Laura Auricchio, dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), will be leaving Fordham effective Oct. 4. The announcement of her departure from Fordham comes with a slew of other changes to the University.
With 50% of first-year student enrollment being people of color and a $62,990 undergraduate tuition, Fordham University begins the most expensive and diverse academic year in the school’s history. This is the fourth consecutive year that Fordham’s class of first-year students has set the institutional record for diversity, continuously growing since 2021 when 44% of domestic students were people of color.
Beyond the student body and expenses, there are also changes to the physical structure of campus and the internal workings of the University that occurred over the course of summer break.
Renovations over the summer at the Lincoln Center campus revamped the escalators with a glassy design and beaming LED lights ascending to the Leon Lowenstein Plaza.
Additionally, the Outdoor Plaza and sidewalks are adorned with scaffolding as a safety precaution due to maintenance and inspection on the Leon Lowenstein building’s exterior.
the
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The STudenT Voice of fordham LincoLn cenTer
Rob Lesniewski, project manager at the office of Capital Programs and Planning, said that the scaffolding is planned to remain until March 17, 2025, but he hopes to have the project completed ahead of schedule.
“I know we have a lot of spring activities, once that sun is shining and the weather’s warming up no one wants to be cooped up inside,” Lesniewski said. “So we’ll try to get that done as soon as possible.”
Extending the project timeline is a lengthy inspection process to verify that the building’s roof and facade are compliant with New York law. Lesniewski said that part of the roof maintenance also includes asbestos removal, but that it poses no health hazard.
Asbestos removal on the roof is part of a larger abatement project on campus, which included abatement in the visual arts wing over the summer. The project is ongoing, with a planned timeline from May 22, 2024 until April 24, 2025.
Construction also included modern upgrades to the Lipani Gallery, an expansion to the entire visual arts
The Observer Remembers 9/11
The Fordham Observer remembers the lives lost in New York, Pennsylva- nia and Virginia on the tragic day of Sept. 11, 2001. All those affected remember where they were on this day, whether in person or on screen. Over 100 members of the Fordham community — including active students, alumni and family members of Fordham and Marymount alumni. Included in that list posted on the Forever Fordham website, there were three actively enrolled students — Lloyd Brown (PCS), Patricia A. Cody (PCS) and Christopher
Dean Auricchio to Leave in October, Amongst Other Changes
Dincuff (GBA).
During this time, we come together to remember the resilience and community that stemmed from this tragedy. We encourage you to reflect on the bravery of the survivors, first responders and citizens who faced this devastating event. Let us remember the value of fellowship and solidarity in our times of disagreement.
We will never forget 23 years ago today, when America changed forever.
The Hidden Skating Scene of Fordham
By ELEANA KOSTAKIS Asst. Arts & Culture Editor
The American skating subculture has existed since the 1960s, but drastically increased in popularity in the 90s and early 2000s, with professional skaters garnering celebrity status and, of course, pop-star Avril Lavigne’s hit track “Sk8ter Boi.” Skating
has maintained its popularity through recent years with the creative risk blowing up on TikTok and being introduced as an official Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee in 2020 for the Tokyo Olympics, but did not take place until 2021.
Throughout my time at Fordham I’ve witnessed several students meandering with their
skateboards — and after almost getting hit by a skater on campus on a cold March day earlier this year — I began searching around campus to see if a skating community existed. After asking around, I stumbled upon a gritty yet freeing skating scene hidden within Fordham’s Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses.
wing as well as the in-progress development of new music rooms replacing the former QuinnX library.
ALICE MORENO/THE OBSERVER
Dailey Ward, FCLC ’25, skates in the bowl at Andy Kessler Skate Park
The New Fordham
Fordham University unveils new developments for the Lincoln Center campus and the administration
On the administrative front, Fordham University appointed a Vice President for Equity and Inclusion (VPEI), as well as a new law school dean.
A search committee comprised of over 100 students, faculty and staff decided on highereducation diversity leader James A. Felton III to serve in the newly founded VPEI role.
A search committee comprised of over 100 students, faculty and staff decided on higher-education diversity leader James A. Felton III to serve in the newly founded VPEI role. With this position, Felton also holds the chief diversity officer title. Felton will direct student support programs like the University’s High Education Opportunity Program and the Talent Search Program.
This semester Fordham’s Campus Ministry welcomed its inaugural directors of Muslim and Jewish spiritual life. Imam Ammar Rahman and Rabbi Katja Vehlow celebrated their new positions at the annual Interfaith Prayer and Picnic on Sept. 7.
“ I hope you will, in this year ahead, feel this love — and that it will embed in you a courage and hope.”
their desired fields. Professional advisors will have the role of traditional advisors, as they help students with scheduling and degree plans. Instead, the University created advising centers for each of the class years, from which each student is assigned an advisor. The newly assigned advisors are meant to stay with the student for all four years of their undergraduate education.
Beyond the advising system, the leadership of the Arts and Sciences at Fordham was overhauled.
According to the Fordham website under the Office of the Provost, “A single Dean will be responsible for leading all of Arts and Sciences and will simultaneously serve as the dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, and the dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.”
Multiple vice deans will also be hired under that dean to delegate the leadership responsibilities of the arts and sciences department. There is an ongoing search for the inaugural dean that will conclude and be announced in the spring of 2025, and the University expects the four vice deans to be named soon after.
IT services has introduced a “vending machine” service outside of the bookstore that allows students to borrow laptops as needed.
Outside of administrative changes, smaller alterations can be seen around campus.
At the picnic, University President Tania Tetlow spoke about how faith propels us to love in the midst of a tired and cynical world.
“I hope you will, in this year ahead, feel this love — and that it will embed in you a courage and hope,” she said.
“ A single Dean will be responsible for leading all of Arts and Sciences and will simultaneously serve as the dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill, and the dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.”
Fordham University Website, Office of the Provost
This semester a new advising system goes into effect for the class of 2026. Within the new advising system, Fordham faculty take on the role of faculty advisors who aid students in answering career questions and providing connections in
IT services has introduced a “vending machine” service outside of the bookstore that allows students to borrow laptops as needed. The laptops to be dispensed are MacBook Air M3s and Dell Latitude 3440s. A touch screen will be used for service, students are offered information on how to return the laptops, terms and FAQs. There will be 12 laptops available for signing out, and students are to use their IDs to retrieve them.
Dean Auricchio was Dean of FCLC and a professor of art history since 2019. She will become vice president for the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation after her departure in October.
Dean Auricchio was Dean of FCLC and a professor of art history since 2019. She will become vice president for the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation after her departure in October.
At the time of publication, Auricchio was not available for immediate comment pertaining to her transition and the administrative restructuring.
Sam Bracy and Avery Loftis contributed additional reporting to this story.
TOM STOELKER COURTESY OF FORDHAM NEWS
Laura Auricchio has been FCLC’s dean for five years. During her time at Fordham, she aided in the construction of music and art spaces on campus.
STEVIE FUSCO/THE OBSERVER
Scaffolding at the Lincoln Center Campus set to remain until March 2025.
JOSHUA AUSKALNIS/THE OBSERVER
Fordham’s ground floor now features a revamped visual arts wing.
STEVIE FUSCO/THE OBSERVER
The escalators leading up to the elevator plaza in the Leon Lowenstein Center received an upgrade over the summer.
BYE AURICCHIO from page 1
Tania Tetlow, Fordham University President
Fordham Appoints Inaugural Vice President for Equity & Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
James A. Felton III will begin as Fordham’s first vice president for equity & inclusion and chief diversity officer
By ALISON BEINHAUR News Editor
The Office of the President announced the appointment of James A. Felton III as the inaugural vice president for equity & inclusion (VPEI) and chief diversity officer. The announcement was issued in an email sent to the Fordham community on June 13.
Felton said his role as VPEI is to ensure equity for everyone in the Fordham community. In this role, Felton will broadly assist senior university leaders on the President’s cabinet, the President’s advisory council and the University Council of Deans as they chart Fordham’s future.
“The work of equity and inclusion is not just about compliance; it is about creating a space where everyone can thrive and contribute to the university’s mission,” Felton said. “This role is essential in ensuring that we uphold our commitment to social justice and the dignity of every individual.”
Michele Prettyman, the former co-chair of the Fordham Arts and Sciences Deans’ Anti-Racism Advisory, expressed optimism that Felton will meet the needs of Fordham’s incoming first-year class, which is its most diverse to date.
“I hope that as Fordham has announced that this is its most diverse class ever, that every student would feel comfortable and confident that any concerns they have or that any incidents that take place would be transparently addressed and that the
voices and needs of students of color, who have sometimes felt unseen, would be respected,” Prettyman said.
The email announcing Felton’s appointment as VPEI and chief diversity officer praised his work in education, advocacy and government.
Felton is described as “A visionary and thoughtful scholar-practitioner in the field of diversity in higher education, James is a gifted strategist who will help Fordham continue making progress in diversity,
equity, and inclusion — core to our Catholic, Jesuit mission.”
Previously, Felton served as the vice president for inclusive excellence at The College of New Jersey, and since 2021 has sat on the board of directors of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. Felton was also the chief diversity officer at the State University of New York at Cortland from 2017-20 and Vice President for Inclusive Excellence for Anne Arundel Community College from 2020 until he began his
role at Fordham in July 2024. In 2016, Felton attended the White House Convening on Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education, sponsored by the White House Domestic Policy Council in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education. He has also worked with corporate, nonprofit and federal agencies to promote programs and initiatives that aid in equity efforts.
Felton said building equity and inclusion on campus is his calling.
“This work is not just a job
for me; it is my life’s vocation,” Felton said. “At Fordham, I see the potential to make a significant impact, ensuring that our community reflects the values of inclusion and belonging that are central to our Jesuit identity.”
Prettyman said she is confident that Felton will realize Fordham’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across both campuses.
“As Mr. Felton steps into this role, his office must be given the support and space to take bold steps and to do the work fearlessly and without apology,” Prettyman said.
The position of VPEI, Prettyman said, is crucial to Fordham’s core values.
“It is vital as Fordham attempts to fulfill its creed and mission,” Prettyman said. “We cannot abide injustice or inequity of any kind and the Fordham community cannot evolve without a commitment to these values.”
VPEI will also support and supervise various programs, including Fordham’s Higher Education Opportunity Program, College Science and Technology Entry Program, Science and Technology Entry Program, and Talent Search Program.
The dean of the Gabelli School of Business, Lerzan Aksoy, was chair of the committee in the national search for this role. Over 100 students, faculty, and staff also aided in this pursuit as they interviewed the final four candidates for Felton’s position.
