Volume 106 Issue 13

New Sustainable Heating System Comes to Walsh

By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

During the summer, Fordham University began installing kepSmart sensors in Walsh Hall. These sensors are distributed under Kessler-Ellis Products (KEP) as part of their “energy solutions branch.” These sensors detect when people are present in the room in order to decide how much or how little to heat it. Rather than heating every room in an entire building the same way, the sensors use AI software to detect when less energy can be used.

“What we’re doing is applying new technology to old technology to reduce the amount of energy that’s being used in the building,” said Vice President of Administration Marco Valera. “It’s a fairly high-tech solution for a very antiquated heating system.”

All Fordham buildings built before the 1970s have steam heating systems, including most residence halls. Currently, these sensors are only installed in some Walsh apartments but will eventually be implemented throughout the SEE SMART, PAGE 5

The Fordham Ram

September 11, 2024

Fordham Students React to Presidential Debate

By NORA MALONE & ADITHI VIMALANTHAN

Piling into Rodrigue’s Coffee House and the McShane Campus Center, room 112, Fordham University students gathered in droves at debate watches hosted by the university’s College Democrats and College Republicans on Sept. 10. Last night, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump faced off in a tense 90-minute exchange hosted on ABC News, after weeks of uncertainty about

Trump’s commitment to the debate. Student opinion has been varied. This election is the first for many students on Fordham’s campus.

Attendance was overwhelming. At 9:07 p.m., just seven minutes into the debate, Rodrigue’s announced that they had reached capacity. Standing on the entrance steps in pajamas, students who were turned away began to watch the debate on their phones. Across campus, in McShane 112, the Fordham College

Listeria Hysteria Hits Fordham

By JACK MCDONALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A recent outbreak of the deadly virus listeria in Boar’s Head cold-cut meats has spread throughout the country and at Fordham University.

While the official list from Boar’s Head is consistently

under revision, the vast majority of Boar’s Head’s ham, bologna, frankfurter, sausage and Old Country line products have been placed on recall, and all customers who purchased these goods prior to July 31, 2024, have been urged to dispose of them, as th ey pose a risk of carrying the harmful bacteria.

While the outbreak was initially detected in May, the majority of Americans were only made aware of the phenomenon in early July, when the company finally named “listeria” as an official cause for the recall of Boar’s Head products. The listeria outbreak has been traced to a Boar’s Head

SEE LISTERIA, PAGE 4

Republicans had run out of chairs five minutes into the debate and students were piling into the doorways to watch.

“I came here because I think it’s important to engage with a lot of the civic stuff going on in the election. The debate went the way I thought it was going to go, both candidates made the same points as usual,” said Dakota Kalkatera, FCRH ’26, who attended the College Republican watch party. “It

Fordham Food Walks Supports Community

By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Every Thursday night, while students have their midnight snack, finish up homework, hang out with friends or tuck themselves into bed, meal swipes for the week reset at midnight, with no extra thought paid.

Jack Wenz, FCRH ’26, and Andres Caballeros, FCRH ’26, thought about this. The pair estimates that over the course of an academic year, over thousands of meal swipes go unused due to students having a larger meal plan than they actually need.

Students don’t lose anything when their meal swipes expire and will have a new collection of them for the upcoming week every Friday morning. According to the New York State Department of Health, 39%

SEE FOOD, PAGE 4

By

In January, Kamille Dean Esq. was appointed to be Fordham University’s interim chief diversity officer while the university looked for the right candidate to permanently fill the role after Rafael Zapata stepped down.

July 29 marked the official start of Fordham’s new Chief Diversity Officer James A. Felton III. Felton is the first person to act as the chief diversity officer since the role was expanded to include being vice president of Equity and Inclusion.

Felton joins the university from The College of New Jersey. He is originally from South Jersey. Felton completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology before getting his master’s in educational administration. He is currently working on a dissertation for his Ph.D. in global leadership studies. Felton explained that he brings experience in diverse sectors of higher education to this role. “I have worked at different institution types including small private, public universities, community college and university state systems. My various positions have included roles both in student affairs and academic affairs. I was also an adjunct instructor for nine years and designed and taught courses in ethnic studies and multiculturalism, urban studies and leadership studies,” Felton said. He has been a senior diversity officer since 2014.

Fordham is the first Jesuit school that Felton has worked at. “I’m eager to partner with the provost, provost staff, deans and faculty in our collective efforts to close equity gaps across the university,” he said.

in this issue

Opinion

The Caf is Back: Better than Ever?

Culture

Page 7

Gen Alpha Slang: What the Sigma?

Sports

Fordham Football Suffers

Shocking Loss

COURTESY OF ADITHI VIMALANTHAN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham student political groups hosted watch parties for the presidential debate.

Student order at the sandwich counter at the Boar’s Head Deli in Queen's Court.

COURTESY OF JACK MCDONALD FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Lorillard Place Sept. 7

10:40 p.m.

On Saturday, a student reported that, while walking on Lorillard Place with two other students, a male on an electric scooter approached one of the students, picked them up off the ground and removed their necklace. The offender fled on the scooter. The NYPD responded, canvassed for the offender and prepared a report.

Loschert Hall Sept. 8

9:41 p.m.

On Sunday, there was a stuck occupied elevator in Loschert Hall. A supervisor responded and freed the students.

Arthur Avenue Sept. 8

11:15 p.m.

On Sunday, two students reported that, while walking on Arthur Avenue, two males on a scooter snatched the cell phone from one of the students’ hands and rode off. A Public Safety supervisor and the NYPD responded and canvassed for the offenders and prepared a report.

Cambreleng Avenue Sept. 9

11 a.m.

On Thursday, a student reported a male jumped the fence of their off campus residence on Cambreleng Avenue and attempted to break into the residence. The residence was equipped with an alarm, which sounded, causing the offender to flee. The NYPD responded and prepared a report.

Wednesday Sept. 11

Reflecting On The Tragedy

Peace Garden

5:30 p.m.

Join Campus Ministry and the Interfaith Prayer to be Peacemakers program to reflect on the tragedies of Sept. 11. The event will be held at the 9/11 Peace Garden at Rose Hill, outside Finlay Hall.

NEWS

Junior Conducts Summer Research on Neuroscience and Inhibitory Receptors

By TASNIMAH RAHMAN STAFF WRITER

Olivia Lanford, FCRH ’26, is a computer science major and biology minor pursuing the pre-health track who participated in Fordham’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Lanford worked with Dr. Kaoutsar Nasrallah as a research assistant focusing on neuroscience and inhibitory receptors in the brain. Nasrallah is new to the university and is just beginning his research.

These receptors are called GABA receptors which are made up of different subunits. Lanford focused on the Delta subunit. In these beginning stages, Lanford compiled preliminary research on how stress can modulate the expression of the Delta-GABA receptor.

The research’s focus was on the dentigerous region of the hippocampus, located in the temporal lobe of the brain. She looked mainly at regional differences between the front and back lobes of the brain.

Lanford focused on the delta of the hippocampal region because it is dense in the DeltaGABA subunit. Lanford and Nasrallah wanted to look at the ventral dorsal region spatially as the dorsal region is more implicated in

spatial navigation and cognitive function. According to numerous literature reviews, the ventral region is focused on stress, memory and “affect.” This makes it an interesting place to study the DeltaGABA subregion.

Working in a wet lab, there is a focus on behavior and staining protocols. Lanford’s work has surrounded the hypothesis that stress exposure in mice could cause a change in expression of the Delta subunit. Her overall goal was to see if stress has any correlation to the alteration of the Delta subunit. As the Delta subunit is important for different issues like epilepsy, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the overall goal for her research is to target new therapeutics by understanding how the Delta-GABA is modulated.

A restraint stress model was conducted to induce stress in mice. Then, they dissected the brains of the mice. This was done to perform an immunohistochemical process that takes antibodies that are specific to whichever protein is observed.

“In our case, we looked at Delta subunit protein and the antibody that binds to that,” said Lanford. Lanford compared control mice that did not have any stress to stress mice. Under the

fluorescent microscope, there is an observable difference in the fluorescent color of their brains. She has completed two cohorts; each cohort is around eight mice — four being no stress in home cages and four that were under stress induced from tubes made for mouse restraint stress. Restraint-stressed mice were in tubes for a period of 90 minutes which is considered acute stress. This core factor of her research was focused on acute stress versus chronic stress because previous literature claims that chronic stress can make the Delta subunit decrease in the dorsal region.

Having done two cohorts and wanting to do more, Lanford has some data expressing differences in ventral regions where control mice had standard levels of DeltaGABA expression. She noticed when stressing the mice out the Delta subunit increased in this expression. There has not been a lot of testing of this theory so there is little written comparing the dorsal and ventral.

Lanford said she did not observe change in the ventral dorsal region either, but this does not reject any theories as she wants to redo the chronic stress aspect of the research. However, it did show that there could be something different regarding

This Week at Fordham

Thursday Sept. 12

Thursday Night with LIVE!

Leonard Theater 8 p.m.

Campus Activities Board’s LIVE! Committee is hosting Saturday Night Live’s Heidi Gardner as the Welcome Week speaker! Catch Gardner in the Fordham Prep theater this Thursday.

Friday Sept. 13

Dance The Night Away

Edward’s Parade 9 p.m.

Join Fordham President Tania Tetlow for the annual President’s Ball this Friday. The event will be held on Edward’s Parade under a tent with food, music and dancing in celebration of Homecoming.

Saturday Sept. 14

I’m Coming Home Again

Moglia Stadium 1 p.m.

Take to the stands of Moglia Stadium this Saturday for Fordham Football’s first home game of the season. The Rams take on the Stony Brook University Sea Wolves in a 1 p.m. kickoff for Homecoming.

how acute stress, a short duration stress can affect the Delta subunit, differs from chronic stress, and the way that your brain changes, called neuroplasticity, when you learn or you go through something, such as a new memory.

Things like PTSD rewire and change different parts of the brain and create new memory engrams that show how stress and duration of stress can change the brain. She is curious to look at the hormone itself in mice and humans. In mice, that hormone is corticosterone. Her interest is in how this hormone can modulate the Delta receptors.

Lanford’s proposal of an idea for the Summer Research Program looked into around 26 sources. “As we started to get more data, and as I needed to put together the experiments, I needed more than 30 sources,” Lanford said. She expressed that she goes down rabbit holes to get information about restraint stress.

The summer program began May 28, 2024 and ended Aug. 6, 2024, when final presentations were given. Fordham’s Summer Research Program helps students pursue what they’d like to learn as an environment to get students started and give them space to conduct their research.

Sunday Sept. 15

A Rivalry For The Ages

Messmore Aquatic Center 12 p.m.

Support the Fordham Water Polo team as they take on Harvard at home this Sunday. The match will start at 1 p.m. Last week, the Rams traveled to Cambridge to defeat MIT with a score of 26-10.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Olivia Lanford, FCRH ’26, conducted research regarding neuroscience and inhibitory receptors in the brain as part of her summer research.

Fordham Appoints New Director of Muslim Life

By ADITHI VIMALANATHAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Imam Ammar Abdul Rahman has been appointed as the Fordham University director of Muslim life at Campus Ministry. Rahman comes from the Interfaith Center of New York, where he worked on initiatives such as arranging shelter for asylum seekers. He spent the last 12 years serving the Bronx Muslim community with a focus on youth engagement.

Growing up in Ghana, Rahman comes from a long family of Imams and Muslim scholars.

“I grew up in a household of Imams. I learned and studied, first under my mom, and then I studied under my grandfather,” Rahman said. “I was taught every book that my grandpa’s students would learn. I got to learn with them, as I would sit in a circle whenever they were learning.”

It was after Rahman’s move to America that he pursued formal leadership. After becoming an Imam, he began to serve the Bronx Muslim community, particularly in youth and community engagement. In addition to being the director of student life at Fordham, Rahman is also the director of engagement and youth activities at Al Haram Masjid, a Bronx mosque.

Working primarily with youth, Rahman’s works to young people’s connections to their faiths, especially in their struggles to fit in while being openly Muslim.

“I realize that there is a disconnect

between the young Muslims and Muslim identity. A lot of them either didn’t know much about praying or Islam, or they knew it, but they were too shy to be a Muslim. And it was somehow that if you’re Muslim, you cannot be American, and if you’re American, you cannot be Muslim. I made the goal myself to bridge the gap between being American and being a Muslim,” he said.

Rahman was drawn to Fordham because of its engagement in the Bronx community such as Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) programs such as the annual Back-to-School Festival. He became directly connected with Fordham through working with them on community engagement programs.

“Fordham has been engaged and involved in the communities around Fordham,” said Rahman.

“I was involved with the Gambian Youth Organization which is a local non-profit that works directly with community members to provide education and the resources — that’s how I learned about what Fordham does.”

When working with students at Fordham, Rahman seeks to encourage them in their Muslim faith throughout the challenges and setting of a university. He also believes in encouraging respectful, inter-faith dialogue and coexistence between the various

faiths here at Fordham.

“My work with the youth has always been to empower youth to be who they are holistically, while still being unapologetically Muslim. Especially in a university setting, it’s also very, very important that people who have faith to be able to express it without [being] shame oriented,” he explained.

“The other thing is just having a strong intellectual ability to coexist with people who you may disagree with in the realm of multi-faith dialogue… I’ve had the experience of working within that community for a long time. I’ve got to learn a thing or two that I think I could bring on board here at Fordham, modeling what it means to disagree with someone. That is something very key to my vision and my goal here at Fordham, so that people can be able to survive through this polarized society that we find ourselves in.”

Rahman has worked with organizations such as the Muslim Students Association to organize prayers open to the Fordham community — a Halaka (Arabic for circle) prayer on Mondays and a Jumma (Arabic for Friday) prayer. This Monday, they held their first Halaka prayer in the Campbell Tower.

Rahman is active in outreach, inviting students and faculty to

speak with him one-on-one.

“I introduce myself to them and say, ‘Hey, my name is Ammar, I’m the new Imam. I would like to talk to you.’ And I invite them to come for coffee, for tea, whenever I’m around, and they stop by and enjoy the conversation,” he explained.

“I feel like the first step for what I’m going to do is creating that strong, meaningful relationship between myself and the community that I’ll be serving. And I just want to plug in here that the work that I’m doing here is not exclu-

sively for Muslim students — all our events are open to Muslims and non-Muslims alike, so long as folks will be respectful and observe whatever rules that come with the activity we’re doing.”

Looking forward, Rahman wants to strengthen the Muslim community at Fordham further.

“The goal would be to create a very vibrant Muslim community on campus that all Muslims feel a community where they belong, regardless of their level of faith or their level of practice.”

Fordham Appoints New Director of Jewish Life

By JULIANNA MORALES FEATURES EDITOR

Fordham University has hired Rabbi Katja Vehlow, Ph.D., as the new director of Jewish life and the on-campus Rabbi. Vehlow completed her Ph.D. in medieval Jewish history at New York University (NYU) and was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Vehlow explained that she had considered the idea of being a Rabbi for a long time prior to being ordained: “Friends had often said to me over the years: ‘Don’t you want to become a Rabbi and do all these ideas you love full time?’” However, the schooling required to be ordained had been holding her back from doing so.

Vehlow explained that some unfortunate events in her personal life led to her committing to school: “After an intense six months with a lot of illness and death in my family when I was starkly reminded of the fragility of our lives, I decided to go to rabbinical school and also train as a chaplain.” Vehlow said that during this time, she was immersed in Jewish texts, ranging from the Bible to modern literature and art, and got a glimpse into how today’s Jewish people can create and express 21st-century Jewish life.

“I also became a Rabbi because I love holding space for others in times of crisis and suffering as they grapple with where they are right now and

where they might go,” Vehlow said.

Vehlow explained that when the position at Fordham opened, she had been working as a hospital chaplain in Brooklyn. “Almost immediately, lots of my friends sent me the announcement. It’s really such a dream job for me because it allows me to combine my chaplaincy, my love for Judaism [and] my love for being on campus with students, all wrapped up together. To do so at a time that is difficult for a lot of Jewish students and many others, of course,” she said.

She explained that through her application and interview process, she loved everything about the role and was thrilled to receive it: “I look forward to becoming a ‘Jewsuit’ and part of Fordham culture.”

She explained that she sees herself as simultaneously a student and a guide as she starts her new endeavor at Fordham. “I hope to bring my whole self to this position,” she said.

“I’m first and foremost a chaplain, so I’m somebody who is available for chats and conversations. [And] I hope to have all kinds of conversations: one-on-ones, but also in groups about a wide range of topics from personal stuff to what does it mean to be Jewish at a Jesuit school?

To wider spiritual or philosophical questions as well.”

Vehlow stated that she is also a teacher hoping to bring traditional Jewish learning to many people in the Fordham community. She clarified that prior knowledge or the ability to understand Hebrew is not required to learn or participate in cultural events, such as papercutting workshops and making a mezuzah.

Vehlow said that her primary goal for the year as she begins her role is to be available for the Jewish community at Fordham, especially given that many Jewish people are living with discomfort, anxiety or suffering. “Be it because of Oct. 7, the war in Gaza or the protests here or any other kinds of issues that

arise in our own selves, I’m here,” she stated.

Vehlow explained her other goals include strengthening the work that the Jewish Student Organization and the Jewish Law Students Association are doing on campus. She plans to build on that work by having regular communal Shabbat dinners, building a sukkah on the Rose Hill campus, having multifaith encounters, holding art workshops and a retreat.

