Climate Summit: Anxiety to Action
By ARIANNA PINNA & SAM BRACY
Contributing Writer & News Editor
Youth environmental activists and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional administrators discussed how to involve young people in the environmental justice movement at a Climate Week summit on Sept. 24 at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus.
The summit included a workshop by the Climate Cafe NYC, a volunteer project hosting discussions and workshops about climate change, and an information session on the American Climate Corps (ACC), an initiative launched by the Biden Administration during last year’s climate week.
AmeriCorps is a U.S. federal program that engages volunteers in public service to address community needs. Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps, introduced the ACC as a national initiative to engage young people in climate resilience and environmental projects. Smith opened his speech at the summit with a statement directed at Generation Z.
“Thank you for being saddled with one of the worst crises any generation has ever been saddled with, and instead of turning inward, turning outward and saying, ‘you know what, we’re going to change the game,’” Smith said.
Lisa Garcia, the Region 2 Administrator at the EPA encompassing New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, said she intends to center opportunities and solutions in conversations on the climate to prevent potential despair.
“The science kind of leads us to this place of gloom and doom, but there’s a whole suite of solutions and people working towards addressing this,” Garcia said.
Appointed in 2009, Garcia
had roles in emergency response during environmental crises such as Hurricane Sandy and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In late 2023, the EPA awarded
ronmental resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change. The remaining $10 million will be used by Fordham to develop partnerships and organize its grantmaking program.
“ In order to bring the entire nation together to actually address climate and environmental issues, we’re going to have to talk about this in lots of different ways. ”
Julie Gafney, Executive Director of CCEL
“ You know what, we’re going to change the game.”
“ People first called it ‘climate change’ because it was supposed to be less threatening. But it is a crisis.”
Gianna
Lum, Co-Founder of Climate Cafe NYC
“ The science kind of leads us to this place of gloom and doom, but there’s a whole suite of solutions and people working towards addressing this.”
Lisa
Garcia, EPA Region 2 Administrator
Hurricane Season Casts Shadow on Campus
By ALISON BEINHAUR News Editor
Hurricane Helene, a swift Category 4 hurricane, has caused irreparable damage to towns primarily throughout the Southeastern United States.
The Category 5 Hurricane Milton formed in the Gulf of Mexico on Oct. 5 and threatens to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast with potentially even greater destructive force than Helene.
The National Hurricane Center identified Helene on Sept. 23 and designated it as a hurricane on Sept. 25. Helene continued to rapidly gain strength before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sept. 26. The aftermath
within the impacted areas — concentrated in the likes of Florida, Georgia and North Carolina — is still ongoing.
Greta Kjellquist, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, is from Asheville, North Carolina — one of the most heavily hit areas. Although she was in New York City during the storm, her family had evacuated alongside many of her hometown’s residents.
“I actually wasn’t aware anything serious was happening until cell service was lost and by that point it had made it on the news,” Kjellquist wrote. “It took a few days for the reality of things to sink in.”
Although Helene did not hit some parts of the affected states
as hard as it did others, students from these areas were struck with the possibility of damages to their homes.
Elliana Burkett, FCLC ’26, is from Port St. Joe, Florida. Her hometown was originally in Helene’s path, but the hurricane changed direction before causing extreme damages. Burkett said her response to the trajectory was shaped by having previously endured serious storms.
“I’ve experienced a strong hurricane like Helene with a direct impact and so having that last experience definitely influenced how I was reacting to the projections of Helene and contributed to the stress and constant refreshing of news and weather apps,” Burkett said.
Fordham will work directly with organizations as a grantmaker.
Clockwise from top left: Michael Smith, Julie Gafney, Jon Kirsch, Gianna Lum, Lisa Garcia and Earthea Nance.
IMAGE COURTESY OF NOAA
Satellite image of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 25 prior to making landfall.
Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps
Fordham Hosts Summit for Climate Justice
EPA administrators and youth activists unite for climate action
The Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) has a major role in building partnerships for the grantmaker program. Julie Gafney, executive director for CCEL, attributed Fordham’s community orientation in New York City as why the university hosted the summit.
“We have space for community engagement, for community organizations, for policymakers, to host important conversations like this one,” Gafney said. “And what better place to do it than a university?”
In the morning, volunteers from Climate Cafe hosted a workshop where attendees discussed how climate change weighed on them.
Climate Cafe provides a space for people to share and process their emotions about climate change in a supportive, non-judgmental setting. These gatherings aim to build community resilience and offer a chance to connect with others experiencing similar feelings. They also encourage participants to explore local activism opportunities and sustainable practices
Gianna Lum, co-founder of Climate Cafe, said she wants to unite young people to overcome climate anxiety.
“We want to have people realize that they’re not alone,” Lum said.
Climate anxiety stems from an awareness of the impacts of climate change and a struggle to reconcile personal responsibility with global, systemic issues. This feeling arises as people continue to confront the scale of environmental degradation through news, social media and scientific studies.
Some participants at the workshop discussed the most effective ways to communicate about climate change. Mauricio González, a marine biology research teacher at the New York Harbor School, expressed concern that the repeated use of “climate crisis” causes emotional distress.
“I prefer the phrase responsible adaptation to climate change,” González said.
Lum said that “crisis” is the most accurate language to describe the scale of climate change.
“People first called it ‘climate change’ because it was supposed to be less threatening,” Lum said. “But it is a crisis.”
Gafney chose a strategic approach, emphasizing the need to gain the support of different communities.
“In order to bring the entire nation together to actually address climate and environmental issues, we’re going to have to talk about this in lots of different ways,” Gafney said.
After the Climate Cafe workshop gave space for attendees to share their experience of climate change, the summit moved to discuss environmental volunteer opportunities at AmeriCorps. Mary Mears, EPA Region 2 public affairs director, said the summit’s morning session was intended to channel students’ environmental concerns into productive action.
“ The people that are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis are the people that we have already failed over and over again.”
Michael Smith, CEO of AmeriCorps
“The logical next step after talking with Climate Cafe and talking about climate anxiety is how to get people into careers that are really going to make a difference in the world of climate
change,” Mears said.
Mears pointed to the ACC as a way for students to take action against climate change. The ACC was launched in 2023 to train young people for careers in clean energy and environmental resilience. On Sept. 25 the ACC announced that it has put over 15,000 people to work in climate-related jobs since its conception.
In his speech introducing the ACC, Smith associated the need for climate justice with other historic inequities.
“The people that are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis are the people that we have already failed over and over again,” Smith said.
Fordham’s structure as an academic institution might shape its approach to the grantmaker role. Garcia said she hopes that Fordham will incorporate the voices of environmental community organizations into their pedagogy.
“Hopefully it’ll be that they can share some of the learning with the students and get students more involved in being in the environmental movement,” Garcia said. “It’d be really great to marry that as Fordham University builds relationships with communities to then replicate that voice within the university setting, with the students, with the faculty, to figure out ways that the university can be even more supportive.” Garcia said that all of the EPA’s initiatives work towards the holistic goal of environmental justice.
“You have our policy work focused in on climate justice leading, our investments with the priority of investing in communities, and our regulatory work,” Garcia said. “It’s across the board.”
What Does Student Government Do?
By WILLIAM LEE Assistant Opinions Editor
United Student Government at Lincoln Center (USGLC) election ballots open Oct. 8, but Fordham students expressed uncertainty about the daily operation of their governing body.
Some students said they did not know an election was taking place or felt unsure about what impact their vote might have.
Miles Bratter, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, said he would vote, but did not feel sufficiently informed.
“I wasn’t necessarily aware that there was even an election coming up, but I think it’s an important thing to do, so I’ll certainly be participating,” Bratter said.
Bratter said he was unsure how tuition payments went toward student life on campus.
“The money that we think of when we send money to Fordham every year should be more represented in the benefits that we get as students,” Bratter said. “For example, I go to the gym and there’s a machine that’s been broken for nearly a month and a half, which is a specific example but is emblematic of a lot of situations at LC (Lincoln Center).”
Some students want to vote in the coming election but feel unsure about what is at stake.
