Asbestos Removal Sparks Protests
By ADITHI VIMLANATHAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR
An asbestos warning was recently issued for the fifth floor of John Mulcahy Hall (JMH). It was discovered during the preliminary stages of a construction project, as the lab on the floor is due for renovation. A posting in the building identified the dates of removal from Aug. 5-13 and that the asbestos was found in adhesive, caulk and pipe insulation. ACA Environmental Services Inc. was the contractor hired to do the removal.
Previously, asbestos was also found in Cunniffe House in the spring and in Tierney Hall during the summer of 2023. Removal is now complete on Cunniffe and Tierney. Over the summer, giant inflatable rats holding signs with the slogan “Asbestos Kills” popped up outside the gates of campus accompanied by fliers criticizing Fordham’s use of Incinia Contracting Inc. for asbestos removal, which is non-unionized. The rats and fliers were posted by Local 78 SEE ASBESTOS, PAGE 5
The Fordham Ram
Group Files Complaint
By JULIANNA MORALES FEATURES EDITOR
A legal advocacy group called The Equal Protection Project (EPP) recently filed a complaint at the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education. The complaint is classified as a discrimination complaint, claiming that Fordham University offers scholarships based on race and ethnicity which favor Black and Latino students over white and Asian students. The complaint specifically mentions specific examples including Fordham’s Diversity Fund and the Fordham Scholarship. William A. Jacobson, the organization’s founder, explained that this move was due to the department’s jurisdiction, as Fordham does receive government funding.
The EPP states their mission to investigate wrongdoing, educate the public and litigate when necessary. Their guiding principle is that there is no good form of racism, and the remedy for racism is never more racism. The group
50% of Incoming First-years Identify as People of Color
By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Fordham University’s incoming first-year class is the thirdlargest class and the most diverse in the university’s history.
According to Patricia Peek, associate vice president and dean of undergraduate admissions, 27% of Fordham’s Class of 2028 are first-generation
By SOFIA DONOHUE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After almost a year of construction, the newly-renovated Rose Hill Marketplace opened on Sept. 3. Located on the first floor of the McShane Campus Center, the Marketplace renovation features nine different
food stations and expanded menus, new seating options that hold a capacity of 800 people and updated kitchen technology. The renovation is Phase 3 of the McShane Center construction project, one of the project’s final phases.
“The remodel includes 11 stations, including Restaurant
Row, an area containing four (4) concepts: The Iron Skillet featuring made-to-order meals all day, Trattoria Italian Kitchen with hot from the oven pizza, Ignite Grill and Sweet Nothings, with many house-made desserts,” said Xavier Bowden, marketing manager for Ram Hospitality.
SEE MCSHANE, PAGE 4
college students. 50% of the class are students of color, the highest percentage for a single class year Fordham has seen in its history. Fordham’s third-largest class has over 2,500 students.
“Our Pell percentage also increased to 31%, which is an indicator of our socioeconomic diversity and our
commitment to increasing our efforts to provide more need-based financial aid,” said Peek.
Last year’s first-year class was labeled Fordham’s most diverse class in the school’s history, with 24% of students being first-generation students and 48% students of color.
Campus Ministry Welcomes New Executive Director
By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR
At the end of the 2023-24 academic year, Rev. Jose-Luis Salazar, S.J., known affectionately as Father Lito, stepped down as Executive Director of Campus Minister after eight years. Salazar, who was also the resident Jesuit of Loyola Hall, is being succeeded by Rev. Philip G. Judge, S.J. Judge, a native of Queens, is a double alumnus of Fordham with degrees in English and
Philosophy. Previously, he worked at various Jesuit high schools, including Regis, Fordham Prep and McQuade.
“In some ways, I think I’m closer with kids transitioning from high school to college,” Judge said. “I think I know that experience and will be helpful coming at it [with my] high school experience.”
Father John J. Cecero, S.J., vice president for Mission Integration and Ministry, spearheaded the search for the new
PAGE 4
COURTESY OF SOFIA DONOHUE/THE FORDHAM RAM
After almost a year of construction the new McShane Dining hall opened this week.
Fordham welcomed its biggest class yet early last week during New Student Orientation.
COURTESY OF JESSICA NOCE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS
Walsh Library Aug. 26
2:51 p.m.
On Monday, there was a fire alarm in Walsh Library. A supervisor and the FDNY responded. The investigation revealed the pull station at the loading dock caused the alarm. A prior delivery to the loading dock damaged the wall causing the pull station to partially open. The supervisor reset the alarm panel.
Walsh Hall Aug. 31
3:59 a.m.
On Saturday, there was a stuck occupied elevator in Walsh Hall. A supervisor responded. The elevator company could not provide an ETA to respond. The supervisor called 911 and the FDNY responded and freed the students.
Hoffman Street Aug. 31
9:55 a.m.
On Saturday, there was a smoke alarm on Hoffman Street. A supervisor and the FDNY responded. The investigation revealed a student cooking triggered the alarm. The supervisor ventilated the area and reset the alarm panel.
Loschert Hall Sept. 1
3:05 a.m.
On Sunday, there was a stuck occupied elevator in Loschert Hall. A supervisor responded. The supervisor requested FDNY to respond. The FDNY responded and freed the students.
Election Season is Fast Approaching. Here’s How to Vote:
By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
The United States of America will be electing a new president on Nov. 5, and election season is quickly approaching. Requirements to obtain an absentee ballot vary based on a student’s state of residence. Many states offer absentee ballots for students who are attending college in a state that is not their home state. Applications for absentee ballots can be filed on each state’s government website, although filing dates vary based on state. Here is a breakdown of the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. absentee ballot requirements.
Alabama: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Alaska: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Arizona: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Arkansas: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
California: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made a month before Election Day.
Colorado: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made a month before Election Day.
Connecticut: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Delaware: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
District of Columbia: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made 15 days before Election Day.
Florida: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Georgia: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Hawai’i: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want
it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made seven days before Election Day.
Idaho: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Illinois: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Indiana: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Iowa: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Kansas: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Kentucky: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Louisiana: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Maine: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Maryland: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Massachusetts: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Michigan: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Minnesota: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online. A notary from any state or a registered Minnesota voter must witness you sign the ballot.
Mississippi: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Missouri: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the
state on Election Day; request one online.
Montana: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Nebraska: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Nevada: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made a month before Election Day.
New Hampshire: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
New Jersey: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
New Mexico: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
New York: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
North Carolina: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
North Dakota: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Ohio: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Oklahoma: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Oregon: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made a month before Election Day.
Pennsylvania: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Rhode Island: All residents can vote via absentee ballot;
request one online.
South Carolina: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
South Dakota: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Tennessee: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Texas: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Utah: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made 11 days before Election Day.
Vermont: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made one day before Election Day.
Virginia: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Washington: All registered voters are sent an absentee ballot to their home address. If you want it to be sent to your school address, the address change must be made a month before Election Day.
West Virginia: Can vote via absentee ballot if you will not be in the state on Election Day; request one online.
Wisconsin: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Wyoming: All residents can vote via absentee ballot; request one online.
Citizens residing in U.S. territories cannot vote for president.
More resources for absentee voting and general election information can be found on vote.org or each state’s government website. You can check on vote.org if you are registered to vote and complete the registration if you are not.
This Week at Fordham
Wednesday Sept. 4
Spruce Up Your Dorm
McShane Campus Center 10-4 p.m.
Visit the poster sale outside of the McShane Campus Center tomorrow to grab some new decor for your dorm room or apartment! Posters range from music to movies and vary in size and price.
Thursday Sept. 5
Java With The Jesuits
Freeman Hall 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Stop by the McShane Campus Center to enjoy free coffee and converse with the Jesuits of the Fordham community. This event is held every Thursday by Campus Ministry at both the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses.
Friday Sept. 6 Big 4 Takes the Floor
Edwards Parade 3-6 p.m.
Join Fordham’s “Big 4”: Campus Activities Board, United Student Government, Commuter Student Association and Resident Hall Association for a cultural celebration on Edwards Parade.
Sunday Sept. 8 Ferragosto in Little Italy
Arthur Ave. 12-6 p.m.
Celebrate the Italian Ferragosto tradition recognizing the end of the harvest season by visiting Arthur Avenue this Sunday. Eat food from small, family-owned local businesses and watch some live entertainment.
Sunday Sept. 8
Win Big at Bingo
Keating First 8 p.m.
Join Campus Activities Board’s Weekend Activity Committee in Welcome Back Bingo Night! Play against old friends and make new ones as you compete for an array of prizes and activities.
Public Safety Debuts New App for Student Safety
By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR
The Department of Public Safety has partnered with Alertus, a nationwide emergency notification system. The system was introduced this semester and will be rolled out over the course of this academic year.
A new system was created to simplify the emergency notification system for university communication.
“Public Safety aimed to find an emergency notification platform that could consolidate all our emergency communication methods under one umbrella, ensuring quick and efficient information dissemination to everyone,” said Robert Fitzer, associate vice president of Public Safety.
The Alertus system debuts in a new active threat information video, demonstrating the app’s simple layout. The training video was put together by the department, filmed at both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center and features students and faculty as actors.
“The platform now includes a ‘Life Safety’ feature that acts as a mobile panic button, making it more robust than our previous app. Additionally, it allows individuals in danger to send
us a photo of the situation when possible, which is a new improvement,” said Fitzer. “When the sender alerts us, their photo is also sent, allowing Public Safety to identify the individual needing assistance more quickly.”
Fordham IT and the Alertus staff have been working together on the app’s rollout. However, several students feel the rollout has not been effective.
“I would love to learn about the new system. However, there’s not been extensive information given out, and therefore this hinders the accessibility of it to students,” said Cadence Wahl, FCRH ’26.
Some students weren’t even aware of the new system.
“How are students supposed to utilize this new system if they don’t know about it?” said Lilah Spedding, FCRH ’27.
The department conducted research on several mass notification systems with the goal of finding the most reliable and cost-effective system.
“The cost was comparable to our previous texting app, which was decommissioned last year,” said Fitzer.
Public Safety debuted its first app in 2014, titled “Fordham Safety Application.” The app allowed students to type a message, select a pre-written message, such as “I am being followed,” or press a blue button if they needed urgent assistance. The app sent the alerts to an iPad in the public safety office and included the sender’s location.
The Alterus app allows students to contact Public Safety sends the student’s message to more than one device in the public safety office.
In 2017, Public Safety was recognized as one of the 10 best security departments at the National Campus Safety Summit. The Fordham Safety Application was specifically noted as impressive in the citation.
These apps have become more common in recent years, with Columbia University debuting the “Lion Safe App” and New York University’s “Safe NYU App.” These apps have been created as texting becomes a more preferred form of communication among students. Being able to text for
assistance rather than call can make students comfortable; it also helps in situations where calling can be dangerous.
Public Safety aims to create a simple and effective way for students to call for help while still providing all necessary services.
Their previous app had begun to fall behind as technology improved.
“The ability to activate all our communication methods with a single push of a button has simplified the process in emergencies where time is crucial,” said Fitzer.
Alexander Shah, FCRH ’25, Competes in the Paris Olympics
By ADITHI VIMALANATHAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Fordham swimmer Alexander Shah, FCRH ’25, represented Nepal in the 100-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics this summer. As the singular representative in men’s swimming, Shah achieved a personal best and national record of 51.91 seconds in the 100-meter freestyle event. Shah has also recently announced that while he plans to continue swimming as a member of Fordham Men’s Swimming and Diving, he is retiring from international competition.
Tom Wilkens, coach of Fordham Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving and an Olympian himself, has coached Shah closely over the past year.
“When I started at Fordham, I was just amazed by the quality and character of all of the studentathletes here. Alex was definitely one of those athletes who were incredibly motivated, self-driven and purpose-driven towards the things he wanted to accomplish,” Wilkens said.
As a 2000 and 2002 Olympian, Wilkens was able to relate to and guide Shah through the Olympic and international process.
“Having had the ups and downs of the international career and knowing what that process is, from a training standpoint and just from a connection standpoint, we were able to really connect,” Wilkens said. “But to be fair, it’s all on Alex. I feel like someone who was just able to be a contributing partner to his success.”
In order to compete in the
Olympics, Shah has had to keep up a rigorous training and competition schedule over the last school year. Wilkens noted that the Atlantic 10 conferences were an especially busy time for Shah as he attended his Olympic qualifying races in the same timeframe.
“Three weeks before our conference championship at the A10s, he actually had to go over to Qatar, to the world championships, and swim. He went over there and won the best time, had a lot of success and basically swam fast enough to prove that
Alexander Shah, FCRH ’25, recently represented Nepal in the summer Paris Olympics. he was the top swimmer from Nepal, and that qualified him for the Olympics.”
Despite worries about the rigor of his training and schedule, Shah has excelled in both efforts. Shah placed 59th in the 100-meter freestyle event, setting both a national and personal record.
“I was a little bit nervous, because that kind of rigor and that kind of travel really can take a toll on you,” said Wilkens. “But I was really amazed by the success he had, not only at World
Championships, but then coming back and getting right back in the team again, being a team leader, being a team captain — really being a huge part of the success our team had at the A10s last year.”
“I think it’s a great combination of optimism and accountability in the way he trains,” he added.
Shah is the co-captain of the Fordham men’s swimming and diving team. Wilkens describes Shah as a key asset in developing team tradition and unity.
“He not only leads by the things he says and the way he mentors people, but also leads by example — by the way he trains and the way he approaches things.”
As his coach, Wilkens describes Shah as both a skilled, competitive swimmer and as a joy to watch during races.
“Whenever he walks out to a block, I just smile. I love the way he approaches his races, he has a smile on his face, he loves to compete and enjoys it — which is a thrill, as a coach, to see.”
COURTESY OF SOFIA DONOHUE/ THE FORDHAM RAM Public Safety introduced the app to Resident Assistants.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM
Nearly 600 students represent the five boroughs this year, including a 32% increase in students from the Bronx and an 11% increase in students from Manhattan. Peek stressed that “for more than a decade, the university has been focusing on increasing diversity” by creating more programming with
First-Years Break Barriers
“focused information for students from various identities and experiences.”
“As a freshman, I’m so excited to explore all of the clubs I signed up for at the club fair,” said Adela Panariti, FCRH ’28. “There are so many more in comparison to high school, so I’m ready to see what those have to offer. I’m also excited for all the internships and fairs FROM CLASS, PAGE 1
8% of the incoming firstyear class are international students, hailing from 55 different countries. The domestic Class of 2028 population comes from 46 states and three U.S. territories. Outside of the tri-state area, California, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
sent the most students to join Fordham’s incoming class.
that Fordham has to offer, that’s something I never got to explore in high school.”
The incoming class participated in New Student Orientation from Aug. 25-27, with resident students moving into their dorms on that Sunday.
“I’m most excited for softball and meeting new people and making friends,” said Gia Spinelli, FCRH ’28.
The incoming class has an average SAT score of 1404 and an average high school GPA of a 3.64 on a 4.0 scale.
“This is a very talented group of students who bring strong academic preparation and resilience,” said Peek. “They are artists, writers, entrepreneurs and servant leaders who I am confident will continue to enrich the Fordham community.”
Campus Ministry Leadership Evolves
executive director. After difficulty finding a Jesuit for the role he reached out to Judge.
“I had been thinking about spending more time in parish work, and this would give me more of that,” Judge said.
Judge decided to be a Jesuit while still in high school after realizing that the traditional 9-to-5 structure didn’t appeal to him.
“The 59th Street train station had this really huge escalator, and I’d come in the mornings and see these people with jackets and ties like lemmings going up these elevators, looking really hangdog and not at all happy going into work, and I thought, ‘I don’t really want to do that for the rest of my life,’” Judge said. “When I was in school, there were a bunch of Jesuits who were teaching, and I was really turned on by watching them work together and how excited and happy they were in the work they were doing, in contrast to people I saw going up and down the escalator every day. And I said, ‘You know that’s something I think I could do.’”
Jamie Serruto, FCRH ’24 and United Student Government (USG) vice president of Facilities and Dining emeritus, worked closely with the Facilities and Dining committee to bring the project to life. According to Serruto, students’ main concerns were the sourcing and quality of food, the frequency of dishes and the process of preparation.
“The goal of the Facilities and Dining committee was to bring greater engagement and promote student involvement… We met on a weekly basis engaging with architects, consultants and executive staff to give input and help them tell their story. When you know the people who are preparing your food, when you understand the process, you build a sense of trust and understanding,” said Serruto.
