Issue 11 Fall 2021

news page 2

sports & health page 4

opinions page 8

Taxi Driver Strike

Fordham on Air

Living, in New York

After 45 days, de Blasio agrees to a debt relief plan

I

The realities beyond the picturesque nature of our city

1939 Rams featured in first televised football game

Observer the

November 17, 2021 VOLUME XLI, ISSUE 11

New York City Special Issue

ANDREW DRESSNER/THE OBSERVER

A Reflection on the 2021 NYC Mayoral Election

By ALYSSA DAUGHDRILL Photo Editor

20% of Eligible Population Voted

66.5%

20%

Eric Adams Wins 66.5% of Votes for Mayoral Election

75.5%

75.5% of New Yorkers Voted in Person on Election Day see ELECTION page 2

INFOGRAPHICS BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER

FROM OPINIONS:

NYC Parks: Refreshing Green Spaces or Classist Battlefields?

JAKE ERACA Staff Writer

NYC Parks hosts an iconic roster of locations, including the sprawling Central Park, the ever-popular Washington Square Park and the scenic Battery Park.

These places have become home to an abundance of events and subcultures in the rich tapestry of NYC’s history.

The green spaces of the city have become havens for all experiences, rich or poor, privileged or oppressed. Playgrounds are beacons for young children and parents on the weekends, and the many multipurpose fields have become home to a myriad of recreation-

al activities such as local soccer leagues, children’s T-ball games and even a simple game of Frisbee.

But the parks are not all sunshine and rainbows — these common spaces are also highly policed and monitored due to their popularity and frequent usage. Since the early 20th century, the parks department has developed a practical legion of Parks Enforcement Officers, with constant budget increases, a developed paramilitary rank system, and only 11 weeks of required training before they are equipped with the power to make arrests, use batons, pepper spray and even handcuffs. Often seen as a safe spot to rest by the city’s plethora of people experiencing homelessness, the parks

The Man Behind ‘I NY’

have become an increasingly hostile environment for some downtrodden souls looking for a night’s rest despite the Parks Department’s official stance maintaining that “homelessness is not a crime.”

Hostile architecture has run rampant in the parks in an effort to combat the large populations who attempt to utilize the public space as a resting spot, home or bathroom at varying times.

The most common examples of this are the segmented benches that line the many walking paths, designed to allow people to sit but not lay on the benches preventing them from staying there to sleep.

The Student Voice

Milton Glaser’s “I NY” (“I Love New York”) logo is a wellknown and well-loved symbol that has been met with massive success. It is recognizable on a global scale. The simple visual design has become the face of New York tourism — which is exactly what it was designed for.

T-shirts, bags, pillows, mugs, snow globes, pens, and the list of souvenirs with Glaser’s design emblazoned on them goes on, and somehow nothing on the list feels surprising. The symbol is integral to tourist culture in New York City and has been adapted to a multitude of other cities as well.

The Empire State Development in New York holds the trademark for the design. It was

see MILTON GLASER page 10

Editors’ Note Dear Reader, Whether a commuter or a resident, coming to Fordham Lincoln Center makes NYC home. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, COVID-19 took NYC away from students and it took NYC from itself. What is New York without Broadway, without subway rat encounters or a slice of dollar pizza entirely too late at night?

As we step onto campus for the fall 2021 semester — a year and half later — many students are new to the city. Our NYC special issue is The Observer’s way of helping to reconnect Fordham students with NYC after our time apart.

This special issue should act as a guide to walk you through NYC as you embark on this next chapter of pandemic life. We hope that as you read, you can journey through the city’s abundant culture, learn about its history and stay up to date on its ongoing changes.

May these articles inspire you to reclaim your New York City experience.

Happy reading, Katrina Lambert | Editor-in-Chief Grace Getman | Managing Editor

see NYC PARKS page 9

of

produced without charge for a 1977 campaign to revitalize New York City. New York was facing potential bankruptcy in the 1970s and the Department of Economic Development hired the Wells Rich Greene Inc. advertising firm — which later reached out to Glaser — to help increase the dwindling number of tourists. In the years since its conception, the tourism industry has popularized the design and made it a prominent part of the city and state’s public image.

While it was originally designed for a New York state and city campaign, the design is used ubiquitously. The Department of Economic Development has tried to curb unauthorized reproductions, but the I NY logo is a prolific and lasting legacy for Glaser.

Fordham Lincoln Center

2

News

November 17, 2021 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Mayoral Election Yields Low Turnout ELECTION from page 1

By CHRISTINE IRLBECK Contributing Writer

After the NYC municipal elections on Nov. 2, Eric Adams won the mayoral race with a reported 66.5% of the vote count. Only 20% of the eligible voting population participated this year.

The vote count for all five boroughs of NYC totaled 1,016,663 votes. About 79,000 of those votes were absentee ballots and an additional 170,000 came from the early in-person voting period between Oct. 23 and 31.

In the mayoral election of 2017, Bill de Blasio took the lead representing the Democratic Party by winning 66.2% of the votes; Republican runner-up Nicole Malliotakis earned 27.8%.

In the 2017 mayoral election, 1,166,314 people casted votes, which was 23% of the eligible voting population.

Although Adams received the majority of votes in almost every borough, Staten Island was the outlier, with 68% voting in favor of Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate. The 2017 electoral results were similar to 2021. Republican candidate Malliotakis was favored by 70.8% of voters in Staten Island.

With a new mayor, NYC could experience changes in policy relating to homelessness and other city issues under Adams’ tenure. Almost half of the undergraduate population at Fordham Lincoln Center are commuters, which means new policies will influence these students and their families’ lives — as well as resident students.

Omi Mehta, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center ’25 and a resident, noted how she was “extremely happy” that Adams won the electoral election, mentioning that “he is very qualified and has a strong background in politics.”

Mehta explained that because Adams’ values are associated with the Democratic Party, she looks forward to seeing what impacts his decisions have on NYC. Sophia Zanga, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25 and a resident, spoke about how she “did not know much about Adams and his win,” detailing how she felt that since many students are ineligible to vote in NYC, “they mainly focus on the election in their hometown.”

Although voter turnout for the mayoral election was low, the election is already influencing NYC politics.

Adams has already begun unique administrative choices, such as his appointment of Stephen Scherr, a Goldman Sachs financial officer, one of the multiple businessmen in Adams’ staff thus far.

The approval rate of outgoing de Blasio is currently 37%, and there was a clear drop from a rating of 45% in April 2021, which represents city residents’ negative perception of the mayoral office.

While Adams continues to choose mayoral staff and elects a new NYPD commissioner, it remains to be seen whether Adams will carry out his campaign proposals.

PHOTOS BY AIDAN LANE/THE OBSERVER

After 31 days of protesting, the Taxi Workers Alliance launched a hunger strike on Oct. 28. The drivers are asking for a debt relief program on their medallion loans.

De Blasio Accepts Union Debt Relief Plan for Taxi Drivers After a 45-day strike, taxi drivers celebrate a victory in fight for debt relief

By AIDAN LANE Asst. Features Editor

On a warm, blue-skied afternoon, the Taxi Workers Alliance (TWA) gathered on the corner of Murray Street and Broadway outside of City Hall. They had been protesting there for 31 days — all day, all night — but on that day, Wednesday, Oct. 28, there was more commotion and media, and the stakes were higher.

The striking cabbies were about to launch a hunger strike.

Since Uber began business in NYC in 2011 and Lyft entered the industry in 2014, ride-hail companies have waged a war against NYC yellow cabs, controlling more and more of the market each year. Until 2017, the ridehail industry had yet to win, but that year Uber served more riders than NYC taxis. The war certainly seemed over.

In 2014, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) had its last auction of Taxi Medallions, the license required for drivers to operate yellow cabs in NYC. TLC is the regulatory body of all for-hire car services in the city. The starting price for a single medallion was $850,000. The estimated price of a medallion today is $100,000. The average driver’s debt is around $600,000.

As a result of the Uber and Lyft takeover, NYC’s taxi drivers have suffered. Thousands foreclosed on their medallion loans, with many forced to spend their retirement savings and work long days for dwindling earnings.

“We have a lot of drivers who are in their 60s — some are even pushing their 70s — that have no retirement,” Augustine Tang, a taxi driver and strike organizer, said. “They want to go back out to work, but they don’t want to be trapped behind the wheel, basically in indentured servitude, working to pay off the loan that they will never be able to pay back.”

“ I’ve been coming

to this building, city hall, since 2017 asking for help, asking for mercy, because they turned my dream into a nightmare.”

Mouhamadou Aliyu, taxi driver

The medallion market collapse struck at the heart of these cabbies’ very existence, as city officials offered taxi medallions to immigrants as a way of achieving their coveted “American dream.”

“They were going to airports saying, ‘Hey look, you have a chance to get to the middle class,’ that the medallion is better than the stock market, that it was even a worry-free retirement for these guys,” Tang said.

Mouhamadou Aliyu, a taxi driver since 2001 and an immi-

AIDAN LANE/THE OBSERVER

The TWA and the city came to an agreement on Nov. 3, ending the hunger strike.

grant from Ivory Coast, said he is pained by the destruction of his dream.