Fordham Rolls Out Second Phase of Advising System for Class of 2026
Fordham’s Class of 2026 transitions into a new advising phase aimed at improving student guidance
By MEGAN YERRABELLI Online Editor
As the class of 2026 at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) transitions into their upperclassmen years, they enter the second phase of Fordham’s revamped academic advising system. After receiving guidance from one of eight professional advisors during their first two years, students were appointed a new advisor over the summer specifically trained to assist with post-graduation planning.
The new advising model was first implemented in fall 2022 for the incoming class of 2026. The initiative also included the launch of the Fordham College Advising Center to enhance this process further. Fordham’s advising overhaul is part of a broader plan to improve academic support services.
Ashlee Burrs, associate dean for academic advising, said an expanded team of advisors will improve everyone’s experience with the system.
“I cannot speak for the current advisors, but the addition of more advisors creates a larger support system for the advisors and the students,” she said.
Students will be assigned both professional and faculty advisors throughout their four years at Fordham. Professional advisors address general concerns regarding course scheduling, degree plans, and forms and paperwork. The faculty advisor acts as an academic mentor, a role which
includes answering questions about future careers, attending graduate school and obtaining internships.
Chianne Rice, FCLC ’26, highlighted some initial challenges and eventual benefits with the new model.
“Michelle MacLeod was our advisor for the first 2 years. She came to Fordham fresh when we were freshmen,” Rice said. “At first, it was hard to work with her because she was new to Fordham, and so were we, but she ended up
being really helpful in the long run when coming up with degree plans to pursue other majors/ minors.”
Ava Melville, FCLC ’26, expressed dissatisfaction with the recent transition to a new professional advisor due to the rapport she built with her previous one.
“I actually am really put off by it. I feel like I worked really hard to forge a good relationship between my advisor and myself because I knew if I did, it would be easier to reach out to her and
get things done quicker,” Melville said. “She also knew me very well and was able to tailor my schedules to be interesting as well as satisfying as many credits as possible. Now that it is a new person, I’m having to start over from scratch halfway through college, and it’s frustrating.”
While Melville and Rice both described positive relationships they fostered with their advisors, Stephanie Mecir, FCLC ’26, described a different experience she had throughout these past
two years.
“Every advisor I’ve worked with has been accessible, kind, and willing to work with me. Unfortunately, I am on my fourth advisor, sixth if you include my major advisors. It seems like there’s always a huge turnover and every advisor is new, left to figure things out with me instead of guiding me,” Mecir said. “While I wish there was more stability in the system, I’ve always just figured it out and been fine.”
The new model of advising was conceived after Laura Auricchio, dean of FCLC, and Maura Mast, dean of Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH), received feedback from the Task Force on Undergraduate Advising. Following that advice, the model was designed to address concerns over inconsistent guidance and to ensure that students can receive the academic support they need.
In a joint statement to The Observer, Auricchio and Mast expressed their enthusiasm about the recent appointments of advisors for the junior class.
“We are delighted that, with the hiring of Academic Advisors for Juniors at FCLC and FCRH, we are one step closer to providing all of our students with the tandem support of professional and faculty advisors,” Auricchio and Mast wrote in an email.
The Class of 2025 is the last class operating under the previous advising model. Upon graduation, FCLC will fully transition to the new system for all future cohorts.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES FELTON
James A. Felton III becomes the newest member of the University’s Presidential Cabinet.
SAM BRACY/THE OBSERVER
Fordham College Advising Center was launched in 2022.
Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan Stalled
Students bear the burden of debt while courts halt federal forgiveness programs
By ELIZABETH CARILLO
Contributing Writer
With the start of the fall semester, Fordham students can look forward to meeting new people, being exposed to new ideas and potentially assuming thousands of dollars of new debt. In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to block the Biden Administration’s Student Debt Relief Plan, marking another setback to President Biden’s student debt forgiveness initiatives.
Heather Gautney, professor of sociology at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), helped shape the Biden campaign’s debt relief policy proposals as the co-chair of the Biden-Sanders Unity Education Task Force which sought to unify the Democratic Party’s positions ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
At the time Gautney was working on the unity task force, the US Department of Education had temporarily paused payments, recollection and interest accrual on student loans due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
“When student debt repayment was on hold people were able to breathe. They were able to get some air so they’re able to see forward financially. And it helped a lot of people,” Gautney said.
The task force recommended the authorization of up to $10,000 in student debt relief among other proposals to alleviate the burden of debt felt by American households.
“The ever-rising cost of college tuition and fees leaves higher education out of reach — or saddles students with a lifetime of debt,” Gautney wrote in the task force’s report.
AVERY GRAFELD/THE OBSERVER
Americans owed $1.74 trillion of student debt in June 2024 according to the US Federal Reserve.
That recommendation was realized when the Biden administration announced a debt relief plan in August 2022. The plan forgave $10,000 in student loan debt for all borrowers, or up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients.
Six Republican-led states legally challenged the debt forgiveness program in October 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in their favor on the grounds that Biden lacked the constitutional authority to authorize the debt relief plan.
Arantza Rebello Roman, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’25, said that her family has taken loans from the federal government and private lenders to pay her tuition at Fordham. She said that the rise in Fordham’s tuition prices has strained her family’s finances.
“We weren’t expecting for tuition to increase so much every year,” Rebello Roman said. “Sometimes I do regret coming to Fordham because of the tuition.”
Fordham’s annual tuition has increased by over 14.4% since Rebello Roman enrolled in 2021.
Tibet Ates, FCLC ’26, transferred to Fordham after spending two years at Nassau Community College. Ates said his family assumed roughly $30,000 in debt to pay for his first semester at Fordham.
While his tuition at Nassau was much more affordable, Ates said he hoped his time at Fordham would be more fulfilling.
“I feel like everybody does this, so it’s just okay, which feels a little crazy, but, I mean, I guess that’s the price of a good education,” Ates said.
Joshua Burgher, vice president for finance, said that the university has had to raise tuition prices to meet increasing costs driven by inflation.
“Fordham’s increase has been less than the median despite operating in one of the most expensive cities in the country as a result of prudent financial practices,” Burgher said. “From 2000 to 2020, private four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. increased tuition by an average of 6.2% annually according to the Education Data Initiative. In contrast, our university’s tuition rose by an average of 4.71% per year during the same period.”
Fordham’s tuition hikes reflect the increasing cost of an American college education. Tuition prices rose 4.4% on average since the year 2000 according to the
New Clubs Introduced at Club Day
Several clubs debuted at this year’s club fair at the Lincoln Center campus
Education Data Initiative, causing more students and their families to assume greater amounts of debt. According to the U.S. Federal Reserve, Americans owed over $1.74 trillion in student loan debt in June 2024, making it one of the largest sources of household debt in the country.
In August 2023, the Biden administration announced a different income-driven repayment plan called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. SAVE would cut monthly undergraduate payments in half, slow the accumulation of unpaid interest and ease the cancellation of debt for low-income borrowers.
This plan was also blocked, leading the Supreme Court to decline to hear the case and making the plan stagnant. On Aug. 28, the Supreme Court halted a bid to revive the SAVE plan, leaving the future of the program in limbo.
Despite these setbacks, current students like Rebello Roman are still hopeful relief will come.
“(Debt relief) is definitely something I’d like to see. I know the loan interest pauses from freshman and sophomore year were really helpful to get loans paid off,” Rebello Roman said. “That relief did help ease a lot of stress that I know a lot of families in America need.”
Gautney expressed she believes debt relief is attainable if people stay active in the fight for forgiveness.
“I think that all of it hinges on the level of activism,” Gautney said. “That’s how you move the dial.”
Sam Bracy contributed reporting to this story.
By PARIS MATHUKU Contributing writer
New clubs tabled at the Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) Club Day on Aug. 29. The clubs represented a wide range of hobbies and student interest groups including Film Photography, Media Agency and 11 others.
The annual fair held on the Outdoor Plaza showcased the student body’s creativity, spirit and enthusiasm as the campus came together to celebrate and learn from each other. It was held in the heart of the campus, transforming the area from a usually still outdoor place to a bustling hub of excitement. Students approached lines of tables surrounding the plaza, with upperclassmen ready to greet and recruit them.
“ As a media and design student looking to pursue digital design as a career, it is important for me to have skills and a working portfolio. MAC came to fit exactly what we need. ”
Gabby Nguyen, President of Media Agency Club
The event offered a wealth of opportunities to kickstart their extracurricular journey at FCLC, whether students arrived
Film photo taken at the first meething of Film Photography Club.
knowing what clubs they wanted to join or happened to walk past the various tables.
Liberty Stam, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26 and president of Film Photo Club, shared they first tried to found a Film Photography Club during their freshman year and waited two years to receive official status.
“There was a lot of paperwork and bureaucratic processes that delayed it, but we did it!” they expressed.
Gabby Nguyen, FCLC ’26 and president of Media Agency Club (MAC) is enthusiastic about the club’s potential to provide
valuable experience in media and design. Nguyen said that her fellow E-Board member Barry Zhang, FCLC ’25, saw there was space missing in Fordham’s portfolio for development and collaborative digital design work.
“Barry had experience with starting another club here at Fordham, and pitched me the idea for this club. Its purpose resonated with me, and I was energized to create it,” Nguyen said.
MAC’s main focus is to foster a diverse community where students from all backgrounds can work on projects that align with their future goals and aspirations. It is designed to be a mock agency
that gives students the opportunity to collaborate with each other while enhancing their skills and building their portfolios.
“As a media and design student looking to pursue digital design as a career, it is important for me to have skills and a working portfolio. MAC came to fit exactly what we need,” Nguyen said.
Similar to Nguyen, Stams’ passion for visual arts, and especially film photography, motivated them to found the Film Photography Club. Stam’s desire to find a community that shared their interests informed the club’s mission to make a welcoming environment for students who want
to create art. Stam said they also hope to make participation in film photography more accessible for
In joining Black Student Alliance, she found a space on campus that grounds her.
those who haven’t in the past.
“I really wanted to join a club my freshman year that correlated with my major (visual arts with a concentration in photography), and when I found out that there was not a photography club on the Lincoln Center campus, I decided to start one,” Stam wrote in an email.
Kara Best, FCLC ’28, became interested in the affinity clubs on campus when she applied. Best intends to join multiple clubs. In joining Black Student Alliance, she found a space on campus that grounds her.
“It was really nice to see that Fordham offered the same opportunities in high school. Especially ones that make me feel united with my identity on campus,” Best said.
Best also said that she was not interested in starting her own club, unless she found an inherent need for one.
For now, Fordham undergraduates have started to fill the spaces and create communities within the Lincoln Center campus.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LIBERTY STAM
New Directors of Spiritual Life Embrace Interfaith Difference
Rabbi Katja Vehlow and Imam Ammar Abdul Rahman became the first to hold the positions
By CHARLIE KUSTER Asst. Features Editor
On the Outdoor Plaza last Thursday, Sept. 7, Imam Ammar Rahman and Rabbi Katja Vehlow addressed students and faculty at Fordham’s annual Interfaith Prayer and Picnic.
