Observer issue #8

Observer the

AUGUST 25, 2016 VOLUME XXXVII, ISSUE 8

www.fordhamobserver.com

CMS Cuts Ties With The Observer When the CMS department decided to cut ties with The Observer, we were foremost concerned with how we could report on the story, given our direct involvement in the events. We ultimately came to the decision to move ahead with our coverage, after continuous conversations involving our editorial board, our adviser and a number of journalism professionals, as the Fordham community deserves to know the full account.

The following pieces reflect our efforts to do so in a comprehensive, accurate and impartial manner.

Writers: Stephan Kozub, Cecile Neidig, Matthew McCarthy, Elizabeth Landry Content Editors: Ben Moore, Matthew McCarthy Content Advisers: Andrew Seamen, Society for Professional Journalists; Frank LoMonte, Student Press Law Center THE STATE OF STUDENT JOURNALISM

By CECILE NEIDIG & STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editors

The Communication and Media Studies (CMS) department announced that it would sever ties with Fordham Lincoln Center’s student newspaper, The Observer, on April 21.

With the change came the cancellation of the four journalism workshops in reporting, multimedia, layout design and photojournalism that provided advising from professionals, educated student journalists and ensured a steady stream of content for The Observer.

CMS’s decision followed discussions about how the structure of the department and its courses would change in light of their newly approved majors, including one in journalism “The department felt they needed to revise the major and to revise their program to meet a changing world of journalism,” Rev. Robert R. Grimes, S.J., Ph.D., dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), said. “And from what I understand the department was in agreement that this was the better way to move in the future.”

“I also know there was significant opposition to change from some sources,” he added.

“Our goal with the new curriculum is to combine theory and practice to create socially responsible journalists prepared to serve the public interest in the digital age,” Jacqueline Reich, Ph.D., chair of CMS, said in an email see CMS CUTS TIES pg. 3

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

The McNally Amphitheatre is one of the many new spaces within the new student center.

Student Activities Find a New Home A look inside the new student center

By ELIZABETH LANDRY Asst. News Editor

The old law building sat largely unexplored by Fordham Lincoln Center undergraduates for years, but this fall, students will have incentive to venture across campus. An extensive update and renovation has created a new Student Center to house student organizations, clubs, classrooms, faculty offices, an Argo Tea “tea-osk” and the updated Quinn Library space.

This renovated space now open to students includes social and study areas, faculty offices and permanent rooms for student organizations like the Campus Activities Board (CAB), Commuter Students Association (CSA) and United Student Government (USG). The Office of Student Involvement has also been moved to a new office close to the organizations it oversees.

“We have long needed a student center on campus,” Dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) Rev. Robert R. Grimes, S.J., Ph.D., said. “I look forward to various extracurricular activities being able to have places to meet and to hold events, which has been a problem over the years.”

“ We have long needed a student center on

campus. I look forward to various extracurricular activities being able to have places to meet and to hold events, which has been a problem over the years.”

–

REV. ROBERT GRIMES, S.J., PH.D., DEAN OF FCLC

advertising the location change as well as holding their meetings and events in the multipurpose rooms there as much as possible.

“We encourage everybody to go check out the space, because it’s not completely done yet but what they have done is just remarkable,” he said.

There are several events throughout the school year that are run by student organizations, which are typically held around Lowenstein or in the Atrium. According to Magoon, students can expect a change of venue for the Club Leader Networking Dinner in October and the Undergraduate Awards (UNDY’s), among other occasions. “I’ve seen the [large multipurpose rooms],” he said. “They’re big enough and they would definitely work perfectly for these events.”

Magoon said USG was planning to move most of its operations to the new space to promote its exploration. “We just hope people will go to it because it’s a little bit more walking than people are accustomed to, but I’m thinking once the Argo Tea rolls in that space is going to be really cool for students to go to. And not

“As with all new construction it takes a while to work things out,” he said. “We’ll see what the patterns of usage are.”

Grimes said, “I know [the construction] cost more than they expected. The building was in worse shape than they realized.”

He also expressed how pleased he is with the recent campus expansions. “Just two years ago, as far as undergraduates were concerned, the campus was McMahon Hall and Lowenstein,” Grimes said. “Now we have this very large new law school which is open, mostly accessible for group activities. We’ve got a dining hall in there, we’ve got a second residence hall—McKeon—and now the old law school known as 140. We

have a student center and a library, and then there’s also Martino Hall across the street. That’s a huge shift in the pattern of movement around the campus.”

The new space has been open for students to explore since midAugust, though certain areas were still under construction due to the relocation of many offices.

“The new space is actually bigger than we anticipated,” USG President Leighton Magoon, FCLC ’17, said. “Everything, for me, that they advertised in regards to the student space is there, and everybody has the spot that they were given.”

Magoon said that the USG office is about twice the size of the old space, and that the group would be

NEWS

FEATURES

ARTS & CULTURE

SPORTS

Changes on Campus

Rams Overseas

Hamilton at NYPL

Fall Sports Preview

Aramark takes over Fordham University dining services

Two Fordham students venture to Europe

New exhibit opens at New York Public Library

All you need to know about Fordham sports this fall

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Page 13

Page 10

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THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

see STUDENT CENTER pg. 2

2

News

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

CMS Cuts Ties With The Observer Timeline of Events

GRAPHIC BY BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

By MATTHEW MCCARTHY Managing Editor

Spring 2015 Semester – March 16, 2016 As Fordham began to develop plans for a journalism major, key members of the Communications and Media Studies (CMS) department and representatives from The Observer held a meeting during the spring 2015 semester. The two groups discussed the curricular relationship between CMS and The Observer as well as the practicality of the journalism workshops offered by The Observer through CMS. CMS cited the number of students attending the workshops as an issue, because many students audited the workshops rather than officially registering for them.

Later that semester, College Council approved the new journalism major. The Observer workshops were set to run in the 2015-16 academic year; however, the council did not discuss the status of the

workshops in the meeting to approve the new major.

Months later, during the fall 2015 semester, Stone announced she would step down as faculty and reporting adviser for the reporting workshop and would help transition Aronson into the role for the spring 2016 semester. Aronson attended the last two editorial board meetings of the fall semester to prepare for her new position. During the spring 2016 semester, in addition to Aronson fully taking on the faculty adviser role, CMS also hired two new advisers for the layout and multimedia workshops.

Three months into the semester, Aronson announced she would step down as the faculty adviser at the end of the semester.

March 31 Assessment Two weeks after announcing her resignation, Aronson compiled an assessment of The Observer as requested by Reich. In the assessment, Aronson claimed that the structure

of The Observer “no longer serves Student Activities nor the CMS curriculum well.” She believed that the syllabi of the workshops were vague and depriving students of achieving major learning objectives.

Two days later, Gallina and Moore, with assistance from the editorial board of The Observer, submitted a refutation to the assessment to Grimes, Eldredge and Wenzel. They refuted what they thought was inaccurate information in the assessment, including the analysis that The Observer no longer needs curricular support in the form of journalism workshops, as well as the idea that the editorial board favored a practicum to replace the workshops.

After considering both the assessment and the refutation, all parties involved agreed to a transition plan for The Observer moving forward. This plan would include all four workshops being offered during the 2016-17 academic year, two combined workshops being offered in the 2017-18 academic year

and a practicum encompassing a wide variety of journalism lessons being introduced for the 2018-19 academic year.

Four days later, Ryan Knutson, a journalist for the Wall Street Journal, spoke to the layout workshop class as a guest lecturer. After the class ended, Knutson spoke to members of the class, including Gallina, then-editor-in-chief of The Observer.

After discussing The Observer’s need for an adviser, Knutson expressed interest in the role. Gallina then approached Aronson about her conversation with Knutson and subsequently asked for Knutson’s resume with approval from Aronson. Aronson then forwarded Knutson’s resume to Reich.

April 21: Cut Ties In an email, Reich provided an update on the relationship between CMS and The Observer. She notified all parties involved that CMS would sever all ties to The Observer effec-

tive at the end of the semester. She explained the separation was due to certain parties “not abiding by the parameters of our compromise, outlined in [her] April 14 email to the group, specifically related to the staffing of the Journalism Workshop courses.”

The April 21 email also expressed optimism for the future of both CMS and The Observer. Reich “hope[s] that someday Student Affairs and CMS can work together to help create mutually beneficial and productive co-curricular experience.” However, due to the cancellation of the workshops, none of the advisers’ contracts were renewed for the 2016-17 academic year.

On May 27, a month after CMS cut ties with The Observer, Fordham’s new journalism major was approved by the state of New York.

Following its split from CMS, The Observer was able to secure enough funds to bring in two advisers for the newspaper and organize independent workshops in place of the cancelled courses.

New Student Center Opens On Campus

STUDENT CENTER FROM PAGE 1

just for Gabelli students, because a lot of their classes are now there— for Lincoln Center students to come check it out, not just for the Argo tea but for the space and how much time and energy was put into this spot.”

The Observer also had the chance to tour the new Quinn Library space, which comprises three floors, replete with desks, computers and windows.

According to Assistant Director of Fordham University Libraries and Director of Quinn Library Robert Allen, expanding the library space at FLC has gone on for “what seems like forever.”

Allen said that they consulted with Professor Joan Roberts, who has studied the effect of circadian rhythms throughout her chemistry career, to plan the new space.

Head of Access, Information and Collections Services and Operations at the Quinn Library Nick Alongi said, “We found studies where natural light is more conducive to studying than our old lighting was. So, we think this is going to be better, more

aesthetically pleasing to patrons, and possibly more functionally appealing too.”

The third floor will also feature six group study rooms. “Projects are really shifting in the undergraduate and graduate fields,” Alongi said.

“Rather than people working independently, there’s a lot more group work, a lot more collaborative work, especially when you get to the theses and the dissertations. We felt like having a proper space where people can work independently and quietly, and also work collectively in a not noisy, but ‘non-shush’ kind of zone, that was a priority.”

The first floor, dubbed the “Learning Commons,” features a late-night vending cafe. “If students here at three in the morning need a jolt of coffee to get through to breakfast, that’s at least there,” Allen said.

“The 24-hour access has been very popular since we started doing it a couple of years ago during the finals period,” Alongi added. “Some users, they’re here when I come in for work, they’re here when I leave and the next morning, they’re here in the same clothes. And this cam-

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

140, the new student center, is the latest addition to Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus.

pus is very geographically convenient, a block from the subway. If you do a have a large-scale project, the 24-hour zone might be the ideal location for you.”

The new space features new PC’s, new printers and new copiers.

“We designed redundancy of the system,” Alongi said. “If one printer goes down, directly next to you or

on the floor above you, there’ll be an alternative right there.

“And that’s especially important on the first floor, after 11 o’clock,” Allen said.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 25 2016

News

The State of Student Journalism CMS FROM PAGE 1

statement to The Observer. “We believe this curriculum will make journalism, and The Observer, stronger at Fordham.”

