Dems Hold Primary Mayoral Forum
By MACKENZIE COOPER
Asst. News Editor
Seven Democratic New York City mayoral candidates took to the stage to address topics ranging from banning masks at protests to what their favorite subway stations are on Jan. 29 at B’nai Jeshurun synagogue on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
With the Democratic primary coming in June the candidates used every second of the three hours allocated to convince voters
why they should be the next mayor of New York City.
Over 1,200 participants attended the forum in-person or online. Prior to the event, all registered attendees were sent a form to fill out regarding the questions and key issues they most wanted the candidates to address. This ensured that all topics covered would be relevant to the community members present.
The event was hosted by the Upper West Side Democrats, Broadway Democrats and
New York City Welcomes the World of Squash
By OLIVIA SOBCZYK Contributing Writer
Among the multitude of cafes, restaurants, convenience stores and thousands of New York City commuters at Grand Central Terminal, there was an unexpected pop-up attraction — a glass squash court in the middle of Vanderbilt Hall.
From Jan. 23 to 30, the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions (ToC) — a platinum tournament for professional squash players — occurred in this iconic venue, drawing together fans and players from around the globe.
To those unacquainted with the sport’s impressive universe, Squash may come across as a frivolous country club activity. However, witnessing one match at the ToC instantly shatters such misconceptions.
For Diana Silvestri, a media representative for the ToC, the tournament unites world-class athletes, sports entertainment, impressive company sponsors, an unforgettable New York City location, and even a craft cocktail into one unique lifestyle event.
“For squash fans and players alike the glass court at the J.P.
Morgan Tournament of Champions is like center court at the US Open. The packed house energy is unmatched, it’s a stage every players want to win on,” Silvestri wrote.
This year’s Tournament of Champions (ToC) marks the 27th time it has been held at Grand Central and the 38th time in New York City. Before Grand Central, the tournaments in New York City were held at the Winter Garden Atrium.
The convenience of squash’s glass box courts allows for matches to occur in a multitude of venues not traditionally associated with live sports — for example, in Egypt, the ToC is held in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza.
The sport’s diverse court adaptability mirrors the breadth of its pros’ nationalities. On the tournament’s first day, the scheduled game players represented seven different nations.
Squash, one of the five sports added to the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics lineup, certainly has the increasing popular attraction, court flexibility and flair to forge its own individual reputation and audience as the next big court sport.
Columbia University Democrats, three major Democratic organizations in New York City. Jeff Coltin, a Politico journalist, and Ester R. Fuchs, a Columbia University Professor moderated the event. Both Coltin and Fuchs are residents of the Upper West Side, calling the neighborhood their home.
Rabbi Roly Matalon started off the night’s conversation thanking the candidates for showing up.
Fordham Classics in Ruins
By MICHELLE WILSON Asst. News Editor
Fordham’s Classics Department has experienced a decline over the years in faculty, course offerings and enrollment. This has been a blow to students, teachers and the university’s Jesuit ethos.
Classics is the interdisciplinary study of the languages, literature, history and society of Greco-Roman antiquity. Fordham offers majors in classical languages and classical civilization.
Associate Professor of Classics J. Andrew Foster has been teaching at Fordham since 2002. When he was hired, the Classics Department had seven associate professors. They are now down to three: Foster, Matthew McGowan and Sarah Pierce. With Pierce on leave since the fall 2024 semester, there are only two active classics professors. Foster will be on leave for the next full academic year.
Trump Targets Activists on Campus
By SAM BRACY News Editor
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Jan. 29, to combat antisemitism threatens to deport international students and faculty who express pro-Palestinian views.
Critics said the order violates the First Amendment as it will chill speech on college campuses.
Others said the move is the latest action in a campaign to suppress campus activism by placing pressure on educational institutions.
The order called on executive agencies to identify “all civil and criminal authorities or actions within the jurisdiction of that agency” to combat antisemitism.
The order also called on educational institutions to “monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff,” which might be grounds for their deportation.
Wiley Martin, Fordham Law School ’26 and president of
Fordham’s National Lawyers Guild, said he and his peers believe the order was targeted at people at colleges and universities who protested against Israel’s military actions in Palestine. “Consistent reaction has been immediately identifying it as something aimed at repressing speech and aimed at college protests,” Martin said.
Martin clarified that as a law student and not a lawyer, his statements do not constitute legal advice. He suggested that anyone who is concerned they may be affected by Wednesday’s order should seek counsel from a lawyer.
According to Lamya Agarwala, supervising attorney for the Muslim civil rights group Council on American-Islamic Relations, canceling visas for political speech violates the freedom of expression enshrined in the First Amendment.
By CARLE BLEAU Contributing Writer
Rose Hill may have a campus, but here at Lincoln Center, we have something they do not: the Campus Activities Board’s annual Winterfest on Jan. 31. The intimate, cheap and fun Friday night celebration of music is not only a great way to bring the campus together, but also only an elevator ride (or a Ram Van trip for Rose Hill students) and $5.65 away! Every year, students are given the opportunity to vote on a big-name artist to play the festival, plus an opportunity to take the stage themselves as an opener. This year’s lineup was Queer Theory, Ms. Worldwide and Ashe. The first opener, Queer Theory, consisted of four
members. Kat, their platinum blonde lead singer, had an overall appearance and vocal quality comparable to Hayley Williams. The guitarist, Sarah, often did double duty with backing vocals and even took lead vocals in a song or two. Their bassist, JJ, immediately captured your attention with their riffs and bright green hair. And last, but most certainly not least, Sam, the drummer, who, although hidden from view behind the other three band members, makes their presence known, hitting every beat flawlessly and keeping everyone together — which is of utmost importance. A good band is nothing without a good song, and their setlist suited the band well and-catered to the audience.
DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER
This year’s Winterfest headliner, Ashe, is best known for her chart-topping single “Moral of the Story”
DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER
Mayoral candidates from left to right; Scott Stringer, Whitney Tilson, Brad Lander, Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie and Michael Blake.
Students Wary of Future Amid Deportations
Those with roots in migrant communities called on Fordham
By MARCUS GONZALES
Contributing Writer
Following President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted an increasing amount of public raids around the country. These raids have put stress on the Fordham community as students face challenges to themselves as well as their families, peers and coworkers.
Throughout Trump’s campaign for reelection, he promised to reverse a number of former President Joe Biden’s policies that allowed for more points of access for refugees seeking political asylum in the United States. After his inauguration, he followed through on these promises and expanded the conditions for immediate deportation through a notice entitled “Designating Aliens for Expedited Removal.”
“ It’s hard to know that people that I grew up with, helped me grow up and formed who I am are at risk of being deported.”
'28
This notice ultimately allows ICE to “terminate any ongoing removal proceedings and/or any active parole status” and deport immigrants right away, potentially without trial. These developments stoked fears for students that cornerstones of their communities will be deported.
Fordham students with roots in immigrant communities said the increase in arrests and deportations since Trump’s inauguration has unsettled them. Alexa Martinez, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’28, was born in Los Angeles but said many of her friends and family immigrated to the United States from El Salvador and Mexico. Martinez said she is afraid people she knows back home are at risk of persecution.
“It’s hard to know that people that I grew up with, helped me grow up and formed who I am are at risk of being deported,” Martinez said.
As an LA native, Martinez has noticed how her hometown, which is also an important sanctuary city, has recently been descended upon by immigration officials seeking to deport lower-class, undocumented immigrants.
Recognizing this, Martinez hopes New York City residents will pressure Mayor Eric Adams to protect migrant communities.
“ICE is in low income areas or key places for immigrants that need to work to pay rent and their mortgage. So, I think that obviously it’s not fair and I think New Yorkers have to hold him accountable,” Martinez said.
When the hostility of ICE officials and the confusing reality of being an immigrant are combined, the fear of raids can be extreme. Mackenzie Tunnell, FCLC ’28, said her experience at her job has been altered under the Trump administration.
“I work at a grocery store and a majority of people there don’t speak English. So even if, let’s say, there were people who were here illegally, even if they are here legally, they wouldn’t have the opportunity to stand up for themselves,” Tunnell said. “It’s just something that’s pervaded my everyday life that I never expected to.”
With ICE and police conducting raids on schools, places of worship and other places that were previously considered “off-limits,” residents have called into question New York City’s status as a sanctuary city, meaning that police are not allowed to question or detain individuals based on their actual or perceived immigration status.
Fordham President Tania Tetlow sent an email on Jan. 28 commenting on the “nuanced and robust” debate on the subject of immigration. The email sought to convey a deep sense of unity and solidarity with those who are struggling under the new immigration policies.
“ We’re really focused on education, awareness and even though we may not be able to physically keep our students safe, we want them to know that they have a community backing them.”
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“I have struggled to write this message because it is not within my power to reassure those in pain. What I can do is express the support and empathy of our
and local officials to resist deportations
Fordham community,” Tetlow wrote.
While her email offered moving words of support for those affected by these new policies and included links to resources that Fordham currently offers, some students have described the response as too little too late.
“I am quite disappointed by the timing and the ambiguity of her email,” Eva Lee, FCLC ’27, said. “It’s really devastating that it’s taken a national catastrophe for our president to even speak about immigration and undocumented status… I think that you must take hard stances when it comes to human rights.”
Lee is the president of the Immigration Advocacy Coalition, a club at Fordham Lincoln Center dedicated to spreading awareness, education and resources
“ It’s just something that’s pervaded my everyday life that I never expected to.”
Mackenzie
Tunnell, FCLC '28
to the student population. They host volunteer events, clothing drives and are currently planning an Undocumented Student Week of Action, which would include daily events to bring attention to and help alleviate the struggles of undocumented students.
“We’re really focused on education, awareness and even though we may not be able to physically keep our students
safe, we want them to know that they have a community backing them,” Lee said.
Lee hopes the club can stop students from thinking that they are helpless. She said that volunteering and advocacy are important during difficult times.
“Awareness is key. Get the conversation rolling,” Lee said. “If you have the time and the capacity, please go volunteer. There are places that constantly need people: law clinics, churches. At the Immigration Advocacy Coalition, we have so many opportunities rolling out for the semester. We have a lot of research internships that professors Sarah Lockhart and Carey Kasten have been developing. So, yes, don’t think that you are helpless.”
University and city resources for undocumented students can be found on Fordham’s website.
Alexa Martinez, FCLC
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
The Immigration Advocacy Coalition at FCLC offers resources to undocumented students, including cards stating their rights.
SAM BRACY/THE OBSERVER Students expressed fear that deportations could tear their communities apart.
Eva Lee, FCLC
GILLFOTO VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS Migration and the border have been persistent talking points and issues for the new administration.
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
This card recites one’s constitutional rights if identified by ICE.
Order Threatens Visas of Pro-Palestine Activists
“It feels so blatantly contrary to what we understand to be free speech, anti-discrimination laws, so many existing principles,” Agarwala said.
The “blatant” violation of principles may be the point. Agarwala suggested that, in addition to threatening activists, the order is meant to put educational institutions under pressure.
“It’s scare tactics. They’re coming at these universities, they’re putting universities in a very tough position, where universities are going to feel obligated to comply with things that may be unlawful, and may be in tension with their existing obligations to protect their students,” Agarwala said.
For Agarwala, the efficacy of the order hinges on the degree to which schools such as Fordham comply with demands to monitor and report the activities of their students.
“I think the universities are going to be a key battleground to see whether or not the executive order is effective,” Agarwala said. “It does rely on institutions, to an extent, to cooperate with this federal executive order for it to be effective.”
As a private institution, Fordham has the First Amendment right to permit protected speech on campus. Fordham also grants students the right to free expression and non-violent protest, according to the Student Handbook. Alex Morey, vice president of campus advocacy at the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said Fordham needs to
Critics say Wednesday's executive order violates First Amendment rights by creating a chilling effect on speech Within the two weeks of Trump’s second term, new federal orders threaten change to Fordham policy
By ALISON BEINHAUR News Editor
A wave of executive orders and decisions is the standard in the first weeks of a presidency. For President Donald Trump, some of these executive orders are projected to have serious repercussions on American university students, specifically in marginalized communities.
