Observer Issue 4 Spring 2023

‘Indecent’ Plays to Sold Out Crowds on Fordham’s Mainstage

Fordham Ends COVID-19

By MEGAN YERRABELLI Asst. News Editor

Two months before the spring semester’s conclusion, University President Tania Tetlow, J.D., announced changes to the university’s COVID-19 protocols in an email sent to the Fordham community on March 20. The policy decisions included the lifting of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate required for both university enrollment and on-campus visitation as well as discontinuing the use of VitalCheck, a telehealth screening program used by the university to track vaccination statuses and COVID-19 cases on campus.

This decision will go into effect on May 15, the last day of final exams for the spring 2023 semester.

The email noted that University Health Services (UHS) will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccinations and testing to students. Tetlow directed university employees to their health care insurance providers to receive these services.

Fordham previously required students to fill out a daily health questionnaire through VitalCheck

reporting any COVID-19 symptoms as well as their vaccination status in order to gain entry to campus. Starting Aug. 8, 2022, the VitalCheck requirement was lifted, but Fordham continued to use the program to manage vaccine requirements, track symptoms and offer student telehealth appointments.

According to Tetlow’s announcement, the decision to lift the vaccine mandate and discontinue the use of VitalCheck is a result of the federal government’s decision to end the COVID19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE), which the Trump administration declared on March 1, 2020. The emergency declarations were set to expire on March 1 and April 11 respectively, but the Biden administration extended both declarations to end on May 11.

Tetlow explained that the same data used to dictate all of the university’s former COVID-19 policies have advised these decisions along with “broad consultation with our community.”

By RILEY DRUMM Staff Writer

The play begins in a small home in Poland in the early 1900s that is crafted with wooden floors, a faux stage and vintage furniture, transporting the audience into a quaint, cozy European house. The show opens with an eccentric introduction of the cast accompanied by members playing the accordion, strings and various percussion instruments.

On Feb. 23, “Indecent,” directed by Julie Kramer and choreographed by Mandie Rapoza, had its opening night in Fordham’s Pope Auditorium as part of the Fordham Theatre 2022-23 Mainstage series. This vibrant yet heavy show captures a cultural and historical

moment in history that impacted the American theater industry forever.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel, “Indecent” was influenced by the true story of Sholem Asch’s early 20th century controversial play, “God of Vengeance.” This play was put on for the first time in 1907 in Yiddish, and from there it toured across Europe and became a success before coming to America.

“God of Vengeance” is a one-of-a-kind sapphic love story. It tells the story of Yankel, a Jewish brothel owner who is insistent on keeping his daughter Rifkele pure and ready for marriage. However, Rifkele falls for one of the prostitutes employed by her father, and they begin a secret relationship.

see ‘INDECENT’ page 10

Tetlow Reflects on First Year as President

By INSIYA GANDHI News Editor

University President Tania

Tetlow, J.D., discussed the challenges in her first year as Fordham’s president, as well as her hopes for the future with student press on March 1. The press conference was organized by Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications and special adviser to the president. Both The Observer and The Ram were invited to speak with the president regarding matters impacting students and staff.

Tetlow is the first woman and layperson president in Fordham’s history and she assumed office on July 1, 2022. She previously served as president of Loyola University New Orleans beginning in August 2018, where she was also the first non-Jesuit president.

Prior to her tenure of almost four years at Loyola, she was the senior vice president and chief of staff at Tulane as well as the associate provost for international affairs.

CENTERFOLD PAGE 6

RUBBERNECK

Hollywood’s biggest night celebrates the year’s biggest films

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOSEF MORO Ashira Fischer-Wachspress (left) and Lili Gutierrez (right), both FCLC ’23, dazzle as forbidden young lovers Manke and Rifkele, respectively, from Sholem Asch’s “The God of Vengeance” as “Indecent” explores the play’s development. industry during

ANDREW

Inspired by ‘God of Vengeance,’ ‘Indecent’ portrays the struggle of immigration and language barriers before World War II

The STudenT Voice of fordham LincoLn cenTer the

Rising Inflation Rate Affects Prices in NYC

The current rate of inflation in New York City is 6%, three times the Federal Reserve’s acceptable target of 2%

By KIA FATAHI Staff Writer

Three years have passed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet inflation rates continue to rise. In New York City, which was ranked the most expensive city in the world for the first time in 2022, the high cost of living is cited as a source of concern for some Fordham students.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the national inflation rate was 6.4% as of February 2023, and, according to The City, the rate in New York City was 6%, meaning that prices increased by 6% from Jan. 2022 to Jan. 2023. The data for the March 2023 consumer price index (CPI), which is used to measure the inflation rate, will be released on April 12.

Giacomo Santangelo, professor of economics at Fordham, explained several key reasons as to why inflation remains at a high rate, including the labor market, pressure on wages, lingering effects of supply-chain issues as well as the accumulation of years of malinvestment due to Federal Reserve policy.

Santangelo also noted that the primary reason inflation remains at a high rate is due to the Federal Reserve and the Congressional Budget Office’s overstimulation of the economy in an effort to avoid a longer recession during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Federal Reserve, the inflation target rate should normally be around 2% to ensure stable prices in the U.S. economy; the last time the rate was at that target occurred in February 2021 when it was 1.7%. Since then, the rate has jumped to 9.1% in June 2022, the highest rate in over 40 years.

Food costs are one factor affected by rising inflation costs. For example, food prices soared to 7.8% toward the end of last month with several grocery items such as eggs costing at an average of $4.20, more than twice what they cost two years ago.

Maria Komiyama, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24 and a resident in McMahon Hall, said that she prefers to buy her groceries because meal plans are too “expensive.”

Meal plan rates at Lincoln Center differ depending on the amount of meal swipes, dining dollars and total number of meals that can be used at retail locations for meal exchanges.

The two basic meal plans offered are the Block 100 and the Block 100 Plus plans, both of which offer 100 meal swipes. The plus plan differs in that it offers $400 dining dollars for a total of $1,680 compared to the Block 100 plan offering $200 in dining dollars for a total of $1,490.

Komiyama added that now, when she goes grocery shopping, she has noticed some of the changes in prices of even the most typical inexpensive staples.

“You would think ramen is cheap, but ramen is not cheap in the city for some reason,” she said, providing the example of a ramen cup costing $3-4.

Instant ramen noodles, such as the Maruchan or Nissin Top Ramen brands, range from 0.45 cents to $1.49, and some brands, such as Momofuku, are sold in five count bundles for $11.99 coming out to $2.40 noodle package.

Kamila Carpio, FCLC ’24 and president of the Commuting Student’s Association, said she now thinks more about her budget before making any food purchases, as she pays around $700

of tuition per month compared to paying $300 at the beginning of her freshman year. The total cost of education at Fordham has increased by 4% from the 202223 academic year under former University President Joseph M. McShane, S.J., and will be raised again in the 2023-24 academic year at an unannounced rate, according to University President Tania Tetlow, J.D.

She added that she also pays $250 for gas and $200 for insurance per month in order to drive from her home in Queens to Fordham. Gas prices are another factor of inflation, as they are expected to be about $3.49 a gallon this year, a 55 cent drop from last year’s record high price of $3.96 per gallon.

“It’s just that the costs keep adding up,” Carpio said.

Inflation has also hit the New York City real estate market, impacting some students’ ability to find affordable off-campus housing. Manhattan’s median monthly rent is at an all-time high of $3,275, or $84 per square feet for a studio apartment compared to a year ago where the rent cost $2,869.

At the Lincoln Center campus, single-occupancy bedrooms in McMahon Hall and cost $21,945 per academic year or approximately $2,438.33 per month for rent from September to May for access to a single bedroom, bathroom, living space and kitchen.

According to the NYC Housing Preservation and Development, housing is considered affordable if it costs one-third of an individual’s salary. Currently, the minimum living wage rate in New York City is $15, and individuals are considered to be making a moderate income if they make at least $74,720, or

nearly 81% of the area median income which is used to measure income eligibility and rent for City-financed affordable housing projects.

Konstantin Perfilliev, FCLC ’24, said he was considering living alone next year but could not find an apartment in Manhattan that was lower than the costs of dorms.

“Even small studios can cost a fortune to rent which has made me consider moving out of Manhattan,” he said.

Inflation can also have an impact on the mental and physical health of students. Komiyama said that the lowest point of her life was in her sophomore year where she was working long hours to make money but at the same time feeling “stressed and detached from social life.”

“I feel like my social skills also suffered as a result of this,” she said about the cost of living. “It’s kind of like a domino effect.”

Perfilliev said that he is concerned about his long-term career path, including prospects of entering the workforce and becoming financially stable after graduation.