Similarly, Chris Konefal, GSB ’25 and USG’s VP of Facilities and Dining, said that the updated Marketplace adequately addresses students’ concerns.
“The main concern from students about the Marketplace was making sure there were plenty of food options based on dietary restrictions along with better food quality. Inside the new Marketplace,
Judge has always focused on teaching in his various roles, “Even when I was a principal and a president, I taught while I was at it.”
He hopes to continue teaching at Fordham, though it may look different.
“I think this job is gonna have a lot more teaching in a more informal sense of seminars and things and religious growth and prayer. So I think that may satisfy me and that impulse there,” he said. “I’d like to encourage people to be seekers; I think we sometimes don’t think about how to talk to people who are ‘nones.’ Not people who have rejected churches but people who just don’t know it at all… So how do we invite people into looking at the world of spirit, looming at the world of faith and looking at their own growth in that area?”
Currently, Campus Ministry is working to transition to a more multifaith campus ministry by hiring its first Rabbi, Katja Veehlow, and Imam, Ammar Abdul Rahman.
“It’s a new experience for all of us, so it’s kind of exciting to be on the ground floor of something. We really don’t have much experience in this country,” said Judge. “We have very few multifaith campus ministry programs that are anything other than having different chaplains.”
Judge hopes to make the department approachable to students.
“I hope people see us as accessible; it’s not like we have office hours; we’re here all the time. And we run an incredible variety of programming. We have a pretty big staff for a university of our size… I hope people see us as willing to experiment and willing to be responsive.”
Overall, Judge wants people to feel comfortable with Campus Ministry and New York as a whole.
“I’m a lifelong New Yorker, so this is really like coming home again,” he said. “I love this city; it’s a great, vibrant, open place, and for those people who are new to Fordham or new to New York, I hope they take advantage of it. It really is a crossroads of the world.”
Updated Dining Hall Opens
you can see into the kitchen so you can watch the cooks prepare the food everyone will be eating.”
The space’s stations include halal, deli, grill and pizza, vegan and dessert. The new space also features a selection of board games, playing cards and coloring pages along with colored pencils for students.
“Students can look forward to nine stations where food is stored, washed, cut, and prepared in front of you with cuisines ranging from deli, grill, halal, pizza, salad, vegan, [allergen-friendly] and dessert. Students should look forward to personalized, made to order meals, openness of food preparation, chef interaction,” noted Serruto.
Before the Marketplace reopened, some students expressed concern that the food quality would remain the same as pre-renovation; Fordham continues to cater Aramark.
Serruto and Konefal disagree.
“I think that the new space allows for a complete revival of the Fordham dining program. This is a time to look forward and not look back. There are new recipes, new equipment and a new style of preparing food for the Ram community. The space is vers atile and students have a first hand look at their food grill to plate. 70% of
food is being prepared in the open as opposed to the previous 30% in the old space. I truly believe that this renovation will improve food quality and the student experience,” said Serruto.
“The quality of the food should be significantly improved because of the new kitchen options. There is also a Chef’s Table where Chef Bell and other chefs will be able to showcase their cooking abilities. Those events at the Chef’s Table will be advertised through marketing,” commented Konefal.
On opening day, students gave positive feedback on the updated Marketplace.
“I was really excited to eat at the new caf because the options were limited on the second floor. I was so excited that I told my whole O’Hare [Resident Assistant] staff. The food is of better quality and they have way more options to pick from. So you can mix and match from each station and have a great meal,” said Jocelyn Defex, FCRH ’25.
Vesa Prevalla, FCRH ’25, is pescetarian and opted for a salad.
“While I don’t think many people thought a physical upgrade is what the caf needed, it definitely seems like a nice place to sit and spend time
with friends! The food today was scrumptious and notably fresh — I hope it stays that way past opening week.”
Although the space can only hold up to 800 people, the Marketplace offers a diverse range of seating: booths, tall tables, long tables and benches, many with outlets as well.
“Although not as conducive to people watching as caf before, the new caf is so lovely!” said Indira Kar, FCRH ’25.
Other destination dining options, such as the Chomp Truck, will remain open. However, Marketplace alternatives such as Bepler Commons and the Second Floor McShane Dining Hall will close.
Campus Ministry has hired an Imam and a Rabbi.
COURTESY OF RYAN J. BURKE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
COURTESY OF SOFIA DONOHUE/ THE FORDHAM RAM The new dining hall offers increased food options.
FROM MINISTRY, PAGE 1
FROM ASBESTOS, PAGE 1
of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
John Puglisi, head of facilities management, explains that checking for asbestos is a fairly routine procedure before working on older buildings.
“It’s a very standard practice that we have on any of our projects and spaces that we haven’t been in for a while… Before we do anything, any type of construction, we always sample a space.”
John Mulcahy Hall’s fifthfloor lab is currently undergoing renovation. It was during the summer that asbestos was discovered. Puglisi notes that the harmful material is not in a particularly hazardous area.
“In the next couple of weeks, we’ve got everything identified, as far as the removals go — and
Rats Protests Outside Finlay Gate
that’s tracking since the type of ceiling that we have in there and the asbestos that’s in there is not accessible.”
Fordham is currently in the process of sending the job out to bid by different contractors for asbestos removal.
Fordham has used Incinia Contracting, Inc. for jobs around campus in the past, which drew scrutiny by Local 78. Local 78 has placed the inflatable rats around both Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses in the past to criticize Fordham’s use of Incinia, which is non-unionized. According to Puglisi, the union has not contacted facilities directly about these concerns.
Puglisi clarified that while Fordham does not require all construction companies to
be unionized, they must pay their workers a living wage in order to be hired.
“We will use a mix [of unionized and non-unionized labor], but we do make sure that where the labor wage standards are not set for non-union work, we do ask to make sure that the wages are, in fact, a livable wage. It’s kind of part of our betting process. We don’t want to leverage underserved populations and make people do work for a lousy wage.”
He also noted that ACA Environmental Services Inc., the contractor hired for JMH, is unionized and that he believes the protesting came from a competitor.
“It’s their right to protest. It’s their right to throw the rat up... Obviously, we don’t en-
courage that behavior, it can be a bit of a deal breaker. When it comes to the folks that take issue with the way we do business, we may not want to do business with them going forward.”
Roselyn Jose-Ruiz, FCRH ’26, noted that she was unsurprised by the postings of asbestos throughout campus.
“I saw a sign about asbestos at Cunniffe a while ago, but aside from that, I haven’t been aware of any other buildings with asbestos. It honestly makes sense, though, that these buildings have asbestos since this is an old campus with old buildings.”
Asbestos removal is typically a three-day procedure: a day for setup, a day for removal and a day for disposal. However, Puglisi noted that asbestos notices must remain posted for
the entirety of the construction job.
“It’s not clear to everybody that the requirements for the posting, they have to stay up until the job is completely finished. Since the asbestos work occurs before any demolition work occurs, by the time you start seeing materials coming out, it’s gone.”
Jose-Ruiz added that she would like increased communication about asbestos beyond the postings.
“I think there should be more announcements about this so that people are at least aware of the situation. It’s one thing to have a sign on the door, but a lot of people are rushing in and out of buildings, so I’m not sure if they’re paying much attention to the notices.”
Student Researches Environmental Racism
By TASNIMAH RAHMAN STAFF WRITER
Claudia Dabie, FCRH ’25, is a Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) scholar pursuing research at Columbia University on the topics of toxicology, environmental health science and epidemiology. Dabie’s work is part of Columbia University’s Northern Plains Superfund Research Program.
She is one of four participants chosen last year through Primer to participate in research. It is a large research project in the department of environmental health science, which is part of the Mailman School of Public Health.
“We have a lab that collects data, a lab that analyzes the data, a section that looks into it, a section that interacts with people personally, a section that reports back to the people our findings. My part is lab-based,” said Dabie. The research she delves into currently is how uranium and arsenic affect the human brain and nervous system. Dabie contributes five hours to research a week during the academic school year and has worked
full-time during the summer.
There is a group of Indigenous people living in the Northern Plains where uranium and arsenic are naturally occurring. Abandoned mines cause uranium and arsenic to leak from those mines into a nearby water source. That water is the only accessible water source Indigenous people have, and the research draws attention to a larger problem of environmental racism. Indigenous people experience environmental racism in part because there is not enough attention given to their living conditions as there is with other groups and their environments. Dabie’s goal is for her research to see exactly how uranium and arsenic are affecting Indigenous people by examining their brains and nervous systems.
“I think it’s saddening that we have to do research in order to prove that uranium and arsenic in people’s water is bad. We hope to acquire policy pads at the end of our research in order to have this prevented,” said Dabie.
Dabie spends a lot of time in the lab dissecting brain tissues and staining them with different
antibodies, uranium and arsenic. This way she can determine if the staining is damaging the brain tissue and/or causing neuro-degeneration. In the brain, she states that there is a bloodbrain barrier that prevents harmful materials from entering the brain. However, there is strong evidence that uranium does pass the blood-brain barrier. If it passes the blood-brain barrier, what exactly does it do to the brain? Dabie exclaims that this is the most thorough research on the subject to ever exist.
As for the testing itself, water prototypes are created similarly to uranium and arsenic-containing water that can be found in the Northern Plains. These water samples are created in the lab to mirror water samples taken from Northern Plains and tested on mice models. Once tested on mice models daily, their brains are taken to be dissected in sections and analyzed by staining them with different antibodies. A lot of these antibodies are naturally occurring in the brain. It
is then observed how higher levels of uranium affect the brain tissue and interact with it. There is a control that does not have uranium or arsenic, water that only contains uranium in it, another sample with only arsenic in it and a sample with both uranium and arsenic. These are taken to compare results. Although results have not been found yet, many findings support the hypothesis that uranium and arsenic in Northern Plain waters are toxic to the human brains living there. Some early findings include that uranium is neurotoxic.
“We found that even after exposure to uranium stops, uranium still persists in the brain,” said Dabie.
This is Dabie’s first time working in a professional lab. There are many people working on this research, and she finds help on the research quite accessible. She said she had felt imposter syndrome but quickly found people who are encouraging and willing to teach. Dabie said Columbia has a welcoming environment, making it easier to learn and make connections.
The Superfund Program sparked Dabie’s interest, and she expressed passionately when hearing about
environmental racism, that it was wrong and something had to be done about it. “My willingness to help the community drew me to this specific research choice. I had many options pertaining to what mentor I would like to work with and research to be done,” she said. Last summer, Dabie presented her research to the department of environmental health science at Columbia. She will be presenting again this September to showcase current findings. She intends to write on the project for publication. “I wanted to be helpful now,” Dabie continued. “Doing research now was helping me be more employable. Once I found out how I can actively help people now, considering being a scientist, you won’t know what you want to do unless you try it! I’m really open-minded now because of research, with every single step I take I learn so much. It’s good to come into college with a plan, but it’s better to come into college with an open-minded plan. Be willing to better those plans and be willing to advance those plans if the opportunity to do so comes your way.”
Advocacy Group Files Complaint Over Fordham Scholarships
FROM GROUP, PAGE 1
has made similar complaints regarding other schools, such as The State University of New York at Albany and Buffalo.
“At the Equal Protection Project, we seek to hold schools accountable to the federal civil rights laws,” Jacobson stated. “Here, we have challenged three scholarships at Fordham that discriminate on the basis of race, color and national origin.”
He further explained that the goal of filing the complaint, as well as others they submit, is to change unlawful behavior. Jacobson states that in approximately half of the cases the EPP has pursued, the school changes the terms and conditions of the scholarships cited. “That is our hope here, that Fordham will recognize the error of its ways and self-correct. We also seek to have such remedy confirmed by the Office for Civil Rights, to make sure it does not happen again,” Jacobson said.
The Fordham scholarship mentioned is a full tuition scholarship awarded to entering firstyear students for eight fall and spring semesters. To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must have been designated as semifinalists by the National Merit Recognition Program or Scholars by the National Hispanic Recognition Program, National African American Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program or National FirstGeneration Recognition Program. When asked to explain where the EPP found issue with this, Jacobson said, “The wording of the Fordham Scholarship on Fordham’s website suggests either a racial and ethnic restriction or at minimum that certain designated racial and ethnic groups have means for qualifying not available to students who are not members of those groups.”
He stated that the scholarship should be race and ethnicity neutral.
Fordham graduate student, Stephanie Reyes, disagreed with the idea of eliminating these scholarships at Fordham. “The diversity fund and minority scholarships make Fordham more accessible for first generation and BIPOC students who are historically lower income and could not afford tuition otherwise. These scholarships help make our school more diverse,” she commented.
When a complaint is filed, the Office for Civil Rights will evaluate the complaint to decide if it warrants investigation. If the complaint goes to investigation, they send a letter to both the complainant and the school.
The university has declined to comment as they have not received word of the complaint from the Office for Civil Rights.
COURTESY OF GRIFFIN STEVENSON/THE FORDHAM RAM
The group filed the complaint against Fordham over the summer.
R
Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918
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Expectations of perfection consistently occupy a large fraction of my mind. As the second daughter of an immigrant, I have always been astutely aware of the sacrifices made for me to be in the privileged position I am in today. I have a responsibility to take advantage of my mom’s decision to chase the “American Dream” and introduce better opportunities for her future family. I have to follow in my sister’s footsteps and become a high-achieving student at a top university. There is an endless list of things I need to accomplish, of standards I need to exceed.
Feeling inadequate goes hand in hand with perfectionism. And that is exactly the problem that comes with the Ssisyphean struggle for perfection. Perfectionism is not the strive for excellence; it is the attempt to achieve the unattainable. Success is never met with happiness, it is met with the idea that you can always do more or be better. In my case, while perfectionism impacts me mentally, it also causes a myriad of physically selfdestructive behaviors. This never-ending cycle seeps its way into every aspect of my life, from academics to relationships, and even to my time on The Fordham Ram.
OPINION
From the Desk | Cailee Zeraat
How To Be Perfect
While I wish I could write some heartfelt article about how the Ram has helped me outgrow my need for perfection, the role of copy chief seems to necessitate a continuation of it. Copy editing is the process of finding and correcting errors in written material. During my tenure on the Ram, coinciding with my entire time as a student at Fordham University, my eye has been trained to look for errors in everything. I read all of the articles submitted to the Ram every week. As such, I find hundreds of errors every week. From smaller ones, like an oxford comma, to larger ones, like a factually incorrect statement, I am constantly met with errors I have a responsibility to fix. Unfortunately, perfectionism is the only option for a role like this.
In some ways, every event in my life has probably led to me joining the Ram. While I was drawn to the role of copy chief because of the toxic traits of my personality, which is hardly a beautiful reason, I was still drawn to it. My job at this paper exists well within my comfort zone. The need to control every situation I am in is entirely acceptable when a page comes across my desk. An endless string
of actions and behaviors made me the perfect fit for this job, even though those actions and behaviors are… less than ideal. Despite this, the thing that keeps me sane in the basement of the McShane Student Center are the people I am surrounded by. The Fordham Ram has an inexplicable ability to break me out of my obsessive editing state to have real and important conversations (and stupid and meaningless ones too). Thanks to Sofia and Allison for sitting behind the big desk and giving me all of their tech-related problems to solve so I can distract my mind for a few minutes. Hannah, my lovely production editor, thank you
Editorial | Student Organizations
for reminding me that emdashes have a space on either side because, although I try to achieve perfection with my edits, that is the one thing I may always forget. Thank you to the sports and digital teams for letting me regularly infiltrate their island and bridge the gap between both of our rooms. Every single staff member of this impressive publication reminds me that, while I can still catch mistakes in the print version of the paper, those mistakes do not take away from how proud I feel to sign off on the pages we produce each week. And maybe pride is an even better feeling than perfection.
Read Student Media This Fall
Why should you read The Fordham Ram? Really. For many people our age, social media has become the place to receive news. It’s now possible to hear about events worldwide instantaneously through platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X. If something happens on campus, one of the popular Fordham-themed accounts will usually be the first place a student finds out. A large part of The Ram’s identity is print journalism, which is a form of media that has been dying in recent years. One-third of newspapers have closed since 2005, and the trend is not slowing down. If you only focus on the Ram’s printed pages, it would make sense to dismiss us as an old-fashioned way to get the news. But we reject that idea. Our paper and Fordham’s other student publications offer something unique that no other news organization has — the perspective of Fordham students.