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC), which evaluates journalism and mass communications programs at colleges and universities, does not take a position on whether student media should be curricularly supported by the university, according to Paul Parsons, dean of Elon University’s School of Communications and vice president of the ACEJMC. “[The ACEJMC] recognizes that universities have different relationships between student media and the academic unit, and it doesn’t say that it needs to be a particular way,” Parsons said. “[The ACEJMC] does want to see students at any accredited program have the opportunity to be involved in student media, but it would not say that student media necessarily has to have this relationship with the department. It could be an independent student newspaper.”

“As Elon’s dean, I personally believe in a close relationship of the academic unit and student media,” he continued. “There’s nothing that helps a journalist more than getting feedback from professionals or from professors about the work they do, whether it’s really, really good, or whether it had problems with it. So I’m a believer in a close relationship.”

He noted, however, that opinions on this issue differ among department chairs or deans of other universities. Parsons explained that they might say

expressed their support for the publication and organized a letter to CMS signed by over 100 alumni.

Additionally, nine Observer alumni formed the Fordham Observer Alumni Steering Committee in response to CMS’s decision. The committee corresponded with CMS following the initial letter and led the efforts of the alumni following CMS’s decision.

One of the concerns shared by the alumni is the elimination of the journalism workshop courses, which many say were instrumental in their development as student journalists and in their post-graduate success. “[The workshops] were extraordinarily beneficial and I think vital to my learning as a journalist,” Joseph DeLessio, FCLC ’06, a former editor of The Observer and member of the Steering Committee who currently works for New York Magazine, said.

“A lot of the writers who wrote for The Observer came through the workshops and I’m not sure where they’re going to get that level of staff without something like that to get writers,” he continued. “I think that’s something that really has to be considered.”

“The journalism workshop and the paper are a foundation for internships,” Marisa Flores, FCLC ’03, who was also an editor for The Observer and has worked for Time Inc. and Columbia Magazine, said. “It’s the foundation of how people get jobs. I got my first job at Time Inc. for magazines with no experience because I was able to say I was in the journalism workshop, this is how we come up with topics and things like that, and they saw that I understood how to work with a team. That’s what people are looking for. They’re looking for people who are collaborators.”

“It’s pretty safe to say I wouldn’t

“ In a sense, to me, The Observer was doing

its educational job. And so we certainly want that to continue. But change is inevitable. ” –

REV. ROBERT R. GRIMES, S.J.,

“‘Well no, we’re the academic unit. We’re teaching classes, we’re giving credit hours for classroom instruction and student media should really be separate from the academic unit,’” Parsons said.

“And so there are a number of universities that have that philosophy too.”

“What I think was not fair to Lincoln Center students was the department’s sudden decision to sever ties with The Observer— not providing any transition, any support, any faculty, any structure and any instruction—literally overnight,” Elizabeth Stone, Ph.D., said. Stone is a professor of English and communication and media studies who was the faculty adviser of The Observer from its inception until the end of the fall 2015 semester. “To separate theory and practice and to deny curricular support to the campus publication at Lincoln Center seems to be quite at odds with the very spirit of what’s at the heart of the new journalism major.”

The Reaction to CMS’s Decision Spurred by CMS’s decision, alumni of The Observer have made coordinated efforts to voice their concerns about the future of the student newspaper and the elimination of the journalism workshop courses.

Among the alumni efforts has been the creation of the Facebook page, “Save The Fordham Observer.” Through this page, they

Ph.D., Dean of Fordham College

at Lincoln Center

have a job in journalism right now if not for The Observer,” DeLessio said.

Current students are also concerned about CMS’s decision to terminate the journalism workshop courses.

“The workshops were the only real hands-on journalism courses that I took during my time at Fordham, so I think it was really detrimental to students to cancel them,” former Editor-in-Chief of The Observer, Adriana Gallina, FCLC ’17, said. “Especially for some students who can’t afford to take an unpaid internship or a low-paying internship, the workshops were a really nice way to get industry-standard experience for credit.”

“Being in the workshop didn’t mean that I necessarily had to have an interest in journalism,” Emily Jones, FCLC ’17, said. She majors in communication and media studies with a concentration in television and radio and took the multimedia workshop course in the spring 2016 semester. “Being interested in capturing and producing content and using editing software that people at major networks use, that was very useful.”

Jones took the multimedia workshop because it gave her the opportunity to learn video editing and production skills that would be helpful in her career.

“I think that the workshops were really useful,” Jones said. “It was helpful to have the hands-on experience of shooting and editing the content. It offered more than just reading from a textbook; we were actually

doing it.”

The Previous Structure of CMS and The Observer In past years, CMS offered a major in communication and media studies with five different concentrations: journalism, television and radio, film, new media and media, culture and society.The department is giving students of the classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019 the option to continue with the old major and concentrations. Students are encouraged to select one of the new specialized majors, according to the CMS website.

JOUR 1701, Introduction to Multimedia Journalism, in their Freshman spring or Sophomore fall.” This sixhour course is open to all students, “in which students learn the fundamentals of multimedia journalism and have time in the laboratory to apply those skills,” according to Reich.

Reich said in the email statement that students can get credit for their work on The Observer through the Campus Media Practicum after completing JOUR 1701, or on a caseby-case basis in fall 2016. “Hopefully in spring 2017 there will be sufficient interest to offer an on-campus media

“ The journalism workshop and the paper are a foundation for journalists. It’s the foundation of how people get jobs. ” –

MARISA FLORES, FCLC ’03, Fordham Observer Alumni Steering

Committee member and former editor of The Observer

The four new majors that CMS will offer are communication and culture, digital technology and emerging media, film and television, and journalism.

Prior to the restructuring of the majors, the journalism workshop courses were led by faculty who specialized in the workshops’ respective disciplines. They also guided students in preparing and publishing content for The Observer.

As a result of the decision, these two-credit workshops will no longer be offered to students.

Stone said that a paper “can be successful without curricular support,” citing The Harvard Crimson as an example. “But, The Observer has worked with a production structure tied to the workshops and to remove that structure suddenly without providing some kind of transition does the students a disservice academically.”

“I think that the department was entirely within its right in redesigning its curriculum,” Stone continued.

“Initially I was opposed to eliminating the journalism workshops in the ‘if it ain’t broke and you’ve won 57 awards, don’t fix it,’ approach. However, my concern was that thejournalism workshops needed to be guided into a shape that would articulate with the new journalism major and I arrived at the position in extended conversation with Professor Aronson.” Amy Aronson, Ph.D., is the program director of Fordham University’s New Media and Digital Design program and succeeded Stone as the faculty and reporting adviser of The Observer. “I wasn’t, and I’m not, opposed to the evolution of the journalism workshops, but I am opposed to not providing any transition or guidance for Observer reporters and editors,” Stone said.

In lieu of the journalism workshops, CMS will offer a Campus Journalism Practicum at the Rose Hill campus only, according to the registration portal. Gwenyth Jackaway, associate undergraduate chair of CMS, explained in an Aug 10 email sent to communication students that “This class will meet as an independent study with a member of the faculty who teaches journalism.

Students need to be working on The Ram, the paper, WFUV, The Observer or other campus media outlet.”

The email notes that a pre-requisite of Intro to Journalism is needed, but can be waived if the student has some experience in journalism.

“The way CMS has provided ancillary curricular support for The Observer is changing,” Reich said in an email statement to The Observer, continuing that “ideally students interested in journalism would take

practicum course, and we can fully enroll our upper-division journalism courses,” she said in the email statement.

She continued that CMS is relying on its current teaching faculty, with hopes of a new tenure-track hire beginning fall 2017 in addition to new professional adjunct faculty. Current faculty include Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times journalist Luisita Torregrosa, Alex Silverman of CBS Radio and Frank Dilella of NY1, according to Reich.

The Decision to Cut Ties When Reich said in an email on April 21 that CMS would sever all ties with The Observer effective May 21, she stated, “At this point it is clear that certain parties are not abiding by the parameters of our compromise, outlined in my April 14 email to the group, specifically related to the staffing of the Journalism workshops courses.”

“Concerns were expressed to me

by Communication and Media Studies about the level of students’ involvement in the discussions around hiring faculty for the journalism workshops,” Dean of Students Keith Eldredge noted.

None of the interviewed sources specified which students had violated the agreement.

A few days before this decision, then-Editor-in-Chief Adriana Gallina had met Ryan Knutson, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, at a layout workshop on April 18.

“He was guest speaking and we ended up talking until a few minutes

about Knutson to CMS as a possible candidate for one of the journalism workshop instructors. According to Gallina, Aronson approved of passing along information about Knutson to CMS. Gallina then emailed Knutson asking him for his resume, copying Aronson, which Aronson then forwarded to Reich and Jackaway. Gallina also said that Aronson later told her at an editorial board meeting that Gallina “was out of line and that [she] can’t hire as a student,” which Gallina said was “an absurd accusation.”

What Comes Next for Journalism and The Observer “This is a brand new way of teaching journalism at Fordham, and in the long run, we think it will be a positive change not just for students, but for The Observer as well,” Reich said in her statement. “We ask for time and patience to give an alternative structure for journalism at Fordham a chance.”

“The Communication and Media Studies Department exercised their autonomy to determine what courses are offered,” Eldredge explained. “And so they determined they are no longer going to offer the journalism workshops.”

In regards to blending the theoretical and practical learning of journalism, CMS “feels that the journalism curriculum with the courses that are in the course of study, fulfill the need to support students in learning journalism in a practical way that will enable them to write for The Observer as well as participate in other types of journalism,” Eldredge said.

Eldredge continued that he’s “confident that there will be a connection between the department and The Observer newspaper in the future.”

“What that looks like, I don’t know,” he said. “I’m fairly confident that it won’t be what it looked like last year and the year before that. But I do think that there will be some curricular connection supporting The Observer and the students that are taking the journalism major courses will get the skills and the training they need for The Observer, but also for beyond Fordham.”

Grimes said that “My concern is for the welfare of The Observer, and its students who work on it.

And I have been endeavoring, with the Dean of Students Keith Eldredge, to ensure that there are structures in place for the proper advisement of The Observer, and that it will continue its really im-

“ This is a brand new way of teaching jour-

nalism at Fordham, and in the long run, we think it will be a positive change not just for students, but for The Observer as well.”

–

JACQUELINE REICH,

Ph.D., Chair of the Communication and

after the class ended with a bunch of other students and [editorial] board members in the room, and it was common knowledge that we were seeking an adviser and he expressed interest,” Gallina said. “Everything else we talked about was just about his time in school as Editor-in-Chief and his career trajectory and his advice as a professional journalist. It was very informal, very casual and very unplanned.”

Gallina said that she sought approval from Aronson, then-adviser of The Observer, to pass along info

Media Studies Department

pressive history.”

“In a sense, to me, The Observer was doing its educational job,” Grimes continued. “And so we certainly want that to continue. But change is inevitable. Especially in our world today, and in the communications industry, change is happening so rapidly.

Perhaps one of the best educational experiences one can have at this point is to have to deal with change.”

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Landry, Asst. News Editor

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August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Aramark Takes Over As Food Provider Fordham’s new dining service provider begins changes around campus.

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

When Aramark was chosen as the University’s next dining service provider in April, quality of food and the retention of dining service employees were among the most controversial topics. Aramark, however, has already started to address these concerns, according to students, the dining service contract liaison and the dining service workers’ union.