Rylan Carroll, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’27, said he does not plan to vote in the upcoming election, but not out of indifference. Carroll said he feels uninformed about what voting in the USGLC election would entail.
“I am really not informed on
what that even implies, or what powers they have other than creating and governing clubs,” Carroll said.
USGLC’s role can be confusing even for students involved with campus activities. Anthony Villata, public relations chair of the Campus Activities Board and GSBLC ’27, said he thought USGLC could do more to involve students.
“I’m a club leader of one of the largest clubs on campus but I still don’t know too much about what happens in USG,” Villata said. “I don’t really see any advertisements for general meetings and stuff.”
Time and location of USGLC’s general meetings are posted at the bottom of the Office of
Student Involvement’s “What’s Happening on Campus!” emails, and the Dean’s weekly newsletters occasionally mention student government. USGLC also offers their own monthly newsletter.
USGLC President Fiona Shehu, FCLC ’25, said that Instagram and email are the consistent methods USGLC uses to communicate with students. She said that the current flow of information is satisfactory.
“I feel that the information flow about USG activities is adequate as we promote events on our Instagram,” Shehu wrote in an email.
That said, she acknowledged potential gaps in student awareness of USGLC activities.
“There is always room for improvement! I would love to
have as many students as possible involved and have spoken to our senators and e-board about different ways to connect through in person connections with the student body, such as tablings and being directly present in the community,” Shehu wrote.
At the time of publication, @ fordhamusglc has posted seven times since the start of the semester. The posts include announcements of the current E-Board, coverage for club day, announcements for a general meeting and information on the election.
For the 2024-25 academic year, a litany of positions are up for election, ranging from chair of student affairs to class senators. In April, 199 total votes were cast in the spring USGLC presidential
election, a turnout of roughly 10%.
Members of USGLC said they believe input from the student body is critical to their mission. Anabel Kinsey, FCLC ’27, is the chair of USGLC’s Operations Committee. In this role, she directly interfaces with students who want to start clubs, have complaints or questions about club leadership or want to be connected to certain club boards.
Kinsey said that she is hopeful for the future USGLC and emphasized its determination to incorporate student input.
“There’s been a push within USG to make it more open for everyone and to encourage everyone to be a part of it, because really USG is what the students make it, and you get out what you put into it,” Kinsey said. “The more you show up, the more you voice your issues, the more those get taken to the people they need to be taken to.”
As part of her vision for this academic year, Kinsey said she wants to help augment USGLC’s on-campus presence.
“We definitely want to drive student engagement and student interest in being a part of USG and also realizing how much impact that can have,” Kinsey said. “Engaging students in USG and wanting to be part of the student life on campus makes life more vibrant on campus.”
Ballots for the election open in the afternoon on Oct. 8 and close at 5 p.m. on Oct. 9. Candidates will be notified of results by 10 p.m. on Oct. 9. Students are welcome to attend USGLC’s weekly meetings on Thursdays at 1 p.m. in SL11B.
SAM BRACY/THE OBSERVER
Executive Director of CCEL Julie Gafney introduces a panel including four EPA regional administrators.
Students Reckon With Hurricane’s Devastation
Fordham community members with roots in Hurricane Helene’s path take stock after storm’s destruction
HURRICANE from page 1
Some in the impacted areas are still without power, making communication challenging and isolating some people seeking aid.
“It wasn’t until I was able to talk to my family on the phone that I understood the extent of the damage,” Kjellquist wrote.
Over 200 fatalities across six states, with many people still unaccounted for, have been attributed to Helene. Helene is the third deadliest hurricane to make landfall on the U.S. mainland since 2000 after Katrina in 2005 and Maria in 2017.
“ I believe all of you join with me in praying for those who died in the storm, for their loved ones, and for all the people whose homes were damaged or destroyed. ”
Philip Judge, Executive Director of Campus Ministry
Fordham’s Office of Campus Ministry sent an email to the student body regarding Helene on Sept. 30. The message, which called for prayers for the affected families, directed students to on-campus resources for students.
“I believe all of you join with me in praying for those who died in the storm, for their loved ones, and for all the people whose homes were damaged or destroyed. And if you are able,
please consider giving to the relief organization of your choice,” read the email.
Donations help these areas rebuild their communities.
Kjellquist wrote that one of her biggest concerns was also one of the most essential: water.
“Our city already had really old pipes so the entire system was destroyed,” Kjellquist wrote.
“Most people that evacuated, like my family, won’t return until there is running water.”
She also expressed a feeling of unease for children in local schools and the priority of their education during this time.
“It’s like if Covid had hit just
one city and its surrounding towns — it threw off the entire year for these kids but not the rest of the kids around the country,” Kjellquist wrote.
“ It’s odd not knowing when/if I’ll go home again.”
Greta Kjellquist, FCLC ’25
Amidst the aftermath of damages caused by the hurricane,
Burkett said she was most concerned about the relief strategies that will be needed going forward.
“I think my biggest concern about the relief process is that most people who were not directly affected will forget about or move on from helping with the relief process in a matter of weeks,” Burkett said. “Recovery is a very long process and help is needed in these areas for not just days or weeks but months and maybe even years.”
For Kjellquist, she wrote that the length of the recovery process seems strange and unpredictable.
“It’s odd not knowing when/
if I’ll go home again,” Kjellquist wrote.
Several non-profit organizations have offered to help local communities with a variety of services and donation efforts.
The American Red Cross is one of the organizations providing emergency relief to those impacted by the storms. They provide resources and information for survivors, reunification teams to locate missing people and provide support for storm victims.
All Hearts and Hands, a volunteer-based disaster relief program, is launching a 12-month program dedicated to relief efforts for Helene. Their website provided live updates tracking the storm and a section for donations and volunteers.
Florida has issued evacuation orders ahead of Hurricane Milton.
While relief efforts for Helene are ongoing, Florida has issued evacuation orders for residents on the Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Milton. As the Southeast is still struggling to clear debris from Helene, Burkett said- that she is concerned as a Florida resident.
“Having experienced a Category 5 hurricane a few years ago I think I kind of have an idea of exactly what a hurricane like Milton can do to all of these areas in Florida … that does make me very nervous and also just sad for Floridians in the impact zone,” Burkett said.
At the time of publication, Hurricane Milton has not yet made landfall.
GSS Changes Fieldwork Requirements
The Graduate School of Social Service decreases the hours required for students to work in the field
By VANESSA FRANCO Contributing Writer
Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service (GSS) announced a reduction in the required fieldwork hours at the end of August for its social work students. The change is in effect for the fall 2024 semester after the New York State Department of Education Office of Profession approved GSS’s application.
Fordham previously required 950 hours of unpaid fieldwork — 50 hours above the 900 mandated by the Council on Social Work Education. The unpaid internship hours sparked a movement among graduate students led by organizers like Dan Kaminsky, GSS ’25.
“We realized we weren’t suffering in isolation. All of us were burnt out, feeling overworked and undervalued,” Kaminsky said.
“ Social work primarily serves vulnerable communities, so a lack of diverse representation in the workforce hurts the clients themselves.”
Dan Kaminsky, GSS ’25
Recognition of their shared struggle led students to open Fordham’s Payment for Placement (P4P) chapter, a movement that started at the University of Michigan three years ago. With over 50 chapters at different universities, P4P advocates for ending unpaid
social work internships.
“The biggest barrier is the requirement of 900 hours of unpaid work, which limits workforce entry,” Kaminsky said.
“Social work primarily serves vulnerable communities, so a lack of diverse representation in the workforce hurts the clients themselves.”
Social service students are placed in various areas to earn field hours, from schools to mental health clinics.
“Many of these places are not funded, meaning we are not paid, which is incredibly detrimental
to students and the health of the city and state at large,” Kaminsky said.
P4P organizers launched a survey of graduate students and started gathering signatures in support of their push for change.
“We reached out to professors, asking for class time to speak about our petition, and they were incredibly supportive,” Kaminsky said. The movement expanded and collected over 400 signatures within five weeks.
Kaminsky said the survey results exposed the struggles that graduate students faced.