“I’ve been coming to this building, city hall, since 2017 asking for help, asking for mercy, because they turned my dream into a nightmare,” he said. “They destroyed my life. They took the American Dream away from me.”

On Sept. 18, the TLC finally proposed a debt relief plan for the drivers. It would cost the city $65 million and cap payments for drivers at around $1,600 a month. There would be no city-backed guarantee on medallion loans, meaning drivers would still be at risk of foreclosure and bankruptcy.

Organizers said the TLC’s plan was way too little, way too late. A strike was necessary.

In 2015, the city declined to cap the number of ride-hail drivers in NYC. They later did so, but in 2019 the cap was struck down in court. There are now more than 130,000 ride-hail drivers in NYC, compared to 13,587 medallions, half of which are not currently being used due to fear of bankruptcy. This means there are only about 7,000 active cabbies in the city.

Tang said he inherited his medallion from his father, who passed away six years ago. Along with the medallion, he inherited $530,000 in debt.

“I decided to keep it — really just to carry on his legacy and keep the medallion in the family,” he said. “Five years ago I didn’t know anything about driving a taxi, about the medallion. I didn’t know how much goes into a taxi, how much expense and hardship was going to come from all the for-hire vehicles that were flooding the city.”

After 45 days of protest, with 14 of the strikers on a two-week hunger strike, the drivers have become a family. During the protests, the drivers showed infinite compassion for each other and for their respective struggles. Each striker was friendly, welcoming and calm — sometimes almost joyful. But as the protest would heat up, the raw emotion of their fury and of their sadness was palpable.

“I was trying to build a better life for my kids and the system just destroyed the whole thing,” Aliyu said. “It’s too much pain.

The suffering’s unbearable.”

Jimmy Lai, a Malaysian immigrant who has worked as a taxi driver for 17 years, is also in mas-

sive debt, but said his struggles are nothing in comparison to older drivers.

“I know one driver from Hong Kong. He started to drive in 1973.

It’s been 48 years already. They lost all their retirement. This is a disaster,” Lai said.

It was through their resiliency that the TWA finally won. On Nov. 3, with the support of the entire NYC congressional delegation and more than 70 current state senators and assembly members, the city accepted a slightly modified version of the TWA debt relief proposal. The proposal included a debt cap at $170,000, monthly payments of around $1,100 and a city-backed guarantee if drivers can’t make those payments.

After the city and TWA announced they had come to an agreement, the protest became a celebration. Those on hunger strike could finally eat and those who had forgone work for a month and a half could go back to supporting their families.

Their victory takes place amid the backdrop of a national surge in union strikes and an increase in public support of labor.

While NYC taxi drivers have won this fight, the very existence of yellow cabs is still at stake.

Ride-hail companies continue to dominate the market, and in order to make their $1,100-a-month payments, drivers will still need to work long hours.

But not everything is going the way of ride-hail companies. This summer, taxi usage went up 5% while ride-hail use declined 15%, in part due to the shortage of drivers amid the pandemic.

With the Curb app designed to promote NYC taxis, cabs seem ready for more riders. The app has lower fares than Uber and Lyft, no surge pricing, and it gives drivers more money than competitors.

Uber has no plans of giving up its market share, as the company is in talks with TLC to offer taxis operated by medallion-owning drivers a place on its app.

Aliyu said the idea of working with Uber is repulsive.

“I can’t stand them,” he said.

“We paid over a million dollars for this thing (the medallion).

They came in and got it for free.

This is why we’re here now, protesting the predatory lending.”

For now, yellow taxi drivers can enjoy their hard-earned victory, but the years ahead contain more uncertainty than answers.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER November 17, 2021

News

3

Bronx Night Market Concludes Another Successful Season Co-founded in 2018 by a Fordham alum, the event celebrates local food and the community

By TARA LENTELL Staff Designer

Most Fordham students know that Arthur Avenue is famous for its array of Italian eateries. The wide variety of food offered in Bronx Little Italy goes beyond Arthur Avenue. From street vendors to restaurants, the Bronx has every type of food imaginable. Foodies can enjoy lobster and seafood at City Island Seafood Shack, Caribbean food from Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights, chocolate mousse at Miss Grimble, and pastrami and rye at Liebman’s Deli. The list goes on.

Until a few years ago, there was no one-stop showcase of all the fantastic food found in the Bronx. Marco Shalma co-founded the market with Amanda Celestino, Fordham College at Rose Hill ’17, in order to change that.

Shalma and Celestino co-founded the Bronx Night Market in 2018.

They met at a food event held in the South Bronx and connected after seeing a lack of appreciation for food from the borough. They sought to create a market with the goal of spreading the word about the incredible food in the Bronx.

“ For the rest of the

slots, we make sure to mix it up and give different businesses the opportunity. ”

Marco Shalma, Co-founder of Bronx Night Market

Both Shalma and Celestino are foodies with an affinity for marketing and great aesthetics. They made

a perfect team. Their experience in marketing was integral — Celestino worked as an editor of the magazine “Edible Bronx,” and Shalma worked for a company doing marketing for small businesses.

“ I thought it was

really fun. The DJ was good and the music was pretty cool. ”

Jason Bonner, FCLC ‘25

Over the past decade, night markets brimming with food vendors, food and music have sprung up throughout NYC’s five boroughs and across major cities in the U.S. On March 21, 2011, Smorgasburg opened in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

It became a massive success and the largest open-air market in the country. The concept of open-air food markets continued to spread.

Smorgasburg opened locations in Manhattan and Los Angeles, and in 2015, Queens launched its own night market.

Shalma and Celestino knew that the Bronx also had the potential to be a major attraction, so they began looking for the perfect location.

“Once we found the Fordham Plaza, we knew immediately that was the place,” Shalma said. “First of all, it has Fordham University right there. Second, it is right by the Metro North. And third, it is one of the largest plazas and shopping districts in the city.”

More than 7,000 people attended the first event on June 30, 2018, making it a huge success.

ALYSSA DAUGHDRILL/THE OBSERVER

The Bronx Night Market founded in 2018 aims to support small businesses and expand their exposure to new customers.

The first Bronx Night Market included restaurants from around the borough and tried to bring a “global experience” to market goers. As the market expanded, street vendors have found it easier to staff their booths.

“There is a core group of about 1012 vendors that everyone loves and has come to expect,” Shalma said. “Most people don’t come every week, but when they do, they expect to see certain vendors. For the rest of the slots, we make sure to mix it up and give different businesses the opportunity.”

The Bronx Night Market aims to support small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) by exposing them to new customers. Shalma also hopes to employ “micro-business” vendors (those with 20 employees or fewer) at the market.

Many micro-businesses are immigrant-owned. Shalma has always wanted to use the Bronx Night Market to facilitate their success.

During the pandemic shut-down when many of these local vendors suffered economic losses, the market partnered with the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in December 2020 for its annual toy and coat drive. The event allowed vendors to stay open and sell products during the holiday season.

The free market’s music and lights cannot be missed, and anyone can explore the plethora of food offerings and vendors for free. Its location is a five-minute walk from the closest Rose Hill campus exit, which makes it a perfect destination for Fordham students.

Jason Bonner, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’25, attended the

market on Halloween weekend.

“I thought it was really fun. The DJ was good and the music was pretty cool,” Bonner said. “The tacos I had were really, really good.”

The Bronx Night Market hosted its last event of 2021 on Nov. 13, which was called the Bronx Harvest Fest. In addition to the 55 vendors in attendance, there was a full lineup of performers — including two Fordham a cappella groups.

Shalma appreciates when Fordham students check out their events.

“I’d just like to shout out Fordham U kids. Every year at the end of August, the vibe changes at the Market, and you know that Fordham students are back,” Shalma said. “It’s great to have them here, and it always makes the September and October months of the season some of our favorites.”

Halal Cart Outside Lowenstein Robbed

Public Safety provided footage to the NYPD but did not claim responsibility for workers’ safety

By MARYAM BESHARA and CHLOE ZELCH Asst. News Editors

The halal cart frequented by Fordham community members outside of Lowenstein was robbed on Monday, Oct. 18, at 3:12 p.m.

One of the halal cart employees was cut when confronting one of the thieves.

In an email sent to the Fordham community on Oct. 19, John Carroll, associate vice president of Public Safety, wrote that no university personnel were harmed in the incident. Public Safety reported that two men approached the halal cart, and one person distracted the server by asking for directions while the other took the tip jar and fled on an electric scooter.

Carroll wrote that one employee chased the thief up 60th Street

toward Amsterdam Avenue, where he confronted the thief, who then cut the employee on his hand and fled.

Robert Dineen, director of Public Safety, said Fordham was notified of the incident by the NYPD. Although officers arrived after the thieves had fled, Fordham provided closed-circuit television footage of the suspects to detectives.

“Unfortunately, while we certainly support all members of the public, Fordham University cannot be respon-

ed. “He drove my hand down and broke my phone.”

Elfiky has been serving halal food at the 60th Street location for five years and noted that one of the other employees has had his wallet stolen while working in the past. He explained that this robbery was out of the ordinary.

“ I love everyone here like a brother. I love my customers. ”

Bashir Elfiky, halal cart owner

MOLLY HIGGINS/THE OBSERVER

The halal cart outside Fordham’s entrance was robbed on Oct. 18.

sible for ensuring the safety of vendors who are not operating on University property,” Dineen said.

