SPORTS
FEATURES
MEN’S SOCCER
WORD OF MOUTH
Seniors lead Rams to victory over La Salle. PAGE 19
A Features Editor tries some vegan dishes uptown. PAGE 16
THE OBSERVER www.fordhamobserver.com
NOVEMBER 3, 2011 VOLUME XXX, ISSUE 12
PHOTO FEATURE
Residents Frustrated With Internet Speed By KATHRENE BINAG and REX SAKAMOTO Contributing Writer and Staff Writer
Many residents of McMahon Hall at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) have expressed disappointment with the wireless Internet. Students will be surfing the web and suddenly their Internet connection will drop. Residents claim that especially at night from around 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. their Internet slows to a snail’s pace speeds or will even come to a complete halt. Despite these complaints, most residents choose not to report technical problems to the Fordham Information Technology (IT) department. “I’m essentially used to it,” Tyler Wilson, FCLC ’12, said. “Generally, the wireless Internet is really slow and there’s trouble with doing stuff quickly. But, I’m a senior and I’ve been dealing with it for four years already.” Similarly, James Bartholomew, FCLC ’15, said, “Wi-Fi essentially went to a screeching halt during midterms when everyone needed it, but I just sucked it up.” In response to these Wi-Fi problems Deirdre Dillon, director of student technology services, said, “We are aware that students are having difficulty with the WiFi here in [McMahon] Hall, but we have only received four tickets [formal complaints] pertaining to the wireless. If this many people are having problems we should be getting 500 complaints.” In response to students’ general lack of being proactive in voicing Internet issues, Mark McNeil, director of network engineering and operations in Fordham IT, said, “If see INTERNET pg.2
AYER CHAN/THE OBSERVER
In the chaos of New York City, Observer photographers capture bench scenes that reveal a more soothing side to the city.
Amnesty International Meeting Occupies Lowenstein By LAURA CHANG News Editor
The international “Occupy” movement hit Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) when Amnesty International held its first Occupy Lowenstein town hall meeting on Oct. 27. Amnesty International also raised concerns of police brutality when they facilitated a discussion that prompted students to uncover the meaning behind Occupy Wall Street (OWS). Members at the meeting questioned whether protestors would sustain strength as winter arrives. The club planned on sponsoring the Robin Hood Tax March on Oct. 29 in New York City, but due
to the unexpected winter weather conditions, the event was cancelled. Sogand Afkari, FCLC ’12 and president of Amnesty International, said that the Robin Hood tax would add a one percent increase to taxes on business transactions around the world. Afkari said that students can still support the protest online. “We’ll be keeping the movement alive through the Internet,” Afkari said. The town hall meeting at Fordham gathered students of various backgrounds and political beliefs. Some of those in attendance had gone down to the protest site and others had yet to check it out. Charlie Martin, FCLC ’14 and
secretary of Amnesty International, said, “We wanted to host a dialogue on [Occupy Wall Street] to allow a platform for the Fordham community to share experiences, information and opinions.” Martin said that the goal was to attract a significant number of people to the event and to have “a meaningful rapport.” Martin said that although the idea to create an occupation of a space at Fordham was influenced by OWS, it was the Tea Party movement that caused the club to hold a town hall meeting. “Obviously these two movements are quite different, but they seem to be construed by the media as polarized groups,” Martin said. “I saw
the linking of these two [concepts] as a gesture of unity and dialogue.” In addition, Amnesty International felt it was important to raise awareness about the Scott Olsen police brutality case. Olsen, a twotime Iraqi marine and war veteran, was critically injured after policemen threw a tear gas canister that hit his head on Oct. 25 during Occupy Oakland. “This is a really unfortunate example of police brutality on protestors,” Afkari said. “We’re going to definitely continue exposing the Scott Olsen case and promoting the accountability of Oakland see AMNESTY pg. 3
ARTS & CULTURE
Inside OPINIONS
IRAQ
The troops are coming home. u PAGE 4
ARTS & CULTURE
CMJ
Music marathon draws crowds. u PAGE 9
NEWS
DISTRACTIONS
Is media helpful for studying? u PAGE 3
Poets Out Loud Moves to Lincoln Center for 20th Anniversary By BRIAN BRUEGGE Asst. Arts & Culture Editor
The Poets Out Loud (POL) Reading Series held its special 20th anniversary poetry reading on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the David Rubinstein Atrium of Lincoln Center. J.D. McClatchy, one of the poets featured at the event remarked that POL has now lasted “more than four times longer than the average American marriage,” an impressive accomplishment. The event marked the first time a POL event was held at a Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts venue. Frank Boyle, associate chair of the Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)
English department and one of POL’s founders, saw the occasion as a step forward for the reading series. “We have always seen ourselves as Lincoln Center’s place for poetry,” Boyle said. The evening consisted of several live poetry readings as well as a musical performance of “That Lonesome Whistle,” a three-part song cycle created by FCLC English professor Lawrence Kramer. Julie Sheehan, whose book “Thaw” won the 2001 POL prize, began the evening by reading a selection of poems from the book as well as her most recent book, “Bar Book: Poems and Otherwise.” Following Sheehan, Lawrence Kramer introduced his musical cycle.
THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM COLLEGE AT LINCOLN CENTER
The three poems were written with the explicit intent to be accompanied by music. Following Kramer’s readings of the poems, they were performed in operatic fashion by Clarissa Lyons accompanied on piano by Julia Den Boer. The music brought new and varied emotion to the words, at times somber and melodic, other times filling with a frantic energy. McClatchy, another accomplished poet who was selected to judge the first POL prize, read a combination of his own work and the works of others. McClatchy’s poetry carried an Eastern affectation, incorporating a Japanese see POETS OUT LOUD pg.13
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News
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
Briefs METRO
NYC To Pay 70 Million For Medicaid Suit On Oct. 31, it was announced that New York City will pay the federal government a total of 70 million dollars to settle a lawsuit with Medicaid. The lawsuit accused the city of over-billing Medicaid and not approving their home care for their clients. According to the New York Times, the City acknowledged that there was several things that Medicaid didn’t do such as sending independent medical reviews in their settlement.
Woman Injured By Shopping Cart According to CBS News, on Nov 1., two 12-year-olds pushed a shopping cart off a fourth floor walkway in Harlem’s shopping plaza. The shopping cart went over th walkway and hit a woman in the head. The victim is in critical but stable condition and the two boys are charged with felony assault and misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon.
Macy’s Announces Renovation Plans On Nov. 1, Macy’s announced plans to renovate its flagship location at Herald Square in Manhattan. According to CBS news, the company plans to spend about 400 million dollars over the next four years to expand their store. The renovations will begin in early spring 2012 and will add 100,000 square feet of selling space. The store will remain open during these renovations. NATIONAL
Unite States Cuts Funding For UNESCO According to CNN, the United States will cut funding to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization (UNESCO). The decision was made by the U.S State Department on Oct.31 after the agency voted to accept a Palestinian bid for full membership. The U.S will also refrain from making any contributions to UNESCO.
Herman Cain Explains Harassment Charges On Oct. 31, Herman Cain announced details he remembered from a sexual harassment incident he was accused of, CBS news reports. Prior to this, Cain formally denied the sexual harassment charges against him. Now, he is remembering an incident with a woman in his office. He states that he was only touching her chin to compare her height to his wife’s. He also confirmed that he gave her money, about two or three months salary. INTERNATIONAL
Government Collapses in Greece According to the New York Times, on Nov. 1, the Greek government fell into chaos and collapsed. The collapse will most likely delay the debt deal agreed in Brussels earlier. The collapse was after Prime Minister George Papandreou called for a popular referendum on the new debt deal. The announcement of the referendum was a major surprise to all the lawmakers.
Seven Billionth Baby Born The United Nations announced that Oct. 31 was the day that the seven billionth baby was born. According to CBS News, some demographers are skeptical of the actual mark day, but the United Nations symbolically announced Oct. 31 to be the day. All around the world, festivals were held celebrating the phenomenal number. Compiled by Sara Azoulay
www.fordhamobserver.com
Hotline Launched For Wall Street Residents By RICHARD RAMSUNDAR Staff Writer
As the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement continues to gain momentum in Zuccotti Park, complaints of noise and sanitation have increased. This prompted city councilwoman, Margaret Chin, to create the 24-hour hotline called Quality of Life on Oct. 19, allowing local residents to call a representative of the hotline and make complaints about the protest’s affects. Eddy Davis, a local protestor, said, “Noise is a small price to pay.” He said that when there are so many people passionate about a cause, it can get a bit noisy. According to Han Shan, representative of the Quality of Life hotline, residents near Zuccotti Park are fed up. Some protestors who have brought their drums play them loudly during the day. As of Nov. 1, Shan said that many residents see the loud drumming as a disturbance, asking the community board to limit the drumming to be between the hours of noon and 4 p.m. Although time contstraints are placed on the drummers, the hotline continuously receives complaints, Shan said. “Residents of the area have complained about noise since construction began at Ground Zero.” In addition to the noise levels, sanitation was also an issue for residents. Lauren Minis, local protestor, said, “Sanitation is complex because people here are residents, workers, visitors and tourists. We want to build a tight relationship with the community so we’re listening to their complaints, acknowledging their demands, recycling and cleaning.” Minis said that she held various pep rallies to spur people on as they swept up garbage and collected trash. Many of the people brought cleaning
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
Protestors continue to occupy the space of Wall Street despite the complaints of nearby residents.
supplies such as brooms, mops and paper towels. They also covered the campsites and laundry area with tarps to protect the material from rain and dust. In addition to cleaning, a group of people set up tables and gave out homemade sandwiches, fruits and soup. The kitchen coordinator, said, “We do a deep cleaning of the area and the kitchen twice a week. We make sure anything that can be recycled is recycled.” People from different areas of New York City and the tri-state area have
set up campsites near the perimeter of the square. Some of these protestors chose to stay anonymous, and instead just stated their first name and the state they are from. John from Michigan said, “I’m here to support the environment and help clean up.” Jayline from Vermont said, “Although we’ve only been here for a day or two, living here is doable. There are people constantly cleaning up and picking up trash.” Fordham students like Jaime Rodriguez, FCLC ’14, believed that more
students should get involved with preserving the protest space, she said, “This is a big moment in history. There have been many developments and the people are taking care of the area.” In addition to these local complaints, protestors at OWS were also asked to follow a Good Neighbor Policy. The policy does not permit OWS protestors to use drugs and alcohol, say violent words, abuse physical or personal property, drum for more than two hours each day, litter or harass the public.
Fordham IT Wants Feedback on Internet INTERNET FROM PAGE 1
students have been experiencing problems with the Internet, they should have talked to IT. Our job is to provide our students with the Internet service they deserve.” This past year McNeil said that FCLC’s wireless uses state of the art infrastructure. FCLC’s bandwidth was even expanded to 750 megabytes per second (MBps) even though the data usage monitor shows that students and faculty use a maximum of 400 (MBps). According to AT&T, an Internet service provider, the average Web page is about 20-30 kilobytes Kb. In one megabyte there is 1000 Kb, so this means that in one megabyte (MB) approximately 30-40 Web pages can be surfed. A five minute youtube video will consume about 10-20 MB depending on the quality of the video. Patricia Hu, FCLC ’15, expressed her frustration with the Internet saying, “I live on the sixth floor in McMahon and sometimes a video I’m trying to watch on the Internet will start buffering, which will take as long as a few hours. Usually I go outside of McMahon to use the Internet, like in the library or the lobby.” McNeil acknowledges that there is a problem but does not think it is in the wiring. “We need to know what students are doing when they have a problem. Are they on YouTube, downloading from iTunes, or accessing the [Fordham] Portal?” McNeil said. “Also we need to know how many devices each student uses. Usually they have a smart phone, a tablet device and computer.” McNeil also explained that, while location is sometimes a problem with reception, this tends to be on a case-by-case basis. The way the access points are set up there should be more than enough space for multiple users to receive In-
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AYER CHAN/THE OBSERVER
Residents in McMahon Hall are frustrated with the Internet speed when they are in their dorm rooms.
ternet without any complications. Each access point is designed to accomodate 25-30 users before data speeds are compromised. Places with poor reception tend to be near the stairwells or by the elevators. This is because large metal objects tend to obstuct the radio waves from the wireless router (Wi-Fi transmitter). One of the workers at Privatel (the company Fordham employs for its ca-
beling), suggested an easy way to boost reception is to open the door between the bedroom and the living room, which would eliminate another obstruction to the radio waves. If students continue to have problems, the IT department ask that they come report it. This way they are better able to serve the students. Students can email the help desk at helpdesk@fordham.
