Volume 106 Issue 17 by The Fordham Ram

Family Weekend Wraps Up

By JACK MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

Families from across the world flocked to Fordham University for Family Weekend and took part in several activities such as the Fordham Football game, Family Bingo and dinner in Little Italy. Fordham hosted its annual Family Weekend from Friday, Oct. 4, to Sunday, Oct. 6.

The Campus Activities Board elected a Special Events subcommittee of co-chairs this year to take care of the logistics surrounding the weekend-long event. This subcommittee includes Aishna Gaikwad, GSB ’26, Zoe Skinner, GSB ’26, and Cameron Kelley, FCRH ’27. This panel of students was responsible for planning all of the events that occurred during Family Weekend, from the football game against Lafayette College to Family Bingo in Keating First Auditorium.

“When I got this position as the special co-chair in Campus Activities Board, I didn’t realize how much organization and how much behind-the-scenes

SEE FAMILY, PAGE 5

The Fordham Ram

Students Host Study-In for Palestine in McShane Lounge

By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University students engaged in a “study-in” in the Student Lounge on the first floor of the McShane Campus Center on Oct. 7, 2024. The event began at 11 a.m. with around nine students sitting around the table. Two Palestinian flags were placed on the table and students had signs taped to their laptops and water bottles.

“This is not a Palestinian Solidarity Network event, we are just doing this as members of the community because this is the one-year anniversary of what has been happening and we know there’s protests at Lincoln Center and so we wanted to create a space here at Rose Hill,” said Siri Unnam, GSB ’26, a student sitting at the table.

Information regarding the studyin was posted on the Students

Fordham Drops in U.S. News Ranking, Again

By CRISTINA STEFANIZZI ASST. NEWS EDITOR

University, Baylor University, Loyola Marymount University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Southern Methodist University and the University of South Florida.

University, Southern Methodist University and the University of South Florida.

for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Instagram page on the morning of Oct. 7; a similar studyin was set to take place in Quinn Library at Fordham Lincoln Center.

Around noon, Public Safety officers came to the lounge.

“They [Public Safety] briefly walked by and took photographs and continued walking but they didn’t approach us,” said Claire, FCRH ’26, who

Father McShane Returns for Lecture

By CAITLIN THOMAS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president emeritus, returned to Fordham University’s Rose Hill campus to speak for the 20th annual Economos Orthodoxy in America lecture series on Oct. 1.

In 2022, Fordham University College at Rose Hill (FCRH) and Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) unveiled a new advising model that replaced the previous system. Initiated by Dean Maura Mast and Dean Laura Auricchio, the new system aimed to offer a holistic advising experience by assigning students to one academic advisor for their first two years and a different advisor for their junior and senior years. The previous version left students shuffled between a summer advisor, a core advisor and various class deans. Now, students have a dedicated advisor who offers personalized support during critical stages of their academic journey.

Ashlee Burrs, the associate dean of Academic Advising, explained the importance of this transition. “Our students have very high satisfaction rates for their experiences with their advisors,” Burrs said. She further explained that the advising system is being expanded in phases, with plans to extend its reach to seniors in the upcoming year, stating, “We’ve made small changes internally each year to better support students, and next year, we plan to continue working with faculty to enhance the senior advising experience.”

Jack Ronca, FCRH ’25, a political science major, offered insight into his experience with the system. He found his core advisor immensely helpful during his first two years and has developed a strong connection with his current advisor, who is also from the political science department. “My

Opinion

In the 2024 rankings, released last year, Fordham dropped 17 points from 72nd to 89th, sharing the 89th slot with Temple

McShane’s speech, titled “Building an Alliance of Grace: The Work of Ecumenism in an Age of Anxiety,” explored the history and contemporary applications of the relationship between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. This speech was especially significant for the Fordham community, home to the Orthodox Christian Studies Center.

U.S. News released their 2025 rankings of colleges and universities across the country on Sept. 24, with Fordham University dropping two places this year to the spot of 91st, tied with six other institutions: American SEE MCSHANE, PAGE 4

“The university’s overarching strategy is to improve those ranking factors that are directly tied to student success and the student experience, regardless of their SEE DROPS, PAGE 4

The center described its mission on the back of the program handed to

The Fordham Family Weekend Dad Page 11 in this issue

The “Europecore” Takeover: American Escapism or SelfExpression? Sports

MLB Playoffs Preview Culture

COURTESY OF NORA MALONE/THE FORDHAM RAM

Students had signs and flags at the center table in the McShane Campus Center.

Fordham dropped two spots this year after dropping 17 spots last year.

COURTESY OF CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Ram Fit

Oct. 1

5 p.m.

On Tuesday, a student reported the theft of their sweatshirt from Ram Fit. Investigators conducted a review of security footage and identified the student. The student said they mistakenly picked up the sweatshirt and took it home. Once they realized the sweatshirt was not theirs, they washed it and returned it to Ram Fit. Investigators retrieved the sweatshirt and returned it to the owner.

Walsh Hall Oct. 3

11:30 p.m.

On Thursday, there was a fire alarm in Walsh Hall. A supervisor and the FDNY responded. The investigation revealed a strong smell of smoke from the third floor trash room. Facilities personnel removed the garbage from the room. A room search did not identify recently burned items. The supervisor reset the alarm panel.

Loschert Hall Oct. 6

1:54 p.m.

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

Walsh Hall Oct. 7

3:55 p.m.

On Monday, there was a fire alarm in Walsh Hall. The supervisor responded. The investigation revealed smoke from contractors working on the roof triggered the alarm. The area was ventilated and the alarm panel reset.

Fordham Music Department and Rodrigue’s Coffee House Celebrate Jazz Music with Monthly Concerts

By ELEANOR SMITH ASST. OPINION EDITOR EMERITUS

On the first Friday of every month, students and faculty gather in Rodrigue’s Coffee House outside Alumni Court South for a jazz jam session. This past Friday, parents and siblings were in the audience for Family Weekend. The event brings together the music department and Rod’s, as well as students and faculty, to make music.

The event is open to all Fordham University students, and all are welcome to perform. Students and faculty performed many different songs, from jazz standards like “On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “All of Me,” to songs by jazz/pop icon Amy Winehouse and honorary Fordham degree holder Stevie Wonder.

The performers typically take requests from audience members, and anybody who is interested is encouraged to

come with a song they can play or sing.

Ethan Lin, FCRH ’26, has been playing the trumpet for almost a decade. Before the jam session, he said, “My favorite thing about the jazz program here at Fordham is that all the jazz musicians are really intertwined. Everyone knows everyone, it’s all very friendly and everyone helps each other improve.”

Although it can be nervewracking, playing in a jam session is one of the best ways to improve one’s jazz musicianship.

Dr. Nathan Lincoln-Decusatis of the music department said, “I wanted to start doing this event because our students needed a space to practice playing jazz and get experience and be able to play with their professors, and this is a great way to do it.” He added, “Rodrigue’s has a pro audio system, and that’s great. It’s become a really great musical community on campus, and

we love playing here.”

Rod’s is a study space by day and a music venue by night, run entirely by Fordham students. They host Fordham-centered events like talent shows and open mic nights, as well as the Battle of the Bands during the spring semester. Rod’s leadership also brings in artists and bands from New York City and beyond to perform for Fordham students throughout the year.

Chloe Santana, FCRH ’25, is the Rod’s president this year. After a few successful jam sessions last year, they decided to continue holding these monthly events. “It’s a more chill event for Rod’s as opposed to our concerts, which can get really intense, and it’s also good to get the music department involved in Rod’s, because Rod’s is so music-centered,” they said.

Performers and audience members alike enjoy these jam sessions. They usually last two hours, from 7-9 p.m., and the

This Week at Fordham

Wednesday Oct. 9

Speak Your Truth

McShane Campus Center 3 p.m.

Attend Rose Hill’s monthly town hall meeting to ask questions and hear updates about life on campus. Guests speaking at this week’s meeting include representatives from the office of the president.

Thursday Oct. 10

Tote-st to Your Heritage

McShane Campus Center 12:30 p.m.

Join El Grito, Fordham University’s socio-cultural Latino club, in decorating tote bags in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month! The event will be held in the gallery of the McShane Campus Center.

Friday Oct. 11

Vamos a Celebrar!

McShane Great Hall 6:30 p.m.

Join Fordham’s Latinx dance group Candela Latina for their Quinceanera Fundraiser Dance on Friday, featuring traditions of the ceremony and including performances, food and a DJ.

Saturday Oct. 12

LOL That Was Funny Blackbox Theater 8 p.m.

Join Fordham’s Street Legal standup comedy group for their comedy show this Saturday night. The show will be held in the Blackbox Theater in Collins Auditorium; be sure to arrive early for a seat.

seats fill up fast. By 7:30 p.m., there were people standing by the door and sitting on the ground, nodding their heads and tapping their feet along to the music.

Playing in front of an audience can be scary at first, but with practice, musicians begin to enjoy and look forward to this opportunity. Daniel Deeney, FCLC ’26, played the drums for the first 30 minutes of the jam session on Friday.

Before the event, he said, “I’m excited to perform tonight. It’s a good way to cultivate interest in the jazz program here at Fordham because we have faculty and students playing together which is definitely an exciting prospect.”

For information and details about the next jam session, follow @rodriguescoffeehouse or @musicatfordham on Instagram. Arrive early to get a seat, and don’t hesitate to prepare a song to perform for the crowd.

Sunday Oct. 13

Rams vs. Rams

Moglia Stadium 1 p.m.

Pack the stands of Moglia Stadium this Sunday to support Fordham’s women’s soccer team as they take on the Rams of the University of Rhode Island. Kickoff is at 1 p.m., and the game will be on ESPN+.

COURTESY OF ELEANOR SMITH FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham’s music department partners with Rodrigue’s Coffee House to host monthly jazz concerts for students and faculty.

By JULIANNA MORALES FEATURES EDITOR

Global Outreach (GO!) has operated out of Fordham University’s Center for Community Engaged Learning (CCEL) for the past 62 years. They run four or five projects in each of the three program cycles each year: winter, spring and summer.

Applications recently closed for the coming winter programs, running from Jan. 4-11, 2025. The winter programs are taking place in Arizona, California, Mexico, Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Thirty students were accepted to partake in these offerings.

“In CCEL, we have the applications open for about two weeks. There is a host of questions that are asked for different topics that are geared towards the specific projects, the mission of Global Outreach, the mission of Fordham and the work that they do,” explained John Gownley, associate director of Campus Engagement. He said that the applications are first reviewed by the student leaders of the upcoming projects, who also interview all the applicants. For the last phase of the application review process, Gownley said they then “go into a review process with different folks in the department to see where the students are at.”

Gownley explained that GO!

Fordham CCEL Hosts GO! Applications

has four or five main themes for their projects, primarily environmental justice, migration, civil discourse and history of the nations. When asked about what programs are the most popular, Gownley said that there has been a recent uptick in interest in environmental justice. He attributes some of this to Fordham having recently received a large Environmental Protection Agency grant, causing the Fordham community to be more interested in the environment.

The programs cost between $1,500 and $2,500. “We are always upfront that it needs to be funded by the individual who applies for the project, but then there are scholarships that students can apply for,” Gownley stated.

He explained that the funding for scholarships comes primarily from alumni benefactors who give either to the school in general or to specific scholarship funds. When students are accepted into a GO! program, they can apply for these scholarships. Their applications are then reviewed to see if a percentage of their costs is able to be covered.

Additionally, GO! teams will fundraise for the trips through bake sales, outreach to families and donations on GiveCampus, an online fundraising platform.

“Fordham has worked with 100, if not more, community partners

around the world and domestically. We try to balance domestic projects as well as global projects,” said Gownley. He explained that balancing domestic and international offerings is even more important to CCEL after the COVID-19 pandemic, during which they could only do domestic and Zoom outreach.

“From those community partners, and new community partners we are always making, we try to balance where we are going or what we are doing given the time of the year or what the country is going through,” Gownley stated when asked how CCEL chooses each cycle’s projects.

He explained that he did a GO! project in Ecuador when he was in college at another Jesuit institution. However, due to the current political climate in Ecuador, they cannot currently take students there. GO! needs to pay attention to circumstances like this with all the locations they consider.

On all GO! trips, there is a student leader. These leaders are mostly GO! alumni because CCEL wants the leaders to understand the process and the mission as well as be familiar with how the programs work. However, Gownley explained there are some exceptions when students have done similar work to a project or have

other relevant experience.

Besides student leaders, GO! does see some repeat students on trips. However, since CCEL does want to ensure that as many students as possible have the opportunity to participate, there are very few repeat students in each program cycle.

“We have five pillars as the foundation which are from the Jesuit volunteer corps. It’s all rooted in social justice, community, education, solidarity and spirituality. We hope that the students foster and grow in those areas as

well as with one another,” said Gownley.

He explained that CCEL wants GO! to be an opportunity for all Fordham students. It is not aimed at a particular major or type of student. He hopes that GO!, and CCEL in general, is a hub of opportunity for students from all areas of campus to further support the mission of Jesuit education and community. Applications for the spring cycle will open next week. Students can look for more information on GO!’s application information webpage.

Fordham Concludes Cura Personalis Fundraising Campaign

By STUART CREMER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Fordham University recently concluded its most recent fundraising campaign, Cura Personalis, For Every Fordham Student, an effort that started in 2021. The Cura Personalis fundraising campaign raised $371 million, surpassing its goal by $20 million.

The name of the fundraiser, Cura Personalis, references the Jesuit mission of educating the whole person, exemplified by the fundraiser’s four pillars: access and affordability, student wellness and success, academic excellence and athletics. The money raised went towards a wide variety of causes within Fordham, reflecting the university’s desire to support every aspect of student life.

The Cura Personalis campaign funded the development of the McShane Campus Center on the Rose Hill campus. Renovations included an 80,000-square-foot addition and bigger spaces for the Career Center, Campus Ministry and the Center for Community Engaged Learning. Other beneficiaries of the campaign included the New Era Fund for the basketball program, the Trustee Diversity Fund for economically disadvantaged students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, the LGBTQ+ Student Wellbeing Fund, student research, Serving

the City Internships and 153 new financial aid funds.

Annette McLaughlin, director of Fordham’s Office of Career Services, described how the Career Center’s space in the McShane Center introduced students to new opportunities. According to McLaughlin, student engagement with the Career Center has increased by 220% ever since they moved into their new space. She described it as a friendly, inviting environment for students to network with each other, alumni, faculty and professionals.

McLaughlin explained that the Career Center seeks to serve students across all disciplines and backgrounds and invites students to “come and engage with us.” She emphasized the importance of having a dedicated space for Career Services and how it has elevated their relationship with faculty and students. She hopes to continue to expand the scope and reach of the services offered by the Career Center.

Joan Cavanagh, the director of spiritual and pastoral ministry, noted how the Cura Personalis fundraising campaign benefited the LGBTQ+ Student Wellbeing Fund. “In the two years since it was founded, the LGBTQ+ Student Wellbeing Fund has been making a difference all around Fordham — supporting events, services, classes and faculty initiatives that make Fordham more

welcoming to students of all genders and identities,” Cavanagh said.

One event Cavanagh said the fund made possible is Ignatian Q, an annual conference organized by the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities to promote community and spirituality among LGBTQ+ students. The LGBTQ+ Student Wellbeing Fund enabled Fordham to host the conference in 2023 and send 10 students to the 2024 Ignatian Q conference at Saint Louis University. The fund also supports Students Together for Acceptance, Respect, and Support and an oral history project with the SAGE center which allows Fordham students to engage with high school and elderly LGBTQ+ local community members and supports those members with additional opportunities. The fund also supplied LGBTQ+ students with scholarships to participate in the Global Outreach and Urban Plunge programs.

While many students have benefited from the fundraising campaign, others expressed concerns about how the money is being used, citing a lack of change in the quality of their student experience.

Tess Trammell, FCLC ’26, expressed a desire for additional money to be directed towards improving facilities specifically at

the Lincoln Center campus.

Referencing the renovation of the McShane Center, Allie Kouch, GSB ’26, said, “Adding a second entrance right next to the original entrance did virtually nothing but waste the money. I haven’t even noticed a difference in the space for the Career Center.” Other students agreed that they had not made much use of the McShane Center or noticed many differences.

“I never go to the student center unless I’m picking up mail, so it doesn’t affect my life really,” said Mia Vilke, FCRH ’26. Megan Kuck, GSB ’26, noted that while she did not utilize the McShane Center much, she thought that the additions to Campus Ministry were nice for the students who utilize their ser-

vices. “I would like more money to go towards what I use or towards lowering tuition,” Kuck said. Vilke and Kuck also expressed they would like more money to go towards lowering the cost of university dining options. On the other hand, those who used university services made possible by the Cura Personalis campaign, such as the McShane Center, expressed more appreciation. “I think the money raised by the Cura Personalis fundraising campaign has certainly helped to provide better community spaces for students,” stated Margaret Gilligan, FCRH ’25. “The McShane Center in particular has been beneficial to me and my peers as a place to study during finals or just relax and play pool.”

COURTESY OF FORDHAM GO!

Fordham CCEL hosts GO! applications for Fordham students.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM The Cura Personalis fundraiser exceeded its goal of $350 million.

Fordham Ranked 91st in 2025 National Rankings

FROM DROP, PAGE 1

weight in the U.S. News score,” said Dr. Dennis Jacobs, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “Fordham’s rank in U.S. News is influenced both by our performance and the performance of the 434 other institutions included in the national rankings.”

