Volume 92 Issue 19

PERSPECTIVE ON FORDHAM’S LANDSCAPING - PAGE 19

WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW - PULL-OUT

SERVING THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 90 YEARS

1918-2010

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

VOLUME 92, ISSUE 19

Gary Johnson Addresses Students at Fordham Former New Mexico Governor and Noted Small Government Supporter Discusses Healthcare, Marijuana Legalization and Other Issues with Students

By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR

Gary Johnson, former Republican governor of New Mexico, gave a lecture sponsored by the Young Americans for Liberty on Nov. 4 about his political history and philosophy. Johnson addressed the students in attendance on matters of fiscal responsibility, small government and political reforms.

Marijuana legalization, arguably Johnson’s hallmark political platform, was advertised as being a main point of the lecture, and Johnson subsequently devoted a substantial portion of his address to it.

“Ninety percent of the problem is prohibition related,” he said, noting that some 60 percent, of Americans in prison are serving sentences related to drug possession.

He placed particular emphasis on sentences related to marijuana, arguing that the legal response it elicits is out of proportion with the dangers it poses to users.

“I do not smoke marijuana and I do not drink alcohol,” he said.

“But I have smoked marijuana and I have drunk alcohol, and I can say

that alcohol is definitely more dangerous.”

According to Johnson, legalizing and taxing marijuana will also have effects on the United States’ international relations. “[You] legalize marijuana and 75 percent of border crime goes away,” he said, referring to the trafficking of the drug across the United States-Mexico border, which has seen major increases in violence over the past several years.

Johnson also cited drug policies in foreign countries as evidence in favor of marijuana legalization. In particular, he discussed the Netherlands, where despite marijuana’s decriminalized status, drug use per capita is 60 percent of what it is in the United States, and Portugal, which has seen a decrease in the use of hard drugs, such as heroin, since they were decriminalized.

Johnson said that he disagrees with the current arrangement those states with medical marijuana use, namely dedicated dispensaries for the drug.

“If it were me making that decision, you would just show a card and then would be able to purchase SEE JOHNSON ON PAGE 3

PHOTO BY MIKE REZIN/ THE RAM

Speaking in the Keating Hall 3rd floor auditorium on Nov. 4, former New Mexico governor and potential 2012 presidential candidate Gary Johnson spoke about his political philosophy, emphasizing small, efficient government.

University to Host Opus Prize for Faith-Based Entrepreneurship Finally, the Project cares for nearly 400 households headed by orphaned adolescents caring for their younger siblings.

The other finalist is the Rev. John Halligan, S.J. Hailing from the Bronx, Halligan has been working in Quito, Ecuador since 1964. Inspired by the plight of shoeshine boys in that city, he founded the Working Boys Center, which began as a place for impoverished young men to find food and safe shelter, rather than remaining on the streets.

Since that time, Halligan, along with Sr. Miguel Conway, BVM, and Sr. Cindy Ann Sullivan, BVM, has expanded the WBC to provide the tools and resources necessary for helping impoverished families lift themselves out of poverty. Since its founding 46 years ago, the WBC has helped some 30,000 individuals and 6,000 families.

Additionally, the center provides three meals a day, schooling, technical education for 11 vocations, savings programs, health care, Catholic Mass and bathing. Fr. Halligan works to instill moral values in all those who are affected by the center, and nearly 100 percent of graduates are placed in jobs. Finally, the WBC provides a home ownership program and manages its own beauty salon and bakery.

“The two nominees are people whose lives challenge us to do more,

and to be more of who God wants us to be,” Msgr. Joseph Quinn, vice president of Mission and Ministry said.

“Sister Chipeta and Father Halligan would be considered exceptional individuals in any setting, but seeing how much they have accomplished in their respective missions with the most meager of resources sets an almost superhuman standard for humanitarian action. We are truly blessed to have them with us.”

Besides hosting the event, Fordham has been involved in the selection of this year’s Opus Prize finalists. The Prize is awarded at a different Catholic university every year. Past hosts have included Jesuit universities such as Marquette University and the University of San Francisco, in addition to the University of Notre Dame and the Catholic University of America.

Preceding the presentation of the Opus Prize will be a panel on Nov. 10 at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus.

Entitled “Globalization and the Ecology of Caring,” the event will feature William F. Baker of Channel Thirteen/WTEN, Fred de Sam Lazaro of St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. and Jacqueline Novogratz, founder and CEO of the Acumen Fund. It will be held at 6 p.m. in the Pope Auditorium.

The Opus Prize will be presented at a ceremony in the Keating 1st auditorium on Nov. 11 at 5:15 p.m.

Sports PAGE 24

Opinions PAGE 7

Culture PAGE 13

Football beats Bucknell, extending winning streak to four games.

Point-Counterpoint: electronic books and textbooks.

The televised return of comedian Conan O’Brien.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

Awarding religiously based and motivated humanitarian efforts, the Opus Prize will host its seventh annual award ceremony at Fordham on Nov. 11 in Keating Hall’s 1st floor auditorium.

By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University is set to host the seventh annual Opus Prize, a humanitarian award given for leaders of faith-based initiatives all around the world. Since the award was begun in 2004, some 16 individuals have received the prize, which is worth $1 million, or $100,000 finalist prizes.

Most winners have been involved with efforts on the African continent, but finalists have been drawn from all parts of the world, including Colombia, Brazil, India and the United States.

“The Opus Prize is given annually to recognize unsung heroes of any faith tradition, anywhere in the world, solving today’s most persistent social

problems,” the Opus Prize’s Web site states. “Opus Prize winners combine an entrepreneurial spirit with an abiding faith to combat seemingly intractable global issues like poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease, and injustice.

Opus Prize winners demonstrate that change is possible, empowering and inspiring all of us.”

This year’s finalists are members of Catholic religious orders, work in the developing world, and have concerned themselves with children’s welfare, for which they have been nominated.

Sister Beatrice Chipeta, O.P., is a Rosarian nun and retired school teacher who founded and directs the Lusubilo Orphan Care Project in Karonga, Malawi. The project is a non-governmental organization that

serves orphans, especially HIV/AIDS orphans, in the impoverished areas of rural northern Malawi.

The core of Lusubilo’s mission is the distribution of food and infant formula, in addition to the instruction of appropriate nutrition and childcare. Also, Chipeta’s organization supports grieving family members, promotes education and assists families in becoming self-sufficient.

INSIDE

NEWS

PAGE 2 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

SECURITY

BRIEFS

USG, PRIDE Shed Light on LGBTQ Issues Vice President Angelo Labate Authors Bill in Support of Club Sports, Measure Passes with Unanimous Support

Nov. 2, Campbell Hall, 10:50 a.m.

A fire alarm was activated by inattentive cooking on the stove on the second floor.

Nov. 3, Lombardi Center, 10:55 a.m.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

Workmen drilling in the locker room ceiling caused a fire. FDNY responded and there were no injuries.

Nov. 3, Walsh Hall, 12:45 p.m.

A student blowing dry her hair on the fourth floor activated a fire alarm.

Nov. 4, Walsh Library, 6:45-7:30 p.m.

A student fell asleep on his computer in a cubicle on the second floor toward the back of the building. Walking up about 45 minutes later, the student found his Apple MacBook Pro laptop gone.

Nov. 4, Walsh Library, 10-10:15 p.m.

A student left her iPod unattended at a desk on the library’s third floor. Returning 15 minutes later, she found it missing. Security is investigating the incident. All students are advised not to leave their property unattended.

Nov. 7, Belmont Avenue, 1 a.m.

There was a large dispute on the street when some individuals tried to crash a party being held at 2471 Belmont Avenue. A crowd in front of the building spilled out onto the street. As a result, the police responded. Two people were arrested for disorderly conduct and were issued criminal court summonses.

Nov. 7, Campbell Hall, 10:30 p.m.

A smoke alarm was activated on the fourth floor of Campbell Hall.

The cause was unattended food left on the stove. The building was evacuated without injury.

Nov. 8, East 189th Street and Lorillard Place, before 1 p.m.

A student claimed that he parked his car at 10 p.m. and that when he returned at 1 p.m. the following day, he found his rearview mirrors missing.

— COMPILED BY PATRICK DEROCHER

PRIDE Alliance, an organization for LGBTQ and heterosexual students alike, strives to promote awareness and equality on the Fordham University campus.

By VICTORIA RAU ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

“In this society, the standard, the starting point, of being an LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer] person is that you generally feel unsafe,” Michael Strom, FCRH ’11, member of the student organization PRIDE, said at United Student Government’s meeting on Nov. 4, which served as a forum for the issues that students who identify as LGBTQ face. “You are not safe until silence has been broken.”

USG invited members of the PRIDE Alliance to break that silence on Thursday in addressing the obstacles that they see in terms fair treatment of Fordham’s LGBTQ students on campus.

“We want to continue this discussion and need to continue this process to make sure that all members of our community feel like members of our community,” Caitlin Meyer, FCRH ’12, executive vice president of USG, said.

This forum comes several weeks after a similar assembly of international students, both of which go along with USG’s initiative to address the quality of experience for all students.

Interim PRIDE President Amanda Vodola, FCRH ’11, cited the student body’s general lack of awareness about LGBTQ issues as the greatest detriment to creating a welcoming, open environment for LGBTQ students on campus.

“I believe there are many allies and potential allies on this campus, however I often experience an overwhelming sense of apathy,” Vodola said. “Even as a club leader, challenging norms on this campus is difficult and often disheartening.”

Not only blatant anti-LGBTQ actions, but also the unthinking, apathetic use of homophobic language requires the Fordham community’s attention in order to make the campus environment feel more comfortable and safe for LGBTQ students, according

to Strom and Vodola.

“I think Fordham likes to identify as a tolerant community, or at least that’s the way I feel here: tolerated,” Vodola said. “Silence has become interchangeable with tolerance, thus allowing people to continuously get hurt.”

Part of the working solution toward preventing people from getting hurt, according to Vodola, is to move beyond punitive actions against offenders in isolated incidents of intolerance in order to confront the beliefs and attitudes that cause hate crimes and insensitivity. Strom agreed.

“The change needs to be systemic; it needs to be a shift in the paradigms through which we understand ourselves, our sexual identities, [and] our romantic identities,” Strom said.

Although Strom thinks there is still room for improvement, he noted that USG’s efforts to reach out to PRIDE indicates significant progress toward greater campus awareness. In addition to combating anti-LGBTQ language and an apathetic campus culture, Strom would like to see more improvement in administrative responses.

“I consistently feel that PRIDE as an organization and me as a queer student are liabilities,” Strom said. “I feel like I am treated as if I am consistently a potential offender, that my identity consistently has the potential to become some problem, some catastrophe.”

Vodola, Leslie Feingenbaum, FCRH ’13, programmer for PRIDE, and Natasha Ramos, FCRH ’12, secretary for PRIDE, echoed Strom’s sentiments on behalf of their organization, though they did acknowledge that they have found strong allies in some faculty members and professors.

One of these allies, Barbara Andolsen, professor of theology and James E. Buckman, Esq., chair in applied Christian ethics, is responsible for inviting USG to co-sponsor a prayer service that the theology department and

Campus Ministry plan to hold before Thanksgiving in support of the LGBTQ community.

In addition, PRIDE plans to hold a vigil on Nov. 15 for students to “break the silence,” honor LGBTQ victims of violence and hold a dialogue on the issues facing the community.

Strom noted the urgency of these demonstrations and of implementing some type of response system for reporting violence and hate crimes. Given the hate crimes in Manhattan and the Bronx and the 15 suicides by homosexual students since September of this year, Strom said, the time to act is now.

For this reason, PRIDE members have been working on a response system through which students could send anonymous e-mails reporting instances of discrimination or hate crimes, which the paper would then publish to promote campus awareness. Because of the sometimes long bureaucratic procedures faced on a University level, Strom suggested that such a system might be better off piloted on a student level.

“If we don’t have consciousness-raising or creative action, then nothing will change,” Strom said.

In Support of Club Sports Following the forum portion of the meeting, USG voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 00110, titled “In Support of Club Sports.” The bill, sponsored by Angelo Labate, FCRH ’12, vice president of health and security and co-sponsored by Matthew Van Orden, FCRH ’11, vice president of athletics, primarily addresses the lack of medical services available to club sport athletes.

After “[i]dentifying a paucity of basic medical care available, both for preventative purposes and in cases of injury, to club athletes, who, unlike varsity athletes, do not have access to a trainer or sports medicine professional,” the bill goes on to make a few sugges-

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, The Ram will not publish an issue on Wed., Nov. 24. Publication will resume with Issue 21 on Wed., Nov. 30.

Thank you for your patience and enjoy next week’s issue.

tions to improve the quality and amplify the quantity of medical services for club athletes.

Labate, who also rows on the men’s crew team, outlined four recommendations for the athletic department in his bill. The first two deal with bolstering medical aid, suggesting the creation of an intern trainer position to treat club sports injuries and an increase in the amount of supplies, such as ice packs and bandages, available to club athletes through the office of sports medicine.

The second two encourage more equal treatment of club sports by the Athletic Department with regard to practice venues and publicity of events.

New to USG this year, Labate said that this project, which played a role in his decision to run for office, has been a longtime goal of his. His own impressions as a club athlete and those of his teammates served as motivation to better the experience for all student athletes, according to Labate.

“As representatives of Fordham University, it should be the college’s duty, that whenever possible, to ensure the health and well-being of our students,” Labate said. “Injuries are common in athletics and to have the opportunity to see someone who is trained in sports medicine, and truly knows athletic injuries, will help our teams remain healthy and competitive in their endeavors against our rival colleges.”

THIS

week at FORDHAM Thurs., Nov. 11 Opus Prize Foundation Ceremony, Keating First , 5:15 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 12 Muslim Student Association Bake Sale, McGinley Lobby,10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 13 Yoga, Keating B23, 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

Sun., Nov. 14 RHA General Board Meeting, Campbell Hall Common Room, 7:45-9:15 p.m.

Mon., Nov. 15 Professor Beth Johnson Spark Lunch, Music Room, 12-2:30 p.m.

Wed., Nov. 17 College Democrats General Meeting, Dealy 101 7:30-11 p.m.

— COMPILED BY ABIGAIL FORGET

NEWS

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

JOHNSON, FROM PAGE 1

it,” he said. Johnson also said that he does not understand why anyone would be opposed to medical marijuana, calling such stances “cruel.”

Johnson subsequently spoke about shrinking government in the United States.

“Republicans grew government just like Democrats grew government,” he said, addressing what he viewed as the flawed notion that Republicans inherently spend less money than their counterparts on the other side of the aisle. In particular, he criticized defense spending on the part of the George W. Bush administration.

Speaking of the conflicts in which the United States is currently engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan, Johnson expressed his belief that they are poor uses of American money, time and effort.

“We do not need to be building roads and airports in Afghanistan,” he said. “Especially when our own infrastructure is in such bad shape, we should not be doing this.”

Additionally, he said that, if it were his decision, he would pull the United States out of these armed conflicts as soon as is feasible.

“For me, it would be a matter of months, not years,” he said.

In response to a student who questioned the wisdom of leaving these countries in fragile political, social and economic states, Johnson responded that he believed that, no matter when the United States removed its armed forces, these issues would exist.

“That will be the case if we pull out tomorrow or another 10 years from now,” he said.

Johnson is notable for vetoing some 750 bills during his eight years as New Mexico’s governor, more than every other governor in

PHOTO BY MIKE REZIN/ THE RAM

Following his lecture on Nov. 4, sponsored by Young Americans for Liberty, Gov. Gary Johnson took time to answer individual students’ questions.

the country combined during that same time period.

“The test that I used was ‘How will this law affect me?’ If it did not, if it was aimed at some corporation or special interest, or if it was just unnecessary, I vetoed it,” he said, noting in particular a bill that would have required pet stores give their cats and dogs a specific amount of exercise on a weekly basis. Another, which would have required that all high school polevaulters use a helmet, struck Johnson, a former pole-vaulter himself, as a ridiculous notion.

On the matter of free markets and education, Johnson said that he supports the use of school vouchers, including when applicable to private and religious institutions, as beneficial for American education.

“I really believe in free markets,

and either you believe in them or you don’t,” he said of educational choice and school vouchers. Johnson also applied this theory to international commerce, saying that he fully supported free trade and the elimination of barriers to trade with other countries.

Regarding health care, Johnson said that he favored giving American citizens more opportunities for and knowledge of their own health care.

“It is anything but a free market,” he said, noting that current insurance structures mask and increase the actual costs of health care and procedures. As such, he supported the advertisement of health care pricing, in addition to the specialization of medical care facilities.

“If there had been a stitch clinic in Albuquerque, the same procedure that cost $750 in an emer-

gency room might have only cost $75,” he said, referring to a skiing accident that required him to receive minor stitch work.

Johnson also spoke about immigration reform, stating that he would work to make it easier to obtain a work visa, thus allowing the huge numbers of potential immigrants who want to work in the United States greater access to the opportunity. He also defended his support of lenient amnesty policies. “[An] amnesty grace period has never meant citizenship,” he said.

Johnson, whom some people consider a potential 2012 presidential candidate, has gained a reputation for his libertarian leanings and has often been courted by the Libertarian Party as a potential candidate for public office. He has, however, maintained that he does

not intend to switch affiliations.

“I am going to remain a Republican,” he said, later adding that he is staying with his party in part because he believes it is currently without a clear leader for upcoming election cycles.

Both organizers and other students in attendance were warmly receptive of Johnson, his policies and his speech.

“We were very satisfied with the event and are proud to have brought in such a high-profile speaker so early in our club tenure,” Phil Fraietta, FCRH ’11, president and founder of Young Americans for Liberty at Fordham, said. “Governor Gary Johnson is truly one of the most fascinating politicians of our time and it is our hope that his message of liberty, prosperity and limited government resonates with the rest of the Republican Party.”

Fordham University Honors Top New York State Social Worker

PHOTO BY NORA MALLOZZI/THE RAM

Gladys Carrion, Esq. is the head of New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services and a Fordham School of Law graduate. She spoke on Nov. 4 about the relationships between race, child welfare and social services in New York.

By CONNIE KIM STAFF WRITER

Gladys Carrion, commissioner of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, delivered a speech entitled “Transforming Juvenile Justice: A Community Culture Shift” at the Service-learning program Annual Scholars’ Luncheon in O’Keefe Commons on Nov. 4.

About 70 people attended the luncheon, including Fordham faculty, students, staff and community

partners. Through her speech, Carrion demonstrated the necessary steps to pursue social change and, particularly, to reform the juvenile justice system by highlighting the importance of collaborating on the many different aspects of a project for change.

Sponsored by the Service-learning Program, which is administered under the auspices of the Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice, the third annual Scholars’ Luncheon is supported by the deans’ offices at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center in

conjunction with community partners and academic departments.

Carrion started her speech by describing the challenges she has faced in her attempt to change the juvenile justice system. She attributes these challenges to the conflicting problems that exist in our society. She also presented the numbers issues in New York State, such as the fact that the majority of children in the child welfare system are children of color, the initial concept people have regarding treating children in the juvenile justice sys-

tem and the vicious cycle that continues throughout among the ones who spend their times at juvenile facilities.

She emphasized the importance of looking at the quality.

“In New York State, we have had very little effort and attention on the issue of quality,” she said. “So one of the things we have done [was bringing quality into our system].”

Carrion has transformed the juvenile justice system through several reform measures, including closing 18 residential facilities for juvenile offenders and seeking to invest in developmentally appropriate initiatives that work and transition young people successfully into adulthood in order to keep them from being incarcerated.

By showing the exact percentage of children who fail to lead a normal life outside of the juvenile system, the commissioner proved that, without a proper reform in the system, the vicious cycle will continue. She is currently transforming the juvenile justice system, shifting the former punitive approach of juvenile confinement to a therapeutic community approach.

“Students who are volunteering in the community do not often see the connection between their experience with an individual and the larger societal systems within which this individual interacts and is impacted,” Sandra Lobo-Jost, director of the Dorothy Day Center for

Service and Justice, said. “Commissioner Carrion was invited because she is capable for highlighting how individuals and families are impacted by the larger societal structures.”

“It was a remarkable event with Commissioner Carrion so clearly providing the connections between academics, research and the needs of the wider world,” Jeannine Hill Fletcher, faculty director of the Service-learning Program, said. “She definitely drew the attention to the deficits in our child care system, our child welfare system, our education system, all as interrelated with the failings of the juvenile justice system. Awareness of these failings as social problems makes responsibility for addressing those problems shared by all of us in our society.”

Many students who attended are enrolled in classes that are related to the subject of the keynote speech or the Service learning courses.

Carrion ended her speech by leaving students with responsibilities for the future.

“Leadership does matter and each of you can make a difference,” she said. “And it is very important for each of you to be involved.”

The Service-learning Program aims to foster the Jesuit vision of a “well-educated solidarity,” where expert academics and research are placed in service of justice in the community.

Additional reporting by Sandy McKenzie, assistant culture editor.

NEWS

PAGE 4 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

Fordham in Brief Campbell and SaliceConleyResidence Halls Dedicated Benefactors Robert Campbell, GSB ’55, Joan Campbell, Thomas Salice, GSB ’82 and Susan Conley Salice, FCRH ’82, gathered with Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, friends and family on Nov. 7 to dedicate officially the new residence halls erected in their names.

Although Campbell, Salice and Conley halls, which collectively house 450 undergraduate students, opened in August, it is no accident that the dedication took place in November, according to McShane, who called the benefactors patron saints for students living in the halls. Not only did the benefactors demonstrate exceptional generosity, but they also exemplify what it means to be men and women of integrity, he said.

“Today, on this feast of dedication, we are invited to reflect on the lessons that our patron saints teach us about how to live,” McShane said during a luncheon that followed a dedication mass at the University Church. After the mass, McShane led a procession to the residence halls where he conducted a blessing of the cornerstones, entrances and lobbies in addition to a ribbon-

cutting ceremony with the donors.

“Together, Joan and Bob are great saints—doctors of the church gathered at Fordham—and they offer examples to be followed,” McShane said of Campbell, who had a long career at Johnson & Johnson, and his wife.

Salice and Conley Salice made the donation in honor of their parents, who also attended the dedication. This tribute, McShane noted, signifies the benefactors’ commitment to family.

“We hold this example of love up to our students and proclaim that if you are looking for an example on which you should model your lives, look no further than here,” he said. “Here, you will find the recipe for a good life.”