“As you stand at the threshold of a new chapter of your lives,” Rahman said. “We gather here today seeking the guidance and blessings of God.”
Rahman, standing tall in a blue robe, read from the Quran and spoke of his hopes for the Fordham community. After a few minutes, he stepped aside as Vehlow took over the microphone.
Vehlow asked if anyone wanted to blow the shofar horn she had brought along, as, with asthma, it’s difficult for her to sound. She then launched into some prepared words.
“You don’t have to be intellectual — anyone can do this,” Vehlow said. “You can pray with your heart. You can bring soup to a sick neighbor. You can support the poor. You can live a good life.”
In May, the university announced the hirings of Vehlow and Rahman — they're the first nonCatholic chaplans that Fordham has ever hired.
This was the first time the event featured the directors of Muslim and Jewish life.
In May, the university announced the hirings of Vehlow and Rahman — they’re the first non-Catholic chaplains that Fordham has ever hired.
“We’ve certainly seen a need for these positions for years,” the director of Campus Ministry at Lincoln Center, Erin Hoffman said. “While we would have loved to have had them in place years
ago, we’re glad that they’re here now.”
Father Philip Judge, a member of the Society of Jesus and executive director of Campus Ministry, said the Fordham community’s growing religious diversity contributed to the need for these positions.
“ Working as a hospital chaplain taught me about being present with people,” Vehlow said. “It taught me to just be with people. ”
Rabbi Katja Vehlow, Director of Jewish Life at Fordham
“We now have more Jewish and Muslim students than ever before,” Judge said. “We’re a very diverse community. We need to serve that community.”
Hoffman said that they each have a deep understanding of other traditions — and are eager to learn.
“They work really well together, with each other and with other colleagues in our area,” Hoffman said.
Vehlow, originally from Germany, came to the United States to pursue her doctorate of philosophy at New York University.
After receiving her doctorate, she taught religious studies at the University of South Carolina for a decade. She returned to New York to study to become a rabbi, becoming one in 2022. While doing freelance work as a rabbi, she served as a chaplain at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.
“Working as a hospital chaplain taught me about being present with people,” Vehlow said. “It taught me to just be with people.”
Although working with patients and their family members is different from her current work, Vehlow learned a lot about
the importance of presence. Now, she wants to apply those skills to her work with students and faculty at Fordham.
“Just being there for others, I think, is very transferable,” she said.
Rahman found himself involved in ministry at an early age. As an undergraduate student, he served as “the unofficial imam” for Lehman College’s Muslim Students Association. In this role he helped run programs that were open to all students regardless of faith which garnered high attendance from the student population. Rahman has also served as the deputy Imam and director of Community Engagement and
Youth Activities at the Al-Haram Masjid USA INC. mosque in The Bronx since 2018.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he works as the outreach coordinator at the Interfaith Center of New York.
Rahman also works with the New York Disaster Interfaith Services, which he called “the largest interfaith organization in the city,” to collaborate with houses of worship in finding shelter for asylum seekers in the city.
His agenda for the beginning of the fall semester include weekly halaqas — gatherings to talk about each other’s lives and the Quran — on Mondays at Rose Hill and Thursdays at Lincoln Center, and jumma prayers on Fridays. Both will be available for all students to attend.
Both Rahman and Vehlow said they want to see interfaith dialogue on campus flourish.
One event they’re excited about is a series of readings of the story of Abraham from the Bible, the Torah and the Quran.
“The goal is for students to see the little differences in all the stories — but also see the similarities in the stories,” Rahman said.
“ When we disagree, we cannot make that the whole of our relationship. ”
“We are more alike than we are different,” he said. “Instead, we could look at it as disagreement and treat it as is, and then also look at the things we agree and celebrate them.”
Vehlow said that the purpose of this event is to not only build community but for students to
gain a better understanding of their personal beliefs.
“We both feel very strongly that it’s important to have familiarity with each others’ traditions,” she said. “It enriches our own identities and who we are and it’s just good to know each other.”
Mutual respect and cordiality when engaging in interfaith dialogue are incredibly important, Vehlow said, especially when disagreements in belief arise.
“I’m sure that we will disagree on all kinds of things, and that’s totally okay,” she said. “We can still sit down and break bread because there’s a big difference between having a conversation and having a debate — or having a conversation and having a big fight.”
Rahman said we should not let our differences in beliefs affect how we interact with each other.
“When we disagree, we cannot make that the whole of our relationship,” he said.
For Vehlow, breaking bread together is for everyone.
“Everybody’s open to come to a Shabbat dinner or to come to talk at all times. We can all go to a Muslim prayer to see what others are doing. It sort of demystifies a little bit. It creates familiarity,” she said.
Interfaith dialogue is already taking shape at Fordham, and they said they’ve already seen it.
“So far, I’ve had two students come to me, and we’ve had a conversation about what it means to be having an interfaith dialogue,” Rahman said. “Traditionally, they don’t do it. It’s not something that Muslims will do. But we had a whole hour of conversation about why this is rooted in Islam, and it’s permissible in Islam, but also is necessary.”
Vehlow, too, has watched as interfaith friendships have blossomed. “This is one of the things I really love seeing here at Ford
ham,” she said.
The picnic celebrated the inter
faith connections that
-
-
Rahman and Vehlow hoped to foster.
PHOTO COURTESTY OF IMAM AMMAR RHAMAN
Imam Ammar Rahman is the new Director of Muslim life at Fordham. Since his hiring was announced late last semester, he has been preparing for a semester filled with Muslim rituals and interfaith discussions.
CHARLIE KUSTER/THE OBSERVER
Rabbi Katja Vehlow is the new Director of Jewish life at Fordham. She expects her experience as an German immigrant and hospital chaplain to allow her to connect more with the student body.
Imam Ammar Rahman, Director of Muslim Life at Fordham
Sports & Health
Fordham Men’s Basketball Welcomes Star Talent to the
Roster
Coach Urgo recruited skilled players for the 2024-25 season, including one of the highest-rated recruits in the team’s history
By JANE ROCHE Sports Editor
Fordham Men’s Basketball (MBB) introduced prominent talent to the 2024-25 season’s roster. Head Coach Keith Urgo was busy during the offseason securing new commits, including one of the highest-rated recruits in Fordham MBB history, as reported by Fordham Sports.
Jaden Smith, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’28, is a 4-star recruit, as stated by ESPN, making him only the second in program history. The 6-foot-11 center was picked up from Kenwood Academy in Chicago and previously committed to play for Arizona State University. In the end, Smith chose the Rams over the Sun Devils, also turning down the University of Louisville, Xavier University, University of Michigan, Butler University and Virginia Tech University.
In an interview with ZAGSBLOG, Smith said, “I chose Fordham because I love the culture there. They have a family type environment and I have a great relationship with the coaches already.”
Coach Urgo recognized Smith’s special skills. In particular, his ability to alter shots on defense, Urgo said. Smith’s contribution to the team brings an exciting buzz surrounding Fordham MBB. Fordham Sports reported that Coach Urgo “can’t wait to watch him light up Rose Thrill.”
“ We think we’ve truly found a diamond in the rough with Ryan Pettis.”
Alongside Smith, the program welcomes three more rookies: Kingston Price, FCRH ’28, Aleksander Pachucki, FCRH ’28, and Ryan Pettis, FCRH ’28. Pettis, the first commit of the 2028 class, comes out of East Palo
Alto, California, where he played at Junipero Serra High School. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 14.4 points in his senior season.
“We think we’ve truly found a diamond in the rough with Ryan Pettis,” Coach Urgo said to reporters at Fordham Sports. “He has size, speed and the ability to score at all three levels while excelling on the defensive end. Ryan fits perfectly with what we’re building here at Fordham and we can’t wait to welcome him to Rose Thrill.”
Pachucki is a 6-foot-5 guard from Toronto. He’s coming from Hoosac School, one of the nation’s top prep leagues. In his last season at the prep school, Fordham Sports detailed that Pachucki averaged 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals per game, which earned him All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council honors.
In his comment to Fordham Sports, there was much to say about Pachucki. “It’s not easy to excel the way he did against outstanding prep school competition, and we think he can surely contribute to what we’re building at Fordham, especially on the perimeter,” Urgo said.
Price, who made First Team All County this past year according to NY NJ Sports World, became the final addition to Fordham MBB’s 2024 recruiting class. The 6-foot-2 guard comes from Severna Park, Maryland. Fordham Sports explains that he led his high school basketball team at Severn School to their first MIAA B Conference title in 31 years. Price concluded his career with 1,279 points and a team-high 17.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Matt Zona and Jackie Johnson III join the roster with previous college basketball experience.
Zona, a New York native, spent his last four years playing at the University of Notre Dame. In his final season with the team, the 6-foot-9 forward appeared in all 33 games for the Fighting Irish with six starts.
Urgo recognized Zona’s skill on the court, but also his strong leadership in his comments to Fordham Sports. “I’ve known Matt since his high school days at
Bergen Catholic and he embodies everything we want our Fordham program to be. He’s relentless, he’s a leader and he’s a terrific student. We can’t wait to see the impact he will have on every facet of our program,” he said.
Johnson will also contribute collegiate basketball familiarity to this season’s roster. The 5-foot11 guard from Wichita, Kansas,
spent his first year in the Atlantic 10 at Duquesne University. Since then, Fordham Sports highlighted that he played his last two years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he averaged 5.4 points in 14.7 minutes pergame.
In his first year at Duquesne, Johnson averaged 9.5 points per game. Coach Urgo explained his final choice for this season’s
Men’s and Women’s Soccer
Three Fordham soccer players received A10 rookie of the week so far this season
Men’s Soccer Rookie of the Week 9/3
Daniel Lang, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’27, was named Atlantic 10 (A10) rookie of the week on Sept. 3. The award was announced following his game winning goal against Sacred Heart on Aug. 28, which finalized the 2-1 score, as reported by Fordham Sports.
Fordham at Sacred Heart W Wed, Aug. 28 2-1
team to Fordham Sports, “Jackie is a proven talent with considerable experience who can help us immediately in multiple facets of the game. He’s proven that he can excel in the Atlantic 10 and we can’t wait to see him do it again,” Urgo said.
These new recruits anticipate a thrilling era of Fordham men’s basketball.
Women’s Soccer Rookie of the Week 8/26 & 9/9
Liina Tervo, FCRH ’27, received A10 Rookie of the week on Aug. 26 following her hat trick in the Rams win over UAlba- ny; this is currently the fastest hat trick in program history, as stated by Fordham Sports.
