Issue 1, volume 100 by The Fordham Ram

The Fordham Ram Volume 100, Issue 1

Serving The Fordham University Community Since 1918 FordhamRam.com

January 24, 2018

POD Location Opens

South Africa Reopens By HANNAH GONZALEZ

By ERICA SCALISE

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

The South Africa study abroad program has returned for the spring 2018 semester after the university suspended it last spring. This January, the five-month Ubuntu program will take 11 students to the city of Pretoria to study in and engage with the South African community. In Jan. 2017, The Fordham Ram reported the primary concerns behind the program’s suspension were the safety and academic experience of students abroad. Amid protests against the tuition increases of higher education, some universities in South Africa had temporarily closed. Fordham’s partner, the University of Pretoria, had prohibited some students involved in the protests from registering. The Ubuntu program was suspended and placed under review. According to Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., provost of the university, the two primary focuses of the review were community engagement opportunities and the academic and curricular quality of the program. In support of program’s return, he said, “I am very confident that the program we are putting in place has the type of programmatic and curricular opportunities that are the highest of quality.” The dual emphasis on academic experience and community engagement will continue to be a defining feature of the program, according to Maura Mast, dean of Fordham College Rose Hill. “As in the past, the Ubuntu program will offer students a combination of formal, in-class learning, opportunities for personal reflection and learning from the community and opportunities for learning about the culture and the country.” Natalie Ward, FCRH ’19, attributed her decision to take part in the program this semester to this combination of classroom and community-based learning. “I was looking for a study abroad experience where I could both work on SEE AFRICA, PAGE 5

in this issue

Opinion

Page 8 Inclusion, Equality Must Be Central To Women’s March

Sports

Page 24

Women’s Basketball Continues Strong in A-10 Run

Culture Page 16 Dr. Henry Kissinger at 92Y

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Marchers rally in support of equality for women with a focus on encouraging women to vote.

Women’s Rights Marches On By JAKE SHORE STAFF WRITER

People filled the streets of Manhattan on Saturday for the first anniversary of the Women’s March. Fordham students showed support by marching, several with pink hats and colorful signs. Initially a response to President Donald Trump’s inauguration last year, Saturday’s march featured signs and chants relating to the recent #MeToo movement and encouraging more women to vote

and run for office. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office estimates more than 200,000 people attended the march, as measured by NYPD officers patrolling the event. College Democrats headed to the march with 35 club members. President Eleanor Werner, FCRH ’18, said it was important for the club to march and show support for their members who are women.

“Women need to march in general because we need to send a message to this administration and everyone around the world that women deserve just as much as men do. That women are equal and deserve to be treated equally,” said Werner. The event started with a rally by 72nd Street and Central Park before attendees marched down to 59th Street Columbus Circle and then to 6th Avenue. The march

SEE MARCH, PAGE 7

The basement of Queen’s Court opened its doors to a newly renovated convenience store and upgraded deli this past week. The transformation to a Provisions in Demand (POD) location occurred over the course of winter break and has seen success since its opening on the 15th, according to Deming Yaun, university dining contract liaison. “In less than the first 24 hours open on Monday and Tuesday, between three and four p.m., the vast majority of shelves were empty,” said Yaun. Student requests for a convenience store had been vocalized fairly regularly in the past, according to Yaun. “Changes in the Auntie Anne’s establishment had us look at the whole place and made us think about what we could do to improve it,” he said. These changes include the implementation of shelves conSEE POD, PAGE 5

Law School Apps Surge By JOE ESPOSITO FEATURES EDITOR

Applications for the fall semester at law schools across the nation have increased about 14 percent since last year, according to the Wall Street Journal. At Fordham Law, applications have risen a little more than 20 percent over this time last year, according to Kathryn Espiritu, the director of admissions at Fordham Law. Stephen Brown, assistant dean of enrollment at Fordham Law School, said he has seen applicants reacting to the political world around them. “Students are passionate, more so than ever before,” Brown said. After a downward trend in applicants coinciding with the economic crisis of 2008, law schools are beginning to see a trend of increasing applicants, partly attributed to the country’s political atmosphere, according to The Wall Street Journal. One reason for this uptick in applicants is due to an increase in students’ interest in America’s political atmosphere and the legal topics that come with it, the Journal notes. Some believe that Trump’s presiSEE LAW SCHOOL, PAGE 6

ERICA SCALISE/THE FORDHAM RAM

Council Member Ritchie Torres (second from left) and community members announce fire relief plans.

Community Raises $300,000 for Fire

By THERESA SCHLIEP and AISLINN KEELY Council Member Ritchie Torres announced the Belmont community has raised $300,000 to support the families of the victims of the Dec. 28, 2017 apartment fire. Torres’s district includes the Belmont neighborhood adjacent

to the fire. “Belmont has been shaken by the most destructive fire in years,” said Torres at a press conference outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Our Lady of Mount Carmel has been active in the relief efforts. The five-alarm apartment fire killed at least 12 people and critically injured four more, according

to Mayor Bill DeBlasio. According to John Carroll, director of Public Safety, no students or staff were involved. The FDNY responded to the fire around 7 p.m. at 2363 Prospect Avenue, blocks away from the Rose Hill campus. DeBlasio said the fire started on the first floor of the SEE FIRE, PAGE 7

NEWS

Page 2

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

January 24, 2018

Money Matters

Student Activities Budgeting Explained USG Allocates $519,880 for Spring

Jan. 11 Finlay Hall 3 p.m. A student who was cooking in the kitchen in Finlay Hall caused the fire alarm to go off. The NYFD responded to the scene. There were no injuries or damages. Jan. 20 Martyrs' Court Goupil 3 p.m. Custodial services found a broken window in the first floor lounge of Martyrs' Court Goupil. There was broken glass which was cleaned up. The incident is currently under investigation.

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

United Student Government allocates money to clubs every semester based upon projected enrollment numbers.

By AISLINN KEELY NEWS EDITOR

Jan. 21 Finlay Hall 4 a.m. A student burnt food in the basement of Finlay Hall. which set off the fire alarms. The NYFD responded to the scene. There was no damage. - Compiled by Joergen Ostensen

Suggest story ideas fordhamram. com

@TheFordhamRam

Over the course of a 10-hour day, the Student Activities Budget Committee, a sub-committee of United Student Government (USG), allocated $519,880 to 85 clubs at the Rose Hill campus at the close of last semester. The committee received $684,997.73 in requests, forcing them to allocate funds to 72.8 percent of requests. The committee traditionally computes the student activities budget themselves, without the assistance of an outside office. Using previous enrollment numbers for the coming semester supplied by the Office of Enrollment as well as the office’s projections, the committee estimates the class size for the coming semester. The projected class size is then multiplied by the student activities fee, which currently sits at $135, to arrive at the student activities budget. Elizabeth Crennan, FCRH ’19, the VP of finance and budget committee chair during last semester’s budget process, has sat on the committee for five budget days. In her experience, she said, she always purposely underestimates the number of students. This leaves the committee with more funds during the appeals process, according to Crennan. Throughout this process, the only administrator involved is Assistant Director for Leadership Monique Dumaine, who facilitates USG. The Office of Student Involvement (OSI) checks the projected budget, but allocations are under the jurisdiction of students,

according to Crennan. Crennan said this student autonomy is crucial to the system. “Other than Monique (Dumaine) there aren’t a lot of other administrators involved in the process. It’s important that we are allocating our funding,” she said. For the Spring 2018 semester, the committee projected a class of 5,800 students across Fordham College Rose Hill and Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill. This led to a starting number of $783,000. Traditionally, OSI takes 30 percent of this budget, in addition to a later $8,000, according to Crennan. These stipulations led to a budget of $519,880 for this semester. This is the first time the new bud-

getary guidelines voted into effect during 2017 have been applied on a budget day. The new guidelines changed the language surrounding clubs, moving “referendum” clubs to block club status and “general clubs” to standard club status. Block club status allows clubs that have sat in on three consecutive budget meetings and submitted a detailed letter on their purpose for the status to receive a relatively fixed amount from semester to semester. Standard-funded clubs submit budgets based on specific planned costs from semester to semester. The funds received an almost even split between block-funded clubs, which took 53 percent of the budget, and standard-funded clubs,

Photo of the Week:

which took 47 percent, according to the Spring 2018 SLC Budget Presentation. Programming clubs receive the majority of the budget, taking 39.42 percent of the funds. Campus Activities Board received the largest budget with $190,000, according to the budget presentation. For budget requests that were not met, the reasons for denied appeals often lie in paperwork submission, according to Crennan. The most common reasons for fund appeal denials include lack of an operations packet or backup documentation. The budget presentation breaks down the common reasons for denial by amount. $44,404.57 was denied for this semester on the basis of event dates being outside of programming dates for the semester, making it the greatest reason for denial. Crennan said she understands the budget packets that clubs must complete are complex. Marykate Decker, FCRH ’18, Director of Fordham University EMS (FUEMS), a block funded club, noted the difficulty of budget time and the advantage of familiarity with the type of paperwork that surrounds budget proposals. “The budget deadline is a stressful time for all leaders, but overall I do believe the process is fair and comprehensive,” said Decker. Decker said that the Associate Director of FUEMS is accustomed to creating detail-oriented proposals, making the process easier.

KEVIN STOLTENBORG?/THE FORDHAM

The New York Institute of Technology campus sits just north of Columbus Circle at Broadway and West 60th St., nearby Fordham's Lincoln Center Campus. This photo was taken on the day of the Women's March.

This Week at Fordham Wednesday Jan. 24 Cinevents Presents: Wonder Woman

Thursday Jan. 25 FDM Promotion Dinner

Friday Jan. 26

Commuter Breakfast

Stranded In Pittsburgh: Improv Comedy Show

Tuesday Jan. 30 Wine Quizzo

Keating First 9 p.m.

McGinley Ballroom 6 p.m. - 8 pm

McGinley Student Lounge 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

The Blackbox Theater 8 p.m. - 9 p.m.

McGinley Ballroom 9:30 p.m. -11:30 p.m

If you missed Monday's showing of the blockbuster hit, Wonder Woman, you are in luck. Campus Activities Board is hosting a second showing in the first floor of Keating. Come escape the cold.

Residence Hall Association is hosting a promotional dinner for FDM in the lobby of the McGinley Center. The dinner is to promote the Fordham Dance Marathon, hosted in the spring.

Commuter Student Services will host its weekly student breakfast in the McGinley Student Lounge. Local vendors will be present. All are welcome.

Join Fordham Experimental Theatre's improv comedy team, Stranded In Pittsburgh, for its first full-length show of the semester on Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m.

FDM and RHA will come together to host a night of wine, trivia and a capella. Students must be 21 and bring a donation of $10 for the B+ foundation.

NEWS

January 24, 2018

Page 3

Legal Battle Over SJP Continues With Hearing By AISLINN KEELY NEWS EDITOR

The legal battle over the lack of club status for a Fordham chapter of Students For Justice in Palestine (SJP) continued over winter break. A hearing on Jan. 3 saw SJP counsel Adam Levine argue against the motion of Fordham’s counsel to dismiss a preliminary injunction motion before Judge Nancy Bannon. The preliminary injunction motion asks Bannon to reinstate the student government’s approval of SJP, according to Palestine Legal Director Dima Khalidi. “It is intended to provide immediate relief so that the petitioners don’t continue to be deprived of the opportunity to organize as SJP on campus – an opportunity they will never be able to reclaim,” said Khalidi. The university has declined to comment on the ongoing legal battle until its conclusion.Bannon heard arguments from both counsels during the session. Levine argued Fordham’s counsel lacked a rational basis to conclude SJP would be disruptive on campus, and that Fordham’s decision to stand by the refusal of approval for the club from Keith Eldredge, dean of students at Lincoln Center, was a censorship of student views, according to Khalidi. “He argued forcefully that Fordham’s decision was irrational and arbitrary,” she said. Khalidi said that Bannon asked

Fordham’s counsel if the university would be able to sanction SJP in the case that the group violated school policies. This indicated an understanding that the basis for the ban was only the university’s speculation that SJP would be polarizing or disruptive, according to Khalidi. Khalidi said the evidence contradicted such speculations. Sofia Dadap, FCLC ’18, a student involved with SJP’s suit who was present at the hearing, said that Fordham’s counsel referred to clubs as a privilege rather than a right.Fordham’s counsel argued that the university was free to refuse approval for the club because university policies do not require the institution to respect students’ free expression through student clubs, according to Khalidi. The question of a name change for SJP was addressed during the session. Previously, Fordham’s counsel had said that SJP was asked if it would be willing to change its name during the club approval process in order to gain approval. Bannon questioned why the university was okay with the group changing its name, and asked if they would have to change their mission as well, according to Khalidi. In response, Fordham’s counsel said that the group would have to change its mission because the university could not be associated with SJP’s views, especially support for the principles of boycott, divestment and sanctions for Palestinian rights, according to Khalidi.

Khalidi said this position differed from the Fordham’s counsel position taken earlier during litigation.A tweet from Fordham SJP after the hearing alleged that Fordham’s counsel misrepresented the interaction regarding a name change during the club approval process. “Today, in court before the judge, Fordham’s lawyers lied and said that during the deliberation process-before Dean Eldredge vetoed us-we were told that if we changed the name from ‘Students for Justice in Palestine’ we would have been allowed to be a club. That never happened,” stated the tweet from @FordhamSJP. Fordham’s counsel was unable to show a case in which a club was

denied on a similar basis, according to Khalidi. “The judge noted that other examples were clearly different, involving proposed groups whose missions were too similar to other groups, or applications that students themselves withdrew,” she said. Dadap said the arguments of Fordham’s counsel were similar to the arguments the club heard from Eldredge and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Jeff Gray when the club was refused approval. “Basically what they did the entire time was repeat the exact same things that Dean Eldredge and Jeff Gray had said in the past,” she said. Bannon has taken the case under submission and is reviewing the

case materials. “It’s impossible to tell when she will make her ruling, but we hope that she will announce her decision soon,” said Khalidi. Khalidi said she is optimistic that Bannon understood what was at stake and recognized that the university’s decision “was not supported by the facts and contradicted Fordham’s own policies committing to respect students’ free expression.” Many came to the hearing in a show of support for SJP, including organizations such as Jewish Rights for Peace, according to Dadap. Court capacity was 70, forcing many to wait outside the session. “The courtroom was overflowing with people,” said Dadap.

VICTOR ORDONEZTHE FORDHAM RAM

Students rallied outside the Lincoln Center campus in support for Students For Justice in Palestine.

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Fordham’s Computer and Information Science Department now offers the following graduate programs:

• M.S. in Computer Science • M.S. in Cybersecurity • M.S. in Data Analytics • Advanced Certificate in Financial Computing • Advanced Certificate in Financial Econometrics and Data Analysis

Evening and weekend classes available Reduced tuition for master’s programs Undergraduate degree in computer science not required Visit fordham.edu/cisgrad to learn more.

NEWS

Page 4

January 24, 2018

Research Spotlight

USG Column

Grad Student Creates Database

COURTESY OF DIGITAL PAXTON

Will Fenton, GSAS, created database Digital Paxton to house documents from the 1764 Pamphlet War.

By ASHLEY KATUSA STAFF WRITER

Digital Paxton, an online archive of the Pamphlet War of 1764, catalogs works that are likened to pre-revolutionary Twitter battles according to creator Will Fenton, GSAS. Fenton’s archive contains 1,700 pages of material from the 1764 Paxton Pamphlet War, some of which had been never before digitized prior to Fenton’s project. The Pamphlet War arose from opposing views over the actions of the “Paxton Boys” in the time following the French-Indian War, when tension between indigenous people and English settlers was high. In December of 1763, a mob of settlers from the Paxtang township slaughtered unarmed Susquehannock Indians in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. These “Paxton Boys,” or “Paxton Men” as they came to be known, managed to continue on to Philadelphia with the intent to intimidate refugee Native Americans. Benjamin Franklin was able to quell the march while it was just outside of Philadelphia. Opposing views on the actions and sentiments of the Paxton Boys were captured in the material printed in 1764 – over one-fifth of materials printed had reference to the Pamphlet War. The pamphlets often discussed colonization, peace and war, race and ethnicity, masculinity and civility and religious association in pre-Revolutionary Pennsylvania, according to Fenton. Fenton drew a comparison between the Pamphlet War in 1764 and Twitter wars of today. “In much the same manner as Twitter bots circulated right-wing conspiracies during the last election, pamphleteers mobilized anonymity, pseudonyms and aliases to amplify talking points, discredit opponents and boost allies in the legislature,” he said. Fenton said there are similarities among the issues both information battles cover. “Similar to how Donald Trump deployed border

security to animate and mobilize various ethnic groups, Paxton allies forged coalitions across unlikely allies by stoking fears of renewed racial violence and promising greater security,” he said. Fenton believes the Pamphlet War provides historians with a trove of important information, ideas and experimentation from that time period. Fenton said the pamphlets, political cartoons and broadsides deserve the attention of literature and media studies scholars. “They illuminate a colonial print culture that exemplifies much of the innovation and idiosyncrasy associated with contemporary media culture,” he said. Fenton began Digital Paxton to support his dissertation, “Unpeaceable Kingdom: Fighting Quakers, Revolutionary Violence, and the Antebellum Novel,” which examines “the discrepancy between fic-

tional representations of fighting Quakers and their historical practices of pacifism and political participation.” It quickly evolved into a large, comprehensive database that is utilized by many. The project includes print-quality images as well as searchable fulltext translations. All of the information is open-source, meaning it is free to view and use by anyone. Not only does Digital Paxton feature the 28 pamphlets most frequently associated with the pamphlet war, but it also allows public access to rare pamphlets, artworks, political cartoons, broadsides and manuscripts digitalized for the first time. Fenton has spent time in half a dozen different archives, libraries and cultural institutions, notably including the American Philosophical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and Library Company of Philadelphia.