“With how competitive the labor market and expensive sustaining a good quality of life in New York City is, this makes it feel as if the stakes are much higher,” he said.

Although recent data from The New York Times has shown that inflation rates have slightly cooled since they peaked in 2022, it also revealed that the numbers are still climbing rapidly. In a policy meeting on Dec. 14, 2022, Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, analyzed the downward inflation trends toward the conclusion of 2022 and considered the future of the CPI.

“It’s good to see progress but let’s just understand we have a long way to go to get back to price stability,’’ Powell said.

Changes in COVID-19 Protocol Elicit Mixed Reactions

trajectory

Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications, explained that the university has been in contact with members of the university community since November. These communications have included the Faculty Senate, leaders of student government, the Cabinet, and hundreds of other individual faculty, students, staff and parents. The majority of guidance the administration received was in favor of lifting the vaccine mandate, according to Howe.

students, faculty and guests to receive the bivalent booster to enter campus starting Nov. 1, 2022.

Tara Salem, Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’25, said she believes that the announcement to lift the vaccine mandate was unexpected and abrupt. She added that the decisions surrounding the protocol affect more than the vaccine requirement and noted that the decision to take away VitalCheck impacts knowing which members of the Fordham community are experiencing symptoms.

“I was not expecting these changes to happen so fast considering how Fordham put so much money and pressure into their COVID-19 protocols,” Salem said.

“With Fordham mandating the bivalent booster back in November, which so many students opposed, to now not requiring a single COVID19 vaccine makes me wonder what triggered this decision.”

Abigail Padilla, FCLC ’26, echoed similar sentiments regarding the university’s varying vaccine protocols during the 2022-23 academic year and shared a comparable reaction to the announcement.

“There’s a lot of information out there that no one has yet,” he said. “And I think that other universities are probably waiting to see.”

Padilla expressed that although Columbia lifted its mandate, Fordham should have waited for more universities prior to making its decision.

“We are in a city with close proximity to one another, so I don’t know if this is too soon,” she said. “I would wait for other schools in the tri-state area to lift their requirement, and then I think it would be safer to judge lifting our own policies.”

Berg noted that despite the university’s removal of the vaccine requirement, he suspects that a majority of students will continue to receive the COVID19 vaccine as long as it is offered. He added that there is anticipation regarding announcements

from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on which the university has relied for guidance on its policies since the pandemic’s commencement, as to whether or not the COVID19 vaccine should be received by individuals annually.

According to an article published by The Observer on Nov. 1, 2022, Howe said that the university relies on the CDC for its COVID-19 protocols.

The CDC currently recommends all individuals over the age of 6 receive any of the FDA approved vaccinations and continue to stay up-to-date with their vaccination status by receiving the most recent booster dose recommendation, which varies depending on age group and type of vaccination series received.

In her announcement, Tetlow

said that recent developments within the pandemic suggest that vaccination is now a matter of personal responsibility.

“What was once a critical way to protect the most vulnerable in our community has become more of an individual choice about safety, one we urge you to take seriously,” she said.

The president advised the Fordham community to be mindful of those who continue to be especially vulnerable to the virus by staying home and wearing a mask after testing positive for COVID-19. All other university protocols will continue after these changes are put into effect on May 15. Tetlow added that the university plans on reviewing each of the university’s COVID-19 protocols and will announce if there are any further changes before the start of the fall semester.

“Though we had broad consensus, the University can’t set public health policy by poll: we’re fully aware that any decision we make will cause some controversy,” he said.

The university’s decision to lift the mandate was met with some confusion among students considering the university’s controversial announcement six months prior that they would be requiring

“They recently implemented a requirement for the second booster, so them going from that to suddenly lifting the entire mandate is a little surprising,” Padilla said.

Unlike both students, Bruce Berg, professor of political science at Fordham Rose Hill, said that he was not shocked by this decision because other universities in the surrounding area have recently removed their vaccine mandates. He cited Columbia University, which lifted its vaccine mandate policy on Feb. 23, as an example.

KIA FATAHI/THE OBSERVER

Food prices in New York City have increased up to 8.4%, a change that has impacted students.

The university’s decision to alter policies was informed by public health trends and the pandemics

The university will lift the vaccine mandate and discontinue the use of VitalCheck, though COVID-19 testing and vaccination services for students will continue.

“ What was once a critical way to protect the most vulnerable in our community has become more of an individual choice about safety, one we urge you to take seriously. ”

Tania Tetlow, J.D., Fordham University president

President Addresses Community Concerns

Tetlow met with student press last year, on Feb. 23, 2022, to discuss the presidential transition, assuming office as the university’s first laywoman president and her ambitions once she is inaugurated.

This year, the president touched on the following key points:

• An increase in tuition for the 2023-24 academic year

• Mass unionization efforts

• Distribution of contraceptives on campus and Title IX initiatives

• Student reports of feelings of unequal access in resources and course offerings between the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses

• Hopes of connecting more with students and the Fordham community

Increase in Tuition Rate

When discussing the financial state of the university, Tetlow said that the university will increase the cost of tuition for the 2023-24 academic year. She declined to share the exact percentage by which tuition will be raised and did not specify any plans to increase room and board fees. Tetlow attributed the tuition raise to the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the university’s finances, as well as the rising inflation rates.

“The inflation that is hitting all of you and your families as a kick in the shin is hitting the university,” she said. “We constantly remind ourselves that every penny we spend at this university represents the life savings of your families.”

Tetlow highlighted that the university did not raise tuition for the 2021-22 academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on families. For the 2022-23 academic year, Fordham had a 4% tuition increase as a way to compensate for the lower tuition cost the previous year.

“ We also have a lot of pressures on compensation, a desire for employees who have been hit by inflation in the way that you have as well wanting raises that are commensurate with that. ”

academic year, with FFU threatening to strike at the beginning of the spring semester, the Fordham Graduate Student Workers (FGSW) union continuing their bargaining sessions with the administration, and the Fordham Rose Hill Resident Assistant (RA) union announcing its formation on Feb. 1.

Regarding FFU’s proposed strike at the beginning of the spring semester, Tetlow acknowledged that the treatment of adjunct faculty in the academic marketplace is “difficult.” She added that the university had to consider all professor standings when making these budget decisions, as they could not lower the base pay for others.

“There are consequences to trying to be more egalitarian here,” she said. “We still function within a marketplace: I can’t say to the highest paid faculty ‘I need you to cut your salaries to pay others,’ or I lose them.”

Tetlow also addressed the university’s decision to not recognize the Fordham Rose Hill RA Union when they delivered their petition on Feb. 1. She explained the choice was made because the administration was unable to understand the type of union the RAs were proposing — specifically whether it included both campuses or was confined to Rose Hill. She stressed that she wants to ensure that members are voting for “the way of the students,” and if the outcome is in favor of a union, then Fordham “will absolutely have a union.”

The Rose Hill RAs held an election on March 21 in the Joseph M. McShane, S.J. Campus Center from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to vote for their union. The result of the vote was 47 in favor of unionization with 19 in opposition, a 71% majority. Approximately 69% of the Rose Hill RAs voted.

The president also addressed the mobilization from FGSW and the postage of various flyers around both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses. She added that she is open to continuing negotiations at the bargaining table.

“I hope that they will do that with the understanding that we have the same goal of supporting our students,” she said about future negotiations with FGSW.

She acknowledged the importance of union efforts both in a collegiate setting and nationally as an opportunity for institutions and corporations to analyze and ameliorate worker unrest and dissatisfaction.

of contraceptives is unchanged.

Tetlow also shared that her personal philosophy on the use of contraceptives differs from that of the Catholic church. She added that she believes it is a policy that most American Catholics also don’t believe in.

“I am happy to tell you publicly that it is one that I disagree with, and I hope the Church changes its mind,” she said.

The president added that she would have a larger problem with the policy if the university was not located in a major metropolitan city where contraception is a more readily available resource than in rural areas.

Tetlow also discussed initiatives on her agenda to improve Title IX efforts, which she was actively involved in reforming in her previous position as senior vice president and chief of staff at Tulane University from 2015 to 2018.

She highlighted that she is currently focused on investigating current protocols and processes for reporting and filing Title IX complaints, prioritizing preventive measures that reevaluate how community members respond to sexual misconduct, and considering the overlap of Title IX and race, equity and inclusion. Tetlow noted that much of her work is targeted at meeting with experts in the field and analyzing the university’s strengths and areas of improvement.

“This is one of those areas where we do not have the answers,” she said.

Lincoln Center came first, everyone would be very jealous about the chance to be located in the center of Manhattan, but because the Lincoln Center campus came second, there is this feeling of being overlooked,” she said.

While Tetlow generally labeled such claims as a matter of perspective, she explained that she cannot verify that this is true for all areas of the university.