Fordham vs. UAlbany W Sun, Aug. 25 4-2
Julia Acosta, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill ’27, was awarded A10 Rookie of the Week on Sept. 9. Acosta scored three goals in two matches to help lead the Rams to win on both occasions. Her third goal of the week — as per Fordham Sports — was the game winner against Yale.
Fordham at Stonehill W Thu, Sept. 5 4-0
Fordham at Yale W Sun, Sept. 8
Keith Urgo, Fordham’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Rookie Jaden Smith, FCRH ’28, is the second four-star recruit in Fordham Men’s Basketball history.
On the Court and Behind the Scenes at the US Open
Two Fordham students share their unique experiences attending the 2024 US Open
By DELIA MOBARAK
Contributing Writer
I arrived at the U.S. Open for the first time on Labor Day. My mom and I were warmly welcomed at the grand Billie Jean King National Tennis Center gates. This day marked the fourth round of the men’s single U.S. Open tournament, where Daniil Medvedev and Nuno Borges would face off in a battle for a place in the quarterfinals.
If you have attended a live sporting event, you know that watching it on your TV at home and being a part of the crowd are two distinct experiences. While each has its pros and cons, for me, the only con of watching an event live is not being able to hear the broadcasting and commentary.
Thankfully, my worries vanished as I was greeted with a complementary radio earpiece that provided live audio playby-play and updates. As I put on my earpiece, I was delighted to hear the voices of two former international tennis superstars and brothers John and Patrick McEnroe. Their quick remarks and insightful commentary made me feel fully immersed and in tune with the sport and the audience, not to mention their hilarious quips that led me to laugh audibly in a pin-drop silent stadium.
As I made my way through the plaza to Arthur Ashe Stadium, I couldn’t contain my awe and excitement as I caught a first glimpse of the crisp green and blue court.
The U.S. Open, one of tennis’ four Grand Slam tournaments, is a highlight of the tennis calendar. Held in a stadium named after Billie Jean King, one of tennis’ greatest champions and female tennis pioneers, is renowned for its hard surfaces, which contribute to the fast-paced nature of
the tournament.
Soon enough, the time had come for the match: Medvedev vs. Borges.
As I made my way through the plaza to Arthur Ashe Stadium, I couldn’t contain my awe and excitement as I caught a first glimpse of the crisp green and blue court. The gleaming sunlight perfectly divided the stadium down the center. I quickly realized how lucky I was to be in the shaded area with a warm breeze wafting in from the court in front of me. Throughout the match, I noticed people migrating away from the scorching sun to find a spot in the shade.
As the match began, it did not take a tennis expert to notice that Medvedev, former U.S. Open champion, portrayed dominance and expertise. Across the net, Borges appeared nervous. After all, he was taunted by the pressure of the world’s largest tennis stage. The crowd quickly caught on to this dynamic and began rooting for the underdog, Borges. In the final set, as Borges evened the score by securing the point of an especially competitive round he
passionately pumped his fist to the sky and was met with a tremendous roar from the crowd.
Perhaps I mistook my U.S. Open ticket for a Wimbledown pass as I was searching through my closet for something to wear.
Throughout the match, the star-studded audience made appearances on the big screen above the court. I was particularly excited to see Anna Wintour, but despite the fashion icon’s presence, the sartorial atmosphere of the U.S. Open was casual. Perhaps I mistook my U.S. Open ticket for a Wimbledon pass as I was searching through my closet for something to wear, but thankfully, I played it safe and went with sneakers and a comfortable dress.
Though the Open may not have been the fashion show I
anticipated, the ball persons — the young people who supply and retrieve tennis balls to and from the players during a match — were dressed in head-to-toe Ralph Lauren. Their luxurious uniforms highlighted the fashionable undertone that always accompanies grand slams.
Medvedev and Borges sported vibrant athletic shorts and contrasting white T-shirts.
Ultimately, Medvedev put an end to Borges’ momentum in the third set and finished the match victoriously.
Just as I thought the excitement was coming to an end, I glanced over my left shoulder to spot none other than Billie Jean King herself being interviewed, rocking a vibrant purple suit.
While fans at the U.S. Open cheer on their favorite tennis stars, a dedicated team works behind the scenes to ensure the event runs smoothly. Bianca Ortega, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’25, is one of the many interns making it happen this year. As part of the event services team, she offers a unique perspective on the inner workings of one of tennis’ biggest tournaments.
Ortega’s day starts early, often arriving at 8:30 a.m. to prepare entry points and assist patrons. “We like to say ‘every person is like a VIP,’” she said. Her duties range from helping guests find their seats to ensuring the event flows seamlessly. She describes the atmosphere as “organized chaos,” where every moment brings something new.
One of her favorite moments from the Open involved meeting a woman who attended the Open for the last 15 years. “She told me it’s magical,” Ortega said. Amidst this conversation with the woman, an upset occurred during an ongoing match, to which Ortega “got chills” and took a moment to reflect, “That’s when you realize you’re part of something much bigger.”
“ That’s when you realize you’re part of something much bigger.”
As fans focus on the matches, Ortega pays attention to details most people miss. From checking logos to managing lines, every aspect is essential to making the event a success. “Seeing signs go up that I helped work on was a really cool moment,” she said.
Ortega expected her internship to be fast-paced, and while it certainly is, she didn’t anticipate the amount of desk work involved before the tournament began. “There was a lot of prep work leading up to the Open,” she said, explaining that the foundation for a successful event starts long before the first serve.
Now nearing the end of her summer internship, Ortega reflects on her time at the U.S. Open with pride. “I couldn’t recommend this internship enough,” she said. Whether you’re cheering from the stands or working tirelessly behind the scenes, the U.S. Open is more than just a tennis tournament — it’s a blend of excitement, tradition and unforgettable moments that capture the heart of the game.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIANCA ORTEGA
Jannik Sinner won the Men’s Singles Championship and Aryna Sabalenka won the Women’s Singles Championship.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BIANCA ORTEGA
Bianca Ortega, GSBLC ’25, works as an intern for the U.S. Open.
Bianca Ortega, GSBLC ’25
Fordham Ram Swims His Alex Shah breaks Nepal national record and announces
On July 30, Nepali Swim- mer Alex Shah, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’25, competed in the Men’s 100-meter freestyle at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On that day, Shah set his personal-best time in the race at 51.91 seconds. More importantly, he set the new Nepal national record in the event.
This was a triumphant end to his interna- tional swimming career.
And, after Shah completes his senior year swimming for Fordham, he will retire. “I want to swim only for myself now,” he said. “And I think this will be thrilling.”Shah, 21, was born in Bangkok, Thailand. However, Nepal is his home. Shah said, “I’d really say I was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal.”Shah began swim- ming at age 10 and started seriously compet- ing at age 14. “When I first started swimming, I did not enjoy it at all and was only really motivated when I competed or won an event,” Shah said. “Now, I have learned to love the sport and myself within it.”
In Kathmandu, Shah swam as an MVP at both the Lincoln School for five years and on a club team for Nepal swimming,
according to Fordham Sports. In 2021, Shah began his college swim- ming career at Fordham.
“ Through racing at Fordham and in college, I have become very comfortable and precise with how I prepare mentally and physically.”
Alex Shah, FCRH ’25
Prior to becoming a D1 college athlete, Shah made his international swimming debut for Nepal at the 2019 World Aquatics Championship. As reported by olympics. com, he then went on to compete in the World Aquatics Champion- ship in 2023 and 2024. His performance at the 2024 championship in Doha, Qatar, qualified him to compete in Paris, as reported by Fordham Sports.
Shah is no stranger to the goings-on of the Olympic games. He com- peted in the same event in 2021 at the COVID19 delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “To be com- pletely honest, I enjoyed Tokyo more than Paris for a couple reasons: organization, quality of food, hospitality, and of course, it was my first time competing in the Olympics,” Shah said. Despite his prefer- ence, Shah approached Paris with more expe- rience and preparation. “Through racing at Ford- ham and in college, I have become very com- fortable and precise with how I prepare mentally and physically. Why I thoroughly enjoyed Paris was because I could trust myself and my swim- ming, and that I never felt nervous, but more motivated to compete and get the job done. I truly felt ready,” Shah said.
For Shah, he met both Olympic games with the same goal in mind: to fully embrace the experi- ence as much as he could.
“It is extremely enjoyable and often I felt ecstatic and energetic to just be provided such a great opportunity,” he said.
“ The only thing I would say that was a bit of a struggle was not having air conditioning! And maybe the cardboard beds being a little tough.”
Alex Shah, FCRH ’25
Living in the Olym- pic Village added to the swimmer’s enjoyment. Shah said he felt like a kid in a candy shop. Everything was within
arms reach like incomparable athletic facili- ties, nutritional support, healthcare and phys- ical therapy. He said that everywhere you go, there is a chance you rub shoulders with an athlete you look up to.
“Being in the Olym- pic Village is surreal,” he said. “It is quite a packed, small city and everyone is also as excited to be there as I was.”
Free healthcare and state-of-the-art athletic facilities aside, Shah had a favorite perk while living in the village: the vending machines. The machines were only accessible to athletes, he said. “We were given a specific key that let us use any vending machine in the village to get elec- trolytes, water, or maybe even a Diet Coke.”
JANE ROCHE Sports & Health Editor
His Last Olympic Games announces retirement from international swimming
Although the ben- efits of the Olympic Village are exciting, Shah recounted a few minor grievances. “The only thing I would say that was a bit of a struggle was not having air condi- tioning! And maybe the cardboard beds being a little tough,” he said.
Shah’s mentality has shifted since competing in the Tokyo games. Con- trolling the small things is what he said sets him apart from others, and the prior experience provided him with this skill.
“Holding myself to the standard of never being late, always warm- ing up, cooling down, stretching, not getting sick, eating well,” he said. “Makes me who I am and keeps me in line.”
Despite being a second-time Olympian,
there’s still pressure. “As fun as it sounds, there’s a ridiculous amount of stress. At the end of the day, I am representing an entire country, while also representing myself and my goals to drop time and perform to the best of my ability.”
“ I want to also prove that Nepal has the possibility of improving swimming and getting close to an elite level of athletes. ”
Alex Shah, FCRH ’25
Shah did just that. This year in the Paris La Defense Arena, when Shah stepped up on to the starting block and took his mark, he said he felt calmer and more comfortable.
Shah dropped in time from his previous Olympic appearance in Tokyo where he swam the 100-meter freestyle in 53.41 seconds, as per olympics.com. Addi- tionally, he lowered the national record held by the previous record holder by about six sec- onds when he swam the 100-meter freestyle this year.Shah said, “Before me, the previous record holder went a 58 for the 100-meter freestyle. Since then, I have worked endlessly to bring this down to where it is today, a 51.91. I am extremely proud of this as I want to also prove that Nepal has the possi- bility of improving swim- ming and getting close to an elite level of athletes.”