Readers of the Ram receive news stories shaped by the perspective of students. Each news organization, national or local, has a different focus. Newspapers like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal focus on national issues. You can trust them to report on events, and you can be confident that
they will deliver insightful perspectives on issues impacting most American citizens such as national politics and the economy. However, these organizations aren’t designed to offer the local perspective of a community. As a result, the nuances of issues important to a smaller community can get lost in national news organizations’ coverage of an event. This discrepancy highlights the significance that strong local media outlets play in a healthy media ecosystem. Local media with deep roots in a community allows the community members to participate in writing their own stories and sharing their perspectives.
Readers can see this when looking through the pages of our newspaper. Our articles are pitched by editors and written by writers who are currently Fordham students. Our experiences as community members shape our ideas for the stories we want to tell that give insight to the Fordham community. When we publish news stories on issues like Fordham’s guest policy or the college protests in the spring, those are written by members of our community. These writers go around our campus and talk to administration, faculty and students, reporting the full story.
We also strive to provide the Fordham perspective in other sections like Opinion, Culture and Sports because students deserve a place to share their thoughts on issues they care deeply about. Other great student organizations like the Fordham Observer, the Paper and WFUV provide a similar way for students to share their perspectives. They all bring equally valuable voices to the table at Fordham, and we are proud to be part of the student media community with them.
But there is more we can do. Our relationship with the media is rapidly changing, and the Ram shouldn’t be content sticking with tradition. We will continue to prioritize adapting to the digital age to match the speed of our newer digital counterparts. We also want to ensure that all members of the Fordham community know that their unique voices are not only wanted but needed. If you have wanted to contribute to the Ram in the past but never have, this is the time to do it. Your valuable insights on the world are what make our Opinion, Culture and Sports sections vibrant spaces for community conversation.
There is a reason why we picked this topic as the first editorial of the fall semester.
We are living through a unique time as a community. A new university president is settling into her role and defining her vision for Fordham. Protests enveloped campuses across the country during the spring semester and have brought the conversation about campus speech to the forefront of people’s minds. The chaotic events of the 2024 election have brought a feeling of uncertainty, which is at the back of many students’ minds this semester. To sum it all up, history is happening before our eyes. At times like this, The Fordham Ram and other student media outlets’ unique perspectives, as well as Fordham students and members of the community, are required. Sometimes people in positions of power may feel uncomfortable with our coverage, especially in tense times like this. However, student media organizations’ coverage is necessary on campus because no other organizations can give insight into student perspectives the way we can. So this semester, we ask all members of the Fordham community to add student media to your daily news diet. Hopefully, by doing this you get a greater appreciation for our wonderful Fordham community.
By ERYNN SWEENEY ASST. OPINION EDITOR
On your recent MetroNorth rides to the Grand Central station or adventures on the D train, you may have noticed ads for weight loss drugs featuring images of people injecting themselves with medium sized needles underneath simple mantras like “A weekly shot to lose weight,” “Lose up to 35 pounds” or “Now prescribed online.” Some say that these promotions are positive because they de-stigmatize medical obesity treatment, normalizing medication that can help people reach their health goals. However, I believe that these ads normalize unrealistic body image expectations.
Many of the ads I have seen have been sponsored by Ro, a healthcare company and online pharmacy that markets Ozempic and its active ingredient semaglutide. Ozempic is a GLP-1 also known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist drug which was originally approved in 2017 by the American Food and Drug Administration to treat type 2 diabetes. It triggers the release of insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, which converts sugars contained in the food we eat into a usable form for our bodies. Ozempic helps regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics; it was never meant to be used as a weight loss treatment.
Ozempic Rides the Subway
However, another function of the drug is to suppress hunger hormones, so Ro has taken Ozempic to the markets as a magic pill to get you skinny quickly. After a social media craze about Ozempic where many influencers and celebrities made videos about their experiences taking the drug, Ro created a program to put out their ads on the NYC subway system beginning in July 2023. And from my experience, they put out a lot. When I’m scanning the map of the stops on the way to Brooklyn, my view is interrupted on the top and the sides by injection images. When I’m checking to see if Tremont or Fordham Road is the next stop because I can’t hear the muffled conductor’s announcement, I see people standing in front of these ads as they wait for the next train. When I’m squeezed next to friends in a six person seating arrangement on the way back from the city to campus, I see the ads above their heads as we’re trying to have a conversation. It feels like the ads are everywhere I look, as if they are interrupting my view of the world to remind me of what the world thinks I should look like.
There is intentionality behind the sheer amount of these promotions. The more we see it, the more the treatment is normalized, which can have some benefits for people who would expe
rience significant health
changes by using the drug. But at the same time, this makes the expectation more normalized. This ultimately perpetuates negative body image that is already easy to adopt subconsciously in the age of social media. They are problematic because they make a normative statement about the ideal body, prescribing not only medicine but also the idea that if you don’t look like a size 0 model, there is something wrong with you, and you need to fix it — and do so fast.
There is also intentionality behind the location of the ads. Public transportation cultivates a transition state as people are moving from one place to another, meaning they are more likely to be distracted and vulnerable. This emotional state makes it easier for people to accidentally internalize the expectations promoted by the advertisements, believing that a thinner body is necessary for health and happiness, which is not always the case. Many New Yorkers with far commutes have a long time to stare at these ads and think about all the ways their bodies could change. The way Ro advertises easy access via online prescription adds fuel to the fire — it provides a quiet voice of temptation that says, “Why not try it out?” This can be dangerous for those who are not getting the other side of the story or lack proper health education.
The company claims that
the subway advertisement program was a step in the right direction of helping people reach their health goals and communicating clearly their treatment options. In an article explaining the rationale behind the campaign, Ro expresses its desire to “start an important, sometimes difficult, conversation focused on a goal of de-stigmatizing obesity as a condition and highlighting a new, incredibly effective treatment that may, for the first time, be a real solution for millions of people.”
I’m not trying to claim gaslighting — the drug definitely is working for weight loss (with side effects, of course). I am more so trying to wave a red flag. I worry about the kind of message we are sending by marketing a thinner version of ourselves as a medical prior -
ity. Some of the ads feature people looking at a skinnier version of themselves in the mirror, as if their body is not good enough the way it is. We all deserve to feel our best — both physically and mentally — and to have access to resources that can help us get there. Everyone has a right to be healthy, but healthy looks different for everyone. We should not feel pressure to conform to an image of health pushed by a company that capitalizes on a broken culture to make a profit.
Paving the Way for Desire Paths at Fordham
By SOPHIE MASELLI DIGITAL PRODUCER
For many years, there has been a man-made dirt path in the grass along Walsh Hall on campus where students cut across to shave time on their walks, known as a “desire path.” These are walkways formed by footsteps on grass, usually for convenience or, in our case, a way for students on college campuses to make their walks to and from class the most efficient. A few weeks ago, Fordham paved that dirt path, a development which is long overdue. Desire paths are generally the quickest and most convenient way to get from location A to location B, if not present via paved walkway. Desire paths are an obvious signal as to where pathways should be, and they highlight the question of why a path isn’t already there. The Guardian has described desire paths as “the tension between the native and the built environment and our relationship to them.” This disturbance of
grass in the ground shows the respect people have towards the paved paths laid out. It shows how strongly they feel about a route and whether or not it is worth their while. A desire path shows the unification of society against the norm; we are straying from the path set out for us and creating our own.
Some may claim that desire paths are lazy or superfluous, that there was no reason for Fordham to pave this short walkway. But students cannot be forced to stop walking along their own created paths, so paving the desire path means that there will be less dirt in our shoes after walking on it and less likelihood that we will trip on the rocky surface and mounded dirt. Having desire paths paved is also beneficial to those with disabilities, allowing students with accessibility needs to also use the more efficient pathways to a destination. In the winter, desire paths often become blanketed with snow, meaning the
only pathways provided are those the plow decides on. But when these desire paths are paved, the snow will be removed from the walkway, and it will no longer take an excess amount of time for students to get to and from class in the cold. This, again, will allow everyone to use the path most convenient so they can get out of the cold air quickly.
Desire paths tell landscapers where people want to walk. They represent what people want to do rather than what they are told. It is necessary for desire paths to be paved for not only the convenience of students, but for their safety as well. While desire paths are popular due to herd mentality, they can also be dangerous, whether it be due to obstacles in the path, or the overall imperfect ground of the path that could cause injuries.
Many times, I have cut across one of the Fordham lawns using a desire path in order to get to class faster. There are numerous other places on Fordham’s Rose
Hill campus where desire paths are forming due to inconvenient walkways. One example is Martyrs’ Lawn. The walkways on that lawn are oddly arranged. If one wants to walk straight to the library or to the road towards Duane, there is no path to do that in the quickest way. The next place Fordham should consider creating a new path is there. Although it is a pleasant lawn area to sit outside when it’s nice out and would be a shame to have that space limited with a walkway, one walkway in the middle of the lawn would be suitable for con -
venience. Until then, students must deal with cutting through the lawn as they make a new desire path, settling for pebbles in shoes or mud caked on the soles. So for now, Fordham students are paving the way for the most convenient path on campus, one that will take us to and from class in the shortest amount of time.
Erynn Sweeney, FCRH ‘27, is an international political economy major from Cypress, Calif.
Zoë Chapital, FCRH ’24, is an English major from Walnut Creek, Calif.
A desire path has been introduced to the Fordham Rose Hill campus.
COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL /THE FORDHAM RAM
Ozempic advertisments on the Subway should be questioned.
COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL /THE FORDHAM RAM
OPINION
RFK Jr. Becomes Black Sheep of the Kennedy Family Endorsing Trump
By ANDREW MCDONALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The already extremely hectic 2024 U.S. presidential race took an unsurprising yet consequential turn on Aug. 23 when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) suspended his independent campaign and endorsed former Republican President Donald Trump, ending the most high-profile independent candidacy of the 2024 election. This unexpected alliance between the, as of now, black sheep of America’s most prominent Democratic family and the Republican frontrunner has reshaped the political landscape, possibly putting some breaks on Vice President Kamala Harris’ rise in the polls.
RFK Jr.’s presidential bid began on April 5, 2023, as a Democratic primary challenger to President Joe Biden, upholding the Kennedy family’s long-standing party affiliation. However, his shift to an independent run revealed a surprising trend as threeway polling was conducted between RFK Jr., Biden and Trump and found that RFK Jr. drew more support away from Trump with Republican voters than from Democrats. This move followed a lack of significant momentum against Biden and criticism from party leadership over his controversial views, particularly on vaccines and COVID-19, as the chairman and founder of Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine advocacy group and a leader in COVID-19 false vaccine information.
By JAYLIN SELDON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Is fast fashion a fierce beast determined to destroy the earth or a symptom of a greater flawed industry and culture that preys on our insecurities and the gaps left by high fashion? Well, the answer lies in the middle ground.
FOMO, trends and economic inflation are the bane of the fashionable individual everywhere. The average consumer can’t afford to keep up with what’s “in” when what’s “in” changes every few months, or the upkeep of a constantly revolving closet stocked with new garments. So, how does one stay up-to-date with the fashion of the day when they can’t afford to constantly update their entire wardrobe? They turn to fast fashion to give them the look they yearn for on a budget. Juggernaut brands like Shein, Zara, Uniqlo, Fashion Nova and Gap exist to keep you dressed to impress, albeit at the expense of our planet. The business model behind these brands is to produce in excess in the cheapest and
Now with Harris leading the Democratic ticket following Biden’s withdrawal due to health concerns, RFK Jr.’s exit and endorsement of Trump could potentially give the former president a significant boost. The question looming over both “major” party campaigns is whether RFK Jr.’s support will provide Trump with a muchneeded “campaign booster” or, paradoxically, become a liability due to their shared controversial stances becoming more salient to the Trump campaign, particularly with respect to their “dubious” stances on vaccines.
Additionally, it’s very possible Democrats will be able to latch RFK Jr.’s numerous controversies onto Trump’s 2024 bid as he starts actively campaigning for the former president. This could very well be beneficial in attacking Trump by association, turning what seemed like a potential advantage into another potential Achilles’ heel for the Republican campaign. Some of these controversies include RFK Jr. decapitating a dead whale with a chainsaw and putting its head on his car’s roof, his admission of dumping a dead bear cub’s carcass in Central Park, in addition to RFK Jr.’s claims that mass shootings are linked to prescription drugs, that vaccines can cause autism, gender dysphoria is caused by chemicals in the environment and that the COVID-19 pandemic was designed to spare Jewish and Chinese people.
At a recent press conference in Phoenix, RFK Jr. officially was suspended his campaign and
throwing his support behind Trump. He cited shared concerns over Democratic funding for the war in Ukraine, free speech and what he called “a war on our children” as reasons for his decision. RFK Jr. revealed that Trump had offered him a role in a potential second adminiswtration, focusing on health care, food and drug policies. Despite their differences, RFK Jr. expressed hope for a “unity party” that would “allow us to disagree publicly and privately” while working on shared goals. Trump welcomed the endorsement, praising RFK Jr. as beloved and respected by everybody, which is a highly debatable sentiment with respect to both statements. RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump created a stark divide within the Kennedy clan. While he stands almost alone in supporting Trump, the majority of his family, have publicly backed Harris. This rift was exacerbated when 15 of Kennedy’s family members issued a statement calling RFK Jr.’s endorsement “dangerous to our country” and “a betrayal of Democratic values.” RFK Jr.’s assertion that Trump has changed as a person and is now focused on his legacy contradicts both Trump’s rhetoric and behavior. While RFK Jr. claims Trump is listening to a wider range of voices, Trump’s campaign promises and public statements remain largely consistent with his previous positions. RFK Jr.’s optimism about Trump’s evolution may be more wishful
thinking than substantiated fact, potentially reflecting RFK Jr.’s attempt to justify his endorsement to his traditionally Democratic supporters. However, Trump also tapped former 2020 Democratic Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard earlier this month to join his transition team alongside RFK Jr. However, this flip-flop may be hard to swallow for some as RFK Jr. has more than harshly and repeatedly criticized Trump, such as stating how Trump’s imperial plan is both absurd and terrifying. RFK Jr.’s endorsement of Trump will undoubtedly mark a shift in the election landscape. However, as the race tightens, the true impact of this endorsement remains to be seen. It may galvanize Trump’s base and attract many disillusioned
Shein Bright Like a Diamond
quickest way possible, creating an item that is made with imminent disposal in mind to satiate a trend and then supply the next. It’s about keeping costs low, firstly by cutting corners on sustainability and, secondly, by stomping on human labor rights. The fast fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of global CO2 emissions (which is projected to double by 2030), 20% of contaminated wastewater in a world of water scarcity and massive landfills around the world. Fast fashion is an industry so committed to profit that child labor is an annual occurrence — accounting for 11% of child laborers around the world, a number surely to rise due to corporate greed. Workers are paid scraps for wages, sometimes not even paid at all for days, and work in inhumane conditions — often forcefully due to either their citizenship status or as a result of trafficking. But this isn’t anything new to you. We all know fast fashion is a cruel and vile industry. Although I may be preaching to the choir right now, I’d like to ask us to examine why this landscape
exists in the first place and why these brands flourish. They thrive because they rely on our insecurities — these brands know many of us worry about our image and fear becoming dated. Think about how many of us knock on others when they are stylistically tone-deaf. People are incredibly conscious about their image, and if you aren’t, social media will try its best to make you. This is especially true of younger generations, who are fast fashion’s target demographic and its biggest purveyor. We as a generation are simultaneously confident yet incredibly neurotic regarding our appearance, trying our hardest to be the most flawless conformists you’ve ever seen. There is a clear mental aspect at play when talking about fast fashion that we can’t entirely blame them for. It is true that fast fashion businesses are wrong for amplifying and preying on people’s body issues for profit, but this isn’t a phenomenon exclusive to fast fashion or even born out of it. Instead, this trickles down from highend fashion, which in itself is influenced by societal
voters who have made up RFK Jr.’s coalition, or it could backfire in highlighting controversial stances that alienate moderates. Regardless of the outcome, this political maneuver will likely be remembered as a defining moment in an already unprecedented election cycle. Irrespective of how the election ends, it seems clear to me that Trump had the most to lose from RFK Jr. sticking into the end, and Trump has the most to gain from absorbing a chunk of RFK Jr.’s coalition into the “Trump team.”