The methodology used by U.S. News in their National University rankings has changed in recent years, as “more than half of a school’s rank now comprises measures related to schools’ success at enrolling, retaining and graduating students,” according to the U.S. News website. Efforts made to improve retention and graduation rates take years to fully implement and see the effects

of, making it a possibility that Fordham may not rise in the rankings for a few more years.

“The most strongly weighted measure contributing to 42% of a university’s overall score in the 2025 U.S. News rankings is the four-year rolling average of the university’s sixyear graduation rate,” Jacobs said. “In other words, the 2025 rankings are based heavily on a lagging indicator — 83% of the students who entered Fordham between 2014 and 2017 graduated from Fordham six years after they started.”

In regards to the changed methodology used by U.S. News, Jacobs added that “the net effect was that public institutions, on average, did much better in the rankings,

while private institutions like Fordham dropped significantly.” Approximately 38 public institutions outrank Fordham.

“What is true in comparing the 2024 and 2025 rankings is that Fordham remains the fifth highest ranked Jesuit institution, the seventh highest Catholic institution and the 10th highest ranked university in New York state,” said Jacobs.

Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business was ranked 77th in the nation, up seven points from last year.

“We are committed to improving the first-to-second-year retention rate and graduation rate for Fordham undergraduates, the reputation and standing of Fordham’s academic programs, and the career

readiness of our graduates. Together, these initiatives will impact 72% of Fordham’s weighted score in the current methodology of rankings employed by U.S. News,” Jacobs said.

Currently, Fordham’s graduation rate is at 76%, with an acceptance rate of 56%, according to U.S. News. “Since Fordham’s acceptance rate has gone up in recent years, I think we’re being less selective with our admissions, considering the acceptance rate was at an all-time high this year,” said Megan Ruzicka, FCRH ’27. “This could contribute to us dropping in the rankings.”

U.S. News labels approximately 33 institutions — ranked higher than Fordham — with

having a higher tuition rate, listing Fordham’s overall cost (tuition and fees) at $64,470. The University of South Florida, tied at 91 with Fordham, is the cheapest school in the top 91 spots with an overall cost of $17,324 for out-of-state students. In terms of the ranking, I feel like it has mostly to do with the cost,” said Maia Dawzack, FCRH ’27. “The tuition increase can be a huge adjustment, and probably is one for many people. There are definitely some things that can be hard to overlook, but I’m so grateful to be at Fordham and I love taking advantage of all the opportunities it offers, and it’s important to realize every school has its ups and downs.”

McShane Gives Lecture in Orthodoxy in America Lecture Series

FROM MCSHANE, PAGE 1

attendants of Tuesday’s lecture, stating, “It seeks to promote understanding of Orthodox Christianity in Western culture… and to promote ecumenical dialogue and relations, especially with Roman Catholicism.”

Ecumenism is a movement within Christianity that seeks unity across different denominations. In his lecture, McShane highlighted the history of division and the attempts at unity. He spoke about the Great Schism of 1054 that resulted in the formation of an Eastern and a Western church and the 1964 meeting of Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul IV in Jerusalem to commit themselves to reconciling their differences.

In introducing his speech, McShane stated he would provide “reflections on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we must go.”

When asked what he hopes attendees took away from his lecture, McShane said, “I hope people first learn a bit about the history and then take it upon themselves and make it their responsibility to join the Patriarch and the Pope in this alliance of grace.”

McShane emphasized that working together helps us

discover that we have more similarities than differences. He highlighted that we should not be satisfied with only a Christian “alliance of grace,” but we must also pursue interfaith alliances of coexistence, understanding and interfaith dialogue. McShane highlighted Pope Francis’ trips to Singapore and Indonesia to pray and speak with Muslim leaders as an example of this practice of building interreligious bridges.

As his title emphasizes, we are living in an “Age of Anxiety.” In a September 2023 report, the World Health Organization stated, “Anxiety disorders are the world’s most common mental disorders, affecting 301 million people in 2019.”

McShane addressed these anxieties head-on and insisted that we can tackle social justice issues when we are unified, leaving attendees feeling energized and impressed.

Aidan Nanquil, FCRH ’27, said, “I’ve recognized that ecumenism has always been an important part of the Church, especially after Vatican II in the ’60s, but seeing the contemporary process of both the Patriarch and the Pope in having mutual respect for each other and looking for ways, even small ways, to respect and honor the faiths of each other has been

really important to me because it shows that there can be a sense of ecumenicity and a sense of connection even if we’re divided along church lines.”

Anas Islam, FCRH ’28, who also attended the lecture, shared, “[The Church] has a lot of history — a history of unity, a history of division, and it’s times like these where we’re coming together and gaining understanding and creating solutions for the future and ensuring that it prospers.”

Nanquil and Islam are involved in the fellowship program Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center offers.

“I’ve been a devout Catholic my whole life, but I’ve always had a profound reverence for Orthodox Christianity because I see it as a totally different but important type of worship,” Nanquil said about how his involvement with the center supported the deepening of his faith. “Being able to learn about this other form of Christianity that has the same type of reverence and similar structure in terms of ministry and being able to worship and learn about God in a different way means a lot to me.”

When asked about why it’s

important to have these conversations today, McShane responded, “Well, I think right now it’s important because the world needs modeling, modeling by adults who are able to talk through differences. I think it’s important for lectures like this

to be held right now to say there is hope because there are people with great integrity and vision who are committed to this.”

Nanquil said he left the lecture feeling hopeful, stating, “It makes me hopeful for the future, and it shows me that I have a personal part in responding to this.”

Students Bring Flags and Signs to McShane

FROM HOST, PAGE 1

asked to only be referred to by her first name.

Around 12:30 p.m., Dean of Students Christopher Rodgers sat down at the table and spoke to students.

“The first time he [Rodgers] came over, he asked for my first and last name, and I gave them to him, and then he asked if I was a resident here or a commuter student,” said Unnam. “I told him I’m not a resident here and he asked if I was commuting from

home or if I lived in the Belmont community and I asked him, ‘Is this information necessary? Do you need to know this?’ and he was like, ‘Actually, I do need to know,’ and then he moved on because I wasn’t going to give him any more answers.”

Rodgers spoke to the students for around eight minutes, asking for names and IDs. He and said that they needed to coordinate an event like this and asked who owned the flags.

“We told him we would be

here until 2 p.m., and apparently he’s going to come here and check in with me when this is over,” said Unnam.

Some students at the table recorded Rodgers’ interaction with students.

“He was mostly speaking to Siri, and I had my phone recording facing down, not getting his face or anything. Then he asked me if I was a part of this study group, and then told me that I wasn’t allowed to record him and that he’s not recording me,”

said Claire. “Public Safety had already taken our pictures at that point and Siri brought that up.”

At 1:57 p.m., students removed the flags from the table. By 2:10 p.m., Rodgers had not returned.

“I just hope people will continue speaking up — I think that’s one of the main concerns I’ve had personally,” said Gen, FCRH ’24, who asked to only be referred to by her first name. “Since the events of the past

year, people are very aware of what’s going on. People are conscious of it, but the momentum for struggling against and speaking up has sort of waned over time. This is sort of like a constant reminder that people have to be confronted with.”

Five students were still around the table at 3:30 p.m. with keffiyehs. By 5:19 p.m., no students remained around the table.

Additional reporting was done by Adithi Vimalanathan.

COURTESY OF JESSICA NOCE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM The event was held in the Great Hall of the McShane center.

Fordham Ranked 91st in 2025 National Rankings

of, making it a possibility that Fordham may not rise in the rankings for a few more years.

In regards to the changed methodology used by U.S. News, Jacobs added that “the net effect was that public institutions, on average, did much better in the rankings,

while private institutions like Fordham dropped significantly.” Approximately 38 public institutions outrank Fordham.

Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business was ranked 77th in the nation, up seven points from last year.

“We are committed to improving the first-to-second-year retention rate and graduation rate for Fordham undergraduates, the reputation and standing of Fordham’s academic programs, and the career

readiness of our graduates. Together, these initiatives will impact 72% of Fordham’s weighted score in the current methodology of rankings employed by U.S. News,” Jacobs said.

U.S. News labels approximately 33 institutions — ranked higher than Fordham — with

McShane Gives Lecture on Orthodoxy in America Lecture Series

FROM MCSHANE, PAGE 1

In introducing his speech, McShane stated he would provide “reflections on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we must go.”

McShane emphasized that working together helps us

McShane addressed these anxieties head-on and insisted that we can tackle social justice issues when we are unified, leaving attendees feeling energized and impressed.

really important to me because it shows that there can be a sense of ecumenicity and a sense of connection even if we’re divided along church lines.”

Nanquil and Islam are involved in the fellowship program Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Center offers.

“I’ve been a devout Catholic my whole life, but I’ve always had a profound reverence for Orthodox Christianity because I see it as a totally different but important type of worship,”

Nanquil said about how his involvement with the center supported the deepening of his faith. “Being able to learn about this other form of Christianity that has the same type of reverence and similar structure in terms of ministry and being able to worship and learn about God in a different way means a lot to me.”

When asked about why it’s

to be held right now to say there is hope because there are people with great integrity and vision who are committed to this.”

Nanquil said he left the lecture feeling hopeful, stating, “It makes me hopeful for the future, and it shows me that I have a personal part in responding to this.”

Students Bring Flags and Signs to McShane

asked to only be referred to by her first name.

Around 12:30 p.m., Dean of Students Christopher Rodgers sat down at the table and spoke to students.

Rodgers spoke to the students for around eight minutes, asking for names and IDs. He and said that they needed to coordinate an event like this and asked who owned the flags.

“We told him we would be

here until 2 p.m., and apparently he’s going to come here and check in with me when this is over,” said Unnam.

Some students at the table recorded Rodgers’ interaction with students.

said Claire. “Public Safety had already taken our pictures at that point and Siri brought that up.”

At 1:57 p.m., students removed the flags from the table. By 2:10 p.m., Rodgers had not returned.

Five students were still around the table at 3:30 p.m. with keffiyehs. By 5:19 p.m., no students remained around the table.

Additional reporting was done by Adithi Vimalanathan.

COURTESY OF JESSICA NOCE FOR THE FORDHAM RAM The event was held in the Great Hall of the McShane Center.

Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Advising System Updated

FROM SYSTEM, PAGE 1

cur rent advisor is not only who I go to for advice on my degree, but also someone who helps me with all my questions related to my field of study in and out of university,” Ronca said. However, he expressed concerns that future students might not be able to form as personal of a relationship with their advisors due to the relatively small number of professional advisors.

The Fordham College Advising Center is still new, but feedback has been generally positive according to Burrs. Burrs noted, “One of the key advantages of the new system is its consistency. Students now have a primary point of contact

for their broader academic concerns, but they also get opportunities to connect with faculty for specialized advice.”

This dual approach aims to blend the best of professional advising with the mentorship traditionally offered by faculty members.

As the advising system continues to improve, Burrs and the student advising committee said they will remain committed to refining the experience. “We are always open to feedback and making improvements,” Burrs said.

“Our goal is to create an advising system that not only supports students academically but also helps them navigate

the personal and professional challenges they face during their time at Fordham.”

The next phase of the advising system’s rollout will focus on seniors, ensuring they receive tailored guidance as they prepare for graduation and life beyond Fordham. With current changes, the university hopes to maintain a balance between professional advising and faculty involvement, ensuring that every student has the support they need to succeed. As Fordham expands the system to encompass all four years of students’ academic journeys, the collaboration between advisors and faculty will continue to play a crucial role in helping students thrive academically and personally.

Families Visit Campus for Family Weekend

work went into all of this, so being trusted with a position like this is something that for sure means a lot to me,” said Kelley. Kelley noted how he appreciated the opportunity to serve on this team and assist in planning a large campus event such as Family Weekend.

Additionally, Kelley said he appreciates the ability to bring the Fordham community together over a long weekend. “[My favorite part] has to be, without a doubt, the energy on campus, happy students and happy families all spending time together,” said Kelley. “I know what we are doing is helping make a great environment, but the joy of families seeing their kids is so much bigger than we are.”

Skinner described the teams’

excitement for the entire weekend, but a few parts that brought them the most joy.

“The Welcome Reception sets the tone for the entire weekend, and it’s so wonderful to get to speak to families after months of planning,” Skinner said prior to Family Weekend. “We are so excited to connect with families during our breakfast, give them golf cart campus tours and ultimately show how much we love our school. It’s such a wonderful weekend, and we cannot wait to see everyone.”

In conversation with Fordham families, they expressed excitement about the programs offered at Family Weekend, notably the bingo event on Friday evening. “I came mainly to see my most wonderful brother, Jack, but some other things

that excited me were the bingo and football games,” said Katie McDonald. McDonald, who made the trip from Westchester County, said she enjoyed spending time with her family at Fordham. “I can’t wait to be able to go to one of these events again, I even ended up walking away from bingo with a Jellycat!” she said. “Thank you Fordham University and all of their staff for hosting such a nice and fun-filled weekend.”

“I enjoyed the welcoming reception, the food was delicious,” noted Barbara Watts, who attended the appetizers reception on the steps outside Keating Hall. “I also was very impressed with the Marketplace, which was very welcoming, with great food. My chicken, mushroom and pasta dish was wonderful.”

Additionally, several families made the journey to Bronx Little Italy for dinner, heading to restaurants such as Moise’s, Mario’s, Tra Di Noi and Michelangelo’s.

“We enjoyed going out with the family for dinner at Moise’s,” said Kevin McDonald. “There was a lot to choose from this weekend.”

“I went to Prince Cafe with my parents,” said Tyler Rayer, GSB ’28, whose parents made the journey from Pennsylvania. Additionally, Rayer also took some time to run some errands. “I also watched the football game, had lunch at the Grotto and then got some extra pillows for my room.”

USG Recaps Retreat and Hears Club Proposals

By ANDREW MASSIE & EMMA LEONARDI

Fordham University Rose Hill’s United Student Government (USG) met to hear proposals for two new potential clubs and recap their retreat on Oct. 3.

USG went to the Bronx Zoo on Sunday, Sept. 29, for their annual retreat. Members brainstormed nearly 30 initiative proposals during the retreat, with three concrete proposals emerging as issues worth urgently pursuing. These proposals include initiatives related to career services and health center improvements; specific proposal details were not given.

Usage of the Special Proclamation was also mentioned at the retreat. This rule allows USG to recognize significant student achievement. The process involves a nomination by a USG representative and approval from the executive president or two-thirds of the USG cabinet.

USG both nominated and approved a Special Proclamation honoring the grassroots work and charity Fordham Food Walks has done toward reducing food

waste. This is the first time such an honor has been awarded in many years.

Fordham Food Walks, which aims to use leftover meal swipes to buy food for distribution in the Bronx community, was suggested as a potential award recipient. A student-led GroupMe of over 400 students has donated over 6,100 meals since the start of the spring 2024 semester to Part of the Solution, an organization to fight hunger and poverty in the Bronx.

Feel Good, a student-run organization affiliated with The Hunger Project presented a proposal to establish an official chapter at Fordham. The group, which has spent nearly a year planning in collaboration with Hunger Project leaders and a student from the University of Virginia, aims to raise awareness and support global hunger relief through events like a “Grilled Cheesea-thon.” However, USG voted to table the application, citing concerns about safety risks associated with purchasing cooking equipment. USG leaders plan to review the bylaws before moving forward with

the process at a later date.

The second club to present was the Chinese Student Association. Their intended purpose is to dedicate a space for Chinese students and to offer all Fordham students the chance to learn more about Chinese culture. Involvement in the club will include biweekly meetings and monthly outings. Proposed outings include but are not limited to visiting the Chinese Institute Gallery, celebrating the Lunar New Year in the city and trips to You and Me Books, the first Asian women-owned bookstore in Manhattan. This club would also like to focus on volunteer opportunities and is working with the Chinese Progressive Association, an organization focused on social and political equality for Chinese Americans. The club was approved with the caveat that they must change their name so as not to get confused with the Commuting Student Association.

USG nominated clubs to be recognized as September’s Club of the Month. Nominations included Fordham Backstage, Fordham Experimental

Theatre, Smart Woman Securities and Model United Nations. Fordham Backstage, a club for students interested in technical theater and stage crew, won the majority vote and is officially September’s Club of the Month.

Joseph DaProcida, FCRH ’25, vice president of Student Experience, recapped the success of USG’s Keating Steps event. DaProcida said that the Student Experience subcommittee had received feedback from students who hoped for more events that would take place in the fall. In response, DaProcida said he plans to work with Dining and Facilities to hold a Halloween-themed Midnight Breakfast similar to those held around finals week. He also proposed event ideas for later in the semester, such as a student art exhibit and performance group caroling.

Vice President Emma Blake, FCRH ’25, announced several upcoming events, including an undergraduate research symposium in collaboration with Dr. Christopher Aubin. Blake also highlighted a meet-and-greet with Dean Maura Mast on Oct. 8, followed by office hours on Oct. 29, which will be held on

Zoom. Additionally, physical certificates will be awarded to Dean’s List students.

Regina Miller, FCRH ’26, vice president of Sustainability, discussed updates on the upcoming Fordham Flea event, a student-run thrift store. According to Miller, donation bins were put out around campus and posters with more information would be forthcoming. Aside from this event, Miller shared the idea of a potential partnership with New Student Orientation to incorporate discussions about sustainable living at Fordham with incoming first-years.