“I’ve been asked why we gave for a dormitory, as opposed to other opportunities,” Campbell, who was a commuter student when he attended Fordham, said. “For us, it really came down to family. Our feeling was when students leave their families, their homes, their friends, and come to a new place, it should be a place with a new spirit and new friends, where they can create a new family and call it home.”

Marisela Signola, FCRH ’11, executive vice president of the Residence Halls Association, spoke to the home these new residence

halls have provided in her remarks of gratitude to the benefactors.

“It is here that we will make final edits to resumes, apply to graduate programs, get ready for job interviews and set the paths for the rest of our lives,” Signola said. “Campbell, Salice and Conley Halls are, for many of us, our last homes at Fordham. This is where we get dressed up for senior nights, will get ready for the senior ball and will spend our last night on campus as students. So we thank you, not only for a beautiful place to live, but for a place where many students’ warm memories will be made, for many, many years to come.”

Salice, who met Conley Salice during their time at Fordham, emphasized the value of education and the further gifts to support it that he hopes their gift will inspire.

“Some folks had said to us, ‘You’re young. Why do this now?

Wait until later in life,’” Salice said.

“And we said to each other, ‘What are we supposed to be waiting for?’”

“This should be a tangible endorsement of generosity and sharing, the generosity of Fordham to provide for us the resources and support to obtain an outstanding, values-based education in a very diverse, very challenging cultural community of New York City,” he said.

Professor’s Study Finds that Gratitude Motivates Voters In times of lean voter turnout, a return to basic manners could make a difference, according to research

by Dr. Costas Panagopoulos, Fordham political scientist, which suggests that thanking voters for their participation in previous elections garners better turnout in upcoming elections.

Panagopoulos, assistant professor of political science at Fordham and director of the master’s program in Elections and Campaign Management and the Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy, conducted his research throughout the past year in three randomized field experiments. Staten Island’s special election to fill a City Council seat in Feb. 2009, New Jersey’s gubernatorial race in Nov. 2009 and Georgia’s primary election in July 2010 served as the settings of his three experiments.

In each experiment, Panagopoulos maintained one control group of voters that received no mailings, one group that received a non-partisan mailing reminding them to vote in the upcoming election and one group that received a non-partisan mailing that both encouraged them to vote in the upcoming election and

thanked them for voting in a previous one. The timing of the mailings was staged so that voters received them about three to seven days before the election.

“It turns out that gratitude expression is an effective motivator of prosocial behavior like voting,” Panagopoulos said. The results showed that voters on Staten Island who received the “gratitude postcard” voted at a rate 2.4 percent greater than those who received no mailing and two percent greater than those who only received the “reminder postcard.”

In New Jersey, recipients of the gratitude postcard voted at a rate 2.5 percent higher than those who did not. In Georgia, the discrepancy was 2.4 to 3.1 percent.

“The effect may not be huge, but differences of this magnitude can be consequential, especially in close contests,” Panagopoulos said, noting that “turnout is especially critical in midterm elections, in which participation tends to lag 15 to 20 percentage points behind that of presidential elections.”

The New York Times Magazine featured the study, “Thank You for Voting: Gratitude Expression and Voter Mobilization,” in an article published the Sunday before midterm elections in which it mentioned the findings in New Jersey.

The study will be published in full in the Journal of Politics in 2011.

Theology Faculty Receive High Honor from Orthodox Church

By STEPHEN MOCCIA DESIGN EDITOR

Dr. George Demacopoulos and Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou, associate professors of theology and founding co-directors of Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Program, were honored by His All Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch at an Oct. 31 ceremony in Manhattan.

The two faculty members were installed as Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by an Exarch of the Patriarch at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, according to a press release on Fordham’s Web site.

The title Archon dates back to ancient Greece and was typically held by the chief magistrate in the various city-states. It was subsequently adopted by Christians in the Byzantine Empire and is granted to laity of the Orthodox Church as a great honor. In 1963, the group was organized into a service society dedicated to Saint Andrew.

“An Archon is an honoree by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his outstanding service to the Church, and a well-known, distinguished and well-respected leader of the Orthodox Christian community,” according to the Archon Web site.

He must swear an oath to promote and to defend the Orthodox Christian faith and tradition, in addition to showing concern for human rights and the general welfare of the Church.

The Web site goes on to say that “[the] honor extended by

the Ecumenical Patriarchate carries with it grave responsibilities, deep commitments, and sincere dedication. Consequently, it is of utmost importance that this honor of obligation be bestowed upon individuals of proven Orthodox Christian character, who conform faithfully to the teachings of Christ and the doctrines, canons, worship, discipline, and encyclicals of the Church.”

“His All Holiness Bartholomew could not have chosen better in elevating Dr. Demacopoulos and Dr. Papanikolaou as Archons,” Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, said in the press release. “In their ecumenism, scholarship and devotion to the Ecumenical Patriarch, they represent what is best at Fordham. We celebrate their installation not merely for Telly and George’s sake, but because it represents yet another tie between Fordham and our Orthodox brethren.”

In order to receive the honor, candidates must first be nominated and also meet a number of criteria, including demonstrating leadership qualities and achieving success in their chosen field of endeavor. After authenticating biographical data, the National Council selects 22 candidates who are deemed most qualified for consideration by the Exarch and the Ecumenical Patriarch.

“Being named an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is a humbling honor and a testament to the growing international reputation of Fordham’s commitment to a scholarly investigation of Orthodox Christianity,” Demacopoulos said.

His All Holiness Bartholomew

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN MOCCIA/ THE RAM

Archbishop Bartholomew of Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, visited Fordham in Oct. 2009 and recently bestowed honors on professors Dr. George Demacopolous and Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou.

visited Fordham on Oct. 27, 2009 and noted the natural connection between the Jesuits and Fordham’s Orthodox Christian Studies Program, which is the first of its kind at a major U.S. university.

When elected, the members

are given titles that correspond to those used in the Byzantine Empire but that also relate to the individuals’ professions. Papanikolaou’s translates to “Defender of Letters,” while Demacopoulos’ is “Teacher of the Nations.”

“Without Fordham’s unwavering support and embrace of our initiatives in Orthodox studies, this wouldn’t be happening,” Papanikolaou said. “I am very grateful to my Fordham colleagues and friends.”

ADVERTISING

THE TONY AWARD®-WINNING COMEDY THRILLER!

’ ORS EDITICK P

n

PHOTOS BY KEN BROWAR

”

Get student tickets to

THE 39 STEPS $

Jw York T N E Y e URDLy, The N

“ABSBrantle -Be

Ees! L B A Y m O i

26

*

50

for just:

Just bring your student ID to the New World Stages box office. Same day tix only. Limit 2 tix per person. CASH ONLY.

“INGENIOUS! A DIZZY DELIGHT!” 340 West 50th Street

(between 8th and 9th Aves.).

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Mon, Wed-Sat 8; Wed, Sat & Sun 3 For tickets or more info, visit: 39StepsNY.com *Some restrictions apply. Offer may be revoked or modified at any time without notice.

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 5

ADVERTISING

PAGE 6 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

PIZZA IS GOOD!

LOVE

IS IT!

God gave me the peace and serenity to accept the things that I cannot change.

Give me the strength and courage to change the things that I can.

And please give me the wisdom to know the difference.

Have your parents send a check to Pugsley’s and then stop in, give your name, and enjoy your pre-paid food!

Integrity is noble.

Sincere friendship is a treasure.

Double Champions and Beauty!

A picture is worth a thousand words. They are gorgeous!

Celebrate your birthday at Pugsley! It gets wild!

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

PAGE 7

Point-Counterpoint: Are e-textbooks a Possibility?

IPAD PHOTO COURTESY OF GRIFFIN/MCT, KINDLE PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM/MCT

Currently, a number of e-readers compete for customers. However, sometime in the future, there may be a single platform for e-reading, in addition to increased usage of these types of portable devices.

e-Readers May Be a Good Solution to Skyrocketing Textbook Price Tags

By CHRISTINE BARCELLONA OPINIONS EDITOR

Every semester, students scramble to purchase textbooks. Long lines form in the bookstore, where most required texts can be bought for inflated prices, and at the post office, where students anxiously await books they ordered online. Though online textbook sales offer students a slight reprieve from the unjustly monopolistic bookstore, they remain expensive, and many professors assign readings from texts before books have a chance to arrive in the mail.

This is a broken system, which picks students’ pockets and adds additional stress at the start of each term. Some colleges see etextbooks as a possible fix for this problem, which is reasonable, especially in light of recently released, cheaper e-readers. While there are a few problems that would make it smart to wait a few years before switching to e-textbook-centered classrooms, these schools do have the right idea.

The textbook industry is a racket. Many classic texts contained in expensive anthologies are actually available for free, since their copyrights are expired. For example, The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Volume 1 costs about $54 on Amazon.com, and contains works like Beowulf, which is available for free as an e-book in Kindle format. The same goes for any other work that is out of copyright, including works

by William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and hundreds of other authors that might be included in anthologies. If all students had e-readers, they would have access to these texts for free or significantly reduced prices.

One problem does arise here, however, which would make it intelligent for schools to hold off on requiring or strongly recommending e-textbook usage. In the Beowulf example, many professors teach the Seamus Heaney version of the book, which is not yet available in Kindle format. It is available in Barnes and Noble’s Nook format, though it is not free. However, the e-book version of this is still $4 cheaper than the paper version. Also, this creates potential compatibility issues, especially if different students have different e-readers.

In a few years, the e-book market will hopefully fix this problem by going the way of the mp3. Though once only a selecStaff Poll: When The Ram was polled, three staff members thought e-readers might be a solution to avoiding rising textbook prices; 17 staff members did not.

tion of songs were available in electronic formats and they were scattered across a number of sellers and compatible with different devices, now many music purchases are through iTunes, and the iPod is the standard listening device. The e-book market will probably narrow itself down in the same way in a few years, and schools will be able to suggest a certain type of e-reader, which should have a comprehensive offering of reading material.

Another aspect of e-readers that must improve before it would be ideal for them to be used instead of physical textbooks is their highlighting and note-taking capabilities. Right now, e-readers like the Kindle allow highlighting and some note-taking and book-marking, but these features are new to the device. Other e-readers are in the same boat as far as features go; according to reviewers, the devices have much room to improve, and readers can look forward to a better device with much more refined features in a few years.

When that happens, some schools’ proposals that students pay a flat course materials fee and receive e-textbooks at no additional cost would make sense. As long as that flat fee is significantly less than what students already pay for textbooks, this would be a fair arrangement for students.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, Virginia State University’s business school made a bulk e-textbook purchase arrangement to help curb textbook costs.

The Chronicle reports that textbook prices have risen 186 percent from 1986 to 2005, and their prices are increasing at a rate higher than inflation. It is right for schools to adopt the mission of lowering textbook prices for students by pushing for alternate sources of textbooks, and for finding ways to cheaply buy e-textbooks for students.

Again, a complete switch to e-textbooks would have to occur in a few years, when a greater rage of textbooks would be available in electronic formats, so professors would still have the freedom to assign whatever books they want without making students pay even more.

The day students can download textbooks to e-readers instead of madly scrambling to find the cheapest textbooks as quickly as possible will be beautiful. Also, using e-textbooks would save space in cramped dorm rooms (especially since Fordham inexplicably denies certain residence halls bookshelves) and lighten students’ backpacks as they head to and from class.

Christine Barcellona, FCRH ’12, is an English major from Dallas, Texas. She can be reached at cbarcellona@fordham.edu.

A Switch to e-Textbooks Would Cause Countless Technology Nightmares

By BRIAN KRAKER ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Purchasing textbooks at Fordham causes undue stress for students. Choosing which book to purchase is like choosing what stock to buy. With students comparing the resale value of a textbook with its initial cost and quality of physical text, they have enough risk assessment experience to be trading on the stock market floor.

With the Fordham bookstore inflating prices of its textbooks, many students have turned to Internet sources. While ordering textbooks online lowers the cost, students now are dependent on the Fordham post office. With lines longer than those at the DMV and service less reliable than a news article in the paper, the post office negates any benefit that an online provider would offer.

Buying books for class is chaotic, but some universities have introduced an electronic solution. Those universities are offering students a flat fee per course for the ability to download the required texts electronically. Many colleges cite sky rocketing costs of textbooks as motive for installing these measures. While these e-books provide some upsides, they ultimately introduce more problems than they solve.

Universities exercise a monopoly over their students when requiring a flat rate to provide e-textbooks. The only competition for on-campus bookstores are Web sites, such as Amazon and Half.com. Without allowing students to shop for the lowest price, colleges are monopolizing the textbook market and can charge exorbitant amounts of money for these services. The bookstore’s asking price for a single textbook is already more than an inflated room fine from ResLife, and if the University becomes the only provider, there is no price check by any outside supplier.

E-textbooks are also not perfectly reliable. Many students experience the horrors of a virus infecting their PCs. Others witness the dreaded blue screen of death.

The clumsy minority has seen the devastation caused by gravity and a computer precariously perched on a high surface. If any of the possible computer failures occur during a semester, students lose access to their textbooks for an unknown amount of time. This is not simply losing a partially finished project or a printer malfunction when an essay is due, but a full schedule’s worth of textbooks being rendered useless.

These e-textbooks also inhibit many study habits of students. Students use

hardcopy texts to make notes and highlight important passages. With only the electronic illiterate trying to mark up their e-reader with a pen, most students would significantly alter their study habits to accommodate e-textbooks. E-textbooks are introduced to simplify the learning process, but if students’ study habits are inhibited by these texts, colleges should not require them.

Currently, the legality of intellectual property in e-textbooks is also up for debate. In several instances, Amazon and other e-book suppliers have revoked access to books after losing copyright battles.

Novels such as George Orwell’s’ 1984 have been removed from e-readers, even though patrons had paid for the book. If a student is relying on a textbook, but then is denied access halfway through the semester, this again hinders a student’s ability to learn.

Hardcopy textbooks become the property of the consumers when they purchase them, but e-books are still in a limbo as far as electronic property law currently stands. Without assurance that students will not encounter these problems with ebooks, considering a switch to electronic textbooks would be a premature decision.

Colleges are adopting Apple’s model for iTunes, believing that the book market will soon solely belong to the Internet, but these schools are forgetting the intangible element of using books. Regardless of the hassle needed to obtain a full semester’s required texts, the ability to sit down at a desk and open up a book or snuggle into bed and finish a novel before calling it a night is part of the college atmosphere. No e-reader or computer screen can replace that experience. While e-books should be made available as options for those students who do prefer these blissfully electronic moments, other students who still favor the old fashioned hard copies should not be excluded from enjoying their reading.

While colleges are running to e-books as a savior for rising textbook prices and solution for the chaotic purchasing process, these alternatives do come with new inconveniences. Hardcopies may lack the appeal of 21st century technology, but they are immune to a draining battery life and Trojan viruses. The process in which students purchase books needs renovation, but requiring students to purchase e-books is not the answer.

Brian Kraker, FCRH ’12, is an English and computer science major from Pompton Lakes, N.J. He can be reached at kraker@ fordham.edu.

OPINIONS

PAGE 8 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

The Ram Serving campus and community since 1918.

The Ram is the University journal of record. The mission of The Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate.

The Ram is published and distributed free of charge every Wednesday during the academic year to the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses with a readership of 12,000. The Ram office is located in the basement of the McGinley Center, room B-52.

www.theramonline.com Editorial: (718) 817-0873 Production: (718) 817-4381 Newsroom: (718) 817-4394 Advertising: (718) 817-4379 Fax: (718) 817-4319 theram@fordham.edu Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458 Editor-in-Chief Mark Becker Managing Editor Abigail Forget Design Editor Stephen Moccia Business Editor Caroline Dahlgren News Editor Patrick Derocher Assistant News Editor Victoria Rau Opinions Editor Christine Barcellona Assistant Opinions Editor Brian Kraker Culture Editor Celeste Kmiotek Assistant Culture Editor Jen Cacchioli Sandy McKenzie Sports Editors Danny Atkinson Nick Carroll Assistant Sports Editor Jon Smith Copy Chief Claire Borders Copy Team Mary Alcaro Tara Canon Tom Haskin Sean McGonigle Olivia Monaco Sarah Ramirez Hussein Safa Veronica Torok Ryan Vale Photo Editor Simon Sulit Operations and Outreach Mike Burkart Web Editor Kelly Caggiano Assistant Web Editors Tracy Fan Ou Cara Stellato Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel

Opinions Policy The Ram appreciates submissions that are typed and saved on a disk in a *.rtf, *.txt or *.doc formats, or sent to the staff via e-mail at RamLetters@fordham.edu. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis.

The Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice.

Submissions become the exclusive property of The Ram and will not be returned.

The Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Ram’s editorials are those of the editorial board; those expressed in articles, letters, commentaries, cartoons or graphics are those of the individual author. No part of The Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

From the Desk of Stephen Moccia, Design Editor There’s one thing that everyone who meets me instantly knows about me: I really like the New York Yankees. I’m talking big-time fandom, and everyone knows it. I suppose it is pretty hard to miss with the hats, jackets, sweatshirts, shirts, watch or countless items that adorn my room. Christmas and my birthday are a challenge for my friends and family to discover that one item with an interlocking “NY” that I do not already possess. I have been to countless games, backseat manage with my Facebook statuses and am probably visibly unhappier the morning after a tough loss. Clearly I love the Yankees, and I want them to play great baseball every season to bring another championship to the Bronx.

Recently, however, someone pointed out another, more unexpected reason for my affinity, bringing to my attention the impact the Bombers have had on my entire outlook in life. The Yankees serve as a symbol, something that goes beyond wins and losses and that pertains to everyone, despite what one thinks of the organization. It comes down to high expectations and a continual drive to succeed.

Without realizing it, I grew up having this message reinforced

day after day. George Steinbrenner explained, “Second place is really the first loser.” Derek Jeter articulated, “What does it take to be the best? You have to believe that being good enough just isn’t good enough.” These notions resonated with me and affected my personality, but I wasn’t even conscious of it until recently.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not being condescending writing my 800-word “From the Desk” on just how great I am. Rather, what hit me is the implicit value in these quotes and the significant motivation behind them.

The Yankees embody a drive, commitment and specific level of expectation that is unmatched. I am not saying I adore the Yankees because they are great (in fact, I cannot stand bandwagon fans) but that I respect the organization’s principles and demands. My friends have told me that I expect a lot from people and that I have no patience for incompetency, and I think this has stemmed from my long-time association with New York’s greatest sports team.

It is unrealistic to expect to win every time, but it is admirable to always try. This is what the Yankees do year in and year out, and it is an indispensable message

for our generation. There is no reason to give anything less than your best, and quitting should not be an option. Push above and beyond, taking the necessary steps toward greatness, and, if “The Boss” has taught us anything, know that, ultimately, you are going to be held accountable for every little thing, despite the valiancy of your efforts. Embrace the mentality that you have to accomplish a lot, and you will. At the same time, however, losing is a valuable experience, and I firmly believe that every young child should be on the league’s worst Little League team in order to understand that it’s not the end of the world to fail and that life will go on.

Another of old George’s gems is “Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.” Sure, he could have sugar coated it, but, boy, was he on to something. If you’re capable and willing, go for it; don’t let anything hold you back.

If for some reason you’re hesitant, trust in the abilities of those around you and develop over time, learning from the abilities of your colleagues. However, there is no excuse for becoming a hindrance, whether by neglecting your commitments, causing undue hardship and drama or

forcing others to pick up your slack by being unreliable. Place stock in what you do, and work toward the big picture. Recognize that it is rarely about the specific individuals and more about the final goal. In working toward this end, lead, follow or get out of the way.

These philosophies have served me well, as I have tried to live my life by them and to push myself to see what I can accomplish. There is a great feeling in knowing that you’ve done everything possible to grasp that treasured trophy, and even when the postseason doesn’t go exactly how you would have had hoped, at least you can find solace in the confidence held and the attempts made throughout the regular season in the effort to be the best. As “The Boss” said, “I defy anyone to eat a powdered jelly doughnut without getting some of it on them. Not that it stops me from trying.”

Anti-Gay Sentiment Plagues Uganda

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has led the country in an era of prosperity, but the nation is mired in discrimination.

By ERIC HORVATH STAFF WRITER

Since gaining its independence from Britain in the 1960s, Uganda has undergone several decades of violent political coups. Current President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has created the calmest political climate that Uganda has seen during its postcolonial years. However, with one of the lowest per-capita incomes in the world and a deeply sexist attitude, Uganda’s progress as a country is on hold. It is in this environment, where the inability to feed one’s family is commonplace, that human rights and equality are nearly non-existent.

In early October, a small weekly newspaper, Rolling Stone, based out of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, ran a front-page headline that said “100 Pictures of Uganda’s Top Homos Leak” with a caption reading “Hang Them” beside it. The front page added that homosexuals claim to “recruit 100,000 innocent kids by 2012.” The newspaper had printed its first issue only a few weeks earlier.

The Ugandan government has, once again, come under international fire

for its disregard for gay rights and has ordered the newspaper to cease publication, an order that the newspaper has vowed to defy.

The Rolling Stone’s sentiments are nothing new in Uganda; other newspapers in recent years have printed stories similar to the recent Rolling Stone issue but never to this magnitude. Anti-gay sentiments, along with the marginalization of women, pervade Ugandan society and culture.

It is no surprise that men identified in the Rolling Stone’s issue were met with public stoning rather than pity. The article last month is only the most recent deplorable event in a long line of anti-gay efforts in Uganda, with the worst of the current controversy starting in March 2009.

In the spring of 2009, three American evangelical Christians visited Kampala and hosted a “Seminar on Exposing the Homosexual’s Agenda.” For three days the Americans preached to Ugandan elite about the “dangers” that homosexuality presents to society. The Americans claimed that the gay movement was an evil institution in place “to defeat the marriage-based society and

replace it with a culture of sexual promiscuity” and that gay men prey on teenage boys. The Americans ensured their audience of Ugandan policymakers that “gays can be converted to heterosexuality.” Hallelujah.

The ignorance and intolerance of the conference is indisputable; however, a meeting motivated by hate can be contained and does not necessarily lead to action. I do not condone a resigned attitude toward intolerance, but rather realize the inevitability of that influence and seek solace in the fact that things could be much worse.

In Uganda it got much worse.

A few months after the conference, David Bahati, a member of the Ugandan parliament, inspired by the Americans’ rhetoric, proposed the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill.” Ugandan law already stipulates that homosexuality is unnatural and decrees it illegal, punishable by up to 14 years of imprisonment. The bill calls for harsher penalties for homosexual acts, however, such as the death penalty for repeat offenders. Bahati’s bill has stalled in parliament, largely because Museveni recognizes that the international community would cut off the foreign aid his country relies

upon if it was passed into law.