edu or notify their Resident Technology Consultants (RTCs). “As the Director of Student Technology Services I am totally focused on our students’ experience with technology and you have my commitment that I will be personally following up with the RTCs and the network staff to improve the wireless connectivity issues in McMahon Hall,” Dillon said.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER November 3, 2011
Media Devices Distract Students In Quinn
News
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Calendar THUR., NOV. 3
By ESTHER FERNANDO Staff Writer
Many students use Quinn Library at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) to study, but are often distracted by technology devices. Students often find themselves browsing their accounts on social media sites or texting their friends. According to a study published by the University of Washington on Oct. 12, entitled “How College Students Manage Technology While in the Library During Crunch Time,” there are 10 major findings. The first point mentioned in the article was that “during one of the busiest times of the academic year,” students used different technological devices to stay in touch with their friends. John Cecero, psychology professor at Fordham, described social media as being an addictive process: “It draws you in from one place to another. It appeals to deep a seeded psychological need for attention and recognition and provides immediate gratification of needs that can be highly addictive.” Marya Banu, FCLC ’15, said, “I always have two windows open, one for my mail and another for my Facebook.” Another point in the study was that many of the respondents who have checked for messages also prepared assignments, studied and conducted computer researches of their own personal interests, including sports and gossip. However, not all students at Fordham use their phones and laptops to check social media when they study in the library. Micha Green, FCLC ’13, said that she is at the library “solely” to study and leaves her phone in her dorm. “I do keep Gmail open, but that’s just for studying purposes,” Green
Molimo Dinner Outing 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Kaz An Nou
Falltopia Carnival 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Student Lounge & Cafeteria Atrium
CSA’s Taboo Night 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Student Lounge FRI., NOV. 4
Rainbow Alliance’s BiCampus Mixer 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. McMahon 109
SOL Dinner Outing 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.. Tierras Colombiana Restaurant MON., NOV. 7
Rainbow Alliance Spotlight 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Student Lounge TUE., NOV. 8
MSA Movie Screening of the Kite Runner PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FATIMA SHABBIR/THE OBSERVER
Students in the library use their laptops and cellular phones to check Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
said. “I have to stay focused when I am in the library. The study also found that most of the respondents considered themselves light technology users, or users who used only few devices for their coursework. Of the study, only six percent were heavy technology users. Banu said, “I consider myself a light technology user. I don’t text anymore, I just use my laptop for school, sending messages and checking my mail.” One interesting way in students used social media sites is to coordinate meetings with fellow classmates while engaging in class work,
according to the study. Ashley Misir, FCLC ’15, said, “I use media sites like Facebook to plan last-minute study meetings with my friends.” The study mentioned that “social media sites, such as Facebook, online forums and YouTube are used to create new studying and learning practices. In these cases, sites were used out of intellectual curiosity and/or to excel in courses or grasp course material they did not fully understand.” Misir said that she used YouTube to help better explain topics which she doesn’t have a clear understanding. As for cramming, many students
found themselves procrastinating for midterms. In addition, Cecero provided an explanation for the reasons why students do so and the consequences that they eventually face. “Social media and other forms of technology provide an idea that can be accessed immediately and this is sometimes productive for cramming.” However, he said, “What’s missing is the time to process the information and to integrate it with other information for finals and you could end up with superficial material and detract from quality of response.”
4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Student Lounge
CSA & RHA Dinner Outing 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Max Brenner WED., NOV. 9
ISIS Movie Screening of The Kids Are Alright 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. Student Lounge THUR., NOV. 10
CSA Coffee Break 12:30 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Student Lounge FRI., NOV. 11
CAC Smokeout Party 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Cafeteria Atrium FRI., NOV. 11
Council Names Senior Dean And Discusses University Plans By ANTHONY GONG Staff Writer
Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’s College Council addressed various topics at its meeting on Oct. 27, which included the announcement that a new dean of Seniors at FCLC has been selected. The council also discussed the university’s plans for full-time faculty teaching the core curriculum and an early admission to the Master of Arts (M.A.) program in theology to funds for undergraduate research. The council reviewed affairs to oversee the university’s well-being for its students and faculty. The Rev. Robert R. Grimes, S.J., dean of FCLC, announced that Joseph Creamer, a graduate from Providence College who received a doctorate in history from the University of Washington, is expected to begin his term as assistant dean for seniors at FCLC the week of Oct. 29. “Everyone was very impressed with him,” Grimes said. Grimes also said that one of the significant focuses for the university this year is adding more faculty members and lecturers to teach the core curriculum. He said that with the new building on campus scheduled to finish by 2014, an immense number of students will be coming to FCLC in the following years. “While everyone is so focused on the present, I’m talking about the future here,” Grimes said. “The faculty will expand [at] Lincoln Center. There is no question.” With members of the board debating about whether to hire more lecturers or adjuncts, many feel that FCLC will still be short-handed. The council said that it believes it is essential for FCLC to increase its faculty staff since several professors are sent to Rose Hill without notice of who will return. “I know in my own department that the full-time faculty should be teaching the introductory courses
because that’s how you get [students] to sign up for other classes later on,” Grimes said. “The focus is to have more undergraduates on campus.” The implementation of early admission for a masters program in the theology department was another topic addressed. The board said that they felt there was potential in this and now is the time to take the initiative. The new M.A. degree is designed for students who want to teach religion in Catholic schools. According to Karina Hogan, associate chair of the theology department, the sudden need for an early admission came when multitudes of students were starting to take greater interest in theology. “We saw a big increase for people in this major,” Hogan said. “Basically, it’s bringing more people into the existing program.” At the meeting, the council also discussed funding for undergraduate research. Students were given the opportunity to present their findings in order to receive aid. John Seitz, professor of American Catholic studies and theology, said that provisions are available through “mechanisms” like the summer grants. These types of aid provide students compensation for research, both domestic and foreign. While some on the council said that they felt as if they are making improvements with the school’s current situation, one student disagrees with some of the proposals. Jeffrey Cipriano, FCLC’ 14, attended the College Council meeting and said that his biggest complaint was the lack of transparency between students and faculty members. “I felt like a lot of things didn’t affect the students directly,” Cipriano said. “To me, there really wasn’t anything that seemed critical. I wish the faculty explicitly explained these things to us in greater detail because the students’ opinions are huge.”
FCLC Contributes to Wall Sreet Protests AMNESTY FROM PAGE 1
police.” Students like Pia Desangles, FCLC ’14, who stayed over Zuccotti Park during the very early stages of the protest, witnessed when the ground rules of the protest were being laid out. She described the protest as being different because it is a movement that is “stronger for not having a specific message.” How long the protest will last remains a mystery, but Desangles said that there are people who feel that winter will prove detrimental to the movement. Desangles, who networked while at the protest, said that she met journalists from “Democracy Now,” a daily television and radio program. “The connections you make are the most important because what if the winter does break it up? I’ll still be getting emails from them.” Nicholas Giordano, FCLC ’14, said that he has not gone to the protest site, but after the town hall meeting, he plans on visiting soon. “This meeting has made me imagine what’s really going on there and at first I was just scared and concerned. Now I have more respect for it.” Although Amnesty International cancelled the Robin Hood Tax March trip, snowfall did not stop Emmanuel Pardilla, FCLC ’14, from attending the march on Oct. 29. “Due to the conditions, the march was carried out by, literally, a handful of protestors,” Pardilla said. “I am for the Robin Hood Tax because, for the most part, that would mean taxing the rich.”
Pardilla was at the town hall meeting and shared about his involvement with “Occupy Wall Street en Espanol,” a group that helps translate “ The Occupied Wall Street Journal Newspaper” into Spanish. “We have a table in the park where we have people answering questions pertaining to the movement to our Spanish speaking [brothers and sisters],” he said. Pardilla said that Occupy Wall Street is not just a movement, but also a platform. He said that the Latino and African American communities are some of the most oppressed communities in America. “We are here to represent them so that they can relate to this struggle against a system that has oppressed the 99 percent,” he said. Both Afkari and Martin have gone to OWS and shared their view of the movement. Afkari said that Occupy Wall Street is a global issue. The continuation of the movement when winter arrives depends on how much patience and perseverance protestors have to deal with the weather. “I don’t personally have the confidence that people will still camp out there, but the movement will definitely continue,” she said. Martin said, “It made me appreciate the efforts of the movement in a really concrete way, despite the fact that I still have mixed feelings about the Occupy movement. I would recommend anyone who is curious to go down to the financial district and check it out for themselves.”
MESA Dinner Outing 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Zerza
SOL Movie Screening of Motorcycle Diaries 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Student Lounge Compiled by Laura Chang
Crime TUE., NOV. 1 At 8 a.m., a student was grabbed by two unidentified males causing her iPhone to drop when exiting the Metro North train station at E Fordham Road and Third Avenue. One of the perpetrators picked up the phone while the other pushed her to the side. The two males then fled the scene. The student is not injured and MTA Police are investigating. MON., OCT. 31 In the first incident, on Monday, October 31, 2011, at approximately 6:20 pm, at the corner of E. Fordham Road and Third Avenue one of our students while walking in the street was approached by an unidentified male who pushed her, grabbed her iPhone and fled the scene. Our student was not injured. FRI., OCT. 21 At approximately 1 a.m., a student reported that she was the victim of a grand larceny inside the vestibule of 2491 Belmont Avenue. The NYPD responded and is investigating. At about 10:50 a.m., a student exited the bus at E. Fordham Road and Bathgate Avenue when he was approached by a male who kicked him in the leg and demanded his iPod. The student was able to retain his property and the perpetrator fled the scene. The NYPD was notified. Taken From Security Alerts
Opinions
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
STAFF EDITORIAL
I
REGISTRATION WOES
t’s that time of year again when we have to register for spring classes. While liberating for some seniors, it’s mainly a hassle that leaves many of us wondering how our perfect schedules never seem to work out. Weeks before that 7 a.m. deadline, we craft our flawless schedules, looking for the best (easiest) professors, ideal (after 10 a.m.) times and convenient (five-day weekends) days. We factor in our jobs, internships and commuting times. For some it’s more about the schedule than the class; for others it’s more about the anticipated grade than the professor. Regardless of our motivation when setting our schedules, we hope to able to register for classes without hindrance. But time and time again, that doesn’t seem to be the case. As Rex Sakamotoand Kathrene Binag’s article “Residents Frustrated With Internet Speed” on page one notes, the Internet in McMahon Hall is not at the level it should be. Students often
There should be an easier system in place that allows us to know what classes we’re able to take...before 7 a.m. panic kicks in.
encounter long waits when going online, and during registration, some were unable to access the MyFordham portal for periods of time. Wireless Internet on campus must be a priority—it’s how we access class readings, write papers and interact. A delay in wireless service delays registering, which not only raises student stress level but results in missed opportunities for great classes. Even if the Internet were up to par, registering for classes is, more often than not, a challenge. All over Facebook students yell about classes they weren’t able to register for and classes they didn’t
realize they’d need special permission to join. There should be an easier system in place that allows us to know what classes we’re able to take and at which campus before 7 a.m. panic kicks in. Enrolling in Rose Hill and Gabelli School of Business classes repeatedly proves problematic for students. If there was clearer communication among departments about dates and prerequisites, additional student frustrations could be avoided. Every semester we email professors, deans—anyone we can find to make sure we get into a class. If something was in place before the mayhem of registration week, if we knew which classes would be blocked, which Rose Hill classes we can and cannot take, when we can register for certain ones—things would run more efficiently and smoothly. Plotting a semester of classes is time consuming and detailed, it’s something we work hard on getting right. We expect the school to honor that by providing clearer information and better wireless service.
Troops are Coming Home: Life Without Iraq on the Forefront ALISSA FAJEK Contributing Writer
For as long as most of us can remember, our nation has been at war. As a generation, we grew up in an “age of terror,” so to speak. Since before most of us even hit double digits, our troops have been in Iraq fighting the “War on Terror.” It has been accepted as commonplace for nearly a decade, and as of Dec. 31, it will all come to an end. To think of the war in Iraq ending is utterly mind blowing and honestly, relieving. In the war’s early stages, a new wave of patriotism and pride in our nation took over the home front: “Support Our Troops” bumper stickers stuck to every car and American flags rose high in front of buildings and homes. Children participated in drives where they made care packages for soldiers. We were taught to honor them, and care about them. We were made aware that we should do all we could to help them survive and to pray that they come home soon. Just what we needed to heal our fractured nation, right? Maybe not. In fact, this may have fractured our nation even further, seemingly causing a great divide. This war birthed a whole new batch of prejudices, hostility, terror and fear. People became obsessed with stereotypes, fearing anyone of a Muslim background and associating them with terrorists. It seemed as if everyone, even women and children of that culture, was deemed a terrorist. Cities and airports heightened security, which instilled even more fear in the American public. Through the years, this fear didn’t fade. People may have lost the strong pride that they had in the months following the attacks of Sept. 11th, but the hostility persists unfortunately. Even last year there was an astronomical debate over the building of the Muslim Community Center near Ground Zero. Critics called it “un-American” to allow such an establishment to be built, believing
ALLEN J. SCHABUT/LOS ANGELES TIMES/MCT
Soldiers who have spent many a holiday in Iraq without their families will finally be able to rest easy and come home this year.
it was dangerous to allow Muslim worship to occur so close to the site of the Sept. 11 attacks. It was as if all Muslims were responsible for Sept. 11 and the war in Iraq. For our generation, we grew up with this war, which also means we were brought up with this hostility, fear and prejudice. We are a generation that is about change. We are so much more open and accepting as a culture than any other before, especially here in NYC, one of the most diverse cities in the world. In fact, many of us go out of our way to try and be different than the norm. It’s accepted to be “different.” But with an upbringing in such
a hateful and discriminatory age, where profiling is deemed as being okay and even a safety precaution and fear is everywhere, can we ever be as fully accepting as we would like to be? The media put prejudices in our minds without us even realizing it. Until the troops are withdrawn, and there is nothing to fear, we can never be fully free of these prejudices in media, which carry over to our lives. As students of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, we are among one of the most diverse and accepting student bodies. In the midst of all this acceptance, there is this prejudice in our subconscious, even
if we choose to ignore it. We grew up hearing about the stereotyping and profiling of Muslims and Iraqis, and it has stuck with us, bringing us all the way to the end of 2011. This is such an unhealthy society to be brought up in, where certain cultures are not only looked down upon but also actually feared. We were children, we didn’t understand and the press and the nation’s reaction only furthered the terror. On Friday, Oct. 21, President Barack Obama announced that nearly all the American soldiers in Iraq would be brought back home by the end of the year and would most likely be home for the
holidays. At that point in time, he will be able to officially “declare an end to America’s...war in [Iraq].” In the coming months, many families will be blessed to have their prayers finally answered as their loved ones return home. If we could stop our nation’s fighting elsewhere, then our generation could be the first generation of adults to embrace the idea of “peace” in our nation and our prejudices could end. The elderly may not be able to change their ways, but we can. Our children will hopefully grow up in a time where our nation is at war in their history textbooks, not on every news channel.