Within hours of being inaugurated, Trump signed 26 executive orders for issues addressed in his campaign, ranging from foreign aid to birthright citizenship. This was the most first-day executive orders signed by a U.S. president in recent years. He also backed the U.S. out of various global organizations and accords, such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. Many of these orders have sparked lawsuits and controversy, with some being struck down by federal judges shortly after being signed.
In Trump’s inaugural address, he declared a national emergency at the U.S. southern border, reinforced his promises of mass deportations and signed an executive order eliminating birthright citizenship. An executive order titled “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship” addressed his platform in writing.
Trump authorized a decision that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest undocumented immigrants at locations that were previously safe from enforcement. Although
fulfill those obligations and refuse to censor the political speech of its students and faculty.
“Fordham has to stand strong and say ‘no, we’re not going to break the promises we’ve made to our students and faculty,’” Morey said.
Morey drew a distinction between political speech critical of Israel and unprotected speech that promotes antisemitic violence. She said that the former category, even if offensive to some people, is protected by the Constitution.
“This very broad definition of antisemitism that the government has recently been promulgating, suggesting that anyone who is a quote unquote ‘sympathizer’ of Palestine or Hamas, is suddenly committing some kind of crime. No, they’re just engaging in protected expression,” Morey said.
That said, Morey is aware that colleges and universities face a double bind: risk antagonizing an aggressive executive branch with millions of dollars in federal funds on the line or possibly violating their students’ civil liberties — and be liable to lawsuits.
“It’s going to be very interesting to see how schools are interpreting their dual obligations here with this incredibly scary existential looming threat while also knowing they have these other free expression obligations,” Morey said. “I do not envy college administrators right now.”
In response to a request for comment to the Office of International Services, Bob Howe, associate vice president for media and public relations, wrote in an email that the university is not ready to publicly address the order.
“The University will need time to understand the orders and their implications: any response now would be premature and/or speculation. Fordham will let the campus community know what plans the University is making, or what actions it is contemplating, as soon as it is possible to do so with some degree of certainty,” Howe wrote.
Martin called on Fordham’s deans and administrators by name to step up and resist the Trump administration.
“It begs the question for those in power at institutions like Fordham,” Martin said. “Something they should think about is what is best for our students, what is best for our society and the answer to that question is not always to just follow the law … Sometimes you do have to do things that break the law. You do have to disobey authority.”
Record-Breaking Executive Orders Rollback University Standards
President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders and ordered mass deportations in his first few weeks in office
ICE’s website has a notification that requires revisions after these changes, some of its listed “protected areas” included, but were not limited to, schools, medical or healthcare facilities, places of worship and more.
University President Tania Tetlow sent an email on Jan. 28 regarding an immigration stance backed by the university’s Jesuit values.
“In this Catholic university founded for immigrants, I can remind us that one of the strongest exhortations of our faith (and of Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions) is to ‘welcome the stranger.’ It
is not enough to love our own, those who are familiar. We are commanded to expand our circle of welcome, to see every human being as family,” she wrote.
Tetlow also wrote that the university “will offer as much pragmatic support as possible” by updating its page on resources for undocumented students. This page links university and legal resources, including, but not limited to, the Office of Government Relations, DACA application information and the National Immigrant Justice Center. She also wrote that the Office of International Services will monitor policy changes to keep
Beyond the looming fight over campus free speech, Martin saw other threats in the order’s language. He worries Trump will use similar tactics to target other forms of dissent.
“He's asking every executive department and every agency to submit a report identifying all civil and criminal authorities within the jurisdiction of that agency, which to me that's kind of one of the more scary parts of it,” Martin said. “It's not going to stop at people who he identifies as antisemitic, or in solidarity with Palestine, it's going to be people who are in solidarity with trans people next.”
Agarwala warned that the White House could aim to socially criminalize vulnerable groups by promoting discourses labeling those groups as violent and dangerous.
“These concepts of national security, public safety, through these lenses of white supremacy, it attributes categorically ideas of dangerousness to particular people, for example, people who aren't citizens, for example, people who speak on a particular issue, and then targeting those people either for immigration consequences or criminal consequences or other consequences,” Agarwala said.
The executive order gave 60 days to executive agencies to issue reports on their capacity to enforce the order. It also directs the Secretary of State and Education to inform colleges and universities of clauses in Title VIII regarding Sec. 1182 — “Inadmissible aliens.” The order clarifies that it also affects K-12 schools.
international students updated and informed.
Fordham Public Safety sent an email on Jan. 30 instructing students and faculty to familiarize themselves with the university’s guidelines for interacting with law enforcement agencies like ICE. These guidelines, which present a three-step response if approached by an officer, are meant to legally protect Fordham community members.
“University procedures are grounded in the Jesuit tradition of being people for others. We hold to the Ignatian principle of care for the whole person and respect the dignity of every
individual, including their right to feel safe wherever they may be on campus,” the email wrote.
Trump and his allies have been outspoken about their distaste for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs and initiatives nationwide. In the executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” the White House referred to DEI efforts as discriminatory.
“The Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI), into virtually all aspects of the Federal Government, in areas ranging from airline safety to the military,” the White House wrote in the executive order.
Some organizations and institutions outside federal agencies have since dissolved their DEI programs, including the University of Michigan, which has removed diversity statements from their hiring processes.
Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications and special advisor to the president, said Fordham will be transparent with any actions in response to the executive orders.
“Fordham will let the campus community know what plans the University is making, or what actions it is contemplating, as soon as it is possible to do so with some degree of certainty,” Howe wrote.
No changes have been made to Fordham’s policies and procedures at the time of publication.
COLBY MCKASKILL/THE OBSERVER
Professors line up to protect students during the May 1, 2024 encampment protest
OFFICE OF SENATOR DAN SULLIVAN VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Classics Department Could be History
Only three full-time professors teach in the Classics department, with two on leave next semester
CLASSICS from page 1
Fordham’s Classics Department has experienced a decline over the years in faculty, course offerings and enrollment. This has been a blow to students, teachers and the university’s Jesuit ethos.
Classics is the interdisciplinary study of the languages, literature, history and society of Greco-Roman antiquity. Fordham offers majors in classical languages and classical civilization.
Associate Professor of Classics J. Andrew Foster has been teaching at Fordham since 2002. When he was hired, the Classics Department had seven associate professors. They are now down to three: Foster, Matthew McGowan and Sarah Pierce. With Pierce on leave since the fall 2024 semester, there are only two active classics professors. Foster will be on leave for the next full academic year.
Foster discussed the reasons behind the Classics Department’s difficulties.
“Some of our problems are highly idiosyncratic and institutionally centered, but others are just part of broader trends in higher academia,” Foster said.
Foster said that Fordham administrators have traditionally expected students to arrive with a constituted interest in classics, but this is no longer realistic. He teaches introductory classics courses in order to boost student interest.
“The only way in my view that you're going to attract people into the world of classical antiquity, which is mysterious and wonderful and becoming increasingly mysterious, in my mind, is to introduce that world early on in your academic career,” Foster said.
Foster said he believes administrators are largely content allowing the ongoing downward spiral to run its course.
“It’s a way of engaging in
constructive closure, letting us just wither away,” Foster said.
Jack Bailey, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’28, came to Fordham with a strong passion for Latin and classical antiquity. He wanted to pursue a five-year degree and certification program in classical languages in order to become a Latin teacher. He has since switched his major to psychology after being disappointed by the lack of structure and dearth of courses.
Bailey urged the Fordham administration to be upfront about their plans for the future of the department.
“I came to this school for the classics program … I’m supposed to trust the people that I’m giving, candidly, a lot of money to,” Bailey said. “Don’t lie to me and don’t hide from me what you’re doing with my career that I had to abandon; my plan for the future which I had to abandon.”
Associate Dean Robert K. Moniot said the Classics Department’s issues have come to the attention of the deans and provost, but he does not know what their plans for the department are. Provost Dennis C. Jacobs was not available for comment by the time of publication.
Demi Lara, FCLC ’25 and president of the FCLC Classics Club, is a classical languages major with a Latin concentration. She chose Latin because the only Greek course was at 8:30 a.m. at Rose Hill, making it infeasible for her as a commuter student.
While Lara said she has not experienced much difficulty in finding courses, she acknowledged that Classics Department resources are decentralized and hard to find.
“I feel like not a lot of people know about the resources and the stuff that the Classics Department offers because people don’t really seek them out, and it’s also kind of
hidden,” Lara said.
Similarly, Foster said that Fordham has pieces of classics interspersed across several departments, including philosophy, theology, English and history.
“The issue is we have our attribute all over the place, and you can cobble something together, but without any coordination, without any integration, without any program, without a mission statement and buy-in and stakeholders and everybody participates, it is exactly that: ad hoc and contingent,” Foster said.
Lara created the FCLC Classics Club during her first year to help mitigate this issue.
“I'm trying to bring back the love of classics with Classics Club, even if people aren't becoming classics majors, but we have good turnouts on our events,” Lara said.
Foster’s solution is to create a structured, interdisciplinary program.
“The vision for classics that, and I have been openly advocating for this since 2005, is that we need to create an interdisciplinary program in what you would call Mediterranean studies or Mediterranean and near Eastern studies,” Foster said. “You could do a philosophy and religion track, a history and society track and material culture, you could do art history and literature … and then you could do a vertical major, which would have coherence, which could draw on other programs.”
Foster pitched this idea in 2016, but it was shut down by the dean of faculty at the time.
Foster sees the root of the Classics Department’s problems as profound ideological differences around what classics is.
“But a lot of it is really ‘Why the department? What is classics? Should we continue to be a language center department?’ If you look at our enrollments, that’s where the patronage model still persists because we’re allowed to run classes that no other department with the enrollments that we have right now does,” Foster said.
Philosophy, theology and classics are the three pillars of a Jesuit education and, despite its small program, Fordham remains the only American Jesuit university to offer a doctorate in classics.
“On the other side, classics is very dear to the heart of Fordham’s tradition, and I am sure that just from the standpoint of maintaining our tradition, they would want to keep that classics department going,” Moniot said.
Despite this sentiment, Fordham’s Classics Department has experienced an undeniable decline for several reasons.
Before Fordham’s core revision in 2012, students had to take five courses to fulfill their language requirement, with the exception of classics, which only required four. The change de-incentivized students to take classical languages.
“But the new core was a drop — a big jumping off point. There were changes in upper administration. There was much greater emphasis on allocating resources based on enrollments and so forth. So we had a series of retirements in 2016, 2017 and none of those people were replaced,” Foster said.
Foster predicted that the newest iteration of the core will place greater stress on classics and other small departments because they will be less showcased in the new core’s diminished requirements.
According to Foster, teaching a full complement of Greek and Latin on both campuses would require a minimum of three professors, and this does not even account for courses in
myth, literature, history, etc. This presents a resourcing issue when most classics courses remain under-enrolled.
Then there is the problem of scale. This is the first semester Foster has taught his contractual load of courses after years of teaching extra. He is contractually obligated to teach three classes one semester and two the other. Due to the small number of classics professors, Foster has taught extra courses to help students fulfill their major requirements.
Foster referenced a Dr. Seuss story to articulate the department’s plight.
“We are the Whos down in Whoville who can’t get the yop up out. Horton is never going to hear us because there’s not enough voices,” Foster said.
All this is situated within a broader national trend of classics losing their privileged niche in higher academia, rising tuition prices, the phasing out of Latin in high schools and fewer jobs in classics.
“I mean, for me, it’s a generalized skillset. I think there’s a human development component to the liberal education that you can’t really quantify, you can’t really price. But we live in a world where it’s very expensive to avoid those very hard calculations and conversations,” Foster said.
Foster also argued that administrators simply lack realism about the level of expected student engagement.
“There’s just a lot of wishful thinking about a day that probably never really existed, but certainly has gone by,” Foster said.
Fordham’s Department of Classics lacks internal governance. In 2018, Professor McGowan stepped down as chair of the Classics Department. Since then, the department has had a new, external interim chair each year, culminating with Professor Johanna L. Francis, an economics professor and current acting chair.