“ We can be proudly Catholic, proudly Jesuit, without making others feel excluded because of that — that what we stand for is something bigger and broader. ”

Tania Tetlow, J.D., Fordham University president

In light of student frustrations related to unequal course offerings at the Lincoln Center campus which often requires students to travel to the Bronx, the president shared that the university is exploring initiatives to move majors or seminar style classes to only one campus. This would ultimately lead to fewer students having to make the commute to fulfill their major requirements.

assumed her role as the university’s president-elect, Tetlow emphasized that she wanted to “spend an awful (lot of) time listening.” After a year in office, the president reflected on her efforts and initiatives to make herself more accessible to Fordham community members. she shared that given the size and scale of the campuses, she aims to increase her communications with students because she wants to connect with more individuals at each campus.

“I’m not at all satisfied with my ability to reach out to everyone, but those are the moments that fuel me, that’s what makes me happy,” Tetlow said.

She defined her moments interacting with the Fordham community as “some of her most rewarding” and some of her highlights included meetings with club leaders at both campuses, as well as orientation leaders and advisers during the first weeks of the fall semester.

Tetlow shared that in reflecting on her accomplishments this year, she is yet to enter “self-congratulatory mode.” She added that her goal is to reassure community members that although she is the university’s first laywoman president, Fordham’s Jesuit values remain steady. She also stressed that the aim of a Catholic institution is to foster both inclusion and a welcoming environment.

The president also mentioned higher staff compensation as a reason for increasing the tuition rate. She specifically noted the recent contract agreement between the university and Fordham Faculty United (FFU), a union representing nontenure-track professors at Fordham. The contract stipulates higher wages as well as health benefits for adjunct instructors.

“We also have a lot of pressures on compensation, a desire for employees who have been hit by inflation in the way that you have as well wanting raises that are commensurate with that,” she said.

Tetlow noted that the university would support students by restraining “significant funds” for families who cannot accommodate the tuition increase.

Union Activity

The president also addressed both the multiple unionization efforts that have occurred in the 2022-23

“The current social and political climate represents a moment for union employees and workspaces nationally to examine their collective power and grapple with fundamental inequalities within the American economy,” she said.

Contraception and Title IX Efforts

Tetlow also spoke on how the university’s religious affiliation impacts student life and shared that the doctrine of the Church still dictates policies, such as the prohibition of the distribution of contraceptives, throughout the university. According to the student handbook, while the personal possession of contraceptives, contraceptive devices and birth control in any form is permitted, distribution of such preventive measures on Fordham property or university-sponsored events as well as utilizing university resources is forbidden.

She explained that the provisions at the university will remain so long as the Catholic Church’s doctrine regarding the distribution

The president shared that universities tend to implement similar programs to one another without assessing their efficacy. As a result, she encouraged members of the university to lead conversations regarding Title IX and harness the creativity and ingenuity of the student body.

“It’s not that I have a cookie cutter program that I know will solve all the problems,” she said. “It’s trying to activate the people who do that work every day, to think bigger without sounding like I’m criticizing what they’re doing.”

Differences in Resources Between Two Campuses

In response to student complaints regarding disparities in course options and other amenities between the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, Tetlow shared that the raw data shows that the number of student support staff, such as University Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Office of Residential Life, is proportional to the student body between both campuses.

“There is a world where if

She also noted that students may feel that the “grass is greener on the other campus,” but due to the location and nature of each one, students have the option to choose which experience they prefer and take advantage of the different resources at each. She added that those who realize they like the experience of the other campus better are able to apply to transfer to their preferred campus.

In regards to the oversubscription of students in residence halls at both campuses, but primarily at Fordham Lincoln Center, the president explained that COVID19 resulted in an upheaval in the admissions market, compelling the university to accept far more applicants than there are available spots. She added that the university is currently working to “stick to its targets” and avoid another housing overflow.

“It’s not that we only take 2,500 students to fill 2,500 spots. We have to take far more than that and hope that just enough of you say yes, and not too many,” she said.

Efforts To Engage With Students

When speaking with the undergraduate student press after she

“We can be proudly Catholic, proudly Jesuit, without making others feel excluded because of that — that what we stand for is something bigger and broader,” she said.

In an email sent from the Office of the President to members of the Fordham community on March 7, Tetlow announced initiatives to further direct efforts of engagement. She included a Google form to submit ideas with the assurance that her and her team will read each submission. The president has also scheduled office hours at both campuses where students can reserve a time to individually meet with her either in-person or virtually, and the gathering of a presidential student advisory council.

The president also included an invitation to a virtual student town hall which will be held on April 3 at 5 p.m. for both undergraduate and graduate students where university updates will be shared and attendees can ask questions.

“I am going to try my very best to do right by all of you and that this job is such a labor of love for me because of the students,” she said. “We are much more likely to get it right with the help from students.”

Tania Tetlow, J.D.,

Fordham

University president

Tetlow discussed connections between the projected tuition increase and calls for compensation from unions, as well as hopes to further connect with students

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

Reporters from The Observer and The Ram met with Fordham president Tania Tetlow on March 1 during a student press conference.

Sports & Health

New Coach, Same Success for the Rams

The women’s basketball team had a solid 19-13 season, despite losing in both the A10 tournament and the WNIT

B y GABRIELLA BERMUDEZ Sports & Health Editor

The Fordham women’s basketball team reached similar heights as last year, despite a sudden change in the coaching staff at the end of last season. With Interim Head Coach Candice Green at the helm, the Rams concluded their 2022-23 season with their second appearance in two years in the Atlantic 10 (A10) tournament and a 19-13 record including the postseason.

Although the Rams lost by a single point to UMass on Feb. 8, it was still one of their best performances.

Last season, the Rams had an identical record and lost in the A10 quarterfinals to the No. 3 University of Massachusetts (UMass). This year, the Rams took that spot, moving from sixth to third in the A10 conference.

The Rams began their season with three quick wins, including their exhibition game against Kutztown University on Nov. 3. But after an 81-39 victory against Saint Peter’s University on Nov. 10, the Rams suffered their first loss to the University of Maryland, 83-76, on Nov. 13. Three days later, they fell again, this time to Princeton University, 70-67.

The Rams won 18 regular season contests out of 29, but it was not an easy campaign. Fordham played two overtime games and regularly faced difficult and high-level opponents. However,

on many occasions, the Rams showed off their prowess.

Fordham’s most notable win this season was their 95-48 thrashing of Wagner College. The Rams put on an offensive clinic. They showed off their raw scoring strength, as they put up around 20 points in each quarter.

Asiah Dingle, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) ’23, performed especially well for her team, scoring 20 points.

Dingle’s second and final year at Fordham has been just as spectacular as her first. Her small size has been one of her greatest strengths, helping her secure over 105 steals this season. Dingle led the team’s box score averaging 19.3 points per game. In addition, her speed and ability to swerve between opponents has been her signature. She was also the 26th Ram across both men and women’s programs to score 1,000 career points, ending her time in college assertively.

Another significant Ram this season was Anna DeWolfe, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’23. In her 2022-23 season DeWolfe averaged 18.2, a slight improvement from last year’s 17.8. Her most successful game was during Fordham’s 66-57 loss to UMass on Jan. 18, where she put up 33 points off 12 field goals including seven 3-pointers. Throughout the season, DeWolfe was a vital component of Green’s offense.

One of the concerns this season was about the Rams’ offense without the 3-point shooting that Kendell Heremaia, GSAS ’22, brought to the team. In the end, the Rams were able to play well enough.

DeWolfe became the obvious first option from 3-point range for Green, and she flourished in this role. Another major setback for

the team was Megan Jonassen’s, GSAS ’23, season-ending ACL tear. Jonassen was a powerful presence at forward; without her, Jada Dapaa and Kaitlyn Downey, both GSAS ’23, saw significantly more action inside the paint.

Although the Rams lost by a single point to UMass on Feb. 8 — the first of a three game losing streak — during their second meeting of the season, it was still one of their best performances. Offensively the Rams exceeded expectations as they put up 79 points, a scoring trend that was present throughout the season.

Additionally, Dingle scored a career-high 30 points on 68% shooting from the field. It was a welcome change from their first matchup against UMass, where

only four Rams scored. On Feb. 8, all but two of Fordham’s nine players scored.

The Rams were in the tough position of trying to break their losing streak going into their game against Rhode Island on Feb. 22. Fordham had offensive difficulties early on, but tight defense kept them alive, entering the halftime locker room tied.

The game continued back and forth until a last second opportunity presented itself to the Rams. With just four seconds left on the clock, DeWolfe was handed the impossible task of winning the game single-handedly. Miraculously, she drained a 3-pointer to put the Rams up 74-73 as the Rose Hill Gymnasium erupted with cheers.

