing with an 8-5-5 overall record.

“We were able to win a lot of tight games this year which has separated us from the previous years. It shows the character the group has during tough moments and the results came with it. As for next year our goal is always to compete for the A10 Championship and to get a bid to the

NCAA tournament at the end of the year,” D’Ippolito said.

The Dayton Flyers moved on to their second-straight A10 final against the Saint Louis Billikens and defended their title with a 3-0 victory on Nov. 17.

On Nov. 18 it was announced that the Rams punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament and will face Cornell University in Ithaca on Nov. 21 at 5:00 p.m.

Rams Defeat Binghamton in Men’s Basketball

The Fordham men’s basketball team opened their home game season at the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium with a 78-63 win against the Binghamton Bearcats on Tuesday night.

The Rams’ starting lineup featured Japhet Medor, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’25, Matt Zona, GGSB ’25, Jackie Johnson III, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25, Romad Dean, FCRH ’26, and Will Richardson, FCRH ’26.

Points started to show on the board three minutes into the game. Dean hit a 3-pointer, assisted by Richardson, to give Fordham their first home game points of the season.

Despite energetic support from the cheerleaders and crowd, the Rams hit a cold streak and went 1-8 from the field to fall behind the Bearcats, who built a lead with strong offensive play.

“ I’m really happy with our energy and our effort. ”
Keith Urgo, Men’s Basketball Head Coach

Nearly two and a half minutes later, Johnson fired a pass from the corner to Joshua Rivera, FCRH ’26, who nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 6-6.

The Rams struggled with missed shots and turnovers as the Bearcats’ offense heated up.

The team took down the Bearcats 78-63 in dominant first home game

They went on a 7-0 run with points from the paint to increase the score to 13-6 Binghamton, with plenty of time left in the half.

The Rams answered back with impressive 3-point shooting. Riley and Richardson each sank a shot to close the gap, helping the Rams find their rhythm. Johnson scored 8 points in three minutes. Medor and Zona added points from the arc and the paint to extend Fordham’s lead to 12 with 5:38 left in the half.

Head Coach Keith Urgo later praised his team’s energy and effort, particularly on defense. “I’m really happy with our

energy and our effort,” Urgo said. “I thought our defense, not in the very beginning, but from that 16 to eight-minute mark, was elite.”

Fordham’s strong 3-point shooting, including 5 scored by Riley and Richardson, helped the Rams build a 10-point lead at the half, with a score of 38-28. The Rams were more successful than the Bearcats in 3-point shooting (36.8% to Binghamton’s 20%) and free-throw shooting (75% to Binghamton’s 58%). The Rams’ defense wreaked havoc on their opponent, forcing 11 turnovers.

In a postgame interview, Urgo emphasized the team’s defensive intensity.

“For the most part, I thought

our traps were excellent,” Urgo said. “We want to create massive amounts of chaos and use our speed, and I think we did that well — in stretches.”

The Rams continued to dominate both offensively and defensively in the second half, maintaining a double-digit lead over the Bearcats.

Johnson opened the second half with a strong drive to the basket, finishing on the left side. Three minutes into the half, the Rams scored 6 straight points, pushing the score to 50-34. Although the Bearcats fought back to narrow the gap to 60-56 with a layup by forward Ben Callanhan-Gold, the Rams

responded with a 19-4 run, culminating in a 3-pointer by Rivera to give them a 21-point lead with four minutes remaining.

The Rams controlled the rest of the game to secure their first home victory of the regular season.

The Rams controlled the rest of the game to secure their first home victory of the regular season.

Johnson led the Rams in scoring with 23 points on 8-12 shooting. He also finished the game with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Other notable performances included Riley’s, who led with three 3-pointers, scoring 11 points with four rebounds; Rivera, with 11 points; and Romad, with 10 points, three rebounds, and a block.

The Rams have shown a strong start to the season, giving fans plenty to look forward to. After the win, Urgo praised the team’s performance, especially in the second half.

“(The Bearcats’) energy and effort forced us to buckle down in the second half, which I was proud of,” he said.

The Rams fell to the Manhattan Jaspers 78-76 on Friday, Nov. 15. After their win 101-61 against the Georgian Court Lions they will play Drexel on Friday, Nov. 22.

COURTESY
GRACE SANTOLI/THE OBSERVER
Fans watched as the men’s basketball team competed in their first home game at the historic Rose Hill Gym. Jackie Johnson III, FCRH ’25, led the Rams in scoring with 23 points against the Bearcats.

The audience is given a tour around some of the city’s most iconic and well-known spots, from Times Square to Harlem, with themed performances at each “stop.”

of the dancers and performers as they ran out was infectious. The theme of the Big Apple Circus is different each year, making every show season unique. This year, “Hometown Playground” focused on an animal that prob ably knows the city better than anyone else: rats! The audience is given a tour around some of the city’s most iconic and well-known spots, from Times Square to Harlem, with themed per formances at each “stop.” Some of my favorite perfor mances were “The Russian Swing,” featuring acrobats Adrian Poema Jr., Antoly Brazzan, Lucian Balsanulfo and Lexi Ann Eakin-Gon zales; “The Human Fountains,”

Besides the beautifully told story, the skill and strength required to do the tricks featured in the performance is unfathomable, as the duo seemed to complete them easily.