Fenton say it is a “window into colonization, late-eighteenth century print culture and Pennsylvania on the eve of the American Revolution.” The task of creating such a large database was challenging, according to Fenton. To transcribe a pamphlet it must be scanned, photoshopped, giiven a digital tracking record that is attached to the file, saved to a server and finally, transcribed. The pamphlets are transcribed letter-by-letter, word-by-word; although perhaps tedious, this ensures accuracy. Fenton said he understands the sensitive need to give a voice to the indigenous people, as the pamphlets previously studied had colonial bias. By offering more materials than what has been studied in the past, Digital Paxton enables individuals to come to more informed decisions and opinions regarding the incident. “For too long, scholars have interpreted the Paxton massacre via the Pamphlet War, which reproduces a colonial set of biases. I hope that as we open up the Paxton archive, students and scholars will listen for voices that have previously been drowned out by a singular focus on the print debate,” he said. Digital Paxton can be utilized as a teaching source, a database for researchers, a tool for students or a resource for anyone who is curious about American history, technology and how it can reflect events happening in current culture. Fenton hopes his project will enable more people to explore the incident. “I want to see high school and college students engaging these materials and asking questions that wouldn’t even cross my mind,” he said. Will Fenton is the Elizabeth R. Moran Fellow for the American Philosophical Society, a doctoral candidate at Fordham University and literary scholar. He said he hopes to share his archival experience with as many individuals as possible. Digital Paxton remains an evolving project; Fenton regularly adds new transcriptions.

COURTESY OF DIGITAL PAXTON

Digital Paxton is a database that holds thousands of documents, like the one above, for academic purposes.

Spoon University By SARAH HUFFMAN COLUMNIST

United Student Government (USG) kicked off its first meeting of the semester by officially welcoming Fordham’s chapter of Spoon University to the club community. The prospective E-board attended the meeting to make its case and was approved for a budget this coming semester. The e-board said its club will not only provide interesting material about food and nutrition, but also allow writers and photographers on campus to have another creative outlet. Therese Boccini, FCRH ’20, manager of Fordham’s chapter of Spoon University, said USG was helpful during the club-approval process. “This semester, we’re looking forward to welcoming new members and producing more content that celebrates food, along with working with local business and possibly other clubs on campus for some cool collaborations,” she said. USG Executive President Brian Reardon, FCRH ’18, opened the meeting with words of encouragement for the coming semester. “We’re excited to keep up on the initiatives we started last semester and looking forward to the future to see different ways we can branch into different underutilized departments within the university,” he said. Reardon specifically mentioned Career Services as an under interacted department. “There are members of FCRH that don’t necessarily use use career services as much as they could. How do we put ourselves into that situation where we can get students to have better interactions with them?” he said. The senate also discussed next week’s special elections. The positions of Senator GSB 2019, Senator FCRH 2020, Senator FCRH 2021 and Vice President of Finance are open. The special elections will take place at the USG meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in those positions are encouraged to run for the slots. Domenic Setaro, FCRH ’20, spoke about the new Queens Court POD location on behalf of the dining committee. In addition to speaking on the new offerings of the POD location, Setaro also spoke about the plastic bag initiative to reduce use of plastic bags around campus. Because the POD location is now a convenience store, people may need bags to carry multiple items and the initiative will now be more focused on other establishments around campus, according to Setaro. During the various vice presidents’ updates, vice presidents referenced the success of the spring club fair as well as a winter blanket drive held by the Dean’s Council.

NEWS

January 24, 2018

Convenience Store Unveiled FROM POD, PAGE 1

taining canned goods, toiletries, specialty food items, fresh produce and an increase in frozen food items. The establishment welcomes new health food products such as Halo-Top, Calbee Snapea Crisps, Amy’s organic frozen foods and Dang coconut chips, all of which can be purchased using declining balance. A Crust Above deli has also undergone changes. “We’ve changed to Boar’s Head sandwich products which are gluten free and viewed as higher quality. This was done at a station at Lincoln Center in the Fall of 2017 and worked out well,” said Yaun. As students respond well to these changes, Yaun said the increase from two to three deliveries of food per week is currently necessary due to the products’ high demand. Sereene Kurzum, FCRH ’20, is satisfied with the changes. “When I first walked into the new and improved Queen’s Court, or rather the POD, I was shocked to say the least. With a fresh new layer of green paint and a pleasant, but not overpowering odor, I knew I would be coming here much more often,” said Kurzum. Kurzum favors the newly accessible nature of these items. “From canned tuna to home goods to fresh avocados, the POD has all of the goods I would’ve otherwise had to ven-

ture off campus to get,” said Kurzum. “I wish this existed when I was a freshman.” Courtney Bergsieker, FCRH ’21, also favors the convenience that the POD brings to campus. “I really like the new Queen’s Court because it’s nice to be able to get granola and stock up on other healthy snacks without having to go off campus,” said Bergsieker. As an Aramark trademark convenience store, the renovation to a POD location required the aid of Aramark and Fordham Capital Projects (FCP), according to Yaun. “Nearly all of the renovations I’ve handled the past five years

have been with FCP. We have a good relationship with them,” said Yaun. FCP is responsible for hiring staff to assist in major projects such as bringing Starbucks to campus as well as renovating Queen’s Court. Staff workers at the POD have remained the same since renovations occurred. Yaun said future plans include maintaining a close relationship with the Student Government Food Committee on campus whom he has worked with before. “Student involvement is always important which is why we’ll continue to meet with the committee to gain responses and meet suggestions being made.”

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

A POD location opened in the basement of Queen’s Court, replacing the previous food-focused location with convenience products and snacks.

Page 5

South Africa Program Continues FROM AFRICA, PAGE 1

my major and engage in service learning,” she said. “The Ubuntu program allows me to do both.” Last year, students had similar hopes for the program. Annie David, FCRH ’18, planned to study abroad in South Africa and was disappointed when she learned of the program’s suspension. “We were not given any forewarning that the program wasn’t a sure thing,” she told The Fordham Ram. She elected to instead enroll in the Casa Bayanihan program, with a similarly community-based learning program. With its return this semester, Ubuntu’s coursework is designed to work in tandem with hands-on learning. According to Mast, students will take two courses from the University of Pretoria and two Fordham courses, Poverty and Community Development and Modern South Africa Stories. These courses will supplement their experiences in the South African community as they work with local organizations. “Student will reflect on their community experiences in the two Fordham courses,” said Mast. “They will also reflect on these experiences through an Ignatian Reflection Component, led by the Head of the Jesuit Institute of South Africa School of Spirituality.”

Partnerships with local colleges will also contribute to the experience of the students, as Fordham receives support from colleagues at the University of Pretoria and the Jesuit Institute in South Africa. “This strong partnership is crucial to the success of the program and is why the Ubuntu experience is really transformational for Fordham students who participate in it,” said Mast. According to Mast, community learning will be enhanced through field trips and excursions to South African cultural centers such as the Apartheid Museum and Nelson Mandela’s house in Soweto. “Professor Themeli has organized an amazing semester for Fordham students in South Africa,” said Ward. “He has arranged for trips to Cape Town, Durban and the Limpopo Village, where will be learning about South African history and culture while also taking part in service learning. ” Through the program, Ward hopes to gain a better understanding of South African history, as well as interact with students from another part of the world. “Through service learning I hope meet as many people as I can and learn all about South African culture,” she said. Students in the program will be departing this week and returning in late June.

Early Application Pool Breaks 2017 Record By HELEN STEVENSON FEATURES EDITOR

Fordham University received more than 20,900 applications for Early Action/Early Decision admission. This number is the largest applicant pool in university history, surpassing the record-breaking number of 19,859 applicants in 2016 by five percent. The university continued the trend of its pre-

vious 27 years of application increase, according to Patricia Peek, dean of undergraduate admissions. Peek said she expected Fordham’s institution of the exclusive use of the Common Application to affect the increase. “We expected only a marginal increase this year as we moved to a single application,” said Peek. However, an upward trend is

not unusual, according to Peek. “Nationally, schools are seeing increases in early activity as well, and we are on par with many peer institutions in terms of our increase,” said Peek. Currently, more than 23,600 students have applied regular decision, a three percent increase in comparison to the same point in time last year. In total, Fordham has received more than 45,800 ap-

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham switched to the sole use of the Common Application (pictured above) during this year’s application period.

plications for fall 2018. This year’s applicants also had higher test scores and are more diverse, according to Peek. “The quality of the pool both in terms of measures of diversity and academic strength is remarkable,” she said. This year’s total applicants, as of Jan. 19, had a 3.6 average GPA and an average HI Score (combined total of highest ACT or SAT) of 1338. These statistics are a 19-point increase over 2016 and 2017, which were both at 1319. Ethnic diversity has expanded among this year’s pool of applicants, with a 10 percent overall increase in students who identify as students of color. Specifically, 14 percent of that pool is international. “Building upon the growth in the early rounds, 54 percent of the total pool identifies as either international or students of color,” said Peek. This year’s applicants represent nearly all 50 states and Washington D.C., with only Wyoming lacking representation in the applicant pool for the Class of 2022. On the international level, applicants hail from more than 80 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India and Morocco. More than 2,200 international students have applied thus far, a 15 percent increase from last year. “The applicant pool is a testament to the strength of Fordham as a global university,” said Peek.

At this point, admitted students for class of 2022 have an average GPA of a 3.76 and a mean HI Score of 1405. Typically, Fordham’s Early Action and Early Decision acceptance rate is higher than the overall admit rate, according to Peek. “Since the early pool was so talented, that is also the case for this year,” said Dr. Peek. “We project our overall admit rate to land close to 45 percent - after the entire pool has been reviewed.” Students not accepted during the early application period are deferred as opposed to wait listed. Deferral moves the application to the Regular Admissions pool to be decided no later than April 1st. Of the early pool, 27 percent has been deferred and 11 percent has been denied. Typically, the yield rate of applicants has been about 11 percent. Peek said that one of the University’s biggest goals is to improve in this area, despite its challenging nature. “This is very challenging due to the nature of our pool,” said Dr. Peek. “A stronger admit pool means students have many options,” she said. Peek said that it will be challenging to yield such talented applicants. They will be welcoming the accepted pool to over 500 events throughout the spring. “The Admission team is excited to be reviewing these candidates in the hope of shaping a vibrant community for the Class of 2022.”

NEWS

Page 6

January 24, 2018

Political Climate Contributes to Interest in Law FROM LAW, PAGE 1

dency and its handling of the law is one such reason students have become attracted to the field. However, this awareness is not merely a reaction to the Trump presidency, according to Brown. Brown said, “calling it a Trump bump gives the president too much credit.” According to Brown, college students have been more politically cognizant over the past five years. While some may be influenced by more recent changes, Brown has seen colleges becoming more politicized even before Trump took office. However, in the wake of this politicization, Brown said he has found that students are looking to make a difference. “Prospective students looking to become agents of change are looking to law,” he said. In particular, matters such as Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, President Trump’s travel ban and sanctuary cities have caught people’s interest. Some students, like Dounea Elbroja, FCRH ’19, hope that becoming a lawyer will allow them to take on these issues. While the past presidential election did not drastically change Elbroja’s plans, she said politics played a key role. “I knew

I wanted to go to law school before the election, but after studying politics here at Fordham, I have more of a desire to do so,” she said. The Trump presidency has caused her to further plan her career, as immigration law has become one possible field of practice for her. “My parents were immigrants, so working in this field would allow me to do work that’s worth it,” said Elbroja. This interest in public service has been an area of commitment for Fordham Law, according to Espiritu. “While our applicants cite a variety of reasons for their interest in law school, many personal statements we’ve read express a strong interest in the ways law school will empower them to be agents of change as advocates and policymakers,” she said. However, the political atmosphere has discouraged some students from seeking a J.D. for the sake of politics. For Nicolas Florio, FCRH ’19, the current political climate has lessened his interest in the field. “I came into school as a political science major, but the politicization of America has turned me away from politics and more toward other fields, like business,” said Florio. While he still plans on attend-

ing law school, politics is no longer his motivator. Rather, Florio wants to go to law school to pursue a career in public service. Like students’ increased political awareness, their appreciation for the rule of law is not new, according to Brown. “These phenomena have been evident over the past several years,” he said. Brown also noted that employment is up in the field of law, especially in the private sector.

Law schools have not had such a surge in applicants since before the financial crisis, according to the Wall Street Journal. The same council reported in early December that around 18,000 people submitted a little over 100,000 applications. Furthermore, 23 law schools have seen at least a 40 percent uptick in applications. According to the Wall Street Journal, while schools are seeing a positive shift, their statistics are

still not as strong as they were before the 2008 financial crisis. Dean of Fordham Law School Matthew Diller told the Wall Street Journal that more students are applying to law school because they recognize the significance of law and lawyers in our American democracy. Dean Brown said he stands behind Diller’s belief, as he is seeing more and more students coming to recognize and respect the rule of law.

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham Law, pictured above, has seen an increase in applicants, partly attributed to the political climate.

London Centre Moves to New Facility By HANNAH GONZALEZ ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Those studying abroad in London this fall are slated to experience a new London Centre in the Clerkenwell neighborhood of the city. After eight years of partnership with Jesuits’ Heythrop College, Fordham’s London programs will relocate from the shared facility as Heythrop College closes its doors.

Stephen Freedman, Ph.D., provost of the university, said the reasoning behind the change was twofold, as the primary partner’s closure of the property coincided with the continued growth of the London program. “We hope to expand and make our spaces more available to a wider range of students,” Freedman said. According to John P. Harrington, academic dean of the London Centre, plans for an independent Fordham Centre have long been in the works. “The Lon-

don facility first came to Fordham as part of its unification with Marymount College, and it remained with Fordham after Marymount closed,” Harrington said of the former facility’s past, in an email interview with The Fordham Ram. “The first Fordham programs were Gabelli programs that added to the London Dramatic Academy already in place.” From there, Fordham’s London program continued to expand. In addition to the Gabelli

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Students studying abroad in London during th e fall of 2018 will experience a new centre for their studies.

and drama programs, Arts and Sciences courses were added to the program through the Heythrop College in 2009. Enrollment numbers continued to grow as student interest in the program increased, according to Harrington. “We outgrew Heythrop, and at the same time plans changed for the Heythrop property,” said Harrington. The new London Centre, situated in the Clerkenwell neighborhood, will be an all-new facility designed to accommodate the growing numbers of students and course offerings on campus. In an email to the Fordham community in Dec. 2017, Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university, spoke of the expansion. “The new Centre’s 17,000 square feet of space will allow Fordham to expand programs in business and theatre, and add new offerings in the arts and sciences,” he said. McShane also added that the facility’s four floors will house courses up to the graduate level. According to Harrington, the new facility will include study areas, locker rooms, a student centre and a learning resource centre. Classrooms will be situated on the upper floors and will include “flexible learning areas with multiple media options.” “We are now poised for a new location that will be larger, better equipped, newer in technology and an entirely independent whole building for Fordham in a chic central London neighborhood,” said Harrington. In addition to academic growth, McShane also cited “expanding the Fordham mission outside of

New York City” as a goal in London Center’s change of location. The independent campus will provide the university the opportunity to forge new partnerships with other Jesuit universities in the United States as well as in Europe and Asia, according to Freedman. Harrington pointed to colleague institutions such as the University of St. Louis in Madrid and Loyola Chicago in Rome as potential collaborators. “The new Fordham University London Centre will give a more global perspective to all of Fordham, including undergraduate programs and graduate and professional ones, because its capacity will support more residencies by more students and more programs over twelve months,” said Harrington. Kaylee Kurkierewicz, FCRH ’20, said that the prospect of gaining a more global perspective was part of her desire to study abroad in London in the near future. “I’d like to gain new insights into cultures other than my own,” she said. “I hope that the new campus will provide me with the opportunity to have new experiences in a different country, and to become more responsible as I live on my own.” According to Harrington, the impact of this change of facility will extend beyond London. “As a visible centre of Fordham in Europe, it will also direct more students to Fordham in New York and add to national diversity and international culture of our main campuses,” said Harrington. The campus is slated to open for study abroad students in fall 2018.

NEWS

January 24, 2018

Page 7

Confusion Raised Over Trump Appointee By JOERGEN OSTENSEN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham University does not have any record of an official appointed by the Trump administration receiving a graduate degree from the school, despite his resume’s indication that he would complete the degree in June 2017 Taylor Weyeneth, 24, the deputy chief of staff of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), indicated in his resume that he would complete a master of arts in political science from the Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy. Bob Howe, director of communications for the university, said Weyeneth is not currently enrolled, despite previously claiming the contrary. Weyeneth said he is enrolled. Weyeneth said he did not misrepresent his qualifications in a statement to The Fordham Ram. “I have never claimed to have a Masters degree to anyone within the administration and they are aware I am still enrolled.” Weyeneth said he submitted an accurate resume in Jan. 2017 which said he was on schedule to graduate in June 2017. He said that after being appointed at ONDCP he decided to lessen his course load at Fordham. “During the spring semester, while being appointed in the Trump Administration I decided to take less classes in order to commit myself to

learning the policy issue at hand and good work for the American people,” he said. He said that later on he decided to postpone earning his degree. The Trump Administration appointed Weyeneth to the deputy position in July after working at a lower level role at the ONDCP, according to The Washington Post. At the time, ONDCP lacked a chief of staff since the president had yet to appoint one. The post remains vacant today. In light of the inconsistencies of Weyeneth’s resume, a Trump administration official told The Post that Weyeneth will resume his previous position of White House liason for the ONDCP as soon as a new deputy chief of staff is appointed. Fordham Law professor Ian Weinstein, a member of Fordham’s faculty since 1992 and previously a public defender who worked in numerous narcotics cases, said that Weyeneth is representative of an issue that faces the Trump administration. “[Weyeneth] is emblematic of a problem that persists in the administration of attracting and retaining knowledgeable, experienced, high level staff,” he said. Weinstein said that more qualified people do not want to be a part of the administration because they rightly believe that “knowledge and experience won’t count for much if they don’t line up with the partisan

political positions advocated by the administration.” Jeanne Flavin, a professor of sociology at Fordham University, said the Trump administration favors partisanship with respect to political appointees. “[Weyeneth’s appointment is] consistent with a lot of the other appointments. I think this is more of a political appointment and a nod to the base rather than a commitment to the pressing social issue that affects millions of people,” she said. Political appointments in the ONDCP are significant to Flavin because the office plays a key role in

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FROM MARCH, PAGE 1

Resources Collected Post Fire FROM FIRE, PAGE 1

KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

Women took to the streets of New York City in a march for equality.

the event as an opportunity to rebuke the President. College Democrats Treasurer Cameron DeChalus, FCRH ’20, said his participation was a chance to voice his and other College Democrats’ agitation with the Trump administration.

ten critically about policies resulting from the so called “war on drugs.” His criticisms extend beyond the scope of ONDCP. Dating back to the Reagan administration, the approach toward drug related issues has been characterized by a law enforcement and criminal justice approach, according to Weinstein. Weinstein called this approach a failure. “It has criminalized marginalized communities. It has made it very difficult to pursue a public health oriented strategy [for] dealing with what primarily is a medical and psychological problem,” he said.