Museveni and Bahati both belong to a U.S.-based religious and political organization called “The Fellowship,” or sometimes known as “The Family.” The organization is comprised of high-ranking government officials, corporate executives and heads of religious and humanitarian groups from around the world that “provide a fellowship forum for decision-makers to share in Bible studies, prayer meetings and worship experiences and to experience spiritual affirmation and support” that is also very involved in political legislation.

The Family’s Wikipedia page reads like a description of Fight Club and The Da Vinci Code (due to its need for “secrecy” as supported by citing “Biblical admonitions against public displays of good works,” The Family has no official Web site of its own): an underground network that seems too surreal not to be fiction.

Various sources have demonstrated the connection between the Ugandan government and The Family, insofar as the religious organization has admitted that Bahati is a valued member of their community. However, the media does not print the link between high-ranking U.S. politicians and Ugandan human rights violations possibly because, as The Family says, it “would not be able to tackle [The Family’s] diplomatically sensitive missions if they drew public attention” to their “good work.” Truth.

As John McCain rallies conservatives against the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell maybe we can tell him to kill another piece of legislation that is of high interest to his like-minded colleagues: Uganda’s “Anti-Homosexuality Bill.” But wait, is that what real Ugandans want? Better ask the family.

Eric Horvath, FCRH ’11, is an English and economics major from Sayville, N.Y.

Fordham Rises in Wrong Rankings

By MATTHEW ARTH STAFF WRITER

How much is a quality college education worth today? Now more than ever, prospective students ponder this question as they tour college campuses and try to decide if they can afford the leafy gothic campus of their dreams or if the red brick campus a couple towns away is just as good.

The bad news is that this decision is not getting any easier.

Every year, CampusGrotto.com releases a list of the top 100 most expensive colleges in the country, and Fordham has been steadily rising in this regard.

For the 2010-2011 academic year, Fordham University at Rose Hill made the list at No. 29 in the country, with annual tuition and housing coming in at approximately $52,036 (which is a jump of 24 spots from the previous academic year). Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus went even higher, moving from No. 47 to 23 this year with a cost of $52,159.

Aside from the total cost, The Huffington Post reports that Fordham’s dormitories at Lincoln Center and Rose Hill are the fourth- and fifth-most expensive in the country, respectively. This may be due to New York City, but the fact that Fordham ranks so high among such costly company is cause for reflection.

It is worth noting that Fordham is not alone in these price increases. Tuition at private universities nationwide went up by an average of 4.5 percent, even managing to fare significantly better than their public counterparts who saw tuition rise by an average of 7.9 percent. Hurt by substantial drops in their endowments and a sluggish economic recovery, it is probably something of a miracle that tuition did not increase more than it did.

What does this mean to Fordham’s students, and where is all that money going? As learning environments first and foremost, private universities like Fordham must place their primary focus within the classroom, and they usually spend over a quarter of a student’s tuition on instruction and retaining quality faculty. CampusGrotto.com

estimates that the next-highest portion of tuition is spent on student services, which include financial aid, student organizations, campus activities and career counseling services. The rest is divvied up between regular university costs, such as research, scholarships, security, public service and operations and maintenance (someone has to pay for those new flowers and pristinely trimmed hedges).

Clearly, there are plenty of costs to go around.

Although many students will be vexed by the continued increases in these prices, this does not necessarily mean that students are paying more out-ofpocket every year. In fact, the New York Times found that, taking into account the net-inflation adjusted price, students are on-average paying less now than they were five years ago. This is largely due to huge increases in the amount of scholarships, grants and loans that universities are giving out as their prices increase. Fordham gave out more than $125 million in financial aid and scholarships to its students last year, and almost 90 percent of students receive some form of financial aid or scholarship funds.

As a Jesuit school founded on the principle of equality through a quality education, it is essential that Fordham continues to increase such student aid, particularly in times when costs are rising so quickly. The school’s rising costs in comparison to other universities only make such needs all the more obvious. Despite taking in record amounts, there are many areas that still need to be addressed, including the glaring lack of a full 24-hour section of the library and the continued closure of the Walsh gate during daytime hours.

These issues notwithstanding, Fordham’s continued rise in academic stature and its ascension to national prominence seem to demonstrate that the school may be charging more, but is generally spending wisely. Fordham made the list of most expensive schools for a reason; now it is up to the administration to continue to make the progress that such high spending entails.

Matthew Arth, GSB ’11, is a marketing major and economics minor from Southlake, Texas.

Issue of the Week:

Republican Shift in Congress A Look at the World Outside of Fordham from the Perspective of Professional News Bloggers

See what commentators from the Left and the Right have to say about the Republican shift in Congress after the midterm elections.

OPINIONS

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 9

Fordham Spends Excess on Grounds With Limited Student Financial Aid, Fordham Cannot Shovel Its Money into Landscaping

PHOTO BY CAROLINE DALGREN/THE RAM

Though Fordham’s grounds are beautiful and well maintained, the University must remember its main mission, providing its students with an affordable education.

Every once in a while I log on to the Fordham home page to see what the University is promoting; upcoming lectures, professors’ research, et cetera. The other day, though, I was shocked and somewhat dismayed when I saw what made the headline of November’s “Inside Fordham.”

While many students and parents are struggling to afford a decent education, and my friends report to me what a nightmare the financial aid office is, Fordham has chosen to promote to the world that this campus of our esteemed University has won a “Grand Green Star Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society.” In short, this University is apparently spending quite a bit of our tuition on keeping the place looking nice.

For those who are struggling to make ends meet, this is nothing short of a slap in the face. We are told that this University has a commitment to those less fortunate; in addition to those who are not altogether underprivileged but are not exactly driving BMWs either.

Following that, it is fair to expect that the University adequately adjusts its financial priorities to ensure that everyone’s financial need is met.

Fordham has always been an institution with a reputation for accommodating students regardless of their disadvantage. You probably know the story, but from edu-

cating Catholic immigrants from its founding in 1841, to always having room for the economically disadvantaged students of the Bronx and other parts of the city, this school has a proud tradition of always helping out. There is no better time to actualize this tradition than today and ensure that all possible financial resources are going toward financial aid.

I realize that the situation is probably more complex than just letting the grass grow a little taller to be able to distribute more aid, but there is another issue in play here: perception.

Any politician knows that it is suicide to flaunt wealth when their country, state or town is in financial trouble. Take the example of John McCain, who was not able to tell how many houses he owned in an interview in Aug. 2008. Democrats instantly lambasted him for being out of touch. This situation is similar. Fordham ought to at least recognize that many of its students are struggling to remain here, and not brag about the fact that it hires an outside arborist to inspect all 500 tress four times a year, or that all elm trees are inoculated twice every two years against dutch elm disease. Are we to understand that arborists here provide better care to our trees then our Health Center provides to our students?

Additionally, facts like these, especially when linked directly from the homepage, showcase Fordham’s priorities to prospective students. While Marc Valera,

Vice President of Facilities Management notes that “[Parents and students are] so impressed by the appearance of the campus and the feeling of comfort it gives them.

That really complements our strengths in academia,” I am pretty sure parents and students would be more comforted knowing that one of our institutional priorities is providing financial aid to all who need it. Notably, an archive search reveals not one story in “Inside Fordham” on financial aid during the time I have been here.

This seems to be yet another shameful example of Fordham merely catering to those looking on the surface. As one Ram editor put it, Fordham is “constructing a beautiful house with literally nothing inside,” and there seems to be no better example of this than one relating solely to the campus aesthetics.

In short, I hope someone in Fordham’s administration has the right idea about how money should be spent, and that “Inside Fordham” doesn’t truly show Fordham’s priorities (because a newsletter title like that denotes nothing of the sort). Until then, I will sigh every time I walk past facilities installing new sprinklers that will probably manage just to get me wet, or flowers being planted that will bloom as I leave for the summer in May. I will wonder, and I hope others will as well, is this the best way my tuition could be spent?

Christopher Kennedy, FCRH ’12, is a theology major from Mystic, Conn.

Michael O’Neil, The Huffington Post

Ed Morrissey, Hot Air

Len Deighton, English Author

“The likely scenario is complete gridlock: the Presidential veto pen and Senate super-majority provisions can prevent any reversals in the Democratic legislative accomplishments .

But a Republican House . . . can undermine almost any additional presidential initiatives.”

“The Republicans who got elected will justifiably feel they have a mandate for fiscal restraint and smaller-government policies. Expect grand battles of policy in the next House, with Republicans having the votes to make their mandate stick.”

“In Mexico an air conditioner is called a politician because it makes a lot of noise but doesn’t work very well.”

By CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

–COMPILED BY BRIAN KRAKER

Follow The Ram at twitter.com/ thefordhamram.

PAGE 10 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

OPINIONS

Debate for Legalizing Marijuana Rages Ranking System Should Follow European Model

COURTESY OF K.C. BAILEY/MCT

Comedian Zach Galifianakis brought up the pot taboo on TV.

By CLARA ENNIST STAFF WRITER

Zach Galifianakis appeared on “Real Time With Bill Maher” on Oct. 29 as part of a panel discussing the then current Proposition 19 that would appear on California’s ballot and would regulate and legalize the use of marijuana for adults 21 years or older in private residences and specially licensed establishments.

After Margaret Hoover, a conservative political commentator, criticized the fact that the rational Democratic Party does not support this proposition, even though it supports various other liberal behavior, Galifianakis said that it was a tricky political issue because some people still view pot use as taboo. He then produced a lighter and a joint from his pocket which he began to smoke. He passed the joint to Hoover, who would only smell it, and she claimed it was real (both HBO and reps for Galifianakis have since reported that it was a prop). Galifianakis, who appeared on “Real Time” to promote his new film The Due Date, was content to let the discussion continue among the political panelists but later interrupted to jokingly exclaim, “Oh my God! Look at those dragons!”

Unfortunately for Galifianakis,

Proposition 19 (also known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act) was struck down on Nov. 2.

The controversial proposition argued that it would, among other things, allow adults 21 and over to possess up to one ounce of cannabis, allow state and local governments to tax the sale of cannabis, save hundreds of millions of dollars that go towards law enforcement targeted at preventing cannabis use and generate billions of dollars in revenue. (The sale of cannabis is estimated to have profited by $14 billion in the state of California in 2009.) While some other benefits that Proposition 19 claimed to gain from the legalization of marijuana revolved around keeping it away from minors, its main thrust had to do with generating revenue for an extremely bankrupt state.

So why would a state in such miserable bankruptcy reject a proposition that would save money and generate revenue? Some people think that the legalization of marijuana would go against American moral and social values. The taboo against personal marijuana use is relatively new; only since the beginning of the 20th century have countries made the substance illegal.

Only a few countries have re-legalized marijuana, but the ones that have at least decriminalized the substance report financial and social benefits.

However, not all countries are the same, and some argue that America should not have to compromise its standards just because the global community has. Moreover, those against the legalization of marijuana argue that if the American people consistently vote against propositions that would legalize or decriminalize the substance then legislatures should not take it upon themselves to do so.

Others think the lack of support from main political parties plays a large role in thwarting efforts to legalize marijuana.

“Proposition 19’s failure reflects a lack of support from main political

parties because of the economic implications of legalization,” Steven Gray, FCRH ’12, said. “Namely, regulatory difficulties surrounding taxation and distribution.”

The legalization of marijuana has received little support from either Democrats or Republicans; the only parties that endorsed Proposition 19 were the Libertarian and the Peace and Freedom Party. While some politicians have expressed an interest in studying the benefits some countries have gained from legalizing marijuana, most are hesitant to endorse any legislature or voting proposition that would allow for the legalization of marijuana.

Some politicians withhold support because of economic difficulties, as Gray pointed out.

For example, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was quoted in The Huffington Post in May 2009.

“I think it’s time for a debate,” he said.

“And I think that we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what effect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision.” In spite of this, he opposed Proposition 19 under the stance that the propositions claimed economic gains were overstated.

On the whole though, that Proposition 19 even made it on to the ballot in California is an achievement for people who would like to see marijuana legalized. To date only nine states have proposed the decriminalization of marijuana, and only four voted to decriminalize or lessen possession penalties. While even one state voting to legalize marijuana, let alone a federal law doing so is far off, the fact that proposition received such a great deal of attention (at least enough to spark Zack Galiafinakis’ interest, so to speak) demonstrates that the debate on the legalization of marijuana is far from over or defeated.

Clara Ennist, FCRH ’12, is a political science and English major from Hillsdale, N.J.

Europe seems to always be ahead of the curve. German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the mid-15th century. Many have identified the French capital of Paris as the capital of fashion since the reign of King Louis XIV, who was undoubtedly styling when he died of gangrene in 1715.

Russia lays claim to having hosted the first communist government in the world, and, of course, the Beatles-led British Invasion of the 1960s changed the course of music forever, leading to many hyperbolic statements about their importance.

While it may not be tantamount to appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the International Ranking Expert Group recently met in Berlin to discuss the standards of rankings that organizations utilize when placing colleges and universities in an order. The IREG is only a few years young and came to be solely for the purpose of “ranking the rankings” and regulating the standards by which institutions of higher education abide.

As the actual number of rankings increase, it becomes more difficult for students to know which ones to trust. Depending on who you ask, Fordham University sits at anywhere from 56th (U.S. News & World Report) to 203rd (Forbes).

To put it as fairly and lightly as possible, that is an absolutely ridiculous discrepancy.

How did this happen? Who are these people, and by what standards are they measuring us? A 147-place difference in rankings seems highly arbitrary, and I guess that is kind of the point, but we have a right to know how they judge us.

As a freshman, I very clearly re-

member browsing through page after page of online magazine rankings in an attempt to find a single ranking that placed us above every college in my home state of South Carolina. I had to have bragging rights over my friends if I was going to spend so much money to leave them, after all.

Yet, to have the ability to find a ranking that perfectly fit my necessity in this case is ludicrous. What IREG is doing has become necessary for prospective students, parents, faculty and administration alike.

Establishing a ranking system of rankings is years overdue, and the fact that Europe is hopping on the train before our wonderful land of white picket fences and the undying American dream puts cracks in our trust.

High school students are a fickle bunch. They become enamored far too quickly with name brands and set their hearts on high-ranking schools simply because they are high-ranking.

They trust too easily and do not think to question the minds behind the people who are essentially making important life decisions for them. By the time they actually reach college, they may come to find that the destination of their choosing is either far better or worse than the online reviews they found the previous September while filling out their common application.

A ranking of rankings could have an unprecedented impact on the course of higher education throughout the world. Students would be able to learn about universities objectively and apply with confidence, and parents could be more certain that this is what they want for their children.

Rory Masterson, GSB ’14, is a business administration major from Fort Mill, S.C.

more than fracture the party.

Where do moderates fit here?

First, to define moderatism. For voters, we can label those who do not consider hardcore liberals or conservatives “moderates,” and this is a sizeable chunk of the U.S. population.

Second, perhaps more complex, is what it means to be a moderate politician and candidate. Answering this requires looking at the concept of centrism in American politics. historically. The modern two-party, left-right dichotomy has formed the basis for American politics since the late 19th century, having emerged around 1860 when Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president.

The first, and perhaps greatest, major challenge to it came in 1912, with former two-term president Theodore Roosevelt. Displeased with his Republican successor William Howard Taft, Roosevelt founded the Progressive Party, a center-left organization that promised a return to the socially and environmentally conscious, nationalistic policies that defined his presidency. The move, arguably, was a success: Roosevelt got 88 electoral votes and 27.4 percent of the popular vote, compared with eight and 23.2 percent for Taft, leaving Woodrow Wilson, with 435 electoral votes and 41.8 percent of

the vote, the winner.

Jumping to the 1992 presidential election, we see a new moderatism emerging. Ross Perot, a self-made billionaire from Texas, joined the race promising to attack the national debt and oppose the North American Free Trade Agreement. Perot was successful at the outset of the campaign, with a June 1992 poll showing him leading against both George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Perot may have done himself in by temporarily dropping out in July, but he still garnered 18.9 percent of the popular vote.

You may be wondering what this has to do with the 2010 elections, given the preponderance of borderline extremists. This is not, I counter, the case. In spite of all of the noise surrounding the Tea Party, the movement saw limited electoral success. According to an NBC study, some 32 percent of Tea Party candidates won their Senate and House races. Clearly, far right is not really what people want.

I draw your attention to three races: Illinois Senate, Nevada Senate and California governor (you had to have seen that one coming).

In the Illinois Senate race between Republican Mark Kirk and Democrat Alexi Giannoulias, Kirk beat Giannoulias by two percentage points.

Receiving high marks from Planned

Parenthood and an “F” from the National Rifle Association, Kirk is not your conventional Republican.

In Nevada, Senate majority leader Harry Reid had a serious threat in Sharron Angle, who consistently polled ahead of him. Reid, whose association with the health care reform effort overshadowed his moderately pro-life, anti-gay marriage, pro-military stances, was seen as a likely victim of the national anti-incumbent sentiment. He won, receiving 50.2 percent of the vote to Angle’s 44.6 percent.

California’s gubernatorial race is trickier. Meg Whitman, Republican candidate and former eBay CEO, made her mark as an anti-tax, pseudo-pro-choice, pro-immigration reform Republican; she lost to former governor Jerry Brown, receiving 41.3 percent of the vote to his 53.6 percent. Two things are important here. One, Whitman broke 40 percent against a strong Democrat with name recognition in spite of a messy illegal immigration controversy.

Second, and perhaps most important, Brown is no leftist ideologue, his support of gay rights notwithstanding. It has been argued that his first tenure in office was marked by fiscally conservative practices.

There is one similarity binding all of these politicians together, and another one binds all of them except

Brown.

First, broadly speaking, they are all in favor of personal liberties. Though there are slight variations, all tend toward allowing people to choose their own paths fiscally and personally.

This should not be confused with libertarianism, as the government as it stands remains in the picture, by and large, for these candidates, and they almost universally (Kirk has not taken a public stance on it) oppose legalized marijuana, giving them a more mainstream drug policy than your average libertarian.

The second similarity: support from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (For those of you keeping track at home, this gives him about twice Palin’s winning percentage.)

Bloomberg has emerged as a leading figure in this new moderatism, espousing fiscal conservatism combined with social liberalism worldwide, raising its, his and his candidates’ profile.

Does Bloomberg’s moderatism portend a new direction for American politics? It is far too early to say, but good showings in this year’s races seem to indicate a partiular political direction.

Patrick Derocher, FCRH ’12, is an international political economy major from Loudonville, N.Y. He can be reached at derocher@fordham.edu.

By RORY MASTERSON STAFF WRITER

Forging a New Middle: Increased Centrism in Midterm Elections

By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR

This has been an election cycle in which motivation against incumbents led to the rise of some drastically conservative ideologies on the national stage. Incidentally, this shift not only responds to a left-wing Congress, but has also elicited a strong response. For example, who in recent years has been the center of more partisan hatred than Sarah Palin?

Punditry has repeatedly weighed in on the polarization and partisanship of the contemporary United States, but it is a point worth repeating: this country, in particular its elected leaders, is defined by party identity, which has all but ruled out bipartisan leadership and conduct.

Do not believe that this is an accurate reflection of the American people; Congress’s approval ratings are atrocious now, but this has been an issue for years. When Democrats seized control in 2006, approval ratings barely moved, and it is unlikely that this time will be different.

The American electorate dislikes this partisan fracture, but neither party seems willing to provide viable alternatives. When recruiting candidates for 2006, the Democrats started down this road by pursuing centrist candidates, but this did little

ADVERTISING

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 11

Cram even faster.

AT&T. The nation’s fastest mobile broadband network.

SAMSUNG CAPTIVATE™ Access to tens of thousands of apps from Android Market™ Innovative entertainment and social networking features

FREE SHIPPING

|

16% STUDENT DISCOUNT

1 . 8 6 6 . M O B I L I T Y – AT T.C O M / N Y N J – V I S I T A S T O R E Bring your student ID to an AT&T store and mention FAN #3094832 for a 16% monthly discount on qualified charges.

Mobile broadband and other services not available in all areas. See coverage map at stores for details. Monthly discount: Service discount applies only to the monthly service charge of qualified plans and not to any other charges. Available only to qualified students and employees of colleges/universities with a qualified business agreement. Other service discount qualification requirements may apply. Restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. See store for details. Screen images simulated. ©2010 AT&T Intellectual Property. Service provided by AT&T Mobility. All rights reserved. AT&T and the AT&T logo are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

PAGE 12 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER10, 2010

ADVERTISING

THEY SAY I HAVE A

FREE CHOICE But without housing on campus for me and my baby, without on-site daycare, without maternity coverage in my health insurance, it sure doesn’t feel like I have much of a choice.

feministsforlife.org © 2005 Feminists for Life of America. All rights reserved.

SPORTS

PAGE 2 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

Track Looking to Win Indoor Women’s Basketball Hoping Chemistry Metropolitan Championship Leads to Results on the Court This Season

By RICH HOFMANN STAFF WRITER

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Senior Kerri Gallagher is expected to be one of the standout runners this season.

By CELESTE KMIOTEK CULTURE EDITOR

As Fordham’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are winding down their seasons, the indoor track and field teams are just getting started.

As always, Fordham’s men’s team is looking forward to a strong showings at the Indoor Metropolitan Championship and the Atlantic 10 Championships, as well as at the same championships in the outdoor season, as its ultimate goal.

“The guys’ team is really looking to build upon last year’s efforts,” senior Augustus Gleason said. “We are bringing back all of our point scorers from last year and improving in all areas. We are definitely looking to place higher in the Metropolitan Championships indoor, and looking to win the Metropolitan Championships for the outdoor season. As for A-10s, this is a year that we can really surprise people.”

The team is expecting its veteran competitors to step up and duplicate their previous performances, though it is also looking forward to the new energy from the freshmen.

“We should have great leadership from our seniors, juniors and sophomores and a great competitive addition by our freshmen,” senior Jarrett Anistranski said.

“We have some exciting new athletes and everyone has improved dramatically from last season,” Gleason said.

Currently, the team’s overall strategy is to train specifically for the athletes’ main events.

“Everyone has been working really hard, both with time in the weight room and on the track,” Gleason said. “This year we are really focusing on event-specific training and I feel it is going to pay big dividends down the road.”

The team is looking to the cross country team’s training to carry over and be reflected during their participation in distance events.

“Our cross-country group continues to train through the end of the season for NCAA Regionals and IC4As,” Anistranski said.

As usual, the highlight for the men is the middle distance events.

