Observer Issue #10

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SEPTEMBER 29, 2016 VOLUME XXXVII, ISSUE 10

Adjuncts Demand Better Working Conditions

By CECILE NEIDIG News Co-Editor

Fordham Faculty United (FFU), which represents adjunct and contingent faculty at Fordham, staged a rally at the Rose Hill campus on Thursday, Sept. 8, and delivered a petition contending for better wages and working conditions to the administration.

According to a press release from FFU, the administration told those at the rally that they would respond to the demands in the petition by Friday, Sept. 16.

Adjunct faculty make up nearly 50 percent of instructors at the university, but their $4,000 per course wage “does not reflect this reality,” Alan Trevithick said in the press release.

In a statement from Bob Howe, senior director of communications for the university, he noted that the minimum pay for adjunct faculty for teaching a course that meets for three hours a week is $4,000, but can be paid up to $5,500 per course depending on the credentials and experience of the adjunct faculty member.

For a course that meets three hours per week, adjunct faculty will spend three hours teaching, four hours preparing and grading and two hours holding office hours, according to the statement from Howe. This comes to nine hours total per week.

Given that there are 15 weeks in a semester, that comes to 135 hours spent per course taught, Howe wrote, which translates to an hourly rate of $29.63 an hour.

“Fordham employs adjuncts to offer students instruction from professionals working in fields related to the students’ course of study, and to provide flexibility in course scheduling, release time for tenure and tenure-track faculty, and more varied curriculum offerings,” Howe concluded.

Many adjunct faculty take on courses at other institutions in addition to the work they do at Fordham see ADJUNCTS pg. 2

OPINIONS

On the Issues: Social Services Nominees’ thoughts on the topic

Page 5

ARTS&CULTURE

Mainstage Preview Theatre celebrates Dodransbicentennial

PAGE 7

FEATURES

Finneran in Mayor’s Office Student lands dream internship

PAGE 13 SPORTS

Rams Crush Quakers Play-by-play of Homecoming game

PAGE 15

STEPHAN KOZUB/THE OBSERVER

Faculty Senate convening in early February. Members have recently spoken out against the imposition of an unapproved salary.

Administration Violates Statutes Faculty Senate Files Grievances Against Senior Officials

By CECILE NEIDIG News Co-Editor The Fordham Faculty Senate has filed grievances against the Board of Trustees and three senior officials of the university. The grievances, filed with the Hearing Committee of the Senate, come after the administration imposed a salary increase that was not approved by the Senate, which violates the University Statutes.

The Senate believes that in imposing a salary raise that was not ratified by the Senate and in allocating those funds without approval from the Salary and Benefits Committee, the administration “violated the Statutes twice and they have broken with about 40 years of precedent and good faith negotiations at this institution,” Andrew H. Clark, Ph.D., chair of the Faculty Salary

“ When this violation happened, it broke the trust between the administration and the Board and the faculty.”

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ANNE FERNALD, President of the Fordham Senate

and Benefits Committee, said.

Clark is referring to a Statute that says “The Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee shall review with the Administration the faculty salary structure of the University.”

The statute adds that the Committee and the administration decide together how money is allocated for salaries and fringe benefits, which then must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

There were two pieces to the breach in protocol, Anne Fernald,

Ph.D., president of the Faculty Senate, said. “One is about what we earn and what the package of our earnings are,” she said, “but maybe the more important piece is a kind of commitment to a model of governance that’s set out in our Statutes that involves the faculty in these decisions.”

When grievances are filed with the Hearing Committee, they decide whether or not there has in fact been a violation. If they do find that the administration violated the

Statutes, there may be some kind of reprimand, according to Clark.

“Now, that reprimand, whether that actually means anything to the administration, that is probably up to the administration to decide,” Clark said. “At that point they will either apologize and continue to follow and uphold the Statutes, as we believe should be the case. Or they just disregard it.”

In addition to filing grievances against the Board, President of the University Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., Provost Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., and Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Senior Vice President Martha Hirst, the Faculty Senate scheduled meetings with the administration to talk about salary and benefits for the coming year and hosted Howard Bunsis, Ph.D., see SALARY pg. 2

Robert Moses Plinth To Be Altered

By STEPHAN KOZUB News Co-Editor

A plaque or engraving will be added to the Robert Moses plinth on campus.

The decision to alter the monument follows the United Student Government (USG) recommendation in April to keep the plinth. USG also pushed for a plaque giving context as to who Robert Moses was and the impact the construction of the Lincoln Center campus had on the communities in the area.

USG’s plan is to form a plinth engraving committee to decide what will be included in the engraving or on the plaque, according to Leighton Magoon, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17 and USG president.

Vice President for Lincoln Center Brian Byrne, Ph.D., confirmed that such an effort was underway, but could not say what the perspective of the final plaque or engraving would be.

“Ideally what we would want to do is in a concise manner, emphasize and give some sort of recognition to the communities that were impacted

by Robert Moses’s urban planning, like the communities that were displaced in this area that originally had this land before Fordham was here,” Magoon said. “So with the attention of ‘this is where we come from.’ We want to remember those who lost what they had and were pushed out for this opportunity that we have.”

Magoon noted that USG will be reaching out to the Dorothy Day

Center for Social Justice, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Urban Studies Department as well as other departments on campus “to try and get some thoughts on how we can sort of put that concisely and appropriately so that it’s in remembrance to those communities in a respectful way.”

“He was an individual who created a great deal of change, but there were also a lot of side effects, some of them not particularly beneficial,” said Roger Panetta, visiting professor of history who took part in a panel discussion on Robert Moses’s legacy in April. He mentioned the gentrification and the displacement of communities that occurred as a result of Moses’s urban planning.

“And the question became what are you going to look at,” Panetta

THE STUDENT VOICE OF FORDHAM LINCOLN CENTER

said regarding the event. “Are you going to look at the people displaced? Or are you going to look at something like Lincoln Center as a physical legacy of his work? And I think the consensus in the room after a while was they’re both there.

That is, he deeply transformed New York City, but there was a staggering amount of displacement.”

“We tried to find a way to embrace both of those views,” he continued. “Moses the builder and Moses the disrupter. And he uses power to create and abuses it at times to move people.”

Panetta pointed to other universities that have had discussions over their controversial histories, such as Georgetown University discussing see MOSES pg. 3

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September 29, 2016 THE OBSERVER

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Adjuncts Pressure Administration ADJUNCTS FROM PAGE 1

to make ends meet, Trevithick explained.

“For the last 10 or 12 years, I’ve always taught two classes at Fordham, since I’m not allowed to teach more,” he said. “None of us are allowed to teach more than two. And then I teach anywhere from four to five classes at other colleges and universities. Right now I’m teaching seven.”

“The big problem for me is an ethical one, a moral question,” Christopher Brandt, an English and communications adjunct professor, said.

Brandt believes that there are far too many administrators who “are well-paid, and that is compared with an adjunct getting $16,000 a year at Fordham. That doesn’t stand up to any kind of ethical or moral scrutiny,” he said.

Brandt said that adjunct faculty are exploited by the university and it is “a betrayal of all that is right about universities, about education, about this relationship between students and teachers, which also gets destroyed because the teachers have to leave to go to their other job.”

Like Trevithick, Brandt also takes on work outside of Fordham to make ends meet. In addition to teaching at Fordham, he works at a theater company and says his two jobs and social security are the only things that allow him to live in New York.

“It’s pretty scary as you get closer and closer to the last checks,” Kathryn Krasinski, Ph.D., adjunct professor of anthropology, said.

Krasinski does not teach summer classes at Fordham so she receives her last check from in mid-April and goes five months before she receives her next Fordham check in mid-September. “I call those the ‘hungry times of the year,’” she said.

During the school year Krasinski goes two to three months without receiving any income while teaching two classes because Fordham gives

ANDREA GARCIA/THE OBSERVER

Fordham Faculty United protest low wages at the Rose Hill campus on Sept. 8.

adjunct faculty six checks per semester. “That’s impossible,” she said. “My strategy is to take on a lot more jobs, and I also stockpile food because when you get to those times, you just don’t have money in the account to buy that kind of stuff.”

Adjunct faculty “definitely do not have to be treated this way, especially by a Jesuit institution, which claims to know something about social jus-

tice. Instead it perpetuates the very system that creates a very needy, vulnerable group of people,” Krasinski said.

Krasinski noted that many of the adjunct professors work beyond what they are compensated for in their contracts. Developing new presentations and lectures and incorporating new information into their classes takes time.

“[Students] have a really huge price-tag to attend school here and half of their classes are taught by people who are too busy and are not provided the resources necessary to provide the education and research experiences they need and deserve,” Krasinski said.

“Now, it’s not to say that if you have a tenure-track line here, that you’re not going to be busy, of course

you’re busy,” Krasinski continued.

“But you don’t have hungry times and are compensated to focus here, to bring your research here, to work with your students here.”

To discuss the wages and treatment of adjunct faculty, FFU will hold a public forum with the administration on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 5 p.m., though the administration has yet to confirm that they will attend.

Faculty Senate Contest Administration Salary Raise Administration violating statutes leaves faculty frustrated.

SALARY FROM PAGE 1

a world-class economist, to discuss Fordham’s finances.

Fernald stated at the forum that the Faculty Senate has rehired its legal counsel, but is looking to first exhaust the internal measures before resorting to the external measures of filing grievances with the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) or filing a lawsuit against the administration.

The violation of the Statutes occurred when the administration imposed a salary increase without coming to an agreement with the Faculty Senate following negotiations of what the raise for this year would be. The negotiations continued up until June 14, one day before the deadline to reach an agreement.

On June 14, the administration imposed the salary increase of 2.1 percent, violating the Statutes.

In previous years, negotiations had extended beyond the June 15 deadline if no agreement was reached, “but there was respect for the Statute and respect for the process,” Clark said.

A violation like this has never happened before, “so we’re kind of in new territory, we have taken at least initially, the Statutes themselves as the guide and so when something is broken, or not followed correctly in the university, the Statutes call for those individuals to seek a grievance with the Hearing Committee,” Clark said.

Bob Howe, senior director of communications for the university, pointed out in an email statement that the Board of Trustees are the fi-

nal authority on salary increases, as written in the Statutes.

“The statutes set forth Fordham’s commitment to achieving and maintaining a level of faculty compensation that places the University in the first quintile—or at the 80th percentile—of the American Association of University Professors’ (AAUP) Category 1 educational institutions,” Howe noted.

The AAUP, an organization of more than 47,000 professors in the U.S., in a recent survey ranked the salaries and compensation of faculty

happy about [what] their position [is],” Clark said.

“I think if you look at the reality of it, over 80 percent of faculty are below the 80th percentile of AAUP,” Clark continued. “The AAUP is a national standard, not one specific to the extreme costs of living in New York city.”

To account for the high cost of living in New York City, Clark explained that the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee had offered a multi-year deal in which a purchasing power increment of 1.6 percent

“ I think the faculty are demoralized. I think

they’re demoralized, dispirited, discouraged, angry.”

–

ANDREW H. CLARK , chair of the Salary and Benefits Committee

at institutions across the country. It listed that the average base salary at Fordham for professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers is $162,200, $114,900, $98,400 and $64,500 respectively.

The “survey shows Fordham faculty compensation is higher than that of our five closest peer institutions and 10 local institutions,” Howe remarked.