Mike Rodriguez, FCRH ’27, vice president of Facilities and Dining, met with John Puglisi, associate vice president of Facilities Management, to discuss ongoing campus construction projects. These include renovations to the University Church, construction behind John Mulcahy Hall, and work on the west wing of O’Hare Hall. Rodriguez also announced the introduction of a new D.I.Y. smoothie bar in the McShane Marketplace. In recognition of Rosh Hashanah, a selection of holiday-related foods is now available.

COURTESY OF CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM Families cheer for Fordham Football on Family Weekend.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ADVISING Students are now assigned a general advisor.

R

Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918

The Fordham Ram is the university journal of record. The mission of The Ram is to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas to the community and to be a student advocate. The Ram is published and distributed free of charge every Wednesday during the year to the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses with a readership of over 12,000 and a web readership of over 300,000.

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My mom was born in ToulRosières, France, and my dad in Barranquilla, Colombia; living abroad has always been a dream of mine for as long as I can recall. For as much as I love my quintessential suburban hometown in New Jersey, commonly home to multiple generations of the same family, I knew that life my life existed beyond those bounds. In second grade, with my dinosaur school project in hand, I attended a college tour with my oldest brother Ben (who is nine years older than me) and my mom. I remember listening to the student tour guide speak about study-abroad opportunities at Bucknell University. Since that moment, I have looked to studying abroad as my chance to live out one of my life dreams. Thirteen years later, in the fall 2023 semester, I packed my entire wardrobe into two checked bags, dragged them through Heathrow Airport, settled into my flat in Elephant in Castle and officially embarked on a semester-long journey in London. At the time, I was admittedly a bit apprehensive about starting this new chapter in my life because all but one of my core friends accepted abroad programs in the spring semester. However, I told myself that this was the time to say “yes” to life and expand my circle to others, as together, we would share a collective experience of living in and experiencing London as Fordham

OPINION

From the Desk | Grace Miller

The Old College Try

students. Throughout the program, I quickly made many new friends that I consider to be instrumental pieces in my college experience, and I thank them for their friendships and the memories that we share, from exploring London’s culinary scene to listening to live music at Piano Works on Tuesdays to road-tripping from Vienna to Salzburg, Austria, to see the abbey from “The Sound of Music” to getting stranded in Taormina, Italy, at night and needing to climb down a cliff barefoot along the coast in search of a cab. (Sorry, Mom and Dad.)

The next semester, I got thrown into a subletting position with a friend I made abroad and three girls I had never met before, which is rare at Fordham. Despite having never met, the five of us instantly clicked. In retrospect, I believe we all had the mindset to embrace new friendships and make the most of the semester since our respective core friend groups were abroad. The house became a home because of the genuine friendships we made, and I look fondly on playing “Just Dance” after nights out, recapping our week every Friday in our backyard with a slushie from the Bronx Retail Market in hand and eating tacos every Thursday at Rancho’s. Many of the traditions we made are still carried to this day, even though we don’t live together anymore.

As senior festivities have commenced, I have been quite overwhelmed by my college experience coming to an end. I thank my incredibly supportive parents and older brothers who have shown up for me at both my best and worst (and driving me to Fordham so that I can avoid NJ Transit at all costs); my friends for bringing me out of my shell and being the sisters I never had; my professors who have consistently challenged my intellect and shaped my understanding of the world through literature, economics, theater, Spanish language, art and architectural history, religion and philosophy; Fordham for being the most beautiful college campus and offering me opportunities to explore my professional and individual interests through the Ram, Smart Woman Securities, New Student Orientation, as well as pilates classes and my love for Italian cuisine; and New York City for continually inspiring me.

Reflecting on my college

Editorial | Debates

Candidates Need to Face the Facts

Last week, 43.15 million people tuned into the CBS News vice presidential debate with Republican candidate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Democrat Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. If you watched the CBS debate, you may have noticed a QR code on the screen. Scanning the QR code would bring you to the CBS News website, where reporters factchecked the debate in realtime. Each debate this election season has had a different way of live fact-checking. At the first presidential debate in June with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, CNN took a handsoff approach to fact-checking. During the ABC News debate with Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, moderators were more active with their fact checks. Before the vice presidential debate, CBS announced that they would follow CNN’s lead by having their moderators take a more passive approach to live fact-checking, with most of it taking place on their website. We believe that during a debate, voters deserve to know the facts, which is why it should be expected for candidates to be held accountable for the claims by the moderators with live fact-checking. Presidential debates as we know them now are a product

of the television era. The first televised debate was between former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. Starting in 1988, both party’s presidential candidates attended debates hosted by the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates. This organization was responsible for the debate format and would pick the moderator. However, this format was turned on its head when, two years ago, the Republican Party voted to ban their candidates from participating in the debate held by the Commission. Then, earlier this year, the Biden campaign announced he would also not participate in a debate from the Commission. The campaigns directly negotiated two debates that network news organizations would host. Instead of the Commission picking the moderator, network news organizations’ anchors have been put front and center. Since different media companies have hosted debates, it is interesting to see how the debate formats differ. CNN’s approach was to have the moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, guide the discussion so Biden and Trump would have the time to elaborate on issues without interruption. If a candidate brought up any false claims, CNN stated it would

be up to the other candidate to fact-check them. During the debate, CNN found that Trump made false claims 30 times, but the moderators did not address it live. CNN also found Biden made nine false claims. It has been reported in Variety that CNN decided to go this route because it did not want its reporters to be seen as biased by the American people.

ABC News took a different approach. The organization decided that moderators David Muir and Lindsey Davis would have the ability to live factcheck statements from Harris and Trump. One notable example of this was when Trump falsely claimed that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs. Muir pushed back and said ABC News had confirmed that the story was fake from the town manager. Trump went on “Fox & Friends” the next day and complained that the debate was a “three to one” and “rigged deal.”

In the lead-up to CBS’s debate, it seemed they would take the CNN approach. CBS News released a statement that moderators Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan would leave it up to the candidates to factcheck each other. The actual debate appeared more like a mix of CNN and ABC’s approaches. There was a moment when the

experience, there are three key lessons that come to mind: Take initiative in your life: it is yours to live but, most importantly, yours to create. Say “yes” to life (an adage of my parents): open up to the world. Identify what you, individually, bring to the table that is, your competitive advantage: capitalize on your inherent strengths to promote yourself and lift others up.

After graduation, I’ll be living in Manhattan and working at a French investment bank in the debt capital markets, which I couldn’t be more thrilled about. While I slightly dread the fateful day of graduation, which is completely natural, I have never felt more prepared to go out into the world and start a new chapter. Fordham has instilled in me the self-confidence and backbone needed to take on challenges in new environments, and I am forever grateful to have said “yes” to Fordham. I can definitely say that I gave it the old college try.

moderators clarified a claim Vance made about Haitian immigrants, and he questioned the moderators about why he was getting fact-checked. When he wouldn’t move on, the moderators muted the microphones. Trump was watching and subsequently wrote on Truth Social, “Both young ladies have been extremely biased Anchors.”

This year’s three debates demonstrate that American media does not have a consensus on what the role of the moderator in a presidential debate should be. However, a debate is only valuable to the audience if a moderator effectively keeps the candidates in check. We think that CNN’s approach creates an environment where candidates from both sides may feel too comfortable making false claims on the stage. People in positions of power should never feel uncomfortable being questioned because it’s part of the job. While ABC News has faced continued criticism for their fact-checking, we think that moderators being able to probe candidates for these powerful positions is a sign of a healthy media environment. If a fact check makes you uncomfortable, go to a political rally instead.

OPINION

Portion Sizes Might Soon See an Upheaval

Smaller portion sizes should be reflected in reduced prices.

By AMEYA JAIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

While there’s speculation that the United States is nearing the end of the Big Gulp Era, American culture is far from permanently smaller portion sizes. The National Restaurant Association’s 2024 report reveals that 75% of consumers are looking for smaller portion sizes for similarly reduced prices. This, however, does not factor in the deep-rooted customs in our country. In some cases, the very nature of a brand relies on value meals — and until these restaurants see a decline in sales, they will keep their current models. In other situations, companies might be shrinking their portion sizes, but they aren’t doing so in conjunction with lower prices. For smaller portion sizes to truly be feasible, an entire societal structure needs

to change, shifting American priorities from convenience and monetary value to health and sustainability. In comparison to other countries, our eating habits may seem absurd, but changing them requires a lot more than smaller portion sizes. It requires a collective cultural mindset shift. So, while Americans might care about smaller portion sizes in theory, what they care more about is value for their dollar.

Looking at companies whose brand identities rely on massive amounts of food, it’s clear that not every restaurant can afford to downsize their portions. For buffet-style restaurants, limiting consumption is out of the question because large portions are a fundamental pillar for its success — it’s in the name. If your favorite allyou-can-eat buffet stopped serving all-you-can-eat, you’d quickly

find a new go-to spot that follows through on its promise. Moreover, family dining chains such as IHOP and Denny’s thrive off of the hearty portions they provide. When people walk into these restaurants, they have the intention of stuffing themselves full of delicious, hefty meals. Reducing portion sizes would take away the appeal that comes with these chains, and they’d quickly lose relevance.

Yet, in some cases, not only can companies afford to make menu changes, they need to do so to stay relevant. We have seen steps taken by Burger King to reduce portion sizes on some menu items, but their intentions are profit-driven. In 2022, Burger King’s largest franchise in the U.S. announced that their 10-piece nugget box would be cut down to just eight. Wholesale brands like Betty Crocker have taken similar courses of action. The popular cake mix brand decreased its “Super Moist” cake mix from 16.25 ounces to 14.25 ounces without changing the cost or recipe instructions. By keeping the prices the same, customers were less likely to feel scammed for their money and more likely to accept the new change. These changes are examples of companies engaging in shrinkflation — a business practice where a package is marketed at the same price but contains less of the product.

While Burger King was relatively upfront about their changes, Betty Crocker’s attempt to divert attention from their downsize involved slight commercial manipulation. The company kept the recipe on the back of the box identical to the original so fewer people would notice a difference as they were baking the

cake. However, by removing 60 grams of the dry mix without adjusting the wet ingredients accordingly, the company sacrificed the quality of the final product. Lastly, Subway’s introduction of a snack menu category, “Sidekicks,” seems to be promoting smaller portion sizes through snacks. On the contrary, they are selling 12-inch cookies and churros under the guise of being snack foods, encouraging overconsumption. In this case, the product changes seem to be an innovative addition to the menu to drive sales, not an attempt to satisfy the desire for smaller portions.

From a global perspective, it’s no secret that American portion sizes are larger than most other countries. We’ve been fighting off accusations from Europeans over our soda cups and family-sized bags of chips for decades, and it’s a losing battle. What differentiates our TV dinners from their family meals and our processed aisles from their fresh produce can be boiled down to the ingredients and the culture of the food industry.

Ingredient regulation by The Food and Drug Administration is rarely as strict as it should be. Loopholes allow companies to declare chemicals used in their products to be generally safe without ever having to consult the FDA. Even when they are consulted, the review process allows additives to stay in products until proven harmful. In comparison, European countries require additives to be proven not harmful before they are allowed on the shelves. A language barrier separating American ingredient labels from foreign ones, but even a native English speaker might struggle with chemical names like

monosodium glutamate and butylated hydroxytoluene.

Additionally, the culture of a country largely contributes to the eating habits of its citizens. In many other countries, the practice of cooking, eating and sharing food is integrated into daily life. For example, Italians often focus on the quality of ingredients and family time during meals; individuals consequently listen to their hunger cues, thus eating slower. America’s hustle culture encourages individuals to eat quickly, treating meals as something to get over with. Whether it’s rushing to a drive-through during a 20-minute lunch break or heating up a frozen meal after a long day of work, we rarely take the time to think about what goes into our food. Instead, in true American fashion, we opt for convenience. While Americans think they want smaller portion sizes, it is so deeply ingrained in our culture to get the most food for our dollar that I doubt substantive change will be made in the form of smaller portions for less money. Instead, I think companies will be forced to reduce product sizes from a financial standpoint, leaving consumers with less bang for their buck. And before we have a conversation about suppliers moving away from super-sized meals, we need to tackle the bigger problem of consumers craving convenience.

Ameya Jain, FCRH ’28, is a psychology major from Los Angeles.

Fate of Marcellus Williams Calls for Change in Criminal Justice System

By INDIRA KAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Missouri, a state whose governing authority clings to the sanctity of life, executed Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams by lethal injection on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, with the permission of the U.S. Supreme Court. The death penalty has long been a debated issue in the United States concerning its morality, fairness and efficacy. Williams’ case offers insight into the horrific and corrupt criminal justice system. After a long fight for clemency and multiple calls for him to be spared the death penalty, with surmounting evidence of doubt, Williams was denied a stay of execution. Williams’ execution is an injustice and travesty, and there is no place in the justice system for the death penalty.

In 2001, Williams was convicted of the 1998 murder of former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, Felicia Gayle, and sentenced to death. For more than two decades on death row, Williams maintained his innocence. No forensic or physical evidence has ever tied Williams to the crime — he was not matched to the DNA found on the murder weapon nor was he matched to the footprints or hair found at the

crime scene. It was also found that the murder weapon had been mishandled in the trial as DNA evidence matched that of members of the prosecution, the credibility of key witness testimonies had been called into question, and evidence of racial bias within jury selection had been shown. The case was filled with racism and errors.

With Williams, the lack of evidence and trial errors has continuously raised serious doubt about his supposed guilt. The execution of Williams had been postponed first in 2015 and again in 2017. With the mounting doubt and concern surrounding the case, in 2017, former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens appointed a board to review the evidence and determine whether a condemned person should be executed. This intervention is not guaranteed; it only occurred due to advocating and petitioning by groups like the Innocence Project. It rarely happens, especially in the case of Missouri, a state with a high number of executions. In 2023, current Missouri Gov. Mike Parson dissolved the Board of Inquiry for Williams before it had produced a report on his innocence claim.

Williams’ attorneys shared that they considered his conviction

a “grave miscarriage of justice.” Leading up to his execution, the prosecutor’s office had made a motion to vacate the sentencing and suggested he was wrongfully convicted. In the clemency petition, Gayle’s family stated it “defines closure as Marcellus being allowed to live” and that “Marcellus’ execution is not necessary.” Despite these efforts, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey fought to have Williams executed. The Missouri Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court and pro-life Parson denied a stay of execution — resulting in the execution of Williams.

Thousands of Missouri natives and others around the nation followed the case and attempted to contact the governor’s office to halt the execution. Congresswoman Cori Bush sent a letter to Parson asking for clemency and released a statement condemning the final decision to end Williams’ life.

The irreversibility of the death penalty allows for lives to be lost due to judicial errors or prosecutorial misconduct. Mass incarceration and the criminal justice system are used to maintain racialized social control, disproportionately affecting Black and brown men and those of lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The death penalty is

applied in a discriminatory manner. It is not a deterrent to crime. It is a notoriously expensive system whose resources could be allocated toward restorative programs and more humane approaches to justice. Williams is one of many who have faced or will face execution this year. In general, the death penalty needs to be abolished. Williams was a father, a devout Muslim, an imam for prisoners and a poet. His last statement was, “All Praise be to Allah In Every Situation!!!” Regarding Williams, the death penalty and innocence, writer Hanif Abdurraqib shared his thoughts: “To be so easily seduced by an investment in innocence recreates and reinforces a binary where someone deserves

to be executed more or less than someone else.” No one deserves the death penalty. No one deserves to be executed. This case highlights the inherent flaws in our system and underscores the urgent need for its abolishment.

Indira Kar, FCRH ’25, is an international studies major from St. Louis, Mo.

COURTESY MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Marcellus Williams’ execution sparks debates about the death penalty.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

OPINION

Conscience Over Party Line: The Antidote to Political Polarization

By MICHAEL DUKE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Polarization is a problem. For many years, Republicans and Democrats have accused the opposing party of being against America and seeking to destroy the fabric of our republic, and both have made it publicly clear that they want the other gone.

There seems to be no comradery. When Republicans turns on CNN, they feel alienated by the left-leaning biases of anchors talking about any number of issues. For years, the sentiment has been said by both the Libertarians and Republicans that the “fake news media” seeks to tear down the Republicans while propping up Democrats. Similarly, when a Democrat flips their TV on to Fox News, they feel the same way, but differently from other Republicans in that they would describe any conservative media outlet as being indoctrinated or scripted.

It’s because of this simple reality that the idea that Americans today are united couldn’t be harder to grasp. To make matters worse, the Pew Research Center found that 65% of Americans “always or often feel exhausted when thinking about politics.”

To make this statistic feel more real, take any issue that a Republican politician could speak about, and 10 times out of 10, a member of the opposing party will shut down the argument for the sake of

By STUART CREMER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

New York City hosted the annual Climate Week NYC from Sept. 22-29, a conference that started in 2009 to bring together business leaders, political change makers, local decision makers and civil society representatives of all ages and backgrounds to drive the transition to a more sustainable and fossil fuel-free future with the esteemed United Nations General Assembly. The international non-profit named Climate Group, behind Climate Week, says its purpose is “to drive climate action, fast.” 2024 Climate Week NYC brought together more than 100,000 attendees and consisted of over 600 events and activities. The theme of 2024 Climate Week NYC, coming in the wake of 1.5 degrees Celsius global temperature rise, was “It’s Time.”

