Volume 92 Issue 22

A LOOK AT LGBTQ RIGHTS AT FORDHAM- PAGE 10

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SERVING THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 90 YEARS

1918-2010

DECEMBER 8, 2010

VOLUME 92, ISSUE 22

GSB Namesake Mario Gabelli Addresses Students

By VIKRAM BHATIA STAFF WRITER

Mario Gabelli gave a presentation in the Keating Hall 1st floor auditorium on Dec. 1, offering students an opportunity to listen to the wisdom of the man who donated $25 million to their school.

The donation, the largest in University history, was made in September as part of Excelsior | Ever Upward | The Campaign for Fordham. It prompted the College of Business Administration to change its name to the Gabelli School of Business.

The event was significant because Gabelli, the CEO of GAMCO Investors and a member of the 1965 business school graduating class, was unable to attend the celebration that took place in honor of his donation on Homecoming Saturday in early October. He said that it was “a distinct privilege for me to be here.”

The presentation was mainly on the subject of the outlook for the global economy, but there was humor and inspiration mixed in throughout. He first expounded upon the idea that “sunshine follows darkness,” referring to the opportunities that young people have after the financial crisis. He said that all crises present people with “danger and opportunity” and that the key is to take advan-

tage of that opportunity.

“When things look bleak, there is great opportunity,” he said.

Gabelli stressed that his company was all about emphasizing value, a product of his faith in value investing. This faith comes from his studies at the Columbia Business School, where he learned about the investing philosophy of David Dodd and Benjamin Graham. Value investing emphasizes the importance of investing in companies that have a low market value, but a high level of cash flow.

He said that since GAMCO’S inception in 1977, the company has been research-driven, and has focused on absolute returns. He also mentioned the contribution to the financial world that he may be most famous for, which is his idea of private market value. PMV says that the value of a publicly traded company is equal to the amount of money that an individual investor would pay for it in the case that it was not a public company.

He recommended that private investors “look for a catalyst” when they employ the private market value theory as they begin their investment process. He provided examples of catalysts from history.

“Tiananmen Square in 1989 changed the world,” he said. “It really signaled that Adam Smith and SEE GABELLI ON PAGE 3

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/ THE RAM

Speaking in Keating Hall on Wed., Dec. 1, Mario Gabelli, CBA ’65, championed entrepreneurship, creativity and good citizenry to Fordham University students in attendance at his lecture.

USG Passes Bill of Rights to Mandate Open Meetings

By VICTORIA RAU ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

All United Student Government meetings and USG committee meetings, including Budget Committee, will be open to the public in accordance with Article III of the Bill of Rights, a USG resolution passed unanimously on Dec. 2.

The bill, composed of eight articles, explicitly defines student rights with regard to transparent access to USG and USG committee records; equal opportunity for creating clubs and seeking club funding; the ability to petition USG and the option to attend USG Budget, House, Operations and senate meetings.

Donald Borenstein, president of FCRH ’13, authored this piece of legislation, which he said he hopes will encourage student activism and increase clarity and accountability between students and USG. “Hopefully, this bill will immediately help serve to improve USG’s role as a conduit between the students as administration, and further improve our role as active representatives of student rights and interests,” Borenstein said, adding that it was USG’s Maroon Square initiative that initially inspired him to focus on student rights as a firstyear senator.

Although a majority of the committee chairs already hold open meetings and most of the other liberties that the bill stipulates are

already in practice by the current administration, the bill will ensure that future student governments abide by these same standards.

“This Bill of Rights largely exists to make sure we, as a USG and as a student body, don’t take a step backwards from where we are today,” Borenstein said. “We want to make sure that, 10 years or 20 down the road, the Fordham University United Student Government will be there to actively work to protect student interests to at least the same degree we are today.”

Easily the most contentious section of the bill is Article III, which requires open meetings for USG Budget, House, Operations and senate meetings. Of these, Budget Committee is the only one that does not currently operate with fully open meetings, the only committee for which change is in store.

Presently, the first part of Budget meetings are open to the public, while the second part, during which members vote on appeals, is a closed session.

Maintaining a preference for keeping the voting portion of the meeting closed, Emily Amato, FCRH ’12, vice president of finance, voted in favor of the Bill of Rights, despite Article III’s mandate for completely open meetings, which will not take effect until April 15, 2011 by which time a new committee will begin their term.

“Logistically, and due to the na-

Audit Senate Briefing DiTanna announced that, in the interest of time, the audit of the Student Activities Fund that his task force is conducting will not take on auxiliary auditors in its next stage as originally planned. Rather, club leaders are invited to the USG meeting on Dec. 8 to share their input on the audit’s findings in a public forum.

A decline in Budget Committee oversight on referendum club allo-

cations, inefficiency in terms of accounting and regulation mechanics, general communication issues and a developing “free for all” culture composed the major themes of the task force’s findings thus far.

“We believe referendum clubs need a detailed financial accounting system behind them,” DiTanna said, citing the need to justify referendum allocations, which have become seemingly arbitrary.

Inefficient accounting, DiTanna explained, leads to a system where funds are paralyzed because clubs’ surpluses, resulting from an event costing less than expected, are not credited to the pot from which the committee draws allocations.

An overarching issue that the task force will try to address in its suggestions to the committee is the culture that has resulted from a lack of appropriate oversight.

“It’s ‘grab it while you can get it because otherwise it will be gone,’” DiTanna said in description of the culture, acknowledging that the current practices and structure of the committee facilitate this attitude.

Sports PAGE 22

Opinions PAGE 7

Culture PAGE 13

Women’s basketball wins 77-55 over St. Peter’s.

Point Counterpoint: Should we build Moynihan Station?

Interview with “Weeds” and “30 Rock” actor Maulik Pancholy.

ture of the committee’s discussions, closed meetings are the most efficient and effective, particularly with the clear notification forms implemented this year and the availability of decisions to all on the USG Web site,” Amato said. “For the purposes of objectivity and the most effective interpretation of Handbook policies that govern the committee, many of the committee members and I believe that closed meetings for discussion and voting are the best.”

Amato acknowledged that the beginning of a new term marks a good starting point for the transition to open meetings, especially because findings by the budget task force’s audit, which Amato is co-chairing with Michael DiTanna, FCRH ’13, vice president of information technology, may prompt additional adjustments to the committee’s structure and function.

Borenstein called the Bill of Rights “a huge victory for student rights on this campus” and lauded the strides Executive President Sara Kugel, FCRH ’11, and Execu-

tive Vice President Caitlin Meyer, FCRH ’12, have already made toward transparency during their administration. He cited their efforts as motivational and supportive for this bill, which he has been working on since April.

“The main function of this bill of rights is basically to inform and embolden the student body in regards to what USG can do for us, both on the individual level and on the whole,” Borenstein said. “It really focuses on what USG can do for students more than anything else, and I feel that’s absolutely critical.”

INSIDE

NEWS

PAGE 2 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

SECURITY

BRIEFS

Actor Discusses Experiences with Racial Identity in Hollywood

By EMILY ARATA STAFF WRITER

Nov. 30, Hughes Ave., 11:25 a.m.

A male came up from behind a student and grabbed her. He attempted to take the bag from her when she screamed and refused to hand over a bag. The male pushed her and fled toward E. 189th Street without any property. The student refused medical attention and filed a report with the 48th precinct.

Dec. 1, Dealy Hall, 5 a.m.

Security observed a male student inside Dealy Hall. He was with a friend and they fled from the building. The student was identified at one of the Security posts and admitted to entering the building through a window. There was no theft and no damage, and the matter was referred to the dean of students.

Dec. 1, Walsh Hall, 7 a.m.

A fire alarm went off on the fifth floor, caused by steam escaping from the shower. The condition was corrected.

Dec. 3, Conley Hall, 1:20 p.m.

On the fourth floor, a smoke alarm went off as the result of cooking on the stove. FDNY responded, but there was no fire.

Dec. 3, Collins Hall, 11 p.m.

An unidentified male student discharged a fire extinguisher in the basement bathroom. Another student observed the male exit from the bathroom. Security is investigating.

Dec. 4, Arthur Ave. & E. 189th Street, 4 a.m.

A student said that when he exited Ziggy’s, he was struck multiple times in the face and head. He described the person, whom he believed to be a Fordham student, as a 21-year-old, white, 5’5” male with a stocky build. The student did not sustain injuries and refused medical aid.

Dec. 5, Mugz’s, 3-4 a.m.

A female student reported that a jacket containing her license, keys, cash and Fordham ID was taken. A search of the area met with negative results. Her locks were changed and credit card canceled in response.

Dec. 5, Hoffman Ave., 3:30 a.m.

A student reported that she was contacted through Facebook. The student was threatened, but not injured. NYPD was notified and a complaint report was filled.

—COMPILED BY PATRICK DEROCHER

Maulik Pancholy, best known for his roles on “30 Rock” and “Weeds,” said he noticed something odd while watching television as a child.

“Not a lot of brown people, for lack of a better term,” he said.

On Dec. 6, he spoke to Fordham students with humor and confidence about his attempts to make it in the entertainment business as an Indian American.

Pancholy announced his career plans to his parents at the age of five, telling them that he was going to become an actor. However, as he grew, this fact alienated him from the other children in his Indian American community. This continued during his years at Northwestern University. Pancholy made a half-hearted attempt to join the campus’s Asian-American group.

The other members discussed their business and science classes, but suddenly the spotlight was on Pancholy.

“Every head in the circle turned to me and they were like, ‘What about you?’ and all I could say was, ‘Today was pretty hard. I had to wear a unitard,’” he said.

The experience brought an end to Pancholy’s attempt to reconnect with his ethnic heritage.

“Something about me forgot I was Indian,” he said.

Out of college, Pancholy moved to Los Angeles, where his heritage returned with a vengeance.

“Suddenly [being] Indian was the only thing casting directors saw about me,” he said.

Instead of remaining jobless, Pancholy played to the Indian stereotypes.

“The Indian kids here are going to kill me,” he said, laughing and breaking into an exaggerated accent complete with head bobbing.

He landed himself a role on the teen comedy “USA High” playing Akhmed, the foreign exchange student. Pancholy played the audience several clips from the show, which involved him bowing while serving his blonde roommate “camel nuggets” and showing him pictures of a “hot” girl in a burqa. Pancholy discussed his anxiety over play-

PHOTO BY NORA MALOZZI/ THE RAM

Actor Maulik Pancholy (“Weeds,”“30 Rock”) spoke with Fordham students on Dec. 6 about working as an Indian-American actor in show business in Hollywood and New York City.

ing the character. It was not the jokes that were being laughed at but rather the idea of a different culture. He took several of these roles in order to hone his comedy skills and show producers what he could do.

“I compromised to get my foot in the door,” he said. “Once I put my foot in that door it got a lot harder to put it behind me.”

Pancholy continued to struggle with ethnicity issues throughout his next few roles. Hoping to launch himself into a higher echelon of roles, he attended the Yale School of Drama. Fresh out of school, Pancholy landed a role on Lisa Kudrow’s sitcom “The Comeback,” playing a role that poked fun at Indian stereotypes. From there, Pancholy got the opportunity to play the recurring character Sanjay on Showtime’s hit show “Weeds.”

The character begins as a nerdy, socially inept teenager but as the show goes on “he starts to bust out of the box that you might want to put him in.” Outside the box lay not only marijuana sales but also a dramatic plotline, which featured Sanjay coming out of the closet in addition to impregnating a prostitute. Sanjay becomes anything but a stereotype.

Pancholy rolled his eyes to the ceiling as he chuckled.

“He’s a gay, drug-dealing babydaddy, for God’s sake,” he said.

A year later, opportunity knocked again when Pancholy was offered the role of Jonathan on Tina Fey’s sitcom “30 Rock.” The anonymity of “Jonathan” was what drew Pancholy to the role. For the first time, there was no implied ethnicity. While occasional references to his race are made in the script, it in no way defines his character.

Ultimately Jonathan is all about corporate America and “the weird, creepy, I love you relationship” that he has with his boss, Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin, The Departed).

Pancholy made it clear that he believes the shift in racial perception is here to stay. He attributes it to two causes: viewers and the behind-the-scenes staff. Many films and shows are aimed at young people, who are now well educated and have no interest in seeing a blatantly racist piece of media. Furthermore, the industry is hiring more and more minorities to be writers, directors and producers. Stereotypes are being cut immediately or not even written in the first place.

For example, Pancholy voices the character Baljeet on the cartoon “Phineas and Ferb.” The name is not meant to reflect Pancholy’s nationality, however. Baljeet is based upon a childhood friend of the di-

rector, who receives a call from the real Baljeet if the show begins to play up the stereotype.

In the current political climate, it is not only Indian stereotypes but also Muslim stereotypes that affect Pancholy and the IndianAmerican community.

Pancholy said he accepts this.

“Terrorism is the single most defining thing to happen in this decade and our television and movies will reflect that,” he said.

Recently, he made the controversial choice to play a Muslim man who murdered his sister because she tried to marry a white man on the show “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.” He accepted the role because it was taken straight from the headlines. The script took care to show that his character’s family did not support his actions. However, many blogs attacked Pancholy’s choice to play the criminal.

Pancholy said he is beginning to find a balance between his Indian side and his American side.

“We can’t escape from the fact that we’re Indian,” he said. “And why would we want to?”

It seems that Pancholy has come to terms with the issues facing him.

Just don’t judge him by his skin color, because there is a lot of soul and depth underneath.

Congratulations to Andrew Lewenec, who will take over as News Editor for Volume 93, and his Assistant News Editors, Connie Kim and Vikram Bhatia! We wish you the best of luck.

—Patrick Derocher and Victoria Rau, News Editors, Volume 92

NEWS

GABELLI, FROM PAGE 1

Karl Marx had a clash of cultures, and that Adam Smith had won.”

He wondered aloud as to what the next major catalyst would be.

“Will it be in the digital world?” he said. “Or starting a new exchange in Abu Dhabi? Or buying real estate in the Bronx?”

“One of you in this room is going to be the president of this University,” he said, attempting to inspire students. “One of you will own a football team. It is a terrific time to be here today and say that you are the next generation of leaders.”

He provided examples of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders who had made their fame within the last 10 years, including Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Chad Hurley, Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Mason.

About 400 students in the Gabelli School of Business attended. In an effort to increase the event’s attendance, the University gave away prizes to those who attended. The prizes were either a new iPod Nano with Multi-Touch, an Amazon Kindle with a year’s subscription to the Financial Times, or a signed photograph with Gabelli himself.

Many students said they were impressed by Gabelli’s ability to relate to them.

“Mr. Gabelli was really fascinating,” John Mantia, GSB ’13, said “He seemed so sharp, so quick and so well informed, yet I feel he was a normal guy. He had a very understated brilliance, which I think perfectly distills the essence of a Fordham grad.”

“It was fantastic,” Dan Hegarty, GSB ’12, said. “It is always nice to have people who are as well-versed in the business world as Mr. Gabelli is come and speak to us and give us perspective on how business runs

outside of the comfortable walls of a university setting. So any outside perspective, especially from somebody who is as much of a finance guru as Mr. Gabelli is cannot hurt at all. It has got to be beneficial.”

Afterwards, Gabelli said that he got more out of the event than the students did.

“I got more than they did, because I got the notion of creating intellectual options for the next generation of leaders,” he said.

“What I like doing is always looking at the notion that if it does not work, try it again, because it will work the next time,” he said. “And if I got anybody in this room to think about that, than that would be a success.”

Gabelli was introduced by Dr. Donna Rapaccioli, dean of the Gabelli School of Business.

“We are truly delighted that his named bears our school,” she said, introducing Gabelli as “a true man for others.” “[Gabelli’s] defiance of conventional investing wisdom and his meticulous research on companies with high cash flow and minimal competition lead to exponential growth and portfolios that outperformed all his imitators,” she said.

Gabelli explained that it was in a discussion with Rapaccioli in 2007 that the donation had its roots. After sharing her vision for the future of the University, Gabelli, who has donated large sums of money to many schools in the past, said he felt that it was time for Fordham to receive a big reward.

“What has made us a terrific society is the rule of law, the free market system and meritocracy,” he said.

“The underpinning of meritocracy is

DECEMBER 8, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 3

PHOTO BY BRUCE GILBERT/FORDHAM.EDU

Fordham students had the opportunity to meet a real version of Fordham’s mascot when a ram visited on Dec. 1. education. Education requires faciliin the future. aire, that allowed him to maximize ties, faculty and a great student body “I think his message of hope and his effect on the students.

-and that requires scholarships.” confidence in the ability of Fordham “He demonstrated the imporOf course, the donation provides students to be the leaders of future tance of a good sense of humor,” Rathe opportunity for the University innovation will inspire them to work paccioli said. to hand out more scholarships to hard and to focus,” she said. “He reAt the conclusion of his presenmore talented students. peatedly asserted that they have a tation, Gabelli announced that he Gabelli affirmed his confidence in great education and that as long as planned on coming back to Fordthe bright future of business educathey work very hard they will be sucham in the future. tion at Fordham at the presentation. cessful.”

Rapaccioli said she was excited “Together, we believe that this Gabelli also jokingly requested about her school having a long-term University is going to have one of that business professors all give sturelationship with one of its most the best business schools in the dents A’s in their classes, explaining identifiable alumni. country, and that this is the time to that he only remembers those pro“I was absolutely thrilled that he do it,” he said. fessors who did not give him an A. said he plans to be more involved, Rapaccioli said that Gabelli’s presThe evening was filled with similar he is a brilliant man who will help ence in front of current business stustatements from Gabelli, in which he shape the curriculum and the future dents would pay dividends for them displayed the light side of a billionof our school,” she said.

FC Academic Dean’s Council Hosts Forum for Students, Dean Latham Reiterates Stance on Study Abroad, Undergraduate Research as Tools for FC’s Ascension

By VICTORIA RAU ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Fordham College at Rose Hill should continue to work toward higher rankings and national recognition, but not at the expense of the individual student’s experience, Dr. Michael Latham, dean of FCRH, said on Dec. 1 at an open forum with students.

The divergence or convergence of FCRH from the Gabelli School of Business, the Core Curriculum and the areas on which Latham plans to focus served as other topics of conversation at “Dine with the Dean,” a town-hall style function hosted by the FCRH Academic Dean’s Council and co-sponsored

by United Student Government.

Sandie Habib, FCRH ’12, vice president of FCRH on USG and chairwoman of the council, planned and organized the event with Latham and her fellow council members in order to give students a voice for their grievances.

CORRECTION In a previous issue, The Ram reported that the club status of PACNY was “temporarily cut” by the USG Operations Committee for not hosting three programs in the Fall 2010 semester. However, USG never formally removed the club’s status because it was later determined that PACNY did in fact host three programs. PACNY is still a registered club at Fordham University at Rose Hill.

“We want students who are complaining, questioning and commenting on Fordham College issues to find an outlet in someone who can give them answers to their questions,” Habib said.

In response to a question about FCRH’s increasing divergence from GSB, Latham acknowledged that the two are very different educational bodies with very different objectives but a core that largely serves as common ground.

“I am actually hoping that we can have less divergence and more convergence,” Latham said. “One of the things we’re trying to do is identify ways in which, in the curriculum or in activities on campus, we can have more business students and FCRH students engaged together.”

He mentioned a minor in sustainable business and the West Wing Integrated Learning Community for Ignatian Leadership and Civic Service as two examples of such efforts to unite the two schools, between which there sometimes exists little inclination for cooperation.

“My own sense really is that Fordham [College] students and business students have a lot to learn from each other,” Latham said. “We can help inform them thinking about some of the broader issues that are really at the heart of our curriculum, but they can also help us perhaps learn a little bit more about how businesses actually function and the way the mar-

ketplace operates.”

Although Latham recognized that GSB has preferred to move forward independently with regard to bolstering Career Services for students in their programs and in terms of re-branding the school under its new name, he indicated that FCRH has a somewhat parallel approach. Augmenting opportunities specifically for liberal arts students with successful companies is something Career Services has been working on, according to Latham.

Heightened efforts in the past several years to amplify FCRH’s image center mainly around recruiting talented students from geographically diverse locations, something Latham says Fordham has succeeded at even in the midst of an economic recession.

“I think the College is becoming more and more of a national institution,” he said. “Certainly, there’s more we can do. There are always things we can do to present ourselves effectively.”