“The Board likes to insist that the 80th percentile of AAUP, put in place by the former President Father O’Hare in the 1980s, is a good standard and this is what we should measure and we’re above the 80th percentile and so faculty should be

be added above the consumer price index (CPI). Purchasing power is the idea that a salary raise should be above that of the cost of living, otherwise the salary never actually increases.

Over the course of the career of a full-time faculty member, the faculty would receive a salary increase of 60 percent in real terms provided they received both of their promotions, according to Clark.

“Housing in the New York metropolitan area has gone up certainly far more than CPI,” Clark continued. “It’s just not realistic, people just can’t live here, or if they’re living here, they’re living in tiny

one-bedroom apartments or studio apartments with families, or they’re commuting two or three hours a day in order to live in a place that is affordable enough that they can support themselves or their family.”

Given that the CPI for this year was negative .3, the Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee’s multiyear offer would have meant an across the board raise of 1.3 percent, not including what is added for merit, “which would be the lowest raise we’ve received in my memory, or at least since I’ve been at this institution,” Clark said.

In the hope that this model of increasing faculty salary by 1.6 percent above CPI every year would become permanent, Clark and the Salary and Benefits Committee suggested a trial three-year plan.

The administration denied the three-year plan and instead offered a raise of 1.9 percent including merit.

The Salary and Benefits committee then suggested a raise of 3.6 percent, including merit, based on what the raises were at other institutions, Clark said.

As the negotiations between the Faculty Senate and the administration continued, the administration landed at a 2.1 percent increase and the Faculty Senate reduced their offer down to about 2.7 percent, according to Clark.

“The difference between their position and our position was about $500,000,” Clark continued. “The budget of the University is around $560,000,000, so that represents .1 percent of the budget. It’s not that $500,000 is not huge, but it’s small in comparison to some of the other

things that are done on campus.”

Prior to the discussions of salary and benefits, the administration and faculty worked collaboratively during the Middle States accreditation process last year. This process involved peer evaluations of the University for accreditation purposes.

“When this violation happened, it broke the trust between the administration and the Board and the faculty,” Fernald said. “Many of us were trying to imagine a new way of working together that was more collaborative, that was more generous, and the Board’s actions and the administration’s cooperation and actions hurt that sense of cooperation.”

Fernald remarked that she is determined to work and advocate for the best interests of the faculty and the best interests of the university as a whole, and that “the actions that we take are determined in some measure by the degree of cooperation that we perceive, or lack of cooperation that we perceive from the administration,” she said.

“Hirst and the administration acknowledge the centrality of the faculty to the University community and Fordham’s mission, and are eager to come to an agreement with the Faculty Senate on issues of benefits and salary, consistent with good governance and within the limits of Fordham’s budget constraints,” Howe concluded.

“I think that faculty are demoralized,” Clark said regarding the violation of statutes and principles of shared governance. “I think they’re demoralized, dispirited, discouraged, angry.”

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THE OBSERVER Septembe 29, 2016

News

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Faculty Senate Forum Analyzes Fordham Finances

By ELIZABETH LANDRY Asst. News Editor

Howard Bunsis, Ph.D., J.D., of Eastern Michigan University joined the Fordham University Faculty Senate as a representative of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) on Sept. 23 to talk about the university’s finances. The forum follows the imposition of an unnegotiated salary raise by the administration as the Senate considers legal action against the administration.

Faculty Senate President Anne Fernald, Ph.D. introduced Bunsis, reminding the assembled faculty of the situation.

Bunsis took the audience through his analysis of the university’s financial decisions and broke down the revenue streams, showing that the portfolio went from $450,000,000 to $720,000,000 in the last eight years.

He collapsed the university’s investments into three categories, which consisted of cash in government securities, stocks and bonds, and the riskiest investments like nonpublic equity funds, hedge funds and private equity funds. “I’m not saying it’s Bernie Madoff,” he quipped, to the audience’s laughter.

“Over time, they’ve moved more and more of the portfolio into these riskiest investments,” he said. He showed a graph which used the school’s audited statements to reveal that for the last six years, Fordham’s investments have consistently performed below the stock market, while

ELIZABETH LANDRY/THE OBSERVER

Graduate students, Steven Payne (left) and Alex Elnabli (right) speak with Bunsis.

the school has paid its financial advisors a steadily increasing rate.

Bunsis estimated that with different investments, the university would have gained possibly $10,000,000 to $20,000,000 more since 2010.

Bunsis answered audience questions, saying that 72 percent of the

school’s revenue is made up of student tuition and fees. “The auxiliaries—housing, dining, student union, bookstore, I hate to say athletics, are tied to tuition,” he continued, “so I think it’s fair to say that eightyfive percent of the revenue is direct from students. And that is high for a

private university of this size.”

He also showed the audience where Fordham’s administration and faculty salaries fall in comparison with their peers and with inflation.

Of faculty salaries, he said, “This is paying people to teach as a percentage of the whole [revenue.] The public

thinks that’s 90 percent.” The numbers on his slide showed it to be consistently about three percent of the university’s funds.

“The percentage of salaries of people who teach is going down, the percentage of the salaries of the admins are going up,” he said. “You tell me whether you think that’s okay or not.”

Bunsis urged the attendees to speak against the administration.

“You have a mechanism to speak formally with the administration,” he said. “The way to work with it is to act collectively. You can’t have a union here… but you can act like one. A couple of people talking and complaining doesn’t do it. You care about this place, you guys are here forever.”

“You’re not acting collectively to take anything down, you’re acting collectively to make it better,” he said.

“To enhance the commitment to these students. The ones who do the most get paid the worst. And that’s unfortunate..”

Audience questions ranged from closer looks at the cost of living and inflation rates in New York, and an examination of the decline in tenured professor acquisition, and a 63 percent change in part-time faculty over the last eight years.

Professor Andrew H. Clark, Ph.D. and Chair of Faculty Salary and Benefits Committee, closed the meeting with a plea to Senate members to donate to the Fordham AAUP chapter and get involved with the legal proceedings

Engraving or Plaque to be Added to Robert Moses Plinth MOSES FROM PAGE 1

slavery and Princeton University discussing Woodrow Wilson’s racism.

“At Princeton, Woodrow Wilson’s portrait was removed from the dining commons, because there was this racist history,” Panetta said. “But what happens now that you remove that? You obliterate his history as the

president of the university, that he was there and that he was an influence. And so some people say take it down and that’s the end of it. He doesn’t deserve to be honored.”

“And what I think I like about the Fordham decision so much is that it acknowledges the ambiguity of things,” he continued. “It doesn’t sanitize. It doesn’t eradicate. It says

we have to live with these ambiguities. This guy did some good things, and he did some not so good things.

And the way to deal with that in my opinion is to face both of those and for us to deal with the contradictions.”

Panetta added that he wants to commend the University on their decision “because I thought that was

the right way to do it,” he said.

“Because not to act precipitously, to have an open discussion, to encourage students to participate and take part in that discussion, I was very pleased to be a part of that, but I thought it was a smart way to deal with it,” he said.

Magoon added that any member of the Fordham community who

wishes to voice their opinion or sentiment on what should be included in the engraving or on the plaque should email usglc@fordham.edu.

“We think it’s important to acknowledge that we wouldn’t be here without Robert Moses,” he said. “but we also can do that while acknowledging the human impact of what Robert Moses did for us to be here.”

Two Seniors Bring National “It’s On Us” Initiative to Fordham

By ELIZABETH LANDRY Asst. News Editor

A new student group is aiming to expand campus dialogue on sexual and domestic assault and violence prevention with all-new programming this October.

The It’s On Us Coalition, a United Student Government (USG) committee spearheaded by Lexi McMenamin, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’17, and Monica Sobrin, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’17, will invite students to participate in a cross-campus Week of Action with the help of USG, the Office of Residential Life and the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice.

Sobrin has worked with the national organization It’s On Us since May, when she became a member of their national Student Advisory Committee. The Facebook page for this initiative against sexual and relationship violence on college campuses, started by President Barack Obama’s administration in fall of 2014, states its mission as “Raising awareness. Holding ourselves and each other accountable. Looking out for someone who cannot consent.”

The Lincoln Center campus on Oct. 11-14 will feature interactive events, talks, a Take Back the Night open-mic event and a screening and talkback on “The Hunting Ground,” a 2015 documentary on sexual violence on college campuses. At Rose Hill, students will be able to participate in the Clothesline Project, where survivors of sexual violence can anonymously write their experiences on T-

THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF NY/THE OBSERVER

FCRH Coalition leader Sobrin speaks on the “Enough is Enough” policy.

shirts to be displayed on campus.

In addition, the Coalition has begun to provide “consent and bystander intervention workshops” to student leaders, Resident Assistants and athletics participants and will have daily pledge drives, according to Sobrin.

“The closest thing we’ve had [to this] is the club called In Strength I Stand, which sort of subtextually calls themselves the ‘feminist club,’” Dean of Students at FCLC, Keith Eldredge, said. “So clearly issues around violence against women is an important topic for them, and they’ve done programming related to that, but they also have a broader mission.”

As noted in the Fordham Observer in May, 98 percent of traditional undergraduates at Fordham reported experiencing unwanted sexual con-

tact after having consumed alcohol, according to the Spring 2016 results of the Campus Climate Survey. Over 20 percent of students reported that, on a scale from not likely to extremely likely, they would not be likely to ask for verbal consent from their intimate partner. The Fordham University website lists many changes put in place following the survey’s results, including improvement to orientation and training.

Eldredge explained that the aggressive “Enough is Enough” New York state law passed in July 2015 also requires new training for student leaders, particularly club presidents and treasurers, which is currently met by retaking the freshman-compulsory EverFi Haven online program addressing sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking and sexual harass-

ment in an educational environment.

“I think we have pretty comprehensive programming with a captive population at the beginning of the year, between student orientation, core programs and the online programs,” he said. “But if I create a program and invite people to it, it’s going to have a lot less impact versus if a group of students created that program.

“Is this something that we might be able to work [on] with this new coalition?” he asked. “Lots of different options that we have almost a year to figure out.”

McMenamin said that over the summer, an awareness of the issue grew into a motivation for change.

After she posted a peer to peer survey on Facebook concerning Fordham students’ awareness of Title IX policies, Sobrin offered her It’s On Us resources.

“That night we talked on the phone for three hours,” McMenamin recalled, and the two began to plan this coalition.

“I’ve been involved in the activism on campus since my sophomore year,” Sobrin said. “I was involved in the USG Sexual Misconduct Task Force, which was co-chaired by Women’s Empowerment, and we came together, engaged the campus community, had anti-sexual violence discussions and activism. So I’m looking to sort of bring back that energy that we had a couple of years ago.”

“The purpose of this coalition is really to have a more holistic understanding of how to address this topic rather than just leaving it to federal policies, with Title IX, or to

interpersonal conversations,” McMenamin explained. “They’re all very dehumanizing. So it’s about creating a more approachable aspect to what’s already a very inaccessible and difficult-to-talk-about subject.”

The Coalition will seek to educate on affirmative consent and relationship health, teach bystander intervention skills in order to prevent assault and show how to support survivors [of sexual violence] and “be good allies,” according to Sobrin. Their methodology consists of education on basic definitions surrounding consent, engagement in discussions both within campus and in the wider world and empowerment to get involved with the work.