“Swimming is a direct representation of discipline, work and results. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing the results, dropping time, after an immensely
difficult training cycle,” Shah said. When Shah set the new record for Nepal in Paris, he finished third in his heat and 59th overall among 79 swim- mers. Since only the top 16 best times progressed, Shah did not move to the semi-finals, the Kathmandu Post reported.
“ It is hard to explain what it feels like to have a whole country behind you. I really can’t say much more than that!”
Alex Shah, FCRH ’25
However, Shah’s Olympic performance is not commonplace and an achievement all on its own.
“Making it past the initial stages is extremely difficult, which is where some people may not understand. Just because I am going to the Olym- pics does not mean I
am going to get a gold medal,” he said. To represent Nepal on an international level in swimming is a great honor for Shah. “It is hard to explain what it feels like to have a whole country behind you. I really can’t say much more than that! I have loved it every second and it means so much to me,” he said. “I am not only proving myself, but prov- ing my entire home, as well.”
Shah has ultimately made a significant decision for himself: The 2024 Paris Olympic Games was Shah’s last international swimming competition. “I will swim one more year with Ford- ham as it is my senior year, and truly enjoy college swimming to the fullest,” he said. Shah said it’s a relief returning to Fordham after the Olympics, and also exciting: “I get to see the people that have helped me get to where I am today and celebrate with them. It has felt as though the weight on my shoulders is gone, and that I can truly experi- ence college more now,” he said.
Following his senior year, Shah said he wants to shift his focus toward academics by pursuing a masters degree in data science. Regarding his future he said: “I am looking forward to a dif- ferent chapter of my life.”
Opinions
Are We Still Allowed to Fall in Love?
Capitalism is ruining your love life
Have you ever fallen in love? That pounding in your chest, that feeling like you could die in somebody’s arms à la Romeo and Juliet, that intricate dance protecting each other from this strange, cruel world. Emotional attachment, love, sex, partnership, marriage, wives, husbands, kids — and the cycle repeats. It’s everything we are designed to do as reproductive organisms that have constructed monogamy as the status quo. However, I’ve noticed that monogamous long-term relationships have fallen out of favor among many members of Gen Z.
One can be both a player and the played. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed many young women who date men feel especially played by hookup culture.
This so-called “hookup culture” thrives on two roles: the player and the played. These roles are somewhat ungendered. Sure, a man can be played by a woman. A woman can be played by a woman. A man can be played by a man. A man can even be played by a nonbinary person. Nobody’s safe. These roles are amorphous, and may reverse as the relationship progresses. One can be both a player and the played. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed many young women who date men feel especially played by hookup culture.
Let us examine the clinical presentation of a heterosexual “casual relationship.” The player, usually male, has the power to create plans. He has the power to speak intimacy and sex into action. The played, typically female, is the person who sits idly by. She’s hoping he makes plans, waiting to receive intimacy and sex. Perhaps they’ve found this relationship
predicated on the notion that emotional attachment is not in play — a “friends with benefits” situation. Mostly, however, these relationships form with unclear intentions, causing the played to question, “Will this ever amount to anything?”
The conventions of this relationship seem solid on paper until the played catches feelings for the player. It’s bound to happen. Emotional attachment is the body’s natural response to intimacy. Eventually, this “casual relationship” turns into something more than he had ever intended it to be. The played confesses her feelings to the player. If he’s nice enough, the player hits her with a classic, “I just don’t have the time for anything serious right now.”
Or he ghosts her. According to a 2023 study at the University of Georgia, 65% of people aged 18-29 have “ghosted” a former partner, and up to 72% have been “ghosted.” Let’s face it: many members of Gen Z have a habit of running away from a connection. Ghosting has become our generation’s norm for telling our intimate partners, “Not right now. I just don’t like you that much.”
I’ve done it. You’ve done it. We’ve all done it. We know it hurts. So why is it socially acceptable?
We are sold on the idea that one must work to live; your self-worth is your net worth. My brother, a former Gabelli Ram, once said, “I would love to have a girlfriend, but in this economy?” Marx and Engels’ “The German Ideology” claims that the structure of capitalism proliferates into all aspects of daily life: politics, religion, sports, arts, culture; really, everything. They claim these pillars of our society are constructed to form a “false consciousness” that keeps the structure of capitalism in place. If hookup culture is a manifestation of our “false consciousness,” does that mean it’s our best response to high gas prices, inflation and “the grind-set?” Are we really settling for settling?
Why are you treating women like stocks and bonds? Stop day trading women.
Even the functions of hookup culture operate within capitalist
structures. After establishing an intimate connection, someone knows their attention is valuable to their partner. They become more distant from that person to become more valuable, creating scarcity. Players are encouraged to levy that scarcity among their “roster of hoes.” To be truly content sexually without love is to invest in a diverse portfolio of people’s emotions and sexual desires. Creating a diverse portfolio of “hoes” is less risky than a high-risk emotional investment in a “high-value woman.” To believe in this relationship with sex and romance is to worship a capitalist ideal. Why are you treating women like stocks and bonds? Stop day trading women. This is why finance bros are the worst, and artists are typically watery, hopeless romantics. Hookup culture must be a response to failing late-stage capitalism.
Is “being on your grind” more important than your sexual partner’s emotions?
Most young men would rather have little flings with ever-changing lists of people than a consistent relationship with a consistent person who loves them very much. There is a responsibility in a long-term relationship that can be daunting — your significant other’s emotions and your own. This takes time out of your schedule that you could spend pursuing … what? An excel sheet? A class reading? Your lousy internship? Is “being on your grind” more important than your sexual partner’s emotions? Are players such sheep to Adam Smith that they don’t recognize their worship of capital is seeping into their everyday lives?
Many young women are being burned by young men’s high sex drive and lack of care. Many men at Fordham fall into this “player” category. I’m talking to you, players. You know you’re allowed to fall in love, right? You’re going to want to do it eventually. Why not now? What I’m asking you to do, or rather, challenging you to do, as we enter this fall semester, is to fall in love.
STEVIE FUSCO/THE OBSERVER
Ryann Lynn Murphy, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25, knows good stocks.
RYANN LYNN MURPHY Columnist
This Election, Get Out and Vote
We owe it to ourselves to sustain the democracy our ancestors fought so hard to establish
ARISHA CHOWDHURY Contributing Writer
Despite my apprehensions in our current political sphere, voting down the ballot ensures my voice is heard on a national and local scale. As a liberal New York resident, I can help elect members of my local government; otherwise, the principles of democracy are erased.
I have always been politically active. From participating in women’s rights protests at 13 and working on political campaigns — such as the 2022 Congressional campaign for Max Rose and the 2024 State Assembly campaign for Maria Ordoñez — I’ve had faith in our country, as unbelievable as that seems. At 16, I was working at polling stations, feeling empowered as I witnessed our democracy in action. I spent my day looking at people with grins spread across their faces after they dropped their ballots in the bin. Since then, I have been so excited to vote; yet, my stance has drastically changed over the past year.
As a first-time voter, I expected to feel exhilaration, pride and hope for the future of my country. However, our political landscape has been marred by decisive rhetoric and seemingly insurmountable challenges this past year — at a glance, the candidate I wanted to vote for in the 2024 presidential election became too old to even form a proper sentence, and my other option is a convicted felon with questionable morals.
Ultimately, I have a question: Will my vote truly make a difference?
Voting is about standing up for the issues that truly matter to me — from a woman’s right to autonomy to ensuring every child has the right to an education.
First-time voting is a rite of passage, a step into the adult world where my voice finally matters. But it feels like I am drowning in a sea of conflicting information, political jargon
and endless debate on whether my vote truly matters. I quickly found myself wondering if I should even bother. After all, who was I to think that one vote could change anything?
Then I began thinking: Why did I want to vote in the first place? It is not just about picking a candidate; voting is about standing up for the issues that truly matter to me — from a woman’s right to autonomy to ensuring every child has the right to an education. These are merely examples of what I care about, and I know that by not voting I would be giving up my chance to have a say in how those policies are addressed.
I also thought about the people who fought so hard for the right to vote, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi
Freedom Democratic Party at the 1964 Democratic National Committee, and Alice Paul, who authored the Equal Rights Amendment in 1923. These figures are a small part of the many people who faced more obstacles than I ever will.
I come from a place of privilege by taking voting power for granted. The impact of a simple vote has brought candidates such as former President Franklin D. Roosevelt into office, who introduced the lifesaving Food Stamps program. Also, former New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, who founded the New York City Housing Authority to help alleviate the severe housing crisis. These initiatives have improved the quality of life for millions of people, and it is essential that these programs
continue to thrive. We can only ensure the continued success of these vital programs through our votes.
I realize voting is not just a right; it is a responsibility.
I realize voting is not just a right; it is a responsibility. If I don’t use my voice, I will be letting down the founders of our democracy. Here’s the truth: your vote matters. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that one person’s vote won’t change anything, but history has shown time and again that elections can be decided by the slimmest of margins. How else can we enact real change? Being a first-time voter is a unique opportunity. It’s a chance to make your mark on the world and to stand up for the issues that matter to you. Your vote is your way of saying, “I care about this, and I want to see change.” Your vote isn’t just a number; it’s a statement of your values, beliefs and vision for the future.
I understand if you’re unsure about voting for the first time, but don’t let those feelings turn into apathy. The system isn’t perfect, but it won’t change unless we change it. By voting, you contribute to the collective voice shaping our future. Every vote counts, and so does yours. Make sure you check your voter registration status at vote.gov.
Billionaires Do Not Belong in Campaign Financing
Politicians rely on massive donations from a handful of wealthy donors, abandoning voters
LAURA HENCKES Contributing Writer
Behind the polished image of campaign fundraising lies elitism, coercion and absurd vilification, all of which pose a real threat to democracy. As an intern in a political fundraising firm, I have seen firsthand how deep pockets influence election outcomes, but I’ve also seen hope for reform. Have you ever been to a campaign financing event? If not, let me paint you a picture: excessive hors d’oeuvres, banal small talk and the expectation of a “generous” donation from every attendee. In my role as an intern at the firm who organized fundraising events, I always found myself awkwardly standing in a corner, staring at an endless parade of wealthy donors fawning over some idolized candidate, the scene so ridiculous it felt like a “Saturday Night Live” skit. I’m sure some patrons had good intentions, but I would wager that a majority of these elderly guests religiously donated to elevate their social status or fill a void even their own riches could not fix.
By its nature, campaign financing is an elitist world. In truth, that’s what had initially drawn me to it — I desperately wanted to explore every little fissure in that perfect, scintillating screen of a rare and highly sought-after network of politicians and lawmakers.