Human Fountains,” can easily be declared

The annual Big Apple Circus has been a feature of New York City since

especially after watching the earlier performances, and the seriousness of the members of the “Human Fountains” is what really sells it. Not only was it funny to watch from the audi ence, but the aspect of crowd participation will make this act different each time you see it. Another act that truly stood out to me was “Abril Amore.” The act consisted of a Tango-in spired aerial routine that told a beautiful story of love. From any seat, you could see the con nection and trust the perform ers shared, which made the choreography seem more real and vulnerable. Besides the beautifully told story, the skill and strength required to do the tricks featured in the performance is unfath omable, as the duo seemed to complete them easily. One notable mention is “The Cartoon Poodles,” an act conducted by Rafael and Isabel Abuhadba, where their eight rescue Poo dles perform tricks like diving, jumping and even riding a scooter showcas ing these dogs’ talent. The Big Apple Circus typically does not include animals in their show, but it was heartwarming to see these poodles involved. With all the components and acts featured in this show running

DURGA DESAI / THE OBSERVER since 1977.

Opinions

Puerto Rico is Chained in Silence

The US still has a colony, contrary to popular belief

While the United States recovers from a heavily polarized election with a disappointing result that will threaten people around the world, Puerto Rico reckons with a substandard governor-elect who ran on archaic narratives. Although many were dissatisfied by both candidates in the U.S. election, Juan Dalmau offered Puerto Ricans a small glimmer of hope in their election. Looking at the elections and the statehood movement in concert confirms a colonial project awaiting completion by an American empire in decline. Puerto Rico must finally be freed.

The storied history of the Puerto Rican independence movement speaks to the litany of injustices the island has faced — and continues to face — at the hands of the United States. In the wake of the 1898 Spanish-American War, the U.S. began occupying Puerto Rico. The Foraker Act of 1900 established a civil government which includes a non-voting Resident Commissioner representative in Congress — a role currently filled by governor-elect Jenniffer González-Colón — and a Puerto Rican congress, which voted unanimously for independence in 1914 to no effect.

All the while, American investors were setting up to extract maximum value from the island. American intellectual Noam Chomsky called the early 20th century a process to make Puerto Rico “a plantation for U.S. agribusiness,” and the American governmental attitude towards Puerto Rico still reflects that image. The U.S. profits from the remarkable cultural contributions of Puerto Ricans (Benito Ocasio, “Bad Bunny,” comes to mind) while only giving the island a façade of political agency. Puerto Ricans are fundamental to New York City history — politicians, musicians, poets, artists have enriched its culture. Still, the island languishes.

Puerto Rico exists in the political purgatory dubbed “commonwealth” status: not fully independent, but not privy to the full benefits of U.S. statehood.

Puerto Rican contribution is even engraved into New York education. Public School 161, up on 133rd Street, is named after Pedro Albizu Campos. Campos was a Puerto Rican nationalist icon who led a briefly successful armed uprising against the U.S. military in the town of Jayuya in 1950. Having graduated from Harvard with top marks, he declined governmental offers in order to return to Puerto Rico, where he set to work with the nationalist movement. Nationalists were brutally repressed, and in 1948, la Ley de la Mordaza (the Gag Law) was passed. Any public expression of Puerto Rican nationalism was made illegal, and enforced accordingly. In October 1950, Campos led a group of revolutionaries to take over a police station and burn down a post office building in Jayuya. Many nationalists were eventually killed or imprisoned, and Campos died after a long stint in prison. American treatment of anti-colonial revolutionaries forms a legacy worth considering when deciding whether to join up with said country.

Since then, the island has remained in an eerie quagmire. Puerto Rico exists in the political purgatory dubbed “commonwealth” status: not fully independent, but not privy to the full benefits of U.S. statehood. It is a nation that has been kept comatose by the world’s foremost imperial power for over a century.

Professor Miguel A. Rivera-Quiñones, research fellow at Radboud University, calls the American dominance over Puerto Rico “postcolonial colonialism.” Puerto

Ricans nominally self-govern, but all under the auspices of American corporate and political power. The U.S. quickly industrialized the island in the mid-20th century, but ensured that everything remained under private administration. What that means now is the U.S. presides over a nation with a 43% poverty rate and no plan to ameliorate the current situation. Jobs cannot be created, and Puerto Rico cannot truly move forward, especially as the climate changes and natural disasters become ever more common. The U.S. does administrate Puerto Rico, and is running it into the ground. As recently as eight years ago, the Supreme Court reaffirmed U.S. sovereignty over the island, and the U.S. has no plans to let Puerto Rico go.

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies noted that “the ability of Puerto Rico’s economy to create jobs is tied to its political relationship with the United States.” As a unit, Puerto Rico is economically insolvent. According to the same report, Puerto Rico has the most extreme economic inequality of any U.S. jurisdiction. The island’s electrical grid is completely privately owned by one corporation — Luma Energy. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny famously took on the corporation in the music video for his song “El Apagón,” which translates to “the blackout.” When Luma unilaterally canceled scheduled maintenance worth $65 million last summer, residents protested the decision, but could do little about it.

American privatization is holding the island’s economy hostage, and advocates of statehood seem to ignore that reality.

If Puerto Rico were allowed to nationalize its energy, it could rid itself of corporate parasites and potentially give people critical access to electricity more easily. All beaches in Puerto Rico are public land, and the island still has a strong nationalist spirit. American privatization is holding the island’s economy hostage, and advocates of statehood seem to ignore that reality.

Puerto Rico could become a U.S. state, and governor-elect Gonzalez seems intent on making that happen. However, allowing a colonial project undertaken over a hundred years ago to be completed does not seem the best course of action. Statehood advocates point to the litany

of injustices in U.S. treatment of Puerto Rico compared to treatment of states, but would admitting Puerto Rico into the union benefit Puerto Ricans? American investment into the island would only increase, leading to a largely unchanged economic structure. It would create a sense of parity with other states, but is the United States a union Puerto Rico wants to join?