“A lot of people are very passionate about this, but we kind of get into our own activist echo chambers and it doesn’t reach as many people as it could,” Sobrin said of work done by Residential Life, USG and Women’s Empowerment. “We are trying to streamline all the great work that’s happening to get everyone in conversation.”

“I think this is definitely necessary since my most positive and educational experiences as an activist have been because of the networks that I’ve been able to form and what I’ve been able to learn from other activists,” Sobrin said of the cross-campus aspect to the group.

“We’re looking forward to ensuring that this momentum doesn’t end after the second week of October,” McMenamin said. “We want to have a continued effort.”

Additional reporting by Stephan Kozub, News Co-Editor

Opinions

John McCullough — Opinions Editor jmcculloughiii@fordham.edu

September 29, 2016

THE OBSERVER

STAFF EDITORIAL

ADJUNCTS: A VITAL PART OF FORDHAM COMMUNITY Adjunct faculty at Fordham are undervalued in terms of what they are paid and the resources that are made available to them. Per course taught at Fordham, they only receive a $4,000$5,500 salary, which does not include health care, a retirement plan or unemployment insurance. These parttime professors at Fordham are not allowed to teach more than two classes per semester and some have to seek work at other institutions or even in a different line of work to make ends meet.

When asked what the percentage of faculty who fall under this category is, Bob Howe, senior director of communications for the university, wrote that Fordham employs 861 part-time faculty out of a total of 1,598 faculty members. When nearly 50 percent of the students’ professors are adjunct faculty who cannot dedicate the time necessary to build meaningful relationships with students because they have to run off to other jobs,

both parties suffer.

These professors deserve to have the opportunity to earn enough that they do not have to teach extra courses at different universities to scrap together a liv-

“[Adjuncts] are just as much a part of the Fordham community as anyone else.” ing wage. It is unfair to the faculty and it is unfair to the students. They should not have to run around the city to different jobs, dividing their time, energy and focus between their students at different universities.

When the professors suffer, so too do the students.

We do not want to see them have to take multiple jobs to get by either. If adjunct

professors were allowed to teach more than two courses per semester, they could become a more integral part of the university while improving both their lives and the academic lives of their students.

They should at least be compensated for the work they do that goes above and beyond what is in their contracts. Professors typically spend more than the designated three hours per week teaching, four hours per week preparing and grading, and two hours per week in office hours. They spend time additional time grading, designing syllabi and courses, conducting research, advising student groups or sitting on various committees at the university.

Fordham needs to treat their adjunct professors with the respect they deserve by providing the resources necessary to create the best academic experience possible.

They are just as much a part of the Fordham community as anyone else.

the

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Opinions

5

On the Issues 2016: Social Services JOHN McCULLOUGH & BEN MOORE Opinions Editor & Editor-in-Chief

As the general election nears, The Observer will be running a series of articles on political issues that interest students. 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 feature will cover the proposed plans that each candidate has for various social programs in the U.S. 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

Hillary Clinton, Democratic Party

Trump believes that all of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) should be repealed and has promised to do so on his first day in office. His plans for reforming the system include allowing “individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns...and “[removing] barriers to entry into free markets for drug providers that offer safe, reliable and cheaper products,” especially those that come from abroad.

It is unreasonable to start from scratch again. A more efficient strategy would be to try to address the individual flaws of the ACA as Congress is unlikely to approve a brand new system after just shutting one down.

In his 2011 book, “Time To Get Tough,” Trump states, “The secret to the 1996 Welfare Reform Act’s success was that it tied welfare to work.” He further notes that “the 1996 Welfare Reform Act only dealt with one program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC),” and that he wishes to extend this to “the other seventysix welfare programs.”

Trump also believes that the food stamps program is an area of concern.

Recently, in his speech at the Republican convention, he quoted a count of 43.6 million people still on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which Politifact verified. Though this is a significant number, it has been trending downward under Obama’s administration.

On Social Security, Trump said in his 2011 book that “It’s not unreasonable for people who paid into a system for decades to expect to get their money’s worth--that’s not an “entitlement,” that’s honoring a deal.” According to CNN, he reaffirmed this view this year, stating “I’m not going to cut it...I’m not going to do all of the things that [Republicans] want to do.”

On the Affordable Care Act, Stein said in a 2012 interview that “It is not a solution-it did extend care to some people who didn’t have it, but kind of at the cost of working families. The costs are not fairly distributed; the mandate is extremely unfair; the system is entirely unsustainable, and it is not working.” She instead proposes a “Medicare For All” single-payer public health insurance program.

Since she is from Massachusetts, a state with a universal health care system, she certainly has credentials to reject the similarly-minded federal system, though the political climate will likely not be condusive to such reform.

On her website she describes her toplevel plan to “Strengthen rather than cut Medicare and Social Security [and] remove the cap on social security taxes above a certain level of income,” though no specific details are given as to how she would go ensure these programs continue.

Though she does not refer to SNAP directly on her campaign website, she does advocate to “Guarantee economic human rights, including access to food, water, housing, and utilities, with effective antipoverty programs to ensure every American a life of dignity.” Earlier this year, Stein referenced that “up to a million more Americans will be thrown off food stamps (SNAP) this year, unbelievably, because they can’t find work.”

Stein advocates for the creation of “living-wage jobs for every American,” while the guarantee that “the unemployed would have an enforceable right to make government provide work” for them in the public sector.

While she is quick to denounce the cost of the existing programs, she does not give much financial detail on how the government would fund all of these programs.

The Johnson/Weld campaign has very few specifics on their website regarding their plan for spending on social services. However, said website does have numerous allusions to the general philosophy of the candidates on the matter. One of these is their insistence on a balanced budget, which they demand in no uncertain terms, “no excuses. No games. A REAL balanced budget.”

Furthermore, they assert that “the idea that we can somehow balance the federal budget without cutting military spending and reforming entitlements is fantasy.” This suggests that current federal spending on social services must be reduced further before any of Johnson’s fiscal goals can be achieved. This fits in with the overall Libertarian emphasis on rugged individualism, and its customary insistence on fiscal conservatism.

Looking at the official 2016 platform of the Libertarian Party, the picture becomes even clearer. One major goal of the party is to “phase out the current government-sponsored Social Security system and transition to a private voluntary system.” While Gary Johnson has not officially come out in favor of this privatization plan, it is troubling that this is from the official platform of his party, and he has personally voiced support for an increase in the retirement age to 72.

The idea of eliminating the most successful social program in American history and relegating the services it provides to the market is not only callous and ill-advised, but downright dangerous. According to The Century Foundation, “Although the average monthly payment to those individuals is a modest $895, Social Security constitutes more than half of the incomes of nearly two-thirds of retired Americans.” This is a drastic reform that cannot be taken lightly. Privatizing social security would wrest a vital social need from the hands of the public sector, and cast it into the unstable waters of the markets.

Clinton vows on her website to “defend social security against Republican attacks” and states that “social security isn’t just a program-it’s a promise.” On the topic of social security, she also asserts that she will, “fight any attempts to gamble seniors’ retirement security on the stock market through privatization” and “expand Social Security for those who need it most and who are treated unfairly by the current system.” She intends to fund this expansion through an increase in the amount paid toward social security by those in the highest income brackets.

Other social programs are discussed in her platform, including her intention to “guarantee up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.” This proposal would be funded by increased taxes on the highest income brackets.

Her position is practical to the extent that the United States is one of the few nations in the developed world that does not guarantee its workers paid leave.

Clinton’s purported defense of social security against privatization efforts is laudable, though it is unclear how closely she will stick to these positions given her past record.

While her expressed dedication to social welfare spending is encouraging to those who wish for spending on these services to be maintained, but her past positions on the issue might give pause to pro-welfare voters.

One concerning aspect from Clinton’s past that contrasts with her current rhetoric is her previous support for “Welfare reform” legislation, which introduced roadblocks to impoverished families trying to get aid, during her husband’s administration. She recently gave the justification in an interview with WNYC that obtaining change in the political environment of the time required such a position, in line with her persona as a “progressive who gets things done.”

Get Involved with United Student Government at Lincoln Center “ We are trusted for being a voice for our stu-

LEIGHTON MAGOON

dent body. That may come with challenges, but when the voices of students come directly to us, our voice can become stronger.”

Contributing Writer

On behalf of United Student Government (USG) at Lincoln Center, I hope you all have adjusted well to the start of the 2016-2017 Academic Year! To the Class of 2017, congratulations on making it this far due to your dedication and commitment to your academics.

To the sophomores and juniors, it’s wonderful to see you all again and see what your second and third years on campus will entail.

Finally, to the Class of 2020, USG is elated that you chose to come to our Lincoln Center campus, and we hope each and every one of you has adjusted well to your new home away from home.

United Student Government is extremely fortunate to consist of members of a dedicated, creative and growing student body such as our own. We consist of, at most, three Fordham College at Lincoln Center senators from each class and a Gabelli School of Business undergraduate senator from almost

–

SRI STEWART/THE OBSERVER

USG offers an outlet for Fordham students to make their voices heard.

every class as well. With this strong base of support, USG has been able to branch out and expand in the past couple of years. We expressed student voices and concerns to administrators through our USG Against Racism committee last year following bias incidents, advocated for student interests during the food provider transition to Aramark, installed standing hand sanitizers and

tabled on the plaza during Fordham Thursdays to promote school spirit.

All of these were done with a support of our elected senators, but we have also been successful thanks to the support of general members.

All undergraduate students enrolled at our campus are general members of USG. That means that you all may attend any of our general mewetings and provide

LEIGHTON MAGOON, President, United Student Government

your opinion on the state of our campus, or express an issue that you feel that we should address. Do you have a certain cause that you would like to advocate for? Come to us. In the past we have been able to support students who want to fight for an initiative they feel passionate about, such as when USG supported a group advocating for bringing gender neutral bathrooms onto our campus. Without general membership, we would not be what we are today.

It is because of this that being a part of USG is one of the most rewarding experiences on campus. As one of the main student government groups on campus, we are trusted for being a voice for our

student body. That may come with challenges, but when the voices of students come directly to us, our voice can become stronger. As someone who has taken part in student government since Freshman year and is entering year two year as USG President, I know this for sure.

Join us as a general member as we pursue our initiatives and discuss any issues that arise at Fordham Lincoln Center. Our general meetings for the fall semester will take place in room LL1017 on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m., make sure to stop by when you can. It is through your participation, suggestions and feedback that we in USG are capable of representing the student body to our fullest.

6

Opinions

September 29, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

For Organized Labor, India Points the Way Forward JOHN McCULLOUGH Opinions Editor

On Sept. 2, between 150 and 180 million Indian workers walked out of their jobs carrying red banners and calling for, among other things, a higher minimum wage and increased rights in the workplace.

The strike, which according to The Guardian is the largest of its kind in human history, emerged in reaction to the right-wing economic agenda of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His administration has been characterized by privatizations, eroded labor protections, and regressive tax hikes. Though the entirety of the U.S. mainstream media has been completely silent about this monumental walk-out, the radicalism and perseverance of the Indian working class is a lesson to a beleaguered American labor movement of what is possible when workers are ambitious and well-organized. If American workers wish to see a resurgent labor movement, it is clear they must learn from India.

It has been a difficult couple of decades for organized labor everywhere in the world, and India is no exception. Since the introduction of the right-wing “New Economic Policy” in 1991, the number of Indian workers covered by the protections of labor law has fallen to four percent of its overall workforce. This anti-labor push, along with privatizations and cuts to spending on social services, have been fueled by the global implementation of neoliberalism.