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THE OBSERVER November 3, 2011
Opinions
5
The Morning Commute: Worthy of a Greek Tragedy GIANMARCO FONGARO
THE OBSERVER Fordham College at Lincoln Center 113 West 60th Street Room 408 New York, New York 10023 Tel: (212) 636-6015 Fax: (212) 636-7047
Editor-in-Chief Faith Heaphy Managing Editor Monique John News Editor Laura Chang Asst. News Editor Sara Azoulay Opinions Editor Colleen Thornhill Arts & Culture Co-Editors Mike Madden Katie Lockhart Asst. Arts & Culture Co-Editor Brian Bruegge Features Co-Editors Mario Weddell Darryl Yu Literary Editor Matt Petronzio Asst. Literary Editor Salma Elmehdawi Literary Staff Zoe Simpson Bianca Leggio Sports Co-Editors Randy Narine Max Wollner Copy Editor Matt Petronzio Asst. Copy Editor Anna Luciano
Staff Writer
The morning routine is like an overture: It sets the tone for the day. Because of my New Jersey commute, from the moment I wake up until the moment my subway train comes howling into my final destination, I am assailed by anxiety. I have to get up early, sacrificing sleep for the commute itself, and I also have to endure the various tortures that a commute entails. As a commuter, because of all these various stresses, I suffer a handicap versus my resident counterparts who can just crawl out of bed stress free and into their classes. The worst part of the commute is the surrender. You must surrender yourself to the will of the schedule. The NJ transit bus or train schedules are not sympathetic to your schedule—they have their own agenda. On Wednesdays and Mondays I arrive at school two hours before class and on Tuesdays and Fridays 45 minutes early, due to the way the train schedule is structured. All that extra time could be better spent sleeping. I don’t need to cite science to tell you sleep is important. If you don’t get a decent night’s sleep, you will feel the lethargy in your bones as though you had just been flogged for days and nights. The NJ Transit train ride is a horror beyond all imagination. Inside the train is a locomotive buffet of humanity’s greatest defects. Before taking a seat, a potpourri of human stench reaches your nostrils which cannot help but flare in protest.
AI ELO/THE OBSERVER
Waiting for the subway is only one of the many ways to ruin a morning.
People bathe in perfume, others have renounced hygiene and some reek of their cuisine. In the morning, trains tend to be crowded, so I’m forced to share seats with others. Some of these people sit spread eagle, occupying far too much legroom. Being encumbered with the weights of manhood, this presents a challenge. In short, this is all a terribly unpleasant experience. I’ve exchanged flirtatious glances with fellow passengers before, but being ogled by people I’ve no interest in is unnerving. Even if you make clear your disinterest, they persist in their staring. These oglers range from crusty spinsters to old Italian trolls in booty shorts with spinach bits in their teeth. If my standards
were so low as to accommodate their lechery, I should end up the Casanova of the rails. To top it off, a jolly train conductor is a rarity; most huff and puff their way up the aisles and snatch the ticket out of your hand as if you were a thief. Then there is the quiet car, which is anything but quiet. For the conductors enforce the “quiet” with noise. It’s counterintuitive, I know, but in spite of this, they blare announcements over the loudspeakers, in frequent intervals I might add, so as to remind us that we are in fact aboard the quiet car. Heaven forbid if anyone is caught on a cellphone or making any noise, for the conductors make such a cacophony in their efforts to silence the culprit that yet
again the objective of the quiet car is undermined. The subways, the inbred cousin of the train, are far worse, for the standards of public decorum have long been abandoned in these underground tunnels. Musicians have the impudence to board the subway train and force sounds into our ears as they bang on pots and pans. Then they have the gall to demand compensation for their racket. Many of them are not even musicians; they are people who just happen to own instruments. Because of the confined space in subways, it is not uncommon to get within a close proximity of these people. At times eye contact is established and this makes it very awkward as they extend their hand and you must make up an excuse as to why you have no money. There are also beggars pleading for change and to see people in such an impoverished state damages my outlook for the day. Some beggars preface their begging with a little speech. I once heard a man shout “I fear nothing, God is my shield.” My hands trembled as I braced myself thinking he was about to explode but it turned out he was just asking for money. There are parallels to be found between the myth of Prometheus and my commute. Prometheus in Greek mythology was punished for giving man the gift of fire and his punishment entailed having his entrails pecked out by a large bird and to have this torture repeated with the coming of the next day. I, like Prometheus, endure a torture and like him, I too, suffer the misfortune of having to wake up and repeat it.
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Opinions
NOVEMBER 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
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Racist Stereotypes Saturate New Show “2 Broke Girls” KAREN LO Staff Writer
I had at least moderately high hopes for the ambitiously campaigned, awfully named “2 Broke Girls,” a new sitcom that debuted this fall on CBS. Although I wasn’t a huge fan of the rather tired premise of a once-rich Upper East Sider latching helplessly to a moody, street-smart Brooklynite, I thought that a show helmed by the typically on-point Kat Dennings had hope. It didn’t take a long time to know that while it wasn’t the absolute wreck it could’ve been, it really wasn’t endearing itself to me, either. The show’s worst offense is not the cliché writing and plot development. It’s the decision to cast two of the supporting characters as one-dimensional shells, whose only contributions to the show are mispronouncing words and reinforcing broad, racist caricatures. First, there is the Asian owner (actor Matthew Moy) of the diner where the girls work. In my sleuthing, I discovered that in an earlier draft of the pilot, he is named “Rice Lee,” but I guess someone at CBS thought it might be a bit much to name their carelessly constructed Asian stereotype after his most easily associated staple food. So instead, they named him Bryce Lee, to drive home the connection to Bruce Lee, legendary
martial arts master and an Asian person, in case we forgot. Lee appears only to bark out orders in broken English, and doesn’t speak in complete sentences, lest that make him seem too put-together. In the few moments when the girls aren’t lamenting their financial woes, they take time to laugh at his poor grasp of English and cluelessness about American culture. Even so, at first I thought, they couldn’t possibly have created a character whose sole purpose is to provide comedic relief by mixing his l’s and r’s. But then I heard him say, “Carorine, better check Facebook page! Maybe someone just post to your warr.” Not only is this line a vehicle to deliver his linguistic struggles, but it diminishes him into begging for the friendship of the well-spoken employee who constantly mocks him. It’s a strange turn for the San Francisco-born actor, who previously played an intern on the final season of “Scrubs” and spoke fluent and unaccented English, I might add. And then there’s Oleg, the greasy short-order cook who hails from somewhere in the Eastern Bloc. He leans suggestively over the stainless steel kitchenware to pout and make unappreciated passes at the girls. Played by American actor Jonathan Kite, Oleg speaks in awkward sentence fragments and seems only to speak so that one of the pretty girls can put him in his place. Luckily, in order to maintain a
COURTESY OF CBS
The shows’ stars Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs play characters with rather closed-minded opinions of their immigrant co-workers.
steady stream of snarky insults, Oleg can’t be deterred. Each time he’s through offering or begging to provide his body for entertainment, he slinks into the background, not to be heard from again until there’s an opportunity for another squirm-inducing double entendre. Not only is it surprising to me that CBS would green-light these two poorly developed, utterly embarrassing characters, it’s also confusing. It bewilders me that this show exists on the same network as “The Big Bang
Stop Wasting Away Indoors and Go Be a New Yorker
Theory,” where Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) isn’t confined by ill-conceived stereotypes of Indian culture, but exists as a fully formed character. Although Raj has an accent, it neither consumes his whole personality, nor makes him a racial punching bag. In comparison, Moy’s and Kite’s characters not only provide no depth to their show, but deprive it of infinitely richer and more enjoyable characters. Such disregard for the implications of their content is an insult to the viewers, and compromises the
Libya, Check; Iran, You’re Next SOGAND AFKARI Staff Writer
SAMANTHA COHEN Contributing Writer
“New York is my campus. Fordham is my school.” This slogan defines the college experience at Fordham. New York City brings endless possibilities and opportunities, and our school is right at the center of everything. But at Fordham, the college experience takes effort. The average college student has school activities and clubs constantly surrounding them on campus. Even on a gated campus, a constant commotion of activities allows students to take advantage of opportunities to socialize without leaving their campus grounds. It is frustrating that as a city college girl, I have to really make that extra effort in order to have a good time and enjoy college. Yet making that effort and taking advantage of all that the city truly has to offer is crucial to having a good time at our school. Whether it’s shopping, food or shows, there is always something worthwhile in the city. Living in McMahon Hall allows me to take advantage of Columbus Circle, Metropolitan Opera, Riverside Park and the NYC Ballet. New York City always has so much going on that it can even become overwhelming at times. When there are too many options, I often have trouble choosing which one I would enjoy the most. Resting in the dorm can be nice sometimes, but even then, I just look out the window and think of all of the things that I could be doing. It is an annoying, nagging feeling that doesn’t let me feel satisfied just sitting in my room relaxing, because the city is really what you make of it. If you choose to sit indoors all day glued to the television, then you may never know the opportunities that await you. People that don’t go out and take advantage of what the city has to offer will never have fun. They are waiting on their sofa for the opportunities to come to them. They need to wake up to the reality of the situation that they have to seek out their own opportunities in life. I find it difficult to sit still in my dorm room knowing that there is so much I can take advantage of just a few steps out the door. This location can’t be beat. The Upper West Side, Columbus Circle, Lincoln
If you choose to sit indoors all day glued to the television, then you may never know the opportunities that await you.
Center and Central Park—it’s impossible for me to stay inside. It is crucial to learn the area and know exactly what surrounds Fordham. I love to explore the area in order to learn all of the different possible activities and places that surround the area. New York City expands beyond the Upper West Side and has different tourist attraction and places that can be found anywhere in the city. There are great places such as the farmers market in Union Square and the f lea market in Brooklyn that are just a few subway stops away. Instead of working out in the fitness center and running on the treadmill, there are better options in the city. Running in Central Park is rejuvenating and never the same experience twice. There are many different yoga groups and workout classes in the park that are available for free. Central Park is a great place to go with friends and socialize—you can always find free shows or even a concert. Sometimes it is worth strolling over to Central Park just to see what is going on. Every time that I enter Central Park I feel like it is a different world. I am used to the hustle and bustle of the city, but in Central Park it is so relaxing with the trees and green grass you can forget you’re even in the city at times. I have found that it is easy to seek out the events and activities that I am interested in and take advantage of them. Everyone’s experience in New York City is what he or she makes of it. Depending on specific hobbies and interests there are different activities and places that are available. There is no way of knowing what each day brings, but by simply making the effort to walk outside, the possibilities become endless. Instead of picking up the remote and watching television, go out and discover all that New York City has to offer. Nobody should be a city bum.
integrity of the whole network. What’s more, a show like “2 Broke Girls,” which masquerades ugly racism under the guise of being hip and outspoken, attacks the integrity of the people who these broad characters are supposed to represent. It suggests that someone’s lack of fluency in the dominant language is reason enough to disparage them or consider them less sophisticated. Meanwhile, these broad characters, constructed without any backbone to defend themselves, are made to smile mindlessly while they wait for the hazing to stop. It’s as if social acceptance hinges on waiting for others to tire of making fun of you. CBS thinks a viable shortcut to creating watchable fiction is to make one of the characters less able to express themselves. No matter how much he struggles to adapt to the culture, Lee’s purpose on the show will always be to fall short of success. It’s a cheap ploy to provide viewers with a laugh at someone who will never be offended, because they don’t know they should be. Armed with two pretty girls, CBS has created an outlet for the kind of anachronistic bigotry that I haven’t seen since American actor Mickey’s Rooney’s scowling turn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as the Japanese Mr. Yunioshi, which was no easier to stomach. Fifty years later, we should be eliminating patronizing stereotypes, not writing them back into life.
