Observer Issue 8 Spring 2025

Observer

The STudenT Voice of fordham LincoLn cenTer

‘It's Completely Ash’

DEI Here to Stay

By SHELBY WILLIAMS DEI Chair

Numerous American corporations and organizations have discontinued diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, including Amazon, Meta and the FBI. However, Fordham equity and inclusion chair James Felton III said in an email on Friday, Jan. 17, that the university will not roll back its programs designed to ensure diversity.

DEI departments and similar programs are implemented to prevent workplace discrimination and broadly ensure the protection of civil liberties. Ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, American corporations began reshaping, and in some cases eliminating, initiatives surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trump has openly condemned DEI practices throughout his political career. Under his first term he

banned federal contractors from engaging in DEI training with an executive order in Sept. 2020, claiming that such policies “promote division and inefficiency.” During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to remove “all Marxist diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucrats” from government offices, working to eliminate federal spending on DEI efforts. Vice President J.D. Vance sponsored the Dismantle DEI Act of 2024 in the Senate which would ban DEI programs and funding in the federal government if passed.

In an internal memo sent to Amazon employees on Dec. 16, the e-commerce giant announced that it would be “winding down outdated programs and materials,” including the discontinuation of many DEI initiatives. The company said it will work to replace them with programming that will more effectively foster a culture of inclusion.

SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE 7

Coach Crackdown

By MICHELLE WILSON Assistant News Editor

In anticipation of the June 24 New York City mayoral primary, candidates have begun fundraising and sharing policy proposals at mayoral forums. Fordham students are watching candidates’ perspectives on housing, safety and transportation.

The crowded mayoral field includes incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, State Senator Zellnor Myrie and State Representative Zohran Mamdani.

At recent mayoral forums, candidates presented their stances on key issues like housing, transportation and immigration.

All candidates agreed to build 30 miles of bus lanes annually and broaden the Fair Fares program to encompass 200% of the federal poverty line. Adams stands alone in wanting to criminalize fare evasion and place the

Primary Starts

National Guard in the subway.

Michael Magazine, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’27, criticized Adams and wants policymakers to forge innovative approaches to public safety other than spending more money on police.

“Are we gonna put another billion dollars in the NYPD budget? Or maybe we’re gonna look towards other solutions like social workers, like preventative measures, getting students access to attractions and opportunities so they’re not doing subway surfing,” Magazine said.

Fordham students will be impacted by the primary’s outcome and share concerns on the future of public policy.

Clark Beach, FCLC ’28, is a native New Yorker and political science major. He said he hopes the next mayor-elect will tackle affordability and public safety.

“I feel like policymakers should focus more on eliminating the problem and not

the symptoms, because if we eliminate the sicknesses such as mental health and homelessness and financial troubles, and we can really figure out what's going on with the congestion prices, which is forcing more people into the subways, then we can really fix the problem of security in the subway system and in the street,” Beach said.

Several candidates have made affordable housing a significant part of their campaign. Mamdani promised to call for a rent freeze, while Myrie pledged to build 700,000 new homes and preserve another 300,000. Lander pledged to end homelessness for the severely mentally ill, while Stringer emphasized a sweeping 47-page housing plan from his 2021 campaign.

For Fordham students like Magazine, housing is a particularly pertinent issue.

Dalia Lundquist, a freshman at FGSB, holds up a photo of a house from the neighborhood right next to her school.

Law Students Aid Trans Doc Changes

Trans law student group has aided hundreds of name and legal gender changes for trans New Yorkers

By SAM BRACY News Editor

At an office in the West Village, a notary’s stamp lands on a stack of papers with a heavy “CA-CHUNK” and a cheer goes up.

Angel, a Brooklyn resident, is one step closer to having their name on their official New York ID.

“I’m glad it’s done. It feels like a relief,” Angel said.

Angel is one of several trans and non-binary New Yorkers who received assistance from Fordham Law School (FLS) students at a name and gender marker change event on Jan. 16. The event was organized by Fordham’s Advocates for Trans* Law Students (ATLS), which has assisted around 400 document change petitions at dozens of events since the club’s founding in 2022, according to ATLS President Alaina Greene, FLS ’27.

“ I’m really grateful that they were here to help us. It is kind of daunting to navigate bureaucracy when you’re not sure where to start.

”

Cindy, parent of trans minor

“It’s really intimidating to interact with the legal system as a trans person,” Greene said. “We wanted to bridge that gap and make it a bit more accessible.”

At the events, FLS students provide printed-out copies of forms, help petitioners fill them out and certify them by a notary. Greene said that many ATLS volunteers have changed their own names or legal genders in the past, which helps them reassure petitioners and answer questions.

“People come in very anxious and I’m able to sit with them while they fill out the form and they leave say ‘okay, I know what room to go into at court, and I know my form is filled out correctly,’ you just feel their energy shift and by the end of it they walk out of there feeling confident in their documentation,” Greene said.

At Thursday’s event, Angel, who agreed to be quoted only by their first name in order to protect their privacy, said that they could not have completed the process

without the assistance of ATLS volunteers.

“I would never be able to have the patience to sit down, look for the damn forms, look for the directions for the damn forms,” Angel said. “I must have had like 50 questions, that would have taken me five days.”

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) hosted the event on Thursday in order to bring the resources offered by ATLS to families with queer children, according to Clark Hamel, acting director of PFLAG NYC. Cindy and Matthew came to Thursday’s event to get assistance with their son’s name and gender marker change and agreed that ATLS volunteers helped them with the process.

“I’m really grateful that they were here to help us. It is kind of daunting to navigate bureaucracy when you’re not sure where to start,” Cindy said. “To have a guide at an event with multiple people to be able to help you is fantastic.”

Cindy said she was relieved to have the notary’s stamp on the documentation for their son’s name and gender change because of concerns that it could become more difficult to obtain under the second Donald Trump administration.

“We’re happy to finally get it started, especially with the change in the political climate in the country. We were like, ‘we really have to do this now before it becomes impossible,’” Cindy said.

After Trump’s re-election in November, ATLS rapidly increased the number of name and gender marker change assistance events, eventually hosting 22 events in November, December and January, according to the club’s Instagram. Former ATLS President August Golden, FLS ’25, said that interest in the events skyrocketed after the election.

“After the 2024 election, things really exploded for us. We went from a couple people at our name change events here and there, there would be times when we would show up and be there and maybe one person would come. But since the election it's been lines out the door sometimes, so many people asking for our support,” Golden said.

While New York has laws protecting the right for name and gender marker changes on state documents, Greene said that the ability to change information on federal documents such as passports could be restricted by

anti-trans legislation. Another concern Greene raised is if a person with a non-binary X gender marker on their ID travels to a state where such gender markers are not recognized.

“ But since the election it's been lines out the door sometimes, so many people asking for our support. ”

August Golden, former ATLS president

“It is an immediate identification that you are gender

nonconforming,” Greene said. “We don’t know what the landscape is going to look like in a year so people are afraid that it could affect travel to less friendly states.”

Angel said that they are terrified of the prospect of being outed as non-binary during a traffic stop while visiting Florida, but they said they are nonetheless happy they took the opportunity to have their gender accurately reflected on their New York state ID.

“I reflected on if I didn’t have the ability to do this, would I be pissed that I didn’t do it? So I’m glad I did it,” Angel said.

Shortly after his inauguration on Jan. 20, President Trump signed an executive order defining sex as binary and unchanging once assigned at birth.

The timeline for enforcement of the order is unclear. While the prospect of an anti-trans federal government is frightening, Hamel said that bureaucracy’s glacial pace offers a silver lining: any federal changes will not occur immediately.

“People are so terrified that I think they forget that it's still bureaucracy, that if something were to come up that would affect for a New York state resident to change, let’s say, their gender marker on their passport, knowing that was coming down the line you would absolutely have enough time before it was actually enacted,” Hamel said.

“ There’s so many moments of joy in these events, like every time we notary stamp someone everyone cheers and it's very uplifting. ”

August Golden, former ATLS president

Despite an uncertain and uneasy future for trans people, Golden said assisting fellow trans people using his experience as a law student makes him feel fulfilled.

“There’s so many moments of joy in these events, like every time we notary stamp someone everyone cheers and it's very uplifting,” Golden said.

ATLS will continue to host name and gender marker change events multiple times a month in 2025 and has an annual fundraising event planned for the spring. The next events will be on Jan. 23 in Washington

and Jan. 26 in Crown Heights.

Heights

PHOTOS BY KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER

The sign up forms for PFLAG NYC.

Clark Hamel, acting director of PFLAG NYC.

PFLAG NYC sign up table with online accessible forms.

The ATLS organization at Fordham College of Law offers free assistance with the legal name and gender marker change process in New York State.

California Emergency Affects Students

Wildfires blaze through southern California, leaving neigborhoods in ruin and impacting Fordham students

By MACKENZIE COOPER Assistant News Editor

The California wildfires, which began on Jan. 7, have devastated various parts of Los Angeles County.

The wildfires started in the Palisades, moving towards Eaton and Hurst counties and ending up in Ventura California. While none of the fires have been fully contained, both Hurst and Auto were controlled as of Jan. 18.

Ashleigh Restivo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’28, was at home at Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles County when the fires started.

“I think everyone knows someone that was affected. My grandma had to evacuate to our house because she lives in Pasadena, but her house was okay. And I do know people that lost their house,” Restivo said.

Although the area Restivo was living in was not personally affected by the fires, the lasting damage due to pollution and smoke from the fires has impacted many in the greater Los Angeles area.

Houses, cars and infrastructure are just some of the structures that have been burned, along with the building materials, furniture, paints, plastics and electronics inside them. When materials like that burn, they can release toxic chemicals into the air, worsening air quality. The strong Santa Ana Winds caused these fires to spread quickly from one area to another.

Due to the smoke from the several wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the air quality decreased, forcing residents to wear masks

in order to protect their health and well-being. Now, studies show that there has been a link between climate change and the Los Angeles fires, drawing conclusions as to how this fire may have started.

“I think just the awareness of how much has been lost. I don’t think people from outside of California understand how big the impact is on Los Angeles and just the state as a whole,” Restivo stated.

At the time of publication, the death toll of wildfire-related deaths across the Los Angeles area was 27 people. The blazes have grown to cover 40,588 acres of land. The number being presented is primarily related to the Palisades fire and does not include the Eaton fire.

Dalia Lundquist, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’28, is from South Pasadena, over five miles from the Eaton Fire. She was at home when she received a level II evacuation notice. A level II evacuation notice means there is a “high probability of a need to evacuate,” per the US Forest Services. Lundquist explained in her interview that while she was fortunate not to lose her home, she was honest in sharing that she lost something very important to her

“My kindergarten, elementary and middle school burned down in the Eaton fire. It’s completely ash.”

Lundquist said the California state government could do a better job of providing resources to those affected by the Eaton

fire. Instead, she said organizations and individuals have done the most to help people.

“I have not really seen any support. I know I texted about 20 people that I know about how they're doing and if they were getting support, and they have not. It's all been through GoFundMe and donations and local donation drives throughout Altadena and Pasadena.” Lundquist said.

While the cause of the fires is yet to be identified, there has been much speculation as to what could have sparked it. According to CNN, “Fire experts and arson investigators interviewed by CNN said it could take weeks, months or even longer before they know precisely how the fires ignited.”

According to the officials from

Cal Fire, 95% of fires in California are caused by humans, either intentionally or by accident — like a neglected barbeque or fireworks gone wrong.