For the past five years, the Classics Department has been holding departmental meetings and nominating a potential internal chair, but the provost has declined to appoint that person.
“And I would imagine that that message, that there’s a message of ‘We’re not quite confident that you can govern yourselves,’ is, I think, not an unfair inference to draw from that decision,” Foster said.
Foster likened the situation to standing on a landmine. Professors across arts and sciences are terrified to make a change for fear that it will blow up, and they will not be able to put the pieces back together, according to Foster. The danger in a landmine isn’t stepping on but stepping off. You can’t stand there forever, though.
PHOTOS BY DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER
Fordham students bond over a shared love of classics.
The Lincoln Center chapter of the Fordham Classics Club was founded four years ago by Demi Lara, club president (the second from the left).
FCLC’s Classics Club welcomes students to a club meeting.
Primary Candidates Speak at Event
Mayoral candidates spoke at an Upper West Side synagogue to highlight key concerns of their agendas
MAYORAL from page 1
“With our democracy facing so many challenges these days, it is great to have all these people here, all these candidates here and so many people online who are watching and participating tonight. I hope it’s a robust conversation, interesting, intense and I just wanted to say welcome and this is democracy in action,” Matalon said.
The candidates were placed in random order, sat from left to right; Scott Stringer, former New York City Comptroller and 2021 mayoral candidate; Whitney Tilson, former hedge fund manager and editor at Stansberry Research; Brad Lander, current New York City comptroller; Jessica Ramos, state senator representing the 13th Senate District; Zellnor Myrie, state senator representing the 20th Senate District; Michael Blake, former state assembly member who represented Assembly District 79 from 2014 to 2020; and Zohran Mamdani, state assembly member representing Assembly District 36. Mayor Eric Adams did not respond to the invitation to attend the forum.
Each candidate delivered an opening statement. Stringer started his speech by dismissing the mayor’s conspicuous absence.
“Tonight, you’re reading about whether Trump may or may not pardon Eric Adams. And I don't care what happens with that because it’s time for this government to meet the voters, and we have to have a discussion about what our agenda is gonna be,” Stringer said. “I love this city like all of you do. That’s what brings us all together on a cold night, but
our city government is not loving us back and the stakes have never been higher.”
The candidates answered two types of questions throughout the forum. There was a lightning round in which candidates could only answer “yes” or “no” to a series of questions, and a standard round of questions posed to one or two candidates at a time.
Time was of the essence as there were only three hours for the candidates to answer voter’s questions.
During the lightning round, candidates were asked whether
or not they’d support banning masks at protests. A majority said no. Myrie, the last candidate to answer, recalled an experience at a protest to help support his position, that the first amendment right should be protected, as long as you are not committing a crime while practicing it. “I was pepper sprayed while protesting as a senator, and so I don't just say this with rhetoric. I have put my actions behind those words and believe in our First Amendment,” Myrie said. “But if you are committing a crime and you are wearing a mask, there
should be consequences for that.”
Myrie received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Fordham. In an interview with WFUV, Fordham's radio station, Myrie spoke about his experience at the dual campuses.
“I am a very proud Fordham alum, not only undergrad but grad. So people say, ‘Are you a Rose Hill or Lincoln Center’ and I say I was both because I was a Rose Hill undergrad and then when I got my master’s in urban studies, I took a lot of classes at Lincoln Center,” Myrie said.
The moderators playfully
A Grant for Migration Justice
asked each candidate if they take the subway and what their favorite subway station is. Surprisingly, not even our own Fordham Alum Zellnor Myrie did not mention 59th St-Columbus Circle station or Fordham Road station as his favorites.
He did mention his favorite station is the Atlantic Ave - Barclays Center Station as he is a huge WNBA Liberty basketball fan. These candidates are not the only ones running for the November primary. Go do your research and if you can, vote!
$670k from the Cummings Foundation will be used for migration research and border trips
By AVERY LOFTIS AND SEANNA SANKAR
Editor-in-Chief and Contributing Writer
A group of seven Fordham professors across disciplines — Gregory Donovan, Leo Guardado, Annika Hinze, Carey Kasten, Sarah Lockhart, Jim McCartin and Alma Rodenas-Ruano — are working to ensure that migrants are not alone.
The professors were awarded a $670,000 grant from the Cummings Foundation, a Massachusetts non-profit. They plan to use the money to expand efforts to accompany, support and advocate for migrant communities in New York City and at the U.S.-Mexico border.
“
We want to accompany (literally) those who are intimidated, those who need help, in this dark time and make sure they know they're not alone.
”
Annika Hinze, Associate Professor of Political Science
The Cummings grant continues the 2022 Initiative on Migrants, Migration and Human Dignity sponsoring student, faculty and staff engagement with migration. Carey Kasten, associate professor of Spanish, wrote that the new grant will fulfill the project’s five goals: cultivating
student leaders who are prepared to address complex challenges, supporting the Fordham community in accompaniment, supporting faculty and student research that serves migrant communities, and functioning as a model in migration accompaniment for other Jesuit institutions.
Donovan, an affiliate professor in the Urban Studies and New Media & Digital Design programs, wrote in an email that the grant combines the ongoing work of various departments.
“This grant is an opportunity to create a hub for bringing together all the amazing migration justice-related activity already happening at Fordham and to facilitate even more,” Donovan wrote.
Accompaniment is partially rooted in Jesuit and liberation theology traditions. Hinze, associate professor of political science, discussed the meaning and importance of accompaniment as a vehicle of support.
“We want to accompany (literally) those who are intimidated, those who need help, in this dark time and make sure they know they're not alone,” Hinze wrote.
A flurry of executive orders since Donald Trump's second inauguration has destabilized immigration policy and threatened migrant communities with mass deportations. Hinze added that this necessitates a large grant for this initiative.
“With the recent EOs from the
new Trump admin, there are a lot of people in our community who are scared,” Hinze wrote.
The goals of migrant activism and advocacy work align closely with Fordham’s Jesuit mission statement, emphasizing a commitment to research and education in the promotion of justice, human rights and community, according to Donovan.
“We want to build a community of practice that extends far beyond the walls of Fordham — from NYC to the border — and fosters the kind of solidarity with people in migration that our Jesuit mission calls for,” Donovan wrote. Hinze emphasized migration studies as a key aspect of Fordham’s mission.
“We want to get involved, help, walk alongside migrants and each other and build sustainable relationships and trust with our communities,” Hinze wrote.
Students will be able to get involved through partnerships with LSA Family Health Service in East Harlem and the Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, Mexico. Donovan wrote that there will also be workshops and events on campus.
Kasten wrote that she strives to incorporate migration narratives into her language classes. She also wrote that this is part of her larger goal “to expose students/faculty to accompaniment work and help them learn more to work toward advocacy and activism.”
Hinze wrote that education about this subject is urgently needed because of America’s political climate.
“Many people are scared,” Hinze wrote. “They need help and support. Beyond that, it is also important that we show migrants that what is currently happening in this country is not what all Americans stand for.”
Donovan also wrote that applying for the grant took almost a year and was a collaborative process. The seven professors met regularly to assemble a proposal and a budget which were reviewed and discussed extensively with the Cummings Foundation.
Looking forward, Donovan wrote that he hopes the grant will foster more migrant advocacy at Fordham. The approved grant cites a nascent national migra-
tion network led in collaboration with Boston College.
DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER
Candidates Zohran Mamdani, Scott Stringer and Whitney Tilson engaging in pleasant conversation before the forum began.
COURTESY OF CAREY KASTEN
Students joined Carey Kasten, associate professor of Spanish, on the GO! trip to the Mexican-Arizona border in January 2024 to visit migrant shelters.
Sports & Health
J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions
New York City’s most iconic squash tournament hosted at Grand Central Terminal
The anticipation of squash’s development was affirmed by John Nimick, the president of Squash Engine, the company that hosts the ToC. Before managing sports entertainment events, Nimick played squash in college and professionally, boasting a long-standing passion for the up-and-coming sport.
Nimick’s reflection on the changes in squash’s pace in the last ten years was emphasized by the repeated sound of the squash ball slamming against the court’s glass walls.
“The game has gotten quicker, it has gotten more offensive and it is more of a shot-making sport than it has ever been,” Nimick said. “Sometimes in the past, it was more attritional, now it’s all about playing offense on the court.”
Nimick credits this recent change of pace to the rise of professional Egyptian squash players and their respective methodologies.
“They (Egyptian squash players) play a brilliant all-court game that’s very fast and quick and offensive-minded which is fabulous. It makes the entertainment value way better,” Nimick said.
“ Fordham is right at the top of our list as a school that we think will really enjoy having a women’s varsity program.”
John Nimick, President of Squash Engine
The excellence of international players is not only shining in professional play. Fordham squash player Aarav Jhunjhunwala, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’25, highlighted the influx of international players of college squash in recent years.
“More and more programs are recognizing the talent of international student-athletes, giving players like me the opportunity to compete in Division I squash in the U.S.,” Jhunjhunwala wrote. “This has led to greater diversity in playing styles and strategies, making the game even more competitive and exciting.”
Squash’s high-stakes character was on full display at the ToC during the match between two young Egyptian female players, Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Amina Orfi, who are ranked 12th and seventh in the world, respectively. The two players tightly danced around each other to slam the ball out of the court’s left corner. Aboelkheir verbally argued against controversial calls, and Orfi touched the side wall before each serve — a seemingly superstitious habit.
While discussing the match, Gregoire Marche of France, ranked 29th in the world, walked past Nimick. Marche won the first match of the ToC, upsetting the sixth-ranked player in the world, Karim Abdel Gawad of Egypt.
After a bit of congratulation, Nimick spoke about which nations to look out for in squash’s debut at the 2028
Olympics, noticing that Egypt seemed to produce many high-ranking players.
“The way players are going to get admitted into the Olympic Games isn’t by the straight world rankings,” Nimick said.
In other words, to qualify for LA 2028, players must place first or second in their native country’s squash rankings as, ideally, multiple countries are represented in Olympic-level competition. Apparently, future global rankings disruptions, like that of Marche to Abdel Gawad, are to be expected in the 2028 games due to the Olympics’ internationally inclusive recruitment process.
Nimick’s excitement for squash’s debut in the Olympics is shared by Fordham’s own squash team.
“Our team is thrilled that squash is finally being added to the 2028 Olympics…..it’s long overdue,” Jhunjunwala wrote.
“This milestone will expand the sport’s global reach and provide well-deserved recognition for the athletes who have dedicated themselves to it.”
Although Vanderbilt Hall’s glass court is typically reserved for professionals participating in the ToC, the tournament partnered with the College Squash Association (CSA) to host the 2025 CSA Individual Championships’ semifinal and final matches.
Nimick stated that the CSA’s final championship matches aligned with a gap in the ToC’s court time, offering the perfect opportunity to host up-and-coming college athletes.
“As the Tournament of Champions winds down, we open up more time on the glass court, so we could accommodate the semis and finals of the CSA individuals here on Monday and Tuesday,” Nimick said.
Nimick unveiled his and his company’s mission efforts surrounding college squash, pushing to bring a Division I women’s program to Fordham.
“We’re trying to raise awareness for college squash, grow the number of varsity programs, and, most importantly, we are trying to get Fordham to change its women’s club program to varsity,” Nimick said. “Fordham is right at the top of our list as a school that we think will really enjoy having a women’s varsity program.”
Lilian Kinnan, GSBRH ’25, the captain of the Fordham Women’s Club Squash team, has seen the growth of women’s squash firsthand. During her time at Fordham, she has seen the growth in interest from the student body. Along with support from their donor, Patrick Yuen, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’74 and the team’s new coach, Will Pantel, FCRH ’19.
“After COVID, the team was super small and there wasn’t a coach, but in recent years interest has grown a lot,” Kinnan said. “We had 50 girls try out for 10 spots on the team, so we had to make some cuts, which I hated doing, but we had to just because of court space. So, there’s definitely a lot more interest in squash as a sport.”