Andrew McDonald, FCRH ’26 , is a history and political science double major from Sacramento, Calif.
currents and societal ideals. Only recently has the fashion world begun to accept that not everyone fits an ideal model, nor should they. In fact, in many ways, fast fashion has been better than the high fashion realm in promoting the diversity of bodies. While some can easily find clothing that fits them, this isn’t the reality for people who fall outside of our contemporary sizing standards. Not everyone can mosey along into a boutique and shop off the rack. Fast fashion retailers, however, often carry garments made with plus-sized people in mind. Of course, there do exist proper plus-size clothing stores, but they usually are more expensive with a “fat tax,” which adds up when
one is attempting to shop sustainably. Thrifting, which has become increasingly inaccessible due to gentrification raising prices in certain areas, may also have some of these same problems. For example, a general lack of plus-size options at many thrifts may leave individuals with no other option than to consume fast fashion if they want to keep up with trends. So, once again, is fast fashion a deadly industry? Undoubtedly yes. But it doesn’t exist for no reason, and telling people to just shop sustainably doesn’t attack the bigger societal issues keeping it afloat.
Jaylin Seldon, FCRH ’27, is a philosophymajorfromHarlem, N.Y.
RFK Jr. suspends campaign and sets himself apart from family.
Fast fashion’s problems don’t always have simple solutions. COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE
OPINION
Bridging the Gap: Elevating the Paralympics to Equal Standing with the Olympics
By LAILA SAYEGH STAFF WRITER
With the 2024 Paris Olympics now behind us, many assume that the excitement is over. However, a fresh new wave of excitement began on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at the Paralympics Opening ceremony. The Olympics and the Paralympics have coexisted in the same cities for years, yet the Paralympics are often regarded as a secondary event or less important than the Olympics. The primary difference between the two is that the Olympics features able-bodied athletes, while the Paralympics features athletes with various disabilities. Unfortunately, considering the broad appeal and deeprooted history of the Olympics, they continue to overshadow the Paralympics along with the
extraordinary competitors that the event showcases. This is harmful because it perpetuates a hierarchy that undervalues the achievements of athletes with disabilities. By placing the Olympics on a higher pedestal than the Paralympics, we discourage a more inclusive and equitable view of sports and society as a whole.
This year, many advocates for equality between the two events have been speaking out to promote the Paralympics. Tara Davis-Woodhall, an Olympic athlete married to Paralympian athlete Hunter Woodhall, utilized her post-victory speech to urge viewers to stay tuned for the Paralympics, reinforcing the idea that the Olympic season is not complete without it. This kind of cross-support between athletes underscores the
need for greater unity and recognition for the Paralympics. It highlights the notion that exceptional athleticism is not confined to the Olympics alone.
Furthermore, the Paralympics made history this year by making their torch identical to the Olympic torch. This decision serves as a testament to the growing desire to bridge the gap between the Olympics and Paralympics. The torch carries a massive amount of history and symbolism, making it a beacon of the ongoing fight for equality in sports. This means advocating for the same media coverage, funding and public interest between both events. It is crucial that we as a society continue to challenge the status quo and push for a shift of perception, recognizing that the Paralympics deserves equal celebration and respect.
Recently, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided to lift the ban on Olympic rings tattoos for Paralympians for the Paris 2024 Paralympic games. Previously, Paralympians were forced to cover up any Olympic rings tattoos during competition, and if they failed to do it, they would be faced with penalties or even disqualification. This ban was in place because the IPC viewed the Olympic rings as a symbol of an entity separate from the Paralympics.
Considering this, the decision further allows for the recognition of the shared journey and significance that these athletes
feel in reaching the highest level of their sport. For many Paralympians, the Olympic rings are emblematic of their dedication, effort and success, much like they are for Olympians. This change is inevitably a positive step toward recognizing the collective pursuit of excellence that defines both games.
While a lot of progress has been made in blurring the line between the Olympics and the Paralympics, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. Between the two events, there remains a large deficit in viewership and funding, despite the talent that both events showcase. The Olympics, with its long-established history and widespread media coverage, consistently attracts a larger audience and receives more financial backing compared to the Paralympics. For instance, during the 2020 Olympic season, the Tokyo Olympics garnered a staggering 10 times more English-language media coverage than the Paralympics. This highlights a broader issue of inequality in sports media representation and funding.
In order to address this imbalance, incorporating the Paralympics more seamlessly with the Olympics could be a transformative solution. This could possibly involve scheduling the two events consecutively on the same streaming platform, ensuring that both receive equal airtime and promotion. Leveraging shared
media coverage, marketing efforts and sponsorships could also amplify the visibility of Paralympic athletes. Major companies like Nike along with Gatorade, which frequently partner with Olympic athletes for brand deals, should step up and extend the same opportunities to Paralympic athletes, promoting equity in sports endorsements. Furthermore, having bigger artists perform at the Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies would draw more attention and increase traction for the event, helping to elevate its profile on a global stage. Another approach could be integrating Paralympic highlights and athlete stories into mainstream Olympic broadcasts. By featuring athletes in the Paralympics in pre-game or halftime shows during the Olympics, networks can introduce these athletes to a bigger audience, creating a more seamless connection between the two events and encouraging viewers to continue following their journeys into the Paralympics.
Overall, closing the large visible gap between the Olympics and Paralympics is not just about fairness; it’s about recognizing and celebrating the incredible talent and determination of all athletes on the world stage, regardless of disability.
Laila Sayegh, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Congers, N.Y.
Following the Paper: Tuition at American Colleges
By ELEANOR SMITH STAFF WRITER
American colleges and universities are some of the most expensive in the world. The average cost of college tuition in the United States, without room and board, is $9,410 at public colleges and $32,405 at private colleges, while a majority of European universities charge less than $2,225 a year. Some European nations, like Germany, Iceland, Finland and Norway, do not charge tuition at all at their colleges and universities. In the past few years, multiple pieces of legislation that would secure free college or at least address the ballooning costs of college tuition in the United States have been introduced, but it is unlikely that these efforts will be successful in the near future.
There are many reasons why college tuition in the United States is much more expensive than other similar countries. After the Great Recession in 2008, many states cut funding for public colleges and universities, which necessitated raises in tuition. More recently, inflation has surged in the United States, and the cost of college, along with the cost of everything else, rose accordingly. Additionally, the demand for college degrees is on the rise, with about 44% of all jobs re-
quiring one as recently as 2021.
Most importantly, the United States spends more money per college student than any other nation in the world, save for the tiny, very wealthy Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. American colleges and universities spend $30,165 per student, which is nearly twice the wealthy-world average of $15,556 per student.
The primary reason for this difference is not, in fact, the relative lack of government subsidies in the United States, but rather the high cost of running an American higher education institution.
One factor that is driving up university spending per student is administrative bloat. Between 1976 and 2018, the number of administrators employed by American colleges and universities rose by 164%, and the number of non-faculty professionals rose by 452%. On average, the top American universities have only one faculty member per 11 students, but those same institutions have one non-faculty employee per four students, meaning there are almost three times as many non-faculty employees as faculty employees at the best schools in the United States. The number of administrators at many American schools has exploded both due to greater demand for services and because adminis-
trators tend to solve problems with more administrators.
American college students expect certain things from their colleges and universities. Fordham University boasts the historic Rose Hill Gym, squash courts, an indoor track, an indoor pool, multiple outdoor athletic fields and the newly renovated Ram Fit student gym. We also have guaranteed student housing for four years, several on-campus dining options as well as beautiful campus grounds with many historic buildings. It is reasonable to expect Fordham to have these amenities when tuition (not including room and board) is $62,990 a year, but they are not truly necessary.
In a 2022 opinion piece in the New York Times, titled “Elite Universities Are Out of Touch. Blame the Campus,” Nick Burns argues that the university campus, “a uniquely American invention,” isolates students, faculty and administrators from the real world, preventing students especially from engaging with people whose lives do not revolve around higher education.
Fordham’s mission is to “foster the intellectual, moral and religious development of its students and prepare them for leadership in a global society,” but it is possible for students
living in the dorms to go weeks without stepping off campus, as everything they might need is accessible within Fordham’s gates. Can an institution really claim to prepare students for leadership in a global society when those same students are physically separated from the community around them?
American universities are expensive for a number of reasons, including insufficient government funding, administrative bloat and pristine campuses with countless amenities. For students who are interested and able, going abroad to get a degree is a great way to save tens of thousands of dollars and experience living in a different part of the world. However,
there are avenues to an affordable college education in the United States. Going to a public university in one’s own state, finding a school that offers large merit-based scholarships and/or financial aid to qualifying students or attending community college and transferring credits to a four-year university can allow students to earn a bachelor’s degree with little to no debt while staying closer to home which can have benefits.
Eleanor
FCRH ’26, is an American studies and history major from St. Paul, Minn.
Smith,
There are various reasons why American collges and universities are expensive
COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL /THE FORDHAM RAM
It is important to close the gap between the Olympics and Paralympics.
COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE FORDHAM RAM
MEET THE STAFF
Sofia Donohue is a senior from Kensington, Md., who is majoring in English with a double minor in history and Italian. She first joined the Ram as a digital producer for Volume 104 and was Assistant News Editor for Volume 105. The Ram has been a large part of her college experience and she can’t wait to serve as Editor in Chief for Volume 106. Outside of the Ram, Sofia loves to read, explore New York City and spend time with friends.
HANNAH
BORING | PRODUCTION EDITOR
Hannah Boring is a senior from Annapolis, Md., majoring in English and minoring in communication and culture. She has spent every semester thus far sitting at the copy table in B-52, and she is unbelievably excited to continue working for the Ram as Volume 106’s Production Editor. Outside of the McShane basement, she enjoys exploring the beautiful city and its bookstores, blasting her music a little too loud and cooking different variations of her middle school chili recipe.
Grace Campbell is a senior from Northborough, Mass., and she is majoring in new media and digital design and minoring in marketing. She spent Volume 105 as a Digital Producer and is so excited to be back as the Multimedia Director! While not at the Ram, she enjoys reading, painting and spending time with friends.
Cailee Zeraat is a senior from Fairfax, Va., majoring in English on the pre-law track. Cailee is a transfer student and joined the Ram as a copy editor during her first semester at Fordham. As Copy Chief, she hopes to continue deleting oxford commas and excessive exclamation points. When not in the basement of McShane, Cailee writes hot takes for the opinion section, plays bass in the university orchestra and studies the chemistry behind baking cakes.
JULIANNA MORALES | FEATURES EDITOR
Julianna Morales is a senior from Pittsford, N.Y., majoring in psychology with a double minor in disability studies and business administration. Julianna joined the Ram as a contributing writer in the News and Opinion sections and a copy editor as a firstyear. She is very excited to work with the Ram team as the Features Editor for Volume 106. Outside of the Ram, Julianna enjoys playing tennis, reading, exploring the city and being a member of Rod’s Coffee House on campus.
Cristina Stefanizzi is a sophomore from Pelham, N.Y., who is pursuing a double major in new media and digital design and political science. She first joined the Ram for Volume 105 as a contributing writer, and is looking forward to being Assistant News Editor for Volume 106. Outside of the Ram, you can find Cristina on the field or court taking photos for Fordham Athletics as a photographer, or listening to Taylor Swift.
Lusa Holmstrom is a senior from Venice, Calif., majoring in English and Spanish. She first joined the Ram writing articles in the Opinion section for Volume 105 and co-wrote the study abroad column in the spring. She will be serving as Assistant Opinion Editor for Volume 106. At home, you can find Lusa on her front porch with her roommates, making ice cream or spending days solving cryptic crosswords from the New Yorker archives.
Erynn Sweeney is a sophomore from Cypress, Calif., majoring in international political economy. She first joined the Ram as a copy-editor for Volume 105 and bounced around writing articles in a few different columns. She will be serving as an Assistant Opinion Editor for Volume 106. When she’s not in the newsroom, she likes to cloud watch, search for new snacks at Trader Joe’s and have dance parties with her volleyball team.
September 4,
Allison Schneider is a junior from New Palestine, Ind., who is majoring in English with a creative writing concentration and a minor in political science. She joined the Ram as a copy editor for Volume 104 and became Assistant Opinion Editor for Volume 105. She is excited to work alongside her talented peers as Managing Editor for Volume 106. When she is not in B-52, you can find her perusing the shelves of used bookstores or trying not to fall asleep on the 4 train.
EVAN
MCMANUS | EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Evan McManus is a senior from Dover, Mass., majoring in political science and minoring in communications. As a sophomore, he started writing for The Fordham Ram and worked as Assistant Opinion Editor for Volume 105. Evan is excited to be the Editorial Director for Volume 106 and hopes to address issues important to Fordham’s student body. Outside the Ram, he enjoys going to the movies, walking in Central Park and having fun with his friends.
Grace Miller is a senior from New Providence, N.J., pursuing a major in economics and a minor in English. She first joined the Ram during the fall 2022 semester and then transitioned to the business team. She is excited to lead and contribute to this new role as well as to work alongside the other staff members in Volume 106. In her free time, Grace enjoys spending time with friends, trying out new cuisines, traveling/road tripping and watching the NJ Devils.
Nora Malone is a sophomore who is “from” Brooklyn but has bounced around to Boston and D.C. as well. She is a medieval studies major with a rotating cast of minors. Nora joined the Ram as a contributing writer for Volume 105 and is ecstatic to be News Editor for Volume 106. Outside of the Ram, Nora enjoys going to museums, rollerblading and attempting to pet the campus cats. She can’t wait to work alongside the talented staff to produce this volume.
VIMALANATHAN | ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Adithi Vimalanathan is a junior proudly hailing from Jersey City, N.J., and majoring in English and economics. She first joined the Ram as a contributing writer in her first year and is excited to join Volume 106 as Assistant News Editor. At Fordham, you can find her reading poetry, baking cookies or finishing her fifth cup of coffee.
Saisha Islam is a senior from the Bronx, N.Y., who is majoring in biological sciences and minoring in English. She first joined The Fordham Ram as a contributing writer for Volume 103 and is excited to work on Volume 106 of the Ram as the Opinion Editor. Outside of the Ram, Saisha enjoys biking, going on walks around campus and reading mysteries.
Claire Krieger is a junior from Minneapolis, Minn., pursuing a journalism degree. Claire joined the Ram as a contributing writer her first year of college and then became a Digital Producer in the previous edition of the Ram. She is excited to contribute to the culture section and hopes to feature her favorite NYC foods, particularly bagels.
GRACE CAMPBELL | MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
GRACE MILLER | BUSINESS DIRECTOR
CAILEE ZERAAT | COPY CHIEF
NORA MALONE | NEWS EDITOR
ADITHI
CRISTINA STEFANIZZI | ASST. NEWS EDITOR
SAISHA ISLAM | OPINION EDITOR
LUSA HOLMSTROM | ASST. OPINION EDITOR
ERYNN SWEENEY | ASST. OPINION EDITOR
CLAIRE KRIEGER | CULTURE EDITOR
MEET THE STAFF
Caleb Stine is a senior from Durham, N.C., studying journalism. After transferring his sophomore year to Fordham, he joined the Ram as a copy editor of Volume 104 before becoming a columnist for Volume 105. Outside of the Ram, Caleb loves to watch movies, explore New York and cheer on the Boston Red Sox.
Isabella DeRosa is a junior from Wayne, N.J., majoring in psychology and minoring in journalism. She joined the Ram as a contributing writer her first year and is excited to join the Volume 106 staff as an Assistant Culture Editor. Outside of the Ram, Isabella enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and exploring New York City.
Jonah Ring is a junior from Norfolk, Va., pursuing a degree in both theology and art history. He joined the Sports section of the Ram during his first semester on campus, working as a staff writer and the Women’s Tennis beat writer prior to becoming Volume 106’s Sports Editor. When he is not writing painfully pretentious articles for the Ram, Jonah can often be found wandering through some random NYC art gallery or bookstore while listening to Jeff Buckley, Chet Baker or Westside Gunn.
Joe Henry is a junior from Duxbury, Mass., majoring in economics and minoring in sports journalism and American studies. He joined the Ram for the spring 2024 semester, writing opinion pieces in the Sports section and beat reporting for the women’s tennis team; he’ll be serving as an Assistant Sports Editor for Volume 106. Elsewhere, Joe enjoys writing music, playing basketball and creating content for WFUV Sports.
Sarah Urbano is a senior from Falmouth, Mass., majoring in digital technologies and emerging media and minoring in marketing. She started as a contributing writer for features this year, and is extremely excited to join the staff as a Digital Producer! Outside of the Ram, Sarah likes to spend time outside, play volleyball and watch her favorite TV show “Criminal Minds.”
HANIYYAH USMANI | DIGITAL PRODUCER
Haniyyah Usmani is a sophomore from the Bronx, N.Y., and is currently undecided in her major, but is considering computer science. She joined the Ram as a copy editor and contributing writer for Volume 105, and is very excited to begin her journey with the amazing staff as a Digital Producer for Volume 106! Outside the Ram, Haniyyah is the First Year Marketing Coordinator of the Commuting Students Association, a Fordham Career Center Ambassador, a writer and an avid reader.