“We received pages of responses from students sharing experiences of burnout, illness, panic attacks, and tough choices like having to choose between eating or paying for transportation,” Kaminsky said. “Some even shared how they barely had time to see their children.”
The reduction of hours from 950 to 900 may not seem to be a significant change on paper, but Kaminsky said that it is important.
“It gives students an extra day in their week for studying, self-care, or even earning more
income — small changes that can make a big difference,” he said.
Debra McPhee, dean of GSS, submitted the proposal in the hopes of supporting graduate students in their internships.
“We believe these changes will go a long way in better supporting all students in pursuing and completing a professional social work degree,” McPhee said. “At the same time, the GSS faculty ensured that this structural change would in no way diminish the critical role of field education or the quality of the field experience for our social work students.”
Natalia Arai, GSS ’26, who will begin fieldwork next year, said she is grateful for the change. She said she is particularly passionate about working with multicultural communities and addressing the intersectionality of policies that affect these groups.
“As an adult student working full time with significant financial responsibilities, knowing that the required field hours have been reduced is a relief,” Arai said.
While challenges can seem overwhelming, Kaminsky said there are moments of hope and victory when facing the frustrations of slow progress in activism.
“Organizing can feel demoralizing because you’re constantly butting your head against a brick wall without seeing progress,” Kaminsky said. “This story is important because it shows that when you organize, you can win, and real change can happen. We need to celebrate those victories.”
P4P Fordham is exploring various ideas for its next initiative, holding town halls to gather additional student input on their priorities.
IMAGE COURTESY OF NOAA
Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
Fordham P4P advocates for students with unpaid internships.
Sports & Health
Fordham Falls Short to Lafayette Despite Strong Comeback
The Rams fall to 0-6 in the season after losing to the Leopards at Moglia Stadium
By WINSON ZHENG
Contributing Writer
The Fordham Rams dropped their sixth straight Patriot League game last Saturday Oct. 5, by a score of 28-23. The Rams, who came to the field looking to win their first game, now find themselves at 0-6 in league play, making their worst start in recent memory.
So far, the season has not gone as planned, but there’s still hope. “The goal obviously is always to win the Patriot League,” Head Coach Joe Conlin said.
Leading up to game day at Moglia Stadium, Conlin thought this goal to still be reachable despite having yet tallied a victory this season. It was the first game of Patriot League play of the campaign, which meant a fresh start for the Rams.
“ We have a really good team and a lot of good players, we just have to get into a groove. ”
quarter, at first-and-15, Leopards’ quarterback Jason Penza, Lafayette College (LC) ’28, delivered a 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Ethan Hosak, LC ’27, capping off an efficient opening drive and giving the Leopards a 6-0 lead on its opening possession. Followed by a successful kick for the extra point, the highest scoring team in the Patriots League led the game 7-0.
Fordham’s response, led by Capaldi, nearly turned the tide. A 50-yard pass attempt to wideopen wide receiver Cole Thornton, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’25, just missed its mark.
At second-and-11, the Leopard’s momentum surged again as wide receiver Chris Carasia, LC ’25, hauled in for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.
The Rams came back during the second quarter, determined to cut the lead. On a critical thirdand-8, Capaldi connected with wide receiver Garrett Cody, GGSB ’25, to set up first-and-goal deep in Lafayette territory.
On the ensuing play, Capaldi handed the ball off to running back Julius Loughridge, FCRH ’25, who powered into the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown. The Rams cut the deficit in half and put their first points of the game on the board in the Bronx.
Starting quarterback Jack Capaldi, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’26, shared that the team had a strong week of practice and have made strides to improve their operation.
Capaldi said that the Rams need momentum. “We got off to a rough start against Bowling Green and the following few games didn’t make it much better,” Capaldi said. “We have a really good team and a lot of good players, we just have to get into a groove.”
The Rams came out strong against the Leopards, but in the end, weren’t able to pick up a victory to gain their momentum for the season.
The third-seed Leopards, who were crowned Patriot League Football Champions last year, dominated the first quarter against the Rams, whose injury list almost spelled tragedy. With key players like quarterback CJ Montes, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’26; offensive line Cooper Lafond, FCRH ’28; and linebacker James Conway, GSBRH ’25, sidelined, the Rams needed a miracle early into the game.
Lafayette wasted no time in taking advantage of the situation. Four minutes into the first
Fordham entered halftime with momentum on their side, having outgained Lafayette in passing yards, rushing yards and time of possession.
Fordham’s offense did not end there. Back-to-back rush attempts by Capaldi allowed the Rams to move inch-by-inch down the field. In the next play, Capaldi faked a handoff and darted into the end zone, delivering Fordham’s second touchdown and tying the game. The Rams’ defense found their footing while its offense found the endzone twice. Fordham entered halftime with momentum on their side, having outgained Lafayette in passing yards, rushing yards and time of possession.
The Rams, who have kept the high-powered Leopards in check, entered the third quarter
looking to take the lead. At the eight-minute mark, kicker Bennett Henderson, FCRH ’28, nailed a career-long field goal, giving Fordham a three-point lead. The Rams led for the first time, scoring 17 unanswered on the reigning champs.
But Lafayette responded. Nearing the end of the third quarter, quarterback Dean DeNobile, LC ’26, throws a pass to Elijah Steward, LC ’26, securing a first down. The Rams’ defense fought to keep the Leopards from reaching the
end zone, but Troy Bruce, LC ’27, punched in a 1-yard touchdown, putting Lafayette back on top, 21-17.
With the lead slipping away, Capaldi threw a costly interception late into the third quarter.
This fumble immediately led to a touchdown by Dallas Holmes, LC ’26, widening the lead to 28-17 and wrapping up the third quarter.
As the pressure mounted and the fourth quarter began, the uphill battle for the Rams became
even steeper. With their backs against the wall, the desperate Rams’ offense finally woke up. About halfway into the fourth, Loughridge found the end zone once again, bringing Fordham within striking range at 28-23.
As the game clock ticked down, the Rams tried desperately to take the lead, but their prayers were not answered.
As the game clock ticked down, the Rams tried desperately to take the lead, but their prayers were not answered. Despite their efforts, Capaldi’s desperate pass in the final moments nearly resulted in another interception, and the Rams’ hopes slipped away.
The Leopard’s defense held firm in the final minutes of the game and escaped with a 28-23 victory. While this loss could potentially drop Fordham to the bottom of the league standings, the Rams showed promising performance, especially given the absence of several key players.
The Rams face another tough opponent next Saturday as they take on the Holy Cross Crusaders, hoping to take home their
win this season.
first
Jack Capaldi, Starting Quarterback
COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC
The game against Lafayette was the first Patriot League game of the season, making the Rams record 0-1 in the Patriot League.
COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC Former starting quarterback CJ Montes, FCRH ’26, remains out of the game due to injury.
COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC
The offense attempted a comeback in the fourth quarter, but fell short in the end.
COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC
The Rams saw another loss at Moglia Stadium and their season record moved to 0-6.
Fordham Women’s Soccer Holds Off Duquesne
Two early goals by Ryann Lucas in the first half led the Rams to victory against the Dukes at home
By Jane Roche Sports & Health Editor
There was another victory for the Fordham women’s soccer team on Thursday at Moglia Stadium. The Rams held off the Duquesne Dukes 3-1 to advance their record this season to 8-3-2 and 3-1-1 in the Atlantic 10 (A10) conference.
Midfielder Ryann Lucas, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25, scored twice in under four minutes early in the first half, the first goal being her first of the season. Midfielder Lena Johnsen, FCRH ’27, assisted the shot in the eleventh minute of the game from a corner kick into the penalty box to Lucas who headed in the ball from 8-yards out.
Four minutes later, Lucas connected the ball with the net again on a penalty kick. Lucas picked up the goal after senior midfielder Fernanda Serna, FCRH ’25, collided with two Dukes in the penalty box.
Duquesne came up with only one shot in the first half, however, it was stopped by the Rams’ goalkeeper Addison Green.
Duquesne came up with only one shot in the first half, however, it was stopped by the Rams’ goalkeeper Addison Green, FCRH ’28, in the 32nd minute.