The Fordham women’s basketball season continued, as they were selected for and advanced in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). In the first round, the Rams defeated Drexel University, 73-63. They moved on to the second round only to lose to Columbia University, 78-73.

It was undoubtedly a season to be proud of, despite posting the same 19-13 record as the year before. Coaching changes often bring instability in a team, but rookie coach Green has effectively taken the reins of this squad. Even University President Tania Tetlow, J.D., commented that “Against all the odds, Fordham basketball had a remarkable year.”

Talking About Health: Oral Contraceptives

and other symptoms are still a risk

By ALEXA VILLATORO Asst. News Editor

Most commonly referred to as the birth control pill, oral contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy through the intake of various hormone combinations to inhibit ovulation. Oral contraceptives are the most commonly prescribed method of birth control in the United States, making up 25% of those used among women aged 15 to 44. The pill can be up to 99% effective when taken every day at consistent times.

While side effects of oral contraceptives are likely to be mild and can be mitigated by discontinuation or alternative pill types, those relying on them are warned by doctors and medical providers of more significant physical side effects. Among them is breakthrough bleeding, nausea, abdominal pain, breast tenderness and increased vaginal discharge.

For smaller subsets of people with preexisting conditions or those of an at-risk demographic, there may be other concerning side effects, including hindered bone mineral density growth and blood clotting. One Danish study found that among use of oral contraceptives in teenagers, there was a minor negative effect on bone mineral density growth and an increased risk of blood clotting.

A 2011 expert review, published on Medscape, studied the effects of oral contraceptives on bone mineral density growth through measurements of bone

strength. It hypothesized that the most at-risk demographic is adult premenopausal women and adolescents. According to their research, young women will gain 40-50% of their skeletal mass during their adolescence, with 90% accumulated by 20 years of age.

Still, science is evolving in this area. The review points to statistical differences in its study that may not be significant enough to describe a direct correlation between the use of oral hormonal contraceptives and bone mineral density. Minor decreases in bone

mineral density may also still fall within normal ranges.

In addition to risks regarding bone density and strength, oral contraceptives may impact susceptibility to blood clots that form in veins. According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), estrogen and progestin, the two hormones found in oral contraceptives, had also been linked to blood clotting, causing a decrease of these hormones in pills since they were first brought on the market in the 1960s.

Blood clotting, also called an embolic event, is not common

among those taking oral contraceptives. However, the use of oral contraceptives increases susceptibility to blood clots by 3.8 times according to the Journal of Blood Medicine, depending on the mixed levels of hormone composition in the oral contraceptive of choice. For transgender individuals undergoing feminizing hormone therapy, blood clotting is also a health risk due to the intake of the estrogen hormone. A study conducted by the BMJ found that those taking oral contraceptives containing a progestin hormone called drospirenone were

twice as likely to experience risk of nonfatal blood clotting compared to those taking pills with the levonorgestrel progestin hormone. Research is changing in that area too: Contradicting studies reviewed by an article in the Journal of Blood Medicine point to either an increased risk or even no significant risk of drospirenone progestin intake in oral contraceptives versus other forms of birth control. While there is an increased risk of blood clotting associated with any regular intake of oral contraceptives, the risk is minimal compared to blood clot susceptibility for those experiencing pregnancy or postpartum.

Furthermore, there are other factors that, in combination with the intake of oral contraceptives, can increase the risk of blood clots. This includes smoking, consumption of birth control pills less than 21 days postpartum, and major surgery that results in immobilization.

When considering oral contraceptives, there are health risks associated that could implicate long-term or short-term consequences such as blood clotting and decreased bone mineral density. One can evaluate these risks by consulting a doctor or medical professional about any underlying health concerns that may affect what type of oral contraceptive to intake. Despite these risks, it is important to remember the effective protection that birth control pills afford.

Birth control pills are unlikely to cause serious side effects, but blood clotting

COURTESY OF VINCENT DUSOVIC VIA FORDHAM ATHLETICS

The Fordham women’s basketball team played hard and fast throughout a long season, ending with a 19-13 record and a spot in the WNIT bracket.

GRAPHIC BY ALEXA STEGMULLER/THE OBSERVER

One Percent Better Every Day: Rams End Season on Bittersweet Note

An analysis and reflection on the Fordham men’s basketball team’s best season in recent memory

B y AURELIEN CLAVAUD

Asst. Sports & Health Editor

The Fordham men’s basketball team’s inspiring season came to an abrupt and heartbreaking end on March 11 at the hands of the University of Dayton Flyers, 78-68, in the semifinal match of the Atlantic 10 (A10) Championship tournament. It was a disappointing conclusion to the Rams’ best season in years, as they crawled out from insignificance and blossomed into a 25-win program — this after just two wins in 2021 and a split 16-16 campaign in 2022.

This year, under rookie Head Coach Keith Urgo — or rather standing atop his shoulders — the Rams had a 25-8 record and tore through their nonconference schedule. Winning 11 games in a row from mid-November to late December, Fordham was unstoppable. It was in this manner that the Rams built an attitude of unwavering confidence throughout the year. And thus, as March came around, it was a bitter-

sweet finale for the Rams against Dayton. After the loss, Urgo reiterated the essence of his team’s brand of basketball.

“Win or lose, all we ask that is that everybody gives us every ounce of energy and passion they have,” Urgo said, summing up Fordham’s seasonlong mindset. “That locker room, there were a lot of tears shed, but no heads down because they gave us absolutely everything they could possibly give us.”

In order to understand the kind of season Fordham men’s basketball had this year, it is useful to put some numbers down. Take the team’s first five games, which is often a good litmus test. In those contests, the Rams lost once — to the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, a team that has made, and is currently making, a deep run in the NCAA March Madness tournament, so no surprises there. In those five games, Fordham scored 72 points per game on average and held their opponents to 65.

As the season progressed, it was evident that the Rams were fielding highly skilled players

who were performing at their best almost every night. Defensive anchors like 3-and-D Kyle Rose, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’24, as well as bigmen Rostyslav Novitskyi, FCRH ’23, and Abdou Tsimbila, FCRH ’24, were keeping opponents’ scores low. Notably, those three combined for 125 blocks on the season. Rose led the team in steals with 59, an average of 1.8 per game.

25-8 RECORD

It can be said that the Rams’ defense gave even the indomitable Razorbacks a little trouble, as they scored just 74 points, right around their average — keep in mind that Arkansas plays in the elite Southeastern Conference, and thus it is surprising to see that their offense did not produce more against Fordham.

And then there were the shooters. Darius Quisenberry, Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) ’23, was Urgo’s first option on offense. Despite shooting a modest 38% from the field and 31% from 3-point range, Quisenberry was held in high regard for his ability to knock down shots when it counted. On more than one occasion, he heaved from well beyond the line, draining 3-point bombs to the delight of fans.

“Unbelievable final year,” Urgo said of Quisenberry. “What a great career he has had. Forever grateful to our seniors.”

Quisenberry played through what looked to be a painful shoulder injury throughout the contest against Dayton. When asked about it, Urgo stuttered and trailed off, taking an emotional moment to breathe, before wholeheartedly praising his veteran point guard’s skill and mindset.

“He carried himself with such great character. He fits at Fordham and bleeds the name on the jersey,” Urgo said. “We knew how much pain he was in, but he just kept playing hard.”

Khalid Moore, GSAS ’23, who landed in the Bronx via the transfer portal, shot a spectacular 58% from the field. His lean, 6-foot-7inch frame allowed him to make the classic back-to-the-basket and mid-post positions his speciality. He excelled on cuts inside, and his length gave him an edge on both his first step and his finishing. Antrell Charlton’s, FCRH ’24, gifted pull-up jumper and Quisenberry’s ball-dominant play style were effectively rounded out by the addition of Moore.

“He came here with a vision. He achieved that for sure and gave us everything he got,” Urgo said of Moore. “He was very humble; a lot of times transfers think they’re bigger than the program. For the better part of a month, he wasn’t seen or heard to the point where we had to say, ‘Look man you’re the best player on the floor most of the time, you can start being vocal.’”

Considering those veterans, all the Rams needed to be unstoppable on offense was a 3-point specialist. They found it in Will Richardson, FCRH ’26, a three-star recruit from New Jersey. After a rocky early season, Richardson shook off the nerves and posted a 45% mark from long range. His development earned him a starting spot in conference games, and he was integral to the Rams’ versatility and adaptability on that end of the court.

“Will’s done nothing but win his entire career,” Urgo said. “The kid’s work ethic is absolutely through the roof, so there’s no question that throughout the year he continued to get better.”