“Our middle distance group looks very strong from the 400 [meter dash] up to the 1600 [meter run], as has been the case in years past,” Anistranski said.

“Look for seniors Brian Schmidt and Tim Hutchinson to lead a most heroic 4x800 [meter] relay to glory this season,” Gleason said.

Despite changing coaches only last season, the sprinters and jumpers are adapting to the new training and are ready to show the results.

“Our sprinters are entering into their second year with Coach Will Wright and have adjusted well to changes in training,” Anistranski said.

“In the shorter distances and jumps, look for kids like [sophomore] Mike Bongiorno, [junior] Frank Massaro, [junior] Kyle Kesses and [sophomore] Sean Atkinson to have breakout seasons,” Gleason said. “Led by senior captain Chris Lyons, they all look to be on the road to greatness.”

Sprinters and jumpers are also benefiting from the addition of freshmen.

“The new multi-eventer [freshman] Sam Houston has nothing but promise ahead of him,” Gleason said. “He is a gifted athlete who really excels in the sprints and jumps.”

Throwing is also slated to do well, especially due to the efforts of senior Pat Brown.

“I also would like to mention our top thrower Pat Brown whose leadership and work ethic is second to none,” Gleason said. “He is going to have Herculean results this year.”

The women’s team has similarly high hopes for its indoor season.

“We are really excited about the upcoming season,” senior schoolrecord holder Sherilyn Groeninger said.

Also like the men’s team, the women’s team is relying heavily on seasoned runners while also holding the freshmen to high standards.

“We expect the upperclassman to continue to improve upon their events from last year,” she said.

“The freshmen are proving to be a great addition to our team and we expect them to be very competitive within the conference.”

They are, however, training hard in preparation for the kickoff meets.

“Our training has been rigorous with workouts three to four times a week with lifting an additional two to three times,” she said.

Both indoor track teams will first compete at the Fordham Opener, in the Lombardi Fieldhouse, on Friday, Dec. 3.

The Fordham women’s basketball program is looking to take another step on the road to becoming more competitive in the Atlantic 10 Conference. After recording eight wins two years ago, the Lady Rams couldn’t improve on that mark by finishing again with eight victories last season.

Head Coach Cathy Andruzzi notes that simple talent and depth problems hurt the team last season.

The team lost leading scorer and rebounder Randall Hurst to graduation, but returns 11 players.

The players have gelled and developed as a team, according to Andruzzi.

“I think a lot of our players have taken a step up [in the offseason],” Andruzzi said. “I think that we are a much better team this year in the sense that there is a lot more synergy. With the experience we had together, there is a different attitude about this team than last year.”

The injury bug hit the frontcourt last season as second-leading scorer, then-junior Katie Vican, was limited to only 10 games. Senior forward Alexandria Zamora was hurt in the season opener and never returned to action.

If the Rams are going to get better this year, they will have to do so without Vican. The senior is out for the season after a back operation in June. Zamora underwent hand surgery last January, but is practicing with the team and is on track to play this year.

Andruzzi singled out senior forwards Tiffany Stokes and Caitlin Shadbolt as players who improved in the offseason. Better play from those two would provide a big lift for Andruzzi, because they are the only experienced players in the

frontcourt.

“Tiffany is one of our inside goto players and she’s done a good job of learning, listening to our coaches and becoming good at the things she can really do well,” Andruzzi said. “Caitlin has grown into a starting role and her international experience [in Australia] gives her a different understanding of the game.”

Fordham has more depth in the backcourt with four experienced players returning to that unit. Junior guard Becky Peters was third in the team in scoring last season.

Senior guard Kristina Bell has started all three years and fellow senior Kyara Weekes joined her in the starting lineup last season.

Sophomore guard Charlotte Stoddard made an impact when she became eligible to play in the second half of her freshman season.

Stylistically, coaches often point to the defensive end as to where success starts and Andruzzi is no different. Specifically for this team, success will hinge on finding other ways to score than in the half-court offense against taller opponents.

Accomplishing that goal starts on defense, where a team can force turnovers.

“We need to get easy baskets,” Andruzzi said. “Last year we settled to walk the ball up the court and we can’t do that. We need to rip and run.”

Fordham gave up 63 points a game last season, which was up almost five points from the year before. The goal for the team is to get back to the mark they were at two years ago, in the 58-points-a-game range.

Andruzzi mentioned many significant areas where she would like the team to improve defensively.

These include limiting dribble penetration, stopping easy points by

playing better transition defense and having crisper rotations in the half-court.

“We are at the point where we are evolving defensively,” Andruzzi said. “I can see our team getting a lot better at the individual and team defense aspects that we didn’t do consistently enough last year.”

Another area that could use improvement is rebounding, where Fordham was outrebounded by over four a game last season. The presence of Zamora inside for a full year will be a boost, but it will take a team effort for a smaller team to rebound.

The coach also said that the level of competitiveness has been raised in practices. She called her players “much more intense” than in past years. Andruzzi gives credit not only to the players, but the new coaching staff for making the practices just as challenging as the games.

“We just came off a scrimmage on Saturday where we saw a competitive nature that we haven’t had here in a long time,” Andruzzi said.

“There was a desire and focus that carried over from a very good practice the day before.”

Fordham’s non-conference schedule will try to balance playing winnable games with attempting to get the team ready for the difficult A-10 schedule. The Lady Rams will face their toughest test when they play at historic Allen Fieldhouse in the Kansas Classic. They will play difficult opponents in Memphis, North Dakota State and Kansas on three straight days.

Starting off the year, Fordham will open up on the road for the first time in Andruzzi’s five-year tenure by playing two games at the Elon Classic in North Carolina.

They will kick off the year play the host school on Friday at 4 p.m.

New Era Beginning for Fordham Squash

By BRODY NIEPORTE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Men’s squash is about ready to kick off another season. Every beginning to a season comes with a lot of promise, hope and excitement. This year the Rams have many reasons to be excited. They start the year with brand-new state-of-the-art squash courts, a very qualified and knowledgeable new coach and a new season filled with many opportunities.

To say this was a great offseason for the Fordham squash team would be a huge understatement, and it will be intriguing to see what the rest of the year brings.

If anyone has been to the Lombardi Center this year, it is very likely that the person has seen the amazing renovation of the squash courts. These aesthetically pleasing courts are not only an upgrade for the squash team, but also for the University as a whole.

The courts were built thanks to CitySquash, an organization that helps underprivileged children learn the game of squash and other important life qualities.

This $1 million project changed Fordham’s four North Americanstyle courts into four brand-new international-style courts. Now,

this enables Fordham to be able to host its own squash events. These courts give students a great place to hone their own squash skills, or a place to watch and cheer on their Rams.

For the first time in 54 years, Fordham will have a new squash coach at the helm. Over the summer Bob Hawthorn, who once played on the Fordham squash team, retired from his position as both squash and men’s tennis head coach. His accomplishments and dedication to Fordham have been absolutely incredible, and he will be missed by many.

However, Head Coach Bryan Patterson is a world-renowned player in his own right. He was ranked as high as No. 2 in England, and No. 16 in the world at the height of his playing career.

He also represented England in the World Championships.

“I have always been interested in college sports here in the U.S and just how important they are in college life,” he said. “Watching other colleges grow their squash teams fascinated me, and given this opportunity, it was something I could not turn down.”

In addition to Patterson’s illustrious playing resume, he also serves as the director of the afore-

mentioned CitySquash. Fordham starts the new season at the Naval Academy’s Round Robin Tournament. This tournament starts on Friday, Nov. 12 and the likes of Navy, Drexler, Johns Hopkins and Washington will participate. The team is looking forward to improving its record from last year and to start the season strong.

The team is returning all its players from last year, and it has added two newcomers who will be able to contribute to the team.

“I am excited for the year to get underway,” sophomore Jack O’Brien said.

Fordham’s team consists of seniors Brandon Abbatiello, Colin Corbett, Ken Fukumoto and Nick Reed; juniors Andrew Grosner, Andriy Kulak, Eli Plangger and Chris Souther; and sophomores Jack O’ Brien and Andrew Craig.

With an experienced team, it will be interesting to see Fordham take on squash powerhouses this season such as Navy and Yale.

The 2010-2011 squash season will be an historic one. Starting a new era for Fordham squash, Fordham will go into this new season with a brand-new coach and brandnew courts. Fordham is gearing up for an exciting season that no one should miss.

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

Swimming and Diving Face Challenge to Replace Top Scorers

By MARK BECKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Four years ago, few would have guessed that swimming and diving would be one of the more successful sports at Fordham in 2010; several years of mid-table finishes showed little potential and not much was expected from either the men’s or women’s teams any year. Yet last season the women’s swimming and diving team captured Fordham’s first-ever women’s Atlantic 10 Championship title, breaking 14 school records and one conference record along the way, with the men just falling short of the bronze (only 21.5 points behind Duquesne). Both teams were incredibly senior-heavy last season; the women should have no trouble replacing most of its losses, but the men face a daunting challenge in replacing about half of their A-10 squad.

The women’s team lost three major contributors – Tressa Dunn, Nicole Marshall and Caitlin Napoli and two other scorers – but returns its top swimmer and several other scorers from last season.

“I think the team can definitely keep its place at the top of the conference,” senior Christina Cosentino said. “It’s no question that we lost a lot of our top swimmers but I think that if everyone stays focused and keeps positive then we can definitely do what we did last year.

Since we only got three freshmen in comparison to losing six seniors I think that everyone needs to step up.”

Leading the charge will be sophomore Brienne Ryan, who made NCAA ‘B’ cuts in the 100 and 200 Back and as a member of the 400 Medley and Free Relays. Overall, she set school records in three individual events (50 Free, 100 and 200 Back) and as a member of four relays (both Medley Relays and the 400 and 800 Free Relays), including the A-10 record-setting 800 Free Relay.

Junior Courtney Collyer will be at the top of most of her events as well; she placed second in both IMs at A-10s (setting school records in both) and defending her 200 Fly title and will be asked to step onto several relays this season after swimming on none last year. As the team’s fastest returning breaststroker, she may see a move into those events if Head Coach Steve Potsklan can work out the logistics (she is the only returning scorer in the 200 IM and 200 Fly and is all but guaranteed to stay in those two events). She posted the top times in the 100 Breast and IM at the Oct. 8 pentathlon time trial.

“I’d really like to make NCAAs within the next two years and along the way I’d just like to keep swimming personal-best times,” Collyer said.

Behind those two are senior Alexandra Alessi (who placed sixth in the 200 Free, eighth in the 200 Free and on the school record-setting 200 Free Relay), junior Kelly Bunster (12th in the 50 Free, seventh in the 100 Free, third in the 100 Fly and a part of the 200 and 400 Medley and 400 and 800 Free Relays), Cosentino (sixth in the 100 Back, fifth in the 200 Back and a member of the 200 Free Relay) and senior

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Junior Kelly Bunster, who scored at A-10s in three individual events and four relays, will be one of several Lady Rams looking to step up this season.

Megan McGorry (second in the 500 and Mile Free and fifth in the 400 IM); sophomore Kelly Lyver also scored as a member of the 200 Free Relay and in the 50 and 100 Free.

All three divers return, led by juniors Andrea Krok (the school record holder on the three-meter board) and Libby Dorger, who placed second and fourth, respectively, on the one-meter and fourth and seventh on the three-meter; sophomore Brittany Salas placed seventh on the one-meter and eighth on the three-meter.

Three freshmen and a junior transfer from American University will attempt to fill some scoring spots this year, and all look capable of making an instant impact. Victoria Myers specializes in the Lady Rams’ weakest events – breaststroke – and will be pressured to improve quickly (she swam a 1:11.04 at the Husky Invite two weeks ago).

Shannon Jones, who swam at Badger Swim Club in the Bronx last year, is extremely versatile but is strongest in the Fly events, having finished just a second behind Ryan in the 100 at the pentathlon and winning the 200 at the Maroon/ White meet just weeks ago. Alexandra Wessel swam mid-distance free at American, posting times of 52.61 in the 100, 1:50.85 in the 200 and 4:57.67 in the 500, all of which Fordham can surely use. Finally, Kara Field is a freestyler who will see most of her time in the longer events in addition to the 400 IM; she could be in line for a huge season after finishing half a second behind Ryan in the 200 Free and four back in the 200 IM at the Maroon/ White meet, but most surprisingly she swam a second-best 1:13.04 in the 100 Breast at the Oct. 8 pentathlon, possibly giving Potsklan another much-needed option in breaststroke this season. “[The newcomers] each fill the spots of the events of last year’s graduating class, which is what we will need when it comes to championships,” Collyer said. “The divers also make a large contribution to the points scored at A-10s, and are one of the main reasons we were

able to beat Richmond last season.”

“We are definitely training extremely hard to try to fill in their spots,” Field said. “The girls are honestly so welcoming and encouraging at practice and at the meets and that helps all of us freshmen adapt to the new training.”

The men’s team does not have as many luxuries as the women’s; the Coombs brothers, both scoring divers, the top breaststroker, IMer, distance freestyler and a valuable distance freestyler/backstroker all graduated, leaving only senior Billy Colton (who placed fourth in the 100 Back, seventh in the 200 Back and a team-best sixth in the 50 Free individually and was a member of the fourth-place 200 Medley and third-place 200 and 400 Free Relays), senior Rob Gitman (eighth in the 200 IM and team-bests third in the 100 Back and fourth in the 200 Back individually and a member of the eighth-place 800 Free Relay and school record-setting 400 Medley Relay) and junior Sean McManus (13th in 100 Breast and seventh in

200 Breast) as returning ‘A’ finalists and only three other scorers. Colton won all but the 100 Fly at the pentathlon and took the 200 Breast at Maroon/White.

“Personally, when it comes time for championships I hope to be top three in both the backstroke events and hopefully set the 200 backstroke record,” Gitman said.

“As captain, I hope to motivate and support the team, especially underclassmen, so that we will have a great team performance at championships.”

Fortunately for the Rams, the dropoff will be kept reasonable thanks to a dynamite recruiting class. At least four broke 50.00 in the 100 Free during high school, several cans swim across most freestyle events with strong secondary events and, most importantly, there are enough to fill just about every hole graduations left – even the women agree: “The 12 freshman boys have definitely been stepping it up at practice as well,” Field said. “From attempting to race with them at practice, and watching them compete at the meets, I know that all of these freshman boys have a lot of talent.”

Leading the pack is Shintaro Noguchi, who posted times of 21.27 in the 50 Free, 46.84 in the 100 Free, 1:41.97 in the 200 Free, 49.97 in the 100 Fly and 1:57.6 in the 200 Fly – he is probably Fordham’s best recruit ever. Already making good on his promise, Noguchi won the 200 Free with a 1:44.75 and the 200 with a 1:57.96 at the Maroon/ White meet.

“We signed a staggering number of freshman boys to the team,” Gitman said. “Many of them are making an immediate impact while others give us the necessary depth we need to be a strong competitor in the Atlantic 10.”

Supporting Noguchi are Ben Dwyer (58.07 in the 100 Breast in high school; 2:23.29 in the 200 Breast at Maroon/White), Michael Grimmet-Norris (freshman-best 56s in the 100 Fly and 100 Back at the pentathlon; team-best 1:57.98 in the 200 Back at Maroon/White), John Kundrat (22.29 50 Free, 48.18

100 Free, 55.04 100 Back, 1:03.39 100 Breast and 53.48 100 Fly in high school; third in the 100 IM at the pentathlon) and William Thomann (53.59 100 Back, 2:01.49 200 Back, 1:57.80 200 IM in high school; 56-and-change in 100 Back at the pentathlon and freshmanbest 2:08.76 in the 200 IM at Maroon/White). Michael Abrams in several strokes, Nicolas Alemann in freestyle, Nicholas Belfanti in middistance free, Cameron Crowell in backstroke, Jack Francis in free and back, Nolan Sibernagel in sprint free and breast and Will Strobel in breast will attempt to earn some of the many A-10 spots available this season.

With such a large host of freshman talent, the Rams are probably looking at no worse than sixth but no better than fourth. Of course, anything can happen, especially in the conversion from high school to college swimming, and any number of returning swimmers could step into the roles of those having departed.

“All the team really can do is train hard, stay focused on individual and team goals and support each other,” Gitman said. “Yes, it is extremely hard to recover from the loss of such a large and important senior class. But I believe teamwork and dedication will lead to great performances. If everyone puts the necessary work into training and stays focused there is no doubt that we can recover from last year’s loss of seniors and even surpass the marks we set last year.”

“We have been doing better every year I’ve been here and we can continue that this year,” McManus said. “I would like to see the team get third this year at A-10s. It would be our highest finish ever and I definitely think it’s a possibility.”

Each team has already started the season off well, topping Marist and finishing second of five at the Husky Invitational – several swimmer posted times within a second or two of their personal bests. Both Fordham squads appear to have built a solid foundation early in the season, which could pay off bigtime come late February.

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Senior captain Rob Gitman is one of three returning ‘A’ finalists at A-10s, having placed in the 200 IM, 100 Back and 200 Back, in addition to being a member of the 800 Free Relay and the school record-breaking 400 Medley Relay.

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

PAGE 4

Men’s Basketball Taking First Steps in Turning Program Around

By MARK BECKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Forty years ago, the Rams were coming off four winning seasons in six years, had made several NIT appearances over the past decade and just hired a new coach to replace the best player in school history, Ed Conlin (still the all-time scoring leader). Things were (supposedly) changing, and after posting a 10-15 record the previous year, expectations were only so high.

This year, the Rams are coming off the two worst seasons in team history, have just hired a new coach and are expected to extend their 19year streak of no postseason tournament play. A turnaround similar to that of the 1970-71 season, in which Digger Phelps coached Ken Charles, Tom Sullivan and All-American Charlie Yelverton to a No. 7 ranking and the NCAA Eastern Regional game (the Rams lost to Villanova, but the Wildcats later forfeited the matchup for use of two ineligible players), is all but impossible this year, but fans and the team are still excited for the upcoming season, Tom Pecora’s first at the helm of a massive rebuilding project.

In many aspects, Pecora’s job is a difficult one: resurrect a program with no local or national reputation, an apparently substandard commitment to excellence and few remaining fans following the two worst seasons in team history.

Fordham may be a “sleeping giant,” but it is far from a lock for success, especially immediately.

Yet in other ways, his job does not seem that difficult. Every undergraduate student on campus has experienced only successive disappointment while at Fordham; each year – even game – has gone from bad to worse and ugly to uglier. All Pecora really needs to do in his first year is win maybe five games, show that he can coach and recruit and that his players will buy into his style. In his second, all he will need to do is improve slightly on those five wins and have a solid foundation laid out for future success, in terms of both current players and prospective ones. For now, limited success is all anyone is asking, and Pecora appears ready to meet that price.

“My goal is to make us relevant again,” Pecora said. “I expect us to go out, compete and put ourselves in position to win every year.”

Last preseason was full of hollow promises, including a certain mid-season transfer’s statement, “I’m happy to be back, ready to get on the court … My whole life I’ve never run away from a challenge … I decided to come back for the team.” Games were quickly lost, fans and players both lost faith, several transfer issues arose and more; this year, things should be completely different. Nothing from last year matters; the program is starting from scratch, and the fact that three starters, including Rookie of the Year sophomore forward Chris Gaston, are returning has to be considered just a bonus. Two ca-

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Sophomore forward Chris Gaston will have more freedom to move away from the basket because of junior center Kervin Bristol.

pable recruits and a junior college transfer come into the fold, everyone is accustoming themselves to a whole new situation and no one really knows what to expect from this team. Only Pecora can set expectations at this point, and he is more than willing.

“What we need to do is guard people,” he said. “The team was at the bottom of the conference in defensive field goal percentage, rebounds and assist-to-turnover ratio. Those three things make the difference; do those things and the offense will flow. It’s harder to score when the other team scores, and all you’re doing then is trading baskets; it’s all about getting stops – freedom through discipline.”

Pecora’s offense should be more dynamic than the Rams’ in recent years, as he plays a variation of the motion offense with plenty of ball screens and running, and his defense will certainly make players work hard and stay with their assignments. Whether that translates to better production from the Rams will be seen Friday, Nov. 12.

Gaston is, of course, expected to lead the team on offense, as he averaged 18 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, both team highs, as just a freshman last season with no true big man helping him under the basket.

His energy and ability drive the Rams on offense, but his defense needs a lot of work for him to be a true leader on the court. He will again spend most of his time at the power forward position, but is more than capable of playing as a small forward in a bigger lineup, which Pecora plans to use at times.

“We can play big with Gaston at the 3 or small with [junior guard/ forward] Alberto [Estwick] at the 4,” Pecora said.

Guard Brenton Butler also returns, along with his 16.5 points per game (despite a deplorable 33 percent FG percentage), although he will not spend as much time at shooting guard this season – Pecora plans to split him and sophomore

Rayner Moquete, (who showed some flashes of ability despite only joining the team in December), at the point this season. Butler spent some time at point guard in relief of Jio Fontan during the 2008-09 season before he was injured and, although he does not boast the ball skills necessary at the position, he did exhibit capable passing ability, which is probably all that will be asked of him. Playing at the point should also keep him behind the arch, where he shot only 30 percent last season, but which is more efficient than the 20-foot two-pointers he so often attempts playing on the wing.

Estwick has impressed Pecora recently in practice – as have Butler, Gaston and the recruits – and appears to have a starting position (small forward) locked up; his versatility will also allow Pecora to use him as a shooting guard or power forward, depending on what each game calls for. He should see plenty of minutes all season, however, and may be ready to break out into the upper-echelon player his natural ability has always portended.

As for the recruits (Pecora’s own, having decommitted from Hofstra and following him to Fordham) – guard Branden Frazier and small forward Marvin Dominique – and the JUCO transfer – center Kervin Bristol – Pecora puts it simply.

“They’re going to play a lot,” he said.

Rebuilding teams often make significant use of the new coach’s first recruiting class and JUCO transfers, and Fordham appears to be no exception this season. Frazier, an underrated combo guard, will almost certainly start, and will be looked to for ball-handling in the backcourt and spot-up shooting on the wing in transition. Dominique is the higher-rated of the two freshmen; he is an athletic wing who will get whatever minutes are left over between Estwick, Frazier and Gaston – probably 20 a game and make use of them on both ends of the court. His production will be

limited with the way Fordham’s offense will flow, at least early on, but he may contribute significantly later in the season if more consistent playing time opens up at his natural small forward position.