The Rams scored for the third time in the first half in the 42nd minute of the game for a 3-0 advantage. Forward Julia Acosta,
Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’28, found the net after connecting with the ball at the sideline and driving toward the box, assisted by Ava Giudice, FCRH ’27. The shot hit the right post and slipped past the Dukes’ goalkeeper Maddy Neundorfer into the back of the net.
The Rams defended the 3-1 score for the rest of the match to take the victory.
Duquesne came out with a strong record, but the Rams were able to control the game with the three goals — the most allowed by Duquesne in a game this season.
The Dukes’ Maya Matesa, Duquesne University (DU) ’26, got the team on the board in the second half from the center of the box when she headed the ball past Green, received from the Dukes’ Margery Brown, DU ’26.
The Rams defended the 3-1 score for the rest of the match to take the victory.
Green ended the game with four saves, and Nuendorfer with six.
The Rams’ starting right back Julia Holton, GSBRH ’26, was on the field defending the ball for the entirety of the game and celebrated with her teammates after each tally.
“Even when I would get tired, I knew I had to work hard for my teammates,” Holton said. “This game was a fight until the end, so winning was a testament to our perseverance.”
On Sunday, the Rams faced off against the Davidson Wildcats and brought home a 1-1 draw.
On Sunday, the Rams faced off against the Davidson Wildcats and brought home a 1-1 draw. The Wildcats clinched the first goal in the first quarter, but Liina Tervo, FCRH ’28, scored from 10-yards out. The tied game brought Fordham’s season record to 8-3-3, and 3-1-2 in the A10.
Tetlow Announced Search Committee To Find New Director of Athletics
The committee will select candidates to replace former athletic director Ed Kull
By JANE ROCHE Sports & Health Editor
University President Tania Tetlow appointed a 12-person search committee choose candidates eligible to become the new director of athletics, Tetlow announced in an email on Sept. 25.
“We recruit a new director of athletics to play a pivotal role in advancing our athletics program, fostering excellence both on and off the field, and strengthening our commitment to academic success, competitive achievement, and community engagement,” Tetlow said.
This announcement followed former athletic director Ed Kull’s departure from Fordham. Kull accepted the same position at his alma mater, St. John’s University. Consequently, Tetlow assigned the role of interim athletic director to Charlie Elwood, deputy athletic director for business administration, operations and finance performance.
The search committee is chaired by Roger Milici, vice president for development and university relations, and composed of other members of Tetlow’s cabinet, administrators, faculty, student athletes and a coach. Additionally, Glenn Sugiyama and DHR Global were hired to help find the right candidates for the university.
DHR Global is an executive search firm and Sugiyama is a managing partner. With DHR Global, Sugiyama will help to select talent that align with Fordham’s values within the sports
industry, as he has done for other top academic institutions in the U.S. and around the world, according to the DHR Global website.
The other cabinet members of the search committee include Vice President for Marketing and Communication Justin Bell, Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Burris, Vice President and General Counsel Shari Crittendon and Chief of Staff Michael Trerotola.
Outside of the president’s innermost counsel, Tetlow selected a variety of university
members, including two Fordham student athletes to join the committee: Kassity Garrett and Chris Konefal, both Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’25. Garrett is the women’s club soccer captain. Konefal is on the men’s golf team and president of the student athlete advisory council. Furthermore, Tetlow selected women’s Basketball Coach Bridgette Mitchell, Alumni Representative Darlene Jordan, Professor of biological sciences and Faculty Athletic Representative Patricio Meneses, Director of
Labor and Employee Relations
Gülay Siouzios and Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission Rose Leo.
In her email, Tetlow described the individuals selected for the committee as “a diverse group of representatives from the university, all of whom bring valuable perspectives to this process.”
To engage more perspectives within the search, Tetlow invited the entire Fordham community to aid in the decision making process. In the email, she provided a link to a Google form where the Fordham community can provide
their thoughts about what qualities and experiences the university should look for in an athletic director.
“ This is an exciting time for Fordham Athletics. ”
“This is an exciting time for Fordham Athletics. I am confident that our next director of athletics not only will lead us in competition but also reinforce Fordham’s commitment to shaping wellrounded student-athletes who excel academically, embody ethical leadership, and make a lasting impact on the world,” Tetlow said.
On Oct. 3, the university announced Jerry Hubshman as the new senior associate director of athletics. This role is not associated with the director of athletics search as the position reports up into development of university relations and focuses on donor engagement in support of athletics.
Hubshman will work alongside whomever is selected as the new director of athletics to advance the department through philanthropy. “Revenue generation through philanthropy is crucial for building championship programs within the Atlantic 10 and Patriot League conferences,” Hubshman said.
COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC Ryann Lucas led the Rams early in the first half against the Duquesne Dukes.
COLBY MCCASKILL/THE OBSERVER
The search committee will present Tetlow with three to four final candidates at the end of their selection process.
Tania Tetlow, University President
COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC
Fordham women’s soccer celebrated win against Duquesne, moving their record to 8-3-2 in the season.
Tae Kwon Fordham Rams Learn
Students from both Fordham campuses gather at
By CORA COST Contributing Writer
The Fordham Tae Kwon Do Club is one of the only sports clubs on campus at Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC). The club meets once a week on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in G76B and has been around for almost three decades.
According to Diego Lopez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, who has been part of the club since his first year at Fordham, the club practices not only Tae Kwon Do but a variety of mixed martial arts (MMA).
Though the club focuses on a variety of self-defense techniques, Tae Kwon Do is the primary martial art that is taught. Tae Kwon Do is a Korean self-defense martial art that has a foundation of striking and kicking.
Though the club is currently named Tae Kwon Do Club, Lopez hopes to change the name to reflect the entirety of martial arts the club practices.
“The name is a little misleading. We are trying to rename the club to Martial Arts Club, because we believe that it captures the essence of what we do in our club more accurately,” Lopez said.
The weekly meeting is instructed by Fordham alumnus, Pat Natoli, FCLC ’99, who is one of the founding members of Mission Martial Arts in
Brooklyn, where he instructs arts. Natoli is also responsible the Tae Kwon Do Club undergraduate student at Lopez said, “(the club) by Pat himself and he just going to do weekly lessons. Kwon Do Club when he was the instructor.” Since 1995 the club’s endured — and so has the bers of the club want to on campus. For Lopez, provide a space for students introduced to martial arts.
“We want to provide nity where people can feel at LC (Lincoln Center) … we are in a big city, learning yourself (and) learning these are really important said.
As soon as I walked night meetings, it was welcoming environment. enthusiastic about sharing Fordham community. Lopez tryouts and they invite and MMA experience to
“We welcome and appreciate ence,” Lopez said.
The meeting consisted motions and skill sets of showed the various stances, at the foundation of with practicing the foundational towards the end of the meeting the team practice their kicks meeting was an introduction and self-defense in general.
The practicality of all most crucial parts of learning Club. For the vice president Gomez, FCLC ’27, the defense and exercise was club.
“I never had martial wanted to practice some cise. In case whatever happens, to be in a dojo, it could in case something happens doesn’t happen you can try and defend yourself,”
Though the Tae Kwon their membership includes campuses. Tomas Vonder lege at Rose Hill ’28, came Rose Hill campus to participate. shared that he had Tae
Do Club: Learn Self-Defense
Tae Kwon Do Club to practice mixed martial arts
instructs all ages in martial responsible for originating during his time as an at Fordham in 1995.
club) was founded in 1995 just decided that he was lessons. He started the Tae he was a student, but he
club’s founding mission has the reason that the memto practice martial arts the club’s mission is to students on campus to be arts. an outlet and a commufeel welcome to exercise … We are in New York, learning how to handle how to defend yourself, important skills to have,” Lopez
into one of the Tuesday clear that the club is a environment. All the members are sharing their club with the Lopez said there are no people of all skill levels to join.
appreciate anybody’s presconsisted of learning the basic of Tae Kwon Do. Natoli stances, blocks and strikes Tae Kwon Do. Along foundational movements, meeting the members of kicks with bagwork. The introduction to Tae Kwon Do general. all the skills is one of the learning at Tae Kwon Do president of the club, Easa the culmination of selfwas her main pull to the arts experience, I just some self-defense and exerhappens, it doesn’t have could be out on the street, happens which hopefully try using these skills to yourself,” Gomez said.