Richardson was stoic after the loss against Dayton. He reflected on his short time at Fordham by looking ahead, saying he would probably be in the gym tomorrow, already working on getting better. He feels that he embodies Urgo’s mantra: getting 1% better everyday.

“He’s crazy; he’s not kidding. He’ll be back tomorrow,” Urgo said. “That kid will be in the gym. I’ll beg him not to be, but he’ll be there because that’s what he does. Some guys like it, some guys love it. He lives it.”

It’s safe to say that Fordham basketball is in good hands with young players like Richardson. Having already proved himself in the starting lineup this year, he’s on his way to being a face of the program as Quisenberry, Moore and Novitskyi make their exits.

Among the great contributors for the Rams, it would be negligent to understate Urgo’s impact. His presence and energy on the sidelines was unmatched, and his boisterous attitude often made it feel like he was the biggest man in the Rose Hill Gymnasium, or any gym for that matter.

Urgo’s leadership has evidently changed the way the Rams play basketball. Fordham not only knows what it’s like to win, but it also knows how to play dynamic basketball. Translating defense into offense, running fundamental sets and playing to everybody’s strengths are qualities to expect from a successful Fordham basketball program for the near future.

The Preconference Schedule

It was probably for the best that the Arkansas game came so early in the year. It was a reality check for the Rams, something for them to keep in mind, and in Richardson’s words, a reminder: “Don’t get too high when things are going good, and don’t get too low when things are going bad.”

In all likelihood, it set up a culture of hard work and cautious optimism that propelled the Rams to their historic 11game winning streak, their longest since a 14-game streak in the 1990-91 season. In a Dec. 6 matchup against Wagner College, the Rams shot 46% from the field while holding their opponents to 40%. Rose recorded a plus-minus of 24. Across the season, it was common to see him post above 20 in this statistic, which broadly measures a team’s success when a particular player is on the floor. Some of the best college ball players in history averaged around 16.

The preconference schedule was also a time when Fordham fans began to take note of the Rams’ success. Across many of the early contests, the Rose Hill Gym was nearly empty. By the time the A10 schedule rolled around, the gym was regularly hosting over a thousand fans.

This includes their first conference game, an unfortunate 82-58 thrashing at the hands of Dayton to break the Rams’ winning streak on Dec. 28, in the middle of winter break where

a winning

“We’re a winning program now — there’s expectations of us winning.”

Keith Urgo, men’s basketball head coach

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Darius Quisenberry, GSAS ’23, in his final year, averaged 17 points per game and shot 31% from 3-point range.

1,700 fans showed out. What Urgo has come to call “Rose Thrill” showed out again, with another 1,700 fans in attendance for the Rams’ 85-70 takedown of George Washington University a month later.

The A10 Kicks Off

All that excitement was quickly tapered by a tough slate of conference games. The A10 conference was harsh at first for the Rams. Despite now having an enormous and dedicated fan base behind them, the Rams lost three of their first four conference matchups. Quickly picking themselves up, Fordham went on a five-game win streak beginning with a tense, buzzer-beating 6462 victory against LaSalle University on Jan. 14 and ending on a high note with a 75-65 win over St. Louis University at home on Jan. 31.

ment, but it also guaranteed that anybody coming their way would give it their all. Urgo believes that trend is bound to continue.

As the schedule wore on, the Rams faced tough opponent after tough opponent. Eventually, with two emphatic victories — one against the University of Rhode Island, 74-71, and another against Duquesne University, 87-60, in their final game of the regular season — the Rams settled in the standings at a comfortable third place. It not only offered them two byes in the coming tourna-

“We’re a winning program now,” Urgo said. “There’s expectations of winning.” Fordham is likely to be a top target for contending teams next season. But the Rams weren’t thinking about next year as the regular season ended. They had their sights set on Barclays Center in Brooklyn and the A10 Championship tournament, which grants an automatic NCAA March Madness bid to the winner.

The Tournament

The bracket kicked off on Thursday, March 10 for the Rams, as they faced off against the LaSalle Explorers. In the previous outing, Fordham barely scraped by off a game winner by Charlton. The Rams shot 39% from the field that

game to LaSalle’s 47%. However, Fordham made more total shots, including seven threes. Moreover, what kept the Rams in the game was free throw shooting, or rather the lack of it by their opponent.

Fordham kept the Explorers’ shooting low, below 40%. However, the first half was an even contest, as both teams traded large runs. Because of this, the Rams were being pushed on offense and had to rely on Moore’s interior skill, Tsimbila and Novitskyi’s size, and a fast-paced penetrating play style that rewarded both Moore and Quisenberry.

Moore ended the period by extending Fordham’s lead to 11 off a 3-pointer and a two-handed dunk to beat the buzzer. Entering the half-time locker room, the onus was on the Rams to keep up the pressure. It was a spectacular night for both Moore and Quisenberry, despite an atrocious 28% perfor-

mance from the 3-point line by the team. The Explorers fared no better; in a testament to the Rams’ defense, LaSalle shot just 25% from long range. And the defense was undeniably the story of the game.

Novitskyi started hot in the paint, riling up the thousands of Fordham fans in attendance with his gritty and physical shot contests. He ended the game with six blocks, a career high. And early in the second half — following a devastating 11-2 run by the Explorers — Urgo revealed his hand, deploying a zone defense that was so effective LaSalle went on a five minute scoring drought.

The Rams won, 69-61, to the jubilant roar of thousands of students and alumni. No one seemed to care that the Rams shot just 50% from the free-throw line. Fordham advanced to the semifinal round against Dayton with confidence and momentum.

“We’ve got to defend and rebound and be tough and nasty if we’re going to compete at the highest levels of this league,” Urgo said, reflecting on Fordham’s tough loss to Dayton in their first A10 contest.

Come Saturday, March 11, the atmosphere was tinged with the feeling that anything was possible. Both the Rams and the Flyers are elite programs in the A10, and it was by all accounts, a duel of giants. Both teams were on fire from the field, and defenses on both sides were struggling to keep up. Richardson showed out, proving his mettle against the best. He hit four-ofseven from outside the arc and scored 16 points. Khalid scored 24 on three-of-six shooting from the 3-point line.

But it wasn’t enough. Dayton has a fantastically skilled squad, which negates any effects of their relatively small rotation. A key player for the Flyers, Toumani Camara, Dayton ’24, had a nearly perfect, 12-of-13 night from the field. It was a valiant effort for the New Yorkers, as they stayed within reach throughout most of the second half. A 3-pointer from Richardson brought the Flyers lead down to 1 with six minutes remaining.

Fordham came apart at the seams following this, and the game ended with Dayton on top, 78-68. Camara punctuated the painful defeat with a fast break dunk in the final three seconds. Emotions ran strong, but it’s important to remember the bigger picture: Fordham lost that night, but for the first time in years, it is now a winning program.

The Rams have exploded into a contending spot in the conference, and as the program still processes the loss, next year approaches steadily. Urgo and his team have proved they can be on top — now they just need to stay there.

winning culture

Head Coach Keith Urgo led his team to a 25-8 record in his first year at the helm of the program. He was previously an assistant coach for the Rams and before that was an assistant coach under Jay Wright at Villanova.

The Fordham fan base was electrifying this season, as thousands flocked to Barclays Center to watch their Rams play.

Will Richardson, FCRH ’26, has grown into his role as a starting guard for the Rams. Despite his inexperience, he was the best long range shooter for the team, draining shots at a 45% rate.

“We’ve got to defend and rebound and be tough and nasty if we’re going to compete at the highest levels of this league.”

Keith Urgo, men’s basketball head coach

International Students, Pick Your Majors Carefully

Post-grad requirements limit international students’ options while in school

Coming into college, I was 19, an international student from China and overwhelmed by the possibilities of what I could study. The options of majors seemed endless. Should I dip my toes in philosophy, see if psychology is as interesting as it sounds, play it safe with business, or actually listen to my parents and study economics?

When I was undecided about what to study, my adviser (who was also my English professor) asked if I had considered English. I had strong writing skills, did well in analysis assignments, and had always been a big reader. It made sense, and at that point, nothing else interested me enough — so I went with it.

It didn’t feel like a life-defining decision at the time. You can change your major before the end of sophomore year. Plus, many people find jobs in fields unrelated to what they studied. While that serves as a comforting thought for some, the reality is a little different for international students.

after graduation. Whichever way one chooses to use their OPT, they only get a total of 12 months. However, if a student majors in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) category, they are eligible for an OPT extension of an extra two years.

There are a lot of things I had to learn about being an international student in the United States when I first started at Fordham — I didn’t know I had to get my I-20 re-signed every year, and I didn’t know what an Optional Practical Training (OPT) was. It wasn’t until this past year that I realized I would be bound to my English degree after graduation.