“My number one goal is getting to know Fordham,” Vehlow stated. “I want to meet, if I could, everybody. I will be at the Lincoln Center campus on Mondays and Tuesdays and at Rose Hill on Wednesdays and

Thursdays and probably alternate on Fridays.”

Vehlow said she will be planning numerous programs during the Jewish High Holy Days. Vehlow stated that religious services will not be held this year, but Campus Ministry will happily arrange any services that people may be interested in. The events will be open to everyone.

“Whether you’re Jewish, Jewishadjacent or curious, please come by!” Vehlow encouraged. Students and faculty interested in further information can sign up for the Campus Ministry newsletter or contact Rabbi Vehlow at kvehlow@fordham.edu.

COURTESY OF IMAM AMMAR ABDUL RAHMAN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Imam Ammar Abdul Rahman was appointed director of Muslim life.

COURTESY OF RABBI KATYA VEHLOW RAHMAN FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Rabbi Katya Vehlow was appointed director of Jewish life.

FROM LISTERIA, PAGE 1

factory in Jarratt, Va., which now holds several noncompliance reports and violations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety & Inspection Service.

“The Jarratt, Virginia meat plant linked to the deadly outbreak had 69 recorded instances of noncompliance over the last 12 months, including mold, insects, blood puddles on the floor, discolored meat and fat buildup on the walls, floors and equipment, and a ‘rancid smell’ coming from a cooler,” said Mary Kekatos of ABC News in her recent article.

Nine Dead in Boar’ s Head Listeria Outbreak

As August came to a close, 57 total cases of listeria were reported throughout the United States, nine of which were fatal. All 57 of these cases ended in hospitalization. Most notably, New York currently holds the highest number of cases, with 17 total, which has raised concern among members of the Fordham community, particularly first-year students who have just arrived on campus.

Several members of the Fordham community voiced their opinions on the issue. Ethan Michel, GSB ’28, initially discovered inf ormation about the outbreak through

an article he stumbled upon. Considering how sought-after Boar’s Head products are in most Americans’ homes, Michel was surprised such noteworthy violations of health and safety code would be underway at the Virginia factory.

“I was shocked to find out that Boar’s Head factory had such terrible conditions,” said Michel when asked about his opinion on the outbreak. He has yet to return to Rose Hill’s The Grotto previously known as “Boar’s Head Deli,” which was known for selling a plethora of Boar’s Head’s most popular products since the day he found out about the rampant

listeria among these meats.

While Michel expressed some heavy concern with the issue, other members of the Fordham community who were not necessarily regulars of these products were less worried about possible negative side effects.

Aarav Trehan, GSB ’28, also described how he felt about the outbreak from the perspective of someone who does not eat cold cuts: “Personally, I feel safe eating from Boars Head because I don’t get cold cuts… For a person who does, I’d just avoid it for a while. Any Boar’s Head meat from July was tainted.”

As of this past week, the

Students Donate Food With Extra Meal Swipes

FOOD, PAGE 1

of Bronx adults experience food insecurity, the highest in all five boroughs.

“Walking around the Bronx — specifically the Arthur Avenue area — as a [first-year] during orientation and passing residents who are either on the street homeless or in public housing and unable to feed themselves, something about just passing these people by felt so ignorant and wrong,” said Wenz. “We are guests in this neighborhood. A lot needs to be done about the philosophy of charity in this country. NYC is a microcosm of the very wealthy and of people passed over. It’s beyond devastating.”

Wenz started off by collecting non-perishable items to donate to Part of the Solution (POTS), purchased from Provisions on Demand (POD) in the Queen’s Court Deli with dining dollars donated by students at the end of the academic year. POTS is a community center located just a few blocks away from Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus and helps people in need by providing a place to shower, receive mail,

visit a doctor, obtain legal services, get a haircut and eat a meal.

While Wenz was working on his personal project of donating nonperishables, Caballeros started donating meals purchased with students’ leftover meal swipes. Through an introduction, Wenz and Caballeros found out that the pair had the same goal in mind: to help feed others in need. Thus, Fordham Food Walks was created in the fall of 2023.

Fordham Food Walks is an initiative where a group of students purchase sandwiches with their leftover meal swipes every Thursday night to be donated to POTS. Wenz and Caballeros pick up the sandwiches from POD every night with a team, store them in fridges overnight, and then walk them over to POTS the following day. Since starting, they’ve donated over 5,200 meals.

“Part of community service is to do your part for the community, and this specifically felt wrong to not do something about. We are donating leftover meal swipes — if we didn't do something about them, they would just go to waste,” said Caballeros. “We should always try

to contribute, not just excess, but once you think about it, you have to go through with it. Seeing the amount of poverty and food insecurity around you, you have to do something about it.”

To the pair’s knowledge, a program like this was never active at Fordham in its history. “It’s surprising that this has never been done here [to our knowledge] because it’s just so simple and easy,” said Wenz. “We’re still able to go to classes and do other things.” Caballeros added, “There hasn’t been one week [during the school year] where we haven’t taken a week off.”

When dorm rooms empty out for the year in May, however, the people in need of meals at POTS are still here. “When we [Fordham] went on breaks, especially summer break, POTS felt it,” said Wenz. “People we work with at POTS have expressed how much more dire the situation is getting. That wasn’t the case last fall, but now when you go to POTS, there’s a line around the block.”

Wenz and Caballeros expressed much appreciation for the workers at Boar’s Head,

and shared that they have been “extraordinarily supportive” of Fordham Food Walks. “This is in line with Fordham’s own values that they endorse and live up to,” said Wenz. “To be in an environment of such affluence while there are people that can’t get by is so

Boar’s Head Deli in Queen’s Court has suspended the majority of its menu on GrubHub and is offering similar sandwiches to Cosi. Additionally, Super Best Deli, a local establishment, has put up signs that warn customers of the potential threat. The signs appear to be directly from Boar’s Head; no signs have been spotted on Fordham’s campus. The University hasn’t released a statement regarding the outbreak.

Fordham’s food safety specialist, Toyin Akinfeleye, and food service director, Quamine Graham both declined to comment on the issue.

disheartening, especially with how much waste there is.”

The duo has set a goal of donating 5,000 meals a semester before they graduate in spring 2026. “There’s a philosophy there of inspiring people to look around their community and see what you can do,” said Caballeros.

College Democrats and College Republicans Host Watch Parties

FROM DEBATE, PAGE 1

didn’t really change the way that I was feeling about the whole thing. I think that Trump kinda stayed on message until he got to the immigration section and then from there the vice president seemed to stay pretty collected.”

Many students said they decided to go to the watch parties for a sense of community, resonating with the new experience of watching the event in a group of people their own age.

“It almost feels like a gimmick of sorts right — and it’s not. I know that people here take it seriously, but I feel it’s so interesting because I’m used to watching debates on my own or, growing up, in my family living room,”

said Lily Crean, FCRH ’27, who attended the College Democrats watch party. “It’s a lot more nuanced of an experience, having so many people here and so many people my own age. And it’s definitely refreshing, also.”

Students cheered and clapped for candidates they liked, and booed and laughed at those they disliked. Reactions erupted at key points in the debates — during a

question on healthcare towards the end of the debate, simultaneous boos and cheers erupted at the Republicans and Democrats respectively.

“I’m a registered Republican, but I lean towards Independent,” said Jackie N., GSB ’26, who attended the College Republicans watch party and asked to keep her last name anonymous. She was displeased with the lack of policy discussion in the debate.

College Democrat’s watch party attendees, who largely identified as Democrats or Independents, highlighted the importance of hosting the event in Rod’s.

When asked about why he chose the College Democrats event over the College Republicans, Johnny Sullivan, FCRH ’27, who identifies as an Independent, said, “The Democrats have been open on many conflicts, open to discussion, open to debate. They’re just a lot more accepting of different views on different sides.”

“Organizing this event was honestly a dream,” said Dan Sponseller, FCRH ’25, president of the Fordham College Democrats. “I

chose Rod’s because this is a center for people to feel like they are accepted. It is a huge center for the queer community especially, and I knew that this would be a great place to watch the debate because the message that Rod’s puts out is very similar to the message that Kamala puts out: fighting for an America where everyone can feel comfortable to be themselves.”

When asked about the issues that mattered most to them, students noted that they were paying attention to conversations on abortion, policy, climate change and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“Abortion is a really big issue that I’m super passionate about,” said Ella Bogdahn, FCRH ’25, a member of the College Democrats. “It just makes me sad to see Donald Trump talking about the abortion post bringing a child to term. It was nice to see a woman weighing in on those issues on the debate stage because historically we haven’t really seen that.”

Students focused on how each candidate responded to questions and reacted to disagreement.

“I think that Kamala Harris is

spewing an emotional conversation to reach out to people that are in difficult situations in their life and she is using emotional tactics to persuade them. Trump is basing his arguments on facts, such as the southern border, such as the fact that the war in Ukraine and Israel would have never started and the facts that he is pro-life and doesn’t want any wars,” said Stefan Stojanovic, FCRH ’26, who attended the College Republicans watch party.

“I think candidate Harris seems to me a lot more coherent with what she’s saying and what she wants to do with the country. Part of her thing is that we’re not going back, whereas Donald Trump kind of seems caught up on things that have already happened — like the invasion of Ukraine. He’s really hung up on [things] like ‘if I was president it wouldn’t have happened’ — and I don’t feel like those kinds of conversations are helpful,” said Elise Elder, FCRH ’27, a registered Democrat who attended the College Democrats watch party.

Not all students considered themselves Trump or Harris supporters.

“Donald Trump made me laugh a lot, he’s a really funny guy. I think it was cool to see Kamala Harris talk because she doesn’t talk to the media or anything, she only talks in her rallies and she can just say whatever she wants there,” said Harris Mihalatos, GSB ’28, who attended the College Republicans watch party.

“Me specifically, I’m a big RFK guy, so since he endorsed Trump, I’m just full team Trump, so I think I'm sticking with that.”

Some students used the watch parties as a way to get caught up on politics.

“I don’t have a TV,” said Ben Bo, FCRH ’27, who attended the College Republicans watch party, “I haven’t really kept up with it. I felt this was the time to hear both sides out.”

Students from both sides felt that their candidates could have done better.

Charlie, who asked to only be identified by his first name, GSB ’26, who attended the College Republicans watch party, said, “There were no policies, it was just arguments, and that’s not good for the country. We don’t want arguments, we want things getting done.”

Scan this QR code to join the Fordham Food Walks GroupMe.

FROM

First Vice President of Equity and Inclusion

FROM DEI, PAGE 1

Felton added that he believes that this collaboration is vital in increasing diversity and is what he is most excited about in his new role.

“My approach will focus on addressing the three P’s: people, policies and practices. By engaging with various stakeholders, I aim to foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and supported. I’m particularly enthusiastic about working with the outstanding team s in our

FROM SMART, PAGE 1

rest of the building and other residence halls.

With these sensors, students will be able to control the heat of their room while they are present, but when they leave, the AI software will read just the temperature to the most energy-efficient level.

“The software continually learns everything that affects a zone, eventually predicting how long it will take to raise the temperature one degree and how long it will take to lose a degree. With this knowledge, the system optimizes itself in real time to be as energy efficient as possible,” said Emil De Prete, chief operating officer of KEP.

The sensors will be placed i n every room with a heating coil and will report back to a central computer. Rather than heating one building to one temperature, these sensors will adjust each individual room.

“ We estimate that we can save about 30-40% of the amount of energy and thus CO2 emitted by our central plant for heating once these roll in,” said Valera.

The system uses occupancy

By EMMA LEONARDI & ANDREW MASSIE

On Thursday, Sept. 5, the Fordham University Rose Hill United Student Government (USG) met to discuss plans for the new school year and conduct special elections.

Executive Vice President Eron Maltzman, GSB ’25, began the meeting by conducting special elections for open senate positions: two seats for the Gabelli School of Business (GSB) Class of 2025, one seat for Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) Class of 2025, one swing seat for the Class of 2025, two seats for FCRH Class of 2026, one seat for GSB Class of 2026 and one seat for vice president of Facilities and Dining.

Jude Ortega, FCRH ’25, and Sara Plomondon, FCRH ’25, both presented their campaigns for the FCRH Class of ’25 special elections.

opportunity programs such as C-STEP, STEP, HEOP and Talent Search, to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the resources they need to thrive,” said Felton.

As the first vice president for Equity and Inclusion, Felton’s goal is to integrate the work and principles of diversity, equity and inclusion into the fo undation of Fordham’s Jesuit mission. He explains that this goes beyo nd fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for our community, saying that we must

also align diversity, equity and inclusion efforts into Jesuit ideals of social justice, compassion and education for all.

“To achieve this, I plan to establish a robust infrastructure of policies and practices that confront and address systemic and historical barriers to equity. This includes launching a faculty diversification initiative, promoting intergroup dialogues and establishing employee affinity groups that support various identities and experiences. Additionally , we

will offer cultural competency professional development to equip our community with the skill s needed to navigate and embrace diversity,” said Felton. He commented that these planned steps are only the beginning of the work he will do to make the Fordham community as welcoming and inclusive as possible.

Felton stated that he feels honored to step into his role at Fordham. He is excited to advance diversity, equity and inclusion efforts while working in New York City, which he

kepSmart Sensors Debut at Fordham

sensors to evaluate when to heat the room. Emmarose Biason, FCRH ’26, lives in one of the rooms with the sensors installed, “I’ve heard that their main purpose is to reduce energy waste in dorm rooms and apartments, but I’m not super sure how they do that. My automatic assumption would be that they’re there to turn things off if there aren’t any occupants in the room, but I’ve never noticed my electronics or lights turning off when I’m not around or any evidence that they had been turned off, so I’m not sure exactly what the sensor is accomplishing,” she said. “I appreciate Fordham’s attempt to minimize energy waste, but I wish there had been more informed consent about the whole thing [like] an email letting us know that these would be put in or the option to not have them put in.”

According to Valera, facilities management worked alongside IT to ensure the safety of student data. “They’re completely compliant with all the safeguards around privacy,” he said. “There is no personal data involved, [students presence is] really just a blip ,

no other information is gathered.”

The complete installation throughout all buildings will cost around $700,000, with a return on investment of a year to a year and a half. The ones currently installed in Walsh should be operational by October, with the remainder of the sensors installed next summer. The installation process divides each building into zones, and each apartment can have multiple zones.

“A zone starts with a wireless temperature/humidity sensor. Next, we add motorized valve control on the heat/cooling source. This is powered and wirelessly controlled by our Sensor Control Unit (SCU). Finally, the zone is completed with a motion sensor that creates a history of occupancy to eliminate unnecessary heating or cooling,” said De Prete. “All of these sensors communicate with our Sensor Monitoring Unit (SMU), which is usually mounted in the hallway. Once the data is gathered at the SMU, the information is sent to the cloud, where all decisions are made.”

The Sustainability Committee

of the United Student Government (USG) was unaware of the sensors. President of the USG sustainability committee, Regina Miller, FCRH ’26, is pleased that the administration is working towards sustainable solutions of their own volition.

“It’s just another piece of

believes offers a dynamic and diverse environment that will further enhance the university’s efforts.

“Coming from a family of activists where issues of social justice are in my DNA, diversity, equity and inclusion have become my life’s work. This work deeply resonates with the Jesuit principles of cura personalis — care and personal development for the whole person — ensuring that every individual in our community is valued and supported,” Felton said.

technology that we’re applying to meet our goals and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” said Valera. “We’re shooting for a 40% reduction by 2030. Right now, we’re close to a 30% reduction. We’re out there trying to use every tool available.”

USG Hosts Special Elections

Ortega stated that he has seen more students joining identity-based organizations such as Fordham’s Philippine American Club, not just for cultural reasons, but because they feel a lack of community elsewhere on campus. He plans to work on inclusivity initiatives. Plomondon explained that she learned how to effectively communicate with the Fordham administration during her four years of experience on the Campus Activities Board (CAB) executive board. She emphasized concerns about the lack of communication and transparency between the administration and students. Both were elected as FCRH 2025 senators. Kabir Patel, GSB ’26, presented his campaign for the GSB Class of ’26 special election. He emphasized the importance of establishing a connection between Fordham students and the Bronx and was elected as a

GSB 2026 senator. The other seats remain open.

Maltzman gave an update on Senate elections for the Class of 2028. Across three informational sessions, 17 candidates have attended. A mandatory meeting was held on Friday, Sept. 6, and Meet the Candidates night will be on Friday, Sept. 13, from 7-8 p.m. in the McShane Student Center, room 112.

Dean Catharine McGlade, the USG advisor from the Office for Student Involvement, mentioned progress on the upcoming Big 4 (CAB, USG, Commuting Students Association, Residence Halls Association) combined event. McGlade added that firstyear formation enrollment is still open, a symposium designed to assist new students with the transition into life at Fordham. The firstyear CORE programming is ongoing but has a reduced

schedule. Additionally, the Office of Student Involvement will view new club constitutions more frequently to facilitate a faster review process.

Following McGlade’s overview, there was an open floor portion to discuss three distinct issues brought up to USG. The first issue regards the limited time period to add or drop classes before schedules become permanent, to which there was interest in a potential extension. Specifically discussed was the lack of meetings for Monday and Wednesday classes, as well as labs. However, a counterpoint brought up by Ortega suggested extending the period would be detrimental to STEM majors as those classes move at a quicker pace. A conclusion hasn’t been reached.