Some organizations where LA-area residents can find relief were posted in an article by the LA Times. The article lists five shops where victims who lost their belongings can go to get free clothes, shoes, accessories, essentials, toys and more. Many brands like Alo Yoga, LoveShackFancy, Rebecca Minkoff and more have publicly shared their support for those struggling and offered to give away their resources as well.

For anyone interested in providing contributions to people affected by the California wildfires, several non-profit organizations have offered to help supply various services and resources that are in need of donations.

These donations help rebuild and unite communities, all for a good cause.

The American Red Cross provides critical relief to thousands of people, offering necessities like food, shelter, emotional care, recovery planning and financial assistance.

Project Angel Food, a nonprofit organization that offers free meals to those in need in Los Angeles County, has fed more than 3,000 people daily.

As of Jan. 21, three fires have broken out in the San Diego area. According to the Cal Fire officials, the Pala fire has been contained, but the Lilac and Friars Fires are still burning. While no exact cause of these fires has been announced, they have spanned 105 acres at the time this article will be published.

Felton: Fordham Will Not “Abandon” DEI

In the days leading to the inauguration, Amazon, Meta and McDonald’s joined major names discontinuing DEI programs

On Jan. 6, McDonald’s announced the cancellation of specific goals for diversity within leadership levels and the end of programming that encourages suppliers to develop diversity leadership training. A spokesperson for the fast-food chain attributed this change to the shifting legal landscape of today.

This comes after the Federal Bureau of Investigation closed its Office of Diversity and Inclusion in December of 2024, one of the latest organizations to do so. According to Forbes, the DEI office at the FBI was “a frequent target of attacks by Republicans,” leading many to believe this prompted the FBI’s decision.

Jyonnah Ware, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’28, finds the recent pattern of altering DEI initiatives “nerve wracking” and views these changes as a part of a broader problem. She believes that the death of George Floyd in 2020 prompted a pattern of performative advocacy within corporations, leading to the ease in the abandonment of these policies.

“People were angry that they weren't being heard. And I think that corporations saw that, and they used that to calm people down,” Ware said. “Because it's now who the president is, these corporations feel more comfortable just saying, ‘okay, we don't need that anymore.’ You don't need to seem like they're doing the work anymore.”

Some American universities have begun altering or erasing their DEI initiatives

post-election. In Dec. 2024 The University of Michigan ended its requirement for diversity statements as part of the school’s hiring process.

Alterations made to legislation regarding DEI initiatives would transform policies on all levels, including those on Fordham’s campus.

While Fordham will have to comply with any federal changes made to DEI guidelines, Felton shared that Fordham’s guidelines

are continuously changing to adapt to the school’s community. Felton said that Fordham remains focused on protecting its students and ensuring their rights receive respect and protection on campus.

“Fordham’s DEI goals and initiatives are always evolving to meet the needs of our community, but our commitment to equity and inclusion remains unwavering,” Felton wrote.

When looking to the future,

Felton said that Fordham intends to remain committed to DEI as a tool for growth on and off campus.

“The goal is not to abandon DEI but to refine and strengthen it in ways that resonate with everyone in our community,” Felton said.

Ware said she felt assured by Felton’s statement, but wants to see tangible work being done before fully putting faith in Fordham’s initiatives.

“There's only so much value in words. It really takes action to make s— happen, because actions speak louder than words,” Ware said.

Fordham remains committed to former University President Rev. Joseph McShane, S.J.’s 2020 action plan to address racism. After the Supreme Court overruled Affirmative Action protections, Fordham welcomed the class of 2028, the most diverse class in the university’s history.

CAL FIRE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The Palisade fire rages as viewed from the shoreline on January 8

COURTESY OF FORDHAM NEWS

Fordham equity and inclusion chair James Felton III

LOS ANGELES from page 1

DEI from page 1

Candidates Scramble for Funds

Policy proposals and fundraising picked up in a crowded mayoral field as campaigns begin

“How do you handle the affordability crisis? You know, my Fordham tuition is already high,” Magazine said. “So tackling the housing crisis, particularly for people just entering it, young adults, that’s an important thing. I’m finding voucher programs — can we expand EBT?”

“ I think the general consensus is, if you like a couple of people, at the very least, if you like a couple of people who aren't Eric Adams, rank as many as possible. ”

Michael Magazine, FCLC '27

With the breadth of candidates, many Fordham students remain undecided as to who will receive their vote.

Magazine emphasized the importance of ranked-choice voting, which allows New Yorkers to list their top five mayoral candidates for the second time ever after it was introduced in the 2021 election.

“I think the general consensus is, if you like a couple of people, at the very least, if you like a couple of people who aren't Eric Adams, rank as many as possible,” Magazine said.

In terms of his pick for mayor, Magazine awaits the Feb. 6 mayoral forum.

“It's kind of difficult because there’s Brad Lander who’s done a bunch of climate stuff, but then Zohran Mamdani has had pretty good housing stuff and so trying to figure out which candidate you want is very much a balancing act of political actions and political statements,” Magazine said.

Mamdani is the most left-wing candidate running, appealing to progressive voters. Mamdani has raised $642,339 from 6,502 donors in the first 80 days of his mayoral campaign, a record high for a single filing period in this primary.

Some students are frustrated at what they view as a lack of desirable candidates.

“There’s no normal people running for this election,” Beach said.

Stringer ran for mayor in the 2021 primary, but his campaign was upended after sexual misconduct allegations. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams faces trial on Apr. 21, two months before the primary, under federal indict-

Adams was also denied public matching funds in December 2024 by the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) .

ment.

While the Democratic primary is months away, the race to raise funds has already begun.

Eric Adams already holds

a narrow financial lead with around $3 million in his war chest and over $1 million of campaign spending. His legal defense trust is roughly $900,000 in debt and has paid over $2.5 million since its formation in late 2023. Adams was also denied public matching funds in December 2024 by the New York City Campaign Finance Board (CFB) due to his fraud allegations and noncompliance with the Board.

On Jan. 15, the CFB voted to award $5,106,485 to 9 candidates in public matching funds. Brad Lander received just under $3 million of much-needed funds after he missed a critical paperwork deadline and failed to qualify in December. Scott Stringer became

the first to collect matching funds last month and has since received

Adams was eliminated from the poll in the fifth round, consistent with his record-low approval ratings as mayor at 28%.

around $2 million. Andrew Cuomo remains a wild card. He has almost $8 million in a campaign finance account but has not formally announced his candidacy. Cuomo served three

Concerns on Subway Violence

Rising incidents spark discussions about safety on public transportation

terms as governor of New York before resigning in 2021 over a sexual misconduct scandal. Nonetheless, a third-party poll found he is a projected frontrunner, with 32% of New Yorkers favoring him.

Stringer follows at 10%, and Lander is third at 8%. Adams was eliminated from the poll in the fifth round, consistent with his record-low approval ratings as mayor at 28%. Adams’ incumbency remains a boon, though. A candidate has not defeated a New York City incumbent mayor since 1989.

Fordham students and New Yorkers across the city watch as mayoral forums and fundraising efforts continue to unfold.

B

y PARIS MATHUKU Assistant News Editor

A series of violent crimes in the New York City subways in December garnered a storm of online coverage and put commuters in the city on edge. Fordham’s commuter student population reacted to the events.

While the NYPD reported that crime on the subway declined overall in 2024, murders increased from five in 2023 to 10 in 2024. Violent incidents on the subway in 2024 included a shocking fatal fire attack in December and the shooting of four riders by police in September.

“ You have to keep your head on a swivel. I’m wearing my headphones less when I’m out. I’m constantly looking around and paying attention. You have to be careful not to fall asleep on the train ”

Gabriella Agarita, FCLC '27

Jasmina Abdullaeba, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’27 and secretary of the Commuting Students Association (CSA), said she felt on edge in the subway.

“You have to look out for who you sit next to,” Abdullaeba said.

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER 59th St-Columbus Circle is a convenient subway station for Fordham students, servicing six lines.

“If you don't feel like you're safe around that area, you would want to move around, but you also have to care about what you wear because you don’t want to get the looks or a lot of attention on yourself.”

Gabriella Agarita, FCLC ’27 and vice president of CSA, said that staying aware of your surroundings while taking public transportation is crucial.

“You have to keep your head on a swivel,” Agarita said. “I’m wearing my headphones less when I’m out. I’m constantly looking around and paying attention. You have to be careful not to fall asleep on the train.”

Agarita’s parents also share the same concerns for her safety.

“I get more and more lectures

from my parents about being safe, so it’s hard to feel safe leaving and also having my parents worry about me constantly.”

Agarita said CSA frequently receives complaints about their late meeting times.

“We try to make sure we hold our events earlier so people can get home earlier. But when it comes to being out late, that’s where the most concern comes because the later it gets, the less people that are on the trains, and we feel like there’s less witnesses around and we feel more unsafe,” Agarita said.

Fordham Public Safety shared similar concerns about commuter students using public transport.

John O’Sullivan, public safety supervisor, offered advice to

students who take the subway.

“You always have to know your surroundings. You always have to be cognizant, you can’t be buried in your phone. That's not just in the subway, that's on the street level as well, but there have been incidents of people being pushed into the tracks,” O’Sullivan said.

O’Sullivan wrote about a previous incident that was reported to him on a late weekend night.

“The students had mistakenly got on a Brooklyn-bound train. Once they realized their mistake, they got off at the next stop in Brooklyn and then got on a Manhattan-bound train. On that train, they were harassed by an emotionally disturbed male who got in their faces. The students

gave him the food that they had and he then sat down and ate it.

Fordham’s students are faced with navigating the realities of using public transportation while also grappling with public safety challenges. .

The students then fled that train and got on another train,” O’Sullivan wrote.

He suggested “safety in numbers” and picking carts with intention, suggesting carts with conductors.

“If I was riding the train, if it was my daughter, I’d say either ride in the middle car or the most crowded car, or the lead car. So let's say if something is going on, they can notify the MTA personnel,” O’Sullivan said.

Fordham’s students are faced with navigating the realities of using public transportation while also grappling with public safety challenges. Although staying informed, cautious and observant can help reduce the risk of being attacked, the question of larger organizations’ initiative to improve safety still remains.

Students reporting a public safety incident can contact Public Safety at 718-817-2222. Both campuses have security personnel on-campus 24 hours a day. There are also multiple other resources available to respond to incidents on campus.

GRAPHIC BY SAM BRACY

(From left to right)

Mayor Eric Adams, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, Comptroller Brad Lander, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Trump Moves to Legally Erase Trans People

Sex and gender identity were legally redefined on day one of Trump’s second term by executive order

By ALISON BEINHAUR News Editor

President Donald Trump delivered his inauguration speech in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday Jan. 20, and made multiple remarks about gender identity in the U.S. These comments, which were reflective of his previous term and the most recent campaign trail, furthered speculation about the future of Title IX under his administration.

Of the various executive orders Trump plans on signing on the first day of his term, one that has garnered online attention is one that would legally state that the U.S. government recognizes two genders.

“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female,” Trump said.

Stephen Miller, former senior advisor and top aide to Trump, referenced this executive order at a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19.

“We’re not going to let the radical left indoctrinate our children into believing there’s 435 genders because President Trump knows there are men and there are women and it’s not up to you whether you’re a man or a woman,” Miller said.