Undergraduate research, the sciences and international education strike Latham as areas on which FCRH should concentrate in order to raise its national profile and rise in the rankings, though he emphasized that rankings are by no means his highest nor his only priority.

The power of undergraduate research to attract outstanding faculty and to enhance the college’s reputation is something Latham said he finds compelling, with his

office allocating around $250,000 in the past year to support undergraduate research. Facilities stood out as his major concern regarding the sciences, citing outstanding students and faculty who, given more resources, could make Fordham more widely known for its science programs.

Long an advocate of study abroad opportunities, Latham emphasized international education as crucial to Fordham’s image as a prominent university.

“We need to create a situation in which, I would argue, students who are academically qualified, whether they receive financial aid or not here at Fordham, should be able to have study abroad opportunities on par with other students,” Latham said, referring to the fact that the way study abroad is financed makes it far more expensive for students receiving financial aid to study abroad.

“It’s not just an add-on,” Latham said of studying abroad. “It’s an integral part of an undergraduate experience.”

Habib expressed satisfaction with how the event was received by Latham and by the students present.

“Dean Latham enjoyed knowing that students had concerns and was very willing to sit there and dialogue back and fourth,” Habib said. “I think it was also a good atmosphere for students to converse rather than view it as a question and answer session.”

She also said that this event fits in with the council’s mission to facilitate improved communication between students and the administration.

THIS

week at FORDHAM Thurs., Dec. 9 Ram Van Airport Service Table, McGinley Lobby, 4-7 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 10 CAB Fridays Massage & Mochas, McGinley Lobby, 1- 5:30 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 11 Yoga, Keating B23 10- 11:30 a.m.

Sun., Dec. 12 RHA General Board Meeting, Campbell Hall Common Room, 7:45-9:15 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 13 CSJ Holiday Party, Rose Hill Commons 234, 3-6 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 14 Campbell Hall Mass, 2CA 2-124, 9-10 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 15 MAC Meeting, McGinley Music Room, 5:30-7 p.m.

—COMPILED BY ABIGAIL FORGET

PAGE 4 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

NEWS

Democrats, Republicans Debate Economics, Elections, Energy

By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR

The Fordham University College Republicans and College Democrats debated on the evening of Dec. 1, replacing an event previously scheduled for Nov. 10. Representatives from the two clubs debated four matters: the best means for job creation, the next decade of United States energy policy, the best way to reduce the national deficit and the significance of the 2010 midterm elections.

In each section of the debate, two students, one representative from each club, directly engaged each other on one of these topics. The individual debates were regulated and timed, with specific time periods being given to opening statements, rebuttals and audience questions. For the final question, on the importance of the recent Congressional elections, more time was dedicated to audience questioning. Dr. Nicholas Tampio, assistant professor of political science, moderated the event, which was held in the Keating Hall 1st floor auditorium.

Will Thibeau, FCRH ’14, and John Mantia, GSB ’13 and president of the Fordham University College Republicans, debated the first question, on how best to create jobs. Thibeau, representing the Democrats, began by comparing President Barack Obama’s stimulus package in the current economic climate to the New Deal during the Great Depression, referring to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s experience in addressing the matter as precedence for government intervention in the economy.

Additionally, Thibeau called for funding of infrastructure, citing a “ripple effect” that would create jobs as the United States updated its trains and other mass transportation in line with Asian and European systems.

Mantia, however, was a good deal

more skeptical about the role of government in economic growth.

“We need to see if government itself is the problem,” he said, calling for decreases in government spending and involvement in the national economy. In particular, Mantia advocated the permanent extension of the Bush administration’s tax cuts and scaling back government spending.

Mantia also argued that the federal government should pursue a threepart response to economic hardship, creating a pro-business, pro-growth and pro-entrepreneurship business environment by minimizing financial regulation and taxation.

“We can cut taxes, and that allows people to spend more money,” Thibeau responded. “But that creates an unsustainable cycle.”

He argued that a more permanent tax decrease in the manner of the Bush-era cuts hurts the government’s ability to spend on social programs and is a disincentive against saving.

On the second matter, energy policy in the upcoming decade, both sides seemed to come to similar conclusions. The debaters, Republican Andrew Harrington, FCRH ’13, and Democrat Sean Maguire, FCRH ’12, both tended to endorse ending dependency on foreign oil, especially from hostile nations, favoring “green,” renewable energy as the preferable option and an engine for economic expansion and job creation.

“Energy is the key to resurrecting jobs,” Harrington said, noting that natural gas supplies in New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado can help wean the United States off of foreign oil dependency while creating new job markets in the mean time.

Echoing Mantia, Harrington set forth three goals for the United States government regarding energy: turn around the dismal economy, reduce dependency for oil on hostile foreign nations and get cleaner green energy

to a workable point.

Maguire took a similar tack, saying that it has been energy that has kept the United States “the hegemonic power it is today in the world.”

While staying away from fossil fuels, in a counterpart to Harrington, Maguire promoted the use of nuclear energy, noting that it was only because of the Chernobyl disaster, which was the result of a different power plant architecture from what is used in the United States, that nuclear energy has yet to be widely adopted in this country.

With results similar to the first round of debate, DJ Ryan, FCRH ’13 and vice president of the College Democrats, and Republican Sam Martin, FCRH ’14, debated the matter of reducing the United States’ deficit.

Ryan, arguing along much the same lines as fellow Democrat Thibeau, said that tax increases would be necessary to fix the current deficit problem.

“It was a lack of revenue, not an increase in spending, that worsened the deficit,” he said, criticizing the Bush and Reagan administrations’ tax cuts. He did, however, break with Democratic history in one major way, regarding unions.

In much the same way as Republicans Mantia and Harrington, Ryan pushed for a three-pronged plan to fix the deficit: fix tax codes, decrease defense spending and, most interestingly, reign in unions. Ryan admitted that he would likely not be in line with other Democrats’ opinions on that matter, but stressed his belief the power of labor unions was contributing to government inefficiencies and an increased deficit.

Martin, the Republican, was somewhat more orthodox in his proclamations.

“We are addicted to spending far beyond our means,” he said, echoing

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/ THE RAM

Sam Martin, FCRH ’14, of the Fordham University College Republicans,was one of eight debaters who discussed matters of job creation, the federal deficit, energy alternatives and the midterm elections in Keating 1st auditorium.

the sentiment that brought many Republicans into office last month.

He advocated, as had other Republicans at the debate, a sharp decrease in government spending. Unlike his fellow Republicans, Martin put forth a specific plan of action for achieving this goal, suggesting that the United States Department of Education might be eliminated, leading to a decentralization of educational regulation, placing more power in the hands of the states.

The final section of the debate, discussing the significance of the 2010 Congressional midterm elections, pitted Republican T.W. Arrighi, GSB ’12, against Democrat Rebecca Lamorte, FCRH ’13.

“These are the changes people want to see,” Arrighi said early on, referring to the widespread Republi-

can rally against government spending. He drew parallels between new Republican leadership and membership in the House of Representatives and President Calvin Coolidge’s response to the excesses of his predecessor, Warren Harding.

Lamorte, on the other hand, contended that little has changed in Washington.

“We still have a great deal of control,” she said, noting that the White House and Senate remain under Democratic control, and that Barack Obama’s midterm polling numbers are at more or less the same level as Ronald Regan in 1982.

The debate, which was co-sponsored by the two clubs as a friendly rivalry, is the most recent in a multiyear series of student-led political debates at Fordham.

Fordham Students Plunge for New York Special Olympics

By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR

Some 70 Fordham University students attended the annual Polar Plunge benefiting New York Special Olympics on Dec. 5.

The event, held at Staten Island’s Great Kills Beach, attracted some 500 participants.

Plungers endured a 22-degree windchill and 40-degree seawater to raise funds for the Special Olympics, which offer mentally impaired athletes the opportunity to compete in a friendly, constructive environment.

“This is the fourth year that Fordham students have participated in the Polar Plunge,” Steve

Cirincione, GSB ’12, said. “We set a record this year in both the number of students involved as well as the amount of funds raised.”

He added that next year, the Fordham Plungin’ Rams hope to attract some 100 participating students to raise $10,000. This year, fundraising totals reached $8,000.

“Participating in the Polar Plunge was something very fulfilling to me,” Luigi Mascia, GSB ’12, said. “Being able to go back to my home, Staten Island, and representing Fordham University in front of my family, friends, and high school was worth every pain the cold water gave me.”

COURTESY OF STEVE CIRINCIONE

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PAGE 7

Point-Counterpoint: Moynihan Station

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Governor David Paterson spoke at the beginning of construction of the new Moynihan Station, which will be housed within the soon-to-be renovated Farley Post Office, across from Pennsylvania Station.

Planned Moynihan Station Will Solve the Pennsylvania Station Nightmare

By KEVIN GUHIN STAFF WRITER

Pennsylvania Station is a confusing mismanaged labyrinth of a station. The station is used at twice its capacity acting as interstate hub for over 640,000 people a day, according to Newpennstation.org.

The Amtrak-owned station is also the host to the Long Island Railroad, New Jersey Transit and two unconnected subway lines.

These organizations are literally stacked on top of each other on different levels of the station without a universal signage. This lack of advance planning leaves travelers helplessly lost by the conflicting signs of each railroad.

Despite the crowds, disorienting layout and contradictory signs, Penn Station is a necessary part of New York City’s infrastructure. The Department of City Planning estimates that New York City’s population has grown a weighted 4.8 percent since the 2000 census. This city’s population will continue to rise, as will the need for a larger station to serve it. Ignoring these facts is a growing impossibility.

The solution to these issues is Moynihan Station; a remodeling of the current Penn Station and the Farley Post Office building into a new transit hub worthy of our city.

Moynihan Station, and the surrounding developments in Empire State Development Corporation’s plans, will create an estimated “10 million square feet of new office space off West 33rd Street,” according to the New York Times. Farley Post Office will become Moynihan Station West and restore the street-level glass canopied splendor of the original Penn Station. Penn Station is the busiest transportation hub in the nation; it is past time for it to come out into the light again.

After two decades of talk of renovations, there is finally real development as ESDC has officially moved into “Phase 1” of its Staff Poll: When The Ram was polled, 13 staff members were in favor of Moynihan Station; 9 staff members were not.

plan. Ground was officially broken in October in a ceremony attended by New York Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood celebrating the 100th anniversary of the original Penn Station. Current projections state that Moynihan station will be up and running by 2016.

We have all been lost and bewildered by the bustling crowds at Penn Station. It is a dimly lit basement of overly compacted tourists, business people and everyday New Yorkers. A new station promises room for the expansion and organization that this busy hub desperately needs. The frightening price tag will be offset by the increased travel as the new station becomes easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing.

Given the choice between the serene marble and painted ceilings of Grand Central Terminal and the low ceilings of Penn Station, the reason for many people’s preference for the more open and elegant Grand Central is obvious. Moynihan Station West’s magnificent presence will rival the Terminal’s classic design to make waiting for a train more pleasant than loitering with your luggage near a trashcan.

The current plan, though a strain on the already tight city budget, is creating thousands of short-term jobs in construction and long-term employment in the new expanded station. These jobs will help strengthen the city’s economy as a new station with an imposing terminal, sunlit and above ground, will improve the image of the West Side.

The costs of building and rezoning are investments in this city’s future prosperity. New York City is an educational, corporate and political nerve center booming with tourists. A simplified transit hub is a requirement. It is a city skylined by icons of economic prosperity; skyscrapers and historical landmarks. This metaphorical door to the city necessitates renovation to fit the enterprising spirit that built New York City.

Kevin Guhin, FCRH ’12, is an English major from West Chester, Pa.

It Takes More Than a New Fascade to Fix the Current Transportation System

By CHRISTOPHER KENNEDY STAFF WRITER

In last Thursday’s episode of “The Office,” Michael Scott was, rather irrationally, worried about China. While his concerns were mostly exaggerated, there is at least one area in which China has surpassed the United States: modern, advanced infrastructure. Last week, a train on the Beijing-Shanghai line hit a new speed record: 302 miles per hour.

Compare that to the Acela, Amtrak’s premier service, running from Washington, D.C. to Boston, Mass. While Amtrak advertises speeds of up to 150 miles per hour, it only reaches that speed for about 36 miles between Kingston, R.I. and Westwood, Mass. Its average speed for the run is a paltry 79 miles per hour. This is pathetic, considering that the Pennsylvania Railroad reached similar average speeds 50 years ago. Additionally, no other train in America comes close to reaching these speeds.

While the Moynihan Station project is an excellent idea on the surface, the fact is that it is like putting lipstick on a pig. The project lacks several necessary features to improve regional train travel. The first missing component is additional platforms below ground.

Currently Penn Station operates 100 percent above capacity, and the ARC tunnel and station project looks unlikely to relaunch any time soon. The Moynihan proposal, as it currently stands, simply allows a grander entrance and more access points to already-crowded platforms.

Additionally, any proposal to revamp Penn Station ought to include a much-needed rail tunnel to Grand Central Terminal. Any transit planner will wonder why the two major rail stations of New York City are not connected when they are only several blocks apart. Years ago, when America still cared about rail transportation, the reason was simply that Penn Station was owned by the Pennsylvania Railroad and Grand Central was owned by the New York Central Railroad; these companies’ competition was equivalent to Macy’s and Gimbels.

Today, however, there is no excuse. More

commuters live within walking distance of Grand Central than Penn. Additionally, if Metro-North were able to connect to Penn Station, it would relieve the overcrowded IRT Lexington Avenue Subway.

Moreover, if the region’s idea of overall rail improvement is building the top half of a new train station, it shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what must be done to improve United States rail transportation. We live in a world where many other developed countries have high-speed lines with top speeds approaching 225 miles per hour, and trains eliminate the need for short-haul flights, which in turn would relieve congestion at many airports.

Another improvement that could be made to the transit system is to make it more environmentally friendly, and the only way railroads can be as “green” as they claim to be is if the trains are full. The way to full trains is not necessarily to build new stations, but to make the existing trains faster. If that does not work, build new lines to draw in passengers. For example, the portion of the Northeast Corridor between Penn Station and Westerly, R.I. makes the equivalent of nine complete circles, and the speed is limited to an average of 75 miles per hour. For a portion of the busiest rail line in the country, this is unacceptable.

In essence, we need Moynihan Station, but so much more. In order for rail travel to succeed in America, there needs to be a paradigm shift in how this country and its leaders view it. Currently, many politicians seem to have the viewpoint that passenger rail is a relic from a much earlier time, and that cars and planes are the ways of the future. However, places like Europe and China have shown us quite the contrary; this is one instance where America is demonstratively falling behind.

Hopefully, the momentum behind the Moynihan Station project will carry over to rail infrastructure improvements across the country. While putting ticket counters and waiting rooms into a century-old post office is a beautiful homage to the past, a “greener,” more efficient society lies in the near future.

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

PAGE 8 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

The Ram Serving campus and community since 1918.

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

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

www.theramonline.com Editorial: (718) 817-0873 Production: (718) 817-4381 Newsroom: (718) 817-4394 Advertising: (718) 817-4379 Fax: (718) 817-4319 theram@fordham.edu Fordham University - Station 37 Box B Bronx, NY 10458 Editor-in-Chief Mark Becker Managing Editor Abigail Forget Design Editor Stephen Moccia Business Editor Caroline Dahlgren News Editor Patrick Derocher Assistant News Editor Victoria Rau Opinions Editor Christine Barcellona Assistant Opinions Editor Brian Kraker Culture Editor Celeste Kmiotek Assistant Culture Editors Jen Cacchioli Sandy McKenzie Sports Editors Danny Atkinson Nick Carroll Assistant Sports Editor Jonathan Smith Copy Chief Claire Borders Copy Team Mary Alcaro Tara Cannon Tom Haskin Sean McGonigle Olivia Monaco Sarah Ramirez Hussein Safa Veronica Torok Ryan Vale Photo Editor Simon Sulit Operations and Outreach Mike Burkart Web Editor Kelly Caggiano Assistant Web Editors Tracy Fan Ou Cara Stellato Faculty Advisor Beth Knobel Opinions Policy The Ram appreciates submissions that are typed and saved on a disk in a *.rtf, *.txt or *.doc formats, or sent to the staff via e-mail at RamLetters@fordham.edu. Commentaries are printed on a space available basis.

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

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

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

OPINIONS

From the Desk of Mark Becker, Editor-in-Chief I’ve seen and heard a lot since I first stepped onto campus as a clueless freshman from Kentucky with no real idea what I wanted or didn’t want to do here.

I’d spent most of my time in high school swimming, eating, sleeping and watching movies second semester senior year, and never would have thought I’d be doing anything for a newspaper.

You’d have been hard-pressed to find someone who disrespected journalism more than me. Since the day The Ram caught my eye at the club fair and the idea of being a sportswriter stuck in my mind, I have learned to respect the field for what it can be at its best rather than what it usually is, at least as far as I’m still concerned.

For years The Ram has been criticized as being a mouthpiece of the administration, among others. Let me tell you now: it is certainly not. In fact, we’re anything but – perhaps our primary focus is to enlighten students as to the happenings on campus, both visible and behind the scenes, and former news editor Rob Pergament will be the first to tell you that we love nothing more than breaking a story revealing a fault of the administration.

That said, what I hate most about the practice of journalism is the callous, invasive searching for (and sometimes creating) stories for the benefit of the source rather than its followers. Hopefully, no one has gotten that impression this past volume, or any volume for that matter. We make an effort to stay reasonable and objective while still appropriately searching for stories that matter to our readers. In doing so, I’ve learned a lot about this University; I’m sure I know some things few if any other students know, I’ve had conversations few have been privileged to have and I’ve seen what this school has done and, more importantly, needs to do to move forward.

I’ve seen the Campbell and Salice-Conley dorms go up (and am enjoying living in them), untold turmoil during the worst two years in men’s basketball history, countless presentations toward the 2016 Plan, a sizeable donation from Mario Gabelli, CBA ’65, an overhaul of the Core Curriculum, slashed library hours and security gate patrols, the addition of an unnecessary number of sprinklers, lawn mowing at 7 a.m., several administrative changes (both suspicious and needed), a student beatdown of a would-be mugger (v. 92 i. 12), the evils of combating grade inflation, a bangarang U2 concert (which the University needs to admit happened two years ago already), the first women’s Varsity championship in school history, several movies filmed on campus and the Ram mascot deck an inebriated student on Eddie’s.

I’ve heard talk (that I’m at liberty to print) of other sizeable donations, big-time Spring Weekend performers, Sean

Kingston coming to play last week, a new science building, a shakeup of most sporting venues on campus (including a new arena – excuse me, Convocation Center) and more. Of course nothing I mentioned has occurred, which is why I feel comfortable printing them – rest assured, there are plenty more possibly in the works.

Most significantly, however, I have learned through my time working on The Ram what needs to be done at Fordham. Having overseen and reported on everything on this campus over the last three years, I feel very strongly about a number of aspects of this University that need to change if we ever hope to reach the status of Notre Dame, Boston College or Georgetown, as Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the University, has expressed constantly the past three years.

In no particular order: we need a new student center, upgraded science facilities, tailgating and alcohol at sporting events, better service and response to students and their concerns, a real commitment to athletics, more active students and plenty more, but these stand out above the rest.

As much as I hate all subjects science-related, it is an important field and our facilities are embarrassing; improving these should be a top priority for the University, whether it comes through a brand-new building or simply renovating and repurposing an existing one. This is already being done in the business school, and the benefits of converting Hughes to a hopefully state-of-the-art business facility would be inconceivable if carried out in the best faith possible.

Whether from my experience or not, students at Rose Hill constantly express derision for the University, most often through financial aid, study abroad or OSL&CD, but ultimately with the way the entire University is run. I have to admit, little of it makes sense to me – the school’s main focus should be on current students. Alumni and prospective students play a big role in a University’s business, but current students are by nature the present and must be the primary focus. Cheesy dorm programs, second- or third-rate bands playing at concerts, poor class selection and most everything else are not the way to pander to a business’s main clientele. Fordham needs to do everything within reason to please students at every turn, whether this requires firing certain administrators, revamping entire departments or just refocusing efforts. If current students do not value their experience, the rest of the nation certainly will not respect the University.

Student apathy is a big concern among many, students and administrators alike, and both are at fault; but that apathy hurts the University more than the students themselves, as the

students carry the University’s image off-campus. Those not acting on their concerns will be dissatisfied and spread that around, ultimately harming the University’s reputation. It is the University’s responsibility to figure out how to encourage students to mobilize even against itself, as the ultimate benefits will far outweigh any small battles the University “loses” as a result.