This “neoliberalism” has been the manner in which capitalism has been administered worldwide since the 1980s and is characterized by an emphasis on unfettered markets, looser regulations on the power of foreign corporations, and a pervasive ideology of rugged individualism. Since the reigns of Thatcher and Reagan, the post-war social democracies that promised (at the very least) a “social floor” under which an individual’s standard of living could never fall, have fallen far out of favor.

But India’s trend of labor militancy could turn that tide. According to The Guardian, the Indian government has “pulled back from full privatization and left labour [sic]

COURTESY OF OINKYLICIOUSLY/FLICKR

Almost 200 million Indian workers have walked off their jobs in a massive general strke spearheaded by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

reform largely to the states” due to the power of radical and obstinate unions. The efforts of groups such as the All-India Trade Union Congress, the organized labor arm of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have led to impoverished workers having a real voice in their workplaces and communities. Professor Mihir Sharma of the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation says this general strike is a reflection of the power of the Indian labor movement to “remind the government of the cost of moving forward with its liberalisation programme [sic].”

The American labor movement once enjoyed this level of power and influence. In the 1930s, communists, socialists and trade unionists were able to pull the Democratic administration of Franklin Roosevelt

enough to the left that the minimum program of a nascent welfare state was implemented under the name of the “New Deal.” The labor movement made real gains for American workers through political deals, agitation and most important of all, strikes. Included in the rich history of American labor is the radical International Workers of the World (IWW), which proudly called for the end of capitalism and wage labor, and the beginning of a new decentralized socialism known as “industrial democracy.”

Today, the situation is dire. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 13 percent of the American workforce is unionized, and pending “right-to-work” laws in numerous states could bring that number even lower. The unions

that remain today often focus on small, short-term demands, such as marginal pay increases and slightly better benefits. The result of this strategy has been a labor movement unable to confront the excesses of neoliberal capitalism, and incapable of defending the American working class. Unions such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have been complicit in this degradation, focusing less and less in recent years on organizing and union democracy and more on acting as a mediator between management and workers.

Because of this, conservative union leaders such as Teamsters President James P. Hoffa are currently facing challenges to their leadership from more radical opposition. The future of the American labor movement rests on the success of groups like

Teamsters for a Democratic Union in their efforts to broaden the goals of their union and increase the democratic power of individual members.

For their own survival, workers in America must follow the example of their Indian comrades and think bigger. Unions in America must not only grow and democratize, but organized labor must return to the radical goals of the IWW and the 1930s Congress of Industrial Organizations. When labor dares to envision a new world, and recognize the forces that stand against it, there is nothing that it cannot achieve.

The day American workers learn the lessons of the Indian general strike is the day they begin to assert the power of labor over capital, and of simple humanity over the forces of greed.

Johnson Should Know What Aleppo Is, And So Should We ANA FLOREZ Contributing Writer

On Sept. 8, 2016 Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential candidate, was interviewed by MSNBC broadcaster Mike Barnicle. Barnicle asked Johnson “What would you do, if you were elected, about Aleppo?”

Under normal circumstances, the politician would respond with a vague answer regarding the crises and move on from the topic as quickly as possible. However, that wasn’t the case. Johnson responded with the question “What is Aleppo?”

As many of our instinctual responses would have been, Barnicle immediately reacts with the follow up question of “You’re kidding?”

The interview continues, but like me, many stopped paying any attention to whatever Johnson had to say in order to recuperate from that horrible “slip up” as he later called it.

Johnson, who is already not able to participate in the first presidential debate because he has not been able to reach the 15 percent requirement in five national polls, has continued to remain stagnant in his numbers at 8.7 percent and will not likely increase in time for the second Presidential debate on Oct. 4th.

COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE/FLICKR

Gary Johnson has received criticism in the media for his Aleppo gaffe

Johnson’s biggest argument to defend this gaffe has been that Trump has said things far worse than he has.yet the Aleppo incident has caused a far louder uproar than any of Trump’s racist and politically incorrect comments. Although it seems to be a pretty strong argument, these outlandish comments have largely been responsible for the shocking growth of Trump’s momentum. Also, the media has given Trump 62 percent of all election coverage since he announced his run for president in June 2015.

It outrages many, but it still makes Trump gain numbers in the polls, as he is now practically tied with Hillary Clinton, which is clearly not the case for Johnson.

The American news media has focused its attention on Trump’s campaign and what gets the most ratings, rather than what is truly important and what is affecting foreign policy. Two of the most important foreign policy issues have been the Syrian Civil War and how it has affected civilians, and the refugee crisis that has overwhelmed most

neighboring countries and some in Europe.

To make matters worse, The New York Times published an article about Johnson’s error, but the article consisted of similar errors about Aleppo. The New York Times made the mistake that Aleppo was not only the capital of Syria, but was also the de facto capital of ISIS. It was later corrected, for those who may not know Damascus is the capital of Syria and Raqqa is the de facto capital of ISIS. Not only are these errors incredibly embarrassing but they seem to underestimate Aleppo’s significance.

Aleppo is Syria’s largest city and the largest target for the Assad Regime since the start of the civil war in 2011. The city has been invaded with multiple chemical attacks, barrel bombs and Russian airstrikes, and the majority of the casualties are civilians, specifically children.

According to a frontline article published in Feb. 2015, a total of 470,000 Syrians have been killed, 50,000 of them being children.

This article was published over six months ago, and that number increases daily.

Since 2011 the civil war has caused over 4.5 million Syrians to flee the country and turn to their neighboring countries such as Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon to seek

asylum.

Unfortunately, these neighboring countries were not expecting such an influx of refugee. This has caused tension within these countries on how to handle the overwhelming situation.

In the most recent news, there has been a ceasefire between Assad’s Syrian Army and the rebel fighters.

Unfortunately, that cease-fire came to an end within one week, after the United States accidentally conducted an airstrike that hit Syrian soldiers instead of what was believed to be an ISIS target. Russia struck an aid convoy that was near Aleppo, officially ending the cease-fire. Aleppo was later hit with another 35 airstrikes, ultimately cancelling any further UN humanitarian aid.

The city of Aleppo shows us that there is a huge humanitarian crisis, and the fact that Gary Johnson had a “slip-up” as to what Aleppo was is unforgivable and worrisome considering it is such a big issue. These gaffes have caused a general concern regarding what his knowledge actually consists of. This is not the first time Johnson has “blanked out” on topics so crucial. Even though he apologized for his mishap, it is this kind of mistake that makes you question the coherence of a person when they are running for President of the United States.

Arts & Culture

Arts & Culture Editors Elena Ciotta - eciotta@fordham.edu Ana Fota - afota@fordham.edu Morgan Steward - msteward2@fordham.edu September 29, 2016 THE OBSERVER

The Dodransbicentennial Takes Center Stage

By DEIRDRE REED Contributing Writer

As the school year kicks into full gear, the Theatre Department at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) prepares for another riveting series of performances. “This season is a celebration,” Austin Spiro, FCLC ’19, says of “Cockfight. “It’s a party and it’s different and it’s fun.”

Centered around the theme of Fordham’s Dodransbicentennial, this season’s four plays, “The Electric Baby,” “Cockfight,” “The Luck of the Irish,” and “The Winter’s Tale” take a comic spin on tragedy, displacement and the desire to find a place where we belong.

These plays were written by a diverse group of new playwrights, Shakespeare excluded, and find common ground in that they are accessible and relevant to their Fordham audience.

Rachel Ravel ,FCLC ’19, of “The Electric Baby” says, “Fordham has done a lot of plays where we see fantastical, otherworldly characters, and it’s really exciting to be able to look at a character and say, ‘I identify with that, and I find humor in that, and that is everyday.’ Ravel continued, “We don’t sit around in our lives and have something terrible happen to us and sit in it forever. We have to rebuild. And so seeing how these characters rebuild is inspiring and almost therapeutic.” So whether you are an avid theatergoer or not, Fordham’s Mainstage season has something for you.

Stefanie Zadravec’s “The Electric Baby” centers around the stories of Natalia (Tora Alexander, FCLC ’17) and Ambimbola (Wayne Mackins, FCLC ’19), immigrants from Romania and Nigeria, respectively, who have a shared anguish over their doomed child. Set in present-day Pittsburgh, the play is set off by a tragedy that pushes four characters into the narratives of Natalia and Ambimbola: the guilt-ridden inciter

JESS LUSZCZYK/THE OBSERVER

This year’s mainstage season opens with “The Electric Baby,” a play centered on life after relocation.

Helen (Alicia Moeller, FCLC ’18), her husband Reed (Peter McNally, FCLC ’17), waitress/prostitute-but “not a hooker, two different things”- Rozie (Rachel Ravel, FCLC ’19) and her unfortunate friend Dan (Tony Macht, FCLC ’17). Ravel compares the play to being on a subway and wondering how all of its passengers’ lives would fit together, and says she is excited “to play someone grounded, someone grittier.” Directed by frequent Fordham guest Pirronne Yousefzadeh, “The Electric Baby” can be seen on Oct. 6-8 and 12-14.

“Cockfight,” written by Fordham alum Peter Gil-Sheridan (FCLC ’98), follows Cuban-American teenager Juanie (Austin Spiro, FCLC ’19) as he discovers and cultivates his sexuality, and looks to find his place in a masculine world. His family possesses a

human-sized egg that Juanie has been painting, but when the egg hatches, his dad (Kelveen Fabian, FCLC ’18 ) decides to fight the rooster, hence the title. Spiro describes the play as “a two-hour wild rumpus” and adds “I feel really at home with this character...he travels a lot of distance, so I’m really excited for that. It’s an important play because we’re dealing with characters that we don’t normally see, and haven’t seen at Fordham.” Anna Brenner, who directed the show when it was first being developed at downton theater Soho Rep, will reprise her role as director for its first fully realized production. Performances run Nov. 9–11 and 17–19.

“The Luck of the Irish” tells the story of the Taylors, an African American family in the 1950s who purchase a house in a white, segre-

gated neighborhood, with a white family acting as the go-between.

Fifty years later, they find out the title of the house may never have been transferred to their family. Jumping back and forth between the present and the past, the play questions how much racial attitudes have evolved in the last 50 years, if at all. Written by Kirsten Greenidge, “The Luck of the Irish” touches on the theme of humans’ inherent longing for a home. It will be performed on Feb. 23–25 and March 1–3.

This year’s season will end on a classical note with William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Winter’s Tale.”

Main characters include the jealous and unrelenting King Leontes, his wrongfully accused wife Hermione and Perdita, their radiant daughter who grows up believing she is the

child of a shepherd. “The Winter’s Tale” is a story of death and life, romance and comedy, betrayal and redemption, and loss and recovery. Fordham’s Artist in Residence George Drance, SJ, who currently serves as the artistic director of the Magis Theatre Company, will direct.

Performances will take place on April 5–7 and 20–22.

All shows take place in the Pope Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the box office from 2–6 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before each performance, or by contacting the box office at 212-6366340 or fclcboxoffice@gmail.com.

Tickets cost $15 for general admission and five dollars for students with a valid I.D. and seniors, and are free of charge for Fordham theatre majors or minors.

Born to be Wild(er): The Willy Wonka Effect

By CASEY ROBINSON Contributing Writer

“Do you ask a fish how it swims?