Title IX, the landmark civil rights law created in 1972, federally prohibits gender and sexbased discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding. Sex-based discrimination under Title IX extends to sexual harassment, stalking and domestic violence. In recent provisions launched by the Biden administration on Aug. 1, the protections of

Title IX were clarified to encompass transgender students and students who are pregnant. Biden’s Title IX protections were struck down by a U.S. district judge on Jan. 9 on the grounds that it overstepped the powers of the president.

Michele Burris, vice president for student affairs and interim Title IX coordinator, wrote in an email that as a Jesuit institution, Fordham strives for an environment of equity among students on its campus.

“As stated in Fordham’s Sexual and Related Misconduct Policy and Procedures, Fordham is committed to maintaining a community in which its members live, work, and learn in a safe and respectful environment that is free from all forms of sex- and gender-based discrimination. As a Jesuit institution, our community standards are deeply grounded in dignity and respect for every member of our community,” Burris wrote.

Trump’s Title IX provisions from his previous term created a more exclusive definition of what falls under sexual harassment and required schools to hold hearings with cross-examinations when a sexual misconduct claim is filed.

“Fordham is operating under the 2020 Title IX Regulations which require a live hearing with cross examination for all reports that fall under the statute because of the July 2024 Kansas preliminary injunction, and now the recent federal decision to set aside the 2024 Title IX Regulations nationwide,” Burris wrote.

Although the regulations for cross-examination are already actively implemented for Title IX proceedings, some cases of sexual and related misconduct reports are guided by different measures.

“For sexual and related misconduct reports that do not fall under Title IX as defined in the 2020 Regulations, the hearing process does not include a live hearing

with cross examination,” Burris wrote.

In May 2024, Trump discussed his thoughts on the additions to Title IX on “Kayal and Company,” a talk radio show. Trump said that he would prioritize rolling back policies designed to protect transgender students at the start of his term.

“We’re gonna end it on day one … Don’t forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And we’re gonna change it — on day one it’s gonna be changed,” Trump said.

Transgender students have been a particular target that Trump has gone after throughout his previous term and campaign trail. In 2017, he withdrew Obamaera federal protections for transgender students that allowed them to use restrooms and other facilities that corresponded with their gender identity. Civil rights organizations and activists denounced

A Divisive Club Day

Club leaders express mixed reactions over Club Fair layout

this decision, as Title IX explicitly states that gender and sex-based discrimination is not permitted.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) issued a statement in 2018 from Kim Churches, their chief executive officer, in defense of transgender students. This followed widespread commentary regarding transgender students using bathrooms according to their gender identity.

“Schools have an obligation to ensure that all students — including transgender students — receive an education free of sex discrimination…We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: transgender rights are civil rights. The Trump administration’s rejection of these complaints under Title IX is just another step to rescind and undermine vital civil rights protections,” Churches wrote.

Burris said that although she cannot theorize regarding claims of what Trump might sign into law, Fordham is watching out for any legislative decisions that could potentially generate problems for the student body.

“I would not want to speculate on potential changes that may be coming as President Trump takes office,” Burris wrote. “The University is closely monitoring the administration's policies during the transition and we are prepared to move swiftly in evaluating and communicating the impact to our students should executive orders or legislation target Title IX protections.”

At the time of publication, no official changes to Title IX occurred, and the only legislative action regarding gender and sex was the aforementioned executive order.

By ALEX WIRENGARD

Contributing Writer

The Office for Student Involvement (OSI) held Club Day on Jan. 16 in the indoor plaza and the South Lounge, splitting the club tables into two spaces and raising some frustration with the new layout.

Some clubs felt they had an advantage with the new setup. The Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) Chamber Singers President Aramus Price, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, was happy with the setup because they were given “prime real estate.” Her club was situated in the indoor plaza, with higher foot traffic at the entrance of the event, which was new for them.

Fordham’s students are faced with navigating the realities of using public transportation while also grappling with public safety challenges. .

“Usually we are not as popular so they put us in the back,” Price said.

Prism, the FLC LGBTQ+ committee, also had a heavily trafficked table at the front of the event. Vice president of Prism, Emmy Gehrke, FCLC ’27, was pleased with the table placement and the outcome of club day.

“It’s going well. We’ve had some sign-ups, some people visiting from last year again,” Gehrke said.

Some clubs had the opposite experience with the new arrangement. Diego Lopez, FCLC ’26, president of the Taekwondo Club, said he was frustrated with his placement in the South Lounge, which was removed from the indoor plaza and saw significantly fewer attendees.

“It's kind of a bad spot because we don't get a lot of traffic, as opposed to the people out in the front,” Lopez said.

Christina Frankovic-Sepsi, director of OSI, explained that the method behind the table assignments is a lottery system.

“We take a list of all the clubs and we put it into Excel and randomize it and then whatever number they turn up is the number table that we put them at,” Frankovic-Sepsi said.

OSI reported that 350 students checked in at the event, but more students attended without registering. The atrium, the usual venue for the event, is currently closed due to roof maintenance, prompting OSI to rearrange the layout of tables. Frankovic-Sepsi said that this decision was made to separate the food from the event.

“Because we couldn’t have the tables in the atrium, we had to separate where the food was from where that secondary location is. So that’s why we had to use the South Lounge for clubs and then the student lounge for food this year. But typically we’ll have the food where the other clubs are to attract more people to come through,” Frankovic-Sepsi said.

Although many club officers expressed their dissatisfaction with this semester’s Club Day, they successfully shared their goals with the students in attendance.

Sofia Fappiano, FCLC ’25 and vice president of Tomodachi Club, said that although his club was formed just a few years ago, it has already been a resounding success. The club celebrates Japanese culture in many ways, with the most popular event being its Kinakuna book outing (a Japanese-owned bookstore in Bryant

Park).

“Learning about other cultures than your own, honestly making connections, making new friends who are also into the same culture that you are,” Fappiano said when asked what people get out of the club.

Hayley Ng, FCLC ’26 and editorin-chief of The Comma — Fordham’s literary and arts magazine — said that The Comma offers many opportunities and benefits to its members.

“We were hoping to do some outings to bookstores and some

cafes to really draw in more students and have a nice community where we can chill and talk about stories,” Ng said.

The club allowed Ng to pursue her interest in creative writing as she focused more academically on STEM.

This semester’s Club Day brought organizational changes that sparked frustration among some club officers. While some clubs benefited, others struggled with attracting and connecting with attendees to showcase their goals and mission.

DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER

Office of Michele Burris, VP for student affairs and interim Title IX coordinator

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER

University President Tania Tetlow engages in some fun at the spring club fair.

Sports & Health

A Centennial for the Rose Hill Gymnasium

100 years later, the oldest active arena in the NCAA continues to showcase stars on and off the court

By CORA COST Sports & Health Editor

A century ago, the Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University opened its doors for the first time. The gym’s first athletic contest was a basketball game between Fordham and Boston College on Jan. 16, 1925. The defeat of the Eagles by the Rams marked the start of a 100-year-long legacy of athletic excellence in the Rose Hill Gymnasium.

Architect Emile G. Perrot designed the stone gymnasium that adorns the Rose Hill campus in the Bronx. Named by ESPN to be one of the “Cathedrals of College Basketball,” the Rose Hill Gym stuns with its collegiate gothic-style cathedral ceilings and clerestory windows.

Along with its impressive historic architecture, the Rose Hill Gym is the oldest on-campus gymnasium that still actively hosts Division 1 play, according to the NCAA.

Nicknamed “The Prairie,” the gymnasium has seen many notable alumni walk through its doors. From Edward Collin, the first Fordham men’s basketball player to score more than 40 points in a game, to Anne Gregory, who is still the school’s all-time leader in scoring and rebounding.

The Rose Hill Gym is the oldest on-campus gymnasium that still actively hosts Division 1 play, according to the NCAA.

For these student athletes, the Rose Hill Gym is an incredibly special place, especially those on Fordham’s women’s and men’s basketball teams; the university’s volleyball team also has the privilege of both practicing and playing in the gym.

For the women’s basketball Head Coach, Bridgette Mitchell,

being able to both practice and play in a historic gym is a pleasure.

“We think that it’s really amazing to be a part of such a historic venue. We come in every day and we’re coming to work but at a historic site, so we’re still in awe every day. We appreciate greatly those that came before us, to pave the way and make this opportunity that we have so appealing,” Mitchell said.

Since opening its doors in 1925, the Rose Hill Gym has only missed one season of athletic play. This pause was during 1943, when the Rose Hill Gym served as U.S. Army barracks, sheltering soldiers during World War II.

In commemoration of the university’s wartime sacrifice and to pay homage to all those who lost their lives during WWII, Fordham was awarded a naval bell by U.S. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. During the university’s centennial

campus.

“ We come in every day and we’re coming to work but at a historic site, so we’re still in awe every day. ”

Bridgette Mitchell, Head Coach

Today, the naval bell stands outside the historic Rose Hill Gym, becoming a symbol for athletic achievement as Fordham Athletic Teams ring it after major home wins.

The Rose Hill Gym serves as a stage for athletic excellence and has seen its fair share of exceptional musical performances. Since the 1960s, Fordham University has held numerous concerts for the student body in the Rose Hill Gym. The Beach Boys in 1966, Gladys Knight and the Pips who opened for The Supremes in 1967, and Billy Idol in 1983 are just a few of the star-studded performances that have graced the Rose Hill Gym.

The cumulation of events and people that have passed through the Rose Hill Gymnasium since 1925 all belong to its historic legacy.

For Head Coach Mitchell, one of the reasons she took a coaching position at Fordham is this legacy built by the university’s community over the years. She emphasized her hope to continue to grow that legacy every day through her work at the Fordham

Athletics program.

“I wouldn’t be interested in being the head coach at Fordham if it wasn’t for all the success that happened in Rose Hill Gymnasium prior to me getting here,” Mitchell said.

The Beach Boys in 1966, Gladys Knight and the Pips who opened for The Supremes in 1967, and Billy Idol in 1983 are just a few of the starstudded performances.

“So we’re just really excited about the opportunity that we have to make our mark in the history books of Rose Hill.”

celebration in 1946, former President Harry Truman became the first person to ring the Victory Bell on Fordham’s

COURTESY OF FORDHAM UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

The Supremes on stage during their performance in the Rose Hill Gymnasium on March 11, 1967.

DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER

The Rose Hill Gym opened its doors two years after the cornerstone was laid in 1923.

Rams Cut Short by UMass Minutemen

Fordham Men’s Basketball lose in the third overtime of Coach Urgo’s final pre-suspension game

By CORA COST Sports & Health Editor

Fordham University is imposing a four-game suspension for Keith Urgo, men’s basketball head coach. The Fordham men’s basketball program is in an ongoing National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) investigation with regard to potential recruitment violations.

Very few details have been issued to the public regarding the NCAA investigation, though the program aims to fully cooperate with the NCAA over the course of its investigation. In a brief statement on Fordham Now, Bob Howe, associate vice president for media and public relations, announced the news.

“Fordham has and will continue lending full cooperation to the NCAA during their investigation, including following the NCAA’s bylaws to maintain confidentiality. Therefore, we’re unable to share any more details on the matter at this time,” Howe wrote.

The suspension will begin on Jan. 22, and current Associate Head Coach Tray Woodall will take over for Urgo as the interim head coach. Urgo will miss the Rams’ next four games of Atlantic 10 (A10) conference play: Loyola University Chicago on Jan. 22, Duquesne University on Jan. 26, La Salle University on Jan. 29 and St. Bonaventure University on Feb. 1.