Neither the current administration nor the incoming administration have substantial plans to address climate change, and Puerto Rico should be doing everything in its power to stave off the consequences of global warming. As part of the States, it would be fully assimilated into the imperial core, and green infrastructure would likely have to wait. If it were allowed independence, Puerto Rico could move to nationalize energy and act on the world stage free from under American boots.

Although Dalmau did not win, the movement for Puerto Rican independence will keep going. Puerto Rican cultural presence in and around New York City is massive.

For the first time in seventy years, Puerto Rico’s electoral debate looked to advance past trite scuffling. As should be obvious, neither of the traditionally dominant parties advocate for independence. The pro-statehood New Progressive Party, led by Jenniffer González-Colón, won this year’s election. Pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party candidate Jesús Manuel Ortiz finished in a shocking third place, behind Juan Dalmau of the Independence Party. Global superstar Bad Bunny came out in support of Dalmau, whose campaign centered on refreshing the island’s politics.

Although Dalmau did not win, the movement for Puerto Rican independence will keep going. Puerto Rican cultural presence in and around New York City is massive. Readers would do well to stop by El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem to begin understanding the interconnections between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The United States government will never give Puerto Rico the recognition it deserves without political action of some kind. Here’s hoping that Puerto Ricans continue to gain consciousness of the remarkably unjust circumstances and act to change them.

WILLIAM LEE/THE OBSERVER
The U.S. has been content to profit from the remarkable cultural contributions of Puerto Ricans while only giving the island a façade of political agency.

Rams Debate: Third Party Voting

Third-Party Voting was a Gamble in this Election

The United States is not a fair democracy. The past election cycle has forced people to vote for the lesser of two evils: a woman whose hands bled red due to her complicity in the Israel-Hamas war and a convicted felon. To say that millions of other Americans and I were disappointed by the top contenders in the 2024 presidential election is an understatement. However, the polarization of this election brought about a new conversation: third-party voting.

As of June 2024, 53 ballot-qualified parties and 235 state-level parties exist in the United States, according to Ballotpedia. These are called “third parties.” The electoral system in the U.S. is called a twoparty system, meaning that the two parties (in this case, the Democratic and Republican parties) dominate the executive, judicial and legislative branches.

The 2024 election marked a pivotal moment in America’s political history, with the stakes as high as the nation’s collective anxiety about its future. At the heart of this intense contest lay a heated debate on the role of third-party voting in a system already weakened by polarization and disillusionment. Third-party candidates, often the torchbearers of fresh ideas and progressive movements, undeniably play an essential role in challenging the status quo and pushing major parties to confront issues they might otherwise sideline.

Pragmatic voting was not abandoning principles but prioritizing what was possible over what was ideal.

In 2024, the contrast between the two major-party candidates was seismic, encompassing issues like economic recovery, healthcare access, climate action and America’s standing on the global stage. These were choices with real life consequences for millions of Americans and the planet’s future.

However principled or symbolic, casting a ballot for a third-party candidate in 2024 was a gamble with potentially far-reaching consequences. In tightly contested swing states, where margins were razor-thin, these votes held the power to tip the balance — potentially toward an outcome opposed to a voter’s values. Although third-party candidates received a minuscule percentage of the votes, in an election as high-stakes as this, every

vote had greater value. For example, the more left-leaning third-party candidates such as Jill Stein and Cornel West took away more votes from Harris in this election. According to the Associated Press, 2,523,241 people in the U.S. voted for third-party candidates. The unintended result of this election fueled the empowerment of a candidate whose priorities conflicted with the aspirations of thirdparty voters.

The emotional weight of this election was undeniable. For many, voting was a civic duty and a desperate plea for stability, progress or survival. Those grappling with the fear of losing fundamental rights or watching democracy falter felt the urgency of uniting against the more significant threat.

In this election cycle, 63% of voters felt the need for a third party due to the poor jobs of the Democrats and the Republicans. People have felt unheard, left behind by a system that seems rigged for the powerful and indifferent to the powerless. In 2024, the stakes demanded a sobering question: Is this election the moment to make a stand, or ensure the path forward remains viable?

The 2024 election was too pivotal to cast votes for parties with little realistic chance of winning; idealism should have given way to pragmatism. Others were called upon to think of individual expression andthe far-reaching consequences of their choices. The intentions behind the third-party vote were for climate action, social justice, economic stability, foreign policy and other issues. Still, this vote backfired and took the U.S. in the opposite direction.

The freedom to vote for a third-party candidate is a way to express frustration with the shortcomings of the two-party system; which is valid when major parties often fail to address all citizens’ needs thoroughly. The American political system needs better representation and accountability. Participation in shaping the nation is one of democracy’s greatest strengths and should always be celebrated. But this election illuminated something more — the importance of using that freedom responsibly as a tool to drive real change. Pragmatic voting was not about abandoning principles but prioritizing what was possible over what was ideal, ensuring that incremental progress could continue.

The emotional gravity of 2024 was undeniable. It was about more than politics; it was about people — their livelihoods, rights and futures. In moments like this, voting becomes more than a civic duty; it becomes an act of hope, a refusal to give up and a commitment to ensuring that the future is shaped by those who care enough to show up.