As a Middle East studies major and the daughter of Iranian immigrants, I’ve long held a strong interest in Middle East politics. While working on my thesis this semester, I’ve analyzed various articles from The New York Times and Al-Jazeera, and I can’t help but form my own predictions for the future of the Middle Eastern power struggle. The Bush administration invaded Iraq because it claimed Saddam Hussein possessed nuclear weapons. We now know that their allegation was dishonest. The Obama administration’s NATO-led reason for invading Libya was humanitarian. On the surface, this is true. The U.S. government wanted to dethrone Gadhafi, the notorious dictator of Libya, for the sake of the people. Below the surface, the Obama administration wants to secure the happiness of Libyans and their supportive neighbors in order to develop a positive image in this evolving region. This American-led NATO invasion of Libya is another piece in a puzzle of changing country dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa. The Middle East and North Africa consist of 22 countries (Libya traditionally not being one of them). They’re all Muslim majority countries (with the exception of Israel), distinguished by their respective ethnicities and Islamic sect, the Sunnis and the Shia. Many of the differences between Sunnis and Shia are superficial and political. Most Middle Eastern and North African countries are Sunni. However, Iran, Bahrain and Iraq are mostly Shia, with Iran seeking to become the most dominant. This talk of Iran’s aspiration to become a regional super power began when they funded Shia insurgents in Iraq after the Bush administration’s invasion. Before then, Iran was already notorious for being the principal patron of the Lebanese Shia militant group, Hezbollah. During the 2009 Green Movement protests in Iran, the Iranian government mobilized Hezbollah mercenaries to kill the native Iranian protesters. Even Jordan’s King Abdullah and Osama bin Laden himself warned the media about Iran’s growing alliances and their growing regional power. Recently, the Saudi Arabian and U. S. governments accused Iran of plotting an assassination of the Saudi ambassador to the United States. This controversy made Western audiences more aware of the growing tension between Sunni-country alliances and
Shia-country alliances in the Middle East and North Africa. There is not any valid evidence that Iran sent in assassins to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. Although Saudi Arabia denies allegations of fabricating, there are conspicuous flaws with this assassination plot. Saudi Arabia and its close ally the United States have accused Iran’s elite military unit, the Quds, of sending in the assassins (one of them being a car salesman from Texas). The plot was supposed to succeed in killing a Saudi diplomat in Washington, D.C. However, the Quds do not carry out such operations—period. Regardless of President Ahmadinejad’s sensationalism and controversial rhetoric, the Grand Ayatollah Khamenei’s government is skillfully cautious in regard to its foreign policy actions. Generally, Iran conducts behind-the-door alliances with mullahs (Islamic clerics) and Shia militant groups. Not even I, a staunch opponent of Iran’s government, can believe that Iran’s regime would sponsor this assassination attempt. Saudi Arabia fabricated this plot because it fears Iran’s growing influence in the Middle East. The United States and their ally Saudi Arabia want to ensure that Iran’s swelling influence will be regulated. For example, Iran’s funding of Shia insurgents in Iraq is acutely important since the United States is officially withdrawing from there in less than 70 days. Consequently, there will be a power vacuum left in Iraq. Saudi Arabia and the United States sense that Iran is insidiously waiting to fill that vacuum. In addition, the United States wants to suppress Iran’s influence in ongoing “Arab Spring” movement in Bahrain and Syria. As a result, media coverage in United States regarding the Shi’a and Iran-supported protesters is minimal. The U.S. is also highlighting the injustices of Syrian government, which is Iran’s ally. This tactful media-related foreign policy reflects the United States’ level of interest in Iran’s developing role in the Middle East and North Africa. When the United States led a NATO invasion into Libya with their humanitarian motive, it gained the support of more Arabs. After the death of Gadhafi and NATO’s success in Libya, the United States’ tarnished image as police of the world (due to its previous grave mistakes upon intervening in domestic issues in Middle Eastern countries) has improved. The United States’ current chief rival in the Middle East is Iran and this will emerge more and more as the United States and Saudi Arabia compete over allies with Iran amongst these changing regimes in the “Arab Spring” of the Middle East.
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Opinions
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True Life: I Am a Johnny Depp Fan After Loving Him for a Decade, I’d Say We’re Practically Married COLLEEN THORNHILL Opinions Editor
Apparently people think I have an unceasing love for and interest in all things pop culture. It’s funny, because honestly these so-called obsessions of mine come and go. Sure, I enjoy going to the midnight premiere of the latest “Twilight” film. Yes, I’ve watched more than my fair share of Justin Bieber music videos. But I’m never truly tied to any of these phenomenons. I’ll probably defend them for fun, but at the end of the day, I’m not all that attached. However, there’s one pop culture obsession that entered my life years ago and has yet to leave. That obsession is with the funny, talented and insanely beautiful Johnny Depp. It hit me again recently as I passed a newsstand carrying a Vanity Fair magazine bearing his lovely visage, and as I see the endless commercials for his latest film, “The Rum Diary,” I can’t deny my decade-long admiration for the man. I, like millions of other women (and men), suffer from unrequited love for the Deppster. I can still remember the first time I saw a Johnny Depp film. I was 12 years old and my seventh grade literature teacher made us watch “Sleepy Hollow.” We weren’t even reading Washington Irving’s short story, and I have no idea why we were watching the film—the syllabus in that class was quite lax. But when I saw Johnny Depp awkwardly dissect a decapitated body for the first time, I knew I was in love.
[W]hen I saw Johnny Depp awkwardly dissect a decapitated body for the first time, I knew I was in love. Johnny Depp isn’t just another pretty face. He’s a multifaceted personality who’s intensely private but at the same time equally giving in both his devotion to his fans and his work. He has two children, but you’d be hard-pressed to find them on the cover of any magazine. He’s been with the same woman for many years now, but again, they’re not about to do a Brangelina-esque photo shoot together. Plus, Johnny (we’re on a firstname basis) always does what’s needed of him as both an actor and a celebrity. Plenty of “actors” turn their noses at interviews with latenight talk show hosts and certainly don’t enjoy being detained by a gaggle of autograph-seeking fans, and they make their boredom apparent. Johnny, though, despite his multiple Academy Award nominations, manages to make time for whoever needs him, whether it be Leno, Letterman or that lovelorn fan who meets him on the street. After that fateful day in seventh grade literature, I immediately went home and began researching Johnny and finding out everything I could about him. I knew about the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” film about a year before it was released, and I told everyone everything and
anything I could about it. Needless to say, no one listened to me. I tried to explain how it was going to be an epic film about swashbuckling on the high seas, but no one cared. Yet a year later, I had the last laugh (yes, I’m still bitter about my classmates’ lack of interest). Upon “Pirates’” release, suddenly everyone in my grade was drooling over pictures of Johnny and couldn’t wait for his next film. Luckily, by that time I was a Johnny aficionado and could recommend such classics to them as “Cry Baby” and “Benny and Joon.” In the latter film, Johnny channels the likes of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin for the role and doesn’t hesitate to look foolish. This foolishness of Johnny’s is one of his greatest attributes. Most good-looking actors would steer clear of the roles that have them looking like crazies. Sure, they may branch out once in a while for the sake of an Oscar, but you’d be hard-pressed to see Zac Efron playing a character like Edward Scissorhands. Johnny isn’t afraid to go a little psycho for his films, but it’s nice to see that at the end of the day, he’s still a relatively regular guy who enjoys spending time with his family. I’m pretty excited over this latest film “The Rum Diary.” I’ve been waiting for it for about four years now. Yes, four years. There was once a time when I checked Johnny’s IMDB page daily to see updates about new projects. When you love someone as much as I love Johnny, it’s hard not to be this dedicated. Even if the film is so bad I cry, seeing Johnny on the big screen will make it all worth it. He may not tell the world, but I know he knows I’m there for him.
COURTESY OF VANITY FAIR
The writer plans on adding this Vanity Fair issue to her already considerable collection of Deppster memorabilia.
Police Brutality Accompanies the Occupy Movement JOSEPHINE TROTT Staff Writer
I became aware of Occupy Wall Street for the first time when a student mentioned it in my theology class. A classmate had insisted we join in the protest that had just begun downtown. The protest, we guessed, had something to do with corporate greed and the current state of the economy. I decided not to go since I didn’t want to go all the way downtown to protest for a couple of hours. Not that I didn’t, and don’t, think this is a noble cause. However, the movement truly caught my attention when I learned of the pepper spray incident after it occurred on Sept. 24. It only caught the corner of my eye airing on television, but the image of a group of penned girls, screaming in obvious agony, was hard to ignore. I had been on my way out the door, wanting to get to work early, but as soon as I had seen the video I sat down next to my roommate and watched the entire grainy video of the girls being pepper sprayed. I admit I didn’t even know how to react in those first moments. It was only later that my outrage finally came and with it an obsession for this new-found element in the movement. Since then I’ve been actively following the Occupy movements for signs of any other unsavory happenings. Unfortunately, I have not been disappointed. The next step in brutality came in the form of Occupy Boston. According to their website post “Boston Police Brutally Assault Occupy Boston,” the movement received massive support from “an estimated ten thousand...to demand eco-
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
Disbelief in American values results when police violence threatens our very right to protest.
nomic reform on Wall Street and the end of special interest influence in Washington.” It sounds like a beautiful thing. Thousands gathered in the iconic city where America had originally fought for liberty from their oppressors. However, the Boston police didn’t feel the same way. The Occupy Boston website informed us that “[a]t 1:30 [a.m.]... hundreds of police in full riot gear brutally attacked Occupy Boston,
which had peacefully gathered on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. The Boston Police Department made no distinction between protesters, medics or legal observers.” This post, along with several amateur videos and photos of that night, sparked a response from the NYC Occupation which was to condemn the Boston police and to ask for their supporters to do the same. This attack fueled my anger, but it also fueled my fear. According to
the Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Boston websites, the police hadn’t bothered to make any distinction between the people gathering to protest. They were even attacking medics. And not only were they attacking medics, but they were attacking medics while they were administering help to the wounded. Maybe it’s American exceptionalism talking, but for some reason, I thought we were better than that. Similarly, on Oct. 25 in Occupy
Oakland, there was an attack from the police force that left several wounded. According to The New York Times, a war veteran, Scott Olsen, suffered a serious head injury after the Oakland police force opened fire on the protesters with bean-bag rounds and cans of tear gas. The police insist that they did not use rubber bullets, but the rubber bullets found in the aftermath and the wounds of several protesters suggests otherwise. It makes me wonder if this is this really what we’ve come to. Arresting, pepper spraying and attacking protesters? Watching these videos and hearing these stories, with more coming every day, is beyond flabberghasting. But my main frustration is that when you see a policeman attacking someone, there’s not a lot you can do about it. If a cop hits you, no matter what happens, it’s difficult to defend yourself. Maybe some of these people were being violent first, but what about the people who were just in the wrong place at the wrong time? These crowds are large and people are angry. However, does angry protesting justify this kind of abuse? Instead of trying to discourage people by harming and scaring them, why not try to help them so that they don’t feel the need to protest? The police and the government are supposed to protect us, but I haven’t felt very protected for the past few months. The violence happening here is madness and I can only hope that something will happen soon. Something that will defuse this situation before we move farther away from the standard we’ve held ourselves to for such a long time.
Arts & Culture
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
COURTESY OF NEW YORK CITY CENTER
After a $53 million renovation project, the City Center will reopen with presentations from Sarah Jessica Parker, NYC Ballet and Brian Williams.
The New York City Center Repeats History with Its Grand Re-Opening By KATHERINE FABIAN Staff Writer
Broadway, the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall; each of these venues can be considered the go-to locations to appreciate the performing arts in New York City. Another locale that has been making significant contributions to the New York City arts scene for nearly 70 years is the New York City Center. And now after a year-
Throughout the 1940s and ’50s the City Center presented an affordable alternative to Broadway theatre, the Metropolitan Opera House and Carnegie Hall. and-a-half hiatus due to a $53 million renovation project, the City Center is back and better than ever with its annual events, including
JIM.HENDERSON/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
8.6-point on 9.8 Georgia Italic cutline goes right herey, with some more information photo.
the Fall for Dance Festival. On Oct. 25 the City Center had its grand re-opening Gala performance. The Gala featured various artists including Sarah Jessica Parker, the dancers of the New York City Ballet, Patti LuPone, Joshua Bell and Brian Williams. Mayor Bloomberg, who is an advocator for the event and principal sponsor of the Fall for Dance Festival, repeated history by conducting the Encores! Orchestra, as former mayor and savior Fiorello LaGuardia did for the New York philharmonic when the theatre first opened in 1943. The building in which the City Center now resides was originally saved from demolition by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. Throughout the 1940s and ’50s, the City Center presented an affordable alternative to Broadway theatre, the Metropolitan Opera House and Carnegie Hall. Prestigious performing groups such as the New York City Opera, the New York City Ballet and the New York City Symphony were all found at the City Center. “The building was originally built in 1923 as the Mecca Temple for the Shriners [a freemason society], who were thrown out of Carnegie Hall (which connects to City Center through the back door) due to complaints about their tobacco smoke,” said Mark Litvin, senior vice president and managing director at City Center. “In 1943 Fiorello LaGuardia declared the site as a center for the arts and it remained that way for about 20 years until Lincoln Center was built. Then the New York Opera and Ballet moved over there. In the 1970s we got dance companies like Alvin Ailey to come here,” he said.