The second issue involves Ram Van ticket payment.

Senator Ava Cascella, FCRH ’26, argued that the Ram Van ticketing website should have the option to save students’ payment methods for future

use, as entering in payment information every time a student buys a ticket can be a hassle. Senator Carter Soderberg, GSB ’27, suggested that Fordham could find a way to allow for the use of dining dollars to pay for Ram Van tickets. There was a consensus that this issue needs further discussion.

The third issue regards the process of studying abroad. VP of FCRH Emma Blake, FCRH ’25, shared her experience and opinion on making Study Abroad communication more open. She discussed a subcommittee forming under the Dean’s Council, but also confusion among USG regarding a separate committee recently formed under Study Abroad. She clarified that they were different groups and specifically outlined what the USG sub-committee would be for aiding students in understanding how to study abroad, specifically finding classes to take abroad that still aid their requirements. USG will explore a sub-committee to further tackle this issue.

COURTESY OF ROSELIN JOSE-RUIZ FOR THE FORDHAM RAM The sensors control the heating in each indivual room.

R

Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918

The Fordham Ram is the university journal of record. The mission of The Fordham Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Fordham Ram is published every Wednesday during the academic year to all campuses.

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Alexis Hurchalla

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The Fordham Ram’s editorial reflects the editorial board’s opinions or views.

Opinion Policy

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of The Fordham Ram.

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The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject or edit any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram. No part of The Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

OPINION Understanding Social Media

Being involved with The Fordham Ram has been one of the most valuable experiences of my college career. It has shaped how I view the world around me, the role I want to play in that world and the value of a strong community. In a time where so much of our social interactions are condensed into brief posts, tweets or videos, my time at the newspaper has shown me the deeper values of real discourse and engagement.

I’m constantly interacting with the fast-paced world of digital communication. Programs like TikTok, Instagram and X dominate the landscape, demanding a heap of short, attention-grabbing content. While these platforms are essential tools in the modern age, I’ve found that they just barely scratch the surface of true, direct communication and an authentic process ofcommunity-building.

As my time at the Ram has progressed, I’ve come to better appreciate the depth of traditional journalism and how it creates a lasting impact. Instead of quick soundbites, I’m engaged in sharing stories that give people context, insight and a reason to

From the Desk | Alexis Hurchalla

connect beyond the screen. This experience has led me to reflect on the way social media often feels like a “performance” of communication, while journalism — particularly at a college paper — gives me the opportunity to foster authentic connections and shared understanding.

The shift in my perspective can be captured in the following reflection: TikTok. SnapChat. Instagram. Twitter. Four nails in the coffin of conversation. Truncated sentences and videos of the most absurd scenarios imaginable have supplanted discourse… Success, to me, is finding my passion and devoting each day to not only becoming better at it, but better because of it. While I still post on Instagram and TikTok, those interactions pale in comparison… There is no way I could ever condense them into 280 characters or cartoonlike emojis — nor would I ever want to.

While my role involves daily interaction with social media, I’ve realized that the most meaningful moments of my college experience have come from the in-depth conversations sparked by the stories we share in The Fordham

Ram. It’s not just about getting the most likes or retweets, but about contributing something of substance to the campus community. The articles we publish, the updates we share — they create real dialogue, inspire action and bring people together rather than fleeting digital trends.

The balance I’ve found between social media and more traditional forms of communication has been key to my growth. Yes, I still use Instagram and TikTok to engage with the world around me, but The Fordham Ram has shown me the value of slowing down, diving in deeper and making sure that the type

Editorial | Artificial Intelligence

of content we produce isn’t just consumed — it’s understood and meaningful. As I continue my college journey, I’m more committed than ever to seeking out these meaningful interactions and ensuring that my role in sharing news goes beyond the surface.

In short, my experience at The Fordham Ram has shaped not only my understanding of media but also my personal values around communication, active engagement and community. It has taught me the importance of depth over brevity, substance over flash and genuine dialogue over fleeting interaction.

How To Control Your AI Use

If you haven’t heard of artificial intelligence (AI), you probably live under a rock. In all seriousness, it is impossible to escape the reach of AI today. AI is now embedded in our social media, pops up in our internet searches and is used to develop images. By now, it is clear that AI is not just a gimmick but a technology that will change our relationship with work. AI has presented challenges in college settings; since AI arrived on campuses nationwide, students have used it in various ways. Some use it to brainstorm ideas for assignments, while others will submit a ChatGPT essay as their own work. Since this technology is young, now is an important time to ask how we should use it. The Ram believes AI should be a tool that allows us to produce instead of being a shortcut in which we uncritically consume what it tells us.

In a 2023 New York Times article, 35 people were asked how AI changed their lives. Ryan McClelland, a NASA Research engineer, used it at work to design mission hardware because it was able to come up with many ideas in a short amount of time. Matt Strain, who is a technology and innovation

consultant, used the DALL-E AI to create images of cocktails for a book he was writing. Matt Webb, a consultant and blogger, used it to build a clock to write a new poem for every minute. These stories scratch the surface of what AI can do when the user sees it as a tool to produce things for work or pleasure. Using the tool in this way allows them to be uniquely creative and promotes critical thinking. If AI is taught this way, it will become an important skill.

However, AI has another side that frustrates and scares many people. There is concern that it will replace jobs in multiple industries. The creative sector, in particular, has been extremely vocal with its AI angst. During last year, members of the Writers Guild of America went on strike over various issues, including the use of generative AI in the Hollywood screenwriting business, which led to a deal regulating the use of the technology. AI also has the potential to change the news industry which has already undergone a turbulent era. But it is not just writers who are nervous. Academics are nervous too. Assistant Professor Alireza Shojaei from Virginia

Tech’s Myers-Lawson School of Construction has stated his concern that AI could “oversee” construction sites, limiting the need for the traditional human workforce in this industry. There is also a worry that new developments in AI will negatively impact how we consume information. Assistant Professor Eugenia Rho, who teaches computer science at Virginia Tech, is worried that people will read the information on Large Language Models and believe it without critically thinking.

This is an issue because AI summaries can be wrong. Earlier this year, Google’s AI was in the news for falsely stating that former President Barack Obama was America’s first Muslim president. Google fixed the issue, but the example highlights the dangers of uncritically consuming AI. As students, it is important to understand the uncomfortable aspects of AI because its adverse effects may impact the future jobs we gain and the information we consume.

Highlighting AI’s positive and negative potential demonstrates two fundamental ways users can apply AI. One use is to produce content, and the

other is to consume it. How we use AI in the classroom today could impact our relationship with it throughout our lives. That is why the Fordham AI Vision Committee has wisely proposed guidelines for using AI in academic settings. The document emphasizes “critical AI literacy,” which they define as “providing technical support and guidance to students, faculty, and staff on the effective utilization of AI.” They also want to inform all groups on campus about the shortcomings of AI on issues like racial bias and democratic systems. These steps will help nurture good habits for students when using AI, which they will hopefully utilize in the present and future.

AI is a tool, but it remains new, and its purpose is still up for debate. Like most tools, it can be used with good or bad intentions. If we approach AI as a way to help reduce, not replace, the work we do, then it can and will be helpful. However, if we uncritically consume everything it tells us and try to pass it off as our own work, then we will all be worse off for it. At the end of the day, the decision is up to you and to each one of us.

By ANDREW MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Although I don’t like it, I tend to perceive myself as being “chronically online.” However, at a recent family gathering this summer, I found myself completely taken aback by conversations with my family members who work with elementary school students. As they chatted about what “skibidi” moments were and how students claimed to “mog” their classmates, I realized I was lost in a sea of not just unfamiliar terms but all of the bizarre uses for them. This cancerous linguistic whirlwind is the hallmark of Generation Alpha — those born between 2010 and 2025. As the first generation to grow up fully immersed in the digital age dominated by short-form video content (TikTok, Instagram Reels, Youtube Shorts), Gen Alpha is developing a unique vernacular at an unprecedented pace. Their slang, deeply rooted in an even shorter, faster internet culture than their Gen Z predecessors, is evolving faster than ever before, creating a growing communication gap between generations. As Gen Alpha enters adolescence, we face a crucial question: How can we bridge this linguistic divide to ensure meaningful intergenerational communication? And what did my roommate mean by “What the Goon?”

Gen Alpha’s slang is a product of their hyper-connected digital world. Terms like “skibidi,” which originated from a surreal YouTube series about sentient toilets with each average episode easily passing the 20, 30 and often 40 million view count

OPINION

Gen Alpha Brainrot, What the Sigma?

threshold on YouTube alone, have even spawned talks of a Michael Bay film adaptation in the future. It’s often strangely common how quickly nonsensical phrases can become everyday speech. “Sigma,” once known only as a Greek letter, then an online incel term for “lone wolves outside the social hierarchy,” is now used by Gen Alpha to mean practically anything vaguely cool or dominant. “Rizz,” short for charisma, has even entered the MerriamWebster dictionary, which has recently highlighted how internet slang has been seeping into mainstream language through sheer brute force.

The rapid turnover of these terms is striking. What’s trendy today might be “cringe” or “Ohio” tomorrow. This language trend, often dubbed “brainrot” by Gen Alpha themselves, reflects the fleeting, and compounding nature of hyperreactive internet culture. Words like “gyatt,” “Fanum tax” and “mewing,” emerge from extremely varied and specific online contexts, spreading rapidly through platforms like TikTok and Twitch. For example, the word “mewing” is from a controversial British orthodontist’s practice.

Some terms repurpose existing words with new meanings.

“Ohio,” for instance, has become synonymous with weird or cringey situations, stemming from a common “Only in Ohio” meme, which, as a filler word, is pretty creative in adapting language to fit their unique digital experiences.

A recent 2021 linguistics study done by researchers

Frasasti Wahyu Nuraeni and John Pahamzah, published in journal LITERA, sheds light on a similar phenomenon. Their paper, “An Analysis of Slang Language Used in Teenager Interaction,” examines the types and reasons for slang usage among teenagers. Though Gen Alpha is younger than the subjects of this study, the research highlights key issues when discussing our English-speaking “brainrotted” youth: “The speed at which these terms spread and evolve poses a challenge for older generations. Parents and educators often find themselves scrambling to decipher the latest lingo, with new terms appearing faster than they can be understood or documented.”

This language divide can lead to misunderstandings between generations. For instance, it’s pretty reasonable that a parent might be devastatingly confused when their child describes something as “skibidi Ohio” or having “mad rizz,” language completely divorced from language shared between parent and child, which is commonly called “motherese” or “parentese” when discussing child-directed speech. The generation gap in language use can also create barriers in educational settings, where teachers may struggle to fully engage with students using unfamiliar slang. Some schools are recognizing this issue and taking steps to bridge the gap. An example is The Wildcat Tribune at the Dougherty Valley High School which has created a pretty fun list and translations of slang terms for parents of Gen Alpha

students. The implications of these linguistic developments extend beyond mere vocabulary differences. It signifies a shift in how younger generations process and share information, often through rapid, meme-like communication, using these words as filler words and often only tangentially for expressed or unexpressed definitions.

However, it’s important to contextualize how and where this kind of language is “viewed externally.” As Brycen Hazelip, a camp counselor working with Gen Alpha, pointed out for The UTC Echo, “He speculated that these types of terms are typical boundary-pushing in adolescence, and the kids saying them are just trying to spark a reaction.” This perspective suggests that while the specific terms may be new, the underlying behavior of gaslighting linguistic rebellion is pretty timeless. This linguistic evolution raises questions about the future of language standardization and the potential fragmentation of communication across generational lines. The English language has often prioritized adaptability and continuous learning, but it’s hard to say how much will be stretched in an era of rapid linguistic change.

To bridge some “generational language gaps,” open dialogue and mutual learning are crucial. Older generations, if not now, will be forced to engage with language on digital platforms to understand new slang, while younger generations can practice code-switching for clearer communication. Also, educational institutions might consider incorporating discussions about evolving language into curricula, as linguists do more upcoming work on these new trends.

At the end of it, Gen Alpha’s unique slang reflects the rapid cultural changes of our digital age and their hyper-digital one. While it poses challenges for intergenerational communication, it also presents opportunities for connection and understanding. By embracing linguistic diversity and fostering open communication, we can turn this potential barrier into a bridge between generations, as the youngest speakers are the future of the English language it will have to be done, whether we all like it or not, but

AndrewMcDonald,FCRH’26,isa history and political science double major from Sacramento, Calif.

Why the 2024 Rookie Class Does Not Deserve All the Credit

By KURT SIPPEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It’s no secret that for a long time, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese have been highly popular athletes in the current Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The rise of Clark and Reese dates back to their days playing against one other in Amateur Athletic Union basketball.

It all came to pass in 2023 when the University of Iowa Hawkeyes played against Louisiana State University Tigers. LSU took the first meeting during the National Championship game 102-85. In their next meeting during the 2024 Elite Eight, the Hawkeyes took the second meeting score of 94-87.

The press was all over these games and many fans in the United States tuned in to watch the two rising stars.

When the draft came about for the WNBA, the hype was high. New eyes were all over these two to come in and make their mark on the game.

Soon after drafting Clark and Reese, the WNBA saw a significantly high spike in viewership – more than a whooping

2.45 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2024 WNBA draft

While I agree that Clark and Reese put new eyes on the WNBA, I do not believe the rise in viewership is only accredited to them. After all, basketball is a team effort.

New WNBA fans came to watch Clark and the other rookies in the 2024 draft class. They stayed to watch the very talented and competitive basketball being played everyday.

The records show that 400,000 fans attended games in the first month of the season, highest first-month attendance the WNBA has seen in 26 years. Fans are showing up and showing out to watch their favorite teams in their local cities.

Clark and Reese were the introduction the WNBA has been waiting for. Fans realized the competitiveness and hype surrounding the WNBA because of the talent on the court.

I have been a fan of the New York Liberty for many years now. In the past two years, attendance at the games was low, and seats were not filling up. However, Liberty went from eighth in the league in atten-

dance in 2022 to the second most watched team in 2024, with an average of 12,000 fans per game.

I believe that this isn’t just a flash in the pan either. The WNBA success is growing and only going to get bigger. Due to the growth in popularity, the WNBA is expanding to two more cities in the coming years. San Francisco will be welcoming the Golden State Valkyries, and Toronto, Canada, will be getting a new franchise, unnamed at this time. In addition, Portland, Ore., will be welcoming its first franchise back in over 20 years.

The growth of the league has allowed for a new landmark media rights deal spanning 11 years could be valued at almost $200 million a year with no official metric out at this time. It would be distributing more than 125 games around the league on different media platforms that will now stream live WNBA games throughout the season. with companies such as Disney, NBC and Amazon Prime Video. A record deal was struck which will allow even more eyes to watch the game. New deals

means more money that will spread out to the league’s best players. This allows these players to make more money and not have to go overseas. So, what does all of this mean? A rise in viewership, attendance and new franchises.

The game is growing and talent is finally being recognized in the WNBA. It all easily traces back to Clark and Reese and other rookies in the league. They brought eyes on a league

deserving attention for years to come.

But all the credit cannot be given to just them. All WNBA players have put in a lot of work throughout the years to grow the game. Now, it is time for us to do our part and support the teams that we love in every way possible by cheering them on.

Kurt Sippel, FCRH ’27, is a journalism major from Brooklyn, N.Y.

The rising success of the WNBA is not just due to the rookies.

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL /THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL /THE FORDHAM RAM Gen Alpha introduces a unique new popular slang.

OPINION

California Grapples with AI in New Bill: Government Finally Protects the Masses

By MICHAEL DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

California Governor Gavin Newsom has the opportunity to put his name on the map for an incredibly important issue, and he set a precedent on artificial intelligence (AI) regulation that the entire nation has been sitting on the sidelines waiting for.

California Assembly Bill 2602 (AB 2602) is currently sitting on Gov. Newsom’s desk, waiting for his veto or written signature of approval to enact the bill into state law. The bill would protect artists and performers from the use of AI to make digital replicas of copyrighted music or work. Not only would the bill safeguard “personal or professional services,” but it would also bolster preexisting laws that “[prohibit] an employer from requiring an employee or applicant for employment to agree, in writing, to any term or condition that is known by the employer to be illegal.”

The main objective of the bill is to “provide that a provision in an agreement between an individual and any other person for the performance of personal or professional services is unenforceable only as it relates to a new performance, fixed on or after Jan. 1, 2025 by a digital replica of the individual if the provision meets specified conditions relating to the use of a digital replica of the voice of likeness of an individual in lieu of the work of the individual.” Essentially, the bill makes it so

that individuals in California have legal protections against organizations or private citizens’ who would use the voice or image of any celebrity, performer, artist or private citizen in a professional setting.

This is important in the age of TikTok and Instagram Reels, when users have been captivated by “scrollbait” that’s been dominated by AI-generated content. An instance of this would be one of many videos on TikTok posted by the account “@tmparagon,” where presidents Donald Trump, Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s voices are manipulated by AI to make users believe that the three are playing a first-person shooting game while bickering backand-forth with each other. Celebrities like MrBeast and Tom Hanks are also facing similar issues where their image has been used without prior approval or knowledge in videos uploaded online.

While some videos can often be funny, they’re rather dangerous for several reasons. The bottom line is that these videos are deceptive and can portray a reality that never happened. Not only is it concerning because of their defaming nature, but AI-generated content could be used to spread misinformation or fake news.

As it is, news is being censored. Google has recently faced accusations that they have been censoring media sites and articles, essentially hiding topics or websites to promote others.

Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg has also recently admitted that,

following government pressure, Meta had censored or hid reports during the 2020 election season.

Pairing the issues and allegations against search engines and other social media platforms with how AI can be destructive to anyone’s character or name, the California bill comes at a crucial time when maliciousness is rampant for people online. What’s worse is that content creators can even profit from the chaos.

It is no secret that people can make money off of TikTok. Content creators employ tactics like affiliate marketing, post sponsored content and promoting services or products in the TikTok Shop to earn income.

In the United States, adults spend more than two hours on social media. Additionally, users of TikTok spend a little under an hour scrolling on the platform. Whether people use platforms to unwind after a long day of school or work, or “doomscroll” to start their day off, social media use is a massive part of life. What is most daunting about this fact of the American lifestyle is how many people receive their news from social media.

Standards haven’t been set for content creators, and they certainly haven’t been held accountable. Take, for instance, how creators are currently influenced by outside money pouring in and lining their pockets to script their content and produce garbage. For people concerned about election integrity, this sets off alarm bells. The

thought of money influencing what people believe to be true isn’t something that should be an issue, yet here we are.

Research any topic and I’d bet you $10 that once you’re fully informed, you’ll find that your daily digest from your favorite TikTok news-giver has left out crucial facts that you’d find important. Some of this “news” is given to users through AI text-to-speech applications in videos.

Though these “digital replicas” have the potential to be good, they can also be extremely bad. While this bill doesn’t tackle all issues relating to social media and AI, it could be the first domino to make the rest fall on social media issues.

The California bill defines “digital replicas” as anything “computer-generated, highly realistic electronic representation that is readily identifiable as the voice of visual likeness of an individual that is embodied in a sound recording, image, or audiovisual work in which

the actual individual either did not actually perform or appear, or the actual individual did perform or appear, but the fundamental character of the performance or appearance has been materially altered.” If anything can be said about the bill, it is that its importance doesn’t solely lie in how it sets a playbook for how other states should handle the issue of AI, but that it does something which the government tends to fail to do: protect the individual and the public. This bill sets new standards, protects the public and people who could fall victim to potential evils of AI, and should send shockwaves to spark similar and further legislation.

Michael Duke, GSB ’26, is undecided from Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Dye-r Conditions of Some Food Dyes

By INDRANIL KAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Since the mid to late 19th century, synthetic dyes have been used in foods in order to make them more appealing, attractive and appetizing for American consumers. However, federal oversight, regulation and research on the long-term health effects of synthetic food dyes have remained sparse following their initial introduction.

On Aug. 12, 2024, the California Senate passed a bill that would ban several prominent food dyes in K-12 public schools if it was signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

With the introduction of this bill in California, New York should also adopt a similar law that would ban food dyes: specifically Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6 and Red 40.

I believe that a bill should be passed not only in regards to the correlation between behavioral issues and synthetic dye but also to promote alternative healthy food options for the youth of New York in food insecure areas.

In 2021, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) conducted a study that found data suggesting artificial food dyes can affect children’s neurobehavior. These artificial dyes are found in a majority of chips, cereals, dairy products, candy and sodas. The findings of this recent study drove support for the California bill, although it was not the only research conducted on the adverse effects of artificial dyes on the behavior and overall health of children. In studies conducted in 2004 and 2007, researchers discovered a small but significant increase in hyperactivity in children who were given food that contained artificial dyes. These studies in the early and mid 2000s spurred lawmakers in Europe to place warning labels on products containing synthetic dyes, but this practice would not be adopted by the United States on the same timeline. In 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided that they would not be implementing warnings on the numerous food products, but it recommended that more research be conducted.

Unfortunately, there have been few studies and actions taken since the decision was made. In 2012, a study administered by the National Institutes of Health discovered that Red 40, Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6 are contaminated with carcinogens. Advocates for the California synthetic food dye ban argue that they have no nutritional value and are only used for cosmetic and superficial purposes.

A bill similar to the one that passed in California should also be administered within New York K-12 public schools. This bill would promote stronger behavioral and overall health for students. In addition to the negative health and behavioral effects that synthetic food dyes have on the health of children, lawmakers and public officials should address the larger issue of food insecurity in New York. During COVID-19, food insecurity in New York state increased significantly. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) found an estimated 11.3% of New York households in 2020-22 were unable to acquire a sufficient amount of food due to economic reasons. In New

York City, over 335,000 of all children across the five boroughs are food insecure. Due to these circumstances, thousands of families throughout New York state were forced to turn to other ways to acquire food such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. However, SNAP benefits don’t guarantee or consist of what is needed to maintain a healthy diet. Healthy food is key to guarantee success for students. Recently, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) has made significant strides in addressing food insecurity throughout the five boroughs. The New York City DOE assisted in implementing universal free meal programs in NYC public schools

throughout the school year. These programs are aimed at providing healthy nutritious meals for every NYC public school student. If these programs are truly aimed at promoting healthy diets and providing meals for New York City students, they must address the current issues relating to behavioral and health problems stemming from synthetic food dyes.

Indranil Kar, FCRH ’26, is a political science major from St. Louis,Mo.

Bill 2602 made in order to protect against deep fakes.

California bans some food dyes in school foods.

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE

New Girl Pop Pushes Old Pop into a Bubble

By AGUSTINA KOHEN MANGAS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lollapalooza Chicago 2024 took place this August. Pop phenomenon, Chappell Roan, was set to perform in one of the afternoon slots. However, due to the artist’s recent skyrocketed popularity, her initial stage and timeslot were inadequate to fit the number of people who wanted to see her perform. Because of this, the festival asked the singer Kesha, who was set to perform later in the afternoon, to switch places with Roan to accommodate her audience. Kesha agreed, and Roan drew one of the biggest crowds the festival has ever seen. It is strange to see this happen because Kesha has a worldwide audience and has been around for decades, but Roan just became famous a few months ago and is already drawing bigger audiences. This poses the question: Is old pop less relevant than new girl pop?

This summer, artists like Roan and Sabrina Carpenter have been on everyone’s playlist. Even though they are not brand-new artists and have been releasing music for a few years, they weren’t as popular before, and many of their listeners are newly acquired fans. So why did they become popular now? One reason is TikTok. Both artists were trending on TikTok this summer, allowing

them to reach new audiences by the viral nature of the app. Even though there are trending sounds on TikTok all the time, these artists took the extra step by interacting with their audiences — commenting on posts and doing makeup tutorials for iconic looks. This allowed them to grow more with their audiences and create loyal fanbases. Additionally, both of these artists have unique stage sets and stage presences, which encouraged their fans to record videos of their tours and post on TikTok, contributing to their popularity and making people eager to attend their shows. Lastly, Carpenter and Roan have another thing in common: they were both openers, for two major pop stars, Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, respectively. This gave them exposure to the audiences of these massive artists who share a similar sound to them and get a lot of attention from the public eye. Going back to old pop artists, many artists that used to be extremely popular a few years ago continue releasing music and going on tours but are not reaching the same audiences they used to. It seems like the younger generations are not as appreciative of their music anymore, and the older fans have moved on to other things. Artists like Beyoncé, who have been popular since the early

2000s, are still very successful. Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” tour was dominated social media with her spectacular scenography and throwback hits. The tour was so successful that they made a movie about it. However, “Cowboy Carter,” her last album, did not reach the numbers Carpenter’s “Short N’ Sweet” or Roan’s “The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess” are currently reaching. Kesha’s last album, “Gag Order,” debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at #187, making it the lowest-charting album of her career. Many people still choose to see these artists live, listen to the hits that they made years ago and feel a bit of nostalgia. However, when ticket prices are over $100, fans will see their new favorite artist instead of the nostalgic one, especially if they don’t listen to their new music.

If there’s one pop artist who continued to drag her success through the decades, it is Swift. Swift released her first album in 2006 and has been a pop sensation since. Even almost 20 years after her career debut, she is still one of the most successful pop artists in the industry. Swift has two things that make her stand out from her counterparts. Firstly, she has reinvented herself with music time and time again. Swift created her “eras” by representing all the different styles she went through in

her albums. She made music that appealed to the newer generations, while keeping the old ones. The other thing Swift does that keeps her at the top of the charts is connecting with her fans. Every fan feels that they have a strong connection with the singer. She ensures they feel heard and understood with every statement she puts out and even with the shows in her recent tour. She also has invited fans to her house for secret sessions and has kept in contact with people who supported her from the early days. All of that helps build a loyal fan base that has kept her the queen of pop all these years.

People will always listen to old pop for that nostalgic feeling of the songs they used to love. However, artists who fail to reinvent themselves in this digital age and keep their fans engaged will not keep attracting the same fans they used to. We live in an

age where everything moves so fast, and artists seem to always be releasing albums. Every album has so much promotion behind it that if it doesn’t stand out enough, people will most likely forget about it the next day. New girl pop comes with the digital age and has the artists as pseudo-influencers interacting with their audiences, and that is what is making it popular. So for now, girl pop is staying, and old pop is leaving. But in this age, everything that doesn’t take the extra step will not last long.

Agustina Kohen Mangas, FCRH ’25, is a new media and digital design and communication & culture major from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Sauce on New York City’s New Pizza Box Trash Cans

By BRITNEY PHAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

You can add the pizza box trash can to the long list of strange and useless things that can now be found across the city. Introduced as part of a larger effort to mitigate the amount of trash on the streets — an initiative that Mayor Eric Adams has dubbed the “trash revolution” — these new “anti-rat” trash bins are drawing skepticism from many New York City residents who remain doubtful of their utility.

So far, these bins have only been installed in five playgrounds, including one in the Bronx. As I have the privilege of conveniently living across the street from the playground where this new trash bin has been placed, I was able to catch a glimpse of it relatively easily. Amidst a pile of crushed plastic water bottles and dried up silly string, the pizza box trash can stood proudly from a distance, as though a diamond in the rough. Its checker-bordered design is meant to evoke the feeling of sitting in a pizza restaurant, although the trash bin’s noticeable emptiness only seemed to punctuate the futility of its existence.

But let me not get ahead of myself. The pizza box trash

can certainly seems novel in concept, and despite being intended to hold such a clunky product, it takes up no more space than your average trash bin. If the problem is trash, then having a trash can meant to hold a pizza box might discourage residents from shoving their boxes into other trash bins, allowing the latter to hold other types of trash. If normal trash bins can function longer, then more trash can be thrown away. This is assuming, of course, that most New York City residents are capable of following simple directions.

In short, introducing a pizza box trash feels more comparable to slapping a Band-Aid on an issue much bigger than just putting the right trash in the right bin. Obviously, trash is a huge problem in New York City – residents produce up to 13,000 tons of trash daily. Citywide, trash is being thrown away and when this trash decomposes, it has detrimental consequences on the environment. According to the New York League of Conservation, methane, a by-product of decomposition, is “30 times more potent than carbon dioxide.”

There are other additional factors to consider when it comes to the pizza box trash

can. As an example, some have astutely noted that the trash can’s design (its absurdly deep slit) just might offer easy access for city rats to crawl in and take the food. Rat infestation in New York has become a pretty serious problem as of late: a recent study found that there were approximately 3 million rats in New York — roughly one third of the city’s entire human population.

Perhaps more interestingly, many New York residents aren’t even aware that there are pizza trash cans, despite being the target demographic. New Yorkers that I have talked to (mostly friends who grew up in the city) were surprised to learn that a trash can specifically for pizza boxes was even possible, and many remarked that there were probably more efficient ways to encourage New Yorkers to throw away their trash.

I tend to lean on the same side. The city could benefit more from an improved recycling program or increased incentives to encourage residents to compost their trash. Educating residents on how to properly dispose of and sort through their garbage as well as public campaigning for reduced waste consumption could, at the very least, shed light on the issue

of garbage throughout New York City in a more effective way than installing a handful of new trash cans in a few parks. But in truth, it’s hard to appreciate the pizza box trash can for what it is because I only see what it could have been. For me, the pizza trash could very well be a metaphor for the pitfalls of the city’s decision-making. Having grown up in the city and being used to the sight of garbage bags lining every street of my neighborhood and the smell of hot trash in the summer, I yearn for a day when I can finally see a cleaner, brighter New York City. Although

in the right direction and, at worst, downright neglectful, I sincerely hope one day that my doubts are proven wrong and that this vision comes to fruition.

Until then, I might just grab myself a slice of pizza. Maybe I’ll even toss it in the right bin, so the pizza box trash can finally get some use.

the pizza box trash can is, at best, a step

Britney Phan, FCRH ’26, is an English major from the Bronx, N.Y.

New pizza trash boxes aim to mitigate trash overflow in the city

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE FORDHAM RAM This summer, female pop icons took over the internet.

OPINION

Designer Dorm Rooms: Ingenious or Impractical?

By CAMILLE MORVANT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Have you, too, found yourself scrolling on TikTok, only to stumble upon a “rushtok” set in a room that looks like a green screen of a Pottery Barn Teen catalog? Having grown up in the South, I am no stranger to the concept of “designer” dorm rooms: college dorms decorated and completely made-over by interior designers, hired by students and their parents. For years now, I’ve seen designer rooms both on social media and in person while visiting my friends in college. My first thoughts of the dorms were not positive: I was confused and didn’t really understand the point of spending so much

By SOPHIE MASELLI DIGITAL PRODUCER

Schools should not be able to ban books, yet Florida has put into effect a book ban law that prohibits books deemed pornographic from appearing in school libraries. The six major publishing companies, Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster and Sourcebooks, as well as The Authors Guild and other prominent book authors, have filed a 94-page lawsuit against the state of Florida. They declared the law to be unconstitutional — a violation of the First Amendment that gives people the freedom of speech.

Florida’s recent education House Bill 1069, put into effect in 2023, requires school districts to have a system in which parents can object to anything they consider pornographic or inappropriate. However, according to The Guardian, “the law has been abused by rightwing activists who quickly realized that any book they challenged had to be immediately removed and replaced only after the exhaustion of a lengthy and cumbersome review process.” Many classics have been banned, and the publishers who filed the lawsuit claim that many of these banned books were not pornographic, thus questioning the selectivity of the book ban.

and added mementos I had collected throughout the year. I took a disco ball from home I had gotten a few years prior — but never hung up because I was lazy — and brought it as my carry-on for the plane ride to Fordham. I was determined to use it in my dorm room and I did – we got so many compliments on it. My roommate and I bought a fridge and I ended up finding Christmas lights to hang up. Designing and creating a space we were proud of was such an integral part of our first year. In the end, we did not spend more than $500 dollars on the decorations and supplies for our dorm.

money on a room you live in for less than a calendar year. However, I did remain somewhat open to the idea, allowing my opinions to change when I started college and moved into my dorm.

After starting college, moving into my dorm and eventually into an apartment, I can say that my opinions have not changed. I still think that it is an unrealistic amount of money, time and effort being spent on a room you do not spend that much time in. I loved my first-year dorm and I think I decorated it well, but I did not have it fully decorated right when I moved in. I gradually added and adjusted the decor over the course of the whole year. I hung posters on the wall

As the interest in designer dorms has grown increasingly popular on social media, I have learned that people spend a lot more than $500 dollars on their dorm rooms. An article published by the New York Times titled, “Tuition: 9,400. Dorm Room Interior Designer: 10,000?” revealed that some students hire designers for their decorated dorm rooms. Eden Bowen Montgomery is one of many popular designers who created her own company called “Essentials with Eden,” which serves as a college dorm room-focused design company. Montgomery’s expertise became so popular that she eventually needed to hire more hands. Her business gained “more than 200 dorm clients,

requiring 25 seasonal employees. She charges about $10,000 per room ($5,000 per student) for the full service, which requires Ms. Montgomery and her team to arrive on move-in day and put together the rooms from scratch.” The designer also has her own website where showcases different service options, including a recommended in-person consultation, a virtual consultation and even a remote design service. Montgomery also sells specific items such as lamps and paintings for dorm rooms. The different lamps, for example, are sold anywhere from $150 to $315.

While I respect everyone’s personal choices, I cannot grasp spending more than $2,000 on my own dorm room — especially for first-years. As a first-year, I loved my dorm, but I was not spending enough time in it to justify spending that much money on it. I spent my time in class, hanging out with friends, at the library, going out and ultimately doing a lot of things a first-year in college would do with their newfound freedom.

Another aspect that makes me hesitant to hop onto the designer dorm room train is the annual story dump and sale of dorm-related items. I see Snapchat stories either at the end of May or the beginning of August every year where students try to sell their

Throwing the Book at Book Banning

Hundreds of books have been banned. The Guardian specifies that the works of Judy Blume, Margaret Atwood and Stephen King have been “purged from school libraries… including some American classics such as ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley, ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ by Ernest Hemingway and ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ by Mark Twain.” Even Anne Frank’s “The Diary of a Young Girl,” in which she narrates her experience in the Holocaust, has been removed from library shelves. Although this specific case is happening in Florida, it is not exclusively occurring in conservative states — my grandmother fights book bans in her small town within a blue state. This is a national issue that needs attention for the sake of future generations.

Books should not be banned because these bans limit the knowledge students have available to them. Students will be limited to certain experiences, accounts and perspectives written by specific authors, whether it be fiction or nonfiction. Even fictitious novels are crucial because they give insight to a multitude of characters that all represent real-life groups of people and their experiences. What is fiction, for better or worse, if not a portrayal of what the world could be? Students require these stories in order to empathize with people

other than themselves, and learn more about the world: past, present and imagined future.