The ToC encapsulates squash’s increasing presence as a beloved sport and fandom worldwide — an Olympic-level growth occurring in places as recognizable as Grand Central and even on Fordham’s campus.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE J.P. MORGAN TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Amanda Sobhy won a five-game match on opening day of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions on Jan. 23.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE J.P. MORGAN TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS Tournament of Champions’ glass squash court in the middle of Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE J.P. MORGAN TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
France’s Gregoire Marche dives for the ball during his match-up against Egypt’s Karim Abdel Gawad.
Rams Edge Out Duquesne in Home Victory
Fordham men’s basketball secures first Atlantic 10 win despite Head Coach Urgo’s suspension
WINSON ZHENG AND CHARLIE KUSTER
Staff Writer and Fact-Checker
On Jan. 26, the Fordham Rams withstood the Duquesne University Dukes in a nail-biting home game at the historic Rose Hill Gymnasium with a final score of 65-63. The hard-fought Atlantic 10 (A10) victory marks a significant milestone for the Rams, who are currently without Head Coach Keith Urgo for the second consecutive game.
Urgo, serving a four-game suspension due to an ongoing NCAA investigation into potential recruitment violations, remains sidelined as Associate Head Coach Tray Woodall leads the team in his interim role.Woodall steered the Rams as they defended their home court against the Duquesne Dukes.
The Rams started out slow with their first bucket almost three minutes into the game when guard Jackie Johnson III, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’25, made a 3-pointer. However, the Rams struggled to make any baskets, with only 5 points ten minutes into the first half. After a brief timeout, The Rams began to regain composure as guard Johnson was fouled on a 3-point shot and made all three free throws, bringing the score to 17-16 with roughly six minutes left in the first half. The intensity ramped up as both teams exchanged baskets, culminating in a 29-28 Rams lead. With less than nine seconds remaining in the first half, David Dixson, Duquesne ’26, sank a clutch fadeaway, giving the Dukes a 1-point lead at halftime, 30-29.
The Rams started off strong in the second half with two quick layups, taking a 33-30 advantage.
Fordham’s effort on the boards proved pivotal, as they dominated the rebounding battle with 41 total rebounds compared to Duquesne’s 27, including 16 offensive rebounds that fueled their scoring opportunities.
Despite Duquesne’s late push that gave the Dukes a 63-62 lead with under two minutes left, the Rams maintained their composure. With just 23.9 seconds remaining, forward Joshua Rivera, FCRH ’26, delivered the game-winning 3-point shot, securing a dramatic 65-63 victory for Fordham.
Leading players of the game
included Rivera, who led the Rams with 16 points; Guard Japhet Medor, Gabelli Graduate School of Business (GGSB) ’25, with 14 points and seven assists; Romad Dean, FCRH ’26, with 12 points; and Johnson, with 10 points. Despite the win, the Rams continued to struggle with their shooting efficiency, finishing the game at 39.2% from the field and 22.7% from beyond the arc. However, their dominance on the boards and timely scoring off of turnovers helped them overcome their shooting challenges.
In the postgame press conference, Woodall highlighted the team’s defensive strategy.
“Our biggest thing was just trying to play solid, allowing the offense to make mistakes and contesting shots, as we call it, ‘tagging and warring,’ to get an opportunity to finish possessions with a rebound,” Woodall said.
The win against Duquesne marks Fordham’s first A10 victory of the season. The win underscores the team’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure despite coaching uncertainties.
Fans can take heart from the
Dangerously Dainty
Exploring the risks posed by the explosive rise of Ozempic
Rams’ ability to secure a close win through teamwork and determination, signaling a promising path forward for the team as they navigate both on-court challenges and off-court obstacles.
On Jan. 29, the Rams earned their second A10 win after defeating La Salle University 88-72, improving to 10-11 overall.
On Feb. 1, the Rams fell short to St. Bonaventure University on the road in a tight game of 74-72.
Urgo will return to the sideline for the Ram’s matchup against the University of Rhode Island on Feb. 5.
By TUCKER FLYNN Asst. Opinions Editor
In a time when influencers and their powers of persuasion reign supreme, it stands to reason that they might also shape people’s attitudes toward weight and body image. As such, the dramatic trend of massive weight loss has prompted widespread speculation as to how exactly celebrities are achieving profound body transformations in time frames that seem to defy the narrative of diet and exercise.
Their supposed secret? Ozempic! Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which makes it a member of the class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). The semaglutide mimics the hormone known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and works to lower blood sugar, control gastric emptying and promote weight loss.
Although Ozempic was originally marketed as a method of treatment for type 2 diabetes, it has since become a household name because of its assistance in weight loss. Despite the release of other GLP-1 RAs like Wegovy, which has an adjusted dosage to specifically emphasize the weight-shedding potential of semaglutide, Ozempic remains the primary household name for this new class of weight loss-focused pharmaceuticals.
An efficient supplement which works to improve the health of those with a high body mass index does seem like a potential boon. Furthermore, in a time where cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the
United States and claims someone’s life every 33 seconds, it seems all the more timely. However, Ozempic’s rise into the public eye is triggering some worrying side effects.
The most significant side effects of Ozempic listed on the pharmaceutical’s side effect page are not limited to stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and gallstones. In fact, its most devastating effects come from its insidious popularization of diet culture.
For those dealing with stubborn fat that negatively impacts their self-image, Ozempic seems like an ideal solution. What could go wrong? A lot, apparently.
Experts interviewed and cited in the health platform Healthline are already warning that the
rise of Ozempic into the public eye could potentially increase the prevalence of eating disorders. 28.8 million people in the U.S. are currently estimated to suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lifetime. Anorexia nervosa, a prevalent iteration of this particular family of diseases, has the “highest case mortality rate and second-highest crude mortality rate of any mental illness,” according to the non-profit the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. A likely trigger for anyone who has already experienced or is vulnerable to suffering from an eating disorder is any discussion of weight, even if it seems innocuous.
Celebrities, who already dominate dinnertime conversation in
many households, now draw an unprecedented number of eyes to these novel medications. Conversations about weight and weight loss are likely to become more and more commonplace and, as a result, exacerbate the risk of relapse or development of an eating disorder. Beyond the potential for a mental health crisis, Ozempic is also causing problems because of the effort by many to capitalize on its popularity for weight loss by selling unregulated and potentially extremely dangerous supplements, injections or lifestyles that are meant to mimic the weight loss that incidentally occurs with regular use.
Although it may not be dangerous, a prominent example of this
is Kourtney Kardashian’s LEMME GLP-1 Daily Capsules, which notably do not require Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. Although they do not contain semaglutide, they are strategically named to evoke associations with Ozempic and draw customers who are unable to access the FDA-approved and demonstrably effective medications that are rigorously tested for safety.
The placing of abnormally thin body types on a pedestal seems akin to the heroin-chic diet culture of the early 2000s. Both phenomena disregard the same truth that influencers, pharmaceutical companies and non-FDA approved supplement companies ignore in pursuit of profits.
Weight is primarily a genetically-determined characteristic. In fact, Harvard Health estimates that in many cases, the genetic influence on weight can be as high as 70% or 80%. In other words, many people will likely be unable to lose all the weight they want to, even if they institute effective and rigorous diet and exercise regimens.
This fact is crucial to remember, especially when the average person cannot access the internet without witnessing some headline focused on the dramatic weight transformation of some public figure.
Despite what societal and cultural standards might try and suggest to you, your weight is essentially out of your control, and the propagation of Ozempic only exacerbates the risk of compromising health in pursuit of beauty standards that are pharmaceutically and surgically enhanced to begin with.
Junior guard Romand Dean drives the ball into the net against the Duquesne Dukes.
AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER Injector pens for Zepbound, an alternative GLP-1 RA medication to Ozempic.
These Rams Ride Free
Evasion skyrocketed in New York after the pandemic, but Fordham students wonder if enforcement is the best solution
By BRIANNA KARLA SANCHEZ
Contributing Writer
One day, during high school, a current Fordham student was running late for the bus.
“I didn’t have time to get the MetroCard out of my bag,” the Queens native, a senior, said.
Up against the clock, the teen resorted to quick thinking, having to figure out how she was going to get to class on time. She had two options: to search for her card, insert it into the One Metro New York (OMNY) vending machine and wait for her ticket to print, or skip paying the fare and hop on the bus.
“I just ran on through the back,” she said.
This sort of thing has become normal in New York City. Recently, however, it dipped. In an announcement on Jan. 30, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul declared that fare evasion had decreased by 26% in the past six months. Hochul is right — fare evasion is down. However, evasion levels are still incredibly high compared to pre-pandemic statistics.
City leadership announced along with Hochul that tighter enforcement is the deterrence of choice. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that she hopes to ensure her officers “will continue to patrol every station and overnight train to ensure that crime continues to decrease across our transit system.”
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO (MTA) Janno Lieber announ-
ced that the “strategy has been to publicize the seriousness of the problem, to put in place stronger physical barriers, and to make sure there’s plenty of enforcement.”
The MTA lost nearly $700 million due to fare and toll evasion in 2022.
According to a 2023 MTA report
“Our work is far from over,” Hochul said in the announcement, “and we’ll continue to crack down on fare evasion this year through strong enforcement and new measures coming to subway turnstiles.”
Hochul, the MTA and the NYPD are centering their attention on an increased deployment of gate guards and officers.
In 2022, the MTA was in the midst of a crisis. Performance metrics on the MTA website show that fare evasion had jumped significantly since the pandemic. At that time, the MTA’s Blue-Ribbon Panel examined fare evasion and concluded that it showed “no signs of dropping.” According to that panel’s report in 2023, the MTA lost “nearly $700 million.” That panel’s findings are part of Hochul’s justification for the increased enforcement efforts.
These efforts only partially combat the issue of fare and toll evasion. The panel’s
final conclusions found that at least four different areas need to be addressed simultaneously — in addition to enforcement and environmental changes, more equitable pricing and rigorous education should be targeted. The panel also identified five different reasons for fare evasion. And for the New York residents who understand this variety intimately, their solutions often range beyond just one strategy.
Student Evasion
When the panel produced its report, a “student evader” was a young rider who evaded the fare either because of their MetroCard restrictions or by developing an “it’s free anyway” mentality.
In the past, students from grades K-12 who live at least a half mile from their school were eligible for student MetroCards. Those cards provided them with three free rides on weekdays between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. However, if a student had extracurricular activities or jobs after school that required them to take more than three rides a day — or use MTA transit before or after the card’s limited hours — they would have to pay themselves.
The MTA updated the free student program in 2024, issuing new OMNY Cards that provided students with four free rides every day of the week and at any time of day. Although students are now supplied with an additional free ride, there are still situations where they may need an extra
ride for their commute. In these cases, students may view evasion as an alternative to paying.
Now a Fordham senior, the Queens native was one of those students who, at one time, adopted a fare-evader mindset. She said it was nerve-wracking, but maintained a sense of security whenever she evaded.
“I had the confidence that if I was caught, I was able to show my high school ID and say, ‘I would’ve had a free ride anyway,’” she said.
Bus fare evasion was and is still prevalent. In 2022, the panel reported that, “about 700,000 bus riders do not pay the fare on an average weekday.” The MTA’s performance metrics show that bus fare evasion is even higher nowadays than it was a few years ago.
And for that student, one solution seems to be lowering prices.
“I hope that they do the work for New Yorkers so that things can be more affordable,” she said. “We are a city of survivors, we are a city of hard workers.”
Determined Evasion
In their report, the panel also said that a “determined evader” was one who persistently did not pay “regardless of subsidies, educational messages or other nudges.”
Another Fordham first-year student once fit the profile of this type of evader.
“I only don’t evade the fare if there’s a cop around,” he explained. “I never feel the need to pay, because whenever an MTA employee is there, they’re not going to stop you most of the time or any of the time. So basically every time, I evade.”
“I
would probably not bother jumping if it was like $1.50.”
He said public transportation in New York City is significantly different from that in his home city.
“I’m not used to having to pay $3 for one stop or 20 stops because back in Hong Kong, it’s a distance-based thing or depending on how long you travel,” the first-year said.