Fordham does not have any record of an official appointed by the Trump administration receiving a graduate degree.

Women March For Equality snaked past Trump family properties where many protesters took to yelling “shame” and referenced alleged remarks Trump made disparaging Haiti and African countries. Emily DiGiacomo, FCRH ’18, said that the energy at the march was hopeful and gave a venue for people to express how they want things to change for women. “It proves that this is a movement, and the women’s march last year wasn’t just an emotional reaction or a fad but an event that resonated with thousands in our country,” said DiGiacomo. “It’s important to continue to demonstrate women have a voice and aren’t afraid to use it, and that we are a unified front, that we won’t be silenced or ignored.” Women’s Marches took place across the world in major cities. This year’s march had a greater focus on registering voters for the upcoming midterm elections. Last year’s organizers of the Washington D.C. march held a “Power to the Polls” event in Las Vegas to mobilize voters in a state where a Republican governorship and senate seat are up for grabs. Trump tweeted reasons to celebrate on Saturday regarding the Women’s March: “Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March. Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!” However, many marchers took

determining national policies. “They can decide whether we emphasize public health measures or more punitive, law enforcement based measures.” Although Weinstein said that partisanship within the Trump administration is a general problem, he also said it has been an issue with drug policies before he took office. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 created the ONDCP as a means of leading and coordinating the development, implementation and assessment of U.S. drug policy according to whitehouse.gov. Weinstein has previously writ-

“We constantly have seen the civil rights and liberties that are currently being attacked by the current administration and with the #MeToo movement it was important to take a stand against those who have abused their power,” said DeChalus.

apartment building in the Belmont neighborhood and spread to the other five floors of the apartment building. De Blasio called the fire the most deadly in at least a quarter of a century. In response to the tragedy, $300,000 has been raised to be distributed to the families. Catholic Charities will determine the distribution of the funds, according to Torres. “We have not been in contact with all the victims, but with most of them. And our process has been to refer them to Catholic Charities for case management,” he said. Torres collected canned food and personal hygiene products through his office the following Saturday. “Please consider dropping off an item for our neighbors in need,” Torres tweeted along with information regarding the drive. Michael Yu, FCRH ’16, a member of Bronx Community Board 6, asked for gently used clothing in response to the fire, according to Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university. Donations can be made through the Dorothy Day Center, according to McShane. At the press conference, Torres announced that the office collected over a thousand donations in non-perishables and distributed to about fourteen of the families since the drive began. Eric Phillips, press secretary for De Blasio, tweeted that displaced families can go to Crotona International High School.

Torres also addressed the issue of housing that displaced families now face. “A number of landlords have reached out to me who have vacancies in their apartment,” he said. Torres attributed the scope of the relief efforts to partnership. “The progress that we’ve made has been the product of partnership. It’s partnership from the faith community, partnership from a social service organization, partnership from the business community and the local community,” said Torres. A three year-old child started the fire by playing with the burners of a stove, according to De Blasio. The mother of the child left the apartment door open, which allowed the fire to spread throughout the building, according to FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro. On the night of the fire, Torres tweeted, “@FDNY first responders are true heroes tonight and always. This is a tragedy and my office will be working to assist the families in anyway possible.” Carroll said the university would continue to work with the 48th precinct. In an email to the Fordham community, McShane said that Campus Ministry designated the following Sunday’s collection for the fire victims. A collection to aid all those who have been displaced was taken at all of the Masses on the first weekend after winter break. “I urge you to donate whatever you can to help our neighbors in their hour of need,” he said. Contributed Reporting By Erica Scalise

OPINION

Page 8

January 24, 2018

The Fordham Ram

Inclusion and Equality Must Remain at Forefront of Women’s Marches By ERIN CABREY STAFF WRITER

The Women’s March in New York City last year, which occurred the day after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, was full of anger, frustration and rebellion in addition to immense hope as an unprecedented number of people took to the streets to evoke change. The march was based in the fear of the promises Trump had built his campaign on, as well as what the President would do with his four years in office, with accusations of racism, sexism and homophobia looming over the administration. This year’s Women’s March was flooded with New Yorkers equipped with a year of knowledge, though many most likely wished they could turn back the clock. After 12 months of hateful tweets, travel bans and porn star scandals (to name only a few), marchers were ready to take to the streets once again to protest for a better America, though they didn’t always know exactly how to do that best. This year’s NYC Women’s March, though slightly less attended than last year’s, was not any less exuberant. Marchers across races, genders and ages broke out their pink pussy hats and raised high their powerful and often clever signs. They came prepared, as they did last year, with something to say. Marchers felt just slightly more hopeful than last year, perhaps because time had softened the

COURTESY OF KEVIN STOLTENBORG/THE FORDHAM RAM

The Women’s March was filled with people of all different ages and demographics eager for change and equality.

blow of a Trump presidency or because the organization, Time’s Up, provided a much-needed blow to the patriarchy. The mood was both angry and hopeful as the crowd still voiced their frustrations, in ways that often felt to me to be destructive to the overall movement. Chants repeated through the crowd echoed malice toward Trump and made fun of his “tiny hands” and his Tweets. One sign at the end of the march even illustrated Trump as the poop emoji. Marchers booed Trump Tower when they passed and yelled “Shame!” when Fox News came into sight. Americans have a long list of incredibly valid reasons why they should be furious at the Trump administration, of course, but such negativity will not solve anything, and as I marched I felt

uncomfortable with these sentiments and was ultimately reluctant to take part. My heart filled with admiration for the people around me when the crowd yelled “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” and held signs that said “Time’s Up” or “Black Lives Matter,” but I felt tinges of embarrassment when people used their platform to simply mock Trump. Those who instead chanted “This is what democracy looks like” made a much larger statement in my eyes. Without sounding too naive or sentimental, these are the moments during the march that touched my heart. For instance, as the march reached Midtown, a group of young girls cheered on those who passed them by and held up “girl power” signs while chanting the same

slogan. At this moment I felt a strong sense of responsibility for myself and my fellow marchers to set an example for the these girls by promoting messages that are empowering and meaningful. Instead of stooping to Trump’s level, it is much more impactful to promote the messages of the people and movements that do matter and chose not to participate in chants of anger but scream “Girl Power” as loud as we could. The majority of the crowd and the march, overall, made me feel hopeful for the future. Though there are still several kinks to be worked out, the Women’s March is incredibly crucial in mobilizing Americans to stand up against bigotry and hatred and to use their voices to promote love and change. Though that sounds like a romantic notion, it is true that

within that crowd of such a variance in demographics I could feel a true sense of hope that we as a nation can move toward a better future for our country. After I returned home from the march, I saw an Instagram post of a little girl at the march with a sign around her neck that read “I marched before I walked,” and all I could think about was how that young girl most likely did not know a world where women did not take to the streets and raise their voices for all to hear. It is our responsibility to demonstrate to the younger generations —who have known no one but Trump as their president—how to effectively use their voices, even if we all are still learning how to do this too. Ultimately, my one wish for the next Women’s March is that the movement can keep moving forward with the messages of intersectionality, inclusion and resistance of injustice, as well as create a more cohesive understanding of the best way to pursue change in this tumultuous administration. It may seem hard, and I truly don’t know the perfect way to do this, but I think if we abide by the guiding words of Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high,” we might all have a fighting chance.

Erin Cabrey, FCRH ’18, is a journalism major from Greenland, New Hampshire.

False Alarms are Truly Damaging By TIMOTHY KYLE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The morning of Saturday, Jan. 13, residents of Hawaii were awoken by a text alert bearing this message: “BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.” Across the state, panic set in among citizens and vacationers alike. Vid-

eos have emerged of desperate parents hiding children in storm drains and basements, while others have blamed the alert for causing massive heart attacks in loved ones. According to the Honolulu Police Department, 911 calls spiked as cars crashed and people suffered anxiety attacks and cardiac arrest. However, there was no incom-

ing ballistic missile. The state of Hawaii hung in limbo, completely shut down, waiting for the apocalyptic fireball that never came. Only when the government issued a counter-notification 38 minutes later did people finally relax. An event like this is rare but dangerous. The state said that the error in sending the announce-

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False alarms, such as the ballistic missile threat in Hawaii, cause unneeded stress and potential harm to those in the area.

ment was human. The wrong button was pressed during a routine procedure at the state’s emergency management headquarters. In our current geopolitical climate, where for the first time in 25 years the threat of a nuclear exchange looms, false alarms set a bad precedent. North Korea’s nuclear missile tech is becoming increasingly advanced, and with the range to now attack the continental US, people must be ready for the worst. Preparedness may include vulnerable areas holding drills, but only if it’s made clear that they are drills. The Hawaii false alarm could have a dangerous “boy who cried wolf” effect. If a real missile were inbound and the same text alert was sent out, many people may not take it seriously and thus may not take the appropriate action to survive. The alarm also uncovered a fear lurking just below the surface of the national psyche, one that has been bolstered by cavalier pro-war rhetoric by the current administration. The threat of nuclear war, dead and buried since 1991, is back. Those that lived through the Cold War must have a sense of sick deja vu. For

the second time in history, one bad move and the world could be quite literally ended with the push of a button. The panic this false alarm caused revealed this fear, because for 38 minutes, everyone in Hawaii thought the threat was real. This represents a failure of the basic role of an administration: to shepherd and lead, not terrify. The mass panic associated with the Hawaii alarm only occurred because of the fiery rhetoric being used by the president and other lawmakers. There is one conclusion to be drawn from this false alarm: it cannot happen again. Emergency management organizations should take every precaution in the future to prevent similar events, whether it be through better training of human workers or added layers of redundancy. There can be no more fake ballistic missile threats; in the case of a real attack, the “cry wolf” effect could have serious and deadly implications.

Timothy Kyle, FCRH ’21, is a political science major from West Hartford, Connecticut.

OPINION

January 24, 2018

Page 9

Trump Must Regress Cuts for TPS By SEAN FRANKLIN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Earlier this week, President Trump decided to drastically curtail the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program. Under this program, migrants from parts of the world in crisis could seek residency in the United States, renewable every 18 months. Program beneficiaries came from places farand-wide, but the vast majority are from El Salvador, having fled the 2001 earthquakes and the political instability that followed. About 200,000 Salvadorians are living in the United States under this program, and now every single one will have to leave or face deportation. The administration’s official stance is that the situation in El Salvador has improved to the point where TPS is no longer necessary. However, any observer of the crisis in El Salvador could tell you that this is not the case. The economy is still bad. Corruption is rampant. The homicide rate is the highest in the world for a country not at war. It is barely equipped to handle the demands of its own population, let alone absorb 200,000 migrants. Yet Trump has decided to give them the boot anyway. It is easy to see why – the administration has taken a hard line on immigration from the beginning. Trump’s feelings on the matter were brought into even sharper relief this week with his “sh*thole countries” re-

marks. However, contrary to what Trump might believe, these people do not represent an existential threat to the stability of the United States. He can bluster about immigrant crime as much as he wants, but data consistently shows that immigrants commit crimes at much lower rates than native-born citizens. This decision, ergo, is needlessly cruel to these people. They have built lives for themselves in America – they have homes, jobs and families. For the administration to cynically toy with their lives in this way is despicable. They will have to uproot their entire lives and return to a disaster-ravaged country overrun with violence. That’s to say nothing of the 191,000 children of Salvadorian TPS holders currently living in the country, who must either move with their families to a country they have never known or enter the foster-care system. This decision is not only cruel and unnecessary, but it is also monumentally stupid. In the cities where TPS holders live, they are vital parts of the economy. The labor-force participation rate for Salvadorian TPS holders is 88 percent, almost 20 percent higher than the rate for the U.S. population as a whole. A third of these people own homes – last year in Los Angeles alone, they paid between $20 and $30 million in property taxes. Cit-

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President Trump must realize that his inconsistencies with managing Temporary Protected Status program must change.

ies with large Salvadorian populations (like Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Houston) will struggle to replace them once they are gone. It is unlikely that all 200,000 of these people will be deported immediately. The immigration court system is far too backlogged for that. However, these individuals will be forced underground, having lost their ability to work legally – with the additional fear that the government knows their home addresses. This decision may make other undocumented immigrants unlikely to seek legal status. Why give the government your personal

information to get legal status when it could be revoked on a whim? The unreliable nature of U.S. immigration policy fractures the trust that immigrants have in the government and makes it more likely that they will choose to continue living underground. The U.S. has a lot to gain from giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. They’d pay taxes, for one, and they would be better protected from exploitation by their employers. They could contribute more to the economy if they had the ability to work legally. Yet these individuals won’t seek

legal status if they don’t trust the government. This week, the Trump administration showed them it was willing to toy with their lives in order to score political points. That is, not the message we want to be sending. If we want to solve the immigration problem, we need to show immigrants consistency in policy. We need to show them that we will keep up our end of the bargain. Only then can we work towards a solution.

Sean Franklin, FCRH ’21, is an urban studies major from Alexandria, Virginia.

Tino’s Takes | Faustino Galante

Tardy Teachers: The Forgotten “Section 3.1”

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If students at Fordham University are forced to adhere to specific deadlines, their professors should also follow suit.

Section 3.1 of Fordham University’s Undergraduate Faculty Handbook makes clear that a deadline exists regarding when a professor must hand in final semester grades. The handbook mandates that grades be submitted “within three (3) calendar days of the final examination date in the fall semester and within two (2) calendar days of the final examination in the spring semester.” In the “extraordinary event” that a professor cannot observe this deadline, it is stipulated that they contact the dean’s office to notify and report their impending lack of punctuality. As a second semester sophomore at Fordham College at Rose Hill, I can confidently state that at least two professors each semes-

ter have blatantly disregarded this statute. This pattern undoubtedly demonstrates that “Section 3.1” has a small role in directing faculty members at Fordham. Instead of ensuring that teachers abide by this rule, the university has alternatively decided to appease professors despite their lack in punctuality. Both the administration and professors of FCRH are responsible for this recent surge in late grade submissions. This disregard for such an important university standard inconveniences students and must be corrected. While on the surface it may seem that discounting this policy hardly hassles undergrads, one must take into account that for many students, timely grade submissions are vital. Graduating se-

niors, students transferring out of Fordham and prospective study abroad applicants require their grades in order to go about their businesses in a timely fashion. Being unaware of one’s final grades before graduating does not only cause anxiety, but can also lead to major inconveniences. It is not fair that a second semester senior approaching graduation might have their grades submitted late. What if a senior, for example, is on the verge of failing a class required by their major? Is it fair that the University makes arrangements for a student’s diploma before even having knowledge of their final grades? Furthermore, whether being on the verge of failing a class or not, mentally preparing oneself for

graduation is not easy when one’s fate is unknown due to a professor’s lack of punctuality. Transfer students and study abroad applicants alike are heavily inconvenienced by late grade submissions by professors. When applying to another college, internships or a study abroad program, it is essential to have knowledge of one’s up-to-date GPA. Additionally, application deadlines exist, and not having a grade published can make it hard to fulfill these deadlines. For students seeking to study abroad in the fall semester, early decision applications are due no later than Jan. 15. How is one supposed to prepare for this deadline when many professors do not submit their final grades until Jan. 12? As alluded to above, I believe that it is erroneous to solely blame university professors for late grade submissions. Section 3.1 of our Faculty Handbook is irrational and, in many regards, foolish. It is simply unfair to expect professors, who are human, after all, to prepare final grades in a mere two days. In many cases, this deadline is simply impossible to fulfill. The University should acknowledge this fact and revamp section 3.1. If, for example, the handbook mandated that grades be submitted six days following exams instead of two days, professors would likely be more inclined to follow the deadline. Evidently, this “deadline” has become meaningless in nature. Ex-

tending the deadline would allow students to receive grades more promptly. While the handbook is indeed at fault for spurring late grade submissions, it would be flawed if I did not also condemn Fordham professors for their unprofessionalism in regards to grade delays. Ultimately, submitting grades in a timely fashion is part of what professors get paid for. A tenure or PhD should not allow them to actively ignore university policy. It is not fair to let hardworking students who follow deadlines wait for their grades. While I understand professors do indeed have lives outside of the classroom, submitting final grades following exam week should be a priority. It is, in the end, part of their jobs. Throughout high school, one of my favorite parts about beginning Christmas break was finding out my final grades before the holiday. While my grades were never by any means perfect, having them released before Christmas Eve always brought me to breathe a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, I have not experienced this feeling in college. Despite the fact that a University policy does indeed exist regarding final grade submissions, few teachers ever release grades in a timely fashion. Fordham must revamp Section 3.1 of its Faculty Handbook. Professors working at the University must recognize the various difficulties their tardiness can cause.

OPINION

Page 10

Serving the Fordham University campus and community since 1918 The Fordham Ram is the university journal of record. The mission of The Fordham Ram is to provide a forum for the free and open exchange of ideas in service to the community and to act as a student advocate. The Fordham Ram is published and distributed free of charge every Wednesday during the academic year to the Rose Hill, Lincoln Center and Westchester campuses with a readership of over 12,000 and a web readership of over 300,000. The Fordham Ram office is located in the basement of the McGinley Center, room B-52.

Website FordhamRam.com Email Address theram@fordham.edu

Editor-in-Chief Theresa Schliep Managing Editor Taylor Shaw Business Director James Haranzo Operations Director Jack McLoone Editorial and Multimedia Director Bailey Hosfelt Copy Chief Lindsay Grippo Assistant Copy Chief Colette Nolan Assistant Business Director Daniel Coleman News Editor Aislinn Keely Assistant News Editors Erica Scalise Hannah Gonzalez Joergen Ostensen Features Editors Helen Stevenson Joeseph Esposito Opinion Editors Briana Scalia Christopher Canadeo Culture Editors Isha Khawaja Ryan Di Corpo Sports Editor Jack McLoone Assistant Sports Editors Emmanuel Berbari Jimmy Sullivan Multimedia Producers Charlie Maisano Tom Terzulli Digital Producers Kristen Egan Erin Clewell Photo Editors Julia Comerford Kevin Stoltenborg Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Editorial Page Policy The Fordham Ram ’s editorial and ramblings topics are selected on a weekly basis and reflect the editorial board’s view on a campus issue. Opinions Policy The Fordham Ram appreciates submissions to fordhamramopinions@ gmail.com. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis. The Fordham Ram reserves the right to reject any submission for any reason, without notice. Submissions become the exclusive property of The Fordham Ram . The Fordham Ram reserves the right to edit any submissions. The opinions in The Fordham 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 Fordham Ram may be reproduced without written consent.