International students on a F-1 student visa, the most common type of student visa in the U.S., get an OPT, which is a 12 month period during which they can work. Students are able to use their 12 months either while they are in school or

STEM major or not, one key requirement for OPT is that the job a student gets must be directly related to what they studied in university. It must also require a bachelor’s degree to complete. So, for example, if I had received a degree in public health, I would not be able to get a job in graphic design after graduation. I know several fellow international students who, post-graduation, have felt boxed-in by their majors.

Additionally, if you are unemployed for more than 90 days after graduation, you will be forced to leave the U.S. immediately — even if you have months of OPT left. Once you have used up your OPT, you have to go through the process of applying for a H-1B visa in order to keep working in the U.S. Unfortunately, more than 80% of those hoping for a work visa will be rejected. It doesn’t always matter how skilled you are in your field, as U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services uses a random lottery system to make its selections. The only way to apply again is to get a master’s degree, since those with the additional education are eligible to be entered in a second round of the lottery system if they weren’t selected the first round.

The feeling of instability as an international student is constantly lingering, adding to the anxieties that already exist for a college student unsure of where life is taking

them. Not knowing where I’d end up after college may have seemed exciting when I entered Fordham as a first-year, but four years later, I have built a life here. I have a community of friends I call family. I have a bagel order, a bodega guy and goals that don’t involve moving overseas. Plus, the general anxiety students have about post-grad life is not the same thing as not knowing which country I’ll have to move to if I don’t win a statistically unfavorable lottery. The first is exciting; the other is downright terrifying. One thing I am thankful for, though, is listening to my gut when picking a major. If I had caved into the pressure of studying something that would land me at one of the Big Four accounting firms, I would probably be pretty miserable ... and would have to stay that way for the foreseeable future. I like English. It has allowed me to read, write and be critical of the world around me. It may not be the most lucrative major, but it gives me a few different options for career paths after college that are relatively fulfilling and will satisfy my OPT requirements.

If

That’s just me though, and this is only a word of caution. Take it as you will. If you like STEM and stability, you might be lucky. If you genuinely don’t care where you land after college, and that includes a different country, then the choice of what to study may not be so consequential. Either way, picking a major is a big decision, and there are a lot of things to consider when you are an international student in the U.S. — so be sure to think it through.

It wasn’t until this past year that I realized that I would be bound to my English degree after graduation.

Not knowing where I’d end up after college may have seemed exciting when I entered Fordham as a first-year, but four years later, I have built a life here.

you genuinely don’t care where you land after college, and that includes a different country, then the choice of what to study may not be so consequential.

Fordham Must Expose Students to the Gay Agenda

Three books that Lincoln Center administrators can use to help incoming students be out and proud

ALEX THALER Contributing Writer

Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) administrators, faculty and students alike are eager to see what the Class of 2027 will look like. While there is plenty of room to see many marginalized groups better represented on campus, we need not worry about the LGBTQ+ community. We already know that many students at FLC are queer.

This year, let’s focus on letting the student body grow together. Even the few — dare I concede they exist — straight students at FLC would greatly benefit from exploring issues of gender and sexuality as they prepare for college. Banned books, increasing legislation seeking to protect students from the gay agenda, and the conservative curriculum requirements of a few U.S. states have prevented many people from exploring these topics outside of the internet. We need more references than just our school bullies and Tumblr partners to draw upon before reaching college.

Students should have opportunities to talk about gender and sexuality in a group setting in order to become comfortable with their identities and be able to express themselves freely. It should not just be a conversation you have with your high school English teacher after class where you overshare until you inadvertently out yourself. (Thank you

Mrs. Lowe, and sorry if it made you uncomfortable.)

Colleges need to pick up the slack, and Fordham has a prime opportunity with its annual class book selection. This year, I have created a list of some contenders that can compensate for the repressed queer high school experience:

1. “Happy Accidents”

by Jane Lynch

Jane Lynch is a famous comedian, actress and game show host. She is also a ruthless and vindictive cheerleading coach, a talk show anchor and the Vice President of the United States (at least I think “Glee” is based on true events). Having the incoming class read her memoir would allow us to not forget her main identity: lesbian. By stripping her of her individual accolades and triumphs as a public figure, students have a prime opportunity to recognize that lesbians are real — a fact they are likely to have missed in high school because they were too busy reading about straight men. Some lesbians even reach fame in spite of hardship! Lynch is one example. Oh, and Ellen DeGeneres! There are probably some other famous lesbians, but I’ve never heard of them. Try harder, lesbians!

Reading about how sexuality can serve as an obstacle and a motivator from the perspective of a queer public figure who achieved fame and embraced the hardships she faced along

the way would spark meaningful discussion among many students who have felt that their sexuality was something to hide or downplay prior to attending college.

2. “Red, White & Royal Blue” by

Casey McQuiston

This work centers on love knowing no bounds. The First Son of the United States falls in love with a British prince, and the two scheme to make a relationship work despite the messiness of international politics. Honestly, I understand why parents would want to protect their children from this story. It is vile in its wholesomeness. Reading a gay romance that centers around how beautiful love can be is meant for more mature audiences (those in relationships). It is painful to be single, watch the characters fall in love, then ask “when is it my turn?” Yet, it would be very rewarding to connect with fellow students and marvel at how far queer literature has come that we can read a book that celebrates love. The book may instill loneliness and depravity among the student body, but it will also bring unity.

3. “Call Me by Your Name”

by André Aciman

For students reading while in summer break mode, this romance could compliment a cold glass of Sprite on the beach. Set in a mansion on the Italian Riviera, this work explores a budding

intimacy between a 17-year-old Italian boy and a 24-year-old American visitor to his family’s home. Young Timothée Chalamet (I forget the character’s name) and Armie Hammer (sorry, I didn’t study up before writing this suggestion) spend six weeks falling in love while knowing that the American would ultimately leave.

The story raises concerns about the difference in age between the characters, the challenges that queer relationships face that lead to such problems, and the limiting social norms that can make it difficult to have a traditional relationship. One big reason that this work is a strong candidate is that it could draw in some nonreaders. Who wouldn’t want to watch Chalamet in a movie and pretend that they’re viewing it for school? The movie isn’t the same as the book, but

it is close enough that students who watch the movie can still engage in literary conversation. In fact, I pose this suggestion having only watched the movie, but I bet you couldn’t tell.

Fordham administrators have a big undertaking this year: overcompensate for my losses prior to college. To combat laws targeting high schools, it is now the university’s job to ensure that these discussions are not foreign in college classrooms and to reassure students that their identities are valid and worthy of discussion. No longer will incoming college students have to use the internet to see if gay people are real — they will have assigned summer reading to show that they are. Let’s get these books out of the closet and into the hands of the impressionable youths that are blissfully unaware of the gay agenda.

Get Ahead This Summer

Queens College is offering in-person and online classes over four summer sessions:

Session 1: June 5–29 (4 weeks)

Session 2: July 5–31 (4 weeks)

Session 3: July 5–August 15 (6 weeks)

Session 4: June 5–August 15 (10 weeks)

Take advantage of:

■ Hundreds of courses

■ Opportunity to earn up to 15 credits

■ Affordable tuition

■ Summer Pell Grants (for qualifying students)

■ Campus facilities, including our Fitness Center

Registration open now!

Students from all colleges welcome.

www.qc.cuny.edu/summer

GRAPHIC BY MARIA TERZULLI/THE OBSERVER

Keeping the Dream Alive: The 95th Academy Awards

Racking up the highest viewership for any ceremony since 2020, this year’s Oscars broadcast contained notable moments and tear-jerking speeches

By JUJU JAWORSKI Staff Writer

In the life of college students, spring break is often known for warm weather, sunburns that hopefully crisp into a tan, and high spirits. For film lovers, the third week in March represents the hallmark of cinematic celebration: the Academy Awards.

This year, the Oscars rang in their 95th grand celebration on March 12, 2023, live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The host of the evening, Jimmy Kimmel, a Los Angeles late-night host, made a return to the Dolby stage for his third time hosting. Following Kimmel’s last appearance in 2018, the awards ceremony went without a traditional host for four years. After Hart’s selection as host for the 2019 ceremony, his homophobic tweets and “jokes” were brought to light, and resulted in him stepping down from the role of host. The 2019 award ceremony ended up having no host, and in 2020 and 2021 there were also no hosts: the broadcast lost half of its usual audience. In last year’s ceremony, Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes hosted as a trio. This year marked a return to the single-host formula.

The presenters were composed of past-nominees and rising stars, such as Halle Bailey, Jessica Chastain, John Cho, Andrew Garfield, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman and Florence Pugh.