Bristol is the wild card of the newcomers; he is a bit thin and undersized for a true center, but plays tough and to contact under the basket (similar to All-A-10 pick, Fordham’s No. 2 all-time scorer and blocks leader Bryant Dunston three years ago). He is more of a force on defense, which should balance well with Gaston, but getting another big man who can score in the paint would do wonders for the team. The Rams were unbearably thin at center last season, which forced Gaston into playing too far under the basket too often. With Bristol’s presence for probably 30

minutes a game, Gaston will have more freedom to move to the elbow or cut in from the wing, as well as give the Rams a chance to put a true big man (Bristol) and power forward (sophomore Fahro Alihodzic or senior Jacob Green) on the court at the same time. Whatever his contributions, rebounding should not be as dire a concern for the Rams this season.

Pecora expects seven or eight players to see regular court time this year, assuming everyone is healthy, with the specific lineup each night depending on the matchup.

“A lot of what we do will depend on the other team,” he said. “A lot of things will be dictated by the scouting report.”

Pecora appears to be planning small right now; his focus is on the beginning of the season – specifically the five-game home stand to open play.

“The goal this year is to make this the toughest arena to play in,” he said. “The first five games are at home, and they can set the tempo for the rest of the season. Sometimes the fans underestimate the power they have there – we can’t do it without them.”

As for the future, Pecora expects the St. John’s matchup to be exciting and will talk all day about Georgia Tech coming to Rose Hill next year, and claims that there will be games played at The Garden and Izod Center next season as well.

For now, no one can predict what will happen this season, and all that can be hoped for is that the team puts forth an effort, stays competitive and shows potential.

Once the first few games have been played, however, things should be very clear. Until then, even Pecora isn’t quite sure what to expect, saying: “You don’t know what will happen until the lights go on.”

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Freshman guard Branden Frazier is expected to make significant contributions.

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

PAGE 13

Conan O’Brien Triumphantly Returns The Comedian Comes Back with Yet Another Late-Night Show

By HUSSEIN SAFA COPY EDITOR

The birds sang their beautiful lullabies, the angels in Heaven rejoiced, Conan O’Brien returned to television and all was right with the world. This past Monday, Nov. 8, Conan premiered his eponymously titled show at 11 p.m. on TBS. During his monologue, Conan joked that he named his show “Conan” so that “he would be harder to replace.”

The show began with a pretaped cold open, and a grave voice saying, “Previously on ‘Conan’…”

The hilarious video showed Conan angrily shouting into a telephone that he will not move to a midnight timeslot and ordering the mysterious person on the other end of the phone (i.e. NBC) to “go to Hell.”

The video then mocked Conan’s less-than-genteel dismissal from NBC with a Godfather-esque execution-style shooting as Conan left his previous studio’s headquarters.

Conan then goes on a job hunt, looking for a place to work at Don Draper’s company (portrayed by John Hamm of “Mad Men” himself). Conan is rejected on the ground that it is 1965 and he is only two years old, which prompts Conan to leave in embarrassment, but not before whispering, “You are very good-looking.”

Moving through jobs from Burger King to a birthday party clown, Conan is so dejected he considers suicide, but Larry King stops him

in time with the magic words, “basic cable.” We then see Conan at a TBS meeting being offered a tantalizing contract (a piece of paper that says “Much Less”), and Conan wholeheartedly accepting. Conan then walks out of TBS headquarters with the sun shining in his eyes, smiling and saying, “Everything will be alright…” until the Godfather mobsters shoot him again.

After the video ended, and Andy Richter’s familiar, welcoming voice announced Conan O’Brien, the man of the hour stepped out, looking spiffer than James Bond in his suit, and with a beard so well groomed that it made this writer, ever in the quest of the perfect bearded look, jealous. Conan appeared to be a bit haggard, but he was definitely enjoying being back on television. After the audience cheered for a good amount of time, he immediately joked, “That lasted more than my last job.” Conan then went through his monologue commenting on what he has been doing the past nine months and about his transition to basic cable.

He then showed a video of a fanfavorite character, the Masturbating Bear, and a taped humorous greeting from Ricky Gervais (“The Office”).

It was then time to welcome the guests. His first guest was Seth Rogan (Knocked Up), who came out and spoke about his recent proposal and engagement to his girlfriend, and of course, about marijuana (because no interview with Rogen

would be complete if marijuana was not mentioned).

The following guest was “Glee” actress Lea Michelle. Many speculated the purpose of having Michelle was to garner more ratings for the first show. Michelle discussed recent controversy in the GQ magazine photo shoot, and Conan offered a solution to make the pictures less racy by photoshopping his high school image next to Michelle’s image.

Finally, Conan’s musical guest was long-time friend Jack White of the White Stripes. Conan actually performed with White a cover of Eddie Cochran’s “20 Flight Rock,” a classic rockabilly masterpiece.

After the song, Conan talked with White about their long friendship (they met in a bowling alley when Conan was shooting a remote for “Late Night” back in 1999), and their work together over the summer in White’s studio in Tennessee on a cover album of classic blues and that includes Cochran’s song.

Conan’s return had not been without promotion. As Conan joked when he made a cameo on George Lopez’s “Lopez Tonight,” “My promos had a little bit of World Series in them.” In addition to various ads by TBS, AT&T sponsored a Conan blimp (an actual blimp) that flew over the East and West Coast, and which followers could keep track of by following on Twitter and Foursquare. In addition, American Express has brought Conan on as a spokesperson, featur-

COURTESY OF ROB KIM/MCT

After seemingly endless controversy, Conan is finally back, this time on TBS.

ing him in a very “Conan” ad shot in India. Moreover, 10 days before Conan’s premiere, Conan’s Team Coco Web site gave out 1,000 free shirts each day featuring different drawings of Conan.

All this promotion paid off. On his premier night, Conan beat out Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, David Letterman and Jay Leno in the key 18-49 demographic. Furthermore, Conan managed to bring in two-thirds of his “Tonight Show” debut numbers. The disparity, some speculate, is due to the avail-

ability of NBC as compared to basic channel TBS, which requires a subscription.

All in all, Conan’s much-anticipated return to television delivered, and loyal CoConuts can finally settle back into a routine of watching Conan late at night before bed, hopefully for more than seven months this time.

You can catch the video of the cold open in addition to entire episodes on Conan’s Team Coco Web site, teamcoco.com.

Welcome back, Conan.

Palin’s home state, Alaska, calling attention to all of its overlooked qualities. In the short trailer, one can see the camera lingering on long shots of the beautiful mountain scenery and clear lakes with bears playing around in the water.

One might even mistake these images for a wildlife program on the Discovery Channel.

One of the first things that comes out of Palin’s mouth in the trailer is, “Family comes first. It’s just got to be that way.” Seeing bits of scenes showing her family laughing, canoeing, fishing and hiking indicates that this show is going to play up Palin’s strong family dynamics, which may emphasize her downto-earth image for some viewers.

Looking at the clips, you can’t help but see the warm, motherly side of her, making her relatable to many Americans.

For such a controversial person, who is reviled as an ignorant politician by some and revered as a conservative champion by others, this show appears to be unexpectedly safe. A few years ago, she couldn’t give an interview without receiving a media bashing for her questionably phrased statements. Now, she seems able to pull it together for the cameras and boost her image.

While this flattering show would benefit a potential presidential campaign, she gives mixed messag-

es about her desire to pursue such a path. In one part of the trailer, Palin remarks, “I’d rather be doin’ this than sitting in some stuff y, old political office. I’d rather be free.” She appears to be more genuine and content in her home state, speaking with more authenticity than ever before. Basically, she owns up to the very qualities that have been turned into jokes for the past two years. In one image from the show, she is pictured buying a gun in her town of Wasilla. In another she is trekking up a mountain. Such images are so stereotypical of her persona that the show is almost contrived.

However, the manufactured nature of a show about a politician is inevitable. You really can’t trust the carefully crafted portrayal of someone who ran for vice president in the last election and is considering running for president in the upcoming one. “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” may improve Palin’s image, but what it really achieves is the continued growth of her celebrity status.

The more we see her and the more we talk about her projects, such as this show, the better the chances that her name won’t be going away any time soon. With this self-conscious feel-good series, who knows how the public’s perception of Sarah Palin will shift and where her future lies.

Sarah Palin Is Back, This Time on Reality TV

COURTESY OF JOE BURBANK/MCT

Sarah Palin may not be running for vice president, but she refuses to stay out of the spotlight with her new reality show.

By JEN CACCHIOLI ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Since the moment Sarah Palin was announced as John McCain’s running mate back in 2008, she has been a celebrity. She is in fact a politician, as the former governor of Alaska, but it is impossible to deny the celebrity status of her name. The name Palin seems to be everywhere these days on the newsstands, gossip blogs and major television networks. Of all places, it was on the tabloid-driven show, “Entertainment Tonight,” where Palin remarked that she might consider running for president in

2012. If you watched “Dancing with the Stars” this season, you probably saw her featured on the program, cheering on her daughter Bristol, whose scandalous teenage pregnancy instantly made her a celebrity as well. Palin has been immortalized in a classic SNL skit

by Tina Fey, written a bestselling novel, Going Rogue, and now stars in her very own reality television show.

For months, the buzz has gradually heightened about her upcoming series as speculations varied about what the show would portray. Would it be a blatant promotion of her political agenda or show

a realistic glimpse into her everyday life? It might just be a little bit of both. The show, entitled “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” is an eight-episode series that will premiere on TLC Nov. 14. Mark Burnett, who produced the hits “Survivor” and “The Apprentice,” is behind its creation and will most likely shape this project into another one of his ratings successes.

Reading the show’s description on the TLC Web site and watching the trailer in addition to exclusive clips reveal the series to be a cross between a travelogue and documentary.

It seems to focus on promoting

CULTURE

PAGE 14 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

That’s So Po

Dining Out: Shanghai Café

MARY PORPORA Week 8 : Go-To Doodles Over the years, I have noticed that whenever I am bored with a pen and paper in front of me, I tend to draw the same doodles. It is like my hand automatically assumes what my brain is going to tell it to draw, and all of a sudden there is this odd little addition to my paper.

My staple doodles for the most part have been some kind of animal, most notably the giraffe. I think it all stems from freshman-year biology in high school when we had to do a research paper on an animal we saw at the zoo. Everyone else was drawing gorillas, so I decided to be different and go with the giraffe. Or maybe it is because, like the giraffe, I too am tall, awkward and at times have trouble standing up. Or maybe it is because giraffes are mostly vertical, making them ideal for notebook margins.

While the giraffe served me well for years, I soon grew tired of this lanky herbivore. I decided to “weird it up.” So if you ever stumble upon a giraffe with a pineapple for a head, that is my creation. Despite the fact that I draw it all the time, I can barely look at it because I find it horrifying.

When I am not frightening myself with fruit heads, I tend to draw two scenes, the first being a cheeseburger and a banana dancing with a boom box. Sometimes when I have room, I throw a doughnut in there to add some sweetness to the mix. My other go-to doodle scene consists of a merman aggressively showing off his six-pack and tattoos in a manner unintentionally similar as The Situation. I have been told that this doodle is more on the disturbing side, so I have tried to limit its appearances.

As crazy as I sound, I know that everyone has that one thing they tend to doodle more than others. I guarantee that at one point or another, you have practiced your signature on some piece of paper somewhere.

If you are really lucky, you are able to incorporate the Superman “S” somewhere in your name. I still draw this “S” all of the time because it is the closest to the graffiti font that my limited doodle abilities will allow.

I have also noticed that instead of doodling, some people write lyrics. I usually reserve lyrics writing for those occasions when I am tremendously bored and I can put effort into my distraction. What I like about lyrics is that they tell the future me what was stuck in my head that day. How else would I be able to remember that on March 3 I had both Hilary Duff and Jagged Edge stuck in my head?

Every once in a while I do try to break myself of my go-to doodles, but it never works. There is something comforting about flipping through my notebooks and seeing multiple variations of the same odd t image.

While there are some qu questionable sce scenes, I can reassur myself in assure knowing that at least they are no not as bad as Jona n h Hill’s doodling d Jonah obsession in Superbad.

Go-to doodles, n that’s now so Po!

PHOTO BY STEPHEN MOCCIA/THE RAM

Shanghai Café is located at the corner of Mott and Canal Streets in Chinatown.

By STEPHEN MOCCIA DESIGN EDITOR

Shanghai Café, located off the corner of Mott and Canal Streets in the heart of Chinatown, is my favorite establishment in that area. This authentic Chinese restaurant has a pleasant café atmosphere with bright, colored neon lights on the ceiling and cozy-though-roomy booths, in addition to bigger round tables for larger parties. Certain items are prepared right in the front of the dining area, though there is a full kitchen in the back that churns out some of the most delicious Chinese food I have discovered in the entire city.

The first thing one will notice about this place, however, is the quality of the service, which can be quite abrasive at times. The servers are generally rude and disinterested, but I promise the food is definitely worth pushing past this issue. While you may need to jump through a few hoops to get a fork (the tables are all set with just a plate, napkin, soup spoon and pair of chopsticks), the dishes are really the reason for your visit. Plus, one of my friends actually learned to use chopsticks by eating here, as he was petrified of requesting a fork at each visit.

When you first walk in, someone will likely yell, “Hi, how many!?!” and point in the direction of an open table. However, if you’re all set and know

what you want, their abrupt attitude turns into efficiency, as the delicious hot food is brought out – or, rather, dropped on your table as the server brushes by – in just minutes. The Chinatown native who introduced this restaurant to me explained that this is where the locals tend to go for their dim sum, so I focus mostly on that portion of the menu when I visit.

My usual order consists of a variety of appetizers that are enough to serve as my entire meal. The pièce de résistance is the steamed tiny buns with pork ($4.25), a steamer basket of eight of the most delicious soup-filled sacks of dough and meat you will find anywhere. I have had many a dumpling in New York City during my lifetime, and I have to say that these are the best dumplings I have ever had. These perfectly textured buns are bursting with a delicious soup that should be drained into your spoon prior to consuming the whole dumpling, as the hot juice will scald your mouth if you’re not careful. Once drained, this amazing soup is delicious on its own, and the remaining meat and dough can be enjoyed with the wonderfully tangy vinegar-based sauce that accompanies the dish.

Another fantastic item on the menu is their pork fried dumplings ($4.25). While this standard item is offered at every Chinese restaurant on the planet, none that I have tried can rival Shanghai Café’s.

What makes these Overall dumplings stand out is the incredible Location Food Quality flavor of the dough.

Fried to a perfect, Atmosphere golden firmness, these dumplings Hospitality really have a delectable taste. The same Price $ can be said of the fried tiny buns with (Out of 4 ’s) pork ($4.25), which also have an amazing flavor combination. The scallion pancakes ($1.75) are crispy and flavorful, and the pork fried rice ($4.25) comes in a heaping portion. It is a little moister than usual, though still has the extraordinary flavor of this Chinese food staple. Several other classic dishes are also delicious and are excellently prepared – if you still have room for another bite – though, as I said, I generally stick to the appetizers.

The prices are the most incredible thing about Shanghai Café. You can stuff yourself with everything and still only pay about $10 a head. The value for what you order is amazing, and after getting what seems like mounds and mounds of food, the bill is somehow still laughably low. However, it is a cash-only establishment, so plan ahead and stop at the ATM on the way.

Shanghai Café is made for college students, as they are less likely to care about pleasantries, love good, cheap food and can take advantage of sharing large orders. While the staff may be rude and impatient, the quality of the food is excellent. If service is what makes or breaks your dining experience, order quickly and get out. Sometimes you will just have to be a bit more aggressive to get what you need, but nonetheless, this restaurant is one of my favorites. It’s cheap and tasty, and that’s really all that matters to me.

Editor’s Pick: La Bohème at the Met Opera

By MARY ALCARO COPY EDITOR

There’s something about going to the opera that makes one feel undeniably sophisticated. Somewhere amid getting dressed up, gazing at the Met’s chandeliers and listening to a show in a foreign language, you can’t but feel a little superior when you imagine your Fordham classmates taking in the culture of Mugz’s. What most Fordham students don’t realize is just how easy it is to enjoy the high culture of the Metropolitan Opera for a price that is as affordable as a night at “tribar.”

This past weekend, two of my friends and I decided, somewhat on a whim, to see La Bohème at the Met. While my roommates had purchased their tickets a few days in advance, I, in predictable fashion, put off buying my ticket.

Luckily, however I discovered that on day of the opera, the Met sells discount standing-room tickets starting at $17.

Even from the standing room, the opera is immensely enjoyable.

While shorter opera-goers might have a bit of trouble seeing over the back railing (thank goodness I wore heels), there is more than enough room to stand comfortably in the standing section; each ticket holder is given his/her own designated standing space, as well as individual title screens that provide English, German or Spanish translations for the text of the

opera. These screens are tinted in such a way that they can only be seen from a direct angle, so as not to disturb other viewers.

I highly recommend La Bohème as a production for regular operagoers and first-time viewers alike.

The opera is a classic, telling the tale of Bohemian starving artists and their love interests in 1830s Paris. Specifically, it traces the relationship between Rodolfo, a poet, and Mimi, a seamstress, whose love flowers and fades as the seasons change, her tuberculosis never far from the audience’s (or the characters’) minds. The on-again-offagain affair between the painter Marcello and the flirtatious diva Musetta provides some comic relief amid the looming misery of the opera’s conclusion.

For anyone who has seen Jonathan Larson’s Rent, the opera will be suspiciously familiar, as Larson modeled his 1990s rock opera about the “Bohemians” of the East Village on Puccini’s La Bohème, even down to characters’ names and personalities. The fragile relationship between Larson’s Roger, a rock musician, and Mimi, a young dancer with AIDS, is meant to parallel that of Rodolfo and Mimi.

The tension between former lovers Mark, a filmmaker, and Maureen, a flirt with a penchant for performance, is a clear salute to the relationship between Puccini’s Marcello and Musetta. Even minor characters Colline, Schunard and Benoit are echoed in Larson’s Col-

lins, Angel Dumont-Scunard and Benny in their respective roles as professor, philosopher and landlord.

In keeping with the familiarity of characters are the scenes between these two productions. Rent aficionados will see the origin of the charming “Light My Candle” scene between Mimi and Roger in the parallel scene in which Rodolfo lights Mimi’s candle, only for her to discover she has lost her key (much like the modern Mimi’s having lost her drugs).

In light of the Larson tribute, La Bohème is a very approachable opera for college students, familiar in plot and universal in theme.

The opera deals with the fragility of love, the pressing reality of disease, poverty and mortality amid the life of modern artists, and how our relationships with others can imbue an otherwise miserable life with hope and meaning.

This particular production by Franco Zeffirelli (Hamlet) is beautiful, especially in its breathtaking scenery. Throughout the opera’s four acts, the stage transforms from a squalid flat, to a bustling Parisian street, to an enchanting snow-dusted countryside and back to the flat again. Though the opera runs from 8 to 11 p.m., intermission time accounts for almost 50 minutes of this time window; yet the details of falling snow and warmly glowing streetlamps make the time between set changes absolutely worth it.

The most beautiful part of this

revival of La Bohème, however, is undoubtedly the richly talented Vittorio Grigolo (Romeo et Juliette, La Travatia). Grigolo has a tenor’s range unlike any I’ve ever heard, at times soothing and melodious, at others strained and resonant with feeling. Beyond his natural talent as a singer, Grigolo brings overwhelming emotion to the character of Roldolfo, bringing out every nuance of the character’s love, pain and torment, and making him far more empathetic than I ever expected the character of Rodolfo could be. Without giving too much away, I must emphasize his deeply unsettling performance in the opera’s final scene, a representation so harrowing that it haunts the ears of the listener long after the curtain has come down.

With ticket prices as low as $17 and the Met literally a Ram Van ride away, there is no reason not to trade the clamor of Bronx bars for the strains of the opera house at least once in your four years at Fordham.

Restaurants in Lincoln Center abound, ticket pick up at the Met box office couldn’t be simpler and, if you’re lucky like me, you might even find an open seat to snag during intermission (up to a $40 value for $17). Riding back to Fordham dressed in your suit or dress, I guarantee you won’t be able to suppress a slightly superior smile when the “merry” passenger next to you asks how you’ve spent your Friday (or Tuesday) night.

CULTURE

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 15

Superheroes in Movies

By DAVID McSKIMMING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Two summers from now, comic book fans will be beside themselves with the releases of anticipated films such as The Dark Knight Rises, The Avengers and the yet-tobe-named Spiderman reboot.

There is no doubt that expectations are high for this installment following Sam Raimi’s disappointing Spiderman 3. As a result of the recent reboots, remakes, sequels and height of interest in comic book franchises, should audiences expect nothing less than a quality superhero movie that stands apart from its predecessors with the same protagonist?

There’s much evidence to suggest that this interpretation of the web-slinger will not disappoint.

It seems fitting that a man named Marc Webb is next in line to helm the upcoming reboot of the Spiderman series. Webb is widely known for last year’s romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer, a surprise hit that effectively captured the trials and tribulations of basic human emotions through interpersonal relationships. In accordance with that, the fans have speculated the reboot to be a darker, more realistic take on the character of Peter Parker, à la Batman Begins.

The casting choices of relatively unknown British actor Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as the eponymous hero, breakout Superbad star Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, Martin Sheen (The West Wing) as Uncle Ben and British veteran Rhys Ifans (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1) as a yet to be identified villain (through it is rumored that he will portray Dr. Curt Connors, aka the Lizard) insinuate that this film will be a more dramatic and fleshed-out story than an action-reliant, forgettable superhero flick. This untitled Spiderman film is set to release July 3, 2012.

While Marc Webb will work to impress with a new spin on Spider-

man, 2012’s summer will also see characters with whom audiences are already familiar. Marvel’s risky piece has been developing ever since 2008’s Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Additional risks include this past summer’s Iron Man 2, along with next summer’s Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. All of these films take place in the same “universe,” meaning that characters will appear and take part in each other’s stories, culminating in The Avengers. The film will focus on the development of the superhero group and its struggles, but with little known about the project, the movie could be a huge hit or miss.

The inherent problem of an ensemble cast of well-known actors might haunt director Joss Whedon (“Buff y the Vampire Slayer”) forever.

Additionally, Marvel nixed Edward Norton (The Illusionist) as the Hulk. While they claimed he wasn’t a “team player” and not fit for working with the rest of the cast, this could be the biggest mistake the studio could have made. The Hulk will play a critical role in the film; he is speculated to be the villain. Still, many fans are extremely excited for this ambitious collaboration and there is no doubt, whether or not it will be good, that the film will be financially successful at the box office.