Ideas like Maroon Square are a good start, but the University needs to take it upon itself to come up with several ways to encourage students to not only voice their concerns, but to show how much they matter. My suggestion: listen to students when they express concerns. They will feel that their actions can make a difference (which is certainly not the case currently) and will be more inclined to act in the future, benefitting the students in their main concern, the shortrun, and the University in its, the long-run.

Finally (in this article at least), I come to sports. Having served as sports editor for two years, it is clear that it is my passion, and I truly care about the direction Fordham athletics takes. As much as I hope that I’ve made some impact on the department while here or in the future, it is not about me, it’s about improving a major facet of the University, and it is in dire need of such.

Between all the articles, blogs and more I’ve written on teams, coaches, the administration and the department, I’ve narrowed my main concerns. Most important in my mind is a successful revenue-producing sport, followed closely by winning at as many levels as possible. As I wrote in my Fordhamsports blog this week (found on theramonline.com), a program in Fordham’s situation needs to specialize, at least to a degree.

As a cold-weather institution, we are at an inherent disadvantage in all outdoor sports, and must turn our primary focus to indoor sports – namely basketball and swimming but also volleyball, water polo, track and field, and even squash (indoor tennis courts could do wonders here, by the way). FCS football is already not going to make us any money, nor are we likely to see much success in it. Basketball, meanwhile, used to be the heart of New York City, and still is at the high school level, and without a true giant in the area (Syracuse, Villanova and UConn are all two-three hours away), only three schools have any better chance at success in the area (Rutgers, Seton Hall and St. John’s), leaving as much an opportunity for Fordham to burst onto the national scene as any other, sporting or otherwise.

This is difficult for an institution of our level of sports history, what with being the winningest baseball program in the country and the alma mater of Vince Lombardi, but it is the reality. Apologies all around to

cross country, softball and my favorite sport, soccer, but they are at an inherent disadvantage, and unless the University can commit to sparkling indoor facilities for any of them, there is simply a lesser chance that any will ever experience and especially sustain success (Head Coach Bridget Orchard deserves special mention for her work with softball, against all odds).

Besides specializing between sports, the most obvious improvements (not to mention easiest and most profitable) the department can make are allowing tailgating and alcohol at sporting events. Both are staples in American sports, and with all due respect to the Jesuit ideals of McShane and others, it is standard practice to allow and even promote both, and will attract droves of fans who currently sit at home not watching the games, since they’re never on TV, instead of showing up to support their team. It just makes perfect sense, which must be why we don’t do it.

On top of all this, a greater commitment at every level is essential. A one-man marketing department is a complete embarrassment for a top conferenceaffiliated program, just as an example. Athletics is one of eight major tabs on the Fordham Web site, for crying out loud – it is clearly a major aspect of a University, and is exactly why Notre Dame, BC and Georgetown are so nationally respected compared to the likes of Northwestern, University of Chicago and NYU, all fine academic institutions with virtually no athletic reputation. Fordham has the academics to show, but without athletics, few will realize it outside of New York and none will respect as they should.

Just as much as I’ve loved every minute of working on The Ram for the fun times it brings and more, I’ve loved learning through the art of journalism what needs to be done here. I truly want Fordham to become a premier institution, as I think everyone at all involved with it should and deep down probably does.

Although my time on The Ram is coming to a close (of course I’ll still write my final semester), and regardless of whether I end up pursuing journalism henceforth, I will certainly appreciate its potential far more than I ever imagined I would, and I have no intention of leaving Fordham out to dry either – assuming it takes the steps necessary for its own success. Without that, even I cannot respect it, but I have faith in this place still, and look forward to Fordham’s future.

OPINIONS

DECEMBER 8, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 9

College Republicans Professors Could Solve Textbook Woes Obscure Issues With Sensational Displays

By CHRISTINE BARCELLONA OPINIONS EDITOR

By BRIAN KRAKER ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITOR

Republicans have become a political sideshow. This past midterm cycle, the Grand Old Party paraded the nation’s rarest collection of oddities across the political stage, trumpeting candidates who dabbled in witchcraft and others bestowed with the honor of “Mama Grizzly.” The Tea Party has deserted its platform of a limited government and become a caricature of an angry mob with pitchforks and torches. Conservative talk shows are less political commentary and more variety hour.

Unfortunately, Fordham’s College Republicans adopted this carnival attraction mentality. Swept up in the same sensationalism of the GOP, the Fordham chapter of the political club recently erected a replica of the Berlin Wall to honor President Ronald Reagan’s defeat of Communism. This demonstration outside the McGinley Center served as a confusing homage to a deceased president and an irrelevant cause to anyone aware the Cold War ended. With exhibitions such as this, the College Republicans perfectly imitate the eccentric politicians they aspire to be.

As a student who aligns himself with the Republican Party, I generally support activism on campus promoting the GOP. However, this Berlin Wall demonstration offered passing students no substantive argument, possibly confirming their distrust in the Republican Party.

The College Republicans attempted to rehash the glory days of Reaganomics and tearing down the Berlin Wall, but this exhibition was merely the grandstanding for the last respectable Republican to hold office.

With Reagan’s voice echoing from the speakers, the McGinley Center resembled a scene from 1984 more than a college campus.

Displays of sensationalism such as this Berlin Wall demonstration exemplify irrational Republican propaganda. Rush Limbaugh rants as coherently as a drunken freshman at Tinker’s while Sarah Palin takes to Twitter to spew incomprehensible gibberish, 140 characters at a time. John McCain opposes the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to inhibit liberal victories in Congress, contradicting previous statements of support. The political discourse between the aisle has taken a back seat to Republican displays of sensational rhetoric.

This insanity is not a goal to which the College Republicans should aspire. Still, the Fordham chapter practices the warped sense of conservatism that cost the Republican Party its legitimacy. The College Republicans might as well claim they can see Russia from their Walsh apartments and oppose the construction of a mosque on Fordham Road.

The club could attack the University president’s credibility because of a possible Muslim heritage. Demonstrations such as the Berlin Wall stunt, offer no substantive political statement, but rather add to the cacophony of nonsensical rhetoric that has saturated the American political landscape.

A college political club is a place for idealism and striving to achieve the goals inhibited by partisan politics. The College Republicans should be advocating the legislation Congress should pass rather than earmarked compromises. Instead, the CRs appear to already be sucked in by the political machine. Lobbyists are not infiltrating dorms and offering backdoor deals over meals at the cafeteria; still, the College Republicans act as if they have already sold their souls for a Senate seat. This partisan attitude is expected of politicians campaigning for reelection, not college students preparing for political careers.

The College Republicans need to abandon their melodramatic displays and revert to the roots of the GOP. The Republican ideology advocates limited government, free markets and individual rights. As evidenced by Fordham’s disdain for paying inflated housing costs, students have a natural aversion to supporting broken bureaucracies. There is an audience for conservative views at Fordham, but when this message is mired in the filth of these political sideshows, the message is lost.

Fordham needs a legitimate conservative club on campus, not one that merely parades under the GOP banner. With stunts such as the Berlin Wall memorial, the College Republicans are establishing themselves as an organization infatuated with the showmanship of the GOP, rather than its political stances. It is time for the College Republicans to focus on the issues, before these antics leave them as nothing but an amusing sideshow.

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

Issue of the Week:

Estate Tax A Look at the World Outside of Fordham from the Perspective of Professional News Bloggers

See what commentators from the Left and the Right have to say about the recent compromise between Obama and Republicans.

As the semester closes, students can anticipate emptying their wallets in order to buy pricey textbooks when classes recommence next month. Already, some students may be experiencing traumatic flashbacks of the packed bookstore or of the snaking line emerging from the post office and up the stairs in the McGinley Center. Though textbooks are expensive no matter what, there are a few things professors could do to help lighten the burden of textbook purchasing and make it a less stressful process for students.

In most cases, professors have the ability to choose whatever books they want. Some classes require students to buy glossy, full-color textbooks that probably spent a fortune buying permission to print full-page images. The printing and permissions costs are built into their prices, which students must grudgingly pay. Professors should keep this in mind, and consider whether a book that is full color and has expensive pictures from movies that most people have seen that costs $100 is really necessary for, say, an introduction to communications class. Even art history professors around the country have started relying more on online sources to supplement or replace expensive printed books. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, professor Beth Harris, who teaches a survey of art history class at FIT, was fed up with pricey textbooks and started Smarthistory.com, a free “Web book.” The site contains 339 artworks, 279 videos, descriptions of various art movements and periods; basically, it has all of the resources a survey of art history textbooks has and more, and its cost to students is zero.

Another way to avoid books with inflated prices is by offering alternatives to anthologies. For example, instead of forcing students to dish out $66.75 for the Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1, which covers English lit through the 18th century, they could give students the option of buying the anthology or reading the works online, since the plays, stories and poetry contained in the volume are out of copyright. While some professors do give students this kind of option, it would be a great service to students if more professors avoided anthologies that basically exploit students by making them pay exorbitant prices for books full of stories that cost them nothing, since they did not have to pay royalties.

The same concept could be applied in philosophy classes, when students often must buy a long list of books, or an expensive anthology. Where texts are out of copyright and easily accessible online, students should be able to use those resources instead.

Another choice professors could make would be letting students choose what edition they would like to buy for

certain books. However, having a class in which students use several different editions of books can make close-reading analysis more difficult, since it may be hard for students to find the correct pages in their editions, and it is understandable that many professors require a certain edition.

However, if they are going to require students to purchase a specific edition, they could avoid more expensive ones, like Norton Critical editions. For example, the list price of the Norton Critical edition of Moby Dick is $17.50, while the list price of the Signet Classic edition is $4.95. Because the book is in English, professors do not have to worry about differing translations, and the only difference between the books are the extra critical essays in Norton. Many professors require Norton Critical editions of certain texts, but they usually do not assign many readings from the essays.

Instead of requiring a more expensive edition, which would force students to pay several times as much for the same text, professors could upload the few relevant essays to Fordham’s eReserves for students to read on their computers or bring to class.

Many professors are already making their students’ lives easier by basically making their own anthologies, or course books, of texts students will need for class. Course books are bound paperback volumes of computer printouts or Xeroxed texts that will be read for that class. Course books are a middle ground for professors who do not want their students to have to buy a hefty anthology or many different volumes, but do not want students to forget to bring online readings to class. Some professors make them available through the bookstore, though they can also sell the books directly to students, to avoid any markups or extra hassle that the bookstore might cause.

One of the biggest things that professors can do to help students keep textbook costs down is e-mailing students about required texts before the semester begins. It is particularly helpful when professors include the ISBN numbers of the books they require, so students can make sure they have the right copies. With the proper textbook information in advance, students can find the correct books as cheaply

as possible and avoid the bookstore’s crowds and exploitative prices.

Many students and faculty members may recall the nightmare that was the post office at the beginning of this semester. Many Web sites, including Amazon.com, now offer special free shipping deals for students, who often choose to take advantage of the Web sites’ lower prices.

However, this caused an enormous hold-up in the post office, which tried valiantly to distribute mail as quickly as possible, but simply could not keep up with the heightened demands. Even when students used two-day shipping to try to receive their textbooks on time, they sometimes were not able to pick up their packages until days later. The post office hold-up caused students stress and professors frustration, and could have been ameliorated if more students had bought books in advance and brought them to school at the beginning of the semester. This semester, professors can help solve this problem by sending students lists of required textbooks over Christmas break, so they can order them and have them delivered to their own home, or buy them at an off campus bookstore.

One of the benefits of relying more on online texts and eRes sources is it would save students the stress of trying to resell their textbooks. It is bad enough that the bookstore inflates the prices of books up front; they also exploit students by giving them pathetically low prices for the textbooks they paid out of the nose for only a few months before, just so the store can increase profits by selling the book again at an inflated price, next semester. Most students would be happy to avoid such obvious abuse from the bookstore by using online texts.

Professors understand the frustration that students go through finding and buying overpriced textbooks, and many of them already go out of their way to help students acquire books as painlessly as possible. However, there is always room for improvement, and some easy changes can make students less unhappy when buying textbooks for next semester.

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

Bill George, Huffington Post

Ed Morrissey, Hot Air

Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist

“Yesterday’s ‘compromise’ between Republicans and the president proves an old adage: political giveaways always trump sound fiscal policy. Or stated another way, it’s easier to agree to increase the deficit $4 trillion over the next 10 years than it is to reduce it that amount.”

“The nature of politics in a time of split power is compromise. Republicans made the tax rates their priority after the election. The deal and the Democratic furor over it shows that the Republicans came to lead and get things accomplished, not just act as obstructionists for the next two years.”

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”

RAM ARCHIVES

The bookstore’s lofty prices make students seek other places to buy textbooks, like Amazon.com and Half.com.

–COMPILED BY BRIAN KRAKER

Follow The Ram at twitter.com/ thefordhamram.

OPINIONS

PAGE 10 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

Fordham Could More Vocally Support LGBTQ Students

COURTESY OF FORDHAM.EDU

Fordham has some resources for LGBTQ students, but should make a greater effort to officially support them.

By REYNOLD GRAHAM CONTRIBUTING WRITER

PRIDE Alliance held a vigil entitled “Make it Better” in remembrance of the lives lost across the nation to suicide as a result of bullying on Nov. 29. A group of about 100 students, faculty and administrators walked in silence across campus in an act of remembrance for those who took their lives to escape the shame and fear they experienced at school and a statement of solidarity with those who still experience such treatment.

In a shift of tone to follow the silent march, students broke the silence with beautiful poems, songs

and personal stories. Though I am an ally, if I spoke, I would have said that I understand there are many students here at Fordham who remain silenced about their identities and beliefs.

I am no longer going to tolerate it. As an ally to the LGBTQ community, a Fordham student and a decent human being, it is my responsibility to care for the wellbeing of others.

I can in no way speak from the experience of an LGBTQ student at Fordham, but I can definitely say there are issues here at Fordham that are continually challenged as important points of conversation in our community.

At United Student Government’s town hall meeting on the LGBTQ community at Fordham, this sentiment was shared by interim president of PRIDE, Amanda Vodola, FCRH ’11.

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

Every student on this campus should feel welcome and comfortable in being who they are, and if LGBTQ students do not experience this kind of community and inclusion, then I would be very critical of the University’s climate and standards for treating members of its community.

If one person feels unwelcome here, if one person has experienced harassment because of his or her identity, then this is a problem that affects our entire community. As we have learned from recent tragedies, one student feeling uncomfortable or unsafe should be enough for the community at large to be concerned.

What this campus needs is an open dialogue about the experiences of LGBTQ students on campus.

When students all across the country are ending their lives because they feel ashamed or scared to be who they are, schools need to take action.

Colleges like Saint Louis University have an entire section of their Web site dedicated to addressing LGBTQ concerns through their

“Safe Zone” program (safezone. slu.edu). Lgbtcampus.org lists campuses with similar heterosexual ally programs; Saint Louis University, Boston College, Santa Clara University, Georgetown University and Loyola University-Chicago all articulate their Jesuit values of acceptance through a “Safe Zone” or similar program.

One part of the solution could be instituting an anonymous bias-incident reporting system at Fordham. This system would provide a venue for Fordham as an entire community to break the silence and begin a dialogue about student culture that reflects the realities of student experience.

The proposed system would allow anyone who is the victim of a bias crime to anonymously report the incident on a secure database, which would be appropriately monitored. Reported incidents would break down the facts of what, when and where the incident occurred. This information then would be broadcasted on a database that students, faculty and staff could log into. The purpose of this system is to spread awareness about peer-to-peer violence, whether it takes the form of actions or words.

The reporting system is just one piece of the puzzle and is not necessarily the only viable option that Fordham could take to ameliorate the situation. Fordham also needs to make a more concerted effort to promote the existing resources it already has for LGBTQ students.

During the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ LGBTQ and Ally Network of Support training, Christopher Rodgers, the dean of students at Rose Hill, referenced a list of campus resources for students, which includes but is not limited to the Office of Student Leadership and Community Development, the Office of Residential Life and Campus Ministry. However, I’m not sure all students, LGBTQ or not, are aware that these offices actually consider themselves to be resources for LGBTQ students.

We need to better advertise this information.

Fordham’s administration also needs to show more support for the LGBTQ community. The University should issue some statement or declaration in support of its LGBTQ community here at Fordham.

There is no one thing Fordham can do to improve an atmosphere of acceptance on campus; it is certainly a process. There are not enough “safe zone” stickers or LANS trainings that can make up for how students on campus are feeling. What needs to happen is a complete change in campus culture that can only happen through the actions of students.

We all need to be made aware of what goes on at Fordham and make it a priority that everyone feels welcome, regardless of their identity.

Reynold Graham, FCRH ’12, is a sociology major from Englewood, N.J.

Carcinogens Appear in Common Products

By PETER GORSKI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It is not unusual to take a casual stroll outside on the street or on campus and see a person smoking.

The first impression that comes to the mind of a nonsmoker is: how in the world can people possibly degrade their health through smoking? Such an impression is not uncommon, considering the multitude of advertisements about the negative side effects of smoking. As the media portrays it, smoking is certainly detrimental to our health and is a leading cause of a multitude of diseases, among them lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and even diabetes. Is the media always giving us the complete picture of what habits are cancerous or what habits are not? More importantly, in the hustle of our daily lives, are we always capable of being aware of every habit that is cancerous or not?

Recently, while watching a show on television, I saw a commercial advertising shampoo, a familiar product. After this commercial ended, I thought it was incredible to think of all the improvements that shampoos have undergone in the past decade. The standard shampoo we initially used to just clean our hair has evolved into a formula for multiple functions, among them hair styling, hair dying, hair strengthening and even skin irritation therapy. Alongside the diversification of the shampoo’s function came the expan-

sion of the companies and the number of companies that offer such a product for sale. It is not surprising that we often see so many of these advertisements on television. Engulfed in the positive attributes of such products, we often fail to realize what lies behind them. After all, shampoo is a simple household product we probably use at least once a day, if not more. Our conception of shampoo as an indispensable product to everyday life, however, often hinders us from realizing the dangers lying within it. All such realizations may require is reading the contents information on the product label. Even if we read the contents on the shampoo bottle, what good does it do if we do not understand what the ingredients of it really are?

Believe it or not, some shampoos that we use to clean our hair contain formaldehyde; ingredients that act as preservatives in many cosmetic products are formaldehyde releasers. One product used often is quaternium-15, which is found in products like Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, according to Johnsonsbaby.com, and Cover Girl Powder Foundation, according to Ulta.com. Such a substance might seem unfamiliar to us because it only causes allergic reactions in some people, but it is something to which we are exposed all the time.

Formaldehyde is also used in building material, including pressed-wood products, glues and insulation material. Additionally,

formaldehyde is used in many household products. Every time we take a shower, whether it is through the soap we use to wash our bodies, the shampoo we use to wash our hair, or the adhesive glue that holds together the ceramic tiles on which we stand, we are exposing ourselves to small concentrations of formaldehyde.

If we go to the mall and purchase a new pair of shoes or perhaps a shirt, we are exposing ourselves to formaldehyde. If we use laundry detergent to wash these clothes or shoes, we are exposing ourselves to formaldehyde. As you can see, formaldehyde is an important part of our lives, much to the same extent as everything else is. The only difference is that we are unaware of its coexistence with us.

Our unawareness of formaldehyde’s coexistence with us, however, is only detrimental to us, as our bodies are continually degraded by our exposure to it. Like the 60 substances in cigarettes, formaldehyde in household products and building supplies is a carcinogen. In fact, a case study by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health between 1960 and 1986 has shown that people who had the highest exposure to formaldehyde had the greatest risk of myeloid leukemia, a form of cancer of the blood.

As such a study reveals, society’s concern over the potential risks associated with exposure to formaldehyde have began decades ago.

Surprisingly, we never hear about

RICH SUGG/MCT

Chemicals that make cigarettes dangerous are found in everyday products.

the risks associated with simple household products in the media.

I am at least certain that eventually in the future, there will be similar advertisements against using household products as there are advertisements now against use of cigarettes, not only on billboards, but also on television.

Upon learning of formaldehyde and its adverse effects on the body, I was not able to believe that for most of my life I was exposed to a carcinogen, even though I do not smoke and no one in my family smokes. It is certainly difficult to come to the understanding that the beautiful wooden desks we are doing our homework on are emitting formaldehyde as vapor that is repeatedly entering our respiratory system in small concentrations.