The upcoming event, Fall for Dance Festival, showcases a series of dance styles from hip-hop to ballet featuring dancers from all over the world. Many prestigious dance companies participate in the festival including the Trisha Brown Dance Company, the Australian Ballet and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Some companies making their debut in the festival include Vertigo Dance Company, Jessica Lange Dance and the Royal Ballet of Flanders. In addition to the five different shows that will be shown over the ten days, Fall for Dance will also be holding its annual DanceTalk series in which a discussion panel will be held before two of the performances. DanceTalk is an opportunity for the public to hear what dance experts and artists have to say about current
topics in the dance world. The free talks are held at the City Center Studios on West 56th Street. The Fall for Dance Festival was developed in 2004 as an attempt to expand the City Center’s repertoire and enable them to target more different types of audiences. When it first opened, tickets cost $10 and still remain the same affordable price today, making it more accessible for anyone to be able to come and appreciate the art of dance. It seems that New York couldn’t be more eager to see one of their favorite events at the City Center, now that it has finally re-opened to the public. “Tickets for the Fall for Dance Festival, in the past, have sold out in usually 3-4 days,” said Litvin. “This year however we filled our new capacity of 250 seats in just four hours.” The Fall for Dance Festival runs from Oct. 27 until Nov. 6. Tickets are sold out but those that are returned to the box office are available for purchase on the day of the show. For more information about the festival and other events at the City Center visit nycitycenter.org.
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THE OBSERVER November 3, 2011
Arts & Culture
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Mouthwatering Food and Flea Market Finds on the Williamsburg Waterfront By OLIVIA PERDOCH Staff Writer
The arts scene in Brooklyn, most notably in Williamsburg, is rapidly flourishing as it becomes increasingly known for its thrift stores, artsy residents, underground indie music venues and close proximity to Manhattan. More and more New Yorkers are migrating to Williamsburg and they are bringing the vibrant and unsurpassed culture of New York City along with them. I hit up Artists & Fleas, one of the Brooklyn arts scene’s crowned jewels and a weekend must-see for New Yorkers. One of the oldest and fully functioning flea markets in Brooklyn, Artists & Fleas was recently voted the best flea market of 2011 by the Village Voice and is a haven for all things art. Just a short walk from the Bedford Avenue L train stop, the indoor flea market is a rendezvous for local independent and up-and-coming artists, designers and collectors. Every Saturday and Sunday, over two dozen vendors, including jewelry makers, clothing designers, photographers, thrift collectors, illustrators and even scarf-knitters all set up shop under one roof and offer rare and unusual finds for affordable prices. Restored and refurbished vintage prints, notebooks made of old board game covers, real animal antlers and other antique art collectibles are just some of the finds that fill the floor of this former manufacturing warehouse in the heart of Williamsburg. Commonly thought to be a hipster hub, Artists & Fleas is actually frequented by a diverse crowd that includes families, tourists, art aficionados, and locals visitors from all of the boroughs. No matter your style or taste, you will undoubtedly find something that will interest and even amaze you. Here are some of the most unusual items I found (and never thought I’d find) at Artists & Fleas: 1. Bracelets made of real snake and fish vertebrae, as well as bullet casings 2. A flask with “Porn Star” paint-
OLIVIA PERDOCH/THE OBSERVER
Every Saturday and Sunday Artists & Fleas hosts over 50 vendors selling everything from vinyls to snake and fish vertebrae bracelets.
ed on the front of it 3. A vinyl of “Por Amor,” the 1980s album by Puerto Rican boy band Menudo 4. Bronze, handmade necklaces with “F U” engraved on them (and they don’t stand for Fordham University) 5. Skull sculptures made entirely of moss Artists & Fleas is best to visit on Saturdays with an empty stomach, when Smorgasburg, an outdoor food
festival is only a three-minute walk away from the flea market. Smorgasburg brings together over 50 vendors, offering everything from grass fed beef brisket to carrot and candied walnut cupcakes. Whether you’re in the mood for something salty, sweet or savory, you will undoubtedly satisfy your cravings with the selection of strange yet scrumptious treats scattered throughout the enormous empty lot. The enthusiastic food sellers are
eager to discuss their peculiar products and will make you try treats you’ve never even heard of such as gooseberry jam or Kombucha, a type of fermented tea. Located on the Williamsburg waterfront, Smorgasburg is fun and affordable while offering some breathtaking views of the East River and Manhattan skyline as you devour your empanda, Mochi ice cream or Greek spinach pie.
IF YOU GO
Event or Artist WHEN: Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.
to 7 p.m.
WHERE: 70 N 7th St. (between Wythe
and Kent) Williamsburg, Brooklyn
MORE INFO: http://www.artistsand-
fleas.com/
CMJ Clenches Its Indie Grip On the City for Four Nights of Music and Movies By MIKE MADDEN Arts & Culture Co-Editor
It was only 4:30 p.m. at the Ace Hotel on West 29th Street in Midtown Manhattan, but Bradford Cox, also known as the sound textured acoustic chameleon Atlas Sound, looked like he just rolled out of having breakfast in bed: classic pinstripe, two-piece pajamas, uncombed bed head and eyes that looked as if he hadn’t quite rubbed the gunk from them yet. The Deerhunter front man performed a 30-minute set on the third day of New York City’s four day CMJ Music Marathon to a packed crowd of over 200 people in the lobby of the new age hotel, with fans lining out the door waiting for their chance to get in and find an opening and opportunity to witness Cox firsthand. Paired with only his signature sunburst Gibson acoustic and a dizzying array of vocal and guitar effects, Cox performed songs from his upcoming Atlas Sound album, “Parallax.” The album, which will be released on Nov. 8, has already been garnering some critical acclaim thanks in part to Cox’s gradual releases of songs such as “Terra Incognita” and “Te Amo.” Before diving into “Parallax” track “Flagstaff,” Cox thanked the hotel for holing him up in one of their rooms of where he wrote several songs for the album when he admitted to the audience he had run out of studio time. Also present were the numerous guests in neighboring rooms, such as the large Indian family, in which he thanked them as well
MADDY CHAMBERS/THE OBSERVER
CMJ featured more than 1,300 bands at more than 80 venues throughout New York City this October.
for “being able to play really loud.” Over at Union Square, The Puma Store hosted part Auckland, New Zealand, part Portland psych group, Unknown Mortal Orchestra where they crammed themselves into the back of the store playing songs off of their impressive self-titled debut album. Looking from the outside in, passerby’s easily missed one of the tighter shows of the festival that un-
fortunately lasted for only 30-minutes. However, those 30-minutes were enough to quench the thirst of numerous UMO fans present, from the twangy, fuzzed out harmony of guitarist Ruban Nielson in their song “Ffunny Ffrends” to the rhythmic landslide of sound in “Boy Witch.” Oddly enough, the Puma Store, known more for hosting Europe-
an tourists looking to score some cheaper neon blue and green high tops was actually one of the more underrated venues. Hyper pop group Army Navy brought their infectious sugar coated guitar hooks and frantic drumming to audience members while the ’70s soul ache of Gary Clark Jr. sang about “waking up in New York City lying on the floor just outside of Macy’s West
54th,” and singing that you would “know his name by the end of the night.” Down on Ludlow Street, Memphis rapper Gavin Mays aka Cities Aviv took to the stage at Pianos sounding like the little brother of a Wu-tang member who wasn’t yet old enough to play with the big boys. Although he may look like he comes from Williamsburg, Mays is nothing of the sort; his attitude is brash, his flow dripping with smooth syncopation. However, it is his meshing of samples from ’80s unknowns, his occasional synth-heavy hooks which can be mistakenly considered chillwave and his affection, according to Pitchfork, for an “8-bit world” where he considers himself “Bowser.” But whereas Cities Aviv may not act like he just emerged from under the Williamsburg Bridge, Denver experimentalists Gauntlet Hair do, sound and all. The Denver duo, which performed at Mercury Lounge on Friday night, brought their highholstered guitars with them as well as a plethora of pedals and other effects which may have looked like a bit much. Yet this wasn’t the case. Their contemporaries Yeasayer would be impressed, if not enamored, of their use of musical pedal prowess. Their sound is funky and encompassing; a more textured, whole piece than some of Yeasayer’s later works. But CMJ isn’t a competition; it is rather a larger outlet for musical appreciation for a soundscaped abyss that is unexplored territory for the musically curious.
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Arts & Culture
November 20, 2011 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
MONTHLY MUSIC REVIEW
November Release Party By MIKE MADDEN Arts & Culture Co-Editor
THE BEES/FICTIONE URBAN/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The Dakota is but one of several haunted landmarks in NYC.
The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Frightened in NYC By SHAUN CHAUDRY Staff Writer
While Halloween may be over, the spirit of haunted pleasures never dies. If you believe that there is no more haunted houses to see now that Oct. 31 is over, think again. There are multiple frightening experiences to be had this year, and they are all in your own backyard. New York has seen it’s share of violence and tragedy throughout it’s history, creating some haunted treasures that have yet to be explored. Here is a starting list for the amateur ghost hunter.
Landmark Tavern Located at 626 11th Ave., 46th St., The Landmark Tavern is a bar/ restaurant that has a long history in Manhattan. Opened in 1868, the waiters and bartender had, at one time, video footage of the ghost of a young Irish girl and a Confederate soldier walking around the bar after closing hours. When asked about having seen the apparitions, the bartender claimed he had not actually seen anything himself. Still, the tavern is a great place to start for someone interested in visiting historical places in New York City that have had paranormal encounters.
The Palace Theatre Don’t expect to see any ghosts here unless you’re able to pay for a show. Now a stage for huge shows on Broadway between 47th and 46th Streets, this theatre supposedly has over 100 ghosts that haunt it. According to About.com’s description, sightings have included a young girl looking down from the balcony, a cellist playing in the pit and Judy Garland herself, who has apparently been “sensed” by the rear orchestra door that was built for her.
The Algonquin Hotel This hotel (located at 59 W 44th St., off Sixth Ave.) was home to the “Round Table,” otherwise known as the Vicious Circle. This group of literary and drama critics consisted of Marc Connelly, a renowned playwright and journalist and Harpo Marx, a famous comedic actor and one forth of the famed Marx brothers. The circle would meet for lunch daily at The Algonquin after WWI, talking about the arts and critiques of plays and publications. While none of their ghosts has been seen or reported in the last eight years by guests or workers, the hotel staff has stated that they would hear strange noises from the second floor of the building that is closed off to visitors and guests.
“The House of Death” According to Strangeusa.com, this residential building located at 14 W 10th St. near Fifth Avenue is the location of 22 deaths, including Mark Twain, who had lived there at the turn of the 20th century. However, what the site does not tell you is that you have little hope of getting inside the building, as it is still a home for six residents and the entrance is locked. The place does look very spooky from the outside though.
One If By Land, Two If By Sea This restaurant, at 17 Barrow St., has an incredible history. Originally the carriage house of Aaron Burr, this posh restaurant is now home to his daughter’s ghost—Theodosia Burr Alston—as well as historical artifacts, including the actual pistols he and Alexander Hamilton used in their duel to the death. This restaurant is the creepiest encounter for some, mostly because the bartenders and waiters both believe the place to be actually haunted, and patrons have sighted the ghost of Theodosia walking down the stairs from the mezzanine. In addition, flying dishes and chairs being pulled out from under guests have been seen.
The Dakota The Dakota is an apartment building located on Central Park West at 72nd Street, and has had multiple ghost sightings over the years. Most notably is that of John Lennon, as this was the site of his assasination and place of residence while in New York. Yoko Ono, Lennon’s wife, still owns some of the apartments in the building. Construction workers and painters have also seen ghosts of young boys and girls here. To make the place feel even more eerie, it was the setting of Roman Polanski’s horror classic, “Rosemary’s Baby.”
Fordham University, Rose Hill If you’re living in the Bronx, you don’t have to go farther than Fordham’s own 19th century campus to see some haunted figures. According to TheShadowLands.net, Keating Hall, Collins Auditorium, Finlay Hall and Martyrs Court have all had sighting of ghostly apparitions in their halls. Check out the site to see information on these places as well as others in the Bronx, including an old candy store on 32nd Street and the Strawberry Fields of Silver Beach Gardens.
A Band of Bees
TREEFIGHT/BELLA UNION
Treefight for Sunlight
“Every Step’s a Yes” release date Nov. 8
“A Collection of Vibrations for Your Soul” release date Nov. 8
Brit-rock has always had some sort of resurgence; think back to the glory days of Oasis, or any other time when the Brothers Gallagher weren’t trying to tear each other’s heads off. What about the Verve, with leader Richard Ashcroft cementing his image, as well as his band’s, in the pantheon of ’90s pop culture with their video for “Bittersweet Symphony?” These bands were ironically the originals of this type of resurgence of Brit-rock that can find its roots in groups like The Kinks, The Moody Blues and The Rolling Stones. But with immense talent also came immense quarrels; a problem British six-piece group A Band of Bees (also known as simply The Bees outside of the U.K.) never have to worry about. Their pastoral flourishes mixed with that of a barroom/ backyard blues romp always gave the right vibe and not one of conflicting egos and oppressive leaders. Their newest album, “Every Step’s a Yes,” departs from the romping blues element and inflicts itself with bossa-nova flavor thanks in part to frontman Paul Butler’s time in the Amazon and his work with fellow psych-folker Devendra Banhart. While the album has taken a backseat to more gentle arrangements that could be played over the radio station of your college library, suiting the needs for the dreadlocked and the bookworm, there is still some fun to be had which is a common signature among the group. Lyrically the album lacks, but in these areas of lyrical lacking comes arrangements that sound as if they are playing with 20 guys rather than six. This is most evident on carnival jam, “Gaia,” where the chanting of “ya ya ya’s” and the chorus of horns carry on through a booze-fueled night. This drunken night finishes off with “Winter Rose,” a melancholic reggae tune that slips in and out with wobbly organ and climbing brass. A Band of Bees comes back full circle with their neo-Crosby, Stills and Nash signatures of “I Really Need Love” and “Silver Line” which don’t necessarily let-down but could definitely be made with much more emphasis on a catchy hook like they’ve had in the past.