I remember reading “The Perks of Being A Wallflower” in my ninth-grade English class. I had been disturbed by the graphic content of the young adult novel. Even though I was disgusted by certain moments of material, it educated me on the topic in an important way: experience. Reading is the art of experiencing with no strings attached. It allows people of today to experience moments of history, something a friend could be experiencing, or something mature that maybe their parents will fail to educate them on. There are no immediate consequences to reading — what matters is what one does after reading. Banning books won’t do anything for children who are looking for inappropriate content or content with mature themes. The internet is too vast nowadays to fully guard children from that kind of material.

I do not believe books should be banned from schools, but I do think that the books offered in schools should be carefully chosen. Naturally, I do not believe that books containing graphic sex scenes should appear in elementary or middle school libraries. But the act of banning these books is the danger of the matter. Banning a book gives it a bad reputation — and also the author, damaging their reputa-

old headboards, nightstands, lamps, decorative pillows and anything else that was a part of their designer dorm room. No one wants to use the same lamp two years in a row, right? I always wonder if they are successful in their story sales. I never know and I never ask; I’m not really interested in buying anything.

Although this is popular in many southern states and colleges, I’m not too sure how it would play out at Fordham. As there are many students from the South, I see it having some popularity, even if only short lived. Moving to college away from home, especially to New York, often changes your style and aesthetic. Something you may like now might not be your thing in a few months. If designer dorms did start popping up at Fordham, I think the students sharing the floor with the designer dorm owners would probably just be surprised. If a designer dorm popped up on my floor, I know I’d be surprised and a little intrigued. Ultimately, however you decide to decorate your dorm and spend your money is your prerogative, but I believe designer dorms are very much impractical and unrealistic.

Camille Morvant, FCRH ’27, is a biology and women, gender and sexuality studies major from New Orleans.

tion and their story and creating a false notion that their books are offensive. As Dan Novack, vice president and associate general counsel of Penguin Random House said, “Students need access to books that reflect a wide range of human experiences to learn and grow. It’s imperative for the education of our young people that teachers and librarians be allowed to use their professional expertise to match our authors’ books to the right reader at the right time in their life.” A book suitable for mature audiences that has appeared in an elementary library does not mean it is a bad book — it means that someone overlooked the content of the novel. Therefore, instead of banning books, we must put trust in educators to evaluate the novels they put in their libraries and classrooms so that students will not lose access to a wide range of

viewpoints.

There is a danger in banning books because the books we read teach us empathy. Reading is the act of walking in someone else’s shoes and allows us to travel to the past and future. It warns us of history repeating itself and teaches us the dangerous consequences our actions can have. If books are banned, we will lose those qualities and opportunities and find ourselves in the dystopian world these banned books once warned us about. One of the many banned books I have read is “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. I think it is ironic and necessary to recognize that the book’s dystopian society could very much become a reality if the act of banning books catches fire.

Sophie Maselli, FCRH ’26, is an English major from Milford, Conn.

Recent news of book banning has raised concerns about censorship.

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL /THE FORDHAM RAM

Designing companies pressure students to spend excessive amounts on decor.

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE FORDHAM RAM

By LUSA HOLMSTROM ASST. OPINION EDITOR

If you have ever been on the Ram Van on a Friday in bumper-to-bumper traffic with a particularly contented driver, you’ve probably been driven by Sam Murphey, FCRH ’25. While nearly every other member of the staff avoids rush-hour shifts, Murphey schedules for them earnestly. Whether he’s being paid to be behind the wheel in New York City or driving for pleasure back home in Atlanta, Murphey finds traffic “really relaxing.” He says, “If I’m not pressed for time, I genuinely enjoy being stuck in traffic. You have absolutely no control. There are few times in life where you can sit back like this. It’s like meditation for me.” His time at Fordham has proven to be more than just driving the Ram Van and studying history; living in the Bronx has also rekindled a childhood passion that Murphey plans to turn into his post-graduate career. He grew up near a small airport in Georgia, where his grandpa would take him every weekend to watch planes, and said that the ceaseless planes that fly over Rose Hill reminded him of home. Murphey wants to be a pilot.

CULTURE Senior Has Sky-High Sights

Murphey took his first leap into the world of flying in his first year at Fordham after trekking out to Long Island to take a discovery flight. Immediately after, he got started with his training. When he completed his first solo flight, his instructor cut off the back of his shirt and wrote the date on it, as per tradition. Luckily, he wasn’t too attached to the shirt and now has it framed. In August 2023, he got his private pilot’s license, which allows him to fly recreationally while he works toward the 1,500 training hours required to fly commercially.

The financial cost of completing training is often the biggest hurdle that prospective pilots face. “Renting a plane is weirdly less stringent than renting a car. But it costs me $105 an hour. And that’s not including gas, or the instructor,” Murphey explained, adding that it was even more expensive in New York. So far, he has logged about 90 training hours, most of which were completed in Cessna 172 planes.

To maintain the currency of his training and complete hours whenever he can, Murphey goes to a flight simulator training center in Manhattan, where he uses an Advanced Aviation Training Device, which he

tells me is like flying, but “less stressful.” He took out folders of flight notes, clipboards and an app called ForeFlight, which pilots depend on to check flight notices, weather conditions and route-specific information. Before taking a flight, Murphey says he briefs himself multiple times, starting a couple days in advance. He likes to map out his route, check NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) and weather and visibility predictions.

“I just want to be a safe pilot. I would fly for anybody, for any reason. I really want to see every state in the U.S., I already have 38. I love random places, too. I would be as happy flying to Columbus, Ohio as I would be to Miami,” Murphey told me when I asked him what he’s most looking forward to. Murphey noted that his time in the cockpit has given him perspective on problems in his daily life. Up in the air, he is the only buffer between life and death, which makes long days and running out of gas roadside seem like much more manageable situations.

After graduating Fordham in May, Murphey will be attending the University of North Dakota’s satellite campus in Mesa, Ariz., where he will begin flight school in August 2025. To avoid the heat both on the runway and inside

the planes, he’ll be reporting for flights at 4 a.m. most mornings and saving ground school for the afternoons, because “tires have melted to the runway before.” He chose to go to flight school after getting his degree for a myriad of reasons, one being the transferable education of a bachelor’s in history and another that he attributes coming to Fordham as the ultimate realization that he wanted to be a pilot.

When I asked if he liked being a passenger as well, he was quick to voice his enthusiasm, adding that he has a playlist of songs that he listens to in top-down order every time he takes a flight. Murphey was even willing to share the first three songs on the playlist — though he added he made it in middle school back when Apple Music put songs in alphabetical order — “‘21 Guns,’ ‘Africa’ by Toto and ‘All Me’ by Drake. Pushback from the gate is ‘21 Guns.’” Those who know Murphey know that he goes above and beyond for both his closest friends and total strangers. Any shift-dropping hopeful at Ram Van might look to Murphey first, who is forever willing to step up and help out his coworkers. Plinio Gonzalez, the director of

transportation at Fordham, described Murphey as forever dependable: “Sam is a leader, whether he knows it or not.” As someone who is so willing to be team player, Murphey has the makings of an incredible pilot. I hope one day to fly to Australia and hear Sam’s voice over the intercom. Even without the meditative effects of New York City traffic, I’d know we were in good hands.

Murphey is on air and land.

The Caf is Back: Better Than Ever?

By ADITHI VIMALANATHAN ASST. NEWS EDITOR

If you think Fordham has gotten used to life without the old all-you-can-eat McShane Marketplace, think again. A visit to the Marketplace this week — affectionately termed “the Caf” by students — would have you shaking your head in disbelief. Packed to the brim with students and faculty and positively teeming with sandwich, poke, halal and fresh pasta offerings, one thing remains clear — Fordham’s love for the Caf remains undeterred.

Flocking to the Caf, students have found it waiting with open arms. Old favorites, like the omelet station and True Balance, have survived the year-long renovations, offering peace of mind to many students (this writer included). New offerings like the poke bowl station allow students to get their fix of fresh tuna rice bowls doused in the lusciousness of spicy mayo.

Towards the entrance is a deli station where you can order a custom, Subwaystyle sandwich, or grab a pre-made one. Across from the deli is an expanded vegan station where you can find a staple salad bar and fruit salad. Towards the

back are the halal and poke stations as well as the pizza, bakery, skillet and world exchange stations, which make up Restaurant Row.

It’s certain though — the Caf isn’t nearly as cozy as it used to be. While students may have returned seeking the familiarity of the old Caf, the new Marketplace boasts a drastically different layout that might leave you feeling a tad disoriented. Booths that once fit four people (six if your friend group wanted to squeeze in) can only fit two these days. Wooden and metal seats hardly provide the comfort that a sore student looks for after a long day of classes, clubs and cutting in front of me in the line to get to the Caf.

Amrita Das, FCRH ’26, a casual Caf-goer (or “caffer”), said, “It has a modern feel that isn’t cozy. I feel like it’s too choppy. The old Caf had several booths but this Caf only has a total of like eight, which makes me feel like I’m losing the cozy feeling [of the old Caf]. But overall it’s nice to look at.”

“The Caf feels like there’s more options because of how spread apart the different stations are than before. But I think overall it’s still the same,” Das added.

Here’s one thing the new Caf does right though: it’s much more accommodating of dietary restrictions. Halal and vegan offerings were once interspersed throughout the old cafeteria. Now, there are separate halal and vegan stations with separate menus. Students no longer have to make the rounds looking into the soulless faces of TVs — hoping, praying, pleading with the dining gods that today will be the day that edible food makes it to their plates.

As a self-professed Caf connoisseur, I have to say the new Caf will take a fair

amount of getting used to. I went to the Caf a few times last week (and in a show of dedication paid real money, since I’m not on a meal plan anymore) and had mixed feelings. The biggest gripe I have is with the layout — individual stations disrupt the seating spaces, making it difficult to find your friends or to find a table that isn’t directly next to a line of people.

While the Caf feels smaller because the stations are spread out instead of being confined to a corner, it does offer better dining, in my opinion. In particular, I’ve

been raving about the new poke bowl station and have had it pretty much every time I’ve gone. The avocados? Unmatched. The spicy mayo? On tap. 10/10, no notes.

Who knows, maybe the lesson here is that I just need more poke in my life. Regardless, I’m excited to see what else the Caf has in store this year and can’t wait for the return of old traditions like Midnight Breakfast. No matter the time of year, you can be sure to count on me securing my seat in a newly furnished booth with a bowl of poke in hand.

Exploring Wonderland at the New York Botanical Garden

By MAKENZIE SMITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Instead of falling down a rabbit hole to get to Wonderland, just travel across the street from Fordham’s main entrance and explore the New York Botanical Garden’s “Wonderland: Curious Nature” exhibition. The diverting atmosphere pulls people out of the real world and into an unordinary, dreamlike escape made up of lovely nonsense.

You will begin to grow “curiouser and curiouser” as you follow the White Rabbit’s footprints through the multiple sites paying homage to Lewis Carroll’s legendary tale. The exhibit contains numerous displays and features that are inspired by the story, and there are even a couple of instances where Alice pops up. The displays and features include different artistic practices including architecture, metalworks, gardening and more.

As I walked through the entrance of the gardens, I was met with a 12-foot-tall White Rabbit made of plants. The pocket watch belonging to the iconic rabbit told me it was time for him to lead me farther into the Wonderlandthemed exhibit.

Following my sense of curiosity, I turned left toward the Conservatory, where I stumbled upon the rabbit hole. While I did mention that falling down the rabbit hole was not needed to get to

By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

Wonderland for this particular visit, I recommend doing so. The act of tentatively going through the large tree stump with the potent smell of the earth in your nose and moss tickling your hair helps pique the imagination and transport you into another world.

Strolling through the Conservatory was the highlight of my trip; I was able to get a close look at all the peculiar plants inside that I learned left the people of the Victorian era fascinated. In fact, many of the plants inside the Conservatory right now are inspired by the plants that were in the Oxford Botanical Garden, a place visited often by Victorians, including Lewis Carroll himself. The curators also formed connections between the plants and the story through creative wordplay. The ones that stood out to me the most were Alice’s pool of tears as the fountain with water lilies and the Elephant Ears planted in an area where I was meant to have felt shrunken down like Alice.

Another instance in which you get the feeling of growing in size is just outside the Conservatory. Two towering mushrooms (that apparently come alive at night with pulsing color) give you a distorted feeling by standing next to the sheer size of them.

Traveling farther, I found the most innovative section of the exhibit — the White Rabbit’s cottage that Alice destroyed by growing bigger. The ar -

chitect, Andre Kong, made this inspiration clear by giving the cottage a curved and twisted shape. The cottage also appears to be made of white bricks. However, they are not your typical bricks, but rather made of mushrooms — a nod to the story’s illusionary nature. This location is perfect for a photo opportunity if you are looking for something that creatively embodies a quirky feel with the cottage’s strangely textured bricks and bright yellow door.

Other Wonderland sites can be found near the rose gardens, currently claimed by the Queen of Hearts. There you will find Alice and the Queen’s Cards flurrying about. If you continue to

venture a little farther to the Rose Court, you will see the Queen of Hearts’ personal flower collection of white roses painted red. If by the end of your trip your curiosity is still alive, and learning about art and illustrations, manuscripts, the Victorian era and scientific facts piques your interest, travel over to the Mertz Library Building. Here, you can study the inspiration and impact surrounding “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” “Through the Looking Glass” and “What Alice Found There.” Reflecting back on my trip, I find that the garden does a wonderful job of creating an exciting exhibit without being overstimulating.

Whether you want to wander through Wonderland or the gardens like usual, you have the option to choose what world you are in. If you choose Wonderland, you have the White Rabbit’s footprints and signs from other characters, such as the Cheshire Cat, as well as Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, to guide you. I loved taking my time exploring the art and nature inspired by “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” for the nostalgic feel. While I enjoy the Botanical Garden as it is, seeing something different every once in a while is fun, and the diverse Wonderland displays are definitely enticing.

Now be on your way, best not to be late!

“Veep”: Surprisingly Not Propaganda

Over the years, a few TV shows have had cultural impacts on par with literary classics. “Cheers,” “Friends” and “The Office” are shows that have run for years and provide watchers with a community and shared experience. Mostly, they try to come off as “relatable”: a group of friends trying their best in the big city, and average office workers trying to find fun in their repetitive days. These are stories we know, and they stick with us. But this rule does not always apply.

“Veep” is an anomaly. Not only did it choose to stop airing of its own accord, rather than being canceled by the evil streaming oligarchs, but it is not relatable. There is nothing average about being an independently wealthy, selfish woman who becomes the vice president of the United States. Yet, not only was the show incredibly popular when it aired, it experienced a resurgence — a resurgence we are currently in.

If you or anyone you know has been on the immortal hell site known as Twitter (No, I won’t call it X), any time in the past two months, they have likely stumbled across a gif or image of Julia Louis-Dreyfus

cursing. To the average person, this may seem like Elaine from “Seinfeld” got a haircut, and they forgot. But for many of us, a different woman comes to mind — the one and only Selina Meyer and the star of “Veep.” Suppose you had never seen “Veep” and didn’t know when it aired; watching the first episode might bring another female vice president to mind. Meyers’ mannerisms are so similar to those of Vice President Kamala Harris that it is almost impossible to believe the show started airing in 2012 when Harris was only the attorney general of California. As the show continues and the sitting president steps down, leaving the path clear for Meyer, one may start to wonder if the writer’s time traveled to 2024. But this terrifying contrast isn’t what makes the show one of my top-watched. There is one thing that brings me back to “Veep” again and again, one thing that keeps me watching the same plotlines over and over and over and over: Amy Brookheimers’ beautiful face. Well, not really, but basically. Brookheimer is one of Meyers’ key staffers, serving as chief of staff, campaign manager and general political support. She is one of the con-

stants in the show, along with Dan Eagan and Mike McLintok. Brookheimer represents something in American politics that is impossible to explain, something that no AP U.S. History teacher can teach, something that I think most Americans cannot even comprehend: Most politicians are stupid.

I don’t mean stupid like former President Donald Trump’s idiocy. I mean that even though all these politicians are Ivy-Leaguers, exlawyers and valedictorians, they need to be told what to do every minute of every day by people the American public don’t even know exist.

Brookheimer represents the people who are really running America, the staffers that fill the White House, the Capitol and, in the evening, all the surrounding Washington D.C. bars. No matter how approachable or “real” a politician looks, there are 15 people who spent hours crafting each sentence to promote that image.

“Veep” has shown more people the reality of American politics than any history class, and the real kicker is that it started as satire. In 2012, the idea of politics being this ridiculous was, literally, laughable. These harsh extremes were

considered comical. But, as time went on, reality started to catch up.

“Veep” only ended because the producers realized they couldn’t think of anything crazier than what was actually happening. Now, it can almost be viewed as a crash course of what happens behind closed doors.

I know it’s an HBO TV show, not a documentary. But look at Tina Flournoy, Harris’ ex-chief of staff, who was “reappointed” after a Politico article that highlighted the dysfunction in the vice president’s office. Despite multiple aides placing Harris herself at the center of the dysfunction, Flournoy took the heat, and the media moved on to something new. Now, look at Brookheimer, who told the media she had a miscarriage to push Meyer out of the spotlight and to keep her job.