While most people, and certainly most participants and speakers, agree that it is time to confront the impact of human industry and activities on the climate, it’s not as clear what that looks like. For decades, climate activism has been hampered by goalpost shifting. As goals we have set for climate change inch ever closer, from

advancing their party’s platform and agenda. But why? Is it because Democrats and Republicans have opted to attack each other in the public square to gain favor with constituents? Does either party actually care about fostering holistic debate and finding common ground?

The argument could be made that this golden age of our republic is gone and has been for some time. Former President Ronald Reagan used to get drinks with former Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill. I, for one, have never expected President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris to grab a beer with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson or Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. However, when we elect our leaders into office, it’s their job to accomplish goals and get wins through legislation. But what we tend to get is sharptongued politicians on media outlets calling out members of the other side and everyone gets hit by shrapnel because of it. If a Republican goes on Newsmax and criticizes a Biden administration policy, voters cut themselves down the middle on the basis of political affiliation and the other side preps their response. Around and around we go, and it has been for too long.

There will never be a space where Republicans and most Democrats can all come and

agree on every issue. However, there is a space where they can agree to disagree. That place is called Capitol Hill.

This is exemplified in a recent segment on Brett Baier’s “Special Report,” where the anchor hosted the Democratic Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania and Republican Sen. Katie Britt from Alabama. The two senators went live on air to discuss bipartisan efforts to protect children and teenagers who use social media and are negatively affected by it. Viewers likely would not have expected to see both senators sit down and agree on an issue, but what viewers did witness fills Americans with a lot of hope. Britt said on the segment, “I think John and I both believe that if you share a common goal, you have a duty to the people you serve to get in a room and figure out a pathway forward.”

This is precisely the type of rhetoric that we must hear more of coming from our elected leaders. When voters go to the polls in November or any future election, one of the most important issues that they should debate before they tow the party line is whether or not their pick can be trusted to advance policies that promote the goodwill of America and its citizens.

One tactic I’m using for this upcoming election is analyzing the people who are on the ballot for me in my home state of Arizona and asking myself if I think that any individual

candidate would be someone that I’d have a healthy conversation with over dinner, or if I’d have to carry the conversation. Your gut feeling about someone is your greatest asset, and you should utilize and listen to it. If a senator or representative seems stiff on camera, or if you pick up that there’s something “off” about them, what you see is likely what their colleagues in the halls of Congress get. But until the election is over, don’t expect conditions to get better. At the end of the day, a Republican or Democrat will be president next year. A Republican or Democrat majority will take their places in the Senate and the House, and life moves on. But, the most important thing we can focus on until

Why NYC Climate Week Matters

limiting warming to under 1.5 degrees Celsius to having a net-zero carbon economy by 2050, many fossil fuel reliant industry leaders have argued that such limits are unrealistic or economically unviable, pushing back the deadlines for these goals. Heather Zincal, the global head of sustainability for JPMorgan Chase & Co., explained that JP Morgan thinks there needs to be a shift from the goals they no longer think are attainable, particularly keeping global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius. Understandably, many people, myself included, are frustrated at the inclusion of large corporations in these conversations when such corporations often call necessary climate action unrealistic or unattainable. As Al Gore said at Climate Week, fossil fuel companies are not going to “lead the way” in tackling climate change.

The primary goal of the large corporations represented at NYC Climate Week, such as Amazon, Google, JP Morgan and Occidental Petroleum, is always to make money. These companies will do whatever it takes to grow their profit margins; no other goal of the company can interfere with the primary, existential goal

of profit generation. The turn towards environmentally conscious business practices is the result of climate activism and governmental regulation, making it harder for corporations to make money by burning fossil fuels, which accelerates the transition to clean energy. This transition is happening, and we saw many commitments from large corporations to move towards clean energy during NYC Climate Week, from greater support of nuclear energy and electrical vehicles to a commitment to purchasing clean energy. However, when we hear corporations say certain climate goals are “unrealistic” or “unattainable,” what they mean is certain goals are unrealistic while maintaining these corporations’ profit margins. These profit margins are not necessary for anyone else except these corporations, but they will not give up their profitability unless they are forced to.

When their direct profitability comes from a massive consumption of fossil fuels that directly contributes to climate change, they are sacrificing the public good. It is important to include large corporations in conversations about climate change and make sure the cli-

the fireworks of the election are over is trusting our conscience, analyzing politicians for what they say and not who they are or what they align with and remembering that we’re all neighbors. For example, a Democrat could be your family’s financial advisor. Also, a Republican could own your local grocery store. Characterizing people doesn’t work and has several flaws. We need to remember this and instead realize that because we have the ability to change, our “Golden Age” can resume once again.

mate goals we set are attainable. However, we should not take corporations at their word when they say certain goals are unattainable. For the longest time, keeping the global temperature change under 1.5 degrees Celcius was the goal. Now, corporations are questioning that because they think it is too costly to their bottom line. We need to be honest, upfront and loud about how the cost to public and environmental health is too massive not to achieve this transition as soon as physically possible. If we need to sacrifice profitability to reach climate mitigation goals, we absolutely should do so.

During the U.N. General Assembly, which coincided with Climate Week, countries agreed to a Pact for the Future, which calls for continued efforts to phase out fossil fuels with the ambition of keeping global temperature rise

well below 2 degrees Celsius. However, there is no guarantee anyone will abide by this non-binding agreement and in a few years executives from petroleum companies, transnational banks or tech companies that rely on fossil fuel inputs may start claiming that less than 2 degrees Celsius is also an unrealistic goal. What is most necessary and vital to the success of the climate movement is putting pressure on politicians to stop accepting money from fossil fuel companies and enact strong regulations on fossil fuel production and consumption that reflect the real public, global and environmental costs of a fossil fuel-based economy.

Michael Duke, GSB ’26, is a business administration major from Scottsdale, Ariz.

Stuart Cremer, FCRH ’26, is an English and environmental studies major from Mountain View, Calif.

Corporations keep setting climate goals further back.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Political polarization must be put to rest to consider America’s future decisions.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

By JOHANNA BROOSLIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Zoos have long been vilified as unethical institutions that prioritize capitalizing on entertainment over the well-being of the animals. While these concerns and criticisms are often in good faith, they tend to group all zoos together instead of making a clear and necessary distinction between accredited and non-accredited facilities. Accredited zoos deserve praise for the difficult and necessary conservation work they undertake, while non-accredited institutions should be held accountable for their unethical treatment of animals.

The accreditation process is complex. The Accreditation Commission — a team of 15 carefully selected experts from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) — thoroughly investigates zoos or aquariums to ensure their facilities meet the organization’s animal welfare, care and management standards. Furthermore, every animal at an AZA-accredited zoo undergoes a wellness check at least once every year to guarantee the zoo operates at the highest degree. While other organizations, like the Zoological Association of America, also accredit zoos, the AZA accreditation is considered the important

OPINION

Is It Time to Say Goodbye to Zoos?

gold standard to ensure the zoo treats the animals humanely. Accredited zoos need support as they engage in valuable work that cannot be overlooked. These institutions partake in extensive conservation efforts, collectively supporting over 2,500 different projects across more than 100 countries and spending $160 million annually on conservation initiatives. The public needs to be informed about what these conservation projects look like because the term is broad. The majority of the recovery actions performed by zoos include population assurance, research and population augmentation. Zoos are no longer strictly for entertainment purposes but play a large role in protecting biodiversity.

Preservation not only occurs through funding and projects but also through breeding programs to rebuild the populations of many endangered species. Animal populations such as the American bison, the California condor and the black-footed ferret have all been saved from extinction due to zoo breeding programs. Accredited zoos are necessary for maintaining biodiversity in the environment. Without biodiversity, ecosystems become fragile and start to fall apart, devastating the environment.

One of the most important pieces of work that accredited zoos commit themselves to is educating the public. While this aspect of zoos often goes overlooked, 200 million people worldwide have visited AZA-accredited zoos in the last year. To put this in perspective, much more people visit AZA-accredited zoos than attend all MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL games combined. Every year, these visitors are exposed to education on the importance of protecting animals and their habitats. How many people would be exposed to the same information or feel as much of an impact without the incentive of viewing live animals? Likely, the numbers would be much smaller. AZA-accredited zoos treat the animals ethically while funding conservation efforts, creating breeding programs to rebuild animal populations and educating the public. Without them, animal populations and overall biodiversity would encounter further suffering. Unfortunately, not all zoos are created equal. It is not fair to say that all zoos are unethical when accredited zoos accomplish notable progress in conservation efforts, but they do not make up the majority of zoos. In fact, only 134 zoos are AZA-accredited. To label every

zoo without accreditation as “pure evil” would be an unfair blanket statement; however, unaccredited facilities have the problems people point to when criticizing zoos. The animals may have poor living conditions and insufficient care because these zoos center on entertainment over education. Since we usually cannot confirm if the animals in nonaccredited institutions receive proper treatment, the best solution is to strictly support AZA-accredited zoos. The animals are being properly cared for, and the money spent at the zoo goes towards conservation work. By supporting these establishments over all of the non-accredited zoos, we demand the treatment of animals to improve significantly, pushing these institutions to raise their standards for animal well-being and to shift their focus more on educating the

rather than treating the animals like a spectacle. Not supporting zoos altogether does more harm than good, but knowing whether you are helping the right ones is the difficult part. Before attending a zoo, go online to the zoo website and look for the AZA logo. Another easy way to ensure you support good zoos is by using the list on the AZA website, which catalogs the accredited facilities by state — the Bronx Zoo is one of them! Taking the extra time from your day to guarantee the zoo you visit maintains high standards may seem insignificant, but doing so can help create a sustainable future for all animals.

Government Takes on Google: Good Luck Judge Mehta

By ANDREW MCDONALD STAFF WRITER

United States District Judge Amit Mehta ruled on Aug. 5, 2024, that Google’s parent company, Alphabet, had illegally exploited its dominance in the search engine market, violating antitrust law. This landmark decision is from a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2020 and marks the most significant antitrust case in the United States in nearly a quarter of a century. While breaking up Google may be necessary if the goal is to restore search competition, the task may exceed the U.S. government’s current capabilities; the U.S. government was not able to break up Microsoft in 2000 under a similar concern, which raises the question about how it would even be possible to effectively regulate tech giants over three decades after the dot-com boom, and if the United States, the most powerful nation on Earth, is even big enough to take on Google. Google has a near-total monopoly in search, controlling a global market share that, by estimates, is between 80 and over 90%. I use Google daily, and so do most of you; it’s unclear what else could be considered a monopoly if Google isn’t. Google’s current lead echoes Microsoft’s position in 2000 when it was ordered to split up due to antitrust violations. Back then, the United States v. Microsoft Corp. case centered on Microsoft bundling Internet Explorer with Windows which

resulted in crushing competition from the Netscape browser. That breakup of Microsoft, though, was narrowly reversed on appeal; the case, and especially its appeal, set important precedents for tech regulation, and from Google’s perspective, it’s important because the case against Microsoft failed.

Google’s situation differs in that its own monopoly stems from default search agreements and data advantages rather than forced bundling. Mehta’s ruling highlighted Google’s abuse of its dominant position to stifle competition with multibillion-dollar deals with device makers and browsers through their ownership of Android. From a market perspective, breaking up Google could foster innovation, allow smaller competitors to emerge, and prevent the concentration of data and market power. Unlike the Microsoft’s desktop software-centric model, Google has free, data-driven services like Chrome, Gmail and apps associated with Google Drive. Combined with Google’s hold on the default mobile operating software on almost all nonApple phones via Android, this may force the U.S. to require a different approach to regulation, potentially focusing on data sharing or limiting default agreements rather than a straightforward company split. More drastic measures the U.S. government may take include requiring Alphabet to divest parts of its vast business, such as Android or Chrome.

However, enforcing these remedies may prove difficult, as seen in Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc., where companies found workarounds to courtordered changes. Additionally, Google’s global reach and the potential economic disruption to partners like Apple and Samsung complicate the situation.

The U.S. government’s ability to effectively regulate Google is hampered by several factors, including limited technological expertise — seen from online videos of a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing if you know what I mean — outdated antitrust laws and the sheer scale of Alphabet/Google’s operations. These challenges are compounded by the global nature of Google’s business and the potential economic disruption to its partners and the tech ecosystem at large.

Despite these limitations, there are potential solutions that could address Google’s monopoly while fostering innovation and competition. A multifaceted approach could include prohibiting exclusive default search agreements, mandating user choice for search engines and requiring Google to license its search index to competitors.

To ensure effective implementation, the government could establish an independent monitoring body with technical experts to oversee compliance and prevent workarounds. Additionally, focusing on data portability and algorithmic transparency could level the playing

field for competitors without necessitating a complete breakup of the company.

More international cooperation in tech regulation could also bolster the U.S. government’s efforts in step with actions taken by the European Union’s European Commission, creating a more cohesive global approach to addressing the monopolistic practices of these unwieldy tech multinationals. But, last month, even the European Commission failed to enforce a 1.49 billion euro ($1.66 billion) antitrust fine levied against Google from five years ago. Any solution the U.S. is looking for must balance the need for effective regulation with preserving the benefits of Google’s services that everyone in America profits from or is affected by in some way, all while maintaining America’s position as a leader in technological innovation, which Google, along with Microsoft, Apple and others, maintain a huge part of.

The Google antitrust case could significantly impact the tech industry and reshape the search market. A balanced approach made up of involving

targeted regulations, international cooperation and support for smaller firms is necessary to address Google’s dominance while fostering innovation and competition. The outcome will likely influence future tech regulation and how we interact with information online. If both Judge Mehta and the Department of Justice are successful, they could very well reshape the “search market,” hopefully fostering more heated innovation and competition while also tampering with the largest established search engine that most use. As United States v. Google LLC unfolds, it will undoubtedly shape the future of antitrust law, tech regulation and how we interact with information online if Google really is able to get successfully dismembered by Uncle Sam. Anyways, good luck DOJ, and good luck Judge Mehta, you’ll definitely need it.

Johanna Brooslin, FCRH ’27, is an English major from Medfield, Mass.

Andrew McDonald, FCRH ’26, is a history and political science major from Sacramento, Calif.

The government attempts to take on Google’s monopoly.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM It is important to support accredited zoos over non-accredited zoos. public

OPINION

Protecting the Legitimacy of the Electoral Process This Fall

By INDRANIL KAR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The 2024 general election has sparked nationwide debates regarding the legitimacy of states’ electoral processes. Many Republican officials have been acting to thwart any doubts regarding non-United States citizens and unregistered voters taking part in the upcoming election. On Sept. 27, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the state Alabama and Wes Allen, the Alabama Secretary of State, which alleged that a new state program violated federal law by removing voters from election rolls 84 days before the presidential election. Also, the state’s sudden adoption of a voter removal process this close to the general election is a violation of federal law, which will not only add to the misinformation and fearmongering of noncitizen and immigrant communities but also to mistrust in the country’s electoral process.

On Aug. 13, Allen had quickly announced that his administration would be taking action to “remove noncitizens registered to vote” from the state’s election roll. In Allen’s official statement, he described the pursuit and worthwhile effort to create the “cleanest and most accurate voter file.” According to the statement, Allen identified 3,251 individuals who are currently registered to vote in Alabama that the Department of Homeland Security issued noncitizen identification numbers to. In the past, name removal from a state’s voter file usually occurred in three instances: when an individual has been convicted of a particular crime, when someone has asked to be removed from the registry or when someone has died. Alabama and other states are not allowed to systematically remove names from voter registration fewer than 90 days before a federal election. The Justice Department’s lawsuit had argued that the

state Alabama and election officials had violated the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, specifically the “Quiet Period Provision.” which explains that states are only allowed to remove the names of ineligible voters from the official registry of eligible voters up until 90 days before a primary or general election. The state of Alabama allegedly began its process 84 days before the general election, six days after the deadline. The DOJ explained that states are able to remove names for various reasons and in various ways. However, states cannot systematically remove individuals this close to the election. Allen asked the federal government to assist in providing a list of noncitizens in Alabama, which is an unconstitutional process that infringes on the protected rights of individuals. In response, the DOJ declined his request several times.

One issue that has risen since Alabama’s implementation of removal is the presence of native-born and naturalized citizens receiving notices that they have been placed on the path for removal from the state’s eligible voter registry. In Wes Allen’s official statement, he said that it was possible that some of the 3,251 individuals who were issued noncitizen identification numbers have

become naturalized citizens and are eligible to vote. In other words, the process is infringing upon the constitutional right to vote for many in Alabama. Allen’s office stated that it would allow those naturalized citizens to update their information on a voter registration form, but due to the close proximity to the election, they may not be able to be certified by the general election.

Alabama’s implementation of a voter removal process adds to the misinformation and vilification surrounding immigrant and noncitizen communities in the United States. The instances of noncitizen voting are extremely rare. Since 1996, federal law has banned noncitizens from voting in federal elections. Under the 1996 law, noncitizens who vote in a federal election can face a hefty fine, a year-long prison sentence and/or deportation from the United States. Alabama’s actions are another attempt by Republicans to fearmonger immigrant and noncitizen communities. In the 2024 election, immigration has been a key issue among voters and prominent political figures. The false notion that undocumented immigrants are affecting federal elections has been promoted since the beginning of the 20th century, but it has been reignited

with the increase of migrants at the southern U.S. border. The promotion of this false notion has added to a larger distrust in the legitimacy of the United States election process. It’s important to note that it is extremely difficult for non-citizens to participate in federal and state elections due to it being illegal under federal law. The federal government passed a law in 2002 that required voting applicants to provide their driver’s license or their Social Security number, which serves as a citizenship check.