Perhaps the most difficult thing to realize is that normal living

poses a significant risk of cancer.

Of course, a solution to limiting our exposure to a carcinogen like formaldehyde would be to abandon sources of it. However, in today’s world, is it possible to live without all of the sources of such a carcinogen? More importantly, if there was an alternative, would we still be completely safe from sources of other carcinogens?

Perhaps next time on a casual stroll through campus or on the street, when we see a person smoking, we will ask the question, “How in the world can people possibly degrade their health through smoking?” not only in consideration of those who are smoking, but also in consideration of ourselves.

Peter Gorski, FCRH ’14, is an undeclared major from Brooklyn, N.Y.

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DECEMBER 8, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ THE RAM â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 11

Stain Glass Window Depicting the birth of Christ in the sanctuary or Fordahm Church.

Photo By Fordham member Mr. Dunbar Greaves.

Nominations for Teaching Awards

FORDHAM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Leo W. Curry, Pastor Dr. John C. Banks, Director of Music Mrs. Carmen Spencer, Chair, Music, Worship & Evangelism

presents

Fordham College at Rose Hill is seeking nominations for awards for outstanding undergraduate teaching in the areas of the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.

These awards will be presented at the annual Arts & Sciences Faculty Day on February 4, 2011.

If you wish to nominate a full-time member of the Arts & Sciences Faculty at Fordham for one of these awards, please provide a letter explaining your choice. The deadline for entries is January 21, 2011.

10th Anniversary Performance George Frideric Handel's

Send nominations to:

Messiah Parts I, II and III Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010, 2pm Fordham Church, 2543 Marion Avenue, Bronx, New York 10458 Phone: 718-367-9347, Fax: 718-563-7620 E-mail:fumcinthebronx@yahoo.com, Website: www.fordhamumc.org Tickets: Suggested Donation $75 Fordham's MESSIAH will benefit The United Methodist Black College Fund and the following colleges and universities: African University (Zimbabwe), Bennett, Bethune-Cookman, Claflin, Clark Atlanta, Dillard, Huston-Tillotson, Meharry Medical, Paine College, Philander-Smith, Rust College and Wiley College.

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PAGE 12 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

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Think you are cool enough to be “Who’s that Kid?” Contact the Culture Editor at fordhamramculture@gmail.com.

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What’s New?

SCC Dinner December 8 Marketplace 4 p.m.– 8 p.m.

Fordham University Hospitality Services News!

You are invited to join the SCC for a Retro 1960’s Party Featuring menus designed, prepared and served by the SCC.

The SCC and Fordham Hospitality Services Have Opened the Doors to Dagger John’s and Dagger John’s “To Go”!

For those of you new to campus, Dagger John’s is the place to be!

Located in the basement of the McGinley Center, Dagger John’s is our full service restaurant on campus. NEW this year—Panini’s and Personal Pan Pizzas.

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Friday 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sunday 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

President’s Midnight Breakfast Take a break from studying and join Father McShane and the Student Affairs staff as they serve you your favorite breakfast foods.

Rose Hill – Wednesday, December 15 10:30 p.m. until Midnight in Marketplace.

DECEMBER 8, 2010

PAGE 13

The Ram Sits Down for an Interview with Maulik Pancholy

By EMILY ARATA STAFF WRITER

Maulik Pancholy wants you to know how sorry he is for munching. The car that brought him from Brooklyn to Rose Hill got caught in traffic and he is starving. In general, though, things are going well for the Indian-American star who has a recurring role on “30 Rock” as Jonathan, Jack Donaghy’s (Alec Baldwin, The Departed) needy assistant. He recently sat down with The Ram to discuss acting, charity and the casting directors that give him nightmares.

The Ram: Have you always wanted to work as an actor? Did you start out wanting to do something else?

Maulik Pancholy: I did. I told my parents when I was five that I wanted to be an actor. I was that total theater nerd in junior high. I went to community theater school and did productions like The Wizard of Oz and Grease. I was that kid.

It’s kind of what I’ve always wanted to do.

TR: So far in your career you’ve done comedy, you’ve done drama from “Law and Order” to “30 Rock.” So which do you prefer?

MP: You know, I want to do both. I’m having so much fun doing comedy right now. It’s such a good time. And for some reason I keep getting cast in comedies, so I’m very happy to continue working. But I would like to do a little of both. Most of the dramatic stuff I’ve done has been theater and, like you said, “Criminal Intent” and stuff like that. I’d love to do a little bit of both but I’m having a ball doing comedy right now.

TR: After all of the auditioning

you’ve done at this point, do you have any memorable stories?

MP: I do remember once, this is when I had just moved to LA. I walked in and I was doing a scene with the casting director. There were, I think, three or four other characters in the audition sides.

I chose to put them in odd places around the room even though it was just me and the casting director. She stopped me halfway through and was like, “I don’t know what you’re doing, but you need to look at me when you read this.”

Because I was literally looking all around the room when I talked, talking to the air. So I do remember that as being kind of harrowing.

The process of auditioning in and of itself is kind of painful because you don’t want to seem super invested in the job. Then you’re going to seem desperate. But of course you want it … that’s why you’re there. There are all these weird paradoxes at work.

MP: My favorite project so far…

I’m having a ball on “30 Rock.” And I had so much fun doing “Weeds,” the Showtime series I did. Those stand out as the highlights of my television career today. I’ve been so lucky. “Weeds” was five years for me and “30 Rock” is on its fifth season right now. I’m really grateful for that. Hopefully there’s going to be more favorites coming forward.

TR: I warned you. I’m a “30 Rock” fan. Who is the best to work with?

MP: We all actually get along re-

ally well. Which is to be expected, it’s been five years. You get to know each other pretty well. Most of my scenes are with Tina [Fey, “Saturday Night Live”] and with Alec. I love working with them. I feel like my relationship, character wise, to the two characters they play has really evolved. They’ve really escalated it. My disdain and hatred for Liz Lemon. In this season I’m getting a little bit more vocal about my love for Jack Donaghy.

TR: You’ve worked with organizations like South Asians for

Obama and the Asian-American Leaders of tomorrow. Tell me about your work with different causes and charities.

MP: I love doing charitable work. It’s so important [Laughs].

I feel like I’m giving you canned answers. I do, honestly, try to get involved. I’ve worked with the Asian American Justice Center, this group down in DC. I did a triathlon this summer for Team in Training, which raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There’s no one cause I’m promoting but I try to stay active.

TR: You’ve done TV, stage and movies. Which do you prefer?

MP: I really, honestly love doing a little bit of everything. I feel like they demand such different things.

I worked on a movie this summer and we literally shot, I think, two to three pages in four days. It’s such a slow pace. And in television what I think is so cool is that in five days you’re done with the work of an episode and you’re on to the next one. You have to be quick, you have to be on your feet, willing to “go there” instantly. And then with theater, you may have four weeks for rehearsal but oftentimes you get cast before that so you have time to do your own research and have that time to develop a character and a camaraderie with the other actors.

TR: What has been your favorite project so far?

PHOTO BY NORA MALLOZZI/THE RAM

Staff writer Emily Arata interviews Maulik Pancholy from “30 Rock” about his career in entertainment thus far.

Disney Channel Star Demi Lovato Enters Rehab

By MARTY MERCADO STAFF WRITER

Shocking news broke in early November when it was reported that Disney Channel star Demi Lovato dropped out of her stint in the Jonas Brothers world tour and checked into a rehabilitation facility to seek “medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time.” This news came at the heels of fans wondering why she deleted her Twitter account only days before.

The news came as a surprise to many because of the “Sonny with a Chance” star’s fairly clean image.

Although her difficulties with bullying and difficult relationship with her father are well known, she remained a consummate professional and kept a good reputation.

Speculation grew as to what caused her emotional breakdown.

Fingers were immediately pointed at her break-up with “Camp Rock” co-star Joe Jonas, who now dates

Twilight actress Ashley Greene.

Multiple reports even suggested that Lovato and Greene got into a verbal altercation at an airport.

Their representatives were quick to deny claims and dismissed allegations of any conflict between the two. Surprisingly, that wasn’t the only conflict Lovato was reported to have. Apparently, Lovato’s decision to check into rehab was triggered by a physical scuffle between her and a back-up dancer. That incident was neither confirmed nor denied by her reps.

Another theory is that Lovato is struggling with an eating disorder and cutting. Hollywood insiders claim that she has been fighting through body-image issues and that she is incredibly sensitive. She is said to be taking control of this issue by checking herself into rehab.

Lovato’s estranged father, Patrick, blamed the pressures of Hollywood for her emotional issues.

He said that he feared that there

would be too much pressure on his daughter when she signed for Disney. Lovato’s family did not appreciate her father’s comments and they have sought legal action for him to stop going to the press to talk about his daughter. Patrick quickly responded by saying that he never blamed Disney for her troubles, although many say it’s not his place to be talking about Lovato at all.

Possibly the most disturbing claim is from a college student in Texas. She claims that Lovato, only 17 at the time, was seen at a local party drinking and doing cocaine.

Several sources also say that she started drinking after her relationship with Jonas ended. In addition, there is video proof of Lovato being “slutty, belligerent and doing coke all over the house.” This video is currently being shopped around the Internet. Lovato’s representatives immediately denied that the reason for her rehab is substance abuse, reiterating that it is for phys-

ical and emotional issues.

Amid all the speculation, none of which have been confirmed, Lovato has gotten full support from Disney. They have publicly expressed that they are completely behind her and that she can take all the necessary time to recover. Meanwhile, they are set to continue filming her show “Sonny with a Chance” as scheduled with some revisions.

Reports say that they will be doing a “show within a show” using the supporting cast members, while Lovato continues her recovery. She is said to making progress, but has more work to do.

While these events in Lovato’s life came as a shock, it does cause concern over other talents produced by Disney. Lindsay Lohan (The Parent Trap) and Britney Spears (“Mickey Mouse Club”) have had their share of problems, while Vanessa Anne Hudgens (High School Musical) and Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) have been in the center of controversy

after scandalous pictures surfaced on the internet. These actresses have had less-than-desirable moments in their careers after leaving the franchise.

Not all is gloomy for the Disney alumna, though as many of their child stars have gone on to lead successful careers. Shia LaBeouf (“Even Stevens”), Zac Effron (High School Musical) and Hilary Duff (“Lizzie McGuire”) have all seen success in film, while Justin Timberlake (“Mickey Mouse Club”), Christina Aguilera (“Mickey Mouse Club”) and Selena Gomez have all seen success in music.

Although there have been child stars who folded under the pressure of stardom, Disney continues to produce hit shows and launched careers of many entertainers. They have played all the right PR moves when it comes to Lovato, and they should take her as an example and begin providing more guidance to these young and impressionable actors.

CULTURE

PAGE 14 • THE RAM • DECEMBER, 8 2010

That’s So Po

Dining Out: Daisy May’s BBQ

MARY PORPORA Week 22: Time Machines As 2010 comes to a close, I start to reflect back on my year. For the most part, I am happy about how the past 12 months have gone. I was accepted in my study abroad program in London for next semester, I went to Disney World and I finally figured out how to spell “sovereignty.” While I am happy to have experienced these and many other exciting events, there is still one thing missing. When, do I ask, are humans going to invent a working time machine?

How is it that computers have been evolving for over 60 years, and no one has figured out a way to harness this technology? Shouldn’t this be something that NASA is working on around the clock? Is Mars really that captivating? The best thing Mars can bring us is red dust that will eventually be sold in necklaces on the boardwalk next to the rice with names on it. What they need to do is focus their attention on the needs of the time-travel loving people they serve.

Time machines would not only satisfy every nerd ever born, but it would also benefit our nation as a whole. We could save so many lives and so much money if time travel was used correctly. If we know that a project will end horribly, we can simply go back in time and stop it from happening. Think about how much better life would be if the phrases “trillion-dollar deficit” and “Justin Bieber’s 3D movie” never existed?

The only way to ensure that no one adopts the Biff Tannen time travel moral code, time travel would have to be heavily monitored. There would have to be a long selection process of who can go and where they can go. Can you imagine if Ke$ha went back to the American Revolution? Our flag would be covered in glitter and our national anthem would be a poor combination of singing, rapping and piles of garbage.

Our culture is practically screaming out for time machines.

It has been present in our films and televisions for decades, from The Time Machine to Back to the Future to Austin Powers. There are plenty of films that eventually became reality, so why should time travel be any different?

In 1902, George Méliès created a short film, “A Trip to the Moon” that portrayed a bunch of men going to the moon, and a short 67 years later, we were on the moon!

If we continue with that standard, the 115 years that have passed since H.G. Wells published The Time Machine is completely unacceptable.

Since we have basically conquered space, even to the point where we feel we can rip a planet of its honor (sorry Pluto), I think it is time we shift our focus to time machines. Can someone please just hit his/her head on a bathroom sink and invent the flux capacitor already? It is almost 2015 and we still do not have hover boards or dehydrated Pizza Hut. Time machines, now that’s so Po!

PHOTO BY KAYLA LEGOFF/THE RAM

Daisy May’s BBQ is located at the corner of 46th Street and 11th Avenue.

By KAYLA LeGOFF CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the ciy that never sleeps, one often comes across his or her fair share of restaurants that squeeze every last penny out of your practically empty wallet. These restaurants tend to be the type with too much hype, not enough food and tablecloths that clash with your faded blue jeans and converse

sneakers.

When you walk in the door of Daisy May’s BBQ joint (corner of 46th Street and 11th Avenue), you are greeted by the fogged window of a steamy cafeteria-style buffet line. Slopped on a shiny red tray, with your face practically in your food you take in the smell as you make your way to the barstool.

Unwrapping the pulled pork sandwich ($10.50) is like opening the first present on Christmas morning; excited and eager, you can’t wait to see what’s inside. The sesame seed bun has a diameter wider than your average DVD. Stuffed to the brim with saucy chunks of fatty pork, you’ll be moaning in a When Harry Met Sally kind of way. Embarrassing, but understandable once you’ve tried it.

A side of golden, spicy cornbread ($2.75) is enticing, but with a dry and crumbly texture it is worth skipping. Save that room for the mashed potatoes with red eye gravy ($4.50) and macaroni and cheese ($4.50). Your fork will sink into the thick potatoes and the gravy that pooled at the top will flow down like Niagara Falls into each and every bite of salty goodness.

In a hue of yellow that puts your orange powdered “Easy Mac” to shame, the macaroni and cheese is dreamy.

Overall The bubbly goldenbrown crust, with Location thick and creamy elbows generously Food Quality covered in sauce; you won’t want to Atmosphere share any of the obscene eight-ounce Hospitality portion they give you.

Price $ If you are lucky enough to have (Out of 4 ’s) room to try dessert, a sugary red velvet cupcake will round out all the fat that preceded it quite nicely.

While the location is a bit of a dive, and the seating area is nothing special, you will be too distracted by the food to notice. Your faded blue jeans and skinny wallet will fit right in here.

It may not be as authentic as what you’d get in Texas, but Daisy May’s delivers on bringing comfort food to Manhattan, and for this city girl, that’s as good as the south.

Editor’s Pick: Wawa Convenience Stores

By NICK CARROLL SPORTS EDITOR

The first thing people usually learn about me is where my home is. No one is prouder of his or her hometown than I am. I frequently refer to it as the “Birthplace of Freedom” or “City with Character,” take constant digs at rival cities (sure, I guess we’re a little like New York, beside the fact we never sold out) and refuse to give in on linguistic or social differences (“bagel” is pronounced “beg-al,” “water” is “wood-er” and, while we’re on that subject, it is “wood-er ice,” not “Italian ice”).

If you have not figured it out yet, my wardrobe, which essentially consists of Flyers, Eagles and Phillies shirts, would probably give away that I am proudly from Philadelphia. You are probably wondering why I came here in the first place. When I am asked this, my only response is that I made a mistake (the second thing you would probably learn about me is how much I hate to admit that I am wrong).

This background made it fairly simple to choose a subject for this article. I decided to choose one of the defining characteristics of the Delaware Valley: Wawa.

Simply put, Wawa is the greatest convenience store ever created. With a plethora of locations throughout Philadelphia, its surrounding suburbs, south Jersey and Delaware, it is very hard to go far without finding a Wawa. Even after moving to the suburbs, in my small neighborhood, there are 12 Wawas located within five miles of my house according to the store’s Web site, the vast majority of which are open 24 hours.

Wawa really does define convenience. Aside from the unthinkable amount of locations and unbeat-

able hours, Wawa offers just about everything anyone could want.

What truly makes Wawa special is the quality of the freshly made food. The majority of convenience stores do offer food; however, it often comes pre-wrapped and may or may not have been sitting under a light for the past year or so. Wawa, on the other hand, features a deli, which prepares hoagies specially made for each customer. One of the more redeeming qualities of this process is the touch screen that Wawa offers.

At first, it may seem intimidating, but, to the veteran Wawa-goer, it is an immensely efficient process in which the customer can see all of his or her options and quickly place an order and pay for the hoagie (or mac and cheese, chicken, etc.) while it is prepared.

If you are more in the mood for a snack, Wawa offers a comprehensive selection of chips, candy or whatever anyone could desire. I suggest going with the Tastykake – a line of baked goods that put Little Debbie and Entenmann’s to shame, much like Wawa does to 7-Eleven in the convenience store category.

If those options do not get the job done, Wawa offers numerous

flavors of milkshake. Basically, if you are hungry, Wawa has an option to satisfy your appetite.

Wawa does not stop there, though. It offers a variety of drinks to wash down its delicious food.

As G. Love & Special Sauce once rapped in “Cold Beverage,” “Wawa’s to the right, they got a beverage inside.”

This is very true, and, when looking at the bigger picture, a drastic understatement. On top of the Cokes and Pepsis that you should find at any convenience store, Wawa offers its own brand of sodas and juices that are of the highest level.

One of the most popular items in the entire store is probably the half-gallon of Wawa iced tea. In addition to the teas, Wawa offers exotic fruit drinks and sodas that include flavors such as peach, pineapple and blue raspberry (in addition to more traditional flavors, of course).

My personal favorite is orange drink, which I would describe as having fruit punch-like consistency with an orange flavor, which combines so well that my roommates and I decided to place the empty half-gallons along the top shelf of

our Walsh apartment’s closet, visible to all guests who enter. Perhaps this is a little over-the-top, but it is a fitting honor nonetheless.

When discussing Wawa, I have to mention the coffee. Wawa offers a variety of flavors of coffee to jumpstart any day and which have become a staple of many Philadelphians’ morning commute.

It really has evolved into the ultimate road trip stop in addition to being the greatest in-and-out food shopping experience.

Over the past 10 years or so, the majority of Wawas have begun offering gas in addition to the convenience store aspect.

Most importantly, though, Wawa has remained a very clean and sterile environment, unlike most gas station convenience stores (and convenience stores in general, for that matter).

Overall, Wawa really is the ultimate convenience store and has a way of impacting whomever is privileged enough to have made the “Wawa run.”

Unfortunately for most of you, Wawa would require a road trip.

That said, it is well worth the drive and is a must-stop when driving through the Philadelphia area.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AKIRA SUWA/KRT

Wawa is located in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware, and features a deli, fruit drinks, sodas, milkshakes and coffee.

CULTURE

DECEMBER 8, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 15

Fordham Students Create Web Site

By SANDY McKENZIE ASSISTANT CULTURE EDITOR

Latenightdoneright.com, also known as LNDR, is a Web site depicting previews and reviews regarding late night television. The Web site was founded by Ryan Tokar, FCRH ’11, Anthony Jabbour, GSB ’11 and Matt Flores, Emerson College ’11.

“What started out as a silly idea among buddies has turned into a growing and potentially profitable Web site,” Tokar said. “The three of us got to talking one night and decided that we would not be cool unless we started writing a blog, but most blogs were about topics such as music, fashion and food.

Eventually we realized that there was a relatively untouched niche in late night television.”

Although all three founders of LNDR are fans of late-night television, they did not consider themselves to be “avid viewers.”

The original plan for the Web site was to “be a place where viewers could find previews and recaps for all late night talk shows.” This idea prompted Tokar, Jabbour and Flores to create “Daily Done Right” posts, recapping the late-night television shows that aired the previous night.