“Aramark has hired all the union employees who wanted to return,” Sandy Pope, business manager of Teamsters Local 810, the union which represents the dining service employees at Fordham University, said.

“We have agreed to a collective bargaining agreement which is the same except the retirement provision which the union leadership and committee will be recommending to accept,” she continued.

“All previous employees who applied for positions with Aramark and passed background tests were hired with their rank, seniority, salaries, and health benefits maintained as they were,” Karen Cutler, VP of Corporate Communications for Aramark, said in an email statement to The Observer.

Pope noted that the transition from Sodexo to Aramark “has been rocky, but mainly because of the short timeline to accomplish a lot.”

Aramark was announced as the university’s next dining service provider on April 18 and took over dining service operations on July 1.

“Management has been cooperative with the union,” she continued.

“We are still working out some bugs, but we’re confident everyone will be satisfied with the outcome.”

Concerns regarding the dining service employees surfaced in the spring, when members of the Fordham Community said that the dining service Request for Proposals put the workers’ contract provisions in jeop-

ardy.

“The members and leadership of Teamsters Local 810 are very thankful for all the support we received from the Fordham community of students, faculty and administration to insure that everyone’s jobs were saved, and that the employees not suffer a loss of wages, benefits or working conditions,” Pope said.

Regarding changes already being made at the Lincoln Center campus, “Aramark has been working to increase the variety, value, quality, and convenience of dining options,” Cutler said.

Many of these changes took place at the Ram Café, where Aramark has expanded the menus “to include more healthy and gluten-free options with the introduction of our Clover Leaf and Jamba to Go real fruit smoothies,” according to Cutler. The Clover Leaf is “like Boston Market entrees,” Deming Yaun, Fordham University’s dining services contract liaison, said.

A F’Real self-serve milkshake machine has also been added and the mural has been removed, according to Leighton Magoon, FCLC ’17 and president of USG. Additionally, the Ram Cafe now includes Aramark’s Urban Kitchen grill concept and all of the beverages have been consolidated into “one streamlined beverage counter to the right as you walk in,” according to Yaun. He also said that there is “a healthy amount of grab and go” and the cashiers have been repositioned.

An Argo Tea will also open in the 140 W. building on Aug. 29, according to Cutler. She said that the new venue will feature “delicious signature beverages and loose-leaf teas,” in addition to pastries and paninis.

Schmeltzer Dining Hall will also feature the introduction of the Olive Branch, “Mediterranean-themed dining that will provide even more variety and healthy options to students on campus,” Cutler said. She also noted that the Community

ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN/THE OBSERVER

The Ram Café, pictured above, underwent renovations this summer.

Dining Hall will offer “lower calorie choices; vegan, vegetarian, and whole grain options; seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables; and a variety of whole foods that are raised, grown, harvested, and produced locally and in a sustainable manner.”

She encouraged diners to use Aramark’s “Your Voice Counts” program, which “allows all diners to provide us with in-the-moment feedback online or via their mobile device.”

The Bon Mi and the coffee kiosk in the Law School will both remain open, according to Yaun.

Cutler also said that entrees and sides from Clover Leaf in the Ram Café will have set prices, rather than by-the-ounce pricing. She continued that meal plan pricing has not changed and “on average, retail pricing will be in line with both the previous provider and the local market.”

Regarding future plans for dining services at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus, Yaun said “There are those who are looking for a larger renovation of the Ram Café and we need to work closely with student government and the food committee down at Lincoln Center to determine exactly what that will be.”

“The thought is, can we get that rolling for renovations in summer 2017 or will it be some time beyond,” Yaun said. “I think it’s a matter of deciding what students are actually looking for over there.” “[Aramark understands] the importance of the first couple of weeks in the minds of both the incoming students and in the minds of the returning students who remember Sodexo, who remember what that experience was like,” Magoon noted.

And what can the Fordham com-

munity expect from the food?

“I have had the food, and I will say that I am very happy about it,” Magoon said, adding that the bread and the coffee are both “very good.”

“If they continue down that road, then I think that Aramark will have a great first impression and a good introduction to Fordham at both campuses,” Magoon continued.

“And then the number one thing that I was looking for, and I know student leaders and some staff that I know were looking for was—our favorite item that Sodexo would always serve would be the sugar cookies,” he continued. “And I have had Aramark’s sugar cookies. And I’m not lying when I’m saying they are better than the Sodexo sugar cookies, which is something I didn’t think anybody could beat. So I’m very happy about that.

CMS Cuts Ties with The Observer: Alumni Voice Support

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

After the Communication and Media Studies Department (CMS) announced on April 21 that they would cut ties with The Observer and cancel the journalism workshop courses, over 100 alumni voiced their support for The Observer through social media and sent letters to both the Fordham University administration and CMS officials.

They began their efforts with individual letters to Fordham administrators, including Rev. Robert R. Grimes, S.J., Ph.D., dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University and Keith Eldredge, dean of students.

Those letters were followed by 115 alumni signing and sending an alumni-written letter to the CMS department in regards to the department’s decision to cut ties with the newspaper. This letter has led to further correspondence between CMS and the alumni.

“I understand and appreciate your interest in the new Journalism major and the future of the Observer at Fordham: your concern and involvement as Observer alumni should be commended,” Jacqueline Reich, Ph.D., chair of CMS, said in a July 20 email to the alumni.

“One of the few good things that’s come out of this whole controversy is the letter signed

by the alumni,” Grimes said. “When you look at what some of the alumni of The Observer were doing, it was a pretty impressive list of people.”

Additionally, the alumni have been active on social media, and started a “Save The Fordham Observer” Facebook page, which had 162 likes at the time of publishing this article.

“I hope that if I can let my voice be heard, whether it’s writing myself to the Fordham administration or whether it’s being part of a letter sent to the department chair, just letting them know how important this is to me, and just to show that there are a lot of passionate alumni out there who feel very strongly about this.”

“I think it should really be stated

“ The Observer has been such an important

part of my career and from what I understand is happening, I’m really afraid that future generations may not be able to get the same out of it that I did.”

–

JOSEPH DELESSIO, FCLC ’06, Fordham Observer Alumni Steering

Committee member and former editor of The Observer

All of these efforts have been spearheaded by the nine-member Fordham Observer Alumni Steering Committee, comprised of alumni of The Observer who now work in various disciplines, including journalism and communications.

“The Observer has been such an important part of my career and from what I understand about what’s happening, I’m really afraid that future generations may not be able to get the same out of it that I did,” Joseph DeLessio, FCLC ’06, a member of the Steering Committee who is also a former editorial board member of The Observer and has worked at New York Magazine since 2006, said.

that the Observer alumni, not only the committee but all of the alumni that signed the petition, didn’t just wake up one day and say we’re pissed about this one thing you’re doing,” Marisa Flores, FCLC ’03, another member of the Steering Committee who has worked for Columbia Magazine and Time Inc. and in communications for several years, said. “Everyone has been consistently involved in different ways since they graduated Fordham. And it could be something as simple as taking a meeting with a journalism student who’s interested in breaking into this field to hiring someone to donating, so this is not happening in a vacuum.”

“I think everyone who signs that petition and everyone that’s on the steering committee wants to give back and wants the administration to understand the impact the infrastructure that in the past the Communication and Media Studies Department has supported has had on all of us, personally and professionally,” she continued.

“I want to see The Observer continue to thrive, continue to win awards like it’s done for so long,” Kelsey Butler, FCLC ’10, another member of the Steering Committee, said. “So that’s why when I heard all of this that was going on I felt that I wanted to get involved to let other people know what was happening, and also see how we can help support The Observer in any way possible.”

The alumni interviewed expressed their appreciation that Eldredge and the Office of Student Involvement have shown their support of The Observer in recent months.

“The Observer was something pivotal in their experience and they want to make sure that other students coming behind them have a similar positive, enriching, I would even say, from talking with some of them, life changing experience,” Eldredge said. “I appreciate their concern and their efforts to try to make sure that students get something that they felt they had as undergraduates.”

“The student activities office has been great throughout this process and they’re doing what they can to make sure that [The Observer] survives and that it thrives,” DeLessio said.

Butler noted how supportive Fordham itself and the administration have been of The Observer “given the fact that the deans don’t have oversight over the decisions made by the academic departments. It’s hard for them to really get involved from what I understand. So I have been very appreciative of their support,” she said.

Butler did note that she wished that there had been more progress made regarding finding a permanent solution.

“I still have some reservations, especially given that the school year is starting up so soon,” she said. “And there are a lot of questions still in the air, that makes me a little apprehensive and a little nervous for the students on the [editorial] board right now.”

Regarding the alumni correspondence with CMS, DeLessio said that while he appreciates “that the chair has engaged with us” and that “many questions have been answered,” there are “some things that haven’t really been fully answered.”

“I would just like to see some type of support academically for [The Observer] to continue the great work that has been done for 35 years, and to continue this network and this legacy that has been really invaluable for myself and for so many of my friends.” Butler said. “And however those talks can move forward with the communications department, I just hope that some permanent solution is reached sometime soon.”

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 25, 2016

News

5

Alum, Student Die in Fatal Auto Incidents

By BEN MOORE AND STEPHAN KOZUB Editor-in-Chief and News Co-Editor

Two members of the Fordham community, Noah Goldstein and Elliot Copeland, were victims of fatal auto-related incidents at the beginning of the summer. Goldstein was a Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’16 graduate and Copeland was a rising senior in the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) ’17.

Joseph McShane, S.J., president of Fordham University, informed the Fordham community via email on June 18 that Goldstein, a native of San Jose, Calif., was the victim of a hit and run accident at around 3 a.m. near the Lincoln Center campus.

At the original time of reporting, Goldstein’s death was under investigation by the New York Police Department (NYPD) at the time of the incident, because the driver had fled the scene. The Gothamist reported in a later article that the garbage truck driver involved was tracked down, but will not face criminal charges, as NYPD Captain Levon Holley told attendees that investigators found no wrongdoing on the part of the driver.

“It is a terrible blow to lose someone so young and full of promise, and we cannot imagine the pain of Noah’s family and loved ones,” McShane continued in the email.

“Stunned by the sudden loss of one of Fordham Theatre’s best students of all time,” Daniel Alexander Jones, Fordham Theatre Department professor and head of the Playwriting Department stated on his Facebook page. “RIP, dear Noah Goldstein. They were a gifted young

VIA LINKEDIN

VIA FACEBOOK

Noah Goldstein, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’16

artist and magical soul. I will miss our wide ranging and inspired conversations most of all.”

According to Goldstein’s profile on the Fordham Theatre Department’s website, they had previously worked at Ars Nova, a non-profit theater in New York, as a production intern, as well as at Vortex Repertory Theatre and Music & Entertainment Television, both located in Austin, Texas.

Goldstein’s professional experience included work on set design, technical direction, production design and sound design. They had worked on such Fordham Theatre productions as “Oh My Darling,” “The Man Who Built His House to Heaven” and “The Mojo and the Sayso.”

At the time of the incident, The

New York Daily News reported that Goldstein’s death had been the fourth fatal hit-and-run in eight days citywide.