Or a bird how it flies? No siree, you don’t. They do it because they were born to do it.” —The Candy Man, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” 1971.

Beloved actor Gene Wilder passed away on Aug. 29, 2016. In the wake of this loss we are prompted to think on his legacy, on the times he made us laugh, brought our families together and warmed our hearts.

One of Wilder’s best known roles is that of the enigmatic chocolatier, Willy Wonka. Wonka first appeared in the 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl.

Since then, Wonka has appeared in a sequel to the book, two films, and a musical based off of the original novel. The musical, also titled “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” has been playing on the West End in London; however, it will be coming to Broadway in spring of 2017.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” in all of its retellings and adaptations, is considered a classic rags to riches story. Charlie Bucket

COURTESY OF SARAH ACKERMAN VIA FLICKR

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” opens this spring on Broadway.

begins his journey as an impoverished child, but through virtue, effort and a little bit of luck, is rewarded with ownership of Wonka’s factory. The cyclical revivals of the “Chocolate Factory” story indicate how the American dream continues to thrive in the hearts and minds of each new generation. Dahl’s original message continues to resonate

with each new adaptation of his story. The message is not simply to work hard and the world will fall into your lap— although Charlie Bucket is the protagonist, it is the other four winners of Golden tickets who hold the key to the meaning of Dahl’s tale.

The “Chocolate Factory” stories are praised for a particular aspect of

their brilliance: despite being a story about children, the characters are all treated as adults. By giving children the spotlight, Dahl also gave them the responsibilities of adulthood. It is the children who win entry into the factory; the children whose actions determine whether or not they can stay in the factory; the children who are considered potential successors to the factory. Each child disqualified from the competition could not manage their responsibility: Augustus could not control his greed, Veruca could not control her envy, Violet could not control her pride, and Mike could not control his sloth. As these children act on their flaws and are punished accordingly, audiences are learning valuable lessons about what it means to truly be mature. “Rags-to-riches” makes the process sound too simple; the chocolate factory teaches that wealth takes work, not only physical effort but also emotional maturity.

While the children in the story are held to the standards of adulthood, perhaps the most childish character of all is Mr. Wonka himself. Wonka constantly speaks in

riddles, sings and dances, and as the 1971 film puts it, lives in his own “world of pure imagination.” In this, Dahl has woven a beautiful lesson: children experiencing the story are learning the value of maturity, while adults are learning the value of innocence. These messages resonate with audiences of all ages, explaining the amazing success of each new adaptation of Dahl’s story.

Wonka’s lesson is not simply to remember to live light-heartedly as we grow up; past all of his eccentricities, Wonka is teaching us about legacy. We are remembered by what we leave behind, whether it be a chocolate empire or a collection of films.

Life is not about growing up quickly, or trying to stay young forever: life is about creating something meaningful. Dahl touched the world with his story; Wonka touched the world with his chocolate; Wilder touched the world with his performances.

We are survived by the lessons we teach and stories we tell. We are all born to do something, and people like Dahl, Wonka and Wilder teach us the magic of doing it, whatever it is, extraordinarily.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER September 29, 2016

Arts & Culture

8

Disney in Live-Action: The Trend Taking Theaters by Storm

By MARYANNA ANTOLDI Staff Writer

Everyone remembers watching some type of Disney movie when they were young. With animated classics for people of all ages, Disney has built itself an empire in which generation after generation of kids grow up with their storytelling.

However, Disney has begun to create new live-action versions of many of their animated films and it is evident that they are all taking a much darker and deeper tone. So why is Disney unleashing this style of moviemaking? Is it to re-attract millennials to their movies, or is it purely to give a different angle to the stories that made them famous? The trend is just beginning and it seems that there is no end in sight.

Beginning with Angelina Jolie’s starring role in “Maleficent” (2014), Disney began to lead viewers on a live-action journey into the life of one of the company’s most popular villains. In the case of “Maleficent,” writer Linda Woolverton chose to give its title character a unique backstory, one that fleshed her out as more human instead of an evil being. In the original “Sleeping Beauty,” all we see of Maleficent is a vengeful fairy who curses an innocent child because she was not invited to the baby’s christening. In the remake, we witness the downfall of the character from a kind fairy to one full of hate once exposed to the wicked side of men.

As a result, it introduced a darker element into the film and strayed from the classic itself. For example, in the 2014 remake, it was Maleficent’s love that broke Aurora’s curse rather than Prince Phillip’s, and that aspect won audiences over. By adding twists

COURTESTY OF GLOBAL PANORAMA

Angelina Jolie starred in Disney’s first live-action film, Maleficent.

that both fleshed out Maleficent and changed the classic fairytale, audiences of all ages found themselves curious to see what else Disney could do with these films. Ultimately, they did not disappoint.

“The Jungle Book” (2016), one of Disney’s most recent remakes, continued this live-action trend of

darker plots, realistic characters and enhanced cinematography. The original animated feature (1967) is extremely lighthearted. Everyone recognizes the iconic dance number to “The Bare Necessities,” and we seem to merely follow Mowgli along his jungle adventures. Shere Khan, the ferocious antagonist of the film,

does not even seem to be much of a threat until the movie’s end. The liveaction film, however, shows viewers the real dangers of living in the jungle. Focusing more on Kipling’s original story, “The Jungle Book” (2016) offers a darker look into life as a “mancub,” specifically the stigma, the danger and the isolation. Mowgli is a boy on the run from death by Shere Khan, and the entire jungle is suffering from the tiger’s rage. The cinematography transports audiences deep within the jungle, where the animals look strikingly realistic due to drastic advancements in CGI. As a result, we feel this danger. We feel connected to Mowgli and his struggle. The live-action film contains a completely different element in its attention to reality, and as a result audiences feel more connected to the seriousness of the plot.

In addition, the latest remake that Disney released is actually based on one of the company’s least popular films, “Pete’s Dragon” (1977). The original feature follows Pete, an orphan, and his best friend and invisible dragon Elliot as they escape Pete’s menacing adoptive family and choose to make a life of their own.

The film is extremely comical and lighthearted, even when the dastardly villains hope to kill Elliot for medicinal purposes, and it is filled with musical numbers about love, friendship and fun. The live-action remake is completely different in plot and in character. Pete is a child who loses his parents in a car accident, and he finds himself stranded in the woods.

It is there where he meets Elliot. In contrast to the original, Elliot is not a comical character. Rather, he is pensive, defensive and kind. He feels on

the same level as the humans themselves. Plot-wise, the movie takes a traditionally darker tone once Pete finds himself wandering into the real world, and Ranger Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) has to help him re-adjust to modern society. In addition, Gavin (Karl Urban), a construction worker, manages to capture Elliot.

Due to the darker plot, we feel the suspense of the situation and understand the consequences of the dragon’s capture due to its setting in modern society. The live-action film still contains the same themes of family and love, but there is a layer of emotion and realism added that the original sorely lacked.

With the success of the handful of live-action films Disney has released in the past few years, there seems to be no end in sight for the movement.

With Emma Watson’s “Beauty and the Beast” arriving in 2017 and a list of remakes already confirmed for future years (including “Peter Pan” and a Prince Charming spin-off), Disney is giving their audiences more realistic adaptations to their classic films that not only flesh out their beloved characters, but also introduce audiences to a darker side of the fantasy worlds where we can truly connect with the stories.

Perhaps Disney is attempting to appeal to older audiences with these darker undertones. Perhaps they want to utilize the incredible developments in CGI to bring classic characters to life. While we do not know the company’s true motivation, what we do see is that they still understand how to tell incredible stories. And, with the next series of live-action fantasies in production, there are still plenty of surprises in store.

After Nine Years, ‘The Boy Who Lived’ is Back The Beloved Series Comes to Life Again With New Two-Part Story

“ I really liked the

By EMERSON SHERBOURNE Contributing Writer

Fans who grew up loving “The Boy Who Lived” got a magical surprise after nine years with the release of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

The book has been a huge hit among fans already, some of whom waited in lines all night for the book’s release.

The book is made up of the scripts for a two-part production that is currently underway in London and tickets to both parts are on sale now. According to the BBC America website, there have been talks of bringing the play to the United States, although nothing has been confirmed. J.K. Rowling has always wanted to reach her fans all over the world, so it seems likely that the play will make its way across the pond.

When talking to people who have read the book, I learned that they managed to read the book very quickly, just as I had. The overwhelming opinion is that the book was a success. Although the two-part script itself was written by Jack Thorne and not J.K. Rowling, it was well done and based off of a new story by Rowling, Thorne and John Tiffany. The biggest complaint about the book seems to be that the language and actions of some characters were inconsistent with J.K. Rowling’s style. Those details, however, do not stop people from having an overwhelmingly positive opinion

storyline, but the format took away some details. By the end, [the book] started growing on me, but not in the same way as the orinal series.”

SOFIA DE JESUS, FCLC ’20

SAM MCHALE/THE OBSERVER

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” resonates with those who grew up reading the “Harry Potter” series.

of the book. Sofia de Jesus, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20 and avid “Harry Potter” reader, said that “by the end, [the book] started growing on me, but not in the same way as the original series.” The story encompasses lessons and adventures similar to those seen in the Harry Potter series, though it brings in new elements that set the book apart. This

story focuses on the children of the original trio, paying particular focus to Harry’s son Albus.

Albus is the misfit of Harry’s children, and he becomes the epicenter for action throughout the play. The action takes off when Albus befriends Draco Malfoy’s son, Scorpius. The two become an unlikely pair and their friendship is a large aspect of

the story. They decide that they want to right the wrongs of the past, but the righting of the wrongs takes an unexpected turn for the worse.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” revitalizes the wizarding world and brings back famous places and objects while still introducing new ideas and people. Godric’s Hollow becomes an integral place in

the book, and the Triwizard Tourna ment featured in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” returns in an unexpected way. Time Turners, which Hermione used in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” also make a comeback, despite having been outlawed and, theoretically, destroyed.

Other famous wizards that fans loved also made appearances in the book.

Cedric Diggory and his father, Amos, become a big part of the story.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is a great read for Harry Potter fans. It offers nostalgia to fans of the original series by bringing back the childhood magic of reading the series for the first time. Copies of the book are available right here at the campus bookstore.

www.fordhamobserver.com

Photo Feature

THE OBSERVER September 29, 2016

9

Career Advice From the Designers

of NYFW

By ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN Photo Co-Editor

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is back, and fashionistas everywhere are rejoicing. It’s time once again to put on the black leather Roberto Cavalli’s you’ve been saving all season and strut your stuff for the waiting paparazzi. Young designers studying fashion in Manhattan wait outside praying to be awarded with a simple standing ticket, the green light to view the fresh collection their favorite designers have been preparing to showcase all season. Students dream of one day having their own name on the NYFW schedule. Thankfully, this season’s designers have some advice for college students trying to make their way into the fashion world.

In a collection that she describes as “powerful, sexy and gentle,” Vivienne

Hu showcased her fifth NYFW runway show on Sept. 11 at ArtBeam Gallery, giving a heartfelt tribute to our fallen soldiers before the show. Hu had some pointers for young designers. “Everything is timing,” she stated, talking about breaking into the fashion business. She advised prospective designers to keep “looking forward and [stay] very strong.”

Tadashi Shoji, known for his red carpet gowns, showcased his collection later that day at The Arc at Moynihan Station in Midtown. He stays relevant in the business by being honest to himself and his fashion. He explains, “I can’t change myself,” and advises young designers to follow that same ideology.