It’s a surprise to find out a band with a name like Treefight for Sunlight comes from Copenhagen, Denmark. The country’s not exactly known for the tannest people on earth and the Danish economy—as well as Europe for that matter—is not having the best of times right now. But with Treefight for Sunlight and their recent album, “A Collection of Vibrations for Your Skull,” their country’s recent economic turmoil and downturn doesn’t seem to affect them at all—in fact the album is so drenched in sunlight and cheerful vibes, Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s pants just got a little tighter in the crotchal region. “Vibrations” is the fullest sound I’ve heard from a European group so far; a feat that is incredible considering the group is only made up of four members, all of which contribute vocals. The songs are hopeful and amiable with good intentions. They sound at times like a cleaner, less whacked out MGMT who have managed to, strangely enough, remain virtually unheard of in the states. But that’s what I like about them; a group from Denmark of all places creates a sonic album that fully encompasses the individual on first listen. It’s like finding a dirty rock in your backyard, cleaning it off then finally realizing you have found something precious, valuable and sparkly in your hands. The song that could easily launch the group to late-show glory would be “What Became of You and I” which acts as the group’s poster child for what their sound is like. It’s extremely catchy and easy to sing along to even if you can’t hit a soprano or countertenor. The intro to “Facing the Sun” is delicate and tingly; it’s the song you want to wake up to on a sunny Saturday morning…even if you feel like death due to the worst hangover of your life from the night before.
LOU REED, METALLICA /WARNER BROS
Lou Reed and Metallica “Lulu” release date Nov. 1
If you were in Quinn Library at 10:53 p.m. on Tuesday night, I apologize. My soft whimpers of unperceivable musical pain finally caught up with me and I’m sorry you had to hear a grown man cry. There is only so much musical abuse one music nerd can take and my abuse came in the form of Lou Reed and Metallica’s collaborative album, “Lulu.” But this album is upsetting for other reasons. We’re talking about Lou Reed here, a living legend who has seen, touched, tasted and snorted everything known to man (only second behind Mr. Keith Richards). Next we have Metallica, arguably the most successful heavy metal group of all time, the ones who taught us how to ride the lightning and make us realize an album cover had the potential to be…well, all black. I love Lou Reed. I love Metallica. I hate “Lulu.” I’m sad. I’m pissed. I want to woefully laugh. I want to exploit myself in front of a camera while undressing. I want to look into the eyes of the strange bald man in the library that shushes everyone and dare him to tell me to lower my bag ruff ling of potato chips down to a minimum. If this sounds like I’m rambling, it’s because I am. I really have no cohesive words for “Lulu.” Instead, I’ll let loose some comments from fellow music fans courtesy of music blog Stereogum: “It is an old man rambling over a mediocre rock band…fail;” “Can’t wait for the Iggy Pop/Megadeth album. Keep em Comin!”, “This is an Elephant Man of albums.” Yes good sir, this is the Elephant Man of albums: bulbous, hideous to others at the sight (or listen) of it, incomprehensible and painful. This is shit. A big, smelly bed pan filled with Lou Reed and Metallica’s misshapen diseased shit.
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THE OBSERVER November 3, 2011
Arts & Culture
13
A Melancholic Month for Movies That Miss Their Marks “Melancholia” By CLINT HOLLOWAY Staff Writer
The end of the world turns out to be a bit of a bore in “Melancholia.” While Danish auteur, Lars Von Trier, supplies the film with an impressive amount of artistry and inventiveness, he fails to give it any real thematic cohesion or narrative drive. You may find yourself eagerly anticipating the apocalyptic conclusion, if only out of desire for the film to finally be over. The film’s first half takes place at a lavish wedding party being thrown for newlyweds Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Michael (Alexander Skarsgård) by Justine’s sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and Claire’s husband John (Keifer Sutherland.) Seemingly overwhelmed by the chaotic event, Justine reacts with impulsive behavior that includes telling off her boss and having sex with a random guest, losing her husband, as well as her job, over the course of the night. The film’s second half skips forward in time, as Justine returns home from a mental hospital and undergoes an intense depression. As this all occurs, a planet known as Melancholia has emerged, on a trajectory to collide with the Earth. While John denies its likelihood with scientific proof, Justine seems to calmly embrace the news and their fate. Stylistically, the movie is sublime, opening with a prologue-montage of surreal and nightmarish slow-motion shots of Justine surrounded by falling
ZENTROPA ENTERTAINMENTS
dead birds, radiating electricity from her fingers and finally, what appears to be another planet smashing into Earth, giving us the final outcome before the movie even officially begins. In addition, the situation is treated with refreshing strangeness, never giving the audience a broader view of the impending end-of-the-world scenario other than the way Justine’s family handles the news while seemingly isolated on their palatial estate. But by
deciding to declare the end of the film so early, the film becomes tedious, as Melancholia’s ultimate collision with the Earth is constantly delayed before occurring with an anticlimactic thud. Despite winning the Best Actress award at Cannes, Dunst ultimately seems miscast, as her attempts to render Justine’s dark emotional state don’t quite convince. “Melancholia” comes out in theatres on Nov. 11.
UNIFIED PICTURES
“Janie Jones” By KATIE LOCKHART Arts and Culture Co-Editor
No, this is not a film about the Clash, although it does involve a girl named Janie Jones and the life of a band on tour. When a strung out Mary Ann Jones (Elizabeth Shue) brings her thirteen-year-old daughter Janie (Abigail Breslin) to see her rocker dad Ethan Brand (Alessandro Nivola) perform,
Janie ends up on tour with a rock band after Mary Ann leaves her alone at the venue to go on a drug binge. Brand, a stereotypical asshole rock star, doesn’t want to take Janie with him on the road but his girlfriend Iris (Brittany Snow) convinces him that he cannot leave her alone. After several uncomfortable weeks on the road going to grimy bar room venues to play small shows, Brand finds out Iris is cheating on him with a bandmate and after an awkward confrontation, the three literally fight it out while drunk on stage. The band starts to fall apart and eventually all the members quit. With just his crappy guitars and illegitimate daughter, they embark on a trip to make it to South by Southwest (SXSW) and expectedly bond over the realization that his daughter is surprise, a naturally gifted guitarist, singer and songwriter at age thirteen. They begin to play shows together and ultimately end with a very touching performance singing together at SXSW. This film is not particularly special in anyway. The acting is average except for the occasional heartfelt scene between Brand and Janie and the script is predictable. However, for the director David M. Rosenthal, the film has special meaning. When he was 18 years old he got a girl pregnant but was not a part of his daughter Julie’s life until they were reunited ten years later. This sweet sentiment carries over into the movie as you watch a spoiled stereotypical rocker become a loving dad. “Janie Jones” is in theatres now.
POL Anniversary Receives Powerful Poetic Turnout STORY NAME FROM PAGE 1
poem “A View of the Sea,” which beautifully likened a moment in a failed relationship to a Japanese parable. The performances drew 306 attendees to the event; however it was as much a celebration of the success of the POL Reading Series as it was a showcase of talent. Boyle, who came up with the idea while eating at the Olympic Flame diner 20 years ago described Poets Out Loud as a “back of the napkin epic.” At the time, FCLC had no poet-in-residence nor was there any emphasis on poetry. Poets Out Loud began in 1992 when poet Kenneth Koch was brought in to give a reading at FCLC’s Pope Auditorium, and it grew over the years into a tangible influence in both the Fordham and Lincoln Center performing arts communities. In 1998, Elisabeth Frost, then a new professor in the English department, took over the program, giving it a new vitality. A year later, she in-
troduced the POL Prize, which gave new and old poets a chance to submit their work for publication through the Fordham University Press. The Rev. Robert Grimes, S.J., dean of students at FCLC was also instrumental in promoting and encouraging the program into what it is today. Heather Dubrow, professor of English at Fordham, now directs the POL Reading Series. Poets Out Loud continues to have a tangible impact on the Fordham and Lincoln Center communities. Dubrow, commenting on how POL provides an opportunity to bring poetry to students and audiences in new ways, remarked, “Poetry is deeply rooted in sound and is meant to be heard… [Poets Out Loud] allows the poetry to leap up from the page.” Poets Out Loud holds six events annually in the 12th floor lounge of Lowenstein. The next event will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 and will feature readings from poets Quan Barry and Keith O’Shaughnessy.
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More than 300 people gathered to celebrate 20 years of poetry at Fordham College at Lincoln Center.
10
Arts & Culture
October 20, 2011 THE OBSERVER
www.fordhamobserver.com
PHOTO FEATURE Benches scattered throughout the city provide New Yorkers with a place to rest and give our Observer photographers the opportunity to capture tranquil city life scenes.
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SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
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FATIMA SHABBIR/THE OBSERVER
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THE OBSERVER October 20, 2011
Arts & Culture
11
PHOTO FEATURE
MARIO WEDDELL/THE OBSERVER
KYLE MORRISON/THE OBSERVER
MARIO WEDDELL/THE OBSERVER
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
AI ELO/THE OBSERVER
CHARLIE PUENTE/THE OBSERVER
Features
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
NY CHALLENGED
I Was Scarier the Morning After the Halloween Party By MARIO WEDDELL Features Co-Editor & Asst. Photo Editor
My eyes were burning when I woke up in a foreign apartment in the heart of Brooklyn. Everything was out of focus; I fell asleep with my contacts in. Why did I do that? I don’t live in Brooklyn. There’s paint on my stomach. My thoughts slowly started gaining momentum as my eyes rolled into focus. There was a party last night. I was at a Halloween party with a lot of my friends, and even more strangers. I think it was fun. My brain was trying to subdivide in my skull. Hangover. Yeah, the party was fun. The costumes were great, probably. I showed up dressed as the American Indian from the Village People after a last minute trade with my roommate. He got the cowboy, I got the war paint and feather headdress. We also had a construction worker, a police officer and a soldier. Where was everyone? They all went home last night. I should have gone with them. The Village was missing its idiot. There are a few problems with spending the night somewhere on a whim. You don’t have a place to put your contacts. You have to leave eventually, wearing the clothes you were in the night before. If you don’t wake up early enough, you have to deal with the awkward stares from normal, responsible people on a Sunday afternoon. I walked down Fourth Avenue toward the R train. People stared, then quickly tried not to stare, as a young man wearing a cowboy hat
(my roommate and I must have traded headwear again, as a symbol of affection before the night ended), war paint and a leather jacket walked down the sidewalk. A sudden gust of wind sent goosebumps down my thighs. I adjusted my loincloth and brought my head down between my shoulders. Oh right. I was wearing a loincloth, fashioned out of some briefs and two dishtowels. No pants. That was the real problem. On the train, I picked the seat that faced the back, because those seats are usually the last to go. I was hoping to spare someone from the awkwardness of brushing against my naked thighs. Mostly, that someone was me, but I really didn’t want people to feel more uncomfortable than I was. I kept my eyes glued on my phone, as if my entire existence was devoted to getting a high score playing Doodle Jump. Confidence is key in situations like this. Wearing a loincloth on a train, alone on a Sunday afternoon, already implied a certain level of confidence, so I just had to own it. Maybe people would think I always play Doodle Jump like this. The cowboy hat didn’t help contextualize my bare legs as part of the Village People, and my jacket was covering just enough of my briefs to prompt whispers like, “I think he has underwear or something. But maybe not. Maybe it’s just the towels.” A lady sat down next to me, which was a shock. Before, commuters had been debating between the seat by me or the homeless man asleep in the corner. I was cursing her and praising her all at once, on
I was wearing a loincloth, fashioned out of some briefs and two dishtowels. No pants. That was the real problem. the inside. “You fool. What have you done? People are going to think you’re with the naked guy. You angel. People think you’re with the naked guy. He might be a normal member of society.” Unfortunately, the train emptied out, and she did not switch seats. I understood her predicament. To switch seats would be to acknowledge the awkward lack of pants on the young man next to her; to remain seated was to prolong the agony. The train pulled into my station. I stayed seated for as long as possible, hoping to slip out in one swift movement. The wheels screeched to a halt. I tensed my muscles to spring out of the seat. The doors slid open. I jumped. I hit my head on the handrail above me. I stumbled across the lap of the woman. I said nothing. I secured a firm grip on my loincloth and left the train in a flat sprint. I emerged from the subway station into the middle of a group of children on a school trip. People whistled at me from cars. A man on a bike almost hit a parked car as he cackled. I resigned myself to the embarrassment and walked down the snowy sidewalks to my dorm, bringing a whole new meaning to the Walk of Shame.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID WALL/THE OBSERVER
Imagine wearing your embarrassing Halloween costume on snowy sidewalks and a crowded train, during the afternoon of the wrong day.