In Defense of Third Party Voters

Amid the drama surrounding the 2024 presidential election, a great deal of attention has been paid to the role of third-party voters and the politicians they support. In the weeks leading up to the election, Newsweek reported that President-elect Donald Trump praised Green Party nominee Jill Stein because of her role as a “spoiler.” Democrats simultaneously condemned her, according to an Al Jazeera article, claiming that she could single-handedly secure a victory for Republicans, despite her platform being more left-leaning than that of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

However, I believe that frustrated voters’ search for a scapegoat has led to unfair blame being placed on third-party voters.

While Democrats worried that thirdparty candidates would siphon enough votes to deliver the White House to Trump, the fact remains that he won every swing state by a margin decisively larger than the number of votes cast for all third-party candidates. The libertarian candidate also likely siphoned more votes from Trump than Harris, further weakening the premise that third-party voters single-handedly decided who the next president would be.

Despite the lack of evidence to support condemning third-party voters, it is almost impossible to open social media without being confronted with content accusing third-party voters of apathy.

Despite these facts, those frustrated with the outcome of the election might also claim that the vocal dissent of thirdparty voters could have deterred undecided voters from participating in the election at all. Regardless, this belief is nothing more than unsubstantiated speculation with little statistical evidence to support it.

Despite the lack of evidence to support condemning third-party voters, it is almost impossible to open social media without being confronted with content accusing third-party voters of apathy.

Users denounce these voters because they seemingly prioritized their maintenance of a moral high ground at the expense of marginalized populations. Yet this opinion is primarily being parroted by those that cannot be bothered to understand the historical reasoning and significance of a third-party vote.

Even if you truly believe that democracy is threatened by the results of the 2024 election, third-party voters are not the ones to blame.

People often dismiss the decision to vote for a third-party candidate, saying that the vote is wasted given that it is impossible for a non-major party nominee to win. However, a third-party vote is not meant to actually elect the candidate, but rather to give a platform to vitally important issues that have been disregarded by both Democrats and Republicans alike. In this election cycle, Stein notably took to Instagram to condemn Joe Biden as a war criminal because of the United States Government’s role in the Israel-Hamas war. As such, the Democratic party will likely modify its foreign policy stance in the future to include less vocal support of Israel, with the goal of wooing voters who withheld their vote for Vice President Harris because of their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s policy. Thirdparty votes are actually important, because while they did not decide the results of the election, they gave a platform and a voice to an issue that might have otherwise been ignored.

Although I did not cast my vote for a third-party candidate, I think that it is important to point out what truly decided the results of the 2024 election: a majority of the public choosing to cast their vote for Trump, despite the seemingly ever-growing list of offenses that hang around him like a black cloud. Dissatisfaction aside, we must find a way to move forward and recognize that discouraging third-party candidates needlessly discourages people from voting in a manner that authentically represents their voice and their values — despite the fact that they might not reflect yours.

Even if you truly believe that democracy is threatened by the results of the 2024 election, third-party voters are not the ones to blame.

These voters chose to vote earnestly and honestly, with the hope of emphasizing the voices of all American citizens in the political landscape.

Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 (10:18 p.m.

Dear Wednesday Morning Me,

Tomorrow, we will experience a critical moment in history — regardless of the outcome. America is somehow deciding between a KKK-endorsed-fascist-two-time impeached-anti-women-egomaniac and the first Black and South Asian Vice President who insists on maintaining unwavering support for Israel. But Americans before us have not sacrificed blood, sweat and tears to go back now.

When I think about the election, I think about Fannie Lou Hamer, who organized Black folks to vote during one of the most politically violent periods for Black Americans. She was beaten almost to death in her jail cell, sexually assaulted and blinded for the crime of exercising her civil right to vote. Hamer survived by the grace of God and through song. She survived because that is what Black women do. I think about how I lined up at my local library on my birthday — the first day of early voting in New York — with my mom, aunt and cousin to cast my ballot. Without facing persecution or risking my life to do so because of people — Black women — like Hamer.

When I think about the election, I think about the Central Park Five, now the Exonerated Five. The five men who were once boys whom Donald Trump called the death penalty for in a full-page advertisement in the New York Times. I think about Trayvon Martin, who made me realize at a young age that people would see me first as Black before anything else. I think about Philando Castile and his girlfriend and daughter, who witnessed his murder. Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, Atatiana Jefferson, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Tamir Rice. I think about Aiyana Stanley-Jones, only seven years old, sleeping in her bed. I think about the fact that I know these names and stories from memory. We keep record. Then I think about how Trump wants to grant police officers immunity, which they seem to already have.

When I think about the election, I think about my faith. I think about Romans 13:810 which tells us that “Love fulfills the Law.” We owe nothing to each other but love; it is our greatest privilege to live while loving our neighbors.

When I think about this election, I am both optimistic and scared. I think about Hamer’s words: “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” But the tide is turning, and people are beginning to pick up books.

When I think about this election, I think that we have nothing to lose but our chains.

Everything is Political

Reflections of a first-time voter before and after the election

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 (3:16 p.m.)

Dear Monday Night Me,

Yesterday, we experienced a critical moment in history. When I wrote my letter to myself the night before the election, I was hopeful — absolutely terrified — but still hopeful. This morning, at 6:46 a.m., my best friend woke me up so we could check the fate of our futures together. At that moment, I felt still. I was not terrified, and I was not hopeful. I was just, still. We opened our phones to the tab that had already been open all of last night. At the same time, we saw the number — 277. The presidency had been called. I would be lying if I said I was not the slightest bit surprised. Not because I am disillusioned with the lack of faith in the current administration, the implications of a genocide, or the vitriol of half the country but because I could not believe that America voted against freedom. Yet at 6:47 a.m., the cars outside my window continued to honk their horns, the ambulances continued to blare their sirens, and people continued their commute to work. Most importantly, the sun continued to rise. And so will we.