Shoji offers internships for college students which

are truly hard work, he says. This is not something many fashion companies can say, but Shoji believes in giving his interns the full hands-on experience. “[Many interns think] ‘Oh,

In 2008, Benito Santos decided to leave his medical career and become a fashion designer. “Inspired by the night and the mystic of magic,” his collection is made to dress the woman who is the “center of attention.” Like many designers, Santos offers The fashion indusinternships to suptry] is what you make port young designers. of it and you’ll only get University students out what you put in. from all over “will come and spend months and ANDRONIKA ZIMMERMAN, Photo Co-Editor months” learning and working for the brand.

He has interns coming “from New York...to Mexico to spend time we’re interns, we can come with [him].” He agreed that anytime.’ If you think like interning for his brand is that, no way [you will a full experience. When make it] in this business.” asked if his international In the real world, you have interns were compensatto work diligently to earn ed, he responded “They your keep, and Tadashi go on their own. They’re Shoji teaches the same learning. They will take mentality to his interns. care of their own expenses

“

”

because they want to be with Benito,” implying that there’s clearly a lot to learn from the man who designs for elites in Mexico.

For someone who dresses Victoria’s Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel and the First Lady of Mexico, Angélica Rivera, learning from an international brand is surely a priceless experience, though the plane ticket might not be.

Six fashion shows later, another NYFW has successfully graced Manhattan, spreading prints, patterns and colors throughout the city streets. What’s left of the commotion is the advice these couturiers have given in their efforts to foster the passion of young professionals in the fashion industry. It’s what you make of it, and you’ll only get out what you put in.

8

Photo Feature

September 29, 2016 THE OBSERVER

www.fordhamobserver.com

Taking Initiative is the Key to the Fashion Industry

By TERRY ZENG Copy Editor

Whenever I post photos from fashion shows at New York Fashion Week (NYFW), I often get questions such as, “How do you get access to so many shows?” or “How much are the tickets?” The truth is, most fashion shows are not open to the public and do not require tickets. Your question for me should be, “How did you get the invitations?” Yes, how did I get invited to partake in an industry that is exclusive for the people already in it?

Breaking in seems so impossible, as if you’re being told, “you can’t sit with us.”

What drove me into the industry was not relations or prestige, but my passion, hope and initiative.

I started out as an amateur street-style photographer. Last February, I stood in the bare cold in front of Skylight Clarkson Square,

where they hold most of like photographers, stylists the shows for the bi-annuand the press, I got to clearal NYFW, with my Sony ly see how Fashion Week A7 camera to capture the runs and how each departpassing runway attendees, ment is divided. who usually dress very chic Back to the time I was a and stylish. I was simply fashion newbie, I literally jealous of those who got the chance to see every brand’s collection I follow my initial showcase, which stimwill— to spread fashion ulated my curiosity and with my own voice and passion to find out what on my medium. really goes on inside these studios and on the TERRY ZENG, Copy Editor catwalk.

I am a talkative person who likes taking initiative, so I started talking to other streetstyle photographers, some “broke” into the industry who have access to shows by sneaking into fashand some who seem to ion shows. After strolling be nonchalant about the around at the front door, I showcase. They provided told myself, I cannot just be me with useful insights of out here every day, I have to capturing photos and pitch- be in there, because I was ing them for magazines. By working with the mindtalking to industry insiders set that I have to spread

“

”

news about every aspect of NYFW. “Go big or go home,” I told myself.

Breaking in takes great courage, skill and patience; with my camera and video recorder, I have used dozens of ways to break in, including pretending to be the press, using the name of a magazine editor, blending into the crowd, and going through backstage. However, a motto has encouraged me to do what I have done — “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.” I think it’s true, and I think it falls under the umbrella of initiative.

I have done almost everything with the risk of being kicked out by NYFW, but I follow my initial will — to spread fashion with my own voice and on my medium, and that has driven me to relentlessly break in no

matter how many denials I get. So, as a result, I snuck into more than 15 runway shows at the end of my first Fashion Week season.

I created a blog and have been taking it seriously for about a year. I write about my lifestyle, my outfits and my experience in fashion.

Breaking into the industry seems smoother in the past NYFW season as I build more relationships with people inside it, such as a good friend of mine, Pedro Rodrigo Gonzalez, who invited me to runway shows.

Breaking into this exclusive industry is not impossible, so long as you take the initiative by finding every chance to work for fashion, though these chances can be slight and are competitive. Looking back at all the articles I have published on my blog, I am able to say I built this up all by myself.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER September 29, 2016

Arts & Culture

11

Splinter Group Showcases Fordham Talent

By ANA FOTA Arts & Culture Co-Editor

It is no surprise that a college campus only a few feet away from Manhattan’s Theatre district would have its own musical theatre club.

The Splinter Group has served as an outlet for all Fordham Lincoln Center students to express themselves through art for “There’s so much talent right under our roof,” Danny Holmberg, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, treasurer and PR representative of the group, said. “Splinter lets us channel it into something beautiful.”

In 2013, the club was rebranded with a notorious production of the acclaimed Stephen Sondheim musical, “Into the Woods.” Since then, it has been an ambitious journey to becoming one of the biggest clubs on campus. For the past three years, it has grown in popularity with a major event every semester, including one full-scale musical production per year. In 2014, it was “A Chorus Line,” a classic musical that tracks the struggles of several performers. “For the club, ‘Into the Woods’ was the catalyst, ‘A Chorus Line’ was the reaction,” Holmberg said.

Last year, students raved about their Spring production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” held in Pope Auditorium.

It featured larger sets and audience participation, as students were invited on stage and asked to help spell words the e-board had invented.

Before the show, Angela Yamarone, FCLC ’17 and Splinter co-president, was nervous about the public’s reaction. “We knew the show itself was funny, but we weren’t sure how the audience would react,” Yamarone said. The night ended up being a success, propelling Splinter to the status of a club to be reckoned with. “To have our peers laugh at all the jokes felt awesome. It made us feel like we finally have our place on campus, as a performance group,”Yamarone said

Auditions are open to any undergraduate student, regardless of major. None of the board members are part of the Theatre Department, though some are pursuing the theatre minor.

And another way Splinter makes their shows more accessible? Free entry. By not charging for tickets, the group provides an opportunity for students to attend a musical on a Friday night for free on campus to see their peers perform.

Part of the reasoning behind not charging for admission has to do with the rights the group must acquire in order to stage any theatrical production. By not charging for admission, Splinter is able to keep that cost down. The group works closely with the Office of Student Involvement and the Student Activities Budgeting Committee, to ensure that the financial aspect works out smoothly. “It’s a well-oiled machine,” Holmberg said. After acquiring the rights, the club’s board signs a contract, stating just how much of the show they can change, and how much needs to remain intact. Once the scripts are received, auditions start rolling.

This year, the club is setting their goals high, aiming at two major events per semester. This semester, the group will perform the musical “Fugitive Songs” in Pope Auditorium. The contemporary song cycle, written by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen, opened Off-Broadway in 2008. “It’s an inspiring story about people on the run,” Yamarone said. “We can all relate to the songs, as students going through the transition, out into the real world. Theatre is all about telling stories.” As for their other event this fall, they are partnering with the United Student Government to host a Broadway Karaoke Night, as part of the LC After Dark series. Sharon Connelly (FCLC ’18), Splinter secretary, believes these events work together towards the club’s mission. “We want to have a

“ There’s so much

talent right under our roof. Splinter lets us channel it into something beautiful. ” DANNY HOLMBERG, FCLC ’18,

Splinter treasurer and PR representative

balance,” she said. “Everyone in our shows has to audition for them, but we’re also hosting events that are available to everyone.” Why? “We want to build a sense of community.

You can even lip sync, but just have fun performing.”

Auditions will be held Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1 in the music practice rooms across from Franny’s Space. Interested students can sign up for a slot by emailing splintergrouplc@gmail. com. Broadway Karaoke night will be held on Oct. 14, while “Fugitive Songs” will be performed on Oct. 20.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPLITER GROUP

Pictured from top to bottom are: The Splinter productions of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” from 2016, “A Chorus Line” from 2015, and last Fall’s event “Adventure is Out There: A Disney Revue.”

Features

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

September 29, 2016

THE OBSERVER

Embracing Anime and Rejecting Stereotypes

By LUCIA (WAN’TING) ZHOU Contributing Writer

Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

Steaming waves of summer heat fermented with moisture in the air, settling a fine layer of mist on the translucent umbrella I was holding.

Seeing the world through this filter of dreaminess, Akihabara looked both fantastical and real at the same time— bridging the world we live in with the world people create.

As a country, Japan gave birth to Anime, Japanese cartoons with vivid graphics, lively characters and fantastical themes. The realm of Anime not only established itself as a true global phenomena, but also emerged as a booming industry of numerous supporters generating a market value of roughly $181 million per year, according to the Association of Japanese Animation.

In Akihabara, a district of Tokyo that embodies the glories of Anime industries with the abundance of Anime-theme stores, I stood in the pouring rain. My feet were drenched, my hair was wet and my heart was heavy. With my other hand, I was holding a music album of TEZUKA Kunimitsu, the fictional character I grew up admiring. TEZUKA has always impressed me with his unparalleled determination in pursuing his dream, namely leading the tennis team of his school to the national championship. Having practically scavenged the entire town of Akihabara, I was so emotional when I got this album that I was in tears.

However, when the excitement and joy faded, I was left alone to confront a question: Since TEZUKA means so much to me, why do I always keep it a secret?

Raindrops lingered on the umbrella, shivered and fell to the ground.

Anime as an art form has gained popularity over the last decade, but it still has not generated as much cultural capital as some of the most historically-enriched forms of art.

While some art forms are relatively obscure and unknown, members to the set of “High Culture,” such as

LUCIA (WAN’TING) ZHOU/THE OBSERVER

A picture of the section marker for “The Prince of Tennis” at Animate, a store in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

works of Bach and Mozart, are empowered by the significance assigned by our culture. People hold them in the highest esteem, and the revered works’ prestige are usually proportional to their age.

While hobbies and interests are important for personal and intellectual enrichments, they are also handy hooks for social exchanges.

When I subconsciously decide to talk with people more about Debussy than TEZUKA, I not only weigh pieces of information to share, but also conform to the social norm of assigning values to arts, and leverage the revered status of western art music as my conversation capitals.

Furthermore, Anime is not the most popular interest. Some conceptions that the public has about people who watch Anime are actually inductively generalized from only a selected group of people. The stereotypes prevent people from truly getting to know those who enjoy

the art form. A friend of mine once made a bold generalization and mistook everyone who adores fictional characters to be attached to them romantically. When asked about the rationale, he said it’s “because he knows someone who does.”

But that’s not me, and certainly not many other Anime fans. I see TEZUKA as someone with admirable resilience and determination, and that is why he is someone I’d love to be, not be with. Recalling this experience, I came to an understanding that I didn’t want to avoid discussing TEZUKA, but avoid misleading labels that prevented people from getting to know me.

In fact, for many years I have regarded TEZUKA as my role model.

His story of mental resilience and self-discipline inspired me. Extending his arms from the domain of fiction, at some levels, he guides me through the challenges of reality.