The Avengers is set to release May 4, 2012.

The final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, will be hitting theaters summer 2012. Nolan only recently released news about the film: the title, the introduction of his Inception star Tom Hardy to the cast and his claim that the Riddler will not appear as the villain. While many are disappointed with the title, it may be the most appropriate that Nolan could have invented.

The implications of the word “rises” could suggest many elements to the film. It could be the conclusion of Nolan’s series but the beginning of Gotham recognizing Batman as a true hero. The first film focuses on Batman’s origin, with the second on developing his ethics and motivations. On the other hand, the third film will revolve around the theme of redemption. Many also applaud Nolan’s decision not to shoot in 3D, and he has stated that these effects will take away from the storytelling element.

“I hope The Dark Knight Rises has the same dark, gritty feel to it as The Dark Knight,” Mike Shapiro, FCRH ’12, said.

Indeed, the tone of the films is what separates them from the rest of the superhero genre, and hopefully Rises will follow in that trend.

Audiences will find out on July 20, 2012.

what’s Know “what’s going on” on campus or in NYC?

Going

Send tips, event listings, or comments to theram@fordham.edu.

11

?

On

THURSDAY

Rainn Wilson Barnes & Noble 1972 Broadway

Most well-known as “The Office’s” Dwight, Wilson will read from SoulPancake: Chew on Life’s Big Questions, based on SoulPancake.com, at 7:30 p.m.

12

FRIDAY

Japan Fashion Now Museum at FIT 227 Seventh Ave.

This exhibit extends back to the first major Japanese design period in the 1980s, followed by more youth-oriented fashions and designs inspired by the electronic media.

13

Perfect Crime The Snapple Theater Center 1627 Broadway

SATURDAY

The longest running non-musical play in the city, having run nearly nonstop since 1987, this noir details how a psychiatrist’s allegedly murder her husband.

14

SUNDAY

Cosmic Collisions American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 81st St.

Robert Redford narrates this rubber-neckers dream, which includes real and digitally created space-matter crashes.

15

MONDAY

The Half King Reading Series The Half King 505 W. 23rd St.

Join locals to drink and discuss poetry, fiction, non-fiction, with a reading by David Philipps.

16

TUESDAY

Rain - A Tribute to The Beatles Neil Simon Theatre 250 W. 52nd St.

They are no Lady Gaga, but The Beatles still deserve this tribute, which is formatted like a concert.

17

Mary Poppins New Amsterdam Theater 214 W. 42nd St.

WEDNESDAY

Go back to the characters and songs of your childhood with this memorable musical.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NXT TRIVIA KRT

— COMPILED BY CELESTE KMIOTEK

Batman will be back for the final movie of the trilogy in the summer of 2012.

Ram Reviews ALBUM

ALBUM

MOVIE

TELEVISION

SHOPPING

DEVIN : BUD, SWEAT AND BEERS

CHERYL COLE:

EARTHLINGS

“GOSSIP GIRL”

BROOKLYN FLEA

The 21-year-old Dagenham rapper has an interesting sound to him that is very different from the current set of hip-hop we hear on this side of the Atlantic. Following the grime tradition of the genre, Devlin combines strong beats with his forceful and passionate rapping style and lyrics. He is one of the UK’s fastest rising stars, and for good reason. Think of Devlin as an unpolished Eminem with a fairly thick East London accent.

Don’t let the title fool you. Bud, Sweat and Beers is a competent album that is a good listen. It’s a great way for Devlin to break into the UK music scene. If you’re looking for a different kind of rap or want a sample of what hip hop is like across the pond, then Devlin is definitely someone you should give a listen to. His star is on the rise, and he can only get better.

Messy Little Raindrops Cheryl Cole gained notoriety as a member of Girls Aloud and as Chelsea FC and England footballer Ashley Cole’s (now ex) WAG (wives and girlfriends). She is one of the UK’s biggest celebrities with her music career, personal life, and her gig as a judge of arguably the UK’s most popular talent contest, “The X Factor.” She certainly didn’t waste time in releasing her followup album.

Messy Little Raindrops is not a bad album, but she can definitely do a lot better. She is not impressing anyone with this effort, and she should take time off her incredibly busy schedule and write her own songs (if she can). She is likeable enough and has enough charisma, which is evident in her success.

Now she just has to back it up with the music if she wants to be taken seriously as a solo artist.

Earthlings, a 2005 documentary about society’s treatment of animals, will undoubtedly make you feel uncomfortable. Filled with images of violence and suffering, it would be difficult for anyone to watch without cringing or turning away from the screen.

The film rides on the statement that both animals and humans alike are earthlings, beings who inhabit the earth, and as such we have a responsibility to treat our fellow earthlings justly.

Overall, Earthlings is a powerful film that will undoubtedly make you feel uneasy. It will strengthen your beliefs if you already are a committed animals rights activist, and if you are not, it will make you look at an important issue in today’s society from a new light and make you think about the food you eat, the clothes you wear, etc.

Many shows on television do unrealistic, campy drama, but none do it as good as “Gossip Girl.”

Last week’s episode was a boost to this already improving season, which can only get better after last year’s train-wreck of a third season.

The focus this time was on Blair’s birthday party. Since Blair Waldorf, played by Leighton Meester (“Entourage,” Date Night) is constantly climbing the social ladder, big names showed up to her party.

The episode starts off with Nate, (Chase Crawford, Twelve), and Serena (Blake Lively, The Town), forcing a “peace treaty” on the warring ex-lovers Blair and Chuck (Ed Westwick, S. Darko).

By the end of the hour, their mounting tensions of mixed love and hatred reached their boiling point and a certain peace treaty was ripped up for good.

Our destination of choice was the Brooklyn Flea, which overflowed with an assortment of antiques, art, food, vintage clothing, accessories, books and furniture. Stepping into the gated area of vendors was a bit startling at first, because there was so much to take in and no clear direction of where to start. Right from the beginning the six of us became separated, wandering off to the different stands that called our individual attentions.

Ultimately, all of us walked away from the Brooklyn Flea with a memorable experience. If you want to spend a Saturday afternoon browsing eclectic items and eating some great food, this weekly flea market is a perfect opportunity.

The prices may get a little crazy when it comes to clothing, but the promise of finding something special is always there.

TO READ THESE REVIEWS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, VISIT THERAMONLINE.COM AND CLICK ON “CULTURE” ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOMEPAGE.

PAGE 16 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

CULTURE

Area Gyms Provide a Welcome Relief from the Campus Facilities

PHOTO BY ASHWIN BHANDARI/THE RAM

Planet Fitness offers a welcome alternative to Fordham’s often over-crowded fitness center, in addition to afforable prices, massage chairs and guest privileges.

By MEGAN FALCONE STAFF WRITER

Let’s face it – if you want to go to the Rose Hill gym during lunch or after dinner, all of the cardio machines will most likely be in use.

Sure, the occasional treadmill or elliptical may be available, but it is most likely because it is out of order.

Despite the less-than-desirable conditions of the gym at Lombardi Center, two things are undeniable: it is conveniently located, and it is free. However, there are alternatives to the Rose Hill gym for students wishing to venture off campus.

Located across the street from the Metro-North station, 24-Hour Fitness is the nearest gym ostudents can join. For Campbell residents, 24-Hour Fitness is actually closer than the Fordham gym.

Alex Blalock, a junior at Fordham and Campbell resident, joined 24-Hour Fitness during this fall semester.

“I joined because of how close it is to Campbell,” Blalock said. “And because it has a lot of machines that the Rose Hill gym doesn’t.

However, the majority of members are Bronx locals. If you’re a Fordham student, then you definitely stick out.”

One of the benefits of joining 24-Hour Fitness, which has a $40 membership fee, is that it is open 24 hours a day.

“I’ve gone at 10 [p.m.] by myself before,” Blalock said. “But after I got that security alert about a student being harassed outside of there in the middle of the day, I won’t be going there that late again.”

Another perk of joining 24-Hour Fitness is the availability of classes that members can attend. Aerobics, strength training, dance and kickboxing are just a few of the classes that 24-Hour Fitness offers on a daily basis.

However, Blalock said that one of the disadvantages of 24-Hour Fitness is that all the equipment is in one large room.

“I wish there was more room to use the mats and do crunches,” Blalock said. “And since everything is in one giant room, then if you’re self conscious about people watching you work out then you are out of luck.”

Planet Fitness, located up East Fordham Road, is another gym that students can join. Similar to 24-Hour Fitness, Planet Fitness is also open 24 hours a day, but only on Monday through Friday.

Planet Fitness is also reasonably

priced. In order to get the “black card,” members are charged a $10 start-up fee and then only $20 per month afterwards for a minimum of 12 months. The black card permits entrance at all Planet Fitness locations, unlimited use of massage chairs, unlimited guest privileges, unlimited tanning and half-price cooler drinks.

A basic membership is only a $10 start up fee, and then $10 per month.

Although Planet Fitness does not offer classes, members can sign up for personal training with fitness instructors, who are available five days a week and traingroups of one to four people. A cashier at Planet Fitness said that fitness instructors cater more to first-time members.

“First-time users are usually more unsure of how to work out properly, so this program is extremely beneficial to them,” he said.

Planet Fitness appeals to all different types of people, however.

“We have a lot of local residents that join the gym,” he said.

“Some students come, but we also have adults and old timers. A huge assortment of people come through here.”

Another benefit of Planet Fitness are the pizza nights, which take place on the first Monday of every month.

Although there are several other gyms that students can go to rather than the gym at Lombardi Center, many students enjoy the classes that Fordham offers.

Classes such as cardio-kickboxing are run by Fordham students, and are a great way to get involved on campus.

With all of the different alternatives to going to the Rose Hill gym, Fordham students are not as short on fitness options as they may have previously thought.

WHO’S THAT KID? Leah Newman A MEMBER OF FCRH ‘12, MAJORING IN PHYSICS FROM SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO. Where have we seen you?

Hiding out in Freeman Hall geeking out with other physics majors, in the Walsh Hall RHO, giving tours on campus to hordes of prospectives whose parents are more enthused than they are, trying to get people interested in the next Jewish holiday, or running around campus like a madwoman trying to get from meeting to meeting.

Favorite childhood show and favorite current show?

Childhood would definitely be “Legends of the Hidden Temple,” even though that talking statue consistently scared the crap out of me.

Current, as cliché as it is, “Grey’s Anatomy.” I find myself unnecessarily emotionally invested in all of the characters’ lives.

Who would play you in a movie and why?

Amanda Bynes. Not because we look similar, or because we have anything in common, but mostly because I love her, and she could certainly make my life seem far more entertaining.

If you could have a dinner with any historical person, who would it be and why?

Marie Antoinette. I feel like anyone that flaky has to be a hilarious dinner guest.

Moore. Professor Moore is the absolute nicest person you will ever meet in your entire life, and the class was oddly interesting, especially for an outsider to the whole religion.

What would your ideal day in Manhattan consist of?

Breakfast at Sarabeth’s, followed by shopping until lunch, when I’d subway down to St. Marks for delicious half-price sushi and Pinkberry.

Swing back uptown to the MoMA, scream in front of everyone (into the microphone of course), then head to Serge’s on Madison for dinner. End the night with a carriage ride through Central Park, while I nap off a food coma.

How do you blow off steam?

Nap, shop or instant Netflix.

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

That I’m unintelligent. I can’t tell you how many times jaws have dropped when I’ve shared my major.

Stuck on an island, what would you need?

Penne pasta, diet Snapple, my pony and Blackberry. Oh, and food for the pony, too.

If you could be anywhere and doing anything right now, what would it be?

Back home in Cleveland at my barn, hanging out with my ponies.

What is your dream job?

Working at NASA as an astrophysicist. Going into space would be cool, too.

Favorite class at Fordham and favorite professor?

Ironically enough, Church in Controversy with Professor Brenna

What is your guilty pleasure?

Watching “The Vampire Diaries” along with the vast female majority at this university.

COURTESY OF LEAH NEWMAN

CULTURE

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 17

‘The Office’ Prepares for Michael Scott’s Departure

By JACOB KRING-SCHREIFELS STAFF WRITER

Try to imagine the hit NBC television comedy “The Office” without its fearless, irreverent leader Michael Scott. It’s difficult isn’t it?

Sadly, it is something we all must deal with next season.

Steve Carell’s (Date Night, 40Year-Old Virgin) contract with NBC expires at the end of this year and he has decided to pursue other things, closing the book on an unforgettable character.

He has made us laugh, cringe, sympathize and ultimately fall in love with a small paper company boss for seven seasons. So how will NBC say goodbye to this iconic figure of Scranton, Pa. and more importantly who will take over his role?

With season seven already well underway, let us examine how “The Office” writers are currently working to diminish Michael’s responsibility and hint at a change of power.

If we look at the moving storylines so far, it is clear that Darryl, a co-manager and Gabe (Zach Woods, In The Loop), the company’s coordinating director for emerging regions, have been passing ideas as Michael says “over my head and around my back.” Suddenly, it appears the big decisions and ideas do not go through Michael, “the world’s best boss.” Both seem frontrunners for a fulltime managerial position in the Scranton branch, a proposition that the two find intriguing.

We cannot rule others out of consideration however; each episode thus far has seemingly been a template for different workers from around the Dunder-Mifflin office to showcase their talent. All are qualified for the role, so let’s quickly run down their strengths and weaknesses.

Andy Bernard (Ed Helms, The Hangover) has displayed his creativity by inviting his coworkers to see him perform in the musical Sweeney Todd. Aside from his singing skills, could there be a legitimate boss inside the Cornell grad?

Meanwhile, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson, Juno) demonstrates his potential as heir when he is introduced this season as the new office park owner, regulating building malfunctions, including the broken elevator incident with which Pam ( Jenna Fischer, Blades of Glory) pranked him. Still, Dwight’s persona shall forever be assistant regional manager. Sorry, assistant to the regional manager.

Last season Jim ( John Krasinski, Away We Go) tried out a managerial role, but that decision stifled his ability to mess with Dwight, and honestly, we cannot lose that. Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak, Inglorious Basterds) had a corporate job with Dunder Mifflin in years past but we all know the mess that ensued with his internet scam mix-up. Plus, we need him to keep flirting with Kelly (Mindy Kaling, Despicable Me).

Newcomer Timothy Olyphant (“Damages”) plays the role of Danny, a rival salesman who is eventually persuaded by Michael to join

the company, but it would be hard to see him as regular on the show, especially with the awkward tension resulting from his dating history with Pam. Of course Creed (Creed Bratton, “The Forgotten”), Stanley (Leslie Baker, “Scrubs”), Oscar (Oscar Nuñez, The Proposal), Kevin (Brian Baumgartner, Four Christmases), Phyllis (Phyllis Smith, The 40-YearOld Virgin) Angela (Angela Kinsey, Furry Vengeance), Kelly and Meredith (Kate Flannery, “Wizards of Waverly Place”) all seemingly have a shot, but they are well-suited for their current roles, which give color to the show.

To properly hypothesize a replacement, let’s go back to the beginning, when “The Office” first began casting. When Carell was chosen to portray Michael Scott, his acting resume consisted of him being a correspondent on “The Daily Show with John Stewart.”

Now, it is a little out of left field to suggest someone like “The Daily Shows’s” John Oliver to take over, but it certainly makes the point that a comedian has a favorable chance.

So let’s take a look at the speculation being thrown about over outside faces potentially infiltrating northeast Pennsylvania, because there is always speculation.

Names that have been circulating for a while have been Danny McBride of “Eastbound and Down,” Rhys Darby of “Flight of the Concords” and even actress Portia de Rossi (“Arrested Development”).

Fellowship for the Performing Arts presents

C.S. Lewis

´)$6&,1$7,1* $1' (17(57$,1,1* $1' 758( 72 7+( 7+(0(6 2) 7+( %22. µ 7KH &DWKROLF +HUDOG

´7+( '(9,/ +$6 5$5(/< %((1 *,9(1 +,6 '8( 025( 3(5&(37,9(/< $1' (58',7(/< µ 7KH 1HZ <RUN 7LPHV

WESTSIDE THEATRE 407 W 43rd St NYC

Visit Telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200 ScrewtapeOnStage.com

HAHN-KHAYAT/KRT

Steve Carell’s parting has “The Office’” fans guessing about his replacement.

“The new actor will not live up to what Steve Carell has created in fans’ minds at least,” freshman Mike Rezin, FCRH ’14, said.

Let’s be real though, whoever takes over for Michael Scott cannot continue a similar impersonation.

In order for the show to keep garnering viewers, it has to keep its storylines fresh, and most importantly add a new dynamic.

As a fan, I do not want to see

Dwight willingly portray the subordinate of the new acting boss of the branch. There has to be a new interaction and chemistry with whomever becomes manager that switches things up and carries “The Office” into a new atmosphere, well, as much as one person can.

One thing is certain though. We will miss Michael Scott and moving on without him will be really hard. “That’s what she said!”

PAGE 18 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER10, 2010

ADVERTISING

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

PAGE 19

Volleyball Comes Back for Big Win at George Washington

By DANNY ATKINSON SPORTS EDITOR

Every team has one game that defines its season, one chance to not be defined as a mediocre team but instead a legitimately good one. Until last Friday at George Washington, Fordham volleyball still had not won that defining game.

The Lady Rams had spent all of 2010 playing like a typical middleof-the-pack team, winning the games they should, losing the contests they were expected to lose and generally relying on a small group of outstanding players to overcome their lack of depth.

When Fordham experienced a series of injuries to some of its best players going into the last three weeks of the season, wreaking havoc to the teams’ regular starting rotation, it seemed as if the Lady Rams would have a very challenging road to travel in order to reach the Atlantic 10 Championship.

In traveling that road something wonderful has happened. Buoyed by the strong play of some unsung heroes and great performances from the team’s leaders, including its injured stars, Fordham is playing its best volleyball of the season and won its most important contest at George Washington in five sets, ensuring the likelihood of securing a postseason birth.

On Friday, Fordham defeated George Washington, twice coming back from being one set down.

Final set scores were 21-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-17 and 15-12. After falling in the first set, the Lady Rams were able gain control of the second set late in the action. Fordham was down 19-18 in Set 2, before a four-point run put the Lady Rams in front 22-19. From there, senior

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Senior outside hitter Kailee May played a big part in the win over George Washington by recording 18 kills to lead the Rams.

Kailee May knocked down three consecutive kills for the victory.

Though the Colonials went back ahead in the match with a 25-22 win in Set 3, the Lady Rams demonstrated no signs of folding on the road with a dominant win in the fourth set in which May recorded eight kills. With the fifth match knotted at nine and its season hanging in the balance, Fordham had an impressive end to the match, getting kills from a series of players and leaving D.C. with a hard-fought five-set win.

Against the Colonials, the team received important contributions from both its complementary and star players. Senior outside hitter Jenna Hart and freshman libero Emily Atwood, both relied on heavily due to their teammate’s injuries, had five kills and seven digs respectively. Despite being hampered by injury, Daulton and

senior middle hitter Katie Wells played two of their most efficient contests of the season and had 18 and 10 kills, respectively.

The importance of Fordham’s victory over George Washington cannot be overemphasized following the match. The win moved Fordham to 16-15 on the year, 6-6 in the A-10. By defeating the Colonials, the team moved into a tie with George Washington for fifth place in the conference. It also earned the tiebreaker over its opponents due to outscoring them in the teams’ two matches during the season, all with only three regular season conference games remaining. By meeting adversity head-on, the Lady Rams had earned all the marbles in their playoff stakes.

“We turned this match around in the fourth game,” Head Coach Peter Volkert said. “These girls knew they had to win by enough

on their last homestand, when they went 2-0.

Like nearly every game this season at Jack Coffey Field, goals were tough to come by. The only tally came late in the first half as Fordham was applying pressure on Dayton’s goal.

On the play, senior midfielder Brett Heyder bought some time on the left side of the field by dribbling, and he crossed it into the middle of the box. Junior midfielder Tim Richardson got a piece of the ball with his head, and it wound up at the feet of sophomore midfielder Michael Valencia, who was standing all alone near the back post, quickly blasted a sharp-angle shot into the left side of the net.

The lead would stand as the defense held the Flyers off the scoreboard. Junior goalkeeper Ryan Meara made some key saves (seven total) to preserve the shutout.

“It took a complete team effort to come out on top as well as some incredible individual efforts,” junior defender Phil Ferrantello said.

Against Xavier, Fordham got a 1-0 lead early in the second half, a position in which they normally

thrive. The goal came when junior forward John McHugh dribbled up the left side of the box and sent a low cross towards the near post.

Freshman forward Julian Nagel beat a defender to the ball and redirected it into the right side of the net, leaving Xavier sophomore goalkeeper Justin Marshall flatfooted.

As the second half wore on, Xavier started putting pressure on the Rams. The equalizer came in the 72nd minute from 6’2” sophomore forward Luke Spencer, who had a clean header off a corner kick. Senior forward El-Hadji Dieng scored the game-winner off a rebound after Meara denied another Musketeer from point blank range.

“We scored and thought we had it,” Ferrantello said. “Once we scored though it almost seemed like that drove Xavier even more and gave them some momentum.”

The loss was uncharacteristic for the Rams after winning six games in a row at home. They also were no strangers to protecting leads in low-scoring games, winning six games by a score of 1-0.

points to earn the tiebreaker and they were fantastic in the match with the added pressure. Our goal is to finish in fifth place for the conference playoffs and this was a huge match towards getting to that.”

When asked how his team was playing so well despite its recent injuries, Volkert made the formula sound easy.

“I think it’s just a matter of gaining confidence,” he said. “This team has been playing great during practice and in its matches and I think everyone is now familiar with their roles and what we need from them.”

After its huge victory against George Washington, Fordham suffered a small letdown on Senior Day against Saint Louis, which will finish second or third in the conference. The Lady Rams fell in four sets by scores of 20-25, 15-25,

28-26 and 13-15.

Fordham led most of the way in the first set and the teams were tied as late as at 20. From there, the Billikens scored five straight points for the 25-20 win. The second set was all Saint Louis as the Billikens constantly shut down the Lady Rams’ front line and held them to a mere .059 hitting percentage. The third set was all over the place as Fordham both mounted a comeback from six points down and faced one from Saint Louis.

Tied at 20, again the teams continued to trade points until Wells put down a kill to take the set and continue the contest. There the team failed to repeat the magic of its previous match, allowing the Billikens to record four of the match’s final five points and going down in four sets.