According to the Web site, the target audience is comprised of “overwhelmed late-night TV fanatics.” In addition to daily “Done Right” posts, the Web site aims to “keep you up to date with news pertaining to our heroes,” the hosts of late-night television. The posts focus on “who had the best monologue, which show had the most interesting guests, and which show had the best musical act.”

For example, the post from Dec. 1 stated, “Thank goodness Jimmy Kimmel didn’t take this week off too. His monologue was average last night, but he closed with a hilarious video. A new video with two tornadoes surfaced, so of course he mashed it up with ‘Double Rainbows’ to make a fake movie trailer.”

In addition to the posts, the Web site contains video clips, including a clip of the two tornadoes that was featured on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

According to Tokar, the best way to go about creating the “Done Right” posts is to assemble a team of friends. Each friend is accountable for recapping one late-night television show. The next day, one of the three Web site founders reads the recaps and writes up a review by 9 a.m. These “Done Right” posts inspired the friends to purchase the domain name, www.latenightdoneright.com. The friends then expanded the Web site to incorporate news regarding latenight television hosts, including Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno, Craig Furgeson, Carson Daly, Conan O’Brien and George Lopez. The Web site also expanded to utilize social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

The “Tweet of the Day!” is a post from “someone involved in late night television, whether a writer or host.” Also, visitors of the Web site are encouraged to leave comments after each post.

Molly Thompson, FCRH ’12, is a fan of the Web site.

“College students do not always have the time to watch hours of latenight television a night,” Thompson said. “Late Night Done Right is an excellent way to keep up with what is going on with late-night television without having to watch every show. Plus, the Web site reviews

each late-night show so you know what shows have the best guests or performances. The Web site is also very relevant today, as it keeps you up to date with everything that is going on with Team Coco.”

On Oct. 30, the creators of Late Night Done Right attended the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, which took place at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The rally was led by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. According to Brian Montopoli of CBS News, an estimated 215,000 people attended. Photographs and articles written by Late Night Done Right staff, are available on the Late Night Done Right Web site.

According to the Web site’s blog, “It [the rally] was a really entertaining show, with great musical performances and some really funny banter, but it didn’t try to be too much, which is definitely a good thing.”

Tokar, Jabbour and Flores are thrilled by the success of their Web site and are looking forward to Late Night Done Right’s potentially even brighter future.

“Our site is a one-stop for recaps and videos that would have to be individually sought out otherwise,” Tokar said. “We are dedicated to providing our viewers with an all inclusive late night television experience. We have also developed our own narrative voice…one that appeals to audiences of all ages. I think our site is something students would be very interested in.”

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

Going

09

?

On

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

THURSDAY Craft Night NYC Resistor 87 Third Ave Blow off some steam and meet people from NYC, while assembling a robot, designing clothing or kniting a hat.

10

FRIDAY “The Spanish Manner: Drawings from Ribera to Goya” The Frick Collection 1 East 70th St. More than 50 words of art from the 14th through 19th centuries by artists such as Rembrandt and Vermeer.

11

SATURDAY

Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites American Museum of Natural History Central Park West at 79th St.

Explore our solar system, including a 34-ton meteorite that was discovered by Admiral Peary.

12

SUNDAY

Abstract Impressionist New York The Museum of Modern Art 11 W. 53rd St.

This brand new exhibit doesn’t just cover Pollock and de Kooning, but also the museum’s role in the Abstract Impres-sionist movement.

13

MONDAY

Wicked Gershwin Theatre 222 West 51st St.

Based on the book by Winnie Holzman, this musical is a prequel to The Wizard of OZ.

14

TUESDAY “Painting Brooklyn: Stories of Immigration and Survival” Brooklyn Historical Society 128 Pierrepont St. View Nina Talbot’s paintings of Brooklyn residents.

15 COURTESY OF LATENIGHTDONERIGHT.COM

Latenightdoneright.com is a new Web site created by two Fordham students.

WEDNESDAY “Battle of Brooklyn, August 27, 1776” Harbor Defense Museum 230 Sheridan Loop Enjoy this exhibit of Revolutionary War artifacts, includ-ing a three-pound cannon and Coehorn mortar.

— COMPILED BY CELESTE KMIOTEK

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE EPISODE WAS WHEN CRISTINA, WHILE HOLDING UP THE FISH SHE AND DEREK HAD CAUGHT, BURST INTO TEARS, SHOWING THE FIRST BIT OF EMOTION AFTER GO OFF-THE-RAILS AND LEAVING HER RESIDENCY AT SEATTLE GRACE. IT WAS A GREAT SCENE BECAUSE SHE OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN RUNNING AWAY FROM HER PROBLEMS IN THE PREVIOUS EPISODES, TRYING TO GET LOST IN ANOTHER JOB AWAY FROM HER DESTINED CAREER AS A SURGEON. THE CATHARTIC SOBBING WAS MOSTLY A SIGN OF HER RECOVERY AND THE RETURN OF HER CHARACTER TO THE HOSPITAL SETTING. THERE IS ONE IMAGE THAT CAN SUM UP THE STRANGE THEME OF THE DEC. 2 EPISODE OF “GREY’S ANATOMY”: DEREK SHEPHERD (PATRICK DEMPSEY, MADE OF HONOR) AND CRISTINA YANG (SANDRA OH, SIDEWAYS) FISHING TOGETHER ON A LAKE. THIS UNLIKELY SCENERY

Ram Reviews

TELEVISION

MOVIE

“GREY’S ANATOMY”

THE NEXT THREE DAYS

One of the best parts of the episode was when Cristina, while holding up the fish she and Derek had caught, burst into tears, showing the first bit of emotion after going off-the-rails and leaving her residency at Seattle Grace. It was a great scene because she obviously has been running away from her problems in the previous episodes, trying to get lost in another job away from her destined career as a surgeon.

There is one image that can sum up the strange theme of the Dec. 2 episode of “Grey’s Anatomy:” Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey, Made of Honor) and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh, Sideways) fishing together on a lake. After a dark mood overwhelmed the beginning of this season, the lighter direction continued in this episode feels a lot better and seems to be what “Grey’s Anatomy” is at its best.

“You have to ask yourself if you can do it, but if you can’t don’t start, because you’ll just get someone killed”.

This advice from Damon Pennington (Liam Neeson, Clash of the Titans) resonates throughout the entire movie and toys with schoolteacher John Brennan (Russell Crowe, Gladiator) for three years.

Taking place in Pittsburgh, the plot unfolds when Laura Brennan (Elizabeth Banks, Invincible), John’s wife, is accused of murdering her boss after an altercation at work.

The next day she is taken into custody and subsequently put into jail. It then becomes John’s mission over the next three years to find a way to break her out of jail.

Memorable but not remarkable, the instinctual human element that this film provokes is sure to have anyone thinking about it.

TELEVISION “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” It’s that time of year again when I must watch the same classic Christmas movies that I’ve seen since I was eight over and over again. I discovered the DVD, Saturday Night Live – Christmas, to be a perfect addition to my Christmas-themed marathon.

Another great part of this DVD is the featuring of older skits from the 1970’s that I had never seen before involving some of the original “SNL” cast-members.

John Belushi (Animal House) pops up as a drunken mall Santa in one skit and Chevy Chase (“Community”) appears with a funny “Holiday Wish” in another.

Another standout bit is “Martha Stewart Topless Christmas Special.”

These holiday-themed “SNL” skits are a highly entertaining diversion from the typical Christmas movies.

TELEVISION

MUSIC

“THE OFFICE”

ALEX GROOT SONGS I WISH I WROTE

In this week’s episode of “The Office,” Michael reads a magazine that states that China is surpassing the United States in terms of economics. Michael shares this news with the rest of his colleauges.

However, Oscar does not believe Michael’s statistics.

It turns out, Michael’s facts are true and Michael is named “the smartest person in the office.”

Meanwhile, Pam attempts, as office administrator, to persuade Dwight to make the building more comfortable by turning up the heat and getting better lighting in the office. As Dwight refuses, Pam goes on a search for a new office building. Meanwhile, Pam is afraid of failing at another task. However, Dwight overhears her explaining her worries to Jim and, out of compassion, gives in. As always, “The Office” is humorous and a crowdpleaser.

You may not have heard of New York-based musician Alex Goot until now, but don’t be surprised if you see his name on the music charts one of these days. With nearly 10 million “upload views” on his YouTube account and over 92,000 subscribers, Goot is quickly becoming an Internet sensation.

Goot’s talent as a musician and producer is obvious in this compilation of music, and for an album that covers some of the most overplayed songs on the radio, Songs I Wish I Wrote is surprisingly satisfying. Even so, it may be best to preview each song and decide for yourself which tracks are most worth buying.

Songs I Wish I Wrote is available on iTunes, and each track, in addition to other covers and original songs, can be found on youtube. com/gootmusic.

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

CULTURE

PAGE 16 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

The Death of Indie Music Is Not a Myth

By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR

Indie is dead. Long live indie.

If the proclamations of innumerable celebrities, music magazines and pop culture Web sites are anything to go by, there is nothing quite so valued in the art world as “non-commercial,” “independent” or, increasingly less commonly, “alternative” output.

This is not a new thing; Angus MacLise, the Velvet Underground’s first drummer, left the band rather than deign to play a paying gig at Summit High School in Summit, N.J., while The Who took the concept of “selling out” to the extreme, mockingly placing fake radio ads in between songs on 1967’s The Who Sell Out. Indeed, the notion of retaining artistic integrity in this way has struck bands that predate any “indie” craze, namely The Beatles (except for The Social Network) and U2 (except for that iPod commercial).

With the rise of the Internet, and subsequently Web sites such as Pitchfork Media, Brooklyn Vegan and the A.V. Club (which, in the interest of full disclosure, I will admit to being addicted to, especially the Chicago city page), the veneration of indie has reached new heights. Brooklyn Vegan is just one of many sites that focus on a single geographic region, playing into the feelings of exclusiveness and insider knowledge upon which indie music has always fed, while Pitchfork, with its prominently unique ratings system, has doomed more than one artist to obscurity with the dreaded “0.0” rating, because a plain old “0” would be too mainstream. (The A.V. Club engages in both to a certain extent, with a handful of regional sub-sites and a full, school-esque grading system replete with pluses and minuses.)

Such Web sites, in addition to the nature of the Internet in general has led to one conclusion: Indie is dead, we killed it and it died in 2010.

When I say this, I of course do not mean that independently recorded, produced and released songs and albums will cease to exist. They will continue as long as there are kids looking for a way out of wherever they are; a guitar or two turntables and a microphone will always be that just-out-ofreach ticket out of the real world, whether it is the South Bronx or suburbia.

What I am saying, however, is that “indie;” this mythic ideal of good music to be enjoyed by the elect few in spite (or often because) it is not well-known in the larger population is dead. The days are over when you could brag to your friend about this tiny band that only you and the 50 people at some dive bar in Brooklyn know about.

No one can truthfully claim to be one of the few listeners of some new artist.

They’ll be on YouTube.

Don’t believe me? Here are three bands you have probably never heard of: Freelance Whales, the Dum Dum Girls and River Eater. I can wait here while you look them up online.

See my point? A look at sales charts confirms this idea. There are 14 independently distributed (meaning they were not put out

by Sony, EMI, Warner or Universal) albums that have hit number one on the Billboard 200 chart since 1991. If we eliminate Disney soundtracks (The Lion King and Pocahontas), albums by established artists (The Eagles’ Long Road out of Eden, Radiohead’s In Rainbows and Pearl Jam’s Backspacer) and Hope for Haiti Now (MTV, which put out the album, is owned by media giant Viacom), we are left with eight albums. Six of them, all rap albums, came out between 1991 and 1997. The other two? Vampire Weekend’s Contra and The Suburbs

by Arcade Fire, both of which came out this year.

Sufjan Stevens’s The Age of Adz peaked at No. 7 on that chart, hitting number one on the rock, alternative and folk charts. Here are a

few facts for context: Stevens’ previous best-charting LP was 2006’s The Avalanche, which hit 71. (His EP All Delighted People hit 27. Also this year.) Additionally, the musical centerpiece of Adz is a 25:35 epic entitled “Impossible Soul.” Moving out of borderline art rock, Matt & Kim’s Sidewalks hit 30, a vast improvement over Grand’s 165 peak.

On top of that, these acts, among others, are selling out astonishingly large venues. This year alone, The National and the Avett Brothers played to full houses at Radio City Music Hall. Vampire Weekend did it three nights in a row. Already,

The Decemberists have sold out three nights at the Beacon Theatre for this coming January. In October, French outfit Phoenix sold out Madison Square Garden with indie darlings The Dirty Projectors opening. In August, Arcade Fire did that twice.

I do not, it must be said, want to lament the loss of indie. Rather, I have come here to celebrate it. In an age of increasingly segmented markets and purchasing, anyone with a laptop, an Internet connection and some talent can get their music out to the entire world, and this is a fantastic situation. You no

longer have to “know someone” to get your music out there, and the world is better off for it. Indie is mainstream, anyone can find anyone’s music and the world is one giant record store.

This, I can promise you, will bring us to new levels of highquality music that we cannot yet imagine.

I want to leave you with this: Phoenix’s “1901” was used in a recent car commercial, not for Honda, VW or something else that can pass for trendy, but for Cadillac.

Your grandmother has found your music, and you bet it’s awesome.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA

Sufjan Steven’s new album, The Age of Adz hit the charts at number seven, which is a huge rise from his previous albums.

WHO’S THAT KID? Paulina“Plina Babez”Naroznik A MEMBER OF FCRH ‘11, MAJORING IN ECONOMICS AND MINORING IN BUSINESS FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y. Where have we seen you?

Where ever there’s free food on campus. Or in the SaliceConley lobby on duty (wompwomp).

Favorite childhood show and favorite current show?

“Muzzy” and “Dora the Explorer” respectively. What can I say? I’m an immigrant.

Who would play you in a movie and why?

Probably Audrey Hepburn in her prime. Short of that, a young Meryl Streep.

On the off chance there is no time machine by the time they make my biopic, Marion Cotillard’s future daughter. Why, cause they’re awesome.

How do you blow off steam?

I beat my boyfriend, John.

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

Pope JP II - Shout out to my Catholic and Polish peeps.

What would your ideal day in Manhattan consist of ?

Jackie Cunningham makes me an omelet. Take Metro-North to Midtown with our chicas and full throttle bargain shop until lunch time. Stop at Remi for best pre-fixed lunch in the city.

T ake a boat ride around Central Park pond and lay out. BBall break at a city park with locals where I drain the game-winning

jumper and celebrate with the dance from Remember the Titans.

Eat massive dinner and dessert at Max Brenner’s in Union Square as reward. See Gaga in concert at MSG. Get invited on-stage to replace Beyoncé in “Telephone.”

After-party with Gaga where I show off ridiculous moves and win impromptu dance-off. Pass out in cab back to Rose Hill.

COURTESY OF PAULINA NAROZNIK GREEN

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

I’d be traveling around the world.

Favorite class at Fordham and favorite professor?

Toss-up between Santangelo or Themeli. Ah, who am I kid-

ding...Themeli!

What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

That I’m some inhumanly smart, successful, athletic, rapturously beautiful robot. I’m not a robot.

Stuck on an island, what would you need?

Some sunscreen, shades, “Law and Order: SVU” and a life supply of astronaut food.

What is your dream job?

Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Watch out The Bernanke.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Pranking people.

CULTURE

DECEMBER 8, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 17

Deck the Halls While Listening to Holiday Songs

By HOLLY LEMANOWICZ STAFF WRITER

It is time to deck the halls, trim the tree, get into the holiday spirit and listen to your favorite holiday carols, but with a new twist. Add to your collection of holiday tunes this season with a few of these new and notables or collectable classics.

Glee: The Music – The Christmas Album This album is “Glee’s” fifth release in 2010. Tracks include “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Last Christmas” and “O Christmas Tree.” If you want to check out the songs before you purchase the album, you can catch some of the songs on the holiday episode of “Glee,” which first aired on Monday, Dec. 5.

Merry Christmas II You Songs include “Oh Santa!,” “Charlie Brown Christmas” and a newly remixed favorite, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” from Mariah Carey’s 1994 holiday album. The expecting singer will perform on the 2010 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade, which airs on Dec. 25.

The Gift After Susan Boyle, contestant on “Britain’s Got Talent,” released “Silent Night” last holiday season and it rose to popularity, the British star was expected to release a holiday album. Featuring, “Halle-

lujah,” “Away In a Manger” and “O Come All Ye Faithful,” this holiday album is sure to please those who enjoy the classic carols.

NOW (That’s What I Call Christmas), Vol.4 If you’re looking for new twists on old classics in addition to other holiday favorites then this album is for you. Artists include Rihanna, Dean Martin, Colbie Caillat, Elvis Presley and Lady Gaga; this album includes two discs, with the first featuring recordings by current pop stars and the second with classics by the legendary musical idols.

Christmas Is the Time…(To Say I Love You) In honor of her first holiday album release, Katharine McPhee, “American Idol” runnerup, wants to create the first Cyber Christmas Carol. You can join her in singing the classic songs on her album by going to her official Web site or Facebook page.

Holly Happy Days The Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, released their first holiday album, which includes standout instruments including the mandolin, banjo and fiddle.

Christmas With the Puppini Sisters The London-based performing group featuring Marcella Puppini, Kate Mullins and Stephanie O’Brien, released a holiday album that incorporates their ’40s-style

and retro harmony.

Additional new releases include “Joy to the World” by Pink Martini, “O Holy Night” by “America’s Got Talent” Jackie Evancho, “A Christmas Cornucopia” by Annie Lennox and “Very Merry Christmas” by Dave Barnes. In addition, various holiday singles have also been release including “Boots” by The Killers, who annually release a holiday song which benefits the Product (RED) campaign.

While it’s great to add new releases to your holiday album collection, falling back on the classics is always an option as well.

Annie Ciccarello, FCRH ’12, named Bruce Springsteen’s “Merry Christmas Baby” and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas as two of her holiday favorites. So why not stock up on these legendary holiday classics? Favorites include A Very Special Christmas, “The Christmas Song” by Nat “King” Cole, A Char-

lie Brown Christmas, Elvis’ Christmas Album, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, Merry Christmas by Johnny Mathis, and The Christmas Collection by Frank Sinatra.

Ultimately there’s a holiday album or tune out there for everyone. Whether it be classic and traditional or fresh and modern, any album you choose will be sure to brighten your holiday season and keep you “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

COURTESY OF FLICKR

Mariah Carey’s album Merry Christmas II You is sure to put you in the Christmas spirit and spread some holiday cheer.

A Year in Review: Movies, Tech and More

By SARA SHAHMIRI STAFF WRITER

The year 2010 provided 365 days of news, work and entertainment. Pop culture flourished this year and literally gave us something to talk about.

Movies ruled 2010. Movie studios adapted two of Nicholas Sparks’ novels, Dear John and The Last Song, to the big screen. When thinking about movie adaptations, it would be hard to overlook Disney’s take on Alice in Wonderland or Warner Brother’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Many devoted Harry Potter fans attended the midnight showing of this film, which earned over $24 million for the franchise. Speaking of devoted fans, hordes of moviegoers rushed to theaters this summer to see Toy Story 3 and to learn the fates of their favorite toys.

Moviegoers also enjoyed the proliferation of 3D films and had the option of viewing movies such as Despicable Me in 3D. Of course, no overview of 2010’s films would be complete without mentioning the Twilight saga. Twilight fever continued to sweep through the nation as legions of fans waited in lines to watch the newest Twilight installment: Eclipse.

Speaking of vampires, vampiremania invaded our televisions this year as shows such as HBO’s “True Blood” and the CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” gained popularity.

New Jersey also played a prominent role on the small screen as shows such as “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” and “Jersey Shore” gained a larger fanbase.

While MTV’s long-lasting show, “The Hills,” finally ended this summer, its show, “Jersey Shore,” was

renewed for another season proving that the show’s cast successfully fist-pumped its way into America’s heart.

The world of television news also witnessed some changes this year as Larry King, host of “Larry King Live” for over 25 years, officially announced his retirement.

Advances in technology forever changed the ways we can watch our favorite movies and television shows. This year, many companies debuted 3D televisions, which allowed viewers to watch sports and movies in 3D. Netflix also announced its partnership with Apple that allows its users to watch movies on the go by streaming films to their iPhones.