What I discovered: Wealthy donors are willing to give to their favorite politician a paycheck of such an unfathomable amount that it made me want to bang my head against the wall, repeatedly. Most importantly, why anyone would wish to spend their money on a local politician (or any politician, for that matter) is a perplexing question. In a shameful era of political corruption and never-ending scandals, many would deem our democratic prospects bleak and unworthy of any kind of tangible financial support.
These affluent donors have a grossly disproportionate influence over election outcomes.
These affluent donors have a grossly disproportionate influence over election outcomes. Unsurprisingly, the fabric of U.S. politics has long been strained by the overwhelming influence of money, a concern brought into sharp focus by the landmark Supreme Court decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), which has been heavily criticized for allowing corporations and special interest groups to spend unlimited amounts to sway elections. In
recent years, according to the Brennan Center, there has been a sharp rise in super PACs and dark money groups like 501c4s, whose work often entails running a candidate’s campaign for them despite laws attempting to prohibit such ethical, political and financial violations. Consequently, the proliferation of such interest groups in elections have all but choked our political system, which is now more expensive than ever before and has become less about actual candidates and more about which party or interest group can raise the most money. By comparison, a standard, middle-to-lower-class American voter has significantly fewer opportunities to make a tangible difference in election outcomes. Nevertheless, swift opposition has emerged; according to Public Citizen, 19 states and over 700 local governments have formally called Congress to enact a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and related decisions. In fact, the push for reform is not just a matter of political posturing; it also resonates with the American public. Pew Research findings show that 77% of Americans support capping how much money individuals and organizations can contribute to political campaigns, underscoring a broad consensus for change. Looking ahead, we can take inspiration from state-based initiatives, such as New York’s very own Matching Funds Program. The New York City Campaign
Finance Board reports that the Matching Funds Program matches candidates with up to $2,000 from public funds for each individual donor’s contribution. The program enhances transparency and accountability in campaign financing through strict reporting requirements, such as thorough records of all donations that are reported to the New York State Board of Elections. Most importantly, it incentivizes candidates to engage with the constituents they seek to represent rather than relying on a small number of wealthy donors, particularly since public
funds will only match donations within an accessible limit — typically no more than $250 in total donations per individual and per election cycle. We’re still a long way from nation-wide changes to campaign financing laws. To my disappointment, I anticipate the upcoming years to hold many more supercilious fundraisers and meaningless shows of power. But in such a crucial election year, when super PACs and dark money groups’ prominence threatens to overshadow our power as individual voters, it is essential to know there is hope.
AVERY GRAFELD/THE OBSERVER
Alice Paul (pictured left) and Fannie Lou Hammer (pictured right) fought for women’s ability to vote.
AVERY GRAFELD/THE OBSERVER
Billionaires like Elon Musk (left), Mike Bloomberg (middle) and Linda McMahon have massive economic influence over campaign fundraising.
Implement Women’s Hours at Lincoln Center RamFit
Promoting women’s fitness will even and boost the overall wellness of the community.
Many students use the Fordham University fitness centers because they are convenient, included in the cost of tuition and have improved significantly since renovations in 2022.
Post construction, there is now a cardio room, a weight room and two dance/multipurpose studios instead of one room with a large bucket in the center collecting murky water from a dripping ceiling. Still, the space is overwhelmingly crowded by men because of the limited space on the Fordham (FLC) campus.
Despite women making up more than half of the undergraduate population, according to U.S. News, space in the gym is disproportionately taken up by men.
Men grunting, men hogging the equipment, men being loud and intimidating to others trying to use the facility. Despite women making up more than half of the undergraduate population, according to U.S. News, space in the gym is disproportionately taken up by men.
My suggestion for this problem? Have a time every week or biweekly that is exclusively for women.
Almost all facilities on the FLC campus are relatively small. The weight room in particular, boasts three leg machines and four arm machines. It includes one racked barbell and one additional barbell. Those who frequent gyms know that this is sparse equipment. During busy hours, there is almost always a wait for machines — especially the barbells — with those waiting hawkishly attuned to every set.
Because college is a transitional period in many young adults’ lives, the change of routine can be a good time to get
into (or back into) fitness. I’ve met women who desire to get into a fitness routine but experience anxiety around not knowing what to do. Women’s lack of comfort in the gym often starts in girlhood.
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, “By age 14, many girls are dropping out of sports at two times the rate of boys.” This is for reasons such as a lack of access, safety issues, stigma and lack of role models.
With these statistics and the observation of the gender dynamics of the RamFit Center, Fordham should be working harder to create equal opportunity. When the fitness center is constantly full, especially with men, it can be uncomfortable to try machines for the first time, especially when first learning how equipment works. I personally only try unfamiliar apparatus when the gym is empty over the summer or on a break.
This phenomena is also backed by my conversations with others on campus. In the women’s locker room, where unfamiliar people often don’t exchange more than
a few words with each other, the most common topic of all conversations I have had is about feeling uncomfortable around the men in the fitness center. It is intimidating to enter a room full of people who feel like they are all in on something you’re not, and that is how the weight room has been described.
A variety of reasons, from modesty to comfortability, can make the RamFit Center stressful for women, and prompting the importance of women feeling comfortable to use the gym will improve the overall health of the campus.
Once I was using a barbell for hip thrusts, already alternating sets with a friend, and a man came up and asked us if he could have the barbell. Not if he could be guaranteed the next use, but if he could take it from us right then and there. When we declined, he then asked us to teach him how to do hip thrusts and inserted himself into the rotation, proclaiming that the weight was too easy while throwing off our own workout.
This is not the only time I have been approached by a male Fordham student at the gym while trying to focus on my own workout. Another time, after having retreated to a studio in the wake of a frustrating encounter with an entitled man in the weight room, I was shortly followed in. I was in a corner, stretching while facing into the wall, and he set up right beside me, despite room elsewhere in the studio. He started commenting on my flexibility, repeating his comments after making me remove a headphone to hear. Then he turned to an ab workout that included such loud
and consistent grunting I simply had to get up and call it a day.
A consistent time dedicated for women to use the fitness center would make many students more excited to utilize a gym that they may already be using, and it will likely make those nervous to use the facilities more confident. A variety of reasons, from modesty to comfortability, can make the RamFit Center stressful for women; prompting the importance of women feeling comfortable to use the gym will improve the overall health of the campus.
My suggestion may elicit questions: Are you going to require birth certificates to make it through the already extreme measures of security? How are you going to define and police who is a woman, who is not a man and who is allowed? Are exclusionary measures the right option in this case?
First, defining and policing is not the point here. I think the designated hours should be adopted and flagged for the community and put on the schedule. After that, whoever goes to the fitness center during the women’s period goes to the gym during that time with the knowledge of its intended purpose.
The point of this policy is to make the gym a more welcoming space for women on campus.
The point of this policy is to make the gym a more welcoming place for women on campus. Any arguments beyond that are avoiding the point. Students here are adults, and can identify how they would like the same way that they identify when using any other gendered services and locations on campus: doing what is helpful for themselves.
The fitness center is an amenity of Fordham University that should be a place for students to destress and exercise. RamFit needs to continue improving to meet student needs by reserving a time that is designated for women.
LAURA OLDFATHER/THE OBSERVER
The weight room of the RamFit Center at midday on a Tuesday.
LAURA OLDFATHER Opinions Editor
AVERY LOFTIS/THE OBSERVER
Some of the equipment in RamFit pictured shortly before the cleaning period in the gym.
Arts & Culture
Aditi Praveen Kariyanahalli and Julia Jaramillo
September 11, 2024 THE OBSERVER
Fordham’s Unique Skating Community
Created post-pandemic, a group of Fordham student, have found a skating haven in New York City
At a glance, these skaters look as if they were pulled from the 2018 film “Mid90s.” From the baggy pants, loose fitting shirts and carabiner keychains that can be heard throughout the hallways of Fordham; and of course, the boards that each student is carrying. These skaters can usually be found at Columbus Circle, skating right outside of the 59th Street station.
The skating scene on campus surged post-pandemic when Andrew Labell, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’25, began skating at Columbus Circle in search of community and found other Fordham students along the way. This close community holds different backgrounds and paths that drove them to partake in skateboarding in college.
Andrea Suarez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, picked up her first board back in 2020, during the pandemic when she found her father’s skateboard in their attic. Her father was able to teach her how to use a skateboard and how to go down hills as a beginner. Since then, she has been skating all around the world in places like Switzerland and New York.
“I wanted to learn a new skill, a hobby that would keep me busy and distracted during the pandemic. I wanted to stay active and spend time outdoors, because I felt isolated from nature,” Suarez said.
From that day forward, Suarez continued to skate and she can be found skating around either campus. She mentions that skating around Fordham and New York City in general has helped them feel more confident with skating and performing the skating tricks that she had previously only fantasized about.
“My first years of college have improved my skating abilities and my confidence in riding in public, next to a crowd,” she said.
Although Suarez gained a lot of confidence since the beginning of her skating journey, she also faced the gender inequality that many female skaters confront when picking up the sport. Suarez explained that she feels intimidated by the men that skate because of the lack of inclusivity that comes with skating.
“They can be less inclusive to including women in their skateboarding groups or (think) that they show more expertise than we do,” Suarez stated.
“ New York has so many famous (skating) spots
I’ll just be walking around and I’ll see so many spots I watched people skate in videos growing up.”
Cameron Amouzgar, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’26, however, is a different type of skater; he never had any intentions of ever being serious about the sport. He was given a skateboard and felt that it needed to be used. He got his first skateboard at the young age of eight, but found skating to be stimulating, with the pastime allowing him to
take his negative emotions out at the skatepark.
“A friend got me into it. He had an extra board I would borrow and eventually I got my own. We’d go to the skatepark together but we didn’t really know what we were doing,” Amouzgar said.
Amouzgar said that he believes that skating is his top priority and tries to skate whenever he can because of how freeing it makes him feel. He’s skated in different cities like London, Paris, Boston and Los Angeles. New York City is still his favorite place to skate because of the people and the large skating community that it houses.
“New York has so many famous (skating) spots I’ll just be walking around and I’ll see so many spots I watched people skate in videos growing up,” he said. “I get so excited and I’ll go check them out and people think I look crazy because I’m getting hyped over a bench or like a set of stairs.”
But no matter their proficiency, skaters are no strangers to tricks and injuries. At times this fact can be frustrating. Ward feels hesitant at times when attempting skating tricks and Amouzgar experiences some insecurity.
At Andy Kessler Skate Park, located in Riverside Park, right by the Westside Highway — a popular practice site for Fordham skaters — both children and adults
must sign a waiver before entering the skating bowl, which is a sunken concrete circle for skaters to perform tricks in. There you can find open space, different sized ramps, half pipes, and a grind rail. Everything a skater
For skaters, community means a group of other skaters that provides the emotional support and the encouragement as well as the friendship that many skaters need, especially in major cities such as New York.
would need to perform skating tricks.