Janurary 24, 2018

From the Desk | Julia Comerford

The Greatest Showman Shines Bright Directed by Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman is a captivating musical drama film that entices an audience of all ages in telling the true story of P.T. Barnum’s life and his creation of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. His circus, known today as Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth, ran for 146 years closing recently with its final show on May, 21st 2017. Starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is inspired by the true fulfilling story of a destitute man whose magic, spirit and hope leads him to spark the birth of show business, creating a world renowned circus show. What makes Barnum’s Circus so renowned in the film are the acts that he features in it. He finds people with physical defor-

mities, “unique” or odd talents and puts them in the spotlight, literally in his show. The film takes place in 1860s New York City where “unique” people were not celebrated like they are today. In 1860s New York City, these people were seen as “freaks” and outcasts that were shunned, mocked and laughed at by society. Barnum does not see these people as freaks but as people who should be brought out of the shadows and celebrated for their uniqueness. Some of the “unique” acts portrayed in the film are directly based off of the real original cast of P.T. Barnum’s Circus in 1871. These characters include: bearded lady, a man covered with fur from head to toe, a midget General named Tom Thumb, and a

man with tattoos on every inch of his body. Other characters (added by the filmmakers) in Barnum’s Circus include a trapeze artist, portrayed by Zendaya, a ten-foot-tall man and a fivehundred-pound man. At first, Barnum’s acts are ashamed of their uniqueness when he throws them into the spotlight with no warning. But as the film progresses, they develop a confidence in themselves and celebrate their own unique qualities along with Barnum. They grow to see that they are not freaks who should be ashamed, but people who should be proud of who they are. The Greatest Showman is not only a musical masterpiece but an inspirational one because it includes two themes to which the film’s target audience of all ages

can relate: never give up on your dreams, and be proud of who you are despite what others may think. By making his own dreams a reality, while helping others along his path, P.T. Barnum wins over the hearts of people of all ages and truly proves himself to be the greatest showman.

Editorial | Centennial

Informing for a Century: 100 Years of Journalism at Fordham

One-hundred years ago, Fordham University was a drastically different place than it is today. Enrollment was at 320 students, tuition cost less than a current meal plan and women were unable to take classes at the Rose Hill campus (until 1974). But one way that students and faculty receive their information has remained the same, uniting the countless events that have transpired throughout the past century: The Fordham Ram. At the onset on World War I, thousands of young men were called to serve, Fordham undergraduates and alumni among them. To keep these individuals informed while overseas, students began writing a newsletter and sending it to their peers who were fighting abroad, according to Fordham library’s special collections. Due to the newsletter’s successful consumption and an increasing demand for information, The Fordham Ram transitioned into a proper newspaper and printed Volume 1, Issue 1 on Feb. 7, 1918. Priced at five cents, the eight-page publica-

tion ran content similar to what we still publish today. There were on-campus sports scores, news articles about the future of our nation and columns for collegiate gossip. An op-ed argued for why students should purchase war-savings stamps and advertisements promoted everything from cigars and Belmont restaurants to the Brunswick phonograph and showtimes at Crotona Theatre. Although a dinner out on Webster Avenue is no longer 30 cents and our Varsity fullback will not have to leave his education early due to an Army assignment, the editorial staff of The Fordham Ram aims to do the same thing in 2018 that it started in 1918 – serve as the University’s journal of record, week after week. This volume, The Fordham Ram celebrates not only its centennial but our dedication to elucidating the truth. Our staff would like to take this historic opportunity to reflect on the past and also look ahead to the future. In doing so, we will feature an archived front page from The Ram accompanied by old articles, edi-

tor lists and advertisements from the past 10 decades each issue of Volume 100. On campus, there will be speaker events from notable alumni who have gone from humble beginnings in B-52 of McGinley to prolific careers at national publications. Career services will cosponsor a program to help aspiring student journalists prepare for the workforce. During the last 100 years, Fordham University has certainly come a long way, but there is still room to grow. In our current socio-political climate, journalists are increasingly vulnerable. It is imperative that, as students, we not only read the news impacting ourselves and our campus, but impacting others and the world surrounding us. Diversity among our student body has slowly improved, but bias incidents that target minority populations still persist. Women’s voices have been active on campus for 40 plus years, but when sharing opinions about gender equality and access to sexual health, they have often been met with push-

back. Fordham has expanded its outreach within the Bronx community, but must still acknowledge and improve upon its shortcomings. In the last calendar year, The Fordham Ram has reported on faculty unionization, College Republicans’ hosting Roger Stone on campus, Title IX conversations in reaction to Residential Assistant training and the incident at Rodrigues’ Coffee House to name a few topics. Each have sparked conversation and encouraged dialogue even in times when further division seemed much simpler. With every new controversy that faces the Fordham community, we at The Fordham Ram challenge ourselves to circulate the facts as they come and serve as a place for people to voice their concerns – popular, provocative and everywhere in between. This year, we are turning 100 at The Fordham Ram, and there is a lot to commemorate. We ask that you keep reading, contributing and holding us accountable. After all, our history has always been a collective effort.

Disagree with our opinions? Let us know! Send your thoughts to fordhamramopinions@gmail.com!

OPINION

January 24, 2018

Page 11

Resolutions Can Be Daunting in the New Year By EMILY THOMPSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

You might have noticed over Winter Break that right as New Year’s Eve approached, your T.V. was meticulously interrupted by commercials for new diet programs, weight loss regimens and exercise equipment. This is no coincidence. As I sat through the 100th commercial of models telling me about “judgement-free gyms” and “a week’s worth of free protein shakes,” I felt guilty sitting in my pajamas and having no such goal. The pressure to create New Year’s resolutions creeps into our lives whether we realize it or not. It is understandable why New Year’s resolutions are appealing. For one, they are universally acknowledged. It feels as if the whole world is rooting for you, that the tradition itself is carrying half the burden of following through. There is also the power of an idealistic “new start.” Trying to save money or spend more time with your family (or whatever the goal may be) feels achievable when you know that the burdens of the past are left in the previous year. This concept allows one to shed any negativity and become open to a new year, a new challenge, a new… you. It is exciting and motivating. There is a feeling of good luck to the tradition which makes the most daunting goals seem manageable. New Year’s resolutions can be

equated to focusing a camera. The fuzzy, hypothetical charm of these goals is not always consistent with the harsh reality of achieving them. It is all a bit too ideal, as if the time of year will make the resolution finally stick. But, if you are not able to commit to a goal the other three hundred and sixty four days of the year, one day will not be any different. The root problem with New Year’s resolutions is that we all like the concept of a fresh beginning, but it is more about the tradition than personal commitment to change. They force us to focus on only one goal and set ourselves up for disappointment if it fails. New Year’s resolutions are often made on a whim and are too tremendous to achieve. People that feel pressure to continue their new workout routine or diet based on a tradition means that their goal is not usually personal enough for them to follow through. This year both of my best friends and my parents created New Year’s Resolutions. I felt pressured to create one just to avoid explaining why I didn’t. However, goals must be meaningful to be effective. You must have a stake in them and their outcome. You need to be more connected to it than you would be to a silly tradition. New Year’s resolutions have a reputation for being broken, which is quite ironic given that they are supposed to achieve

COURTESY OF JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Some New Year’s resolutions can be difficult to maintain, which can lead to disappointment when not accomplished.

the opposite effect. The point of goal-setting is to lift us up and leave us in a better position than the one at which we started. A few years ago, I promised myself on Jan. 1 that I would drink seven glasses of water per day. But as someone who often describes myself as permanently dehydrated, this goal was just too far a stretch from my normal habits. When the day rolled around and I had not fulfilled my new goal, I felt like all hope for a good year was gone. When my New Year’s resolution failed, I was flooded with guilt for being too weak to follow through. According to Forbes, a 2013 Scranton University poll concludes only eight percent of people actually achieve their

New Year’s resolutions—a statistic so low it is a wonder why we all still make them. So, if you have the overwhelming urge to create a New Year’s resolution, it is best to be honest about what type of change you can actually commit to and if it will leave you happier than you were when you started. It is clear to me that one of the pitfalls of this tradition is how much stake people put in a resolution only once per year. If that is the only time you are willing to commit, it probably is not important enough to you. Instead, daily or monthly goals may lead to more success and the change we all wish for. Start a new book. Try a new yoga class. These are not monumental

changes, but they can give you something new to look forward to every day. Personally, since my last failed New Year’s resolution, I have been resolute in not making them. Seems backwards, I know. Instead, each day I try to find the tiny things that make me happy, because they matter more than any monumental change to which I try and commit. I do not want to become so unhappy that I put all of my faith into one goal. Instead of focusing on an unrealistic concept, focus on what already makes your life fabulous, whether it is Jan. 1 or any other day. Emily Thompson, FCRH ’21, is a journalism major from Norwalk, Connecticut.

Remembering John Granville

COURTESY OF COLLIN BONNELL

John Granville embodied Jesuit values through devaluing material items and putting a greater emphasis on family.

By COLLIN BONNELL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I imagine the night of Jan. 1, 2008 was a quiet one on the streets of Khartoum when the motorcade carrying John Granville, Fordham University Class of ‘97 and US Diplomat working for USAID, was abruptly stopped by several terrorists. When the smoke cleared, John Granville and his driver were dead. Despite his tragic death, the life

of John Granville, “Uncle John” to myself and his relatives, was truly remarkable. A model student and Fulbright Scholar, he chose to dedicate his life to others rather than seek riches for himself. With a road laid out before him of infinite potential for personal gain, John chose a life of public service. Rather than managing stocks, John spent the best years of his life distributing 450,000 radios to vil-

lagers in the hope that they would enable them to participate in their country’s politics. John dedicated himself to furthering his ideals of good works to the extent that, upon his sudden death, my own uncle Sean McCabe described his brother-in-law’s career in Africa with seven words: “That was his life; he loved it.” John was not remarkable due to a great skill, talent or deed. Rather,

he was inspirational because of his possession of a simple trait all too rare in our society: selflessness. In truth, anyone can accomplish what John did. Anyone can dedicate themselves to serving mankind. Anyone can choose to stop the endless cycle of greed, materialism and selfishness which pervades our society. Yet we seldom make this choice. Instead, we all too often choose to worship ourselves. We get lost in a relentless pursuit of material wealth. We trample over each other ceaselessly in order to better our own economic and social status. We romanticize our greed as “the American Dream.” We justify these acts of selfishness as pursuit of progress, a necessary side effect of innovation. Many who enter public service nowadays do not do so to spread democracy and serve others, as John once did. They do so for the prestige. The Trumps of the world do not enter politics in order to better humanity. They do so for the

power. For the fame. Even in entertainment we choose to support the careers of people like Logan Paul, who openly boast of their materialist motivations, rather than those of intellectuals and public servants. We have lost our morals. Yet this loss is not due to the decline of “family values,” religion or demographic change often scapegoated by politicians. Our moral rot is due to greed and our lack of love for mankind. Even at Fordham, a Jesuit university which prides itself on inspiring young men and women like John Granville to lead a life of service to others, many students choose to limit themselves to a career chosen solely for financial security. Yet, this does not have to be the case. We can choose to break the cycle and live as John once did. Not for ourselves, but for all mankind.

Collin Bonnell, FCRH ’21, is a history and political science major from Hingham, Massachussettes.

Disagree with our thoughts? Email us at fordhamramopinions@gmail.com!

Page 12

Meet The Staff

January 24, 2018

Editor-In-Chief

Managing Editor

Theresa Schliep is a junior in FCRH, double majoring in English and history because she just loves being questioned on what type of job she can possibly get with those fields of study. For a third and final time, she joins The Fordham Ram’s staff as its editor in chief after exciting yet horrifying stints as news and assistant news editors. Besides her involvement with The Ram, Theresa volunteers for Jumpstart and works for WFUV News. Hailing from the small Jersey Shore town of Point Pleasant Beach – no, I haven’t met Snooki – Theresa is passionate about nineteenth century literature, envious of people with over 400 LinkedIn connections and hopeful that Volume 100 will be the best one yet.

Taylor Shaw is a Rose Hill junior majoring in English and minoring in marketing from Monroe, Conn. She’s resided at the copy table for the past three years as a copy editor and as assistant copy chief for The Ram. This volume, she will be spending her time as managing editor trying not to correct your grammar (too often), and attempting to prevent Theresa from breaking out in stress hives. Outside of McGinley, she spends her time in the Blackbox with the Black Sheep Performance Poetry group. Consider yourself warned: if you ask her how much she loves the staff of The Ram, she is likely to burst into tears, overwhelmed with great affection and a lack of emotional control.

multimedia and editorial director

Bailey Hosfelt is a junior at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in journalism with a triple minor in theology, women’s studies and biting off more than she can chew. She used to live in Wheeling, West Virginia but has since traded the overdose capital of the country for Hanover, Massachusetts (remarriage was the determining factor, not drugs). After back-to-back volumes as culture editor and a brief stint as an abroad columnist, she is taking on a new role for The Fordham Ram’s centennial: editorial and multimedia director. Outside of her many hours logged in McGinley basement, Bailey can be found interning at Untapped Cities, part-time nannying on the UWS and sleeping through all of her alarms. She is passionate about Dunkin’ iced coffee and wearing overalls as an adult.

Operations Director and Sports editor

Jack McLoone didn’t get The Fordham Ram shut down in his second volume on staff, so he’s trying for a third and final time by adding operations director to his list of titles. This list includes: former assistant sports editor, two-time reigning sports editor, staff meeting derailer, resident “comedian,” social media “expert,” Aislinn’s biggest fan and Theresa’s biggest enemy. He also is an on-air “talent” for WFUV Sports, a hero liaison for Fordham Dance Marathon and an intern at NBC Sports. Also, this is his last one of these so please follow him on Twitter @jfmclooney it is very important to him. Jack is a junior journalism major and DTEM minor from Central Jersey, which is absolutely a real place; look at a map just one time.

business director

Copy Chief

James Haranzo is a sophomore from Darien, CT expecting to major in applied accounting and finance. When James isn’t reading The Fordham Ram, he is busy directing the business staff or using his Costco Gold Star Membership to find the sickest deals imaginable. When on campus, James is either in the library or longing for the day he will be able to see his dog, Finley, again.

Lindsay Grippo is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill from Garden City, Long Island. She is majoring in English and minoring in communications, and can often be found experiencing an accidental caffeine high from eating too many dark chocolate covered espresso beans in one sitting. Since middle school, Lindsay has been “awing” crowds (mainly just her mom) with her beautiful French Horn playing; she is a member of the Fordham University Band and Orchestra and also works in the Underwriting department at WFUV. She has a very diverse taste in music and really loves scented candles, but if RA Alex is reading this, then she absolutely does not love scented candles and never has any in her dorm room ever. Asst. news editor

News Editor

Aislinn Keely is a sophomore international political economy major, and hopes she will be able to say that five times fast by the time she graduates. She has run the Bronx Ten Miler each year at Fordham, but she completes weekly personal marathons on The Ram – now as the news editor. Her goals for the coming volume include: to create a Twitter account to make Jack McLoone proud, to cause as few problems as possible for Theresa Schliep and to continue a news section that is engaging and informative for the Fordham community. When she is not focused on these goals, Aislinn is interning for WFUV News, tutoring and distance running around her two homes of Long Island’s South Shore and New York’s Boogie Down.

Erica Scalise is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in journalism. She’s from Chicago and yes, she does pronounce it “Chicaaaago.” Beyond her duties as an assistant news editor for The Fordham Ram, she’s also an intern at WFUV where she is able to comfortably express her undying affection for NPR and call it normal...kind of. When doing neither of these things, she’s writing, talking about Father John Misty a little too loudly or surveying the Queen’s Court freezer for her favorite men: Ben and Jerry. She really likes Tyler the Creator and also tweeting about Tyler the Creator. You should follow her Twitter (@escalise9) where it’s clear she thinks she’s funny, but she’s not; this is why she writes for news.

Asst. News Editor

Asst. news editor

Joergen Ostensen is a freshman at Fordham College Rose Hill and will be an assistant news editor at The Fordham Ram. He grew up in a rural town in Maine called Hope, where basically no one lives. He is an avid baseball fan and looks forward to seeing many Yankee victories in the coming year. His major is journalism and he plans to begin interning at WFUV this semester. When not doing these things he enjoys listening to old school music from the ’60s and exploring New York City.

Hannah Gonzalez is a Rose Hill sophomore majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. She calls SoCal home, so she spends most conversations actively suppressing her valley girl speech patterns. She’s an assistant news editor for The Fordham Ram who also wars against incorrect grammar as managing editor of MODE magazine. When not furiously typing out a short story or news article, you can usually find her attempting to find her (non-existent) chill through tea-drinking, online retail therapy and/or stuffing her face with Mexican food.

Features editor

Features Editor

Helen Stevenson is a freshman at Fordham College Rose Hill and about 80% sure she will be majoring in political science. Maybe 75% - she is still trying to figure it out, okay? She’s from Montgomery, New Jersey, but tells everyone she’s from Princeton because it’s easier to explain and slightly cooler. Her dream is to visit every country in the world and she doesn’t care if that’s not safe or realistic (please stop telling her that). She loves watching movies, reading books and eating a dangerous amount of Chinese take-out. But mostly, she’s just really excited to be the features editor for The Fordham Ram, Volume 100.