MARY HAWTHORN | PHOTO EDITOR
Mary Hawthorn is a junior from Greenwich, Conn. She is double majoring in English and political science with an honors concentration in Catholic studies. She joined the Ram in 2023 as a contributing writer, and is eager to contiue her role as Photo Editor of Volume 106! Outside of the Ram, Mary enjoys playing on the Fordham women’s squash team, volunteering with Fordham Circle K and spending time with friends.
Katriina Fiedler is a junior from Atlanta who is majoring in economics and urban studies. She first joined the Ram as a contributing writer her first year. She is excited to continue on the Advertising Team as a junior. Outside of the Ram, Katriina
KATHLEEN HOLLINGER | ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Kathleen Hollinger is a senior from Seattle who is majoring in finance. She first joined the Ram as a member of the Business Team as a sophomore, and is beyond excited to begin her second year as an Advertising Director for Volume 106. Outside of the Ram, Kathleen spends her time doing puzzles with her roommates, reading new books, visiting art galleries and riding the train up to Boston.
Griffin Stevenson is a junior from Portland, Ore., majoring in digital technologies and emerging media and minoring in sports journalism. He joined the Ram as a contributing writer for Volume 105, focusing on the sometimes overlooked sport of soccer. He is excited to work on Volume 106 of The Fordham Ram as an Assistant Sports Editor. Outside of the Ram, Griffin enjoys fashion and hanging out with friends in the city.
Alexis Hurchalla is a junior from Chester Springs, Pa., studying communications with minors in marketing and digital technology and emerging media. She joined the Ram as a contributing writer in the fall of 2023 and is now the Social Media Director for Volume 106. Outside of the Ram, Lexi loves exploring NYC with her friends!
Sophie Maselli is a junior from Milford, Conn., majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. Sophie began working for the Ram for Volume 105 as an opinion writer and copy editor, and is excited to work as a Digital Producer for Volume 106! Outside of the Ram, you can find her listening to showtunes, reading or writing a future bestseller.
GERTH | ASST. COPY CHIEF
Madelyn Gerth is a junior from Bucks County, Pa., majoring in communications and theology. She first joined the Ram as an executive copy editor for Volume 105 and will be serving as Assistant Copy Chief for Volume 106. Madelyn eagerly anticipates the nights to come in B-52 during her final year at Fordham. Outside of the newsroom, Madelyn enjoys leisurely walks through the Botanical Gardens, getting lost in a book and waitressing on Arthur Avenue.
DIANA JUAREZ | ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Diana Juarez is a sophomore from Phoenix majoring in marketing with a concentration in digital media and technology and minoring in fashion studies. She joined the Ram during Volume 105 and is excited to return as Co-Advertising Director for Volume 106. In her free time Diana enjoys exploring new restaurants and spending time with her friends in the city.
Emily Roe is a junior from Newburgh, Ind., majoring in marketing. Emily began working for the Ram as a member of the Business Team for Volume 105, and is excited to contribute as an Advertising Director for Volume 106. In her free time, Emily enjoys trying new restaurants around NYC, vintage shopping, listening to records and binging the Great British Baking Show.
CALEB STINE | CULTURE EDITOR
ISABELLA DEROSA | ASST. CULTURE EDITOR
JONAH RING | SPORTS EDITOR
GRIFFIN STEVENSON | ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
JOE HENRY | ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
ALEXIS HURCHALLA | SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
SARAH URBANO| DIGITAL PRODUCER
SOPHIE MASELLI | DIGITAL PRODUCER
MADELYN
enjoys reading, exploring the city and spending time with her two dogs.
KATRIINA FIELDER | ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
EMILY ROE | ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
By ABIGAIL ADAMS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
For nearly every week I’ve been in Sydney, I have walked over 50 miles. My time down under has opened my eyes to this new favorite mode of transportation and exploration. These walks have provided me with laughter, chaos, adventure and beauty.
My study abroad experience began two years ago when I decided I wanted to come to Sydney for a semester. I went to Australia in 2022 with my family and fell in love with the outdoor culture. Everywhere I looked on that trip, people were enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery that Sydney offers. I walked a ton on that trip, and on one particular walk to Maroubra Beach, I decided I wanted to come back here to study.
I redid that walk recently, and reflecting on all that has changed in the past twoand-a-half years was special.
However, my current trip to Sydney began with the opposite of this outdoor, movement-focused semester I was envisioning. I was stuck on the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport tarmac for over three hours due to bad storms. Luckily, my travel-experienced father
Sites Around Sydney
had booked my flights with a four-hour layover in case something like this happened. Still, I was nervous about navigating the gigantic airport to find my flight to Sydney. The guy sitting next to me noticed my concern. He asked me where I was going and proceeded to draw out an entire map to show me how to navigate the Dallas airport. He was the first of many generous and friendly strangers I encountered who characterized this trip and reminded me to stay hopeful.
Once we landed, I thanked the nearby passengers for their help and sprinted through the terminals to get to my gate. The trip went off smoothly as I sat in my seat for the next 16 hours.
Once I arrived, I frequently felt pulled in many directions by all the various things I wanted to do. Most importantly, I needed to move into my new apartment. I also was ecstatic to begin exploring the city. Finally, I was doing something I am never great at: rest. I had, in part, come to Australia to take a step back from the busyness of my normal Fordham life. In a place with fewer responsibilities, I hoped my time abroad would teach me
to be still.
In the midst of all these different early preoccupations, my habit of walking quickly developed. I had always loved being outside, but walking was a perfect way for me to both slow life down and see Sydney. However, my first few walks were primarily journeys back and forth from Kmart. I would walk a mile along my neighborhood’s busy and beautiful streets, carrying pans, groceries and other necessities. Kmart here is really a sight to behold. You can buy a whole kitchen set for 20 AUD! Plus, everything has an American discount (the exchange rate difference).
Once I was fully moved in, I could finally begin to explore with my roommates. One memorable walk we did was
just recently in Watson’s Bay, a suburb of Sydney along the ocean. We were walking along the hilly shore to a lighthouse when we accidentally walked onto a nude beach. I thought they only did that kind of stuff in France…
My roommates and I also recently journeyed out to the Blue Mountains, a gorgeous national park west of Sydney. We had nearly completed the four-mile loop, but only for the trail to be closed and for us to need to turn back around. We speed-walked through the forest, working about the setting sun.
My favorite place to walk around in Sydney is the Royal Botanical Gardens. Situated in the heart of the city, the garden contains over 70 acres of rolling hills, tropical plants
and stunning views of Sydney Harbour. I love coming here on Sundays to watch families picnic, elderly people ride around on their motorized scooters and kids chase the weird chicken birds that are all over Australia. These moments of slowing down to recognize the beauty all around us is what my study abroad experience has been all about. Perhaps it’s not as flashy as the typical view of a 20-year-old who’s abroad, but rest is what I had hoped for when I came to Australia. A favorite quote of mine is, “Nothing would again be casual and small.” The sprinting through DFW airport, long hikes along the beach and days strolling through the Botanical Gardens open my eyes to the grandness and beauty of each moment.
The Bagel Debate: Apollo vs. Pop-Up
By RORY DONAHUE SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR EMERITUS
When thinking of the best bagel in New York, Apollo Bagels and Pop-Up Bagels are two of the top viral contenders on the market. They both offer creative menu items, distinctive branding and a unique flavor profile compared to other classic spots. A closer look into their bagel profile will allow one to determine which one is better for you.
Apollo Bagels is known for its high-quality ingredients, chewy texture and crispy exterior, which make for a satisfying bite. They started as a pop-up across New York and then attracted insane lines that inspired permanent locations. They offer a limited menu of cream cheese, tomatoes and fish-decorated bagels. They keep it simple but have mastered that simplicity in their sourdough bagels. What initially started as a trendy weekend spot in the East Village is now expanding with a new location in the West Village. They are growing gradually, and their bagels are also being sold in the newly opened Pura Vida cafes all over Manhattan.
As I entered the East Village establishment, I expected long lines but was pleasantly
surprised by the lack of a wait. I suggest going later in the afternoon if going on the weekend. While there is a limited menu, I opted for the scallion cream cheese and tomato on a sesame bagel, which I have seen pictures of online. The staff made my bagel in around five minutes, and I sat outside to formulate my opinion. The bagel itself was chewy and crisp to perfection. It was not too doughy or under-baked like I find other New York bagel establishments to be. The tomato was fresh and sprinkled with olive oil and sea salt, making it a satisfying bite. Overall, Apollo Bagels met my expectations, and I would love for them to expand their menu in the future.
Pop-Up Bagels took the internet by storm with hot and fresh bagels intended to be dipped in unique variations of their whipped cream cheese. The line for the original establishment in Greenwich Village used to be outrageous, but now they have calmed down with the opening of two new locations in the Upper East and West sides. The bagel itself is delicious when hot, but after cooling, I need to put the bagel to the test. One might not want to dip their bagels for every bite. I have been
to Pop-Up numerous times, but since they always switch their cream cheeses and butter, I was eager to return. I entered their Upper East Side establishment with the place to myself and requested an everything bagel, sesame and salt with scallion cream cheese. They had a butter that was pineapple flavored, but I opted to stay with the classic cream cheese dip. My bag of bagels and cream cheese was ready almost instantly, making for an efficient experience. The bagels were hot and seeded
to perfection, as expected, even though they were not busy. The bagel was crispy and dense, making for a satisfying bite. While these bagels were delicious, I often wish they were in sandwich form, as that makes for a more even ratio of cream cheese and bagel. They also have more creative cream cheese flavors in the past, such as roasted red pepper, caramelized onion and Oreo. Overall, Pop-Up Bagels is a fun experience and a unique take on bagels, which makes it different from other classic establishments. These
bagel shops are different from the rest of the known spots on the food scene in New York. They offer different experiences, but both are delicious bagels. The bagels themselves, in all honesty, are so similar that they are hard to compare. I enjoy many seeds in my bagels, so the best bagel for me is Pop-Up. However, I appreciate the Apollo Bagel tomato and scallion cream cheese openface sandwich over a dipping experience. I look forward to tasting and reviewing more bagels and can not wait to see how they compare.
Bagels are aplenty in New York, and two heavy hitters are now battling it out.
COURTESY OF RORY DONAHUE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
Even on the other side of the world, Rams are exploring the city.
COURTESY OF ABIGAIL ADAMS FOR THE FORDHAM RAM
The Post- “Love Island” Lifestyle and the Repercussions of Fast Fame
By ALLISON SCHNEIDER MANAGING EDITOR
As an iconic member of the reality television universe, the gamified dating show “Love Island” broke records across the United States this summer. In the past, the original “Love Island UK” surpassed “Love Island USA” in pretty much every metric from viewership to notoriety, but something about this summer was different. Not only did “Love Island USA” come out on top of the UK version, but it also topped charts for being the most popular reality TV show across all American streaming platforms with nearly 1 billion minutes viewed in a single week.
There is a lot that can be said about “Love Island”’s popularity. For one, the show is recorded in realtime and releases a new episode every night of the week. This massive influx of content keeps the audience hooked, but it can also inflate viewership. The “recorded in real-time” aspect also allows viewers to actively participate in the show, thus raising the stakes. Throughout the summer, fans are asked to vote for their favorite couple on the show; the couples with the least votes are at risk of being voted out of the villa.
In addition to these classic “Love Island USA” features, season six, in particular, had a lot going for it. For the first time, the show was hosted by reality TV superstar Ariana Madix, who
has a massive following of her own. As such, season six welcomed an entirely new audience to the show, as fans of “Vanderpump Rules” flocked to watch Madix’s appearances in the villa. Producers also seemed to spend more money on music and setting for the show, which increased this season’s quality.
But the key to this season’s smashing success was undeniably the casting. The season’s original group of islanders clicked instantly, both romantically and platonically. The winning couple, Serena Page and Kordell Beckham, coupled up on the first day and stuck together for the majority of the season with a short hiatus following one of the show’s iconic twists, Casa Amor. The original women formed a close bond as they supported each other through the ups and downs of the season. The friendships from season six seemed to resonate with audiences perhaps more than any other aspect of the show. This season has also been one of the most racially diverse in the franchise’s history, with all final eight cast members identifying as people of color.
The show’s most popular cast members, Leah Kateb, JaNa Craig and Page walked out of the villa with hundreds of thousands more followers than they started with. The three women, known by fans as “PPG,” short for Powerpuff Girls, have continued to take the internet by storm since leaving the villa as they flit from podcast studio to news station to cover shoot.
Kateb, Craig and Page, along with several other castmates including Beckham, Miguel Harichi and Olivia Walker — each boasting over 1 million Instagram followers themselves — have already begun capitalizing off their newfound Love Island fame via traditional “influencer” routes. Kateb in particular seems to have risen above the rest in terms of fan base. Since the show’s finale, Kateb’s account has garnered more than 2.5 million additional followers to reach a whopping total of 3.5 million followers as of Aug. 30, surpassing even Madix, who has 2.4 million followers on Instagram. Although the level of their popularity outside the villa may have initially shocked cast members and fans alike, it should come as no surprise to see the “Love Island” alums lean fully into the world of social media influencing. In the current age of reality television, most participants see shows like “Love Island” as
a career booster that will help launch them as Internet celebrities. Now, the cast members post frequently on their social media accounts and don’t shy away from the perhaps overenthusiastic embrace of their fans. But with this type of sudden exposure can come some pretty big problems. The “Love Island” franchise has a tragic history with online bullying — two former contestants and a previous host of the UK version have actually committed suicide as a result of postshow online harassment. Rising to fame so quickly, especially after being so vulnerable on television, can be challenging and even dangerous. Since leaving the villa, multiple cast members from season six have discussed the online hate they’ve received, including Daniela Ortiz Rivera, who posted a video online talking about suicide prevention. Another major internet scandal followed
the show’s finale when nude videos of cast member Kendall Washington were leaked online. Washington has handled the fallout with grace, but the incident speaks to larger privacy issues in the influencing world. It is no secret that social media can damage mental health, but the fast-paced rise of this summer’s “Love Island” stars showcases the unique difficulties that unexpected fame can bring. It’s important to remember that reality television shows like “Love Island” cast relatively normal people, not bonafide celebrities, and as a result, the contestants do not have the media training and emotional support that long-time celebs rely on to protect their mental health. Hopefully, fans of the show can learn from the franchise’s past and stop spreading hate to the very real people they enjoyed watching on the show.
Fordham Sophomore Shares Experience Advocating For Mental Health
By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR
When Rucha Kulkarni, FCRH ’27, started at Fordham University last fall, she found herself feeling all the emotions about beginning university 2,500 miles away from home. Kulkarni took to the drawing board to start up a new club called Happy Hopes that caters to providing students with resources regarding mental health and wellness.
“It’s a common experience for many first-years to feel isolated and feel like you don’t have any friends,” said Kulkarni. “I struggled with mental health in high school and that carried into college, so I wanted to bring more awareness of the resources available for students at Fordham who are struggling with their mental wellbeing.”
Happy Hopes is a group that’s part of the Social Innovation Collaboratory, an organization through Fordham that represents different communities on Fordham’s campus, such
as community involvement, sustainability, political involvement and financial literacy.
Happy Hopes prioritizes making mental health resources more readily available, and encouraging students to form more clubs that focus on student mental health and wellness. They also put in effort for firstyears to make more peer-topeer connections, and fight the all-to-common feelings of isolation that first-year students experience.
“We wanted to bring awareness of the resources available on campus, such as Counseling and Psychological Services and Campus Ministry,” said Kulkarni. She said that she feels as if these groups are not well advertised to students as resources they can turn to and hopes that Happy Hopes can be a positive resource for students who need it.
Happy Hopes also holds numerous events on campus to promote mental health and
wellness. Kulkarni stresses that these events are held in public spaces that make student involvement much more casual and fluid, because they aren’t required to sign up in advance. She strives to make people feel comfortable talking about mental health and having a place to de-stress on campus.
“We noticed a lot of students were struggling with mental health on campus, whether it be because of academics or social pressure,” Kulkarni said. “New York City is very fast paced, and sometimes it feels like you can never take a break. Even on campus, there’s always so much noise and you can’t take time for yourself. Being in a big city, rather than a traditional college town, impacts student mental health.”