Alabama’s actions to remove voters from the eligible voter registry is a violation of federal law, adds to the misinformation around immigrant communities in the United States, and further undermines the legitimacy of the electoral process. The native-born and naturalized citizens of the United States unjustly receiving notices of their removal from the eligible voter registry is unconstitutional and another manifestation of voter suppression before the election.

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

The “Europecore” Takeover: American Escapism or Self-Expression?

By MARY HAWTHORN PHOTO EDITOR

I love European fashion trends. Whether it’s wearing a long silk maxi skirt with ballet flats, a French braid tied with a silk scarf or stacked pearls with a long trench coat, I find these forms of fashion the perfect way to express myself.

Recently, social media has romanticized European fashion trends and inspired Gen Z to channel this sense of style across the United States. As noted by Nylon, “It’s the hyper-feminine romanticization of your wardrobe, with extra lace, frills, pearls and silk pieces that represent the idea of a European vacation.”

Despite the seeming lightheartedness of this trend, there is much debate on its deeper meaning. Some say that the American obsession with European fashion and lifestyle is a way to avoid the abundance of political and economic problems within the U.S. This concept is more formally known as American escapism, which is defined as “a dangerous tendency of the American public to take refuge in fantasy and fluff, when reality becomes too dark to face.” Although there certainly is much turmoil, injustice and political polarization, I do not think that these factors are what caused this trend to

come to fruition. The United States has taken inspiration from Europe in the fashion world, and this is certainly just another example of that. European fashion trends are not a form of American escapism, but rather, simply a form of stylistic creativity and selfexpression.

The temporary nature of trends is a concept foundational to social media. A few currently circulating TikTok and Instagram include “Y2K Fashion,” “Old Hollywood Glam,” “Country House Chic” and “Mob Wife Aesthetic.” It is crucial to recognize that the individuals participating in these trends are often not trying to escape their own reality and transport to the early 2000s or 1950s Hollywood. Rather, these trends allow individuals to experiment with clothing in a unique way. Reflecting back on past trends and styles can grant us comfort and nostalgia and even allow us to “channel the spirit of past generations and weave their stories into our own.” “Europecore” and the many other trends that constantly evolve and consume our feeds are nothing more than creative ways you can express yourself amongst a community of others interested in doing the same. These trend names, although sometimes too obscure, are simply fun ways to

categorize and label different up-and-coming fashion choices, nothing deeper. Most European influence on American fashion has always been prominent, and vice versa. This influence has nothing to do with escapism, but rather, purely appreciation. One example that came to mind was American designer Virgil Abloh’s work as the creative director for the French brand, Louis Vuitton. Abloh focused on incorporating both American street style with upscale European stylistic motifs in his collections. One of Time Magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world,” he took elements of many different fashion houses across the world to create fashion with a sense of hybridity. Abloh’s collections exploded within the U.S. to the point where celebrities like Serena Williams, Hailey Bieber and Rihanna were often seen wearing his creations. Another example of strong European influence on American fashion is Tom Ford’s collections with the brand Gucci. From 1994 to 2004, Ford worked with the Italian fashion house as design director, and “His catwalks were awash with cut-outs and cleverly-placed metal hardware, along with silky shirts,” defying more conservative trends.

Further, “his designs, im -

bued with an intense modernity and sensuality, broke away from the tried-and-true Gucci formula” while mixing key elements of Italian and American style. Finally, another testament to Europe’s influence on American fashion is one of the most prominent men in fashion, the famous Karl Lagerfeld. Although not always, Lagerfeld infused elements of American style in his abundance of looks. Particularly, through his love of the classic American white tee. As recognized by Vogue, “Lagerfeld was heavily devoted to the white shirt.” He once said, “If you ask me what I’d most like to have invented in fashion, I’d say the white shirt. Everything else comes after.”

Although I see this trend as purely a continuation of the admiration of European style in America, I can understand

how some individuals partake in this trend as a form of escapism. Although for some it is more frivolous, many others are “searching for a much-needed sense of escapism from the realities of the economic issues and political unrest, [and] Europe has come to represent not simply a continent, but also a state of mind — a place to put on a flowy skirt and live a slower life.” More than anything, I hope that fashion remains a safe place for creativity, expression and community, despite the immense hardships our world is facing.

Mary Hawthorn, FCRH ’26, is an English and political science major from Greenwich, Conn.

European fashion trends bring much needed creativity to America

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

Alabama’s voting process faces potential complications before the election.

COURTESY OF MARY HAWTHORN/THE FORDHAM RAM

CULTURE

Who’s That Kid? | Becket Hummer, FCRH ’27

Sophomore Leads and Advocates for Others at Fordham

By NORA MALONE NEWS EDITOR

Becket Hummer, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Maryland who finds her passion in music, social media and voter registration. She spent her summer at the Maryland Statehouse and the Democratic National Convention (DNC), finding ways to help people, whether that be through legislation or giving out bandaids to delegates.

Hummer’s political aspirations began when she was a child, as her mother is a local politician in county government in Maryland.

“When I was a kid, she would literally have us knocking on doors with her in diapers,” said Hummer. “Once I was in middle school, I realized I liked talking to people and being out in the community.”

Hummer was involved in student government in middle and high school. When she started college, she worked in government affairs at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, helping host big groups like SpaceForce.

“[It] was amazing to feel connected to the city,” said Hummer. “But my full-time job as an 18-year-old was talking about 9/11 every day, and I was like I need to smile at work again and feel joy again and get people involved with being excited about their democracy.”

This led Hummer to start

her summer at the Maryland State House and end at the DNC. At the DNC, Hummer worked in crisis management, keeping an eye on “persons of interest” in the convention center.

“I was following the MyPillow guy. I have so many pictures of him that I sent to our group chat, like ‘he’s on the move,’” she said. “We dealt with every possible issue.”

Hummer was also involved with social media and how the DNC was being portrayed.

“We had this big TV screen just scrolling through social media accounts,” she said.

“We had 400 creators who had credentialed press passes, and we had secret accounts following all of them so we could track what they were posting as credentialed creators.”

Hummer got the job from an old friend of her mother, who wanted to bring more young people onto the team.

“He said he needed a teenager, someone who actually understands social media,” she said. “I was willing to help, and they flew me out to Chicago for the week. We were live every day from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., but we were there every day from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.”

Her experience at the DNC led Hummer to want to be more involved in politics in a personal way.

“[I thought] I need to be talking to people again; it’s two months before the election I

can’t stop now,” she said. “So I applied to HeadCount.”

HeadCount is an organization that helps people register to vote at events like concerts and music festivals.

“I like what HeadCount does — we meet people where they are, and that’s so important. Because so often democracy feels out of reach, political activism feels out of reach for people and like something that they can’t really participate in,” Hummer said. “I’m at a Sabrina Carpenter concert, or I’m at a Clairo concert and I’m registering an 18-year-old [new voter] for the first time, and they get to remember for the rest of their life that they got registered at their favorite artist’s concert. This is such an important memory for them, and this is gonna change how they think about democracy

During this election cycle, HeadCount has registered 250,000 people. They sponsor giveaways and raffles for people who register with them or check their registration.

“My job when I go into the office every week is dealing with all the thousands of paper registrations we do from our hundreds of events across the country,” said Hummer. “Being on the ground, you can feel like ‘we are actually doing something, we are making change.’”

Hummer doesn’t know what her future career holds, but she hopes to remain politically active and involved with people.

“Every since I was little, I’ve just wanted to help people

every day, in some sort of capacity.

I really thought it was going to be more so legislation and government-wise, but I really enjoy on-the-ground, grassroots, community-based work as well,” she said.

On campus, Hummer is a tour guide and the secretary of Fordham’s Leading Women of Tomorrow club. She aspires to continue bringing hope and joy into democracy.

“Being able to participate in democracy is one of the things we get to do as an American citizen that is so exciting, and we take it for granted for sure,” said Hummer. “They make it hard for a reason because they don’t want people to do it, so it’s important to make it as easy as possible and as accessible as possible so it is enjoyable for people.”

The Fordham Family Weekend Dad

By SABRINA LOPEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, I coined a new term for the average father’s demeanor at Fordham University Family Weekend. I have added “Family Weekend Dad” to the list of dad-like endearments that seem to be a universal experience for all children of middleaged fathers. Growing up in the age of social media means this generation is well acquainted with “dad trends.” There are millions of TikToks, Instagram Reels and Reddit feeds making fun of our dear old dads on everything from the “dad bod,” “dad stance,” “dad jokes” and “airport dad.” I’ll assume every follower of these trends is just looking for an excuse to poke fun at their fathers — I can’t blame them, dads are easy targets, and we’ve put up with years of embarrassment — but after this weekend, I have no choice but to assume all dads are the same.

On Saturday morning, my father arrived at Fordham’s campus in what I now know to be

“The Dad Uniform.” He wore cargo shorts, a Fordham polo and hat and matching maroon Nike sneakers. I didn’t think anything of his outfit — outside of wondering when he’d managed to purchase all this gear — and it wasn’t until later in the day that I noticed a pattern among the other Fordham dads.

Around mid-morning, my roommates’ parents began to arrive. In between exchanging polite pleasantries, I looked around the room to see that every dad was donning the uniform — Fordham collared shirts and matching hats, with shorts, a belt and sneakers. Besides looking like a mismatched washed-up boy band, they all seemed to be following the same script. Each conversation would begin with introductions and then gently make its way onto the subject of traffic. Those dads who had driven to campus would talk about their commutes, how long the drive had taken them, whether or not they were staying

overnight, and what time they planned to leave the next morning — depending on the traffic of course. Eventually, one of the dads would offer the others beer, and they’d stand in a loose circle, each assuming the “dad stance”: one hand on a hip, the other holding their drink.

Later in the day, after close inspection, I discovered that almost every tailgate spot had at least one group of “Family Weekend Dads,” all with matching uniforms and talking points; at the football game, the pattern became even clearer.

Unfortunately, Fordham Football’s less-than-stellar season left room for plenty of criticism from the men who probably haven’t played since high school. On the bleachers, the dads commented on the game as if they were the coaches. After several critiques of the offense and another painful loss, the dads retreated to Arthur Avenue for dinner.

In between the drinks arriving and the food being served,

a local doo-wop group entered the restaurant to serenade the diners. The performers sang their way around the room and landed directly in front of our table. We’d given up the hope of continuing our conversations and decided to listen intently instead. In the middle of their second song, my friend’s dad leaned across the table and whispered, “Watch this.” He stood up from the table, and not only joined in on their singing but started dancing with one of the women in the group. Within seconds, he had the entire restaurant cheering and laughing, which made for an unforgettable dinner and voting and political action because it’s such a positive memory associated with it.”

and a memorable ending to our day.

I used to think move-in weekend was every dad’s Super Bowl. Finding the perfect parking spot, only taking two trips to the car — a record from the year before — seamlessly assembling a three-tiered cart and then eventually taking a walk around campus because he’s “in the way,” seemed to be the perfect opportunity for every dad to showcase his best stuff. After this year’s Fordham Family Weekend, however, and seeing all the dads together, getting along and bonding over golf, I’d say the two events are tied.

COURTESY OF BECKET HUMMER FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Passionate about voting rights and leadership, Hummer has found her place at Rose Hill.

COURTESY OF CRISTINA STEFANIZZI/THE FORDHAM RAM

Despite a loss for Fordham, Family Weekend was a success at Moglia Stadium.

By LUSA HOLMSTROM ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Maggie Smith passed away on Sept. 27 in London at the age of 89. Revered for her unfailing wit and sharp skills as an actress, she was also knighted as a dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 1990. As her fans and colleagues alike pay tribute to her, I welcome you to revisit her career.

For many of us, Smith represents a cozy reminder of our childhood, a pillar of an institution we dreamed we could be a part of, flying on brooms and waving wands. As Professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” film series, Smith served as a formidable authority figure with a soft side for her students. She was one of many British film elites in the “Potter” series, a name in the credits that likely drew in audience members that had never even picked up one of the books. The younger actors in the series joined a cast of British acting royalty such as herself: Kenneth Branaugh, Emma Thompson and Michael Gambdon. Her character serves as a role model for the main trio, though never favoring them over other students. The student and teacher bond between Harry

Remembering Maggie Smith

and McGonagall becomes incredibly strong throughout the seven novels. Harry often stands up to defend her honor, and she makes sacrifices that represent the trust she has developed in the young man she watched grow up. It is hard to imagine anyone but Smith playing a character both so respected and so feared.

Though later in her career, she played characters similar to McGonagall — straightbacked, tight-lipped and unwavering — she won Academy Awards for her roles in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and “California Suite” in 1978. She also won three Emmys for her role as Violet Crawley in “Downton Abbey,” a role that quickly became a fan favorite.

Smith’s passing brought on droves of tributes from fans to the most powerful figure in the United Kingdom. Theaters across the West End of London dimmed their lights in her honor, fans took to X to pay their respects and King Charles III released a statement on behalf of the British people: “As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we can join all those around the world in

remembering with fondness admiration and affection [for] her many great performances and her warmth and wit that shone through both on stage and off.”

Daniel Radcliffe, whom she first met in a theater production of “David Copperfield” and later recommended for the role of Harry Potter, had similarly loving words: “She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny. I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her.”

Smith is survived by her two children and five grandchildren, but her husband, playwright Alan Beverley Cross, died in 1998. Her legacy and contributions also extend past the screen. Over the past few decades, Smith was involved in many charity efforts, such as the rebuilding of the Court Theater that was destroyed in the 2011 New Zealand earthquake, and fundraising for Glaucoma, U.K.

In an interview with the New York Times in 1979 titled “Maggie Smith Finds the She on Stage is Easier to Know Than One at Home,” Smith discussed the separation between her work and personal life and dealing with fame and success. She described the joy of being onstage as an escape from one’s own worries, the time on stage is easier than the rest of one’s existence: “At least for those two-and-ahalf hours you can be quite sure who you are. The rest of

the time I find very confusing. I’m always very relieved to be somebody else, because I’m not sure at all who I am or what indeed my personality is. I feel like a person who doesn’t exist until I’m somebody else.”

Decades later, still riding on a massively successful career, Smith was asked if her first days on movie sets were still scary to her, even after so much experience. She replied candidly, “All days are scary,” forever endearing herself to her audiences.

And Thus We Become the Muse

By OLIVIERA MURRAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Gen Z. A generation of talent, political despondency, self-proclaimed critical thinking, and yet, is the way we have positioned ourselves the very thing that will crucify us? Born into an era distinct from all generations before it, Gen Z witnessed a rapid evolution of technology. In a world increasingly driven by the fast pace of online spaces, Gen Z took no time in harnessing the reins. We are the generation that blurs the lines of sexual and romantic titles, the generation that so thoroughly departs from traditional vocabulary. We are the generation that uses platforms such as TikTok as a form of advocacy, a launchpad for cancel culture and a source of pleasurable escape.

In an ever-evolving commercial world, each generation has woven its own distinct thread, colored by the zeitgeist of its era. Corporations, ever the astute weavers, have long recognized the value of these threads, deftly exploiting them to craft narratives that resonate with the collective consciousness. As the counterculture movement of the 1960s and ’70s saw companies like Volkswagen capitalize on this ethos with the iconic Beetle — marketed as the car for the nonconformist — modern campaigns such as Nike’s “Just Do It” served as a response to Generation

X’s skepticism towards corporate motives, appealing to desires for authenticity and self-reliance. Now, as Gen Z enters the workforce, it comes as no surprise that corporations have again repositioned themselves, capitalizing upon Gen Z’s unique form of digital nativity, social consciousness and brazen sense of humor. In the digital agora, where memes and viral content reign supreme, companies have become adept at speaking this language — one characterized by irony, self-awareness and relatability.

There may be no clearer example of this than the marketing surrounding Charli xcx’s album “brat”, a reinvention of the 1990-2000s party scene expressed through the grunginess of low-resolution text and lime green vibrance. At first nothing more than an alternative, unpolished energy, “brat” — much like the phenomena of Taylor Swift or “Barbie” — has become more than a music or a moment; it has become a marketing scheme in and of itself. Generating $22.5 million in media impact value — a value determined by content revenue, article mentions and social media interactions — “brat” has swiftly welcomed collaborating brands like H&M into its limelight. Ever so celebrated as an echo of Gen Z counterculture, “brat” has since graced the cover of our very own The Fordham

Ram (see 2024 Orientation issue) and has become so influential that it has been wielded as a tool to appeal to young voters. In the midst of a collective striving for awareness and camaraderie, Gen Z has come to accept a cognitive diversion where hysterical edits of a vibrating voice (“You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?!”) and a simple post saying “Kamala is brat” now holds sufficient social power to sway a presidential election. Within each historical epoch, corporations have adeptly tuned their strategies to the frequencies of generational desires and anxieties. In today’s digital age, leveraging celebrity power and catchy taglines has become increasingly common; the marketing of “brat” and similar campaigns reveals the many forms in which contemporary brands have come to identify and engage our current social

fabric. Companies have mastered the art of generating and leveraging shared cultural experiences, selling products to a collective more inclined to buy into an experience they so fear missing out on than question the application of the idea they entertain or the very product that they are consuming in its name. The celebration of Gen Z humor, regardless of its relevance, has become appreciated in all contexts, a sensation that may merit further assessment. In a developing culture where relatability is so attractive that we lend credibility based on a desire for social camaraderie, has our inclination to find solace in escapist inventions and popularized attitudes blinded us to the very lack of awareness we claim to critique? Is it the time to revisit our cultural cognizance? As attempts to create cultural moments that resonate deeply with Gen Z audiences

become increasingly saturated and artificial, the opportunity for a more critical civil awareness may reveal itself, prompting yet another shift in advertising. As it is, there comes a point where what was once meant to brew a sense of authenticity grows transparent, and palpably predictable. In a consumer culture where trends last little more than a fleeting glance, this process has become exponentially accelerated. More and more, it becomes imperative to question whether we, as consumers, are truly attuned to the phenomena we celebrate, and the spaces in which we may lend such phenomena relevancy. In light of our socio-economic state, it remains in our interest to be evermore vigilant, ensuring that our humor and quest for connection do not supersede our desires for social awareness and critical thought.