Later that week, McShane informed the Fordham community via email on June 20 that Copeland, a native of Raleigh, NC, had succumbed to injuries sustained from being hit by a car in Manhattan. The NYPD is investigating his death, which appears to be an accident. According to DNAInfo, the driver of the vehicle remained on scene and was not charged.

“It goes without saying that Elliott’s family and loved ones will be in our prayers this week,” McShane said in the email. “They have sustained a terrible loss, and our hearts are broken for them, and for Elliott.

I ask that you be especially kind to

Elliot Copeland, Gabelli School of Business ’17

one another, and to yourselves, this week, as we come together as a community to mourn our losses.”

“I’m not surprised to read about how successful Elliott was as a Fordham student, an athlete, team captain and young man,” Courtney Florian, a family friend of Copeland commented. “He will be forever missed. He is a bright light. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family at this very sad time.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, Copeland was involved with the Fordham Finance Society and the Fordham Alternative Investments Club. He was also a member of the Fordham University Rugby Football Club. Copeland had previously worked as an intern at Tapad, deVere Group and Campbell Alliance and aspired to work in the

financial industry or in corporate finance.

In 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio implemented the Vision Zero initiative to reduce auto-related deaths in New York City. In January, he claimed that 2015 was the safest year on New York City streets on record. According to data from New York City Department of Transportation and the NYPD, 134 pedestrians were killed in auto-related accidents in 2015, a drop from 139 deaths in 2014 and 183 deaths in 2013.

A memorial service for Goldstein was held at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, Calif., on June 25. Copeland’s memorial service was held at Our Lady’s Chapel on the Rose Hill campus on June 23.

Interested in reporting, photography, multimedia or layout design?

Join The Observer for our workshops on Monday afternoons Contact fordhamobserver@gmail.com for more information

Opinions

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

STAFF EDITORIAL

CMS CUTS TIES WITH THE OBSERVER: REDUX

H

itting the reset button is never easy.

When the Communication and Media Studies department (CMS) cut ties with The Observer this past April, we were left without academic support, without advisers and without a definite direction moving forward. This decision left students without opportunities to gain practical journalism experience.

Foremost, we took the summer to determine how to cover this situation comprehensively, and above all else, ethically. We consulted with the head of the ethics committee at the Society of Professional Journalists, Andrew Seaman. The final package of stories is a direct result of the tremendous research, interviewing and coordination of our editorial board.

Additionally, we addressed the most immediate structural parts of the paper left weakened by this deci-

sion. Through no small efforts, we have enacted a freelancing production model supported by workshops open to all students and

“Our entire editorial board is dedicated to seeing this year through and continuing the legacy of the paper. planned guest events featuring professionals from the industry.

We could not have gotten to this point without the support of the Office of Student Involvement and Dean of Fordham College at Lincoln Center Robert Grimes, S.J. They both helped us secure two extremely talented advisers to lead us forward.

Elizabeth Stone, Ph.D. has also been instrumental in helping us get back to solid ground.

To the larger Fordham community, we ask for your patience as we navigate through these hurdles.

Our entire editorial board is dedicated to seeing this year through and continuing the legacy of the paper that so many alumni helped build.

To our supporters, we cannot express enough gratitude. Our motivation was driven by your continued dedication.

And finally, to the student body, we ask for your involvement and interest. This is your outlet, your paper — a platform dedicated to this campus and all the voices it has to offer. The Observer will only ever be as strong as its contributing members and we extend an invitation to all of our peers to be a part of this year.

Stand by us and we promise that we’ll go far.

the

Observer Editor-in-Chief Ben Moore Managing Editor Matthew McCarthy Business Manager Michael Veverka Layout Co-Editors Sabrina Jen Katie Maurer Asst. Layout Editor Elodie Huston News Co-Editors Stephan Kozub Cecile Neidig Asst. News Editor Elizabeth Landry Opinions Co-Editors Areeg Abdelhamid John McCullough Arts & Culture Co-Editors Elena Ciotta Ana Fota Morgan Steward Features Co-Editors Ruby Buddemeyer Reese Ravner Sports Editor Mohdshobair Hussaini Asst. Sports Editor Alexander DiMisa Photo Co-Editors Hana Keiningham Jessica Luszczyk Andronika Zimmerman Literary Editor Erika Ortiz Asst. Literary Editor Areeg Abdelhamid Multimedia Co-Producers Katie Kirtland Jenny McNary Asst. Multimedia Producer Kaylee Kilkenny Copy Co-Editors Erika Ortiz Morgan Steward Terry Zeng Social Media Co-Managers Reese Ravner Andronika Zimmerman

FOLLOW THE OBSERVER ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Twitter: @fordhamobserver

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No part of The Observer may be reprinted or reproduced without the expressed written consent of The Observer board. The Observer is published on alternate Thursdays during the academic year.

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7

Opinions

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

On the Issues 2016: Student Loan Debt

By John McCullough & Ben Moore Opinions Co-Editor & Editor-in-Chief

As the general election nears, The Observer will be running a series of articles on political issues that affect students directly. In our coverage, we will analyze each of the four presidential candidates’ (Clinton, Johnson, Stein and Trump) stated platforms on these issues and examine how they compare to one another. This particular feature concerns the topic of student loans and tuition costs of higher education, due to its extreme relevance to the majority of students on campus and throughout the country. If you would like a particular issue to be covered or want to cover an issue yourself, please reach out to us at fordhamobserver@gmail.com.

COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE/FLICKR

Donald Trump, Republican Party

Dr. Jill Stein, Green Party

Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party

On the topic of student loans, Mr. Trump explained in a town hall meeting on Fox News that “The students [have] become a conduit to the U.S. Government and the colleges are not watching their costs.” Back in 2015, Trump acknowledged that student loans are one of the few things that the government should not make money on.

The Trump campaign rejects the idea of debt-free public education and Mr. Trump himself dismissed the idea in the same town hall meeting, indicating that it was an impossible cost. Sam Clovis, the policy director of the Trump campaign, in an interview with Inside Higher Ed, stated “Unequivocally no,” when asked about this possibility. In response, he rhetorically asked “How do you pay for that? It’s absurd on the surface.”

Inside Higher Ed also reports other changes being discussed within the Trump camp “involve a complete overhaul of the federal student loan system, moving the government out of lending and restoring that role to private banks.”

Trump’s most recent comments came from a town hall meeting earlier this year on MSNBC. He acknowledged that many students were interested in this topic, mentioned the possibility of loan extensions and low interest rates and “a lot of good things,” before concluding ‘we’re going to work on it.”

With the general election less than three months away, it is completely unassuring that Trump has not committed to a definitive stance on this issue and that the most comprehensive description of his stance is not coming from him, but rather from his campaign manager. Trump’s stances on student loan repayment are nowhere to be found on his presidential website.

In an interview with Fox Business, Stein described her belief that a bailout could be achieved through debt cancellation and that a student loan bailout is a way to lead to economic growth.

Stein previously spoke on this issue in a response to President Obama’s 2016 State of the Union Address, in which she stated, “the bailout for students can be accomplished through quantitative easing, the finance tool used to bailout the banks.”

According to Investopedia, an investing education site, quantitative easing is when “a central bank purchases government securities or other securities from the market in order to lower interest rates and increase the money supply.”Potential drawbacks according to The Economist include the risk of unchecked inflation and the distortion of government debt, both of which could potentially lead to unstable economic futures and possible market stagnation.

Stein, in an interview on The Young Turks, a liberal online news channel, explained quantitative easing as “a magic trick which people don’t need to understand more about.”

This damaging rhetoric proposes that students accept this as a concrete solution, without having to understand the policy.

By failing to explain this, Stein does not inspire confidence in her ability to enact a policy she does not believe is worth explaining.

On her campaign site, Stein has the following comments to offer on the issue: “Guarantee tuition-free, world-class public education from pre-school through university.” While these statements sound definitive, they fail to expand upon her understanding of quantitative easing, which she holds as the basis of her plan.

The Libertarian candidate does not offer much on his stance on student loan debt.

There is nothing listed on the campaign website on the subject, and he has certainly not laid out anything that could be considered a concrete plan.

However, in an interview with Politico he suggested that he might consider lowering interest rates for student loans. He stated, “Well, what he’s [Sanders’] right about is that students have been sold a bill of goods, so as president of the United States, at the end of the day, I get to either sign or veto legislation that Congress sends me, I would really take a hard look at how students might, I don’t know, receive some sort of benefit or reduced interest rate. I mean, if we can, if the Federal Reserve can bail out all the big banks, it seems to me that we might arrange lower interest rates for these loans to get paid back.”

While this sounds reasonable, Johnson later in the same interview expresses his agreement with the standard libertarian viewpoint that the reason for the student debt crisis is that the government has offered millions of loans at artificially low interest rates. If that perspective sounds like it’s at-odds with his previous statement, that’s because it is. These contradicting positions appear sentences apart.

One explanation for this would be that Johnson has expressed a clear interest in picking up Democratic voters who supported Bernie Sanders in the primary. His non-committal intention to “look into” a reduction of interest rates is most likely him extending an olive branch in the face of no overlap in economic policy (unsurprising when comparing a social-democratic Senator from Vermont with a Governor of New Mexico who favored privatization of the education system).

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Party According to Clinton’s official campaign website, the chief plank of her new student debt plan is her resolution to make public universities tuition free for low and middleincome students by 2021. She also pledges support for tuition-free community college, and the creation of a $25 billion fund to support institutions that predominantly serve people of color. The education platform also promises a simplification of the loan repayment process, and the establishment of a three-month moratorium on student debt repayment.

The new plan Clinton has released is somewhat different than her original plan, and represents the impact that the candidacy of Bernie Sanders has had on the race as a whole. At the beginning of the race, Clinton was passing off her status as a moderate as a selling point; it now detracts from her appeal. The addition of tuition-free public college shows an effort to strengthen the role that she attempted to portray herself as next to the Vermont social-democrat: the “progressive who gets things done.”

A curious component of Clinton’s plan is granting a three-year deferment of loan payment to “social entrepreneurs.” The idea behind this is that giving debt relief to entrepreneurs will make it easier for them to set up their businesses and, as the theory goes “create jobs.” This sounds fairly logical, but this market-based solution also endorses the right-wing view of the businessman and woman as a “wealth creator” and fits comfortably in the style in which capitalism has been managed since the 1980s, commonly referred to as neoliberalism. This pro-business plank in Clinton’s student debt plan is consistent with her support for the policies of the center-right as First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State.

Observer Alumni Op-ed

By Fordham Observer Alumni Steering Committee As a group of concerned alums, we are extremely disappointed in the department of Communication and Media Studies’ decision to sever ties with The Observer. We can attest to the positive impact the newspaper has had on our lives— and the relationships it has helped us forge—and are worried and appalled that it is in jeopardy.

Specifically, the support of the CMS department allowed students to receive consistent guidance through its advisors. Additionally, “workshops”—classes through which students could receive credit for contributing to the newspaper as reporters, photographers, videographers, or page designers—kept a consistent stream of new students coming to the paper.