CLICK AND TELL
An Investment Banker Whips It Out on the First Date By DIANA KOKOSZKA Staff Writer
My knuckles are white on the handlebars of the rental bike as I pedal faster to keep up with my date, who is weaving between taxis along Central Park South. I bust out a frantic sequence of arm signals as I try and navigate this five-lane death-trap. He turns into a crosswalk full of tourists and I manage to brake just in time to avoid impact with an old man. I’m terrified and half-expecting death just 15 minutes after meeting this guy, not knowing that death could turn out to be one of the higher points of my afternoon. I met Mr. Investor on an online dating website, where I learned that he is a passionate musician with good grammar. We decided to meet on a street corner near the park, where I find him waiting for me in a pair of cargo pants. I have compiled a list of people who are allowed to wear cargo pants in public: 1. Individuals in the military. 2. Children under the age of 12. There are no exceptions to the list and addendums are prohibited. His outfit was made more offensive by a blazer and running shoes, à la Jerry Seinfeld. I hope that his sense of humor will match his getup. Alas he seems shy, so I ask him about his job as a private investor. He perks up and tells me “the market never sleeps” and compares the Olive Garden’s stock performance to that of “other dark restaurants,” and we finally reach the bike rental shop after a detailed account of the money he has invested in coal.
I was really hoping we could continue riding our bikes 25 feet away from each other, but I go along with his charade to turn our awkward interaction into some kind of date. I would rather be on a date with George Costanza. The guy at the bike shop recognizes Mr. Investor, who rents bikes there regularly, and gets close to tell me to “be careful in the street.” It is clear now that this was not a standard warning for customers. My date’s reckless riding does not improve when we finally enter the park. He takes off ahead of me at a competitive pace, and I am wheezing in my attempt to catch up. I work up a generous amount of butt-sweat before I decide to enjoy the park at my own pace. After 20 minutes I forget I’m even on this miserable date with Evel Knievel, until he slows down and appears next to me. He says, “I know a really good field up ahead,” and proposes that we stop. I was really hoping we could continue riding our bikes 25 feet away from each other, but I go along with his charade to turn our awkward interaction into some kind of date. Of all the topics to discuss, Mr. Investor can only seem to talk about politics. He makes an uncomfort-
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
It is hard to feel romantic when your date will not slow down to talk.
able joke that the horses in the park are Democrats reincarnated. He continues to rant about “misinformed leftists” and says the word “liberal” as if he’s trying to get the foul taste out of his mouth. Before
the last bit of radically conservative dribble even exits his mouth, he is already back on his bike and pedaling, uninterested in my response. I watch him speed off like it’s the last mile of the Tour de France
and he nearly sideswipes a woman pushing a stroller. I enjoy my quiet bike ride past the Guggenheim and around the reservoir before he appears again. He says he has to use the bathroom, and I direct him to the one just outside of Sheep Meadow, to which he replies, “No, I think I’ll find a suitable tree.” My blood pressure is climbing along with my desire to ride off with his rental, but I try to find the humor in this root canal of a date. When he returns, we talk about hobbies and he manages to insult every one of my interests. He likens yoga to a cult, believes that environmentalism is a waste of money and thinks that architecture would be improved if it was designed by investors. The conversation turns to food, but he dislikes restaurants. I assume he cooks, so I ask what his specialties are. He tells me, “pretty much just beans,” which is my cue that the date (if you can really call it that) is over. Before we head back, he rummages through the infinite number of pockets on his pants and pulls out two of his own CD’s— “a gift.” He has offended me in every way possible during our date, to the point that I wonder if he’s actually trying to piss me off, and now he wants to impress me with a gift. I take his feeble offering and walk away with barely a “goodbye.” He follows after me for a few steps, shouting an eager, “Take care!” I keep walking, and wonder for a minute if Mr. Investor could calculate my low interest.
www.fordhamobserver.com
THE OBSERVER November 3, 2011
Features
15
WORD OF MOUTH
Turn Over a New Leaf and Check Out Peacewood Café By DARRYL YU Features Co-Editor
Living in a college dorm or away from our parents for the first time normally brings about the worst in eating habits. From late night pizza binging to cheap Chinese food takeout, we eat a lot of unhealthy food while at school. I know when I first came to Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) my diet consisted of an unhealthy combination of burritos (courtesy of Burrito Box) and cart food. Nowadays I normally cook at home, but every now and again I find myself venturing outside for a nice juicy burger. Looking to deviate from my usual unhealthy meals, I decided to scope out Peacewood Café located on the Upper West Side. A 20 minute journey from the steps of FCLC, Peacewood Café offers customers a 100 percent vegan menu selection. Known in the area for its healthy food, Peacewood is also famous for promoting vegan lifestyle to those wanting to make a change in their eating habits. Very few restaurants in NYC perpetuate a unique lifestyle like Peacewood Café. Just by entering the café I felt like I stumbled upon a secret New York City oasis. Peacewood Café was immensely decorated with paintings, plants and little household trinkets. This created a warm and friendly environment where people can just relax and talk. At Peacewood Café I was met with a number of dishes that I would have never pictured myself trying. Being an avid meat-eater, I suddenly had to choose between vegan selections such as a tempeh avocado sandwich or a fried seitan medallion panini. These kinds of foods were foreign to my meat-orientated taste buds, but eventually I decided to go for a roasted Japanese pumpkin sandwich. My friend Sara who was with me chose a tahini sprouts sandwich. We both decided to order some soy nuggets since we were feeling a little extra hungry. Sara was ecstatic with the selec-
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
If you are looking to change your meat-eating routine, check out the vegan restaurant, Peacefood Café.
tions at Peacewood Café. Being a vegetarian, Sara loved the fact that she could be in a place where she could sample everything that was on the menu. Like a kid in a candy shop, she instantly fell in love with Peacewood. I, on the other hand, was little bit more reserved but curious to see how my first 100 percent vegan meal would turn out. Seemingly, the service was fast for a seemly laid-back joint. 15 minutes after placing our order, the soy nuggets arrived. Accompanied by “vegan” mayonnaise, the soy nuggets had an interesting flavor to them. Obviously not tasting like my usual “chicken nuggets,” they were bland and tasteless at first. However, when combined with the mayonnaise sauce, the nuggets came to life with an unexpected salty kick to
them. Our sandwiches arrived next. Seasoned with a little sea salt, ground black pepper and extra virgin olive oil, my roasted pumpkin sandwich, to my surprise, tasted amazing. Topped with caramelized onions, ground walnuts, vegan goat cheese and seasonal greens, it had a very distinctive taste. Initially giving off a bitter taste followed by a faint sweet one, my sandwich contained a treasure trove of flavors. I never knew what to expect with each bite. Perfectly roasted, so it was not too chewy yet not too dry, the pumpkin left an unforgettable taste in my mouth. The addition of the vegan goat cheese and seasonal greens was a perfect complement for the pumpkin base. Sara’s tahini sprouts sandwich
was also very interesting and had a very unique healthy mix. Filled with mixed sprouts, creamy avocado, cucumber, onions and shredded carrots, her order resembled more of salad than an actual sandwich. A good sandwich overall, it had a refreshing leafy taste, but was a bit dry. One thing that bothered me about it was the abundance of sprouts in the sandwich. I felt overwhelmed with the flavor of sprouts and couldn’t taste anything beyond it. The sandwich was definitely healthy, but it wasn’t my kind of vegan dish. I’d still choose the roasted pumpkin for a balance of flavors. Definitely a big change from my normal diet, Peacewood Café opened my eyes to the vegan culture and showed me that food without meat can be still exciting and de-
licious. So, if you’re looking for a place to begin a healthy diet, Peacewood Café is the right place for you. An ideal setting for a casual date or a small gathering, Peacewood offers a very welcoming environment for its patrons. Thanks to Peacewood, the next time I want a sandwich I might choose roasted pumpkin one over a B.L.T. IF YOU GO
Peacewood Cafe
$$ out of $$$$$ Where: 460 A msterdam Avenue , New York , NY Darryl’s Recommendation: Pumpkin S andwich and S oy Nuggets
Tie Your Autumn Outfit Together with the Perfect Scarf Choice By BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE Contributing Writer
BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE/THE OBSERVER
BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE/THE OBSERVER
Carinna Gano, FCLC ’14.
Kevin Corona, FCLC ’12. BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE/THE OBSERVER
Emi Hamo, GSB ’14.
Although most people view scarves as a way to bundle up and avoid that nasty cold, a true fashionista or fashionisto uses a scarf to express individuality and keep their outfit up-to-date, even in the chilliest and most depressing weather. Emi Hamo, Gabelli School of Business (GSB) ’14, emphasize her colorblock inspired outfit with a fun polka dot scarf. Her scarf adds a nice feminine touch to her oversized grey blazer and the polka dots are subtle and not loud. Hamo’s blue empirewaist dress, grey tights, and bright red suede pumps heighten her girly look which compliments her scarf.
Kevin Corona, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, FCLC ’12, is a great example of how the popular “circle scarf” can be incorporated into a male wardrobe. Corona’s combination of a wool jacket, faded blue jeans and rusted brown combat boots flow nicely with his grey cotton-blend circle scarf. The choice to have the scarf rest slightly over his head creates a very stylish and new approach as the scarf slouches comfortably around his neck. Although Corona doesn’t view himself as a “fashionisto,” his look is very put-together and stylish but with an effortless air. “I don’t really have an inspiration to be honest. I just wear whatever I find comfortable and durable,” Corona said. He encouraged people to not simply follow trends but to “wear what suits them best since not all trends complement everyone.”
BIANCA JEAN-PIERRE/THE OBSERVER
Alex Randrup, FCLC ’12.
No need to look at a scarf as just another practical addition to your outerwear. A scarf can be color-coordinated into an outfit as well. Alex Randrup, FCLC ’12, pairs her romantic floral scarf (covered in hints of red, pink, and green) with green corduroys and coral loafers, Randrup scarf creates variety and keeps her outfit from looking too boring.
Aside from patterns and solid colors for your scarf options, the tie-dyed look is a fun way to keep your look summery even on the chilliest of days. Carinna Gano, FCLC ’14, rocks a tie-dyed scarf a colorful whirlwind of violet, magenta and with a eggplant, that adds a creative spin to the conventional solid-colored knit circle scarf. Gano’s scarf is also snugger on her neck than your average slouchy and chunky knit circlescarf. With the early arrival of snow, a chunky knit-scarf from H&M would be a smart choice for a fashionisto as it is sure to keep you warm. This scarf costs only $12.95 creating a look that is chic for cheap. With such a low price you can buy both the black and the navy and white blend colorways that H&M offers this scarf in.
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Features
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
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Movember Increases Awareness of Male Health Concerns By MONICA TYSON Staff Writer
Get ready hipsters and advocators of the world, Movember is here. Movember? It’s no-shave November’s third cousin twice removed. Movember has taken the male grooming habits to an all-new level, substituting a lack of shaving for a deliberate mustache. Originally an idea to advocate men’s health issues, the phenomena is becoming an international event with participants in The U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Spain, Czech Republic
to name a few. The official Movember site, movember.com, provides some statistics. Movember fast facts state, “one in every two men will develop some kind of cancer over their lifetime.” Early diagnosis is the key to overcoming this disease, and with half of the male population expected to develop cancer, educating as many people as possible seems unavoidable. Movember crusaders are also concerned with the diets some men have, leading to heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Many Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) students do not know that there is a health awareness movement in the male community. Kelvin Chen, FCLC ’14, said, “What exactly is there for men to worry about?” This lack of awareness is exactly the problem that Movember seeks to correct. Javed Yunus, FCLC ’14, raised concerns about “what [he] should be worried about and how Movember is supposed to help.” The mustache prompts people to ask why men are wearing them, giving men (or wom-
en) the opportunity to share the facts about men’s health concerns. There are a few ways to help: participants of Movember can enter as either someone who grows a mustache, someone who makes a donation or someone who brings awareness of Movember into a business, corporation or school. Mo Bros and Mo Sistahs (the name that movember.com has given to participants) who raise the most money during Movember can win prizes. Among other things, prizes include Movember memorabilia and
snow boarding gear. All together, over 1 million dollars have been raised for this season’s Movember. Clothing companies have joined the cause and produced special apparel for Movember. TOMS shoe company features a limited edition pair of shoes “wearing” a mustache. Fuzzy Ink tees have made shirts that read, “Ask me about my mustache,” and Palmer Cash also has a line dedicated to Movember. All three companies are donating a percentage of their profits to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Observation Deck
Whose mustache is your favorite?
“ Santa Clause has a nice mustache!” –
KELVIN CHEN FCLC ’14
“ Oh Salvador Dali, definitely.” –
XAVIER GRIFFITHS FCLC ’14
Noticing a Trend in the World? Want to Write About Fashion and Food?
“ Got it. Chuck Norris.”
“ Father McShane.” –
STEPHEN SARGENT , FCLC ’12
–
“ Mustaches freak me out.” –
RICHARD RAMSUNDAR, FCRH ’12
CAROLYN CLARK FCLC ’12
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Literary
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
No Joke By MARIO WEDDELL Features Co-Editor
Your laughter is tied up in mine And mine is knots and knots with yours And your heart, your heart Is miles of sky That I swing through on these chords And still these cords could come apart And we could cut them all And still we’d both be laughing Laughing as I fall
Fall
By YUANHONG WONG Contributing Writer
See in one’s mind an empty canvas, With deft strokes, present with color A mélange of titian and ochre And with your eyes, trace slowly Lines of brown amongst the cherries Petal by petal, into the wind The familiar road, now dusted copper Brought on by the golden zephyr ‘tis what I see, nothing else matters Walk the path with the wind at your back And let the dancing leaves enchant The canvas once blank, never the same again.