“I guess I’m spoiled by Hong Kong because it’s said to be one of the cleanest and most efficient metro systems in the world. I don’t have to wait more than two minutes before any train arrives anywhere,” he added. “Here in New York, it just seems a lot more dangerous and inconvenient.”
He also said that a lower price might be an effective deterrent.
“I would probably not bother jumping if it was like $1.50, and also make the trains
run on time. That’d be great as well,” he said.
Opportunistic Evasion
The panel describes riders who approach the turnstiles with their MetroCard in hand, conveying an intent to pay, but then use the emergency exit instead, as “opportunistic evaders.”
This description matches the experience of another Fordham first-year.
“It’s just as simple as that. I just don’t want to,” she said, “I don’t want to tap my card if it’s open and it’s free. I mean, I don’t necessarily mind paying, since it’s only $2.90. It’s not like it’s anything crazy.”
She said that there would be “no way I would pay for it every single time.”
Subway fare evasion sometimes reflects a sense of solidarity, with strangers opening the emergency exit door to help others get through without paying.
“At the Fordham Road station, there’s a homeless man that lives there and he always holds the door open, the emergency exit door. It just doesn’t ring and there’s no officer,” the student said.
“$2.90 isn’t high. But when you’re commuting back and forth twice a day, and you have to take multiple trains and buses, it does add up quickly. ”
The man continued to get in the student’s face and threatened to fight him.
As intense as this interaction appeared, the sophomore said, “he was all bark and no bite.”
According to him, an MTA worker spoke up, and the man left him alone.
This student’s experience could have led him to frustratedly evade the fare. No form of vandalism was present in his story, but it provides insight into how riders are susceptible to encountering such inhibiting situations on their commutes.
For this Fordham student, however, cheaper rides do seem to be a potential solution for fare evasion. “Maybe don’t make it $3 to ride the subway,” she said. “The higher the price, the more people aren’t going to pay it.”
Economically-stressed Evasion
The “economically stressed evader” is simply an individual who cannot afford to pay the fare when riding the MTA and dodges the payment as a result.
One graduate student at the Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center said that the high pricing and paying every time is taxing.
“$2.90 isn’t high. But when you’re commuting back and forth twice a day, and you have to take multiple trains and buses, it does add up quickly,” she said. As a result, whenever she has to “take the second bus on this two-hour commute, I’m like, ‘I don’t really want to pull out my MetroCard.’”
Frustrated Evasion
Finally, the panel refers to a “frustrated evader” as someone who is willing, but is for some reason unable, to pay properly.
One Fordham sophomore has seen times when paying the fare becomes near impossible. One day, as he was heading home, a man blocked the turnstiles on his way into the system.
“Open the door for me,” he recalled the man saying.
But when the student refused, the man got in his face, demanding he pay. The man proceeded to square up, attempting to intimidate the student. The student, not backing down, pushed the man away.
For the sophomore, price reduction seems like an impossible option. “I know that’s not going to happen,” he said. And so, he posited, the current level of police presence might be a reasonable solution — but in a roundabout way.
He said he wants the police already in the stations “to actually be focused on protecting commuters, having their eyes open for any suspicious activity, cleaner subways, cleaner stations — really basic stuff that we don’t just get sometimes. Just the bare minimum is all I’m really asking for a commute ride,” the student said.
In a way, some police presence may make the system safer, thus convincing evaders that the ride is actually worth paying for.
Future Evasion
The MTA recently approved its 2025 financial plan with reports of fare prices rising once again. New Yorkers across the boroughs are facing higher prices in their daily commute. The congestion pricing plan recently went into effect on Jan. 5. It charges a toll when entering all streets at or below 60th Street in Manhattan, also called the Congestion Relief Zone. Drivers and motorcyclists are now tolled between $1.25 and $9.00, depending on the time of day and size of their vehicle.
“It’d be impossible to be a New Yorker and not evade a fare once.”
ry funds and provide the capital to improve New York City’s public transportation system — making it a beloved and speedy commuter workhorse. Alternatively, they might drive more riders to attempt fare evasion. Whether following the economically stressed evader reasoning or others, Fordham students of all stripes cited high prices as a hindrance to their travel.
Fare evasion is a collective problem. As the MTA’s panel wrote, “evasion hurts everyone – and it will take everyone working together to fix it,” and New York leadership has indeed taken strides to ameliorate it.
evasion tactics at the turnstiles to create stronger, more resilient barriers against fare evasion,” the governor’s office wrote in its announcement on Jan. 30. Though Fordham students emphasized what the expert panel concluded themselves — that the solution cannot simply be deterrence by police or making better turnstiles, but a multi-faceted approach.
It would be “impossible to be a New Yorker and not evade a fare once,” the Queens native said.
But these rising prices could break in a myriad of ways. They could bring necessa-
“The MTA has made steps to tackle
With higher prices on the horizon, whether this mentality will always be the case remains to be seen.
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
New Yorkers are facing higher transportation prices across the board: MTA fare prices are on the rise according to the organization’s 2025 financial plan; The new Congestion Pricing Plan institutes new tolls for entering midtown and downtown Manhattan.
Fordham Graduate Student at the Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center
Fordham Senior, from Queens
KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
Fordham students attend a school in a city where fare evasion has become commonplace. But those who often hop the turnstiles say that lower prices is the way to get them to pay.
Opinions
Classroom Escapism
A call for students to be better in our classrooms
VENUS O’NEILL WEBER Contributing Writer
There is a clear and provocative issue plaguing university classrooms. It seems almost naturalized; a universal element of the academic ecosystem seemingly unaware of its existence. The truth is apparent: many students are not learning and do not seem to care to.
When I walk into a classroom, I am faced with a wall of screens. This in itself is not a problem; many excellent learners take digital notes and do well — I often participate in digital note-taking myself. But I have found that when I situate myself in the back of a classroom, I do not see note-taking on many screens. Instead, I see a plethora of online shopping, AI writing essays for other classes and New York Times games. Too many university students treat their time in the classroom as a sentence to be served; educational enrichment is seemingly an afterthought.
While there are other physical costs of classroom disaffection, more important to me are the moral consequences, one being a total denigration of the classroom ecosystem.
The naturalization of this phenomenon both affirms its existence and identifies its route to actualization. Computers, more commonplace than notebooks in university classrooms, are the arbiter of student disaffection and tandemly provide students with a medium of distraction. It is no new critique that technology in classrooms can distract students. That said, I believe it is significant to recognize that at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), technology does not seem to merely distract students, but actually shapes a mindset that impacts their educational outlook both inside and outside the classroom.
It is one thing to be prone to distraction or an occasional glance away. I can be found checking my email or text messages at times, although I am making an effort to ameliorate this. It is an entirely different habit to toil away an hour of class time looking for new clothes or curating a Pinterest board. The prior maintains the student’s overall place in the classroom, while the latter entirely removes them from the classroom environment in a grand act of escapism.
The critical distinction between mere distraction and escapism is based on mindset. The mindset is based on disaffection, which leads to a lack of care for their education and a general ambivalence towards educational structures.
This mindset, in turn, requires one to disregard both the practical and moral ramifications of classroom escapism. Perhaps the most compelling of the practical elements — that, in this mindset, is necessarily ignored — is the monetary cost. Within the per-credit rate for parttime students and a fixed rate for fulltime students, a single credit at FCLC is $2,100 for a part-time student, with tuition being $31,495 per semester for a full-time student. My interpretation of these figures for a full-time student is thus: if one goes to Philosophy 1000 — a three-credit class — twice a week and splits their time between online shopping and text messaging, they are spending more than $5,000 on curating a shopping cart and not learning anything.
While there are other physical costs of classroom disaffection, more important to me are the moral consequences, one being a total denigration of the
classroom ecosystem. Via general will, presence becomes optional; thus, participation and engagement face the same fate. The professor becomes a mere background buzzing, the final barrier to total displacement. Group work is individualized, and conversation is unthinkable. Readings, as real-world remnants of the pre-escapist classroom, become optional at best but more popularly irksome and treated as almost oppressive.
Perhaps due to online schooling during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the idea of the classroom as a primarily collaborative space seems to have vanished in favor of a perceived performer-audience dynamic. The professor is merely there to perform education to a smattering of non-collective students. Through the simple act of participating in classroom ignorance, disaffected students actively denigrate the long-held structure of the classroom that seeks to use participation and thought to enrich every person in the room.
The university experience is not meant to be easy, and it should not be skated through.
Why are we in this situation? The lingering effects of the COVID-19 quarantine are undoubtedly relevant and to be thoroughly analyzed in the future. However, specific to FCLC, I believe it is more prudent to analyze recent critiques and changing characters of the FCLC classroom in pursuit of a Fordham-specific explanation.
Recent critiques have identified an allegedly outdated (or at least in need of rehabilitation) core curriculum as an origin of perceived student disaffection. I believe that this is a misidentification and may even be interpreted as a result of a broader student apathy. While there are arguments for the rehabilitation of FCLC’s core, some of which hold merit, this issue of student apathy stretches far beyond the core classroom. Apathy of this sort is most apparent in universally required courses — particularly those that are deemed “too specialized” or “irrelevant,” such as philosophy and history classes — but it is evident in courses of varying levels and specialties.
From 2013 to 2023, FCLC student grades matched a trend of grade inflation in higher education, wherein students achieved higher marks for the same or comparatively worse work. Such treatment breeds the disaffection and apathy discussed. Why should students work hard if they can get the same grades with lesser quality work? If arguments for self-enrichment taught in
philosophy and English courses land on deaf ears, how can the student improve?
The dominance of technology unsurprisingly bolsters issues of disaffection and escapism. Not only can disaffected students get by, but they can actually tune the irksome drone of enrichment out in favor of the internet.
Identification of students uninspired by course content and capable of maintaining high GPAs without comparable effort paints a problem with a complicated solution. A certain level of responsibility falls to the university to raise academic standards in an attempt to invigorate the student body. Strict rules of this manner are not always effective — think of Fordham’s seemingly strict but actually malleable absence system. Professors cannot be expected to solve this problem alone; there is a plethora of engaging and highly intelligent professors at FCLC, all of whom have classrooms filled with absentees to some degree.
What then, can solve the problem of apathy and classroom escapism? The unfortunate truth is that the answer lies with students. Escapees must identify what breeds their disaffection for education and actively fight it. It may be an attention span diseased by TikTok or an over-reliance on AI fomenting subsequent insecurity in their own abilities. My most pessimistic worry is that classroom apathy is due to a lack of student appreciation for education — perhaps a misunderstanding of just how lucky one is to receive a university education at all. Regardless of the root cause, the burden falls on the student to take responsibility and prioritize their own education.
Learning is difficult, life is difficult. Breaking habits is difficult and so is building new ones. However, the university experience is not meant to be easy, and it should not be skated through. There has perhaps never been a more irresponsible time in history to neuter one’s own rational abilities. The consequences of apathy and disaffection have never been more clear. Breaking out of apathy is radical in a scape so intent on escapism. The simple act of situating oneself in the classroom on all levels of being bears an air of community — as escapism denigrates the classroom, presence enriches it.
Amidst all this blithering, what do I propose? Nothing more than a simple recentering: Use a notebook in class, do the readings and put away your phone. Go to the library, ask your professor questions and engage actively in class. Write your own essays, and ask the person in the seat next to you their name. Reject apathy, reject disaffection, reject escapism. Care about what you do, take responsibility for yourself, and through that, take responsibility for everyone.
Women are Degraded in Media
Over-sexualization does not necessarily equate to feminist liberation
MONA MUCHA Contributing Writer
Advancements in cinematography anticipate that new, uplifting themes in television will replace old and outdated ideas by 2025. Though progressive principles constitute a supposedly modern environment that combats gender inequality, it still seems as if somehow we are going back in time.
The narratives that involve men always “having their way” and holding power over women have recently resurfaced in film. Elements of misogyny are still intertwined with the plots of popular movies and TV shows today, and people should be more concerned.
Sexism In Theaters Now
“Babygirl” (2024), directed by Halina Reijn, is an erotic film that focuses on Romy Mathis (Nicole Kidman), a female CEO of a robotics company, and her sexdriven affair with her much younger intern, Samuel (Harris Dickinson) who ends up drastically improving Romy’s poor sex life.