The suspension was announced the day after the Rams’ loss to the University of Massachusetts Amherst Minutemen (UMass) on Jan. 16. The Rams fell to the Minutemen in the game’s third overtime with a final score of 120-118.

Before the Rams hit the floor with the Minutemen, Fordham University celebrated the 100year anniversary of the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium, where the Rams beat Boston College 46-16 in the gym’s inaugural game 100 years ago to the date.

Although this year’s Rams could not pull through with the win, they put on an impressive display of grit, as the Rams and Minutemen played for three hours and 40 minutes.

Despite the Rams going into halftime only down eight, the team struggled to capitalize on many of the looks they created in the first half, shooting 25.71% on field goals and 18.75% from the three-point line.

The Rams returned from the locker room with a renewed focus and turned the slow start into a

high-scoring night. Many Rams ended the night with scoring highs: Jackie Johnson III, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25, scored a career-high 36 points; Japhet Medor, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’25, landed a season-high 25 points; and Joshua Rivera, FCRH ’26, and Matt Zona, GGSB ’25, ended the game in double figures.

The “Rose Thrill” came alive in the second half of the game and the student section of the Rose Hill Gymnasium was packed with students supporting the Rams in their back and forth with the Minutemen.

Amongst the crowd was the “shirtless herd,” five Swim and Dive athletes who sported speedos, swim caps and goggles during the game. The “shirtless herd” in the student section’s first

row spelled out “GO RAMS” in white paint on their chests.

Urgo attributed in part to his team’s ability to rally to the support the athletes on the floor received from the Fordham community.

“I want to thank Rose Thrill; that was the most energy we have had here all year long. I think it was the reason we were able to keep fighting and stay in the game and have chances to win,” Urgo said in the postgame press conference. “That energy is fantastic. It is the way it should be, quite frankly, and I think it really helped our guys.”

With the final quarter winding down, it seemed that the Rams would keep the lead and win the game. However, Marquee Worthy, UMass ’27, made a threepointer with seven seconds left in

regulation, sending the Rams and Minutemen into the first overtime of the night.

Again, hope seemed to be lost for the Rams when the Minutemen were up 98-95 with one second left of the first overtime of the night. In a last-ditch halfcourt heave, Romad Dean, FCRH ’26, was fouled and sent to the free-throw line, where he made all three free throws and forced the second overtime of the night.

As the game dragged on, athletes on both teams fell into foul trouble. By the final whistle of the game, nine players from both teams had fouled out of the game — five of which were Rams.

The foul trouble that both the Minutemen and Rams found themselves in on Wednesday night was highlighted by the 79 combined fouls and 122 combined free throws attempted during the game.

A turnover by the Rams in the third overtime gave the Minutemen the chance to take the lead with ten seconds left in the game, with a final score of 120-118.

In the postgame press conference, Coach Urgo emphasized that the Rams need to be able to close out games as they look to the rest of the season.

“We need to find a way to win a game. It seemed like everytime we had a chance we just made a mistake at the most crucial times and that’s part of our learning and our growth,” Urgo said.

The Rams continue to hunt for their first win in the A10 conference as they are back on the road for their game against Loyola Chicago on Jan. 22. The Rams’ game in Chicago marks the first game without Urgo and the start to his four-game suspension.

Women’s Basketball Stand Strong Against Dayton

Fordham Rams celebrate close victory, 58-55, over the Dayton Flyers following strong defensive showing

By CORA COST Sports & Health Editor

The Fordham women’s basketball team defeated Dayton University on Jan. 18 with a final score of 58-55. The Rams’ win came on the program’s celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Rose Hill Gymnasium.

Ahead of the game, Head Coach Bridgett Mitchell emphasized the team’s need to rebound to stop the Flyers, along with the trend of multiple Rams ending games with scoring in the double digits.

“If we come out and we rebound, it will be a very important key to our success in the game,” Mitchell said, “Then having multiple people to score in double figures has been a trend in the wins that we’ve had.”

The Rams delivered on Mitchell’s game plan, with 40 rebounds by the final whistle. The charge was led by Emma Wilson-Saltos, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’26, who had seven critical rebounds throughout the game, making it a team best. Three other Rams also finished the game in double figures: Taylor Donaldson, Graduate ’25, had a phenomenal game with a high of 19 points; Irene Murua, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ’25, with 13 points; and Taya Davis, FCRH ’25, with 11.

The Rams started the game off strong but lost some ground during the second quarter with a strong comeback from the Flyers. This forced the Rams into halftime with a score of 30-28, which was down by two.

The team returned strong from half-time, scoring 24 points in the third quarter alone.

Donaldson scored nine of the first 11 points scored by Fordham at the start of the second half of Saturday’s game.

“ If we come out and we rebound, it will be a very important key to our success in the game ... Then having multiple people to score in double figures has been a trend in the wins that we’ve had. ”

Bridgett Mitchell, Head

Coach

The drive Donaldson displayed in the game’s second half reflects the mentality of the Fordham Squad as a whole. Coach Mitchell attributed the team’s success to their mentality on the court.

The team returned strong from half-time, scoring 24 points in the third quarter alone.

“The competitive nature of the individuals that we’ve targeted in recruiting wear the Fordham

jersey with pride for the name across the front, not just the name on the back,” Mitchell said. In the game’s final moments, the defensive play of the Rams allowed them to hold off the Flyers. Along with Davis’ efficiency at the line, her free throws brought the final score to 58-55.

The win over Dayton kicked off the Rams’ first game of their three-game stay at the Rose Hill Gymnasium. Coach Mitchell urges the Fordham community to come out and support the team while they play at home in their next two games on Jan. 25 against St. Bonaventure University and Jan. 29 against University of Rhode Island.

“We’re an institution where we’ve demonstrated that you can do both (academic and athletics excellence), and so everybody should come out and support these young women that are pursuing their dreams,” Mitchell said.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham University suspended Keith Urgo, men’s basketball head coach, from the next four games of conference play effective Jan. 22.

DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER

Junior Emma Wilson-Saltos drives it to the basket during the game against Dayton.

The Observer’s Notable Films of the Season

Nosferatu

Vampires make their return to the silver screen with Nosferatu

By TUCKER FLYNN

Contributing Writer

Shadowy semi-monochrome cinematography and heavy breathing are the key ingredients used by director Robert Eggers to cultivate the mesmerizing atmosphere of “Nosferatu” (2024) a remake of the 1922 film titled “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.” Originally an unlicensed adaptation of the original Dracula novel, the story of Nosferatu has managed to remind viewers of its relevance a century later, proving that the intersection of love and violence remains culturally significant today.

Released on Christmas 2024, Lily-Rose Depp and Nicholas Hoult star as newlyweds Ellen and Thomas Hutter, living in the German city of Wisborg. “Nosferatu” centers around Ellen’s mysterious past romantic connection to a decaying vampire. This becomes relevant when her real-estate-agent husband is sent to Transylvania to assist the mysterious Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), who seeks to purchase a home in the very city where Thomas and Ellen reside. Despite the terrifying aura surrounding his scenes, Count Orlok’s character verges on becoming comical, largely because of his exaggerated accent and wheezy breathing that permeates every minute of his screen time. Despite this, his antics never shatter the horror of the film, perhaps because of the blood and gore that accompanies many of his appearances.

However, Depp’s utterly magnetic performance is receiving near universal acclaim. She demands the viewer’s attention as she perfectly displays everything from all-encompassing fear and desire to violently convulsive seizures. Following the abysmal reception of 2023’s “The Idol,” which also

Babygirl

starred Depp, my expectations for “Nosferatu” were not incredibly high, but Depp’s performance single-handedly elevated the film to greatness, despite its occasional unclear narrative threads and slower pacing. Other standouts include the cat-loving Dr. Von Franz (Willem Dafoe), whose pragmatism and obsession with the occult elevates a sidekick role that can easily become generic within the horror genre.

Like Depp’s previous project, “Nosferatu” has received criticism for its supposed excessive sexualization of young women. However, what it actually offers is an unequivocal condemnation of sexual abuse, portraying the abuser as a monstrous corpse and a plague, only able to be defeated by the victim’s reclamation of independence and agency.

Messaging and plot devices aside, “Nosferatu” is also a masterclass in world building, as its commitment to an eerie gray aesthetic keeps the viewer firmly grounded in the Victorian cities and dark forests that make up the principal locations in the film. Thanks to the signature aesthetic that accompanies Egger’s films, even shots where a disembodied shadowy hand looms over a city skyline manage to be intimidating rather than ridiculous. The cinematography only breaks from its muted color scheme in the few instances where characters set things on fire, making particularly climatic scenes even more impactful.

While some viewers may be unsettled by the overtly sexual themes present in “Nosferatu,” the principal cast’s performances and significant messages are undeniable, cementing the film as an instant classic and proving that remakes can transcend their reference materials.

Halina Rejin’s erotica arouses patriarchal fears of intimacy

By CRISTIAN MEDEIROS

Contributing Writer

New York City; a role similar to those that she must play at home, such as “ideal mother” and “ideal wife,” all of which carry expectations of infallible perfection. However, these layers of perfection begin to crumble when she embarks on an affair with an intern in his early twenties named Samuel (Dickinson). This labyrinth of lust unveils the consequences of suppressed desire within a capitalist patriarchy, where powerful women must carry great expectations whilst walking over the shattered glass ceiling.

Much of the film’s online discourse calls attention to how Samuel seems miscast as the dominative figure that allures Romy away from her conventional life; we never learn much about him other than that he is manipulative, irrationally angry and inconsistent with his desires. However, this is exactly what Rejin is going for in presenting Samuel as such a person; a meditation on the current state of straight Gen-Z men who cannot seem to confront their most innocent desires.

The film has gained notoriety for its steamy scenes in which Samuel and Romy embark on journeys of kaleidoscopic sexual exploration — but the two speak very little of anything else other than “ … I want you … I can’t see you again … I need to see you again.” Whenever another topic of discussion arises, it is at Romy’s initiation yet subject to Samuel’s evasion. Outside of his bold sexual banter (including tactics that sound copied from male gaze pornography), Samuel has profound trouble expressing what he wants from his relationship with Romy. But upon dissection of the state

of heterosexual masculinity in America, it becomes clear why he is the way that he is. Straight men are not taught that they need to love women when they engage in sexual encounters. Rather, some straight Gen Z men expect to execute an act beginning with the letter F and ending in complete emotional detachment. This especially applies to working-class men hoping to climb the corporate ladder, such as Samuel, who are told that their energy should be invested in capital, not intimacy.

As the film progresses, we see Samuel grapple with the discomfort he finds himself in as their relationship becomes less about the act of sex and more about what it represents — affection without obstacles, an opportunity to hold someone, an opportunity to be held by someone. This last one would be especially uncomfortable for someone who has been taught strict limitations of what men should want out of intimacy, rendering them unsure of what they want and who they are. This someone is Samuel, a representative of many young men today.

When straight young men mature amongst the failings of our current social climate, the result is a generation that is more confused about its desires than most. Through Samuel, the film showcases how urgently young straight men must feel like they are allowed to desire emotional tenderness — that is, that they are allowed to want to be “Babygirl” themselves. If you’re curious about how this internal conflict plays out within a sparked affair fueled by female liberation, then this film requires viewing.

A Complete Unknown

Timothée Chalamet’s stellar performance brings the music icon to life

By ABBY GRUNZINGER Fun & Games Editor

The highly anticipated Bob Dyan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet, was released on Dec. 25, 2024 to crowded Christmas Day theaters across the country.