Without that pathway, the diversity of the newspaper’s contributors and the volume of new participants is greatly at risk.

What is most concerning is that a department that is laser-focused on creating a new journalism major

OBSERVER ARCHIVES

For decades, The Observer has given a voice to the student body.

is distancing itself from the most logical place for students to actually put to use what they learn in classes. In New York, the appropriately cliched media capital of the world, there are a bounty of internships and jobs for the taking — and, we should note, an-ever-growing menu

of journalism programs eager to feed candidates into the pool. A thriving campus newspaper both raises Fordham’s profile among prospective students and provides staffers with the practical experience they need to land high-profile

media jobs and internships.

As we understand it, a practicum that was meant to provide students an opportunity to earn credit while working on The Observer, in essence to replace workshops, will not be offered at FCLC this semester. Though it will be offered at Rose Hill, it is laughable to think that contributors to The Observer will feel comfortable freely exchanging information with contributors to competing publications like The Ram or the paper in the same room. (Just ask any seasoned media professional--perhaps one of the many who came up through the ranks of this publication.) How will The Observer staff and editors receive regular and consistent guidance? Surely ad-hoc independent studies with a scattershot group of professors cannot fill this vacuum.

It’s definitely atypical for a group of alums to be so passionate about a student group that many of us haven’t formally been a part of for many years, or even decades.

That said, because of the sense of community we’ve created through The Observer, we’ve been able to connect with each other for advice,

job leads and friendships. That sense of camaraderie is what has motivated more than 100 alums to join a movement this summer to express support for The Observer through beautifully written letters and heartfelt phone calls asking for answers about the changes taking place on campus. For many, our experience at the newspaper is what defined our time at Fordham, and we are passionate about making certain that opportunity reaches new generations of students.

The Observer is an awardwinning publication that has consistently ranked as one of the best college newspapers nationally and in the state. FCLC is known for fostering a welcoming environment for the arts, and it’s sad to see academic support for one of its most enduring institutions stripped away.

Our hope is that either the CMS will reinstate journalism workshops or that a permanent solution will be found. Without either, we’re unsure how the diversity and freeflowing exchange of ideas that The Observer is known for can continue on for another 30-something years.

8

Photo Feature

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

140 WEST 62ND STREET The Observer captured the new student center and all of the resources it has to offer.

The new library is accessible through the plaza.

ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN/THE OBSERVER

Part of the new building is designated as a student recreational area.

The new Quinn Library spans three floors.

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

The Gabelli School of Business received an ultramodern trading floor comple

ELIZABETH LANDRY

The new student center provides an ample amount of sunlight for the Fordham community.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 25, 2016

Photo Feature

9

ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN/THE OBSERVER

Students will be able to use their Dining Dollars at the new Argo Tea on the garden level.

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN/THE OBSERVER

ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN/THE OBSERVER

Tables and study areas are placed intermittently throughout the stacks of books.

ete with Bloomberg terminals.

Y/THE OBSERVER

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

The new building features new classrooms for the Gabelli School of Business.

Arts & Culture Co-Editors Elena Ciotta—eciotta@fordham.edu Ana Fota— afota@fordham.edu Morgan Steward — msteward2@fordham.edu

Arts & Culture

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

This Fall on Broadway: What You Need to See From revivals to new musicals, the upcoming season is sure to excite.

By ELENA CIOTTA, ANA FOTA, MORGAN STEWARD Arts & Culture Co-Editors

As the curtain closes on many beloved Broadway shows and the Hamilton buzz finally begins to subside, theatergoers anxiously await the start of the 2016–17 season.

The Arts and Culture Editors have rounded up a short list of the shows they cannot wait to see and that the rest of the Fordham community should check out as well. From brand new musicals to a play revival featuring one of Fordham’s own, here is what you should look out for this year.

FALSETTOS One of the most anticipated shows returning to Broadway is the revival of “Falsettos,” a 1992 musical with a book by William Finn and James Lapine. Set in the late 1970s and early 1980s at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, “Falsettos” follows the complex relationships of Marvin, his ex-wife Trina, their 10-year-old son Jason and Marvin’s new male lover, Whizzer. Whereas most productions are written as one entity, “Falsettos” has a unique structure: each of its two acts is a different one-act play that, when combined, tells the complete quirky story of this disintegration of a traditional family unit into a more contemporary same-sex unit. Act one, adapted from “March of the Falsettos,” opens at a group therapy session with Marvin, Jason and Whizzer that explains the story to the audience. Marvin, portrayed by two-time Tony winner Christian Borle, was once happily married to Trina, Tony nominee Stephanie J. Block, but unexpectedly fell in love with another man. He decided to divorce his wife, in hopes of creating a tight-knit family with his new partner Whizzer, portrayed

by Andrew Rannells ( “Girls” and “The Book of Mormon”) and his son Jason. While the first half of the musical is comedy-driven, act two, titled “Falsettosland,” is decidedly more dramatic. Although it does keep some light comedy musical routines, the seriousness of Marvin and Whizzer’s situation becomes clear as the story progresses. “Falsettos” will have a limited run at the Walter Kerr Theatre, with previews starting on Sept. 29 and an official opening on Oct. 27. before closing in

ANA FOTA/THE OBSERVER

“The Cherry Orchard” opens on Sept. 15 at the American Airlines Theatre.

Jan. of 2017.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN Following a sold-out Off-Broadway run at Second Stage Theatre, “Dear Evan Hansen,” a new musical based on real life events of music and lyric co-writer Benj Pasek, will take its first bow on Broadway this fall.

“Dear Evan Hansen” features a creative team comprised of three-time Tony Award Nominated director Michael Greif (“Rent,” Next to Normal,” “Grey Gardens”), Tony Nominated composing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“A Christmas Story, The Musical”; “Dogfight”; NBC’s “Smash) and Obie-Award winning playwright Steven Levenson. Featuring “Pitch Perfect’s” Ben Platt in the title role, the musical tells the story of Evan, an unknown teenager who is thrust into the spotlight when a letter he wrote is found after Connor, a student at his school, commits suicide. The letter changes Evan’s life,

and takes him from invisible student to someone everyone wants to know.

The show had its world premiere during the summer of 2015 at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Since its Off-Broadway debut, it has gone on to impress cirics and audiences alike, winning the 2016 Obie Award for Best musical, an Outer Critics Circle award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical. Previews begin on Nov. 14 at the Belasco Theatre, with opening night on Dec. 4.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD The Roundabout Theatre Company is known for bringing older, beloved productions back to Broadway. “The Cherry Orchard,” one of Anton Chekhov’s most staged plays, previously graced the Great White Way almost 40 years ago. It is set to get a makeover, at the hands of celebrated young director Stephen Karam. Despite being young, Karam

has had a very successful career-in 2016, “The Humans,” the new play Karem directed, won the Tony Award for “Best Play.” The play reflects Russian society on the brink of revolution at the turn of the 20th Century, and is centered around the life of an aristocratic family, while their orchard is getting auctioned off to pay their mortgage. The cast will be headlined by Academy Award nominee Diane Lane, who will take on the main role of Lyubov Ranevskaya. Who else will be part of the cast? None other than Fordham theatre professor, Tina Benko! Having recently portrayed Anne Putnam in last year’s revival of “The Crucible,” she will be back come September. As all Roundabout productions do, the play will follow a limited engagement, with previews beginning on Sept. 15, at the American Airlines Theatre. The last performance will take place on Dec. 4.

HOLIDAY INN

This re-interpretation of the Oscar-winning film of the same name will bring a star-studded cast to Broadway. Broadway favorites such as Bryce Pinkham (“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”) and Lora Lee Gayer (“Follies”) will put on their dance shoes to tell the story of a young man who leaves show business behind and settles down on his farmhouse in Connecticut. With Christmas carols and a budding romance, this production has all the ingredients of a hit. Fans of “High School Musical” will be delighted to see Corbin Bleu return to Broadway as Ted, the role originated by Fred Astaire. Fans will be seeing much more of Bleu in the upcoming weeks as Broadway.com has commissioned him as their next vlogger. Over the course of the next eight weeks, the actor will take fans behind the scenes to show the viewers how a Broadway production is produced.

The score will feature over 20 songs by legendary American composer Irving Berlin. Previews begin Sept. 1

Library’s New Exhibit Reflects City’s “Hamilton” Obsession

By MORGAN STEWARD Arts & Culture Co-Editor

The New York Public Library’s (NYPL) newest exhibit is capitalizing on the city’s obseesion with Broadway’s biggest character— Alexander Hamilton. The free six-month exhibit, aptly named “Alexander Hamilton: Striver, Statesman, Scoundrel,” officially opened on June 24.

The goal of this exhibit is to explore the various facets of Hamilton’s personality as well as his relationships with fellow prominent politicians, a feat first began

by Lin Manuel Miranda in his hit Broadway musical, “Hamilton.”

The collection assembled by the NYPL includes historic documents regarding the Founding Father’s political, personal and military life.

Michaela Browner, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ‘19 is one of the many FCLC

students dying to get a ticket to the sold out show. “I like the music from the show a lot, but it’s been so hard to get tickets,” she explained.

Upon hearing of the new exhibit, Browner immediately got excited for the opportunity, saying “this exhibit will give me the chance to see and learn everything the show would have taught me.”

As the title of the exhibit explains, it focuses on three aspects of Hamilton’s personality and the ways in which his ambition, government service and outspoken attitude affected his life and political career. Library patrons are given the opportunity to read several documents from his time serving the government, including Hamilton’s proposed plan to replace the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution. Although Hamilton retired from the Department of the Treasury in 1795, his political work did not end there. The NYPL ex-

hibit also contains a draft of George Washington’s famous 1796 Farewell Address written by Hamilton after he had joined the New York bar.

The exhibit also provides documents that defend Hamilton’s reputation as a scoundrel. Not one known for biting his tongue, these documents highlight the statesman’s tendencies to be blatantly outspoken—a character trait many believe lead to his eventual death in a duel with his arch rival Aaron Burr. Among these records are an original copy of the infamous Reynolds Pamphlet (1797) and the broadside of a letter between Hamilton and Burr in the weeks preceding their fight.

While history buffs might be most interested in the political documents, it is a collection of letters that might catch the eye of avid fans of the Broadway production.

The NYPL has managed to gather a series of correspondences be-

COURTESY OF NYPL

The exhibit gives “Hamilton” fans the chance to see the real-life history the musical reflects.

tween Hamilton, his widow, Eliza Schuyler, and her sister, Angelica Schuyler Church, who also harbored feelings for the Secretary of State. This love triangle is explored throughout Miranda’s “Hamilton,” resulting in musical numbers like “Satisfied” that quickly became audience favorites.

For those unable to attend the exhibit in person, the NYPL’s website also offers virtual interactive features that coincide with items on display. These items include virtual documents that users can read, as well as an interactive Google map that allows individuals to click on key locations in Hamilton’s life and learn why they are important.

“Alexander Hamilton: Striver, Statesman, Scoundrel” will be on display in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at the NYPL branch located on fifth Ave and 42nd St. through Dec. 31.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 25, 2016

Arts & Culture

11

An Editor’s Guide to Cheap Tickets in NYC

By ELENA CIOTTA Arts & Culture Co-Editor

If you’re anything like me, going to see plays, musicals, exhibits and galleries is your favorite past- time.