Bashir Elfiky, the owner of the halal cart, recounted the incident. He said one of the thieves asked his coworker how to get to Times Square while the other person ordered a cheeseburger, took the tip jar and fled.

Another halal cart employee held the assailant by the arm, waiting for the police to arrive until the thief pulled out a knife and cut Elfiky’s finger.

“I said ‘Somebody help me, help. Somebody call the police,’” he report-

“This is the first time I have seen somebody like that, young, about 18 years old ... He did not have a mask ... It was abnormal,” he said.

Elfiky explained that he typically feels safe working near Fordham. “I love everyone here like a brother. I love my customers. I love my food. I love my truck,” he said.

“The halal cart is a staple of our community,” Maddy Feltus, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’22, said. “When we had dining plans, we relied on their food.

Fordham should support them.”

Many students were upset by the robbery of the halal cart and visited the next day to add more money to the tip jar.

“A lot of my friends went to get food from the halal cart the day after the email about the robbery was sent out and made sure to tip the workers extra,” Feltus said.

David Fretz, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, said he frequents the halal cart every few weeks in between his Ram

Van shifts. He said he believes that Fordham should supply the police with any security footage, but it would be difficult to do anything beyond that.

“What else is there to do? Install more cameras? Hire a public safety officer to watch the cart?” he asked. “At that point you might as well just give the halal guys the money it would cost and call it even.”

Caroline Doyle, FCRH ’23 and a Ram Van driver, occasionally visits the halal cart during long shifts.

“I was sad to hear about the robbery — stealing the tips of anyone who works long and hard days is unfair, and the guys at the halal cart deserve it the least of anyone,” she said.

Public Safety checked in on the halal cart workers in the days following the robbery.

“On the day of the incident my duty supervisor went to the ambulance to check on the victim. His injury was minor and, thankfully, he was doing fine,” Dineen said. “My duty supervisor also stopped by the cart on the days following the incident to check on the vendor. Again, he was fine.”

The NYPD has not been in further contact with Elfiky about the robbery. They last contacted him for a photo of his injured hand on Oct. 19 and have not called him about the incident since.

Dineen explained that the 20th precinct of the NYPD is still investigating the incident.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Public Safety at (212) 636-6076 and speak with a public safety supervisor.

Sports & Health

Sports & Health Editor Patrick Moquin sports@fordhamobserver.com health@fordhamobserver.com

November 17, 2021

THE OBSERVER

PHOTO COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS, GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MADDIE SANDHOLM/THE OBSERVER

Video footage of the game is lost, but photos survive of Fordham’s season opener against Waynesburg, the first-ever televised college football game.

New Yorkers Watch From Home as Fordham Football Makes TV History The maroon-clad marauders played their 1939 season opener in the first televised college football event

By PATRICK MOQUIN Sports & Health Editor

The year was 1939, and Fordham was a football school. Three years removed from the legendary “Seven Blocks of Granite” and three away from a victory in the Sugar Bowl, the Rams were perennial contenders on the national stage. But in the season opener that year against the Waynesburg University (WU) Yellow Jackets, the football powerhouse took yet another leap forward — this time onto the small screen.

On Sept. 28, 1939, the Rams took on the Yellow Jackets in the first televised game in college football history. But to fans at Randall’s Island Stadium, the game was similar to any other Fordham rout in previous years. The differences were minimal: a single camera mounted on the sidelines, two massive Telemobile trucks outside the stadium and radio commentator Bill Stern in a nearly unprecedented role.

In a massive effort sparked by New York’s World Fair, NBC began to pour large sums of money into various sorts of television broadcasting. One of these was live sports coverage, which was already extremely popular on the radio and intrinsically appealing to a visual format.

At the time, New York City was the only location in the country with the technology to broadcast such an event. The Telemobile trucks transmitted signals to a tower atop the Empire State Building controlled by the Radio Corporation of America. The audience watching W2XBS, NBC’s experimental TV station at the time, was certainly smaller than the 9,000 fans in attendance. The exact number of viewers varies between sources, but NBC broadcasts at the

time were only available to those in the New York area because of a limited transmission range. Meanwhile, household televisions were limited and expensive, at least $4,000 when adjusted for inflation, making them an exclusive commodity for wealthy families.

But for a small New York audience tuning in from home, airing any Fordham University (FU) game was an obvious choice. The maroon-clad marauders from the Bronx were coming off a 1938 season in which they ranked 15th in the country and a 1937 season in which they had been ranked third.

Led by Head Coach Jim Crowley and Athletic Director Jack Coffey, the Rams were one of the most formidable teams on the East Coast by 1939 and had the schedule to prove it. In what was considered “Caligulan cruelty” at the time, Coffey organized one of the hardest schedules in the school’s history, including games against the University of Alabama, Tulane University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Of the matchups on this supposed “suicide schedule,” Waynesburg in the season opener was considered one of the team’s easiest opponents all year. When the two teams played on the same field the previous season, the Rams won handily, 53-0. So when Yellow Jackets left halfback Bob Brooks, WU ’42, broke off a 63-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the first quarter, fans watching at home had the chance to witness one of the first crowd silencers in television history.

With the extra point, Waynesburg took an early 7-0 lead, but the Rams responded quickly with a score of their own on the following drive. Fordham marched to

Waynesburg’s 17-yard line on five straight rushes, and Steve Kazlo, FU ’40, found the end zone on yet another condescendingly easy run.

Kazlo made his own extra point to tie the game, 7-7.

By the end of the second quarter, Waynesburg’s early attack was nearly forgotten, as Fordham scored two more touchdowns to take a twoscore lead. The first was an evasive 32-yard score by left halfback Leonard Eshmont, FU ’41, who made Waynesburg defenders look silly enough to reportedly evoke laughter from the crowd in attendance.

Though they didn’t know it at the time, some of the finest football players in Fordham’s history were changing the world.

The second score only came after a complicated sequence. After failing to convert on fourth down at the goal line, the Rams gave possession to the Yellow Jackets in their own end zone. Waynesburg failed to gain a first down, a problem for the team all game, and kicked away to Fordham.

The punt was short, however, and the three-headed running attack of Kazlo, Eshmont and Ralph Friedgen, FU ’40, got the Rams back to the two-yard line before the end of the quarter. Friedgen cashed in from there, becoming the third Fordham back to score in the 21-7 game.

The second half is of little note, as the Yellow Jackets sputtered while the Rams continued to score.

In the third quarter, fullback Dominic Principe, FU ’41, notched yet another rushing touchdown for the Rams from four yards out, and Friedgen scored again in the closing minutes of the fourth. The final extra point was no good, but the result was never in question as Fordham cruised to a 34-7 victory.

In a game that was very different from the ones played today, quarterback and team captain William Krywicki, FU ’40, was praised more for his blocking than passing. The team only made five pass attempts, some of which were thrown by backs and not by Krywicki. Two were completed for 64 yards, and two were intercepted.

Fordham backs combined for 337 yards on the ground while Waynesburg only managed 157, even with Brooks’ 63-yard scamper early on. The Yellow Jackets collected five first downs throughout the entire game and lost three fumbles. Despite losing, Brooks was the one who received the most applause after the game, as many considered Fordham’s performance a disappointment.

While the game is remembered today as the first televised college football game, very few people considered it the focal point of the event. Stern, who typically embellished plays for his calls on radio, found the visual element limiting, and NBC almost certainly spent more than they made back on the single broadcast. However, it was an investment for the future of television and the potential market for sports within the medium.

Fordham went on to lose its next two games to Alabama and

Tulane but finished the season with a 6-2 record and earned the 15th ranking in the Associated Press poll at the end of the year.

The Rams earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl the following season but lost 13-12 to Texas A&M University. After that, nearly every member of the team fought in World War II, and some went on to pursue careers in professional football.

The years wore on, and Fordham’s football program suffered while Waynesburg eventually accepted its status as a Division III school. Nearly every player on the field that day has since passed away. Randall’s Island Stadium became Triborough Stadium and then Downing Stadium before it was eventually torn down and replaced by Icahn Stadium. The footage broadcast that day was not recorded and has not been seen since. It seems like the only thing that lives on from that day is the company that captured the action.

After years of refinement, NBC’s costly stunt in 1939 evolved into a billion-dollar industry, and sports television has become a societal constant even as star players and teams fade away and grow anew. Though they didn’t know it at the time, some of the finest football players in Fordham’s history were changing the world.

Their thoughts in 1939 didn’t extend far beyond a game against the Crimson Tide the following week, but with the help of a revolutionary broadcasting company in the heart of a city on the cutting edge, the Rams did their part in furthering one of the most important technologies known to the contemporary world.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER November 17, 2021

Sports & Health

5

NYC Board of Health Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis Health officials are increasingly acknowledging the health disparities exacerbated by racism

By GUS DUPREE Asst. Sports & Health Editor

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) passed a major resolution on Oct. 18 declaring racism to be a public health crisis. According to the NYC Health Department’s resolution — which was signed under the department’s Board of Health (BOH) — COVID-19’s disproportionately high mortality rate for non-whites is a result of “extensively documented racial inequities” stemming from

structural racism. To address the health effects of racial discrimination, the health department plans to allocate resources to “address structural racism and longstanding inequities.”