Kwon Do Club is an FLC club, includes students from both Vonder Haar, Fordham Colcame all the way from the participate. Vonder Haar Tae Kwon Do experience
before attending a meeting, but wanted to come out to see what the club was about.
“I came to the Tae Kwon Do Club — this is my first time — to just try something new,” Vonder Haar said.
In Lopez’s first year, the club served as an athletic activity on campus, but quickly became a staple to his life at Fordham.
“Throughout my first meetings, I grew to appreciate the way that Pat taught us, bringing together different aspects of martial arts instructions, like flexibility, coordination and balance, while also really hammering in practical self-defense situations,” Lopez said.
Though the club has struggled with reaching its consistent membership numbers from before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tae Kwon Do Club provides an environment for all students to learn self-defense from a professional instructor. Lopez said it is important to learn self-defense skills in a big city like New York.
“I think the practical aspects are important for any student,” Lopez said.
The Tae Kwon Do Club urges any student who has an interest in MMA or needs something to do to come to a meeting.
“Anybody and everybody is welcome!” Lopez said.
President Easa Gomez, FCLC ’27, and taken by Cora Cost.
Opinions
What is a Date?
High standards may be the death of my dating life
I have high standards. Like many girls, I think I’m a New York 10, or maybe a nine, but definitely at least an eight. What can I say? I’m a cocky girl. I’m used to being spoiled by the men I date. My first boyfriend at Fordham took me on a one-month anniversary trip to the Catskills. I have a type: young urban professionals. Most of the guys I have seen have been yuppie-scum, six-foot and over. I learned these guys tend to be vapid, superficial and shallow. Do I go for the wrong guys? Are my standards too high? Am I attracting these guys because I am vapid, superficial and shallow?
Doing something with a sense of adventure is crucial to any first date. It says: I want to share experiences with you.
There must be three elements to a date: a gift, a sense of adventure and an act of service. A plan ought to have two of the three elements to be classified as a date to initiate romantic and sexual intimacy. Let’s be clear: this is about dating in the early phase prior to commitment. Are these standards why I’ve never had a successful long-term adult relationship? Is it bad to have high standards so I do not waste my time? Most of the romantic experiences you have in your life will be first, second and third dates that go nowhere. Am I closing myself off to opportunities?
What do I mean by a gift? It does not have to be a huge gift. It can be coffee, lunch, dinner or maybe even a drink (if you’re over the age of 21). Doing something with a sense of adventure is crucial to any first date. It says: I want to share experiences with you. First dates are best away from home. Get lost in New York City. Acts of service like cooking a meal for your date or helping them study can be a good place to start — but make sure that the date does not stop there.
Over the summer, I was seeing a guy who would invite me over and pay for food delivery and my Uber home. While his generosity felt romantic, I soon learned that generosity does not mean dating. Yes, there were gifts. However, unlike dating, “the princess treatment”
has no sense of adventure and no act of service. I can make food at home and take the subway. While we did not work out, this experience taught me that I should expect the princess treatment from all casual partners.
Some guys give you the “princess treatment” to get you to like them and be confused about where the relationship is going. It can feel romantic — do not fall for it. One time a guy said to me, “Girls have sex differently if they like you. They’ll put out more.” Not every guy has the malicious intent of getting you to fall for him so he has more access to your body, but some of them do. So watch out.
Recently, I went on an amazing first date. I made him plan it. We got drinks at a bar and then saw a movie. He was perfect. We hit it off. I told him I wanted to see him again, and that he should text me. I always require the man to take the lead on planning dates. If he does not want to, he is not worth it. Of course, I am not too aloof that he loses interest. I’m not afraid to ask, “What did you have in mind?” Put him to work, I figure. Men love to feel useful.
Why is this? The answer might be found in hormones. According to scientists at Georgetown University, oxytocin and vasopressin are the two major hormones responsible for partner bonding. Among other responsibilities, oxytocin is the female pair-bonding hormone, and vasopressin is the male pair-bonding hormone. Oxytocin is “the pillow-talk” chemical. It is released through quality time, physical touch and everyone’s favorite: sexual activity. Vasopressin is “the conquest-chemical.” Similarly, it is also released through sexual activity; however, release is triggered when navigating stressful situations — like planning a date.
I did not hear back from my amazing first date. I’m not sure what I did wrong. The conversation was great. He could barely look me in the eyes without swooning. Again, I thought we hit it off. I wonder if he thought that I expected too much of him. What’s wrong with having high expectations? It’s not working out too well, but I thought having high self-worth was attractive.
Any guy who’s gotten past the non-committal limbo stage with me has been someone with a magnetic personality who paid the check.
Any guy who’s gotten past the non-committal limbo stage with me has been someone with a magnetic
personality who paid the check. Courtship is about combining and protecting assets between families. Should pillars of an ancient institution be cast aside in the name of women’s liberation? I thought enforcing “the rules” in an age where the rules don’t matter signals to your man that he needs to come correct or he won’t be coming at all.
Last week, I was walking down Avenue A in the East Village with two friends. A group of random people came up to us and started yelling. I thought the best course of action would be to disengage and keep walking. It was not until a man shouted “TRANNY” and threw a Coke can at me that I realized I was being harassed for being a transgender woman. I immediately got in a taxi. Through my slightly-intoxicated rage, I decided to text some of the men in my contacts, including my one date wonder. I know drunk texting is not New York 10 behavior, but I wanted someone to soothe my pain.
I feel empowered when enforcing the antiquated rules of heteronormativity and courtship.
In an ideal world, we are happy, money and hateful people do not exist. We fall in love. You are a 10-out-of10, and so am I, obviously. In an ideal world, women are not subjected to the oppressive force of patriarchy. Unfortunately, I do not live in an ideal world. It is your duty as a man to prove your good intentions. I feel empowered when enforcing the antiquated rules of heteronormativity and courtship.
But in reality, are these standards getting in the way of a good time? Do I take dating too seriously? In my life, I want to love many people in the most honest way I can. Perhaps my dating ideals are vapid, superficial and shallow, and that is creating that void in my love life. Am I finding empowerment in enforcing the rules of heteronormativity or gender affirmation and validation? Are those the same things? Will I ever be truly free?
Sometimes I stare up at my ceiling thinking like this, and I remember it’s not that deep. This best dating advice I have ever gotten was from a friend in high school. She said, “Chill.” I have a new challenge for the Ramily this issue: Go ask three of your fellow Rams on a date. Use my guide if you struggle with date planning, or if you think you know better than I do, I’d like to see you try. Anyway, I’ll be here sitting pretty. Need dating advice? Email: observercockygirl@gmail.com
Observer the
LYSCIO/THE OBSERVER
RYANN LYNN MURPHY Contributing Writer
As I hunch over my laptop, scrolling through endless Zillow listings, I’m struck by the stark contrast between my dreams and reality.
In this strange digital bazaar, with too many tabs open and all my hopes tethered to a screen, I find myself trapped in a cycle of disappointment. Maybe I’m one click away from breaking the monotony. Maybe I’m searching for something that does not quite seem to exist.
Finding a new place to call home was disheartening and as absurd as it was frustrating — and that is to put it mildly. If the listings were not outright scams, their prices seemed hopelessly unattainable for anyone with a semblance of financial sense. How else could a two-bedroom, flexthree, fourth-floor walk-up with a “view” of a brick wall go for nearly $5,000 a month?
My friend and I half-jokingly debated launching a GoFundMe to afford something that would not make us question whether having a bathroom sink that doubles as a kitchen sink is really worth it.
Access to housing is a fundamental human right, but it has now become a privilege rather than a necessity.