Luckily, New York City offers phenomenal discounts for students looking for inspiration in the arts or to just relax and enjoy the show.

Deals don’t come easy though, and as someone who spent most of her freshman year in rush ticket lines, refreshing her email to see if she won Broadway lotteries and scouring the internet for discount codes to dance performances, I’m here to give tips and tricks so that you can become an NYC arts connoisseur on a college student budget.

For anything cheap in NYC, rush ticket lines will become your best friend. Rush lines aren’t for the faint of heart, however. Tickets aren’t guaranteed and rush lines sometimes require theatergoers to wake up extra early just to secure a spot in line.

If you are willing to work for it, rush lines are any theatregoers’ greatest ally. Last year I attempted to rush tickets for “The Color Purple” on three separate occasions. The first time, I was extremely unsuccessful, arriving to find a line that stretched across 45th street.

Despite arriving an hour earlier the next week to try again, I was still unable to secure tickets as I was too far back in line. It was only on my third attempt when I woke up at 7 a.m on a Saturday, that I was finally able to secure tickets. I ended up getting $35 orchestra seats and was completely blown away by the performance I had seen.

Rush lines aren’t just limited to Broadway, however. Many venues, like Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, offer day-of rush tickets to various events such as opera, ballet and music. The New York City Ballet runs a $30 for 30 program, where patrons under 30 have the ability to purchase $30 tickets to that day’s

COURTESY OF THEATRE DEVELOPMENT FUND

The new TKTS booth at the David Rubenstein Atirum is a great place to get discount tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows.

performance through their rush line. The Metropolitan Opera also offers a day-of student rush.

TKTS has also added a pop-up booth in Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium that will be open until November. TKTS offers day-of tickets to Broadway and OffBroadway performances. Located, right across the street from campus, it provides a close alternative to getting inexpensive tickets.

Online ticket lotteries are fantastic ways to test your luck.

Broadway Direct houses excellent ticket lotteries for shows such as

“Hamilton,” “On Your Feet,” “The Lion King” and “Wicked.” These are great, as you can enter them on your way to class or from the comfort of your bed.

Your Fordham ID is also an excellent way to get tickets to anything in NYC. Whenever you are attempting to buy tickets to something, flash your student ID and ask if they have a discount. Places like The Guggenheim, The Whitney and MOMA will honor a reduced fare if you are a student. MOMA also offers an excellent free Fridays program, between the hours of 4

and 8 p.m. The Met also offers a “pay as you wish” opportunity where you are able to pay whatever you would like to enter the museum. In the past, I have paid as little as $1 to see the entire museum.

The Fordham campus is also a great place to get cheap tickets.

Events like Theater Thursdays, sponsored by the Residence Hall Association (RHA), offer tickets to Broadway shows at a great price. All you have to do is look out for posters announcing the events around campus and visit the Office of Student Involvement for more information

and to get tickets. Many clubs also offer outings to events. Just be on the lookout for posters all around campus. They are your ally and will help you see a ton of the fantastic work that is being showcased in NYC. Being a student in NYC is a wonderful chance to explore new outlets and see many wonderful performances. Be smart, never pay full price and take advantage of the amazing art this city has to offer.

See a different show, challenge yourself and have fun. After all, you’re in NYC!

Features Editors Ruby Buddemeyer—rbuddemeyer@fordham.edu Reese Ravner— rravner@fordham.edu

Features

By RUBY BUDDEMEYER

Fashion Forecasting For the Fall

Features Co-Editor

Fall is rapidly approaching and as the season changes, so does the fashion in New York City. Manhattan will say goodbye to short, wispy dresses and open-toed shoes as locals begin to sport pants, sleeves and light outerwear. With Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) at the forefront of the fashion scene, many students are not only interested in fashion, but are active trend-setters, bloggers and innovators themselves.

As we transition into the fall, what trends can we expect to see on the streets of Manhattan as well as the halls of Lowenstein, and do FLC students abide by these trends or cultivate their own? The Observer turned to reputable industry sources, as well as two fashion-forward FLC students to find out.

Beginning in February, fashion buyers, editors and admirers (including many FLC students) prepare for the craze that is Fashion Week.

The biannual event occurs once in February, revealing fall collections and then again in late September, showcasing spring collections. Based on these shows, fashion insiders get an idea of what trends and styles to expect for the coming season.

After thoroughly attending and reporting on these shows, ELLE Magazine predicts nine solid trends in womenswear for the fall of 2016.

These include: navy-inspired pieces (think: double-breasted coats), leopard prints, tiered skirts and dresses, black and sheer combinations (especially on tops), large florals (on dresses and tops), bold shoulders, the color kelly green, butterfly accents, and lastly, shearling coats. Harper’s Bazaar notes similar trends, including a gothic theme (deemed “black magic”) from designers such as Alexander Wang, Marc Jacobs and Proenza Schouler, among others.

FLC students have their own predictions for the fall, such as Karin Hadadan, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, who envisions velvet and iconic handbags.

Hadadan, a new media & digital design major, fashion studies minor, and co-owner of the fashion blog The Golden Flick, is a go-to source at FLC for all things fashion. Hadadan elaborated, “There was a lot of velvet on the runway, such as velvet jumpsuits,

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

COURTESY OF THE GOLDEN FLICK

Students predict velvet pieces in this fall’s future.

dresses and jackets.” She added, “I’ve recently noticed that a lot of handbag designers who are known for their iconic simple designs, like Gucci, Fendi and Valentino, are now focusing on embellishments, graffiti prints and floral designs, so iconic handbags will be popular too.”

When it comes to trends, Ha-

dadan chooses to only take on the long-lasting. She explained, “I hardly ever follow fashion trends unless it’s something that I know will stick around for a while.” When shopping, Hadadan said, “I buy whatever I like, not what’s popular in the moment.

I like investing in pieces that are timeless, but most trends usually last

two seasons at the most, like Birkenstocks or flared jeans. I try to stay away from splurging on something that’s ‘in’ for the moment.”

Hadadan thinks FLC students typically follow their own fashion rules, straying from the trends. She noted, “Our campus definitely has a large population of students who

stay in touch with the fashion industry, mainly because we’re located in Manhattan. But, I don’t think FLC as a campus follows trends, since everyone is pretty independent when it comes to their own style. I feel like everyone kind of wears what they feel like or what they think is in style, rather than what magazines or bloggers say is in style.”

Dorien Russell, FCLC ’18, is another fashion staple at FLC— anyone who encounters him gets a glimpse of his unique and daring fashion sense. Of his own relationship with fashion trends, Russell explained, “following trends to a T doesn’t give off the right impression to those that see me on the street. I don’t want to go too wacky and off the wall because it doesn’t represent me well, but adding a little personal flavor to a well known trend allows me to be easy on the eyes, while still being a little adventurous.”

“I think there are definitely students on campus that follow trends. I was one of them when I first moved to New York,” Russell shared.

“But after living here for two years now, I’ve found my own style and where I fit in the city, allowing me to break from the restricting chains of trends.”

Russell says that “style comes with time and wisdom,” believing the older students of FLC tend to sport more unique looks and styles versus underclassmen who may be concerned with New York trends.

“There’s pressure as a freshman to keep up with the fashion capital of the world, but it’s more satisfying when you find your own identity.”

Russell sees flannel and checkered prints, pink undertones (in both womenswear and menswear) and track suits as the fashion trends on the rise this fall. He is most interested in the colors of fall 2016.

He explained, “I’ve seen a lot of pink undertones which is a color that’s traditionally seen in the spring, so seeing it used so commonly in the fall is refreshing. I also like that it’s making strides towards more gender neutral clothing and debunking the myth that pink is a female exclusive color.”

Hadadan and Russell seem to agree that FLC students abide by their own fashion rules. Whether we see a velvet jumpsuit in the Ram Cafe come fall remains to be seen.

A Closer Look at New Student Orientation

By REESE RAVNER Features Co-Editor

With the exception of summer classes, year-round faculty, and this year’s unique and daunting task of moving some offices into the new building, summer leaves Fordham Lincoln Center (FLC) calm and vacated amongst the usual hustle and bustle of the city. Despite this appearance of tranquility, wheels are turning inside as the University prepares for the upcoming academic year. This is no exception for the coordinators of New Student Orientation, who work throughout the summer to ensure that the new batch of freshmen who arrive in the fall are welcomed with friendly faces to ease their pre-college nerves.

Lauriann Elise Kormylo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, informed The Observer that she and her co-coordinators, Jessica Jones, FCLC ’17, and Emily Lindo, Gabelli School of Business Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’18, were hired in the spring and have been working on the extravagant three-day welcome ever since. “We go event by event, so we had Spring Preview back in the spring, and

then once that was over, we started diving into the work for summer orientation and the fall program [New Student Orientation].” After spring finals, the job transitioned to full-time, and the trio lived on campus and worked Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the final days of preparation, captains and orientation leaders (OLs) return to campus for training. Each captain works with multiple orientation groups and four OLs. The Captains train on Monday and Tuesday. OL Training, which Kormylo said she is most excited for, will take place later in the week.

According to Kormylo, the purpose of the training days is to teach captains and OLs “how to orient new students, make them feel welcome and give them as much information as they could possibly need about the school.” Essentially, training serves as a dress rehearsal for captains and OLs, so that when it starts leaders can be prepared and effectively help the freshmen transition into life at Fordham.

New Student Orientation will run from the day freshmen move in, Sunday, Aug. 28 to Tuesday,

PAOLA JOAQUIN ROSSO/THE OBSERVER Orientation spans three days to help the new freshmen acclimate to college life.

Aug. 30, with a variety of engaging events planned before classes begin.

The three days will consist of a variety of events, including a “Night of Welcome” on Sunday, which includes an open mic event in

the Atrium and games and movie snacks in the Student Lounge and South Lounge.

The “Night of Welcome” was Kormylo’s “baby,” and she is very proud and excited to share it with

the freshmen—specifically the open mic event. “I love seeing all the new talent that the new students have to bring to Fordham,” she said.

On Monday, orientation groups will venture out into the city on various group excursions. “Excursions are always something to look forward to,” Kormylo explained.

One excursion option is a mixer held at the Rose Hill campus.

Tuesday, the final night, will involve programming in Lowenstein and a dance under the stars on the Outdoor Plaza.

When asked what the most important thing on the agenda for planning New Student Orientation is, Kormylo noted the necessity of preparedness, organization and the cooperation and teamwork provided by the OLs and Captains. “All the little details add up to it being a great experience.”

Kormylo expressed a genuine desire to welcome Fordham’s new class with open and loving arms.

“I hope that the new students are really excited for their time at Fordham and their experience at orientation. We worked really hard on it, and we’re hoping that they really enjoy it and gain something valuable out of it.”