Smith, a legend of the screen, passed away early this month.

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An Inside Look At NYFF62

By CHRISTIAN PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER

Despite not having the prestige or status of festivals like Cannes or Sundance, the New York Film Festival (NYFF) has received muchdeserved recognition and notoriety. With many highprofile directors, actors and up-and-comers, NYFF is the place to be. With tickets selling out weeks in advance, it may be hard to secure a spot to see its main slate line-up, but with a variety of events and screenings at Lincoln Center and its four partner venues across the city, there are opportunities for everyone. But if you are a hardcore film fanatic and are itching to see one of the main slate screenings, you can always give the standby line a shot.

This year marks the 62nd New York Film Festival, and after last year’s strike, it is sure to be one to remember.

To honor this special event, Ada Holmes, FCRH ’26, offered insight into NYFF.

This year marks Holmes’ second year volunteering for the festival. So far, she only had the opportunity to work one shift because much like the screenings, shifts fill up fast. But she does have more scheduled and she cannot wait to get back at it. There are a variety of departments to volunteer with, but Holmes is a member

By MAKENZIE SMITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The cat is out of the bag when it comes to the revival of the famous leopard print. The iconic pattern was littered all over the autumn/winter 2024 catwalks of almost every top designer from Versace to Yves Saint Laurent. Making its first non-fur appearance in 1947 by Christain Dior, it seems like no matter how many times this trend is declared dead it always has a way of crawling back.

We have seen hints of the leopard print throughout the past year or so, but it is clear, both from recent street style and high fashion, that leopard is one of the top trends for this autumn season. Many highly acclaimed celebrities and fashion gurus are donning these new spots including models Kendall Jenner and Winnie Harlow as well as singers Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. From a trench coat to shorts and even to floor-length dresses, A-list stars are setting the tone for wild fall fashion to come.

The resurgence of such a loud look indicates a shift away from the minimalist aesthetic the world has clung to for the past few years. This trend is definitely moving us in the

of the Theater Operations Department. Holmes had nothing but positive things to say about her experience:

“The NYFF is a well-organized event with a family-like atmosphere amongst its volunteers. The festival hires a diverse range of volunteers, from college students and general film lovers to older volunteers of 10-plus years. It is clear that the staff members hold respect and care for the volunteers, and they often work to make sure that the volunteers are enjoying their shifts.” Her role entails guiding guests to their correct theater or to their correct spot in line, but her favorite part is running microphones to audience members during the Question and Answer segments with directors and/or actors.

The atmosphere of the event is similar for attendees, talent and staff members alike — energetic, intriguing, exciting and professional, yet casual. Holmes tells us that staff members are taught to emphasize the importance of professionalism and respect, especially in the face of talent. Oftentimes the talent will casually walk around and chat with the staff and you will not realize who they are until they later walk on stage: “It is clear that the festival’s priority is to cultivate an atmosphere where the talent, the viewers and the

workers feel comfortable.” This comes in handy with this year’s star-packed guest list, including Elton John, Payal Kapadia, Selena Gomez, Luca Guadagnino, Angelina Jolie, Leos Carax and Daveed Diggs. Holmes compared her experience working the festival last year to this year saying, “Last year’s festival notably lacked the presence of most American cast members due to the ongoing strike, but we welcome tons of talent this year!”

NYFF62 has a lineup of epic proportions. Features include RaMell Ross’s “Nickel Boys,” Steve McQueen’s “Blitz,” Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light,” Sean Baker’s “Anora,” Jia Zhangke’s “Caught by the Tides,” Mohammad Rasoulof’s

“The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” and Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez.” The majority of these also feature Q&A’s with directors and/or cast members. Like many cinephiles who were not able to secure a ticket, Holmes plans to join the ranks of the standby line to try and get a chance to see these highly anticipated films. NYFF kicked off on Friday, Sept. 27, but do not worry if you have not had the chance to attend — the final screening is not until Monday, Oct. 14. But be sure to secure your tickets or spot in line quickly, because screenings that are not sold out yet will be soon.

If you are not able to attend this year be sure to

keep an eye out for next year. This year serves as a tough act to follow, but NYFF is sure to continue to up their game. Maybe consider volunteering yourself for the chance to work with a group of amazing and talented people who come together to pull off this fantastic event. Holmes tells us that for every four-hour shift completed, they not only receive meal vouchers but a film voucher that can be exchanged for a ticket to a non-sold-out screening at the festival. And be sure to keep an eye out as these amazing films begin to prepare for their upcoming public releases. Check out the NYFF62 website for more information regarding volunteering and events.

The Leopard Print Revival

right direction because it allows for more fun expression while still holding to its classic style. However, minimalists should not fear this resurgence because the leopard print has been reimagined in a more versatile way. Designers and retailers are creating more muted tones so that people can pair and wear the print, easier and more tastefully. Whether you are ready to turn full leopard or just experiment with some spotted accents, there are options for leopard-printed items from head to toe. We can find looks from leopard on leopard to subtle pops of the leopard print in bags or shoes and anything in between.

I will say that no matter how many times leopard print gets redone, wearing this print does require a boldness to exude the fierce elegance it brings to its wearer. In the words of Christian Dior, “If you’re fair and sweet, don’t wear it!” The connotations of sensuality and empowered femininity follow the leopard print in whatever time period it pops up in.

I personally love seeing leopard print styled out and about in the streets of New York City. While there is a fine line between the pattern looking tacky or classy, I find leopard

to be very eye-catching and that it can exude confidence if put together in a stylish way. Something I really enjoy about the resurgence of the leopard print, and just the resurgence of trends in general, is that I get to wear clothes I saw and wore as a kid. There is nostalgia behind wearing items you saw on your favorite celebrities and older cousins. Getting to put your own spin on rediscovered trends only adds to the nostalgia and excitement.

I am not the only fashion lover to have noticed the leopard print coming back in style. Ella Keddy, the lifestyle editor of MODE Magazine, Fordham University’s studentrun fashion and lifestyle magazine, has also been entranced by the trend. “I would say that I absolutely love leopard print,” said Keddy. “Some people think it’s trashy, but I think it can be so chic when styled the right way.” Another observer of this fashion trend is Rachel Erikson GSB ’25, the president of Fashion for Philanthropy. She immediately said she loved the resurgence of leopard print. While we recognize that leopard print has either been on hold or at the forefront of fashion for quite some time, it is not the only wild style. There

is always a pull towards animal prints in general. We can see this by just looking at the past 20 years. The nostalgic zebra stripes were around in the transition from the late 2000s and early 2010s. The rise of the Western aesthetic gave rise to the cow print that reached its peak around 2019 and going into 2020. As we continue to go deeper into the autumn season, I am

excited to see more leopard print not just in the city but also on Fordham’s campus. I know there are a lot of fashionistas out there who will come up with fun ways to style this reclaimed trend. If, by the end of this article, you are really not into the leopard print, I hope you still take away the lesson to think twice before throwing away clothes because trends always come back around.

The trend of leopard print is spreading to notable brands such as Dior.

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The New York Film Festival offers a multitude of activites and screenings any film-lover will enjoy.

Editor’s Pick | Music

You Need More “Vienna” Energy In Your Life

By ERYNN SWEENEY ASST. OPINION EDITOR

Music has the power to open up our realities. It doesn’t magically take us somewhere else but transforms the places we are already in into something greater, wider and more expansive. The right song at the right moment can guide us toward a new perspective on something familiar, refining our focus to notice details we otherwise would not. It feels like most songs lose this power after enough listens, but Billy Joel’s “Vienna” is the exception for me. The opening piano chords instantly draw me in, capture my attention and bring me back to the present moment.

Although I now listen to “Vienna” and other Joel songs willingly, I grew up a forced fan via my dad’s obsession with The Cordells. This song and others, like “Piano Man” and “Only the Good Die Young,” take me back to Pacific coast road trips with my family, following the road signs and watching as the ocean came in and out of view from the backseat of our Chevrolet

By EMMA LEONARDI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The treatment of criminals has long been something discussed within society. A common question has been if anyone, despite committing heinous crimes, should face the death penalty. However, a very important point usually omitted from these conversations regards what happens after they are allowed to live and the rights they retain. For example, do criminals serving life without parole have a say in the image projected of them by the media onto the rest of society? That is the key question that has finally been brought to light, following the historical case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, otherwise known as the Menendez Brothers.

You may be hearing more about this case and wondering, “Why now? Why are the Menendez brothers trending once again?” The answer to that question is both simple and complex. It is not due to the fact that they are considered for a retrial, as it should be, but because Ryan Murphy is obsessed with the social and financial gains he has made from “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” on Netflix. Let’s start with the facts of the trial: the Menendez brothers killed their parents due to the ostensible claim that they were emotionally, psychologically and sexually abused growing up. The brothers were arrested eight months later for

Tahoe. My dad claimed it was the 16-ounce can of Pepsi and Nutter Butter minis that kept him awake for the drive, but I think it was the shifting melodies of “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” that really did the trick.

Once I was old enough to graduate to the front seat of our car, with all the excitement of finally having the power over the aux to choose the music, I found myself going back to the same song that my dad would always play. Listening to “Vienna” became a mustdo for my dad and I’s annual pre-Thanksgiving grocery run to our local deli and farmer’s market. The strong piano chords had the power to transform the familiar drive from our house to Lazy Acres into a reflective experience, helping me zoom out and think about where I was in life, what was worrying me, and what I was dreaming about. And the song’s melodies had the same effect on my dad. Without fail, he would use the song as an excuse to let me know how proud he was of me. And to remind me that my experiences, both good and bad,

were shaping my character. As he always says, I was on “the journey of who I was and who I was to become.”

“Vienna” took on a new meaning for me during my first year of college. I would listen to it while I was homesick, along with a string of other Joel, Elton John and Greenday hits compiled in a Spotify playlist titled “Cordell and Suburbia.” Throughout my time at Fordham University so far, it has become the anthem of special times spent with friends, of moments that instantly become memories (like riding the ferry from Battery Park to Staten Island at sunset, staying up too late talking in our dorms and playing games on the bus to different schools for our volleyball games). I associate the song with deep experiences of connection and an appreciation for the wildness contained within life. For me, “Vienna” represents the times that take me out of my everyday routine and help me enter into the deeper reality that is always present right before me but is sometimes difficult to access because of small pressures that build up over time.

The more time passes, the more relevant this song seems to be. It reminds me of where I came from and inspires me to form a clearer vision of where I’m going. But it also reminds me that it’s okay if I don’t quite know where I’m going. “Slow down, you crazy child.” Your dreams and goals will always be there, but the present is only happening right now. If you’re

not here now, you won’t be there when your dreams come true, when (or if) that moment comes. “Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true.” This song reminds me of the importance of chasing my dreams, appreciating the little moments along the way and savoring memories with the people who will have my back even if my dreams don’t come true.

Are They Really Monsters?

first-degree murder because Erik confessed to his therapist. They were separately put on trial, and both juries ended in a deadlock, causing a mistrial. They were retried together, and most of the sexual abuse evidence was excluded. This trial ended in a guilty conviction, with the outcome of both sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Now let’s examine Murphy’s version of the story. The second season of “Monsters,” a follow-up to the first season about Jeffrey Dahmer, begins with the confession, and works its way both backwards and forwards, showing the events leading up and following to give the most dramatic retelling. It’s obvious that Murphy is attempting to hook people onto his show, but it is in more ways than just the generic storytelling energy given to the season. Throughout the show, there are multiple instances of blatant disregard and disrespect on Murphy’s part to the fact that the story is something that happened in two actual, living and breathing, people’s lives. The first is Murphy’s oversexualization of the brothers, which is mainly due to the overload of images showing the brothers wearing only Speedos. Murphy claims to take this from their history in competitive swimming, but in almost every shot of them in pools, they are just lounging around. One can’t help but wonder about the timeline of the making of this show; it seems like the idea of

it came up around the time in 2022 when the internet was going crazy over the “sex appeal” and “attractiveness” of the two brothers, with fans even going so far as to make edits of them from their trial footage. Some parts of the show, specifically the aforementioned Speedo scenes, feel oddly similar to the edits made of them only a few years ago. Some could argue that during the original trial, they had a pretty significant fan base who were also sexualizing them; however, this craze calmed down before the second trial. It seems suspicious that Netflix would renew Murphy’s show around the same time.

The second is the undercurrents of incestuous relations between the brothers, outside of Lyle’s molestation of Erik when they were kids. While these were rumors during the original trial, Murphy adds to them by including scenes of Erik and Lyle kissing and even showering together. This is yet another dramatization and exaggeration of facts within the trial, as it is shot in the film style usually reserved for dramas, not docuseries. What is Murphy’s directorial reasoning for this?

The third has to do with the association now present between the Menendez brothers and Dahmer. Before this show was released, if someone asked you if the Menendez brothers and Dahmer were on the same level of killer, you would say, “Absolutely not.” And let’s not forget the name of the show,

because that is another very important factor in this. Now, directly because of Murphy, these two very different situations have a commonality; they are viewed as “Monsters.” Are two boys who were acting in self-defense on the same level as a serial murderer who ate other men to satiate his internalized homophobia? Are two boys who were abused and raped deserving of the title “Monsters”?

The answer would be a profound, “No.” Additionally, these brothers are being called this name while they are still alive. Dahmer faced trial and received the death penalty; the Menendez brothers received life without parole, which is a

legal way of saying they weren’t and never will be on the same plane as Dahmer. There is a word for what Murphy has done by producing and directing this show: defamation. Defamation of the Menendez name affects not only the brothers but also the rest of their family. As human beings, the Menendez brothers and family should be protected from defamation. By making this show and defaming the Menendez name in this way, Murphy has made a statement; because of an act of self-defense, the Menendez brothers are not human beings in his eyes. No matter what, as human beings, they deserve better.

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The actors who portray the Menendez brothers take away from the message.

COURTESY OF INSTAGRAM

“Vienna” will pull any listener back to a better time in their life.

CULTURE

A Weekend In Paris: Sponsored by Fordham

By HANNAH DAVEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bonjour from Paris! Well, technically, London, as I am writing this. I am currently a junior studying abroad at Fordham University’s campus in London. Last weekend, I went on a trip to Paris through Fordham. If you choose to study abroad in London, there are trips offered during the semester. The options for this semester were Paris, Brussels and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Since classes aren’t offered on Fridays in London, we left for Paris on Friday morning on the Eurostar from St. Pancras Station. Our train ride was a little over two hours and brought us right into Paris’ Gare du Nord Station. We then got our Metro cards to head over to our hotel. The Metro experience in Paris is quite different from the one in London, with one of the biggest differences being that everything is in French. Also, people on the Metro were more talkative than the people who took the tube in London.

We stayed at the Ibis Paris Gare Montparnasse Catalogne, taking the Metro 4 towards Bagneux-Lucie Aubrac to get there from Gare du Nord. Once we got to the hotel, we got a quick lunch nearby. There were so many cafes and other shops to get something quick to eat before our academic activities. Many people opted for French baguette sandwiches, which is probably one of my favorite things we ate in Paris. For the academic activities, we were offered a few

walking tour options. I chose the tour of Notre Dame. Our tour guide walked us through some history behind the Cathedral, some insights on the fire, how it started, what was saved and then the reconstruction process. Hearing about the very extensive and intricate reconstruction process with modern technology really put into perspective for me how long structures such as Notre Dame originally took to create centuries ago.

After our academic activities, we had a free evening. For dinner, we went to Le Spicy Home, and it was excellent. The food was amazing, and the staff were so incredibly nice.

After dinner, we got a recommendation from my friend Laura Rodriguez, GSB ’26, who is studying abroad in Paris, to go to the jazz club called Le Caveau de la Huchette. This was one of my favorite things we did that weekend.

On Saturday, we did a lot of sightseeing. We started the day off by going to a cafe near our hotel, where we got breakfast quiches. We then made our way to the Tuileries Garden, which is between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde. We then walked along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower, where we took all of our classic tourist pictures. Throughout our walk and around the more touristy areas, we saw a lot of Olympic decorations and even the deconstruction of some of the venues used for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

After the Eiffel Tower, we

made our way to the Arc de Triomphe. We learned a little bit about the history of the Arc in the museum, which is at the top of 284 steps. We were able to go to the very top of the Arc and see Paris from a much different view. It was cool to see from above each of the 12 grand avenues that connect to the huge roundabout that surrounds the Arc.

All those stairs had us develop quite the appetite, so we got lunch at a local restaurant near the Arc, where we made a compromise because this place had both crepes and what we thought were regular steak and frites. The restaurant actually served steak tartare. Not knowing what that was, we ordered it anyway and were very surprised when it came to the table. None of us had eaten raw ground beef before, so it was definitely an experience. It was surprisingly very good!