Touchscreen technology also made great strides in 2010. Android-based phones flooded the markets and provided customers with alternatives to the iPhone and Blackberry Torch. Earlier this spring, Apple debuted the iPad, a touchscreen device that lets its users access the Internet, read books and watch movies all with the tap of a finger. Apple also introduced its new generation of iPods, including the new touch screen iPod Nano.

Speaking of music, 2010 marked the comeback of Eminem, while it solidified the careers of tween superstars Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, in addition to Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. This year also witnessed the rise to fame of Ke$ha, Drake and Nicki Minaj, but what really got the music world talking was the Beatles’ decision to sell their music on iTunes.

In fact, within a week of their announcement, iTunes reported that the Beatles had dominated both the top downloaded albums list

and the top downloaded songs list.

This year, we found ourselves watching celebrities both on the news and all over the tabloids.

Throughout the summer, Lindsay Lohan constantly made headlines as she went back and forth to court, jail and rehab. The Kardashian family also became a household name thanks to its two hit television shows, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” and “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami,” and many endorsement deals.

Finally, the world got royal fever the second Prince William announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend, Kate Middleton.

According to the British Monar-

chy’s official Twitter page, “Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton will be married on Friday, 29 April 2011.”

Fashion flourished in 2010. This year was full of flamboyant and daring colors. Everywhere we looked, people were wearing bold (usually nonprescription) glasses or sunglasses with thick colorful frames.

The fashion world also introduced the jegging, the jean legging, which quickly became very desirable on all college campuses. Fedora hats also remerged this year and could be bought everywhere.

The sporting world also witnessed its fair share of excitement this year. Canada was the home

to the 2010 Winter Olympics and much to everyone’s surprise, curling became the fan-favorite sport.

Later this year, England housed the world famous Wimbledon competition and gave witness to the world’s longest tennis match.

Finally, soccer swept the nation as Americans tuned in to watch the 2010 FIFA competition, which took place in South Africa. While Americans will definitely remember that Spain won the World Cup, the thing we will mostly likely recall about FIFA 2010 is the vuvuzela.

It seems unlikely that we will ever forget 2010. As for 2011? Now it’s our time to use these 365 days to make history.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRY E. WALKER/MCT

Apolo Anton Ohno skates in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada for the United States of America.

PAGE 18 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

CULTURE

Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show A Rousing Success

By MARK BECKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As much as a show featuring 34 of the most beautiful women in the world modeling lingerie is guaranteed to be a success by its own virtue, this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show surpassed any expectations to be had beyond that.

“The Academy Award for models,” “wonderful to celebrate a woman’s body in the most exquisite lingerie” and “not only a fashion show, but a theatrical event” are all apt ways to describe the show, as videos did on its Web site, but it goes beyond even that. It is a marketing tool, a source of fun and a world event, exhibiting “the sexiest, hottest, newest fashion from Victoria’s Secret.”

By the numbers – 125 pounds of glitter, 6” heels on average, 21,180hour hand-crafted wings, 968 crew members, 2,100 balloons and over $20 million of jewelry – it is a spectacular event reaching nearly 200 countries.

The process of creating the show is just as spectacular as the end result – designing the outfits, choosing the models, coordinating and rehearsing the show and everything else that goes into it.

“We use the best of the best,” Monika Mitro, executive producer of public relations, said on the site.

“The most beautiful women in the world modeling, best hair and makeup people, best TV producers, best set designers, best costumes; it’s just such an extravagant, amazing show that people look forward to it every year.”

Of course, the focus is more often on the models than what they are modeling, and the process of choosing them is thus very particu-

lar, and involves far more than simply choosing the best bodies.

“We’re looking for the right proportion, gorgeous hair, skin, a great personality and just glowing, beautiful women,” John Pfeiffer, casting director, said on the site.

“Even if they’re amazing models and they have beautiful bodies, if they don’t have a personality, they can’t make it in the show,” Mitro said.

More important than the models chosen, however, is what they represent.

“While it may be important to walk the runway at the high-end couture shows, that’s important to 10,000 people,” Ed Razek, executive producer, said on the site. “If you walk in our show, it’s important to 100 million people.”

This year’s show consisted of six sections, each with a very distinct style, all intended to come together in forming the theme “Night of 1,000 Fantasies.” A six-month process, the specifics of the show were first conceived around May, according to designer Todd Thomas.

“We really tried to outdo ourselves and have some combinations I really doubt you’ve ever seen in a fashion show,” he said on a video on the show’s Web site.

As was fitting, Adriana Lima, heir apparent to the recently retired Heidi Klum as head angel, got things started, strutting down the runway with a purpose to open the first section of the show – “Tough Love”.

Full of rough cuts and hard looks, “Tough Love” was a “strong section – apocalyptic glamour,” according to Thomas. It appeared to be all about starting the show off with a serious edge, commanding everyone’s attention rather than

asking for it with a plan to reward that attention quickly.

Not unexpectedly, the musical star of the night, Katy Perry, made her debut right after the commercial break following “Tough Love”, wearing a periwinkle blue swimsuit with massive ruffled hips. She belted out her hit “Firework” in an unusually all-business manner, focusing directly on the camera with very rigid movements, probably due both to the song’s nature and some nerves.

Second on the slate was the “Country Girls” section, a tempting stereotype consisting of a barn set design and lacey, gingham patterns, boots, bright colors and soft, flowery ruffles on predominantly short dresses in a “romantic, thought-focused moment” in Thomas’s words.

The camera cut backstage throughout the show, as did the audio feed, which perfectly illustrated the busy-but-fun nature of putting the show together and gave viewers a bit of valuable insight into the show beyond just the models walking down the runway. Doing so did take away some of the surprise of each model taking to the runway, but the effect was not too much to condemn the idea.

Another interesting feature the show utilized was cutting away entirely at various points between sections to mini-videos focusing on a variety of subjects, from biographies of the models to discussing each other and more.

“Game On”, the sports-themed section, came next, in which outfits were designed to embody several sports, significantly so, through the use of props (and several Olympic gymnasts performing in the background). This was a more person-

able theme, in style, walks and looks, along with a mix consisting of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” the Globetrotters theme and others.

Preceding the fourth section (“Heavenly Bodies”) was a brief history and public reaction to the illustrious VS wings, a staple of the brand and fashion show for years (hence the term “Victoria’s Secret Angels”) in addition to the models’ clear admiration and love of the wings; it was probably the most fascinating cutaway in the show.

“Heavenly Bodies” was a heavyhitter section, clearly going for an elegant, celestial presentation involving the night’s other music star, Konvict label owner Akon, and immense, lavish wings. The wings themselves were definitely the foci of the designs here, flowing with feathers or standing tall and commanding. Akon was more involved in the show itself than Perry earlier, with the models twirling gracefully around him and a few even dancing with him for a moment.

“Wild Things” followed as the fifth section of the show, and met the expectations coming with its title to the letter. Crazy, almost unkempt concoctions of outfits involving animal fur, feathers and plenty of extras – wings, spikes and a host of other unusual elements.

In fact, things may have been a little too wild, drawing some criticism for their outlandish, debatably irrelevant design.

Finally, however, Victoria’s Secret and Thomas countered their riskiest section with their most relevant – “PINK”. The final section started with a bang, with Perry surprising viewers with another appearance and further pleasing them in singing her new hit “Teenage Dream” (she transitioned into “California

Gurls” later), this time in her characteristic fun, flirty demeanor, getting into her dance with freer movement and that gleam in her eye.

PINK was a presentation of the exact store brand – brightly colored with lots of wording or polka dots on cotton underwear. Along with the lingerie modeling, several extras were utilized, including a plethora of balloons and bubbles.

The whole section suggested a candy-store design, as did Perry’s black leotard and yellow dress with large-ruffled hips, and the models kept things personal with far more winks and casual smiles.

The show ended with all 34 models dancing out onto the runway in pairs, led of course by Lima, who worked the cameras the whole way. Everyone danced for a few moments while everyone stood on the runway, and among backstage shouts of “they don’t want to go!” stayed as long as they could before reluctantly turning back to head backstage, although not without some parting kisses and waves from Lima and a few others to the cameras.

The show was considered a success by many critics, and it certainly appeared so to the casual viewer. From Lima’s modeling of the Bombshell Fantasy Bra ($2 million this year, designed by Italian jeweler Damiani) to the perfect contrast in musical choice with Perry and Akon, all the background work was exceptional and allowed the models to revel in their jobs the whole night. They did their job well as expected, and the show certainly got across its message that everyone involved is part of the Victoria’s Secret family and probably drew enough viewers in to make it all worthwhile.

The ‘Hookup Culture:’ A Procrastination for True Love

By AMANDA WARD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

College students are infamous for their impeccable ability to procrastinate by any means possible, from writing papers and starting projects to studying for exams.

However, are Fordham students now procrastinating on finding true love, by utilizing the “hookup culture” as their means for escape?

For many college students, the thought of “settling down” and marriage seem decades away; however, the majority of college seniors will be married within five years of graduation.

The senior values seminar class, Marriage in the 21st Century, lead

by Rev. Thomas Scirghi, S.J. has spent a significant portion of the semester discussing the “hookup culture” and its effects on future relationships and marriage.

Megan Welsh, FCRH ‘11, identifies “hookup culture” as “a culture that accepts casual and typically uncommitted sexual interactions including ‘friends with benefits’ and ‘one night stands’ as the norm.”

The lack of commitment and gain of personal, physical pleasure may be what entices so many students to participate in the culture, but the desire for someone, just anyone, may be the subconscious draw to the culture.

Regardless of students’ draws to the hookup culture, the culture has become ingrained in society.

According to Andrew Huntsman, FCRH ’11, “For men, it’s kind of a rite of passage.”

Nora Moran, FCRH’11, claims the reason most women participate in the culture is that they “feel pressure to participate.”

In American cultural context, men are the hunters and women are the hunted. Generally speaking, if men view the hookup culture as a rite of passage then in order for women to compete for men’s attention, women feel forced into wearing provocative clothing and acting seductively. Men who allow the hookup culture to boost their egos and women whose attire and behavior may give the wrong impression of who they really are, produces skewed personas of both men and women and their actual desires for a true, loving relationships.

“College students seem to perpetuate in one another the notion that what happens between Friday night and Monday morning simply doesn’t count, or in some way is not real,” Welsh said.

The catalyst and scapegoat of the hookup culture has been the excessive consumption of alcohol.

A trend on many college campuses is the parallel growth of both the hookup culture and alcohol con-

sumption.

Uncommitted, sexual relationships have become prevalent on many college campuses and the students in the senior values seminar class have agreed that Fordham students are in fact contributing to the statistic.

“The cause for concern about a culture like this at Fordham is not because there are disproportionate numbers of people disrespecting themselves, but more in the fact that the majority of people seem to condone it,” Welsh said.

Fr. Scirghi said that he is “not surprised, disappointed, but not surprised” that Fordham students participate in the hookup culture and “if anything is surprising, it is the marriage class and how they are strictly against the hookup culture with their morals.”

Although students openly express their discontentment for the culture, many students’ actions do not support their statements.

Therefore, the question still remains if this is truly what college students want or if they are just procrastinating to attain what they really want, which is a loving relationship. A great number of college students admit that in hooking up they are hoping that one incident may lead to a long-term relationship, but the expectations or perceived expectations of both parties are different

from one another, so the incidence is blamed on alcohol consumption to absolve any personal responsibility. Needless to say, some people do enjoy participating in the hookup culture, for it fulfills their physical needs without having to become emotionally attached.

College is not only an academic playground, but is also a host for social breeding, interconnectedness and growth that is nowhere else re-created outside of a college campus. Although serious, monogamous relationships and marriage seem millennia away for some students, the types of relationships that students participate in today will have an effect on their future relationships and marriage. The social dynamic of college life presents students with an opportunity to learn how to develop and grow through meaningful relationships with others, yet there is a failure to take advantage of those opportunities by participating in the hookup culture.

Megan Welsh, FCRH’11, explains that the hookup culture does contribute to future relationships.

“If teenagers and adults today are conditioning themselves to detach emotion or commitment to sexual relationships, it will be more difficult for them to form stable relationships later on. Will everyone just wake up one day, ‘grow up’ and be able to form the committed, lov-

ing relationships necessary for marriage?” she said. “Probably not.”

Although there is no statistical analysis that directly evaluates the effects of the hookup culture on future relationships and marriage, the divorce rate continues to increase with each generation.

Divorce, which is the total removal and loss of commitment from a relationship, parallels in increase with the hookup culture on college campuses. Just as procrastinating on writing a paper, starting a project or studying for an exam usually reaps a lower grade, continuous foregoing committed relationships that allow for personal social development and growth, usually leads to unhappy monogamous relationships and marriages.

Even though the connection between the hookup culture and divorce rates have not been directly, empirically connected,. Scirghi quotes St. Ignatius of Loyola by saying “‘An evil perpetuates when we don’t question it.’ We need to bring evil into the light of day to make us think about it. I think it points to a course like this, it points to its significance.”

The Marriage in the 21st Century senior values course is offered every semester to seniors who are interested in delving deeper into understanding the necessity of loving, committed relationships.

DECEMBER 8, 2010

PAGE 19

Indoor Track Wins Eight Events in Season Opener

By CELESTE KMIOTEK CULTURE EDITOR

Fordham’s men’s and women’s track and field teams began their indoor season on Friday, Dec. 3 by hosting the Fordham Season Opener in the Lombardi Center Fieldhouse. They won eight events for the night; the meet was not scored by team.

The teams said they were pleased with the results, though quick to admit that it is still early to make predictions.

“Overall, I think the first meet went very well,” senior Augustus Gleason said. “It’s a good way to see how everyone’s training is going so far. I think everyone has a good sense of where they are at and hit good marks. We do have to keep in mind that this is only the beginning and that we have a lot of work to do before we get to where we need to be.”

In the women’s running events, senior Sherilyn Groeninger won the 200-meter dash in 26.9 while coming in second in the 60-meter dash with 7.8.

Junior Kelly Connolly and freshman Diane Bain both ran in the 800-meter run, coming in second with 2:26.2 and fifth with 2:27.0, respectively. In the mile run, freshman Kerry Sorenson came in eighth with 5:34.7 while junior Nako Nakatsuka came in ninth with 5:42.5.

Freshman Averie Sheppard tied for second in the 400-meter dash (1:01.6), followed by freshman Darleen Elermann in sixth with 1:02.6, while in the 3,000-meter run, senior Jana Trenk took fifth (11:43.6) and sophomore Kimberly Naples took sixth (11:55.5).

In the relays, Elermann, Warren, Connolly and Bain formed the Ateam in the sprint medley, coming in third with 4:22.9. The B-team of sophomore Kellen Fitzgerald, freshman Serena Gendron, freshman Christina Vivinetto and Nakatsuka came in fourth with

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Sophomore Sean Atkinson won the 800m finishing in 1:58.7 and the team believes that he is maturing into his role.

4:44.5.

For the women’s field events, sophomore Courtnay Newman won both the high jump, leaping 5’ 3” and the 60-meter hurdles, with 9.2. Junior Elisabeth Warren finished second in the high jump with 4’ 9”, second in the long jump with 16’ 5.75” and third in the triple jump with 34’ 4”.

Sheppard came in second in the 60-meter hurdles (9.3 seconds), with Elermann in fifth (9.8), while freshman Taylor Jacob came in fifth in the shot put (34’ 0.75”) with junior Blair Hassell in eighth (30’).

In the weight throw, freshman Diamond Gallow took seventh (39’ 1.25”) while Hassell took eighth (36’ 8.5”).

For the men, freshman Samuel Wicks tied for second in the 60-meter dash with 7.2, followed by freshman Mackenzie Murphy and sophomore Daniel Clemens, tied for eighth with 7.4. Wicks also took seventh in the 200-meter dash, finishing in 24.8. Sophomore Sean Atkinson won the 800-meter run, finishing in 1:58.7. Freshman

Ryan Polo (second with 1:59.8), sophomore Michael Rossi (third with 2:00.1), sophomore Michael Bongiorno (fourth with 2:00.5), junior Carter Ward (sixth with 2:00.9) and freshman Troy Coonrad (eighth with 2:02.0) followed.

Redshirted senior Paul Szczepaniak took third in the mile run with 4:27.6, while freshman Brian Walter took sixth (4:31.3), sophomore John Cosgrove took eighth (4:32.1) and junior Stephen Donnelly took ninth (4:32.6). In the 3,000-meter run, junior Rich Grandelli came in sixth (9:22.9), followed by freshman Conor O’Malley (9:32.1), freshman Patrick Burke (9:32.2) and junior Christopher Chung (9:36.9).

For the relays, always the men’s team’s highlight, the sprint medley, consisting of Atkinson, junior Nick Delligatti, Rossi and Polo, won with 3:42.0.

In the field events, Gleason won the high jump with 6’ 2.75”, followed by junior Kyle Kesses in second with 6” .75’. Redshirted senior Vincent Servello won the triple

jump with 41’ 1.5” with Gleason in fourth with 19’ 4.75” and sophomore Andrew Joseph in fifth with 17’ 4.25.” Servello came in third in the long jump with 19’ 4.25,” while Gleason was fourth with 19’ 4.75.”

Junior Ken Baron took second in the pole vault (13’ 5.25”), followed by sophomore Keegan Talty in third (12’ 5.5”), sophomore Daniel Chediak in fifth (11’ 11.75”), Gleason in sixth (11’ 5.75”) and freshman Casey Colasurdo and Servello tied for seventh (10’ 11.75”). In the 60-meter hurdles, Chediak and Murphy tied for fourth with 8.5, while Clemens took sixth with 8.6.

Gleason took sixth in the shot put with 35’ 1”, while freshman Stephen Courtney and Servello took eighth (32’ 9”) and ninth (32’ 3”), respectively. Senior Patrick Brown won the weight throw with 50’ 10.25,” while Courtney was ninth with 34’ 2.75.”

Gleason was especially pleased with his team’s performance, highlighting several noteworthy individual performances.

“Sean Atkinson ran a heroic

800-meter to win the event,” he said. “Sean is a real talent and is really starting to mature into his role on the team. We are all looking to Sean to do big things this year. Pat Brown won the weight throw and is really picking up right from where he left off last season. Kenny Baron took second in the pole vault. Kenny is a technician in the event and finally now that he is healthy, is really going to explode onto the pole vault scene.”

The team said it is also excited with the freshmen’s showings combined with the the older team members’ progress.

“The freshmen are doing really well this season,” Trenk said. “There are a lot of talented girls and guys, much more than we’ve had any other year I’ve been on the team.

They are doing a good job of working together and are a really nice addition to the team dynamics.”

“The team is coming together well,” Gleason said. “Freshmen are starting to get a taste of college competition and the upper classmen are looking to bring this season to the next level.”

The team is looking to improve in the upcoming weeks, especially as the distance runners fully transition to the new season.

“At the next meet we can expect more distance and distance people racing,” Trenk said. “And hopefully faster times as the cross-country athletes make the transition from working out on hills outside to running on the track.”

“At the next meet, look for the mid distance and 400-500 runners to start to having great performances,” Gleason said. “Many of them raced a longer distance than usual this past meet and may be looking to drop down to their preferred races for the next meet.”

The men’s and women’s teams will be hosting their next meet as well, holding the Christmas Classic Friday, Dec. 10 at the Lombardi Center Fieldhouse.

Swimming Builds on Momentum Against Boston College and Williams

By BRIAN JASINSKI STAFF WRITER

Following a breakout performance at the Frank Elm Invitational Nov. 19-21, the Fordham swimming and diving teams travelled to Chestnut Hill, Mass. for a tri-meet against Boston College and Williams College on Dec. 4. In the last meet of the semester, both men and women posted impressive times in their events, exploiting the momentum gained from the invitational.

The women finished the weekend a perfect 2-0, defeating Williams 160.5-139.5 and drowning Boston College 204-96. The men split the meet, beating Williams 167-131 but losing to the Eagles 203-95. Altogether, Fordham won 13 out of 33 events, 10 of which were captured by the women, including a sweep in the one- and three-meter diving events.

From the start, the Fordham

women displayed why they are favored to repeat as Atlantic 10 champions. The 200 medley relay, comprised of sophomores Brienne Ryan and Kellie Lyver, in addition to juniors Courtney Collyer and Kelly Bunster, placed first at 1:48.28, while their male counterparts took second by a narrow margin of .28 seconds. Ryan then won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.97, while junior Alexandra Wessel finished second at 1:56.32.