Wells continued her outstanding play with 12 kills and was joined on Senior Day by fellow class member May, who also had 12 kills and added 10 digs. The Senior Day also celebrated the accomplishments of outside hitter Sara Friede, middle hitter Christi Griffiths, outside hitter Jenna Hart and setter Tara Peterson.

Fordham now stands at 6-7 on the season in the A-10. The team is tied with George Washington for fifth place in the conference and holds tiebreakers over both the Colonials and seventh-place Charlotte.

The Lady Rams need just one win in their final two games against Dayton and Temple to clinch a spot in the conference playoffs for the fourth time in five years.

“I think we have a very good shot at the playoffs,” Rodenberg said. “We just have to focus on staying consistent and focused like we’ve been doing.”

Men’s Soccer Falls Just Short of the Atlantic 10 Tournament

By RICH HOFMANN STAFF WRITER

In many ways, the men’s soccer team’s final weekend of play was a microcosm of the entire season.

The Rams (10-8-0, 5-4-0) had positive moments to look back on, but they ultimately fell short.

Fordham started the weekend with a close 1-0 win over Dayton, but then fell to Xavier 2-1 on Saturday after relinquishing a onegoal lead. In the crowded Atlantic 10, the Rams fell into a three-way tie for the sixth and final spot in the conference tournament, which they lost to Xavier via tiebreaker.

“We knew both teams were going to be tough this weekend, and on Friday we pulled out a big 1-0 win with a lot of grit and hard work,” junior midfielder Matt Courtenay said. “Today [against Xavier] we tried to repeat the same work ethic but just fell short.”

On a cold and windy night on Friday, Fordham had the opportunity to play at home for the first time in three weeks. Against struggling league power Dayton, the Rams picked up where they left off

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Freshman forward Julian Nagel scored the lone goal in the loss against Xavier.

“The team has been through a roller coaster of emotions since the start of the season and I think that’s exactly how our season ended today,” Ferrantello said.

Fordham lost on a three-way tiebreaker with Xavier and UMass. Since all three teams had a 1-1 record against each other, the tiebreaker was determined by points against common opponents (Rhode Island, La Salle and Dayton). Fordham’s three points fell short to UMass’ five, and Xavier

earned the final slot with six.

Next year, Fordham returns many of its players with hopes of making it back to the conference tournament. Although the season had a bittersweet end, the Rams finished with a winning record in the league and overall.

“This year was good regardless of not qualifying for the tournament,” Courtenay said. “We all worked hard and played for each other, which is the most important part of any team.”

ADVERTISING

PAGE 20 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER10, 2010

$1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE towards the purchase or lease of a new Scion GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE. $1,000.00 COLLEGE GRADUATE REBATE.

FordhamScion .com

FordhamToyota.com

$1,000.

00

College Graduate Rebate + the Scion Pure Lease

New 2010 Yaris Stk# 3179, 4 cyl, 4DR, A/C, man trans, AM/FM Stereo/CD, pwr str/ brks, ABS, VSC, MSRP $15,218.

LEASE PER MO FOR 36 MOS† ________________________ BUY

11,964

New 2010

25

$

xD

with purchase^

New 2010 Corolla Stk# 9322, 4 cyl, auto, AM/FM Stereo/CD, A/C, pwr str/brks, ABS, MSRP $17,350.

36 Camry $ 75

LEASE PER MO FOR 36 MOS† ________________________ BUY

13,727

$

Stk# 2754, 4 cyl, auto, AM/FM Stereo/CD, A/C, pwr str/brks/ winds/lcks, MSRP $21,595.

18,324

$

rad

College G

New 2010

Fordham Toyota

with purchase^

PURE LEASE PER MO FOR 36 MOS†

00

0. ate + $1,00 uate Reb rad

College G

Navi

included

PURE LEASE PER MO FOR 36 MOS†

00

Model# 6202, 4cyl, auto, 4dr, power steer/brks/wind/lcks, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, MSRP: $17,670, $849 due @ signing

tC

179 $ 199 $ 205 $

0. ate + $1,00 uate Reb

Navi

included

LEASE PER MO FOR 36 MOS† ________________________ BUY

xB

with purchase^

New 2011

Model# 6232, 4cyl, auto, 4dr, power steer/brks/wind/lcks, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, MSRP: $16,420, $829 due @ signing

New 2011

Fordham Toyota

$

rad

College G

Navi

included Fordham Toyota

$

00

0. ate + $1,00 uate Reb

Model# 6220, 4cyl, auto, 2dr, power steer/brks/wind/lcks, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, MSRP: $18,620, $855 due @ signing

PURE LEASE PER MO FOR 36 MOS†

2.9% Financing available on Toyota Certified Used Vehicles†† 2003 Toyota Corolla CE

2004 Toyota Rav4 4WD

2007 Toyota Rav4 Ltd

Stk# U5352, auto, 4cyl, pwr steer/brks, $ AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 63k mi ....................... BUY FOR

2008 Toyota Matrix XR

11,988

Stk# U5316, auto, 4cyl, 4x4, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, leather, $ alloys, sunroof, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 30k mi .............. BUY FOR

2002 Toyota Solara SLE Convertible

6,388

Stk# U5349, auto, 4cyl, 4x4, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, $ ABS, cruise, tilt, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 69k mi .... BUY FOR

2006 Toyota 4Runner SR5

Stk# U5351, auto, V6, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, $ alloys, leather, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 68k mi BUY FOR

Stk# U5354, 4 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 27k mi ................ BUY FOR

2007 Toyota Avalon XL

12,988

Stk# U5305, auto, V6, 4x4, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, alloys, $ sunroof, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 50k mi................... BUY FOR

2007 Toyota Corolla CE

7,988

2007 Toyota Highlander AWD

Stk# U5309, 4 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 62k mi ................ BUY FOR

Stk# U5303, 6 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 38k mi ................ BUY FOR

2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid

13,688

Stk# U5309, 4 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 30k mi ................ BUY FOR

2003 Toyota Sienna LE

9,688

2009 Toyota Sienna LE

Stk# U5347, 6 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 57k mi ................ BUY FOR

Stk# U5342, 4 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 39k mi ................ BUY FOR

2010 Toyota Camry LE

15,988

Stk# U5254, 4 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, pwr $ Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 8 passenger, 43k mi ..... BUY FOR

2009 Toyota Corolla LE

9,988

2007 Toyota Sienna XLE

Stk# U5293, 4 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, 48k mi ................ BUY FOR

Stk# U5218, auto, 4cyl, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, $ ABS, cruise, tilt, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 27k mi .... BUY FOR

2009 Toyota RAV4

15,988

Stk# U5281, auto, V6, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, leather, $ DVD, alloys, sunroof, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 44k mi.... BUY FOR

2009 Toyota Camry LE

11,488

2008 Toyota Sienna XLE AWD

11,688

Stk# U5248, 4 cyl, FWD, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, $ pwr Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, alloys, 23k mi......... BUY FOR

16,588

Stk# U5231, 6 cyl, Auto, A/C, AM/FM Stereo/CD, pwr $ Steer/Brks/Wind/Lcks, lthr, sunrf, 56k mi ........ BUY FOR

Stk# U5327, auto, 4cyl, pwr steer/brks/wind/lcks, $ ABS, cruise, tilt, AM/FM stereo/cd, a/c, 15k mi ..... BUY FOR

16,688 17,688 18,988 19,588 19,988 23,688

236 W Fordham Rd | Bronx, NY 10468

236 W Fordham Rd | Bronx, NY 10468

800.214.9914

888.282.6656

SERVICE: 212.690.8000 | PARTS: 212.690.9000 Dept of Consumer Affairs No. 1269790 DMV No. 7049046

INTERSTATE

Exit 9 87 Fordham Rd Off The Major Deegan Expressway

OPEN SUN 11-5

FREE VALET PARKING

Mon-Th: 9-9 Fri-Sat: 9-7

Prices incl all costs to consumer except tax, tags & reg fees. Dealer does not charge dealer fees. ††2.90% APR financing avail up to 60 mos on TCUVs provided by TFS, Low APR and leases req Tier 1+ appr, 750 credit score + and super pre, subj to primary lender’ appr; must select from dlr stock; cannot combine offers. †Price & lease reflects $500 mil rebate to eligible active duty personnel & inactive reserves thru TFS (exp.10/31/10) & $1000 coll rebate. Must be a coll grad w/proof of diploma within past 2 yrs & must fin thru dlr, rebate is prov by Toyota Motor Credit. Ttl pymts/Resid:’10 Corolla=$1296/$9750, ’11 Camry =$2700/$13,213, ’10 Yaris=$900/$8386, Due at sign=$2695 down+$650 bank fee+1st mo pymt +$0 Sec Dep wavied by TFS, 12k mi per yr, 15c per/mi thereafter. Lessee resp for excess wear/tear. ^Port handheld navi with purch, see dlr for details. *Cannot be combined with any other offer or advertised specials. Photos for illus purp only. Not resp for typos/equip errors. Offers exp 3 days after pub, programs subject to change by mfr.

SERVICE: 800.527.3341 | PARTS: 800.527.3341 Dept of Consumer Affairs No. 1269790 DMV No. 7049046

INTERSTATE

Exit 9 87 Fordham Rd Off The Major Deegan Expressway

OPEN SUN 11-5

FREE VALET PARKING

Mon-Th: 9-9 Fri-Sat: 9-7

Prices incl all costs to consumer except tax, tags & reg fees. Dealer does not charge dlr fees. †Available on approved credit to qualified customers through participating Scion dealers and Toyota Financial Services on new 2010 models with automatic transmission. Not all customers will qualify. Other lease terms and conditions are available. Offer based on MSRP of $16,420 for xD, $17,670 for xB, $18,620 for tC including delivery, processing and handling fee. Monthly payment may vary depending on final price of vehicle and your qualifications. Ask your dealer for availability of offers after these dates and for lease program details. Contracts must be dated between October 1, 2010 - January 3, 2011. ††2.90% APR fin avail up to 60 mos on TCUVs provided by TFS, Low APR and leases req Tier 1+ appr, 750 credit score + and super pre, subj to prmry lender’ appr; must select from dlr stock, $0 Sec Dep wavied by TFS, 12k mi per yr, 15c per/mi thereafter.

Lessee resp for excess wear/tear. Photos for illus purp only. Not resp for typos/equip errors. Offers exp 6 days after pub. $1000 coll rebate. Must be a coll grad w/proof of diploma within past 2 yrs & must fin thru dlr, rebate is prov by TMC.

The Rise of the NFC

By BRENDAN MALONE STAFF WRITER

November is the time of the NFL season when everything really gets sorted out. Teams that got off to a surprisingly fast start, like the Texans, are not sneaking up on people anymore and are falling back to the pack of mediocre teams.

Teams that got off to surprisingly slow starts, like the Saints and Giants, are finally showing why they were in the pre-season Super Bowl discussion.

The Saints, Packers and Eagles have all won games against AFC contenders in the past two weeks and the Giants blowout of the Seahawks in Seattle was a very impressive win. As Walt “Clyde” Frazier would say, the NFC is “percolating.”

As the NFC contenders have raised their games the last few weeks, the elite teams in the AFC have shown some weaknesses.

The Jets have played three lackluster games in a row and could easily have lost all three, but were lucky enough to win two and vault back over the Patriots, who were just destroyed by the Browns this week and in the next month play Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and the Jets.

The Colts slipped to 5-3 with a loss in Philadelphia. They have been hit hard by injuries and only Peyton Manning is keeping this team alive in the playoff race.

Lucky for them, the Texans have fallen all the way to 4-4 and are a far cry from the contender they appeared to be after the first month of the season.

Since we have spent most of the year basically ignoring the NFC, it is time to examine the contenders in the conference.

New York Giants: The Giants seem to have rediscovered the formula that made them Super Bowl champions three years ago.

Their fearsome pass rush has returned with a vengeance and they are knocking out quarterbacks left and right. Their running game, while not as good as it was three years ago, is certainly more than good enough. Eli Manning is quietly having a very good year. The Giants do turn the ball over a little too much and their special teams are a concern. Those two factors can certainly turn a playoff game, but this is a very experienced team and they have the inside track right now to home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

New Orleans Saints: The defending Super Bowl champions got off to a very slow start, which can be attributed to a “Super Bowl hangover.” Have they finally found a cure? It sure looked like it last week when they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drew Brees is still one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFL and has done a great job keeping the Saints alive despite the complete lack of a running game and a defense that has not made nearly as many big plays as it did last year.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers are another team that has been hit hard by injuries. They have lost

their starting TE Jermichael Finley, who appeared ready to have a huge season, as well as their starting running back Ryan Grant, for the season. Aaron Rodgers has become an elite player in the league and their defense has the defending Defensive Player of the Year, cornerback Charles Woodson and the frontrunner for that award this year, outside linebacker Clay Matthews. That defense has given up just seven points in the last two weeks combined, including a shutout of the New York Jets at the new Meadowlands Stadium.

Unlike the Giants and Saints, the Packers should have no problem winning their division and hosting at least one playoff game in Lambeau Field.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles have yet to lose a game this year that Michael Vick has started and finished. They have two excellent wide receivers in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and a reliable tight end in Brent Celek.

On top of the receiving options, running back LaSean McCoy is emerging as a viable replacement for Brian Westbrook. The defense is not what it has been in the past, but it is not terrible either. Rookie safety Nate Allen, the player selected by the Eagles with the second round pick the Redskins gave them in the McNabb trade, seems to make a big play every week and defensive end Trent Cole is one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL. Even though the Eagles’ defense fell apart against Tennessee, the team still contained Chris Johnson and Peyton Manning in back-to-back weeks, which is a very impressive feat. If the team’s defense can play with more consistency, the Eagles are a contender.

SPORTS Football

Men’s Soccer

Women’s Volleyball

Fordham31-36Holy Cross

Fordham 1-2 Xavier

GW 2-3 Fordham

1 2 3 4 F FOR 14 7 12 0 33 BUCK 7 7 7 0 21 FU BUCK First Downs 23 21 Total Yards 430 316 Rushing 209 57 Passing 221 259 Punt Returns 4-58 0-0 Kick Returns 4-152 5-106 Comp-Att-Int 13-22-0 24-42-1 Punts 4-42.2 8-35.2 Time of Poss. 29:08 30:52

Individual Statistics PASSING-Bucknell, Wesley 23-41-1 Fordham, Higgins 1220-0 RUSHING-Bucknell, Wesley 14-43-1 Fordham, Whiting 38-180-2 RECEIVING-Bucknell, DeNick 6-71-0 Fordham, Caldwell 8-146-1

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 21

Xavier Sh MARSHALL 0 COHEN 0 GRAY 0 WALKER 1 BUCHER 0 SPENCER 7 GETZEN 1 QUEREE 0 HAGGLUND 0 JARVIS 2 RYAN 0 Subs KANU 0 BOISVERT 0 DIMBI 0 DEPAOLI 0 DIENG 1 Totals 12

SOG 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 0

G 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Fordham

A 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

K BS BA

Hart 1 Daulton 0 May 0 Diamantidis 0 Wells 0 Griffiths 0 Friede 0 Keathley

0 0 0 0 1 5

0 0 0 0 1 2

0

0 0 0 0 0 1

Rodenbuerg 0 Atwood 0 GW

Fordham Sh Meara 0 Ferrantello 0 Bekoe 0 Valencia 2 Niyonsaba 2 Richardson 2 Curran 0 Axelsson 0 McHugh 1 Gimand 0 Stalker 0 Subs Jolly 0 Vigliotti 2 Heyder 0 Nagel 2 Courtenay 0 DesRoches 0 Corrao 0 Totals 11

SOG 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

G 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

0 Hill 0 Knox 0 Zulandt 0 Whyte 0 Crosby 1 Decarl 0 Knox, 0 Burr 0 Stuart

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 Silva-MArtin 0 Coward 0

FOR GW

NFC West: Nope, still no contenders here.

OTHER THOUGHTS -How could Peyton Hillis have been traded straight up for Brady Quinn?

-The Lions finally appear to have a little bit of a future to look forward to, but Matthew Stafford has to stay healthy. He makes Chad Pennington look like Brett Favre when it comes to durability.

-The Patriots have a very tough month coming up. Between now and Dec. 2, they play the Steelers, Colts and Jets.

-Welcome back to relevancy, Raiders-Chiefs rivalry.

8 1 0 0 6 3 10 6 21 6 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 4

PCT BE

DIG PTS

.154 0 .000 0 .267 0 .222 0 .117 0 .667 0 .000 0 .500 0 .000 0 .000 0 .000 0 .136 0

11 8.5 10 0.0 0 7.5 1 13.0 4 24.5 7 4.5 3 0.0 0 3.0 0 1.0 0 0.0 16 4.0 3 11.0

1 2 3 4 5= 21 25 22 25 15 25 22 25 17 12

Fordham 1-3 Saint Louis XAV FOR

1 0 0

2 Tot 2 2 1 1

Saint Louis

K BS BA

Beaty

0

.522 0 .077 0 .273 0 .211 1 .091 0 .222 0 .000 0 .000 0 .000 0 .000 0 .000 0

3

58 14

.257 59 1 75.0

Kvitle 0 2 Marcum 0 Schumacher

Check theramonline.com for live blogging of the men’s basketball game this Friday, Nov. 12 and future football and basketball games.

1 Boken 0 Karges 0 Bonoma 0 Gaillot 0 Bolt 0 Knouse

Totals

Fordham

PCT DIG BE PTS

15 5 4 1 15 1 8 2 3 3 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

Deno

Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are one of those teams that are exponentially better when they play at home. I know that it’s weird to think that an Atlanta team actually has a home-field advantage, but the Falcons do. They have only lost one home game that Matt Ryan has started since he was drafted three years ago. Both Ryan and running back Michael Turner are healthy again after injury plagued seasons last year and wide receiver Roddy White is having a breakout season. The defense is spotty, but if the Falcons can get home field advantage for the playoffs, they will be a tough out.

DIG PTS

5 .118 1 4 0 8.0 18 .325 7 1 1 20.5 18 .261 10 2 0 19.0 0 -.500 11 0 0 1.0 10 .600 0 4 0 12.0 9 .185 3 4 0 12.5 0 .000 0 0 0 0.0 0 .000 0 0 0 0.0 1 .500 13 0 0 2.0 0 .000 7 0 0 0.0

K BS BA

Goss

PCT BE

K BS BA

Daulton

PCT BE

3 17.5 6 6.5 6 18.5 1 9.0 2 5.5 17 14.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 12 1.0 12 3.0 0 0.0

DIG PTS

0

3 -.125 7 0 0 3.0 12 .222 10 2 0 14.0 3 .300 6 1 0 3.5 12 .226 1 2 1 13.0 9 .300 3 4 0 11.0 5 .071 0 2 2 7.0 0 .000 9 0 0 0.0 0 .000 1 0 0 0.0 3 .000 1 1 0 4.5 0 .000 0 0 0 0.0 1 .000 7 0 0 1.0

3

48 12

0 May 1 Diamantidis 0 Wells 0 Griffiths 0 Ewing 1 Fride 0 Keathley 0 Hart 1 Peterson 0 Rodenberg

Totals

.257 45 3 57.0

SLU

1 2 25 25

3 26

4 25

FOR

20 15

28

17

PAGE 22 • THE RAM • NOVEMBER 10, 2010

MATT MANUSZAK

The Smush Parker Project Talking NBA basketball with anyone over the age of 30 will inevitably lead to a debate over whose era of basketball is superior, which will in turn lead to a debate over the physicality of today’s NBA. A criticism of many of the league’s older fans is that today’s players are less physical on defense and generally less than combative players of the past. The first point is false: players today play much tougher defense, even with the adjusted rules regulating the perimeter, mostly because players today are much quicker and more athletic than players in the past. The second point is probably true: players don’t foul as hard today as they used to foul, or fight as much as they used to fight because of Maurice Lucas, penalties, race and Kermit Washington.

I’ve wasted both enough breath and trees arguing about defense in today’s NBA, so I’ll keep this point brief. Yes, the rules governing legal defensive play have changed. Perimeter defenders are no longer allowed to hand check, meaning that they can’t hit the offensive player’s hands with their hands. This has made quick point guards like Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose nearly impossible to guard.

Having said that, the rules for post defense are largely the same: while the perception is that there are more ticky-tack fouls called on bigs, that is largely because players simply take up more room now than they used to. That sounds overly simplistic, but Dwight Howard or Shaq is exponentially bigger and more muscular than someone like Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain: the bigger the players are, the more likely there will be contact. The muscular growth of players, in addition to the incredible strides that have been made in developing players’ speed and strength, have made defense even tougher. Passing lanes close up in milliseconds, defenders close out on shooters faster than before, and almost every player has the athleticism to swat weak shots into the second row. With fouls and fighting, though, today’s players definitely don’t compare to past players, but for good reason.

Maurice Lucas, or Luke, died last week at the age of 58. Luke was a three-time All-Star best known for being a part of the legendary Portland Trail Blazer teams of the late ’70s that also featured all-world center Bill Walton, Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay and was the subject of the greatest sports book of all time, The Breaks of the Game

by David Halberstam. Luke played power forward on those teams, and while he was a rugged rebounder, physical defender and efficient scorer, his role as de facto enforcer was perhaps even more noteworthy. The biggest play of the 1977 finals, in the eyes of many observers, didn’t come when the clock was running. Luke’s teammate, forward Bobby Gross, had been wrestling for a rebound with Phila-

delphia forward Darryl Dawkins during Game three when the two started fighting. Luke came up behind Dawkins, decked him in the head and set off a benches-clearing brouhaha that changed the momentum of the series (Philly had been up 2-0 and Portland would go on to sweep the next four games and win the Finals).

The message was simple: don’t mess with my teammates. Yet, an enforcer standing up for his teammates is commonplace in today’s NHL, not the NBA. Today, especially since the “Malice in the Palace” brawl between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers in November 2004, the fines and suspensions are exceedingly harsh for physical fouls, let alone fighting.

Yes, players make a ton of money nowadays, but missing out on a game check is still a big deal: how would you feel if you were penalized a day’s work? There is a method behind this madness, though, and much of it has to do with an even bigger fight that happened later in 1977. During a fight between the L.A. Lakers and the Houston Rockets, the Lakers’ Kermit Washington (who is black) turned and decked a running Rudy Tomjanovich (who is white) full in the face, knocking him to the ground, fracturing his face only one third of an inch from his skull, and nearly killing him.

Tomjanovich would recover and later end up coaching, but Washington, described in Breaks of the Game as an exceedingly gentle, intelligent and good-natured player, would have to endure a stigma unlike any NBA player ever. The ripple effect would move beyond the two of them. Fights still happened after that, but they weren’t as violent and the penalties were far harsher.