As I mentioned before, this was a Fordham-planned trip, so along with academic activities, there were optional activities and a dinner that were all planned by Fordham. One of the activities that I did after lunch was the wine tasting at Cave Les Piqueurs, which was near Square Louise Michel. Shortly after the wine tasting, we went on a dinner cruise aboard the Le Diamant Bleu, which was on the Seine. This was especially unique because we went past the Eiffel Tower quite a few times and had a great view of the Tower of the Hours when it sparkled.

On Sunday, my friends and I walked through a local market

ACROSS

By KARI WHITE CULTURE EDITOR

1. Aykroyd, Radcliffe, Day-Lewis (plural)

5. An agreement that is understood without being verbalized

6. MSG, Barclays Center, Wells Fargo Center

7. The epitome of French fashion

1. Opposite of truth

2. Computer company known for producing laptops, chromebooks and desktops

3. Seven’s meal in the popular numerical riddle

4. Statistic (shortened)

5. There are often too many of these left open on a computer

near our hotel. There were many vendors on the street, and there were also tons of cafes and pastry shops. All of the Parisians were very kind to us and accommodating to the fact we did not know much French.

After our picnic, I left my friends and headed over to the catacombs, where this walkthrough was an optional activity offered through Fordham. It was very cool being underneath all of the public transportation and the sewer system in Paris. But once I got to the actual catacombs underground, I immediately regretted going alone

— seeing all the bones and skulls was actually creepier than I thought. Definitely a one-and-done experience for me, but I’m still glad I saw it. I left the catacombs, then did some classic souvenir shopping and headed back to the hotel. I was upset that our trip was coming to an end. As a group, we headed back to the Metro to bring us back to the Eurostar train at Gare du Nord. The weekend in Paris was such an amazing experience. I do not think a weekend is enough time in Paris at all, and I definitely will be back to visit all of the spots I did not have time for!

By GRACE GALBREATH

Instructions

Use the clues to the left to fill out the boxes above.

Davey enjoyed her maiden voyage into the City of Light.

COURTESY OF HANNAH DAVEY FOR THE FORDHAM RAM

Overtime: The Death of Well-Dressed Head Coaches in American Sports

By GRIFFIN STEVENSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Gone are the days of coaches with style and flair in American sports. For the most part, fashion in American sports has become a lost art, with the Pat Rileys and Mike Ditkas of the world considered relics of another time.

So, what happened?

For the National Football League, the answer is clear-cut. In the late 1980s, many coaches, including Ditka, began wearing team-branded sweaters. However, when Ditka would wear a sweater, a button-up and tie were nearly always included. According to ESPN, the official death of the suit came around 1990, when the NFL mandated that all sideline personnel wear officially licensed NFL gear.

In 2007, San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan and Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio got permission from the league to wear suits for home matchups after Nolan spent three years negotiating with Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league’s merchandising partner, Reebok. According to Nolan, Reebok was not exactly helpful in the process. “They wish it would go away, but I try to keep it alive as much as I can,” said Nolan when speaking to ESPN. Nolan wore his signature black suit as a tribute to his dad, the late great Dick Nolan. Unfortunately, for the sanctity of fashion in the NFL, these suits had to be designed by Reebok, and the trend eventually died out alongside Noland and Del Rio’s respective stints as head coaches.

Since then, the average NFL coach dresses no differently than a training staff member, wrapped up in a cocoon of athleisure as they jaunt down the sideline. One man in particular, New England Patriots

head coach Bill Belichick, has made it his mission to be the opposite of fashion-forward, sporting a gray Patriots hoodie with haphazardly cut-off sleeves. Yet, no one bats an eye.

One man who would most likely scoff at the idea of a Reebok suit or a sleeveless hoodie on gameday is former Lakers head coach and current president of the Miami Heat, Pat Riley. I and many others consider Riley the best-dressed coach of all time, garnering him a reputation as the “Made in Italy” style icon for his expertly tailored Giorgio Armani suits worth thousands of dollars. Yahoo Sports even listed him as their best-dressed NBA coach of all time in 2023, nearly 20 years removed from his days in charge. His legacy lasted decades, with coaches like Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr following “suit,” however, like many things in our society, the NBA dress code was affected by COVID-19.

According to GQ, the National Basketball Association moved from its previously strictly enforced dress code of dress shirts and sportcoats to a more informal “business attire.” When the league went into quarantine, and the coaches hung up their suits, they left them there for good. They now opt for a polo shirt, hidden by an athletic quarter-zip adorned with their team logo. Due to the added exposure accompanying branded gear on the sidelines, it is doubtful that Commissioner Adam Silver will revoke the COVID-19-era dress code.

At the college level, Saint John University’s head coach Rick Patino and Fordham University’s very own Keith Urgo continue to rock the pocket square and fine tailoring defiantly. In the women’s

Athletes of the Week

Conway Senior Football

Ryann Lucas Senior Women’s Soccer

game, Louisiana State University coach Kim Mulkey continues to stun fans with her avant-garde pantsuits, which have even caused large media outlets like the Washington Post to label her as a distraction. Unfortunately, coaches nationwide have begun the switch to business casual attire.

“I hate to see it… Jay Wright was making a statement every time he coached a game. I don’t want it to go away, but it’s a product of our time,” said broadcaster Jim Natz when speaking to Sports Illustrated in 2021.

His remarks regarding 21-year Villanova University head coach Jay Wright echo a growing sentiment that formal dress is a thing of the past. However, Nantz is right when he says that coaches like Wright, who suited up on gameday, were making a statement. Pat Riley didn’t just wear Armani suits because he was friends with Giorgio Armani (he was); he opted for formal attire because he knew his appearance was more significant than basketball.

“I think when you’re a leader, you have to present yourself in a way that’s real…The suits were impeccable because I felt I had to present a respectful leadership figure to the fans in Los Angeles,” said Riley, speaking to The Daily Coach.

When players and fans today look at their coach, they see someone who appears no different to them. While this may align with the sentiment of our interconnected culture, the head coach’s myth and “aura” are preparing to receive their last rites. Only this time, when it dies, the body won’t be wrapped in Italian silk, instead opting for the 100% polyester of Nike’s mass-produced Dri-Fit tracksuits.

The Mike is back for Fordham Football. The Rams’ lead LB made his muchanticipated season debut in the team’s family weekend affair with Lafayette College, a heartbreaking 28-23 loss. Conway was simply all over the field, as he led the club with 13 tackles including a tackle for loss. The senior has his eyes on history, too: now sitting at 399 career tackles, he ranks third in Fordham history (424) and ninth in Patriot League history (432) — he could well break both records. In dire need of a turnaround, Conway should help steady the ship and get these Rams rolling with Patriot League play in full swing.

The senior midfielder has earned three consecutive starts, and Fordham has gone 2-1 in that span. Lucas played an instrumental role in all three matches, none greater than her performance versus Duquesne on Breast Cancer Awareness Night. En route to a 3-1 victory, Lucas netted two goals on six shots in a full 90 minutes of play, posting career highs in each of those stats. Lucas seems to have carved out a significant role with Atlantic 10 play kicking off; look for her to make a continued impact as the Rams seek out a conference championship this fall.

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

James

Head of the Housatonic

COURTESY OF X

Los Angeles Lakers head coach and style icon Pat Riley sports his tailoring on the sideline.

Fordham Volleyball Winless in Washington

By JOE HENRY ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Even after coming up emptyhanded against Saint Louis University in their Atlantic 10 opening series, the Fordham University Rams seemed poised to get in the conference win column as they traveled south to Washington, D.C., for a two-game bout with the George Washington University Revolutionaries last Friday and Saturday. After just one set, it became apparent that the conquest for that elusive first victory would be an uphill battle.

After a GW kill and a Fordham response, Friday’s first set sat tied at one. It was never tied again. On the back of eight attack errors from the Rams, the Revolutionaries ran away to a 25-7 win. Fordham seemed to have trouble stymying GW’s momentum, surrendering three runs of five unanswered points in the frame.

The Rams, as they have all season, found a way to flush a bad set away in the time it took to switch sides on the court. Despite hitting just .150 in the set — and a dismal .066 for the night — Fordham managed to pull away from a back-and-forth fight for a 25-22 win, knotting the match at one. At first glance, set two looked like another Revs win, until sophomore Lola Fernandez changed the game’s complexion at the service line, drilling two straight service aces as the Rams went from down 5-9 to up 10-9. Fordham was propelled by several contributors to their eventual win, with their two superstars clinching the win: graduate student Whitley Moody’s kill made it 24-22, and junior Audrey Brown’s hammer sent it to set three. Both kills were set up by sophomore Whitney Woodrow, who was instrumental with 10 assists in the period.

nation’s

The third frame began in the same manner as the last played out: the two clubs battled narrowly with Moody and freshman pin hitter Mila Micunovic keeping the Rams afloat.

Moody wound up with four kills in the frame, but the Rams mustered just fourteen in a set that was dominated by GW from the half-way point on.

With the match on the line, the Rams threw their best punch at the Revolutionaries club that stands at a remarkable 13-4 on the season. While GW was supposed to be a bottom of the barrel team amid a packed A-10 field, they proved in set four that they’ve been underestimated.

The Fordham attack was again buoyed by Moody, Brown and Micunovic, who each put up multiple kills in the set. Ultimately, though, the Revs overpowered the Rams and took game one, 25-17. The Rams were uncharacteristically poor on the reception, allowing 11 service aces despite ranking second in the conference in digs on the season. They continued to put up inconsistent numbers at the line, too, with 10 errors on the serve.

Woodrow accounted for four of those, extending a now-five game streak with a service error; she was otherwise excellent, posting 23 assists and six digs. Moody was prolific, tabbing 13 kills and 13 digs on .282 hitting, while Micunovic had a breakout game, finishing with six kills and a block.

Saturday told a similar story to that of sets three and four on Friday. The Rams kept it tight in every frame, holding several leads, before eventually succumbing to the Revs in straight sets. Fordham was, again, poor on the reception, allowing nine GW aces; and, again, Fordham was erroneous on the attack, with 15 miscues.

The nail in the coffin came in set two when the Rams appeared

Football Fordham 23

Lafayette 28

Men’s Cross Country Paul Short Run 41st/44 Teams

Women’s Cross Country Paul Short Run 38th/42 teams

Women’s Tennis Fordham Invitational

NTS (No Team Scoring)

poised to tie the match at one all. With Fordham commanding a 2016 lead, GW did the unthinkable and rallied for nine of the frame’s last 10 points, seizing control of the affair. In another tight set, the Rams periled 20-25, while the Revs brandished their brooms and advanced to 3-1 in conference play; Fordham, on the other hand, sits at 0-4.

It wasn’t a poor performance for Fordham, despite the scoreline, with a few points shifting the pendulum from Fordham’s side to GW’s. One bright spot was freshman setter Emma Stammeyer, who played her first four sets during the weekend. She played all three on Saturday, racking up 12 assists and six digs.

After sparring seven sets, the Revs and Rams reversed the script and lined up on the same side of the net. Posing with the officials, the group honored the referees’ commitment to the sport all in celebration of Girls and Women’s Volleyball Official Appreciation Week.

With the festivities winding down, Fordham ventured back to the Bronx. They won’t stay there long: tonight, they’re headed to the University of Rhode Island for a matchup between the A-10’s two winless teams. It’s the first time the Rams will play in the middle of week; it’s worth monitoring how a change in routine may impact their performance.

From there, the squad will return home for a two-game stint with George Mason University, another subpar A-10 opponent. If all goes well, the Rams’ recent struggles will be a distant memory, and a threegame win streak will boost them back into playoff contention.

Until then, the maroon and white have plenty to build off of, and still more to clean up.

News & Notes

Women’s Tennis Hosts Rose Hill Invitational

Last weekend, Fordham Women’s Tennis hosted nine schools from across the northeast in its Rose Hill Invitational. From Friday to Sunday, teams engaged in singles and doubles play on the Hawthorn/Rooney Tennis Courts, competing in tournament-style flights of eight. In singles, senior Lorraine Bergmann led the charge, winning Flight F with a come-from-behind 1-6, 6-3, 10-5 win in the finals. With a large graduating class and a few transfer portal exits, the invitational was a great opportunity for some of the Rams’ newcomers to make their mark, too. Junior transfers Nevena Kolarevic and Aya Matsunaga, along with freshman Paola Ueno Dalmonico, all made the finals for their respective flights. Elsewhere, returning junior Sofie Siem made and narrowly lost in her finals matchup. The Rams also fared well in doubles, highlighted by the pairing of Kolarevic and sophomore Julianne Nguyen, who won the consolation bracket with a 6-0 finals performance. Bergmann and freshman Catalina Padilla Udaeta performed well together, too, sweeping the AA flight’s quarterfinals, 6-0, before narrowly falling 6-7 in semifinal play. Overall, it was a strong showing for the Rams, who will compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regionals next week, before the Atlantic 10 Individual Championships from Oct. 25-27.

Men’s Soccer Upsets No.23 Ranked VCU

The Fordham men’s soccer team got their first ranked win since 2017 on Saturday after they defeated Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va. The 1-0 match was decided by Louis Lehr in the 41st minute, when the graduate midfielder jumped on a rebounded shot before burying the ball into the bottom right corner. Adding to the drama, VCU thought that they had scored twice in the first half, but each scoring opportunity was disallowed by a handball and offsides call respectively. Carter Abbott kept the Rams in the fight down the stretch, making crucial saves to cap off his total of five on the night. With this result, Fordham moves to 4-1-1 on the season and 1-1-1 in conference play. The Rams will battle Saint Louis University at Moglia Stadium on Oct. 9 in a battle of the fifth and sixth ranked teams in the Atlantic 10. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Cross Country Competes at Paul Short Run

Fordham Men’s Cross Country competed on Saturday morning at the Paul Short Run, finishing 41st out of 44 teams in the Gold Division 8k race with a score of 1178. The Rams were led by sophomore runner Sean Reidy, whose time of 25:21:50 in the 8K course earned him 189th place out of the field of 374 runners. Three other Rams finished inside the top 350. Junior Darren Croken and sophomore John Corrigan earned 307th and 315th places with times of 26:21:80 and 26:29:30, respectively. Other finishers for the Rams included sophomores Tadael Mihret and Matthew Febles, and freshmen Lucas Rohde, Matthew McDevitt and Anan Bauman. On the women’s side, the Rams finished 38th out of 42 teams. The Fordham squad finished with 1003 points. Leading the women was graduate student Katarina Birimac, who placed 37th overall out of 371 in the 6K course with a fantastic time of 20:52:80. She was followed by sophomore Sarah Zahaykevich who finished 193rd with a season-best time of 22:04:50. Behind her and finishing in the top 300 was sophomore Kate Meeks in 299th place, with a time of 23:03:60. Also finishing for the Rams were sophomores Megan McCann, Grace Kenny and Cate Roche, as well as freshmen Lauren Raimy and Madison Collins. In terms of what is ahead for XC, the Rams now begin the championship portion of their schedule next week, as the team competes at the Metropolitan Championship, which will be held at Branch Brook Park in Newark, N.J.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Volleyball was competitive, but outmatched when they traveled to the

capital to take on George Washington University.

-Compiled by Griffin Stevenson

By JACKIE KILB CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As the MLB playoffs come to a sparkling start, fans are expecting nothing less than electric energy over the next couple of weeks of action. The dynamics of the opening round matchups only propel excitement, as the wildcard rounds host several fierce pairings fighting to move on.

Taking a look at the American League wildcard rounds, we saw our October start off with the Baltimore Orioles vs. the Kansas City Royals, alongside the Detroit Tigers vs. the Houston Astros. With the Orioles’ red hot start in the spring, they were able to pull a 4-2 regular season record versus the Royals this year. Gunnar Henderson (leading with 37 HRs), Anthony Santander, Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins are among the big names on the Orioles, with each having a season batting average over .230. As for their first-round rivals, Bobby Witt Jr. has been the Royals’ standout player, emerging as a potential MVP candidate. His extraordinary season is showcased in his diversity on the field, batting .332 with 32 home runs, 109 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. The Orioles’ inexperience came into play in this series, causing them to be swept after scoring only one run throughout the two-game series. The Royals will go on to play the New York Yankees in the ALDS, as the team works to hang their 28th championship banner at E 161st St. The Bronx Bombers are anchored by several key players, namely Aaron Judge (has both the most HRs and RBIs in MLB), Juan Soto (career-high 41 HRs in 2024), Giancarlo Stanton (experienced power-hitter) and Gerrit Cole (their reliable ace on the mound). With the Royals putting up a 2-5 record versus

MLB Playoffs Preview

the Yankees this season, it’s hard not to pick the guys in pinstripes to move on to the ALCS.

The rollercoaster that is October baseball began its ascent with the Tigers vs. the Astros. This matchup was a particularly interesting dynamic, as the Tigers and Astros function very differently as teams. Detroit has the youngest average age in the entire league (26), with their oldest player being only 31. On the other hand, the Astros had several seasoned veterans, namely Yordan Álvarez, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker, all of whom have been consistent power hitters for the Houston team. These players are still regarded as top stars, despite all being involved in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal (let’s hope there’s no garbage cans at the stadium this year). Although the Astros ended with a regular season record of 4-2 versus the Tigers this season, they were promptly swept in the opening round; looks like these orange old-timers could not take the blue budding batters. This means our next round sees an intense divisional rivalry in the Cleveland Guardians vs. the Tigers, with their regular season head-to-head record being almost evenly split at 6-7. Some key Cleveland players to look out for include José Ramírez (MVP candidate), Josh Naylor (a seasoned playoff veteran), Andrés Giménez (a standout infielder) and Shane Bieber (the ace of the pitching staff).