Joe Esposito is a junior at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in philosophy and minoring in political science. He also pursues his interest for politics as a member of the College Republicans. In his own time, he likes to follow the political climate of the country as well as elections both locally and across the nation. He also has a great interest in the law and is considering law school after he graduates, potentially at Fordham Law where his own father attended. Aside from this, he is an avid sports fanatic. He is a lifelong Yankee fan who is eager to see how many homeruns Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton combine for this season. When he is not following politics or sports, he enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Assistant copy Chief

Colette Nolan is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in English. She calls Philadelphia home and will defend her belief that Wawa is better than Sheetz to the death. When not working as the assistant copy chief for The Fordham Ram, she can be found binge watching Netflix, gazing lovingly at pictures of her dog and eating as much pasta as humanly possible.

Volume 100

January 24, 2018

Page 13

culture editor

Ryan Di Corpo is a junior pursuing a major in film and a minor in journalism at Rose Hill. In addition to serving as a culture co-editor for The Fordham Ram, Ryan has written for The Vagabond and The Ampersand. He currently works in the Curatorial Department at The Paley Center for Media. He is a member of the Fordham Pep Band and Orchestra, and is the chairman and founder of the Berrigan Forum on Nonviolence. Additionally, Ryan sits on the Rose Hill Dean’s Council and Academic Integrity Council. He has met Regis Philbin on three separate occasions and harbors a long-standing obsession with Meryl Streep.

Isha Khawaja is a junior at Fordham College Rose Hill majoring in anthropology. She is from Sayville, New York in Long Island which means she will without a doubt bring up pizza and bagels in every conversation. When not serving as the culture co-editor for The Fordham Ram, she can be found meditating at Keating’s Blue Chapel with the Meditation Club. She also teaches gentle yoga classes at Rose Hill during midterm and finals week! She also has an unhealthy obsession with 90’s Hip-Hop and R&B music and attends way many more concerts than TD bank suggests.

Asst. sports editor

Emmanuel Berbari is a freshman at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in “undeclared (journalism).” He is from Greenlawn, New York on Long Island, which few can pinpoint on a map, so Western Suffolk County it is. A rookie on The Fordham Ram staff, serving as an assistant sports editor, he also contributes to WFUV Sports and is pursuing a career in sports broadcasting. Outside of Fordham and FUV, he works as a play-by-play guy and public address announcer for NYIT Athletics and (seasonally) the HCBL. When he is not working for The Ram, calling a game or grinding out another paper (usually around 2 a.m.), he is rewatching Breaking Bad or House of Cards for the 45th time or hanging out with friends (not to brag, just a necessary social life plug).

Jimmy Sullivan is a freshman at Rose Hill who is majoring in journalism. He is from Dumont, New Jersey, and if you don’t know where that is, it’s in Bergen County in the northeast portion of the state. Sullivan also works at WFUV sports where he has appeared on several of the station’s podcasts and helps out the station in any way possible. In his free time, he is an avid sports fan who has taken up the masochistic enterprise of rooting for the Mets and the Jets at the same time. When he isn’t involved with The Fordham Ram or WFUV, he enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as writing.

opinion editor

Christopher Canadeo is a junior at the Gabelli School of Business majoring in marketing with a concentration in meme studies. He is from Long Island, New York (a more attractive New Jersey). A former ping pong prodigy, Canadeo can be found buying cannolis on Arthur Avenue almost a frequently as he is found reading the news. Some say that Canadeo founded The Fordham Ram 100 years ago, but no factual evidence of this notion has ever surfaced. Canadeo is excited to continue his reign as opinion editor of The Fordham Ram and to provide scorching hot takes each and every issue.

Briana Scalia is a sophomore Fordham College Rose Hill from Long Island, New York majoring in broadcast journalism and media studies with a minor in marketing. When she’s not spending her Tuesday nights running the opinion section of The Fordham Ram, she can be found analyzing (and criticizing) plot points of the latest movies. Fun fact: she sang the National Anthem at a Long Island Ducks baseball game when she was seven (and hopes she didn’t peak in elementary school). Her dream is to one day have her photography skills recognized by the geniuses running the @fordhamcats instagram page.

photo editor

Julia Comerford is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill majoring in visual arts and minoring in marketing. Not only is Julia photo editor of The Fordham Ram, but she also rows for the Fordham women’s varsity crew team. When she’s not rowing, Julia can be found taking photos of anything and everything, both on and off campus.

news photo editor

Kevin Stoltenborg is a freshman at Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business, and is enjoying every second of it. He is an undeclared business major, but can you blame him? Who really knows what they want to do with the rest of their lives as freshmen? Pffff, freshmen. At Fordham, he is on the 2021 Senate of the United Student Government, teaches high school students from the Bronx with Generation Citizen and is now the proud news photo editor for The Fordham Ram. Outside of school, he loves to play basketball, baseball and really any sport that presents a challenge. He also enjoys meeting new people and making meaningful conversation. If you are ever walking around campus and a random person tries to make you smile…it’s probably him.

DIGITAL producer

Kristen Egan is a freshman at Fordham College Rose Hill, and is still trying to figure out exactly what she wants to major in. She only has a brief idea of what she wants to spend the rest of her life doing and wishes people would stop asking her as it induces nervous laughing and an existential crisis. She’s from Saddle River, New Jersey which means she has a bagel superiority complex and does not know how to pump her own gas. Kristen is excited to hone into her inner Rory Gilmore on The Ram as the co-digital producer. She’s still finding her place on campus but can usually be found ogling from afar at whatever campus cat she can find. Kristen is also a big fan of iced vanilla lattes with skim milk, art she doesn’t understand and occasional long walks on the beach.

Erin Clewell is a junior at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in DTEM and minoring in television. She is from New Providence, New Jersey. Besides working as the co-digital producer on The Fordham Ram, Erin enjoys the high of snagging a good booth at the caf, the thrill of online shopping and the rush of successfully referencing a Vine in casual conversation. People on campus might know her as @eclecticgurl, but she swears there is much more to her than her Instagram. She is new to The Ram this year, but cannot wait to get started.

Multimedia producer

Tom Terzulli is a junior at Fordham College Rose Hill majoring in journalism. He’s from Staten Island, NY and firmly believes it’s not as bad as everyone says it is. He’s ready to work with some sweet new equipment as the Ram’s first multimedia editor and is excited to see where the position can go. When not working at the Ram, you can find him broadcasting almost every Fordham sport for WFUV. He’s usually watching sports too because he hasn’t, nor will he ever watch an entire series on Netflix.

Multimedia producer

Charlie Maisano is a sophomore at Fordham College Rose Hill, majoring in journalism. He’s from Douglaston, New York in Queens, which is often mistaken to be in Long Island. What many probably don’t know about him is that he is a triplet and also has a younger brother in high school. Besides being the multimedia editor and Women’s Soccer beat writer for The Fordham Ram, he also spends a lot, I mean A LOT of time working for WFUV Sports. He is a producer, an on-air talent, a New York Islanders beat reporter, the podcast supervisor for NFL Friday and just an overall sports fanatic. When he is not doing anything for The Ram or WFUV Sports, he is probably chilling with friends playing 2K. asst. business director

Daniel Coleman is a sophomore from Chicago, Ill. He will most likely major in math and economics. When Daniel isn’t working for The Fordham Ram, he is usually watching one of his beloved sports teams from Chicago or hanging out with his friends.

Page 14

CENTENNIAL

January 24, 2018

CENTENNIAL

January 24, 2018

Page 15

A Look Inside The First Ever Fordham Ram By THE FORDHAM RAM STAFF This year, The Fordham Ram is celebrating its 100th volume; essentially, this means that as of Feb. 7, 2018, the publication will be 100 years old. To commemorate this momentous occasion, each issue of the volume will include an archived front page of The Ram, in addition to republishing editor lists, advertisements and articles. The Ram aims to provide a glimpse into specific moments in both U.S. and Fordham history.

This week’s featured historical issue is the very first publication of The Ram from 1918. According to the Fordham library’s special collections, “The Ram was originally started as a newsletter to be sent to students and alumni overseas. It was so successful it continued as a student newspaper after the war.” At eight pages, the publication cost five cents. It discussed a variety of topics, including but not limited to: coal prices, war-savings stamps, comedy shorts and corridor gossip columns.

A little blasphemy never hurt nobody. (p. 5)

The editorial staff knew their audience. (p. 3) The staff of the inaugural Fordham Ram, and a call for more staff. (p. 4)

We do weddings and bar mitzvahs. (p. 3)

The Fordham Ram takes a stand against the stereotype of the private college student. (p. 4)

CULTURE

Page 16

January 24, 2018

The Fordham Ram

In Conversation With Henry Kissinger at 92Y By RYAN DI CORPO CULTURE EDITOR

Henry Kissinger is still Henry Kissinger. Depending on who you talk to, that sentence ought to be cause for grateful exultation or genuine dread. Dr. Kissinger, who served as the 56th U.S. Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977, is as hated and beloved as any Washington man could ever hope to be. It is doubtful as to whether any still living individual has exerted the same impact and influence on American diplomacy and international politics as Dr. Kissinger. His stalwart support for negotiations amongst adversaries is commendable. Yet, controversy is Dr. Kissinger’s middle name. It is his wine; it is his sustenance. Dr. Kissinger has consistently found himself embroiled, or perhaps deliberately placed himself, in some of the most contentious sociopolitical happenings of the last 50 years: Watergate, the détente between the U.S and the Soviet Union, the 1971 Bangladesh genocide, the U.S. involvement in the 1973 Chilean coup, the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1975 Indonesian invasion of East Timor, to name a few. The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 to Dr. Kissinger and Lê Đức Thọ, who did not accept the award, resulted in the voluntary resignation of two members of the Nobel Committee. Now scratch that. All of it. None of those things ever happened, or so was the narrative last Wednesday night at the 92nd Street Y as Dr. Kissinger sat down with Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein to engage in a conversation regarding how Dr. Kissinger became a great man of history, a political prophet

who occasionally perches himself atop the Capitol dome and imparts wisdom to the hungry, clamoring masses below. The conversation, billed as a forum in which Dr. Kissinger would “share his candid perspective on [recent] national and international challenges,” delivered as much. But Rabbi Rubinstein, now Rabbi Emeritus of Central Synagogue, is not a journalist, nor does he claim to be. Referring at one point to the audience as Dr. Kissinger’s “congregation,” Rabbi Rubinstein confessed his great admiration for and friendship with Dr. Kissinger throughout the conversation, stating that he remains in “awe” of a man who is “a dear friend, a brilliant statesman and a passionate historian.” These words cannot be denied. Dr. Kissinger, at 94, stills speaks with the thoughtfulness and eloquence necessary for a man who has held such lofty government titles. Throughout the evening, he espoused his views on a variety of topics, and at no time was Dr. Kissinger pressed to further defend what it was he was saying. Dr. Kissinger breathed into the auditorium the antique air of Realpolitik: affirming the notion of peace through strength, questioning the realism of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine and advocating for international diplomacy while asserting the absolute historical impossibility of world peace. He stated that “one has to determine their preferences” when making policy decisions of consequence to people’s lives. And when asked about Harry Truman, Dr. Kissinger relayed how Truman described his greatest achievement as utterly defeating “the enemy” and

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Kissinger, then National Security Advisor, speaks at the White House about Vietnam on Oct. 26, 1972.

then integrating those who were once the enemy back into society. Dr. Kissinger found Truman’s remarks “moving.” Next question. At the conclusion of the evening, Dr. Kissinger took questions from the audience. But not quite. The audience questions were scribbled on index cards which were then collected by 92Y staff and delivered on-stage to Rabbi Rubinstein. Perhaps this was to streamline the Q&A process, or perhaps this was to prevent an audience member from asking a question such as, “Why did you continue to support Pakistan during its “selective genocide” of the Bangladeshi people in 1971?” or “What was behind your 1973 comment that ‘if they put Jews into gas chambers in the Soviet Union, it is not an American concern?’” No, there was to be no controversy that night as one of the most consequen-

tial American policy influencers of the modern era sat on stage and, at the request of the Rabbi, explained the secret of living such a long life. At the conclusion of the conversation, I spoke briefly with Rabbi Rubinstein, who seemed a warm man willing to field my questions. As we walked through the back corridors of the 92Y towards a private elevator, I asked the Rabbi why during the conversation there seemed to be a deliberate avoidance of some of the more controversial aspects of Dr. Kissinger’s career. The Rabbi stated he did not feel that such topics were relevant to the discussion. However, when then asked if he felt that the decisions Dr. Kissinger made in the past, and how he made them, were relevant to how he thinks about similar issues today, the Rabbi somewhat relented. He stated that maybe if there had

been more time — the discussion was an hour long — he would have broached those topics. “It was a decision I made,” said the Rabbi. Henry Kissinger made some decisions, too — big ones, which affected the lives, for better or for worse, of innumerable persons over innumerable decades. It is important to ask what was gained from the conversation between Dr. Kissinger and Rabbi Rubinstein. It can be said that what was gained were the highly-informed thoughts of a fabled figure in American history on a variety of current, hot-button issues. This would be true. Yet what was lost was an accurate portrait of Dr. Kissinger as a historical force — at times for good, at times not for good. In all, the conversation suffered from the same illness which unrelentingly ails the politics of today: the absence of accountability.

The Fordham Ram Culture Crossword: Good Eats

Created by Jack McLoone and Claire Polacheck Answers in Issue 2

ACROSS 1. LSD 5. THE BUTTON FOR WHEN YOU’RE DONE WATCHING A DVD 10. WHERE YOU MIGHT BE ASKED, “CHIPS OR CARROTS?” 11. HOW TO DESCRIBE ONE BUGGING YOU TO GET WORK DONE 12. MIDTERM, FINAL, OR MEDICAL 13. A CLASSIC BULLY MOVE 14. SALT AND ___ 16. “___ HUMBUG!” 18. “DO OR DO NOT DO, THERE IS NO ___” 19. OFFICIALLY “THE MARKETPLACE” 22. ROWDY, PATRIOTIC CHANT 23. GARTEN, THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA 24. FLOWER NECKLACE 25. FREQUENT BLEEDER AT THE DENTIST 26. WHERE YOU GO TO FIND YOUR RESIDENT ASSISTANT 27. A DEAD RELATIVE ON YOUR MANTLE 28. 36-ACROSS, IF YOU’RE A JUNIOR OR SENIOR 30. TO MISS, IN BASKETBALL 33. A STENCH 36. 28-ACROSS, IF YOU’RE A FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE 37. STOMACH VERSION OF 1-ACROSS 38. CHARACTERISTIC OF A SOUTHERN ACCENT

39. CEASES DOWN 1. AN UNRETURNED SERVE 2. COURTNEY FROM “FRIENDS” 3. “DEMOCRACY ______!” - ANARCHISTS 4. TINY ROOSEVELT 5. YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL BULLY’S AIM ACCOUNT 6. GREEN ORNAMENTAL ROCK 7. BREAKFAST PROTEIN 8. THE BEAST IN THE 2017 “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” 9. EX-GIANTS AND JETS TIGHT END WILL 13. IF A GUY’S GIRLFRIEND IS CHEATING YOU SHOULD ___ 15. ___ THE POT 16. EAVESDROPPING DEVICE 17. PAC-12 SUN DEVILS 19. WHEN YOU’RE IN-THE-KNOW 20. “FLOATS MY BOAT” BAND 21. NEMO HAS A LUCKY ONE 28. WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL YOUR MOM’S MOM 29. POPULAR PIERCING LOCATION 30. A SIMPLE HOUSE 31. INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON WOMEN 32. NOT YET DETERMINED 34. NOT YOUNG 35. LO OR HI

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January 24, 2018

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The Recent Rise of Women Empowerment Movements By GAYATHRI THELAKATT CONTRIBUTING WRITER

On Oct. 5, 2017, The New York Times published an article exposing Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein’s history of sexual harassment, consequently changing the climate of Hollywood and social media. Since then, various women have spoken up about their own experiences with assault, revealing prominent men in Hollywood like Louis C.K, James Franco and Matt Lauer to be sexual predators. In response, movements like Time’s Up and #MeToo shot to popularity, and are using social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to spread awareness for sexual harassment in hopes of creating a safer environment for women to speak up about their own experience with assault. #MeToo immediately started trending on Twitter in October after the Weinstein scandal. The hashtag serves to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace, demonstrating how many women have been victims of assault or abuse. Social activist Tarana Burke originally created the #MeToo movement in 2006 describing it as “a bold declarative statement that ‘I’m not ashamed’ and ‘I’m not alone’” when it comes to talking about sexual assault. Founded on Jan. 1 by over 300 women in Hollywood, Time’s Up serves as a platform for women, members of the LGBT community and anyone from a disad-

vantaged background to speak up about sexual harassment. The nonprofit organization aims to raise 19 million dollars to provide legal support to victims of sexual harassment, assault or abuse in the workplace. A team of lawyers at the National Women’s Law Center will administer legal support for those ready to come forward. Over the course of 20 days, Time’s Up has raised 18.7 million dollars through their GoFundMe page where users are able to donate any sum of money and stand in solidarity with men and women worldwide who are victims of harassment. Hollywood has a long and perverse history regarding harassment and gender inequality. The string of allegations against these prominent men from the industry has finally called attention to the topic. The bone-chilling recounts of the victims evoked a strong reaction from the world, leading to countless protests and campaigns aimed at empowering women and educating others about sexual harassment. The world waited with bated breath to see how Hollywood would handle the recent exposure of sexual harassment at the Golden Globes, the first award show of the season. Although the annual event is meant to celebrate talent in film and television, this year the show seemed to center around women and the current climate in Hollywood. In lieu of the allegations against numerous men in Hollywood and in partnership with Time’s Up, celebri-

KEVIN STOLTENBORG / THE FORDHAM RAM

In response to an overwhelming wave of sexual assault claims against public figures, multiple movement emerged.

ties wore all black to the 2018 Golden Globe Awards to protest sexual harassment and gender inequality within the industry. Almost every single actor, writer and producer to walk the red carpet partook in the protest, including Kate Hudson, Viola Davis and Kerry Washington. Host Seth Meyers addressed the issue in his opening monologue, jokingly saying, “It’s 2018 and marijuana is finally allowed and sexual harassment finally isn’t.” Oprah Winfrey also delivered a powerful speech addressing the prevalence of sexual harassment and celebrating the women who have endured, referencing both the #MeToo and

Review | Film

The Shape of Water Impresses By JOSEPH FELIX

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I must admit, I hesitated to see this movie. While Del Toro’s resumé has encompassed blockbuster feats such as Pacific Rim and Hellboy, the idea of seeing a modern-day Creature from the Black Lagoon love story where the monster is kidnapped instead of Julie Adams was unexciting, but it surprised me in every way. The Shape of Water follows the life of Eliza Esposito (Sally Hawkins), a speech-impaired janitor at a secret government facility, whose best friends include Zelda Fuller (Octavia Spencer), an African-American co-worker and Giles DuPont (Richard Jenkins), a closeted gay artist. Together, with the Soviet Union scientist Dr. Robert Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg), they attempt to free the “asset” (Doug Jones): an amphibious creature found in the depths of the Amazon River. The heist must take place under the menacing eye of Colonel Richard Strickland (Michael Shannon), who is determined to use the creature to his advantage in the Cold War. The stakes are only raised by Eliza’s love for the amphibian. Del Toro masterfully conducts his cast, using their perceived disadvantages in the 1960’s to their benefit, giving the social outcasts their own story. He creatively

shines a light on decade-old issues like workplace harassment and unemployment, while never compromising the integrity of his characters for his political agenda. Jones and Hawkins’s body language is reminiscent of a silent movie where love transparently ebbs and flows without words. Shannon brings his villain-esque touch, portraying a cold-hearted patriot with accuracy. The actors wield their quirks with assured precision, while cinematographer Dan Lausten and composer Al-

exandre Desplat feed their confidence. Perhaps Del Toro’s unwillingness to stick with one genre is his most significant asset. The film touches on music, romance, comedy, fantasy and horror without ever feeling like the contents of a garage sale left over without purpose. He makes it known they are not mutually exclusive; rather, if they are placed together in the right way, it creates a layer of empathy felt by the human person maybe amphibians too.