Government and civic institutions such as health care and hospitals have long been documented as having entrenched biases against non-whites. These disparities were — and continue to be — influenced by environmental pressures coupled with socioeconomic inequality as a result of centuries of white supremacist policies and attitudes.

Ratios in comparison to White, Non-Hispanic persons

COVID-19 Cases

COVID-19 Related Hospitalizations

COVID-19 Related Deaths

American Indian or Alaska Native, Non-Hispanic persons

1.7×

3.5×

2.4×

Asian, Non-Hispanic persons

0.7×

1.0×

1.0×

Black or African American, Non-Hispanic persons

1.1×

2.8×

2.0×

Hispanic or Latinx persons

1.9×

2.8×

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INFORMATION FROM CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, INFOGRAPHIC BY MADDIE SANDHOLM

However, the belief persists among health care providers that race determines health outcomes, with whites historically being seen as “healthier” than their nonwhite counterparts, particularly Black Americans.

Medical Racism: A Brief History The causes of racism in public health are highly nuanced, but can all be traced back to racial discrimination and neglect by the medical community and government administrations.

The detrimental effects of racism on mental health have been well-documented, with nonwhites experiencing excessive stress as a result of discriminative policies and the legacy of white supremacy in America. The medical field has had a troubled history of mistreating and underserving non-white communities.

Unethical experiments have been conducted on Black populations, like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. In 1932, hundreds of Black men were infected with syphilis without their consent to study its long-term effects and transmission rate. Researchers also failed to provide the readily available penicillin cure for syphilis to any of them after the study’s conclusion.

The legacies of such injustices continue to stir distrust of medical services among Black communities, as evidenced by their reluctance to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. People of color also tend to have less access to affordable health care and fewer treatment options than their white counterparts.

Medical racism also affects mental well-being. Many people of color experience the pressure to code-switch, or act and speak

more like white Americans, particularly in white-dominated settings. Such pressures stem from cultural norms that historically value “standard” English over African-American Vernacular English in both casual and professional conversation.

Jeffrey Ng, director of Counseling and Psychological Services, said that “racism and other manifestations of systemic oppression have been public health crises long before any formal resolutions.”

New York City provides disparate medical care to its diverse residents, as demonstrated by a 2004 report from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The report found that communities of color are disproportionately concentrated in lower-income neighborhoods, have shorter life expectancies than white communities and are three times more likely to suffer from diabetes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has similarly underlined existing racial inequities, as seen by the higher rate of hospitalization and death among Black Americans compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Combating the Health Crisis The BOH’s resolution included various proposals and strategies to ensure “a racially just recovery from COVID-19 and other actions.” Such actions include allocating more funds and resources to health care for communities of color, as well as including race and ethnicity in future reports.

The BOH additionally called for a review of the department’s “historic role in divesting and underinvesting in critical community-led health programs” for non-white communities.

For students suffering from mental strain stemming from race, Ng recommended counseling services.

“We approach counseling/ therapy for students who have experienced racism and/or other forms of identity based injustices from a trauma informed perspective, which all of our staff are trained in,” Ng said, citing mental health resources both onand off-campus.

Beyond the BOH’s resolution, the legacies of institutional racism continue to disproportionately affect communities of color citywide. City leaders like mayor-elect Eric Adams are increasingly acknowledging how historical legacies of racism continue to afflict communities of color.

The BOH’s resolution emphasizes that the impact of racism on the health care of non-white populations cannot be ignored. While non-white communities continue to be plagued by insufficient treatment compared to their white counterparts, attempts like that of the NYC Health Department show that efforts are being made to change the structures of the city’s health care system.

New York City is not the first to pass a resolution on racism as a public health crisis. Milwaukee County in Wisconsin passed a similar resolution back in May of 2019 before the onset of COVID-19. Other townships and cities across the country released their own resolutions identifying racism as a health crisis. Many of these resolutions, including New York City’s, have been criticized for offering only suggestions on combating the crisis rather than concrete action to mitigate health disparities. How these resolutions will translate into real change remains to be seen.

Academics Give a Struggling City Hope With COVID-19 Research Fordham professor worked on Rockefeller University project at cutting edge of coronavirus science

By ANUSHA IMRAN Staff Writer

As we go back in time and think about the worldwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, feelings of restlessness and fear resonate with the past. New York City lost its joy, motion and livelihood. Streets were deserted while hospitals overflowed with patients. Doctors and scientists were not given a break as they struggled to learn about an unknown virus and halt the number of deaths accumulating worldwide.

New York’s doctors and scientists played a key role in fighting back from the despair common in the early months of COVID-19’s emergence.

Early on in the pandemic, hope for a way forward in a once-bustling city was scant. Within months, New York rose anew. In the face of immeasurable pain and sudden, tragic death, the painstaking efforts of the city’s brightest minds led to one of the most significant scientific discoveries of the pandemic. Academics at Rockefeller University produced the very first image of the

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) structure, which serves as the “copying machine” of the virus. This structure is fundamental to the virus’s ability to spread.

Viruses are only able to spread because they copy themselves.

Once in a cell, a virus loses its protein coat, which allows for translation and transcription of the DNA or RNA strand. Fundamental to this process, in SARS-CoV-2 replication, is the RdRp complex. This synthesizes an RNA strand copy of the original virus genome.

Paul Dominic B. Olinares, who holds a doctorate in chemistry and chemical biology from Cornell University, is an associate professor in the Fordham College at Lincoln Center natural sciences department and a research associate at Rockefeller University. Originally hailing from the Philippines, Olinares studied chemistry at Ateneo de Manila University.

In late April 2019, Olinares received permission to perform experiments in the Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry at Rockefeller University. Here, he used native mass spectrometry techniques to identify the structure of viral protein complexes. These techniques weigh intact protein complexes to determine their mass and molecular composition.

The methods Olinares employed a year earlier became pivotal in 2020. Olinares’ colleagues began attempts to reconstruct the RdRp protein complex found in SARS-CoV-2. Using his expertise in mass spectrometry, Olinares was able to confirm that the reconstructed protein complex

COURTESY OF PAUL DOMINIC OLINARES

Paul Dominic Olinares in his lab at Rockefeller University where he worked on reconstructing the protein complex of the SARS-CoV-2.

was the same as the one found in SARS-CoV-2.

This was a necessary step to beginning a more thorough analysis of the protein complex. Using cryo-electron microscopy, Rockefeller University scientists were able to generate the first image of the RdRp structure.

“We now have an additional structural template that can be really helpful for drug developers trying to find new compounds that could get into this molecular machine and make

it stop,” Elizabeth Campbell, a research associate professor at Rockefeller, said in an August 2020 lab feature discussing the Rockefeller researchers’ work.

With a more thorough understanding of the RdRp structure, scientists can determine how to better target it and prevent viral replication and spread. This allows for the creation of therapies and other medicines that prevent and limit the scope of infection.

Remdesivir, a nucleotide analog and the new oral antiviral

pill named Molnupiravir from Merck both target RdRp. Overall, understanding the structure of RdRp and additional proteins that interact and regulate its function will enable the development of new antiviral drugs. New York’s doctors and scientists, from the front lines of pandemic care to the busy labs studying the intricacies of viral structure, played a key role in fighting back from the despair common in the early months of COVID-19’s emergence.

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Roosevelt Island (above) The ruins of the Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island stands as a memory of the medical and correctional institutions that once dotted the island.

Now, the southern tip of Roosevelt Island around the hospital ruins is a quiet park which offers an escape from the City.

- andrew dressner

- ashley yiu

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (left) A view of the VerrazzanoNarrows Bridge that connects Staten Island and Brooklyn over Fort Wadsworth. Fort Wadsworth is a former military base that has since been turned into a recreation area/park. There are many green areas and beaches to explore in the area.

Escape Staten Island

By KYLA MCCALLUM Staff Designer

Brooklyn Bridge Taken at the Brooklyn Bridge Park, every sunset view of the East River never fails to make memories beautiful and unforgettable.

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The Staten Island Ferry (below) Photo taken from St. George Terminal in Staten Island. 22 million people rely on the ferry for quick transportation between Manhattan and Staten Island, and it is one of the island’s biggest attractions.

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One World Trade Center Towering over the rest of Manhattan, One World Trade Center is a pinnacle of engineering and an epic symbol of New York. Standing at exactly 1,776 feet, the Trade Center represents community and togetherness in times of crisis. At its base sits the memorial to the 9/11 disaster.

Times Square (left) The heart of the city that never sleeps – the place where people from around the world gather to stand in awe of the never ending lights, and to see a billboard of Justin Bieber’s new album.

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Arthur Ave (above) Walking down Arthur Avenue shows a city in fall spirits.

Ciccarone Park (top right) Park visitors enjoy the waning daylight hours in a quiet city space.

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Queens Jumble

By KREENA VORA Fun & Games Editor Go through the Neighborhoods to fly away from Queens Directions: Fill in the blanks to find neighborhoods in Queens.

The circled letters will spell out where to fly away from.

___a__a Gantry Plaza State Park Located adjacent to the East River in Long Island City, Queens, Gantry Plaza State Park features a sunset ridden skyline of Manhattan, a vintage railroad car float with “Long Island” written across it, and a Pepsi-Cola sign near the site of the former bottling plant. Prior to its 1998 opening, the state park once operated as a dockyard.