As a psychology major, Kulkarni researched how contamination obsessive compulsive disorder presents differently in minority
groups as part of her participation in the Fordham University Undergraduate Research Symposium. She found a lack of information regarding this illness in minority groups, and many confounding variables that stressed the importance of further research. This made her realize there is always more work to be done to ensure that students feel cared for on campus.
“I wish I had a club like this
when I started at Fordham, that could guide me to talking with CPS and Campus Ministry,” said Kulkarni. “I hope that Fordham works to make mental health resources more readily available and encourage more ways for students to make more peer-topeer connections.”
Students interested in engaging with Happy Hopes, either looking for resources or to help others, can follow them on Instagram @happyhopesfordham.
Ariana Madix for the first time as host of “Love Island USA,” bringing fans with her.
COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/ THE FORDHAM RAM
Who’s That Kid? | Rucha Kulkarni FCRH ’27
CULTURE
Editor’s Pick | Literature
Seamus Heaney’s Writings Inspire Readers
By ADITHI VIMALANATHAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Ireland, though I’ve yet to visit, has given me some of the richest tales and lyrics of my adolescence. I may have consumed “Normal People,” “Derry Girls,” “Wasteland, Baby!” and “Angela’s Ashes” for the first time in high school, but they always have a slot reserved on my rotation today.
Spring of my senior year of high school, I ordered Seamus Heaney’s “Death of a Naturalist” to write about for a paper. I’d read a random selection of Heaney’s poems for class, but in a fit of poetic purity, I decided I could not read anymore if they were out of the order that Heaney intended. When the collection arrived, I unpacked it carefully, the card-sized, salmonpink volume feeling like a thin leaf in my hands.
With the book in hand, I sunk my teeth in. On the subway, on my bed, at my desk. Lines ran across the page like clear water, and I savored every sip. For all his candor and clear imagery, Heaney wrote with such a richness in line that I couldn’t help but get stuck on. I would read a line, then again, running it in my
mind over and over like I was working a cough drop.
No longer strictly linear and narrative, words became noise, became motion, became voice within the technicolor modicum of a poem. It was something sweet and bitter, warm and cold, to be swallowed and to be swallowed whole by.
I could not, no matter how hard I’d try, spell out just how much Heaney’s work has consumed me and my writing ever since. That summer, I went out and bought every one of his works I could get my hands on.
After “Death of a Naturalist,” I made it through “North” and got started on “Electric Light.” The whole set moved in with me to college, where the spines stood across from me on my desk like a set of trees. And every time I’d read, I’d find a well-placed word for where I was at the time.
“Death of a Naturalist” was Heaney’s debut collection about his childhood in County Derry. As Heaney wrote out his own upbringing with utmost care and precision, I mused on mine, which I was all too eager to get away from. In all the tension and adrenaline of becoming an adult, Heaney told me to keep my feet planted even as
I moved away.
As I moved to “North,” I was thrust into a rich Irish history and forced to get my bearings quickly. Poring over the Troubles, I worked to unfold the thick cloak of references and sorrow laid out before me and became a better reader in the process. Aislings and peat bogs began as strangers to me but became people, alive in Heaney’s palms by the closing of North. I stood with him in colonial confusion at the foot of the Atlantic in “North” and took the Viking’s invitation alongside him with resolve.
At every moment, I cannot thank the Irish voice enough for meeting me in the nightly quiet of my bedroom, reminding me of all the things that fall between the gaps: the goodness of dirt, the value in work done by hand, the need of a set of shoulders next to your own.
Perhaps most importantly, it urged me to write more myself. In four-lined stanzas and paragraph verse, Heaney made me think twice about the squat pen in my hands. What was it doing — capped and horizontal, only opened for the occasional annotation?
His conviction for the pen’s place in his hand had me hunger for it on my own.
“Short n’ Sweet”: An Eclectic Addition To The Pop Landscape
By NICOLE DIPIETRO CONTRIBUTING WRITER
2024 has been, what feels like, a historic year for the music industry. Most of the world’s biggest pop artists have stepped up and put out amazing projects this year. To name a few releases, there was the highly anticipated “Eternal Sunshine” by Ariana Grande, “Hit Me Hard And Soft” by Billie Eilish and, of course, “The Tortured Poet’s Department” by Taylor Swift. Sabrina Carpenter has been no exception, as she delivered one of my favorite records of the year on Friday, Aug. 23, titled “Short n’ Sweet.” Spanning 12 songs and 36 minutes — including the two summer smash hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” — the record’s infectious energy, memorable melodies and relatable lyrics make for a perfect addition to any summer playlist. The album opener, “Taste,” is a punchy burst of vibrant pop energy that sets the tone for the rest of the record, encapsulating themes of love and romance through a more “situationship” perspective. The song does a great job at establishing an atmosphere of fun that persists throughout the album, accompanied by an entertaining music video featuring Jenna Ortega
that has already amassed 45 million views on YouTube. Personally, “Taste” is one of the tracks I have on repeat this week, and I have shown almost all of my friends the music video, each time trying to catch more of the little references and easter eggs Carpenter intended for her fans to find.
Listening along, I was surprised to find a few songs on the folky side, but by no means did they disappoint.
“Sharpest Tool,” “Coincidence” and “Slim Pickins” all exude a sort of country twang that I was definitely not expecting of Carpenter based on my knowledge (or lack thereof) of her previous work. However, this trio of songs, while not any of my number-one favorites on the album, was a great move by Carpenter and ended up fitting in somehow perfectly with the more upbeat tracks featured on the album.
Speaking of, some of my top songs of this year are Carpenter’s, for lack of a better term, pop bangers. “Good Graces,” “Bed Chem” and “Juno” are all so sonically infectious to listen to, and their lyrics — while slightly out of pocket — are so fun and whimsical it’s hard to hate. In fact, a lot of what makes this album so great to me is the fact that she doesn’t take it too seriously. Her passion for
making art shines through in every aspect of the project from the production, the vocals and even the marketing. However, I loved how banter-esque the lyrics are and how many golden one-liners she threw in various tracks for the sake of being goofy.
For the three songs left, “Dumb & Poetic,” “Don’t Smile” and “Lie To Girls,” Carpenter slows it down a bit and incorporates a relaxed vibe to the concoction that is “Short n’ Sweet.” My personal favorite on the album, “Lie To Girls,” is so reminiscent of many amazing female pop artists that it makes the powerful build-up even better; I find more to enjoy with every listen.
Beyond the music, the videos accompanying the singles on the record did not come to play. The “Espresso” music video charms watchers with a summer dreamscape full of sunburns, boat rides and ’80s swimsuits. It exquisitely matches the vibe of the song while effectively teasing a snippet of the next single (what we now know as “Please Please Please”) in the ending scenes. Two months later, Carpenter dropped again with the video for the next teased single, and it seemingly broke the internet — at least the side of the internet that I’m on. What was
so special about the “Please Please Please” video was it featured Carpenter’s current boyfriend, Barry Keoghan, as the male lead. In the hard launch of the century, Carpenter and Keoghan make a wonderful on and off-screen pairing that I think fueled a lot of the commotion for this album. Lastly, the video for “Taste” was a great game for film buffs wanting to be involved in mainstream pop culture. Featuring allusions to media across the board
like “Death Becomes Her” or “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” the dark comedy video fell perfectly into harmony with the vibe of the whole record. Whether it be a lyric you relate to, a tune you can’t quite get out of your head or the image of Keoghan behind bars, “Short n’ Sweet” truly shot Carpenter into a new realm of the industry this year, and I can only sit and anxiously await where it takes her next.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM
Sabrina Carpenter’s pop hits pushed her into the spotlight this summer.
COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM Heaney’s writings use his personal experience to draw readers in.
By RACHEL WANAGOSIT CONTRIBUTING WRITER
People stigmatize Zumba as being only for middle-aged and older women. While its modifiability for low-impact participants may be ideal for this age group, the enjoyable experience should not be limited. People of all ages and genders should try Zumba if they enjoy dancing at all. Its design makes it feel more party-like than a traditional workout. So if you like raves, Zumba may be for you.
Zumba originally started in Colombia where “fitness instructor Alberto Perez accidentally left his aerobics music at home. Instead of canceling the class, he used his own music collection, which included Latin tracks, to lead the class.” He created “Zumba” which has since become a global phenomenon taught in over 185 countries. There are many benefits to Zumba. It can improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, coordination and flexibility. One of my favorite aspects of Zumba is that it can be modified for any level: beginner or advanced. Humans enjoy dance because “synchronizing with beats is appealing to both the ear and brain, meaning that movement — in essence, dance — constitutes a kind of double pleasure play.”
During the summer, I started regularly going to an LA Fitness gym that offered Zumba classes. If you had spoken to me four months ago about Zumba, I would likely
CULTURE
Give Zumba A Chance
have agreed that it is silly and for an older demographic of women. Part of this perception may be because “Zumba” is simply a fun word to say. I used to dance competitively and deeply missed dancing in a social setting. Despite my previous perception of Zumba, I heard catchy Latin music blasting and just decided to walk in to take the class (for giggles and whatnot). I walked into a large room filled with around 20-30 people. Of those people, there were two men and only three people under the age of 30. I felt out of place but began to follow the steps of those around me anyway. I realized pretty soon that many of the participants of the class knew the dances — so well even, that I actually couldn’t figure out who the instructor was for about a minute or two. I had to focus because it was all
new to me.
Most people don’t realize that not only is Zumba a good workout but also culturally enlightening. Even as a former dancer, there were many moves with Latin origins and I moved in ways I never had before. Zumba utilizes moves from salsa, reggaeton, merengue and hip hop. The Zumba formula is “70% Latin music and 30% anything else.”
A smile crept on my face as I realized how much I missed dancing in a high-energy class with others. It was so fun and freeing. One of the two men was quite comfortable, which demonstrated to me that he’d been in this class for quite a while. He knew many of the other participants and would cheer everyone on. I later found out that he’d been going to Zumba for two years with the same instructor I’d met on
the first day. As I got comfortable with some of the moves, I took an in-depth look around the room. There were people of all different levels. There could be people jumping around exploding with energy off-beat. This reminded me that Zumba can be incredibly high-impact or low-impact cardio. There were people who didn’t jump at all and did step-jumping jacks. At first I may have looked at some of these people a little funny, especially the woman who was quite off-beat. I later realized people were there for different reasons: weight loss, a fun cardio supplement to their workout, a community or any combination of those things. No matter how they did the steps, the important part is that they kept coming back. I eventually started to learn the dances and was able to add the nuance and some
style that our Zumba instructor, Jessie, always did. There were layers to her dances that allowed you to choose what level you’d like to do. Zumba here wasn’t just a class, but a community. The regulars were friends with the instructors and they knew about each others’ lives. It was beautiful to see how bonded they were and how lighthearted the classes were. For one participant’s favorite dance, he regularly switches places with the instructor so he’s “leading” that dance number. Zumba reminded me that everyone there was just a human wanting to do a movement that makes them happy, leading toward a more fulfilling life. Although I had an amazing experience with Zumba, I do understand it completely depends on your instructor and the vibe of the class. I just so happened to walk into one with talented instructors and lovely people. I firmly believe that you should not knock Zumba until you try it. Especially with the rise of low-impact workouts, which have been popularized in the form of high-incline walks, yoga and swimming, Zumba can fit right in with the low-impact workouts. I often took the class after my workouts as a form of cardio. Working out can seem intimidating to a lot of people, but Zumba is an enjoyable and fun way to get started. Even if you already workout, Zumba is worth a shot.
By GRACE GALBREATH
By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR
1. ______ Parker, a glasses brand known for its collaboration with social media star Emma Chamberlain 6. “She read the story ____, so the whole class could hear” 7. Symptom of an allergic reaction (plural)
8. A powerful serve in tennis that wins the point (plural)
1. Pennsylvania’s favorite gas station/convenience store 2. First name of comedic actor that starred in 30 Rock and SNL 3. An actor's part in a play 4. No ifs, ands, or ____ (plural)
5. Abbreviation for the standard measurement that equals three feet
Instructions
Use the clues to the left to fill out the boxes above.
Cross Country Begins
By IAN NELSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Fordham Men’s Cross Country had a rather strong showing in the season opener on Saturday morning at the Stony Brook University Invitational, finishing third in a field of six teams. Their score of 66 points finished behind a dominant Stony Brook squad with 19 points and Wagner University with 63. They finished ahead of Long Island University (LIU) (113), Sacred Heart (116) and Quinnipiac University (138).
The Rams were led by senior runner Rodolfo Sanchez, who came in with a personal-best time of 19:15:80 in the 6K course, earning him second place in the event. Other top finishers included sophomores Bradford Duchesne and John Corrigan, who earned eighth and 16th place with times of 19:44:70 and 20:07:30, respectively. Graduate transfer Aidan Hickey, junior Darren Croke and sophomore Sean Reidy also managed to finish in the top 40 out of 67 runners.
On the women’s side, the Rams finished fourth out of six. Leading the group was Quinnipiac with a strong 25-point performance. They were followed by Stony Brook (43), Sacred Heart (101) and Fordham (103). The Fordham squad finished ahead of Wagner (135) and LIU (161).
Leading the women was the graduate transfer Katarina Birimac, who placed second overall in the 4K course with a time of 14:02:10. She was followed by sophomore Kate Meeks, who finished 22nd, running a 15:22:20. Also for the Rams, sophomores Brenna Sears and Cate Roche placed 32nd and 37th with times of 15:48:80 and 16:03:80, respectively. Junior Alexis Smith, with sophomore teammates Grace Kenny and Megan McCann, placed inside the top 45 in the field of 81 runners.
In terms of what is ahead for XC, the Rams will be back in action this Saturday, Sept. 7, for the Fordham Fiasco, which will be held amongst the shady pines of Van Cortlandt park in the Bronx.
Athletes of the Week
Up and Down Week for Women’s Soccer
Last Sunday, the Fordham University Rams faced the University of Albany Great Danes at Moglia Stadium in both teams’ third match of the season. Fordham entered the game having won their first two matches against Manhattan College and Drexel University, while University of Albany split their first two matches; they came into the day reeling from a 6-0 defeat against Monmouth University.
While Fordham Football’s recent 4117 loss to the Falcons of Bowling Green State University unfortunately means that the Rams are not going to upset an FBS opponent for a second year in a row, Fordham nevertheless managed to find a major positive to hang their hats on: the performance of senior running back Julius Loughridge. Loughridge proved himself to be totally unguardable throughout the course of the Rams’ matchup against the Falcons, not only tallying an astounding 112 yards on the ground off just 16 carries, but also managing to haul in four passes for a whopping 66 additional yards.
The advent of the transfer portal has been a revelation for the vast majority of collegiate athletic programs, and following graduate student Katarina Birimac’s performance this past weekend at the Stony Brook University XC Meet, it appears that Fordham Cross Country is no exception to this trend. Birimac, a new transfer from the University of Chicago, effectively set the pace for the Rams during the women’s 4k run, recording an outstanding secondplace finish on the back of her phenomenal performance of 14:02.10.
Each week, The Fordham Ram’s sports section honors two athletes for their on-field performances as their “Athletes of the Week.”
It was a tough start for the Rams, who found themselves trailing 1-0 after a long ball from the Great Danes met the head of Fordham sophomore Lena Johnsen, who could only watch as the ball floated into the top right corner of her own goal. Despite their early setback, the Rams would not stay down for long. Starting in the 36th minute, freshman Liina Tervo began a historic 6-and-a-half-minute stretch of play. Tervo’s first goal came from a cross swung in by graduate student Abby Borchers, which the Finnish forward blasted into the top left corner for her first collegiate goal. Shortly after, Tervo found herself through on goal thanks to a through-ball from senior Tristan McFarlane. Tervo remained calm in the face of the goal, slotting into the far post
for her second of the game. The freshman would once again find an assist from an upperclassman when senior Carmen Hardwick delivered a ball into the box in the 41st minute, which Tervo finished for the fastest Hat-Trick in program history. Tervo was not done there. In the 63rd minute, she found herself barreling down the right-hand sand of attack, where she made the unselfish decision to play the ball across goal to her fellow freshman, Julia Acosta, for a routine finish. For her performance in this match, Tervo was rewarded with the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week. The Great Danes would find some semblance of consolation in the 89th minute in the form of a penalty goal from sophomore Casey Stowell. The match ended 4-2, lifting the Rams to their first 3-0 start since 2010. Fordham looked to carry this momentum into a five-game road stint that began on Thursday at Wagner College.