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Despite initial skepticism, reviewer Joseph Felix enjoyed The Shape of Water.

Time’s Up movements. “A new day is on the horizon,” Winfrey emphatically stated, receiving a standing ovation from the entire room. The Oscars, which are set to take place on Sunday, March 4 will undoubtedly be centered around the matter of harassment and inequality. The award show is the biggest event of the year in Hollywood, and in light of the recent allegations against men from the industry and the following women empowerment movements, the Oscars will inevitably discuss Hollywood’s rampant sexual harassment problem. Sexual harassment in the work-

place has always been an issue. Oftentimes, men in high positions leverage their power and take advantage of either men or women who they feel will not come forward, in fear of damaging their career. The current events and movements that aim to cast a light on the prevalence of sexual harassment are creating a more welcoming climate for victims of abuse to come forward. By openly discussing the rampant problem of sexual harassment, more people are getting educated on the matter, which we can only hope will prevent the frequent occurrence of sexual harassment in the future.

Review | Exercise

Workout Close to Campus at SWDY By ISHA KHAWAJA CULTURE EDITOR

There is no need to commute downtown to Manhattan in order to connect to your happy place. Nestled by Yankee Stadium, Sweet Water Dance & Yoga (SWDY) is a haven for lovers of dance and yoga. If you are like me and love practicing yoga and meditation, it can be difficult finding your go-to yoga studio at Fordham. The only yoga studios that are most popularly known by students are typically deep downtown in Manhattan which can be time consuming if you want to find serenity during a hectic week of classes and internships. SWDY is accessible to members of the Bronx community as well as all New Yorkers and is only a 20 minute subway ride from 59th Street on either the East or West side. The Bronx is notoriously the unhealthiest borough of New York City, and this studio is one of the first few pioneers to actively address this problem. SWDY offers a wide range of dance, yoga, pilates, barre, boot camp and pole fitness classes taught by professional instructors who truly reflect the Bronx and Uptown community, all at an affordable price. SWDY actively eliminates the

dominant white narrative that is mostly present throughout yoga studios across the country. It can be intimidating to try a challenging yoga class when the instructor and the rest of the class does not look like you or speak the same language as you. Here, you can take Salsa classes taught by Cubans, take Hip-Hop workshops from Bronx natives and take yoga classes taught entirely in Spanish. The studio effortlessly incorporates Bronx culture into all their classes. There is no other studio in New York City that will play Cardi B and Bruno Mars’ “Finesse” while flowing through the warrior sequence. In the vinyasa class that I took, the instructor, Teniece Divya, was challenging yet invigorating. With the assistance of blocks, she made us hold a variation of splits on each side of our leg for three minutes. This challenges not only one’s physical, but also one’s mental flexibility. Not going to lie, in the first minute I was internally screaming. But, at the exact moment that I wanted to give up, Teniece said something that immediately changed my perspective: “What do you do when things get tough? Do you just complain and quit? NO! You take a deep breath and push through.” I did just that.

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January 24, 2018

Playlistism | Meredith Nardino

Predictions for 60th Annual Grammy Awards Let’s be honest, 2017 was pretty bleak. With political unrest and social injustice crowding headlines on the daily, it would be easy to spend the rest of your life hiding under a grey cloud of cynicism. Last year, one thing that gave us a small sense of pride year was the transcendent work of some of our favorite artists. Next week, the Best of 2017 will be honored at the 60th annual Grammy Awards, also known as music’s biggest night. Award season is filled with heated social media debates and the pettiest of think-pieces. This year’s Grammys will surely be no different. My predictions might not help me win any bets, but they are the artists whom I feel most deserve this recognition. 1. “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man Portland-based indie group Portugal. The Man has been on the scene for 13 years, but catapulted into the mainstream with its Woodstock release. The unlikely success of “Feel It Still” earned it a nomination for Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance and for good reason. In just over a year, the song has been streamed over 300 million times and shot to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Just try to get this bass line out of your head, I dare you. 2. “Praying” – Kesha Few people have had as radi-

cal an artistic transformation as Kesha. The highly publicized legal battle with producer Dr. Luke served as inspiration for Rainbow, her powerful third record that explores themes of forgiveness, empowerment and self-worth. “Praying” is up for Best Pop Solo Performance, and Kesha honestly deserves it based on that whistle note alone. It would be a life- and career-affirming win by proving that the strength of women knows no limits. 3. “Redbone” – Childish Gambino Donald Glover is the definition of a triple threat. His third studio album as Childish Gambino was released in December of 2016, but is still worthy of every award. It’s a psychedelic funk fever dream transcending genre and expectation. “Redbone” is a lush, cosmic slow jam worthy of every Prince comparison it’s received. The track appears in the Record of the Year, Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best R&B Song categories and Awaken, My Love! is in the running for Album of the Year. Even on the off-chance Glover does not end the night with at least one award, we will still be blessed with a live performance during the show. 4. “Sober II (Melodrama)”– Lorde Melodrama is up for Album of the Year, but a more accurate

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Childish Gambino is among one of the many artists nominated for multiple awards at this year’s Grammys.

category would be Album of the Millennium. Lorde’s sophomore record is a career-defining masterpiece recounting the highest highs and lowest lows of the twenty-something lifestyle. It’s vibrant and moody, optimistic and skeptical, fun and challenging – everything you would expect from this unique pop savant. Lorde is the only female nominee

in the stacked AOTY category, up against Childish Gambino, Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar. Taking home this win might seem far-fetched for Lorde, but the Grammys never bet against a prodigy. 5. “Everything Now”– Arcade Fire With the most heavy-handed promotion I have ever witnessed,

Canada’s own Arcade Fire dropped their joyful cultural commentary, taking on modern consumerism, political anxiety and technology. Did they need to create a fake media company that sold branded fidget spinners in order to make their point? Probably not, but the stunt was just profound enough for the band to grab a Best Alternative Album nom.

Editor’s Pick | Film

The Cinematic Sensuality of Call Me by Your Name By BAILEY HOSFELT

EDITORIAL & MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR

There is something about a film set over the course of a summer. Add picturesque Northern Italy, Armie Hammer wearing short shorts and heartache accompanied by a gutwrenching Sufjan Stevens song into the equation, and I am sold. Adapted from the 2007 novel

bearing the same title, Call Me by Your Name follows 17-year-old Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet) and graduate student turned houseguest Oliver (Hammer) over the course of six sun-soaked weeks in 1983. The two coexist at the Perlman family villa: Oliver assists Elio’s father (Michael Stuhlbarg) –an academic specializing in Greco-Roman culture – with his research while

Elio reads voraciously, transcribes piano music, basks in the beautiful boredom of vacation and occasionally shows Oliver around a rather thinned-out town. It is in scenes where the two characters ride around on bikes that their emotional connection truly becomes apparent. When Elio takes Oliver to his favorite place, a secluded lake with

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Call Me by Your Name is a perfect example of a well-paced film that showcases its performers’ full acting potential.

fresh water runoff from a nearby mountain, he not only introduces someone else to new territory, but also dips a toe into a new part of himself as well. Here we see the two gravitate to each other in a way that is palpable and no longer strictly platonic. Filled with an abundant amount of shirtlessness and inactivity, Elio and Oliver spend much of their time together, though not doing or saying much. The pacing is slow but deliberate, the action subdued but dramatic. It is as if director Luca Guadagnino is telling his audience to sit tight because something is brewing and the buildup will only bolster the theatrics of the breakdown. In the final third of the film, Elio’s entrapment in his own mind and body becomes increasingly evident. His path to sexual discovery is a complicated one. Compartmentalized and then released, satisfying yet soul-crushing. The precision of Call Me by Your Name’s cinematic structure is as impeccable as the Bach cantatas Chalamet’s character plays on piano. Just like the boy’s intelligent ability to alter the music and improvise, Guadagnino serves as the film’s astute maestro, guiding his actors to show rather than tell. They do just that. Looks of longing and lust followed by glimpses into intimate encounters exemplify the emotional vulnerability, seductive nature and

prolific romanticism of the film. Scenes in which Elio and Oliver engage in sexual acts are neither presented in a declaratory nor detailed manner. More often than not, the scenes tastefully fade out and the audience is left to decide the specifics. After all, their relationship is happening behind closed doors. The artistic sensitivity and articulation of Call Me by Your Name is among the best of not only this Oscar season, but cinema as a whole. Every character pushes his or her counterpart to take it to the next level, the final monologue Mr. Perlman gives to his son serving as a prime example. In this conversation, each actor occupies space on the couch: Stuhlbag, a seasoned performer with a sense of paternal guidance on one side and Chalamet, a remarkable newcomer with the embodiment of raw adolescence, on the other. There is not one element of Call Me by Your Name without tact. From its understated score and lush scenery to piercing cinematography and a patient script, the film stands out as an absolute original. Even the font and color scheme of the end credits align with the all-consuming atmosphere Guadagnino created. Call Me by Your Name is a decadent time capsule of Elio and Oliver’s connection – a flicker followed by the flood. The film will break your heart, but perhaps that is what makes it even more important.

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January 24, 2018

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Review | Film

The Force Falters in Star Wars: The Last Jedi By MATTHEW DILLON STAFF WRITER

While not quite as incompetent or lifeless as the dark depths of the mid-2000s prequel trilogy, The Last Jedi does not live up to standards of the timeless Star Wars franchise. Taking place after 2015’s The Force Awakens, the eighth installment of the series follows the ongoing antics of the Resistance and the First Order, successors to the Rebellion and Empire respectively. After the two groups’ fleets get caught in a poorly explained deadlock, former Stormtrooper Finn ( John Boyega) and Resistance member Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) must venture to the gambling world of Canto Bight to resolve it. Additionally, we see up-and-coming force wielder Rey (Daisy Ridley) seek guidance from Jedi messiah turned hermit Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Sadly, that last storyline is the only one with any real substance. While all of these plotlines have a variety of issues, the overarching problem is weak writing and editing. This has a noticeable impact on the movie’s tone, as dark revelations and deep rooted cynicism runs alongside bizarre humor, cartoon animals and slapstick comedy. The contrived opening is completely sabotaged by these tonal issues, in which hotshot pilot Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) faces down the entire First Order fleet while exchanging witty banter with its general. This serves as buildup to a scene heavily influenced by the more traumatic entries in the World War II genre, with quite an excess of on-screen

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Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill return to another episode of the classic sci-fi franchise which first began in 1977.

casualties. I would call it cartoonish, except Star Wars’ animated outings have historically done a better job of representing the universe. The Last Jedi suffers from surprisingly clumsy editing. Individual scenes drag on at the best of times or feel completely unnecessary in the worse cases. None of them properly link up, much less flow together. While the editing, historically Star Wars’ strong point, is the main issue, the writing certainly does not help. Only a handful of the major characters act consistently or even have coherent motivations. Those expecting answers for the many questions raised by The Force

Awakens need to wait for the next film or accept that it’s a lost cause. The real failing is the dialogue, which feels straight out of a political Twitter rant. At one point, Rose declares to Finn that Canto Bight is a “bad place full of bad people.” The line itself is weak but becomes inexcusable when Rose fails to explain why until significantly later in the film. Star Wars has never exactly been on par with the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey or Blade Runner, but even the prequels had more compelling dialogue. Despite these problems, The Last Jedi is not a bad film or even the worst Star Wars film. Though the

presentation is questionable, the visuals are impressive and emulate the grubby but heavy feeling carried by the original trilogy. The film produces some genuinely impressive moments, even if their importance is questionable. The poor script is somewhat salvaged by the casts’ strong performances, which are the film’s real strength. None of the actors give anything less than their best, even if the writing falls short of their acting ability. The young Sith and primary antagonist Kylo Ren is now a genuinely compelling villain thanks to Adam Driver’s magnetic performance. Mark Hamill’s relentless rendi-

tion of an outcast Luke Skywalker is what holds the film together. Thanks to Hamill’s efforts, Luke’s transformation stands as The Last Jedi’s only well executed or even original element. While the fan backlash for this film rivals that of even the prequel trilogy, The Last Jedi hardly deserves it. While not particularly great, especially in the context of the larger Star Wars franchise, the sci-fi powerhouse has seen worse days. At the same time, The Last Jedi fails to get you excited for the final installment of this new era of Star Wars, much less the new trilogy that’s supposed to follow it.

Politics and Performance Prevail at SAG Awards By RYAN DI CORPO CULTURE EDITOR

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, which aired this past Sunday on TNT and TBS, sustained the political tone that has marked the 2018 awards season thus far. The awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, featured

all-female presenters for its 13 categories and actress Kristen Bell as the ceremony’s first-ever host. The SAG Awards followed the lead of this year’s Golden Globes, albeit without the same prevalence of black suits and gowns, as both shows focused on the stories and struggles of women in the film and television industries. While Holly-

wood continues to grapple with ongoing revelations of rampant and virtually unchecked sexual misconduct pervading the entertainment world, the industry’s awards shows have been utilized as platforms to address these issues head-on. During the opening of the awards, Ms. Bell alluded to the start of the #MeToo movement

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SAG-AFTRA was created following the 2012 merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

and the creation of the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund by declaring that the actors in the room will “march forward with active momentum and open ears.” This theme of empowerment and resolve in the face of grave injustice was echoed throughout the evening by various persons. Presenters Rosanna Arquette and Marisa Tomei praised the “silence breakers,” and SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris tasked the audience with “[creating] an environment in which this discrimination, harassment and abuse are no longer tolerated.” However, the awards were not bereft of controversy. James Franco, nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in The Disaster Artist, attended the ceremony despite being recently accused by five women of inappropriate sexual behavior. Actor and comedian Aziz Ansari, nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for Master of None, has also been the subject of a recent allegation of sexual misconduct. Ansari did not attend the ceremony, and the announcement of his name was met with no applause. Both men lost their respective awards. The top acting awards of the

night for the film categories went to Frances McDormand, who also received the Golden Globe for her work in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing , Missouri, and to Gary Oldman, another recent Globe recipient who has received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. Yet, the night truly belonged to Three Billboards, which received three awards, including Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Sam Rockwell and Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. On the television front, the NBC drama “This Is Us” picked up two awards, honoring the work of the show’s ensemble and specifically honoring Sterling K. Brown, who became the first African-American to receive the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama. Julia Louis-Dreyfus of HBO’s “Veep” also made history with her win for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series. She is now the only television actress to win five individual SAG Awards. The Screen Actors Guild also honored the career of veteran actor Morgan Freeman, who received the 54th Life Achievement award.

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January 24, 2018

Who’s That Kid? | It’s David Shoshan, FCRH ’19

Junior Finds His Niche in Neuroscience Program By CHRISTOPHER CANADEO OPNION EDITOR

David Shoshan, FCRH ’19, has excelled in a career path that is not often embarked on by the average Fordham student. David is a member of Fordham University’s exclusive integrated neuroscience program where he studies cell and molecular neuroscience as well as epigenetics. Neuroscience is the study of neurological connections in our brain that are linked to motor functions, learning and memory. It is through analyzing these connections that one can study the neurological causes of feelings and attitudes such as aggression or even memory loss. Specifically, epigenetics is the analysis of DNA genomes passed down from parents to children and the symptoms and characteristics that these allele sets carry. When David was eight, his mother had developed a large meningioma (brain tumor) that was deemed to be cancerous and even deadly. If not acted upon immediately, the brain tumor would continue to grow and even, if removed, it could cause permanent damage. “I was really scared, I didn’t fully understand what was going on, but I knew my mom was in bad shape and needed surgery,” David said. Thankfully, Dr. Brian Beyerl of Morristown Memorial Hospital agreed to perform the surgery, which he and his team executed flawlessly. “If it were not for the help of Dr. Beyerl,” David said, “my mother may not even be here today. I could not be more

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David’s experiences working in different hospitals have helped him become more knowledgeable in his field.

thankful for his work and the work he does for others as well in removing tumors and keeping people healthy.” It is this surgery and this story that has inspired David to study neuroscience and to one day become a research assistant or perhaps a neurosurgeon just like the

one who saved his mom. During the summer of his freshman year, David worked at Morristown Memorial Hospital where he shadowed Dr. Beyerl and learned about his position and what the daily routine of a neurosurgeon is like. “This was a really cool experience for me as I got to take a deeper

look into my desired field and watch Dr. Beyerl in action,” stated David. This past summer, David was selected to be a part of the fellowship program in The Atlantis Project, where he would travel to different parts of Western Europe to work with doctors and patients

in the medical field. David worked under several doctors in the anesthesiology department as well as in the emergency room and urgent care in Virgo, Spain. This unique experience allowed David to not only gain even more experience in the medical field, but analyze and compare how hospitals in other countries are run compared to hospitals in the United States. Because David was working in another country, communication could have been an issue; the majority of patients in Virgo did not speak English. However, David is trilingual and speaks fluent English, Spanish and Portuguese, so conversing with doctors and patients in their native language was not a problem. David said that his language skills were a great help in understanding what the patients were feeling which helped him make a more accurate diagnosis. David is now the Fordham University ambassador of The Atlantis Project fellowship program where he hopes to link other Fordham students with this once in a lifetime opportunity. At Fordham, David has worked with the anthropology department as well as the neuroscience department on numerous research projects. In the coming months, David plans to formulate his own research project with professors and students that is centered around human behavior and how it relates to epigenetics. Through Fordham University, David has transformed a potentially traumatic experience into a lifelong passion and career.