I don’t recommend that anyone learn everything about politics from “Veep.” Still, if you are looking for a glimpse behind the curtain or just need to remind yourself that politicians aren’t your friends, I recommend opening HBOMax and searching for “Veep.” Even if you disagree with everything I’ve said, you’ll at least laugh at Jonah Ryan and be impressed by Louis-Dreyfus’ ability to conjure impressively creative insults with a straight face. Plus, if you ever feel like your professors keep piling on work, and you haven’t gone grocery shopping, and you need to do laundry, and then someone asks you for a favor, you may relate to the immortal words of Amy Brookhiemer: “I feel like I’m on a life support machine, and they keep pulling the plug to charge their phones!” (season four, episode four).

The New York Botanical Garden is taking visitors on a magical journey.

COURTESY OF MAKENZIE SMITH FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Editors Pick | Television

Louis-Dreyfus shines in this comedy.

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE FORDHAM RAM

By ANTHONY FARRELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Throughout the Western world, a malignant force patiently stalks the lowly dwellers of society. The spirits of All Hallows’ Eve restlessly squirm in their tombs, ready to be released once more and embark on their hellish crusade. Fortunately for these unholy spirits, acolytes of the occult have found a way to let these beasts run rampant earlier with each passing year. Harnessing the powers of the most potent sorcery, demons and ghouls can regain dominion over the world again as marketable plushies, sold at your local Target.

While fans of the occult, like myself, want to believe devotion to demonic spirits is the reason Halloween has been marketed earlier each year, truthfully this change is more motivated by consumer trends. The big bad capitalists running megachains like Target and Walmart push products so they can add to their money piles. To my surprise, this issue actually has some nuance in relation to how retail stores react to consumer culture. From a marketing standpoint, two major changes have resulted in retailers putting out holiday merchandise earlier. First, consumers are buying holiday goods earlier. A study by the National Retail Federation (NFR) found that nearly half (45%) of those

Halloween Is Losing Its Spirit

celebrating Halloween plan to start shopping before October. This trend in early purchasing is fuelled by a desire to be prepared for the festive season beforehand. The fall season is a hectic time for the people Halloween appeals to the most — kids and young adults — who are getting back into the swing of the school year. Nobody wants to feel left out, so by purchasing early, working parents and college students can enter the Halloween season without the stress of last-minute shopping.

Social media platforms have also given rise to this feeling of missing out and needing to prepare in advance. With the ease of communication, people can easily share ideas for costumes and decorations. This gives the holiday a lot of exposure, creating excitement and, more importantly, purchasing incentives. For example, Facebook has an entire community dedicated to 12-foot skeletons. While this is a great way for Halloween enthusiasts to bond with others, it also can act as a stressor for purchasing. Often these message boards will post about stock shortages incentivising people to buy or be left out.

As a reaction to this shift in purchasing trends, stores are putting out Halloween products sooner. Selling holiday goods earlier also has the side benefit of boosting revenue in slower sales periods. Retail and

online stores generally have the lowest sales of the year during the “Summer Slump,” a period between mid-July and late August. To try and combat this, retail stores push products from their most active season of purchasing to spread their sales out through more of the year. Companies want to spread out their timeframe for purchases to avoid low sales numbers and prevent stock buildup. Stores simply put their products out early to entice buyers into purchasing earlier.

A key reason why Halloween could be coming back even earlier this year circles back to an ever-looming specter of our lives: COVID-19. Kids and adults are more excited to return to form with Halloween, which is often reflected in their purchasing history. The NFR found that Halloween seasons post-pandemic were said to reach record-high sales. Analysis of the 2023 purchasing trends found record-high sales for costumes, decorations and candy, and predicted that 2024 will surpass these numbers. This spike in holiday purchases can easily be explained as a return to form from social distancing protocol. Halloween, more than any other holiday, was hurt due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols canceling many staple traditions like trick-or-treating, costume parties and trips to the pumpkin patch. But now that COVID-19 has returned to the grave for

the most part, people are free to binge on as much candy or booze as their stomach or liver can take. This heightened enthusiasm for the holiday results in an increased demand for all things Halloween.

Perhaps the spirits and worshipers of the occult will have to adapt to this new, more accessible Halloween. However, this author has some hesitations aboutthe changing of the seasons. While social media has given people a compendium of creative ideas for costume designs, it has also simplified the preparations for the

holiday. In the olden days, kids had to get creative. Inspired by the late Victor Frankenstein, we built our monsters from everyday clothes and objects. Now, our monsters are preassembled and conveniently delivered to us in two-to-three business days.

Kids aren’t going to have to get creative to make costumes or get the satisfaction of using their imagination and creativity. Life has been made easier for Halloween enjoyers, but some of the soul this holiday once held has been sacrificed.

The “Bachelor”-verse Will Do Anything For Shock Fac tor

By CLAIRE KRIEGER CULTURE EDITOR

Reality television appeals to a certain demographic of viewers. The shows are typically fast-paced and highly dramatic with some sort of romantic subplot lurking in the background if it’s the centerpiece of shows, such as “Love Island” or “The Bachelor.” It has a reliable, predictable algorithm, with its castmates’ clashing personalities that are always camera and scriptready. I joined my roommate in finishing the latter half of this season of “The Bachelorette,” a revolutionary season that featured its first Asian-American bachelorette, Jenn Tran. As many know, she was treated horribly in the finale.

The ending of this season was, at least on the part of my roommate and me, completely unexpected. The show airs week by week, eliminating a pool of 25 eligible bachelors with each episode. I am forever sad that Jonathan Johnson was sent home (prematurely, in my opinion) from the final three, leaving Tran with contendors Marcus Shoberg and Devin Strader. But the show thrives on the drama of imbalanced relationships and unreciprocated admiration. Usually, it is the

men vying for the affection of the lone women, but Shoberg, one of the final two, could only say “I love you” when he was at risk of going home.

There is nothing wrong with how Tran played her cards this season. She admitted that she struggled with toxic and unreciprocated relationships in the past. This shone through in her dynamic with Shoberg, a man who mostly cried whenever under scrutiny and toyed with Tran to the bitter end. However, she had Strader, someone who was not afraid to express his feelings to Tran. At all. The man could not go five minutes without boisterously proclaiming his love for the bachelorette. Then, the season finale. Once again, I am not a diehard watcher of this series, but I have to assume it does not usually play out this way. Long story short, Tran sends Shoberg home and decides (because this is how it should usually play out) that she will propose to Strader rather than him proposing to her . The season finale is always watched in front of a large live audience with many “The Bachelor” alumni watching in the audience. The proposal scene is always watched. However, they held back from revealing this proposal until

Tran had a chance to come out and speak.

Tran came on stage and was immediately prompted to share her story. Talking through her tears, she revealed Strader ended their engagement over the phone after he lost interest and ghosted her. Then, they had Strader come out, and she had to see him for the first time in person on live television.

Although the people who do these shows sign contracts that ensure producers can utilize events such as this, I was appalled. Tran had to sit there while Strader gave bad excuses for his behavior. She attacked his actions after the engagement broke off, but can you blame her? She was forced to see the man she thought she would marry in front of a live studio audience. Then, after the two yelled at each other, they played the proposal.

There has been heavy backlash for how the producers handled the way this season played out. There is a lack of humanity in the way they made Tran sit there and be told over and over again the horrible and heartbreaking events that happened to her. When questioning why “The Bachelorette” would do this, the live audience’s reaction tells it all. They were shocked.

There were audible gasps throughout the crowd. Social media responded in a blaze of tweets and posts. People who do not even watch the show know exactly what happened to Tran.

I understand that the bottom line of these shows is to make money, which is hard to accomplish without a devoted fan base. But if you need to keep people’s attention through contestants’ brutal emotional hardships, is it even worth it? Part of the reason I got invested in this season was because I thought Tran would have a happy ending. I saw how Strader treated her, how I thought he felt about her, and was hopeful about not

just their relationship but the relationships of all people on the show. It was clear by the end that this show truly is a competition to win the love of one person. There is nothing wrong with watching these shows. I found myself heavily entertained by it a majority of the time I was watching. However, I do not know how comfortable I am turning love and healthy relationships into a prize you need to compete for. It clearly can have horrible repercussions on the contestants, and I hope Tran finds a partner that deserves her – It just won’t happen on “The Bachelorette.”

Reality TV is starting to go too far as seen in “The Bachlorette.”

COURTESY OF GRACE CAMPBELL/THE FORDHAM RAM Halloween is becoming more about profit and marketing.

By NIK SZUMOWSKI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This semester, I have the opportunity to study abroad in London through Fordham University. It is an experience that I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in expanding their horizons. There is so much to see and do, and it feels like there is a bit of history and culture around every corner. Even my first day in London was met with new food, new people and new experiences. The area my friends and I are living in, Clerkenwell, is home to a plethora of historical sites, restaurants and pubs. I can tell this semester is going to be an experience we will remember for the rest of our lives.

In only my first week here, I have been able to see more significant cultural and historical sites than I have in the first 20 years of my life. On one of my first days, I went to Camden Market, a giant street market with foods from all over the world, as well as vintage music and clothing stores. I left with an Oasis poster. The next day, the Fordham London class was invited to board a cruise through the River Thames. The following day, we got to explore the Tower of London, which has been around for

CULTURE

Study Abroad | London

Touching Down In London

almost a millennium.

During my first week of classes I was able to explore all over London, with one of my professors taking us on a class field trip through the financial district. It was an exciting way to translate the in-class material into an immersive experience in the city. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take a school trip to Stonehenge to see one of the greatest natural mysteries of the world, and to the town of Bath, a historical and beautiful city. It is incredible how much I have seen, and how much I have yet to see.

Last Sunday we got to enjoy a nice roast together, which was a plate of beef, potatoes and the famous Yorkshire Pudding. We have also tried Scotch eggs, fish and chips and bangers and mash. Not only has the food been extremely different from what I’m used to in New York, but it’s also delicious.

The biggest shock to me so far has been the massive cultural difference between London and New York. Coming from such a culturally diverse location, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The most noticeable difference between the two locations is London’s drinking culture. It’s casual to grab a pint after work, catch up with an old friend over a beer

or even to do your homework in the corner with a Guinness. This is opposed to what I’ve seen in New York, where there is more of a “party-style” drinking culture. Another obvious difference I have experienced is the tipping culture. It’s extremely different from what I’m used to, as I am often factoring in 20% to my bill for the tip alone. These are just two of the many differences I have noticed, which are truly eye opening. I would strongly recommend this opportunity to everyone at Fordham. Since I knew I was going to college, I had always dreamed of studying abroad. Growing up in a household that didn’t travel very much, I had a strong desire to see what was going on in the rest of the world. This experience has been amazing and I’ve really been able to immerse myself in a culture that I’ve always read about online. To be able to experience this with my best friends has made it that much more memorable. If you had told me while I was applying to Fordham that I’d be celebrating my 21st birthday in a penthouse apartment in London with three of my best friends, I would’ve told you to take a hike. It has been and will continue to be an amazing experience.

How Many Murders In The Building?

By AMELIE ARANGO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A colorful wardrobe, a snappy theme song and Selena Gomez. No, I’m not thinking of “Wizards of Waverly Place,” but the popular Hulu show, “Only Murders in the Building.” This comforting watch combines true crime with Generation X icons Steve Martin and Martin Short (and the iconic Gomez, widely known among Gen Z). The show follows an unlikely trio made up of Martin, Short and Gomez, all three of whom play slightly more entertaining versions of their real-life personas. When a murder occurs in their apartment building, they team up in an attempt to solve the murder, leading to the creation of their own true-crime podcast. Since 2021, the trio have solved three separate murders, each of which occurred in the building. With a fifth season announced just two episodes into the currently-running fourth season, viewers cannot help but wonder, how many murders can there possibly be in just one building?

The show began when Martin came up with the idea of two old men who live in the same apartment where there is a murder mystery after getting hooked on truecrime podcasts during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ap -

peal to younger audiences, he brought in Gomez as a costar. While no one would have previously thought to pair Gomez with the comedy duo of Martin and Short, the team works well together. Short’s quirky humor is a joy to watch, and Martin adds a subtly funny and comforting aspect to the show. His character seems like a stereotypical grandpa. Gomez doesn’t stick out performance-wise, but her character adds dimension to the show. The star-studded cast also recently included Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Jane Lynch. The familiar faces add intrigue to the show, but can a celebrity cast alone make the show good? If the star appeal is the only thing carrying the show into its fifth season, then we cannot expect the seasons to get any better.

To analyze the future of the show, we must first analyze the past. The first season was quirky, charming and fun. Martin’s character, Charles Haden-Savage, is an ex-child television star holding on to his past. Short’s character, Oliver Putnam, is a quirky and comical theatre producer, and Gomez plays a young artistic woman, Mabel Mora. All three of them live in the same apartment building and initially bond over their love of a

specific true-crime podcast. Tim Kono, a fellow apartment resident, is revealed to have been murdered in their building. The three investigate the murder while also dealing with the newfound popularity of their podcast about Tim’s murder. All three work with the other apartment residents in their search for the truth. After celebrating their solve, Mabel returns to her apartment to find their landlord dead, ending the first season on a cliffhanger.

The second season begins with the arrest of the trio for a suspected murder of their landlord, Bunny. However, they are quickly released for lack of evidence and begin another investigation into the murder of Bunny, whose killer remains unknown. The third season follows the murder that occurs on Oliver’s newest theater production starring Charles, Mabel and other well-known celebrities such as Rudd and Streep. Rudd, playing egotistical actor Ben, collapses on stage from poison. The first episode of the fourth season shows promise with yet another murder of a character close to the trio: Charles’s long-time stunt double, Sazz (Jane Lynch).

The fourth season continues the same quirky, comforting, yet intriguing voice that stays consistent throughout the past seasons. In previous seasons,

the show has planted seeds for further exploration. Looking forward, the show will likely dig into those stories more.

Martin and Short give incredible performances, both humorous in their own way, complementing each other without overshadowing. Compared to the duo, Gomez gets slightly overshadowed, but the show wouldn’t exist without her, and she appeals to a younger audience. Not only are the recurring celebrity characters interesting, but every single resident of the apartment has their own unique backstory that keeps viewers guessing. However, some may worry

that continuing the show with the similar equation (death + trio = show) may limit the possible seasons and dry the show out of options, creating predictable and limiting television.

On the other hand, maybe viewers aren’t looking for great TV. Perhaps a light-hearted, quick chuckle of a show can be a soft comfort after the trials and tribulations of everyday life. So, even if “Only Murders in the Building” cannot possibly have another murder in the building, the audience will be there to watch witty banter between these unlikely friends for yet another season.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

The stars of the show, Martin, Short and Gomez, in the new season.

COURTESY OF NIK SZUMOWSKI FOR THE FORDHAM RAM Szumowski and his friends enjoy the local cuisine.

CULTURE

One Reality With Two Moons: Haruki Murakami’s “1Q84”

By FRANCES SCHNEPFF MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR EMERITUS

An origami swan can be as real as a swan we may see floating down a lake. Just like a paper moon in the sky may appear to be just as real as the same yellow moon we see every night. Now that we have cameras and surveillance, we think we know what is real. But an image, or a glimpse into someone’s life from their balcony does not paint the whole picture. In George Orwell’s “1984,” there is a sense that no matter where one goes or what one does, one is being watched. Haruki Murakami’s magnum opus, “1Q84,” takes its protagonists out of their perceived reality and places them into a new world, one filled with endless battles of contrasting memories and alternate realities.

The novel, cleverly named “1Q84,” is a play on Orwell’s famous “1984” and the Japanese pronunciation of the number nine, which is pronounced as “Kyū” — sonically parallel to “Q” in English. The possibility of a story with themes similar to “1984” was what made me so drawn to the novel, and eventually what encouraged me to challenge myself to read its whopping 1,157 pages this summer.

A woman, a traffic jam, Janáček’s Sinfonietta and the possibility for a way out; the story commences at a perfect time, a pivotal decision. The first protagonist, Aomame,

is late for her gig — which we come to find is murder via miniscule pin inserted into the nape of the necks of evil, abusive men. She needs to get out of her taxi, which has been in bumper to bumper traffic on the expressway to Shibuya, a part of the Tokyo Metropolis. The taxi driver suggests the stairwell beside the road, but he warns her that the world as she knows it might not be the same once she descends them. With little hesitation, she moves, crossing the large highway in a mini skirt and heels and, once down the stairs, unknowingly enters into the world of “1Q84.”

Aomame is no longer in the 1984 as we all know it; she is in a new world, a world where she has missed headlines, where the police carry large guns and where there are two moons hanging over the sky, shining brightly into her face, but also into the eyes of another man named Tengo, who comes to be the second protagonist.

The novel spans the worlds of Aomame and Tengo from the months of April to December 1984 in Tokyo and the surrounding suburbs. Exploring their early lives, themes of religion and parental abuse seem to populate their childhoods, revealing their connection to each other from a young age. Tengo becomes tasked with ghost-writing a novel for a teen girl, Fuka-Eri, who won a young writers prize. He transforms the novel, and the readers begin to realize the

parallels between the novel and the problems Aomame is facing with her next victim, the leader of a large religious cult outside Tokyo, from which Fuki-Eri recently escaped. Eventually, the story progresses into a twisted, nail-biting, mystery thriller about the cult, Aomame and Tengo’s future, Fuki-Eri and a stalker who is slowly connecting the dots between Aomame and Tengo.