Attempting and executing a skating trick is essential to almost any skater, but at times it can be difficult to complete these tricks.
According to Ward, your mental health could take a toll if you can’t complete a skating trick or if you get injured. Amouzgar has fallen down, Ward has hit her head before, and the anger increases the more you get injured.
“It’s either just talking yourself through the trick, going through every swear in the book or radio silence,” Amouzgar said.
Although this Fordham skating scene is meant to be freeing, it can also contain jealousy and serious imposter syndrome. Dailey Ward, FCLC ’25, said that her imposter syndrome takes over at times, which can make her feel inadequate as a skater.
“There are always so so so many people who are better than you, which can be hard to keep up with,” Ward said.
She knows the deep impact and importance of a skating community. Since attending Fordham, she has been part of the skating scene at the University and continues to skate in New York City.
Ward began skating during her junior year of high school, in West Virginia, and grew up with the skaters there. She met many older punk-based skaters that learned the most complicated skating tricks. This West Virginia scene advised Ward to keep on skating with confidence, even if that meant not landing tricks or feeling imposter syndrome — and to stay away from dangerous substances that ran rampant in her hometown in West Virginia. This internalized advice shaped the type of skater that Ward is now.
Ward agreed that New York City has so many skating spots,
but she said it can be difficult to keep up with skaters in this city because there are some that can do better tricks or have more time to skate as opposed to other skaters.
Since starting college, Ward struggles to find time to skate, but strives to keep up with the sport because she said that it is an important part of her life. Back in West Virginia, the sport not only provided Ward with confidence and an athletic outlet, but it also served as a reality check about the hardships that many in the skating community face.
“The community there had many members who died of alcoholism, DUIs or other drug overdoses. There is a bench at the Wheeling skatepark that will get painted over again and again to commemorate a lost soul,” Ward said. “Too often it’s adorned with candles, but at least there’s beauty in the community that can come together in a time of need.”
For skaters, community means a group of other skaters that provides the emotional support and the encouragement as well as
“ Skateboarding in NYC is like nowhere else in the world. It has its own style, from the trick selection of New York skaters to the attire we wear.”
the friendship that many skaters need, especially in major cities such as New York.
Labell began skating in middle school in his hometown in Pennsylvania, but found a livelier and larger skating community at Fordham. To him, the city is what makes the skating scene at Fordham so special. When Labell first started attending Fordham, he began to skate at Columbus Circle and found other students who enjoyed skating.
“Skateboarding in NYC is like nowhere else in the world. It has its own style, from the trick selection of New York skaters to the attire we wear,” Labell said. Labell stands out because he is a business student that currently skates at Fordham. He said that the typical Gabelli student can be found working or studying on campus at all times, but Labell also said that it is important to make time for creative pursuits. Labell still tries to find as much time as possible to skate, while also building a career in finance.
“I think the creativity skateboarding requires is mirrored better with other majors such as photography, graphic design or architecture. Either way there is nothing stopping a business student from skateboarding, and hopefully (the) business (major) develops to be a little less one sided in the future,” Labell said.
The skating scene at Fordham remains flourishing and bold, just like New York City.
“The skate community is the most beautiful thing in the world, you show up with all these people and you know you have at least one thing in common, there’s always something in the world of skating you can talk about,” Amouzgar said.
Cameron Amouzgar, FCRH ’26
JULIAN TSAI/THE OBSERVER
Andrew Labell, GSBLC ’25, pictured skating in Tompkins Square Park.
ALICE MORENO /THE OBSERVER
Dailey Ward, FCLC ’25, sits on the stairs of the bowl.
Andrew Labell, GSBLC ’26
Design a Home, Design a Nation
MoMA’s exhibition, ‘Crafting Modernity,’ explores themes of national identity through late 20th century Latin American interior design
By ADITI PRAVEEN KARIYANAHALLI Arts & Culture Editor
Interior design can speak to a nation’s past and future. This is the central thesis of the Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) exhibition “Crafting Modernity: Design in Latin America, 1940-1980.”
Featuring the work of dozens of architects and interior designers in the late 20th century across Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela, the exhibition explores artistic development and change during a time period of large-scale industrialization across each of the six countries. Furniture, posters, textiles, ceramics and many home furnishings are among the over 150 featured objects.
What can the design of a home say about the political context and artistic history of the country that it was made in? According to MoMA’s guest curator Ana Elena Mallet and curatorial assistant Amanda Forment, the creatives behind this exhibition, visual design is highly intertwined with a nation’s identity. Their purposeful exploration of late 20th century Latin American homes, allows museum patrons to glance into the evolution of design in a region that blended indigenous artisanal techniques with modernist home design.
“The home became a site of experimentation for modern living during a period marked by dramatic political, economic, and social changes, which had broad repercussions for Latin
American visual culture,” as is stated on MoMA’s description of the exhibition. “For nearly half a century, the design of the domestic environment embodied ideas of national identity, models of production, and modern ways of living.”
Stepping off the elevator, walking into the exhibition, one would be forgiven if they initially mistook the room for a mid-century furniture store; the gallery features classic home design elements like chairs and wall features. But closer looks reveal designs made from locally sourced materials, across the six Latin American countries. There was a featured poster of the Chilean communist party and there
were woven-wicker chairs from Mexico — if nothing else, there was variety. And as a college student living with less-than-ideal furniture, I was filled with envy.
But among all the pieces, there was an ever present theme of conflict and balance. Conflict within political identity, balance within design, conflict between man and machine, past and future. Or as a New York Times review of the exhibition noted, the furniture represents a time period in Latin America where there was “a push for national identity, improved conditions for the working poor and enabled a marriage of native crafts and mass production.”
And the reflection of that reality within the visual design
of the exhibition, is undeniable. Latin America experienced massive upheaval and sociopolitical unrest during this time period. But by trying to cover so much (the design legacy of basically an entire continent over 40 years), only within the walls of one gallery, it’s fair to say that MoMA was trying to say too much without reserving enough physical space in order for the curators to do so. Nevertheless, each piece intentionally represented impactful moments in Latin American Modernist design. My favorite piece that highlighted the fusion between indigenous artisan techniques and modernist design was “Cuatro Paisajes,” by Colombian artist
Olga de Amaral, a 1996-1977 wall display made entirely of pieces of woven cotton, wool, goldleaf and horsehair — a pre-Columbian fiber art technique. The piece, from afar, blends out from a dusty beige color into a shocking red, designed to represent the Colombian landscape. Through this hybrid artistic effort, de Amaral blends modernism with indigenous Colombian art techniques. Another standout was a printed quote by Cuban-Mexican designer Clara Porset in 1952, featured on the right side wall of the exhibition: “A machine-made shape is no less beautiful than a handmade one.” This relatively simple feature entranced a crowd of passersby, who paused to snap photographs. The artists’ statement is a testament to the belief that many of the featured artists in the exhibition held, that mass-production and increased machine capability, would not diminish the beauty of the art that they would go on to create.
To Porset, and many of the artists featured, there was a sense of optimism and vitality within their style fusion: a desire for a future that blended the pre-colonial artistic techniques that inspired them and the increasingly modern, globalized future that Latin America was heading toward.
“Crafting Modernity: Design in Latin America, 1940-1980,” is on display at The Philip Johnson Galleries of MoMA and will be featured until Nov. 10.
Preserving Local History Through Art and Engagement
A new Fordham visual arts course allows students to reckon with the legacy of the insitution’s origins
By MATTHIAS LAI
Opinions Editor Emeritus
There is a visual arts program for Fordham students with a passion for social engagement. The “Art and Engagement” program, established fall 2022, is an area of study of the visual arts major with an emphasis on community-engaged creation.
Headed by Catalina Alvarez, a filmmaker, performer and visual arts professor whose classes VART 2222 “Art of the Interview” and VART 1111 “Intro to Art & Engagement: Protest, Participation, the Public and other Performance Practices” explore the principles of the Art and Engagement program.
The “Art of the Interview” class being taught this fall is the second iteration of VART 2222 (previously called “Archival Reenactments”) — it was first held in fall 2023. That class culminated with four original oral histories recorded by Fordham students.
The class being held fall 2024 is a Community Engaged Learning course building on the relationship established last year between Fordham University, Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church and residents of Amsterdam Houses, a New York City Housing Authority project, all of which are located in Manhattan’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.
A major theme of the class is the history of the Lincoln Square Urban Renewal Project created by New York city planner Robert Moses. In the 1950s and 60s, city government razed six city blocks in the name of “slum clearance” to build Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Fordham’s Lincoln Center (FLC) campus.
The destructive process of urban renewal, or as it was called by the people who lived there, “urban removal,” completely reshaped the landscape of Lincoln Square, and marked the end of the San Juan Hill neighborhood.
San Juan Hill was a cultural center for decades, home to many Jazz legends including Thelonious Monk and Benny Carter, as well as the iconic “Charleston” dance and many other bastions of performing arts, according to lincolncenter.org. During interviews conducted by students last year, many longtime residents spoke of a neighborhood teeming with life, community and thriving local businesses. A recurring theme in those oral histories was the diversity of the neighborhood and the myriad ways people of different cultures learned from and supported each other.
The urban renewal project displaced thousands of families who lived in neighborhood tenements, as detailed on the Lincoln Center website, including many lower class families of color, and fractured family businesses, friendships and countless lives.
“Art of the Interview” is an exploration of how art can be a part of the process to preserve history. Fordham University was one of the institutions that benefited greatly from urban renewal, and it is a fraught legacy which both Fordham and Lincoln Center are still working through how to address.
According to Alvarez, “Art of the Interview” is an important class to offer students because it allows them to “notice all the injustice around us and also want to make art, so they are interested in finding the overlap between art-making and addressing social issues.”
The community engagement fostered in “Art of the Interview” is one aspect of that process, as Fordham students build relationships with the people who lived in Lincoln Square before and during the destruction of San Juan Hill, learning the history and personal importance of that neighborhood from before Lincoln Center and how the construction of those institutions altered the neighborhood.
In her book “The Power of Place,” which is examined in “Art of the Interview,” urban historian Dolores Hayden argues that “The kind of public art that truly contributes to a sense of place needs to start with a new kind of relationship to the people whose history is being represented.”
This new system emphasizes open-minded collaboration with the community over the established structure of galleries and private funding for artists, according to Hayden.
The Art and Engagement program is working toward this by establishing real relationships between creators and the bearers of New York’s nearly forgotten history, resulting in collaborative artistic expressions which are made rich through the meeting of otherwise disconnected worlds.