How did I end up in this rabbit hole? Let’s rewind to April 2024; the prospect of renting an apartment with friends from college felt like a pleasant mix of adventure and advancement into adulthood. My friend and I had a Pinterest-perfect vision, featuring impromptu movie nights or attempts to host dinner parties, where we would try our hands at Beef Wellington and French macarons that would either impress our friends or send them running for takeout.
But as summer rolled around, my phone rapidly
Luxury or Letdown?
Confronting New York City’s biggest rental obstacles
transformed into a stream of notifications from every apartment listing site imaginable. Though I must admit, the subject lines of a select few were undeniably compelling. After all, which Swiftie could overlook the charm of “The Eras Tour: Home Edition”?
Apart from clever marketing, it is no surprise the New York City housing market has evolved into a series of obstacles. Access to housing is a fundamental human right, but it has now become a privilege rather than a necessity. Finding affordable housing should be a straightforward journey even without a real estate agent, but it is often overly complicated.
Unsatisfied with the status quo, I decided to investigate the realities of the housing market.
While the conventional wisdom suggests that “getting an agent” is essential, many college students do not have an extra month or two of rent readily available to pay a broker. For instance, renting a $4,000 one-bedroom apartment would come with a broker’s fee of approximately $7,200, or 15% of the annual rent. To make matters worse, future tenants may still find themselves paying a broker they never hired.
Exorbitant prices aside, the next time people browse listings, they might want to compare the actual number of available options with what is shown. Shadow inventory, or hidden properties, occurs when there is a lack of transparency regarding available rentals. While it is easy to blame high rents for the perceived shortage, what people see when searching for apartments is only a fraction of what is available.
Deborah Nyasha Peters, a real estate agent in New York, revealed on LinkedIn that the public fails to notice thousands of ready-to-rent vacant apartments everyday. Additionally, while the official report from the U.S. Census states that apartment vacancy rates are as low as 1.4%, this figure fails to account for the countless unlisted units, including vacant apartments that landlords simply do not bother to advertise.
While searching for
apartments around Lincoln Center, I noticed a less visible factor exacerbating the housing crisis: the pied-à-terre phenomenon. This trend involves wealthy individuals purchasing luxury apartments as investments or second homes and leaving them unoccupied for most of the year. These units sit vacant in high-profile locations like the Billionaires’ Row — home to some of the world’s most expensive real estate — and serve more as financial assets than residences. These apartments not only inflate property values but also gentrify entire neighborhoods.
Like many New Yorkers, I began my apartment search on StreetEasy, which is recommended as a credible platform for finding rentals in the city. However, despite its popularity, I found StreetEasy to be highly inefficient. Most listings allow one exclusive agent per building, which limits options for renters, discourages competition and prolongs the search for
available apartments, causing potential tenants to miss out on units listed by other brokers. Not to mention, renters often complain that the listings on StreetEasy are neglected, and in many cases, apartments that appear available have been off the market for months. The platform’s filtering tools also leave much to be desired, often failing to accurately display relevant results for basic preferences like price range or amenities.
The best time to look is between November and March when rents are generally lower, so there are more options to choose from.
While navigating the housing market can be challenging, here
are some key insights I wish I had known during my apartment search.
1. Set a realistic budget. A good minimum to have is around $1,500 per person/ month. Finding at least three roommates can also help split costs and widen your search options.
2. Be cautious with offers to “rent a room.” While it may seem like an irresistible deal, sharing with random strangers can lead to unpredictable conflicts. Plus, good luck getting any maintenance issues fixed!
3. Do not underestimate word of mouth. Your friend’s cousin’s sister might know a landlord with your future apartment. Spread the word!
4. Search during the off-season. The best time to look is between November and March when rents are generally lower, so there are more options to choose from.
5. Watch out for hidden fees. The last thing any tenant wants is to pay a person they tried so hard to avoid.
6. Do not trust everything online, especially on TikTok! After encountering a range of dubious characters who target desperate apartment hunters, I can assure that staying vigilant will serve you well in this market.
I’ve come to realize that maybe “home” does not necessarily mean finding the perfect space, at least not for now.
Although I walked away from this experience apartment-less and sentenced to a semester of commuting, I’ve come to realize that maybe “home” does not necessarily mean finding the perfect space, at least not for now. The dream apartment may still be out there, but until then, I am learning that home can also be the people you surround yourself with, the memories you create or even the hopes that keep you searching. But hey, if you’re reading this and happen to know of any available apartments, seriously, help a girl out!
NATALIE PANG Contributing Writer
AVERY GRAFELD/THE OBSERVER
My friends and I had the Pinterest-perfect vision for our dream apartment.
WINSON ZHENG/THE OBSERVER
The New York City skyline from the Manhattan bridge is a sight to behold, but the rental market is anything but picturesque.
Arts & Culture
Mandalas at the Met
By SARAH SULLIVAN Staff Writer
The Met unveiled their newest exhibition, “Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet,” on Sept. 10. The exhibition features over 100 paintings, sculptures, textiles and ritual objects created between the 12th and 15th century. The pieces explore the imagery of Himalayan Buddhist devotional art, creating a roadmap for understanding Himalayan Buddhist worship through early masterworks.
I personally found myself entranced by the exhibition, what I thought was going to be a quick trip turned into a day-long endeavor.
Mandalas are intricately designed diagrams commonly used in Vajrayana Buddhist practice. Vajrayana is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in northern India around the fifth century CE, took root in Tibet in the seventh and eighth centuries, and then spread across the Himalayan region. The exhibit focuses on the symbolism of mandalas as they represent a diagram of the universe in Tibet, and this map of reality is used
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has introduced a new and exciting exhibition to their gallery Explore 200 years of women’s fashion at the New York Historical Society Museum
to conceptualize a rapid path to enlightenment. The thematic elements of the mandalas differ from piece to piece.
The entrance of the exhibit is juxtaposed with a newly commissioned temporary installation by Tibetan artist Tenzing Rigdol. The walls and floors are covered in vibrant acrylic, presenting Buddhist ideas, practices and artistic formats through a secular perspective. The paintings address a range of topics like the ecosystem and human behavior to the illusory world and digital age.
On the inner walls of the entry work lies a great mix of pieces, with a predominant focus on statues. The majority of the statues
depict the Buddhist bodhisattvas and goddesses in elaborate metals and stones, with subtle nods to other deities and idols of the religion. These are enlightened beings to remain in our realm of existence to help humanity break free from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). In the Himalayan Buddhist tradition, sublime images of these figures were universally accessible, providing a devotional path to the Buddha’s teaching, or the dharma.
The furthest point of the gallery contains the majority of the mandalas from the 12th to 15th centuries. In Tibet, artisans created these ritual diagrams under the guidance of monks in
accordance with tantric texts. They were designed to then be rolled up for easy transport, and removed from public view.
With all mandalas, one conceptually moves clockwise from the periphery toward the center. The top is usually a lineage of monks tracing back to an Indian master (mahasiddha) that documents the specific tantric teaching. The bottom typically contains a row of protectors who safeguard the space. At the center sits the primary Vajrayana deity, surrounded by other divine figures.
The complex structure of mandalas facilitate a Buddhist ritual that when done correctly, allows the practitioner to self-identify
with the main deity and move far past false perceptions of the illusory world around us. This exhibition gives the viewer the ability to be in the same position, and put themselves in the perspective of the mandala. This perspective does not come from analyzing the art alone, the exhibit itself is structured like a mandala, and as you view the pieces you continue through the iconic structure in the same circular motion.
I personally found myself entranced by the exhibition, what I thought was going to be a quick trip turned into a day-long endeavor. Prior to my attending the gallery I had little knowledge on Buddhist art, much less specific to Tibet.
As I walked around and took in the art and its descriptions, I learned more than I have from any class or textbook. Not only are the pieces visually enthralling, but the meaning behind them is equally captivating and insightful, if not moreso.
Apart from the many analyses and interpretations of the works to be found and made, the art itself is captivating and simply enjoyable to look at. Especially take the time if you know little about Tibetan and Buddhist art; study the artwork and the descriptions to educate yourself on a different culture.
“Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet,” is located in Robert Lehman Wing Galleries 963-965 and is on display until Jan. 12.