Moving on to the National League, we had wildcard matchups of the New York Mets vs. the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves vs. the San Diego Padres. With the Mets barely squeaking into the playoffs with their win over the Braves last Monday, it was absolutely crucial that their key players step up to the plate (no pun intended). Mets fans

looked at Francisco Lindor (short-stop and clutch hitter) and Pete Alonso (team HR and RBI leader) for power-hitting, while relying on Luis Severino (starting pitcher) and Edwin Díaz (star closer) for pitching stability. This Queens Quartet proved to be the better core against the Brewers, a quiet, yet evidently threatening team. This season, the Brewers were led by standout players, namely Willy Adames on offense and Devin Williams (dependent closer) on defense. Despite not having many household names, the Brewers held their own, finishing with a record of 5-1 versus the Mets this season. However, the New York powerhouse was able to pull a big win against the Brewers in their first faceoff, and ultimately win the series in three games. The Mets now go on to play the Philadelphia Phillies, their longstanding divisional rivals in the NLDS. Looking into the next round, we have huge names in Philadelphia including Bryce Harper (cornerstone of offense), Trea Turner (reliable hitter), Kyle Schwarber (power-hitting

outfielder) and Zack Wheeler dominating the mound. The other wildcard in the National League was equally as exciting, with the Braves taking on the Padres. With reliable pitching and powerhouse batters, the Braves continue to feature a talented roster led by some of the best players in the MLB. Do not underestimate the other side of this fierce matchup, however, as the Padres’ star-studded cast have proven to have consistent success. Some of the Padres’ most notable players include Manny Machado (a cornerstone at 3rd base), Fernando Tatís Jr. (who returned strong in 2024 after a turbulent 2023), Xander Bogaerts (a solid ex-Red Sox shortstop), Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove (both anchors in the pitching rotation). The health of these key players is undoubtedly essential for the Padres to continue. Despite their high-profile trade with the Yankees during the off-season in which they lost Soto, the Padres still have a strong core of talent that makes them competitive in the postseason. This became

By JONAH RING, JOE HENRY & GRIFFIN STEVENSON

Introducing 4th and Inches, the Ram Sports Editors’ weekly guide for all things NFL. Like an offensive coordinator facing fourth-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 6 Picks:

Games with an asterisk beside them represent our locks of the week.

The current standings are:

1st - Joe (34-28)

T-2nd - Jonah (31-31)

T-2nd - Griffin (31-31)

49ers @ Seahawks

Jonah : Seahawks

Griffin: Seahawks

Joe: 49ers

Jaguars @ Bears

Jonah: Bears

Griffin: Bears

Joe: Bears

START ’EM, SIT ’EM:

Jonah & Joe: Joe Burrow (Start)

Despite the Bengals’ disastrous start, Burrow has arguably been playing some of the best football of his career as of late. Couple this with the fact that he is set to be facing off against a middling Giants secondary, and he is a must start. The Bengals, sitting at just 1-4 in dire need of a win, should carve through the Giants’ defense en route to a highscoring victory. Oh, and Ja’marr Chase’s knack for YAC-driven TD’s helps, too.

Commanders @ Ravens

Jonah: Ravens

Griffin: Commanders

Joe: Ravens

Cardinals @ Packers

Jonah: Packers

Griffin: Packers

Joe: Cardinals

Texans @ Patriots

Jonah: Texans

Griffin: Texans

Joe: Texans

RB Joe: Rhamondre Stevenson (Start)

It’s been a weird season for Stevenson. He started out hot, fumbled a whole bunch, got benched, and somehow turned in an impressive performance in week five. With Drake Maye taking over quarterback duties, expect the rookie to rely on Stevenson as a checkdown option, giving him that alwayslucrative PPR value. The Oline is abysmal, the receivers are non-existent, and Stevenson will often be Maye’s first and only look vs. the Texans.

Buccaneers @ Saints

Jonah: Buccaneers

Griffin: Buccaneers

Joe: Buccaneers

*Browns @ Eagles*

Jonah: Eagles

Griffin: Eagles

Joe: Eagles

Colts @ Titans

Jonah: Colts

Griffin: Colts

Joe: Colts

Pittman Jr. caught a TD last week, but I’d consider him a TDdependent flex at this stage. The Colts WR1 simply hasn’t gotten consistent looks this year, and it seems that Alex Pierce has gained more fantasy value as the Colts’ deep threat option. Despite decent target numbers, Pittman has seen just 6.43 yards per target, a horrific number compared to Pierce’s hysterically high 21.64. has As such, in his four games without a TD, Pittman has put up a startworthy fantasy score just one time.

Chargers @ Broncos

Jonah: Broncos

Griffin: Broncos

Joe: Chargers

Steelers @ Raiders

Jonah: Steelers

Griffin: Steelers

Joe: Steelers

Falcons @ Panthers

Jonah: Falcons

Griffin: Falcons

Joe: Falcons

apparent in their two-game sweep of the Braves, allowing them to have the chance to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next round. As one of the MLB’s most well-known teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers have proven to be a force to be reckoned with. With superstars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, Luis Urías and Shohei Ohtani (who, believe it or not, has never been to the playoffs), they are bound to put up a tough fight against the emerging victor. As October continues on, baseball fans everywhere are experiencing the highs and lows of America’s favorite pastime, while asking themselves what will happen next. Is it destined to be a Bronx vs. Queens matchup as both teams play their way to a Subway Series World Series? Which National League East rival will prevail among the Mets and Phillies? Baseball fans everywhere excitedly wait to have our questions answered, and to see what team will hoist the 120th World Series in their ballpark come the championship round.

Joe & Griffin: Evan Engram (Sit)

Engram is (finally) slated to return to action in week six, but he’ll do so against a Bears defense that has been above average against opposing tight ends. In what should be a low-scoring affair between two inconsistent offenses, fade Engram until he proves he’s back to his 2023 self. - Joe I agree with Joe. Engram is so beat-up that I doubt he’ll be able to get off to a hot start in his first game of the season, especially against the formerly impressive defense of Cleveland. - Griffin

Lions @ Cowboys

Jonah: Lions

Griffin: Lions

Joe: Lions

Bengals @ Giants

Jonah: Bengals

Griffin: Bengals

Joe: Bengals

Bills @ Jets

Jonah: Bills

Griffin: Bills

Joe: Bills

COURTESY

After a historic campaign, Aaron Judge looks to lift the New York Yankees to their 28th World Series title.

WR Joe: Michael Pittman Jr. (Sit)

What Does Team Relocation Actually Mean For Fans?

By GRACE MCCARON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Watching the final series at the Oakland Coliseum in late September should have been heartbreaking to not just every baseball fan, but every sports fan. The last 2024 home game for the Oakland Athletics was on Sept. 26, and it was an extremely emotional and sentimental day at the Coliseum in California. The grounds crew was filling plastic bottles with field dirt and giving them out to fans. Franchise legends came to say goodbye — Barry Zito sang the national anthem, and Dave Stewart and Rickey Henderson threw out the first pitch. Manager Mark Kotsay spoke to the crowd after the A’s victory, growing emotional as he thanked fans and the Coliseum.

The A’s are set to move to Las Vegas in 2028. Until then, they will play in the San Francisco Giants’ minor league stadium, Sutter Health Park, located in West Sacramento, Calif.

It’s a shameful end to an illustrious 57-year run for the Oakland A’s. They won four World Series titles in Oakland. A legion of Hall of Famers have called Oakland home. The movie about the 2002 team, “Moneyball,” remains a cultural staple. Even with a lack of success in recent years, the A’s remain one of the most iconic franchises in baseball, and fan loyalty has never wavered. They have felt mistreated by owner John Fisher, who seems

to care little about the city and the team’s success, and have demanded that he sell the team for years.

It is hard for many of us to imagine our beloved franchises leaving their homes behind, but throughout the long history of American sports, plenty of teams have done it, and some several times. In fact, this is not even the first time the A’s have moved: they actually started as the Philadelphia A’s in 1901, and became the Kansas City A’s in 1955, before the move to Oakland in 1968. Oakland has unfortunately become familiar with the feeling of teams leaving in recent years. Three professional sports teams have left Oakland since 2019, starting with the Golden State Warriors moving to San Francisco that year and the Oakland Raiders moving to Las Vegas in 2020.

Yet another recent instance of team relocation comes in hockey. The National Hockey League is dealing with a similar situation with the Arizona

Coyotes, who spent 10 seasons in Arizona before suspending hockey operations and transferring half of their assets to the expansion Utah Hockey Club earlier this year. Even with one of the smaller fanbases across hockey, the Coyotes faithful was named among the most loyal in the league. The Coyotes never approached the success of the A’s, only winning the Pacific Division once in the 2011-12 season, but their fans remained dedicated. Many were infuriated at being looked down upon as an area uninterested in hockey, when in reality Arizona is a bigger market than Salt Lake City.

As the majority of sports fans will say, sports go much deeper than just the game. Many fans, like myself, grow up with their team, adopting their love from their families at a young age. Those especially attached to their team might find themselves at so many games that their stadiums begin to feel like a second home. Teams bring cities

together. We pour over the histories of our franchises almost obsessively. And while history does live forever, it will also serve as a reminder to many fans that the place where their favorite memories of their team lived is no longer home, and it is a difficult pill to swallow. My

grandmother was a teenager when her Brooklyn Dodgers left for Los Angeles, and while she still speaks rather glowingly of those Boys of Summer, she remains infuriated at then-owner Walter O’Malley for effectively deserting Ebbets Field.

Some fans will still follow their team in its new city while some will let their interest in their team die with its old home. The utter disillusionment that A’s fans will surely feel is a very tragic consequence of something that Major League Baseball personnel and owners shouldn’t have allowed to happen in the first place. It is imperative for the good of organized sports that leagues make effort to prioritize fans who have devoted so much energy and time to the teams they love.

With the departure of the A’s, the legendary Oakland Coliseum will now be empty.

The Oakland Athletics are the latest team to fall victim to the relocation epidemic that has plagued sports in recent years.

Patriot League Favorites Narrowly Edge Out Fordham Football

By LOU ORLANDO ASST. SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

Fordham University Football fell to 0-6 last Saturday, unable to complete a comeback in a 28-23 defeat at the hands of Lafayette College in front of a packed Family Weekend crowd at Rose Hill. But while the first win of the season continues to elude the Rams, their rather valiant effort indicates that plenty of fight still remains — and perhaps the idea of making some noise in-conference isn’t entirely unmerited.

Following a 63-21 defeat against Monmouth University, optimism was not at an alltime high. The Rams would have to turn their attention to a Lafayette team definitively ranked the best in the Patriot League at the start of the season, receiving 12 of 14 first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Boasting both the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in star All-American running back Jamar Curtis and am AllAmerican safety Saiku White, the Leopards featured immense talent on both sides of the ball.

With junior quarterback Dean DeNobile, younger brother of former Fordham defensive back Jed DeNobile, and sophomore wide receiver Elijah Steward both making strong cases to be All-Americans at season’s close, stopping Lafayette’s offense would be no easy task.

At the helm was last season’s Patriot League Coach of the Year John Troxell, who had managed to lead a struggling program to the FCS postseason in just his second year by staking a partial claim in the Patriot League title.

Put it all together and it’s no surprise that Lafayette was the consensus pick to repeat as champions.

The sportsbooks that did carry the Week 6 FCS matchup listed Fordham as heavy underdogs, despite having a home advantage. And who could blame them? The margin between the two programs seemed as wide as ever.

Lafayette’s first drive did little to dispel that narrative.

Opening the game on offense, Curtis broke off a 22-yard rush, taking the Leopards firmly into Fordham territory. On the very next play, DeNobile found sophomore tight end Ethan Hosak for a 28-yard touchdown. Lafayette had taken a 7-0 lead in the first five minutes.

Despite an unremarkable first look at the Fordham defense, there was one major difference. Starting at middle linebacker was All-American senior James Conway.

Fordham had endured their fair share of injuries. Junior quarterback CJ Montes, the leading passer in the Patriot League last year, still has not returned from an injury he suffered in Week 3. Both senior running back Julius Loughridge and graduate student wideout Garrett Cody had missed time as well. But perhaps the most impactful absence had been that

of Conway, who had recorded more than 125 tackles in each of his first three seasons in the Bronx.

Conway had not played a single snap entering Week 6, but his return had the potential to reinvigorate a struggling Fordham run defense.

He’d have to get right back out there after Lafayette’s gameopening touchdown drive, with the Rams offense quickly forced to punt after a three-and-out.

This time, they were up to the task, tackling Curtis behind the line of scrimmage for an 8-yard loss to force a three-and-out of their own.

Junior quarterback Jack Capaldi, starting in place of the injured Montes for a third straight game, found more of a rhythm, connecting twice with senior wideout Cole Thornton to take the Rams into Lafayette territory.

But any rhythm was stopped dead in its tracks when Leopards linebacker Preston Forney got to Capaldi, forcing the ball out in the process. De’Marion McCoy recovered the ball, setting up a 21-yard receiving touchdown for Chris Carasia as Lafayette leaped out to a 140 lead with five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Once again, the Rams found themselves trailing early on. But unlike previous games, momentum would swing back in their favor.

On the subsequent drive, Lafayette’s sophomore defensive lineman Jaylon Joseph was assessed a flagrant personal foul after punching Fordham sophomore right tackle Owen Deutsch in the midsection. Joseph was ejected from the game, leaving the Leopards without the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Year.

Lafayette, who finished fifth in the FCS last season in sacks per game, was already struggling to force pressure this season following the graduation of Patriot League sack leader Billy Shaeffer. Now they would be left without their top pass rusher

for the remaining three-plus quarters.

Fordham capitalized on the penalty, as Loughridge punched in a 9-yard touchdown to bring the Rams back within a score.

Still trailing 14-7 towards the end of the first half, Capaldi managed to hit graduate student tight end Jeff Ciccio for an impressive 28-yard contested catch that would take the Rams past midfield, electrifying the Fordham sideline.

Facing third-and-12, Capaldi scrambled and seemingly slid past the first down markers — but that’s not what the officials saw, ruling him a yard short. Head coach Joe Conlin elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 and his junior gunslinger delivered.

Relying on his legs once again, Capaldi kept it on the read option and sail untouched into the endzone for a 38-yard touchdown. Fordham had now surged back against the reigning champs and entered halftime deadlocked in a 14-14 tie.

The Rams started the second half with the ball and picked up right where they left off, driving into Lafayette territory. The drive eventually stalled out, but freshman kicker Bennett Henderson buried a massive

career-long 38-yard field goal to give Fordham a 17-14 lead at the eight-minute mark of the always-important third quarter.

But Lafayette would not go down quietly. Thanks to a 22yard reception from Steward and a 27-yard run from Curtis, the Leopards marched into the red zone, retaking the lead on a 1-yard score from running back Troy Bruce.

Momentum compounded for Lafayette as White intercepted Capaldi on the very next drive, taking it back to the Fordham 9-yard line to set up a receiving touchdown for tight end Dallas Holmes. In the blink of an eye, the Leopards had taken a 28-17 lead at the close of the third.

Fordham failed to answer once more, as Loughridge was bottled up on a fourth-and-1 carry.

With time ticking, the Rams needed a spark. And they got one.

The Patriot League’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, senior defensive end Matt Jaworski, blocked a punt with seven minutes left, allowing Fordham to take over inside the red zone. The Rams made sure not to squander this opportunity as Loughridge found paydirt

in endzone for a second time, cutting the deficit to five.

However, Lafayette quickly surged back, entering the red zone on a 44-yard run from Bruce, and seemed poised to take an 8-point lead with a 33yard field goal. But Fordham’s special teams shined yet again as sophomore defensive back Nate Lindsey-Gill blocked Jack Simonetta’s kick, which rolled into the endzone for a touchback.

Fordham had the ball with 3:30 left in a 28-23 game, given one last chance to pull out a victory that not too long ago seemed improbable. They’d get all the way up to the Lafayette 30 with 30 seconds to go — but that’s as far as they’d get.

A fourth down incompletion on an endzone shot to Cody sealed the Rams’ fate, ensuring a 28-23 win for Lafayette to open conference play.

The Rams fall to 0-6, but a renewed fight perhaps bodes well for the games to come.

By all accounts, Lafayette is the best team in the Patriot League. There’s a very strong chance every opponent the rest of the way won’t be as formidable as a Leopards team that has their eyes on the FCS postseason and ranked in the FCS Top 25 poll just two weeks ago.

A loss to open conference play does hurt Fordham’s chances of an FCS postseason appearance quite a bit. However, despite the winless start, the Rams’ postseason dreams remain intact as long as a Patriot League title is still in play. No team has ever won the Patriot League with more than one loss, meaning the Rams would have to win out the rest of the way to even have a chance. And even, Fordham Football would not be guaranted a postseason bid for the FCS Playoffs.

Last season, the College of the Holy Cross matched Lafayette’s 5-1 conference record, as both schools shared a claim to the Patriot League title. But the Leopards won the head-tohead matchup, giving them the tiebreaker and the automatic bid while Holy Cross’ respective season came to an end after the regular season finale.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Despite losing, Fordham Football came out with energy and enthusiasm in front of a raucous home crowd.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Senior Julius Loughridge once again kept the Fordham offense steady, recording two touchdowns and 80 yards.