Then, I went to church.

Yesterday, millions of Americans decided that the Democratic administration failed to earn their vote. I will not place full blame on non-voters, but their choice will lead to us grieving more lives. I will not debate whether Americans deserve this fate as punishment because

the truth is that Americans who voted for Kamala Harris voted for life, and we should protect as many lives as possible. Here on American soil and across the ocean. We should have collectively voted to prevent as many deaths as possible. We should have voted for, at the very least, a better opponent. Someone who will allow us to demand better without the threat of unconstitutional censorship, which is now a real possibility.

Yesterday, millions of Americans decided that false promises of lower grocery prices are worth more than healthcare, education and freedom. Now, all of America will see an additional several trillion dollars added to the debt and more tax cuts for billionaires. We will see even less concern for the climate. We will see a president re-enter office who has degraded and laughed at every single American demographic. Yesterday, we saw exactly why education is so critical — and protecting education was on the ballot. Supporters of Trump will spew rhetoric that we can disagree on politics and still be friends. No, we can not. As the author Robert Jones Jr. said, “We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist.” Deciding not to participate in politics does not mean that politics will not affect you.

America faces a problem that has existed since its inception: misogynoir. I was hopeful that maybe this time,

America would be ready for a woman in power; however, it seems a Black woman is too “radical.” People fear the strength of Black women. Black women are told they are intimidating and, in the same breath, expected to organize revolutions. As they always do, Black women showed up yesterday to vote for someone who represented them. Not just because she looked like us but because she was a qualified Black woman in the ways that mattered for now. Unfortunately, the results have proven what Malcolm X said and what we Black women have known for centuries: The Black woman is the most disrespected person in America. In this country, people are willing to allow a rapist, felon and twice-impeached president into the highest office in the nation before they allow a Black woman in. Hatred toward Black women permeates this country to its core, and people are not ready to see what we already know to be true: Black women have carried this nation on their backs. This hatred is underscored, however, by fear. America has been built by the exploitation of Black people, the working class and undocumented immigrants. If America could allow a Black woman into power, it would reflect that progress has been made for everyone to see. But, of course, millions of Americans want us to go back. To diminish what progress has been made. For those wanting to move forward, we are allowed to grieve before we roll up our sleeves again. To mourn a future that seems grim. Many will say we are overreacting. There is no overreaction to threats against a woman’s autonomy. There is no overreaction to threats against the sanctity of LGBTQI+ lives. There is no overreaction to the protection of the Department of Education. There is no overreaction to the removal of restrictions on immigration enforcement in schools, churches and playgrounds. There is no overreaction to someone who mocks people with disabilities. There is no overreaction to someone who said that Israel should “finish what they started” in Gaza. Past all of the disappointment, there is still hope. Hope is what keeps the struggle alive. And freedom is a constant struggle. Today, after the sun had fully risen, a starling bird perched on our windowsill. We refused to accept that this was a coincidence and looked up the symbolism. In different cultures, a starling bird symbolizes freedom, community and healing. These are pillars in the fight for liberation. There is immense grief that comes with the results of the election for many communities. There will come a time in the near future when people will act because we must not be complacent. People will pick up books, people will sing, people will pray and people will write. We should organize in whatever way is meaningful to us. We should organize because we have nothing to lose but our chains.

AVERY GRAFELD/THE OBSERVER
Fannie Lou Hamer and Malcolm X organized Black folks to vote during one of the most politically violent period for Black Americans.
SARAI ALLEYNE Contributing Writer
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
Fordham Lincoln Center student watches the election results roll in from a McKeon Hall lounge.

Arts & Culture

Jhailyn Paige Farcon Takes The Big Stage

The Ailey/Fordham BFA student made her Broadway debut in ‘& Juliet’

BROADWAY from Page 1

“A lot of people that book early who are in school either take a gap year or drop,” she said.

But for Farcon, the importance of a formal education was instilled in her from a young age. Even when taking jobs in grade school, she never considered dropping out.

“Education is so important to me and my family,” she said. “I just feel like having that extra training … sets you up in a way that you’re able to take on anything in our industry.”

Farcon has received extensive training in dance since before her academic school days. She began with ballet, tap and jazz at three years old, and soon expanded to other styles. She signed with her agency, McDonald Selznick Associates, when she was seven years old.

“Literally my whole life was

school, dance, then go to bed and repeat,” Farcon said.

“ (Dance has) always been one of my first loves,” Farcon said. “Dance was and has always been one of if not the most important thing. ”

As a child, she competed in ballroom internationally with her brother and both of her parents, taking her and her family to England and France. Unlike many dancing families, Farcon’s parents

did not pass down a love of dancing to their children — instead, they started to dance because their children danced. They were already spending plenty of time at the studio for Farcon and her brother, and figured they may as well learn.

“It’s mainly just us two (my brother and I),” Farcon said. “My brother started dancing first and I was like, ‘I wanna do that.’”

In fact, her brother, Jaryd Farcon, Ailey/Fordham BFA ’20, was an inspiration not just for her to start dance but to pursue it seriously throughout high school and college. Farcon followed in her brother’s footsteps by attending LaGuardia High School and eventually Fordham. While Farcon cites her brother’s experience as one reason why she chose the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, she said she admires the program’s reputability and location.