Romy secretly holds the desire for a man to dominate her, and without being given any evidence as to why, Samuel instantly understands, telling Romy, “I think you like being told what to do.”
This dynamic is unrealistic and is a marketed fantasy meant to suggest that even powerful and educated women desire subjugation at the hands of men.
When patriarchal values repeatedly depict women as submissive creatures, there is no room for advancement in our society.
Samuel gives the impression that regardless of her influence and power, she will always want to be controlled by a man — a motif of underlying misogyny.
The comment marks the beginning of Romy’s infidelity and is one of many sexist nuances that can be interpreted in her relationship with Samuel. For instance, when he forces Romy to kneel down in their hotel room, he compares her to a dog, which greatly satisfies her. This analogy persists to the end of the film when Romy is having intercourse with her husband, and she imagines Samuel and his dog in order to feel pleased. Samuel orders milk to Romy’s table in one scene while she meets with clients and watches her drink it from afar. They encounter each other later, and he calls her a “good girl,” creating a distinct power dynamic between the two.
This dynamic is an unrealistic marketed fantasy meant to suggest that even powerful and educated women desire subjugation at the hands of men. Writer Elissa Suh from the blog MoviePudding describes the milk scene as a “contrived fetish” that seems to be “engineered for the film — or perhaps TikTok — rather than genuine expression.” The milk, she adds, is a “symbol of innocence and purity,” which Samuel gets a strange kick out of after watching Romy consume it.
Romy’s odd attraction to Samuel gives the impression that regardless of her influence and power, she will always want to be controlled by a man — a motif of underlying misogyny.
A one-star rating of “Babygirl” on IMDb referred to it as being an “example of the ‘pornification’ of modern media” and explained that it is a marketed piece of hypersexuality and toxic gender roles that people should “wake up” from. They also say the film is sexist by displaying an “outdated stereotype that paints older women as unhinged predators while glorifying the male gaze.” Romy’s odd attraction to
The Wolf vs. The Lamb “Nosferatu” (2024), directed by Robert Eggers, is another recent film that depicts a woman’s need to be controlled by a man. Lily Rose-Depp plays forlorn wife Ellen Hunter, who has a dark past of begging for a creature to please her on lonely days.
Misogyny and oversexualization in the media confuse young girls and boys about their gender roles in society and may cause them to act in dangerous and regressive ways.
Her wish overtakes her when her husband Thomas leaves for Transylvania to meet client Count Orlok, leaving her in the care of his trusted friends, Friedrich and Anna Harding. With her husband away, Ellen begins to have disturbing sexual visions about Orlok, which she is ashamed of, but aroused by. These feelings cause her to loathe and repress her emotions out of “sin.”
Eventually, Ellen is swayed by the idea of “belonging” to Count Orlok and pledges herself to him after he tells her to surrender to him in three nights or Thomas will be killed. In the Forbes article “The Sensual Horror Of ‘Nosferatu,’ Explained,” film writer Dani Di Placido describes Count Orlok as being a “manifestation of Ellen’s repressed sexual desires” and “the answer to Ellen’s desperate loneliness, the companion she doesn’t want to want.”
The idea that Ellen’s sexual inclinations somehow created a monster’s presence in her life that caused her infidelity has an undeniably sexist ring to it. It suggests that women’s repressed sexual feelings are negative and that they ruin their lives along with those of their loved ones. The same concept exists in “Babygirl,” where Romy endangers her career and family structure for Samuel.
“Nosferatu” is not the first modern horror movie to employ misogynistic stereotypes. The “Terrifier” series, directed by Damien Leone, demonstrates similar themes and revolves around Art the Clown, who targets and brutally kills young women. Mallory Moore, a writer on the blog platform Medium, explains in her review of the franchise titled “The Terrifier franchise is misogynist,” that the films consist of “fetishism for grisly visuals and pornographic storytelling.”
Art the Clown mutilates the women he chases and writes objectifying words about them with their blood, such as “sl--” and “wh---,” establishing harmful aspects about torturing young and innocent girls and sexist thoughts escalating into a killing spree.
Misogyny Disguised As Entertainment
Many modern TV shows loved by audiences today also present unhealthy depictions of a woman’s role in a relationship. A notorious example of a series like this is the globally adored “Love Island,” where people are able to find their “soulmates” while on an extravagant vacation. Many of the challenges the contestants have to complete are degrading.
Assistant Editor at Glamour Magazine Emily Maddick writes that “The Kissing Game,” where women are rated on their kissing skills by men, goes against “feminism” and “equality.” She further clarifies this outlook by claiming that women are put to “perform” to satisfy the men. Maddick also adds that the women are “being pitted against each other” to win over the men.
Other instances of women being playthings for men in reality TV are shown in classics like “Jersey Shore,” where Vinny describes the women he has been with in a lowly manner, and everyone calls Angelina a “wh---.”
The Audience of the Future
What we choose to popularize in the media nowadays not only affects us, but it can have a significant negative impact on children. Misogyny and over-sexualization in the media confuse young girls and boys about their gender roles in society and may cause them to act in dangerous and regressive ways.
Author Dr. Stephanie V. Ng of “Social Media and the Sexualization of Adolescent Girls” finds that the sexualization of women is “rewarded online” often by men,
yet women are shamed for exhibiting similar behavior in person, which facilitates “double standards that reinforce gender stereotypes.” She states that studies have shown these standards lead to “reduced cognitive abilities” and “worsened physical and mental health.” Dr. Ng adds that adolescent girls have admitted they would “compete” with their female friends online for “likes” and validation through “portraying themselves in sexual ways,” as society has made this behavior okay.
Misogyny is detrimental to the modern world, as it encourages dwelling in hatred and undermines the qualities an individual possesses based on sex.
We must give importance to the fact that female devaluation has been normalized in the world, even as an art form. Confronting the way in which the media often glorifies misogyny, and taking steps to educate people about its detrimental effects will help to make a difference.
Subjugation being glorified on film can influence people to dehumanize women to the point where they are stripped of their autonomy and fundamental human rights. If patriarchal values continue to dominate the public and display women as submissive creatures, there is no room for advancement in our society. Misogyny is detrimental to the modern world, as it encourages dwelling in hatred and undermines the qualities an individual possesses based on sex.
Both men and women benefit from tackling misogyny, as realizing its iniquity helps us to embrace one another’s attributes and cultivate positive relationships. More women would learn the importance of promoting self-worth and love in their lives. More men would develop a deeper respect for women’s strengths and would help in overcoming ideas of violence and objectification towards women rooted in toxic masculinity. There are men that adore women and want to see them soar, which people should be reminded of. By choosing not to expose ourselves to detrimental content, we are not being blinded or negatively affected by unrealistic gender stereotypes.
Let the People Decide
It’s time to challenge Hollywood’s old guard — the Oscars should be fan voted
ANDREA RIVAS Staff Writer
Every year, following the announcement of Oscar nominees, the term “Oscar snub” resurfaces. Social media bursts with discussion; numerous articles, comments and videos emerge regarding instances when an actor, director, film or other nominee is overlooked or excluded from Academy Award (Oscar) nominations despite widespread belief that they deserve recognition. Regular discussion of “snubs” highlights the academy’s failure to reflect the tastes and interests of the general public. Each year we witness lists of actors the public feels should have received nominations but were ultimately disregarded.
The disagreement between the academy and fans has persisted for years, often culminating in online discourse like the iconic “Leo deserves an Oscar” memes. The humor surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio and the Oscars became a running joke in the absurdity of his prolonged losing streak despite his consistent excellence as an actor. With five nominations and no wins, many negatively reacted to the academy’s seriousness in nominating DiCaprio while continually denying him the award.
A fan-voted system would be more relevant and engaging, as it would celebrate the movies and actors that captivated audiences that year.
It is for this very reason that the Oscars should be fan-voted. Currently, the awards reflect the preferences of a select group within the academy whose opinions the general public may not fully understand. When thousands of people rally behind a particular film for best picture but the academy’s choice differs, those voices go unheard, leaving a beloved film without the recognition it deserves. A fan-voted system would be more relevant and engaging, as it would celebrate the movies and actors that captivated audiences that year.
Audiences are the ones who purchase tickets to experience films at the cinema and invest in streaming services to enjoy endless hours of television and movies.
Box office sales, revenues and significant achievements result from audience engagement. Those emotionally invested in the films and performances should have the opportunity to decide who deserves to win.
The academy tends to reward films in the drama genre, often overlooking the
achievements of blockbusters and beloved franchises. This bias favors films about social issues and historical figures, undermining the accomplishments of movies in other genres that exemplify talented filmmaking, solid screenplays and talented casts. Rather than exclusively celebrating drama and tear-jerker films labeled as “artistic,” every genre deserves a fair opportunity to succeed.
In addition, there should be a category to honor sci-fi and action films, especially considering how “Avengers: Endgame” became the second highest-grossing film in film history. Fans eagerly purchased tickets weeks — even months — in advance to witness the conclusion of the Avengers saga on the big screen. Marvel continued this streak with “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” which grossed almost $2 billion.
When a film has a significant box office return, it’s because the people care about it. This trend means that the film, franchise and characters matter to audiences, and many series have loyal fans who come back to the movies for each film. For a director to make a film that people love and are excited to see is a marked accomplishment that should be honored.
Fans are increasingly interested in nominating more horror films for recognition. While a few titles such as “The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Exorcist” have received nominations, many films
within the genre remain overlooked.
Movies like “The Shining,” “Hereditary” and “Psycho,” as well as performances like Mia Goth’s in “Pearl,” are often left out despite their significant cultural impact and critical acclaim.” The horror genre boasts a committed fanbase; audiences enjoy the thrill of being spooked and appreciate the artistry of horror cinema. However, the academy has historically failed to recognize these contributions. It was not until 2024 that the Golden Globes chose to acknowledge significant box office achievements. They introduced a new category called the Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, aimed at honoring the films most popular with audiences. The first award recipient was “Barbie.” The new addition was a positive step toward acknowledging and rewarding the films that captivated audiences each year.
While there may be disagreements among fans, the majority opinion often wins in life — a principle that should also be evident during award season.
However, notable instances of perceived injustice still need to be addressed. In 2023, “Barbie” generated significant buzz and became the highest-grossing film of the year, with fans worldwide flocking to theaters adorned in pink and sparkles. Yet when it came to nominations, Margot Robbie, who starred as Barbie and director Greta Gerwig were overlooked — while Ryan Gosling received a nomination for his role as Ken. Many critics and fans voiced their discontent with this decision, viewing it as reflective of the narrative in “Barbie,” where men often eclipse women in recognition.
This ironic oversight is particularly striking, especially within a category explicitly designed to celebrate audience favorites. It underscores the disconnect between the academy and the very audience it seeks to represent, demonstrating that even when tasked with reflecting popular opinion, their biases continue to wield a significant influence, ultimately distorting the process.
Although the Golden Globes have begun recognizing blockbuster films, the academy remains hesitant to honor popular movies. This reluctance is highlighted by an initiative in 2018 when the academy announced a new category called
Outstanding Achievement in Popular Film. This proposed award aimed to celebrate films that resonate with audiences. Still, the academy decided not to introduce it at the 91st Academy Awards.
The Oscar categories should also encompass a more diverse range of genres. For instance, at this year’s Golden Globes, Demi Moore and Cynthia Erivo were nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. Erivo was nominated for her role as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the film adaptation of “Wicked,” a profound musical based on a beloved Broadway show. In contrast, Moore was nominated for her performance in “The Substance,” a film that addresses themes of womanhood and aging in Hollywood, challenging societal expectations for women over 40. This film is strikingly grotesque, bloody and disturbing, starkly contrasting to “Wicked.” While both performances were extraordinary and deserving of recognition, the limitations of the categories diminish the merit of the award and prevent talented actors from being adequately recognized for their contributions.
All this being said, the filmmaking and entertainment industry is a subjective realm. At the heart of Hollywood exists a world shaped by personal interpretation. In this space, films offer audiences a form of escapism. Over the course of roughly two hours, they tell stories that captivate viewers, educate and inform, evoke laughter or tears, and hold unique meanings for each individual. While there may be disagreements among fans, the majority opinion often wins in life — a principle that should also be evident during award season.
