Volume 101 Issue 16

Page 1

The Fordham Ram Volume 101, Issue 16

Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 FordhamRam.com

October 9, 2019

Fordham Files SJP Decision Appeal

Fordham Updates Media Policy

By HELEN STEVENSON

By ERICA SCALISE

In April of 2017, five students from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) brought a case against the university, claiming the institution violated its own policy by vetoing the Lincoln Center United Student Government (USG-LC) 2016 approval of the club. In August 2019, the club won its case in Awad, et al. v. Fordham University, requiring the university to recognize SJP as a university-sanctioned club. Now, the university has filed a notice of appeal. While Rev. Jospeh M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, declined to comment on matters of litigation, he confirmed that SJP is currently active on the Lincoln Center campus. “Right now the club is up and functioning, mostly functioning downtown rather than uptown, and that’s fine,” said McShane.

In an email addressed to the Fordham community on Oct. 7, the university revealed its updated social media policy which aims to better support the university’s increased presence across platforms and respond to changes in the social media landscape, according to Bob Howe, assistant vice president for communications and special adviser to the president. The updated policy, which supersedes the university’s Jan. 2011 policy, focuses on five topics, including: applicability and scope, content guidelines, reporting guidelines, official Fordham social media account recognition and faculty and staff personal social media accounts/ posts. It also adopts guidelines from the previous policy which asks that community members refrain from using profanity and from making personal attacks in any comments posted to the university's social media platforms. Howe said he circulated the first draft of the proposal in July 2018. “I had input from the Information Risk Management Board (which includes representatives from IT, Public Safety, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Finance and Enrollment); Legal Counsel; the Provost; the Cabinet; the Faculty Senate; and of course Father McShane,” said Howe. The policy applies to all university employees, including faculty and staff, and to anyone posting content and comments to any official Fordham site, according to the email and Fordham News. The policy states that “nothing [in it] should be construed as constraining speech on non-

PROJECTS EDITOR

NEWS EDITOR

SEE SJP, PAGE 5

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

The McGinley Center addition will be complete in August 2021, barring any construction complications.

Rev. McShane Gives Insight Into McGinley Construction By HELEN STEVENSON and SARAH HUFFMAN The once-green grass in front of the McGinley Student Center has been replaced with large, green panels obstructing the space from pedestrian view. In a little less than two years’ time, a four-story

extension purposed for student use will emerge above the walls. According to Marco Valera, vice president for Facilities Management and vice president for Administration, construction will officially start in January 2020. The process is currently on-schedule, and, barring any complications, the building will be

ready for use by August 2021. “Prior to construction we have prepared the site and are upgrading the utilities to support the new building,” he said. Although no official floor plans are currently available to the public, Rev. Joseph M. SEE MCGINLEY, PAGE 5

University Partners With NY Giants By ELIOT SCHIAPARELLI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

“Large New York Style” slice, as indicated on its sign. Fortunately for those who enjoyed it, Pugsley’s is only a few blocks from Crescent Avenue, giving those who live in the area a glimmer of hope that they would not have to wait until next year to have Pugsley's again. The enjoyment did not solely come from those eating the pizza, but vendors giving away their pizza

Due to a new partnership between Fordham and the New York Giants, Fordham students now have the unique opportunity to intern and work closely with the NFL team. In the announcement of the partnership in early September Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, told Fordham News that the partnership would open up opportunities in academics, community service and branding. “Our identity has been tied to the gridiron since the 1920s, with Fordham’s ‘Seven Blocks of Granite’ dominating the sport in the 1930s, and John Mara is, of course, a distinguished Fordham Law alumnus,” said McShane. “We are therefore pleased to deepen our family connection to the Giants and excited to enter a partnership with the team that will be mutually beneficial.” The program features four total paid internships: one full

SEE PIZZA, PAGE 6

SEE GIANTS, PAGE 6

SEAN FINLAY/THE FORDHAM RAM

The second annual New York Pizza Festival took place on Crescent Avenue on Saturday, just blocks from the university.

Crescent Avenue Hosts Second Annual New York Pizza Festival By SEAN FINLAY

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When it hit noon on Saturday, Oct. 5, Crescent Avenue was flooded with pizza enthusiasts from near and far for the second annual New York Pizza Festival. Attendees came to try renowned pizza restaurants from all over the country. Pizza artisans from Miami,

Las Vegas, Denver and even Naples, Italy set up shop to showcase their unique combinations of ingredients and their labored processes of creating what they believe to be the best slice. Vendors included 25 pizza shops within the United States and five from Italy. Pugsley’s Pizza, a restaurant popular among Fordham students, had a chance to showcase its classic

SEE MEDIA, PAGE 3

in this issue

Opinion

Page 7

New York’s War on the Homeless

Sports

Page 20

Women’s Soccer Wins Twice in Overtime

Culture

Page 17

Drink Responsibly: PlantBased Milks


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