“It’s right in the city, where I

want to be,” Farcon said. She also credits the program for their leniency with her demanding rehearsal schedule for “& Juliet,” according to Farcon, the program officials said they did not want to hold her back from what she was in the city to do — become a professional dancer. While theater was always something that Farcon considered as a future career, taking voice lessons in addition to her extensive dance training, she said that pursuing her degree in dance rather than musical theater was the right choice for her.

“(Dance has) always been one of my first loves,” Farcon said. “Dance was and has always been one of if not the most important thing.”

Her role in “& Juliet” reflects this love of dance as part of an ensemble featuring dancers. Even the audition, while requiring potential cast members to sing a few bars of a pop song (Farcon sang “No One” by Alicia Keys), largely focused on choreography.

The play “& Juliet” follows a “what-if” scenario where Juliet of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” decides not to commit suicide after waking up to find her lover, Romeo, dead. Together, a fictional Shakespeare and his wife, Anne, rewrite the play. The jukebox musical features the music of pop songwriter Max Martin, including hits such as “... Baby One More Time,” “Roar” and “I Want It That Way.” The show was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 2023.

“As silly as the show can get, … the message of love and support is so strong,” Farcon said.

On Sept. 30, 2024, the show made headlines when the new cast, which includes Farcon and TikTok star Charli D’Amelio, were announced to make their debut on Oct. 29.

“With such a new, fresh energy going into the show, opening night for me felt like opening night for the show,” Farcon said. She said the best part of being on Broadway has been the group of people she has gotten to experience it with.

“I got really lucky to be with such a great group of people,” she said. “I feel like that’s really rare.”

She also cites the fans as an important part of shaping her experience on Broadway.

“The show affects so many people every night,” Farcon said. “It’s so great to see how people at the stage door are like, ‘ … Thank you for taking the time out to see us and sign our Playbills.’”

“ I got really lucky to be with such a great group of people ... I feel like that’s really rare. ”

Jhailyn Paige Farcon,

While Farcon has already achieved the dream of so many by being on Broadway, she is still a normal teenage girl. She expressed her love for Ariana Grande and excitement over the new “Wicked” movie being released soon. And Farcon recently declared a minor in film and television, hoping that it will help her see media differently.

One of her goals is to be in the original broadway cast of a show some day. She said that she would also like to go on tour with an artist and continue to work commercially in television and film. Farcon emphasized that “everything” about her journey so far has been rewarding.

COURTESY OF JHAILYN PAIGE FARCON Farcon, pictured alongside her castmates, for the Broadway production of “& Juliet.”
COURTESY OF JHAILYN PAIGE FARCON Farcon credits the Ailey/Fordham BFA program for their leniency, allowing her to get her degree and perform on Broadway.
Jhailyn Paige Farcon, FCLC ‘27
FCLC ‘27

A Heartfelt Journey Home in ‘Kentucky’

Fordham Theatre’s mainstage production dissects the entanglement of identity, family and escape

Three bridesmaids adorned in fuschia, orange and yellow harmoniously invited a packed Pope Auditorium to their “old Kentucky home” on Nov. 14.

Fordham Theatre’s second mainstage production of the season, “Kentucky,” was written by playwright Leah Nanako Winkler and directed by professional theater director Kat Yen. The play explores the nuances of identity within a mixed-race family, the ways in which people find escape in dysfunctional relationships and the different meanings of home. Brought to life by a powerful cast and impressive creative and production teams, Fordham’s rendition is a must-see.

The play follows the journey of Hiro Rose (Lynn Masako Cheng, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’27), a Kentucky-disgracing, Japanese-American New York transplant who has proudly built an independent life and routine for herself in the Big Apple. Though she is estranged from her family in the South, Hiro thrusts herself on a plane back home with the ambition — much to the distaste of her therapist, Larry (Matt Bowen, FCLC ’25) — of stopping her sister Sophie’s wedding.

Sophie (Zoe Manarel, FCLC ’27) has devoted herself to being a born-again Christian and gets engaged to Da’Ran (Abdur Ibrahim, FCLC ’26), who she’s only known for six months. This news sends Hiro into an anxious frenzy, so she tries to convince Sophie to leave Kentucky and move to New York.

Cheng’s high-energy performance, fueled by humor and intentionality, brought a fierce Hiro to life. Cheng and Manarel’s connection was a melodramatic and honest ode to sisterhood. Manarel performed with a sugary Southern drawl, but her confrontations as Sophie carried a weight that indicated a clear history with every other character.

Beyond the sisterly reunion, Hiro must also revisit her tumultuous relationship with her father, James (Alexander Shayeb, FCLC ’25) and strained relationship with her mother, Masako (Caroline Ketcham, FCLC ’26). Shayeb dominated the stage as James with his booming voice. His strong choices ignited bold responses which set the familial

conflict in motion. Contrastingly, Ketcham softened the atmosphere through Masako’s sincere benevolence and evoked compassion in the audience during her moments of heart-wrenching maternal distress.

Amid the drama, ViVi Aiello, FCLC ’25, playing Hiro’s childhood cat named Sylvie, alleviated the familial tension with lovable sass and meaningful meows.

Trudy Cohen, FCLC ’27, also delivered a mischievously comical performance as Grandma. The way she portrayed the aged woman who was full of life. Grandma, despite relying on her cane, maintained a youthful and spunky personality.

Da’Ran’s parents, the devoutly religious Amy (Chandler Ryan, FCLC ’27) and Ernest (T-4 Harris, FCLC ’27), completely foil the dysfunctionality of the Rose family through their unwavering warmth and charm.