The Feminine Fabric: Style, Identity and Empowerment
By INDRA KHURTS Contributing Writer
From 19th-century corsets to the bold expressions of today, women’s fashion has adorned the body, and has served as a robust canvas for social change and identity, reflecting the evolving narrative of what it means to be a woman.
In the exhibition “Real Clothes, Real Lives” at the New York Historical Society, opened on Sept. 27, museumgoers may witness the evolution of women’s clothing over the course of 200 years. The exhibit showcases how fashion has pushed boundaries in response to shifts in women’s social positions worldwide.
As the definition of “woman” has evolved, so too have the garments they wore. In the exhibition room, one finds indoor clothes of gowns from the 1800s, the first female suits, military uniforms and micromini dresses while exploring female visions through the clothes they once wore.
Clothing is vital in marking significant life events — coming of age, marriage, maternity and mourning. Gendered and cultural conventions often influence the rules regarding what clothing is acceptable for these events. However, these traditions have evolved dramatically. Must brides wear white? Do pregnant people need to conceal their bodies? What does coming of age signify, and how do we mark grief? The answers to these questions are cataloged in the fabric of time.
19th Century: Bound by Tradition
In the 19th century, women’s fashion was heavily influenced
by societal norms and class distinctions. Corsets defined the hourglass silhouette, emphasizing modesty and femininity, while gowns with elaborate skirts and fabrics were reserved for the wealthy. The use of materials like silk and lace signaled affluence, and styles varied greatly between social classes. Notable designers, such as Charles Frederick Worth, emerged during this period, popularizing the concept of haute couture and establishing the designer’s role as an arbiter of fashion. Women from all backgrounds adhered to the unwritten dress rules, with the “good” church outfit being diligently saved and repaired by those of lower economic status. The stark contrast in clothing choices highlighted the rigid class structures of the time.
20th Century: A New Dawn of Freedom to Breaking Barriers
The early 20th century announced a wave of change influenced by social movements, notably the suffragette movement. As women fought for their rights, including the right to vote, their clothing began to reflect their quest for freedom. The flapper style of the 1920s symbolized this liberation, with shorter hemlines, loose-fitting dresses and accessories like cloche hats that allowed women to move freely and dance. This era represented a departure from the restrictive garments of the past. Designers like Coco Chanel challenged traditional fashion norms, promoting the idea of simplicity and comfort. The mid-century brought further transformation, with
women entering the workforce during World War II. The practicality of wartime clothing like trousers and tailored suits paved the way for post-war styles, such as the “New Look” by Christian Dior, which celebrated femininity while simultaneously reflecting the complexities of women’s roles.
21st Century: Empowerment Through Expression
Today, women’s fashion is a vibrant shade of self-expression and inclusivity. Contemporary designers are breaking boundaries, reflecting a broader understanding of gender identity and body positivity. Brands like Savage X Fenty by Rihanna and Chromat are at the forefront, championing diverse body types and redefining beauty standards. Sustainability has also become a
crucial aspect of modern fashion, with initiatives promoting ethical production and environmentally friendly materials. Movements like the “slow fashion” movement encourage consumers to prioritize quality over quantity, fostering a more conscious approach to clothing. Social media platforms have democratized fashion, allowing various voices to flourish and influencing trends in real-time. Women now use the power of clothing to convey their identities, embracing styles that resonate with their personal narratives and experiences. The collection offers a book for the visitors to leave their thoughts about the presented clothes at the end of the showing room. Many older museumgoers expressed that the exhibit brings back so many memories. One person wrote “My clothes
allow me to explore myself and how I present myself to the world. Sometimes it is not about what I wear daily but how my clothes evolve through my life.”
It is amazing to see elders’ words compared to the younger generations, as the exhibition is a link to their youth. Both generations are walking epitomes of the evolution of the way women were displayed and perceived by society through the decades.
As visitors reflect on the garments displayed, they are invited to consider not only the history of women’s fashion but also its ongoing evolution, reminding us that clothing remains a powerful medium through which identity and empowerment are expressed across generations.
“Real Clothes, Real Lives” will run at the New York Historical Society Museum through June 22.
SARAH SULLIVAN/THE OBSERVER
The exhibition “Mandalas: Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet,” is on display until Jan. 12.
INDRA KHURTS/THE OBSERVER
The exhibition features clothing from the early 19th century to modern articles.
There Are No ‘Normal People’ in Sally Rooney’s ‘Intermezzo’
The acclaimed Irish author makes waves with her new emotional tale on grief, love and the pursuit
By KATIE BROSKY Contributing Writer
We come to Sally Rooney for magic. We come to her books to laugh, to cry, to care. Because we need that, all of us, that indescribable feeling we get when we flip through the pages of a Rooney novel.
All jokes and Nicole Kidman monologues aside, what really keeps a Rooney reader coming back for more is her characters — honest, raw and authentic. In each of her books, Rooney delivers a portrait of what it means to be human, to exist with others, to love, to grieve, to lose, to judge, to struggle, to hope. At the core of her storytelling, she captures the essence of shared experiences, highlighting the beauty and the pain of the human condition.
Its readers are ultimately forced to reflect on one of the novel’s stand-out lines: “What constitutes a life worth living?”
Following the rapid rise of her career, Rooney’s voice has faced criticism for her thematic focus on the discomfort of the human experience. Some critics suggest that her pursuit of realistic characters creates individuals who are cryptic, contradictory and self-destructive while lazily labeling her stories as “boring.”
Critics who say Rooney’s books are devoid of plot often overlook their realistic depiction of life. And these so-called “unlikeable characters” are simply flawed
in a genuine way. Essentially, Rooney’s books are not intended for those who turn to literature for an escape from reality. Rather, they encourage readers to do the exact opposite, engaging in self-reflection about their existence in the world.
“Intermezzo,” Rooney’s latest novel, is no different in this sense. In fact, it offers a deeper character study of her two protagonists than in any of her books before. Above all, it serves as an exercise in empathy for its painfully frustrating but admirably vulnerable characters.
The story follows two brothers — Peter, 32, a lawyer, and Ivan, 22 — a competitive chess player, as they navigate life after losing their father. Even as they attempt to support each other during this time of grief, a lingering bitterness persists between them, fueled by their contrasting personalities and the age gap that accentuates their differences.
Rooney juxtaposes these two characters by their distinct traits, actions and by their ways of thinking. By adopting a third-person omniscient perspective — where the narrator knows all thoughts, actions and feelings of all characters — she infuses them with distinct personalities through her writing style. Peter’s chapters mirror his fractured psyche, as Rooney omits words and uses fragmented sentences, while the chapters centered on Ivan’s perspective are structured and methodical.
While initially jarring, this choice of perspective — a risky path often avoided by many authors — proves highly effective in “Intermezzo.” It allows readers to delve deep into each character’s mind, particularly in relation to their grief, which is experienced
so differently by every individual.
With “Intermezzo,” Rooney skillfully intertwines grief with the complexities of everyday life, illustrating how these emotions coexist rather than exist in isolation. In doing so, the novel engages with several other significant themes, chief among them the deep examination of what it means to be normal.
This central question is illustrated through contrasting extremes in each brother. There is Ivan, often portrayed as abnormal because of his geeky tendencies and lack of social success, but who accepts his uniqueness and rejects the idea of “normalcy.” As Rooney states in the novel, Ivan, “unlike his brother, doesn’t assign an idiotically high, practically moral degree of value to the concept of normality, which phrased in another way means conformity to the dominant culture.”
Peter strives to fit into the mold of a so-called normal person, projecting this image to everyone he meets. This pursuit, however, slowly chips away at his sanity.
Rooney effortlessly illustrates her characters and their efforts, or lack thereof, to “fit in” through their interactions with others, especially in their respective romantic relationships. This focus reveals how the desire for conventionality and conformity can limit the acceptance of life’s offerings, particularly one’s capacity for connection.