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- alice moreno Queens Boulevard Prospect Park The subway platform at Queens Boulevard A band plays live overlooks the Robert F. Kennedy bridge, music at the entrance where a gorgeous sunset makes for to Prospect Park. The a more pleasing view than an Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch underground subway tunnel. in the background sits in Grand - molly higgins Army Plaza and serves to honor the defenders of the Union in the Civil War.

- andrew dressner

Brooklyn Decoder

By ALYSSA MACALUSO and KREENA VORA Head Copy Editor and Fun & Games Editor

Forest Hills (Station Square) Station Square in Forest Hills is a charming plaza that boasts medieval architecture in Forest Hills Gardens. Its beauty is 18 11 12 22 17 10 15 15 25 26 10 15 23 21 26 4 15 unmatched and serves as an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, despite being just a short distance away 11 6 22 1 9 5 15 9 26 16 16 24 17 18 16 25 18 10 19 23 22 11 from one of the most popular shopping destinations 1 26 10 5 26 9 9 26 10, 9 5 15 4 6 22 1 15 10 26 25 15 23 22 11 in the borough – Austin St. The fictional neighborhood “Meadow Hills” featured in 24 6 22 22 3 16 12 10 5 15 18 19 5 9 23 26 10 25 9 5 15 the video game Grand Theft Auto IV, is modeled after this very location.

Hints: 6 22 8 23 22 11 24 6 22 8 10 23 9 22 10 15 23 16 18 10 18 10 19 Directions: Decode the message below to find pretty Brooklyn spots.

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- abbigail ramnarine

INTRODUCTION AND PHOTO CURATION BY ANDREW DRESSNER PAGE DESIGN BY MADDIE SANDHOLM

Opinions

Living, in New York

It doesn’t always have to be brunch, booze and butterfly gardens

Opinions Editor Clara Gerlach Ava Peabody opinions@fordhamobserver.com November 17, 2021 THE OBSERVER

Observer the

Editor-in-Chief Katrina Lambert

Managing Editor Grace Getman Online Editors Corbin Gregg Jill Rice Creative Director Roxanne Cubero Treasurer Adam D’Souza Fundraising Coordinator Shagun Rath Advertising Coordinator Luis Castellanos Layout Editor Maddie Sandholm Asst. Layout Editor Janine Baltazar Photo Editors Alyssa Daughdrill Andrew Dressner Asst. Photo Editor Ashley Yiu Head Copy Editors Emily Ellis Alyssa Macaluso Asst. Copy Editor Sophia Collender

ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER

JESSICA YU Asst. Opinions Editor

Every other Sunday, my best friend and I take a stroll to the Upper West Side. We stop to pick up coffee and pastries on the way, which we eat when we reach the steps of the Museum of Natural History. Sometimes, she brings a produce bag and parses through the cilantro sold at the farmer’s market just behind the museum. Other times, we just sit, dog watch and catch each other up on our weeks.

It’s quite romantic, really, and one of the only things that made us feel like we were living up to the hype of going to college in New York during the pre-vaccine pandemic times last year.

It’s something that we’re trying to keep up now even as the city’s many establishments are more open and less scary.

Though the $10 pastry and coffee pains me a little, it’s a relatively affordable outing for the city. Not to mention that Sunday morning is the perfect time for some peace because everyone is either sleeping, hungover or both.

As much as I hold these walks close and dear to my heart, living in New York still puts me in a constant state of FOMO, of could’ve/would’ve/should’ve. I’ll admit that I do my fair share of fun things, like going to museums, trying new restaurants, and the occasional picnic in Central Park (which is really just bringing chips and a blanket to any patch of grass that is not Sheep Meadow).

Even so, there are days where my Instagram feed makes me wonder why I didn’t say yes to a party or whether I should drag my friends to try Ethiopian food in the East Village.

New York Versus Your Wallet It takes a special kind of financial privilege to afford living in New York.

Fordham’s tuition, as we all know, is far from reasonable, and Fordham students tend to come from families that fall on the wealthier side. Personally, I’m incredibly fortunate that my family is supporting me through school, but not everyone has the same safety net.

The cost of living in this city is incredibly high, if not absurd when compared to national averages. According to an article by Apartment List published in July 2021, the average studio apartment in New York is $3,237. That is more than three times the price of the average studio in most other states in the U.S. If you live in the dorms, a double in McMahon costs about $2,406 a month, and that’s without a meal plan. But oh,

gosh, dorming? How would the Mount Sinai ambulance sirens and gray bathroom tiles ever allow you to achieve the quiet-neighborhood-in-Brooklyn aesthetic?

Food is also much more expensive in New York than anywhere else, whether it’s groceries or eating out. A meal at a full-service restaurant will cost you, on average, $46.14 in the city. That’s $10 more than the national average. A different report says that miscellaneous goods and services, which include a wide range of expenses like “clothing, entertainment, activities and personal care,” are 36% higher in Manhattan than the rest of the United States.

With numbers like these, who can afford to try all the diverse meal options the city has to offer? Is it really realistic to study in cafés every week when a latte costs you $6? Despite its popularity, let’s keep in mind that brunch is a privilege and not a requirement for living in the city.

a spy museum or seeing a drag show at the most historic gay bar in the country.

There is a key phrase here, though, and it’s “college student.”

With projects and midterms and little-to-no income, our late teens to early 20s are not supposed to look or feel like a TikTok vlog all the time. Having fun should always be on the list, and a break from your tasks is absolutely necessary for your health. But juggling school work, jobs and chores like grocery shopping, cooking and laundry is enough to fill up your days. If checking off activities every weekend is adding to an already high level of stress, it might not be worth it. At least, not all the time.

It may feel like the world is at your fingertips, but you really cannot have it all. Prioritizing sleep over going out should be guilt-free, no matter what anyone else says.

Prioritizing sleep over going out should be guilt-free, no matter what anyone else says.

Being able to do cool things and post about them all the time is unrealistic.

It’s a standard set by social media influencers whose job is to take photos, creating a social pressure that we shouldn’t hold ourselves to but can’t help but let affect us. It’s hard; I get it. Comparison kills, but there’s nothing like Instagram to forget about what’s good for you.

Keep in mind that just by following people from your college you see photo dumps of people having fun, drinking, eating out and dressing up nearly every day. Even if it’s not the same person posting, it feels like people are constantly “living it up.” But if “taking advantage” of the city means spending all your future savings on overpriced drinks at rooftop bars, then it feels more like the city is taking advantage of you.

Attempting to adhere to what you expect living in New York to look like is often prioritizing an aesthetic over your health. We’ve all seen those TikTok and YouTube vlogs about “a week in the life in NYC”: They string together a bunch of one-second clips, making it seem like every attraction in Manhattan is accessible when they each take time, effort and money.

College is a time for learning to find a balance in your life and take care of yourself. Self-care isn’t just face masks and treating yourself to a bellini at brunch. More often than not, it’s doing the hard thing. It’s finishing that essay, vacuuming your apartment, saving up for a toaster oven or curling up on the couch because your feet simply cannot take another trip downtown.

When it comes to living in New York, the living should always come before the city.

Even “thrifting” in New York can burn a hole in your wallet, since places like L Train and Buffalo Exchange have prices that make them more consignment than anything else. In my personal experience, most tops at these stores are about $15, whereas in upstate New York, I got a stunning cocktail dress and a pair of pinstripe pants for $1 each.

New York offers plenty of free activities, however. Many museums are donation-based for students, and a walk along the High Line costs nothing if you hop the subway turnstile on your way there. The list also includes reading in the New York Public Library, camping out for SNL and taking a stroll in a park, along the Hudson or across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Most of these, though, are activities that scream tourist and/or require time and effort most college students just don’t have.

Students, Not Socialites After all, we came to this city for college. Since the city promises the impossibility of boredom, boasting thousands of “once in a lifetime” experiences every weekend, it’s easy to feel like you’re wasting your time as a New York college student if you’re not dodging lasers at

Social Media and Self-Care

News Editors Joe Kottke Allie Stofer Asst. News Editors Maryam Beshara Chloe Zelch Sports & Health Editor Patrick Moquin Asst. Sports & Health Editors Gus Dupree Chris Murray Opinions Editors Clara Gerlach Ava Peabody Asst. Opinions Editor Jessica Yu Arts & Culture Editors Madeline Katz Olivia Stern Asst. Arts & Culture Editor Isabella Gonzalez Features Editor Mia Agostinelli Asst. Features Editor Aidan Lane Fun & Games Editor Kreena Vora Social Media Editor Samantha Matthews Asst. Social Media Editors Isabella Scipioni Diana Silva Multimedia Editor Alexa Stegmuller Retrospect Hosts Kiera Mullany Diana Silva Mia Swann IT Manager Zayda Bleecker-Adams

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THE OBSERVER November 17, 2021

Opinions

9

The Lincoln Center Halal Cart: Fighting Corporate Takeover One Gyro at a Time GRACE THOMAS Contributing Writer

Among all college rites of passage in America, none is as beautifully fragranced and neon-adorned as the halal cart next to Fordham Lincoln Center. She stands gracefully on the corner of 60th and Columbus Avenue, a beacon of hope along the gray, mysteriously stained slabs of sidewalk we walk every day.