Though Dylan’s legendary career spans over six decades, the film only covers about four years of his life. In 1961, nineteen-year-old Robert Zimmerman — who quickly changed his name to “Bob Dylan” — arrived in New York City after hitchhiking from Minnesota. He quickly gets involved in the city’s folk music scene and seeks out his ailing music hero Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) at a New Jersey hospital, where Dylan meets another folk icon: Pete Seeger (Ed Norton). Seeger takes Dylan under his wing and mentors him throughout the first few years of his career as he quickly rises to prominence in the New York music scene as a singer-songwriter amidst growing political tensions in the early sixties.

As Dylan’s career explodes and he begins to push the boundaries of genre, people start recognizing him in public places and even chasing him down on the street. Much to the chagrin of Seeger and the other staples of the folk industry, Dylan begins to incorporate electric elements into his music. At the notorious 1965 Newport Folk Festival, he controversially performs

three electric songs, eliciting boos, jeers and even an accusatory cry of “Judas!” from the crowd, but — as present-day audiences now know with the hindsight of Dylan’s iconic career — it marked a new era for Dylan and for the music industry as a whole.

Like any musical biopic, director James Mangold (who co-wrote the script with Jay Cocks) takes creative liberties, and certain parts of Dylan’s life are truncated for the sake of the story. Dylan did not meet Pete Seeger at Woody Guthrie’s hospital bedside; it is more likely that Seeger simply caught a Dylan performance somewhere in Greenwich Village. While the 1965 electric set was wildly controversial, no audience member cried out “Judas!” at the Newport Folk Festival; that particular indictment was directed at Dylan nearly ten months later at an equally infamous performance in Manchester, England. The minutiae of these details is, ultimately, not important. What is important is the story that it effectively conveys: even from his late teens, Bob Dylan had a one-of-a-kind career.

The standout of “A Complete Unknown” is, without a doubt, the masterful Bob Dylan portrayal given by Chalamet. Sure, some hardcore Dylan fans have critiqued Chalamet’s performance as not being perfectly accurate, but as any amateur impressionist could tell you, it’s hard to exactly nail the idiosyncratic, nasal tone

Sexual liberation, role-play and the fragility of American heterosexuality are subjects on

full display in A24’s erotic thriller, “Babygirl,” written and directed by Halina Rejin and starring Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson. The film follows Romy (Kidman), who is the CEO of a successful robotics company in

of early Dylan. In Chalamet’s defense, Dylan himself never even sings a song the same way twice!

Chalamet, who recently starred in such blockbusters as the “Dune” franchise and “Wonka,” is usually a pretty easy-to-read actor who effortlessly invites audiences into the inner life of his characters. In “A Complete Unknown,” however, Chalamet’s Bob Dylan remains an enigma. His behavior is at times, confusing; his expressions are rather unreadable; and his dialogue is often mumbled, sparse and vague. In other words, he is very much like the real Bob Dylan.

Because Dylan’s life and career have been the subject of countless books, articles and documentaries, “A Complete Unknown” may not have much to reveal about Bob Dylan that has not already been said in such

acclaimed Dylan-related works as Martin Scorsese’s 2005 “No Direction Home” or D.A. Pennebaker’s 1967 “Don’t Look Back” (both are excellent documentaries that are a must-watch for any Dylan fan).

Audiences — especially seasoned Dylan fans — may not know Bob Dylan anymore than they did before watching “A Complete Unknown,” but the truth about Bob Dylan is that it feels like no one really knows him. In fact, Bob Dylan may not even really know Bob Dylan: “I’m inconsistent, even to myself,” he said in a 1997 interview for The New York Times. In a 1978 Playboy interview, reacting to the countless inquiries he received about the meaning of his songs, he quipped, “Listen, if I wasn’t Bob Dylan, I’d probably think that Bob Dylan has a lot of answers myself.”

The Substance

Director Coralie Fargeat’s body horror box-office gained international recognition upon its release

By AVA BAUER

Contributing Writer

“The Substance” is Coralie Fargeat’s sophomore feature following her 2017 thriller “Revenge.” “The Substance” premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2024, winning Best Screenplay. The film has won more awards since its debut, notably a Golden Globe win for star Demi Moore. In a land not too far from our skincare-obsessed, heavily Botoxed world, Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) takes The Substance. Knowing nothing about this black market drug aside from an anonymous advertiser’s promise of a “younger, more beautiful” version of herself, 50-year-old Elisabeth is determined to undergo this transformation and save her fading television career. When she brutally births her youthful counterpart, Sue, the two are instructed to swap bodies every week. This twisted game of relay takes a turn when Sue overstays her seven-day welcome, causing Elisabeth’s body to age rapidly. As Sue grows more attached to her life as a beloved starlet and Elisabeth festers in mounting self-disgust, the two must contend with the fact that they share a mind. Thus, the hectic horror spiral of feminist auteur Fargeat’s “The Substance” is set in motion. Moore is indeed a ferocious force responsible for driving the film forward, and she commits fervently to the intensity and desperation of a woman whose sense of worth hinges on swiftly deteriorating flesh. A standout scene follows Elisabeth as she gets ready in the mirror for a date, obsessively tweaking her makeup until her dissatisfaction with her looks crescendos into an attack on her own skin so animalistic that she appears to be trying to rip off her face. It is a rare moment of emotional vulnerability amidst the film’s relentless mayhem, brought resonantly to life by Moore’s stunning performance. The velocity of this film is equally owed to the boldness of its sound designers, cinematographer, and director. Unsettling fish-eye lenses introduce each character, sickening squelching sounds punctuate innumerable scenes, an electronic score provides a feverish pulse, and the prosthetics team

and she commits fervently to the intensity and desperation of a woman whose sense of worth hinges on swiftly deteriorating flesh. A standout scene follows Elisabeth as she gets ready in the mirror for a date, obsessively tweaking her makeup until her dissatisfaction with her looks crescendos into an attack on her own skin so animalistic that she appears to be trying to rip off her face. It is a rare moment of emotional vulnerability amidst the film’s relentless mayhem, brought resonantly to life by Moore’s stunning performance. The velocity of this film is equally owed to the boldness of its sound designers, cinematographer, and director. Unsettling fish-eye lenses introduce each character, sickening squelching sounds punctuate innumerable scenes, an electronic score provides a feverish pulse, and the prosthetics team takes it all to a level so audacious that they cannot be duly praised without spoilers.

Wicked

“The Substance”’s ruthless viscerality is an artistic achievement unto itself. This perhaps compensates for — or at the very least distracts from— the film’s great weakness: it centers around an issue it never meaningfully explores. It is a metaphorical story of our cultural fear of aging, particularly in women, that consequently demands its characters to be little more than the ideas they represent. There are the seeds of a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession with youth and beauty wherein the dangers in question are turning old and ugly. Instead, the film largely becomes an outlandish and thorny gorefest that, once the shock wears off, fails to get under the skin in any lasting way. If Fargeat’s demented story has proved one thing, it is that the contemporary cosmetics industry is a realm rife with material for horror films. As ingenious as this one’s style is, here’s hoping the next has a bit more … what’s the word?

takes it all to a level so audacious that they cannot be duly praised without spoilers.

“The Substance”’s ruthless viscerality is an artistic achievement unto itself. This perhaps compensates for — or at the very least distracts from— the film’s great weakness: it centers around an issue it never meaningfully explores. It is a metaphorical story of our cultural fear of aging, particularly in women, that consequently demands its characters to be little more than the ideas they represent. There are the seeds of a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession with youth and beauty wherein the dangers in question are turning old and ugly. Instead, the film largely becomes an outlandish and thorny gorefest that, once the shock wears off, fails to get under the skin in any lasting way.

If Fargeat’s demented story has proved one thing, it is that the contemporary cosmetics industry is a realm rife with material for horror films. As ingenious as this one’s style is, here’s hoping the next has a bit more … what’s the word?e Substance” premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2024, winning Best Screenplay. The film has won more awards since its debut, notably a Golden Globe win for star Demi Moore. In a land not too far from our skincare-obsessed, heavily Botoxed world, Elisabeth Sparkle (Moore) takes The Substance. Knowing nothing about this black market drug aside from an anonymous advertiser’s promise of a “younger, more beautiful” version of herself, 50-year-old Elisabeth is determined to undergo this transformation and save her fading television career. When she brutally births her youthful counterpart, Sue, the two are instructed to swap bodies every week. This twisted game of relay takes a turn when Sue overstays her seven-day welcome, causing Elisabeth’s body to age rapidly. As Sue grows more attached to her life as a beloved starlet and Elisabeth festers in mounting self-disgust, the two must contend with the fact that they share a mind. Thus, the hectic horror spiral of feminist auteur Fargeat’s “The Substance” is set in motion. Moore is indeed a ferocious force responsible for driving the film forward,

For die-hard musical theatre fans and newcomers of Oz,

‘Wicked’ (2024) is a fun, heartfelt adaptation of the popular musical

By JULIA JARAMILLO Arts & Culture Editor

Stephan Schwartz’s Broadway hit, “Wicked” (2003), is no stranger to adaptations. With its success and legacy on Broadway, it is only fitting for the show to have a big theatrical release with “Wicked” (2024), directed by Jon M. Chu. The A-list cast, $150 million budget and extensive range of promotional material was expected. But all those attributes also added to my worries that it was simply profiting off of the popularity of the beloved musical. I only realized how wrong I was when I saw the film after its Nov. 22 release.

The iconic theatrical tale follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West and her unlikely friendship with Glinda the Good Witch. Before Dorothy, the Wicked Witch was Elphaba Thropp, a young girl born with an unusual green complexion. Growing up, everyone, even her own family, ostracized and mistreated her. Upon attending Shiz University, she discovers her untapped but powerful magical potential and meets the perfectly popular and shallow, Good Witch, known then as Galinda Upland. The two eventually form a deep bond, which is tested when Oz’s corruption comes to light. While I was initially skeptical of a twopart series, the choice to split the two acts into separate films ultimately allowed for the complexity and drama of the story to shine through. Chu’s “Wicked” did not make any significant additions or removals to the story, yet it beautifully followed and expanded Act I into two and a half hours — the runtime of the Broadway musical.

Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) over-the-top antics were hilarious and entertaining to witness. Elphaba’s (Cynthia Erivo) guardedness and her determination to save the animals is balanced with the messy love triangle the two witches find themselves in with Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), the rebellious prince who transfers to Shiz. Even the witches’ entry into the Emerald City was a

grandiose number featuring cameos of past “Wicked”-affiliated stage actors, writers and composers. There was time to breathe between the drama and comedy; Every scene and transition felt right and well-paced. The heart of it all was the cast’s captivating portrayals. Grande’s beginnings as an actress shone through as she played up Glinda’s dramatic but somewhat endearing personality with more of a snarky edge. Bailey embodied Fiyero’s irresistible charm while showing the seeds of his caring heart underneath an unbothered attitude. Erivo brought to life Elphaba’s persistent courage against her bullies and later against the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum).

What held me back from fully immersing myself in the world of Oz was its toneddown, more neutral color grading. Ironically, Chu said in an interview with Variety that these choices were meant to make the world of “Wicked” feel more like a “real place” and not “a dream in someone’s mind,” so that its relationships and issues would hit harder. Instead, I kept wondering why scenes felt washed out in a fantasy land with sorcery and an emerald-green city. But even with most scenes looking more pastel and dull, it didn’t take away from the brilliance of each number. The music of “Wicked” has some of the most iconic showtunes in musical theater, and “Wicked” (2024) nailed every single one of them in choreography and direction.