Reconnecting with her family for the first time in seven years, Hiro struggles to navigate her Japanese-American identity, as it entangles with the grievances she has with her parents.

During a panel discussion with Fordham students on Nov.

7, playwright Winkler expressed how Hiro’s story mirrored elements of her own life, such as her biracial identity and understanding of Christianity.

Winkler was born in Kamakura, Japan, but moved to Lexington, Kentucky, when she was six years old.

“Something that impacted me deeply was that I had these two extreme identities that were in opposition to each other. In Japan, I was a child model for my ‘Western looks,’ and then in Kentucky, I was like ‘the Asian girl,’” Winkler said.

Winkler also said that there was a clash of her Japanese and American identities.

“In order to retreat into myself and for self-care, I started writing a lot,” Winkler said. “Writing just saves my life.”

Winkler fused her real, lived circumstances with theatrical imagination in “Kentucky,” creating an entrancing, relatable experience.

“I don’t transcribe my life,” she said. But, while at her own sister’s wedding, “I feel like I grew. I feel like I understand my sister better. So, I started writing emotionally from that place.”

Much like Hiro and Sophie’s story, when Winkler attended her sister’s wedding, she experienced religion in a new way.

“God was portrayed as this beautiful, non-discriminatory, just ‘God is love’ vibe. And I was like, ‘Oh, I completely misunderstood her.’ She went into religion the same way I went into art,” Winkler said. Religion to Winkler’s sister is what art is to Winkler; a form of healing from trauma.

Such empathetic revelations are the beating heart of this play.

Fordham’s production not only encapsulates this love beautifully, but the performers share it generously with the audience, too.

Hiro’s reconnection with her high school classmates Nicole (Sophia Funicello, FCLC ’27), Laura (Ada Holmes, FCLC ’26) and Adam (Kamau Nosakhere, FCLC ’25) depict the love that Hiro missed out on when she cut ties with Kentucky.

Nosakhere poured his heart out onstage in his portrayal of Hiro’s love interest. His earnest line delivery radiated hope and a palpable adoration of Kentucky. Hiro’s restlessness and Adam’s tenderness meet each other so

intensely, and Nosakhere and Cheng’s dynamic was passionately executed.

Yen’s direction, with assistant direction by Mariana Miranda, FCLC ’27, staged gorgeous scenes. Their leadership propelled an upbeat pacing which heightened the stakes of the plot and then allowed the audience to soak in every purposeful pause that arose.

The cast seemed to delight in working together as an ensemble, and their movements on stage, featuring jubilant choreography by Natalia Guedes, FCLC ’25, were enhanced by the scenic and lighting design. The thoughtful design complemented each other with a sense of recognizable naturalism and splashes of magical realism.

From the pastel yellow walls and floral detailing of James and Masako’s home, to the paper-lantern-lined walls of the church, scenic designers Yi-Hsuan (Ant) Ma and Yun Yen bring Kentucky to life with a sense of warmth and careful attention to detail.

The lighting design by Associate Professor of design and production Chad McArver and Luke Willson, FCLC ’25, added depth and dimension not only to the stage, but to the plot as well. Some notable moments include lights that glided across the stage to resemble car headlights whizzing past, and the darkness of the night that enveloped Hiro and Adam when they climbed onto a roof. The twinkling starlight in the sky made the actors’ eyes glimmer.

Every element of the show contributed to the themes in “Kentucky.”

“It can be fantastical and strange, but it can also be very grounded and painful,” Cheng said. “And I think that’s what life is. I think that’s why the play feels so universal. It doesn’t matter if you’re Japanese or from the South. Anyone can relate to the feeling of leaving your home and coming to a new place.”

The night concluded in a standing ovation as the cast of “Kentucky” took their opening night bows. They were met with overwhelming laughter, tears and soulful applause — a successful Fordham Theatre production indeed.

To come home to “Kentucky,” audiences can attend performances through Nov. 23.

COURTESY OF CASON DOYLE
Fordham Theatre’s mainstage play “Kentucky” explores themes of identity and dysfunctional bonds through a young woman reconnecting with her estranged family in the South.
COURTESY OF CASON DOYLE
The protagonist, Hiro (Lynn Masako Cheng, FCLC ’27), rushes back to her home in Kentucky when she hears that her sister (Zoe Manarel, FCLC ’27) is about to be married.

Splinter Group’s ‘Spring Awakening’ Explores Creativity in the Eyes of Tragedy

Taking a deeper look into the creative process of the Fordham

On Nov. 14 and 15, Fordham Lincoln Center’s musical theatre club Splinter Group performed “Spring Awakening,” a comingof-age punk rock musical set in 19th-century Germany. The show covers the yearnings of teenagers growing up in a society that wants to suppress their longings.

“I would say that instantly when I read the script and listened to the music I was hooked on the show,” Olivera Darden, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, the director of “Spring Awakening” and president of Splinter Group, said.

The songs in the musical take the audience outside of the setting and give a deeper look into these universal truths and feelings that the characters experience within the show rather than furthering the plot. The themes of the show include censorship, sexuality, religion and abuse. How did Splinter’s cast and production team plan on grappling with these mature themes on stage and in the rehearsal room?

Hunter said that her experience in intimacy coordination and acting aptly prepared her for her newest role within the Splinter Group.

The original production of “Spring Awakening” stunned audiences with the balance between the portrayal of intense emotions and graphic scenes. Splinter worked with the Office of Student Involvement to ensure that the production followed Fordham’s guidelines on graphic content and protects the integrity of the actors.