I haven’t spoken to a single Fordham student who has not dragged their tired form down to the beckoning lights of the cart, humbly asking for a platter pillowed by impossibly soft pita or cradled by the trademark foil box we’ve all devoured from.

Attending Fordham for three years and never having visited Burrito Box is a crime on the federal level.

College is draining enough by itself. Add the constant wear and tear of New York, with its never-ending soundtrack of free yelling and air so grimy you can physically feel it when you walk around street corners too fast, and I think it’s safe to say we’ve all emotionally or physically relied on the halal cart at least once.

Local tired student Julia Curtin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’23, stated, “When I moved into the McMahon dorms, I had dreams of cooking every night and using the kitchen to my advantage. Now I’m at the halal cart three nights a week.”

Considering how many people I’ve talked to who have formed the same dependent relationship with the cart, I know Curtin is not alone in her sentiment. I think we can all agree that in these challenging times, we need a hero. And if you’re one of the lost pilgrims

who’s still looking, just follow the smell down the street.

I could write a 60-page manifesto documenting how crucial the halal cart is, not only to my life — I would literally drink white sauce by the bottle for free — but also as the backbone of the Fordham community.

Instead, I am here to present the halal cart not only as an option that is fantastic in itself but also one that fights the creeping hands of mass corporations becoming embedded in the city.

Not to fall into hyperbole, but while walking the span of 10 blocks in New York, I can see at least seven Starbucks locations.

And while their cold brew is often the only thing that can make my limbs move, I do get scared by the way they’ve seemingly been closing in on every street in Manhattan. So many avenues these days resemble a commercial break: Chipotle, Wendy’s, Shake Shack. This is meant in no way as a judgment to people who frequent these places, as I’m one of them.

They’re cheap and delicious, and one is almost always nearby.

However, constantly viewing them as the only option for a quick meal opens the door for corporations to keep playing an increasingly scary game of Monopoly with New York City. The halal cart is just one example of an option that is just as affordable and delicious as chains but also maintains small business in the city, leaving fewer grizzled old people to say the essence of New York is disappearing.

This piece could also be a manifesto on massive corporations slowly taking over small businesses and placing the blame on customers who take advantage of the convenience and economic benefits of chain restaurants instead of acknowledging the insane wealth and power of the corporations who own them, but that can wait for another time. However, we do have the power to support companies not owned by CEOs who have never done their own grocery shopping.

I completely understand the plight of wanting a quick, easy

ROXANNE CUBERO/THE OBSERVER

Every time you indulge in a lamb over rice, you’re also supporting a small business.

meal and having two equally damning options: a chain restaurant whose owner probably could buy shoes that cost $10,000 and are yet the ugliest things you’ve ever seen, or a New York restaurant where an appetizer costs a criminal $17.50. But if you, like me, are a broke college student looking for the sweet spot of supporting a local New York business with affordable options, just leave Lowenstein and make the minute-long trek to the halal cart, the loyal, dependable lifeline that has been there for me more than some family members.

Or, if you’re craving another cuisine, maybe consider options that are similar to fast-food favorites but are locally run. For example, swapping Chipotle for Burrito Box is something I’ve tried lately, with soul-healing results. Attending Fordham for three years and never having visited Burrito Box is a crime on the federal level; yet I was an unknowing offender, as I thought Chipotle was the quickest and easiest option.

The Bazaar on 79th street and Columbus Avenue every Sunday also offers local, quick options such as Maze-Maze, Anthi’s Greek Specialties, and, my personal favorite, Pickles Olives Etc. The food I’ve had there is much better than meals I’ve had at restaurants where a $30 plate consisted of a pitiful swipe of hummus on some pita and a falafel the size of a pebble.

Heaven must be sitting on the concrete wall outside Lowenstein with a giant foil container of rice.

If you’re like me and have both the fear of the Empire State Building being renovated into a Pinkberry and the need for a quick, easy meal, there are options. And while a student

praising the halal cart is a tale as old as time (currently trying to pass “Fordham Is My School, The Halal Cart Is My World” as the new tagline for school merch), I feel as if it’s becoming easier and easier to overlook local sources of affordable and fantastic food.

Sure, Sweetgreen has great salads, but $18 for arugula is offensive and I’ve been stared at there by a lot of judgemental 14-year-olds. But every time I visit the halal cart, it’s like being handed just a bit of comfort at the exact right temperature.

So for those who have possibly never tried the halal cart; for those who have lost touch with it but think of it often like someone you met on a cruise when you were a kid; or for those like me who think heaven must be sitting on the concrete wall outside Lowenstein with a giant foil container of rice: The next time you brave the textured air of the city, consider stopping by the cart and get perfection for a few dollars.

A Tale of Two Parks: Classism in the City’s Urban Escapes NYC parks are the site of not so subtle discrimination between classes on communal land NYC PARKS from page 1

ALYSSA DAUGHDRILL/THE OBSERVER

Green spaces like Central Park are integral to the atmosphere of the city.

They are meant to be welcoming and receive a lot of visitors.

This hostile architecture is not a phenomenon unique to NYC; it is quite common in urban areas internationally, and is a despicable practice. Designed to give unhoused people fewer places to survive, it serves the same purpose as pigeon spikes for humans. It shows up in barbs underneath overpasses designed to make the lowly shelter unlivable, sprinklers placed under awnings to spray those who might seek shelter on a cold night and even alcoves fenced off to keep people from finding shelter.

Parks located in college-centric areas like Washington Square Park have become synonymous with students who use them as safe havens for illicit activities of all kinds. The same police officers who patrol the park and maintain “order” by removing people experiencing homelessness from the public view turn a blind eye to the ever-present underage drinking and illicit substances frequently consumed by students using these spaces.

After events such as Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election and NYC Pride, Washington Square Park became a veritable trash can overnight, a “communal space” flooded with beer cans, cigarette butts and a plethora of other waste products destroying a location intended for community use. However, the crowd who enjoyed the park’s facilities the night before, a lion’s share being college students and young adults were nowhere to be seen.

This stigma is not only present in college-centric parks such as Washington Square Park but can also be seen on a much larger scale in other parks such as Battery Park (which was literally built on trash) and Central Park (a place founded by the rich, for the rich).

With the right appearance and surrounded by the right people, our supposed “justice system” ignores most minor crimes, such as a 19-year-old shotgunning an alcoholic seltzer in broad daylight on a picnic blanket with friends. In the same park, at the same time, those without the so-called

“right” appearance are regularly accosted and questioned on their past, intentions and activities while in the park.

In a space intended for all citizens of the city, our parks have become a classist paradise where those with wealth are allowed to bend the rules to enjoy themselves while those using the same public space to merely survive are confronted and interrogated because they lack the shield of wealth.

As a college student who has witnessed this dichotomy firsthand, I think it’s about time we use the education we’re getting at Fordham to challenge these systems. It starts with not abusing the haven that the parks provide for illegal activities, using our status to halt the systems of wealth inequality.

The parks deserve to be spaces accessible to all who live here, whether for subsistence or leisure. There needs to be a concerted effort in equalizing a space inherently meant to be equal. Let’s keep NYC parks the haven they are for all of us, not just some of us.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editors Madeline Katz Olivia Stern arts@fordhamobserver.com November 17, 2021

THE OBSERVER

NY Spreads , One T-Shirt at a Time

Milton Glaser’s career and legacy go beyond New York tourism MILTON GLASER from page 1

A New York City native born in 1929, Glaser grew up in the Bronx and attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts before matriculating to the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. After graduating from Cooper Union, he attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy, on a Fulbright Scholarship. Glaser’s work in graphic design over the course of his fruitful career is well-known: he worked on a variety of projects including a poster for AMC’s “Mad Men,” the New York magazine logo, the album cover for “Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits,” the design of the gilded Trump vodka bottle and a poster for the “Get Out the Vote” campaign for the 2016 presidential election, among other graphics.

His extensive body of work has been featured in a multitude of exhibits.

His career in graphic design led him to co-found Push Pin Studios in 1954 and New York magazine in 1968 with Clay Felker. In 1974, he established Milton Glaser Inc., a company situated in lower Manhattan that specializes in print graphics work and interior and environmental design.

Through Glaser Inc., he was intimately involved in the production of more than 300 posters for a variety of organizations, campaigns and customers.

Glaser died on his 91st birthday, June 26, 2020, in his Manhattan home. By the time of his death he had amassed a diverse and expansive portfolio, but the I NY logo that, according to the story, he designed in the back of a cab, is his most well-known work.

The I NY graphic is firmly situated in the public identity of New York City and affirms Glaser’s place in graphic design history.

The original design was drawn in crayon on scrap paper, but it was later stylized to sport the type-font and stacked format that is well-known worldwide today. Glaser undertook the design project in the hopes of helping the city that he was born in find its financial footing once again.

The logo now brings in around $30 million in revenue annually, with a significant portion going to the State Department of Economic Development.

The “I Love New York” campaign already had a commercial and jingle, but Glaser’s logo is the most lasting contribution.

The campaign aimed to improve New York’s public image in the wake of high crime rates, stunted tourism and a lack of federal aid from then-President Gerald Ford in the ’70s.