The 2D world we pour our attention

into is not only an intersection of imaginations and realities, but the unfolding possibilities of choosing a friend, embarking on a journey and experiencing in your life what would have been impossible.

I do appreciate the fact that I greatly benefit from the virtual companionship of TEZUKA. If it were not for the concerns of misunderstandings, I would definitely be more open to sharing my passion for Anime with people the way I talk about Mendelssohn and his music with friends.

Tendencies to make generalizations and classify unfamiliar disciplines exists in the first place due to simply not knowing enough about the subject. The lack of information does not prevent people from their inherent curiosity to make sense of the world and their natural inclination to decide their feelings. In other words, provided sufficient information to Anime as an arts genre,

stereotypes will melt into warm inquiries and brute classifications will evolve into genuine curiosities.

Days after, as the plane took off from the Kokusai Airport in Tokyo, I turned my head to the cabinet window trying to identify landmarks in Tokyo—and that’s when the view of Five Tennis courts struck me. The scattered buildings around a field track, reminded me of a junior high school, exactly like the junior high school in which TEZUKA dedicated his entire last year of junior high achieving his dream.

This is also where I finally became brave enough to try to understand myself and to start sharing my passion for Anime with people, embracing the magic box of possibilities along the way.

I fixed my eyes on the tennis courts until they disappeared. That’s the last bit of Tokyo that I saw from my trip, and it is something I’ll remember forever.

Students Look to Fordham Public Safety After Multiple Bombings

By NATHAN NISENSON Contributing Writer

A major attraction of Fordham University are its New York City campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx. However, those locations can also be a cause for concern. Although crime in New York City has been decreasing heavily over the past few years, recent bombings in Chelsea and Seaside Park have some people worried about their safety in the city.

Robert Dineen, director of Public Safety at Fordham Lincoln Center attests that Fordham University takes security concerns seriously and works hard in order to maintain and ensure a safe environment on all of its campuses. “I believe it is important for the campus community to know that working in the Department of Public Safety at all Fordham campuses...are a very talented and hardworking team of public safety administrators,” Dineen said.

A crucial component of Fordham’s security is the school’s Emergency Management Plan (EMP).

The EMP is a detailed set of procedures that covers almost all possible emergencies that could serve as a safety risk to students. These range from “Level 1” events like incidents of bias to “Level 5” events such as a major terrorist attack. The plan also includes guidelines for “Administrative Response,” which details

JON BJORNSON/THE OBSERVER

Fordham works closely with the NYPD to prepare for any emergencies.

the procedural response of many of Fordham University’s staff and faculty in the case of an emergency.

According to Dineen, the EMP is developed with input from all departments of the school, and is updated every year. “In our business we have to keep up with the changing times and the news that we are seeing from across the country and world,” Dineen said. “To date, we have invested heavily in personnel resources and state of the art technology that are key components of our emergency management plan.”

Being located in a large city presents some challenges to maintaining a safe environment, however it also provides valuable opportunities to take advantage of the city’s resources. Like other schools such as New York University and Columbia University, Fordham University has a close partnership with the New York Police Department (NYPD) and other New York emergency departments. “Each year, we conduct an emergency management exercise where we bring together our emergency management team, consisting

of all the key representatives from the many departments and schools working here at the University,” Dineen said. “We also invite the NYPD to participate in the exercise, and depending upon the scenario, the city agencies that would respond to and have a role in​​a particular emergency.”

In those training exercises, Fordham University makes sure to cover as many possible scenarios as possible. “Over the past several years, we have scripted out emergency scenarios involving an active shooter situation, a sexual assault on campus, a hurricane bearing down on NYC and a large fight at a school sporting event,” Dineen said. “During the exercise, all those participating get the opportunity to explain their role and responsibility in mitigating the crisis.”

The EMP is also heavily influenced by the fact that thousands of students live on campus and that there can sometimes be reasons for evacuating students from their classes or dorms. This is a large decision to make so the school has to strike a delicate balance of making sure that they don’t evacuate students for a false alarm, while also making sure that it’s an easy and fast system so that the school can evacuate students efficiently. “That decision [to evacuate the school] can be made by a public safety administrator at any time depending on the situation

we are responding to,” Dineen said.

“In the case of a fire or smoke condition or other emergency condition, our public safety administrators are trained and authorized to evacuate our buildings here at campus, as appropriate to the situation. Of course, when the NYPD and FDNY respond to campus, we are also guided by their direction.”

Fordham University has also worked to incorporate new technology into its emergency response procedures. Over the past few years the school has adopted emergency text alerts which not only keep students updated about recent crimes, but also facilitate better communication between students and staff in an emergency situation. “We now have redundant channels of communication to get emergency messages t​o ​a ll members of our school community,” Dineen said. “We can​ send t​housands of text, voicemail and email messages simultaneously to get important messages out on what’s happening, what we are doing and what you should be doing in an emergency.”

The threat of a dangerous emergency is always present in a large city, and Fordham University’s Emergency Management Plan was created with the intention of mitigating that threat as much as possible. While the plan is substantial, it is the hope of Fordham students and staff that it never has to be used.

www.fordhamobserver.com

THE OBSERVER

Features

September 29, 2016

13

SAM MCHALE/THE OBSERVER

Michaéla Finneran, FCLC ’18, recently landed an internship at the New York City mayor’s office.

Student Makes Strides in the Political Sphere

By REESE RAVNER Features Co-Editor

Poised and put-together, Michaéla Finneran, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, is the picture of an ideal future public official. In addition to her political science major, she has already had irreplaceable opportunities that will help her ascend the political ladder.

Recently, Finneran landed an internship in the New York City mayor’s office. Though she just started her position as an intern in the Community Affairs Unit and is unable, at this point, to grasp the entire impact of the role, she is very excited to see how this semester unfolds. “A lot of what I’ll be doing is organizing and training volunteers, and then, when I’m in the office, your basic data entry and follow up with constituents who have cases we’re working,” Finneran said.

She credits the bulk of her professional experience and the reason she was able to get this position to her previous internship. Last year, during her sophomore year, Finneran worked for Mercury, a public affairs firm at the World Trade Center. “I did a lot of briefings on public officials in foreign governments.

That’s primarily what their client base tended to be, and I was there for all of last year, so I got a pretty wide range of experience from that,” Finneran explained.

that is right up Finneran’s alley.

For research, Finneran posed as a prospective intern and called each presidential campaign, asking questions about cover letter and resumé requirements and if they pay. “The answer to that was ‘no’ in pretty much every case, and I compiled a report for that, and that’s what they

“When I was working at Mercury, I worked a lot of client events, mostly for politicians. During primary season, I managed press at a televised meeting between Rev. Al Sharpton and Bernie Sanders in Harlem. Bernie was courting Sharpton’s endorsement. It was on

“ What always interested me in politics was

the competition, messaging and strategy of campaigns. I know that this is what a lot of people hate about politics, but I find it exciting.”

–

CNN, MSNBC, ABC, etc. Pretty much everywhere. It was probably the coolest thing I did.” Initially, she had only planned to stay at Mercury for a semester, but was asked to stay on in November.

Finneran is also a research assistant for Christina Greer, associate professor of political science, from whom she feels she has gained valuable experience. Last year, she helped Greer research a piece she was co-writing for The Washington Post on the role of unpaid interns in presidential campaigns, something

MICHAELA FINNERAN,

FCLC ’18

used as their research,” she said.

Finneran has performed several tasks for Greer as a research assistant and is very grateful for all of the opportunities she has directed her towards. “I’ve been pretty lucky,” Finneran said, “I have to say, pretty much every opportunity that I’ve had has come from Professor Greer.

She knew someone at Mercury and knew they were looking for interns and suggested I look their way.

Then, my experience at Mercury really helped me get my internship at the mayor’s office so I credit her for

a lot of the things that I’ve been able to do.”

Finneran has always been a politics nerd. In high school, she was on student council. She also went doorto-door campaigning for President Obama in 2008. “I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t interested in politics, and it’s weird because I didn’t intend to be a political science major until a month before I came to college...probably because my sister was a political science major, and I didn’t want to do what she did—I got over that pretty quickly as soon as I walked into Professor Greer’s class.”

“What always interested me in politics was the competition, messaging and strategy of campaigns. I know that this is what a lot of people hate about politics, the horse race aspect, but I find it exciting.”

Though neither of her parents work in politics, Finneran explained that she comes from a very politically-minded family. “My parents are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. My mom is a very liberal Democrat and my dad is a conservative Republican. They talked to me about politics from a very young age, and I was always intrigued.”

“I knew pretty early on that I identified more closely with the ideology of the Democratic Party, but most of my best friends are actually Republicans. I think this is impor-

tant, especially going to a school like FCLC where I’m constantly surrounded by like-minded people.”

Finneran said, “Part of what we’ve lost in our current political system is the ability to negotiate.

Elected officials, for the most part, are very strong partisans, which really cripples their ability to reach across the aisle. We all have our own opinions, but it’s important to be able to find common ground and come to an acceptable compromise, in politics and in life. This is why I like having Republican friends.”

For students who are currently reading this piece and thinking they would love to have similar experiences, Finneran advises to send as many résumés as possible and, not surprisingly, “utilize your professors. They’re great resources and if they’re professors at Fordham, they probably have great connections within the city. Sometimes just having someone like Professor Greer who can speak well on your behalf can make the difference of you getting something.”

What does the future hold for Finneran? She hopes to become a political consultant and work on senatorial or presidential campaigns, and eventually go into public service herself. At the moment, she does not see herself going immediately to graduate or law school, as she’d like to spend a few years working first.

Join us every Monday for Editorial and Visual workshops at 4 p.m. in LL402.

Sports & Health

MOHDSHOBAIR HUSSAINI - Sports Editor

mhussaini2@fordham.edu

September 29, 2016 THE OBSERVER

Staying Active on Campus Just Became Easier Four clubs on campus to help you get active mentally and physically

BY MOHDSHOBAIR HUSSAINI Sports Editor

Many things set apart the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses. The Rose Hill campus is in the heart of the Bronx, rooted in the culture of Fordham Road.

The Lincoln Center campus, on the other hand, is in the center of Manhattan and only one block away from Central Park. One major difference that stands out is that the Lincoln Center campus lacks the athletic facilities and teams that Rose Hill boasts. Sure, Lincoln Center students can exercise in the gym in McMahon or participate in Intramurals at the Bronx campus, but Lincoln Center is more closely associated with health, fitness and wellness. Luckily, the Lincoln Center campus has quite a few clubs and organizations that students can join to stay healthy and also learn more about the body as a whole.

Below are some of the clubs on the Lincoln Center campus that relate to health, fitness and wellness.

SOPHIE DAWSON/THE OBSERVER

The Taekwondo Club helps students stay physically active, while learning martial arts.

“ [We] advocate for increasing conversation and

awareness, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health on college campuses.”

–

LAUIRANN KORMYLO, PRESIDENT OF ACTIVE MINDS

ACTIVE MINDS

BEWELL LC

Active Minds focuses on furthering the conversation of student mental health on the Lincoln Center campus. Club President, Lauriann Kormylo, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’18, stated, “We want to be a resource for students who are interested in mental health advocacy because we believe everyone has something valuable to contribute.”

Kormylo assured that Active Minds is not a support group. She articulated, “[We] advocate for increasing conversation and awareness, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health on college campuses.”