“We’ve had very tremendous support from the Office of Student Involvement but that was my first question. How much are we going to have to censor?” Hayes Hunter, FCLC ’27, intimacy coordinator of “Spring Awakening,” said.

Hunter was trained in intimacy coordination at her high school, which was near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). David Navalinsky, the director of Undergraduate Studies in the Dramatic Art Department at UNC, gave lessons at Hunter’s high school defining intimacy coordination and how to teach intimacy practices. Hunter said that her experience in intimacy coordination and acting aptly prepared her for her newest role within the Splinter Group. Her job is integral to the safety and comfort of the students. Also, her responsibility is to maintain the authenticity of the text through these intimacy practices

One of the main characters of the show is Melchoir. Alex Vargas, FCLC ’26, played Melchoir, a teenage boy that rejects all religious influence and explores his sexuality to the distress of his peer, Moritz and Wendla. Vargas said that the balance between the script’s integrity and the actors’ comfort made “Spring Awakening” come alive.

“We’re bridging a gap between those guidelines and then also an authentic performance, where we’re doing justice to the content and the audience in putting on such an important work where the intimacy and graphic content are essential to the plot,” Vargas

said. The intimate scenes are essential to the plot, which means that the creative team made decisions based on the comfort level of Fordham’s administration and the actors’ that participate in these scenes. Hunter and Darden ensured safe, consensual practices in the rehearsal room and tried to “desexualize” the process. This means that Hunter and Darden utilized methods that helped the actors express their limitations and boundaries during the rehearsal process. Actors identify places on their body that are gates and fences. A gate is somewhere they do not want to be touched, but are open to exploring within the context of a scene. Fences are hard boundaries and an open gate is a place where they are completely okay with being touched. One actor will express their gates and fences to the other and will have it repeated back to them to acknowledge their understanding of and respect for each other’s boundaries.

“Every time we do anything with intimacy, even if it’s just the next day, they review their boundaries because people’s boundaries aren’t the same every day,” Hunter said.

Consensual practices and reinforced boundaries were essential to ensuring the success of the show and protecting the cast members. The scenes explored sexual and harmful acts, ones that some people in the audience may not have experience with. That’s the shock value of “Spring Awakening.” The portrayal of such normal aspects of life as we know it, but might not have the space to explore or discuss can be jarring.

The original development of “Spring Awakening” was similarly attentive, according to the late professor of theater history at Fordham, Morgan Jenness, who was interviewed for their unique insight into this production, prior to her death.

The cast is tasked with grappling with the weight of these tragedies. Many of them have realized the importance of the show in today’s society and what it means to bring this story to Fordham.

Jenness, who tragically died on Nov. 12, served as a dramaturg on the original development of “Spring Awakening.” They were a revered figure in the New York City theater scene and inspired many students.

As a dramaturg, Jenness said that she helped contextualize the story of “Spring Awakening” within its setting. When adapting a work into a musical, everyone involved with the show’s creation needs to understand the cultural and historical significance of the production. They worked with the creative team on maintaining the cultural and historical meanings of the original play as they adapted the work and developed the show so all cast and crew understood the necessary context. Jenness helped them balance the controversial with the necessary within the scope of the show’s setting and circumstances.

“It is normative, it’s society that spins it as not being normal,” Jenness said.

Although the scenes may be

theatre troupe’s production

considered controversial when viewed on stage, they are essential to understanding the harm a repressive society can do to teenagers. The show was set during a time in Germany where Lutheranism had taken hold of society and education. The show does not necessarily portray religious influence on youth in a positive light. Yet, the cast chose to approach the topic of religious censorship in the show with an open mind. Another teenager in the show is Ilse, a teenage girl who runs away from her abusive household to live in an artists’ colony. Sylvia Sonenstein, FCLC ’27, portrays Ilse and said that there is sensitivity in the way they approach the religious themes in “Spring Awakening” as well.

“Not just assuming it’s all positive or assuming it’s all negative, really taking in all of the aspects of what religion can do for and to a person,” Sonenstein said. Ilse runs away from her problems at home to an idealized world in which she faces the same issues. She learns that no matter how hard you try to run away from your problems, they will always follow you. Melchior runs away from the Church to find a greater understanding, only to find tragedy and unimaginable loss. The cast was tasked with grappling with the weight of these tragedies. Many of them realized the importance of the show in today’s society and what it means to bring this story to Fordham.

“We all are one in some way

and finding a way to see that in your everyday life and empathize with the people around you is the only way to really truly live a life that is fulfilling and encourages progress in our society,” Sonenstein said.

In Fordham’s Jesuit yet academic environment, exposing the audience to experiences outside of their bubble while also being realistic is what these players said they wanted to make this show.

“I hope that with the show’s ending, people walk away hopeful in the new generation,” Darden said.

This article was written prior to the death of Professor Morgan Jenness on Nov. 12, age 72.

SABRINA OLIVERI/THE OBSERVER
Splinter Group’s latest production “Spring Awakening,” ran on Nov. 14 and 15. The play touches on themes of grief and tragedy.
SABRINA OLIVERI/THE OBSERVER
Alex Vargas, FCLC ’26, and Tala Fatemi, FCLC ’28, starred in “Spring Awakening,” Splinter Group’s latest production.
SABRINA OLIVERI/THE OBSERVER
Izzy Mckee, FCLC ’27, plays Moritz Stiefel in Splinter Group’s “Spring Awakening.”

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