The Wicked Witch has a legacy beyond the 2003 musical – from the novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” (1995), the 1939 film, and then the book series, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (1900). After 125 years of flying monkeys, ruby slippers and yellow brick roads, the world of Oz still holds up for audiences. Chu’s “Wicked” has already received multiple accolades and nominations — namely Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the Golden Globes earlier this month. The film’s success thus far makes me hopeful for its conclusion, “Wicked: For Good,” set to release on Nov. 21, 2025.

Opinions

Having More Fun

The Classic Moves are “in” For 2025

Stop waiting for permission to have more fun! Dye your hair, tell that boy you like him and embrace your wildest fantasies. It is time to embrace the thrill of romance.

Going blonde has been essential to improving my game. I have never felt so empowered in my femininity. Recently, I dyed my hair a deep strawberry blonde as a transitional step to dyeing it lighter in the future. I want my hair to look like Gigi Hadid circa 2013. My biggest “ins” for 2025 are the three B’s: being blonde, being bold and being beautiful, and as a student body, I think it’s time we had more fun.

Being blonde allows me to be more bold. I am already a bold individual, but in my dating life, I tend to be a doormat. In the past, I loved to fold to my partner’s every will, thinking they would value me as a person if I could morph into the “perfect dream girl.”

I realized I don’t want to be with someone who bends to my every desire. I want to be with a person who holds their own and is willing to stick to their values, morals and obligations. Why should I not try to exhibit that behavior in myself? Why can I be bold in all areas of my life except romance?

I don’t mean chasing romantic partnerships. Chasing is never a good look. Trust me, I am someone who has been known to chase. I am no stranger to the rollercoaster of emotion that comes with trying to prove to someone that you are worthy of their love and affection. It never works out well in the end, even if he does have feelings for you. Chasing a romantic partnership is “out” for 2025.

Now that I am blonde, I feel no need to chase a romantic partnership. Chasing comes from a lack of mindset — a belief that there will never be someone better than this person. I have always felt like I have “something going on,” but being blonde has allowed me to embrace the fact that people actually find me sexually attractive. Look around you, there are options everywhere. Recently, a man confessed that he had sexual feelings for me. My response was, “Yeah, I know everyone has a little fetish for me.”

As someone whose identity is highly fetishized both in popular media and pornography, I often feel like people’s sexual desire for me is inherently shameful. Being blonde has allowed me to find freedom from this association. I just tell myself, “Well, he must be into blondes.”

My biggest “out” for 2025 is dating and hookup apps. Hinge, Tinder, Grindr — they are all the same. The apps are a breeding ground for those who do not have the wherewithal to get some in real life. These massive dating corporations have profited off of and digitally gamified intimate, interpersonal and sexual instant gratification for the TikTok generation. It is essentially romantic and sexual Subway Surfers.

During 2024, my longest relationship was a 10-week non-committal fling with a fake bisexual with a mustache from Hinge. Before you stop reading, you should know this column is not about a girl who has sex and relationships all figured out. It is about a girl who is foolishly allowing herself to figure it out while letting all of her colleagues at her collegiate institution listen. This fake bisexual with a mustache was clearly struggling with what my transness meant for his sexuality. I call him a “fake bisexual” because he identified as straight, but he was obviously struggling to come to grips

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER Being blonde, bold and beautiful is the key to having more fun in 2025.

with his own queerness. He also dressed like a gay Hell’s Kitchen gym bro and was confusing and inconsistent — my dream boy.

He gave me a branded pride pin from the company he worked at. When I asked him about his sexuality, he got very defensive, claiming that he was “straight” or at most “spicy straight.” Mostly, I knew that he was queer because of his behavior in the bedroom. He ghosted me after saying “I love you” while we were being intimate. I did not say it back. It was a dismal year for my love life. Fake bisexuals with mustaches are “out” for 2025. Being insecure about your sexuality is also “out” for 2025 — grow up.

After we ended things, I started to believe that romance was dead in New York City. I thought I wasted 10 weeks on a fake bisexual with a mustache. Now, I thank God I got out so soon. After dyeing my hair strawberry blonde, I realized that romance is only dead if you do not know how to make moves. To truly attract is to be constantly polishing your inner world through personal goals, self-care, fashion, diet and fitness.

One move that I used to make was posting pictures on my Instagram story to get attention. Yes, I still may occasionally be guilty of “thirst trapping,” but I have realized in therapy that it is not an effective form of communicating attraction. Thirst trapping is “out” for 2025. Instead of thirst trapping on your Instagram story, try sending them an Instagram reel. Of course, before making this move, ensure you’ve established a friendly relationship. This way, you’re introducing a one-on-one conversation in a nonchalant and easy way. Make sure to keep it going. Do not send an Instagram reel in an effort to get another person to respond to your text. Being desperate is “out” for 2025. If this person doesn’t respond or show any interest, they don’t like you. You can move on without showing too many cards.

Asking people out on a date is “in” for 2025. Asking me out on a date is also “in.” I want to embrace the classic method of talking to people in real life and then feeling empowered in

my sexuality to express such feelings. I always appreciate someone asking me out or expressing their interest in a non-creepy or perverse manner. Why should I think that people will be any less flattered when I do it? While I would caution against approaching every stranger you find attractive, as a generation, more of us can embrace the classic cold approach.

This spring semester, I want all of us Rams to ask out our hallway or class crush. It is important to work your way up to asking out another member of the Lincoln Center Ramily as we are a tight-knit group of around 2,000 undergraduates. The first step is to gauge interest quickly and then get out of there. If you have class together, ask them about the homework. If you do not have class together, ask them if you know them from somewhere. Everyone knows what that means.

The next step is to give them a casual compliment. Make sure you compliment something quintessential to why you find them attractive. First, go for something superficial like the fact that you like their jacket. Evolve this conversation into complimenting their personal style and taste. This way, you can stick in their mind in a positive way.

Finally, you want to catch them in a quiet moment. Sometimes, the Lowenstein halls stand still, whether waiting for an elevator, a pit stop at the vending machine or sitting on that bench near the gallery at the foot of the escalator. In these moments, you can take the opportunity to ask this person how they are. Strike up a genuine conversation. Ask about their plans for the weekend. When they say that they are free, ask them to hang out. If they say that they’re busy, it is time to get a new crush.

I feel like dyeing my hair has helped me reach my final form. When I transitioned, I lost a lot of confidence in my ability to love and be loved romantically. In the two-and-a-half years since then, I have tried a lot to gain that confidence back. Most popular representations of trans women in love are full of shame, humiliation and violence. I hope this will not be the case for me. I think that it is time to have more fun.

RYANN LYNN MURPHY Columnist

I Wish That TikTok Got Banned

Attention spans and non-partisanship

don’t stand a chance now that the clock app is back

TUCKER FLYNN Assistant Opinions Editor

After a meteoric explosion of popularity in 2020 during the height of the COVID19 pandemic, it seemed like the reign of TikTok might have finally been coming to an end on the night of Jan. 18, when the app became unavailable to users in the United States. This purported ban followed months of bipartisan condemnation by concerned citizens and politicians alike, citing risks of national security compromises and worsening youth mental health.

From viral dance trends to content houses (still not entirely sure what that means) to the TikTok shop, the social media app has spent the better part of a decade playing an undeniable role in shaping the way in which people consume media. YouTube fame is a thing of the past, with viewers trading longer-form content for the quick dopamine hits delivered by TikTok videos or similarly competitive Instagram reels.

As I began writing this, the urge to take a break and let muscle memory guide me into the social media folder on my phone to open TikTok grew stronger by the minute. However, when I finally succumbed, I was still greeted by the message “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”

As I began writing this, the urge to take a break and let muscle memory guide me into the social media folder on my phone to open TikTok grew stronger by the minute.

On April 24, 2024, former President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that gave TikTok 270 days to find domestic ownership, facing the threat of a ban in the United States. The bill passed through both houses of Congress with bipartisan support, despite the fact that certain members who supported the ban still actively used TikTok to communicate with their constituents. Two hundred seventy days came and went, with TikTok seemingly making no progress in its search for new owners. In the meantime, users began to express panic that this new attempt to ban the app would actually be successful after multiple failed attempts. These attempts included President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the app be banned as a form of retaliation for China’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. I thought the

pandemic was nothing more than a conspiracy theory to help Democrats win the election, but I guess the president must have changed his mind.

As frustrating as it was to be deprived of my daily dose of doom scrolling today, I could not help but feel a certain sense of relief. Why? On some subconscious level, I am alarmed by the fact that the action of opening a social media app has become so ingrained in my psyche that even knowing full well the app is shut down, I have repeatedly tried to open it. If that does not alarm you, it should.

As frustrating as it was to be deprived of my daily dose of doom scrolling today, I couldn’t help but feel a certain sense of relief.

Furthermore, now that the app has been resurrected, with credit fully attributed to the valiant efforts of President Trump, I’ve noticed how much less time I spent aimlessly swiping on my phone. People love to hate iPad kids and their parents, but when they exhibit the same behavior as those technology-obsessed children (read: recording

themselves crying about how unfair the world is), suddenly it is not an addiction, but rather, a healthy coping mechanism. Interesting.

President Trump seems to have reassured TikTok sufficiently, leading them to grant access to U.S. users again less than 24 hours after it was revoked.

Productivity and mental health aside, there are also people who depend on TikTok to sustain their livelihood, whether it be as a tool to market their small business or simply as beneficiaries of the creator fund. Thankfully for them, President Trump seems to have reassured TikTok executives sufficiently, leading them to grant access to U.S. users again less than 24 hours after revoking it.

In case you do not remember, Trump was actually the catalyst for the beginning stages of a TikTok ban when he cited serious national security concerns given that the parent company of TikTok is based in Beijing, meaning that, in theory, the Chinese government would have access to TikTok users’ data. Ironically enough, he did not comment on elected officials

using the app that supposedly feeds data to a foreign government, his own campaign included. Apparently, it is much more important to prevent the Chinese government from finding out how to make TikTok famous cinnamon rolls and do the latest viral dance trend than it is to prevent them from having direct access to the campaign strategies of hundreds of politicians. Then again, like many other things, political utility seems to be the central factor in determining the government’s attitudes toward TikTok.

Like his denial of the “plandemic,” the president has changed his attitude toward TikTok, instead advocating for an extension before the ban is enforced so that TikTok can be sold. This tactic would theoretically mitigate the concern for national security. Perhaps his change in views might have something to do with his repeated assertions that TikTok allowed him to win the youth vote by a massive margin. Regardless, the president is not alone in questioning the role TikTok played in shaping the perspectives of youth voters, whose support of President Trump in 2024 was somewhat unexpected. However, a politician flip-flopping their viewpoints is not that uncommon. What is truly worrisome is how TikTok has repeatedly chosen to associate the protection of the app with President Trump. Whether it be reassuring to some users that they are working with the president to find a solution or thanking him in their return announcement, there seems to be a disturbing desire to augment users’ political opinions in favor of the newly elected president.

Given how social media is capable of influencing people, users must be cognizant of how they absorb content going forward.