Despite the absurd length of this novel, a couple days after completion, I find myself yearning for the stories of Aomame and Tengo when I get ready for bed each night. The novel took me with it, through all its wrinkles of fantasy and mystery. Murakami feeds you a sense of childlike curiosity and provides a complex tanglement of stories, like a deep system of roots. you continue reading, you slowly find that each storyline is breaching the surface of the ground, and you come to realize that it’s all connected. This feeling could be described as a sort of cognitive climax. Everything you have been reading comes together, and you feel so excited and relieved – you just keep reading until you feel satisfied. Throughout “1Q84,” there are many instances where this feeling occurs; the connections that are made happen at the most perfect times and make you want to continue to unravel the complicated story that Murakami has crafted. Because of this, “1Q84” does a fantastic job at making itself worth it. There is always a

question of worth when picking up a new book. I often ask myself, what will I learn from this? What will this book give me for my time? I think “1Q84” tested that theory for me and allowed me to see if reading such an extensive story would pay off. I can say for certain that it did. I felt as if I too was making my way across Tokyo, contemplating the threat of being watched or even found, taking extra time to observe the moon and always keeping an eyeon jungle gyms. There is one quote that Murakami includes before the novel begins: “It’s a Barnum and Bailey world, just as phony as it may be, but it wouldn’t be

make-believe if you believed in me,” from the song “It’s only a Paper Moon” by Billy Rose and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg. A world that is Barnum and Bailey is one that has a circus-like function where people find them

selves too busy trying to find their identity that they miss what’s real. The world can often run like a circus where nothing is as true as it may seem. A diluted touch of reality, a distance from the truth can send our minds running. But it also may let us see more than we thought we were capable of. Maybe that blurring of reality would even help us see two moons in the night sky.

By GRACE GALBREATH

By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR

Instructions

Use

COURTESY OF FRANCES SCHNEPFF FOR THE FORDHAM RAM Murakami’s novel delivers a tangled web of stories in “1Q84.”

XC: Fordham Fiasco Recap

By IAN NELSON

Fordham Cross Country hosted its annual Fordham Fiasco this past Saturday morning at the Bronx’s very own Van Cortlandt Park. The men finished second in a field of three teams. Their score of 37 points finished behind a strong Manhattan College squad with 29 points and ahead of the Lions of Columbia University with 54 points. The Rams were led by sophomore runner Jack Boerger, who set the pace with a time of 27:19:50 in the 8K course, earning him a firstplace finish in the event. He is only the third Fordham runner to win the individual title at the Fordham Fiasco, joining Jonathan Annelli (2015) and Brian Cook (2016). Other top finishers included sophomore Matthew McCabe and freshman Anan Bauman, who earned fourth and eighth place with times of 28:28:50 and 28:57:70, respectively. Sophomore runner Tadael Mihret

and freshman Matthew McDevitt also managed to finish in the top 14 out of 17 runners.

On the women’s side, the Rams finished third out of three. Leading the group was Manhattan with a dominant 32-point performance. They were followed by Columbia (42) and Fordham (47).

Leading the women was freshman Sophia Oliva, who placed second overall in the 5K course with a time of 19:36:60. She was followed by freshman Lauren Raimy, who finished fourth, running a 20:14:00. Also for the Rams, freshmen Madison Collins and Marisa House finished in the top 15 out of 21 runners with times of 21:40:10 and 22:15:00. Freshmen Kathleen Keefe and Ciara McGroary also finished in the top 18.

In terms of what is ahead for XC, the Rams will be back in action this coming Saturday, Sept. 14, for the Jasper Fall XC Invite, hosted by Manhattan in Montgomery, N.Y., at Twin Ponds on the Farm.

Athletes of the Week

Recording a hat-trick is potentially the most impressive thing a soccer player can do while out on the pitch, with only a handful of the game’s elites ever finding a way to write their names in the history books by accomplishing such a herculean feat. Fordham’s very own Daniel D’Ippolito managed to add his name to that uberselective list this past weekend, as the junior captain managed to net a hat trick against Santa Clara University, effectively leading the offensive charge for the Rams in their resounding 4-0 victory against the Broncos

Moody put forth what was potentially the most dominant week in Fordham Volleyball history over the past few days. Not only did the Rams’ star outside hitter record doubledigit kills against the Jaspers of Manhattan University (14) and the Orange of Syracuse University (13), but the San Jose native also notably recorded a whopping career-high 24 kills in the team’s victory against their crosstown rivals, the Lions of Columbia University. Moreover, if these phenomenal kill numbers were not amazing enough, Moody also had double-digit digs in each of these matches, recording 15 against the Jaspers, 16 against the Orange and 14 against the Lions.

Each week, The Fordham Ram’s sports section honors two athletes for their on-field performances as their “Athletes of the Week.”

Men’s Soccer Cruises Past Santa Clara

By GRIFFIN STEVENSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

This past Thursday, Fordham Men’s Soccer hosted Santa Clara University at Moglia Stadium. The Rams put on a show, taking down the Broncos in a decisive 4-0 victory. Junior captain Daniel D’Ippolito was the difference maker in this match, registering the first program hat trick since Eric Ohlendorf on Nov. 10, 2016. With his hat-trick, D’Ippolito became only the 19th player in Fordham University history to register three goals in a match. D’Ippolito started his performance with a goal from the penalty spot thanks to a red card awarded to sophomore defender Itamer Efrat for a handball in the box. D’Ippolito stepped up to the penalty spot, burning the ball into the bottom left corner. It only took D’Ippolito

15 minutes to add to his goal tally, finishing an inswinging corner from graduate student defender Benji Jones, which careened past the outstretched arms of junior goalkeeper Jackson Ozburn. D’Ippolito got the ball rolling for Fordham’s third goal when he dispossessed Santa Clara in the midfield before a connection between graduate student midfielder Louis Lehr and junior forward Bennett Leitner saw Leitner shaking his defender and slotting the ball in the top corner. Leitner’s finish was the first in his Fordham career, finally getting on the board after missing the 2023 season due to injury. D’Ippolito got on the end of Leitner’s cross to finish his hat-trick, putting a shot on target that Ozburn saved before D’Ippolito finished the rebound, giving the Rams a 4-0 lead in the 69th minute.

This result is Fordham’s highestscoring offensive night since their 5-0 victory against College of the Holy Cross on Sept. 14, 2019. With Fordham’s victory, they sealed their second shutout of the season and extended their home unbeaten streak to 10 games. The Rams move to 3-0-1 on the season ahead of their trip to Philadelphia, where they will take on 24th-ranked University of Pennsylvania. The Quakers are coming off of a 4-0 victory of their own, defeating inter-city rivals Temple at home on Friday night. UPenn has also succeeded against high-ranking opponents, defeating No. 3 University of Pittsburgh via a 1-0 scoreline in their season opener. In their last matchup, the Rams beat the Quakers 2-1 in their season-opener at Moglia Stadium the previous season — Monday’s matchup between the two in-form universities kicks off at 7 p.m.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

The men’s and women’s cross country team finished second and third.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Daniel D’Ippolito is the Atlantic 10 player of the week after a hat-trick in Thurdsay’s matchup against Santa Clara.

Marist 7 p.m.

UConn Invitational

Manhattan 7 p.m.

MLB Season Review and Predictions

By LAURA PEREIRA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

With just three weeks left of the regular season, the MLB playoff picture is becoming clearer after each day.

In the American League, the New York Yankees have a wavering lead in the East, while the Cleveland Guardians lead the Central and the Houston Astros top the West. The closest teams to the third wildcard spot are the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners, who are currently three and a half games out. While the Baltimore Orioles have all but secured the first wildcard spot as they fight closely with the Yankees for the East division title, the stability of the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins rosters will likely cement them with the other two spots in the playoffs.

In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies lead the East, the Milwaukee Brewers lead the Central and the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the West. While these three teams all have a hefty lead in their respective divisions, the NL wildcard race is much closer. The San Diego Padres currently hold a twogame lead for the first wildcard spot, the Arizona Diamondbacks sit in the second spot one game ahead, and the New York Mets have recently surged to tie the Atlanta Braves for the third spot. In the next few weeks, the battle in the National League will be a close one.

The 2024 season has brought a number of strong contenders to the World Series, with the Major League-best 86-57 Los Angeles Dodgers at the forefront. With Japanese ace pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto nearing his return, L.A. has all the tools to achieve their first World Series win since the shortened 2020 COVID-19 season. The acquisition of superstar Juan Soto has reconstructed the 8261 Yankees, and they seem like

they’ll be serious competitors this October. However, the 2023 playoff picture showed that unlikely teams can heat up as the weather gets cooler. Two wildcard teams that have the power to prevail in the playoffs are the Royals and the Padres.

Award Predictions:

Most Valuable Player

AL: Aaron Judge, Yankees

There’s no debating this one. 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most notable seasons in baseball history for the 32-year-old Yankee, as he leads the MLB in WAR (9.5), home runs (51), RBI (125), OBP (.454), SLG (.697), OPS (1.152) and total bases (348). While Judge will clearly be taking home the award, breakout seasons by young stars Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) and Jarren Duran (Boston Red Sox) should receive second and thirdplace votes, respectively.

NL: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers 2024 has been another magical season for the unicorn. Ohtani is no stranger to making history, but what makes the 30-year-old’s 2024 so noteworthy is that he would be the first DH to ever achieve MVP status. Ohtani received the MVP award twice (2021, 2023) before an injury prevented him from pitching this season. He is easily on pace to become the first Major League player to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, which has throttled him to be the likely winner. Francisco Lindor (Mets) and Marcell Ozuna (Braves) will likely follow Ohtani in voting.

Cy Young AL: Tarik Skubal, Tigers

Many thought he would be dealt to a stronger contender at the trade deadline, but Skubal has played the largest role in the Tigers’ effort as Detroit rises in the wildcard race. At 27, Skubal has put together an exceptional season and is on pace to win the pitching Triple Crown in the AL; he currently leads the league in wins (16), ERA (2.53), and strikeouts (208). With an ERA 0.52 runs lower than any other qualified AL

pitcher, Skubal seems to have already crossed the finish line in this race.

NL: Chris Sale, Braves

In what seems to be a long time coming for the eight-time All-Star, Sale will likely receive his first Cy Young award this season. After an injury-riddled seven-year tenure with Boston, the 35-year-old has proven himself in 2024 as one of the best pitchers in baseball. Like Skubal, Sale also has the chance to win the pitching Triple Crown, as he leads the NL in ERA (2.46) and wins (16) and is one strikeout ahead of the Padres Dylan Cease (206) for first in that category.

Rookie of the Year

AL: Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox

The rookie of the year races in both the AL and NL have been far closer than the others. While the odds seem to be in Oriole Colton Cowser’s favor, the 25-year-old Abreu has outmatched Cowser in WAR (2.8), batting average (.264), OBP (.330), SLG (.487), OPS (.814) and OPS+ (123). On top of an above-average season at the plate, Abreu is shaping up to be a Gold Glovecaliber outfielder. Right field is an especially difficult position at Fenway Park, where Abreu has played exceptionally well. Although Cowser leads Abreu in home runs, hits, plate appearances and RBI, broader statistics indicate Abreu to be the best overall rookie in the American League.

NL: Jackson Merrill, Padres

By the All-Star break, it would be hard to convince any baseball fan that anyone other than Paul Skenes would take Rookie of the Year honors; Skenes had just become the fifth rookie of all time to start the All-Star game. However, the 21-year-old Merrill has launched a red-hot Padres team to first in the wildcard race. Merrill is currently batting .289 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI, along with a 3.5 WAR in a season more than worthy of the honors.

Men’s

News & Notes

Water Polo Off to Fantastic Start

Fordham Water Polo built up some invaluable early season momentum this past weekend at the Bruno Classic, as they kicked off their season with three crucial victories against three high-quality opponents. The first of these three victories came on Saturday against the 20th-ranked team in the nation, the Bears of Brown University, with the Rams knocking off these familiar Ivy League foes by a dominant score of 22-15. Following this vicious thrashing of the Bears, the Rams would then turn around and knock off yet another top25 opponent on the same day, crushing the 17th-ranked Lancers of California Baptist University by a score of 22-13. Fordham’s final victory of their perfect weekend would then come on Sunday against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineers, the Rams outplaying them in every facet of the game on the way to a resounding 26-10 victory.

-Compiled by Griffin Stevenson

Moody Dazzles as Rams Show Out in Big Apple Tournament

By JOE HENRY ASST. SPORTS EDTIOR

After a hapless trip to Colorado that saw Fordham Volleyball drop straight sets in consecutive matches, the Rams relished their return to New York City, performing at a higher caliber in every facet of the game during a three-match showdown in the Columbia Universityhosted Big Apple Tournament.

Action teed off Friday, beginning with a new installment of the heralded Battle of the Boroughs, as the Rams squared off with the Manhattan College Jaspers. It was repeated history for Fordham, as they cruised to a straight-set victory in their 13th win against Manhattan in their past 14 matches.

Before pulling away to sweep the Jaspers, the Rams were in hot water during set one. Trailing 15-17 in set one and in danger of dropping a seventh consecutive set to begin the season, senior Lauryn Sweeney toed the service line, rallying the Rams to a 7-0 run.

From there, it was a dominant showing in every respect for the Rams, tying or winning in every major team stat. Individually, a

mix of the usual suspects and some blossoming star underclassmen carried the brunt of the load: on the attack, graduate student Whitley Moody and junior Audrey Brown were as unrelenting as always, leading the club with 14 and 10 kills, respectively. Setting them up was stud sophomore Whitney Woodrow, who wowed with her 34 assists. Fordham continued their trend of out-blocking everyone, win or loss, with freshman Sophia Kuyn leading the way — she finished with three block assists and two service aces to boot.

History told a different story when it came to the Rams’ second of two Friday foes, though — Fordham entered play just 1-4 against Syracuse University alltime, having last beaten the Orange in 2006. Despite a tightly played match, Fordham failed to upend that trend, with Syracuse taking the match in four sets.

The Rams continued to patrol the net at a surreal rate, tallying a season-high 13 blocks as a team. Conversely, the Orange continued a troubling trend by nailing 13 service aces to Fordham’s

two — dating back to Colorado, Fordham has struggled to find service aces and to defend the serve with the consistency they are accustomed to. Brown and Moody paced the club, posting hitting percentages of .333 and .238 with 11 and 13 kills, respectively. The two continued their evolution as all-around superstars by tallying three block assists a piece. Elsewhere above the net, sophomore Tatum Holderied and Kuyn stymied the Orange with four and five block assists; Holderied, Moody and Woodrow registered solo blocks, too.

The Rams rattled off 10 straight to open play, but after cruising to a 25-15 finish in frame one, it was all Orange. Sets two and four featured inspiring Fordham rallies, but Syracuse steadied the ship and pulled away in both; in set three, Fordham’s upstate adversaries pulled away with ease. All told, it was a 15-25/25-20/2514/25-21 win for Syracuse, who

stand tall at 5-0 after the Big Apple Tournament; in other words, a narrow early-season loss to the Orange is nothing to be dismayed about.

In a Saturday matinee, Fordham appeared empowered, delivering their strongest performance of the 2024 campaign against Columbia in the Lions’ own Levien Gym. Fordham entered at 1-3; four sets and three career-highs later, the Rams notched another in the win column. In a career of highs, Moody managed a legacydefining performance in her fifth year in maroon and white, posting an unbelievable 24 kills — that’s her best-ever mark and tied for the second-most kills ever from a Fordham player.

Did we mention that Fordham has excelled at the net this year?

Holderied made sure to remind folks of that fact with her careerbest six solo blocks, adding two block assists to finish with eight total blocks.

Not to be outdone by her

record-setting teammates was Woodrow, who capped off a brilliant weekend of play with a near-unconscionable 46 assists and a career-high three aces. It was a raucous occasion for the Rams, who were comically efficient in a 25-4 set one win, en route to a 25-4/24-26/25-15/2522 trouncing of their Ivy League opposition.

It was announced Tuesday that Moody would be bringing home some hardware, too: the graduate was named A-10 player of the week in recognition of her big weekend; she posted doubledoubles in all three matches, averaging 4.64 kills/set and 4.09 digs/ set, culminating in her aforementioned 24-kill outing Saturday. Moody and the Rams will take their momentum into a two-game stint next weekend on the campus grounds of Fairleigh Dickinson University; on Friday, they’ll face off against Lafayette College; on Saturday, they’ll battle FDU.

Overtime: “Backyard Sports” Revival is a Reminder of What Sports Ought to Be

By JOE HENRY ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

For a generation, the name Pablo Sanchez was as synonymous with greatness as Michael Jordan or Tom Brady. For that generation, when Playground Productions made an Aug. 20 announcement revealing that the “Backyard Sports” video game franchise would be returning after a 14-year hiatus, it rekindled a love for sports that the series first instilled so long ago.

From 1997 to 2010, “Backyard Sports” taught its players about the beauty at the root of our favorite pastimes. As kids booted up the baseball, football, soccer and hockey editions of the franchise, their gameplay formed a foundation for a lifelong relationship with sports.

“Backyard Sports” captivated players with its simplicity. The pixelated yet recognizable character sprites — each customized and given a backstory, together forming a full neighborhood of apparently parentless athletes — and easy-to-learn controls left players without a learning curve, allowing them to immerse themselves in the game and its

characters with ease. From there, the game’s friendly atmosphere and quirky animations brought players a sense of serenity and innocence unparalleled in a sports gaming experience. This childlike love for sports was then brought to the ballfield for a first game of T-ball, or an AAU tournament, or a college championship.