Boogie Down Bites | Elizabeth Nealon

Quality Mexican Cuisine at Estrellita Poblana III Arthur Avenue is known as Little Italy, but nestled among the Italian restaurants and shops there is a Mexican restaurant that has managed to thrive since its opening 11 years ago. Estrellita Poblana III is a popular spot for many Fordham students, which might shock people who expect us to eat, sleep and breathe Italian food and never for a moment be ungrateful for the fantastic Italian culinary scene buzzing just off campus. However, one can only have pizza so many nights in a row and Estrellita Poblana III satisfies the need of so many Bronxites and Fordham students who crave a variety of eateries. Estrellita Poblana III is one of five Bronx-based restaurants owned by the Gonzalez family who put their soul into not just the dishes, but into the whole dinner experience. In such a small space they managed to set a surprisingly large number of tables, making the seating a bit tight but not uncomfortable. The staff are friendly and clearly a close-knit group of co-workers. Many times during my visit, I could hear laughter emanating from the kitchen and non-stop banter between our waitress and the cooks. The décor of the dining room

is subtle, except for two murals on each wall which depict various Mexican landscapes and portraits of beautiful women — one who closely resembles Bella Hadid. The restaurants of Arthur Avenue are swimming in tradition and culture, and Estrellita Poblana III is not the first place that comes to mind as a familyowned restaurant in Little Italy. Instead, most people would think of Mike’s Deli, whose “About Us” page on their website begins their story in 1919. The history of Estrellita’s in less known than that of Mike’s, but Estrellita’s still manages to cook up delicious Mexican fare in a neighborhood with a low tolerance for mediocre food. In the time I was there, various deliveries of fresh ingredients were made and the wealth of options on the menu was intimidating to say the least. Our helpful waitress chose dishes that would be perfect for people with dietary restrictions or who prefer less-spicy foods. Estrellita’s guacamole might be some of the best I have ever had, and the large serving is enough to feed four or five people. I was not too optimistic on what would be available for someone who doesn’t eat meat, but at Estrellita’s, one

can essentially substitute fish or extra veggies for meat in any dish you want. As a filling for the restaurant’s burritos, tacos, fajitas, etc. it offers such a wide variety. You could get free-range chicken while the diner next to you could be enjoying beef tripe. The sizzling fajitas come with a little drama as they’re brought out while steam billows from the burning-hot cast-iron skillet

containing the peppers, onions, and shrimp. The tortillas are soft and incredibly fresh and nicely display the unsung heroes of any Mexican dish – the rice and beans. Luckily, Estrellita’s delivers. On those days when the homework is piling up and you absolutely need some tacos and guacamole, you will not even have to leave campus to get some of its

delicious food. Still, the atmosphere of Estrellita Poblana III is perfect for dinner with friends. It is pretty casual spot that offers top-notch Mexican food at a comfortable price-point for many college students. Perhaps next time a friend or family member visits, show them around the unexpected side of Arthur Avenue and dine at Estrellita Poblana III.

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Estrellita’s provides the Fordham community with an culinary alternative to the borough’s largely Italian fare.

January 24, 2018

Track and Field Soars at Gotham Cup By EMMANUEL BERBARI ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex played host to the NYC Gotham Cup in Staten Island, New York this past Friday, where the Fordham Rams saw two standout performers race to record-setting marks. Senior Louis Santelli and junior Mary Kate Kenny made Fordham history, breaking school records in the 1,000-meter run and 60-meter dash, respectively. Santelli ran 1,000 meters in an astounding 2:25.80, while Kenny bested her previous 60-meter record in 7.79 seconds. “It felt fantastic,” said Santelli. “The record holder before me [Ryan Polo] was my idol freshman year, so to take down his record is really amazing to me.” As for Kenny, making school history was no unfathomable task. “Amazingly, she broke the record two times, once in the trials and again in the finals,” said Santelli. “MK has been setting new heights for the women’s sprint team at Fordham since she stepped foot on campus.” Individual performances were not the only significant takeaway from the event. At the relay events later in the day, both the men’s and women’s ‘A’ distance medley teams came away victorious with times of 10:06.00 and 12:34.17, respectively. Additionally, the men’s squad ran away from the pack in the 4x800 relay with 8:01.29, while the women were runners-up with 9:33.30. “Personally, I think this is the best team we have had at Fordham in the four years I have been here,” said

Santelli. “I expect to see a lot more of Fordham’s records shaken up before the end of the season.” Additional notable performances on the men’s side included freshman Giancarlo Cipri’s fifth-place finish (8:52.70) in the 3,000-meter run, sophomore Sean Sullivan’s eigth-place finish (2:32.63) in the 1,000-meter run, freshman Anthony Misko’s ninth-place finish (49.64) in the 400-meter dash, senior Fritz Heinrich and sophomore Ryan Kutch’s fourth (4:16.78) and fifthplace (4:18.03) finishes in the mile and freshman Christopher Strzelinski’s seventh-place (1:58.06) mark in the 800-meter run. Senior Ryan Riviere also stood out on the stat sheet, finishing second in the pole vault with 4.35 meters cleared. There were other standout individual performances on the women’s side. Freshman Anais Karagianni’s time of 9.02 in the 60-meter hurdles, which was good for fifth place. Senior Stephanie Leo’s 10:40.67 time in the 3,000-meter run was formidable enough for a seventh-place finish. Junior Angelina Grebe also placed in seventh with a time of 5:09.35 and junior Blake Elwood had a 10th-place time of 5:12.85 in the mile. Senior Brynna Harum earned a fifth-place nod, while sophomore Katarzyna Krzyzanowski finished with a seventh-place clip and junior Laurel Fisher came in ninth in the 1,000-meter run. On the field, freshman Kathryn Kelly’s jump of 5.44m earned thirdplace honors and junior Neve Devine tied for ninth with 1.55m cleared. The Rams will be back in action at Boston University this Friday, when they partake in the Terrier Classic.

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham’s track and field teams competed in the NYC Gotham Cup last weekend.

SPORTS

Page 21

Women’s and Men’s Swimming Flourish in First Events of 2018 By DOMINIC CAPONE STAFF WRITER

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving team finished up 2017 on the opposite side of the win-loss column. The women were 4-1 entering the new year while the men trailed behind at 2-3. Fordham’s swimming and diving teams were back in the pool facing off against Florida Atlantic and La Salle. The women also had two additional matches against Central Connecticut State and Richmond. The men went to Boca Raton to compete against Florida Atlantic last week and then hosted La Salle on Jan. 20th. They lost both matches by a score of 143-118 and 176.5-116.5 respectively. The women faced four opponents this past week sporting an impressive 3-1 record. They beat Florida Atlantic 143-119 while also beating Central Connecticut State 172-87 on the same day. This past Saturday, they beat the La Salle Explorers 211-84 while losing to the defending Atlantic-10 women’s champion Richmond Spiders 164-135. Despite the loss against Florida Atlantic, the men won a total of six events. Veteran Joe Mercurio came away with four wins in the contest. Mercurio took first in the individual 50 freestyle (21.55) and the 100 butterfly (51.13). He also joined Auston Ramsay, Travis Monahan, and Joseph Vizza in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay in which both groups came in first with times of 1:35.19 and 3:11.53 in order. The last two wins for the Rams came from Travis Monahan, who won the 100 breaststroke in 58.93 seconds and Isiah Magsino who won the 200 individual medley in 1:57.33. The women also won six events during the match, including both relays. Michelle Martin, Samantha McDonald, Amelia Bullock and Gabrielle Celia took first in the 200 medley relay in 1:47.67, while McDonald, Caitlin Mc-

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Both Fordham swim and dive teams were successful this weekend.

Nary, Theresa Mullen and Tara Brunner won the 400 freestyle in 3:34.34. The women won four individual events as well. Michelle Martin won the 50 freestyle in 24.17 seconds, while Bayley Frierson came in first in the 1650 freestyle, sporting a winning time of 17:48.24. The last two winners were Tara Brunner, who won the 100 freestyle in 52.93 seconds and Amelia Bullock who took first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.13 seconds. A week later the team hosted La Salle while the women also competed against Richmond. The men won five events in their loss to La Salle. Joe Mercurio, Joseph Vizza, Travis Monahan and Auston Ramsay took first in the 200 medley relay in 1:33.09. Mercurio also won two individual events: the 50 freestyle in 21.55 seconds and the 100 butterfly where he

tied La Salle’s Jakub Batosiewicz at 50.38. Vizza captured first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:43.90 and Isiah Magsino tacked on a win in the 200 individual medley in 1:56.06. In their split decision, the women won five events, led by sophomore Amelia Bullock, who won the 100 butterfly in 56.03 seconds and the 200 butterfly in 2:01.10. Bullock, Michelle Martin, Gabrielle Celia and Samantha McDonald came in first in the 200 medley relay in 1:45.95. McDonald was also a part of the 400 freestyle relay group along with Tara Bruner, Caitlin McNary and Theresa Mullen, who won with a time of 3:31.80. Fordham’s next event will take place here in the Bronx when they host Iona on Jan. 24th at 5:00 p.m.

Fordham Squash Sweeps Weekend Matches By JIMMY SULLIVAN

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Fordham men’s squash team won three matches in the Bronx this weekend in its first competitive action of the 2018 calendar year. The team notched its three victories against Bard University, Colgate University and New York University. The first two matches against Bard and Colgate took place on Saturday while the final match of the weekend against NYU occurred on Sunday. On Saturday morning, the Rams easily dispatched Bard without so much as losing a match. Six of the nine Fordham players won their matches in straight sets, as did junior Justin Esposito in his exhibition match. The highlights of that one for the Rams were five-set victories by senior Peter Yuen and freshman Griffin Fitzgerald. With one win already under its belt on the day, Fordham looked to continue its success in its afternoon matchup with Colgate. It is safe to say it did just that.

Even when it did not look like the Rams could be more dominant, they were, as they finished off Colgate without even losing a set. Two Rams, Will Beatrez and Esposito, won their matches by default, as Colgate did not field a player for either of the final two matches of the afternoon. The Rams would look to make that eight straight victories on Sunday against NYU. However, unlike the matches against Bard and Colgate, this would prove to be no easy task. The two teams went back and forth over the first six individual matches on Sunday, and a three-set victory for NYU’s Shane Fries over Fordham’s Tommy White tied the match at three points apiece. On this day, Fordham would need to win two of its final three matches to earn their eighth straight victory. The team needed some of its best players to step up in the clutch. They did. Fifth-year senior Joseph Hughes defeated New York’s Michael Kumar in straight sets to give the lead back to Fordham; with the victory, Hughes

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Fordham’s squash team won all of its three contests this weekend against Bard, Colgate and New York University.

went to 13-2 on the season havingwon his last eight matches. Next up for Fordham was freshman Justin Deckoff. He played with poise and defeated Paul Yoon in straight sets to clinch another win for the Rams. Despite junior Will Beatrez’s loss in the final match of the day, Fordham won the contest and moved to 13-2 on the season.

The Rams’ next matches are also at home, as they face off against Bryant and Bucknell this Saturday. After that, Fordham has two weeks off before the Northeastern Round Robin, which will take place Feb. 9-11. This tournament will feature Northeastern University, Brandeis University, Boston College, Minnesota University and Boston University. After that, the

team will look to the qualify for the College Squash Association national championship, a tournament that features 64 teams. Fordham is currently ranked 36th in the CSA rankings and should make the cut if it continues to play the way it has to this point in the season.

Page 22

The Continuing Myth of Tom Brady By BRENDAN O’CONNELL STAFF WRITER

As dusk drew nearer this past Sunday evening, millions of football fans across the nation watched with baited breath as the unthinkable nearly happened. The Jacksonville Jaguars, a talented and surprisingly young team, outfitted in two-toned helmets and mirrored sunglasses, traveled to the seat of NFL power to face the vaunted New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium and dominated the game for much of its first 45 minutes. Living rooms, sports bars and social media platforms alike were – prematurely – buzzing with the possibilities of a dynasty dethroned and predictions of an anticlimactic end to the careers of two of the most accomplished figures in football history. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, with the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in their twenty-two-year history just minutes from becoming a reality, a 40-year-old quarterback and certain hooded coach, along with multiple assistants who are likely poised to head up their own operations this offseason, showed that their time had not run out. The Patriots (and the “storm” himself, Tom Brady) stormed back for a 2420 triumph. The Patriots are no strangers to succeeding in the face of failure. Incredibly, the last four times the Patriots have trailed by double digits in the postseason, they have come back to win. In the 2015 AFC Divisional Round, they charged back from 14 points behind - not once but twice to defeat the Baltimore Ravens, with trick plays like Julian Edelman’s pass to Danny Amendola and innovative formation designs that befuddled the opposing defense. Three weeks later, in Super Bowl XLIX, trailing by 10 points in the fourth quarter to the Seattle Seahawks, Tom Brady completed 13 of his 15 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns against one of the greatest defensive units in league history as a prelude to Malcolm Butler’s iconic, championship-saving interception at the goal line to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. In last year’s Super Bowl LI, de-

spite famously being down 28-3 in the waning minutes of the third quarter with the Atlanta Falcons and their historic offense on the other sideline, the Patriots accounted for several iconic moments, including Dont’a Hightower’s strip-sack of league MVP Matt Ryan, Edelman’s fingertip catch between multiple defenders and James White’s overtime rushing touchdown. You also can’t forget number 12’s absurd second half stat line of 28 of 37 for 287 yards and two touchdowns. This past Sunday, once again down 10 points against a defense full of star players with the clock ticking in the fourth quarter, the Patriots found a way to outlast their challengers once more. Brady relied upon Amendola for several clutch plays late and finished with 290 yards, two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 108.4, all while having at least ten stitches in his throwing hand. He and Belichick captured their 27th postseason victory together, including their 11th in come-frombehind fashion in the fourth quarter or overtime, despite the team not having its two top offensive weapons in Edelman and Rob Gronkowski (in the second half) and defensive stalwart Hightower due to injury, Brady suffering from a slice on his right thumb and an alleged power struggle between the most successful quarterback-coach-owner trio in the history of the sports looming overhead. Now, the Patriots head to Minneapolis for their eighth Super Bowl this millennium and tenth all-time. Vying for their sixth ring, Belichick and Brady will face the Philadelphia Eagles, whom they faced in Super Bowl XXXIX. The last time this matchup took place with the Lombardi Trophy on the line, the Patriots emerged victorious. However, while Brady and Belichick are still at the helm in Foxborough, the Eagles’ roster and coaching staff have changed dramatically since that night in February of 2005. Will the outcome be different this season, or will Belichick, Brady, Robert Kraft and Patriot nation enjoy a third title in four years yet again?

SPORTS

January 24, 2018

By JACK McLOONE SPORTS EDITOR

I thought I was finally free of Jay Bruce. I really thought I was done. I was wrong. Now Jay Bruce isn’t the worst thing to happen to this Mets team. It’s not the worst signing Sandy Alderson and company could have made. But it’s still a bad sign, for varying reasons. My issue with the trade for Bruce in 2016 was the pretense leading to the acquisition: the Mets weren’t scoring runs, and at the time Bruce was leading the league with 80 RBIs. The problem is that runs batted in are a wildly misleading statistic, a product of luck (Bruce was batting .360 with runners in scoring position at the time of his trade) despite batting .265 on the whole. At the time, Alderson was quoted as saying Bruce was “not an absolute perfect fit for us,” and then-manager Terry Collins expressed consternation at fitting Bruce into the lineup. While RBIs can be a measure of success, they aren’t an effective measure of skill, making trading for them a logical fallacy. Trading on the basis of a flawed stat bit the Mets, with Bruce batting just .219 in his 50 games with New York in 2016 and just 19 RBIs to boot. The Bruce issues didn’t stop there, as his mere existence made the Mets consider sending Michael Conforto to the minors to start the season. Thanks to the ever-present Met injury bug, Conforto started the season with the big-league team and was looking like a strong MVP candidate until the bug caught him too. In Bruce’s defense, he had a pretty good 2017 for the Mets, hitting .256 with an on-base percentage of .321 and 29 home runs. What did that net the Mets when they moved him at the deadline? Uh, Ryder Ryan, who sounds like a 90s coming-ofage movie bully with a soft heart and apparently softer fastball, since he had an almost 5.00 ERA at the time. In a quiet offseason across the lead, the Mets did make another “move,” with quotation marks to indicate just how inconsequential the signing of washed-up first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the league minimum is. Gonzalez was just traded

from the Dodgers to the Braves as part of a salary dump. While the Mets were able to get him on the cheap in a relatively no-risk but also no-reward kind of deal, it stinks of a being an attempt at placating the fans instead of trying to be competitive. It was only 2015 when the Mets were in the World Series, and they made the Wild Card game the year after. This was a young playoff team that looked ready to challenge the Cubs to represent the National League in the World Series year after year. Ownership seemed to take this concept of “being on the verge” to mean “we just need our young players to continue to develop,” instead of adequately addressing problem areas like catcher and third base, trotting out the same lineup in 2017. There’s a certain dissonance between the goals of fans and the goals of ownership in almost every sport. Fans will often criticize ownership, occasionally unfairly, for not spending enough to make a team competitive and choosing finances over winning. This generally results in a cyclical argument where these people are constantly reminded that sports teams are still a business, regardless of the way we treat them more as a part of our lives. More often than not, these owners will hide behind the guise of being a “small-market” team, a culturally-accepted term that may actually mean nothing. In reality, “small-market” is an excuse for refusing to spend money to be competitive. Take, for example, the Detroit Tigers; as of

the collective bargaining agreement that expired in 2016, they were the 17th-largest market. In 2016, their payroll was $192,307,500, good for fourth-highest in baseball. On the flipside, the Oakland Athletics had the seventh-largest market but the 26th-largest payroll ($80,613,332). In other words, every one who owns a team can afford to spend on talent. That is a simple fact of life; some just choose not to. The Wilpons have chosen not to spend money, and have lately seemed surprised when other teams do. The New York Post’s Mets beat reporter Mike Puma had a scoop last month, saying that the eldest of the Wilpons, Fred, apparently “always seems surprised” when the Yankees make a move to add to their payroll and believes that they “can’t keep this model up,” despite the fact that the Yankees have remained on top of the payroll rankings for essentially generations. As they are built right now, the Mets are set up for another disappointing season. Last year, it was mostly a product of injury that sunk what could have maybe been a promising team, albeit one that was fundamentally the exact same as the year before. Now, they are willfully shedding payroll, trading off pieces last season in exchange for salary relief instead of meaningful prospects and with no clear direction towards success. But at least they signed Jay Bruce and the corpse of Adrian Gonzalez?