Although the app has historically been somewhat non-partisan, it seems as though a desire for self-preservation has prompted executives to align themselves with a certain political agenda. Although it is too soon to tell how this partnership between TikTok and the president might impact what content users see, this is likely only the beginning of an increase in political partisanship among ultra-wealthy tech CEOs. Given how social media is capable of influencing people, users must be cognizant of how they absorb content going forward. If dwindling productivity and potential mental health were not enough to alarm you previously, perhaps the threat of subversive manipulation by the ultra-rich will finally convince you to finally overcome your addiction.

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER

After less than 24 hours of TikTok’s absence, users regain access to the app.

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER

TikTok becomes temporarily unavailable on the night of Jan.18th.

Don’t Be A Tourist in Spain

Students studying abroad should steer clear of harmful tourist

behaviors

Almost everyone knows someone who spent a college semester in Spain. As a Spanish-American, I know the appeal: the beautiful beaches, balmy Mediterranean weather and famously relaxed lifestyle make the country an ideal destination for college students desiring a break from their ordinary routine. However, there’s only one problem with traveling to Spain: many locals detest visitors. The recent anti-tourism protests in Spain highlight the dangers of over-tourism, something that students studying abroad should be careful to avoid.

Spain received more than 85 million tourists in 2023, making it the world’s second-most popular tourist destination that year. An influx of visitors after the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the gentrification efforts of Spain’s most popular destinations; more tourism heightens the demand for short-term housing rentals and businesses that are more familiar to international visitors. This all comes at the expense of residents, who are priced out of their homes and forced to close their local businesses as their cities are geared towards tourists who bring money.

In the summer of 2024, residents of Barcelona protested against overtourism by taking over the streets and spraying tourists with water guns. Protests also occurred in the Balearic Islands, where residents of Ibiza pointed out the stark contrast between the luxury hotels on the island and the tent cities local workers are forced to live in due to skyrocketing rent prices. It’s worth noting that a lot of these homeless residents work in the tourist sector — the same industry that is destroying their livelihoods.

It’s undeniable that tourism is throttling the country, driving residents to understandably sour sentiments as they try to regain their homes and cities.

Amidst localized protests, the cry of “tourist, go home” is ubiquitous in the various regions of Spain. It’s undeniable that tourism is throttling the country, driving residents to understandably sour sentiments as they try to regain their homes and cities. Despite protests, the wheels of industry keep moving, and tourists and exchange students alike arrive in Madrid or Barcelona’s airports, hoping to enjoy a bit of the stereotypical Spanish lifestyle. With all the hostility

against visitors, it’s essential to remember to visit the country responsibly.

According to the US News & World Report, Spain was the third-most popular destination for exchange students in 2024, meaning studying abroad contributes to a sizable amount of Spain’s already bloated quantity of yearly visitors.

However, studying abroad is notably different from tourism in a few key ways. For one thing, students visiting Spain typically stay in university housing options such as homestays, residence halls or shared student accommodations. Students are also taken in by an academic community and given the chance to meet and study with locals. The university study abroad network ensures that students are responsibly introduced to their host country, meaning that students studying abroad are less likely to contribute to gentrification.

A longer stay also means that students are more likely to adapt to the city’s culture and language. Instead of frequenting tourist attractions and favoring chain stores and restaurants for their familiarity, students learn about local cuisine and hear food recommendations from the people they meet. Unlike tourists, study abroad students are also expected to learn the local language, meaning that it’s more

likely that they will learn at least enough Spanish, Catalán or Basque to communicate with locals. Although study abroad programs typically provide a plan for a responsible visit, being a respectful visitor is ultimately up to each student. Whether people actually meet locals during their time abroad or instead decide to stick with other exchange students from their own country and speak their own language is up to them. It’s important to think carefully about Spain as a country with its own citizens and various cultures.

Deciding to study abroad in Spain should not be taken lightly — treating a semester in Spain like a mere vacation is disrespectful.

Studying abroad in Spain should be an intentional decision. Are you going because you have a certain interest in Spanish architecture, or because it has cheap flights out to other weekend destinations? Are you excited about the surfing

communities at the country’s many beaches, or are you more interested in the lower prices and subsequent greater buying power of the US dollar? Are you looking forward to meeting people with whom you can rigorously practice Spanish, or are you only going because the Spanish classes meet your requirements for graduation? Deciding to study abroad in Spain should not be taken lightly — treating a semester in Spain like a mere vacation is disrespectful.

It’s also important to remember that Spanish culture is not the monolith of flamenco, siestas, wine and bullfighting that American media often perpetuates. Spain is a small country, but every region has its own unique history, culture and sometimes even a different language. For instance, I spent last semester in the Basque Country, where Castilian Spanish is only one of two official languages — the Basque language is used by the region’s government and heard quite often on the streets. The same applies to many other provinces of Spain.

Students often take advantage of studying abroad to travel to other countries near their temporary home. Although I understand this impulse, it’s worth considering spending more time exploring where your study abroad program is located. When I was studying abroad, I hardly ever left the Basque Country, and I had a great time exploring the various cities close to me.

Try to authentically engage with a host country by prioritizing the academically enriching benefits of studying abroad.

Spain has many reasons to be a prime study abroad destination: it’s a linguistically and culturally diverse country with an impressive collection of museums, cultural sites and great people. Because it’s such an attractive destination, many regions of Spain are almost always crowded with tourists. It’s important to remember that Spanish people have a justifiable reason to be angry with overtourism. At the same time, studying abroad is not necessarily tourism, but it depends on each student’s relationship to their place of study. Try to authentically engage with a host country by prioritizing the academically enriching benefits of studying abroad. That way, you can avoid getting sprayed by a water gun.

ANA WINSTON /THE OBSERVER

Anti-tourist sentiments are widespread in Spain.

ANA WINSTON Online Editor

ANA WINSTON/THE OBSERVER

Spain is a popular tourist destination because of its museums and cultural sites.

Arts & Culture

‘The

January 22, 2025 T

Intimacy of Prayer’ Leaves Butler Gallery

Photographer Chester Higgins spoke about searching for spiritual meaning and

By NORA KINNEY Asst. Arts & Culture Editor

If you wandered into Ildiko Butler Gallery on the evening of Jan. 15 with only a cursory knowledge of the photographs on display, you might have been surprised to hear a distinctively bright voice call out, “What’s your favorite picture?”

That voice belonged to Chester Higgins — a former staff photographer at the New York Times recently inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame, and the artist behind astonishing images of Black spiritual life featured in a collection called “The Intimacy of Prayer.”

“ We think of God as being something far away, but in prayer, you don’t yell. You whisper.”

Chester

Higgins

Photographer

The black-and-white photographs displayed subjects of various faiths — including Christian, Jewish, Spiritual Baptist and Candomblé — engaged in what Higgins calls “the universal act of supplication.”

In one image titled “Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church,” taken in 1990, the camera peers down at a man bent over his upturned hands. The shot centers on the crown of his head, while a slight blur conveys his momentum. In another, “Boy At Window During Service Break” from 1968, a young boy’s resolute face is aglow with light from a window; he seems in silent communion with an outsider just beyond the frame. Higgins’ singular focus and natural compositions suffused the collection with a sense of meditation.

Higgins came to believe that within each of us is the fundamental basis for a relationship with a higher power and the capacity for transcendental experiences like his own.

“We think of God as being something far away,” Higgins said. “But in prayer, you don’t yell. You whisper.”

Growing up in the 1950s in New Brockton, Alabama, Higgins had a revelatory experience that forever changed his understanding of the world. In the middle of the night, he awoke to the vision of an African man dressed in traditional robes emerging from a circle of light. He was transfixed, then terrified, when the man called out to him.

Higgins’ family was bewildered by the event, but his grandfather understood it to be a spiritual apparition. Thus began a period of fervent religious education and church leadership in Higgins’ youth that remains the spiritual well of his identity and artistry nearly 70 years later.

“As a young kid, I had a very intense relationship with the

capturing the diversity of faith

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER

Photographer Chester Higgins’ work, “The Intimacy of Prayer,” discussed themes of religion and the personal connection that individuals have to their spirituality.

church,” Higgins said. “When I went to college at Tuskegee (University), I took a rural religion class, and I found it amazing that God is accessible to so many people but under different names.”

Higgins came to believe that within each of us is the fundamental basis for a relationship with a higher power and the capacity for transcendental experiences like his own. He opposed the idea that spiritual connection requires an intermediary such as a priest.

“You don’t give the power to anybody that you have inside yourself,” Higgins said. “Every one of us is here because there’s

holiness in us. But we somehow allow people to legislate the access to that, and make us feel insecure that we can’t access it ourselves without having it authenticated.”

“The Intimacy of Prayer” was presented by the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs and the Visual Arts Program at Fordham and first opened in December 2024. It previously appeared at Rose Hill in the Refuge Gallery, which highlights artistic work on humanitarian and social justice issues.

Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, head of the Visual Arts Program, said in a phone call that Higgins’ photos provided a meaningful

when you start to bring up this topic,” Apicella-Higgins said. “But the moments were very delicate and very quiet. It was just showing people with their relationships (to God).”

One photo in the exhibit features Higgins’ great aunt, staged to replicate a scene he often witnessed as a young boy when walking to her house. In it, she kneels by a bed with her hands in front of her and her eyes gazing downward. The camera captures her through a window, enclosing her in a private reverie the viewer does not dare disturb. Reflecting on the photo, Higgins referred to it as his “earliest story.”

“I knew that the first thing she did in the morning when she got up was she prayed, and that was also the last thing she did before she went to bed,” Higgins said. “So I knew this image. When I started making pictures, I went to her and I said, ‘you should let me do this.’”

Despite how he helped transform our perceptions of each other in the world, Higgins remains driven by the spiritual mysteries beyond our sight.

Representing the Black community authentically is the major impetus for Higgins’ work. When he first took an interest in photography as a young man, he recognized the power the medium had to augment the disparaging visual narrative of Black people at the time. Higgins was inspired by his mentor, photographer P.H. Polk, whose portrait series of local Black farmers and country folk during the Great Depression moved him deeply.

Higgins brought nuanced depictions of Black people and their communities to mainstream publications over many decades. He photographed people he lived among, people who embraced him on numerous trips to Africa and famous people like Muhammad Ali and Aretha Franklin. Higgins’ lens afforded neighbors and legends alike the grace, respect and complexity they were due.

Despite how he helped transform our perceptions of each other in the world, Higgins remains driven by the spiritual mysteries beyond our sight.

opportunity for his photography students to respond to the themes from a personal angle.

“Due to the nature of our institution, students found that topic of interest. That’s something that they had opinions on,” Apicella-Hitchcock said. “People were quite open about their relationships to particular images and why they chose them. That’s so unusual.”

He also noted that the exhibit’s tone did not discourage students who were not religious from engaging in the conversation.

“For those that are not of faith, it could feel a bit intimidating or perhaps dogmatic at its worst

At the reception for “The Intimacy of Prayer,” he engaged with students and passersby in thoughtful conversation about his work and the life it reflected. Surrounding him were the photos he had taken across the globe, in varying religious and ritual contexts, depicting people who all quietly searched for the same thing.

In discussing how the act of prayer served belief, Higgins spoke decidedly.

“The only way to reach your spiritual center is to go into yourself.”

Higgins is represented by Bruce Silverstein Gallery in New York City. His work is part of the permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others. One of his photographs is on display in the Met’s current exhibition “Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt,” which runs through Feb. 17.