“Backyard Sports” perfectly encapsulated what sports should be about, a source of friendship, fitness and fun.

Moreover, “Backyard Sports”

carried an air of equitable opportunity and relatability. While today’s sports video games are just now — if at all — adding women’s leagues and athletes into their code, “Backyard Sports” gave girls worldwide the impression that they belonged on the same field as boys, that they were rated just as highly and respected just as much as any other kid on the block.

Undoubtedly, the same folks too-often excluded from games on the street and under the bright lights alike were inspired by the

“Backyard” series. “Backyard” puts an emphasis on equality amidst diversity, with loveable and capable characters defying norms on account of gender and much more. In what other game could Pablo Sanchez, a 3-foot tall kid with a somehow too-small shirt, slug with the likes of Barry Bonds and shoot with the likes of Steph Curry? In what other game could a wheelchair-bound kid named Kenny Kawaguchi spark a ninth-inning comeback? In what other game

could a glasses-donning, selfproclaimed nerd named Dmitri Petrovich light the lantern with a blue-line slapshot? In what other game could a community rally to create a ballpark out of a dingy back alley out of love for the game? In what other game could anyone, no matter their age, height, gender, acuity or background, have a chance of becoming a neighborhood hero?

When “Backyard Sports” officially reboots, the same kids who played 20 years earlier will dust off their joycons as adults to re-experience the nostalgia-filled game and characters who once reimagined their perception of sports. Alongside them will be a new generation of children who will, between homers and touchdowns, be taught that sports ought to be communal and enjoyable before they are brutish and cruel; that sports can foster lifelong dreams and relationships, no matter the stage they’re played on; and, most importantly, that sports are for everyone, no matter what our society suggests.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

COURTESY OF X

Graduate student Whitley Moody won A-10 Player of the Week for her three triple-double performance in NYC.

Junior Mackenzie Colvin notched 11 assists vs. Syracuse on Saturday.

“Backyard Sports” and its beloved characters are set to return to gaming consoles “in the coming months.”

By JONAH RING, GRIFFIN STEVENSON & JOE HENRY

Introducing 4th and Inches, the Ram Sports Editors’ weekly guide for all things NFL. Like an offensive coordinator facing 4th and short, picking between winners and losers, or starts and sits, can feel like an impossible choice. Don’t know who to pick? Let us decide for you.

Week 2 Picks: (Note that games with an asterisk besides them represent our locks of the week)

Bills @ Dolphins

Jonah: Bills

Griffin: Dolphins

Joe: Dolphins

49ers @ Vikings

Jonah: 49ers

Griffin: 49ers

Joe: 49ers

Seahawks @ Patriots

Jonah: Patriots

Griffin: Seahawks

Joe: Patriots

Giants @ Commanders

Jonah: Commanders

Griffin: Commanders

Joe: Giants

Chargers @ Panthers

Jonah: Chargers

Griffin: Chargers

Joe: Chargers

Saints @ Cowboys

Jonah: Cowboys

Griffin: Cowboys

Joe: Cowboys

Colts @ Packers

Jonah: Colts

Griffin: Colts

Joe: Colts

By GRIFFIN STEVENSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

On Thursday, the Fordham University Rams rolled through Easton, Mass., to take on the Stonehill University Skyhawks. Fordham came to Stonehill hungry after losing a match to Fairfield University the previous weekend. A familiar face started things off for the Rams in the 39th minute. The star freshman Liina Tervo whipped a cross into the box, which graduate student forward Abby Borchers pounced on for a deflected goal. Tervo got on the scoresheet just three and a half minutes later when a through ball from senior midfielder Fernanda Serna found her feet; the Finnish forward cut left, slotting the ball past Stonehill’s keeper to give the Rams a 2-0 lead entering the half. It was déjà vu for Fordham’s third goal of the night. Tervo once again drove down the wing, crossing the ball to Borchers, who turned it towards goal for her second of the game. Freshman forward Julia Acosta gave Fordham a 4-0 lead in the 79th minute with a top-class free-kick finish that saw the ball nestled into the left side of the net. The match would end at

Browns @ Jaguars

Jonah: Jaguars

Griffin: Jaguars

Joe: Jaguars

Jets @ Titans

Jonah: Titans

Griffin: Jets

Joe: Jets

Buccaneers @ Lions

Jonah: Lions

Griffin: Lions

Joe: Lions

Raiders @ Ravens*

All the love to quaterback

Gardner Minshew, but while the Ravens seem poised to bounce back after a week one loss, things will likely get uglier for the Raiders before they get better. Positionally, you’ll be hard to find a single spot where Las Vegas has better personnel than Baltimore.

Rams @ Cardinals

Jonah: Cardinals

Griffin: Rams

Joe: Rams

Bengals @ Chiefs

Jonah: Chiefs

Griffin: Chiefs

Joe: Chiefs

Steelers @ Broncos

Jonah: Steelers

Griffin: Steelers

Joe: Steelers

Bears @ Texans*

Bears rookie Caleb Williams looked confused and downright outmatched at times last week in his debut against the

Tennessee Titans, and while it ultimately didn’t matter since the Titans were equally as poor, he will not have the same sort of wiggle room to make mistakes this week against a polished and explosive Texans team that looks tailor-made to capitalize on a young Bears squad’s propensity to make mistakes.

Falcons @ Eagles

Jonah: Eagles

Griffin: Eagles

Joe: Eagles

Fantasy Football: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em:

QB:

Jonah: Jared Goff (Start)Goff will likely continue to benefit greatly from the continued growth of his already-deadly supporting cast this week, as Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs have both seemingly taken huge steps forward this past offseason.

Griffin: Joe Burrow (Sit)Burrow is coming off a lackluster Week 1 against a scrappy Patriots team and will face an even better defensive front in Kansas City.

Joe: Sam Darnold (Sit) - I’m a Darnold career renaissance fan as much as the next guy, but don’t expect him to keep up his torrid week one pace against a stout 49ers defense.

RB:

Jonah: Josh Jacobs (Start) - With Jordan Love out for the foreseeable future, fantasy managers should expect Jacobs to

see a significant increase in his touches. Couple this with the fact that Jacobs and the Packers will be squaring off against the Colts, a struggling run defense who was consistently gashed by an aging Joe Mixon last week, and Jacobs is a must start.

Griffin: Rhamondre Stevenson (Sit) - Despite an impressive week one performance, New England’s lead back is set to face a tough Mike Mcdonal Seahawks defense bolstered by first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy II.

Joe: Rhamondre Stevenson (Start) - Don’t listen to him. After a big week one, look for the Pats’ RB1 to keep cruising — he’s the team’s workhouse and number one offensive option. What’s more? He’s factoring into the pass game more than in years prior.

WR: Jonah: DK Metcalf (Sit) - If Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase couldn’t find a way to consistently beat the Patriots’ star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, I wouldn’t put much faith in Geno Smith and DK Metcalf being able to do so.

Griffin: Tyreek Hill (Start) - Despite his touchdown dependency in week one, Hill will look to explode in a primetime matchup against division rival Buffalo. The receiver registered 82 yards and a touchdown in his last time out vs the Bills.

Joe: Brian Thomas Jr. (Sit) - Despite reeling in a TD in his debut, Thomas Jr. only received four targets and now faces a

Women’s Soccer Builds on Hot Start

4-0, with freshman goalkeeper Addison Green impressively picking up her third shutout of the season while recording three saves. Tervo’s two assists brought her season tally to five, which is eighth in the NCAA. Her assist-per-game tally also moved to one assist per match, good enough for third overall in the NCAA rankings.

Following their victory in Massachusetts, the Rams then headed to New Haven, Conn., to take on Yale University.

The Ram’s matchup at the Ivy League school was less straightforward than the one

in Easton; however, Fordham started like they had ended their match against Stonehill. In just the 12th minute, sophomore standout midfielder Ava Giudice found senior Ryann Lucas, who pushed the ball ahead to Abby Borchers for the finish, putting the Rams up 1-0. The Rams’ lead only lasted three minutes when senior Tanner Cahalan sent a volley into the back of the net, drawing Yale level. Giudice would again help Fordham take the lead in the 24th minute when she found Acosta, who dribbled past a defender before

Browns secondary whose talent is greater than what their week one performance suggested.

TE:

Jonah: Johnny Mundt (Sit)Mundt will likely find himself constantly guarded by the best coverage linebacker in the league this week in Fred Warner, making him an easy sit.

Griffin: Evan Engram (Start)Engram only put up 1.5 fantasy points against the Dolphins in week 1, but he leads the team in target share and is due for a bounce-back week against the Browns.

Joe: Mark Andrews (Start) - Andrews was a big-time dud in week one, but despite getting out-targeted 12-2 by backup Isaiah Likely, his 74% snap share was greater than Likely’s. Expect a bounce-back for Andrews against a worse-than-middling Raiders pass defense.

DEF

Jonah: Chiefs D/ST (Start)Not only will the Chiefs defense benefit from having a raucous Arrowhead crowd helping them, but they will also be facing off against an early-season Cincy offense without Tee Higgins — a recipe for success if I have ever seen one.

Griffin: Cowboys D/ST (Sit) - The Saints are coming into week two overconfident after beating a horrible Panthers team. The Cowboy’s are coming off a blowout of their own, and when it’s offense vs defense, defense always wins.

Joe: Steelers D/ST (Start) - They may be on the road in Denver, but a top-10 defense squaring off agains a rookie Qb is always going to be a sure bet in the world of fantasy football.

slotting the ball into the side netting. The Rams took their 2-1 lead into halftime, but the Bulldogs would fight back in

the 61st minute. Calahan sent a pass across the face of the goal, which junior forward Ashley Kirschner finished for her first goal of the season. Both teams looked for the winner in the final half-hour of the game, but it was Fordham Ol’ Reliable Liina Tervo who maneuvered down the sideline before finding Acosta with a cross, who hit it first time from 10 yards for her second goal of the game. The match would finish as a 3-2 for Fordham, aided by Green’s six saves between the sticks. Fordham’s two wins on the week moved the team to a record of 5-1-1 on the season. In term of what is next for Fordham, they will travel to another Ivy League school on Thursday to take on Columbia University at 7 p.m.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

The Rams have come out of the gate swinging, winning an impressive five of their first seven matches.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS Freshman Julia Acosta has had a stellar start to her collegiate career.

Fordham Football Suffers Shocking Blowout Loss to CCSU Blue Devils

By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

Execution was the key word for Fordham Football as they entered Week 2 of the season following a hard-fought yet frustrating 41-17 loss against the FBS’s Bowling Green State University. Unfortunately for Fordham, it didn’t culminate in an improved effort, as the Rams found themselves on the wrong side of a blowout once again last Saturday, falling to 0-2 with a 33-3 loss to Central Connecticut State University.

While Fordham Football had certainly struggled to tread water next to what was an excellent Division 1-A opponent during their season opener, it was largely the controllable elements — presnap penalties, missed tackles and special teams miscues — that left head coach Joe Conlin feeling like the Rams hadn’t put their best foot forward.

“It’s the little things that get exposed in Week 1’s coming out of camp,” Conlin reflected later in the week.

The Rams couldn’t stop Bowling Green’s dominant run game and didn’t exactly dazzle offensively. Yet, turning their attention to a CCSU team that was picked to finish dead-last in the NEC preseason poll, Fordham hoped for a return to form on both sides of the ball.

The Blue Devils were also coming off a season-opening loss against a MAC opponent, getting trounced by a solid Central Michigan University squad 66-10, allowing the sixth-most points across the entire FCS in college football’s opening week. Not to mention, they have a defense that ranked last in the NEC last year in points allowed (31.2 per game), total yards allowed (401.4 per game) and passing yards allowed (218.5 per game).

Dreams of a fairly dominant Fordham air attack wavered literally from the kick as cold, bitter rain began to pour down upon New Britain, Conn., for Saturday night’s early evening 6 p.m. kickoff.

Regardless, the Fordham offense seemed to jump right into gear, putting the ball in the hands of the Rams’ workhorse senior running back Julius Loughridge. Posting a whopping 112 yards on the ground against Bowling Green and leading the team with 178 all-purpose yards, Loughridge moved into fourth place alltime in program history with the 12th 100-yard rushing game of his Fordham career.

The 2023 First Team AllPatriot League selection found a way to pick up right where he left off, amassing 48 yards on his first two carries and taking the Rams right into opposing territory. Unfortunately, he was unable to hold on to a rain-covered football, with the Blue Devils’ redshirt freshman DB Christopher Jean forcing the ball out and recovering inside his own 10-yard line.

That would prove to be the first of many turnovers in a very sloppy first quarter.

CCSU’s opening drive then stalled out quickly and the Blue Devils were forced to punt from their own endzone. The Rams, however, would give them the ball back, as senior wide receiver and specialist Cole Thornton muffed the punt through an intense downpour.

The Blue Devils drove into the red zone before Fordham forced a fourth down, setting up junior kicker Jack Barnum for a chip shot field goal. Instead, senior punter Aidan Clark mishandled the snap, allowing the Rams to recover.

Towards the end of the first, graduate student cornerback Nahil Perkins posted his first interception of the season as he picked off CCSU’s senior quarterback Brady Olson. Not to be outdone, the Rams would give it back on the subsequent drive with junior running back Ricky Parks losing a fumble after a 19-yard run.

The first quarter ended scoreless with a grand total of five turnovers and a combined 40 yards passing for both sides.

The second quarter began with the game’s sixth turnover, as CCSU’s junior running back Elijah Howard put the ball on the ground, recovered by sophomore John Scott III in Fordham territory. However, unable to pick up a first down on the ensuing drive, the Rams sent out senior punter Will Haslett, unwittingly setting up another turnover and the first score of the night.

The long snap sailed over the head of Haslett and rolled into the end zone. Haslett failed to kick it out of the end zone, attempting to limit the damage to a safety, and the Blue Devils recovered for a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead five minutes into the second.

Another empty Fordham drive set up another score for the Blue Devils as Howard took it home from 24 yards out to give CCSU a two-score lead.

The Rams attempted to respond in the final two minutes, but a snap slipped past junior quarterback CJ

Montes, once again rolling into the endzone, this time for a safety. The Blue Devils then drove into Fordham territory in the final minute, setting up a 30-yard field goal from Barnum as time expired to take a 19-0 lead into halftime.

CCSU opened the second half with the ball, but in a running theme, they wouldn’t keep it for long. Perkins intercepted Olson for a second time, quickly getting the Rams the ball. Montes connected with graduate student wide receiver Mekhi Felton on a 35-yard diving grab that brought the Rams inside the five, setting up a 20-yard field goal from freshman Bennett Henderson to make it 19-3.

Those would be the only points the Rams scored all night. CCSU responded with two more touchdowns to take a 33-3 lead in the final minute of the third, a score that would stand until the final whistle.

The two sides combined for nine turnovers, only some of which can be blamed on the rain, which let up towards the end of the second quarter. Fordham did their part to pump up that number, fumbling 12 times in

the game, five of which were recovered by the Blue Devils.

The loss was utterly shocking in every sense of the term. Fordham entered as massive favorites and hadn’t dropped a game against an NEC opponent since 2019, when they lost to CCSU on a gamewinning field goal to open the season. And it wasn’t just the fact that they lost — it was the manner in which they did.

The Rams were pathetically held without a touchdown for just the first time in seven seasons, with their three points being their lowest output since they were shutout by Colgate University in 2018. They went a pitiful 3-18 on third-down conversions and exited with a mere 188 yards of total offense.

Yet, Loughridge managed to enjoy what was his second straight 100-plus yard game, rushing for 129 on 15 carries, but Montes was held to just 141 passing yards and a 47 percent completion rate, limited by the rain and Blue Devils defense.

To their credit, CCSU gave the Fordham offensive line a world of trouble, sacking Montes nine times and incurring 60 yards lost. It’s the most Montes

has been sacked in a single game since his debut last season against the University of Albany, when he was brought down a career-high 10 times.

A stagnant Fordham offense that has just two touchdowns and is averaging 10.0 points per game through two weeks of football will need to find a way to protect their quarterback if they wish to turn the tide and compete in a deep conference.

The bright spots may not be obvious after a deflating loss, but they are nonetheless present.

Loughridge, however, has simply been phenomenal so far in his first two games, posting back-to-back 100-yard efforts to carry a struggling Fordham offense. He leads the Patriot League with 7.7 yards per carry and 119.5 yards per game, the latter of which ranks seventh in the FCS.

Perkins, meanwhile, has been rather lockdown for the Rams’ secondary. Following a 2023 season where he led the Patriot League with 17 passes defended, fifth-most in Fordham history, and led the team with three interceptions, the First Team All-Patriot League selection added a pair of interceptions to his ledger on Saturday, tied for the lead in the conference. Additionally, while the Patriot League Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, senior Matt Jaworski, is still looking for his first sack of the season, he was credited with five quarterback hurries against CCSU, increasing his season total to six. No one else on the team has more than one.

Fordham is back at it next Saturday, being slated to play amongst the familiar greystone confines of Jack Coffey Field at Moglia Stadium for the first time this season. It’s not just the home opener — it’s also homecoming for Fordham. The Rams will have a large and hungry crowd to impress as they search for their first win of the season against Stony Brook University.

“Top-down, we have to be better,” concluded Conlin.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham played anything but admirably on the road this past week, as the Rams got crushed by the CCSU Blue Devils, 33-3.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham played a very sloppy game against the Blue Devils, turning the ball over a whopping five times.