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

August 25, 2016

Features

13

Tales from Abroad: Fordham in Europe A Roman Holiday

By KYLE J. KILKENNY Contributing Writer

This past summer, with nearly 30 Fordham Rams from both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses, I traveled to Rome for an insightful short-term study abroad program. The program was coordinated by Ms. Sajana Blank, assistant director for Fordham’s International & Study Abroad Programs (ISAP), and hosted by John Cabot University (JCU), an American University in the heart of Rome.

Fordham students were housed at the beautiful Gianicolo Residence in the popular Trastevere neighborhood, which was just around the corner from the JCU classrooms at their Guarini Campus.

Fordham’s Rome Athenaeum Program offers three engaging courses for students to choose from: “Documentary Photography in Italy,” taught by Prof. Stephan Apicella-Hitchcock, “The Art and Architecture of Rome,” taught by Professors Jennifer Udell and Jo Anna Isaak, and “Performing Italian,” a course taught by Dr. Joseph Perricone of the Italian Department and George Drance, S.J., of the Theatre Program. As an Italian major and a lifelong performer, I jumped at the chance to take “Performing Italian,” and after encouragement by my freshmen advisor, Dr. Isaak, and my Italian advisor, Dr. Perricone, I purchased my ticket in hopes of exploring the culture and language of the “Eternal City.”

On the academic end of things, I will be the first to say mastering a language is no easy task, especially when you have a thick Long Island accent as I do. Learning how to put my mouth in the shapes of the vowels before I speak was integral to building upon my seven-year Italian education, going from a nervous reader and writer to a rather comfortable Italian speaker.

These lessons, of course, proved to help me in navigating the intricacies of Rome and its fellow Italian cities, as I was able to order food, wine and water with ease. However, after traveling to Naples, I quickly learned the dangers of Italian dialects and how they can stifle one learning a foreign language. While a great deal is the same throughout this stunning country (pizza and wine never failed to impress this New Yorker!), dialects can often

COURTESY OF KYLE J. KILKENNY

A peaceful night in the neighborhood of Trastevere, overlooking a festival held along the Tiber River.

contradict each other, adding a fresh yet confusing spin to some of my weekend adventures.

Having the foundations of the language and incredible professors on my side, I was able to enjoy Italy more as I continued to immerse myself in the atmosphere. It’s amazing to recall how Rome was once the center of the world, but has now continued to transform and evolve as both a hot-spot for tourists and the permanent home of His Holiness himself, as well as the Roman Catholic Church. As a Catholic continuing my studies at a Jesuit University, it was thrilling to be in the epicenter of such powerful faith and overwhelming positivity. Faith is an area where I continue to be challenged, but living a mere 10 minutes away from Pope Francis made it much easier to confront, accept and embrace my

ever-changing spiritual landscape.

As Father McShane would add, a Jesuit education is one of transformation- and that was evident over the course of 39-day pilgrimage to the Capital of Catholicism.

I’d be lying if I said it was all fun and games though. It’s important to note, as I’m sure any other student would say, a term abroad is not a vacation, but rather an opportunity to grow and experience yourself in a new, fresh and often daunting environment. Especially in this global climate, a world plagued by terror and fear, there were often times when my fellow students and I found ourselves in a funk of uncertainty and particular anxieties. It’s one thing to walk down Arthur Avenue or west 62nd street alone, but I quickly realized that my safety in Rome and other Italian cities should always be my paramount concern. I rarely

strolled alone as I indulged in the nightlife Rome had to offer my fellow Fordham Rams and me. As a lifelong New Yorker, I’m nothing if not tenacious, but it’s also important to highlight that a term abroad is a blessing, though a challenging one at that.

Throughout my trip and after my return to New York, my friends and family asked and continue to ask me: “Was it amazing? Did you have the time of your life? I bet you had a great time!” While all these things are true, I think the most valuable lesson I learned was not to strive to have a good time, but to simply have a time. Being present and illustrating my gratitude to myself, my hosts and my colleagues were of the utmost importance to me. Even I, an ambitious and oftentimes too-busy-for-my-owngood student, was able to quite literally watch the sunset, smell the

roses and taste the fine wine. Being mindful is key to any success story, but especially wields its command over how much you enjoy your time studying abroad.

After living in Rome for over five weeks, with frequent excursions to the Vatican, the Teatro dell’Opera (Opera House), Pompeii, Napoli and Orvieto, a quaint town in Umbria, I was able to experience a trip which was truly a dream come true. It was my first time in Europe, as well as my first trip outside of the United States, and it was overwhelmingly insightful and exciting, as well as a tremendous gift to my confidence and future academic opportunities. I cannot wait to return to Europe one day, but in the meantime, I’d like to encourage all of my fellow Rams to take the leap and chase their own passions in the gorgeous cobblestones of Rome.

“No Pasa Nada” in Granada

By GILLIAN NELSON Contributing Writer

When I first began exploring my study abroad options, Fordham’s Summer Immersion in Spain was the easiest choice. I had two goals in mind— to improve my Spanish skills and to travel somewhere unfamiliar.

But what I ended up getting was so much more than just a language lesson in a far away place. Along with 20 other Fordham students from both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, I traveled to Granada, Spain to study the Spanish language and culture. Overall, it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Nonetheless, it was not all sunshine and tapas.

The journey there was an undertaking in itself. If a 24-hour travel day wasn’t enough, there were many times I was yelled at in Spanish spoken so quickly that I could not comprehend a single word. Upon my arrival in Granada, I realized that these types of interactions were going to be a common occurrence.

My first meal with my host family was a lovely lunch of Paella, Spain’s

most famous rice dish. I was very thankful that the food tasted great, because I noticed early on that my level of Spanish was far too amateur to contribute to the table’s conversation. Cold showers, no air conditioning and no cell phone service made the first day at my new home seem like a foreign language in itself. That night, the arrival of the other Fordham students helped me relax and remember that putting myself out of my comfort zone was one of the reasons I chose to study in Spain.

Despite the amount of food and sangria consumed at all hours of the day, the people in Granada awed us with their amazing health and skinny legs. Immediately, we discovered that their secret is a way of life much more mobile than ours. In our first day, we clocked just under 10 miles, yet every single step was worth it.

I will never forget the first time we scaled the Albaicin and reached the Mirador de San Nicolas. After a 10-minute walk through the narrow winding streets dating back to the 11th century, we arrived at one of the most beautiful places I’d ever seen

COURTESY OF MARINA POUDRET

A view of the famous palace of Alhambra.

in my life. As flamenco musicians strummed their guitars, dancers stomped under the moonlight and couples embraced in the romance of it all, this plaza lit up as an oasis on a mountain overlooking Granada’s most beloved site— the Alhambra palace. Upon experiencing San Nicolas for the first time, I felt a unique

sense of passion and livelihood that I would come to know as the magic of Spain.

Classes for four hours a day, educational excursions with our professor and language lessons with my host family did help improve my Spanish a great deal. But what had the most profound effect on me

was simply the way people exist in Spain. There’s a phrase we heard thrown around quite frequently that perfectly resembles the tranquil and harmonious nature of the population: “no pasa nada,” the Spanish equivalent of “don’t worry about it.”

The people of Granada are all about love, passion and not dwelling on the trivial things in life. Meeting a local always involves a hug, kiss and an invitation for food or drink. It’s a type of generosity and genuine care that we don’t get to experience often in the states.

To anyone who has the opportunity to do so, I cannot stress enough how valuable the study abroad experience can be. I learned so much about myself, my education and the beauty of life in one short month.

Traveling to a far away place, speaking another language and adjusting to a new environment can be challenging, but the overall takeaway is beyond worthwhile. They say travel is the only thing you can buy to make you richer, and after my experience in Granada, I feel like one of the wealthiest people in the world.

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Features

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Students Take On Summer’s Final Moments Capitalizing on NYC’s remaining weeks of warm weather

By RUBY BUDDEMEYER Features Co-Editor

While the fall semester at Fordham may start on Aug. 31, the fall season doesn’t truly begin until Sept.

22. Students arrive at school with a fall mindset, but in reality, the first few weeks are hot. Before the leaves change and the sun disappears, students have fleeting days of summer weather and activities. What can Fordham students do to take full advantage of New York City’s remaining weeks of warm weather?

Visit Smorgasburg in Brooklyn “On Saturdays, this food festival is held in Willamsburg right on the bank of the East River with some spectacular views of Manhattan.

Individual stands serve everything from donuts and coconuts, tacos and truffle fries to oysters and ice cream.

Great food for you and your Instagram feed...just make sure to go on an empty stomach! And stop at the ATM before you go, it’s cash only.” Olivia LaBarge, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19.

Take a Trip to Governor’s Island “Governor’s Island is only open through Sept. 25, but it’s the perfect way to spend a hot day in New York.

The island is full of food trucks, street art, lawns and hammocks.

You can take a book and spend the whole day reading or go eat lunch with a group of friends and hang out on the lawns. Not only is it a break from the commotion, but it’s a break from the heat and humidity of the city.” - Carson Thornton Gonzalez, FCLC ’19.

Enjoy Fire Island

BEN MOORE/THE OBSERVER

Cool off from the heat with some gelato before the city freezes over.

“In the last days of summer, I would definitely take a trip to Fire Island. I would go hang out on the beach, cool off in the water, take in some sun, enjoy the sand and end the day with a walk on the boardwalk.” - Alex Seyad, FCLC ’18.

Grab Some Gelato at Lincoln Center “L’Arte del Gelato’s pink stand in Lincoln Center is the perfect fix for the blistering heat and your unrelenting sweet tooth! Swing by

for a treat and then sit on the side of the fountain for a water show and a cooling mist. Fountain too crowded?

Bask in the sun on Julliard’s semirooftop lawn.” -Lydia Culp, FCLC ’19.

Although it can be dangerous to bike on busy streets in NYC, the park is a safe and fun place to bike alone or with a friend and enjoy nature.” Caroline Shriver, FCLC ’19.

Bike Through Central Park

Walk Around Chelsea Market and The High Line

“Buy a Citi Bike day pass for $12 and bike through Central Park with a friend! The best way to enjoy the heat is to get away from the loud noises of the city and bike along the reservoir just uptown from FCLC.

“Located in the same area, Chelsea Market and the High Line are a must for warm days. Chelsea Market is an indoor food court located in Chelsea, it includes over 50 shops, restaurants and coffee shops. I usu-

ally start at “Los Tacos No. 1,” which are authentic Mexican tacos (with vegetarian options), and then get dessert at “Doughnuttery” where I can get freshly-made mini doughnuts. After walking around Chelsea Market for a while, you can make your way over to the High Line (free of charge), where you can walk around, or just sit on a bench and enjoy the view. It is a perfect way to spend your warm day with friends or even take a break from school and go enjoy the views by yourself!” Erika Pichardo-Ley, FCLC ’19.

Once a Ram, Always a Ram

By REESE RAVNER Features Co-Editor

If you attend, or have been on a guided tour of, Fordham University, you are likely aware of some frequently mentioned former students: Denzel Washington, Taylor Schilling, Amanda Seyfried, Donald Trump and Lana Del Rey. Yet, there are many Fordham alumni who have gone on to be very successful in government and arts and media who are not often mentioned, but may be doing exactly what you aspire to do.