A Complete Winter Style Guide For 2025

This season sees rich colors and dramatic flairs with some inspiration from the past

By CHENIYA BROWNLEY Contributing Writer

The temperatures have dropped below 40 degrees, and snow is blanketing Central Park. During this cold time of year, fashion takes an exciting turn toward the bold and beautiful, where comfort meets luxury in the most unexpected ways. Winter 2025 marks a definitive shift from the expected to the extraordinary, with influences spanning decades and aesthetics that speak to both the daring trendsetter and the sophisticated dresser.

This season’s trends are igniting conversations across social media, where influencers and fashion enthusiasts alike are showcasing their interpretations of runway favorites. Designers have embraced maximalist layers and textural contrasts, a nod to the vibrant looks spotted in Paris and Milan.

Fashion weeks from New York to London highlighted playful, experimental silhouettes that have become staples of the time. From street style to the red carpet, winter 2025 is shaping up to be a season of innovation and individuality, inviting everyone to experiment with their personal style.

The New Power Dressing

This season redefines power dressing with a dramatic flair. Maxi coats reign supreme, with ankle-grazing lengths and architectural silhouettes that command attention. These coats are statement pieces of intent, especially when rendered in this season’s fabrics — sumptuous shearlings, furs and leathers (both real and faux) that offer an undeniable combination of comfort and edge in both look and feel.

The power shoulder makes a sophisticated return, but this is not your mother’s 1980s power

By VEE VENNING

Asst. Arts & Culture Editor

suit. Modern tailoring plays with proportion: wide-leg trousers balanced by cropped blazers, exaggerated shoulders tempered by cinched waists. This new approach to tailoring offers a fresh take on office-to-evening wear, perfect for today’s hybrid work culture.

Color Revolution

This season’s color palette breaks new ground as well. As seen in collections by the likes of Valentino and Dries Van Noten, deep reds and rich burgundies emerge as the new power players. Buttery camel and deep chocolate brown offer a sophisticated alternative to traditional winter blacks.

Designer Christopher John Rogers also intertwined metallics with jewel tones and electric pops of color, displaying vibrancy even in the darkest winter days. The real surprise? These bold hues work seamlessly with the season’s neutrals, creating daring and wearable looks.

Elena Velez brought an industrial edge to the palette, marrying muted metallics with bold reds to create a raw yet sophisticated aesthetic. Jacquemus leaned into a playful interpretation of jewel tones, combining them with oversized, cozy silhouettes that felt like a winter escape.

Telfar Clemens revolutionized classic neutrals and poppy colors, infusing innovative textures and signature utilitarian details. Meanwhile, Phoebe Philo made her long-awaited return with an exploration of simplicity, pairing vibrant accents with creamy, understated layers that redefined modern elegance.

The Art of Layering

Knitwear is also undergoing a sophisticated upgrade this season, with oversized sweaters

Diving into the hottest trends of 2025 winter fashion making a comeback this year.

featuring architectural details — thick extra-long sleeves, dramatic and chunky cables, and unexpected cutouts. Some standout designs include Jonathan Anderson’s sculptural knits for Loewe and Gabriela Hearst’s artisanal cable work at Chloé, embracing winter’s maximalist mood.

But the real story lies in the art of layering. Silk slips under wool cardigans and leather under linen create a rich mosaic of textures that’s visually stimulating and functionally warm. The humble sweater vest also makes a triumphant return, now reimagined as a key layering piece for the modern wardrobe, as seen in Prada’s structured vests and The Row’s minimalist takes on this

classic.

The Monochrome Movement

Perhaps the most sophisticated trend of the season is the embrace of head-to-toe monochrome dressing. Camel, beige and winter whites create the perfect canvas for playing with textures and proportion. This approach to dressing evokes an effortless, yet luxurious aesthetic.

Bold Accessories Take Center Stage

The devil is in the details this season; accessories make all the difference. Extra-long scarves become wraparound statements, while unique boots and platforms provide even the most delicate

Polka Dots are Making a Point

looks with some edge. These are the starting point for making or breaking a distinctive look, rather than finishing touches. This season offers a masterclass in personal style, where rules are meant to be broken, and individual expression is prioritized over all. Whether you’re drawn to the drama of maxi coats, the comfort of chunky knits or the sophistication of monochrome dressing, this season provides endless opportunities for creative expression. Remember, the key to navigating these trends lies in making them your own. Mix high with low, old with new, bold with subtle. In doing so, you’ll create a winter wardrobe that’s not just fashion-forward but uniquely, authentically you.

This classic pattern is making its cyclical return to popularity this season

Rife with nostalgia and familiarity, polka dots have preserved their standing as one of the most distinct patterns in fashion. While the pattern is admittedly widespread, public opinion concerning the spots has undergone significant evolution throughout the centuries.

This transformation has resulted in periods of heightened popularity. Beginning in the fall of 2024 and continuing into the present, polka dots have had a predicted yet exhilarating revival. The pattern’s elevated resurgence can be attributed to a number of factors, the biggest among them being the comfort, nostalgia and joy that the pattern evokes in wearers and viewers alike.

One must first explore polka dots’ rich history and transformation from taboo to ubiquity to examine their return to the spotlight. Beginning in medieval Europe, a lack of advanced textile machinery resulted in a more randomized pattern that ultimately resembled the marks of illnesses like leprosy, the bubonic plague, smallpox and more. This connotation inspired fear and unease among consumers, resulting in a general distaste towards the pattern.

However, as the world drastically evolved alongside the dawn

of the Industrial Revolution, fashion transformed simultaneously as technological advancements made clothing more accessible to the general public. These advancements made a consistent and orderly polka dot arrangement became possible, and any association with diseases was forgotten. In early 20th-century America, polka dots underwent another significant change. Author Jude Stewart insists that the pattern was infused with a new sense of “lively wholesomeness,” as beloved figures like Minnie Mouse and Shirley Temple donned the spots. While polka dots grew in relevance, their association with wholesomeness also grew to include femininity, with revered women like Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe dressing in the pattern. This connection to the evolving sense of modern femininity grew as years passed, manifesting in Julia Roberts’ portrayal of Vivian Ward in the 1990 film “Pretty Woman.” In one of the scenes, Roberts famously wears a brown dress decorated with white polka dots, an outfit that has since become iconic. Although the film was released over three decades ago, polka dot’s recent resuscitation has cemented the moment’s lasting influence, with an extremely similar dress by British retailer Marks & Spencer selling out just last summer.

Public appreciation for the pattern has also become apparent at high-profile events like Wimbledon and the Oscars, as celebrities like Margot Robbie and Jennifer Lawrence attended in polka-dotted attire.

Considering the tumultuous events of this past year, the pattern’s reappearance in both high fashion and ready-to-wear spheres is somewhat predictable. In fact, this is a recurring theme that has emerged following the crises of 2008 and 2020. Following the severe recession the United States experienced in 2008, both Valentino and Marc Jacobs showed polka dots on the runway. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Celine and Balenciaga took the same approach, with creative director Hedi Slimane expressing a desire to “show, through the youth (and) optimism, the hope (in) this uncertain time.”

The past spring and summer runways also host this pattern, and brands like Maison Margiela, Stella McCartney and Dolce & Gabbana have all incorporated spots into their recent designs. Even the head of womenswear at Marks & Spencer, Lisa Illis, declared “a phenomenal response to polka dots.” However, the return of polka dots is more than a simple reappearance; it is a revitalization, and designers modify silhouettes, hems and necklines to add a modern touch to the pattern.

One of the most popular patterns, polka dots, has had a long cyclical history of relevance in fashion and seems to be making a comeback this year.

While polka dots make a comeback in luxury designs, they are becoming increasingly relevant within daily wear as well, and the twee trend in particular, significantly impacted the pattern’s revival.

The Face magazine cites Carla Buzasi, the CEO of trend forecasters at WGSN. She claims that this increased interest in twee is a “natural extension of the retro revival we saw during the height of the pandemic,” and the movement represents a return to nostalgia, ingenuity and even sustainability. Led by actress Zooey Deschanel and her early 2000s fashion featured on “New Girl,” the twee movement can be defined by colorful tights, ballet flats, collared dresses and polka dots. In fact, in a 2012 episode of “New Girl,” Deschanel’s character Jessica Day says just this, proclaiming that she “rock(s) a lot of polka dots.”

GRACE SANTOLI/THE OBSERVER

KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER

New Statues Around Campus

Bronze statues from several artists are featured around the Lincoln Center grounds

By JULIA JARAMILLO Arts & Culture Editor

With the arrival of the new year, there have been many new additions and changes to the Lincoln Center campus. Along with clearing out a few large trees in the Outdoor Plaza, some of the bronze statues were installed on the school grounds.

Many of these pieces are from New York City-based Danish artist Bjørn Okholm Skaarup, namely the playful statues of anthropomorphic animals. Much of Skaarup’s work depicts animals in ironic, fun scenes and is based on ancient fables, allegories, art history or modern animation. Other artists’ works are by Bruno Lucchesi, Jane DeDecker and Jim Rennert.

PHOTOS BY JULIA JARAMILLO/THE OBSERVER

Most of the statues are located on the east end of the Outdoor Plaza by the Ram statue, first installed in 2017.

“Woman Washing Foot” was also sculpted by Lucchesi.

Italian sculptor Bruno Lucchesi sculpted the Renaissance-like “After Shopping.” Behind it is DeDecker’s “Wind.”

Exiting the 140 West building, Skaarup’s “The Majestic Lion” and “The Ostrich” greets Plaza visitors.

“Da Mi Un Baccio” was sculpted by American sculptor Jane DeDecker. Much of her work widely features clay-like depictions of familial bonds.

“The Frog” displays an ironic image of a frog on a bouncy ball.

The 15-ft statue in front of Fordham Law and the Gabelli School of Business is titled “Hippo Ballerina.”

un & ames

Crossword: The Year of the Snake

BY DAMIAN GROVE

22. Plural ending for robb and shrubb

23. Burn, as hair

24. Nontoxic chemicals used to manufacture aerosol sprays (Abbr.)

27. Where Hank Schrader works as an agent in “Breaking Bad” (Abbr.)

28. *Symbolizing wealth and prosperity, these are gifted to loved ones on 37-Across (2 Wds.)

31. Driver’s license and passport, for two

32. Love quite a bit

33. Strong psychedelic known as the “spirit molecule” (Abbr.)

36. *Chinese celebration marking the arrival of the spring, this year on Jan. 29 (3 Wds.)

40. Specific television program, for short

41. They can be found on every floor of McKeon and McMahon halls (Abbr.)

42. Fire-enduring Hawaiian tree species

1. Shoe component that can be tied

5. “Deep Woods” insect repellent brand

8. Dada artist Jean

11. Unknown contributor, for short

12. A tomato is technically one

14. Letterboxd rating unit

21. Trimmed the edges Across

15. Code used to format web pages (Abbr.)

16. The bald one was only officially declared the national bird in December 2024

17. Famous Broadway actress Patti Lu___

18. *Activity to do in the kitchen on 37-Across that promotes good luck (2 Wds.)

43. “Merrily We Roll Along” tagline: “It started out like ___” (2 Wds.)

45. Pain relief medication brand

46. *The snake is 2025’s animal in this 12-year cycle (2 Wds.)

51. Bull-related Remi Wolf song

52. “And the ___ goes wild!”

53. Prefix for legal or trooper

56. “CHIHIRO” lyric: “I hope it’s not for sure, can you ___ up the door?”

Word Search

BY JASMINE WHITE

Instructions: Search up, down, forward, backward and on the diagonal to find the

Instructions: Each row, column and 3×3 box must contain the numbers 1-9 exactly once.