Awards represent much more than mere trophies on shelves; they symbolize moments of recognition and the visual embodiment of a successful conclusion to a great idea. In this world, endless possibilities and stories await exploration, and they deserve to be honored and respected not just by critics or award panels but by those who appreciate and interpret them, allowing these narratives to enrich their lives.
As a passionate movie lover, I have always been captivated by the world of filmmaking. Movies resonate deeply with me; I often find myself connecting with fictional characters more profoundly than with some people in real life. I have experienced joy and sadness through stories on screen, and I carry these narratives long after the credits roll. Nicole Kidman once said, “Somehow, heartbreak feels good in a place like this (the movies),” and many people would agree. As the audience, we deserve the opportunity to choose the Oscar winners as we continue to engage with and appreciate the stories that resonate with us.
CARLOS DAVID GOMEZ VIA WIKIMEDIA
With a fan-voted system, the most popular movies and TV shows would be the most decorated during awards season,
GRAPHIC BY AURELIEN CLAVAUD/THE OBSERVER
A fan-voting system for the Oscars would be more relevant and engaging, as it would better celebrate the movies and actors that captivate audiences.
Arts & Culture
This Year’s Winterfest Starred Queer Theory, Ms. Worldwide and Ashe
The event brought good music, joy and community to Lincoln Center – all for the price of a cup of coffee
With hits like “Red Wine Supernova” by Chappell Roan and “Bags” by Clairo, Queer Theory had everyone singing along, and with “You and I” by Lady Gaga and “Right Through You” by Alanis Morissette, they gave us new songs to add to our playlists. Their set primed the audience and served as a great start to the night.
Next onstage was DJ Ms. Worldwide (the stage name of Jemima Monga, Gabelli School of Business ’25). She seamlessly mashed up all the best parts of hit songs — as any good DJ would — including my favorite part of “TV Off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)” by Kendrick Lamar, where he just yells the word “Mustard.” She threw in the bridge of “Bad Idea” by girl in red (for the gays). During a Nicki Minaj song, she held up an American flag with Nicki Minaj saluting in red, white and blue, and the crowd went wild with patriotism. It was beautiful.
By 8:00 PM, it was finally time for Ashe to take the stage. The singer stormed on stage barefoot in a blue velvet jumpsuit and black sunglasses.
The singer stormed onstage barefoot in a blue velvet jumpsuit and black sunglasses.
From her look alone, the audience grew energized and excited about the prospect of her performance. Her voice had a little rasp and a lot of power, and her band of four members matched
her energy beautifully. Most audience members knew her from her hit song “Moral of the Story,” the last song of the night, yet most audience members left with much more than one song to listen to.
Much of her discography is reflective of past relationships with songs like “Cherry Trees” and “Dear Stranger” from her recent album, “Wilson.” “Moral of the Story” and “Save Myself,” from her earlier album, “Ashlyn,” have the same quality. Her music encompasses countless topics, such as love, grief and the effort required to heal.
Her music encompasses countless topics, such as love, grief and the effort required to heal.
Her music is also reminiscent of summery Los Angeles, evoked in her songs “Pushing Daisies,” featuring Suki Waterhouse; “Till Forever Falls Apart,” which she performs with Finneas; and “Another Man’s Jeans” off of her album “Rae,” which is one of my personal favorites.
The crowd was dancing along the whole time, whether they knew the songs or not, although they often did. To cater to new fans who didn’t know her music very well, she performed two covers: the second halves of Gracie Abrams’ “I Love You, I’m Sorry” and Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.” If anyone was not scream-singing before, they definitely were by then. Winterfest 2025 was a successful celebration of music both on and off campus.
PHOTOS BY DURGA DESAI/THE OBSERVER
The first opener, rock cover band Queer Theory, performed iconic songs for their set, including “Red Wine Supernova” by Chappel Roan.
Winterfest audience members line up at the barricade, ready for the show.
The Nashville-based singer will begin her national tour later this year.
Winterfest, Campus Activity Board’s annual concert, was hosted in Pope Auditorium on Jan. 31.
DJ Ms. Worldwide captivated the Winterfest audience with her dynamic set.
A Recap of Music’s Biggest Night
The 2025 Grammys was a night of many honors and firsts for both individual artists and history
By SANIYAH HICKS Staff Writer
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards aired live Sunday night from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Hosted by comedian and former host of “The Daily Show,” Trevor Noah, this year’s ceremony was reimagined with an emphasis on relief for the southern California wildfires of last month. The spectacle opened up with a heartfelt tribute to Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.,” as covered by John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, St. Vincent, Brittany Howard and Dawes.
The multifaceted Beyoncé walked home with the ceremony’s highest honor, Album of the Year, for “Cowboy Carter,” making her the first Black woman to achieve so this century and during Black History Month. She made history earlier in the show by becoming the first Black artist ever to win Best Country Album with “Cowboy Carter.” She also picked up the Best Country Duo or Group Performance award for “II Most Wanted” alongside Miley Cyrus, extending her record as the artist with the most career Grammy wins and bringing her total to 35 trophies.
During the premiere ceremony, which aired before the live show, 85 awards were passed out, including “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar — who won Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Music Video. During the main telecast, he snagged up the awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, in which he was welcomed onstage with the crowd rapping along to the lyrics upon his acceptance.
The night’s first televised award was Best Rap Album, which went to first-time-winner Doechii for “Alligator Bites Never
Heal;” the award also made her the third woman ever to accomplish the feat. Later on, she also delivered a sickening performance of “Catfish” and “Denial is a River,” featuring an army of uniformed dancers and intricate choreography.
Pop darlings Billie Eilish and Sabrina Carpenter were some of the first performances of the night, with the former performing the bittersweet hit “Birds of a Feather,” and the latter with the infectious “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” Carpenter became a first-time winner, walking home with Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance. Chappell Roan took to the stage with her breakthrough hit “Pink Pony Club,” filled with a rose-tinted set featuring cowboy clowns, cactuses and an inflatable toy horse. She also picked up the Best New Artist award, as presented by previous winner Victoria Monét. Her speech advocated
for livable wages for artists and prioritizing their health, both mental and physical.
Best New Artist nominees Benson Boone, Teddy Swims and Shaboozey also performed their smash hits “Beautiful Things,” “Lose Control” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” respectively. Raye also performed “Oscar Winning Tears,” with visual and sonic inspiration stringing from old school jazz.
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars also performed a touching cover of The Mamas & The Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” honoring the resilience of Los Angeles. The duo also won Best Pop Duo or Group Performance for their Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper, “Die With a Smile.”
Gaga also gave an emotional speech, declaring, “Trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserves to be lifted up.”
Upon teasing a “surprise performance,” The Recording
Academy’s CEO Harvey Mason, Jr. introduced The Weeknd, apologizing for snubbing the artist in the past and highlighting the organization’s commitment to change, diversity and inclusion. The global superstar followed up with a performance of “Cry For Me” and “Timeless,” featuring Playboi Carti, who joined him on stage.
Following her win for Best Latin Pop Album for “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” Shakira “thank(ed) (her) immigrant brothers and sisters.” She also performed a medley of hits later on in the program, including “Ojos Así” and “Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
The show also featured a star-studded tribute honoring the late great Quincy Jones, with an introduction by Will Smith. Cynthia Erivo performed “Fly Me to the Moon,” along with musical legend Stevie Wonder performing “Bluesette” on the harmonica. Herbie Hancock, Lainey Wilson
and Jacob Collier also honored the quintessential songwriter and producer. As part of the segment, Janelle Monáe sang a magical, groovy cover of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” one of the most notable hits Jones penned.
Presented by Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys was awarded with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
“This is not the time to shut down the diversity of voices,” Keys said during her acceptance speech. She continued by stating that “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift.”
The superstar also won Best Musical Theater Album for her contribution as producer, composer and lyricist in the hit Broadway play, “Hell’s Kitchen.”
Coldplay’s Chris Martin paid tribute to those who passed away in the music industry within the past year during the In Memoriam section. Notable losses included Jones, Kris Kristofferson, Tito Jackson and Frankie Beverly, while the Coldplay frontman performed “All My Love.”
Miss “Brat” summer herself, Charli XCX, closed out the award show, bringing the club to the Grammys with “Von dutch” and “Guess,” featuring appearances by The Dare, Alex Consani and Julia Fox. Her awards for the night included Best Dance Pop Recording, Best Dance or Electronic Album and Best Recording Package.
The Grammys never fail to turn to entertain with their annual spectacle, even during times of crisis. With online and offline chatter, the show has undeniably produced yet another historical year, highlighting some of the greatest music of the past eligibility cycle. It is a reminder that entertainment is a medium that formulates community.
Severance Season 2 Blurs Dystopia with Reality
In the long-awaited premier of the series’s second season, viewers find more questions than answers
By HANNAH SMOKLER Contributing Writer
After almost three years of waiting, Apple TV+’s hit series “Severance” returned for its second season on Jan. 17. Following the premiere of its first season in February 2022, the series, created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller, was immediately a critical darling and a hit among viewers.
“Severance” takes the idea of “work-life balance” literally. Lumon Industries employee Mark Scout (Adam Scott) and his coworkers have undergone a procedure colloquially known as “severance,” which splits a person’s mind and memories into two different personalities: a work self (their “innie”) and a personal life or home self (their “outie”). Nothing seems amiss until Mark’s two selves start to overlap and bleed together, setting off a chain of events that causes him to start questioning the same thing every viewer wants to know: What is Lumon up to?
Season one ended on quite the cliffhanger, and after a nearly three-year wait, delayed due to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, the excitement for the second season was palpable. The season has received rave reviews and seems to be keeping up the tension of last season’s finale.
“Severance” is more than
just a typical mystery-box show. Despite the gripping plot, it is undoubtedly a character-driven story. The character study is unexpectedly compelling, delving into the characters’ grief, love, familial relationships and more. Perhaps even more impressive is how the writers juggle each “severed” worker as essentially two different characters. Other standout characters include floor supervisor Mr. Milchick (Tramell Tillman) and the head of Lumon’s severed floor Ms. Cobel (Patricia Arquette). In theory, watching a two-minute long shot of Adam
Scott running through a series of blank hallways should be dreadfully dull, but the “Severance” team manages to make it simultaneously exciting and anxiety-inducing. This season has a notable opener that focuses on the innies following the events of the season one finale. The second episode is slightly less intense, and gives viewers the outies’ perspectives of episode one’s events. As the season progresses, the show answers a few questions from the first season but raises even more, continuing the slowburn mystery.
Between the first and second
seasons, the show has amassed a huge online following. Fanart, memes and analysis abound, but given the mysterious nature of the show, it’s no surprise that wild fan theories are by far the most popular content. There are countless YouTube videos, Reddit threads and more, discussing everything from the meaning of the numbers that Mark and the rest of the Macrodata Refinement department spend their days sorting to who makes up the mysterious company “Board.” “Severance” has achieved a level of discussion and theorization hearkening back to the early days of “Lost” (a significant source of inspiration for the show) that few new shows achieve nowadays. While season one was released with minimal fanfare, the massive popularity boom had the Apple TV+ advertising team pulling out all the stops. The season two press tour made its mark in New York City on Jan. 14 with a pop-up at Grand Central, featuring several members of the cast in a glass box with a recreation of the characters’ office space. The setup was available again for viewing the next day with “generic” actors, drawing a large crowd of die-hard fans and curious commuters. If watching people inside a glass box pretend to work sounds a bit dystopian it fits the tone of “Severance” perfectly and raises similar questions as the show — mainly on topics of work-life balance and surveillance.
Even as season two veers a bit more into the absurd, the series is so chilling that, while “Severance” is fictional, the themes remain all too real and unsettling. Unethical work environments, constant surveillance, religious devotion to corporations and worker exploitation are not just fixtures of dystopia — these issues are a reality that “Severance” reflects, which is precisely what makes it so terrifying and so relevant. The new “Severance” season two episodes air every Friday on Apple TV+. And remember, in proper Lumon fashion, please try to enjoy each episode equally.