In Staten Island, Fordham got off to a great start, controlling the possession and pushing the pace of play. They would be rewarded for their efforts when Tervo sent a shot careening off the crossbar, deflecting into the path of Borchers, who headed it home for her first goal as a Ram after her transfer from the University
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of California Berkeley. Fordham held their lead into the second half before Wagner sophomore Alana Goldsmith recovered a Fordham clearance before hammering the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards for the Seahawks’ equalizer. The Rams could have reclaimed their lead in the 79th minute when they were awarded a penalty kick. Borchers stepped up to take it but was thwarted by senior keeper Sam Hughes. The match would end 1-1, with the Rams falling just short of a picture-perfect 4-0 start to the season. The Rams would head to Connecticut, where they would face their biggest challenge of the season so far against the Stags. On Sunday, the Rams fell to Fairfield University in a 5-0 defeat for their first loss of the season. Junior forward Maddy Theriault got the Stags off to a hot start, poaching both a rebound and a cross for the two goals in the first 22 minutes of play. It was the third straight game for the Rams that saw a penalty kick as sophomore Dana Nadda gave the Stags a 3-0 lead in the first half. Freshman Kaitlyn McQueeney and sophomore Kacie Benn sealed the victory for Fairfield in the second half with a pair of goals. The Rams will continue their road trip at Stonehill College on Thursday as they look for their fourth win of the season. Kick-off is at 6 p.m.
Varsity Calendar
Julius Loughridge Senior Football
Katarina Birimac
Graduate Student
Cross Country
Volleyball
Football
By GRIFFIN STEVENSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Country
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Fordham Cross Country began their season in the Bronx.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Liina Tervo put up a historic performance against UAlbany when she registered a hat-trick in under seven minutes.
On The Importance of Defending Imane Khelif
By JONAH RING SPORTS EDITOR
Should you have watched any portion of this year’s Summer Olympics, you were sure to have heard one of NBC’s various commentators repeat a version of “It is just so great that this magical event can bring everyone together despite all our differences.” And to an extent, such a pippy comment reigned true for the vast majority of the Paris Games, the globe indeed rallying around and bonding over the most interesting storylines that emerged throughout the two-week competition. However, despite all this international camaraderie, what truly (and unfortunately) dominated much of the discourse surrounding the Paris Games was the divisive topic of Algerian boxer Imane Khelif.
For those unfamiliar with her story, Khelif became the talk of the world after her round of 16 opponent in the Women’s 66-Kilogram (Welterweight) Division, Italy’s Angela Carini, confusingly resigned only 46 seconds and a few punches into their knockoutstage bout. Additionally, to make matters only more bewildering and odd, Carini not only refused to acknowledge and/or shake Khelif’s hands after her sudden resignation, but she was also notably recorded as having crumpled up and burst into tears on the floor of the ring.
However, Carini’s after-bout comments would eventually provide clarity to the puzzling situation, as the Italian boxer boldly stated, “I preferred to stop for my health. I have never felt a punch like this” in her post-fight presser. While at first glance these two sentences seemed to be nothing more than a rather innocuous statement gesturing towards the talent of Khelif, they instead took on a new, more malicious life in the media as people began to pick up on how Carini was attempting to differentiate and isolate Khelif — an athlete whose gender identity has long been questioned by many in the boxing world — from all the other female Olympic boxers. As a result, Khelif soon found herself standing demonized and alone amidst a brewing media firestorm, as conservatives across the globe picked up Carini’s cross by framing Khelif’s victory as the paradigmatic example of why transgender individuals should not be allowed to compete or even exist.
Yet, the kicker to all of this hatred sent towards Khelif is that she is not transgender. Despite all the long-standing and rampant rumors about her having transitioned from male to female, Khelif has lived out her entire life as a cisgender woman who has never once identified as a man. In fact, Khelif would not have been allowed to compete under Algeria’s flag should she have been transgender, as the current government’s penal codes label undergoing any sort of gender transition as a rather serious criminal offense. However, despite the existence of these easily researchable facts,
the false claims around Khelif still ran wild as a glut of critics pushed their questionable narratives and thinly-veiled transphobia without remorse, many relying upon a rather questionable and unverified 2023 ruling made by the now discredited International Boxing Association (IBA) in reference to Khelif’s biological and chromosomal makeup and Khelif’s more masculine appearance in their attempts to discredit her. However, all this begs the question: So what? Does it really matter if the eventual gold medalist in the women’s welterweight division was falsely accused of being transgender? What bearing does this situation actually have on our lives?
Besides the clear sociopolitical significance of this incident — in that we apparently need significantly more media literacy training, more focus on reducing and destigmatizing non-cisgender means of identifying and a deeper understanding that sex and biology both, rather paradoxically, exist as engendered items on a spectrum — this incident may have some rather lasting harmful effects on the world of women’s sports.
Take, for example, what actually happened to Carini and what she did. During the time leading up to
Men’s Cross Country Stony Brook 4th/5 teams
her fight, she was certain to have caught wind of all the rumors surrounding Khelif, and after she was forced to sit with them for a while, regardless of however false they turned out to be, it seems that they were enough to severely rattle her and cause her to fret for her own safety. In essence, per Carini’s own words, everything “had gone up in smoke” for her, her opportunity to stand atop the sporting world being ruined by the paranoia that false narratives about trans athletes, or rather the potential and prevalence thereof, had effectively fueled.
Think about this for a minute. If Carini is willing to throw away a chance at an Olympic gold medal over these rampant lies about trans athletes jeopardizing cisgender athletes’ safety, then what’s to stop younger women from also turning away from athletics over concerns for their safety? It’s important to note that the lies around Khelif were insanely generalized when it came to their content, with figures like Jesse Watters, America’s most-watched news anchor, painting the issue of “the prevalence and existence of trans athletes” as much broader than just Khelif: “Women’s sports are being wrecked. Girls are in physical danger… Someone is
-Compiled
by Griffin Stevenson
News & Notes
Men’s and Women’s Basketball Unveils NonConference Slate
Both Fordham’s men’s and women’s basketball teams announced their 2024 non-conference schedule this past week, each team unveiling a rather daunting and formidable slate via their respective social media.
Looking first at the men’s side of things, while the Rams are set to take on a bunch of their usual suspects (the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Red Storm of St. John’s University, the Jaspers of Manhattan University, etc.), Fordham is also slated to face off against some rather unique and unfamiliar opponents, including the Pirates of Seton Hall University, the Tigers of Clemson University and the Nittany Lions of Penn State University all standing out as novel teams looming large on their schedule. In terms of the women’s upcoming slate, they are set to play what is an almost exclusively local schedule jam-packed with familiar opponents: the Peacocks of St. Peter’s University, the Panthers of Adelphi University and the Sharks of Long Island University just to name a few. However, the Rams are slated to see some interesting West Coast action, the team being scheduled to play in the “Raising The B.A.R.” Tournament in Berkeley, Calif.
going to die.” On a personal level, I certainly would shy away from competing in sports if all I heard from certain sectors of the media is that, should I compete, I will end up facing individuals who are only going to hurt me because they are genetically bigger, faster and stronger, and I have to imagine that the young women of the world (and their parents) could potentially feel the same way. Thus, consequently, these false narratives being pushed about trans athletes being allowed to compete wherever and whenever without any sort of oversight are not simply white lies told to win points in a culture war, but rather they present a serious danger to something outside the American political vacuum: the future of women’s sports on a global scale.
COURTESY OF AL JAZEERA
COURTESY OF GB NEWS
The referee lifts Imane Khelif’s arm after victory in the Olympics in Paris.
J.K. Rowling and Elon Musk are public figures named in a lawsuit by Imane Khelif.
COURTESY OF NBC
Imane Khelif celebrates her winning gold at the Olympics despite criticisms.
Fordham Football Bested By Falcons
By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS
Fordham Football had their work cut out for them, traveling to 58-year-old Doyt Perry Stadium in Ohio for a Thursday night matchup against Bowling Green State University. The Rams were unable to withstand a mighty battle above their weight class as FCS Fordham University (Division 1-AA) fell to the FBS Bowling Green State University Falcons (Division 1-A) in a lopsided 41-17 blowout, opening their season with a loss for a second straight season.
“They executed, we didn’t,” said head coach Joe Conlin postgame.
“The outcome was reflective of that.”
The BGSU Falcons definitively set the tone right from the start.
Fordham won the kickoff and elected to defer, but freshman Bennett Henderson’s first collegiate kickoff went about as poorly as a game-opening kickoff can go.
Bowling Green junior Justin Pegues took it all the way to the house for a game-opening 100-yard kick return touchdown, tying a program record for the longest return in the school’s 106-year history.
Pegues’ return, as well as some brilliant blocking by senior running back Jaison Patterson, who took out both Henderson and freshman Terrence Jones II, paving a path for the big return, was posted on Bleacher Report and featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter as Scott Van Pelt’s “Best Thing I Saw Today.”
Sophomore kicker Jackson Kleather missed the ensuing extra point, but the momentum had been set with the Falcons taking a 6-0 lead just 12 seconds in. Fordham’s first drive sadly ended with a fast three-and-out, allowing the Bowling Green offense to cap off a successful first drive with a 7-yard touchdown by their junior running back Terrion Stewart.
The Falcons led 20-0 at the close of the first quarter after a sudden 13-
By GRIFFIN STEVENSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
This past Wednesday, the Rams of Men’s Soccer headed to Sacred Heart University in order to take on the Pioneers. Fordham Men’s Soccer came into the match looking to build off a hard-fought draw on the road against the 17thranked Hofstra University. The first half began as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams fighting for a foothold. However, the Pioneers struck first in the 41st minute when freshman Eli Stein found the back of the net to put Sacred Heart on top 1-0. The Rams wasted no time getting back into this one when graduate goalkeeper Andrew Hammersley accidentally gave the ball away in a misplayed clearance capitalized on by junior Noe Messer, finding the equalizer from 30 yards out. Returning for the second half, Fordham looked poised to see the winner as they dominated the possession post-halftime. In the 77th minute, senior Jed Dixon would win back the ball for the Rams, who pushed
yard touchdown run from BGSU’s backup quarterback, freshman Lucien Anderson III and would extend their lead to a whopping 27 unanswered points early in the second with a touchdown run from their starting quarterback, senior Connor Bazelak.
With Fordham finally forcing Bowling Green to punt halfway through the second quarter, the Rams orchestrated their longest drive of the half, as senior running back Julius Loughridge’s game-long run of 42 yards set up Henderson for his first collegiate field goal as the half expired, leaving the Rams with a 27-3 deficit at halftime.
The issues were clear. Fordham was unable to stop a Bowling Green offense led by Stewart and tight end Harold Fannin Jr, who were running through most tackles with ease. Offensively, the Rams couldn’t get much of anything going, with junior quarterback and the Patriot League’s passing leader last season CJ Montes limited to just 47 passing yards through one half while getting sacked four times.
The lone bright spot had been Loughridge, whose 112 yards on the ground had been the only saving grace in an otherwise ugly first half to start the season.
Opening the second half with the football, however, Fordham showed signs of life. Montes got the passing
game going almost immediately, finding Loughridge out of the backfield for a 44-yard reception to take the Rams right into Falcon territory. He then found senior receiver Cole Thornton for a 30yard touchdown connection, cutting the lead to 17 and giving Fordham their first touchdown of the year just 90 seconds into the third.
A three-and-out defensively gave the Rams the ball right back, but this time the offense stalled. The Bowling Green offense, however, didn’t look quite as electric, and an offensive facemask penalty left them in a clear and obvious punting situation on fourth-and-25.
Unfortunately for Fordham, that’s not what happened. With sophomore Justin Johnson late to get on the field for the fourth down snap, Bowling Green’s junior punter John Henderson ran for 29 yards, picking up the first down and erasing any momentum that the Rams had been building. That would prove to be the final nail in the coffin. Stewart would close out the drive with his second score of the game and broke off a 73-yard touchdown run in the fourth to get the Falcons over the 40-point mark. Fordham would put in the subs, and sophomore Jack Capaldi made sure the Rams wouldn’t go out with a whimper, throwing
the first touchdown pass of his career on a 60-yard score to junior receiver Jack Betten to make it 41-17 in the final minute.
Bowling Green is poised to be one of the best teams in MAC, picked to finish third in the preseason poll and boasting the sixth-most seniors in college football, so the end result may not be a surprise. But beyond the clear talent disparity, Fordham struggled to do the little things right.
The Falcons ran for a whopping 305 yards, 10th-most in college football’s inaugural week. Over half of that came from Stewart, whose 161 yards and three touchdowns while averaging a phenomenal 11.5 yards per carry showed why he’s on watch lists for both the Maxwell Award and Water Camp Award, given to the best player in college football.
“He’s a good back, but we had guys at the point of attack and just failed to tackle effectively,” Conlin reflected. “We had fewer penalties than they did, but still, pre-snap penalties in key situations have been a killer.”
Fordham had the most penalties in the Patriot League last season with 86, the 15th-most in the entire FCS. Many of those had come before the whistle, prompting Conlin and many of the leaders in the locker room to harp on playing clean football during camp this fall.
The Rams didn’t do a ton to buck
Men’s Soccer Starts Strong
the ball forward to freshman Daniel Lang, who then passed it to junior Ede Gramberg; Gramberg left on the righthand side for junior Daniel D’Ippolito who zipped the ball across goal, finding Lang at the back post for mesmerizing latewinner. The late goal capped off a strong showing from head coach Carlo Acquista’s men. The Rams outshot the Pioneers by a margin of 17-10, allowing
no attempts on goal in the second half while earning four more corner kicks. Fordham carried this momentum into their home opener against the Raiders of Colgate University.
On Sunday, the Rams were welcomed back to Joe Moglia stadium for another soccer season in the Bronx. It was a thriller for the home crowd, with the Rams just narrowly defeating the Raiders 3-2.
that narrative, taking several presnap penalties on offense, including one on fourth down that forced Conlin to send out his punting unit.
“We had an opportunity three times knocking on the door in the red zone, and either sacks or penalties, we shot ourselves in the foot,” added Conlin. “That cannot happen. So it obviously falls on me. We weren’t prepared.”
Despite a difficult end result, there were some strong showings that give hope for the season as Fordham will start to play teams closer to their level.
“I thought the bright spot was Julius,” noted Conlin, referring to Loughridge’s impressive day on the ground, rushing for 112 yards and averaging seven per carry against a fierce FBS defense.
“The kid played his heart out and gave us everything he had.”
Freshman Jaylen Dawson also looked impressive, receiving Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors as he got the start at linebacker in his collegiate debut and recorded a game-high 10 tackles. With Marc Pretto transferring into the FBS after starting all 11 games at linebacker last season and finishing second on the team with 75 tackles, Dawson will look to assume a large role in this defense.
After a slow start, Montes finished his 2024 opener with 159 yards through the air and a touchdown, while also picking up 30 yards on the ground despite five sacks.
The Rams did show glimmers of their high-end potential but failed to string it together for any sustained success against a very talented Bowling Green team. They’ll look to improve their fortunes in Week 2, going on the road once again to take on the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University, a squad thatt already fell to their own respective quality MAC opponent. the mighty Chippewas of Central Michigan University. 66-10 in their own respective 2024 season opener this past Thursday.
Colgate got on the board first after the initial penalty save by graduate keeper Carter Abbott rebounded back at freshman Alex St. John, who then gave Colgate a 1-0 lead. 20 minutes later, Daniel D’Ippolito drew the Rams level with a beautiful strike from 18 yards out that the junior nestled inside the right post. After both teams went into halftime level, the Rams came out of the gates
firing. Junior Andre Insalaco gave Fordham the lead when he took advantage of a Colgate miscue, chipping it over the defense from 20 yards out. Fordham would increase their lead in the later stages of play when junior Jack Sias found graduate student Lukas Hackaa with a cross, putting Fordham up by two goals with very few minutes remaining. It wasn’t a routine ending for the Rams, as sophomore midfielder Jack Beerling got on the end of his own deflected shot, bringing the Raiders within one with five minutes left to go. Despite their best last-minute efforts, Colgate fell to the Rams in what is now Fordham’s ninth straight game unbeaten at home. With three separate goal scorers beginning their accounts for the new campaign, Fordham’s variety upfront will serve as a unique weapon as conference play approaches. Sitting unbeaten on the year so far (2-0-1), the Rams will host Santa Clara University, who will make the coast-to-coast trip out east to play at Moglia Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 5.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Fordham played admirably but ultimately felll short in their opener, losing to Bowling Green State University 41-17.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Men’s Soccer came out of the gate strong, going undefeated in their first matches against some high-quality opponents.