Sports
November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
Flying High: Cardinals Capture World Series Championship By JOE SPARICIO Contributing Writer
Some chalk it up to luck, others say resiliency, and many considered it destiny, yet Cardinals’ fans can all agree that St. Louis World Series win was nothing short of a miracle. When the Cardinals overtook the Braves for the NL wildcard spot on the last day of the regular season, most baseball fans did not realize that this was the start of one of the greatest playoff runs in baseball history. The Cardinals had been on the brink of going home since the beginning of August. As the season dwindled, they were 10½ games out with 31 games to play, 8½ back with 21 to play, and three games out with five games left. No other team in history has made such a historic comeback. Managed by Tony La Russa, this Cardinals club slowly crept their way into a playoff spot in miraculous fashion, yet entered the playoffs surprisingly unnoticed and underrated. In the first round, the Cardinals were expected to lose to the heavily favored Philadelphia Phillies and yet, they ousted the Phillies in an exciting five-game series. The Cardinals fought their way back after being down two games to one in the series, and beat Phillies’ ace Roy Halladay in a memorable do-or-die game in the first round of the playoffs. Their incredible streak continued as they faced off against one of the best hitting teams in the league, the Milwaukee Brewers. La Russa’s team forged ahead with heroics from maybe the league’s best player, Albert Pujols, and ace, Chris Carpenter. They surprised the baseball world as they slipped into the World Series. The Cardinals were the underdogs as they opposed the Texas Rangers, a team that was in the World Series the year prior and boasted maybe the most potent lineup in the league. The first game started innocently enough, but foreshadowed a great series for the young Allen Craig, who won the game for the Cardinals in the sixth inning with an RBI single,
DERIK HOLTMANN/BELLEVILLE NEWS-DEMOCRAT/MCT
The Cardinals won their 11th world championship in franchise history, the most in the National League.
to break a tie in what had been a pitcher’s duel. The second game was just as exciting and similar into the ninth inning. It was another pitcher’s duel with a scoreless tie until the previous day’s hero, Craig, once again had a clutch pinch-hit to break the tie. The Cardinals were on the verge of taking a 2-0 series lead until the ninth inning. Texas played small-ball and accumulated hits against Cardinals’ closer Jason Motte. They won the game in surprising comeback fashion and stole game two from the Cardinals. Games three, four, and five were all electrifying in their own right. Game three was a blowout with Cardinals’ slugger Albert Pujols putting on a spectacle with three homeruns and six RBIs. Texas countered in
game four with a stellar performance showing the blossoming of young pitcher Derek Holland. Holland came two outs away from finishing a complete-game shutout—a shutout against a team that had just scored 16 runs the night before. With the Series tied 2-2, Texas was fueled by catcher Mike Napoli, who added to his monster season with a bases loaded hit in the eigth inning of the tie game. This game was also called by many “the worst game that Tony La Russa has ever managed,” with botched hitand-runs, untimely bunts, and unneeded pitching switches. Though Texas would go on to lose game seven to the Cardinals, the series was really lost in game six. Game six started laden with errors and unimpressive pitching. When Texas’
Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz hit back-to-back homeruns in the seventh inning, putting Texas up 7-4, most viewers thought the game was over. Even after the Cardinals got a run in the eigth, when Mike Adams retired Rafael Furcal to end a bases loaded threat, Texas was poised to win their first championship franchise history. All hope seemed lost when Neftali Feliz got two strikes on David Freese in the bottom of the ninth with two outs. Freese refused to give in, crushing a triple to tie the game. The Cardinals seemed beat again when Josh Hamilton launched a two-run homer in the tenth. But the Cardinals seemed destined to crush Texas’ dreams. Lance Berkman tied the game in the bottom of the 10th, with
another improbable two out hit. Then David Freese became most beloved player in St. Louis as he homered to deep center in the bottom of the 11th. The Rangers were in shambles and the Cardinals celebrated at home plate, tearing apart Freese’s jersey in an effort to express their primal joy the second that he touched home. This game was a perfect encapsulation of the gritty Cardinals’ season as a whole. As impressive as Cardinals’ miracle run was to become World Series champions, they had no business even being in the playoffs. Yet they never said die, and fought until their last strike. They set an ideal standard for any team, showing more heart than it seemed possible for a team that was so close to losing it all.
McKinnis Runs for Cure in ING New York City Marathon By MAX WOLLNER Sports Co-Editor
Established in 1970, The ING New York City Marathon has become one of the premier distance races in the world. Every first Sunday in November, roughly 315 million people tune in worldwide to watch this ultimate endurance test, but this year Julia McKinnis, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’14, is not watching it, she’s running. Running and completing a marathon has been on McKinnis’ bucket list for quite some time. However, she’s not running this marathon just to fulfill a personal goal, but to honor a friend. Two years ago, McKinnis had a friend who died of Leukemia and it inspired her to run for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS), an organization dedicated to find a cure to leukemia, lymphoma and Hodgkin’s disease. The ING New York City Marathon spans all five boroughs, beginning on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The race continues through Brooklyn and Queens until the beginning of mile 16, when the runners cross the Queensboro Bridge into Manhattan. From there, the entrants travel four miles up First avenue to the Bronx before returning to Manhattan to run the last five miles down Fifth Avenue to the finish line in Central Park. However, getting to run in the marathon is in some ways harder
than running the marathon itself. “Every year, about 90,000 amateur runners apply and only half of them get in,” McKinnis said. “I thought it was a long shot, but I got lucky.” McKinnis applied to run in the marathon last September and began training for it even before she knew if she was going to participate. But when she found she made it into the race the following April, she kicked her training into high gear, devising a schedule that had her running 12-16 miles twice a week and 8-11 miles four times a week, while allowing Sunday as her day of rest. She continued this strict running regimen until early October when she revised her schedule for less physical strain as the marathon drew closer. “I began to taper off in October to allow my muscles to heal, but you don’t want to get sluggish either, so it’s a tricky thing to balance,” McKinnis said. Because of this rigorous training, in which she also finished two practice marathons, McKinnis is confident she can finish the real marathon when Nov. 6 comes around. Being physically ready for a marathon is important, but she notes that being emotionally ready and being able to believe in herself are just as important. “I know why I’m doing this; to assist anyone I can who is suffering from Leukemia,” Mckinnis said, “They are my motivation. If they can overcome this disease, I can run a marathon.”
As next Sunday draws closer, McKinnis is beginning her final preparations for the run, including deciding what she’s going to eat the night before to give her the most energy for the race. Typically before a marathon, runners load up on carbohydrates because they are a natural source of energy. However, this is hard for McKinnis because she is gluten intolerant and a vegetarian, so the options are limited to foods such as gluten-free pasta, baked potatoes and protein bars. Regardless, McKinnis can already see the finish line. After almost seven months of training, she is excited and ready to go. On top of that, she already knows how she’s going to react when she crosses the finish line in Central Park. “I’m probably going to cry when I finish,” McKinns said. “I’ve been through a lot with this marathon. Through the heat of Texas to the cold of New York, running has been there for me and I feel like all of my emotions are going to hit me at once. After that, I’ll probably get a huge sundae, take an ice bath and buy a wheelchair.” This Sunday McKinnis will be at the starting line ready to accomplish this feat for herself and for those with Leukemia. The marathon will undoubtedly attract millions of spectators in the city as well as worldwide when the race begins. Coverage of the marathon begins Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. on NBC 4.
SARA AZOULAY/THE OBSERVER
Julia McKinnis is running in memory of her friend who died of leukemia.
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THE OBSERVER November 3, 2011
Sports
19
With Late Season Push, Men’s Soccer Eyes A-10 Championship By RANDY NARINE Sports Co-Editor
The Fordham Rams sent their seniors out in style with a 4-0 rout of the La Salle Explorers on Senior Night. In the last home game of their careers, the Rams’ seniors put on quite a show, scoring all four of the team’s goals. John Niyonsaba, Gabelli School of Business (GSB) ’12 and Tim Richardson Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’12 scored the team’s first two goals and Aaron Markowitz, FCRH ’ 12 put home the next two. Making the moment even more special was the fact that Markowitz and Richardson hadn’t found the back of the net all season, but picked the perfect night to get it going. Coach Jim McEldry said, “I’m just really happy for the guys. All 11 seniors played in the game, which was fantastic. The guys who usually play the most worked hard, and the guys who don’t usually play as much, worked just as hard. I was happy with the group as a whole.” With the win over La Salle, Fordham sits at second place in the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Conference with a 5-2 conference record, just 2 points behind the Charlotte 49ers. Even more important, Fordham followed up their biggest win of the season, a 1-0 upset win at home over #10 Charlotte, with an almost flawless performance against La Salle to keep pace with the 49ers.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM SPORTS
The Rams have started to earn national recognition for their success over top-ranked competition this season.
“Our biggest win was against Charlotte at home,” McEldry said. “Not only were they 10th in the country, but we had lost that Friday at St. Louis. So it was an important win for us to get a little bit of national recognition, but it was really important for the conference standings. We got three points for a win in conference at home against a good team and I think that really helped because we kept that momentum going into the game against La Salle last week.” Fordham finally seems to be clicking on all cylinders. Since starting the season 3-4-1, the Rams have
turned things around going 6-2. The string of wins shows the type of steady, high-level play that the Rams were capable of, but had just not been living up to. “You try to be as consistent as you can,” McEldry said. “There are flashes of us playing really well and I’m confident we can compete with anyone in the country, but we’ve got to continue to be consistent. Every game is a test so we’ve got to just continue to work on being a consistently good team and not just playing well a game here and a game there.” One consistent player for the
Rams this season has been senior goalkeeper Ryan Meara, FCRH ’12. Meara has had an outstanding season to this point, boasting a 0.59 Goals Against Average (GAA) with nine shutouts. He has broken many school records this season, most impressively the shutouts record. “Ryan’s an emotional guy, a vocal guy, and he’s the single most important part of our team,” McEdlry said. “Not only is he important for his individual ability, but he helps the defenders and has been a massive part of our success over the past four years.”
Behind Meara and a strong late season push, the Rams have put themselves in a good position to make a run at the A-10 Championship. “We have some good momentum heading into the last weeks of the season, but we still need to get some results to qualify for the playoffs and finish at the top of the league like we want to,” McEldry said. “With the A-10 championship in the years past, there was a clear-cut favorite. This year anyone who qualifies for tournament can win it, and if we qualify, which I’m confident we will. We have a good a chance as anyone.
Glockenmeier Doubles Up on Weekly Awards By BRIAN MANGAN Staff Writer
Six weeks into her first cross country season, Fordham runner Sarah Glockenmeier, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’15, has already started piling up accolades, winning back-to-back Atlantic 10 (A-10) Rookie of the week awards. “The Fordham coaches had high hopes for the recruiting class that they brought in and told us that this could be one of the best running years Fordham could have,” Glockenmeier said. The coaches seem to have been right on the mark with the early success of Glockenmeier. Glockenmeier has quickly and comfortably stepped in to play a substantial role on the team. Her times have consistently placed her in Fordham’s top five runners and those in the top five are the only ones whose scores matter for the team. In one of her best performances of the season. Glockenmeier was the top rookie female finisher at the St. John’s Fall Festival, finishing in fourth place overall with a time of 14:31.22 in the 4K race. For Glockenmeier the transition from high school to college sports has not been an issue because of assistance from her team. “My transition to the Fordham team has been great,” Glockenmeier said. “The team is extremely welcoming and friendly. It’s not a hierarchy of upperclassman. Everyone is there for you on and off practice. They helped me with some roommate issues and are always willing to help with schoolwork.” Her transition from Mt. Saint Mary Academy to Fordham has been much easier than she expected. She said that the competition has only made her better. “Mount Saint Mary Academy is very small so there weren’t many people for me to train with my senior year,” Glockenmeier said. “Coming to Fordham, I have so many people to run with and push myself to be with at practice that it has helped my training immensely.” For many people walking the distances that cross-country athletes run would be very strenuous and nearly impossible, but Glockenmeier sees it as a much more calming activity. “I often joke that running is my free therapy,” Glockenmeier said. “It helps me stay focused and de-stress. Running also
COURTESY OF FORDHAM SPORTS-
Glockenmeier has established herself as one of Fordham’s top runners.
helped me with my college decision.” Glockenmeier has set some fairly lofty goals for herself. The freshman hopes to lower her 5K time to less than the 18 minutes, which would be quite the accomplishment, as her last time in the event was 19:15. If Glockenmeier and the rest of Fordham’s cross country team continues to progress as expected they’ll be fielding a very good team down the line. “Fordham is going to be a force to be reckoned with both on the men’s side and the women’s side,” Glockenmeier said. Glockenmeier and the cross country team will take part in the A-10 Championships on Oct. 29 in North Carolina and will follow that up with the Bad Boy Classic in the Bronx on Nov. 5th, as she caps off her very promising freshman season.
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November 3, 2011 THE OBSERVER
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Save Student Aid!
Since 1972, Pell Grants have provided thousands of low-income undergraduate students with an opportunity to achieve their dreams of earning a college degree. Now, this essential program is under attack and funding may be cut from the federal budget. Take a stand and tell your legislators:
Enough is enough!
Tell Congress to support student aid! Join the Student Aid Alliance, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, 61 higher education associations and thousands of students across the nation, and sign a petition in support of Federal Student Aid. The petition can be found at:
action.studentaidalliance.org.