The brothers are involved in mirroring, unconventional love stories: Ivan with 36-year-old Margaret and Peter with 22-yearold Naomi. At the same time, Peter also grapples with intense feelings for Sylvia, an ex-girlfriend who broke up with him after a serious accident left her with chronic pain.
of normalcy
Although sometimes looked upon as controversial or inappropriate, age-gap relationships, especially as used in “Intermezzo,” open up a conversation about what beliefs and values people hold at different stages of their lives, leading to a deeper understanding of what really constitutes a meaningful life. Ivan and Naomi attach no significance to “meaningless social conventions.” While Peter and Margaret are consistently haunted by the fear of others’ opinions. There’s a lot of value in reading both sides of this theme and of every theme present in the story — grief, normalcy, love, regret
and masculinity. The age gaps in each relationship, whether siblings or partners, highlight a universality in the human condition, a central focus of all Rooney novels.
In every encounter, conversation and internal reflection that occurs in “Intermezzo,” its readers are ultimately forced to reflect on one of the novel’s stand-out lines: “What constitutes a life worth living?”
Rooney delivers exactly what she has always promised — a deep exploration of interpersonal relationships that challenges societal conventions and invites readers to engage with their own realities.
Vampire Weekend Brings Indie to All Ages at Madison Square Garden
The indie rock band returned to their birthplace for a packed night of feel-good music
By KATIE HOHMAN AND ELEANA KOSTAKIS
Asst. Arts & Culture Editors
Vampire Weekend, the rock band reminiscent of the indie era of New York, performed their first New York City show since 2019 at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 5, with DJ and producer Mark Ronson as the opener.
The indie rock band was formed in 2006 at Columbia University when band members Ezra Koenig, Chris Baio, Chris Tomson and Rostam Batmanglij performed at a battle of the bands at Lerner Hall. Upon graduating, the band members continued their collaboration by self-producing their debut album, Vampire Weekend released in 2008. Since then, the band has produced five albums with 5.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Ronson opened with his millennial indie era curated playlist, playing iconic early 2010s hits such as “Heads Will Roll” by Yeah
Yeah Yeahs, “A Milli” by Lil Wayne and one of the most pivotal songs of the decade, “Time To Pretend” by MGMT. As one of the final songs, Ronson played “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse, who he once worked with as her producer.
“If you feel like singing along to something, sing along to this one!” Ronson exclaimed right before playing “Valerie.” The crowd recited every single lyric.
Once Ronson finished his set, a giant curtain dropped, depicting
the name “Vampire Weekend” in its iconic futura bold font. Lights went around the room and three men walked onto the stage.
“It’s been too long since we’ve played a show right here in New York City, the birthplace of Vampire Weekend,” lead singer Koenig said as the show began. “We are so happy to be back here.”
The group was on tour to promote the release of their most recent album “Only God Was Above Us,” which came out in April. This is the band’s fifth album and first since 2019.
Vampire Weekend began the show with “Ice Cream Piano” from their newest album, a slow rock tune that quickly transformed into an upbeat indie jam.
Concertgoers of all ages danced along to the jubilant ballad.
Throughout the evening, fans were treated to a performance of iconic songs that are unapologetically gritty and convoluted in their style and lyrics. The unique energy and quirks of New York City have featured heavily throughout the group’s five albums, with this performance serving as no exception.
The crowd roared in excitement when Vampire Weekend sang their iconic song “A-Punk,” a 2007 tune that had the audience bopping along to lyrics about taking the subway and living in Washington Heights.
Vampire Weekend gave a nod to their Manhattan roots when
introducing the song “Oxford Comma,” a quirky indie tune that pokes fun at English grammar. The song, released officially in 2007, was one of the band’s firsts and is currently one of their most streamed songs on Spotify.
“This band started in Upper Manhattan,” Koenig said as he addressed the audience. “We played this song in our very first show at the Columbia University Battle of the Bands, and we are still playing it today. We are so glad to be playing it for you tonight.”
After an evening filled with eccentric guitar riffs and infectious beats, Vampire Weekend ended their performance at Madison Square Garden with an
interactive encore.
Koenig challenged his audience to throw out song suggestions for the band to perform. The only catch: they could not be Vampire Weekend songs. A wide range of artists were requested as the crowd eagerly met Koenig’s requirements.
With this final segment, Vampire Weekend was able to show off their musical prowess and talk directly to their fans in a lighthearted way. From Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” to Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” the band was up for any challenge.
As the evening ended one thing was clear: Vampire Weekend was in their element at Madison Square Garden. With an energetic crowd of all ages and a repertoire of songs that got everyone up and dancing, the New York indie rock band was given a warm welcome home.
Throughout the performance we could not help but comment on all of the artsy families and retired indie millennials that seemed to fill every seat.
While neither of us are diehard Vampire Weekend fans, we emerged with a greater appreciation for the unapologetically New York City band, and the contagious energy of their appreciative crowd. We also both got a pretty good workout from all the dancing we did, which never hurts. Vampire Weekend’s “Only God Was Above Us” tour will continue until December 2024.
MICHELLE MANCILLA PEREZ/THE OBSERVER
Sally Rooney’s latest release “Intermezzo” explores how we try to “fit in” at different stages of life.
KATIE HOHMAN/THE OBSERVER
un & ames
Crossword: Relative Viewing
BY ABBY GRUNZINGER
18. TikTok star Smith known for her elaborate recipes
19. G-, PG- or R-
20. *Baptismal sponsor? (2 Wds.)
1. What one does with their Is?
Fishes (for apples)
Take second base, for example
Give off, discharge
North Carolina private university
LSAT and MCAT, for two 17. Spanish for “for”
23. Persephone’s husband, in Greek mythology
24. Located near the Pacific Ocean, for example
28. Possessed
31. A skirt’s border
32. Resident in a town terrorized by the Grinch
33. *Italian exclamation (2 Wds.)
38. Homophone of 9-Across
40. Unpleasant smell
41. Dip for a tortilla chip
44. Of the Navy or elephant variety?
45. Finishing last
47. *Nickname for English wrestler Shirley Crabtree (2 Wds.)
49. Elizabethan or Victorian, for two
50. What Google Maps provides you with (Abbr.)
53. Also
54. Unwinds
56. It may be “of mind” or “of the Union”
61. *Siblings, but not biologically
65. It is a poem/that consists of syllables/five, seven, then five
68. Something to pump?
69. Colorful part of the eye
70. _____ and wiser (sometimes …)
71. True
72. Reference your sources
73. Air freshener brand
74. Small swirl in the water
75. “Peachy ____!”
4. Spot for a Broadway star
5. Elle Woods flirtation technique: ___ and snap!
6. “Frozen” snowman
7. When doubled, a popular vacation locale in French Polynesia
8. Seize
9. Broadcasts, as on Twitch or Netflix
10. Weepy water?
11. More or less (Abbr.)
12. Consumed
13. Catalyst for a trip? (Abbr.)
21. Organization for monitoring work conditions (Abbr.)
22. Gardening tool
25. Fabric for professors, stereotypically
26. Road work _____
27. Candy on a stick, for short
29. Mornings (Abbr.)
30. Treinta y uno of them are in octubre
33. One who cuts grass
34. Deeply love
35. Life lesson, in a story
36. “___ Doubtfire”: 1993 Robin Wililams film
37. White garment worn by some clergy
39. They won’t let you carry liquids over 3.4 ounces (Abbr.)
42. Command for a dog
43. “A long time ___…”
46. Rough or smooth, for two
48. “How ____ thou, Guildenstern?”
1. Pool measurement
2. Large city in Nebraska 3. Worn out
Logic Puzzle
BY JASMINE WHITE
55. Frequently _____
Questions
57. Like a malted shake
58. Sub-brand of American Eagle
59. Overused, banal
60. Large German city
62. Like a corgi or a pug
63. “____ to Nowhere”: Talking Heads song
64. One and ____
65. Big pig
66. As opposed to none
67. Famed American journalist ___ B. Wells
51. Golfer’s starting point
52. Hope (to)
The New York Film Festival is in full swing, but it seems like the organizers have mixed up the schedule of some of their showings! They remember a few details, but need your help to fix
Sudoku
BY DAMIAN GROVE
Instructions: Each row, column and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.