By JONAH RING SPORTS EDITOR
Overtime: On Sustained Disappointment
Somewhere in my grandfather’s apartment, there exists a small, dusty and gilded picture frame. The frame itself is actually rather ordinary and forgettable, both its borders and backings being totally unadorned and wholly plain. However, what makes this frame so utterly special and memorable is that, resting at the center of its dusty mass, resides what is easily my favorite photo of all time: an image of my grandfather, my twin brother and I smiling while in the stands of a Cincinnati Reds game.
I cannot quite describe just how invaluable this singular photo is to me on a sentimental level, every pixel of it bringing back memories of a joyous time that I have no reason to expect I will be able to return. I say this not only because my grandfather is sadly now much older and no longer has the ability to do anything adventurous or special with my family, but also because I fear that baseball may cease to make me smile in the near future.
While this may sound hyperbolic and overly dramatic, as a diehard Cincinnati Reds fan, I genuinely do not know when I will be able to find myself enjoying the act of watching Reds baseball again like I seem to be doing in that photo. To be blunt, the Cincinnati Reds have been an absolutely abysmal excuse for a franchise for as long as I can remember. Over the course of my lifetime, they have had only six winning seasons; they have only made the playoff four times, getting knocked out in the first round in each one; and they have wasted the talents of
arguably some of the game’s best players in recent memory:
Joey Votto, Adam Dunn, Kevin Newman and Johnny Cueto, just to name a few.
This team ethos of sustained disappointment is what makes this current season all the more infuriating, as the Reds, for once in my lifetime, actually entered the season with high hopes and equally high expectations. This abnormally positive attitude was not wholly unfounded in the slightest, as the Reds were coming off their first winning season in years (finishing 82-80 in 2023), and had a tremendous young core anchored by superstars Matt McClain and Elly de la Cruz. They effectively had the whole city’s support behind them.
Yet, as the tone of this article likely suggests, in a tragic but always to-be-expected manner, the perennially-disappointing Reds showed up for the 2024 season. In their defense, a not insignificant amount of the team’s stars went down early in the year with injuries, as shortstop Matt McClain has missed the entire season due to a shoulder injury that he suffered during spring training; sercond-year slugger Christian Encarnación-Strand saw his season cut short in late April after he was hit on the wrist with an errant pitch; and clubhouse leader T.J. Friedl has found himself on the bench an innumerable amount of times during the season as a result of a wide variety of injuries. In all honesty, it would take all day
to continue to list all the injuries the Reds have suffered this campaign, and that does not even begin to address the 80game P.E.D. suspension that was handed out to the team’s projected starting third baseman Noelvi Marte.
Moreover, those seldom few players who have been healthy for this season have not provided much more value than if Cincinnati had trotted out their obviously extensive injured list onto the diamond. I say this because almost everyone who contributed to last year’s success has seemingly and inexplicably taken a major step back, as outfielder Will Benson has seen his K-Rate soar up to a pathetic league-worst mark; closer Alexis Diaz has went from an
All-Star closer to a man that I would never let near a mound in a one-run game; splash freeagent signing Jeimer Candelario has looked outright awful and confused for most of the season; and Noelvi Marte has looked like a shell of his old self since he came back from suspension.
Put all of this together — the injuries, regression and outright failure to meet expectations in any way — and it tragically seems like all the hope of yesteryear has totally disappeared, every last droplet of optimism having evaporated into the unforgiving and cruel Cincinnati air. Sadly, this whole season just feels like it is going to be the sort of monumental stepback that a franchise inevitably struggles to come back from, as not only have the Reds seen all their hard-earned momentum ripped away from them, but the sorts of injuries and regressions they have suffered seem to me to be ones that tend to linger for a while — one doesn’t just bounce back from a broken wrist or a year in which you lead the majors in strikeouts. I guess this then all leads to the simple yet deathly important question that every Reds fan is asking themselves right now: Now what? Does the organization need to completely clean house by firing manager David Bell and trading away some of the team’s core? Does the front office gamble and keep this team intact with the hopes that they’ll bounce back sometime soon? Unfortunately, if history serves as any sort of predictor for the immediate future, whatever direction th Cincinnati Reds move will almost certainly turn out to be the completely wrong one.
Volleyball Blanked On Opening Weekend
By JOE HENRY ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Fordham narrowly missed a historic upset in last year’s Atlantic 10 Tournament when their season ended at the hands of Virginia Commonwealth University; in the preseason poll, A-10 coaches forecasted a rematch between the two Rams’ squads.
On Aug. 28, the 2024 edition of the A-10 preseason poll was released, bringing with it numerous storylines and talking points. Chief among them is Fordham’s number six ranking in the conference — after being projected seventh in 2023 and making the playoffs as the six seed, coaches seem optimistic that the Rams will, at least, repeat in making the playoffs.
And A-10 playoff appearances are no small feat; the conference feels as star-studded as ever, with nationally ranked University of Dayton getting unanimous first place votes. On their heels are Loyola University Chicago and VCU, who have rosters that would have yielded first-place votes in an average year.
Unfortunately, the Rams’ reality is that this year’s A-10 is not your ordinary A-10, and it will thus take yet another expectation-surpassing
season to find themselves in the mix come November. That said, expectations ought to be high, considering the club has made a routine of consistently outperforming them under head coach Ian Choi.
Friday, the Rams flew all the way to Colorado for a pair of seasonopening tilts in the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic; the team headed to the tournament-hosting the U.S. Air Force Academy with aspirations of replicating their eye-popping 7-0 run to open last season, one which spurred them to a 10-1 record in their first 11 matches. The team will log its fair share of air miles this season, playing 16 road games in their 27game season; in 2023, they played as visitors 18 times in 29 matches.
However, their competition proved to be rather fierce, with the Rams dropping straight sets in matches against Air Force and the University of South Dakota. In fairness, both of Fordham’s foes were formidable; South Dakota is a perennial contender in the Summit League, while Air Force plays in a loaded Mountain West conference. Despite the sweep, Fordham kept things tight in each set against Air Force. The Rams were led by their superstar veteran pairing, with graduate student Whitley Moody and junior Audrey Brown combining for 22 of the team’s 33 kills. Newcomer Sophia Kuyn proved versatile in her debut, tallying four kills and three blocks. Sophomore Whitney Woodrow starred, too, pacing the club with
13 assists and a service ace. In the end, it was a 25-21/25-20/25-18 performance from the victorious Falcons, leaving the Rams 0-1. Against South Dakota, the Rams had a more balanced attack, albeit suffering the same fate. In a 2514/25-20/25-20 losing bout, it was senior Lauryn Sweeney who led the charge, posting six kills and seven digs. Sophomore Lorenza Rozenklide impressed as well, notching a team-high .365 hitting percentage on five kills, with three block assists to boot. Brown added five kills, a solo block and two block assists in an effective all-around showing.
If these matches are any litmus test, their tale of the tape indicated clear strengths and weaknesses for this Rams team. Unsurprisingly,
having brought in three 6-foottall freshmen this season, the club continues to dominate at the net; they were a combined 13-9 in blocks in their two matches. Meanwhile, the club is without a defensive centerpiece in Mallory Lipski, who graduated last year after setting a school record in alltime digs. In their two matches, Fordham was a combined 70-105 in digs. The Rams also lack a clear service specialist, mounting only four service aces in comparison to their opponents’ 11. Conspicuously absent from the Rams’ rotation was junior Zoe Talabong, who posted 24 service aces last season, while placing third on the team in kills. Sophomore libero Lola Fernandez received limited playing time, too, after a 23-service ace season as a freshman.
Altogether, though the Rams dissappointingly kicked off their season in unceremonious fashion, there’s much to look forward to. The club will be back in New York for this weekend’s Big Apple Tournament, where they’ll seek their first wins during a three-game slate against Manhattan College, Syracuse University and Columbia University. The Rams may have opened their 2024 campaign 0-2, but they have still have a full 25 games to right the ship.
COURTESY OF X
The Cincinnati Reds have, without a doubt, been one of the most lackluster sports franchises over the past couple of decades.
COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS
Volleyball stumbled during their opening set of matches, effectively underperforming relative to their high expectations.
SPORTS Team USA Basketball Rekindles Global Debate
By JOE HENRY ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
After a thrilling goldmedal match against Victor Wembanyama and Team France, Team USA captured its eighth consecutive gold, earning the ever-coveted “world champion” moniker. But do the NBA Champion Boston Celtics have a claim to the same title?
According to fellow Olympic champion Noah Lyles, they don’t. Lyles snatched first in the 100-meter and third in the 200-meter in Paris earlier this August, but made headlines last August when he expressed frustration over NBA teams describing themselves as world champions upon winning the NBA Finals: “You know the thing that hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head. World champion of what? The United States?”
The NBA hosts 30 teams, 29 of which are based in the U.S. Though the league is not exclusive to American players, a majority of its athletes are born in the U.S. In 2023, the league boasted a record 125 foreign-born players on opening-day rosters — that’s about 28% of the league’s 450 athletes.
Even with record numbers of international players in the NBA, why is the league so dominated by Americans? The answers are fairly simple: locality, resources and exposure. As such, most of basketball’s biggest names are from the U.S, and America has seen unparalleled success during Olympic tournaments (they’ve
won gold 17 out of 21 times in the men’s basketball event). Does this asymmetry in talent make the NBA “America’s league,” though, or is the association truly the league where the best in the world compete?
While leagues in Europe, Africa and Asia contain everincreasing talent, the NBA still remains undoubtedly the world’s foremost basketball league. Look no further than this year’s Olympics for proof. As players duked it out to be crowned “world champions,” NBA talent buoyed the world’s best rosters toward medals.
The All-Olympic first team featured LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic and Dennis Schroder. The list includes two Americans — James and Durant — alongside three
global talents. What the five have in common: a spot on an NBA roster. Going deeper, the All-Olympic second team had five foreign-born players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Franz Wagner and Guerschon Yabusele. Of these five, only Yabusele doesn’t play in the NBA.
However, that’s not by choice. The former firstround selection out of France struggled to establish himself on the Boston Celtics before failing to make an NBA roster after just two years in the league. After his silver medalwinning performance in Paris, he expressed his eagerness to rejoin an NBA squad.
By this metric, one could say that even the world’s best non-NBA player wants to play in the NBA. With the NBA being this desirous to players
across the globe, it’s hard to fathom how the association’s champions don’t warrant the words “world champion” printed across their chests. Circling back to the talent within the NBA, a look at the top of its MVP award ladders show that, while international athletes make up a minority of the league’s player base, a plurality of the league’s very best have imported their talents from overseas. This past year, France’s Wembanyama was the top selection in the NBA draft. Go back just a decade and Cameroon’s Joel Embiid, Greece’s Antetokounmpo and Serbia’s Jokic have brought home MVPs. International prospects like Shai GilgeousAlexander and Luka Doncic have earned All-NBA First Team honors and rank among the league’s top scorers and playmakers.
There’s no question that the NBA derives much of its talent from outside U.S. borders, but this still leaves us to wonder: do NBA champions have the right to proclaim themselves world champions?
Let’s deconstruct the meaning of this title: The NBA is a league based in the United States and Canada — that’s two of the world’s 195 United Nationsrecognized countries. Though the league isn’t worldwide in locale, it does roster the world’s best talent, as evidenced by NBA players’ dominance during international events like this year’s Olympics.
As such, the NBA champions are champions among the best players in the world — hence, world champions. They are, by
F1: What’s Up with Williams?
the performance goals they set for him.
This has been a busy season for the Formula One world, but especially for Williams Racing. In recent news, American Formula One driver Logan Sargeant has been released from the Williams Racing team. He joined the team in 2023 and was the first American F1 driver in almost eight years.
Sargeant began racing at just 8 years old in karting and eventually made his way to Formula Four. He competed in F4 from 2016 to 2017 and moved up to F3 for the 2018 season where he raced for three years. He only competed for one year in F2, which many believe was too short of a time, before moving to F1. Throughout his past two F1 seasons, Sargeant has simply under-delivered and has not seemed to make any improvement since entering F1. He leaves Formula One, having received only one point out of all 36 races he competed in for Williams. This season, his best finish was 11th place, which was not good enough for Williams, especially after they made it clear he needed to achieve
Sargeant was dropped suddenly after he crashed out of practice at the Dutch Grand Prix in a Williams car that had just received many upgrades. The crash occurred on Aug. 4 during the third free practice, which caused him to miss qualifying at the Zandvoort racetrack. Sargeant lost control of the car after driving on wet grass while turning on a corner and spun into a metal barrier. Though he was unhurt, his car was severely damaged and even caught on fire. Williams’ boss James Vowles stated, “To replace a driver midseason is not a decision we have taken lightly, but we believe this gives Williams the best chance to compete for points over the remainder of the season. We have just brought a large upgrade to the car and need to maximize every pointsscoring opportunity in a remarkably tight midfield battle.” Though Sargeant was already going to be replaced in the 2025 season, Vowels acknowledged the “incredibly tough” situation for Sargeant after being
dropped in the middle of the season. Fans are hopeful Sargeant will still continue driving, and there are rumors he may go to IndyCar.
Argentine driver Franco Colapinto is set to replace Sargeant for the rest of the F1 2024 season on the Williams team. In 2023, Colapinto joined the Williams Racing Driver Academy which earned him a spot in the Rookie Test for F1 in Abu Dhabi at the Yas Marina circuit. He competed in F2 for MP Motorsport in 2024 and did very well. He won his first race in May at Imola and also had three podium finishes throughout the season. F1 news shared that in July, “Williams invited him to run in the Free Practice 1 at the British Grand Prix on Friday, where he managed to complete 25 laps, clocking in with a best time of 1:29.078, enough for 18th in the time sheet.”
Colapinto had a successful F1 debut at the Autodromo Nacional in Monza on Sunday, Sept. 1, finishing in 12th place, which was six places ahead of his starting position and just two away from the points. He did not do well the day before
other assessments, champions of a league with teams in just 1% of the world’s nations, and just 3.8% of the world’s surface area — hence, champions of America and Canada or, more simply, NBA champions. Whether the NBA’s diverse sources of talent and status as the world’s best league gives way for its champions to be considered champions of the world is a matter of perspective. Lyles is right that the NBA is more or less just an American league in regards to its geography, but he’d be misinformed to suggest that it is a league composed of just America’s best talent.
The NBA is where the world’s best dream of playing, and the NBA is where champions are crowned having defeated the world’s best competition. Can the NBA champions of past, present and future really call themselves the “world champions,” though? This debate sparked by Lyles’ quote shows that an NBA team’s right to the title is convoluted and that the parameters defining a “world champion” are varied and disputable. What’s the big deal, after all? It’s just words on a shirt. If calling the NBA champs, the “world champs,” is too controversial, then we can always print new shirts that say “Champions of the best league in the world with the best players, but that isn’t exactly an international league by certain geographical standards despite its plethora of international talent” or something similarly pleasing to the ear.
during qualifying after making a mistake on the last qualifying lap, which dropped him to 18th. On race day, both Colapinto and his Williams teammate Alex Albon ran a one-stop strategy of only one pit stop to change tires for the entire 53 laps of the Monza circuit. Colapinto showed his consistent driving style by setting fast and steady lap times despite not having a lot of practice driving on the hard compound tires. He even ended with his fastest lap coming 0.2 seconds quicker than Albon’s. On lap 31, Colapinto exited the last turn of the circuit behind Pierre Gasly, a driver for Alpine, and took advantage of the DRS system. He then dived to the inside of Gasly, breaking late to carry more speed into the first chicane. After the race, Colapinto jokingly stated that, “I’m old, my whole body hurts,” bringing attention to how different an F1 chassis and seat is compared to F2. “I’m very happy, it was a good race. I’m still processing everything. It’s the kind of moment you’ll remember forever, your first F1 race. The whole weekend was a great experience, I’m thankful
to the team; they helped me progress quickly and have a good pace.”
With so many changes happening this season at Williams, it is impossible not to mention that current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz will join Williams for the 2025 F1 season. According to F1 news, “Sainz has had no shortage of suitors, with Williams, Sauber/Audi and Alpine all keen to get his signature — but it was James Vowles’ Williams project that ultimately got the Spaniard’s seal of approval.” It will be interesting to see what Williams does with Albon, Sainz and also what Colapinto does next season.
Logan Sargeant is an F1 free agent.
Steph Curry, Lebron James and Kevin Durant took gold in Paris.
By MADELINE SCHNEIDER CONTRIBUTING WRITER