Before Glaser’s work on this project debuted his biggest

claims to fame were a Bob Dylan poster and his visual work for the Windows on the World restaurant in the World Trade Center.

He also had a significant body of work including pieces showcased in the Museum of Modern Art the year before.

His original sketch for the I NY graphic is now housed in MoMA, as well. While it was originally made to rebrand tourism in New York City, it is now used on a global scale; however, not all versions are authorized.

ORIGINAL ANTHEM VIA FLICKR

Real New Yorker sports the iconic slogan on a t-shirt. This mural brings Glaser’s design to a larger scale.

Glaser’s design has withstood the test of time and still embodies that sentiment.

While it is unlikely that Glaser anticipated just how well the design would be received and the widespread impact and cultural significance it would have in the coming years, the I NY graphic is firmly situated in the public identity of New York City and affirms Glaser’s place in graphic design history.

After 9/11, Glaser released a new version of the logo, one that read “I NY More Than Ever” with a dark mark on the heart.

While the State Department of Economic Development initially opposed the production of the new design, posters were spread throughout the city at Glaser’s request. The image was used to fundraise for those affected by the attack and to commemorate the tragedy. This new version was intended to bring the community together — and it is making a return in the midst of the pandemic. With the city once again facing hardship, people are trying to focus on what brings its residents together. Glaser’s design has withstood the test of time and still embodies that sentiment.

In 2020, shortly before his death, Glaser was working on a design that he hoped would help people feel a sense of community despite the pandemic. The simple yet eye-catching typographic design of the word “together” resonates with the uncomplicated design of his I NY logo that was made nearly 50 years prior. Both of these works were made in response to a city in crisis and aimed to bring people together.

Unlike the I NY design, the “together” logo was not for a campaign or to act as branding. Glaser started work on it near the beginning of the pandemic when New York was suffering in the wake of thousands of deaths and had only tentative hope for the future. The “together” graphic uses different fonts, coloring and patterns for the letters in the single-word design, and all the letters appear to touch the ones next to them to create a sense of unity despite the differences between them — something Glaser hoped would resonate globally.

Through his designs, Glaser captured the hearts of natives and tourists alike.

FRANCO FOLINI VIA FLICKR

Instead of the logo on the traditional t-shirt or tourist souvenir, a street artist put it on display on the side of the building.

JOE SHLABOTNIK VIA FLICKR

Best cup of joe in New York is allegedly found in this mug. In the year that Glaser invented the logo, an average cup of coffee would have cost $0.69.

JASON.KUFER VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The I NY slogan is too cute to bear. Souvenirs like these help bring in $30 million annually, with Empire State Development receiving most of this profit.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER November 17 , 2021

Arts & Culture

11

Fans Reconnect at Live Concerts Taking a look at the return of concerts in NYC, from Harry Styles to Madison Beer

By ISABELLA GONZALEZ Asst. Arts & Culture Editor

One of the biggest appeals of studying in New York City is the abundance of live performances hosted each night. Looking back, some of my fondest Fordham memories were the concerts I attended on a whim, like seeing Alec Benjamin at Terminal 5 for my 19th birthday or scoring $30 tickets to Billy Joel 10 minutes before the performance began.

As I prepped for my move back to NYC for this semester, I wondered if concerts would still have the same electric feeling, let alone be performed at all in the middle of a pandemic. Would I, a member of an immunocompromised family, ever feel comfortable and at home at a concert again? These fears served as a catalyst for a self-indulgent research mission: What do concerts look like in a post-pandemic world?

Madison Beer at Terminal 5 On Oct. 24, at the live music venue Terminal 5, a couple of blocks down from Fordham Lincoln Center, Madison Beer produced a phenomenal show that left fans in her hometown speechless.

With luminous melodies, orchestral high notes and echoing instrumentals that filled the volume of the arena, rising pop singer and social media influencer Madison Beer proved her debut studio album “Life Support” to be just as incredible, if not better, in concert than on any streaming service.

Beer appeared on stage with two backup dancers and fiercely kicked off with one of her lead singles, “Baby,” a sensual song with heavy R&B influence and PG-13 lyrics. The song generated vibrations on the venue floor and lively energy among the crowd when she belted, “If you wanna be my baby, know I’m gonna drive you mad / Probably gonna call me crazy, I’m the best you’ve ever had.”

Following the exuberance of her first two songs came “Stay Numb And Carry On,” dialing down the vibrancy of the crowd

Harry Styles at Madison Square Garden

OLIVIA LEDUC/THE OBSERVER

Madison Beer left fans in her hometown speechless with her performance.

as Beer sang about the emotional traumas she has endured throughout her career.

Beer’s rendition of pain continued to ramp up throughout the concert with her performance of “Emotional Bruises,” a letter to a past lover with whom she cannot reconcile; the pain they have inflicted on her made her reach the point where she feels the need to go on “life support,” a tribute to the album title.

“Shouldn’t love you, but I couldn’t help it / Had a feeling that you never felt it / I always knew that you were too damn selfish / Don’t know why I looked the other way,” are arguably some of Beer’s most popular lyrics in her second single from the album, “Selfish,” which surfaced on TikTok and garnered widespread attention online.

Beer crafted a melancholy rendition of the song, certifying her talent vocally when she sang high notes on her knees while the crowd erupted in deafening applause.

As the show ended, explosions of pink confetti trickled through the air. People reached to collect falling pieces as Beer kissed her crowd goodbye.

Adam Melchor at The Music Hall To establish a sense of normalcy during quarantine, in February 2020, indie folk artist Adam Melchor created a phone number through which to text his fans a new song every Sunday. The phone number was dubbed the “Lullaby Hotline,” now the title of his first album with freshly mixed songs, some of which he played at his New York show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Nov. 5.

Melchor entered as diffused colors lit the room and played through his yearning introduction song “Last Time,” along with the hopeless-romantic rocker “I Choose You.” Even in the second row of the pressing crowd, I could

For five concerts throughout October, Harry Styles, along with special guests Jenny Lewis, Madison Cunningham and Orville Peck, sold out and performed at Madison Square Garden (MSG) for Love on Tour.

In the middle of the arena was a diamond stage, and two catwalks stretched along either side of the diamond, dividing the general admission pit in two. The shape and size of the stage allowed many of the fans who had waited in line for hours to be at the stage’s barricade and have a great position for the performance.

Starting his set with visuals of bunnies and a voiceover of Charles Bukowski’s poem “Style,” Harry Styles rose from the middle of the stage. Wearing unique outfits each night, it was always such a rush to see the slightest peek of what he hear the cheers of his friends, family and fans. Before the third song, Melchor stopped and beamed with gratitude, let out a slew of thank yous, and claimed he did not know what else to say and would likely never stop thanking us all night.

There was a surrealism in the respectful cheers following the song “Happier Alone,” from the Lullaby Hotline releases, along with a mashup of the unofficially released “Lactose Intolerant” and officially released “No Way of Knowing.” After watching these songs through a screen for two years and conversing with fellow fans, it was inexplicable to me that such an intimate concert experience was possible once more.

The entire show felt like watch-

By OLIVIA LEDUC ISABELLA GONZALEZ/THE OBSERVER

was wearing.

The performance was jampacked with extreme crowd engagement and excitement. The crowd chanted the mantra “Treat People With Kindness” at the top of their voices and listened intently as Harry sang lyrics to hold onto, such as “We’ll be alright.”

The excitement was palpable throughout his encore of “Sign of the Times,” “Kiwi” and “Watermelon Sugar.” “Kiwi” never failed to make the floor of MSG shake during every performance.

After all, Harry wrote the lyrics “It’s New York, baby, always jacked up!” for a reason.

I saw Harry Styles perform at MSG five times. I don’t like to think of the logistics of that, specifically financially, and although this is where I could get cheesy, all I have to say is: Yes, I would do it again.

By LAUREN BOCALAN

ing a close friend have the best party of their life. Reciprocating and resonating with the energy from that night brings to mind one of the Lullaby Hotline texts from September. Melchor played a song called “Honey,” and over the instrumentals, he droned to his fans, “And, if there’s one thing that always feels good, it’s doing something with somebody else and going on a journey together with somebody, whether you know them as the love of your life or never even met them once. This is a rare opportunity for us to feel what everyone’s feeling.”

Melchor’s headline tour proved his consistency in providing a cosmic level of comfort and connection within his fanbase.

By AVERY LOFTIS

With in-person concerts back in full swing, here are a few upcoming shows to keep an eye out for. Berta Bigtoe, an up-andcoming band based in Chicago, is performing at Rodrigue’s Coffee House at Rose Hill this Friday at 8 p.m. And for next semester, bigname artists like Tyler, the Creator, Mitski, Elton John and Billie Eilish will be coming to the city to perform.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt Offers a Breath of Fresh Air

By ETHAN MCNAMARA Contributing Writer

While ascending the elevator of One Vanderbilt, my imagination ran wild pondering what the exhibit would be like. Strobe lights flashed and faded, bouncing off the fully reflective walls of the elevator cab while it effortlessly flew up 91 floors.

SUMMIT, located in Midtown, captures a perspective of Manhattan that is unique to the installation’s design and location. After years of construction and an unfortunate delay because of the pandemic, SUMMIT is now open for

visitors to immerse themselves in the city sky.