Fights in hockey happen between enforcers in order to settle on-ice scores and prevent more aggressive and possibly violent attacks from happening within the flow of the game, like when Vancouver’s Todd Bertuzzi sucker-punched and nearly killed Colorado’s Steve Moore in 2004. Sure, players can still get hurt fighting in the NHL, like when Colton Orr of the Rangers knocked out Todd Fedoruk of the Flyers in 2007. Generally, with the amount of padding NHL players have, and the way officials stop the fight if it gets too vicious or goes to the ice, it is probably more similar to a pitcher plunking a batter in baseball than it was to some of the NBA brawls of the ’70s, which were more like bare-knuckle boxing matches. Hard fouls in the NBA lead to fights, as we saw with Indiana and Detroit in 2004; while fights in the NHL tend to be preventative, fights in the NBA tend to be the worst-case scenario.

Further, as much as people would likely deny it, there is a huge difference between mostly white NHL players fighting and mostly African-American NBA players fighting. NHL players fighting are “getting aggression out,” while NBA players fighting are always referred to as “out-of-control thugs.” Hard fouls lead to fights in the NBA, and fights lead to injuries and image problems. So as much as you might want to see Dwight Howard and Kevin Garnett duke it out instead of merely jawing at each other, think of the implications for the players and the league at large.

SPORTS

Senior Profile: Louis Vigliotti

By DANNY ATKINSON SPORTS EDITOR

Louis Vigliotti is a senior forward on the soccer team, hailing from Commack, N.Y. and is a finance major. He has been a key member of the Rams since he arrived, playing all over the field for Head Coach Jim McElderry and starting nearly half the games in which he has appeared.

The Ram: Why did you decide to come to Fordham?

Louis Vigliotti: I had no intention of coming here originally; in fact I was looking at playing at Manhattan. Fordham started looking at me late in the recruiting process and my parents and family, especially my grandfather who went here, were able to convince me to give Fordham a chance. Once I got to know the school and team and saw how beautiful the campus was, I knew this was where I wanted to go.

TR: What would you describe your role as in your four years on the team?

LV: Well, I’ve been one of the main utility players every year I’ve played. Coach has plugged me in everywhere on the field. My best skill is my speed. I can come into a game and use my speed to cause havoc for defenders.

TR: What has been your most memorable moment as a player at Fordham?

LV: My most memorable moment would have to be my first conference game here at Fordham.

We beat La Salle 4-1 and I registered my first career goal and assist in that game.

COURESY OF FORDHAMSPORTS.COM

Senior forward Louis Vigliotti has played a variety of positions due to his speed.

TR: What player or players do you admire and try to model your game after?

breakers play out, which is nerveracking. It’s miserable in our locker room, especially for the seniors.

LV: The player that I admire the most is Fernando Torres. He’s a quick forward who is a clinical finisher and a solid all-around player.

TR: What are your plans after Fordham?

TR: How happy are you with the way your season has gone?

LV: It’s great that we had the first 10-win season for the program in a long time, but we expected nothing less than to make the A-10 playoffs like we did the last few years. We haven’t played up to expectations in conference and now the team has to wait and see how the tie

LV: I’d love to play soccer professionally, but that’s probably not realistic. It would be great to play in one of the amateur leagues like the USL or maybe another league.

I want to eventually go to law school and get a graduate degree in finance but I’m not looking to do that immediately. I still want to play soccer for a few years before I completely go into the working world. I love this sport too much to give it up.

Women’s Rowing Expecting to Have Strong Spring After Solid Fall Season

By ALEXANDER VILLARDO STAFF WRITER

Football legend John Madden once said, “Usually the team that scores the most points wins the game.” That’s correct for most sports, but rowing isn’t one of them.

Or is it?

On Sunday, Nov. 7, the women’s rowing team capped off the fall season with other New York-area crews at the Fall Metropolitan Intercollegiate Rowing Championship on the Orchard Beach Lagoon. Unlike most fall regattas, which tend to be 2.7-mile time trial races, the Fall Metropolitan contains 2,000-meter sprint races, and unlike regattas in general, it declares an overall winner based on a point system.

“You get points for each event you win,” Head Coach Ted Bonanno said. “The crew with the most points at the end of the day wins the Grimaldi Cup.” This year, the Lady Rams finished first in six races and brought the cup home to the Bronx.

The women dominated the Varsity 4 events, as they took two firstplace medals and one second-place

medal. In the first event, the A boat made it to the dock before the other crews with a time of 7:40.30. In the second event, the B boat placed second with a time of 8:01.70. The third event also saw a first-place finish for the Lady Rams, as the C boat won it in 7:49.00.

The Varsity 8 events were also a party for the Lady Rams, as they took two first-place medals and one third-place medal in two events.

The A boat’s time of 7:12.70 in the first Varsity 8 event was good enough for first, as was the B boat’s time of 7:35.08 in the second event. The C boat raced in the second event and finished third.

The Novice team also had a solid day on the water, with two firstplace finishes, one second-place finish and one third-place finish. In the first Novice 4 event, the A boat finished first with a time of 7:28.60 and well ahead of second-place Fairfield, who crossed the finishline in 7:54.80. The second Novice 4 event was arguably the strangest event of the day, as it resulted in the not-so-common tie: The Lady Rams and Sacred Heart both finished with times of 8:19.94.

“A tie is extremely rare in rowing,” Novice coach Nick Dawe said.

“But our boat held off Sacred Heart right to the very end. It was bowball to bow-ball.”

The Novice team also enjoyed their 8 events, as the A boat placed second in the first event, with a time of 7:40.50, and the B boat finished third in the second event in 8:52.70.

“The Novice had a very successful weekend,” Dawe said. “There were only a few experienced girls in the A boats, and the majority was first-year rowers.”

Now that the fall season is over, there is only one thing on the minds of Bonanno, Dawe and their rowers: practice.

“We’re clearly one of the strongest crews in the A-10 right now,” Bonanno said. “And if we continue to make progress, we should be strong in the spring.”

“We all are planning on being a little bit stronger and faster [in the spring],” Bonanno’s top Varsity coxswain junior Abigail Paparo said.

Just how serious is the team about improving for the spring?

“They have today off,” Bonanno said with a smile when asked about the team’s break before winter training.

Water Polo Makes Eastern Division Championships

NOVEMBER 10, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 23

SPORTS

By NICK CARROLL SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Senior utility man Ryan Hultman scored a big goal in a win against Harvard.

By CHESTER BAKER STAFF WRITER

Fordham entered the Northern Division Championships not sure what to expect. The Rams had upset some of the best teams in the nation this season, while also suffering some heartbreaking losses. With strong play throughout the year, Fordham had a chance for one of its best finishes in recent history, and with many senior leaders approaching graduation, the Rams needed to take advantage for the chance of a strong finish.

Fordham opened up the tournament against Harvard, whom the Rams had already defeated in September. With this being the seniors’ last chance to get a banner hung in their honor and to leave a greater legacy, one would think the team would depend on them to make the big plays. However, it was sophomore driver Jake Bakas who brought his game to the next level and scored four times against the Crimson. A new player stepping up in a big game was nothing new for the team.

“This team is a really good bunch of guys, and we all know that we can rely on each other,” senior two-meter man Mikey Edwards said. “We all trust each other to make plays and think that each of us is capable of doing what we need to do. If someone is having a rough day, someone else will pick up the slack. Anyone can be the leader in a game.”

After the first period, the teams were locked in a tight battle, and the score was tied up at two. By halftime, Fordham had a two-goal lead, which it stretched to three just before the third period closed.

The Rams stayed strong defensively in the fourth quarter, holding off a Harvard comeback attempt, and held on to win 8-5.

Graduate student two-meter man Ali Arat continued his superb season by chipping in two goals for Fordham, while senior utility man Ryan Hultman and senior driver Daniel Munoz followed Bakas’ lead and each scored a goal. Anchoring the defense once again for Fordham was junior goalie Christian Flessner, who stopped 11 Crimson shots on goal.

On the second match of the day, Fordham took on No. 14 St. Fran-

cis in the semifinal, to whom the Rams fell by 12 goals earlier in the year, one of their worst losses on the season.

St. Francis started right where they left off against the Rams by controlling the first period to open up a 4-2 lead, before Fordham surged back and knotted the game at six by halftime. In the third period, Fordham took its first lead of the game, the defense held strong and the Rams took a one-goal lead into the fourth quarter. Unfortunately Fordham gave up five unanswered goals in the last period, and the Terriers marched into the finals, while Fordham was headed for the third-place consolation game. Senior driver Alex Powell and Munoz led the Rams with two goals, while Arat, Hultman and Medina all did their part by scoring one goal a piece.

In its last game of the tournament, Fordham took on the MIT Engineers for third place. Fordham and MIT split a pair of matches on the season, with Fordham winning 9-8 in the ECAC Championships, while MIT also defeated Fordham 13-10.

Fordham controlled the match throughout, and started off early with a 5-1 lead after the first half.

The Rams kept the good times rolling by adding two more goals to give them a 7-2 lead heading into the last quarter.

In the fourth quarter MIT got on a roll and Fordham struggled again.

MIT had a run very similar to the run that St. Francis had in the semifinals, and opened up a 6-2 surge in the fourth. This time, though, the whistle blew before MIT could make up the margin, and Fordham held on to a third-place finish with a 9-8 win.

Arat controlled the offense for Fordham and scored six goals to cap off his stellar tournament, while Powell powered home two goals and Edwards finally got on the board for the tournament when he slid one past the keeper. Flessner continued to roll and stopped 12 MIT attempts.

With the third-place finish, Fordham qualified for the Eastern Championships for the second year in a row. The Rams will take on the Bucknell Bison in the first round on Nov. 19.

The worst part about a bad commercial is how it seemingly appears during every commercial break.

Compounding this issue for me is that I basically only watch ESPN, meaning I get a heavy dose of the same commercials for hours every day. If there is any positive to this, it’s led me to be the last person in America to form an opinion on LeBron James. After feeling like a criminal suspect under James’ interrogation, I finally have an answer. What do I want you to do? I want you to shut the hell up.

It’s not just about the commercial; it’s about everything that has transpired over the past few months. If you want to sign with the Heat, go for it. Outside of Clevelanders, I don’t think anyone would be upset about James looking for an opportunity to have fun and play with a quality supporting cast for the first time in his career.

Does it tarnish his legacy? Maybe, but even Jordan had Pippen, and after years of Cleveland failing to surround James with help, who can blame him for wanting to leave?

Where James erred, as many have pointed out, was with “The Decision.” Whether James was trying to draw attention to himself or not, he cemented his off-the-court legacy as a legendary narcissist.

Of course sports fans cared about where James wanted to sign, but even Don King would consider an ESPN special excessive.

No one wanted or needed this, especially when the end decision turned off fans of 29 teams. Considering the public humiliation of Cleveland (a city that embraced/ worshipped James to a scary extent), it is hard to look at James in a positive light.

If James just signed in Miami and went through the normal routine, the focus would be on basketball and not on James. James has turned basketball into People magazine. Like I said, just shut up and stop making things worse. At this point in his life he should realize what people want him to do – play ball. That’s why people care about him and he can sell his “shiny new shoes.” Everyone can sense how much people want to focus on

basketball and size the Heat up historically; however, with this Nike commercial and the never-ending effects of “The Decision,” the focus continues to be on James.

I know this sounds impersonal.

James is more than entitled to his opinion and he is a human being going through a major life change, but he has to realize that people are fans of him as a basketball player.

As personal as the connection with fans might feel when a city hangs a building-sized banner of an athlete, it is because you’re an astonishing athlete, not because he is that great of a guy.

It may not sound fair, but what you say can really only have one effect. If people like what you say that might garner some minimal reaction, but nothing to bring about any emotion. If people do not like what you have to say, you can legitimately become the villain overnight. The actions might not even support this drastic change (after all, can anyone really give a good basketball reason to stay in Cleveland?), but these comments can completely change the public’s viewpoint of an athlete.

Just look at Terrell Owens. On the field, “TO” is one of the best players of our generation. He’s a wide receiver who can legitimately do it all, and has since the mid’90s. He can run any route and is as complete a receiver as you’ll find.

That said, the public does not like Owens. Just like James has not realized, Owens never realized that his egotistical and outspoken character rubbed people the wrong way and we’ll never look at him fairly.

His legacy will be that he was one of the worst teammates of all time and historically unlikeable (especially for those who somehow managed to sit through “The T.O. Show” or “The T.Ocho Show”) not that he was an awesome player for a long time.

It works the other way, too. Allegedly, Marvin Harrison is not a very good person. Along with the legal trouble that arose after Harrison’s career ended, we also learned that he might not have been the upstanding individual we held him up to be. However, Harrison never said a word, he just played football.

That’s all we want out of players.

Harrison never publicly com-

plained or had any public interaction, he just went about his business as a professional and showed up on Sundays to entertain fans and win games for his team. Even with the trouble that Harrison has faced, his career will still overshadow his issues and, if anything, we will just be stunned that Harrison could be having these issues. Harrison was everything we wanted from an athlete and it comes as a complete surprise to see him in such a serious situation.

Getting back to James, it should be self-explanatory. Even though I can’t get him and his minute-anda-half commercial to stop asking me, I don’t really want anything out of him, and I think sports fans are right with me. We just want you to shut up and play basketball.

Once this is in the past and we view James strictly as a basketball player, we’re not going to care about this anymore. The more James reflects on this issue, more public disapproval will remain.

Just look at Michael Vick. Vick has said all of the right things since getting into trouble and it’s seemingly history. Even though Vick’s mistake was much more serious than James’, he now seems free from the public persecution. Now, the focus is solely on Vick’s play.

As a society, we have seemingly forgiven the troubled quarterback, or are at least willing to put them in the past as Vick’s incredible play has the Eagles surging toward the top of the NFC. This would not be the case if Vick was more vocal and defensive about his issues, but he admitted fault and has continually expressed regret over the past few years and has worked his way back to acceptance.

It’s not too late for James. His legacy does not have to be that of Owens’; he can still be salvaged.

He does not have to be the villain.

American sports fans have proven to be very forgiving (just look at Charles Barkley) if the controversial figure redeems himself. As long as James reverts to being uncontroversial, people will accept him.

Instead of asking question after question through his “brilliant” marketing campaign, just keep quiet and let it pass, and we’ll be right back in your corner just like many athletes in the past.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away

Thursday Nov. 11

Friday Nov. 12

Men’s Basketball

BROWN 8:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

at Elon 4:00 p.m.

STONY BROOK 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday Nov. 16

Wednesday Nov. 17

BUCKNELL 7:00 p.m.

BOSTON U. 1:00 p.m.

DAYTON 5:00 p.m.

Monday Nov. 15 SACRED HEART 7:00 p.m.

Navy Squash Round Robin Annapolis, Md.

Swimming

Volleyball

Sunday Nov. 14

NCAA District Regional Madison, Conn.

Cross Country

Squash

Saturday Nov. 13

at Temple 1:00 p.m.

NOVEMBER 10, 2010

PAGE 24

Football Wins Fourth Straight Over Bucknell Whiting Rushes to Another Big Day, Running for 171 Yards En Route to the Win

By NICK CARROLL SPORTS EDITOR

It is hard not to wonder what could have been. After losing four straight games by six points or fewer, the football team sat at 2-5 on the season. The Rams have rebounded, though, and with a 33-21 win over Bucknell have gotten back to .500 with a 5-5 record and one game to play.

For the second straight week, junior running back Darryl Whiting was the story. He followed up his 251-yard performance with another 171 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries.

“At the beginning on the season I was hurt,” Whiting said. “I have more power now, I’m running harder.”

“Whiting played extremely well again,” Head Coach Tom Masella said. “He’s hitting the right holes and making the right reads. He’s healthy for the first time in awhile and is a big back who can move his feet.”

Like last week, a lot of credit also goes to the offensive line for Whiting’s performance, which has improved over the course of the season.

“They continued to work at it,” Masella said. “They’re getting a hat on a hat and giving the running backs room to hit holes.”

Even though Whiting has carried the ball 76 times in the past two weeks, he appears to be fine.

“I’m alright,” Whiting said. “I’m usually sore. I don’t take too many big hits so I’m usually good by Monday’s practice.”

“We don’t play for two more weeks,” Masella said. “If we ask him to carry the ball another 38 times for 200 yards I’m sure he’d be happy. Saturday, he just got stronger as the game went on just like the week before, so we kept giving the ball like we did last week.”

With Whiting drawing the attention of the defense, senior wide receiver Jason Caldwell was free to make plays and had his biggest game of the season, with eight catches for 146 yards and a touchdown en route to the win.

“If the defense tightens in the run game and loads up the box it opens up a lot of room,” Caldwell said.

Despite sophomore quarterback Blake Wayne being healthy, sophomore quarterback Ryan Higgins started and won his third straight start (with Wayne receiving playing time off of the bench).

“We wanted to establish the pass game early on with Ryan,” Masella said. “We feel Ryan throws the ball a little bit better downfield.”

Higgins was solid once again, completing 12 of 20 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns, while not turning the ball over.

With Wayne healthy, the Rams have two effective quarterbacks and plan to use them both.

“We want to force teams to prepare for both,” Masella said. “Both deserve to play and have played well.”

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Junior running back Darryl Whiting followed up his historic day against Georgetown with another big day on the ground.

Higgins helped get the Rams off to a fast start and an early lead.

After the Fordham defense forced Bucknell to punt, giving the Rams the ball at the 28, the offense went to work. Higgins started the drive with a 30-yard pass to Caldwell to get the Rams into Bucknell territory.

Three plays later, Whiting broke a 31-yard run to get the Rams down to the one to set up a 1-yard Whiting touchdown to get Fordham off to a quick 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Bucknell responded with big plays through the air. Freshman quarterback Brandon Wesley completed a 17-yard pass to junior wide receiver Gabe Skwara to get the Bison to their own 41. Three plays later Wesley capped the drive with another big pass, this time going for 48 yards and a touchdown to sophomore running back Robert Owoyele to tie the game at seven.

Bucknell was able to convert on a variety of big plays in the passing game against a Fordham defense that had been playing very well heading into the game.

“That wasn’t our best [defensive] performance,” Masella said. “We stopped the run and forced them to throw, but they hit a few big passing plays.”

The game did not remain tied for long as Fordham quickly responded on its next drive after Caldwell gave the Rams the ball at the Bucknell 40 following a 44-yard kick return.

It only took Fordham five plays before Higgins found senior wide receiver David Moore for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 14-7 lead.

On Fordham’s following drive, the offense continued to efficiently move the ball downfield, aided by a 27-yard pass on third down to senior tight end Stephen Skelton.

However, the drive stalled at the Bucknell 27 and sophomore kicker Patrick Murray was called on for a 45-yard field goal that was blocked.

The special team’s woes continued on Fordham’s next drive. After driving to Bucknell’s 42, Fordham

was forced to punt and botched the punt, giving Bucknell the ball at the Fordham 48.

On the following play, sophomore running back Tyler Smith completed a 31-yard pass to Wesley to get the Bison to the Fordham 17. Four plays later Bucknell tied the game at 14 on a 1-yard Tyler touchdown.

Once again, the tie did not last for long. On Fordham’s next drive, Wayne finally made a difference for the Rams by finding Caldwell on a wide receiver screen that went for 52 yards and gave Fordham a 21-14 lead, which stood for the remainder of the first half.

“Blake’s an extremely versatile quarterback,” Caldwell said. “He can throw, run, he has vision and football savvy. That play was a triple option, he could have handed the ball off, threw a screen or ran on the play. He faked the run and stepped up to fake the run, the defense zeroed in on him and left me open. I owe a lot to the blocking. I was in the right place at the right time and just made a move.”

Caldwell started the second half with a 55-yard return to the Bucknell 41 and the Rams made the most of the field position. Four plays into the drive, Whiting broke a 31-yard touchdown run to give Fordham a 27-14 lead after the extra point was blocked.

“Both blocks were protection issues,” Masella said. “They got penetration inside.”

The back and forth contest continued as Bucknell quickly closed the gap on its following drive. Efficiently moving the ball with ease, the Bison were able to easily move the ball against the Fordham defense while only facing two third downs. Wesley finished the Bucknell drive with a 4-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 27-21.

After another big 46-yard Caldwell return set the Rams up at the Bucknell 43, Whiting helped the Rams move deep into Bucknell territory. However, the drive stalled at the Bucknell 14 and Murray was called on for a 32-yard field goal that he missed wide right.

“The missed field goal had more to do with getting pressure inside early on,” Masella said.

The missed field goal did not come back to hurt the Rams, though. On the ensuing possession, Bucknell continued to move the ball, highlighted be a 32-yard completion from Wesley to junior wide receiver Frank DeNick on third-and-17.

However, the Fordham defense stepped up at the perfect time and sophomore defensive back Brendan Melanophy intercepted Wesley at the Fordham 18 to kill the Bucknell scoring threat.

“The interception was the turning point,” Masella said. “The defense was good enough to get a win on the road and, when it had to, played well.”

The Rams took advantage of the big turnover and drove down the field, eventually scoring on an

11-yard touchdown pass from Higgins to Skelton to expand the lead to 33-21 after a missed two-point conversion just before the end of the fourth quarter to put the game away.

In the fourth quarter, neither team did much damage and Bucknell only reached Fordham territory once before stalling at the Fordham 38 and having to punt.

The win makes Fordham 5-5.

The team has a bye week before closing out its season on Saturday, Nov. 20 at home against Colgate on Senior Day. The loss makes Bucknell 1-8 on the season, with two games remaining against Colgate and Holy Cross.

Colgate is 5-4 this season and is coming off of a 24-14 win at home against Lehigh. Colgate also sits in second place in the Patriot League with a 2-2 conference record, a game and a half behind 3-0 Lehigh.

Last season, Colgate beat the Rams at home, 20-12.

“They’re a well-coached team with talented players,” Masella said. “Their defense, statistically, is the best in the conference. The last three years our game has come down to the last possession and sometimes even last play. It’s the same team that runs the ball well, takes care of the ball, makes a big pass play when available and plays great defense.”

“Colgate runs the ball a lot,” Whiting said. “If we stop the run and run well we should win.”

Having an extra week off should give the Rams an advantage in the game.

“We really want to win,” Whiting said. “We have two weeks to prepare and to get healthy. We have a lot of guys dinged up, we can get healthy, especially me.”

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Redshirt senior wide receiver Jason Caldwell made huge plays in the return game to go along with 146 receiving yards to lead the Rams to victory.