This year’s ceremony received higher viewership than past years, as it’s been reported that the 95th Academy Awards were watched by 18.7 million people in the U.S., which is a 12% increase from 2022. Preliminary ratings for this year’s Oscars were the highest for any show since 2020 according to market measuring firm Nielsen.

This increase in viewership may be attributed to a rise in cinephiles within Generation Z, as fan-favorites such as

breakthrough film “Everything Everywhere All At Once” were honored and first time nominee Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”) made an appearance. “Filmtok,” a subgenre of the social media platform TikTok, has made a mark on the younger generation and is inspiring people to branch out into independent film-watching. It can be concluded that along with popular artistic films and this subgroup’s popularity on social media, this year’s ceremony was discussed online more than usual.

The award ceremony garnered hold-your-breath moments as films such as when “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” the most-nominated picture of the evening with 11 nods, competed against the winner of the Golden Globe best picture, musical or comedy category, “The Banshees of Inisherin.” Veteran actor Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) also faced the Golden Globe winner for best actor, drama, winner Austin Butler (“Elvis”).

The crown jewels of the night — best picture, best actor, best actress, best supporting actor and best supporting actress — were mostly taken home by creatives within the “Everything Everywhere All At Once” team, though Fraser snagged best actor. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” won seven of their 11 nominations, also taking home best director for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, best original screenplay for the same pair, and best film editing for Paul Rogers.

An upset was felt among the general public due to Jamie Lee Curtis’ best supporting actress win for her role as Deirdre in “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” beating out fan-favorite and Golden Globe-winner Angela Bassett for her performance in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Bassett had been the predicted winner by Gold Derby and is the first actor nominated for a performance in a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film,

making history for the superhero franchise. The historic win being just out of reach caused an uproar in the MCU film community.

A24, the popular independent film studio and distribution company, garnered 18 nods for this year’s awards, which was the most of any studio. By the end of the evening, they took home nine awards. The studio was the first in Oscars history to win what are considered seven of the eight top awards celebrated at the ceremony — best picture, best director, best original screenplay and the four acting awards, missing only best adapted screenplay. This was given to Sarah Polley for her screenplay “Women Talking.” Polley created a memorable moment in the evening when she won best adapted screenplay, sarcastically thanking the Academy for not “being too mortally offended by the words ‘women’ and ‘talking’ put so close together.”

Similarly, not a single female director was nominated for best director. In the last two years, Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”), not only garnered nods but took home the Oscar for this category. Polley’s win for her acclaimed film “Women Talking” celebrated the work of female directors through the screenplay category.

Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Fraser’s speeches stood out, as did their acceptances at the prior Golden Globe awards. Quan marked the first Vietnamese-born actor to win an Oscar and opened his speech by exclaiming “Oh my god!” before kissing his Oscars gold statue onstage. He said, “My mom is 84 years old watching at home. Mom, I just won an Oscar!”

Yeoh made history as the first Asian best actress winner at the Academy Awards, as well as the first Malaysian actress to win the

category, for her role as Evelyn in “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”

“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dreams — dream big, and dreams do come true,” she said. Fraser teared up throughout his best actor acceptance speech as he admired his gold Oscar statue, shouting out his sons as his support system, as well as his magnificent co-star in “The Whale” and fellow nominee, Hong Chau.

The Academy Awards proved to be an evening of celebration for the heart of cinema and those who use storytelling to give us a world to escape into. The evening can be best summarized with the closing sentiment of Quan’s speech: “Dreams are something you have to believe in. I almost gave up on mine. To all of you out there, please keep your dreams alive.”

‘Indecent’ Is a Singing, Dancing, Storytelling Sensation

Fordham Theatre’s newest mainstage show

is the perfect mix of drama, romance, music and history

‘INDECENT’ from page 1

Asch was one of the first playwrights who told the stories and dreams of his people. For many Europeans, this was the first time they had seen a Yiddish writer explore the experiences of many Jewish individuals living in Poland, which was very important and powerful to witness. The controversy around “God of Vengeance” only began once it came to the U.S., where it was called “indecent” for public viewing.

What made “God of Vengeance” so different from other plays at the time was the inclusion of a queer relationship, as well as the cast full of Jewish immigrants. The play covers themes of antisemitism, homophobia and misogyny and showcases the struggles that Jewish individuals faced in their mission to create and share art.

The cast of “Indecent” was able to truly transform themselves into these roles, creating a powerful performance given all of the moving parts and intense themes of this play. There was never a moment while I was watching when I did not feel

100% engaged and as though I was really in their world.

The incredibly powerful message that this play conveys was captured and wrapped up in one of its final scenes. “The Rain Scene” famously describes a scene from “God of Vengeance” that was cut from the play once it moved to Broadway, causing the cast to be arrested for indecency. As the two women, Chana, played by Lili Gutierrez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’23, and Halina, played by Ashira Fischer-Wachspress, also FCLC ’23, share an intimate moment on stage, rain pours down over them, creating a memorable and meaningful moment for audience members.

of “Jewish joy, queer joy and human joy.”

While this play contains many heavy and difficult themes as the characters in this play experience extreme suffering, ultimately “the power of love is what keeps them alive,” Fischer-Wachspress said.

Closure practices were crucial for this cast, as they immersed themselves into their characters that experienced incredibly deep emotions. After each rehearsal, they had a ritual of coming together as a cast and taking some deep breaths together to ensure that they stepped out of their characters and back into the real world. Fischer-Wachspress said that it was to “protect the story and themselves.”

Fischer-Wachspress said that the rain scene was an expression

The commitment of the cast made the experience of watching “Indecent” so special. With all of the moving parts of this play, cast members even took it upon themselves to learn new instruments. Fischer-Waschpress described it as “our ‘Indecent’” and said that the energy that was in the room during each rehearsal was something beautiful.

The commitment of the cast made the experience of watching “Indecent” so special.

Cast members of “Indecent” learned instruments such as the accordion to portray a troupe of actors and musicians sharing the story behind the play “God of Vengeance”.

GRAPHIC BY ALEXA STEGMULLER/THE OBSERVER

‘Blood Wedding’: A Spectacular Display of a Heartbreaking Spanish Tragedy

Fordham Studio’s production of ‘Blood Wedding’ was a triumphant marriage between drama and surrealism in homage to playwright Federico García Lorca

By STEVIE FUSCO Staff Writer

From Feb. 27 to March 3, Fordham Studio Theatre presented “Blood Wedding,” written by Federico García Lorca. The play spotlights themes of societal gender expectations, romance, heartbreak and loss, which create a sense of inherent queerness that director Asa Nestlehutt, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, leaned into.

“Blood Wedding” is a tragedy about a bride, played by Giordana Simurdiak, FCLC ’24, betrothed to a man but madly in love with another. The play explores forbidden love through the lens of two families beguiled by trauma and social pressures.

Simurdiak was a woman on fire. She portrayed The Bride in a captivating display and brought audience members to tears as she bared her soul on the stage and delivered an unforgettable performance.

The Bridegroom, played by Jack Clark, alongside his mother, played by Mckenna Dixon, both FCLC ’25, meets with The Bride’s Father, played by Alexander Shayeb, FCLC ’25, to profess his love for The Bride and ask for her hand in marriage. Despite The Bride’s obvious unhappiness with the match, the families agree, and the pair are set to be married.

Balancing comedy and seriousness, Clark brought an innate sense of humor to an otherwise melancholic play, and his vocals anchored the songs of the play.

Dixon expertly delivered a chilling performance of a grieving

mother in the aftermath of her son’s death, evoking an impassioned reaction from viewers.

Shayeb displayed immense acting and singing talent in his portrayal of the Father of The Bride and the Moon. He breathed life into the celestial being.

Upon learning of engagement, Leonardo, played by Anne Lois Bullington, FCLC ’26, leaves behind his pregnant wife, played by Emma Durocher, FCLC ’23, and similarly confesses his love for The Bride, which she reciprocates.

Bullington gave an astonishing portrayal of someone overcome with desire. Her performance established her as an incredible addition to the play.

With the biggest singing part of both the Servant and Leonardo’s wife, Durocher gave the play her all. In the final scene, she perfectly portrayed a distraught woman.

Halfway through the play, directly following the wedding sequence, a transformation occurred. The play took a surrealist turn as the characters go through a metamorphosis. Leonardo and The Bride subvert societal expectations and run away together. The Bridegroom, who has transformed from the sweet “momma’s boy” into a misogynist, begins a jealous pursuit of his wife and Leonardo. Shayeb and Dixon have a transformation of their own into the Moon and Death respectively.

The Moon and Death are taken from celestial abstracts to plot-furthering characters, dependent on the Bridegroom and Leonardo meeting. This

results in the two men tragically dying, leaving the rest of the characters in a state of despair.