Among the many impressive alumni are several current government figures. John O. Brennan has been the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) since 2013. He received a B.A. in political science from Fordham in 1977 and worked for the CIA for 25 years, mainly in counterterrorism analysis, before advising President Obama on counterterrorism in 2008. He also served as President Clinton’s CIA intelligence briefer.

He was also awarded an honorary degree in 2012. The current governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, graduated from Fordham in 1979. Cuomo began his career as a lawyer in New York and served as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton. He was also New York’s Attorney General for four years before he was elected governor.

In the arts and media, Fordham has produced several successful authors and journalists. New York Times best-selling author Mary

COURTESY OF ALVIN TRUSTY VIA FLICKR

Mary Higgins Clark is a best-selling author and Fordham alumni.

Higgins Clark, “The Queen of Suspense,” graduated from Fordham in 1979 and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Fordham in 1998.

She has written or co-authored 41 novels, including The Sleeping Beauty Killer, which will be released in November of this year, along with two children’s books and a memoir.

Louis Boccardi, retired president and CEO of The Associated Press (AP), received a bachelor’s degree from Fordham and went on to earn a masters in journalism from Columbia University. Boccardi worked for AP for 36 years, serving in several positions. He started his career working for numerous New

York publications before accepting a position at AP. Lynn Neary earned a B.A. in English from Fordham and is an arts correspondent and frequent guest host for National Public Radio (NPR). She reports on books and publishing and is often granted the opportunity to interview her favor-

ite authors. Neary has been with NPR for the majority of her career, after starting out as a reporter in a couple of local affiliate stations around the country.

Robert L. “Bob” Papa, also known as “the voice of the New York Giants,” received a business degree from Fordham and has had a lengthy career as a sportscaster, covering several Olympic Games, including the recent 2016 summer Olympics, golf, football and various other sports. He began his work at Rose Hill’s radio station, WFUV, and started his career at SportsPhone, a telephone service that provided sports information to callers until it was shut down in 2000, and a local radio station in upstate New York before returning to the city.

Jim Dwyer, a Pulitzer Prizewinning reporter and columnist received a bachelor’s degree in general science from Fordham in 1979 before going on to get a masters in Journalism from Columbia University in 1980.

Amidst the stress of planning their futures, students often turn to alumni for inspiration. “Since I’ve been attending Fordham, it’s cool to see the different things people do once they graduate. Like the guy who just won a Grammy— it’s really cool to see that,” Michaela Browner, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’19, said.

The big names advertised around campus may feel intimidating, but Fordham has produced many successful people, even if their names are not as frequently mentioned.

Sports Editor Mohdshobair Hussaini - mhussaini2@fordham.edu

Sports

August 25, 2016 THE OBSERVER

Looking Forward To Fordham Fall Sports

By MOHDSHOBAIR HUSSAINI Sports Editor

While the fall 2016 semester is right around the corner, Fordham’s athletic teams are already in full swing. These student athletes have been practicing vigorously during the past few weeks in preparation for the new season. It’s time to take a look at some of Fordham’s most electrifying teams preparing to begin their seasons this fall.

Cross Country Fordham University’s men’s and women’s cross country teams both concluded their 2015 campaigns with fifth-place finishes at the ECAC/IC4A Cross Country Championship. For the women’s University Division Championship events, Fordham’s Brianna Tevnan, FCRH ‘15, a graduate student, led the pack with her 13th place finish, with a time of 18:49.3 in the 6K race. Also finishing in the top 30 among 163 total runners were Angelina Grebe, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’19, Kate McCormack, FCRH ’19, and Brynna Harum, FCRH ‘18. They finished 23rd, 26th and 28th respectively.

For the men’s championships, Mike Turi, FCRH ’16, last year’s individual winner, finished fourth overall with a time of 25:57.3 in the 8K race. Also finishing in the top 30 were Nik O’Brien, FCRH ’18, Jonathan Annelli, FCRH ’15, and Jake Duckworth, FCRH ’17. They completed the race in ninth, 15th and 29th, respectively. The Rams’ Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams will commence their season on Sept. 10 at Van Cortlandt Park in the Fordham Fiasco/Ed Joyce Memorial.

Football Fordham’s football team ended their 2015 season by advancing to their third-straight NCAA FCS Championship, despite falling to the University of Tennessee-

ANDREA GARCIA/THE OBSERVER

After practicing all summer Fordham’s football team hopes to continue its recent run of success.

Chattanooga with a final score of 50-20. There was much more news to come in the offseason, as Chase Edmonds, FCRH ’18, Garrick Mayweather Jr., FCRH ’16, and Stephen Hodge. FCRH ’15, earned All-America Honors, and STATS All-America Honors. Fordham’s head coach at the time, Joe Moorhead, stepped down from his role to accept a position as the Offensive Coordinator at Pennsylvania State University. Andrew Breiner, who was formerly the Quarterbacks and Passing Game Coach, was selected as the new Head Coach of the team.

Edmonds was later named the ECAC Offensive Player of the Year.

In the spring, Fordham senior, Garrick Mayweather Jr., signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and was selected to compete

for a roster position for the NFL 2016 regular season. The 2016 season will be interesting to follow as the Rams will be led by quarterback Kevin Anderson, FCRH ‘17, and running back Chase Edmonds. The Ram-Crusader Cup will be hosted

by Fordham University and Holy Cross University at Yankee Stadium in November. For Homecoming, the Rams will host the University of Pennsylvania on Sept. 24.

Men’s Water Polo Fordham’s Water Polo team wrapped up its 2015 season with an overall (20-15) record and a (5-7) conference record. The Rams went 2-1 at the CWPA Championship, earning a ninth place finish.

While they fell to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 11-8 in

the first match of the tournament, they were victorious against both Mercyhurst University and George Washington University. Seniors Andrew Gonzalez, FCRH ’16, and Patrick Lenihan, FCRH ’16 were named 2015 ACWPC All-American Honorable Mention awardees.

Fordham’s Water Polo team should be optimistic as their seven recruits in the Class of 2020 will provide a boost in their offense and defense in the upcoming season. Based on the team’s offseason improvements, the team should be able to perform better in the Atlantic-10 conference in the 2016 season. The water polo team will commence this season at the Navy Invitational in Annapolis, Maryland on Sept. 3 and 4.

Men’s and Women’s Soccer

Fordham’s men’s and women’s soccer teams both had successful 2015 seasons. The men’s team ended its 2015 season with a 6-7-4 overall record. The Rams advanced to the Atlantic-10 Championship and fell short to Virginia Commonwealth University in the semifinal matchup. Similarly successful, the Fordham women’s soccer team advanced to the final of the Atlantic-10 Championship. The women’s team failed to capture the championship title as they lost to Duquesne University with a final score of 2-0. The team ended the season with an overall record of 137-2, marking the second most wins in team history.

Despite the team’s performances in the 2015 season, their active recruiting will bolster both the men’s and women’s soccer teams this season. The men’s team added nine additional incoming studentathletes, while the women’s team added eight new recruits, including one transfer. Additionally, the women’s soccer team had two players chosen to make the preseason All-Conference team.

Fordham’s men’s soccer team plays its first home game of the regular season on Sept. 2, hosting Quinnipiac University. Fordham’s women’s soccer team plays its first home game of the regular season on Sept. 4, hosting Manhattan College.

Women’s Volleyball Fordham’s women’s volleyball team finished its 2015 season with a loss to Davidson College. With the loss the Rams’ season ended with an overall record of 8-23.

While the team’s performance may not have been great, Fordham will return 10 starters for 2016. Since the student-athletes will be more experienced and share a greater chemistry, better results are bound to occur. The Rams will host their home opener on Aug. 31 against the Jaspers from Manhattan College in the Battle of the Bronx.

NFL Welcomes Kathryn Smith, League’s First Female Coach

By ALEXANDER DIMISA Asst. Sports Editor

Right now, Kathryn Smith is not a household name, but it should be.

Smith became the first full-time female coach in the National Football League (NFL) in January when she was promoted to the position of Special Teams Quality Control Coach (QCC) in January by the Buffalo Bills.

Smith is no stranger to the world of football; in 2007 she graduated from St. John’s University with a degree in sports management and a minor in business. Her first experience with an NFL team began with the New York Jets in 2003 when she held the position of Game Day and Special Events Intern. In 2005, she transitioned to a college scouting position with the Jets, before moving to a full-time Player Personnel Assistant in 2007.

It was not until this year that current Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan approached Smith with the opportunity to become the Bills’ Quality Control Coach.

As the QCC, Smith is in charge of breaking down film, analyzing data, running ‘scout’ or secondary teams in practice and preparing her team for the tendencies of their next opponents. Smith spoke to reporters on June 15, months after her initial promotion, and recognized that this was an entry-level, stating: “I’m at the bottom of the

totem pole, and I’m just trying to get my work done and do it as best as I possibly can.”

While this position may not be the most influential on the team, it is clearly on pace to becoming a recognized coach. Several NFL head coaches served as a QCC at one point in their careers, including former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, former Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley and former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini, among others Smith is very comfortable on the sidelines of a football field, as she has been there in some capacity since high school. Where she helped her father keep track of stats on his team during games. When asked about how far she has come her father, Robert Smith, said “the sky’s the limit.” He continued by saying: “I think she’s prepared for it. She is pretty tough…. She is always going forward, never going back.”

Smith is one step closer to breaking the gender barrier in professional sports by joining an evergrowing list of important female coaches and figures in national leagues. Last year, Becky Hammon became the first female coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), acting as both an assistant coach and summer league Head Coach for the San Antonio Spurs.

COURTESY OF KIM PEGULA/TWITTER

Kathyrn Smith (right) pictured with referee Sarah Thomas and Bills owner Kim Pegula before their historic game in August.

In October 2015, Justine Siegal assumed the role of Guest Instructor for the Oakland Athletics, which made her the first female coach in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Smith is the second female coach in the NFL, but she is the first fulltime coach after the Arizona Cardi-

nals hired Jen Welter as a training camp intern coach last year.

When Welter was asked how she felt about Smith’s hiring she said that: “I’m happy that I was essentially a lead blocker, and I always knew other women would follow.

I’m good with that.” Furthermore,

on Saturday, Aug 20, the Bills and New York Giants faced each other in a preseason game, and it was the first game in the NFL to feature both a female coach, and a female official. While neither made an official statement after the game, it is clear that this was a historic game, and hopefully one that will become more frequent as teams hire more female coaches.

Colt Anderson, a safety for the Bills, recognized that this was the first female coach he had ever had.

However Anderson said that Smith has “been great from day one,” continuing on to say “she knows what she’s talking about. You ask her questions and she’s on top of her game. You’ve got to respect that.”

Smith wants people to recognize that she earned this position, and echoed this idea when she said: “It is a big deal, but I hope people see that I’ve gotten this far by working hard, and I’m going to continue do that and focus on the job.”

Smith has been a part of the NFL for a long time and at the age of 31 clearly has a long career ahead of her.

Smith concluded her press conference by stating that “I might be the first [female coach], but I don’t think I’ll be the only one for very long.” Let’s hope that Smith is right and that the inclusion of more female coaches continues across all sports as teams and women continue to make history.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER August 25, 2016

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