The Amsterdam Houses are located just across the street from FLC. However, due to the fraught nature of Fordham’s arrival in the area, there hasn’t been a strong relationship between the two institutions. “Art of the Interview” begins to build that bridge by tapping into the rich histories of longtime residents of the Amsterdam Houses in freeform interviews about their experiences growing up in the rapidly
changing neighborhood.
These recorded histories, which are accessible on the Fordham Research Commons, contain stories of a bygone neighborhood in New York City, and speak to the destructive impact of Urban Renewal. A recurring theme in the stories is the diverse and tight-knit community that was once prevalent in Lincoln Square before urban renewal.
“Art of the Interview” seeks to build on these established connections by continuing to produce new oral history recordings, as well as other collaborative artworks which center around the personal and community histories of elderly residents of Lincoln Square.
Professor Alvarez is also teaching VART 1111 “Intro to Art & Engagement: Protest,
Participation, the Public and other Performance Practices.” The course develops the fundamental ideas of the Art and Engagement concentration: “‘engaging’ as an art form.” Students will explore how acts of engagement — such as lecture, debate and conversation — can be framed as performance. The tagline “Protest, Participation, the Public and other Performance Practices” highlights the potential for critical making to bring about social change.
“I want students to work with social themes in ways that are formally exciting,” Alvarez said. Other Art and Engagement courses offered this fall include VART 2055 “Environmental Design,” VART 2099 “Ethics in Architecture and Design” and VART 2424 “Art and Action on the Bronx River.”
ADITI PRAVEEN KARIYANAHALLI/THE OBSERVER
The Museum of Modern Art exhibit “Crafting Modernity: Design in Latin America, 1940-1980” will be featured at The Philip Johnson Galleries until Nov. 10.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATALINA ALVAREZ
Students participate in a collage workshop, using found materials (leaves, trash from the ground, texture rubbings etc) from the Lincoln Square neighborhood.
The Camino as a Classroom
Lessons learned and in outside of the classroom along The Way of St. James
By SABRINA VIDAL Staff Writer
The sound of an alarm starts shrieking and 22 sleeping pilgrims begin to stir. The “albergue” is filled with the sounds of bunk beds creaking and backpacks rustling as we prepare to pack, lace up our shoes and head back out on the trail, all before the sun rises. It is another day walking the Camino de Santiago, or The Way of St. James, across Northern Spain. We are hundreds of kilometers away from where we started out in León, and even farther from the Fordham classroom where we met regularly throughout the spring semester in anticipation of this trip.
The course Study Tour: Medieval Spain, culminated in walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route across Northern Spain, to the legendary burial site of St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The medieval history course fulfills the interdisciplinary capstone course in Fordham’s core. English, history and computer science majors alike united over the ancient pilgrimage route, what it means to be a pilgrim, and the rich history and culture of the places we trekked.
I would sometimes walk for miles without seeing any other pilgrims, and find myself completely alone with my thoughts, blown away by an incredible sense of peace.
“I knew that the walk itself would be very cathartic and spiritual, and I wanted to experience that,” Nérissa Blot, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, said.
Fordham students have taken this course and walked the Camino for over seven years, initially under the guidance of Richard Gyug, professor of history and medieval studies, before he passed the torch to professors David Myers and Christina Bruno. This was the first year Fordham has offered the course and made the journey since the pandemic.
“This Camino allowed students to reconnect with each other, their faculty, and their education
in a personal way, face to face,” professor Myers said. No matter how much time we spent in class preparing for this trip, no amount of walking around New York City could ready us for trekking up and down mountains and through long shadeless stretches of relentless sun in rural Spain. We were also encouraged to pack light. According to professors Bruno and Meyers: “Your pack is your fears,” the more you pack on your back, the more fear you carry with you.
On the morning of the third day, we set out on the trail. With my backpack strapped and ready, I embarked from the hostel on my own, with only professor Bruno’s words in my head telling me: walk to the Cathedral and I would know where to go from there. However, when I got to the Cathedral, I found myself turning around in circles, completely lost on where to continue. To my surprise, I suddenly began to spot the Camino’s characteristic yellow arrows, which I never noticed during our past few days in León, scattered along curbs and building walls everywhere. I began to follow them.
I would sometimes walk for miles without seeing any other pilgrims, and find myself completely alone with my thoughts, blown away by an incredible sense of peace. I had removed all social media apps from my phone and kept it in my backpack throughout the day, determined to eliminate all the distractions of my normal life. I only took photos on a digital camera and kept a journal I had bought specifically for the Camino always on hand.
We were each tasked with creating our own travel narrative to submit to our professors as our final project at the end of the journey. The journal entries I wrote daily on the Camino, documenting the emotional and physical highs and lows of my pilgrimage experience, would later serve as part of my final project for the course.
During the pilgrimage, we had to learn to adapt quickly as our accommodations varied each day, from small rooms with bunk beds we shared with 10 or less of our classmates, to sleeping in a huge room of 150 pilgrims all together. The distances we walked also varied, ranging anywhere between 20 to 30 kilometers a day.
Once we each found our own
pace, we alternated between walking by ourselves for stretches and walking alongside people with similar paces, whether it be classmates or strangers. The interactions that we had with other pilgrims we encountered surpassed language barriers and cultural differences.
“As I walked, I realized it’s incredibly easy to talk to people when you’re walking for eight hours a day. At a certain point the words just start flowing out of you because you have nothing else to do to distract yourself from the blisters and the heat,” Matthew Hayes, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’24 (FCRH), said.
Another of my classmates said that while struggling through one of the longer walks and limping from blisters, two pilgrims offered to carry her backpack and shared medication to prevent
future blisters.
“It was a really kind, genuine gesture from two strangers that I really appreciated,” Christina Ou, FCLC ’25, said.
Ou also said she encountered a fellow pilgrim who spoke the same Chinese dialect as she and her family. Moved by the comfort and familiarity of speaking with this stranger, the two kept in touch and later bumped into each other upon arriving in Santiago on the last day.
Upon our triumphant arrival, under a refreshing drizzle after days of relentless sun, the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela appeared within view. We dropped the backpacks off our backs and celebrated alongside the other pilgrims. We then attended a special mass for pilgrims inside the glorious Cathedral before going to the Pilgrim’s
Office to receive our official “compostelas,” or certificates of having finished the Camino.
As we sped through towns and regions it had taken us several days to traverse, on the bus back, It felt as though we were retracing our steps through the entire past two weeks on the Camino. The beauty of our two weeks on the trail lay in the slow pace of life we experienced, the evenings we spent sharing meals and conversation with other pilgrims, the rivers we swam in, the medieval churches we prayed in, the aches and pains we endured, and the mountain peaks where we looked back and marveled at how far we had come.
Now, as we resume our lives as students back at Fordham, the challenge remains in trying to live life as we did on the Camino.
ANDREW MEEKER/THE OBSERVER
Danielle Barber, FCRH ’25, and Sabrina Vidal, FCLC ’25, walking out of Villafranca, Spain.
PHOTO COURTSEY OF SABRINA VIDAL/THE OBSERVER
Aaron Boyd, FCRH ’25, Andrew Meeker, FCRH ’25, Sabrina Vidal, FCLC ’25, Cailin Duffy, FCRH ’24, Danielle Barber, FCRH ’25, and Hanif Amanullah, FCRH ’24, at the Cathedral of Santiago on the final day of the pilgrimage, taken by a stranger/fellow pilgrim.
un & ames
Crossword: Scholarly Solutions
BY JASMINE WHITE
15. Jodie who portrays Villanelle in “Killing Eve”
16. “Ruh-___!”
17. USA women’s rugby bronze medalist Maher
18. Make ____ of this! (2 Wds.)
19. Mess up
20. Get money, slangily (2 Wds.)
Ramses Moves In!
22. Bonkers
24. Soda opener (2 Wds.)
26. With saltfish, the national dish of Jamaica
27. Charcuterie staple
30. Letters before tees?
32. Clean Air Act org. (Abbr.)
33. Eritrea’s capital
36. Geek
39. Criminals break them
41. “My Cousin Vinny” Oscar winner Marisa
42. Salad dressing staple (Abbr.)
43. Knocking noise: rat-____ (Hyph.)
44. Available, as a doctor (2 Wds.)
46. Freddy Krueger’s street
47. Carried
49. John Hancock, notably
51. Miss by ____ (2 Wds.)
53. Tell the teacher
56. Error message on a DVD player (2 Wds.)
58. Ruffian
62. Prefix meaning “egg”
63. March comes in like “____” (2 Wds.)
65. Banded gemstone
66. Hubbub
67. Pixar robot with a cockroach bestie
68. Lay out in the sun again
69. Brain scan letters
70. Drive faster than the limit
71. Plane without a pilot
1. Use a fidget toy, for example
2. Granada greeting
3. Furry “Star Wars” creature
4. The largest of the original five nations of the Iroquois Confederacy
5. Mobile home?
6. Quitter’s comment (2 Wds.)
7. 2023 starring role for Chalamet
8. Te ____
9. “The X-Files” Org.
10. Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center, for two
11. Neither loses money nor turns a profit (2 Wds.)
12. “SNL” producer Michaels
13. Number of Fordham campuses
21. Jennifer of “Friends”
23. Part of an act
25. Kentucky’s ____ College
27. Actress Ward
28. Give ____ on the back (2 Wds.)
29. Like most citizens (2 Wds.)
31. Reaches by ship (2 Wds.)
34. “Water Lilies” painter Claude
35. Theater chain with a preshow ad featuring Nicole Kidman (Abbr.)
37. Part in a 23-Down
38. Famed feature of the Pantheon
40. Vodka brand, familiarly
45. Matthew who portrayed Shaggy in the “Scooby-Doo” networks
48. Cuts again, as a piece of wood
50. Radiation researcher with a counter named for him
51. Battery terminal
52. Showing at 35-Down
54. Burn ____ in one’s pocket (2 Wds.)
55. Removed brassiness after bleaching
57. Thunder sound
59. Spanish cat
60. ____ impasse (2 Wds.)
61. Hawaii’s state bird 64. ____ de France
Instructions: Each row, column and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.
Ramses is beyond _________________ to begin his __________________ year at Fordham University! The transitionw from _________________ to New York is easier for him because he brought along his favorite _________________. Ramses and his roommate, _________________, have spent time getting to know each other by ______________ together in _____________________. Ramses thinks his roommate’s collection of _________________ memorabilia is ______________. In other words, they _________________ been getting along.
Ramses is currently scheduled for ________________ with Professor _______________, but is worried about getting there; it’s on floor ______ of Lowenstein. Since Ramses is a ____________ major, he also has to take ______________ at ________, which he is worried about waking up for. If Ramses decides Fordham is not for him, he plans on transferring to ______________
University to major in _________ studies. That being said, Ramses feels that Fordham is the place for him!