Nestlehutt took creative liberty when casting Leonardo and decided to cast him as a woman. This choice was a nod to the playwright’s identity as a closeted gay man. Nestlehutt said they believe that Lorca was writing about a queer relationship; he just didn’t have the ability at the time to explicitly state it.

“Lorca was a queer man and sought to explore themes of homosexuality in his work, but because of where he lived in Spain in the 1930s, he was not able to explore these themes outwardly whatsoever. So, it’s all very heavily coded,” Nestlehutt said.

Nestlehutt’s rendition took a village to bring to fruition. It contained a genius original score written by Nate Dallimore, FCLC ’24. Dallimore had the enormous task of simultaneously being the composer, music director and sound designer.

“The entire summer I spent researching flamenco music, learning the theory behind it from a music education standpoint but also the traditions,” Dallimore said. “I’m trying to learn that and use some of those techniques to make my own type of music.”

Samantha Bohrer, FCLC ’23, choreographed dance sequences that accompanied the music to create flawless musical numbers throughout the performance.

The fantastical set, designed by Haley Crawford, FCLC ’24, was

a surrealist painting that came to life, capturing the essence of the the Spanish Countryside. Lee Lillis, FCLC ’24, took the performance to a new level of excellence with his lighting, painting the set and actors beautifully. The lighting also enhanced key plot moments in a visually dynamic way.

Clad with highly stylistic makeup and costumes, designed by Katie Bartlett, FCLC ’25, the actors took to the stage to tell the heartbreaking and erotic story of “Blood Wedding.”

From the second the house doors open, “Blood Wedding” was a fully immersive

experience. The lighting was dimmed, the set was beautiful, and the ambient music in the background transformed the Whitebox Theater into a 1930s Spanish Countryside.

Nestlehutt’s directorial debut was simply a triumph. His rendition brought theatricality back to theater and was a feast for the senses. “Blood Wedding” is a perfect example of what happens when artists are inspired. They perform at their best. The talent packed cast and crew came together to create a magnificent performance, not soon to be forgotten by Fordham Theatre.

Production

Fordham Theatre playwright Vivienne Blouin highlights women’s beauty standards in ‘When Birds Don’t Fly’

By ALLY REAVIS

Contributing Writer

A pageant star, a suburban mom and an unobtrusive little sister: all female character archetypes that most media tends to fit into one-dimensional molds. However, playwright Vivienne Blouin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’24, gracefully fleshes these characters out in her play “When Birds Don’t Fly,” performed on Feb. 28, March 2 and March 4.

In the brilliant one-act play set outside of Charleston, South Carolina, a now-adult former pageant star, Mckenzie (Riley Halpern, FCLC ’25), moves back in with her mother, Celia (Yasemin Cem, FCLC ’25), and younger sister, Magnolia (ViVi Aiello, FCLC ’26), after struggling with alcoholism.

The women’s relationships with one another take center stage. Blouin explained that she really wanted to explore “how beauty standards affect the relationships between women, especially in families.”

The show is about the ways that “sexist and misogynistic power structures — even if there are no men present in the room — still impede the way women can connect with one another,” director Cora Therber, FCLC ’24, said. Even within all-female families, women are still expected to be the best version of themselves: They feel the need to “perform.”

Blouin’s script began as a wall of sticky notes in her dorm room, and she sat with the script for about a year and a half. The first time she saw the actors perform in rehearsals, she cried.

“It was just so surreal to see

something that I’ve imagined in my head so many times come to life and kind of be how I pictured it,” Blouin said. The play is nonlinear, jumping back and forth in time and showing the women at different ages. Through this, the audience witnesses the characters’ relationships fluctuate.

“It’s very focused because it’s set in this one household and one family. The three people on stage make it more emotional and personal,” assistant director and choreographer Kana Seiki, FCLC ’24, said.

In between scenes, the lights suddenly lowered and iconic songs such as “What Time Is It?” from “High School Musical 2” brought the audience into the next part. Lighting director Lee Lillis, FCLC ’24, opted for a low, fluorescent green to convert the stage into the backstage of a pageant. Costume designer Peter Chan, FCLC ’24, rolled a clothing rack onto the stage, changing the sisters and mother’s age through their wardrobe.

The transitions mirrored the theme of women’s performance and “how much their appearance

plays into who they are, how they see themselves and how they see each other,” Halpern said.

A melodic country song played as the sisters morphed into their younger selves from the first scene into the second. All of a sudden, assistant sound designer Leah Getz, FCLC ’23, charmed the audience when the song switched to “SexyBack” by Justin Timberlake.

Mckenzie and Magnolia became the best-friend-sisters I wish I’d had in the second scene. Aiello felt similarly, saying she embraced her childlike wonder in the role.

Jumping a few years forward, Miley Cyrus’ “We Can’t Stop” set the scene perfectly for the aftermath of 18-year-old Mckenzie’s drunk stumble home where she is comforted by Magnolia. Her warmth in this scene was natural. Aiello explained that Magnolia “puts other people before herself.”

At the end of this scene, the spotlight shines pink on Magnolia alone on stage as we hear her inner thoughts through a monologue formatted like a pageant speech. Magnolia comes to the inevitable realization that “Mom is a human being.” The compassion the characters have for one another is rewarding amid the heartache I felt for them.

Time passes, and the audience sees the three women prepare for Celia’s mother’s funeral. Magnolia appeared in flat moccasins. This is unacceptable attire to Celia, who flaunted impressive stilettos. However, the audience later realizes that Celia is not as shallow as she may first appear.

The audience is offered a moment of insight into Celia in this scene, through her own

pink-spotlighted “pageant speech” where she shares, “So if you ask what I want to be, or what I wanted to be when I grew up, I probably wouldn’t have said a receptionist. But I have always wanted to be a mom.”

Celia connected with her daughters through pageantry, just as she connected with her own mom about it. “That highlights how important this really is to her — being a successful mother. And that makes everything more heartbreaking,” Cem said.

Blouin’s script does a fantastic job of viewing imperfect characters through a lens of empathy. “One of my favorite things about the play is the grace that it holds for the characters in it,” Therber said.

In the emotional final scene, the year is 2022, and Mckenzie is dressed in a beautiful pink pageant dress, a crown and sash. She delivered her intimate pageant speech, “If beauty is pain, I want to know how ugly feels.” If by some luck you’ve never felt the painstaking desire to be beautiful and seen, you felt it through Mckenzie and Celia.

Each member of the “When Birds Don’t Fly” team stressed what Blouin called “the power of friendship” in their practice process. “I think it makes a huge difference to have people on the show that you can trust, especially since this show was really personal to me,” Blouin said.

“When Birds Don’t Fly” was a combination of whimsical and somber but was ultimately heartwarming. The play showcased Blouin’s talent for writing and creating well-developed characters, reflected in the actors’ unforgettable performances.

‘When Birds Don’t Fly’: A Pageant-Perfect

COURTESY OF HELEN HYLTON

“When Birds Don’t Fly” explores the nuances of female relationships and beauty standards in the pageant world.

COURTESY OF HELEN HYLTON

“Blood Wedding” features a love triangle between a bride, her former lover and her bridegroom.

Crossword: Care for a Drink un & ames

BY IRENE HAO

Instructions: Fill in each square cell in the puzzle with a number between 1 and 6. Use each number exactly once in each row and each column. The grid is separated into shapes of one to four square cells, with a number and an operation on the top left. The number is the answer you get when you add, subtract, multiply or divide the numbers in the shape, and the operation (+, -, x, ÷) is the sole operation used. The order in which the numbers appear in the shape doesn’t matter. If a grid only has a number and no operation, then that number should be placed in that one square cell. Hint: Multiple of the same number can be in the same shape.

BY KREENA VORA

1. How you might describe 4 Down

6. Plentiful

7. Athenian lawmaker and poet

8. Poke

9. “___ me, hi, I’m the problem…”

Down

1. More, in Spanish

2. :D, for example

3. Sound of paint hitting a canvas

4. Undesirable roommates

5. Japanese currency

Across Down

BY IRENE HAO

1. Chatspeak at the end of a match

4. Children’s animated show, informally

5. Language spoken in Chad

6. Said when indecisive: “Do you want to go __ __?” (2 wds)

7. Southwest grill chain

Down

1. Revolutionary Maud ___

2. Exclamations of cheer during a race perhaps

3. Nostril liquid

4. *Purple boba beverage flavor

5. Currency of Kyrgyzstan

BY IRENE HAO

6 7

9 8

8 6

1 1 4 6 8 2

3 5 8

BY IRENE HAO 1

6 1

2 5

3 4

5 6

7 9 2 5 1

5. Opposite of exit, in the U.K.