Active Minds sponsors numerous events throughout the semester. This semester, the club started with “Cupcakes on the Plaza.” The club is looking to have a “Happy Mondays” series each week. Kormylo explained, “This series focuses on helping students to have happy Mondays, because when you start your week off in a good mindset, then you’ll be better able to handle whatever stresses you encounter during the week.” TKormylo attested that the club’s focus is informing its members and the campus as a whole about mental health. “Our club is very specifically focused on helping increase awareness of how to take care of mental health, and staying physically healthy can play an important role in mental health,” Kormylo said.

Active Minds is open to welcoming new members. Students interested in joining can attend the weekly meetings every Tuesday in 140 West Room G72. Meetings are held from 12:30 p.m. till 1:30 p.m. “Even if you have to come in late or leave early for class, everyone is welcome to join us at our meetings and contribute to the conversation,” Kormylo said.

BeWell LC takes a different approach in spreading the importance of staying healthy.

Formerly known as the Lincoln Center Health and Wellness Organization, this semester the club changed its name to BeWell LC. The club’s president, Sophia Scott, FCLC ’18, commented on this name change, stating, “We saw this name change as an important step in better marketing ourselves and encouraging the group’s continued growth.”

“BeWell LC plans events on and off campus that promote the holistic well-being of Fordham undergraduates. Some of these are small-scale events—like ‘Shred Your Stress’—that are organized and executed by our Wellness Educators and general club members and take place monthly. Others, like the Interactive Apartment Party and Fordham’s Amazing Race, are large-scale and are planned by all members of the group.”

Scott emphasized that the club’s goal is not to dictate to its members what to do and what not to do. “We are believers in informed decision making, which means giving students who decide to partake in activities that can affect health and wellness, facts that enable them to make choices that best suit them,” she said. Regarding the role health and fitness plays in the club, she articulated, “Health and fitness is at the forefront of BeWell LC’s focus. Whether it be health related to stress, nutrition, alcohol, drugs, sleep— you name it, we’ll plan an event pertaining to it.”

Students interested in joining BeWell LC can attend the club’s meeting on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. in LL 902.

HANA KEININGHAM/THE OBSERVER

The Yoga & Mindfullness club provides a resource for students to stay focused, and create a better mindset.

YOGA & MINDFULNESS The Yoga & Mindfulness club seeks to utilize mindfulness, meditation and yoga in order to help its members reach a better state of health. Gillian Bashaw, FCLC ‘18, president of the club, stated, “I would love for everyone to know our club is open to all levels. Some of us have been doing yoga for years. Others started coming to club meetings simply because they were interested in finding out more about yoga and mindfulness practices.”

Yoga may be an unorthodox form of exercising for some. However, according to Bashaw, it is “a fantastic stress reliever.” She added, “The ability to attend free classes in New York City right on campus is a great opportunity, especially if you haven’t tried yoga before.”

The Yoga & Mindfulness club takes part in vinyasa yoga practices. This form of yoga promotes lean muscles, increased flexibility and blood flow, enhanced breathing habits and strengthened mental clarity. All these benefits lead to a decrease in stress.

“Our club revolves around the idea of creating a healthy relationship between a strong body and a strong mind. As we increase our yoga capabilities, be it in the ability to try out a new pose or experiment with a new breathing technique, we’re also training our minds to be respectful,” Bashaw said.

The Yoga & Mindfulness club is actively looking for new members. The club hosts weekly hour-long yoga sessions. Classes usually begin with a mindfulness discussion based off the teachings of the yoga instructor, HanaKyle Moranz. Students interested in joining can attend the weekly meetings every Wednesday from 5:45–6:45 p.m. in McMahon 205/206.

TAEKWONDO CLUB Another group on campus which focuses on students staying physically active is the Taekwondo Club. “The Taekwondo Club is not just a club where students can learn techniques and practical self-defense tactics: it is a club where every member has a positive experience getting to know other students on campus,” Scott Hendrick, Gabelli School of Business at Lincoln Center (GSBLC) ’18, said. Hendrick, president of the club, continued, “Our club provides a safe and fun environment where students of any fitness level can come and improve their health and find a new and rewarding passion.”

Students who join this club learn the martial art of Taekwondo; this sport requires two forms of physical practice. “One is through learning and demonstrating forms which involve balance and strength in order to properly recreate the different poses,” Hendrick said. “The second is mastering self-control while simultaneously using the techniques learned over the past few weeks in noncontact sparring, which is known as freestyle.”

By implementing these two forms, students can practice Taekwondo in a safe environment, while also enjoying the martial art.

Hendrick attested that health and fitness plays a major role in the club. Weekly sessions help its members improve their health, strength and conditioning. Hendrick added, “Taekwondo believes in the importance of the mind, spirit and body, and our club is a great way to maintain or attain a high level of fitness.”

The club hosts weekly Tuesday night practices in McMahon room 205/206 where Pat Natoli, a fifth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, leads the club. The sessions meet from 8–9:30 p.m. Students interested can attend the weekly sessions.

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THE OBSERVER September 29, 2016

Sports & Health

15

Rams Crush Quakers on Homecoming

By ANGELIKA MENENDEZ Contributing Writer

As students crowded into the stadium, a sea of maroon took over and excitement filled the bleachers.

On Sept. 24, the Fordham Rams played the University of Pennsylvania Quakers in the highly-anticipated 2016 homecoming game.

The homecoming tent flooded with alumni and seniors who were all enjoying their time eating, drinking and watching the dancers and cheerleaders perform as they waited for the game to start at 1 p.m.

“Dancing in the tent was exciting because it carries on the legacy of Fordham and commemorates the great alumni who have gone on to be successful,” Rachel Meyer, Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20, said.

The game began with Penn kicking the ball off and the Rams returning it to the 20-yard line. Without wasting any time, running back Chase Edmonds, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’18, ran 22 yards to score a touchdown, bringing the score to 7–0 when the Rams converted the extra point. With 7:21 left in the first quarter, the Quakers responded, scoring a touchdown and earning the extra point, which brought the game to 7–7. With 3:32 left in the quarter, Edmonds scored another touchdown and Clayton Welsh kicked the ball for an extra point, ending the first quarter with the Rams up 14–7.

The Rams wasted no time scoring in the second quarter, making a field goal from the five-yard line at 14:53. The score was now 17–7. On a later drive, passes by quarterback Kevin Anderson and multiple rushes by Chase Edmonds put Fordham up 24‒7 with 11:45 left.

As Fordham continued on the next drive, Penn intercepted a pass and started at the 20-yard line with 6:08 left in the second quarter. Despite a five-yard penalty for a delay of game and a fumble, Penn managed to score a field goal, cutting, their deficit to 24–10. As the clock started to tick towards halftime, Penn called a timeout with five second left in the quarter. The Quakers were flagged, giving Fordham a chance to score a touchdown.

Although Penn stopped, Fordham from scoring a touchdown, they ended the first half of the game with

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FORDHAM SPORTS

Fordham Rams defeated the University of Pennsylvania Quakers in front of a packed croud at the Homecoming game on Sept. 24.

a 14-point lead.

The third quarter began with Penn on the offense. With 7:02 left in the third quarter Penn gained 22 yards and started their second down on the 12-yard line. Finally, with 4:50 left in the third quarter,

Penn scored a touchdown and their kick was good, upping their score to 24–17. From there, Fordham suffered a 10-yard penalty for holding and they did not score in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter began with

both teams trying to score until Penn called a timeout with 10:39 left in the game. Fordham was able to take over with 7:27 left in the game, giving them a chance to score again. The Rams capitalized on this opportunity and Edmonds scored

another touchdown with 5:31 left in the game, bringing the score to 30–17, then to 31–17 after converting the extra point. The Quakers could not catch up, and in the end the Rams won with a final score of 31–17.

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Sports & Health

September 29, 2016 THE OBSERVER

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Fordham Freshmen Look to Excel in Athletics Several FCLC and FCRH freshmen student athletes share their hopes for their first year.

By ARTEMIS TSAGARIS Contributing Writer

Transitioning from high school to college is tough for everyone, but is especially hard for student-athletes considering the workload one has to balance. Freshmen studentathletes at the collegiate level usually spend the summer after high school taking a few courses and focusing on conditioning workouts in order to ensure a fruitful academic year as well as a productive season.

Jon Björnson is a Fordham College Lincoln Center (FCLC) ’20 student-athlete. Björnson is a rugby player and intends to double major in international studies and photography. His interest in rugby stems from his high school days as he played rugby while he was attending St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia. He plays the position of an 8-man and flanker. When asked why he chose FCLC as opposed to Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH), he responded that he enjoys the city vibe and its people.

Björnson added that he also is fascinated by the beautiful cityscape of Manhattan. As a photography major, that’s a huge advantage.

Björnson hopes he can translate his passion of rugby into success for the Fordham club rugby team.

Björnson said, “It’s better than it has ever been, and they just made nationals.” He added that he’ll begin playing again in February. As for now, he’ll balance both athletics and academics, and it shouldn’t be an issue. It’s not too difficult for him to balance studying and get to practices at Rose Hill. Björnson at-

tested that rugby at the collegiate level is quite different from high school because practices are three times a week as opposed to every day in high school. While he agreed that the commute to Rose Hill will be difficult, he believes that the time spent will be worth it.

Tomas Nieves, on the other hand, is a FCRH freshman athlete who plays golf. His major is currently undeclared. Nieves hails from Miami, Florida, where he attended Coral Gables Senior High School. Having played golf in high school, he decided to continue onto the next level at Fordham.

He said that athletics at the collegiate level differ from high school because “The facilities are much better and the equipment accessible to us is much better. The sport is also much more organized.” He hopes he can use his skills on the tennis court to gain multiple wins for the season. Nieves believes that a successful freshman season will be crucial in any upcoming seasons as an upperclassman.

Nieves decided to attend FCRH because the school is great and he could continue to play golf. When asked if it was difficult to balance studying with practices for golf, he replied, “Yes, it can be at times, but I’ve learned over the years to have good time management.” He admires Adam Scott: “I like to think I have a similar game to him.”

Rachel Meyer is a student in FCLC 20. She is originally from New Jersey, where she attended Pequannock Township High School. Meyer decided to attend Fordham “because of its academic excellence and

LUKE CUSUMANO/THE OBSERVER

Fordham’s freshman student-athletes look forward to a productive athletic and academic year.

the great programs that it has to offer for creative students like me.”

At Fordham, she plans to major in communication and media studies.

Meyer is a member of Fordham’s dance team. Because there wasn’t a dance team in her high school, she was limited to only practicing dance at a studio. Moreover, her dance performances in high school were dedicated moreso for an audience. By contrast, her performances now on the Fordham dance team cater towards sporting events. Meyer hopes to bring more awareness to the dance team and hopes that in the future, it could be more appreciated and respected as a club sport.

When asked, she stated, “I hope to bring my positive attitude and my drive to work hard and bring the team success.” In her work and routines, Meyer aspires to follow in the footsteps of Melanie Moore.

She articulated, “I first saw her on “So You Think You Can Dance” and she won. When she started out on the show, there was only one style of dance she was comfortable with, but then she left her comfort zone and learned new styles. That’s why I think she won.” This motivates her to always work towards learning new dances so she could expand on her skillset.

Nonetheless, balancing her dancing schedule and academics can be quite difficult. It can sometimes be strenuous prioritizing and keeping track of her academics and her practice schedule. All students must find a balance between school and sport, and for these freshman they are still working this out.