The strobing of the elevator ride combined with harsh industrial noise created disorder in all the senses. I was expecting SUMMIT to be a thrill of heights similar to the Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror. My curiosity slowly turned into anxiety as I thought of which ways the exhibit would stretch the limits of my fear of heights.

The elevator opened to an allwhite hallway with warm, pastel shades of pink projected onto its surface. The hallway was near silent, creating a tranquil atmosphere

MADELINE KATZ/THE OBSERVER

The exhibit reaches new heights atop the 93rd floor at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt in Midtown Manhattan.

which overtook the feelings of chaos from the elevator.

Walking through, it was as if my footsteps disturbed a serene environment, like walking on freshly tilled soil or untouched sand. I exited the hallway and immediately took in the whole breathtaking exhibit. Colors bounced and floated through the allglass room. Multiple reflections of myself stared back at me as I looked at them. The sunset pierced through the city skyline into the building, giving the room a warm glow.

There was so much to immediately take in that all I could do was stand in awe. Once fully immersed in the exhibit, I realized how important the elevator and hallway are to entering the world of SUMMIT. The hallway and the elevator act as a vehicle, a liminal space that takes observers from one world into another. While suspended above the city, I felt a separation from the world I was previously in.

Though I was in the same city, the streets which I was just walking on felt as if they were in a completely different dimension. My roommates and friends just on the other side of Manhattan were worlds away from me.

Artist Kenzo Digital brought his recurring dream from the past 25

years to fruition through the reflective, otherworldly installation. Cerami, a renowned company in the field of acoustics, created the expertly designed sounds which complement the sensual experience. The sounds envelop the viewer in an all-encompassing meditative state as Kenzo intended. As the sounds changed, I felt myself respond to them. The small yet distinct chimes sent tingles through my spine. The sounds melted me into the walls and floor of the exhibit. I became a part of the space.

Inside SUMMIT, time moved with the sun. I only noticed the time escaping when I saw the sunset melt into the night sky illuminated by the warmly lit skyscrapers. The movement of time created an exhibit completely different from the one I entered. The piercing rays of the sunset faded, shifting the focus to the changing colors of the floors and walls.

The audience’s interaction with the space is an integral part of the exhibit. Many had the same awestruck gaze as myself when I entered; others went straight to taking pictures and capturing the beauty of the space. Some instinctually went to lay on the floor to get the best view.

SUMMIT would feel empty without an audience. The movement of the walls, floors and ceiling comes from the reflections of the viewers. Each one of us becomes a part of the exhibit itself.

I once again reentered the liminal spaces of the hallway and elevator, descending back to the Midtown streets. My perspective of the city and my place in it was different from when I entered. The people at SUMMIT could now see me moving like an ant below the illuminated buildings. I was now one of the many moving parts that make the city so special.

Location: One Vanderbilt, enter through the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal Cost: SUMMIT Experience starts at $39. SUMMIT Ascent starts at $59. New York City residents receive a $5 discount. A sunset visit costs an additional $10.

Best time to go: sunset and evening Is it worth it? Depends. The pricing is comparable to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck and the observatory deck at the Empire State Building, but SUMMIT offers a more immersive, transformative experience.

Fun & Games Editor Kreena Vora puzzles@fordhamobserver.com

un & ames Brooklyn Bridge Park: Like most college kids in Manhattan, this was a stop on your initial excursion to Brooklyn during your first year. Still, you were only there to take pictures of the Manhattan skyline.

Roosevelt Island: You’re ~ different ~ and not like the other girls. You insist on taking the tram instead of the subway just so you can add another picture to your VSCO.

Parks and Prejudices

November 17, 2021 THE OBSERVER

Riverside Park: Another solid choice — you either like to watch sunsets and take things slow, or you are sadistic and enjoy seeing Jersey.

Central Park: This one’s a classic close to Fordham.

You probably imagine yourself as the main character of a Hallmark movie and hope to meet someone special while you read in the mall.

The Met: A museum we treat as our playground and the ideal destination for all of Fordham’s beginningof-semester, water-related emergencies. You’re predictable, basic and not quite as cultured as you want to appear.

Bryant Park: You think it is never too early for Christmas, and it shows. While the decorations are cute and all, it might be time to tone it down a little, at least until after Thanksgiving.

What your favorite park says about you

Prospect Park: You decided to venture a little further into Brooklyn and are probably at least a sophomore. You’re definitely the type of person to choose substance over style.

By CORBIN GREGG and KREENA VORA

Little Island: The concerts are over for the summer, so if this park is still your favorite, you are either a child at heart or just a perpetual tourist.

Washington Square Park: Just another Lincoln Center student bitter about not getting into NYU. You think the weed, alcohol and vomit downtown is so much better than the variety found in McMahon.

Lincoln Center Plaza: You like the juxtaposition of broke college kids against the backdrop of the Met Opera.

You want to seem edgy but really are afraid of the teenagers who hang around when they are let out of LaGuardia.

The New York Botanical Garden: Like flowers, you’re bright and sunshiny.

Your friends rely on you to always put a positive spin on the daily struggles posed by the elevators in Lowenstein and the rats in dining halls.

No Favorite Park: Like the concrete jungle you find so endearing, your heart is made of stone. Please go get some fresh air before you start thinking the street lamps are trees.

Crossword: Where in the (Center of the) World Are You?

BY CORBIN GREGG and KREENA VORA

Across 1. When someone drops the ball in football 7. Resort city in Mexico 11. Shoot your 15. Respect 16. The first man 17. All you need, according to The Beatles 18. * Finally, as the day dwindles, make your way to a party at NYU, 30 blocks down from 64 Across 20. “ Sesame”

21. Mount Hospital 22. Stop, like a crisis 24. Newcomers find the MTA one difficult to read 27. “Game, , match” 28. girl!

29. Grey’s Anatomy characters order CCs of these when someone is crashing 31. * It’s been quite an adventure so far. Head to the Starbucks Reserve on 9th Avenue, about 20 blocks up from 60 Across and revive yourself 37. It trumps a king 39. Fib

40. “Still You,” 2012 Paramore hit 41. * Time to shop! Make your way about 40 blocks south of 80 Across on Madison Avenue 44. Fancy, elegant 46. Largest Portuguesespeaking city 47. High school exchange programs with locations in China, Italy, France or Spain (Abbr.)

48. Global group for lawyers (Abbr.)

49. * To start, walk down 15 blocks from the Lincoln Center fountain to Empanada Mama for an early lunch 52. He has a little red book 54. “Avatar: ,” initially 55. The way an autocrat governs?

58. Top-tier 60. * Continue south from 41 Across, 60 blocks or so, and find yourself on a tour of the Tenement Museum 61. A large number, as in words 62. Few in French 63. Behave like 64. * Another 20 blocks up from 31 Across will lead you to The Edge for some magnificent views 69. What’s under a beret, en français 70. monde, French high society 71. It’s often wrong for subways (Abbr.)

73. Predecessor to WiFi 74. A half, a third, 77. Six ball sets in cricket 79. Snitch 80. * Now that you’ve eaten, go about 60 blocks uptown from 49 Across and meet a friend from Columbia

85. Character Miller from “New Girl” 86. Suffix for Mrs. Maisel, comedi 87. Unsuccessful mayoral candidate Sliwa 88. “ , poor Yorick” 89. Where to get MAs and MSs (at Fordham) 90. Museum robberies

Down 1. Not many 2. Function 3. The Alps and Andes, e.g.

4. The main point of horse racing is placing these 5. Popular denim brand 6. Rapper of “Lose Yourself” and “Love the Way You Lie” 7. West Coast state, in slang 8. Law mandating ramps and other accessibility options (Abbr.)

9. Annoying Scottish instrument 10. Italian mob’s code of silence 11. Country formerly united with the Czech Republic 12. It was left in Pandora’s box 13. Equipment required for baking 14. Shelter under the stars 19. The MTA makes us for class 23. Keyboard key to exit a video 24. Breakfast, lunch and dinner 25. Sleep , potentially dangerous disease 26. Shape of a lock opened by 88 black and white keys?

30. Range, like of a project 32. “Is everything fine?”

33. Subreddit where one describes what they found out recently (Abbr.)

34. Suggested, indirectly 35. Government agency responsible for investigating car accidents (Abbr.)

36. Bean brand 38. Glorifies 42. Bodies of ships 43. Lund from “Casablanca” 44. Evaporation, condensation and precipitation are elements of the water one 45. The time in Pamplona 47. Store 50. “This final chance.”

51. Upright 52. Army show starring Fordham alum Alan Alda 53. U.S. organization defending free speech and other rights (Abbr.)

56. Exams for future members of 48 Across 57. Poivre , pepper and salt in Nice 59. A shy exclamation when receiving praise 60. Michele from “Glee” 62. Snakes who code?

65. Object used to row, row, row your boat 66. Pumpkin pie spice spice 67. Hindu word for goddess 68. Stink 72. Bicker 74. Vogue Wintour 75. Not succeed 76. Killer whale 77. Stripper’s bills 78. Type of antidepressants (Abbr.)

81. Its bases are A, C, G, U, not A, C, G, T 82. Common possessive contraction without an apostrophe 83. Morse code dot 84. 62 Down’s favorite letter, maybe