GRAPHIC BY DURGA DESAI AND GRACE SANTOLI/THE OBSERVER
Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar are among some of the awardees at the 67th annual award show.
The critically acclaimed Apple TV+ series “Severance” returns after amassing a large following online between its first and second seasons.
Alvin Ailey Sees Art in You
‘Edges of Ailey’ exhibition at the Whitney Museum brings visitors face-to-face with an icon
By LOLA CRAVATH
Former Features Editor
Legacy, reach and representation are the pillars that give shape to “Edges of Ailey.” This exhibition, hosted by the Whitney Museum of American Art, opened on Sept. 25. It aims to honor the life of Alvin Ailey, and highlights the lasting impact of his company today. Equal parts solemn remembrance and vivid revival, this show exposes visitors to all aspects of Ailey.
If there is anything to know about Ailey, it is that his love of dance was anchored in his love of dancers. Ailey’s legacy is one of encouraging Black dancers to find the art within themselves. Ailey grew up when few opportunities existed to formally train in the arts, a problem exacerbated because of his race. He was largely self-taught and hoped his school would provide opportunities for others to follow.
“I want it to be easier than it was for me,” Ailey said in an interview for a PBS documentary.
Layla Barber, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’26, spoke on Ailey’s enduring legacy.
“He has so many works that are specifically dedicated to Black people, and as a celebration of the Black body,” Barber said. “His whole emphasis is ‘I want to show my people how beautiful they are.’”
The Fordham University and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) BFA program is a shining example of the opportunity that Alvin Ailey dreamed of.
Through the collaborative program, students are able to take classes at Fordham while training intensively at AAADT. At the end of four years, students have received an education in dance and a degree that testifies to their hard work.
“Knowing that I get to have a bachelor’s degree after this, that shows my studies and dedication to this kind of thing is just really special, especially because Black people didn’t always have that opportunity,” Barber said. “It makes me really proud and I remember every day that that was not always the case, and I’m really grateful for it.”
Jonah Riley, FCLC ’26, spoke fondly of how many of the instructors currently teaching in the Ailey/Fordham BFA program knew Ailey during his lifetime. They honor his memory by sharing anecdotes from their time together with the company’s current students.
“Every Ailey class… our teachers will talk about him here and there; how he valued feeling, how he valued what you told within your movement as you’re dancing,” Riley said. “Their interactions with him were so life changing … They think it’s important to share those conversations with us, so we can carry that on.”
Ailey’s love of Black artistry extended beyond the realm of dance. Prior to beginning dance at the age of 11, he pondered how else he might express himself. He had dreams of writing, drawing and painting as ways of showing his soul to the world. The exhibition emphasizes Ailey’s appreciation for multimedia through the broad inclusion of many forms of art.
Riley found this to be reflective of the diverse art forms celebrated at the AAADT.
“It’s not just Horton and it’s not just ballet. It’s also Graham and West African,” Riley said. “And then walking into the Whitney, you see all of the art mediums he was influenced by, whether that was a painting or musical theater
or sculptures.”
At the gallery, there is Geoffrey Holder’s “Portrait of Carmen de Lavallade” from 1976. This glowing oil painting is used to represent Ailey’s profound appreciation for Black women, inspired largely by the close relationship he had with his mother, Lula Cooper. Having raised him on her own, Cooper inspired Ailey to challenge stereotypes that negated the beauty and potential of Black women.
Further into the galley is James Van Der Zee’s photograph “Marcus Garvey Rally” from 1924, signaling Ailey’s involvement in the fight for Black liberation. Both artists — Ailey and Van Der Zee — strove to produce beauty in the midst of social, physical and political threats.
Other pieces spoke to his fascination with and heavy reliance upon Black spirituality. Ailey was born in 1931 in Rogers, Texas. Spending his youth in a Southern Baptist Church gave rise to his love for gospel music, where he first leaned into intense emotional expression. Ailey included nods to baptisms, Sunday services and other Church traditions throughout his choreography. One notable example is his famous piece “Revelations.”
Barber shared that “Revelations” — which premiered 65 years ago on Jan. 31, 1960 — remains celebrated by AAADT and the community.
“In training at Ailey … they really emphasize the importance of the heritage and history behind everything that we’re doing,” Barber said. “That’s at the core of the company. They’re still performing ‘Revelations.’”
“ In training at Ailey … they really emphasize the importance of the heritage and history behind everything that we’re doing ”
Many Black creatives from whom Ailey drew inspiration and collaborated are also spotlighted throughout the exhibition. Notable figures include pianist Duke Ellington, singer and musician Nina Simone, and dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham.
Alvin Ailey died in 1989 due to AIDS-related complications. The exhibit runs a touching yet harrowing video of AAADT dancers wishing him well during one of his hospital stays. The tape shows dancers laughing while they imitate how Ailey would be correcting their technique if he were back in the studio. At other moments, dancers offer tender “I miss you’s,” and implore Ailey to come back as soon as possible. Their love for him is palpable and draws a hush over the otherwise lively gallery. “AIDS Memorial Quilt with Alvin Ailey panel” by Anonymous pays further tribute to Ailey’s fight against AIDS.
On Friday nights, visitors can reflect on everything they learned from the exhibit while doing some dancing of their own. As part of their “Free Friday Nights” program, the Whitney hosts a DJ and clears out a dance floor on the entrance level. Hundreds of patrons released their inhibitions to dance and sing. Shining outfits glimmered in the flashes from a
photographer’s camera. Laughter and squeaking shoes often overpowered the sound of the music.
“I feel like everyone in the world is artistic and creative,” Riley said. “It’s just a matter of things you do in your life to bring that out…and if you even let yourself bring that out.”
This kind of free expression, where people are moved by the art within them, is something Ailey cherished. He once said, “I love the idea of people coming and working together ... (we) start with an empty space, and a body or two, and we say, ‘Carve this space.’”
Edges of Ailey will be on display until Feb. 9 at the Whitney. The exhibition was created by the Whitney Museum of American Art alongside the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation. Adrienne Edwards and CJ Salapare curated the exhibition.
Layla Barber, FCLC ‘26
PHOTOS BY KEI SUGAE/THE OBSERVER
Ailey, a legendary choreographer and dancer, was dedicated to providing opportunities for Black dancers, through the establishment of his school.
“Edges of Ailey” will be on display until Feb. 9 at the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Included in the gallery is James Van Der Zee’s photograph “Marcus Garvey Rally” from 1924, referring to Ailey’s involvement in the fight for Black liberation.
The Whitney Museum’s “Edges of Ailey,” which opened on Sept. 25, showcases the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey.
un & ames
Crossword:
Candy Hearts
BY ABBY GRUNZINGER
13. Venerated Vulcan
16. Spine-chilling
17. Select
Channel that aired “The Joy of
18. India’s capital territory
19. Smallest units of measurement on many rulers (Abbr.)
20. Eleventh month (Abbr.)
22. Crucial words in a wedding vow (2 Wds.)
24. Where the Tenement Museum and Metrograph
Theater are located (Abbr.)
25. Letters added to a hot take, in texting (Abbr.)
26. Greek hero whose ship is the focus of a paradox
28. Remarks of disgust
29. Negative prefix
30. Nearsighted person
31. Diamond, amethyst or ruby
32. Make into law
35. Demon or ogre from Japanese folklore
36. Elvis Presley famously sings about a pair of blue shoes made of this material
38. Bantu-speaking people of Rwanda and Burundi
40. Greek goddess of discord
42. The climbing or twining stem of a plant
43. Global oil cartel (Abbr.)
45. *Time to give someone the messages from 4-Down, 6-Down, 10-Down and 15Down
50. Not amazing, but not terrible (Hyph.)
51. Bros and guys
52. 2024 M. Night Shyamalan thriller starring Josh Hartnett
54. Followed a trail
56. It precedes York, Hampshire or Mexico
57. Michaels who is celebrating fifty years of “Saturday Night Live”
58. “The place with the helpful hardware folks”
59. Easy to get along with
62. Clears or approves, for short 63. The place to see “Washington Crossing the
“When Ramses Met Sally...
BY HONORAH BROZIO
Delaware” or “The Death of Socrates”
64. Suspense
65. Elsa’s hit: “___ It Go”
66. Start of this clue?
67. “Hulk” and “Brokeback Mountain” director Lee
68. Egg-shaped lip balm brand
69. Sign for those born in late July to mid August
1. An image that one presents of oneself
2. Antioxidant-infused flavored water brand
3. Tube for unblocking blood vessels
4. *Words that are usually somewhere in a romcom confession (3 Wds.)
5. With “in the bud,” stop a problem early on
6. *Adorable key lime? (2 Wds.)
7. Predecessor to Windows (Abbr.)
8. King Kong, Curious George or Dr. Zaius, for three
9. Fordham has one at Rose Hill and one at Lincoln Center
10. *Guns N’ Roses song from “Terminator 2”: “You Could _______” (2 Wds.)
11. Actor Jack from “Some Like It Hot” and “The Apartment”
14. Chastised, with “out”
15. *Hit song from Sixpence None the Richer (2 Wds.)
21. Unit of electrical resistance
23. Owed
27. Emotional Cat Stevens song “Father and ___”
33. Island off the West Coast of Chile
34. Calibrate, as a guitar
36. Takes little drinks
37. Got _______: became familiar (2 Wds.)
39. Care for, as a garden
41. Small, reddish deer found in Europe
42. Synonym for hoops, scores and points
44. First Roman Catholic bishop in the United States (he was a Jesuit!)
45. Articulates, expresses
46. Fine-______: tweaking small details
47. Thoughts
48. Inexperienced member, informally
49. Babe Ruth or Derek Jeter
50. Embarrassment
53. Yummy sauce for pasta or pizza
55. Ke Huy Quan’s inventive character in “The Goonies”
57. Contact piece
60. All Ken dolls
61. Lavatory or washroom, for short
Valentine’s Horoscope
BY JASMINE WHITE
Aries: With Venus in your sign, it’s time to make the first move! Whether it’s a risky text or making a new friend in class, your confidence wins this Valentine’s Day.
Taurus: Love might be closer than you think, like a classmate who lives on your floor or your go-to guy at the halal cart remembering your order. It’s the little things that count!
Gemini: Whether it’s a Galentine’s hangout or a deep talk with your bestie, your social life is taking center stage. Don’t be afraid to embrace the connections you have!
Cancer: Family love is crucial for you this Valentine’s Day. Make that long overdue call back home or have a heart-to-heart with your chosen family on campus. These connections will feel extra special.
Leo: Your Valentine’s will bring the drama — whether it’s a rom-comworthy date night, scoring rush tickets to a Broadway show with your friends or having a glamorous self-care day — enjoy being the main character!
Virgo: The moon in your sign will make you extra tuned in to your emotions. Trust your gut, and don’t overthink it. Your sincerity will bring you even closer to the ones you love.
Libra: Aesthetic Valentine’s plans are a must. Think: ice skating in Central Park, an artsy museum date, baking with friends in your McMahon kitchen — just don’t set off the smoke alarm!
Scorpio: An unexpected connection could change everything, so don’t be afraid to open up and express your feelings. That study session at Argo could blossom into something more.
Sagittarius: Embrace spontaneity this Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a first date with someone from the apps or an event on campus, say yes to anything that feels exciting!
Capricorn: Someone admires your hard work — maybe that person who’s always on the same Ram Van as you? Love can show up in new, unexpected ways, so keep your heart open to it.
Aquarius: Happy Aquarius season! On Valentine’s, your individuality shines through. Let your unique energy attract the kind of love that matches your vibe, and don’t let anybody bring you down.
Pisces: Mercury is moving into Pisces, so trust your intuition when it comes to communication this Valentine’s Day. Send a heartfelt text to your friends or embrace your inner romantic by writing a love letter — anything is fair game!
1.
Painting” and “Sesame Street” (Abbr.)
4. Movie featuring Mike and Sulley: “Monsters ___”
7. Often paired with cheese?
10. Ram’s method of communication
12. “Kill Bill” actress Lucy