Ryan capped off the meet with two more first-place finishes, in the 100 free – clocking in at 52.27 – and the 400 free relay, in which she anchored her team to a time of 3:34.42.

In the men’s 200 freestyle, freshman standout Shintaro Noguchi clocked in at 1:44.28, good enough for second. Seniors Christina Cosentino and Billy Colton each followed up this impressive performance by sweeping the 100 backstroke for Fordham with

times of 58.31 and 52.71, respectively. Cosentino later won the first of back-to-back races for the women, touching in at 2:07.50 for the 200 back, while Collyer swam the 200 breaststroke in 2:23.80, crushing the field by nearly six seconds in the process.

Collyer also posted a seasonbest time of 2:08.09 in the 200 individual medley, as did Noguchi in the 100 butterfly (50.75).

“Many people had solid swims, which is a great sign during this time in the season,” Bunster said, “The team is doing a great job of keeping positive and focusing on the ultimate goal which is performing our best at A-10s.”

In the women’s diving events, junior Elizabeth Dorger won the one-meter with a score of 261.50 and finished third in the threemeter with a 247.20. Sophomore Brittany Salas earned a first place finish in the three-meter event and placed third in the one-meter,

PHOTO BY SIMON SULIT/THE RAM

Junior Elizabeth Dorger won the one-meter diving event with a score of 261.50.

scoring 260.65 and 243.25 respectively, while junior Andrea Krok recorded season-best scores for the one-meter (243.25) and three-meter (248.85) events.

Both men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will not

face any competition until Jan. 21 and 22. The women host C.W. Post on Friday at 6 p.m., while both squads will entertain La Salle University at the Messmore Aquatic Center at 1 p.m. the following day.

PAGE 20 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

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BCS Not a Problem with Auburn Playing Oregon

By RICH HOFMANN STAFF WRITER

There is a ton of criticism directed toward the BCS and how college football decides its national champion. Fans, analysts such as ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and even President Obama have weighed in with their displeasure with the current system.

It is an easy enough thing to disagree with; nobody really likes the way things are decided.

Here’s the thing though: The winner of the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 10 will be a deserving champion. The BCS did its job, at least this year. Auburn and Oregon have made it through the season unscathed, and they will decide things on the field in Glendale, Ariz. Not only that, but it will be a really, really fun game to watch.

There was only one other team that really had an argument against both of these teams, and they came from a non-automatic qualifier.

While TCU has been really impressive this year, there isn’t too much outcry nationally for the Horned Frogs to be playing for the title.

It just feels right that Auburn and Oregon decide the title, and that’s all people want sometimes. Plus, playing in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin isn’t a bad consolation prize.

The best part about this game is that these are two teams that are not a part of college football’s recent power programs.

There will be no USC, Texas, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma or Ohio State in this game. That is a positive step too, even if we aren’t completely familiar with all of the names. There are over 100 teams in the country, so why is it a good thing if the same six or seven play for the title every year?

It’s not as if these two squads haven’t earned it either. Auburn made it through the SEC undefeated, which should automatically qualify a team for a National Championship game.

The Tigers were on the edges of the Top 25 as the year started, but nobody knew how good Newton would be.

They went through Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Arkansas, Georgia and South Carolina again for good measure.

Oregon was supposed to be good, but people dismissed the Ducks as a title contender after star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was kicked off the team last summer.

Masoli led a high-powered Ducks offense to the Rose Bowl last season, but Darron Thomas has stepped in and taken the Oregon offense to a new level.

First off, the matchup is between the guys who might finish first and second in the Heisman voting. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, who should win the trophy handsdown, has taken college football by storm unlike any other player in recent memory.

Take away the allegations for a second and simply focus on his play, and he is unlike any player we’ve ever seen at this level. It may be necessary to cross sports to re-

call a single player taking over a season: Kevin Durant’s one year at Texas is my best comparison, and that even seems to fall short of what Newton’s doing.

LaMichael James of Oregon is the best player on the best-scoring offense in the country.

While he hasn’t quite made the impact Newton has, James is by far the biggest cog in by far the biggest engine in the country. There is certainly something to be said for that.

Strategy-wise, Auburn has a very good run defense and a very poor pass defense. Oregon can do both well, but their running game out of the spread is their bread and butter.

The Tigers’ defense is led by defensive tackle Nick Fairley, a projected top-five pick, and linebacker Josh Bynes. They have a chance to hold James in check, which might put the game on Thomas’ shoulders. Oregon’s big threat at receiver is Jeff Maehl, who could have a big game.

On the other side of the ball, nobody has been able to stop Newton’s blend of speed and size. After passing his biggest test of the season at Auburn, Newton made it look all too easy in the SEC Championship Game against South Carolina.

He has a stable of running backs including star freshman Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb, and a big play threat in Darvin Adams.

Oregon’s defense doesn’t have a ton of big names, but it allows fewer than 20 points a game.

That is an impressive feat considering that the defense is on the field a lot after the Ducks’ offense quickly scores.

Taking the watchability of this game further, these teams are both powered by explosive offenses that score a ton of points.

Even better, they do it in different ways. Oregon coach Chip Kelly does it more with a spread-option attack that some negatively label a “finesse” system. Regardless of how “tough” the offense is, I’ll take it any day of the week. It can score points against the best of the best. Now, they’ll get a defense that plays in the most physical conference in the country.

Auburn does their damage by placing the ball in their best player’s hands, and keeping it there the entire game. Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has a pretty big advantage in having a weapon the caliber of Newton, but he deserves credit for using his star in a variety of ways.

The playmakers around Newton feel comfortable when he decides to call their number, which is a sign of good coaching.

In the end, I see this game being a classic back-and-forth game. For some reason, I feel like the 2006 Rose Bowl is this game’s best comparison.

Like Vince Young in that game, I just have a feeling Cam Newton will make one more play at the end. He’ll score on a run in the last minute and do his patented chest bump celebration with assistant coach Trooper Taylor.

Prediction: Auburn 38, Oregon 35.

DECEMBER 8, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 21

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball

Swimming

Fordham 74-67 LU

Fordham 77-55 St. Peters

Women 200 Yard Medley Relay-1.Fordham ‘A’(Ryan, Collyer, Bunster, Lyver),1:48.28.

Fordham Gaston

FG

3FG FT REB A PTS

8-14 0-0 2-10 20 0 18

Bristol 0-0 0-0 0-0 2

0 0

Frazier 3-7 1-2 2-4 6

4 9

Estwick 5-8 3-5 5-6 3

4 18

Butler

5 25

6-14 1-5 12-14 3

Moquete 0-0 0-0 0-0 2

0 0

Dominique 1-4 0-0 0-2 5

0 2

Green

0 2

1-5 0-0 0-0 1

Totals 24-52 5-12 21-36 45 13 74 Lehigh

FG

Knutson

3-10 0-0 14-15 4 0 20

3FG FT REB A PTS

Safstrom 1-2 0-0 0-0 4 1 2 McCollum 5-16 1-4 1-4 10 0 12 McKnight 1-4 0-1 1-1 1 4 3 Ojo

6-13 3-5 1-2 6 2 16

D’Orazio 1-4 0-1 1-2 0 0 3 Adams

2-5 0-2 0-0 1 0 4

Small

0-2 0-0 0-2 2 4 0

Keefer

1-4 1-1 0-0 4 1 3

Greiner

2-5 0-2 0-0 1 0 4

Maneri

0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 0

Totals 22-66 5-16 18-26 38 12 67

St.Peter’s FG 3FG Judson 5-12 0-0 Riddick 2-5 0-1 Porter 0-2 0-0 May 0-5 0-1 Manigrasso 6-16 0-3 Davis 1-3 0-0 Morris 3-10 0-1 Coles 1-1 0-0 Young 0-1 0-1 Bent 0-0 0-0 Totals 18-55 0-7 Fordham FG 3FG Shadbolt 5-9 1-1 Stokes 5-9 0-0 Bell 0-0 0-0 Peters 7-11 4-5 Corning 1-4 1-3 Dale 0-2 0-0 ollins 4-7 1-3 Griff 0-2 0-1 Zamora 0-0 0-0 Weekes 2-4 2-4 Totals 24-48 9-17

FT REB 2-4 3 6-8 8 1-2 4 1-2 2 4-8 3 2-7 8 3-3 2 0-0 1 0-0 2 1-4 2 20-38 24

A 1 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 1 0 8

PTS 11 7 2 5 15 2 8 2 2 1 55

A PTS 2 13 1 16 2 1 2 19 4 7 0 2 0 12 0 0 0 0 5 7 16 77

Blocks-Riddick(3),Collins,Dale,Stok es,Weekes.Steals-May(3),Collins,Man igrasso,Peters(2),Bell,Coles,Cornin g,Dale,Griff,Judson,Morris,Stokes,W eekes.Turnovers-May,Peters(6),Davis ,Judson,Riddick(3),Dale,Manigrasso, Zamora(2),Collins,Corning,Griff,Mor ris,Shadbolt,Stokes,Weekes,Team.

Blocks-Bristol, Gaston,Saftstrom.

Steals-D’Orazio,Gaston,McCollum,M

FT REB 1-3 10 3-5 5 2-4 3 5-6 3 3-4 3 0-2 2 2-4 6 0-0 0 2-2 0 1-2 0 19-32 38

SPU FOR

1 2 F 25 30 55 42 35 77

cKnight,Ojo,Small(2),Butler,Frazie r,Knutson. Turnovers-Gaston(7),Est wick(3),Butler,Frazier,Green,Keefe r,Moquette,Ojo,Safstrom,Small(2),B ristol,Dominiqyue,Knutson,McCollum ,McKnight.

1st 2nd Tot FOR

34 40 74

LHU

35 32 67

Fordham 57-80 Harvard Fordham

FG

3FG FT REB A PTS

Track and Field Women’s 60-Meter Dash 1) Smith, Fairleaigh Dickinson, 7.7h 2) Groeninger, Fordham, 7.8h Women 200 Meter Dash 1) Groeninger, Fordham, 26.9h Women 400 Meter Dash 1) Zivic, unattached, 59.5h 2) Sheppard, Fordham, 1:01.6h Women 800 Meter Run 1) McCarthy, Providence, 2:25.3h 2) Connolly, Fordham, 2:26.2h

Dominique 4-6 0-0 1-2 3 0 9 Gaston

6-12 0-0 2-5 10 2 14

Frazier

1-4 1-4 0-0 0 3 3

Estwick

3-9 2-6 0-3 2 0 8

Butler

4-12 1-5 2-2 4 5 11

Hage

0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Moquete

1-3 0-2 1-2 0 0 3

Green

0-1 0-0 3-4 4 0 3

Robinson 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Bristol

3-6 0-0 0-0 6 0 6

Totals

22-53 4-17 9-18 31 10 57

Harvard

FG

3FG FT REB A PTS

Georgatos 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 Wright

5-8 0-1 0-0 4 2 10

Curry

0-3 0-1 0-0 4 9 0

McNally

3-6 1-2 0-0 4 7 7

Webster

5-10 3-6 5-6 4 1 18

Rivard

6-11 5-8 4-4 3 0 21

Brown

0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

VanNest

3-7 3-6 0-0 2 0 9

Giger

0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0

Casey

5-8 3-3 0-0 6 1 12

Hamel

0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

Rouse

0-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 0

Okam

1-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 2

Women 1 Mile Run 1) Price, Stony Brook, 5:02.3h 8) Sorenson, Fordham, 5:34.7h Women 3000 Meter Run 1) Herrick, unattached, 10:09.9h 5) Trenk, Fordham, 11:43.6h Women 60 Meter Hurdles 1) Newman, Fordham, 9.2h Women Long Jump 1) Wizzard, St. Peter’s, 5.06m 2) Warren, Fordham, 5.02m Men 60 meter Dash 1) Reilly, Stony Brook, 7.1h 2) Wicks, Fordham, 7.2h Men 200 Meter Dash 1) Manglaviti, Providence, 23.4h 7) Wicks, Fordham, 24.8h Men 400 Meter Dash 1)Rogers, St. Peter’s, 51.1h 11) Massaro, Fordham, 55.7h

Totals 28-57 15-27 9-11 34 21 80

Men’s 800 Meter Dash 1) Atkinson, Fordham, 1:58.7h

Blocks-Van Nest,Wright(2),Gaston.

Men’s 1 Mile Run 1) Wallace, Providence, 4:24.1h

Steals-Gaston(2),Dominique,Estwick

3) Szczepaniak, Fordham,

,Webster,Wright.Turnovers-Frazier ,Gaston(3),Butler,Estwick,Okam,Web ster(2),Bristol,Casey,Curry,Mcnal ly,Rivard.

4:27.6h Men’s3000 Meter Run 1)Filippazzo, Molloy, 8:56.8h 6) Grandelli, Fordham, 9:22.9h

Women 1000 Yard Freestyle-1.

Wilson, Williams, 10:17.08.

2.McGorry, Fordham,10:27.49.

Men 1000 Yard Freestyle-1.Boretti,Boston College,(;53.40.

9.Alemann,Fordham,10:40.89.

Women 200 Yard Freestyle-1.

Ryan, Fordham, 1:54.97.

Men 200 Yard Freestyle-1.

Maloy, BC,1:41.60. 2.Noguchi, Fordham,1:44.28.

Women 100 Yard Backstroke-1.

Cosentino, Fordham,58.31.

Men 100 Yard Backstroke-1.

Colton, Fordham,52.71.

Women 100 Yard Breastroke-1.

Patchen, Williams,1:10.23.

5.Fields, Fordham,1:11.55.

Men 100 Yard Breastroke-1.

Stephens,BC,1:)0.67. 3.Dwyer, Fordham,1:)1.38.

Women 200 Yard Butterfly-1.

Todhunter,Williams,2:03.27.

2.Collyer,Fordham,2:07.40.

Men 200 Yard Butterfly-Bowen,BC,1:57.85.

6.Schneck,Fordham,2:02.96.

Women 50 Yard Freestyle-1.

Lyver,Fordham,24.68.

Men 50 Yard Freestyle-1.

Wampler, Williams,21.31.

2.Morris,Fordham,21.74.

Women 1 mtr Diving-1.Dorger, Fordham, 261.50.

Men 3 mtr Diving-1.

Long,BC,278.80. 3.Kyung Kim,Fordham,183.05 Women 100 Yard Freestyle-1.

Ryan, Fordham,52.27.

Men 100 Yard Freestyle-1.

Wampler,Williams,47.64.

6.Morris,Fordham,48.38.

Women 200 Yard Backstroke-1.

Consentino,Fordham,2:07.50.

Men 200 Yard Backstroke-1.

Bromann,BC,1:56.79.

2.Gitman,Fordham,1:57.15.

Women 200 Yard Breaststroke-1.

Collyer,Fordham,2:23.80.

Men 200 Yard Breaststroke-1.

Dyrkacz,Williams,2:09.84.

6.Myers,Fordham,2:35.78.

Women 500 Yard Freestyle-1.

Wilson,Williams,4:59.79.

2.McGorry,Fordham,5:07.55.

Men 500 Yard Freestyle-1.

Maloy,BC,4:43.54. 8.GrimmettNorris,Fordham,4:55.87.

Women 100 Yard Butterfly-1.

Todhunter,Williams,55:93.

3.Jones,Fordham,59.62.

Men 100 Yard Butterfly-1.

Noguchi,Fordham,50.75.

Women 3 mtr Diving-1.Salas, Fordham,260.65.

Men 1 mtr Diving-1.

Long,BC, 285.40.2.Wong, Fordham,208.50.

Women 200 Yard IM-1.

Wilson,Williams,2:07.38.

2.Collyer,Fordham,2:08.09.

Men 60 Meter Hurdles 1) Rogers, St. Peter’s 8.0h

1

Men 200 Yard Medley Relay-1.Boston College ‘A’(Stickney,Stephens, Thilo, Spaeth),1:37.29. 2.Fordham ‘A’(Colton, Dwyer, Noguchi, Morris),1:37.57.

2 Tot

Fordham 29 28 57 Harvard 42 38 80

4) Chediak, Fordham, 8.5h Men’s Long Jump 1) Kamguia, Fairleigh Dickinson, 6.45m 2) Servello, Fordham, 5.92m

Visit theramonline.com for an exclusive interview with Will Leach, former editor of Deadspin.com

Men 200 Yard IM-1.

Maloy,BC,1:53.61. 5.Yi, Fordham, 2:02.06.

Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay-1.Fordham ‘A’(Lyver, Bunster,Wessel,Ryan),3:34.

42.

Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay-1.Fordham ‘A’(Nogu chi,Morris,Belfanti,Colto n),3:10.01.

PAGE 22 • THE RAM • DECEMBER 8, 2010

SPORTS

Senior Profile: Kyara Weekes comfortable are you coming off the bench, and what do you sense your role is as a bench player?

By DANNY ATKINSON SPORTS EDITOR

Senior guard Kyara Weekes has been a key cog for what looks to be the best Fordham squad in Head Coach Cathy Andruzzi’s tenure at Rose Hill. Weekes, a versatile player in her four years on the Lady Rams, has transitioned into serving as Fordham’s most experienced reserve player coming off the bench this season as the team has started off 5-4. Weekes is doing a little bit of everything for the Lady Rams. The Boston native is averaging 3.3 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game and is leading the team with a .455 three point percentage on 11 attempts. Last season, Weekes set personal bests averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game and finished second on the team with 58 assists and 43 steals.

The Ram: The team has gotten off to its best start in years and has been competitive in every game.

Why do you feel the team has started off so well?

Kyara Weekes: We’ve had a really strong commitment to defense this season. As a team we wanted to improve our defensive effort and schemes, and we’ve done that so far.

TR: What factors attracted you to

KW: I feel like I’m a sparkplug off the bench and my role is to get the team energized. When I’m in, I need to give the team a boost. As far as coming off the bench, it’s not the greatest situation ever, but I just try to keep a positive mindset and do whatever I can to help the team.

TR: What’s been your most exciting moment during your four years with the team?

KW: Definitely making the A-10 playoffs last year. That was a huge accomplishment for the team.

TR: What are the team’s goals for the rest of the season? How good do you guys think you can be?

PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM

Senior guard Kyara Weekes has been a key reserve for the Lady Rams, leading the team in three point shooting (.455).

Fordham and the basketball program?

KW: First of all, the school’s academics were important to me.

I also was really attracted to Fordham being in New York. I wanted to experience the benefits of the city. I’m from Boston, and I wanted to experience city life, but on a grander scale.

TR: Coach Andruzzi has a reputation for being very demanding.

What has your experience been like playing for her, and how has Coach Andruzzi helped to improve your game?

She’s had a big effect on my game.

Coach Andruzzi has helped teach me how to run a game as a point guard and shown me leadership and ball handling skills. I’m very happy to have played for her.

KW: Coach is demanding, but it isn’t any different than working for a boss that expects a lot from you.

TR: You were a starter all of last season, but so far this season you’ve been coming off the bench. How

KW: We believe we can finish up at the top of the A-10. We’ve been successful so far because of our commitment to defense, and as long as the team maintains that commitment we’ll have a strong season.

TR: What are you looking to do after you graduate from Fordham?

KW: My hope is that I’ll stay in the city and hopefully work for the New York City government.

Women’s Basketball Improves to 5-4 with Win Over St. Peter’s

PHOTO BY AARON MAYS/THE RAM

The team’s leading rebounder, senior forward Tiffany Stokes, scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the win over St. Peter’s. Stokes is averaging 7.7 rebounds per game this season and is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game..

By ALEXANDER VILARDO STAFF WRITER

Four games in six days can be tiring, but the Lady Rams (5-4, 0-0) were not slowed on Dec. 4, as they beat St. Peter’s by a score of 77-55.

Leading both teams in the scoring column was Lady Rams junior guard Becky Peters with 19 points.

Senior forward Tiffany Stokes was next in line with 16 points and eight rebounds and was followed

by Peacocks guard Teresa Manigrasso, who finished with 15 points and five assists.

Playing without sophomore guard Charlotte Stoddart, who averages 29 minutes a game and was injured in the game against Kansas, the Lady Rams were able to keep the lead for the entire game.

At one point in the second half, that lead reached 27. Arguably the most impressive stat of the game, however, was the Lady Rams’ 16

assists.

“They’re getting better and better at sharing the ball,” Head Coach Cathy Andruzzi said. “It’s an extremely unselfish team.”