COURTESY OF TWITTER

The Mets re-signed Jay Bruce, showing a lack of desire for real improvement.

Varsity Calendar HOME AWAY

Thursday Jan. 25

Friday Jan. 26

George Mason 2 p.m.

St. Women’s Basketball Bonaventure 7 p.m. Men’s Tennis

Boston College 5:30 p.m.

Brown 10 a.m.

Women’s Tennis

Seton Hall 1 p.m.

Squash

Bryant/ Bucknell 9 a.m./2 p.m.

Swimming

UMass 1 p.m.

Track

Sunday Jan. 28

Monday Jan. 29

Tuesday Jan. 30

Wednesday Jan. 31

UMass 2 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Saturday Jan. 27

Terrier Classic 2 p.m.

Saint Louis 12 p.m.

SPORTS

January 24, 2018

Evan Biancardi

MLB Hot Stove Remains Cold It has been over a month since we last looked at the top Major League Baseball free agents, and while it was expected that at least a few players would still remain, it’s shocking that the vast majority of free agents are still looking for suitors. Many have speculated as to why this year’s free agency has lagged in comparison to years past, but the answer is quite obvious. Yes, teams may be holding out for next year’s class, which could potentially include Harper, Machado, Donaldson and Keuchel among others, but contending teams simply can’t afford to wait an entire season to bolster their rosters. A more compelling argument is that baseball has a parity issue. Last season, three teams totaled at least 100 victories and the top eight all recorded over 90. Meanwhile, a total of 18 teams had losing records. This is a key factor, as teams like the Marlins, Pirates and Rays are now giving up superb talent to buyers such as the Blue Jays, Cardinals and Giants. These teams were previous potential landing spots for players like Cain, Martinez and Hosmer, but now, the market is practically nonexistent for some of the top hitters. As far as pitching is concerned, the current state of the market is more complicated. It’s clear that this year’s group surpasses 2019’s free agent class. Aside from Keuchel, the next best available starting pitcher will probably be Gio Gonzalez, and the options drop off significantly after that. So, why aren’t teams going after Darvish, Arietta, Cobb or Lynn? I truly don’t think it’s because teams value starting pitching any less, and teams’ hesitation to sign starters to long-term deals is a theory that has been addressed and debunked numerous times. The true reason is because previous big spenders don’t want to exceed the luxury tax threshold. Under MLB’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), teams who exceed the $197 million threshold are slated to pay a 17.5 percent luxury tax on every dollar above the cap. If a team continues to surpass the cap, it is required to pay a 30 percent tax for the second year, 40 percent for the third year and a 50 percent tax for each subsequent season. The only way a team can reset its tax rate is if it decreases its payroll below the threshold. That is currently what teams are trying to do. Last year, the Dodgers, Yankees, Tigers, Red Sox, Cubs and Giants were all forced to pay a luxury tax, and for many of these teams, it wasn’t their first offense, so it’s no surprise that the big spenders are shedding payroll to reset their rates. Because of the vast inequality in the market, such teams can now afford to do so. The Yankees and Dodgers, perennial big spenders in recent years, have spent only $12 million combined on free agents. However, both teams are expected to be among the top teams in baseball. The problem is, while this trend in decreased spending is saving teams millions of dollars, it’s costing free agents millions in future salary. One silver lining in all of this could be the fact that teams on the cusp of contention, such as the Angels, Phillies, Rockies and Twins, have accounted for over $300 million in free agent spending this offseason. Things won’t be like this forever, though. With spring training less than two months away, expect to see many top players fall off the board in the coming weeks.

Page 23

Varsity Scores & Stats Women's Basketball Fordham 62 Dayton 63 (FOR) Cavanaugh: 34 Pts, 6 Rebs, 10-11 FT (FOR) Davis: 16 Pts. 12 Rebs

Squash Fordham 9 Bard 0 Bruce Czachor (FOR) def. Pranjal Ghate (BARD) 11-6, 11-7, 11-8

Richmond 38 Fordham 43 (FOR) Davis: 20 Pts, 10 Rebs (FOR) Goulding: 7 Pts, 13 Rebs

Fordham Colgate

9 0

Fordham NYU

5 4

Men's Basketball La Salle 75 Fordham 67 (FOR) Tavares: 18 Pts, 7 Rebs

Men's Swimming Fordham La Salle

St. Joseph's 68 Fordham 46 (FOR) Slanina: 11 Pts, 8 Rebs (FOR) Chartouny: 11 Pts, 7 Rebs. 2 Stls

116.5 176.5

Women's Swimming Fordham 135 Richmond 164 Fordham La Salle

211 84

Men's Track NYC Gotham Cup 1000m Run (FOR) Santelli 3rd - 2:25.80 (FOR) Sullivan 8th - 2:32.63 Mile Run (FOR) Heinrich 4th - 4:16.78 (FOR) Kutch 5th - 4:18.03 Pole Vault Women's Track NYC Gotham Cup 60m Dash (FOR) Kenny 5th - 7.79 Mile Run (FOR) Grebe 7th - 5:09.35 Triple Jump (FOR) Kelly 1st - 10.42m

Athletes of the Week Louis Santelli

Mary Kate Kenny

Senior

Junior

Track

Santelli led the men's track team at the NYC Gotham Cup, breaking a school record in the 1000-meter run with a time of 2:25.80. The previous record-holder was Ryan Polo, GSB '15, who posted a time of 2:27.91 back in 2011.

Kenny set the pace for the women's squad at the NYC Gotham Cup, setting a school mark in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.79 seconds. Her time topped the previous record of 7.82 seconds, recorded by herself last year.

Each week, The Fordham Ram’s sports editors honor one male athlete and one female athlete for their on-field performances as their “Athletes of the Week.”

News & Notes • Men's Soccer's Matthew Lewis Inks MLS Deal

Major League Soccer's Sporting Kansas City signed Fordham soccer alum Matthew Lewis to a one-year deal on Monday. The contract includes options for 2019, 2020 and 2021. Lewis, a four-year starter for the Rams, set school records with 84 career appearances and starts. The defender won Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year his senior year, helping Fordham to a school-record 14 wins, 11 clean sheets and its first appearance in the NCAA quarterfinals. A Kansas City, Missouri native, Lewis returns to his roots, where he led the backline of Sporting KC U-18 in 2013-14 before budding into a star in the Bronx.

• Chase Edmonds Invited to Combine Fordham Football alum Chase Edmonds

received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine this past week. Despite battling through an injury-riddled senior season, the star running back was still a second team All-Patriot League selection as he capped off a legendary collegiate career. Edmonds's conference and school records in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns have now earned him a shot at the pros.

• Caleb Ham Signs Deal with CFL The Toronto Argonauts of the Canadi-

an Football League reached a deal with Fordham Football's Caleb Ham this past Tuesday. Over his four-year tenure with the Rams, the defensive back registered 186 total tackles (124 solo) in 44 games, six tackles for loss, one sack, 23 pass deflections and seven interceptions. Tracy Ham, Caleb's father, is a former CFL standout, where he was the tenth alltime leading passer, good enough for an induction into the Hall of Fame in 2010.

• G'mrice Davis Earns Player of the Week Honor In women’s basketball, the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week was awarded to Fordham's G'mrice Davis, who averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game this past week and recorded her eighth and ninthstraight double-doubles. The senior forward ranks second in the NCAA with 13.3 rebounds per game this season.

-Compiled by Emmanuel Berbari

Liam McKeone

Jimmy Buckets Leading Wolves Head coach Tom Thibodeau and the Minnesota Timberwolves shocked the basketball world by acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls on draft night. The Wolves trading for Butler wasn’t the shock, but rather how little they had to give up to get him. For a player considered a perennial All-Star, a regular on the All-NBA defensive team lists and one of the best leaders in the NBA, they only had to give up: Kris Dunn, a former top-ten pick who didn’t seem to be thriving in Minnesota; the No. 7 overall pick (which became Lauri Markannen) and Zach LaVine. Two top-ten picks and LaVine may sound like a lot, but LaVine is coming off a torn ACL and Markannen’s ability to survive in the NBA defensively was a big question mark, while Dunn’s first year in Minnesota was all but a complete waste. The Wolves were ready to win now, and bringing Jimmy Buckets to Minneapolis showed the league where their mind was at. It took the team's new stud a while to adjust, but now that he knows what he has to do, it’s making all the difference for the surging Wolves just before the All-Star break. Through his first 12 games, Butler was struggling to find his place. He led by example on the defensive end, but it wasn’t affecting the rest of the Wolves’ generally abysmal defense. Offensively, he worked on getting other guys their shots, dumping the ball to Karl Anthony-Towns in the post or letting Andrew Wiggins go to work on an iso. However, this led to both lower numbers than we’ve come to expect from Butler and nowhere near the jump from the supporting cast in Minnesota. In his first 12 games, Butler averaged only 15 points a game with a shockingly low FG percentage, and while the Wolves went 7-5 over this span, they let up over 100 points eight times – a sacrilege in Thibodeau’s regime. Butler isn’t the first star to initially struggle in a new environment, but Thibodeau, the fans and the team all expected to start winning. Start winning they did, thanks to an uptick in every category from Butler. He continued to help the defensive progression of the physically talented but inconsistent array of stars he has around him, but his biggest jump came on offense. He stopped worrying about everything else and just did what Jimmy G. Buckets does best: get buckets. As we close in on the All-Star break, Butler is now averaging a line of 21 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals per game with an effective field goal percentage of over 50 percent, and the Wolves have won 14 out of their last 20 games and sit in the top five of the Western Conference at 30-18. The Wolves still have their problems with the effort their younger players bring on a nightly basis, and Thibodeau’s infamous refusal to spread the minutes around from his star players is a major one. But for the first time in a long time, basketball is good in Minnesota, and Jimmy Butler is the reason why.

SPORTS

Page 24

January 24, 2018

The Fordham Ram

Women’s Basketball Continues Strong A-10 Run By JACK McLOONE SPORTS EDITOR

A common refrain for Women’s Basketball head coach Stephanie Gaitley was that this season featured the hardest out-of-conference schedule in her 32 years of coaching. The Rams went 9-4 over that tough schedule, and that success seems to have portended things to come; they won five straight to open Atlantic 10 play. “I think the tough out of conference schedule prepared us for everything,” said Coach Gaitley. “You learn to respect all but fear no one.” Fordham’s hot start to conference play – which was proceeded by two wins in the Fordham Holiday Classic, making it a sevengame winning streak – came to an end in dramatic fashion on Wednesday against the Dayton Flyers in a 63-62 loss. Both teams were at the time unbeaten in A-10 play, so it was a game for earlyseason pole-position in the conference. Fordham came out firing in the first quarter, going up 22-19 on the back of 13 points from redshirt freshman guard Bre Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh, who has been one of the main scoring threats for Fordham this season, finished the game with 34 points. Those 34 points were good for the secondmost by a freshman and seventhmost overall. After a slow second quarter, Fordham started the third quarter hot, going up 49-44. Despite being down as much as seven in the fourth quarter, the Flyers took a one-point lead with 27 seconds

remaining. With two seconds on the clock, the sure-shooting Cavanaugh had a three-point attempt rim out. After a video review on the ensuing rebound, the Rams were rewarded with the ball and 0.2 seconds, enough time to essentially bat it towards the rim. Senior forward G’mrice Davis’s attempt to do just that from the free throw missed, giving the Flyers the victory and first place in the A-10. “It’s always tough losing games but even harder when they are at home and first place is on the line,” said Gaitley. “Our philosophy has always been celebrate or suffer till midnight and move on.” And move on the Rams did, getting right back to their winning ways with a 43-38 win at Richmond on Sunday. They did so in their trademark fashion: suffocating defense. The Spiders scored just eight points in the bookending quarters, scoring 38 points overall. The Rams were expending a lot of their energy on defense, scoring just 43 points but still securing the win. Coach Gaitley was also quick to credit the Spiders’ defense for suppressing the scoring. After missing all of the games in the seven-game winning streak before coming off the bench in the Dayton loss, junior forward Mary Goulding returned to the starting lineup in Richmond and went right back to her roots: rebounding with abandon. Goulding led the game with 13 rebounds, helping the Rams out-rebound Richmond 40-27. “It’s a great boost having Mary back in the rotation,” said Gait-

JULIA COMERFORD/THE FORDHAM RAM

Fordham freshman Zara Jillings (0) gets a screen from fellow freshman Halei Gills (23) in a loss to Dayton on Jan. 17.

ley. “Her absence gave us the opportunity to get [freshman guard] Zara [Jillings] and [freshman guard] Kendell [Heremia] some minutes, but her numbers and experience prove to be a difference maker for us.” With three minutes left in the game, it looked as though the Rams had their backs to the wall again, trailing 38-36 after a mini six-point run by Richmond. However, that is when the defense knuckled down, keeping Richmond from scoring again for the remainder en route to the 43-38 win. The Rams were not particularly effective from anywhere on the floor, shooting just 39 percent from the field, 25 percent from beyond the arc and 58 percent from the free throw line. Most glaring was Cavanaugh, who followed up

her historic performance against Dayton with what can be described kindly as a clunker, scoring just four points on 1-9 shooting, including 0-3 from three and a couple of points from the line. That being said, she did pull down eight rebounds, tying her career-high set against Hartford in the Fordham Holiday Classic matchup. “Bre is in her first year in the college game. As most young players, she will have her ups and downs,” said Gaitley. “Her ups have far outweighed her downs and, in spite of not shooting well, she had eight rebounds, so I’m proud that she stayed focused and didn’t let her offensive game affect her overall game.” G’mrice Davis continued her dominant campaign, securing double-doubles in both of the

games this past week. The only games in which she did not record a double-double were the hardest games of the season, against UCLA and Bucknell. That gives her 17 double-doubles, good for third in the country. Her 13.3 rebounds per game are second in the nation. Following their defensive performance on Sunday, the Rams are now seventh-best in the country in points per game allowed, giving up just 54.3 points per game. That was the eighth time in her career that a Gaitley-coached Fordham team held an opponent under 40 points. Fordham will look to parlay that one win into a new streak starting Thursday, Jan. 25, when the Rams will host St. Bonaventure at 7 p.m. as Gaitley goes for her 600th win.

Men’s Basketball Struggles Continue as Team Looks for Answers

COURTESY OF FORDHAM ATHLETICS

Will Tavares elevates for a dunk. Tavares is the leading scorer for Fordham, who is 6-13 and just 1-6 in the Atlantic 10.

By ALVIN HALIMWIDJAYA STAFF WRITER

Fordham Men’s Basketball continued to struggle in conference play, losing to La Salle and St. Joseph’s this past week, which dropped their record to 1-6 in Atlantic 10 play and 6-13 overall. On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Fordham started the first of its two road games in a contest against the La Salle Explorers. Senior guard Will Tavares was the lead-

ing scorer for the Rams with 18 points along with seven rebounds. Junior forward Prokop Slanina had 12 points and a career-high five steals, junior guard Joseph Chartouny notched eleven points, nine assists and five rebounds and senior guard Perris Hicks recorded ten points. For the Explorers, guard Isiah Deas had 15 points and forward Tony Washington had 14 points, with both players nabbing eight rebounds each. Fordham started out poorly

in the first half, going 3-14 from long range and allowing La Salle to shoot 55 percent from the field, including 5-9 from threepoint range. The Explorers also made seven of eight free throws and went into halftime with a 44-31 lead. In the second half, La Salle started on a 12-4 run, pushing the lead to 56-35 with 15 minutes left in the final half. However, the Rams charged back with a 16-1 run of their own, cutting the lead to five at 62-57 with

7:39 left in the game. They were led by Tavares, who scored 16 of his points in the second half, as well as a renewed defensive mentality. “The reason we were able to cut that lead down to five is because of the way we were helping each other and communicating on defense,” Chartouny said. “We all made sure we did our job and the rest came with it.” However, despite Fordham’s best efforts, La Salle extended the lead once again and was in control until the buzzer and the final 75-67 margin. The Rams then headed to St. Joseph’s on Saturday, Jan. 20 looking to rebound and right the ship in conference play. They got off to a good start, leading most of the first half. However, after leading 25-21 with 4:20 left, the Hawks went on a 7-2 run to close out the half and grab a 28-27 lead into the break. As the second half started, the Rams remained cold from the field, and St. Joseph’s pushed the lead 45-33 with 11 minutes left in the final half. “We watched the film of this game [Monday] before practice,” Chartouny said. “The lack of effort on transition defense was really apparent. I think in order to get rid of those cold stretches,

like not being able to make a 3, we should share the ball more and try to attack them at the rim. Simple as that.” Fordham ended up cutting the deficit to no closer than eight points, and the Rams fell 68-46 to the Hawks. Chartouny and Slanina scored eleven points each; Slanina also had eight rebounds and two blocks, while Chartouny added seven rebounds, four assists and two steals to his point total. With their next game at home, the Rams will try to nab a desperately needed win against Rhode Island. “I am trying to make sure that the guys who are playing are staying together,” Chartouny said. “Together in a sense where they need to communicate on defense, be positive and have each other’s back. We will not be able to come back to the winning road if we don’t start thinking this way. If we do, then the rest will come with it. But mainly, this is what I am trying to focus on when looking forward for [the game against Rhode Island].” Fordham’s matchup against Rhode Island comes on Wedneday, Jan. 24 at the Rose Hill Gym.