The Lady Rams received help from the bench, too, as sophomore guard Arielle Collins stepped into the game and finished with 12 points.

Sophomore forward Ariel Dale came off the bench and grabbed eight rebounds.

While the Lady Rams comfortably beat the Peacocks, the story of the day was the Lady Rams’ foul line woes. Despite shooting a strong 52.9 percent from behind the arc and a solid 50 percent from the field, the Lady Rams managed just 52.6 percent from the charity stripe.

“We got to the line 38 times,” Andruzzi said. “And we missed 18 shots. Fifty-two percent from the line is not going to cut it.”

Surprisingly, Andruzzi said she was disappointed in her team’s defense, as well.

“From the naked eye it looked like we played a good defense,” she said. “I thought we got beat on D [throughout the game]. From my standpoint, I like to keep [opposing] teams under 40 points.”

Andruzzi was also unhappy with her team’s offensive rebounding, as the Lady Rams were outdone 1711 in that column.

“We pride ourselves on boxing out,” said Andruzzi. “We gave up 17 offensive rebounds; that’s just not a part of what we do. It was one of those games where we learned a lot.”

While Andruzzi said she was happy with the addition to the win column and her team’s effort, she knows that there still is more to work on.

“We played hard,” she said. “But sometimes we don’t play smart.

Becky Peters did some really good things offensively; I thought she took some really good shots. If she can couple that with a strong defensive performance, I’ll be really happy.”

The Lady Rams are looking to turn Saturday’s win into a streak, as they play two games this week.

The team next takes on another MAAC opponent when it plays at Rider (0-6) on Wednesday, Dec. 8. The next game in the Rose Hill Gymnasium is on Saturday, Dec. 11 against the Monmouth Lady Hawks (5-2).

“I want us to work hard and smart,” Andruzzi said. “It’s early, and I think we’re getting there.”

DECEMBER 8, 2010 • THE RAM • PAGE 23

SPORTS MATT MANUSZAK

The Smush Parker Project Seeing as how this will likely be my last piece of writing for The Ram, I wanted to do a recap of my 2 1/2 years on the staff here, unearthing some highlights and hopefully not too many lowlights of my tenure.

As a freshman I was tasked with covering men’s soccer, an interesting assignment given that I tend to rail against soccer as being some combination of boring, overrated, and un-American. But screw it, I was in print covering a team; I didn’t care. Yeah, there were times when I struggled to hit that word count where I thought to myself that no one would even read my writing past maybe the lede, but the team was actually pretty good, the players were nice guys and again, I was in print for a college newspaper. Four game summaries later, I applied to be an assistant sports editor for The Ram. Being an assistant sports editor is not really all that fun. I edited and rewrote countless stories while shoving greasy Pugsley’s slices into my mouth amid random episodes where I would shout about random things like “LeBron” and “Cleveland” and “statistics.” Yet, it was all worth it to write “Overtime” columns, in which I got to infuse my writing with actual, you know, opinions.

Believe it or not, I actually did some research for some of my columns. My impassioned defense of steroid users, in which I argued that not only was it ludicrous for baseball to punish the players who literally saved the sport but also that players were merely taking advantage of a broken system, actually took hours and hours to research.

For my 2009 NBA MVP column, which went, fifth to first, KobeD12-CP3-DWade-LBJ, I pored over NBA statistics of all sorts to reach that final five. The usage of advanced and metric statistics isn’t as widely accepted in basketball as it has become in baseball, but I tend to read writers who rely pretty heavily on stats, and that’s reflected in my basketball writing.

Yet, I also attempt to prove the superiority of pro basketball to college basketball in a later piece using mostly rhetoric and my personal biases (the only stats I use in this one are some free throw percentages and “CSI” Nielsen ratings). I realize my crusade on this front is probably useless.

Later, my non-East Coast bias reared its ugly head again in a screed asking for a salary cap and salary floor in pro baseball.

I pointed out that in no other major professional American sport is there neither a salary cap nor has one team won over one-fourth of the championships (like the Yankees).

In light of my other capacity during the fall as beat writer for the football team, I wrote a piece detailing how dominant college football teams schedule smaller

schools early in the season because it allows their players to shake the rust off and the school tends to earn the same amount of revenue regardless of opponent on opening weekend. Similarly, small schools schedule larger schools not out of any hope of being the next Appalachian State, beat because the larger school tends to shell out upwards of half-a-million dollars for the opportunity to whoop on some FCS butt.

This past calendar year, during which I’ve had the privilege of writing this column, I’ve been able to write about virtually anything, even penning a tribute to Kenny Powers that answered the question, “How much more inconsequential could a column be?” (the answer was none – none more inconsequential).

I wrote three columns about the NBA postseason awards for the 2009-10 season: one about the top rookies and defensive players, one about the MVP (fifth to first, I went D-Will, D-Wade, KD, D12, and LBJ), and one asking that NBA MVP votes should be public and should not be given to team employees in light of some Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder employees not voting for LeBron James. As much as I hate LeBron, I still thank its ridiculous that he didn’t win unanimously and that the voting rules should be changed.

In other NBA columns I touched on the difficulties in using championships as the main judge of a player’s legacy and in comparing players from different eras, a rough overview of pace and possessionbased NBA stats, put into writing my feelings about LeBron James and how, though my hatred for him likely will never end, he can at least soften the pain by playing good basketball.

Some of my favorite columns happened as a result of pure coincidence: I wouldn’t have gone to Kevin Durant’s shoe release party in Harlem and met the Thunder players if I hadn’t been messing around on Twitter at two in the morning (and I wouldn’t have been on Twitter without visiting the headquarters in San Francisco, courtesy of my cousin). I wouldn’t have written my NBA preview based on “The Wire” without bumping into Tim Cowlishaw on the 4 train on the way home from work.

One regret I have is that I didn’t write very much about Fordham sports. I did write one column attempting to prove the so-called “Flutie Effect” in which a school’s athletic success improves its academic ranking and another on my thoughts about the Fordham men’s basketball team’s less-than-stellar 2010 debut. Yet, Fordham really wasn’t all that compelling athletically.

Quickly, I’d like to thank Mark Becker, Danny Atkinson, Nick Carroll, Jon Smith, Tom Haskin and any other editors who were unfortunate enough to edit down my poorly styled and 500-words-toolong screeds into cogent columns over the years.

From here on out, I will be working on the fledgling Web site twomuchnoise.com with fellow Ram writer Rich Hofmann. Thanks to everyone who helped, and thanks to everyone who read and will continue to read.

By NICK CARROLL SPORTS EDITOR

Wasn’t it supposed to be a done deal? Isn’t Peyton Manning handsdown the best quarterback in football and one of the greatest to ever play the game? Even as I begin to write this, I am afraid a lightning bolt will strike me for critiquing the media’s golden child, or commissioner Roger Goodell will break into my dorm room and confiscate my laptop (apparently breaking and entering is legal at Fordham, anyway, so I’ll be sleeping with one eye open).

After watching Manning struggle mightily over the past month as the offensive firepower has begun shooting blanks, Manning suddenly seems mortal. He has thrown 15 interceptions on the season, including 11 in the past three weeks against New England’s shaky pass defense, San Diego and the “vaunted” Dallas Cowboys.

Now, I understand that Manning is playing with lesser players around him, but don’t the truly great ones rise above adversity? When Randy Moss mopes and leaves Tom Brady throwing to Deion Branch’s corpse, Brady pulls out one of his finest career seasons.

As the media excuses Manning’s putrid performances based on the lack of weaponry around him, Brady succeeds with star targets such as tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, wide receivers Deion Branch and Wes Welker and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Both of the tight ends are rookies, Branch was a castoff after numerous disappointing seasons in Seattle, Welker is unable to stretch the field and Green-Ellis has been buried on the Pats’ depth chart for years now.

Needless to say, Brady doesn’t have elite weapons, but he is leading an explosive Patriots attack that makes up for the Pats’ worst-ranked defense. On the other hand, Manning is not.

In Manning’s career, he has been blessed with elite talent almost every season. He’s had numerous first-round picks surrounding him on offense (wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, tight end Dallas Clark, and running backs Edgerrin James, Joseph Addai and Donald Brown) that almost always worked out under team President Bill Polian.

Basically, Manning has received too much credit in his career. He has constantly been surrounded by elite talent that allowed him to showcase his skills and put up gaudy numbers on the fast turf.

Just look at the real season,

when the game gets tighter and everything slows down and becomes more physical, the playoffs. Manning has routinely struggled in the playoffs. Even in his Super Bowl run, he only played one good half in the run (granted, it was a pretty special comeback against the Patriots).

In comparison, Brady has a litany of heroic playoff moments.

Whether it’s the tuck rule game, last-second, Super Bowl-winning drives against the Rams and Panthers or his annual Manning ownership in the early part of the decade, Brady had a hall of famecaliber résumé before 30, and it doesn’t look like he’s close to done, especially after his 45-3 annihilation of the previously 9-2 Jets on Monday night.

As hard as it is to move on from Brady’s phenomenal play, I digress; Manning is not as unique as some make him out to be.

To see a quarterback performing in a difficult situation, just look at Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who entered the year throwing to Moe, Larry and Curly (oh, and Antonio Gates, Rivers’ only reliable option). Rivers, who has already amassed 3,642 yards, is on pace for over 4,800. As previously mentioned, this comes without a standout wide receiver or reliable running game after Vincent Jackson held out and the team let LaDainian Tomlinson walk in free agency. Also, left tackle Marcus McNeill sat out for the first few weeks of the season. Rivers has faced just as much adversity as Manning this season; however, he has elevated his play and kept the Chargers’ offense as explosive as ever.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who lost tight end Jermichael Finley and running back Ryan Grant in the early stages of the season, has completed 65 percent of his passes in addition to throwing 23 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.

Yes, Rodgers still has wide receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, but that does not alleviate the complete lack of a running presence or an inside option for Rodgers, whose connection with Finley was expected to take off this season.

There’s also Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees, who seems like an afterthought in the year of the passer.

When I was reeling off the game’s top quarterbacks before writing this, both my roommate and I failed to mention Brees until reflecting on the list. However, this is probably because of the Saints’ injury trouble. After los-

ing running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush for much of the season, the Saints’ offense has not been the same. However, Brees has overcome these losses and led the Saints to a 9-3 record, in the position for a playoff spot in the suddenly crowded and top-heavy NFC. Even a quarterback like Philadelphia Eagle Michael Vick has overcome a great deal of trouble to reach great levels this season.

Beside his personal problems, Vick plays behind an offensive line that can be likened to Swiss cheese, yet finds a way to put up gaudy numbers on a weekly basis. Even Vick’s down games still are statistically marveling. I’m sure wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin help, but Vick does a strong job overcoming poor protection to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers, giving the Eagles the NFL’s top-ranked offense in the league.

I could go on all day, but what I am getting at is that Manning is not as special as the media has made him out to be. There are a plethora of elite quarterbacks in the league right now, and, quite frankly, Manning doesn’t stand out like we once thought he did. Perhaps we gave him too much credit for his elite offensive weapons, maybe we didn’t realize the value of Manning’s consistently stellar offensive line, but Manning does not stand out like we portray him. Right now, Manning is just a name in the crowd of Brady, Rivers, Rodgers, Brees, Vick and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. The NFL is a passing league. Almost any above-average quarterback is going to have great success and, looking at the list of successful passers, it is clear that it is almost impossible for defenses to slow down the league’s top talent.

Last January, the first time I had the privilege to write an “Overtime” piece, I compared Peyton Manning to Ivan Drago, Rocky’s nemesis in the fourth installment of the series. At the time, I stated that illegal contact and offense-friendly rules made the game easier for the NFL’s premier superstar; Manning was only Drago because the league makes it impossible for defenses to defend the pass and if the defense dies, it dies.

However, one aspect I did not touch on was that Drago was vulnerable. Once Rocky cut the Russian, he was not the same and we saw that he was not a machine, he was a man. Just like when Drago was wounded, when Manning loses his elite weapons, he is not a machine, he’s just a man.

Upcoming Varsity Schedule CAPS=HOME lowercase=away

Thursday Dec. 9

Friday Dec. 10

Saturday Dec. 11 ST. JOHN’S 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Women’s Basketball Indoor Track

MONMOUTH 1:00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Sunday Dec. 12

Monday Dec. 13

Tuesday Dec. 14

Wednesday Dec. 15

DECEMBER 8, 2010

PAGE 24

Men’s Basketball Picks Up Third Win at Lehigh Big Game From Gaston Puts Team Above Last Year’s Win Total Seven Games Into Season

By MARK BECKER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Sophomore forward Chris Gaston ended the Rams’ five-game home stand with just a 14-point, six-rebound performance, one of his worst at Fordham, and against lowly Hartford. Some fans expressed concern that his incredibly high workload was beginning to take a toll, or that he was already regressing back to the more modest numbers most expected of him this season, but it may just have been that this lesser production allowed his teammates to step theirs up instead.

At 2-3 and heading into their first two road games of the season – both against teams expected to contend for their conference’s titles – the Rams were pretty much guaranteed to be 2-5 heading back to Rose Hill. Four players were averaging double-figures in scoring, but each was also averaging over 35 minutes per game, and no one else had shown any ability to even start.

“I’d like to relieve the starters of some minutes,” Pecora has said the past several weeks. “I’m a strong advocate of playing time is something you get based on your performance in practice.”

Something happened during the team’s two-game road trip, however; Fordham limited its turnovers, distributed the scoring load more evenly, players broke out and Gaston played some of his best team basketball since arriving at Rose Hill. The results were an admittedly lopsided loss to Harvard (52) and a surprise win over Lehigh (4-4), bringing the Rams’ record to a respectable 3-4.

The first matchup may have ended in a decisive loss to Harvard, 80-57, but more importantly, Gaston returned to his double-double form for his fifth such mark of the season, freshman forward Marvin Dominique almost doubled his previous career high in scoring nine points in just 24 minutes and junior center Kervin Bristol showed he actually can play basketball, putting up a six points and grabbing six rebounds.

“Every university in the country wants to play Harvard,” Pecora said.

“I knew it would be a tough game; I made it a four-year series – I’m friends with [Head Coach Tommy] Amaker – knowing it would be tough to get a win in Years 1 and 2 but hopefully in 3 and 4.”

Although it took Harvard 10 minutes to pull ahead by more than four points (immediately after a trey by redshirt senior guard Brenton Butler put Fordham up one), an 18-3 run over five minutes quickly blew the game out of proportion, taking the Crimson into the half up by 13.

Fordham put together the makings of a comeback early in the second, or rather Gaston did, as he scored seven points in the first three minutes, including a big dunk to cut the deficit to single digits.

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Sophomore forward Chris Gaston pulled down 20 rebounds to go along with 18 points to lead the Rams to the win.

Yet the Crimson had only hit four three-pointers to that point, and would finish with 15 – unfortunately for Fordham, they all came at once, as six of Harvard’s next seven baskets were treys, bumping the lead up to 24 points. Harvard would extend the lead to 31 before pulling most of its starters, allowing Fordham to cut the final deficit to 23 behind senior forward Jacob Green’s three points and four rebounds in six minutes of play.

“It’s tough to win against a team that hits 15 threes, and we got into foul trouble, which is our No. 1 enemy since we don’t have a lot of depth,” Pecora said.

The Rams were outrebounded for the first time all season, but what really killed them was the Crimson’s marksmanship from behind the arc, as the team hit 55.6 percent of its three-pointers to the tune of 45 points, making things almost unfair for the Rams.

Harvard also dished out a ridiculous 21 assists to only nine turnovers.

No one could have expected any better a showing at Lehigh, which had only lost to Penn State by 14 in its opener and had beaten Cornell by three just a week before.

The real matchup here was not the Rams versus the Mountain Hawks anyway; it was between last year’s freshman scoring leader sophomore C.J. McCollum and Gaston, No. 2 on last year’s freshman list.

“That kid McCollum, I saw him earlier and he put up 42 points,” Pecora said. “During numerous timeouts, coming out he was a focal point. Butler guarded him, played a full 40 minutes and did a tremendous job offensively and defensively.”

The first few minutes verified this for everyone, as Lehigh scored the first 11 points of the contest and looked ready to storm to victory.

Fordham responded unusually quickly, however, scoring 10 of its own unanswered amid a mess of Mountain Hawk turnovers and fouls. The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, leading to a tie and four lead changes before Le-

high extended the lead to six on a couple of free throws, a steal and a dunk by McCollum; the Rams answered with five straight points to end the half down just one.

“We showed a lot of toughness coming back from being down 110,” Pecora said.

The Rams then took control of the game, forcing a turnover and taking the lead within the first minute and never looking back, only allowing a tie with 17 minutes left before blasting to a double-digit lead behind 10 unanswered points in fewer than three minutes.

Lehigh cut the lead back to single digits several times throughout the half but never came closer than within seven, which ended up being the final margin at 74-67.

“I expect to get a win everywhere,” Pecora said. “Of course, any time you win on the road, it’s magic; it’s just that much more special.”

Gaston dominated the battle between last year’s top two freshmen, posting one of his best games as a Ram with 18 points and 20 rebounds, although with seven turnovers and only 2-10 from the free throw line – a weakness in his game that is becoming alarming, as he has made a team-high five trips to the line and hit only 46 percent.

“I’m meeting with him,” Pecora said. “We’ll talk about how hard he is working to improve it, here’s how to fix it. He’s an interesting player.

Do you play him late in the game or not? Obviously we have to because we don’t have the depth, but then other teams are going to let him get the ball and just foul him.”

McCollum, meanwhile, was held without a bucket for the first 15 minutes of the game and finished with only 12 points, although he managed to grab 10 rebounds for a double-double of his own. The Rams overcame 20 turnovers in the win, a disappointingly high total considering the emphasis Pecora has put on keeping that statistic down in recent games.

“Our glaring problems are still assist-to-turnover ratio and free throw percentage,” Pecora said.

“Our defensive field goal percentage is good, but we’ve got to continue to get better. We’ve got to improve every day – it doesn’t matter whether it’s a practice day or game day.”

Butler led the Rams in scoring with a season-high 25 points (including 12-14 on free throws), finally shooting over 40 percent from the field and playing the full 40 minutes along with freshman guard Branden Frazier, who reverted back to his all-around impact on games with a 9-6-4 line.

Green saw 14 minutes of playing time, splitting almost evenly with Bristol, who both fouled out along with Gaston (who left with six seconds to play), and Dominique, indicating an impending move to a deeper frontcourt rotation down the line.

“We simplified things for Kervin and Marvin, not making them play multiple positions; we’re going to try to play Kervin and Green at the five and Gaston and Dominique at the four,” Pecora said. “Green has been doing a good job in practice and is a wonderful kid. It will be nice to have two big bodies; obvi-

ously in conference play we’ll need that.”

With Butler leading in scoring, Gaston in the paint and junior guard Alberto Estwick putting up an all-around 18-3-4 line, the Rams played exactly how Pecora needs them to.

“Obviously it’s going to be hard for us if Chris and Brenton and Alberto don’t have good games – in that order,” Pecora said.

The Rams will be back in the Bronx for the rest of the semester, with matchups against rival Manhattan (2-6) in the Battle of the Bronx on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., St. John’s (5-1) on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. and Kennesaw State (2-5) on Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.

“We’re going to have a pretty good week in New York basketball,” Pecora said. “Whatever the outcome, it’s what Fordham deserves – big crowds and games – and so much is dictated by the involvement of the student body; the students need to understand they’re a big part of this program. Just as I expect it out of my team, I can’t do it without getting some consistency in students showing up for games.”

The Rams will finish their nonconference schedule with a marquee matchup at Georgia Tech (4-3) in the first of a home-andhome series over this and next year on Monday, Dec. 27 and an appearance in Santa Clara to take on American (5-3) and either Santa Clara (4-4) or Delaware (3-2) on Wednesday, Dec. 29 and Thursday, Dec. 30. They will begin Atlantic 10 play by facing three-time defending champion Temple (5-2) at the Izod Center (one of four games there this spring) on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. before hitting the road for games against George Washington (2-5) on Wednesday, Jan. 12 and Charlotte (3-4) on Saturday, Jan. 15. Their first game of the spring semester will be at the Izod Center against Saint Louis (3-3) on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

PHOTO BY MARK BECKER/THE RAM

Redshirt senior guard Brenton Butler knocked down 12 free throws en route to 25 points and the win over Lehigh.